The kids got sick the night after I had already left.

Anyway, today is another day of strongman competition. I'm not sure what they're doing today, but it will be fun. They're also doing the "opening ceremonies" today, a day after the ceremonies opened. Go figure. Only a politician would think this makes sense!

Supposedly, Sylvester Stallone will be in attendance. That will be a zoo I'm staying clear of. Oh, I like Sly; he's one of my boyhood idols. I just will not stand in line to meet anybody. Well, maybe 5 minutes. But not hours like guys were waiting yesterday just to meet Jay Cutler. By the way, Jay seems like a nice guy.

I just won't stand in line to meet him. Not gonna happen.

Arm wrestling takes place today, too. It's the finals. I saw Travis Bagent yesterday and he's one cocky SOB, but in a very endearing way. I mean that. Unless you're his opponent. Then you probably just want to tear off his head, but you know that won't happen.

There's a sports photography workshop that I might wander into today. Photography is a hobby of mine.

Well, it's time to get moving. It's an earlier open today, but at least I've got better directions and know the lay of the land now. So it shouldn't take me nearly as long to get to the convention center.

While I'm thinking about it – the parking lots really need bigger signs. I've purchased parking passes in advance and I'm in a specific lettered lot. But the lots are not marked clearly (if at all) and the attendants stay in their cars, so you don't even see them. I know it's 20 degrees outside, but it's really not so bad that you should not do your job!

Have a great day. I'm going to.

First impressions: Too damned crowded! There is a TON of stuff to do here. But everybody seemed to want to stand in line right where I entered Hall D, which coincidentally is where Bodybuilding.com and MuscleTech is. Jay Cutler spent a good portion of the day at MT so I get that. There was also a big line at Gaspari Nutrition.

Of course, wherever there were tanned women with very little clothing on in a booth, that booth had a bigass line!

I get that, too!
 

Some highlights

I met Frank Zane and even bought one of his courses. He graciously signed it. Zane was the epitome of the symmetrical and cerebral bodybuilder. Meeting him was the highlight of my day.

I also got to shake Magnus ver Magnusson's hand. He is my favorite strongman of all time. He is smaller than when he competed, but he looks fabulous. He hasn't let himself go like Svend Karlson. That guy used to have a great body; he's put on a few pounds in the gut.

The strongman competition was pretty cool, if a little cramped. They did their two events today on the little stage, which was okay because they were just lifting heavy things, not running with them. I think the competition would work better in Hall C, which is where the amateur strongmen competed.

There were a ton of plastic boobs walking around, accompanied by more fake tans than I care to estimate. Don't get me wrong, all of the women are in fantastic shape. I just wish they'd embrace a little more of their natural beauty. It's there. You don't need big breasts to be beautiful. And you shouldn't look like tanned leather, either.

It was fun cruising around the Expo. But the crowded atmosphere really took away from the overall event. Plus, the MC for both the fitness competitions and the strongman competitions (the same dork, I think) is horrible. I'm sure that Arnold and Jim Lorimer can find somebody who is a) polite (this guy is an ass) and b) who knows at least a little about the sport he's talking about.

The guy is a twit. And annoying. I hope one of the strongmen breaks him in half tomorrow.

Oh, before I forget, the USA powerlifting competition was fun to watch too.

Word is that Arnold will be there tomorrow and so might Sylvester Stallone.

It will be a freaking zoo again tomorrow. Only more freaking.

It's a balmy 25 degrees today. With the wind chill, it "feels like" 18 – thanks Weather.com!

The high will be 37. But no snow.

There is snow all over the ground here, but it's from an old storm. It's getting patchy. I will tell you, though, that the roads are slick! I drove very cautiously last night in the friggin' minivan Enterprise gave me ("It's all we have").

Funny story: I sat next to a married couple from Columbus on my connecting flight from Houston. They were returning from Mexico. As we boarded the plane, obvious bodybuilders were stowing their carry on luggage in the overhead racks. The man of the couple said, "It must be Arnold time."

To which his wife said, "What was your first clue?"

Hilarious. They were a nice couple, though a bit quirky. I guess we're all a little goofy in our own ways!

Well, time to get showered, dressed, and hop in the Mystery Machine.

Wish me luck. I have definite objectives today – I just hope I don't get mesmerized by the spectacle of it all.

This one talks about how his training program, largely concocted of Instinctive Training, molded his super-size biceps, chest, and calves, to name just a few of the Austrian Oak’s most famous body parts.

Here’s a link to Why Arnold Was Ahead of his Time.