I had an interesting experience of hiring an actual real-life
power-lifting trainer to come and help me with some form problems with
my bench, deadlift and squat.

She immediately solved all my deadlift problems.  It turns out I was
doing just about everything wrong.  Seeing one done in real life was
illuminating.  But it turns out I don't much care for the standard
deadlift.  I don't want to work my back, I want to work my butt.  I
think I'll stick to sumo deadlifts (which she also fixed.)

She liked me squat.  (Wuhoo!)  I guess being Mistress Krista's adoring
accolyte is good for something.  We did some work with front squatting
that was just plain weird - we used a Smith machine and I was able to go
ass-to-the-grass (unlike my back squat) but it bothered my knees and the
bar tucked under my chin felt odd.

But the biggest surprise was my bench.  I've given up hope on the bench
press, what with this tendonitis still hanging around for the better
part of a year.  I told her I didn't think I could bench over 100.  She
warmed me up and I got three reps at 95.  I thought 95 was my 1 RM.
Having a good spotter helped, but so did her tips about form.

She suggested I get a bench shirt and come along to some competitions.

I'm thinking about it.  I'm getting to be pretty old and a lot of the
records are sitting empty waiting for 40+ women to show up and claim
them.  I kind of like the idea.

I'm seeing her again next week-end.

Oh, and I got some warm fuzzies from a body-building guy who works out
in the gym with me.  It turns out he knows and respects my trainer.  He
came over to talk to us and mentioned seeing how hard I've been working
(translation, how much I've changed) and introduced himself.  I always
like it when I get accepted by the gym-rats.  :-)

Dally