Was so happy to get on the bike today since I was mislead by both news12 meteorologist Jeff Mendelsohn and God who assured me there'd be a storm. 20 minutes of rain conveniently as I was leaving in the morning. So it was good to be riding today and since I didn't have to bring lunch nor a change of clothes, I brought my old bag instead of the backpack with me and sweated noticeably less.
Today I also brought my camera and will upload a few choice shots once I return home.
They're filming the same movie at the corner at 29th street -- I now know what it's called and its cast and premise but won't promote it. However, it is about a bike messenger. There were a ton of bikes lined up near there. I would've stolen one but I always get caught doing things like that.
Made the light about halfway through the two-lanes of the highway and had to quickly stop because the southbound cars were on their way and they brake for nobody. I finished Beneath The Wheel last night and am realizing how much I truly love Hesse's style. I wish I'd read this in high school as it would've given me some on-the-spot perspective about my adolescence without any of the yelling or lecturing. The only lecture I picked up on was that if you push a kid too much in any one direction, he's doomed. You've got to want to do it. The drive should come first from within and then ask for/receive guidance. The point is, you have to (want to) do something. You cannot just be an empty vessel all the time.
Everything came in floods for Hans: The studying, the awkwardness, the isolation, the lack of women, the failure, the longing, the girl, the unknown, the booze. Too much of any one thing at one time will get the best of you. There were some particular passages that stood out for me but obviously I cannot recall them off-hand so I'll email them to myself and paste it in another post.
I'm intermittently reading I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley. It's a collection of essays and I pick it up between dense literary works. It's pretty good reading and my style probably reflects her's but I'd like to be about 10% deeper than her.
As I passed the corporate hellhole just before WFC, the security guards were gesturing for me to slow down. Slow down for what? To make it more hazardous for one of their Lumbergs to walk across the lane? I'm on 20" wheels, I can't be going that fast. It really pisses me off for a second and as I cross the street and am onto WFC territory I glance at my reflection in the glass walls and see that the pissed off guy on the folding bike is wearing an Average Joe's t-shirt from "Dodgeball."
I'll ride the bike during lunch today, too, as I need to pick up concert tickets at Mercury Lounge. I'll take the FDR north and get some good shots there, too.
I'm 4 for 5 two straight weeks in a row in terms of roundtrip biking. That's an 80% success rate. I would've done it last Friday but I got hooked up with 2 sweet Yankees suite tickets and decided to give it a rest.
Thank you for reading.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
"The equestrian helmet? Really?"
They're filming a movie at 29th & 10th Ave. near all those garages. Looks like it may have a big name to it because there was a large crew but who the hell cares?
The equestrian helmet? Really? I saw a girl donning one while riding near the Chelsea Piers and had to do a double take. Um, ok... I guess that's fine in the sense that it'd protect your head. But if I think you look odd then there's something wrong.
Not 3 blocks south I looked off to the right and thought of something: If you want to eat on a table that has been a bed for a bum, eat at one of those picnic tables at 16th Street at the Piers. There will be a smorgasbord of leftover dung crums, sweat, ticks, fleas, ripped clothing. Bring the kids and show them what "real" New York is like.
"Kill the ghosts that hide in your soul." -- those are the lyrics I hear (and sometimes repeat aloud). It's the first song off Slash's new solo album and it's sung by Ian Astbury of The Cult (and The Doors). It's becoming a mantra. It's a good starter for a rock album and even though it's probably not meant to have any deep significance, it resonates with me. I think about the past only when I'm on the bike, I largely have no use for it over the course of the day. The past being middle & high school and bits of college. It's not tangible and I no longer need it. It doesn't evoke the same anger that it used to and now that I've resolved some issues at work, a lot of the pent up frustration is gone. Of course, that's not a great thing because I need that in order to ride harder and lift more. Maybe once the Ipod is restored I can tap in to it.
I think anger gets a bad rap. Not proactively letting it out, or at least acknowledging it, is wrong. If you do neither, in my estimation that means you're the person who's going to snap. Use it. You know that guy/girl who is always so mellow and so chill -- trust me there's a riot going on inside that person's mind. It's all trying to squeeze its way through the door at the same time.
This is why I'm more drawn to Henry Rollins and Biohazard. It's extremely intense at times but it is positive. You want proof? Listen to "Inhale Exhale" by Rollins Band off Come In and Burn or to "Salvation" and "Switchback" off Biohazard's New World Disorder. I won't claim to be a mellow guy but the message in the music taught me to open my eyes and see the distractions like I'm in the Matrix. Heavy music that's hateful (or unintelligible, for that matter -- I can take the yelling but if the singer is worse than Max Cavalera, then it's too much) with no motive other than hate and flexing the muscles without brain stimulation is pointless. That's why I can only go so loud with the metal and I avoid rap altogether.
Made the light over at Albany Street and this new schedule works out well for me again.
Thank you for reading.
The equestrian helmet? Really? I saw a girl donning one while riding near the Chelsea Piers and had to do a double take. Um, ok... I guess that's fine in the sense that it'd protect your head. But if I think you look odd then there's something wrong.
Not 3 blocks south I looked off to the right and thought of something: If you want to eat on a table that has been a bed for a bum, eat at one of those picnic tables at 16th Street at the Piers. There will be a smorgasbord of leftover dung crums, sweat, ticks, fleas, ripped clothing. Bring the kids and show them what "real" New York is like.
"Kill the ghosts that hide in your soul." -- those are the lyrics I hear (and sometimes repeat aloud). It's the first song off Slash's new solo album and it's sung by Ian Astbury of The Cult (and The Doors). It's becoming a mantra. It's a good starter for a rock album and even though it's probably not meant to have any deep significance, it resonates with me. I think about the past only when I'm on the bike, I largely have no use for it over the course of the day. The past being middle & high school and bits of college. It's not tangible and I no longer need it. It doesn't evoke the same anger that it used to and now that I've resolved some issues at work, a lot of the pent up frustration is gone. Of course, that's not a great thing because I need that in order to ride harder and lift more. Maybe once the Ipod is restored I can tap in to it.
I think anger gets a bad rap. Not proactively letting it out, or at least acknowledging it, is wrong. If you do neither, in my estimation that means you're the person who's going to snap. Use it. You know that guy/girl who is always so mellow and so chill -- trust me there's a riot going on inside that person's mind. It's all trying to squeeze its way through the door at the same time.
This is why I'm more drawn to Henry Rollins and Biohazard. It's extremely intense at times but it is positive. You want proof? Listen to "Inhale Exhale" by Rollins Band off Come In and Burn or to "Salvation" and "Switchback" off Biohazard's New World Disorder. I won't claim to be a mellow guy but the message in the music taught me to open my eyes and see the distractions like I'm in the Matrix. Heavy music that's hateful (or unintelligible, for that matter -- I can take the yelling but if the singer is worse than Max Cavalera, then it's too much) with no motive other than hate and flexing the muscles without brain stimulation is pointless. That's why I can only go so loud with the metal and I avoid rap altogether.
Made the light over at Albany Street and this new schedule works out well for me again.
Thank you for reading.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Ride Home
It's so much better when I don't hit that first light on Church & Fulton. Not being stuck behind the buses and garbage trucks -- being able to fly right past all that is something I don't take for granted. Some of the stop-and-go stuff is the killer and it mostly happens in the evening as opposed to the morning because I'm in the street. Legs feel pretty good all things considered -- I ran moderately during lunch on top of existing soreness but the worst of it is over.
New schedule is good I am sure that it will be even better as the Fall approaches. Making an earlier train is always a plus.
As I ride I still glance left through the window of the GNC at 15th Street to see what kind of clearance stuff they have -- last week they had Titan protein bars (3 combined boxes for $5 total). But it's not like I need the stuff now it's a bad force of habit -- but I can think of worse habits to have.
Making the left onto 31st Street -- I've touched upon this before -- is the WORST. I am pretty sure that the sequence in "Terminator 3" where the crane was dragged by a truck through the city was not filmed in NY, but you'd think so with all the potholes and steel doors between 6th & 7th. Hey DOT Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee -- that one's directed at you!
As I finally got to the light at 7th Ave., just across the street from my destination, some bald meathead was walking with that meathead "I'll fuck you up"-look while holding on to his gallon of water. It didn't look like he was going to stop in to the relentless traffic. I thought he was going to go for it and walk through it but he wimped out. I laughed loudly right near the tough guy -- I didn't want him to fuck me up -- and made my way back in to dungeon so the dragon-snake could whisk me back home.
New schedule is good I am sure that it will be even better as the Fall approaches. Making an earlier train is always a plus.
As I ride I still glance left through the window of the GNC at 15th Street to see what kind of clearance stuff they have -- last week they had Titan protein bars (3 combined boxes for $5 total). But it's not like I need the stuff now it's a bad force of habit -- but I can think of worse habits to have.
Making the left onto 31st Street -- I've touched upon this before -- is the WORST. I am pretty sure that the sequence in "Terminator 3" where the crane was dragged by a truck through the city was not filmed in NY, but you'd think so with all the potholes and steel doors between 6th & 7th. Hey DOT Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee -- that one's directed at you!
As I finally got to the light at 7th Ave., just across the street from my destination, some bald meathead was walking with that meathead "I'll fuck you up"-look while holding on to his gallon of water. It didn't look like he was going to stop in to the relentless traffic. I thought he was going to go for it and walk through it but he wimped out. I laughed loudly right near the tough guy -- I didn't want him to fuck me up -- and made my way back in to dungeon so the dragon-snake could whisk me back home.
Women who run with posture resembling "Mr. Burns doggie-paddling upright on solid ground"
Now the rides will begin a half-hour earlier each day. That started today, but surprisingly I did see some familiar faces on the highway again.
Hodgepodge of 4 songs in my head today: "Wheels," "Decibel," and "She Likes Rock & Roll" off AC/DC's Black Ice. The fourth song is "That's the Way of the World" by Earth Wind & Fire. No idea why that last one popped in there but it's a good song.
Along the highway there were a few more bikers and joggers today -- that could be attributed to the half-hour time difference. But I notice the collective posture of the joggers and there are some women who look...off. I suppose it's all about how you feel, but why do some people -- oftentimes it's women -- run while present limp wrists? One today looked like Mr. Burns doggie-paddling upright on solid ground. Make a fist or flatten your palms! Move your arms a little and you'll propel yourself a bit further.
Am nearing the mid-point of Beneath the Wheel and it's coming along nicely. There are certainly similarities in theme/premise when held beside Siddhartha -- both focus on a boy who feels destined for greater things and is self-exiled/outcast due to the (sometimes self-imposed) pressures of life. What I like about Hesse's writing is that the characters are universal, especially the supporting ones; the distant father, the less mature school "friends," -- and in this case the religious leader is more of an instructor than an adviser. However, I noticed on pg 17 there was a narration change from 3rd person to a more subjective view where the narrator seems to be addressing Hans specifically. He could be meant to be speaking for him, but the words "he thought to himself" are absent. One wonders if that is intentional or if it was lost in the translation.
Hans is also an identifiable character as an adolescent because everyone's counting on him to succeed and go places so they can all take credit for their influence. Forget the fact that he's a boy -- make him a Martian -- and anyone I know can identify with this sort of internal/external struggle at practically any point in their lives. It is a bit different when you're younger, though, because it's tougher to ascertain who really wants good things for you and who just wants to live vicariously through you. They made the poor kid study during his summer vacation. You can also pick up on some of Hesse's sarcasm when he describes why the education system has to dull the excitement of young children.
My dream last night was of meeting an old friend in a train station while I sporadically bled all over the library copy of A Void. Brad Pitt ended up at the same diner as we did and for some reason he recognized me from something recent, it could've been the Yankee game I attended on Friday, but I think he referred to it as the Met game.
My legs are still a little charliehorsed but it's too nice outside so I'm running today during lunch. Today my t-shirt is a replica of Al Bundy's Polk High uniform so let's see if anyone along the Seaport is cool. Forgot my turkey sandwich so I'll wolf down most of my Detour bar with a banana and save the remainder of lunch for the train ride home. Today will be round-trip day #265. It certainly seems as though I'm on target to make it to 300 by year's end. If I end closer to 325 I'll be content.
Thank you for reading.
Hodgepodge of 4 songs in my head today: "Wheels," "Decibel," and "She Likes Rock & Roll" off AC/DC's Black Ice. The fourth song is "That's the Way of the World" by Earth Wind & Fire. No idea why that last one popped in there but it's a good song.
Along the highway there were a few more bikers and joggers today -- that could be attributed to the half-hour time difference. But I notice the collective posture of the joggers and there are some women who look...off. I suppose it's all about how you feel, but why do some people -- oftentimes it's women -- run while present limp wrists? One today looked like Mr. Burns doggie-paddling upright on solid ground. Make a fist or flatten your palms! Move your arms a little and you'll propel yourself a bit further.
Am nearing the mid-point of Beneath the Wheel and it's coming along nicely. There are certainly similarities in theme/premise when held beside Siddhartha -- both focus on a boy who feels destined for greater things and is self-exiled/outcast due to the (sometimes self-imposed) pressures of life. What I like about Hesse's writing is that the characters are universal, especially the supporting ones; the distant father, the less mature school "friends," -- and in this case the religious leader is more of an instructor than an adviser. However, I noticed on pg 17 there was a narration change from 3rd person to a more subjective view where the narrator seems to be addressing Hans specifically. He could be meant to be speaking for him, but the words "he thought to himself" are absent. One wonders if that is intentional or if it was lost in the translation.
Hans is also an identifiable character as an adolescent because everyone's counting on him to succeed and go places so they can all take credit for their influence. Forget the fact that he's a boy -- make him a Martian -- and anyone I know can identify with this sort of internal/external struggle at practically any point in their lives. It is a bit different when you're younger, though, because it's tougher to ascertain who really wants good things for you and who just wants to live vicariously through you. They made the poor kid study during his summer vacation. You can also pick up on some of Hesse's sarcasm when he describes why the education system has to dull the excitement of young children.
My dream last night was of meeting an old friend in a train station while I sporadically bled all over the library copy of A Void. Brad Pitt ended up at the same diner as we did and for some reason he recognized me from something recent, it could've been the Yankee game I attended on Friday, but I think he referred to it as the Met game.
My legs are still a little charliehorsed but it's too nice outside so I'm running today during lunch. Today my t-shirt is a replica of Al Bundy's Polk High uniform so let's see if anyone along the Seaport is cool. Forgot my turkey sandwich so I'll wolf down most of my Detour bar with a banana and save the remainder of lunch for the train ride home. Today will be round-trip day #265. It certainly seems as though I'm on target to make it to 300 by year's end. If I end closer to 325 I'll be content.
Thank you for reading.
Monday, July 26, 2010
guy with hands down pants at Chelsea Piers
Today is thankfully only in the 80s, and while I don't mind the heat in the morning, the heat in the evening is a killer when I'm stuck behind buses & trucks.
So I am about 5 minutes early on my ride today because the rarity of being able to hop on an express double-decker at jamaica happened. It's good in the sense that I'm not cramped and claustrophobic on the ride and therefore not hideously anxious to get on the road.
There is so much dust-debris-soot-(if possible)-specks-pebbles in the air and ground as I cross 29th -- especially where the postal & fedex trucks dock. The place is a haven during bad and cold weather but it's awful in the summer. The other spot like that is on the way back on Church Street near Park Place. You can't keep your eyes wide open. I keep my mouth closed, too, when I'm in both locations.
On the highway I saw many familiar faces in passing but they were about 5 minutes behind where they'd normally be which is kind of cool because it means I've set a solid pace for myself.
There was one guy who was near 15th st just by the tourist-y Chelsea Piers spot -- he's unfamiliar but dressed as though going for a run with the white "umbros"-style shirt and running shorts and headphones. But this guy had his hand deep in/under his underwear. You knew it was his underwear because if he were fixing something outside it he'd have to use his thumb to differentiate between shorts & briefs. But he had his hand deep in there but wasn't moving up and down real fast -- that would've made sense. It was almost like he was checking for testicular cancer but the odd thing was he didn't walk off to the side or anything like that. No, this Rich Vos-looking dude was in the runners' lane (to my right) but facing me and the traffic. And staring! Just creepy. There's a public bathroom in the Chelsea Piers so use that one, you weirdo.
I began reading Hermann Hesse's Beneath the Wheel today. Ever since I read Siddhartha in late '09 I've wanted to read another of his works and this seems to be the next logical step. So far it's fine I'm only 15 pgs in.
My legs are pretty sore -- I worked them out hardcore on Saturday and didn't feel the effects until last night. When I know I'll have a couple of days in between bike rides I like to tear them up at the gym with squats and some machine work. I like the feeling of soreness because it is not pain -- it's merely a reminder that I've done some good work previously and also a precursor for how bad I will feel if I don't keep up this type of training for the triathlon and, more importantly, for life. However, I know when it's too much and I will not run during lunch.
I made it to the office almost 10 minutes early. Thank you for reading.
So I am about 5 minutes early on my ride today because the rarity of being able to hop on an express double-decker at jamaica happened. It's good in the sense that I'm not cramped and claustrophobic on the ride and therefore not hideously anxious to get on the road.
There is so much dust-debris-soot-(if possible)-specks-pebbles in the air and ground as I cross 29th -- especially where the postal & fedex trucks dock. The place is a haven during bad and cold weather but it's awful in the summer. The other spot like that is on the way back on Church Street near Park Place. You can't keep your eyes wide open. I keep my mouth closed, too, when I'm in both locations.
On the highway I saw many familiar faces in passing but they were about 5 minutes behind where they'd normally be which is kind of cool because it means I've set a solid pace for myself.
There was one guy who was near 15th st just by the tourist-y Chelsea Piers spot -- he's unfamiliar but dressed as though going for a run with the white "umbros"-style shirt and running shorts and headphones. But this guy had his hand deep in/under his underwear. You knew it was his underwear because if he were fixing something outside it he'd have to use his thumb to differentiate between shorts & briefs. But he had his hand deep in there but wasn't moving up and down real fast -- that would've made sense. It was almost like he was checking for testicular cancer but the odd thing was he didn't walk off to the side or anything like that. No, this Rich Vos-looking dude was in the runners' lane (to my right) but facing me and the traffic. And staring! Just creepy. There's a public bathroom in the Chelsea Piers so use that one, you weirdo.
I began reading Hermann Hesse's Beneath the Wheel today. Ever since I read Siddhartha in late '09 I've wanted to read another of his works and this seems to be the next logical step. So far it's fine I'm only 15 pgs in.
My legs are pretty sore -- I worked them out hardcore on Saturday and didn't feel the effects until last night. When I know I'll have a couple of days in between bike rides I like to tear them up at the gym with squats and some machine work. I like the feeling of soreness because it is not pain -- it's merely a reminder that I've done some good work previously and also a precursor for how bad I will feel if I don't keep up this type of training for the triathlon and, more importantly, for life. However, I know when it's too much and I will not run during lunch.
I made it to the office almost 10 minutes early. Thank you for reading.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Hustle
Well today is certainly less humid and more hospitable than the past 2 weeks.
Ride was mostly quick & uneventful with minimal tourists along WFC. Somewhere at the end of Midtown south I saw a bus along the highway that promoted Hunt Valley tours and was reminded of the movie passes I used to get in college to go to the Hunt Valley theater but I don't recall if I ever went. Oh, well, that meant I had to catch Gigli on TNT rather than on the silver screen.
Am reading the Kafka's The Penal Colony and I think it's the piece I like best -- a few weeks ago I bought a small collection of his works in the B&N imprint. The Stoker was really good, too, and makes me want to read Amerika because it's that book's first chapter.
Saw "Inception" last night -- great film. Makes me wonder if I can train myself to keep out unwanted visitors. I wonder if my subconscious would be more or less vicious than DiCaprio's. They utilized the mise-en-abyme to its limit and it was really well done. It's the sort of thing that anyone could've come up with but you really have to let your mind go and just write that sort of thing after (I'm theorizing) reading everything there is to know about dreams, levels of consciousness and psychology.
My brother and I did that once only it turned out to be the outline for a movie about sibling rivalry and caffeine.
The rides home are typically uneventful and we want them to be that way. It's easier to let my mind wander in the morning because I'm not contending with traffic and there are far less distractions (vis-a-vis ajar cab doors and important, multi-tasking pedestrians who are LOL'ing across 6th Avenue).
The worst of it during the evening ride is between W. 2nd Street to W. 23rd. The slowest, and therefore most agonizing spot is where 6th Avenue and Canal Street converge. There's curbside parking (many spots are taken by police vans) and hundreds of cars are piling into 3 lanes (the 4th is for buses).
I'm usually wearing a t-shirt that may not be fully dried since the morning's ride (and/or lately, the lunchtime run) so between that, the humidity, and a waining sense of urban patriotism, I just want out -- stay in the bike lane (on the left) keep an eye on the potholes and one out for the assholes and hustle. Making a left into 31st street is terrible too, as the whole street is just torn up and loose gravel is everywhere so you cannot brake too hard or you'll skid. That left turn, however, is necessary so I just have to plan ahead.
If something really interesting happens, I'll post that but otherwise, the goal is to hop on the train and forget the bike ride and then get off the train and forget the train ride.
Thank you for reading.
Ride was mostly quick & uneventful with minimal tourists along WFC. Somewhere at the end of Midtown south I saw a bus along the highway that promoted Hunt Valley tours and was reminded of the movie passes I used to get in college to go to the Hunt Valley theater but I don't recall if I ever went. Oh, well, that meant I had to catch Gigli on TNT rather than on the silver screen.
Am reading the Kafka's The Penal Colony and I think it's the piece I like best -- a few weeks ago I bought a small collection of his works in the B&N imprint. The Stoker was really good, too, and makes me want to read Amerika because it's that book's first chapter.
Saw "Inception" last night -- great film. Makes me wonder if I can train myself to keep out unwanted visitors. I wonder if my subconscious would be more or less vicious than DiCaprio's. They utilized the mise-en-abyme to its limit and it was really well done. It's the sort of thing that anyone could've come up with but you really have to let your mind go and just write that sort of thing after (I'm theorizing) reading everything there is to know about dreams, levels of consciousness and psychology.
My brother and I did that once only it turned out to be the outline for a movie about sibling rivalry and caffeine.
The rides home are typically uneventful and we want them to be that way. It's easier to let my mind wander in the morning because I'm not contending with traffic and there are far less distractions (vis-a-vis ajar cab doors and important, multi-tasking pedestrians who are LOL'ing across 6th Avenue).
The worst of it during the evening ride is between W. 2nd Street to W. 23rd. The slowest, and therefore most agonizing spot is where 6th Avenue and Canal Street converge. There's curbside parking (many spots are taken by police vans) and hundreds of cars are piling into 3 lanes (the 4th is for buses).
I'm usually wearing a t-shirt that may not be fully dried since the morning's ride (and/or lately, the lunchtime run) so between that, the humidity, and a waining sense of urban patriotism, I just want out -- stay in the bike lane (on the left) keep an eye on the potholes and one out for the assholes and hustle. Making a left into 31st street is terrible too, as the whole street is just torn up and loose gravel is everywhere so you cannot brake too hard or you'll skid. That left turn, however, is necessary so I just have to plan ahead.
If something really interesting happens, I'll post that but otherwise, the goal is to hop on the train and forget the bike ride and then get off the train and forget the train ride.
Thank you for reading.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
"Gonna burn it all away"
A scorcher today and I thought it was going to rain.
Still no Ipod but I had one song in mind and it was "Burned Bridges" by Living Colour (first song off their new album). It has a constant beat and good introspective lyrics. If you are running or pedaling, it's a good song to begin with as you can set a pace with it. It starts off with an unnecessary beat box but gets organic about 30 seconds in.
Wearing my black "Snakes On a Plane" t-shirt which I'm sure contributed to its own saturation. I finished "A Void" last night and will type up a book report later as I reflect on it further. On the whole I liked it but don't feel it's as good as "Life: A User's Manual."
I mention this because I gave myself a morning off from reading really dense literary "maldiction" and finally cracked open this month's Men's Health, which cites a new study claiming that one would ride his bike faster at 6 p.m. as opposed to 6 a.m. I don't exactly recall why, but I have a theory -- the odds are you hate your job and, as quickly as possible, you are trying to put as much distance between yourself and your office.
One thing that saddens me as I see people touring the Financial District is that there are mothers, caretakers, housekeepers and the like pushing strollers along the walkway. It's dismaying because they're potentially exposing toddlers to whatever's still in the air over there. Is there nowhere else for them to go on their constitutionals?
I have run approximately 3 miles at a time during lunch on the past two days so I'll give myself a break today. Must continue hydration and expulsion rituals.
Thank you for reading.
Still no Ipod but I had one song in mind and it was "Burned Bridges" by Living Colour (first song off their new album). It has a constant beat and good introspective lyrics. If you are running or pedaling, it's a good song to begin with as you can set a pace with it. It starts off with an unnecessary beat box but gets organic about 30 seconds in.
Wearing my black "Snakes On a Plane" t-shirt which I'm sure contributed to its own saturation. I finished "A Void" last night and will type up a book report later as I reflect on it further. On the whole I liked it but don't feel it's as good as "Life: A User's Manual."
I mention this because I gave myself a morning off from reading really dense literary "maldiction" and finally cracked open this month's Men's Health, which cites a new study claiming that one would ride his bike faster at 6 p.m. as opposed to 6 a.m. I don't exactly recall why, but I have a theory -- the odds are you hate your job and, as quickly as possible, you are trying to put as much distance between yourself and your office.
One thing that saddens me as I see people touring the Financial District is that there are mothers, caretakers, housekeepers and the like pushing strollers along the walkway. It's dismaying because they're potentially exposing toddlers to whatever's still in the air over there. Is there nowhere else for them to go on their constitutionals?
I have run approximately 3 miles at a time during lunch on the past two days so I'll give myself a break today. Must continue hydration and expulsion rituals.
Thank you for reading.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
July 20, 2010
Had to pedal hard from the house to the station this morning. Did it under 5 min but that's too close.
Upon reaching Penn, even with a pre-journey expulsion of sun-colored liquid toxins, I made it downtown in 20. Stopped at practically no lights and I've gotten my timing down at this point.
Still no Ipod, so I had 2 songs in my head that don't go well together:
1. "Last Temptation" by Twilight Singers
2. "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" by Van Halen
Why was I hearing these songs above all? I can't really explain #1. This isn't the season to be thinking of it nor to be in the mood for it. According to Itunes I haven't listened to it in 5 months.
#2 is one of those "follow the trail" answers -- The song is originally written by the Kinks (methinks) and while reading Perec's "A Void" during the morning commute there was a description containing several "kinks." I used to listen to this song all the time when I was writing a family comedy screenplay (that is now somewhat prophetic) about my grandparents called "Go Grandpa, Go!" One night last year, a group of snooty Manhattanites met and hated the first act, and then asked me not to return to their precious literary group. In my mind they all fell down a manhole later that night after smoking hash and never resurfaced. No funeral services have been held as their whereabouts are still unknown, but no one's looking for them, either. The cashiers at Strand bookstore pay people not to look for them.
As I looked west at the nice lawns which the Parks & Rec folks have created & maintained, I see vagabonds sleeping. Save for the probable and likely, typical, itching that could come from ground slumber it actually seems like a good spot to pass out.
Pretty uneventful ride today, as there weren't an abundance of gawkers near the WTC. Better that way -- I am pretty resentful that they've put the rebuilding effort up for public display.
Thank you for reading.
Upon reaching Penn, even with a pre-journey expulsion of sun-colored liquid toxins, I made it downtown in 20. Stopped at practically no lights and I've gotten my timing down at this point.
Still no Ipod, so I had 2 songs in my head that don't go well together:
1. "Last Temptation" by Twilight Singers
2. "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" by Van Halen
Why was I hearing these songs above all? I can't really explain #1. This isn't the season to be thinking of it nor to be in the mood for it. According to Itunes I haven't listened to it in 5 months.
#2 is one of those "follow the trail" answers -- The song is originally written by the Kinks (methinks) and while reading Perec's "A Void" during the morning commute there was a description containing several "kinks." I used to listen to this song all the time when I was writing a family comedy screenplay (that is now somewhat prophetic) about my grandparents called "Go Grandpa, Go!" One night last year, a group of snooty Manhattanites met and hated the first act, and then asked me not to return to their precious literary group. In my mind they all fell down a manhole later that night after smoking hash and never resurfaced. No funeral services have been held as their whereabouts are still unknown, but no one's looking for them, either. The cashiers at Strand bookstore pay people not to look for them.
As I looked west at the nice lawns which the Parks & Rec folks have created & maintained, I see vagabonds sleeping. Save for the probable and likely, typical, itching that could come from ground slumber it actually seems like a good spot to pass out.
Pretty uneventful ride today, as there weren't an abundance of gawkers near the WTC. Better that way -- I am pretty resentful that they've put the rebuilding effort up for public display.
Thank you for reading.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Entry #1 - July 19, 2010
Hi. If you are reading this you have way too much time on your hands. But I'm grateful nevertheless and will make it a mission not to bore you with monotonous nothings.
Welcome to my folding adventures -- where I will give birth to a new fold every day. Actually, the thesis for this blog is to empty my head after my rides to and from work with whatever tangible thoughts I may have had. Sometimes I will recall the details from the previous night or the morning that is fading away, conversations had, friendships lost, plans for the future and other experiences from some walks of life. I also apparently need to do this in order to obtain certain professional and personal goals. I do have the tendency to get very drill instructor-ish in my own mind, and I have very high standards of my physical self, daily. I am at peace with this mentality though I know it is not for everyone.
First I will describe the ride and vehicle.
I ride a black/gray Dahon "boardwalk" style folding bike - 20" wheels, no gears, 1 brake - from Penn Station, 4 blocks west to the West Side Highway, where I ride down the paved bike lanes. I cross over (east) 3 blocks from the end of the World Financial Center and park at my company's office at Broadway. That ride is approximately 4 miles and the ride back to Penn, which is 1 block west onto Trinity, stay north until Church and then 6th Ave., then a left on 31st into Penn, is 3 miles. It's 7 miles round-trip every day (barring horrible weather or post-daily grind plans). Since my employer moved down here nearly 2 years ago I've made this round-trip 260 times (today is #260). I began riding, essentially, to save money and avoid the subways and stick it to the MTA. I've done the math and I've saved thousands of dollars doing this and I'll eventually post those equations (you cannot argue with the numbers).
The by-product of all the riding was the weight loss and leanness -- I've slimmed from approximately 170-175 down to mid 150s. My workout regimen is tough too but it's necessary now and vital to my own survival. (see earlier warning of my Rollins-ish mentality) Each round trip day is approximately 350 calories burned. Multiply that times 10 and it becomes one pound (3500 cal) burned per every 10 roundtrips.
I won't name my company nor what I do there, that information may be alluded to during my blogs but I will not outright mention them, nor anyone I work with by their full name(s). However, that I cannot watch "The Office" nor "Office Space" since the scenery is so eerily remnisicent of an environment I currently abhor that it would send me into a frenzy, as to sit through one episode would convince me that I'm owed a half-hour of overtime.
So today -- I am still without an IPOD, which I had thought of as my lifeforce whilst riding. It has crapped out on me and now just makes this crackling sound when it does play so I will have to have it refurbished. Normally a healthy dose of Airbourne (the band, not the flu-fighter) Sammy Hagar, Kiss and AC/DC get me through my 20-25 minute ride but now I'm choiceless in having to absorb the sound of the city. Upon exiting Penn this morning, I saw it was raining but, it wasn't pouring and I had the bike so the hell with it I am going. By the time I made it to the highway it'd fizzled off and was actually somewhat refreshing.
I've been reading Georges Perec's "A Void" (the 1994 translation) and at times I want to dig up his grave and beat him back in to it because the book is so wordy. I love it but I hate it. I think about the story (I'm 200 pgs in and have about 80 pgs remaining) and how all the characters are dying one by one in an absurd heightened comic-murder-mystery but he seems to know that he's a pain in the ass to read (he makes mention of it several times), so once he apologizes within the text, all is forgiven and I re-enjoy it. He didn't have a huge volume of published works and but it's extremely revered and I do admit to liking what I've read thus far and it is intimidating as I know that I'll never be that good. Then again at times it seems he just went through a dictionary and found all the words that contain no "E" and tossed them in there (or perhaps Gilbert Adair did it, if so then he's a brilliant asshole, too).
I see the same few people every day riding on the opposite side of the highway and I wonder where they are going. I have to figure they are going to work, but one never knows. I do feel a kinship with them and it's like I know they are fighting the good fight. Of course, they could be total jerks -- one guy does look like a shaved Jack Osbourne, after all.
As I approaced 2 World Financial Center I ran in to an old camp friend, Evan, who I saw for the first time on my bike right before I got married. He was a cool guy and I hope we can reconnect. I certainly wouldn't want to fight him as he's still built like a tank.
Made it down here in 20 minutes exactly. My back, as usual, is soaked thanks to the backpack and humidity. I will make it a point to run today during lunch as part of the training for the triathlon in 5+ weeks.
Welcome to my folding adventures -- where I will give birth to a new fold every day. Actually, the thesis for this blog is to empty my head after my rides to and from work with whatever tangible thoughts I may have had. Sometimes I will recall the details from the previous night or the morning that is fading away, conversations had, friendships lost, plans for the future and other experiences from some walks of life. I also apparently need to do this in order to obtain certain professional and personal goals. I do have the tendency to get very drill instructor-ish in my own mind, and I have very high standards of my physical self, daily. I am at peace with this mentality though I know it is not for everyone.
First I will describe the ride and vehicle.
I ride a black/gray Dahon "boardwalk" style folding bike - 20" wheels, no gears, 1 brake - from Penn Station, 4 blocks west to the West Side Highway, where I ride down the paved bike lanes. I cross over (east) 3 blocks from the end of the World Financial Center and park at my company's office at Broadway. That ride is approximately 4 miles and the ride back to Penn, which is 1 block west onto Trinity, stay north until Church and then 6th Ave., then a left on 31st into Penn, is 3 miles. It's 7 miles round-trip every day (barring horrible weather or post-daily grind plans). Since my employer moved down here nearly 2 years ago I've made this round-trip 260 times (today is #260). I began riding, essentially, to save money and avoid the subways and stick it to the MTA. I've done the math and I've saved thousands of dollars doing this and I'll eventually post those equations (you cannot argue with the numbers).
The by-product of all the riding was the weight loss and leanness -- I've slimmed from approximately 170-175 down to mid 150s. My workout regimen is tough too but it's necessary now and vital to my own survival. (see earlier warning of my Rollins-ish mentality) Each round trip day is approximately 350 calories burned. Multiply that times 10 and it becomes one pound (3500 cal) burned per every 10 roundtrips.
I won't name my company nor what I do there, that information may be alluded to during my blogs but I will not outright mention them, nor anyone I work with by their full name(s). However, that I cannot watch "The Office" nor "Office Space" since the scenery is so eerily remnisicent of an environment I currently abhor that it would send me into a frenzy, as to sit through one episode would convince me that I'm owed a half-hour of overtime.
So today -- I am still without an IPOD, which I had thought of as my lifeforce whilst riding. It has crapped out on me and now just makes this crackling sound when it does play so I will have to have it refurbished. Normally a healthy dose of Airbourne (the band, not the flu-fighter) Sammy Hagar, Kiss and AC/DC get me through my 20-25 minute ride but now I'm choiceless in having to absorb the sound of the city. Upon exiting Penn this morning, I saw it was raining but, it wasn't pouring and I had the bike so the hell with it I am going. By the time I made it to the highway it'd fizzled off and was actually somewhat refreshing.
I've been reading Georges Perec's "A Void" (the 1994 translation) and at times I want to dig up his grave and beat him back in to it because the book is so wordy. I love it but I hate it. I think about the story (I'm 200 pgs in and have about 80 pgs remaining) and how all the characters are dying one by one in an absurd heightened comic-murder-mystery but he seems to know that he's a pain in the ass to read (he makes mention of it several times), so once he apologizes within the text, all is forgiven and I re-enjoy it. He didn't have a huge volume of published works and but it's extremely revered and I do admit to liking what I've read thus far and it is intimidating as I know that I'll never be that good. Then again at times it seems he just went through a dictionary and found all the words that contain no "E" and tossed them in there (or perhaps Gilbert Adair did it, if so then he's a brilliant asshole, too).
I see the same few people every day riding on the opposite side of the highway and I wonder where they are going. I have to figure they are going to work, but one never knows. I do feel a kinship with them and it's like I know they are fighting the good fight. Of course, they could be total jerks -- one guy does look like a shaved Jack Osbourne, after all.
As I approaced 2 World Financial Center I ran in to an old camp friend, Evan, who I saw for the first time on my bike right before I got married. He was a cool guy and I hope we can reconnect. I certainly wouldn't want to fight him as he's still built like a tank.
Made it down here in 20 minutes exactly. My back, as usual, is soaked thanks to the backpack and humidity. I will make it a point to run today during lunch as part of the training for the triathlon in 5+ weeks.
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