"I felt as if I'd awakened the sleeping giant."

Literally rode the bike on to the train this morning. ....by the skin o' my teeth.

Began reading Catch-22 today. If you want to be a cool dude in your late 20s, you need to read it, apparently. I'm sure I will like it. I got it for $4 brand new at the borders next door about 6-8 months ago and also got Heller's last novel, Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man, even more recently and read that in May. It was okay.

"Right Now" by Van Halen takes me from the platform onto the street today. I'm super-stoked to see Sammy Hagar tomorrow night probably even moreso than Aerosmith. I've always found his lyrics to be inspiring most of the time, fun a little less of the time, and cheesy once in a while. Doesn't matter -- most of the time it's fun and inspiring and that's why Chickenfoot rocks. I'm slow again today and I think it's because the rear tire is a little low. I'm not pushing very hard either but that's okay because I'm in no rush. I ate well last nite and slept too well and didn't have a lot of time to wake up this morning.

"Cosmic Universal Fashion" and "Loud" by Sammy come on as I'm making my way to the highway and on to it. I missed a couple of light I'd normally make. Approaching 12th/WSH, I was on the left side of the street to avoid a car and just then a bus instantly inched out. I felt as if I'd wakened the sleeping giant. I yelled and then started laughing. I bought Cosmic Universal Fashion last June when the Virgin Megastore @ Union Square was going out of business. Those two days were just amazing I bought a ton of good music at maybe 3-4 bucks a pop and it was right before my trip to CO so I could break it in. This was one of those cds and even though I don't love the whole album, I do like a lot of it and there are a few songs that are quite good. (First 2 tracks, esp.) On the whole I think I spent about 100 bucks which is really good considering all the stuff I bought. I skipped out on volleyball one night for it. When other songs come on from those purchases I will go in to more detail because I've got nothing better to think of.

I'm in a good place mentally, emotionally, physically and creatively (I started writing a personal essay about a criteria of jazz I gravitate toward and finished about 5 single-spaced pgs, I'm probably almost done). I suppose it's all downhill from here.

Hitting a good pace today -- not bad for someone who is feeling a little stiff. "Business As Ususal" by Blues Traveler is next and it's fast and furious sans malice. I've been listening to Bastardos! too much lately, especially "Amber Awaits." I'd like to see them live again.

I threw "Jaded" by Aerosmith on the list this morning because I'll be disappointed if they don't play it tomorrow night so I wanted to get it in there. It's got a lot of soul for a latter-day Aerosmith tune. As I crossed the highway via Albany Street "Falling in Love is Hard On the Knees" came on but I made it halfway through by the time I got to the office. When horns accompany an Aerosmith track it usually stands out as one of the better ones and this one is no exception.

We'll see what today brings. Thank you for reading.