The Second Final Day of the Year (With A Head Full Of Steam) / #48 / 766

850am

Train was a little late today and for a moment there on the Jam. platform I regretted not just taking the subway. Not b/c it's colder but because I have work to wrap up.

The last couple of nights were tough. Up late writing. Last night was the first assignment for the Cleveland lawyer and that was after one Maker's Mark and a Heineken courtesy of the holiday party. Yesterday was also the half-day orientation, which is when I got the assignment.  The last time I got a press release assignment it didn't go so well and I at least had the foresight to ask for the finished product and to read up on the subject so I feel better about this one.  Plus I was able to touch it up a bit on the train -- so this smartphone did come in handy. Hope this works out.

Upon revisiting the previous Final Ride entry, and I think I remember the ride itself pretty well -- or at least its tone -- one can sense the reluctance.  Grandma had passed and the bait & switch had me down. It did not inspire me to rise to the occasion.  Most times I can pull it off but then, I just couldn't.  It worked out better because I was able to establish myself as a freelancer a bit and now I'll be moving away from legal and publishing altogether and into an industry and role that will work out better.  The hours may be a little longer in the beginning but I can make that work.

I keep moving on "With A Head Full Of Steam," and I'm keeping the door open for all sorts of writing. I think I feel better about everything b/c of the supplemental work I'll be doing.  Though that really started in Feb., I had to exhume the writer within in late July and I'm so glad I did.

I moved pretty quickly and did not bring the lock.  My left side is still a little tender so we'll see what's up with that.

Ending on a high note. The music will fuel me through whatever's next.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
2. Gamma Ray - "One With The World"
3. Helloween - "Ride The Sky"
4: RHCP - "We Believe"


515pm

The return ride was all Armored Saint. It was easier for me to leave this time around. No more immediate co-workers so with the exception of a few people who stay after 5 on a Friday, it was business as usual.

It's still pretty warm and I remember this sort of ride at this time in January and I was consumed by a false confidence.  "I Want Out" and "Tainted Past" were certainly the themes of the day back then. Now it's "Win Hands Down." I'm forcing it a tiny bit, I confess, but I know in the long-run I made this all work out.

Thank you for reading.

Second Penultimate Day of 2015 - #47 / 765

9am

It's 10 degrees cooler today -- yesterday's outershirt is my undershirt -- but still nice enough.  No gloves so I'm a little chilly but no big deal.

This is the 2nd penultimate ALM day of the year and it's a pretty good feeling to know the next step will almost-undoubtedly be better than the last departure.

There was a black guy shouting undecipherable at the skies as I got on to the bridge.  I was listening to "March Of Time" as I was arriving.  Even though things sometimes seem cyclical time does not care about us one way or another.

My left leg has a little pain/soreness and though I wanted to hit the gym tonight and crank out my legs.

It's odd -- By year's end I will have had 4 jobs this year, excluding remote work:

ALM
The BigLaw that dare not speak its name
ALM
AIT

And that excludes the freelancing, which I feel good about.  I have a lot to say about it that I want to chronicle.

It's almost over.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
Van Halen - "Unchained"
Chris Stills - "Live to Live"
Iron Maiden - "Wildest Dreams"
Accept - "Balls To The Wall"

No Headphones? Final Tues - #46 / 764

9am

It's sunny and in the low 60s.  I'm leaving that black sweatshirt home today.  I believed I foolishly left clothes and music home, so I had Helloween's Keeper Part II playing on the phone but it was barely audible.  I'm pretty tired from last night's impromptu gym session but it's a good feeling of tiredness. My arms were shredded for sure so that's great. Tomorrow night I'll hit it again and do my shoulders and legs.

I'm hoping to meet the lawyer for whom I write today but we'll see if that happens.

I'm not moving as fast as I'd like but that's to be expected.  I have to crank out a post for him soon, too.

There's a major feeling of relief I'm experiencing knowing that this is all over soon.  I'll resume morning runs and productive commutes.

Thank you for reading.

Cloudy with a chance of final Monday / #45 / 763

915am

The connecting train was late at Jamaica but whatever. It's so warm but very foggy. My mother-in-law was right about the visibility.

There was a woman on Jay Street who did not feel it necessary to cross at the light, in plain sight, with a baby carriage.  Yes, traffic had stopped but any one of us cyclists could've collided with her.  I laughed out of sheer disgust.

This is the last Monday I'll be making this trip.  This is closer to the way I wanted to go out.  I don't think anyone will make an offer to keep me b/c the point was to phase it out.  That's ok b/c I am ready for something different.

Into The Abyss

I moved pretty quickly all things considered.  Some TL&C driver almost hit me as I was listening to the last song and wondering where it was during high school.

Thank you for reading.


Playlist:
Rollins Band: Too Much Rock & Roll, Up For It
Foo Fighters: Savior Breath, Long Road To Ruin
Overkill: In Union We Stand

In Union We Stand - #44 / 762

9am

Now that I've accepted the job it's just a matter of the start date. Today is in the low 60s.  I'm so thankful for this weather.

On Jay Street at the light to cross at Tillary, I saw a dude getting arrested and the cops pulled a bottle of pills from the perp's pocket.

The "Iron Rooster" is a good song and I will love it but it was too mellow for my ride.

I made it on to the bridge and was fighting a headache. The construction at the top forces me to the left after months of going to the right.

At that well-timed moment, "Anything My Mama Don't Like" came on and I felt pretty good again.

The ride is pretty uneventful and I'm operating on muscle memory, which is fine.  There's potentially only a week left of these rides and I'm looking forward to something new.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
1. Foo Fighters: "Neverending Sigh"
3. Riot: "Thundersteel"
5. Foo Fighters: "Walk"

Monster ride - #43 / 761

9am

Preparing to formally accept the new job. I'm so much more excited for it than I was for the biglaw spot a year ago.

It is taking too long to get to DeKalb.  I have the timing of the lights and the rhythm of the streets down to a science.

It's glorious outside. It's in the 50s. Absurdly wonderful.

On the bridge I remember now that yesterday or Tuesday there were a bunch of people in Batman clothes followed by slightly fewer in Superman clothes.  Not sure what that was about but my guess is that it's related to movie's marketing campaign.

I feel so much better about this whole scenario. It took another year to get it right.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
Monster Magnet: "Perish In Fire," "Silver Future," "Live For the Moment"
Judas Priest: "You've Got Another Thing Comin'"

Just Keep Walking - #42 / 760

905am

It's a little bit nippy out but it's still in the high-40s. My #2s are knocking me out. They are taking too long and I'm wondering if it's b/c I'm eating cashews at work.  That really shouldn't be the reason but it's possible.

It dawned on me that it was last Tuesday, on arguably the hardest day of the year, that the opportunities arose.  I had no expectations on the job front on that day so I should continue to be glad something came up. I admit I want people to just instantly like and hire me so that I can leave behind the stress of the last X-amount of years -- particularly 2015.  Yesterday I felt some cynicism and paranoia and I'll try to burn that off today. I'd like to hit the gym later, too. I think that will help.

On Jay Street a guy just kept walking diagonally into the bike lane though he saw me coming. If he were standing still I could move around him but when he's already moving and directly in to the spot where I could maneuver it's frustrating.  I suggested he "just keep walking," and if he responded I missed it due to speed and Queensryche.

I've got a bunch of work to do today as well. I have to make a table, which is not my forte.

There are also bills to pay.

Thank you for reading.


Playlist:
Queensryche - "Hellfire," "Toxic Remedy"
Helloween - "Open Your Life"
The Answer - "Never Too Late," "Highwater or Hell"

Try Not Complaining - #41 / 759

9am

I was in a Helloween mood but cut it short to adhere to my playlist.

It's still warm out.  I picked up some new metal songs from a free sampler and Rubikon's "Live That Lie," is one of them.  It stands out from most of the others in that you can actually understand the singer and it's a little bit more of a blues-based/hard rock feel.  The little riff they keep repeating is good but it's too repetitive and they should improvise a bit more. The guitarist deviates once and I'm sure it was a relief for him but in the 2nd verse that should be the norm. Take a page from Flea and Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium.

I read an article in MH this morning about not complaining for a whole week.  That's a lot.  I'll try for today.  I already started on the train this morning when a woman started clipping her nails.

I want this new job at the TIA.  I want to try something new, in a new year and do some good work. I feel like the legal stuff I do has run its course. I do my best but I'm ready to move on.

I'm moving ok but not terribly fast. I'm really exhausted but literally cannot afford to miss a day of work b/c I will not get paid for it.

Let's see if I can keep the "not complaining" thing going.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
Your Highness Electric - "Bob. Sugar. Sex. Magic." "Picture That With Teeth"
Volbeat - "A New Day"
Ex Libris - "Suspended Animation"

Comp in the Pack #40 / 758

912am

That 818 train moves nice and slow. Missed 806 by a minute this morning it was my own fault for expecting a spot at that time.  One reason I hope I get this new job is so that I can park the full-size bike to the station again.

I have the MacBook in my pack and it's pretty heavy, so I left the lock home.

I hi the gym yesterday but my legs are better than they were last Monday.  It's not all that cold yet, which is great.  There's nothing really interesting out here today.

I worked pretty hard this weekend so that this morning wouldn't be a struggle.  I want to get in and out.  I feel badly that I always drop the ball on the holidays for gifts b/c working on the NY project sucks the life and attention out of me.

My arms feel pretty torn up (in a good way) and that's all thanks to the ropes.  I just beat the light at the Bridge entrance after and passed a bunch of people on full size bikes as I made the ascent.

I focus on all the things I'd have liked to have said on Thurs morning during my interviews but I will just have to think positively.  The guy I know there keeps endorsing me on LinkedIn, which is really nice and hopefully he's talking me up.

It was good to be a full-time dad this weekend but I needed the kid to nap yesterday.

It's all good. Hopefully the ghostwritten post will go well, too and that will be that.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
The Answer: "Concrete," "You Call Yourself A Friend"
Shockmachine: "Searching For Love," "I'm Gone"
Soundgarden: "A Thousand Days Before"

Revelatory Ride #39 / 757

858am

This is the 3rd of 3 rides this week.  Yesterday was a job interview at TIA and I'm pretty hopeful about it but already preparing for whatever's next.

I'm glad I rode Weds., b/c the subway only cost $11 instead of 16.50.  There will be breakfast awaiting me at work but it will likely be carbtastic.  Happy to have it though.

There's a jacked black guy in front of me on a bike and he's got no helmet and wearing bike shorts. He must be full of fire b/c even though it's not icy, it's certainly chilly.

It was a really rough Mon-Weds. I got home late each day just to publish the NY issue.

I'm hoping to hit the gym this weekend hard and be outside with Miri and see "Creed" with Dad.

The more I listen to Gamma Ray's "Revelation," the final song on the list this morning, I love it. It's operatic and grandiose but metal all the way.  Turns out that it's not Kai's song, but who cares? He aspired to make Queen-type material, and this is it for sure.

I will have to work over the weekend but I will bill for it this time.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:

The Sword - "Warp Riders"
Queensryche - "Bulletproof"
Agent Steel - "Apocalypse"

Playing Catch-Up - #35-38 / 753-756

Wow it's been a week since I've chronicled anything.

I rode last Tues and Weds, and this past Mon and Today.

I don't recall much of Monday other than the music in the morning, which was the new Foo Fighters EP.  They are a class act.  Free music that is far better than most other things out there for purchase.

I saw an old acquaintance from HS on the train for the first half of the commute which was cool.
This morning was a little damp on the roads. Agent Steel was blasting away it was a little too loud.

I've been working really late and a little early and there's even more to do. Yesterday should've been the worst of it. I'm glad I took the subway b/c the rain was unpredictable and my eyes were so shot I would've been my own worst enemy.

I have not seen Miri since Sunday night.  I want to get this work done and be home with her.

Thanks for reading.

Frosty #34 / 752

755am

Though it's a shortened week it doesn't do me much good.

Too much is due.

This morning was the frostiest yet. All that cold air in the lungs slows one down a bit but it wakes one up.  I almost made the Bridge light in time but someone in a sports car made a mad dash for the entrance so I could not chance it.

I had a decent, abridged workout yesterday. It will prep me for the rest of the week.

My legs are pretty nimble.  There's some wind this morning but it's not stopping me.

I kept Slow Motion Reign for the end of the trip just to get some different blood in there. It will be nice to not think about work the entire ride.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
The Answer Raise A Little Hell  Raise A Little Hell 11/23/2015 7:59 AM
Foo Fighters A Matter Of Time   Wasting Light 11/23/2015 8:03 AM
Rollins Band Also Ran   Come In And Burn 11/23/2015 8:07 AM
Stratovarius Freedom   Infinite 11/23/2015 8:12 AM
Slow Motion Reign Twilight Skylight  Slow Motion Reign 11/23/2015 8:15 AM

An 'Accept'able Ride #33 / 751

After a day off on Thursday, b/c it poured in the afternoon/evening, my legs had rested well.

I don't recall much of the Friday morning ride other than it was pretty quick and 45 minutes earlier than my typical 'early' days.

The nighttime ride was to make the 642.  I looked down at my phone and saw it was 621. I helped a bald guy get his bike from the rack and then I put on a few tracks from Accept's Blind Rage and made a dash. Getting up Nassau was tough. I got to the Bridge and felt that runner's high. I got to work at 815am and was there literally all day and I was not missing out on Miri before bed.  That thought propelled me during the incline and I was unstoppable. By the time I got to ATL I saw that maybe 17 minutes had passed.  I had time to spare.

I certainly broke a sweat that night but it primed me for a necessary workout. Things are getting tougher at work and I'm always a little cynical of everything. Hard to shake these old feelings.  Even if you get a 99 out of 100, it's still sort of a fail.

Thank you for reading.


Playlist:

200 Years 4:31 Accept Blind Rage   6:25 PM
Bloodbath Mastermind 6:00 Accept Blind Rage   6:31 PM
From The Ashes We Rise 5:54 Accept Blind Rage   6:37 PM
The Curse 6:29 Accept Blind Rage   6:43 PM

Warm Rides - #31-32 / 749 & 750

In the mornings I fly.  Probably b/c it's light and in the case of today and yesterday, warm.  I'm not battling any winds, either.

Today's and yesterday's morning rides have been in under 19 minutes.  I've broken in The Sword's Warp Riders and it's pretty fantastic, actually.  They are downtuned to a COC level.   They're singing about space and time and the standout track is "Lawless Lands."

Last night I listened to tracks 2-5 of the new Queensryche album, which is more of a power metal thing and it sounds great.   LaTorre actually sounds more like Tate on this album than the last.

There's a ton of work I'm doing. I cannot even begin to chronicle it.  I'm handling it as well as I can but there's just an avalanche of stuff.

Tomorrow is parent-teacher night, so I better be out of here by 515.

People are not wearing helmets on the bikes and I cannot imagine why.

Thank you for reading.

The Nagging Feeling #30 / 748

835am

I've got a few things pending today that I need to get done.  I can catch my breath tomorrow.

I wrote the post or the lawyer yesterday and had it open acknowledging the Paris attacks with a brief allusion to Sept 11 but he was not too keen on it and made it clear not to do it again -- he seems to think I wanted to get SEO up by that but that was of course not my intention.

Made me feel a little crummy but I know in my heart that wasn't what I was going for so I can get past it.

I have to learn what to do about a QR code in order to complete my project today.

I also have to try to ascertain whether I can handle work from another lawyer or push to a contact depending on their referral program.

Tomorrow I will pick up a check.

I was pretty sick Friday night in to Saturday but cleared up on Sunday pretty well and had a nice day with Miri.

Gym sessions will return this week, maybe tomorrow.  I'm ready to destroy again.

All the coughing, nose-blowing and vomiting has kept my abs pretty tight in the times of desk jockeying.

Sonic Highways made me feel a little better during my almost-18-minute ride.

Something From Nothing
The Feast and the Famine
Congregation
Outside
In The Clear

Thank you for reading.

Three Days' Worth of Insight / 27-29 / 745-747

There isn't a whole lot to report this week as far as depth on the bike.

To recap this week:

I threw up 3x on Sunday due to a 24-hour virus I must have caught and it affected me awfully Mon and Tues.  Monday had me @ the office until 10pm.  I was able to complete the EA article amid all the professional chaos of producing a huge issue for SoCal and a sour stomach.

I rode Weds-Friday.  Today the return ride was to Penn to make the 520 home.  Today I've got a little drip.

Yesterday I listened to nearly all of Turbo's Fifth Element. I like it a lot. That and the new Accept album are basically the same thing.  No complaints.

I get down this time of year b/c of the work and also when there's a lack of daylight like I experienced on Weds and Thurs.  Sunday set a harsh tone for the week and it was exacerbated by seemingly endless gray.  Change of weather is also no help.  I can't change this part of me -- I can try but it's a physiological thing.  A fault, sure, but not anything I can eradicate.  You can't always have good days.
There was an awful feeling of repetition this week, especially Mon and Tues, that is also hard to shake.

I will be better next week.

My legs were shot Mon and Tues due to the vomiting so I was pretty happy that I could make the treks.

Thank you for reading.

What A Sleep! #26 / 744

858am

I realized that this was the one morning trip in which I didn't transfer.

There is a ton of work to be done today.  Thankfully I put some photo retouches in motion last night and I'm not waiting on them.

I'm sweating b/c it's warm.  This is this day's highest temp on record, I believe.  It's pretty humid, too.
There's not much to report other than I also have a new topic for the blog.

My body/nervous system forced itself to sleep last night but I admit I woke up really refreshed.

Thank you for reading.


Playlist:
Queensryche: Arrow of Time
Lord Volture: Omerta
Stratovarius: A Million Years Away
Lord Volture: Badajoz (1812)

Crunch Wrap/Time #25 / 743

908am

I stopped for a Taco Bell Crunch Wrap today b/c of the stolen base during the Series.  The timing wasn't great for me today but whatever, let's just get on with it.  I actually enjoyed my breakfast sandwich, I just wish I could have savored it a bit more.  540 calories so I shouldn't be very hungry for most of the day.

My ride was uneventful and I kinda went out of my way to avoid Jay Street again. I went up to Tillary from Ashland and realized it's not worth it.  As I waited at Tillary and Flatbush, Queensryche - "My Global Mind" played and it was all I can do to realize that no one's doing enough to stop Isis.  I hope those people die.

I was able to dash on to the entrance and the ramp and realized though it's quite warm, it's pretty gray and it was only at the top of the Bridge that I stopped to look up.  My thoughts are elsewhere.  A lot of work to accomplish in very little time.

I'll be ok.  Would have liked to hit the gym last night but we both crashed. Dreamt I met Henry again.

Thank you for reading.


Playlist:
Union - "Do Your Own Thing"
WAMI - "The Rider," "Get Out Of My Way"
Dark Moor - "Lovers"

The Mess #24 / 742

835am

Yesterday's worries were for good reason but are mostly quelled.

It's still mid-60s and work begins on our driveway.

I was able to dash across to the ramp, piggybacking on the RHS.

I must admit that upon my ascent I momentarily marveled at the cloudless horizon and the warmth of the daylight.

I have this 'Unicorn' post that is stumping me a bit I have to see to it.

The guy with the wide headphones just cut off the woman ahead of me on the descent -- right before the narrow High St. entrance.  Effing rude.  Equally rude is the woman in the SUV who ran the red just to turn left on to the Bridge as myself and the pedestrians were about to cross.

Thank you for reading.


Playlist:
Enforcer - "Hungry They Will Come"
Scheepers - "Cyberfreak"
Judas Priest - "All Guns Blazing"
Armored Saint - "Mess"
The Sword - "Arcane Montane"

The Heart of the Unicorn #23 / 741

835am

Trying to block out the fact that I may have let something slip by at work.  I also have a 9-930 call with lawyer J for his blog. I read about Unicorns in Fortune and how start-ups can be overextended.  People will want their ROI.

I tried something a little bit different on the route. Rather than wait at Flatbush, I made the right down Fleet (?) and took it to its end and made a right and took that down to Tillary.  Waited a short bit at the corner there but that was ok b/c shoelace came undone.

There are odd words that are reappearing lately -- unicorn (b/c of Gamma Ray) and Tillary (working with a firm with Tillery in its name).  Maybe a lottery ticket is in order?

It was a bit of an uphill trek but I was able to piggyback on the right turn-only and made it on to the ramp pretty fast.

I got a free, legitimate download of Queensryche's new song last night, "Arrow of Time." It's almost power metal.  Totally rocks.

Mornings are great but last night's ride was the first time in 10 months I had a dark ride and it does put me on edge a bit.  Need to leave myself a couple of extra minutes tonight.

It bothers me a bit when the rider before me on the decline is too slow. I don't mind them not pedaling as long as they can "not pedal" as fast as me.

I can feel my legs getting tight.  I really want to hit the gym this week.  A lot of work to do today.

Thank you for reading.

Playlist:
Eleven - "Crash Today," "Why?"
Accept - "Fall of the Empire"
CIV - "Can't Wait One Minute More"