Well, it's been another few days of largely uneventful riding. I do vividly recall that last Wednesday that the wind gusted so hard as I was about to cross Vesey Street (and coincidentally, for the 3 whole seconds, stopped pedaling) that I felt myself about to be tossed. I laughed, half nerve-crazed, half-amazed, and walked the bike across the street.
Today, I was a little sore from yesterday's leg workout, specifically the squats and deadlifts, and the wind was blowing against me today so that made it a little tougher than normal. I will not run today during lunch since I'm sorer than I'd anticipated.
This has been a solid month thus far for me and the bike and I'm grateful for warm, sunny mornings such as this.
I'm listening to choice selections from the band Eleven which was a rock trio just under the radar in (mostly) the 1990s. I have the first three Eleven albums. What's interesting about this band is where they came from and where they are now. Long story short (b/c I don't know the whole story) the drummer was Jack Irons who was a Chili Pepper and played on Uplift Mofo Party Plan, and left shortly afterward when Hillel died. He has a style that is not as showy (nor as creative) as Chad Smith and as far as RHCP was concerned, musically it was for the best that he left. The singer/guitarist/bassist and singer/keyboardist were a married couple. The guy, Alain is a really good guitarist and songwriter and he wrote some really good hooks (listen to "Reach Out") and his wife, Natasha, was a good backup singer. These two played as part of Chris Cornell's backup band on Euphoria Morning. She doesn't have the typical female voice which is why I don't really like her singing too much and mostly skip the songs where she provides the lead. The duo did some supporting acts like that and were producers on a No Doubt album. She passed away due to cancer somewhat recently and now Alain collaborates with a lot of fantastic rockers (i.e. Mark Lanegan) and is one of Them Crooked Vultures (at least, on stage). That's gotta be weird -- he was on SNL as one of TCV but his wife and partner had to pass away for that to come to pass. I don't know if that's taking lemons and making a drink of it or just focusing or what -- it's certainly not a situation with which I'd want want to familiarize myself. I knew this band from way back in the early 90s when Q104.3 was a hard rock/alternative station and they'd play "Reach Out." I never forgot the song and thanks to ebay was able to pick up the 2nd two albums pretty inexpensively. Not great albums by any stretch but they are good.
This week will be simpler than most since it's only 3 workdays long. There are certain phone calls that should be coming my way that I'd just like to happen. I'm the point man for a lot of things going on in projects that are bigger than just myself, and I've done what I'm supposed to do (returning calls, sending emails, having my moneys in order) and I have a lot of dissatisfied people on the other end b/c the calls haven't come in. I hate that female silence over the phone that somehow transfers this message: "Why isn't this done yet? Why aren't you trying hard enough?"
When someone calls me, I return the call and get it over with -- good or bad.
Thank you for reading.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Been a while
It has been too long since my last post and I truly feel that I let myself down when I do not continue writing, especially since I've kept a good bicycling percentage the past few weeks.
To start, the last week in October I didn't ride at all b/c I was on a forced furlough week. I did keep up my time at the gym.
November went like this - 4 days in the first week (thurs was a bway show)
4 days last week (thurs was veteran's day and I was off from work). I rode today and yesterday so at last count that makes me 10-for-11, which is quite good. There were a few days last week that were very very cold in the morning to the point where I had to drive to the station to avoid the frigidity. But this week is humid and warmer and today nor yesterday did I wear my fleece.
The cold mornings took some adjustments but otherwise they are okay, it's the matter of wearing pants (as opposed to shorts) that's a little tougher b/c I'm less flexible that way. One day last week it hailed on my way here. IT HAILED! Not hard, mind you, but it was still unexpected.
I am still reading Zarathustra and am nearly finished. This was a tough read -- partially because you almost need to translate for yourself (in the way you do with Shakespeare, getting this old rhetoric into modern-day speak) and partially because some of it is so redundant and boring. There are a few pages that really speak to me and I will be curious to read the "notes" at the end. It will be nice to read something less dense.
Now that the day ends an hour earlier, it's pretty much pitch black when I leave for Penn, which makes me more cautious. But it's not rocket science -- I'm not looking for trouble it's just a matter of moving quickly. The ride itself is much easier than it had been in previous autumns and that is because I have no doubt kept myself leaner. There is no better route for me to take so it's still just about beating the clock.
This morning I listened to a handful of tracks (and two B-Sides) off One Hot Minute, an album I've had since my freshman year of high school. I actually think the b-sides -- "Let's Make Evil" and "Stretch" -- are better than most of tunes that made the final cut. It was nice to hear "One Big Mob" again after a nice long hiatus. When I saw RHCP in Feb of 1996, they played the first 8 tracks off this album, I feel somewhat special about that since you will not hear them play them ever again, sans "Pea."
I'm at a good pace today and though my calves are still a little sore, they do not feel as burstful as they did yesterday.
Thank you for reading.
To start, the last week in October I didn't ride at all b/c I was on a forced furlough week. I did keep up my time at the gym.
November went like this - 4 days in the first week (thurs was a bway show)
4 days last week (thurs was veteran's day and I was off from work). I rode today and yesterday so at last count that makes me 10-for-11, which is quite good. There were a few days last week that were very very cold in the morning to the point where I had to drive to the station to avoid the frigidity. But this week is humid and warmer and today nor yesterday did I wear my fleece.
The cold mornings took some adjustments but otherwise they are okay, it's the matter of wearing pants (as opposed to shorts) that's a little tougher b/c I'm less flexible that way. One day last week it hailed on my way here. IT HAILED! Not hard, mind you, but it was still unexpected.
I am still reading Zarathustra and am nearly finished. This was a tough read -- partially because you almost need to translate for yourself (in the way you do with Shakespeare, getting this old rhetoric into modern-day speak) and partially because some of it is so redundant and boring. There are a few pages that really speak to me and I will be curious to read the "notes" at the end. It will be nice to read something less dense.
Now that the day ends an hour earlier, it's pretty much pitch black when I leave for Penn, which makes me more cautious. But it's not rocket science -- I'm not looking for trouble it's just a matter of moving quickly. The ride itself is much easier than it had been in previous autumns and that is because I have no doubt kept myself leaner. There is no better route for me to take so it's still just about beating the clock.
This morning I listened to a handful of tracks (and two B-Sides) off One Hot Minute, an album I've had since my freshman year of high school. I actually think the b-sides -- "Let's Make Evil" and "Stretch" -- are better than most of tunes that made the final cut. It was nice to hear "One Big Mob" again after a nice long hiatus. When I saw RHCP in Feb of 1996, they played the first 8 tracks off this album, I feel somewhat special about that since you will not hear them play them ever again, sans "Pea."
I'm at a good pace today and though my calves are still a little sore, they do not feel as burstful as they did yesterday.
Thank you for reading.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mother's Milk.
Monday came & went pretty uneventfully -- my best recollection is that I have started to wear sweatpants for the morning ride. By the evening it's still quite nice though it's obviously getting darker, quicker.
Tuesday night was the Greg Dulli show and I entertained the idea of bringing the bike and riding it back from the club but I'm mostly glad I didn't act on that, as I would've been worrying about having the tires slashed the whole time.
Last nite was "La Bete" which was entertaining. Couldn't bring it yesterday, I had to attempt to look good.
Today was a little bit of a re-awakening, as my thighs were feeling a little weary during the ride down, partially because of the wind working against me and also from 2 days of relative inactivity. I feel very fortunate to have had a pretty vibrant social life in the past 6 days so I am listening to the middle of the remastered Mother's Milk album, starting with "Nobody Weird Like Me."
This is my favorite album, as sometime around 2003 it edged out LHOB's Blastronaut. It's not hard to explain, really, as this album which is defined by sobriety, love of life, sadness, wackness and all things good in life, is the one to which I'm most responsive. Initially, the response is to the music, specifically the quickness and the bass. Something's happening there, and it's not just one moment but a fluid series of them that occur and it keeps me awake and wanting more out of each day. I've had this album since I was about 14 and bought the remaster toward end of college. The whole time I knew there were additional lyrics to "Knock Me Down" in the liner notes to the original and they finally played the longer version and I remember nearly crying the first time I'd heard it. Sure, the extra verses weren't totally necessary but they are beautiful all the same (perhaps even moreso, now). Though my situation with some old friends was not as physically intense (nobody died) I always felt the message got through to me and I am better for it. I think a lot of old friends were on a rough path that they'd never admit nor acknowledge, and their image was more important than their collective soul. I suppose I hope it's different for them now, but I'll lose no sleep over it. I stuck to my guns and am better for it. I skipped that track, today, though.
Regardless, this album lit a fire under my ass to become a better bassist and it certainly did, as I was able to play some of the songs on this CD which was a major accomplishment. As for the songs I couldn't play, I could perform snippets of it, which was also a wonderful feeling.
Sometimes if I had a PG-rated, non-financial wish to be granted, it would be to somehow perform this album as a co-singer, live, with the band. I would have to pull off a Capt. Sully move in order to make this happen but I think that's what I'd ask for.
I'm going to run during lunch again, as I need to get some of this Chicken Pompodoro out of my system.
Thank you for reading.
Tuesday night was the Greg Dulli show and I entertained the idea of bringing the bike and riding it back from the club but I'm mostly glad I didn't act on that, as I would've been worrying about having the tires slashed the whole time.
Last nite was "La Bete" which was entertaining. Couldn't bring it yesterday, I had to attempt to look good.
Today was a little bit of a re-awakening, as my thighs were feeling a little weary during the ride down, partially because of the wind working against me and also from 2 days of relative inactivity. I feel very fortunate to have had a pretty vibrant social life in the past 6 days so I am listening to the middle of the remastered Mother's Milk album, starting with "Nobody Weird Like Me."
This is my favorite album, as sometime around 2003 it edged out LHOB's Blastronaut. It's not hard to explain, really, as this album which is defined by sobriety, love of life, sadness, wackness and all things good in life, is the one to which I'm most responsive. Initially, the response is to the music, specifically the quickness and the bass. Something's happening there, and it's not just one moment but a fluid series of them that occur and it keeps me awake and wanting more out of each day. I've had this album since I was about 14 and bought the remaster toward end of college. The whole time I knew there were additional lyrics to "Knock Me Down" in the liner notes to the original and they finally played the longer version and I remember nearly crying the first time I'd heard it. Sure, the extra verses weren't totally necessary but they are beautiful all the same (perhaps even moreso, now). Though my situation with some old friends was not as physically intense (nobody died) I always felt the message got through to me and I am better for it. I think a lot of old friends were on a rough path that they'd never admit nor acknowledge, and their image was more important than their collective soul. I suppose I hope it's different for them now, but I'll lose no sleep over it. I stuck to my guns and am better for it. I skipped that track, today, though.
Regardless, this album lit a fire under my ass to become a better bassist and it certainly did, as I was able to play some of the songs on this CD which was a major accomplishment. As for the songs I couldn't play, I could perform snippets of it, which was also a wonderful feeling.
Sometimes if I had a PG-rated, non-financial wish to be granted, it would be to somehow perform this album as a co-singer, live, with the band. I would have to pull off a Capt. Sully move in order to make this happen but I think that's what I'd ask for.
I'm going to run during lunch again, as I need to get some of this Chicken Pompodoro out of my system.
Thank you for reading.
Friday, October 15, 2010
...wind gusts...no problem
Last nite was a little rough and I certainly got wet but the tornado of late-September is still fresh in mind so the trip was a walk in the park, comparatively speaking. However, they did section off pieces of 6th Avenue at around 29th Street, which was an inconvenience. The cops also completely sectioned off 31st Street (going west toward 7th) but bicycling there was okay and I noticed the increased police and army presence in Penn.
This morning was very windy and was originally supposed to be rainy but no rain hath fallen. The wind, however, was not gusting against me during the southbound trip so that part was fine. I listened to a lot of Monster Magnet this morning on the ride down. The sun is out and I am void of feelings of malice.
I am feeling quite good about everything today -- I feel very fortunate in that I am able to ride and avoid the subway for another day. I am contributing to my health just by doing that. I have a fun 5 days ahead of me and am looking forward to enjoying extracurriculars. Worked out Sunday, Tuesday, Last nite and will do so again tomorrow morn. I am a fortunate soul this week.
Thank you for reading.
This morning was very windy and was originally supposed to be rainy but no rain hath fallen. The wind, however, was not gusting against me during the southbound trip so that part was fine. I listened to a lot of Monster Magnet this morning on the ride down. The sun is out and I am void of feelings of malice.
I am feeling quite good about everything today -- I feel very fortunate in that I am able to ride and avoid the subway for another day. I am contributing to my health just by doing that. I have a fun 5 days ahead of me and am looking forward to enjoying extracurriculars. Worked out Sunday, Tuesday, Last nite and will do so again tomorrow morn. I am a fortunate soul this week.
Thank you for reading.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
oct 13 & 14
Yesterday's ride was largely uneventful. I took 33rd St. up in the morning and there had been some accident toward 9th ave., a minor one that was holding up all the cars in the road. All I can really conclude from riding both bikes is that the one advantage to the little bike was its gears as there were certainly moments this morning that, while gear-less, I noticed I wasn't going as fast as I could've.
Made it to the station in under 19 minutes yesterday. I've got a lot of energy to burn by day's end. I don't know whether I've conditioned myself to be this way because most people are drained by the end of their shift but I've got too much to escape by 5:30.
Today's morning trip was also pleasant and uneventful. Zarathustra is a dense read and it's tough to focus sometimes on the train when all the important dipsticks have life-altering conversations beside me. I listen to Symphonic Pink Floyd while I'm reading to zero-in on the book. Perhaps the train is not the place for it. I'll see how I feel after the first part is over (book is in four parts). There are some parts of this book that I feel were written (good and bad) for me and others that are just way over my head.
It's supposed to rain during the return ride so we'll see if I leave the bike here tonite or just plow through.
Thank you for reading.
Made it to the station in under 19 minutes yesterday. I've got a lot of energy to burn by day's end. I don't know whether I've conditioned myself to be this way because most people are drained by the end of their shift but I've got too much to escape by 5:30.
Today's morning trip was also pleasant and uneventful. Zarathustra is a dense read and it's tough to focus sometimes on the train when all the important dipsticks have life-altering conversations beside me. I listen to Symphonic Pink Floyd while I'm reading to zero-in on the book. Perhaps the train is not the place for it. I'll see how I feel after the first part is over (book is in four parts). There are some parts of this book that I feel were written (good and bad) for me and others that are just way over my head.
It's supposed to rain during the return ride so we'll see if I leave the bike here tonite or just plow through.
Thank you for reading.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
In defense of Nietzsche and musical variety
The morning is sunny and somewhat warm and despite having sore legs and a wet ground, I am confident it'll be a quick and solid round trip. There's a ton on my mind and I have just begun reading Thus Spake Zarathustra by Nietzsche. I'd always wanted to read this and got a new, cheap copy online. This is a book that Hitler was able to distort to suit Nazi propaganda. Since then, philosophers, critics, writers and artists have gone to bat in defense of Nietzsche (who died in 1900), stating his work was not anti-Semitic and was warped by the fascists in an attempt to create their own Ubermensch.
It's translated well but I'm reading it slowly. We'll see how this book impacts me, if at all.
Today's ride is pretty quick, I was able to make the light onto the highway. My soreness isn't slowing me down, as it typically doesn't. I'm sore because I squatted (and deadlifted) with weights on Saturday and ran the Boardwalk on Sunday. I did not feel this sore after the triathlon but was this charlie-horsed when I started running along the Seaport in July.
I had a dream about an old friend and playing music together but the details are hazy. I don't know if I can ever replicate that sort of feeling or experience -- that of playing in a band and making music. It'd be a tough thing to do since the music was born from friendship, and my reservations about doing it now is that it'd be the other way around. There are songs I've written in my head that I've never put down on paper, some of which are more than 10 years old. The time to do it was high school and it was fun for a the few years. Looking back, all I knew was rock and metal with only hints of other genres. Had I been exposed to more than just Beatles-Beatles-Beatles as a child perhaps other music (i.e. Metallica) wouldn't have been such a pleasant culture shock. As a kid I thought there were only songs about love, cars, paranormal/supernatural apparition combat agents and the occasional Billy Joel song about history or a boat. That changed when I was 12 and heard Guns 'N' Roses, Metallica and RHCP.
My children will subtly be exposed to more of a variety of music. I can predict this because I'm sure they will hear it in the house (as a reflection of my moods) as my collection is large and has some range. I'd never heard a jazz song until I was almost 20. That's just sad. The music is in my blood (and to a lesser extent, my wife's) and since it's practically required by elementary schools it will be fun to go to the concerts. Music and/or sports. I will be able to guide my child's outlook and psyche in the most positive way through these outlets because it's almost always interesting. To hear my kid make music or get excited about any sport/exercise will be an affirmation of my life and probably my own parents', too. Seems to me that the two ways I enjoy myself most are when I'm exercising or involved with music so there you have it.
I have some work to catch up on today and I know there's a lot of house-hunting inquiries that need to be made. I was more stressed about it a couple of days ago but once I get the unsatisfied-sounding phone calls from my nearest and dearest I'll feel my neck tense up.
My playlist this morning will be quite similar to a recently-played one, but it's good and it works for me.
Monster Magnet - "Live For the Moment"
Rob Zombie - "Demon Speeding"
Bad Religion - "Leaders & Followers"
Monster Magnet - "Twin Earth"
Slash - "Ghost"
Supernova - "The Dead Parade"
Thank you for reading.
It's translated well but I'm reading it slowly. We'll see how this book impacts me, if at all.
Today's ride is pretty quick, I was able to make the light onto the highway. My soreness isn't slowing me down, as it typically doesn't. I'm sore because I squatted (and deadlifted) with weights on Saturday and ran the Boardwalk on Sunday. I did not feel this sore after the triathlon but was this charlie-horsed when I started running along the Seaport in July.
I had a dream about an old friend and playing music together but the details are hazy. I don't know if I can ever replicate that sort of feeling or experience -- that of playing in a band and making music. It'd be a tough thing to do since the music was born from friendship, and my reservations about doing it now is that it'd be the other way around. There are songs I've written in my head that I've never put down on paper, some of which are more than 10 years old. The time to do it was high school and it was fun for a the few years. Looking back, all I knew was rock and metal with only hints of other genres. Had I been exposed to more than just Beatles-Beatles-Beatles as a child perhaps other music (i.e. Metallica) wouldn't have been such a pleasant culture shock. As a kid I thought there were only songs about love, cars, paranormal/supernatural apparition combat agents and the occasional Billy Joel song about history or a boat. That changed when I was 12 and heard Guns 'N' Roses, Metallica and RHCP.
My children will subtly be exposed to more of a variety of music. I can predict this because I'm sure they will hear it in the house (as a reflection of my moods) as my collection is large and has some range. I'd never heard a jazz song until I was almost 20. That's just sad. The music is in my blood (and to a lesser extent, my wife's) and since it's practically required by elementary schools it will be fun to go to the concerts. Music and/or sports. I will be able to guide my child's outlook and psyche in the most positive way through these outlets because it's almost always interesting. To hear my kid make music or get excited about any sport/exercise will be an affirmation of my life and probably my own parents', too. Seems to me that the two ways I enjoy myself most are when I'm exercising or involved with music so there you have it.
I have some work to catch up on today and I know there's a lot of house-hunting inquiries that need to be made. I was more stressed about it a couple of days ago but once I get the unsatisfied-sounding phone calls from my nearest and dearest I'll feel my neck tense up.
My playlist this morning will be quite similar to a recently-played one, but it's good and it works for me.
Monster Magnet - "Live For the Moment"
Rob Zombie - "Demon Speeding"
Bad Religion - "Leaders & Followers"
Monster Magnet - "Twin Earth"
Slash - "Ghost"
Supernova - "The Dead Parade"
Thank you for reading.
Friday, October 8, 2010
one day this week
Well I'm back. For starters, my last ride last week was Weds., as I had a Broadway show on Thurs. and Friday morning was kind of rough in the morning and it was tough to read the skies.
I don't recall much about the Wednesday ride other than being grateful for staying dry.
As for today:
THE MORNING
I had a splitting headache behind my right eye that woke me up early in the a.m. and remained when I re-awoke 5 hours later. Riding with one of those is not fun. Left from RVC today. Trains were delayed and that played a small factor in my morning commute. I had been sick this past week which really sucked and I can feel how one week less of riding and less workouts (I did manage to go on Sun, Mon & Tues) is effecting me as my gut is beginning to get flabby. The windy mornings are easy to mistake as "cold" and today I'm wearing a long-sleeve tee over a tank top and shorts. Strategically it was a smart move to work today, as I still have a 3-day weekend approaching. My playlist today consisted of:
Temple of the Dog: "Reach Down" and "Your Savior"
Queens of the Stone Age: "Suture My Future" and "Sick, Sick, Sick"
I have no watch this morning so I cannot accurately say if I'm moving faster or slower than normal. I got a phone call from Liz describing how forces are trying to keep me from enjoying a night out next Saturday but I will not be deterred. I feel pretty good on the bike for the most part and I do miss the gears of the little bike. Today should be in and out.
THE EVENING
The evening wind had died down and it was room temperature all the way back. A cab on Church Street didn't look before he cut into the middle lane, heard me yell and apologized. No big deal. Sometimes I wish I'd take a different route and just take Broadway or Nassau up to Park Row and then get on to Church/6th but that can take too long and it's an extra couple of minutes I'd rather not be here. It just gets really crowded and they chain off Church but it's not bad today and I beat the chains. Today was like the blink of an eye I was busy and even stressed at times but was able to get enough done to make Tuesday a pretty simple day. I feel like this weekend will be, "leisure time-wise," what Monday - Thurs. should've been.
Making the left onto 31st is a little narrower now and as I approached 7th Ave., there was a little black bag with a zipper on the floor, and it looked like it could've held a camera. It could've had money in it. I stopped, kicked it aside, as if it would provide a clue, and decided there wouldn't be any money in it and proceeded in. Who knows?
Thank you for reading.
I don't recall much about the Wednesday ride other than being grateful for staying dry.
As for today:
THE MORNING
I had a splitting headache behind my right eye that woke me up early in the a.m. and remained when I re-awoke 5 hours later. Riding with one of those is not fun. Left from RVC today. Trains were delayed and that played a small factor in my morning commute. I had been sick this past week which really sucked and I can feel how one week less of riding and less workouts (I did manage to go on Sun, Mon & Tues) is effecting me as my gut is beginning to get flabby. The windy mornings are easy to mistake as "cold" and today I'm wearing a long-sleeve tee over a tank top and shorts. Strategically it was a smart move to work today, as I still have a 3-day weekend approaching. My playlist today consisted of:
Temple of the Dog: "Reach Down" and "Your Savior"
Queens of the Stone Age: "Suture My Future" and "Sick, Sick, Sick"
I have no watch this morning so I cannot accurately say if I'm moving faster or slower than normal. I got a phone call from Liz describing how forces are trying to keep me from enjoying a night out next Saturday but I will not be deterred. I feel pretty good on the bike for the most part and I do miss the gears of the little bike. Today should be in and out.
THE EVENING
The evening wind had died down and it was room temperature all the way back. A cab on Church Street didn't look before he cut into the middle lane, heard me yell and apologized. No big deal. Sometimes I wish I'd take a different route and just take Broadway or Nassau up to Park Row and then get on to Church/6th but that can take too long and it's an extra couple of minutes I'd rather not be here. It just gets really crowded and they chain off Church but it's not bad today and I beat the chains. Today was like the blink of an eye I was busy and even stressed at times but was able to get enough done to make Tuesday a pretty simple day. I feel like this weekend will be, "leisure time-wise," what Monday - Thurs. should've been.
Making the left onto 31st is a little narrower now and as I approached 7th Ave., there was a little black bag with a zipper on the floor, and it looked like it could've held a camera. It could've had money in it. I stopped, kicked it aside, as if it would provide a clue, and decided there wouldn't be any money in it and proceeded in. Who knows?
Thank you for reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)