Today was interesting b/c I was not moving as fast I'd have liked -- it almost felt like I had a flat tire but it was the wind working against me. I'm much more nimble at the day's end on the return ride since I'm motivated to get to Penn.
I listened to the first tracks off the double live album that Jimmy Page & Black Crowes did and it is just so good. It rocks without too much distortion and I can only imagine how cool it must be to play your favorite band's music, live, to an audience who paid to see you, with the main songwriter of the band. It'd be like me playing along with Flea.
My throat is really dry and my voice is so shot. I am a little run-down but I must have a throat bug which I suppose is better than having it in the ear or nose.
Still reading Pink Floyd & Philosophy and I wrote a letter to the essayist I'd mentioned yesterday and he wrote with a brief but thankful response. I was able to see that just before I departed for the day.
The "pedestrian safety" folks are doing a lax job at the light at Albany Street. Their presence isn't as obvious as it should be and their directions/instructions are unclear.
Thank you for reading.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
back in the saddle
Well today has been a breeze thus far. The one snafu is that I am w/o a wallet. This is what happens ("do you see what happens?") when I decide to change backpacks. Thankfully I had the foresight to take care of the train pass, which is harder to live without these days.
This is my first day on the bike since last Thurs. I realize hadn't blogged about Thursday but it was largely uneventful. In an unrelated detail, that morning was filled with Van Halen selections from 1984 and 5150. You can dislike Hagar all you want but I think he is a very inspiring out-of-shape guy.
Friday had very bad weather and yesterday started out rainy so I had to give it a rest which was not unwelcome because my throat was a little sore/swollen these past few days. I think I just wore myself out on Thursday when I biked, ran, biked, and hit the gym. Last summer that was actually par for the course but I think this time around it was too much for my central nervous system. When I hit the gym on Sat and last nite, I was not as intense but I don't like wearing myself out when my sinuses are involved. I'll strip myself of every joule so long as I know I won't cough but I don't want to have to waste a sick day because I saw it coming.
I had begun reading Walden and was just not in the mood for it the few times I cracked it open. It was probably a combination of the dreary subject matter and my frame of mind on the train. Right now, it's not for me, so it returns to the shelf.
I decided to read something that interests me so I opened Pink Floyd And Philosophy and I am really enjoying it, even moreso than the South Park installment of the series. At first I jumped around to read the chapters that seemed most fun -- one about synching Dark Side of the Moon with "Wizard of Oz" (it totally works the first time around); but then I started going with the flow of the book and it's quite wonderful. My favorite one thus far is about alienation by David Detmer and I like his best (so far) because he's not cramming philosophical facts and theories down your throat but he gradually weaves them in and out of the song meanings. I think I will email him and tell him that he wrote a real gem. I'm not a philosophy buff, but give me a topic I am really in to and I'll read about it from many subversive angles. The series has inspired me to write one of my own (at least, one essay) for one thing that is very close to me but I'll describe that once I have finished a first draft. So for the most part today I was writing on the train about a very near-and-dear topic and it flows from me quite easily because I know it like the back of my hand. You can make all the masturbation jokes you want (and it'd be funny as all hell) but that's not it.
As I am riding today it's a very nice day out and I am happy because I am inspired. While writing as opposed to typing takes a little longer I feel a little less pressure that way. I am listening to some older Velvet Revolver songs that I have ignored for a couple of years. Glad I saw them live when I did.
I sound hoarse today but I don't think I am sick, in fact I feel pretty good. Just going to drink a lot of honey-fied tea today and knock some stuff out of the park.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
"Us & Them" - Steve Blanco Trio
"She Builds Quick Machines," "Do It For the Kids," "Big Machine" - Velvet Revolver
"Unchained" - Van Halen
"My Wave" - Soundgarden
This is my first day on the bike since last Thurs. I realize hadn't blogged about Thursday but it was largely uneventful. In an unrelated detail, that morning was filled with Van Halen selections from 1984 and 5150. You can dislike Hagar all you want but I think he is a very inspiring out-of-shape guy.
Friday had very bad weather and yesterday started out rainy so I had to give it a rest which was not unwelcome because my throat was a little sore/swollen these past few days. I think I just wore myself out on Thursday when I biked, ran, biked, and hit the gym. Last summer that was actually par for the course but I think this time around it was too much for my central nervous system. When I hit the gym on Sat and last nite, I was not as intense but I don't like wearing myself out when my sinuses are involved. I'll strip myself of every joule so long as I know I won't cough but I don't want to have to waste a sick day because I saw it coming.
I had begun reading Walden and was just not in the mood for it the few times I cracked it open. It was probably a combination of the dreary subject matter and my frame of mind on the train. Right now, it's not for me, so it returns to the shelf.
I decided to read something that interests me so I opened Pink Floyd And Philosophy and I am really enjoying it, even moreso than the South Park installment of the series. At first I jumped around to read the chapters that seemed most fun -- one about synching Dark Side of the Moon with "Wizard of Oz" (it totally works the first time around); but then I started going with the flow of the book and it's quite wonderful. My favorite one thus far is about alienation by David Detmer and I like his best (so far) because he's not cramming philosophical facts and theories down your throat but he gradually weaves them in and out of the song meanings. I think I will email him and tell him that he wrote a real gem. I'm not a philosophy buff, but give me a topic I am really in to and I'll read about it from many subversive angles. The series has inspired me to write one of my own (at least, one essay) for one thing that is very close to me but I'll describe that once I have finished a first draft. So for the most part today I was writing on the train about a very near-and-dear topic and it flows from me quite easily because I know it like the back of my hand. You can make all the masturbation jokes you want (and it'd be funny as all hell) but that's not it.
As I am riding today it's a very nice day out and I am happy because I am inspired. While writing as opposed to typing takes a little longer I feel a little less pressure that way. I am listening to some older Velvet Revolver songs that I have ignored for a couple of years. Glad I saw them live when I did.
I sound hoarse today but I don't think I am sick, in fact I feel pretty good. Just going to drink a lot of honey-fied tea today and knock some stuff out of the park.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
"Us & Them" - Steve Blanco Trio
"She Builds Quick Machines," "Do It For the Kids," "Big Machine" - Velvet Revolver
"Unchained" - Van Halen
"My Wave" - Soundgarden
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I am the one-gloved man
It was a cold one this morning, even moreso because I only had one glove today and it was the thin Yankees one. I was able to change to a Track 1 train on Jamaica so I shaved a couple minutes off the commute with that.
I rode one-armed about half the time the other half my hand was buried in the kangaroo pouch in front. Over at 29th & 10th they are digging up the road and I will have to remember that for tomorrow.
I'm a little weary due to a disrupted slumber but had my coffee on the train. Not a whole lot in my head today as I'd just like to be out of the cold. Over at Leroy Street all the sound from the street died down and I could really zero in on "Turn It Again" by RHCP. I know I've mentioned this song before but the solo is just too good. I have love affairs with a bunch of the 28 songs off Stadium Arcadium, all of which are just reflective of my mood. Sometimes it's hard for me to stop listening to "Hey" or "Desecration Smile" and other times when I hear "21st Century" it's like I'm still 12 and this is all still new to me.
I am unknowingly speaking the lyrics to "Illumination" today -- I like the beatbox version better, believe it or not.
I read a JSA: Green Lantern tpb today which was pretty good. The middle story was the best one.
I may begin reading Walden today. We'll see how I'm doing.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Anthrax - "Tester"
The Answer - "The Doctor"
COC - "Congratulations Song"
Metallica - "2x4"
RHCP - "Turn It Again"
Rollins Band - "Illumination"
I rode one-armed about half the time the other half my hand was buried in the kangaroo pouch in front. Over at 29th & 10th they are digging up the road and I will have to remember that for tomorrow.
I'm a little weary due to a disrupted slumber but had my coffee on the train. Not a whole lot in my head today as I'd just like to be out of the cold. Over at Leroy Street all the sound from the street died down and I could really zero in on "Turn It Again" by RHCP. I know I've mentioned this song before but the solo is just too good. I have love affairs with a bunch of the 28 songs off Stadium Arcadium, all of which are just reflective of my mood. Sometimes it's hard for me to stop listening to "Hey" or "Desecration Smile" and other times when I hear "21st Century" it's like I'm still 12 and this is all still new to me.
I am unknowingly speaking the lyrics to "Illumination" today -- I like the beatbox version better, believe it or not.
I read a JSA: Green Lantern tpb today which was pretty good. The middle story was the best one.
I may begin reading Walden today. We'll see how I'm doing.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Anthrax - "Tester"
The Answer - "The Doctor"
COC - "Congratulations Song"
Metallica - "2x4"
RHCP - "Turn It Again"
Rollins Band - "Illumination"
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
the girl in the pink & white polka dot dress
It's been another lull in writing, though I haven't missed a day on the bike since Feb 3.
Last Friday was a weird tease, becuase it was nearly 60 degrees out by the time I left for the day. It was warm enough for me to ride in just a long sleeve tee and shorts. I timed myself on Thursday and made it back to Penn in 19 minutes, which I replicated on Friday.
Today, though, was a return to the cold ways of old, but remarkably I made the 8:13 train in (there were lots of spots but only in the 2nd lot). On my way out I took the 33rd Street exit and as I moved west I find myself being pulled to the beautiful young woman plastered aside a building. The 300-foot woman in question is wearing a pink & white polka dot dress and wants me to buy a cell phone. I will not buy it unless she asks me personally but she certainly has the "girl next door" type quality though I never lived beside a girl who looked that way.
The ride down was a little chilly but thankfully not very windy and I moved relatively quickly. I worked out very hard over the past 3 days (yesterday was a national holiday) so though my legs are a little sore it wasn't enough to make it feel as though I was trudging down the highway. It's too sunny and mostly pleasant to listen to anything too heavy or hectic so I went with the middle of Blood Sugar Sex Magik starting with "Mellowship" through "Greeting Song." I remember reading in Scar Tissue that Anthony hates the latter and will not play it. That's strange because it is probably funk rock at its best. I used to be able to play it on bass -- probably still could if I rehearsed it a couple of times. It's fast but not too too hard.
Since finishing Farewell to Arms, I've read Breakfast of Champions and The Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut and read The Old Man and the Sea this past weekend. Today I read the Battlin' Jack Murdock tpb which is a Daredevil mini-series. It was better than I thought it'd be though it was mostly done in the film, which is under-rated itself.
Though my legs are a little sore I am feeling quite good and agile. My last massage on the old plan was yesterday and though the therapist was really good I think there's still some tightness below my left shoulder blade. It might be the way I sleep.
Thank you for reading.
Last Friday was a weird tease, becuase it was nearly 60 degrees out by the time I left for the day. It was warm enough for me to ride in just a long sleeve tee and shorts. I timed myself on Thursday and made it back to Penn in 19 minutes, which I replicated on Friday.
Today, though, was a return to the cold ways of old, but remarkably I made the 8:13 train in (there were lots of spots but only in the 2nd lot). On my way out I took the 33rd Street exit and as I moved west I find myself being pulled to the beautiful young woman plastered aside a building. The 300-foot woman in question is wearing a pink & white polka dot dress and wants me to buy a cell phone. I will not buy it unless she asks me personally but she certainly has the "girl next door" type quality though I never lived beside a girl who looked that way.
The ride down was a little chilly but thankfully not very windy and I moved relatively quickly. I worked out very hard over the past 3 days (yesterday was a national holiday) so though my legs are a little sore it wasn't enough to make it feel as though I was trudging down the highway. It's too sunny and mostly pleasant to listen to anything too heavy or hectic so I went with the middle of Blood Sugar Sex Magik starting with "Mellowship" through "Greeting Song." I remember reading in Scar Tissue that Anthony hates the latter and will not play it. That's strange because it is probably funk rock at its best. I used to be able to play it on bass -- probably still could if I rehearsed it a couple of times. It's fast but not too too hard.
Since finishing Farewell to Arms, I've read Breakfast of Champions and The Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut and read The Old Man and the Sea this past weekend. Today I read the Battlin' Jack Murdock tpb which is a Daredevil mini-series. It was better than I thought it'd be though it was mostly done in the film, which is under-rated itself.
Though my legs are a little sore I am feeling quite good and agile. My last massage on the old plan was yesterday and though the therapist was really good I think there's still some tightness below my left shoulder blade. It might be the way I sleep.
Thank you for reading.
Friday, February 4, 2011
A couple of lucky breaks in the cold
Today was an interesting morning.
After parking the car on the street I was able to make it to the station with a few minutes to spare when I realized my mouth-scarf (?) was no longer on my person. I looked down the tracks and didn't see the headlight so I darted back toward the car and thankfully found it (it hadn't been run over) and made the mad dash back for the train, which I just made.
Then, after changing trains at Jamaica, they canceled the local stops which totally rocked. That was all due to "police activity."
So anyway, it wasn't long before I got on the road that I knew either (a) I was getting more out of shape or (b) the tire was low. Sure enough it was the latter, but I persevered. It wasn't flat, just a little low, so that could be attributed to the fact that it hasn't been used since Monday night. It did slow me down, too, though.
The weather (at least, in the morning) kept me from riding Tues & Weds and we attended a show last night, so that was out of the question, also. I realize that while I'm still at roughly 156 pounds I am not in the shape I had been in 6 months ago. The past 3 weeks have not been conducive for me and the folding bike -- between the weather and the flat tire. The problem is the timing, as it comes on the heels of my birthday, which means I've been eating well but not getting all the cardio to which I'd been accustomed. I have integrated sprinting into my gym workouts which certainly helps and I would like to resume running during lunch next week at least once.
I had considered going to the same bike shop from a couple of weeks ago to re-inflate the tire but I thought it better to take care of that during lunch.
I'm not as tired as I thought I'd be (and thankfully did not have dreams/nightmares of ripped men in drag due to last nite's show of "La Cage") but I'm sure the cold is ensuring that mindset. I am hoping to clock off more miles next week, which will thankfully be abridged due to the holiday. I am within the final 60 or so pages of A Farewell to Arms which is a great read. A friend lent me a Vonnegut paperback which I'll probably start either next week or after another book.
Thank you for reading.
Foo Fighters - "Word Forward"
Metallica - "Cyanide," "2 x 4"
Living Colour - "New Jack Theme"
Metallica - "Trapped Under Ice"
After parking the car on the street I was able to make it to the station with a few minutes to spare when I realized my mouth-scarf (?) was no longer on my person. I looked down the tracks and didn't see the headlight so I darted back toward the car and thankfully found it (it hadn't been run over) and made the mad dash back for the train, which I just made.
Then, after changing trains at Jamaica, they canceled the local stops which totally rocked. That was all due to "police activity."
So anyway, it wasn't long before I got on the road that I knew either (a) I was getting more out of shape or (b) the tire was low. Sure enough it was the latter, but I persevered. It wasn't flat, just a little low, so that could be attributed to the fact that it hasn't been used since Monday night. It did slow me down, too, though.
The weather (at least, in the morning) kept me from riding Tues & Weds and we attended a show last night, so that was out of the question, also. I realize that while I'm still at roughly 156 pounds I am not in the shape I had been in 6 months ago. The past 3 weeks have not been conducive for me and the folding bike -- between the weather and the flat tire. The problem is the timing, as it comes on the heels of my birthday, which means I've been eating well but not getting all the cardio to which I'd been accustomed. I have integrated sprinting into my gym workouts which certainly helps and I would like to resume running during lunch next week at least once.
I had considered going to the same bike shop from a couple of weeks ago to re-inflate the tire but I thought it better to take care of that during lunch.
I'm not as tired as I thought I'd be (and thankfully did not have dreams/nightmares of ripped men in drag due to last nite's show of "La Cage") but I'm sure the cold is ensuring that mindset. I am hoping to clock off more miles next week, which will thankfully be abridged due to the holiday. I am within the final 60 or so pages of A Farewell to Arms which is a great read. A friend lent me a Vonnegut paperback which I'll probably start either next week or after another book.
Thank you for reading.
Foo Fighters - "Word Forward"
Metallica - "Cyanide," "2 x 4"
Living Colour - "New Jack Theme"
Metallica - "Trapped Under Ice"
Monday, January 31, 2011
This year's resolution: More Writing
It has been way too long since my last post.
Some of that is due to holidays, and snow/rain days. Other reasons include the idea that when you are out of the routine -- even for a couple of days -- it throws you off completely. I think the weather also seems something I am tolerating rather than using and it doesn't make for inspiring thoughts. Por ejemplo, Last Monday it was 3 degrees outside and my only thought was "AAAAAAHHHHH -- it's f*cking frigid out here!"
So my recap since Christmas goes as such:
The snow on the Monday following the holiday was so bad the trains on the LIRR shut down completely. I think much of that snow is still caked onto the ground both in the city and on LI.
Last week I was able to ride Mon and Tues.
The week prior was dreadful, as I hit a flat on the Tuesday on the ride down while on my way to the highway -- so on the whole week I was able to do a mere 1.5 rides.
The first two weeks of the year I was 8-for-1o. I have passed the 350 mark by this point I am closer to 360.
At this point none of this is fun, as I am no longer as lean around my midsection as I had been. I'm sure part of it is because I am not training for anything and therefore I haven't run during lunch in the past 2 months. Another reason is because in the time between Christmas and my birthday I wind up eating like a king. I've changed morning proteins since finishing the first jar of the Optimum Oats, so there is a little more fat in the morning, but since I'm not maintaining an 80-90% bike rate, I'm really at a disadvantage.
Today it wasn't as cold as it looked -- as long as the breeze is absent it's actually as pleasant as 25 degrees can be. I parked my bike on Nassau atop an ice-packed mountain where the rack protrudes ever so slightly. My legs are very sore from an intense lower body workout on Saturday. It was intense because I hadn't done very much last Weds-Fri, and punished myself for the inactivity at the gym.
I'm listening to the new Monster Magnet album which was a holiday gift.
In the time since Christmas, I've also read the following:
Child 44
Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
Species of Spaces and other Pieces by Georges Perec (it took a while)
Green Hornet Year One and the Kevin Smith run
Moon Knight vol 3.
Punisher: Noir
Today I began A Farewell To Arms. I am without a bag as I promised myself I'd buy a decent lunch since I worked so hard on Saturday night. It's nice to ride without anything on my back except the proverbial monkey. My hope is that the lack of weight will aide me later on the return ride.
Thank you for reading.
Some of that is due to holidays, and snow/rain days. Other reasons include the idea that when you are out of the routine -- even for a couple of days -- it throws you off completely. I think the weather also seems something I am tolerating rather than using and it doesn't make for inspiring thoughts. Por ejemplo, Last Monday it was 3 degrees outside and my only thought was "AAAAAAHHHHH -- it's f*cking frigid out here!"
So my recap since Christmas goes as such:
The snow on the Monday following the holiday was so bad the trains on the LIRR shut down completely. I think much of that snow is still caked onto the ground both in the city and on LI.
Last week I was able to ride Mon and Tues.
The week prior was dreadful, as I hit a flat on the Tuesday on the ride down while on my way to the highway -- so on the whole week I was able to do a mere 1.5 rides.
The first two weeks of the year I was 8-for-1o. I have passed the 350 mark by this point I am closer to 360.
At this point none of this is fun, as I am no longer as lean around my midsection as I had been. I'm sure part of it is because I am not training for anything and therefore I haven't run during lunch in the past 2 months. Another reason is because in the time between Christmas and my birthday I wind up eating like a king. I've changed morning proteins since finishing the first jar of the Optimum Oats, so there is a little more fat in the morning, but since I'm not maintaining an 80-90% bike rate, I'm really at a disadvantage.
Today it wasn't as cold as it looked -- as long as the breeze is absent it's actually as pleasant as 25 degrees can be. I parked my bike on Nassau atop an ice-packed mountain where the rack protrudes ever so slightly. My legs are very sore from an intense lower body workout on Saturday. It was intense because I hadn't done very much last Weds-Fri, and punished myself for the inactivity at the gym.
I'm listening to the new Monster Magnet album which was a holiday gift.
In the time since Christmas, I've also read the following:
Child 44
Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
Species of Spaces and other Pieces by Georges Perec (it took a while)
Green Hornet Year One and the Kevin Smith run
Moon Knight vol 3.
Punisher: Noir
Today I began A Farewell To Arms. I am without a bag as I promised myself I'd buy a decent lunch since I worked so hard on Saturday night. It's nice to ride without anything on my back except the proverbial monkey. My hope is that the lack of weight will aide me later on the return ride.
Thank you for reading.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
City sidewalks, kielbasa breath
Was very fortunate as I was granted the opportunity to leave at 4 p.m. today from work. This marks the first time in a long while where I have seen daylight during the ride home. I have made it a point to take Nassau Street up to Fulton and go north one more block and turn onto Barclay, where I can then make a right onto Church. This may not necessarily be a time-saver, however I feel it's a safer route as I avoid the constant 2-lane congestion near Ground Zero. After a stressful morning it was a relief to be able to leave work early in the hopes of hitting the gym for the first time since Sunday because I'll be home presumably more than an hour earlier than normal.
There was one point near Watts Street/Avenue where the wind blew hard enough to nearly stop me in my tracks. You look up and see the late-60s Beatles staring at you from a billboard above and an enticing bottle of Moet. I am glad I will get an extra day avoiding all this. I had a kielbasa sandwich on pumpernickel today and can still taste it in my throat.
Thank you for reading.
There was one point near Watts Street/Avenue where the wind blew hard enough to nearly stop me in my tracks. You look up and see the late-60s Beatles staring at you from a billboard above and an enticing bottle of Moet. I am glad I will get an extra day avoiding all this. I had a kielbasa sandwich on pumpernickel today and can still taste it in my throat.
Thank you for reading.
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