Feel good this morning.
Was able to crunch out 60 curls before I left and finally paid the roofer for attic fan installation.
Missed the 813 by probably 30 seconds and had my shoelace not gotten caught up in my pedal, I might've had a shot. But that's fine.
Upon exiting 33rd Street I see a kid in a suit with a sign around him about how he's got his degrees and skills and wants a job. He's me and I regret not taking his resume.
Am now almost halfway through Honey's Room. Seems to me that this is the inverse to "Inglorious Basterds" in the sense that is on U.S. turf and it came out around the same time. Since Leonard and Tarantino are in cohoots to some extent, it is possible they had discussed it. What I always liked about Leonard's stories is that he often takes two cliches or two characters from normally-different surroundings and pairs them up. Here we have a German POW in Detroit, speaking perfect English and looking to be a cattle wrangler. It's certainly different. Carl Webster appears in the Hot Kid and Women Come Out to Dance but I must confess, since I read those two at least 2 years ago I don't remember everything that transpires other than that he's a pecan farmer.
I'm only going to listen to two songs this morning: Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" and Lee Morgan's "Domingo."
The former is a tune (and album) I've had for a couple of years now and though I tend to favor Hubbard's mid-60s stuff, this album is undeniably a high point in his playing. He moves forward with the instrumentation and technology (electric piano as opposed to acoustic/grand) and the song takes its time. I am desperately trying to find a session that features both Hubbard and Horace Silver but I think it may be futile.
"Domingo" really cooks. I bought it in March when there was a 2 for $10 Blue Note sale at J&R and am always glad I expanded my Morgan collection because his playing is brilliant here. It's off Volume 3 that he gets better and he's moving up and down the scale here like a pro. Song's written by Benny Golson, whose work is more and more intriguing.
My brethren from Verizon are still out there -- a sea of red shirts!
At Albany Street I think I saved a couple of people's lives. I got to the median but some people were still crossing, even though the light was not green for us. That's why I wasn't terribly surprised when a car plowed through what-one-would-think is a red light. Then the driver of a town car, which realize it had made a wrong turn, decided to make his turn without looking at the Asian girl and the black guy who were about to become plastered on its grill. All this, amazingly, in the 2 seconds that the crossing guard was doing a 360. I yelled for the duo to stop walking. Thankfully they did, and the driver unapologetically moved on. The guard looked pissed and disappointed as if he might take down the license number. He and the pedestrians thanked me. I mentioned that it is not painfully obvious when we have the right of way -- not to lecture but to sympathize.
I'm going to run today during lunch. It's hero time. Time to shine.
Thank you for reading.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Monday with Bastardos!
The load is heavy on my back today. Got clothes, food, and Elmore Leonard's Up In Honey's Room in there. I started reading it on the train and his work -- when it's on -- is still tops. I began reading him habitually in high school when I discovered "Jackie Brown" was an adaptation of his. I think this will be the 20th of his novels I've read. The only one I didn't finish was Tishomingo Blues. I feel as though I've written that before and if it's true, then I apologize. I should be able to finish it by the weekend, though.
I ran a round-trip on the Boardwalk yesterday morning in 36 minutes. It was a scorcher at 11 a.m., surprisingly but I put up some solid #s and then hit the gym for upper body. I'm not as sore as I thought I would be. I worked out the legs on Saturday but sub'd front squats for back squats, so I saved my back some strain plus kept myself able to do the run.
It's pretty humid today and I'm wearing the beige shoes to force myself not to run today -- it's going to be much cooler tomorrow and Weds and I'll run then, instead. Otherwise, it's business as usual this week, unfortunately, except for Thurs when I'll take the train in to Bklyn and ride over the bridge for the first time.
Finally watched "Johnny Got His Gun" yesterday morning. That was a long time coming. I read the book about 10 years ago and I couldn't put it down. It's not a long book but I read it in sweltering heat in about 2 days. The movie had color, unbeknownst to me and it's really a haunting story. Joe doesn't have to be a WWI soldier, he could be in any war, any country, any time. Odd that the film was released during 'Nam and didn't get well-received, but then again, when you are surrounded by footage of a current war, you might not want to watch a film about an old one.
My CWA brethren at Verizon are outside the co's HQ across the street at Vesey. I saw them on the television, or "TV" before I left. They certainly have a right to protest and they are in the right, as far as I am concerned. I hope they get what they are demanding -- not to have their healthcare and pensions cut. They are fighting corporate greed -- the good fight.
Listened to the first tracks off Blues Traveler's Bastardos! again.
I looked at my watch when I left Penn and it was 9:05. It's 9:26 as I lock the bike up.
Thank you for reading.
I ran a round-trip on the Boardwalk yesterday morning in 36 minutes. It was a scorcher at 11 a.m., surprisingly but I put up some solid #s and then hit the gym for upper body. I'm not as sore as I thought I would be. I worked out the legs on Saturday but sub'd front squats for back squats, so I saved my back some strain plus kept myself able to do the run.
It's pretty humid today and I'm wearing the beige shoes to force myself not to run today -- it's going to be much cooler tomorrow and Weds and I'll run then, instead. Otherwise, it's business as usual this week, unfortunately, except for Thurs when I'll take the train in to Bklyn and ride over the bridge for the first time.
Finally watched "Johnny Got His Gun" yesterday morning. That was a long time coming. I read the book about 10 years ago and I couldn't put it down. It's not a long book but I read it in sweltering heat in about 2 days. The movie had color, unbeknownst to me and it's really a haunting story. Joe doesn't have to be a WWI soldier, he could be in any war, any country, any time. Odd that the film was released during 'Nam and didn't get well-received, but then again, when you are surrounded by footage of a current war, you might not want to watch a film about an old one.
My CWA brethren at Verizon are outside the co's HQ across the street at Vesey. I saw them on the television, or "TV" before I left. They certainly have a right to protest and they are in the right, as far as I am concerned. I hope they get what they are demanding -- not to have their healthcare and pensions cut. They are fighting corporate greed -- the good fight.
Listened to the first tracks off Blues Traveler's Bastardos! again.
I looked at my watch when I left Penn and it was 9:05. It's 9:26 as I lock the bike up.
Thank you for reading.
Friday, August 5, 2011
RT day #455
Kept up my end and made the 749 -- made it by about 1 second, but as long as I am on, the ends are all that matter.
I'm more than halfway done with Silver's autobiography and, even though I like it, it's not revelatory. I was hoping he'd delve in to his writing methods and recording sessions but he only briefly discusses it. I own a lot of the albums he put out during the early- and mid-60s and they are truly fantastic. In the past 3 years I've bought and downloaded at least 40 jazz albums almost entirely from the mid-50s to the late-60s and his work stands out the most because they are the tightest and best arranged, but he glosses over the process, which is sort of a let-down. You'd think he'd mention the more specific details of the writing process of Cape Verdean Blues and Tokyo Blues since they came from concrete and revelatory experiences (which he does detail) but there's barely a mention except that his one-time Japanese girlfriend is on the cover photo with him on the latter album. Personality-wise, he seems to be extremely open-minded and I'm glad I'm not listening to another musician's "overcoming drug addition" tale of woe. He apparently wasn't a user or a drinker so the music must've been more organic, which is nice but it would be more engaging if he'd elaborate on that. Also, there's almost no dialogue -- a far cry from Moveable Feast. The only other jazz book I could imagine reading is the bio about Blue Note Records, the label that is probably most responsible for my continued love of the genre. The RVG remastered series is truly fantastic and since the liner notes there are saturated with enthusiasm and history, and I'd like to think the book about the label would take that to higher level.
I've got my head down and I'm not moving too fast as I'm listening to the last few tracks off Black Crowes' Before the Frost. The album is good and the sound quality (esp for a live album of new material) is top-notch but the band sounds tired in the writing. There's not a lot of distortion and I think they wanted to go for a more subtle approach. It works in the context of this double album (I own the dig. copy of disc 2 b/c I actually bought disc 1), but when I throw on the first four tracks of By Your Side, as I did this morning, that blows the slow stuff out of the water.
I actually made the light at the Highway this morning and I'm happy to say I was able to take my few belongings in Borders bag so I'm bare-backed. It's a nice feeling, but I'll have the filled water bottle later and that may hinder things.
I awoke from an intense, violent dream involving beating up Mila Kunis' boyfriend, who is in reality a dude from the gym. They were at the house of a childhood friend whose parents still live in the same house down the street (his parents are always walking their two dogs). Since I uncharacteristically ate chocolate after dinner and later fell asleep watching "That 70's Show," it makes sense. When rising from such a vivid dream, I tend to have some lag and today is a prime example.
Hoping to get to a certain record store today for a book signing of all things. I'll see if I can get there in time.
Thank you for reading.
Black Crowes Playlist:
Make Glad
And the Band Played On
Go Faster
Kickin' My Heart Around
By Your Side
Horsehead
I'm more than halfway done with Silver's autobiography and, even though I like it, it's not revelatory. I was hoping he'd delve in to his writing methods and recording sessions but he only briefly discusses it. I own a lot of the albums he put out during the early- and mid-60s and they are truly fantastic. In the past 3 years I've bought and downloaded at least 40 jazz albums almost entirely from the mid-50s to the late-60s and his work stands out the most because they are the tightest and best arranged, but he glosses over the process, which is sort of a let-down. You'd think he'd mention the more specific details of the writing process of Cape Verdean Blues and Tokyo Blues since they came from concrete and revelatory experiences (which he does detail) but there's barely a mention except that his one-time Japanese girlfriend is on the cover photo with him on the latter album. Personality-wise, he seems to be extremely open-minded and I'm glad I'm not listening to another musician's "overcoming drug addition" tale of woe. He apparently wasn't a user or a drinker so the music must've been more organic, which is nice but it would be more engaging if he'd elaborate on that. Also, there's almost no dialogue -- a far cry from Moveable Feast. The only other jazz book I could imagine reading is the bio about Blue Note Records, the label that is probably most responsible for my continued love of the genre. The RVG remastered series is truly fantastic and since the liner notes there are saturated with enthusiasm and history, and I'd like to think the book about the label would take that to higher level.
I've got my head down and I'm not moving too fast as I'm listening to the last few tracks off Black Crowes' Before the Frost. The album is good and the sound quality (esp for a live album of new material) is top-notch but the band sounds tired in the writing. There's not a lot of distortion and I think they wanted to go for a more subtle approach. It works in the context of this double album (I own the dig. copy of disc 2 b/c I actually bought disc 1), but when I throw on the first four tracks of By Your Side, as I did this morning, that blows the slow stuff out of the water.
I actually made the light at the Highway this morning and I'm happy to say I was able to take my few belongings in Borders bag so I'm bare-backed. It's a nice feeling, but I'll have the filled water bottle later and that may hinder things.
I awoke from an intense, violent dream involving beating up Mila Kunis' boyfriend, who is in reality a dude from the gym. They were at the house of a childhood friend whose parents still live in the same house down the street (his parents are always walking their two dogs). Since I uncharacteristically ate chocolate after dinner and later fell asleep watching "That 70's Show," it makes sense. When rising from such a vivid dream, I tend to have some lag and today is a prime example.
Hoping to get to a certain record store today for a book signing of all things. I'll see if I can get there in time.
Thank you for reading.
Black Crowes Playlist:
Make Glad
And the Band Played On
Go Faster
Kickin' My Heart Around
By Your Side
Horsehead
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Had a coconut water on the train today.
It being the first Thursday of a month, I speak in code only to myself.
At the Dunkin Donuts at 31st & Ninth Ave there was catering for a film. It's disgusting. There are people starving across the street and I hope the caterers hook them up. One quick left on to Ninth and I see a bunch of muffins, bagels and donuts on the street, picked at pigeons near the bus parking. Hopefully people had first crack at them.
I had to cross at 24th today again and the right headphone is shorting out too frequently for my liking. I bought it via amazon in January and it's convenient and it folds but I suppose i just wear it out.
Last nite was a ride back in the rain. The key to riding in the rain is to do it smartly and not quickly. I feel that's the best plan since no one else rides with a brain in the precipitation. The second a drop hits them they decide to move at double-time with tunnel-vision and they'll take the shortest route possible, rather than the best. How many idiots on bikes did I pass going south on 6th last nite? At least 3. I made it a point to cross after Park Row last nite to avoid the bus depot on Church Street and, having fresh memories of the recent chain-snafu, didn't want to go all-out. The morning ride is easier because the terrain is flatter, newer and more predictable. I realize that on beautiful mornings like this, when I can just put on the "Mars" disc of Stadium Arcadium and hit the road.
I move pretty quickly in the morning these days. I'm not consciously trying to move faster but I am more able and capable. Had I not just missed the light at Albany Street, I probably would've been finished a couple of minutes earlier.
Ran a 21:31 5k yesterday and will give my legs a rest for the business week.
I might crush them on Saturday.
Thank you for reading.
At the Dunkin Donuts at 31st & Ninth Ave there was catering for a film. It's disgusting. There are people starving across the street and I hope the caterers hook them up. One quick left on to Ninth and I see a bunch of muffins, bagels and donuts on the street, picked at pigeons near the bus parking. Hopefully people had first crack at them.
I had to cross at 24th today again and the right headphone is shorting out too frequently for my liking. I bought it via amazon in January and it's convenient and it folds but I suppose i just wear it out.
Last nite was a ride back in the rain. The key to riding in the rain is to do it smartly and not quickly. I feel that's the best plan since no one else rides with a brain in the precipitation. The second a drop hits them they decide to move at double-time with tunnel-vision and they'll take the shortest route possible, rather than the best. How many idiots on bikes did I pass going south on 6th last nite? At least 3. I made it a point to cross after Park Row last nite to avoid the bus depot on Church Street and, having fresh memories of the recent chain-snafu, didn't want to go all-out. The morning ride is easier because the terrain is flatter, newer and more predictable. I realize that on beautiful mornings like this, when I can just put on the "Mars" disc of Stadium Arcadium and hit the road.
I move pretty quickly in the morning these days. I'm not consciously trying to move faster but I am more able and capable. Had I not just missed the light at Albany Street, I probably would've been finished a couple of minutes earlier.
Ran a 21:31 5k yesterday and will give my legs a rest for the business week.
I might crush them on Saturday.
Thank you for reading.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Smuli-scope
Not off to the best start today. For the first time in a while I had to dash over to RVC because of my own faults, and not the train. Problem was, I figured it was a futile effort. I was right by about 30 seconds. If I didn't have to cross Sunrise Highway, I would've had a fighting chance.
In all fairness, however, I'm positive my time from the house to that station was under 10 minutes, which is really good.
Began reading Horace Silver's autobiography. Fantastic pianist and composer and apparently now he has alzheimer's, which really sucks and I suppose he did his fans a favor by writing his memoirs when he had full use of his facilities and memories. He recorded a lot of albums for Blue Note in the 50s and 60s and I'm really looking forward to the chapters where he details how he got there and what it took. I'm almost 30 pgs in and he's already met Kenny Dorham on the smaller circuits. Though I only have 3 of his albums (and a few others where he is a sideman), Dorham is one of my favs as he was a great trumpeter and his compositions were catchy and sometimes justifiably long. I totally dig that guy. In random order, my top 5 jazzmen are: Silver, Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd. I won't claim to be a jazz historian or anything like that, I just base that on my growing collection. They either wrote or played my favorite jazz tunes. Special mention for Dorham, too. Anyway, Horace Silver's Doin' the Thing Live at the Village Gate is easily one of my very favorite jazz reissues and it's just a masterpiece.
So I put on a couple of the live Jazz Messengers tunes to keep me in the upbeat mood.
I ran a 21:54 5K on Monday and am looking forward to running again today. I'm moving well on the road today and even though I'm not thrilled about running after a tougher biking morning, I realize it'll give me a more accurate read on myself, b/c I'll be running in the triathlon after a 9-mile bike ride.
I moved pretty swiftly today. Had a rough return ride last nite as the chain got lifted again as I approached Worth Street. I'm sure there's a way to limit the frequency of that, but I suppose the answer is to avoid indentations in the street.
Two months ago I was sure I could draft a letter of resignation and now I'm sure that although I could, I cannot submit it with any merit.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Art Blakey & Jazz Messengers: "Quicksilver" "Now's the Time"
Foo: "Word Forward"
Rob Zombie: "Demon Speeding"
Bad Religion: "Leaders and Followers"
In all fairness, however, I'm positive my time from the house to that station was under 10 minutes, which is really good.
Began reading Horace Silver's autobiography. Fantastic pianist and composer and apparently now he has alzheimer's, which really sucks and I suppose he did his fans a favor by writing his memoirs when he had full use of his facilities and memories. He recorded a lot of albums for Blue Note in the 50s and 60s and I'm really looking forward to the chapters where he details how he got there and what it took. I'm almost 30 pgs in and he's already met Kenny Dorham on the smaller circuits. Though I only have 3 of his albums (and a few others where he is a sideman), Dorham is one of my favs as he was a great trumpeter and his compositions were catchy and sometimes justifiably long. I totally dig that guy. In random order, my top 5 jazzmen are: Silver, Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd. I won't claim to be a jazz historian or anything like that, I just base that on my growing collection. They either wrote or played my favorite jazz tunes. Special mention for Dorham, too. Anyway, Horace Silver's Doin' the Thing Live at the Village Gate is easily one of my very favorite jazz reissues and it's just a masterpiece.
So I put on a couple of the live Jazz Messengers tunes to keep me in the upbeat mood.
I ran a 21:54 5K on Monday and am looking forward to running again today. I'm moving well on the road today and even though I'm not thrilled about running after a tougher biking morning, I realize it'll give me a more accurate read on myself, b/c I'll be running in the triathlon after a 9-mile bike ride.
I moved pretty swiftly today. Had a rough return ride last nite as the chain got lifted again as I approached Worth Street. I'm sure there's a way to limit the frequency of that, but I suppose the answer is to avoid indentations in the street.
Two months ago I was sure I could draft a letter of resignation and now I'm sure that although I could, I cannot submit it with any merit.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Art Blakey & Jazz Messengers: "Quicksilver" "Now's the Time"
Foo: "Word Forward"
Rob Zombie: "Demon Speeding"
Bad Religion: "Leaders and Followers"
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Of course....
Trains were consolidated this morning and they were late making it in to Penn so I was already behind the clock. I realized rather quickly that I don't have the key to the kryptonite lock, meaning I'd have to bring the bike inside today.
Finished Dark Avengers and it was pretty damn good. If you give villains enough time to get a fan base, you can do interesting things with them, including making them "heroes." I'd read another installment. I did notice how Norman Osborn resembles Tommy Lee Jones only with that triangular "Osborn hair."
Am listening to Pearl Jam's Backspacer. Listened to it for the first time driving to the vineyards a couple of weeks ago and it's pretty solid. Not as great as the first two but it's probably better than Yield, actually. Guitars have gotten choppy -- when they're not they soar. When they are, they tend to gum up the works. "Fixer" is a winner but the rest are merely okay.
The city must have recently installed a second-counter at the traffic light at the 29th street entrance to the highway. That's good b/c yesterday it enabled me with the confidence that I could cross over in the nick of time. Today, no such luck -- I made it down to 24th St before I crossed.
Hitting Pier 40 today, OF COURSE, there's someone pulling in there from the perpendicular side of the street. In all the seconds of the morning, the ONE car chooses those 3 seconds. Not a big deal, but it's another bullet to dodge.
People got fired yesterday -- about 20 in all at my company. That really is too bad -- I only casually knew some of the NY casualties but it is unfortunate, esp. they came in to work on a Monday only to be told "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." We all knew the cuts were on the way but I was relatively sure I was safe.
Put air in the tires yesterday and I'm sure it's making a difference. Hopefully today's train situation will be better than the past 2.
Today the debt deal has to get signed but in the end it doesn't matter, Fareed Zakaria said it best, "We already look bad."
Thank you for reading.
Finished Dark Avengers and it was pretty damn good. If you give villains enough time to get a fan base, you can do interesting things with them, including making them "heroes." I'd read another installment. I did notice how Norman Osborn resembles Tommy Lee Jones only with that triangular "Osborn hair."
Am listening to Pearl Jam's Backspacer. Listened to it for the first time driving to the vineyards a couple of weeks ago and it's pretty solid. Not as great as the first two but it's probably better than Yield, actually. Guitars have gotten choppy -- when they're not they soar. When they are, they tend to gum up the works. "Fixer" is a winner but the rest are merely okay.
The city must have recently installed a second-counter at the traffic light at the 29th street entrance to the highway. That's good b/c yesterday it enabled me with the confidence that I could cross over in the nick of time. Today, no such luck -- I made it down to 24th St before I crossed.
Hitting Pier 40 today, OF COURSE, there's someone pulling in there from the perpendicular side of the street. In all the seconds of the morning, the ONE car chooses those 3 seconds. Not a big deal, but it's another bullet to dodge.
People got fired yesterday -- about 20 in all at my company. That really is too bad -- I only casually knew some of the NY casualties but it is unfortunate, esp. they came in to work on a Monday only to be told "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." We all knew the cuts were on the way but I was relatively sure I was safe.
Put air in the tires yesterday and I'm sure it's making a difference. Hopefully today's train situation will be better than the past 2.
Today the debt deal has to get signed but in the end it doesn't matter, Fareed Zakaria said it best, "We already look bad."
Thank you for reading.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Aug 1 -- the countdown's begun
Cannot believe it's August already.
July was good, of course and I guess I am in the habit of waiting all year for the summer.
Today is important as it marks the homestretch. I have 15 days of work before the week of vaca and then the triathlon. That means that, in theory, I should/could be at RT #465 by the time of the race. I have no plans post-work so, short of a major rainstorm, I should be able to do 3 full weeks and get myself back in shape and on track. The two weeks did its number on me, physically, and though my weight is hovering in the 156 zone I can see some extra padding on my lower midsection, which needs to be rectified. I'm confident that once I resume running for the next few weeks it will begin to resemble the way I looked in early July.
I had to give up reading Nostromo. It's just too dense and I also don't care enough. I read almost all of the first big section but there was just so much description and so much back story and exposition that I couldn't plow through. Not enough dialogue, either. It just kept going on and on about these minute details that couldn't possibly impact anything else later on.
So today I begun reading Wolverine: The End. I do like the Wolverine mythology and I do like the series so I reckon it'll be a satisfying read.
Next on the agenda with either be a Horace Silver autobiog or Elmore Leonard's more recent, and after both are done I'm hitting Perec. I figure I'll breeze through the first 2 and be able to read Perec while on vacation.
I'm schvitzin today. Still have to run, though. No ifs. I don't know how well I will do but I will do my very best.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Crue: "Kickstart My Heart"
Pearl Jam: "The Fixer"
The Answer: "Piece By Piece"
Ozzy: "Life Won't Wait"
Foo: "Matter of Time"
July was good, of course and I guess I am in the habit of waiting all year for the summer.
Today is important as it marks the homestretch. I have 15 days of work before the week of vaca and then the triathlon. That means that, in theory, I should/could be at RT #465 by the time of the race. I have no plans post-work so, short of a major rainstorm, I should be able to do 3 full weeks and get myself back in shape and on track. The two weeks did its number on me, physically, and though my weight is hovering in the 156 zone I can see some extra padding on my lower midsection, which needs to be rectified. I'm confident that once I resume running for the next few weeks it will begin to resemble the way I looked in early July.
I had to give up reading Nostromo. It's just too dense and I also don't care enough. I read almost all of the first big section but there was just so much description and so much back story and exposition that I couldn't plow through. Not enough dialogue, either. It just kept going on and on about these minute details that couldn't possibly impact anything else later on.
So today I begun reading Wolverine: The End. I do like the Wolverine mythology and I do like the series so I reckon it'll be a satisfying read.
Next on the agenda with either be a Horace Silver autobiog or Elmore Leonard's more recent, and after both are done I'm hitting Perec. I figure I'll breeze through the first 2 and be able to read Perec while on vacation.
I'm schvitzin today. Still have to run, though. No ifs. I don't know how well I will do but I will do my very best.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Crue: "Kickstart My Heart"
Pearl Jam: "The Fixer"
The Answer: "Piece By Piece"
Ozzy: "Life Won't Wait"
Foo: "Matter of Time"
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