Early Fall is a lovely time of year.
My ride is smooth and uneventful.
There is a man riding north many mornings, whom I saw today, who looks like Skeet Ulrich with a handlebar mustache.
I haven't had any coffee yet. My legs are almost entirely fresh. That means last week, when they were sore, it was from the weight training and not the boardwalk run. I ran a 10K yesterday and I felt fine. Still do.
Watched "Thor" last nite -- it was pretty solid. I'm on the fence about the costumes. They have a tendency to look as though they were bought at a Ricky's. "Walk" plays in the film and during its credits and it made me want to hear it this morn on the train.
Listening to Dust again. Tough to top. The Trees' lost album is coming out in a few weeks. Chickenfoot drops tomorrow. Jane's also in a couple of weeks. In terms of being a rock/music fan, 2011 has been among the most fruitful of years. '06 and fwd have had their moments but this year my 3 fav bands all had new material and a couple of others that I hold in high esteem also are making the world a better place.
My stomach is still pretty tight. I'm not bragging. I worked out the abs hard on Sat., then ran the 10K yesterday and also ate a huge meal yesterday afternoon/evening. It's hard to ascertain if it's a good tight or not, b/c the meal was monstrous.
I'm not moving too hard, mostly b/c I do not feel it's necessary. I'm certainly going to be early. I had wondered how the protesters would fare and they are still out here. They are accepting donations for books and stuff like that. I can drop some off. I hope they like a story about John Wayne Gacy's attorney!
Thank you for reading.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Murky Friday
Had a rough time getting out of bed this morning.
I was basically Liam the Teenager Who Just Woke Up yet somehow I managed to make the 749.
I couldn't muster the eye-strength to read on the train so I just kinda mellowed out to some lighter RHCP. I finished Sextet last night.
We saw "Relatively Speaking" - ROW B - last nite, which was why I am so tired. It was a good but long, day. The third act was the best.
There's pizza for lunch today so I'm in good shape.
I'm listening to Temple of the Dog this morning -- I normally start out with "Reach Down" b/c it's a heavy blues tune but it moves thanks to Mr. Cameron. That has become my morning/wake-up song.
It was supposed to pour but I got away with it this morning. The problem, I realized, is that I should've worn sweats. Now I'm going to have murky water on my legs on the ride home.
I wonder how the protesters will do in the weather.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
TOTD: "Hunger Strike" "Pushin' Forward Back" "Your Savior"
Pearl Jam: "The Fixer" "Johnny Guitar"
I was basically Liam the Teenager Who Just Woke Up yet somehow I managed to make the 749.
I couldn't muster the eye-strength to read on the train so I just kinda mellowed out to some lighter RHCP. I finished Sextet last night.
We saw "Relatively Speaking" - ROW B - last nite, which was why I am so tired. It was a good but long, day. The third act was the best.
There's pizza for lunch today so I'm in good shape.
I'm listening to Temple of the Dog this morning -- I normally start out with "Reach Down" b/c it's a heavy blues tune but it moves thanks to Mr. Cameron. That has become my morning/wake-up song.
It was supposed to pour but I got away with it this morning. The problem, I realized, is that I should've worn sweats. Now I'm going to have murky water on my legs on the ride home.
I wonder how the protesters will do in the weather.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
TOTD: "Hunger Strike" "Pushin' Forward Back" "Your Savior"
Pearl Jam: "The Fixer" "Johnny Guitar"
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
...show us love before you go...
Began reading the final installment in Miller's Sextet. It's a near 30-page dissertation on his love for a German book called "The Maurizius Case." I'd deluded myself in to thinking that I would read the book first before getting Miller's thoughts on it, but I'm glad now that I didn't because from what I can tell, it was a trilogy that was left incomplete. And, there are enough excerpts to get the gist of the story. I'm reading it as more of a learning experience, to see how well one can write an essay about another piece of work that resonates profoundly with him.
Listening to the opening tracks of I'm With You again. It nicely complements the surprisingly bright and warm morning. Upon first glance out my window, I thought today would be gray and muggy.
I plan to run today during lunch, as tomorrow I will be dressed too nicely and it might rain. Today I was assured there would be no chance of precipitation. I feel a slight soreness in my thighs but nothing I cannot handle. I wonder if it's from the squatting or the running.
Worked out last nite and did BP reps at 185, and 15 at 165. I don't know what's changed that I cannot hit the 3 sets of 8 @ 185. The only "theory" is that I'm using two 35s on each side of the bar as opposed to a 45 + 25. Oh, the tangled web a meathead weaves. I did do 3 sets of 10 at 90 on the fly and 60 reps of the swim with dumbbells (10lb) so it was a solid session last nite.
I'm a little groggy, as I had some weird, very vivid dreams this morning that woke me up a bit too early. I dreamed the Oceanside stop was at the BP station across the street from Farmer Joel's, and that I left my bike on the train. I went to the train yard to fill out a form, and sure enough, the bike had been right behind me the entire time.
The protesters are out there hoping to get clemency for Troy Davis in Georgia. From what I heard on the news, he was convicted 20 yrs ago for killing a cop. But b/w eyewitnesses recanting their testimonies, new evidence, and redoubtable jurors (who seem to be anti-death penalty), he has a viable shot at innocence. Obama cannot intervene, as it's a state matter. Some history will be made today and tomorrow.
Thank you for reading.
Listening to the opening tracks of I'm With You again. It nicely complements the surprisingly bright and warm morning. Upon first glance out my window, I thought today would be gray and muggy.
I plan to run today during lunch, as tomorrow I will be dressed too nicely and it might rain. Today I was assured there would be no chance of precipitation. I feel a slight soreness in my thighs but nothing I cannot handle. I wonder if it's from the squatting or the running.
Worked out last nite and did BP reps at 185, and 15 at 165. I don't know what's changed that I cannot hit the 3 sets of 8 @ 185. The only "theory" is that I'm using two 35s on each side of the bar as opposed to a 45 + 25. Oh, the tangled web a meathead weaves. I did do 3 sets of 10 at 90 on the fly and 60 reps of the swim with dumbbells (10lb) so it was a solid session last nite.
I'm a little groggy, as I had some weird, very vivid dreams this morning that woke me up a bit too early. I dreamed the Oceanside stop was at the BP station across the street from Farmer Joel's, and that I left my bike on the train. I went to the train yard to fill out a form, and sure enough, the bike had been right behind me the entire time.
The protesters are out there hoping to get clemency for Troy Davis in Georgia. From what I heard on the news, he was convicted 20 yrs ago for killing a cop. But b/w eyewitnesses recanting their testimonies, new evidence, and redoubtable jurors (who seem to be anti-death penalty), he has a viable shot at innocence. Obama cannot intervene, as it's a state matter. Some history will be made today and tomorrow.
Thank you for reading.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
More Humean Than Humean
Today is roundtrip #480.
I intentionally took left the bike lock @ home since I am quite certain it will rain on and off. This makes lugging the thing around in Penn slightly easier. I'm obv. going to bring the bike into the building.
Devoured the equivalent of up to 4 donuts yesterday. I don't feel as bad about it as I thought I would, since I ran twice my normal distance on Sunday and my legs are still a little sore.
Read about this drug dealer in the philosophy world who I won't name and as far as I'm concerned is just another dirtbag. Supposedly he was just a pot dealer, which isn't as bad as worse drugs, but fuck him, he's another drug dealer. Wow, he read books in prison! Big fucking deal. "I write better when I'm stoned," he says. So you have no natural talent. Good for you. I've always felt that sobriety (or at least some moderation) is the right route. A lot of former friends didn't see it that way and I couldn't care less about them now. When you are on the outside of that, and that's the bond, you see people for what they truly are. My thoughts on the subject were summed up best by the last two tracks on Rollins Band's Weight. I used to think, though, that I was avenging myself but I realize that doesn't matter any more. I have shed that skin and now I'm just proving myself to myself. If I'm a success or a failure, it matters only to me and the close circle of people around me, and not to ghosts and memories.
It's starting to rain a bit, and I have a special group of songs I like to throw on the Ipod for such occasions. I'm also wearing the sweatpants again. The ground isn't wet yet, but I am sure it will be on the return ride.
There is a group of kids engaged in a somewhat organized run along the path to my right and one girl apparently doesn't run often, as her right hand was stuck between her crevice as she ran to keep her loose sweatpants from succumbing to gravity. I had to laugh. Her friends were, too.
Today's a.m. work is mostly done and lunch plans are to hit the National Museum of the American Indian. It's right down the street and I should take advantage. I'm actually glad to be going on a rainy day.
Watched "The Playboy Club" last night and as hot and bare as those women are I cannot imagine clearing an hour a week to tune in to the drama. The handsome-lawyer guy is a Don Draper knockoff all the way down to his dubbed voice. Aside from the women's good looks, I can see how the show is basically a way to show them as 2-D women trying to break the 1-dimensional mold in a time when women were still seen as inferior. That part of it is interesting but I get my fix of that from "Mad Men." I suppose I will leave it on in the background if I remember to tune in, but Hugh Hefner glorifying his Heff-ness is only moderately intriguing to me. He should've done this 20 years ago, and then at least he'd be an innovator. To their credit, though, there was more than just 1 black actress in the episode. Seriously. The girl who was in Mad Men (who played a bunny, there, too), may be the token for the regulars, but at least the costume mistress and Tina Turner and her band were black. So at least we get some diversity with our authenticity. Of course, the black guy that the lawyer was defending said not a word as they entered the courthouse, but we'll see if they rectify that in subsequent episodes.
The plan is to hit the gym tonite, run tomorrow, and maybe squeeze something in Thurs morning, too. We'll see how well I take to the mornings.
The protesters look as though they are just waking up as I pass them at 9:20. It's going to be an uphill battle for them in this weather. They are fighting corporate greed.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
AC/DC: Thunderstuck
The Cult: Rain, Coming Down
RHCP: The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Velvet Revolver: Slither
I intentionally took left the bike lock @ home since I am quite certain it will rain on and off. This makes lugging the thing around in Penn slightly easier. I'm obv. going to bring the bike into the building.
Devoured the equivalent of up to 4 donuts yesterday. I don't feel as bad about it as I thought I would, since I ran twice my normal distance on Sunday and my legs are still a little sore.
Read about this drug dealer in the philosophy world who I won't name and as far as I'm concerned is just another dirtbag. Supposedly he was just a pot dealer, which isn't as bad as worse drugs, but fuck him, he's another drug dealer. Wow, he read books in prison! Big fucking deal. "I write better when I'm stoned," he says. So you have no natural talent. Good for you. I've always felt that sobriety (or at least some moderation) is the right route. A lot of former friends didn't see it that way and I couldn't care less about them now. When you are on the outside of that, and that's the bond, you see people for what they truly are. My thoughts on the subject were summed up best by the last two tracks on Rollins Band's Weight. I used to think, though, that I was avenging myself but I realize that doesn't matter any more. I have shed that skin and now I'm just proving myself to myself. If I'm a success or a failure, it matters only to me and the close circle of people around me, and not to ghosts and memories.
It's starting to rain a bit, and I have a special group of songs I like to throw on the Ipod for such occasions. I'm also wearing the sweatpants again. The ground isn't wet yet, but I am sure it will be on the return ride.
There is a group of kids engaged in a somewhat organized run along the path to my right and one girl apparently doesn't run often, as her right hand was stuck between her crevice as she ran to keep her loose sweatpants from succumbing to gravity. I had to laugh. Her friends were, too.
Today's a.m. work is mostly done and lunch plans are to hit the National Museum of the American Indian. It's right down the street and I should take advantage. I'm actually glad to be going on a rainy day.
Watched "The Playboy Club" last night and as hot and bare as those women are I cannot imagine clearing an hour a week to tune in to the drama. The handsome-lawyer guy is a Don Draper knockoff all the way down to his dubbed voice. Aside from the women's good looks, I can see how the show is basically a way to show them as 2-D women trying to break the 1-dimensional mold in a time when women were still seen as inferior. That part of it is interesting but I get my fix of that from "Mad Men." I suppose I will leave it on in the background if I remember to tune in, but Hugh Hefner glorifying his Heff-ness is only moderately intriguing to me. He should've done this 20 years ago, and then at least he'd be an innovator. To their credit, though, there was more than just 1 black actress in the episode. Seriously. The girl who was in Mad Men (who played a bunny, there, too), may be the token for the regulars, but at least the costume mistress and Tina Turner and her band were black. So at least we get some diversity with our authenticity. Of course, the black guy that the lawyer was defending said not a word as they entered the courthouse, but we'll see if they rectify that in subsequent episodes.
The plan is to hit the gym tonite, run tomorrow, and maybe squeeze something in Thurs morning, too. We'll see how well I take to the mornings.
The protesters look as though they are just waking up as I pass them at 9:20. It's going to be an uphill battle for them in this weather. They are fighting corporate greed.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
AC/DC: Thunderstuck
The Cult: Rain, Coming Down
RHCP: The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Velvet Revolver: Slither
Monday, September 19, 2011
Humean Monday
Was able to go barebacked today.
There was an 11-minute delay on the 813. By the time I got in it was as if I'd taken the 818 off a few minute delay.
It's getting cooler out. Not as cold as Friday, but I will likely have to start wearing longer/thicker layers.
I ran a 10K yesterday, or as close to one as I can get. My legs are pretty shot. I'm not moving too hard and I'm a little groggy to boot.
Read about Hume and his theories on "theism" and religion. Now that I've read this part, I can see how indeed Darwin certainly could've been (and was) reading Hume while writing his theory of evolution.
There's one more passage about Hume in here and then I'm on to some other stuff.
There are donuts waiting for me @ work today. I figure I can wolf one down guilt-free, since I worked out pretty hard this weekend.
Made all my lights today. That always helps.
On the way up to Broadway there were a lot of (seemingly homeless) people camped out at the square across the street from the building. I wonder what they are up to.
Thank you for reading.
There was an 11-minute delay on the 813. By the time I got in it was as if I'd taken the 818 off a few minute delay.
It's getting cooler out. Not as cold as Friday, but I will likely have to start wearing longer/thicker layers.
I ran a 10K yesterday, or as close to one as I can get. My legs are pretty shot. I'm not moving too hard and I'm a little groggy to boot.
Read about Hume and his theories on "theism" and religion. Now that I've read this part, I can see how indeed Darwin certainly could've been (and was) reading Hume while writing his theory of evolution.
There's one more passage about Hume in here and then I'm on to some other stuff.
There are donuts waiting for me @ work today. I figure I can wolf one down guilt-free, since I worked out pretty hard this weekend.
Made all my lights today. That always helps.
On the way up to Broadway there were a lot of (seemingly homeless) people camped out at the square across the street from the building. I wonder what they are up to.
Thank you for reading.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Ex-humed.
Barebacked today. Don't need much, lunch will be bought and clothes await me.
Am reading more about Hume today. Even the mistakes he made and his followers' misinterpretations have had profound effects on society, supposedly. It's fascinating still, though some of the novelty is wearing off. I'll pick up a new book next week.
Smithers' being out today is an added bonus to it being a Friday.
It's nippy out here, though. It's windy and not warm. Summer truly feels faded.
I'm listening to I'm With You again and it's as if these tracks have been with me all along. I need better headphones for purposes of sound quality and physical comfort.
Had a wonderful, healthy dinner of poached salmon last nite that will fuel me until my greasy pizza lunch.
Thank you for reading.
Am reading more about Hume today. Even the mistakes he made and his followers' misinterpretations have had profound effects on society, supposedly. It's fascinating still, though some of the novelty is wearing off. I'll pick up a new book next week.
Smithers' being out today is an added bonus to it being a Friday.
It's nippy out here, though. It's windy and not warm. Summer truly feels faded.
I'm listening to I'm With You again and it's as if these tracks have been with me all along. I need better headphones for purposes of sound quality and physical comfort.
Had a wonderful, healthy dinner of poached salmon last nite that will fuel me until my greasy pizza lunch.
Thank you for reading.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Humeor Me.
Here are some things I saw today on my normal route:
An older man at the Piers crosswalk who looked like Santa.
A cut, lean, black guy with short dreads, an eye patch and a small backpack (which I'm seeing more freq. lately) jogging north. He looked like he materialized straight out of a comic series I just read called the 7 Soldiers of Victory, where there were underground pirates in the subway. The eyepatch was a shade of brown that matched his skin color perfectly. It was strange and hardcore.
Shortly after that, there was a young(er) black kid talking to a woman with Arab headgear and trying to impress her right at the brick crossing. He seemed oblivious to the serious, spandex-clad two-wheeler group coming at him, so I warned him to get out of the lane. They moved and the oncoming group's leader thanked me sincerely.
Had a coconut water today and though I ran a 22:50 yesterday where my legs were quite sore, they seem to be alright today. I'm down to (w/o shoes) 154 lbs.
Read a little more about Hume today. This stuff fascinates me b/c it was not a part of my upbringing at all. Philosophy and jazz are two phenomena to which I was almost entirely blind while growing up. But I appreciate that b/c it's new fuel for inspiration and knowledge. After a while, the well runs dry with the metal and the true crime. Got to change it up and eventually integrate it all. I won't pretend to understand all of it in the same way I don't like all jazz but I appreciate it all b/c of its lasting effect and influence.
Watched "Valdez is Coming" last night. Of the 20+ Elmore Leonard novels I've read, only a few have been westerns, and of that (total) amount, I've seen only a handful of adaptations that I've read. "Get Shorty" seemed to not need much of a script in terms of new dialogue and it still worked really well. In the same vain, "Valdez" was almost exactly as I imagined it. Sure there were a couple of characters and subplots cut out, and there wasn't the same growing relationship between Valdez and Gay Erin (nor the full explanation of her situation), but by-and-large it was really faithful. I'd only seen Burt Lancaster in "Field of Dreams" so to see him 20 years earlier as an aging Mexican was quite a 180. The only thing I take issue with in the portrayal of Mexicans, there, was the idea that they make a "ch" sound where an "H" would start a world. Like: "His." Granted I have not met too many Mexicans, though I have worked with some (possibly authentic) who didn't pronounce words like that at all. I'll make a trip down to Juarez and get some first-hand experience and report back. Regardless, it's the kind of movie my grandfathers probably had on at one point during my childhood and they all were in the zone when they watched, except when they nodded off. Even still, it's comforting to imagine they were watching with me while Gilly continued with her project for A&L's baby.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Chris Cornell - "Enemy" "Other Side of Town" "Climbing Up The Walls"
Chickenfoot - "Down the Drain" "My Kinda Girl" "Learning to Fall"
An older man at the Piers crosswalk who looked like Santa.
A cut, lean, black guy with short dreads, an eye patch and a small backpack (which I'm seeing more freq. lately) jogging north. He looked like he materialized straight out of a comic series I just read called the 7 Soldiers of Victory, where there were underground pirates in the subway. The eyepatch was a shade of brown that matched his skin color perfectly. It was strange and hardcore.
Shortly after that, there was a young(er) black kid talking to a woman with Arab headgear and trying to impress her right at the brick crossing. He seemed oblivious to the serious, spandex-clad two-wheeler group coming at him, so I warned him to get out of the lane. They moved and the oncoming group's leader thanked me sincerely.
Had a coconut water today and though I ran a 22:50 yesterday where my legs were quite sore, they seem to be alright today. I'm down to (w/o shoes) 154 lbs.
Read a little more about Hume today. This stuff fascinates me b/c it was not a part of my upbringing at all. Philosophy and jazz are two phenomena to which I was almost entirely blind while growing up. But I appreciate that b/c it's new fuel for inspiration and knowledge. After a while, the well runs dry with the metal and the true crime. Got to change it up and eventually integrate it all. I won't pretend to understand all of it in the same way I don't like all jazz but I appreciate it all b/c of its lasting effect and influence.
Watched "Valdez is Coming" last night. Of the 20+ Elmore Leonard novels I've read, only a few have been westerns, and of that (total) amount, I've seen only a handful of adaptations that I've read. "Get Shorty" seemed to not need much of a script in terms of new dialogue and it still worked really well. In the same vain, "Valdez" was almost exactly as I imagined it. Sure there were a couple of characters and subplots cut out, and there wasn't the same growing relationship between Valdez and Gay Erin (nor the full explanation of her situation), but by-and-large it was really faithful. I'd only seen Burt Lancaster in "Field of Dreams" so to see him 20 years earlier as an aging Mexican was quite a 180. The only thing I take issue with in the portrayal of Mexicans, there, was the idea that they make a "ch" sound where an "H" would start a world. Like: "His." Granted I have not met too many Mexicans, though I have worked with some (possibly authentic) who didn't pronounce words like that at all. I'll make a trip down to Juarez and get some first-hand experience and report back. Regardless, it's the kind of movie my grandfathers probably had on at one point during my childhood and they all were in the zone when they watched, except when they nodded off. Even still, it's comforting to imagine they were watching with me while Gilly continued with her project for A&L's baby.
Thank you for reading.
Playlist:
Chris Cornell - "Enemy" "Other Side of Town" "Climbing Up The Walls"
Chickenfoot - "Down the Drain" "My Kinda Girl" "Learning to Fall"
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