Yesterday I woke at 6:30 to meet Katy for the Tri swimming.The day was promising with good weather to run in. Swimming included 14x50x3. It was a good workout, but not to tough. It was a small crowd as the race season has begun. We all had coffee before Rob dropped me off in Lakewood.
Zac was busy putting the finishing touches on the bus. he is in the home stretch of a very long restoration project. It is looking good. I will post photo's once he has finished. Nichole was putting togeteher a feast to be enjoyed later. I grabbed a guitar and turned on the Cavs game. They used all 48 minutes to determine the outcome, but things worked out well for the Cavs.
Following the game, Nichole and I set off for our run. Three hours was the plan, first stop: Second Sole. We had just one GU. Unfortunately they closed before 5PM so we stopped the watch and ran into the supermarket, bought some cliff bars and headed into the Rocky river rez for some running. the weather was great. I am not fully recovered from my illness so I ran tired most of the way. I think we both were having tough days, but we stuck it out and finished a 8 minutes shy of our plan.
once we got back to the house, Nichole and I devoured some watermelon and kettle chips. We sat down to the cartoons on FOX and ate this feast that had been started hours earlier. Pasta, greens, asparagus, bread. It was awesome.
I got home at 10:30 and went to bed soon after.
With three weeks till Rite Aid, we are both healthy. I have every belief that Nichole will do great in her 26.2 mile debut. I am very confident about the half. I have no predictions this year. I just want a solid race.
I have almost completely moved over to linux. I am working from it right now. I love the concept of being free from windows. I mostly love the stability of the OS.
One week till the Open mic at the coventry Phoenix starts. See you all soon.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I left the window open and something flu in...e'chooo!
If you follow my training log at all, you may have noticed that I have been logging "0" workouts since the 5k. This is due to the bug I came down with.
Sunday I hit the couch and dozed into extra innings. Monday I took the evening off feeling some congestion. I watched Napoleon Dynamite. I saw LBJ and Cavs remind the Wizards who it was that won the east last season. I struggled to sleep. Went to work at 7am. Came home at 10am. I then slept.
For what ever reason, races always leave me open to sickness. The good part is that I have a recovery week right now, so I am not really(just a little)stressed about loosing workouts.
Today I felt better. Not 100%, but I went to work, rode to the pool, swam 1600 easy, rode a mile, chain broke, caught a bus. I am satisfied.
I have been enjoying the NBA playoffs so far. If by chances the next round is Cavs/Celtics, I apologies in advance for all the obnoxious things I may say about a town a drool over the thought of running in. Speaking of that run, congrats to Daisy, E speed, and Katy. Sounds like they all had a blast.
Being sick is weird. It is not fun to work through. But once in a while it is nice to grab a pillow, a roll of tissue, a comforter, a DVD or two, and just rest up. I like the healing process.
My computer guy has been setting up a linux platform for me. It still has some bugs to work out, but he is loving the challenge.Using it makes windows seem like a really bad prank. It actuall seems much cooler then mac. According to my tech genius linux is not at any threat from virus's. It just refuses to run the programs.
As I sit here and sniffle, I wish I could just choose not to run a virus. I wish I was as well protected as linux. But after a race, my firewall are down. I get sick.
Sunday I hit the couch and dozed into extra innings. Monday I took the evening off feeling some congestion. I watched Napoleon Dynamite. I saw LBJ and Cavs remind the Wizards who it was that won the east last season. I struggled to sleep. Went to work at 7am. Came home at 10am. I then slept.
For what ever reason, races always leave me open to sickness. The good part is that I have a recovery week right now, so I am not really(just a little)stressed about loosing workouts.
Today I felt better. Not 100%, but I went to work, rode to the pool, swam 1600 easy, rode a mile, chain broke, caught a bus. I am satisfied.
I have been enjoying the NBA playoffs so far. If by chances the next round is Cavs/Celtics, I apologies in advance for all the obnoxious things I may say about a town a drool over the thought of running in. Speaking of that run, congrats to Daisy, E speed, and Katy. Sounds like they all had a blast.
Being sick is weird. It is not fun to work through. But once in a while it is nice to grab a pillow, a roll of tissue, a comforter, a DVD or two, and just rest up. I like the healing process.
My computer guy has been setting up a linux platform for me. It still has some bugs to work out, but he is loving the challenge.Using it makes windows seem like a really bad prank. It actuall seems much cooler then mac. According to my tech genius linux is not at any threat from virus's. It just refuses to run the programs.
As I sit here and sniffle, I wish I could just choose not to run a virus. I wish I was as well protected as linux. But after a race, my firewall are down. I get sick.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
City 2 City 5k recap
Nicole and I decided Friday to do this race. The schedule called for a 5k today. My early plan was to ride down, but it was raining and I didn't want to stand around for an hour in wet cloths ,so I took the train into tower city for registration. Nichole and Zac began the day by changing a tire.
The entry was $20. Kinda' steep for a 5k but the charity was a shelter for battered women and children, so I knew we would be getting more out of it then a tshirt and banana. I hope they were able to provide funding after expenses.
The field was sparse compared with other races I have done recently. I was scouting the crowd to evaluate the competition. This is not easy any more. My age group seems aged as randomly as any and running doesn't mark calves. I shared the idea that awards could be had with a good effort. I hoped to provoke Nichole's competitiveness.
We headed up to Huron Rd to warm up and toe the line...well my toe is never near any line, but I am sure you get the drift.
"Ding, ding,ding!!!" the race bell sounded (I am glad the bell has replaced the gun). I was immediately stalled by joggers so I did my best Barry Sanders impression with some nice lateral moves until I found open field.
Hermes race systems seems to have a deal with Tower City this year, so the start and finish are Identical to the Chilli Bowl course. The Mid section goes deeper into Ohio city as it passes by Johnny Mango's
My first mile was 7:55. The bridge kind of kicks you in the bum so I hoped I could make up time in OC. At Mile 2 I was at 16.01 The course was an out and back so mile 3 returns back over the bridge. I worked hard to catch runners ahead of me, but I ran out of race before I could over take them. Final time was 24:50 for an average of 7:59. Not blazing fast, but steady. Goal achieved.
Speaking of taking a train to a race, E Speed, Daisy Duc, and Katy(She picks me up for the Oberlin workouts every other Sunday, and is doing IMKY) have taken a train to Boston for a race tomorrow. I think I heard it was a marathon. Good luck and Have fun....
Someday I would like to run Boston. If I can hold those eight minute miles for 26, I will be in good shape......When I am 45.
The entry was $20. Kinda' steep for a 5k but the charity was a shelter for battered women and children, so I knew we would be getting more out of it then a tshirt and banana. I hope they were able to provide funding after expenses.
The field was sparse compared with other races I have done recently. I was scouting the crowd to evaluate the competition. This is not easy any more. My age group seems aged as randomly as any and running doesn't mark calves. I shared the idea that awards could be had with a good effort. I hoped to provoke Nichole's competitiveness.
We headed up to Huron Rd to warm up and toe the line...well my toe is never near any line, but I am sure you get the drift.
"Ding, ding,ding!!!" the race bell sounded (I am glad the bell has replaced the gun). I was immediately stalled by joggers so I did my best Barry Sanders impression with some nice lateral moves until I found open field.
Hermes race systems seems to have a deal with Tower City this year, so the start and finish are Identical to the Chilli Bowl course. The Mid section goes deeper into Ohio city as it passes by Johnny Mango's
My first mile was 7:55. The bridge kind of kicks you in the bum so I hoped I could make up time in OC. At Mile 2 I was at 16.01 The course was an out and back so mile 3 returns back over the bridge. I worked hard to catch runners ahead of me, but I ran out of race before I could over take them. Final time was 24:50 for an average of 7:59. Not blazing fast, but steady. Goal achieved.
- This race was a nice little event. Hermes does a good job.
- This course is tough. I do not run it fast.
- Nichole had a nice race. This was her first 5k.
- The Female 35-39 age group had a 17 second differential between 1st and 4th place.
Speaking of taking a train to a race, E Speed, Daisy Duc, and Katy(She picks me up for the Oberlin workouts every other Sunday, and is doing IMKY) have taken a train to Boston for a race tomorrow. I think I heard it was a marathon. Good luck and Have fun....
Someday I would like to run Boston. If I can hold those eight minute miles for 26, I will be in good shape......When I am 45.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Open Mic
When I moved to Madison in 1988, my goals were folk music. I went there with intention to hone my skills as a player, performer, and writer. I had developed a plan and followed it as I do my triathlon training plans. I would practice a minimum of one hour daily. I had to write one complete song a week. I had to learn one new song a week and I had to go to the local Open Mic, held at the Rathskeller on the UW campus. The weekly open mic would always keep me on task, just as an up coming race does. This was where I found out what worked and what didn't. This is the place I got over my stage fright and became a performer.
In '89 I returned to Cleveland. I resumed my work at the Coventry Arabica as a Batista. I had left that job a couple of years earlier after the Cafe had been sold and the new manager persisted in trying to get me to sleep with him. He was now gone and the owner was glad to have me back. He sometimes would ask us for our input on ways to increase business. I suggested starting an Open Mic. He thought it a good idea and put me in charge.
Over the next 16 years this became my life. Every Monday I would set up my sound system and introduce the next act. I took the job very seriously as I saw it not only as a vehicle for promoting my own music, but more importantly I saw maintaining the open mic programs around Cleveland as a major responsibility as the custodian for the forum so many of our best musicians would use to develop their own set of skills.
My Open Mics gained a lot of credibility quickly for having good audiences,musicians, and for treating every performer equally. It was common place for some of the biggest acts in town to drop in for a set. The audience had grown accustom to seeing unknowns become very well known. Once in a while the major record company would bring in acts. Jewel and Sean Lennon were two of those acts. Best of all I was able to create a venue for MANY first time performers. I was put in a position where I was able to help a lot of amazingly talented musicians to develop their own skills. This was my calling, and I was able to answer it. I have always thought myself very lucky to have held this position.
In 2001 the Arabica closed. I continued to host shows for the next three years, but businesses would come and go. Stability was fleeting. My final open mic was at the Lee Rd Arabica. After they closed I decided to not take on a new show until the conditions were right for long term success.
Well.....Conditions have become right. I have just settled the details to begin hosting a new Open mic at the Phoenix on Coventry. We will start with the first weekly show Monday May 5th.
I am so freaking excited. This is my element. This is where I shine. So come on out with a guitar, voice, flute, or your ears. Monday nights on Coventry will be alive with song once again.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Forsythia Means spring!
I am driven by emotion. Emotion is what helps me to run 26.2 miles. My logical side enables me to train for a marathon, but emotion gets me to the finish line. The marathon is beyond logic. Why in the world would you do that to yourself. Emotion is the only explanation I can come to. Logic however tells me that I must reach a level of fitness to be able to meet the demands of my emotion.
Music is much the same. Without an understanding of music theory, music is left to just wander without direction. Music depends on a set of rules just as math, science, and language do. Yet music performed without emotion, seems to loose its musicality.
Much of my base training has been logical in its motivation lately. Honestly, I have had little desire this past winter to train. I do not love the trainer rides. Commuting to and fro the pool by bus kinda sucks in the cold, and running in the winter is really nice during November and December, but after New Years it becomes a real chore.
Today I headed out for an hour around University Circle. My goal was speed work in the form of intervals. I knew what I needed to do in my head, but pushing myself was going to be a chore of the heart. My plan was to play chase with other runners.
The game works like this: Spot another runner and e catch them. Preferably they have at least a 100 yd lead over you. The Case campus is a good spot for this workout because it has so many fit runners to choose from.
Within five minutes, I had a runner to stalk. He was young and seemed to run well. I began my chase. Once I was with in 25 yds, the prey had become aware of my pusuit. He began to increase his effort to match mine for a mile and a half. I was within ten yards at the bottom of Mayfield hill when he made his turn off my course. We had both pushed each other really hard. I spotted and overtook a few others along the way, but none gave me the same effort as my first chase.
While running I took notice of the brilliant skyline that circles Wade Oval. I took notice of the forsythia as it bursts into spring. I enjoyed the sun light and moderate temperatures. The music mostly helped me to maintain my cadence.
My mind during a run is constantly racing back and forth between logic and emotion. I constantly run a system scan over my whole body. But to continue my Stearn focus, I need the fuel of my emotions.
A sure sign of spring is when I get home and I am excited to head out for my run. Logic has helped me to build a solid base. With spring, I can just enjoy my training. I can revel in the beauty of spring. I am joined by so many more runners and wildlife. My head spins with joy as I run purely for the love of running.
Side note: As I finished writing this post, A group of high school seniors came into the coffee shop and requested that everybody stand up and hold hands for a photo. Every body did. At least 30 people that haven't looked past their laptop screens in over an hour stood together hand in hand. This was a moment of inclusiveness that does not happen often in the 21st century cafe'. It was refreshing.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
What will we leave behind?
It has been about ten years since I first embraced the Internet and the personal computer. I had dabbled with the technology before this, but it was still to buggy for me. What I wanted to do with the new world of technology was still a little out of reach. Inevitably I would put a demand on the software I was using and it would crash. Many hours were spent learning the importance of saving your work. If I was on the early internet, I would spend many hours waiting for a page to load. Once it appeared it was fairly limited in useful information. My imagination saw a future for these tools, but as a musician I needed them to be further developed.
The late nineties brought faster machines. Jen and I had a P3 that I recently retired. I began using it for music production. Mostly post production work as the software and memory was still to slow for my demands in multi track recording. I had the most success using SoundForge for post editing and "mastering" my mixes from my multi track recorder.
The internet, once used only for email distribution of upcoming shows became relevant in a much bolder way. In 1999 I found a site called mp3.com. This site enabled me to create a true web presence. I was able to offer music to listeners around the world. I was able to create on demand CD distribution. I had a place to offer information on my upcoming shows. I was finally able to bypass the record companies and move forward with my music. MP3.com paid us for the downloads and the musicians promoted the site. As independent musicians we were very enthusiastic about what mp3.com offered and worked hard for it. We were well paid and the future was exciting.
MP3.com was pioneering the way music would be distributed. They were taking the industry into the future with unabashed ambition. Ultimatly the recording industry (RIAA) filed lawsuits to prevent mp3.com from offering online personal music storage. This and the old Napster lawsuits filed by the RIAA began defining how music could legally be distributed online. MP3.com lost the lawsuits and were ultimately bought and shut down by NBC/Universal. The artists were all offered CNET space. No website since has offered as good an opportunity to indie musicians.
Since that time I have used many music hosting sites. Myspace has the biggest visiter community. CreateSpace offers the best on demand CD pressing. Integrating the two has been completely up to me. Offering an online music player in my integrated website forces me to use another site. To offer unlimited free downloads, I have had to create that from scratch using html. As a result, my desire to make and distribute music has taken my skill set from musician to web designer. Today my folk music world is here on the internet.
Folk Arts are defined by some, as a mediums that originate amongst the common people of a region and passed through the people.
What we were doing ten years ago on mp3.com was a new kind of folk art. We were sharing our music around a campfire called the Internet in a region called the the world wide web. This style of sharing, is of course not limited to just music. We all find ourselves participating in the world of blogging. We are sharing our lives and stories. We are creating an account of world history unlike any the world has ever known. The folk tradition is alive here in the bloggasphere. Our stories are being told. Some true, some exaggerations, some are pure lies. But it is all being accounted for.
Centuries from now our lives will be remembered in greater definition then was available ten years ago. Our decedents will be able to get to know us in very intimate ways. As bloggers we are recording history. Every little detail of our lives will be relevant in future attempts to see and understand who we were as a world in 2008. If humanity survives into the next millennium, it will be our stories that will help future generations to understand why they live the way they do.
I do not believe our human future will be an earthly one. I honestly think if we are to continue at our current growth, that we can not do it here any longer. Earth will be home to some for agriculture, but we most likely will have to expand our world into space. What we write here in blog land may be some of the last accounts of what life was like when so many lived here on earth.
I hope we can leave more then a digital memory.
The late nineties brought faster machines. Jen and I had a P3 that I recently retired. I began using it for music production. Mostly post production work as the software and memory was still to slow for my demands in multi track recording. I had the most success using SoundForge for post editing and "mastering" my mixes from my multi track recorder.
The internet, once used only for email distribution of upcoming shows became relevant in a much bolder way. In 1999 I found a site called mp3.com. This site enabled me to create a true web presence. I was able to offer music to listeners around the world. I was able to create on demand CD distribution. I had a place to offer information on my upcoming shows. I was finally able to bypass the record companies and move forward with my music. MP3.com paid us for the downloads and the musicians promoted the site. As independent musicians we were very enthusiastic about what mp3.com offered and worked hard for it. We were well paid and the future was exciting.
MP3.com was pioneering the way music would be distributed. They were taking the industry into the future with unabashed ambition. Ultimatly the recording industry (RIAA) filed lawsuits to prevent mp3.com from offering online personal music storage. This and the old Napster lawsuits filed by the RIAA began defining how music could legally be distributed online. MP3.com lost the lawsuits and were ultimately bought and shut down by NBC/Universal. The artists were all offered CNET space. No website since has offered as good an opportunity to indie musicians.
Since that time I have used many music hosting sites. Myspace has the biggest visiter community. CreateSpace offers the best on demand CD pressing. Integrating the two has been completely up to me. Offering an online music player in my integrated website forces me to use another site. To offer unlimited free downloads, I have had to create that from scratch using html. As a result, my desire to make and distribute music has taken my skill set from musician to web designer. Today my folk music world is here on the internet.
Folk Arts are defined by some, as a mediums that originate amongst the common people of a region and passed through the people.
What we were doing ten years ago on mp3.com was a new kind of folk art. We were sharing our music around a campfire called the Internet in a region called the the world wide web. This style of sharing, is of course not limited to just music. We all find ourselves participating in the world of blogging. We are sharing our lives and stories. We are creating an account of world history unlike any the world has ever known. The folk tradition is alive here in the bloggasphere. Our stories are being told. Some true, some exaggerations, some are pure lies. But it is all being accounted for.
Centuries from now our lives will be remembered in greater definition then was available ten years ago. Our decedents will be able to get to know us in very intimate ways. As bloggers we are recording history. Every little detail of our lives will be relevant in future attempts to see and understand who we were as a world in 2008. If humanity survives into the next millennium, it will be our stories that will help future generations to understand why they live the way they do.
I do not believe our human future will be an earthly one. I honestly think if we are to continue at our current growth, that we can not do it here any longer. Earth will be home to some for agriculture, but we most likely will have to expand our world into space. What we write here in blog land may be some of the last accounts of what life was like when so many lived here on earth.
I hope we can leave more then a digital memory.Thursday, April 10, 2008
Are we really free?
I finally put up a page for free downloads. The music is from the Beachland Show Feb. 10th. So feel free, download and share. The page is mine. It is not MySpace or another site that wants your personal info. Just free music.
I have been avoiding my TV, as I have been enjoying Southpark, King of the Hill, and TED.COM.
My favotite cartoons are now available on demand through their own web sites. TED.COM is this awesome site I found on Jasper Blakes blog.The site is filled with speeches by some amazing human beings. And it is free!
Here is a video by one of my major personal heros.
"And the eyes of the world are watching now". From his song Biko written back in 1977.
I think it amazing that he has found a way to give the world eyes to monitor injustice. His plan seeks freedom for all.
I live my life relatively free. I have few obstacles that I can not see beyond. My mind enjoys a greater peace then it ever has before. Yet peace and freedom are so fragile.
Sing for freedom.
I have been avoiding my TV, as I have been enjoying Southpark, King of the Hill, and TED.COM.
My favotite cartoons are now available on demand through their own web sites. TED.COM is this awesome site I found on Jasper Blakes blog.The site is filled with speeches by some amazing human beings. And it is free!
Here is a video by one of my major personal heros.
"And the eyes of the world are watching now". From his song Biko written back in 1977.
I think it amazing that he has found a way to give the world eyes to monitor injustice. His plan seeks freedom for all.
I live my life relatively free. I have few obstacles that I can not see beyond. My mind enjoys a greater peace then it ever has before. Yet peace and freedom are so fragile.
Sing for freedom.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
On the Road Again
It has been a while since I last posted. I was having Vista issues. It seems that as nice as microsofts new OS looks, it is riddled with issues. I ran into one last week and spent most of my time doing research in to the why and how to fix it the bug. I still have not found a solution that I expect from a company the size of Microsoft. I eventually tricked the OS into a repair. IE7 still will not dispaly and Google Earth depends on explorer. I am considering reverting to XP and setting up a secondary Linux OS.
To all you Mac enthusiast's that are thinking "You wouldn't have these issues if".... I would if I could pony up the dough.
Anyhow, winter is receding in Cleveberg. Today was ideal for a longer bike ride outdoors. It has been a while since I have spent more than 45 minutes on the road. It is nice to just be out doors. I decended. I climbed. I danced with traffic. I felt the wind without worrying about my electric bill. I rode into the Chagrin Valley by following my favorite route. After the ride i jumped off and added a 2 mile brick run.
These are my favorite workouts. This is when I can just takeoff and fly. Disappearing into the hills of northeast Ohio. Sometimes I run into a friend, but mostly it is just me and my bike. Getting away for an afternoon does wonders for my mind.
To all you Mac enthusiast's that are thinking "You wouldn't have these issues if".... I would if I could pony up the dough.
Anyhow, winter is receding in Cleveberg. Today was ideal for a longer bike ride outdoors. It has been a while since I have spent more than 45 minutes on the road. It is nice to just be out doors. I decended. I climbed. I danced with traffic. I felt the wind without worrying about my electric bill. I rode into the Chagrin Valley by following my favorite route. After the ride i jumped off and added a 2 mile brick run.
These are my favorite workouts. This is when I can just takeoff and fly. Disappearing into the hills of northeast Ohio. Sometimes I run into a friend, but mostly it is just me and my bike. Getting away for an afternoon does wonders for my mind.
Ironyman moment
I got a traffic ticket yesterday.
Now I will bet you are thinking, "I thought you didn't drive?".
I don't. I wasn't even on my bike. I was crossing at the tail end of a red light in front of my apt. Half way across Coventry, the light turned green. I stuck with the base stealing code. I had already committed and was heading head first into second base. At second base waited a Cleveland Heights police officer ready to apply the tag. Jay Walking!!!$85. The cost of the fine can't justify fighting it and loosing a day of work. So, I must pay the man.
It must have been a slow night.
Now I will bet you are thinking, "I thought you didn't drive?".
I don't. I wasn't even on my bike. I was crossing at the tail end of a red light in front of my apt. Half way across Coventry, the light turned green. I stuck with the base stealing code. I had already committed and was heading head first into second base. At second base waited a Cleveland Heights police officer ready to apply the tag. Jay Walking!!!$85. The cost of the fine can't justify fighting it and loosing a day of work. So, I must pay the man.
It must have been a slow night.
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