Shine on

Well, the sun is shining and I am sitting in a coffee shop. I am trying the remote post for the first time. I am struggling with weird temperamental networks. I am a little weirded out by the presence of other people while I write. But it is nice to be out of the house.

This new computer is really a major step up from my old PC. I have had that thing for 9 years. It was really nice when Jen and I first bought it. Since then I have made improvements and replaced parts. After I built my production PC, I just used the old one for basic office functions and the internet. It has no sound card or removable disc drive. It ran a little slow, but did what I asked it to.

The new laptop is very fast and offers many opportunities for productive use. I believe I can do many audio production actions on the new computer. It is not anywhere as functional as my dedicated audio box, but editing and some mixdown should be perfect here. Recording is limited to stereo becuase of the lack of any firewire connectivity. I most likely won't attempt that without adding a USB sound device. MSVista is nice, but is a resource hog. I have a gig of RAM and it uses 2/3 minimum. I will be upgrading to 2G before attempting any audio processing.

The main function for this computer will be web functions and business stuff. Updating www.charliemosbrook.com and trifolk will be much easier with the ability to do it from anywhere. I was bummed that I was unable to blog from the UK. I know as my gig schedule grows, my need to maintain both sites from the road will increase. Recording, editing and uploading gigs should happen with some regularity.

It is nice to have my music collection this portable. My mp3 player is 2G. I own a lot more music then that. with 80G free on this drive, I have plenty. The DVD player is a plus. I most likely won't use it often. Maybe to watch a movie in bed or while at a race or gig hotel stay. The DVD drive and writer is great for loading and saving music projects.

All in all I am really happy with the new blog box. After spending the past little while writing at the cafe, I feel more comfortable then I did when I began. I have been spending lots of time setting up the new computer and transferring files. It is a nice distraction.

Toward the end of the winter I usually get my self something fun to play with. I justify it with my birthday and cabin fever. Two years ago I got the Fender Strat. Last year was the mandolin and Mp3 player. Now this year I have joined the gang of nerds hammering away at their laptops in the coffee shop.

Anyhow, I most go run. Did I mention the sun is shining?

Going mobile

So I went out and made a purchase. The original plan to get the 7" linux notebook was aborted. I have picked up a PC laptop(refurbished) with vista for the same money. I am now getting used to it as I am also writing from the coffee shop for the first time.

Shamrock 15k

This one starts with the snow. If you hadn't heard, Ohio had a little snow yesterday. Between"18-"27. The scene was surreal. The city was buried when I woke. The air was cold but the sun was shining. Hope was alive. The city was clearing the snow and the coffee shop was once again open.
I was dressed to run in the blizzard if it should return. I had five layers to keep me warm. I had a choice of foot wear and socks. two layers of gloves, Sun glasses and my Nike storm fit suit. I was ready for the worst.
After coffee I caught a bus and headed downtown. The RTA was right on schedule. Zac and Nichole were also right on time. I never had to stay outside for long periods.
As we headed south toward the race I found the car to be quite warm. I also realized that I had forgotten any water. I was parched and overdressed. Whoops.
Just as we did last year, we missed the turn to the race. So just as we did last year we were running late. I ran inside registered took care of bidness and chose my race wear. Road shoes, tights, two layers and a shell.
We hung with Bbop, drank some gateraid, and lined up at the starting line. The start was signald, and we ran.
Mile 1- 8:04
Mile two 16:40 uh-oh
Water table....take it in, walk, don't splash.
I was able to stay within an 8:20 minute mile 'till we hit the hill. Once we hit the hill, I began to really heat up. The group I had been running with began to pull away. I continued to exert a strong steady effort, but I was way to warm
In the second half I ran a coupl of miles with Chris Phillips of CTC. The last time we talked a lot was at Mountaineer on the bike. Since then we have both finished our first Ironman and signed up for IMKY. We talked for a bit. It helped me to pace with him. I was able to steady my pace again. At mile seven he picked up the pace and pulled ahead. I stuck with the pace established.
I finished up with a 1:26.06. Not my best time on this course. :10 slower than last year.
The weather was much improved from yesterday. The course was clear.
My mistakes:

1. Poor pre race hydration
2. Overdressed
3. Thursday tempo run was a bad idea

These are issues I can do something about. So I will pay better attention to these things in the future.
Overall I felt happy with the effort. This is a tough race physically. My goal was to run hard, but not to hard. I accomplished that.

Congrats to Bbop on his AG glory. Monica and Nichole also had good races.

It was nice to get out for a hard run in the sunshine after a week that included a huge ice storm and a major blizzard.

My base is not being built with the same haste as it was last year. My speed is down. But I feel as though it is much more stable. I intend to peak August 31st.

"It is snowing"

Well thats what the news reporter said as he stood at the side of the road. He or she was sent on this assignment by some sadistic news director. I am not sure how this is news worthy. Some things are just obvious. Did we really need a play by play guy to tell us that the Gators/Gators/Spurs/Red Sox won? Somethings are a little overstated in the media.

When I was young my dad was the reporter used often by the NBC affiliate here in Cleveland to report on the big blizzards. He was at all the great ones. '77, '78,'81, '93, '96, and many more. We always hated seeing him sent out like that.

"We get it!. It is snowing! Now stop sending my dad and the camera man out in a storm that you want us to stay out of.", we would curse.

I would see my dad out there. He made it out alive, so why should I be afraid? I would see storms like this as a challenge. As a result of the bad example wkyc made my dad set, I have come to look at blizzards as playgrounds. So of course I went out for a short jog today.
I enjoy an easy mile the day before a race. It is my ritual. A little snow couldn't stop me.

So here is my recommendation:

Stay off the roads! Unless you are on a mountain bike, or running, or skiing, or you feel like helping stranded motorists, or if you just have to see how cool it looks, or if you wonder what a HUMMER looks like when completely buried, or if your stupid news director thinks I need the media to tell me that it is snowing.

With that I have to get ready for the Shamrock 15k tomorrow. According to the race site, the race is still on.

Election Day Ice Storm

I carefully slid down Lancashire road to go cast my vote today. I wasn't able to vote until 5:30, so I was concerned about the long lines. With such an important race going on I figured the place would be swampt.
Well lucky for me, my polling station has limited parking and is in a ward with many non drivers. With Cuyahoga county being hit with an ice storm, many voters were unable to vote.
So I arrived, presented my mail, passport, voter registration, fingerprints, DNA sample, took a piss test, paid my poll tax and voted.
I really would like to thank Ken Blackwell and the Cuyahoga county board of elections for making certain our elections are run fair and honest with no chance for error.

Later I found out that they ran out of paper ballots in many wards. Good thing I got there early.

Being that the police had ordered everyone off the roads due to ice, I went home and rode my bike. I think now that the polls are closed we are allowed to come back out of our homes.

While at the bank, my teller told me that the chain that kept voters from stealing the pen was too short to reach the Obama chad.

In Memory of Jack Caine

A couple of weeks ago I wrote of my friend Jack. He had just been diagnosed with ALS at the time.
Last night Jack was relieved of his suffering.

"So long, It's been good to know ya"

Jack Caine

This stuff in the back of my mind

• Lately I have been wanting to get a new laptop. Nothing crazy, just something for basic office and web applications. I basically need a light weight mobile office and a way to use my free time more efficiently.

I obviously enjoy the web and much of what it offers. I also enjoy the coffee shop and much of what it offers. I also have lots of commute time that I could be using more practically. I often wish I had internet capabilities while at gigs or races.

I don't need a lot of power for audio applications. I have a production machine that I built from the ground up. It has all the power I need.

The other day I was dreaming of a small laptop that could run on the minimum requirements. I want it to be small, light, and inexpensive. The next day I interrupted a friends very important business meeting to admire his little computer. He gave me the whole sales pitch. It was exactly what I wanted. I plan to purchase this thing soon........

• I was picking out a DVD for todays workout. I thought a comedy would be good. Last week I watched Capote. Fine film, but it sucked on the trainer. So today I wanted upbeat and funny.

I don't know what compelled me, but I saw a Chris Rock and Bernie Mack film called Head of State. I didn't think twice. I grabbed it and headed for the check out.

That is when it hit me. The timing of this selection was very inappropriate. This movie was a comedy about a black man becoming president. I made light of this with the clerk and went home to start my brick. The movie was hysterical.......

• I had two gigs this past week.

Last night was a benefit for St Paul's community outreach in the Detroit shoreway neighborhood. The event was a huge success. The room sounded so perfect.
Thursday I was at Dewey's. I got a ride to the gig from the pizza guy. The show and turnout was nice. I am now booked from August thru December at this venue.
The CD is selling well and receiving nice praise. I have been invited to appear on the local NPR lunch show. I hope to report back on this soon.....

• Next Saturday is the Shamrock 15k........

No Crab Peaple. Still Hillary.

I think for me, it is Obama.
Candy!Candy! Candy!

Barakillary, Brocoli

I am exited about the debate this evening. I am still completely undecided.
I will most likely vote democrat unless Woody Harrelson runs as an independent.
This is the first debate since early January I will be able to see. I don't have cable and the sports bars wont turn up the volume. So because it takes place 5 miles from my door, it will be on free TV. Yeah free TV!

I want to like one of these two candidates.
Right now I look at Obama and see this perfect Orwellian android barking out one word sound bites. "Change", "Hope", "Candy".

I am worried he will rip off his costume and crab people will emerge.

Hillary is like an ex girl friend. Once in a while you look at her and you think of how fond you were of her back in '92. Then she does something that reminds you of the vengeful angry breakup. It scares you. You wonder why you agreed to have lunch.

I will let you know what I think after the debate.

Long Distance runner, what you standing there for?

We were 1:20 minutes into our first long run on the Rite aid 26.2 schedule. Nichole is training for the full, and I am following her training plan with the intension of running the 1/2 marathon in late may. This worked well for me last year. But at this moment we were at a stand still. We were face to face with the biggest dog of the pack.

I first saw her silhouetted against the sky standing in a line of trees. We crossed over the road and continued until she came charging from the top of the hill. We stopped and turned to her and held our ground.

I have written about the pack in the past. Usually they harass me on my bike for encroaching on their territory. I don't blame them. People are scary animals.
Last week the pack was featured in a local paper for their brazen attitudes and elusiveness. The story talked about the city's inability to catch the dogs. The dogs are fearful of us unless we fear them. So we took our chances and stood her down. The theory worked. We continued our run. I railed on about how cool it was that this family of dogs was returning to a life free from human dependence.

Nichole asked,"Do we really need wild packs of dogs running around the city?".

I thought it a good question and realized the new wild dog population might be a little dangerous. I didn't suggest it again.

We finished the run of 12 miles in two hours. It is nice to get back to long runs. I really love the feeling. I also enjoyed the soy cocoa and pad Thai after we were finished.

This morning we had a swim workout that was tough. During the final set my arms were burning. I wondered if I was not on pace with my fellow CTC swimmers. I finished and listened to every one else reflecting on how hard the work out was. I felt better.

Training is moving along at a steady pace.

One last dog note: I am considering renting a house on the west side with Zac and Nichole. It is across the street from a very good natural foods market with a vegan deli. It is also a quarter mile from the Rocky River metro park. The house has a yard. Zac has Max(the chocolate lab) and some one should be around often. I am considering adopting a dog if this happens.

I am contagous.

I have been tagged by TriguyJT.
John, thank you....Just what I always wanted.

The rules are as follows:
# Link to the person who tagged you
# Post the rules on your blog.
# Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
# Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
# Leave a comment on their blogs so that they know they have been tagged.

1. I was a boy scout. I missed Eagle Scout by one merit badge. I dropped out after a fight I started between two Boy Scout troops. It was ugly. This was the last time I raised my fists.

2. My first job was at an Audio/Video store. I was twelve. It was across the Street from where I live now (Old Big Fun). My freind Jeno and I got referred by a man named Tom who was drinking coffee in Tommy's restaurant. I worked for Tom as a landscaper over five years starting at 25. I now live above Tommy's.

3. My favorite person who is my age is my sister Susie. I also am fond of her daughter and her daughters cousin and her cousins mom and her moms brother and her brothers parents. That is a group of many ages.

4. I think I am becoming a good swimmer.

5. I am a huge Baseball nerd. I am the guy that sits at the corner of the bar (I don't have cable) and watches baseball without blinking. I am the guy that can be in a heated conversation while knowing the pitch count. I absorb stats and think I would be a good play by play guy. I very often hear the announcers echoing me. Play by play was my dads first radio gig. He did it for Army football games. It Kept him out of Korea.

6. As a kid my hero's were Brian Sipe and Keith Richards. They weren't always pretty but man, they had soul. These guys were magicians. They had a swagger and a relaxed confidence that I admired.

7. I value objectivity. My dad gave me this. It has helped me toward the goal of not raising my fists.

Ok, I am gonna pick on the vegans, IMKY crowd and One CTC member.

So,
Veg, Crystal, Krissi, Craig, Spokan Al Steve,Vegan Heart Doc
You have all been tagged.

Living as a monk

"I am not motivated by financial reward to do well" was my first thought.

We have all been surrounded by thoughts and discussions on the future president. This question finds it's way into every part of our life. Our tri-club forum has been entertaining one through the weekend and it has continued through this hour.

The questions before us are so important. I think we all know this. We all have so much at stake. The future is so uncertain.

I have been grouped with the left in this discussion. I have been told I believe certain ideals because I felt a specific way about a different issue.

Mostly I have been cast as somebody that has his hand out and is unwilling to work. I am an advocate of slack! I want to teach Americans to sit on their couch and eat corndogs. I want us to collect welfare checks and make the rich bleed every cent until I am satisfied things are even.

In a response to a rant I said"wealth and poverty have little to do with hard work".
This was not received very well by some of my right wing friends.
My point was that hard work is no promise of wealth. great finanial wealth only finds a few of us. In the US it finds many of us while many US workers still live in poverty. In many third world nations a great majority live in poverty despite their greatest efforts.
On the reverse of course we have those that work the least and enjoy the most. I could take a shot at GW here but instead I will stick with the Paris Hilton example.

This was misinterpreted as me saying that hard work lacked importance. Somebody made a statement declaring that money was what motivated people to work hard.

I felt sad at this thought. I thought to myself, I do what I do well because I want to do everything well. I want to swim, bike, run, sing, strum, eat, live, and be well.

I want to be the person I want us all to be. I work hard because my coworkers are counting on me. I work hard because I am involved in the act of doing.

If I needed money to work hard, I would not be an Ironman. I know of nobody in triathlon who is in it for the money. Yet we all work hard for the sport. As a musician, I may get lucky one day. Someone may buy a song, and I will be able to invest a bit. But that is not what makes me sing.

It is hard for me to imagine Sister Madonna Buder or Chrissie Wellington not being hard workers despite not earning lots of dough. Sometimes I think we have completely lost touch with what is important in this world. I worry that the hardest workers are often overlooked and taken for granted. If we fail to make lots of money for our efforts, does it mean we did not do our best? Does it mean that our work lacks importance?

I guess I try to live as a monk. I live simply. I do my chores and earn my keep. I train and practice. I contemplate. I write. I am not getting rich this way, but I am proud of my work.
I know I have put forth my best.

Chili Bowl- Beans are good for your Heart!

Today was all about heart. Two days past valentines, but today I was searching for my heart. The 5k is all about heart. Seems like a good spot to start.
First race of the season and time for a gut check. For Ironman, what you have inside your heart plays a huge roll not only in your race, but in your ability to maintain the training for 9 months.

My goal today was to push my effort and reach deep. I wanted to see what was in my heart.

Tracie picked me up at 8 and we headed downtown to Tower City. The sun was shining and the wind was light, but the mercury was at 19 degree's. Todays challenge would be the cold air.
Once we arrived, we met up with a bunch of CTC folks, hit registration, and "took care of business".

We headed out to the start, I warmed up a little, found my spot and the starting bell sounded.
I moved myself through the crowd. I focused on picking off other runners one by one. I did this and never had a moment of weakness that lasted for more then a few seconds. My hands were very cold at the first mile , but that soon passed. The veterans bridge was a tough task, but manageable. As I came up the final hill to the finish, I dug in, shouted encouragement to another CTC runner and we crossed the finish at 24:03. Not bad. We shook hands and I staggered about till I regained my senses.

After turning in my chip, I headed back to the finish to see the others finish. We all ate chili, clapped for the winners and headed home.

One race in the books for 2008. I am Happy with the effort and result.

My persistent butt pain was of little thought. Since I adjusted my bike cleats, the pain has been lessening. This has been a great event lately.

After Tracie dropped me back off on Coventry, I had some coffee and got ready to ride through Kona. 90 minute trainer ride while watching the Ironman World Championship.
As I watched the parade of age groupers finish, I was getting really pumped up. I watched the smiles and joy as athletes danced down the finish chute. I began to really crave the Louisville finish. Then came the moment Mia Richter rolled over the finish.

Mia is sometimes known in these blog circles as Veg*Triathlete's hard core trainer. She rolled over the finish in tribute to John Blais. John is an Ironman and died from ALS (Lou Gherigs disease) last year.
As I took this scene in, I broke into tears. Not the kind of tears this production normally produces. These tears were deep felt. I was having an emotional breakdown while pounding away on my trainer.
My thoughts immediately raced to my friend Jack. Jack works for ATT and was a long time roadie for the Allman Brothers Band. He was the first person Zac and I would serve every day for the past few years. We are very fond of Jack.
A few months ago Jack began to change habits. He quit smoking and drinking coffee. He stopped getting pastry and quickly began to loose weight. A LOT of weight. The last time I spoke with him he could barely speak.

A couple of weeks ago he checked himself into the hospital. He needed to figure out what was wrong with him.
Last Saurday He married his long time girl friend Lori.
Tuesday we were told he had been diagnosed with ALS.

This scene with Mia touched off my personal feelings about Jack and his illness. I finished my workout emotionally stripped and exhausted. My biggest concern is for Jacks suffering, but I also just felt said about the prospect of loosing a friend.

Something changed for me during this workout. The goal of finishing and taking the time to savor the finish became a goal of savoring the entire process. The Challenge of overcoming any and all adversity became my focus and drive. I found my heart. Two days after valentines day and 4 hrs past the 5k designed to uncover my lost passion, I found it.

I headed back out for more coffee. I ran into Brendon(My neighbor who is training for Lake Placid). I was so fired up about Ironman. We talked nonstopwithoutbreathingfortwohoursabout Ironman. I became hungry and tired so I went to the market and then home.

During dinner I watched a hockey movie. In a final scene, announcer Al Michaels say's during the USA's win over the heavily favored Soviet team 28 years ago this week,

"Do you believe in miracle's? YES!"

I say, The miracle is now. LIVE IT!
For Johnny Blais, rolling over the finish at Kona was how he wanted to live it.
For Jack, marrying his love is how he chooses to live it.
For me I must live it with all the same passion. Now is all I have. It is all I will ever have.
I won't let a moment slip by. I want to savor every bit of it.
With all my heart.

BTW- the photo is of Mickey Hart of the grateful Dead. Today was all about Hart.

Primary Madness

First up, let me clarify my political leanings. I am not as liberal as you may think. Obviously I am not very conservative. I consider myself a political progressive. Rather than to continue with the nonsensical seesaw of our bipartisan political system I believe we must all look deep within for new solutions. The current political parties are so tied to retaining power, that they have lost touch with what they supposedly stand for.

Early in the primary race I had declared myself middle of the road(Middle of Coventry Rd.). I stood somewhere between Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. Their loyalty to the constitution was what set them apart. The primary roll of the president is to uphold the Constitution. I feel our current "decider" has lost sight of this responsibility.

February 12th is of course the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. So in his honor I would like to make public my hopes for the Republican presidential ticket for 2008.

I would like to see John McCain nominated, and Bob Dole to be his running mate.

Why?
Because It would be hysterical. it would be like watching Jack Lemon and Walter Mathau. These guys wouldn't take any guff! I think they might actually get down to business. At least when they weren't arguing over toast, or napping.

Some of you might look at these two mature men and think, "will they live for four more years.?"
I did think this one through.
Enter, Madam President Pelosi.

A Low Key Birthday

I have to say the weekend offered plenty of celebration. I spent time talking to so many folks. So many took some time out of their life to shoot me a message or a phone call. The events I attended included friends old and new. the best contact I had was from my niece Sarah calling from Chicago to tell me that when you turn 40, you become "The Man". She is 8. My sister Susie and I laughed.

The gig last night.
First off, I have to say thanks to Zac and Nichole for picking me up in the middle of a good lake Erie snow storm. John the drummer got sick while dealing with a breakdown on I480 Saturday night after another gig. We made a late decision to have me go solo. With the weather being so bad, we figured it was not worth letting him grow more ill. So he stayed back to rest.

As we made our way through blinding snow, I got a call informing me we were starting early. I was first on. So I arrived, got set up, relaxed for a minute and started the show after being given a kind intro. The crowd was sparse but mighty.
The performance was a magical one for me. I felt I was able to become my songs. Everything clicked. My voice was strong, my guitar danced with me. the crowd fed me so much good energy. The whole thing felt amazing.
The green room included a vegan spread. Having played early I was free to relax and party all night with my music friends. By 12:30 I was home.

This morning we/Cleveland woke to a bit more snow. I stood at the bus stop and watched police cars slide all over the road. The bus rolled forward unfazed by the extreme weather.

Following work, I responded to many messages and eventually went to the Winking Lizard for a beer, cheese less pizza and a win for the CAVS.
As I watched basketball, I sat with an old friend from my Telarc days. The place of my college internship was celebrating Grammy success today with their 55th award. Once again I am reminded of the amazingly talented people I have come to know over the past 40 years. Congrats to all of my mentors.
Telarc won for a tribute to Coltrane's "A Love Supreme". But I will leave you with a little thing Louis Armstrong made famous.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"
They're really saying "I love you"

I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world

40

It is a new age group. I'm a New Age guy. As a folksinger I should be hitting my stride.

The show went well. I am listening to my personal recording of it right now. It sounds very good. I will most likely make it down loadable.

It occurred to me while watching my friends Mifune play, I have so many talented friends. The CTC party last night also brought this into focus. Thank you all for the opportunity to know you.

Any how, About that sleep thing, good Night.

Busy busy busy.

This week has been a busy one. I have been meeting new people and seeing many friends. Tonight was the CTC winter party. I had a good time, I was feeling very social. I really enjoyed having a chance to chat with most of you. I was a little bummed after I left that I didn't get to talk to a few of you. The Jameson started pouring, so it was probably best to remove me from the situation. I get a little wild with my whiskey.
Training has suffered a little this week due to the lack of available time , but not to much. I have been working at balancing my tasks. Music, work, triathlon, social/family and nutition have received proper attention this week. Sleep has not. I am running a bit low on the REM opportunities. This can not continue. I must sleep properly in order to maintain balance with the rest of my life. Training demands sleep.
One thing I have to address in regards to sleep is coffee. Not an easy task. This morning I over read the 2 JT's discussing their struggles with coffee. I am weak in this area. I love coffee.

Last year I cut intake to 12 oz per day. My life was transformed. My training improved. my focus was unlike I had ever remembered it. It's funny. I always wonder how people are able to stay so focused. My mind is some times like that of a squirrel. It is all over the place. Now feed a squirrel 64 oz of coffee a day. The results are insane. I also loose sleep.......speaking of sleep, that's what I must do now.

Tonight is the Beachland Show. Hope to see some of you.
Be well,

2nd half notes

• TP Rocks.
• Coke (High Frutose corn syrup) may cause baldness. Between Stewie, Charlie Brown, James Carville and the toupee wearing Bill Frist, we can only asume that Underdog sheds alot.
• Uh oh, perfection is being challenged....Clock management.......
• Chad Johnson. This modern day Icky Woods, does more to disrespect the memory of Paul Brown then does Mike Brown and Art Modell.....No Modell is worse than Ocho Cinco
• Unbelievable play by Manning and Tyree....Wow!
• What do NEOhio natives Paul Brown and Don Shula have that Belichick does not? Perfection.
• The triple crown can't happen.
• Congrats Archie.
• I think Bill was smiling during the Chris Myers interview post game...That is the way he smiles, is it not?
• Returneth the curse?
• Sorry Veg.
  

Super bowl 1st half notes

Running is better than the pregame show. I chose to run.

• I like: Hank the horse. I am training, how could I not be inspired. I need a dalmatian.
• The drug dealer telling parents to take care of their stash. It is about time somebody addresses America's drug problem on this level. Pharmaceuticals are dangerous!
  
• I like Justin Timberlake much more since he met Andy Sandberg.
• The Pats have waisted opportunities....That Stuff comes back to haunt you.
• The Giants D is playing tough, I wouldn't be surprised to see Brady knocked out.
• '48 Browns. '72 Fish. '08 Pats?
  

One more thought from the mind of Ironyman: If the Patriots win, the victory parade will occur during an election come Super Tuesday. If Red Sox fan skips an election for a parade, patriotism looses.

Well anyhow, Go Giants! Beat Bill. And then go tell Yankee Fan that you Play in New Jersey.

I seem to have misplaced my left shoe

I jumped off my bike and began my transition. Tights, t shirt, jacket, hat, shoe......? Hmmm? where is my left shoe. Let me tell ya, bricks work best when you prepare your transition ahead of time. finally I found the missing Minzuno beneath my swim bag. It is so important to take care of these things.

As a triathlete and a musician, misplacing or forgetting anything can be the difference between success and failure. Goggles, patch cables, tubes and strings. These things are so important. They may seem like small items, but when I need them, their value is huge.

Well, once I had my shoe tied and my gloves pull on, I headed out for the run portion of my groundhog day brick. Everything was covered in an icy glaze which caused me to consider bagging the run. I stuck with it however because it was the best my legs have felt in a week. In my Mp3 player I had dialed in Nick Drake. Between the music of choice and the frosty lite fog, I was feeling quite detached. Fortunately the ice forced me to pay careful attention to every step. At one point I slid about 6 feet down a hill. The focus required for the run kept my mind from slipping to deeply into the detachment I was feeling. This is one reason I love running so much. This is one reason I love guitar. I am able to focus on the moment.

Training through the winter is really hard on me. I am sure we all start to live out our own "Groundhog Day" As the trainer rides, treadmills/snow storm runs, and tough commutes to the pool all begin to run together. The training is easy, but getting started takes so much personal coaxing. I never trained consistently during Capricorn and Aquarius until I began IM training. Needless to say my mood is often blue.
Inspiration is sometimes hiding beneath my swim bag. Some times I come home and flop in my chair. I check my email and surf. After a long day I am tired and I just want a break. I want to train, but I just can't pull my self up to do the work. Trying to find the motivation feels as hopeless as finding my running shoe. I search and search. Eventually I lift my swim bag and there it is. My shoe. My inspiration. I pull on my glass slipper and the magic begins. I am transformed from slouch to runner. I press play and hit the street. I run and feel my body moving forward. I feel the change taking form. As Groundhog Day seems to repeat itself day after day, I am getting stronger and stronger. I can begin to visualize myself becoming an Ironman once again. I can imagine facing the big training yet to come with a solid base and strong conviction formed as I willed myself to train when I wasn't always into it.

Sometimes things get misplaced. Sometimes we can't find the things we need. The things that will get us from February 2nd to Ironman seem to be no where. We dig and comb, searching for for the missing ingredient. It is funny where you find things. Picking up my swim bag revealed my running shoe. It also revealed my dream and determination to achieve my dream.

Internet dating for the triathlete

For those of you that have not been following along, let me bring you up to speed.
Last week as the temperatures hung around nothing and the cabin fever of winter training started to really settle in, I decided to broaden my social circle and give internet dating a spin. I first felt a little weird about it. But I knew that many of my friends in triathlon I met through CTC or blogging. That has turned out well, so why not try this?.

First off, if you are looking for juicy date details, you will not find it here. I think that is a betrayal of confidence. So I will not write about other people in regards to this experiance.

For any of you that has never explored the online singles scene, the whole process begins much the same way our blog world begins. We create a personal profile.The profile of course asks questions that perspective partners may find important.

Well I figured it would be fun to fill out my singles profile here.
Tell me what you think. I am trying to refine it. I would of course like to make a good impression.

Age: still 39
City: Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Seeking: women 28-42 within 10 miles of Cleveland( no car)
Relationships: Never Married/ engaged twice
Ethnicity/Race: Caucasian/IMKY
Have Kid's: None
Want kids: Not obsessed with the idea. I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
Religion: Don't ask.
Zodiac: Aquarious/monkey
Types of excircise: Swim, Bike, run, weights, yoga
How many workouts per week: 10-16 work outs for 14-20 hrs
Body type: Ok this is where it gets tough to answer. They offer up some basic types for you, but you can only pick one. So here are the body types and thoughts on each one.

1. Slender: not for about 19 years.
2. Athletic and toned: I am very fit, but of course I am no Arnold Schwarzenegger. My legs, buff. Up top, not so much.
3. About Average: What does that mean? For an American? For a 40 year old(I am really 39. but for rants sake, I am 40) American male? No I am not average, I am an Ironman!
4. A few extra pounds: Really? Maybe? I think my mom's and the gyms scale lie. Do you really think I am carrying a few extra pounds? Oh no. Hills in Kentucky. Must loose weight. Must loose weight. Argggg. Why do I obsess over the gut. Why do want to eat so much cereal?.....Next.
5. Heavy set: Compared to all of my training buddy's. Sometimes I am with other triathletes and I feel like a line backer.
6. Stocky: No

Diet: Vegan
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark blonde
Body art: M-dot ink, right calf
Best feature: My voice

Favorite things: I enjoy waking to coffee and a bagel followed by a 4 hr brick with 90 degree temperatures, 4200 yards at dusk, and a 45 minute run in sub zero windchills with my face covered in vasoline.

What I look for in a partner: RUNNNNN! I am training for Ironman. I am a musician I am obsessed with training and practicing my guitar. Saturdays begin and end with workouts sandwiching a rehearsal and cereal....Why do I want so much cereal.....Runnnn. This is no life, do not try to have an emotionally charged relationship with me. I am focused on fourth street live.

Balance

I have been obsessed with balance since I took my first steps as a bi-ped. As a musician I seek tonal balance. As an artist I seek it in color, value, and space. My athlete looks for it within my training. As a swimmer, cyclist, and runner my physical balance is a must. Nutritional balance can not be sacrificed. My body, mind, and spirit must be balanced.

Sometime balance is missing and I crash. Sometimes my checkbook looks like a drunk navigating his way down Coventry at 3am. My social life suffers greatly due to my commitments and goals. I find it hard to offer myself without restriction and limit. I am kind of busy.
Sometimes my mood leans to far toward the dark. Sometimes I am little to excited. It is wonderful to be happy, but sometimes you need time to reflect, mourn and cry.

Our economy is out of balance. We have so much wealth shared amongst so few. The rest of us suffer uncertainty and many suffer dire poverty. Our output of waste is ridiculously out of whack. You think history would have taught us something by now. Our world needs balance!As I near the midpoint of my life(That is assuming I live to 80) I seek balance. The more I learn, the less I know. As my fitness increases, I realize how limited I am. The wisdom age has granted me is equaled by the foolishness of this confidence.

I know the only way to grasp the present is to let go of the past. The only way to prepare for the future is by focusing on the now. The point that is central to my world begins within me. I must remain centered in order to reach outside of myself. The world around me can not regain balance until I am able.

Finding balance as an athlete/musician/worker/uncle/friend/brother/son is often a struggle. Some areas go ignored from time to time. I apologies for that. I try. It is not easy. I am always amazed by those that handle this so well. They are rare masters. I am not. But it remains my central goal.

Anyhow, stay balanced, were all depending on it.

Everything is as it should be.

I am taking steps to address key issues in my life that I find lacking. I have been bitching about it a little to much lately. It has become time for me to leave my comfort zone and do what I don't feel comfortable doing. My life is so rich in so many ways, yet something goes unresolved. As January in Cleveland leaves you longing for the sun. My life longs for companionship. So I have decided to start dating.

Tom Waits said "You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops". I know what kind of decisions I make in bars. Well, that rules out work.
During races, The last thing I want to do is tip toe up to the prettiest girl in Lycra and ask for her number.
How the heck would that work?!
"Excuse me sir, I know you have a lot of body marking to do, but could I borrow your sharpee as I jot down this womans phone number?." I also just think it inappropriate. Nerves are already raised a bit. So in short, I have few chances to meet new women.

It really is time I start thinking along these lines again. My mom has been pressing the issue. I am really well past the hurt of my past. Many people I know have healthy relationships. I am once again healthy. So look out ladies, I'm on the prowl.

So you might be thinking,"where are you gonna find a date?. Where are you going to find somebody to have your coffee with?. In a city that seems like it has ten times more men than women, where are you going to meet a single woman?."

Well many of the friendships I have made over the past few years began right here in cyber space. It only makes sense. I ask myself where is everyone?. Now ask your self where are you right now? You are on the net. It is so obvious, but it just seems a little weird. So why not try. I am a little weird.

So I have put myself out there on one of those dating sites. My intentions are as obvious as my intension to race is while pulling on a wet suit.(Metaphor/pun completely unintentional, but I left it because it made me laugh)The point is, if you don't state what you want, nobody but you will ever know. So I have been seeing another site. Sorry blog land. I am glad I have you all to talk to about this stuff.

Anyhow, the early results are good. I have a plan for the coming week with a women. The best part is that whether or not a romantic click happens, I already know that this women is somebody in town I would like to talk with anyway. Not surprisingly, given the chance to review a personal profile and look for similar interests, you more than likely will meet somebody you have met or on the verge of meeting. Kinda funny how that works.

____________________

As I talk about romance and dating, I can't help but to take the cheap opportunity to remind you of my upcoming CD release party at AJ Rocco's on Valentines day. No worries about my prowling that night, I will be singin'.

The Beachland gig on the 10th will include the premier of my newest group. John Kuegler, the drummer is really excited. He is very talented, while possessing simular points of view as mine. He seems to be taking the lead. This is good.

____________________

For my 40th birthday, Nichole, Zac and I were descussing going down to Akron and having dinner at Chrissie Hind of The Pretenders, new Vegan restaurant named VegeTerranean.

____________________

Training continues. I got new shoes last week. Everything is as it should be.

________________

Anyhow, I am of to the dating site.

1991

It was early January and I had returned to Cleveland after a stay in Chicago. We were going to war, and I was prime meat for a draft. The economy was not real healthy and I had discoverd that my roommate had lied about the rent. I had been paying 3/4. So I came home.

As GHW Bush's deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait closed in, I became more and more nervous about our future. I had never known war. For me Vietnam was where my friend Hung had come here from. He told me the stories of that war from the perspective of a child. But I don't remember it while it was happening.

I wasn't sure what to do with the energy this anticipation was creating. I was kind of freaked out, so I sought out friends my age. Everyone was feeling the same way. We were not sure wheather we agreed with the objectives and means of "Desert Storm". We did know that we were scared.

A few of us decided to head down to public square to see if anything was up. For some reason we stopped at the Case radio station WRUW and went on the air. We played a tune and then the DJ asked what we were doing about the war. I didn't really know, so I said we gonna go downtown and look for more folks trying to cope with the confusion of the moment.

Anyhow, we got downtown and met up with a handful of people that had heard us on the radio. We all sat out in front of the Sohio building and rapped with one another like a peer counseling group. We hung out till early morning(6:30am) grabbed a meal together and crashed at some apt. on the corner of Ford and Hessler. We slept thru the day and headed back down around 7PM. As we approached the square, the news had broke that the war had begun.

A great sense of urgency swept over us. We felt that we had to do something. Anything. We were now at war. The soldiers were our friends and family. Two of the group were headed to Iraq within six months. The rest of us didn't know when we might be called upon to go to war. The fear was selfish, but it was real. We all agreed that we needed to work it out together, and that we all needed to work it out as a country. So we ratted ourselves out.

We stopped at the WKYC studio and told the front desk that people were gathering at the soldiers and sailors monument.

This is when the story gets goofy. We had no plan. We were making it up as we went. I was given a blank check to ad-lib to the media on behalf of 20 other people.
When a reporter from the station TriguyJT works for asked what we were protesting, I responded, We are not protesting, we are praying for peace."
"How long will this last?" She inquired.
"Until there is peace." I announced.
The reporter looked back to the camera and said, "You heard it. They are staying until the war is over!".
My jaw dropped. What had I just done?!

Within twenty minutes VW buses and Volvos were dropping off food, tents, water, blankets and socks. We also got word that Mayor Mike White and Counsel President Jay Westbrook supported us and had promised a squad car to watch over us.

We were stuck. We began to create a plan. The first resolution we made was to remain neutral politically. We knew that we could not end a war in Iraq, but we were determined to end it in Cleveland, Ohio!

We were a motley group camped in tentville. Some had gone and some had joined along. Vets from the Vietnam war had joined us. They found peace in being able to share their own feelings about the war. We had come to realize that what we had started was important. We were making a difference with our simple request for peace. Peace was happening.

Anyhow, after three weeks of remaining neutral and doing more listening than talking we needed an outlet. We took a break to go watch the Superbowl. We all picked teams and rooted for our picks. We trash talked, we fretted, and we gloated. We acted like a bunch of 20somethings watching football. I picked the Giants. They won. Scott Norwood was the goat for the Bills.

We left the bar feeling that the game and obnoxious behavior had been really healthy. We had harmless competitive fun. We could return to our mission more relaxed, having exhausted the little boy in us all.
I had always loved sports as a kid but had turned my back on much of it as a teenager. Football was my last enjoyment in the world of athletics. But in 1991, Bill Belichick was rapidly ripping the heart from our Cleveland Browns. My love was fading.

While letting go of all of that crazy energy, sport became important to me once again. I understood why we value sport as a society. I could finally once again respect sport. Within' 7 months I had become a runner. I had finally found peace.
Peace is not something we can demand, peace is something that we are or we are not.
My little sister once told me that you got to let a little steam out or the pot'll blow.
So whether I am hammering away on the trainer or watching a game, I am letting out a little more steam. It helps to cool me down, relax me, and find peace.

Well, in 2008 I root again for the Giants. Not because I am unpatriotic, just out of nostalgia. In 1991 I rooted for the Giants to beat the Bills. In 2008 I am rooting for the Giants to beat Bill.

Peace Hippies!

Seriously, in honor of Dr. King.

Please, consider peace for just this moment.
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat

Friday............

Friday is my toughest day of the week. I am usually one of the first Clevelanders to arrive downtown every Friday morning. It is my day to open the cafe to the needs of the workforce as they all wrap up another week. My first costumer's are either with ATandT, lawyers prepping for an early meeting, or nurses enjoying a Friday after work beer or ten. Because we are a coffee shop with a full bar, we attract many third shifters.

Business is often busy and I commonly work a nine hour shift. Needless to say, I get tired. I like to train after work and into the early evening, but sometimes motivation is hard to locate as my batteries wear down.

During the summer, I often take Fridays entirely off from training as I rest up for big weekends on the bike and recover from the Thursday long run. Races tapers always include an off day on Friday.

During these months I train most Fridays. I especially like a Friday swim with solo lanes often available.
Today however I decided not to swim. I had the energy for the swim, but I just wasn't up to the commute. It was cold and I didn't want to absorb the mental fatigue of the bus trip.

Instead I did a trainer/strength workout. It was awesome! It was just what I needed mentally.

The flexibility in adjusting workouts based on what I think will provide the best results is tough. I don't want to chump out of a workout, but I also want to get the most out of it.

I know that I must use my energy and resources with care. If I used the remainder of my strength enduring a bus stop wait in the cold, then it may effect my swim adversely. where as I may get more out of doing a good workout in my living room. That was the choice I made today. I think it worked out well.

________________________

While watching our idiotic congress waisting time dealing with the steroid issue/OJ in court again/ Michal Vick/ Marion Jones/Moss/ Pacman/ Clemons not knowing when to shut up/ and all the other things big time sports offer us, it was nice to see two things this week.

One was the decision 5 of 6 OSU Juniors made to forgo the NFL one more year and return for their senior seasons. 6'8" 313 pound OT Alex Boone said he was not yet ready as a player or as an adult. They all want to finish what they started and get that National Championship. In contrast to last years exodus to the NFL this is really refreshing. This will be a team I will want to root for. Hope it works out better than it did for The team that returned to Ann Arbor for the same goal this past year....

The other news roud here has Bbops school, Cleveland State University mens basketball team continuing with the success all of the NEOOhio teams have enjoyed this past year. Last night the CSU Vikings beat #12 Butler....Congrats.

Patrick

After reading B Bop and Veg's post about the early adventures that planted the seed to go longer, I have decided to post my story.

I originally wanted to post this in November following a hike through the same park of my original journey. The same lake that Jodi mentions in her post today is a 1/2 mile from the house I grew up in. It is also the location of my formative years as an endurance athlete.

My story begins in 1973 in my backyard. We were playing beside the garage behind a small pine. The sun was out, and we were growing tired of our toys. Patrick suggested that we go to Shaker Lakes. We knew we were not allowed to go, but we did anyhow. My little sister protested. We told her not to tell anyone and left on our great adventure. We were five and we were on our way to a life time of journey's.

I don't remember much about the hike. It has been 35 years and I have traveled around that lake thousands of times since then as a runner, while fishing, cycling, I might have indulged in a left handed cigarette or two, all though I don't remember for sure. I made out with a girl on my 16th birthday by the old boathouse. I have rafted and swam on the lower lake. I will be running around this same path in an hour. But that day was my first.

As we headed back toward home we saw my parents car moving slowly along our route. Patrick and I ran into some bushes to hide. My mom and Susie however spotted us as our blonde hair shown brightly in the afternoon sun. We were both grounded for two weeks. My mom was not happy about our decision to venture off on our own.

As the years past, Patrick was sent to the local Catholic School and I the public place of learning. We spent little time together because of this but always remained friends.

We both continued to seek adventure. As an adult, Pat hiked the pacific crest and the Applelation trails. His fondness for nature led him to study natural medicine and move west to Oregon and later to Montana.

As a nurse, he cared for my grandmother before she died. The last I saw of Pat he was raising money for Cystic fibrosis research with one of his hikes. He was one of the kindest souls I ever knew.

A couple of years ago I saw his brother. I asked how Pat was.

Michael said He had been missing for two years and they feared the worst.....The last sign of him was his abandoned car in Montana. He had hit a deer and no other clue was left. The theory was that he had become distraught having hit the deer and disappeared into the mountains.

I always had hope that He was OK. He knew how to survive. Maybe he just decided to "drop out".

This past fall while watching the tribe win against the yanks, I sat with Pats sister Jean. I asked if he had contacted her and if any news had surfaced about his where abouts. Jean could not support my optimism. She felt confident that he had died in the mountains and that he was gone.
We talked about it for a while. I soon began to believe she was right. If he was to contact anyone, I think it would have been Jeanie. Little sisters know.

As I type, I find it hard not to feel deep sadness over Patrick's disappearance.
The fear that provoked my little sister to tell my mom that we snuck off into the woods, had become very real 30 years later. My partner in that early adventure is now gone. A blond haired blue eyed five year old is gone. His journey is now unknown. Patrick is lost.

From lower lake to the big sky, Patrick always had a taste for hiking. I believe what he really wanted was to be able to vanish into his own world. His family had struggles that mine never had. Sometimes I wonder if that first hike was his first attempt to escape a world that caused him so much pain. I hope he has found peace. I hope he is now a part of the nature he loved so deeply.

The adventures that we travel teach us so much. The bonds and friendships that develop as we follow our paths are our true reward. This is what brings me back to race again and again. This is why I have crossed the ocean with Jen, Zac, and Nichole. There are so many of you that I have sought out at the finish line to thank.
Thank you for the journey. Thank you for the race. Thank you for being a friend.
So long Pat...

Michigan seems like a dream to me now

Training is coming along nicely. I finally feel as though I am putting in consistent work outs that I look forward to. The weather and pool hours have been cooperative the past few days. Mostly however I am hungry to train.
I have a new long run partner in the neighborhood. This is so important for me to have new runners to run with. They get excited for marathon training. It motivates me. This spring Nichole wants to do the full 26.2 and Sureet(sp?) wants to do a half. I still need to pick a race.

I also have a rehearsal planned for Saturday with a drummer and a bass player. The gigs are starting to mount. Details are still pending for a few, but I am going to be a busy triathlete/folksinger this spring.
The two recent additions are big.
First: is a CD release party at Rocco's on Valentines day.
Second is my debut on the Beachland Ballroom stage. I have played the small room, but not the Ballroom. This will happen on Feb.10(the eve of my 40th birthday). This will be a good show to witness a midlife crises.

On the thought of the impending 40, I have decided not to do the BT50k. I have two reasons for this.
One is the obvious: "does not fit into IM training plan".
The other: has to do with the new age group. I do not want to be 40 prematurely. I am still in my 30's for a month.

The only races I have signed up for are Steelhead 70.3 and IMKY. August seems so far away. I feel I have plenty of time to do some solid base work. This year my biggest training goal is to peak for both of those races instead of for the shamrock or chili bowl as I did last season.

O

O

H

H

I

I

O

O

Don't bug me, I am training!

I began to feel it today. I had two commitments today that were important to me, but because of the length of time both activities would take in addition to travel time I was unable to train the way I like to on Saturday. Something in my mind kept nagging "You don't have time for this, you are training for Ironman".

When I am focused on training, I don't like to be disturbed. It is selfish I know. I tend to not use the phone much. I rarely go out. My world becomes an isolated series of workouts interrupted by work, the coffee shop, and time blogging or practicing my guitar. On the surface it may seem kind of lame, but it works for me.

My day included the show at the Kucinich Headquarters. That went fine. Everyone was annoyed that Dennis had been left out of the debates. I would like to thank ABC/Disney for deciding who gets to run for president. I think Dennis should have worn mouse ears. Maybe then he could attend the debate in New Hampshire.

I also went to my elder sisters to celebrate my niece Morgan's birthday. She is 14. Wow! The rest of the clan except my little sister Suzie was there. We missed her. The meal was not geared toward my diet. I ate a salad and drank wine.

After I got home I went to the market only to find that they have new hours....They now close an hour earlier. So I went to Tommy's and had the "NS"(Falafel, baba, veggies, tahini on a pita).

After I ate, I hopped on the trainer for an hour. I flipped between the AFC playoff and the dem. debate. The football game was great. Steelers mounted a great comeback only to be denied...HAHAHAHA!...As for the debate, I think Obama may be for real. Hillary looks so bitter. Edwards feels like a conman, and Horatio Sanz is hysterical!

Searching for that sound

As a teen I had fall'n in love with folk music after reading Woody Guthrie's Bound For Glory and listening to Bob Dylans FreeWheelin'. In Cleveland I had become familiar with some of the local folkies while working at the old Coventry Arabica. I bought an old Yamaha off a delta blues player. I would hang out in the park at the corner playing and listening to mandolin, banjo, fiddle and guitar. Something about folk music really appealed to me. It was very differant than the Jazz my dad had listened to while I grew up. The music was simple on the surface, but held a depth that I wanted to grasp. I wanted to find that sound.....

In '87 I visited Madison, Wisconsin with my freind Steve. We had been sitting in a cafe in Evanston, Illinois reading and writing when we decided to drive up to Mad-town for the night. The next day I contacted my friend Carrie(now a triathlete). We got together and played guitar all day. I was so high on the music that we made. After leaving the co-op Carrie lived in, I ventured from Langdon to State Street. I watched the street performers rattle their strings as voices shook and reverberated thru the mid-day air. As I sat in the Steep and Brew while waiting for steve, I read a magazine called the Ithsmus and realized that this town was deep in folk music. I felt music luring me toward the future home of IMMOO. I returned within two months to make Madison my home for the next year.

In February of '88 I turned 20. I spent my birthday away from home for the first time in my life. I knew few and I wanted only to play music. Every Wednesday I would go to the Rathskeller on the UW campus for the Open Mic. When the weather improved I began singing on the street to raise my keep. My buddy Chris and I traveled around by thumb. We played our guitars in cafes and on street corners. We slept on porches and couches. Our dinner was dependent on the songs. I was quickly finding my voice. I was finding folk music.

Those early years for me are special. The music was honest, raw, and real. Chris and I were living the life we were singing.

As the years past, my act became more and more polished. My songs had less and less literal relevance in my life, and I often struggled to find the ability to personalize them. Mostly I would turn to experiences past, and channel a time long gone. Resurrecting the same passion I felt when I was younger was a rare occurrence.

Today I find my self in a similar place as I try to summon the excitement of Ironman.
Last year was my first IM. My hunger for that race was deep. All I could think of was the moment I would cross over the finish. Nothing was going to stop me. Nothing could distract me. My goal was clear. My plan was well thought out and if I executed it properly I would succeed.
I was so excited for Ironman....You only have one first....somehow I have to make this next one as important as the first.

Folk music is much like triathlon. For every Dylan and Macca there are thousands of us. We all have our own story, song, and race. Every time we sing we are able to rejoice, and with every race we are able to celebrate the suffering and joy that has brought us to this special moment.
Nothing for me feels better than my music resonating through my body. Nothing is as rewarding as training and racing. Folk music and triathlon make me feel alive.
This is my motivation.

While meditating 0n my "why" for IMKY I came the realization that I do this because it makes me happy. I don't always sing perfectly and races sometimes bring disappointment. But one thing I know is that playing folk music and triathlon make me happy.

I am planning a lot of gigs and races for 2008. I am planning to do what makes me happy!

What a long strange trip it 's been.

I will be finishing 2007 the way I have finished my first Ironman, with Zac and Nichole. This New years will be spent on Coventry amongst my favorite group of strangers....Or maybe the strangest group of favorites I know.....Well, those of you planning on a Jan.1st open water swim in Lake Erie, you all are a bit weird also.


Anyhow, thanks for being a big part of this past year. It has been one hellofa ride.

Happy New Year!

A Far Off Distant Shore

It is not everyday I am able to leave work early. With the slow week, it was not important for me to stay at work.

So with a free Thursday afternoon, I am doing some laundry and running job searches. I have been thinking I need a change, so search I will. I did come back toward food service in '04 as a transitional job.
In '03 and '04 I was working in a recording studio as an engineeer. I spent most of my hrs recording rap/americana/folk acts and doing remote sessions with classical and gospel musicians. I had just come out of school having lived on the deans list and doing a Production Internship with Telarc Int. The future seemed bright as I rocketed forward in my career as an audio engineer.

The studio I worked for was a very cool room with some very nice gear. The hours were erratic and pay was poor. Security was often a MAJOR concern for me as many of my sessions were very late at night. Some of the clients and their management/posse raised my concerns. One night while I worked with a group, the clients' friend's broke into and robbed the office. I was fortunate as they avoided robbing the actual studio where I was working. The thought of standing between the thieves and the high end recording gear still leaves me with strong reservations about returning to the industry.

I did stay on for about a month after that, but eventually was unable to justify the personal and professional sacrifices made to keep a job that left me feeling paranoid. I was no longer employed by a local studio.

After sucking up my pride I accepted a job to manage a coffee shop near the justice center. Jobs were scarce in my industry and I needed income. Soon after that my fiance' broke off our engagement. My life was a little f'd up and I was drinking a lot.

After about 7 months back in the service industry and not a lot of opportunity in music surfacing, I accepted an offer from my current boss. Earning potential was increased and the environment was a bit more creative. My co workers were/are an amazing group. The move was very positive. I absolutely needed the environment and support Rocco's has provided me . It has become very comfortable and I enjoy going to work in the morning. However, something remains missing for me. I am lacking fulfillment of my own professional path

I am wanting to return to the audio industry. Working on the CD has fueled my desire along with the knowledge "Anything is Possible"that was strongly reaffirmed during Ironman. Music is my passion.

My job quest this time will reflect the patience learned during Ironman. Out of school I took the first opportunity offered me. The pressure to find something more secure became hurried and panicked with the coming wedding and increased inconsistency of the studio I was working for.
As I start my search, I know that my current job is one that I like. That security will allow me more selectivity in my hunt. It also allows me to take my time in making the right choice.

The tough pill to swallow is that I will have to open my search up to the possibility of relocating.
Of the megaopolis cities, Chicago would be choice #1.

New CD and a makeover.

I did get a haircut. but the makeover has been to my music site. The CD is now on sale. So to celebrate I have given the music page a whole new look. The photo above is for the Gleukos web site.

I will be having a release party at Rocco's soon. Please stay tuned.

I started a run today following an afternoon filled with waisted opportunity by The Cleveland Browns. Hoping to run of the frustration a lose with playoffs still not assurd, I headed out for what I thought would be a fun night of snowstorm running. What I found was a very thin layer of ice over every thing. After a mile I wrapped it up. I had already put in a good effort on the trainer, so I was ok with the mile of ice. With the holidays over the next two days I will have lots of time to run

Anyhow, BUY MY CD!

It's Gotta be the Bike...It's not the bike.

Fed Ex dropped off a couple of packages today. One Included the sunglasses shown above along with a Rudy project hat and a couple of Gleukos sport drink samples. Thanks to Jasper Blake, Gleukos, and Rudy project for the prize. These are really nice sunglasses with two sets of lenses.

The CD also arrived. It sounds good, however there were a couple of typos I had to fix. It will go live very, very soon.

___________________________

Training is going well thus far. I am increasing frequency right now. Weekends will include 1+ hr runs and longer trainer rides. Swimming is going well but i will loose 6 days of pool time during a ten day period due to the holidays. Polar bear swim will have to count as a workout.
I really love to train. It is why I do this triathlon thing.

Steelhead really has my attention. I am really looking forward to this race. It will represent 10 years in triathlon for me. Looking back at my first season I know I have come a very long way. I have become far more balance as a multsport athlete.

IMKY hasn't sunk in yet. I am searching my soul for an unshakable reason of "Why IMKY". I need something to focus on. Last year it was "To become an IRONMAN". This year I need a new candle to fix on through out this 9 month meditation called Ironman. Searching for this has been frustrating. I am searching for an answer, tho I don't know what the question is.

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You may have noticed that Trifolk has gone commercial. I figured, maybe I could earn a little extra dough to try and ease the sting of entry fee's. I will most likely spend over a grand for races this coming season. So, I am now hocking space on the blog. If I find that the random ads do not represent my interests(such as "Turduckin" ads) I will quickly evict the sellers.

Something had to happen

So here it is December 14th, the eve of my IM training start. I leave work feeling a bit pissy(not for any real reason, just felt that way). I stop at the bank, loose my bus pass. Purchase another in anticipation of heading to the pool. Arrive home, and decide not to run or swim. I just felt down. maybe a little depressed. I am not sure why. I think I was just having a spell of loneliness.

The goofy part is that my solution was to further isolate myself. I stayed home on Friday to clean my home, and do some laundry. A thought kept going through my brain as I cleaned. "Something has to happen. I am not inspired."

I cleaned everything. The place looks great and I am feeling very cozy now. As I woke, I felt as though my house was in order. I felt ready to begin. Not a 100%, but enough to get out the door so to speak.

As I set up the trainer, the phone rang. It was Kurt and Michelle my comrads from Ironman UK. Michelle was passing thru Cleveland on her way to Toronto to visit her family. We made a plan to all meet at Tommy's Restaurant or the Coffee shop after my ride. I got on the bike and peddled away while watching "Who Killed The Electric Car".

After my workout, I was hungry, so we settled on Tommy's. The last time I ate with Kurt and Michelle I had to eat quiche at the IMUK awards. Today I was able to stay vegan.

Being able to start my IMKY training with a visit from my co-UK competitors was exactly what I needed. A chance to look back and look forward with the people I became an Ironman with. Kurt is doing IMUSA while Michelle will be in central America.

After they left, I got dressed for a run. I Secured a ride to Tri swimming for tomorrow, and scampered off in to a wet snow for a5k round the south campus area.

My body is feeling ready for another 259 days of training. My mind is getting there.

To further fuel my fire, I noticed that Jodi and Trisaratops had made their entry into Steelhead official. I was inspired, and now my entry is official.

Michigan this year has been a right of passage for my teams. The Tigers, Pistons, and Wolverines all had to be beaten before the big show could begin. Unfortunately The cavs, Bucks, and tribe all lost the final games. For me after conquering Michigan I will be headed to Louisville for the main event. Since my goal does not include winning, I should be fine.

Waiting at the Mailbox

Standing at the start of a race is one of my favorite moments in life. For me this is the most exciting part of the race. It is the point that you have hopefully finished with the port-a-loo. The sun is beginning to rise. With every nudge toward the start, comes the realization that you are absolutly committed to this race. Your energy is at a boiling point and you have no where put it. You are focused and terrified. Once the race begins, you have no choice but to move forward, but for now, you wait.

That is what I am doing right now.

My CD is in route from the west coast. If the proof checks out, it will be available the minute I ok it. Until then, I have no CD to sell. I am missing the massive consumer cash cow we refer to as Christmas shopping season.

The Jasper Blake win a bike sweepstakes prize is also coming Fedex from Oregon. They would like me to send a photo of myself with my prize for the Gloukos web site.....What did I win? A helmet? Some sunglasses? A Kuota frame and fork? I will post this news when it arrives.

Oh bother.

Training starts Sunday. I am healthy and have had some nice workouts this week. Last night while swimming, I took a deep breath, gulped and accepted the task of training for Ironman. I know that training will be easier as I am stronger and have the experiance of training for and completing Ironman. The concern I have is that my excitement for Ironman is not as manic as it was for my first. This could be a good thing.

So anyway, here I sit beside my mailbox waiting for a couple of packages. I have my shoes tied tight and I am ready for some Long Slow Distance.

Right now is the moment before it all begins.

Just a head in the crowd (Goals for '08)

As I meditate on my goals for the 2008 season I have to look beyond the numbers and finish times.
But here they are.
2:30 Olympic Distance triathlon. I plan to race Maumee bay again. The course can be fast dependent on the wind conditions.

• The swim will be without the wetsuit for IMKY practice. I haven't gone without a wetsuit in a while. Swimming in a wave will help with the courage.
• The Bike will push my ability to stay aero as long as possible.
  

• The run has been hot during this race. My main goal will be to keep the body cool. Going at an oly effort and trying to stay cool will help me prepare for the heat in Louisville.

6hr half IM. Steelhead, Mountaineer, Deercreek

• No wetsuit at mountaineer for the above mentioned IM prep.
  
• These (70.3)are training days.
• Maintain absolute focus.
  
• Always push harder/negative splits
• Nutrition trials

13 hr IM- Louisville

• I would like to do a 1:15 swim. I feel as though I am having some swim breakthroughs.
  
• On the bike, I have to develop more power.
• My run work will include a speed phase that I largely ignored last year while I continued with base work up till IM

4hr Marathon-Not sure where.

• Because I can, and should.

My real goals this year are a bit more intro/outrospective. I have to find my motivation. Heading into my first Ironman, my motivation was clear. I had to finish. This year the goal is not as clear. I know I can finish. I am an Ironman. That mystery is solved.

Goals this year involve digging in deeper. Learning how to trust and act on early instincts. I also need to really learn to trust others. I am not as good at it as I was when I was younger. I fear going through the emotional stuff. I am unproductive with drama in my life. It also hurts a lot. I don't like going there, But I need open myself up more to the people around me.

IMUK was a great metaphor for the way I have lived the last 3 years. I have felt relatively isolated and alone during that time. Mostly I have just been licking my wounds, healing and getting stronger. All the while , Zac and Nichole are keeping an eye on me. They are amazing friends.

IMKY will be raced amongst friends. The blog community for this race is big. CTC will be represented by a bunch of us. Steelhead plans for a little vegan feast are on. I am trying to figure out how to book myself to play at the campgrounds for mountaineer. The social calender is filling quickly.

This years goal number one will be in reaching out more to the people in my life in more meaningful ways.

I feel sometimes like a single raindrop falling from the sky.
Solo and alone.
I let the wind push me,
but other than that, I follow my own path...........
Soon I will hit the ocean and join all that is,
Whole, holy hole.
No end, No beginning.
I am fluid within of a never ending ocean
As sound ceases to have any contrast
and light looses it's rhythm,
I loose my sense of self.
we are all interconnected

I am ready to re- join the universe.

Never accept what you think to be truth with out challenging it again and again

I always accepted the fact that a marathon was to far to run. The Ironman was for the "real" athletes. I fella like me should not attempt such a race. The people that could do Ironman were the really gifted men and women. They hurt less. They used personal resources much more efficiently. They had all the best gear. They had been athletes all of their life. I thought this to be true.

I had only known two Ironman finishers well. Jen and Sean. Both of them were at the top of the local tri scene. If Jen lost, it was to women named Flicker or Deboom. I honestly don't remember Sean loosing. These were my impressions of Ironman. I had no business going there.

In 1999 the three of us went to Medford, Mass for a Kona qualifier. It was my first Long course race(1.2 mile swim, 38mile bike, 9,3 mile run). It was hard, but I finished and had a good time. But it was nothing compared to Ironman I thought.

In 2005 I decided to finally try a half. I knew I could do it. I worked hard, got really nervous, and went out a ran a good race. As I finished I said, "I can do more!". I put in another season of training for the half and signed up for IMUK in '06.

Through all of my training I constantly broke through barriers of doubt. The belief that "I couldn't do it" was so deep, that it never completely vanished until I started running onto The Sherborn Castle grounds 14 hours 30 odd minutes after the canon sounded. At that moment Every thing I had ever believed about not being able to do an Ironman vanished. At that moment any doubt that I had ever had in my life vanished. "Anything is Possible" they say in Ironman.

Much of what I learned growing up is true. Much is not. Much of my life has been spent trying to find out what is real and what is not. Sometimes I get hurt, and sometimes I get lost. But somehow I always land on my feet, or at least I am able to get back up off my ass.

Some of what I have seen is downright disturbing and sometimes I wonder how I stay half sane( I maintain that I am not crazy, just a bit silly). Most of the time much of what I see is amazing. It makes me happy that I am where I am.

I believe in magic. I believe in things that don't make any sense. I believe everything I was taught was meant to be questioned. I believe that truth can change. I believe that I should continue to question every thing I believe. I believe that every one of us can be everything we hope to be, and everyone of us has things about us that we could have never imagined.

Just because we accept something to be true doesn't mean it is. Challenging what we have already accepted as truth will allow us to do the impossible.

It's time to make my goals for '08.

I just kinda don't want to be in my skin

Royal slug photographed at the Tower of London

The last week has been a little weird for me. I have been feeling a bit sluggish. Today I worked out for the first time since last Monday. It is the longest stretch of total rest for a long time. I got a nasty cold/flu that I decided to shut down everything in an effort to get over it. As an added benefit I have been able to rest the pain in my bum. My goal right now is to be healthy when It is time to start my base work. I have set Dec 15 as the GO date.

Another side effect of not training and being sick is the crankiness. Nothing is really bothering me, I just kinda don't want to be in my skin when I am sick. I have tried to keep that in check. I think I am leveling out right now.

With all of the free time I have been able to put the new collection of music together as an actual disc. I am awaiting my proof of the entire package. Once I approve the proof, the disc will be available through my site and on Amazon. I will also bring them to shows.

I have become a contributer to two Blog Groups. http://ironmanlouisville2008.blogspot.com/
and http://sportyvegans.blogspot.com/ I am excited to have these outlets for my vegan rants and the IMLube banter. Not to worry, I will not exclude that stuff from this page. However, I can share directly with others going through the same experiance as me with out having to look to far. It is one reason I enjoy the CTC forum. Anyhow, contributing should be fun. I also look forward to having all of these bloggers in one place.

Aside from that, I got nothing.

One more thing, most of you know already that we(OSU/Cleveland sports fans) get another shot at the big game this year....Go Bucks!