As we get into the dog days of summer, when the weather is great and the TV awful, I highly recommend the US Olympic trials, which are being televised all of this week and part of next.
Last night featured an epic -- and I mean epic -- duel between Michael Phelps (who I think is the greatest American athlete; I plan to write a fully dedicated post on this topic some time soon) and Ryan Lochte, which Phelps won in a whisker in a race that was much closer than anticipated. Tonight features track and field action, and as I type I am watching Shalene Flanagan, who, I might add is a super hottie (but not nearly as hot as Kara Goucher, who is the hottest thing this side of Dana Torres) win the 5,000 meter. There is always plenty of drama and tension at the Trials and you really don't even need to be a sports fan to really appreciate these performances. The event that I am really looking forward to most is the mile, which I think is the last event of the trials. Will be very curious to see if Alan Webb can get the job done.
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I finally finished the third season of Weeds last night. I won't give away any plots, but I will say that I thought that it was a tad bit disappointing. Even a "bad" season of Weeds is better than virtually everything else on TV. Being that the leitmotif of this post appears to be hot women, you can add Mary Louise Parker to this list as well.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Back
I'm back from our Boy's weekend. Like year's past, my favorite weekend of the year. We are getting old and perhaps slowing down a tad (lights out at 12:30 pm everyone!) but we still manage to have a great time. There's nothing in the world like great friends. As noted earlier, in a nutshell, we hang out. and catch up and go for an occasional swim. It is freaking heaven. I wish it were a little easier to get to (takes me around 12 hours each way when everything is said and done and taking into account time zone differences) but c'est la vie.
My buddy Scooter suggested I focus more on pop culture; he said the running stuff is getting old (tell me about it). Fair enough. So, this week I will dedicated all of my posts to pop culture, whatever that may be.
I will start off with some favorite pop culture websites, for all those interested. In regards to celebrity gossip, my favorites include: www. perezhilton.com (can't believe I just admitted that one), www.gawker.com, Page Six (New York Post) and my personal favorite, www.wwtdd.com. I also really like Deadspin (www.deadspin.com), which covers sports gossip.
For music, Pitchfork (www.pitchforkmedia.com) wins hands down. It is the first website I visit every day. Second favorite is www.metacritic.com.
In regards to politics I have to say that I am growing increasingly enamored with the Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com).
I am sure there's others and more categories, but I am quasi-brain dead.
If anyone has additional recommendations, I am all ears.
My buddy Scooter suggested I focus more on pop culture; he said the running stuff is getting old (tell me about it). Fair enough. So, this week I will dedicated all of my posts to pop culture, whatever that may be.
I will start off with some favorite pop culture websites, for all those interested. In regards to celebrity gossip, my favorites include: www. perezhilton.com (can't believe I just admitted that one), www.gawker.com, Page Six (New York Post) and my personal favorite, www.wwtdd.com. I also really like Deadspin (www.deadspin.com), which covers sports gossip.
For music, Pitchfork (www.pitchforkmedia.com) wins hands down. It is the first website I visit every day. Second favorite is www.metacritic.com.
In regards to politics I have to say that I am growing increasingly enamored with the Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com).
I am sure there's others and more categories, but I am quasi-brain dead.
If anyone has additional recommendations, I am all ears.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Gone Fishing
I am t-minute two hours from heading to the airport for a redeye to Detroit Rock City. For all my faithful readers (probably around five of you) that can mean only one thing: that's right, our annual boy's weekend.
My closest seven friends from college - we are all super tight, despite the fact that time and geography separates us - have vowed to get together once a year for a boy's weekend. This year should be extra special as we commemorate our 20th reunion. Actually, the truth be told it probably won't factor into the equation at all. We will do what we normally do which, in no particular order, includes: swimming, eating, talking, maybe a run or two (by the way - still shelled from my race. Unreal how much I am feeling this one) catching up, bbqing, rides on the pontoon boat, maybe a beer or two or three and of course, the highlight of the weekend -- our annual monopoly tournament. I will have you know I am the defending champion.
Might not sound lik all that much fun but it really is and it's something I wouldn't miss for the world, despite the fact that I am schlepping halfway across the country.
So - that's that. I look forward to returning more relaxed and sans a few thousand brain cells or so.
Peace out and will try to post pictures from the road.
My closest seven friends from college - we are all super tight, despite the fact that time and geography separates us - have vowed to get together once a year for a boy's weekend. This year should be extra special as we commemorate our 20th reunion. Actually, the truth be told it probably won't factor into the equation at all. We will do what we normally do which, in no particular order, includes: swimming, eating, talking, maybe a run or two (by the way - still shelled from my race. Unreal how much I am feeling this one) catching up, bbqing, rides on the pontoon boat, maybe a beer or two or three and of course, the highlight of the weekend -- our annual monopoly tournament. I will have you know I am the defending champion.
Might not sound lik all that much fun but it really is and it's something I wouldn't miss for the world, despite the fact that I am schlepping halfway across the country.
So - that's that. I look forward to returning more relaxed and sans a few thousand brain cells or so.
Peace out and will try to post pictures from the road.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Random Thoughts
I am pretty wiped from a fast in and out day trip to LA. So, a couple of random thoughts:
-- I am still absolutely shelled from my race. In fact, I am actually getting MORE sore with each passing day, which is something I have never before experienced. Its two days out and I could barely walk today. I was IMing with my coach, Phil, today and he said he expected this outcome (suffering on a monster course).
-- I had the best dinner on Saturday at our friend's house (actually, it was at the home of our friends parents), something I have never before experienced: elk tenderloin, complemented by a Pinot Noir from the hosts' vineyard in Sonoma. It was very cool and very NorCal. And I have to say: the Elk (which was shot by the host) was absolutely out of this world. Better than steak. Evidently, they primarily eat alfalfa and it is more tender than you wold believe and not at all gamey. And the Pinot was pretty darn good too.
-- There's a lot of really good music out there, including the new Coldplay, Lil Wayne and AImee Mann. You probably couldn't come up with three more different genres if you tried, but all are very good in their own right.
--The WIfe and I are watching Season Three of Weeds. This show is so damn good (even though I think this is the weakest season thus far); I think it's without question one of the top five programs on TV. Perfect timing for its availability as there is virtually nothing else on TV.
-- Next up: Mad Men, which is also getting rave reviews. Season One is available on July 1.
-- Don't look now but my Yankees are the hottest team in baseball and are only four back of Boston. Must be the start of summertime.......
-- I am still absolutely shelled from my race. In fact, I am actually getting MORE sore with each passing day, which is something I have never before experienced. Its two days out and I could barely walk today. I was IMing with my coach, Phil, today and he said he expected this outcome (suffering on a monster course).
-- I had the best dinner on Saturday at our friend's house (actually, it was at the home of our friends parents), something I have never before experienced: elk tenderloin, complemented by a Pinot Noir from the hosts' vineyard in Sonoma. It was very cool and very NorCal. And I have to say: the Elk (which was shot by the host) was absolutely out of this world. Better than steak. Evidently, they primarily eat alfalfa and it is more tender than you wold believe and not at all gamey. And the Pinot was pretty darn good too.
-- There's a lot of really good music out there, including the new Coldplay, Lil Wayne and AImee Mann. You probably couldn't come up with three more different genres if you tried, but all are very good in their own right.
--The WIfe and I are watching Season Three of Weeds. This show is so damn good (even though I think this is the weakest season thus far); I think it's without question one of the top five programs on TV. Perfect timing for its availability as there is virtually nothing else on TV.
-- Next up: Mad Men, which is also getting rave reviews. Season One is available on July 1.
-- Don't look now but my Yankees are the hottest team in baseball and are only four back of Boston. Must be the start of summertime.......
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Double Dipsea Race Report
I should have known I was in a bad day after waking up from a sleepless night (it has been over 90 for five consecutive days, and our house gets very hot at night. Note houses in NorCal do not have air conditioning) with an upset stomach.
I ate, got dressed, went outside to discover than a. it was already 75 degrees at 6:30 in the morning and b. my trail running shoes somehow managed to get caught in the sprinkler and were soaking wet. Had to change to plan B.
And so with that as a backdrop, dear readers, I am happy to say that my day went from bad to worse.
In my life, I have never run a course harder than this one. For a measure of perspective, it was only 14 miles, but took my nearly as long as my fastest marathon (we are talking three + hours). There were three elements at play that combined, caused me much misery:
-- I simply had dead legs and even under optimal conditions I would have had a difficult time with the climbs
-- As a corollary to the above, the course had about 5,000 feet of climbing (I stated 8,000 on Facebook but think I was wrong. Fr all of you counting at home, 5,000 feet over 14 miles is monstrous)
-- It heated up to almost 98 degrees. I (and about one thousand other runners) wasn't just hot, I was ROASTING. It was one of those days where neighbors come out f their homes en masse with water hoses.
I knew I was in for a long day literally during the first mile, which was straight uphill. Already I had to slow it down and walk; my heart rate was just out of control. And so, I decided early in the day that this "race" (I use the word loosely) was simply going to be about finishing, regardless of the time. The Wife and Kids met me at the half way mark, which was located in a downtown park and I have never in my life been so tempted to call it a day. If I had ever before quit a race, I would have dropped but I wanted to keep my streak intact.
So, I turned around, climbed the 691 Dipsea steps (that's right -- three flights of 691 steps) and ran/walked my way back to Stinson Beach.
My legs were generally ok and I was able to run the flats and downhills without much problem (until the sun really came out towards the end) but, as stated, I just could not climb.
There were a lot of other people in the same situation as me and we banded together like survivors in the Death March of Bataan and brought it home together.
I generally don't find myself at the back of the pack of most races and when I do I am usually pretty miserable, but in retrospect, it definitely makes for a more unique experience. There's something to be said about bonding with strangers; a sense that you are in it together -- and almost looking out for one another -- that makes the race memorable (once the pain has receded of course).
And speaking of pain, I can barely walk today. My legs are shelled, similiar to how they feel after a hard marathon. I am a wreck.
I was in such a bad way, that when I got home I had to lie in front of a fan for about 1/2 hour, in my dirty, disgusting clothes. I must have been pretty badly dehydrated too, but I will save that part of the story for another day (no IV's necessary though and no blood, so I have that going for me).
So, I am going to write that off as simply a worst case scenario/bad day and conclude by saying this: the Double Dispea completely and totally kicked my ass.
So badly did it beat me down, in fact, that I might need to seek revenge next year.
I ate, got dressed, went outside to discover than a. it was already 75 degrees at 6:30 in the morning and b. my trail running shoes somehow managed to get caught in the sprinkler and were soaking wet. Had to change to plan B.
And so with that as a backdrop, dear readers, I am happy to say that my day went from bad to worse.
In my life, I have never run a course harder than this one. For a measure of perspective, it was only 14 miles, but took my nearly as long as my fastest marathon (we are talking three + hours). There were three elements at play that combined, caused me much misery:
-- I simply had dead legs and even under optimal conditions I would have had a difficult time with the climbs
-- As a corollary to the above, the course had about 5,000 feet of climbing (I stated 8,000 on Facebook but think I was wrong. Fr all of you counting at home, 5,000 feet over 14 miles is monstrous)
-- It heated up to almost 98 degrees. I (and about one thousand other runners) wasn't just hot, I was ROASTING. It was one of those days where neighbors come out f their homes en masse with water hoses.
I knew I was in for a long day literally during the first mile, which was straight uphill. Already I had to slow it down and walk; my heart rate was just out of control. And so, I decided early in the day that this "race" (I use the word loosely) was simply going to be about finishing, regardless of the time. The Wife and Kids met me at the half way mark, which was located in a downtown park and I have never in my life been so tempted to call it a day. If I had ever before quit a race, I would have dropped but I wanted to keep my streak intact.
So, I turned around, climbed the 691 Dipsea steps (that's right -- three flights of 691 steps) and ran/walked my way back to Stinson Beach.
My legs were generally ok and I was able to run the flats and downhills without much problem (until the sun really came out towards the end) but, as stated, I just could not climb.
There were a lot of other people in the same situation as me and we banded together like survivors in the Death March of Bataan and brought it home together.
I generally don't find myself at the back of the pack of most races and when I do I am usually pretty miserable, but in retrospect, it definitely makes for a more unique experience. There's something to be said about bonding with strangers; a sense that you are in it together -- and almost looking out for one another -- that makes the race memorable (once the pain has receded of course).
And speaking of pain, I can barely walk today. My legs are shelled, similiar to how they feel after a hard marathon. I am a wreck.
I was in such a bad way, that when I got home I had to lie in front of a fan for about 1/2 hour, in my dirty, disgusting clothes. I must have been pretty badly dehydrated too, but I will save that part of the story for another day (no IV's necessary though and no blood, so I have that going for me).
So, I am going to write that off as simply a worst case scenario/bad day and conclude by saying this: the Double Dispea completely and totally kicked my ass.
So badly did it beat me down, in fact, that I might need to seek revenge next year.
Friday, June 20, 2008
$1,000 Glass of Water
Earlier today I ran about the world's most expensive hamburger, currently being sold in London.
Well, I've got that one beat. Yesterday, we had the most expensive glass of water, ever. It cost us $1,000.
Here is the story, in broadstrokes:
It begins with the Wife, who pours said cup of water into a glass (without a lid, mind you) to Child Number One, who is simultaneously checking the box scores and fighting with Child Number Two (who happens to be of the female persuasion).
During ensuing argument, one of the two Children (the "who" is still being hotly debated) knocks glass of water over and onto beautiful Black MacBook which immediately powers down (for the last time, as it turns out). Powers down and takes with it all of our photos, music, financial records and much, much more (hello back up device in the future)
Wife calls me during drive home from work to explain.
Almost drive off of Golden Gate Bridge.
Come home, don't say a word to anyone, immediately bring MacBook to Apple store for "Genius" analysis and proceed to wait for 1.5 hours before Mr. "Genius" tells me to come back in the am.
Decide not to come home and eat dinner alone.
Sleep in guest room as I am more mad at all three of them than I have ever been in my life.
Wife brings lapto in in the morning where diagnosis is: DESTROYED! A little bit of good news, however, is that the hard drive is recovered and moved to disc (another $100, which actually bring the cost of that glass of water up a bit).
So, tonight we all make amends (kind of), buy a shiny new (actually, not so new; this time around they get a refurbished one) laptop and HOPE AND PRAY that a lesson is learned.
Somehow I doubt it.
Guess we will see.
Well, I've got that one beat. Yesterday, we had the most expensive glass of water, ever. It cost us $1,000.
Here is the story, in broadstrokes:
It begins with the Wife, who pours said cup of water into a glass (without a lid, mind you) to Child Number One, who is simultaneously checking the box scores and fighting with Child Number Two (who happens to be of the female persuasion).
During ensuing argument, one of the two Children (the "who" is still being hotly debated) knocks glass of water over and onto beautiful Black MacBook which immediately powers down (for the last time, as it turns out). Powers down and takes with it all of our photos, music, financial records and much, much more (hello back up device in the future)
Wife calls me during drive home from work to explain.
Almost drive off of Golden Gate Bridge.
Come home, don't say a word to anyone, immediately bring MacBook to Apple store for "Genius" analysis and proceed to wait for 1.5 hours before Mr. "Genius" tells me to come back in the am.
Decide not to come home and eat dinner alone.
Sleep in guest room as I am more mad at all three of them than I have ever been in my life.
Wife brings lapto in in the morning where diagnosis is: DESTROYED! A little bit of good news, however, is that the hard drive is recovered and moved to disc (another $100, which actually bring the cost of that glass of water up a bit).
So, tonight we all make amends (kind of), buy a shiny new (actually, not so new; this time around they get a refurbished one) laptop and HOPE AND PRAY that a lesson is learned.
Somehow I doubt it.
Guess we will see.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Boston
This is the year of our discontent for us New York sports fans and I state this recognizing that the Giant's won the Super Bowl, which I consider, with all due respect, a fluke win.
First the Red Sox win the World Series (it pains me just to type those words). Then the Patriots go on their 19 game run (editors note: as previously proclaimed, I love Tom Brady, who first and foremost is a Michigan man. Actually, he's a ladies man first, Michigan man second, Patriot third). Then the freaking Celtic's go out and win the NBA title by utterly demolishing the Lakers (and thereby settling the Kobe vs. Jordan argument once and for all). It's all enough to make a guy want to quit sports.
All that being said, I teach my kids every day that sportsmanship is absolutely key and trumps winning, so I guess I should heed my own words and be magnanimous about it all.
So -- congrats, City of Boston, on an epic year. Well done, all around.
May it occur again in 1,000 years.
First the Red Sox win the World Series (it pains me just to type those words). Then the Patriots go on their 19 game run (editors note: as previously proclaimed, I love Tom Brady, who first and foremost is a Michigan man. Actually, he's a ladies man first, Michigan man second, Patriot third). Then the freaking Celtic's go out and win the NBA title by utterly demolishing the Lakers (and thereby settling the Kobe vs. Jordan argument once and for all). It's all enough to make a guy want to quit sports.
All that being said, I teach my kids every day that sportsmanship is absolutely key and trumps winning, so I guess I should heed my own words and be magnanimous about it all.
So -- congrats, City of Boston, on an epic year. Well done, all around.
May it occur again in 1,000 years.
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