Ten days ago, Sumon ran three miles in 24 minutes - apparently his fastest time ever. He also happened to be racing me. Gee, thanks.
Needless to say, he beat me in the race...by a landslide. While I had no chance of beating 24 minutes, I definitely could've done better than the 36 minutes that I was clocked at. So, in addition to the embarassment of having to make eye contact with Sumon and Bindie at the finish line (where they had a full twelve minutes to celebrate his victory before I showed up), I also had to spend my drive from Memorial Park back to Sugar Land reflecting on the debacle that had just happened. I looked in the rearview mirror (symbolism!) and vowed to begin exercising and eating healthier once again.
Ten days later, and I am doing much better. The day after our race, I picked up bananas, apples, oranges, and wheat bread from the grocery store. Also, after not stepping inside a gym for more than a year, I started lifting weights again. Must admit that weights help me with posture and flexibility more than I tend to give them credit for. They just make me more aware of the form/functionality of my various muscle groups which helps me stretch them out.
Next up, Sumon and I will take part in a leisurely game of tennis. From there, we'll move to the football field to find out who can pump their quads faster in a spirited 40-yard dash. After completing two events in our epic 10-month decathlon, we have each been embarassed once. Time to turn up the heat!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Zen and the Art of Disassembling a Bike
A year or two ago I read Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". Overall, I enjoyed the book but admit that it was REALLY confusing at times. Rather than dismiss the dude as a whack-job, I left the book thinking that I might've been missing some of the points he was trying to make. Maybe our brains were just on different wavelengths, or maybe I just needed to go through experiences more similiar to his in order to better grasp his ideas. This weekend...just a little part of that mission accomplished.
On Saturday, I woke up around noon with what wasn't really a hangover but more of a "sluggish feeling" from drinking into the wee hours of the previous night. Despite this, I was focused on getting up and making it to Workshop Houston (http://www.workshophouston.org/), where I had committed to an hour of volunteering in their bike shop. Slowly but surely, I bathed, got dressed, ate brunch, and made my way (with Jennifer, poor thing) over to the shop.
Ok, after telling them I'd be there at 1 PM, I didn't actually show up until 3 PM. But at least I made it, right?
Anyways, after brief introductions, I started off by disassembling one of their donated bikes under the guidance of a more experienced volunteer. Slowly but surely, I completely stripped the old, raggedy bike down to its core. Off came the gears, handlebars, brakes, tires, everything! We threw ALL of the parts into a bucket and then arranged them into their rightful spots around the workshop so that they can be used to build new bikes in the future.
Seriously awesome experience that provided me with a deeper appreciation for the art of bike-design and only furthered my interest in getting more involved in the "bike-world". If this does develop into a full-fledged passion, I already have visions of being a bike advocate in Houston, both educating citizens on the benefits of biking and pushing for city government to make the city more bike-friendly. I might even want to open my own bike shop down the road. Dreamin' again...I like it!
Last, but surely not least, there was a moment in the workshop, when I was simply loosening a screw of all things, that I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. I was just really thrilled with the idea of learning about bikes, an engineering marvel, so up close and personal. And no joke, I thought back to "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and what I perceived to be part of Pirsig's message. Rather than just consuming "final products", take time to play around with the very tools and machinery that produce that product. Get right into the middle of a bike or motorcycle, meddle around a little, and you just might find your mind settling into a peaceful, meditative state. Aha!
On Saturday, I woke up around noon with what wasn't really a hangover but more of a "sluggish feeling" from drinking into the wee hours of the previous night. Despite this, I was focused on getting up and making it to Workshop Houston (http://www.workshophouston.org/), where I had committed to an hour of volunteering in their bike shop. Slowly but surely, I bathed, got dressed, ate brunch, and made my way (with Jennifer, poor thing) over to the shop.
Ok, after telling them I'd be there at 1 PM, I didn't actually show up until 3 PM. But at least I made it, right?
Anyways, after brief introductions, I started off by disassembling one of their donated bikes under the guidance of a more experienced volunteer. Slowly but surely, I completely stripped the old, raggedy bike down to its core. Off came the gears, handlebars, brakes, tires, everything! We threw ALL of the parts into a bucket and then arranged them into their rightful spots around the workshop so that they can be used to build new bikes in the future.
Seriously awesome experience that provided me with a deeper appreciation for the art of bike-design and only furthered my interest in getting more involved in the "bike-world". If this does develop into a full-fledged passion, I already have visions of being a bike advocate in Houston, both educating citizens on the benefits of biking and pushing for city government to make the city more bike-friendly. I might even want to open my own bike shop down the road. Dreamin' again...I like it!
Last, but surely not least, there was a moment in the workshop, when I was simply loosening a screw of all things, that I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. I was just really thrilled with the idea of learning about bikes, an engineering marvel, so up close and personal. And no joke, I thought back to "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and what I perceived to be part of Pirsig's message. Rather than just consuming "final products", take time to play around with the very tools and machinery that produce that product. Get right into the middle of a bike or motorcycle, meddle around a little, and you just might find your mind settling into a peaceful, meditative state. Aha!
Monday, March 16, 2009
A Seamlessly Drunk Transition
2:48 A.M. I admit, I'm drunk. Shoot me. It's the easiest time to sit down and write, especially when you know the whole world is going to read your thoughts. Fine, in my case, maybe 5 people at most. But still, this is life beyatch! Damn, maybe I'm succumbing to the pressures of being a blog writer and throwing in the towel right now. I don't know.
Anyways, I'm the first to admit that I've done a lousy job keeping up with this blog. In all honesty, I'm barely writing at all these days. Even my personal, leather-bound journal (yes, I just said that) has been collecting dust during the last few weeks, and I think I know why. Quite simply, life is a lot easier in Htown, Texas than in Brooklyn, NY. Down here, I got my family (love you Mom!), my woman (hi Jenn!), my boys (wat up OKG!), and no rent (holy toledo!).
Less stress = less need for escape = less writing. I just don't have as much stress to release anymore. Ok, there are other things too. For one, it was much easier writing on the subway (NYC) versus writing while driving (Htown). Also, per my recent Facebook update, I'm taking my future seriously again. Thus, a reallocation of time to job search, grad school apps, and networking.
I'd like to sit here and say I'm somewhat perplexed about the situation, act like I'm a little down about being in a more "comfortable", less creative state. But honestly, for now at least, I'm not. I feel like I spent a good chunk of my four years in New York City running away from stability and, through that, learned a lot of great life lessons. In a strange way, I wanted chaos, though I admit I could only handle so much (freakin' pus*y!). However, eventually I reached a point where it felt like I was just running in place. Same way I felt at the end of my five years in Austin. Knew it was time to bounce.
Not sure this makes any sense to anyone besides me, but I don't really give a sh*t. Ok, ok, I do. Otherwise, I wouldn't be writing this blog. Either way, I am really happy in Houston, Texas. In a weird way, I feel more liberated here than I did at the end of my time in New York City, which is really strange for me to grasp at times. Doubt I would've felt like this had I never left Texas in the first place, so hallelujah for NYC! Love that damn city and still haven't gotten over it completely, but I've definitely moved on much quicker than I thought I would. I'm a born-again H-towner looking forward to continuing to move forward here. Holla!
Anyways, I'm the first to admit that I've done a lousy job keeping up with this blog. In all honesty, I'm barely writing at all these days. Even my personal, leather-bound journal (yes, I just said that) has been collecting dust during the last few weeks, and I think I know why. Quite simply, life is a lot easier in Htown, Texas than in Brooklyn, NY. Down here, I got my family (love you Mom!), my woman (hi Jenn!), my boys (wat up OKG!), and no rent (holy toledo!).
Less stress = less need for escape = less writing. I just don't have as much stress to release anymore. Ok, there are other things too. For one, it was much easier writing on the subway (NYC) versus writing while driving (Htown). Also, per my recent Facebook update, I'm taking my future seriously again. Thus, a reallocation of time to job search, grad school apps, and networking.
I'd like to sit here and say I'm somewhat perplexed about the situation, act like I'm a little down about being in a more "comfortable", less creative state. But honestly, for now at least, I'm not. I feel like I spent a good chunk of my four years in New York City running away from stability and, through that, learned a lot of great life lessons. In a strange way, I wanted chaos, though I admit I could only handle so much (freakin' pus*y!). However, eventually I reached a point where it felt like I was just running in place. Same way I felt at the end of my five years in Austin. Knew it was time to bounce.
Not sure this makes any sense to anyone besides me, but I don't really give a sh*t. Ok, ok, I do. Otherwise, I wouldn't be writing this blog. Either way, I am really happy in Houston, Texas. In a weird way, I feel more liberated here than I did at the end of my time in New York City, which is really strange for me to grasp at times. Doubt I would've felt like this had I never left Texas in the first place, so hallelujah for NYC! Love that damn city and still haven't gotten over it completely, but I've definitely moved on much quicker than I thought I would. I'm a born-again H-towner looking forward to continuing to move forward here. Holla!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Mickey Rourke - Interesting Dude
Just finished watching one of my favorite programs, The Tavis Smiley Show, on PBS. Tonight's guest was Mickey Rourke. Great interview and very interesting dude.
In all honesty, I was fairly ignorant of Rourke's story before tonight. Other than remembering a short clip about him in a movie, Tupac: Resurrection, I don't remember watching any of his movies or knowing much about his history. After watching the interview tonight, I was intrigued in learning more about him and his recent, highly-acclaimed movie, The Wrestler.
Sooo, after a little Wikipedia researching and Youtube perusing, I came to learn that the talented actor left show business in 1991 after declining several major roles, rubbing certain directors the wrong way, and hoping to feel better about himself by switching from acting to boxing (his childhood sport). 39 years old and starting a boxing career - wow.
During his hiatus from acting, Rourke lost his wife, career, and money. Even after trying to return to acting in 1995, it wasn't until 2008, with The Wrestler, that he really returned to the glory days of yesteryear. THIRTEEN YEARS to get back on top. In the interview with Tavis, Rourke talks about always believing he'd get his life back but never realizing it'd take so long.
In the end, Rourke is just an actor returning to the top of a glamorous world. Nonetheless, I'm intrigued, as I usually am with people like him. Besides loving his story of redemption, I'm fascinated by people who run away from their "God-given talent" in the first place. In so many ways, I admire the human spirit that becomes so petrified of "stable life" that it does everything in its power to avoid it. Bumps, bruises, and emotional pitfalls take the stage, just so that person can continue experiencing the thrill of jumping off cliffs and having no clue how his or her story may end.
Having said all of this, there is a potentially depressing reality of running from talent - the chance one never regains it and simply fades into oblivion. But maybe that's just life.
PS - You can catch interview here - http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200903/20090302.html
In all honesty, I was fairly ignorant of Rourke's story before tonight. Other than remembering a short clip about him in a movie, Tupac: Resurrection, I don't remember watching any of his movies or knowing much about his history. After watching the interview tonight, I was intrigued in learning more about him and his recent, highly-acclaimed movie, The Wrestler.
Sooo, after a little Wikipedia researching and Youtube perusing, I came to learn that the talented actor left show business in 1991 after declining several major roles, rubbing certain directors the wrong way, and hoping to feel better about himself by switching from acting to boxing (his childhood sport). 39 years old and starting a boxing career - wow.
During his hiatus from acting, Rourke lost his wife, career, and money. Even after trying to return to acting in 1995, it wasn't until 2008, with The Wrestler, that he really returned to the glory days of yesteryear. THIRTEEN YEARS to get back on top. In the interview with Tavis, Rourke talks about always believing he'd get his life back but never realizing it'd take so long.
In the end, Rourke is just an actor returning to the top of a glamorous world. Nonetheless, I'm intrigued, as I usually am with people like him. Besides loving his story of redemption, I'm fascinated by people who run away from their "God-given talent" in the first place. In so many ways, I admire the human spirit that becomes so petrified of "stable life" that it does everything in its power to avoid it. Bumps, bruises, and emotional pitfalls take the stage, just so that person can continue experiencing the thrill of jumping off cliffs and having no clue how his or her story may end.
Having said all of this, there is a potentially depressing reality of running from talent - the chance one never regains it and simply fades into oblivion. But maybe that's just life.
PS - You can catch interview here - http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200903/20090302.html
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