Recently, an old friend of mine had a comment to make about this esteemed blog:
"You must have a lot of time on your hands to talk about everything that's right and wrong in this world. The 'Four Pillars of Manhood?' Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not going off on your blog, I'm just saying . . . ."
I'll let those words speak for themselves, and withhold judgment. Of course, this old friend got the title wrong, but "I'm just saying."
However, that comment really did make me think -- do I really have too much time on my hands? In response, the other side of brain woke up and said, "Doubtful. Not with the responsibilities I have at work. Not with the time I put in training for yet another marathon. Not with the time I spend visiting friends, meeting new people, etc. Too much time on my hands? That's nothing more than an old Styx tune!"
You know what, the issue isn't really how much, or how little time we have. It's how we use that time. Do we run the clock out, or do we milk it. Do we try to beat the clock, or do we let it just pass us by?
Many of us have careers that just don't fit into a Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 schedule. Sometimes we have to get to the office early, sometimes we have to stay late. Sometimes we have to go in on weekends, sometimes we have to work from home. If we're focused enough on the job at hand, it shouldn't matter how much time is put into it, but it should matter that we get the job done, and that it's done right. If anything, I've found that putting in some extra time, just to make sure it's right, is a pretty satisfying experience. Maybe not like winning the whole ball game, but you definitely put "mas puntos" on the board!
That being said, you can't make a job, or a career, your whole life. We're equipped to function normally if we're awake only 16 out of 24 hours every day. We usually have friends and loved ones who miss us when we say we're "too busy," and appreciate us all the more when they're given top billing on our schedule. And if they really matter, you'll make the time for them, even if you have XYZ to do, and it must be done today!
And of course, if we're too busy to make time for some form of exercise, whether it's hitting the weights, burning up the roads, mixed martial arts or even tai chi, we regret it. Big time. Even if you have to work 12 hours a day, if you can't find time to blow off that steam, level off that stress, or just close the door and chillax for a while, you're harming yourself tremendously.
Take me, for example. My job gives me huge responsibilities that require large amounts of time, but I still make time to run. If I'm lucky, I give myself three mornings a week for speed work or tempo runs, and then a long run on the weekend. And not to toot my own horn (don't lie Dave, yes it is), but I enjoyed the fruits of that labor this morning when I ran a 1:44:33 half marathon in 20 degrees. Of course, I needed to take even more time to get up early this morning to make the 8am starting time, but it was more than worth it. As many of us runners know, (a) early morning races leave you the rest of the day to use productively; and (b) the "runner's high" that we all get after running that far is our secret weapon in life. That's why so many runners are basically happy people, and a lot less likely to get agitated or annoyed at life's little annoyances. Don't get me wrong, we still know they're annoying, we're not the Dalai Lama for cryin' out tears, but we know that getting upset over them would (say it with me, peeps) waste time, and energy, when we could simply keep our chill intact and simply handle life.
And this esteemed blog? Truth be told, peeps, this most enjoyable hobby of mine takes no more than one hour a week. And that's including the video. It doesn't take hours or days to be aware of what's up in the world, or what's up in someone's mind. It just takes a brief interval to transfer it all from brain to keyboard, and a nanosecond to publish it.
So, people, as another exciting work week begins, let's try to use our time, as much or as little of it as we have, productively.
And don't forget, another gift-giving holiday approaches -- I'll comment on the significant of that day, or possible lack thereof, later.
This blog is meant for the advancement, redemption, and self actualization of those who have not been taught how to properly manage their emotions, and have suffered due to this lack of information. While we in no way defend those who have harmed us, we also do not make ourselves triggered and manipulated by people and things we cannot control. Through the application of the Eight Pillars, we can move forward and become the strong, unflappable, respectable people we were meant to be.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Two Races
Good Evening All!
Those of us on the Eastern Seaboard have now battened down our hatches for the second hurricane in two years. However, as I write, there are no gale-force winds, driving rain, or gigantic hailstones. Call it reverse Murphy's Law -- when you're Prepared to the teeth for something, it either does not happen or is revealed to be non-threatening. It's when you're NOT prepared for it that it bites you in the haunches! Either way, I've stocked up for a storm, and have been assured that the MTA subways have been shut down until further notice. We await news of its reopening . . . .
Next week, we'll be treated to two races. One is crucial for the athlete in all of us, and one is even more crucial to the future of our country.
A week from today, I will have completed my 7th NYC Marathon. Unlike other years, when I've trained with a group in Central Park two nights a week and once every weekend, I've gone it alone. I used the official 20-week NYRR training program and used it with the MapMyRun app on my phone.
While there may be those who think social media has gone too far, enabling us to track our very movements at any time, I respectfully disagreed. Every time I've posted my training results, even when I thought I wasn't at my best, there was always somebody giving me a thumbs-up. It's just a little blip on a screen, a rendering of someone's name, a small helping of bits and bytes, but it's a good thing to see.
Our sport thrives on encouragement and positive reinforcement. It is through these constant reminders that mere novices are able to gain enough strength and speed to transform their bodies in ways not thought possible. It is also through these constant reminders that those who may already have some experience in this sport can still rise to yet another level. So to all my friends, family, acquaintances, confidantes, and otherwise important people, I'd like to thank you in advance for all the likes and comments. You helped me raise my game this year, and I hope to convert that into a PR next week.
Aaaaand then there's that other race, which will end two days after the fun one. Yes, the 2012 Presidential Election will finally be delivered to us, the voters, to elect our leaders as can only be done in a democratic republic such as ours. It's not a day heralded by parades and fireworks, but it is the most important American holiday, second only to Thanksgiving. In other parts of the world, even to this day, criticism is squashed, dissent is eliminated, and opposition results in death or torture. Yet here in America, our forebears granted to us the right to select our leaders to govern as we see best, and to elect new leaders if those initially elected cannot succeed. Or, on the other hand, where the applicable constitution or charter allows, we can re-elect those leaders who have succeeded.
This election will go down in history as one of the most high-conflict, polarizing, and downright ugly elections ever seen. It pitted two opposite visions of America against each other, and exposed some damning weaknesses on both sides, leading many to lose confidence in the system I praised above. And through the magic of social media, it has pitted these opposing visions of America against each other with fire and venom not seen since the 1860's (this is meant for dramatic effect, I'm sure there were other eras with more conflict, I just don't leave myself enough editing time to be sure).
But when the final ballot is tabulated, a winner is declared, and a loser concedes, I can only hope that we turn our thoughts to a united America. I can only hope that those who support the winning candidate can limit their celebrations to one day following the election, and then a little bit more on Inauguration Day, and then turn their attention to the fulfillment of all campaign promises and/or logical and cogent explanations as to why they cannot be fulfilled, and what can be done instead. I can also hope that those who support the losing candidate can graciously put their angry rhetoric to the side and focus on what can still be done to ensure that their interests can still be represented with respect and civility towards our democratically-elected leader.
Shocking as it may seem, it's actually easier to run 26.2 miles than it is for us as Americans to set differences aside for the sake of our national interests. Maybe we could learn from this election how sticking to party lines and engaging in groupthink prevents our nation from moving forward, and make more attempts to avoid this four years from now.
That's my peace, all. My thoughts and prayers are for the continued safety of everyone who may be in Hurricane Sandy's path. Stay safe!
Those of us on the Eastern Seaboard have now battened down our hatches for the second hurricane in two years. However, as I write, there are no gale-force winds, driving rain, or gigantic hailstones. Call it reverse Murphy's Law -- when you're Prepared to the teeth for something, it either does not happen or is revealed to be non-threatening. It's when you're NOT prepared for it that it bites you in the haunches! Either way, I've stocked up for a storm, and have been assured that the MTA subways have been shut down until further notice. We await news of its reopening . . . .
Next week, we'll be treated to two races. One is crucial for the athlete in all of us, and one is even more crucial to the future of our country.
A week from today, I will have completed my 7th NYC Marathon. Unlike other years, when I've trained with a group in Central Park two nights a week and once every weekend, I've gone it alone. I used the official 20-week NYRR training program and used it with the MapMyRun app on my phone.
While there may be those who think social media has gone too far, enabling us to track our very movements at any time, I respectfully disagreed. Every time I've posted my training results, even when I thought I wasn't at my best, there was always somebody giving me a thumbs-up. It's just a little blip on a screen, a rendering of someone's name, a small helping of bits and bytes, but it's a good thing to see.
Our sport thrives on encouragement and positive reinforcement. It is through these constant reminders that mere novices are able to gain enough strength and speed to transform their bodies in ways not thought possible. It is also through these constant reminders that those who may already have some experience in this sport can still rise to yet another level. So to all my friends, family, acquaintances, confidantes, and otherwise important people, I'd like to thank you in advance for all the likes and comments. You helped me raise my game this year, and I hope to convert that into a PR next week.
Aaaaand then there's that other race, which will end two days after the fun one. Yes, the 2012 Presidential Election will finally be delivered to us, the voters, to elect our leaders as can only be done in a democratic republic such as ours. It's not a day heralded by parades and fireworks, but it is the most important American holiday, second only to Thanksgiving. In other parts of the world, even to this day, criticism is squashed, dissent is eliminated, and opposition results in death or torture. Yet here in America, our forebears granted to us the right to select our leaders to govern as we see best, and to elect new leaders if those initially elected cannot succeed. Or, on the other hand, where the applicable constitution or charter allows, we can re-elect those leaders who have succeeded.
This election will go down in history as one of the most high-conflict, polarizing, and downright ugly elections ever seen. It pitted two opposite visions of America against each other, and exposed some damning weaknesses on both sides, leading many to lose confidence in the system I praised above. And through the magic of social media, it has pitted these opposing visions of America against each other with fire and venom not seen since the 1860's (this is meant for dramatic effect, I'm sure there were other eras with more conflict, I just don't leave myself enough editing time to be sure).
But when the final ballot is tabulated, a winner is declared, and a loser concedes, I can only hope that we turn our thoughts to a united America. I can only hope that those who support the winning candidate can limit their celebrations to one day following the election, and then a little bit more on Inauguration Day, and then turn their attention to the fulfillment of all campaign promises and/or logical and cogent explanations as to why they cannot be fulfilled, and what can be done instead. I can also hope that those who support the losing candidate can graciously put their angry rhetoric to the side and focus on what can still be done to ensure that their interests can still be represented with respect and civility towards our democratically-elected leader.
Shocking as it may seem, it's actually easier to run 26.2 miles than it is for us as Americans to set differences aside for the sake of our national interests. Maybe we could learn from this election how sticking to party lines and engaging in groupthink prevents our nation from moving forward, and make more attempts to avoid this four years from now.
That's my peace, all. My thoughts and prayers are for the continued safety of everyone who may be in Hurricane Sandy's path. Stay safe!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The Show On The Road
Hi All!
Today was my latest travel race -- the Buffalo Half Marathon. Saw the sights of a city and region I'd never been before.
There was a 7am start, not too bad. Everyone made their way through the center of town to Pearl Street, a few blocks away from Niagara Square the familiar art-deco sight of Buffalo City Hall. I had my fuel belt carrying two flasks of red Gatorade -- I would have preferred the blue, which my father affectionately called "Romulan ale," but the red always does in a pinch. Fruit punch flavor is the best by default.
For the pre-race ceremonies, an honor guard stood at attention as we were treated to the inventive stylings of a female vocalist who sang O Canada (we are right near the Peace Bridge, of course) and The Star Spangled Banner. To keep us on our toes, she would shift octaves and keys when least expected. My thing is to hum the bass harmony to our national anthem whenever it is sung at a live event, but this one got me a little distracted. Now that I think about it, she kind of did her own bass harmony! :)
And then the race began! It took us down Pearl Street, through Niagara Square, up Niagara Street, then hang a left towards the water, and we began a grand tour of some choice lakeside real estate. Everyone came out of their condos and duplexes to cheer us on, giving me that old Brooklyn Fourth Avenue feeling. Always magical!
We then headed towards a turnaround at the Erie Basin Marina. Somewhere between Mile 5 and Mile 6, I caught sight of one of my blue-camouflaged teammates running the other way. We high-fived, shouted encouragements, and kept on going. The other side of my brain then woke me up and said:
"Hey Allweiss, you know she's going faster than you, right?"
Yeah, obviously. That's why she's on that side of the road.
"You're not gonna let that phase you, are you? You know I'm just saying, that's all."
Of course. Didn't I just preach the gospel of pacing oneself last night?
"K. Just keep it going dude."
And so I did. The timer at the 5K mark read 55 minutes and since the starting gun. Although I was running without my less-than-trust Garmin, I did my own math and decided that I was running slightly faster than a 9-minute pace.
I would eventually see them all on the course at one point or another. The face-to-face opposite-direction sightings would increase as we headed down Ohio Street, over some unexpectedly steep bridges and overpasses, onto Outer Harbor Drive. The race became decidedly uncomfortable at this point, yet we all persevered. Although it became somewhat more difficult to stick to, I forced myself to hydrate from my Gatorade flasks once every two miles, no matter what.
As luck would have it, I did have just enough left in the tank. At Mile 12, I unconsciously put up the "1" sign, since there was only one mile left. At the 20K mark (12.4 miles), the timer read 1:44 since the starting gun -- just had to muscle my way through.
Ahhh, the finish line! I felt that sense of relief that can only come with ceasing running after an extended period of time -- downed a bottle of water and finished the Gatorade, and shuffled over to the sidelines to engage in what some would consider an even more important part of the race -- cheering for all teammates who would cross the finish line afterwards. One by one, two by two, they all made it in. As they approached the finish line, they all had that look of sheer determination that baffles non-runners, but is only too familiar to and expected from our people.
I then took a gander at the post-race jam happening upstairs in the convention center. Pizza and beer were available -- you know, real runner's food! :) Hey hell, we all burned so many calories today, why not? While there, I saw what appeared to be every one's gun and chip times, and brought down a few beers for the team.
And then it was time to say good bye to the Queen City and return to Queens. It feels like a big city and a small town at the same time, and that's not bad. I'd like to return to this place again, and make it a longer stay. Since I'm doing NYC this year, this was a good way to shake off whatever cobwebs had materialized in the past few months and get ready for what I hope to be a sub-4 hour time.
DISCLAIMER: I earlier misquoted my time to my people -- in my slightly-buzzed state, I reported what was actually my age-graded time, and not my chip time. My chip time was actually 1:53:23, averaging an 8:39 pace.
FURTHER DISCLAIMER: I'm still not sure if she finished ahead of me. The times speak for themselves, but it doesn't matter who was faster than the other. That's the beauty of running - the only opponent you really compete with is yourself.
Good night all -- a Memorial Day post for the troops is coming your way tomorrow!
Today was my latest travel race -- the Buffalo Half Marathon. Saw the sights of a city and region I'd never been before.
There was a 7am start, not too bad. Everyone made their way through the center of town to Pearl Street, a few blocks away from Niagara Square the familiar art-deco sight of Buffalo City Hall. I had my fuel belt carrying two flasks of red Gatorade -- I would have preferred the blue, which my father affectionately called "Romulan ale," but the red always does in a pinch. Fruit punch flavor is the best by default.
For the pre-race ceremonies, an honor guard stood at attention as we were treated to the inventive stylings of a female vocalist who sang O Canada (we are right near the Peace Bridge, of course) and The Star Spangled Banner. To keep us on our toes, she would shift octaves and keys when least expected. My thing is to hum the bass harmony to our national anthem whenever it is sung at a live event, but this one got me a little distracted. Now that I think about it, she kind of did her own bass harmony! :)
And then the race began! It took us down Pearl Street, through Niagara Square, up Niagara Street, then hang a left towards the water, and we began a grand tour of some choice lakeside real estate. Everyone came out of their condos and duplexes to cheer us on, giving me that old Brooklyn Fourth Avenue feeling. Always magical!
We then headed towards a turnaround at the Erie Basin Marina. Somewhere between Mile 5 and Mile 6, I caught sight of one of my blue-camouflaged teammates running the other way. We high-fived, shouted encouragements, and kept on going. The other side of my brain then woke me up and said:
"Hey Allweiss, you know she's going faster than you, right?"
Yeah, obviously. That's why she's on that side of the road.
"You're not gonna let that phase you, are you? You know I'm just saying, that's all."
Of course. Didn't I just preach the gospel of pacing oneself last night?
"K. Just keep it going dude."
And so I did. The timer at the 5K mark read 55 minutes and since the starting gun. Although I was running without my less-than-trust Garmin, I did my own math and decided that I was running slightly faster than a 9-minute pace.
I would eventually see them all on the course at one point or another. The face-to-face opposite-direction sightings would increase as we headed down Ohio Street, over some unexpectedly steep bridges and overpasses, onto Outer Harbor Drive. The race became decidedly uncomfortable at this point, yet we all persevered. Although it became somewhat more difficult to stick to, I forced myself to hydrate from my Gatorade flasks once every two miles, no matter what.
As luck would have it, I did have just enough left in the tank. At Mile 12, I unconsciously put up the "1" sign, since there was only one mile left. At the 20K mark (12.4 miles), the timer read 1:44 since the starting gun -- just had to muscle my way through.
Ahhh, the finish line! I felt that sense of relief that can only come with ceasing running after an extended period of time -- downed a bottle of water and finished the Gatorade, and shuffled over to the sidelines to engage in what some would consider an even more important part of the race -- cheering for all teammates who would cross the finish line afterwards. One by one, two by two, they all made it in. As they approached the finish line, they all had that look of sheer determination that baffles non-runners, but is only too familiar to and expected from our people.
I then took a gander at the post-race jam happening upstairs in the convention center. Pizza and beer were available -- you know, real runner's food! :) Hey hell, we all burned so many calories today, why not? While there, I saw what appeared to be every one's gun and chip times, and brought down a few beers for the team.
And then it was time to say good bye to the Queen City and return to Queens. It feels like a big city and a small town at the same time, and that's not bad. I'd like to return to this place again, and make it a longer stay. Since I'm doing NYC this year, this was a good way to shake off whatever cobwebs had materialized in the past few months and get ready for what I hope to be a sub-4 hour time.
DISCLAIMER: I earlier misquoted my time to my people -- in my slightly-buzzed state, I reported what was actually my age-graded time, and not my chip time. My chip time was actually 1:53:23, averaging an 8:39 pace.
FURTHER DISCLAIMER: I'm still not sure if she finished ahead of me. The times speak for themselves, but it doesn't matter who was faster than the other. That's the beauty of running - the only opponent you really compete with is yourself.
Good night all -- a Memorial Day post for the troops is coming your way tomorrow!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
New Places And Faces
Hey All --
This weekend I discovered new running territory -- Forest Park in Queens, New York. This beautiful spot of nature nudged between Brooklyn and Queens has major hills and amazing scenery, and at the center of it all is Victory Park, a 400-meter track perfect for speed work.
There is a group that meets there Saturday and Sunday mornings at 8am to run. Next week's mission is to join them for a group training run. This weekend, I took the opportunity to get acquainted with "the lay of the land" on my own in the afternoon -- what a treat! And it's not even three blocks away from my apartment! Can't beat that with a stick . . . .
Oh yeah, that reminds me -- now that I've gotten my new credit card, replacing the one that is expiring, I finally made good on my guaranteed entry for the 2012 NYC Marathon. This year I'm gonna make it happen and break that elusive four-hour mark, something I've only been able to do at out-of-town races. I'll keep you all posted on my progress, which may include a visit to places north of NYC -- way north!
Also, as many of you will see, I've gotten reacquainted with my webcam, and been tooling around with the Hangout feature on Google Plus. Basically, it's like the chatrooms on AOL, but with video instead of text. Obviously still a few degrees below in-person socialization, but it still requires us to watch how we act, and not only what we say.
So, the rest of my entry will be on the video embed I'm about to post, just to see if I can speak to you all as well as I can write. Ahhh, the memories of the WTOP news are flooding back to me . . . .
Good night, don't forget to comment!
This weekend I discovered new running territory -- Forest Park in Queens, New York. This beautiful spot of nature nudged between Brooklyn and Queens has major hills and amazing scenery, and at the center of it all is Victory Park, a 400-meter track perfect for speed work.
There is a group that meets there Saturday and Sunday mornings at 8am to run. Next week's mission is to join them for a group training run. This weekend, I took the opportunity to get acquainted with "the lay of the land" on my own in the afternoon -- what a treat! And it's not even three blocks away from my apartment! Can't beat that with a stick . . . .
Oh yeah, that reminds me -- now that I've gotten my new credit card, replacing the one that is expiring, I finally made good on my guaranteed entry for the 2012 NYC Marathon. This year I'm gonna make it happen and break that elusive four-hour mark, something I've only been able to do at out-of-town races. I'll keep you all posted on my progress, which may include a visit to places north of NYC -- way north!
Also, as many of you will see, I've gotten reacquainted with my webcam, and been tooling around with the Hangout feature on Google Plus. Basically, it's like the chatrooms on AOL, but with video instead of text. Obviously still a few degrees below in-person socialization, but it still requires us to watch how we act, and not only what we say.
So, the rest of my entry will be on the video embed I'm about to post, just to see if I can speak to you all as well as I can write. Ahhh, the memories of the WTOP news are flooding back to me . . . .
Good night, don't forget to comment!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Not Just The Big Game!
Hey All --
Sorry I missed my usual Sunday night spot. However, I spent that night at the home of my friends on Long Island, hanging with their kids, and watching the Super Bowl. In all the post-game euphoria, as well as my trip home to get ready for work the next day, I just couldn't really sling it together.
But I can share with you a few scenes from that Super Bowl weekend that made me smile. First, I'm proud of my godson's older brother! The day of the Super Bowl, both boys went to the high school track to let off a little steam -- the kid is 7 1/2 years old, and he ran 2 miles around the track without stopping! Unreal! As it happened, the high school track coach was in the vicinity and came over to his mom to compliment her on her son's perfect form! He suggested that she have him run every day, so that by the time he hits 9th grade, he can go out for the team!!!!
You know that seals the deal for me -- say what you want about Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Mario Manningham, that weekend this kid was athlete of the year to me!
Another scene that made me smile was an attempt to do something slightly uncomfortable to make a child happy. My godson received as a present from a well-meaning relative a model roller-coaster kit. This thing, when finished, would measure six feet by six feet, had a motor, would be the envy of all who saw it or played with it. Essentially, it was a model train set taken to the next level!
While this would be played with by children ages newborn to 7 1/2 years, it was meant to be assembled by ages 10+ -- with a degree in engineering! The three grown men in the house who tried to follow the directions step by step found themselves stymied not by what they said, but what they didn't say. While we were smart to build this device in sections, the directions had absolutely NO EXPLANATION how these sections would all come together. In fact, part of these directions told us to build portions of the roller coaster incorrectly. This led our faithful band, two of whom were familiar with the concepts of construction and wiring, down the path of oblivion, leaving us with a scarier feeling than the steepest roller coaster drop. I myself was left to wonder why, if I had legs sturdy enough to carry me 26 miles, I felt as sore as I did kneeling on the floor while navigating this infrastructure.
In the end, the call of game-time caused us to halt construction on our mini-scream machine before it could be finished. However, we promised our young charges that we'd finish it for them another time. A lesson to carry with me whenever I reproduce my progeny -- part of fatherhood necessarily includes putting things together that make no sense for the sake of children's happiness. I would feel even greater happiness later knowing that Gisele Bundchen would not take us to task for not finishing the job.
Last but not least, was my favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday -- explaining the game of football to my father. G-D bless him, the man is the anti-sports fan! He came from a generation that thought sports was a waste of time, and so never picked up the difference between a two-point conversion and a third-down conversion. So every year, this would be my time to teach him the basic fundamentals of the game -- no, kicking it through the uprights is not a "hat trick," and he didn't score a "home run" when he reached the end zone, and there is no "free throw!" This year I called him at halftime to keep the tradition going.
And so was the way I spent the un-official American holiday of Super Bowl Sunday -- with a bunch of good friends, young and old. I ingested and imbibed a large amount of food and drink that would melt my insides if it were my normal diet. I felt young again the way only kids can make you feel young again. And even though I remain a proud Jets fan, it still felt good to see the Giants win. Now all Rex and the boys have to do is put in a season just like that.
So now, as we enter the dead zone of the professional sports calendar -- spring training weeks away, hockey and basketball playoffs months away, and no clue what happens with soccer -- it's better to let other pursuits grab our attention. I'll be back to my normal Sunday night jam, and I'll look for those who like this blog to keep on commenting, including this "Anonymous" person, whomever he or she might be! ;)
As I advance towards this year's NYC Marathon, I'll be sharing my progress as I seek a PR in the Super Bowl of running! More inspirational posts to follow . . . .
Sorry I missed my usual Sunday night spot. However, I spent that night at the home of my friends on Long Island, hanging with their kids, and watching the Super Bowl. In all the post-game euphoria, as well as my trip home to get ready for work the next day, I just couldn't really sling it together.
But I can share with you a few scenes from that Super Bowl weekend that made me smile. First, I'm proud of my godson's older brother! The day of the Super Bowl, both boys went to the high school track to let off a little steam -- the kid is 7 1/2 years old, and he ran 2 miles around the track without stopping! Unreal! As it happened, the high school track coach was in the vicinity and came over to his mom to compliment her on her son's perfect form! He suggested that she have him run every day, so that by the time he hits 9th grade, he can go out for the team!!!!
You know that seals the deal for me -- say what you want about Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Mario Manningham, that weekend this kid was athlete of the year to me!
Another scene that made me smile was an attempt to do something slightly uncomfortable to make a child happy. My godson received as a present from a well-meaning relative a model roller-coaster kit. This thing, when finished, would measure six feet by six feet, had a motor, would be the envy of all who saw it or played with it. Essentially, it was a model train set taken to the next level!
While this would be played with by children ages newborn to 7 1/2 years, it was meant to be assembled by ages 10+ -- with a degree in engineering! The three grown men in the house who tried to follow the directions step by step found themselves stymied not by what they said, but what they didn't say. While we were smart to build this device in sections, the directions had absolutely NO EXPLANATION how these sections would all come together. In fact, part of these directions told us to build portions of the roller coaster incorrectly. This led our faithful band, two of whom were familiar with the concepts of construction and wiring, down the path of oblivion, leaving us with a scarier feeling than the steepest roller coaster drop. I myself was left to wonder why, if I had legs sturdy enough to carry me 26 miles, I felt as sore as I did kneeling on the floor while navigating this infrastructure.
In the end, the call of game-time caused us to halt construction on our mini-scream machine before it could be finished. However, we promised our young charges that we'd finish it for them another time. A lesson to carry with me whenever I reproduce my progeny -- part of fatherhood necessarily includes putting things together that make no sense for the sake of children's happiness. I would feel even greater happiness later knowing that Gisele Bundchen would not take us to task for not finishing the job.
Last but not least, was my favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday -- explaining the game of football to my father. G-D bless him, the man is the anti-sports fan! He came from a generation that thought sports was a waste of time, and so never picked up the difference between a two-point conversion and a third-down conversion. So every year, this would be my time to teach him the basic fundamentals of the game -- no, kicking it through the uprights is not a "hat trick," and he didn't score a "home run" when he reached the end zone, and there is no "free throw!" This year I called him at halftime to keep the tradition going.
And so was the way I spent the un-official American holiday of Super Bowl Sunday -- with a bunch of good friends, young and old. I ingested and imbibed a large amount of food and drink that would melt my insides if it were my normal diet. I felt young again the way only kids can make you feel young again. And even though I remain a proud Jets fan, it still felt good to see the Giants win. Now all Rex and the boys have to do is put in a season just like that.
So now, as we enter the dead zone of the professional sports calendar -- spring training weeks away, hockey and basketball playoffs months away, and no clue what happens with soccer -- it's better to let other pursuits grab our attention. I'll be back to my normal Sunday night jam, and I'll look for those who like this blog to keep on commenting, including this "Anonymous" person, whomever he or she might be! ;)
As I advance towards this year's NYC Marathon, I'll be sharing my progress as I seek a PR in the Super Bowl of running! More inspirational posts to follow . . . .
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Office Party!
I've been speaking about holiday traditions that I'm not a fan of, but this week, I'd like to discuss a tradition that has stood the test of time for those of us in the white-collar realm: The Office Xmas Party!
For five (or more) days every week, we see our co-workers out of necessity, when questions need answers and deadlines must be met. When stress is on the rise, and the bottom line is primary, it's not always fun and games like it is at Dunder Mifflin, I assure you. We got cases to win, cases to resolve, and clients to keep happy!
But all that changes once a year at the holiday party! That's our chance to knock back a few! To socialize with our clientele in a relaxed and easygoing setting. To live, baby live! And for some of us, to "bust a move" with no fear of embarrassment or repercussions!
Little disappointed that the DJ neglected to introduce my jam, "The Humpty Dance" by Digital Underground, into the mix, but I still managed. Would have been fun to ruin the image and style that you're used to -- and one of these years they'll add a karaoke machine, and I'll bring the old stylings of Humpty (a/k/a Shock G) to life!
So without the rap/club equivalent of "They Call Him The Streak" being played, I went into my techno trance. Not enough to turn heads, thank goodness, but enough to keep the rhythm going for hours on end!
Yes, your fearless blogger needed to cut loose. And once every blue moon it's OK to do with my co-workers. I consider them my teammates, my compadres, my brothers and sisters in arms. Although some may consider me the guru of my own self-governing fiefdom, I look to many of them for advice, and am never disappointed. So this camaraderie should naturally ascend to the next level of partying just as hard as we work!
So it filled me with some holiday cheer. So much that the next morning, on only 6 hours of sleep, I ran a 6-kilometer race in Brooklyn at a pace of 7:30 per mile. Who says that you can't carb up on Coors Light?
For five (or more) days every week, we see our co-workers out of necessity, when questions need answers and deadlines must be met. When stress is on the rise, and the bottom line is primary, it's not always fun and games like it is at Dunder Mifflin, I assure you. We got cases to win, cases to resolve, and clients to keep happy!
But all that changes once a year at the holiday party! That's our chance to knock back a few! To socialize with our clientele in a relaxed and easygoing setting. To live, baby live! And for some of us, to "bust a move" with no fear of embarrassment or repercussions!
Little disappointed that the DJ neglected to introduce my jam, "The Humpty Dance" by Digital Underground, into the mix, but I still managed. Would have been fun to ruin the image and style that you're used to -- and one of these years they'll add a karaoke machine, and I'll bring the old stylings of Humpty (a/k/a Shock G) to life!
So without the rap/club equivalent of "They Call Him The Streak" being played, I went into my techno trance. Not enough to turn heads, thank goodness, but enough to keep the rhythm going for hours on end!
Yes, your fearless blogger needed to cut loose. And once every blue moon it's OK to do with my co-workers. I consider them my teammates, my compadres, my brothers and sisters in arms. Although some may consider me the guru of my own self-governing fiefdom, I look to many of them for advice, and am never disappointed. So this camaraderie should naturally ascend to the next level of partying just as hard as we work!
So it filled me with some holiday cheer. So much that the next morning, on only 6 hours of sleep, I ran a 6-kilometer race in Brooklyn at a pace of 7:30 per mile. Who says that you can't carb up on Coors Light?
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Don't Hulk Out!
Of course, I'm not referring to the former WWF champion who told kids to "say their prayers and eat their vitamins," and threatened to have Hulkamania run wild on his opponents. I mean that brainchild of Stan Lee who turned into a green-skinned giant whenever he got angry!
Lately I've been talking about things that should make us angry, specifically bullies and the enablers who keep them around. The anger they inspire should manifest itself in action: to set boundaries, to grow backbones, to reject and condemn those who (still) expect to get away with it, and to eliminate it from our lives. But what if you're feeling anger for the same of anger, ranting for the sake of ranting, and hate for the sake of hate -- with no constructive purpose to use it for????
You're in trouble, that's what!
If you sit in a dark room by yourself, thinking only about things that make you angry, and don't do anything about it, you've introduced a parasite into your psyche. You have injected a tapeworm into your brain and allowed it to eat away at everything that would otherwise be healthy and positive. You have transformed your anger into resentment, which can kill you just like smoking or overeating can: it's a disgusting habit that slowly erodes everything good -- the difference being that smoking and overeating destroy the body, while resentment destroys your mind, your soul, and your personality.
Psychologists describe resentment as the result of suppressed or repressed anger. The only way to prevent resentment is to use it properly. It is a weapon meant to be used from a position of strength to make needed changes. It is not a crutch, it is not an excuse, and it is not permission for you to do or say things that hurt those who don't deserve it. If you think it is, you're putting your own psyche through a meat-grinder!
So what if you're someplace where you can't get rid of it at the moment? Keep thinking about it at that moment, you'll get distracted and sloppy, you'll lose your focus and your energy, and the source of your anger will (yet again) get off scot-free!
Being a long-distance runner, let me use the marathon as an example. The marathon is the ultimate endurance exercise for your body and your mind. You train your body by constant activity, putting it through the distance and time it will take to finish the rate. You also train your mind for the same thing. That means you visualize turning on your speed at Mile 18. That means you think about friends or family who will call at your name and hold up big signs on the course! And that means you DO NOT think about whether your time is too slow, whether you shut the oven off, whether you missed a deadline at work, or whether someone made you angry and you wish you could tell them off right then and there. And if ANY of those thoughts are creeping into your head, scuffing your shoes, or slowing your stride, TURN THEM OFF, OR YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF LIMPING TO THE FINISH LINE TOMORROW WHILE EVERYONE ELSE HAS GONE HOME!
In other words, tell yourself to "stop," and then for the next minute or two, don't think about anything. Maybe slow your pace to a jog while doing this, but whatever you need to do, get it out of your head. You're running a marathon, and that's not a time to be carrying excess baggage. Get your head in the race, and not up somewhere else! ;)
If those malcontents and jabroni's knew that you were giving them a piggy-back ride to the finish line, they'd probably laugh out loud because they won (again)! And if you're doing something else you like other than that, imagine how bad it would be giving them a free lunch, or a free hotel stay in your head. Thinking about anyone or anything that makes you mad while you're trying to do something that you enjoy is ridiculous. Once you're able to do something about it, you pull the trigger, but they don't get to have your thoughts when it's your time, and not them!
Don't misread me, I'm not saying that anger is better when it's repressed, far from it! What I'm saying is that your anger must be controlled, harnessed, and dominated, because IT WORKS FOR YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! When it's the wrong time, turn it off. When it's the right time, and you're using it the right way, then and only then, TURN IT ON AND GO DEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU decide when the anger comes out, and YOU decide when to keep it together. Times when the source of your anger is not present and not causing you trouble, directly or indirectly, is when you keep it together. Times that they are crossing a line, and they are talking trash, and they are expecting to perform yet another action without a consequence, DON'T HOLD BACK, MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you're mature, you pick your battles and the times you fight them, and not the other way around. It's your mind, it's your life, it's your manhood. Show them all who's boss and make them do their jobs right! You can't control all the gangsters in this world, but you can, and must, control you.
I'd like to thank two of my toughest critics for this one. Please feel free to comment!
Lately I've been talking about things that should make us angry, specifically bullies and the enablers who keep them around. The anger they inspire should manifest itself in action: to set boundaries, to grow backbones, to reject and condemn those who (still) expect to get away with it, and to eliminate it from our lives. But what if you're feeling anger for the same of anger, ranting for the sake of ranting, and hate for the sake of hate -- with no constructive purpose to use it for????
You're in trouble, that's what!
If you sit in a dark room by yourself, thinking only about things that make you angry, and don't do anything about it, you've introduced a parasite into your psyche. You have injected a tapeworm into your brain and allowed it to eat away at everything that would otherwise be healthy and positive. You have transformed your anger into resentment, which can kill you just like smoking or overeating can: it's a disgusting habit that slowly erodes everything good -- the difference being that smoking and overeating destroy the body, while resentment destroys your mind, your soul, and your personality.
Psychologists describe resentment as the result of suppressed or repressed anger. The only way to prevent resentment is to use it properly. It is a weapon meant to be used from a position of strength to make needed changes. It is not a crutch, it is not an excuse, and it is not permission for you to do or say things that hurt those who don't deserve it. If you think it is, you're putting your own psyche through a meat-grinder!
So what if you're someplace where you can't get rid of it at the moment? Keep thinking about it at that moment, you'll get distracted and sloppy, you'll lose your focus and your energy, and the source of your anger will (yet again) get off scot-free!
Being a long-distance runner, let me use the marathon as an example. The marathon is the ultimate endurance exercise for your body and your mind. You train your body by constant activity, putting it through the distance and time it will take to finish the rate. You also train your mind for the same thing. That means you visualize turning on your speed at Mile 18. That means you think about friends or family who will call at your name and hold up big signs on the course! And that means you DO NOT think about whether your time is too slow, whether you shut the oven off, whether you missed a deadline at work, or whether someone made you angry and you wish you could tell them off right then and there. And if ANY of those thoughts are creeping into your head, scuffing your shoes, or slowing your stride, TURN THEM OFF, OR YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF LIMPING TO THE FINISH LINE TOMORROW WHILE EVERYONE ELSE HAS GONE HOME!
In other words, tell yourself to "stop," and then for the next minute or two, don't think about anything. Maybe slow your pace to a jog while doing this, but whatever you need to do, get it out of your head. You're running a marathon, and that's not a time to be carrying excess baggage. Get your head in the race, and not up somewhere else! ;)
If those malcontents and jabroni's knew that you were giving them a piggy-back ride to the finish line, they'd probably laugh out loud because they won (again)! And if you're doing something else you like other than that, imagine how bad it would be giving them a free lunch, or a free hotel stay in your head. Thinking about anyone or anything that makes you mad while you're trying to do something that you enjoy is ridiculous. Once you're able to do something about it, you pull the trigger, but they don't get to have your thoughts when it's your time, and not them!
Don't misread me, I'm not saying that anger is better when it's repressed, far from it! What I'm saying is that your anger must be controlled, harnessed, and dominated, because IT WORKS FOR YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! When it's the wrong time, turn it off. When it's the right time, and you're using it the right way, then and only then, TURN IT ON AND GO DEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU decide when the anger comes out, and YOU decide when to keep it together. Times when the source of your anger is not present and not causing you trouble, directly or indirectly, is when you keep it together. Times that they are crossing a line, and they are talking trash, and they are expecting to perform yet another action without a consequence, DON'T HOLD BACK, MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you're mature, you pick your battles and the times you fight them, and not the other way around. It's your mind, it's your life, it's your manhood. Show them all who's boss and make them do their jobs right! You can't control all the gangsters in this world, but you can, and must, control you.
I'd like to thank two of my toughest critics for this one. Please feel free to comment!
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