Strokes In Beantown

This past weekend I did something new and (I think) cool ... I went to Boston for the Head Of The Charles but this time instead of just being drunk and/or hungover and watching from the shore, I actually participated. I rowed. All 3 miles of winding, chaos. It was pretty great.

My club got the entry via lottery and the lineup wasn't decided upon until pretty late so we only had about 3 weeks together to get ready. We were in the Club 4+ and it was competitive. Competitive as in powerhouse college crews, former national team members, teams from "across the pond", etc. Anyway, we came in 40th out of 55. Not great numbers but we were happy with our performance considering the minimal prep time, the level of competition and our rookie nerves. We beat 15 boats. At an international competition. That's nothing to cry about. If we do it again, we'll know what to expect and I imagine we'll pick up the training a bit. A good starting point was established and much fun was had.

And Saturday night involved quite a bit of drinking. Something we are well trained in. There was even some karaoke. Embarrassing.

So there you go. Head Of The Charles. See you next year, Boston. Hopefully on the water rather than shore.

Oh, and I saw two things that I liked:

First, this awesome billboard ... when do you ever see anything defending animal testing? Never. Plus leprosy is always funny:


Next, an apartment building I someday wish to reside in. So delicious!:

Mmmmmm, chambers ...

NJ and PA and Me

As you may have pieced together from my porta-potty photo in the previous post, I was in New Jersey this past weekend. I was down at the south end, by Philadelphia, in Cherry Hill/Camden to be exact, for the USRowing Masters National Championships.

As it turns out, I'm not a champion, but in one race I was in my boat did come in third. So I'm a second runner up champion I guess. Or something like that.

Unexpectedly I saw a celebrity while there. A celebrity at a rowing event? And in NJ? That's like a doubly impossible act. Despite the odds, it was Jane Lynch. Apparently a fan of rowing. Or at least a fan of one particular rower. This sighting adds to my list of Arrested Development cast members that I have seen at random. They're just regular people! Just like me. The list is now Jane Lynch (Cindi Lightballoon), Tony Hale (Buster) who I saw in LA, David Cross (Tobias) who I saw in a bar in NYC and Judy Greer (Kitty) who I saw in a Starbucks in NYC. I don't know what this has to do with anything really. I'm not really even that into TV or celebrities, but I guess it's difficult to not be somewhat intrigued.


Also on my day off from rowing (Saturday) I ventured into Philadelphia for a whirlwind tourist venture. I hit up the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Boathouse Row, ran the "Rocky Steps" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and finished it all off with a stop at Geno's for a cheesesteak (which, for the record, led to some intestinal issues later). It was all very American to say the least. U-S-A! U-S-A!

I Gets Tired

So I've been rowing again this summer. Last year it was just a once a week thing with the occasional workout on the side. Although our boat was sort of competitive it was more of a social thing than anything else. I met some cool people and got in better shape and I guess sort of rekindled my love/hate relationship with the sport after a 13 absence.

So this year I upped the love/hate and joined a competitive group. Same boathouse, just different coaching and attitudes. It's been three days a week this year, with expectations of additional workouts the rest of the week. We have a big race coming up next weekend so this week the intensity has picked up. Here's how my week has gone:

Monday: hit the ergs for an indoor workout after work
Tuesday: evening practice at 6:15pm
Wednesday: morning practice at 5:30am and then soccer game at 10pm (I know that's not rowing, but it adds to the exhaustion)
Thursday (today): evening practice at 6:15pm
then
Friday: off
Saturday: morning practice at 8:15am

Also, I should note that on top of the above I've also ridden my bike to work/practice every day. So it's been a lot of working out, but it's also been more difficult workouts. Plus work has been busy and I have a lot of shit on my mind so I'm pretty beat. Physically and mentally. Here comes Mr. Crazy!

I don't really know where I was going with all of that, other than to complain that I am tired. Oh, take a look at my hand:
The photo doesn't really do it total justice. It's pretty gross. Blisters and torn blisters and calluses. The base of each finger and then one or two spots on each finger. That's what happens when wood and skin and moisture clash. Skin seems to lose.

Sexy!

And I sign up for and pay for this. As I said, Love/Hate.

Non-Human Sights

This is going to seem like it's from out of nowhere as I haven't posted anything in so long, but sometimes I enjoy Cleveland for its nature. Nature? Well, there isn't a ton right where I live, but it's certainly way more than when I lived in Manhattan. Or Brooklyn.

Tonight I was rowing (I've been rowing again) on the Cuyahoga and in the two hours I was out there I saw two rabbits, seagulls, one great blue heron, one woodchuck, sparrows, and a couple of fish (alive even). I'm sure all of those are around NYC, but I never saw them. Well maybe the sparrows and seagulls, but whatever. Don't rain on my parade. Anyway, the point is I like seeing non-human life. Especially along a river that has been written off as a burning joke for so long.

Keep making your come back, Crooked River.

It's All About Form

Speaking of rowing ... I hate rowing machines aka ergs. Always have. BUT if I could be on one next to this I might feel more tolerant and motivated.

photo from CrossFit

Sunday Boozy Sunday

Last night I went to a party with my fellow rowers at the house of one of the coaches. It was actually pretty cool. Good food, decent music, air hockey, pool and of course much of the drinky drink. I got pretty banged up. Then I walked home via the train tracks. It's really quite perfect. Plenty of places to pee, no drunk drivers or drunk walkers, and plenty of rocks to throw and/or trip over. Plus who doesn't like the thrill of possibly having a train rocket by you at 2am.

I woke up early because these same rowers were having a workout session in the park by my apartment at 9:15am. Always the early morning shit with this sport. So annoying. Anyway, I walk over and there is only one person from my boat there. She's curled up in a ball on the grass, all pale as hell and praying for death. First class hangover. Four others showed up too, all feeling rather crappy. We worked out, but it was pretty half-assed. We then went to breakfast. This seemed to go better than the exercise part.

We're going to be a dream team for sure.

Another Week Gone By

Again with the lack of consistent updates. I know, I know.

Anyway, this past week was pretty fun. Monday I went to see my boys from my old stomping ground, the New York Yankees play my new stomping ground's Cleveland Indians. Tickets were a birthday present making it even better. Despite it was pretty chilly out and there was some sloppy playing by both sides, the Yankees pulled out a win which was pretty sweet. Making all this even sweeter was the fact that some random guy comes up to me at the bar before the game and asked if I wanted to upgrade my ticket. I, of course, am suspicious of anything that seems too good to be true. I told the guy that the tickets I had were pretty good (not a lie) but he said, "Look, these are right behind homeplate. Here, take 'em." So I did. And he wasn't lying. Five rows back, right behind the plate. Pretty sick. I bought the guy a beer, but other than that it really was a totally free upgrade. WTF? That kind of thing never happens to me. So, thanks for the tickets mystery guy. It was appreciated.

The day after the game I went to see spaz rockers (did I just make up a new genre?), Mindless Self Indulgence at The Agora. Pretty cool venue. Sold out too, so it was full to the brim with the odd mix of punks, goths, rockers and ravers that MSI seems to attract. A good time was had by all. I even picked myself up a poster that I plan on getting framed (someday).

Last night I went to a dos de mayo party at a co-workers apartment. Also pretty fun. Drinks, snacks, drinking games, music, stories about whitewater rafting and high school football douchebags, etc.

Tonight I have another cinco de mayoish party with my newly established rowing peeps. I'm bringing some mac and cheese and people better fucking like it because it's the shit.

Playing Catch Up aka Recaping The Week

I can see this blogging isn't quite flowing like it used to. Well, I warned you.

So let's see ... what's been going on?

Friday was pretty non-eventful. Some Chinese food, some TV and early bed.

Saturday was a full day. I got up in the morning and jumped on my bike and carted my ass down to the mighty Cuyahoga where I did an introductory class for the rowing league that I signed up for. 7:30am to 2:30pm. It's a lot of introductory action going on. Anyway, the class was mostly people who have never rowed before. I have already been trained and beaten by the sport back in my college years so I know what I'm doing although am out of practice and about 25 or 30 pounds heavier than I was back then. Obviously there is always more to learn (especially when it comes to me) but around people who have never had their ass in a shell or touched an oar, I look pretty awesome. So the day went well. Some introductions to the club, some safety stuff, a tour of the boathouse, some overviews of rowing, some time on the ergs and then some time on the water. At the end of it all, one of the coxswains and one of the more experienced rowers that was helping out with the day asked if I'd like to be in a more competitive boat rather than flailing around with novices. I reluctantly said "yes." I figure if I'm going to do this I should get more than a tour of the riverbanks, right? Hopefully I won't regret this move. There is already talk of workouts and training and sweating. Part of me thinks this sounds good but the other part of me thinks this is exactly what I happily said goodbye to back in May of 1995. It's that love/hate routine that I have with rowing ... with all things really. Anyway, it should make for some entertainment and/or torture so I'm giving it a go.

Oh, and my shoulder wasn't actually bothered much by the rowing. Odd. My shoulder still hurts from my little fall, but only seems to bother me when I sleep on it or pick up things with my arm at an odd angle. Rowing, biking, running and most other things are OK. I'm thinking that is a good sign. Maybe I'll heal without having to go to some wacky Cleveland witch doctor.

Saturday night was out for a birthday celebration. For me. Sunday I turned the big 3-5. Ouch. Anyway, a whole bunch of my co-workers went to a bar and did what we always do at bars. Drink. There was some pool and darts too, but mostly everybody stuck with what they do best which is drinking. Nothing too crazy, but it was fun. Much better than last year, that's for sure. Now I'm old enough to run for President so get your petitions ready and I'll get practicing my handshaking and my laying down bullshit 24/7.

This week has been pretty average, but I did go see a jazz show at Brothers Lounge on Wednesday and out for some eats, drinks and Cavs watching tonight.

Nothing major planned for the weekend at this point, but Monday I'm going to see my Yankees play the Tribe and Tuesday it's Mindless Self Indulgence (I've got an extra ticket to MSI if you want to go).

That's all for now. I'll try to update a little more frequently, but no promises.