Friday, August 7, 2009

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.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Round II

I'm back. Back in all of my minimal writing glory.

So the "stalker" issue was cleared up (see previous post). My paranoia is at an alarming level. As is my trust I guess considering all it takes is an anonymous someone to post a comment to make me feel comfortable about the situation. Anyway, I guess if this is going to be a functioning blog it shouldn't matter who reads it. Nobody, everybody, enemies, stalkers, whatever!

Another issue cleared up is my non-working modem. Piece of shit modem I should say. I bought it from AT&T when I signed up for their DSL service. Made by 2Wire. And it died. It's covered by some sort of warranty for 12 months but of course it decided to go all lights out on me at 15 months. How convenient. Anyway, I've got myself a new modem from Netgear and all the lights are flickering away. Hopefully they will stay like that for longer than 15 months. Bastards!

So now I guess we wait and see if the writing bug comes back at all.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Frontier Stalking (?)

Anybody want to take credit for visiting this site from a provider called Frontier Communications?

You've been visiting pretty much once a day (on weekdays at least). Straight here, not via another blog. And since nobody comes here it's pretty hard for me to miss and sort of stalkerish.

Anybody?

If you would like to let me know what's up perhaps you could e-mail me (see right column of blog) or comment so I can stop feeling like I don't want to post anything.

Domain Name: frontiernet.net
IP Address: 74.33.212.# (Frontier Communications)
ISP: Frontier Communications
Location
Continent: North America
Country: United States
State: New York
City: Caroga Lake [this changes between a couple of wayupstateNY towns -- this part may or may not be accurate]


Anybody?

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Just Snow On My Tube

It should be noted that I now officially have no TV. I have a television set, but just no signal. My television sucks to begin with as it's old and small, but now it's even worse as nothing comes through it.

I've had no cable since I moved to Cleveland which many think is insane to begin with. I really haven't cared other than the occasional sports event that I can't watch without going to a friend's or a bar. But now that things have officially switched over to digital mode and since I didn’t bother getting one of those corny converter boxes I don’t have squat. No Seinfeld reruns, no crappy, local news, no SNL, nothin'. Actually that’s not entirely true as I have a Spanish channel coming through. Bueno!

We'll see if I cave.

The Desert and Beach

Just got back from some vacay in a little place they call Mexico. It was pretty sweet and I am totally not excited about being back home. Or going back to work. Especially going back to work.

I started off in The Cleve and flew to Phoenix, AZ. From there a complete stranger that I met via the interweb picked me and my lady friend up and we drove to Puerto PeƱasco, Mexico (aka Rocky Point). There we hung out, drank beers and margaritas and ate tacos. But really the reason we went was to see Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers. They do an annual show there called Circus Mexicus. A little play on words there if you missed it. It was pretty great. Totally chill with hours of music (and I mean hours), drinking, fireworks, flip flops on my feet and sand under them. The next day was a little hangover brunch/gathering with some other bands providing the tunes, the guys from RCPM hanging out with their fans, some breakfast burritos and some beers to make things right again. Really fun. I think I might be doing it again next year so if you want to get on board, start thinking about it. Really. Do it.

After the MaƱanathon it was time to hit the road back to Phoenix. And let me tell you, that desert? Nothing to fuck with. It is hot. Jesus. I’ve never exposed myself to that section of the world. My eyes were all dry and my lips were all dry and funky feeling. I don’t know if I could live in that. I did see a roadrunner which was cool. Speedy little fuckers. And there’s about a million miles to bury a dead body. That’s all I kept thinking about.

And let’s briefly speak about the border. On the way into Mexico there was nothing. There were like three speedbumps and four border guys + one dog just sitting at a table. No glances our way, no asking for a passport, no “where are you coming from”, no nothing. And then you get into Mexico and a few miles down the road it’s a “No Hassle Zone” which pretty much translates into “the cops aren’t going to do anything about anything.” So it becomes a racetrack. That’s fun. If only I had a gun. I could have fired it in the sky all wild, wild west style.

Of course, on the way back into the U.S. it’s all a different story. Border guards, passport swiping, quizzing, general attitude and staredowns are all part of the routine.

Anyway, back to Phoenix we went. There we parted ways with our nice car share amigo and spent the night in a motel by the airport. The next morning it was onto a flight to Cancun. Then a bus to Tulum where the rest of our time was spent.

Tulum was a cool little town. We stayed at a place right on the beach. It was a bit “rustic” as there was no electricity but who needs that crap? Actually, it was pretty warm. I wouldn’t have minded a ceiling fan. But whatever! The beach overshadows and cures the warmness. Mostly at least.

Although neither myself of my traveling companion opted to not opt that way, the place we stayed was “clothing optional” meaning I saw more penises than my previous vacations. Probably more than all of my previous vacations combined and definitely more than I needed. I also saw a good number of boobs that I didn’t really want to see. The general rule seemed to be: whoever I would have liked to see naked = not naked. The people I definitely did not want to see naked = very naked.

So beyond the nudity there was swimming, eating, drinking, some site seeing, some SCUBA diving, some meeting new people, some shopping, some napping, more drinking, etc. It was quite nice.

Then from there it was back to Cleveland via Charlotte, NC. Now it’s back to the grind and back to not blogging worth a poo.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

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.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

I Do Stuff and Don't Write Ever

Hmmmm, maybe I should post something. God, this blog really is lame. Honestly it's sort of a sham even trying to call it a blog.

The sad thing is, I've actually done some stuff. I mean nothing making for a great story, but at least something to document for my own enjoyment. Anyway, what to report ...

I went to see Kottonmouth Kings at House of Blues. Nothing great, but it was enjoyable enough. Worth the cost of admission I'd say. KMKs obsession with weed sometimes gets a little tired, but that's their thing so I roll with it. And the kids seem to love it. The crowd was a pretty awful collection of trash. But entertaining, stoned as fuck trash so who am I to complain? Also cool was one of the openers, La Coka Nostra. Pretty much House of Pain with two extras doing all gangsta-themed tunes. Sometimes a bit corny with the toughguy act, but still so much better than all to so-called rap/hip-hop that is out today. As a nostalgia bonus, they even did three House of Pain songs. Dare I say timeless?

Also I went down to Pittsburgh to see the Penguins vs. Rangers. Pretty sweet. Good seats, a close game, some fights, some laughs. I like that Pittsburgh. It's a fun little city. Sort of what Cleveland should be but isn't. Damn this Cleveland.

Also, I had two high school friends visit. Both for one day only and separately. One on Thursday and then another on Monday. One was passing through town and then the other was in town for work. We did some site seeing (such as it is in the Cleve), eating, drinking and had some good laughs. Visitors are always fun.

This weekend Cleveland should be pretty active for once. It's the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction. I'm not going because I am an idiot (or maybe smart, I'm not sure) but good for Cleveland. And for Metallica and Run DMC and the rest of the inductees.

That's it. I have to go shower, pay some bills and make some lunch for tomorrow. See you again soon at some point.