day 217

he's got it! He's STILL got it!!!

Been going @ it for about 1/2 a century, but Ray Davies STILL rocks!!!

Opening band (yucccch) BUT...they DIDN'T suck. Did 45 mins, then Ray came on, acoustic, in a semi-storyteller mode-which he always was. Did some new stuff interspersed with what we all came to hear. Whenever a boisterous fan yelled out a request he'd of course respond "we'll get to 'em all." Helluva showman. Couple'a references to his bro. Did his acoustic set, then brought the openers on as his backup band and ROCKED. Never heard the volume there so high. It was great.

Had great seats, then heard someone call my name: Rick. He and his girl were there, we all sat together. Amazing how running brings us together, he mentions the guy selling rip-off shirts in the parking lot knew him through running as well. Amazing.

What added to this was they were always there throughout my life. From The Palladium, to St.John's, to The Garden. And ALWAYS kicked ass. Amazing.

GREAT show, God Bless The Kinks.


.....I'm not like everybody else................

day 216

amazing what you can do!

...when pushed. Conditions couldn't BE worse for running, yet there was Stan, out there, trudging along. Bless him. Me? Spin class-a TOUGH one. The instructor is smokin' (hey, it helps) and the class is a ball breaker. After that, headed into the NYRR, actually found a parking spot, picked up the t-shirts and numbers for the peeps, and we're ready for manana! They'll meet A Toxichouse @ 6:30 tomorrow am.

Tonight, Ray Davies. YAY!!!

day 215

AMAZING!!! Could there BE crappier conditions?

Last night: 1/2 the Spin class. Half the usual suspects wimped out. So, the instructor kicked things up a notch. GREAT workout. He said the obvious: would'a been a perfect opportunity to have Pret as a guest.

Got back to Toxichouse, shit hit the fan. Told Stoney he needed the progress report signed, he turned into a terrible teen. Suffice to say: I out shouted him. What irks the hell outta me: his talking back, I did many things, but was NEVER disrespectful. What he also doesn't get is: it'd be easier to be a spectator (Shebitch) than to work @ parenting. I'd LOVE to let him do his thing unfettered, but someone has to lay down the law. He doesn't understand that, and i don't expect him to, but i DO expect him to exercise respect. Last night was OFF THE HOOK.


Manana: Ray Davies. Yay!!!!!

day 214

....AGAIN???!!!

Woke up to the pitter patter of...MORE RAIN! Wow. God's way of telling me to rest the knees? Beats the HELL outta snow, but this whole precip shit is beat. Time to move to Cali or Arizona.

Boot Camp last night: VERY good. Dif exercises each class, mixes it up nicely. Tonight: spin.

Got an invite from DP re: the Runner's Edge run-love that one-totally a fun run, varying distances. BUT, regged to do the NYRR Run in Prospect Park. Not the wisest choice, but who knew the weather'd SUCK??? On it's own merits, 4m in Prospect Park is a great run-tough, but short. We'll see how the weather holds up.

day 213

lions and tigers and bears, oh my!!!

ENOUGH with the friggin' rain! Was last night off the hook or what????

Did the spin class, REALLY glad I did. Nothing like a wicked sweat to work out the bugs/aggravations.

Tonight Boot Camp, again, thank GOD.

Got the Crackberry replaced. Now, need a 6 year old to 'splain all the features to me.

day 212

wow. Is it EVER gonna stop precipping??? Rain this am, was s'posed to start last night but we dodged a bullet. Also, would we prefer snow? Just getting tired of either.

VERY good class last night. But even this is getting played out: bring on the warmer weather-get back to The Line. When the instructor tells you that you "look strong" you know you've become adapted to training for training's sake.

So...ellip tonight, then spin.


***Had big ceremony last night @ The Garden to note the anniv of the 1970 Knicks. Again, a major part of my youth. Pete had season tix, we saw all the greats-the one who most sticks in my mind wasn't even a Knick, but Pistol Pete-and he's dead. What a team we had!!! CLYDE, Willis, Bill Bradley, DeBusschere. Wow. Those days are g-o-n-e. THAT was the golden age of being a team. Now, athletes are whores-whomever pays the most gets me. Johnny Damon is a perfect example. Mr.Red Sox, then the Yankees make an offer, he jumps ship to the enemy, now he'll be in Detroit next year. I miss those days. '69/70 was the year for NY sports-the Jets, Rangers, Mets, and Knicks all kicked ass that year. Wow. GREAT time to be a kid. THIS is the kinda crap I lament-Stoney'll never know times like that-nor does he care. All that matters is x box. What scares me, what I try to reinforce to him is: it's all well and good to have fun, that IS the point of being a kid, but after the on button's shut off, what does he have to show for his efforts? Bless you Pistol Pete, bless you Derek Sanderson, Bobby Orr, Rod Gilbert, Brad Park, George Sauer, Matt Snell, Jim Neilsen. And thanks. You made being a kid great.

day 211

Jeeeeez!!!

(Spinning tonight, never in my life has working out been so important)

Get to the job this am, early, @ the boogie down Bronx. Wassup you ask? Staff person pulled a knife on another.

No, Virginia, you can't make this stuff up.

Stoney? Home. Take a second, let that sink in. He was off for a week-winter break, now he's home...again....still. Que paso? He spent the week @ brotherfromanothermother's, so...didn't eat properly, sure as HELL didn't sleep properly. Nope, can't make this stuff up.

Finally nailed why I'm taken with The Plaque. Ours is a club is disparate peeps, 250+ independent, stubborn bastards. They-of all people-elected ME as their Prez (the same peeps who DIDN'T elect Tom as vp-a more moderate/sane person). What are the odds I'd be elected????? THEN, to have the work recognized by these same stubborn bastards. Really made me feel like my work was NOT in vain. Nice to be appreciated.

Re: the guy who pulled a knife? He was arrested. Poor fuck. (this is one of the 2 who helped patch the window on the company veeeeeehicle until I had the chance to take it in for repairs. A good guy.) Then again, one must remember, this IS the boogie-down Bronx. What ticks me off is his union, CSEA. Said there was nothing they could do. Bet he's glad he pays dues.

day 210

nice surprise!

Got my St.Francis on-the few/the cold/the slushy. Only 2 of us did it, the rest choosing alternate routes.

Saw the peeps, most didn't care for the 3 x 1.4+, what can you do? @ least they participated. Surprised more didn't do the Haiti run.

Nice surprise was The Plaque. The one I was having a hard time with, every prez gets one, though I know I broke my balls for the club (go hard or go home). DP saw me and had it in her car. Nice lil' validation.

It? Dunno, thought It was with you. Went out yesterday, didn't come home. Don't go all dramatic, It resembles an Auschwitz survivor. Guarantee It was hangin' with a groupie, decided to make a night of it-better than coming home to care for your home or your dog. Now, take a moment...I get torn a new one if I go ANYWHERE without telling It, yet It can do as it randomly chooses. Great to play the victim ain't it?

day 209

Fun????? Choices?????

Was it fun? Yes. Doing the Haiti run was a blast, BUT, too many people. Oddly enough, the throng (10,000+) didn't diminish the event. For a runner, it sucked, but for a jogger or tourist, or someone wanting to give to a good cause, it was great! Beautiful day, great temps/conditions, fun people. Really good. AND, it counted as a x2 qualifier, so you got 2 races in one (for $40 you SHOULD). (just too many friggin' politicians.).

Choices? They held the 3 x 2's today, the race @ which I originally lost my heart. Glad I didn't do it. Due to snow on the trails (pussies), they made it a 3 x 1.4 in the parking lot!!!!! Shit. What had been a fun event was a could'a, should'a, would'a. Not cool. But DID miss being there with the peeps.

In the midst of all this, they had their refreshment day. ??????.

Now, the bad news: crackberry gone. Poof! Gone. Went to see Shutter Island (very good flick), left it in the drink holder, by the time I got back to the theater (120 seconds later), gone baby gone. Oh well. Glad it doesn't go on my dime.

day 208

blown away!!!

The concert was aMAZING. Last year saw Winwood and Clapton, was good. BECK and Clapton, WOW!!! Jeff Beck is def the heir to the throne, not Clapton's throne-though he IS good, but Jimmy Page's. He brings an energy Winwood doesn't have, but unfair to compare. Sort'a like apples/oranges, tomato/tomahhhto. Nontheless, an incredible show. (vip box didn't hurt).

Spin class was a good way to start the evening. After the insanity of a deserted facility yesterday, really needed it. Prob is: it's a TOUGH class-needlessly so. Lots of "jumps," which for a guy could be a problem if you ever wanna have children. Sometimes the instructor needs to be reminded of hanging body parts.

Stoney? Has a week off, finally got smart. He's hangin' with brotherfromanothermother. THAT kid has spunk. He's working, nothing fancy, a taco dive, but he makes $. Now, he drives. Hopefully Stoney'll take this as an example. He texted to ask me to do something for him. God he's cool.

Today: boot camp. Really should take a day off, race manana. But, hey, you know my pace. A day of rest really won't affect anything. PLUS, manana's race counts as a 2x qualifier-they're trying to attract more crowds to raise $$$ for Haiti. Cool. God bless the NYRR, they get it. I.E. since it's a fund raiser, they're charging double the reg fee, but since it counts x2, it's worth it. I DO find it odd that a fund raiser STILL has the requisite give-a-way shirt, but, they were donated by the manufacturer. Least they could do-if the NYRR buys @ least 5,000 shirts (not counting for volunteers...) per race, x 26, add THAT to 40,000 shirts (again plus volunteers) for The Big One...it's quite a contract.

Good week, frantically busy, absolutely exhausted, but gotta keep on keepin' on.


***This just in: going BACK to Clapton/Beck tonight! YAY!!!

*****REALLY good boot camp. With all the drama going on, since I get to work @ the crack of dawn (and never, ever take lunch), I had NO prob ducking out for 2 hours (half hour before to change and sauna, hour for class, half hour after for shower).

day 207

whatthefuck???????????

Apparently I take this more seriously than the people who should.

This week, the Director has been on site a total of 0 days. Yes, 0 days. So, whythehell hire a Director? I take my dedication/responsibility too seriously, it would appear. This guy just plain isn't around. Amazing, frightening really. (I'm obviously in the Bronx, Creedmoor is a finely tuned treatment machine by comparison).

Tonight: Clapton/Jeff Beck. Yay!!! (spin class first-priorities).

Last night: Boot Camp. Was a tough one-the Instructor's hubby was in the class so she turned up the pain. Nice job.

day 206

Thanks, I needed that!

St.Francis this am. The snow/slush stopped yesterday pm, so The Line was mine!!!!! Couldn't have come @ a better time. GOD that felt good.

Last night, spin class, for the first time in a long while, NOT full. Was nice to actually have breathing space. One of the guys walked in with a NYC Triathlon jacket, when he took it off, was wearing a shirt from 2008's The Big One. Of course I struck up a conversation. He said he'd just come back from doing the Birmingham 1/2, and it wasn't the same. We agreed-The Big One is the closest most get to rock stardom. The crowds really make it a scene to be remembered. Also, we concur, Brooklyn was The Shit. Though Manhattan might've had more people, the width of the streets makes it seem like less. In Brooklyn, you feel the crowds will swallow you up. It's GREAT. Gave me a taste of what it's really all about, not the personal drama (either Toxichouse or the typical club b.s. i.e. "boycotting a race......." really, just silly nonsense), but seeing how far you can push yourself-knowing the people will embrace you. last year really was the yin and yang of it all. Right leg quit @ 20, limped for the last 6 with the crowd behind me. It was a real NY moment. Thanks Fred.

Also last night, It was well behaved. AND, what's that word...oh yes... FOOD in the fridge. Told ya', b.i.c. (bitch IS crazy). One day, all hell breaks loose, freaking out about god knows what, lamenting lack of funds, next day.....amazing, just amazing. If you were describing this to me I'd accuse you of lying. It asks "I gotta know, just what do you want out of this relationship?" This April'll be 20 years of wedded _________ (YOU fill in the blanks). And NOW It asks what I want from "this relationship." A lil' late for that question don't'cha 'tink???????

And the drama continues: here I am in the boogie-down bronx. Why? No Director. Originally I'm called in because there's no Assistant Director, now there's no Director on site. Howthefuck are you s'posed to run a program without a boss????? Why take the gig if you aren't gonna be on site? Amazing, utterly amazing. it's situations like this that leave me shaking my head in stunned disbelief. My coping mechanism is to joke about it: i.e. I'm turning into a bobblehead (try it for yourself: shake your head in disbelief, while in front of a mirror. What do you resemble? See what I mean? A bobblehead!!!).

day 205

ouch!!!

MORE friggin' snow. NOT the kind you can successfully run in-too thick and slushy/heavy. CRAP!!

Did 45 on the ellip this am, then spin tonight. Class better not be cancelled.

(can you tell it was a rough night??)

It's freakin'. The fridge is empty, Stoney's home, It's losing it. Good. It threatened to "do what I gotta do," intimating take me to court. @ which point I indicated the disability It received was NOT to pay credit cards nor make car payments. @ that point, It shut up.

Great to have your son witness this isn't it?

God I need to run.


***R.I.P. Dougl Fieger. I remember Bill Sharp and I, on a typical bender/outing, passing Carnegie Hall, not knowing who was playing. Out of the blue, someone was selling tix for half the face value, we had balcony @ Carnegie Hall seats!!! WHAT A CONCERT!!! Really great. He'll be missed. Brought alotta pleasure to alotta people.

(when I was a child, i clearly remember asking Mamine-French for "grandmother" if all entertainers went to heaven because of the joy they brought others. It's a way of thinking I try to practice daily, we use the dictum "do no harm," I carry it further: "leave joy."

day 204

woke up, got outta bed, dragged a ...........

woke up later than usual-for me, that's 5 am for normal people. Didn't even have coffee, up n' outta there. Surprised, for the first time in seemingly years, Stoney actually slept in his own bed. Wow. Either he's growing up or has an attitude. We've been experiencing alotta that lately-he's verging on the behaviors of a terrible teen-picking fights, looking for reasons to be oppositional......Lately, breaking my balls for his x-box. Keep telling him it'll be in his hands when it's repaired.

Looking forward to today actually. I DO lament having to boogy the hell outta there, but, Stoney has been repeatedly told he's welcome wherever I go, wouldn't he like to go for a ride instead of staying in, a la couch potato??? Little wonder. It went to 2meetings yesterday, nothing else. Lies around all day until time to go to a meeting. Truly pathetic. So, he has little example re: get up n' go. Remember, he can't use me-I'm Satan. I DO miss being able to do all the family crap. I look back on my youth and know Stoney'll never experience that. What I don't get is: It used waitressing as the excuse: as in: I gotta waitress to give me the freedom re: work hours, to parent Stoney. Ok, take a second. Now that It's unemployed, where's the parenting? It would now seem It has TONS of time n'est pas? Yet, NOTHING is done. Not even one walk for the dog.

It actually had the balls to ask Stoney where Its Valentine chocolates were-It won't ask me of course. I answered for him: we'd send a box to Its lawyer if It gave us the address. Can you imagine It actually expected a Valentine's gift??? If Stoney wasn't there, It wouldn't have gotten even the card. Amazing.

Boot Camp this am, Spin in the pm. Perfect.

day 203

THAT was weird!

Like Valentine's day isn't odd enough? Got Stoney a card for It. That's all. Period.

Did the Long Beach 4m, was GREAT!!! The whole thing on the boardwalk. THAT was the good news. Bad news: didn't get shit miles this week. Knees feel good though. Was nice to see the Long Island peeps.

Waiting for the run to start, who calls, yes, brotherfromanothermother. He's getting married-his second. Tried my damndest to be objective with him, knowing he was looking for a friend's opinion. She's hell bent on marriage, he's wary-very wary. But you know him, he's one of those...what's the word....social people. He doesn't wanna be alone. I don't either, but the one I love isn't available. C'est la vie.

Went to see Valentine's Day, GREAT movie. Despite personal drama, I'm a firm believer in love. Just don't have it where I need it. So it goes...

Manana: day off: Boot Camp in the am, spin in the pm.

***Odd: used to think I'd like to have brotherfromanothermother's race times-now, he's injured. Hasn't run in over 2 weeks. I was-after 1985-always happy to be me, not envious of others-though I WOULD like to have his race times. Now, wouldn't trade for the world. It WOULD be nice to have The Line clear though.

Happy Valentine's day. I love me.

day 202

WHEW!!!

Snow's awfully pretty to run in, but the aftersnow is a 'roid!!! They did a great job of plowing the line, until the ball fields near St.Francis, 'round the 4m mark. Then, snow. SHIT. Was doing great-even on the icy patches, until then. Got my St.Francis in, but I dunno if my feetz'll ever thaw.

Need it today. Manana Long Beach 4m, and after yesterday @ Toxichouse, hadda get a dose of life. Came back to Toxichouse after work, both were sleeping @ 8:30. Aftyer a busy day of doing nothing. Fucking amazing, all the life is sapped outta this joint. Thought seriously of walking away, but could you imagine Stoney without what passes as a vaguely normal person in his life? Jeeeez.

day 201

tgif

made it through a tough week. Fortunately, ending on a high note. Made up for Wednesday night's gym closure with a vengeance yesterday. Elliped and did Spin class, either of which would'a been enough. Got back to Toxichouse, It has Its meds-Effexor, 75 mgs. Thank G. Their meal? Pizza. Ahhhhh, home cookin'. Whence the pizza? It tried getting a gig @ the pizza joint (51 years old and waitressing @ a pizza joint, embarassing). Didn't get it. Big surprise. I'd feel empathy/sympathy, however, after telling It repeatedly of the need to have a career and not a job, It made Its bed. Again, if you owned a restaurant, would you want someone who looks like they just escaped the death camps serving your food? Not great for an appetite. Not to mention how your son looks at you. And you wonder why I didn't walk away???

Thank GOD for working out. Where would I be without it?

Weekend looks dicey: got the LB race Sunday, manana-St.Francis, BUT: melting snow and shmutz may impact on that decision. Add to this, melting snow AND sub freezing temps @ night. Dunno yet.

Tonight: Boot Camp.

Bring on the weekend!!!!!

day 200

ok, He IS in charge!

was all prepped to do Boot Camp last night, had steeled my resolve to bite the bullet and brave the snow...and...and...CANCELLED. Add to that, the gym was closed. OK, at least THEY exhibited some common sense. Glad I ran in the am. Turns out, they'd closed @ 1 pm. Good. Smart. Turned out for the best as:

a)NO ONE @ Toxichouse did a damned thing. I'm talkin' no one cleared any of the snow, cooked, nothing. Of course this fell on the shoulders of the only shmuck who does anything there.

b)after clearing all the snow, who locks their keys in the vehicle with the engine running??? And no, it wasn't even my vehicle-that would've been easy-call Onstar to pop the locks. Had the company vehicle. SHIIIT.

All worked out. G's in charge, obviously NOT me. So much for best laid plans.

day 199

yes, yes I did.

St.Francis esta manana. No, I'm not well. YOU should know that by now.

It was BEAUTIFUL. My own private snowy unblemished world. And I'm man enough to say "lovely." Wow. Really, wow.

Last night's spin was half filled, surprising. The precip wasn't s'posed to hit until much later, people wimped out. Most people do, I find.

It? When I came back to Toxichouse, no sign of It. Stoney alone, napping. It ditched him to go to the movies. Nice. Yet another shining example of good parenting.

Walked into the gym this am, one of the usual suspects said he did his run this am thinking of me. Of course I asked what exact curses he was muttering under his breath. He said he KNEW I'd be out there-good call, so the least he could do was a mile. Nice. Brotherhood of the dysfunctional.

Tonight, boot camp/ellip? We'll see if the instructor shows.

Stoney: no school. I was shocked NYC Public Schools announced closure so early, yesterday after lunch. Wow. Apparently, this snow WILL be a motherfucker. Worry won't change it, may as well work out!

Amazing snowfall, over a foot. THIS is the part that tugs @ my heartstrings: It's lying around, doing nothing. Stoney SHOULD be out snowtubing, playing in the snow. Instead, he's on the X Box. Remember when we were kids? We LOVED this crap! Lived for it. Later, as "adults" we went traying on the Douglaston golf course. Kids now just don't wanna "play," they'd rather do electronic crap. And they that held them for 9 months (a.k.a. babymama, a.k.a. Shebitch, a.k.a. It) would rather critique my every move, rather than do something with Stoney. Pathetic, waste of a day.

day 198

ok, make this make sense:

unemployed, do nothing other than lie down on an air mattress in the living room, then, go shopping-bringing home nothing but junk: chips etc... PLEASE make that make sense. No veggies, nothing I eat, only junk. I.E. (as if the chips weren't bad enough) eclairs. Amazing. Utterly amazing. You have money for this crap (breakfast food=lucky charms), yet I'm supposed to provide lunch money (apparently the only halfway healthy meal Stoney gets). Utterly amazing. It has NO clue.

Spin class last night. Even the instructor noted I seemed to be particularly into it. After a day in the boogie-down Bronx, where up is down and down is up, I needed it. Funny to see how bidness there has picked up. Before, some classes were more full than others, lately, every one is maxxed out.

Gettin' into a good groove here: work the bod while saving the knees:
Monday: Spin/Ellip.
Tuesday: Spin.
Wed: Run/Boot Camp/Ellip.
Thurs: Spin.
Fri: Boot Camp.
Sat:Run.
Sun: Run.
Seems to be working, though race times suffer, it beats the hell outta using crutches.

Tonight, a bit more dodgy, I'll be in NYC @ meetings today, getting back for class'll be tight, but I'll manage. Either way, gotta beat the snow.

day 197

wow

Saints win it!!! How cool was that? For a brief, shining moment, the team that should win did.

Best commercial: The Letterman ad. Found out on the way in it was real, not cgi! Wow. Leno hadda sneak into the studio with shades and a hooded sweatshirt. Impressive work. Add to this: NBC actually gave him permission to do this-a competitors-network. Wow.

Best play of the game: first play after halftime: on side kick. How aMAZING was that??? AND it worked. Just for calling the play, coach should be lauded. Well done.

Still thinking about brotherfromanothermother. REALLY sucks for him, not just knee prob, but the entire leg. Mskes me glad I have the approach/attitude I do: always run with the intent of running manana. Not that you should intentionally hold back, but there IS always a manana. He'll run, then do a spin class, then a step class. Too much. AND, when I say that, it's an understatement. Never understood these runners who run with that "oh my GOD I'm in so much pain" look on their faces. Enjoy the run. Or not.

It? In bed all day, except to lift Itself from Its bed to go to 2 meetings. Amazing. Do NOTHING with your child, but go to 2 meetings. That's right, his sunday dinner was chinese food leftovers, that he hadda reheat himself. The previous day we went to the movies, of course I got him some junk (Wendy's). An ENTIRE weekend of shit. It can criticize endlessly, but didn't lift a friggin' finger for Its son. Pitiful. What kills me: SOME families look forward to Sundays, sunday dinner/breakfast etc.....It's talks a great talk with Its groupies, but @ Toxichouse, does nothing. Didn't your mother make you breakfast? Hot chocolate? Something/anything? Rather than get some takeout, leave it in the fridge, point to it and say "you asked for it." Not unlike inhouse neglect. Best of all: It lifts Itself from bed @ the crack of noon, with Stoney glued to the x box not 5 feet awaty. No breakfast, no nothing. Still think I make this crap up???


***The team's set for Ragnar. Yin/Yang. Yin: brotherfromanothermother and I got shut outta the Vermont City Relay lottery. Probably for the best. If he's one step away from crippled, and I've always been, between the 2 of us we have 1 runner. And one runner who has no bidness doing distances. In talking about the injury, I bring up the obvious: the machine breaks down. All of us who've been at it for 5 or more years have paid the price. Sort of inevitable.

day 196

now THAT's how to spend a weekend!

Did the NYRR 4m in Central park-another Marathon Qualifier under my belt. Broke 10 mins, in THIS cold breaking anything other than a body part is a miracle. DAYUM it was cold!!! Next week, Long Beach. Figured if I could freeze my ass off in CP, I could do the same in LB.

Which brings us to our next topic. Got to hang with my 2 fave peeps today, if for a brief time. Hooked up with Pret, hung for too short a time. Then off to LB to hang with brotherfromanothermother-to go to the Polar Bear thing for Make a Wish. Neither of us went in the water this year, but we got to hang and talk.

***From Paris With Love-excellent film. Meaningless violence, under the guise of a plot.

day 195

could you BE more white???

Noooo, not the caucasian kind, but the "oh the weather outside is frightful" kind. Was that a beautiful run or what??? Did St.Francis, with the snow falling, and the ground just dusted. A safe run, marked by beauty. Best of all, not funky-didn't break a sweat. Ran well/strong/consistently.

Home now (11:36), It still in bed-rough life, Stoney @ the X Box. Wanted to take him to see From Paris With Love, gotta actually coax the lil shit! Can you beLIEVE that??? He'd rather veg with the game. Jeeeeeeez.

this just in!

snuck outta work for 2 hours, did Boot Camp (one hour class, 30 mins before on ellip/sauna, 30 mins after-shower/sauna). Feel like a million bucks!!!

(hadda make up for not going to Spin last night. Felt like a load.)

Now, the question: class tonight or not? Rule of thumb: depends on the snow. We'll see. The downside, if I go to the class, I'm wiped manana. Hence, I COULD run St.Francis manana, but after 2 Boot Camps, my ass would be draggin'-like last week.

***Gotta track down my plaque, left the Holiday party before I could be presented with it. I dodged it a)because every president gets one (I know I deserve it, I gave the club my all, but still, feel funny), b)I always sleaze outta things.

day 194

THAT didn't hurt a bit!!!

Intended to do spin class, then boogie to the meeting, but couldn't be that way? Huh? Remember I wrote about people who bogart the precious bikes for class, then leave early? Couldn't be one of those. Granted, I'm sure I'd get more use outta 1/2 a class than many do from the whole thing, but hey, gotta stay true. So, elliped instead. Glad I did. This way, no fiddler crab, got my workout, then showered, then to the meeting. Surprised, it didn't suck! Amazing how you feel when the responsibility lies in others' hands, knowing they can do at least as well if not better than you did. Nice job peeps.

So...wassup with meeting brotherfromanothermother? His squeeze wants to get married, he's on the fence. We actually had a good talk. This whole "humans/friendship" thing...nice. Of course Rob saw us talkin in the car, sure he wondered "whatthefuck brought Ruiz to a meeting???"

day 193

THAT was a surprise!

Instead of the usual instructor last night, it was Sahid. Who's Sahid? A 19 year old. Need I say more??? I take immense pride in the fact that every muscle in my body ISN'T sore. The usual instructor is known for a tough workout-last night makes that pale by comparison. Nice.

Hadda call an audible today, was s'posed to stay here, gotta go to the boogie-down Bronx. After virtually no one being left there yesterday pm, some administrator needs to be there this am. Hate this bullshit, but gotta follow your conscience (the Director is perpetually m.i.a. and I get to do the dirty work).

Tonight: busy night. Spin, show my face-briefly-@ the monthly meeting, hook up with brotherfromanothermother.

day 192

I'm enjoying this TOO much!

It getting numerous messages from debt collectors, and medical peeps asking why Its insurance is terminated. You DO reap what you sow. Shouldn't have bogarted the mail asking who was to be continued under my policy. Heeeee heeeeee. Sucks for It.

What a lovely morning! Just enough snow to make things look Norman Rockwellish. didn't have the knees for St.Francis, did 86th instead. Tonight, Boot Camp. Yummm. LOVE the workouts!

Out of the blue, who calls? Brotherfromanothermother. That was the good news. The bad news: wants to do dinner. I don't do dinner. On the other hand, other option is to hook up @ the meeting Thursday, which means no spin. What to do? What to do?

day 191

Yummy!!!

Got to get a surprise run in this am. The weather was TOO nice to pass up: 25 degs-not too cold, not too warm. Wow. St.Francis is becoming my patron saint.

Spin last night was PACKED. Was a lil worried, after the am Boot Camp I was wiped, but the class keeps you moving. Fresh victims also motivate, I remember when I didn't think I would live until the end of the class. But, no matter how in the groove I am, I STILL get pissed @ they that leave early or don't give it their all. These classes usually fill up, and these wastes of life take up space of one who could benefit from it.

It? Still off meds, actually hasn't had a rage episode in 2 days, AND I came back to Toxichouse to find a filled garbage can, as in: It actually figured out how to throw crap out. Yes, you read that right. When I confronted It I of course asked "what have you done with the resident professional victim?"

Spin tonight. Work it boyeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

day 190

can you beLIEVE it's been this long???? Wow. THAT'S the beauty of being a marathon runner, you can outlast (almost) anything.

It sitting at the dining room table writing checks. Now...take a minute. Think. How can it write checks without being gainfully employed? Right, your and my tax dollars. Paying for Its car, cellphone, credit cards. Meanwhile who pays the household bills? Who gives Stoney lunch $$$. Hmmmmm.

GREAT weekend. Can really say I did what I needed to do. Didn't particularly WANT to (whothefuck WANTS to freeze???), but, did it.

Today, I'm in the boogiedownBronx. Doing some in and out this am-as in "take advantage of being in-between facilities." Gonna do the am Boot Camp, hee hee. Don't really feel any guilt, after all, I get to the job @ WHAT time??? HOW many lunch hours do I take????? Then tonight spin, again, I'll miss House, but I can always get the dvd.

@ mile 20 I thought I was dead.
@ mile 22 I wished I was dead.
@ mile 24 I knew I was dead.
@ mile 26 I realized I had become too tough to kill.

** MORE reasons to love Rex Ryan: Saturday, he told rowdy Dolphins fans his team'd beat theirs TWICE next year. Upon further heckling, he gave 'em the finger. This image is on BOTH NY papers! LOVE this guy!!!! He took up where John Madden left off. Nice. Wears his heart on his sleeve, full of emotion. When he said his team was outta the playoffs (when in fact, they still had a chance-as history bore out), we knew he was cool. Fallible, but cool. This cements it.

***and Lady Gaga was AMAZING last night!

-really good Boot Camp. The good thing about the Trainer is different exercises are featured in every class-keeps muscle confusion going. Glad I did it. Tonight, spinning (don't tell, but after Boot Camp, spinning is a cool-down).