Fighting With the Sky

I finally found a great road/racing bike. It is a Trek 1500, cherry red, carbon seat post, carbon fork, and all around decent component setup. They reduced the price from $1100 to $899, so it seems like a pretty sweet deal and one that's hard to pass up. Unfortunately I don't qualify for the financing option (buy now, pay later deal) for various reasons. Also, I certainly don't have $899 to just handover for the bike. So, it looks like this will be the second item ever that I've put on "lay-away." The first being a left-handed epiphone les paul. While it isn't immediate gratification, I think paying for something in installments makes getting the item just a bit sweeter. So, I am looking forward to, in about 3 months, having a pretty sweet bike.

I had fully intended and committed to completing a seven mile run on sunday, as part of my ongoing half-marathon training. However, due to some confusion in direction I only ended up doing a 4.5 mile run. A bit disappointing. I'll have to check www.mapmyrun to figure out where I went wrong. I am also trying to find that inspiration or energy to do the mid-to-end-of-week run. On Tuesdays I typically do a spinning (interval) class that lasts 45 min to and hour. Then do a strength pilates class. Then ride or walk (depending if I have the bike) home. Then I'll do the 2 mile speedwork run. It usually feels really good and I amp myself up to do it. But as the week goes on and I hit the gym every day, going for a long run by myself doesn't seem as fun. I'm looking into www.meetup.com to see what running groups there are around. Perhaps that will help me with my training.

This is my general training schedule:
Monday: Circuit training with free weights and nautilus machines and a half hour ab workout.
45 minute - 1 hour cycling/interval class.

Tuesday: 45 minutes - 1 hour cycling class.
1 hour strength pilates class
2 mile run

Wednesday: Kendo
or circuit training with free weights and nautilus machines
I try to swim on the days I am at the gym, but can only do so for about 20 minutes. It isn't continuous, but swim for a minute or two, stop, swim, stop, etc.

Thursday: 45 minute - 1 hour cycling class
budokon class. This past week I was pretty frustrated with my lack of flexibility and overall strength, so after that class I ran a 8.40 minute mile and then spent around 10-15 minutes taking out my frustration on the punching bag. It felt really great to do that and I miss karate and kickboxing a bit.

Friday: Usually ends up being about 20-25 minutes cardio warm-up on either a treadmill or an eliptical trainer, followed by circuit training with free weights and nautilus equipment.

Saturday: Always an a.m. workout. 45 minute - 1 hour cycling/interval class. 1 hour budokon (more for beginners with basic and foundational moves) class.

Sunday: long run.

So, that is how my week(ends) look.

Crossroads

Last evening I went to see David "Honeyboy" Edwards. A 93 year old blues musician. He first recorded back in 1942. The same year as Muddy Waters put out his first recorded album, and also Son House. This guy is a living history of the blues. He ran around and played with all of them from Little Walter, Big Walter, Memphis Slim, Pinetop Perkins, Howlin' Wolf, Clifton Chenille, Junior Wells, etc. He knew them! He told stories about them! Being a white kid from the suburbs it can fairly be argued that I don't really "know" the blues. But damn if this didn't make me forget that. Sitting in the candle lit blues club located in an alley, watching this guy sing and play like he was still 23, made me feel like a part of history. How often does one get to see a legend, a person who was not only a part of history but influenced it as well. That hypothetical question brings me to another point.

I went by myself. I asked about four or five people and none of them "could" make it out. Some of them are even people who love the blues! I honestly didn't understand how they could pass up such an experience. When did we become so set in our schedules of bedtimes and significant others expectations that we can't go do something different and something that we may never get to experience again? I can't expect people to place the same value on something that I do. And normally I am ok with it. I just thought that this was an exception!

Puppy Mills-Call to Action

Anyone who reads this...which probably isn't that many, please note that a large puppy mill was busted recently in Tennessee. 20 of those dogs were brought to the Georgia Avenue shelter in Washington DC/Maryland to be evaluated and hopefully rehabilitated. Also, please note that space is always an issue for these places and it is important to adopt a dog instead of buying one at a store (which surprisingly may get these dogs from puppy mills).

Here are a few links to the related story and puppy mills in general. If this brings a tear to your eyes, then good. Use that sadness and anger to help.
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Best Friends Network

info on puppy mills

There are plenty of ways to help even if you can't adopt a dog. You can foster a dog (or cat) which also makes room in the shelter for dogs such as these and also makes a difference in the life of a great adoptable dog! You can donate supplies to the WHS or any other local Humane Society. With such an influx of animals they need all the bedding, towels, and/or dog crates.

To learn more about the WHS, please go to their website:
www.washhumane.org

Please help. We've domesticated these creatures making them dependent on us and then this is how we treat them? They deserve better.

The Wolves (Act 1 & 2)

After shopping for new jobs online and seeing jobs listed in Dublin, Chicago and Alabama, I think I am ready for a change. The idea, or fantasy, of moving somewhere else for a dream job and meeting new people feels optimistic and romantic. It might have something to do with how I view my current situation: a shit job, no girlfriend, no money. The good stuff is that I volunteer with the Humane Society, work out at an awesome gym, and have a few good friends. But these pro's seem to me to be things that can travel with me and are not mutually exclusive to Washington DC. There is a humane society in ever city (fortunately or unfortunately..however you look at it). There are gyms everywhere. My friends are and will be my friends no matter where I travel.

As for training, I started to realize that seeing while my head is in the water is fairly important and a good purchase will be goggles. After 15-20 minutes of swimming and stopping, I got a crippling calf cramp, causing me to finish my workout session. Luckily, this week I've made it to a cycling class almost every day and have tried a few other new classes like pilates and budokon. I have a long run with a friend tomorrow (sunday) so I'm looking forward to doing that.

The idea that just came to me is that it seems kinda stupid to keep a blog when I feel my life is boring. Ah well...you're reading it ;)

Here is a brief list of what I'm listening to:
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

Yet another blog

I had grand attempts at starting a DC-design-centric blog that resulted in one lonely post. I love design and being in the community, but I just didn't know what to write that others would be interested in.

So, rather than writing for others, I am writing for myself. I tried this blogging thing a few years back which resulted in a lengthy rant showing the world how depressed I was. I'm hoping to move past the journal format and on to my impressions of the world around me and my observations of random things that I encounter.

Here is a little bit about me and also what some of the future postings may be about.
I am a graphic designer. I am not happy where I currently work and want desperately to find a more creative environment. After being inspired by my sister I am beginning training for my first triathlon. No specific tri has been registered for as I don't have a good road bike. Once I have that I will find a tri and register for it. Without a bike, it would make for a very difficult experience. I am also training for a half marathon. I ran my first 10 mile race a few months back. These athletic aspirations are just as much of a surprise to me as they might be to people who know/knew me. I am also single...eternally single it seems. I will attempt to keep this blog from becoming an essay on how lonely I am, but fear it may slip in from time to time.
I love music and art and attempt to make both. I also really like tattoos. I have some, but hope to have more in the near future.

That is all for now.