Thanks to that Volunteer!

Insulindependence.org. (If you like this story, please give $10 or more to the organization that means the world to me, and the reason I did this past marathon).

Marathons should not be taken lightly, no matter how many you do, or how well you think you can do. Its still a long way to run. When you do it without your own shoes, it seems even longer.

You read right, not my own shoes.

This all started back in October-January. I needed to get new shoes by October, but I waited, waited, waited, waited. Procrastinated, procrastinated and procrastinated. Sure enough it was Wednesday before the marathon. I have the most broken down shoes I have ever run in. I did not want to run in them for Sunday's race. It wasn't ideal, but I decided to get a new shoe, run in it a couple of times, and then race. If your counting this is dumbness number 1, and 2.

Dumbness 3 was the kicker. As I was focusing on the nightmare of taking public transportation to Newark airport from Brooklyn (3 trains and 12.75 if you wanted to know) I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. Almost off the subway at Penn Station, people in the next car could see the white of my eyes. The expression "Oh S&!!" written all over those eyes and face. I never tied those new shoes to the side of my backpack, my only luggage. Oh well, I guess Ill just buy more in San Diego.

As soon as I got there, surfing came up, good friends and food. The procrastination continued It comes down to Saturday night, and I have no shoes. A great friend asked if I wanted to use his size 10 shoes. Yep, there my size, why not? Dumbness number 4.

Sunday morning comes, I put his shoes on and get ready to run. Sure they're a little snug, but they're okay. Mile 6,7,8,9 somethings not right. My toes are starting to hurt. Downhills are especially painful. Mile 10,11,12,13,14,15. DANG Im slowing down. Was doing 6:20 minute miles now doing 6:35's. Okay not the end of the world. Turn around comes at mile 18. Two things came to mind "either I ask for shoes at the aid station from volunteers or I go barefoot, not going a foot more in these shoes!" Being unbashful I yell at the crowd. "DOES ANYONE HAVE A 10 1/2 or 11 SHOE!!??!!" (Didn't want them to be too small) Sure enough a great and awesome older gentleman says "YA". Right there at the aid station at mile 18 he takes off his shoe and gives me his super supportive "Avia's" I untie the double knots he had on, tied 'em up and we discussed really quickly that they will be at the "Shoe-Giveaway" at the end. I ran from mile 18-26.2 in his shoes. Second pair of shoes that I didn't own, but ran in. The timing chip though was still on my left shoe. What to do? What to do? No time to think, I ran with that shoe in my hand from mile 18-26.2. Every checkpoint on the ground, I bent over so that the shoe could connect with the ground electronic timing device." Quite the scene, according to the spectators.

I went from a possible PR of 2:55 to finishing a "save face" goal of under 3 hours. 2:59.40. Thanks to my friend who gave me his shoe, and thanks to that VERY Special Volunteer. In 2011 with all the bad news, you don't always get to hear about that "special volunteer" Thanks to him! Thanks to him! Thanks to him, I could still break a 3hr marathon. And yes. I have VERY black and blue toenails!

Oh, and if you want to race a marathon, my advice is BRING YOUR OWN SHOES.

Video of me crossing the finish line can be seen at Brightroom at http://www.brightroom.com/go.asp?92094626 (SUPER FUNNY, but painful)
You can see the early morning photos' I have a yellow shoes on, and towards the end I have large white ones on.

Tattoo

Am I Cliche? Have I done the ultimate "hipster" "Trying to be a bad ass but not" "DUMB" thing by inking myself for the rest of my life.

So Let me explain myself and then tell me if my reasons are FUll of S#!T. K? thanks

1. Been A triathlete since Freshman year of college. LOVE IT, Train for it 6 days a week, usually more than one hour. Thats commitment
2. Reminds me I have to keep it up, cause its on my body permanently, so I should be active permanently
3. Reminds me not to get fat. (Not superficial, but being healthy all life can have its rewards)
4. Wanted one since I got my ear pierced when my friends got little tats in Dec of 06. I think I waited long enough.
5. It was a great time to do it, My friends from PHX and NYC did it with me
6. After that many free mimosas, why not.

7. Thoughts???

Williamsburg Biking extravaganza.

According to my friend Paul, Williamsburg, is not bike friendly. In-fact on the main drag Bedford Avenue, People in the neighborhood tried to get rid of bike lanes.

Now I don't want to seem anti-semetic, PLEASE don't take this post this way, this is just my observations.

I bike from Kips Bay Manhattan, to Bedstuy. To do this I go through the very observant Jew neighborhood. Now I have had NO physical or verbal exchanges with this culture group in South Williamsburg, But I do have to bike there If I don't want to pay 2.25 each way to go to work. (Thats one beer both ways in a bar).

First off Bikesnobnyc.blogspot.org (thanks to my friend Paul) told everyone that there is going to be missing bike lane in this neighborhood on Bedford Avenue. My return trips main drag.

Im no hipster, and most people would think I am if I bike here, but its just my carbon free- saving for beer way-thrill seeking way of traveling.

Okay, Ways this community doesn't like bikers.

1. This is the land of the Honda Odyssey and BIG SUV's. YEp there is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that is known for this.

Sub Problems with BIG cars in Brooklyn

A. Every woman (who always has a stroller) that walks perpendicular in the middle of the street cause they can't see around their cars when walking.

B. Bad driving in New York City, Erratic

C. Doors fly open FAST here,

D. No one watches for bikers here, just cars watch out for cars.

2. They DID get rid of bike lanes! WHY????????????????

3. The Buses Stop Diagonal to let kids out. WITHOUT FLASHING LIGHTS till the VERY END.

A. Safe for kids, MAYBE, but not for Bikers.

4. ITs just a weird subsection of Brooklyn where you just don't feel welcomed. Especially Bikers. Doesn't feel bad when a sub group just doesn't invite another group to be part of their neighborhood, no matter your race, color, religion, or sexual identity?

Pic of Bike Lane getting ripped up (the bikes on the lane are paint thinned out) THe massive amounts of vans on the right, and the diagonal bus on the left. Yes Im close to the front of the diagonal bus, cause it almost caused me to be in an accident.

No Point to be this pointy

My Friend Mach1, thinks that Its not okay to bike in the winter, in the road, even though I bike everywhere in the winter. Today on the other hand I took the subway and walked a bit to get to my work, because on a flat tire on my fixie, and the sickness factor that actually made me not want to bike for once.

Walking,(even if to the Subway 4 blocks away) in Bedstuy Brooklyn is ALSO an experience I found out.

Scene: 30 degrees, Blistery, Ice on most corners, Just damn cold. Blowing through the buildings, And this woman... LOOK AT HER HEALS. Do you think she uses those for a defensive mechanism? How does she walk?

'Nuff Said

PS Taking this picture on the fly/sly was difficult

Gym Time

Ok so I am a gym rat. There's no way around that. I have to admit it. But I HATE all the other gym rats. I think mostly cause Im a self gym rat. I don't go with someone, or "have a workout buddy." Currently I attend a gym at my Graduate school, with a ton of undergrads. So I think I should educate these undergrad gym rats on etiquette of the gym.

1. I don't CARE what your work out is, you don't have to say it so aloud to your buddy so loud that I have to hear it across the gym.

2. Please don't grunt.

3. Don't drop things. They are too heavy for you.

4. Don't look in the mirror every 2 seconds after you lifted. The muscles haven't changed in 20 seconds! The mirror is to make sure you are doing your exercises correctly, not AFTEr you are done.

5. Don't wait on the machine if you are taking a break between sets. That just pisses everyone off.

6. Workers: do not eat fast food in the gym. Just doesn't seem right to be smelling that there.

7. Workers: I don't know what you do, but please don't gossip while I can hear you from everywhere in the gym. I don't care that your boyfriend is being mean to you. I really don't care.

8. Spring Breakers/New YEars resolution people: Please don't say it will die down when the spring breakers and resolution people give up. You are these people.

9. Socialite girls and gays. Gym is not a place to be social, especially a small gym. Go to a coffee shop.

10. If you are sweaty. please wipe the machine.. Thanks

Well theres my 2 cents. I hope this curbs my anger tomorrow at the gym.

Other than NYC

I know I said I would talk about NYC and how awesome it is and I think Its great being back in the city. But... these pictures from this past weekend. I was on the beach, racing in San Diego/Carlsbad, and in between enjoying the sights of the mountains on the layover in Denver. See pics. Am I crazy or sometimes Man Made buildings in NYC has nothing compared to this Earth.

Walk Through Time

My Aunt was in town from Boston this weekend visiting her "companion" and me.

Side note (I use companion cause I've never seen them kiss, never seen them touch. But they are in there 50's, won't ever move in together, so I think "companion" is the right word even if it seems cold. )

Long story short, Aunt S coming into town meant that I finally had someone to go to the MET with me. My favorite exhibit there is the Greek Rooms. They are partitioned exactly by the art periods according to my Greek Art History Professor. Anne the professor was the quintessential absent minded abroad teacher who teaches little classes like mine to keep up her tiny apartment, with no bed, but is truly an archeologist. She knows her stuff and loves doing it.

The Rooms start off in 900BC and statues look like Ridged Egyptian statues, and move through to The Hellenistic Period after Alexander the Great. What a great exhibit. Go SEE it.

I just remember when we weren't in classes at the Ancient Greek Art Museum in Athens we would have slide shows. Almost ALL of those slides I saw at the MET. It was truly amazing to see them not in a slide but up close. I think my aunt got a little bored when I went so slow through the Greek Rooms. Ooops.

This photo up top is my favorite from that Art History class in the Fall of 2005. The caption at the Met says in my abridged version : Frame is missing, have no idea who the deceased is on the grave stele. Who is looking where? Who is dead? The man, the daughter, or is she the sole survivor of the group?" (MET Rogers Fund, 1911)

Anyone want to take a guess?

I think the man is dead and the little person is a midget.

Textbooks can be misleading

"Never believe everything you read."

Take the graph above. (from a public finance & econ textbook). This is to show that Washington D. C is more desirable to live because its a moderate climate, and its a trade off that Minneapolis is too cold even though he gets 50k and Phoenix is too low and too hot.

WELL SAM. (Guy in example) Let me tell you something. Phoenix may be "too hot" in the summer, but I have lived through 2 summers in PHX and 1 in D.C. Too HOT is better than 85 and 100% muggy in the Swamp that is D.C. SO that argument is out! Plus Phoenix has great outdoor activities and great getaways.

And Minneapolis. 1st off, 3 out of the 4 seasons are great. You can ski, snowshoe, skate, play hockey in the 4th. If you don't like that you have 10 thousand extra to travel in the winter. Lets not mention the great culture, bike lanes, outdoor activities in the winter spring summer and fall. No name dropping (like in D.C.), little congestion. Bitch Please! Sam you need to get your priorities straight

French Press Expert-> To Fumbler

Three problems this week with my most used possession, The French Press

1. Cooking chili in a small Manhattan kitchen is a chore in itself. Chopping up all the ingredients on a counter thats mostly taken up by the drying rack that I just bought at Kmart. There I was reaching for the parsley in one of my one cabinets (well not that bad, but it feels like I only have one). and BAM, While reading and reaching if the spice was parsley I knocked the basil off the second shelf of the cabinet, right into my french press. Glass goes EVERYWHERE in the kitchen. Im sure there will be the few remains of glass for the next few weeks.

2. Picked up a new french press at a Starbucks on Broadway. Everything went smoothly until, I did it again. Ive left my backpack, my keys, my laptop, my student Id, my credit card EVERYWHERE in this city from a bookstore to restaurants, to coffee shops. So without fail I left my keys at the counter. Went to unlock my bike, and no keys. Went back, a manager picked them up. THANKFULLY. Im always thankful about people who keep stuff for when I return. Everytime I leave something somewhere, usually its there when I return. When I went back to ask for the keys, a woman said "you're so lucky that he was kind, especially in New York City." My response "Im lucky everytime, and I think this city can be the kindest in some ways, like holding on to keys" She gave me a confused look and moved on.

3. New French Press, Was making coffee and making a smoothie at the same time, Just poored the coffee, went to reach for a class for the smoothiee while the french press is brewing. Clumsy me again in the small kitchen knocked over the freshly poored coffee with the grounds going again, everywhere. Grounds and shreds of glass will now inhabit this apartment with me, probably till I leave. Clean up was not the worst part, but the fact that i couldn't use those grounds, which of course are imported from Dunn Brothers in Minneapolis. Good thing my saint of a friend Will gave me a second bag.

Run

The best entertainment is running here. Run on the east side, Run on the west side, run in Central Park. Each has its own entertainment. Now that I have a camera on me at all times I can show you what is so weird about River Side Park South. There is a walking bridge that goes over the shore line of 200 meters, then goes back to land.

1. Was that Bridge necessary?

2. How much did it really cost?

3. And why are there Cities of the Nation on each concrete panel?

4. Why is there more Minnesotan cities/towns than any other state on this little bridge.

The Minnesota cities like, New Ulm , Goodhue, and of course Duluth. I think Mankato is on it too.

PS has anyone heard of Goodhue?

New York: 1st post

REVAMP OF BLOG> Since I am currently residing in "the best city" according to some, well, every resident here in NYC, I thought I should devote this blog to the tastes, smells, sights, sounds, and touches of NYC. This is also because now I have a phone that uploads pictures right to it.

Friends from Grad school have set up a week of activities before the break ends. Yesterday was lunch at the Peruvian restaurant, Mancora on 1st Ave, and 6th St.

Lunch at 2pm on a sat makes that we are the ONLY people there, and me being the first person to arrive from our group of 5, made it PRETTY AWKWARD. The waiter kept filling my class of water, and since I had nothing to do while I waited, I kept drinking. Then 2 out of the rest of the 4 came. then we waited..... and waited.... and waited. Translation: Frequent trips to see dear old friend El John, and there aren't too many public ones, when I am shopping

After I saw Mancora had a Lunch Special: soft drink, and appetizer and a entree for $8.95, I was hooked. The appetizer (shown) was a tamale, with chicken and corn meal. Followed by my entree of chicken a potato that was glazed and cut in squares and rice. Healthy, awesome food. (Though I just worked out for awhile, so anything could have been good.) But I recommend this place based on price alone.

Bittersweet

Yesterday American did an extraordinary thing. There is no denying that America has come a long way. Many reports today talked to people that are the living link between an elected African American to be President, and slavery.

On the same day America brought hope, America brought more shame on itself. States including California and Arizona banned same sex marriage. Because some are different they not have the same rights as others. For some reason this is a time where we can overlook one prejudice and focus on continuing another.

One major reason why we have allowed this prejudice to continue is the lack of a leader. Proponents of same sex marriage do not have the organization power proponents of bigotry. If you were in California, you overwhelmingly saw more "Yes on Prop 8" signs and commercials then you didn't. In Arizona there were "Yes on 102" signs all around the valley, and commercials ever.

Leaders step up when there time has come. When they have enough experience and knowledge and are mentally ready they take the plunge. They do it in self sacrifice and for the greater good. They do not do it for fame, or power. Personally I would like to thank Fr. Geoff Farrow for being one of these leaders the last month. We need more people like him who is courageous, thoughtful, and articulate.

I hope that there can be a coalition of leaders across the states in the next 2-10 years to educate and reform Americans minds so they know that trading one prejudice for another is not what we should do.

Many people said last night "Yes we did." This is not the attitude we need. We still have a long way to go. Yes we can. We found a positive leader for America, now lets find one for the issue.

I know I haven't posted in awhile but I wanted to comment on Abroad in America. While most countries are in the upswing of Gay Marriage such as Spain, and other countries, America has slid the other way. We have slid the other way because of the "fear politics" not just at a national level but at a state level too. I encourage anyone to vote no on propositions to ban same sex marriage. While I blog about usually useless events, one item I am passionate about is same sex marriage and the Catholic Church and the Bill of Rights.
Please visit Fr. Geoff Farrow's blog to understand how bad this amendment is. Countries I look up to have made marriage legal for all people who are in a loving committed relationships. Isn't it time we do the same, and not ban rights for our citizens? Aren't we the land of the free?

Abused BY CHILDREN, not child abuse!

<---- ME PISSED

This is a real time account of what happened to me on a plane last Sunday, typed from my journal: (It may not be grammatically correct but its raw)

"So I am a single guy, and my family and friends are in a different state that I am, so I fly a lot more than I use to. The problem is that I am single. I, being a somewhat responsible traveler know how to smoothly pick my seat, sign in online get to the airport just in time sit down in my WINDOW seat and wait if and WHEN I either get the boot or I get tuck next to "I am an American aka I am EXTREMELY fat.
Lets for this sake take the first scenerio since its happening now (interupted by a child right now saying "GIMMIE MY CHOCOLATE NOW"
Now because I am single young and slim I am discriminated again in the plane. ( I know poor me since everyone else wants to be young and singe, but I am only talking about discrimination in the plane.
I assigned myself seat 20A online 6 hours before I stepped on this plane, and its just where I liked it. I put my headphones on and no one annoys or talks to me and its perfect.
Just as I am all settled the flight attendant asked me if I could more because if I could move because the lady who just entered has 3 little children and she wasn't assigned seats with her children.
Now if she was responsible I know she could have called 1-800-225-2525 and the airline would have placed her before I move my seat. But no. Now I am sitting inbetween one of hte three little brats who plopped down and hasn't stopped moving his vocal chords and hasnt' stopped squirming. Add to this his mom right after they made me move to a MIDDLE seat gave "Alex" a happy meal.
I don't necessarily hate the fast food industry but I detest the smell esxpecially when I am in a flying tume and can't frickin move (edited there).
Now the mom just bought the dam kid potato chips on the plane---YAY (NOT!)
When its populating this earth more imprtant than my comfort... I just don't know if people should have children.
Ok one more thing then I am hopefully going to get some rest. I told you I was sitting in a middle seat. guess who's on the OTHER side of me. No actually for once its not a fat person, but a teenage PUNK who wouldn't put his phone away. He was checking his text AFTER he wasin the air. I stearnly had to say to him, "Put the phone away now!" This is going to be a great 3 hours to come.
~~~~~~~
(At the end of the flight)
Well its over and I did actually get to sleep, but I think it was body shutdown because it couldn't handle all the stimulation. But the seats from the mom and all the kids were an absoulute disaster. I never wanted to get off the plane more than this one, maybe except sitting next to teh 350 pound person eating potato chips.

Jon Hassler- Minnesota Culture

Jon Hassler is one of the nations best modern authors, who unfortunately passed away yesterday. The one book of his that stood out to me was Staggerford which is about a single younger middle aged English teacher, and his trials and tribulations with students peers, and community members in a small Minnesota town. In my eyes the reason his books are so memorable is the fact that he has found Culture in what I have doomed in a non-culture society.

What I see: Consumer driven strip-mall after strip-mall in the car, listening to music that is somehow not my culture going to a movie that is based in a different culture to escape the non consumer culture here.

Jon Hassler saw: Simple everyday culture. Hot chocolate on a Friday evening going to the local high school football game. The human connection between neighbors, and the tribulations that everyone has, and no one has quite the best answer. He found culture, no matter how simple it was. No it wasn't Romantic Paris, or the Plays in London, but the culture is ours.

I remember studying abroad in Rome with this eccentric Italian Literature professor, Carmela. (Think of a strong Italian women with her two figers and her thumbs hitting her chest when she says her name: "CAR-mellA") While she was in love with her own Roman culture, she couldn't get enough of Jon Hassler, and the picture that he painted of Minnesota and middle American culture.

I write this serious blog post not to be a debbie downer- but to set the tone for this blog. "Finding culture in a consumer risen society" And hopefully I can take lessons from Jon Hassler and find the culture wherever I am.

(P.S. also have respect for him because in High School I emailed him questions for my book report and he emailed me back the same day with a GREAT list of detailed answers. He also was a graduate and Writer in Residence at my alma matter, St. John's University, He touched my life even though he has no idea who I am)

Road Signs

Seriously, I think my tax dollars are a complete waste. As I sit down to do my taxes this week(aka my dad will do my taxes), I can't comprehend the stupidity that the government employs. I just got done with a 6 road hour trip from LA to Phoenix. The most exciting sight that was out there in the desert was coming up to Palm Springs and the sign said " Indio and Other Desert Cities."
Really "Other Desert Cities"!
Since I was on my own I had an adequate amount of time of thinking on just this sign, and I came up with NO reasonable reason why that should be on a highway sign. Yes cause on my way to my destination I would rely on a sign that says "Other Desert Cities" OH I am going to a desert city, so therefore where it says "Other Desert Cities" I should blindly follow the I-10 freeway because I read that sign. NO, I bet that NO ONE has ever relied on that sign for "Other Desert Cities"

Another sign that I saw was the classic "State Prison Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers." Doesn't that sign just make you TRUST your government employees. I know it does for me. The people who make these ridiculous signs must not see what they are actually insinuating: that we and mostly they are incompetent THINKERS. They do their work, but the ones who hand down the work from the top are not really brainiacs. Can we spend our money I don't know on something else such as, less gas tax! (paid $3.52 per gallon in CA)