Apple Store Near-Miss, "Rent", Riding Catch-Up
MON, 28 November 2005 |
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I think it's also a joke I've read somewhere, but Julienne and I were seriously wondering, why do they call it a "near-miss" when two airplanes almost collide? In our opinion, a "miss" is when they don't collide and a "collision" is when they do. They must mean "near-collision".
I had a near-miss with my latest Apple Store a few weeks ago. We were shopping at the Brea Mall and I came across the store. I had no idea one was there. Turns out it was new but yet to open. The grand opening was the next day. So close. Read more here.
Last week we went to see the movie "Rent". Julienne likes the play and the soundtrack. She has it on CD. I've struggled with enjoying it. The music and lyrics are catchy but I have a hard time accepting the subject matter. However, after seeing the movie and reading some reviews, it occurred to me that I shouldn't be so harsh or judging and that I should simply embrace what the story is trying to say and the fun way it does it. After all, I don't get bent out of shape when Bond saves the world in another outlandish 007 movie. Rather, I sit back, suspend reality, and enjoy. And that is the key to enjoying "Rent". Don't get stuck picking over the details.
As far as recommending "Rent", I do and don't. If you've seen the play, you've probably already seen the movie. If you haven't seen it, then it will help you to understand some of the things that happen on stage. The play is somewhat abstract, more so when I sit in the cheap balcony seats and try to squint to see what's going on down on the stage. It's nice having the added visual detail of the movie to fill-in the gaps. If you haven't seen the play or aren't a play kind of person, "Rent" isn't for you. It's a musical, even more so than "Chicago" (which I enjoy tremendously). There's scant dialogue and some of the scenes where singing occurs are awkward. I do recommend seeing the play, and if you enjoy that, trying out the soundtrack on CD.
Cycling tip: You can't get all your training in one day a week. I tried making up for lost time last Saturday by putting in a long ride. It was nearly 5 hours. I suffered. It's a lot like eating. You can't eat a week's worth of calories in one day and then fast the rest of the week. You need to spread it out to make it work.
Bowling anyone?
-adm
Let me know what you think!
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Nobody Walks In L.A.
MON, 21 November 2005 |
I feel like I've been stuck in traffic all week. More people, the holidays, and the fact that I've been on the road more to notice. Talk about timing. There was an article in yesterday's L.A. Times Magazine, "Gridlock City", that was right on cue. Check it out. You won't see a cop walkin' on the beat...
You only see 'em driving cars out on the street...
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Nobody walks in L.A.
-Lyrics from the song "Walking In L.A." by Missing Persons
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Training Tip #711 - Nachos
SUN, 20 November 2005 |
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Six bucks for nachos at Staples Center! For some reason, they taste great. Maybe it's because I think they should at $6? Well, I've found a way to enjoy nachos close to home and at under $3 a pop, much to the detriment of my cycling weight.
7-Eleven nachos are about two bills and three quarters. You get a bag of chips and a plastic tray. Step right up to the nacho factory machine, hold down the button, and out squirts processed cheese stuff. Or do what I do, and load the tray with processed cheese stuff AND processed chili stuff. A good rule is to get in about 3/5 cheese stuff to 2/5 chili stuff, but it's okay to go half and half. Once the tray is nearly brimming with tasty pseudo-food goodness, scoot over to the condiments section and scoop in some jalapeños. They count as vegetables, I think.
Mmmmm, processed chili and cheese stuff and nachos.
-adm
Let me know what you think!
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Deferred Success
THU, 17 November 2005 |
Yes, I am on the "deferred success" program. See here. |
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Kings Beat Canucks 5-4.
THU, 17 November 2005 |
Kings beat the Canucks tonight, 5-4. They were up 5-1 early in the third and then started getting sloppy and stupid. Luckily, they held on, otherwise I would have really been frustrated on the drive home.
Does eating three brownies before I go to bed count as training? If so, I'm right on track...
01000010 01111001 01110100 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100101 00100001.
-adm
Let me know what you think!
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Don't It Make You Sad To Know That Life Is More Than Who We Are?
TUE, 15 November 2005 |
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Scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are
-partial lyrics from the song "Name",
from the album "A Boy Named Goo",
by Goo Goo Dolls.
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Blind Follower of the Blind
MON, 14 November 2005 |
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"There is only one way in the world to be distinguished: Follow your instinct! Be yourself, and you'll be somebody. Be one more blind follower of the blind; and you will have the oblivion you desire."
-Bliss Carman, Canadian Poet
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VOTE!
TUE, 08 November 2005 |
 Today is election day. Today is your chance to exercise your right to vote. Exercise is good for you. Go vote. I did.
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Keeping Motivated
THU, 03 November 2005 |
I spent some of the past few days creating the new and improved look for VeloAllegro.org. Give it a look!
This off-season, now pre-season for 2006, is a tough one. I keep giving into the temptations around me, like the extra Halloween candy and, with the season just under three months away, the decision to put off some training. It's tough to keep motivated at a time when it's easy and acceptable not to be.
One of my struggles is dealing with trying to gain back fitness I gave up over the last three months. The season only ended two months ago, but as you may recall, I basically rolled into the last four weeks for races with very little training in between. I'm certainly not "slow", but I'm several rungs down the ladder. And this is where it's even harder. I know what it takes to get back up. I know how much time, how much effort it will take to get there, and then there's the extra time and effort it will take to improve upon that.
Despite trying to keep motivated, I had a positive moment today after my ride. I sat up, took a deep breath, and then smiled because it was a beautiful night and I was doing something I enjoy, getting exercise, and not sitting on the couch watching TV. I was tired and my legs hurt, but I still smiled.
When I got home, I had dinner and enjoyed an article in today's L.A. Times titled, "While others snooze, early birds run loose". The main point is some people wake up early to exercise or run errands and that there's this enjoyable solitude to the early morning. I'm not sure if I'm the "natural" kind of early bird the article talks about, but I still wake up early, at least most weekends, to greet the sunrise from atop my bicycle.
-adm
Let me know what you think!
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