Sunday, March 18, 2012
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
3 Years o' Running
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| ATC Hearts & Soles 2010 |
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| Gobble Jog 2009 |
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| Chattahoochee Road Runners 5K -2011 (PR=22:52) |
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Don't Stop the Linsanity!
Art is unique because it is free of practical concerns and is THEREFORE
free to explore and express what CAN be expressed by no other activity.
Richard Serra (Minimalist sculptor, Process Art Movement)
Monday, February 06, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Tea Time
God works in mysterious ways, doesn't she?
Final score: New England 45- Denver 10. It wasn't even that close.
Final score: New England 45- Denver 10. It wasn't even that close.
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| "Dear Lord, please show me how to throw a perfect spiral like Tom Brady." |
Monday, January 09, 2012
Keep on Runnin'
Run Streak Day #395
5 Miles at the Silver Comet trail in Smyrna, Georgia
5 Miles at the Silver Comet trail in Smyrna, Georgia
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| Just another typical Monday after work run at the local trail OK, not really, this was taken in Washington DC this summer. Pride Week. |
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Jesus Walked!
God Hates Runners.
Love Jesus- Stop Running!
This is hysterical and offensive as hell. So there's your WARNING.
From the LA Marathon (2011?)
Love Jesus- Stop Running!
This is hysterical and offensive as hell. So there's your WARNING.
From the LA Marathon (2011?)
| LA Marathon | UCBcomedy.com |
| Watch more comedy videos from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at UCBcomedy.com | |
Monday, January 02, 2012
Resolution Run 5K
Whatever happened to run relaxed?
Need to relax the face, jaw, shoulders and hands.
Stay relaxed and centered. #ChiRunning.
Need to relax the face, jaw, shoulders and hands.
Stay relaxed and centered. #ChiRunning.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
New Year (The Beginning of the End of the World)
So it's 2012.
To ring in the new year this morning my wife and I went and ran at the Atlanta Track Club's Resolution Run 5K in Kennesaw. It was unusually warm- 60 degrees F at 11 AM. The humidity felt like 100%. There were lots of people, probably 2000+. This race marks my 3rd year of running. I actually started two and a half years ago at the Peachtree Road Race 2009.
I have always been an athlete as long as I can remember. My earliest childhood memory was of me playing soccer barefoot outside in the dirt with my friends when I was about 4 or 5. Growing up in a third world country I never wore any shoes or footwear besides flip-flops or sandals- the kind that was made from recycled car tires. I loved the feel of the dirt and the wet asphalt under my feet when it rained, which it did a lot along the Mekong Delta, South Vietnam. I remember running, riding bikes, playing soccer, jumping ropes and just walking for fun outside 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, literally from sun up to sun down. We did have a TV with one station which broadcasted in black & white from 7 to 12 at night. Yes, I'm that old. (Forty cough six)
Fast forward to some 40+ years later, and I now have a newfound love for barefooting or going sockless whenever I can. I run in minimalist shoes/ zero drop shoes for about a year now. I go barefoot indoors as much as possible, and wear flip-flops or sandals even in the winter. It must be my midlife crisis. Some men get convertible sports car or cosmetic surgery or have a mistress, I run. Every. Single. Day. I didn't set a personal record (PR) or anything like that today but it just felt great achieving my goal of running every single day for the past 387 days. KISS. Keep it simple sweetie.
2012 Resolutions:
#1 Run every day.
#2 Eat healthy.
#3 Live simpler.
#4 Keep a sense of humor.
#5 Be more pretentious.
#6 Act my age. Not!
#7 Will run no Marathon at all, not even half of one.
#8 Will stop posting on facebook when I'm drunk.
#9 Drink less beer. More wine.
To ring in the new year this morning my wife and I went and ran at the Atlanta Track Club's Resolution Run 5K in Kennesaw. It was unusually warm- 60 degrees F at 11 AM. The humidity felt like 100%. There were lots of people, probably 2000+. This race marks my 3rd year of running. I actually started two and a half years ago at the Peachtree Road Race 2009.
I have always been an athlete as long as I can remember. My earliest childhood memory was of me playing soccer barefoot outside in the dirt with my friends when I was about 4 or 5. Growing up in a third world country I never wore any shoes or footwear besides flip-flops or sandals- the kind that was made from recycled car tires. I loved the feel of the dirt and the wet asphalt under my feet when it rained, which it did a lot along the Mekong Delta, South Vietnam. I remember running, riding bikes, playing soccer, jumping ropes and just walking for fun outside 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, literally from sun up to sun down. We did have a TV with one station which broadcasted in black & white from 7 to 12 at night. Yes, I'm that old. (Forty cough six)
Fast forward to some 40+ years later, and I now have a newfound love for barefooting or going sockless whenever I can. I run in minimalist shoes/ zero drop shoes for about a year now. I go barefoot indoors as much as possible, and wear flip-flops or sandals even in the winter. It must be my midlife crisis. Some men get convertible sports car or cosmetic surgery or have a mistress, I run. Every. Single. Day. I didn't set a personal record (PR) or anything like that today but it just felt great achieving my goal of running every single day for the past 387 days. KISS. Keep it simple sweetie.
2012 Resolutions:
#1 Run every day.
#2 Eat healthy.
#3 Live simpler.
#4 Keep a sense of humor.
#5 Be more pretentious.
#6 Act my age. Not!
#7 Will run no Marathon at all, not even half of one.
#8 Will stop posting on facebook when I'm drunk.
#9 Drink less beer. More wine.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
IOWA
IOWA. YOU MAKE ME SMILE.
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I got this bumper sticker from our last trip to the state of Iowa in 1998, the year we got married. I have also lived in Iowa City in the early 80's.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
50x50x50
So this past Saturday was the 365th consecutive days that I have ran at least 5K. One full year, 12 months straight, not missing a single day. I've ran roughly 96% outdoors on the roads, trails, and parks. The times that I ran indoors were mostly on the indoor track and treadmill at Bally's Total Fitness gym where I've been a member since 1998.
I've ran in snow, sleet, rain, wind, hail, heat, humidity and even a couple of tornado warnings. I learned to love the summer heat here in Georgia, I actually enjoyed running in 95 degrees weather in the middle of July as I was training or practicing for the Peachtree Road Race 10K. I've learned to pace myself and limit my runs to around 3 to 4 miles range at a comfortable 9:30 pace. My longest run ever was 10 miles. This summer I was one of 14 people out of 14,000 members of the Atlanta Track Club who completed all 14 races of the Grand Prix Series and received a Bunny Award.
My new goal is 50x50x50: Run for 50 minutes in all 50 states by the time I turn 50 years old. I have about 162 weeks left to do this.
My first ever race was a One Mile Fun Run in Puerto Rico. It was the Ramey Fun Run held on the Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 1979.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday, November 06, 2011
MGBG Guide to Winter Barefoot Running
The Maple Grove Barefoot Guy: The MGBG Guide to Winter Barefoot Running: You are about to go where few of us have ever gone before. You are not crazy. Okay...yes, you are crazy. Snow was in the forecast a fe...
Monday, October 24, 2011
Follow Your Bliss
"Follow your bliss.
The heroic life is living the individual adventure.
There is no security in following the call to adventure.
Nothing is exciting if you know what the outcome is going to be.
To refuse the call means stagnation.
What you don’t experience positively you will experience negatively.
You enter the forest at the darkest point, where there is no path.
Where there is a way or path, it is someone else’s path.
You are not on your own path.
If you follow someone else’s way, you are not going to realize your potential."
Joseph Campbell
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Old Skool Hip Hop: Say it Loud-I'm Brown & I'm Proud
I don't listen to a lot of current rap or hip-hop or whatever crap is playing the radio nowadays, but this classic track from Boogie Down Productions (KRS-One) is still one of my favorites.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Klimchak
http://www.klimchakmusic.com/
Last night I went to see Klimchak performed at the Balzer Theater/ Theatrical Outfit in downtown Atlanta. Here's a rundown of his playlist and some of my thoughts:
1. "To set the mood for the evening..." Klimchak starts out at a large rustic home-built instrument upstage which consists of three 15' long PVC pipes ingeniously mounted on a see-saw device. As soon as he plays it you can tell that these were jumbo Rain sticks specifically designed for sound effects at a theatrical performance (probably at Georgia Shakespeare.) Klimchak continues to built more layers over the sounds with some kind of didgeridoo-like wind instrument as well as a traditional flute.
2. Next he moves on to the crowd-pleaser Marimba Lumina, (click on it for more info) which I have seen him performed many times over the last few years: outside at a park on the Atlanta Beltline and at indoor venues such as the EyeDrum space. "Country and Eastern" remains one of my favorite compositions. It combines a catchy Chinese/Oriental melody on top of what sounds more like rock n roll than country rhythm. "The Pent" featuring some wild free jazz improv trumpet licks followed by a sort of "Scottish Jig ?" complete with the penny whistle. It's something you have to see live to appreciate how well Klimchak makes use of this electronic instrument. He plays with four percussion mallets, using both feet on pedals for drums, and then a mouth breath-controller on top of it all.
3. This was probably the first time a lot of people have seen the Theremin (click for more info) being played live. Man, his skills on this wireless eerie electronic instrument have improved tremendously since the last time I've seen him. He could make that Theremin sing sweet expressive operatic sounds just by moving two hands. Mesmerizing is the word I still think of whenever I see and hear Klimchak performs this instrument. Who knew that the Theremin could also be humorous?
4. "Sixteen Tons" his Afro-Cuban take on this coal miner folk/work song shows his confidence and ease playing around the acoustic drum set-up. His vocal mic probably didn't need that much reverb, but hey that's just my opinion as an ex-sound guy. This might be the only cover song that he does publicly.
5. "Waterworks" worked wonderfully for its simplicity an beauty. Just a mallet banging on some pot lids submerge in and out of a giant clear glass waterbowl. Added some Berimbau-like instrument played with a bow. The whole effect is very meditative and zen.
6. A live dance accompaniment piece performed on a Magical Musical Desk with built-in instruments. "To Bring into Being" featuring Lori Teague from Emory University.
7. This is what I think is the essence of Klimchak: unique, imaginative, playful, incredibly inventive and creative in his approach to music. He said he did this "Tarzan on Acid" piece at an open-mic show about 3 years ago. It makes great use of the looper effect. Starts out with a basic Tarzan yodel, loop or sample that, add some flute phrase, loop, add more instruments, various squeaky dog toys, mouth harp, more plastic toy instruments, everything plus the kitchen sink, plays the tambourine, do some more throat singing and scat singing. What is incredible is that he makes nothing seems out of place, this piece is seamless and effortless. The whole thing sounds so fun, modern, groovy and spontaneously organic. The audience can't help but get into it. I could watch and listen to it for hours.
8. "Knows No Brakes", a Rave Techno song done live without sequencer on the Marimba Lumina finished up the 2-hour performance.
Last night I went to see Klimchak performed at the Balzer Theater/ Theatrical Outfit in downtown Atlanta. Here's a rundown of his playlist and some of my thoughts:
1. "To set the mood for the evening..." Klimchak starts out at a large rustic home-built instrument upstage which consists of three 15' long PVC pipes ingeniously mounted on a see-saw device. As soon as he plays it you can tell that these were jumbo Rain sticks specifically designed for sound effects at a theatrical performance (probably at Georgia Shakespeare.) Klimchak continues to built more layers over the sounds with some kind of didgeridoo-like wind instrument as well as a traditional flute.
2. Next he moves on to the crowd-pleaser Marimba Lumina, (click on it for more info) which I have seen him performed many times over the last few years: outside at a park on the Atlanta Beltline and at indoor venues such as the EyeDrum space. "Country and Eastern" remains one of my favorite compositions. It combines a catchy Chinese/Oriental melody on top of what sounds more like rock n roll than country rhythm. "The Pent" featuring some wild free jazz improv trumpet licks followed by a sort of "Scottish Jig ?" complete with the penny whistle. It's something you have to see live to appreciate how well Klimchak makes use of this electronic instrument. He plays with four percussion mallets, using both feet on pedals for drums, and then a mouth breath-controller on top of it all.
3. This was probably the first time a lot of people have seen the Theremin (click for more info) being played live. Man, his skills on this wireless eerie electronic instrument have improved tremendously since the last time I've seen him. He could make that Theremin sing sweet expressive operatic sounds just by moving two hands. Mesmerizing is the word I still think of whenever I see and hear Klimchak performs this instrument. Who knew that the Theremin could also be humorous?
4. "Sixteen Tons" his Afro-Cuban take on this coal miner folk/work song shows his confidence and ease playing around the acoustic drum set-up. His vocal mic probably didn't need that much reverb, but hey that's just my opinion as an ex-sound guy. This might be the only cover song that he does publicly.
5. "Waterworks" worked wonderfully for its simplicity an beauty. Just a mallet banging on some pot lids submerge in and out of a giant clear glass waterbowl. Added some Berimbau-like instrument played with a bow. The whole effect is very meditative and zen.
6. A live dance accompaniment piece performed on a Magical Musical Desk with built-in instruments. "To Bring into Being" featuring Lori Teague from Emory University.
7. This is what I think is the essence of Klimchak: unique, imaginative, playful, incredibly inventive and creative in his approach to music. He said he did this "Tarzan on Acid" piece at an open-mic show about 3 years ago. It makes great use of the looper effect. Starts out with a basic Tarzan yodel, loop or sample that, add some flute phrase, loop, add more instruments, various squeaky dog toys, mouth harp, more plastic toy instruments, everything plus the kitchen sink, plays the tambourine, do some more throat singing and scat singing. What is incredible is that he makes nothing seems out of place, this piece is seamless and effortless. The whole thing sounds so fun, modern, groovy and spontaneously organic. The audience can't help but get into it. I could watch and listen to it for hours.
8. "Knows No Brakes", a Rave Techno song done live without sequencer on the Marimba Lumina finished up the 2-hour performance.
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| Klimchak playing the Marimba Lumina at the Atlanta Beltline opening last year |
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Comedy Time
"Dat Phan, remember...He who laughs last, is surrounded by dead people."
Now that's comedy.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Born To Run Barefoot
Hey that should be the new title of this blog: Born To Run Barefoot. Think someone will sue me? Chris McDougal trademarked his book?
Today marks the 227 straight days of my current running streak. Ran about 5 miles, with the last mile barefoot on the cement sidewalk on East West Connector. This stretch of sidewalk is part of the Silver Comet trail Cumberland Connector, which will eventually connect the Silver Comet trail to Cumberland Mall and the Chattahoochee River.
If someone ever ask me why I run barefoot, these are some answers I have:
Today marks the 227 straight days of my current running streak. Ran about 5 miles, with the last mile barefoot on the cement sidewalk on East West Connector. This stretch of sidewalk is part of the Silver Comet trail Cumberland Connector, which will eventually connect the Silver Comet trail to Cumberland Mall and the Chattahoochee River.
If someone ever ask me why I run barefoot, these are some answers I have:
- Times are tough, man!
- Forgot my shoes at home.
- Ran so fast that my shoes slipped out somewhere back there.
- It's too frigging hot out here.
- It's fun and feels wonderful.
- Why the heck not?
Friday, July 22, 2011
Another Sexist sport
Why aren't there any female riders in the Tour De France?
And, the whole thing really doesn't just take place in France, there are some legs outside of the country, right? Sorry, cycling is another white elitist Yuppie sport like Golf that I just won't take up. On that note, why are the Spelling Bee and Poker Tournaments shown on ESPN? Are these even considered sports?
And, the whole thing really doesn't just take place in France, there are some legs outside of the country, right? Sorry, cycling is another white elitist Yuppie sport like Golf that I just won't take up. On that note, why are the Spelling Bee and Poker Tournaments shown on ESPN? Are these even considered sports?
Brother West
Stay Classy my friends!
Or go back into the hole you crawled out of, Allen West- you ain't no Gentleman, bro.
"Family values, traditional values, Christian virtues, restoring decency"...anything else?
Or go back into the hole you crawled out of, Allen West- you ain't no Gentleman, bro.
"Family values, traditional values, Christian virtues, restoring decency"...anything else?
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| DWS stands for Debbie Wasserman Schultz |
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