A few words from Captain Obvious

It takes certain kind of courage to recognize what's right in front of your face.

Ignoring it is easy. That's what we condition ourselves to doing. Frankly, I’m way too good at it. Getting sidetracked. Distracted. Like a squirrel with ADHD.

But. Facing up to the stone cold truth, even when it's about to collide with the tip of my nose? Eh, that's not so easy.

Those blatant, obviousnesses of Life - the ones we take for granted and never question - those are the truths that everybody faces. But I rarely ever confront. Be it a health issue, or whatever. Til now.

Maybe this sounds like the attractive glimmer of a new year’s resolution in the making. It is for me, but feel free to appropriate it for yourself.

So here's to hoping – first and foremost – you recognize whatever reality you’ve been ducking, for what it is.

And second, that you have the courage to act on it (including a prayer for having the wisdom to know when _not_ to act on it, if that’s warranted).

Thanks for reading all the way down here.

Why biking in the before is better

Before the night's hush is torn.

Before the day's rush is born.

Before the bugs know to steer clear, as I draw near.

Before the dogs take their owners out for a walk.

Before the babies in strollers start to balk.

Before the scooters, the skaters, and the loud-mouth haters.

Before the teams appear in matching cycle gear.

That's where I was, and now you know the because.

Hope the traffic through your day is clear and thanks for reading all the way down here.

It's a poorly motivated swimmer who blames his goggles.

Not losing much love in retiring my swim goggles (sorta like the ones pictured above).

Did what I could to help them along through today's swim, but they:

                 • Lost their luster and leaked

                 • Failed and filled with water

                 • Succeeded in sucking the satisfaction out of my swim

Adjusted as best I could and kept going.

Lesson in stubbornness? Dogged determination? Or just an abdication of caring for my eyes?

Well, here's hoping that you persevere, even in the face of equipment failure.

(Ooh, lookit; there's the new ones!)

And thanks for reading all the way down here.

Why run at 5:30am? Fewer werewolves.

There're also fewer zooming bicyclists to dodge on the way to Central Park.

Fewer cabs. Cars. And trucks.

No roller bladers. Skateboarders. Or that guy practicing his cross-country skiing on wheels (rollerskiing?) - if you've ever seen him?

Nobody's window shopping. Or texting while they walk. Or ogling the tall buildings with their Nikons. The few brave (not me) souls who're out have their Nikes on and're moving like they're on a mission.

In the City That Never Sleeps, think 5:30am catches many New Yorkers napping, snug in their beds. But y'know what? At that pre-caffeinated hour, I'm just glad that they're anywhere but in front of me.

Here's hoping your day's got minimal interference, including being 100% werewolf-free.

(Photo courtesy of Isarda Sorensen.)

Thanks for reading down here.

Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it & other reasons to connect with people in 2012

The New Year's well into its first month. Done anything interesting in it?

Yeah. Me neither.

Tick. Tock.

But I'm working on it.

Instead of nervous nattering in the elevator, been offering compliments to strangers. Like, "Cool shoes" (when they were, in fact, pretty cool shoes).

Or, when a slightly-anxious looking fellow was sporting a new, nicely pressed, 3 button suit, and was white knuckling his not-yet-broken-in briefcase, told him, "Hope your interview goes well."

This New Year ain't here for long. Figure it ougta be memorable, right?

Hope your 2012's full of remarkable remarks. And thanks for reading down here.

Mulching Many Christmas Trees - Sweet Smell of Success

(That was my view as I was leaving Saturday afternoon - Riverside at West 83rd Street)

               Ode to Mulchfest 2012:

                    Pine scent 
                    was evident. 


                    Smiles on the workers (whenever we could) 
                    were second only to the grins on kids from the neighborhood. 


                    When the machine was mulching it was super loud 
                    but I was happy to help the park, even sort of proud. 


                    If you missed it this time, don't shed a tear, 
                    plan on showing up with me, next year.