I think yesterday was a cosmic correction day, where I thought I was doing so well, but the universe decided it was time to smack me down a little. Work wasn't so bad, and I actually got a lot done. I also ended up registering a total of 10 people to vote, including a resident in the shelter, which warms the cockles of my heart (yes, I actually do have one...somewhere). So, I leave work with the grand plan of riding my bike down to the Government Center - South, and then over to the gym. Since I was let go from the State (for party affiliation...not under-performance), it is always pretty odd for me to go back in there, especially because that building is so insecure. If I were more of a sociopath, I could probably make an incredible statement on the profundity of the current administration, but luckily, I just have an over active, Ally McBeal-sized imagination. It was just weird that I actually interviewed with the Election Commission before I eventually got a job with another agency, and it made me think for a minute how different my life would have been if I had gotten that job. I would have been much more of a professional political animal, which probably would have either left me totally burned out or quite possibly high up in the Democratic Party. Ah...weirdness...
I drop off the registrations, and I get on my bike to head across downtown to my gym. I've never actually made this trip because I am usually either biking directly to the gym or just around the canal, and since it was the height of rush hour, I decided it would be safer to ride on the sidewalks because Indiana drivers are absolutely, bat shit crazy. Since I was safely ensconced on the sidewalk, it meant that I only *almost* got hit a couple of times.
By the time I reached the gym, it was pretty packed, with the usually preening middle aged men who think they can actually lift weights, but really just sit on the bench for two hours and struggle. Surprisingly, there were a couple hotties there, which is always a pleasant respite from the old people, and I was in a good mood. I was happy where my workouts were going, with me adding weight continually through the four weeks I've been hard training, and then BAM, I don't know what happened. I struggled through my bench and incline press, and the rest of the workout was fairly lackluster. By the time I reached the crunches portion of the proceedings, I was just ready for it to be over. Then, while I was doing some dips, I moved my neck forward a little, and I felt this pull about a quarter way down my back followed by pain whenever I tried to turn my head. Not Good!
I didn't get a very good night's sleep because there was really no good way to place my head, and I'm pretty sure my cat was about ready to claw my eyes out if I didn't stop moving. And now, I kind of have to move my entire torso to move my head around, just to avoid the pain. I'm hoping against all hope that it is just a little strain, and that it will be back to normal soon. Though, secretly, I think it would be funny to have a neck brace. I kid...I kid..
Anyway, since I was downloading music from iTunes like a maniac last night, I thought it would be fun to do some music videos today.
First up, is Goldfrapp's "A&E". I love love love the song, but the video is a bit weird.
Next up is PJ Harvey's "The Letter"
Finally, something fun, Jupiter Rising's "Electropop"
Showing posts with label biking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biking. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Monday, April 7th - Weekend Crumbs
I'm sitting here eating my spinach and cheese omelet contemplating the fact that I am still a little drunk from last night. Also, I think I may have revealed too much via text message to someone I just started talking to online. Hmmm...um...gotta love that.
After the extremely busy few days I had starting a week ago Friday and ending last Wednesday, I was ready to not do all that much this weekend. Blanche and I contemplated going out Friday night, but we ended up just bagging it. I got a chance to immerse myself in the Battlestar Galactica universe again. Holy Frak! I love this show. I know a lot of people figure it to be some lame brain sci-fi show, but the fact of the matter is that it is really one of the (if not the) best written and acted shows on television. With the series anchored by Edward James Almos (Miami Vice) and Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves) as Admiral Adama and President Laura Roslin, the story of the ragtag remains of the human race on the run from the Cylons is grounded in real life stories that are pretty blatantly allegorical to present times. While you would be pretty lost to pick it up now in its fourth and final season, I do encourage everyone to pick it up on DVD. If you don't get hooked by the pilot miniseries, then you're a lost cause!
After getting a pretty good nights sleep, I plotted out a pretty busy Saturday. I did laundry, went to Old Navy (four shirts...work and otherwise), Target (groceries and a new pair of gym shorts), and Costco (all my bulk food). When I got home, I got out the bike and headed to the gym for my leg workout, which was good, and when I bike before and after it, I really do not get the tightness the day after. So, thank the gods for spring! I kinda felt like I wanted to go out, but after getting no's or non-committal responses from the Mean Girls, we decided to stay in again, but go out to Olly's on Sunday night.
On Sunday, my one and only plan (outside of going out) was to get a good bike ride in on the Monon Trail. I'm pretty sure I blogged about the Trail before, but I'm too lazy to look up the link right now. Anyway, the Monon Trail used to be an inter-urban rail line which has been paved over from 10th Street downtown all the way up to 146th street in Carmel (a burb of Indy). There are talks of extending it in both directions, but we'll see if that happens. Anyway, I got on the Monon on 22nd Street, and I rode it all the way up to 96th. I was thinking about going further, but my legs were getting tired. Of course, when I turned around, I realized the wind was coming more from the south, which only made the trip home all the more difficult. It was a good ride though, about 23 miles.
After I got home, I set out to make some dinner and my breakfast and lunch for Monday, and in the process, I felt like I could really use a nap. So, after making the food but before eating it, I dropped off for a quick hour long power nap. It was a good thing, because it allowed me to down copious levels of alcohol with Romeo, Blanche, and Rockstar. It was a good time, AND to show that I'm not just a gluttonous alcoholic, since the deadline to register to vote in Indiana, I took forms with me to the bar, and I emailed everyone at work. So, I felt I have done my part to swell the voter rolls in Indiana, and plus, I'll get to bike them down to the government center before I go to the gym this afternoon. Say it with me folks, "I LOVE SPRING."
I've reached the point where I'm finally starting to feel like I've made progress in the old fitness routine. The arms and chest are really almost back to form, but the weight loss is still lagging behind. I'm hoping that I am not just converting everything to muscle, because I am seriously not wanting to bulk up that way either, but I suppose there are worse things than being a muscle god. I'm hoping that my biking will help this along a bit, though it is more for pleasure than cycling like a maniac. I'm contemplating changing out my current lifting routine because I feel like my bod is used to it, but I enjoy it so much. I'll probably stick with it through the next 4 weeks.
I think that's all for now. I hope everyone had a great weekend!
After the extremely busy few days I had starting a week ago Friday and ending last Wednesday, I was ready to not do all that much this weekend. Blanche and I contemplated going out Friday night, but we ended up just bagging it. I got a chance to immerse myself in the Battlestar Galactica universe again. Holy Frak! I love this show. I know a lot of people figure it to be some lame brain sci-fi show, but the fact of the matter is that it is really one of the (if not the) best written and acted shows on television. With the series anchored by Edward James Almos (Miami Vice) and Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves) as Admiral Adama and President Laura Roslin, the story of the ragtag remains of the human race on the run from the Cylons is grounded in real life stories that are pretty blatantly allegorical to present times. While you would be pretty lost to pick it up now in its fourth and final season, I do encourage everyone to pick it up on DVD. If you don't get hooked by the pilot miniseries, then you're a lost cause!
After getting a pretty good nights sleep, I plotted out a pretty busy Saturday. I did laundry, went to Old Navy (four shirts...work and otherwise), Target (groceries and a new pair of gym shorts), and Costco (all my bulk food). When I got home, I got out the bike and headed to the gym for my leg workout, which was good, and when I bike before and after it, I really do not get the tightness the day after. So, thank the gods for spring! I kinda felt like I wanted to go out, but after getting no's or non-committal responses from the Mean Girls, we decided to stay in again, but go out to Olly's on Sunday night.
On Sunday, my one and only plan (outside of going out) was to get a good bike ride in on the Monon Trail. I'm pretty sure I blogged about the Trail before, but I'm too lazy to look up the link right now. Anyway, the Monon Trail used to be an inter-urban rail line which has been paved over from 10th Street downtown all the way up to 146th street in Carmel (a burb of Indy). There are talks of extending it in both directions, but we'll see if that happens. Anyway, I got on the Monon on 22nd Street, and I rode it all the way up to 96th. I was thinking about going further, but my legs were getting tired. Of course, when I turned around, I realized the wind was coming more from the south, which only made the trip home all the more difficult. It was a good ride though, about 23 miles.
After I got home, I set out to make some dinner and my breakfast and lunch for Monday, and in the process, I felt like I could really use a nap. So, after making the food but before eating it, I dropped off for a quick hour long power nap. It was a good thing, because it allowed me to down copious levels of alcohol with Romeo, Blanche, and Rockstar. It was a good time, AND to show that I'm not just a gluttonous alcoholic, since the deadline to register to vote in Indiana, I took forms with me to the bar, and I emailed everyone at work. So, I felt I have done my part to swell the voter rolls in Indiana, and plus, I'll get to bike them down to the government center before I go to the gym this afternoon. Say it with me folks, "I LOVE SPRING."
I've reached the point where I'm finally starting to feel like I've made progress in the old fitness routine. The arms and chest are really almost back to form, but the weight loss is still lagging behind. I'm hoping that I am not just converting everything to muscle, because I am seriously not wanting to bulk up that way either, but I suppose there are worse things than being a muscle god. I'm hoping that my biking will help this along a bit, though it is more for pleasure than cycling like a maniac. I'm contemplating changing out my current lifting routine because I feel like my bod is used to it, but I enjoy it so much. I'll probably stick with it through the next 4 weeks.
I think that's all for now. I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday, March 24th - Weekend Hangover
This was a very busy weekend pretty much from start to finish. Since work was pretty dead on Friday, I left a little early to hit the gym. I have typically been going to the gym in the mornings, but I just couldn't muster the energy on Friday morning, especially because it was legs and by far the longest workout of the week for me. The unknown benefit was that it was nice enough to bike to the gym in the afternoon. So, I think it all worked out for the best.
After I got home from the gym around 4:30, I decided to go ahead and go to Costco and pick up the bulk stuff for my diet. I normally do this on Saturday or Sunday, but since I had other plans on Saturday that took me south and Costco is on the northside, I figured it made more sense to do it on Friday. After that, my extremely exciting Friday pretty much came to a close. I think if I hadn't actually forced myself to stay up later, I probably would have been in bed by 8:30. The overall lameness of that was the only thing that prevented me from doing so. This getting up early and not drinking coffee is really catching up with me.
Saturday, I got up around 8, and I went to the gym to do my cardio. After that, I came home and passed out on the couch for a couple hours. Then after seeing that the leftover money from my debt reduction payment had registered in my account, I decided to drive down to Edinburgh to the outlet mall because I was in desperate need for new workout shoes, and daddy don't like paying full price. I've blogged about my abhorrence for shoes and shoe shopping, and I will generally wear shoes until they just aren't presentable anymore. I don't buy shoes for fun or for every occasion. I generally have one pair of black, brown, and tennis shoes, with various options from the past available if they still have a sole on them. After I picked out my shoes, walked around the mall, and picked up two pairs of jeans for $10 apiece (!), I headed back towards Indianapolis, with a stop off at SuperTarget to get the rest of my groceries.
I was home by 4:30 or 5:00, which really didn't give me a whole lot time to put away my groceries, fix dinner, and get ready to leave at 6:45 to go north to Kokomo with the Mean Girls, Mom, RockStar, and Summer Clearance (yes, that'll be his name). Kokomo is about an hour north of Indy, and before I moved to Indy, it was the "big city" we always went to when we needed something my hometown didn't have. It's a very industrial and infuriating city due to the stop lights on US 31, and it is not exactly the place you would assume would have a great gay bar. Luckily, Blue Bar is small and doesn't try to be anything more than it is, and it also helps that I know the owner (who happens to be quite hot). He and I have a history that is not worth repeating here, but it's looking like he and I will be going out on a date soon. So, more on that when it develops.
The occasion for going to Bar Blue was their pageant to crown Miss Blue. It was a lot of fun, and all the contestants were pretty good, though only 2 were actually from Indiana. I don't know what makes a drag queen come to podunk Indiana to compete, but I suppose the $6,500 in cash and prizes to the winner helped. I was pretty drunk (shock) and reveling in the fact that Mom was driving, and after a stop at IHOP for a somewhat healthy snack, we were home by 4:30. Somewhere along the way, I got a bruise on my thigh, but I'm going to hope I didn't pill a Romeo and fell down the stairs.
I got up at 8:00 on Sunday and spent most of the day with my parent's for Easter. It was kind of weird because my sister and her kids were not there, but we made the most of it. I got home around 4, made my food for Monday, and then I laid down on the couch and tried not to fall asleep. I was in bed by 10.
Some observations about shopping to close out the blog:
After I got home from the gym around 4:30, I decided to go ahead and go to Costco and pick up the bulk stuff for my diet. I normally do this on Saturday or Sunday, but since I had other plans on Saturday that took me south and Costco is on the northside, I figured it made more sense to do it on Friday. After that, my extremely exciting Friday pretty much came to a close. I think if I hadn't actually forced myself to stay up later, I probably would have been in bed by 8:30. The overall lameness of that was the only thing that prevented me from doing so. This getting up early and not drinking coffee is really catching up with me.
Saturday, I got up around 8, and I went to the gym to do my cardio. After that, I came home and passed out on the couch for a couple hours. Then after seeing that the leftover money from my debt reduction payment had registered in my account, I decided to drive down to Edinburgh to the outlet mall because I was in desperate need for new workout shoes, and daddy don't like paying full price. I've blogged about my abhorrence for shoes and shoe shopping, and I will generally wear shoes until they just aren't presentable anymore. I don't buy shoes for fun or for every occasion. I generally have one pair of black, brown, and tennis shoes, with various options from the past available if they still have a sole on them. After I picked out my shoes, walked around the mall, and picked up two pairs of jeans for $10 apiece (!), I headed back towards Indianapolis, with a stop off at SuperTarget to get the rest of my groceries.
I was home by 4:30 or 5:00, which really didn't give me a whole lot time to put away my groceries, fix dinner, and get ready to leave at 6:45 to go north to Kokomo with the Mean Girls, Mom, RockStar, and Summer Clearance (yes, that'll be his name). Kokomo is about an hour north of Indy, and before I moved to Indy, it was the "big city" we always went to when we needed something my hometown didn't have. It's a very industrial and infuriating city due to the stop lights on US 31, and it is not exactly the place you would assume would have a great gay bar. Luckily, Blue Bar is small and doesn't try to be anything more than it is, and it also helps that I know the owner (who happens to be quite hot). He and I have a history that is not worth repeating here, but it's looking like he and I will be going out on a date soon. So, more on that when it develops.
The occasion for going to Bar Blue was their pageant to crown Miss Blue. It was a lot of fun, and all the contestants were pretty good, though only 2 were actually from Indiana. I don't know what makes a drag queen come to podunk Indiana to compete, but I suppose the $6,500 in cash and prizes to the winner helped. I was pretty drunk (shock) and reveling in the fact that Mom was driving, and after a stop at IHOP for a somewhat healthy snack, we were home by 4:30. Somewhere along the way, I got a bruise on my thigh, but I'm going to hope I didn't pill a Romeo and fell down the stairs.
I got up at 8:00 on Sunday and spent most of the day with my parent's for Easter. It was kind of weird because my sister and her kids were not there, but we made the most of it. I got home around 4, made my food for Monday, and then I laid down on the couch and tried not to fall asleep. I was in bed by 10.
Some observations about shopping to close out the blog:
- Why the hell are my new tennis shoes 13 and a 1/2. It is irritating enough to have to find 13s, but this just makes it all the worse. I realize that shoe sizes vary, but dammit, that's annoying!
- Did the world really need a Crocs outlet store?
- Is Sag Harbor really the good name for a store and clothing line catering to women of a certain age?
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Monday, March 3nd - Spring for a Day
Ah, finally! A glimpse of spring. Even though it looks like weather is going to dip down below freezing tonight and for the rest of the week, just having Sunday, which ended up getting into the mid 60s, was enough to get me out of my doldrums.
On Saturday, it was still pretty cold, but I still got my bike out and rode around the downtown canal. I had been wanting to get down there for a while to check it out, because they recently drained it to clean all of the algae and gunk that has accumulated over 10 or so years. I had meant to get some pictures, but I didn't feel like lugging my gigantor camera with me. The first thing that struck me was just how deep the canal is, and how disconcerting it is to bike around it when you could just fall to your death at any moment (okay, not really). It will be nice once they get it all cleaned up, but considering the new deadline was the end of February, I don't think it is going to be up and going anytime soon, which puts the annual Greening of the Canal in jeopardy for St. Patrick's Day (shameless plug: I do their website). Anyway, I only rode about 5 or so miles on Saturday, but my body was really feeling it. It is amazing how quickly you get out of shape for a specific activity.
On Sunday, after an aborted Thelma and Louise style middle of the night roadtrip with Blanche to see Hillary in Columbus, Ohio, I got up and watched the political talking heads and promptly fell asleep until about 2:00. Then I pulled myself off the couch, got into some sweats and a long tshirt, and started to head towards the Monon Trail for a very long bike ride. I didn't realize just how warm it was outside, and I think I could have gotten away with shorts and a tshirt. Ah well, it was SO beautiful, and the Trail was really packed with others trying to shake off the winter malaise. I am so looking forward to doing this regularly. Ahhh...Spring, get the hell here for good!
I ended up riding all the way up to 82nd Street (starting at 22nd), and it was probably not the best idea in the world. I was getting pretty tired towards the end of the northward trip, and then when I turned around to head back downtown, I realized I had been enjoying a very nice Southerly wind at my back that was now pounding me in the face. Not Good! By the time I got south of the State Fair Grounds, I was really hurting, but I kept it up. I got home around 4:30, which isn't bad for a 20 mile ride. I love biking. It is like my mind clears, and I get so much thinking done. I also came up with a great idea for Tyler's Birthday, which is today. Happy Birthday, cutie! ;)
All in all, it was a great weekend. I went out with the Mean Girls on Saturday, and we had a good time, though the drag fundraiser we went to was horrendous. Trust me, I've seen bad drag in my day....this was nigh on terrible.
Oh, and since it was time to trim my hair, I decided to go full on Cooper:
On Saturday, it was still pretty cold, but I still got my bike out and rode around the downtown canal. I had been wanting to get down there for a while to check it out, because they recently drained it to clean all of the algae and gunk that has accumulated over 10 or so years. I had meant to get some pictures, but I didn't feel like lugging my gigantor camera with me. The first thing that struck me was just how deep the canal is, and how disconcerting it is to bike around it when you could just fall to your death at any moment (okay, not really). It will be nice once they get it all cleaned up, but considering the new deadline was the end of February, I don't think it is going to be up and going anytime soon, which puts the annual Greening of the Canal in jeopardy for St. Patrick's Day (shameless plug: I do their website). Anyway, I only rode about 5 or so miles on Saturday, but my body was really feeling it. It is amazing how quickly you get out of shape for a specific activity.
On Sunday, after an aborted Thelma and Louise style middle of the night roadtrip with Blanche to see Hillary in Columbus, Ohio, I got up and watched the political talking heads and promptly fell asleep until about 2:00. Then I pulled myself off the couch, got into some sweats and a long tshirt, and started to head towards the Monon Trail for a very long bike ride. I didn't realize just how warm it was outside, and I think I could have gotten away with shorts and a tshirt. Ah well, it was SO beautiful, and the Trail was really packed with others trying to shake off the winter malaise. I am so looking forward to doing this regularly. Ahhh...Spring, get the hell here for good!
I ended up riding all the way up to 82nd Street (starting at 22nd), and it was probably not the best idea in the world. I was getting pretty tired towards the end of the northward trip, and then when I turned around to head back downtown, I realized I had been enjoying a very nice Southerly wind at my back that was now pounding me in the face. Not Good! By the time I got south of the State Fair Grounds, I was really hurting, but I kept it up. I got home around 4:30, which isn't bad for a 20 mile ride. I love biking. It is like my mind clears, and I get so much thinking done. I also came up with a great idea for Tyler's Birthday, which is today. Happy Birthday, cutie! ;)
All in all, it was a great weekend. I went out with the Mean Girls on Saturday, and we had a good time, though the drag fundraiser we went to was horrendous. Trust me, I've seen bad drag in my day....this was nigh on terrible.
Oh, and since it was time to trim my hair, I decided to go full on Cooper:
Friday, February 29, 2008
Friday, February 29th - Leap Day Musings!
Happy Leap Day! I set my alarm this morning to go the gym, and yet again, I skipped out on it, but since I opted to just come into work, the goal is to get there this afternoon. This has been a pretty rough couple of weeks for me and my gym time, but I am hoping that I am coming to the end of my winter doldrums. I honestly think there is something to this whole Seasonal Affective Disorder. Because ever since I was sick for about a week, it has been impossible for me to get up in the morning and go to the gym. With the coming of Daylight Savings Time next weekend, I'm praying that a little more light in the morning will get my mojo going again. The exciting thing for me is that I should be able to get my bike out this weekend. It is supposed to be up in the 50s on Sunday. So, here's to hoping!
On to the bullets!
On to the bullets!
- Getting It Honestly: I realized this morning while reading Str8 Up With a Twist's recounting of a Hillary Clinton rally in Houston with Bill, that it has been over 12 years now since I interned with the Democratic National Committee during the general election to re-elect Bill in 1996. Ugh, that makes me feel old. Of course, then I had to take it even further and realize that it has been 15 years (almost exactly) since my first fateful trip to DC for Presidential Classroom during my senior year of high school, which coincidentally was right after Clinton's first inaugural. Looking at that website.....ugh, I feel even older. Those kids are so young! But anyway, I just want you all to see that this political obsession of mine isn't a passing fancy. It has been a part of me.
- American Idol: I am so ready for the Top 12. Even though it was only 4 hours of my time this week (as opposed to the 5 last week), I just tire of this process. Plus, I am not liking them starting in on the theme nights already. Jeesh, the vast majority of these "kids" were not even alive in the 70's let alone the 60's. How are we supposed to get an idea of how they are as an artist if they cannot be themselves before the Top 12. That being said, even though she destroyed a Doobie Brother's song and has no chance in hell of winning this thing, I am rooting for Amanda O. (the rocker chick nurse). Not only is she from Indiana, but she almost got killed in my home town. If that isn't a connection, I don't know what is.
- Project Runway: I really like both Chris and Rami (though I'd only have a fantasy tryst with one of them...guess which one! lol), it is obvious that Rami was destined to be in the final 3 all season. I have to say I am a bit quesy with him because he is already a semi-successful designer. It is kind of the same way that I feel about Michael Johns and Carly Smithson on AI having had record contracts already. It just seems to give them a slight leg up. Anyway, I have to say I was digging Chris' designs, even with the human hair attached. I would so hang out with Chris, and I am still shocked that that Lesbian Cockatoo (Christian) won most popular. I figured Chris was a shoe-in.
- LOST: Last night's episode confused the hell out of me. Then again, I was drunk, which obviously, didn't help.
- The March to Spring: In a sign that winter is ending, March is shaping up to be the busiest month of the year, so far. Tyler's bday on March 3rd, kicks off the cavalcade of birthdays I have to soldier through over the next few months, and since my mother's is on March 4th, it is the beginning of massive family obligations through June. In March, I have the aforementioned birthdays, St. Patrick's Day (for which I do the website for Indy's celebration....nothing fancy, because they don't pay me enough for that!), St. Patrick's Day bag lady show for Blanche and Romeo, big Gala at work, and Easter. As for family stuff (all of this before June), Mom's bday, Easter, Sister's bday in April, Mother's Day, My bday in May, my niece's bday, and a First Communion thrown in there, too. By the time June rolls around with Pride events and stuff, I am going to be SO ready for the July trip to Vegas
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)