1985.6 + 861.2 + 155.2 = Too Much to Explain, Let Me Sum Up!

To begin, I must apologize to my 50 OFFICIAL followers and to all of those who read my blog but wish to remain anonymous (you know who you are!).  I have been completely remiss in my blogging duties and I am sooooooo sorry!

Okay, so I've gotten so much better about keeping up with this blog than I have in years past but what was only supposed to be a hiatus of a couple of days ended up being two weeks.  I feel really terrible about it.  In fact, I joined these guys for a little while (if you look closely you can see I'm the little guy in front of the banner!);

And I really do truly feel badly about it.  Soooooooo much has happened since I posted the day before Christmas eve.  I really do feel like my friend Inigo Montoya in this scene;



I won't truncate everything down that far but I'll try to be brief;

Christmas Eve was amazing and we had a great time celebrating both our religious heritages - Family Mass at St. Philips at 3:30 followed by an all-you-can eat Chinese buffet!  We got the kids to bed early while we prepared for the arrival of Santa and then Amy and I engaged in our own Christmas Eve tradition - the giving of our stocking stuffers.  Since we celebrate both Christmas and Chanukkah we save the big present for the family Chanukkah party and for Christmas we collect small stocking stuffers during the year (one for each month) and we share them on Christmas Eve.  We finally got to bed at 1:00 only to be awakened at 6:00 by the rampaging hoarde known as our children in search of Christmas Booty! They loved their presents and not to denigrate any of the other gifts they were given, Aunt Alina won the prize award - I mean, who can hope to do better than adopting a wolf for Sarah?  Our little naturalist was "naturally" in heaven.  I too was in heaven since Aunt Alina gave me the folllowing to help me in my cross country ride;

However, the actual detail that came with the device is nowhere near what you see in the picture above (more on that later).  Of course being the "digital tourist" that I am, it took me five days to finally get it programmed and figure out how to use it.

The day after Christmas we had a great snow storm that actually threatened to put the kibosh on our planned mini-vacation to Mystic, CT.  It did leave our house looking lovely and encrusted with frozen splendor;

 

(Shoveling in a winter wonderland)

Ultimately, we did make it to Mystic and since a picture is worth a thousand words, instead of describing it all to you I'll let you see the video/photographic footage;

We had a great trip across on the ferry and although we didn't get the chance to go to Mystic on Monday on Tuesday morning we hit it bright and early and took the obligatory "family at the anchor" shot;

(We Don't Need No Stinkin' Ear Warmers!)

We wandered around Mystic looking at various exhibits and got into an epic snow ball fight;

(It's every man for himself)

We boarded a few "ships";

(Avast ye scurvey dogs, swab the decks afore I keelhaul the lot of ya!)

We went in search of the Sushi place that had eluded us on our last visit and ended up with a truly "epic" platter of sushi;

(Yes, SOME fish was harmed in the making - but not a morsel went to waste!)

The next day we played some more and revisted Mystic.  That evening we joined Santa, Mrs. Claus and a lot of elves (no, not Elvises - the kind that work at the North Pole!) on a train ride to the North Pole;

We then got up the third day, played a while, swam in the pool for a while and surprised the kids with a visit to the Submarine Museum - of course our little military man was in his glory;

And for once all FOUR of Amy's "kids" actually found something they all enjoyed;

We then had Thursday to recuperate before heading into the city on New Year's Eve to see the King Tut exhibit on our way to Mark and Laura's for the semi-annual Cousin's Sleepover - Eat Chinese Food - New Year's Eve - PreFamily Chanukkah Party blast!  The Tut exhibit was amazing and it was fun to see all the tourists running around like maniacs trying to find an open route to Times Square so they could watch the ball drop (sorry Snookie, you weren't there).  But it did mean that we got to have a great visit with Auntie Laurelle (a spur of the moment decision) and we got to have lunch with two of the most amazing guys who had yet to meet our wonderful guys (can you believe it) our dear friends Pat and Stephen;

They are two of the most amazingly giving people I have ever met in my life and the fact that they have adopted our children so warmly just goes to reiterate that.  These two brave men are on a mission to create a documentary about the idiocy that keeps two loving people from enjoying the same rights as other couples in this country.  To show support for them we are going to be a part of their wedding in Washington, D.C. in a few months and Sarah is going to interview them for her reflections film that she will be making.

We then headed off to New Jersey for the annual Cousin's Sleepover and Chanukkah Party.  Basically, sister and brother-in-law Laura and Mark are gracious enough to offer their house to all the cousins to have a huge family sleepover for New Year's Eve.  We go out to an all you can eat Chinese Buffet in New Jersey and then we go back to their house, drink champagne (not the kids) have lots of snacks and wait for the ball to drop -

THEN we all try to get the kids calmed down enough so we can go to sleep - only to be awakened six hours later by the little ones (well, James and William).  We then have lots more food and we exchange Chanukkah presents!  It was a great time had by all - I gave Amy her big holiday present - Cutco Poulty Shears.  I know, romantic right?  But she's always wanted them so I figured what the heck and gave her something I know she'd use.  She gave me the gift that keeps on giving - a gift certificate for an hour and fifteen massage at our local place The Dreaming Tree in Northport.  We got home later on teh first and then spent the rest of the weekend enjoying our last few days of rest and playing with our new toys.

And speaking of new toys, they don't tell you in the product description for the Garmin Edge 605 Cyclocomputer that the "loaded base map" is well, pretty crappy.  It really has almost now detail at all and the only way you can figure out anything is if you by the upgrade for $90.  Well, after five days I figured out it wasn't working real well so I found a used MicroSD card loaded with the map features I need on eBay and it only cost $37!!!!!  So I spent January 2nd ordering it and enjoying a pajama and movie day with the family!

January 3rd saw us back in class and January 4th saw us getting back into rehersals for Bye Bye Birdie!  We've assembled an amazingly talented young cast, the set designs are going to be amazing and we are super excited about the show.    This whoel week we had some great rehearsals putting together "Put on a Happy Face" and "Normal, Healthy American Boy"!  We then got ourselves ready to attend the New York State Theatre Educators' Student Conference in Callicoon, NY!!!!!!  We were going to be staying in the Villa Roma and the kids were super psyched about it - they had even worked on "Pandemonium" from 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to perform at the showcase of student performances!

But alas it was not to be.  SNOWMAGEDDON II loomed heavy on the horizon and our district decided to cancel any school sponsored trips (that would be us, the Science Olympiad and a field trip to New York City) twenty-four hours before the event.  There were many tears from the seniors who were supposed to be attending - especially those who couldn't attend as juniors and for whom this was going to be their only chance to attend this incredible conference that they've been hearing about since their freshman year.  It was my second year out since last year I was performing A Chorus Line with Amy and I couldn't attend.  The kids are still bummed about it and I'm still waiting to hear from the NYSTEA folks if they are going to give us at least a partial refund.

The second week of January started out incredibly well and we had a great rehearsal getting most of "Telephone Hour" staged.  And then All County stepped in.  I never realized when I made the schedule how many kids would be involved in All County and as a result three rehearsals ended up getting canceled before it was all said and done.

On the plus side - I've been doing an incredible amount of riding.  Even with the weather and the crud all over the shoulders of the road I've managed to log in 125 commuting miles in the last two weeks!  The cold doesn't really bother me so much and now that I'm working on dialing in my Garmin (if you know what I mean) its really a lot of fun!

And now to the cryptic meaning of my post title - 1985.6 is the total number of miles on Black Betty's cyclocomputer, 861.2 is the total number of miles on Black Pearl's cyclocomputer and 155.2 is the amount of miles on my Garmin 605 cyclocomputer after my 27.2 mile ride this morning.  I managed to beg Amy to let me go for a "quick" ride this morning because those numbers total up to;

	Robert Paterson - Fanfare for Trumpet Sextet .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

3001.0 miles!!!!!  You see, I didn't ride my bike the first two weeks of 2010 becasue I was performing in A Chorus Line  and I didn't want to get injured while in the middle of a show so I didn't ride for two weeks.  By the time I did start riding it was only sporadically becuase I had a chest cold.

SO TECHNICALLY, I have ridden 3001 miles in 365 days!  Yes, the most I have ever ridden.  And considering my big century ride was truncated this year and I didn't take the bike on vacations and I only got to take part in two club rides this year, almost 90% of my riding was completely commuting!  Now that is something to blow my trumpet about!

I'm riding as much as I can and I'm going to make my resolution that this year (God willing) I will be able to reach my goal of riding 5,000 miles because 3,600 will be from San Diego, CA to Wheatley Heights, NY.  I have the resolve.  I have the GPS.  I have the route.  The only thing we lack is $7,000 to make this a reality.  I've been sending out sponsorship packets to everyone I can think of and I'm trying to reach out in any way I can but the money is just not coming in. 

If you are reading this (and I hope at least 50 of you are) please help me reach out and try to find those people that believe enough in a child's right to just be a child - to play, laugh, sing, dance, and imagine - without worrying about cancer.  That's what Sunrise does for kids and I need to find the money to start this ride which I have no doubt will raise the money to send 10 kids to camp for the summer.  If you read this blog and you know someone who owns a business or who has a connection at a corporation please see what you can do to help us make a difference. 

Right now we are waiting on an angel (or angels) to help us;

	Ben Harper - Waiting on an Angel .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Can you help us find one?

Stay well my friends and I'll see you on the road (and  lot more often now)!

Starting a New "Century" - Closing in on a Goal

Okay, so it's not exactly the route that I'm hoping to take next summer but it's pretty close!  Actually, the route that I'm hoping to take this summer in my ride for Sunrise Day Camp follows this route pretty closely but then when it gets outside of Washington, DC we'll head north for Swedesboro, NJ (Angel and Per), Verona, NJ (Mark and Laura) and then head over to Wheatley Heights, NY to end up at the camp.  This route will come to us through the Adventure Cycling Association's maps that they offer on their website.

Yet, with this posting two things are happending.  The first I "talked" about on Tuesday, we are no in our second "century" of postings as this is posting 101.  When I started blogging four years ago I never thought I would be able to continue this long as I've never been very good at keeping up correspondence (sorry Danielle and Emily, I do have e-mails coming your way) or been very good at reflective journals  (sorry Dr. Maurer) but I have been able to keep blogging.  There have been stretches where I haven't blogged for months or only two a month (witness the month of July) but recently I've found a way to keep a little more updated.

The second goal is one that I'm not sure I'll reach but I'll give it a shot.  As of today's ride home I have a combined 2,785 miles on my bicycles.  I don't know that I'll be able to get in any long epic rides over the break (I think about three would do it) but I'm going to give it a try.

You see, my goal this year was to ride 3,000 miles and try to do so in all weather.  My accident really threw me for a loop and I didn't get much riding done then and I was a little on the wimpy side the first part of the school year more often than not finding an excuse for not riding in the morning.  Then I was sick with some sort of upper respiratory issue which knocked me off the bike for another week and a half.  So I lost some time.  I think without the bike issue and the respiratory thing I would be well past 3,000 by now.

But stuff happens and sometimes, as we saw in the following episode of "Mythbusters", when it happens the excrement DOES fly everywhere (WARNING, FAST FORWARD TO 10:27 TO AVOID SOME REALLY DISGUSTING STUFF);



Well, I don't think it will hit the fan if I don't make it the last 215 miles before January 1 but I will be bummed.  But if we look on the bright side of life and remember the glass is always half full then there shouldn't be any problems at all, right?  At least very few (c'mon, name what children's "novel" that is from you Seussical fans!).

However, I am finding more and more ways to use my bicycle and make it more of an every day part of my life.  I've also been "in training" in a sense in that I'm trying to ride more, even if the weather conditions are a bit "adverse".  For example, I've been riding in 20 degree weather no matter now breezy.

Well, today I took on a new challenge.  Traditionally (well, at least for the last 14 years) I make it a point to bring in Dunkin' Donuts and Munchkins to my dance and acting classes.  Today was to be no exception but for the fact that I was riding my bike (Pearl to be exact) in to school today.  I was going to need to transport five dozen donuts and three boxes of 50 munchkins.  With a little preplanning (I went into a DD and borrowed a couple of boxes to "measure") I figured that it would all fit in a standard milk crate with some bungee cords and elastic netting.  So I got to school where all the equipment was stashed, loaded up the crate, cycled to the Syosset DD (I got a few strange looks but mostly from people in their Mercedes SUV's), purchased the sugary goodness, loaded up and rode back.  No one was around to take a picture when I first got back so i had to wait until I changed into my festive attire and it looked a little like this;

I sent it to Amy and a few friends and their common retort was, "you look like a lumberjack who is moonlighting as one of those Chinese food delivery guys in the city."  Well in honor of all of you and of the holiday vacation coming up I leave you all with this little video clip, enjoy;



Well, even though I am going to wear spandex (and not women's clothing) I'll be cavorting with me pedals while wearing lots and lots of layers! Wish me luck and here's hoping I make it to 3,000!

Stay well and I'll see you on the road (but probably without the donuts!)

Ride Me to the Moon - And A Happy 100 To Us!

So tonight I left school at 4:40 PM and by the time I got 1/4 of the way home it was almost pitch black and I found myself riding to the moon.  Okay, so it wasn't quite like the picture above and I wasn't trying to smuggle a small alien in the basket of my bicycle (extra terrestrial or illegal).  And to be honest, I only went airborne once or twice as I was bumping over potholes in the near pitch blackness (I really need to get a better headlight if I'm going to commute at night).  But as I looked up while heading due East on the way home the vision I saw was more like this;

Now, a little known fact about me and my musical tastes.  At one time in my life I was very into Dinah Washington and I had more than a few of her albums on tape (yes, this was before CD's were popular, back when the walkman was the coolest thing to have) and this was one of the songs I used to listen to a lot:

So this song was playing through my head as I saw myself on a dark ribbon of road punctuated periodically by the headlights of the cars behind and the orange moon stretching just above it.  It was as if I could pedal right to the moon if I kept going!

Now I have to mention here that my association with the moon today started at 2:15 in the morning as Amy and I woke up to watch the first total eclipse of the moon on a Winter Solstice since 1638 and we thought we'd wake up the kids to have them witness it as well - c'mon how often do you get the chance to see that.  I think they've calculated that the next time this will happen is 2094!

So we woke the kids up and this is what we saw:

And it made me so happy that I could share this with my kids, even if I knew we were all going to be loopy and sleep deprived the rest of the day.

But now as I rode home riding to the moon I was grateful to be alive, grateful to be able to just see the moon stretch before me, feel the cold air (it was 21 degrees) and the road under my tires.  And I'm reminded of why I escaped relatively unscathed from my accident.

But there others who can't ride to the moon.  People whose immune systems are compromised and becuase of that they can't be riding outside in the freezing weather, they can't take the chance that they're going to fall in the dark and suffer a severe case of road rash.  People like my friend Dana who needs experimental treatment in order to survive the latest attack from cancer.  The children from Sunrise Day Camp, some of whom I came to find out this past summer, have never ridden a bike themselves because they've never been well enough to learn.  For them time is not always on their side - which is another reason why I want to ride for them this summer.  I can put myself out there and hopefully give them a chance to enjoy a summer playing and running as much as they can.  Now that Allan Rosenburg at Coinland.com has offered to sponsor us again we are $1000 closer to this goal - now we only have $7000 more to go to reach our goal and make this cross country trip a reality to help these kids!

And now for the second part of the title.  WITH THIS POST, CONNOR'S ARMY HAS NOW POSTED 100 TIMES SINCE 2006!!!!!  WOOHOOO!!!!

I think this deserves a bit of a celebration;



Yes, we rock!  And its all thanks to all of you!  Keep spreading the word!  And speaking of rockin' I will leave you with this last little sound bite from Pink Floyd in honor of our lunar eclipse!  Enjoy:

	Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Stay well everyone and I'll see you on the road!

Pay It Forward

So about ten years ago a movie starring Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt hit the theaters.  It was called Pay it Forward and the premise of the movie is young Trevor McKinney (played by Haley Joel), troubled by his mother's (Helen Hunt) alcoholism and fears of his abusive but absent father, is caught up by an intriguing assignment from his new social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet (Kevin Spacey). The assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor conjures the notion of paying a favor not back, but forward--repaying good deeds not with payback, but with new good deeds done to three new people. Trevor's efforts to make good on his idea bring a revolution not only in the lives of himself, his mother and his physically and emotionally scarred teacher, but in those of an ever-widening circle of people completely unknown to him.

In a scene from the movie Trevor explains his plan to his classroom;


As those of you who follow this blog know, I do a lot of my best thinking when I'm riding my bike.  Last week I wrote about a dear friend of mine who has been stricken again by that omnipresent monster cancer.  She is a great teacher and choreographer but unfortunately she doesn't have health insurance to cover her treatments.  On Sunday another friend of hers organized a conference call for people to try and brainstorm how to help raise the $85,000 she'll need for treatments.

If you're reading this you probably know that I am currently looking for sponors to help underwrite the costs for a cross country cycling trip that I want to do to raise $50,000 for Sunrise Day Camp.  All my own fundraising efforts (and those of my amazing wife Amy) have been going into trying to raise the money we are going to need to accomplish that task.  We don't make a lot of money as I'm a public school teacher and we are a single income family.  If we did make more money we wouldn't be needing these sponsors so badly, but we don't so we do need these sponsors in order to make this mitzvah project a reality.

However, while I was riding in this morning and reaching my usual state of flow, I began thinking about my friend and what she needs in order to beat this @#$@ disease and I started sobbing.  As I was feeling the tears freeze on my cheeks something became very clear to me - I'm alive for a reason.  I know I often make light of the day I made God laugh but the reality is had any of a couple of dozen things gone differently that day I wouldn't be alive right now.  One of the doctors in the ER told us that she had seen many similar accidents in her ER experience in the city and most of the cyclists ended up breaking something (collar bone, arm, ribs, neck) and at least three instances she remembered ended up with the cyclist dying. 

The memory of that day and what could have been went through my head as I was riding and I thought "God kept me alive that day for a reason, and maybe this is it."  You see, I went back and forth with the insurance company for about two months in regard to my personal injury settlement.  I originally didn't even know I was entitled to one (I've never really been in an accident before, surprise, huh?) but the claims adjuster mentioned that I would be eligibable for a personal injury settlement in one of our initial conversations.  To make a long story short, we "negotiated" to the point where the insurance company paid me a good amount of money for my "pain and suffering", not a lot mind you, but more than I make from my stipends for my after school theatre program.

I won't lie to you, times are hard and some of that money went to pay taxes and bills.  We are going to use a small portion of it for the trip and that leaves just a little bit left over.  Yes, times are hard and my family could use the money but I think one of the things I'm supposed to do with it is to help a friend in need.  Right now, she needs the money more than we do and it is time to perhaps serve one of the purposes for which God has kept me alive - paying it forward.  If it helps her to be able to stay around longer with those of us who love her (even if we don't get to see her) then the reason for my accident is clear - it is so I can help others.

And so I shall.  It is my greatest Christmas wish that more sponsors step forward and help us raise the money we need to be able to do CAXC (Connor's Army Cross Country) and help eight more children and their families.  We're going to pay it forward and hope that others can help us by doing the same.  AS I mentioned on Friday, Jason Lederman put up a great PSA as part of Project for Awesome 2010 that you can access by clicking here or just watch this:


Thank you Jason from the bottom of my heart for this and for believing in Connor's Army.  It really means so much to my family and to myself!

I know there are at least a few of you out there who follow this blog.  At last count we had 47 followers.  We could really use more to follow us and show potential sponsors that we have people that pay attention to us.  But more importantly, PLEASE help our Christmas wish come true, help us pay it forward to kids whose families are really struggling in these economic times.  Unlike my friend, they may not have others who can step forward and help them with thier financial need and they need us to find the money so they can be normal kids for a summer.  If each of us can try to reach out to three people and those can reach out to three more and those can reach out to three more and each of those can raise just $125 in sponsorships for us together we can all come up with just enough to sponsor CAXC and make a difference!

So what do you say my friends?  Can we pay it forward?  Every little bit will help!

Stay well, and I'll see you on the road.

Desiderata

As I mentioned yesterday, there are three times in the year that I really don't like being me - the three days that I have to post the cast lists for the shows we do at my high school.  However, oddly enough today was a much better day than I thought.

First of all, I had a great ride in today.  I feel much less like a Stay Puft Cyclist after three days of riding in freezing weather.  I don't feel quite as squishy as I was a week ago and my cycling efforts are less labored, although with my cold induced asthma it's hard to tell.  But I don't seem to be breathing quite as heavily as I climb up Stillwell these days.  But today's ride was almost magical.  It wasn't the fastest I'd ever ridden but I was able to just focus on my technique and keeping a good pace and really finding my state of flow. 

Of course, I was dreading walking in the door because I was dreading the conversations I would have to have today.  I did end up having a few but I was completely honest with the young actors I spoke with - I respect them too much and appreciate what they give to me onstage too much to do less.  It was after I spoke to one that I found myself looking at a copy of "Desiderata" which I had taped to the back of my door last year after my brother David died.  I found my eyes drawn to the lines,"If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time."

And I came to the realization that I, like these kids, spent a good chunk of my time as a performer constantly comparing myself to others, which is why I always felt I had to prove myself.  I still do.  I still feel like I'm not a good teacher, director, dancer, husband, father, friend (the few I have), person.  I probably never will.  But then I read the rest of the poem;

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

And the next to last paragraph struck me like a tangible, palpable force "be gentle with yourself.....and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."  And I realized that for all my feelings of shortcomings and for all of my fears of how I have hurt my young charges, I have not done anything out of anger or vengeance or spitfulness.  I truly have tried to be the best teacher and director I can be and the universe is unfolding as it should.  It gave me a sense of peace and I've decided I need to read it every day before I start work - perhaps in ten years or so it will sink in.

And today my former student Jason Lederman (one of the few people who I know that actually reads this blog on a consistent basis) posted this video on Youtube that he shot a few days ago.  It's part of Project for Awesome 2010 and it looks like this;



And I found such a reason to be grateful and full of humility today.  For in five years, no one will remember what musical we put on this year or how difficult the casting process was, but with any luck and some angels that shower us with sponsorships, the lives of eight children will be iredicably changed forever and in five years they will remember what we did and how people they will never meet made that possible.  And for that I am truly grateful and hopeful.

Stay well and I'll see you on the road.