Frozen Stay Puft Cyclist

Today I decided that I'd had enough of this bronchial infection/chest cold/head cold/whatever-the-heck is keeping me from being able to take a deep breath without hacking up a lung and I was going to get on my bicycle and ride, damn it!

	Queen - Bicycle Race .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

So I get up at 5:30 and I put on the coffee ('cause I know I'm REALLY gonna need it!) and went down into my man cave (okay it's really more of a man corner) in the basement and prepped Black Pearl for the ride.  Then I took her outside and if I didn't hear the voice of Morgan Freeman/James Earl Jones I'm not sure what it was because it was deep and melodious and it was asking me if I was sure about this.  Let me just say IT WAS COLD!!!!!!  But I have so often done in the past, I remembered one of the main I reason is for those who can't becuase they are fighting a disease that has rendered them unable to jump/run/play the way other kids can.  So I gathered my things and got myself ready to girt (yes, a nice biblical way to say that) myself for the cold.  I kissed the wife and James goodbye and stepped outside.  Even with the three layers and the baclava that made my look like a two-wheeled Ninja it was COOOOOOOLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDD!!!!!!

But there is also another reason I needed to ride today.  You see my friends when I feel the need to feel my emotions (harken it back to the state of flow I mentioned in my last post) I ride.  I rode when David died.  I rode when my Aunt Janice died.  I ride when I'm frustrated (which I have to tell you I've been very frustrated lately but that's due to work issues and not personal ones) and I ride when I feel powerless.  Right now I'm feeling very frustrated, angry and powerless because someone who I think of as one of the most amazing people in the world (even if she doesn't know I think it) is facing this damn disease again.  My friend Dana Lewis is an incredible and amazing person.  I met her while I was still performing and I was always struck by what an amazing performer she was and what a brilliant choreographer she was.  One of my biggest regrets about leaving the business was that I never had the opportunity to dance for this incredible woman.

We recently go the news that this amazing dancer is once again fighting cancer.  She has been through it before and beat the damn thing and we've been praying that it would stay in remission.  Although I don't know all the details, I DO know that she has a small tumor lying on a lymph node on the right side of her pelvis.  When she e-mailed us four days ago she thought she might have to have surgery yesterday but as it turns out she couldn't because of the placement of the tumor so she's going to have to go through treatment.  Dana, if by chance you do read this - today was for you, darlin'.

So thinking mainly about my friend I just decided to suck it up and stop complaining because its nothing compared to what she's dealing with.  So I headed out and I froze.  I won't go into all the gory details, just know that I couldn't feel my fingers and I couldn't feel my toes and not in the good way indicated in this classic;

	Various - PGSORM & Marky Ramone & Tyson Ritter of the All American Rejects / I Want to Be Sedated .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

But I will tell you I definitely felt like I wanted to be when I got to school.  The wind was gusting right across my beam (that's thrown in for all you nautical folk) and it was extremely slow gowing.  I had hoped when I arrived that one of the kids would be around with their smart phones so I could have them take a picture of the Weather Channel.com's display of the current temperature in Syosset when I arrived.  Well at 7:42 AM this is what it said;

Today's Forecast: Partly Cloudy Scattered Flurries Clouds Early / Clearing Late
Currently:  Partly Cloudy
Current Temperature: 23°F
Wind Chill:  Feels Like: 8°
Wind:  From WNW at 19mph gusting to 25mph
Farmingdale, Republic Airport
Lat: 40.73 Lon: -73.41 Elev: 85
Last Update on Dec 15, 6:53 am EST

So, needless to say when I arrived I felt like my carbonite friend above.  BRRRRRR.  It took me about two periods to completely thaw out.  The rest of the day actually went great because once I thawed out I was incredibly energized by finally being able to physically do something!  But ninth period rolled around and I had to spend 15 minutes getting my cycling gear ready (and adjusting the brake that had been rubbing the entire ride this morning - yet another thing that slowed me down!).  So I get all dressed and I get ready to go and I check the WeatherChannel.com website and here's what it read when I left the school:

Today's Forecast: Scattered flurries. Partly sunny, with a high near
Currently:  Mostly Cloudy / Windy

Current Temperature: 26°F
Wind Chill:  Feels Like 12°
Wind: From WNW at 23mph gusting to 29mph
Farmingdale, Republic Airport

Lat: 40.73 Lon: -73.41 Elev: 85
Last Update on Dec 15, 1:53 pm EST

Yep, that was fun! And even though it was an entire three degrees higher it still left me feeling numb and unable to form coherent thought.  But the good news was I HAD A TAILWIND!  Nevertheless, it still had me feeling a bit like this;

But I made it home without losing any appendages to frost bite so I guess it was a good time after all.  You know, a sucky day on a bike is better than a good day on the golf course, or something like that.

But as I pulled up the last hill on the way to Northport I thought once again of my friend Dana and I realized that THIS is why I ride, to feel like in some small way I'm helping them in their fight - the cold be damned!

So, tomorrow I'll probably go out again on my bike (we're going to have a veritable heat wave of 35 degrees) and I'll think of Dana, I'll think of Stanley Cherry and all the kids of Sunrise Day Camp and I'll do my best to remember that they have it so much worse than my discomfiture of 45 minutes.

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

An Act of God

So those of you who have followed my blog know that I have a somewhat curious relationship with God.  I believe in him utterly and completely but there have been times that there is no doubt I have made God laugh becuase of my presumptiveness.  Now, I don't believe in a vengeful God that likes to mess with us just out of principle but I do think it is a mistake to tempt him and I know I have suffered the wrath of said deity as a result.

I do converse with him on a daily basis yet I have to admit that I have not heard him speak back in the voice of Morgan Freeman;


That would be; a) incredibly awesome and b) far too easy -  at least according to those philosphers such as Immanuel Kant, Frederik Nietzsche, Friedrich Hegel,  Rene Descartes, or Socrates (read all about them here) or if you need the shorter, quicker movie version;



Well, with all due respect to Mr. Descartes, I don't believe I exist because I think, I exist becasue I ride;

It is when I am on my bicycle that I can ultimately reach that meditative state of flow or as one writer puts it, "the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity."  For me this is through my riding and while riding I often reflect about the many things going on in my life.  Sometimes I even hear the dulcet tones of James Earl Jones quoting biblical verse:

But more often the sounds I hear are my own labored breathing as I go up Stilwell Lane.  And on a day like today it would not be pretty.

Well, speaking of today I was all set to go bike riding and I had set out all my gear last night, lubed my chain, adjusted my brakes and pretty much set everything up so that I could get a good early start in the morning since I knew I needed to go and confer with my colleagues about casting our spring musical Bye Bye Birdie.

However upon waking I realized that the congestion in my chest was had not cleared up and there was no way in the cold weather I was going to be able to breathe what with my cold induced asthma on top of whatever was going on in my chest.  So I drove in - AND A LUCKY THING I DID TOO!

For you see, faithful readers a radiator pipe had burst outside the Little Theater about 6:30 in the morning and flooded the hall, the student government office, the psychiatrist's office, the Little Theater AND THE COSTUME CLOSET where we house hundreds of costume pieces and various accessories!  When I first drove up I didn't know what to think since there was CAUTION ribbon strung up everywhere and I peeked in the window and saw all the costume closet contents out in the hall.  So I ran around to the other entrance expecting the worst!

Long story short, I was able to save almost everything and I'm so grateful to Charles Abner, Tim Horace and all the rest of the maintenance and custodial staffs for getting everything out and mopping up as much as they could so quickly.  I was able to get about 150 costumes that had been soaked out of the costume shop and into my car and off to the dry cleaners!  Of course this took me almost the entire day to do so there was no conferring about casting with colleagues - however we were able to save a couple of thousand dollars worth of costumes.  So for once, everything aligned FOR me for a change. 

So today, instead of being frustrated about not riding and how I need to start training very hard and getting myself used to riding in all conditions to "stiffen the sinews and summon up the blood" for the charge ahead, it was most fortuitous that I headed my body and drove - otherwise, I NEVER would have gotten all of those costumes home on my bike!

Don't get me wrong, I'm still working on getting sponsors for our cross country ride and I'm praying/conversing/communing with God every single day praying for miracles and hoping that sponsors will come forward - and I do most all of this while I'm riding my bike. 

So next week its supposed to be REALLY cold but I plan on riding.  I have my Madonna del Ghisallo medallion and I will keep communing with the big guy (God, not JEJ) while praying and hoping that someone will come forward and help us out.

Stay well everyone and I WILL see you on the road.

Stay Puft Cyclist

Okay so I am definitely feeling the extra weight around my waist today.  Becuase of a chest cold that I've been trying to fight off I haven't ridden or taught dance class all week and it's driving me crazy.  I really started the week out with the goal of riding a lot since I'm only about 300 miles away from reaching my personal goal of 3,000 miles for this calendar year.

HOWEVER, we all know from past experience (at least MY past experience) the surest way to make God laugh is to go ahead and make those plans.  Soooo, I'm sufferince for my impertinent irreverence and I think I've gained a good five pounds of "I haven't been getting out and riding to work" weight.  At least its not as bad as the "I've been consuming 3,000 calories at a sitting and drinking a six pack every night" weight.  If that were the case I'd probably look like this;

Sooo, I think I'll just plan on getting back on the bike on Monday. 

In the meantime I'm headed off to Philajerseyia to attend the first birthday party of my niece Annika who was born a year ago to my sister Angela.  Because of cancer research she was able to recover from her battle with cervical cancer and now she has a beautiful baby girl to show for all of her struggles.  The whole family is healthy and I'll get to see my mom and dad and my sister Alina as well - I'll just try to take it easy on the bulgogi while I'm there!

Okay my friends, this one was short and sweet but I hope to have a longer one for you next week - after I'm able to get out and ride some more.

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

365 Days of Christmas....uh, Chanukah......uh, Chrismukkah!

Okay, I admit it - I'm a big wuss!  Maybe its my Irish sentimentality or its just becuase I love the holidays but I always get very teary-eyed around this time of year.  Of course, it may also be because my usual temperature cutoff for riding is 15 degrees and it is often very cold so you see me doing this on occasion;



(Brakes, we don't need no stinkin' brakes!)

 That in itself is enough to cause you to tear up - that wind can be downright brutal!  I mean, I know my cycling compatriots in Minnesota live with it constanly but we're not so hardened to the elements out here.

But I think I mainly tear up because I love watching the holidays through my children's eyes.  I do love the season and I think my wife (the little Long Island Jewish girl) probably loves Christmas the most out of the family.  She decorates the house in such an amazing way and it always looks so festive when she does it.  She has the decoration down to a science and, I dare say, an art.  She is always so organized with all that she does and usually by the first night of Channukah, she has all of her present shopping finished for the entire season. 

This year we had our friends Carla and Rita over with their sons Sean and David for the first night of Channukah last Wednesday (and yes, I know I'm a bit behind but then I wouldn't have all this great material!).  She spent the day making about three pounds of potatoes worth of latkes and we all had an incredibly wonderful feast of fried tuber goodness.  After that we played the traditional Connor family game of "find the Channukah present" and the kids received what they proclaimed to be "THE BEST CHANUKKAH PRESENT EVA!!!!!";

Now, I don't know if its the best EVA, but it was a lot of fun.  And to think we still have almost the entire roll of bubble wrap!  I can already see many snowy days full of fun as we sweat to pop every last bubble on the wrap!

But the real treat so far this holiday season (and its only just begun) was this weekend.  We had a WEEKEND OF CHRISTMAS to start the Christian part of the season.  On Friday Amy decorated the house while we were all off at school (and a fabulous job she did at that).  We came home to find all the old familiar decoration up around the house and it was just the thing to get us in the holiday spirit.  We had a family movie night that night and we started the fire.

On Saturday we started the part of decorating that the kids had been waiting for - THE TREE!!!!!  Every year we choose a theme and this year the theme was silver and white.   We drank copious amounts of egg nog, played Celtic Christmas CDs and decorated the tree.  We managed to only break one ornament!!!!!  We then lit another roaring fire and enjoyed watching the movie Deck the Halls with Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenowith.  As much as I don't really like her, it was an entertaining movie.  Oh yes, we also (okay the family, since with my braces I still can't) ate copious amounts of fresh, home made pop corn.

Then it was off early Sunday morning to catch the 11:30 Radio City Music Hall Christmas show starring the world famous Rockettes!  The ride in was easy and we listened to 97.5 FM which broadcasts all holiday music all the time now - 24/7 (or as Jake from "Too Many Men" would say - "31!")  The traffic wasn't too bad but we got into the city so early, none of the street vendors had warm chestnuts ready -- arrrgggghhhh.  So much for "The Christmas Song"!

We got into the hall and watching the kids be so amazed and intrigued by the decorations and the sheer expanse of the lobby was so much fun to watch.  Especially Sarah, our decorator/artist in training.  She really enjoyed all the paintings and the huge mural of "The Fountain of Youth" that is above the stair case.

We finally settled into our seats after cooling our heels for a bit outside and it wasn't long before we were able to watch the show.  I have to say I had almost as much fun watching the show as the kids (and it brought back memories of going to the dress rehearsal to watch Deanna and all our other friends who were lucky enough to be cast in the show back when we were still active in the business).  William's all time favorite number was of course;

Go figure, pretty girls, "soldiers", wooden cannon - what was not to love?  This is of course from the boy who didn't want to go to see the Christmas show - but then again he hardly ever wants to see or go anywhere and then when he does he always says, "I didn't like it ---- I LOVED IT!" and of course this was no different.

But the number I hardly saw at all because I was watching William completely enthralled to the point that I wasn't sure he was even breathing was:

I truly teared up as I saw the look of rapture on his face the entire time this number was on.  He looked simply angelic and the look on his face was one of pure adulation for what he was seeing.  All I could think of was, "this is what Christmas is all about!"   Sure, we can go to mass and sing the songs and listen to the story of the baby Jesus, but it is these moments when we see our child really GET it that we know what the season is truly about.  And it made me think - this is what we need - 365 DAYS OF CHRISMAKKUH!  If every day could just be about this magic and this joy and helping make sure that our children's eyes are as full of this wonder and joy as we can help them find in the world around them.

After the show we wandered around looking for lunch and finally settled on Lindy's where we had great pastrami sandwiches and of course, the cheesecake.  We then headed back the Radio City for a backstage tour where we got to go all over, including up to the light booth to see the show from the highest vantage point.  It was a little weird being up there since that's the floor where all the rehearsal studios are housed and Amy and I both have so many memories of auditioning for various shows (not just RCMH) there.  It was a little weird.

Following that great tour (William was in heaven as he had his picture taken with a real Rockette) we finally got our roasted chestnuts and we headed for;

(So this is Christmas)

We managed to weave our way through the crowds so the kids did not see the tree until we came upon it from the front and the kids' faces were a joy to watch as they screamed, "THE TREEEEEE, I KNEW IT!!!!!!).  The only problem that we ran into (other than the crushing crowds and three members of our party under three foot tall) was that right before we got to where we could take a great picture of the kids with the tree as the background we ran into;

Now if anything is going to detract three Connor children from a huge Christmas tree it would be that.  Soooooo, we allowed ourselves to be swept into the revolving door

And we were instantly transported into a magical (although crowded) land of legos.  It was all we could do to dissuade the young Connor's from purchasing more Lego products (they have a ton and I'm sure Santa will bring them more) but their little faces were pressed against the glass as they saw this;

The squeals of delight could probably be heard by the dogs in the Hamptons!  Finally we were able to get a good photo of the three of them with the tree in the background and we headed back to the car.  On the way we heard two songs that really help bring this Chrismakkuh weekend to a great ending.  The first I'll include the video version for those of you who have never heard it;

Of course you can tell the song is dated by the celebs to whom it makes reference - but its still funny!

The second song was even more poignant when teamed up with all that the day had offered and it goes something like this;

	Gloria Estefan - Christmas through your eyes .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

But the perfect ending to a perfect Christmas day was driving back to the vision of our home decorated for the holidays, all lit up and welcoming.  And the season has only just begun! 

But the day also reminded me of why I want to ride cross country.  Just as Chrismakkuh is a great season for the kids to experience, so is the summer and the joy of playing and being a kid during this long vacation.  I really do want to make a difference for these kids and I'm hoping for my own Chrismakkuh miracle - for some more sponsors to step forward and offer to help us help these kids!  That would be the greatest gift of all!

Stay well and I will see you all on the road!

I Even Rode My (Bi)cycle In the Rain.......You MAY Be Right, I May Be Crazy!

Okay, so it wasn't quite as heavy a rain as that yesterday but it was raining hard and the fact that I had left school at 4:10 meant that by the time I got to Huntington Station it was quickly getting dark.  By the time I got to Lennox Avenue and Pulaski (yes, the memorable intersection where I experienced my first time being hit by a car while cycling) it was pretty dark and I was lamenting the fact that I had not used the second headlight on the bike.  Instead I was relying on the blinking light on the front and two blinking lights on the back - just to be seen.  And the whole time I'm thinking, "I must be out of my freakin' mind".

Now you have to understand, I'm not a native Long Islander and I did not grow up listening to Billy Joel.  I really only like his music at all because of the show Movin' Out and that was really because of the Twyla Tharp choreography.  However, as I found myself pedaling along in the dark, in the rain and hoping some overtired executive hurrying home from the train station while texting/calling/fumbling/"curating" his/her cell phone would not hit me and kill me by swerving into the shoulder, I kept hearing this song over and over in my head;

	Billy Joel - You May Be Right .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

It's not that I actively hate Billy Joel, I just don't get the whole East End ethos and the whole Long Island music scene he developed from just doesn't strike any chord with me (pun intended).

However, if I had seen this before, another song might have been running through my head, one that I saw performed by the "amazing" performers in this "incredible" (note the air quotes) video;



All I can say is that I wish I had choreographed this one!  Just imagine getting all those everyday cycling types to wear white, glow in the dark "booty" shorts!  I think I'll pass on wearing those myself, I'm more partial to black ones myself.  But they do shine mighty nicely don't they.  However, I do still have a few nightmares after seeing this video.

Speaking of music videos about bicycles and cycling, I did come across this great video while reading the blog of the Bike Snob at http://www.bikesnobnyc@blogspot.com/ and it just goes to prove that rap music can help save your life;

Now that is proof that music can make a difference.  I have to say that after my three experiences with bicycle versus vehicle I won't ride without one, I'm actually incredibly amazed when I see adult cyclists without helmets.  Is it uncool to wear helmets?  I know it is with the hipster crowd but are the typical suburban "hobbyists" too cool to wear helmets?  It would appear so.

Another thing that still amazes me are the unfriendly cyclists I still meet when I'm riding.  Now granted, I have taken to riding Pearl these days more and more.  Partially becuase she is the one that I'm hoping to ride from San Diego to Long Island should (I pray to God) the cross country ride actually get the funding we need.  She looks a little less like a cyclocross bike now and I've "winterized" her and "blinged" her out commuter style with a rack and I've put on her Planet Bike fenders so that she looks more like this;

So does that make me uncool?  I guess it does because with the exception of the usual day laborers that I meet on the road (and who usually seemed surprised that this commuter waves to them) nobody returns my gestures of friendliness.  Well not "nobody" there are the occasional one or two but when I see my fellow "roadies" going the other way they seem to studiously not see me.  That's just sad.  I mean here we are fighting the fight together - you know, us against the ton and a half metal beasts that want to hit us - and they don't want to acknowledge their fellow enthusiast.  I guess they're still cooler than me!

Well, I guess that's enough rambling for one day.  My wife would have said not to try it but I made it home alive and that's all part of the fun!  Now if I can only make it home alive from San Diego, CA (sponsorships willing) then I'll be a very happy man - and a very blessed one as well!

Stay well, Pearl (or Betty) and I will see you on the road - soon!