Captain Baron von Awesome's Awesome Blog!

I'm listening to a song called "Tighten Up" performed by The Bamboos right now. They're a funk band out of Australia that I got turned onto tonight. "Tighten Up" is an old song from the 60's originally written and performed by Archie Bell, a soul singer from Galveston who had a few hits back in the day. I played a few shows with him in my funk band, the most memorable one at the old Balinese Room in Galveston. That was a cool show, mostly because of the history of the place. Galveston used to be a swank resort city back in the day, and Sinatra, Martin, and more used to play there.

Of course, past glories don't often equate to current standards, and it was a bit depressing to think of the contrast of the more opulent past with the worn and slightly dingy present. Such is life, though. At any rate, "In the Bamboo Grove" is a song to check out by The Bamboos, and it's on the album "Step it Up". They have a great infectious groove, but I'm waiting to hear a solo. C'mon, guys. :)

As far as holidays go, this one has been mostly relaxing, although I'm tired of having multiple holiday meals. You'd think I'd be used to it after this long, but this Thanksgiving just seemed more taxing than normal. Either way, it's time for another break. Fortunately, I have a quick one coming up next month back in Scotland. Oh well - any more of this, and I'm about to start whining.

I read a quote a few days ago that's been on my mind:

"To spend time is to pass it in a specified manner. To waste time is to expend it thoughtlessly or carelessly. We all have time to either spend or waste, and it is our decision what to do with it. But once passed, it is gone forever."

Bruce Lee wrote that. It makes me think of how much time I waste, and prods me to look at what needs changing in my life. There are a few things, that's for sure. I skate by too much, and while it yields satisfactory results, it's cheating myself from what I could be doing. Story of my life, but am I finally tired of it to where I'm willing to make those changes?

This goes hand in hand with another quote, this time from Hillel:

"If not now, when?"

Indeed. 

Posted by superflyc at 07:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I'm finishing a book today and sipping on a cup of hot white tea. I forget how relaxing it can be.

Awesome news - I just found out that my old funk band is playing on 7 December at Sullivan's. It's been something like a year since we played there last. I'm really looking forward to it. That's also the day of my department holiday party, but I won't mind being there for an hour or so before ducking out to go home for a pre-gig nap.  

Now all I need to do is a workout to make up for the lack of a bike ride this morning, perhaps practice some keyboard, and then decorate a tree at my friends' place in order to have a complete day. :) 

Posted by superflyc at 02:17 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The idea was sound - slice some onions, throw them in a cast iron skillet with some beer, poach some chicken-cheese-poblano sausage, and finish it on the grill. While I was at it, I threw in some bell pepper, garlic, and a bit of turkey bacon into the simmering brew, and finally finished it off with some spinach.

Lessons learned:

1. The beer, onions, and sausage are fine together. The rest should have gone in their own sautee pan to get crisp and browned (I want to say caramelized, but technically, it's a different method). The onions should have been thown in there, too, and the beer could have reduced by itself.
2. I tasted a faint burnt flavor to the concoction last night, but couldn't put my finger on it. Where did it come from? There was no part of the process that would have burned anything, since it all finished in the beer reduction. It didn't ruin the dish, but I wouldn't have wanted to serve it to anyone else. It dawned on my this morning - it wasn't a burnt flavor, but a strong hoppy flavor from the IPA I used for the beer. Next time - a bock, a pilsner, or even something crazy like a lambic, but nothing so damn hoppy.

Posted by superflyc at 09:37 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

For the first time in more than a month, I did my 40 mile ride today. This is the farthest I've ridden the fixed gear with the taller gearing. I wasn't racing, but my time was acceptable. I had more in me and felt fresh at the end, so I will push harder next time. That being said, I still dropped a few people and don't recall anyone passing me. :)

I got to Bike Barn at the end of the official ride and listened to a couple of guys chatting about their bikes. One was riding a very high end bike (MSRP: ~$6000) and was giving some good advice to the other guy about what to look for in a bike and components. This is all well and good, but I had throw in my own observation and mention that the slowest thing about my bike was me, and that I saw no point in upgrading my bike until I was in better shape.

That garnered a peek at my fixed gear from the guy looking to buy, but I don't think he got it.

I'm not going to tell someone how to spend their money (because I know I waste a lot of mine), but I just don't get buying an expensive bike if you're not regularly racing or doing serious tours. Most of the money that makes up the cost of these high end bikes is in componentry that weighs less and exotic frame material and geometry. I can lose a few grams just by eating better, and without a coach to tell me how to maximize my genetic potential to improve my form, I don't see the point in buying the latest frame style.

It's all marketing, though, just like it doesn't take a $200 pair of shoes to run well or own on the basketball court.

I will probably buy a high end bike at some point, but it will be custom built and painted, and it will be after one of the following two conditions:

1) I've done a century in under 6 hours, including breaks.

2) I'm riding a distance that requires a touring bike to carry camping supplies and food, say a 500+ mile self supported trip.

In the meantime, I will continue to ride my fixed gear when I can, and I will be smug when I keep up with or pass someone on a more expensive bike that has gears. :) 

Posted by superflyc at 01:06 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I'm having a less than stellar workout and writing this in between sets. Bad Chris.

First things, first: I've always been a fan of Saint Arnold's, both as a company and of the products they make. I used to see Brock regularly for beer tastings at the Gingerman more than ten years ago. That being said, their pub crawl has got to get reined in. It wrecks the Village, sending out hordes of amateurs to clog lines and parking spots. In the grand scheme of things, it's not the end of the world, but it's highly fucking annoying to want a quiet drink after work and get it sprung on you that someone else's party is crashing yours.

I did get to spend time with a good friend last night, which made things a lot better. Hanging out with him got me thinking about what we do to be happy - not the momentary happiness that can come anytime, but the deeper happiness that I associate with serenity and knowing one's place in the universe.

About two and a half years ago, I made a life changing decision to start riding a bike to train for the MS150. It broke me out of a bad rut and started me on the road to challenging myself again. It's important to be challenged, I think, because the alternative is a disaffected complacency that leads to tepid predicability at best, and at worst can mask depression. At least, it's no way to live by my book. :)

Krav Maga has been the latest challenge I've taken, and while I'm enjoying it, there's still something missing in my life. I was talking with some friends a few weeks ago about the philosophies behind various martial arts, and how Krav doesn't have one at all - but that's not the point of Krav.

Still, I need to be reminded of a warrior's mentality. I don't mean some hardcore ascetic approach to life that mandates ferocity in everything (like cooking breakfast with a snarl?) - but a way of living that mandates self reliance, self forgiveness, serving others, and being accepting. That's what I've always strived for, and I've lost a lot of that.

A few months ago, the idea I had of being serene was completely shattered due to my inability to follow the above tenets.  That was an eye opener. I've reread some books of mine on Buddhist philosophies, and I picked up a few books tonight that blend martial arts with ways of approaching living, including one that espouses the teachings of Bruce Lee. I'm excited.

Oh well - it is time for a late dinner and bed for an early bike ride. The internet radio station I've been listening to has been playing an acoustic version of Cindi Lauper's "She-bop". It is a haunting and pensive arrangement, but it strikes me as gimmicky. I grew up with the original, and while she shows a depth and range with this version, I can't help but think of her frenetic and don't-take-me-seriously stylings in the past and wonder if this is another joke. 

Posted by superflyc at 10:00 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)