Friends

During my ride today I had a lot of time to think.  Some people like to ride to music, but I like to ride to my thoughts.  Anyway, I though a lot about my best friend Danny. Danny isn't exactly what you'd think of when you'd think of best friends.  We don't see each other much, and most of the memories we have come from before we were even in high school.  But, every year, without fail, Danny calls or now texts me on my birthday, and every year until now, I never returned his call.

My mother would tell me several times a year that Danny had called to say hi, and that I should get in touch with him, but I never did.  I always meant to, but never once did I ever actual make good on my word.

Rewind to last year.  I was turning thirty, and I wanted to have my then "best friend" Stew and his wife come in for my birthday.  I had spent a lot of time with Stew through high school, and we had grown close, but soon after he was married our relationship fell by the wayside.  He was living in Virginia, and I in New York-not a long trip by any means but he rarely made it to see me.

I had mentioned to him in advance that I wanted him to come and celebrate with me.  Excuses abounded, and eventually he never came through.  As I thought about it, I realized that he had NEVER gone out of his way to see me.  I was always the one to go to him.

Now back to Danny; the guy is a rock.  From the time we were little, Danny has been the most loyal person I've ever known.  He's had some tough turns in his young life, but he always comes through and I know that beyond the shadow of a doubt, if I ever needed anything, he'd be there for me, no questions asked.  I'd even go so far as to say that if I ever decided I wanted to kill someone (not that I would!), and called Danny, the only question he'd ask is "Who's drivin'?"

Danny has taught me the real meaning of a friend.  It's not someone that you see all the time-though that certainly can be the case; it's not someone that tells you what you want to hear-though that can happen too.  A real friend is someone that never forgets.  It's someone that has your back no matter what, and would go to the end of the Earth to help you in a jam.  A real friend is a dude from my old neighborhood named Danny.

So this year, to give back just a little to a person who, whether I acknowledged it or not, has always been my best friend, I'm going to give him a bike.  When he found out how much I rode, Danny was in awe.  He never realized the fun that you could have on a bike, or the fitness you could gain from it.  Everyone that rides knows the feeling of freedom it gives you, and transports you back to that time in your life when you couldn't drive, but could still get where you wanted with pedals and two wheels.  I know Danny wants that again, and I want to make sure he gets it.  No one deserves more to feel happy, fit, and like a kid again.  

Sick

Not exactly ringing in my 31st year in style as I've been sick since this past Friday.  It started with a scratchy throat, followed by some nasal discharge, then a headache, and now just a general feeling of shit.  Actually, it really started with that terrible migraine I had last week.  I should have known things weren't all right with my body then... Oh well, it is what it is.

Decided to take the day away from the bike.  Put together a solid week of about 6 rides last week, including some really fun filming.  I'm looking forward to getting a new camera and working some more on the trails, both near and far, so stay tuned for some cool stuff.  I knew that little film degree I got in college would come in handy one day.

Otherwise I've got some cool stuff brewing on the horizon that I'll update as they happen.  Life is what you make of it and I really wanna do a lot with the "second chance" I've given myself.

Thirty One Years

Amazing.  I turn 31 today and I still feel like I'm 15 years old.  Actually, wait-ok, I was fat and had the self esteem of a mud puddle when I was 15, so I guess I feel like I'm 26.  I'm pretty sure that's when I started to come into my own as an adult.

It's funny to look back at the experiences the last thirty years have brought me.  First and foremost I've been an athlete, but I've acted, modeled, fought, and traveled.  I've had a lot of good times and a lot of bad times.  I've found love a couple times, and I've lost it a couple times.  I know what it means to feel positive that I'm on the 'right' track in life, and I know what it means when that comes crashing down.  I've been stressed, and I've been relaxed.  I've felt pain and I've felt joy.  All these things have made me who I am and I wouldn't have changed any of them.

As I look out on what will be the next chapter of my life, I'm happy to know that I'm more settled in my thought, and have the wisdom of some years behind me.  Though life isn't just about analytical thought, a little bit every now and then doesn't hurt.  I will choose to live the next part of my life on my terms.  I will choose to love when I love, hurt when I hurt, smile when I'm happy, and cry when I'm sad.  I make the promise to myself to do whatever I do with my heart, my gut, and my balls.  More than anything I wanna live my life with mud on my clothes, dirt under my nails, and maybe even a little bit of B.O. from a time well had.

Another iPod Video

Got out with the iPod again today.  It's really fun to shoot with a camera that doesn't' have all the bells and whistles as some others.  Not to mention shooting with only the trees and rocks as props to place your camera on.  Maybe I should make some more friends to hold the camera for me.  Anyway, this is the edit from today.  The riding is nothing to write home about, and I couldn't quite get the angles I wanted, but I'm still relatively pleased with what it is.  I'm still getting the hang of editing with iMovie as well, so as time goes on the editing will get better too!  Enjoy!

Ultramontane

These guys put some really cool edits together.  This is one of their latest.  Makes me wanna move to Vancouver...

Limbo Sickness

With my birthday and the Superbowl coming this weekend, the last thing I want is to be sick.  As a matter of fact, the last thing I ever want is to be sick.  Sick sucks.  Sick means no bike riding, and feeling less than great-both of which I can do without ALWAYS.

Yesterday I started getting a tickle in my throat, then it went to my joints and muscles, and this morning I just feel like poop.  Not a ton of poop, but at least that little pile that annoys everyone by the side of a trail.  You didn't quite step in it, but you know that if you had you woulda been pissed.

So the question for today that I ask myself as I sip my coffee is whether or not to ride.  If I'm going to ride I'll have to head out soon as I've got a full day of work and errands ahead, so if I miss the opportunity and feel fine later I'll be a little bummed.

Just realized how funny this whole argument is in my head... It's just one ride!  Why the hell am I so stressed out about it!:)

Be Cool

Had a great ride yesterday despite being unreasonably frustrated within the first 5 minutes.  I had wanted to do some more filming yesterday, and as I haven't yet received a new GoPro HD 2, I set out with my Epic HD Action Cam.  No less than 10 seconds after hitting the button to start recording, "BEEEEEEEEP" right in my ear.  Even though I had taken the time to put BRAND NEW batteries in it before heading to the trail, the "dead battery" signal still rung.  "Ok," I said to myself, "I'll just throw in three new ones and see what happens."  Again, same result.  Like any red blooded male would at this moment, I decided to remedy the situation by slowly detaching the camera from its mount, and slamming it into the nearest rock.  Problem fixed.

Before you get the idea that I'm just some quick tempered ass, I've got to defend myself by saying that this stupid camera has given me nothing but trouble for the entire year (exactly 1 year on Sunday, February 5th) I've owned it.  I've been able to record no more than about 1 hour total of footage, most of which was unusable.  The Epic HD has been, by far and away, the worst electronics purchase I've ever made.  Every time I think about how I could have spent the same money on a GoPro it makes my blood boil.  Live and learn.

Back to the ride: It was a beautiful day to be out on a bike.  The weather is ridiculously warm for this time of year, almost to the point that I want to pinch myself because I think I'm dreaming.  We've had to deal with some pretty harsh winter by Long Island standards the past four years, so I guess we're due for a mild one.  I'm only hoping that the nice weather now doesn't come back to bite us in the butt in March.

Today is going to be a bit of a rest day.  Though I'm not training right now, I'm riding hard.  Seems that it's a little more fun to ride fast than it is to ride slow-who woulda thought!?  So I'll more than likely take it easy to day and hit the weights later this evening.  I still have some work to do in my apartment to finish the "overhaul" I began a few weeks back with the floor.  A new couch needs to be picked up today, and I've gotta make a trip to the Salvation Army with some clothes.  Not enough can be said about what a nice thing it is to have a clean living space.  Clears both the mind and the house.