Cadence (November 2011)

So this is a special month for me. Not going to give the reason why but just wanted to share. That being said I try to go for a long bike ride each November. It has usually been on the fixed gear bike Kevin gave me who I named Cadence. I usually get everything ready the night before especially my brain for a long ride out to the east end of Long Island. No real time to beat its just for the enjoyment and repetitious nonstop movement of the pedals.
Speaking of Cadence, I recently saved a new kitten that I deemed the name Cadence. Yes, the man cave is almost complete and the two men that inhabit it are well… the men. Besides the cold sore I got from all the initial stress of taking him to the vet and realizing that I now have responsibility, so far so good. It feels like I adopted a little child. Guy cats are much easier… from what I hear to raise. It’s a fact that guys are more easy going in all species. :)
I’ve never really had a real pet so I finally decided to stop thinking about it and just do it. I always wanted a Tabby cat since I was little. I figured it would be a good test of my patience and teach me to think more about love and responsibility. So far he is the man and no regrets, hopefully none to come. Also he is a babe magnet. I never realized the cuteness power of a kitten. I brought him to the vet and it was apparently hot single girl day. Everyone had the same expression… awe. If only I would have gotten a cat a long time ago.
Animals have always been a big part of my life as far back as I can remember. I still have mental images of discovery channel programs burned into my brain from long ago. I remember taping (Yes VHS) and watching shows on spiders, cats, and sharks over and over again. Movies like Milo and Otis, Homeward Bound, and Lady and the Tramp were among my top favorite movies. I can see why some people love there pets more than other humans. Animals have and always will play a big part in my life and surely in everyone that is reading this can concur. Well time to go find my Cadence.
-Never Stop Pedaling-
-Barton-

October 2011

Enter the Kraken

It is well known that heat makes people tired. Well at least in my experience. I one time went to go swimming and figured I would warm up my muscles in the hot tub by the side of the pool. That was not my brightest idea. I was so drained after it and had no energy to swim that I just showered up and drove my relaxed butt to work. It’s hard to go from relaxed to jumping in the refreshing pool and swimming laps. So now I only go in the hot tub after my swim. Call it a reward.
I accomplished my goal of swimming 100 miles this year on September 14, 2011. “Open the Kraken.” One thing I learned from all this training is the blue line at the bottom of the pool does not change color no matter how much I wanted it to at times. As monotonous as lap swimming may appear to be you would be surprised how quickly it goes when you get lost in your own thoughts.
My mind jumps around a lot. Some examples of what it goes through are; what lap number is this?, what am I going to eat after this?, what do I need to get done today?, among many other things. I’ve learned to designate certain one hundred meters as pure focus intervals where I try not to think about anything except the act of swimming. I usually repeat a montra or count my strokes. One, two, three, breath, one, two, three, breath. I would be good at giving birth… on second thought maybe I would rather just teach lamas class. Another thing I discovered in the pool is flow. That feeling of effortless, flawless swimming where it feels like it could be a dream. It doesn’t happen to often but when it does, it is unmistakable. All in all I feel this personal swim goal of mine was a positive, rejunvinating, revitalizing, and refreshing (especially on those cold winter mornings when I almost literally had to have Ed the lifeguard throw me in the pool) experience. The Kraken rum I have been saving didn’t carry as much weight as it did in the beginning. The reward seems to have been the journey and personal learning experience that came from the effort involved. The journey was the goal as well as the reward and I will hopefully reach or dare I try exceed the length next year. Maybe try the breast, back or butterfly a bit more. Maybe 125 – 150 miles. Just going to have to see.
Taking things one stroke at a time-
-Barton-