Blended Living

Horrid Mosquito!

My net has thousands of holes

Not one for you- Splat!

• haven’t blogged in a while
• or maybe it just seems that way…
• hope you all had a good 4th
• I ended up making it a relaxing weekend, but
• got lured into the crowds of fireworks onlookers
• on the westside highway around 70th street
• might have gotten a couple nice shots with the camera
• (haven’t looked at the stuff on the computer yet)
• as it dawned on me that fireworks isn’t that easy to take nice shots of
• if you don’t know what is coming up and the exposure takes quite
• a few milliseconds and the fireworks come and go in that interim
• also without a tripod and a mulling crowd its hard to hold still for 200+ milliseconds
• even with an optical stabilizer
• and it took a full 20 minutes to exit with all the people
• just enough time for a mosquito to get me a few times on the leg
• so that answers the question
• do insects take the holidays off?  (NO!)
• can’t complain much with this moderate weather, but still its more rain than I remember for a July
• and its almost mid month and haven’t turned the AC on yet, although I scratched
• the AC cleaning off the to-do list early this year
• finished that Elmore Leonard novel, it was fun to just read for pleasure
• at various parks, cafes, and other places
• and I’m starting another tonite
• that kindle dropped in price to 299, and it seems like a bargain
• but I think I’ll do some research and figure out how much
• I spent on my last 20-30 books and see where I’d breakeven with a kindle
• More recently I made it to the track for a couple 400′s but
• then got sick the next day
• and I think I actually slept about 40 of the last 50 hrs!
• which only makes ups for the loss of sleep from those pesky Mosquitoes
• but I do have nets now
• came across more references to Neil Howe’s work
• and his books are on my NYPL list now
• although I find my passions pleasurable, sometimes it does add
• to the stress levels, which could lead to me being sick
• and its awkward to have the sniffles during July
• so have to mix in some remoteness stuff, like
• Now to “Pagen Babies”.

• I’ve slept more the last two nights than in the previous week
• that mosquito net can’t arrive too soon
• score update: killed another 5, but they bit us another 19 times (at least)
• this blissfulness with lots of sleep is throwing me off a bit
• is that the sun?
• its a strange round bright thing in the sky
• don’t crave caffeine today
• but haven’t run enough lately either
• maybe next week things will go smoother
• that was definitely runners legs on that babe I saw today
• she was dressed up for work, but with tennis shoes on and moving pretty fast
• took my first Yoga class a few days ago, was sore in a few new places
• but overall it was pretty cool, stretched out a few tight spots that running has made worse
• the instructor has such a nice soothing voice, I think I could have fallen asleep
• as we did the corpse pose at the end
• then she handed out some postcards
• with a photo of her doing a really impressive pose
• that inspired me greatly
• and gave me the impression that Yoga is harder than I really give it notice
• plus I was sweating more than I thought I would
• the librarian commented on my sunglasses
• and I said that it was nice to have the sun out so that I  could wear them
• I hope they get enough support to keep them open and hired
• basketball in the rain isn’t so much fun
• but it is cooler
• changes the game to outside shooting and driving only to the truly daring
• as the court is more skating rink than hardtop

Some guys at work I head to the gym with three lunch times a week, talked me into some basketball.  I really liked the fact that we strive for a 10 minute weights workout – and I often scoff at the ‘long-timers’ and squatters that we have to maneuver around when we are on our little rush to fit in 10-12 sets and get out of there.

I especially like the fact that its almost fast enough that we don’t really sweat and we are out of there and on the way to grab a bite or head back to work in record time.  Not with basketball.  Despite the air conditioning, we are all drenched.  Despite the “we’ll just shoot around” line, I know the competitive nature that envelopes us all will win out.

Trying to not sweat so much, I fall back on my usual strategy of remembering past solutions and getting to the crux of the game. Min Max tables chart out in my head.  Minimize effort (sweat) and maximize results (baskets and reputations) .   I think of the main data points to recall, the way to size up an opponent, how to exploit my strengths and their weaknesses- I strategize that their must be about 7 things to know about someones game.  The stuff that would fill my cheatsheet about player X, or player Y.

Is he Righty or Lefty?  Can he dribble?  Perimeter shooter or layup artist?  Where does he set up to shoot?  When does he spot the rim?  What’s their pattern and rhythm?  Upset any of that and they will usually start to miss.  Miss much more often.   There are others, but it was only 2 on 2, and we only played 3 games, before getting exhausted.

I guess I was applying a sort of facial reading, but in a more physical whole body way.  It would be interesting to see where the tells are.  Like a poker game.  Patterns set up, and then I like to exploit them.  That’s the real fun part of the game for me.  Basketball, poker, chess, trading, people reading – there’s more in common than we think sometimes.  Or at least in the way I see things.

The other difference is I can control how much weight to lift, the number of reps, and choose to skip a particular weight machine, or exercise.  In the heat of the game, past glories light up our memories, and we think that we can hit that shot again. There are more opposing forces here, than just steel and gravity and singular will power. Arms and elbows and knees collide in the dance to score 15 baskets, first.  I’m sore and bruised.

• I turn to some DVD videos in contrast to all the reading I’ve done lately
• amazingly I got Pelham 123 from the NYPL despite my 3 digit placement on the waiting list
• not sure how that happened but I wanted to see the old movie before going to see the latest edition
• perhaps mosquito season has ended so I can get a few good nights sleep  in a row
• as I have also given up daily coffee
• again
• such attempts in the past were very effective
• in allowing me to get enough sleep, rest and provide clarity
• to face this life’s challenges but
• I guess there are times where we don’t want such clarity
• and want to just muddle through the days
• however give me a clean lens and
• I’ll find the beauty if I have to cast new players, change the props and scenery and aim the camera in different directions
• I’m persistent to the point of stubborn sometimes
• but when the vision of beauty is so clear and rich often
• I can get carried away
• but enough Quixotian windmills, distant memories, and fantastical illusions
• It’s time to paint this life’s reality with a new brush and vigor.

Falling rose petals

As  winds blow a butterfly

Last embers cool dark.

This rain is taxing my optimism.  More so the mosquitoes that have invaded my home – to the tune of more than a dozen this last week.  I go from window to window in search of holes in the barricades.  Screens intact I guess that they hop a ride on people, or slip in when the door is open.

I try to not harm any life unnecessarily, but verbally persuading them to leave has had no effect – on their leaving nor my spirits.  A few sleepless nights due to late night blood sucking, and I have easily slipped into the role of mosquito assassin.  I stop short at making notches in my belt or carving out a count on the dinner table, but Mosquitoes 17 (bites) VS John 12 (kills).

The last victim smeared bloody against my inner upper arm.  The red streak left a long line like a hunters marker towards the carcass where the kill happened.   A tissue had no effect in wiping away the evidence.   The soap and water did the trick, while the successful kill lingered in my psyche.  Some religions believe that the lowly mosquito will reincarnate into a higher being. I don’t know if that is true, but it provides some solace.

Perhaps tonight the mosquitoes have found other prey, and tomorrow the sun will dry some of this rain.

• On vacation and catching up on some much needed sleep and rest
• its nice to eat, sleep and rest when you want (mostly)
• there are still some chores and responsibilities that don’t go away
• but can’t complain really when I took a couple naps today
• between some minor chores and a run
• amazingly with all the rest and sleep and walking I seem to have lost some weight
• despite walking less than May’s 10 miles a day
• on my travels I was asked by a woman to take a photo of her friend and a dalmatian
• in front of a firehouse
• and if I was not certain earlier, her thick Australian accent came back, “Perfect!”
• as I asked if the photo came out OK
• my plants suffered during my last extended vacation, so I made it a point to remember to wander by regularly
• to water them
• and that strict mistress, the local librarian caused me to go into my office anyway
• to retrieve an overdue book
• this “staycation” isn’t so bad as I’m diving thru my reading, and may just get
• to the bottom of my reading list before I pay for that extra wing at the local branch of the NYPL
• Survivors Club was an interesting read
• as was Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven, which was a nice interlude back into the 80′s
• albeit in the backdrop of China and thru the eyes of an old schoolmate
• who probably doesn’t remember me from a hole in the wall
• and that expression doesn’t quite make sense having typed it
• but maybe someday I’ll look it up
• as I lay on the grass in Central Park and read to my heart’s delight
• I wondered how having a kindle would have made the experience better
• mostly it would have been lighter than the physical hardcover book
• and I would be able to do some annotation but not in the library book
• but taking a digital photo has been a good way to keep track of things
• yet not perfect enough yet
• didn’t do a full day of trading
• but might simulate tomorrow
• still the results are pretty good so far.

• I’m tired
• that’s good since  I need to go to sleep soon
• haven’t slept well in a few days
• and its starting to show in my focus and dreamy days
• but that fartlek tonight did the trick
• not liquor or pills but miles
• or rather 10 kilometers in Central Park in
• a drizzle that started out slowly up Heartbreak hill
• and passed a female cyclist who was doing some maneuver that
• I didn’t quite understand in my gasps for air
• as she looped around again and
• I shot her a look of “what are you doing” and
• just as she passed me, she didn’t provide any clues,
• microexpressions, or any other form of leakage
• and just as I was about to put her out of my mind I heard
• a clatter behind me as she fell over…
• I yelled back asking “Are you OK?” and she
• said softly “I’m OK” in a tone that implied to me
• that she hurt something else besides her tush and
• she let out a sigh and then
• remarked, “I guess that’s why I’m out practicing…”, and I said
• “Yeah, whatever doesn’t kill you…?” but I was too far away as she
• yelled over, “What?” as I repeated myself and said the longer version
• this time she replied, “Yeah, that’s what my mother tells me.”, and
• I was thinking, “Tough Mom”, and I bid her adieu as she was
• standing now brushing off her tush and I was close enough to see she was indeed
• alright enough for me to continue on my journey
• of intermittent pain labeled ‘fartlek’
• the drizzle continued as I passed the familiar parts heading south amazed
• by the sight of my breath as I finished each leg of speedwork
• and as I caught my invisible breath back I was able to notice the stray dog walker here and there
• and tried to identify the type of bike that approached from the rear or
• the kind of runner that was about to pass me whether
• they were heavy or tall or short or male or female or expert or novice
• which was enough of a distraction for me to get my heart rate back down
• enough to sprint the next 400 meters or so as I
• passed the Lake and came up the little hill to see the huge red billboard displaying
• the time and temperature startled to hear
• another runner breathing harder than me as she finished her speedwork
• and she gave me the motivation to do another few sprints as I turned the corner near Columbus Circle and ran until the light
• and circled back and raced back up the hill north
• just as she completed her sprint south and
• she passed me another time when I had to tease out a knot in my left foot against a pole
• as she turned ahead of me and did this curious bounce up and down the curb as she passed me the last time for the night
• I mentally thanked her for the spirited last three sprints and headed home.

I don’t read enough, so I randomly will segue into different areas by random clicks on web pages, or by whimsical  strolls down unfamiliar aisles in bookstores.  Its like a physical randomization while walking in NYC- you sometimes find something new and unique, or at least you get some exercise.

I last used the nickname of one of my kids schoolmates, and came across an interesting book about a storyteller.  It interspersed a story between chapters that unfolded about a trying period in the life of the author, Ben Izzy.  [Izzy short for Isabella] I recommend the book- its a quick read, with some interesting old world stories – some which were familiar to me, others that came fresh.  The short folk stories span the world, covering the bible, the Greeks, some Jewish and some Zen.

My latest wandering comes in the form of “Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven”, which finally came off my reserve queue at NYPL.  So long ago that I didn’t remember how I chanced upon it.  Its part memoir and travelogue.  The provocative title and cover photo do catch your eye, but there was then something familiar… I couldn’t quite place it, then I did a little digging online, and it turns out that the author was a high school classmate.   We weren’t close, but we must have had some classes together, as her back cover photo made me scratch below the surface.

Coincidences are funny- I’ll write again when I’ve read it.