Taking a break really sucks

The summer is finally here and I am stuck in NYC for the entire break taking technical training classes. As a result it is gonna be a few weeks until I will be able to get in a martial arts workout. At least within a formal class setting. Luckily my gym has a decent sized exercise area and heavy bags so I can work my hands and legs. I must admit that I will miss the formal classes, and mostly, the sparring. Hitting a bag is not like hitting a live person. To paraphase the illustrious Bruce Lee, “Bags don’t hit back”.

Rain, rain, go away!

The 5 Boro Bike Tour 09When the alarm went off this morning at 6:30am I almost cried. Sunday is usually the one day of the week that I am able to sleep in late. The kids were spending the weekend at Grandma’s house so it was the perfect type of Sunday to just lay in bed and watch TV. However, as we did almost every year, Ski and I had signed up to ride in the annual Five Boro Bike Tour a few months back, and today was the event.

I always enjoy this event but this year the weather was predicted to be cold and rainy for the entire day. Plus my body was still sore from the previous day when I accidentally caught an elbow to my eyebrow while grappling in Krav Maga class. So considering those factors, the last thing that I really wanted to do was ride 50 miles in the rain and cold. But with the kids and our busy schedules, it is rare that Ski and I get a whole day just to do something together on our own. So I manned up and dragged my behind out of bed to spend time with my wife.

Despite the rain and cold, I have to admit that the ride was fun. The course took us all over the city. We started in lower Manhattan and dipped all to briefly into the Bronx (i swear the Bronx gets shown no love in these events). From there we headed over a bridge back into Manhattan and down the East River Drive (even in the rain the ride down the East River Drive is always an experience). The we headed over the 59th Street Bridge into Queens then on to the BQE into Brooklyn. The final leg of the tour carried us over the Verrazzano Bridge and into Staten Island.

At the end we were wet and tired and cold. But I had a great time with my girl.

Runnin’ for Chowda: Year Two

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I just got off of the phone with Ski and was shocked to hear her sound so energetic. She slid up to Beantown this weekend to run in her second Boston Marathon and had just finished when I got her on the cell. I really wanted to see her run but someone had to look after the kids since they were back in school after a week off for Spring Break. It probably was for the best since the weather in Boston was cold and rainy and neither of us want the kids to catch any colds. Still, it would have been Continue reading “Runnin’ for Chowda: Year Two”

Go Trek Yourself

This is either one of the funniest, or the creepiest, things I have seen on the web in awhile. You got a black vulcan spitting the lyrics of Rakim in an offbeat monotone fashion. Yes I realize that I am a major nerd but the use of flash in this application is pretty original. You can upload a picture of yourself, type in some text and boom. You have just Trek’ed yourself. Continue reading “Go Trek Yourself”

Early Morning Krav Maga Workout

This is a brief video taken by my kids as they watched their father sweat through an early Saturday morning workout. I really plan to get in better shape for the New Year. Luckily I have the next couple of month off to workout both physically, mentally and professionally. I aim to make the best of this time.

Fame can sometimes be a kick in the a$$!

Sometimes Fame can be a kick in the ass!As this year comes to a close it is ironic how people, places, and things from my past are starting to resurface as if almost by design. My recent re-dedication to the martial arts has almost seemingly summoned alot of my boys out of the woodwork. One of my old training partners, and dojo brothers, Fame has moved back to NYC after living abroad in Europe for the past decade.

I knew that Fame had been Continue reading “Fame can sometimes be a kick in the a$$!”