May Day Eve

There's the cliche that goes, "April showers bring May flowers." There hasn't been a whole lot of rain in New York this April. Yet the lawns and the trees are turning green. The grass and the leaves spring into sight. We've had chilly mornings with frost warnings to bring in those plants. The sun has been shining bright with gusty winds. All leading to the last day of April and making it's way to May Day.

4-Mile Race

I ran the 4-Mile race in Central Park in New York City today in a time of 28:05. Well below my over/under finishing time of 29 minutes. Yet I just missed running under running 7 minutes per mile. I could feel myself hitting the wall with a mile to go. Still I'm happy with the result though. I saw my friend Tina before the race and then my other friend Pauline afterwards. Both are great runners. It was cold this morning. I dressed lightly for the race because the sun was out. That proved to be a good move. My next race is in 2 weeks. It will be a 10K race. I've already started training for it.

Tuning My Strings

I like to jog 3 miles the day before a race. I call it, "Tuning My Strings." I would equate it to tuning the strings on my bass before a live gig. Now I'll just do some stretching & weights for the rest of the day. Tonight I'll have a pasta dinner. It is a 4-Mile race and my over/under finishing time is 29 minutes.

Race On Sunday

I didn't run yesterday. I just felt like resting. Today I did get out there and ran 7 miles. I'm running in a 4-Mile race on Sunday with my over/under finishing time being 29 minutes. I hope to maybe even get under 28 minutes. That would be an average of under 7 minutes per mile. That will be difficult. The rolling hills of Central Park in New York City can take a toll and the first mile of the race is crowded with runners. I feel strong and will give it my best shot. Just one more jog tomorrow for tuning up my body & mind and I'm ready to go. It's all about speed this Sunday.

Rock Politics

Beginning in the late 1960's I grew up with a jukebox. It was located at my Grandfather's bar. So much of the 2nd half of 20th century music was on it. The history of Rock & Roll was in that jukebox. I remember taking it all in. As the 1970's developed, many different styles of Rock were born. Metal, Prog & Punk are a few forms that took place over this period of time. Yet the politics of Rock can be quite factional. I tended to be more of a Prog guy. That's just how it was. Yet it was important to be open to it all because I liked it all. I was taking all the music in as it was being created. In the end I feel like I've gone full circle and I do it on my own. Just like I did decades ago at my Grandfather's bar.

Yonkers Marathon

I registered for the Yonkers Marathon which will take place in September. It's the 2nd oldest marathon in the world. Only Boston has been going on for a longer time. This will be the 4th year in a row I'm running it and I want to finish it under 4 hours. I will be training all Spring & Summer for it.

Love Addict

Falling in love is the most intense thing I've ever felt. At first it's like being blasted off in a rocket with the whole universe of possibilities in front of you. When it fails the feeling is that the rocket is heading straight back down to the earth. That free fall of failure reminds you of what you don't have. Like an addict who wants drugs, where's the methadone for love? I don't want to love you anymore because you don't love me. I'll feel better when I'm cured.

7 Miles

I did run 7 miles this morning. I have a 4-Mile race on Sunday. I'm setting myself up like a coiled spring so I'll shoot right out of the Starting Line. Another planned training run tomorrow.

Rain

It's been pretty dry in New York. It did rain overnight. It's not raining right now yet it is quite overcast. No running or bicycle riding today. I'll do weights & stretching instead.

Finish Strong

I went out and ran 7 miles today. I didn't think I would run this morning due to the weather. I know it's supposed to rain and it will later on. I have a 4-Mile race next Sunday and I'm gearing up for it.

Art & Music

I went to the Peekskill Coffee House last night and saw a local singer/songwriter by the name of Joe Dureas. I really enjoyed the show. He writes his own material and also mixed them in with cover tunes. He did several songs by The Smiths. He also performed Elton John's ROCKET MAN. I played that at Whistling Willie's the other night. I drew a picture of Joe Dureas while he was playing. It's the first thing I've drawn in the sketch book I bought a few days ago. I wanted to have something easy to carry around when I get the urge to sketch. Art & Music go so well together in my life.

Bicycle & Run

With the weather being sunny and warm today, there's a good chance I'll be on my bicycle in a couple of hours. I like doing the cross training of biking and running. I have a 4-Mile race next weekend and I want to go as fast as I can. Now is the time I start working up to it. My last 4- Mile race in Central Park, New York City went well. I would love to finish under 28 minutes. That would be an average of under 7 minutes a mile. That will be tough in the rolling hills of Central Park. It's all about flat out speed.

Open Mic

Last night I went to Open Mic at Whistling Willie's in Cold Spring, New York and performed 3 songs. My friend Todd Guidice played the drums with me. The first song was a song I wrote exactly 25 years ago entitled MOLLY. I was really happy with that version. Then we played Elton John's classic song ROCKET MAN. I hadn't planned on doing it yet I changed my mind and it was O.K. Todd & I ended the set with The Band's THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN and it was dedicated to Levon Helm. Music makes you travel even if you just standing on your feet.

Levon

Last night I found out that one of my favorite musicians is very ill. Levon Helm is best know as the drummer & vocalist for The Band. He has lived in Woodstock, New York for quite awhile. I might go to Open Mic tonight and if I do I'll play THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN. I've been meaning to perform it live and tonight would be a good time to do so. Thank you for all the great music Levon.

Miles

I went for a 20-Mile bicycle ride yesterday and ran 7 miles today. My training is going good.

Patriot's Day

today is Patriot's Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It's a holiday marking the beginning of the American Revolution. It always falls on a Monday in the middle of April. I like to mark it as the end of really cold weather. Since it's been so mild this year, I've not too worried about snow anymore. It's also quite a sporting day in the city of Boston. The Boston Red Sox will have a baseball game going on at Fenway Park and the Boston Marathon will also be taking place at the same time. It will be a hot one with temperatures in the 80's. More like Summer than Spring. Happy Patriot's Day!

Manhattan

I went to Manhattan and walked all over the island. I did my volunteer work at New York Road Runners so now all I have to do is run 4 qualifying race. My next one is 2 weeks from today. I also took a walk along Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village and I was looking for the old CBGB's. I had better luck finding the old Polo Grounds last month. I took a stroll By Madison Square where Rangers fans were gathering for the game later that night. Then I went up Broadway to where the Beacon Theatre is. The band Furthur has a run of shows there. And as I headed back to Grand Central to pick up the train, I stopped by Strawberry Fields in Central Park. My day in Manhattan.

Opening Day

This has become my favorite time of year living in New York. The Yankees have their home opener this afternoon. When I take the train into Manhattan, I always go by Yankee Stadium. That will be the case when I go to New York City tomorrow. I ran 7 miles today. The weather is supposed to be warm for the weekend so there's a good chance I'll ride my bicycle. Nothing like cross training.

NYRR & Furthur

On Saturday I'm going to be in Manhattan volunteering for credit getting me into the 2013 New York City Marathon. I'll be at an Expo where the runners who will be in the the race next day will pick up their items. I will arrive there by 9:30 AM. I'm assigned to work at a booth where they hand out complimentary T shirts. After I'm done with that, my plan is to check out what's going on at the Beacon Theatre. Furthur is performing there and Dead Heads will be hanging around. The weather is supposed to be nice in New York City this weekend. "Farewell to you ole Southern skies I'm on my way."

Begin

BEGIN

Het is tijd                          
Om weg to gaan
Er is  zoveel
Voor mij to zie.

Op de weg
In een auto
Naar de luchthaven
Ik heb tijd.

Vaandag maken
Ik reis
Met het vliegtuig
Naar de stad.

On The Road

I went out there this morning and ran 7 miles. I didn't very fast today. I don't have a race until the middle of May. I'll keep training. In New York City this week the band FURTHUR is doing a bunch of shows. Phil Lesh is one of my favorite bass players. When I saw him live I could feel his bass as much as I could hear it. Pure magic! I might take a walk around the Beacon Theater sometime this week and check out the Dead Heads.

Who's There

I didn't post anything on my blog for a couple of days. I did go to The Capital District of New York State Saturday and saw a whole bunch of friends. I went to a concert at Pauly's Hotel in Albany where the band playing was performing the music of The Who and British Invasion songs. I even performed on 3 of the songs: BORIS THE SPIDER -  MAGIC BUS - SQUEEZE BOX. My dear friend Nick Bisanz helped put on the show and the band played great. They did a great version of GETTING IN TUNE. I had never played on the stage at Pauly's before. A fun night all the way around.

The Who & The What

Tomorrow I'll be heading to the Capital District of Albany, New York where it will be a full day of music. I will jam at a friend's house in Troy and then attend a concert in Albany. The band performing that night will playing the music if The Who. Many of my friends are supposed to be out. It will be way past my bedtime.

Russian Flag Colors

                             
                             
                             

Bass & Pencil

I practice my bass guitar everyday. I've owned my Guild B-301 now for 35 years. I've written so many songs on it. I learned to pluck the strings on it. My true companion. The Pencil is a close friend of mine too. When I was a kid I loved drawing COLOR BY NUMBERS. There would be a picture with figures on them. Inside it figure would be a number. I would match the number on the paper with the same number on the pencil and draw. That's how I approach landscapes & still life. Art & music.

In The Red

                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         

Slow Bones

I was moving slow out there this morning. I've run 7 miles 2 days in a row and I'm still recovering from my 15K race last Sunday. Talk about leaving it on the road. Without doubt that was one of my best races I've ever run. It's the first time I've done a personal best at a given distance since the New York City Marathon in 2010. I think the cross training with the bicycle really helps out. It's nice enough today to go for a bike ride. Hmmm

Jacques Le Rock

Here are the lyrics to my song Jacques Le Rock

JACQUES LE ROCK

Jacques Le Rock
Merci boucoup
Jacques Le Rock
We all thank you

Elting Space was your place
Putting down the Poughkeepsie Sound
Dressed in black a colorful soul
Now that's what we call Jacques & Roll

Jacques Le Rock
Merci boucoup
Jacques Le Rock
We all thank you

Agitpop and Mercury Rev
Cellophane and The Dover Boys too
They all seemed to hate each other
When in fact they all loved you

Jacques Le Rock
Merci boucoup
Jacques Le Rock
We all thank you

Your name it rythms with a leader in France
Your music makes us sing and dance
Everybody talk about Jacques Music
Jacques The Monkey
Jacques & Roll

Jacques Le Rock
Merci boucoup
Jacques Le Rock
We all thank you

Merci boucoup

My 15K Race

Last Sunday I ran in a 15K race in Central Park, New York City. I finished in a time of 1:07:51. It was the fastest I ever ran that distance. It was my hope that I could finish under 70 minutes and I did a couple of minutes better than that. I really trained for the race. It was important to me to run at my best. Today I went out and did what I call a RECOVERY RUN. It was the first time I was running since the race and I was sore. I left my speed in Central Park and that's good. I don't have another scheduled race until May yet I'll continue to train. Keep on truckin' babe!

Jacques

My friend Jacques Cohen passed away over the weekend. He was a music producer and created what I call the MID-HUDSON or POUGHKEEPSIE SOUND. Jacques recorded many bands the Poughkeepsie area. I met him back in the early 1990's. I was in a band called Cellophane and we shared a loft called The Elting Space. It was located on the Main Mall in Poughkeepsie. My band would practice there and Jacques would use it as a recording studio. He recorded Cellophane once and it was a version of The Minutemen's song MORE JOY. It appears on The Minutemen Tribute album that was recorded in the mid 1990's. Jacques was the one person who worked with everyone in our music scene. The last time I saw him was back in October at a party in Poughkeepsie. He had an aneurysm a couple of weeks ago and never recovered. He was only in his mid 40's. Thank you for the great music and friendship Jacques. I will put the lyrics to a song I wrote about him on my blog soon. It's called JACQUES LE ROCK.