Gouache

Yesterday I bought gouache to paint with. This will be the first time I'm using this type of paint. When I go to the art supply store again I'll be looking for paper to paint on. Whatever strikes my fancy.

March Out

I planned on moving by today. Then I wanted to put it off for a couple of months. Now it looks like I might try to make a move by the end of April. I just need to find a nice balance and then I'm gone.

Now That's Spring

Winter appears to be slowly fading away. It is supposed to be sunny and in the mid 50's today. Most of the snow & ice have melted. Easter is tomorrow and April Fool's Day is on Monday. Opening Day at Yankees Stadium against the Red Sox is just 48 hours away. Spring is in the air! A couple of day ago, I bought a new pair of running shoes. I plan to go out and see how they feel. A nice way to spend my Saturday.

Self Transcendence Marathon

Yesterday I registered for the Self Transcendence Marathon in Nyack, New York. This has to be the most trippped out of all the marathons I've ever been involved with. First of all, it takes place on a Thursday in August and runners go around a 3-Mile loop 9 times. I'm doing it because I've read the reviews from other runners and they liked it. This also fits into my running schedule with the New York City Marathon a couple of months later. I like the idea of a Summer Marathon too and I don't want to run Yonkers this year. I'm looking forward to this race.

Check That

I did get out there and run 7 miles today. It's my plan to finish this abstract painting I titled AMSTERDAM later on. These are just a couple of things on my checklist.

Set & Rise

The moon was very bright out there.
The night skies are clear.
The sun is about to rise.
Give way to the day.

Shopping

I'm going shopping today. This is the first day off I've had from work in almost a week and I want to purchase some items. At the top of my list is getting a pair of running shoes for the upcoming racing year. It will be either a pair of Nike or Saucony sneakers. I'll try them on at the sporting goods store. I want to stop by the art supply store and pick up some watercolors. I'll go into the music store and see about a strap for my bass. And I want to look into getting and iPhone. I don't own one yet. Shop till I drop.

Did It

Went out and ran 7 miles today. I feel like I'm back on track.

Make A Run

I haven't done a training run in over 4 days. This is due in part to last week's work schedule and the bad weather. You wouldn't know it was Spring around here. The feel of Winter remains. I'm going out for a run today. I want to make this a good week for exercise. Of course there is snow in the forecast today. I hope it isn't too bad.

On Hold

On this Sunday morning, it feels like things are in stalemate mode. I've had to push my move from where I live until the end of May and there is no sign of Spring. It remains very cold outside. It's also been a disappointing week training wise. This is in part to the bad weather and my crazy work schedule. I'll start in running big time tomorrow. Other than that, everything else is fine.

Working Weekend

While most people have the weekends off, I right in the middle of my workweek. Maybe next time the only requirement I'll have for a future employer is for me to work 9 to 5 Monday through Friday.

10 Hours

Worked 10 hours at the hotel front desk today. Good thing I like my job.

No Play

I did go to the Open Mic at Whistling Willie's last night but I didn't sign up and play. I was very tired and there's so much for me to do today. The place was packed. It was closed for a couple of months due to renovations. I did a few people I know and then left. It was time to go.

Open Mic

It is the return of Open Mic at Whistling Willie's in Cold Spring, New York tonight and I plan to play a few songs. It will be my first live performance this year. I just found out about it yesterday and today is the first day of Spring. You wouldn't know it by going outside. It's cold and snow is on the ground. Please bring me warmth.

More Snow

I would say about 6 inches of snow fell on the ground. It has stopped now so I think we're finished. The lights went out for a few hours. That's always a scary thing. I never know if it will be a few hours or a few days. Fortunately the electric is back on. Nice to have a hot cup of coffee.

Not Yet

I like to think of St. Patrick's Day as the first unofficial day of Spring. But it its cold outside today and it appears it's going to be for the remainder of the week. This has been a stubborn Winter with this time of the year being unpredictable in the weather department. People were asking me yesterday why I didn't run in the New York City Half Marathon yesterday. I told them it's just too cold right now. That was the case indeed.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Feeling Better

The headache is gone. Thank goodness.

Violent Migraine

My headaches are the worst. These violent migraines I get always hit me at the same spot. The top left side of my head. It comes on slowly and then intensifies. I took a couple of aspirin because I knew this wasn't going away quickly. Then I have to ride it out. I feel a little better right now. Afterwards, my whole body feels tired. Oh the pain of life.

Painting

I'm going to work on my latest abstract painting. This is the first one where I put it down and then started in on it again. I began work on it a few days ago. It's mostly red with black lines. Keep creating.

Long Day Part 2

I'm at the front desk and I'll be here for a couple of more hours. I was able to get a blog post in. Tot ziens menson.

Friday Run

I did run 7 miles today. I plan on a run of 9 miles tomorrow and that will get me over 30 miles for the week. I'll keep training.

Long Day

This will be a long day for me. I work from 4 PM to 12:30 AM tonight. I do plan on going out and running this morning. It is cold out there. The good thing is that the sun is out and the sky is blue. I'll have to bundle up.

The Bar Spies

           
                                Greg Phillips and Pete Nobile jamming in Cold Spring, New York   

Tired

No run today. I would like to work on my latest abstract painting before going to work this afternoon. I'm tired this morning.

Central Park

I went down to Manhattan and ran around Central Park. It's the first time I've been there this year. I ran several races last year on my way to qualifying for this year's New York City Marathon. I can't help but get flashbacks of past races when I'm there. So many miles have been put under my feet. I always felt motivated in the park to run as fast as I could. The one nice thing about the races there were the fan support. It's always nice to hear cheering crowds rooting for you. When I started running races it was amazing to have spectators encouraging you to keep pushing on. That's why running for me became a creative outlet. I ended up getting more fan support there than any of my other artistic endeavours. Running combines theatre, music and dance. It's all performance.

3/12/13 Set List

Here are the songs I practiced today:

ON A DEATH TOUR
TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW
SAD SIGHT TO SEE
WOE OF MAN
ROOM SERVICE
KISSING CHRISTINE
MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE
ALL QUIET ON THE FRONT DESK FRONT
WAKE UP CALL
I WANT TO KNOW

Manhattan Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'll take the early train and go into Manhattan. I'm getting together with my friend Tina and we'll make a day of it. We're both avid runners so we'll do a training run in Central Park in the morning and then the rest of the day is ours. I look forward to it.

T.G.I.M.

My Monday is like most people's Fridays. I have the next 2 days off. Making music and painting abstract works will be on my agenda tomorrow. I might take a trip to New York City on Wednesday. Crazy life I live.

Monday Run

Now that it's dark again at 6 o'clock in the morning, I'll go out and run in a little while. I feel tired this morning. I work at the hotel this afternoon and then I have a couple of days off. The weather tomorrow calls for a lot of rain. So much for outside activities.

Spring Ahead

It does feel less like Winter and more like Spring. It's 5:45 in the late afternoon and the sun is still out. The only thing is that this morning when I went to work at 6:30 it was dark again. The days get longer and warmer from here. This is something I like.

3/9/13 Set List

These are the songs I practiced today:

Hotel Owners
Action Painting
Freezing
Construction 426
Modern Weaponry
Beyond Baghdad
Generic Protest Song
My Boston Girl
The Blue Spruce
Jacuzzi Suite
Leave The Keys

Another 30 Miles

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I was running through a driving snow and today it's sunny with clear blue skies. It was a 9-Mile run this morning which gives me 30 miles of running for the week. I felt good out there too. It was windy & cold but I was bundled up. Now I'm ready to do another abstract painting. It's all about being creative in life.

More Painting

Yesterday I did an abstract painting with watercolors. I really like doing those. I'll have to take a photo of it and post it for everyone to see. I want to do more painting.

Work All Day

I ran 7 miles this morning, snowplowed & shoveled around my house, and now on my way to work at the hotel. A full day indeed.

March Hill Snow

There must be close to 6 inches of snow on the ground and it's still snowing. I have to go to work this afternoon and the roads look like a mess. The most difficult part might be getting out of my driveway. I can't wait for Winter to end. I hate it! I want warm weather. I want St. Paddy's Day where I can get over the March Hill and see the light of Spring.

Ajax vs Roda

                         Eredivisie League match in Amsterdam on February 10, 2013

Amsterdam ArenA

                                         
                              I took this photo last month before the Ajax vs Roda game.

3/6/13 Set List

THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Music

Music is the great driving force in my life. The earliest memories are that that of hearing songs I love. Things may come & go but my love of music stays. It is faithful to me. Music is magic and I turn to it when I need to get away from everything else. Thank you music.

For Karen

                               I did this drawing for my friend Karen as a birthday gift.

Busy Week

It usually is a busy week. This week is particularly busy because of work. I almost have a normal schedule, but not quite. I'm working the evening shift this week. Next week I'll be looking for a new apartment. The move is on. My mantra has been I'M MOVING. I say it every single day. I'm moving away.

Morning Light

When I went outside to go to work this morning, I didn't need to put the outside light on. The days are getting longer with daylight. It must be the first weekend of March.

30 More Miles

Did my 9 miles of running today. That makes 30 for the week. It was slow going at first. Then I just picked up the pace. The one thing I'll be doing more of this year will be speed workouts. I won't run as much but I'll compact more into a training run. Now that Spring is getting closer I need to get my bicycle tuned up. It needs a lot of work. One tire is flat and the gears are all worn. This will be a big year for marathon training and getting 30 miles in this week goes to the process.

Day Off

I'm off from work today. I would like to get out there and run 9 miles. This will give me 30 miles for the week. I slept in this morning and feel really tired right now. The weather is O.K. so there are no excuses.More drawing & songs to write too. Just another day off.

Pictures & Songs

One of the things I've been doing is drawing pictures and writing songs to them. I've come up with a couple of completed projects that way. The more detail I put to things the more ambiguous it gets. I'll leave that be then.

March On

It's the 1st day of the new month. February is done and March is here. The last month was pretty crazy. I expect this month to be the same only with 3 more days added to it. I'll be moving from my present location so they'll be plenty of work to do. There's plenty of work right now.