More Success

My interview for admissions to the Pace Doctoral program went well yesterday, and I was informed that I am the newest student to the D.P.S program at Pace University!

I can't believe this is actually happening. When I first mentioned going for my PhD, it was a humorous comment that followed the question of "what will I do when I finish my B.S degree". I remember, right after "Maybe I will go on to get my PhD!" came out of my mouth, I was a bit confused. It was a funny joke, especially to me, but in the back of my mind, I filed away the idea that I really could. There began this struggle for me to strive for it, or to just go about like it would never happen.

Here I am 3 years after I made that comment, enrolled in a doctoral program. It still seems surreal. But I made it this far, and now there is no turning back.

Wish me luck!

Umbrellas or event canopies?

Sometimes it rains. This has been the way things have been for 13 billion years. In recent times, humankind has conquered the terrible rain with an invention called the Umbrella.

The umbrella should be a device used to keep oneself dry. When it rains in Manhattan, everyone sports their umbrellas. If you are not fortunate enough to have an umbrella with you, you can usually survive by ducking under the vast array of other umbrellas that form a faux-canopy over most of the streets of NYC.

I have seen, and had to avoid, the people who have HUGE umbrellas. What are these people thinking? Literally, an umbrella with a 10' diameter is too much for a 105lb person. You could keep you, your entire extended family, and all of their worldly possessions dry under one of these mammoth sized umbrella. I have seen event canopies that were smaller. I was walking behind one the other day (it could have been a person under it, I don't know, but it took up the entire 45th street sidewalk), and the umbrella was forcing everyone off the sidewalk.

HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE! If your rain canopy is too big to fit though a standard doorway, if it has it's own weather system under it... or if you find that when you use it, people like me want to take an exacto knife to it, get a SMALLER umbrella. The kind used to shield HUMANS from the rain, not the kind used to stop rain from hitting the eastern hemisphere!

People with large umbrellas should be impaled.

Spinning, Day 2

Well, here's the report on the day 2 of spinning class.

It was easier. Significantly. The instructor was not as much of a maniac, and in fact, much much nicer. She helped me adjust the bike, and told me the secrets to class. The secret is when she yells "make it harder!" it is only a suggestion. I don't have to. I went as hard as I could manage in the class, sweating profusely, and on the verge of passing out/vomiting. My legs are not nearly as sore today (still having the ability to walk like a human), and I am feeling good.

I find the hardest part of dieting and exercising NOT to be the dieting and exercising, but the socializing. Socializing generally means eating and drinking. Those are the two hardest things to curb. Tonight I am going out with friends to the NINJA restaurant in NY. I know that means I need to spend an extra 45 minutes on the treadmill, because the food will be delicious.

I have not lost much in body weight, but I have lowered by body fat percentage by 3% in a week, and increased my muscle mass. Only 1 week so far, so lots more to report in the future.

My first spinning class

Yesterday I went to my first spinning class at the NYSC. Before I describe how it went, let me detail how much exercise I have done in the past 10 years...

Ok, now that you understand how in shape I am, [for those of you wondering if I left out the part about my past exercise, please note that nothing was entered and infer your own conclusions] I went to the gym at 5:30. I got changed, grabbed a towel and went up stairs to hit some weights before class. I worked out for a bit, and I walked on the treadmill for about 20 minutes. Then I headed down for class...

The people that do spinning classes are crazy. They are self-loathing, masochistic, insane people that have no sense of anything other than how to punish themselves.

I love it.

We warm up, and the instructor gives me the normal positions in a spinning class. I think "Only 3 positions? OK, easy to remember." We spin for a bit, standing, sitting, fast, slow. I am now dripping with sweat like a shaggy dog who just got a bath. I am sure people are worried about me. My face is purple, there are puddles forming below me. I am panting.

Finally, the instructor states to sit upright and stretch out the arms and shoulders. I look at the clock. 5 MINUTES HAVE PASSED!?!?!?! Are you kidding? I look around and no one else has broken a sweat. They are all size 00 girls some of which, this is their second back-to-back class. I am starting to get the dreaded feeling that I will not make it through the class.

With every 2 minutes, the instructor yells "reach down and increase the tension!". I am pretending to turn it. There is no way I can. I am now sweating from every pore in my body, and it stings in my eyes. I hate this class. I hate the instructor and I hate these stupid girls.

I look at the clock again. 15 MINUTES HAVE PASSED. The instructor is promising a 4 minute break coming up, after 3 more hill climbs, each one requiring more tension, more standing, and a lot more effort. Looking forward to the break, I put in the effort.

When I was thinking "break", I was imagining sitting somewhere, like a hammock, on a beach, coconut drink in hand, etc. Seriously, I didn't think it meant less tension and FASTER PEDDALING! What is wrong with these people?!?!

I made it through the class, with more effort that I have ever put in to anything since high school wrestling practice. I fought down the need to vomit in class 3 separate times, and I stumbled out of the room as the instructor was asking if people wanted to stay for an "abdominal workout". I fought down the urge to flip her the bird, but in a strange way, I liked it. I liked killing myself on the bike. They were achieving a WIN in a fictional race, while I was simply concerned with FINISHING.

I will go back. For now, maybe twice a week for spinning class. The rest of the week on the weights and the treadmill. Soon I will attempt the class 3 times a week, until I can achieve the class, and not simply pass it.

A new me (or just another blog entry)

On Tuesday night, I went home with all intentions of going for a ride on my bike. I quickly realized that daylight is my enemy. There is a precious 30 minutes of usable daylight after I get home. This seriously puts a hamper on any ability I have to go for a decent ride. By the time I get home, change, and get in to a ride, I have to turn around and get home before dark. Where I live, the roads are not the most conducive to driver/cyclist appreciation.

So I joined the NYSC. Tonight is my first spinning class. I am fully anticipating lots of pain and sweat, but I am also looking forward to it.

Here are the things I have started to do to lose the winter hibernation weight:

• Stop drinking soda (completely)
• Stop drinking beer (only occassional binge drinking allowed)
• Stop eating junk foods (burgers, chessesteaks, apple pie)
• Drink water (at least 2 liters per day)
• Eat breakfast, a midmorning snack, small lunch, mid afternoon snack, dinner, dessert.
• Take the stairs at work instead of the elevator
• Work out daily
• Train for the 60 mile and 100 mile rides at the end of the summer

Yesterday's Weigh in: 215
Current weigh in: 213

The rain is my fault... sorry.

For those of you who are wondering why it was 40 degrees this morning, cloudy and threatening rain... it is my fault. I claim full responsibility.

This weekend, I did two important things that caused the weather to turn bad. First and foremost, I bought a new bicycle. The bikes I have are older, and in need of serious repair or just trashing... so I opted for trashing. The old road bike is a "Shogun Selectra" from the very early 90's. It was a great bike when it was made. It has seen over 1000 miles, and my last long ride took about the last of the life from it. By the end of the 150 miles I realized I might be walking the parts across the finish line.

The old mountain bike is a Specialized Hard Rock that I bought about 8 years ago. Not knowing what I was doing, I bought it about 2" too big in the frame, which has all of the potential for testicular disaster, and has made me think twice on occasion regarding to fall off or jump off of it. I put about $800 worth of new components in to it, but my days of hard core mountain biking are probably done.

The new bike is a Specialized CrossTrail. This is a bike that is lighter than my mountain bike, has a front fork suspension that I can lock out (for road rides), but is tough enough to handle mild mountain biking trails.

On Saturday my curiosty got the better of me when I took it out for a spin... I pulled back in to the driveway 2 hours and 25 miles later. I really was curious what was just around the next bend. Needless to say, there was no riding for me on Sunday, but I did plan on doing another 10 today... but the purchase of a new bike means rain for a few days, so for that, I apologize.

The second and most consequential reason it is raining? After owning my car for 1 year, I have finally washed it. Yep, washed and vacuumed. Today? RAIN. Figures.

Why don't people get it?

I don't understand something....

I have several friends that have the ability to make decisions that will clearly make them miserable. These are not stupid people... These are intelligent, college educated, tax paying people that draw a pay check every week. For some reason, they continually make active decisions that will inevitably lead to their own dismay.

Am I missing it? It doesn't make sense. I understand doing something because it "feels good", or the short term benefits can be worth the long term costs... but these are major decisions about marriage, relationships and jobs that have very clear immediate consequences.

Am I expected to feel sympathy for people actively try to screw themselves? How can I in good conscience sit across the table from these people and say anything other than "so? what did you expect? to be elected president after a ticker-tape parade?" C'mon! Lets be honest with ourselves, even if we can't be honest with others.

If a situation sucks, change it, or shut the fuck up about it!

Connecting.....

Why is it that it seems like every time I have a good time with someone... be it family, friends, friends of the family, hookers, homeless people, random people on the street, stray dogs, crazy, old, bag ladies, etc, that I have the tendency to say "This was fun, we should do it again!" and somehow, it doesn't happen until the next event and I say it again, as if I don't see the cycle that continues.

It should be a hallmark greeting, or the back of a business card, the standard "hello, this was fun, please schedule this again". Every time, I think, this REALLY was fun though, and I enjoyed this, we should do it more often than once a year or once a few months. I have to assume that the reciprocating sentiment coming from the other side of the conversation is as genuine as the one I express, and yet, it is only at celebrations and tragedies that we really get together with people.

What happened to "We should fill our lives with the love of those around us." We try. We open our house and home to everyone. We invite everyone over, we cook, we throw events, and even then, it seems so difficult to have a steady connection with the people that we say "This was fun.... lets do it again".

One of two possibilities occurs:

1. People really are this busy. No one has the time to get together on a weekend, share some stories, laughs, reminisce about the old days, and to make new memories.
2. Others are not as genuine as I am when I like someone. They say they would like to get together, but they are just being polite, and as soon as I am out of ear shot, "I like you" changes to "Thank God they are gone".

Maybe this is the year. This is the year to make MORE effort to get together with people. This is the year to not have excuses, and to make it happen. Yeah, we are busy, everyone is, but what is the point if we can't enjoy it?

Enough rant for now... But if anyone wants to hang out... ;)

A Personal Statement

So the school I am applying for my PhD requires a million pieces of paper for admisson, as I eluded to in a previous post. Besides the 2 letters of referrence, a Curriculum Vitae, official transcripts and a letter of financial security, they also require a "Personal Statement" essay. According to what I can find on the web, this should be a 2 page essay about "me". But it should create a certain amount intrigue on the school's part.

There are so many things that this personal statement should NOT be about, I can't figure out what the hell to write about. Every time I look at the document, I write some setences about me, that are disconnected from the rest of the theme, save and move on. Too bad they can't take a bulleted list of things I can do.