Gone Now Later

Earlier this year, I attended a friend's opening for a number of art works he created. These installations used television sets to display images and films. One in particular stands out, even these many months later. It was a film, probably 10 minutes in length, of clouds and birds recorded in a railyard. The amazing thing about art is that it challenges people to think about different things and can have as many meanings as there are people on the planet. To me, this film made me reflect on what I make time for everyday. I watched the film of passing clouds and flying birds - all ten or more minutes of it - without moving away. In essence, this was nature in action. But it took a video artist capturing it for me to make the time to see it. In reflection on this experience, the challenging part of this is that I claim to be someone who enjoys the natural world but I honestly cannot remember when I last sat for ten minutes to watch the clouds roll by or birds fly. I may have spent at most 30 seconds enjoying these things happening in real time, without the use of electricity or toxic chemicals to create devices for emitting electrons on a glass screen. To me, this piece spoke of the need for me to allow time to enjoy those things that I do wish to enjoy.

Now I am thinking. Thinking about the past and the future but rarely the present. Thinking about the present is something I rarely do, hence the need for someone else to show me what I am too busy missing.

Later I will be moving. 

Moving to the next opportunity. 

Opportunity to serve more than I conceive to be possible.

Possible I will not be ready?

Ready to move later.

Fall down, go boom, get up, ride away

The wind was blowing and there were some snowflakes in the air... what better conditions to go riding in. As I felt the need to unwind late this afternoon, I bundled up and headed out for Pittsford along the canal path. The tailwind helped keep the pace decent, the headwind helped slow the pace down, and the crosswind kept the pace interesting. I felt good (on only one slice of pizza and 3/4 a bottle of Gatorade) to continue past the turnoff on the return trip and continue on to Genesee Valley Park and the trail along the U of R campus. By then it was getting dark and I, tired and cold, so in my cognitive abilities were getting a little sloppy. On a corner near my apartment, I became victim of wet leaves, speed, and a corner. I went down smoothly as the bike slide out from underneath me. I was fortunate no cars were coming. I don't think anyone saw the event. I got up quickly and remounted. A non-daylight added inspection of the bike indicates other than some gouges on the rear derailleur and right pedal, everything seems to be ok. The other major concern is the iPod, which seems ok - it is still working. I landed right on it. There is a small tear in my coat but that's ok as it could have been a lot worse. I cannot remember the last time I went down on the road bike. This could quite possibly be the first time. All in all, a great ride. It was good to be out. I passed a couple who were riding west when I was going east. Upon turning around, I caught them - they seemed to have met their match with the head wind. 

The picture is from this July when I took care of my family's 19 year old cat. I figure I have not posted a picture of the road bike and it is the easiest one to access right now. 

Funnier than the Fockers

I'm not a Ben Stiller fan but this is funny.

Bittersweet

There are always questions. The answers are always elusive, never black and white like you want them to be. Do you stay and tough it out for an indefinite period for the love of the game? Or do you cut and run, moving to a new option, always searching? Some congratulate and support you in this, as they know it is what you think you need. But is it? Who are you really doing this for? Isn't it supposed to be about service to others? At what cost? Are you being held back or are you learning? There will always be someone needing a hand, something your skills are capable of providing at a certain level. There is good in this place, can it be great? Can you be a part of it being great?

Only time will tell.

You need to stick around long enough for time to tell. 

Maybe next time.

Hikes and bikes, not hike-a-bike

It has been a while since I took the initiative to just get out and decompress. I think it might be a week early as I don't finish at the job until next Saturday but I needed these passed two days. Saturday I drove south with no real destination in mind. I wound up in Naples so I decided to visit Hi-Tor again. It was raining off and on so the weather wasn't really ideal but it was good to hike and spend some time messing around with the camera. It was also time to think about where I have been recently and where things are going. No real conclusions but I don't think there ever will be. 

Hi-Tor would be a great place to ride but...

then I see signs like this. And then I get mixed signals when I see signs like this:

My guess is that Hi-Tor itself is open to riding but some of the trails that access the area are not. Bummer because those are the ones that are definitely more interesting to ride. I'll need to find a map and figure out where the public and private lands are.

After the hike I spotted some wind turbines south of Naples and off toward Cohocton. Very cool, massive structures. I hope more are brought online. 

Today I changed out my rear tire on the road bike. I've put three plus years and 2500 miles on the Continental Ultra 2000s - the threads are starting to really fray so I figure it is time. I am trying Michelin Lithion tires. I rode to Honeoye Falls and back for a total of about 35 miles. So far, I am impressed. It was a mix of wet and dry and there weren't any iffy situations. The real test will be to see how they hold up riding through the city streets.