Two words that rang true. That stuck with me all day.
In the morning I listen to the radio announcers work their talents over the airwaves on the drive in to work. I listen to my colleagues when they converse with me in the hallway (when I all I want to do is get to my desk and put my bags down so it doesn't look like I've just arrived at 9 am). I listen and listen and listen. In one ear, out the other.
Not a lot sticks. I have days where people's lips move and I nod, but don't really pay attention until importance strikes a chord and I have to plug in and politely ask for a rephrase of the question. But today I was talking to one of my work cycle buddies about triathlons. Lets call him Lance.
Lance did the last Gatorade triathlon of the season 750m/20k ride/5k run yesterday. What was impressive was that it was his first triathlon, and he hadn't swum for 6 months. What trumped that effort tho, was the story of Lance's mate who almost drowned (figuratively) in a mini-triathlon, then 1 year later went on to do an Ironman in Busselton 3.8k swim/180k ride/42.2k run. So thats all it took. 1 year. Ironman.
What got the cogs in my head ticking was when Lance asked if I wanted to do it. Instantly I was thinking YES!! Thats when the cogs went into overdrive, and the over-analysis part of my frontal lobes took over.
"Wait..... I was thinking of doing the Melbourne marathon, and that in itself means pounding endless miles of concrete to build the training base."
Lance nods like he has an answer but doesn't want to tell me yet.
I keep going. "A marathon is just one third of the ironman. You also have to swim and ride. That means you would have to train three times as much"
Lance does another half nod in agreeance, "Every day".
And then the magic sticky words gracefully resonated out into the world.
"All you have to do is to really apply yourself."
I would not imagine these to be climatic words. But those words rung through my head like the piercing pitch of a freshly hit giant triangle in the school choir big band.
"Just apply yourself". "Everyday".
Homebound and driving later in the evening, I was running through ideas on how to apply things. Like cooking or fishing. I can read all the recipes I can handle, that will keep my cooking ability ticking along, but the only thing that can help me become a better cook, is by actually cooking.
Application. Everyday.
The cycle then is kept interesting when I then get to play the detective game to solve the inevitable roadblock which allows me to add another feather to my cap (and eventually reach top chef status, or "liberation").
Not a new concept by any stretch of the imagination. Best summed up by the following quote, which I will end with and use as the quote of the day.
"Do not mistake understanding for realization, and do not mistake realization for liberation"
(old Tibetan saying)
(personal translation: You can understand every aspect of cooking by reading recipes and watching Ramsay or Blumental. But it's not until you've put things into practice that you realize what works for you and what does not.
And it is not until you've been through all the infinte motions and lessons, that you will uncover whatever it is you are truely looking for. And it is then, you will have achieved your liberation.
Apply yourself! Everyday.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
First things first
It happened again, bringing my earthquake count to 2. This time I was upstairs doing some work on the lappy and I heard same noise as I heard last time. The sound similar to when a strong wind is trying its hardest to blow down the locked front door. The tremors came longer and stronger than previously. The best thing I can relate the feeling to is being in a dodgy elevator. The whole house shook, while vibrating violently! Books started falling off the shelf, but it left as quickly as it came.
Had another first today. My first ever blood test. I felt like an elite athlete, getting tested for various banned substances. I shivered at the thought of the needle, but I couldn't help watch them extract my precious red oxygen carriers. They filled up 2 viles then loaded on a giant one. The mantra of the nurse's running list of bad things that would happen to me if I moved suddenly paralyzed me when this giant empty glass vase was being filled. All respect to the people who donate blood, because I aint giving no more of my precious red even if you paid me!
Quote of the day:
To a carpenter, every problem looks like a nail
Had another first today. My first ever blood test. I felt like an elite athlete, getting tested for various banned substances. I shivered at the thought of the needle, but I couldn't help watch them extract my precious red oxygen carriers. They filled up 2 viles then loaded on a giant one. The mantra of the nurse's running list of bad things that would happen to me if I moved suddenly paralyzed me when this giant empty glass vase was being filled. All respect to the people who donate blood, because I aint giving no more of my precious red even if you paid me!
Quote of the day:
To a carpenter, every problem looks like a nail
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
One door closes, another should stay shut
Its coming. The dreaded cold. The needed-but-annoying-nonetheless rain. The sogginess of my socks and the layering of clothes. Winter is approaching.
I have to admit, the onset of the cooling weather and the disappearance of the sun is putting me in a mindset of a migrating bird from Siberia.
Went to the Connex Sizzle on Saturday as part of the Melbourne food and wine festival and was like a kid in a candy store, marvelling at the calibre of the restaurants and food on offer. The grilled eggplant from Melbourne Wine Room and Berbere marinated chicken from Circa made my tastebuds sing in a majesty of song.
I waited around for Dallas Cuddy from Verge and Teage Ezard from Ezards/Gingerboy to inspire me with a live showdown of their infamous skills, but the darkest clouds I've ever seen moved in and unleashed the fattest drops of rain at the very start of the demonstration. Everyone ran for cover. It epitomized the definition of anti-climax. And that was the end of that.
Not looking forward to the next few months.
I have to admit, the onset of the cooling weather and the disappearance of the sun is putting me in a mindset of a migrating bird from Siberia.
Went to the Connex Sizzle on Saturday as part of the Melbourne food and wine festival and was like a kid in a candy store, marvelling at the calibre of the restaurants and food on offer. The grilled eggplant from Melbourne Wine Room and Berbere marinated chicken from Circa made my tastebuds sing in a majesty of song.
I waited around for Dallas Cuddy from Verge and Teage Ezard from Ezards/Gingerboy to inspire me with a live showdown of their infamous skills, but the darkest clouds I've ever seen moved in and unleashed the fattest drops of rain at the very start of the demonstration. Everyone ran for cover. It epitomized the definition of anti-climax. And that was the end of that.
Not looking forward to the next few months.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Random thoughts
- I love eggs
Maybe its a passing fad, but one of my little pleasures during the week includes the simple moment of frying up an egg, putting it on top of my food (usually kangaroo), then intently appreciating the money shot of the humble egg. That is, when I puncture the yolk, and watch the slow motion of free range yellowness escape, painting itself a better life in the inside crevices of my food.
I have pinpointed this current obsession with eggs stemming from living out of hotels for the month of January, and ordering countless servings of eggs hollandaise.
- Chocolate is for losers.
I always think that when I bask in the sickly feeling of eating a sh_tload of chocolate.
I have found a good way to eat chocolate. You have to soften the texture. Like cheese when you leave it out to heat up to room temperature. A good coffee and dark chocolate make a great couple as the heat of the coffee on the roof of your mouth melts the chocolate, releasing the flavours in one big hit!
In moderation its great, but lately I've been eating too much (stress!), trying to re-live that split second when my senses are overpowered by flavour, and it is giving me a huge hug inside. Have to learn to de-stress in other ways.
The moral - chocolate wont fill that void, but a good chocolate eaten the right way is great!
- Giving up chocolate.
Was having a conversation about this to one of my cycle buddies. He has a 2 minute handicap on me, and he is still pushing himself to go faster. I recollect about a month ago, introducing him to a 1kg bag of choc chips I had recently acquired from my friends in Sensory, and came back the next day to find about 10 choc chips left in the bag. Of late, he has experienced a sudden loss of craving for the cocoa sugar. His discovery was he didn't have a reason to give up chocolate. So he now has a reason, and the desire to achieve it overpowers the temporary need for a sugar fix. His "reason" to quit is to be able to climb the "1 in 20" in sub-19 minutes. I currently do it in 21m 40s. The 1 in 20 is a ride which sits at the bottom of The Basin, and every 20 metres you ride, you elevate 1. A good rider will do this in sub 20.
Moral - I need a reason.
- Yes Man
Was browsing at the book store the other day, and a mate showed me a book called "Yes Man". I haven't read it, but it was explained to me to be a book about a dull boring guy, who turned his life around after 1 conversation with a stranger on a bus. The stranger had a simple message - everything you experience, say YES, because it opens many doors.
For some reason, I was inspired. I wanted to say YES more, because I do think I say NO a lot.
I am half way through watching the movie, and the book is definately going on my list of things to read.
Ironic to Yes Man, I think way too much. Yes Man has a message that saying yes allows you to break from your regular routine and encourages you to be put in situations you normally wouldn't be in because your logic has prevented you from being put in that situation.
I was thinking of "Yes" is actually an easy thing to say, "No" is harder.
Can I borrow some money? Can you do this....? There is pressure to make you lean towards saying Yes, but an assertive person will say no. It is a skill to be assertive.
Moral - I need to just learn to let my mind relax and just listen to the moral rather than overthinking it through.
- Site of the day
lifehacker - news on things to help you make life more efficient
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/
Maybe its a passing fad, but one of my little pleasures during the week includes the simple moment of frying up an egg, putting it on top of my food (usually kangaroo), then intently appreciating the money shot of the humble egg. That is, when I puncture the yolk, and watch the slow motion of free range yellowness escape, painting itself a better life in the inside crevices of my food.
I have pinpointed this current obsession with eggs stemming from living out of hotels for the month of January, and ordering countless servings of eggs hollandaise.
- Chocolate is for losers.
I always think that when I bask in the sickly feeling of eating a sh_tload of chocolate.
I have found a good way to eat chocolate. You have to soften the texture. Like cheese when you leave it out to heat up to room temperature. A good coffee and dark chocolate make a great couple as the heat of the coffee on the roof of your mouth melts the chocolate, releasing the flavours in one big hit!
In moderation its great, but lately I've been eating too much (stress!), trying to re-live that split second when my senses are overpowered by flavour, and it is giving me a huge hug inside. Have to learn to de-stress in other ways.
The moral - chocolate wont fill that void, but a good chocolate eaten the right way is great!
- Giving up chocolate.
Was having a conversation about this to one of my cycle buddies. He has a 2 minute handicap on me, and he is still pushing himself to go faster. I recollect about a month ago, introducing him to a 1kg bag of choc chips I had recently acquired from my friends in Sensory, and came back the next day to find about 10 choc chips left in the bag. Of late, he has experienced a sudden loss of craving for the cocoa sugar. His discovery was he didn't have a reason to give up chocolate. So he now has a reason, and the desire to achieve it overpowers the temporary need for a sugar fix. His "reason" to quit is to be able to climb the "1 in 20" in sub-19 minutes. I currently do it in 21m 40s. The 1 in 20 is a ride which sits at the bottom of The Basin, and every 20 metres you ride, you elevate 1. A good rider will do this in sub 20.
Moral - I need a reason.
- Yes Man
Was browsing at the book store the other day, and a mate showed me a book called "Yes Man". I haven't read it, but it was explained to me to be a book about a dull boring guy, who turned his life around after 1 conversation with a stranger on a bus. The stranger had a simple message - everything you experience, say YES, because it opens many doors.
For some reason, I was inspired. I wanted to say YES more, because I do think I say NO a lot.
I am half way through watching the movie, and the book is definately going on my list of things to read.
Ironic to Yes Man, I think way too much. Yes Man has a message that saying yes allows you to break from your regular routine and encourages you to be put in situations you normally wouldn't be in because your logic has prevented you from being put in that situation.
I was thinking of "Yes" is actually an easy thing to say, "No" is harder.
Can I borrow some money? Can you do this....? There is pressure to make you lean towards saying Yes, but an assertive person will say no. It is a skill to be assertive.
Moral - I need to just learn to let my mind relax and just listen to the moral rather than overthinking it through.
- Site of the day
lifehacker - news on things to help you make life more efficient
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Fun run
39:44
Time it takes to run 2 laps of the tan (8k) without training. Also includes a 1-2minute pit stop to "water the flowers". A mate signed me up a couple of months ago to run for his team in a YMCA team event. The lack of work-life balance has restricted my training to almost nothing. Was actually quite surprised I managed to do a sub-40 race.
Despite pulling up sore today, I had a really good night last night. Got to catch up with a few people last night, and I even ran into some old high school mates. Ran along side one during the latter half of the race (which helped when you've almost run 8k), and then we sat ourselves down near the finish line post race, trading war stories as trials of steam radiated from our body heat in the stop start rain.
$10 steak night at the George on Cecil st was a great cap to the night. Don't know if it was because of the long hours I've been pulling over the past few months, but it was great to just chill out over a steak and have a good laugh with mates, just like in the carefree uni days.
I found it interesting when the topic of "what your power song is". Runners are a funny bunch. One girl has a colleague who is deaf and sometimes to disconnect from the world, he puts on a hoodie, turns off his hearing aids, and just runs. Thats cool.
Now that I have a 8k training base, the Melbourne marathon looks plausible..... to be continued
Time it takes to run 2 laps of the tan (8k) without training. Also includes a 1-2minute pit stop to "water the flowers". A mate signed me up a couple of months ago to run for his team in a YMCA team event. The lack of work-life balance has restricted my training to almost nothing. Was actually quite surprised I managed to do a sub-40 race.
Despite pulling up sore today, I had a really good night last night. Got to catch up with a few people last night, and I even ran into some old high school mates. Ran along side one during the latter half of the race (which helped when you've almost run 8k), and then we sat ourselves down near the finish line post race, trading war stories as trials of steam radiated from our body heat in the stop start rain.
$10 steak night at the George on Cecil st was a great cap to the night. Don't know if it was because of the long hours I've been pulling over the past few months, but it was great to just chill out over a steak and have a good laugh with mates, just like in the carefree uni days.
I found it interesting when the topic of "what your power song is". Runners are a funny bunch. One girl has a colleague who is deaf and sometimes to disconnect from the world, he puts on a hoodie, turns off his hearing aids, and just runs. Thats cool.
Now that I have a 8k training base, the Melbourne marathon looks plausible..... to be continued
Friday, March 6, 2009
The little things
Last night I was in the kitchen opening a can of salmon and all of a sudden it felt like the wind blew the whole house 2 centimetres. The whole house shook like a pulse ran through it. Like an ant scattering around at the first drop of rain, I looked around to see what happened. My first thought was "did the ground just sink?". Nothing suspicious outside, on the roof, in the backyard. I did find water dripping from the tv room ceiling.
It was an earth tremor. I read the tremor measured 4.7 on the Richter scale and was Victoria's strongest earthquake since 2001. My first earthquake!
Anyway, this post isn't about the earth tremor. Its about the little things. This morning I got up early to go to the gym. I ate a nice breakfast, digested a little then got ready to pump some iron. When I get outside, I am picturing the scotch fillet I am going to buy after my workout. My day dream bubble is burst when I find have no form of transport as there are no cars.
So the morning workout has turned into a morning surf on the internet to see which food and wine event I am going to see, what comedy festival tickets I am going to buy, what I am going to cook this weekend, and ofcourse, where I am going to move.
This post is titled "the little things" because
1. This simple little event this morning has set the ship to sail. I have been thinking about it for a while, and I need to do it. My weekends usually gravitate towards the city, so why not move there.
2. To get anything done, especially on my lazy days, I need to push past the "little things", or excuses not to do something. E.g no car. Although I am pressed for time, I could squeeze in a 20minute workout if I really wanted to. At work, I have learnt that completing projects on schedule is all about pushing on despite setbacks, and making alternative solutions.
I see a car return to base, so while I might miss a workout, my eyes are still on that steak!
p.s note to self - must hit the gym at least once this year!!
It was an earth tremor. I read the tremor measured 4.7 on the Richter scale and was Victoria's strongest earthquake since 2001. My first earthquake!
Anyway, this post isn't about the earth tremor. Its about the little things. This morning I got up early to go to the gym. I ate a nice breakfast, digested a little then got ready to pump some iron. When I get outside, I am picturing the scotch fillet I am going to buy after my workout. My day dream bubble is burst when I find have no form of transport as there are no cars.
So the morning workout has turned into a morning surf on the internet to see which food and wine event I am going to see, what comedy festival tickets I am going to buy, what I am going to cook this weekend, and ofcourse, where I am going to move.
This post is titled "the little things" because
1. This simple little event this morning has set the ship to sail. I have been thinking about it for a while, and I need to do it. My weekends usually gravitate towards the city, so why not move there.
2. To get anything done, especially on my lazy days, I need to push past the "little things", or excuses not to do something. E.g no car. Although I am pressed for time, I could squeeze in a 20minute workout if I really wanted to. At work, I have learnt that completing projects on schedule is all about pushing on despite setbacks, and making alternative solutions.
I see a car return to base, so while I might miss a workout, my eyes are still on that steak!
p.s note to self - must hit the gym at least once this year!!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Plans Of the day
It really inspires me when people tell me their plans and make it happen. Yesterday a friend, who is an expat from the US, told me how he is going for interviews for 3 of the top 10 business schools in the US - Stanford, Penn and Columbia for their MBA. He is pretty much the same age as me, and he has already taken the step of being an expat, now he is taking another giant-balls step of going back to study.
Got me thinking about my plans:
- take a holiday
- get my diploma in PM
- move into the city
- buy an IP
- work overseas
time to action..... if only i wasn't working 60-70hour weeks. I have told myself, I refuse to work after 6pm from today. Lets see if I can keep it
I've been meaning to put an "of the day" into my post e.g picture/quote/site of the day. Been a little slack. Today is the article of the day:
------------------------------------------
Working long hours may damage your brain
The Daily Telegraph
February 26, 2009
WORKING back late could be bad for your long-term sanity, according to new research.
Workers who did more than 55 hours a week displayed cognitive impairment, a risk factor associated with dementia later in life.
Those who worked longer hours had poorer short-term memory skills and less ability to recall words.
The effect of the added stress and exhaustion could be as bad for the brain as smoking, the Finnish researchers found.
Dr Marianna Virtanen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health tracked more than 2000 UK civil servants from the 1980s.
In their early 50s, they were put through some brain function tests.
Those doing the most overtime recorded lower scores in two of the five key brain function tests - reasoning and vocabulary.
"This study shows long working hours may have a negative effect on cognitive performance in middle age,'' the researchers said.
"The link between cognitive impairment and dementia is clearly established. The difference between employees working long hours and those on normal hours is similar in magnitude to smoking, a risk factor for dementia.''
Got me thinking about my plans:
- take a holiday
- get my diploma in PM
- move into the city
- buy an IP
- work overseas
time to action..... if only i wasn't working 60-70hour weeks. I have told myself, I refuse to work after 6pm from today. Lets see if I can keep it
I've been meaning to put an "of the day" into my post e.g picture/quote/site of the day. Been a little slack. Today is the article of the day:
------------------------------------------
Working long hours may damage your brain
The Daily Telegraph
February 26, 2009
WORKING back late could be bad for your long-term sanity, according to new research.
Workers who did more than 55 hours a week displayed cognitive impairment, a risk factor associated with dementia later in life.
Those who worked longer hours had poorer short-term memory skills and less ability to recall words.
The effect of the added stress and exhaustion could be as bad for the brain as smoking, the Finnish researchers found.
Dr Marianna Virtanen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health tracked more than 2000 UK civil servants from the 1980s.
In their early 50s, they were put through some brain function tests.
Those doing the most overtime recorded lower scores in two of the five key brain function tests - reasoning and vocabulary.
"This study shows long working hours may have a negative effect on cognitive performance in middle age,'' the researchers said.
"The link between cognitive impairment and dementia is clearly established. The difference between employees working long hours and those on normal hours is similar in magnitude to smoking, a risk factor for dementia.''
Monday, March 2, 2009
recycling
Thought popped in the back of my mind that I havent posted in a while. Why did I act upon it instead of dismissing it like most thoughts that are forgotten within 10 seconds of conception?
Maybe I can answer that.
Came up with an idea. Don't know if it was because of my day yesterday. I had worked the longest I have done in a day. It was almost as if it was the "work summer solstice", where it is the one day of the year with the greatest amount of sunlight. Except it wasn't sunlight. It was compounded stress and rays of request from takers who pull you in all different directions.
Anyway. My idea. I am thinking efficiency and recycling. On Sunday, I raced in my first triathlon of the year, and on Monday, everyone was asking how I went. My response was as follows:
Maybe I can answer that.
Came up with an idea. Don't know if it was because of my day yesterday. I had worked the longest I have done in a day. It was almost as if it was the "work summer solstice", where it is the one day of the year with the greatest amount of sunlight. Except it wasn't sunlight. It was compounded stress and rays of request from takers who pull you in all different directions.
Anyway. My idea. I am thinking efficiency and recycling. On Sunday, I raced in my first triathlon of the year, and on Monday, everyone was asking how I went. My response was as follows:
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2009 1:54 PM
Subject: FW: BRW results updates ??
Worst tri performance I have run
2 swim and 1 run training session (plus a few rides and a severe bout of blueballs on fri) some how left me in an overly confident mindset
First mistake was underestimating the distance from the transition area to the water which I bolted, leaving me with lactic heavy legs.
I then proceeded to 8 beat kick the lactic out to replicate the swimming confidence I had on the Thursday night swim (which was flat as a pool), but this time it was in choppy conditions.
At the first turn can, mr right calf got pms and decided he had enough, so he cramped, which left me with no kick
Turned on my back to do backstroke, which turned into survival stroke which turned into a 2 pint chug of salt water and a wave to the guys in the yellow
More to the story but the short version is the right calf kept cramping throughout the race, and I felt like I needed a wheelchair.
Ride on the way out was probably my best, but on the turn, I rose from the saddle and the right calf completely cramped up (it felt like it froze) that I physically couldn’t even peddle. Add to that I ended up walking for the 1st 5 minutes of the run
So all in all, not a day that goes down in the good memory book
Last years performance was a 51/52 min split, but this year went over the hr mark, which was very disappointing
Vowed to myself I would never do a triathlon without training. Got home and collapsed on the bed for 4 hours before having a shower, cooking and then hibernating again
| Swim | Cycle | Run | Total |
| 16m | 25m | 19m | 1hr |
There was a humourous response which I enjoyed:
Subject: RE: BRW results updates ??
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2009 2:02 PM
Wow, that is quite a funny/empathetic/emotional/detailed/journey-like description.
I felt like i just did the tri!!!
You are soft, that is the worst lot of excuses I have heard. I bet you had this email drafted on Friday. Weak as p#$@. This message is written and authorised by Steve, note my official time was 52 mins.
hmmm...... maybe not as good as I thought. FYI, my work hours yesterday were 9am to 2:30am, 17.5 hrs. so much for work life balance
times up.
b
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