Today I woke up with a clear mindset. It’s the day I’m going to correct some bad habits. I decided I was going to start regularly working out, drinking spring water instead of beer and attempt to stop eating and snacking after 7pm. I’m going to get a part-time job to supplement my projects and dedicate myself to being on the straight and narrow. Work on the writing, the book, the music, the score and anything else which falls between.
When I go to work out I found this great irony- a temptation- right across the street. I hadn’t thought about it before, but I found it funny how all these things float around. Sometimes it takes a clear head to see them.
My gym is a pretty big place with a “no pretense” sorta feel. Many seniors and overweight people go there, and they do their best to make them feel comfortable. They have posted above the free weights “Someone who grunts and throws weights is defined as a LUNK- have respect for your neighbor” kinda thing.
When I left today there was the aroma from the very famous bakery which is literally RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. It’s a place which serves the tri-state area and they make fresh bread daily. You know the scent of fresh bread… it’s like edible perfume. So I’m thinkin about these overweight people (and myself)who are attempting to change their diet and exercise. Talk about temptation.
I’ll admit, I’ve gone straight into the bakery after working out to get a loaf of fresh sundried tomato bread, or olive loaf. I have a weakness there, especially when I can go into the bread making facility and get it hot off the shelf. It’s counter productive. Yea, I ride my bike and use up these calories only to put them back with the bread I can’t stop eating.
Today I was good. NO BREAD. I’m going to post notes all around to attempt to keep myself spot on with the workouts, and the diet. I eat terrible, for I’m no cook. I’m going to try and go to bed early and wake up energetic.
You may see a little more of me now here in the blogs. I’m ready willing and able. See ya.
Last night was horribly warm. The three mile long Tappan-Zee bridge posted signs warning those travellers to beware of the high wind advisory and drive with care. Rain curled around the solid cement rails in sheets as if the water itself was going to jump over and drown us. As I struggled to see the white lines which kept us in the right lane, I held the wheel tightly to keep the sudden bursts of air from pulling me into traffic to my side. It was a furicious evening, and one which you’d think an event would be called off for, but this was Legend Weekend, and Legend Weekend is all about Halloween, ghosts, ambiance and story telling.
I was cautious and double checked it’s website, on which was posted “Rain or Shine” and only in the event of weather in which people could be hurt will it be postponed. No one likes to go out in this weather and I had to do my share of arm twisting, but really- THIS is what it’s all about. The unpredictability of such a storm adds to the fear. So, I spearheaded a mission into the unknown, across the 75 year old bridge held together by enormous steel plates. One which you feel shakes the car on a normal day is only compounded by the loss of control tonight. It’s long needed replacement and despite it’s shape thousands of commuters still need to cross it. Afterall, it’s the only one between Rockland County and Westchester.
The leaves are in full color now and they quickly litter the streets, making cause for slippery roadways. If you sniff deeply, you’ll taste Autumn. It’s a combination of senses and for me it’s difficult to describe, but add to it a hot apple cider and you’ll feel the aura.
There’s a long line of traffic on 9W, the main throughfare through Tarrytown and into Sleepy Hollow. It winds and twists through a succession of buildings which stand wall to wall, but when you hit that sign “Welcome to Sleepy Hollow- Established 1640″ you know you’re where you SHOULD be.
Washington Irving forever put this place on the map. He engrained his imagination into this holiday now and “forever more” (Poe is another one). He owned a place only a few miles South of Sleepy Hollow called Sunnyside; a place he lived and wrote many of the stories which have opened literature to the world- him being the first American Romantic Writer. He’s buried so poetically in Sleepy Hollow cemetary, right across the street from Philipsburg Manor (an old 1600’s working mill). The bridge you cross prior to the cemetary used to be a covered bridge and was the very bridge Ichabod Crane crossed to flee from the Headless Horseman. It’s now made of stone and a plaque marks it’s place in history. Tonight’s madness takes place in our Legend Event at what better place than an OLD hauntingly eerie manor on a lake with rain and wind, yes Philipsburg Manor.
“Legend” is a wonderful treat. One done only two weeks prior to Halloween. It’s a story teller’s paradise and in weather so appropo, it’s done with enthusiasm. The men who tell the stories are located at small stations, dressed in period wear and are in the shadows of crackling fires- all blown furiously by gusts. Yes, we do need to trek through a small forest on the edges of a lake. In the distance you see the manor lit with soothing blue lights. The combination of the cold and warm air does give that hint of tornado weather and can’t help but light your imagination. Certainly when you hear the crack of branches above you, and the rustle of leaves in a raining display of color, see red embers fly over the stone barriers across wet grounds- fear can play tricks.
In the barn stood “hay men” which had lighted heads and were literally 20 feet high. Behind the 3 of them you could only make out the hay which was strung down from the ceiling of the barn house. There were scarecrows in the Slave Garden with pumpkin heads and a group of people who lined a fence and stuggled to make out a jack-o-lantern in the distant trees. It looked as if it moved. It moved from low to high, and moved in a wierd sort of way. The candle flickered and a child screamed! The pumpkin was moving and moving rapidly through the night… it was along the fence and it climbed high, then out from beneath a rain swept light appeared a dark cloak on the back of a horse…. the one who carried the jack-o-lantern, the one which haunts the memories of children everywhere… The Headless Horseman.
He galloped quickly behind the period fence and stopped when he came to a tree. He eyed a pair of teenagers and appeared as if to throw this pumpkin at them and claim his latest victim, but alas, he retreated. I suppose it was the shear crowd. Sure he’s a celebrity, but even legends can’t have a murder in front of hundreds of people!
Well, this all takes place in the shadow of a white bearded story teller, who’s beside a fire and handing out imaginary mugs of grog. He’s an old wise man, who recites the story, but when the horseman appears, A.D.D. kicks in, and he’s left to the warmth of the fire.
A little ways down the muddy road is the lady in white- a ghoul who will pose in a picture with you, but will never appear….. (well- who said I can’t exaggerate?) and even a little further were two musicians who sang beneath a porch with this gorgeous mandolin, entertaining the many children who crowded the ropes. Before you leave you have the opportunity to grab some hot chocolate, apple cider and other goodies, but you must marvel at the ghosts which fly by in the windows of the mill.
A ten foot high wooden bridge over the lake links the mill to the visitor center. A place where you can pick up all the souveniers you want and again get yummy stuff. We didn’t bring umbrellas, but found a graveyard of them in the trash outside the parking lot. Certainly we were soaked to the bone, but if ya ask me, there’s no better way to bring in the holiday then a good scare and celebration in a heavy storm. Happy Halloween all.
Well my friends, I must say VEGAS is one happenin place. I’ve been there three times before on business, with very little time to absorb anything outside of work, but not this time around. This time was spent strictly absorbing, enjoying, celebrating, and observing (amongst spendin plentyyyyy).
Gamblers- limit your funds, be controlled and expect to lose. All the bells and whistles are bound to get ya excited, almost as good as a climax- but even if you do win, it’ll pull you in like some kind of disease. (for a taste of the horror check out http://www.robertswriter.net/roberts-horror.htm for the story “Seized by Hysteria”- inpired by a stay at MGM) Remember to get away from the casinos and take in all that’s around.
Amidst the ups and downs of human emotion- from confidence to insecurity, you may find a balance. I always looked for the comical to pull me outta the hole. The comical came on the day I visited the Hoover Dam.
We were picked up by an ENORMOUS coach bus; the first of two couples to board. After our name was called, the couple from Indiana behind us was called. They proceeded to question the driver to which he responded “are you going to get on the bus, or do I have to leave you?” (Yea, I’m likin this guy already…)
Now, drivin this bus takes real skill. It’s a monster which seats probably 50 people but will only carry a total of maybe 20 this time around. It’s to meet at a satellite station on the outskirts of the “strip”. He’s to drop by several pickups at numerous locations down the main drag which includes the Venetian, the Mirage, Bellagio and a couple of others. Each hotel had a special enterance like a system of underground puzzles, which only a well seasoned driver could manage. It’s these spaces beneath the enormous hotels, the underbelly of Las Vegas which to me is the interest.
Our driver, I find has been called in from his day off- EARLY. His day was to sit, relax and watch the NFL, but today he was called to operate OUR bus. The same bus of which we were the first stop.. he’s edgy and a little pissed, but totally at his mercy.
As we’re makin our rounds between hotels we hear this loud ring noise from two rows back. It’d come and go, but it was ear piercing. The sound eminated from the dash, and I did my best between the conversation with the couple from Indiana to figure out what kind of danger this noise was going to cause. I did my best to tune it out, but couldn’t help seeing some red light on the dash- no I really didn’t want to know. At that time I knew we were going to meet up with another bus at the satellite station, condense to one of the two buses- and I figured it was a 50/50 chance of gettin this one….
As the driver manipulated the metallic steel battering ram between high concrete supports below the superstructures (within inches mind you…) I was amazed, and quickly gained comfort. Several times I thought we’d hit these things and millions of tons of debris would crush our truck (yea a little paranoid….), but said to myself this guys a master. Anyways, I start up a conversation with our mild mannered friend who calmed briefly while we waited another passenger who was in the wrong spot of pick up and would be to us shortly.
I come to find out he just celebrated his 60th birthday. With this birthday he welcomed new perscription glasses, first time in 60 years only THREE days earlier. His eyes had grown so used to poor vision that he’d really gotten a problem when he could see again, in fact I come to find he’d driven up several curbs, almost hit a pedestrian, and came close to hitting several cars… did I say I felt comfortable??? Well throw THAT shit out the window…… I nodded my head like it was cool while my insides curled up like a fetus.
Ever had that moment when your reach the top of a rollercoast and are about to go down the first drop? Well, this passenger was LATE getting to us, which meant we had to make up time with a POOR VISIONED COACH DRIVER! He spun that bus out of the garage after BARELY making it around a lamborgini who’d parked in the wrong area between a hotel support (not in a space) and several parked cars adjacent to it. The driver took it easy around the corner (I watched him as he peered OVER his glasses) and gives a little laugh as he put the bus in motion. He says “that guy doesn’t know HOW lucky he is today….” to which I’m THINKIN… does this mean it’s my lucky day too???
The ringing which has now cresendo’ed at a ear bursting level is starting to annoy the driver. We’re at a light, he turns the bus off, hits the door operator several times and restarts the bus. The ringing stops …. for 5 SECONDS… and is back, BUT we’re on the way to our last pick up. I figure it can’t be much more time we’ll hear this, they’ll HAVE to switch our bus.
The second to last pick up is at the Venetian and it’s a passenger who’s first bus didn’t pick up. A firey old woman who’s by herself. Clueless the first bus had missed picking her up and totally blaming our already pissed off driver. Can it get better???? Ohhhhh yeaaaaa……
One more stop, thank GOD. We pull into a parking spot, the bus driver leaves the bus on, and goes outside to a bench to sit down. Doesn’t say a thing, just sits. We’re talkin with our new friends about the basics and any bullshit which comes between. Granted this level of ringing continued to climb, with our busdriver OUTSIDE the bus and the blaring RED LIGHT on the dash. We all started to pray….
He comes back in and I say, “what is that noise?”; hopefully he’ll catch my obvious hint… He tells me “it’s nothing to worry about, it’s the bus tellin ya somethings wrong, but nothings really wrong .. uhhhh, yea. It’s fine, nothing to worry about. ” at which he quickly leaves us for the bench outside WITH THE BUS RUNNING AND THE NOISE DEAFENING.
What would you do???? I could call him back and ask him to turn off the bus to save our ears (in my nicest tone), BUT this is the guy drivin us to our destination- all the power, all the control. LAST thing I want is one angry busdriver even MORE angrier and driving a mega bus with a top speed of 100 mph. Steve- keep the mouth shut and deal with it.
I mean we’re cut for time….. a 4 1/2 hour trip out into the desert to see one of the greatest engineering feats of the world AND we’re already behind. We’re 50% likely to end up on a newer bus and we’re in Vegas, I mean, we gotta take a gamble, right?? The odds are lookin like house 60%, passengers 40%. I like to watch the car crash- not literally- but THIS excitement, like a game of blackjack can be punishing.
I turn to look at the driver on the bench and it looks like he’s fallen asleep… or has died. No additional passengers in sight, and about 12 people on the bus. We could have picked up a contingent of non- English speaking Germans at one of the hotels who practically boarded the bus when the driver said McMahon… and they heard it as “Hoover Dam” . They desperately tried to communicate with their hands, but when the driver convinced them they weren’t on the paper, I realized how important it was to speak another language… spreckin de dutche?
To make a short story long, we picked up the last people and it was like this guy lifted a 100 lb weight from his chest. The loud sound no longer bothered him, and he drived quickly to the Gray Line Hoover Tour station. We come to find we are indeed switching buses to one with a NEW driver, and no beep. Granted the bus was pretty full and we walked half way down before finding a seat (half a bus away from anything which might blare noise or blind you with an eye threatening glare), but we were finally on our way.
I like to think I’m a lucky guy. Dodged death a few times, never over ate what I couldn’t chew (although I’ve tried…), and I even have a couple of “bob” still in my pocket. Guess you could say I’ll have to pay another visit to the desert WHEN I learn automobile science.
More to come…..
Well, these past 3 weeks have gone soooooooo very fast. It’s been interlaced with Van Gogh, David Blaine, a twisted knee, Cake (the music group), Blaze (a halloween jack-o-lantern festivity), Apple picking, a BBQ with old friends, the discovery of a local internet radio station on which I’ll interview in 2 weeks, and garage saleing. AND this week I take off for Vegas with my better half. Sometimes, I don’t know which end is up. I certainly know, it’s not the stock market and YES, it’s a very scary time. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose been glued to the news on the economy.
I realized in this very short segment that it’s 6:41am, I’ve been up for over an hour and I’m REALLY tired. I have WAY too much to say, and if I continue, I’m going to pass out. Sooooooooo, I will try and fill you in later, cause one thing I DON’T know how to do is make a long story short. Sorry about the tease.
I’m off to bed.
Steve