New Adventure, New Thread (M)

[StacyLeigh]

Even so, I reckon that the cranky old man fan club deserves a holiday related pic.

You have a lovely sense of humor and great taste in music (The Pogues!)

 

[Cthulhu1138]

You have a lovely sense of humor and great taste in music (The Pogues!)

Thank you Madam President!

Glad that someone appreciates my peculiar sense of humor.

The Pogues were quite popular and formative as a musical group for me in college.

The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, the Dubliners, I heard them on a quasi daily basis for three years.

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Because you all deserve an actual Irish photograph

 

[MadameSarcasm]

Because you all deserve an actual Irish photograph

The west of Ireland is such beautiful country. I would love to go back one of these days.

 

[monique1971]

The west of Ireland is such beautiful country. I would love to go back one of these days.

I went there on my honeymoon. It was beautiful. I also hope I get to go back someday.

 

[Cthulhu1138]

The west of Ireland is such beautiful country. I would love to go back one of these days.

It was absolutely breathtaking and evocative. I would happily return tomorrow if I could.

I would love the chance to sample more Single Whiskey, learn that lovely lilting tongue, and savor the lush beauty of that land.

I went there on my honeymoon. It was beautiful. I also hope I get to go back someday.

I hope that you get a chance to return soon.

Thank you for your kind words in PM

 

[Cthulhu1138]

I took this photo on one of the first warm sunny days that we had this month, happy for the warmth of the air and the brightness of the sky.

Little did I know that it would be the only clear sky I would get.to contemplate for awhile.

I hope that everyone who reads this is safe, that your loved ones are safe, and that you are able to weather the storm that isolation has brought crashing on to our shores.

For the record, I support the isolation and distancing; I know that it is our only tool to slow the spread. I just know that it is creating hardship for many many people.

 

[StacyLeigh]

I took this photo on one of the first warm sunny days that we had this month, happy for the warmth of the air and the brightness of the sky.

Little did I know that it would be the only clear sky I would get.to contemplate for awhile.

What a beautiful sky It has been cold and dreary here too...for far too long. If all we can do is be outside right now, you'd think Mother Nature could at least provide some pretty days...

 

[Cthulhu1138]

What a beautiful sky It has been cold and dreary here too...for far too long. If all we can do is be outside right now, you'd think Mother Nature could at least provide some pretty days...

I agree!

We had lovely 60° temps for a few hours, from around 20:00 until 00:00. Now it is finally dry and clear, but only in the 40s
I am tempted to go for a bike ride, if only to test my new gloves and see just how empty the city is.

 

[sally_sparrow]

I agree!

We had lovely 60° temps for a few hours, from around 20:00 until 00:00. Now it is finally dry and clear, but only in the 40s
I am tempted to go for a bike ride, if only to test my new gloves and see just how empty the city is.

It would be a thrill to ride through the empty streets in that city. Almost surreal. I say do it

 

[StacyLeigh]

I agree!

We had lovely 60° temps for a few hours, from around 20:00 until 00:00. Now it is finally dry and clear, but only in the 40s
I am tempted to go for a bike ride, if only to test my new gloves and see just how empty the city is.

Bike? Tell me more.... (as my cyclist ears perk up )

 

[Cthulhu1138]

It would be a thrill to ride through the empty streets in that city. Almost surreal. I say do it

I think that it would be fun, so long as the sun is out and it warms up a little.

It will be quite a contrast to what I am used to.

Around this time a few years ago I ran the Shamrock Shuffle, an 8K race, with some work friends.

Thanks to my training and my friend pacing me I stayed strong throughout the race; it was odd to look up and see the towering architecture around me from the middle of the street, surrounded by thousands of other people all jogging away through the city.

I imagine how much fun it would be to bike the city streets without having to worried about being doored or running afoul of an idiot walking against the light with their face in their cellphone.

Perhaps on Sunday...

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Bike? Tell me more.... (as my cyclist ears perk up )

If only for the rhyming couplet, I want to tell you to sit upon my knee while I share my story.

When we first moved back to Chicago I could walk to work.

When we moved, it meant public transportation or biking. Most days my schedule does not sync with the CTA and I loathe the bus.

The nice bicycle I had was stolen years before by a disgruntled former employee and the pawn shop bike with which I replaced it was showing its age. (Spending a few days at the bottom of the Ashley River did it no favors.)

So I did some research and got a decent enough Jamis Commuter without many bells and whistles.

Then I realized that disc brakes and Dynamo hubs were nice investments when you ride every day, rain or shine.

So I looked online and at my local bike shops for what I wanted.

I ended up with a Breezer Beltway, a sexy looking classic black number with disc brakes, a Dynamo hub, an internal hear hub, belt drive, fenders, and of course, a bell.

It has been a fantastic bike and I love it.

Now if only the city would install more bike racks...

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Snow has been falling most of the day.

That's seems odd for mid March, but these days nothing seems too odd.

Whenever snow falls, I sense a wonderful, delicate 'somnolence' to the city, as though there is a blanket of quiet draped over the city by the flakes that coat the ground and the trees. Considering that it is a Sunday, with a 'shelter in place' order in effect, that has never been more true.

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Power of shadows

There are times, on good days, when I catch a glimpse of myself and admire the muscle tone that I have


I have probably stated this before, but "lean" is how several people describe me. I do a fair amount of work to keep moving, to keep fit, to stay strong and 'lean.'

Being me, I tend to focus on negatives or deficiencies so often all I see is a soft belly and a weak core.

Then there is the way I see myself in the dark, in the shadows, and realize that this must be what other people see.

 

[sally_sparrow]

There are times, on good days, when I catch a glimpse of myself and admire the muscle tone that I have


I have probably stated this before, but "lean" is how several people describe me. I do a fair amount of work to keep moving, to keep fit, to stay strong and 'lean.'

Being me, I tend to focus on negatives or deficiencies so often all I see is a soft belly and a weak core.

Then there is the way I see myself in the dark, in the shadows, and realize that this must be what other people see.

I hate the scar on my abdomen, and my soft stomach these days, but then I remember that it carried both of my children through pregnancy and I feel like a badass because I created them, and it makes me proud of the body I now have. I am still self-conscious because society has engrained it in me that the body I have is not "ideal" or whatever. Seeing images of perfectly shaped women my entire life made an imprint that is difficult to ignore, but I give less fucks about it these days.

You look great.

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Thank you my dear.

Perhaps when I look at my belly I should follow your lead and embrace what is there, remembering the pints of Guinness in Eire, the delicious pizzas at home with friends, transcendent grilled lamb in Aotearoa, and all the meals that I have made or shared with loved ones that that my stomach what it is.

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Muscle Memory

I heard that among the several films shutting down production due to concerns over Coronavirus was A third Matrix sequel.

The latter films did not thrill me as much as the first, but I love the original and the vision that the Wachowski siblings had, including realizing what an action badass Mr. Reeves could be given the chance.

One thing from that film that sticks with me as the idea of 'residual self image'; that people will see who they think or remember being, even in the face of learning that they were in a giant computer simulation.

When I was young, in my second year of high school, the swim team was granted access to the weight room, the real free weights and machines, not merely a Nautilus machine in a boiler room ante chamber.

That is where I leaned all kinds of ridiculous aphorisms and motivational slogans, where I first learned that (at least in my upper body) I was stronger than my teammates.

I continued to 'lift' in college, although to my ever loving shame I never did much left work.

I think that my body somehow was able to remember what looking strong was, because even when I know I am out of shape, even when I know I am weak, my physique barely changes.

It tricks me in to thinking that I do not need to work as hard as I really do, every day, to be resilient, to be fit.

 

[shmily]

The west of Ireland is such beautiful country. I would love to go back one of these days.

hope to be heading there in September!

 

[Cthulhu1138]

hope to be heading there in September!

I hope that things work out and that you get take your trip as planned!

I would return in a heartbeat

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Two days ago we had warm air and bright blue skies.

Things for humans are getting tense and scary but the world at large is waking up.

 

[Cthulhu1138]

That kind of day

I awoke groggily to wind rattling the windows and rain splattering against the house.

Severe storms are forecast for the afternoon and a good bit of the evening. So the night temps we will have are balanced out by wind and rain.

I laid in bed, sleepy but unable to fall back asleep.

Eventually, I awoke and did the things I have to do: walk the dog, walk myself on the treadmill.

As little as I enjoy working out first thing in the morning, at least I can count that one thing as an accomplishment.

Hope that everyone is keeping active and distracted and healthy

 

[StacyLeigh]

It's so nice to see buds on trees and green grass popping through. Mother Nature must have gotten tired of hearing me complain

And, of course, your persistence is clearly paying off

 

[Cthulhu1138]

Spring is always a welcome renewal of the world, especially to a man who grows more and more weary of the cold with each passing year.

The storms and winds that have ravaged through tonight mean new life and growth for the things strong enough to survive them.

Perhaps there is some kind of message there...

And I must thank you again, Madam President, for kindness and encouragement!

Either I am finally starting to belief my supporters or the running and the stretching and the weight lifting and goofy band work is giving me the body I want.

Either way, I seem happier with the man I see in the mirror.

 

[Cthulhu1138]

It has been tough for most of us to be cooped up in the house and faced with the passing of friends and loved ones, battered by bad news and stressed by uncertainty.

Sometimes I wish that I had more of a workshop so I could unleash my frustrations through chopping, sawing, chipping, and filing.

Since I am a city boy and we are told to stay in place, I will need to find relief in other ways.

I have been trying to be diligent about exercise, and have been working to hone my skills in the kitchen.

I hope that everyone has a healthy outlet and is staying safe.