Hey er'body, sorry for the long silence. Lots to talk about, but two-a-days have started and I literally only have a couple minutes here and there.
A couple of weekends ago, I saw the Tom Tom Club in Pittsburgh at the Point State Park. There was an Art Festival going on throughout Downtown and The Tom Toms happened to be part of it. They were so so so so good. Even though they are from the early 80s, their music did not seem dated or out of place at all. They were definitely older looking up there, but hey, the music was great, and it had the acoustic maturity of an experienced bunch of musicians. Not too loud, just enough volume to let you really feel it in your bones, you know? They played that great song Genius of Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkdV6qSm4sY&feature=related
Also, Wordy Rappinghood, Sexy Thang, and their version of Psycho Killer, first produced by the Talking Heads, I think. So many more songs were good too. It was just awesome. Not too many people were there - enough too make it a real concert, but few enough that the lawn was open enough to just lay down and rest while enjoying some awesome music. I will write more soon. I have to go to sleep now.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday May 5th 2011
What is I can't? There is only I will try. What is speculation but an escape route for your mind? It is not failure when you reach your true and innocent limit but a benchmark for the next climb. Why stop or hesitate to start? Why ask questions. Just try. It is hardly "training" but a purification of the body and mind. As stressful as our modern settings and surroundings teach us to make it seem, life really is simple in practice: Just keep going.
White noise enters the head sometimes and a peaceful bliss takes over the pain so that you feel indestructible, level-headed during the highest level of physical effort. Nature chisels away section by section of the square limestone casing surrounding your body to create the sturdiest Michelangelo sculpture, proud and tall. Summer Training has begun in earnest.
White noise enters the head sometimes and a peaceful bliss takes over the pain so that you feel indestructible, level-headed during the highest level of physical effort. Nature chisels away section by section of the square limestone casing surrounding your body to create the sturdiest Michelangelo sculpture, proud and tall. Summer Training has begun in earnest.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wednesday May 11th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvHwbjMx_J8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PmOhBHG4Cw&playnext=1&list=PLC77AE978075AF9BE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLLgNRAtIDA&feature=BFa&list=PLC77AE978075AF9BE&index=45
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx_Jaab8NJM&feature=BFa&list=PLC77AE978075AF9BE&index=46
These four videos are four parts to the the concerto I am playing right now on the cello. The Lalo Concerto by Eduard Lalo. Its very romantic so it feels sort of off sometimes until you get used to it.
I felt great on the ice today. Having fun skating and training.
Lots of school done today. Learning about Public Opinion and the Mass Media's and Public Interest Groups' influence on it. All is good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PmOhBHG4Cw&playnext=1&list=PLC77AE978075AF9BE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLLgNRAtIDA&feature=BFa&list=PLC77AE978075AF9BE&index=45
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx_Jaab8NJM&feature=BFa&list=PLC77AE978075AF9BE&index=46
These four videos are four parts to the the concerto I am playing right now on the cello. The Lalo Concerto by Eduard Lalo. Its very romantic so it feels sort of off sometimes until you get used to it.
I felt great on the ice today. Having fun skating and training.
Lots of school done today. Learning about Public Opinion and the Mass Media's and Public Interest Groups' influence on it. All is good.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday May 9th
The weekend rocketed by. Merciless Monday tanked in, slow but unstoppable. I received a package from Usspeedskating arrived on Saturday containing a cut-proof suit that is mandatory starting next competition season. It was a surprise from Paps! And this morning it gave me an out-of-body experience!!! It was so hot, that I swear I was seeing things during practice this morning. The Ice was so hard. Just amazingly hard. But I made it that way, so why complain! It was great. Next year is gonna be awesome.
Did a ton of school today and practiced the cello well and am watching Heat Celtics NBA playoffs right now. Good day. Goodnight.
Did a ton of school today and practiced the cello well and am watching Heat Celtics NBA playoffs right now. Good day. Goodnight.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday May 7th
Hey there my friends!
I'm through another week. In looking back it seems so short yet during it, it is excruciatingly long. With another statement like that I think it is time I got something clear. I may complain about how hard the life is and act like it is torture. The truth is, during the training, sometimes it is. Some drills are so difficult they almost cause tears and certainly extract groans the likes are found only in childbirth. haha. Sometimes training is so difficult, it changes the way I look at myself. Those days it gets to the point that it is a drug. I'm addicted. Those days, my days are sore, painful to flex and yet all I want to do is go to sleep early with a good meal, plenty of hydration and the perfect rest so that I can do it again the next day. Those days, the scenery is beautiful. The rain is happy. Chores and errands are not a drag, but a chance to get up and move through this world that is at my disposal. Then there are the competitions. Obviously, the more one trains, the better the results. Completing a competition with good results - better than expected, is bliss. So training is torture sometimes, but the overall picture that it paints is captivating.
I'm through another week. In looking back it seems so short yet during it, it is excruciatingly long. With another statement like that I think it is time I got something clear. I may complain about how hard the life is and act like it is torture. The truth is, during the training, sometimes it is. Some drills are so difficult they almost cause tears and certainly extract groans the likes are found only in childbirth. haha. Sometimes training is so difficult, it changes the way I look at myself. Those days it gets to the point that it is a drug. I'm addicted. Those days, my days are sore, painful to flex and yet all I want to do is go to sleep early with a good meal, plenty of hydration and the perfect rest so that I can do it again the next day. Those days, the scenery is beautiful. The rain is happy. Chores and errands are not a drag, but a chance to get up and move through this world that is at my disposal. Then there are the competitions. Obviously, the more one trains, the better the results. Completing a competition with good results - better than expected, is bliss. So training is torture sometimes, but the overall picture that it paints is captivating.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday April 28th
My Fine feathered friends...
I'll have you know that the weather is as volatile as Cole's stomach after Jalapeno Peppers from a Korean restaurant (and if you were around him, you would know just how apocalyptic that is). Last night there were several tornado warnings in our area and predicted thunderstorms. I love itttt!!! Favorite weather. Yesterday afternoon it was sunny, then there was this eerie mix of radiant spring sun with lots of purple light covering the scene from the looming storm heads, then it broke and the wind was whipping the rain through the air in visible sheets. Today when we got in the car it was 69 degrees before 5 in the morning but the wind was whipping (much to coach K's dismay as he stood and watched us train outside) and by 9:30 it was only 57 degrees. Now, a cold front has settled in and the weather is beautiful. Really, positively a perfect Spring day with birds chirping eloquently, a light breeze doing the jig with the plants and perfect long green grass of the Krueger backyard. Training was better this morning. Yesterday was a rough day and today was better. I'd say there are 5 levels of how a practice was on the ice: Bad, Worse, Okay, Better, Good (which is more like great, superb, joyful, a relief!) So better is three times better than bad, pretty good, if you Tink about it. :)
I'll have you know that the weather is as volatile as Cole's stomach after Jalapeno Peppers from a Korean restaurant (and if you were around him, you would know just how apocalyptic that is). Last night there were several tornado warnings in our area and predicted thunderstorms. I love itttt!!! Favorite weather. Yesterday afternoon it was sunny, then there was this eerie mix of radiant spring sun with lots of purple light covering the scene from the looming storm heads, then it broke and the wind was whipping the rain through the air in visible sheets. Today when we got in the car it was 69 degrees before 5 in the morning but the wind was whipping (much to coach K's dismay as he stood and watched us train outside) and by 9:30 it was only 57 degrees. Now, a cold front has settled in and the weather is beautiful. Really, positively a perfect Spring day with birds chirping eloquently, a light breeze doing the jig with the plants and perfect long green grass of the Krueger backyard. Training was better this morning. Yesterday was a rough day and today was better. I'd say there are 5 levels of how a practice was on the ice: Bad, Worse, Okay, Better, Good (which is more like great, superb, joyful, a relief!) So better is three times better than bad, pretty good, if you Tink about it. :)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
I have yet to post since my birthday celebration here at my home away from home. Mrs. Krueger made me feel so special it was embarrassing (in a good way).
She had asked me what my birthday dinner should be and I had requested lamb chops (she had made them a couple times before) and wild rice. She came home Monday night and was going to start the lamb chops when I heard from my bedroom in a distressed voice "WHO PUT THE LAMB CHOPS IN THE FREEZER!!!?" I suddenly stiffened as I remembered it had been me that had taken the lamb chops downstairs when she brought them back from the store and that it was probably me that had...put my own birthday dinner in the freezer instead of the refrigerator. I had ruined my own birthday dinner. "Hey", pointed out Mrs. Krueger, " at least it WAS you. Now I feel better." haha. We ended up going out for pizza and having the amaaaazing dinner for lunch the next day but not before I was ushered into the living room for my birthday present!!! Mrs Krueger and her mother "Badah" got us all tickets to Cirque de Soleil!!!!! I was not very familiar with what that is but Mrs Krueger showed me some videos and it is pretty much a visual blast of amazing physical imaginative talent with booming colors and fantastic sets. Its for may 26th. Cool, right?? SO the next day we had the lamb chops, accompanied by delicious wild rice, beautiful Italian bread with garlic butter, finished off with a savory Apple Pie with Blueberry Crumble Ice Cream (the two go very well together, I must say). So all in all it was definitely not a lost birthday away from home!!
She had asked me what my birthday dinner should be and I had requested lamb chops (she had made them a couple times before) and wild rice. She came home Monday night and was going to start the lamb chops when I heard from my bedroom in a distressed voice "WHO PUT THE LAMB CHOPS IN THE FREEZER!!!?" I suddenly stiffened as I remembered it had been me that had taken the lamb chops downstairs when she brought them back from the store and that it was probably me that had...put my own birthday dinner in the freezer instead of the refrigerator. I had ruined my own birthday dinner. "Hey", pointed out Mrs. Krueger, " at least it WAS you. Now I feel better." haha. We ended up going out for pizza and having the amaaaazing dinner for lunch the next day but not before I was ushered into the living room for my birthday present!!! Mrs Krueger and her mother "Badah" got us all tickets to Cirque de Soleil!!!!! I was not very familiar with what that is but Mrs Krueger showed me some videos and it is pretty much a visual blast of amazing physical imaginative talent with booming colors and fantastic sets. Its for may 26th. Cool, right?? SO the next day we had the lamb chops, accompanied by delicious wild rice, beautiful Italian bread with garlic butter, finished off with a savory Apple Pie with Blueberry Crumble Ice Cream (the two go very well together, I must say). So all in all it was definitely not a lost birthday away from home!!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday April 22nd 2011
Yooo, whats up erybody. Hope ur still stickin with me here. Its gonna get good. This competition season is gonna be really exciting. I feel so great on the ice. This basic and strength training is what I need more than anything and I need it more than anybody. I don't have enough of a "form" that is my own. This is because I have never put in these kind of hours in basic training before. It also helps to be with John-Henry and Cole who are awesome training partners. I learn from them everyday. Its weird that I owe so much to them yet my goal is gonna have to be to beat them eventually.
Enjoying the weekend already. Watchin NBA playoffs, readin, relaxing. Tomorrow I am doing a ton of school and cello and then a bunch of guys are comin in to have their skates molded by the same company (SD best feel) that did my skates.
Mrs. Krueger says her mother has a great birthday gift lined up for me. I love Badah ( I still don't know why they call her that). She is awesome. Goodnight.
Enjoying the weekend already. Watchin NBA playoffs, readin, relaxing. Tomorrow I am doing a ton of school and cello and then a bunch of guys are comin in to have their skates molded by the same company (SD best feel) that did my skates.
Mrs. Krueger says her mother has a great birthday gift lined up for me. I love Badah ( I still don't know why they call her that). She is awesome. Goodnight.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Friday April 15th, 2011
I have been here in Pittsburgh a week and a day since the break. The time is already slipping by unaccounted for, unnoticed, too general to be real. I can't tell if it feels like its been a year or a couple days. Its just hard work and discipline. However I have reached out socially a little and am going out with two Figure skaters tonight for the second time. They are cool and its so nice to have such a drastic change in environment occasionally.
The online schooling is going great. i submitted another assignment (2nd out of ten for the American History course) and got extremely encouraging remarks from my educational supervisor, the one who grades the work - the one who gave me a straight A!! woooohooo.
Got a small taste of what the summer dryland will be like today in the second practice. I am looking forward to it, but at the same time am wishing I had chosen curling or chess instead of this crazy sport. Its gonna be ridiculously hard.
The online schooling is going great. i submitted another assignment (2nd out of ten for the American History course) and got extremely encouraging remarks from my educational supervisor, the one who grades the work - the one who gave me a straight A!! woooohooo.
Got a small taste of what the summer dryland will be like today in the second practice. I am looking forward to it, but at the same time am wishing I had chosen curling or chess instead of this crazy sport. Its gonna be ridiculously hard.
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