I wish I had a pair of goggles,
through wish I'd view the world,
in a different light,
beyond my sight,
people's secrets - to me - unfurled.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
What Baseball Means to Me
It doesn't take a long time of knowing me to know that I love baseball.
I'm a die-hard Yankees fan, but above that, I'm an all-around fan of the sport itself.
I love watching any game - from Little League up through the Majors.
I played 3 years in Pony League, 4 years in Little League, 3 in Babe Ruth, all 4 years in High School, 3 years of American Legion and another 3 years of amateur ball after college, and if I didn't have a job with such a restrictive schedule and chronic tendinitis in my throwing shoulder, I'd be playing still now.
So last night when a friend asked me this question: "So what does baseball mean to you?" it stirred up some emotion for me. Aside from this being one of my all-time favorite books EVER, it's also something that I could go on explaining for hours.
But here was my short and sweet reply:
"It means the smell of freshly cut grass on a Sunday morning. It means being on a team with a bunch of cool guys and working together to win while also having a fun time. It means being nervous as hell when you're up at bat with 2 outs and everyone is relying on you, and it means feeling on top of the world when you make perfect contact with a well-pitched ball and hit that sucker far over the outfielder's head.
It means both good and bad memories of my childhood and middle and high school. It means running the bases until you want to pass out because Coach made you. It means getting sunburn on your forearms and nose and getting a "strawberry" on your thigh because you slid without wearing your sliding pants.
It means the start of Summer and the end of Winter. It means playing a double-header that takes all day long and coming home exhausted, but you don't mind one bit because it was baseball."
Baseball, for me, is a comforting feeling of nostalgia that never gets old or fades.
If anything, my fondness for it gets renewed every Spring.
Excerpts from the late Ernie Harwell's famous essay seems to sum it up best:
"It's America, this baseball. A re-issued newsreel of boyhood dreams. Dreams lost somewhere between boy and man. In baseball, democracy shines its clearest. Here the only race that matters is the race to the bag. The creed is the rule book. Color is something to distinguish one team's uniform from another. Baseball is ballet without music. Drama without words. A carnival without kewpie dolls. Baseball? It's just a game -- as simple as a ball and a bat. Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. "
It's a part of my childhood and a part of my being, and I'll forever be one of the boys of Summer.
I'm a die-hard Yankees fan, but above that, I'm an all-around fan of the sport itself.
I love watching any game - from Little League up through the Majors.
I played 3 years in Pony League, 4 years in Little League, 3 in Babe Ruth, all 4 years in High School, 3 years of American Legion and another 3 years of amateur ball after college, and if I didn't have a job with such a restrictive schedule and chronic tendinitis in my throwing shoulder, I'd be playing still now.
So last night when a friend asked me this question: "So what does baseball mean to you?" it stirred up some emotion for me. Aside from this being one of my all-time favorite books EVER, it's also something that I could go on explaining for hours.
But here was my short and sweet reply:
"It means the smell of freshly cut grass on a Sunday morning. It means being on a team with a bunch of cool guys and working together to win while also having a fun time. It means being nervous as hell when you're up at bat with 2 outs and everyone is relying on you, and it means feeling on top of the world when you make perfect contact with a well-pitched ball and hit that sucker far over the outfielder's head.
It means both good and bad memories of my childhood and middle and high school. It means running the bases until you want to pass out because Coach made you. It means getting sunburn on your forearms and nose and getting a "strawberry" on your thigh because you slid without wearing your sliding pants.
It means the start of Summer and the end of Winter. It means playing a double-header that takes all day long and coming home exhausted, but you don't mind one bit because it was baseball."
Baseball, for me, is a comforting feeling of nostalgia that never gets old or fades.
If anything, my fondness for it gets renewed every Spring.
Excerpts from the late Ernie Harwell's famous essay seems to sum it up best:
"It's America, this baseball. A re-issued newsreel of boyhood dreams. Dreams lost somewhere between boy and man. In baseball, democracy shines its clearest. Here the only race that matters is the race to the bag. The creed is the rule book. Color is something to distinguish one team's uniform from another. Baseball is ballet without music. Drama without words. A carnival without kewpie dolls. Baseball? It's just a game -- as simple as a ball and a bat. Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. "
It's a part of my childhood and a part of my being, and I'll forever be one of the boys of Summer.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Untold Story
(Wrote this a few years back. Thought maybe I'd share it)
Excited to be invited
to a magical place,
I wander with curiosity
from space to space,
from room to room
in a well-known house
that I've never seen
yet have been to before.
Although it's not real
I'm compelled to explore,
taking my time,
walking slowly throughout,
my joy slowly fades
as I see through the haze,
clouding my eyes and
blurring my mind,
that today in this house
there's something amiss,
making me nervous
to be discovering this.
The hallways are silent,
each room left empty,
as I peek through the doorways
endlessly searching
for answers to questions
that now have me confused and
bringing me sadness;
no longer amused.
I step into the kitchen
lights - a cool white;
sensing the happiness that
lived here before.
To the back,
by the door,
there's a pair of nice shoes that
were worn with devotion
but shall never again
be used with emotion
and will sadly remain,
from what I can see,
fossils of joy
from a now dead dream.
Overshadowed by pictures on the
now barren walls,
more discoveries of what was
a home, but no longer.
My attention now shifts
to a mother, a father,
with children around
that I wish could still be -
for one moment more -
alive, and not driven
off in the distance
now saying goodbye.
I refuse to wave
as I watch them go on
into the sky
with nothing but dreams,
all left behind.
And is if from a dream,
I awaken from sleep,
with one lonely tear
alive on my cheek.
My eyes closed in sorrow,
as the sadder I grow,
knowing here died a story
the world will never know.
A tale so sad,
so hard to remember.
In a dream it will stay,
untold forever.
Excited to be invited
to a magical place,
I wander with curiosity
from space to space,
from room to room
in a well-known house
that I've never seen
yet have been to before.
Although it's not real
I'm compelled to explore,
taking my time,
walking slowly throughout,
my joy slowly fades
as I see through the haze,
clouding my eyes and
blurring my mind,
that today in this house
there's something amiss,
making me nervous
to be discovering this.
The hallways are silent,
each room left empty,
as I peek through the doorways
endlessly searching
for answers to questions
that now have me confused and
bringing me sadness;
no longer amused.
I step into the kitchen
lights - a cool white;
sensing the happiness that
lived here before.
To the back,
by the door,
there's a pair of nice shoes that
were worn with devotion
but shall never again
be used with emotion
and will sadly remain,
from what I can see,
fossils of joy
from a now dead dream.
Overshadowed by pictures on the
now barren walls,
more discoveries of what was
a home, but no longer.
My attention now shifts
to a mother, a father,
with children around
that I wish could still be -
for one moment more -
alive, and not driven
off in the distance
now saying goodbye.
I refuse to wave
as I watch them go on
into the sky
with nothing but dreams,
all left behind.
And is if from a dream,
I awaken from sleep,
with one lonely tear
alive on my cheek.
My eyes closed in sorrow,
as the sadder I grow,
knowing here died a story
the world will never know.
A tale so sad,
so hard to remember.
In a dream it will stay,
untold forever.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Quiet Winter Night
When the cold hits your face,
when the glow of the soft, twinkling lights compel your eyes to stare,
and the distant sounds of traffic soothe some melancholy mood,
Loneliness becomes a companion
who conjures up remembered feelings of warmth from nights long passed.
Time - for this moment - spiteful and biting - is a soreness that pains a contemplating mind.
Even darkness, and the night, seem kinder when sweet dreams and fond memories cry out to be left behind.
when the glow of the soft, twinkling lights compel your eyes to stare,
and the distant sounds of traffic soothe some melancholy mood,
Loneliness becomes a companion
who conjures up remembered feelings of warmth from nights long passed.
Time - for this moment - spiteful and biting - is a soreness that pains a contemplating mind.
Even darkness, and the night, seem kinder when sweet dreams and fond memories cry out to be left behind.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Gods and Ghosts
I remember the first time I had a real debate about religion.
I was in high school and was home, online, in an AOL chat room with some of my friends - one of whom was a devout Baptist.
I remember feeling rather strongly about arguing for logic and science and what I believed to be common sense, while he was more focused on his beliefs that were acquired through years of church activities and religious teachings.
I stood by my seemingly bullet-proof claim that the Bible and stories of Jesus and the like were all just extravagant tales written by men who had no connection to God. I distinctly recall saying how aliens from another planet could've landed here thousands of years ago and planted these beliefs, and there's just as much "proof" to support that happening as there is to support the elaborate stories of Jesus found in the Bible.
Fast forward a little over a decade later and I still have pretty much the same view on the topic.
(I have a love of logic. So sue me!)
Movies such as this one below further that belief:
Though not 100% accurate, Zeitgeist shows what I believe to be much more of a factual explanation of the origins of Jesus and Christianity.
However, it's only in recent years that I've come to the enlightened conclusion that arguing about the accuracy of religion by using logic is utterly pointless.
No one can ever truly prove or disprove the stories in the Bible or the Koran or the Torah, etc.
But, not only is an argument about the validity of these stories one you can't win, but it's also one that isn't really worth having at all.
Let's be realistic - The whole reason for the existence of religion is to give people some sense of hope and purpose in their lives.
It's goals are to teach goodness, which will ideally lead to happy people in happy societies. So in the end, any reasonable person will realize that nobody wants to be the one to try and discredit anything meant to spread happiness and goodness.
So whether you can put your faith in these ideals or not, it's purpose is what's really important.
Similarly, I've also adopted a deeper understanding of the concept of ghosts.
Since I love logic, you can probably understand that I am skeptical of the notion of spirits and hauntings, etc. I can't watch any of the Ghost Hunter shows without thinking that anyone who claims to "experience" something is just another person who has succumbed to the power of suggestion.
But after thinking about it, the real answer seems almost too obvious:
People believe in God for the same reason they believe in ghosts -- the prospect of something after death!
What a great relief it must be to believe that we aren't just clumps of cells that live and die and decompose in a mundane scientific cycle, but instead, we are all unique souls that live on in a beautiful world that we can never truly explain or understand.
May God bless you all.
I was in high school and was home, online, in an AOL chat room with some of my friends - one of whom was a devout Baptist.
I remember feeling rather strongly about arguing for logic and science and what I believed to be common sense, while he was more focused on his beliefs that were acquired through years of church activities and religious teachings.
I stood by my seemingly bullet-proof claim that the Bible and stories of Jesus and the like were all just extravagant tales written by men who had no connection to God. I distinctly recall saying how aliens from another planet could've landed here thousands of years ago and planted these beliefs, and there's just as much "proof" to support that happening as there is to support the elaborate stories of Jesus found in the Bible.
Fast forward a little over a decade later and I still have pretty much the same view on the topic.
(I have a love of logic. So sue me!)
Movies such as this one below further that belief:
Though not 100% accurate, Zeitgeist shows what I believe to be much more of a factual explanation of the origins of Jesus and Christianity.
However, it's only in recent years that I've come to the enlightened conclusion that arguing about the accuracy of religion by using logic is utterly pointless.
No one can ever truly prove or disprove the stories in the Bible or the Koran or the Torah, etc.
But, not only is an argument about the validity of these stories one you can't win, but it's also one that isn't really worth having at all.
Let's be realistic - The whole reason for the existence of religion is to give people some sense of hope and purpose in their lives.
It's goals are to teach goodness, which will ideally lead to happy people in happy societies. So in the end, any reasonable person will realize that nobody wants to be the one to try and discredit anything meant to spread happiness and goodness.
So whether you can put your faith in these ideals or not, it's purpose is what's really important.
Similarly, I've also adopted a deeper understanding of the concept of ghosts.
Since I love logic, you can probably understand that I am skeptical of the notion of spirits and hauntings, etc. I can't watch any of the Ghost Hunter shows without thinking that anyone who claims to "experience" something is just another person who has succumbed to the power of suggestion.
But after thinking about it, the real answer seems almost too obvious:
People believe in God for the same reason they believe in ghosts -- the prospect of something after death!
What a great relief it must be to believe that we aren't just clumps of cells that live and die and decompose in a mundane scientific cycle, but instead, we are all unique souls that live on in a beautiful world that we can never truly explain or understand.
May God bless you all.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Live the Moment
I thought about death.
I thought about losing someone close to me.
I thought about something unexpected happening that dramatically changed my life forever, and wondered how I’d feel and how I’d react.
I stopped and tried to envision how my outlook of life would change and what paths I’d choose to go down afterward.
The only problem with thinking so deeply like that about the future, is that it inevitably brings you back to thinking about the present and where you stand at this moment.
It's cliché, but life is short.
A long, hard look at the bigger picture almost always enlightens you to the fact that there's no good reason to sit around and wait for what you want to come to you.
You can't wait for life to come knocking at your door or just fall into your lap.
Living well is not something you can do passively.
Let that be your mantra and I sincerely believe amazing things will happen.
"You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it!"
--Wayne Dyer
RIP Rik T.
I thought about losing someone close to me.
I thought about something unexpected happening that dramatically changed my life forever, and wondered how I’d feel and how I’d react.
I stopped and tried to envision how my outlook of life would change and what paths I’d choose to go down afterward.
The only problem with thinking so deeply like that about the future, is that it inevitably brings you back to thinking about the present and where you stand at this moment.
It's cliché, but life is short.
A long, hard look at the bigger picture almost always enlightens you to the fact that there's no good reason to sit around and wait for what you want to come to you.
You can't wait for life to come knocking at your door or just fall into your lap.
Living well is not something you can do passively.
Let that be your mantra and I sincerely believe amazing things will happen.
"You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it!"
--Wayne Dyer
RIP Rik T.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Who Are you?
It's February.
If you had any New Year's resolutions and managed to keep them 'til now, GOOD JOB.
Research shows that it takes 21 days/times to make something a habit.
So if you've made it this far, DON'T FUCK IT UP!!!
:-)
So here we are - a little over a month into 2010 and what have I got to show for it?
Well, I did spend a week in Puerto Rico, trekking through the rain forest, touring the Bacardi distillery and exploring Old San Juan.
I'm also getting over a really rad strep throat.
AWESOME!!
But I'm a man focused on progress this year, and like my last post made clear, becoming a better person should be a consistent, never-ending battle in many aspects.
....such as fitness.
Here is a blog post from one of my favorite training authorities.
My favorite quote from it: "If you are too stupid to realize that regular exercise and a healthy diet is a necessary part of life I’m not going to waste my time telling you. Get on some prescription drugs, order a sausage pizza and watch another episode of Friends."
YESSSSS!!
Beautifully said!
Motivation has to come from WITHIN, people!
You also have to discover your own drive and determination to achieve any kind of goals - fitness or otherwise- that you truly desire.
Like Jason says, "You either want to do something or you don't"
I have people coming to me for fitness and nutrition advice, and they seem disappointed when they ask me how they can get a six-pack or lose arm fat and I say they need to change their diet.
Not to call anyone out, but I'll never forget a certain someone who said she'd rather double her time on the treadmill than give up the 5 spoonfuls of sugar in her cereal or stop eating rice with every meal.
Well guess what............
"You either want to do something or you don't"
NOTHING worth achieving comes easily - including a healthy body.
If you ask me for advice, I will ask you what your goals are and I WILL offer you a genuine, heartfelt opinion that I think will help you.
I WILL NOT tell you about some secret, all-powerful exercise or supplement or piece of equipment that will transform your life, because none exists.
But this isn't just a fitness rant, it's a lifestyle rant.
A friend recently shared with me this NY Times article about an intense research study that revealed the power of social circles.
Your close friends, not-so-close friends, and even your friends' friends, can have a dramatic effect on whether you're happy, addicted to something, fit, overweight, etc.
If this isn't a wake-up call to reevaluate the people in your life, I don't know what is.
Hanging out with guys who drink 4-5 beers or sodas a day or eat a large bag of Doritos with their lunch will prevent you from getting that leaner body you say you want.
Likewise, accompanying your buddies on a smoke break will hurt your chances of quitting.
But spending time with that healthy friend with similar goals WILL help you dramatically!
Energy is contagious!
Use it to your advantage!
Here's hoping you may you find positive people to help you with your goals.
Best of luck.
If you had any New Year's resolutions and managed to keep them 'til now, GOOD JOB.
Research shows that it takes 21 days/times to make something a habit.
So if you've made it this far, DON'T FUCK IT UP!!!
:-)
So here we are - a little over a month into 2010 and what have I got to show for it?
Well, I did spend a week in Puerto Rico, trekking through the rain forest, touring the Bacardi distillery and exploring Old San Juan.
I'm also getting over a really rad strep throat.
AWESOME!!
But I'm a man focused on progress this year, and like my last post made clear, becoming a better person should be a consistent, never-ending battle in many aspects.
....such as fitness.
Here is a blog post from one of my favorite training authorities.
My favorite quote from it: "If you are too stupid to realize that regular exercise and a healthy diet is a necessary part of life I’m not going to waste my time telling you. Get on some prescription drugs, order a sausage pizza and watch another episode of Friends."
YESSSSS!!
Beautifully said!
Motivation has to come from WITHIN, people!
You also have to discover your own drive and determination to achieve any kind of goals - fitness or otherwise- that you truly desire.
Like Jason says, "You either want to do something or you don't"
I have people coming to me for fitness and nutrition advice, and they seem disappointed when they ask me how they can get a six-pack or lose arm fat and I say they need to change their diet.
Not to call anyone out, but I'll never forget a certain someone who said she'd rather double her time on the treadmill than give up the 5 spoonfuls of sugar in her cereal or stop eating rice with every meal.
Well guess what............
"You either want to do something or you don't"
NOTHING worth achieving comes easily - including a healthy body.
If you ask me for advice, I will ask you what your goals are and I WILL offer you a genuine, heartfelt opinion that I think will help you.
I WILL NOT tell you about some secret, all-powerful exercise or supplement or piece of equipment that will transform your life, because none exists.
But this isn't just a fitness rant, it's a lifestyle rant.
A friend recently shared with me this NY Times article about an intense research study that revealed the power of social circles.
Your close friends, not-so-close friends, and even your friends' friends, can have a dramatic effect on whether you're happy, addicted to something, fit, overweight, etc.
If this isn't a wake-up call to reevaluate the people in your life, I don't know what is.
Hanging out with guys who drink 4-5 beers or sodas a day or eat a large bag of Doritos with their lunch will prevent you from getting that leaner body you say you want.
Likewise, accompanying your buddies on a smoke break will hurt your chances of quitting.
But spending time with that healthy friend with similar goals WILL help you dramatically!
Energy is contagious!
Use it to your advantage!
Here's hoping you may you find positive people to help you with your goals.
Best of luck.
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