The ride of a lifetime...

When I was a kid, my parents often times would load us all into the car and simply go for a ride.  We'd drive up along the coast, maybe stop to walk the beach or ride out in the country with the hope of spotting a deer or other form of wildlife.  Sometimes the ride would turn into an opportunity for a nap or perhaps we'd end up at the local ice cream stand for a treat.  Regardless of the reason, the chance to go on a ride on a lazy afternoon was generally a treat unto itself.  Well, as my parents have aged, the shoe now has fallen on the other foot, but the reasons for going remain the same.  It's a chance to share some quality time without the distractions of life.

On Friday this week, with the seemingly interminable rains hindering the outdoor activity, it was time for a ride.  I used the excuse of needing to do a few errands, but what I really wanted to do was spend some time with my Mom.  She has always loved to "joy" ride and is always at the ready when to comes to this sort of adventure.  So, without the use of our GPS device, we headed off for a ride.  Our only goal was to get from point A to point B and back again, no flight plan no maps, just our instincts and enough gas to get us there.  We followed the old carriage roads along some of New England's infinite stone walls and passed through several of those little villages you could imagine Currier and Ives would have depicted in their lithographs.  It was all so quiet, even with the rain pelting down on our windshield and the wipers vigorously doing their job.  However, it was all worth the effort because we both could reminisce about the good old days when she'd be driving my brothers and me out to The Mill or to the apple orchards for an afternoon of errands.  We talked about things that happened many years ago as if they had happened just yesterday.  It was lovely, she said, just like she had said a million times before; and it was.

We finally arrived at our first destination and quickly moved on to the next,  wasting little time "shopping" as we had many years before.  This time I was in charge, as Mom waited patiently in the car, unlike we had years ago.  Regardless, it was all good.

As we made our way back home, I thought about how life comes full circle.  Those many eons ago my mother took us over many of the same roads carrying out her business with all of us in tow.  Now it was my turn to return the favor, but really, who was doing whom the favor?.  Once again, she was the one who was nurturing my soul with her quips and her effervescent smile just sitting there enjoying the "ride".  Yes, she was up to her old tricks again, and thank God I have been along for the ride.  Mom, how would you like to stop for an ice cream on our way home?  This time it will be my treat!

Shore to shore

The lyrics found in the hymn,  America  the Beautiful, speak of the beauty in America while going from sea to shinning sea, and if you have ever traveled about this great country, those words couldn't be more true.  I have been fortunate enough to have crossed this land solely, with friends, and most memorably on family camping trips when I was younger.  However, when one goes from sea to shining sea, you have to cross the land in between, but if you go from shore to  shore, then one has to cross a body of water.  Well, my friends and I recently did just that, we swam across the lake at Chautauqua just so we could say we swam across the lake.

Guy's weekend at the lake has become a tradition for our group of "weekend" warriors.  Generally, there is an abundance of exercise, followed by a proportionately substantial amount of eating, in turn followed by a whole lot of "fellowship".  Although the name guy's weekend implies participation by only a fraternity of brothers, most of us have outgrown the need for male bonding, so the families are all included in the festivities as well.  Truthfully, the logistics of some of our activities are made infinitely more easy because of the "X" factor.

This year we decided it was time to man up and cross the lake, swimming the entire distance, 1.85 miles.  So, with the aid of our support staff in the safety boat and putting a "strategery" together for the swimmers, we donned our wetsuits, swim caps, and goggles and took the plunge.  It was a lovely day with calm "seas" and sunshine.  In no time at all, we were almost there, and then almost there, and then almost there.  The distant shore grew ever closer, but you couldn't have convinced any of us of that fact.  The primary target seemed to get bigger as we crossed the lake, but I truly believe that was more simply just wishful thinking.  However, we finally did emerge from the lake an hour and a half later to set foot on terra firma once again.  What a relief indeed for all those involved, especially the support staff, because, without their help, we couldn't have done it safely.

Without a doubt, the guys in this group have become truly special to each other over the years.  We have run, biked, and swam our way to becoming, quite literally, a band of brothers.  Now that we have conquered the crossing of Lake Chautauqua, we can say that for "shore"!

Spinning out of Control

With the wild weather that most of the country has been experiencing of late, it is no wonder that there has been much attention given to all those whirling dervishes known as tornadoes.  In fact, here in the East, the weather this evening looked more like tornado alley than the gentle, rolling hills of New England.  However, even though most of the media coverage has been on the "spinning" air masses outside, some forms of spinning are found in the more sedate confines of the gym, and permit me to explain.

Most of us who engage in triathlon training recognize the value in cross training, and certainly as age catches up with each of us, the merits of mixing up the routine from day to day clearly provides benefits.  Because of the protracted number of recent rainy days, I was "forced" inside for my early morning constitutionals.  However, what I soon discovered was that spinning "class" offered a wonderful alternative when the weather outside was, shall we say, less than ideal.  There are some compromises, however, but when Mother Nature rears Her ugly head and fails to accommodate us with favorable conditions, then taking it the "seats" isn't so bad.

I have spoken to a number of "spinners" over the years who have encouraged me to try this indoor form of exercise, but my fondness for the outdoors has generally kept me on the "outside".  However, with the exceptionally wet spring we've had this year, I was forced indoors in order to keep up with my bike training.  I suppose one could say that quite "literally" being wet behind the ears now has me spinning out of control!

Splitting Headache may warm you up

Likely you have heard the expression, " I've got a splitting headache".  Unfortunately, if you have ever suffered from such a malady, you can appreciate the accuracy of the graphic description.  Quite literally, your head feels as though it may split in two because of the intensity of the pain.  However, sometimes a splitter may be something other than a severe headache, and in fact, may be just what you need to prevent one.

With the rising cost home heating oil or natural gas, heating one's home has become a real challenge for so  many families.  However, there are alternatives, such as solar energy, wind energy, and if you have access to "free" hardwood, then heating with a wood burning stove may offer a viable alternative.  Well, when it comes to good ole' Yankee thrift, free becomes every one's favorite four letter word.  My parents recently took down a few aged trees and Mother Nature assisted with Her contribution too, so there was plenty of "free" inventory to justify renting a wood splitter for the day.

The day started with the usual tankard of coffee and breakfast, before turning our attention to the task at hand.  Fortunately, the Sun was shinning, which has been a rarity this spring, so working outside was indeed a pleasure.  We quickly developed a "dis assembly" line, and we began splitting the inventory.  By days end, we had created quite a pile of firewood that will serve as the fuel for the coming season, and it will take that long to adequately dry out too.

New Englanders are well known for being frugal, and this is a classic example of good old fashioned frugality.  In the end, however, this little wood splitting exercise will do more to reduce the headache caused when next winter's home heating bill arrives than a handful of Ibuprofen.  In fact, the memories of our day spent splitting wood may even just warm us to the core!

E=mc2...the relative truth is easy to swallow

Einstein is best known for his work in general relativity, and for this, he is considered to be the father of modern Physics. His now famous equation, E=mc2 , seems a bit simplistic to some, but this discovery has essentially transformed modern Physics. How he arrived at this revelation is probably far more complicated than I could ever understand or explain, but when I think of this seemingly basic equation, I find myself pondering the possibilities, much like Einstein must have in the years leading up to his discovery.


While riding my bicycle recently, I found myself enjoying the fresh air, the sunshine, and the solitude which allowed me an opportunity to get lost in my thoughts. There is nothing like getting out for a little exercise to clear the cobwebs from your brain, especially when you are about to take your inaugural “spin” of the season after a long winter on the wind trainer. Although it had been several weeks since my last “ride”, I felt energized by the springtime sun, so the miles seemed to be roll by with relative ease. I mapped out my route beforehand, so all I had left to do was sit back, relax, be safe, and ponder life’s unsolved questions. It was great!

Right after I realized I had failed to bring along a water bottle, my thoughts turned to other things. I pondered participating in some short distance triathlons this summer, doing a little sailing or woodworking after a day at the office, or simply relaxing with my parents watching a Red Sox. It all seemed quite manageable because my calendar was virtually empty, except for the weekends. Then I had this epiphany, perhaps just like Einstein would have had. E=mc2! I finally understood what the equation represented, at least for an athlete like myself. Eating= more (cardiovascular exercise)x(cardiovascular exercise). It was genius maximus. I could feel the pace of my cadence quicken just pondering the real value of exercise; it allows you to eat and feel good about it afterward.

Exercise, consequently, turns out to be a fundamental variable in this equation which has so dramatically changed our understanding of modern Physics, and if one routinely engages in regular exercise, it will likely have a dramatic effect on one's "physique", just as Einstein discovered.  Of course, for those of us who enjoy regular exercise,  it's all "relativity" anyway.  Keep moving folks!

Backed into a Corner...sort of

I am quite sure that most people have heard of the expression, “backed into a corner”, and quite literally, if this has ever happened to you then you are familiar with the sense of anxiety that follows. Fortunately, if you maintain a cool composure and gather your thoughts, options may begin to present themselves that you may not have considered initially. Hopefully, enough alternatives will become apparent that you can actually “escape” this, shall we say, incarceration. Well, I recently took a wrong turn while driving that left me no option but to back out of the corner, and allow me to explain.
While in the scenic hillside community of Lierna, Italy, along the shores of Lake Como, I was driving a minivan that was designed to carry a large payload of people, but was clearly not designed for some of the narrow “viales” in Italy. I proceeded down one of the many unmarked roadways that should have led to the main street leaving town. Of course, we were on a tight schedule, so Murphy’s Law was lurking at the end of this wrong turn. As we descended the hillside, the road became narrower and more limiting. Just then, what appeared to be a quick route to the bottom of the hill, looked more like an astronomical , “black hole”; no way out. We dead ended into a series of driveways that would only have permitted one of those mini-eurocars, and that wasn’t what we were driving. I felt like we had just checked into the Hotel California; you can check in but you can never leave.

After several feeble attempts to turn ourselves around, it became apparent that there was only one way out and that was to back out without the luxury of our side view mirrors or the skill of a seasoned driver. However, somehow by the grace of God and good fortune, the minivan tracked its way out of this tomb, arising from the “dead end”, so to speak. After gathering our collective energy once again, we reconvened at the top of the hill for our trip back to Milan.

Of all the turns that we face in life, some are more daunting than others, and in this case, there were no turns. It required a concentrated effort and the support of many to retrace our path, quite literally in reverse, which allowed us to get back on the road home. We all agreed that a return trip to this little part of Italy would be worth it, particularly with our dinner in Verena on the shores of Lake Como the night before. However, our little misadventure on the roads of Lierna almost left us in the corner, and I assure you, there was nowhere to turn. Ciao!

Ostersonntag 2011

When I was growing up, my father occasionally would throw out a few words of German that he had learned from his childhood.  With both parents being of German descent, his primary language for thôse preschool years was German.  However, over the years he remembered just the important ones that came in handy around young listening ears.  He'd say, "mein Gott in himmel" when I was getting into some sort of mischief.  After the last few days here in Switzerland where German is the preferred language, I wish I had taken a few lessons from him or from our Austrian neighbors across the street.

We arrived in Brig, Switzerland via the train from Milan.  It was a relaxing ride, since we left the driving up to the Italian train engineers.  It was a magnificent 2 hour ride north along the western border of Lake Maggiore and on across the border into Switzerland.  The trains run just their world reknown time pieces.  The train station was just a short 10 minute walk up the streets of Brig, with the Alps as a back drop.  We scoped out the local Catholic church and the eateries, all before sundown. 

We found a quaint dinner spot where we had some traditional fare, the schnitzel with noodles.  We passed on the strudel, much to my dismay, but there would always be tomorrow, Ostersonntag.  The early service was the high mass for the Easter celebration, and it was not just your ordinary high mass, let me tell you.  They had a full choir and their own orchestra;  I felt as though I was at the symphony and not at an Easter Sunday service.  It was delightful and truly a highlight. 

After services, we boarded the train to Zermat for a day in the Alps.  The views were impressive and the skies were as blue as you could imagine, perfect for this outing.  The first glimpse of the Matterhorn left me awkstruck...much like another day in the mountains.  We walked about town and even made our way up the trail abit before sitting down for a cup of hot chocolate later on.  We visited the Catholic church in town, and the views leaving the church were breathtaking, a divine creation indeed.  We later dined on more traditional food of weiner schnitzel and sauerkraut all washed down with a little German ale.

Our day in the Alps fell on Easter Sunday, an unplanned coincidence to say the least.  Mein Gott in himmel reminded me that no human hand could have created all of what we saw.  It was truly divine.  Thanks Dad for helping me find the words to describe this glorious part of the world.  Al weidersehen!