Pink Can Be Cool Sometimes

Pink, but very cool

I really like the wide variety of trees to be found throughout Bainbridge.  Since my arrival, I’ve been exposed to many new and differing species versus what seemed native to Chicago and the Midwest.

I’ve especially come to enjoy the spring Cherry blossoms.  Perhaps they are my favorite.

I’m no arborist, and I certainly cannot tell you much about these blossoms - other than I think they look really cool this time of year (although ironically I find them to be very ugly during the winter).



Maybe these tress were easily spotted in Chicago and I simply did not take notice.  If so, shame on me.  But now that I’ve acquired a fondness, it seems that these days I’m spotting the pink beauties sprinkled throughout the island when I least expect. 

At the risk of sounding hokey … when passing, I do catch myself slowing just a bit, taking pause to examine the tree.  As I study the structure, I find myself wondering how long this particular tree has been standing.  I want to know how did it take its shape, and whether or not this particular tree will later produce tasty fruit.   

All questions of interest, but I concede, not necessarily of importance or relevance.

Before shattering my brief respite, I try to make mental notes, trusting that I’ll remember where the best trees are positioned.  Gullibly, I tell myself I’ll be back for another visit later this summer, albeit this time to inspect for and pick a mid-afternoon snack.

I’ll see about that.  Maybe I’ll add such task my list.

Anyway, I first took notice to the spring Cherry blossoms while jogging last year.  My Sunday morning running group maintains a regular route through the Grand Forest.  En route, we almost always pass a farm offering the most spectacular stretch of blossoms.  In actuality, it was a parade of blossoms next this farm that first gripped my attention.

Yesterday, I took a moment to snap a few pictures of the farm blossoms, ensuring that I capture the beauty before the pink fades, transitioning to a less magnificent, white foliage.

Next to the farm

I’m not alone in my spring blossom appreciation. Kelly also likes the blooms, but for distinctively different reasons.  She likes the smell.   I concur; the scent is delectable.  


Lucky for us, there are an abundance of Cherry blossoms to be found within close proximity of our house.  


This being the case, Kelly has ample opportunity to emulate Murphy, sniffing her way around the block, while Murphy, uninterested in the blossoms, retains focus on more important canine-related duties.

Looking towards our house

Close-up 

By the way, it’s worth noting that one might deduce that Kelly is experiencing respiratory failure during these walks, however, such conclusion would be incorrect.  This not easily forgotten performance is Kelly simply ‘maximizing’ her opportunity to enjoy the sweet-smelling journey to be had whilst circling the block.
 

I know…but you must appreciate that it’s these peculiar and idiosyncratic mannerisms I love about Kelly.

Thanks, But I Prefer the CD Experience over the Billboard 'Hot 100'

In November of 1955, Billboard Magazine Published its initial Top 100.  In theory, the list categorized music as characterized by the following:  the Best Sellers In Stores, Most Played By Jockeys and Most Played In Jukeboxes.  As you might imagine, over the years, Billboard has modified the quantitative ranking criteria - eventually settling on radio airplay as the primary indicator for what is now the 'Hot 100'.  

While Billboard may introduce and track musical awareness for the masses, I prefer to follow a different path in my search for new music.

A few years back, my good friend John approached me with a idea – organize a group of his musical aficionado  friends together and assign each of them the task of assembling a music CD.  More specifically, each month one participating friend will compile a book of songs which they hope to introduce to others participating.

The CD Experience was born.  An idea as simple as it is genius.

Currently, the CD Experience – in its third season - is publishing Volume 3.  April is my month, and I’m really excited about my compilation.  Seattle offers one of the best music stations in the country (KEXP - 90.3fm), and I’ve been introduced to some fabulous artists since my arrival the the area.

It’s worth noting that my lovely wife holds a quite differing opinion of the CD Experience.  Actually, Kelly quite despises most of the CD Experience offerings.  Of course, as I look at it, one would be obtuse to defer musical commentary to Kelly, as by and large, her musical filter generally sifts out anything that isn’t: 

• Part of the Grease I or Grease II soundtrack
• Kenny Rogers
• Somehow associated with a John Hughes movie
• An artist/band she saw live at the South Dakota State Fair sometime during her youth

On other hand, I am absolutely addicted to the CD Experience.  As a direct result of this initiative, I’ve crossed paths with music which I’m quite certain I would otherwise have never been exposed. 

As I finalize my CD to be mailed out to others – most of whom I’ve never met – I nervously hold my breath.  It’s human nature to want positive reinforcement and feedback and I’m no different in my selfish desire for peer approval.

In case you’re wondering about my April line-up; click the song name to have a listen. 

	NAME	ARTIST
1	About You Before	The Hermit Crabs
2	California Girls	Magnetic Fields
3	Dreams of 18	Lal Meri
4	Cemeteries of London	Coldplay
5	Way You Walk	Papas Fritas
6	Venus As a Boy	Björk
7	Hard Sun	Eddie Vedder
8	American Boy	Estelle
9	Impossible Germany	Wilco
10	November Was White, December was Grey	Say Hi
11	Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second	Starfucker
12	House of Jealous Lovers	The Rapture
13	Do the Whirlwind	Architecture In Helsinki
14	Bigger Burn	Eleni Mandell
15	My Baby Portable Player Sound	Pizzicato Five
16	Exit 109	Dale Watson
17	Lady Divine	Alena Diane
18	Business Time	Flight of the Conchords

Kona Will Have to Wait

Earlier today, lottery slots were announced for the 2009 Hawaii Ironman World Championships to occur in October.  I suspect the lottery is one of a few events meaningful enough to impel over-achieving type-A triathletes to cross all their fingers and toes in hopes of securing one of the desired Kona slots.  Specific details are not generally released to the public, but it’s commonly accepted that upwards of thirty thousand entrants pin their hopes on obtaining one of the coveted 150 lottery slots.

In the few minutes prior to the announcement itself, there is an odd mixture of excitement, anticipation, and tension.  A muddled concoction lingering stagnant like the early morning fog.  It is an uphill battle trying to make sense of it, all you can do is wait.  You simply wait; it is agonizing.

It is odd how lottery day can affect you like that.  When it comes to triathletes and Kona, dreams can be realized in exchange for a paltry $50 entry fee.  The numbers don't lie.  Taking a page from Vegas, these lottery odds are squarely stacked against you.  Yet despite the odds, many look to beat the house at its own game and hit jackpot. 

The exchange is a no-brainer for most.

As for me, I’ve dreamt about toeing the line in Kona for years. 

Like many, my Kona fantasies started by watching the event on TV.  Then, as is the case now, something about Kona pulls at me.  Years later, having completed four Ironman triathlons, I must admit that I find the opportunity and allure to partake and compete in Kona to be an unfulfilled dream. 

For most, a ticket to Kona is punched by qualifying at one of the worldwide qualifier events.  Sadly, the cold truth is that I simply am not fast enough to qualify.  Not by a long shot.

As it is, last September I finished Ironman Wisconsin (a qualifying race) in 11 hours, 23 minutes.  This time represented a personal best for me by almost an hour.  By any measure an otherwise hugely successful day.  Maybe, if all goes without incident, I could someday finish in sub 11 hours.  Maybe.

The point is moot however.  Even if I were to complete an Ironman event in less than 11 hours, such a time is realistically ninety minutes or so off the typical qualifying time standard for my 35-39 age group.  Hopes of qualifying are a waste of time.  I might be better served wishing to sprout wings and fly into the blue sky.

As it is, the lottery is my only chance at Kona. 

Normally, I would be one of the many lottery entrants.  Normally, I would be foolishly pinning my hopes on a lottery slot.  Like many others, hoping to defy the odds with my invitation to Kona assured and in hand.

But this year is not normal.  This year I’m unemployed.

The irony would crush me – the year I finally get my ticket to Kona is the year I simply cannot spend the money for a trip over to the big island.  It is what it is, and anyway your slice it, a week in Hawaii doesn’t come cheap.

I simply couldn’t risk tempting fate. 

So this year – painful as it was – I had to walk off the dance floor early.  I did not enter the lottery.  No way I’m risking my ticket to the big dance with an empty wallet. 

I've never been to Hawaii and I often joke that I'm not going unless my partaking in the Ironman is part of the agenda.  Won't I be the fool if my stubbornness is all for naught.  I'm told Hawaii is spectacular; many call it paradise on earth.  

I really want to go there.

(insert a heavy dramatic sigh here) 

Hopefully things will be different next year.  Hopefully next year things will be back to normal and I’ll once again be holding my breath in naiveté that I might see my name on the 2010 lottery list.

Hopefully…

PS - If you want to better understand the hype surrounding Kona - Click here