barefeet4's Xanga

I love spring in Boston

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:35:49 GMT

So I have been inspired by Timothy's post every day in April to update my blog; however thus far it has manifested itself in nothing more than some entries composed in my head while swimming. Someday I may transfer those thoughts into type but for today I must extol the many virtues of the first truly warm day in my favorite city.
I went to Downtown Crossing today to get a haircut but got a little side tracked. First I visited the Brattle Book Shopwhere I bought 6 books for $6; among my finds in the $1/books section were "Utopia" and "Rights of Man". With books in hand I went to indulge in one of my favorite lunches-a hot dog with sauerkraut (I had to look that up to figure out how to spell it) and mustard bought off a street vendor. I got to enjoy my gourmet meal while listening to various arias and well known songs from famous operas courtesy of the Boston Lyric Opera Company who were promoting the opening of "Don Giovanni" next week; I think I've been inspired to attend the opera and it's not entirely due to the attractiveness of the lead males. I also managed to get my haircut, go to Haymarket and spend an hour sitting on a rock reading. All in all a good day that gets to end with a cheeseburger and beer and a Sox game. To bad the temp is going to be in the 40s all next week.

Random thoughts on no sleep

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:38:23 GMT

No one reads this anymore, probably because I never update, but still.

My gmail account knows what the weather is and adjusts my background accordingly; right now it is raining and the people waiting for the bus all have umbrellas or scuba gear. I can't wait to see what happens when it snows.

I was walking down Comm Ave today and noticed two trees (Oak I believe) that were still green and still had a full head of leaves. It is unseasonable warm today, but it was 15 degrees over the weekend

I learned an important lesson last week, the files on my computer that don't open don't open for a reason and should not be thrown away regardless of how many urges I have to make everything neat and clean.

Smiling Moon

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:42:22 GMT

Last night the moon, Jupiter and Venus were all in a cluster. It was pretty cool to see. If you missed it they will apparently still be close tonight, but not quite as close as last night. However, if it is cloudy, or there are too many lights or trees (as was the case for me) there are some amazing pictures at http://www.ireport.com/map?sortBy=latest&topicId=1309&mapType=terrain. My particular favorite is the one from the Phillipines because the moon and planets are juxtaposed opposite of what they are in the US (why is that? I was thinking it was because it was in the Southern Hemisphere but according to the map I found on google it is in the Norhtern). The person in Pensacola, FL had a really high powered lens so his pictures are pretty awesome as well.

As an aside, I really suck at Madden Football, but is that really any surprise considering how bad I was at simple games like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Lion King.

"The Bibliomania"

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:31:56 GMT

What wild desires, what restless torments seize
The hapless man, who feels the book disease....

Like Poets, born, in vain Collectors strive
To cross their Fate, and learn the art to thrive...
The tyrant-passion drags them backward still:
Ev'n I, debarr'd of ease, and studious hours,
Confess, mid' anxious toil, its lurking pow'rs.

Poem by John Ferriar, physician, author and coiner of the term "bibliomania".

Planets

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:47:52 GMT

I recently discovered the "themes" option in gmail. I can choose a background theme for my inbox. Since I discovered this yesterday I have changed the background probably 5 times. At present it is set to "planets". I also found a button that allows me to insert the 5 day weather forecast right onto my calendar.
On a completely unrelated note, I hate yoga. But I feel compelled to go because it stretches me out so nicely and someone told me that it would help my hamstring and let me run again.

I didn't die today!!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:33:58 GMT

My bike grew up today. She got her first major upgrade of clipless pedals. I managed to ride the 3 miles home from the bike shop with only one major fall. I bent my water bottle cage and scraped a good amount of skin off my shin, but it wasn't too bad compared to what some of my friends have done their first time out with new pedals.
Today definitely put my priorities in perspective. The bike shoes that I bought today are by far the most expensive footwear that I own and you can't even walk in them.

I'm rich!!

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:20:22 GMT

Today I found a shiny new Alaska quarter on the sidewalk. I stopped collecting the state quarters somewhere in the midwest but I think I am going to add this one to my little folder. I bet whoever lost this quarter is sad; I would be sad if it was me.

Food Phest

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:18:50 GMT

Yesterday I saw live horse racing for the first time (and a half pound hot dog which was pretty impressive and led me to wonder how one might go about eating the one pound hot dog that Fudruckers was selling). Anyway, horse racing is fun, though I don't think Ryan appreciated my Eliza Doolittle impressions. Also the man wouldn't dip my waffle in chocolate, I think it would have been tasty, even if it was mushy.

The End of DST

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:22:20 GMT

I am at work right now. Twenty minutes ago it was 2am, now it is 1:20; that's wicked depressing.

I love the fall

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:53:13 GMT

April's insight of the week: riding a bike over leaves make a wonderfully crunchy noise; riding a bike over wet leaves does not make a wonderfully crunchy noise and greatly increases your chances of falling.

I signed up for my first half-ironman this week. The race isn't until August of 2009 but just the fact that I've committed to it is a little intimidating. And I am committed to it; registration was $250 so barring a catastrophe I will be traversing 70.3 miles via swimming, biking and running next August.