connecting*the*dots

(originally uploaded by hockadilly)

This is one of those stake in the ground type posts, or put differently, a kick in the ass — my own ass.

I went through a bunch of tests with no clear diagnosis after passing out in 1999 (multiple times) and again in 2003, and I’m coming to the conclusion that on a sub-conscious level, I simply decided to stop being physically active. Instead of continuing to play ball and hit the gym with any degree of regularity and follow up with my doctors, I dove into my work and convinced myself that was a solution.

Well, it wasn’t… and it’s about time for a change.

Since I won’t be posting before pictures as motivation — this is a lifestyle change, not a reality show (and I wouldn’t do that to you anyway) — the following is a list of the behavioral changes I plan on making:

1. Pay ridiculous attention to everything I put into my mouth — cutting way back on sweets, soda, fatty foods and fried foods and upping my intake of non-processed foods.
2. Put in 25mins cardio and 25mins lifting each day, whether I’m at home or on the road.
3. Play more often (basketball, batting cages, dog park, etc.). In other words: get some friggin’ sunlight
4. Schedule a full-physical and, quite possibly, a meeting with a therapist. I’ve got so much going on right now — building two businesses, managing a number of clients, etc. — I could use an objective voice in my ear from time to time.

I guess I’m making this public to put some much needed pressure on myself to follow through — hopefully it works.

Sometimes you have to make it all about you.

UPDATE: I’m going to use the comment thread on this post to document the highs and lows over the first three months or so.

(originally uploaded by Steve1949)

Morehead City, North Carolina.

i met this girl years ago
bumped into her on the back leg of my three mile jog
the one i ran each day after getting home from the multimedia factory
you know, the place where i made the pixels dance and scream
the first mile was always a bit of a mind game
as the road would rise and dip ever so slightly
creating mirages of end states
i’d convince myself that if i could just get to the horizon line of the rise
the dip would easily carry me forward
and it did
mile two cut directly through the heart of the suburbs
as my shins began to burn, the run became a game of dodge
with low branches jetting out from behind untrimmed hedges
and dogs on long leashes challenging their slack
i’d hop over the cracks in the uneven sidewalk
making sure that i devoured at least one and a half per stride
it was how i kept my gate
narrowed my focus
as mile three began
and i made it to the edge of downtown
the rhythm just seemed to kick in
on cue, cube queued up in my headphones
bringing a good day to my today
my breathing was correct
my perspective was cubist
my self was in tune
so i’d tune out the real
pump my arms and knees
and sprint the last leg home
finishing off my circuit with an exclamation point *

* the first time i broke stride
removing myself from the sticky summer heat
to enter the hum of an air conditioned store
i did so to ask for a cup of that ice cold water i remembered
the water poured from a jug kept in a stainless steel fridge
resting behind the front counter with all those bins of flavored goodness
it was like magic
freezing cold water that somehow cured brain freeze

by the time she asked me what i wanted
a sip is all i asked for…

that made her smile

Happy Birthday, babe.

(originally uploaded by sebastian’s belle)

(originally uploaded by cyu06)

I don’t exactly know what gear I’m moving into, but I’m definitely popping the RPM’s as I write this.

My day-to-day has evolved from a free fall of focus two years ago to a full-time operation running dotmatrix, collaborating with more than a handful of clients with unique and challenging work, assisting with the planning of this year’s ConvergeSouth and attempting to get The People, Yes off the ground.

In between those extremes of exploration and consternation, I found myself using this spot for sharing, pimping, contextualizing, opining, pointing and anything else under the sun I found valuable and interesting.

Well, it’s about time I get focused.

Yeah, I had a similar “state of the blogger” moment a few months back, but this time I’m a bit more motivated to down-shift into documenting my various efforts, especially along the lines of The People, Yes.

I refuse to become myopic or dry — graffiti, lyrics, images, poetry; all have a place — but I am making a turn, hopefully for the better.

Hold on, please.

not too strange, originally uploaded by * tathei *.

The Super Bowl — another year, another reminder that I’ll never see my Jets on this stage in my lifetime. Oh, well. At least we can eat and drink like it’s Thanksgiving and watch Peyton Manning get hit a bunch of times!

Prediction #1

We will not see a Super Bowl ad as iconic as this Mean Joe Greene Coke classic:

(Man, watching that brought me back to feeling like the little kid I was in 1979)

Nor will we experience anything close to as revolutionary as this gem from Apple:

(Damn goosebumps!)

Prediction #2

In less than 18 hours, we’ll be stuck watching the equivalent of this K-Fed advertising crap:

Prediction #3

Final Score: Colts 26, Bears 23

• Manning manages the game with his usual efficiency
• The Bear’s defense bends, but doesn’t break, causing timely punts and red-zone FG attempts
• Adam Vinatieri kicks four field goals, Robbie Gould hits two
• Manning connects on one long touchdown pass to either Harrison or Wayne
• Mark Anderson busts through the Colt’s O-line for a safety, after the Bears pin the Colts deep
• Joseph Addai runs in one score, after a long, sustained drive
• Rex Grossman hits Bernard Berrian for a late TD and converts a two-point attempt to pull within a FG
• Peyton Manning and Joseph Addai manage to grind out enough first downs to send the Bears home losers

MVP: Peyton Manning

I’m really torn about rooting for Peyton Manning.

On one hand, I want Manning to win so the media will finally stop generating noise about his inability to win the big game. That meme is driving me insane. Another reason is Tony Dungy, who’s a class act and after the nightmare he and his family went through last year, no one deserves a championship ring more.

On the other hand, I’ll never forgive Manning for staying in school his senior year and making the Jets draft Keyshawn “Just Give Me The Damn Ball!” Johnson.

The invite!

I almost forgot.

If you’re in Greensboro and know me in the slightest, feel free to stop on by for the game. I’ll provide the 50″ LCD wide-screen, you bring food and beer for yourself… and me. ;)

And if I don’t see you later today, have a super Sunday!