First Ride of 2012

The cat greets me after I return from the first ride of the New Year. Only 28.1 miles, but it's a start. Notice the incredible sunset in the background:

(Amazing cellphone pics courtesy of Anne Crockett. She was wearing an LL Bean Jacket and slip-on shoes, the shutter speed was set at 11,180 fpf (Fathoms per Fortnight), and she had oatmeal with chopped pecans and craisins for breakfast.)

The Transporter Room

Ah yes, the Transporter Room. Always thought that, if you could break someone down to their tiniest, subatomic components, it would be stupid to reassemble them at the other end complete with diseases...but this is another, more "Enterprising" way to look at it....

(From the Book of Faces, December 22, 2011 - Thank You, ChuckleADuck.)

Longest Night?

(From the Book of Faces, December 21, 2011:)

James McCoy: Can you tell me, is the longest night of the year tonight, or tomorrow night?

Michael D. Cohen: It's tonight, James. Today will be really short, with like 3 hours of daylight, followed by 21 hours of murk, penumbra, shadow, twilight, and soul-crushing darkness. On the bright side, tomorrow will be about 3 minutes longer, giving you that much more time to experience the bleakness of your existence.

James McCoy: I'm glad that I don't have to grade your papers.

All I want for Christmas is ...

Jews

That is what it's all about - "Talk softly and carry a big shtick" -- plus, those red-and-white Christmas outfits are hot!

(From the Book of Faces, December 21, 2011 - Thanks, Shawn Madden,  Melissa McQeen, and the Hot Box Sketch Group!)

2012 Protection

(From the Book of Faces, December 7, 2011 - Thank you, Shawn Madden:)

Facing the End of  Days is no problem when you're wearing one of these Mystic Mayan Power Cloaks. But what to eat, while you're waiting out the coming Apocalypse?

We predict that you'll want to stock up on new Bleeding Heart Eco-Chips™. Now in two guilt-provoking flavours: Harvest of Shame, lightly salted with the tears of Migrant Farmworker Children, and Silent Spring, with just a "hint of DDT".

Beach Friday vs. Black Friday

It was a very nice day here, so we went up to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester. It was great to walk along on the wide expanse of sand, watching the hard-core New England surfers out in the waves, and all the happy dogs romping around and chasing tennis balls. We had cod cheeks and fish chowder (both really good) at Charlie's Kitchen, a little family-run place nearby. Then we drove through Rockport to the state park at Halibut Point, and walked along the very rocky shore there.

I'll take Beach Friday over Black Friday anytime.

I Like Arion Laikos

Yes, I like Arion Laikos 2, the Internet Radio Station. All they play is Greek Folk and Pop Music, and it is very relaxing. The Pop Songs sound better in Greek than they do in English, and are way less annoying. Plus, there are no commercials or interruptions. Every once in a while, the Barry White of Greece quietly intones "Arion Laikos", and that's it!

     

http://tunein.com/station/?StationId=49391




(From the Book of Faces, November 7, 2011)

Last Outdoor Swim of 2011

Sunday, October 9th - Biked out to Concord for one last outdoor swim at Walden Pond. The top two inches of water were nice and warm from the sun, but underneath it was cold! So cold I couldn't get myself all the way in at first. Had to say the Sh'ma prayer before I could convince myselft to dive in, and then swim along the bottom. It's always even colder down there, so when I come back up to the surface, it doesn't seem as bad. Did a full mile plus a little extra.

Comment by Alex Jacobowitz: Great! I'm glad you've resurfaced after so much time submerged! I always wanted to visit Walden. I don't suppose you've read much about it, have you? Good to know you said the Sh'ma! I'll be in Berlin for Sukkot tomorrow night. You?

(From the Book of Faces, October 10, 2011)

Under Your Own Steam

Run Or Bike Across The USA

 Wednesday, April 13, 2011   6:30pm until 8:00pm

Forget the combustion engine; use your internal engine to travel across the country. Join our panel of speakers as they describe their experiences using their own power to journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Discuss tips on suggested routes, what to pack and how to carry it, and how to plan for a trip.

[Panelists included a woman who ran part of the way across the country, a man who walked a good way around it, plus me:]

"Mike Cohen is a big fan of unsupported bike touring. He's done solo tours in England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, and France; and with a friend, ridden around the South Island of New Zealand. In addition, Mike has ridden solo from Seattle to Boston three times, camping the whole way. Mike’s first tour was after recovering from Cancer in 1992, the next two were inspired by his nostalgia for the wide-open spaces out West. On his travels, Mike has traversed (i.e., completely crossed from one side to the other) by bicycle a number of large cities, including Albany, Amsterdam, Boston, Christchurch, London, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Spokane, and Worcester. Mike has been member of Hostelling International, the Charles River Wheelmen, and the MassBike Coalition. To learn more about Mike’s most recent cross-country trip, visit his blog Seattle2Boston."

(From the Book of Faces, late March, 2012 - Thanks, Hostelling Int'l - Boston.)