Marino Snubbed Me

Sunday August 7, 2005

Dan Marino and Steve Young were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio today. I met and interviewed Marino several times when I was the sports editor at the Key West Citizen. The first time this green reporter cornered Marino in his locker room stall, I introduced myself and started firing away questions at Marino right after he got out of the shower. I was the first reporter there and I thought I might get a scoop or at least an exclusive quote but Marino, obviously unimpressed with my Key West Citizen credentials asked me to wait until the other reporters got there so he wouldn't have to repeat himself. So much for an exclusive.

Both Marino and former Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly were drafted in the the 1st round of the famous 1983 draft. John Elway was 1st overall. Kelly and Marino, who both grew up in Western Pennsylvania, became fast friends and faced each other many times in their careers. Both were great quarterbacks but neither won a Super Bowl. Kelly however went 4 times to Marino's solo trip. Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

My day today was uneventful. Up at 5am, a little yoga, eight hours at the Hilton and that was about it.

 

A 6:59 Mile!!!

Saturday August 6, 2005

A 6:59 mile!!! I never thought I'd see another sub-seven minute mile in my life but I did today in the 9th Annual Legends of Cross Country 5k run at Sunset Park. That was my first mile split. I lost time in the 2nd mile as I was slowed by a single-file pace and unable to pass on the narrow trail but still I was able to finish in 26:14 which was good for 2nd place in my age group.

The home-course advantage helped as I had probably legged more miles over these Sunset Park trails then all the other 100-plus competitors combined. I knew every curve and rodent hole. I couldn't believe the explosive energy I had. I started slow but after the first half mile I started picking off runners left and right and no one passed me the rest of the way.

It was no problem getting up at 4:30 for the 4th running day  in a row. This 7:30 run felt like the middle of the day for me. If I didn't have to go in to work at 11:30 I might take a nap but I really don't need one. This month-long non-drinking binge inspired by a couple of racist 19th century explorers is really paying off. Who knew?

 

Quiet Friday

Friday August 5, 2005

It seems like I never miss a Sunrise anymore. Saw the third one in a row today as I was up at 4:30 am for the 3rd consecutive pre-dawn jog. Like snowflakes, they're all different. Due to an early teeth cleaning yesterday and a car-maintenance appointment today I was unable to make my weekly jaunt to someplace really cool to run and take pictures so instead I'll share this quote from one of my favorite environmental activist groups the Sierra Club:

 "Devoted though we must be to the conservation cause, I do not believe that any of us should give it all of our time or effort or heart...Let us save at least part of our lives for enjoyment of this wonderful world which still exists. Leave your dens, abandon your cars, and walk out into the mountains, the deserts, the forests, the seashores. Those treasures still belong to all of us. Enjoy them to the full, stretch your legs, enliven your hearts..."

-- Edward Abbey (submitted by Daily Ray of Hope subscriber and Sierra magazine Editor-in-Chief Joan Hamilton)

 

One Month Done

Thursday August 4, 2004

And they said it couldn't be done. One full month of alcohol-free living is in the books. The last time I went that long was 1973 when I was 16. Richard Nixon was in the White House, O.J. Simpson was having a record-breaking 2,003-yard season for the Buffalo Bills and I had a full head of hair.

It was another pre-dawn run to Sunset Park (see photos, there's eight more of 'em that are easy to scroll through).

Another reason to celebrate today is Ann's birthday. Happy Birthday Ann!!! I won't give away your age but when you were born Harry Truman was in the White House and there were only 48 states. The Dodgers and Giants still played baseball in New York and John Steinbeck hadn't written East of Eden yet.

Tonight's yoga night with Cypress. Last week she said she was going to bring me a book this week.

 

Hour of the Pearl

Wednesday August 3, 2005

 I was up at 4:30 for my pre-dawn, pre-work run. There's something magical starting out in the pitch-black darkness and watching the darkness turn to daylight as some divine master of the universe slowly turns up the dimmer switch. My favorite author John Steinbeck calls it the "Hour of the Pearl." Here is an excerp from Cannery Row:

"After the light has come and before the sun has risen--the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself. No automobiles are running then. The streets are silent of progress and business. And the rush and drag of the waves can be heard as they splash in among the piles of the canneries." 

Well I had to imagine the waves and the canneries but the sunrise was heart stopping. It was coming up behind me, ironically on Sunset Road. So several times I just had to stop and take it all in and thank God I had lived to see such a beautiful sight.

I'll spare you the daily numbers rap sheet. They're all good. Lois is good too. The neighbor hospitalized now minus her appendix. She said she's doing fine and will be released Thursday. Remember when major surgery kept one in the hospital a week or more? She told me not to worry that she would be well enough to watch my cats when I go to Buffalo in 2 1/2 weeks. I told her not to concern herself with that now that the cats would be cared for one way or another. But I'm glad she's doing well, will be out soon and will be able to cat sit too.

 

East of Eden

Tuesday August 2, 2005

A day of mixed emotions. I was saddened to learn my neighbor and cat watcher Lois Dimaggio was in the hospital after having her appendix removed. I had just talked with her Friday when the power in our building went out and wondered why I hadn't heard from her the last few days. My downstairs neighbor Liz told me the unhappy news today. She said Lois was recovering well but sedated with morphine. I'll call her Wednesday.

This is the time of year I re-read my favorite book of all-time -- John Steinbeck's epic East of Eden. Written in 1952, I feel it's the finest piece of literature from the 20th Century. I think this is the 5th time I've read it. I've lost count. It's a story of good vs. evil, Cain vs. Abel, a family history and  tragedy. Steinbeck said he wrote a book on three different levels. The first couple of times I read the book I just scratched the surface, the next couple of times I think I got a little deeper into it and maybe this time I will find another level. But it really doesn't matter. It's such a pleasure to read. Some people have comfort foods. I have comfort books I come back to again and again.

I had a wonderful twilight candlelight yoga session at home that began and ended with some deep meditation. Afterwards I sat on the balcony, listened to the wind chimes and watched the lightning strikes with the slightly alarmed cats.

Now it's time for the daily numbers report. Currently the blood pressure is: 121/80, pulse 52 and the blood sugar is a very good 110. 

Well that's it for now I'm going to try to get up at 4:30 tomorrow morning for a 5am run before work. I gotta be ready for Saturday's 5k cross-country run at Sunset Park.  
"All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening."
-- Alexander Woolcott

 

Happy Birthday Billy

Monday August 1, 2005

Happy Birthday to Capt. William Clark, born on this date in 1770. Clark, who was a Major General when he died in 1834 was best known for his map-making skills and for his level-headed dealing with Indians during the Lewis & Clark Expedition and later in his career as Director of Indian Affairs from his St. Louis Office.

Compared to Meriwether Lewis, William Clark was the more adroit handler of diplomatic relations, the better boatman and a more skillful manager of the expedition's personnel. Clark seems to have been the more relaxed and playful man.  

I celebrate his birthday with a morning blood sugar reading of 125 and a sunrise run to Sunset Park as I complete my fourth week of abstinence.