We took a bullet train into the mountains to a town close to Nagano. There, we met up with some close relatives.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Nagano - Close Cousins
Nagano - Visiting Some Cousins
We took a bullet train into the mountains to a town close to Nagano. There, we met up with some close relatives.
We took a bullet train into the mountains to a town close to Nagano. There, we met up with some close relatives.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Catskills - Buddha's Rules
Day 2 - Morning Meditation
I dream of nothing – or almost nothing. I recall a man in a dark room swinging a hammer, rhythmically, making a high pitch clang-clang-clang. The camera moves in closer. The man is hammering a large silver nail. With each hit, sparks come off the nail but it doesn’t move. Clang-clang-clang. The man hammers harder and harder. I wake up.
I dream of nothing – or almost nothing. I recall a man in a dark room swinging a hammer, rhythmically, making a high pitch clang-clang-clang. The camera moves in closer. The man is hammering a large silver nail. With each hit, sparks come off the nail but it doesn’t move. Clang-clang-clang. The man hammers harder and harder. I wake up.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Catskills - Buddha's Rules
Day 1 of 3
Jean asked me to join her on a yoga and meditation retreat with classmates from her yoga studio. I thought about it for a moment and replied deviously “Yes, of course, as long as you sponsor me.” I was looking for an angle, trying to use her frugality against her. “Ok, no problem, it’s next month in the Catskills” she said, smiling. This failure to wiggle out is where my story begins. Fast forward six weeks and we’re on a three hour drive to a Japanese monastery in a remote area of the Catskills near Roscoe, NY. You read that right, a Japanese monastery – in the Catskills. Dai Bosatsu Zendo, as it’s formally known, was founded in 1976 on 150 acres of forest by a Japanese zen master.
Jean asked me to join her on a yoga and meditation retreat with classmates from her yoga studio. I thought about it for a moment and replied deviously “Yes, of course, as long as you sponsor me.” I was looking for an angle, trying to use her frugality against her. “Ok, no problem, it’s next month in the Catskills” she said, smiling. This failure to wiggle out is where my story begins. Fast forward six weeks and we’re on a three hour drive to a Japanese monastery in a remote area of the Catskills near Roscoe, NY. You read that right, a Japanese monastery – in the Catskills. Dai Bosatsu Zendo, as it’s formally known, was founded in 1976 on 150 acres of forest by a Japanese zen master.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Brooklyn - US Open
Hooky at its Finest
The CFO scored front row tickets to today's US Open day session. Never been so close. That's my foot in the foreground and Novak Djokovich in the background.
The CFO scored front row tickets to today's US Open day session. Never been so close. That's my foot in the foreground and Novak Djokovich in the background.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Vermont Road Trip - Bread Making
Class at King Arthur Flour Co
King Arthur is a big deal in the baking world, they tell me. Most of the bakeries in NY use their flour. I signed us up for an afternoon class on sourdough basics.
King Arthur is a big deal in the baking world, they tell me. Most of the bakeries in NY use their flour. I signed us up for an afternoon class on sourdough basics.
Vermont Road Trip - Slowing Down
Shaker Dam Coffee House
The sign across the street from our morning café was either concerned about turtles or was suggesting the people of West Stockbridge cross the street more slowly than normal humans.
The sign across the street from our morning café was either concerned about turtles or was suggesting the people of West Stockbridge cross the street more slowly than normal humans.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Vermont Road Trip - Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Unlike the other 15,000 Tanglewood attendees, we didn’t choose the John Williams’ film night specifically, it just happened to fit our schedule. We bought tickets to the lawn, outside the “music shed.” We unpacked at our B&B, took a quick nap and arrived two hours early with our picnic dinner and folding chairs. I had a sinking feeling while parking, it appeared everyone was already there.
Unlike the other 15,000 Tanglewood attendees, we didn’t choose the John Williams’ film night specifically, it just happened to fit our schedule. We bought tickets to the lawn, outside the “music shed.” We unpacked at our B&B, took a quick nap and arrived two hours early with our picnic dinner and folding chairs. I had a sinking feeling while parking, it appeared everyone was already there.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
New England - Upcoming Trip
And Now for Vacation
This Saturday we're beginning a week long road trip through New England.
This Saturday we're beginning a week long road trip through New England.
Brooklyn - Back Yard Gardening
Ramping up the Heat
Say hello to our latest addition, a Cayenne pepper plant.
Say hello to our latest addition, a Cayenne pepper plant.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
NY - The Borscht Belt
Aka The Jewish Alps
We left Syracuse stuffed - Stella's cheeseburgers, fries, tater tots. I suggested dessert for the ride back but she slumped in her chair and formed and X with her forearms. Three hours later, somewhere on route 17 she sat up and said "STARVING!" She pulled out her phone, tapped at it and announced "The Fat Lady Cafe is not too far from here." We pulled off 17 and headed for White Lake, near the town of Bethel. We wound past deserted Borscht Belt bungalows and saw many Orthodox jews walking on either side of the dusty road, smothered head to toe in traditional dress. I didn't see a fat lady at the Fat Lady Cafe, just a lovely view onto Kaunoeonga Lake.
We left Syracuse stuffed - Stella's cheeseburgers, fries, tater tots. I suggested dessert for the ride back but she slumped in her chair and formed and X with her forearms. Three hours later, somewhere on route 17 she sat up and said "STARVING!" She pulled out her phone, tapped at it and announced "The Fat Lady Cafe is not too far from here." We pulled off 17 and headed for White Lake, near the town of Bethel. We wound past deserted Borscht Belt bungalows and saw many Orthodox jews walking on either side of the dusty road, smothered head to toe in traditional dress. I didn't see a fat lady at the Fat Lady Cafe, just a lovely view onto Kaunoeonga Lake.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Brooklyn - Bike Commute Story
The Stork and the Hipster
I was groggier than normal this morning as I pedaled to work
along Prospect Park West. I took note of
my fellow cyclists, sizing them up to see if they were worth racing. I don’t like to be passed - I consider my
ride to work a success when the score is something like 27-0, meaning I passed
27 people without being passed. Just the
day before I’d set an all-time record – catching and lapping close to 40. Today I was mellow, not even perking up when
a wiry geezer zipped by, grey beard rustling in the breeze. He had on black dress pants crudely rubber-banded
around black socks and a white dress shirt.
His helmet sat high on his head as if it were a bit too small. He pedaled with the heels of his pointy dress
shoes, leaning forward with a rod-stiff spine.
He looked like a stork.
Monday, August 3, 2015
NY - Day at the Beach
Adventures with the Car - Episode 1
While we'd previously agreed on a beach day, a certain someone had to go work for a certain company on a certain day otherwise known as Sunday. I took one for the team, chin high I sallied forth alone into the unknown. It was a bright clear day, hot, sticky. Beach-worthy.
While we'd previously agreed on a beach day, a certain someone had to go work for a certain company on a certain day otherwise known as Sunday. I took one for the team, chin high I sallied forth alone into the unknown. It was a bright clear day, hot, sticky. Beach-worthy.
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