I am finally posting the video of Roger playing with his old band from NYC, Squirrels from Hell, who have been playing on the New York Marathon route for 19 years.
Some of you may have seen this already since Roger posted it and sent it to some of his friends. He never told me that he posted it until this weekend. So here it is…
One week in New York City. A chance to getaway from everything, yet still feel like we were in the middle of it all. Fall was all around, the election provided much commentary and images to remember, connected with long time friends… All in all, it was a trip that was much needed.
Empire State Building in red, white & blue
One of the reasons for our trip was that Roger was running in the New York Marathon. He finished in less than four hours keeping within 10 minutes of his previous times from 2004 and 2005. I got a chance to see the marathon from several locations, taking the subway to at least four spots on the route. At mile 19, Roger played with his old band, Squirrels from Hell. I might get a chance to post the video footage of Roger playing with them on the Marathon route, once Roger posts it on YouTube (I still haven’t figured that one out).
Cool subway photo
On election night, we wanted to go to this free event that featured a live, play-by-play of the results from editors of the Onion (including comedians from Flight of the Conchords), but it turns out that we had to RSVP way earlier to get in. So we decided that it would be a good night to see a show on Broadway. We went down to TKTS in Times Square to check out the listings of half price shows available. The square was starting to fill which surprised us a bit… not really thinking that people would stand around for hours to watch the results roll in rather than sitting at home or in a bar.
We decided to see Monty Python’s Spamalot featuring Clay Aiken, who was off that night. I guess he was probably in Chicago with every other celeb. The performance was pretty good, highlighting pieces of Mothy Python and the Holy Grail. Not your typical Broadway show. They actually weaved some of the election results into the performance. Hilarious.
By the time we got out of there, Times Square was packed. I don’t think the police were really expecting that big of a turn out. Since the Western states results were due in about 45 minutes, we decided to stay for entertainment value and to be able to stay that we were there at that historic moment. The crowd was insane. New York is a huge Obama town… I pity the McCain fans who must have been frightened for their lives. When the results were announced, there were people crying, dancing and screaming with joy. As we walked back to the hotel, it seemed as though every New Yorker wanted to give someone a hug, even random strangers.
In Times Square on Election Night
I don’t think I have ever seen this much merch for a president in my entire life. Vendors for Obama were everywhere. You could buy McCain or Obama condoms (I didn’t really look to see the difference) or a hats with Obama’s name across the brim. Roger’s favorite was a button he saw this guy wearing on the subway that read, “Vote for Obama because he’s black.” I was so close to buying an Obama “Hope” t-shirt but decided that it was kind of odd to have a t-shirt that has the president on it. Not to knock on those who do own one.
Obama sign outside a coffee shop
Roger and I walked around Manhattan for miles each day, spending one of our days walking through Central Park looking at the beautiful fall colors. Another day, we walked halfway across the Brooklyn Bridge taking in the sights. Other days, much of the running around was actually visiting friends in Manhattan, Brooklyn and even New Jersey. It was a great opportunity for me to meet some of Roger’s long time friends that I had only heard about.
In Central Park
We didn’t really get out to see any music, since CMJ just ended and there were no good shows that week, but we did keep busy. One night we went to see amateur comedians perform at Caroline’s, a let down performance-wise but I am glad to have seen the venue. Another night we went to this fantastic Venezuelan restaurant, El Cocotero in Chelsea. Highly recommended not only by us but also a bunch of Yelpers.
One night we decided to just hang out at the bar at Sardi’s Restaurant in the Theatre District. This is the restaurant that is featured in Muppets Take Manhattan with all of the drawings of famous people who have hung out there. Apparently a big celebrity hot spot. We just wanted a quiet place for a drink. This was the perfect spot, aside for the high priced drinks. No spottings for us but the locals and the bar staff were super friendly and chatty.
So glad to be back, but sad to be returning to work on Monday. Blah.
While many of you will be sleeping, recovering from your extra hour of Day of the Dead partying (yes, Daylight Savings Time ends on Sat night/Sun morning), Roger will be spending the morning on Sunday, November 2 running 26.2 miles through the streets of New York’s five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. This will be Roger’s third time running the New York Marathon (the only marathon he would ever consider doing). At mile 19, he will stop torturing his body for a moment to play one song with his former band, Squirrels from Hell, giving him the much needed adrenaline to power on to the finish. The Squirrels have been playing at mile 19 along the marathon route for nearly 20 years.
If you are up for it, you can sign up to receive text messages or emails as Roger crosses various check points through the Marathon’s Fan Alert System, so you can live vicariously through him. Sadly, since the race begins at 9:40 a.m. Eastern, that means 6:40 a.m. our time… on a Sunday morning. I doubt many of you will be following along, but it might be fun to read later to check in.
I will try to get some blog posts in, but I will at least tweet it up as this should be an exciting vacation.
I feel lazy but inspired. I want to accomplish so much in my life, but I don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning. Dreaming big, but producing so little. Others may disagree with me by saying, “You do so much already.” Or, “You get out of the house way more than I do.”
What others don’t know is that I am only accomplishing about 15% of the things that I want to be doing or should be taking the time to do. There never seems to be enough time in the day, evenings to spare, vacation time or breaks at work to I fit in all the things that I dream of doing. Most are big projects, lifetime aspirations that seem daunting to even start. Other things include dusting or vacuuming the apartment. Not fun, not necessary, but bugs the crap out of me every morning as I look at the layer of dirt on residing my nightstand.
Priorities. We all have them. I believe and stand by the concept that the excuse of “not enough time in the world” is not a valid reason for not participating in something or not getting things done. We all make choices each and everyday. Each moring I make the choice of sleeping in a bit longer and not riddingthe nightstand of the accumulated dust. For me (at this very moment), my priorities include sleeping, resting, working, derby, music, and prepping for a house and baby. This blog is further down the list of my priorities, as is learning to play bass guitar (which I still really want to do).
Everything takes a certain level of commitment in order to succeed. Someday in my life I will write a book, record a song, be on the board of directors for an organization I believe in, and even make a quilt. These things will happen, but not right away, not all at once. But in order for them to happen, I need to make them a priority. For now they are just dreams, even cleaning the apartment.
As frustrating and difficult as it is for me to accept, sleep and rest are my biggest priorities right now. I know that my priorities will alter greatly in the next few months, even years, but it doesn’t make the change any easier. Life will carry us only so far. What we choose to do with our time, each passing minute, is up to each of us. I hate wasting even one minute. However, I need to understand that these minutes are not being wasted, they are minutes spent giving life to another. Hey, that’s my excuse, what is yours?
As economic times turn to the south, radio takes another look at what is possible for them to afford. It does not seem that long ago when radio was a hot commodity for companies like Clear Channel Communications and CBS, buying out large portions of the radio market, making people question, “How much is too much to own?”
Those days are now gone with radio megaliths shedding what “extraneous baggage” that they can. Unfortunately, that so-called baggage are programs and people, people dedicated to a medium that is losing a popularity contest in a big way.
Watching friends struggle as they lose what they love most is disheartening. Many are forced to move away to markets where their talents are still needed. Those that choose to stay are nearly blacklisted, finding it nearly impossible to get a job in the same market that once showed so much love. I had seen this before while I was a student in San Francisco.
I started out going to university as a broadcasting student. I love the radio, more than that I love music. It seemed like a natural thing for me to venture towards. As I started my first semester with a couple of basic broadcasting and communication courses, I hooked up with a local station (Live 105) and became somewhat of a groupie of their morning show. When CBS bought out the station, they fired nearly everyone that worked there to give the station an overhaul of sorts. I remember listening to the station as it happened. Suddenly there was no DJs for hours, even days. Apparently the news came to the staff in the middle of the morning show… ending their on-air personalities on the spot. At that moment, I made the decision not to work in radio or music. I love it too much, but I like security. Security in knowing that I have income and benefits coming in.
So those in radio, I feel for you but this is the life you have chosen and I admire you for it. It is definitely not for me. Those who listen to radio keep on… it is you who drive the market.
Karmic Life 