Poles

I haven't surfed since pipeline came to Mexico Beach via Katrina. I caught ten waves that day. I only got to the bottom of three, of those I made one. Seeing Big Worm scared to death and our buddy Loui go over the falls was worth the trip.
This was Jax yesterday. Head high, perfect and cold. I wasn't there. I am thinking about surfing and days gone by. Fifteen years ago, nothing would have stopped me from being in this picture. Hopefully the neck will the thaw out this spring and I will get a few. Even though I haven't been a core surfer for many years, I still mourn every swell that that breaks without me.
W.B.Z.N.

Could Be Worse, Could Be Raining!

Yes that's me, El Salvador 2004. Click on it, it's undeniable. The weak chin, wide stance, it's all me.
I never would be so vain as to publish a photo of myself, even one with a great cut back, but Juancho called me a liar. That is in between complaining about the pace, the bad weather and the length of the ride. You have to love a guy that invites you on a ride when it's raining and then spends the next hour talking about how hungry he is.
w.b.z.n.

Solo

Being alone in any endeavor is a tad duanting. There is no one to compare to. I am sure Jill, up in Alaska, would find my situation funny, but adventure is relative. If you have never been on a bike, and you roll to the end of the driveway with a higher heart rate, isn't that a first ascent?

I have been doing a lot of solo night rides out at Fern, Tom Brown, and Cadillac. I am trying to stretch out my comfort zone.

The other solo flight I am plotting is the music stuff. Before, I had a ton of people I could bounce ideas off of. Much like the real estate business, there has been a mass exodus. When things were easy, everyone was anwsering the phone and getting checks. You couldn't throw a rock (even in Tallahassee) without hitting a music professional. In 2003, I had a surreal experience at Floyds. I walked outside to use my phone. I was in the company of four other people, all managers for bands playing that night. All of us were on the phone, equally serious, talking for our bands. The funny thing was, we were the only band with a record deal and the rest were local openers. It made me question the validity of what I was doing. Maybe we were all "playing manager"?

Last night I got to the levy a lot later than I wanted to. On my way back in I had to turn my light on much sooner than usual. I am always on fern before I run out of light. For the whole ride back to T.B. the guy in the hockey mask was behind me reving his chainsaw.

I had a similar dilemma (I won't bore you with) that was equally scary. My instinct was to call the old stand by's in New York, not an option. If only I had a light that would make this ride a little easier. I guess that's the reason for the high heart rate. Cool.... Adventure here I come.

Trends

I am seeing a pattern developing here.

Blairstone Road

If you want to die, I mean really end your life, this is the place ot make it happen. Everyday on my way to work I see people that have to have their car in the bike lane. This guy set a new record 13 times in and out of the lane. In this shot you can almost see all of the car in front of him.

I have been toying with the idea of selling one of our cars, and riding everyday to work. This is the nightmare bike commuters face. Where do you get the guts to commute on a road with no lanes?

Food for thought.

WB.Z.N.

Maybe we should all just have some dolphin safe tuna and start a productive dialogue. Let's just put on some Enya, and chill you know?
Everything is beautiful....in it's own way.
w.b.z.n.... man, you know.... it's cool.

Nature Always Wins

I have been trying to be a little calmer, and nicer. My wife has been practicing the power of positvie thinking ever since I have known her. It works really well for her. Nothing rattles her resolve, with the exception of my raised voice. I have been spending some time everyday making my internal monologue encourage me, instead of calling me a dumb ass. I try to imagine accomplishing goals, without being stressed. I build a picture of the success making people happy. I want to be a guy that gets things done without conflict.

"How's that working for you?" Asks my internal monologue.

"Be Quiet." I reply.

I am back in the music business. I have had a few meetings and calls with industry folks lately. My last foray in the business, left me with a lot of psychic baggage. I was not the best person I could have been. I want to learn to get things done without doing what the band used to call, "rearranging someone's D.N.A.."

I had a meeting in Orlando Wednesday and over all it went very well, but I was surprised how quickly I turned back into Ari Gold. I was talking fast and the evil was creeping back in.

Last night I was on a ride with the boys and I was determined to be patient with one of our newbies. He means well but his energy is usually expressed in bad passes, twitchy steering, goofing around at bad times....you know all the stuff I did when I was new and still do now. I tired to compliment him on his good points. He rode some tough sections really well and I told him so. Eventually he couldn't help himself and while screwing around almost locked bars with me, you know , like I have been doing to Big Worm for years. This lead to me completely unloading my whole week on the guys head, and a really long silence from the boys.

"Nice one!" My internal monologue says.

I had to make a call and left the ride early. I had plenty of time to watch the instant replay. I said "Dammit!" to the empty woods. An argument could be made that he desrved it or that I was having a crazy week but I am reminded of a quote from Calvin Coolige.

"I've never been hurt by something I didn't say."

Is it possible for the scorpion to ride the frog's back accross the lake without stinging him? I am not sure, but I have a new steamer trunk in my psychic luggage.

Go ahead and kick my ass in the comments, I've got it coming.

W.B.Z.N.