Beaten by a Nine Year Old....but loving every 49 min. and 35 sec.

The winter series of road races in Westchester County (NY) is in full swing. 14 days ago was the Freezer 5K. Today, the Freezer 5 Miler. In two weeks, the St. Pat 10K (sense a trend?) But the 170 or so runners got off easy today as the temps were in the low 40's at the 10 AM start time. FDR State Park in Yorktown was basically all ours, other than the odd dog walker. A little snow left over from last week's storm but the trails (roads) were clear.

But here's the thing...I am settling into my basic sub 10 minute/mile pace when this kid turbo's past me. Then his dad pulls up and reins him back in. And I'm thinking, "No 10 year old is gonna beat ME!" Turns out Shane McNerney is 9 and won his age division. The "kid" had shades on as well! Rub it in my nose, why don't you? So he beat my by almost 28 seconds...I'll still edged out his older (12) sister, Claire. Pfeww! Rob, their patient father who was stretched in between both on the course, graciously allowed a family portrait:

The overall winner passed me (it was an out-and-back for the first two miles) at 1.5 miles. 24 year old, Bobby Asher, finished in 26:34

I love running. I get to challenge myself in a crowd of strangers. all doing the same, and not feel like a loser, even if a 9 year old streaks past. In fact, I felt kind of proud of the tyke and his running family spirit. Way to go, guys.

Here's a little ambience of the morning.

Oh, on March 28, the Mudders and Grunters- a real boot camp experience of the rest of us... (I can hear R. Lee Ermey now..."It's only mud, maggots!")

Clapton & Beck: Moon River

 

 My kids got together and surprised Dad on Christmas with a 12th row seat to the "Together and Apart" Tour of my guitar idols. They each played a 45 minute set and then did one together. Beck was out first, dapper in his b&w rock star look (a little like adamant but with his trademark muscle-shirt) and just killed with his riffs and style. He just attacks the Strat, and with just his fingers, never a pick. But a close-up reveals that all five fingers of his right hand are in play all the time. The pinky and ring work the volume, the middle and palmheel, the whammy and he picks with his thumb. Once, after he was really flailing away, he mock (maybe not) waved his hand as if it was cramped. He also reached for the baby powder several times. But the notes, the lyrical side of JB is what I love. That "Cause We Ended As Lovers" melodic thing he finds in many songs. "Moon River" a perfect example.

Moon River - Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton from Cakeroo on Vimeo.

And, yes, that was a small orchestra behind them. Another highlight for me was his rendition of "Nessun Dorma". Yes, opera fans, the Puccini aria from his Turnadot

Nessun dorma (English: None shall sleep)^[1] is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot,^[2] and is one of the best-known tenorarias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto(the unknown prince), who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded. (Wki)

 My type of plot line. Check this great setlist site (they have a web page for everything) for the order and video from the London dates last week.

Clapton's set was OK. He started out with the acoustic and some shuffley blues. "Tell The Truth" from the Dominoes absolutely hit the spot, followed by "Key to the Highway. "I Shot The Sheriff" was my highlight as he spun the reggae feel witha little something extra. Of course, a recovering alcoholic playing "Cocaine" to a screaming crowd is filled with wonderful irony but you can't resist that urge to scream along after "She don't lie, She don't lie, She don't lie...."

Then Jeffrey returned for some slide on "Shake Your Money Maker" and a Cream favorite (missing Jack Bruce's vocals, though) "Outside Woman Blues." But the set ended on such a great high...Sly Stone's "Higher"

 "Crossroads" was the encore and I'll update when I can

Thanks to Sara and Casey.

Live CPAC Coverage

If you're like me, you were on PJTV all day with their spot-on coverage of TPN. Don't know the quality of this but they are streaming here

President's Day - What Better Day For A Tea Party?

Nanuet, NY, about 45 minutes from Broadway, 300+ patriots convened in a hotel ballroom to hear speakers with real hope and change. Oh, and some "folk singer" got them started. Look closely on the dias and you'll see Deneen and Tom Borelli (Fox News regulars,)  as well as former Rep. Joe DioGuardi who is making rumblings about a NY Senate run (and he's father to Kara...yep...the Idol judge!) We also share the same Alma Maters (Fordham Prep and Fordham University.)

I miss Lincoln's Birthday (Feb 12) and Washington's Birthday (Feb 22). Enough of this consolidated holiday for government workers. And I won't recognize Wilson, Roosevelt, Carter, Clinton and the obamination on this day. They're not  in the same league.

The Swan

Kamaguti and Smirnov skated to Camille Saint-Saen's "The Swan" this evening in the Vancouver Olympic's Short Form. This piece is especially hypnotic. Here are two versions: one traditional, the second, well,...

Cellist Audun Sandvikfrom Norway:

Now with a theramin (the Robert Moog instrument of the 50's, mainly used in sci-fi soundtracks) I got to play one while working on "A Bronx Tale." Walter Sear of Sear Sound loved to pull it out. This guy ain't too shappy, either.

Remind me to tell you the "real" swan story.