I promised you another one of my personal, purse videos of Girls… So here’s a little peak of Girls playing Solitude… This song will make your heart melt.. .sadly, it cuts off in the middle of a harmonica solo… a solo so perfect and sexy it moved me to turn off the camera and soak it up completely… Solitude…
But if I settle down
Though it won’t be with the blues
So I’ll keep on moving right along
Maybe I’ll settle down with you
Someday
Some you…. Girls, Solitude…. xoxo
Your diet before a competition will have a big impact on your performance, and could provide you with that winning edge.
The week before:
During the week before a competition, your two main aims are:
Your preparation will be dictated by the kind of event that you are competing in, the importance of the event and how frequently you compete.
Endurance events lasting more than 90 minutes:
If you are competing in and endurance event lasting longer than 90 minutes you may benefit from carbohydrate loading. You should generally consume a moderate carbohydrate diet (5-7g/kg body weight/day) for the first three days (this should be less than you are used to eating), followed by a high carbohydrate intake (8-10 g/kg body weight/day) for the final 3 days. Use table 1.1 as a guide to the amount of carbohydrate you should be eating during the pre-competition week. Your last hard training session should be completed one week before your competition. Then taper your training during the final week so that you perform only very light exercise and rest the day prior to your competition.
Table 1.1
Recommended carbohydrate intake for athletes of different body weights
Bodyweight (kg)
Daily carbohydrate intake
Daily carbohydrate intake equivalent
equivalent to 7-8 g/kg
to 8-10 g/kg body weight
body weight
65
455-520g
520-650g
70
490-560g
560-700g
75
525-600g
600-750g
80
560-640g
640-800g
90
595-680g
680-850g
95
630-720g
720-900g
100
665-760g
760-950g
105
700-800g
800-1000g
110
735-840g
840-1050g
Check:
Try to eat 6 smaller meals a day, avoid gaps longer than 3 hours, and base all your meals on low GI foods. Use the sample eating plans in table 2.1 as a basis for developing your own plan during the pre competition week. While they provide the requirements for carbohydrate prior to competition, they are low in fat and protein and are not ideal for the rest of the season.
Table 2.1
Recommended carbohydrate intake for athletes of different body weights
Breakfast
Breakfast
1 large bowl (85g) breakfast cereal
4 thick slices toast with honey
200ml skimmed milk
1 glass (200ml) fruit juice
2 tbsp (60g) raisins
1 banana
1 glass (200ml) fruit juice
Morning snack
Moring Snack
2 scotch pancakes
1 banana sandwich (2 slices bread, 1 banana
2 apples
Lunch
Lunch
1 large jacket potato (300g)
1 large bowl (125g uncooked weight) rice
3 tbsp (90g) sweet corn and 1 tbsp (50g)
salad with 60g turkey or 125g beans and vegetables
tuna or cottage cheese
2 slices bread
2 pieces of fresh fruit
2 pieces of fruit
1 carton low-fat fromage frais
Pre-workout snack
Pre-workout snack
2 bananas
1 energy bar
Workout
Workout
1L sports drink
1L sports drink
Post-workout snack
Post-workout snack
2 cereal bars
1 serving of a meal replacement product
1 carton (500ml) flavoured milk
Dinner
Dinner
1 bowl (85g) uncooked weight) pasta
2 large (2x 300g) jacket potatoes
125g stir-fried vegetables
1 carton (115g0 cottage cheese or fromage frais
60g stir-fried chicken or tofu
Broccoli or other vegetable
2 slices of bread and butter
1 piece fresh fruit
1 large bowl (200g) fruit salad
Snack
Snack
2 slices of toast with honey
1 carton (200g) low-fat rice pudding
1 carton low-fat yogurt
The day before:
The day before your competition your main aims are:
Continue eating meals high in carbohydrate that have a low GI throughout the day and drinking plenty of fluids (mainly water). To maximise muscle glycogen replenishment, perform only very light exercise or rest completely. Do not skip your evening meal, even if you experience pre-competition nerves, as this is an important time for topping up muscle glycogen. However, stick to familiar and simple foods, avoid fatty or oily foods and avoid alcohol, as it is a diuretic.
What should I eat if I get nervous before competition?
Most athletes get pre-competition nerves and this can reduce you appetite and result in problems such as nausea, diarrhoea and stomach cramps. If you find it difficult to eat solid foods during this time, consume liquid meals such as meal replacement products (protein-carbohydrate sports supplements), sport drinks, milkshakes, yogurt drinks, and fruit smoothies. Try smooth, semi liquid foods such as pureed fruit (e.g. mashed banana, apple and apricot puree), yogurt, porridge, custard and rice pudding. Bland foods such as semolina, mashed potato, or porridge made from cornmeal or ground rice may agree with your digestive system better. To reduce problems, avoid high in fibre foods such as bran cereals, dried fruit and pulses. You may wish to avoid vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and broccoli). Caffeine can cause anxiety and problems such as diarrhoea when combined with nerves. In essence, avoid anything that is new or unfamiliar. The golden rule with pre-competition eating is stick with tried and tested foods, which you know agree with you.
On the Day:
On the day of your competition, your aims are to:
Plan to have your main pre-competition meal 2-4 hours before the event. This will allow enough time for your stomach to empty sufficiently and for blood sugar and insulin levels to normalise. It will also top up liver glycogen levels. Nervousness can slow down your digestion rate so if you have pre-competition nerves you may need to leave a little longer than usual between eating and competing. The actual timing of your pre-competition meal and the quantity of food eaten depends on the individual despite the fact that studies recommend consuming 200-300g carbohydrate during the 4 hours prior to exercise. Pre-competition nerves often slow down digestion so you may find 200-300g carbohydrate too much.
The key is to find out what works for you and stick with it! For example, if you are competing in the morning, you may need to get up a little earlier to eat your pre-competition breakfast. If your event is at 10.00am, have your breakfast at 7.00am. Some athletes skip breakfast, preferring to feel light when they compete, however, it’s not a good strategy to compete on an empty stomach, particularly if your event lasts longer than 1 hour, or you will be competing in a number of heats. Low liver glycogen and blood sugar levels may reduce your endurance and result in early fatigue. Liver glycogen is necessary and important for maintaining blood sugar levels and supplying fuel to the exercising muscles when muscle glycogen is depleted. If you are competing in the afternoon, have a substantial breakfast and schedule lunch 2-4 hours before the competition. If you are competing in the evening, eat your meals at 3 hour intervals during the day, again, scheduling your last meal approximately 2-4 hours before competition.
What should I eat on the day of my competition?
Your pre-competition meal should be:
Pre-competition meals:
Pre-competition breakfast (2-4 hours before event)
Pre-competition lunches: (2-4 hours before event)
Pre-competition snacks (1 hour before event)
Should I eat or drink during my competition?
If you are competing for more than about 60 minutes, you may find that extra carbohydrate will help delay fatigue and maintain your performance, particularly in the latter stages. Depending on your exercise intensity and duration, aim to take 30-60g carbohydrate/hour. Start consuming the food or drink after about 30 minutes and continue at regular intervals, as it takes approximately 30 minutes for digestion and absorption. If your glycogen stores are low at the start of the event (which hopefully they are not!), then consuming an additional carbohydrate during the event will have a fairly immediate effect on your performance. Any carbohydrate with high or moderate GI would be suitable but you may find liquids easier to consume than solids. Isotonic sports drinks or carbohydrate drinks (glucose polymer) drinks are popular because they serve to replenish fluid losses and prevent dehydration as well as supplying carbohydrate. Sports drinks are also great because they taste good! This also encourages athletes to be hydrated and take in more fluid than they most likely would if they were consuming water.
If you are competing in certain events such as cycling, sailing, distance canoeing or running, you may be able to take solid foods with you or arrange pick-up points. Suitable foods include, energy bars, dried-fruit bars, cereal bars, bananas, breakfast bars, or raisins. If you are competing in matches or tournaments (e.g. tennis, football), take suitable snacks and drinks for the intervals and position them close by. Make use of every available opportunity to take in fluid to ensure hydration.
Table 3.1
Foods suitable to eat between heats or immediately after events
Sports drinks
Meal replacement shake
Bananas
Breakfast cereal
Meal replacement bars or energy bars
Fruit bars
Cereal or breakfast bars
Sandwiches or rolls filled with honey/jam or bananas
Oatmeal biscuits, fig rolls
Homemade muffins and bars
Rice cakes or low-fat crackers with banana or jam
Smoothie
Yogurt drink
(accompany solid foods with sufficient water to replace fluid losses)
If you are competing for more than 60 minutes, avoid or delay dehydration by drinking 125-250ml every 10-20 minutes during exercise. Clearly, the more you sweat, the more you need to drink. However, do not be guided by thirst as this is not a good indicator of hydration. When you are thirsty you are already dehydrated! Studies have shown that you can maintain optimal performance if you can replace at least 80% of your sweat loss during exercise or keep within 1% of your body weight.
What should I eat after competition?
You’ve done the hard work now it’s time to re fuel your body and assist it in the recovery process. So after your competition, your immediate aims are to replenish glycogen stores and fluid losses. If you are competing the following day or within the next few days, your post-event food intake is crucial. Again, choose foods with a moderate or high GI to ensure rapid refuelling, and aim for 1g carbohydrate/kg body weight during the 2 hour post exercise period. Any of the foods listed in table 3.1 above would be suitable. Drink at least 500ml fluid immediately after competing and continue drinking at regular intervals to replace fluid losses.
Your immediate post event food should be followed by a carbohydrate-rich meal approximately 2 hours later. Suitable post-event meals include pasta dishes, noodle dishes, thick-base pizzas (with vegetable toppings), and baked potatoes. Avoid rich or fatty meals (e.g. oily curries, chips, burgers) as these will delay refuelling and can make you feel bloated after competing. Don’t forget to drink plenty of rehydrating fluid before embarking on that celebratory alcoholic drink!
Table 4.1
Summary of key points
Timing
Aims
Food and drink recommendations
Examples
The week before
1. Fill muscle glycogen
Taper training
Pasta with fish or beans
stores
7-8 g/kg body weight/day for 3 days
Rice with chicken or tofu
2. Maintain hydration
before event
Jacket potatoes with tuna
Low GI meals
or cottage cheese
Monitor fluid intake and urine
The night before
1. Top up muscle glycogen
High carbohydrate meal (low GI)
Pasta dish with tomato
2. Maintain hydration
Plenty of fluid
based sauce
Moderate-low fibre
Rice dishes
Low fat
Familiar foods
2-4 hours before
1. Top up liver glycogen
Low GI meals
Cereal and low-fat milk
2. Maintain hydration
High carbohydrate, low fat, low protein
Bread, toast,
3. Prevent hunger
Easily digestible
sandwiches, rolls
400-600ml fluid
Potato with tuna or cottage
cheese
1 hour before
1. Maintain blood sugar
1g carbohydrate/kg bodyweight
Sports drink
2. Maintain hydration
Easy to digest
Smoothie
Energy or meal
replacement bar
Dried apricots
15-30 minutes
1. Maintain hydration
Up to 150ml fluid
Water
before
Sports drink
During events lasting
1. Maintain blood sugar
30-60g carbohydrate/hour
Sports drinks
more than 60 min
2. Offset fluid losses
High or moderate GI
Glucose polymer drinks
150-350ml fluid every 15-20 min
Energy bars with water
Between heats or
1. Replenish muscle and
1 g/kg body weight within 2 hours
Sports drinks
events
liver glycogen
High GI carbohydrate
Meal replacement products
2. Replace fluid
500ml fluid immediately after
Rice cakes, energy
Continue fluids
bars, rolls
Bananas
Post-competition
1. Replenish muscle and
1 g/kg body weight within 2 hours
Sports drinks
liver glycogen
High GI carbohydrate
Energy bars with water
2. Replace fluid
500ml fluid immediately after
Pasta dishes
Continue fluids
Rice dishes
Pizza
Hope you find the information yourself. For more great information read Anita Bean’s book “The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition. I recommend it to any athlete who is serious about getting the most out of their training and competition.
The 4th Wall Gallery is proud to announce the opening of Building Character, a group exhibition of new character-driven work by Urban Contemporary artists C. Kirk, Jeru Gabriel, and Hatziel Flores. The opening takes place on March 5, 2010 from 7:00 – 10:00pm, and the show will continue thru April 3. All three artists will be in attendance the night of the opening.
A native Texan, Jeru Gabriel introduces his new larger scale works on canvas with his signature vibrant colors, morphing his passions of underground art, graffiti, portraiture and graphic design. Rarely sketching out full ideas before painting, Jeru’s work is centered in spontaneous creation and relishing the response of the viewer once the art is displayed. Created in various mixed mediums including oils, spray paint, acrylics and markers, Jeru explains, “Label it however you wish, the end result is a bucket full of brightly colored eye candy”.
This exhibition will host C. Kirk’s highly anticipated works on canvas from 2009, as well as a selection of brand new 2010 pieces. Currently fusing fluid sketching and charcoal work styles from his past with spray paint and distress techniques that he has developed over the years, the viewer will notice major differences in genre between the 2009 and 2010 works: while the current pieces dive into a more figurative and abstract realm, the 2009 series of paintings “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” focuses more on a comic-themed visualization of the all-too-human defects of character, faulty perception, and skewed sense of humor. Regarding the upcoming show, C. Kirk states ” I’m so pleased to show these never before exhibited works alongside Jeru and Hatziel, two insanely talented artists I’ve come to know here in Dallas. I’m even more excited that this collection of all our pieces will be on display at The 4th Wall Gallery, a venue that I believe is a vanguard for the Metroplex by showing the current state of what’s going on worldwide in Contemporary Art.”
Also exhibiting a brand new body of work at the show, Hatziel Flores takes his childhood superhero imagery and placing them on the canvas as he sees them now. Once so vivid and powerful in his young mind, the recollection and the line work has faded and characters begin to overlap, evolving into abstraction. Becoming weary of his art school education, Hatziel was introduced to Hip Hop culture and began to get involved with graffiti, which he has developed over the years to express himself through his art in a more gestural manner. Today he incorporates the urban techniques into a surreal art form, morphing his finished pieces into urban-based Modern Surrealism.
Opened in May 2009 and recently named “Best New Gallery 2010″ by D Home Magazine, The 4th Wall Gallery is the creation of Matthew Abramowitz, a man who has earned a reputation among artists and collectors for being among the most respected and finest dealers of editorial and illustrated art. The 4th Wall Gallery is a culmination of the success achieved with The Gallery @ Storyopolis in Los Angeles, which hosted over 80 exhibitions for such artists as Gary Baseman, Calef Brown and greats from the illustrator and graphic novel genre such as Will Eisner. The goal of The 4th Wall Gallery is to exhibit an amazingly diverse group of today’s emerging and established cutting edge contemporary artists in areas of illustration, street art, and pop culture imagery.
Anywhere But Here EP
Closer
Bad Habits
You’re Making It Come Alive
Unaware
Calendar Marks
myspace
Our Jukebox Heroine this week: Devin Moore!
Devin is an indie/pop/rock artist from Seattle, WA specializing in eclectic, bright melodies with the right amount of fuzzy tones. Devin stretches her musicality playing various instruments (acoustic, electric guitar, harmonica, keys, loop pedal, ect) along with drummer Marlii Gonsalez. I know how passionate and driven you have to be as a musician to handle so many parts, so kudos to Devin, I do the same with my music. I’m not sure if Devin is into riot grrrl at all, but the music certainly speaks to it. A little bit of Sleater-Kinney and The Gossip mixed in, I think anyways.
Devin’s myspace includes a wide range of tunes, of which my favorite is “Videos.” It has a wonderful sonic build from the whispery intro to the guitar and drums build, back down to a soft outro. It is about missing the opportunity to tell someone that you miss them and want them to be with you. I certainly can relate to that feeling, as I think most can. Likewise, I am totally digging the harmonica (I think that’s what it is) in “I Am Your Boyfriend.” It is unexpected and that’s what makes it so wonderful. Every song is a different journey. No two sound-a-like, and all have wonderful complementary and contrasting music and lyrics that just keep you pressing repeat to hear how it unfolds all over again.
If you want to listen to an artist with variety and a sense of humor that’s just a little bitter-sweet, check out Devin Moore, our latest Jukebox Heroine!
Devin on Twitter
Devin on Facebook
Some youtube:
Rock on!
With the exceptions of truly inadvisable weather and illness, my family and I regularly take opportunities to enjoy life to the fullest, as most of us are aware, we only get one shot at this rather short life. Our normal interests take us out into the wilds of Washington, and with today’s brilliant early Spring warmth, we headed into a different sort of wild. Downtown Seattle.
The canyon of concrete pointing the way to the Sound
Driving northbound, we noticed the magnolias with their variance of either just blooming or in full bloom, the Japanese Cherry bursting with soft, sweet pink petals, camellias showing off their vibrant, dark pink blossoms against their evergreen leaves, and the sweet scent of Spring filled our senses.
Reaching the heart of Seattle, the scents changed from the life of gardens to the life of the city. Various restaurants emitting tantalizing smells from the world over mingled with the freshly cut flowers vendors offered, and occasionally, Seattle’s signature scent of the Puget Sound marine air that is truly indescribable, kissed our cheeks briefly in welcoming us back to the city of our birth.
One of the many great buildings our city has to offer
Awestruck with the sheer magnitude of beauty that Seattle offers, we popped into our local haunt for a bite to eat and enjoyed the incredible food, as well as unbeatable ambiance. This little well known place truly offers the best of everything Seattle has to offer at a reasonable price. Often busy, we were delighted to find ourselves amidst the rarity of between waves of diners. Just after we ate, we joined other passer byes in the celebration of two people giving their nuptials near this iconic establishment.
The bright sunlight played upon the buildings, casting irregular shadows that even seasoned Seattleites couldn’t resist noticing, and we made our way toward another famous icon – the Pike Place Market. Making our way down the cobblestone streets, we passed people from literally all over the world, as well as many locals. Every nationality, every age range intermingled and conversed while in queue at Le Panier, or while waiting to pass the overly congested streets or halls. Established in 1983 when a Frenchman living in the US was home sick for decent croissants’ and baguettes, he opened Le Panier, the only pastry shop in Seattle where you can get a genuine taste of France.
The iconic Pike Place Market
After exiting the shop with my brown bag full of carbs (at a very low price, I might add), I noticed two young boys of roughly seven or eight years of age, walking toward me, cups of Seattle’s Best Coffee (locally known as Seattle’s Best) in hand. They each complained about the amount of people in the Market and how closely one of them came to spilling their coffee. Only in Seattle, it seems, would this seem natural.
Standing on the street corner waiting for the light to change, my husband nodded to the couple next to us and said, ‘Beautiful day.’ The man replied, ‘Yes, The Mountain’s out and you can see the Olympics. Hope this lasts, but hear rain’s coming.’ Ah, locals.
The Olympic Mountains across the Puget Sound
The Pike Place Market with the Olympics in the Distance
Walking up the hills, away from ‘the Sound,’ as it’s known here, we catch whiffs of it’s purity and it never ceases to amaze me at how this city can smell so clean! Reaching Benaroya Hall where music has filled the soul for years, we bump into an old friend of my husbands from a good decade ago and exchange information; listening to their banter I think of how often this happens. Geez, I just can’t take him anywhere. 
Heading south toward home, Mt. Rainier in all of her majestic glory, stands tall and proud, guiding us toward more of our country home, ‘out in the sticks,’ as some have called it, leaving a city filled with anything your mind can create, behind (for the time being, of course).
Mt. Rainier – through a dirty lense
With the warmer weather licking at our heels, our weekends will be filled with searching our rainforest for Bigfoot, flying kites or clam digging at one of our magnificent beaches that play in the Pacific Ocean, kayaking the Sound where we‘re protected from the harsh ocean winds, camping in the desert among the various lizards or snakes, hiking throughout the Cascade Mountains, riding on one of the worlds largest fleets of ferries, or visiting the many museums the city has to offer. For as long as I live, though, I will never be able to see or experience all that Washington has to offer.
Oh blog, I can’t lie to you.
I have an impulse to not tell you about the pizza (note the backwards way I always tell you exactly what I feel worst about telling), the pizza that is, one assumes being made to be delivered soon. Pizza is not on my diet. I have slipped and slid into this place of weakness. But I’ll give you my justification and tell you my plans for tomorrow and we’ll see what I do with it. This is my accountability, along with the mirror and my real sadness about not getting closer, but instead further from my goal.
I had a date today, and I have no idea about these things, but I think it went okay. It’s leaving me with a strange feeling of floating, not unhappily, not giddily, just floating. I want to feel concrete and I did it, the date and the food ordering and I don’t know. I really don’t. We talked about things I like and we talked for two hours and there were a few awkward silences, but overall, I don’t know…I’m not used to liking anyone or feeling anyone like me. I’m not used to it being obvious, unspoken but obvious, and not in my control and me not able to brush it off…or if I chose to brush it off, it means I really can’t handle a relationship at all. That’s a depressing thought. I’d like to just see what happens, but if every bump and hitch or conversation leads me to a screaming carbohydrate mogul run, this isn’t going to work. We’ll probably, possibly hang out again. I feel excited and the internal reaction is that you have to tamp it down. You HAVE to because you are ridiculous and this is ridiculous and you can’t have it and if you had it, you’d be giving up something or someone better. This is the psychology of a crazy person.
I need to clean this place up. It’ll help. I feel very closed in. The snow isn’t helping. It makes me want to hibernate and let everything fall to shit and that’s not cool.
I know if I stop I will live in a huge pile of regret. I don’t even want to stop. I just keep not doing what I need to do. This week has just been a lot of unexpected and I’m not responded how I’d like to respond to the turbulence. I really do know better.
So, tomorrow morning, I’m re-inducted, Atkins-style. I have eggs. I have enough to get it going. I’m doing my exercise and walking. I will get my water – at least 40 ounces. I’ve got something coming up in two weeks, so I can be on board. I’ll weigh in tomorrow but I’m taking it lightly. I might not report it. I might not. It is my blog and my prerogative. I want people to support me in this and I don’t want them to be disappointed in me. That breaks my heart. I just need to get my feet on the ground.
Early adulthood is often regarded as a time for exploration and experimentation. Through the process of learning about themselves, perhaps more importantly, people also discover who they are not. Only in his early twenties, Zach Harmon is still developing a musical identity, which comes through on his debut album Road to Nowhere. Nonetheless, there’s something quite charming about witnessing that growth process. In a world that unfortunately has far too many wannabes seeking to fill specific roles, refreshingly, Harmon is who he says he is.
Who is he? At this moment, a kind of musical jack-of-all trades. Harmon mixes his country with a healthy dose of pop, rock, and a splash of blues. Listeners won’t find him name-checking Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings or Johnny Cash (even though he counts Nelson among his influences) in a bid to establish his credentials. Harmon’s own description of his music sometimes resembling Restless Heart may be one of the more honest self-assessments, although it doesn’t entirely reflect his sound. Neither outlaw, traditionalist nor completely sensitive balladeer (categories that certainly are not exclusive of one another), he grapples with issues of freedom, mortality, the loss of innocence, and impending change. While the album offers nods to the past, several of the songs could be played alongside current radio hits.
Harmon handles the bulk of the songwriting duties on Road to Nowhere, although he isn’t adverse to turning to outside sources for a good song. His lyrics are simple and straightforward, and while he occassionally lapses into cliches, nothing he produces is too cringe-worthy.
In terms of sound, the album is beautifully mixed and appropriately highlights the talents of the fine musicians backing Harmon’s smooth vocals. Alongside co-producer Terry Mashburn, Harmon makes a strong case for himself as an up-and-coming talent.
The first three songs on the album are pleasant, but not particularly memorable. The album really gets started around the groovy uptempo “For Once, Forgive Me” where a man expresses his contrition to his significant other with the delightfully backhanded apology “I’ll be doing what you’re wanting, not having any fun and everything will be fine.” Little splashes of personality like this make all the difference in leaving a lasting impression. Coupled with fantastic guitar work, Harmon and his backing musicians infuse the number with gusto. They’re clearly having a blast and, in turn, the audience will, too.
While Harmon shines on the shuffle “Lonely Cowboy,” the spotlight in this number really belongs to featured musical hero Johnny Rodriguez. Rodgriguez’s weathered vocals provide a poignant contrast to Harmon’s youthful observations of a man nearing the end of his life. Rodriguez lends the song an additional layer of gravitas underlined by well-placed fiddle, mandolin, and steel guitar.
The Paul Cook and Gordon Cotten-penned “Coming Home” also deals with death, albeit with an adult contemporary bent. Considerly more optimistic than “Lonely Cowboy,” the song centers around the promises of the afterlife. Harmon refrains from oversinging, relying instead on Cotten’s rich piano playing and his own understated delivery to carry the song’s emotional weight.
As with most twenty-somethings, Harmon’s thoughts turn toward the transition between the naivete of youth and greater responsibilities that come with age and time. He expresses some ambivalence toward change in “Sing to Me” while songwriter Greg Young conjures up nostalgia in “Those Stars Still Shine (Over Abilene)” but also turns a hopeful eye toward the unknown. Both pieces speak of (seemingly) simpler times, although the yearning is greater in Harmon’s piece.
Young is also responsible for composing one of the album’s best numbers. On the gorgeous ballad “Say Surrender” Harmon and pianist Cotten channel a bit of Elton John while gently seeking for a mutual declaration of love. It’s an eloquent performance that becomes all the more powerful due to Harmon’s graceful phrasing and Cotten’s playing which eventually fades into a hush that manages to convey nearly as much meaning as the lyrics.
Road to Nowhere is by no means a perfect record (if such a thing even exists) but it does speak well of Harmon’s potential. As an introduction, it largely succeeds in exposing him as an artist with promise. Regardless of the directions in which he chooses to take his sound in the future, this first recording hints that even better things are ahead.
It was finally a beautiful day today. The first in what seems like a very long time. The sun was out, the sky was blue and it was about 45 degrees. A good bit of the snow still remains on the ground, but the roads are clear and dry. I set out around noon for the first outdoor bike ride I’ve taken since November. An hour later, I’d been 10.5 miles and enjoyed every minute of the ride. It’s amazing how much quicker the miles go by when I’m riding outside as opposed to on the indoor trainer. Here’s a short video from part of today’s ride (filmed during my warm-up in our neighborhood cemetery):
Today’s ride was the first time I’d used the iMapMyRide app on my iPhone. I used it during a walk a couple weeks ago, but this was the first ride when I used it. Comparing it to my cyclecomputer, it seemed very accurate with the overall mileage. The average speed didn’t seem very accurate, but I’ll test it again on my next ride. I was surprised the app worked, considering when I ride outside, I keep my phone in a small protective neoprene case to protect it from sweat while it’s in my jersey pocket. But it seemed to work fine with no problems.
Today’s starting weight: 150
Food journal:
Breakfast:
– Chocolate Builder Bar = 270 cal.
Dinner:
– Chicken fajitas with guacamole = 583 (estimate)
– Iced Tea = 10
Snacks:
– Fat free chocolate pudding = 60
Thanks for visiting. See you tomorrow.
Circa 1970’s Cookware
Have you seen these pots before?
Maybe your mother had them. Maybe you got some from your mother.
Kitty Foreman on That 70’s show had them. I’m Not kidding, watch a few episodes you’ll see them. So it is possible you have seen these on TV.
It seems like everyone I show these pots to who grew up in the 70’s still owns or remembers them.
Growing up in Tampa Florida it meant your mother shopped at Winn-Dixie. Which at that time bore the tagline – “The Beef People”. In addition to beef, people were apparently buying lots of cookware from there. I think they offered a different piece each week at a VERY LOW price with like an $8 minimum purchase.
My family did buy their beef at Winn-Dixie. They didn’t buy their beef at Publix because it was too expensive and had something done to it which caused it to be labeled “proten” and included a little pat of butter. Pantry Pride was just gross and was mainly where they bought beer and store brand soft drinks (click here for more details about my parents drinking habits). In other words, grocery shopping was “sport” during the recession wracked 70’s. You drove from store to store in your 6 – 8 miles per gallon car to get certain items at the “best price” at 3 – 4 different stores. I remember thinking one of my friends was RICH because their mother ONLY shopped at Publix.
These are the remaining three I have at my house. I know at one time there were more. Sources included my mother, my mother inlaw and a friend’s mother. Today they are kept as backups in case the stainless steel or Calphalon is dirty. All the lids are missing and the handles fell of the large pot probably 20 years ago. I think my mother finally got rid of the last of hers.
So the next time you think you are so poor during this recession – look in your cabinets. Does your cookware include any Calphalon, LeCruset or comparable brands? If it does, then shut up. Our parents bought their cookware at the grocery store.