Tri and Tri again

On April 12th, almost 8 years after I did my very first Triathlon, I did my second and I must admit, not my last triathlon. I will also admit, that I was very nervous, I felt as I had felt almost 20 years ago when I swam at my very first Empire State Games/National Championship. I had made the games and National Champs in amazing fashion. I shocked everyone, including myself with my ability to just do it. I know one of my favorite "to do before I die" list items is an Ironman, and this small triathlon is a step in the right direction. (I suppose). I may never achieve that Ironman goal, but I sure won't fail at trying.

The weather was beautiful, perfect and the lengths of each leg were do-able. My goal was to go no slower than 1:05 (Hour Five Minutes). The swim was 400 meters, 6 mile bike and 2 mile run.  I was disappointed in my swim time, but rather impressed with my run time. My first transition, as you can see, wasn't something to be proud of. My mom was yelling at me the entire time to hurry up, which made me annoyed, and slightly distracted while I was trying to change quicker.

I felt really good on the bike, got my heart rate up to over 178 bpm, and kept it up there throughout the race. I had a hard time breathing, and my legs felt tired on the run, which really wasn't a run at all, more like a slow lame trot. either way, I finished. I finished in under an hour! (good lord that was a surprise).

I managed to finish 73rd overall, (out of 250+ people), and 13th out of 30 in my age group. BUT, I suppose the proud moment (mostly for my parents and husband), was finishing 2nd in my division, and getting a snazzy plaque. My parents and RB have seemed to be somewhat irritated with my lack of talking about this "accomplishment" but I can't help but to feel like I could have done better, and if I talk about it, it sounds like I am either patting myself on the back, or "bragging" to a certain extent. I guess I am slightly proud of myself, but it wasn't like I completed a marathon, an Ironman or a half Ironman at the very least.

The next triathlon I've signed up for is June 15th, father's day, and each leg is slightly longer than this past Triathlon. (500 meters open water swim, 10.5 mile bike, and a 3 mile run). I guess, I'll be tri-ing and tri-ing again. Wish me luck.

Bad Words

There is this awesome Museum in Queens that I loved going to as a kid. It's called the Museum of Moving Images. It is a great place to go if you love, television, movies, and history. You can purchase a membership and with that membership comes a variety of perks. One of which, I benefited from without having a membership.

A friend from work has a membership, and she was attending a variety of early screenings of films. Mostly, independent films, but still, first screenings none the less. On a random Tuesday she and her boyfriend couldn't attend the screening of Jason Bateman's "Bad Words", so she offered up the tickets to RB and I. I said "sure, what else am I doing that I can't go see a funny, independent film with the amazing Jason Bateman." She later informed me that usually, the director or someone important from the film does a little Q&A at the end of the film. I was super excited when I found out that this film was Jason Bateman's directorial debut, and he was the star and one of the producers! How fun. 

RB and I attended the show, with all the type of people I loathe in my city. I'm sure many of you "BIG" city people know what I am talking about. There are a certain type of transplant person who move to large cities and act all hoytie-toytie and think that they are real New Yorkers or Bostonians, or LA people. Hate to burst your bubble people, but you're transplants, and most of you are an annoying group of pompous asses. I digress, I know I have made mention of this before but the theater was filled with these people. (Annoying asses). The movie was HILARIOUS. You really ought to see it. It's a dark comedy, with outrageous dialogue and yet a sweet/sour ending. I loved it. I was only somewhat disappointed in the Q&A at the end, but that most certainly was not Jason Bateman's fault, it was the idiot people asking questions like, "I noticed you changed your hair for the film, was that written in?" Really?!? You have the opportunity to ask him pretty much anything and that's what you ask. We asked nothing, although I did want to tell him, I loved him since I was a child and RB wanted to tell him how great he thought he was on "Family Ties". 

Either way, it was a different kind of Tuesday Night in March, and I really recommend that if you have a weird sense of humor, you should enjoy "Bad Words" thoroughly. 

The day Jimmy Fallon Broke my heart.

For years I have watched, laughed at/with, and fell in love with Jimmy Fallon. The ridiculous laughter on SNL was enough for me to love him, but then he became JT's best friend, and kindest man on TV. He has done some amazing things on his show, and has donated time and money to others. It only made me love him more.

Knowing all this, Dad pulled a few strings and got RB and I VIP tickets to the Tonight Show just last month. You could say that I was excited about it, but I really was over the moon. I'm not sure what exactly my heart thought would happen, but alas, I had some expectations of the afternoon. 

RB and I took the day off to be sure we arrived on time, and ready to go. I couldn't wait! We followed directions, I called my dad's friend who got us the tickets, (as I was told to do) in hopes that I would get a tour. (Alas, like most people who work in this business, he didn't have "time" to get back to me, to show me around; just so you are aware, a lot of people I have encountered in the Motion Picture business, through my own time working with them, and dad working with them for 25+ years, they are relatively nice people, who are also "too busy", in general, the people I meet, who aren't construction crew people are, how should I say this, stuck up. Their time is worth more than yours, and they are more important than you.) 

I sat in my not very VIP seat, and awaited the arrival of the Roots Crew,  and Jimmy. The Roots arrived, and then Jimmy arrived to start the show. Not one second of what you see on Television is any different from being in the audience, Jimmy doesn't talk to the crowd during commercial breaks, the Roots don't play for the audience during commercial breaks; as a matter of fact, you are pretty much ignored by everyone (except for the NBC pages who are watching you to make sure you don't take any photographs). Nary a soul gives a crap about you. They actually say to you, "This is free, remember you didn't pay for this, so let's just act right." 

All of the above stung a bit, it hurt my feelings that Jimmy and the Roots didn't give the small audience the time of day any more than what we see on TV.  What really was the nail in the coffin was when Jimmy runs through the crowd at the end of the show and RB moved me to the aisle so that I can get a high five from Jimmy. This was it, all I needed to wash all the other disappointment away. Jimmy came around and a lady gave him a gift bag, he was trying to get the camera to zoom in on it, which was right next to me, so I began pointing at the bag as though to advertise it's greatness, and Jimmy Fallon gave me the DIRTIEST look, like what I was doing! I didn't touch him, the bag, or yell in his face. There really was no reason for the look. He even passed me by when it came my turn for a high five. 

My heart immediately broke, and I was hurt. I understand that this was ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous, but if you know anything about me, this all makes sense, and you'd be proud that I didn't cry an scream for Jimmy to love me as I loved him. 

I haven't been able to watch the Tonight Show since then, because it stung a bit, and the whole thing seemed fake. I know what it was like in that audience, and how not-so-special you are compared to the viewers at home. He also repeats himself, and that makes it less special. All in all, I'm glad I went, I just hope my broken heart will heal.