One of my favorites…
Ben Staley: Cinematographer
More McCarthy
Saturday, 30 January 2010
The task of the narrator is not an easy one, he said. He appears to be required to choose his tale from among the many that are possible. But of course that is not the case. The case is rather to make many of the one. Always the teller must be at pains to devise against his listener’s claim – perhaps spoken, perhaps not – that he has heard the tale before. He sets forth the categories into which the listener will wish to fit the narrative as her hears it. but he understands that the narrative is itself in fact no category but is rather the category of all categories for there is nothing which falls outside its purview. All is telling. Do not doubt it.
From “The Crossing” by Cormac McCarthy
I don’t think anyone really humbles or inspires me as much as Cormac McCarthy.
The Race – Chapter 2
Friday, 29 January 2010
It’s a rest day. I need it. Staring at this mountain. 13.1 miles tall. But laying on it’s side. I’m intimidated. But just a little. Danielle told me not to hurt myself. I didn’t listen. Scoffed it off. If I’ve learned anything I should have learned by now to listen to her and not my lizard brain. I’m a slow learner. Her brother invited me for an early morning Saturday run two weeks ago. Around his neighborhood there’s an easy three mile loop. I felt like I was done halfway through. I lagged behind but kept pushing. Near the end, Brian veers off the road and onto a dirt path. Gonna do five stairs, he says slyly. We come to a steep concrete staircase connecting an upper and lower housing development. There are some women at the top and at the bottom. Brian starts up at a jog and I follow. Halfway up I’m ready to quit. I am not jogging anymore. I’m counting steps. Looks like five flights of stairs. Cool. Five stairs. Then Brian passes me on his way down. Maybe only three, he says. Shit. Up and down means one. Fuck. I do two, he does three and we jog the last half mile back to our trucks. My calves are vibrating, he says, when we get there. Mine just feel numb. But when I get home they are vibrating and for the next six days I can barely walk. The stairs in our house are a serious challenge. Told you not to overdo it Danielle says. Yeah. I deserved that.
So a week ago I started a 12 week regime. six days a week of training. One rest day, then start over. Today is my first rest day. And I’m glad. My body is tired. But I can already feel it getting tighter, stronger, leaner. It’s hard but not as hard as I thought it would be. You just get up a little earlier and do whats on the list. Submit. I’m gonna climb that mountain.
These Strange Dreams
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Soon I will be adding this to eleventhreehundred.com. But for now, the premier is here.
The Race – Chapter 1
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Last night was a surprise birthday party for Dani’s brother. He turned 40. It was at a nice local restaurant in a private room and featured an open bar for select drinks. This is dangerous for me. I knowingly lack a few degree’s of self restraint when faced with certain pleasures of life, like free drinks and cheese. It’s a character flaw and I understand this and make a big effort to do my best and be strong.
But I awoke this morning at around 3:26AM with a screaming bladder and something like a jackhammer in my frontal lobe. I emptied the bladder, quieting that ruckus and upon climbing back into bed all the memories from the previous night came crashing back to me. And I was instantly bathed in a terrifying cold sweat.
During the course of many drinks last night I agreed to run a half marathon with Danielle’s brother and one of his best friends. This best friend is an LAPD cop and his wife competes in and runs triathlons and other crazy things. So needless to say, the guy is actually in good shape for a cop. And then there’s Dani’s brother. He scares me. He’s the classic alpha male with a mental fortitude beyond almost anyone I’ve met. To say he is extremely competitive is a vast understatement.
On one hand, these are a couple of great guys to run a race with. Except I think I stated to many, many people, many times that I would “Destroy”, “Decimate”, “Crush”, etc… etc… etc… them. Eesh. What an a-hole I am. Now, if I don’t do that, I am a REAL A-hole. Like, way more of an A-hole than I have already made myself.
Actually I have been seriously thinking of running a race of some sort. I’ve been wanting to get into better shape and thought maybe a concrete physical goal would provide the external motivation I needed. I guess I sure conjured up some motivation last night. The race is in April. A half marathon. 13 miles. I’m gonna stop writing now and go run. Hangover be dammed…
- Staley out.
