On being present

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas lately. It's a strange season for me, it always has been. And lately I've been downright dismissive of it. I come to find out that it's because I never really understood it.

I realized that it's about God becoming present in our lives. And for him to become present he must have been absent for that to have much meaning. I know about absence. It's been almost two years since Dad passed now. And I'd love to hear the same old fishing stories one more time, but I won't. It's taken me this long to make peace with that.

What Christmas means to me this year is that no matter how bad it gets -- and I know it can get pretty bad -- that God comes to us without condition. He becomes present. Even if we try to dismiss him along with the rest of Christmas. I can think of no greater gift.

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas.

Days Like This

Over the Rhine "Days Like This," song by Kim Taylor website, facebook

Today's Ride

Spring in the Backyard

Sounds sooo good

iTunes samples

Band's website

My Irish roots

Far across an expansive black ocean and far back in time, George McGarr married Eliza McIntire. We seen them now as if through a telescope that searches for focus. Of course, the fact that we see them at all is simply amazing. I recently rediscovered a family document prepared by Helen McGarr Alter on McGarr ancestry.

Most of the typewritten lines on the poorly copied twelve or so pages are cut off. The pages were not numbered and I've since got them out of order. But Helen's desire to learn more about her family is clear, as are the facts that she spells out.

It seems to me that examining your family history is like looking through a window that is both frosted antique glass and mirror at the same time. The mere exercise helps me stand more firm on my own two feet and stand up a bit straighter. I'm not a disconnected modern man, but am the face of the present in a line that goes back farther than I ever thought I could see.

Though I'm sure that line goes farther back still, it is in George and Eliza McGarr that our story takes a distinct pivot. After all, it was they that decided to leave the town of Dungannon in Northern Ireland's County Tyrone and move the family line to America. Rereading the pages, with these family ancestors forming in my mind, I want to know more. Their story is my story.

In the span of one lifetime my family tree goes from the unknown landscape of Northern Ireland to Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania which is, by comparison, our own back yard. But then Helen McGarr Alter traveled to Northern Ireland many times and tells us "Northern Ireland is much like Pennsylvania with it's rolling hills and small lakes. It's an agricultural land plus some manufacturing." I can understand then why this region might have been appealing to them.

Next post: Why they left.

She Left Me for Jesus

Hayes Carll on NPR: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/24/133414287/hayes-carll-honky-tonk-prankster

Dreaming in Earnest

For what it's worth, here's the bike I'm set on buying. Raleigh's Revenio 2.0. I figure it's best to pick a bike shop for service and advice as well as a model bike. And in Medina, Century Cycles is the best thing going. Currently bikeless, I'm waiting for the sale at the end of March.

Cycling-Specific Exercises

Well, I've been looking all winter to keep the exercise up so I will be in decent shape come spring when I get a new bike. Having read the January/February issue of Bicycling Magazine 4 times cover to cover out of the need to day dream a little, I finally happened to read some web links on page 12, and found the exercises listed below.

I don't have a stability ball, but when I did the all the other exercises I could, I found myself huffing and my legs shaking which I took to mean that they were actually doing some good. I look forward to doing them again.

Click here to see the corresponding videos from Bicycling Magazine.

1. Lift-off lunge: Keep yourself as tall as possible, as if a string is pulling you straight up. Lunge position: right foot front, left foot back. Hands out as if they are on handlebar. Dip yourself down until your back knee is on the floor, right shin is vertical. Don’t let it move forward over the toes. Stand up on your right leg keeping your left toe pointed and bring it off the ground.

10 reps , switch sides, slow and controlled.

2. Reverse Hyper-extension: Develops lower back strength and glute muscles for pain free ride. Needed: Inflated stability ball.

Drape yourself over a stability ball, stabilizing youself with your hands. Legs hang behind you. Contract your glutes bring both legs up and behind you and return. Focus on using the glutes to do the work, should not cause pain.

10-12 reps, slow and controlled.

3. Hip Hinge: Lengthen and strengthens hamstrings that are used in the upstroke of pedaling for more fluid motion. Needed: 10lb. dumbells.

Stand tall, tilt forward while taking one leg back, forming a T. Tip forward from the hips, keeping back straight to T and return.

5-6 reps, switch sides.

4. Pigeon Pose: Lengthens the length of your body.

Looks like too much stress on knees. Ouch.

5. Cross Lunge: Strengthen focus on outer glutes that get underused and puts power into quads and hamstrings that push the pedals. Needed: 10-15 lb. weights.

Stand with feet hip-width apart holding 10 lb. dumbells. Pretend standing on a giant clock facing noon. Step back with you right leg all the way behind you to the 8-oclock position. Dip all the way to the floor kissing the ground with that back knee.

Alternate legs 10 reps for each side.

6. Hip Bridge: Lengthens hip flexors, strengthens back of legs. Adds flexibility and strength to pedal stroke. Needs: Inflated exercise ball.

Lay down on floor with heels on ball. Contract glutes and lift hips straight up to for a stright line. Then use hamstrings to roll the ball towards you. Lift curl, push out and lower. When stronger, don’t lower and stay elevated.

10-12 reps.

7. Winged Plank: Develops core stabilizing muscles.

Pushup position. Pull left leg up so foot just touches right knee, twist out so inner tight is parallel to floor.

Alternate sides 10-12 (5-6 per side) keeping body straight.

8. Speed Skater: Strengthens hip flexors pull pedals up and glutes which keep you stable in the saddle. 2 for 1 strengthening move. Needs: step or bench.

Plant front foot on bench 12-18” high with back leg behind. Maintain 90-degree bend in front leg. Bring back foot forward to touch bench and return. Keep arms out for balance.

10-12 per side, controlled

9. Box Jump: Develops snap in legs using snap in legs and core stability. Needs: step or bench.

Two-footed jump on 12-18” high bench with soft bend in landing.

10-15 jumps, controlled

Beauty and Gratitude

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/wishing-for-the-feel-of-hard-pavement/

Upgrading the Mini

I'm upgrading the home computing software and I have to say it's very satisfying. I feel like it's a very wise thing to be doing, kind of like when you get your transmission fluid flushed and refilled. It gives you the mental freedom of thinking maybe I can get a few more years out of this thing. And it gives me some breathing room to save for a laptop. Who know what the next four years will bring, but it's nice to know my retooled Mac Mini will be with me.

Ebb and flow

Life lately feels like it all over the place. Feeling energized, then beaten down. Moments where I actually feel on a razor edge. Where concentrating on relaxing by calming yourself produces actual results because you don't sense yourself in being so tense. Then add in a creative personality. Or maybe all this is because of it.

After seeing this book at Borders, and reading the chapter on work/life balance, I've been trying to seek and value all parts of my life that make it rich. I also found solace the other day in a quote by artist Lee Krasner worth clicking on here. Enjoy.

Reading Habits

I've been thinking how strange it is that our communication (twitter) and software (apps, widgets and the like) have been shattered into tiny pieces. I've been wondering what the next trend will be, where will we go next?

I found this on NPR this morning. It looks like the the iPad is changing how we consume media, not in a new direction, but to returns us to habits we already have with print media and books. I take comfort in that.

Workout

Trying to bridge some exercise here until spring. Worked out this morning listening to Arcade Fire and Daft Punk...new music from Jill. Thanks Jill. I recommend the Arcade Fire, great way to start the day.

This morning I remember the exercises that the speed skaters used to strengthen their legs, even tried a few of them. Back flat to a strong wall, slide down until you are seated squarely on an invisible chair. And hold it until it burns, repeat. Those sickos would would have contests to see who could hold it longest.

How to Brew

I've been reading John Palmer's How to Brew. Everything you need to know to brew beer right the first time from the library, and just received my own copy in the mail. A big improvement over Charlie Papazian. My next batch will be the Oak Butt Brown Ale on page 200 using the partial mash method. I'm a big fan of full-bodied brown ales.

Also of interest is the description of the immersion wort chiller page 283, though a bag of ice and some patience will do the same thing. And in on page 291 in Appendix E "Lauter tun design for batch sparging" I learn to make my own bulkhead fitting to eliminate hot-side aeration lending to flavor stability over time. The bulkhead design got me interested in the book in the first place.

About the bike

Good news, I sold my bike. I'll be getting it ready today. I had to chuckle yesterday because now I guess that I have to get a new bike to be able to ride next season. Ha!

I have about 3-5 options I have in my price range. All different in the quality and number of options. They will all be an improvement I have no doubt. Decisions, Decisions.