Baja'Exit - Adios 2016

Old School Pool @ South Bowl: Philly 12-30-16

For some reason, yesterday I woke up at 0300. I still don't know why, but I didn't have anything to do so I rolled with it. It was an opportunity to get more work done in the house. I still don't think I'll make it in time. But that's another story. I got a good bit done. Maybe I don't have as much stuff as I thought.

Okay.. so 0300 to sun up I cleaned and cleared and scanned and shredded until the 1000 meet-up with Dan at a small cafe called The Green Line. It lies somewhere between the University of Pennsylvania and the University of the Sciences. Luckily it's holiday time so there are not a lot of students mulling around. So we chilled there and talked about the e-book, business and passive income from the internet and such.

There's so much going on and so many opportunities I get a bit confused at times. It makes me a bit anxious.

After the meet-up I went home and nodded. The afternoon siesta.

Good move too. In the evening we rolled out to play pool at South Bowl. I called it "Old School Pool" because that's one of the first rituals we launched back in the day.

Finally we rolled out to Trestle Inn and listened to some authentic Old Soul selected by DJ Lil Dave - who happens to be the DJ I've experienced most this year. It just worked out that way. Anyway, Trestle was thin, but fun. You know one of those nights where not a lot of people showed up, but the people who did REALLY wanted to be there and party!!!

On any normal night out we'd have hit a diner and maybe arrive home with the rising sun, but we streamlined it; A quick stop at Wawa for an all-protein night cap. I was still fairly energetic by the time I pulled the sheets over my head... somewhere between 0200 - 0300.

Today I figured I'd be in most of the day... once again, cleaning and clearing, but no sooner than I rose I was tapped for a brunch. Not so very far away so it won't take much time away from the work. I think I'll probably get more done the closer I get to leaving. I may have to come back to tidy up.

The next update will likely be in 2017... So Happy New Year. I know a lot of us will be happy that 2016 is over. It seems like a new start, but I predict it will be even trickier.... but I'll cover that when it comes.

Happy New Year.

Feeling Like A Player

Foodie Tour Continues: Winter Harvest Grill

Today was highlighted by two good meet-ups, first part two of our Harvest tour with Venise; it seems like we are catching up from twenty years back... and I guess we are. 1996 was a pivotal year for both of us. She left the job and went to for the federal government and I started working graveyard shift (from previously working 3-11PM.)

Later to Aksum, where I met up with Number One Son Wolvie for a great meal at the down tempo spot on Baltimore Ave. He's digs the place... ambiance, the vibe and we had a very nice server as well. Afterward he came by and relieved me of some items in the house... as much as he could carry. Ha ha.

On the technical side, I learned how to do a few moves with Google Drive, including upload the pix from my phone, download a video clip to my phone, so I could share it on Instagram and access and complete my body weight chart in Google sheets.

Part of my plan is.. let's call it Operation: Best of Both Worlds; the goal is to live like a twenty-something (energetic and curious, in my case about the new technology) with the wisdom, experience and savvy I've accumulated along the way. Someone joked about employers wanted to hire Millennials with thirty years experience? Well, I'm that employee - problem is, you probably can't afford me... ha ha. (Watch, someone offers me a gig.)

On the financial side - and I've never been a big fan of money, but I love numbers... but not math(s)... I realize I have to position myself to be able to afford food and shelter on the road. I've been listening to the Financial Media for the past 2 years and they've been painting a gloom and doom scenario particularly for the USD. To answer those concerns, alternative as well as classic, even ancient, strategies for purchasing what's required have been emerging via the - dare I call it - Millennials - dominated interwebs. This is where I have to surmount the technology curve as well as the faith curve. That is faith in the predictions/warnings of the wackos and crackpots I readily admit to listening to.

I refer to them as such with admiring respect because several predictions they've made during 2016 have come to pass and I've scored some wins that have eclipsed the earnings from traditional financial institutions and even the long-term traditional investments. Of course I realize that one day I can be cheering about wins and the next day licking the wounds of my losses, so this isn't bragging. I'm not in for buckets of ducats, just enough to get around, from points A thru Z without too much strain and stress.

Body weight chart 6-19-16 to present (Google Sheets)

It's not only the wins that have me feeling like a player, it's being able to navigate that technology curve.

Oh, and one sobering development - a Jury Duty summons came today. Of course I won't be here, but I think it's not a random event that it arrived just over a week after leaving the gig. I'm sure it hasn't been three years since the last time. Fairly sure anyway.

Tomorrow I'll find out when I'll be able to officially leave this City.

Ciao.

On Vacation In Philly

Suburban Station, Philadelphia 12-22-16

As I walked home from the train station I was mulling over in my imagination today's contribution. Some key phrases came to mind, but when I rounded the corner I saw a front end loader on the small street a third of a block away from my house and there was a Water Department truck parked across the street. The fact that is was parked, between other parked vehicles suggested it had been there for a while and it would be there a while longer.

My imagination always prepares for its worst case scenario; no running water in my house? Do I have enough stored to make a cup of tea? As I opened the door, what to my ironic eyes should appear? but that little blue envelope that contains the water bill. This Universe business is a bit much for me at times. I think It's stacking the deck, not necessarily against me... but not for me either. It's a rigged game, but I don't expect too much.

SO I get in the house and before I even turn on the requisite music, I check the water - running!! So, of course I make a cup of tea.

Now we can get down to business... Today's Blog.

It's day six and I have come to the realization that I need to stop dining out so much. It's as if I am on vacation... or staycation in my own back yard, but never go inside to eat. But let's get to this day.

Woke early - and couldn't get back to sleep; good sign, so I started the AMX, which was more of the same. There's a lot more balancing on the pushup bars than before. Good sign. I have gotten better conditioned here. I want to say "stronger" but I'm not sure I am stronger over all, just in this particular group of exercises/poses. I may record a few clips for us.

Had to go into the (former) job today to get the retired ID, check out, turn over at least 25% of the balance of my time to the city to withhold for you guessed it... taxes. While I was there a co-worker (well, former now) showed up. We'd scheduled lunch for next Wednesday but decided to go ahead and do a brunch-ish meet-up today. Good timing. We went to the first place I ate when I started on day work; Pagaon's... a salad/food bar where I have a bit of a crush on the lady who works there (slash owns it). She's friendly in general and I have the feeling that even her rather stoic-all business husband detects the mutual attraction - but of course I would never do anything about it... not even introduce myself. Nobody needs that drama.

So Frank and I went over a combination of socio-political drama, economic conspiracy theories and some sci-fi plots that seemed to have come into our reality; and heck, we even discussed if this reality was even reality and that in some dimension of the multi-verse the outcome of the US election had been, well... different.

Then I went to the YMCA. This is around the time I started realizing that I'm pretty much doing the same pattern as I did in Los Angeles, except I got my workout done first thing. I'm a day early for a 500 workout, so I did a mainly body weight workout which including balancing, pulling and lots of leg work. It gets kind of random, but I generally get three or four sets in. I also did dips.. I hate dips so when I do them I need to acknowledge that. I should do more. If I do it will really improve my upper body strength.

At this point I don't really like doing upper body, body work, because I'm not as strong as I'd like to be... however, in order to get stronger I have to do the deed and put my ego on the back burner and not be mad if I can only do six reps instead of 20. I need to keep at it.

This session wiped me out and it didn't even seem like I did that much. Working the legs with the bands ignites different nerves and muscles... those rarely worked, so it gets my cardio-vascular system going... and the brain as well because it's not used to it. I expect some kind of pain tomorrow.

Okay after a goodbye hug from Rebecca, and young girl who sprouted into a young lady while taking my classes (she's also a pretty badass runnner too) I headed into town to meet up with Number One Son, Wolvie. I knew I was in for a loud ride when I saw the Eagles jerseys on the trolley. I am NOT an Eagles fan, but I don't knock anyone who is, so I had no idea they were playing tonight. I won't go into the suburban-kids-in-the-city bit.

I caught up with Wolvie down at suburban station and we headed to a restaurant called James that is still open in the midst of the construction that's going on across the street from it. Once again, I am completely oblivious to what's happening in the city from which I am escaping. Anyway, for three or four weeks, Mika - whom I met several years ago at The Cafe, kept telling me to come by to say farewell on Thursdays after 1600... today I finally got down there are the lace was "closed" for a private party. Humpf!! I got my goodbye hugs in nonetheless and Wolvie and I went in search of some Vietnamese food.

After a decent meal in an empty Vietnamese restaurant, we went for our traditional drink (beers) in Chinatown at a place called Sea Bar. The bartender was funny, she gave us nuts. They didin't have any dark beer on tap so I had to settle for Alagash White, which was pretty good the first time I had it, but now I can taste its bitterness. We have these occasional man-to-man talks about career and life and opportunities and such like that.

I realize through my kids and some of the other "Millennials" I come into contact with, that right now is one of the hardest times in US History to be alive and be young. I was very lucky coming up in the hood, and getting through the military and getting in at the gig when I did. I was raising kids, so there may have been a different kind of hustle and a different kind of tolerance for what kind of job I would accept. Of course I didn't have the same opportunities twenty-somethings have today, so I steer clear of the "when I was your age" speeches.

Once I get this journey of self discovery completed, I might find out that my duty it to create a business that will employ and help secure my childrens' futures... or at least make it a little easier on them.

I'm done at the job, but that will only unleash my creativity. When I find the partner (even if it's me) that can harness, focus and direct that creativity, we'll be in business.

Shot a lil clip for ya... Enjoy..

Don't Buy Any Green Bananas

The Freedom Year roll-outs, meet-ups and funnies continue.

We be chillin' in Cafes like it's not Philly

Today I finally got out of bed at 0630 because I had an "early" (1000 hrs) breakfast meeting with Dan. Good breakfast at Honey's and good ideas exchanging. This Minimum Wage Fitness scheme might get going after all... only, I don't want to spend too much time on it. Dan gave good feedback on the ebook so far. Still in development.

After breakfast we went over to see Dan's friend Carl, (who I met for the first time today. And it's very worth titling this entry after something Carl was told.) Carl's writing a series of books about how everything we think we know about how the body works, how the Earth works and how intelligent design is wrong.

After his second heart attack at age 63, Carl was advised not to buy any green bananas. His doctors didn't think he'd live long enough to see them ripen. At that point he quit his meds (he refers to them as poisons) and "started listening" as he says. He'd made his peace and was ready to be taken from this plane.

Well, apparently "God" (and Carl often secularizes the word for the atheist/agnostic reader) wasn't quite ready for Carl to depart his Earthly body. I'm not going to tell his story because Carl's doing that in his book series. Suffice to say that Carl began learning about the body, its functions and its components from the perspective of a mechanical engineer.

What he shared about how the body "unwinds" was fascinating, because I've followed and heard several other people make the points he's made about humans, the earth, the Creator, etc. So I was on the same page. Hopefully, I will get the opportunity to do a more thorough piece on Carl. Mostly I sat and listened to him present his first book. He has a very good reading voice, super good energy and an excellent vibe. Very worthy of a follow up and friendship.

Next stop... Reading Terminal Market where I meet up with mah roll dawg, DJ Zollielama (Rybrew). I couldn't resist getting the gator sausage po' boy (that means hoagie), but I could resist the bread. As long as I've been in Philly... and working downtown, I am just now trying out some places for the first time. Another first for me was the smoothy spot also at RTM. It was pretty good... like a virgin pina colada, with ginger. [And no stomach/digestion issues, either.] And I got to practice my Chinese.

Lately we've been doing a lot of chillin' at cafes and coffee houses and recounting adventures and remembering the old days and laughing. My sense of humour seems to be in high gear lately and there's always some bit of philosophy, business, travel advice, or drama (not ours) to chuckle over.

I've been forgetting the names of the days, but not the dates. So I'm still good. I've lined up a few more meet-ups this week. I have to check-out of the job tomorrow and get my new ID, the one that identifies me as being actually retired.

I have to admit there's a best of both worlds feeling to this [which if I could coin a term and sell it, that could be my accidental million] part of my life. To look (so I am told) and feel too young to be retired, but to have the "age," the experience(s) and the wisdom that comes along with those qualities to be able to go off and do those things that I kinda-sorta only imagined (out loud to my friends during BS sessions) doing, is pretty dope.

And that's what Freedom Year is all about for now. If you like this blog so far, subscribe, or follow or comment... (not sure what the options are) and you will probably receive an email alert in your email. Also share it with your friends, especially those who like to wander, imagine and explore.

Cheers.

Brexit Paradox - Bizarro Dream #122016

I don't have the energy to recount the entire dream for you in this blog. Suffice to say it was wrought with symbolism which no doubt dealt with myself and those around me. Transitioning is a delicate way of describing what's happening this year with several of my friends, and I'm surprised that I am taking it a little harder than I might have as recently as five years ago.

Melrose Diner, 15th & Snyder Av. Philly, Today

Apathy shall set you free, I always tell people. I am not one to get attached to ideas, institutions, concepts, dogma or even relationships. I like it that way, or so I tell myself.

Anyway this dream started in Philly and ended in Los Angeles where I am under a pile of Millennials who are creating a human sculpture. I am somewhere on the bottom holding everyone up. They dig me even though I have lived many years longer than them.

Anyway the end of the dream gets pretty silly, however at some point an actual adult picks up a cell phone left on a desk and asks "Who is Brexit Paradox?" That was my name in the dream. I think it's a pretty cool name. I may come up with a character for that name. I wonder if it means anything to anyone.

[*Note, a Google search revealed this; "This is the Brexit paradox: the longer it takes for pragmatism to re-enter the debate, the higher the chance that the chilling effect of the unknown will cause permanent damage to both the United Kingdom and the European Union."] As written by, Ana Palacio, should you care to read the entire commentary. But why would this be in my dream??]

I'm not sure this could be interpreted on the internet. I think it's very specific to what I've been witnessing this year and to an extent what I've been going through. I am about to make my Exit from Philly and Los Angele is one of my stops. It may be my last stop on the continental US... or maybe not.

I keep forgetting what day it is. I do remember the date, but the day of the week keeps slipping my mind.

I went to the YMCA to do the 500s Workout today and realized when Auntie Fran that's we'd done group exercise (GX) yesterday!!!

Today the 500 was more like 450. I over-reached on a few weights, but then again succeeded on a few sets as well.. So here's a quick recap; highlights and low-lights:

Leg Press: I'm starting with 360 lbs now and the first set yielded 20 reps. Not enough to start at the next level (which will probably be 390 instead of 450 because I need to advance slower when I get to higher weights). I half-stepped (adding 50 lbs instead of 90) up to 630 lbs., and decided to see if I could free-push it without the safety of the pegs. I was successful for 8 reps over 2 sets, but felt a slight twinge in my right pectineus (inner, upper thigh). I used a platform to push 680 off the pegs and that's where I maxed out. I had to finish up working down and the final twenty reps were with 270 lbs.

Lesson; sometimes we can't expect to progress all the time. Also, might not have been the best idea to push hard after a GX day (it hadn't been 24 hours since the class.)

I stayed at 100 lbs for the bench press, and didn't get much past twenty reps on the first set. I've noticed my first set is where I get the most reps... the middle sets are maybe 10 - 12 reps fairly consistently and the last set I can get above 12 reps, usually 15... the cleanup set is strong because I am hype to get finished.

Leg extensions were weaker than usual. I used the same weight (130 lbs) and same with the cable row. I had to cheat it a little bit (lower back motion) because I didn't want to lower the weight (105 lbs.)

Cable crunch - this is where I over-reached adding weight... so in this case I dropped reps instead of weight, so I settled for 50... also I was beginning to run late for a meet up.

This session took a little over two hours. There's lots of stretching and resting between sets. When I can up the weight and get the session down under two hours, I will be progressing.


The meet-up calendar is still full. Today we reached back in time to the days of KOLLAGE, Magazine of the Visual Arts and John Leary who we had to the cover back in the mid-1990s; 1994 I think t was, the same year I came up with Noxsoma.

John is still doing his  "John" thing; working on projects and being an advocate and working on visual productions. We met about several projects he's got going and fitness and nutrition etc.

We met up at the Melrose Diner, which is a landmark destination diner in South Philly. As long as I've spent in Philly, this was my first time at the Melrose. It's a pretty nice diner. Nothing outstanding - not to disrespect its legacy. I don't really know how it got its reputation aside from being the place where the local news would often broadcast live from, asking diners their opinions of current events, or the weather, or the badly the local football team was performing. Heck, they don't even have WiFi, free or otherwise. Can't really blame them. Diners are for talking as well as dining.... not so much surfing and camping out in the booths.

Anyway, thanks to our lovely and attentive yet, unobtrusive server, who kept my tea cup filled and didn't get bent out of shape as we sat there for three hours.

This Phlexit is getting real and I may have to curtail some of my social activities and goodbyes in order to get my house in order, to leave.

And that's it for today folks.