Random Clips

I haven’t posted in a while and have a hadful of random things to talk about that have occurred the last month or so.

First is this video of my friend Tadd Maudlin, cruising on his sailboat off the coast of Belize, doing a dance that I used to do in college and most likely still do.  I’m very jealous of him – bought a boat and is cruising on it indefinitely with his girlfriend, they are now in the Carribbean off Belize – follow them on their blog at http://lastknownposition.blogspot.com 

 

Speaking of boats, mine was broken for two long weeks – the motor went out while we were sailing, so we had to sail her into the can with pretty much no wind – super fun and challenging.  Then I tried a zillion differnet things to fix her, all to no avail and making it worse over about ten days.  Called a boat mechanic named Doug Pietz recommended by my boat neighbor.  He met me out on the boat and proceeded to tear into the motor fearlessly – fixing three problems, each of which could have been a major issue on its own, all in the span of under two hours.  A true professional and it was really amazing to watch him work.  I was very impressed with his skill and his pricing and efficiency and fun attitude.  If you need boat engine work done certainly call him at 847 533 9030, he is spectacular.

This past weekend I went to another lake house, also in Michigan and on the shore of Lake Michigan and its spectacular giant sand beaches – they are truly stunning if you have a chance to check out the west coast of the lower peninsula definitely do, they seriously rival many of the great beaches around the world in my opinion in the summer, and also very cool to experience in the wintertime.  Stretches a couple hundred miles up the coast.  Here’s a view from the kitchen:

 

Took different crew sailing each day of the air and water show including Friday – very fun and gorgeous days.  Check the picture of the enormous American flag on a sailboat we saw. 

At the Air and Water Show in Chicago 2009

Went to Devil’s Lake one Sunday a couple weeks back to rock climb with some climbing friends, great time had by all.  Gorgeous, perfect day and terrific group of climbers.

This weekend we head to Lake Superior to kayak the Apostle Islands for five days, should be a great trip, sevn of us are going, really looking forward to it.

Went to a Purdue football game last Saturday, very fun to see all my old buddies and wander by my old apartment.   In college I managed to jump a car over the embankment shown below, they seem to have put up posts to stop this in the future.

Scene of trouble back in the day

At the Air and Water Show in Chicago 2009

Scene of trouble back in the day

Second City live Improv show with an audience!!

Yikes! Awesome!! Amazing – what a rush and how scary and crazy and cool to be on stage in front of a live audience – and have no idea what you’re going to say because it’s improv.  And be scared and nervous before the show but pumped and excited at the same time.  My class did great – we got a bunch of laughs from the audience and had fun and supported each other.  It was very cool – we were even better live than in class – I was worried we laughed so hard in class because we knew each other, but not the case, my friends that came said they REALLY enjoyed it – so next time I think I’ll invite more people, was a little nerve-wracking in case it was a total flop to invite people.  I didn’t stammer, stutter, or mumble – spoke loud and clear and people laughed at some stuff I said – whether at me or with me I suppose is irrelevant.  I wasn’t sure I was going to take the fourth class, level D as it takes time and going to class for three hours every week can be a drag, but I immediately signed up after the perfomance.   I had no idea it would be that fun while doing it live and so exhilirating when it was over and went so well.  I remember talking with Jimmy Buffett at the climbing wall one day and we were talking about how much of a rush it is to climb, and he said ”yeah I agree!” and then he said “and surfing too, I get so fired up!”, and I said ”yeah, for sure, me too!”  and Jimmy said “and being onstage in front of 50,000 people, it’s so amazing!” and I said… “er yeah….”  But now I have a small sense of what he was talking about – incredible, amazing experience, take Second City  improv classes if you have a chance!

The 101st running of the Race to Mackinac

The skipper in the Manitous

Very slow race yacht race this year – not much wind. We didn’t finish until Tuesday afternoon, usually we finish sometime during the day on Monday. The Valkyrie was doing well through about 2/3’s of the race, holding our own, near the front of our section when we took a fateful gybe too late into the Manitou islands passage and got stuck too close in to land as the wind shifted and pushed us in. We bobbed there helplessly as all the little boats we had passed over the previous days slowly caught us and passed us in the middle of the channel, and all we could do was watch.  In frustration we slowly worked our way up the coast – and I mean slowly, 0-.5 knots per hour for a good 15-20 hours, enough to drive a crew bonkers. I did actually

Banana Phil

enjoy the longer race – often when the race is shorter I am looking forward to it being over by this time.  On the third day I was in the groove ,

Homestretch

used to sleeping only every three hours for just three hours, enjoying the 3am to 6 am shifts – watching the black sky turn slowly less dark in the east, then blue, then finally a tiny bright orange sliver peek out over the horizon and speed up into the air, bringing warmth to us and allowing us to shed layers after the coldest part of the night. 

Dawn in the Manitous, Lake Michigan

We showed up at Mackinac just in time for the rum party on the front lawn of the

Rum Party Grand Hotel Mac 2009

Grand Hotel, a spectacular event where we had a blast and carried on to hut tub and party at the Pink Pony where

Rum Party!

apparently peeing in the pool is preferable to wandering into the hotel wet and in your underwear to find a bathroom as I found out the hard way, next time I’ll know.  The next morning I had breakfast with some crew members and was off to catch the ferry back to the mainland and finding my folks’ car to journey across the 5 mile long Mackinac bridge, through the U.P. and into Ontario and the north channel.

Sunrise during the Mac Race

Rocking out offshore with REO/Styx on the Imjatse

Twenty of my sister’s friends came cruising on the Imjatse Friday night.  That’s a record-shattering number and the boat handled everybody easily.  I believe this was our third annual event with this crew, and the biggest and possibly best yet.  One of the best nights of the summer. 

Watching REO Speedwagon from the boat

We picked everyone up at the dock at around six and headed straight for Northerly Island from Monroe Harbor and anchored (with a bit of slippage and re-anchoring) out just offshore in time to enjoy the sunset and hear the end of the .38 Special set.  Next up was REO Speedwagon and we heard them loud and clear from the water.  A bunch of guys swam and Brent entertained not only our boat but many of the surrounding craft with what is difficult to describe with words, fortunately I had my trusty camera with me and shot some video to commemorate, see below.

And then it continues with a strong finish below, an olympic-caliber air guitar scissor kick combo.

Styx finished the night and were excellent. AFter they finished we pulled up anchor and motored back to the harbor. Gorgeous night, great time, great crew, good food, plenty to drink, great bands, great city!

Los Angeles Quick Trip – LAX

LAX at Los Angeles Airport

Went to LA last Thursday and Friday for a couple work meetings, one in Redondo Beach and then dinner with some others in the fancy shmancy, famed Beverly Hills.  Good meetings, good folks.  I used to live out in Orange County for a consulting project running around eight months, managed to get a hotel on the beach in Newport and learned to surf a little before and after work.  I was struck by the amount of materialism and the focus on how you look there.  Also the amount of highways and signs and the lifestyle and the obsession with celebrities.  I enjoyed my time but was happy to leave as well.  Same with this most recent trip – I find LA fascinating.  The huge homes up in the hills, the beach homes, the slums, gangs, hollywood, fame…  Met a girl on the plane who flew in from Chicago to go to Michael Jackson’s funeral, that’s a big trip for the event.

Major thought that struck me as I was back in Chicago driving home down 90/94 on three little lanes, fresh off a trip on the 405 (they precede their highways with “the” out there – the 5, the 405, the PCH) and all seven lanes or however many there are – the thought was that Chicago is really pretty small relative to LA.  Funny as I don’t usually think that living here.

LAX Long Beach, "the" 405 Highway

Chicago NOODs Yacht Racing Action

I raced in the NOODs Friday on the J120 racing yacht Valkyrie.  There was a huge weather delay as the sky was black as night over the city and north of us out into the lake.  It looked as if it was bearing down on us so we battened down the hatches and dropped our sails in preparation, but nothing except some rain ever hit us. 

Chicago NOODs Friday before the storm

We waited from about 10 am until one or so, just bouncing around on the lake, I snoozed in the cabin and chatted with my fellow crew members, many of whom I’ve known for four or five years and more, racing on the same boat.  It is bonding, going through storms and such together, races, post race parties, and generally spending a lot of time together.  Tends to bond folks.  Eventually the race committee decided things were ok to race as the wind settled down and they set a course.  We decided to practice putting our spinnaker up and were very nearly late for our start, making it at the last second and fouling another boat which protested us.  The second race we managed to botch as well.  We have several new guys on the crew and they aren’t as practiced as the veterans.  Makes a difference in the small things.  Mistakes add up, small and big and contribute to winning and losing.   Fun day all in all, learning experience for us and good practice.  To win races you need to be smooth at all positions around the boat, have great driving, run the boat to the very edge in terms of maximum (or better said, optimum) sail out for the conditions, make solid tactical decsions, and be in the right place at the right time, meaning be in the spots with the best wind and clearest air.  A bit of luck is involved as well. Check the clip below for a small bit of racing action.

Climbing Panic Story and Barn Bluff, Red Wing Again

We were going to go climbing in Southern Illinois from Chicago but again it was predicted to rain and the weather looked perfect in Minnesota, so off we went to Barn Bluff.  Six of us this time, mostly friends and friends of friends from the gym, all climbers and into it, but mostly indoors climbers looking to get outside.  They were all really pumped, some of them their first time climbing outdoors, ever.  Two of them had never lead before, which in rock climbing is a major deal, really taking you to the next level mentally, physically, and I’d say emotionally.  It can be really scary when you are ten feet above your last bolt and your arms are burning and the fall isn’t clean and you’re having a hard time hanging on to the rock, desperately trying to clip in to the next protection that’s just out of your reach so you put the draw back on your harness quickly, fumbling a little in your haste.  You start to breathe faster, your leg begins to go into minor spasms as the fear grips it.  Feeling around blindly on the rock over your head, running your hand back and forth across the rock feeling for a good hold.  Finally you feel a tiny crimper that MUST hold, you crank down on it with your right fingers, and ahhhh – it’s a little better than it felt.  The bolt is off to your right though so you grab a draw with your left hand and awkwardly reach over your head as you feel your right arm burning from the exertion, you swear you can only hold on another second…. barely get the draw clipped to the bolt, and brief relief.  You then reach down and grab the rope, panic rising in your chest and taking over your brain, pull the rope up, your belayer pays you out a bunch of slack and your hand is right by the carabiener, about to get it to go in YOUR RIGHT HAND SLIPS AND YOU FALL!  “FALLING!!!!” you yell and then the rock quickly becomes a blur in front of you and your mind goes blank, and you’re falling, then you feel the rope rapidly come tight, twenty feet later you swing into the wall hard but not painfully, heart pounding in your chest.  Breathing hard and deep for the first time in three minutes.   Look down at your belayer thirty feet below, say “Whoa!” with a grin slowly lighting up your face and then you begin to laugh, relief and joy washing over you as you feel the adrenaline begin to drain out of you.  After a moment you grab the rope and say – “I’m batmanning back up!” and horse yourself back up the rope to the last clip you had bolted to give it another go.

Good stuff! 

Below are some pics – three great guys and three great girls, was a really fun trip with a great vibe amongst us and a high level of excitement as we were all pumped to be on real rock, outside the plastic of the gym.

Intense Focus at Barn Bluff

Drove up 380 miles from Chicago Friday night, stayed at the Best Western in town, then in the morning had the free continental breakfast there and headed to the crag, only five minutes from the hotel.  There we proceeded to get shut down by a 5.8 which was crazy as we were easily able to do 5.10s and gave an 11 a solid shot.  I swear the 8’s and 9’s were sometimes harder, maybe it was just me.  Got on probably 7 or 8 great climbs, got the girls leading for the first time, and generally had a blast as the weather was perfect for climbing, cool yet warm.  Then headed back that night, home at around 2 am after a nice dinner at a ratty bar – nice in terms of time together, not nice in terms of fancy food.

One minor yet major plus about Barn Bluff is there are carabieners or clips at the top of every climb – so at the top, you simply clip the rope in and zip down, it’s so convenient and saves so much time from clipping in at the top, going in direct with two draws, untying the rope, feeding it through, retying, and then belaying or even rapelling down.

Meredith heading up the rock on her first lead. Barn Bluff, Red Wing, MN

 

Alan and I climbing near "Into the Sun" at Barn Bluff

Bouldering (Climbing) at Hidden Peak in Chicago

Went bouldering again at Hidden Peak over the weekend.  I’ve never really gotten into bouldering but really enjoyed myself there.  There was a great vibe, lots of guys helping each other out, encouraging one another, and working out boudering problems together.  Picture three or five guys standing around and taking turns working out the same sequence of moves up a short rock climbing wall, each one falling off at the same spot, then gradually trying different ways of doing the hard move, and each one doing it better and better until it finally goes. 

“I toed in with my left foot”

“Crimp hard with your right”

“Set your feet after the dyno, then drop knee and reach up right for the sloper”

“Pinch with your right, cut your feet, right foot on the chip, left hand into the hueco”

Very fun with a great feeling of accomplishment after it’s done.  A decent workout with sweat and sore back and arms the next day.  I’ll be going back.  Bouldering works your core, and the climbs are much shorter, no ropes are used.  You simply jump off and land on the padded floor when you’ve finished a climb.   Density of holds is much thicker.  Means you can get in many more climbs, and typically the moves are more difficult and acrobatic in a more condensed fashion than a typical route.  Endurance isn’t key but core strength and crimp/grip power are.  It seems most of the great climbers are also accomplished boulderers.

I’d love to get a bouldering wall built in the first floor parking of Park Community Church, working on it.

Boulderers at Hidden Peak, Chicago

To get to Hidden Peak and info on climbing there:

937 W. Chestnut St., Chicago(312) 563-9400 CTA – Take the Blue Line to the Chicago stop. Cross Chicago and go north on Ogden. You will walk under a bridge and turn right onto Chestnut. Driving – 90/94 from downtown. Exit at Augusta/ Milwaukee. Turn left at the light onto Milwaukee. Follow to Chicago Ave. Turn left onto Chicago. Cross light at Ogden and turn left at Sangamon. Continue on to the end of Sangamon, and turn right onto Chestnut. 90/94 from the North – Exit at Ogden. Turn left on Ogden and follow it to the end. Turn right onto Chestnut. Head through stop sign at Sangamon. LakeShore Academy is on the right.  Has eight rope routes and 2,200 feet of climbing surface mostly for bouldering. Hours Monday-Friday 12 noon -2 p.m., 5 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays 12-4 p.m. Fees Annual pass – $375 Day pass – $10 Lunch pass – $7 Children’s pass – $7 Shoes – $5 Harness – $2 Full gear – $6 Monthly pass – $55 10, gear punch pass – $40 10, punch pass – $80 Weights – $29 Please note – Hidden Peak is located inside Lakeshore Academy.

Second City Improv Classes = A Ton of Fun

So I decided to take improv classes at Second City – one of my goals this year is to learn to public speak better and to better speak extemporaneously.  Toastmasters is on the list of things to do and Second City seems like a really fun way to accomplish something similar.  I used to be the guy who would wait until the very end to go and be nervous if I knew I was next – I promised myself to jump and always volunteer and never be last for anything for this class – no matter how stupid I am probably going to look.  It’s a really fun and challenging experience, I would have to classify it as a huge adventure in that it really gets me out of my comfort zone and stretches and expands my world.  I also laugh way more than I do at work or most other times, it is such a blast.  I have taken other classes and done other things – but it has been a long time since I really looked forward to Wednesday nights and going to a class – I am fired up before, during and after, like right now as I type I have energy and excitement pumping through me – such a great feeling.  I am pretty excited by the thought of being on stage.  I once taught rock climbing to the great Charna Halpern, owner and co-founder of Improv Olympic, now know as IO, another improv school here in Chicago, which if you didn’t know is an improv mecca, turning out some of the bigger names in comedy including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Chris Farley and many others.  Folks from Chicago populate much of the staff of Saturday Night Live, the Conan O’Brien show, Mad TV, and others.  Anyways – back to rock climbing and Charna.  We talked for a long time after and during climbing and drew many parallels between climbing and being on stage.  At that point I was petrified of the thought of being on stage and speaking in front of people, but not too worried hanging by a rope 60 feet in the air with one person holding me up.  Charna felt similarly scared by climbing but no hesitance at all about being on stage.  The fear in both is very real – and a second parallel is that in improv you are very dependent on your partner to not make you look like a fool – climbing you are very dependent on your partner to save your life.  Deep bonds are established between people in both activities, very real fear is experienced in both and can be heightened by choice (higher more dangerous climbs, bigger and bigger audiences) and both stretch and expand the participants’ worlds.

Second City Mainstage - Gymnastics apparently

Try climbing and try improv if you have the chance!!

Scond City’s website is here, IO’s is here, and Lakeshore Athletic Club’s Illinois Center site is here - I teach every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 so come on down and let them know that you are there to see me, might get you a deal.

Cross Country Skiing Near Chicago

Lisa and I went cross country skiing today.  Very fun.  We drove only about thirty minutes south of Chicago down I-55 to a forest preserve called Arie Crown - was beautiful and about the right length, took us about 45 minutes to do the yellow loop.  We got a great workout, Lisa a big ball of sweat at the end.  We found it on the Internet.  Rented Gear at a great place called Viking Ski Shop at 3422 West Fullerton in Logan Square.  Got great stuff for only $30 a person.  The snow was terrific.   Halfway through I saw a herd of six full-grown deer bounding through the forest, beautiful sight.  

Deer in the winter (I didn't take this pic)

At the end we found a small lake with a handful of ice huts with people ice-fishing – we skiied out onto the lake, fun stuff.  Highly recommended.  There are lots of other forest preserves – there may be better, Arie Crown did have a section along a busy road and a bit amongst some homes and apartment complexes.

Arie Crown Forest Preserve Trail Map