Pavement drawings: Julian Beever
I came across Julian Beever’s chalk drawings in a lesson plan someone had put together for a high school art class. They are pretty amazing. One of my favourites is below. There are lots more here.
Yellow
Yellow always makes me think of sunflowers and sunflowers always make me think of my Bobba (yiddish for grandma). Yellow paint on white paper is so bright you almost have to look away.
My 7 Deadly Sins
- Lust (fornication, perversion) - Ticked this one off in 1982 when I was 5. I saw the film clip of Kate Bush’s Babooshka and instandly became familiar with lust. Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Audrey Tautou, Avril Lavigine or the woman from the Brand Power commercials. I am a constand sinner.
- Gluttony (waste, overindulgence)Yes at times I have grabbed one too many cookies from the cookie jar. Sue me.
- Greed (treachery, covetousness) - I’ll just link this one to Gluttony.
- Sloth (laziness, sadness, apathy) - Whatever!
- Wrath (anger, hatred, prejudice, discrimination) - In one of my previous posts on Giant Chimney I referred to The Honorable Prime Minister John Howard as a “cunt”. I stand by that statement.
- Envy (jealousy, malice) - I was at the urinal the other day and a man two to my left had a bigger penis than I do.
- Pride (vanity, narcissism, Hubris) - The sin creators can fuck off with this one. Pride, vanity, narcissism in sober doses are positive things.
It looks like I am pretty good at sinning and am therefore condemned to Hell.
Oh well! At least most of my favourite cyclists will be there and I will be able to listen to Metallica, Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash. Which is a lot better than sittin’ in a bunch of clouds with George Bush listening to Joanna Newsom.
How many sins have you committed? How does it make you feel? Do you even care?
I am going to have a think for a few days and come back with my own version of The 7 Deadly Sins.
Mind the gap
We are all tired of suffering the daily commute on trains that:
A) Turn up late
B) Turn up late and heaving with human cargo
C) Don’t turn up.
For those of us lucky enough to avoid the daily commute (like me), we are tired of reading about everyone else’s misfortune and how little is being done to improve our public transport system in the face of skyrocketing fuel prices and looming environment disaster. Yippee, new trains by 2008. The local authorities who govern our illustrious city’s centre are investing much energy in extending parking meter hours to raise revenues lost by reduced numbers choosing to drive into the city to work. Why the deafening silence from the legislators when the complaints from their constituents are becoming louder and louder?
I read with interest how commuters in Buenos Aires make their frustration plain…
blue
Blue is reflective and deep, enticing yet elusive, drawing me in.
The difference between long distance running and long distance cycling
After watching Campbell, Simon and Co compete in the Great Ocean Road Marathon I could see that long distance running and long distance cycling have a lot in common.
- Mental toughness
- Fitness
- Stubbornness
- Training
- Huge amounts of food
- Constant battle with the elements.
But I could also see a major difference. Bleeding nipples!
The constant abrasion of the t-shirts on a few male competitors’ nipples had worn them down until they were bleeding. Not just little specks of blood, but a circle of blood roughly 5cm (2inches) in diameter, connected to a thin red line flowing down to their shorts.
I simply could not take that. I would stop, sook and wait for the sag wagon. These guys didn’t. They took the pain, the inconvenience of their appearance and just kept on to the finish line. Hats off to you gentlemen.
These bloody nipples have taught me that everyday people are capable of extraordinary things and sporting heroes are not only found on TV. It has also taught me to consider a very light and well worn t-shirt if I ever consider doing a marathon.
Marathon runners I salute you! And I don’t mean that in a smart-arse kinda way either!
I look forward to cheering you all on next year.
chasing my shadow
This time two years ago I was in Apollo Bay on a Sunday morning feeling a bit seedy (boys weekend), watching the runners from the inaugral Great Ocean Road marathon cross the finish line. I had just starrted running occasionally and remember thinking how insane it seemed to run from Lorne to Apollo Bay.
Twelve months later I was down there again, completeing my first 1/2 marathon.
This year I was ready to attempt the full 45km.
We drop Ben and his bike in Torquay and head down to the Lorne caravan park. The weather’s a bit dodgy and I’m regretting my tight-arsedness in booking a tent site. Unfortunately the cabins are all booked so we’re stuck with it. And a sand bar has formed across the Erskine River so half of the caravan park is submerged- caravan park guy says he should charge us extra for the water frontage. Now all of this would have been fine had I not turned my back on the tent at a crucial moment. A gust of wind takes the tent. Simon gives chase but too late. My tent is sailing down the river. I strip off and swim after it while Simon grabs the video camera. Tent is saturated. We’re now faced with the prospect of sharing a small tent and quite possibly cooking breakfast in the rain on the morning of the run.
Ben arrives and we drive him down to Apollo Bay. Feel a bit intimidated driving the route of the run- it’s a long way and hiller than I remembered. Then like a gift from the gods the caravan park guy calls and says someone’s cancelled and we can have the cabin. Such a relief to have a kitchen and beds.
Sleep reasonably well and head down to the staring line after a big breakfast. After months of training and anticipation it’s great to hear the starter’s gun and get underway.
I settle into a bit of a rhythm and pull away a bit at the first couple of climbs around Cumberland River. It’s nice once the groups start to thin out a bit. Ultimately running is a solo event. Weather conditions are perfect- cool but not too cloudy or windy. It’s morning and we’re running west so I chase my shadow all the way as the road unwinds before me.
I stick to my plan and it seems to be working- don’t go out too hard at the beginning, but don’t cruise too much, then see how much I’ve got left after the big hill just after the 1/2 way mark at Kennett River. I take a couple of ‘power gels’ in the second half- there’s no magic surge of energy but if seems to help keep fuel in the tank. In the last 15km I’m feeling really sore across my hips but my legs are still going. Ben’s waiting with the camera on the outskirts of Apollo Bay and I pick up the pace a bit; a big cheer from Gary, Rachel and Penny who’ve done the 1/2 marathon carries me over the line.
Collapse in chair. Drink bottle of water. Stagger to table drink bottle of juice and eat banana. Limp to cafe for more water and jelly beans. Simon joins us- he finished 10 minutes ahead of me, improving on his time at last year’s Melbourne marathon- a very good effort as this is a much harder course. Limp to beach to wade in the cold water- don’t go in further than my knees for fear of being knocked over. Back to cafe where a big meal does wonders. Gary gives us a ride back to Lorne, Ben drives us home with a stop for chilli chips in Lorne and chocolate in Geelong. A spa and sauna at the local pool works wonders. Time for more food now.
Then bed.
3:30:31 (42km)
3:46:00 (45km)
You’re not Shannon Noll are you?
The other day I was standing at a bar buying a couple of pints and the old guy next to me says…
Excuse me, you’re not Shannon Noll are you?
I have been told I look like Dave Grohl or the guy from The Whitlams stacks of times but Shannon Noll is a new one.
I was in Canberra at the time so that could explain things.
At least he didn’t say Casey Donovan.
red
Even with the muted tones of the wet on wet technique, tonight red is angry and sharp, pushing me away. Where is the love, the warmth, the life?
I had to check my tool
High fives go out to the staff at Canberra Airport for questioning something contained in my carry on luggage.
Unwittingly I carried on a Crank Brothers multi-purpose bike tool. I forgot it was in my bag. Luckily for me it is not a dangerous tool… unless you want me to maliciously adjust your bike’s handlebars.
The airport staff spotted it on the x-ray thingy and questioned me. I guess through and x-ray it would have looked like a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman. The staff weren’t rude or angry. They just inspected the bike tool and made me check my bag at the counter. Problem solved.
So while the cues at the airport and the drama of getting on planes is never-ending it is good to know that it serves some purpose.
This does not mean I endorse the way my country deals with “terrorism” or “border security” and I still think that John Howard is a cunt.