NYC life - Cyclists

Living in New York City, you might think that one of the first posts I'd write is about the taxis and how crazy the drivers are.  But I think everyone kind of expects taxi drivers to be crazy and erratic and drive like bats out of hell, right?  In one of my favorite movies, Elf, Buddy gets hit by a taxi while walking across the street in Manhattan.  I have not come close to being hit by a taxi, thankfully (fingers crossed and knock on wood!).  But I have come close to being creamed by a bicyclist at least a half dozen times.

Bikes in the city?  Yup.  Now you might think that most of them are bicycle messengers, but I don't know that I've even seen one of those (granted, I don't spend a ton of time in Manhattan during the day yet).  Most of the people I see on bikes are just regular folks like you and I, going to the park or the store or commuting to work.  I'd venture to say that 80% of the bicycle riders in NYC are buttholes, by the way, because they have no regard for rules, regulations, or pedestrians walking - even if the pedestrians have a green walk sign.  
If you don't know already, jaywalking is the norm in NYC, people walk across the street despite what the signals indicate, as long as there isn't any traffic or it's stopped dead.  I've already learned to be wary of those sneaky ninja electric cars like the Prius, which sneak up on you and you have no idea that they are even close to you.  Although I don't really see a lot of Priuses (Prii?) here, I have also learned that the other ninjas that attack without a growling engine are those damn cyclists.

Manhattan has a plethora of Citi Bike stations, so you're guaranteed to see a bunch of clunky blue bikes zooming around as you walk the busier areas in the city.  Brooklyn has a bunch of Citi Bike stations as well, but you see more standard cycles here.  The current mayor of NYC, Mike Bloomberg - a man who is talked about passionately on a regular basis by every single New Yorker, much more so than any LA mayor - has created a much more bike-friendly city.  I think it's great, for the environment, for people's health, and for the noise pollution of horns.  So props to you, Mr. Bloomberg!  How very west coast of you.  Ha...

Anyway, the cyclists here are increasing in number, which is great and all, but they need to learn some cycling etiquette and follow the rules, man!  On the Citi Bike website, it advises the following:


In NYC, cyclists must:

• Yield to pedestrians
• Stay off the sidewalk
• Obey traffic lights
• Ride with traffic

Hmmmmm, that's funny.  On a daily basis I see cyclists breaking ALL of those guidelines.  When I cross the street - legally or jaywalking - I have to look carefully in both directions because the sneaky bike ninjas appear out of nowhere without warning and race by me.  They sure as hell don't yield to pedestrians!  I also see bikes on the sidewalk a lot.  In Pasadena I regularly rebuked bike riders and yelled out, "It's a sideWALK, not a sideCYCLE!"  I continue this verbal admonishment in NYC, of course.  Obey traffic lights?  Yeah right!  Bicyclists here apparently are severely colorblind, because they pay no attention to traffic lights, or stop signs, or pretty much any rule of the road.  Hence my heightened "look both ways" policy when crossing the street.  As for the last guideline, ride with traffic, I will say that most bike riders do follow this.  However, in the increasingly hipster neighborhood that I live in, I see more folks riding against the grain.  

To be fair, some pedestrians walking along the streets or in parks are moronic and present a particularly challenging obstacle course for cyclists.  On my walks in Prospect Park, I regularly see walkers in the bicycle lanes (even though the asphalt is helpfully painted in bright white with symbols indicating where you are supposed to walk/bike).  There are traffic lights in the park that are supposed to let folks cross the loop with safety, but remember that the cyclists don't obey lights so the signals are pretty much futile.  Crossing the bike lane can be a little bit like Frogger, but since 99.99% of the bikes in the park are all going the same way, it's relatively simple.  Wait for the bikes to pass and then hustle across to the walk/run path.  I once saw two teenager girls playing chicken with the cyclists (and these were the serious guys with the abundance of spandex), and the girls did a little dance back and forth, never fully committing to crossing the cycle path.  One cyclist was stopping, trying to yield to the girls, but all of the dancing and waffling didn't help him, and the bike actually clipped one of the girls as he passed by (slowly, he wasn't speeding at this point).  The girl was clearly in the wrong in this situation, and the cyclist circled back to make sure she was ok before he continued on.  So I'll admit that pedestrians need to pay more attention too.

If and when you ever come to visit us here in NYC, and you haven't been here before or it's been a while - be forewarned.  The bikes are vicious ninjas who are full of metal and knobby tires and mean-looking pedals, and they will appear when you least expect them and it could be a nasty crash if you're not paying attention.  But if you are paying attention, and some butthole cyclist is coming at you when you have the green walking man signal, feel free to yell at them in your best fake NY accent, "HEY!  I'M WALKIN' HERE!!!"  Not only is it cathartic, but it might also save your life.

Maa-a-aa-a-aa-a-aa-a-aaps

If you like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, then I apologize for getting that song stuck in your head.

Maps.  I love them.  

Many times as I'm looking up an address on Google Maps, I'll find what I'm looking for and then... I'll get lost.  I start clicking and dragging and zooming and exploring and all of a sudden I'm looking at Bangkok, Thailand and I realize that Singapore is actually south of Thailand and Cambodia?!?  Don't laugh, but geography was never really my best subject.  Neither was history, while we're admitting shortfalls here, but whatever.  Although I might be horrible at geography, I actually have a really good sense of direction.  I credit my Dad for passing on his knack of knowing where to go.  He drove a truck for 30 years (give or take), and I'm not sure if it was a skill he developed or if it was natural, but my Dad always had a great sense of direction and would know the best route to get to a place.  I'm not saying that I never get lost, but most of the time I can figure out how to get un-lost, and if I go to a place once I can usually find my way back (or find my way home).  I definitely credit my somewhat photographic memory and being able to visualize a map in my head after I've looked at it.  This is especially helpful and adds to the fun when I'm reading a book that has a map in it.  Since I love epic fantasy adventure series, seeing a map in the book I'm reading is a pretty frequent occurrence.

For example, the The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.  The books have the most amazing maps in them, and I would often refer to them as I'm reading about hobbits and elves and wizards and kings.

The Lord of the Rings - map of Middle Earth

The Lord of the Rings - map of Eriador

The Lord of the Rings - map of the Shire

I think maybe this map deal is in my blood.  My great-uncle, Andrew Okrusko, drew a map of Ukraine and I remember seeing it hung with pride in my grandparent's den.  The calm pastel colors and the layout of a place that my great-grandparents once lived, it all captivated me.  I found it online today, one website said it was published in 1970, and another says 1974.  I could only find a small clip of Uncle Andy's map, but it seems like an old friend somehow.  I think I need the full size version in my house, what do you think?

Uncle Andy's map of Ukraine

There are other maps that I'm enthralled with.  Right now I'm reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.  So far it's a lot more kinky and raw and dark than I had imagined, but I'm enjoying it (on page 43 right now, I stopped reading in order to write this blog).  I've already flipped back to the map a few times to get myself oriented with where the characters were.

Wicked - map of the land of Oz

Then of course, there's the amazing stories of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.  I recently gave a boxed set of the books to my BFF Candace's daughter for her 9th birthday.  She is an avid reader and I've given her a lot of books through the years for Christmas or birthdays.  I fell in love with the Harry Potter series, and I hope that she does too.  I wish there were more maps available for Harry's world, because I feel like I need more visual information in my head about what is where.  I might just have to buy a Marauder's Map so that I can see the layout of Hogwart's for myself.

Map of the wizarding world of Harry Potter

Harry Potter - The Marauder's map

Another of my favorite fantasy series is the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King.  King really has a way of captivating me with his ultra-detailed character descriptions and landscapes.  My imagination is fueled and I'm transported to an entirely different world than the one we live in.  Most of my girlfriends don't really understand my love of fantasy or science fiction - novels, TV shows, and movies.  But then again, I don't understand the fascination that many people have with "chick lit" or "chick flicks."  If I'm going to watch something made-up, I prefer it to be so obviously not-of-this-world that I don't start to harbor a dream that the male escort I hired as a date to my sister's wedding will all of a sudden fall in love with me.  You know, because THAT happens in real life.  I greatly prefer magic and aliens and unicorns and hobbits because then a dream is just a dream and it doesn't affect my real-life psyche.  I mean, besides the fact that I swear Chris Johnson looks like an orc.  And there was that one date I went on with a male witch (he was Wiccan), although he was not fantastic in the least bit, just an ordinary man with different beliefs than me.  I should definitely start documenting my strange dating life... but that's probably best for a blog under a pseudonym I think.  Anyway, the Dark Tower Series is amazing and also has a great collection of maps that help me find my way through the intricate plot lines that Stephen King creates.

The Dark Tower Series - map of New Canaan

The Dark Tower Series - map of Mid-World

I have to mention one of my very favorite series, even though I couldn't find any maps for it.  The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon is an amazing journey through time and involves love and Scotland and all sorts of adventures and trouble.  Check it out if you're looking for new books to read.  I guess since it's a historical fiction series, I could have just posted a map of Scotland... but meh what fun is that?

Of course since I have a love of maps and knowing where I'm going, I had to get a map of the subways in NYC.  Streetwise has a fantastic collection of laminated maps of all sorts of cities.  The Manhattan one fits in my pocket/wallet and I use it on a regular basis to check on transfers, etc.  It's not really that funny being on the subway when you are lost and you realize that you're underground and that hunk of electronic genius that you rely on for everything is prettttttty much useless.  Plus, I'm a little bit old fashioned anyway.  On our road trip out from CA to NY I insisted on getting maps from AAA for all of the states that we were planning on driving through.  It really was helpful, because there's not always 4G/3G coverage for Verizon, and without data, those amazing little map apps and other tools are not functional.  And who wants to be lost in Arkansas without a map?  I sure as hell don't.  I mean, they can't even figure out how to pronounce their state's name correctly.  It's an S, not a W, people!

An absolutely essential map - Manhattan subways

Thankfully, I have really gotten the hang of navigating the subways and streets here in NYC.  I was really disoriented for at least a month or so - I couldn't tell which way was north or south, and I often got off of the subway and had to spend 2-3 minutes figuring out where I was and which way to walk, and I usually started the wrong way anyway.  Even if I have GPS telling me where I "am," I still need to be able to see three streets in order to see which way I should go.  But now I have a better feel for it, maybe I've finally adjusted to the angle and direction of the sun in relation to north/south.  I don't get as turned around, and while I wouldn't consider myself a subway pro, I definitely feel comfortable with making my way around, thankfully.  Although I still have my pocket map, just in case!

(Disclaimer: None of these images are mine, I borrowed them from various sources on the interwebs for my personal use.  I don't own any copyrights on these particular images)

Tucumcari

Just when I thought life this year could not possibly get any more interesting, just when I was beginning to consider that I might have peaked for the year, that I must have hit my quota of awesomeness and that I must be maxed out of fantastic-amazing experiences that have blossomed from a few major decisions in life, just when I figured I would ride this wave out standing up for the duration of 2013, comes the meeting of a kindred spirit.  A kindred spirit that evoked something, unearthed something in my soul that I otherwise had considered un-earthable because it had been stifled so long. 

Backing up, this year has been very interesting.  For me, it started off with the anticipation of waiting to hear back from CBS (well, their 3rd party casting company) in regards to if I was to be selected as a candidate for The Great American Bake-Off, which soon ended in a disappointment.  Soon thereafter I broke up with my ex boyfriend of 5.5 years because it was just time.  I had known something was not right but kept fighting and working to make it right, for the better part of 4 years.  Fortunately we had no financial ties, our only mutual friends were his and they gladly supported him through the breakup, and of course our deep emotional ties, which kept us coming back to one another for a few months thereafter.  While I might have made it look easy, it certainly wasn't and it was quite a way to begin "the year of 30", but I knew myself and knew that I didn't want to start the next decade feeling this uncertain about the man I had wanted for so long to fit the square peg in the round hole in order to spend the rest of my life with. 

About two-three months later, the NYC opportunity came up for me at work and over the next few months thereafter, I materialized that opportunity and took my sister with me on this ride.  Needless to say, the first half of 2013 went by fairly quickly because Kelly and I were making plans to wrap up our lives in CA and transition to NYC.  Then, from July until now, we have been in a very exciting whirlwind of new experiences, new destinations, sights and sounds.  New friends?  Not as much, nor not as quickly as you would think. But it's not as though Kelly and I have been actively trying to make friends.  Well, maybe Kel has, but I'm not one to actively TRY and make friends just like I haven't TRIED to meet new men.....up until the last month have I ever made an attempt at online dating, nor do I just hit on a man unless I have a little liquid courage, which still never goes as well as anticipated.  Still getting dating tips from the sis, both in-person dating and online dating tips, seeing as she has been active on the latter for the past 15 years.  But in regards to friends, I tend to meet friends at work, school, and via organizations/clubs/committees, and I have actually met some of my very best friends through these channels, notably work. 

But every once and a while, and it seems to be my specialty, I'll meet a new friend whilst on vacation.  Whether it be a friend met while camping with the family at Carpinteria as a kid, on a Hawaiian graduation trip with my girlfriends, while in Kauai with friends for a wedding, on our family Christmas Caribbean cruise, or the best one and most recent one to date - while in the "Hamps" for Labor Day.  Is it that I can completely be myself because I am relaxed or could it be because I am romanticized by the exotic location/s, new destination/experiences, and the fact that we have a limited amount of time, therefore the excitement is dialed up?  Whatever it may be and I have not quite figured out just yet what the recipe of success for these new friendships is, I have just about mastered the art of meeting new friends via vacation.  This latest vacation friend has become a real-life friend, as we both live in NYC, albeit different boroughs.  And only time will tell where this friendship leads, but it has certainly kept the 'exciting new adventures of 2013 momentum' going.  We'll call this friend Tucumcari for now.  More on that later, and just why he's the best out of any of these 'friends' I have made to date.  =D

Willin' by Little Feat

I been warped by the rain, driven by the snow
I'm drunk and dirty don't ya know, and I'm still, willin'
Out on the road late at night, Seen my pretty Alice in every head light
Alice, Dallas Alice

I've been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me: weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign
I'll be willin', to be movin'

I've been kicked by the wind, robbed by the sleet
Had my head stoved in, but I'm still on my feet and I'm still... willin'
Now I smuggled some smokes and folks from Mexico
Baked by the sun, every time I go to Mexico, and I'm still

And I been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me: weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign
I'll be willin', to be movin

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/little+feat/willin_20343954.html

Rufus: A biography - the kitten years

By now you should know that I have a cat named Rufus.  His full name is Rufus Legolas Hartman, he's a domestic short hair, and he's a little over 2 years old.  I found some old photos and thought it'd be fun to tell the story of the first few months after I got him.

Growing up, we had all sorts of animals.  The first ones I remember are Sunny, a golden retriever, and Corey, a shih tzu.  There were lots of cats - Snuggles, Mitsy 1, Mitsy 2, Garfield and Barney, and probably a few I don't remember...  Sweet Molly our little terrier/shih tzu mutt was a crazy girl who chased airplanes, ran fast like a bullet, and barked at birds flying overhead.  We had Miss Piggy the guinea pig, a few rabbits, canaries, Buddy the cockatiel, and an endless array of awesome fish.  There was just the two of us girls so we preferred fuzzy, soft animals versus scaly reptiles.  

As an adult I had a bunch of betta fish, and then I got Henry the hamster from my cousin Jessie when her hamster had babies.  I'd always wanted a hamster, and Henry got a sweet Habitrail Ovo cage to roam around in.  But Henry was tiny and liked to bite me and I was always afraid he'd get lost in the apartment and he really didn't like to cuddle...  When Gabi and I lived together, she adopted Paxton and Paisley, sister cats who were soft and little and loved chasing Henry in his ball, but who weren't super cuddly and were skittish with strangers.  A while after Henry the hamster died (RIP lil buddy) and after Loren and I broke up, I started thinking about adopting a cat.  By that time I was living alone on Mar Vista, and while I had a busy social schedule and was always at work or the gym, I really wanted a pet.  The only problem was that my landlord didn't allow animals, although he didn't allow them at the Allen Ave apartment either and we got away with having Paxton and Paisley.  I knew I couldn't have a dog because they need to be walked regularly, they bark loudly, and they need a lot of attention.  Cats, on the other hand, take themselves to the bathroom, they meow but usually only when they want to be pet or are hungry (versus if someone delivers a package), and you can leave them alone at night without worrying too much.  I am a big proponent of adopting animals, I think that animals that are rescued are more loving... somehow they realize that you saved their life.  I looked a lots of pictures on various SPCA or similar websites, and I really loved grey tabby cats, or silver tabby cats.  Of all the cats in my life, I've had calico, black & white, orange tabby, grey, and white & grey.  I don't usually care for purebreds because of the inbreeding, the cost, and the fact that somebody probably bred the parents on purpose and we already have enough dogs and cats that needs homes.  Male cats are supposed to be more affectionate, so I knew I was looking for a male silver/grey tabby cat.  I couldn't pursue getting a cat through an adoption or rescue agency because most agencies verify with the landlord that pets are allowed.  I knew it was only a matter of time until somebody posted about kittens for adoption via Facebook, so I just sat back and waited.  

Finally, on June 5th, my BFF Jennifer's sister-in-law Teresa posted a photo on Facebook of three kittens that needed a home.  Teresa and John had two cats that weren't fixed and one thing led to another and boom, they had kittens!  I saw a cute little white and grey face and I knew that this was my chance!  

June 5, 2011 - the first time I saw the cutest kitten ever.

 I contacted Teresa and she said that the white one was indeed still available.  We arranged a time for me to come visit so I could meet the kitties and see if I connected with one or the other.

My first time meeting Rufus

I went over to Teresa and John's house one day when I needed to be in La Verne, and got to see all three little kittens.  Teresa and John have four boys, and the boys had been playing with the kittens which was awesome for the boys and the kitties.  There is something magical about kittens, especially when you're young, and having four boys around meant that these cats were sure to be socialized with humans!  The two youngest boys were there when I visited, and we all visited and watched the kittens play, and eat, and sleep, and I learned that the one I was interested in was named Joey Harry Potter.  Considering that I'm a big Harry Potter fan, I took that as yet another good sign.  I hugged Teresa and promised I'd be back when JHP was weaned and ready to go home with his new mama - me!

A couple weeks later, Teresa called me up and let me know that Joey Harry Potter was ready to go home.  I had bought all necessary supplies; litter box, litter, scoop, cardboard scratching post, kitten food, cute flower food bowls (he might be a boy but I'm sure not), and a soft-sided carrier.  I put a fluffy old towel in and drove to La Verne to get my new cat.  Teresa answered the door with a smile, and let me know that one of the boys was having a little bit of a hard time understanding that JHP was going to a new home (FYI - I don't want to put kids' names on the blog, just for safety's sake, so I usually refer to my friends' and family's children very generically).  I promised to post photos on Facebook and text her photos from time to time.  The sweetest part was when Teresa's son brought me JHP and said goodbye, it was so cute because he had tears in his eyes but was brave and came up to me and put JHP/Rufus right into my hands.  Little boys are so adorable.

I drove home and we settled in.  Rufus meowed a bit, lonely for his siblings and mama, but he calmed down and got used to his new surroundings.  I put his litterbox and food in my room for the first night, so that he didn't have to go far and wouldn't get lost.  

Rufus' first night at home with me.  Look how little he is!

Kitten Rufus the morning after I brought him home

I did allow Rufus to sleep on my bed when he was little, and I still do.  I never bought a bed for him because... why?  I had a couch, an armchair, a bed, and a carpeted floor.  But I never let him sleep on top of me or up on my pillows.  To this day he sleeps on the corner of the foot of the bed, unless it's really cold and then he'll come close and snuggle up with me.  He also sleeps on the couch or my chair (when there's not laundry on it).  Rufus is not territorial, so if Candace or Lauren slept over, Rufus would still hop on the bed to sleep or would sleep on a chair or couch as usual.  He'll even cuddle with someone who is staying at my house while I'm out of town.  Rufus is really not picky or skittish when it comes to people, which is great.

Of course, after I brought Rufus home I read up on cat body language, and I was happy to read that when a cat rolls on his back and shows his tummy, that means he feels safe and happy.  I was still new at having my own cat, so I was very encouraged to see that Rufus was happy.  I'm not good at speaking in meows, but body language I can read.  Twitchy tail means he's up to trouble.  Poofy raccoon tail means he's freaked out.  Paw over the face means the sun is too bright while he's napping.  It's easy, really.

Having a kitten means you have to be prepared for them to get into everything.  And onto everything.  Rufus loved jumping up on my bookshelf and he wasn't graceful about it, so I had to relocate the fragile tchotchkes that I had up there.  The votives and picture frames on my nightstand were relegated to the drawer for a while.  When Rufus was a tiny kitten, he could barely jump up on anything, but he did what he could, jumping and running around the couch.  He figured out how to jump up on the armchair in my room and then he could reach the bed (my bed is up on risers so it's pretty high for a kitten).  He'd prowl along the windowsill above my bed, climbing the screens and chasing the birds.  The flocks of wild parrots that roam around Pasadena drove him insane.  And he kept a good watch out the front window - he even developed a relationship with the nice couple that lived next door to me (which I found out a few months afterward).  

Taking a nap is serious business, and it's all about location.  Rufus loved sleeping on me.  Or at least touching me.

Oh and I bet you're wondering why the name Rufus?  Well, in April 2011 I went to New Orleans with my BFF Jamie.  While we were there, we ran into one of my favorite actors, Rufus Sewell.  I don't usually bother actors or celebrities, but I just had to say something.  So I asked for a photo, and then Jamie and I chatted with Rufus and his agent while listening to some amazing jazz.  Rufus Sewell was in New Orleans filming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  It's an awesome movie, if you haven't seen it yet.  So that's where the Rufus came from.

Me and Rufus Sewell.  I'm usually photogenic, but next to this guy?  Not so much...

And I know lots of animals don't have middle names, but mine does.  If you're not a geek like me, then you might not know who Legolas is.  Well, he's an elf in the Lord of the Rings movies, and he's silvery and beautiful and one of my favorite characters, so I knew my little silver tabby just had to be named Legolas.  But I like classic names for animals (ahem... Henry the hamster), so Rufus was clearly the choice for his first name.  It's still kind of funny to go to the vet with him and have his name called out, "Rufus Hartman, room one!"  I get interesting reactions and comments about his name, which cracks me up.  And I started tagging photos on Instagram with #rufusthecat, and apparently there are more than one Rufus the cats out there.  There's also a cat named Rufus that's a Disney character, but rest assured that my Rufus is not named after a Disney character.  Even if my Rufus is quite a character.

I love looking through old photos, Rufus was really such a cute and fluffy kitten.  If you ever get the chance to adopt a kitten, you should!  Although I'm not sure they'll ever be as adorable as my lil guy...

Just lounging around, his coloring was so much lighter as a kitten.

His nose is more pink now, but he still has the same tabby markings and adorable little white paws.  He's mostly grey and tan now, more like his tail.

Kitten teeth - they are vicious.  Yaaaaaaawn.

Look at that little face.  And those pretty eyes!  And those itsy bitsy whiskers.

Just laying around on the top of my couch.

I picked him because he coordinated with my furniture.  Ha, just kidding!

Rufus was a snuggle bug from the very beginning, which is exactly what I wanted.  

Sometimes, especially if I've been away for a while, I will pick Rufus up and snuggle with him, and then he'll fall asleep like this.  He's about 4 times bigger now but still as cute.

I think having a furry friend or a small child is kind of the same to some degree.  I had a lot of stuff to do when I took this photo but Rufus was sleeping on my lap so I was captive for a while.  I didn't want to disturb him, of course.

My friend Stacey has an adorable Scottish Fold named Maynard who always sits up like a human, she calls it the Buddha pose.  I caught Rufus sitting up like this and I had to share the photo with Stacey.  Rufus still does it from time to time, but I can't usually get a photo of it.

I always find it interesting how cats can sleep in the weirdest positions.  I call it cat yoga.

Rufus still has the most adorable face, and I still have that duvet cover.  I know a lot of folks who aren't a fan of cats, and for that I'm sorry.  Because cats are pretty awesome furry friends.  They have interesting personalities, they clean themselves (no awkward bath time required), and they provide endless entertainment.  And thankfully, no morning walks required, because I am so not a morning person.  I have loads of stories about mister Rufus Legolas Hartman, and too many photos, I'm sure.  But I had to start at the beginning, because you really had to see how cute he was!

Oh, and don't worry, I don't talk about Rufus when I go on a first date with a guy.  I might mention I have a cat because I'll pick Rufus over cat allergies any day, but I don't tell stories and I don't show photos unless they ask repeatedly.  I'm not a crazy cat lady, I'm just a girl with a cat.  I save the cat stories and slideshow for at least the second date.

Béisbol

Oh yes, the great national pastime.  Baseball is one of my favorite sports to watch, play, and talk about.  I'm not a huge follower in regard to statistics, etc., but I love the game and when asked I will always go to a game.  I'm certainly not as much of a baseball fanatic as I am a football fanatic (Go Texans!  Beat the Ravens on Sunday!).  Funny... now that I live in Brooklyn, I'm intrigued by the history of baseball a bit more.  I think next week I'll wander over to the Brooklyn Public Library and check out a book or two on the subject.  

I always have fun at baseball games.  First of all, there's the game.  Amazing athletes who are paid to play baseball.  They are also usually big, hunky men in tight pants with broad shoulders, so needless to say it's not hard for me to pay attention.  Speaking of pants...

I greatly prefer the pants style that the player on the left is wearing.  The "old fashioned" version where you can see their socks.  The more modern version, on the right, are not my cup of tea.  I have a very serious opinion about this.

Besides the beefy men, there's other things I love about going to a baseball game.  The peanuts, for example.  I don't know what it is, but the peanuts at baseball games are fantastically roasted, incredibly salty, and perfect in every way.  They are nicely complimented by a cold, overpriced beer.  If I'm at Dodger stadium, a Dodger dog is in order.  With onions, mustard, relish, and sauerkraut if they have it.  I love the cheesy organ music, the seventh inning stretch, the camaraderie between strangers who have come together to root for their favorite team.  Games are in the summer or fall, so being outside in gorgeous weather - ah I love it!  Oh, and the bobbleheads.  Useless tchotchkes that have no purpose but always seem to agree with me.  Yes, Kelly, I agree Kelly, whatever you say, Kelly.  They just keep nodding their agreement and approval!

I found a few photos of me at Dodgers games through the years, although this doesn't document every game I've been to.  Although, there are rare occasions where I attend a baseball game at another stadium...

Me and my BFF Candace years ago, she got free tickets to an Angels game (great seats so we couldn't refuse).  I actually wore red in support of the Angels, a rarity for me.  They played the Red Sox and Coco Crisp was playing for Boston at the time, so of course I had to make a joke.  So I shouted, "Yo mama so fat she named you Coco Crisp!" Candace and I busted up laughing, but the O.C. fans were all too busy on their Blackberries to even notice how funny that joke was.  Lame.  I prefer Dodgers stadium even when they're playing the Pirates or some other horrible team.

Me with some of my ZTA sisters back in the day, rooting on the Dodgers in dear ole Chavez Ravine.  Christen, Maria, me, Marcy, and Felicia.  I love these gals.  Marcy has an amazing collection of Dodgers hats, I'm envious every time she posts a photo of a new one.

The fam-bam!  We have always tried to go to at least one Dodgers game a year.  This particular year, I thought I had scored some bad-ass tickets, but ummmmm we were four rows from the top.  Great area of the field, but way higher of a section than I thought.  Sometimes I can't read maps well, apparently...

Me and another of my BFFs, Lauren.  We've been to a bunch of Dodgers games together and we always have so much fun!  We even went on a double date there (triple date if you count our buddy Frank and his date?), which was way fun.  The double date was on a night celebrating Tommy Lasorda's birthday, so they let us onto the field (the outfield only), they played Frank Sinatra, and they set off fireworks.  My date took my hand and asked me to dance, so we slow-danced around the outfield of Dodgers stadium to Frank Sinatra while fireworks went off.  It's a shame that guy didn't work out because that is definitely a chick-flick-worthy story.

These are probably the best seats I've ever had at Dodgers stadium, when I went with Lauren earlier this year.

Megan and I went to our first baseball game in NY at Citi Field in Queens, she took me for my birthday and we had great seats.  And of course we wore our Dodgers blue!  We sat next to some nice older men (Twins! and a friend. Married and harmless), and they were very curious about us LA girls and why we were in NY and we talked through the entire game, when we weren't wandering the stadium.

Oh, and Lauren... I'll be representing Dodgers blue tonight at the Yankees game versus the SF Giants.  I don't mind being that obnoxious person who wears gear from a team that isn't even playing that night.  I miss you!

Spin spin spin spin spin

Are you dizzy yet?

I love spinning.  For those of you who don't know, spinning refers to an indoor cycling class.  A bunch of stationary bikes are arranged in rows, with knobs that control resistance and fully adjustable seats and handlebars.  Lots of people in spandex and yoga pants perch on the tiny, hard, little seats in order to crank out an hour or so of cardio.  The calorie burn is amazing, the feeling (or lack thereof) in your lady parts for the first few classes is something you get used to, and the endorphins are fantastic.  Spinning has been around for decades, but I just fell in love with it in the past few years.  Not that I have always enjoyed it or even wanted to take a spin class...  

I tried it once upon a time, in 2005 or so, and I couldn't even make it for the first 10 minutes of the class.  My crotch hurt, my heart was about to pump out of my chest, and then the instructor told us to STAND UP while we were on the bike and keep pedaling.  The 25 year old me decided that was impossible, so I gracefully flopped off of the bike and went back to my elliptical machine where I tried to avoid all of the former classmates and neighbors and various people from my childhood that were there at the gym with me, wanting to talk, while I just wanted to sweat away some calories and regrets.  Oh, La Verne LA Fitness, how I don't miss you.

Fast forward to 2011.  I was going through a lot of personal change and challenges, and trying new things was just a part of the norm.  I was working with an angel of a therapist, Janice, to deal with my issues.  I'm blessed in the regard that my issues are not front page news, and I've not had horribly tragic events in my life, but I still have things that I deal with (or don't deal with) and need to talk about.  If you haven't ever seen a therapist, I highly recommend it, just to have someone to sort your brain out with you!  Although I will admit, it takes a certain amount of courage to be able to be honest with yourself and take accountability for your actions and inactions and life choices.  But anyway, I was working with Janice around three major, interrelated areas in my life: my weight, my relationships, and my depression.  I found Janice through one of my best friends, former roommate, college classmate, sorority sister, and former colleague, miss Gabi.  Through Gabi, I also found spin, in a way.  Gabi had really gotten into spin when we lived together on Allen Ave, and would go to class a few times a week.  She'd always ask me if I wanted to join, but I was still freaked out from my prior experience with spinning, and so I avoided that for a few years.  I can't remember if Gabi ever did get me in the spin class while she lived in Pasadena, but if she did I blocked it out.  But in 2011, I was talking with Janice about spin and how I was scared to try it again, and of course that led me to set a goal to go to my first spin class.  I had joined a different gym, abandoning my old standby LA Fitness for a new scene and new energy - Bodies in Motion.  It was primarily a boxing gym, with a legitimate boxing ring, rows of heavy bags, but it also had an awesome cycling room, pilates equipment, and an aerobics room with a spring floor.  It was an awesome place, and I knew absolutely nobody there.  So I really had no excuse to be embarrassed!  Which meant I had to conquer my spin fears for once and for all...

My first spinning class was an experience, to be sure.  I got there early, and this energetic little jumping bean of energy and happiness was bopping around the room introducing himself to people and asking if they were new, etc.  He made his way over to me and introduced himself as Brent, the instructor for the spin class.  Brent helped me get my bike set up correctly and when I told him I had never done a spin class before, he told me these very important words, "Focus on yourself, challenge yourself, listen to your body.  I'll be giving you instruction and guidance of where you want to be, on a scale from 1-10, but make sure you are on your own scale.  You'll hear me tell the class to get up into different positions, don't worry about that right now.  Just sit on the bike and get used to the cadence, the rhythm, the motion of your legs and your breathing.  Don't compare yourself to the other people in the room, this is your ride and what's important is that you do your best but don't injure yourself."  Oh, thank GOD I don't have to stand up!!!  Mind you, I probably weighed about 340 pounds at this point in my life, a solid size 22/24.  But I got on that bike and pedaled away and really enjoyed the music and the movement and the sweat that just poured out of every gland possible.  Brent was encouraging and positive and his energy was infectious.  By the end of the class, I was winded and soaked through, but I made it the entire time!  I was proud.  Until I got off the bike and stood up, and then I was dizzy.  I had never fainted before, but I was 99.9999% sure that I was about to faint right then and there.  I started seeing stars ping around in my vision, even as it closed like a dark tunnel, and Brent's voice started to sound like we were in a spin class under the sea.  I held on to the bike seat for dear life and focused on my breathing - long deep breaths bringing oxygen into my lungs, calmly, one at a time.  A million thoughts were running through my head, "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!"  "If I fall I'll hit my face and bash out some of my teeth and my Mom will be PISSED"  "If I fall, will they be able to pick me up?  They'll have to move the bikes out in order to get my body out of the room"  "I wonder if anyone else has passed out before" "Don't pass out, you fool!"  "Those pedals look vicious"  Thankfully, my deep breathing saved me and while I didn't do the post-ride stretches with the rest of the class, I didn't pass out and that was really all I cared about.  I drank my water and carefully tested out if letting go of the bike seat was a good idea yet.  Brent was at the front of the class talking about when he was teaching spin next and also that he was a personal trainer and had a few spots left for new clients.  I had talked with Janice about hiring a personal trainer, and was fighting it, but at that moment I knew it was meant to be.  Brent ended up working with me for the majority of my weight loss, and was another angel in my life.  He had never trained a morbidly obese person before, so he did a lot of research on what to do to prevent injury (and heart attack, if we're being honest).  Brent challenged me, he kept me motivated, he made me feel as though anything were possible and that I really could lose this weight.  I would see Brent 2-3 times a week in the morning for an hour each session, and then of course at spin class in the evenings.  I became a regular at the gym, and even tried kickboxing for the first time (loved it! miss it! want to do kickboxing here in NYC!).  Janice helped me deal with emotional and mental baggage, Brent helped me deal with physical baggage, and they were angels in my life who have forever left an impact.  I still think of both of them quite often, and I'm forever looking for a spin instructor who is as good as Brent was.

After surviving my first few spin classes, I opted to buy some padded cycling shorts, because my lady parts were really sore (and partially numb).  To be honest, I've only worn them maybe twice, because it reminds me of junior high.  When you first become a woman, maxi pads are the toiletry of choice, and back in the early 1990s, they didn't have these amazingly thin products that I see advertised on TV today.  As if ladies need to see a commercial to remind them to buy that stuff?  Whatever.  But also, I didn't wear the padded shorts a lot because you really do get used to the seat, and also the more I went to spin class the better I got at spinning and the less I would have to sit in the saddle.  Brent also recommended that if I was going to keep spinning, that I get some shoes with cleats so I could clip in and really be able to maximize my workout.  So I went to my local bike shop and bought some Bontrager cycling shoes, men's of course, because I have big feet and they didn't have ladies' cycling shoes in the store in my size...

My awesome spin shoes.  

I have the smaller, two-point cleats on right now because that's what the bikes at our current gym have.  It really just depends on the bikes at your gym, get whatever cleats match with their pedals or just use the cages if you don't have spin shoes yet.  But I prefer the three-point cleats because they're more secure.  I've already spun right out of the bikes at Crunch, with one leg still attached and whizzing around in a circle as I tried to hit the knob and stop my bike while the other leg dangled off to the side.  I narrowly avoided a vicious gash on my delicate shins.  

Spinning is definitely one of my favorite ways to exercise, it really gets me sweaty and even my worst ride is burning hundreds of calories.  I also have a secret love for dance/trance/dubstep/electronic music, which is often used in spin class.  And spinning can really be a cathartic experience as well.  I started spinning in early 2011, not long after I had broken up with my long-time boyfriend.  It wasn't a nasty breakup, but of course I was emotional and hurt and I listened to a lot of Adele and Sara Bareilles.  So when I was in class one day and we were cranking up a hill and a remix came on that was an Adele song, it hit me right in the gut.  My face flushed, tears sprung to my eyes, and I got that dimpled, wobbly chin that you get when you're trying not to cry.  But then I realized that nobody was looking at me, my face was already beet-red and dripping with sweat and the music was up LOUD, so I just let it all out.  I pushed those pedals down with the beat, and bawled my eyes out while I sang along angrily.  Talk about physical therapy!

Sweaty after a great ride in Pasadena, earlier this year

Some of my favorite spinning moments have been with one of my BFFs, Jamie.  She works near Pasadena and we would meet for a spin/din date.  Spinning and then dinner, along with best friend estrogen therapy, talk about a win-win!  We were going to spin when Jamie and her husband Tony were visiting for my birthday, but it didn't pan out.  Which means she'll just have to visit again so we can spin at my gym here in Brooklyn!

These days, I consider myself a spinning veteran.  I like to get there early so I can set my bike up, get my legs going, and really get in the zone mentally.  I have pet peeves about spinning, and I laughed my butt off when I saw this post about the different types of indoor cyclists.  Especially the Lance Armstrong.  WHY do people wear their pro gear to an indoor cycling class?!?!  I've encouraged many friends (and Megan) to try spinning, and I will drag anyone around me to class with me.  I still find new challenges as I try different instructors - push-ups on the bike, balancing with no hands, different interval challenges, etc.  Sometimes I don't go for a couple weeks and when I get back in the saddle I am so happy and excited and I realize how much I miss it!  I even went to a spin class on our Christmas cruise last year, and I plan on doing it again this year.  Sitting on a tiny bike, pedaling like crazy to music while the boat rocks back and forth on the waves is a particularly interesting challenge, let me tell you.

Tonight, Megan is going to a work event and can't make it home in time for spin class.  So I'm going on my own, which I'm totally ok with.  One of the things I love most about the gym is that even if I go by myself, I'm not alone.  There is guaranteed to be some other person there working on their goals.  I really look forward to a great ride, so I better hydrate in anticipation of all the sweat I'm going to generate.  Who wants to come with?

Sometimes we get a lil crazy after spinning.  Not surprising, I'm sure.