Merry Christmas

The lola's (grandma's) Christmas Eve.

Tita's (aunt's), Tito (uncle) and one Lolo (grandpa).

Bored cousins young enough to be my own children.

The ironic thing about this blog - set up to show my family and friends the other things that interest me besides my love for my work and my passion for running, is that the pursuit of those things, the time and energy that it takes, leaves me unable to blog about them. There is a saying I have heard in exercise that seems applicable here, "if you can talk you are not going hard enough". Ah well so it goes. I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet however, primarily because my other reason for blogging, the same reason why I kept journals when I was younger, was to keep a record of experiences that I can revisit later in life. It is something to read down the line if I am blessed with a long life or posts to share with friends. My first post is still my favorite. I've shared it many times and will most likely continue to do so.

For now Merry Christmas and since this might be one of those posts I may get to read again later, a note to myself;

Rick you are reminded this Christmas season of 2010 that no matter how old you get or how far you've come, you will always have a place with family. Celebrate them while you are able, while they are still around. It also doesn't matter where you are. You like to talk smack about Corona, CA but deep down you enjoy the company. Oh and P.S., stop hating on Christmas. You hate all the shopping and commercialism but other people enjoy it. Wipe the inner sneer off and get off your horse. Hahaha stop being such a curmudgeon. You will turn into Kirby at 39.

SFMOMA

Two weekends ago I was in Williams, Medford and Ashland, Oregon for a big race. I celebrated another finish by not running at all this past week. In fact this past Saturday I had intended to just lay about the apartment, maybe work on some personal projects, maybe not. However the day was too good to spend indoors. We had blue skies and warm temperatures. Our Indian summer was in full swing, seemed like a shame not to take advantage of it. So after a hearty lunch I took my sketchbook, my camera and went walking around the city. I visited a few places, stopped off for a second lunch and ultimately ended up at the SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art). I like the gift shop, always fun and entertaining. I like the books, the cool funky gadgets, the posters and the t-shirts. The shirts are great but wow I ain't spending $36 dollars on a t-shirt. As always I like to venture into the interior just to look at the space. As luck would have it I ran into my neighbor who works in the museum. She informed me that if I wanted tickets in the future to just drop her a note in her mailbox. She also told me that the last half hour is always free - something I didn't know. Not much time so I just concentrated on admiring the rooms and interior of the museum. Oh I looked at a few pieces too but it was really the interior that grabbed me this time. Okay, the interior and Alexander Calder's work. While admiring the space I came upon this one thought; what if for just one day we can just admire the space for what it is. I would like to revel in the empty white rooms and hard wood floors. I like art, I'm just trying to imagine the space without it. I do have to admit however that the new rooftop sculpture garden would be quite boring without the sculptures. Anyway it was a great end to my walkabout in the city.

Main staircase inside the museum.

Main staircase inside the museum.

Beyond the glass, the new rooftop sculpture garden, great on a sunny day.

The very top of the museum.

Wedding Time

J.P. and Janet.

The last two years I haven't seen much of J.P. or Janet for that matter. We all met through the triathlon club, served on the club board together. It was Janet who got me into Facebook - "c'mon Rick we are all in here, join in on the fun". It was J.P. who talked me into taking over his spot as the run director as he took on the responsibility of being club president. There were parties, runs, bike rides and lots of meetings. Then Janet left for Kellogg's in Chicago for graduate school and J.P. moved out of San Francisco, back to a smaller place in Marin to save money on rent. For the next two years they traveled back and forth between the two cities every three weeks or so, J.P. more so than Janet. In the end their love persevered. Both are back in San Francisco and I was honored to be at their wedding. Just a feel good story all around.

Enjoy the pictures.

J.P. and Janet.

Groomsmen and their pal Angela.

The Venue.

Two friends I would like to see at their own wedding one day.

Yours truly on the far right. I clean up okay.

The tables were named after trails and bike paths.

The last wedding celebration I attended was theirs. Such goofballs, made for each other.

Thank God it's July!

June was a tough month. I know I hardly post on here but I actually missed a whole month! It was tough because there was a lot going on, more than the usual.

I had a big race in the middle of the month as well as some time scheduled with my mom and relatives in southern California. I was looking forward to all of that but my stepdad, the man who raised me, was also in the hospital and his progress was like the terrain in my trail race - a series of ups and downs. His condition as you can imagine was a source of concern and stress for the whole family. At the end of May I actually flew out to Orlando to be with him for a week. I dedicated my run in San Diego to him, I've never run for someone, and the week after he passed away. It was tough news for the family but I was also thankful that it was not a sudden death. We had time to say our goodbyes and ponder the possibility of a life without him. I am especially thankful to have seen him one last time.

Ah Dad... what else is there to say that hasn't been said already. I am the man I am largely because of you. You are truly missed.

James S. Frederick Sr., my dad.

Music

You know where's a good place to listen to music without having to pay for it, a great place to check out music from artists you are unfamiliar with before committing to paying for an album - YouTube. The 30 second snippets that they give you on iTunes or Amazon is just not enough sometimes.

A good friend, Katelyn Benton, an artist herself, used this song on one of her race videos. Loved it and I finally got the name of the song from her today. Check it out and after doing that you should check out the second video which is Katelyn's. She's pretty darn talented and is a great ultra-marathoner on top of that. I am always surprised at what my ultra-marathoning friends do outside of running.

Video of The Cinematic Orchestra's "To Build A Home" featuring Patrick Watson Live @ The Barbican in London, 2007. As heard on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. "To Build A Home" is found on The Cinematic Orchestra's most recent album Ma Fleur

Katelyn Benton, Impossible Love. Winner of the 2009 JPFolks award for BEST MUSIC VIDEO. Off of the EP Once, available at digstation.com Song features Big Head Todd and the Monster's Jeremy Lawton on lap steel and organ and Captain Pablo's Corey Schreppel (drums) and Dave Stephens (Bass). Directed by Brandon Nicholas. Cinematography by James Mann.

Just Incredible

I've heard about him before, forgotten and was reminded this evening. Gotta love Facebook and friends posting their favorite videos. Simply amazing.

And It's Already April

So I finished reading the book. Actually I finished it a couple of weeks ago. Really liked it, I'm still thinking about it in fact. Now I go around looking at dogs and saying "What are you thinking? Speak to me dog, speak to me!" Of course mostly I'm just thinking it. I mean c'mon I don't want to look like a lunatic in the city, there's enough people here who talk to themselves. That's a market I don't want any share in.

Speaking of dogs though here is one I've been lucky to dog sit. Huck is much bigger than this now, they grow scary fast. One day they are a pup, the next day a large dog.

Work is still slow but I'm am so damned busy. It's crazy how I can be so busy without working a full-time job. How did I get anything done when I was working 40-50 hours a week. Huh. My theory is that I'm just faster and more efficient when things are hectic. Just a theory. I run like that. When I'm training I think to myself, "Jeez you are so slow, how do you ever finish well?" But when it's time to boogie, the boogie is in the legs. Anyway till next time.

Huck from Rick Gaston on Vimeo.