The Banal Chew

I wonder as I wander

Time is flowing.
Life is confusing.
The US is exasperating.
New South Wales is burning.

In spite of the above, I am enjoying a small renaissance. Okay, maybe it's not technically a rebirth. Resuscitation might be more apt.

Excuse me for gloating. Now that my respite from social media over the past few weeks is finished, I am enjoying a small dose of self-approbation. You see, the break was unlike others I've taken in the past. During those, I usually squandered the break by floundering, mired in a muck of confusion and cheerlessness. Oh sure, I'd dig into the small pile of crisis-survival and here's-how-to-be-happy books that languish on my desk, but a general sense of disconnect prevailed. And I failed to achieve much of anything I felt was useful or worthy of such a radical step as deactivating my Facebook profile. 

This time, I am very [ie, VERY] happy to report that I somehow managed to defeat that cycle. How? I am not quite sure. I believe it was a combination of factors that came together to allow for an evolution of spirit. To be honest, I possessed no truly solid plan. I did, however, know that this time something needed to be different. I had a few items on my to-do checklist, but noticeably absent from the list was the one thing that had always appeared: to stop feeling so bad that I still feel so bad about my experiences over the past couple of years. I did not intentionally (or consciously) remove that item. I simply had other, more tangible things I wanted to do, like finally get my bicycles in decent working order. To play my clarinet. To reconnect with a few ingredients of my former, more contented self. 

A new friend helped me with my bikes, and I've ridden them quite a lot since. I've joined a community band and this weekend will enjoy my first public performance in a very long time on the instrument to which I nearly devoted my professional life.

As I said to my therapist recently, I feel like the crisis-intervention mode is finally behind me. I still have moments of intense despair. I still lament. I still rage. But I do it less often, in small and discreet eruptions and with a sense of awareness that I have never had to this point. 

I cannot say that I am moving forward with any real confidence in anything other than the motion is just that. It perplexes me that a return to activities from my past are allowing me to move ahead, but I don't try to understand life. I want to go back to living it.

Cycling around Melbourne

Who knew that losing my jobs would lead to weight gain? I guess it's because I have more time to stuff my gob now. And drink.

Give or take a few pounds, I have been the same weight since I graduated from high school.  But now I think I am close to weighing more than I ever have, and when you're my height and build, an extra 5kg is really noticeable. We don't have a scale, thank goodness.

I'll turn it around, however, and in true warrior fashion, I have taken advantage of the early spring weather, jumped on my Mongoose and cycled over 100km in the past two days. As my grandpa would say, my tired is hanging out.

Yesterday, I cycled around Royal Park and then up the Railway Canal Path, and then a bit of the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. It's a decent ride, but not terribly photo-worthy along the segments that I rode. 

Cycling the Railway Canal Path. That's the Melbourne CBD in the distance. It's actually much closer than it looks in this photo.

 

Today's ride was much nicer. I took the Capital City Trail to the Merri Creek Trail, cycling all the way from our home in Brunswick to Coburg Lake. The weather was equally spectacular as yesterday, but today the paths and surrounding scenery were better. It was also a more demanding ride, which I appreciated from a fitness standpoint, although I fear that I will be moving very slowly the next couple of days.

 

Along the Merri Creek Trail
(click pics to enlarge)

 

There are some great bridges to cross on this ride.

 

Public art from recycled items

 

The dam at Coburg Lake

 

Coburg Lake is teeming with aquatic birds.

Alert parents

 

More public art

 

And some awesome playground art for the young ones

 

Pooped

 

Scenery like this helps fight the fatigue.

How To Appreciate Advertising...Without Really Trying

I had hopes at the beginning of the week that I might be Australia's next "Glenn".  (If you've ever been to the movies at a mainstream cinema in Sydney, chances are you know who I mean.)

When I got home from errand-running on Monday, I had a number of messages on the phone from a casting firm with whom I'd signed up a few months ago.  They'd just put my name forward for a television commercial, and the directors were interested in auditioning me.  Oooh!  When I called to get more info and asked for tips on what they were looking for, I was told they were seeking men, aged 25-38 (oh, flattered!), quirky in appearance, and with an indie movie look.  Hmm, okay.  They emailed me the script, and upon reading it, I quickly realized the directors were basically looking for guys who could play dorks and losers. 

"Well," I said, winking at myself in the mirror, "I can do that!"  My character actor days go wayyyy back.  A critic didn't once call me the Barney Fife of the stage for nothing!

So I went to the audition, sauntering through the Professional Entrance of Fox Studios like the world's shortest Hugh Jackman.  Then I saw the line-up. 

Anyway, I did okay.  I even made the call-backs.  No further calls yet, however.  At least it was a little something to tickle my thespian pickle again.  I met some nice people, too.  Apparently, I should get a bona fide agent to really score some work, be it in commercials or other.  The mind ponders.

Speaking of ads, have a look at the following.  It's definitely worth a giggle, and the serious message might even have an impact on you.  As a cyclist, it's particularly meaningful to me.

 

(Click the pic to open a new window and watch.)

Blue Skies Again...Finally!

Once again, the famous Sydney weather is back! 

Awaking to a clear and wond'rous blue sky, my first thought was cycling.  It has been a long, wet summer in Sydney (not that there's anything wrong with that), and that makes a breezy, sun-filled day especially gratifying. 

I jumped out of bed, fixed the fellas some scrambled eggs and toast, gulped some coffee and headed for the bike lockers.  Zane, desperately needing a little activity that doesn't involve either a Wii or television remote, came along.  We headed south from our house in Waterloo, through the industrial areas in Zetland and Mascot (thankfully deserted on a weekend day), around the Sydney International Airport terminal, through the Rockdale Wetlands area and stopped at the Kyeemagh Boat Ramp. 

Mark met us there in the car, and we locked up our bikes and all drove a few blocks to Brighton Le Sands for some fish and chips.

After our grease fest (followed by some eye-candy for desert on the Botany Bay beach), we returned to the bikes.  Zane had decided he'd had enough riding and wanted to head back with Mark.  Not me.  I was in no way finished. 

Mark, his face red with frustration and cursing like a debauched seaman, finally got Zane's bicycle in the backseat, and they piled in the car and headed homeward.  I remounted my Mongoose and took off to see if I could find the bike path that follows the Cooks River. 

With a little help from my Nokia Navigator, I finally discovered the path and cycled over to Canterbury.  At this point I thought I should probably unbuckle my weekend-warrior gauntlet and head back to Waterloo before I did myself in.

All in all, I think I rode 50 to 60 kilometers today.  I guess it's no wonder that my legs are a bit jiggly...and that this glass of wine tastes so good.

Pedal power

In the interest of blog karma, considering the number of YouTube embeds I have done lately, there will be no Affable YouTube Monday this week. 

Instead, I bring you more potentially annoying descriptions and photos of family activities.

Yesterday was the 13th annual Sydney SpringCycle.  This was the first year I have done the ride.  With Zane's Christmas gift of a new bike last year, a big step up from the starter bicycle he  previously owned, he was able to join me on the ride.  I was delighted to have the companion.

Our ride, 40 kilometers in total, started in North Sydney and proceeded south across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, through the Rocks, around Darling Harbour to Pyrmont and our first rest stop. 

(you clicks the pics to enlarge)

 
8:00 a.m. at the starting point in North Sydney.  Notice how fresh we look.

We're off to see the Wizard!

Nearing the Harbour Bridge, which was closed to northbound traffic

Zane only looks dwarfed by his backpack. I'm happy he had this chance to ride across one of Sydney's iconic landmarks.

Nearly 10,000 cyclists, all getting revenge on Sydney traffic for a few brief hours. <evil laugh>

Cycling around Darling Harbour on the Western Distributor, which is normally glutted with vehicles of the motorized kind

Looking back from our first rest stop. You can see the Harbour Bridge in the distance.

Next the route took us across Johnston Bay on the old Glebe Island Bridge into Sydney's (hilly!) Inner West. Occasionally we would emerge from the maze of fairly uninteresting neighborhood streets to get a glimpse of the water as we cycled past Iron Cove, Canada Bay, and Hen & Chicken Bay.

Approaching the old Glebe Island Bridge, which lies adjacent to the impressive Anzac Bridge

In this part of the ride, the riders were often much more interesting than the scenery, like this hunk man pushing a basket and his two happy passengers.

We didn't see any.

After crossing the Concord Road Bridge at Uhrs Point, I knew we were getting closer to the end of the ride. That was good, considering the temperature was rising quickly. Zane was also starting to get fairly puffed out, resulting in a couple of minor melt-downs. I was ready to call Mark to come pick us up at whenever Zane had had enough, but being the trooper he is, he felt he wanted to ride across that finish line. So we took many breaks and sat in the shade to cool off and rehydrate. And we made it. It was a high point of my brief parenting experience to high-five him as we rode across the finish line at Sydney Olympic Park. Aside from being good ol' fun, I think it was also an empowering and educational event in Zane's life. Mark and I are very, very proud of him.

Another funky bridge

In the distance you can see Telstra Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park, which is where the ride officially ends.

Cycling toward the finish line at Telstra Stadium

Nearly there!

Success!  But wait, where are the throngs of adoring autograph seekers?

Quick, take the photo before we collapse!  By the way, that only looks like our new Subaru spaceship in the background.  It's actually the Olympic cauldron.

On an ordinary Sunday...

Zane and I had decided a few days ago that we'd go for a bike ride today. After many days of nearly nonstop rain (and I'm not complaining), the Sunday forecast was for clear skies. Happy happy joy joy!

We were going to try and meet up with Sydney Spokes and join them for their weekly group ride, but the 9:30 a.m. start was a wee early for us. I decided we'd take roughly the same route as Spokes, however. It was billed as an easy ride, suitable for all types of bikes. That was a big plus, considering Zane has only had a bike for about a year now and doesn't ride all that often, especially in the city. At any rate, their planned route was to originate near where we live and go south toward Cronulla. Even though we weren't traveling with Spokes, Zane and I chose to follow roughly the same route but not go quite as far. Personally, I am anxious to experience more of the bike paths in greater Sydney, so this was a swell opportunity.

Somewhere around 11:30 a.m. we hit the road. We mounted the bikes on the car and drove about 10 minutes south to Mascot, where we started our ride on a designated bike trail. (We would have ridden from our townhouse, but the side streets from here to the trailhead are a little tricky to navigate, in order to avoid riding in too much traffic...not a good idea for 9 year-old who is just getting comfortable with biking.)

Indeed, the weather was glorious. Mostly sunny, not too windy, and about 24 degrees (75F).

The trail starts in an unimpressive light industrial area, emerging from a cluster of endlessly confusing streets near Kingsford Smith International Airport. It's great on the weekend though, for most of the businesses are closed and the side streets fairly empty.

Soon, you find yourself riding parallel with Airport Drive. In fact, I had just driven this route a few days ago, while carting Mark to airport for his trip to Syracuse.

I remember the first images of Sydney that entered my brain, when I moved here in July 2005. Arriving at the International Terminal (that Zane and I were semi-circumnavigating today), I was still flying high from the two Valium that I had taken after leaving Los Angeles. But I vividly remember Mark's sister, who had picked us up after our flight, whizzing by all those cleverly annoying sculpture-cum-advertising pieces that one sees at many major airports. What a funny, cabalistic moment to be standing beneath one today.

Zane was really excited to see the "farm" we rode past. I have to say that I, too, was fairly exhilarated to view such a bucolic site in the middle of suburban Sydney. Had it not been situated in the middle of such a densely populated area, it would have reminded me even more of the community gardens I used to have a plot at in Vermont, when I lived there a few years ago. As we cycled past, the optimist in me battled fiercely with the cynic, ordering him to stop worrying about how much jet fuel vapor must settle  on these crops, seeing as how they are under the flight path.

Soon, we found ourselves in the suburb of Brighton-le-Sands, situated on stunning Botany Bay just south of the airport. Unfortunately, the exotic name of the suburb is belied, at least in my mind, by the fact that it shared the scene during one of the most shameful episodes of modern Australian cultural history, the 2005 Cronulla riots. We'd all like to think that's ancient history, and perhaps by 21st-century standards it almost is, but Zane and I stopped there for lunch at a sidewalk cafe, and you get the sense that there remains something simmering below the surface, a pervasive sense of discomfort etched in people's faces. But then, maybe that is simply folks' reaction to the hot-doggers screeching the tires on their pimped-up Daihatsus, foisting their taste in music upon everyone within a 5km radius. It's not pretty. We quickly ate and left. I have to say, however, that the view of Botany Bay from Brighton is stunning.

After lunch, we headed back to Sydney. Zane was fairly "puffed out," as they say here, and the trip back was slower. I didn't mind. It gave me more opportunities to enjoy the day and soak up the sunshine.

We passed a wonderfully tranquil little slip where folks dock their boats among the resident pelicans. (Jesus, they're big waterfowl!)

Being so close to a major airport, we couldn't pass up the chance to stand and watch airplanes take off over our heads. You gotta love the Bernoulli effect.

All in all, a great finish to a great weekend. I've enjoyed having Zane all to myself while Mark is in America. That may sound selfish, but I don't care. I enjoy being a dad.

Splendor, but my ass!

My bum's sore. Zane and I went for a great bike ride yesterday along the Wollongong beaches. Unfortunately, I forgot my padded biking shorts, and my Mongoose saddle isn't the most comfy seat I've ever had. Regardless, it was one of the best ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Mark was tied up in film-making tutorials all day, so Zane and I loaded up my bike and set out for Wollongong early in the day. It's actually quite a nice drive, although the roads in Sydney are some of the worst ever. On a good day, the drive is roughly 1.5 hours. The scenery can be spectacular. And you get to drive under one of the Sydney Airport runways...a real treat for someone of any age, especially when the timing is such that a jumbo-jet happens to taxi over your head as you pass underneath.

You drive along a portion of Botany Bay, upon which the airport is situated.

Botany Bay (click to enlarge)

After that, you climb through the Shire and then pass through the Royal National Park.

Royal National Park

After passing through RNP, you meet up with the beginning of the south coast as you near the Gong.

First views of Wollongong from the highway

We stopped in the Gong long enough to retrieve Zane's new bike from Uncle Steve's new home. Steve and his family (Deanne, who is Mark's sister, and their children Jordanna and Blake) recently moved to Australia from New York and had the Harley-Davidson bicycle that we bought for Zane in America shipped with their household stuff. After some bike assembly (thanks, Steve!), Zane and I headed for Towradgi Beach, where we parked the car and jumped on the bike path.

Zane's first go on his new bike

From Towradgi, we cycled along the path through Fairy Meadow (or Poofter's Paddock, as some call it...for reasons I won't go into here), and up to Wollongong's City Beach.  The weather was perfect.

Towradgi Beach

Cricketers playing at Fairy Meadow

City Beach, Wollongong

Photo opportunity Number 527

After a quick breather at City Beach, we got back on the saddle and headed back to Towradgi.

No, Sandy, that's not a saddle.

The return journey begins

Although we had to retrace our steps, we didn't mind. Heading the opposite direction means you get to see things from a different angle. (Metaphor, anyone?) Plus, it meant I got the opportunity to snap a quick photo of Diggies, the beach-side cafe Mark and I used to frequent during the 6 months we lived in the Gong in 2005, just after I moved to Australia.

Dog-days at Diggies

Zane really likes his new bike, especially the fact that it has gears. Admittedly, it is a long-legged step up from the K-Mart "learner" bike we got for him last year.

Anyway, I'm glad he likes it. Cycling is one of my favorite things to do, and we live near some excellent bike routes. I look forward to exploring them with him.

 

Friday blues

More bad squash today.  (No, not the food...the game.)  But it's only my second go at it.  I guess I shouldn't be too hard, but I'm not feeling very good about myself.

I did, however, have a good couple of lunchtime laps in the Centennial Parklands.  I do love my sexy Mongoose mountain bike, but I really want this road bike.  I miss the ease and speed on the paved roads.

You know, I love our location in Sydney.  Our apartment is in the Waterloo/Moore Park Gardens area. 
We are:

• across the street from the up-and-becoming Danks Street bistro & gallery area;
  
• a two-minute bike ride from Centennial Park;
• a 10-minute walk to Redfern Station (or 18-minute walk to Central Station);
• a five-minute walk to funky Surry Hills (food, food and more food!);
• a 20-minute walk to Oxford Street (for those crazy Saturday nights with our friends);
• two blocks from the Eastern Distributor that links to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel or Bridge;
• an hour's drive away from Wollongong (where Mark's sister lives);
• a 10-minute drive to earthy Newtown (where my favorite cinema is located).

Can you tell I'm trying to cheer myself up?  Ah well, we have the Harbour Party coming up on Sunday, when we get to spend the day grooving to some pretty fantastic music with our beautiful friends.  I'll do my best to be in a better state of mind by then.  Could be tragic otherwise. 

Anyway, maybe I'll try and set up some kind of virtual tour of my surroundings at some point.  I'll investigate that.