Chinese steel

I shot this picture on May 11, 2006 in Beijing.

With the Olympic Games beginning on August 8, the Chinese spent many man hours over several years constructing structures, including this one.

The Olympic torch arrived today in Macao, and makes its way to the mainland. Over the next three months, the torch will relay through every Chinese province. I wonder how much of the relay will be on foot, as much of the nation is desolate.

I wonder if my above picture is for an athletic venue or a peripheral lodging structure.

Yay for Red Sox Nation!

An intense three-and-a-half hour game, and the Boston Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies in four games to win the World Series! Woohoo!

Sox beating Rox

It's another nail-biting World Series game, as the Red Sox lead the Rockies, 2-0, in the top of the 6th inning. For the first two World Series games, I spent half the game at the Thirsty Whale here in Newburyport and half the game at my own place. Last night, for Game 3, I met a friend in Boston and we sat at the Crossroads Irish Pub on Beacon Street, rooting the Sox. Tonight, for Game 4, I relax in my apartment and wonder if everything will end tonight.

I remember the 2004 World Series, when I lived in Brighton and spent many sleepless nights on and around Boylston Street, venturing to Lansdowne Street for that final victory brouhaha. And when the Red Sox clamored aboard the Duck Boats for a wandering parade around the city showing off their World Series trophy for the first of 351 community stops, I stood with friends on Beacon Hill and waved the Sox on.

If the Red Sox win this Series, whether tonight or another night, will I witness another Boston parade?

Working out

I joined a gym in January 2006, following through on a New Years resolution. It was my first gym membership in many years, and I remember haggling with the salesman to settle on a decent monthly price. (Despite the ad stipulating x per month, that was only if you signed for a 3-year contract and at the time, I couldn't commit to such a time frame.)

Work Out World, a regional chain that competes with Gold's Gym and its ilk, has been good to me. There are about 20 elliptical machines, and over a dozen stationary bikes and treadmills. And that's just the first room; the back room contains complete lines by Nautilus, Life Fitness, and Cybex, and typical free weight configurations.

My usual regimen includes 5-10 minutes on the elliptical, followed by a half hour on the weight machines. While I give focus to my abs and stomach, I try to keep all elements of my body in shape. More recently, I've lay on a contraption that holds my shins in place to do sit-ups.

The ab workout and recent running routine has definitely helped in my goal to reduce my "gut," which used to be much more extended than it is now. I've also changed my diet, trying to stay off processed foods and high-carb contents; and eating more whole grains and fruits and vegetables. (I don't follow any specific plan, but borrow aspects of Atkins, such as eating fat-rich foods as long as there is less carbs and sugars.) To this end, I've bought new pairs of shorts and jeans, let alone belts, and I constantly receive compliments from people saying I look good.

Yay!

On running

I visited the New Balance factory store outlet in Brighton over the weekend, and bought a low-cost pair of lightweight running sneakers. It was my first running sneaker purchase in over a decade.

I ran high school track for three years, and was on the cross-country team for four years. In college, I was recruited into its own cross-country team and attended one away meet, at St. Anselm's College, but the frequency and distance was far greater than what I was accustomed to in high school, so I quit.

I hadn't run since... until yesterday, when I alternated between sprints, jogs, and walking about 2.5 miles in 45 minutes. Working out at the gym over the past year has definitely helped. My quads felt the renewed sensations, but otherwise I felt great!

What brought this on, however, was running down Masada. With each downward step, I felt the rocks and hard earth through my Converse soles. But I didn't let Masada conquer me.

My birthday is in September. Wouldn't it be great if I could get into physical shape, running-wise, to enter into a 5K race?

Coldness at Fenway Park

I live so damned close to Fenway Park, I could go to every game, but seat prices are so expensive that I only get there one or two times a season. Today was one of those occasions, thanks to a pair of subsidized tickets I bought through Suffolk University.



The tickets were really for last night, but due to a near-miss tornado that caused freakish rain, Game 20 was delayed until today at 12:35PM. The rain didn't stop my friend Mike and I from catching up, beginning with dinner and drinks at Boston Beer Works, and later more beers and people watching at GameOn, which was my first time in that Lyons Group bar. The downstairs room with its rectangular bar and dozens of widescreen TVs reminded me of the simulcast racing room at Foxwoods. Fun times there, and I ran into some fellow Suffolk graduating classmates.

But I digress. Back to today's game. The seats were in Section 4, Row 13, where we stayed for a few innings before moving down to Row 8 for a better view. Surprisingly, the park was nearly full despite the rescheduled game for a weekday mid-day time. Did everyone call in sick??

With temperatures in the upper 40s, it was a cold day. By the 4th inning, a cool breeze entered the stadium and it was c-o-l-d, so much so that I bought a cup of hot chocolate! In the middle of May! Nothing spectacular in the game, but the Sox wound up beating the Tigers, 2-1. (They beat the Tigers again at night, for the second game of a doubleheader day.)



During my adolescent years, I always went to Fenway with my parents and always sat in the bleachers behind third base. More recently, I always sat in sections to the left of Pesky's pole. Neither Mike nor I have sat on top of the Green Monster, but this link by someone named Bev provides some useful commentary and pictures from those seats.

Time will tell if I return to Fenway this season. If I do, it ought to be a warmer day!