Dome Pondering

I opened my eyes, and in some ways ears, to my cell phone ringing on the floor nearby. As I got up from crashing on the couch for the three hours and answered the phone, it was my dad on the other line. He was checking in to see how my tag team partner and I were doing after the storm.  Wait, what?! " After, the storm? " As I quickly turned my head to the windows to see the bright skies and calm atmosphere overlaying Brooklyn, NY, I was in sudden amazement. What happened between 8:00am and 11:30am? As I dozed off on the couch a bit after 8am, the latest forecast including the worst of Irene lasting until Noon, with rain thereafeter compeltely ceasing at 7pm this evening.  I quickly recieved word from my tag team partner and my father that the storm had declined into a weaker tropical storm and had now made it's way west toward upstate New York.  Wow. Hurricane Irene is finally over. 

As Saturday morning rolled in, light rain fell from the sky almost as a subtle (and mean) tease from Irene. In her vicious way, she is letting us know that she is on her way, and will take her time in doing so. A cruel calm before the storm if you will. However, as the light rain fell, my tag team partner and I made ourselves comfortable in our apartment as we will be nestled here for well, the entire weekend, and possibly Monday.  As Irene neared, the reports on her status as she weakened in overall strength, but grew in size, lent to the overall anticipation and fear of what to expect from a hurricane. Can this city handle one? What will become of the Subway system? How does such a storm affect an area with large skyscrapers?  All of these questions became huge red flags as reports of deaths from Irene's path became known.  Nonetheless, as 10:00pm rolled in, reports of tornadoes touching down within Irene's path become known, and the most rain I've ever see...

After what seemed like a frightening enough experience this week with a ten second earthquake, New York City is set to experience yet another natural disaster this weekend. Rare for the North East, this area is getting its fair share of preparing, experiencing, and enduring the type of wrath mother nature can produce. Next on the agenda is Hurricane Irene. The upcoming weekend shall be interesting as being from this once natural disaster immune area known as the North East, I, along with others from this area, have very little experience in preparing and surviving hurricanes. The only experience with hurricane preparation was about ten years ago when New York City was expected to get pounded by a tropical storm. Schools were cancelled and a few offices were closed. However, all we ever received on that Monday morning was some rain, a few rumblings and lightning. Nothing of impact at all. Irene, however, is something all the more serious, and all the more real.

It was a normal Tuesday afternoon during the summer. The sun was shining, the air was cool, and my lunch was in front of me in the cafeteria at my workplace. Everything, pretty much routine. Salad. Water. Chicken. Just looking to eat, relax, and chat with some co-workers for an hour before heading back to serving the public through park and recreation.  As I sat there, I noticed my surroundings beginning to shake. Am I having a migraine? A usual vertigo-type of feeling whenever I suffer from the painful headaches.  No. I'm fine. The movement continued.  I checked my chair. Yup, all four legs are evenly on the ground, just like every other day, just like they always are.  The movement continued.  My water swishing from side to side in it's bottle.  Then I looked at my coworker quickly whose face had my thoughts written all over it - the building was moving.  The building is moving!  

The age of FaceBook is upon us, and for the foreseeable future, is here to stay. Facebook is everywhere, and is included in everything. It is a primary source of information, social networking, and overall connection to the rest of the world. The ability to stay connected with loved ones, friends, and even those we've lost touch with over the years is amazing. While I do enjoy the benefits of Facebook, there are several aspects of Facebook that cause you to shake your head about it's existence, specifically, its abuse by fellow users. The following Pondering 10 list are the most annoying types of users on Facebook.

41 Days to go.   As the invitations come in, and yay’s and no’s each get their own individual reaction from my tag team partner and I, the reality of 9.24 becomes clearer and clearer. It’s almost like wiping the fog off of a mirror, with the vision and expectation for 9.24 now becoming clear. And as we begin to scratch those from the list of 162 who aren’t coming, and even double scratch with an eye-roll on those who aren’t coming for crazy reasons (you know who you are!), a lot of the planning is now entering into the minor logistical phase. Who is walking down the aisle where? What songs does the organist play? What is the format order of the reception? What will my theme song be? Just kidding on the last one. Well, sort of…   Yet, the hard stuff is out of the way, and the minor, some would say, fun, things are now on tap.   This past weekend, my tag partner and I had the opportunity to attend my cousin’s wedding, held in Long Island, NY. A be...

When I was younger, like all younger-to-older generations, there was always a feeling that my elders never quite understood the music of my generation. This was especially the case for Hip-Hop. I always enjoyed the the attitude, the passion, the beats, the hooks, and of course, being the constant blogger and lover of words, expression and opinion, the lyrics. Especially, the lyrics. Because of those characteristics, I grew to enjoy Jay-Z's music over the years. It's the same reason I liked College Dropout , Kanye West's first album, which was full of passion and hunger to prove he was just as much of a rapper as he was a producer. However, as the hip-hop industry evolves, it seems the style of hip-hop that I grew up with is fading away. I feel as if I am now turning into the elder generation that I never quite understood. Because honestly, I don't quite understand the music of today.

New York Red Bulls Open Practice at Hudson River Park (Chelsea Waterside)

48 days to go. And with 48 days to go, yours truly embarked on his final trip to the site of 9.24 before well...9.24. It was an odd feeling heading into the city which will not only begin a new chapter in my life in about a month and a half, but also end one as well. The usual trips to Syracuse have almost been routine for the past four years with my tag team partner. Labor Day Weekend, Christmas, and the occasional spring trip. All trips intended for relaxation and enjoyment. However, this weekend breaks the pattern. It is August. It is random. And well, it was all about finalizing 9.24.  The weekend had a few tasks which included a meeting with our caterer (who besides being a Red Sox fan, is amazing), completing our marriage counseling (which was a very eye opening activity), and touring the hotel which will house this expected crazy celebration.  And while we did accomplish them all, the only feeling as drove I away from Syracuse with the Carrier Dome in my re...

Rumble On The River: Muay Thai (Kickboxing) at Hudson River Park's Pier 84 Hudson River Park: Rumble On The River 

56 days to go.  Some people enjoy the spotlight. Actually, I'll go a little further and say that most people do. It's a natural human feeling to have a sense of belonging, and some fulfill that by having the attention of others. It gives them that urge, that feeling, that so many desire.  However, falling into the minority, I am one that shies away from the spotlight. I prefer to blend into the background, rather than be that color splash that is noticed. It's not a self-confidence issue (well not anymore at least), and it is not a leadership issue, as some of the greatest leaders in history were people of humility.  It's just who I am. I hate talking, complimenting, and lamenting myself in any sort of spotlight.  Which is why I know come 9.24, I'm going to have to step outside of my character just a bit. And this past Saturday proved it.