Oh, How Desperately I Want To Love Eddie Murphy Again...

You Know That Scene...

From the second Lord Of The Rings where King Theodin is under siege from all those shit gurgling goblins and demons ready to break into Helms Deep and kill and eat and rape everything in sight? He says, "What can men do against such reckless hate?," brimming with despair and the anticipation of a grim, grim fate. That's what I thought of when I watched this video -- the moral laden Chinese as the rape and slaughter hungry goblins. This is not a Westerner throwing stones either. It's not that. Nor is it the equivalent of someone from Hong Kong or Guangzou watching selective feeds of Swamp People and Jersey Shore from America and seeing us fucked. Clearly, of course. I know I've seen videos like this before, but this one feels different, haltingly different. Something about the day and age.

I don't know if I've ever put a disclaimer on this blog before, but the following is absolutely awful, and necessary.

Many Days Until February...

Click the Ironman WC Link, Scroll to 11:29...

And My Head Just Exploded...

Kona Energy Lab...

I’ve been going through the last beats of work before taking Thursday off before a little bit of everything on Friday before Big Day Saturday. Today, I took a drive to the famed Energy Lab. Supposed to be hot, supposed to take toughness from the world’s toughest. Today, I ran about 4 miles, just to put the familiarity in my body before it soon tries to pull me apart. Sure, it’s hot, and coming back away from the ocean there’s both a steady climb to the Queen K and what felt like a 10-15 degree bump in heat before you realize you’ve earned the right to run perhaps the most magical last 5 miles of any race, anywhere. They’ll either feel like the longest or shortest 5 miles of my life. Either way, it’s gonna be magic. Everything is magic, and growing.

Ironman Kona 2011 - Tuesday...

It's impossible to not feel this place. It's electric and moving. Every hour, more and more people show up, more and more people stretching across these hallowed roads. I need to sleep. Woke up this morning to swim about 1.5 off the pier, biked about 30 on the gusty Queen K and ran a hard 4 on Ali'i. I learned that my fear of gusts against 1080/808's is quite appropriate, but also something I need to get over right now. I can never stop drinking on this course. Not ever on the run.

Off to get 10 hours, then more of the same. Kid in Candyland.

Yes It's True, I Am A Big Fan Of Happiness...

Germany, In The Fall...

Pulls so hard, my guts literally hurt, like I'm in love or 3 hours ago ate some bad chicken.

Ooh, New Cam Crowe...

Thanks Stallion, You've Always Been A Part Of This...

It Makes My Stomach Drop To Put This Out There...

For 2 reasons. The first is that I realize I’m asking for something quite substantial. And secondly, I’m putting my 2012 intentions down in writing - that I want to be classified professional in the sport of triathlon. Though, I suppose in terms of relative ambition, it’s no more of a reach than when I set out to qualify for Kona in my first Ironman, back in Cozumel, back in November. So yeah, I want to go pro. Only a fool or half-asser wouldn’t try if they were in my same position.

I lost my latest sponsor at an inopportune moment of this season and friends have stepped up in about a thousand regards and counting to help put this on. One, I am eternally grateful and two, this is going to be the best class ever. 50$ is a lot for some, less for others. Give more, give less, whatever feels right. Just come.

RSVP to rideforreilly@gmail.com — space is limited, demand UNKNOWN

Now This Is Just Becoming Bullysome...

Classic MacGruber...

Genius all over the place. Embarrassment of riches. I love this movie.

For Once George, I Actually Feel You...

Knocking George Lucas for fucking with Star Wars is on par with someone knocking Keanu Reeves' acting. I've always liked KR - brother held down a legit franchise. If you talk shit about Keanu, you're just an asshole riding on a wagon built by assholes. Refrain. Same thing holds true with George Lucas, though up until this point, I've had no defense for the guy. The creative choices he's made in updating his franchise have been nothing short of embarrassing. But then again, it's his franchise.

I fully expected to watch this clip, feel momentary disgust, and move swiftly on with my life. But that didn't happen. I actually...liked it. It gave me chills. Even after the thousand times I've seen Vader say nothing, after every line of this movie had been embedded into my childhood, this worked. I loved it. That's his fucking son, yo!!

Something To Love...

I watched every episode of Bored To Death, week to week, during the first season. When the second season came along, I think I was wandering internationally, so lately I've been playing catch up. Everything I'm typing here is really being done just so I can take up space, to provide a base to launch into a rant about Ted Danson - about how perfect he is in this thing, in every scene and sense of the word. Only in episode 3, but that's all I need. I think it's important to talk about things like greatness, especially when surrounded by a cast nearly as great.

When I Think About This, It's Quite Beautiful...

That there was a point in my life, not so long ago, absolutely and not for dramatic purposes, where I became convinced I was going to die before today, my 30th. The thought made me into everything I was, occupying obsession. Then it became something else, something literary, which will become something else, something literary, which will become something else, something literary. Right now I'm trying to think of a brilliant way to lead myself into saying something trite yet poignant like, "This is my life," but there I just said it, and exactly as I had hoped.

Soon, I'll meet the next one. Another thought, that is. I may have already.

And, We're On A Roll...

Cannot Stop...

Every time, so beyond any image they could put on screen. Just close your eyes.

Honestly, I Thought There Would Be More Kicking...

Genius...