If I had cut and paste on my iPhone I could rule the world. Or at least feel like I'm holding it in the palm of my hand.
This is turning into the spring that I solved S**t! It's been a frustrating couple of months of trying to set things right on several fronts. Most were like trying to turn an air craft carrier with an oar. at first it's incredible frustrating because you push and nothing happens. But like all changes velocity = x (change)/time. Push hard enough for long enough and eventually even mountains will move. This spring I'm starting to feel as though i moved a mountain and I might have climbed over a couple hills in the process.
My career took a nose dive, and after a hasty but concentrated effor I think it's now on couse for a recovery. Some work though is still left to be done. I also came to some realizations about working in presales. It's not about how smart you are, how hard you work, or even how well you do your job. It's all about perception and reputation. If everyone things your a rock star your on track, if not you quickly hav e aproblem becuase bad news travels infinitly faster then good news, which may or may not travel at all. Shamless personal marketing is even acceptable. This is a substantial change from my previous work ethics. But I now think I understand the game a little better. the high road will take you right off a cliff. Also once your reputation suffers, it is nearly imposible to recover becuase you become one of the great unwashed.
I got suspended form my hockey team, and withing a coupel days, unsupended, and a coupel days later I got bumped up to our second line. I'mm not starting on the second line as a left wing in our playoff later today. I'd probably clasify this as one of the mountains I climbed over. A strugle but one fairly quickly overcome.
The last of my great fustrations is my rowing team. And the masters not wanting to row with novices or transition team folks until they can row better. the fustrating part lies in the catch 22 that you can't get better until you get in a boat and row. This has been gradually changing for the better as I've been getting out on the water more and more, either in a one off situation with the masters or rowing with the juniors. It looks like that time on the water may be paying off, since It was decided today that I could keep up with the masters rowers in a boat. It now awaits managmetn approval. Still it's progress. It also means my effort sover the winter nad spring have paid off, and I can row better then your average novice. this is awesome becuase our transition team doesn't have a coach and is stalled until they have someone to coach us.
Today I got to cox an 8 sweeping. except for sitting in a very small space, it was pretty cool. I got to yell allot, and call a few rowers "anchors". After that a few of the master stuck around and we got to go out for a second row and this time I got to get in a boat. Tommorow I may get to row a real single in Jersey.
I also got to ride the motorcycle to practice and it was an awesome day for it.
Spring is arriving along with 60 degree weather, longer days, and all of the goodness that comes with it. My hockey season is winding down on the winning side, and rowing is picking up. I'm also in the best shape of my life and getting better.
My hockey team won our championship game this weekend against the Hot shots setting us up to go head to head against the first place Sled dogs in two weeks. The score was 2-1 with the tie braking goal scored in the 5th round shootout. The more interesting part of the story is that I almost didn't play that game.
On my way home from a happy hour with Bernie Tuesday night I got an email telling me I was suspended from my hockey team for a game. I missed the last weeks game because i went to a bar to watch NU play their championship game against Cornell. While they suffered a tragic defeat with 17 seconds left in the 3rd period it was an awesome game. Several heated emails later I established that I had in fact given notice I missed the game and did not no show. In the process the League board was also involved and in the end the suspension was lifted. I almost didn't play out of spite. But several of my teammates encouraged me to play anyway. I also consulted the infinite wisdom of my Dad on the mater and then I realized the grudge was futile (he suggested I not go). It turned out to be an awesome night. I got bumped up to play Left wing on Line 2 for a period. even the guy who's idea it was to suspend me said I had my best game ever that night.
I didn't get to row yesterday because of the wind. But I got out there today and did a 10K rowing bow in a quad on the Passaic river. It's awesome to get in a boat and row with other people. To feel a well placed stoke in a boat by yourself is an amazing thing, but to feel the fluid motion of all four people working together in harmony is amazing. That harmony wasn't there today but it was a work in progress. i can bow a boat and steer it just fine, and i can row in sync, but when I try to do both at the same time, it falls apart pretty quickly. This was also the first time i had a boat with a small rudder, that you turned with your foot. Having spent way too much time in sail boats, rudder are absolutely a wonderful thing, for to easily taken for granted. After I went out with the Jr learn to rows, i went out for another 10k in single. with the Jrs Novices. I kept up decently with the 2 quads and the double in an ocean single,... not too shabby.
On the bigger stronger fast front I broke 170 and hit 168.x thangs to a couple 2 a days that seem to have helped me break through the floor and also I have an incredible amount of energy.
All in all not doing too bad. I'd say 3-0 if I don't get laid off on Monday. And even if I did, some free time wouldn't be the worst thing to ever happen to me.
