An unexpected catalyst

Posted on 2004-06-17 by dpkworldwide

One of my strong beliefs is that our lives are made up of a series of changes brought about by ‘catalysts’—people, events, experiences. An unexpected one has completely hijacked my imagination: the world of Japanese manga and anime.

Okay, so I’ve discovered YET ANOTHER new interest. More money to spend, more space taken up in an already cluttered house, more time and energy devoted to the pursuit of something new.

Who cares! I LOVE MANGA!

I got wind of a “Shounen-ai” series called “Gravitation” when I was in Washington, so I bought a couple volumes with a Borders gift card. I couldn’t put them down! I had to make two more trips during the week until I’d bought all the currently-released 5 volumes—plus the 7 volumes of another series “Fake”, and the two released volumes of “Eerie Queerie” for good measure. I can’t believe that I got so hooked so fast!

Like most Americans, the whole genre—big-eyed kids, transforming robots, characters who routinely changed shape, form, and sanity from one frame to the next—just seemed too bizarre. I remember “Speed Racer” and “Kimba the White Lion” when I was a kid, but somewhere I’d lost the enthusiasm. It just appeared too goofy for the “adult” me.

WOW, was I wrong! The stories are sometimes really cool and once you understand a little bit about how the artwork “works” (), then it makes a while lot of sense. Even barring any deeper meanings, it’s a lot of fun! Believe it or not, the “Eerie Queerie” manga is my absolute FAVORITE so far, despite the really lame title. The story is so wonderful and surprisingly deep—I was actually moved to tears on three separate occasions as the story unfolded, and that was just in the first volume. (If you’re remotely interested in manga and want to take my advice, RUN out and buy EQ…)

Then came my first Anime purchase: the volume 1 DVD of the “Gravitation” TV series. OMG!!!! I’m so totally in love with the characters, the music, the story—everything! I can’t believe I’ve got to wait until AUGUST for the next DVD. It also came along at a pretty good time for other reasons—I’ve sorta been “turning Japanese” for the last few months as it is. But now this has clinched it: I’m going to study Japanese this fall in school both for personal and career development reasons. I’m already eating vast quantities of Japanese food, and have even resorted to preparing Japanese-style meals at home. YIKES!

But back to the “catalyst” thread. This is just another case in my life where something unexpected has produced a sea-change in the way I look at and interact with the world. In my advancing age, it gets harder and harder to take advantage of those moments and they don’t seem to come around as often, since I’ve been jaded by my 41 years on the planet to one degree or another. It also gets harder, because I now look back—sometimes with a degree of emotional pain—and say things like “Damn—why couldn’t I have figured this out x years ago?”

But still, it’s such great fun when things like this happen. I just thank my parents most of all, and my teachers through the years for somehow instilling in me the driving need to learn and experience new things. I try to maintain a sense of wonder and excitement with everything and it’s always so much fun when it pays off. Thank you Mom & Dad!

Farewell, Mr. President

Posted on 2004-06-11 by dpkworldwide

I had the rare opportunity today to say farewell to the greatest President of my lifetime so far. Being from California and having the Reagan Library practically down the street meant I had the chance to pay my respects in a very small, yet personally moving way.

My company actually let us leave early to view the motorcade pass by—especially since many of the roads in the immediate area were to be closed for the event. The Reagan Library is nearby in Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks (where I work) is right on the way. I’m glad that my employers realized the solemnity of the occasion, though some of that may have been just to avoid traffic headaches.

I drove up to a friend’s house which is very near Lynn Road, where the procession passed. I couldn’t believe how many people were there lining the roadway; they had actually begun to stake out their spots in the morning. Many people were there with their kids of all ages, people in uniform, probably every California Highway Patrol officer within 100 miles—an amazing cross-section of people. As it was described on the news by several commentators, it seemed more like people lining up for a 4th of July parade than anything. So many American flags…

Every time a CHP car or motorcycle passed by, or a helicopter flew overhead, all eyes turned south, preparing for a glimpse of the event. Eventually, a platoon of dozens of CHP motorcycles raced by in their leapfrog maneuvers to block the intersections for the motorcade. A couple of CHP cars, a white-ish Chevy Avalanche filled with TV cameramen and then the hearse bearing the President’s body. Some people cheered and clapped as it passed by, but overall it seemed to die down rather quickly as a peculiar silence hushed the crowd. The family and various dignitaries passed in limos and regular cars, then it was all over.

I had thought about how I would feel and why I was even there in the first place. I don’t normally do much relating to the dead, and certainly not people I don’t know personally, But this was different—this was the greatest man who has held the office of President since I’ve been on this earth. When the hearse approached, I couldn’t bring myself to do anything more than come to attention and salute the man, hand over my heart. I silently pondered what he did for our country and the tears flowed, unbidden. I remembered back to election eve 1980, when I was working at my local Republican HQ—manning the phones as a 17-year-old volunteer who couldn’t even vote yet. I was the very tiniest part of what became a golden time for the USA and the world. Since that time I’ve never felt compelled to work for any political party or event—there’s just nothing inspiring in it for me after that experience. I scan the current political scene and the horizon for something or someone who can even begin to approach the same stature—I can’t see anything…

No doubt many of my fellow citizens lining the road had their beefs with Reagan—the man, his policies, whatever. But at least they demonstrated that we Americans can grant respect where it’s due. Of course, I then had to go home later on and watch the internment ceremony on TV and see many of the “great” people of politics and entertainment paying their last, final respects. I’ll never forget seeing Baroness Margaret Thatcher—Reagan’s staunchest ally and friend— stand at the foot of his casket and bow her head before moving on. Indeed—Ronald Wilson Reagan was one of the greats.

Rededication to the physical

Posted on 2004-01-26 by dpkworldwide

Abstract: With January almost gone and my first race of the season less than 90 days away, I’d better get serious about fitness again. I did so with the help of an impulse purchase at my local bookstore Saturday.

Well, I’ve been slacking off for far too long. Month after month—basically since August last year when I left for Russia—I’ve been letting myself go. I’ve been eating too much and often of the wrong things; I’ve gone completely off any sort of organized fitness plan. I gained almost 10 pounds by the end of the holiday season. This is not a very auspicious beginning to what I was hoping would be a better racing year than last.

So what am I going to do now that I’ve arrived at this sorry state of affairs? I spent part of the weekend thinking about just that and attempting to bootstrap my commitment to eating right, exercising properly and stop making excuses. I did some of that during a brisk, hour-long hike in Las Virgenes Canyon on Sunday, so at least I made a start. Actually, over the past two weeks, I’d been back at the gym about three times to at least do 30 minute cardio sessions, so I was already slowly progressing down the right track.

But as with most stuff in my life, it took a catalyst—a sudden “Ah HA” moment—to jolt me out of my complacency. This was Saturday evening during an impulse stop at the mall (sadly, on the way home from a chicken burger and fries dinner at Red Robin, but I digress…). I was at the Barnes & Noble browsing around and purchasing a couple of architecture & design books, when Frank Sepe’s book The TRUTH caught my eye, lying there innocently on a table near the check out counter. He’s a bodybuilder and fitness trainer and for some reason (uh…yeah right…) I thought I’d buy it on a whim (after dutifully reading the blurb on the slipcover).

Funny thing is, that upon reading it, his plan is very much like what I was being taught by Amy at the gym all last year. Huh—who’d have though? The book is quite engaging, though, and it has great photography, particularly of a whole slew of weight training exercises depicting proper form. I’m beginning to put it into practice TODAY, and I know that I’ll see results.

Funny thing is, after reading through the book and examining myself and looking once again at my fitness goals, I’m thinking that my career as an amateur triathlete may be coming to an end—or perhaps another hiatus—quicker than I’d thought. But that’s a subject for a future entry…

Anyhow, below is the book cover plus a link for you to buy it through Amazon.com. Can you see why the cover caught my attention? Stay tuned for progress reports…

A charming evening at the E.R.

Posted on 2003-11-15 by dpkworldwide

This may be pretty lame, but it’s the biggest thing that’s happened to me lately (pretty sad comment).

So last Monday night (November 10) I went to my chorus rehearsal as usual. The only difference was that I wasn’t really hungry, so all I had for dinner was a bottle of OJ and bag of beef jerky I bought at the gas station on the way (THAT was probably the culprit, but I digress…). Around 9:00 or so, I started feeling a little blah but chalked it up to my currently stress-filled and busy life. By 10:00 I was feeling far too nauseous to remain on the risers and left early.

Just as I pulled off my freeway exit after a somewhat tense and woozy drive home, I had to slam on the brakes, fling open the door and up came everything I’d eaten since lunch. I spent the next few hours driving the porcelain bus to the point of near delirium: fever, violent chills, lots of joint pain, major dehydration. Nothing like having to curl up on the bathroom floor with a roll of TP as a pillow to instill a dose of humility.

By 3:30 AM, I was over at my exciting local hospital’s Emergency Room with an IV drip in my arm, being given something for the nausea and Morphine for the pain (dude!). X-rays showed no intestinal blockage, and I attempted to get as much sleep as I could, munching on ice chips as my only form of direct hydration to try and make my mouth feel less like the great Gobi desert. Eusebio was staying at his Mom’s house that night, but I called him at 7:15 and he came and brought me home. I’ve not been this violently ill in years. In fact, it was about ten years ago—and I think in the same E.R. room—that I came for in I.V. push of Epinephrine and Benadryl to restore my ability to breathe after accidentally taking something containing aspirin, to which I’m very allergic.

I’m doing OK at the moment, though I spent the next day-and-a-half with no more nourishment than Gatorade. The doctor said it was probably something viral and I just had to tough it out, but it was one helluva way to end a rehearsal night! I ended up being home for three days, right at the wrong time—I had some major deadlines at work that have now all slipped and I’m even more stress-filled playing catch up.

The good news—if any at all—was that I lost 5 pounds! I also happened to find two packages and two expense reimbursement checks when I returned to the office Friday. That’s not much of a silver lining and a tough way to lose weight, but there you are…

The bad news is that it makes me feel like such an old man—comparing my hospital stories. More immediately, though, is that it points out how far I’ve sunk by not really getting back into my workout and training routine since before I went to Russia in August. I’m still in damn good shape, but not paying attention will catch up with you, I guess. Time to buckle down again…

Not…

Posted on 2003-10-17 by dpkworldwide

This may come as no surprise, but for several reasons I WON’T be racing in the Bluewater Tri this weekend.

Yep, I’m flaking out.

It’s actually unfortunate because of all the races I’d signed up for, this was the one I most wanted to do: it’s in Parker, AZ, it’s in the placid and downstream-flowing Colorado River, it’s in a climate and place I’m fond of and used to and familiar with.

The biggest culprit, I’m afraid, was financial. I had some unexpected expenses come in and some planned-on income fall through. When balancing things out, I could no longer justify the $400.00 or so for the trip, hotel, food, etc. at this point in time.

There is also a personal matter that came up between Eusebio and I. No more details, just know it was a biggie…

But I suppose in the end it was easy for me to slough it off because of my noncommittal feelings about racing at the moment. I AM needing to rethink, not to say get back into my training regimen. Now that I can consider myself officially “off season”, I can regroup and get back in the gym, actually GET that swim coaching I need and take a longer-term approach to building up for next year. It was probably the right thing to do, regardless. If nothing else, I won’t have a two-week trip to Russia thrown in the middle of my training peak to break my stride.

So, unfortunately there will be no additional race photos for this year, no fun stories or interesting anecdotes from the racecourse, no pats on the back for surviving another one. I’ll be back though: I’ve already registered for next April’s Desert Triathlon for a repeat.

I’ll be back…

So am I in this thing or not?

Posted on 2003-10-09 by dpkworldwide

Last night I went swimming at the Y for the first time in over two months. It’s times like these that make me think—even more than usual—that I really need my head examined if I’m going to continue with triathlon.

Actually, that statement is no surprise to me or to anyone that knows me—swimming is not my strong suit. It’s tough, it’s tiring, I hate getting water up my nose and, frankly, I don’t really know how to do it properly. The last and only time I ever took swim lessons, I was still in elementary school.

If I’d ever get off my butt and just go get some swim coaching, I know that things would begin to dramatically improve. As it is, each time I even think of going to the pool for a workout, I get kinda depressed. This then carries over into thoughts about “what exactly am I trying to prove with this triathlon thing” and “why don’t I just go to the gym or take up climbing or something less demanding”? But I know the real reasons—I want to be an athlete, develop a great, healthy body and prove that I can do it. I want to join that unique little club of triathletes, even if I’ll never do an Ironman and may never place in a race at all, much less win. I also like the feel (and the scenery) of being with my fellow racers out on the course and in the transition pens—it makes me feel extra vital and I’ve come to really enjoy the feeling of my own physicality.

So as I once again go through my self-doubt bout before an upcoming race, I have to truly decide if I want to continue. I have to decide what other things I want to give up to do what’s necessary to be “in the game”. I’m at the point where I’ve got to think seriously about ponying up a chunk of cash for a real tri bike, since my heavily modified road bike is getting towards the end of its useful life for what I’m putting it through. No, I don’t need titanium or carbon fiber, but I’d really like bar-end shifters (which I can’t put on my current ride without a lot of extra cash to basically redo the entire drive train).

But back to swimming. Sometimes I think that being in the water for the first leg of the race is a sort of phobia for me. But to set the record straight, the only real fear I have in racing triathlon is not of drowning, but of wiping out at speed on my bike. The mental picture of me hitting the pavement with nothing but my racing brief, a singlet and required helmet on is not a pretty one…

Back from Chicago!

Posted on 2003-09-29 by dpkworldwide

The ups and downs of my adventure to meet my two favorite authors. In the end, it was definitely worth it.

Having never been to Chicago before, the first “down” was when I spent an hour and a half going the wrong direction on I-90 at rush hour, in the rain—then another hour and forty-five going back the other way to get to my hotel. An inauspicious beginning to my weekend to be sure…

But Saturday arrived, full of hope and excitement—even though I lazed out and slept in until 10:30 AM and consequently missed my chance to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House (steeeerike two!). I did go see the Home and Studio in Oak Park, with just enough time to visit nearby homes to take pictures. I ended up going back for the Home & Studio tour (which was awesome) Sunday morning.

I arrived a fashionable 30 minutes after the book signing started and was both thrilled and disappointed: Mark Kendrick was speaking to the audience and recognized & acknowledged me as soon as I walked in the door as did Mark Roeder. That made me feel pretty good, and I was really happy to have come.

The disappointment came when I realized that I was the seventh person comprising the audience—counting Mark R’s friend Eric and the guy who ran the library where it was being held. I had certainly expected that this was going to be a bigger deal and that there would be more in attendance. Their writing certainly warrants that.

Anyway, one of the things that they ended up discussing—along with Josh Thomas, the other author speaking with them—was how they as midwestern authors are often overlooked by the LA and NY publishers: the literary equivalent of “fly-over country syndrome”. Each had previously attempted to contact larger, more established publishing houses, but couldn’t get the time of day. Fortunately, through the wonders of on-demand publishing and the internet (not to say a publisher located in Lincoln, Nebraska), their books have been printed and are reaching a wider audience. It made me realize just how important my involvement with word-of-mouth promotion of their works is. I resolved then and there to redouble my efforts and look for new ways to bring these important novels to the folks that need to read them.

Another discussion that was interesting was their readership demographics. Given that their novels are basically young love/coming out stories, it was interesting to note that their biggest demographic was 40–80 years old—older men reliving their youths or happy to imagine a youth they wish they’d had. The other major group is teenagers, which is right on the money for who should be reading their works. The lowest is the 20- and 30-somethings who’ve obviously bought into the pop-culture, glamour, big stars vision of literature (in other words, the crap that those big NY and LA publishers churn out).

After the book signing, taking a few pictures and buying Josh’s two novels (Murder at Willow Slough and Andy’s Big Idea, both of which I’m now anxious to read), Mark K. & partner, Mark R. and Eric and I all went out and had a nice dinner. I tell you—they’re every bit as nice, decent and cool as I’d expected, and I finally started to relax a bit. It was weird that I was so nervous meeting them—I’m usually pretty gregarious and confident, but somehow I felt slightly uneasy when confronted with greatness!

Anyway, it was a great time and I feel as though I’ve made some new, close friends with whom I hope to stay in touch over the years. As important, it once again reinforced my desire to join their ranks by completing my own novel.

One last thing—two, actually: before dinner when we were sitting in Mark K’s beautiful home, he pulled out an old scrapbook of his from when he lived in California. He showed me two snapshots he had of the guy he based Scott Faraday’s character from Desert Sons upon. It was like being given a special little glimpse into the parallel reality of that book, that time and that place. I secretly wished I could get copies for myself—it was totally cool.

A little after that, Mark R. was talking about getting Summer of My Discontent ready for publishing. He said it was kind of slow going when he got my final review version back, so he just clicked on “Accept all changes” and took my word for it. I was extremely flattered and honored to think that he’d trust my judgment and abilities so highly. It also makes me realize how important it is that I uphold my highest standards and always give my best effort.

Anyway, thanks to Mark and Mark for being terrific authors, great people and for showing me a wonderful time. I wish you all the best of success, and want you to know that I’ll be out here doing my best to bring your books the attention and audience they deserve.

Here’s a picture of the panel at the event:
(L to R Mark Roeder, Mark Kendrick, Josh Thomas)