He had won. He was too old, an unknown, an underdog of such proportion that his winning could only be described as a miracle.
In his one and only media interview he was asked how he did it. He answered, "The only way that miracles exist is through doubt. I did what I did because I believed it. People who believed it was a miracle or otherwise, doubted. I'm not special. I didn't find the cure for cancer, or save humanity from itself. All I did was swim one length of the pool really, really fast. It took hard work, tears, sweat and even blood on occasion. But I trained and lived in the now and never doubted that I could do it from moment to moment. I'm not a hero and I don't wish to be. I don't want money or fame. I just want to live my life alone and be happy. "
Then the interviewer pressed the Champion more and asked, "Is there a secret to success?" The Champion answered, "No."
The interviewer looked puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?" The Champion answered, "There's no secret only the illusion. You still doubt what I did otherwise you would accept it without question. I've been accused of cheating, using drugs and even making deals with the devil, but the only thing I can be guilty of is a trick. I created an illusion in which I was a champion and I believed it. The trick was that you all doubted it. That's a miracle."
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
El Huachinango Rides Again!
Jen and I raced in the HYC Whistler Race this weekend and got dead last. Now you're probably asking yourself, "what is there to write about then?" Well, it was an adventure as the conditions worsened within 2hrs of the start and we had to take the "alternative" route.
The "alternative" route got us into close quarters of shoals, 70ft fishing vessels, crab pots, narrow channels and every possible marine obstacle one can imagine. All that was missing was the Kraken. The winds increased to 20knts with gusts to 25 and I chose to keep full canvas as long as possible since I am more competitive than prudent when racing. So, we had the rail buried in the water for most of the race. We finally ended up reefing the main after we began to take on water and we were still healing to 30 degrees, but at least we had the rail out of the water. The beat against the wind after rounding the buoy was a two hour slog of tacks that began to defy logic and sanity. All I could think about besides my back cramping up was a cocktail and muscle relaxants at the end of the race. Jen's thoughts were on hot soup, which she said should be prepared by all the yacht club "bitches" that weren't in the race. She was the only woman in the race by the way.
The 12 nautical mile course took us just under 4hrs and our boat speed was between 5-7knots the whole time. That should give you an idea of how much tacking and jibing was involved.
In the end there was no cheering crowds, no bells or whistles just the two Eds, the two salty yachtsmen both named Ed of the Humboldt Yacht Club who take first place in every club event, offering us a pity cocktail and telling us next time to finish sooner before everyone else goes home. Thanks Eds!
The "alternative" route got us into close quarters of shoals, 70ft fishing vessels, crab pots, narrow channels and every possible marine obstacle one can imagine. All that was missing was the Kraken. The winds increased to 20knts with gusts to 25 and I chose to keep full canvas as long as possible since I am more competitive than prudent when racing. So, we had the rail buried in the water for most of the race. We finally ended up reefing the main after we began to take on water and we were still healing to 30 degrees, but at least we had the rail out of the water. The beat against the wind after rounding the buoy was a two hour slog of tacks that began to defy logic and sanity. All I could think about besides my back cramping up was a cocktail and muscle relaxants at the end of the race. Jen's thoughts were on hot soup, which she said should be prepared by all the yacht club "bitches" that weren't in the race. She was the only woman in the race by the way.
The 12 nautical mile course took us just under 4hrs and our boat speed was between 5-7knots the whole time. That should give you an idea of how much tacking and jibing was involved.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Sea Lion
Sea dog! Why are you so curious, checking me out?
I paddle away yet you keep coming about.
Go away man! I'm surfing here!
Why do you keep coming ever so near?
You're freaky big and bold
And I wish you did what you were told.
But you don't listen to me, because I'm not of the sea.
You push particularly gently like the lead in a dance.
I move elsewhere and give you a glance.
You're far away now and small as a dot.
I lost my pet and his name was spot.
I paddle away yet you keep coming about.
Go away man! I'm surfing here!
Why do you keep coming ever so near?
You're freaky big and bold
And I wish you did what you were told.
But you don't listen to me, because I'm not of the sea.
You push particularly gently like the lead in a dance.
I move elsewhere and give you a glance.
You're far away now and small as a dot.
I lost my pet and his name was spot.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Elder Machine
Old dog new tricks, an analog man, old habits and grey
The machine wears down over time along with the work its done
Who is the man, the machine in a digital bit fed world of black and white, zeros and ones, on and off?
An elder machine of parts and pieces, a sum of not, a spectrum of in between
The switch of time will eventually break with the elder machine and the digital world the same
Zero!...or is it one?
The machine wears down over time along with the work its done
Who is the man, the machine in a digital bit fed world of black and white, zeros and ones, on and off?
An elder machine of parts and pieces, a sum of not, a spectrum of in between
The switch of time will eventually break with the elder machine and the digital world the same
Zero!...or is it one?
Monday, February 25, 2013
Follow Me
You want to know what its like?
Are you ready? Careful how you answer.
Yes!
So you wish to feel the hands of creation upon your shoulders...follow me.
Okay!
Stay close and do as I do. Feel as I feel.
The hands upon your shoulders won't be comforting.
I know!
But they will be your friend.
How?
They'll be your teacher.
Who are you?
A follower but I may die so you will become leader.
Teach me!
No! You must learn.
Are you ready? Careful how you answer.
Yes!
So you wish to feel the hands of creation upon your shoulders...follow me.
Okay!
Stay close and do as I do. Feel as I feel.
The hands upon your shoulders won't be comforting.
I know!
But they will be your friend.
How?
They'll be your teacher.
Who are you?
A follower but I may die so you will become leader.
Teach me!
No! You must learn.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Surfing violation!
I thought I was surfing by myself today, having a peaceful session, a quiet communion with the sea, a glorious moment of here and now. I was one with all and everything that will ever be. It was one of those special times when everything falls in place and conspires with you. I took it all in as another set wave lined up towards me. I began to paddle only to realize that I was not alone.
Something had joined me and had been there the whole time but just now made its presence known as I'm dropping into a overhead wall of water. I lost focus and went over the falls hitting hard in the shallow beach break. The wipe out didn't even distract me from the violation I was experiencing in my wetsuit. Something was crawling along my taint. That's right! Taint! That nether area between ones genitals and anus. Something was working hard to become one with me via my rectum. I scrambled to shore and quickly stripped down my wetsuit to my ankles. As I swept my fingers through the crack of my ass as if I were saving a choking victim by clearing the airway, I gathered a couple of pill bugs, "rolly pollies", armadillo like insects that roll up into a ball as a defense, but apparently try to frantically crawl up ones ass when confronted with drowning in a wetsuit.
Now I have seen pill bugs take refuge in my wetsuit before and I have always consciously shaken them out before donning my suit, but a couple must have escaped my efforts this time and they didn't share my love for the ocean. I suppose in a way they did share a love for me.
Something had joined me and had been there the whole time but just now made its presence known as I'm dropping into a overhead wall of water. I lost focus and went over the falls hitting hard in the shallow beach break. The wipe out didn't even distract me from the violation I was experiencing in my wetsuit. Something was crawling along my taint. That's right! Taint! That nether area between ones genitals and anus. Something was working hard to become one with me via my rectum. I scrambled to shore and quickly stripped down my wetsuit to my ankles. As I swept my fingers through the crack of my ass as if I were saving a choking victim by clearing the airway, I gathered a couple of pill bugs, "rolly pollies", armadillo like insects that roll up into a ball as a defense, but apparently try to frantically crawl up ones ass when confronted with drowning in a wetsuit.
Now I have seen pill bugs take refuge in my wetsuit before and I have always consciously shaken them out before donning my suit, but a couple must have escaped my efforts this time and they didn't share my love for the ocean. I suppose in a way they did share a love for me.
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