We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Sometimes referred to as Aaron Burr's house, it is more accurately the Morris-Jumel Mansion. Built in 1765, it is the oldest surviving residence in Manhattan.
We stopped by the place on our Sunday hike. The exterior is in poor repair but the inside seems ok. Happy to report that the men's room in the basement is basic but functional.
When built, it sat on its 130-acre country estate. The house served, for a time, as Washington's HQ. Washington Heights was countryside then.
That Mrs. Jumel was a pip, wasn't she? She divorced Burr. Always looking for a better deal.
I can hear, out my window this morning, the songs and calls of Pine Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Redstart, Red-eyed Vireo (not exactly a warbler), Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-Throated Blue, Parula, Prairie Warbler, and a few more that I am not sure about.
My idea of watching the spring warblers is a chaise lounge lawn chair flat, under a big old oak tree with binocs. Preferably, a big oak near some juniper trees - which is why I planted my junipers and Japanese willows: to watch the warbler migration with minimal exertion. Let them come to you. Just wait for them to pass through the trees. Otherwise, it's a day of neck pain. Knowing their calls simplifies it: you don't have to try to see them. But plenty of them forage silently in the treetops. Especially the odd vireos.
Get out there and see these little jewels of Creation, and listen to their morning calls, as they pass by on their trip north.
I'd like to thank everyone who braved the rain and chill yesterday to join Maggie's Annual Urban Hike. As Mrs. Bulldog and I approached the Natural History Museum, we were curious who would actually show up. We were very surprised to see a hardy group which totaled 13.
The choice of Northern Manhattan was a good one. I'm not sure we could have made the Cloisters even on a nice day, but by the end of the 9.2 miles (or so) that we did complete, we'd seen a good chunk of the Upper West Side, Harlem, and Washington Heights.
We passed 2 (of 5 planned) Carnegie Libraries. Took a gander at, and some pictures of, Pomander Walk and Sylvan Terrace. We saw Alexander Hamilton's house (which the city has moved twice), Aaron Burr's house, and the lot where the Collyer Brothers made hoarding a headline (as their house is gone). We passed the Polo Grounds and finished up at Highbridge. The group determined the Little Red Lighthouse should be our final stop - but we nixed it as walking there is far more complicated than we imagined. We'll save it for another trip.
I didn't take any pictures, unfortunately, so hopefully others who did can share them. The rain was definitely not a deterrent. While we considered cancelling (discussing whether "rain or shine" means "light mist or shine"), I think we made the right decision as it was one of the best walks we'd had.
Great fun, good people, nice conversation, wonderful views of New York.
We're running out of new things to see in NYC. Next year may be an interesting one to plan.
No steering wheel. High-tech truck driving. I prefer these videos to real flying, but both are ok with me. "I've read some recent studies that show that coffee just keeps me alive."
Pilots are cool-headed, like surgeons. It's not for everybody.
Cardio endurance training is one component of the Fitness Triad (strength, athleticism, endurance) or, as we usually divide it, strength, calisthenics, and cardio.
Unless one is a competitive runner, swimmer, biker, or rower, we believe it's good to mix up cardio exercises because just doing one improves one's efficiency too much for the cardiac stress you are looking for.
Cardio training (ie exercising your heart muscle) is like anything other muscle: you want to stress it without injuring it. That can either mean keeping your heart rate at 55-85% of your max heart rate for 30 minutes (depending on age), or it can mean HIIT cardio training with sprints. I recommend the latter for time efficiency and because it is gentler on your body.
I no longer recommend road-running, especially distance road running. A morning 5-mile jog is harmless but the main benefit is mental because few joggers get their heart rates very high. Distance runners/races (ie from marathoners to 50 milers to 100-milers) are admirable in their dedication and amazing endurance but it just isn't healthy for joints, heart, body inflammation, risk of kidney damage, and so forth. Pheidippides, who was a professional distance courier (before cell phones), died in Sparta.
Our current "Maggie's Recommended" general fitness training for the cardio component is roughly one hour of endurance cardio (a mix of elliptical, treadmill, stairmaster) keeping a solid (ie 55+% but sub-max heart rate; and 1/2 hour of HIIT cardio (30-60 second max sprints on rower, treadmill, combat bike, stairmaster, etc) with triple slow recovery times; and the mix of cardio and athleticism training in calisthenics/exercise classes.
I almost forgot to mention sports. Two hours of basketball is excellent cardio/athleticism exercise. Same for martial arts, or a tennis class.
Remember, unless you are in training for multiple hours daily, you can not lose weight by doing cardio exercise.
I have been a tourist in Ireland twice, long ago. Ten days and you can get the gist of the interesting and charming sights on the whole island. In this way, I think Ireland is like Southern France and Scotland. I mean that these are fine places just to be in, and not to be a tourist. Delightful getaways without frantic running and driving around.
Ireland has a number of great house inns/hotels, some near golf and some not. A favorite is Ballyfin which is not near any famous golf. It's about horseback, cycling, hiking, reading, dining, and immersing onseself in the green Irish countryside.
Life has convinced me not to be. Far too many human qualities are inborn, both strengths and frailties. It is "psycho-utopian" to believe otherwise.
I know my limits pretty well, and have always been determined to blame my disappointments on myself. That's the best, most honest and self-critical approach even when it is ego-damaging. Ego-damaging is soul fertilizer, the wise men say.
Mrs. BD and her pal attended an open rehearsal at the NYC Ballet today. They are going to the public performance later this afternoon. The NYC Ballet is in the top 5 in the world, but I can hardly tell any difference. Mrs. BD and her pals sure can. They are dance (ballet and modern) enthusiasts. Actually, dance fanatics.
No doubt many of our readers can not fully appreciate the art of dance (it's been decades of struggle for me, but I persist), but attending the rehearsals is an eye-opener. Same goes for music rehearsals.
NYC has more dance, musical, and theatrical venues than any city in the world. If you give those things a try, it's your place to go for an interesting time and a fun dinner out somewhere.
We are on, regardless of weather. There is always a rainbow somewhere, and human skin is waterproof.
Rain gear advised, especially in the morning. Our team hated the idea of canceling an 11-mile hike because of some dumb rainstorms...especially the gals.
Rightly so. Maggie's people ain't askeered of weather. My sister's motto: "There is no bad weather, only bad gear."
My motto: "Any morning I awake healthy and alive is gonna be the best day in my life." Then I go to the gym whether I believe my motto or not. If my workout doesn't kill me (I do my best to kill myself in it), I figger I am probably good for another 24 hrs. That is comforting.
There are hermit souls that live withdrawn In the place of their self-content; There are souls like stars, that dwell apart, In a fellowless firmament; There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths Where highways never ran But let me live by the side of the road And be a friend to man.
Let me live in a house by the side of the road, Where the race of men go by The men who are good and the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I. I would not sit in the scorner's seat, Or hurl the cynic's ban Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man.
I see from my house by the side of the road, By the side of the highway of life, The men who press with the ardor of hope, The men who are faint with the strife. But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears, Both parts of an infinite plan Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man.
I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead And mountains of wearisome height; That the road passes on through the long afternoon And stretches away to the night. But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice, And weep with the strangers that moan, Nor live in my house by the side of the road Like a man who dwells alone.
Let me live in my house by the side of the road It's here the race of men go by. They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong, Wise, foolish, so am I; Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat, Or hurl the cynic's ban? Let me live in my house by the side of the road And be a friend to man.
Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911) wrote plain verse for the "common man". Homey, corny, comfortably instructive stuff. In fact, for many years Foss turned out a poem a day for his local Somerville, MA newspaper. We recently saw a graveyard monument (1936) with "Let me live by the side of the road and be a friend to man." inscribed upon it.
From today, always happy to talk to press. The guy was a heck of a good choice and much better than almost anybody expected. Name one of the scare attacks that came to pass with this guy.
- And another. This is "truthy," as they would say on The View:
"If we change our times with the sole intent of increasing the amount of daylight we receive, that’s an extra hour of sunshine that will warm the planet. That’s one extra hour per day of extra heat warming our already unstable planet. We need to repeal Daylight Savings Time as a primary measure to decrease the rate of climate change. Less hours of sunshine equals less heat hitting Earth’s surface. We’re running out of time!"
Sometimes referred to as Aaron Burr's house, it is more accurately the Morris-Jumel Mansion. Built in 1765, it is the oldest surviving residence in Manhattan.
It is ramping up right now. 
5 Countries 
The power of music: 