I Remember ... 9/11

 (A stream of consciousness writing - forgive the rambling)

I remembered it was dinner time in our little island, and we were watching the news, and there was a ticker tape news alert that scrolled across the screen - screaming "a tower of the World Trade Center has been hit, by a plane!"
I thought - yeah, right ... was this a joke?
No, it wasn't - 'cos a few minutes later - we saw actual footage of a second plane plunging into the other tower, erupting into a fireball, slicing the pristine glass wall of the tower into two ...
My mouth gaped, I couldn't tear my eyes off the screen
Somebody wake me up - this isn't for real!!!!!!

I remember feeling aghast, numb, helpless, shocked beyond belief
Afraid for those who were in the area, in the buildings, dead, or dying. My memories of NYC, so vivid and one of the best cities I've had the fortune to visit, and now the twin towers, on whose viewing platform I had stood and watched the minuteness of Manhattan's boroughs, had gone ... crumpled in a heap of dust and destruction, burying the humanity - that had worked there, had visited as tourists - snuffed out as an American symbol of innovation, progress, and ideally, democracy.

I remember, trying to come to terms with my grief, trying to make sense of the chaos in my mind, my heart, and consoling friends who experienced the same turmoil.

Why was this allowed to happen? Who allowed this to happen? America, for all its faults, held an ideal - if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere (or was it New York?) - and the shattered dreams of millions around the world went to bed with the dust heap of the twin towers.

America reacted bravely, foolishly, blindly, unilaterally, and in their helplessness, isolated friends, broke off friendships, gambled with lions, slept with cheetahs, ran with hyenas, chased its own tail, and flailed - fleeing like a being gone berserk, hitting out at anything and everything, abandoning the voice of reason, of conscience - America!!!!! Where have you been? Where are you going????

I longed for the America of pre-9/11, no one knows where it's gone, or if it'll ever come back.
I longed for the Bohemia I experienced when I was traipsing around the Village, for instance, feeling like I belonged, at once an alien and a native, in the heart of NYC, a city with so much promise, potential, optimism, beauty, hope, spontaneity, camaraderie, a jazzed-up free-form quality I've grown to love, and imbibe, and partake, and proselyte.

I remember, going about in the days hence - stumbling about in a stupor, questioning, getting no real answers, clawing at the wrong doors, asking the wrong questions of the right people, getting the right answers from the wrong sources. Disbelief grown strong, disillusionment stronger.

But the human spirit is indomitable, unbreakable, resilient - we are cut down, and we come back up. Stand up - steadfast, unshakable, unmovable, unmoving, resolute. Stare down the oppressors of hope, and plant your flags deep - mark that spot for all to see. Let's renew our faith in humanity's ability to right the wrongs.

I remember I wanted to express my grief, of hopes dashed, stolen, appropriated - how dare you!!!!!! I wanted to write a song, but cynically, it was a cliche, and you know as well as I that the worst thing one could do to the memory of something beautiful was to render it a cliche - never!!! I swore! never write a cliche!

Ten years on, the song hasn't found it's way out, although it has taken root, and will feed and mature with time, and I shall resist temptation until it's time. I can only express my frustration with words, and even so, not even come close to articulating anguish, my anguish, as fresh as it was today as ten years ago. Maybe numbed with age.

I remember watching footage of the crater, a pockmark on the face Manhattan, and wondering how people would cope. But cope they did, and they moved on. Lives could never be the same, it's the new normal, as someone wryly said.

I will remember you - and I shall smile, in hope - hope that we must rebuild, and strengthen, our belief in humanity again.

Nike+ GPS watch

I was so excited to finally buy one of these - did a pit stop in San Francisco's Niketown to pick this up for $199 ($217-something after taxes).

Went back to the hotel and downloaded the latest firmware onto the laptop, plugged in the watch's USB stick, and synchronised the watch to the Nike plus website.

The next day, I took it out for a run. Hit the 'yellow' button, and waited for the GPS (powered by Tom Tom) to work, but it was still linking after 5 minutes. I gave up and just started running - it took me another couple of hundreds of metres before the watch linked up with the satellites overhead, and started functioning.

After that, it was a breeze to track where I was heading, my pace, the calories I spent, and the time I took to run the distance. I loaded the information onto Nike plus when I got back to the hotel, and voila! everything was recorded and measured.

I must say this is a fun watch to have, and the GPS function is basically what I needed. The watch itself is black, with flourescent green trimmings, and the digital readout on the screen is large enough for anyone with average eyesight. A neat feature is the backlight - which is activated by a firm tap on the watch face itself. I thought it was cool to have that instead of fumbling around for the right button to press.

Verdict? A 9/10 for the watch - if the GPS had linked straightaway after I set it, it would have scored full marks. Still, it's highly recommended for runners who just require a GPS to track their distance and speed while outdoors.

What's going on?

Riots happening across the world today - the Arab states, in London, and where else? Unrelated, but somehow wound together across a global tapestry of news and social disenfranchisement.

As Marvin Gaye once sang: "What's going on?" ...

While this could be the surfacing of political undertones in repressed regimes, the catalysts for the Arab Spring and London's burning are seemingly different, and differing.

Over in this country, we thankfully enjoy a greater deal of tranquility - nothing matches the bewildering acts of senseless violence in London.

However, because of this, some people are wont to wear their political leanings on their sleeves, or even worse, pronounce their blinkered world views to the public. There isn't a hint of irony when they pluck statements about law and order in other countries out of context, and apply their prejudices to their condemnation of e.g. London's troubles.

Is it because they have been brainwashed by the local political incumbent - as a prerequisite for joining their quasi-commercial entities? Or do like attract like? I don't know, but I am slightly alarmed at the navel gazing such people exercise, while proudly proclaiming it to all and sundry.

It's my hope that people will come to their senses, that peace will prevail, and that communities will cast aside their differences to better the lot of humanity. Is that too much to ask?

It's frustrating, but strangely rewarding as well

I was referring to my recurring ankle injury that refuses to go away - it relapses ever so often, flaring up into a deep dark bruise around the eye of the ankle, and it is tender when I flex it.

Then it goes away - life resumes normalcy, and I could run again. It's damn frustrating!

Anyway, I completed a 10K competitive run around the Marina Promontory last week, and it felt good, even though I had to suffer through scorching 30 deg. heat at 8.30 a.m.! The newly opened Marina Bay promenade is quite a sight, with a tranquil waterfront flowing between downtown Marina and the integrated resort (or casino disguised as a resort - I couldn't quite figure out where the resort bits were). It straddles the new downtown skyline and the artsy parts of Marina Bay which just welcomed the newly opened Artscience museum, currently showcasing the Genghis Khan collection - haven't been in yet, so can't tell if it's any good.

Went for another short run tonight (5K) to work off stiff muscles and to build my ankle's resilience - using my Vibrams. It went pretty went - the sky was clear, and the moon almost full - all in, a refreshing run.

On the music front, we had a great gig out at the Esplanade waterfront last week (April 8), and it showcased what the band does best - the blues. Hopefully this would lead to more opportunities down the line.

I'm doing a wedding gig with Vic in May, playing indie pop. See how that goes.

Life is sort of becoming routine at work, which isn't a bad thing. People are starting to get used to having me in their faces, which is good sign (or maybe not). Anyway, I'm settling in, but still undecided if that's the right place to be at. Will ponder it further.

New year, new stuff

Just changed jobs - and I'm still reeling from the info overload these past 2 weeks. But it's all good, as I'm learning a lot on the job, and enjoying my new role.

On the running front, picked up a book on marathon running by Jeff Galloway, and am relearning how to run using his method. Seems to be working well, and not too taxing on my legs, especially the knees. It's called 'Marathon - You can do it' available from Amazon.com.

Music-wise, I'm playing a couple of small gigs with Vicki, one at a shopping center in Feb, and the other a wedding in April. We're doing a gig at Blujaz cafe in March with the band, and I hope we get a slot at a blues fest in April at the Esplanade, but that's a long shot.

Anyway, hope I settle into the new job without much hassle, and that it doesn't intrude into my running, music or family life.