"A Day in the Life"

I woke up, ready to greet the cool New England weather and begin my day of work. I marveled in my ability to free pour latte art, one drink after another, what sooned turned into a continuous line of tickets once the sign was flipped to show "open." Like a machine with no other capability I worked with efficiency hollering out names above the hum of customers chatter. After a long eight hour shift at the Atomic Cafe, I dragged myself home, nearly stumbling on the rugged sidewalk laid under siege by tree roots. I wheeled my bike out and geared up with the ultimate training partner my father (Frank Schleck), ready to unwind our minds from the day. The air was cool and a faint mist seemed to coat us and our bikes. We rode in uniform with matching black kits, we began to labor for breath working to break the rising power of the wind blowing off the shore. With a gleam in our eyes and laughter echoing through the quiet streets we rode home paying homage to the quaint yellow house atop the hill near Red's Pond once home to Tyler Hamilton. A day well lived, I am poised to rise to any challenge life may wield!

Work, Work, Work.

As the dust begins to settle I find the weekend is still not over, who would ever begin to think I would be looking foreword to the end of the weekend? Well I am in a way excited because then I will have finished two papers that I've been constantly working on and occupying my time with. All I seem to be doing is work work work, and quite literally tomorrow I'm going to my old haunt of a full-time job I did last year as an all-arounder (cashier, barista, chef) at the Atomic Cafe in Marblehead. Now I only work the Sunday shift just to get some sort of income in while I study. On friday I had only a class in the morning and the afternoon off. So I packed up and drove to Gloucester with my girlfriend, where we went to the Lone Gull Coffeehouse and worked on the English review due on Monday for English. I got a rough draft I was finally satisfied with and went off in search of my girlfriend who had wondered around the shops. We met up, found a cafe specializing in tea and enjoyed a warm satisfying cup of chai and a brisk day by the ocean. We headed over to a park and climbed down to rocks and sat right by the ocean with the foamy sea spray just barely reaching us and watching the gulls search for food. A moment of peace breathing fresh salty air, in the rush to get work done!

Birthday

A day as normal as any other to most, except for me. Today, twenty years ago I was born. I don't feel much older instead my mind is focused on the impending schoolwork that must be done. No time to dwell on what this day might mean. Although, is it wrong for me to push aside my own birthday? I feel torn on a day spent on me doing what I want and then accomplishing what I should be doing, like writing two papers for Monday. I am grateful to be here on this earth and given a chance at life and having free will to do what I feel is right. I guess for now I'll do what I must and then later create free time for myself to enjoy the day I entered this world!

No Letter "A"

Recently I found myself thinking of times when I would munch upon every bit of food in sight.  My pops bestowed upon me the title of “Loki” short for locust due to the problem of me gobbling everything in the fridge.  The title stuck with me, now I find it common to be referred to by Loki.  The simple and growing times of being boys, long gone, yet I think upon frequently.  Once school finished, I took the bus home or my pops picked me up, munched on some refreshments to keep me energized, then off I sprinted.  Flying top speed through the woods, climbing to the very tops of trees, creeping through mud and looking into the life of insects.  Boys will be boys; once I got home my clothes were thoroughly covered in dirt plus clumps of green sod.  Time flew by since then, no longer do I run through the trees, visit the life of insects or climb trees, yet I long for those simple times once more.

"Social Scene"

Where do I stand with peers? I am sitting outside the residence halls despite being a commuter, facing the perfectly mowed grass.  The new born trees have been planted and within 20 years I’m sure they will rise above the building that now tower over them.  As fellow students of the university pass by me, I wonder what separates me from them? Am I different?  A young man walks towards his next class (I presume) and a girl screams from her dorm window down to him.  The social interaction is simple although a little over the top just to say hello for all to hear.  Somehow they know each other, from sharing a class or perhaps a chance encounter at a social gathering like a party.  I suppose they are just like me, at least one commonality is we are all students.  I am sitting with my girlfriend; both of us are encompassed on accomplishing the ever-continuous workload.  We are all human and yet I feel separated from all the people bustling to class as the leaves begin to change.  I am not apprehensive of meeting new people and making new friends, but I feel I am on a different level.  I am not claiming anyone is better, myself included.  Is my feelings of disassociation to American university students coming from my two years spent abroad living in Italy and my summer of traveling cross-country exploring this vast and beautiful country?  I suppose time will tell all.

Dependency

Setting into the grind.  The school workload picks up and I meet it with enthusiasm.  I see fellow peers around me collapsing with the work or complaining to themselves and their friends, but to me school has just begun.  I am ready to match everything thrown at me.  I am feeling confident with where I am in my life. I have just recently gotten back to the North Shore area after traveling cross-country camping in many of America’s most beautiful National Parks, sharing the whole experience with my amazing girlfriend. I follow a specific training regime with my bike and I am enjoying my rest day after being on the bike straight for eight days.  I have a very large family who is unique, challenging, rewarding and loving all at the same time.  Nothing is given for free in this life; no handouts are being doled out here. Although I feel I don’t need any, I am ready to work for what I want.  Thus I can feel a sense of accomplishment. 

If you are constantly given everything you need, you have fallen subject to being dependent on someone or something to keep you satisfied or happy.  I am working on finding my inner peace and being comfortable with me in any given situation.  I want to feel I have worked for my needs and that I am self-sufficient. Smooth and efficient will be the name of the game for me, staying ahead of the workload and the inevitable stress that accompanies it hand in hand.

The Beehive

I'm cruising, finally I am understanding things in math that left me clueless. I suppose all I needed was just to take the time and figure it out by myself, at my pace. School has been interesting, so many people just like a beehive milling around making honey. How does a beehive work? Do all the bees know each other? I feel school has been masses of people and I don't know anyone quite yet. That is perfectly fine for now. I don't need a million friends. Or getting distracted with parties, drama and things that would eventually drag me down. I want to focus on school, get a rhythm find my flowers, and then when I'm ready, at my pace branch out and grow. Time management is the key, so far so good! School is a beehive and I'm finding my way.

Traveling

Travel-make a journey, typically of some length or abroad.

As far as I recall, I often found myself in transit between one point and another.  My parents divorced when I was two.  My father left our home wondering if he would ever see his son again.  The unknown had set upon his mind and made him doubt and worry.  So it happened that I did see him again, many times and I lived with him for many years.  I spent many hours traveling between homes spending summers and vacations with each parent.

            I found myself riding the Amtrak Acela Express between New Jersey and Boston.  Traveling stirred my blood and gave me hours by myself to sit and think. I would look out the window and watch the world pass by in a blur.

            The window seat on an airplane is the best, especially after takeoff or right before landing once you drop below the clouds.  Looking through the two-panel window made of plastic and gazing over the wing of the airplane and the hearing the hum of the engine.  Tiny houses begin to appear all clustered together, the baseball diamonds look like fields for ants to play on. The best is at night when the lights of the cities illuminate the dark skyline and the hum of the world continues despite the hour.  People are constantly in motion, ever moving and ever changing in their travels.

Finding a path in life to follow and what brings us to where we are?

Many experiences make up who I am.  In fact, to many to count I’m sure.  Every moment, every action my body and mind commit to will define me in the future.  This very action of mine to write today will lead to something.  Life is connected.  As the saying goes, “every action has a reaction” whether it be good or bad is for you to decide and that centers on your mindset or attitude in life.  I recently sent an email to my dream employer, to work as a cycling trainer and possibly go on bicycle tours through Italy.  Is it farfetched to want to work there? No not at all, especially because I took action, I sent an email saying why I should be there working with people at the studio and why I should be paid to ride a bike in Italy over the summer.  I guess I have Adam Shepard to thank for his inspiring book, Scratch Beginnings. The decision to read his book with an open mind changed me forever and has prompted me to question who I am, which direction I want to go and most importantly how I want to live my life.  I am confident that my actions will provide me with what I need.