Life » Brad King:

The Chronicles, Vol. 1: Clearing Decks

Aug 262010

The Invictus Writers will meet for the first time this Saturday, which means it’s time to clean my house after months of travel.

Normally cleaning isn’t an issue. I like an orderly house. (Thanks mom.) But somehow this time it feels different. It feels like the beginning of the last cleaning. Not that I won’t be doing this again some day. Certainly I will. It’s just this feels like one of those Big Ends.

Even this one, though, feels different than the other ends: High School Graduation. College Graduation. Leaving Cincinnati. Leaving Austin. Leaving San Francisco. Those all had a physical component to them. A move. A leave behind.

This one is more philosophical. More ethereal. Brad@40 is starting to feel more real with every passing moment.

Because I’m clearing the decks. Washing away the past and getting myself ready for what comes next.

***

I called Andy the other day to discuss selling the house in Austin. I’d been dreading the phone call because I didn’t know where he’d stand on the move. After all, part of the reason I bought the house was so that he’d have a place to stay in Austin without all the hassles of renting.

In Which I Speak at TedxCincy, or the Brad@40 Plan, Part 1

Life, Science + Tech, Teaching View Comments

Aug 162010

The TED conference, for those involved in technology, is one of those signature events. Say what you will about it (and the criticisms are many, including those I have made myself), but the event routinely draws some of the most accomplished people in the world.

I know because I use the videos from the main event – videos made publicly and freely available – in my classes. I use them to give my kids a world-class education at a bargain basement price. So for all its flaws, it adheres to the first hacker ethic: Information Wants To Be Free.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken the hacker ethic to heart. I try to only use technologies that are open, that support individual freedoms and allow for the greatest movement in innovation and education. I’ve turned down projects that stray too far (according to me, of course) from that ethic.

I tell you these two vignettes, this preface, for this reason:

A few weeks ago, I was asked by the folks putting on TedxCincy, one of the satellite versions of the main TED conference, if I’d be interested in submitting a talk. Apparently I came recommended by three folks – Kevin Dugan, Dacia Snider and Elizabeth Edwards.

I told the group putting on the conference that I’d love to submit a talk. And, as soon as I committed to that, everything else about Brad@40 feel into place.

Brad@40

I’ve alluded to my plan in the last few weeks, but I’ve been vague. Something that’s uncharacteristic of me. But I’ve been moving some chess pieces around on the board and I wasn’t ready to talk about them just yet.

What I can say is this: I’m tired.

Dating Chronicles, Vol 1: “All things end badly. Otherwise they wouldn't end.”

Life View Comments

Aug 152010

Anything else is always something better.

It’s been one of those “life in order” weekends.

Back from two months on the road. Dealing with nearly an entire wardrobe that no longer fits me thanks to The Year of Health. Which led to a complete re-organization of my house. That instigated a top-to-bottom cleaning (which in truth won’t be done until mid-week). And ended with a series of little fixes – purchasing a chair for my upstairs office, hanging the rest of my pictures – that I’d let fall by the wayside this year.

All wrapped around my decision that it’s time to Get Busy Living, which means back to the dating game.

There were little births and deaths that happened, the melancholy changing of the past into the future. The little goodbyes to parts of myself that needed to go, yet still remind me that no matter how many more days I string together with my sobriety, I won’t ever outrun some of the sadness of life. That is just part of deal.

Never show surprise, never lose your cool.

I’m shocked by how often I am surprised by my emotions.

In Which I Re-Start, a Dating Tale

Life View Comments

Aug 122010

I know it’s only August, but it’s already been a long, interesting year.

I’m amazed when people say that Time Flies. I don’t find that to be true (although I also say things like that from time to time so you can imagine the intense self loathing that happens here). At least I don’t find that to be true now.

In my sobriety, I’ve learned to really take the time to enjoy the little moments that happen each day, the little events that sometimes slip through the cracks. Because of that, I think the year seems to be moving more slowly. Or maybe it’s because I’ve laid out some rather large goals that simply time the passage of time (with some action) to come to fruition.

The Year of Health and The Year of Friends has really helped re-configure my life’s priorities. I’ve can feel how my life could be if I just keep moving forward. The Brad@40 plan is already helping me get my act together in the next few years.

The one thing I haven’t really done this year – other than a couple mis-steps – is date. I’ve purposefully removed myself from the dating pool, focusing on getting my sobriety and life in working order. Something I’ve never really done.

Now, though, it feels like it’s time:

Vibram Five Fingers, or the Start of Brad@40

Life View Comments

Aug 072010

A few months ago, a former student of mine – Megan Brooks – posted about her new shoes. I’d never seen anything like them, but I was intrigued. The “glove” shoes (or Alien Shoes as Megan called them) were little more than a rubber-like glove for you feet.

No support. No cushion. Nothing that you’ve been told you needed to run properly.

Of course, the idea that you need padded shoes to run is – when you think about it for a minute – silly. After all, we exist. We are the only sub-species of Homo genus who survived in part because we could walk upright and run. And as far as I know, there were no shoe factories back then.

I’ll spare you the details and science that suggests barefoot running is best for you (you can find much of it in this amazing book Born to Run, if you believe in things like science), but I was hooked on the concept as soon as Megan pointed out the shoes.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Twenty-six weeks and one day ago, I smoked my last cigarette after spending most of my adult life doing so. It wasn’t a big decision although it certainly wasn’t fun quitting. But I’d eliminated drinking from my life and smoking seemed the next logical step.

In Which I Prepare

Life, On Writing, Travel View Comments

Jul 142010

Time flies.

The first part of my Euro-adventure is nearly over. Tomorrow at 630 pm Central European Time (that’s +6 to those on the East Coast) I’ll board a plane to London. I’m always amazed at how quickly my time in Berlin flies. And how easily I find settling into a routine with John and Aimee.

To be sure, I miss my desk and my home life. I miss the freedom to roam as I need to and the autonomy of my own space.

But it’s an even trade-off to be in Europe.

England, though, will be something else. I’ll be bouncing around the country. My weekends will involve trips to visit friends (in Sheffield, in Brighton and maybe a third location to visit another Loveland-ite), and my weeks will involve city runs, cafes (Bar Italia in Soho) and visiting with playwrights at The Soho Theater.

It’s a radically different lifestyle than here. One I will need to adjust to quickly if I’m to keep my running life together.

Runners

Life, Travel View Comments

Jul 072010

I’ve land-locked myself in Berlin.

Since I never quite refresh my four years of high school German, I can understand almost nothing that’s being said around me. Consequently, I stick pretty close to home most days because I don’t want to be “that guy,” wandering around saying: Ich spreche kleine Deutsch. Auf English, bitte.

I speak very little German. In English please. Of course, most people speak English here. Still, I feel ridiculous coming to another country and expecting them to speak my language.

Running, though, has forced me to get out and explore the city. I left America bound and determined to continue my marathon training, but I was dubious about the chances of me finding mapped out places to run my set distances. The Garmin GPS watch solved that problem. Now I can just run without worrying about following a course.

And that, as was once written, has made all the difference.

Lethargy

Life, Travel View Comments

Jul 052010

My body is slowly adjusting to the +6 time zone despite a little set back last week.

I’m convinced the alcohol- and smoke-free body has much to do with that although I’m also convinced that my eating habits need to change considerably. As I ramp up my exercise, I’m finding myself increasingly tired throughout the day. If I lay my head down at all, I’m out for an hour or two. Unconsciously out. Exhausted.

I’ve been reading up on nutrition – because it’s either that or work – and what I keep coming back to is this simple phrase: eat like you’re poor.

No more canned foods or processed food that has the “goodness” stripped out of it. Nothing super fancy or overly ambitious. Just a simple diet consisting of staples. (For instance: instead of packing Goo and Cliff bars on my run, I’ll be cooking up rice and vegetables, wrapping them in small tortillas and tin foil and packing them in my bag. Ultra runners use this as a healthy alternative. Sounds yummy to me.)

The Miracle on Grass…

Life, Media View Comments

Jun 252010

When I was 8 years old, I remember watching the USA hockey team beat the Soviets. I remember because I was at my grandmother’s place. She had a small television, and while I didn’t understand exactly what was happening, I understood that it meant something.

It was a different time and place, but watching the US National Team play in the World Cup – as the great malaise of two wars, the continuing recession, the rising jobless rates – I can’t help but feel that same thing again.

I watch these young men with adult eyes, but still through the lens of that 8-year old. I don’t understand exactly what is happening, but I understand that it’s something.

So, it seems, do you:

Why I Cried: A Sports Tale

Life View Comments

Jun 232010

Twice in my life, I’ve cried during a sporting event.

The first: when The Ohio State University beat Miami in overtime for the first national championship I can remember my favorite team winning. (For some reason this trumped the Reds winning the World Series although seeing Game 1 with my dad was pretty awesome.) It was an emotionally taxing game. Back and forth.

The second: when Landon Donovan streaked the length of the field with four other U.S. players, assaulting the goal as time ran out on their World Cup. They needed a win. They already had one goal taken away earlier in the match by a terrible phantom off-sides call. They had missed two wide open, near empty net goals. It had the air of "one of those days."

And then this: