A road map to Kristian Hansen and fun stuff.

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Feel like I am not twittering enough. What a sad twit!

I’m hitting snooze on @innonate. You can hit snooze too at http://twittersnooze.com/

OH “Who ordered the Spring Rolls - There are none left?” - “Oh dear!”

This is Michele. She was my teacher/instructor tonight at the lululemon shop in Corte Madera. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I must confess, I have not really done any yoga. Thats exactly why I am trying it out. Of course when I showed up today the door was locked and everyone stared at this sweaty guy with a bike showing up late for class. Michele was great at getting the class in order. She corrected my posture a number of times and despite my lack of flexibility, I really felt like I was getting the hang of things by the time everything was said and done. The names for the positions is a bit odd, like crouching child position, Schwarmna laying on your back thing ( I think thats a food) and some other terms which I have quickly forgotten. It was an enjoyable experience and moving forward I’d like to attend some more classes and see what its all about. Lululemon has a series of complimentary yoga classes taking place in their stores either before or after business hours. This is a pretty awesome concept. Keeping the store “open” for an extra two hours and offering instructional services is a great deal for both parties. I see a win-win in building a loyal customer base, Ambassador’s have the opportunity to gain clients and people like me (not a customer or client yet) have a no-hassle, no pressure means to see whats so cool about yoga. Time for bed. Have to go stretch my back.Namaste.

This is Michele. She was my teacher/instructor tonight at the lululemon shop in Corte Madera.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

I must confess, I have not really done any yoga. Thats exactly why I am trying it out. Of course when I showed up today the door was locked and everyone stared at this sweaty guy with a bike showing up late for class.

Michele was great at getting the class in order. She corrected my posture a number of times and despite my lack of flexibility, I really felt like I was getting the hang of things by the time everything was said and done. The names for the positions is a bit odd, like crouching child position, Schwarmna laying on your back thing ( I think thats a food) and some other terms which I have quickly forgotten.

It was an enjoyable experience and moving forward I’d like to attend some more classes and see what its all about.

Lululemon has a series of complimentary yoga classes taking place in their stores either before or after business hours. This is a pretty awesome concept.

Keeping the store “open” for an extra two hours and offering instructional services is a great deal for both parties. I see a win-win in building a loyal customer base, Ambassador’s have the opportunity to gain clients and people like me (not a customer or client yet) have a no-hassle, no pressure means to see whats so cool about yoga.

Time for bed. Have to go stretch my back.

Namaste.

Biking over to lululemon for an “Ansura-Inspired yoga class as we dance our way into Spring and find the sparkle of our hearts”. No idea.

Damn that was a sweet ride. Kentfield to San Francisco and back. Lots of hills, speed and endurance. The Pinarello made me proud.

Its been a quick week and now its the weekend. Here’s my newest delight, a 2008 Pinarello Suprise Pista. I had it in the shop this week getting Dura-Ace bottom bracket, Crankset and Chainring installed.  Last night I picked it up from the Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito. I installed a fizik saddle, Cinelli Stem, a KSM chain and transferred over my pedals and wheelset. Today I went for an amazing ride over Camino Alto (from Larkspur into Mill Valley)  through Sausalito, over the Golden Gate Bridge and ended up in the Marina. The Chestnut Bakery shop had a nice selection of muffins. I had a blueberry muffin, an ice latte and a cup of water. Pretty good after a nice little ride.   Heading back across the Golden Gate Bridge is always a bitch. There are a bunch of touristy, day bike riders that have little to NO clue how to ride bikes. There is not very much space in the bike lane on the bridge, so travelling across with inept cyclists is always interesting.  I ended the ride with a reverse pass over Camino Alto and road down Magnolia Street back to Kentfield. I am so damn tired. Its kind of sucks doing this ride on track bike, but I have not had a single person pass me going up the hills. Every cyclist in Marin is too busy shifting gears and adjusting their spandex to actually put some solid effort into riding safetly and with utmost speed. I was put off by the multitude of riders who did not stop at a single stop light or stop sign. They need to share the rode with SUV’s and they are not setting a very good example. Although stop signs mess up my flow during my ride, they make me a better rider because I am constantly working on my acceleration. The training I put myself through that involves my twitch muscles makes me a stronger athelete.

Its been a quick week and now its the weekend. Here’s my newest delight, a 2008 Pinarello Suprise Pista. I had it in the shop this week getting Dura-Ace bottom bracket, Crankset and Chainring installed.

 Last night I picked it up from the Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito. I installed a fizik saddle, Cinelli Stem, a KSM chain and transferred over my pedals and wheelset. 

Today I went for an amazing ride over Camino Alto (from Larkspur into Mill Valley)  through Sausalito, over the Golden Gate Bridge and ended up in the Marina. The Chestnut Bakery shop had a nice selection of muffins. I had a blueberry muffin, an ice latte and a cup of water. Pretty good after a nice little ride.  

 Heading back across the Golden Gate Bridge is always a bitch. There are a bunch of touristy, day bike riders that have little to NO clue how to ride bikes. There is not very much space in the bike lane on the bridge, so travelling across with inept cyclists is always interesting. 

 I ended the ride with a reverse pass over Camino Alto and road down Magnolia Street back to Kentfield. I am so damn tired. Its kind of sucks doing this ride on track bike, but I have not had a single person pass me going up the hills. Every cyclist in Marin is too busy shifting gears and adjusting their spandex to actually put some solid effort into riding safetly and with utmost speed. 

I was put off by the multitude of riders who did not stop at a single stop light or stop sign. They need to share the rode with SUV’s and they are not setting a very good example. Although stop signs mess up my flow during my ride, they make me a better rider because I am constantly working on my acceleration. The training I put myself through that involves my twitch muscles makes me a stronger athelete.

The Young and the Restless

Living in Marin in the sub-30 crowd is a lot like living in a retirement community.

Yes its warm, the food is good, but the crowds just do not seem to jive very well.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my parents and old(er) people, but there is something missing in Marin County for the young 20-something crew.

 I have been searching for it far-and-wide in the last two weeks since my landing on the Left Coast. To my disappointment I have yet to discover the inner-zen of Marin. 

It seems that there are plenty of outdoor activities for the day, but it is the night that I am most interested in exploring. 

 The activities for youth appear to be limited to cafes and movies. The bar scene is abysmal and relegated to the local drunks. I recall the first few times I revisited Marin back in college for winter/summer breaks. At the time it was “okay” to be seen at the local bars (Marin Brewing Company and Silver Peso Saloon). It was a right of passage to be seen at one of these two hot spots. Yes, I am 21 now - and how is life after high school?

 Living in this area full-time does not afford you the luxury of attending these watering holes. I see the same people from high school at these spots. The same people who never really left home. Our aspirations in life are not equally aligned. I almost feel triumphant when I see these guys/girls still here, which I admit is obnoxious. I wonder if they are happy, if they realized whatever it is that they were striving for as teenagers. 

I guess part of the growing up process is the realization that its okay for us to all want different things. I wanted to experience New York City - so I went there for seven years, got my college degree and worked the city for a couple of years. It was an experiment in self-determination. “If you can make it in New York, You can make it anywhere!”

 Coming back to the Bay Area has been a choice that I made on my own merits. No one forced me back here. I did not need to be out here, but I consciously decided that it was time to experience Marin on my own terms, not those of my parents or my friends. 

 But what I am seeing out here kind of scares me. There is this divide between the young and the old. The young live with their parents. The old live with their young. I do not have any young kids and I am not old, which puts me out. I have to move out of Marin to save my sanity. Off to San Francisco it is. But I am confident that soon enough I will return to Marin again. 

“If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.”

 I am not sure how Marin willingly allows its citizenry to leave and come back at will; but I think this quote gives good context to my relationship with Marin.

Death Wish II: Charles Bronson’s my idol.

Cafe Trieste in Sausalito has awesome wireless and views of the Bay.