It's All Goodnow

Today's picture of the day: Crazy stuff going on in the world right now. I am all for opening relations with Cuba.  Frankly, I am all for cheap places to vacation, rum, and cigars.  (alright, not a huge cigar guy, but when in Havanna)  Not the worst idea to have a functional level of diplomacy with Cuba seeing how Russia is all sorts of in a funk right now.  I could see Putin plopping a few missiles 90 miles from Florida to spruce up morale in Moscow.   Friends close, enemies closer.  Rum. Cigars. North Korea.  Is that even a country?  We are allowing that province to dictate what we watch?  Get the fuck out of here.  I mean, I hate James Franco as much as the next guy, but I would prefer people have the option to not see The Interview because he is a no talent ass clown. How is the school massacre in Pakistan not a bigger deal?  It isn't even on CNN.com today.  This isn't the most accurate number, but I think I saw 132 deaths.  132.  132.  132. 132.  If that h

I have been working on a huge project at work.  I could tell you about it, but I will wait until the ink is on the page before doing so. My point here is that I have been able to be creative with how I plan a huge event.  Rather satisfying to create a concept and work it through.   You know, better than cubicle living. I hung out at an ad agency last night.  I wish my company had beer taps, free food, a pool table, and bean bag chairs.  No really......that was amazing.  Was also able to have an hour long strategy session around my event - while drinking free beer.  Yeah, so that didn't suck.  At all.  In the least.  In any capacity.  Whatsoever.  I may ask if they need an intern. Bought tickets to a Brian Fallon concert.  He is the lead singer for The Gaslight Anthem.  It is in the middle of New Jersey.  I have no clue how I will get there, but I will manage.  I mean, how tough could it possibly be?  Hitchhiking is still legal right? It is New Jersey.....everything is legal t

NYC Marathon recap: I ran that marathon.  That was cool.  It was windy.  4:20.10. People cheered. I ate GU. I ate Jelly Beans. I was happy when it was over. I drank beer after the run. The bus that took me to the start line got lost, hit a police car, and then dropped us off at the wrong spot.  So that was great. Burned 4,150 calories. Didn't chafe due to putting $10 worth of body lubricant on my skin. Nip guards are worth every cent. Wore new socks. Under Armour athletic boxers are the best thing ever. I just at a pint of Ben & Jerry's.  Not that that has anything to do with the marathon.  Maybe I am still hungry from the run. Went to the gym today.  Rode the bike.  Legs felt better after.  Can't see myself running for another week or so. Ran the first half in 1:58.....so the second half was a tad slower. Crowds were better this year than last. Great to see friends and family out on the course.  It was much appreciated. Boy do my leg

Marathon $266 Does that seem like a lot to you?  Seems like a lot to me.  Most of it goes to the NYPD to pay cops who are getting double time to work the marathon.  So that's great.   I'm ready to run it.  Training is over.  Went well.  I am relatively uninjured.  IT bands are tight.  Calves are sore.  Stuff you would expect.   Ran my final 2.8 miles this morning.  Threw in a quick burst.   Longest run was 17 miles.  Did it in Central Park on the hills.   Did most of my training on hills so I think I am rather prepared for them.   Have a pair of shoes with only 20 miles on them.  Comfortable and with a lot of bounce.  Saucony Triumphs.  Great shoe.  Have my nutrition game plan.  Nothing new.  No dairy.  Carbs.  Low fiber.   I also have a pee plan.  yes, a pee plan.  When I stop drinking water day of so that I will not have to pee over my four plus hour run.  It is a vital part of my strategy.  VITAL.   Getting a ride to the start line with the

Homeless people can be rather creative. There are a whole lot of homeless folks here in NYC.  I mean, a lot.  Recently I have noticed that some of them have some pretty interesting tactics going to make some money. There is one guy who has a new sign each day I pass him.  One day it is AIDS, the next it is he is a veteran, the next day he isn't going to lie he just wants a beer.  I wonder how he comes up with his sign for the day.  Does he find that people respond differently on certain days of the week. AIDS money I Need a Beer Friday Veteran Thursday Just Need $16 to Get Home Saturday The Dog Comes First Tuesday It must work.  The guy is out there every day.  Hell, he may have a studio apartment on the Upper East Side. Then there is the girl and her boyfriend who have a  dog who just hang out on the sideway all smelly with their dog all day.  They use the dog for sympathy.  I don't buy.  Go get a job.  The dog doesn't beg, nor should you. Then the lady in

Breaking Bad never gets old. I am sick of listening to NFL players talk about domestic violence.  I don't care what their opinion is. I just don't.  At all.  Even a little tiny bit. I need new pillows.  I think I am going to go big on this.  HUGE pillows.  None of that down crap either.  Not joking.....these pillows may not fit through my front door. I alway thought I would peak at 32.....I sure hope that isn't the case. If you could do one thing for the rest of your life what would it be? I want to live in Europe.  I don't know quite where, but I want to. Or.....maybe Australia. Football isn't what it was 5 years ago. I need to write more often.

So I am taking a month before the marathon to eat healthy, not drink, and train smart. Do you know what that is called?  Boring.  I am bored. So while I am bored I need to find a way to productively channel my energies....... So let's think: I could write.....that would make sense Catch up on Dexter I wish museums were open later during the week I don't want to spend much money Maybe I could build something.  I do need a dresser or shelving I am cooking more.  That's fun. Maybe a project.  A short story.  A script.  A stand up act. Something......to occupy the time.

When is the last time you got good news?   Really good news that you pumped your fist and audibly said, "Yes!" It has been awhile for me.  I haven't had that "Yes!" feel in some time.  And why?  Why am I not getting that feeling?  What's missing?  What am I not quite getting out of life?   I think I am missing a sense of adventure.  A sense of importance in what I am doing day to day.   I quit my last job because I was feeling that way; though it ended up being one of the best decisions of my life, I in no way can afford to do such a drastic thing again.  And I am not saying that I want to quit my job.  I guess I am saying that I need to find a new goal.  A new objective, a sense of purpose beyond work and training for the marathon.   So what will it be?  Climbing a mountain?  Publishing a book again?  Starting my own business?  Going back to school?   I don't know.  And I think that is what is bothering my as of late. Not knowing what

I'm at the gym the other day.  Pumping iron.  Getting all huge and jacked and ...oh, hold on, I'm training for a marathon, scratch that.  I was getting my cardio in (that sounds far less macho, but whatever)   I get done sweating for the day and go to the locker room.  Standing at the sink splashing water on my face when a guy walks in with a suit on that is all comic book characters.  Super heroes mostly.  But it is a suit.  Full on pants, sports coat....suit.  I am tired and live in New York so I don't think a whole lot of it until he busts out a tube of lipstick and starts going all Buffalo Bill style.  I sort of look over ... give him the once over.  He looks back at me and says: "It's OK, I'm a clown." To which I responded, "Oh, didn't even notice." My question: why is a clown using the gym locker room to get ready for a gig?  That upped the creepy factor by about 4.  Clowns are weird.  Never liked them. 

One of the true downfalls of NYC living is the laundromat.  There is almost nothing I dislike more than having to haul my laundry across the street.  (Yes, I know that less than 75 years ago people "washed" their clothing in rivers and on rocks, but I live in 2014, not 1934)  And that's just it, it isn't like I have to bring my laundry bag a mile to this place, uphill both ways.  It is across the street.  I can actually hit the building from my front door with  a decent throw of a tennis ball. So today I go to do my laundry and the price to do a load of wash has risen a whopping 25 cents.  I took a deep breath and told myself that it is OK despite the machines always breaking and the people who own the place (perhaps the most miserable humans ever.  It is two parents and a grown son running the place and it should be called Misery Laundry.  These people hate their lives.  The son stands outside and smokes all day.  The man looks like his wife beats him and the wife

NFL - bunch of class acts right there. Whew. Way to attempt to fuck up a multi billion dollar business.....  Seriously the NFL is actively trying to make people not want to watch its product.  My guess is that sales of pink jerseys will be declining steadily. Coffee place across the street from work started selling pizza.  Not sure what that's all about.  Nothing goes with my iced coffee like nice greasy slice of pepperoni.  The fuck are they thinking? I am still wearing shorts.  That's about to end.  Because winter is coming.  And I do not like that. Running the NYC marathon again.  So that's terrible.  $266.  $11 processing fee.  Please explain that to me.  Please.  Fucking please....why is there an $11 processing fee. Jesus.

Ernest Hemingway is credited with penning the shortest short story. For Sale: Babies shoes, never worn. I wonder what six word stories Hemingway would write about the NFL?  So I am going to take the liberty of writing a few in his place. For Sale: Rice jersey, riding dirty. Rice jersey, free: Wash before use. Help Wanted: NE TE, no priores. Aaron Hernandez: 162,000 Twitter followers....... still. file:///Users/andrewgoodnow/Desktop/Screen%20Shot%202014-09-08%20at%209.33.29%20PM.png Needed: NFL Commissioner, Must have balls. Butt fumble, so funny, it hurts. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Vuvz15OjCVc?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Peyton Manning, best advertising personality: ever. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cSuHQZjzJYY?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allow

This has been the best summer in the history of summer weather.  It has damn near been like a summer in Maine here in the metropolis of NYC.  And here is the funny thing.  People are complaining.  It seems like given the opportunity people will complain about nearly anything.  I mean that.  Beautiful weather and people are talking like it is the end of the world - WINTER IS COMING to borrow a line from the ever sunny Game of Thrones.  It is sort of like this ice bucket challenge for ALS.  People are actually complaining about it.  I find this nearly unfathomable.  And I could be one of the more critical people I know in terms of expressing if something makes is idiotic. But raising money and awareness for a great cause?  I mean, if you don't want to dump a bucket of ice water over your head....I have this amazing newsflash for you.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO.  The ice bucket police are not going to break down your door and detain you in a meat locker.  This is a fun way to promote a

I have been living in NYC for the last six and a half years.  I have lived in a few different places and with a number of different people.  Depending upon my desperation to find a place and my financial situation at that given time I have had both very awesome living arrangements and some.....more interesting living scenarios as well.  I figured that this is as good of a topic for a post as any...... The Pros and Cons of NYC roommates: Pros: 1. Expenses.  For the amount I spent per month on my studio apartment on the UES I could have owned a 3 bedroom, two bath with an in ground pool in Indianapolis.  With roommates I can afford a place in a lovely neighborhood, that's safe, and I don't have to donate blood twice a month to do so. 2. It's sort of nice to have people around.  Living alone can be quite lonesome.  Not that I want a roommate who wants to have long, in depth discussions about life and loss, but a quick chat about our upcoming fantasy football drafts is

I have heard some funny ones in my time, but recently I think I heard the single best description of how one might act on a Saturday night when at the Jersey Shore. And I quote, "I'm gonna get real creepy on Saturday night bro."   I mean, that is just Jersey Shore gold right there ladies and gentlemen.  GOLD.  I know the person who cast the show Jersey Shore and I think she would have probably taken a good hard look at that line and incorporating it into the show.  You would have to.  That could actually be a new thing in pop culture.  Gonna get REAL creepy tonight.  So many places to go with this.   I may use that line when I am out some night. Me to some girl: Hi, I'm Andrew Some girl: Oh, hello. Me: Wanna get creepy tonight? The places that could go.  That is almost better than the Polar Bear pick-up line (almost).   I challenge everyone out there to get "real creepy tonight" because you only live once #yolo (oh, how funny I

I purchased a new computer.  It is very nice.  I will name it Wilson.  Things named Wilson tend to be pretty solid.  Wilson's are not flashy, but they get the job done. Which, for my new MacBook Air is really all I am looking for.  That and it is light.  Wilson's are light.  And sturdy.  Sturdy old Wilson.   Boy, was this thing expensive.  I am going to yell each and every time I see an Apple commercial -  you caused my computer to cost an additional $350 because of your inflated marketing/advertising budget.   But it was time.  My old computer is five years old and no longer connected to the internet.  So that was a problem.  I am pretty sure that a laptop that does not connect to the internet is a modern day paperweight.  Or is there a more technically relevant analogy?  Whatever it is, the thing no longer had any true value other than document storage.   I am looking at my now retired laptop, a Toshiba without a name, and scoffing at it.  I mean, the thing is junk.  P

I cannot and I mean CANNOT stand clocks that tick.  They drive me nuts.  I am near certain that's the basis of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Telltale Heart".  He couldn't stand the ticking of all of those old clocks.  So he wrote a vivid story about madness due to clocks.  And then he got sick and died.  The moral of the story: don't have clocks that tick or you will go mad and die. At least, that's what I think. Boy the Red Sox sure are good this year.  Longest losing streak in 13 years...and counting.  Though I will say this.  Three World Series in a decade....I guess a couple of off years make the good ones all the sweeter.  And also....it's still May and the AL East sucks this year.  We still have a shot (If the team get remarkably better and fast) I bumped into an old high school buddy on the train yesterday.  Amazing the things you catch up on.  People you used to know, good news (kids, weddings, success), bad news (those who have passed or had mi

People in the news: 1. Donald Sterling.  It is unAmerican to force an 80 year old man from his business for having a conversation with his 30 year old girlfriend where he voices less than appropriate views on with whom she spends her time.  Frankly, it is a relationship matter and none of my business.  I don't care.  There are people out there with views you won't agree with in life.  So don't patronize their business.  Don't work for them.  Don't be their friend.  But to strip a person of a business because of things that are said.  Not cool.  I am sure we have all had conversations in private where we would be mortified if the content were ever aired on TMZ.  Also, if you think that chick (Donald Sterling's girlfriend)  doesn't have a reality show in the next two months you are kidding yourself. 2. Michael Sam.  I am highly amused at how small minded people can be around a person being gay.  Maybe he will be a great football player, probably not.  Seem

The New York City Marathon 2013 - as told by Andrew Goodnow Marathon morning began at 4:45 with the prompt hitting of the snooze button and even prompter realization that I should probably get my ass up.  Instead I split the difference and stayed in bed and put my legs up against the wall until 5 am when it was time to take a shower.  A very hot one as to loosen up all of those running muscles.  The muscles which up to that morning weren't really used for a lot of running. In perhaps the only bit of true preparation I did in this marathon process I had all of my clothing, nutrition, and accessories (nipple protectors, hand warmers, head/ear band) laid out.  Getting dressed was relatively easy and I am proud to say that I did not forget anything.  Ate a cliff bar and had a gatorade for breakfast. So as a side note I put lettering on my shirt with my name on the front "Goodnow" and  "Read - My Sober Year" on the back (that is the title of the book I wrote.)

I sometimes wonder who is in charge of sending push notifications for ABC News.  This morning the push notification that I received (the notification that I expect to be so important as to pop up on my phone and grabbing my very valuable attention) read the following: Watch Live: Sean "Diddy" Combs delivers commencement speech at Howard University  The fuck do I care about that?  Are you joking?  The only people who care about "Diddy" (and really? Diddy?  The man has had more names than Jackie O) giving that speech are  a) people who went to Howard  b) fans of late 90's rap End of list.  Does ABC News really think that there are so many people out there that will tune into "Diddy"giving life advice?  Does ABC News think it is prudent to send a notification that pertains to only 0.004% of the population?   Due to ABC News being so desperate in their need to send me push notifications I have decided to write a list of events and

I find money everywhere.  It's a new thing.  If I see a penny on the ground, I pick it up and I put it in my pocket.  Last week I cashed in all of the money I have found since the beginning of the year.....$18.72.  That is just picking up money when I see it lying on the street.  Yesterday I even found a 2 Euro coin.  BOOM.  That's like $2.62. I am amazed at how many people beg for money.  I am more amazed at how many people give it to them.  The same woman asks for money everyday on the train.  She is always changing the story.  Some days she was beaten by her husband.  Other days she lost her job.  Some days she is in a shelter.  Some days her house has burnt down.  Some days her husband lost his job.  Some days she's just trying to collect enough money to get home.    She looks pretty good.  I think she makes a pretty decent living.  A LOT of people give her money.  She has a decent elevator speech nailed down.  She'd probably make a decent presenter for a large co