Run the Apple

View from my roof. Yes, I do have rooftop access. Which means if you visit NYC sometime this year you should drop by and have a drink with me.

I promise never make a King of Queens reference again regarding my new location in the city.

It’s going on two weeks at my new place (not really my place as a sublet, but you get the idea, right? Right?), and I’ve been storing up some musings for the bloggy blog. Several things have been going on in my life. Instead of constantly updating my Facebook status or Twitter (follow me @bdalek if you would like, I need that much more attention), I decided to just do a quick post with what’s going on in this odd life I sometimes feel like I’m living.

• I should probably start with a little bit of running updates. First a gripe, or something that grinds my gears: I downloaded a running/GPS app for my iPhone last week called Strands. Went out for a six-miler that you can read here. The thing worked great. GPS tracked my route, miles, and pace. I could import my iPod tracklist from the phone to the app so I could listen to music (though I don’t know how to get the player to shuffle), and there is even a part of the app that lets you take pictures. Success! I thought. Until I closed the app and it didn’t save anything I had done. Not my workout, not my route, not my pictures. That’s what I get for using a free app I suppose. I’m still using it just to have a map with me and see how far I’m going in a new neighborhood, but if you know of a better running app let me know.
• I’ve tried out more routes this week then I thought I would. I hit Flushing Meadows Corona Park last Saturday (6 miles), ran through the ins and outs of Queens on Tuesday (another 6), did my run with the New York Bridgerunners (you’ll see me in a photo from this week) on Wednesday where we did the Manhattan and Brooklyn spans in 90-degree heat (5 miles), ran after work on Friday on the small roof track at the Coles Athletic Facility (3 miles) and finished up with about a total 7 miles in Central Park today as I ran at a casual pace with my friend Lori Higginbotham (@lahigginbotham), who I just realized is very good about getting part-time jobs through word of mouth and friends. Skills needed for life!
• I already am finding the price of food being much better in Queens than in Manhattan. Just today I went to a new grocery store. I judge the quality of my shopping like this on a budget. If I buy, say, 15 items then I hope that the total doesn’t go more than$30. That is really pushing it, I know, but if you get several things like weekly yogurt on sale for under $1, then there is a chance. At this new store I tried on Saturday, I got 13 items for about $15. Pretty good if you ask me.
• I still need to hit up some local restaurants here in Woodside, Queens, but I have in fact found a great butcher that I plan on visiting for my Memorial Day grilling. Tried them out last week for their cut of cheddar burgers, and they were delicious. I’d like to thank the actual owner of my apartment for the great recommendation.
• Speaking of my apartment, there is still this feeling that it’s not my place just yet. I know I’ll be living here for the rest of the year, but I think I’ll need another month or so until I realize I won’t be kicked out of this great place. One thing I’m loving is it’s much more quiet than where I was in Manhattan near Bellevue Hospital. Thank jeebus for no more hourly sirens.
• My internship, if you don’t know, is at Men’s Fitness magazine. First three days went great. They went by quickly, a Jim Bean mixologist came into the office on Thursday, and I scored an interview with Eric Ripert for a piece I was asked to work on for the mag about fish. Hopefully nabbing the best chef in NYC in the first week will score some points.
• As we enter the NBA’s ninth year of the Playoffs for this season (seriously, why do the Finals begin NEXT Thursday?), I’m already gearing up for Draft, where John Wall will hopefully do his dance before shaking David (God Himself) Stern’s hand. I’ve said this before, but the NBA Draft is the best night of the summer. If I don’t somehow go, I will do a live blog that I’m sure perhaps a dozen of you will be interested in. The only competition for the best night of the summer is the MLB All Star Game. Since I lack cable right now, that will probably be a night I head to a bar.
• I’m also interested in the draft because my Alma-mater Marshall might have a lottery pick in Hassan Whiteside. Saw him play one game, and he is indeed a work in progress offensively, but could be a legit defensive player ala Marcus Camby. He compares himself to Hakeem Olajuwon offensively, which is laughable, but I heard he is working with the dream. Apparently he needs to check his attitude, though. I also question the kid’s heart when it looked like he quit on the Herd late in the season.
• Couple things I think people would like that aren’t extremely long. First is a New York Times piece about college debt, which puts me in a great mind frame about loans. The second is about a track runner at West Point. There is a turn in the story that is a bit buried, but it works.
• Actually found a decent, and relatively cheap, barbecue place in Manhattan. I believe it was called, simply, “Bar-B-Que” and it was in the West Village. I can’t find a Web page or anything about it at the moment. However, I can vouch for the brisket and the drink specials.
• Just got done watching the Chicago Cubs somehow win a game. “Go, Cubs, Go” continues to be a terrible song to my ears. Take that Cubbie friends of mine!   Just to be nice, feel free to watch this video.
• I spent almost the past 24 hours dealing with a adware/virus that redirects google searches. It was a pain the ass.  Installed and tried about five different type of anti-virus software. None worked specifically for the redirect (though I did have other hidden junk in my system). If this ever happens to you, use an application called ComboFix from here. The virus was frustrating as hell. Never realized how much I need Google searches to work correctly.
• Finally, and I don’t want to get religious here, but May 30 was the mass celebrating the sacred Trinity. The pastor at my new church said something during his homily about understanding our religion. We always think with the head, but often should just listen to the heart. That helps us understand better. Right now I wonder if I do too much thinking with the head and not my heart.

Take care and have a happy Memorial Day!