Archive for July, 2008

Five Big Moments In Time

Posted on: July 30th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 7 Comments

Several conversations of late reminded me of significant moments in time. These events occurred in history and were so substantive that they left permanently etched memories. Most commonly cited are 9-11 (#1 moment in time for me) and the JFK assassination.

Here are five of those moments in my mind:

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1) 9-11: Unbelievably awful, I was making sales calls when the news broke. I opened my office door, and saw madness and mayhem as TMP Worldwide’s (now Monster) offices were transformed into a veritable riot of screaming, running people. I walked to the other side of the building into someone’s office (was it yours, Bob?), and watched the small plume of smoke rise into the sky… The Pentagon burned before our eyes. That began a long day of hell that still brings tears to my eyes.

2) Challenger Tragedy (1985): We watched it on TV as part of our science class. My 8th grade teacher broke into tears, and the principal got on the PA to announce the tragedy. I think I laughed, because I was a 13 year-old immature child. Looking back, this was a bit surreal. I do not remember where I was when the Columbia succumbed.

pulitzer_reagan_shot_sequence_L.jpg3) Reagan Gets Shot (1981): This one broke the twenty year curse, in which presidents died mysteriously who were elected on year’s ending in 0 (dating back to Lincoln). A nine year old, I was watching the Brady Bunch reruns at the time on Channel 29 in Philly. All I could think about was the other Brady who got shot in the head. It was weird, and I don’t think I fully understood what happened.

4) OJ Gets Arrested (1994): The OJ Simpson police car chase on the 405 was simply amazing. I was finishing a wait shift at Quigley’s on New Mexico Avenue in DC when this one occurred. It was compelling enough to stay and watch it finish unfolding over a couple of pints. What a shock, as this hero became the ultimate villain overnight.

5) We Bombed Iraq (1990) (the first time): At my first college (Syracuse, later transferred to American), getting bombed at Sutter’s Mill when this one occurred. Packs of 18 and 19 year old boys drinking illegally watched in fear as we thought we would soon be drafted.

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The Road

Posted on: July 27th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston

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“The air was soft, the stars so fine, the promise of every cobbled alley so great, that I thought I was in a dream.”
- Jack Kerouac, On the Road

It’s going to be a middle America road trip this week. Later today I fly out to Colorado Spring for a conference that I’m speaking at. I’ll return to DC briefly on T night and W, only to ship back out to Detroit for a meeting at Ford and Chicago for Lollapalooza (image by Nicholas T).

Usually, I dread road trips. Lately, I’ve been looking forward to them. I need the solace and the forced quiet of the planes, hotel rooms and empty restaurants. There’s something about being a nobody with zero responsibility and no expectations, and really, an almost unwritten hope that you’ll just be quiet.

You meet neat people on the road sometimes, but it’s always unexpected. It’s a turn of fate, you just do what you are supposed to, and pop, “unintended eskimos” appear with strange and unique insights.

Sometimes I imagine getting lost on the road for months. One of my favorite trips was my return from the dot bomb in the summer of 99, driving along I-94 and 90 back east. It was amazingly beautiful, full of spiritual development, and soul enriching. Hopefully, I can take a more leisurely drive across America.

This time I’ll be flying and meeting friends at each juncture, so we’ll just take it as it comes. It’s the alone time that I’m craving.

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Time for a Road Bike: Busted in Bike Shorts!

Posted on: July 26th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 1 Comment

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A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. So many of you know one of the keys to my weight loss (over 35 lbs now), has been long 25-30 mile rides. BTW, this type of consistent riding can hurt your ass as well as affect male fertility.

I was always one of those guys that sneered at other men in their tight, padded, spandex bike shorts (women, please keep wearing them :) ) But, the detriments of serious bike riding were too much for me, so I decided to bite the bullet, and buy a pair of bike shorts. I figured, “F*)k it,
no one will see me on the bike trails anyway besides fellow bikers (many of the serious riders in bike shorts), runners, and walkers.”

Unfortunately, today at mile 18 of this weekend’s ride my bike imploded. All the hard riding destroyed the rear spokes, killed my chain (worn through) and has likely ruined the teeth on my high gears.

This happened two miles north of old town, so you got it, I had to walk into the city with my bike shorts on. Yay!

So I hit the bike shop north of town, with not much hastle and a few bad looks… Not from women, but from other guys (dude, what is your problem!).

The bike shop owner when he found how much riding I had been doing was a bit mortified. I said, “I think it’s time for a road bike.” He said, “Uh, huh.”

OK, after the shop, I called Caitlin for a ride (meet me at Ben & Jerry’s!). So now I unwittingly set myself up for the walk of shame into the heart of Old Town Alexandria.

Yeah, 30 something guy in his bike shorts with his belly (note: no longer a gut!) hanging out… “Hey, how You doin’?” Uh, yeah. Many more looks, and I’m feeling, well, like a big ole dork. Once I got to Ben & Jerry’s, I just parked my butt on the steps, and tried not too look to self conscious.

Good times. Yet another edition of Shock and Flaw provided by Geoff Livingston.

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