I used to have dreams of flying. I had one recently and thought I'd try hang gliding. So last night on a fluke I called one of Amanda's good friends, Zoe to see if she'd join me. And this morning I was up at 5am...

Zip car was closed. The guy finally opened the garage 20 minutes later and - near I could tell - was the single most baked human I ever encountered. But I was off to Manhattan, where most of the streets downtown seemed to be closed off for some new threat or other.

So I hit the FDR, grabbed Zoe and we were off.
We arrived, got our harnesses on, watched a cool instructional video and hit a flight simulator.
Then we were ready for the hill.

There were a few guiding principles to flying:
1. Let the glider fly without you grabbing at it too hard,
2. Keep your head up, and
3. Run down that hill full speed!

Should be easy right?

Paint a Picture

The hardest part of painting was to relax and stop fighting the medium.

I used to draw and had plenty of trouble making a pen or pencil do what I wanted it to do. Keep in mind that those instruments only have one point at the end. Controlling a brush seemed harder because it has more like one hundred little points at the end, plus sides and a top and bottom. Beside that, the paint clan clump, mix with other paint on the canvas and create unintended results.

But then I realized that my lack of control and the surprises I got from the canvas were really something to enjoy. So I let go and enjoyed them.

It also helped that I got private instruction from Anne Sutherland, who is a great painter on Nantucket (and also Amanda's mother). She is a great teacher of sketching and painting so next you plan to be in Nantucket, reach out early and try to get an appointment.

BTW, the painting is of Brant Point Lighthouse and Beach, where Amanda and I got married.

Make an Appearance In Film

Well, I made an appearance in a short film by a wonderful screenwriter, with a top-notch editor and two wonderful stars (and amazing everyone else). It is now in the post-production phase and should start appearing in film festivals next year. I don't have any lines and was just background, but it's an appearance.

And, it will be on IMDB at some point so I will also get a credit. I'll update this when it is on-line. Until then, there's not much more I can say about any of it. But another one down...

Driving Lamborghinis!

Here's a big wish I've had: Me. A Los Angeles race track. And a Lamborghini. That is, me on a race track in a Lambo!

Why? Even for a slow-on-the-driveway type like me, this is a no brainer. Imagine driving - slowly at first - in a car that rumbles like a rocket ship and looks like pure sex.

Normally, I'd be terrified to drive 110 mph, but it's hardly a strain in a car like this, with fat racing tires on a smooth track. In fact, I hear it feels more like you're driving 50mph - whereas the cars I'm used to driving shake like they're going 110 mph when they're actually at 50mph. I would do my grocery shopping with this thing (if they made a model that had room for grocery bags).

PLUS, I'm heading to LA in a few weeks. So this is a MUST happen, right? Well, about that...

I called and was informed that the cars don't arrive in LA until May. So for now the best I can do is: Me. On the race track. Pretending to drive a Lamborghini. But I'm not giving up on this one!

Rand-y

So I finally read "Fountainhead" by Ayne Rand. I have to admit, when I added it to the list it was just because everyone kept telling me to. Yet I had no idea how this was going to happen given that I've never read a book that long.

I know, it's sad. But I'm a lightweight when it comes to reading. So, I saw the size of the book and thought there was no F-ing way I was going to read that thing!

The answer? I bought a Kindle. It's easy to use, easy on the eyes, cheaper than ever and BEST OF ALL, it's thin. So thin I had no idea how long the book way. So no intimidation factor. I zipped through the book and finished this past weekend. So now I've read a novel other than Harry Potter. Yeah, I'm all grows up.

So now the big question, what do we all think of the book, the message and whether it holds true to today? I would love your comments to be like a little reading club. Okay everyone? After that, we'll all get some cosmos, okay?

Becoming middle aged was never such fun!

What's the Deal with Colonics?

Someone suggested I try a colonic as part of my mid-life-crisis bucket list. I tried to brush it off. To excuse it. To forget I ever heard it.

But then someone else suggested it. That's two people who don't know each other. So, does this say something about my friends, such as that they believe in good gastrointestinal health?

Or is there a message in there for me?

I mean, if everyone kept suggesting I try a breath mint, I'd take one. Is this the same type of thing?

One more thing: while I'm not predisposed to add this one, if anyone else has tried it and wants to make an argument for it, leave a comment and go for it. I mean, I should at least be opened minded, right?

Any other ideas?

Hello all reading. I still need a few more for my list of 40 things.
Any more ideas? Do let 'er rip. Send by comment, facebook or carrier pidgeon.

Thank you for the thoughts and support!

The Trouble with Olives

What makes one person love the taste of something and another hate it?

I don't know, but I have forever detested olives. The look, smell and taste of 'em. I have had small bites of olives that I was told were the best money could buy - both green and black - and no luck.

With that said, I've taught myself to enjoy many types of food, so I thought I'd try it one more time. Sadly, it did not work. And the video was not captured the first time, so I did it a second time. Twice and still no love for the olive. It must be official.

It's amazing olive oil can be so great and come from such an objectionable object.

Pour Latte Art (see video below)

I love art. I love lattes. This one was, therefore, a no-brainer.

It also seemed like something that would be pretty easy for me because I'm good at drawing, musical instruments and video games. 20 cups later, I discovered there is quite an art to pouring latte art - at least artfully.

It started with the folks at the DUMBO General Store, who were kind enough to lend me their facility, a lot of coffee and milk and two kind baristas: Brett Saxon (who is also a great singer/song writer) taught me, and Kacey Markovitz shot the video and provided moral support through cup after cup of failed attempts.

In lesson 1, I learned how to make a latte the right way, from loading and pulling the shot to steaming the milk and cleaning the machine with each use. I won't go into all the details, but just make sure you have micro foam (don't let the milk sit and clump).

In lessons 2 - 30, I practiced pouring the foam and milk into a cup with the hope that it would make a heart or rosetta pattern. (Note that some make latte art by drawing patterns on the foam, but that wasn't the challenge here.)

It seems simple. You just: 1) tilt the cup, 2) pour with the pitcher high at first, 3) then lower it, 3) pour from the center, 4) then draw the pitcher to the cup edge gradually, 4) wiggling it gently left to right, 5) and finishing it off by pulling the milk across the design.

I tried it righty and lefty with the same results...

Twenty cups of crap-looking lattes that tasted amazing.

Eventually, Brett let me practice pouring water into an empty cup. This did the trick. I figured out the right speed and pattern for pouring. After that, I actually made a couple patterns that resemble latte art!

Enjoy the video. And thank you again to the folks at DGS for this one!

The Helicopter Came!

So my remote-controlled helicopter came!! I know, it's not a lofty item, but I've always wanted one so IT GOES ON THE LIST!
BTW, you know who loved the thing more than I did?? That's right, the cats. They went bonkers. That is, once I figured out the instructions (which were translated very poorly from Chinese) and figured out some technical glitches.

Make a Micro Loan

Well, strike another item off. I just went to Kiva.Org and made a micro loan. If you have not yet visited the site, go and read about the value of making a micro loan and how to do it. Kiva allows you to make a small loan to entrepreneurs all over the world, and it's easier than using Amazon.

My loan went to a single parent in the tourism business near Machu Picchu in Peru. I may just add visiting that spot too, while we're talking. Thank you to Marika for this one, and also for the inspiration for the whole 40 before 40 idea, actually.

Good luck to Javier. And great job to Michael and Wevly, who also just made loans. You're awesome!