Best Tripp Ever!

Sitting in the 945 in our beloved Lavender Palace I looked askance at the bank of televisions and spied one with today’s title lined perfectly for me. And I thought how fortuitous because as I rode I was rolling around in my head as to what I would call today’s entry and there it was as if it were served up on a frying pan for me. Isn’t that the way though the world offers up to us answers to our questions and if we just slow down we can notice all the messages that arrive just in time. 

Tripp was his usual superlative best again today and his iconic jumps with two arms reaching the ceiling are part of his energetic repertoire along with his climb up the paneled glassed wall. My point is Tripp is never boring and his essays about life are always welcome because as I have chronicled this man has seen things we will never see in ten lifetimes. He has so many stories underneath that remarkable disheveled hairdo and one day I hope I can write some of them. 

And let there be no doubt that although I might bill riding with Mr. Doherty is the wildest ride on earth make no mistake if you put the effort in that he calls for the results we all are looking for will manifest themselves below our head and shoulders. 

The energy was pulsating today it was as if you could extend your palms out from the handlebars and just feel the electricity. We burn calories and I just have a helluva lot of fun.  

Does Anyone Know this Man?

I am sure you do and I am trying to understand what about him inspires us to do the things we do. I am not talking about what we do in the Lavender Palace. I’m talking about outside EQ. Take today for instance. He had been talking about this Polar Bear event in Oyster Bay this Sunday. You know where those hearty souls doff their warm end of the winter clothes and head into the frigid waters? Well I never thought of ever participating in such lunacy. However, after not giving it much thought I decided that I would join the mob of crazies and see what it was all about. 

Tripp said that the expectation of just how cold the water will be is much worse than what you actually feel as you hit the water. I took him at face value instead of adopting a cynical attitude of: Yeah Right! We were actually quite lucky because the air temp was in the low 50’s not exactly winter but the waters of Oyster Bay were just a tad cooler at 46 degrees and a water temp just 14 degrees above freezing is nothing to shiver about. Well check that maybe just a little bone chilling at that. As I watched the small horde of adventurers rush in I thought I would take my time just in case some of the brave bathers changed their minds and headed back to the rocky sands of the beach. And return they did in quite a few numbers with the most horrified looks on their faces. I got my feet wet and I decided right then and there to take the plunge and take my whole body head and all submerge myself for the full effect.  Yowsa it was freaking cold but I had no visual documentation so I spied Constance’s beloved husband Michael who is never without his camera and I asked him to take a picture or two and again with little thought headed back in for the second dunking. It was just as cold but now I had proof.  

Someone said to Tripper once that the people in the studio are not your friends. Well I hate to differ but today I counted several. Maureen, Lori and her husband and daughter, Stacie, Janene, David and of course Constance.  And of course there was me because I was just not going to miss out and I am so glad I did. I even bought a hat and long sleeve Tee just to mark the occasion.  

P.S. 

I would never had done what I did today without Mr. Inspiration Tripp Doherty.  

P.P.S.

Check out on Facebook some of the great photos Constance's husband Michael took. 

Gypsy Rose Jack

Today being a light business day, I opted for the 945 edition of Tripper Tuesday. I arrived at the gym and as if by whimsical magic was summoned upstairs to check on the proceedings in the 830 which had about ten or twelve minutes to go. The fact is we have become good friends most of us that pedal our hearts out with Mr. Fantastic and I just wanted to soak up some of the love that goes on in the Lavender Palace.  

As I peered in to the fabulous fish bowl I could see that Tripp was leading school just as he always does with rhythm, energy and his unmistakable charm. He in what seemed a second hopped off the Schwinn and ushered me in petitioning me to ride for the last 10 minutes. And not wishing to be a Killjoy I doffed my hat, coat, pants and shirt and as I did I was showered with the most beautiful cacophony of love since I did the twist in 5th grade. And just like then I felt encircled in what else could I say but the love and affection you all give me. It was fun taking off my clothes because I am such an exhibitionist. I will long remember this and thank you every one.  

Anything after that might seem anticlimactic but the 945 did not disappoint and I could never have imagined having this much fun kicking my butt and  I look forward to the Doherty Show every time those glass door open. 

A Soul In Great Neck

I used to work in Great Neck back in the 80’s and we used to call it the town with no soul.  Fast-forward 30 years and it’s 10 o’clock in EQ Great Neck and a Mr. Tripp Doherty is leading us in a spin class.  Well somehow the soul has been installed and add in some charisma, enthusiasm and you have a workout that you just wouldn’t believe.  

Great Neck’s CS has a narrowness to it that I am not used to but I could soon learn to like. Woodbury of course sports one of the largest studios anywhere on Long Island or NY for that matter but you cannot see many of the faces of the riders because for the most part everyone is facing forward. But in GN and from my vantage I could see most of the faces of three-dozen riders and I have to tell you that they were riveted on our charismatic friend, Tripper.

  On my way in there materialized Peter Rothermel our former manager in Woodbury and he was beaming.  He it seems has done some miraculous things for the 3500 odd plus membership there. And it was self evident because he had 9 count ‘em 9 valets directing traffic because his 167 parking spots were just not enough.  I told him he was like a Yankee player that played with us and now manages somewhere else. He will always be in our hearts and minds. He must have been using the Miami Device because his dark beard reminded me of Don Johnson from the 80’s series. Miami Vice.  

I loved how Tripp got everyone caught up in his infectious enthusiasm because it is irresistible and I have the feeling they would love to see more of him in that studio. On my way into KSC today I saw a placard for Tripp and his outdoor runs starting at 11 am on Tuesdays. And the question is at least for me will I take his challenge and join them. Oh and on Sunday, tomorrow Tripp is running up 66 flights of stairs in midtown and I can’t help but think about the time I ran up the Empire State Building steps a half-life time ago. Good luck Tripper.  

A Smaller Jack

There was a void this week with that truncated winter recess schedule when there was no 12:15 Wednesday class. I like that slot particularly because well it’s mid week and I can attend to some of the office paperwork that has started to pile up on my desk at work that morning. And I love the fact that I can take leave of my senses and spin for an hour with the Charismatic One.  Spring is nigh and my thoughts start to think about riding outside as well as inside the Lavender Palace and I am sure our leader will be spearheading an out of doors charge in the upcoming season. 

I’ve been hitting it hard these past two weeks in an attempt to make up what I thought I lost in a lighter schedule the previous fortnight but that’s just the obsessive side of me as I continue to lose weight which to some is not needed. I often think about being 140 again but I think that’s way too light to even ponder. I never in a million years thought I would be back in the shape I’m in now but after two years in spin class the results have manifested themselves on my physiology. I thank my dear friend Tripp for being part of my renaissance.  

What If?....

If you want to hear my voice read this entry please click here and you will be redirected to Vocaroo: Vocaroo Voice Message

What if every time we went to Tripper’s class it was our last? What would you do different? Sounds a bit much but go with me on this just for grins. Would we enjoy it more? Would we give it our best effort like tomorrow didn’t matter? Would we get there on time and not sashay in like we had all the time in the world?

When I am in his class there is only one thing the next hour. I rarely think about what I did last week or something I am procrastinating about right now. It gets me to focus on exactly what is happening in the moment. Too often I think I am engaged in more important thought and then I wind up misplacing my keys, Bluetooth, wallet and even underwear and socks in my gym bag. If I can just remember to keep my head where my feet are I would save enough time to meditate every day, make calls I keep forgetting to and call a relative or friend I have been neglecting because I am too self absorbed.

Today in the 8:30 I got to sit next to my dear friend Heatherr Featherr (sometimes three r’s) What I like about this young woman is her enthusiasm, determination and commitment. She had already gone swimming before class and there she was saddled up for Tripper Tuesday and ready to roll. She’s young enough to be my daughter and if I had a daughter of my own I would want someone like her. On my right was Connie and I often see her posts about Weight Watchers when I open my page and it makes me think about the only diet I ever went on back in 1975. I went from 214 to 162 in four months on that regimen and of course now it’s so much better with more choices and less limitations. Connie is always smiling and her ebullience spills over every time she’s in propinquity.

Now it’s almost time to head and see my friend Peter Charles in Point Lookout maybe he can help me attach the audio version to my blogs so that I can read my entries to you in my own voice and intonation. I don’t think there’s a 1215 tomorrow because of the Holiday schedule but do check and see. Until next time my friends.

Fondly

Jack

What If?

What if every time we went to Tripper’s class it was our last? What would you do different?  Sounds a bit much but go with me on this just for grins. Would we enjoy it more? Would we give it our best effort like tomorrow didn’t matter? Would we get there on time and not sashay in like we had all the time in the world?  

When I am in his class there is only one thing the next hour. I rarely think about what I did last week or something I am procrastinating about right now. It gets me to focus on exactly what is happening in the moment. Too often I think I am engaged in more important thought and then I wind up misplacing my keys, Bluetooth, wallet and even underwear and socks in my gym bag.  If I can just remember to keep my head where my feet are I would save enough time to meditate every day, make calls I keep forgetting to and call a relative or friend I have been neglecting because I am too self absorbed. 

Today in the 8:30 I got to sit next to my dear friend Heatherr Featherr (sometimes three r’s) What I like about this young woman is her enthusiasm, determination and commitment. She had already gone swimming before class and there she was saddled up for Tripper Tuesday and ready to roll. She’s young enough to be my daughter and if I had a daughter of my own I would want someone like her.  On my right  was Connie and I often see her posts about Weight Watchers when I open my page and it makes me think about the only diet I ever went on back in 1975. I went from 214 to 162 in four months on that regimen and of course now it’s so much better with more choices and less limitations.  Connie is always  smiling and her ebullience spills over every time she’s in propinquity.  

Now it’s almost time to head and see my friend Peter Charles in Point Lookout  maybe he can help me attach the audio version to my blogs  so that I can read my entries to you in my own voice and intonation. I don’t think there’s a 1215 tomorrow because of the Holiday schedule but do check and see.  Until next time my friends. 

Fondly 

Jack