My good friend, Aaron Baker once told me, as I was preparing to board the SciFit recumbent bike at CORE: "This is your race car, and you're preparing for a race." That same day, Baker continued, "This is like your 'gauge panel,' and you're just getting strapped-in!"
Automatically, I knew what this guy was up to: he was indirectly giving me my first lesson in guided visualization. In other words, the SciFit is the race car, the CORE staff was my pit crew, and whatever numbers that I grabbed, during any given workout, were my "dyno results." Once Aaron and I were able to establish that picture, working out at the gym became more like running the track.
But as Taylor Isaacs and I were discussing this afternoon: sometimes you do the cardio for reasons that run deeper than vital stats. For example, my original goal at CORE was to lose weight; now that I've done that, I just keep hitting the bike for my adrenaline fix.
This is a part of spiritual wellness...and it's crucial. Because one of the first things that you'll see, upon entering CORE Centers, is the use of the phrase or thought, "I Am." Here's how Aaron Baker used it, "Sal, you know what 'it' is; you're a 'drag racer!'" The first time that he said this, I thought that he was pulling my chain.
But here's how the thought molecule works: you get on the SciFit, and there's no doubt that you're on a recumbent bike. But then there are several different attitudes and angles that you can plug into that machine.
For example, my buddy Ron has said that I'm riding a "horse," minus the horse itself. Aaron has referred to the SciFit as a "race car," and I myself have referred to it as an "engine dyno," because of the way in which the machine's top half measures the stats of its bottom, again...like an engine or a chassis dyno.
Once, when I was really into muscle cars, I dropped the gear on the Step One down to the equivalent of a 4.11 posi, chose the track profile that had the steepest hills, then whenever I was climbing upwards, I would visualize my "boost," time the hill that I was climbing, then launch off of it and grab speed, simply for the sake of "power braking the car."
As it stands, I'm peaking at 614 watts, my all-time record speed is around 218 RPM at 67-68 watts, and I've ran at least 3.5 miles in one session. But that's not what you care about when you're trying to apply it to the ground.
So what keeps me going for bigger numbers anyway? If you've ever built a muscle car, then you already know what it's about. Going for bigger displacement, or larger numbers, is not necessarily beneficial. Often, when you're building a Chevy big-block, you don't need to build the motor to 461 cubic-inches, but you do it anyway!
And then with hot rod motors, there is also that sense of balance: "lean" vs "rich," "hot" vs "cold." When you're on the SciFit, you all too often have to use the same analogies. Believe it or not, it does translate, and why I always like to share this data with people, is because it's so unbelievably crucial to my mental wellness, which does often find itself healing in the midst of what I would describe as "automotive analogy therapy," or simply put, "Automotive Therapy."
Again, "I AM a drag racer." THIS IS a "race car." Whatever language you plug into that sentence becomes your reality. Once, I said that I was an "endurance athlete." Tesla Motors, on their website, has said that their electric sedans are "inspired by an endurance athlete."
I can't build a real, street-legal race car, or at least not in the moment. So my body has to be the "running gear," or "engine." And having that kind of a sensation or experience is important in balancing your mental stability, or that's how I see it.
So I am proud to be able to say that I peak at 614 watts at whatever running speed. Because it's like I said during my early days at CORE: the business is genius, because it gives the challenged community the ability to say, "Today I hit the gym!"
Again, language: "I AM a drag racer." "I AM a dirt bike racer." Whether that person is literally in/on that vehicle or on a recumbent bike, as long as that person plugs that data into the correct equipment, that person is still a dirt biker, drag racer...whichever!
I don't have to lift the SciFit up to 218 RPM, but I want, need even, those bragging rights. I need it, because it's one of the few ways in which I can grab that kind of an ego boost.
What can I say?! I AM a muscle car builder at heart, and because that mantra is one that rings true, I can't help but maintain a competitive want, a "want" for "bigger cubic-inches," and an overall improved sense of airflow.
When listening to what my mom has to say, I've found that it's important to not only look into her eyes, but to connect with them. And then that whole idea proves itself true, in literally one second, once that eye contact is lost.
Here's why: data collection. As a performance car buff, you learn all about it, but you never think of it in terms of a human relationship, or at least I never did. But the last time that I ever looked, with intention, into mom's eyes while she gave an explanation, I was able to instantly feel what Dr. Sheldon Cooper would call, her "snort of derision."
It wasn't a literal snort, because we just don't do that in our family. But my eyes shifted to the left...and hers slightly to the right. But if you can visualize the way that a supercharged HEMI whines, in a Hellcat Challenger, then you already have an idea. The eyes shift, and instantly, there is a gasp of air, just audible enough to say, "I hope you're paying attention!"
And I was, but you also have to understand--and mom, I love you if you are reading this--that Italian women are like Italian sports cars; when they break down, you just know it! And what I can say, as a Sicilian man, is that I know when the women in my life are breaking down.
In my mom's case, I can hear it in the backdrop. Both of my parents remind me of race cars, because when they run, they do. But when stuff falls apart, you hear it.
By looking into any woman's eyes, you do what a flywheel does between a motor and a transmission: you establish a connection. That connection can't ever slip, or the vehicle won't run. In my mom's case, I've found that I have to drink-in every part of what she's saying.
Lately, I find that by feeling more comfortable with eye contact, I'm able to read the landscape around me better. My mom, in her dialogue, teaches me how. That's something that, I feel, is important in both professional and personal relationships, and I feel like I still have a ways to go!
I pray to God in earnest, that He may take away my gift as a poet. And the only reason I say this, is because it's hard for guys like us to live in the afterglow of the limelight. What that means, is that the girl of your dreams, who may also be the muse behind your lyrics, may also be that who is she, who every other guy wants to be with. And guess what?! Most of these women are not going to want to be with you for your penmanship.
In that spirit, I will try to go for the prettiest girl in school anyway, because I feel like I deserve her attention, just as much as any other guy does. Miranda Cosgrove has been my muse, at least for the last two years.
There's nothing about her flowing, root beer hair or her flawless olive skin, there's nothing about that giggle in her voice or the almonds in her eyes that makes me not want to consume her. I want to fall in love with every inch of this female, but then I realize that when it comes to entertaining others, it really is nothing personal.
But Miranda, if you and Mia Serafino are reading this, and really I'm speaking to you: "Crowded" does not fit your character at all, and in fact, NBC is making fun of you through that show.
Get real! You know Miranda, if you are reading this, that NBC is exploiting your sweetness here. My heart skips a beat when I see you on TV; how bad do you think I hurt, when I see you in a series that references pornography?!
Oh, I'm not saying that I'm not attracted to you enough to make a sex movie with you, but I respect you a little more than that! My purpose here is not to tell you you're wrong, but that you should call me sometime, because I come from the 1990s, and between us, I just feel like we could be the "next thing!"
Think about it, Miranda; I am the "Anonymous" face on your device's screen...
If you are reading this, then there are many things that you, my own mother and every girl who's important to me should know: you all were right and I was wrong.
Here's why: there are still, even in 2016, men who hide themselves in the closet because they're gay; since college, I've been hiding because I'm straight. But when it comes to you, I'm not holding back anymore, because all of us should care about each other.
It's easy enough to say, "I like her," or "I want that!" That's not why I'm here! If you are reading this, then know that I'm falling for you and I don't like it sometimes, but I am anyway. Know, without even a shred of doubt, that's there's something about you, the way you are, the way your face is...the aura behind your smile...there's something about you that makes me want to be a man.
My mom doesn't understand...my dad doesn't understand; they think that I'm just some girl-crazy, disabled douche who doesn't know what it is to fall for someone. I am an "asshole," stoner and everything in-between...and yet, I can not open up to my own mother, my father...that the girl who I want to be with, so bad, is the "it" girl, that girl next door who's on the television.
I can't tell them this...and I can't tell you. I'm not worthy and I don't deserve you, but if I knew that there was even a shred of possibility, I'd be there! Maybe that's not what you want, but if I have to walk away from you, I'm doing it with sadness, because this, that I want, is going to be denied me again.
Miranda, I am so embarrassed...but if you are reading this, then don't even bother responding; with that lack of response, at least I get that this is never going to happen for me.
As usual, you're always with me...
"Oh frickety frack!" as Dr. Sheldon Cooper sometimes laments on Big Bang Theory. I know how that feels, and when I first got into go-karting, I often found myself saying aloud, "Frickety frack...I've crashed again!"
Hitting a side barrier's not that big of a deal, however. Here's what is: track timing. When it comes to elapsed time, I consider my own to be horrible. But then, look what me and a lot of my disabled, racing enthusiast buddies are up against.
But if you follow me online, then you already know that I've been to Balboa Park in Lake Balboa, California. It was there that I felt that itch for retrofitting things, that which Mr. Shelby himself must've once felt. Those visits happened recently, but here's what I found out during those tests: able-bodied and challenged kart racers were in need of power-assisted steering.
For me, that didn't translate to making a posh car build out of a go-kart; it meant building at least one or two Electro Karts for the track, that were built with the same, power-assisted consoles that many electric wheelchairs were already using.
As usual, it's easy in theory, but not practice. But since we can't build anything right away, here are the statistics. Driving one of OTL's Elektro Karts at MB2 Raceway in Sylmar, California, I was able to run a best E/T of about 28.1 seconds. This is with the knowledge that MB2 takes-up a quarter-mile of space, and with the kart running optimally.
On my C500 power chair, I was able to pull-off a track time of around 1:32:87, and this was with a top speed of 5.1 miles per hour, so one sees how performance truly is a relative thing.
Does that mean that I'm lacking in performance? Could be, but that wasn't really the point. Here's what it is: speed costs money, a lot of MB2's racers are physically-challenged, but what all of them cannot afford, is to be excluded from motorsports.
In one sentence...take Permobil's "R-Net" console, take the "J-Series" console from EMC...take any of those pieces of adaptive equipment and bolt that on to an Elektro Kart. Whether new or used, adapting an OTL go-kart, in the way of assistive consoles, will open a new market for disabled motor enthusiasts.
In one word: "Wi-Fi." Here's why I use that: Resonant frequency is a real science. Plants, animals and humans produce resonant frequencies, and in varying degrees. When you hook-up your WiFi gateway, what are you accomplishing? Our minds, our bodies produce a resonant frequency field; a wireless gateway produces a resonant field, and your smart device grabs-on to that energy.
With inter-dimensional transit or travel, my experience is that you're essentially shifting from one WiFi network, or grab point to the next. Sure, you're still logging on to the same internet, but with a different passcode and network. Once that happens, your device's bandwidth changes, sometimes there's even a change of interface, or content.
I could be wrong, because I'm not Buddhist or New Age, but look at the science; what is it showing us, when resonant frequency, in and of itself, is manifesting thought and emotion on to the most chaotic of backdrops?! Let's face it: the Tesla science behind inter-dimensional travel, the science behind the dimensions themselves, need be investigated further!
There was a Classical Greek parable, in which a son tried to drive his father's chariot, and in the clouds. Here's the twist: By taking on his dad's "car," he simultaneously assumed his fate. That being the chariot itself being driven out of control.
Here's what a muscle car does: gets you from A to B like anything else? True, however my Permobil C500 can do that. Does it need a HEMI? No, because what I drive is a powered wheelchair, not a "Dart!" It gets me to commute, and safely.
But in one shot, I just have to establish that argument of "feeling." I want something different than what a lot of my readers may want, but guys, in a sentence: Why aren't the power chair manufacturers, like Permobil, thinking about the muscle car enthusiast?!
Here's how: concentrate on sensations. I want to feel the "V8," I want to feel the "muscle car." You look again to Permobil...their job is not to be a custom hot rod place. But couldn't the market, as a whole, take more extensive use of 2016 technology to build a power chair for the car enthusiast, who just so happens to be physically-challenged?!
For this, I think that the best technological advances include solenoid V-Type engines, DC electric motors off of MB2 and other go-karts. Anything that's electric, adjustable...and in one line, is able to produce RPM for performance or sustainability.
You couple that together with a solid body-and-bumper, crunch that whole kit down enough to fit on a power chair, see what happens. Guaranteed you'll have a proven product, because disabled car enthusiasts have been around muscle, and just as long as the Mecum crowd has.
