The Fisher King

I read this article in the NY Times and had to share it. This guy caught a 157 pound tuna from a modified 12 foot kayak. Again, that's 157 pounds from a 12 foot kayak. Do you think he starts his stories with "I caught a fish this big..."?

A Slow "Movember"

I feel things are slowing down lately. A few weeks ago, you could feel winter around the corner. I thought I would be on the ski slopes in no time. Now we seem to be stuck in an October fall - too warm for snow, too cold to eat outdoors.

The weather isn't the only thing that has slowed down. I walked past pier C today (see pics) and found it in the same place it was weeks ago.

Even my blog has slowed down. I have been running quite a bit lately- planning to do the Suntrust Marathon in the spring with my friend Paul. Unfortunately, there isn't as much to say about my days running as there is about my days paddling. And a camera can be difficult to carry over five miles. I hope you enjoy the photos from the waterfront. I also took a shot of the re-engineered Stevens Park soccer field. It looks like the battle of the "woodworms" has begun.

Yes, many things have slowed down this November, but if you are looking for progress, look no further than my friend Ash's mustache. You can help Ash raise both awareness and money for prostate cancer by visiting his "Movember" Page: http://us.movember.com/mospace/329908 All donations benefit both the Prostate cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Check it out!

U.S.S. New York

The U.S.S. New York sailed into New York's harbor this past week. It will be commissioned today. It is a massive ship made from the steel of the World Trade Center. Above is a picture taken as it came into harbor. Thank you to Mr. Keyes for the photo.

Change is Positive?

Change is positive. That was the saying on a friend’s shirt in college. Only an optimist could wear that shirt. It’s going to take a lot of optimism for me to see the positives in the changes that took place on election Tuesday.

I am very concerned about Chris Christie being elected governor. Frankly, he is a person that shares little ideologically with me. My optimistic friends point to the fact that our taxes could decrease - possibly, but at what costs? Just how many jobs can Chris Christie cut to offset his plans for homestead rebates and tax cuts amidst a deep recession? Isn’t New Jersey, like so many other states, already close to bankruptcy? And how will our economy effect things I care about most – open spaces, clean rivers, protecting our highlands? Further, six million New Jerseyians didn’t vote on Tuesday. This state’s apathy might be the biggest issue we face. I’ll keep thinking – change is positive.

If there was a positive on Tuesday night, it was that voters did “vote yes on one”. Ironically, many voters voted for Christie to control spending in the Garden State. So how does one explain voters also approving a measure that allows NJ to borrow 400 million dollars to protect open spaces, especially in our highlands? In the most densely populated state in the country, maybe a person’s right to clean open spaces trumps all other causes. I’ll be optimistic about this and hope the funds to protect open spaces truly protect our open spaces and do not go to places like the “parks” that have indoor ski areas built on wetlands. I’ll keep thinking – change is positive. (Above is a picture of our Meadowlands now - an area that desperately needs protection).

Also, best of luck to Hoboken’s new mayor. Dawn Zimmer, who has always had a platform of promoting parks in town, was re-elected on Tuesday. I hope she truly has the ability to stand up to developers, work with the city counsel, and fix our waterfront parks. There is much to be done. Again, I’ll keep thinking – change is positive.