Even Indie Rockers Exercise

When it comes to working out, I procrastinate as much as the next guy, but I make time for it. I went from playing baseball in college and working out at least six days a week, to working out three times a week if I'm lucky. Well, come to find out, Bon Iver lead singer and guitarist Justin Vernon makes time for it as well, even between touring, chillin with Kanye and playing the role as Americas indie heartthrob.

Gotta love Justin's quote:

"The word 'workout' just sorta sucks. It doesn't make you feel good and it's sort of, like ...dorky."

On the road DVD Trailer from Rogcity Fitness on Vimeo.

As far as technique is concerned, the boys have some work; and Justin - please keep your shirt on. In all seriousness, though: above all pills, diets or remedies that claim to make you "feel better", exercise works every time.

- J

Social Shredding

I had to share this new social gaming app I stumbled on. Following in the footsteps of Foursquare and Facebook Places, Vail Resorts introduced the Epic Pass.

With Epic Pass, Vail Resorts (including Vail, Keystone, Breck, Heavenly, Beaver Creek) enables skiers and riders to track their activity on the mountain and gain points and badges for number of days skied, runs in a day, being first on the mountain and more -- all tracked by a microchip inside the pass itself (you don't even need a mobile phone or GPS because the pass does the work for you). Then, you can share your accomplishments with other Epic passholders on Facebook (and iPad/iPhone via the Epic Pass app). Too bad I don't live near Vail, or else I'd jump on the Epic Pass (Shaun White's in, dog!). Especially for a mere $650! Not bad ...

I never pictured the day when social media and the outdoors would coexist. But it may be upon us.

I wonder if you get points for being first in the bar at the end of the day?

- J

Retro-spective

My summer is off to a solid start. Since Memorial Day I have been going non-stop, and, being my car needs brake work, things have slowed down a bit. I might as well take a minute or two to offer snapshot of the past few weeks (for my own good), which brought me from the Adirondacks for some fishing at a friends remote camp, to the Catskills for a weekend party at Mountain Jam at Hunter Mountain and many places in between. It's no doubt I have a deep appreciation for my corner of the world, but there are bigger mountains out there.


Many more concerts and fishing trips to come.

-J

Sitting by the dock of Owl Pond in Speculator, N.Y.

The view from my tent at Mountain Jam

Some mountain biking at West Mountain - for a story actually.

Read here.

Preserve Time

Much to my dismay, I haven't had much time to focus on design lately as I've been too busy passing exits and eating at rest stops.

My travels the past couple of weeks have taken me from the coastal island preserve known as Bald Head Island, N.C., back north to the Adirondack Forest Preserve's Jabe Pond. Not a bad excuse for letting the blog get a little stale and a great way to get the creative juices flowing.

Photos from Bald Head:

My niece, Reilly and brother Pete at the beach on Bald Head

Nice sunsets every night ...

The oldest lighthouse in the country, affectionately known as "Old Baldy"

Jelly

Carrying a rather heavy cooler to the beach

And Jabe Pond fishing trip:

Life is good in the land of plenty ...

Brook trout...

The campsite. It rained hard the night before;

sleep was not comfortable

Adirondack mornings are something to behold

Since the camping trip I have been to NYC to a Yankees game at the new stadium (forgot my camera in the car) and have been practicing for my first real gig tomorrow night at 9 p.m. at Wallabee's in Glens Falls with my brother and his college bandmate. As soon as I put the gig in the review mirror I will get back on track with graphic design on the brain.


-J