When there's no destination that's too far.

I don't know who Elaine S. is, but they created the perfect playlist for the Fourth of July this year. Not just great songs for the current moment, but also amazing covers of those songs. Fire this up for your cookout, if you are even having one this year.

Independence Day 2025 

Cruel Country - Wilco

Living in America - James Brown

The Handing Down - Magnolia Electric Co.

All the Time - Zach Jones

No One - Solomon Burke ft. De Dijk

Drinking at the Dam - Smog

Pretty Roses in Your Hair - The Jayhawks

Philanthropist - Jesse Welles ft. Billy Strings

Pocahontas (Live) - Gillian Welch

Sweet Child of Mine - Luna

American Dreaming - Dead Can Dance

Distance: 4.25 miles

Duration: 40:37
Pace: 9:33

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 77°
Climate: bright & sunny
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 160 lbs.

The spouse remarked on the effects of ageing upon the capacity to heal. Scabs that do not close over, for example. For me, it is the soreness. I pulled something in my wrist or forearm a couple weeks back, and though I have wrapped it and avoided stress, it continues to hurt. Also, my heel.

And yet, we live.

Just keep breathing (if you can).

Matt Smith as Patrick Bateman

For some weird reason, I have become aware of American Psycho: The Musical by Duncan Sheik. I mean, I knew it existed. I just had no interest. Love the film directed by Mary Harron, never read the book. Saw a clip on Colbert, I think. It was a long time ago.

The Broadway production did not record an album. The original, London cast did. featuring Matt Smith (Doctor Who, The Crown) as Patrick Bateman. You can watch a poorly recorded phone video of the entire Broadway production online. I may have enjoyed it in the theater, I don't know. But some of the tracks have only just recently gotten under my skin.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:12
Pace: 9:25

Just watched the Colbert clip. It is devoid of the humor which is evident in the performance video, and features a bland number ("Selling Out") that was added to the Broadway run. The Broadway audiences were enjoying themselves, but millions of people saw the TV promotion. What a missed opportunity. 

American Psycho (Original London Cast Recording, 2016)

Opening (Morning Routine)

Cards

You Are What You Wear

True Faith

Killing Time

Hardbody/Hardbody Luis - Medley

Not a Common Man

Clean

Killing Spree

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: sunny & bright
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 160 lbs.

I have been having heel pain, a brief self-diagnoses suggests it is Achilles tendinitis. In the old days (last week) you would look something up and be provided possible websites to consult, now Google's AI just gives you a regurgitation from a number of sources with no indication of what those sources are or if they are accurate.

Achilles tendinitis is an injury of the Achilles tendon often caused by overuse. The Achilles tendon is a band of tissue that joins the calf muscle at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone.

That does accurately describe my symptoms -- what they are, and where they are. It goes on:

Achilles tendinitis is common in runners and middle-aged people who play sports only on the weekend.

What the actual fuck, AI?

All I can see is the end of the week.

Been reading Andrew Ridgeley's memoir.

George Michael Playlist

Too Funky (Extended Mix)

Everything She Wants (Extended Remix)

Fastlove Pt. 1

Fantasy

As ft. Mary J. Blige

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:25
Pace: 9:10

Last night went on forever, and I went to bed too late. It was supposed to be relaxing. but unfortunately it also meant consuming too much. Just couldn't stop snacking.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: clear & humid
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 161 lbs.

Bit headachy this am, slept in a little, but not well. Thought I might put off the run, but why? Better to hit it.

Fifteen runs in thirty days. Well done.

Everywhere I run, I'm always running to you.

My right calf has been a bit stiff, and that ankle. Also, I either pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve in my right arm last week, and the irritation has not abated. I have been wearing a wrist brace, not sure if it helps or does nothing. I really do not want to see a physical therapist about this. 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 34:29
Pace: 11:02

The elder child suggested we run to Lorde's latest album, and I suggested we run to the park, not drive to it and they agreed. Muggy, overcast, a couple of walks, entirely successful.  

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: overcast & humid
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: ope

Weight: 160 lbs.

Virgin - Lorde (2025)

Hammer

What Was That

Shapeshifter

Man of the Year

Favourite Daughter

Current Affairs

Clearblue

GRWM

Broken Glass

If She Could See Me Now

David

There are some running keepers here.

There's no finish at the finish line.

That bed in the place we stayed in this past weekend in Cincinnati did something to my back. The bed was comfortable, I felt great lying in it, but Jesus it did something not good to me. Still running, though, and trying to do all the good things to alleviate the pain.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:41
Pace: 9:34

Evening at the ballpark, and today is our wedding anniversary. The world is terrible. Home is good.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75
Climate: sunny & bright
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 160 lbs.

Liked Songs

Every Morning - Sugar Ray

How You Like Me Now - The Heavy

Drifter - Hippie Sabotage

Stop - B.W.H.

Killing Time (from "American Psycho") - Matt Smith & Jonathan Bailey

tv off - Kendrick Lamar ft. lefty gunplay

Only Wanna Be With You - Hootie & the Blowfish

Under My Thumb - Phoenix City All-Stars

Hear my heart beats in the hallway.

It was not until I started training for my first marathon that I began having one pair of shoes that I used only for running. In the past, I would run in whatever sneakers I currently owned. Run in whatever.

In short time, it became anathema to do so, to use my running shoes for walking around. They were for running, full stop. When they were retired, and I got a new pair of running shoes, then they became my walking shoes.

When we visited Cincinnati, I brought a pair of shorts, which is unusual for me. I know a lot of folks wear shorts. But when I travel, I prefer not to. I want to be seen as an adult. But when it's hot, in America, men wear shorts. And I knew it was going to be very hot. 

So I brought the shorts. But not the sneaks. I had my knock-off chukka boots. And I wasn't going to wear them with shorts, I'd look like a grampa.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:50
Pace: 9:18

Forty years ago this summer, I discovered The Cure. Their 1985 release, Head On the Door is possibly their most accessible record, we caught the video for "In Between Days" on Night Flight.

Their first album was released as Boys Don't Cry in the United States and included the title track and also [The Canceled Song] but today I run to the original LP, Three Imaginary Boys. It includes the very first Cure song I was aware of, "Grinding Halt" which was on the Times Square soundtrack.

Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure (1979)
10:15 Saturday Night

Accuracy

Grinding Halt

Object (154 BPM)

Foxy Lady (164 BPM)

Meathook

So What

Fire in Cairo

It's Not You (167 BPM)

Three Imaginary Boys (169 BPM)

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 77°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 160 lbs.

Yesterday I was grazing, but in moderation. Over the weekend dining was at odd hours, anyway. Today I begin public transit summer, taking the bus to work. I may make this a regular thing. When all I am doing is going downtown, parking, then coming home, what is the point of driving myself?

Also, I can read.

UPDATE: In my original draft of this post, I said that 1985 was thirty years ago. It was, in fact, forty years ago. My wife was the first to correct me, and I will never forgive her.

Do you really want to live forever?

War is peace, am I right?

We are in Cincinnati, not to see a young man but to celebrate an old man. Staying in that AirBnB we used to use when our kid first started attending Uni, the one I called a "bougie hipster flop" but it's lost some of it's shine. First of all, there's no snacks.

My dreams were vivid and I even remember some though they did not have to do with nuclear annihilation. More to do with high-achieving colleagues and a very unwell pet fish. 

Anyway, I have to run. We need to keep in shape for what's coming.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 27:49
Pace: 9:16

Route: Over the Rhine
Temperature: 73°
Climate: sunrise & muggy
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Post Cold War Politics Playlist

Dissidents - Thomas Dolby

Party at Ground Zero - Fishbone

I Melt With You - Modern English

Forever Young - Alphaville

Wind of Change - Scorpions

Planet Earth (Night Version) - Duran Duran