Daddy likes men

Route: Downtown Circle

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 4.30 pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 60
Bicycles: 60
Drink: Gatorade

1977 Playlist
Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac
Nothing Achieving - The Police
Cretin Hop - The Ramones
We're A Happy Family - The Ramones
Turn To Stone - Electric Light Orchestra
(Get A) Grip (On Yourself) - Stranglers
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

Cooldown:
God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols
Warsaw - Joy Division
Heroes - David Bowie

"We can try to understand the New York Times effect on man."

Tonight was opening night, we tech'ed during the afternoon, and I had enough time to put in a run around downtown. It must have been fast - it was three and a quarter miles but I cleared it in roughly 25 minutes.

Lately I have been having some difficulty justifying my existence. Not much to show for thirty-eight years, living in the same space. The brief loop I took around downtown showed me many things - it will sound like showing off, but these things happened, they are true, this is my life.

Heading out from Playhouse Square - where I am performing on the stage of the Ohio ...

Past the Greyhound bus station - where I picked up R. & P. before heading back out with them to Los Angeles in '91 ...

Down 13th Street and past the Galleria - where I got to shake hands with Clinton ...

Onto Lakeside and turning right at the Free Stamp onto East 9th street where I saw ...
1. The Coast Guard Station, where L. and I received recognition form Gulf War vets for a theatrical production we collaborated on ...
2. Voinovich Park, where my wife and I participated in a Spencer Tunick installation and interviewed a bunch of nude people (while nude) for an audio diary broadcast on NPR ...
3. The Rock Hall, where I performed my one-man show on an early March morning three years ago ...

Then ran past the Stadium - where they taped that nationally broadcast sit-com I had a featued appearance in ...

Up West 3rd towards the Renaissance - where I married a couple last November, and where my wife and I had our wedding night ...

Turned left onto Frankfort, past the Old Stone Church - where we produced a fantastic Christmas pageant in 2000 ...

By the war memorial - where I was an extra in a Hollywood movie ...

Up East 5th and past the library - where C. and I performed scenes from Farenheit 451 ...

Around the BP building and down Euclid, past where my father used to work, past the building my uncle used to own - and where I spent a summer in college as a go-fer ...

And back to Playhouse Square - where I work for a living, and where there is a big-ass picture of me dressed a Shakespeare on the marquee.

A three-mile diameter. I own this town.

But who's buying?

My blood wants to say hello to you

Distance: 5.15 miles
Time: 9.30 am
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 60
Bicycles: 60
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 165.5 lbs.
Weather: 46º

1997 Playlist
One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn faces - Ben Folds Five
Parsec - Stereolab
Burning Ground - Van Morrison
Block Rockin' Beats - Chemical Brothers
Smack My B*tch Up - Prodigy
The Perfect Drug - Nine Inch Nails
Atom Bomb (Atomix 1) - Fluke
Tubthumping - Chumbawumba
Good Sh*t - Cornershop

"Pissing the night away."

Tech was a bear yesterday, just worn out and weary. I could deal with the hours - 12 noon to 11.30 pm - if I did have to wak up at six-thirty with a two year-olds foot up my nose. I almost bagged the run today to go back to sleep after the kids went off to school, but I'm sticking with it.

Hey, uh ... I ran out of 90s.

"Kiss my ass."

My whole life flashed before I crashed

Distance: 5.15 miles
Time: 9.30 am
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 60
Bicycles: 60
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 165 lbs.
Weather: 66º overcast & cool - perfect

"We got an engine, but we ain't got wheels."

1987 Playlist
Pump Up the Volume - M/A/R/R/S
A Japanese Dream (remix) - The Cure
Fear Is Never Boring - The bears
Join In the Chant - Nitzer Ebb
Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers
True Faith - New Order
Party Machine - Hoodoo Gurus
Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson

TOO DUMB TO NOTICE

Pulled a hamstring in my right cheek almost years ago, plagued me all last year ... and it's gone now, entirely. Pulled a string in my right big toe that fall, stuck with me all last year ... not there. So things are good.

"Annie, are you ok? Annie, are you ok? Are you ok, Annie? Annie, are you ok? Annie, are you ok? Are you ok, Annie? Annie, are you ok? Annie, are you ok? Are you ok, Annie? Annie, are you ok? Annie, are you ok? Are you ok, Annie?"

Just a minute, let me slip something on

Distance: 5.15 miles
Time: 3.30 pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 60
Bicycles: 60
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 162 lbs.
Weather: 64º

1990 Playlist
Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
Everybody Everybody - Black Box
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C+C Music Factory
New Power Generation - Prince
World In My Eyes - Depeche Mode
Here's Where the Story Ends - The Sundays
Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb
The Power - Snap!
Burning the Ground - Duran Duran
Hippychick - Soho

"Stay off my back or I will attack and you don't want that."

Now, I used to think using painkillers was cheating, but everyone does it, don't they? I'm watching people at rehearsal sucking down liquid ibuprofen like it's going out of style. My life is filled with protein bars, energy drinks, pain relievers and lots and lots of water. And I feel healthier than I ever have done.

I am completely in denial that I am approaching 40.

Stop f*cking with me

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 9.30 am
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 60
Bicycles: 60
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 164 lbs.
Weather: 42º

1995 Playlist
Scream - Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
I Saw the Light - The The
I Don't Wanna Grow Up - The Ramones
White Lines - Duran Duran
The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Alt. Mix) - David Bowie
Car Song - Elastica
1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
Cooldown: Geek Stink Breath - Green Day

"Sometimes I just can't function. My heart's spaghetti junction."

Sometimes it's more enjoyable to climb a steep incline, and then run downhill the rest of the way home. But that's clockwise. There isn't anyway to run counter-clockwise that way.

And why does this matter? Because, it's also impossible to run clockwise without crossing a million streets. I have a pretty safe three mile path navigated through my neighborhood, something that will prevent my getting struck by a bus, and going through as few intersections as possible.

Also, is it just me or is it always preferable to make left turns to right turns when running?

"And we don't know just where our bones will rest, to dust I guess,
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below."

You’re lucky, lucky, you're so lucky!

What you listen to when you jog matters

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 9.30 am
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 50
Bicycles: 50
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 166 lbs.
Weather: 36º

It is always 36º. It always has been 36º. It always will be 36º.

2005 Playlist
Touch the Sky - Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco
I Predict a Riot - The Kaiser Chiefs
Winners - 7 Seconds of Love
Badass - Chemical Brothers
Water of Nazareth - Justice
The Sporting Life - The Decemberists
Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand
Cooldown: The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails

"So far I had known no humiliation in front of my friends and close relations."

Chug, chug, chug.

Ja tvoi sluga. Ja tvoi Rabotnik.

Distance: 2.25 miles
Time: 3.40 pm
Stretches: no
Sit-ups: no
Bicycles: no
Drink: water
Weight: 165 lbs.
Weather: 36º and dreary

1978 Playlist
The Robots - Kraftwerk
Spinning Top - XTC
Next To You* - The Police
Birdland* - Maynard Ferguson

"Just like a needle that's sticking in the same old groove."

Okay, so there's this ad for a dual cellphone/mp3 player that takes place in this gym, and there's this muscle-bound date rapist-looking guy who shares - with us - his love of a new song by Fall Out Boy (?) and then takes the headphones back because he's got a call from his "lady" ...

I mean, is there a joke here I'm missing?

Oky, so I had twenty minutes to run before picking up the girl from school. I wouldn't get a chance later, I won't have the opportunity tomorrow. I could wait until Wednesday ... OR RUN REALLY REALLY FAST WITHOUT STRETCHING.

Lesson: Don't do this.

It was a great, fast run. And now I am in pain. Like, would I rather not take share of these shin splints? Is it, like not important to me at all?

It's a physical thing, but not hard to do

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 3.00 pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 50
Bicycles: 50
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 165.5 lbs. (I guess so...)
Weather: 30º

1988 Playlist
(Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads
I Don't Want Your Love - Duran Duran
Can U Dig It? - Pop Will Eat Itself
Bring the Noise - Public Enemy
Reptile - The Church
Sister Madly* - Crowded House
What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy) - Information Society
Cooldown: Da Butt - Gap Band

"We like the music. We like the disco sound, hey."

Hmn. Thirty degree weather, which suggests long johns, but it was so sunny it made for a lot of sweat.

Other than that, I got nothing.

Perfect solution to the stress and the strain

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 5.45 pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: 50
Bicycles: 50
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 164.5 lbs. (?)
Weather: 36º

1998 Playlist
Take California - Propellerheads
Sexy Boy - Air
Red - Sister Soleil
Kalifornia - Fatboy Slim
Because We Want To - Billie Piper
Outside - George Michael
Cooldown: The Way - Fastball

"There's nothing here but flesh and bone. There's nothing more."

I just realized I think I can do magic. When I run, I truly believe I can cast spells. Whenever I feel a car's tragectory is a little too close for comfort, I squint at them with my right eye, and they swerve out of my way.

The sun struggles up another beautiful day

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 1.00 pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: no, the boy woke up
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 167.5 lbs.
Weather: 70º

1991 Playlist
Breaking the Girl - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss - PM Dawn
The Other Side of Summer - Elvis Costello
All This Time - Sting
Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) - Crystal Waters
The Globe - Big Audio Dynamite II
Gett Off (Urge Single Edit) - Prince
Real Real Real (The Real Dance Hall Mix) - Jesus Jones

Hey, first bright, gorgeous day of the year and I get three songs in a row about how effed-up things are.

"Good night, God bless, and kiss good-bye to the earth."

I can go for miles, if you know what I mean.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 1.30 pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: yes
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 169.5 lbs.
Weather: 37º

2001 Playlist
Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim
August Day Song (King Britt remix) - Bebel Gilberto
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
Start the Commotion - Wiseguys
Get the Party Started - P!nk
Packt Like Sardines In a Crushd Tin Box - Radiohead
Drop - Cornelius
Cooldown: Hindi Sad Diamonds - Moulin Rouge soundtrack

"I'm a reasonable man. Get off my case."

REST
Yes, rest is very, very important. I should have taken the day off only 1) not sure if I can run tomorrow and 2) it's so effing beautiful out. I was a bit shaky when I finished - but oh my what a day. Definitely worth it.

ALCOHOL
'Tis the season for delightful recreational drinking. I used to think I didn't have time for it, but apparently I do. That will have to change, though my switch from wine and beer to spritis may have something to do with my migraines falling off. I can't think of anything else I am doing differently. But as I just stated, I was a little wobbly finishing up and though i felt super waking up this morning, Alcohol has an undeniable impact on hydration in particular and physical well-being in general. This coming from a guy who never drank very much, all at once nor on a regular basis for his entire life.

It's the pushing 40 thing, isn't it?

"And we all lose our charms in the end."

We are such stuff ...

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 1.30 pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: yes
Drink: Gatorade
Weight: 167 lbs.
Weather: 46º and sunny

1993 Playlist
Stay (Faraway, So Close!) - U2
Big Time Sensuality - Bjørk
Regret - New Order
Hip Hop Hooray - Naughty By Nature
Just Keep Me Moving - k.d. lang
Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) - Us3
Dreams - The Cranberries
Cooldown: U Got Me Up - Dajae w/Cajmere

"Maybe I've forgotten the name and the address of everyone I've ever known ... It's nothing I regret."

Oh springtime. Springy, springy springtime. It has done such wonders for my head, my heart, my body, to resume running. In January I thought no way, there is no way I am going to suit up every other day and run in this crap. And yet I started doing it, and it made the most frigid and depressing winter I have had un years seem so much lighter. But it feels so good to just put shorts on and head out.

The sun. More beautiful.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 9.00 am
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: yes
Drink: Gatorade All Stars
Weight: 166 lbs.
Weather: 21º and sunny

1986 Playlist
Oh Yeah - Yello
Dreamworld - Midnight Oil
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
Notorious - Duran Duran
Infected - The The
World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope
Wild Wild Life - Talking Heads
Conga - Miami Sound Machine
Cooldown: The New Style - The Beastie Boys

"I've got too much energy to switch off my mind,
but not enough to get myself organized."

1986 was the year I graduated from high school ... but not an impressive cultural touchstone. Top Gun, the Challenger disaster, the meteoric rise of Whitney Houston ...

Best movie: The Fly. And at least everyone was wrong about the Beastie Boys, but we weren't.

And I'll need a kiss for my head that's achin'

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 9.10 am
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: yes
Drink: Gatorade All Stars
Weight: 167.5 lbs.
Weather: 12º frigid - and sunny!

1996 Playlist
The New Pollution - Beck
Magic Carpet Ride - Mighty Dub Catz
Collapse* - Soul Coughing
Broken English - Queue Up
To You I Bestow - Mundy
Love Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Bazamba - Sister Soleil
Cooldown: Before Today - Everything But the Girl

"Did you ever write a letter and you never sent it? "

Here's my semi-sporadic physical self-assessment:

HEAD
No migraines for over a month. No real headaches, either. Taking Tylenol 8-Hour every other day for two weeks might have had something to do with it, but that doesn't explain everything. Even this morning, I woke with a dull ache (hard alcohol, good - last night's red wine, bad) and made it go away with 800 mgs of ibuprofen. Oh, and a thirty minute run.

TONGUE
I lost sensation on half my tongue when I had my left, bottom wisdom tooth removed. That was in December. It's March. Sensitivity has largely returned, but my taste buds are still not what they used to be. Food is not as much fun as before.

THIGHS
What happened to my Meralgia Paresthetica? It's (almost) like I never had it. There is still a sensation of pain when I press down on the tendon connectiors at my right kneee ... so I don't do that.

SHINS
Hip-hop hooray, if they were (almost) entirely pain-free today! I mean, nothing. What damaged shins rob me of is any speed, I just can't move my legs when they are in pain, there's no pick-up what so ever. Today I was making very good speed. I may well be ready for a race in three weeks' time. I wore braces on my left ankle and knee, which helped a great deal, but otherwise my legs feel great.

It is a couple hours after. I have been through a physical rehearsal, and I'll be damned if I am not jonesing to hit the road again.

DIET
It all has to do with money and preparation. Rehearsal periods afford for odd mealtimes, so I have been packing a number of snacks. And when they come from home they are of the fruit, granola or nutrition bar variety. When I forget to pack anything the snacks are of the Doritos, peanut M&M variety. So planning ahead is key, and so is consuming leftovers rather than fast food. I haven't had any fast food in several weeks, which is rare for me, nor have I gotten any of the fried stuff so available at the restaurants around the office.

But tonight is pizza night. Yay, pizza night!

I'm Fit (But I Know It)

Yes. I know what "fit" means.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 4.45pm
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: yes!
Drink: Gatorade All Stars
Weight: 167.5 lbs.
Weather: 34º and a couple of snowflakes

2004 Playlist
Holiday - Green Day
Yesterday Never Tomorrows - The Stills
Beware - Jay-Z & Punjabi MC
Arlington - The Wailin' Jennys
No Expectations - I Am the World Trade Center
Chase Me - Hexastatic
Fit But You Know It - The Streets

"If you're looking for a good time, call me tonight.
If you're looking for a good time, call me, all right.
If you're looking for a good time, call me tonight.
If you have expectations don't call me."

Okay, okay, shin splints, it's cold, blah blah blah. I hardly know what to put down anymore, my anatomy is just gross and I don't have any big event coming up to prepare for. This is just maintanance. And very dull maintenance. But the playlists are fun.

I have a goal that involves living to see all of my enemies dead. Is that good enough?

Flying like a cement kite

Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 9.30 am
Stretches: yes
Sit-ups: no time (this time)
Drink: Gatorade All Stars
Weight: 167 lbs.
Weather: 37º and rain

1979 Playlist
Killing an Arab* - The Cure
I'm a Cult Hero - Cult Hero
When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty - XTC
Cleveland Rocks - I an Hunter
Got the Time - Joe Jackson
No Time This Time - The Police
Touch and Go - The Cars
Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
24 Hour Party People - Happy Mondays

"If I tell you what I'm doing today will you shut up and get out of my way?"

UPDATE: A quick run, I attempted to stretch enough but it's never enough, not when it's cold and you are already weak in certain areas. A hobbling run, not as painful as four days ago - but with a new surprise. Upon arriving at rehearsal an hour later, my left knee began shooting with pain. It has largely subsided now, but I will be keeping a brace on probably for the next several days.

And yet ... I feel ... very good.