No one can stop me from running

Someone I knew in high school died the other day. Actually, I didn't know him from high school, I knew him from childhood. We were in Indian Guides together. He played at my house, in my bedroom. People in my class have died before, but not many. Two car accidents, one suicide. I am trying to think of others. I do not know the facts yet about how this man died, but I think he was very ill.

Several years ago I was stopping by a store in my hometown. I looked a lot like I do now, balding with a goatee. I saw the guy behind the counter, someone I hadn't seen since graduation.

"Can I help you?" he asked. I paused for a moment.

I said, "Hey, Bob."

He took a very brief moment and said, "Hey, Karl."

And then he sold me some shoelaces.

1987 Playlist
Pump Up the Volume - M/A/R/R/S
Big Love - Fleetwood Mac
Hourglass - Squeeze
Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
I Want Your (Hands On Me) - Sinéad O'Connor
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
Stop Me If You Heard This One Before - The Smiths

Distance: 3 miles
Temperature: 39º
Weather: overcast
Road conditions: wet
Weight: 155 lbs. - bingo.

Trust the Gene Genie.

Can't help it - it's a classic.

1973 Playlist
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Street Life - Roxy Music
Jet - Paul McCartney & Wings
Stuck In the Middle With You - Stealers Wheel
The Jean Genie - David Bowie
Rock & Roll Disgrace - Sweet
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five - Paul McCartney & Wings

Distance: 3 miles
Temperature: 36º
Weather: bright & sunny
Road conditions: mostly dry!
Weight: 153.5 lbs.

I stopped eating when the tour began.

My world never looked so bright

As a result of beginning my annual year-by-year playlist sequence early (it usually starts in February) is that I have gotten sick of snow much earlier this year.

2003 Playlist
Burning Down the House - Tom Jones & The Cardigans
We Want Your Soul - Adam Freeland
Peace and Love - Fountains of Wayne
It's My Life (Vocal Dub) - Liquid People vs. Talk Talk
Black California - Kaada
All Things (Just Keep Getting Better) - Widelife ft. Simone

Ted is a such a top.

Distance: 3 miles
Temperature: 25º
Weather: Christmassy
Road conditions: dusty with snow
Weight: 157.5 lbs.

There's no other way to go

Hey! Brian's gonna run 5K at the Cleveland!

Since his heart attack last year he has lost a significant amount of weight - Jesus, he looks 28 again. Says he's gonna go the 5K May 19 just to say - there, I can do that, now I don't ever have to again.

1988 Playlist
Mary, Mary - Run-D.M.C.
Shake Your Thing - Salt-N-Pepa ft. E.U.
Left to My Own Devices - Pet Shop Boys
End of the Line - Traveling Wilburys
What I Am - Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians
Simply Irresistible - Robert Palmer
Tropical Flesh Mandala - Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
Stand - R.E.M.
It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
Kinda I Want To (demo) - Nine Inch Nails
All She Wants Is - Duran Duran

My knees hurt. No way I am keeping to the schedule these days - 8 miles? Not today, no thank you. But I'll get there.

Distance: 5.75 miles
Temperature: 30º
Weather: mildly cold
Road conditions: snowy, crispy, largely unshoveled - kept to the side streets
Weight: 156.5 lbs.

At 156.6, down from 162. This is how we do this - choices. Long day at work, really hungry? I hit the sundries and get the BANANA (60 cents) and not the CHIPS (99 cents.) I imagine the chips in my mouth, dusty, fake, unsatisfying. And I get the banana.

I am also chewing a lot of gum. Hungry? Pop in another piece of gum. Great God almighty, they invented gum that is actually good for your teeth. My mom used to lecture me that sugarless gum is only less-bad for your teeth, but this stuff actually cleans and protects teeth. You know how I know? My teeth are cleaner and healthier than they have been since elementary school.

This morning I had two poached eggs on buttered toast instead of the french toast I was offered.

And it doesn't hurt to have friends who serve fresh, homemade vegetarian sushi at their kids' birthday parties. Gimme some of that cucumber wrapped in plain rice wrapped in seaweed!

I want to be 155 and stay 155. That's it. It's not asking for much. I just want to fit in these pants.

Let the sunshine in.

Counter-intuitive. Exhausted. Headachy. Miserable. Taxed, and not done yet with the day. I went home early to take a rest, looked at the clock. One hour. I can't nap knowing I have to wake up and get to rehearsal in one hour.

So I ran. God. My blood is so happy now.

1968 Playlist
I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Think - Aretha Franklin
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
White Light/White Heat - The Velvet Underground
Grazing in the Grass - Hugh Masekela
Let the Sunshine In - Soundtrack to "Hair"

Distance: 2 miles
Temperature: 26º
Weather: still cold
Road conditions: snow
Weight: 156.5 lbs.

I hope you feel better later on

I think there are a lot of people on Monticello who think it doesn't matter if they shovel their driveways because then people will just assume their house is abandoned.

1996 Playlist
Seasons of Love - Cast of "Rent"
Magic Carpet Ride - Mighty Dub Catz
Before Today - Everything But the Girl
Shoe Box (152 bpm) - Barenaked Ladies
Fast Love - George Michael
Lovefool - Cardigans
Soundtrack to Mary - Soul Coughing
The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
To You I Bestow - Mundy
Wannabe - Spice Girls

Storm's coming.

Distance: 4 miles
Temperature: 24º
Weather: just cold, but at least not windy
Road conditions: crusty, crusty, crusty
Weight: 157.5 lbs.

The world belongs to me

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

Off my game a little. The schedule said seven, I ran five ... in unbroken snow, and mounded up crusty and awful snow. On Thursday, running angrily I pulled muscles in my lower back. Today my left knee hurts. It's just stupid and dangerous to run in this stuff.

I do not mean to complain about how busy I am, I like being busy. But it is the variety of projects I am currently working on - and need to work on consistently - that is making me crazy. In addition to writing grants (and there are always new grants and letters to compose) I need to make sure to visit and connect with our actors in the field. Also I am acting in a play I have also written (this is always a drag on the family - they don't see me for bedtime and sometimes dinner five nights a week) and when I return I spend an hour or so doing research on Cleveland history for the new script.

It's a lot. I am not a fantastic multi-tasker. And it's cold.

Distance: 5 miles
Temperature: 21º
Weather: sunny and cold
Road conditions: deep snow with crusty piles
Weight: 159 lbs.

1979 Playlist
Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & Fire
She's Lost Control (Peel Sessions) - Joy Division
Ready for the 80's - Village People
Does Your Mother Know - ABBA
Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
Secret Agent Man - Devo
Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Dance Away - Roxy Music
Born to Be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
Pop Muzik - M
Cool For Cats - Squeeze
DJ - David Bowie
Got The Time - Joe Jackson
Train In Vain - The Clash
When You're Near Me (153 bpm) - XTC
24 Hour Party People - The Happy Mondays

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

These are the rules:
1. If you accidentally mistreat someone's costly sound equipment, (e.g., sport headphones) apologize.
2. When someone announces they are going for a run, say "good for you," or something equally supportive.

wtf?

2001 Playlist
Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
This Charming Man - Stars
Drop - Cornelius
Bananeria (Rae & Christian Mix) - Bebel Gilberto
Get the Party Started - P!nk
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
Star 69 - Fatboy Slim
Packt Like Sardines In a Crushd Tin Box - Radiohead

Distance: 4 miles
Temperature: 25º
Weather: cold, sure
Road conditions: still with the patchy ice
Weight: 159 lbs.

One more in before we hit the grave

Chewing gum! Keeps your mouth moist! Also a choking hazard. Discuss.

The wife says I am burning at both ends. I just wish one of them was getting smaller.

1991 Playlist
O.P.P. - Naughty By Nature
I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd
Pop Goes the Weasel - 3rd Bass
The Globe - Big Audio Dynamite II
Pain Lies on the Riverside - Live
Tall Trees - Crowded House
Breaking the Girl - Red Hot Chili Peppers
7 - Prince

Distance: 4 miles
Temperature: 26º
Weather: cold, but not too cold
Road conditions: still patchy ice
Weight: 158.5 lbs.