The rising floods that fill my skin.

Every morning, right when I get up.

A little FringeNYC-obsessed lately. The Kickstarter campaign ends tomorrow night. I remember how freaked I was about initiating that -- the entire month of June ago.  Brian asked, "So. What if you come up short?" There was no backup plan for coming up short. I mean, we could raise $7,500, right? Good question. It's not as though I have ever done that before, but it was surely possible, right?

Yes. Possible, and we will make it. But that doesn't cover all the expenses, that was the figure we reasonably imagined we could achieve. The campaign ends tomorrow night at (exactly) 11:42 PM. Thirty-three hours from now. Until then, I will continue to obsess, and to ask everyone I know for cash.

That includes you, please. Thank you.

Temperature: 72°
Climate: bright! hot!
Distance: 4 miles

Seventy-two degrees is not, in fact, much warmer than 69° or any other temperature I have run after dark in recent weeks. But in broad daylight, a bright, hot, sunshiny day?

The difference between running 3.25 miles and running 4 miles is that longer distance includes a trip through Cain Park -- and a water fountain, which today is very, very necessary.

I would rather run now, during the day than tonight. The kids come home after a week out of town at their grandparents'. From the moment they home to after they fall asleep, I want to be with them, very much.

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic Playlist
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic * - The Police
Back On The Chain Gang - The Pretenders
Save a Prayer - Duran Duran
Boys Don't Cry *  - The Cure
Who Can It Be Now? - Men At Work
Brass In Pocket - The Pretenders
Life On Mars? - David Bowie
Mad World - Tears For Fears
Spirits In The Materials World - The Police

September '75. I was 47" high.

The thing about the kids being out of town is that I can run pretty much any damn time I want. The thing about summer is that it doesn't make any difference, you still need to run before sunrise or after sunset.

Spent a few hours after work with the company from Double Heart, discussing FringeNYC plans at Prosperity Social Club in Tremont. I love taking young people new places that they think are cool. But doesn't everyone love doing that?

You will read this review now.
Then help Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC

Temperature: 77°
Climate: very humid ... but pleasant
Distance: 4 miles

You know what's awesome? Running. Running is totally awesome.

Underground Playlist
Underground - Ben Folds Five
Can't Stand It - Wilco
Circles - Soul Coughing
Enid (168 bpm) - Barenaked Ladies
The New Pollution - Beck
Better Be Home Soon - Crowded House
Army (174 bpm) - Ben Folds Five
Somebody Keeps Moving My Chair - They Might Be Giants
(Nice Dream) (174 bpm) - Radiohead
One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces - Ben Folds Five

Yeah, I remember The End. You're only in your mid-late twenties once, Missy. Make it happen today!

Being hard isn't being strong.

It's not so much that I want the Supreme Court to do the right thing. I want them to stop doing the wrong things.

Temperature: 69°
Climate: damp
Distance: 4 miles

How am I: Good, actually. No stiffness in the morning, no limping. Have forgotten that I usually wake up with a pain in my back. Sleeping has been very good, actually. Hot days, but cool nights. The thunderstorm last night was very welcome, even if it did take out a fuse and for a short time I worried it had blown out our desktop computer.

Ages ago, lighting blew out the electricity in this house and it really did destroy a television set that was plugged into the same outlet -- an outlet which has since been grounded and the computer was on a surge protector. I guess the point is, that worked. For now, anyway, it's not an additional expense ... though it will be sooner, or later.

Speaking of which, taking the little red piece of crap to the shop today. Something needs to be done to it so I can pass e-check before my birthday. Luckily, our guys live about a mile from my house. It's very convenient. I will suit up, drop off the car, and run home.

Left To My Own Devices Playlist
Situation - Yazoo
Serious - Duran Duran
Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry
Thieves Like Us - New Order
Perfect Kiss - New Order
Club Tropicana - Wham!
(Keep Feeling) Fascination - Human League

Can't stop now, don't you know?

We celebrated our anniversary (which is actually tomorrow) in a fairly low-key but novel way, going out to see a movie at the Cedar-Lee, consuming a bucket of popcorn, then coming home to relax on our side porch, sipping Manhattans and talking about old boyfriends.

The children are in Athens, and we are here. I miss them. On Sunday the girl lost a tooth, a big one, a molar. The night before I had a dream that she came running out of her room, long blonde-haired and in her white, girl's housecoat, full of glee that the tooth fairy had come. In my dream she was five years-old. I remember that girl. That was a long time ago.

Temperature: 76°
Climate: sweaty morning
Distance: 3.25 miles

After the movie, the wife said it's a bit difficult to swallow the outrage over Hero's alleged wantonness in the context of a modern concept. However, I argue that having accepted Shakespearean verse flowing naturally from the mouth of someone doing shots in Joss Whedon's house, you have passed into a realm of suspended-belief. It all felt to me like a game, a bunch of the director's friends playing at Shakespeare in his house, which in fact, it is.

Striding out of the theater, we hear a much older man lamenting the ridiculousness of making Conrad a woman. The bar for disbelief is higher for some than others.

Left To My Own Devices Playlist
Don't Go - Yazoo
Kiss Them For Me - Siouxsie and the Banshees
Was It Worth It? - Pet Shop Boys
Poison Arrow - ABC
Behind The Wheel - Depeche Mode
Confusion - New Order
Master and Servant (Slavery Whip Mix) - Depeche Mode

Change our pace of life.

Hanging out in the world of Ezra Jack Keats.

Brief sojourn to Athens, to drop the children off at their grandparents and leave them there.

Yesterday I rose with sinuses packed and a nasty headache which lingered for the entire day, which was a shame because otherwise the days was very nice, even the four hour drive.

We broke up the ride with a stop in Akron to catch the Ezra Jack Keats exhibit (closes June 30!) and the wife had gotten sandwiches from Barle so we didn't need to pull over for lunch.

The worst part of the day was discovering the reason that one of our neighborhood streets was blocked off as we were departing was because of a homicide. I am still processing that fact. A man had murdered his grandmother, allegedly, which is how so many of these stories play out. It is commonly someone you know.

Temperature: 65° → 75°

Climate: hot, bright, humid, outstanding!

Distance: 4.25 miles

Gorgeous run by the Hocking. I have been invited to many runs and races in the past several months, none of which seemed "do-able" at the time. Thinking of the Bay Village 5 Mile because it was my first race and so that is fun in a symbolic "look at me now" kind of way. Whatever event I eventually choose will be the first I have tried in zero drop shoes.

Today I ran 4.25 miles without breaking a proverbial sweat, though there was a lot of literal sweat. A flat, five-mile race with zero shade and seriously boring suburban architecture sounds like no sweat at all.

Left To My Own Devices Playlist (dedicated to Zac)
Left To My Own Devices - Pet Shop Boys
Go West - Pet Shop Boys
Panic - The Smiths
Heart - Pet Shop Boys
Sunday Girl - Blondie
Are 'Freinds' Electric? - Gary Numan & Tubeway Army
Everything's Gone Green - New Order
The Living Daylights - a-Ha
Sweetest Perfection - Depeche Mode

You’re out cold.

These days, my wife sends me running. I don't even think to. It is summer, and I feel more stretched than the rest of the year, stretched and tired. The kids leave town for the next week, lazing at Wolf Camp. Will that makes next week more relaxed and well-rested, or less so?

Temperature: 64°
Climate: cool, humid
Distance: 3.25 miles

In the past year, I have intermittently suffered discomfort along the left side of my face, from that part my left cheek closest to my ear, and above my ear, and back across my skull, and up into my scalp. It feels like a numbness, but also -- and especially recently -- as it grows and stretches back across my head, it is more like a dull ache.

Earlier this year, or late last year, or both, it has felt more like a dull paralysis of the skin. Not entirely without feeling, but subtly disconcerting. I do not know what brings this sensation on. It goes, I cannot remember feeling it for some time, but it is back.

Last summer I received a bee sting in my hair, close to the hairline -- which for me, because I am bald, is the back of my head. The bee-sting was very painful, as bee-stings are, but I have had bee-stings before and this was truly awful. We were on an island in Maine, and I could not get proper treatment for several hours. I am not even sure my wife got the stinger out at the time.

Could that have caused some kind of lingering, superficial paralysis?

It's My Life (Dub Mix) Playlist
Tracking Treasure Down (Club Mix) - Gabriel & Dresden
The Metro (168 bpm) - Berlin
TKO - Le Tigre
Walking Wounded  - Everything But the Girl
Lullaby of Clubland (Housego's Dub Remix) - Everything But the Girl

Last day of Camp Theater, and it looks like a glorious day. Enjoy it, everyone.

One-half won't do.

This is me.

Since last Saturday night, my shoulders have ached, my neck has been sore. Not enough to debilitate, only to ... hurt. It only makes sense that it is psychosomatic, and yet, I do not know why. Things are good, at home, at work, in art, in all things. So why do I ache?

This evening we spend at my parents' in Lakewood, to take brunch at church with them, and then take my father to Talespinner tomorrow for a performance of The Emperor's Ears.

Temperature: 67°
Climate: cool and humid
Distance: 4.9 miles

Lakewood! My Lakewood!
Your mansions are so grand,
Your sidewalks worst in Greater Cleveland.

Nighttime run in Lakewood, the bunnies do not fear people the way they do in the Heights. A mottled cat, sprawled in the middle of the sidewalk, for me he could not be bothered. The midges had apparently retired for the evening.

It's My Life (Dub Mix) Playlist
It's My Life (Dub Mix) - Liquid People vs. Talk Talk
I Get Around - Dragonette
Temperamental - Everything But the Girl
Why Does the Wind? - Tracey Thorn
Love Can Damage Your Health - Telepopmusik
Me Plus One - Annie
Kelly Watch the Stars - AIR
Believe - The Chemical Brothers
Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb

Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC

Sit yourself down, friend.

Oh, fun.

Before: Since Sunday, I have been struck with stiffness in my neck, pain in my abdomen, soreness in my eyes and across my brow, and a general sense of lethargy and tiredness. I cannot tell if it is the weather, lack of sleep, anxiety over my responsibilities, or what. I have not run in, oh, two days, but it feels much longer.

I do not wish to run right now, but as the wife missed an episode of Drinking With Ladies so that I could, I feel obligated.

Temperature: 70°
Climate: humid
Distance: 3.25 miles

After Yes. That was mental. Just ... mental. On the road ten seconds, I felt more alive, and like myself. Thoughts connect ... my eyes still hurt, but my stomach has calmed. Tomorrow makes more sense. Running does its job.

2013 Summer Begins Playlist
Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell
Chocolate - The 1975
Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell
Come & Get It (160 bpm) - Selena Gomez
My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark - Fall Out Boy
Grace For Saints & Ramblers - Iron & Wine
We Hate It When You Get What You Want - Filter

Good Lord. Iron and Wine wrote something that doesn't induce drowsiness.

Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC

Summer begins.

Lazy Sunday morning making blueberry pancakes for a trio of sleepover girls and one growing dude.

Yesterday was Parade the Circle. When it was proposed that the boy and I hitch a ride across town the the pARTy in Gordon Square, and take the Trolley home, I instantly decided that nothing would get done today and that that was a wise and sensible decision.

It helped that earlier in the day I had visited JJ. I jabbered on for about a full hour about all the great things that were going on and she said, "Well. Your life sounds very good." I agreed, and she suggested I call her sometime in the future if the need arises.

Last night, strangely enough, my neck began feeling very sore, and it still does today. Stress? Really? Illness? Is it because summer theater camp begins tomorrow, that doesn't make sense, that's in the bag. Cruising down the Shoreway with the windows open in a big, goofy trolley named "Lolly" with your arm slung around an eight year-old boy who leans back into you and tells you about all the very interesting things he is thinking about everything, this is not a stress-inducing situation.

We'll see. Maybe there is something lurking on the horizon, maybe this is some dull, slow, uninteresting kind of Spider-sense. But I do not think so.

Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC because kissing.

Temperature: 70°
Climate: overcast, balmy
Distance: 3.25 miles (stopping & starting)

Each child received a "new" bike for Memorial Day. Hers is a great second-hander, his is hers. When we bought hers new, we insisted it be a color that work for her younger brother. As it turns out, blue is her favorite color, anyway, and I wasn't buying a Barbie bicycle, regardless.

I was all set to take a run (even though I am feeling more achy and ill now than I was two hours ago) with my headphones on, when the boy asked if he could bike alongside me. Previously, accepting a co-run meant cutting my run short, but with a bike? We went the distance! With some walking.

Back where you started.

Today is National Running Day!

Events did not conspire to run with a partner to celebrate Nat'l Running Day, but I did take the boy to get a new (used) baseball mitt, and we threw a ball back and forth for a half-hour before his practice and I say that counts.

Tomorrow brings to an end her fourth grade year, his second. Such important milestones. They're both about a foot taller, each. Her final soccer game for the season was this evening, those girls worked all year, since the fall, to work as a team and I have been so impressed with their progress.

It is a shame the team they played tonight are those awful girls who trip everybody.

It's not like they aren't moving immediately from days packed with school from days packed with activity camps -- theater camp, sports camp, music camp, art camp, invention camp, weeks away with the out-laws camp -- but at least there's no homework, and that general summer sense that whatever happens, it's, well ... whatever.

Temperature: 70°

Climate: cool
Distance: 3.25 miles

Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC

Tears of a Clown Playlist

Peaches - The Stranglers

Sole Salvation - The Beat

Rockaway Beach - The Ramones

Is That Love (161 bpm)  - Squeeze

Do It Again - The Kinks

Nearly Lost You - Screaming Trees

Expresso Love (Live) - Dire Straits

Turning Japanese (179 bpm) - The Vapors

All the Shakespearoes.

Tomorrow is National Running Day.

Theater Talk.

The past several days have been astonishing. So many have contributed to our campaign to Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC, before we began I was troubled that maybe we had set the bar too high. But there are many friends and supports who believe in this work -- and even complete strangers who came across the campaign on the Kickstarter website, and thought it was worth promoting. It is truly a new world.

We have achieved over 60% of our goal in just four days, which is definitely reassuring. But we must make it to our goal -- and then some if we are to cover all of our costs. I know there are going to be some cost overruns, I can even pinpoint where some of them may be, though I am loathe to mention them.

This is Annie, one of our company members. She says why this show is awesome and why you should support it much better than I do. Get it there.

Temperature: 63°
Climate: cool
Distance: 3.25 miles

Running Talk.

You know that thing some runners do at the intersection, where they run in place waiting for the light to change? I just remembered that I used to do that. That was way back when running was hard, I thought standing still would make my muscles seize up, or stiffen. And maybe they would have, but it sure felt awkward doing that bopping up and down in place thing.

More than stiffening up, I knew starting again would be difficult. It was hard enough to begin at the start, stopping even for a few seconds would mean ramping up again. This was when I was fat, this was when I smoked.

Now, I take a stoplight as a break. I come to stillness. I breathe. My skin cools. I rest. I relax. When the light changes, I happily spring back into action.

Happy National Running Day tomorrow, everyone. Run!

Tears of a Clown Playlist
The Whole of the Moon - The Waterboys
No More Heroes - The Stanglers
Lost In The Supermarket - The Clash
Destroyer - The Kinks
Rudie Can't Fail - The Clash
Bitch - The Rolling Stones
Holidays In The Sun - Sex Pistols
Beat On The Brat - The Ramones

I'm highly animated even though I'm decomposing.

Reason #28 to Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC: Audience Response

During the outreach tour, last February and March, Double Heart was very well-received by audiences of all ages, but particularly high school students. I think they were surprised that a play which they had been warned beforehand was entirely in verse (thanks, Lisa) could be so lewd and hilarious.


We are only $165 away from achieving one-tenth of our goal in the first 48 hours. Please consider making a contribution tonight, to help us past this psychological goal.

Here's a special enticement for readers of this blog ... while you may donate anything you like, those who give $100 or more will receive a personalized thank you from the production team in the form of a picture of the company holding up a sign with your name on it in a unique NYC location, to be posted on Facebook and other social media, and sent to you as a high-quality jpeg.

If you pledge at least that amount and specify that you are a fan of Daddy Runs Fast, your picture will be taken during Summer Streets, in the middle of either Park Avenue of Lafayette Street when Annie, myself, and whoever else I can talk into it are taking a morning run. Get it there.

Temperature: 67°
Climate: bright! beautiful! humid!
Distance: 4 miles
Weight: 167 lbs.

Sunburned tops of feet, day two. Ooh.

Finally discovered where they moved the water fountain in Cain Park. Thanks, Trevor, for pointing that out. They used to have one right on the main path in from Lee Road.

Stepped out of the house today and a neighbor asked, "Going running?" No. I wear a bandana, bright red shorts and green zero drop shoes because it's Pirate Pete the Clown Day.

Get Lucky Playlist
One Touch - LCD Soundsystem
Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors - Radiohead
A Thing For Me - Metronomy
Move Your Feet - Junior Senior
Sound Of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
Tron Legacy (End Titles) - Daft Punk
Rock The House - Gorillaz

This is all true, it's water I drink.

Our Kickstarter campaign to Get DOUBLE HEART to FringeNYC began today! We raised $300 already, and if that were a daily average then we would eventually make our goal before the June 30 deadline, but that is not a foregone conclusion. We will need many more supporters -- and for those unfamiliar with these campaigns, you have to make your goal or get nothing. It's as simple as that.

Take a moment and watch this short video, and then click the link above to read more about the production, and how you can support us today.


Temperature: 67°
Climate: rain!
Distance: 3.25 miles

Sunburned the tops of my feet today. Ooh.

But also, this: Running through a sudden downpour after dark does not suck because you get wet. No, no. It is because you cannot see anything -- especially in glasses. You are much, much more likely to fall into a hole, sprain your ankle or get hit by a car dashing across the street like a drunken wildman.

Get Lucky Playlist
Aerodynamite - Daft Punk
Let's Make Love and Listen to DFA - CSS (Calvin Harris Mix)
Outsiders - Franz Ferdinand
In The Morning - Junior Boys
Jazzhole - Free The Robots
Dollars & Cents - Radiohead
Lights & Music - Cut Copy