Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Self-sufficience please, and get to work.

Let me spell out my name.
Twenty runs in January. A tie! Why run so much? Fear? Anxiety? Because the weather has been mostly good, probably.

Kids have school off again today, while I must get to the office. Tour rehearsals have begun, and there is much catching up to do.

Distance: 2.75 miles
Avg. Pace: 9:04
Duration: 24:56
Route: Neighborhood Run

This report is deceptive. There are banks of unshoveled snow, the first part of my run was like something out of Rocky, picking my knees up to my waist. I was pretty sure I would keep this to one lap, but once I was off the main boulevard I ran in the street and decided I could run the neighborhood streets until I was satisfied.

Pavement: like ice cream
Temperature: 27°
Climate: cold & snow
Mood: determined

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 167.5 lbs. (+0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

1995 Playlist
Underground - Ben Folds Five
Army of Me - Bjork
Gerbil * - Filter
Les Ailes - Khaled
Alice Childress - Ben Folds Five
Geek Stink Breath - Green Day
Car Song - Elastica

Ben Folds. Elder statesman, like the Alex Chilton of the Millennial Generation. I don't know what to say about that.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Everybody going out of their skins.

Snowy day. We have RECEPTION this afternoon. Outreach tour rehearsal begin tomorrow, and also our daughter turns fourteen.

Things are horrible. Things are wonderful.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:09
Duration: 26:32
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Pavement: snowy
Temperature: 28°
Climate: snow
Mood: fuck this

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 167 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

2015 Playlist
Wait For It - Leslie Odom Jr.
Ship To Wreck - Florence + The Machine
Disappointing - John Grant ft. Tracey Thorn
S.O.B. - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Go - Chemical Brothers ft. Q-Tip
Snakeskin - Deerhunter
Know Now - Public Image Limited

Ah, yes. Twenty-fifteen. Things were so much simpler then.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

God, save the people.

One new thing I have been doing is waiting until I am hungry before I eat breakfast. We adults get up early most mornings, and traditionally I would eat then. Now I wait until I am truly interested in food and then I seem to choose what I crave and not just what I think I should eat or that I am used to eating.

Usually I eat granola and yogurt. This morning I wanted half a bagel, sunbutter and banana. It's what my body was interested in. This seems to be working for me.

Distance: 3.75 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:13
Duration: 30:54
Route: Neighborhood Loop

Priorities. An open Saturday for me, but it took two hours to sort and fold all of the laundry that has accumulated ... not counting socks. Do I continue doing housework, this list is long, or do I take a run?

What do you think?

Pavement: dusted with snow
Temperature: 28°
Climate: cold
Mood: concerned

Arduous, slipping on light snow.Cold but not cold enough to keep from heavy sweating, that was some good work. Ran past the pit that used to be the site of the Center-Mayfield. Also, a Chinese restaurant, barbershops and salons, and the Looney Tunes daycare.

Ran past that place countless times, saw myself reflected in the mirrored windows in all variety of gear, and many shapes and sizes, watched myself go gray. The windows prevented me from seeing in but who peers into a daycare center, that is creepy. But I did wonder about the children, what they were doing, how they were doing, were they learning, were they happy.

My own children had the privilege of going to Montessori school and they thrived, because we could afford it. Now those children (and yes, I know, over the years they were always different children) where do they go? Where do their caregivers go?

Sometimes I think this country is one big hole in the ground.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 167 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

1974 Playlist
For the Love of Money - The O'Jays
Back In NYC - Genesis
The Wall Street Shuffle - 10cc
In The Cage - Genesis
Save the People - Steve Nathan
Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer
Waterloo - ABBA
Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Now they call me Mr. Bitterness.

Every day another national indignity. Congress just wanted to erase the legacy of Barack Obama, this guy is seriously doing all the bad things that lead to authoritarian government. Censoring facts, oppressing the weak, aggrandizing the self.

The question is, are our democratic systems strong enough to fight the power? The Internet has proven to be the most powerful tool in this war of misinformation, can it be harnessed for truth? Is that even possible?

Distance: 3.6 miles
Avg. Pace: 7:54
Duration: 28:28
Route: Forest Hills Loop

My hamstring continues to irritate, on the left side, all the way down. It's in my thigh, in my calf. Sometimes it sings quite loudly. Cold weather exacerbates the condition. It's a drag. I keep massaging my leg in public, it's not a good look for me.

Pavement: very light precipitation
Temperature: 36°
Climate: cool, wet
Mood: bitter

Brisk, light run. Feeling stronger. The cold does not bother me, got pretty sweaty and warm, actually. Not below freezing, not yet. We'll get there.

Seventeen runs in January already? That's a tie for second place and it's not even the girl's birthday yet. Ran twenty in January, 2012. Can I make that before Tuesday? Mmmaybe.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 167.5 lbs. (-1.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

1994 Playlist
Voodoo Lady - Ween
Welcome to Paradise - Green Day
Sure Shot - The Beastie Boys
Live Forever - Oasis
Mr. Bitterness - Soul Coughing
Get Me - Everything But the Girl
Chewbacca - Supernova
Mr. Self Destruct - Nine Inch Nails

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Now I've got the floor.

I got my ...
Packing my lunch is not just about saving money, it's about eating well. Monday I forgot my lunch, lunch I packed and then left on the counter. So I got sushi, which is all well and good, but I would be deceiving myself to suggest a lunch portion of sashimi with an entire California roll is "light."

That evening the wife had prepared a delicious meal, a tray baked chicken dish. It wouldn't have been a bad day's consumption except for all the cookies at the first reading of my new play.

Little obsessed by eating these days, apparently.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:18
Duration: 27:01
Route: Forest Hill Loop

After the rain, wet and cool. One more day of Strawberry Spring (tomorrow) and then it will return to something like winter.

Good run, brisk, breathing hard. There is a deep pain in the back end, the boy and I need to engage in stretches together, I need to make a plan for that. He complains about aches. I know he is about to enter puberty, he's moving in and I am moving out. We both need to take care of ourselves.

Pavement: wet
Temperature: 34°
Climate: cool & damp
Mood: busy moving

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 169 lbs. (+0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

2014 Playlist
Batches & Cookies - Lizzo ft. Sophia Eris
Daffodils - Mark Ronson ft. Kevin Parker
Dancehall Domine - The New Pornographers
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Two Bodies - Flight Facilities ft. Emma Louise
My Type - Saint Motel

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Burning rubber like my love.

This scene was much funnier in "Elf."
My back is acting up again. That makes it sound like it's jumping around or something. It hurts, aches, in the small of my back. Same as before, standing for long periods makes it hurt, so does sitting in a chair. Oh, God. I wish we would invent something better than a chair. I need one of those sitting balls for my office, maybe. Right?

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Pavement: wet
Temperature: 55°
Climate: cool & humid
Mood: leaning forward

Such a busy day yesterday, across the nation, yes, but I had responsibilities with my son. Soccer, rock set at Brothers Lounge. Sarah took him to the science fiction marathon at Case where I joined up around eleven to watch Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005).

It's actually worse than I remembered, more weird than funny, but not even weird enough. Adams wrote these lines of dialogue that were jokes, really, set-ups and punchlines. But the humor is so dryly sarcastic, so British, they must have figured no one in America would get the, So you get these set-ups ... with no punchline. It's frustrating, nothing even makes sense.

Ah, well. Diversions.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 168.5 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

Spring day in late January. Had to run. Lots of folks in the park today, walking dogs, or just walking themselves. Dude on a recumbent bike.

1981 Playlist
Genius of Love - Tom Tom Club
Skidmarks On My Heart - The Go-Go's
My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) - Chilliwack
Six Months In A Leaky Boat - Split Enz
Is That Love - Squeeze
Jumpin' Jive - Joe Jackson
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic * - The Police

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Don't slow down.

Nazis. I hate these guys.
Big night out in Gordon Square last night. Entry Point followed by poutine at Banter. Yesterday afternoon I got carryout from the new Yours Truly on Playhouse Square. All this to say my caloric intake was a little high.

Yes, we have entered a new era where crimes will be committed at the highest levels of government under the screen of populism, but at least people have started punching self-assured Nazis in the face.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Boulevard Loop
Pavement: wet
Temperature: 50°
Climate: sunny!
Mood: still determined

The women are in DC today, at the Women's March on Washington. I am excited for them. I am anxious for them. I hope it is amazing.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 168.5 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

2011 Playlist
Burn It Down - Sims
Doncamatic - Gorillaz
Guns & Horses - Ellie Goulding
Feels So Close - Calvin Harris
Makelloser Mann - Mike Doughty
You Make Me Feel ... - Cobra Starhip ft. Sabi
Rolling In The Deep - Adele
Blame The Machines - Duran Duran

Friday, January 20, 2017

I could feel my balance shifting.

O-Man on drums! Be there!
Big weekend planned, but not with the business you might expect. I mean, it is ... a lot of creativity, new play festival, live music performed by my son. There is so much beautiful work in the world.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:18
Duration: 27:01
Route: Forest Hill Loop

Raining today, a pleasant rainy day run through the woods. A small girl in a East Cleveland school bus waved at me from the window. I waved back, and smiled.

Pavement: wet!
Temperature: 39°
Climate: rain
Mood: determined

Raining in Washington, D.C. as well today. Tomorrow the outlook is bright.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 169 lbs. (-2.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

2000 Playlist
Love Will Tear Us Apart - The Cure
It's My Turn To Fly - The Urge
The Man Who Loved The Earth/The Hand That Sold Shadows - Peter Gabriel
Dirty Trip - AIR
Saginou * - Zulya
Last Night - The Strokes
Downside-Up - Peter Gabriel

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

All my failings exposed.

When it is late afternoon, and when you are tired, which is better, to nap or run? Sometimes a run substitutes for a nap, keeps my blood pumping, I feel bright-eyed, alert, ready to handle the rest of my waking hours and then, hopefully, sleep better for it.

This evening, however, coming home from work - with temps in the low-50s - the desire to rest, for a few minutes, was very strong. This is what comes from sitting, sitting and typing and staring into a screen.

For ten minutes I went to a far off place, but I came back again, too. And then I was ready to run.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 48°
Gear: shorts, long-sleeves no gloves
Climate: cool
Mood: good

Brisk run, legs free, not cold - not raining, either, it was raining earlier. Feeling depressed before, feeling motivated there are things to do.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 171 lbs. (+0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

Yesterday's abuses are evident. It is disheartening.

1980 Playlist
Cows - The Suburbs
When You Were Mine - Prince
You Make My Dreams Come True * - Hall & Oates
Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus
Whine & Grind/Stand Down Margaret * - The Beat
Any Way You Want It - Journey
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

Monday, January 16, 2017

Over and over again.

This afternoon the family went to see Hidden Figures, which seemed a particularly appropriate film for Dr. King's Day. Many of the barriers he worked to break through were being overcome, almost in secret, through this story. After, the boy and I went to catch the Power & Politics exhibit at the Western Reserve Historical Society (you have until February 20.)

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 36°
Climate: cool and cloudy
Mood: maintaining

Today's Diet:

  • coffee (cream, no sugar)
  • Strawberry Jell-O® Pretzel Salad
  • popcorn with butter-like topping
  • Mike & Ike's®
  • Skittles®
  • Coca-Cola®

Seriously. It's 6:00 PM and that is the only food I have eaten today. On the plus-side, however, I ate a lot of it.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 170.5 lbs. (+1.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

Four runs in four days. Now the weather warms up for a few days, let's see if I can keep this up.

2006 Playlist
Young Folks - Peter Bjorn & John
Like a Pen - The Knife
Us v Them - LCD Soundsystem
No Hay Igual (Club Mix) - Nelly Furtado
SOS - Rihanna
Tell Me Why - Supermode

Larry Steinbachek, we salute you!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

The rabbits running in the ditch.

Your Christmas trees.
Pain began in my lower back on the left side, and down into my buttock. Then my calf began to hurt and finally, yes, my thigh. In that order, like the strain started independently in two places, but then were finally connected, a straight line of stress from lower back to ankle.

I have continued running, every other day and sometimes every day, since the new year. In 2012 I began the year over 180 pounds. I had come down off of anti-depressants, which as you might expect made me less unhappy and anxious, but also a bit listless and unmotivated. I trained for a spring marathon and actually shed fifteen pounds between New Year's and the race.

I also wrote several plays in a short period of time.

I am not depressed now (not like that, anyway) and have not waited until my weight was that far out of control before taking action, but this month, these two weeks, have been challenging. A lot of sitting, followed by the exercise. I fantasize about yoga - yes, it is true - about stretching, but I have not made that happen. I should, I really should.

The weather, my cold weather outfit, I run differently in this guise. Shorter strides, which can be good, but not in this case. When it is warm I feel more free, the body feels more comfortable no matter how much weight I am carrying, the transition from stasis to movement is much easier.

Distance:
Avg. Pace:
Duration:
Route: Forest Hill Loop

Passed a number of old men today, walking their dogs or mostly walking themselves. I said hello to all of them, asked how they are doing.

When I look over my shoulder, what do you think I see ..?

You can look that up.

Temperature: 32°
Climate: shine, shiny sun
Mood: all right
Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 169.5 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

Reception tonight, the topic is "flags."

1996 Playlist
Ready To Go (U.S. Mix) - Republica
White Girl - Soul Coughing
Solid State - Combustible Edison
Oops! - Tipsy
Season of the Witch - Luna
Tombstone * - Suzanne Vega
Someone's Daughters - Beth Orton
Wannabe - Spice Girls
Red - Sister Soleil

Awesome year for funky dance music, and so warrant an extra half-mile. On a warmer day, perhaps further. Soul Coughing! Cocktail music! The Spice Girls only single!

Saturday, January 14, 2017

My body always moving.

Wayward, listless evening last night. After my run I sat alone and thought and wrote and listening, and texted, responded to opps. When the boy got home we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It's not great, Tim Burton movies generally never are, but it has its moments. The ending is interminable, the entire escapade cleaves close to Dahl's sense of humor except for that lame backstory.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:09
Duration: 26:28
Route: Forest Hill Loop

This morning I was surprised to find myself continuing to speculate upon a story, one I had ramped up prior to the election, and dropped immediately thereafter because it was too depressing. But it appears to have been backed up in my brain, and maybe I need to do something about that.

Pavement: dry
Temperature: 34°
Climate: cool
Mood: driven ... a little

Will be a pretty mild week, temperatures rising. Forecast suggests Trump will get nice, climate-change-caused weather for his day, the women will have an even better one on theirs.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 169.5 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

Slow and steady wins the race.

1976 Playlist
Love Machine (Part 1) - The Miracles
Rubberband Man - The Spinners
Beat On The Brat - The Ramones
Step Right Up - Tom Waits
Squonk *  - Genesis
Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller Band
Hot Stuff - The Rolling Stones

Friday, January 13, 2017

When routine bites hard and ambitions are low.

Augustus Gloop will not be harmed.
No, but for reals. Seriously. You guys. Sitting on this wooden bench all week has been a real drag. And not only do I feel it in my butt, but also my left calf feels on the verge of straining. Ugh. Ugh, ugh. Time for some serious dance moves.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:09
Duration: 26:29
Route: Boulevard Loop

Took some effort to motivate myself out the door. The last few days have spoiled me, this isn't even  cold. Part of my reluctance (not ambivalence, I was looking forward to this) was no doubt due to the fact that this is the first evening run I have taken in some time.

Yes, long days sitting can be wearying -- however, one of our actors was ill today and so I co-taught a class in Death of a Salesman. I even acted in a scene, that was refreshing.

Pavement: dry
Temperature: 25°
Climate: cold and clear
Mood: managing

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-0-)
New Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

As the years pass I have been discovering that the "aughts" were perhaps the least interesting decade in popular music -- in general, of course, you don't need to hit me up with all the great music released 2000-2009, there is always great music. Just, in aggregate. I find it tedious.

I had to skip a number of songs just to settle on these:

2005 Playlist
Galang - M.I.A.
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Fall Out Boy
I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic! At The Disco
Don't Look Back - Telepopmusik
Summer Skin - Death Cab for Cutie
Augustus Gloop - Danny Elfman
Technologic - Daft Punk

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

I'm no good at acting while the camera's on the run.

So much better than "Suicide Squad."
Went to see a movie last night, we saw Fences. It's a great movie, but long. I am very glad Denzel has announced he is producing all ten plays in August Wilson's Century Cycle for film, but I question his decision not to edit very much. I'm all for it, I just hope it sells, people can complain about long movies.

Wilson is a poet and his words are what it's all about, so I was happy for the entirety of it. I have read this play but have never seen it on stage.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:26
Duration: 27:24
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Pavement: dry? crazy.
Temperature: 34°
Climate: cool
Mood: all right

It wouldn't have seemed so long, except I think there was something wrong with my seat. About ninety minutes in my left gluteus began to ache with a sharp pain and I found it very difficult to get comfortable.

I am very aware of how much sitting I do, there's a lot of sitting this week, on a hard, wooden bench, and in the cold, too. Lots of sitting, the exercise can only help so much.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.

1985 Playlist
A Love Bizarre - Sheila E.
In Between Days - The Cure
Television Man - Talking Heads
How She Threw It All Away - The Style Council
Everything She Wants - Wham!
I'm Your Man - Wham!

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Please be kind if I'm a mess.

How bizarre. My children, my wife have school today -- but I do not. All of our actor-teachers, attending four different schools this week, all of those schools are closed due to a little snow. And so I have been told to stay home, and just when I needed it most.

I'm not ill, nor am I very tired. But I have soul anxiety, and to be honest, I have been damnright cold for several days, and I am tired of it. Staying home, running lines for Entry Point, doing housework, putting my business and thoughts in order ... I needed a day like this.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:56
Duration: 29:04
Route: Forest Hill Run

Waited until the temperature rose above freezing. However, those sidewalks which had been shoveled were a think veneer of ice, the crusty slush much safer. Fortunately, only the people in my neighborhood are conscientious enough to actually shovel their walks, so for the most of my run it wasn't an issue.

Wet feet. No matter, great run.

Pavement: crispy slush
Temperature: 34°
Climate: cold .. but not that cold
Mood: anxious

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.

2001 Playlist
Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk (Reprise) - Rufus Wainwright
Star 69 - Fatboy Slim
August Day Song (Château Flight Remix) - Bebel Gilberto
Bird Watching at Inner Forest - Cornelius
Point of View Point - Cornelius
Hella Good - No Doubt
Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim

Sunday, January 08, 2017

I got stars in my beard.

I'm Doctor Strange.
Went a little nuts last night. We went to see a movie, just the wife the boy and I (the girl was at a party) and between the three of us consumed two buckets of popcorn a giant soda and a cup full of Mike n' Ikes, and then the four of us had Chinese food after.

We were driving to pick up dinner and the wife spied this guy in his winter exercise things, chugging up the street in the dark.

"There's one hard-core runner," she observed.

A pause.

"So what am I, some kind of dork?"

Distance: 3.35 miles
Avg. Pace: 9:01
Duration: 30:13
Route: Neighborhood Run

Thought it would be a relatively brief run, still well below freezing, snow on the ground. But I started as I suggested yesterday, taking the neighborhood side streets as a warm-up, beginning my run with an uphill climb followed by a pleasant descent, and then again on the next street.

Instead of repeating this, I decided to return to the block, circling it not once, but twice. Without realizing it I had gone over three miles when I had imagined it was closer to two.

Pavement: slippery with snow
Temperature: 14°
Climate: cold
Mood: decent

The pace is deceptive, I was working overtime to keep my balance and to keep my feet on the slippery surface while also keeping it swift.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 170.5 (+0.5)
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.

There are a few years for which I have surprisingly few songs on the running playlist, and 1971 is one of those. Less than two hours of music for running, most years from the late 60s and early 70s have over three hours of upbeat tracks.

Of course, I wasn't particularly aware of music at that time, so these are songs I have come to know and appreciate during later years. This, in comparison to those years where I was cognizant of what was on the radio or television. A year like 1983 has over thirteen hours of uptempo songs.

Recent years will have fewer songs because I have not accumulated everything that gets released that I enjoy, coupled with the fact that I don't have decades of recordings on CD to have culled. But again, strangely I have far fewer songs from the year 2014 than any other year in recent times, also less than two hours, unlike 2016, say, for which I already have well over two hours of running songs.

Did 2014 suck as a year in dance music, or is it just me, did I suck in 2014? I didn't run as much, that is clear.

1971 Playlist
Theme from "Shaft" - Isaac Hayes
Oh Yoko - John Lennon
Soul Power (Pt. 1) - James Brown
Four Sticks - Led Zeppelin
Roundabout - Yes
Meet Me On The Corner - Lindisfarne
Mambo Sun - T. Rex

Saturday, January 07, 2017

Take a rest.

Thugg Lyffe
Rehearsals at CPT this week, employed as an actor for a short new work as part of Entry Point, which is in two weeks. I wrote recently about creating in the cold, this is a prime example. Slipping and sliding down the Shoreway to collaborate after dark with new friends and old on something unknown. It is a life-long tapestry.

Distance: 2.5 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:37
Duration: 21:32
Route: Three times around the block.

Currently I am on a meal-only diet, which is to say, I eat at mealtimes. It leaves me not so much hungry, but listless. I had to sleep in yesterday morning. Between meals I get food crazy, not so much hungry, just obsessed with whatever it is I need to eat next.

Pavement: snowy
Temperature: 14°
Climate: cool
Mood: driven

Keeping to the neighborhood, running the block, heading out at first before I warmed up my head was so cold I wanted to have the opportunity to bail. But it's tedious, like a frozen treadmill. Thank heaven for the music.

Nose stung a bit on the final lap, probably just as well I didn't take a longer loop route. I should return to weaving up and down the streets, the varying elevation might keep me cheerful.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.

1991 Playlist
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) [Extended Decision Mix] - De La Soul
Money Don't Matter 2 Night - Prince & The New Power Generation
Cream - Prince & The New Power Generation
Come As You Are - Nirvana
Unbelievable - EMF
Kiss You Back - Digital Underground

Thursday, January 05, 2017

Life is a reality, you can't always run away.

We ruined everything.
What I truly hate is this. My pants do not fit. It's not like a have a huge selection of pants, but those I have I want to be able to put on and wear without feeling like I have a hernia, or that I resemble a sausage.

It may not seem like a "diet" as it includes dessert, and the occasional drink. However, I am alive and aware of all of the things I am not eating. Oh, look, A bowl of day-old, unfinished popcorn. Thank you for offering me a cookie (or two) at lunchtime. A little more pasta would be fine, right?

Distance: 1.68 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:17
Duration: 13:57
Route: Twice around the block.

Average intake (yesterday) looks like this:

Morning coffee (cream, no sugar)
Breakfast: Half "everything" bagel w/cream cheese
Late morning coffee (cream, no sugar)
Lunch: Pasta w/Amatriciana sauce, grapes, cucumber slices, beet chocolate cake w/whipped cream
Evening treat: Decaf latte
Dinner: More leftover Amatricana pasta, half a roll, mixed greens with homemade Chex mix croutons & Italian dressing
Evening tea (cream & sugar)

1966 Playlist
Georgy Girl - The Seekers
Barefootin' - Robert Parker
Happy Jack - The Who
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
Sock It To 'Em J.B. Pt. 1 - Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers
Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel

Not going to set any records completing the annual playlists this year. Terrible cold has arrived and will stay for a bit. Ended April 17 two years ago, on April 1 last year  ... and on March 9 in 2012. Crazy.

Pavement: dry and dusted with snow
Temperature: 18°
Climate: cold
Mood: decent

Brisk run, brief run (short songs!) suitably bundled but there is little or nothing to do to protect my face. Either it gets bone cold exposed or I try to cover my mouth, cheeks and nose and my glasses fog up. Stayed to the neighborhood in case I found the wind unbearable. but heading clockwise around my block the wind on Monticello is at my back. Heading around my street, the houses and trees block the breeze. Could have run three, I will make up for it over the weekend.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (-2.0)
Goal: 170 lbs. (achievement unlocked)
Ideal: 165 lbs.

Today I fit into my pants much better.

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

May the road rise with you.

Average intake (yesterday) looks like this:

Morning coffee (cream, no sugar)
Breakfast: Grape Nuts with a tablespoon of cream, heated with dried cranberry and raisins, small number of salted almonds, mixed with a container of Greek yogurt.
Late morning coffee (cream, no sugar)
Lunch: Sunbutter & apple butter on whole wheat, carrot sticks, grapes, and a brownie.
Evening: Tea (milk & sugar) - no alcohol
Snack: small amount of popcorn (salt, butter)
Dinner: Mixed greens with apples, grapes and marinated chicken w/Italian dressing

Distance: 3.55 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:22
Duration: 29:48
Route: Forest Hill Loop

Yesterday I was sore. My body ached in many places, and that was strange. My posture was terrible. I felt myself leaning forward, not standing straight. Leaning forward is good, emotionally, walking down the hall not so much.

Last night would have been a night for running perhaps. Instead I sat and read, because I do not read enough. I listened to the girl play violin, because I have not had the opportunity to do that for a while.

Pavement: wet w/puddles
Temperature: 43°
Climate: light rain
Mood: anxious, but determined

There was a lit Christmas tree on the island in the park. Brisk, rainy run. Light rain and not cold. Very pleasant, actually. Maybe a little over dressed -- I wear a T-shirt over a long sleeve tee to keep my earphone cord under control, even with a jacket, it has an annoying habit of sneaking into my sleeve.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 172 lbs. (-2.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.

Spent a great deal of the past year digging into 1986, made a playlist of Sophisti-pop for the November company. It's not all about George Michael.

1986 Playlist
Battlestations - Wham!
Rise * - Public Image Ltd.
You Can Leave Your Hat On * - Joe Cocker
Bread and Butter * - Devo
What Have You Done For Me Lately - Janet Jackson
We Love You (12" Version) - O.M.D.

Cooldown:
Breakout - Swing Out Sister

Sunday, January 01, 2017

Stand back. Let me do my shit.



I made three running resolutions last year, and I kept two. I kept running, and I ran the Cleveland Half Marathon. But I wanted to keep my weight down between 160 and 165, and there I have not been very successful.

Is it important? Yes, it is. Two years ago I was warned about my weight and my blood sugar level. I need to control my diet, continue to eat less sugar. I will keep running, and I will work to control my eating.

Last year I started the year with fifty playlists from 1967-2016, this year I am expanding the lists in each direction, from 1966-2017. And so, ladies and gentlemen, let us begin 52 Playlists for 52 Years.

2016 Playlist
Worship - Lizzo
FloriDada - Animal Collective
My Shot [Rise Up Remix] - ft. Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz & Nate Reuss
New Song - Warpaint
HandClap - Fitz & The Tantrums
Heathens - twenty one pilots
Born Again Teen - Lucius

Cooldown:
Subways - The Avalanches

Pleasant day, family, friends, family. Now that the holidays are over, vacation through, it is time to bear down. Reframing scripts, making submissions, making communication, putting the pieces together. Thank yous, gratitude, housework, homework, work work.

Distance: 3.2 miles
Avg. Pace: 8:12
Duration: 26:20
Route: Boulevard Loop
Pavement: dry

Set out later than I had planned, after dark. Can't run through the woods without light. Taking the city streets can be fun, except heading up Lee Road can totally wind me, sometimes. Like tonight. Still, not bad all things considered. Time to pass on desserts, less alcohol, smaller portions.

Yeah? Possible? Can we do this? I think that we can.

Temperature: 32°
Climate: cool
Mood: leaning hard

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 174 lbs.
Goal: 170 lbs.
Ideal: 165 lbs.