Kiss me while the world decays.

Friends and neighbors ... 58* Playlists for 57 Years (1967-2023).

2023 Playlist - or - "Fuse" by Everything But the Girl

Nothing Left to Lose

Run a Red Light (164 bpm)

Caution to the Wind

When You Mess Up

Time and Time Again

No One Knows We're Dancing

Lost

Forever

Interior Space

Karaoke (160 bpm)

Hilarious. I did 1968 twice. No idea how that happened. 

And none of you told me.

What is 2023? Our youngest child will graduate from high school. I achieve a Masters degree. The eldest spent a semester in Costa Rica. My wife is the happiest she has ever been, working in a bookstore. What will the rest of the year bring? No idea. Being hopeful is tinged with fear, knowing it can all come so swiftly to a screeching halt. We will do our best to look forward.

Since the pandemic, I have been developing sties with disheartening regularity. My left lid has been red and swollen for two weeks. It even healed for a bit and then regained strength. This had never been a problem for me before and now it's part of my existence. Sigh.

I begin with anxiety. There are many reasons for this. Because it's later than I hoped to get out. Because it is raining a little, and I hope it will not rain more. Because of writing. Because of not writing. Because of professional uncertainty, that's vague enough. And because I am about to listen to the entirety of a new album from an act I love who have not recorded new music since I was thirty years old and I hope it goes well. 

The entire album is only thirty-five minutes long. Perfect for a run through the park.

Fuse (2023)

"I lost my mother / then I just lost it."

fuse fuze / (fjuːz) /
n. device by which an explosive charge is ignited
v. to become united

Oh, Tracey and Ben. I have missed you very much.

Distance: 3.8 miles

Duration: 35:34
Pace: 9:20

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 54°
Climate: light rain

Pavement: wet
Mood: much better

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 

Upper body: 10 reps.
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, Haribo Starmix (well?)

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk

Lunch: nigiri & roll sushi, salad

Treat: more Starmix, banana, Twizzlers (Jesus)

Dinner: lemon chicken, bok choy over rice, scallion pancake

Oh my God, this woman handed me a dozen fun size Twizzlers and I ate them. I have had so much sugar today. Total backslide. Damn.

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 177.5 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

What's next?

Son of a gun.

Man. Looking over from when I started this blog. I had plantar warts. Those plagued me for the better part of five years. That was horrible. Thought those would last forever.

Then shin splints. I was told those would also never go away. But they do. The body has a tremendous capacity for change, for healing.

No, two drinks last night was not necessary. Not advisable.

Distance: 1 mile 

Pace: 9:08

Route: one time round the block

Temperature: 45°
Climate: sunny & cool

Mood: good

1973 Playlist

Can the Can - Suzi Quatro

You're So Vain - Carly Simon

 

I think I figured it out, why I choose lists from the early 70s or late 60s for short runs. The music is excellent, to be sure. But they do not inspire nostalgia, I have no memories associated with them. So they are just music, and not memory. 

Spotify not being helpful with my this morning, so I found a "1973 Number Ones" mix on YouTube, and found two new songs to add to my lists ("You're So Vain" was released in 1972).

What will be on my final playlist of this cycle, the one for the year 2023?

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 10 reps. (4x) 
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, granola & vanilla yogurt w/fresh mango, strawberries & banana 

Lunch: chili & cheese over pasta w/yogurt

Snack; apple

Dinner: leftover apple sausage pasta

Treat: one scoop chocolate chip ice cream, 1 Thin Mint, popcorn

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 178.5 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Mir ist schon ganz heiß.

Matthias & Pengo
So 80s. Totally New Wave. Totally.

My left knee hurts most of the time. I have a bandage on that. My shins feel better. Got decent sleep last night. That's all it takes man. eight hours, it makes all the difference. If I could just keep that up for the rest of my life, I'm good.

Lots of stuff going on, in my head. Writing I am struggling with

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 37:04
Pace: 9:16

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 42°
Climate: partly cloudy & cool

Mood: good

1983 Playlist

Nur geträumt - Nena

Der Kommissar  - Falco

I Love You - Yello

Mr. Pink Eyes - The Cure

Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes (a Trevor Horn side project)

Big Log - Robert Plant

Beat Box - The Art of Noise (another Trevor Horn side project)

Tell Her About It - Billy Joel

Buffalo Gals - Malcolm McLaren

Church of the Poison Mind - Culture Club

My playlists for the years 1983 and 1984 are far and away the longest, with nearly nineteen hours of music on both lists. Why are these two years so important to me? Because I was fifteen, sixteen years old? Because upbeat dance music was particularly popular, there was more of it?

Maybe it was Trevor Horn.

What was 1983? MTV and compulsive masturbation. Started smoking weed. AFS dance party on our driveway. Serious FOMO. There were Germans in our house, the Cold War was in high dudgeon. Europe never felt so close.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: no

Upper body: no
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Coffee Break: lavender bergamot tea latte

Lunch: Monday's pizza (1 slice), salad, blue cheese dressing

Snack: apple

Happy Hour: Manhattan (2x), chèvre board

Snack: flavored almonds

Dinner: chili over spaghetti w/cheddar & yogurt

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 178.5 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

O, what a morning!

This morning I felt weak and sore. We are no longer getting the rest. We have been getting no longer eight hours, merely seven, or fewer.

But I still do not drink on week nights, Abe o am not snacking. It is amazing how I can gain weight without sneaking cookies, soda, or chips. And yet, no cookies, soda or chips.

Man. Remember smoking? What was up with that?

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 39:41
Pace: 9:55

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 43°
Climate: sunny & cool

Mood: good

1993 Playlist

Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus & Pliers

Shape of My Heart  - Sting

Cannonball - The Breeders

All That She Wants - Ace of Base

Ripcord - Radiohead

Boom! Shake the Room - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (Live) - George Michael

Nuthin' But a "G" Thang - Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg

Helpline Operator - The The

Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz

Gepetto - Belly

What was 1993? Peak Guerrilla. The Taming of the Shrew. Operation Rescue Invasion. Womad. Mania. I wrote a lot. We were writing a lot.

Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 10 reps.
Water: yes

Monday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, granola  vanilla yogurt w/fresh strawberries, raspberries & banana

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk

Lunch: sausage and bacon pizza (1x), salad & ranch, ice cream cake 

Snack: half banana, fizzy water w/lemon

Dinner: pasta w/chicken apple sausage, apple, roasted squash and butter beans

There are those lattes, though.

Tuesday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, banana, cookie (one, and I made it.)

Lunch: leftover burrito

Dinner: last night's pasta

Dessert: 2 cookies, oatmilk

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 179.5 lbs. (-2.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Let the rhythm pull you in.

All of these songs are from twenty years ago. What the fuck.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:11
Pace: 9:25

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 44°
Climate: overcast & cool

Mood: very good

Forty degrees? Don't forget the gloves.

2003 Playlist

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - Postal Service

Milkshake - Kelis

Move Your Feet - Junior Senior

It's My Life - No Doubt

Heartbeats - The Knife

Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

Slow - Kylie Minogue ft. The Chemical Brothers

What was 2003? We got a Zelda! I Hate This premiered, and we brought it to the Minnesota Fringe. The Blackout, the Iraq War, we discovered iTunes.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 10 reps (2x)
Water: yes

Saturday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: General Tso's chicken w/fried rice & eggroll

Happy Hour: Two-Hearted IPA, banana

Dinner: Cain’s chicken fingers, fries & slaw ... and Texas toast.

Some day's off are well earned. Achy on Saturday. It was a big week. Wore a shin brace all day on Saturday, been wearing the knee brace on and off all week.

Sunday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: leftover Chinese

Treat: two chocolate chip cookies, oatmilk

Tea Time: tea w/cream & honey,  dark chocolate Oreos

Dinner: Cilantro barbacoa burrito, fizzy lemon water

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 181.5 lbs. (+2.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Put simply, fast food is high in calories. Cook more.

My hair smells like chocolate.

Yes, indeed. I prefer to wake up refreshed, and not zonked. Last night was foolish. Fun, but foolish. You made too much progress to backslide so ridiculously. 

Morning detox run. Settle that stomach. Drink that water.

Distance: 3.25 miles 

Duration: 31:25
Pace: 9:40

Route: Boulevard Loop

Temperature: 66°
Climate: sunny & warm

Mood: good

 

On the 3's. We are in the homestretch. Big plans for the 2023 playlist.

2013 Playlist

Dangerous - Big Data

Lose Yourself to Dance - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams

Chocolate - The 1975

Some Nights - fun.

Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton

Y.A.L.A. - M.I.A.

1x1x1 - Cloud Cult

What was 2013? Double Heart, the tour and the Fringe. Also, These Are the Times and Adventures In Slumberland. It was all coming together! Right?

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 10 reps (2x)
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, orange juice

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk, banana bread

Lunch: fish fry w/fries & slaw

Snack: apple

Dinner: Sonic cheeseburger, jalapeño poppers

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 179.5 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Turn fast, turn sour, turn sweat, turn sour.

Fair-weather runners are running! All over Cleveland Heights!

Distance: 2 miles

Duration: 20:48
Pace: 10:25

Route: Up the street and back

Temperature: 69°
Climate: dark

Mood: high

So? OK. I tried an experiment. It was awkward. Do not. Smoke weed. And go out for a run. First of all, cottonmouth is a thing. I thought it was just some old trope, a joke, but I am here to tell you it’s real, And by the end of the run, I could not swallow. Second, you have no control over your limbs. I have no idea how goofy I looked, I was probably hopping or something. You cannot control how you lift your knees, it’s pure muscle memory, and good luck to you. Finally, no matter how short you plan your run it will absolutely take 10 times longer than you expect

1974 Playlist

Hit Or Miss - Bo Diddley

It's Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)- The Rolling Stones

In the Cage - Genesis

Promised Land - Elvis Presley

September Gurls - Big Star

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: no

Upper body: 10 reps
Water: yes (but not enough)

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh smoothie bowl w/mango, blueberry & raspberry and birthday granola

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk, 3 Tagalongs

Lunch: nigiri sushi, California roll & salad

Snack: banana

Happy Hour: old fashioned (2x)

Dinner: popcorn, fizzy water

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 180.5 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight.

The morning is forty degrees. Dinner time is sixty degrees. I hate waiting all day before taking that run.

Distance: 4.0 miles

Duration: 38:14
Pace: 9:33

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 55°
Climate: sunny & beautiful

Mood: good

1984 Playlist

Adult Education - Hall & Oates

Whisper To a Scream (Birds Fly) (European Version) - The Icicle Works

Love In a Dangerous Time - Bruce Cockburn

Hyperactive! - Thomas Dolby

What Difference Does it Make? * - The Smiths

When Doves Cry - Prince & the Revolution

It's Yours - T La Rock

Welcome to the Pleasuredome (Pleasurefix Mix) - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

What was 1984? I learned what cheating felt like. How cruel American kids can be. What it feels like to be really fucking high. To be chronically infatuated. To care about my appearance. 1984; It was never more 80s.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 10 reps
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, vanilla yogurt & granola w/banana, strawberries & raspberries

Coffee Break: coffee w/cream

Lunch: spaghetti & meatless sauce, shelf parm

Dinner: leftover stir fry, fizzy water

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 180.5 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 175 lbs.

Playing with fire ... and not getting burned.

Christ, I am sick of cold weather. I'm just done. I need a gym membership or something, because I am not going out in the bleak and damp anymore.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 31:01
Pace: 10:01

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 43°
Climate: overcast & cool

Pavement: dry
Mood: good -- now

And yet. Feeling listless, adrift and sore. we head out into the cold. Tomorrow is more promising.

1994 Playlist

I Don't Understand Anything - Everything But the Girl

Supernova - Liz Phair

Stay (I Missed You) - Lisa Loeb

Prayer for the Dying - Seal

B-Boya Makin' With the Freak Freak - Beastie Boys

My Name Is Jonas - Weezer

Welcome to Paradise - Green Day

Here Come the Hotstepper - Ini Kamoze

And for our efforts, we are rewarded. I feel energized, the rest of the day looks bright, in spite of the clouds. Seriously, I take a day in between to rest and it feels to me as though it's been a week. Keep it up, even when the year runs are over, and you might make something of yourself.

What was 1994? Like the man said (though he wouldn't say it for a few years), "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Guerrilla fell apart. My marriage fell apart. The most significant relationship in my life took a new direction. And here we are.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec. (2x)

Upper body: 6 reps
Water: yes

Monday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk 

Lunch: Buffalo chicken salad wrap, potato chips

Treat: 2 Tagalongs

Happy Hour: Beck's NA

Dinner: egg & tomato stir fry w/rice, roasted asparagus

Tuesday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, raisin bran w/fresh banana, raspberries, strawberries, oatmilk

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk, 2 Tagalongs

Lunch: buffalo chicken salad wrap, chips

Dinner: steak w/red wine reduction (the boy made that), frozen tater tots (I made those)

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 181.5 lbs. (+2.0) 

Goal: 175 lbs.

Something happens to you to throw you off course.

Big weekend. State Thespian Festival. Backstage Bash. Going to rain later, time to run now. Beautiful fucking hot gorgeous day.

Distance: 4 miles 

Duration: 38:35
Pace: 9:39

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 78°
Climate: overcast & hot

Mood: good, you know?

Push it out on a warm and breezy Sunday afternoon before the rain. Good playlist, too.

2004 Playlist

Just a Ride - Jem

(Reach Up For The) Sunrise - Duran Duran

This Fire - Franz Ferdinand

Holiday - Green Day

Grown So Ugly - The Black Keys

Golden Touch - Razorlight

Ooh La La - Ditty Bops

Breathe Me - Sia

Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson

Destroy Rock & Roll - Mylo

Whatsername - Green Day

What was 2004? First iPod, which started this entire endeavor. Seriously, without modern audio technology, I would not be a runner. I always ran, but I never ran consistently until this year. Also? New York International Fringe Festival, and the end of Bad Epitaph.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec. (2x)

Upper body:  reps
Water: yes

Saturday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, doughnut

Lunch: Caesar wrap, Doritos, cookie

Dinner: tater tots, chicken strip, GLBC Burning River (2x)

So many events, so few vegetables.

Sunday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: veggie bao, potato chips, fizzy water

Treat: raw cookie dough (yes)

Happy Hour: tea w/cream & honey

Dinner: spaghetti & meatless sauce

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 179.5 lbs. (-2.0)

New Goal: 175 lbs.

The harder they fall.

Long day, teaching improvisation at a school and hour's drive away. Coming home at 3:00 PM, seventy degree heat, literally almost fell asleep once or twice. Not good. I should have pulled over for a beverage. This is a lesson. 

Distance: 2.5 miles

Duration: 24:51
Pace: 9:56

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 73°
Climate: sunny & hot

Mood: good

Snuck in a short run before heading over to a friend's to see them on Jeopardy. I thought, maybe tomorrow? But there's no way I have time for a run tomorrow. I also need to make sure I don't fall asleep at the wheel.

2014 Playlist

After the Disco - Broken Bells

She's Not Me - Jenny Lewis

Figure It Out - Royal Blood

Animals - Martin Garrix

Timber - Pitbull ft. Ke$ha

Fever - The Black Keys

I'm Not the Only One - Sam Smith

What was 2014? Not great. The year of no plays (there was Seven Ages.) Doing a great deal of research for The Great Globe Itself. Felt as though I blew every opportunity to be a good parent. Like, I there was not one thing I couldn't fuck up.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 10 reps
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, oatmeal w/dried fruit, brown sugar, butter & cream 

Lunch: hot dog, fries, veggies & dip, frozen fruit cup, milk

Snack: dried fruit & nuts

Dinner: pizza w/chicken & peppers, veggies, fruit, cookies, Goldhorn pilsner

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 181.5 lbs. (-0.5)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Sure feels nice.

Man, I was ravenous yesterday. Late breakfast, early lunch. Still, maintenance. It has been a challenging week, and it will only get more so. Personal disappointments, professional opportunities.

I'm going to take a basic run, just to keep moving. The weather is good, and the weekend might not afford its usual time. 

Distance: 2.5 miles

Duration: 24:47
Pace: 9:55

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 61°
Climate: sunny & warm

Mood: very nice

I may need physical therapy on my right shoulder. While recuperating from my eye surgery, I had to sleep on my right side entirely for, I don't know. A couple weeks? As a result, my shoulder is always sore and it isn't getting better. Reaching up has become an issue, and that is not good. I have been doing upper body exercises in the hope of strengthening my arms, but that is always a challenge for me. 

1975 Playlist

I Got The ... - Labi Siffre

Low Rider - War

Rock Creek Park  - The Blackbyrds

Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac

Love Will Keep Us Togerther - Captain & Tenille

Jive Talkin' - Bee Bees

Love To Love You Baby - Donna Summer

 

First three songs were sampled by (in order) Eminem, Beastie Boys & De La Soul.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 5 rep.
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, Raisin Bran w/fresh banana, strawberry & oatmilk

Lunch: yesterdays burrito, banana

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk, 2 Tagalongs

Dinner: Ramen w/carrot

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 182 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

I'll try to be your forever man.

Phone strap already falling apart. Not even one year. Everything is crap.

The guy woke up too early this morning, not remembering it's a late start. So why not run? He only wanted to do one mile, which turned out great for me, because he got my heart racing with a fast lap around the block, and then I went to the park for an extended run. Five miles! Just as well, because 1985 is one of my very longest playlists.

Distance: 5 miles

Duration: 47:34
Pace: 9:30

Route: one time around the block + extended Forest Hill loop

Temperature: 60°
Climate: perfect

Mood: excellent

 

1985 Playlist

One Vision - Queen

When All's Well - Everything But the Girl

Silent Running - Mike + the Mechanics

Broken Wings - Mister Mister

Another Generation - Fishbone

Raspberry Beret - Prince

Forever Man - Eric Clapton

Tarzan Boy - Baltimora

Sinking - The Cure

How to Be a Millionaire - ABC

Fire in the Twilight*  - Wang Chung

Last year I didn't finish the year runs until Father's Day. I'm already seeing the conclusion. At that time, I had also dropped to 179 lbs., but then I almost lost sight in one eye, had a period of recuperation, and soon gained it all back.

I am trying to maintain the mildness of March. Did not drink a lot in Athens, not comparatively. Nothing last night, no drinking school nights. Keep going.

What was 1985? I thought I would be an actor. Damn Yankees. Directing Living Together. All Thespians, all the time. And marching band. And fooling around, a lot. And really, really depressed. And having the time of my life. It's pretty amazing, being seventeen.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.

Upper body: 5 rep.
Water: yes

Really. It's okay not to run every single day. It's all right. Let yourself rest.

Tuesday

Breakfast: raisin bran w/fresh kiwi, strawberry & banana, oatmilk

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk, two Tagalongs

Lunch: mac & cheese & peas, banana

Snack: lil Pepsi, dried fruit & nuts

Dinner: ramen w/chicken  fried egg, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, scallions, sweet pepper

Sometimes I fantasize about breakfast.

Wednesday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fruit smoothie bowl w/fresh mango, raspberry & blueberry, granola & honey

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilke, two Tagalongs

Lunch: baba & pita, spinach pie

Dinner: big ass burrito half (can't even articulate what's in it), tortilla chips, fizzy water

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 182 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 180 lbs.

I've got to get stronger.

Ben Affleck is Phil Knight

Heading out for a morning run, and I was surprised and delighted that the boy wanted to go with, I assumed everyone wanted to sleep in. I make a game of asking him to guess what year we are listening to. It's an anthropological mystery.

Listening to the year 2015 on the drive down, he was jarred by memories. So was I.

Distance: 2.8 miles

Duration: 27:19
Pace: 9:45

Route: South Green Loop

Temperature: 55°
Climate: sunny & nice

Mood: very good

Took a hill, walked for a bit through campus. Nice work.

1995 Playlist

Geek Stink Breath - Green Day

Stutter - Elastica

Roll To Me - Del Amitri

Girl U Want - Devo

Down By The Water - PJ Harvey

Scream - Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson

Hidden Charms - Elvis Costello

Shook Ones, Pt. II - Mobb Deep

Hyperballad - Bjork

Missing (Terry Todd Remix) - Everything But the Girl 

What was 1995? Started the year with an empty house, ended it with The Realistic World. Dobama's Night Kitchen, Bummer. Also, Junk Bonds at Cleveland Public Theatre. The new girlfriend moved in, life started again, again. But not for the last time.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec. (2x)

Upper body: 5 (2x)
Water: yes

Saw AIR last night. Man. Everybody still thinks runners are fucking weird.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream 

Lunch: Reuben w/10000 Island, fries & ketchup, more coffee

Drive snacks: Vanilla Coke, Cool Ranch Doritos 

Dinner: Mac & cheese, peas

First Doritos since February. And they’re not even Nacho Cheese.

It's Dare!

Beautiful run with the kids down the South Green bike path, and then onto the campus, weaving our way through Old South and through a new(ish) park on West Green. I called it the Hammock Park, Zelda says that's what everybody else calls it.

Distance: 2 miles

Duration: 20:31
Pace: 10:07

Route: Emeriti Loop

Temperature: 63°
Climate: gorgeous

Mood: wonderful

2005 Playlist

DARE - Gorillaz

Every Day is Exactly The Same - Nine Inch Nails

Don't Fear the Reaper - Caesars

Marvo Ging - The Chemical Brothers

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Fall Out Boy

What was 2005? Our son was born, he who lived. Broke my foot. Merry Wives of Windsor. Officiated my first wedding.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec. (2x)

Upper body: 5 (2x)
Water: yes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, Easter chocolate (2 pc.)

Lunch: cold BBQ ribs, more candy

Post-Run Brew: Christmas Ale

Dinner: popcorn, Dr. Pepper

Nightcap: red wine

Sugar? Yes, please.

Life is hard. 

Distance: 3.75 miles

Duration: 36:36
Pace: 9:45

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 46°
Climate: sunny & cool

Pavement: dry
Mood: all right

 

Full strength on the sidewalks. All I need is above forty temps and SUN.

2015 Playlist

Disappointing - John Grant ft. Tracey Thorn

Return to the Moon (Political Song for Didi Bloome to Sing, wth Crescendo) - EL VY

No Cities To Love - Sleater-Kinney

The Less I Know the Better - Tame Impala

Lone Dagger - Caravan Palace

Cake By the Ocean - DNCE

Sugar - Maroon 5

Leave a Trace - CHVRCHES

Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

What was 2015? Ran my fastest marathon, and the most enjoyable. Things were happening, I was writing, plays that got produced. The Great Globe Itself, Rosalynde & The Falcon. Performed in White Rabbit Red Rabbit. Saw another person perform I Hate This. And my parents and all of their children and grandchildren watched A Christmas Carol together. That was a good year.  

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.
Water: yes

Friday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: nigiri sushi & rolled, salad

Snack: banana, dried fruit & nuts

Dinner: arugula Caesar, latkes, shrimp, carrots, fancy whiskey drink, dessert!

And a lot of dessert!

Saturday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, blueberry vanilla granola, banana yogurt, fresh strawberries & raspberries 

Lunch: cheeseburger, fries, Coke Zero

Dinner: ribs, salad, gnocchi in red sauce, garlic bread, Christmas Ale

Running every other day feels like a long time between runs.

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 183 lbs. (-0.5) 

Goal: 180 lbs.

Stranger roads than this one.

March passed with barely a headache. But now I have sinus pain every day. Wednesday afternoon my face felt worse and worse and I ended up crawling into bed all evening. Long night’s sleep, though.

Distance: 1 miles

Duration: 10:08

Route: one time around the block 

Temperature: 47°
Climate: overcast & mild

Pavement: dry
Mood: tired

Also? I have decided I do not like running in forty degree weather anymore. Like, for the duration. But hey, since I started running one milers, I guess I should.

1976 Playlist

Sunny - Boney M.

Afterglow - Genesis

You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees

 

Man. Illness. Sinus headache hangover. I feel like I'm starting from the beginning -- which I'm not. But today was a one mile slog. Overdressed, but I also didn't want to feel cold. Just a drag. But so glad I went.

 
Stretches: yes 
Abdominals: 90 sec.
Water: yes

Wednesday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, last night's Caesar salad

Lunch: Grilled Ceasar salad (fresh), two taglongs

Dinner: barbacoa burrito (half)

Thursday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, latte, blueberry muffin 

Lunch: last night's burrito, banana

Tea time: Cinnamon stick tea w/honey & cream, dried fruit & nuts

Dinner: ramen w/egg, carrot & scallions

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 183.5 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

Mr. Beerbelly.

Let’s talk about vertigo. It developed some time last year, and then went way. I did the exercises, which I think helped? But it just stopped. It's back, though. Lying down, sitting up, very disorienting.

Distance: 3.75 miles 

Duration: 38:11
Pace: 10:10

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 64°
Climate: perfect

Pavement: dry
Mood: very good

For years I might wake up with a sinus headache and think, this is my fault because I had a drink the night before. And yet, I woke this morning feeling that way and I had not. It was from sleeping too warm. Lasted all day, too.

1986 Playlist

Tuff Enuff - The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Crush On You - The Jets

Paranomia - Art of Noise

Into the Groove - Madonna

Coming Up Close - 'Til Tuesday

Dying - XTC

The Boy With the Thorn In His Side - The Smiths

Book of Love - Book of Love

I Walk Away - Crowded House

You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

The 1986 running playlist has almost fourteen hours of music on it.

What was 1986? Graduated from high school, had my first mature relationship (ahem). Started college. Had my heart broken. So it goes, so it goes.

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.
Water: yes

Perfect run. The kind I thirst for a beer after.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, tuna wrap

Coffee Break: latte w/oatmilk

Lunch: gyoza, variety of sushi rolls

Dinner: spicy pizza (1 slice), Caesar salad, raspberry fizzy water

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 183,5 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 180 lbs.

A little bit closer to feeling fine.

Our eldest is home from Costa Rica! They are staying with us for a few days before returning to Athens, today we took a nice run. What an amazing person. An amazing, adult person.

Distance: 3.15 miles

Duration: 31:22
Pace: 9:57

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 60°
Climate: overcast & beautiful

Pavement: dry
Mood: very good

1996 Playlist

You Used to Call Me Sadness - Stereolab

The Boy From Ipanema - Crystal Waters

#1 Crush - Garbage

Put a Lid On It - Squirrel Nut Zippers

Naked Eye - Lucious Jackson

Birth-Day (Love Made Real) - Suzanne Vega

Tales From the Far Side - Bill Frisell

Every Day Is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow

What was 1996? Dobama's Night Kitchen. The Realistic World, This Vicious Cabaret. Vacation in Toronto and Montreal and Maine. Living the Gen X life, you know?

 
Stretches: not really
Abdominals: 90 sec.
Water: oops. forgot.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, oatmeal w/dried fruit, butter, cream, brown sugar  cinnamon

Lunch: Doritos tacos locos (2x), Diet Pepsi

Dinner: tuna steak wrap, daawli, baba & pita

Oh, uh. Yeah? I was on the other side of town and I was like, no I'm not getting fast food for lunch. Then I'm like, tacos from Taco Bell aren't very big, are they? Easy, slugger.

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 183.5 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 180 lbs.

I've been waiting for this moment all my life.

Okay. So? Motivation, out the window. Had a nice beer last night, though. One beer, eating at a restaurant. It's not weird.

Today, though. Slow moving. Why move fast? Heard some dire news talking to my brother, can't go into it. It doesn't affect me, except tangentially, it does. But seriously, I am unaffected. What does that say about me? Or life? 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 31:58
Pace: 10:19

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 39°
Climate: sunny & cool

Pavement: dry
Mood: all right

Started out rough, took a long time to get out. Took it easy and then it all opened up. Nice playlist, many songs that I did not have or was aware of when I was in training during the summer and fall of that year. 

2006 Playlist

Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups

Wolf Like Me - TV on the Radio

Wound Up (Live on Sirius XM) - Office

Ready Set So - Plasticman ft. the Dandylions

Say It Right - Nelly Furtado

The Perfect Crime #2 - The Decemberists

The End Of It All (FM Mix) - John Tejada 

Colin Meloy's voice is most annoying.

What was 2006? Ran a motherfuckin' marathon. 

 
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.
Water: yes

Saturday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, oatmeal w/dried fruit, butter, brown sugar & cream

Lunch: spicy tuna roll

Snack: Sweet & Salty popcorn (1C.)

Dinner: Columbus CDC IPA, Buffalo chicken sandwich, fries

Sunday

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: sunbutter pasta w/scallions & hot sauce (1C.)

Dinner: bacon potato pierogis w/sriracha sour cream, kielbasa & kraut, bodhi double ipa

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 184,5 lbs. (-0.5)

Goal: 180 lbs.