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Started out, thought this might be best a short run. It's hot!

Distance: 1 miles
Duration: 9:34
Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 81°
Climate: overcast & muggy
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 

Core Strength: 

   Sit-Ups: 20

Why we track our dietary intake. Because when I have the urge to buy a candy bar or a bag of chips, I know I will have to write it down, so I don't. It is not unhealthy for me to do this. Writing it down helps me to make good choices.

Should I fry and egg this morning, or eat the cucumber salad that mas been marinating in the fridge?

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, cucumber salad, brownie (gifted)

Lunch: stir fry

Coffee Break: iced coffee w/sugar & milk

Dinner: ramen w/egg & carrot, strawberry wheat ale

Cocktail Hour: Negroni, bomb pop

What's That Lyric?

Perfect (Exceeder) - Mason ft. Princess Superstar

You got my heartbeat racing.

It is 5 PM. Nap or run?

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:20
Pace: 9:46

This afternoon I watched the film Ghostlight.  

Synopsis: "When a construction worker joins a local theatre's production of "Romeo and Juliet," the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life."

Another in a particular but not uncommon genre, that of learning something while putting on a production of Shakespeare. The film even included a trailer for the upcoming film Sing Sing. 

Synopsis: "Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men."

Last month I saw an am-dram production of A Bunch of Amateurs. Synopsis: "A sleazy Hollywood agent tricks one of his clients, a faded action star, into playing King Lear in an amateur charity production in England."

It also brings to mind Kenneth Branagh's film, A Midwinter's Tale. Synopsis: An unemployed actor (Michael Maloney) directs an unlikely group in an English church's production of 'Hamlet'."

Anyway, fuck it. Ghostlight made me cry.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 80°
Climate: overcast
Mood: all right, considering
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 0 rep.

Core Strength: 

   Plank: 270 sec.

   Sit-ups: 20

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/granola & yogurt

Coffee Break: latte

Soda Break: Cherry Coke Zero

Lunch: popcorn, apple, Dortmunder

Happy Hour: iced coffee w/sugar

Dinner: old fashioned chips & salsa

We ran. We did not nap.

What's That Lyric?

Rush - Troye Sivan

Thank you for holding me.

Oh, you can call it cotton candy,
I call it spun sugar.

Oh, the knees. Also, big week for indulgence. Sunday not only featured a big breakfast of toad in the hole,  but also dogs and beer at the ballpark, concluding an overwhelming day at a new Korean hot pot spot where I think I did a decent job of moderation, but who can tell with such tiny bowls?

Last night we held our twenty-fifth anniversary party, where I was moderate but still, I grew accustomed to just grabbing whatever and putting it into my mouth. Also, I have gotten used to the afternoon nap. What if ... what if I ran, instead?

The party signaled the end of our anniversary celebrations. The crossing, the big dinner on Monday (that was a delightful surprise) the party. It is time to relax, to write, and to run.

Hey, that's a good title for a book.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:12
Pace: 9:44

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 175 lbs. (+2.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/granola & yogurt

Lunch: smoothie bowl w/fresh fruit, choc & pb granola w/honey

Happy Hour: Strawberry Wheat GLBCo., dolmathes (2)

Dinner: veggie stir fry 

Porch Time: old fashioned, dolmathes, chips & salsa

What's That Lyric?

Thank You For Hearing Me - Sinead O'Conoor

Sweat box.

Was not planning to run today. But it has been a long day, a long day conducting a variety of chores, and I am all alone. 

Our eldest is at home, but visiting a friend. The boy is also home, but out now with their partner at Tri-C Jazzfest. And my wife is at a work function. I have no car, and am trying to maintain activity.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:10
Pace: 9:43

Running Summer Mix

Starry Eyed Surprise - Shifty

2 Be Love (Am I Ready) * - Lizzo

Seasons (Waiting On You) - Future Islands

Move - Saint Motel

Challengers [MIXED] - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross ft. Boys Noize  

Yeah x10[MIXED] - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross ft. Boys Noize

Wow - Beck

Carried Away - Passion Pit

Cake By the Ocean - DNCE

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 83°
Climate: dusk
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Last night, for the solstice, I burned the rest of my notebooks. All but one. I may still destroy that one, but I need to look through it first.

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 173 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: fresh berries, granola & cream

Lunch: pizza (1 slice), ranch

Dinner: sunbutter & jam sand w/strawberry milk

Happy Hour: GLBCo. Midwest IPA

Late Dinner: wedge salad, Hot & Dirty cocktail, crème brule

Have you got enough gas?

Theater Camp is closed. I have been exposed to Covid. Also, there was an awful lot of movie theater popcorn available there. I don't know which is worse.

Day off from work, a reward for all of the work. Yesterday I sat down during the performance and realized that apart from that five minutes I spent eating two slices of pizza, I had been standing for the previous seven hours. Then I had to stand up two minutes later and didn't sit down again until I got into the van two hours after that.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 39:15
Pace: 9:48

Been listening to the Sweeping Up at Grebe's mix, from summer 1983. Have you ever had a Summer of 1983? Anyway Covid-Watch Day Two. Wish me luck.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 82°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: relieved
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Sweeping Up at Grebe's Playlist

Little Red Corvette (Special Dance Mix) - Prince  the Revolution

King of Pain - The Police

Cool Places - Sparks ft. Jane Wiedlin

Don't Change - INXS

Pale Shelter (Long Version) - Tears for Fears

Lawyers In Love - Jackson Browne

Promised You a Miracle (US REMIX) - Simple Minds

Just Got Lucky - Jo Boxers

Hey. Are these "jo boxers"?

Upper body: 30 reps

Core Strength: TBA

Nice run. Beautiful, really. Hot, yes. Just as long as it should be, could have gassed out soon after. Slight pain in my left knee. There are always pains after, I try to mind the ones that happen during the run. Bandage that. Will wear shorts today. That school was so freaking air conditioned, I'm surprised I don't have a cold.

Yes, I know that's not how you get a cold.

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 174 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Popcorn does a body good.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream
Lunch: fried chicken pieces, eggplant dip w/pita, fizzy water

Dinner: big iced coffee, popcorn

Evening: beer

Solstice Burning: whiskey, smores (2)

Your man in motion.

Running every other day seems to be working pretty well. The knees are not as sore. 

But my gosh, the camp is exhausting. I mean, it's a good time, we're doing good work with the kids. But I wake up at 5:30 and I just want to go back to sleep. I tried not napping after, to see if I could make it to bedtime so I could drop and have a proper sleep, but on Monday it was impossible, I had wanted to nod off all day. A twenty minute nap became an hour long nap and I was just delirious.

Still did some work on the deck, though. So I guess I'm muscling through.

Muscles!

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:29
Pace: 9:30

Watched Andrew McCarthy's Brats documentary last night. Very happy that no one used the term Gen X, not even once.  

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: overcast & hot
Mood: positive
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

"Brats" Playlist

Just Like Heaven - The Cure

Old Time Rock & Roll - Bob Seger

Ride Into the Sun - Lou Reed

Back in the High Life Again - Steve Winwood

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - John Parr

Oh Yeah - Yello

Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds

Anthony Michael-Hall's people were like, "Keep our client's name out of your filthy mouth."

Upper body: 40 reps 

Core Strength:

   Plank: 60 sec.

   Sit-Ups: 10 

So, today I decided to change it up. Get up earlier and have a run. Maybe that will change my whole deal. At least for today.

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight:  175 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, toasted bagel w/lox, cream cheese, tomato, capers

Coffee Break: latte

Lunch: Mac & cheese

Treat: fruit snacks

Dinner: bagel w/sunbutter & applebutter, potato chips, beer

My mother, God rest her soul.

Woke late, almost nine o'clock. I was expecting to be woken up and served for Father's Day, but the wife is ill so I rolled out to pick up last minute breakfast things and wash some dishes. But the boy prepared my bagel and I get to sit on the porch and relax and enjoy a beautiful morning.

There's work to be done, preparing for camp for the week, but not too much work. God, I was so wrecked by Thursday ... for many years, camp ended with our leaving for North Carolina, and I am grateful that is not the case this season. I will miss the place (we didn't go last year, either) but I just want to hang around and work, for goodness sake.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 38:34
Pace: 9:38

Summer Throwbacks
Hot In Herre - Nelly
Fly - Sugar Ray
Mambo No.5 (a Little Bit of...) - Lou Bega
Everybody Lives the Sunshine * - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell & Nile Rogers
Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
Move Your Feet - Junior Senior
Summer in the City  - The Lovin' Spoonful
Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
Here Comes the Hotstepper - iNi Kamoze

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 85°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: anxious
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 

Core Strength: 

Breakfast: everything bagel heavy with lox, tomato, red onion, capers & cream cheese, coffee w/cream

Lunch: tortilla chips, beer

Dinner: steak, potatoes, asparagus, mule, red wine

You want to make a Yaz record.

Vince Clarke did not invent electronic dance music, but he perfected it. Tell me what EDM is not influenced directly by early Depeche Mode, Yaz or Erasure.

"i'Ll wAiT ..."

No, I did not have this records forty-two years ago when it was released, and I was only tangentially aware of it during my high school years. Like a lot of pop that I saw on MTV or heard on WCSB, I didn't get into the albums until college.

That's why Butthead calls it "college music."

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:56
Pace: 9:20

Upbeat! Kept me moving, in spite of slight pains in my ankle and my shin. And the heat. But I do prefer the heat, I really, really do.

Upstairs at Eric's - Yazoo (1982)

Don't Go

Too Pieces

Bad Connection

Midnight

Only You

Goodbye Seventies

Situation

Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)  

Recommended albums for running.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 60 reps.

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 174 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, few nuts, bite of apple, smoothie bowl w/fresh fruit, choc PB granola & Nutella 

Lunch: ramen w/carrot

Cocktail Hour: gin & tonic

Dinner: greens & beans over quinoa, white wine

Surprise partner run.

The boy proposed two miles, but shortly after heading out he said, "my legs were bigger than my stomach," and that we better do just one. I appreciated the mixed metaphor. He's good like that.

Distance: 1 mile

Duration: 8:06

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 80°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: all right
Stretches: not really
Water: sure

160 - 169 BPM Playlist

No One's Easy to Love - Sharon Van Etten

Rough Rider - The Beat

The revolution will not go better with Coke.

"I'll come in again."

Camp is in effect. Maintaining a moderate diet, while also attempting not to succumb to the desire to nap in the afternoon. Yesterday, I provided some long overdue love and affection to the wooden side door. 

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 27:59
Pace: 9:01

160 - 169 BPM Playlist

Digging In the Dirt - Sheryl Crow ft. Peter Gabriel

Across the Room - Odesza ft. Leon Bridges

Free Fallin' - Tom Petty

Maria - Blondie

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron

Tra-La-La - The Banana Splits

Survivor - Destiny's Child

Riot In My Mind - Poison Girls

Dude. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is 181 BPM. I knew there was something wrong there.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: better
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength: 

   Plank: 90 sec.

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 175 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast coffee w/cream, fresh fruit, dried fruit sunflower seed w/yogurt & granola

Coffee Break: coffee w/cream

Lunch: ziti w/carrot sauce, lil’ Greek salad

Happy Hour: iced coffee w/brown sugar & cream

Dinner: salisbury steak w/gravy & onions, roasted Brussels sprouts & cauliflower, beer

I'll show you heaven, if you let me.

George Michael Bench
Waterlow Park, London

Full of anxiety this weekend. Had a project deadline, which I fulfilled, but there was that. Also? The world. The world is fucking with me and I don't like it. Don't like feeling helpless.

Camp starts tomorrow, too, and that is always a step into the unknown. More anxiety.

On the other hand, we did get Parade the Circle yesterday and that's always nice.

Let's just listen to George Michael on this run.

Distance: 3.75 miles
Duration: 35:29
Pace: 9:27

George Michael Playlist

Too Funky

Cowboys & Angels

Freedom '90

Secret Love

Fastlove

My Baby Just Cares For Me

Everything She Wants (Live)

Amazing

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: sunny & nice
Mood: anxious
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 177 lbs. (-+2.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

I ate all the kettle corn.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: IPA, notso fries, fr. artichoke, Caesar salad w/grilled chicken

Intermission: beer

Dinner: leftover Caesar salad

All those in favor take a big step.

Last night we attended to opening of Malleable Rigidities at Loganberry Books, an exhibit featuring works by the eldest and their colleagues from O.U., by all accounts a great success. The exhibit will be featured in the Annex at Loganberry until July 2.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:43
Pace: 9:54

Trying to maintain the restraint I exhibited on our journey, hard to gauge how much we ate at Zhug following the event, but isn't that always the case? Small plates, big dreams. We must be home.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: clear skies & breezy
Mood: nice
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Light, easy run. Feeling good. Invited offspring to join, did not hear back. Maybe tomorrow.

Upper body: TBA

Core Strength: TBA

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 175 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast coffee w/cream, smoothie bowl w/fresh fruit, choc PB granola, Nutella

Lunch: coffee w/creamer

Happy Hour: Edmund Fitzgerald, tortilla chips, fizzy water

Dinner: ramen w/salmon & peas

Nightcap: red wine

What’s that Lyric?

Change in Speak - De La Soul

Run, boy. Run.

Tender skull this morning. Surprised to get through a twelve day excursion without head pain (especially the run turn flight) and yet here I am, feeling woozy and unwell. There's a lot on my mind. It didn't take much to interfere with the good feelings I rose with yesterday. 

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 34:17
Pace: 11:26

Well, I did it. I read somewhere, at some time, this guy said he pushed through a migraine by running until it went away. I tried doing this myself, once, with disastrous results, but today, though it was hard, was somewhat successful. Sweaty and sick-feeling, I mostly ran, walked for about five minutes in the middle, and by the time I was through my head pain had subsided.

I washed, crawled back into bed, and lay there, half awake, for an hour or so. I hope the day improves as it goes along. 

Standing at the Sky's Edge (Original Live Cast Recording, 2023)

There's a Storm A-Comin'

Standing at the Sky's Edge

Our Darkness

Midnight Train

For Your Lover Give Some Time 
There's a Storm A-Comin' (Reprise)

After the Rain

Don't Get Hung Up In Your Soul

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: overcast, very light rain
Mood: determined
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength: 

   Plank: 90 sec. (2x)

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/granola & yogurt

Coffee Break: coffee w/cream

Lunch: buffalo chicken salad wrap, chips, Coke

Happy Hour: fizzy water, Edmund Fitzgerald

Dinner: chicken red sauce over rigatoni, peas

Tonight the streets are ours.

"As you are now, I once was

As I am now, you will be."

And we're back. I did run on our epic journey across the sea, and several times. I will retroactively log those, one at a time, over the next few days. No need to rush. There is so much to do right now, and I want to enjoy it all.

I actually had a bit of an emotional breakdown, partway through the crossing. I kept my head up, and talked it through with my wife, and things went much better as the days progressed. Running is also part of what keeps me sane, and so we continue.

Oof, just writing this I had a disorientation. Still don't have my sea legs. After eight days on a ship we spent four more on a canal boat. I have been sleeping on water for the better part of two weeks. It does feel good to be home. 

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:59
Pace: 9:21

Standing at the Sky's Edge (Original Live Cast Recording, 2023)

At The Dawn Breaks

Time Is

Naked In Pitsmoor

I'm Looking For Someone to Find Me

Tonight the Streets Are Ours

Open Up Your Door

My Little Treasure

Coles Corner

Route: Home
Temperature: 67°
Climate: clear skies & warm
Mood: happy
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength: 

   Planks: 2 minutes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, Pop Tarts

Coffee Break: coffee w/cream, "munchkins" (7)

Lunch: buffalo chicken salad wrap, chips

Treat: wine gums (11)

Happy Hour: Dortmunder

Dinner: salmon, broccoli, potatoes, pink wine

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 175 lbs. (-1.0)

New Goal: 170 lbs.

Holy shit, I did it. I went on a fucking cruise and didn't gain an ounce.