I am not going out like any punk bitch.

2275 Professor Street
Then (1992) & Then (2018)
(coffee shop formerly known as Beviamo)

Cat kept me up all night. He can go months without sleeping with me, then he remembers how nice it is. And I am glad he still gets out of bed to pee. But then he wants back in.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:28
Pace: 8:51 

The next week will be a bear. I teach five classes a day, every day next week. It's going to be a drag.

Had a dream last night, I was leading a lesson but some kids who weren't paying attention were comparing tunes on transistor radios. I lost my temper, which is not my style, but they were so rude.

I said, "Give me the fucking radio."

And that was kind of it for the class.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 47°
Climate: cloudy & perfect 
Mood: all right

Fall 1992 Mixtape

Good Stuff - The B-52's

Too Funky (Extended) - George Michael

Jump Around - House of Pain

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot

Happiness in Slavery - Nine Inch Nails

Pretend We're Dead - L7

As summer leaned into fall that fateful year, we were preparing a space for performance. Crazy, right? I was 24 years old and starting a theater company. What a fantasy!

Yesterday, I was in that space. I was giving a rep from our sister company the nickel tour of CLE and came through Tremont to show off some thing. I bought him a coffee at Roasted, which is located in the former Professor Street Theater.

I also skipped lunch. Didn't mean to do that.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0.4)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Twenty years ago, I ran fifteen miles by taking the five mile circuit around my house three times. I was tapering, I had already run the trek from my house to my parents' on Sept 30, and should have done another twenty but never did.

The blog post for this fifteen miler is the most visited post on my blog, three times as many visits as the post that comes in second. I attribute this to the fact that I listed every single track I listened to on my run, which is a lot and must show up on countless searches.

"I rose and dressed for cold. Welcome back butter beanie, welcome back bullethead. Yesterday I got new soles, new gloves (awesome gloves) and a new running hat."

I'm wearing those same awesome gloves today.

Again ... I said I was a time bomb.

Exhausted, distracted. A bit overwhelmed.

And that was before we watched the documentary.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:51
Pace: 8:59

The big, full days continue. And that's what you wanted, right?

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 42°
Climate: clear & cool
Mood: angsty

Since the show closed, I have had a pull in the left side of my neck. This may be because ... well, it may be because of a number of things. Stress has manifested itself in my neck many, many times -- but not for a long, long time.

Fall 1988 Mixtape

Don't Believe the Hype - Public Enemy
Wild, Wild West - Escape Club

What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy) - Information Society

Simply Irresistible - Robert Palmer

Chains of Love - Erasure

Talkin' Bout a Revolution - Tracy Chapman

What I Am - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Stretches: yes 
Water: yes
Weight: 165.4 lbs. (+0.6)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Your feet are going to be on the ground.

Late 1991

This past week has been an historic emotional epic. I was depressed and anxious in the lead up to these I Hate This house performances, which is entirely normal and to be expected, and then every single one of these performance was wonderful, and better than wonderful.

Diana came into town to see it. I can't begin to put into words how grateful I am.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:07
Pace: 8:45

And still. My wife and I are not out of the woods yet in this house, and I believe we never will be. I took a turn down a dark path to help someone very close to me. I told my shameful secrets. And I heard terrible truths. When, if ever, will we emerge?

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 42°
Climate: brisk, lovely!
Mood: troubled

We continue to run out of doors. I am not ready to commit to the rec center yet.

Yesterday

Fall 1988 Mixtape

What's the Matter Here - 10,000 Maniacs

Peek-A-Boo - Siouxsie & the Banshees

I Don't Want Your Love - Duran Duran

Stand - R.E.M.

Never Tear Us Apart - INXS

Desire - U2ny

It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock

Fall 1988 was my first great mental breakdown. So much anger, so lost. So much shit I had brought down onto myself. The music will always be my friend.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 164.8 lbs. (+0.2)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Whatever words I say I will always love you.

A Facebook post from East Cleveland Mayor Sandra Morgan:

The restoration work has started in historic Forest Hill Park! I’m thankful for our partnership with the Metroparks and look forward to our work together: taking down dead and vulnerable trees, repairing the boathouse, clearing away bramble and more. There’s so much more to come: stay tuned!🌳

Can't tell you how excited I am about this. The former administration had the opportunity to engage the Metroparks in managing the park, but those negotiations fell apart.

I am glad to say I have met Morgan, and was thrilled when she was elected. East Cleveland is a city with a deep history and many great obstacles to overcome but she engenders a great deal of trust and I am looking forward to good things from her.

Distance: 3.1 mles

Duration: 26:22
Pace: 8:30

Performances of I Hate This continue. The last three dates are sold and oversold. A few days ago I was questioning the entire endeavor, and now I so content. I have made people laugh at the worst time in our lives (they cry, too) raised a couple hundred bucks for the Preeclampsia Foundation (make yours today) and gotten to work closely with new people.

What is not to absolutely love?

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 47°
Climate: overcast, getting chilly 
Mood: good

Fall 1989 Mixtape

Shadrach - Beastie Boys

Blame It On the Rain - Milli Vanilli

Lovesong - The Cure

Love In an Elevator - Aerosmith

Fools Gold - The Stone Roses

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 164.6 lbs. (-0-)

Been the exact same weight for three days running so I think my new scale is broken.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

One week ago I was full of anxiety about this endeavor. Then it opened and I felt great. Now I am full of anxiety because my ex-wife is coming to see it tonight.

Just kidding, that's amazing. I am full of apprehension but also joy. I'm full of all kinds of good things.

I'm not the kind of girl who likes to be alone.

We begin. A five-night run of I Hate This hosted in our own home. I've been wanting to bring this back to honor the 25th anniversary of the birth of our first child, and some time over the summer (probably when I was running) I got this idea.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:08
Pace: 8:45

FOREST HILL PARK UPDATE: Things are happening! Negotiations with Metroparks have reopened, and this week there has been a LOT of activity, pulling down rotten trees -- LOTS of rotten trees.

I will keep you updated.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 54°
Climate: cool, baby. idealk.
Mood: good!

Fall 1989 Mixtape
Sowing the Seeds of Love - Tears For Fears

Love Shack - The B-52's

Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Bust a Move - Young MC

One - Bee Gees

Miss You Much - Janet Jackson

Yeah, let's keep jamming with the seasonal playlists. Fall 1989, I was emerging into final form. Confident as an actor, as a theater artist, evolving as a cartoonist. A bit more responsible, living in a solo apartment, less anxious in my personal relationships. I was twenty-one, something resembling a man.

Then I turned a corner, in a moment of inspired self-confidence asked out a young woman, and the rest of my life began.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 164.6 lbs. (-1.6)

The Old Man (cat) kept me up a lot last night, which is okay. He's a sweet old cat. He sleeps with me under the covers but needs to go to the bathroom a couple times. Better to get out of bed than go in the bed, I guess.

But also, we have a neighbor up the street, I'd heard about him, but never heard hi, he revs his engine, constantly, at two in the morning. Crazy. 

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Never was a story of more woe, than this of Romeo ...

Keep going.

Fuck. I'll come in again.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:14
Pace: 9:06

Oh! What a week. What a month! And here we go. I have a week of house performances starting tonight. Then there's the series against Tampa. Oh! Writing workshops, supervision, got to organize props for that other play.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: muggy!
Mood: good

Eric Lee & Tracey Gilbert
"Romeo & Juliet"
Guerrilla Theater Company (1994)

Fall 1994 Playlist

Undone (The Sweater Song) (160 BPM) - Weezer

When I Come Around (Live at Woodstock 94) - Green Day
Cadillac - Combustible Edison

Come To My Window - Melissa Etheridge

Picture This - Blondie

Fade Into You - Mazzy Star

Prayer For the Dying - Seal

So many endings, so many new beginnings. The 90s were in full swing, the Late 90s were only just beginning.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165.6 lbs. (-0.6)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Twenty-six years, on my way to hell.

Fall 1994 is about a lot of things. It's about both of them. Falling in an out of love again. Romeo & Juliet and walks though Harlem. Concerts and concerts and movies and parties and bad, bad acts. It was about being in my twenties.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:32
Pace: 8:52

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 59°
Climate: after the rain, just lovely 
Mood: good

This is what we listened to.

Fall 1994 Mixtape

Headstart For Happiness (162 BPM) - The Style Council

I Don't Understand Anything - Everything But the Girl

Gentleman Who Fell - Milla Jovovich

I Melt With You (156 BPM) - Modern English

Wish - Nine Inch Nails

Burn - Nine Inch Nails

Intermittently - Barenaked Ladies

As I cycle through songs from that auspicious season, you will notice they were not all released that season, but they were ours, at that time, as we shared them with one another (or angrily screamed the lyrics together in the car.)

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 166.2 lbs. (+2.6)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

And now the rains. Last night's game was very exciting. I am also very glad I was not there in person, I don't fare well sopping wet and shivering.

Still. Guardians!