Wherever there is comfort there is pain.

On this date, twenty years ago, I was deep into marathon training. Five miles on a Wednesday.

"Okay, that hurt. I neglected (forgot?) my shin stretches before going out, and now they both are singing. The front of each shin was bright and pained, it made for little, tiny - but swift - steps. Hmn. Gotta watch that."

Indeed. Here we are, without pain in our legs at all. I was developing muscles on the front of my calves, I didn't know you could do that.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:07
Pace: 9:23

Also, I was listening to Podrunner a lot. On September 6, 2006 it was "I Put My Big Boy Pants On" which was one of those early mixes that included music he either didn't have the rights to or lost the rights to, in either case it is no longer available.

I have it burned on CD. It's one of my very favorites.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: bright & beautiful
Mood: all right

In the 1970s, Tim Finn put together a band called Split Enz. It was quirky pop, frenetic post-punk, agitated (and agitating) tunes, aspiring to be "Ashes to Ashes" David Bowie or Sparks or early XTC but never really as good as any of those. 

By the early 1980s Tim's kid brother Neil had joined the group, who was to become one of the greatest (and underrated) songwriters of the decade. Singing lead for truly great songs like I Got You, One Step Ahead and Message to My Girl, you can see in the music videos how Tim tries embarrassingly to attract attention to himself, as if to remind people it's still his band.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 173.4 lbs.

New digital scale. And this makes sense. My revised weight goal is 165 lbs., which I believe is only appropriate. I much prefer the accuracy. I stepped on the thing three times, it said the same thing every single time. 

When did I buy the manual scale, how long have I had that thing? Liar.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

After Split Enz broke up, Neil started his own act, Crowded House, and almost immediately produced one of the best known and loved songs of the decade, "Don't Dream It's Over." The original Crowded House trio of the Neil Finn, Paul Hester and Nick Seymour created two amazing albums, Crowded House (1986) and Temple of Low Men (1988), which were so important to me during my college years.

Then in 1991 it was announced that Tim had joined the group. I can only imagine the holiday dinner over which Tim Finn was able to wheedle his way into the act. The result was Woodface, which includes some of my very favorite Neil Finn creations, and a couple unfortunate songs that are obviously Tim's. He even managed to sneak a few stupid turns of phrase into otherwise decent Neil Finn creations. A "lounge room lizard"? That's Tim's schtick. See: All I Ask.

And let us not mention the execrable, fat-shaming opening track, Chocolate Cake.

Woodface - Crowded House (1991)

Chocolate Cake

It's Only Natural

Fall at Your Feet

Tall Trees

Whispers & Moans

Four Seasons In One Day

Fame Is

... As Sure As I Am

Italian Plastic

She Goes On

That it dropped during the summer of that fateful year, as I was going through a tense will they/won't they with the person who I would eventually be married to (for a short while) gives the truly great songs a nostalgic pull for me, tracks like It's Only Natural, Fall at Your Feet, Whispers & Moans, Four Seasons in One Day and She Goes On, they are all hers.

Tim left the band during the tour.

I really miss hanging on each other's words.

Crazy, there's six first-run movies at the Cedar Lee this weekend that I have already seen.

Muggy days, rain and heat. I hope the fall is cool and long.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:09
Pace: 9:04

We had a power outage last night (always hated that word, "outage") which I managed by reading with a flashlight on the side porch. We have a gas stove so I was able to make ramen.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: clammy
Mood: surprisingly focused

New For 2026 Playlist

Gas Station - Slayyyter

Cruising to Self Soothe - Ecca Vandal

Automatic - Jessie Ware

We Should Talk - Bleachers

Gotta Keep the Funk Alive - Minneapolis Funk All Stars

Dance ... - Slayyyter

One Step Away - Madonna

Danceteria - Soft Cell

This is how I remain young at heart.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (+3.0)

No, no idea. I would like to purchase a new digital scale, the one we have now is an old school spring activated version, which changes your weight depending on whether you are leaning forward or back, and I'd like something consistent.

Yesterday, I was exhausted, all day. Just not enough sleep. I tried to keep myself awake by drinking a lot of water (which necessitated many more trips to the toilet) and obsessing about snacks, and though I did have a small snack in the morning (a tiny bag of graham crackers) and one in the afternoon (one packet of fruit snacks) that was it and the rest of my meals were normal.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

It is September. Rehearsals begin in earnest next Tuesday. A lonely three-day weekend. A friend did ask me out for dinner tomorrow night, which was very thoughtful and I am looking forward to that.

It's T-minus eight.

Come running at the drop of a hat.

And did we complete fifteen runs in August? Yes, we did.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:04
Pace: 9:22
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 77°
Climate: warm & humid
Mood: a tad weary

New For 2026 Playlist

My Dead Astronaut- Robyn Hitchcock

the feeling - Steve Lacy

American Cars - Noah Kahan

In The Stars - The Rolling Stones

I Won't Be Home Tonight - Tony Carey

Sun and Moon - Danielle Ponder

Lonely in the Future - The Strokes

Supersize - Megasound ft. Bad Bad Hats & Party Nails 

Seriously, Stones? How did you do that? Eighty year olds produce a stone cold banger.

Had to look up Tony Carey, I thought that got on by mistake. Sounds like 1983. But he's old, too. So is Robyn Hitchcock. We're all old guys.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 162 lbs. (-2.0)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Life's too short to be alone.

Team Feller

Friends asks, "How are YOU doing?"

I don't know how to answer that honestly. "I'm fine," is the spontaneous reaction. We don't want to concern anyone. But I'm not.

Spent the day yesterday doing housework. Also making cookies for the team, ice cream for the staff. I'm not even eating any of these things, I just want to provide treats.

Also, it's feels like work. I want to avoid not doing anything. I'm also reading, etc.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:27
Pace: 9:10

It is hard to plan a run before work when the sun doesn't come up until seven. It helps when you wake up a full hour before your 5 AM alarm and can't get back to sleep.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 71°
Climate: warm & humid
Mood: anxious, but determined

Songs For My Funeral

God Only Knows - David Bowie

Live and Learn - Marshall Crenshaw

Lonely Planet - The The

I Sing the Body Electric - Laura Dean, Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Traci Parnell, Eric Brockington & the company from "Fame" (1980)

It's Not Over ('Til It's Over) - Bleu

Thank You For Hearing Me - Sinéad O'Connor

And then you die. What's next?

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 164 lbs. (-1.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

The worst is all the lovely weather.

Alone again. I think I'm going to be seeing a lot of movies.

Distance: 3.2 miles

Duration: 28:32
Pace: 8:55

And avoiding social media. There are too many other things to keep my busy, and frankly, it's lost its dopamine rush.

Still. Have to log the runs. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: just perfect
Mood: all right

Gorgeous morning run, and strong. Just flew out of the driveway and kept it up the whole time. This weather.

Songs For My Funeral

Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem

Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

My Baby's Taking Me Home - Sparks

White Horses - Wolf Alice

Psychic City (Classixx Remix) - Yacht

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Bob Dylan

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Maintenance. We go to a ball game today. Must be mindful.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

To call for hands of above to lean on wouldn't be good enough for me. No.

Tim Curry is Johnny LaGuardia
"Times Square" (1980)

Starting tomorrow, I will be on my own for a little while. Fortunately (I guess) I have a lot to do. I mean goodness, several productions, and the residency. And yet, terrible distractions. Grief, and a sense of sustained loss. Fear that nothing will be the same again. But when has it been?

Distance: 3.2 miles

Duration: 29:06
Pace: 9:05

Mornings when we rise before the alarm. When we write and drink coffee and answer questions and make plans. Would I prefer more time or more energy? I can work with energy, what can I do with time? 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: beautful
Mood: determined

Songs For My Funeral

Meet Me On the Corner - Lindisfarne

Why Should I Cry For You? - Sting

Change of Time - Josh Ritter

Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie

It's My Life - Talk Talk

Heartbeats - José González
All My Friends - Franz Ferdinand

Yes. The truly meaningful set.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 164 lbs. (-1.0)

These are the days. The cool days of waning summer. It's supposed to heat up over the next week, but the mornings are still and cool. And so am I.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

I've been running round in circles trying to find my way back to you.

Not all heroes, am I right?

Spent about a week immersed in yard sale business, and now the great work truly begins. In the office, at home. 

The elder departs on Friday, and we have been spending generous time together. Last night we dined out and went to the movies together separately. It was decided day ago that while we both wanted to see Teenage S*x and Death at Camp Miasma, it was not father/child fare. I saw it on my own last Friday. Last night they saw that, I saw Tony.

Distance: 3.2 miles

Duration: 29:34
Pace: 9:14

Tony gets high marks from everyone on Rotten Tomatoes but again, it begs the question: How would this movie go over if it the protagonist wasn't the youthful avatar of a much-beloved public figure? "Callow young man learns how not to be a prick" is a tried and true subject for films (and it's kind of what actor Dominic Sessa does) I am just of surprised it still goes over so well in 2026.

Regardless, good morning. It's time to take a run. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: beautiful
Mood: getting there

Songs For My Funeral

A Day In the Life - The Beatles

Under the Milky Way - The Church

Especially For You - The Smithereens

Don't Change - INXS

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison & Prince

Wicked Little Town (Hedwig Version) - John Cameron Mitchell

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

The hold steady. We did eat a lot of popcorn last night.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes 

Sit-Ups: yes

We are again counting our steps. I have lowered expectations, 5,000 a day is the goal which is neatly met by taking a run. On other days I have to remind myself to get up. Preparing for the residency makes this easy. It also reminds me to do the upper body work.