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: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

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.

Just hold your heading true.

The big yard sale weekend. This is all I have been working on the past few weeks. Not true. I have been dedicated to the job, and to the creative work, and to clearing out the house, and to, and to, and to.

But. And. Flash thunderstorms notwithstanding, it has been successful. Cash to be made. Materials to be moved out. My attic had not has such space in some time.

Really, there's so much shit in my attic. Is this a metaphor? Perhaps it is.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:20
Pace: 9:08

Feeling creaky.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 65°
Climate: partly cloudy & nice
Mood: headachy

Songs For My Funeral

Big Time Sensuality - Bjork

Five Miles Out - Mike Oldfield

Satellite of Love - Lou Reed

I.G.Y. - Donald Fagen

Brand New Colony - Postal Service

Cleveland Rocks - Ian Hunter

Future Sightings- I Am The World Trade Center

It's a six and a half hour playlist. There are moods. A wide variety -- a lifetime of moods.

Stretches: ope
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-2.0)

So. You dropped five pounds in five days. What this says to me is that there's a lot of stuff in there that needs to come out. TMI? In any even, this is the wall. However, it should be observed that it is easier for me not to snack at night when no one is encouraging me to do so.

It should also be observed that a lot of my caloric intake yesterday was in some form of alcohol.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes 

I would search everywhere just to hear your call.

Doonesbury, August 3, 1977

Better sleep habits. Reading in bed, not playing games on my phone. Currently, that would be Trudeau & Doonesbury: A Biography: The Cartoonist Who Turned the News Into Art by Joshua Kendall, a recently released biography of the man who might be the single most important influence on my writing.

Distance: 3.2 miles

Duration: 29:16
Pace: 9:08

We are practicing dietary maintenance. I've been taking a packet of ramen to work, it only took me until my late fifties to figure out how to prepare it in the microwave in a manner that is satisfying to me.

Also, getting better noodles at the Asia market. So, I have a controlled portion of filling food which is not terribly high in calories -- like any carry-out meal that exists -- and it's also cheap. Now I need to just get a big package of ramen and keep it in my desk. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 60°
Climate: absolutely gorgeous
Mood: good

Songs For My Funeral

Twin Peaks Theme (Instrumental) - Angelo Badalamenti

Tales From the Far Side - Bill Frisell

Afterglow - Genesis

Night and Day - Everything But the Girl

Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine

Beating of Hearts - XTC

Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

Why "songs for my funeral"? Because they are the best songs ever.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167 lbs. (-3.0)

The mornings get cooler. We sit and write and try to remember.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Let me steal this moment from you now.

So this is a thing I'm working on.

We're back on Noom. That's how these apps get you ... by working effectively. I started the program in Fall 2024, which was also the last time I was stuck at 170 lbs. I go back and forth, gaining twenty pounds, losing twenty pounds. The fact that I had been consistently 160 lbs., for over a year, was remarkable.

I would like to get back there before I calcify into these old habits. I logged off in January, it took fewer than six months to gain ten pounds.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:55
Pace: 9:00
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: cool & humid
Mood: all right

Songs For My Funeral

Back to Oz - Sufjan Stevens ft. Angelo De Augustine

Kang Mandor - Degung Orchestra

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Kate Bush

If I Can't Change Your Mind - Sugar

As - George Michael ft. Mary J. Blige

Little Talks - Of Monsters & Men

Ah. The forbidden track. Interesting.

Stretches: yes
Water: Yes
Baseline Weight: 170 lbs. 

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

I'll be waiting.

Bit of a lazy weekend, which was nice. Not unproductive, just much of the work done while sitting. Reaching out. Making yard sale plans. Rolling coins.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 29:23
Pace: 9:28

The yard sale is the next big thing ... this month has been a list of next big things. I am grateful for each of them, so I don't feel so adrift.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 72°
Climate: overcast & humid
Mood: all right

Songs For My Funeral
Wait For It - Leslie Odom Jr.

The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Good Times - Chic

Time After Time - Willie Nelson

Backout - Frank Turner

Cuts You Up - Peter Murphy

For ten years now, Wait For It has been my morning alarm, the instrumental version. If it does play at my funeral, I might wake up.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 

A good morning. I wrote, part of the new script, a breakthrough. I was in a mood. I have plates, they are spinning.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

I'd give up forever to touch you.

Next week!

Okay. Here's the thing. Weed makes me dizzy. If I am dizzy, and I fall down, and I hurt myself, there is no one here to help me. Can we take this lesson and roll with it?

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:27
Pace: 9:10

Good hang last night, Josh and I went to the FEAST where I got cavatelli and meatball, and a lemonade, and then we got to fuck out of there. Spend a couple hours catching up on the side porch. Little Italy is, on this Saturday morning, a stinky dump and tonight will only get worse.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: partly cloudy * humid 
Mood: maintaining

Slept without assistance last night. Couldn't settle in until midnight ... but then I slept until eight. Not bad? Love a Saturday. I remember when many Saturdays would come with a migraine. 

Songs For My Funeral

Gymnopédie No. 1:Var. 1 - Jacques Loussier Trio

The Way - Fastball

Hurt - Johnny Cash

Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

Life on Mars? - David Bowie

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

Take Me Home - Phil Collins

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 170 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Must have been looking forward to today's run. Last night I dreamed I was running. I was a mile or so from home, when I realized I had finally done it. I had forgotten to put on shorts.

Watching some good friend scream, "Let me out."

The past two days ... the past four days, five days ... it has been a lot. Tuesday afternoon I received an alert that my train had been cancelled, and trying to get onto the Lake Shore Limited was impossible to accomplish online. I was in an automated call string while they were driving us back from seeing their girlfriend, and Ze said, "Get out of it, say, 'Talk to a representative.'"

They were right. And I did. Thirty minutes later (and back at their apartment) I did speak to a human. They said the only available seat was an accessible bedroom, which I could have for the same price, would that be okay?

Oh, uh, yes. Thank you. That would be wonderful, actually.

Later, on board, the porter told me that unfortunately, due to the weather, we would be delayed several hours before reaching Cleveland. So, in stead of having a poor night's sleep, worrying that I might miss our 5:30 am arrival, I slept deeply until seven am and still had time for breakfast, coffee and reading.

I feel bad about the flooding and the disasters, but I made out like a bandit.  

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:55
Pace: 9:19

I had already called off work, I was expecting to go back to bed. Instead, I did housework. All day. I couldn't stop. Washing, mopping, sweeping, throwing out things, looking after cats, shopping, preparing for some weekend house improvements.

I am afraid of stopping. I can't relax. I'm not doing this well. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 68°
Climate: overcast & humid
Mood: still moving

Songs For My Funeral

Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk (Remix) - Rufus Wainwright

Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles

Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms

Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine

Under Pressure - David Bowie & Queen

1979 - Smashing Pumpkins

One More Time - Daft Punk

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 170 lbs. (+1.0)

And yet, we self-medicate to sleep. Right off the bat.

Time to get back to work.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes