Saturday, July 11, 2026

I paid for the beer, man.

Still in the Seventies. Last weekend, our elder child humored me, they let me show them Dazed & Confused, Richard Linklater's second motion picture. Released in 1993, it takes place on the last day of school in 1976, in a small town in Texas.

I told my kid that it's not like other "teen movies" though watching it for the first time in decades, I'm not sure they would agree. It's not zany like some of John Hughes' movies, but it does dwell a great deal on the rude behavior of teenagers and some of it must seem downright psychotic.

Don't care. Love Linklater, love this movie. And it was the first great step into the 1970s revival of the 1990s. We'd spent the 80s loudly mocking the fashion and music of the Me Decade, and then we were handed this gem of a soundtrack. 

And the 90s truly began.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:08
Pace: 9:04

Dazed & Confused (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer
Slow Ride - Foghat
School's Out - Alice Cooper
Jim Dandy - Black Oak Arkansas
Tush - ZZ Top
Cherry Bomb - The Runaways
Fox On the Run - Sweet
Low Rider - War

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 78°
Climate: light clouds and hot
Mood: spirited

The run was great, felt great, not terribly hot. No pain. And yet, my continued exercise is certain exacerbating my sciatica. Also, both knees hurt, and sometimes a lot. I've been seeing many shows at BorderLight this weekend, the plastic chairs are not helping.

Maybe I should take a day off. Today was not that day.

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

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA
Sit-Ups: TBA

Thursday, July 09, 2026

It's you and me. Forever.

A respite, of sorts. I do not know how long. Mornings spent talking, loving. We drink our coffee black now. I used to drink coffee black, until I met her. She taught me cream and sugar. And then only cream. We change. Coffee is a blessing. I mean, it is the result of conquest, so I probably shouldn't call it a blessing. But I am grateful for the drink.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:45
Pace: 9:35

Still a band of pain around my right calf, and when I sit or stand it can be a minor ordeal. Some days. Other days no problem. The wife thinks I should see a doctor, and she is correct.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: (Spirit of) 76°
Climate: sunny & clear
Mood: grateful

Bicentennial Top 10
Silly Love Songs - Wings
Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
Kiss and Say Goodbye - The Manhattans
Get Up and Boogie - Silver Connection
I'll Be Good to You - Brothers Johnson
Sara Smile - Hall & Oates
More, More, More Pt. 1 - Andrea True Connection
Misty Blue - Dorothy Moore

I made this playlist last month, expecting to use it on Independence Day, but forgot about it. I probably wouldn't have played it then, anyway. These are songs from Casey Kasem's Weekly Top 40 on July 4, 1976.

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

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA
Sit-Ups: yes

Tuesday, July 07, 2026

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.

Homecoming. For now.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 31:26
Pace: 9:40

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)
For Your Lover Give Some Time - Original company of "Standing at the Sky's Edge"
How Far I'll Go - Auli'l Cravalho
Crosseyed and Painless - Angelique Kidjo
Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
Missing (Little Joey Remix) - Everything But the Girl 
The Luckiest - Ben Fold Five
Tightrope - Janelle Monae

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: partly cloudy
Mood: hopeful
  • London (2024)
  • Cleveland (2023)
  • Cleveland (1996)
  • Cleveland Heights (2022)
Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167 lbs. (+2.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA
Sit-Ups: TBA

Update: 3:00 PM, flashing in my eye, not sure which, started as small arc before expanding into a large "c" shape and then disappearing without my noticing it had gone.

Sunday, July 05, 2026

Nobody said it was easy. Nobody ever said it would be so hard.

It has been nearly a week. I want this to end.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:21
Pace: 9:28
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: cloudy, clearing
Mood: sad

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)
The Scientist - Coldplay
Calling All the Monsters - China Anne McClain
Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand
Make Me Feel - Janelle Monae
Fantastic Mr. Fox AKA Petey's Song - Jarvis Cocker
Shenandoah - Rufus Wainwright
All Night Long - Peter Murphy
A Tale - Cirque du Soleil

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)
  • Cleveland Heights (2023)
  • Cleveland (2000)
  • Orlando (2000)
Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes
Sit-Ups: yes

Friday, July 03, 2026

I don't want to feel like we're apart a thousand miles.

I love to make her laugh. I love to hear it.

Distance: 5.9 miles
Duration: 55:01
Pace: 9:19

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)
Before Today (Adam F Remix) * - Everything But the Girl
No Tomorrow - Orson
Fare Thee Well (Dunk's Song) * - Oscar Isaac & Marcus Mumford
My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark - Fall Out Boy
Hell You Talmbout - David Byrne
Life in Quarantine - Benjamin Gibbard
Rehbab  - "Glee" cast
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash
Chaise Longue * - Wet Leg
Wait for It - Leslie Odom Jr.
Flathead - The Fratellis
Run On - Elvis Presley
Honeymoon Suite - Suzanne Vega
Magical Trevor - Mr Weebl
Winnie the Parakeet - Sherry Crane
What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction
Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus

Route: Forest Hill-Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 81°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: not great
  • Cleveland (1996)
  • Cleveland (2018)
  • New York City (2016)
  • Memphis (2000)
Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA
Sit-Ups: yes

Wednesday, July 01, 2026

Remember me to one who lives there.

July 2, 2006: Four our seventh anniversary (wool) my wife got me five albums that had the word "wool" in them, either the artist or album title. She got me the "TOCA Race Driver 3: Official Soundtrack" It's the soundtrack to a video game, composed by Plastic Man & the Wool One. Pretty sweet.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:58
Pace: 9:39

Music From the Big Love (1994-2024)
Bandits (Live) - Josh Ritter
Doctor Who Theme (2005) - Murray Gold
Old Town Road - Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
Wise Up - Aimee Mann
Girl From the North Country - Rachel Stern & Company 
Devil Doll - Roy Orbison
Hips Don't Lie - Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean
Dead Sea - Lumineers
This Land is Your Land - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Brimful of Asha - Cornershop

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 81°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: coping
  • Tucson (2023)
  • Clearwater (2000)
  • Memphis (2000)
  • Chicago (2017)
Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Pain on the top of my right foot, around my right calf, in my right glute. All down my right leg.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: yes
Sit-Ups: yes

Monday, June 29, 2026

Run and hide.

Old friends.
Brother in town, he loves the side porch. So di I. Later the two of us are going to the game.

Taking part of the day off to escort my beloved to a medical consultation.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:30
Pace: 9:11

Fifteen runs in June. Consistency.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: clear & sunny
Mood: working on it

Sophisti-pop 80s Workout Playlist
It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) - Eurythmics
Blow the House Down - Living in a Box
Mothers Talk - Tears for Fears
Above the Clouds - Paul Weller
Cars & Girls - Prefab Sprout
Tinseltown in the Rain - Blue Nile
Get Back Together - Everything But the Girl

This is my happy place. And I need a happy place right now.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)
Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes
Sit-Ups: yes

No, seriously.