I'll burn me through Ohio.

Josh Ritter at The Rialto (2023)

Fall continues. Summer fades. The other night I listened to the playlist I made from the setlist of Josh Ritter at the Rialto in Tucson, Arizona. We saw him in October 2023, when we took the train to the Southwest.

Distance: 3.15 mile

Duration: 28:06
Pace: 8:55

The wife was surprised that was already three years ago, but I'm not. The past three years we did all the things we had been waiting to do ... the boy left for college so we went south. To celebrate twenty-five years of marriage we took the QM2 and spent time in London, last year we finally took the children to Europe.

A train, a boat, and a plane.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 50°
Climate: cool, baby
Mood: getting there

But Josh Ritter. It was warm and dry when we arrived in Arizona, but it was still fall, you know? After the sun set the night we checked in it got cool quite fast, and we stepped out onto the street to look around. We had no plans for that evening, nor the next. The Rialto was right across the street, and I saw his name and said, we could do that.

And we did. It was a magical evening.

Josh Ritter at the Rialto 10 04 2023

Bandits

Feels Like Lightning

Wolves

For Your Soul

Me & Jiggs

Folk Bloodbath

Young Moses

Truth Is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Blinding)

Never seen anyone smile while singing in quite that way. He really loves this.

Our Southwestern journey, though. I have been many different places with my love but this was something truly unique. Like somewhere I had never been before. I had been to New Mexico, that's not what I mean, the atmosphere, but that's part of it. We found such strange and interesting places.

And it was so relaxed and peaceful. The skies were so wide and open, and so was the clock. It was intimate, expansive and amazing. 

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167.2 lbs. (-0.2)

I passed on cheesecake twice yesterday. Just got to say no most days. Not all days. Just most.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

What are we running for?

Still true.

Attended my 40 year high school reunion Saturday night. Good time. My clique was largely absent, got to chat with two at a pre-event on Friday, but without a home base I had to get over myself and mingle and catch up with, well, everyone else.

And I did. Some of them I knew but had never really had a conversation with, ever, not once, for the four, seven, maybe twelve years we had attended school together. Know what? We're all good people. 

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:32
Pace: 8:52

I did cut loose for a moment and began truth telling. It didn't go well. Party foul.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 55°
Climate: clear skies
Mood: good

Old friends.

Fall 1985 Mixtape

You Belong to the City - Glenn Frey

Don't Lose My Number * - Phil Collins

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

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

Invincible - Pat Benatar

The Whole of the Moon - The Waterboys

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167.4 lbs. (-1.0) 

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

I think I am over the zombies.

I thought that we'd always be friends.

Homecoming 1985

Attended the first evening of the big reunion weekend last night, and I am as insecure as I was as a teenager. I understand now that it comes off as arrogance. And I was arrogant, too, believe me. I think it's important that we have these rituals to remind us of how terrible we were and of how far we've come.

Or maybe, no. No. We don't actually need that.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:01
Pace: 8:42

Anyway, I left it to a couple hours before departing that I would actually go. I have become accustomed to ordering NA beers at bars now. No one cares. I am SO GLAD I didn't drink last night. I might still be there. I stayed about an hour an left, talking mostly to my closest though I worked very hard to reach out to those others.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: light clouds & perfect
Mood: f*cking driven

Fall 1985 Mixtape

Take on Me - a-ha

Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting

Pop Life - Prince & the Revolution

Kayleigh - Marillion

Head Over Heels  - Tears For Fears

The Sweetest Taboo - Sade

Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer

I mean. The 80s are fucking classic.

Today

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 168.4 lbs.

Switching to a digital scale has messed with my sense of self, and of what weight I should be, exactly. I thought 155 lbs. was the goal, but the other day I got into a pair of 32" jeans that was part of my costume for The Velocity of Autumn. That is as thin as I need to be.

I was 165 pounds. If I was ever 155 pounds I would be emaciated. No, 165 is the goal. And I am nearly there.

Huh. Everyone talks about losing weight in time for their high school reunion, and look at me.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Life is good, wild and sweet.

Long days, reaching (straining) for the conclusion of rehearsal season. Knees are sore, ankles kinking. 

But we made fifteen runs in September. Well done.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:07
Pace: 8:44

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 78°
Climate: dusk, humid
Mood: stressed

Fall 1983 Mixtape

Mama * - Genesis

True - Spandau Ballet

All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie

Ain't Nobody - Rufus ft. Chaka Khan

Heat and Soul - Huey Lewis and the News

What can we say about fall 1983. Sophomore year of high school begins, and so does my association with cannabis. And alcohol. So many opportunities to look like a jackass in public. Speaking of which, it's the weekend of my 40 year high school reunion. Ope.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 168.8 lbs. (+1.8)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Hit the beat now.

As long as the weather provides, I will be doing evenings. Soon enough it will be too dark for that and we will return to the recreation center. I'd love to resume cold weather runs, but my joints are just too achy for that.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:59
Pace: 9:02

Survived the first day in schools, rising before my five o'clock alarm at 4:30 AM, we arrived at the school at 6:40 AM and departed at four. Then downtown for a surprise part for a co-worker, after which I prepared the rehearsal room for the first read-through of The Right Room. That began at 8:00 PM.

I was in bed by eleven ... only to wake up before my five o'clock alarm at 4:30. Bit of a raggedy morning.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: lovely & warm
Mood: driven

We have been dry for over two weeks. It truly is a secret society, but not so secret anymore. I was at the party and wondering what to get from the bar when a colleague went by with an Athletic. They have them by the can at Parnell's.

Drinking NA beer has another than the obvious advantage -- they all have about the half the calories of the other stuff.

Fall 1987 Mixtape

Instant Club Hit (You'll Dance to Anything) - Dead Milkmen

The One I Love - R.E.M.

Can't Hardly Wait - The Replacements

Girlfriend In a Coma - The Smiths

It's a Sin - Pet Shop Boys

Mony Mony - Billy Idol

Lost In Emotion - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

Hit the North - The Fall

Crazy, I keep getting ideas for new, little projects. This playlist is responsible for a new one.

Stretches: I mean.
Water: yes
Weight: 167 lbs. (-1.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

I'll run away with you.

We've had a great running September. Tomorrow, I will be at a school at 6:50 AM, attending an event after, and then a read through of The Right Room. It will be a hyper-long day, so I am getting that run in now.

I also need to get new knee braces. The cool weather is doing me no favors.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 26:07
Pace: 8:25

Gee whiz, David! That was fast!

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: sunny & bright
Mood: good!

Fall 1987 Mixtape

Faith - George Michael

True Faith - New Order

Just Like Heaven - The Cure

Need You Tonight - INXS

Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode

Lips Like Sugar - Echo & the Bunnymen

Seattle - Public Image Limited

Sophomore year you come back and feel like you own the place. You know where everything is, you're running into all your old friends who you haven't seen all summer. You are confident, or in my case, a little too confident.

THEY SAY that 1986 was the worst year in the history of popular music, and that may be. Too much of it sounded the same, and the synthesizers had gotten entirely out of control. But 1987 was when so many artists popped for me, and they all seemed to have a new release that season.

This playlist is historic.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 168 lbs. (+0.6)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: TBA

Wherever you go ... there you are.

DM for more information.

These fall days. I can't sleep all the way to the alarm. I wake, my knees ache, my side. But so? I get up. I have a morning. I can write, eat a good breakfast. And I run. And I love the run. 

Not looking forward to the rec center. The park is a beautiful place to be at dawn. The geese, the deer. The turning of the leaves.

Distance: 3.1 

Duration: 27:03
Pace: 8:42

My brain is still adjusting to the absence of sertraline. It has been several weeks, and I still get dizzy and my brain buzzes.

I am adjusting very well to sobriety. I have entered into situations where I could drink, and I may yet, but I choose not to.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 57°
Climate: ideal
Mood: all right

Fall 1986 Playlist

25 or 6 to 4 (Alternative Version) - Chicago

When Problems Arise - Fishbone

Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland - The B-52's

Word Up - Cameo

Walk This Way - Run DMC ft. Aerosmith

Don't Stand So Close to Me '86 - The Police

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167.4 lbs. (-2.4)

Got my annual fall vaccinations. Suck on that.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes