Evel Knievel, you got nothing on me.

Beautiful days, busy days, dizzy days. Teaching in West Geauga, interviewing candidates downtown, Wednesday I visited my elementary school in my old hometown. Surprised its lasted this long, I have been wanting to see inside of it before it inevitably disappears.

Elementary School Run (1974-1978)

New York Groove - Ace Frehley

Young Americans (178 BPM) - David Bowie

When the Whip Comes Down - The Rolling Stones

Neat Neat Neat - The Damned

Peg - Steely Dan

#9 Dream - John Lennon

Riding the Scree (162 BPM) - Genesis

Come Together (160 BPM)  - Ike & Tina Turner

Distance: 63°

Duration: 27:48
Pace: 8:57

So it happens, it will be torn down, and very soon. It's an old building -- not as old as I thought it was, it was built in 1947, but still. Almost eighty. Weird to think it was only twenty-seven years old when I started attending that school in 1974. But then, 1974 is also ancient history.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 63°
Climate: damp
Mood: tired

They held an open house on Wednesday, and I am glad I heard about it. It was awkward conversing with fellow classmates -- elementary school classmates -- several of whom I have not seen since we graduated forty years ago this spring. I just wanted to wander the halls. It was a bit too much.

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

That was where I embarrassed myself during the utensil walk. That was where I shat myself doing sit-ups. That's the room where they taught me how not to lisp. That was where I told Tracy she was chopped. Where I learned that Santa's crystal ball was fake. Where I wrote on the mirror with soap and got sent to the office and saw the paddle with nails in it. Where we held the disco.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Five years, from age six to ten, is all of your life when you are ten, and I spent them in that building.

Don't it get you moving?

Winding down the school year, lots of teaching, making up for those who walked out. My love departs this weekend, on a work trip (and side vacation) and she will be gone for two weeks. Have we ever been apart so long?

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 26:50
Pace: 8:39

The past several days have been hot! Today, it is cool. And I don't care for cool.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 51°
Climate: light rain
Mood: muddy headed

May 20, 2012

160-169 BPM Playlist

Where Nowhere Is - Hoodoo Gurus

I've Done Everything For You - Rick Springfield

Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles

Urinetown from "Urinetown"

I'm Your Baby Tonight - Whitney Houston

Still Breathin' from "Warriors"

Classical Gas - Mason Williams

The Boys Are Back in Town - Thin Lizzie

I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins

I feel a bit aimless on day's like today, like I didn't want to run because it was cool. But it wasn't that cool, and the rain was very light. And I chose a bpm list, one which would keep me moving, just the right speed. And I ran back-to-back nine minute miles, which is just fine. Better than fine.

I fret over gaining weight. I must admit, I am also afraid of having chest pains (I have never had chest pains) and yet, here I am, running every other day and I feel great. What am I so worried about?

Stretches: 
Water: 
Weight: 165 lbs. (-5.0)

Ten years ago today, I ran my second marathon, and the first when I broke four hours. That day was too hot, too. Nothing is perfect.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

Why do you feel so underrated?

In-person callbacks. I hope we all survive.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:49
Pace: 8:58

Make sure those earbuds are charged, my friend.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 71° 
Climate: clear & warm
Mood: hopeful?

Suddenly, summer.

Stretches: 
Water: yes
Weight: 170 lbs. (+7.0)

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

What's That Lyric?

Banquet - Bloc Party

Move your feet (to the rhythm of love).

Le Hoodoo Gurus third album, Blow Your Cool! was a banger that arrived during spring quarter my freshman year at Ohio University.

It was a hot and sweaty season, we spent a great deal of time out of doors, throwing frisbee, drinking beer, and hanging brain. 

This one played on boomboxes in the quad, out the windows of our dorms, and on my Walkman headphones as I tried, tentatively, to develop a running routine around South Green. 

Party Machine is the closer every album should have.

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 36:02
Pace: 8:47
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: overcast & warm
Mood: good!

The summer of 1987 was the peak of New Psychedelia. The trend had started a couple years earlier, with Talking Heads' Little Creatures and Prince's Around the World in a Day. 

But in 1987 (the 20 year anniversary of the "Summer of Love") we received Sgt. Pepper's on compact disc, and the Grateful Dead scored their first and only number one single. The Monkees were on tour for the first time since the 1960s, XTC posing as the Dukes of Stratosphear dropped Psonic Psunspot, tie-dye made a huge comeback, and we got this album. 

Flip your wig. Blow your cool.

Blow Your Cool! - Hoodoo Gurus (1987)

Out That Door

What's My Scene (167 BPM)

Good Times

Hell for Leather

Where Nowhere Is (164 BPM)

In the Middle of the Land

Come On

On My Street

Party Machine

Bonus: Miss Freelove '69

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 163 lbs. (-4.0)

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Last night, I attended a high school alumni event, a bunch of us went to see The Outsiders. The show is pretty incredible, but I was even more delighted to see and catch up with fond old friends, and beloved educators.

It's been a Big Bay 80s week for me, I guess. Teaching at the middle school, visiting the beach (twice), this show, and these albums.

The echo machine ran wild.

US Cover

I have older brothers, and they have friends who became my friends and so I was into a lot of cool stuff many of my contemporaries were not, like indie movies from the 1970s, and some truly great albums.

One guy did a two-person, acoustic gig with his roommate /in their mod at O.U. which went over gangbusters for the twenty or so people who were in attendance, and I got a bootleg recording (yes, we can call it that) which I listened to a lot when I was a junior in high school.

Most of it was covers and they did a devastating take on the Hoodoo Gurus Dig It Up. It's not exemplary of their work, it's more of a novelty song, but it inspired me to pick up Stoneage Romeos, their first LP.

The Hoodoos had this funky retro garage band style, like Violent Femmes with more polish.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:24
Pace: 8:46
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 46°
Climate: bright & cool
Mood: determined

AU Cover

Stoneage Romeos - Hoodoo Gurus (1984)

(Let's All) Turn On

I Want You Back

Arthur

Death Ship

Dig It Up

Leilani

Tojo *

In the Echo Chamber

Oh, dear. The same casual racism toward Asians as evidenced in contemporary tracks like Turning Japanese and China Girl.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 167 lbs. (+1.0)

When do I just stop recording my weight?

Here’s the thing. I have been drinking a lot. Like, I feel like I have consumed more alcohol in the first four months of this year than I did in all of last year.

That’s how bad things are. Not at home, not with the world in general. Just to calm my nerves about my work. I still love everyone I work with. But it is so hard to manage all these thoughts. To rest. To sleep. To focus on one thing; a book, a movie, a conversation. It’s all too much.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA 

Sit-Ups: TBA

Hey. Only fools rush in and only time will tell if we stand the test of time.

This week has been challenging. A post-Mother's Day ball game was less-than pleasant because the air was just a bit too chilly (we did defeat the Angels, however.) 

Then on Tuesday, I played substitute at my old middle school (not the same building, but like ship of Theseus, it occupies the same space) and, I'm not getting into this, but agreeing to let my colleague run the class they way she preferred meant I was standing for the better part of five hours.  

I came home and took a two hour nap, which is not my custom, it's not something I can do, sleep for two hours in the afternoon. But I was exhausted. This morning, I woke exhausted, but needed to teach a day-long Romeo & Juliet workshop at my spouse's former place of employment.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:23
Pace: 8:49

I thought I would be destroyed, but it was a lovely day. My throat burns from two days of talking, and I did take a twenty minute nap after work, but you know? Sometimes I feel better after a run.

Even when it is cooler than I would desire

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 51°
Climate: overcast and breezy, nice
Mood: driven

Prom 1986

Why Can't This Be Love - Van Halen

Pretty In Pink - Psychedelic Furs

Red Red Wine - UB40

If You Leave - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

These Dreams - Heart

Your Love - The Outfield

Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes 

Don't You (Forget About Me) 12" Version - Simple Minds

We have this mini-class reunion happening on Friday, so I was in a mood.

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 166 lbs.

Here we go. Can we bring it back. We've been enjoying a lot of high calorie leftovers. Also, cake.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Chase the rainbow's end.

Blew my Connections streak today. I'd like to think I did it on purpose, I mean, I kind of did, because I didn't care. I was ten days short of a year.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 26:35
Pace: 8:34

Get that? Every day since last May, I have been using part of my brain, fretting I would blow my streak. That's not a game, that's not enjoyable. That is a task.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: light fluffy clouds
Mood: good

And it has affected my writing. I write in the morning. Spending the morning puzzling is not writing. It's not anything. I have been reading Barry Joseph's book on Sondheim's puzzling obsession, and the more I read it the more irritated I am. Sondheim spent so much time creating games and puzzles but also writing the great American musical.

165-174 BPM Playlist

Because I Got High - Afroman

You're the Best Thing - Style Council

Bitterblue - Cat Stevens

Boy in Luv - BTS

Past in Present - Feist

Magical Trevor - Mr Weebl

Take on Me - a-ha

Novocaine for the Soul - Eels

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 163 lbs. (+3.0)

It seems so specious, puzzling, you feel as though you are accomplishing something but it's just a diversion. Which is fine if you are also actually creating. He was, I am not. At least, not yet. I have plans. And part of that includes not wasting part of the morning puzzling.

Today, I wrote. And I had ideas. And though I am frustrated, it is a positive step forward.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

Nice day, cleaning house, did the pre-show talk. The room was at capacity, good humor, I felt confident. Much better than, say, yesterday. And then a fast run! Like, really fast. Felt confident about that, too.

And last night we attended the game, which began in rain and ended with a Guardians victory! Cleveland!