Friday, June 21, 2024

Have you got enough gas?

Theater Camp is closed. I have been exposed to Covid. Also, there was an awful lot of movie theater popcorn available there. I don't know which is worse.

Day off from work, a reward for all of the work. Yesterday I sat down during the performance and realized that apart from that five minutes I spent eating two slices of pizza, I had been standing for the previous seven hours. Then I had to stand up two minutes later and didn't sit down again until I got into the van two hours after that.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 39:15
Pace: 9:48

Been listening to the Sweeping Up at Grebe's mix, from summer 1983. Have you ever had a Summer of 1983? Anyway Covid-Watch Day Two. Wish me luck.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 82°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: relieved
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Sweeping Up at Grebe's Playlist
Little Red Corvette (Special Dance Mix) - Prince  the Revolution
King of Pain - The Police
Cool Places - Sparks ft. Jane Wiedlin
Don't Change - INXS
Pale Shelter (Long Version) - Tears for Fears
Lawyers In Love - Jackson Browne
Promised You a Miracle (US REMIX) - Simple Minds
Just Got Lucky - Jo Boxers

Hey. Are these "jo boxers"?

Upper body: 30 reps
Core Strength: TBA

Nice run. Beautiful, really. Hot, yes. Just as long as it should be, could have gassed out soon after. Slight pain in my left knee. There are always pains after, I try to mind the ones that happen during the run. Bandage that. Will wear shorts today. That school was so freaking air conditioned, I'm surprised I don't have a cold.

Yes, I know that's not how you get a cold.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 174 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Popcorn does a body good.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream
Lunch: fried chicken pieces, eggplant dip w/pita, fizzy water
Dinner: big iced coffee, popcorn
Evening: beer
Solstice Burning: whiskey, smores (2)

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Your man in motion.

Running every other day seems to be working pretty well. The knees are not as sore. 

But my gosh, the camp is exhausting. I mean, it's a good time, we're doing good work with the kids. But I wake up at 5:30 and I just want to go back to sleep. I tried not napping after, to see if I could make it to bedtime so I could drop and have a proper sleep, but on Monday it was impossible, I had wanted to nod off all day. A twenty minute nap became an hour long nap and I was just delirious.

Still did some work on the deck, though. So I guess I'm muscling through.

Muscles!

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:29
Pace: 9:30

Watched Andrew McCarthy's Brats documentary last night. Very happy that no one used the term Gen X, not even once.  

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: overcast & hot
Mood: positive
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

"Brats" Playlist
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
Old Time Rock & Roll - Bob Seger
Ride Into the Sun - Lou Reed
Back in the High Life Again - Steve Winwood
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - John Parr
Oh Yeah - Yello
Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds

Anthony Michael-Hall's people were like, "Keep our client's name out of your filthy mouth."

Upper body: 40 reps 
Core Strength:
   Plank: 60 sec.
   Sit-Ups: 10 

So, today I decided to change it up. Get up earlier and have a run. Maybe that will change my whole deal. At least for today.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight:  175 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, toasted bagel w/lox, cream cheese, tomato, capers
Coffee Break: latte
Lunch: Mac & cheese
Treat: fruit snacks
Dinner: bagel w/sunbutter & applebutter, potato chips, beer

Sunday, June 16, 2024

My mother, God rest her soul.


Woke late, almost nine o'clock. I was expecting to be woken up and served for Father's Day, but the wife is ill so I rolled out to pick up last minute breakfast things and wash some dishes. But the boy prepared my bagel and I get to sit on the porch and relax and enjoy a beautiful morning.

There's work to be done, preparing for camp for the week, but not too much work. God, I was so wrecked by Thursday ... for many years, camp ended with our leaving for North Carolina, and I am grateful that is not the case this season. I will miss the place (we didn't go last year, either) but I just want to hang around and work, for goodness sake.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 38:34
Pace: 9:38

Summer Throwbacks
Hot In Herre - Nelly
Fly - Sugar Ray
Mambo No.5 (a Little Bit of...) - Lou Bega
Everybody Lives the Sunshine * - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell & Nile Rogers
Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
Move Your Feet - Junior Senior
Summer in the City  - The Lovin' Spoonful
Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
Here Comes the Hotstepper - iNi Kamoze

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 85°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: anxious
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 
Core Strength: 

Breakfast: everything bagel heavy with lox, tomato, red onion, capers & cream cheese, coffee w/cream
Lunch: tortilla chips, beer
Dinner: steak, potatoes, asparagus, mule, red wine

Friday, June 14, 2024

You want to make a Yaz record.

Vince Clarke did not invent electronic dance music, but he perfected it. Tell me what EDM is not influenced directly by early Depeche Mode, Yaz or Erasure.

"i'Ll wAiT ..."

No, I did not have this records forty-two years ago when it was released, and I was only tangentially aware of it during my high school years. Like a lot of pop that I saw on MTV or heard on WCSB, I didn't get into the albums until college.

That's why Butthead calls it "college music."

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:56
Pace: 9:20

Upbeat! Kept me moving, in spite of slight pains in my ankle and my shin. And the heat. But I do prefer the heat, I really, really do.

Upstairs at Eric's - Yazoo (1982)
Don't Go
Too Pieces
Bad Connection
Midnight
Only You
Goodbye Seventies
Situation
Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)  

Recommended albums for running.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Upper body: 60 reps.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 174 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, few nuts, bite of apple, smoothie bowl w/fresh fruit, choc PB granola & Nutella 
Lunch: ramen w/carrot
Cocktail Hour: gin & tonic
Dinner: greens & beans over quinoa, white wine

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Surprise partner run.

The boy proposed two miles, but shortly after heading out he said, "my legs were bigger than my stomach," and that we better do just one. I appreciated the mixed metaphor. He's good like that.

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 8:06

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 80°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: all right
Stretches: not really
Water: sure

160 - 169 BPM Playlist
No One's Easy to Love - Sharon Van Etten
Rough Rider - The Beat

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

The revolution will not go better with Coke.

"I'll come in again."
Camp is in effect. Maintaining a moderate diet, while also attempting not to succumb to the desire to nap in the afternoon. Yesterday, I provided some long overdue love and affection to the wooden side door. 

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 27:59
Pace: 9:01

160 - 169 BPM Playlist
Digging In the Dirt - Sheryl Crow ft. Peter Gabriel
Across the Room - Odesza ft. Leon Bridges
Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
Maria - Blondie
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron
Tra-La-La - The Banana Splits
Survivor - Destiny's Child
Riot In My Mind - Poison Girls

Dude. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is 181 BPM. I knew there was something wrong there.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: better
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength: 
   Plank: 90 sec.

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 175 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast coffee w/cream, fresh fruit, dried fruit sunflower seed w/yogurt & granola
Coffee Break: coffee w/cream
Lunch: ziti w/carrot sauce, lil’ Greek salad
Happy Hour: iced coffee w/brown sugar & cream
Dinner: salisbury steak w/gravy & onions, roasted Brussels sprouts & cauliflower, beer

Sunday, June 09, 2024

I'll show you heaven, if you let me.

George Michael Bench
Waterlow Park, London
Full of anxiety this weekend. Had a project deadline, which I fulfilled, but there was that. Also? The world. The world is fucking with me and I don't like it. Don't like feeling helpless.

Camp starts tomorrow, too, and that is always a step into the unknown. More anxiety.

On the other hand, we did get Parade the Circle yesterday and that's always nice.

Let's just listen to George Michael on this run.

Distance: 3.75 miles
Duration: 35:29
Pace: 9:27

George Michael Playlist
Too Funky
Cowboys & Angels
Freedom '90
Secret Love
Fastlove
My Baby Just Cares For Me
Everything She Wants (Live)
Amazing

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: sunny & nice
Mood: anxious
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 177 lbs. (-+2.0)
Goal: 170 lbs.

I ate all the kettle corn.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream
Lunch: IPA, notso fries, fr. artichoke, Caesar salad w/grilled chicken
Intermission: beer
Dinner: leftover Caesar salad

Friday, June 07, 2024

All those in favor take a big step.

Last night we attended to opening of Malleable Rigidities at Loganberry Books, an exhibit featuring works by the eldest and their colleagues from O.U., by all accounts a great success. The exhibit will be featured in the Annex at Loganberry until July 2.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:43
Pace: 9:54

Trying to maintain the restraint I exhibited on our journey, hard to gauge how much we ate at Zhug following the event, but isn't that always the case? Small plates, big dreams. We must be home.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: clear skies & breezy
Mood: nice
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Light, easy run. Feeling good. Invited offspring to join, did not hear back. Maybe tomorrow.

Upper body: TBA
Core Strength: TBA

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 175 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast coffee w/cream, smoothie bowl w/fresh fruit, choc PB granola, Nutella
Lunch: coffee w/creamer
Happy Hour: Edmund Fitzgerald, tortilla chips, fizzy water
Dinner: ramen w/salmon & peas
Nightcap: red wine

What’s that Lyric?
Change in Speak - De La Soul

Wednesday, June 05, 2024

Run, boy. Run.

Tender skull this morning. Surprised to get through a twelve day excursion without head pain (especially the run turn flight) and yet here I am, feeling woozy and unwell. There's a lot on my mind. It didn't take much to interfere with the good feelings I rose with yesterday. 

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 34:17
Pace: 11:26

Well, I did it. I read somewhere, at some time, this guy said he pushed through a migraine by running until it went away. I tried doing this myself, once, with disastrous results, but today, though it was hard, was somewhat successful. Sweaty and sick-feeling, I mostly ran, walked for about five minutes in the middle, and by the time I was through my head pain had subsided.

I washed, crawled back into bed, and lay there, half awake, for an hour or so. I hope the day improves as it goes along. 

Standing at the Sky's Edge (Original Live Cast Recording, 2023)
There's a Storm A-Comin'
Standing at the Sky's Edge
Our Darkness
Midnight Train
For Your Lover Give Some Time 
There's a Storm A-Comin' (Reprise)
After the Rain
Don't Get Hung Up In Your Soul

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: overcast, very light rain
Mood: determined
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength: 
   Plank: 90 sec. (2x)

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/granola & yogurt
Coffee Break: coffee w/cream
Lunch: buffalo chicken salad wrap, chips, Coke
Happy Hour: fizzy water, Edmund Fitzgerald
Dinner: chicken red sauce over rigatoni, peas

Tuesday, June 04, 2024

Tonight the streets are ours.

"As you are now, I once was
As I am now, you will be."
And we're back. I did run on our epic journey across the sea, and several times. I will retroactively log those, one at a time, over the next few days. No need to rush. There is so much to do right now, and I want to enjoy it all.

I actually had a bit of an emotional breakdown, partway through the crossing. I kept my head up, and talked it through with my wife, and things went much better as the days progressed. Running is also part of what keeps me sane, and so we continue.

Oof, just writing this I had a disorientation. Still don't have my sea legs. After eight days on a ship we spent four more on a canal boat. I have been sleeping on water for the better part of two weeks. It does feel good to be home. 

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:59
Pace: 9:21

Standing at the Sky's Edge (Original Live Cast Recording, 2023)
At The Dawn Breaks
Time Is
Naked In Pitsmoor
I'm Looking For Someone to Find Me
Tonight the Streets Are Ours
Open Up Your Door
My Little Treasure
Coles Corner

Route: Home
Temperature: 67°
Climate: clear skies & warm
Mood: happy
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Core Strength: 
   Planks: 2 minutes

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, Pop Tarts
Coffee Break: coffee w/cream, "munchkins" (7)
Lunch: buffalo chicken salad wrap, chips
Treat: wine gums (11)
Happy Hour: Dortmunder
Dinner: salmon, broccoli, potatoes, pink wine

Baseline: 185 lbs.
Weight: 175 lbs. (-1.0)
New Goal: 170 lbs.

Holy shit, I did it. I went on a fucking cruise and didn't gain an ounce.