Putting trouble on the run.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:06
Pace: 9:03

songs we heard at the DNC

Freedom (168 BPM) - Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar
Firework - Katy Perry
Twistin' the Night Away (161 BPM) - Sam Cooke
American Woman (168 BPM) - Lenny Kravitz
Close to You - Gracie Abrams
Too Sweet - Hozier
Le Freak - Chic
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 67°
Climate: nice
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: yes

Upper body: 20 reps.

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 173 lbs. (-2.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, oatmeal w/brown sugar & cream and fresh & dried fruit

Lunch: Fried fish, tartar, sauce, coleslaw, French fries, Oktoberfest

Treat: Reese's Cups, Orangina

Snack: almonds, Doritos

Dinner: potatoes w/arugula, tomatoes & feta, Old fashioned

To appear sad.

Yesterday, we said goodbye to our dear Puffball (full name: Catsby Puffball) who came into our lives in 2010, a beloved companion to our kids, a diligent nursemaid when we took ill, always there to provide a groom or cuddle.

Fourteen is no longer young for a cat, and he had developed a few, manageable illness, but when we returned from our vacation last month it was clear e had lost a great deal of weight and was becoming weaker. The vet determined he had multiple myeloma, a blood and bone cancer.

He was always the sweetest kitty. He would sleep with and protect my wife, either above her head or at her side. Occasionally he would curl up into my back. He took very good care of me when I was alone at home, recovery from eye surgery.

We had the cat put down. We cried. We went to have drinks at the Speakeasy, it was early, we were the only ones there. We took a walk in the heat. We went to see a movie. This morning I was still very sad.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration:  28:19
Pace: 9:07

Route: Boulevard Loop
Temperature: 79
Climate: puffy clouds
Mood: actually sad
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: yes

My city. I like it.

Gold Rush Playlist

Gold Rush - Death Cab for Cutie

Don't Carry It All - The Decemberists

Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups

Beverly - Low Cut Connie

2AM - Bear Hands

Africa - Weezer

Move - Saint Motel

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 175 lbs. (+1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/granola  yogurt

Coffee Break: PSL, banana bread

Lunch: Hawaiian jerk pork sand, tater tots

Dinner: Flume Double IPA, lentils over rice

Dessert: ice cream

I fucking love ice cream.

I know you can’t relax.

Worth it for Dave McKean's opening sequence.

Difficult night, a bit too warm. Not sure if a run is going to be enjoyable this morning (it's already 68° spiking another ten degrees in the next few hours) but if not now, when? It is Monday. It is morning.

Alternatives 0112

Distance: 3.1 miles 

Duration: 30:28
Pace: 9:47

Listening through an ad and then the previously on before running (I like to start when the gates open) queers my time. Should be more like 29 minutes and a much better pace. 

But running through the post-apocalypse listening to the Miracles is pretty epic.

Barack Obama's 2024 Summer Playlist

Why Don't You - Cleo Soul

You've Really Got a Hold On Me - The Miracles

Process - H.E.R.

How Do U Want It - 2Pac ft. K-Ci  JoJo

If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting

Unsuffer Me - Lucinda Williams

Golden - Jill Scott

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 71°
Climate: humid. muggy.
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBD

Wow, I am more tired today than I have been in some time. Bad night's sleep.

Upper body: 

Core Strength: 

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 174 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/yogurt & granola

Coffee Break: toasted marshmallow latte

Lunch: turkey & cheese, sand. French fries, Cherry Coke Zero

Snack: Payday Bar

Dinner: mac & cheese, pumpkin ale

Evening: White Russian, ice cream

Your favorite beers and your video games.

Yesterday, I made ice cream. Homemade, peanut butter with peanut butter cups ice cream. This is where I am in my life's journey. 

Today has been carefully mapped out, I have one task for each hour of the day, and that includes running at 9 AM.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 36:25
Pace: 9:06

My Summer 2024 Playlist

365 - Charlie XCX

Take a Bite - beabadoobee

On No! - The Decemberists

Lingerie Model - Paige Kennedy

Massachusetts - Jensen McRae

When You Know Someone - Valley

Prep-School Gangsters - Vampire Weekend

My Heart Your Heart - Bad Bad Hats

Houdini - Eminem

Girl From the Record Shop - Frank Turner

Yeah x10 [MIXED] - Boys Noize w/Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

Route: Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: sunny & beautiful
Mood: very good!
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBD

I have an appointment this week to renew my sertraline prescription. I take a low dose, only 25mg. It ran out a week ago, I have been flying solo. And I feel pretty good. Is this temporary? Is this cannabis? Is this life?

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 174 lbs. (+2.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: ice cream (1 scoop)

Lunch: leftover burrito (yeah, it is)

Early Afternoon: Bumble Berry Beer

Late Afternoon: GLBCo. Nosferatu

Dinner: Turkey & cheese sandwiches, fizzy water, Dots (for the movie)

Late night: Old fashioned, ice cream (1 scoop)

My give a fucks are on vacation.

What is my kid doing at the DNC?

The hot weather will return. It’s been like fall this week. Meanwhile, we are finally, finally, having the kitchen floor redone. I've owned this house for over thirty years, and I have always wanted to replace this floor, but we did many other projects first. I'm excited about it!

Hear that? I'm excited about something!

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 2:56
Pace: 9:00

Nine minute mile, all right.

songs we heard at the DNC
Sirius - The Alan Parson Project

Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter

Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan

Tik Tok - Kesha *

Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar

Texas Hold 'Em - Beyonce

Yeah! - Usher ft. Lil Jon, Ludacris *

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

* No, these two songs were not played at the DNC (as of Thursday night) but I guess were added by Spotify's "smart shuffle" feature which I hate and probably hit by accident.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 62°
Climate: cool
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: yes 

Upper body: 

Core Strength: 

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 172 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: burger half

Lunch: leftover pulled pork sandwich half, small bacon mac & cheese, Cherry Coke Zero, one weird chocolate, an amazing slice of cake

Dinner: pub food, beers

You know I run and I run and I run and I run.

Let's do this.

Sugary breakfast cereal no longer holds the magic that it used to. It's just so absent of real flavor and it's mostly just milk. It's just a vehicle for a lot of milk. And I don't really need milk, in my body, as a liquid, anymore.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 39:57
Pace: 9:59

Still feeling out of whack. Like, lifewise. Ran out of sertraline, need to see the doctor for my refill (come on). Been eating a lot, snacking, grazing, not good.

There were guys working on the kitchen today, which is good. But the downstairs is in upheaval and now it looks like they may not be finished until the weekend -- or after the weekend? It will be worth it. But it has made me addled.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 68°
Climate: little puffy clouds
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBD

Took a slower run, slower and longer. Bit of a chug, bad diet today.

Barack Obama's 2024 Summer Playlist

A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey

365 - Charlie XCX

CHICHIRO - Billie Eilish

Love Me JeJe - Tems

i like the way you kiss me - Artemas

Million Dollar Baby - Tommy Richman

I Can't Even Cry - Hope Tala

No Diggity- Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen

Charge It - Enny

O Quarto - Carminho

What's In the Tea - Calimossa

I Love the Life I Live, I Live the Life I Love - Hubert Sumlin

Say So- PJ Morton ft. Jojo

Continuing with the illustration. It is inspiring. It is fun. I should draw more often.

Upper body: 20 reps

When I am not honest with myself, I will eat anything.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit, yogurt & granola

Second breakfast: pizza slice

Lunch: Burrito half, beer

Movie Time: White Russian 

DNC: chips & salsa

Let's not have dinner, you know?

Traveled down a road and back again.

Last night we were delighted to attend Golden Girls - The Laughs Continue at the Hanna Theatre. I think this is going to be my Big Drag Season.

Back To School 0111

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 27:47
Pace: 8:56

Okay, so the thing is, my back. I am hoping this resolves itself, it often does. It was on the right, yesterday it was on the left -- and shooting into my thigh. No I'm not okay with this. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 80°
Climate: HOT IN CLEVELAND
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBD

First Saturday on my own in what feels like a very long time, and I am looking forward to it. I have a list of beautiful things to accomplish, including not only housework but revision, illustration and cooking. This is actually the first Saturday since the boy returned that I know I have a car available all day, though I may not even use it.

Core Strength:

   Planks: 180 sec.

Summer is over, so why not zombies?

"I don't believe there is a cure, Sam."

165 - 174 BPM Playlist

A New England - Billy Bragg

Velvet Underground - Jonathan Richman

Helter Skelter - The Beatles

Too Darn Hot - Erasure

oh baby - LCD Soundsystem

Lose Yourself - Eminem

She's Long Gone - The Black Keys

What's That Lyric?

Thank You For Being a Friend - Andrew Gold

You get so dizzy even walking in a straight line.

*sigh*

The boy has returned to school. We are on our own again. Summer has drawn, in its way, to a close. Still plenty of summer lovin' fun to be done.

This week has been arduous, however. The move was exhausting, surprisingly so, and took an extra day. I had a near migraine event on Monday night, which was held at bay not only by late night ibuprofen, but also Dramamine. I'm thinking that is a missing ingredient, one which not only quelled by impending nausea, but also knocked me out.

But I have also had the runs, since last week. I have no explanation for this, except perhaps for some kind of bug? Lack of yogurt consumption? Really, I forget how I have been enjoying yogurt for breakfast for the past year or so. I think going a couple days off messes with my system.

Let's see what happens now that we are home and having a regular breakfast diet.

Distance: .1 miles
Duration: 29:31
Pace: 9:31

So, anyway, I am off my game. Last weekend was punishing, and I am still in recovery, and trying not to worry too much about it. But it would be nice to, you know, get back to exercising. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 80°
Climate: partly cloudy & humid
Mood: enervated
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: tbd

So, where did this come from? Why did I make this, twelve years ago? Some sort of opportunity, or application. Anyway, it holds up. And it is inspirational -- to me. Cool!

What's That Lyric?

Canary In a Coalmine - The Police

Can't forget the curves of your body.

Lovely day. List of plans. Thinking of creating a cartoon, but I don't know what I'd do with it. But why do I need to do anything with it?

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:18
Pace: 9:07

Gorgeous run, and brisk. I think the EC reunion is this week? It may be something smaller, though.  

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 71°
Climate: sunny & nice
Mood: quite good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBA

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 173 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream

Lunch: meat & cheese sandwich

Treat: bomb pop

Second lunch: Life cereal w/milk & peach

Happy Hour: IPA

Dinner: popcorn, pilsner

One summer never ends.

Kamala!

Kind of surprised I chose to run five miles on Tuesday, considering recent back issues, and that I was generally feeling weak and uninspired. Prince helped however, as I pushed on, taking odd turns so that the album would end close to home, I was tripping a little bit. The Artist can do that to a person.

Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 9:17

Now. A one mile run is a thing, too. You mustn't feel like it's nothing, it's a lot. Some folks can't even do that. Just suit up, choose your daylist (thinking about the music can take up a lot of time) and hit the road.

But also, treat it like a long run. You don't stretch any less, remember to drink water, and for heaven's sake, do not rush. Trying to run too fast, thinking it will be over faster that way, is a sure way to hurt your back (leaning forward) and your shins.

It's simple. Stretch, relax, run. One mile. Then a rest tomorrow. This is a plan. You can run three miles on Saturday!    

Route: Neighborhood Loop
Temperature: 74°
Climate: overcast & humid
Mood: anxious?
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: yes

Core Strength:

   Plank: 90 sec. 

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 174 lbs. (-1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit w/yogurt & granola

Lunch: ramen w/carrot & egg

Dinner: TBA

What's That Lyric?

Suddenly Last Summer - The Motels

I'm not a woman. I'm not a man.

Last Saturday, as we were commencing our drive home, the four of us were having sandwiches at Y Knot in Damariscotta (highly recommended).

The subject was backpay, Jordan had never heard what a herniated disc was. Everyone took turns trying to explain, the thing is I haven’t had back issues in quite some time and said so.

And yet, as fate would have it by the end of the day, I was feeling a little pain, and by Sunday morning it had intensified quite a bit, as if, by being discussed, the beast had awakened.

Distance: 5.25 miles
Duration: 55:06
Pace:10:30

Purple Rain (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Prince & the Revolution (1984)  
Let's Go Crazy

Take Me With U

The Beautiful Ones

Computer Blue

Darling Nikki

Jungle Love (The Time)

The Bird (The Time)

When Doves Cry

I Would Die 4 U

Baby I'm a Star

Purple Rain

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 81°
Climate: overcast & humid
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBA

So yes, forty years ago Prince owned the summer -- a summer which was also dominated by Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, etc. etc. Also, the Ghostbusters theme, Phil Collins, Thompson Twins, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and on and on. It was 1984.

There's a new exhibit at the Rock Hall, just about this year. I think I need to see this. 

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 175 lbs.  (+4.0)

Revised Goal: 170 lbs.

We enjoyed ourselves this vacation, and overdid it a bit. High calorie soda pop, complete servings, fried snacks, a lot of alcohol. Summer is over, and it is time to get back to work, and to mindful eating.

Breakfast: fresh fruit, granola & yogurt

Lunch: ramen

Happy Hour: Rum & Moxie, popsicle, pretzel sticks

Dinner: TBA

Flood's Cove: Run Eight

Final run in the cove for the season. I have been a wise eater, though I have enjoyed myself a great deal. I continue to do core exercises, to a lesser extent, but I do them. And these runs have been consistent, not arduous, enjoyable, so beautiful.

There's always that first run, back at home, when I think wow. The last time I did this it was down a winding road, through trees, by the ocean. And now I'm just here. And then I remember that I love here, wherever that may be. 

Distance: 3.5 miles
Duration: 32:08
Pace: 9:10

The week has been peaceful, lazy, reading and more reading. Staying close to the cabin.  On Wednesday, I finished both The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, and then The Playbook, which I had set aside to begin Joseph's novel.

I have now started a book I received for Father's Day, The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne. It's outrageous.

Route: Martin Point Run
Temperature: 80°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: good
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBA

Beautiful run. Strong. My knees will admonish me later.