Light a fire, hit and run.

Actual work conversation yesterday.

What a decade it has been. The kids are quick to point out it wasn't a great world when Obama was president, but at least there was a certain degree of accountability and considerably less bullshit.

Or not. I don't know. I suppose this was inevitable. It's going to be quite the Semiquincentennial this summer.

Distance: 4.2 miles

Duration: 37:29
Pace: 8:55

Here is some good news. I did not believe I would have much going on this calendar year, as far as my writing was concerned. But I have produced a commission (which will be performed tomorrow), there will be a first public reading in June, a remount of a fringe show at the end of October, and this week's big surprise, the publication of one of my very favorite scripts!

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: beautiful
Mood: angsty

On Tuesday, The Current was commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of Prince Rogers Nelson. I mentioned this fact to our elder child and they said, "It been only ten years?"

Indeed.

2016 Playlist

Classic - The Knocks ft. Powers

Thank God For Girls - Weezer

Subways - Avalanches

New Song - Warpaint

Rebel Heart * - The Shelters

We The People ... - Tribe Called Quest

Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd

Troublemaker Doppelgänger * - Lucy Dacus

Cards - Company from "American Psycho"

Have Some Love * - Childish Gambino

You Don't Get Me High Anymore - Phantogram

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (+4.0)

Okay, you know what. Geez.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: TBA

We have not been doing the upper body work. This is not just laziness, I can't remember one day to the next and staying focused is an issue. I'm doing my job, and that's without much passion or interest, because I'm so disappointed. It's temporary.

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

Let the music move your feet

Have not been drinking. Or mostly not drinking. It's not abstinence, it's the conscious decision to have something else. Tea works, tea works very well.

And the sleep is better. It's even better when we both don't drink.

I've said this before, but it bears repeating, I'm not talking about drinking. I'm talking about any drinking at all. One beer, or one cocktail. It makes a difference. The closer to bedtime, the worse I can't sleep, and when I do I wake, and I wake, and then I wake.

Not so the past week.

There's also the calories. Trying to exhibit some kind of self-control. Yes.

Distance: 3.6 miles
Avg. Pace: 7:48
Duration: 28:10
Route: Forest Hill Loop

Tonight, however, I am alone. The boy at band practice, the girls shopping and working. I will make dinner, and enjoy one beer, and take a run.

Today is Prince Tribute Day in Minnesota.  Local Current is playing his catalog from A to Z.

Damn. The Artist makes daddy run fast.

Temperature: 52°
Climate: perfect. cool and clear.
Weight: 168.5 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Mood: high

So far, so good.

Prince A-Z - LIVE on Local Current
Future Baby Mama
Future Soul Song
Get Loose
Get On The Boat
Get Yo Groove On

He had 2 run away, his pride was 2 strong.

Prince or Poe?

DAD: ... then he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, so folks called him The Artist Formerly Known as Prince or sometimes just "The Artist" --
BOY: The Artist sounds cool.

Distance: 10 miles
Avg Pace: 7:51
Duration: 1:18:33
Route: Lakeview to MLK Jr. Blvd. Loop
Week Seven Total: 28 miles 
Training To Date: 155 miles

Did not run to Gandhi, for my usual ten mile. Instead, I wanted to go through the cemetery on my way out, and around Wade Oval in University Circle for a water break before heading down to MLK and the entrance to the Cultural Gardens before heading more or less straight back to make a clean 10 mile run.

If I can run ten miles, half of it uphill, and still average less than an eight minute mile, I must be in some kind of good shape. Beautiful day. Beautiful run.

Temperature: 37°→52°
Climate: cool, then not so cool
Weight: 161 lbs.
Mood: good

Prince Playlist
My Name Is Prince
Gett Off (Purple Pump Mix)
I Feel For Your (remix) - Chaka Khan
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got *
The Glamorous Life (Club Edit) - Sheila E.
Electric Chair
Nasty Girl - Vanity Six
Controversy
Kiss (Anon Mix) - The Art of Noise ft. Tom Jones
Alphabet Street
Girls & Boys
When Doves Cry - Quindon Tarver (from "Romeo + Juliet")
Let's Pretend We're Married
The Beautiful Ones

I am so tired of breaking into tears. But I cleared ten miles just at the climax, and walked, and craned my neck to the sky, through the budding trees. It was cloudless and blue.

I may not know where I'm going, babe. I may not know what I need. But one thing's for certain, baby.

Those who run seem to have all the fun.

This tragedy isn't about me. But I am finding this year very difficult to take. It is as though all the doors of my life and closing behind me.

Distance: 5 miles
Avg Pace: 7:39
Duration: 38:15
Route: Boulevard-Noble Loop

For those who forget, it was (allegedly) the song Darling Nikki from "Purple Rain" that so scandalized Tipper Gore and motivated her to pressure her husband, Senator Al Gore, to hold congressional hearings to look into the deleterious effects of song lyrics on the minds of our young children.

Apart from having the opportunity to watch Frank Zappa make a complete ass out of our highest legislative body, the most significant result of the whole affair was that corporate music caved in and created the entirely arbitrary "Parental Advisory" label for records with questionable content.

The song Darling Nikki makes reference to masturbation. If Ms. Gore took the time to watch "Purple Rain" she may have understood the song in context, though it couldn't have made her any less uncomfortable. The Kid (Prince) is on stage performing at First Avenue and sees his flame Apollonia enter with his nemesis, Morris (and isn't Morris Day everyone's nemesis, after all?)

The Kid flies into a jealous rage and orders his band to change up the set, to perform that most lascivious of songs. He growls and whines and bumps and grinds and Apollonia gets what he's doing, and she's hurt and she leaves. Also, the manager of the club is pissed, but that's a different story.

The point is, The Kid was being a dick. He was wrong. We know he was wrong. But that was one part of the larger narrative.

The film "Purple Rain" was released the day after my sixteenth birthday. We listened to this album (and danced to it in driveways) and watched the movie on video over and over throughout my junior year in high school. The man made an indelible, unforgettable impression.

I learned many things from Prince, about the fluidity of sexuality, about passion and humor and humility. Grace and funk and just amazing music. How to love, and sometimes how not to love. And maybe even about God.

Temperature: 61°
Climate: warm!
Weight: 163 lbs. (-0-)
Mood: After 40 minutes running to Prince? Pretty good, actually.

All the hippies sing together.

Celebrating the one & only PRINCE @HamiltonMusical #RestInPurple #PrinceRIP pic.twitter.com/zbNB4veiYP

— G R E G O R Y (@ghaney22) April 22, 2016

Prince Playlist
CLOUDS
Starfish & Coffee
Take Me With U
Paisley Park
Mountains
7
Delirious
Erotic City
Love Song (w/Madonna) *

... what?

It's time to fix your clock.

Where do 30 years go?
Man. Headachy and tired. These two runs have been miserable, I have had to walk bits of it, especially on inclines. Yesterday, it was a nail in my head, today I was just exhausted. And when I stopped my head hurt, again.

We have had relatives in for the weekend, and the girl participated in the high school musical. Too much rich food, too much alcohol (though I did not drink after dinner last night) and bizarre sleep patterns. It all combines to make me a dull boy.

1999 - Prince (1982)
1999
Delirious
Let's Pretend We're Married
D.M.S.R.
Automatic

Temperature: 37°
Distance: 3.25 miles