The most alive I've ever been.

Friends and neighbors ... 60 Playlists for 60 Years.

2026 Playlist

The Arbiter - Bryce Pinkham and the Company of CHESS

NUEVAYoL (Live at Super Bowl LX) - Bad Bunny

The Great Divide - Noah Kahan

drop dead - Olivia Rodrigo

Dopamine - Robyn

Dry Spell - Kasey Musgraves

Dance No More - Harry Styles

Stampede - Genesis Owusu

Punk Rocky - A$AP Rocky

Yep, we saw Chess on Broadway at the end of last year and it was a good time, but most of what I really loved about it is not to be found on the original cast recording. Pinkham is a gas but he's not the best singer which is evidenced in this recording. The thing is, on stage that's part of the joke -- Me? The Narrator? I get a song? Oh, my!

I'd really like them to make available the single The Arbiter (I Know the Score) performed by Björn Skifs, a re-recording of the concept album version that includes a third verse:

As you settle down behind your pawns, power passes to me

You can play like Fischer, Karpov, Euwe, and Tal combined

I won't mind; please feel free

They all thought they were "the big fromage", but they don't have my clout

I control the match; I start it, I can call it off

Kasparov found that out

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 27:20
Pace: 8:49

Audition month. End of season. Beginning of new things. One day we will move beyond oh who am I kidding, that day will never come. Rather, let us embrace the generosity of now. My family, our home, our cats. Health, privilege, time.

And I can still run. This will not always be so.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 58°
Climate: just beautiful 
Mood: all right

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

It takes 1/3 of a year to do the annual playlists, so "this year's list" doesn't represent the entire year, and yet. Pretty hot, right?

Also, I heard Olivia Rodrigo's new single drop dead for the first time on SNL just last night.

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

What's next?

… and running much too fast.

Sarah Sherman punches down.

Back pain today. Driving halfway to Cincy, and all the way back, was stressful. We keep going.

Distance: 3 miles

Duration: 25:56
Route: rec center
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Weight: 160 lbs.

Flashing light in my eye. It’s small but distracting, right in the center of my vision.

1986 Playlist

September Gurls - The Bangles

Pillbox Tales - The Cure

Rumors - Timex Social Club 

I Can’t Wait - Nu Shooz

Bizarre Love Triangle (Stephen Hague 12” Remix) - New Order

Girls & Boys - Prince & the Revolution 

The Lady In Red - Chris de Burgh

I can still hear the footsteps.

Elvis stops the show.

Running in new shoes is like running through a brand new world, on new, comfortable surfaces. Yesterday there was still a kink in my right ankle, as before. It was a mental exercise to roll through my foot properly, to not favor one leg over the other, that is how I can cause further damage.

Soon the pain was gone, all was well. The new shoes were doing their work, and all was good. Today, no pain at all.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Pavement: dry
Temperature: 52°
Climate: overcast & cool
Mood: all right

Unfortunately, last Friday I wore some old leather shoes to work which I believed had been broken in. But, uh, they hadn't been. My heels got all chewed up, there are sore spots there, not yet scabs. However, father left me (which is to say, I took from his closet) a set of shoes stretchers and I am using them to give these nice, virtually new shoes (dress brown Timberlands) a new direction.

Thanks, Dad.

Baseline: 174 lbs.
Today: 164.5 lbs. (-1.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Ideal: 160 lbs.

The girl and her cohort are obsessed with Saturday Night Live. They are desperately waiting for next weekend when new episodes resume. I have said a few things about watching the show in the early days, but have resisted sitting her down to watch any, because I don't think she would like them. Few women (only the chosen one and the humiliated one) and one person of color who was sorely miscast. Mostly brash, obnoxious, white, drug-addled men, and that's just a fact.

1977 Playlist
See No Evil - Television
Never Going Back Again - Fleetwood Mac
I Robot - Alan Parson Project
Warsaw * - Joy Division
Commando - The Ramones
Tie Your Mother Down - Queen
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
Less Than Zero - Elvis Costello

2017: The year Television broke. I have known about this band for decades. Why have I never listened to them?

Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon.

I'm not giving up and neither should you.

What, again? I have to run again?

Yes, little Pengo. Yes, you do.

Distance: 3.3 miles
Avg. Pace: 7:50
Duration: 25:47
Route: Forest Hill Loop

Long pants, gloves, cold weather hat. The world still spins.

Temperature: 36°
Climate: cool and sunny
Weight: 167.5 lbs. (-0.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Mood: same as everyone

Wrote a thing about Kate McKinnon's cold open of SNL the other night. Check it out.

And One (On One) Playlist
And One (On One) - Lilys
Cannonball - The Breeders
Stutter (175 bpm) - Elastica
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - Radiohead
Drunk Girls (Holy Ghost! Remix) - LCD Soundsystem
Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead

As long as I can feel the beat.

Are you following Song Exploder? You should. I am not a musician, but you know I love music. And regardless of my particular skill set, I love learning about how artists collaborate and how the sausage gets made.

Hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway (who also co-hosts The West Wing Weekly, which also totally makes the podcast world go round) each episode of Song Exploder is made up of interviews with artists about a single song, breaking it down into its production components, and culminating with the entire song so you can rediscover the piece knowing better how it was created.

Also, twenty one pilots was really good on SNL last night.

This week features Phantogram's monster single You Don't Get Me High Anymore which is my favorite song of right now. Just taking in the sample from Hook & Sling by Eddie Bo blew my little mind. Check it out.

Distance: 3.3 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop

Running on an empty stomach. This after poutine and ice cream last night in Gordon Square. A little winded but still a good, brisk run. 5K in the park next week!

Temperature: 57°
Climate: cool and bright
Weight: 169.5 lbs (-2.5)
Goal: 165 lbs.
Mood: good


Nailed it.
Playlist for today.
You Don't Get Me High Anymore - Phantogram
Hook and Sling - Eddie Bo
Heathens - twenty one pilots
Cheap Thrills - Sia
Lime Habit  -  Poliça
Subways - The Avalanches
2AM - Bear Hands