... but not mine.

Topsail Island Pier
(2012/2022)

So far, it's a great week. Lots of running, not too much rain, just enough to keep things less-than-blazing. Reading a great deal, chatting with family. plenty of personal time with my spouse -- and also my son (Monday night the two of us we went to the miniature golf place across the road) just relaxing.

Because there is not enough relaxing. I have to be doing. I like doing. I need relaxing. I need to let my mind go. I'm always thinking about writing or working or fretting. About the world. And there is so much to fret about.

At least the Hutchinson hearing was fun.

Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 19:52
Pace: 9:56
Route: Topsail Island Beach
Temperature: 76°
Climate: cloudy & windy
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Abdominals: 90 sec.
Water: yes

The boy was up, literally, all night, fishing. That's why he is here, or one of the primary reasons he loves to come here, and he picked the perfect evening for an all-nighter because today it is overcast and raining (at least this morning).

I hung out with him until about midnight, he came in around six. I'm not waking him up to go running.

Patti Smith Playlist

Dancing Barefoot

People Have the Power

Gloria: In Excelsis Deo

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Finished reading Just Kids this morning. I may write a little something about that.

Run away.

Our last full day, we must depart tomorrow at nine. am. Traditionally it is at noon, why so early? They clean the cabin from top to bottom, a thorough disinfecting. Indeed, when we arrived I had never found the place so clean. I mean, it's been clean, but there's clean and there's clean.

Check out at nine, next family cannot check in until five. They have taken things seriously here, and so have we. Always distanced, never stepping into anyone else's cabin. Outdoor meetings only.

The weather has been so pleasant, we have done our fishing and reading and reading and reading. The boy caught a four pound bass yesterday in Crystal Pond. He has not yet eaten any of his catches, back into the pond it went. But that was a real big fish.

The work resumes on Monday, if permitted I believe I will return to the office. There is so much we need to do.

Summer reading (hers, not mine.)

Distance: 3.5 miles
Duration: 33:28
Pace: 9:34
Route: Martin Point Run
Temperature: 79°
Climate: sunny & hot!
Mood: good, thanks.

Brisk run, hot and free. Right hip complaining for a bit, now my left knee. But there s nothing for me to complain about, really. A week that began with a deep slide into much controlled mourning (there are no secrets in this house, there are no ceilings upstairs but for the roof, my tears were muffled and silent) has resolved itself into a feeling of relaxation and something akin to relief.

Long drive tomorrow, a short one on Sunday. And that would be my birthday.

My legs too weak to stand.

Why yes, I do like Huey Lewis and the News!

Apparently it will be in the fifties in about ten days. It always says it will be in the fifties in about ten days.

Seriously. The doldrums. Running in the cold. I cannot deal anymore. I drag my feet out the door. I am not happy about this.

1983 Playlist
I Want a New Drug - Huey Lewis & the News
Is There Something I Should Know? - Duran Duran
The Flirting Kind - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Modern Love - David Bowie
Automatic - The Pointer Sisters
Fake Friends - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Wrapped Around Your Finger - The Police
The Fanatic - Felony

And yet, we persevere. Not so cold, that was nice, actually. Lots of guys around the pond, must be first day of fishing. I didn't know there was an opening day for fishing, but it must be today. There were a dozen folks around that pond.

Many downed trees in my path, too. Nothing enormous, not like last year.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 37°
Climate: cool & partly cloudy
Pavement: wet
Mood: not bad

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 167 lbs. (-0-)
Goal: 165 lbs.

Recovery Run

Crystal Pond.

First need for a "recovery" run. Yesterday's sixteen mile trek took a lot out of me, I spent most of the morning in my pjs, napping and reading ... which is kinda what I have done this morning. No alarm to wake me, then sitting by the fire, reading, writing, checking the online media.

My calves were very sore all day. They are sore now. So many hills yesterday, especially at the end. But my back feels good, and I have been concerned as to how longer and longer runs would affect my recent injury. At present, not at all.

I have been eating pretty much whatever I choose. I made a decision a few days back not to pick up a case of Coca-Cola. Traditionally, I would be drinking one rum and Coke a day, but I can't ... there's no Coke. Also, still enjoying sensible portions for dinner ... but also dessert pretty much every night. Then there are the Doritos, which are gone, but at least I wasn't alone in consuming them.

But they were good. I ate them, and I was glad.

However, though we have no scale in the house, my belt has provided a certain indication of my intake. In March I was at the last notch in my belt. Last month I was on the fourth notch in my belt. Yesterday I realized I would be much more comfortable at the third notch in my belt.

Not an emergency. But it has been noted.

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 25:40
Avg Pace: 8:34
Route: Martin Point Run

Felt downright cool went I headed out, but then the sun came out and the temperature rose three degrees. Doesn't take much. Started at the top of the hill instead of running it. Did myself that favor.

Just another perfect day in the cove. I do have plenty of writing to accomplish, but also promised the boy we would hunt down a mackerel jig. We must head out in the motorboat today.

Temperature: 70° - 73°
Climate: bright and humid
Intake: banana
Hydration: yes

Stretches: yes

I must learn to swim all over again.

Ultramarathon runner Jenn Shelton is very pretty.

That is all.

There have been times in days past when I have done sit-ups or what have you - "crunches" okay, sure ...  not to improve the appearance of my abdomen, sister please, I would never go around with my shirt off, no. Just to pull in my belly, to wear those jeans or slacks once upon a time which make me look emaciated and hip. There is no six-pack to be gained here. That will not happen.

Tightening of the abdominal muscles occurs naturally, gradually, for me, through the act of running, and that's it. When I cease running, the muscles go slack. Sometimes worse, I return to inner-tube land.

Not me.

To this boy, the sexiest part of the male anatomy is the inguinal ligament. Maybe it goes without saying that a washboard stomach is attractive on a man or a woman, but it is this line (see above) which defines the hip to the groin which, to me, is most pleasing to observe. It appears only in women who are extremely muscular and lean, which is to say, it is not commonplace, nor is it necessarily attractive. In dudes, however, you better have that going on.

At home, the bathroom mirror, is perpendicular to the shower, so it is not something I notice after a shower.  Here is it is the first thing you see when drawing across the shower curtain. And I found yesterday that I had redevloped my inguinal ligament in three days of barefoot running.

Temperature: 76°

Distance: 4 miles. I'm back.

Going to be a hot one today. Took the boy fishing at 4 AM this morning, caught a few pinfish and snapped the line just before we had to turn it in at six. Then we had breakfast on the pier at sunrise. Not a bad way to start the day.

Couldn't settle for two miles, had to push onto four. No regrets, blisters still tender, but not affecting my stride. Normally, when I get winded, my body will assume the form on an apostrophe, head down, looking at the ground, to continue running heel-to-toe.

Running barefoot I cannot look down in that way, and just think about it makes me straighten up, taking in the view, creating shorter steps, breathing deeper, feeling refreshed.

Super Bon Bon Genius Playlist

Blame - Soul Coughing

Love Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Cuts You Up - Peter Murphy

(Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads

Kiss Off (177 bpm) - Violent Femmes

I Know What Boys Like - The Waitresses

Come Undone (Come Undub) - Duran Duran

Pain Lies on the Riverside - Live

Down To This - Soul Coughing

The One Thing - INXS

In Between Days - The Cure

Finished the book. Complete report due tomorrow. I understand unfortunate events related to the book have occurred during the embarrassingly long time it took me to read it, which I have avoided investigating until I was through.

I did find it interesting that all the male athletes are described as bizarre, kindly, spiritual outcasts who found their true-calling through the noble pursuit of ultrarunning, while the two main female protagonists are described as a zaftig naturalist and a ready-to-go party girl.

Obamacare upheld.

I got a Bloody Mary.

Today, life is good.