Looking backward ... looking forward.

Compared to the festivities of the 2001 Fringe, returning in 2004 was a bit of a lonely soul-journey.

It was an exciting summer, to be sure. Earlier that season we had opened the first outside-of-NYC run of Kirk Wood Bromley's The American Revolution, and the night we departed for the Fringe was the official unveiling of Spencer Tunick's photo in Cleveland. And there was an election brewing, the less said about, the better.

I was mentally prepared ... this time I would not have a dozen excitable teenagers with me. Just Brian. Okay, Brian and Kelly and Harris, but mostly Brian. Any illusion I had about this being a triumphant artistic and financial success were quickly dashed when our professional-grade CD player was stolen from out of my car.

The first full day out, Brian and I got organized, visited FringeCENTRAL, and then he went his separate way. As though he were some kind of autonomous being who did rely upon the company of others. I do not comprehend this (no doubt why I am addicted to facebook.)

I am alone. I have no spouse, no small child with me. Where will I go? Who will I be? What will I eat?

The performances went well, though it was marginally attended. I can't blame the venue, which was located in the sticks (8th Avenue? Are you kidding me, why not perform it in the river?) but maybe instead the subject matter. A notice in the NY Times came and went, and still we attracted maybe a dozen people a show.

By that point, however, the family had joined me and we had a proper NY weekend, taking in the children's zoo and the numerous kids' parks. I will miss them a great deal this summer. God, the girl was tiny, and so happy to be there, or anywhere.

The big show that year was Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead. Still have a soft spot for that show, the Fringe production was amazing. I love being in a packed audience of people who all feel like they are engaged in something truly special.

Listening to: PODRUNNER Classic - Always Arriving (153 BPM)

Distance: 3.25 miles
Temperature: 65º
Weather: cool & humid
Weight: 153.5 lbs.

This is it, we leave today. Admittedly later than I had hoped but not everyone can take a day off work. Speaking of which, I have taken six days from my vacation time. Time I might otherwise be spending with the family in Maine or something, instead they are all for me, for this endeavor. I am trying not to feel selfish about that.

I will attempt to log daily updates here, I will TWEET as often as seems like there is something to twit about, I don't want to get too obnoxious about that.

There are at least a few people I know attending each performance, and that's nice. I should warn them I take all my clothes off.

Let's get this party started.

Never Over

Stressful week, peaceful weekend. Woke when I woke, there's grandparents to look after the kids, got to the bike path before it started getting too warm. The outlwas have an outdoor show behind the garage facing a wide field circled by thick trees. At this time of day the sun is facing the deck, and after your shower you can just sit in a chair and dry in the sun.

If you have a better idea for a Saturday morning, you can keep it.

Hocking River Bike Path
Uhm, I didn't mean to say it was grass, it's not grass. You can't edit those once you make them.

Distance: 6.75 miles
Stretches: yes
Drink: Gatorade
Snack: Balance Gold
Time: 8.20 am
Duration 58 minutes
Temperature: 60º
Weather: warm & a little humid

Summer 2007 Playlist:
Dashboard - Modest Mouse
Stronger - Kanye West
Blockbust - Sweet
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
Shine - Take That
Vegas - Calvin Harris
Mass Repeat (Extended 12" Version) - Gabriel & Dresden
Girls and Boys In Love - The Rumble Strips
Malegria - Manu Chao
Totally F*cked - Soundtrack from "Spring Awakening"
Sorry (Man With Guitar Mix) - Madonna
Foundations* - Kate Nash
The Girls - Calvin Harris
Cooldown: Disco Heat - Calvin Harris

Summer 2006 Playlist

Daddy's Red Margarita
juice 1 lime
equal measure Tequila
2/3 measure Couintreau
Shake
lime rim of glass, coat with Kosher salt
add ice to glass, pour
add 1 tsp Grenadine, 1 maraschino
serve

Manu Chao
"Malegria"

I haven't got a stitch to wear

Distance: 4 miles
Weight: 166 lbs.
Stretches: yes
Sports drink: yes
Snack: banana
Time: 6.00am
Weather: cool

Sunrise over Bong Hill

Week-end Total: 21 miles

Distance: 9 miles (oops.)
Stretches: yes
Sports drink: yes
Snack: PowerBar
Time: 5:45am
Weather: balmy

"Breaking Point" Playlist:
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
Heal the Pain - George Michael
I Want Your (Hands On Me) - Sinead O'Connor
I Am Stretched On Your Grave - Sinead O'Connor
Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Remix) - George Michael
Alphabet Street - Prince
Pictures of You - The Cure
No Sleep Till Brooklyn - The Beastie Boys
King for a Day (12" Version) - XTC
Reptile - The Church
Don't Wanna Fall in Love - Jane Child
Sign O the Times - Prince
I.O.U. - The Replacements
Pop Song 89 - R.E.M.
Hand to Mouth - George Michael
Lonesome For A Place I Know - Everything But the Girl
Hey Jack Kerouac - 10,000 Maniacs
Cloudbusting - Kate Bush
Cooldown: Night and Day - U2

WARNING: Potty Talk

I would prefer to run in the afternoon or evening, when my body isn't stiff as a board. I run early because 1) that's when I have time 2) it's too darn hot. The problem, of course, are facilities.

I have learned a lot about running marathons. For example, since I have no chance of winning, I should focus on simply getting there. Walking is not cheating. Eating and drinking while running is not cheating. And stopping to go to the bathroom is not cheating. Unless you're from Kenya, you're not going to reach the finish line fast enough to neglect necessary bodily functions.

I tried going to the bathroom before the run, but sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. I knew there would be a restroom facility by the new recreation center where I could get a mid-run drink, but would the bathrooms be open at 6am? By mile three I was in need, and had no friendly neighbors to let me into their home. Praise Bob, the john was unlocked. Let's hear it for Athens, Ohio, where anyone, even a man of the cloth, can find what they are looking for in a public facility before dawn.

We are visiting the Out-Laws, and I took the bike path by the Hocking River. Not too many gnats, but a few. Went out at dark, past the hospital, my old rooms on South Green, and then way out past all the depressing "big box" developments and back again as the greenskeepers were sweeping the links. I miscalculated and actually ran nine miles instead of the scheduled eight. Oh well. The weather was perfect.

The folks installed a sun shower behind the garage last summer, so I had a remarkable cooldown, just me, the trees, the deer and open pores.