Stay on the streets of this town.

Theater camp! So many moving pieces, and yet. It’s cool, you know? And it’s a great team. And great campers. I know it’s only the second day, but things feel healthy.

Distance: 3.1 miles

Duration: 28:35
Pace: 9:13

Last night we went to the game, we lost in the tenth. You know, they keep doing these things to pick up the pace, but they can’t speed up the time it takes to put in a pitcher.

And yet, I feel good. And the camp week is now half over. Funny how the time goes by.

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 85°
Climate: sunny & hot
Mood: good!

Forget About Me (The Breakfast Club Play) Playlist

Don't You (Forget About Me) 12" Version - Simple Minds

March of the Swivel Heads - The Beat

Dancing in the Dark - Lucy Dacus

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths

She Plays Bass - beabadoobe

The Middle - Zedd ft. Maren Morris & Grey

Weird Science - Oingo Boingo

See You at Your Funeral - PUP

Got a Zoom rehearsal tonight for a public reading of a new play script this weekend. Made what the kids call an "inspo" playlist.

Stretches: does camp count?
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-2.0)

Hot run!

Planks: yes
Push-ups: yes

Sit-Ups: yes

Gotta strut like a front suspension.

The beginning of a long week. Rising at five am isn't the problem, going to sleep at nine pm is. 

Last night, Brian took me to see Emo Philips, who was hilarious. I tried describing him to one of my Gen Z colleagues and it wasn't easy. Gaunt, bug-eyed, non-sequitur humor with a Prince Valiant haircut ... and now he's old! 

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:26
Pace: 9:10

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 69°
Climate: misty and damp
Mood: good

160 - 169 BPM Playlist

Little Girl Gone (Workout Remix) - Chinchilla

It's Indian Tobacco My Friend - Cornershop

Greatest - Eminem

Take It Or Leave It - The Strokes

Good Thing - Fine Young Cannibals

Young Americans - David Bowie

I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones

Concrete Jungle - The Specials

Stretches: yes
Water: yes
Weight: 160 lbs.

Got a stitch while running through the wood. That's not normal but it's the second time that has happened to me in the past week. I'm so used to never getting cramps, but at least I can run through them.

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: yes

I ain't missing no steps.

A successful week, so far. Yesterday, I almost bonked after lunch. Not sure how to counter-act that. I get sleepy. I always have.

The best thing to do after work is be a homebody, to come home and do something that makes me happy to be home. Yesterday I made gazpacho. Today I hung a print of our beautiful Puffball, now we have two pieces of art created by the elder that adorn our walls. I miss that sweet kitty but what a treasure,

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:13
Pace: 9:45

There has been a great deal of snacking. Snacks are plentiful. I must be careful.

"Kiss Me While the World Decays"

(Music From the Big Love 2021-2024)

Disc Two:

Crosseyed & Painless- Angelique Kidjo

What a Day That Was (Live) - Talking Heads

Dance the Night - Dua Lipa

Bandits - Josh Ritter

Murder on the Dancefloor - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Girls Talk - Tegan & Sara

Yeah x10 [MIXED] - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross ft. Boys Noize

Take Me to the River - Lorde

Also, try as hard as you can not to lean forward. You're not in a hurry. You timed this perfectly. Stand up straight. Be kind to your back. 

Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 58°
Climate: cool
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes

Water: yes

Pain Reliever: TBD 

 

Baseline: 185 lbs.

Weight: 175 lbs. (+1.0)

Goal: 170 lbs.

Breakfast: coffee w/cream, fresh fruit, bagel w/cream cheese 

Snack: Fruit snacks, Cheez-Its

Lunch: leftover brisket sand, baked beans, baba w/pita

Dinner 

She's so funky, yeah.

Waking early is beautiful. And it is hard. The wife has been engged the past several nights, and I have not. I read, I write, I sleep by nine. But I wake before five, to write, and prepare myself with peace and ease. But I still have to get out by six. This is the final push, there will be more air starting next week.

It feels as though I have not run in a month. I missed one day. My knees can tell the difference. 

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 38:16
Pace: 9:33

Route: Forest Hill Loop

Temperature: 67°
Climate: partly cloudy, cool

Mood: good

Eesh. Stretch those shins. As the weather turns these runs do seem a bit arduous. But then, I may be overdoing it. More breaks. More short runs. Keep the engine running, you don't need to tear it up every time.

Stretches: yes

Water: yes

Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (1980)

Intruder
No Self Control
I Don't Remember
And Through the Wire
Games Without Frontiers
Not One of Us
Lead a Normal Life
Biko

This was one I discovered later, starting with his fourth album (alo called Security) and working backward. I was surprised to learn that "Shock the Monkey" was by the same guy who did "Solsbury Hill" which I remembered from when it was played a lot on the radio in 1977.

I'm still not a huge fan of his first two albums. Was he a prog? Was he a rocker? But this one, this third one. This is where he truly started to figure out some things. It was when he became Peter Gabriel. How many industrial rockers of the 1990s owe their career to this one record? 

Hell, Trent Reznor owes his entire career just to the song "Intruder."

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

Lunch: Cobb salad, bread & butter, Cheetos, pumpkin roll (autumn!)

Pre-Run Snack: half-banana, nuts

Dinner: borscht w/potato, egg  sourcream

Alcohol? IPA (1x)

The lovely people at our test school have provided lunch this week, and they are very nice and complete.

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 171 lbs. (+1.0)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Reading: Corley, E.

Writing: 30 min.

I don't know why people run.

Short, early morning run. If we can survive the next thirty-six hours.

Distance: 1 miles 

Duration: 9:29

Route: Haselton Loop 

Temperature: 52°
Climate: cool

Mood: good

 
Stretches: yes

Sit-Ups: 40
Planks: 60 sec. 

Water: yes?

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

Snack: fruit snacks

Lunch: buffalo chicken salad wrap, potato chips

Coffe Break: Cherry Coke Zero, fruit snacks

Dinner: TBA

Alcohol? 

Baseline: 195 lbs.

Current: 170 lbs. (-0-)

Goal: 165 lbs.

Reading: Corley, E.

Writing: 30 min.

What's That Lyric?

The Next Ten Minutes - from "The Last Five Years"

Coke adds life (where there isn't any.)

Yep, there we go. Perfect running weather and I can't find time to run. Yes, this year it's classes and writing assignments, but it's always rehearsal period (except for last year) and family responsibility. I have to be training for a fall marathon to keep up.

And food. I like food. And I'm eating it to feel happy. And that's not why you eat food.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 30:30
Pace: 9:50
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: sunny & warm
Mood: all right
Weight: 173.5 lbs. (-0-)

I hve stopped writing in the morning, or writing my feelings, which I has had a change in my psyche and focus. Each day runs into the next, and while that might be good for some it is not for me. I should resume at least a page of personal insight, dreams, persoanl commentary, just to make concrete in my own mind where I am and what is happening.

Intake
Breakfast: coffee (2x), banana
Lunch: iced coffee, granola & yogurt w/seeds & dried fruit and honey

Snack: Veg straws, chicken ramen, Coke (for my HEADACHE)

More snack: (because HEADACHE) almonds, dried cranberries, cornnuts

Dinner: bagel, cream cheese, cheese, porter

Also: fizzy water (1x)

Queasy, headachy, unsettled. Must continue to run, through the week.

What's That Lyric?

Koka Kola - The Clash

As the rosebuds know to bloom in early May.

Deposition, 1998.

Two runs in two days? Why not. Trying to reach the end of the annual playlists. One more to go! There has already been a lot of great songs released this year, and that is something worth celebrating.

Rehearsal makes me focused, but also tired. Could barely sit up this morning.

1998 Playlist
Teardrop - Massive Attack
As - George Michael & Mary J. Blige
Torch - Sister Soleil
Percolations * - Stereolab
Just a Test - Beastie Boys
Prime Audio Soup - Meat Beat Manifesto
To Ulrike M. (Zero 7 Mix) - Doris Days

Blessed, blessed sun. Blessed day. Perfect run. Brisk, with light pain, but fast and extremely enjoyable. Last May I ran only twice. Once around the block, once for a mile.

Distance: 3.2 5miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 66°
Climate: glorious
Mood: determined

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 162.5 lbs. (-1.0)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Pick up your feet.

Scenes Unseen: The Summer of '78
New York Times, 4/27/2018

Rehearsals begin, time collapses. This is also the best time, when my focus is most acute, as I have little time for self-analyzing bullshit.

1978 Playlist
Driver's Seat - Sniff N' The Tears
Uncontrollable Urge - Devo
Let The Good Times Roll - The Cars
Masoko Tanga - The Police
Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey
Instant Tunes - XTC
Tommy Gun * - The Clash
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight - The Jam

Beautiful, brisk run. Lousy year, amazing year in music.

Distance: 3.8 miles
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 69°
Climate: blue skies, sunny & warm!
Mood: good

Stretches: yes

Baseline: 178 lbs.
Today: 163.5 lbs. (-3.0)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Ok.

Watch me work.

Never been so in the mood for the Talking Heads. Is that not strange?

We sprint toward the finish line - of the school year, and also an impending production. Little time for sleep or exercise. Hiring complete, planning farewell parties, baking dishes for in-school cultural events, rehearsing Timon of Athens in the out-of-doors. So busy for such a short week.

By morning, we run.

Temperature: 73°
Distance: 3.41 miles
Avg Pace: 7.54
Climate: steamy!

First time I trained for a marathon, it was through summer into fall, the second winter into spring. Second time was easier, but in hindsight it had to be. I wasn't starting from absolute zero. I am looking forward to the hot runs, and how I deal with them. Today I felt weak, no doubt because I have had one yogurt today and that's it.

Time for second breakfast. That is a good thing about my new eating habits. I eat one good thing, and am entitled, actually required to eat another good thing.

Having said that after I had my blood drawn Wednesday I stopped in at Eat At Joe's and had two eggs, hash browns, sausage and toast.

The toast was whole wheat.

Weight: 157 lbs.
From goal: -3.0

What's On Daddy's iPhone?
The Good Thing - Talking Heads
Incinerate - Sonic Youth

Time to win.

This may be part of a costume. I hope it will be.

What do you do when you have poorly planned a rehearsal which you decide to cancel and then return home, early, feeling slightly adrift and depressed, and there's no one there?

That's right.

Temperature: 59°
Distance: 3.38 miles
Avg Pace: 7.39
Climate: nice and cool

National Running Day is June 3. You're welcome.

Weight: 156 lbs.
From Goal: -4.0

Okay, that's not right. Somebody take me to the Greek Festival.

What's On Daddy's iPhone?
Music from Valley Girl 
The Fanatic * - Felony

I'm the man.

Can't you hear me laughing.
Can't you see me smile.

I do not run when the temperature is below ten degrees, and so it has remained. Perhaps it is all the exercises I have been maintaining to keep my back pain free (or largely so) that has kept me from having thigh fatigue. This is what usually happens when I cannot or do not run for extended periods of time.

That, and the rehearsal process for The Great Globe Itself (opening March 3) for which I have spent an inordinate amount of time on my feet, even though I am directing. Poorer directors give line readings, I give blocking readings.

Temperature: 27°
Distance: 3.15 miles

Thawing icicles. It been cold for so long the ice thinks it's above freezing. Slushing buh-shee wushy gushy. But my God, that felt good. Tomorrow we sink back into the deep freeze. I hope the forecast is correct and I can try this running thing again on Tuesday.

1979 Playlist
I'm Cold - The Cure
(Do The) Instant Mash (172 bpm) - Joe Jackson
One More Time - Joe Jackson
Dim All The Lights - Donna Summer
Let's Go - The Cars
I'm The Man - Joe Jackson
On My Radio - The Selecter
Cool For Cats - Squeeze
Boys Don't Cry (169 bpm) - The Cure

I'm cold, indeed. Cure lyrics are not a sound personal philosophy, young man.

You better run.

Pretty!

I remember running.

Sometimes, September is hard. I mean, it isn't, normally. I usually get in ten or more runs during the month of September, including last year. It's the best time of year to run.

But the girl's room has not yet been finished. There is only so much time in a day and after dinner, spending an hour or ninety minutes laying coats of primer and semi-gloss on the trim made for long evenings this week, indeed.

The wife's new job requires her to leave the house at seven. Packing lunches and making breakfast is entirely my responsibility, and one I have been handling just fine. But unless I get up at five am, there is no morning time for a run.

However, there is great joy in building this new bedroom for the girl. I wasn't aware it was eventually going to cost around $1,500 (paint, tools, bed, furnishings) but I look at it this way. This room doesn't get redone until at least 2021.

Temperature: 52°
Climate: cool
Distance: 3.25 miles
Weight: 175.5 lbs.

Then there is the high level of snacking that goes on in rehearsal. I feel pregnant. And yet I haven't gained a pound. Okay.

Ringfinger Playlist
Ringfinger - Nine Inch Nails 
Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd
Sin - Nine Inch Nails
Local God - Everclear
Scoff - Nirvana
Hey Man, Nice Shot (1/4 Pound) - Filter 

Last week I guy I knew in college posted, "nine inch nails' pretty hate machine goes surprising well with arthur miller's the crucible." 

These things are true.

While I can comprehend that I have owned this house for twenty years, I find it challenging to stomach the fact that next year that album will be twenty-five years-old.

Too tired for having fun.

September is hard. This year in particular, as we are camped out on an air mattress in the living room for the duration. Until our bed is set up in our new bedroom, sleep here we must. Until the girl's bedroom is finished, we will never set up our bed in our new bedroom.

James and Eva came over on Tuesday to sand the floor, but my schedule has been prohibitive. Our schedules have been prohibitive.

My wife began a new teaching job, so I am taking care of all morning preparation -- breakfast, lunches, transportation. Then nine hours of residency rehearsals, then surviving until bed, we all managing musical lessons, soccer games and dinner. That's fall.

And just in time, seasonal sinus attacks kick in and that makes my head hurt.

Man. I feel like I've gained ten pounds since returning from New York. I wish there were some way of measuring that.

Temperature: 70°
Climate: cool & overcast
Distance: 3.25 miles
Weight: 175.5 lbs.

That was glorious, cool, early fall run. My head is clear, I am in good spirits, and ready to stain the floor.

I mean, literally. I have to put stain on a wooden floor.

We move into the perfect days of running, cool and crisp, not sweaty and muggy. If I can keep it together, this could be a productive season.

Eric Coble's The Velocity of Autumn is currently in previews at Arena Stage. I remember eighteen months ago when we began rehearsal for that play at Beck Center. The tour of Styles had just opened, when we began rehearsals for Velocity. I was also in training for the 2012 CLE Marathon.

One day in late March I ran twenty miles, and that evening I had a performance. These things can be done. Move forward.

Middle School Playlist
September - Earth Wind & Fire
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
Generals and Majors - XTC
Ah! Leah! - Donnie Iris
Driven To Tears - The Police
Working In a Coal Mine - Devo
Can You Feel It - The Jacksons
Dream Police - Cheap Trick

UPDATE: Was reminded that it was five years ago TODAY that I received "Left knee arthroscopy and partial lateral menisectomy and meniscus repair." At that time I had doubts I would ever be able to run again. And yet, here we are. Forward, indeed.

As I drift off into the night, I’m in flight.

Schmuck face.

Now the nights get long, rehearsals stretching to 10 pm. Coming home I find a dish waiting for me because my wife and family love me and take care of me. I do my part my washing things and putting them away. But the nights push into midnight and there is not much chance for sleep. We head back to work, stare into a screen, assemble, cut, compose grant requests plus the odd assignment.

Our internet is out. I spent the morning away from Facebook and found that I had accomplished the entire morning routine of creating lunches, washing leftover dishes and preparing breakfast, which usually takes about an hour, in ten minutes.

You know, there’s a six of Heineken in the fridge I bought, like, ten days ago and it’s still untouched. This does not mean I have not been drinking. It just means an entire bottle is a time commitment I do not have and a small glass of wine goes so much better with food.

Temperature: Not sure. 25°?
Climate: crusty, uneven snow
Distance: 3.25 miles
Weight: 175.5 lbs.

Bit of a sinus headache, and an empty stomach. Running took care of both. That, and a Sudafed.

2001 Playlist
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box - Radiohead
Digital Love - Daft Punk
Get The Party Started - Pink
One More Time - Daft Punk
This Charming Man - Stars
Point Of View Point - Cornelius
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Weapon Of Choice - Fatboy Slim

Stephani wants me to tell you all I have been doing yoga. So that’s happening.

No place to run

Rehearsals have moved from reimagining I HATE THIS to reblocking AND THEN YOU DIE. We spent part of the afternoon in Fefu's Kitchen working the first third of this act. DARWINII closes its sold-out run tonight, they strike, and we begin rehearsals in the storefront on Monday. Then the real work begins, because it is difficult to imagine where to go when I am supposed to be running all over the room and Fefu's is so tiny.

I am concerned about my breathing. The family has gone to the girl's violin practice. I am grateful that my wife too the boy with her ... so I may run. Now.

Distance: 5.15 miles
Temperature: 39º? Really?
Weather: cool. nice. runny nose.
Weight: 166.5 lbs.

Tomorrow is Calvin's 10th birthday. Ten years ago today, my wife and I stepped into MacDonald Women's Hospital to check on the progress of our 30 week old pregnancy, and learned the baby was dead, and on March 20th we gave birth. He died, then he was born. The day will be spent in celebration with our two living children, we will meet my parents at the zoo, feast, play, have cake, and remember.

I hope you also have a beautiful day.

1977 Playlist
Short People - Randy Newman
Night Fever - Bee Gees
Barracuda - Heart
Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Love Gun - Kiss
EMI - Sex Pistols
Teenage Lobotomy - The Ramones
We Will Rock You (162 bpm) - Queen
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
Got To Give It Up (Part 1) - Marvin Gaye
Swingtown - Steve Miller Band

Pasty

The thing about Big Box is you have to arrive prepared. You "get the key to the space" on Monday, and have four days to work before the show opens that Friday.

This surprised my colleague Lisa when she found out she needed to find a space to direct an entire cast for Unethical. It's easier for a one-person show, you can just use someone's living room.



It's the shoes.
Lucky me, Ali (and Sean) had no problem offering their home to get this play on its feet. Thank you, thank you, thank you Ali & Sean. And thanks to stage manager Kelly for taking a few pictures of today's rehearsal.



Does this monologue make me look fat?
Preparing for the Big Box production of I Hate This, my director and I worked in my basement and, ironically enough, in the nursery of my newborn child.



I change my clothes a lot in this show.



1988 - Learning that socks make excellent gloves.



Okay, this is too weird. Is it my pasty, naked torso that makes it look truly weird, the fact that my director is just sitting there on a couch three inches in front of me ... or is it the Christmas tree?

Neither the tree, the couch nor my director are actually part of the set.



Finally dressed for running.
We practice quick changes tomorrow, one more run-through ... and on Monday, we get the key!