The future looks bright.

Saturday, I just said fuck it and ate everything. Breakfast cereal, they brought home baba and I ate that. Then we went to a ballgame and there was beer, a pretzel and nachos. We ended the evening at Bette and had polenta fries and a vegan Caesar. I regret nothing, that was a good, hot and overwhelming day.

Today is the first day of resdency rehearsal, so of course I kept waking up all night. I rose at 4:30 to run but it was storming out. Fortunately, I had homework, so I just read at the kitchen table until the thnder and lightning passed and I could take a run between the raindrops (back to your door). 

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 29:19
Pace: 9:28
Route: Boulevard Loop
Temperature: 70°
Climate: after the storm
Mood: upbeat!
Weight: 170 lbs. (-0-)

The Nightfly - Donald Fagen (1982)

I.G.Y.

Green Flower Street

Ruby Baby

New Frontier

The Nightfly

Walk Between the Raindrops

Maybe it was Lennon's swan song, the Elvis-inspired (just Like) Starting Over, or just encroaching middle age that inspired all these 1970s rock stars to start producing either melancholy  or embarrassingly poppy tributes to their younger days. 

See Don Henley's Boys of Summer or Billy Joel's entire An Innocent Man LP.

Donald Fagen, he of the acid-lyriced yacht rock ensemble Steely Dan, walked the finest line between satire and nostalgia with The Nightfly and the commentary wasn't lost on me, at the age of fourteen I "got" the message of its opening track I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year) which never gives away the game. It is openly optimistic about the untold possibilities of science and commerce ... but that year was 1957.

The song never asks the obvious question, "What the hell happened, man?" This dry wit is with me today, and explains why I make patently absurd observations on Facebook, and why my white male colleagues can help themselves but need to explain exactly how I am wrong.

This album defined my high school years, and it remains one of my absolute favorites.

Intake
Breakfast: coffee (2x), PSL, doughnut (1)
Lunch: Sittoo’s Business Special (half)

Coffee break: coffee & cream

Happy hour: beer, m&ms
Dinner: Mushroom stew over brown rice

Also, two oatmeal coconut cookies 

Okay, a run before rehearsal. Ok! Now, we need to watch what we consume during rehearsal. This is where the holidays truly begin.

Why am I so soft in the middle now?

When you eat a lot of hot salsa the night before, you may have intenstinal distress. Just a tip.

Distance: 3.75 miles
Duration: 34:25
Pace: 9:11
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: hot & sunny
Mood: good
Weight: 170 lbs. (+1.0)

Listening to Yacht Rock this week, thanks to onset of Labor Day and Mr. Chris Molanphy. Thanks, "Hit Parade" podcast! We are smooth.

Thursday Intake
Breakfast: coffee, protein smoothie

Coffee Break: latte
Lunch: vegan chicken sandwich and vegan cheese covered fries (half) 

Dinner: quesadillas w/beans & rice

Also: PSL, absurdly large lemonade, Guinness

What's That Lyric?

You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon (and numerous uncredited Black South African musicians.)

Today I learned "She's Gone" and "Baby Come Back" are the exact same song.

I've gotta get a new balm.

Last night, I slept. I have resumed dreaming dreams I scarely remember. I wish I wrote. Running, not writing. That should be on one of those inspiration plaques like "Waving, Not Drowning."

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:12
Pace: 9:05
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: after the rains, overcast & humid
Mood: all right
Weight: 169 lbs. (-0-)

Intake
Breakfast: coffee, protein smoothie

Coffee break: latte
Lunch: vegan chicken sandwich and vegan cheese covered fries (each cut in HALF)

Treat: Pop Tarts
Dinner: cucumber soup w/almonds, cheese & bread, cherry tomatoes, beer

Dessert: Sherbet (1 scoop), Manhattan

Also, fizzy water (1x)

El Oso - Soul Coughing (1998)

Rolling

Circles

Blame

St. Louise Is Listening

Houston

$300

I Miss the Girl

Warm-Down:

So Far I Have Not Found the Science (0.25 miles)

The boy has informed me that El Oso is the best of Soul Coughing albums, this is from a kid who has long loved the band, and I was surprised. But I have to admit he is more qualified to judge (he thinks the bass and drum on this record is outstanding) as he is without bias. 

I have a personal connection to their first two albums, listening to them as they were contemporary. Just prior to the release of this, their third and final record, a surprie concert was announced at the Euclid Tavern and we got tickets, very excited to see the act.

They played El Oso, their as yet unreleased album, in its entirety, and nothing else. Maybe they played one familiar tune as an encore. And Doughty was high as a kite, his patter was virtually incomprehsible. He asked as to all refer to him as "Your Junta."

"I will be your Junta!" he proclaimed, a joke which was funny to no one but himself.

Anyway, we are opening our hearts to this record. Lyrically, there are only a few choice moments and a lot of repetition. But that drum and bass, though. The boy isn't wrong about that.

You know you ought to slow down.

Respect.

Oh my God, this life.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 28:30
Pace: 9:11
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73° 
Climate: sunny & beautiful
Mood: all right
Weight: 169 lbs. (-1.0)

The boy is making smoothies for breakfast. It is not my intention to "bulk up" but someone has to drink the rest of this. Also: need to watch the grazing. WATCH THE GRAZING, DAVID.

Intake
Breakfast: coffee (2x), protein smoothie
Coffee break:latte

Lunch: Sitto's lunch special (you know it)

Snack: Diet soda, apple

Happy hour: beer (2x)
Dinner: bean & greens stew over sourdough bread w/homemade hot sauce

These new Sauconys are good shoes, man.

What's That Lyric?

Take Your Time (Do It Right) - The S.O.S. Band

I hear footsteps.

Suggested serving size.

No alcohol Friday night, and I woke up Saturday with something like a hangover. I hate my head.

Also, my left ankle. It's been hurting, I bought the Sauconys because they provided extra support to the ankle, but still. Weakness.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 39:34
Pace: 9:53
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 81°
Climate: sunny & hot!
Mood: all right
Weight: 170 lbs. (+1.0)

Saturday Intake
Breakfast: coffee, Monster Mash cereal & milk
Lunch: cold pizza (2 slice), Doritos (tiny bag)
Dinner: too many rebaked nachos

Also; 2 beers and a Zima

What's That Lyric?

Heartbeat - Psychedlic Furs

I wonder what you're living for.

As my mother used to say, "Well. I'm glad you got that out of your system."

Today is not a day I would choose to go running. It's very hot. I had a poor night's sleep. And I feel weak, disengaged, numb, depressed. I'm not actually numb, I feel like crying. I feel like giving up on everything.

But the boy and I just got new shoes from Second Sole. Saucony, that's a first. He was leaving as I got home, and he encouraged me to take a run, which was thoughtful.

I'm tired. I feel like doing nothing at all. Once my father had a terrible headache (he told me this story) he was a young man and his head hurt so much he couldn't stand it. He said he took ten aspirin, figuring they would either kill him or make his pain go away. Anyway, it didn't kill him.

I have no idea if this is a smart thing to do. It doesn't feel like it. But I keep dithering her at my laptop because I have no idea what else to do.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Duration: 30:26
Pace: 9:22
Route: Boulevard Loop
Temperature: 79°
Climate: hot & sunny
Mood: very bad
Weight: 169 lbs. (-1.0)

It was difficult, but not hard. Not much speed, but I felt good. Managing rush hour traffic, and the Greek Festival. Watching pedestrians and parked cars and stopping at all intersections.

Saw some bullshit at the main intersection, up the hill. Not paying attention to people in the crosswalk when trying to make a left turn in front of oncoming traffic. Blowing your horn three times to let people know you know you're running a red light, but I don't care. Assholes.

Heading down the hill I see a car coming to a stop at a side street at the stop sign, so I run through. Then they accelerate. I shouted, they saw me and looked shocked as they peeled past, missing me by feet.

I am going to get killed. Someone is going to kill me.

Nice new kicks, though.

Intake
Breakfast: coffee (2x)
Lunch: pizza (1 slice), salad, cupcake
Dinner: nachos w/pico de gallo, corn on the cob

Dessert: cookies, milk

Also, fizzy water (1x), mocktail

What's That Lyric?

First Wave Intact - Secret Machines

You should be horizontal now.

Two shitty nights of sleep in a row. Headachy this time, for no reason. I try to postpone breakfast but I felt sick to my stomach. Often I'll just reach for cereal and milk but that doesn't sit well. So, a little protein instead.  

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 27:33
Pace: 8:53
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 75°
Climate: sunny & glorious
Mood: all right
Weight: 170 lbs. (-1.0)

Took all day to feel something like normal. I even took Sudafed to try and open my sinuses, but I just feel low all day. Coming home however, the sun was bright, the sky was clear, and so was my head.

Intake
Breakfast: coffee (2x), eggplant parmesan 
Happy Hour: Guinness
Dinner: pizza (2 slices), salad

Also, fizzy water (1x)

Summer 2021 Playlist

Chaise Longue - Wet Leg

Solar Power - Lorde

Freedom - Jon Batiste

Rumors - Lizzo ft. Cardi B

Smile - Wolf Alice

I Need Some of That - Weezer

Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo

Bad Dream Baby - Hippo Campus

The Gathering - Frank Turner

God, what a beautiful night. Running at full speed. Enjoying the world outside. I have waited weeks to get back to this.