Nothing to Say

I am really just writing right now, to see what comes out.  There really isnt anything specific or important on my mind, other than the need to just put words on the screen.  Maybe this is narcisistic, maybe a touch egocentric, but I really dont care.  If you are reading this, you can probably stop now, as I doubt there will be anything profound in this blog. 

Currently listening to A TON of blues, everything from B.B. King to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes to Elmore James and Hubert Sumlin.  I gotta say, I love listening to the "old school dudes" much more than I like the new guitarists.  Don't get me wrong Joe Bonomassa is amazing, but there is something soul stirring that is in the old stuff. Nothing can compare to B.B. King singing The Thrill is Gone or Albert King's Born Under a Bad Sign.  There is so much soul, and pain and heartache and hope in those original versions that you cant help but feel the music. 

There is just something special about a true bluesman, maybe it's their honesty, no worried about being flashy, not trying to go over the top, just playing what is in their hearts.   It doesnt matter if they are the greatest singer in the world, as long as what they are singing is from the heart. 

I guess that is what really matters in life, it doesnt matter if you are the best so long as whatever you do is always from the heart. 

Maybe this blog had something to say after all. 

Sandblasted

Easy run today....I wish. 

I HATE Wind, Sand, Hills..but I love the trail and I live to run, so ran I did.  6 miles in 30mph winds, dust storm and my hilly trail.  59:50. 

Also did PT with the Afghan Army this morning....that was, Interesting to say the least.  Oh well, we will call it cross training. 

48 days and I am on my way home.

Streak is alive at 9 days.
shoes have 474 miles on them

that is all, you may go back to your mundane monday. 

muah (see what I did there ^^)

The Worship Song Guitar Solo

During my second run today, I was listening to my iPod on shuffle again (I am kind of liking this whole getting surprised by my music thing).  As I was listening to another very eclectic, very strange set-list, songs like Drown Me Slowly by Audioslave were mixing with songs like Spirit Fall by Chris Tomlin....not normally two songs that would go well together (they didnt, at all).  But it got me thinking...

Why doesnt worship music translate to normal listening?  Why is it okay for bands like U2 or Eric Clapton to talk about God and faith and praise on top 40 radio, but guys like Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp and Third Day dont get airplay on anything but Christian stations, or if you are like many Christians, Sunday morning only.

And then it hit me.  Not only does U2 seriously rock...but it comes down to guitar solos.  There are not nearly enough guitar solos in Christian music.  As a guitarist, I find this very discomforting.  Now, I know what everyone is going to say, that worship music is about everyone singing along and raising their hands and participating.  But hear me out.  How many times do we have singer "soloists" perform a piece for the congregation that people arent expected to sing along with, but marvel at that performers amazing voice and vocal acrobatics?

 (Pillar playing Like a Deer)

What if that guitarist in the band, who is worshipping just as much as the singer were given the freedom to really let go and do a solo in a song?  Why is that so bad?  Wouldnt he be playing his instrument with skill in worship of God?   Wouldn't it add a demension of dynamics and a moment for thoughtful interlude for the congregation?  Just the random thoughts of a guitarist who happens to lead worship from time to time. 

(Pillar playing Come thou Fount)

Think about it, wouldnt Sunday morning worship be that much more awesome if all the 40-50 year old guys in the congregation were playing air guitar to a kick-ass solo?  You KNOW it would!

 (Pillar playing the Doxology)

     \m/  \m/

Next weeks subject...why is Christian music so sissified?

11 miles today,
had a type-o on the shoe mileage last week...they currently stand at 468 miles, not 568.
7 more planned for tomorrow to make 44 miles for the week. On track for a 120-130 mile month.

The Streak Day 7

Kept the streak alive today, and I figured since it was the 7th day of the streak, I would put in at least 7 miles this morning.  It was a nice, easy relaxed pace, heck...even enjoyable. 

I started at 6:30 ish, with dawn just starting to break and the sun still on the backside of the mountains, and as the morning progressed, along with my steadily increasing pace, the sun rose.  It was a beautiful thing to feel. 

My legs felt strong and comfortable, my stride was smooth and relaxed, my cadence was even over the rough terrain and I held down 9:40's with little effort.  In fact the most remarkable thing about my run today was the ecclectic playlist that I had this morning. 

I just hit Play All: Shuffle, on my iPod and let it go...was I in for a treat.

these are the songs that played, in reverse order.

Souvenirs- Switchfoot
Be the One- Jeremy Camp
Enough- Disturbed
Spirit Fall- Chris Tomlin
The Show Must Go On- Pink Floyd
Zapata's Blood- Rage Against the Machine
Born Again- Newsboys
Mess of Me- Switchfoot
Beneath, Between and Behind- Rush
Satan's Bed- Pearl Jam
Virginia Moon- Foo Fighters
What Life Would Be Like- Big Daddy Weave
Empty Me- Jeremy Camp
Other Side of Things- 311
Layla- Eric Clapton
A Pocketfull of Stones-David Gilmore
Nutsymtom- 311

Yeah, not a playlist I would have picked on my own, but it kept the entire run interesting to say the least.  I will try for another 7 this afternoon, and possibly 8 tomorrow morning.

Ode to Grapefruits

Me: I'm thirsty...
Grapefruit Juice:  You should drink me
Me: But I dont like grapefruit juice...
GJ: But you love grapefruits.
Me: Touche'

opens Grapefruit juice container takes a sip....

Me: I still hate grapefruit juice (drinks whole box).

5 more miles this morning, streak is still alive...

5 miles and a sign of hope

I woke up early this morning for a talk with my folks, things are healing and that is good.  Afterwards I lazed around and talked with the wife and before I knew it, my run window was gone.  I panicked, thinking that my streak was going to end at 4, because I honestly didnt know if I would be able to get another opportunity to run today. 

As the day progressed, however, I cut out time around 3pm, that would give me an hour to run, before my next to do list task.  As I was heading out to change, I was interupted by a person that I had been trying to track down all day....now he was ready for what I needed done, but he only had an hour to do it.  So, run pushed back, yet again. 

After I finished that tasking, I headed down to meet with my boss, and get started on a project for later this week, only to find out that it wasnt happening anymore.  What's this?  All of a sudden my night is free?  AWESOME!!

I quickly went and changed into PT's, and grabbed Gary, the Grumpy Garmin, my headphones and hit the trail.  I was pumping Avenged Sevenfold in my ears, and that increased tempo and aggression must have been the catalyst for my legs, as I warmed up with a 9:30 mile and then churned out 4 miles between 8:20 and 8:45.  That is fast for these conditions and this trail.  5.2 in 44:59. 

I am starting to learn and understand that trail running times do not equate (AT ALL) to road running times, some trails a max effort might get you in the 7mm range, other trails (like mine here) max effort will get you in the 8:30-9:00mm range....its the little nuances that make trail running so much more interesting than road. 

Anyway....Gary stayed alive, the Tunes never died and I had a great run!  What a great day....I hope tomorrow will be just the same, or better....54~~

This is me, writing

I felt I should write something, though I dont know what
So I will ramble on until something profound comes out
taking up space on this little interweb
hitting
the
enter key
as much and as of
ten
as I want to.

My eyes sting from sweat getting in them, the sweat is there because I ran,
not far enough but far enough to count.  Thats twice today, I am feeling fine
better than this morning and that's always nice
I hope I can put the same effort in tomorrow that would be twice as nice and five in a row...
1 for a dollar 2 for 3 and 3 for 5, dont ask me about how much 10 costs, could be a GU or two. 

Dr. Suess has nothing on this ramble, not even a fox in sox preaching on a soapbox can keep up with my lyrical musings
speaking of musings, whats so confusing about a dehydrated man, with nothing on his mind but
random words mixed into sentances. 

Kerfluffle. 

Just Write

I used to not write anything unless I had something profoundly inspirational or world changing to say.  But lately I have had an epiphany...no blog is going to set the world on fire, no blog will cure hunger or disease. These are just my own thoughts, rants and quips written for my own ego, or self loathing, or ego..or whatever I am feeling that day.  So, from now on I will just write.  And whatever I have written, just know that it was profound for me in that moment.


Its not like anyone else is reading this thing anyway. 

oh, and I am coming out of the closet.....I like Crepe's.

Eddie Vedder Could Be My Best Friend.....

...If only he would return my phone calls.

Seriously though, I find that when I listen to Pearl Jam, or Eddie's music, he hits a part of my soul and emotions that are exactly in tune with his words.  From the joy of Given to Fly, the heartbreak of Betterman and Daughter, the loneliness of Elderly Woman, the angst of World Wide Suicide and the hope of Life Wasted.  Every song strikes a deep rooted chord in me.  Pearl Jam has become my soundtrack for not only this deployment, and many a great run, but I think my over-arching adult life. 

I didnt always listen to Pearl Jam, and they arent always who I am listening to, but if one band, one musician could describe who I am, it would be Eddie and Pearl Jam.

Now, if only they would return my calls about a 4th guitarist...

Outrunning Technology

I outran both my Garmin and iPod today...it still felt too good to stop. Checking my clock when I got back in, just under 50 minutes...so based off of effort, I will give myself 5.5 miles. 

My 905's are coming to their last legs...the trails are killing them.

197 miles this year so far
505 miles on the NB's

Tranference

Some days your heart hurts so bad that the only thing you can do is make the rest of your body hurt too.  Funny, now my legs hurt but my heart feels a little better.  5 miles...48ish minutes....nothing to write home about, but then again, that may be why I was running to begin with.

We Are What We Do

Our perceptions of self, what we know, and how we think are not endowed... they are earned.  We are all the products of our experiences.  Accept challenges; you may fail, but you will always grow.  FORGE YOURSELF

I am now registered for the Run Rabbit Run 50 mile trail race in September.  I have no idea what to expect, other than I know it is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done.  I cant wait...

Now, I need a Frosty.