Something New (and a Random List)

SOMETHING NEW
As I write this, I am loading the new Jack Johnson album, "Sleep Through the Static", onto my trusty orange iPod Shuffle so I can listen to it on today's planned tempo run (which is actually yesterday's planned tempo run postponed due to lameness). Early report on "Sleep Through the Static": a little less "surf tune" than Jack's last two albums, and definitely less cutesy than the music off the "Curious George" soundtrack. Duh.

I am also loading this year's runs into a newly discovered online running log called RunningAHEAD. Note the run statistics being pushed through to this page underneath the links. Cool, huh? Those totals look pretty sad though....

Let's see, what else...A RANDOM LIST

• My fave running kicks have found their way to Sierra Trading Post, which is great because they are half their normal price. HOWEVER, this means the model is doomed. It is being closed out. It is being left behind. So I am stuck with the decision: do I suck it up and stockpile new pairs of the same shoe? Or do I just assume that I will find another shoe that I like as much?
• It's a long way off yet, but Cap'n Ron and I found a way (with considerable help and encouragement from The Colleague) to keep our annual Joshua Tree trip on the calendar. This year we're taking the motorcycles all the way down and back for a little adventure to go with our adventure.
• Would it really be so hard for Hillary and Barack to get together and decide to run as a ticket this year then switch for 2012? Come on. This election "process" is such a joke.
  
• I've always thought this, but watching a Sundance Channel documentary on Wilco has me newly convinced that they are the country's smartest band. I just loaded "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" onto the shuffle too.
• The oldest daughter of The Colleague got braces today. Not sure what else to say about that. Though I do remember being excited to get braces when I was 14. Weird.

• David Shields' new book, The Thing About Life is that One Day You'll be Dead hits the streets today. The Colleague and I read an advance copy a couple of weeks ago...worth reading for sure. Check it out.
• It's been technically true for a while, but I have confirmation that Uncle Dan is indeed back in Seattle. Seems Denver wasn't his style. I'm sticking some Maker's Mark and Diet Coke for ya brother. Come on by The Palace anytime. And bring the junior linebacker with you.
• Here I am typing away when an email comes in from a college friend. It turns out one of our fraternity brothers from way back then is the subject of one of Oprah's home makeover situations. Weird.
• I'm not fucking Matt Damon. But Sarah Silverman is.
• Remember when you realized why mother-in-law jokes exsited? Well, I'm truly learning why ex-wife jokes exist.
• I can tell it's winter training time because most of my workouts consist of looking at my shoes or the bike, anticipating the pending torture, walking to the fridge and opening a Red Hook. If I don't participate, this micro brew craze might not catch on.

That's all I know. I should be working.