Gig this Saturday Night

Our one and only scheduled 2016 gig is this Saturday night. I may try to see if I can figure a way to live stream it from the band web site. I will have to do some searching around though I would bet that it is possible on YouTube.

Happy New Year

2016. Thirty years ago doesn't seem that long ago but thirty years from now will be 2046. Even ten years ago doesn't seem that long ago. Ten years from now I am hoping that I can still hike to such beautiful places like Joshua Tree and run 13 miles in less than two hours.

The New Band Site

We kicked out our drummer because he just couldn't the songs right. He was a nice guy but never remembered when to start and when to end. he'd also change the beat every time he'd play a song. He had been with us for a year and there was no improvement. He was maintaining the band site so now I need to do it. Luckily, class # 9 of 10 ended so I have more time to do it.

Still Haven't Quite Lost It

There are certain advantages to turning the decade including moving up an age group in half marathons. I was reasonably pleased with my result as I was still under 1:50. If the race had been held a month earlier, though, I would have been in a younger group and finished 50th. But since I was older, I finished 20th in my age group, or top 10%. I was about a minute slower than #19 and two minutes faster than #21, so stopping to tie my shoe didn't really affect my finish. I think I am running about as fast as I ever will, unless I decide that I want to hire a trainer. There are certainly good and not so good ways to run a race, which a trainer would no doubt help with.  I just usually run at a comfortable pace and don't pay attention to my watch. Anytime I race, I see runners glancing at their wrists during races to see how they are doing . I prefer the "enjoyment" of just running. I also never turn it on at the end, since I read about a New England Journal of Medicine study on runners. It found that most heart attacks after races occur in men, (and it's usually men,) who over exert themselves at the end of a race. I figure that I am not setting any records or trying for a prize so the extra few seconds I take off my time are not worth the risk.

George Best video

Here's a cool video of Manchester United hero from the 60's, George Best. I was very unfamiliar with him until he died when we were in London in November, 2005. The papers were plastered with his obituary and tributes. I guess he led a very dissolute life after his career but while he was on top, he was supposed to have been amazing. He did come over to the US to play in the North American Soccer League in the 70s. Pele and Beckenbauer, stars who were a little past their primes, also played then. This clip reminds me a bit of the documentary done on Zidane, which followed him for an entire game. Unlike that film, Best did not get a red card for rough play.

Morrissey

I wish he would have done this song but there were not that many Smiths' songs in his set.

Reel Around the Fountain

Nice Summer so far

Very pleasant weather although a little rainy. But none of the hot humid stuff we usually get. Great for running too. If I was a climate change denier, I would offer this as evidence but of course I am not. Good upcoming concert: a great double bill. I am also very excited that Kraftwerk will be in town on my birthday. I hope I am not traveling then.

I am not as enthused about Elvis' song selection though.

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