Run Club Author Evans Providing Fitness Hope and Workout Information

 I woke up at at little past one this morning.  I had to linger in bed for time to "catch up", but eventually it did and I set out, in the living room, to do some 12 minutes of running-in-place.  The air conditioning in the house was mostly on, but I took some of the "off" time to brew a pot of coffee.  Yesterday I took some time to switch around running-in-place with walking back and forth through the house, using the initial training formula of Slow AF Run Club author Martinus Evans' suggested timed ratios of running to walking at a ratio of one to three, building up to a total of twenty minutes leaving pace out of it...I worked my way up to ten minutes.  Later today my plan is to go a little further with the Slow AF workouts, without going overboard with them...I'm enjoying reading through this funny, helpful book. Melissa earlier gave me a good report on my most recent MRI brain scan.  It's still something I need to be cautious interpreting, since these tests can easily quickly turn toward the worse.  I have to be reasonable about my own medical expectations, especially regarding the detection and growth of cancer in my own brain. Living onward for a multitude of years is something I'd like to be a part of, and being effectively active during that hoped-for span places high on my list of priorities...especially concerning running and walking long distance endurance events.  Completing race events of 5k to half-marathon length, regardless of finishing times, are goals I'd like to attain as 2026 progresses into the spring,summer, and fall months. I've already experienced a severe, seemingly random brain cancer diagnosis bomb dropped on me from last October, with the brain surgery and subsequent chemo and radiation treatment side effects having their own negative effects on my athletic endurance and general fitness level.  Let's see if this morning I can't at least approach the exhortations of Mr. Evans, who believes that factors limiting running and walking distance attainment are more than 90% mental in origin.  I say let's get mental with it all and crush it...

Just Checked Out Running and Beatles Books from Library

The other day I finally completed my reading of Joshua Khan's childishly dark and forgettable 2016 fantasy novel Shadow Magic and promptly wrote a mainly negative blog article review on it.  Now I'm ready for more books.  I persuaded Melissa yesterday to look in my old wallet for my ancient, dilapidated public library card.  We eventually found it and went on down there.  After discovering a thick, very heavy volume claiming to discuss every Beatles song ever recorded and released, I found a book about running for absolute, rank beginners by Martinus Evans titled Slow AF Run Club.  We checked both out for 4 weeks and renewed my library registration.  I started reading Evans and found his unapologetically Earthy language did not interfere with his book's compelling message, which claimed that running is 90% mental and that his goal with the book was to light a fire under readers' asses and have them get up and start running, with speed playing no factor in the process.  That really hit the spot with me, for I couldn't care less about running a fast race...only getting through them no matter how slowly.  Evans has a training protocol that mixes light, limited running with more time-extended walking, interspersed with rest and recovery breaks.  His simple plan is something I'd like to get started with soon, and I'm on board with his notion about how much of a role the mind plays regarding how runners limit themselves.  I'm 69 and a half and firmly believe that light, light running is the way to go for me. And my future running aspirations are pretty much set in stone: let me get to where I can cover the distance, and then on race day show up, finish and walk away with the medal. Or the Parkrun postings on Saturday mornings..

The Beatles were such extreme head cases that I was somewhat turned off by their combative attitudes toward each other during their studio recording sessions, lead by George Martin.  I watched on YouTube, on its Film Retrospective channel, showing how different famous rock albums were recorded, and how disruptive and chaotic the sessions tended to be, mainly with acts like the Beatles and Rolling Stones often on drugs, carrying on with their fighting.  And then I saw a show about the making in 1970-71 of Led Zeppelin IV and was impressed (and surprised) by how that band was depicted as being professional, not at all subject to runaway egos. So this Beatles book stands at home as couch reading, not a reading endeavor project per se but rather as something I might look at based on the topic...

Early Rising, Day Planning

I woke up and got out of bed this morning a little past three...did ten minutes of running in place while brewing coffee.  Now I'm sitting here looking ahead to the coming day, just a little past four.  One item on my agenda is to go down to my local public library branch, update my card and account, and check out one or two interesting books.  Unlike the case with 2nd and Charles a few weeks ago, I have no intention of picking out books out of desperation because I'm too tired and can't find a place to sit.  i do know that this is now post-Easter and we're now back on the regular calendar. It's a foregone conclusion that further exercise for me today will tax my ability to accomplish it.  If i do more back-yard inner perimeter laps, then I know what to expect.  And my eating will be measured and recorded., with the notion that spacing of meals and snacks is to be recommended. Yesterday evening i did watch a YouTube video listing and explaining 7 simple habits I could easily adopt...probably would be better off writing them down and implementing them, 1 by 1.  i want to install and begin using a smartphone app that identifies wild bird species by their songs...this afternoon on the back porch sounds like a good time to get that going.  And hydrating a lot more, that sounds good. Life is good, and I am a person in charge of my own happiness...

Just Finished Reading Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan

 During Anita and Jim's recent visit to Gaineville, we tried looking around the used bookstore 2nd and Charles.   There was such a dearth of interesting books or magazines...and I was feeling physically exhausted...that I almost jumped at the opportunity to buy a 2016 juvenile-level fantasy novel by Joshua Khan titled Shadow Magic. It took me a while to get going reading through it, especially when I quickly discerned how depressing and hopeless the setting, characters and social order were.  Imagine that the "good" place, called Gehenna, is where the dead are brought back to life.  Society is worse than the Taliban and women can be put to death for simply invoking magic. Lilith Shadow rules over Gehenna although she is suffering through a 3-year engagement to an entitled little creep of the opposite ruling house named Gabriel and trying to solve the mystery of recent assassinations and attempts.  The novel's hero is a rough little boy named Thorn...he and Lily hook up and are pretty much on their own to solve the mysteries and save the day. In the background is a scary (but principled) man named Tyburn: he is the official executioner, and no one wants to find themselves on his bad side.  Let me explain my reactions.  I found nothing in the story's setting attractive or stimulating to my imagination, which was the case in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Twilight by Stephenie  Meyer, and Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling...J.R.R.Tolkien's two sagas The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings also stand out.  Rick Riordan wrote the Percy Jackson series bringing classical mythology to a modern-day level, and until filmmakers ruined it for me by over-dramatizing it, I enjoyed the occcaional tongue-in-cheek repartee. But not with Shadow Magic. On the book's jacket he is quoted as saying,"I defy you not to love this story." 

Well, I stand defied. 

I had little trouble reading through Joshua Khan's narrative, but found it all pretty boring...it didn't matter to me what happened to anyone, including the so-called "good guys", who I would no doubt have disliked in real life.  So I don't recommend Shadow Magic and only bought and read it just to be able to say I read a book.  i won't buy or read the next one. No, I think I'll just bide my time and choose something else with a special, appealing nature to it...

After Parkrun Experrence, I See Need for More Discipline & Consistency in Training

After a poor night's sleep, I got up around five this morning and went, with Melissa driving, down to Depot Park just a few blocks south of dowtown Gainseville to attempt their weekly Parkrun 5k.  Today it was warmer, in the sixties. The "race"...they try to say it isn't a competition...has quite a few people running and walking in it.  The very first Parkrun I ran,in January 2019, had me finishing at 30:00, a speed barrier I wouldn't break until 2023. Yet, with the exception of my summer 2021 open heart surgery and slow recovery until late October, I could easily maintain a light running pace without feeling exhausted.  That was true until early this year...now the simple act of jogging seems a bit too challenging to me.  As a matter of fact, the prospect of performing one and only one lap through the park seems pretty daunting, with me eliminating quickly any notion of going any further.  The people there this morning were very nice and friendly and, when i finished, Melissa praised me for my  effforts and enouraged me heartily.  As for my future with fitness walking and jogging, any progress  I make in it will need to come gradually, and I should be patient and disciplined. Later I exercised at home and walked slowly around the back yard while the resistance burden dragged me down. I can barely cover two inner-perimeter laps before needing to stop.  I felt a sense of regression at the park today, but I know that consistency is the best way to go... 

Moon Rocket Launched, Exercise, About BaseballTV

 On December 7th,1972, Apollo 17 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Being the sixth lunar landing mission, it would be 53+ years before a return mission was sent there.  Artemis II lifted off early yesterday evening without incident, and its passengers are well on their multi-day circling of Earth's unusual, unitary natural satellite.  It was still broad daylight at launch time, and while sitting in our front yard facing east we saw absolutely no sign of the spaceship or its trail for several minutes following the launch.  Obama said we didn't need to go to the moon because "we've already been there', which I thought was wastefully dismissive if not arrogant.  This morning I finally arose at six, running in place for four minutes and brewing a K-cup of coffee.  A man is coming over to our house to remove the old plastic shed and rendet the back yard a simpler place without such an encumbrance.  I read some pages in Joshua Khan's Shadow Magic, intending to go further into it today.  For me, it has too many convoluted plot twists: who's the real culprit, and how does its ending slide into the next book?And I plan to watch some MLB regular reason baseball on that subscription channel, come afternoon or early evening.  And a modest attempt at some c-v home floor exercise should do the trick as well.  And how about a little more sleep, no? Let's see, I'll do four more minutes running in place and then I'll give it a nice break...  

Baseball, Early Rising, Reading, Media Junkie, Gratitude, Exercise

 Yesterday evening I enjoyed watching the MLB premium channel for the regular lineup of contests, minus those being visually blocked for including Florida teams like Tampa Bay and Miami.  It's fun to follow the flow of an inning, with the pitcher scrambling to get in his throws before the timer expires.  My favorite action involves fly balls that compel fielders to chase the dropping ball, sometimes resulting in collisions and comedic falls.  So far I've been impressed with the pitching and general play of the Texas Rangers,  especially with regard to attaining and maintaining middle-and-late inning leads against Baltimore.  Philadelphia provided some late-game excitement against Washington when centerfielder Brandon Marsh bravely chased down and caught a deep fly ball that came close to escaping the ball park...that play ended the game.  Today I'll be checking out the schedule to see what's available. This morning I, too, bravely rose out of bed to run 10 minutes in-place and brew a pot of coffee.  There's still that Shadow Magic novel by Joshua Khan I have as a reading project.  The narrative still seems uninteresting to me...the gloomy Gehenna setting is something that I would like to thoroughly avoid, and I simply cannot relate in any fashion to the characters.  Still, this is a good habit I'm working on. And speaking of the news, I expect our presidential media whore to monopolize TV coverage while he continues his prima Donna life's mission to transform my already-humble existence into a reality TV episode.  Let's just see if I can't stay at home and live a peaceful, grateful life away from the manipulation while watching my eating and hydration.  And making progress with my fitness efforts would be quite fine, too.  So how about sitting placidly outside and/or watching YouTube self-improvement channels... 

My March 2026 Running and Walking Report

 On this last day in March, 2026, I have come to a conclusion about something standing in the way of my current efforts at progress in running and walking.  And it directly concerns the weight of footwear, that is shoes, that I wear.  I have often commented to Melissa that my difficult walking efforts, to me, usually seem like resistance training.  Covering longer distances resembles trying to cram too many reps into a routine without a break, as if I were lifting weights.  i also think that gaining around 50 pounds of bodyweight in less than a year has added to the difficulty with my walking and running.  I am still making the daily effort to exercise, running in place, rocking back and forth on my feet while balancing with my arms, and walking for set distances.  The progress, regrettably, has been painfully slow.  I deeply want to be able to complete another Parkrun 5K, something that this Saturday I should already be capable of accomplishing.  Well, other than my regular workout routines, the cumulative effect of my efforts hasn't led to much noticeable progress.  Well, I'm going to stick with the program and give my body a chance for some substantial improvement in endurance and fitness....

Medical Consultation Set for This Morning

 As my medical treatment for glioblastoma brain cancer enters another week, I find myself with an oncologist appointment early this morningin the Archer Road Neuroscience Building, coupled with a request for a lab blood draw...if it's a no-show, I expect a nurse practitioner appearance instead.  The oncologist should at least be present to discuss her interpretation of my recent MRI. Other than the visits, draws, scans and medications, my fight for recovery is mostly a matter of complying with doctors' orders and not letting things get out of hand.  I have been keeping up with running in place, also doing a few difficult inner perimeter walking laps in the back yard.  The time is now approaching four thirty in the morning, and I finally got up and ran in place for eight minutes.  I don't expect ecstatic proclamations out there from any physician, but should get through today's consultation without too much frustration, patiently sitting back through all of the technical overdrive.  Melissa is such an incredible blessing with her driving and expertise and concern about treatments and tests. Let's see, how about a little more rest this morning, after I get little Peewee all happily agitated when I go back there? I thought I would hold back on brewing any coffee until later on in the morning...

Question about Scariest Stephen King Villain

 There was an open question posted on my Facebook news feed: which Stephen King villain character is deservedly the scariest?  The comments varied, but the one that resonated with me the most was Randall Flagg, the murderous manipulator from his epic The Stand.  Donald Trump, who speaks and acts like he thinks he's the Supreme Dictator and expects his lapdogs to obediently follow suit, to me seems to pattern his entire presence on the King antagonist.  In that novel Flagg takes advantage of a deadly pandemic in order to establish absolute tyranny over a stricken planet.  i wonder just how far he is willing to go as he attacks civil order here, vulnerable internationals, and even entire nations.  "Our" Trump mentioned in passing that Cuba is "next"...I wonder what unprovoked violence he is about to inflict on a place that, in a more peaceful, reasonable world, could have become a very prosperous, attractive tourist destination.  When I was growing up, Fidel Castro and Krushchev were scapegoated for being America's Cold War antagonists.  But now that they're gone, the Playground Bully seeks only to incite passions and fury. When is he going to turn against his own people? He's already been vilifying our erstwhile allies in the last several days.Where are Hegseth, Noem and Bondi going on all this?  It makes me want to switch to all-day, live Major League Baseball.  I recently watched the Dodgers play Arizona, the Yankees play San Fran, Milwaukee play the Chicago White Sox, the Rockies versus the Marlins, the Reds against the Red Sox, and Philadelphia against the Chicago Cubs.  In viewing the MLB Channel, I'm getting to know each team by their players and staff. 

I can't stand our so-called leader going off at the mouth with his brash, offensive remarks and dismissals: he sounds just like the guy on Twilight Zone (Sounds and Silences episode) who wouldn't shut up. Now it's 4:30 AM and time for me to sign off and get our sweet Peewee Daisy all riled up....

Follow-Up on Sufjan stevens' 2010 Song Impossible Soul,Parkrun Walking Photo

 

In late 2010 Sufjan Stevens, already established and critically acclaimed in the alternative/indie music genre, came out with his next album The Age of Adz.  I didn't like it, although Stevens seemed to pull out all the stops within his production studio.  Now, more than 15 years later, I have proclaimed as 'song of the month" for March, 2026 the final track, titled Impossible Soul and running at 25 minutes 36 seconds. it grew on me over the years, and is now my Amazon Prime Music current favorite song.  Well, How Soon Is Now by the Smiths is my real favorite, and a masterpiece for its lyrics by Morrissey.  Above is a dubious photo of me walking across the Depot Parkrun bridge on my first and final lap there yesterday morning...

Showed Up on Depot Parkrun Today, Good Saturday Coming Up

 Melissa and I just returned from our weekly morning Depot Parkrun of which i walked 1 lap as I worked on gradually improving my fitness level.  Sooner or later i'd like to cover the full 5k (3.1 mile) distance...maybe April 4th.  We ate breakfast and now I have a coffee and donut.  More Youtube personal development videos are in store for me this morning.  A little later on I will read more and exercise.  That baseball channel did a good job of showing three different games, and I looking forward to seeing a couple more.  Gainesville is about to stage yet another anti-Trump 'no kings' rally off SW 6th Street...my guess is it's there to justify people who foolishly sat out the last presidential election and provide them the excuse that they are actually participants in democracy and not simply malcontents.  In any event, my wish is for you to have a wonderful day today...

Squeezed in Article Late Today

 It looks like my right small toenail cannot currently withstand tight-fitting, floor-hugging socks.  The nails are too long and get caught up and bent painfully backward by snug socks...this morning I'm going barefoot in the heat. I need to charge up the computer, too. Also,there's this headache that bothered me for most of today.I never did find my Joshua Khan Shadow Magic book. Melissa happily was able to get me watching live major league baseball, the Yankees versus the Giants in San Francisco. Tomorrow morning is yet another Depot Parkrun 5K.  My plan is to go down there and attempt to walk 5 full laps...Melissa told me she would drive us there and back.  Later tomorrow morning they've planned yet another anti-Trump protest rally, which I intend to avoid.  While I continue to receive oral evening chemotherapy treatment, I'll be grateful to find that book and make inroads on it.  It's still just barely Friday March 27, with Saturday the 28th just around the corner.  Late this morning a friend came over to do some lawn service...later Kim, our friend, p aid us a nice visit.More exercise, reading, writing, rest, recovery...and baseball...would mark tomorrow as a successful day.  I'm glad to have been able to squeeze in this little blog at the close of today, looking forward to the weekend...

Up and At it Early Again Today

 Over the past several weeks I accustomed myself to waking up (and staying up) two or three hours before sunrise.  I would take care of bathroom business, adjust the air conditioner/heater, and brew a pot of coffee. Then, as was just the case, I would exercise by running in place on the living room rug for ten minutes.  And then I would pull out the computer and write and post the new day's blog article.  And now, to today.  Melissa, always the expert, knowledgeable nurse and loving woman that she is, has brought up that I appear to be suffering from a deficiency of potassium in my diet, only particularly alleviated by an increased consumption of bananas. This evening I tried going to bed at an earlier, more consistent hour.  The intent tonight was to get up around two or three...and stay up.  Now it's nearly 6:15 and still nighttime, after my bathroom, exercise and brewed coffee. I probably could use a good brief shower and hair-washing and rinsing on this, Thursday March 26th. I watched a good rerun of the old The Prisoner episode Dance of the Dead on my Tubi channel, as well as the Star Trek movie The Voyage Home.  On the home news front, it looks like our president is frightening his own followers with the stock market plunge, a Congressional deadlock in place against paying TSA workers, spiralling gas prices and no end in sight to the missile war between the USA and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.  Personally, I would like, in a more humble way, to work some of my habits by reading Shadow Magic some more and go for longer walks.  Walking around the block at least once would be pretty cool, too.  And some of the personal development podcasts that YouTube presents seem pretty attractive as well.  This includes the late Jim Rohn, Andrew Huberman, that doctor who wants me to walk, and a half dozen others who usually have something significant to say..

Early Rising, Exercising, Cut back the Spending

 During the major college football championship playoffs a couple of months ago, I adopted the posture that it was  okay if "my" team won...and okay if they lost.  This is the identical position I've taken regarding basketball, particularly men's basketball.  The Florida Gators, seeded #1 in their region, had folks in their corner confidently predicting double-digit wins for their tampa contest against #9 Iowa.  But the Hawkeyes managed a last-second unguarded three-pointer to surpass and beat Florifa 73-72, causing star starting center Rueben Chinleyu to bitterly cry over the heartbreaking, season-ending loss.  Well, better luck next year.  If today were 3/25/71, I'd still be getting myself up early to prepare for my long grind of a Nova High School 9th grade day. As for right now, I have all of today ahead of me, including more exercise, reading and studying.  I'll be rerturning to the back bedroom with some A.C. and our sweet pea Daisy as the new day slowly dawns on us.  I don't see any scheduled excursions for us anytime soon.  I'd also like to take it light and easy with the expenditures, too.No need to get carried away with laying out the dough unnecessarily. There is nothing pressing down on us to unnecessarily spend a lot of our saved money on "stuff" when I for one don't see the value in going down that road. I'm not looking to struggle against anyone determined to spend down our reserves of cash. I'm old, but i'm not at all in a big hurry to become poor, all for the very foolish sake of "stuff"...I'd like to believe that somewhere along the lines of my 69 years of age I've outgrown the need to be lectured about money by someone else like my father with important ideas on the subject that may diverge a bit from mine.  The last thing in the world I want is to be dragged down into poverty because I'm supposed to want something (and if I don't there's something wrong with me).  I'm still looking forward to doing well with my cancer treatment and recovery.  I think that's the area I should be focusing on...I think I'll stash away the petty greed: relaxing and taking it easy with my loved ones is a good thing...

..

This was a "good" early morning for me,  Let me do a few little things and enjoy life for a while. and enjoy the down time as well. Nothing wrong with some contentment and gratitude, too,...

Trying to Recover Endurance After Cancer Treatment

 After I was dispatched from my stay in the cardiovascular surgical hospital on July31, 2021, Dr. Miles sent me to the UF Cardioversion, which brought my stabilazation away from the acute atrial fibrillation that had been bothering me immediately following my heart valve replacement and aortic aneurysm.  For some months I felt very weak as I tried to remain with enough energy to be able to run around my home block for the ,7 mile block.  But it wouldn't be until I could maintain that distance when I was finally able, to run my Hampton Inn to the Daytona Beach Pier at the pier and back.  Right now I'm wondering whether I'll have enough to go on to allow me to be able to be maintain my light jogging level at a high degree.  Today, fot a little past few minutes, I was able to run on my run own on the living room alone for 8 minutes before taking a break.  Now I feel I'm making some marked improvement with some walking endurance.  I have an apppointment to get a chemo injection today at the Davis UF Avis Cancer Center at the UF Davis Pavilion Center, under the authority of oncologist Dr. Jones.  As for new habits, I am working on a new system including incorporating water hydration.  Way to go, Bill. Now let's see if I can't throw in a few new little home habits...

Gators Out, MRI In, World May or May Not Change

 I was watching the TV-20 evening news yesterday and substitute anchor Robert Bradfield was in Tampa standing outside the sports arena building, where he boasted his expectation that the uf Gators men's team would beat Iowa by 23 points in their Round Two ncaa tourney game.  Turns out uf's season is now over after losing a 73-72 squeaker to the Hawkeyes. Today I have my MRI procedure scheduled at UF Health.  Nothing personally ambitious planned for today..just exercise some and rest. And tend to avoid the television news and commentary, that would be nice.  I stayed in bed until after six, got up and brewed coffee and ran in place on the rug.  Well, I'm not going to change the world substantially by my actions today, just a little bit here and there...

Favorite Theme Park Thrill Ride in Pasr 23 Years

 Today, 23 years ago back in 2003, I proposed and took Will and Rebecca down to Wild Adventures theme park in Valdosta, Georgia.  My aim was to provide the kids a fun thrill ride experience and to face my fears about the effects that gravitational shifts and inversion made on my body and sense of well-being.  As it was, we all went on Pharoah's Fury, Double Shot, Boomerang, Hangman, and Cheetah.  Seems like they enjoyed themselves, and so did I.  After leaving the park late that afternoon, we got on I-75 south where a concentrated thunderstorm hit us, impeding my vision as I struggled to keep a clear field in front of us.  This experience opened the way for us all to boldly go on as many thrill rides as we could in the two years ahead, including Busch Gardens, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, two more visits to Wild Adventures, and Cypress Gardens.  My favorite destination was Busch Gardens, with Montu, Kumba and Gwazi being my favorite coaster rides( add Scorpion for Busch Gardens).  The Hulk coaster, along with Ice and Fire, were my favorites at Universal, and we got a kick out of going on the Jurassic Park boat/slide ride. Doctor Doom's Free Fall terrified Melissa and made me quite uneasy.  From 2005 forward, our theme park visits slowed down and henceforth so did our venturing out on thrill rides.  When I drove to Hollywood to visit my father, I took pains to stop off at Boomer's on Stirling Road, where I went on their Dania Beach Hurricane wooden coaster until they finally shut down the ride.  My all-time favorite wooden roller coaster was Thunderhead at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which we enjoyed on our summer 2006 visit there...Boomer's Hurricane was runner-up.

My all-time favorite roller coasters are Montu, Kumba, Thunderhead and Gwazi, but, speaking solely of thrill rides, my favorite in that group has to be Power Surge...found mainly at Wild Adventures and Cypress Gardens.  Well, we'll see if, on any future visit(s), we discover one or more of these fine rides.  The only remaining thrill ride I've gone on in recent years is the Royal Caribbean's Abyss dry slide, which plummets the rider quickly ten levels, from 16 to 6.  Well, maybe I'll try it again should we go on that huge boat again. Oh, and if you see it, put me on Wild Adventure's Aviator again..

Warm-to Hot Saturday Afternoon with Additional Backyard Exercise

 Now that it is mid-afternoon, 80+ degrees outside, I'd like to report that after Melissa so lovingly and graciously drove me out to Depot Park, just a few blocks south of downtown Gainesville, I walked one solid lap during that Parkrun 5K before returning to the car.  Early on, E,J., one of their volunteer parkwalkers, got a nice, friendly conversation going with me.  We talked about the birds at the park and their beautiful and sometimes funny songs.  I brought up the fact that before my brain cancer diagnosis and surgery late last year, I had achieved a pretty fast speed-walking pace for Parkruns.  Now, I said, I can't even keep up with 80+-year-old visually-impaired Jon, whose walking pace seems nearly effortless as he seems to float along the path.  Next weekend I'd like to try the same course and extend my walk, hopefully for the full 5K distance.  Now I just came in from our back yard, immersed in the afternoon sunny heat, where I walked its inner perimeter for six minutes while our dog Peewee enthusiastically ran with me...it was pretty tiring! during this effort I listened in on Sufjan Steven's opening segment to his album-concluding track Impossible Soul. That 25-minute song now stands as my "Song of the Month" for March 2026 although it is now 16 years old. Now I'm sipping on some recently brewed coffee typing this after the close of my Saturday home exercise.  i plan to relax and watch some TV, maybe looking a bit at Khan's Shadow Magic novel...maybe not.  Let's all enjoy the rest of today and be thankful for the wonderful things we've been blessed with. Happy new spring season...

Got Up Early on This, a Parkrun Saturday Morning

 Early this morning I didn't feel like getting out of bed, considering the loud degree of snoring going on around me.  There's a Parkrun 5K scheduled to start at 7:30, and it's predicted to be 43-44 degrees of coldness (and darkness) out there among the crowd of noisy shadows.  It's now a quarter to five and I just brewed some coffee. When I do finally  get up (around 5:45), I'll be needing to get my clothes in order so that I don't freeze in the cold.  The plan is to complete the park's 4-lap course, and I'd like to walk through it and get a scanned and posted finishing time at the end. Well, it's back to bed for a while.  See ya later. Now I'm writing this later, and I did one strong walking lap.  The above photo is of me and park volunteer walker E.J., very supportive and enthusiastic.  I looked like a poor geezer soul struggling to make it down the hallway to the bathroom, but I did manage to maintain my balance.  Maybe next week a little more progress. Who knows, I'd like to cover the course!

Early Morning Waking and Activity a New Habit System

 It looks like a new habit has begun with me.  Over the past 3-4 days I have only slept two or three hours during the late evening, with me waking up around midnight and struggling to "nap" until after two in the morning, which I think is an appropriate time for early rising.  Just a half hour ago I got up, went to the bathroom, brewed a pot of coffee and did ten minutes of light running in place.  Tonight I'm going to try going to bed a bit earlier.  Maybe the Parkrun 5K will work out for Saturday morning, maybe it won't.  Shifting topics, I've pretty much had it with Trump and the Republicans about voter eligibility and their repeatedly shifting efforts to roll back voter rights by requiring cumbersome documentation to 'prove' citizenship.  The way I see it, if everyone who was eligible went out to vote on election day, then my one vote would only be one drop in a vast ocean of ballots...and my one filled ballot has NEVER decided an election.  I'm just tired of my 34-count convicted felon of a president going overboard sucking up to his master Netanyahu's agenda...the latter wants to prolong his own war by invading Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with the USA providing military insurance and backup.  I'm hovering around 181 pounds, using temperance to avoid excessive consumption of sweets while adhering to my living room exercise routine.  I've been up and at it, being awake and active from 3 to 5 each morning.  That's a praise report for sure;  I'm changing habits by adopting a new system of consistent behaviors. Astronomical spring is set to start on this date, and, with a nod to Morgan Freeman, I'd like to enjoy "getting busy" living through it.  If I happen to begin changing a habit today, I want to make it short and sweet and written down and incorporated into an established system...

Fresh New Day Lies Ahead, Possibility for new Routines

 This early morning I woke up between one and two, finally making it official with some fresh coffee and ten minutes of living room floor running in place.  Along this journey I missed about recovering my ability to cover 5K distances, most preferably through light jogging.  Will I be able to do any of this during the approaching Saturday morning?  Dunno, will have to see what comes.  My progress will need to come in small, humble steps without anything overtly ambitious.  Ultimately I want to return to a habitual routine of doing weekly 5K Parkruns, and maybe down the line an occasional race of longer distance...I'm talking Florida Track Club  or US Road Running.  A few weeks ago I was experiencing some difficulty staying vertical during shopping and medical visits, and asphalt-surface walking was markedly limited when I noticed how taxing lifting my feet and legs was during these attempts.  Anyway, this coming Saturday I'll see if I can't get myself up early enough, show up...and follow through!   in the meantime, growing a reasonable routine during the rest of the day, including watching what I eat, reading and studying, will determine my success level.  once the day gets going earnestly in a few hours, I'll have chances to take some personal initiative with my life.  That will include trying out the white Camry, to see if it runs properly, and maybe spin it a little down my neighborhood streets.  The plan includes intentionally avoiding the excessive media news/politics/war/opinion coverage plaguing us over the last few years and weeks...  

Fresh New Day Lies Ahead, Possibility for new Routines

 I fell asleep on the narrow living room couch last night and woke up around 1 AM, feeling itchy and irritated.  By after three I was procrastinating getting up, but just before four I finally arose, and after running in place on the rug for 8 minutes, here I am on this chilly morning! Yesterday I had a pretty eventless chemotherapy infusion session at the UF Health Davis Cancer Pavilion, taking care now to avoid excessive eating. Spending a lot of money to do Dunin' Donut mobile app order seems to be taken off the table, too. We're expecting some good company to visit  us tomorrow.  I'll see if I can't put in a solid block of reading Khan's monstrosity novel Shadow Magic for today, March 18th.  Maybe all the unlikable characters (and I don't like any of them) will get wiped out and I'll be spared the anxiety of a suspenseful plot development.  Averaging about 20 pages of reading per day should keep me on pace to finish the book by month's end, and that is very possible considering how quickly I tore through the first four Harry Potter books at Books-a-Million 25 years ago.  And how about all those Stephen King/Richard Bachman novels? Of course, I tended to like those stories, and King has always been a master at character development.  Melissa has expressed expectation of me finlly getting my updated voter registration card in the mail today (or soon)...let's see if this can happen without me having to come out of retirement.  Yes, I'm tired of Trump on any level, and may the Iran ordeal settle down.  Our president seems to be content settling into Netanyahu's errand boy role, and the USA might get sucked into an expanded conflict against Hezbollah on "Bibi's" behalf.  Well, let's just see what today will bring: hopefully more and better sleep...

Early A.M. about Awards, War, ''allies", Exercise, Day Ahead

 One of the funniest commercials I've seen lately has a man standing behind a loud microphone on a lit-up stage, in front of a large audience, demonstrating his prowess at being able to access files online, only he seems completely unable to key in the proper password.  He awkwardly glances around, chuckles and grins as the AI-on-duty repeatedly notifies him of his failures, to the consternation of those standing around who will ultimately decide his public-relations career fate. Very funny...and a little sad. Yesterday evening Entertainment Tonight was obsessing on the previous evening's Academy Awards, and how Michael Jordan won best actor for the movie Sinners and ate an In-and-Out hamburger holding his trophy in the left hand. I am determined to stay away from celebrities and their overhyped shows that merit avoidance.  Yesterday I worked on reading a few more pages in Joshua Khan's tedious, depressing juvenile fantasy novel Shadow Magic.  I can't wait to be done with it, to say the least.  This afternoon I have an appointment for some chemotherapy infusion at the UF Health Davis Cancer Pavilion, preceded by a blood lab draw, urine sample and IV line.  Looks like Trump is trying to get other countries to pitch in and help the USA with the Straits of Hormuz, and they're coldly snubbing him in response.  Today it will stay cool outside with nighttime temperatures to dip solidly into the thirties.  May all go well with my family, especially Melissa, Amy, Anita and Keith, regarding their health and feelings.  I'll be returning to bed soon, hopefully to get some good sleep.  I'm not sure what to make of this prolific bombing campaign instigated by the current commander-in-chief, but I think that those countries that are turning their backs on us will have something to answer for what I'm inclined to believe is a wartime betrayal of America and our soldiers.  I think that many of them are rooting for us to lose, so that they can later smugly claim they "told us so".  Well, I at least am confident that I did right in changing my party affiliation.   The late Jim Rohn, in one of his podcasts, made a big deal about urging listeners to spring up out of bed hours before sunrise with purposeful behavior.  I did so this morning, running in place for 8 minutes after I started brewing coffee.  Now I'm finishing this blog article.  Soon it'll be back to bed and loudly growling, snorting and barking Peewee Daisy, with whom I plan to be exceedingly sweet and gentle...

Looking Forward to Day Ahead

 It's a little past 7:30 in the morning on the 16th, "Hump Day for the month of March, as we are passing through it.  I have further medical procedures lined up in the next few days, and chemotherapy infusion and an MRI figure into the picture.  I brewed the flavored decaf coffee and ran in place for my routine 8 minutes...now this blog article.  Were this still the ninth grade and 1971 for me, I guess I would have already begun to suffer the stench of the smog coming from the Everglades fires which that drought brought some 55 years ago.  Yesterday they ended that TPC tournament with an underspoken, anticlimactic short winning putt at the 18th hole by Cameron Young, who to his credit refused to kiss the trophy and kept a reserved, taciturn expression before the press afterwards.  As for how today will unwind, i'd like the donut drivethrough, some reading progress, study foreign languages, and exercise along with some temperance regarding eating.  And some more sleep should fit the bill as well.  I think I'll listen to some stuff from the late Jim Rohn, too. And see if I can't fit in some material from Andrew Huberman and Rob Dial...

Sunday Morning Exercise, Writing, Dog, Sleep, Coffee, TV

 I think I have lost some interest in the ongoing PGA tournament, that is, the Players Championship being held at Ponte Vedra in northern Florida near Jacksonville.  The course is specially designed as a major water trap, especially on the 17th hole.  In 2025 too many players shot the ball into the water, including J.J. Spaun, who couldn't keep up with defending champion Rory McIlroy during the sudden death playoff when he ran afoul of #17.  Now I'm tired of hearing the endless commentary, where analysts who, as golfers, couldn't remotely compare to the pros with their inferior play, go into a stage of advanced nitpicking over the current players' shots.  It gets really irksome when they go off on one of the actual tourney leaders, someone who has already demonstrated a competitive edge with some of these challenging holes.  I know that the forecast is for rain and storms today, so it will be interesting to see how rainfall and wind might affect the level of play.  The time is approaching 5:30 this early Sunday morning, and it won't be long before I return to bed with the AC on and Peewee in a hightened state of alert, ready to "play games" with me with her barking and WOOO WOOO WOOOO WOOO WOOO.  Well, I guess I'll be watching a good amount of television today and doing exercise, including walking that encompasses our back yard with multiple inner perimeter laps.  And my projected minimal level of fantasy fiction reading...

Showed Up at Depot Parkrun, Walked a Lap

 Last night my sleep quality was relatively poor, and I woke up early today...and tired.  After exercising in the living room a few minutes, I waited until after six when Melissa woke up.  She drove us down to Depot Park, a few blocks south of downtown Gainesville.  The temperature was comfortably cool in the upper fifties this morning when the 5k race started at 7:30.  I was prepared to walk it smoother than before, although my speed was slower and I resisted going into a light jog at any point.  The last time I tried this it was a difficult trudge, so I feel I did much better this week.  My goal for future Parkrun ventures should be to walk enough to get a completed effort and get it posted online.  Now it's mid-afternoon and we're waiting for our Publix home delivery...I still have some more exercise, reading and study to come.  Speaking of sleep, I'm looking forward to more rest and relaxation today.  I'm tired of the news, especially that of this war against Iran.  Our friend Ethel stopped by and prayed with us a little earlier...bless her!  In pro golf, The Players Championship Tournament is now in its 3rd round today, and I'm enjoying following it on TV.  Tonight will be the Oscars on TV, with Conan O'Brien doing the presiding. There will be no resetting the clock ahead tonight, since we're already into Daylight Savings Time. Well, it's the birthday for no one I personally know, just NBA star Stephen Curry (at 38).  God bless you all... 

Here Comes Yet Another Saturday Morning

It's close to 5:30 AM on this Saturday morning, without me getting much sleep at all.  I brewed the coffee and ran in place for six minutes...and here I am sitting in front of the Chromebook.  i don't know how the Depot Parkrun will go today, but the time is progressing toward the alarm going off.  The TV with its noise irritated me last night, and I'm looking forward to making an earnest effort at covering the course.  There should be time afterward for me to go back and sleep some, and the day looks to be loaded with time.  Anyway, happy March 14th...

Comparing Jim Rohn's Legacy to Tony Robbins This Early Morning

 Back in the late1990s, while working at the Gainesville, Florida USPS mail processing plant on SW 34th Street, I discovered that I could listen to Anthony Robbins' personal development tapes.  His big attraction at the time was how to achieve personal power.  Although I never fell for his live seminar gimmicks like the stunts where everyone walked over the hot coals, I did appreciate some of Robbins' pointers that resembled stoicism when it came to approaching some of life's sticking points, like "I always act until I succeed" or "the meaning of a communication is the response I get".  I memorized and adopted them because they made good sense to me.  Even in future projects Tony Robbins seemed to project a strong, positive aura about himself that I found very appealing.  He's still around, voice a bit scratchy and rough but with the same "can-do"personality.  A few days ago I discovered on YouTube the late personal development coach JIm Rohn's collection of podcasts.  Most of them are pretty direct and sometimes confrontational, demanding a response from the listener and indicating a "it's my way or the highway perspective from Rohn". Rohn, born in 1930, passed away from pulmonary fibrosis in 2009.  His business and professional life much resembled that of Am-Way's Bubba Pratt in that they escaped the common day-to-day workplace existence I followed at the post office to make their fortunes largely from sales and seminars.  Not that I'm complaining, since I'm grateful for the benefits and wages I received from there...including the opportunity for excellent health care and retirement accounts.  today I awoke a little before four, resisting the temptation to return to bed to continue A.C.-comforted sleep (something I'm considering returning to a little later this morning). 24 hours from now I'll be in a position to get ready to go with Melissa to Depot Park to participate in a new Parkrun 5K...it would be the second complete event I've done in 2026.  Today marks my late sister-in-law Krista's birthday...she would be turning 63 today.  Even in the middle of her medical ordeals, she was very positive and encouraging.  Well, Mr. Rohn has inspired me to keep tuned to his messages, which I think have a good amount of value to them.  I like stoic wisdom, and sometimes just getting out there and refusing to succumb to comfort is a healthful undertaking.  Now let's see if I can't make some more real progress today getting through that horrid Khan book. I did do some eight minutes of running in place already...

Following Self-Help Gurus with Discernment, Working on Recovery

 Over the last few days I've grown to enjoy listening to YouTube podcasts by Jim Rohn and Rob Dial.  Both men have different agendas and messages they're trying to convey, and I'm good with their efforts even when I don't entirely receive them.  That people will either grow or weaken over time seems to be the main idea, and I appreciate the similar stoic philosophies underlying their talking points.  So our brains are there to protect us, and keeping ourselves in a state of comfort seems to fit the bill as far as our brains are concerned.  Consequently, I'm supposed to deliberately seek out discomfort and resist the obvious temptations to choose the easy course of action (or inaction).  Changing habits is very much a feasible proposition, and it's best to start small and not let boredom or pressure unduly and negatively influence me.  I don't dig Rohn's tendency to be all-or-nothing with his ideology, but here I am at age 69 with a most serious brain cancer diagnosis and the opportunity to build my mind and body back up into a fine state of VO2-max level cardiovascular fitness with plenty of resources and time for reading and study...maybe this will help with my lifespan and healthspan.  Now it's about working out and studying while watching my hydration, recovery, and attitude.  So I ran in place early this morning for eight minutes, with more to come...

Happy Birthday, Sweet Little Peewee!

 Happy Birthday, little Daisy Peewee Irwin! Our precious rescue dog, Peewee Daisy, is today now four years old, having been born on March 12th, 2022.  We picked her up at PetSmart's adoption fair on May  12th that year, two months later, at the same site in southwest Gainesville off Archer Road.  Little 7-pound Daisy at the same time was such a major-league crybaby that she would sadly and loudly whine when I was holding her for upwards to an hour, wanting me to place her back down among her litter-mates. She grew up fast and leveled off just at 50 pounds.  When I was in the hospital for brain surgery late last October, I expressed how much I was missing little PeeWee and wanted to see her again. Peewee is 100% complete dog, and I expect her to simply be herself, no more and no less.  My fervent intention is to sweet-talk and gently handle Daisy, encouraging affection from this genuine animal whose basic nature demands bonding and interaction.  I go back to the bedroom early in the morning and she goes haywire, erupting into a loud barking that can be heard down the street while vigorously wagging her tail and trying to speak to me.  May we enjoy many more sweet birthdays with Peewee...

Up Early, Am-Way Presentation, Medical Visit, Later Plans

 Jane came to be one of my sweetheart wife Melissa's good friends in the 1990s.  She always had a sweet and gentle disposition.  One morning Jane invited me to attend a "recruitment" meeting regarding a multi-level marketing project called Am-Way, to which I complied and was shocked by its aggressive nature.  Turns out  that, starting out, I would be on the bottom, under other Am-Way members.  Over time my sales and recruitment efforts would pay off in my gradual elevation and enrichment, and my wealth and reknown had the potential of becoming possibly legendary, like that of "the" Bubba Pratt, the company's star multi-millionaire.  The not-so-subtle dig at those who choose not to engage with Am-Way is that they are hum-drum losers who are missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime...why, I could be off somewhere ice-fishing with my big-shot mentor instead of working shifts on the clock!  Ron, one of my former USPS co-workers who was eventually fired for insubordination, used to even insult me and colleague Rick about our so-called dead-end jobs.  I always believed that being a postal service clerk was an honorable undertaking, and over the years appreciated the respect and esteeem directed my way for consistently showing up and properly performing my duties.   Melissa and I both demurred on Jane's offer, but God blessed our humble little lives just the same...we still enjoyed that trip to Dahlonega, Georgia.  I never was very materialistic about wanting "stuff", and for me spending money was something I felt some caution about avoiding building up too much financial debt. Now it's nearly 3:30 on Wednesday morning, and I have an 11:00 appointment to see my prostate cancer oncologist at UF Health Davis Cancer Pavilion. After brewing some coffee I ran in place for 8 minutes and see myself extending that "run" a while longer.  Well, I still have that horrid Joshua Khan Shadow Magic book and want to read a little bit further into it before I lay it down in disgust.  Protagonist boy Thorn is always fighting and offending people, and the narrative never seems to have any "down" moments for folks to just get together and talk things out.  Let's see, I think I'll post today's article, shut down the computer, and head on back.  Good morning, all...   

Heated Up Back Yard Offers Walking Training Opportunity

 Now I'm in the middle of mid-afternoon.  Had I still been working for USPS, I'd be returning from my first break to receive registered mail from the first trucks.  But I am retired since November 2024, so none of that figures into my life now.  I just put some flavored decaf coffee to brew, and will soon venture into the backyard...with our rowdy, excitable muttbutt Daisy...to try a couple of slow, timed walking laps.  Speed does not matter here...I'm just dealing with the uncomfortable resistance factors involved in the workout.  Eventually I should be making some fitness progress, but for now it's all a matter of discipline, doing the little things that place me squarely in the discomfort zone as I navigate the weeds and uneven yard surfaces.  My goal for the next few minutes...they're forecasting record high temperatures for this date in Gainesville...is  to complete the two inner-perimeter laps and record the time spent doing them. Well, here goes, wish me luck!  Report: Daisy, in the back of the house with Melissa, didn't show up when I went outside and I did the entire 4 laps in 4:15, unpleasant but it worked for me.  A nice, continuing training session for today!  Now for a bathroom break and rest with some decaf. The local news is set to start soon...usually they start out with the negative stories of people behaving badly.  This is a different kind of blog article in that I often feel a bit spent by this time in the grinding day.  Who knows, I might even read some more of that obnoxious novel that seems to be going nowhere, with no redeeming characters and constant conflict...  

Sleepy, but Got Up and About Early Anyway

 This morning I was only partially sleeping, hoping that when I finally awoke it would be later...a little past three.  Still, I felt in little shape to get up, although I did and promptly brewed some coffee.  I ran in place for ten minutes, dutifully writing the time down in my spiral notebook.  The temperature in the house is leaning to the cold side, and before long my plan is to reset it for 'cool' and return to bed and my barking, excited Daisy. It now being Tuesday morning the 10th of March, I foresee no new Rob Dial podcast for today...maybe Huberman or Rohn will produce another episode.  My hope with fitness is to cover the backyard with walking more efficiently.  I'd like to be able to write that I read more pages in the vicious, frustrating Khan fantasy book...not looking forward to enjoying it, though, with the anger of its main characters resembling that of the TV series Grey's Anatomy.  Just thank you for this day you provided me, Lord, and may I live it out more responsibly and graciously.  Let's celebrate a small victory...I got up and stayed up! Maybe later on I'll get Melissa to help me start up (and move) the white Camry.  May I avoid getting myself caught up in digging for dopamine, and allow boredom to grow my good habits and character.  It's not quite four yet, and I still remember the times 55 years ago when I had decided to arise before dawn in order to begin my school day in a wise, positive manner.  In a way, this is one of those kinds of days...

Memories of Historic Past Iran Conflict "Color" My View of the Present

 There's nothing like getting up a couple of hours before sunrise and getting started on the day.  Brewing a nice pot of flavored coffee works well with a ten-minute session of running-in-place on the living room rug floor.  My reading and studies seem to be morphing into more passive, visual and mental undertakings, and my little habit changes are becoming more directed toward the more manageable, less supremely ambitious sort.  Today is Monday, March 9.  Were I going to the 9th grade at Nova, I'd get my homework worked and gathered at the dining room table, setting the final morning alarm to give me a reasonable amount of time to clean and dress for school. As it actually is at this moment in time, I can sip my cup d K-cup flavored and brewed coffee and move over to watch a little YouTube TV.  And after a brief bathroom visit I can return to Jim Rohn's stoic personal development podcasts. Then it's back to bed for a while.  I'm getting sick and tired of the war news going on, with Trump trying to constantly insert himself in the press meetings.  

This Iran thing brings to memory when I was first going to college in the mid-to-late 1970s when the two campuses I attended became loaded with Persian overseas students.  To me they seemed to enjoy a promising, privileged existence (although none wanted to talk with me) and the idea that their home country was an autocratic police state that imprisoned and/or tortured dissidents seemed far-fetched...why, the Shah was our buddy, wasn't he? It wouldn't be until the violent rioting in 1978 eventually  kicked Shapour Bakhtiar out and brought in Khomeini for his long brutal, murderous reign.  And then came the hostage crisis.  After Khomeini began to crack down on the nation's socialists, I got a knock on my apartment door from a couple of Iranians who wanted me to sign on with their cause.  What's that, you go to town loudly running down me and my country to the world, and now we're all suddenly friendsy-pindsy because we think we might have a common enemy? In politics, trust is a difficult thing to build and only too easy to destroy...never again, Iran and Russia.  I honestly don't understand how most of our so-called allies can trust us to any degree after our current president's behavior toward them, espcially Ukraine and Denmark with its prized Greenland that Trump wants to add to his personal map of territorial conquests..  Now let's see...I look ahead right now for the next several hours, noting the potential for a a nice wide-open time span devoted to modest personal projects...A little attempt at walking endurance looks like a good option...  

High School Public Speaking Memory, Today's Early Morning Plans

 I remember, looking back on my high school times at Nova, how one of my female blonde classmates one day suddenly "saw the light" and underwent a speedy transformation into a glib, smooth public speaker.  She even got on the closed circuit school television and delivered a five-minute monologue to the school about how good and easy public speaking was, and that folks like little-old "almost subhuman" me had no excuses for not dazzling the world with my oratory skills.  A little later on ,we were introduced by a mutual friend, on whom she definitely had her eyes set.  I smiled and tried to look and sound nice, but she only came across as a rejecting snob who was fending me off...not that I was even remotely interested in her on the slightest level.  I could have tactfully (or brutally) put her in her proper place by interjecting that good speaking is only part of the equation, and that good listening skills are at least equally as important as well .  You can either esteem (or insult) your counterpart based on your attitude toward them as people, hopefully encouraging them in the process. That one speech I heard was special in one way: afterwards, and I could have brought this up to her, I couldn't think of a single section within the presentation that was of any use.  Oh well, I dealt with the snub in a dignified manner by henceforth avoiding her like the plague...I could see that she was grooming herself to be a finger-pointer later in life...probably launched into tr  ashing me soon after our greeting. So I arose at 3:30, brewed coffee, ran in place, and wrote this article. It's now a little past 5 and the day (March 8) lies ahead (we 'lept' ahead into Daylight Savings Time).  I'm still frustrated by my lack of endurance when it comes to going on modest walks. I want to continue hearing and implementing Jim Rohn YouTube podcasts, read a flawed fantasy novel by Josh Khan and study foreign languages.  And, now that I have that connecting cord, do some journal writing on my wonderful oldAlpha Smart processor before I nod off into an afternoon nap..

Early Rising, Good Saturday Morning

 Once again I got up early, this time between 3 and 4.  I ran in place for six minutes and listened to Jim Rohn's podcast against seeking others' approval and overexplaining.  The morning alarm should sound at five, and later on I'd like to go to Depot Park with Melissa to walk one or two laps there without expectations of receiving a finishing time.  Then I want to return home and rest some, without sacrificing the rest of the day.  Some self-imrovement podcasts on YouTube sound promising, and a little more cuddly (with Daisy Peewee) time will fit the bill nicely.  Thank you God for you presence in my heart and life, and I have much to be grateful for...

Day Progresses into Decline

Today, after my early morning rising and activity, progressed more or less into a span of rest and inactivity, me spending much of it in bed or on the living room couch.  I still ran in place for a few more minutes before leveling off.  Tomorrow morning they're staging another Depot Parkrun 5K.  I want to show up there and do at least one lap, with Melissa doing the valuable driving.  We're sitting right now in the dining room while AI Alexa is playing the piano version of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear...very pretty. Equally NOT very pretty is this overbearing missile war happening right now between USA, Iran and Israel...enough of that on the news! I suspect that the president dictator others elected will turn against his own people once he impatiently declares victory and moves on to new perceived enemies that challenge his egomania...he'll use his own handpicked cronies as proxies. I still think that people...especially some of the more creepy ones from Utah...have lost their minds with their violent  rampages against each other. And I include Florida's Dixie and Marion counties in that indictment. Not a nice picture at all.  Now for me to digest my last food of the day.  Either I'll get up tomorrow morning at a good, early time or we'll just put off the next Parkrun until another time...

First Anniversary of My Prostatectomy

 Today marks the one-year anniversary of when I underwent a radical prostatectomy operation at the UF Health Cancer Hospital on the south side of Archer Road.  My dear, late sister-in-law Krista was staying in the same building when I entered it, climbing up its winding stairway to the second floor.  The procedure went smoothly enough, but in the early evening when I fully awoke it was very sharply painful for me 'down there'.  Melissa promptly got me on my feet for a brief post-op walk around the floor, and the Foley catheter had already been inserted.  For the next ten full days I would have little trouble with my urinating and emptying the bag...on the 17h all pain disappeared when it was removed.  Dr. Joseph performed the meticulous surgery, which took a few hours.  We left the hospital for home early on the 7th.  Krista remained there until she was released into hospice in early July.  God bless her, I miss her so much.  A few weeks after the catheter was gone, I speed-walked another Depot Parkrun 5K. The Director, Shauna...who has yet to give me volunteer credit for the end of last September when she asked me go far up and beyond the call of duty for a simple tail-walker assignment...was not at all happy with my participation, claiming health concerns. Too bad she treats it all like a competitive race whenever she runs it.  So today I got up early, ran in place a few minutes, and brewed some coffee.  And what do you know, here's Melissa! And what do you know, it's 4:30...

Early Morning, Rohn Podcast

 Another morning early arisen...let's see what this one brings.  I ran in place for 12 minutes after brewing coffee.  Then I listened to a Jim Rohn podcast about the value of tackling things alone.  Now he's talking about designing your own day in the early morning and honestly reviewing it during the evening.  Rohn is a stoic advocate of picking a small number of things to focus on and is pragmatic about it all.  Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed by all his information...what do I filter out?  Rohn wants me to grow and not regress.  So what do I plan for today?  In the news there's that war...oh, well.  For me I want to continue being intellectually active and commit myself to a reasonable degree of home exercise, with plenty of allowance for rest and recovery.  Should I get in the white Camry and try starting it, carrying my license and some money?  Walk around the block once or the back yard?  I know, let me enjoy the day without getting carried away with eating.  Enjoy life and appreciate it...

Up Early, Exercising, National News

 A day ago I stepped outside into the backyard to check the lunar eclipse's progress.  Turns out the entire sky was overcast, and the entire event was a washout.  I still wrote my blog article and listened to personal development influencer Jim Rohn on YouTube.  Later on Melissa took me down for my chemotherapy infusion.  I read through Chapter 5 in Shadow Magic. I studiously avoided TV updates about the US/Iran missle war.  I didn't start the conflict and have an instinctive aversion to so-called "faiths" that promote violence and whose adherents are only too easy to wear an "offended' pose if someone happens to disagree with their ideology and command structure.  John Cornyn won a close Republican Primary contest for the Texas US Senate seat being contested this year, and Roy Cooper easily won the Democratic nomination for the open North Carolina Senate seat after incumbent Thom Tillis' announced retirement.  I can't vote in either race this November, restricted to my Florida and assigned local districts as registered Republican. If registered Democratic voters actually display some initiative and vote in the general election, they have a chance of flipping those two seats their way, but i'm skeptical.  As for me today, nothing medical is scheduled.  But I'd like to see some progress, at least with little things.  I this were me in 1971 in the 9th grade I guess I'd be assembling my prepared homework for the grueling day ahead.May my eating today reflect an improved sense of judgment...

Early Rising, Lunar Eclipse, YouTube Guru, Chemotherapy Infusion

 This morning I woke up early, a little past four.  The Blood Lunar Eclipse is scheduled now, to peak in totality between six and seven as the sky begins to lighten just before sunrise.  Fog is expected to roll in, obscuring the view.  I ran in place ten minutes, read through chapter four in my dubious Shadow Magic book, and brewed some good-tasting coffee after I ran the heat through this chilly place for a few minutes.  Last night I listened to Jim Rohn dispense some hard-ass personal development advice on establishing self-discipline habits and a positive, productive mindset.  The dude says what needs to be said and heard, and although at times it seemed like a bitter bill to swallow, I got past the message's abruptness and am listening once again.  Getting my sorry ass out of bed and going to the bathroom is just step number one of a great time in my daily routine.  After adjusting the temperature, I brewed that coffee and did the ten minutes of ipfs, lightly of course on the living room rug...and now here I am. Early this afternoon, I'm to be at the UF Davis Cancer Pavilion for a lab draw and then have a chemotherapy infusion, thanks to my wonderful Melissa's driving and advocacy.  During this period I plan to listen to more of Rohn's YouTube channel.  His shows are usually around 40 minutes in length...I should get to hear maybe two of them before needing to recharge my phone after returning home.  After getting back home I'm usually physically and mentally spent and feel like crashing out on the couch or the bed.  God bless this day, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to "get busy living' in it, as Morgan Freeman says on his pharma TV ad. Maybe I'll venture forth and do some 'rock-running' exercise as well.  One thing for certain: I'll be steering clear of those war-obsessed news and opinion channels...

Early Morning, Looking at World

 Hi, here is another early morning for me.  This would be starting off another 9th grade school week, along with the accrued homework and test preparation.  Instead of sitting in my 1141 dining room with instant coffee,here comes day number three of US armed forces raining down missiles on areas the Blusterer-in-Chief deems to be enemy territory, that it, areas not under his personal control. I am tired of hitting up on channels that seem obsessed with this ongoing military adventure.  I'd like for things to start clearing up and people get back to their more normal existence, if the dramatists seeking absolute power can manage to cooperate.  We're now in March...it's Monday, the 2nd.  I can still study foreign languages and read my problematic fantasy book.  And maybe a trudge around the block is in order.  And maybe I'll try out some brief neighborhood driving of the white Camry.  Grateful for Anita and Jim's visit, and that they got back to Austin okay.  Speaking of the Texas capital city, I don't know what to think about how people in different places, near and far, who seem to have lost their minds and have yielded to their ownknee-jerk, violent tendencies. I am so, so tired of seeing ugly mug shots slapped across my TV-20 News screen. A little more pause for kindness, please...just quietly walking away can be an acceptable option, too.  I did some seven minutes of ipf so far today...

Good Early Morning at Home So Far

 It's now a little past five in the morning, I'm up, and my FitBit has so far given me a little over three hours of sleep credit.  Ran in place for 7 minutes, brewed coffee, and ate a couple of toaster strudels. unless we find ourselves going out today, I'm gonna be a homebody.  The news of this ongoing missile war is disconcerting and I'm tired of reaching news channels that dwell on it.  My hunger level is almost non-existent, so unless whether we go through a Dunkin' drive-through comes up from another in conversation, i'm planning to play it all cool.  Now back to my exercise and rest.  Oh, and Happy Rebecca Anniversary Day and Casimir Pulaski Day. So will I try taking out the white Camry for aa short neighborhood spin today? We'll see...

Showed Up, Trudged a Lap at Today's Depot Parkrun 5K

This morning, as almost always, I awoke hours before sunrise.  I put on some coffee and did some floor exercise on the living room rug, this time running in place for seven minutes.  Between six and seven I managed to talk my sweet Melissa into driving me over to Depot Park to be in time for their weekly race, involving four laps around that park just south of downtown, Gainesville.  I didn't feel up to the task but had decided beforehand to just attempt a slow one-lap, about .7 mile.  Well, she didn't feel good and remained in the car.  It was a grueling, punishing experience, walking that lap, and I felt my struggling, slow feet with their Brooks running shoes were hitting the asphalt too abruptly as if I were kicking into it.  I got through it feeling pretty crappy and angry, not at all happy with the social tribalism at the park.  Melissa was very positive and congratulated me on my efforts.  It's now mid-afternoon and I've recovered to the point that I think I could stand a little more exercise before resting for the remainder of the day.  No official result for me...I did it in 24 minutes.  Maybe next Saturday I'll try it again, if signs indicate a "go" for me.  I have no plans to push myself hard, though.  Tomorrow marks Rebecca's first wedding anniversary...love you, Sweetheart.

This month, today excepted, I totally skipped out on Parkruns, confining my exercise to the living room and always enjoying indoors climate control.  Running in place in socks (ipf) and rock-running (rr) were the two exercises I did, and I was careful to write down my times spent doing them.  I rested a lot and was careful not to overdo things.  If God permits and circumstances allow it, I plan to gradually increase my time and efforts in this direction.  And may future Parkruns go much better for both of us.  Yes, that one lap was indeed a "victory lap"...

Another Pleasant, Hopeful Early Morning at the "Base"

 Well, it's 6:36 am and I got myself up and out of bed, making some coffee and doing a little living room rug exercising.  It's not too cold outside, but the temps will rise later on.  For me, this is my base time and location.  Last night I already resumed taking the enhanced TMZ to fight off that tenacious gbm, and I already am at peace with extending my nighttime/morning fast without requesting donut shop stops.  I read the first 8 pages in Khan's Shadow fantasy book.  It's easy reading although the setting is brutal  and something I have difficulty  wrapping my propensity for imagination around all the negativity.  My internet research on the author and this series revealed that he hadn't grown much...if any...in stature over the past nine years.  I'll read some more today and mark the pages read.  Let me just keep Peewee from licking me today...she's such a  sweetie and I don't want her hurt!  I'm tired of watching those right-wing tv channels with their scare tactics, even if I tend to agree with their general political/social worldviews. I think I'll try out some of the foreign language stuff on that radio/[podcast channel.  Tomorrow morning another Parkrun is scheduled, and maybe Melissa and I will be ready to go for it, rain or not: just show up!. Yesterday Anita, Jim and I walked around 2nd and Charles, which is a thoroughly inadequate, disorganized used book store with few sitting opportunities and even fewer reading choices.  Maybe today we'll try out Book-a-Million or Barnes & Noble.  I've done ipf six minutes so far, and plan to go back to the bedroom in a few minutes after I try out some more. I'm still looking forward to trying out sitting on the front porch holding my Shaum's math book...

Early Rising, Optimistic About Day to Come

 Here I am on yet another earlier early morning, pre-dawn wakeup...it's 6:33...having run in place on the rug for about 11 minutes so far with a nice mug of hot flavored coffee in my hand.  I'm envisioning some meaningful, purposeful study ahead, particularly about foreign languages.  Melissa wants to begin my next cycle of enhanced TMZ treatments after a pharmacy visit. Then we should get to see Anita and Jim a little before they head on homeward.  Study, interaction, exercise and rest, each in good measure, should all do the trick for me (and us) today as I am more careful about what I eat.  Also, keep Pewee from licking me (like she loves to do) to protect her from the toxic (to her) medicine seeping out through my porous skin.  Oh, and some TV time is in store as well. And since I won't be scratching off any lottery tickets, then it's good fun, never could stand those tv commercials.  Now let's have some "good fun" surfin' them channels. Just don't forget to listen to that great music. How Soon is Now, by the Smiths, has my Song of the Month easily, followed by the metaphysically intense Zebra piece Who's Behind the Door?.  My favorite line from it: How much more do you think you really know about who's behind the door?. Yes. I'm also thinkin about sitting in a comfortable cloth folding chair in the front yard looking casually through one or more Shaum's math guides, checking for patterns to notice. No pressure and it's nap time whenever I choose...

Take Back That Data Center They're Trying to Build Outside My Door

 In 1987 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers came out with a wonderful, rocking singles hit titled Jammin' Me.  It's still my favorite of his, and I dig the sometimes cutting and always funny lyrics.  That last line about country clubs I just changed to reflect the billings insult that these new AI centers, which consume way too much electricity while often added to customers' bills without their permission, are a blight upon our community.  AI has done very little for me, and I don't see substantial improvement in it for the next two or three years, assuming that God is willing and I'm surviving well.  This morning I got up early and have already performed 20 minutes of floor c-v exercise, including 15 of running-in-place.  I'm still imagining plopping my day's homework on the dining room table to do alongside my nice instant coffee.  I'm determined to enjoy a good day today, practicing avoidance of schteool along with its myriad hassles.  i'd like to check out local bookstores while the Dawg's at Scenthound for foreign language books and change my voter registration to Republican, giving me more real choices during the approaching primaries in this 2026 off-year election.  Looks like i'm going to follow in the footsteps of fellow conservative old geezer voters in faithfully going to the polls! Trump delivered his State of the Union address yesterday evening.  The opposition response was personal and largely condemnatory, with obscenities against Trump freely flying about.  Don't know how that's going to transfer to voting attendance in November.  But get ready for yet another tired old local protest rally in a few weeks..."democracy in action" my ass when folks simply won't vote and then they complain later!   We're looking forward again to today to see Anita and Jim, and some real dining room table foreign language study looks like it is reallygoing to happen...maybe I can use Wikipeida articles in different languages like Russian, German, Spanish and even Chinese. Still, Chatgpt looks good for the moment.  Now time to listen to my TV music, languages and self-improvement podcasts. Oh, it seems like I slept well last night. I am not showing my exercise minutes on the blog,, preferring to write the figures in pen on the inside of a puzzle book...I've done 20 total combined ipf and rock-running minutes so far with some more planned to come.  Y'all have a wonderful day, too...

Arose Early, Day Going Well

 My habit of getting up early has taken hold, and I have been enjoying some pre-dawn exercising after making the necessary bathroom pit stops and brewing favorful coffee.  Later on we're going down to get my blood drawn at the lab, and Anita and Jim are to visit.  I'm still mindful of a need to rest and relax following exertion, and as a proper reaction to the day's progression and effect on my body and mind.  Time to get busy living and enjoying life.  Now if I can just figure how to better use my computer to generate printable text translations I can later practice on.

On this date in 2022 Putin began his country's unprovoked brutal invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which posed no threat to anybody and was just minding its own business. Also, later on this evening our glorious president will deliver his annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress.  Expect him to raz on the SCOTUS for their recent tariffs ruling and offend lifetime justices like Alito, Cavanaugh,Thomas, Gorsuch, Barrett and Roberts. As for Amy Coney Barrett, I objected to Trump picking her so close to the election he lost to Biden, but am gratified by how seriously she takes her job, doing the best that she can to deliver justice fairly...

Good-Looking Day Ahead

 On this fresh, brand-new day in late February, I am looking forward with optimism to how I am going to spend my time and attention with it.  The news is full of strung-out people taking out their frustrations and resentments on others, often with tragic results.  It seems that babies and toddlers are in the greatest state of danger, with grown-up negligence and even outright abuse threatening their fragile little lives.  Melissa is so kind, thankful, patient and generous.  Let's see if we can't generate a nice Dunkin' breakfast driv-throuh a little later! I have a computer appointment with Dr. Serendipity Rinonos this afternoon as we await my new chemotherapy prescriptions. Maybe I'll finally get to try driving the white Camry around the immediate neighborhood. Also, seeing and hearing from Anita and Jim sounds like a great idea.  And that home exercise. And, finally, I'll see if I can't get Melissa to take me down to change my voting party affiliation. Looks like I'm become bummed out on one of them while warming up to the other. In an event, I intend to alternate physical and mental activity with frequent rest breaks... 

ipf 58 min Early Morning Hope and Thanks for Day

 This morning I got up early...it's between 6;30 and 7.  I did 8 minutes of ipf, and feel encouraged to try some more.  Anita and Jim should come over for a while a little later...very much looking forward to that.  As the day goes on, I'd like to straighten out getting printed translations in Russian, German and French for me to practice on.  Doing some backyard walking on this day in which the weather temperature will be turning much colder will help out, I believe.  main thing is to be loving, content and grateful and enjoy life...

Arose Early Today, Saturday Morning

 It's already close to 5:30 on this Saturday morning, and I've been up just a little while with some good-tasting coffee on the brew.  I'm looking forward to a nice visit with Anita, who has traveled here from Austin.  I am 69 years old and feel betrayed by a sudden, dismal cancer diagnosis from four months ago following brain cancer removal surgery.  I'm committed to keeping up with treatments, but the oncologists don't give me anything to expect beyond maybe 14 months to live.  I just ran in place on the rug living room floor for two minutes, and plan to do some less intense cardio there.  The big ambitious personal achievement goals I once believed in are all gone now, with expectations in a social context almost extinguished...for good.  Just let's enjoy the day as it unfolds...and later on when I am weary and it folds back up.  I so much love Melissa and our sometimes wayward dog Daisy Sweet Peewee.  C'mon, girls, let's hang out!  Within the next few weeks, I'd like to get down to Depot Park near Gainesville's downtown to attempt the course, with four slow laps on the agenda. And then it's time for Dunkin' and some rest and recovery.  Right now the regular TV channels are on , along with the typical dubious community-based programming that calls for a more Woke approach.  And now, back to some home exercise and rest before the sun makes its appearance in the fog...

New Day Beckons New Direction

 Here we are again, at the start of a new calendar day. It is nearly five, and back in 2/71 I would again be waking and rising before sunrise to get a head start on things.  I just brewed a pot of nice-flavored coffee, sitting here to write this.  I have some ipf running to do.  Anita and family are to begin their long drive here from Austin, planned arrival some time late Friday...looking forward to seeing her.  I'm holding back on my invective against certain media figures...maybe I'll give them a chance to be more reasonable.  Were this 1998 att the post office, we'd right now be finishing up our incoming Gainesville scheme mail.  Since I'm not planning on going anywhere today, let's just see what the day brings without fanfare...

ipf: 34:00, Jeffries' Motives Questioned About "Islamophobia"

 USHouse minority leader Hakeem Jeffries angrily accused Randy Fine, a Republican Florida representative, of Islamophobia, leading into him taking action toward censureship.  For me, given the degree of violent extremist Islamic behavior targeting civilian Americans and Jews over the past few decades, this well-placed expressed suspicion is on the order for proper behavior, nothing at all deserving of criticism. Democrats act like they're the "good party" I'm supposed to automatically support, but what are they really doing in my interests? Actually, I strongly distrust the motives of Jeffries and wonder whether he isn't a two-faced closet Anti-Semite who secretly hates Jewish people and sympathizes with terrorists.  While avoiding ranting on the subject, this development in Woke mass censorship gives me serious pause as to which side I will support in upcoming elections.  Jeffries as the supreme Finger-Pointer? Well, back in your face, evil asswipe...

Now that I have vented about Jeffries, I'd like to walk it back a couple of steps without altering my opinion of him and his pristine party.  I feel about Democrats as I did about my union local...these groups act like I owe them my allegiance without any indication of support from them...and that union support has been very thin over the 37 years I worked at the Gainesville processing center.  Well, maybe using a little crude language isn't very effective, but I won't back off of my opinions...

Keep Quiet, and They Come After You

My lament: 

In the first Godfather movie, Don Vito Corleone refuses to enter the narcotics trade, staying quiet and put.  This only invites his enemy Virgil Solozzo to attempt assassination and start a gangland war.  In the same way I wonder whether calmly going about my postal duties on the job (back in 1998) wouldn't have welcomed harassment and bullying from the folks finding themselves with some floor supervisory authority over me at the time.  I refer here to Henry Lang., Art Green's Lorraine, Menal, Jose and the two Lisas. If I were Tom Petty or Bob Dylan I might add a few pointed lyrics for their great Jammin' Me song. Glad to be finally done with the lot of these bullies: completely useless people on every level  Oh, and near the end there was also Willy, a young, ignorant hyper-macho boo-butt bent on crushing people with his alpha-male persona and cutting, combative tongue.  Bye-bye, creepos.  Nothing wrong with me being reasonable and a good worker, but sometimes a little bluntness and confrontation can work well. Later today I have scheduled an infusion chemotherapy treatment at the Cancer Pavilion...I've reacted well so far to chemo in the past.  No ninth grade nonsense and discouragement today, and I've already done about 3 minutes of home exercise. Looks like the bigshots in state and nat'l government are at it again, trying to roll back my already-confirmed citizenship and voting status.  Leave me the eff alone, fascist jerks...

Now that that's off my chest, I'd like to shift a little into gratitude mode.  Those folks were probably, in their own minds, just doing their best and maybe to them I wasn't quite measuring up to their expectations.  Today I had a chemotherapy infusion session at the UF Health Davis Pavilion.  The techs seemed at first unable to find a stick in my arm or hand to draw the needed lab blood, but later all went well.  I'm tired after a long day and would like to rest under pleasant temperatures at home in this warmer than seasonable weather.  Tomorrow's hump day Wednesday.  I've concluded already that the Smiths' How Soon is Now is my Song of the month for February and for the year 2026 as well.  It's a profound anthem on asserting myself in the face of my shyness and deep feeling of social alienation: the ultimate Goth/melancholy song!  Go Morrissey, you hit it out of the park.  As for Bad Bunny, sorry but he just comes across to me more like a gangland hoodlum street pimp than a true musical artist with that phony woke demeanor of his.  Maybe someday one of these folks will produce something musically memorable...but maybe not.  As for Super Bowl halftime shows, though, that does it for me.  A close runner-up to How Soon is Now is Zebra's chilling Who's Behind the Door, with Tom Petty's 1987 Jammin' Me Right Behind in third with its relevant, funny and pointed lyrics.  What a rocker... Running-in-place (IPF) updated counter after today: 22 minutes...

Choosing One's Response

 A few days ago, near the start of he '26 Winter Olympics, I was dismayed to hear on the news about Trump going on a "you're a loser" angry rant against an athlete who simply answered a politically-oriented question.  This president always has an open line to contact me and discuss anything he wants, and if the highly improbable were to happen and someone shoved a mike and camera before me with a highly charged question, that's how i'd reply.  You see, I can't always control what happens to me, but more likely I have the option of being able to choose how to respond. And it's within my chosen responses that I have the opportunity for personal growth, and perhaps being able to take a positive step to help this sadly progressively degrading world we live in...

ipf 10:00

 Exercising in an insulated, protective home environment has been a huge plus.  I love those soft, stable heavy rugs on the living room floor!  i'm looking forward to returning to the old 2022-24 pattern of increasing my fitness and endurance levels this way.  Also...but not least...Happy Birthday to my wonderful sweet, dear Melissa and many hopes and prayers for the future, both near and far...

2:00 ipf

 I find this incremental system to be working better for me now.  I did this in the past and think it will improve my overall running fitness.  I just measure the time spent running in place without getting carried away with the time...

3:00 min ipf

Tomorrow morning will be a return to the old weekday cycle of grinding-long days, with little hope of receiving positive public feedback for my efforts.  Since I will have a vast amount of free uncommitted time at my disposal, I think that starting small and taking many breaks to be the best approach. With my home exercise I started with a modest amount of measured running in place. Right now i'm making the house a little warmer...

110 Miles

56 Miles

 It sadly looks now as if I'm going to be deprived of being able to freely type out my opinions here for future blog articles.  My blogsite has built-in features that deliberately restrict my data entries, often preventing me from using capital letters.  I think back to being at the USPS plant in 1998 with arrogant, dismissive bullying supervisors waiting in ambush to impede my efforts and actively sabotaging me, running me down in the process either around others or behind my back, no matter what I do or say.   And so I will wake up and arise a little later this morning.  I can still study using my coiled notebook...maybe that's where I am going with this narrative.  And fill in today's coming vast time stretch with home exercise while working on keeping an upbeat attitude...

76 Miles

26 Miles; Little Context

 I have some more things to write for today's entry.  i', going to practice carefullyyping while working things out longhand on pape. My chief lament is what I see as a deplorable lack of meaningful context to what lies before me...