what-would-logan-do

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Congratulate me

I've gone over two weeks without alcohol. My big NY's resolution, finally checked off. For me, a big deal, since it must have been over 10 years since I went even 1 week without drinking.

Two weeks down; the rest of my life, to go, I think. At the very least, a dry 2025 for me.

I'm pleasantly surprised that I've had almost no cravings. Simply not having any wine in the house is key, I think.

Alas, the mild discomfort in my gut is only feeling a little better now. I'd hoped that dropping alcohol would make me feel better. So... I've started phase 2: Low-FODMAP diet. A week in, and I don't feel different.

So now starts phase 3 of trying to feel better in my gut: Gradually cutting my coffee consumption in half. Did I say "congratulate me"? I think I meant "pray for me." That mug gets to empty so damn fast!

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The view from my back door.

Happy we-made-it-past-xmas to all!

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First, "Outlive" by Peter Attia -- health, wellness, preventive medicine, etc... (resuming where I left off)

"Convergence Problems" by Wole Talabi -- sci-fi short stories from an African perspective.

Both very good, so far

If you see this you’re legally obligated to reblog and tag with the book you’re currently reading

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The view from backstage. By far the biggest venue we've ever played! We were just the folksy opening act but it was still a little unnerving. It was good and a good experience. If we get invited back next year I expect I'll be able to relax more.

So lately my energy has gone more into music than workouts. I didn't run once all winter! Just some mild weightlifting. But our gigs are through for now, and the weather is turning nice, so it's time to get out and back on the fitness bandwagon.

And since I didn't run once all winter... time for another C25K? sigh.

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Ugh. I just checked that CDC Covid Tracker page that I have bookmarked... which I haven't viewed in a while. NY State is not looking great for hospitalizations.

Here's the link:

My next paying music gig is in 2 weeks. I think I'll play masked.

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Haven't been taking very good care of myself lately, so I'm trying to turn that around. Lo and behold, on New Year's Day my library notifies me that my hold on the "Outlive" e-book is ready. Some much needed fitness/wellness/healthy aging inspiration!

Happy New Year to all.

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If they ever make an Addams Family Christmas Movie, they have got to use this number. Can't you just picture Gomez and Morticia dancing to it?

Merry Christmas

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A good attitude... but also, at first I misread this as:

"We all have pasta, we all made choices that maybe weren't the best ones..."

Works on that level too

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Needed to do yard work today, so my run was a very short run around the block, where I saw this... interesting Halloween decoration.

Points for novelty. But that vertical, purple... pipe? has an interesting placement. Hmm.

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Spotted at the start of today's run: Cooper's Hawk, just chillin' on the fence, a foot away from the high-traffic bike path.

Couch to 5k is going well. Currently doing Run 9:00 / Walk 1:00 for 5k, or further, if time allows. Now to shrink those walk times.

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Oh, Donny Boy

(to the tune of Oh Danny Boy, obv.)

Oh, Donny boy, indictments they are calling Some from the feds, and from state-level, both You and your lawyers are adept at stalling But now it's you, it's you must go speak under oath

We know you'll tell your faithful, "It's a witch hunt" And you will tell the courts, "I plead the fifth" While former allies like Meadows and Mitch hunt For reasons not to flip and work for ol' Jack Smith

For all your lying, fraud and insurrection A brand new suit shall be your recompense A suit of orange, matching your complexion To wear while lounging inside Sing Sing's courtyard fence

You have no priv'lege, you're not the executive Your jurors won't have reasonable doubt Shout online all you want, all-caps invective, But, Donny boy: you Fucked Around, now you'll Find Out

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The bad: In June/July I went 5 weeks without a single run...! Too much heat, too much smoke, too much rain, too much yard work to catch up on when the rain finally stopped. Blah blah excuses blah blah.

The good: I basically restarted a Couch to 5k and it's coming along nicely. Now at the point where I do intervals, run for 3 / walk for 1, for 3.2 miles. Now I'll just shorten the walking breaks.

I think I need to sign up for a 5k race. Maybe one of those Fall races that encourages costumes? "Peter B. Parker" would be easy.

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I've never seen so many turtles and turtle egg shells along the Mohawk bike path. Looks like the turtle population is thriving!

Speaking of turtles... my latest run had an average pace of 13:15/mi. Oof. But it was the first full 5k run I've done since... November!

And the slow pace isn't all that terrible, as it's a conscious choice, to keep my HR from going too high.

Blah blah running blah blah.

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Pretty much had the bike path to myself this afternoon--I guess everyone was at family get-togethers etc.

Still not seeing a lot of wildlife by the Mohawk but I did at least see what appeared to be shells from turtle eggs. I've read that raccoons seek them out as a tasty snack; understandable. Seems odd that turtles would lay the eggs a few inches from the high-traffic bike path. Why wouldn't they choose a spot further away from the human traffic?

Couch to 5k continues. Did 2.3 miles of run 3:05 / walk 0:55. Next time I'll try 2.5 miles of 3:10 / 0:50.

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Still running, a little, though not as much as I'd like because there is so much damn yard work to do.

But I was happy to see this little guy on the bike path -- haven't seen much wildlife around there lately, which is troubling. And happy to help him off the path before he got run over by a bike.

Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to mow the lawn... again.

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First run in two weeks. I was sidelined not by ankle or knee issues, but by a damn toenail. It got ingrown, or hangnail, or something. Blech. Seems fine now. Eased back into running with a measly 1.3 miles of HIIT.

In other exciting news, my neighbors somehow managed to find a lawn mower even louder than their previous mower. So today I am grateful for noise-cancelling headphones.

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I celebrated actually finishing my $&*$&%* taxes by going for a run. A great day for it! Nice to see baby snakes and turtles along the path.

One oddity: according to my Garmin, my VO2 max has been getting worse, as I've been running more over the last few weeks. I'm still not running a lot -- just 2 or 3 miles, every 2 or 3 days. But it's more than I was running before, so I expected my VO2 max to improve. But it's getting worse...?

Maybe my body doesn't perform as well in warmer weather? Just curious.