That Sucked

Longest week of my life.

After 2 1/2 years, it finally got me and I was laid up for over a week with covid. Even being vaccinated and boosted wasn’t enough, I had a fever for three days and am still feeling a little exhausted. Enough that I haven’t written anything since the beginning of this month.

What to say, except I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

Why Art Matters: Converting a Kiddie Guitar

…after!

I discovered a junior guitar at a garage sale for $5. It surprisingly holds its tune quite well, has metal strings, and is going to be a nice companion for the cottage up north.

But I’m not a Marvel superhero kind of gal. What to do?

My first attempt was to paint it a deep sparkle black. The body is, however covered in a durable plastic to manage the rough and tumble punishment an 8-year-old rock star would inflict on its body. Five coats of paint would not adhere to the body, was tacky in the summer humidity, and peeled right off. 

Well, I’ve always loved a sticker collage. One search for rock band stickers on Amazon, and I got a lot of 100 for six dollars. I ordered, not expecting much for the money, but intrigued by all the five star reviews.

Did they deliver! Classic rock, modern rock, punk rock, rap, and just music in general. I tried being careful and calculating, but then I started slapping them on to fill in the empty spaces. To finish it, I placed the cartoon Queen sticker from my Italian graphic artist friend Rachel in a place of honor. I did keep Ironman up in the head. 

The little guitar now lives at the little house for those days when I feel like a little acoustic jam. Yesterday after screwing the hanger into the wall, I practiced Ceilito Lindo for about 30 minutes. 

Rawk.

Letting Go of Running

The boot box, where I cataloged my finish line songs and stored awards and prizes. 

It's happened: I've made the decision to "retire" from doing road races and concentrate on skating and doing other stuff. 

I don't even miss it. 

I meant what I posted before about attempting to see a version of myself that doesn't exist. I didn't find a tribe in running like I did in skating. The only way I broke 30 minutes was if I was doing a virtual race on an elliptical or on my skates when organizers would allow alternate methods of race completion. And usually, I just felt relief when it was over. 

But... I devoted over 11 years to the sport, so I want to salvage something out of the time I dedicated to it. 

What am I most proud of? 

I did 1 milers, 5Ks, 4.1 miles, 6.2, a 13.1, a couple of indoor triathlons at the Y (20 minutes on the bike, 20 minutes running, and 20 minutes swimming), and a cumulative marathon (two 13.1s) and several ironmans. 

I got my mother-in-law moving. 

I did get some second place medals in my age group, including one of my very first 5ks. 

I've raised some money for breast cancer research, diabetes, and adoption/foster care.

I won a case of Power Gel for writing an essay about what I discovered about GR running a 10K. That took care of my tossies at Adult Nationals one year. 

Actually, I won seven of my 10 entries in the River Bank Run for the Tell Your Story promo. 

Last time I counted, I had accumulated over 70 finisher's awards that included medals, drinkware, stopwatches, pedometers, headlamps, magnets, shoelaces, jewelry, lunchboxes, and a Santa suit. That's the result of over 11 years of running. 

Who knows, once I get the hip up and going again, I may sneak back on a course for a fun run. Hot chocolate at the Whoville 5k in December sounds great on this 90 degree day. 

August Playlist: The Wonder Girls

Do they run they run, do they run they run. 

This is a continuation of the tribute band genre, and imagining myself as a member of such a band. 

I’ve never seen a Monkees tribute band, but it’s not as if one doesn’t exist out there, somewhere. Gotta go search… I found:

The Frodis Caper

Monkeemania

The Blue Meanies (which doesn’t make sense but ok)

Missing Links

Zilch

The Good Times

Monkeephiles

The Daydream Believers

Wow. 

We are making it an all girl group, because why not - there was an episode where they went head to head with a girl group, the twist both bands had their lead singer in drag because the promoter wanted mixed groups.

The band name, The Wonder Girls is a reference in Randy Scouse Git to Micky’s girlfriend at the time. 

Set list!

She Hangs Out - was the song featured in the above mentioned episode.

Randy Scouse Git - in addition to WG, it references The Beatles (the four kings of EMI), they use a Moog synthesizer, some dramatic drumming, and rollicking piano. It's a three minute spectacle.

Daydream Believer - you will get a crowd singalong.

I’m Not Your Stepping Stone - the punks loved this song, Micky sneers through the lyrics. From a girl group, would be an empowerment anthem. 

Tapioca Tundra - because it’s weirdly cool.

Porpoise Song - because Mad Men.

Pleasant Valley Sunday - the 60s version of Black Hole Sun. Carole King and her ex husband hiding darkness in the sunshine. 

Words - my longtime favorite Monkees song. Do you change the lyrics in order to be heteronormative or are you faithful to the lyrics and open the narrative to a new perspective? First word in the song is girl. Representation matters. Do what Joan Jett and Melissa Etheridge fought to do playing with pronouns to stay true to themselves. 

Next month: The Lady Madonnas. Because of course the world needs a Beatles/Madonna mashup. George Harrison and the Material Girl made for strange bedfellows in the mid-80s.