Author: Brent Evans

morning babble / Saturday 05-29-21

Took me a bit to kick it into gear today. I actually journaled and had tea prior to my run. Anyway, I’ve been a grump around here lately. Now, it’s easy to say it’s the weather and put blame there. BUT – I’m just behind with my work, personal goals, and that’s when I become my own worst enemy. I go into hiding and . . . become a grump.

HOWEVER, there’s one thing that I didn’t do yesterday, which might have helped me through all of this. Laundry – I do it and enjoying doing it. It’s a completed act. I washed like 4 loads of clothes, but they remain in the basket – two of them . . . piled high. I didn’t fold them yet. I should have done that. Watch the video – I think I explain it better there.

AMA Saturday:

• Question #1 – When’s your next fast? Monday night, June 7th – the fasting fun begins again

• Question #2 – didn’t feel like doing any more questions.

• Questions #3 – sorry, but there’s next week.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Give more / Give what you didn’t get / Love more / Drop the old story” – by Garry Shandling via Stillness is the Key (p. 111)

morning babble / Friday 05-28-21

Via Rolling Stone, I read that Spotify is working to help out new musicians. This past Wednesday (May 26th), “the streaming service announced its new Fresh Finds program, which will spotlight indie musicians in marketing campaigns and equip them with a variety of educational tools.” The program is a spin-off of the Fresh Finds playlist, which updates every Wednesday and his been around for the past 5 years. I need to listen to that more.

FYI – I don’t get paid by Spotify and I also don’t receive a free subscription. I just enjoy their app and all the music you get. Besides, after they signed Joe Rogan, there wasn’t any money left. Thanks Joe.

New Music Friday:

• I’ll just start with the big one that’s out today – DMX’s Exodus (named after one of his sons). This album was nearly complete before his death on April 9 and includes a ton of other stars. The song being pushed today is called “Bath Salts” opens with Jay-Z, then Nas, and, of course, DMX. All on the same song. Other songs include Snoop, Lil Wayne, Bono, Alicia Keys, and on & on.

• Another big one is from Mustafa (formerly Mustafa the poet) with his debut solo album – When Smoke Rises. This guy has been doing poetry since he was 12. The song I heard today was “The Hearse” – Very deep and real.

• I did see and hear “Vacation” by Dirty Heads but that was released back in 2017. Great video too – has Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell all through it. Click here. Anyway, this new “Vacation” is a remix with Train aka Pat Monahan. Dirty Heads are on tour this summer and it looks like that they don’t have a new album, so let’s push out an old favorite. It’s a fun kick-off to the holiday weekend.

• Glorious Sons (Canada’s Best Export) released “Daylight” last Saturday to kick-off the Stanley Cup playoffs. Today, we get “Young King”. I’ve liked these guys for awhile now and they keep getting better. Here’s a link to go big on some NFTs that the band is offering. Click here!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If your heart was as big as your mouth you’d be real.” – by DMX

morning babble / Thursday 05-27-21

Happy Friday Eve aka Thursday.

I hit the snooze bar today. Snooze button? I’ve been doing that again lately and it worries me. I feel like the snooze bar (button) is a gateway drug to further procrastination.

ANYWAY – I did hit Dunkin’ on my way home yesterday. AND – I got Snackin’ Bacon, but I also asked for a large coffee with cream & sugar. Bacon was good, but they gave me this (watch the video).

Here’s a random tip for the Jelly Donut – take that thing home and top it with some peanut butter – it’s glorious.

Trying to expand my horizons. Every night, I sit in the house library to journal, but I also have a daily reading from the book – A Year with Rumi. I’m trying to understand it. Trying. It’s like Radiohead – I know that there are a ton of fans and it’s really well done . . . but, I’m trying to understand and “get” it.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Avoiding certain people to protect your emotional and mental health is not a weakness. It’s wisdom.” – by Jim Carrey

morning babble / Wednesday 05-26-21

Long road day in NJ. Today though, I’ve determined that I’m treating myself to the Snackin’ Bacon and a coffee with cream & sugar.

I was in Dunkin this past weekend getting breakfast for my family and overhead a guy say: “Don’t you have cereal?” Really? I mean they have Avocado Toast now, buddy and you want cereal. I remember when it was just Mr. Donut on Kirkwood Highway – just donuts and coffee – no sandwiches, no muffins, no bacon specialties. Water for the kids? Give ’em coffee!

I ran, I babbled – 146!

Read from the Daily Stoic (p.160) – “Don’t spend much time thinking about what other people think. Think about what you think, Think instead about the results, about the impact, about whether it is the right thing to do.”

Looking forward to the weekend – need to get busy on videos – Gummi Bears / Soap Battle / Tour of my house library / Looking for a charity / Quote Board / Writing a Book!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Practice even what seems impossible.” – by Marcus Aurelius

morning babble / Tuesday 05-25-21

Towel Day is an annual celebration on the 25th of May, as a tribute to the late author Douglas Adams (1952-2001). On that day, fans around the universe carry a towel in his honor. Adams wrote the classic sci-fi novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. This day was organized in memory of him after he suffered a sudden heart attack at the age of 49. His fans wanted to find a way to commemorate his life’s work, and after having one towel day, its success made it a yearly event. Within Chapter 3 of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, it’s all explained.

What is 42? A computer, called Deep Thought, gets to answer the universe’s ultimate question: “What is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?”, and in response to this question Deep Thought gives a very simple answer: “42”. Yes – this is a part of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as well.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If you really want to understand something, the best way is to try and explain it to someone else.” – by Douglas Adams

morning babble / Monday 05-24-21

Hello Monday – let’s all just smile through it. I mean in one week, we get Memorial Day! Now for today, try to think about all the good things that occurred this past weekend. Then, see how you can build upon them for next weekend. Actually, this past Saturday night, my kid’s school – NCCL School – located in Newark, DE right on the U of D campus, they held an acoustic set by Chris Lebresco. Wonderful artist. But – it was all done through a video link. So, we got to chill on our deck, drinking our beverages, kids running around inside (without a babysister). A wonderful night. We got Chris to play White Stripes “We’re going to be friends” as well as Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike.” He also played a bunch more of everyone’s acoustic favorites – it was a little over 2 hours. Today, I’m going to think about that night as I push on through this Monday.

144 Days of Running / 144 Vlogs of Morning Babble

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Don’t count the days; make the days count.” – by Muhammad Ali

morning babble / Sunday 05-23-21

I ran for #143 – on the mill again. Unfortunately, the eyes are not happy with the outdoors right now. The need for itching is continuous. Ugh. Anyway – it’s also the 143rd morning babble on the 143rd day of the year. Sooooooooo . . . Happy 1-4-3 Day! Pennsylvania is recognizing that today in honor of the late Fred Rogers, who would often use “1-4-3” as a way to say “I love you” — referring to the number of letters in each word — on the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” TV show. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to go around telling people you love them – I mean, you can – but it’s mainly a way to encourage everyone to do something kind for someone else. Go do that!

Books!

• Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King

• Nothing has changed with my current books – just digging in deeper. Learning how nutty Lincoln was right now in the Doris Kearns Goodwin book – Leadership in Turbulent Times

• Hoping to find a day next weekend where I just sit and finish this one by Austin Kleon – Steal like an Artist. I just need a couple hours when I can sit still and knock it out.

• The audio book of David Goggins book – Can’t Hurt Me – is taking me longer because I’m writing down all of these comments and thoughts along the way. Like his “Acccountability mirror” or “sometimes bullies are just telling you the truth but in a hurtful way” or “Pick the people around you that are going to hold you to a higher standard- not a lower standard. Most people are afraid to hear what they don’t want to hear.” So much good stuff!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”- by Mr. Rogers

morning babble / Saturday 05-22-21

I ran! That’s 142 “5k runs” / Also, 142 Vlogs of “Morning Babble”

I was going to do the run outside, but I know that every year around Memorial Day, my eyes have massive issues. So, I hit the mill.

Also, I saw my parents yesterday. I’ve seen them here there and everywhere. But yesterday, I hugged my parents for the first time in a long time.

AMA Saturday:

• Question #1 – Did you really kiss the marshmallow? Yes. And then I began creating some concoctions with PB and Marshmallow. This brought the babble to a quick close. Go watch the video.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If more information was the answer, then we’d all be billionaires with perfect abs.” – by Derek Sivers

morning babble / Friday 05-21-21

I jiu-jistu’d! Got to write in my jiu-jitsu journal, too.

This past week on Tuesday (5/18) – 4 years ago – we lost Chris Cornell

Also, this past week on Wednesday (5/19) – 35 years ago – the So album by Peter Gabriel – that’s the one with Big Time, Sledgehammer, In Your Eyes. I always liked Red Rain. Although Sledgehammer made me laugh because it’s about having extra hard fun in the bedroom. Any real Gabriel fan knows that his “Melt” album is the best. That’s the one with half of his face melting. “I Don’t Remember” and “Family Snapshot” and “Intruder”.

Randomly saw that Megalithic Symphony by awolnation – 10 year anniversary. Wow. That’s the one with the hit song “Sail”. “Knights of Shame” is the best song.

141 5k runs / 141 babbling vlogs

New Music Friday:

• Today’s the day – the Ayron Jones debut album called Child Of The State comes out and we’re getting 12 songs on it. Already saved in Spotify, but I want to get vinyl of that one.

• Another whole album that I saved today to my Spotify account was Scaled and Icy. It’s the new album from Twenty One Pilots. People ask where they got their name from and nobody ever really knew. I always remained silent too because . . . I didn’t know. So, I looked it up. There is a play titled “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller with the story set taking place during WWII. While in college, Tyler Joseph (half of Twenty One Pilots) studied this play and there’s a scene when a character reveals that because he didn’t do a job correctly, plane parts were manufactured incorrectly and caused the death of 21 American pilots. To Tyler (Twenty One Pilots dude), the name is a reminder to focus and that if he doesn’t work hard, others may face the consequences, as well as himself.

• Remember “it’s time for the percolator” – well, City Girls have come out with the “Twerkulator” AND – I’m in shock: there’s no video for the song. They have to be working on that, otherwise, I would have provided a link here.

• Olivia Rodrigo released her debut album, Sour / She’s a former Disney Channel star and we know how they are – they’re like Preacher Kids . , . angels. Anyway – I thought her voice reminded me of Grace Vanderwaal, but the music is a little more rockin’.

• Gwen Stefani’s Country Boy, Blake Shelton, just released a new album today and it’s called Body Language. What does it sound like? I’m not sure. But if Gwen Stefani comes out with an album titled the same – I will most definitely give it a listen.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“People have the strength to overcome their bodies. Their beauty is in their minds.” – by Peter Gabriel

morning babble / Thursday 05-20-21

Sometimes the scribble remains just that . . . but – there’s always the video below.

Son’s baseball game threw off my nightly routine. We grabbed McDonald’s on the way home and that’s where it went wrong. I didn’t feel like making my lunch for today.

Fast forward to this morning and I needed to make something for the road. I then saw the big marshmallows that we used for S’mores the other night. This is better than a fluffernutter!

Packed up my gi / cut my toes nails / ready to BJJ roll tonight – it’s been more than a year!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“You want to entertain?  Go get entertained” – by “maybe” Paul Mooney”

2nd QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“A new broom can sweep the floor, but an old broom knows where the dirt is.” – by Paul Mooney (lost him yesterday at age 79)