Who’s schedule is getting filled up? Whew. All us vaccinated people are getting together. Plans are being made. Wife just bought us tickets to go see Anderson East in Philly. It’s January 22nd, but we’re in. Wish that dude would get a girlfriend. And no masks – gotta check the teeth for food and the nose for bats in the cave. Wash your face people!
Hell yeah or no! A simple little rule that learned from Derek Sivers in his book Anything You Want. This is a wonderful, short book that I highly suggest reading for many reasons – both personal and business.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.” – by Derek Sivers
So, I have to go back to the dentist on Friday. Something in the back, next to a filling, needs to have some new stuff slapped up against it. I trust my dentist though. President Biden actually goes to my dentist! I missed that day when he met my son.
Anyway, I explained how I floss in the shower and that’s how it reminds me. In the past, I was complimented for my flossing, but this time, she asked do you floss? I proudly replied “yes” and then re-explained my story of flossing during every shower. “Oh.” I then asked, “why?” She said, “Well, your gums appeared sensitive, so I was going to say that maybe you should floss more.” Then there was silence. I was wondering if she thought I should shower more as well.
Here’s a random question – do you close your eyes when you’re in the chair at the dentist. I do. I have eyes that tell too much of a story, so if they go wide for no reason, I can feel them tense up. In turn, I shut down and just close my eyes.
138 runs of 5k / 138 vlogs of Morning Babble
I got my BJJ journal out. Last entry 3/12/20. It’s been a long time since jiu-jitsu. Thursday evening, I’ll make an attempt and roll with one of my clients, who is a purple belt. I want to get back. Working it into the routine is going to be tough at this point.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Love the things you own” – by someone
2nd QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The things you own end up owning you. It’s only after you lose everything that you’re free to do anything.” – by Chuck Palahniuk (Paula – Nick), Fight Club
Back at it on a Monday! I actually have a dentist appointment today. Fun. Who flosses? Here’s my tip. Put dental floss in the shower. Please join me in this good habit. I still remember the blank stares on the dentist and hygienist when I told them I do that. I don’t want to be alone on this one and it does help remind you to do it! Just don’t be leaving the used floss in the shower – that’s nasty.
Speaking of the shower – I got both competitors for my Soap Competition! Details coming!
Dr. Bronners – Almond Bar
Happy Nuts – Not Blue Balls
Another shower idea that I’m pondering – Cold Showers. Wim Hof recently did a 20 day cold shower challenge on Instagram. The Iceman does all kinds of unbelievable cold events. Be sure to check him out. Click here for his Instagram.
Someone that I follow all the time is Matt D’Avella, who did a cold shower for 30 days. He’s done all kinds of 30 day challenges and has all kinds of tips with minimalism. However, to see his cold shower video, click here.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The limit is not the sky. The limit is the mind.” – by Wim Hof
I slept in! Hit the 8 hour mark, too! I’m trying to get better with that.
Books!
First up – I finally finished this one from Emmanuel Acho – Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. Initially, I had planned on doing a deep dive into this, but personally I don’t feel comfortable enough with the topics laid out in this book. I don’t want to mess up. I don’t want to hurt anyone if I say something ignorantly. I have nothing bad to say about the book, but just because I read it and have some of my closest friends who are black, it doesn’t mean I can really do a legit talk on some of these topics. I do believe that every one should give it a read and this part, I will state loudly: White people – you especially – give it a read. All of us need to keep learning, keep listening, and keep talking to one another.
Whew – every one still with me? Let’s keep going.
This past week, I was talking about the use of “Great Caesar’s Ghost” and other kid friendly F-bomb usage. Someone then commented on a video of mine from the other day via YouTube (click here for that) about how they use the Sun God from Watership Down by Richard Adams. Frith is the rabbit’s Sun God. So, if you stub that toe – “Oh, Frith!” I like that. It also made me dig up my copy of Watership Down which I read back in 7th or 8th grade. My signature from back in the day is up front in the book. About 20 years as a grown man, I read it all over again. I don’t think I’m starting it up again today, but the book has been pulled. We shall see.
I follow Ali Abdaal with his YouTube channel as well as Instagram. The other day, he explained how he has on his desk the book from Austin Kleon – Steal Like an Artist. This is his go-to book to help kick him in the butt or push himself along. I have on my desk the Steven Pressfield book – The War of Art – as well as Jocko Willink’s Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual. I’m anxious to dig into Steal Like an Artist since it’s been on my wish list for awhile and I want to see if it also joins my other go-to books on my desk.
Breaking News – this just in from the Morning Babble desk. The original Gummi Bears from the Haribo company have 5 flavors: Yellow = Lemon / Orange = Orange / Red = Raspberry / White = Pineapple / Green = Strawberry? What? I had no idea. My daughter finished off the bag and I read the print on the back, so this is how I know about it – never noticed it in the past. The problem I have is that my daughter finished off the bag and now I need to go get some. Specifically, I need to pick out the green bear and mentally think “strawberry” while tasting it. This is all to be continued . . .
AMA Saturday:
Question #1 – Did you get a whipper? Yes. I got my milk frother aka “whipper”. Now, I can enjoy my MUD drink while adding in Coconut Milk Powder again. Without my whip, I would try stirring this powder into the mix as best as I could, but there would always be powder-filled balls floating in my beverage. AND THEN – when I would take a sip of the beverage, one of those balls would slip in and – boom – explode out the powder within my mouth. All very negative. I’m so glad I got another whipper (frother) again.
Question #2 – Do you really run every day? Yes. 5k every day. I just passed 450 miles for the year. The treadmill – I go by how far it says that I went. In turn, it claims that I’m doing 10 minute miles on the treadmill. Meanwhile, my Garmin watch says “you SO ran more than that.” I stick with what the mill says because I don’t want to cheat anywhere. As for outside, my runs average 7.5 minute miles. Also, my new shoes from Brooks – they just reached 100 miles. Apparently, once I hit 500 miles on them, I need new “tires.” Nevertheless, we are at 135 days in a row of 5k runs. The goal is to do it every day of the year, but just in case I run into that one person who accomplished the same feat but points out that he/she did it during a leap year, I will keep it going through January 1st to make it 366 days in a row. Who’s competitive?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I do not believe that one grows older. I think what happens early on in life is that at a certain age, one stands still and stagnates.” – by T.S. Eliot via Mark Manson
Dogfish Head broke the fast like 6:48pm? Sunday Feels. I had the pasta, marinara sauce, spicy sausage, garlic bread, and red wine still. I was food coma afterwards, but it was worth it. No dessert though. I was done.But – Dogfish Head did it. Oh, I tried the cucumber floating in the water yesterday – loved it.
I ran 134 runs of 5k / 134 vlogs
This week was rough and I was teetering. Trying to avoid the downward spiral. So, I turned to music. That new AJR album – OK Orchestra – it’s just really, really great. I mean, if it’s not your thing, I get it. I’ve heard from some people – I’m not listening to that junk. Now, it’s not junk, but I think it’s definitely fun music to hear and it really got me through the day. Here are some of the lyrics of different songs that make me smile:
“Bummerland” –
This month I got seven haircuts And now my hair is all gone It’s sad but I’ve been alone for too long So I keep getting haircuts
“3 o’clock Things” –
If I keep on talking politics, my friends’ll dip, they’re over it If I keep on talking politics, I’m Hamilton (Without the hits)
“Ordinaryish People” –
“Your pretty friends, they call you ugly Your ugly friends, they call you vain No, you’re not stupid, you’re just special Well, that’s what all your smart friends say”
That last one is on my Morning Babble Wake-up playlist – it’s on Spotify. Click here!
New Music Friday:
AJR and Weezer joined up to redo the Weezer song – “All My Favorite Songs” – just a single, but the Weezer original is on their OK Human album
Fellow P.K. – Katy Perry – we’re both preacher kids. She has a new video out, which is never a bad thing. The video is for her new song “Electric.” The track appears on upcoming compilation Pokémon 25: The Album, which will arrive this fall via Capitol Records. Did you know “I Kissed a Girl” came out back in 2008 – 13 years ago – what?
Mark your calendar for May 21st, the highly anticipated debut album from Ayron Jones called Child Of The State comes out and we’re getting 12 songs on it. Last week, we got “Spinning Circles” but today we got “Take Your Time.” If you didn’t know the song’s name before it was played out, you would definitely know it when the song ended. It’s kind of like Phil Collins with One More Night. Hmmm – I think that one should be called One More Night, Phil. Anyway, his guitar does a lot of the singing in this song and can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.
New full albums from J. Cole and The Black Keys. Also, a whole new album from country star, Alan Jackson – his first new album in 6 years. It’s got like 21 tracks.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “When Humpty Dumpty went down. He said, “Screw it, I’m a smile right through it And I’ll scream when no one’s around” – by AJR “Humpty Dumpty”
Whew – I didn’t have any scribble written out this morning! Watch that babble!
3rd day of 3 day fast / 5:55pm – pasta w/ spicy sausage / red wine
I did cut up some cucumbers for my water today.
No headaches! Normally, I have one during the fast – nothing yet.
Stay busy!!
My daughter sings her own theme songs whether it’s scootering down the street, attempting to climb a tree, or running up the slide on the playground. Hold my doll story – watch the video!
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” – by William Penn
To the people who have reached out and said to me . . . “boy, you look like junk.” Thanks. I realize allergies have been rough for me. Puffy eyes / Red eyes / Nasally – I’m always nasally though. Last week, I really felt it coming on and kind of wish I did the fast when I originally planned it, but too late now. One of the reasons that I held off was weight. I wanted to see if there was a bump in weight after the April Alcohol Drought. There wasn’t.
My grandfather – we called him Pop or Pop-pop. I always remembered him doing that and then exclaiming “Great Caesar’s Ghost”. I looked that up. Allusion to the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, in which Roman emperor Julius Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus. So instead of saying – some sort of profanity – you say, Great Caesar’s Ghost. great googly-moogly, / I’ve always thought Crab Apple was a good one. You do this as a parent.
I had a bad VW car, so I’ll say Fahrvergnügen as my “profanity.” I use “crab apple” too. Later on, it’s funny getting around friends and dropping the kid friendly f-bomb – fuuuuuudge.
I ran – 132 runs / 132 vlogs
Fasting Tips – Use the Zero app / Stay busy
Zero app – love it / check ins on you throughout the day
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s not about what it is. It’s about what it can become.” – by Dr. Seuss
This is the scribble that helps with the babble. Sometimes I have time to tidy it up, sometimes I just need to get my butt to work.
3 day fast is underway – as I always say, today is the easiest day. You don’t really notice anything until dinner time. That’s when you’re like – wow – 2 more days? Also, what did I eat? two hot dogs and a blueberry muffin. Finished that muffin around 5:55pm. They suggest typically, the night before to have a low carb dinner in order to deplete your glycogen (glai kuh jn) storage. This will help your body enter into ketosis faster.
Bit the inside of my cheek yesterday like several times. So, that’s gonna easily clear up by Thursday. I’ll be so mad if my first bite on Thursday – crunch. My grandfather – we called him Pop or Pop-pop. I always remembered him doing that and then exclaiming “Great Caesar’s Ghost” instead of profanity.
Fasting tip – Liven up your water. Lemon juice / slices of cucumbers – don’t eat them at the end / sparkling water is fine as well. Mix it up. / No sugar and no sweeteners
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “More effort is wasted doing things that don’t matter than is wasted doing things inefficiently. Elimination is the highest form of optimization.” – by James Clear. Taken from his weekly newsletter, go sign up for it here.
Back at it on a Monday! A little slower, but back at it!
3 Day Fast begins tonight. It’s what you would call a Non-Caloric Liquid Fast. I still have water, tea, and coffee – no sugar (or milk/cream) in any of them. NCLF can be practiced for anywhere between 24 hours and several days. Typically, the longer you engage in this type of fast, the deeper the body gets into cellular cleansing. I do it because of how it “resets the body” and it then fights off my allergies better. Less pill popping of Claritin, Benadryl, etc.
“Fasting Decoded” is a good short breakdown of fasting. You’ll have to do some signing up, but click here to get your own copy via Kion. Ben Greenfield also has a good podcast and breakdown of fasting – click here for that.
130 runs / 130 vlogs
I got new soap from Happy Nuts. AND – it’s scent is called No Blue Balls. The competitor soap is from Dr. Bronner and his 6 pack of flavors should be arriving soon.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Failure is success training.” by Kevin Smith
