Category: Morning Babble

blah, blah, blah – this is my scribble for the babble before I clean it up – off to work!

I ran / I vlogged / Tally is at 89!

I’ve been looking for a new soap, because I’m tired of the liquid body wash. Numerous ones have been tried. Some barely made it through a shower and went directly into the trash. One of the big ones (Dr. Squatch), I tried a couple: Grapefruit IPA and some Whiskey one. Yes, still talking soap here. They do some really good marketing, awesome website, and all kinds of flavors to try. BUT – I just didn’t like the soap all that much. Bubbles weren’t really there enough for me and I felt sort of dry at the end. They’ll be fine without my support.

The initial winner was Bourbon soap by Soap Distillery. I was ready to order it when this one then arrived: The Man Slab by Happy Nuts. It won. The name of the company hooked me, but it really does have a great sniff to it and very nice bubbles. The winner! Visit their website here.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The music’s playing, the notes are right. Put your left foot first and move into the light. The edge of this hill is the edge of the world. Let the dance begin.” – by Genesis via “Dance on the Volcano” of A Trick of the Tail

Donald (the duck) is mad on a Monday (got to see the video to understand the visual). Brent was mad on a Sunday. Every 2 years, it seems that I need to get a new iPhone. My video just wouldn’t upload yesterday. It took me two hours. I really don’t know what I would have done if it was any of these upcoming days where I had to get on the road for work.

Some good news! I got my The Boys Omnibus Volume Three via Amazon. Ordered it Sunday morning and it arrived Sunday night. That stuff still amazes me.

Speaking of Amazon, Moqueca. What? We were supposed to make that (Moqueca) yesterday, but unfortunately we couldn’t find some of the key ingredients at the grocery store or farmer’s market. So, we made the turn to Amazon and the needed ingredients will be here in time for my Meal Challenge on Tuesday night. Moqueca – I keep practicing saying it.

Well looky there, we’re getting closer to April, aren’t we. Thursday officially begins the month long drought on alcohol – April Drought 2021. I am excited to do it. I have to admit thought that I have been enjoying myself with some extra beverage these past several days. My body could probably use this break.

I ran, I vlogged. Both at 88. My countdown was created by Molly Alexandra. Go check out her stuff here and/or here.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“We buy things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t like.” – I read about it today in the Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and he quotes Fight Club, which it is known for. However, the quote belongs to Mr. Dave Ramsey.

Feeling my 48 years. Thank you again for all the birthday wishes from everywhere – that was awesome. One quick story from my day. We ordered take-out from Del Pez in Wilmington. Got a wonderful dinner for our family of 4 along with a couple Margaritas. I ran in for the pick-up. Guess what? I got carded. I know, so maybe my hat was on backwards and, of course, I had a mask on, but the 3 ladies there were shocked. I didn’t flash my baldy or face, so they can just keep on envisioning the young glory that might be hidden underneath.

Books!

• Wrapped up the Why We Sleep book by Matthew Walker along with the Omnibus Volume 2 of The Boys. Volume 3 arriving today.

• Being Mortal by Atul Gawande – should finish it this week

• Leadership book from Goodwin . . . I’m behind. Got to dig back in.

• New Book! Eat A Peach by David Chang

• About to begin Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho

• Finally, once the Being Mortal book is wrapped. It’s Seth Godin’s This Is Marketing

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
““And reading, I hold, is indispensable…Reading nourishes the mind and refreshes it when it is wearied.” — Seneca

Started my day with the Morning Babble Wake-Up Playlist. Enjoyed “Six Days in June” by The Fratellis (always first). It then went into “Bang!” by AJR, which then reminded me of yesterday. I listened to that new AJR album like 5 or 6 times. No joke. I was way into that. If you enjoy that type of music – go for it and enjoy!

One year ago today, I received this from my daughter for my birthday:

AMA Saturday:

• Question #1 – what’s your next challenge after skipping alcohol for the month of April? Can’t we get through April first? I do have ideas though, but nothing for May – just running and vlogging and hopefully celebrating in May.

• Question #2 – how are you going to celebrate your 100th vlog? Well, it won’t be doing shot of alcohol since that day lands in April. I don’t know yet. But – wow – 100 coming soon!

• Questions #3 – is it really your birthday? Yes. It had to happen sooner or later. I’m 48!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Don’t postpone joy until you have learned all of your lessons. Joy is your lesson.”
— Alan Cohen

Tweaked my back a little yesterday – doing nothing. Just stressful emails messing with me. I know – getting old. I get older tomorrow.

Morning Babble Wake-up Playlist via Spotify is here. It will constantly change. Lots of Fratellis right now. No matter what – “Six Days in June” starts it off for me.

Coachello is officially cancelled until 2022. Normally, it happens in April, but they had rumors around that is was pushed to October this year. But – apparently, all the festivals are pushing until then and there’s issues with artists. Anyway – 2022 for Coachello.

New Music Friday:

• AJR – entire new album! Several songs have already been released from it, like Bummerland, Way Less Sad, and Bang! Today – they are pushing 3 O’Clock Things. AJR is just a fun sounding band. Singing about some serious stuff at times but still putting a smile on your face.

• Lil Nas X realeased a single, “Montero”. It’s catchy. Got be all edited up for terrestrial radio. Always interesting what they do there. Like I got used to hearing Machine Gun Kelly’s edited version of my ex’s best friend. Then, it came on SiriusXM with the kids. Whoops.

• This past December, Paul McCartney released his album McCartney III. Well, he just announced a Reimagined ‘McCartney III’ Album where it’s a covers album featuring other artists. First one up – my man, Beck. He redid the song – “Find My Way”. The entire reimagined album is due out in April.

• Taylor Swift – released a previously unreleased song that she wrote back in 2008. Definitely a country pop sound to it. “You All Over Me”. This is the first of 6 unreleased songs that will included on her rerecorded version of Fearless which drops on April 9th

• New stuff that I’m excited for: They Might Be Giants, Arkells w/ K. Flay, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Fitz and the Tantrums. Ooo – Donna Missal getting naughty with “Sex is good” song.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I trust no one who hasn’t time for music.” – by Jack White

Six Days in June by the Fratellis – that’s the first song that I’ve been listening to every morning when I sit down here at the desk. The moment that I hear the beginning piano notes – something just clicks. I know that I need to try and talk “real good.” For new music Friday – tomorrow, I’ll pass along via Spotify my Morning Babble playlist, but . . . it constantly changes and it’s all over the place.

Something magical happened yesterday – with Worcestershire. (watch video)

Last June, I began this 52 Meals Challenge (Yes – I’m behind with the posts, but I have more coming!) Next real time challenge coming is Moqueca – Brazilian seafood stew. AND – Moqueca is the new blue card!

I ran, I vlogged – 84!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Change the “got to” to “get to”. Instead of “I got to write tonight” change to “I get to write tonight” – said by a lot of people

blah, blah, blah – this is the morning scribble of my babble – clean up still needed.

Busy day . . . South Jersey day. In a certain section, I lose internet and phone connection for like 3 to 4 hours. As soon as I leave that area, my phone blows up with voicemail message and text messages. I then know I’m back in the real world.

I ran #83 and I’m vlogging – but . . .

I feel like a jerk. Let me explain what happened in me getting an early birthday gift.

Handmade gift from Molly Alexandra

Tangent. Garmin watch gripe. Wants me to get up and move when . . . I just got up and MOVED! 🙂 All good.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
““He who laughs has joy. The very soul must be happy and confident, lifted above every circumstance.” — Seneca

blah, blah, blah – this is my scribble before the clean-up

Conspiracy theory – tired of them
1) Flat earth – not round, but still flat.

2) Biden is really Trump and Trump is really Biden. Yup, just like that movie Face Off – starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage

3) Rivers Cuomo is Kurt Cobain. It was funny – I was listening to a podcast with Rick Rubin called Broken Record and he had Rivers Cuomo on. Just for the people who don’t know. Rivers is with Weezer. Cobain was with Nirvana . . . until he killed himself. Or did he? Anyway, with the podcast, Rick Rubin interviewed Cuomo as if he was Cobain – just as a joke. But – I can just see where that would breathe some life into that conspiracy, too.

Enjoy the Now moment – One of my favorite parts of my day yesterday was picking up my daughter from school. Schedules recently changed for the Spring until the end of the school year and every Monday, I get to pick her up. She makes me feel like the greatest person in the world because I’m just picking her up. Right away in the Jeep, she announced, I can’t wait for you to get me next Monday. I am so glad that I get to that. Favorite, wonderful memories being made.

I ran! / I vlogged! / 82 in a row

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“People hold onto conspiracy theories for the same reason they root for the underdog in sports, or they pick the most obscure film or band to be their favorite music, or they try to join secret clubs—the exclusivity grants them a feeling of importance.” by Mark Manson

Whew – Spring just got here and I’m already feeling the allergy season. Now, I know that I say I do the monthly 3 day fasts to help control my allergies and it does. It’s not perfect, but I’m not popping Claritin D pills like M&Ms, which is a good thing. I’m yet to have one this year. Although Walgreens reminds me to still get the stuff with their drug pushing coupons – $4 off available until 4/7. FYI – Buying just birthday cards – I got that coupon.

Birthday Month!

One week ago – it was my brother-in-law Nick’s birthday

Yesterday – it was my sister-in-law Julie’s birthday

And today – it’s my father-in-law Randy’s birthday. The man also known as G-Dog to my kids – Coolest granddaddy name that I know of. FYI – I know there are other family birthdays this month, too. So – Happy Birthday to all of you, too. I mean, everyone’s is this month – My wife was earlier is in the month and mine is this Saturday (best for last).

I finished a book . . . finally! Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep is done!

I ran! #81 in the books. Streak continues along with the daily vlogging – thank you for tolerating me. I really do appreciate it.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – by someone

Morning mud (aka MUD\WTR) It’s good stuff. Logo is tiny on the container though. However, if nutrition facts is your game – Boom! – they are huge. (Watch video below).

FYI – I haven’t run yet. #80 will be done outside today on the trails! Can’t wait. Yeah – and welcome to our first FULL day of Spring. It officially began yesterday at 5:37am, but today we get the first full 24 hours of Spring.

Books!

• This week I should be wrapping up one, two, or even three (it’s an omnibus of comics). In turn, I’m hoping to be announcing new books that I’ll be cracking open next Sunday. Putting the pressure on. Too many times this week, I just found myself sitting in our house library at night and I had not gotten the opportunity to even touch a book.

• Couple of my favorites that I always have on my desk to help kickstart me along at times. I believe I’ve mentioned them before, but here they are:

1. Steven Pressfield – The War of Art
2. Jocko Willink – Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual

• The book that I mentioned this past Thursday morning before getting sidetracked with NFTs is Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit. I really love the layout of this book which makes it easier to read. Fonts vary, certain sections already highlighted – I thoroughly enjoyed it. Today, I read about Thomas Edison and a hiring tactic of his . . . again, go watch that video.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” – by Harry Truman