brent evans

morning babble / Friday 09-03-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

Happy Birthday, Mom! I think this is where she gets all her info on me.

My son, Elliott, was with me all day working and it was great. I kept reaching over an petting him on the head.

I ran #246 of 5K runs for the year – in a row.

New Music Friday:

• Drake’s new album is finally out. Originally scheduled for January . . . there was a delay because of a bum knee. Anyway after teasing the it’s arrival with a SportsCenter spot, Certified Lover Boy is out today – 21 songs, around an hour and a half of music. JAY-Z, Future, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Travis Scott. A whole lotta people. It’s first full-length studio record since 2018’s Scorpion

• Charli XCX came out with a new video and single this past week – “Good Ones” but then if you check out the video, it’s difficult to get the image of her dancing on a coffin.

• Swedish pop icons ABBA have shared two new songs, the previously teased “I Still Have Faith in You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down.” The tracks will be included on Voyage, the band’s first new album since 1981. The record is out November 5.

• Jon Batiste has the Freedia Remix of his song “Freedom”. Totally liking the remix, but it also made me pull up his new album from March – We Are. It’s a nice jazz, funk album. Also, he’s the bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  Possible vinyl for me.

• Sting has announced his 15th solo studio album, The Bridge. Today you can hear the upbeat tune, “If It’s Love.” The 10-track album will be released on November 19. He’s going to turn 70 on my daughter’s birthday – October 2nd.

• AJR has teamed up with Daisy the Great for a new song called “Record Player.” The track is a reworked version of the Daisy tune “The Record Player Song,” which was originally released in 2017 before finding a new life recently on TikTok. It was on TikTok that AJR‘s Jack Met heard the original song, and decided to reach out.

• Lastly, I’ve been wrapping this New Music Friday with Donda updates from Kanye West. Yes – it’s out. 27 songs, nearly 2 hours of music. dozens of guests including Marilyn Manson, Chris Brown, the Weeknd, the late Pop Smoke – lots. I’m still listening. I have noticed that there aren’t many drums and that sticks out to me.

IMPORTANT – Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“A lot of people approach risk as if it’s the enemy when it’s really fortune’s accomplice.” – by Sting

morning babble / Thursday 09-02-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

Happy Friday Eve . . . . happy to be here. We had a lot of weather fun yesterday, huh. Driving not fun again with all the traffic, but then to add in the rain?

We had special day at my daughter’s school where she basically test drives the classroom, sort of tap the water with the toe. Most importantly – picks out her cubby. I was the one taking her because my wife had class. But then she was home – why? Because the weather was so bad, they pushed it to online.

Gave the decision to my daughter – I want to pick out my cubby.

It’ll be an adventure. Not for long. Daddy I’m scared I’m going to close my eyes.

Cars underwater in the middle of Kirkwood Highway / I was being detoured around / People were on top of their cars which were under water. With some levels of water, I only went through because I was up higher via my Jeep.

Got home / Had 2 tornado warnings – so, we all hung out here in the office for those times – no windows in here and much better the laundry room.

Tough getting up today. Yesterday after 4 hours sleep – I was good. Not so much today – got a little over 6 hours.

Pre-industrial Europe study: “households at this time retired a couple of hours after dusk, woke a few hours later for one to two hours, and then had a second sleep until dawn. During this waking period, people would relax, ponder their dreams, or have sex. Some would engage in activities like sewing, chopping wood, or reading, relying on the light of the moon or oil lamps.”

My son – E-man (Elliott) is helping me today.

IMPORTANT – Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Quality is much better than quantity . . . One home run is much better than two doubles.” – by Steve Jobs – that Apple dude. Learned via The Daily Stoic (Aug 30th)

morning babble / Wednesday 09-01-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

Happy September! Pumpkin Spice – okay yet? I’ll tell you what’s not okay and it’s that first day of school traffic. Holy not fun. Very negative.

I ran #244. Little scared. Lots of thunder. Meant that there was lightning somewhere. I didn’t need the power going out today, but I got through – full 5k.

Up late last night last night. Took this to the wire.

15,138

14 chapters / Confessions of a Workaholic

Tweet via Dickie Bush

“Three quick writing tips:

• Write and edit at different times
• Read everything you write aloud
• Write to one specific person to solve one specific problem

Every piece of writing advice is somehow related to these three.”

IMPORTANT – Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” – by E.L. Doctorow

morning babble / Tuesday 08-31-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

Welcome to – Not Monday.

I ran. #243 of the 5K runs for the year – in a row.

As my daughter showered last night and I stood patiently awaiting my various check points of determining whether or not the 5 year old was cleaning herself, I starting reading the Austin Kleon book – Keep Going. Only into Chapter 2 and I found this nugget, which I already know, but have difficulty following through on. Every paperwork day (Mondays & Fridays), I have an alarm go off at 3:15pm to wrap up my day. It’s AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” song. My son exclaimed why’s that playing? My daughter responded, that’s his alarm to wrap things up but he doesn’t. I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong – I got a lot of needed work for the business done. That was good. What was bad – I didn’t get that early afternoon writing that I was hoping for.

I did write though. Countdown to 15,000 words continues for one more day. I think I’m hovering around 13,000 right now. I’ve got a day ahead of me filled with tapping the keyboard. Wish me luck!

IMPORTANT – Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I think I need to keep being creative not to prove anything but because it makes me happy just to do it . . . I think tryin to be creative, keeping busy, has a lot to do with keeping you alive.” – by Willie Nelson via Austin Kleon’s book: Keep Going

morning babble / Monday 08-30-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

I ran #242. Bailed on podcasts today. Right to music to help pick me up.

IMPORTANT – Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

I wrote last night – Confessions of a Workaholic – I’m now at 12,020.

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“To a disciple who was forever complaining about others, the Master said, ‘If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people. It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth.’” – by Anthony de Mello via Tim Ferriss

morning babble / Sunday 08-29-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much.

Got the call from Captain Blue Hen Comics – more are in for me. I couldn’t get there yesterday in time. Now, I must wait until Wednesday. They have limited hours during these times. Support your local comic book store!

I ran – #241 of 5K Every Day

Countdown to 15,000 words – Confessions of a Workaholic – I’m over 10,000 words now

Books on a Sunday!

• Keep Going by Austin Kleon – this is the new one that I’ll read. The Phil Collins connection!

• Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon – most recent one that I added to my desk pile

• the War of Art by Steven Pressfield – a favorite go-to to help inspire me along

• Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual by Jocko Willink – a great one to kick your butt

• Atomic Habits by James Clear – quote of the day – I should read this. Wife’s book.

To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer” Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“A recipe for getting more out of what you read: Start more books. Quit most of them. Read the great ones twice.” – by James Clear

morning babble / Saturday 08-28-21

Wrong date was written on the video yesterday . . . and I heard about it. I didn’t think something like that would be noticed. Have you ever made multiple copies of something and then you check each copy to make sure they each have the wrong thing.

AMA Saturday:

What’s your morning routine? I’ve been wanting to do that – like specifically. 90 minutes worth. I’ll put that together and follow up.

Any injuries? A corn. Dr. Scholl’s Corn Remover is the best

What’s on your desk? I’ll do a separate video sometime, but I did show a paddle board (check the video below)

What’s in your wallet? EDC (Everyday Carry)? I have to do a video

Can we see your library? Yes – need to clean it up first.

• Question #1 – How many miles are you at for the year? 800 miles / AND – I just reached 400 miles in these shoes. They have never been outside – just the mill. I’m going to use them for the first time outside for the St. Jude Run.

IMPORTANT – Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.” – by Mark Twain via the Twitter account of Joseph Gordon-Levitt

morning babble / Friday 08-27-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

I tried the new Apple Crisp Macchiato from Starbucks BUT they put it on ice. I didn’t want it on ice. This happened to me a month or two ago with Dunkin. Ordered coffee with cream and sugar – got it on ice. It was hot day. Yesterday, placed the order , but got it on ice. Never said ice. I wasn’t a huge fan of it on ice. In fact, I won’t be doing that again, but I’m thinking the hot one will be good. The problem with the ice is the caramel all dropped to the bottom and didn’t melt into the drink. The ice kept trying to come out the lid too.

I ran – #239 of 5K runs for the year.

I wrote last night – Countdown to 15,000 words – the tally has hit 9,472.

Nevermind baby suing Nirvana – child porn / Nirvana’s surviving members and the estate of Kurt Cobain have been sued by (name withheld), who appeared as a baby on the cover of 1991’s Nevermind. He claims the band violated federal child pornography statutes and argues child sexual exploitation / claims he has suffered “lifelong damages” and says his legal guardians never signed a release “authorizing the use of any images of (name withheld) or of his likeness, and certainly not of commercial child pornography depicting him.” I have no further comment.

And, of course, this past week we lost drummer Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones. He last performed on stage with the band for the final time back in 2019, although they are touring throughout the fall. Charlie Watts was 80 years old.

New Music Friday:

• Halsey’s 4th album – If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power – Produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. First single released “I am not a woman, I’m a God.”

• Gorillaz released a three song EP called Meanwhile. All new songs and each one features different artists. The title track “Meanwhile…,” features Jelani Blackman and reggae legend Barrington Levy.

• Nelly – all out country full album drop today – it’s called Heartland. Nelly released the first single “Lil Bit” with Georgia Florida Line late last year. The second single “High Horse” was released last week. Also, there’s going to be an hour-long special titled “CMT Crossroads: Nelly & Friends,” will premiere on Sept. 1 at 10 p.m. EST on CMT. Nelly will be the first hip-hop artist to ever headline the long-running series, and his episode will have a few surprises in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Country Grammar – his debut album.

• K-Pop band – BTS – remember their song “Butter” – it was played a lot. Well, it was redone with Megan Thee Stallion. It’s okay for the kids in the car. I just feel bad for the true BTS fans that have no idea of Megan Thee Stallion’s personal work. Which don’t get me wrong – I enjoy and am thoroughly amused, but I can just imagine some parent putting that song in and that creating a Pandora playlist from that.

• Donda update – no album still, but last night Kanye West brought out Marilyn Manson and DaBaby during the album’s third public listening party in Chicago. Also, Kanye recreated his 2014 wedding with a mysterious bride, who people are guessing was his former partner Kim Kardashian, who did appear on stage at the end of the event in a wedding gown.

Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I never weigh myself. But if I put my trousers on and they don’t do up, then I don’t eat until I can.” – by Charlie Watts / Rolling Stones drummer

morning babble / Thursday 08-26-21

Warning: This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

Friday Eve – I ran #238 of 5K runs for the year . . . in a row.

I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t ever want to be that guy who says that they’re going to do something and then doesn’t. Saying it is easy. Doing it is the tough part. Do it.

I’ve been letting a lot of things get to me lately. The other day the Daily Stoic had a good entry about “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.” (August 22nd)

“If you give things more time and energy than they deserve, they’re no longer lesser things. You’ve made them important by the life you’ve spent on them. And sadly, you’ve made the important things – your family, your health, your true commitments – less so as result of what you’ve stolen from them.”

Ryan Holiday – who has a new book coming out next month (9/28) – Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave.

Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” – by Rumi via Ryan Holiday

morning babble Wednesday 08-25-21

This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!

So, I had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte yesterday at Starbucks and it was delish. However, I missed something! Did you hear about the Apple Crisp Macchiato? Layered with flavors of apple and brown sugar — like the filling of an apple pie — with espresso, steamed milk, and “caramelized-spiced apple drizzle.” Let’s go! I’d say that I’d be getting it today, but I’m in a part of New Jersey today where I’ll be lucky to get internet service. In turn, Starbucks are no where to found either. I must stress that it’s a part of Jersey – I’m not picking on all of it. Plus, I’m allowed, I was born there. Total off the grid though for about 3 to 4 hours today – it’s crazy.

Countdown to 15,000 words – I did some last night. Not much at all, but it was something. Time ended up not being on my side, but I went through my whole routine and added some more words to one of the chapters that I hadn’t touched – it was basically an idea. It’s more than an idea right now.

On the treadmill, I was listening to a Tim Ferriss podcast with Jim Collins – older one. Jim has a 20 minute rule for sleeping. Watch my video!

I ran – #237 of 5K runs.

Ryan Holiday – who has a new book coming out next month (9/28) – Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave.

Reminder: I’m doing the 5K run for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 25th. I’ve joined the team – XTU to the Maxx – which is with Charlie Maxx who you can hear middays on 92.5 XTU.  To donate, please click here – anything you can do will be greatly appreciated for this great cause. “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer”

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“You don’t need motivation to take action. Start taking action and it will motivate you.” – from David A Sinclair by Mark Manson