brent evans

morning babble / Saturday 06-05-21

Happy Saturday! I ran . . . on the mill. I think tomorrow is a good “sleep in” day and then I’ll take it out on the trails for the first time in awhile. Anyway – 156 runs / 156 vlogs.

AMA Saturday:

• Question #1 – How was my May with Alcohol? I drank a lot. 3rd highest month in the past year – nothing will beat December. Weight wise – For January, I lost 3 lbs. In February – the winning month – I lost 3.4 lbs. For March, I then lost 2.6 lbs. And then, the April Alcohol Drought month, I only lost 1.6 lbs.  And finally for May, I lost 2 lbs. I shall continue partaking in beverage intake. I monitor.

• Question #2 – Are those shades on my skull? What? Oh – yes. They are my Oakley shades from way back in the day. 7th or 8th grade. Hanging out at Skyline pool . . . thinking I was cool. I wasn’t. But – has anyone noticed the hat that’s on the skull? That’s the Banky hat from the Kevin Smith movie – Chasing Amy. Actor Jason Lee wears it. The size that they made and sold was the same size as Jason Lee’s head. My head is a touch smaller than his. If you’re into Jason Lee, he’s a photographer and has a new art book coming out. He can better explain it all by clicking here.

Quote of the day was taken from Greg McKeown who was on the Tim Ferriss podcast. During the interview, I heard him say the quote that’s below. I’ve read his book – Essentialism – and its a good one. He’s got another new book out though and it’s called: Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If you focus on what you have, you gain what you lack.  If you focus on what you lack, you lose what you have.” – by Greg McKeown via Tim Ferriss podcast

morning babble / Friday 06-04-21

Happy Friday! New hat day too. I was told it was needed, because the other one was looking nasty – sweat marks and all. I’m a hard working man.

I ran – 155 days of running / vlogging.

a-ha recap. I said that I would listen to a-ha’s greatest hits album. It’s 16 tracks – all different, not just “Take on Me” and is called Headlines and Deadlines: The Hits of A-ha. I also said that I would listen to their most recent album called Minor Earth Major Sky and was released back in 2000 . . . but not in the U.S – that took place in 2019. My recap – uh – yeah. A-ha fans feel free to email me – morningbabble@brentevans.net – and let me know why I should listen again?

So, my kid has discovered Michael Jackson. In particular, Smooth Criminal. And don’t play him that Alien Ant Farm (2001) stuff . . . gotta be Michael. Watch that video!

New Music Friday:

• You know the song “On the Road Again,” — well, this past week, Alanis Morissette released it singing a duet along with Willie Nelson. She also announced the rescheduled dates of her upcoming tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of 1995’s Jagged Little Pill. It’s a 35-date world tour that begins August 21st in Austin Texas. She’ll be performing her 1995 album in its entirety, with openers including Garbage, Liz Phair, and Julia Stone.

• Got another new Prince song – “Born to Die”. Yikes. I’ve given it a couple spins. It’s Prince. This is another song off his upcoming album, Welcome 2 America, which is slated for release July 30th.

• They Might Be Giants – classic alternative? – have a new album coming out soon (no date yet) as well as an art book simply titled: BOOK. Today, we got to hear their new song “I Broke My Own Rule” which will be off of this upcoming album. Stay tuned.

• Yo Gotti partnered up DaBaby for a summer fun song called “Drop.” I liked it.

• Big article in the Washington Post about Wolfgang Van Halen – Eddie’s kid. Couple songs of his have already been released but next week – the 11th – the whole album drops. Wolfgang played everything on the album – all him.

• BREAKING & ENTERING – Jeremiah Daly, known better by his TikTok name vaultboy, has a fun, new single out that’s called “everything sucks.” Also, here’s a link to the video. His sound sort of reminded me of the artist, Huey Mack – a rap/pop sound with fun lyrics.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” – by Bob Marley

morning babble / Thursday 06-03-21

A whole lotta scribble . . . that makes the babble! Go watch the video!

Friday Eve

I still can’t believe the green one tasting like strawberry. My brain says “come on, it’s gotta be lime!” The taste buds get so confused.

Bean Boozled Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

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So, it was my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary the other day.

Did I say Happy Anniversary? Yes

Did I know it was 50! NO!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Motion does not equal action. Busyness does not equal effectiveness.” – by James Clear

morning babble / Wednesday 06-02-21

This is the scribble that creates the babble – maybe it’ll get cleaned up.

I woke up itching my eyes. Not good. No contacts today. I typically calm my eyes down in the morning with a cold washcloth or I got straight to the ice pack. Contract them blood vessels and stop the itch.

The itchy eyes made me get the ice pack which made me tangent to Frozen Blueberries.

I ran! 153rd run / 153rd babble

Gummi bear tasting tonight / 3 Day Fast begins Monday

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Well done is better than well said.” – by Benjamin Franklin

morning babble / Tuesday 06-01-21

Ahhhh, Tuesday, but it’s already Tuesday while feeling like a Monday.

Sucker for a good countdown. I think all weekend we had on SiriusXM’s Lithium channel – Alternative and Grunge from the 90s. They had their top 100. Comedian David Cross did the countdown and did an awesome job. Also, I loved his disdain for the Smashing Pumpkins. Here’s the Top 12:

12 “Lithium” – Nirvana

11 “Man in the Box” – Alice in Chains

10 “Rooster” – Alice in Chains

9 “Interstate Love Song” – Stone Temple Pilots

8 “Creep” – Radiohead

7 “Killing in the Name of” – Rage Against the Machine

6 “Black” – Pearl Jam

5 “Would?” – Alice In Chains

4 “Black Hole Sun” – Soundgarden

3 “Sabotage” – Beastie Boys

2 “Everlong” –  Foo Fighters

1 “Smells like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana

I ran – 152 runs in a row! Same with vlogs!

Also, during this weekend, someone flashed a bottle and I simply said it – Worcestershire. Piece of crumb cake.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“What is your vocation? To be a good person.” – by Marcus Aurelius

morning babble / Monday 05-31-21

Who’s going swimming today? Not me. I turned on the heat today. Briefly. But – it was on. This morning, our house was in the 50s and that’s not good with the kids waking up. So, I pushed it on just for a weeee bit and hopefully it’s the last time until the fall. So, it’s chilly, but otherwise, we got a Monday where we can all relax and enjoy one another’s company, but also a day to reflect and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country – Happy Memorial Day Monday!

Gonna see a lot of people. Shaking hands? I kind of liked that we didn’t do it. Back in the day, shaking hands was the preamble to “I’m not going to kill you.” Gotta watch the video for the movie clip!

Plus, you really don’t know where their hands have been. During the week, I’m armpit deep in cleaning fish tanks and people want to shake my wet hand – gross. Then, there’s the aggressive shaker, the weak & limp shaker, and, of course, there’s the one where you’ll shake but are pulled in for the surprise hug. Whoa, whoa, whoa, too close before Covid and most definitely too close now.

151 Vlogs and 151st run is coming up after this. I’ll then have 5 months done!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I know how much there is dependent on me and will prove myself equal to the task. I believe determination can do a great deal to sustain one and I have that quality certainly to it fullest extent.” – by Ulysses S. Grant via Chernow’s Grant (page 463)

morning babble / Sunday 05-30-21

Still chilly, but not grumpy. I folded laundry yesterday, so I’m feeling good. What does that mean? Go watch yesterday’s video by clicking here and then you’ll get it!

Last night, my family & I met up with some friends at one of their homes. We vaccinated, so we can do stuff like that! Anyway, I was the family with the punk kids, but they ended up having a great time. At one point of the night, we were all around a table and playing the game – 5 Second Rule – where the basic gist of the game is needing to name 3 things listed on the game card within 5 seconds. I won’t go into too many details, but one group had to name three one hit wonder bands in 5 seconds. a-ha was mentioned. This is the band who had the song “Take On Me” along with one of the most favorite videos of all time. Well, Miss Denise got a little upset and quickly proclaimed that they are not a one hit wonder band. Now, I put in 11 years of radio time and some those stations played the junk out of “Take On Me.” BUT – I don’t recall ever playing another song by them. Like, ever.

So, I googled a-ha for a greatest hits album and they have one! It’s 16 tracks – all different, not just “Take on Me” and is called Headlines and Deadlines: The Hits of A-ha. But then, I initially thought I found out that they had a new album because on Spotify, it’s listed as 2019 (it’s actually remastered, so the year is correct). The album is called Minor Earth Major Sky and was released back in 2000 . . . but not in the U.S. Elsewhere, this album was certified platinum in Norway and Germany and gold in Austria, Spain and Switzerland. So, on my Spotify account, I hit the heart symbol for this album as well as their greatest hits album. I’ll give them both a listen this week and then give a follow up review next Friday on New Music Friday. Going deep on the band – a-ha – who would’ve thought!

I haven’t run yet – but it will be #150 AND I’ll surpass 500 miles for the year – once done. It’ll happen soon on the treadmill.

Books on a Sunday!

• Austin Kleon‘s Steal Like an Artist – I thought I could read this book in the morning and then do the babble, but . . . I got stuck – in a good way! I got motivated after reading Chapter 3 – “Write the Book you want to Read.” I then printed out the book that I was hoping to write this year. First time doing that. Only been typing away on the computer. So, now it’s physically in my hands and the ideas are being scribbled throughout the first 8 chapters. Next Sunday, I’ll definitely have the book – Steal Like an Artist – done (not my book – give me some time!) and finally do a further recap on all of its 10 chapters.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“It is better to take what does not belong to you than to let it lie around neglected.” – by Mark Twain via Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist (page 23)

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