Excellence is a Habit: Starting My New Journal for the Rest of 2025!

5K EVERY DAY – Day #182

(“Best Day of My Life” American Authors)

With the beginning of July, I’m able to start my new journal that will actually last me until the end of the year.

(“Best Day of My Life” American Authors)

Not only was “The Five Minute Journal” my first journal ever back in 2017. This is my 6th time using one.

(“Obsession” clip from Animotion)

Trying NOT to sound like a commercial here – but if you want to try journaling, I think you know my suggestion. And – if you want to try running as well, let me know. We can chat.

(Day #182)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – by Will Durant

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My Secret to Not Getting Lost in Costco (Feat. Chuck Klosterman)

5K EVERY DAY – Day #180

(“Blinded By the Light” clip)

My family was NOT going to lose me today while shopping at Costco.

Yup – this is the shirt that I wore (neon green shirt is on).

(more “Blinded By the Light” clip)

Did you know that the album version of “Blinded By the Light” was 7 minutes, 8 seconds.

I really do like radio edits. The shirt is from my 5K run for Unlocke the Light and yes – I ran.

(Day #180 clip)

I was looking for a quote initially from – the nineties – a book from Chuck Klosterman – because 90s were bright, right. But then I went down a rabbit hole and started digging into all of my Chuck books. I just found a really good Chuck quote.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The goal is to die with memories, not just dreams.” – by Chuck Klosterman

Lastly, today apparently we celebrate Hug Holiday. So, go get your hug on – cooperatively!

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NEW MUSIC WEEKEND: Lorde’s X-Ray Album, Yungblud’s 9-Min Epic, Hot Milk’s Linkin Park Vibe & Renee Rapp’s “Mad”

New Music Weekend / Friday 06-27-25

(New Music Weekend Intro)

Happy Weekend! Everyone happy with their summer so far. I’m not. One day we had a high of 101 and the other day we had a high of 71. Muy mal.

I think it was Lewis Black that said that the best job that you can have is being the weather person in San Diego, California

(clip of Lewis Black stand-up)

“Nice” – I would take that for weather. You know what’s more than nice.

Who’s coming up for New Music Weekend! Hot Milk, Lorde, Yungblud, Renee Rapp, I could keep going!

(Countdown Video)

New Music Weekend:

  • Hot Milk – despite making your stomach flip with the thought of it hitting your lips, thankfully, this treat is for your ears only (“Swallow This” cut) And then they sing a song like “Swallow This” which actually makes me think of Emily Armstrong – the new voice you hear on Linkin Park songs. In actuality, there’s definitely a Linkin Park vibe being felt with this band (“How Do I Make The Devil Fall Asleep” clip) The album opener is a banger with “How Do I Make The Devil Fall Asleep” – clearly signaling that this new album is going to be Hot Milk’s heaviest and most aggressive offering to date. (“The American Machine” clip) The name of the album is Corporation P.O.P. which stands for “Corporation Payment Of Pain” – If you’re looking for a pop-punk-infused alternative rock sound – drink the Hot Milk (“Sunburn from Your Bible”)
  • I like this transition from the Hot Milk song “Sunburn from Your Bible” to new music from Lorde (“Hammer” clip) “Hammer” was Lorde’s most recently released single and is the album’s opening track. It’s loud, it’s direct, and it’s lyrically bold with a line like “When you’re holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail” (2nd clip of “Hammer”) Lorde described this album – Virgin – as “weird” but also her “most honest, authentic album.” It’s an X-ray of Lorde’s interior life, both literally with the album cover and metaphorically through the raw lyrics. A good example “Broken Glass” (“Broken Glass” clip) In that song, Lorde is directly addressing her experience with an eating disorder. There are 11 tracks in all on this album. The song being pushed by Spotify is the longest track on the album at 4:17 – it’s “Shapeshifter” (“Shapeshifter” clip)
  • Last week, this is all that I said about the new Yungblud album – Idols (clip from last weekend’s show) That was it. And – I didn’t include it for Missed Music Monday either, mainly because I just hadn’t gotten the time to truly listen. So, let’s correct that now. (“Lovesick Lullaby”) That’s “Lovesick Lullaby” – track #3. Now, I always go to the opening track to get the true feel of what’s coming the rest of the way. Track 1 clocks in at 9 minutes and 6 seconds – Yungblud’s got some nerve in this modern day and age of reels, stories, and shorts (“Hello Heaven, Hello” clip) Song is “Hello Heaven, Hello” and clearly hooked me back in over and over. Again, the album is IDOLS and Yungblud’s fourth studio album. It’s also part 1 of a two-album series. So, if you like this one was as much as I do, we’ve got more goodness coming //
  • Several quick hits of new music: Bruce Springsteen uncovered, not just a song or two, but for some artists – a career’s worth of music. Tracks II: The Lost Albums is a collection of 83 songs on nine vinyl LPs or seven CDs – pick your poison. FYI – 74 of these songs have never been officially released in any form. // The 3rd single off the Man on the Moon album from the Fitz and The Tantrums has been unleashed. Full album drop is July 25th. // This last song I first listened to when I was running on the treadmill – I played it 3x in a row, because I enjoyed the beat that it held me to (clip) “Mad” is the latest single from Renee Rapp’s highly anticipated sophomore album, BITE ME. Also, I bet if I was watching the video, I might have had a longer streak going on that treadmill. (clip)

I put together a Spotify playlist of the songs that I talked about and thought about today for New Music Friday. Click here for that! Anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday. 

Thank you to Spotify, Rolling Stone, Apple Music, uDiscoverMusic, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Louder, Spill Magazine, Dan Deluca of the Philly Inquirer & I know there’s more.

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Running with Franz Ferdinand: History, Music, and Overcoming Fear

5K EVERY DAY – Day #179

(“Hooked” Franz Ferdinand)

The band Franz Ferdinand didn’t exist in 1914. And after today’s date back in 1914, neither did Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

(more “Hooked” Franz Ferdinand)

Unfortunately, on this date, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand occurred, which, of course, triggered WW1.

(“Take Me Out” Franz Ferdinand)

So, how an I going to transition this to my 5K Every Day? I’ll have Franz Ferdinand lead the way out.

(“Eleanor Put Your Boots On” Franz Ferdinand)

See – I ran.

(Day #179)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Overcoming fear is an essential part of being alive; all the best things lie on the other side of fear.” – by Alex Kapranos / He’s the voice you hear on Franz Ferdinand songs

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10 Years of AWOLNATION’s “Run”: A New Music Weekend Warm-Up

5K EVERY DAY – Day #178

(“Hollow Moon” clip)

This is my warm-up for New Music Weekend.

AWOLNATION just released the 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of the album: Run

(more “Hollow Moon” clip)

I honestly forgot how incredibly good this album was. Beyond the seven official singles, we can still dig a little deeper into Run with tracks like “Jailbreak” (clip), “Dreamers” (clip), and “Like People, Like Plastic” (clip).

And, of course, we have the album’s powerful self-titled single to enjoy: “Run” (clip)

Which I did do.

(Day #178)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If you can find a way to keep a glass half-full mentality, or find positivity, even in the most dire situation, it’s almost a superpower.” – by Aaron Bruno

Aaron Bruno is basically AWOLNATION. In fact, he revealed that he played every instrument and part on the original record of Run – he has NOT been able to replicate that again.

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Beyond the Farmer’s Tan: Pokey LaFarge’s Technicolor Journey & Birthday Bash!

5K EVERY DAY – Day #177

(“So Long Chicago” – Pokey LaFarge)

Birthday Boy – Pokey LaFarge is known for combining blues, folk, country, swing, jazz, and even Vaudeville.

Yeah – I had to look that last one up.

(more “So Long Chicago” – Pokey LaFarge)

Operation “Lose the Farmer’s Tan” has NOT been going well here. Back to Pokey – his latest album – Rhumba Country – was heavily influenced by his time farming. He said songs would come to him while pushing a plow or scattering seed.

(“Run Run Run” – Pokey LaFarge)

Pokey’s real name is Andrew Heissler. The nickname “Pokey” was given to him by his mother when he was a child because she would tell him to hurry up! I was definitely a Pokey this morning during my run, but it’s done.

(Day #177)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The songs that naturally come to me are upbeat and make you wanna dance or at least bop your head—they’re all very colorful. I used to think of my music in dark blue, but now I see it in technicolor.” – by Pokey LaFarge

I enjoy thinking of things in colors. Back in the day for scripts with shows that I was in – I would color code lines to help with feelings and understanding of the lines.

My favorite color for me and life itself is Sky-Blue Pink

Happy 42nd Birthday – Pokey!

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To Celebrate Bourdain Day – Do These 3 Things / Quote of the Day from Tony

5K EVERY DAY – Day #176

(“Roadrunner” – The Modern Lovers)

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain is an American documentary film from 2021

(“Anemone” by The Brian Jonestown Massacre)

And – according to the documentary, that song “Anemone” was a favorite of his.

(more “Anemone” by The Brian Jonestown Massacre)

If you haven’t seen it, be sure to check out Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.

Roadrunners are fast. I’m steady with my 5Ks.

(Day #176)

By the way – today, it’s Bourdain Day because it would have been his 69th birthday. How do you celebrate Bourdain Day – go explore a city, talk to strangers and try something new.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Perhaps wisdom… is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.” – by Anthony Bourdain

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Radio Serendipity: That Moment When Your Jack White Song Arrives Out of Nowhere

5K EVERY DAY – Day #175

(“Archbishop Harold Holmes” Jack White)

I may have said something like this before but first – I simply love that song from Jack White.

(more “Archbishop Harold Holmes” Jack White)

Anyway – despite the Spotifys, the YouTubes, the Vinyls in the world, there is nothing better than hearing “your song” out of nowhere on the radio.

(more “Archbishop Harold Holmes” Jack White)

Thank you, Madison at AltNation. That happened this morning when driving my little girl to swim team practice. I did feel bad, because she was talking, then the song came on, and then

(more “Archbishop Harold Holmes” Jack White)

I cranked it loud in the car. So good.

(more “Archbishop Harold Holmes” Jack White)

My little girl swam swimteam and I ran.

(Day #175)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Helping someone else without asking for anything in return, to not even expect a thank you or acknowledgement, is worth more than any material rewards or adulation.” – by Jack White

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Running Through the American Dream (with Green Day) / Quote of the Day via Billie Joe Armstrong

5K EVERY DAY – Day #174

(“American Idiot” Green Day)

Lately, I’ve been really cranking up the Green Day.

(more “American Idiot” Green Day)

both old and new

(more “The American Dream is Killing Me” Green Day)

And I do it while running

(Day #174)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“What do you do when you don’t fit in? You make your own mold.” – Billie Joe Armstrong

Green Day – they really make you think.

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