Shoe Story

Double show day. Only one more of these left!

Haiku of the Day:

Lonely woman's shoe

nestled in a bank of snow

begs a narrative

Today's Drawing (inspired by backstage feelings.)

Today's "365" Project (Do something with the color blue.)
"Whale and Bird"

Cysts

I'm attempting another style of writing I'm calling Cyst writing, which strays away from the straight, cogent segments I've attempted to cultivate in the past and focuses on clusters of thoughts that are unfiltered. I spend so much time try to construct proper trains of logic and it's a huge hassle and I'm not very good at it so I'm throwing it out the window for while and just going for pure stream viscera. Tap into my wheelhouse. The nonsense realm of half farted out dream garbage.

-Belch touch space and I've got a tickle in the throat that's reminiscent of dank poison, a premonition.

-Where did the honesty go? I wanna mush my head together with my loved ones and get that good ol' "GOTCHA" feeling.

-UGGGGGG. I'm physically sick of scrolls and clicks and swipes and updates and screens screens screeens screeeens SCREEEEENNSSSS.

-Let's stand in the snow until our hands are numb and pink and the world becomes a blanket of white nothing with naught but our shivering bodies.

-I feel at the crux of a crisis. Internal forces are swirling about, re-fabricating crucial tissues into a brand new organ. I am to become intimate light. I am to be a soft welcome beacon, a porch-light to home. It will break me with supreme violence, a crushing force of will and spirit. But I have been broken before. I have undergone the molten core, the asteroid pelting, the heating and cooling through radiant waves.

-I have starting another venture into lucid dreaming. The first step is being mindful of the sensation of reality and being diligent about remembering your dreams. Create a habit of questioning.

-I get chest pains in the dark and think about my father and death and fragile systems of membrane and water and I scream psychic pulses out to head gods I know are fantasy for mercy, for time, for some magicking away of trouble. And I only hear the echo of that scream reverberating in my skull.

-We are spinning at 1070 mph so if we can get a Snowpiercer-esque train travelling the circumference earth at that speed in the opposite direction of the Earth's spin, would you experience an eternal day/night? How would this affect things with the tilt of the planet? ANSWER MY QUESTIONS UNIVERSE, RELATIVITY IS HARD!

Haiku of the Day:

Mystery green stain
appears on my hand after
every single show

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Urticartia" from MW's word of the day. It's the medical term for hives.)

Today's "365" Project (Make a Mad-Lib kind of story)

One day, a (adjective)(profession) walked out of her (place of residence) and decided that instead of going to (place of business) like she always did, she would get on a (mode of transportation) and go unto she ran into an (animal.) After (number) hours of riding, Mrs. (Last Name) decided she was too (adjective) to go all the way, so she started (ing verb) instead! What fun! And then out of nowhere, (celebrity) (verb)ed right in front of her! She could not believe her (body part). She took a picture with her (piece of technology) and posted it on (website.) Within minutes, she got more (Onomatopoeia)'s than (politician) during the (nautical noun) trials. What a (adjective) day!  

GABALABA-GOO!

Tendons dance just under the skin.Itchy itchy eyeballs.Thumbtacks nestled in the crooks of fingers.Blood kush-kushing in great volumes.

Haiku of the Day:

The navel gazing
has gotten so out of hand
my neck fell asleep

Today's Drawing (inspired by dive-bombing birds outside my window with death in their eyes.)

Today's "365" Project (Make something out of playing cards.)
"1337 Speak Grocery Directive"

(Get eggs for Kate) 

Augury

Week 31. Good Lord, they're all creeping up on me...

Stats:
Running Mileage: 569.25/1,000
Push-ups: 5,575/10,000
Sit-ups: 5,575/10,000
Pages Read: 5,860/10,000
Books Completed: 16/25
Words Written: 53,178/100,000

Fasts (Days without)
Internet: 63/100
TV: 82/100
Gaming: COMPLETE 162/100
Meat: 58/100
Junk: 61/100
Booze: 53/100

Shaaaaame. Just scraping by this week. An abysmal showing for running for the first time in a while. Just an example of how quickly a deficit can build from inaction. I went from almost 5 miles away from being on course to almost 30 miles in a couple weeks. The whole task is brutal, with an average of 2.75 miles a day.

Booze continues to fair well and for that I'm grateful.

Otherwise, it's a rather common sort of week.

I'm finding on my days off from work and show I weirdly take less time to work on project stuff. It's something to do with the space of home where I slip into a viscous laziness that becomes impossible to escape. I get discouraged and sad and each activity becomes so much more difficult to accomplish as time goes on. I've become very attuned to my motivational inertia.

At least once a day I get this tiny little pain between my eyebrows when I think about this space. I'm perpetually unsettled with the deadlines, the requirements of my mind and body and where things are for moving forward. It's the contemplation that's the killer. The doing is glorious, lifting and sweet. But to get to each doing there's a jungle of cognitive overgrowth halting forward motion with all their grubby, thinky vines. I dream of a timeless two-beer state, where thought and action form a smooth line from cause to effect. Left to its own narrative wiles, the mind drums up such speculative chaff I either physically arrest the system, or flee into the godless trenches of internet clickbait in an attempt to shake off the fantasies.

Haiku of the Day:

Through crystal wind wisps

I trudge the thin, salted path

between snow mountains

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Retronym" from MW's word of the day. It's a term invented for an older/outdated thing when the distinction must be drawn between it's newer counterpart. i.e. "analog clock" "first wife" or "World War 1")

Today's "365" Project (Make a mosiac.)
"Fracture Likeness"

SNOW DAY!

SNOOOOOW DAAAAYYY!!!

Haiku of the Day:

Trains shut down for day

from multiple foot snow drifts

 Day off in Boston!

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Legerdemain" from MW's word of the day. A sleight of hand or a display of skill.)

Today's "365" Project (Make a food look like something it's not. Emily and I made blondies! They're like brownies but better. We also made falafel burgers but they were too delicious to be photographed before consumption.)
"Not Brownies!"

Wall and Weather

Storm brewing something fierce off the coast. A whole big hullabaloo. Hoping everything turns out okay for my mother leaving today. She may just miss the start of it. I'm also very sad for running because I was already falling behind and now I'm going to be set back to pre-October deficits once this thing blows through. Will have to up the strategy come mid-February...or maybe I can boost some other stats in the meantime so I get go full-turbo on the run front later.

Haiku of the Day:

Canker sore on tongue:
As uncomfortable as
talking about it

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Incontrovertible" from MW's word of the day.

Today's "365" Project (Make a flip-book thing. I tried. It's kinda hard!)
"Man and Wall"

Interpreters

Today is my 7 month marker. I feel like I have the breath of hillside stones.

Haiku of the Day:

The Crave Affliction
sinks its talons in the base
suffusing venom 

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Constellate" from MW's word of the day. It means uniting in a cluster.)

Today's 365 Project (Make a Rorschach Inkblot Test. I asked the cast of the Panto what they saw too!)
"What do you see?"

Take a look and tell me about the first thing you see. Here are the responses:

"The face of an immense hairy spider" -William Schuller
"Clowns with balloons and chinese men dancing and fairies" - Joey Pelletier
"People at prayer' - Noah Simes
"A crow, that is also a bear flying through the clouds" - Norma Heller
"Chinese New Year with paper lanterns" -Matthew Woods
"Sacrificing a gingerbread man to the sun gods" - Cam Cronin
"Two chubby children blowing something into the air" - Cotton Talbot-Minkin
"Two kids on tricycles with balloons being chased by men in bear costumes" - Bob Mussett
"Conjoined twins and people dancing in the background like...A CIRCUS!" - Mikey DiLoreto
"People dancing and playing with balls" -Erin Baglole
"A man with muttonchops" - Amy Meyer
"A boxing ring...sumo wrestlers...genie in a bottle...it's black and white, which scares me so: Fear...an eardrum...an erection" -Molly Kimmerling
"Lilypads. God that's terrible..." - Beth Pearson
"Poodles" - David Sullivan
"Alien-monster (in the white part) - Kiki Samko
(After staring at it for what seemed like a full minute) "A couple of deer. Looking at baby deer." -Michael Underhill
"An embarrassed giraffe" - Emily Kuehn

It is my unprofessional opinion based on the results that three of these individuals exhibit psychopathic tendencies.

Cut the Crap

So for the few of you that follow regularly, I'm sure you've noticed that I'm rather lax with some of my deadlines. Sometimes certain projects don't get finished until the next day. In that way I can't truly call this space a "365" project. It's more of an experiment. I'll still make sure that there's a drawing, haiku and a project posted on each day, but just know they're not always done on the day stated. 90% of the time they are, but some days run away from me, as days are want to do. I'm not going to let botched deadlines and sticking to the "pureness" of the 365 statutes get in the way of me finishing this thing. I've got two more weekends of shows ahead of me and a wedding in two and a half months but this will keep happening! HUZZAH!

Haiku of the day:

Gargantuan flakes

upended in droves litter

the streets of Boston

Today's Drawing inspired by the word "Evitable" from MW's word of the day. Understandably, it's the opposite of inevitable so it's a thing that can be avoided.)

Today's 365 Project (Make something inspired by a tree. Emily took a guest spot with this one and made us a lovely tree monster for our bedroom.)
"TREE!"

Cacophony in B minor

Journal:
Back in the show saddle. It was nice having a few days to just kick it and work on seasoning my new cast iron pans while playing Pokemon with the Kuehn. But I'm happy to be working with the gang again for a full 5 show weekend run. And my mother's coming to town tomorrow to come see it with my aunt and uncle! So excited!

Free write:
*Click* PHASE IN *Click* PHASE OUT
*Tapity-tip-tap-tap-tip-chunk*
The caffeine haze is like undulating on some trigonometric plain, cascading the surf and the beach of supposition and constants and the face-pinching real of a solid hand stare. Untethered, wild wings beat the mist and rocks of dusk with desperate black eyes that stare from the side of a head.

Haiku of the Day:
Wild hair and slick skin
return to pulling, slinking
leaping and crawling

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Babelism" from Dictionary.com's word of the day. It's a confusion of ideas, speech. From the tower of Babel of course. You know, group of folks trying to make a tower to God, but God didn't like that so he made them all not understand each other.)

Today's "365" Project (Make something appetizing look unappetizing. EGGS!)

"Rainbow egg barf"

Grease and Doom

A wonderful show with a wonderful audience. I'm happy to have so much support from everywhere.

Haiku of the Day:

My greasy spiked hair
feels like chalk in my fingers
I cringe at the touch

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Anabasis" from MW's word of the day. It initially meant a military advance, or marching up, but it's come to mean a difficult military retreat. Etymology, amIright?)

Today's "365" Project (Wrap something that isn't typically wrapped. I wrapped a pair of scissors.)
"Paper Cut"

What to Give Up

WEEK 30! WOOOOO!

Stats:
Running Mileage: 558.35/1,000
Push-ups: 5,375/10,000
Sit-ups: 5,375/10,000
Pages Read: 5,686/10,000
Books Completed: 15/25
Words Written: 51,561/100,000

Fasts (Days without)
Internet: 62/100
TV: 79/100
Gaming: COMPLETE 159/100
Meat: 58/100
Junk: 59/100
Booze: 51/100

Slower week due to show. Fallen behind on all the "Stats" above with the exception of Books. Will bounce back soon. It's all shallow margins, so as long as I sustain through the show run I'll get my second wind. Great progress on alcohol. Managing a second week of less booze days than not. I'm thinking about cutting out gummi candy for next year's Forgo (I'm trying out the name.) I've talked on this before but it bears repeating:

When I turned 25 I gave up smoking cigarettes cold turkey. I was never a hard smoker, but I was buying a pack a week or so and doing it pretty regularly while working at the restaurant. And it was like something in me clicked then and I figured it was a better time than ever.

When 26 rolled around, I decided to kick energy drinks. This was easier than cigarettes, but I did end up developing a bit of a coffee habit as a result. At least I'm not consuming all that sugar, (at least from that source.)

This past year at 27 I decided to give up ground beef, with the caveat that I could eat it if I ground it myself. I have yet to try grinding it, or eat ground beef at all since June and I don't find myself missing it all that much. Though quitting traditional tacos and chili were unintended casualties, I'm considering keeping up the trend...unless I get push-back from the Mrs. I which case I'll invest in a grinder.

But this upcoming year has me stumped. I've recently consider quitting gummi snacks because I have no impulse control around them and have eaten entire bags in single sittings which is ATROCIOUS. But that's a pretty deep cut into my lifestyle...I could always go a restriction route, which I should do anyways, but there's something so satisfying to me about quitting something every year especially since I started at 25. The number nerd in me just flips out. So if not the processed sweets than what? I could go down the booze road and quit certain liquors, wines or (gasp) beers, but that might pose a deeper cut in lifestyle than the candy.

If I go too obscure into something I barely even consume/do in the first place it really isn't quitting. But if I pose these as lifetime bans, which I kinda plan on doing, then by 50 I'll just be drinking water and eating kale salad which is NOT sustainable. Unless I keep incorporating the caveats that work to address the more underlying detriments of the vice, and take it on the path to moderation. So instead of "I quit eating potato chips" it's "I quit eating entire bags of potato chips over the course of a TV show." Though quitting all potato chips is a pretty good idea.

So here's a list of candidates:
Gummis/Processed sugar candy
High Fructose Corn Syrup Soda
Potato Chips
Mixed Drinks (hard liquor straight is fine, but mix with anything with sugar in it and NO!)

Haiku of the Day:

What nonsense is this?
Emily's chemical peel!
Face might just fall off!

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Pandiculation" from MW's word of the day. It's the stretchy, reachy movements a thing does when it's tired.)

Today's "365" Project (Do something with paper treating it like fabric.)
"Pulp and Weave"

Aloof

This really resonates with me for obvious reasons.

Listened to music for the sake of listening to music today and it was transcendent.

Stupid red eyeball is back.

I had coffee at 8 last night. I need it now. I have never needed it. I'm scared.

How can I justify buying an ice pick? By buying TWO ice picks.

I am cold and hot and itchy all at the same time.

Haiku of the Day:
Spectacles hang loose
as I hunch my crescent spine
over thin crossed limbs

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Septentrional" from MW's word of the day. It means north.)

Today's "365" Project (Spray water on a wall and take a picture before it fades. Ok. I guess...)
"Yellow Drip Stalks"

Bell/Lights

Day off!

Haiku of the Day:

Wooden pegs hammered

by rubber mallets into

soft piney housings

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Tintinnabulation" from MW's word of the day. It's a sound of ringing bells.)

Today's "365" Project (Do something with a light in your home.)
"Bernard Bright"

Cornmeal Cookies!

Did show. Ate glorious cornmeal cookies. All is well.

Haiku of the Day:

The pain of movement

creaks and groans the cracked bone-frame

shorting the light-box

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Gratuitous" from MW's word of the day.)

Today's "365" Project Do something with measuring items.)
"Spoons and Cups"

All Haiku for the Moment

Only was able to post the haiku for this day due to two shows and a house party. Did manage to get some lovely folks to help me out with the drawing and 365 project though!

Haiku of the Day:

Two shows in a day

pushes fatigue to a max

that's sleeping tired

Today's Drawing (drawn with the following words by the following people: Molly Kimmerling "Cauliflower",  Cameron Cronin "Mustache", Erin Baglole {Unprompted response to Cam's contribution}, Bob Mussett "Strained Falafel", Michael Underhill "Persephone doorknob" and Amy Meyer "Cable") 

Today's "365" Project (Make a holiday!)

"Pukashell Day"

A day that celebrates a bumper crop of puka shells washing up on shore. It's a coming of age holiday for young men and women looking to start applying for small business loans. 

LEECH! Time for a Pantomime!

So about a year ago, I was looking to get back into doing some theater again. I hadn't done anything, besides a music video in nearly four years and the itch was so bad I was memorizing sonnets in my spare time. It was a desire I had expressed over beers and board games to my then upstairs neighbor, and her being the wonderful helper and healer that she is, put me in touch with someone she knew who did theater in Boston. I had a coffee with her, she gave me the names of some companies and I found myself sitting with Michael Underhill and Matthew Woods talking about their company, the imaginary beasts. After the brief talk, I had the supreme pleasure of seeing their Winter Pantomime! The next morning Matthew had sent me an e-mail offering me a position as ASM for their upcoming production. I ended up becoming a monkey-masked, ball wrangler, puppeteer Zanni guy and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now, a year later, I'm getting to perform in this year's Winter Panto! We open tomorrow and I could not be more excited. It's been such a pleasure to get to know, watch and work with this very talented group of people and I'm happy to be given such a unique opportunity.

Haiku of the Day:

Butterflies flocking

in sputtering droves inside

my leechy belly

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Leech" from the slimy sycophant if been living with the past few months.)

Today's "365" Project (Make a new dance move. I call it "The Leech" in honor of our show soft opening for an invited dress tonight!)
"The Leech"

A Day Behind The Watch

Another Watch Wednesday. But on Thursday...

Stats:
Running Mileage: 550.94/1,000
Push-ups: 5,250/10,000
Sit-ups: 5,250/10,000
Pages Read: 5,671/10,000
Books Completed: 15/25
Words Written: 50,545/100,000

Fasts (Days without)
Internet: 60/100
TV: 76/100
Gaming: COMPLETE 155/100
Meat: 58/100
Junk: 57/100
Booze: 48/100

Productive week. The show helps put all the sins on the shelf and even with the stress, my booze intake is at an all-time low. Last year I had managed to make it 19 days after New Years before a drink. I'm trying something less lofty this time because all-or-nothing quitting is a fool's errand. Might not make the ultimate goal of 23 non-drinking days in Jan, but I've got 10 under my belt and I'm proud of it. Entering the New Year, Emily and I combined our finances and it helps to see how much cash gets doled out to the beer and wine monsters.

Exercise is still strong with a only small gaps where I need to be for mileage and number of push-ups and sit-ups. Very glad the cold has not been a deterrent. If anything it's been a motivator with all the new gear I got for Christmas. Though it does put strain on the laundry load.

I've been ignoring it a bit with the holidays and the show, but writing hasn't been up to the snuff I had it back in September and October. Call it creative fatigue or concept constipation, it's just not happening. May start trying to spend train time on it, though I usually use it for reading.

Speaking of reading, I'm quickly losing the lead I built over the past few months and may need some recommendations. I've been blowing through sci-fi staples mostly, but would love to try something different. We've got travel plans in February, March and of course a few flights for the wedding and honeymoon, so I'm not super worried about reading going into the red for a bit.

Haiku of the Day:

Vibrant blue granules
meant to melt ice and snow
crunch under foot soles

Today's Drawing and "365"Project (inspired by the word "Brobdingnagian" from MW's word of the day and also my project, which was to do something inspired by the world of fish.)

Overrun

Late rehearsal. Have to push back some project stuff a bit. Will update tomorrow!!

Haiku of the Day:

Splinters in body
from rolling about the set
Panto battle scars

Today's Drawing (inspired by he word "Meet-Cute" from the comic series Saga. It's the mechanism/scene when two main characters in a romantic comedy {the most typical genre for the troupe} meet.)

Today's "365" Project (make something with a bottle.)
"Cold"

Chinese Chairs

Third day of tech and I'm triple pooped!

Haiku of the Day:

Internal panic
as I realize on the train
I misplaced my phone

Today's Drawing (inspired by the phrase "Ex cathedra" from MW's word of the day. It's Latin for "from the chair." Emily Guested this one!)

Today's "365" Project (Make something with toothpicks.)
"Toothpick in Chinese"

Hunkering

Realized today that it's less than three months until I'm married. Didn't think I'd have a wife at 27, but of course nobody can know what to expect for their future self.

Understandably, I'm nervous and concerned with all the things leading up to it. There are still some flights to book and things to order and Emily has been bustling around doing a great deal of work planning and the like. It's impressive.

Our website for the wedding went live a couple days ago (Here!) and I thought I'd share the segments I wrote for my groomsmen and half our officiant pair, Tym.

Michael's attendants

Wales Christian, Groomsman 
Michael met Wales his senior year of high school. His full name is Wales Martindale Christian III. One time he tried to tackle a truck. It did not work out well for Wales. Another time, he had dreadlocks. That also did not work out well for Wales. But other things have worked out for him since. Like the time he lived in a house with Michael in college. Or the times he lived in Chile, Romania, France, Chicago and even Arkansas! Oh and one last thing...if you see him, ask him to say milk. He loves it. 


Will Chodos, Groomsman 

Will is Michael's brother. He's ok, I guess. He has his own video production company. It's called Mumble and Shrug and there's a website for it and everything. Seriously Google it. It freaks Michael out sometimes. One time when Michael and William we very young, they cried about being separated from each other for a weekend. It was an isolated event that has not happened since. Sometimes Will plays guitar with his girlfriend Caitlin. Be aware that is something you may be privy to at the wedding. **SPOILER** 


Ben Chodos, Groomsman 

Ben is Michael's brother. Six months ago, Ben wandered into the Himalayas on some spirit quest thing and no one has seen him since. We're starting to really worry. If you have any information of his whereabouts, please contact Michael or any other member of the Chodos clan. Michael does hope he can make it to the wedding. (Fingers crossed.) 


Tym Kajstura, Other 

Tym is a werewolf. Michael knows it sounds crazy, but you have to believe him. For instance, when's the last time you saw him during a full moon? You can't remember, right? Oh wait, is that because you've never met him? Ok, well then just take Michael's word for it. He's a werewolf. Studying to be a DOCTOR at John's Hopkins. And he can run really long distances without taking breaks. Just. Like. A. Werewolf. Michael doesn't know much more about him because HE'S A WEREWOLF AND MICHAEL DOESN'T SPEAK WITH WEREWOLVES!

Haiku of the Day:

Stocked to the gills with
Delicious foodstuffs for the
Hellish week ahead

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Longueur" from MW's word of the day. It's a dull long passage of text.)

Today's "365" Project (Make something from what you find in a first aid kit.)
"Gauze dog"

Cartocrappy!

Long day in the black box making a swamp/castle.

Haiku of the day:

Knotty bruise swelling

at the back of my head after

a concrete whacking

Today's Drawing and "365" Project (Make a fictional map. I did, and I have no idea what country it is...)
"Whoknowslaviania"

200!

My 200th Post! Starting to get super busy with the show so they'll be pared down a bit this week...or who knows? The exquisite pressure of it all may produce better results!

Haiku of the Day also Today's "365" Project (Look at the night sky and do something inspired by it.):

Pricks of light crowding
the pearly smile of the moon
in a jet-black field

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Ne plus ultra" from MW's word of the day. It's the highest level of something.)

That's Just Fine...

Siting alone at a bar called Champions. Boston accents punctuate and garble thickly in the musky air. Classic rock patters in the background as I'm bathed in the glow of television and back-lit liquor bottles. I don a hoodie, accentuating my young appearance among the middle-aged regulars. A beer in, I feel like I understand the allure of. Golf for the first time. To palate it i imagine it's originators in the place of the pros: kilts in place of slacks, grizzly beards over oakleys. All bare feet and bristling winds.

Haiku of the Day:
Bleak and lonesome
the dark night blows in the cold
visions of no day

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Advocate" from MW's word of the day.)

Today's "365" Project (Ask an old friend to give you a project idea for the day. I got to see Nate, an old friend from Baltimore. He told me to do naked Co-Ed skiing. Emily and I TOTALLY did it, but the government isn't allowing the picture's release due to a top-secret drone being in the background. I mean, we were totally naked and totally skiing I SWEAR, but all evidence of the picture has been destroyed along with my phone and laptop. Luckily, I had a spare thumb drive I hid in my false pinkie that no one knows I have so I could at least post it here briefly until the government yanks access.)
"A Real Naked Picture of People Really Skiing. For Real."

Bean Husk Sort of Day

Oily, jet-black feelings eddy in the knobs of my spine and in the crux of my elbow skin. I am a fever tick whir scratching scabs off raw pink underbellies. And like THAT, twigs crunch and snap in dusty punch bowls and the vermin are permitted the night to play. Breaching children crest and descend under shimmering rays of ultra-violent sentiment. It's just a bean husk sort of day!

Haiku of the Day:

Obese Blue Jays perch

on a tree's bowing branches

in the morning sun

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Discombobulated" from the ether.)

Today's "365" Project (Make something new look old. I used an picture aging program on a picture of a gnu.)

"Gnu Better Believe It!"

Sugar Coating

Update time! Week 28

I've been a crazy person the past week.

Stats:
Running Mileage: 529.59/1,000
Push-ups: 5,150/10,000
Sit-ups: 5,150/10,000
Pages Read: 5,577/10,000
Books Completed: 14/25
Words Written: 49,339/100,000

Fasts (Days without)
Internet: 57/100
TV: 70/100
Gaming: COMPLETE 149/100
Meat: 56/100
Junk: 55/100
Booze: 41/100

I've been running at least three miles everyday since the thirtieth. The adverse weather lit a fire in my brain. I must conquer it. Makes it that much more of an accomplishment.
"You did what? Are you crazy?"
Yes I am and it gives me power. Try it on sometime. Barreling down a hill so steep your legs can't keep up is what makes life worth living. Weirdly the speed of it all makes the moments of stillness so warm and satiating.

God it's cold. The wind is shotgunning iron filings on my flesh.

Haiku of the Day:

A nation freezes,

succumbing one step closer

to the cold of space

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Insulated" from the inside of my coat.)

Today's "365" Project (Do something with sugar.)
"Azucer's Game"

Ominutia - Small, Trivial Details of Foreboding

My coffee tastes like warm ash and mossy tree bark. In time, the brew gives me tummy quicks - roiling little burbles that punch out and energize my sore legs. Sheets of ominutiae cascade and brush the crown of my head like the flaccid blue strips of a car wash. It's a wet, dragging tug that draws my head back. And with an exposed neck, I sigh, mouth slack and waning like a grouper's. There I wheeze shallow, sensing the acrid stink of my breath on the flesh of my tongue and inner cheeks. My chapped lips sting like rubbing alcohol in the stale subterranean breeze. I'm in the snaking damp of my own throat, aloft on sickly kangaroo haunches...braying out a biblical verse from my childhood in gravely tones. A necktie band blossoms purple on my bare neck. I feel like a circus bear or a Mennonite downtown.

Haiku of the Day:

Purple morning sky,

pale with bloat like a drowned man

floating in the bay

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Ombudsman" from MW's word of the day. It's a person who helps investigate, report and settle complaints.)

Today's "365" Project (Do something with your lunch before you eat it. It's been a while since I had a good food project. Seemed like it was every other one for a while there...)
"Baked Pothulu"

The Carpeted Tree of Azaroth

Here's the letter we wrote for the neighbors we cat-sat for this past week:

To our blessed itinerant parishioners,

We do hope your mission to the Godless hovel of "brotherly" love bore some fruit - We trust you were able to convert some weary souls along the way. As for your charges, we have done our best to be righteous and adequate substitutes in your absence. The one you call "Chiba" or "Mr. Pencil" saw us for the impostors we were. His incessant howling and wild antics proved a tiresome endeavor for both us and his two feline comrades. Grand Poobah "Nimbus" ate more than his fair share of rations in an attempt to cope with Chiba's antics.  While Frau Mitty took the high road, confining herself to the carpeted tree of Azaroth, to gaze at the vexing, winged sparrows of the forbidden walkway. As for us, we managed to survive, sustaining ourselves solely with the wondrous golden chips of corn. We hope we have provided enough replacements for your consumption upon your return. We thank you, and of course, our lord Jesus Christ, for your luxurious sleeping accommodations and...laundry.

Yours in faith and board games,
Mike and Emily

P.S. We played Dominion and it is SICK AS SHIT BRO! DONG ALLIANCE 4-evah!

Ok, so there are a few inside jokes here, but I thought it was worth sharing cause I think it's super fun and we spent some time on it. :D

Haiku of the Day:

Wind gusts like cold death
Render ache and sting on skin
The harsh of winter

Today's Drawing (inspired by the word "Fallible" from MW's word of the day. It means something that's capable of making mistakes.)

Today's "365" Project (Do something with discarded hair. Yuck. Good thing I'm cat-sitting three very hairy cats!)
"Aller-Jen"