This is who I really am.

This Week's Music Monday is "My Own Summer" by the Deftones. This is where it all started. This is the first Deftones song I ever heard back in 1997. This is my all-time favorite song. This song is why the Deftones are my favorite band. My dog's name is Chino after the lead singer Chino Moreno. This song is my ringtone. If I could somehow make it happen this song would play anytime I walk into a room kinda like a WWE entrance theme. The first time I heard this song I knew right away that this is my kind of music, this is my kind of band. You can't find a hard rock band out there right now that doesn't give props to the Deftones for being a band they were influenced by. At the time Linkin Park was becoming a big deal they were playing on a tour with Metallica, Limp Bizkit and the Deftones. For some stupid reason the Deftones played before Linkin Park. And sure enough Linkin Park gave props to the Deftones and covered this song. The one time I saw ...

I have three routes that I usually run. I have a one mile loop around the YMCA that I use the most. I have a loop around my neighborhood that I use when I can't get to the Y. But my favorite is an out and back from the Y. I use this out and back when I want to go for a long run or if I really need to make myself run. The route starts at the end of the parking lot of the Y and goes towards Navy Road. I cross over Navy Road to Veteran's Parkway and out to Navy Lake. Depending on how many miles I plan to run I know where to turn around and come back. All the way out to Navy Lake is 5 miles but I also use it for shorter distances. Days like yesterday is why I like that route so much. Yesterday was one of those days that I wanted to run at least 5 miles or more but I was really tired. I knew if I ran the loop at the Y I would be tempted to quit early. It's easy to talk yourself into shortening your run when you are running a loop because you keep coming back to your startin...

This week's Music Monday is "Unity" by Shinedown. This is another powerful song from one of my favorite bands. I've done posts about their songs "Bully"  and "Fly From The Inside" . They are a band much like Our Lady Peace that I could do a lot of posts about their music. A lot of their music is positive and "supportive". I really feel a connection with their message. They are a band that I always feel is there for me. Much like OLP, their music really "feels" like it's written for me. My favorite line of the song is: So have you ever been caught in a sea of despair? And your moment of truth Is the day that you say "I'm not scared" Another line that really connects with me: If I told you that you're not alone And I show you this is where you belong Put your hands in the air One more time This song is sort of a tribute to their fans and how they feed off the band and how the band feeds off of t...

I'm finally getting a chance to catch up on my most recent races. The 1st MRTC Road Race Series 5K was actually a couple weeks ago but I didn't get around to posting about it until now. The 5Ks this year are at Audubon Park near the Cancer Memorial on Perkins. I ran with Staci because it is fun to get out and run with her. We never get a chance to run together during the week so it is a great opportunity for us. Also, we were without the kids for a few days so we could really enjoy each other's company. The other reason I ran with her is because she was having some foot issues. It was her right foot. So I figured since her right foot was bad and my left knee was bad we could run side by side in case we needed to lean on each other to finish. Our time was 35:54. Not bad considering she hadn't run outside much leading up to it and she was being really tough dealing with her new ailment. She did have a nice strong finish as we got to the last tenth ...

This week's Music Monday is "Firework" by Katy Perry. I picked this song for my daughter Sophie. This is her favorite song. And it is the perfect song for her. She is the middle child and she has, well....."The Middle Child Syndrome". She has probably the worst personality for her place among our children. She has a hard time dealing with the fact that she is not quite old enough to do the things Nate does and not baby enough to get treated like Olivia. But what she doesn't understand is that she is as special to us as her siblings. Each of our kids are very special to us. Sophie is the princess. She is a "firework". She has a different personality than Staci and I. She has a different personality from the other two kids. This song is great for her because it has a great positive message. I hope when she gets older she will realize what it means. I want her to understand that she is, and always will be, special and that she only needs to ...

This week's Music Monday is "Open Road Song" by Eve 6. This is a great running song. One of those songs you can really get in a good groove while your running. Even though the song is about driving you can draw a parallel to running. The joy of being alone..."It's so perfect, I'm so perfect, You're so perfect, You're not here!" That can be for anyone, everyone or no one. "My pile shakes as I hit 80 on the open road!" I love that line! I really thought this band had a chance to be really good. They had the hit "Inside Out". But there were two songs on the album that are just amazing songs,  "Jesus Nightlight"  and "Showerhead" . Two "heartbreak" songs that get away from their punk/pop sound. "Jesus Nightlight" was a song that I related to when I went through a breakup because at the time a lot of that song was happening. But now it's just a really well written, beautifully sad ...

This week's Music Monday is "Fix Me" by 10 Years. This is a band I have really gotten into a lot lately. They've been around for a few years but I really got into them with their album Feeding The Wolves. They have a new album due out in August, Minus The Machine. They are on tour right now and just played in Nashville last night. Since the kids are at their grandparents' house for a few days Staci and I drove over to Nashville to see them live. It was a quick drive over and right back after the show. But it was worth it. I got to see two bands I really wanted to see, 10 Years and Kyng. And a band I hadn't heard much of in Fair To Midland. The bands were great but the crowd sucked. The hard rock crowds in Nashville just aren't what they are in Memphis. (Edit: rant deleted) Here is a song from 10 Years that I really like. The video is pretty funny. It has the band members as a couple different characters in a bar. Their music is pretty serious so s...