RUN DMC's "Run-D.M.C."

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Run DMC's "Run-D.M.C."

Dropped my dang Resolution on JANUARY 2nd!!! LOL! I'm totally, properly ashamed, no worries. But see... #whathadhappenedwas ... 

• There's a continental cold snap
• Iiiii caught a cold
• and I didn't know which album to listen to next!

With a combination of my Introversion (INFP) on top of all of these EXCUSES, it is making it tough to get up and leave the house. I live in South Florida so I am well-aware from my various social media feeds and, well, the news,  that there is little sympathy for our drop to 68 degrees. Alas, cold is relative! Whenever a Floridian has to put on anything long-sleeved, much less additional layers of it, we can really catch an attitude. Sure some fashionable folks optimistically embrace it by donning *those* boots in the back of the closet. And, of course, that one woolly sweater grandma knitted for us a few Christmases ago gets some airtime. Other than that, it's a discomfort and an complete life-adjustment that we full-timers are unused to accommodating for. And in my case, where I barely fit into any of my regular clothes nowadays and NONE of my former winter wear, this was a super added inconvenience. 

I adjusted my trudge, alas, finally. Though it was a complete "differentiation" rather than an "accommodation!" (A little teacher humor there.) Being single, it's all about having to get the heck up out of your sick bed to go get your own dang medicine. As such, I went ahead and tailor-fit all of my errands and my walk into this one-time-out excursion. With a current size G bra size, once that puppy comes off, it's off. I've even cancelled on a promising date because of this unwritten rule.

Anywho, with a one-time-out to do-it-all plan, this means I had to go ... dun dun dunnn... THE MALL. #facepalm I hate going to the mall. While I try to appreciate it's modern day convenience, I'm an advocate for small businesses and mall rarely fits the bill. I'd  much prefer a old-town-y village set-up where one has the availability to meander through the cobblestone streets visiting various, specific vendors who likely have owned their shops for generations. 

Interestingly, this is how I got the idea, I suppose, for the long walks. I was reading some John Grisham novel where the protagonist had to be hidden out in a new country. Somewhere in Italy. As he was needed by some government alphabet bracket to testify against some big time gangsters or something, he was being tailed. And knew he was being tailed. So, he focused on planning his escape so he cold live a decent life. This included him walking the streets of his new village all day for weeks. He did it in order to create a pattern of not having a pattern. But he was also able to learn the turns and alleys of the streets so, one day, when he needed to run, he'd be able to potentially have a head start on his captors. Thus, side bonus of all that walking, he was able to slim down significantly and adopt a disguise, really.

So, this is why the long walks with a purpose rather than short, pre-meditated bursts of "workouts" that I'm likely to hate so much that I won't do often enough. Especially as I don't have the mental culture ingrained in me yet. 

Okay, hashtag TANGENT! Alright, so I walked through my errands was the point. I drove to a little further to the Target with a garage as it was also raining. While I had a list, and actually stuck to it this time, I purposefully visited the sections out of order. This way, duh, more walking. Right? Leaving the cart in one place and going to gather things also allowed for bursts of speedier walking. 

Once finished with Target, I walked across the eight-lane road to the outlet mall. I hate crossing the street where I live. As a teacher, I get recognized and, thus, honked at. I despise getting honked at or "Hey girl"ed  or any other attention called to me when I leave the house. Yes, I'm aware that this must sound perplexing from a performing artist. But when I'm on a stage, that's completely ---- completely---- different. In those moments, under the sweat-drenching lights, I serve a purpose to your life that I made the choice to participate in.   Also, in this super car-necessary society here in sprawled out Florida, people are judgmental when they see you walking. There's no culture here of walking or biking for ongoing health, only pre-meditated fitness or interaction. This is definitely a play group slash spin class world down here.

Alright, so our outlet mall is an outdoor one. So power walking throughout was less impeding on others meandering, luckily. When I received a true girlfriend-catch-up phone call, it was even better to sneak steps in! As I'm dissuaded to be 'that lady' who is talking on her phone and ignoring assistance offers from sales staff, much less rudely talking around other people not involved in my conversation, I took a fair few laps around this sprawling mall. So, thanks for the call, Liz! 

Herein lays my ongoing plug to CALL your friends rather than texting them to death. Nurture your dang friendships. Focus on THEM; don't just fit them in. Not too often, anyway. 

I concluded my Family Circle's Billy-esque day at Whole Foods. They really have the market (ha) on teas. I absolutely adore the entire gluttonous AISLE of it they offer. Throwing shade to all other supermarkets who have two aisles of breakfast cereal... Now here is where I wish I had remembered to turn on my Map My Walk app. I'm certain I would've made it explode trying to track me!

Alright, so the Run-D.M.C. album only has ten tracks. This allowed me to listen to it three, maybe four, times. And this was necessary. I disliked this album. That said, I fully take into account that I was grouchy because my head was imploding, I was cold and wet, and I was at a mall. That said, even giving the album at LEAST three listens, not once was I inclined to dance a little jig. Never did I crack a true smile at lyric I heard. And there was no inclination to utter a "word up" at something I heard that was super insightful, poignant, or relevant today. 

Add to this that the beats were sssoooo monotonous. I recall relating the similarity of the rhythms on the album as a whole to listening to contemporary African music. I can think of the nation of Côte d'Ivoire specifically as I used to party in a nightclub owned by an immigrant of theirs. While the beat stayed steady and perky, it just lacked any color to it.

Sorry, Rev Run, I tried. I really did.

OH! Meanwhile, I solved my issue of not knowing which album to focus on next. I noticed that when I didn't already know what my plan was for the next day, I was less motivated. So, taking in all of my suggestions from friends who are egregiously more versed in this genre than I, I made a spreadsheet... becaaaaause, of course I did. It's a Google Doc that I'm sharing right here.