Equal time

Where Are The Dogs Humping.com

Awesome Pic

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldberg/524432397/in/photostream/

Follow the link for the story which makes it ever so good.

Nothing but Awesome

Nice Ink

Junior is going to be the coolest ex-President ever!!!

Inspirational Images

Smile On My Face

Every now and then I go HERE and watch this:



It's just one of those things that makes everything better.

New Music Wednesday

SPOILER ALERT:
This is not a recurring feature, but wouldn't it be cool if it was:

I just found, thru Stereogum, a new music website called thesixtyone. New music streamed and/or downloadable and/or purchasable from Amazon. It's very cool, and I like it from the get go. Nothing is going to supplant Accuradio for me, but thesixtyone is still pretty cool.



Also, if you love remixes like I do, and I know you don't cause like Eminem says, "Nobody listens to techno" Czech out this new project between Stereogum and the RAC - that's a really cool Portuguese artist's project the Remix Artist Collective.

Laid Back

IMG_2495, originally uploaded by Payneplace.

I had a great weekend on Lake Sinclair with the Harden clan. Only a little time in the sun, but that's probably for the best with a week in Tybee only a week away. They had a great band called "Reunion" who played all sorts of Van Morrison, Tams, Swinging Medallions, etc. It was a ton of fun. And I just got a new lens for my camera, which I'm still not 100% on, but happy accidents did happen.

Dangerous Minds

I found this video on a website called "The Art of Manliness" and while I don't always agree with them, I loved this guy. So I explored further. If you want to spend some worthwhile time on the interweb go to TED. This is a huge project with speakers on all sorts of subjects, but the viewpoints and information and sheer brain busting intellect is so cool.

But here's the one I watched last night:

Feelin' Good

The Peachtree Road Race is on Friday. It's only a 10k, but I want to do well, and try to continually improve my time. So, I did the tough hill workout that is conveniently located by office on Cleveland Rd yesterday.

Today I got up and ran with a new running buddy. It's one of the first times someone has actually looked to me for real advice. I hope my advice and encouragement work and are taken well. I love running so much, and want to share it with everybody. But I worry that I'm a little over the top sometimes. Who, me?? Over the top, really?? Really.

The weather was perfect this morning, I didn't have a late night last night. And an old woman slowed down in her car when we were on a side street and starting saying, "Looking good. Nice form" It was kind of unexpected but we both laughed and thought it was pretty funny.

End result is that today was an excellent day from start to finish. Feelin' Good.

AthFest 2008

What a blast AthFest was? My mind is still reeling from 4 days of concentrated work and play. More to come.

My stepmother sends me funny stuff all the time, but for some reason, I can't stop looking and laughing at this one.

As John Hodgeman says, "That is all."

Slackness

So, I've been a little slack since the marathon... I've run a couple of 5K's and one 10 mile run, one session at gym, and that's it..

What to do?? What to do?? I surfed on over to GYM JONES and CROSS FIT and dug out some great articles from Runner's World and MH... So, I'm stoked.

I've got the Peachtree in July, the Rock 'N' Roll Half on Labor Day, and I want to do as much rowing, swimming and cross training as possible in between.

I'll check in a week or so from now and see where I'm at. Big Words. But they say putting it out there helps you stick to it, so we'll see.

Kids say the darnedest things

Walken Rocks

Big Peach 5K - May 3, 2008

I've got this guy's number.

I finished 315th out of the Men, 56/124 in my age class

26 min 36 seconds which comes out to 8:27 per mile.

This was my fastest 5K yet, onward and upward.

Nashville Part 1

It’s over; finito; fin, finished!!! I DID IT. I’ve completed my first Marathon!! On April 26^th, I ran and finished the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN. It took me a good while to finish, Four Hours and Fifty Eight minutes with quite a few difficult patches, but I did it.

But I didn’t do it alone. Hundreds of my TEAMmates from all over the country finished the Half and Whole Marathon along with me. We were joined by our families, our friends, and other well wishers. We had our terrific Coaches, Mentors, and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Staff to help us all along the way.

I also had my own support team made up of all the wonderful people who sent me cards and emails, text messages and voicemails wishing me the best and telling me I could do it.

And, of course, I want to thank everyone who helped in such a big way with my fundraising efforts. This whole endeavor was really about that. Through my efforts I hoped to inspire others to give so that we could raise money to help fight blood cancers.

This past race weekend I was reminded over and over in many different ways of how important our work is. Helping people, like my Honored Hero Olivia, survive cancer; and honoring those people who did not, was the real goal.

All of us on Team In Training raised these funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. Your generous support not only helps fund research and lobbying efforts, it also helps individual families, literally fighting for their lives, pay for expensive medicines, pay for travel expenses, and gives all sorts of other help when they really need it most.

Please continue to make donations to support Team In Training and to help advance the Society's mission. Any amount will help; you can donate anonymously or be recognized as a participant of my team and the TEAM in general.

Running with the TEAM is one of the best things I've ever done, but I’ve only begun my journey.

Again, thank you so much for your support and generosity; I’ll see you at the next finish line.

Bridge Runnin'

I had a great time in Charleston this weekend. It was the 31st Annual Cooper River Bridge Run. The Ravenel Bridge is 2.5 miles long right in the middle of a 10K. I finished in record time for me, 58:47. Not fast enough to beat the Kenyans, of course. Or to beat my sister's friend Jami, who did it in 57:01. But I'm still happy with everything. Great seafood, almost perfect weather, and good times with my sister, Trellis, and her friends. Here's a few pics.

Jami, Stephanie, and Trellis with the Kenyans.

After the race

Here's the approach

Movin' On Up

To a deluxe apartment in the sky-eye-eye.

Only three more week's til Nashville,
and the 46,145 Yard Dash!!!

Cats with Frickin' Lasers

I love these SNL Digital Shorts. This series never fails to bring a tear to me eye.

Half Marathon

Thanks to everyone who came out last night to Tasty World... I really appreciate it. I'm running the ING Half Marathon in the ATL this weekend. And it's only 4 weeks or so 'til Nashville. The time she does fly by.

Thanks to everyone who has been so encouraging to me so far, both verbally and financially.

I've got about three weeks left to raise the reach my fundraising goal... so, if you've been thinking about giving, now's the time.

Love, Peace, and TEAM!!!

You know you are a TNT distance athlete if...

• You forget the dates of birthdays and anniversaries, but never the date of your first race.
• You have to make a serious effort to talk about something else other than training with your non-active friends.
• The back of your car looks like a locker room.
• You smirk on the inside when a non-endurance athlete asks how many miles are in a marathon or half marathon.
• The art in your house is the free Nike posters that you get from the local sports store.
• Your family groans as once again they find themselves in the car measuring how far you trained this morning.
• Your dog hides when you get the leash.
• Olive Garden is where you hang out.
• You are constantly washing training clothes, but you have to go through the pile of clothes on the floor to find something to go to work in.
• Your weekly training mileage is higher than your weekly driving mileage.
• You own your car but make payments on your bike.
• You can only get major projects done at home during taper weeks.
• You have a $4000 bike strapped to your $2000 car.
• You have trouble keeping lunch under 2000 calories.
• You think nothing of walking into public places dressed in tights like a super hero.

Run Like The Wind To Be Free Again

One Garmin 305 Forerunner GPS - $199.00
One Ipod Nano - $99.00
One Really Fancy Water Bottle - $9.99

GPS - dead battery
Nano - dead battery
Ultimate Direction Water Bottle - dirty

Finding out that maybe I don't need all this stuff - Priceless

I just left the house yesterday and ran. I had a destination in mind, but that was it. No music (AHHHH!!!) No way to track my pace. Just my shoes, and a deer park water bottle. (and shorts and a t-shirt, come on) I ended up running 6.4 miles (measured with the car later) in around an hour. And it felt great. Now I did take a break and talk to a certain pretty neighbor of mine, but, Hey, that's what it's all about, right?

I'm doing a 16 mile run tomorrow morning, so expect an update after that. I feel great right now, but we'll see how it goes.

I've got a little under two months until the marathon, and the one thing that is scaring me is my fundraising, so if you want to contribute to the cause I would really appreciate it.

Go to http://www.active.com/donate/tntga/tntgaAPayne to find out more, and give, give like the wind...

Go Athens, Go Athens

Athens' own DJ Emeritus- Daaannnggeerrrr-Moouussee!! Check out this new video from Gnarls Barkley... pretty awesome stuff

My Latest Project

This is new album cover from my side project, Grafenstein. We're getting a few hundred pressed. We'll see how sales go, and how our reviews are, and then start promoting the hell out of it.

The Strike is Ovah

SNL is BACK!! Fred's Obama is very subtle, but I think he is dead on!!

This movie, "The Spirit of the Marathon" looks incredible. It was supposed to only be in theaters on one night, but they are having an encore showing on Thursday, Feb 21. Go to MarathonMovie to learn more and check showtimes. The closest to Athens is the Mall of Georgia. I've only watched the trailer for it... posted below. And it is so moving, I can't imagine the whole movie.

Needless to say, when it comes out on DVD, it might be the perfect time to really break out the home theater and have a showing at my house.

Here's the full trailer...

14 Miler

Hey Guess What,

I didn’t die last night... actually the run went pretty OK. The constant pain in my left knee after a few miles made me stop and walk enough that I didn’t really get too exhausted-ed. I did get scared twice though, (A) almost got run over in the Supermercado parking lot, and (2) I’m pretty sure some vampires and/or serial killers were watching me from the trees right before Old Jefferson Rd and Walker intersected. But that could have been the ibuprofen talking, not really sure. I’m serious, that stretch of road is like the scene in the movie where the terrorists/government assassins (depends on how you look at it) are stalking the President’s brother, and he runs out of sight behind some trees, but the camera keeps going, and then he doesn’t come out of the other side. And then Clint Eastwood and Tim Roth are watching the videotape, and they’re like... "Let's Roll"

http://www.active.com/donate/tntga/tntgaAPayne

So anyway, I did 14 miles in 2 hours and 34 minutes... I’m pretty stoked about that. If you are impressed by that, or really, anything else about me, or really hate cancer and what it does to people... Please Donate, Donate like the wind... Prove to me you’re a good person. Prove it to yourself... you big ol’ softie you.

I’m kidding. I know you’re a good person. Even if you’re cheap.

Still Going

So far I've run over 170 miles towards the finish line of the Country Music Marathon in Nashville on April 26th. I'm running at lunch, in the mornings, late nights, on the street, on trails, and on the treadmill. Running, running, running... but now it's time to spend just as much time fundraising. I'm not even at 25% of my goal and time is counting down.

Remember, your checking balance may get a little smaller, but your heart will get a whole lot bigger. To those who have given so much already, I thank you. And to those who have encouraged me along the way, thanks for that too. I am so fortunate, please help me help those who aren't as lucky as us. Help fight Leukemia and Lymphoma today.

Valentine's Day is a day of love and giving... This would be a little bit of both.

I got's to get me one of those

I don't hate Kanye like a lot of people, but he is kind of annoying... but integrating the amazing Daft Punk live show in for the Grammy's is really cool.

I Feel It All

Here's the newest video by Feist... courtesy of Stereogum



We listened to two of her songs in Yoga on Sunday... "1234" in particular just makes me want to move.

Joey Lawrence's Catchphrase?

Whoa!!! I'm in running nerd heaven... As you may or may not know, I'm running my first marathon in April. I've been training with the TEAM off and on, and running on my own for quite a while.

The coolest thing so far in all my running has been my Nike + system for the ipod Nano. It truly is the reason that I'm where I'm at today in my running. You plug a little sensor into the bottom of your Nano; it talks to a shoe sensor; while you run, the Nano gives you feedback through your headphones. When you are done you get a summary of all kinds of data, plus when you sync to itunes all of your data is uploaded to Nike's website... and if you did really well either Lance Armstrong or Paula Radcliffe tells you that you ran further or faster than you ever did. Simply amazing, esp. for $29.99. The motivation that it has given me is priceless.

the Nike website is Applerific

The problem with the ipod is that it is a little inaccurate, which if you aren't running very far doesn't really matter. But when you have to run 14.5 miles to get it to think that you ran 13.1 it's a different story. So the interface (pictured above) is incredible. The grape Apple Kool-aid is my fav. But my training log, pace per mile, all that stuff is getting to be more and more important.

So, I bought the latest and greatest thing EVER!!! The Garmin 305, wrist mounted GPS unit. It slices, it dices, it juliennes. It's a little Dick Tracyish, but I don't care. It tracks elevation, distance, heartrate, time, pace... AHHHH!!! Information. Overloading. System.

Look at these graphs...

and that's not all... are you ready... GOOGLE MAPS!!! Of your run...
but wait... It get's cooler... WATCH THE RUN ON THE MAP!! Surely, you can't be serious?!? I am serious, and don't call me Shirely." Here's the link for that.

So, look for emails and what not from me, whenever the run is particularly cool.

And look at this one more thing... It's a picture of our Honored Hero, Olivia Cheek. The gadgets and fun aside; all this running is for Olivia and all the other kids and adults struggling with Leukemia and Lymphoma.
She is a happy and healthy 4 year little girl... who, thankfully, is cancer free now. But her health didn't come without a struggle. TEAM in Training, who I'm working with, helps raise money for research and to help families like Olivia's fight against cancer. If you want to help, please donate to the cause. Your support really does make a difference.

The New-Wave Re-Revolution Continues

Check out this Aussie band... They are called "Cut Copy" and this single, "Lights & Music" is from their album that is about to be released. After just seeing the movie "Control" about Ian Curtis, the lead singer for "Joy Division", I'm really liking this sound. Synthy but with real instruments in that basic structure.

Papa's got a brand new Camera

ATHENS, GA - 1/22/2008

I just took my first few pictures with my new digital camera. I've been dying to get a digital SLR forever; so I broke down, took the plunge, and got a Canon Rebel XT from Amazon. Four days of misshipments and a trip to the UPS station at 8:45 tonight and it is mine... mine... allll miiiinnnnneee!! cue dah-dah-dannnhh!!! from "Young Frankenstein" and or "Dramatic Hamster" if you're all hip with the kids.

I love photography, esp. macro and low light shots, so check back often and critique away. Go ahead, I can take it. There now, don't you feel better; making fun of me and my pitiful sophomoric efforts.

Oh yeah, and I'm starting back the running program big time. I slacked off over the holidays. I've only been running a couple of times a week at best, nothing further than 6 miles at a click. April 26th and 26.2 miles in Nashville are going to be here before I know it - - so I'm on it.

If you want to support my running and my cause, please donate. Here's the link. Team in Training is the best thing going to fight blood cancers, and it's helped me so much already. So help if you are able.

Thanks and Have a Great '08 - I know I'm planning on it.

"B+W Bella"

"House on Haunted Hill Bella"

"Macro Bricks"

Up at 2:10 AM

Some people who know me really well probably think this is obvious... but I have ADHD like crazy. I've been off and on with the prescription droogs for it over the past few years. I've also tried omega 3's, meditating, B-vitamins, not sweating it so much, etc... One of my best friends works for a pharma company, and got me to try Strattera. Which rocks at helping. A powerful neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor has side effects though. Some are awesome, like appetite suppression. And it has some side effects which I'm not too groovy on, like, oh, I don't know, INSOMNIA.

The bad thing is that I love the rush of having ADHD. It feels like I'm brainstorming all the time. Creativity is as the max. When I run or drive I have the best ideas about all kinds of things I want to get done or tell people about...

But then I don't get anything accomplished. Brainstorming sessions need to be edited. Some of the wonderful ideas aren't. They need to be lined through on the big easel notepad that's in the front of the meeting room OF MY MIND. Also, social and work interactions can suffer a bit. Being a manic street preacher who dominates every conversation he's in does have some downsides.

I've never experienced trouble sleeping. Only when I'm super stressed about a specific issue, usually something I've procrastinated about and need to take a distastefully confrontational action on, have I had trouble. Usually it's head on the pillow and lights out in 30 sec. Not so tonight. I finally got around / didn't get distracted by something and got my Strattera refilled today. I wanted to go ahead and get some in my bloodstream, so I took one early evening with dinner. Bingo!! Insomnia tonight. And I know Will is going to come into my bedroom around 5am, like he usually does, and hop into my, admitted very cozy, bed to "sleep wit you, Daddy" So, I've been doing the look at the clock and calculate how much sleep I'm going to get tonight math. OK. If I fall asleep RIGHT NOW, I'll get 5 hours. If I fall asleep RIGHT NOW, I'll get 4 hours and 57 minutes. If I fall asleep RIGHT NOW, I'll get 3 hours and 34 minutes.

I don't like calling people at 1:34am or texting them, because even if they are up... Cell phone buzzing at this time of the night means booty call and/or EMERGENCY. Neither of which applies. Not that the former would be so bad, but anyway.... So, I thought I'd try a little blogging. And then a little corn flake, high glycemic index, carb coma treatment.

Good Night. Sleep Tight. Don't take a pseudo Class II stimulant a few hours before bed.

Listening to - Nothing... I don't want to wake them kidz.
Mood - Apathetic
Currently reading - Something Boring

So, my left knee started bugging me a little over half way. It's OK. I feel fine now. We'll see how it feels in the morning.

MOVE Your Feet

This makes me happy... so happy. How do foreign bands figure out the "American" sound so well some times?


This comes from youaintnopicasso.com A great blog about music.

More running and music and photo blogging to come... I feel a prolific weekend coming on

If I forgot to call/email/comment Happy New Year - It's not too late, we've got a whole year to hang out... Make '08 Great! or '08 is Great! take your pick