Shuffle Songs Fail

Worst running playlist ever.

I took off around 8:45 this evening for what promised to be a lovely 6-mile run. I pressed "Shuffle Songs" on my iPod, started running, and spent the next hour being slowly, sadly, oh-so-gently urged to succumb to a deep, song-induced depression. Observe:

Sodom, South Georgia - Iron & Wine
Pastures New - Nickel Creek
Hold Me Now - Jennifer Knapp
The Fatal Wound - Switchfoot
Closing In - Imogen Heap
Close Your Eyes - Jump, Little Children
What If - Coldplay
Paperweight - Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk
Time And Time Again - Counting Crows
Heard Them Stirring - Fleet Foxes
Fire and Rain - James Taylor
Clear the Area - Imogen Heap
The Moment I Said It - Imogen Heap
Ashes of American Flags - Wilco
Look Around - Blues Traveler

Luckily the exercise-induced endorphins were sufficient to stave off any lasting effects of these not-at-all-exercise-friendly tunes. And then Hysteria by Muse came on as I was cooling down, so that was awesome. Also, great weather (86 degrees right now - bliss!).

Much Like Chandler's Hand.

My neck is messed up.

Here is a normal cervical spine.

This was my cervical spine in April.
Just to put things in perspective, a normal c-spine has a 40 degree curve. Mine was a -8.

"This kind of spinal degeneration is progressive," he said. "I've never seen a case this bad in someone so young. Have you had a lot of stress in the last 5-10 years?"

My mind flashed back over three separate moves to cities where I knew no one, cramming four years of upper level science and art classes into two, 21 grueling months of my Master's program, heartbreak, failed relationships, friendship drama, family deaths, my first grownup job, buying a house, marathon and triathlon training, leadership roles, fundraising...

"Oh, some..." I replied.

And now, four months later, three visits a week, it's better. A zero degree curve.
Not great, but getting there. Apparently getting out of the negative numbers is the bulk of the work.

Onward to 40°.

Skeptical Dog Is Fraught With Skepticism

OR, MacBook Pro Photo Booth: Fun For The Whole Family

Hey, remember this post with the "um, ok..." face?

For your consideration: Klaus

Also, this:

I Don't Belong Here

Simply wonderful.

A Belgian girls choir covers Radiohead's Creep.

Thanks, htd.