Like A Mechanical Hound

The following is an email I sent just three minutes ago to the group I am running the Wasatch Back Relay with next week, on June 22 and 23:

I know, I know. You probably thought that this was an urgent, rushed email started at 2:59 in the morning, informing all of you of some blood-borne illness I contracted in the night, rendering me unable to run my legs for Wasatch Back. 'Tis not true!! I am in perfect working order, only here to tell you of my adventures this morning. The night ended with Jean Valjean dying in the arms of his daughter, Cosette, and I thought to myself that this night couldn't possibly continue to get any better.
Upon returning home around 11:45, I slipped into bed with my computer to check forums and blog postings from the day that I had been absent for, (including Katie C's most recent post, which admittedly, made me cry) and soon told myself that I had to sleep. 1:15 rolled around and I just couldn't bring myself to end the night. So I arose. I knew that what followed had to be done. I slipped on my Avias, turned the iPod on shuffle, and just started running. And running. And running.
As many of you know, I live in a (very) suburban town about 20 miles north of Salt Lake City, called Kaysville. This fact comes in hand in a minute. With bicycle lamp in hand, I just ran, following a 7+ mile course I had set out for a run earlier but didn't take (the run I had taken earlier was 5.6 and was completed only 12 hours prior, in the blazing sun). I counted thirteen cars in all during the 7.4 mile run, three of which were marked Davis County Sherrif, and nine parked. So you know that Kaysville is quite the party.
The streets were empty, and I had the city to myself. Just me, The Beatles, and Mates of State. As I reached the high school, just 1.3 miles from my house, the clock on the marquee read 2:21. I had nine minutes to run that last one-and-a-bit back home. I knew I could do it. My head felt so heavy and the music seemed only to push me harder as I sprinted down a road bordering the nearby experimental agricultural farm. I did it. I rushed through the door, hoping not to wake my family, but still speedily trying to find a clock. 2:29. I had done it.
55 minutes. 7.4 miles. I did it.

Now, some statistics for you:

A 7.4 mile run in 55 minutes translates to 8.072 miles per hour avg and an average mile time of 7:25.946.

I truly cannot wait until next week. I cannot. We must all run on Wednesday once everyone is in town and somewhat settled. A big thank you to everyone who has included me and pushed me to do what I never thought possible. Thank you.

-Thomas Millar

Top Ten Reasons to Put Romney in the White House

I don't care that all of my post are stolen. Be quiet, and no one will know.

This one comes from my dear friend, Seth Hill of New York City by way of Provo, San Diego, and Peru. I know, quite the amalgum, eh? Hmm, here you go:


TOP TEN REASON TO PUT ROMNEY IN THE WHITE HOUSE

10) The National Cathedral could be renamed the National Tabernacle
9) NASA could commission a satellite to 'Hie to Kolob'
8) The Secret Service could be renamed the Sacred Service
7) All official government prayers could include the phrase 'that we all can get home safely'
6) Napoleon Dynamite could get someone other than Pedro elected
5) The President could not only explain things in Layman's terms, but also Lemuel's terms
4) The President could issue pardons in exchange for 100% home teaching
3) Not only could he pronounce 'Nuclear' but also 'Mahonri Moriancumer'.
2) At his inauguration he would swear on the Bible 'as far as it is translated correctly'
1) Finally a first family large enough to fill up the White House

oh wow.

i know, i know. two posts within fifteen minutes of each other. it is quite a feat, and should be remembered as such. well, drafting is boring, and they don't give us computers for nothing, right? so. here you go. i felt like getting the word on flickr (mine in particular) out into the blogosphere. so. here you go everyone. enjoy the pictures and if you have a flickr account, add me as a friend! i would love to see your photos as well.

ira glass comes to the small screen

hello everyone!


umm, not much of a post but...i would still like to ask anyone out there in the blogosphere if they have Tivo or anyway to record this, to let me know. please, oh please!


let me know if you have anything. adios y gracias!

top 10 albums - part 1

ok! blog time.
top 10 albums to be exact.

i won't say "of all time" because i haven't listened to every album from the 14th century, nor do i claim to know of every band to ever release an album.

so! here it goes (in no particular order, of course):

The Shins - Oh, Inverted World (2001)
This album was my first introduction to The Shins and is simply a well written, amazingly produced album that shows what The Shins are truly made of and, by the way, was their first major label debut. Oh, Inverted World brought the band wide, critical acclaim and two of its track were selected for the film Garden State.
Selected Tracks: Know Your Onion, New Slang, The Past and Pending


Broken Social Scene - Self-Titled (2005)
Every song on BSS's most recent release is fantastic, combining the basic guitar/bass/drums ensemble with a barage of horns sections, acoustics, keys, and of course, at least an onslaught of four guitar(ist)s feeding off each other to make this album that much better, song after song. Broken Social Scene showcases the musical talents of a Miss Leslie Feist, and Emily Haines of fellow Canadian group, Metric.
Selected Tracks: 7/4 (Shoreline), Major Label Debut, Swimmers


The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)
Much more than just the infamous album artwork. This compilation of all of the musical stylings and genres The Beatles utilized in their seven year tenure. With changes in vocals between all four members of the band in at least one of the 17 tracks that make up Abbey Road, this release
spotlights each of the members' abilities and styles. And still ranking in the Top 100 Best-Selling Albums as of today, this timeless classic will continue to influence many more generations than it already has.
Selected Tracks: Something, Here Comes The Sun, Golden Slumbers


The Postal Service - Give Up (2003)
An amazing album, which was the segway into my discovery of contemporary indie music. Members Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) and James Tamborello (Dntel, James Figurine) created this record from different ends of the west coast. With James recording loops and fills in Los Angeles, and then sending them to Ben to record vocals and fine tune the melodies in Seattle, the two agreed on the name The Postal Service as was their means of musical communication. This album blends familiar DCFC melodies with a techno-ish mix of sounds and keys, Give Up is the quinessential indie/pop/experimental album.
Selected Tracks: Such Great Heights, We Will Become Silhouettes, Brand New Colony


Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)
Bright Eyes, the brainchild of Connor Oberst, is a folk ensemble based out of Omaha, Nebraska. Writing such intimate, yet haunting songs, Oberst pairs with folk legend Emmylou Harris on four of the tracks of I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, and pairs his country rock influences with the wonderful harmonies of Harris, to create articulate, witty, yet ultra-personal ballads that allow the listener to venture inside his troubled mind, and experience what he has, but through a beautiful, well-executed album that sucks us in and won't let go, even until the end as Road of Joy indicates that Oberst may have his head screwed on right after all.
Selected Tracks: Lua, First Day of My Life, Road To Joy


Part 2 coming tomorrow.....or sometime in the near, near future.