I did not go on a Donut Walk™ yesterday. That’s sad as on Mondays Krispy Kreme also gives you a free coffee. The reason is I had to go food shopping and Aldi is in the opposite direction. It was drizzling so I did not get much waking in either.
That’s as far as I got writing yesterday. I was going to write about my shopping adventures, but I no longer remember them. I was disappointed that the singing security guard at Aldi didn’t sing and didn’t remember me. I thought I was making a friend. I was in disguise; it was drizzling so I wore my rain hat and trench coat. With my mask on it looked like I was going to rob a bank. My roommate said, “or the owner of the bank.” I do like that look. My goal is to look like Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca waiting for Ilsa at the train station. My mother would have said I looked like a mensch.
Yesterday was more exciting. I went on my Donut Walk™. It was a beautiful day, as is today. Right after I started walking I got a phone call from Deni and we talked the entire trip to Krispy Kreme. I never make calls while walking but I receive a disproportionate number of calls on my walks. That makes the walks even better. I am appreciative of what I have and I’m lucky to have such interesting friends. We always have so much to talk about. Nothing is more entertaining than intelligent people.
Some people have made fun of me walking for donuts every day; but I know my mind and my body and knew it was exactly the motivation I needed to get back to walking. After just a few weeks it has had a tremendous positive effect on my health. Since I lost weight back in the 90s my cardiovascular system has worked well. My resting pulse went from in the low 90s to the low 70s and when I was in good shape high 60s. it had crept back up to the high 70s to low 80s of late. I stopped taking my pulse regularly. Yesterday Allison sent me a link to a video with a breathing exercise. A few months ago, I learned one from Alice and discovered it had a great effect on my pulse. It dropped something like 10 bpm, from 85 to 75 when I did it. I have used it to fight anxiety since then. I figured I’d give the new exercise as shot. I like objective measures so tested its effect on my pulse. To my surprise my baseline number was 66 bpm. In just a few weeks of walking my cardiac efficiency improved that much. I didn’t think that that possible. I figured no way breathing could drop it any lower than that. I was wrong, it went down to 63 bpm and I owe it all to donuts. Here’s the video that teaches the breathing, Dr Weil’s Breathing Exercises: 4-7-8. I don’t worry too much about the details. I don’t think anyone has done research testing various breathing patterns to find their relative efficacy. The one I learned from Alice was 4-6. My guess is the key is making your breathing regular and getting your mind off everything else.
I know some of you are saying, “imagine what it would be if you took the walks and didn’t eat a donut.” They are missing the entire point. I needed the donuts to supply the impetus. In the first episode of Seinfeld, then The Seinfeld Chronicles, Kramer bursts into Jerry’s apartment and announces that he’s redoing his apartment. He was getting rid of all his furniture and instead installing levels. “Levels Jerry, levels!” Jerry said, “You’ll never do it.” Kramer insisted that he would. Jerry bet him $50 that he wouldn’t. Of course, Kramer didn’t do it and Jerry asked for his $50. Kramer said, “I could have done it I just decided not to.” Jerry says, “I know you could do it; the bet was whether or not you would.” That made me a devoted fan of the show. It was a brilliant and funny insight. So yes, I could have taken the walks without getting the donuts, but I wouldn’t have. The reward of sugar-coated fried bread was the motivation I needed to break through my pandemic lethargy.
Last night was the second Tuesday of the month and that means John Platt’s On Your Radar. This month’s artists were Nefesh Mountain, Annie Sumi, and Travis Knapp. It was one of the best editions of OYR. I love Annie but she was the only one I was familiar with. Nefesh Mountain plays Jewish influenced bluegrass, Jewgrass. That’s certainly had me intrigued, and Annie moved from Guelph to Ithaca to be with Travis, so someone I love, loved him, a point in his favor. Annie and Travis accompanied each other and that was synchronicity. As much as I love Annie’s music, I loved it even more backed by Travis. I haven’t heard Travis solo, so I don’t know how that compares, but I loved what I heard. Their writing styles are distinct, so it wasn’t one long act. It was clearly the Travis show followed by the Annie show. Nefesh Mountain was as much fun as their description implied. I would have loved to have some time to talk to them, but I signed on backstage on StreamYard later than usual. I had forgotten to prepare the introductory video for the show. I rushed to do that before signing on. I have it down to a science, so it doesn’t take me that long. I also wanted to talk to Annie, just because I haven’t seen her in more than a year and she’s one of the intelligent fun people I love. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Perhaps she’ll play in New York in the Fall and I invited her and Travis to play the Budgiedome at Falcon Ridge 2022.
Gord’s Gold was on last night. I always listen when it starts just to make sure there were no problems. A few times there were technical glitches. When that happens I contact Ron, who runs Folk Music Notebook and let him know. As has been happening I get suckered into listening to the show. I not only no longer cringe at hearing my voice, but I now enjoy the show even though I’ve been listening to the music for a week. It’s amazing, the guy that programs Gord’s Gold has exactly the same taste as me. I hear he’s very handsome too. The archive on Mixcloud just went live. I would prefer if you listened to the show’s initial streaming on Folk Music Notebook but if you miss it Mixcloud is the next best thing. You can listen from right here if you like.
I’m hungry, I better make breakfast. I bought chocolate chip brioche at Aldi so French toast is on today’s menu.
Wise Madness 