Bobby "Boris" Pickett

October 31, 2008

Today's Friday Flashback is brought to you by a bubbling brew - because that's my favorite sound effect in the Monster Mash. It also happens to be my favorite Halloween tune.



Bobby Boris Pickett is the voice and face behind the Mash. He was born February 11, 1938 in Somerville Massachusetts. Bobby's father was the manager of a movie theatre. This helped the young impressionable boy watch many a horror film. Bobby was also a Veteran of the Korean war.


In 1962, Monster Mash hit the billboard top 100 2 weeks before Halloween.


Due to leukemia and complications, Bobby Boris Pickett passed away April 27, 2007. He was survived by his daughter Nancy and her two children.


Now go out and tear it up in honor of the Monster behind the Mash!


Happy Halloween!

Top Election Issues

October 29, 2008

THE election is in 5 days. In my short time as a registered voter (I have been registered since 18, but it's still short in the scope of all elections... but if you consider the amount of time women have been able to vote, the time isn't so short, relatively speaking...) Anyway, in my short time as a registered voter, I've noticed some trends for presidential years.

1. It's always the most important election in the history of ever.
2. It's always close.
3. There's always two dufuses (four if you count the VPs).

In the interest of my posterity, I'm about to document some hot topics. Remember sweet blogging confidant, that this is all tongue 'n cheek, so to speak. Don't hate me for my opinion. Or my rampant cynicism. Or my ability to poke fun at it all. Seriously folks - I'm not about to grow more gray hair over politics (unlike my beloved Petulant Ninny).

Hot Topic #1 - Eight hundred thousand billion hundred trillion dollars have been "set aside" to bail out irresponsible lending. This whole bank bailout extravaganza is hurting the American People. At least it's hurting the rabidrunner household. I've decided that my bills aren't so urgent. For example, I carelessly tossed the Stewart's Lawn Service bill aside after retrieving it from the mailbox. The government is giving out gazillions to unbury the overextended. They most surely can afford to fertilize my lawn.

Hot Topic #2 - Joe The Plumber. Remind me not to say anything to a politician. Ever. Revealing an opinion does not entitle the public to know my salary or whether I'm current on my child support payments (If I had child support payments...) Joe should sue. Don't both presidential camps have millions at their disposal? It takes a gold mine to land that $250k a year job.

Hot Topic #3 - Franklin Raines should do time. For his incestuous involvement with Fanny Mae (CEO from 1999 to 2004, bookkeeping chef and 190 million in personal profit). Not an election issue I know but I gotta say it. Prolly not incestuous either, but I enjoy using that word.

Hot Topic #4 - How much money did those "conservative" republicans give Sara Palin for clothing? I heard it was $150,000. Yeah right. Conservative.

Hot Topic #5 - Proposition 8 (to marry gay or not marry gay in CA). Here's the one that just might get me in trouble. My religious affiliation says they should not marry gay. But my inner-cynic says they should.

Let 'em suffer the colossal consequences of matrimony with the rest of us!

Think of all the money to be made by divorce attorneys! They say 50% of straight marriages don't make it. Statistically that means 50% of gay marriages won't make it either.

Since I live in Utah, I'm digging in dirt that's currently out of my jurisdiction. It's a squabble I cannot sample. I feel so left out.

Hot Topic #6 - Health Care. So bored of that one. I suggest, however, that you go visit a VA hospital to get a feel for government sanctioned health care. Next?

Hot Topic #7 - A minority will win. It'll be an African American President or a Female Vice President. How about two toots for that triumph.

Hot Topic #8 - Write in Candidates are in vogue. For example, the rabidrunner has coerced the neighbors into writing Spouse in for President. I belong in the White House.

Hot Topic #9 - Do baked goods count as a bribe? See number 8.

Tuesday Tune Vol 4 - More Halloween

In the spirit of Halloween, Today's Tunes are all about gouls, goblins, gore and more. (Once again, those marked with "Run Forest Run!" have been given the official Running Tune Stamp Of Approval.)

This is turning out to be the highlight of my week!


Faces In Disguise - Sunny Day Real Estate

Dragula - Rob Zombie (Run Forest Run!)

Haunted - Poe (Run Forest Run!)

Dracula From Houston - Butthole Surfers (Run Forest Run!)

Vampire Blues - Neil Young

Kidnap The Sandy Claws - Nightmare Before Christmas

Twilight - The Raveonettes (Run Forest Run!)

Cemeteries of London - Coldplay (Run Forest Run!)


Is that enough? Or would you like more?

This Little Yahoo Ran a 5k

October 27, 2008

In 30:50! Wow.

REO Speedwagon

October 24, 2008

Today's Friday Flashback is brought to you by my Big Brother. Big Brother went to lots of concerts. And Big Brother always left me home blubbering and wailing. On a few occasions, however, he brought me home a t-shirt. REO Speedwagon was one of those.

Each time I prepare for the Flashback of that Friday, I thoughtfully listen to the music of the chosen artist. Music is my muse so I listen for clues and whatnot. Sometimes the time allotted exceeds my collection of the chosen artist and I listen over and over.

Not this time.

I typed REO Speedwagon into the search bar of itunes and let her rip. About half way through the first song, it had to stop. "What is this crap!?"

I will not hear each song 2 or 3 times as usual. I will not hear each song once. Why did I think I liked REO Speedwagon? Is it because, as a child, I looked up to my stylish Older Bro? And so everything he listened to was pure gold to me? Was it because all early 80s music was crap in disguise? Was it because I was only ten...?

The Older Bro had a thing for REO Speedwagon. He'd listen to that High Infidelity album over and over. He'd report his favorite line several times a day by saying, "You can tune a piano, but you can't tune a fish!" He fancied, treasured, and glorified REO Speedwagon. In fact I'm pretty sure he'd switch teams if one of them asked him to.

Sure of it.

Because I still like the Older Bro (in spite of the bb-gun in my bum incident of 1977), I've decided to recount the pathetic career of REO Speedwagon.

REO Speedwagon began at the University of Illinois in 1967. The lineup would eventually include Dave Arnato, Kevin Cronin, Neal Doughty, Bruce Hall, and Bryan Hitt. Kevin Cronin was the creature behind the elusively enunciated vocals and Neal Doughty was the man with the talent. He played the piano.

REO had chart-topping success in the early 80s that would last only a few years. In 1989 the band realized they were ugly and chicks only dug them because of their "with the current hot band" status. Being as they were no longer the hot band (hallelujah bring on the New Wave!), the band members went their separate ways.

In 2000, REO tried some wacky revival thing with Styx. Now there's a show that makes a root canal sound appealing....

Just because I share everything, even the crap, here you go: I Can't Stop This Feeling - Take It On The Run - Keep On Loving You - Here With Me - and the only two I like Time For Me To Fly - Don't Let Him Go

Bad Time o' Year

October 23, 2008

I have a rough time with this time of year. Why?
I think the better question would be Why Not?

See!? Bad time o' year.

It always happens in October. Spouse has been hunting (he’s either gone or telling stories about hunting), I’ve finished a big training season/race (without much on the horizon), and I work for a tax filing software company (tax season ahead with much ado to prepare).

Oh and it gets cold. Not the fun kind of cold with large frosty flakes and oodles of untracked pow-pow. But cold for no damn reason. I have this theory. Wanna hear it? Great! When the furnace kicks on, several grams of invisible depressant powder spews itself forcefully into my delightful dwelling. Like this:

(Cold+Heater)InvisibleDoomsdayPowder=Depression.

Being that today is most definitely a glass-is-half-empty kind of day, I’m trying desperately to drum up more reasons to complain. Problem is I’m listening to Jamie Cullum and sporting bright red lipstick. Who can be ornery with hooker-lips and the swoonery of a young jazz musician telling me to “Catch The Sun”?

Bad time o' year? Prolly not. Bad time o' month. Aye.

No Alibi

October 23, 2008

I've had some experience with infidelity.

Fresh out of high school, my boyfriend got my best friend... uh-hum... pregnant.

The Ex-spouse, Jimmy (notice that Ex receives the capitalization and spouse does not. It's all about the capitalization, you know). Anyway, the Ex-spouse Jimmy, developed a romance with a coworker. He moved out of my house and into her's.

That being said, there's some bruising history with this particular topic and I must get something off my chest:

I claim no responsibility as your moral authority and/or babysitter. I also refuse to be any sort of alibi for extra-marital flirtation - no matter how "innocent" you claim it to be.

Now doesn't that just brighten your day!? Did mine!

Tuesday Tune Vol 3 - Witches

October 21, 2008

Today's Tuesday Tunes are all about witches.

Remember friends that witches are inherently evil. At least that's the theory. But if you've read Wicked, you might discover that some witches aren't evil, they're just trying their hardest to save us from politics gone awry. Maybe that's what Rob Zombie is doing too .... Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, listen at your own risk... cackle, cackle, creek, cackle!

Only some of these Witch Tunes are worthy of running to and have received the "Run, Forest, Run!" stamp of approval.

Here goes!

The Witch - The Cult (Run, Forest, Run!)
19 Witches - Monster Magnet (Run, Forest, Run!)
Witchy Woman - The Eagles
American Witch - Rob Zombie (Run, Forest, Run!)
Burn The Witch - Queens Of The Stone Age (Run, Forest, Run!)
Crimson Witch - Moving Sidewalks
Season Of The Witch - Donovon
Swamp Witch - Jim Stafford
Teenage Witch - Eels (Run, Forest, Run!)
Witch Doctor - Sha Na Na

The fact that I already owned most of these tunes saved me loads of cash. I'm only down $4.24! Spouse should be proud.

On Demand

This is what happens when I say,

"Yahoo. Smile with your eyes."

Neil Diamond

October 20, 2008

Today's Friday Flashback is brought to you by the Fall Break. Who knew that the Break would cause me to Fall from my Friday Flashback? Huh. Hu Knu?

They say there are two types of people: Those who like Neil Diamond and those who do not. (See What About Bob).

Which one are you? (Note that stating your Neil Diamond stance has nothing to do with politics. Studies show that the Neil Diamond fan base is neither Republican or Democrat. So you're safe here. Politically speaking anyways.)

Did you know Neil Diamond was born January 24, 1941 in Brooklyn NY and is Jewish-Russian-Polish? Did you know that Neil Diamond sang in his high school choir with Barbra Streisand and would later record a solo or two with her? Did you know Neil Diamond wanted to be a laboratory biologist so that he could find a cure for cancer?

Did you know Columbia records signed Neil Diamond in 1962 and canned his sorry toosh one year later? Did you know he wrote the Monkees' tunes I'm A Believer, A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, Look Out, and Love To Love? Did you know that Neil Diamond has more hair on his chest than a pure-bred bull mastif?

Did you know Neil Diamond opened for The Who? Did you know Neil Diamond has been married twice and has four children? Did you know Neil Diamond gave fencing a stab at New York University? Did you know the Diamond loved to write songs about women? Specifically the names of women: Sweet Caroline, Cracklin' Rosie, Desiree, Cherry Cherry (check out the wiggle in the tight leathers on this one), Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon, Kentucky Woman.

Did you know that Neil Diamond supplies the rabidrunner's favorite housework music?

It's true. All of it.

Logo

Isn't it great? Acquired from

http://www.knuckleheaders.com/.

Does this mean I'm oficially "in business"?

I think so.http://www.emoticonphotography.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Tune vol 2

October 14, 2008

Must the Tuesday Tunes be for running? The CEO of my blog has declared the answer no. So here goes.

Can't get enough of this one today:

KT Tunstall - Beauty of Uncertainty
(Where's a good sunset when you need one?)

Here's a new one for running:

Pretenders - Boots of Chinese Plastic
(Yes, those Pretenders... they're back. If you want more check out the Friday Flashback.)

The Cost of Winning

October 14, 2008

I just finished The Cost of Winning by Dean Hughes. It's an LDS book. If you're looking for something uplifting - this is a good one. To be honest, I rarely read these types of books. Why? They scare me. In this day and age who and what needs uplifting? Being the super self-critical creature that I am, these books tend to put me in a "Oh how I wish I could start over" mood. Either that or I think unfavorably of it's sanctimonious tone.

Something I should work on, I know. I'll add it to the list.

Anyway - The Cost of Winning is a good one. It's about taking the competitive air out of living. Being as we must make a living (making money), and we must sometimes create bigger and better than others to make this living (making money) - it's a definite conflict of interest.

It also occurred to me, that this whole economic mess we're in has something to do with The Cost of Winning. Hey - maybe I can blame everything on The Cost of Winning. It's my new loophole! I have 12 pairs of shoes too many - well that's just the cost of winning. I don't like to cook anymore - that's just the cost of winning. I'm getting all sorts of stress-induced gray hair... you guessed it! The cost of winning.

Mr. Hughes quotes a noble and gallant (but not in the competitive sense) Jeffrey R. Holland. I would love to share this with you. It's from his conference address, April 2002. (Do I need to capitalize conference - someone please comment).

"I think one of the reasons [we become envious] is that every day we see allurements of one kind or another that tell us what we have is not enough. Someone or something is forever telling us we need to be more handsome or more wealthy, more applauded or more admired than we see ourselves as being. We are told we haven’t collected enough possessions or gone to enough fun places. We are bombarded with the message that on the world’s scale of things we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting."

Now here's the importantest part (but not in a competitive sense because you know some thoughts can be more important than others but that doesn't make those thoughts better than other thoughts. We wouldn't want over-inflated egotistical thoughts here.)

"No one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another."

"He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions."

Special Attention

October 12, 2008

Have you ever been jealous of someone and not know why? Have you ever tried to rationalize yourself out of being jealous? Well I do. I get jealous. And until about a month ago I had no idea why.

I get jealous when others are getting special attention and/or treatment.

You have front row tickets to Neil Diamond because your daddy owns a teddy bear factory? Jealous! You get awesome Olympic coaching because your cousin's uncle's brother-in-law is married to Deena Kastor's sister? Green with Envy! You are treated like a princess because you look like one? Now that's it. Ragingly Covetous!

Over the last week, however, I discovered that if I spend my energy looking for when I do not receive special attention - I will surely fail to see when I do receive special attention. I even had a blog brewing over it... but had better and bigger things to do.

Yesterday, I received special attention AND treatment.

I was running with the gang. We came to a "T" in the road. Some were going to add on by going left. Others were going to call it a day and go back to their cars by turning right. I was going left.

As I turned left, I continued a conversation with the folks going right (you know bye, see ya, I'll give so-and-so a ride home, etc.) To continue this conversation I had to look behind me and while I continued the conversation looking behind, I ran right into the middle of the road. Just in time for a car (going rather fast) to drive into the spot I was running.

How that car didn't hit me is a miracle.

That car didn't have time to swerve. I didn't have time to move. It felt as if I had turned into Elastagirl and bent out of the impact zone. Or maybe I was transferred out of harm's way by Angels. Running buddy Hillene swore she saw the car drive right through me.

Someone (and we all know who that Someone is) ... was giving me special attention.

I will be forever grateful.

Echo & The Bunnymen

October 10, 2008

Today's Friday Flashback is brought to you by Junie, my ipod shuffle. Junie was a Christmas present from Vera. Junie was a dear faithful friend who helped me through countless miles and lawn mowings. Two days ago, Junie drowned in the washing machine. May she rest in peace.

Today's Friday Flashback is also brought to you by the Yellow Sony Walkman of my youth. Remember the hip and edgy yellowness? The rubber buttons? The warbled sound of a cassette tape? I'm not 100% sure, but I think that one drowned too.

Does anyone know where I can find life preservers for my music playing machines?

The post-punk, new-wave, Echo & the Bunnymen began in Liverpool, 1979. They started with Ian McCulloch (Voke Ills), Will Sergent (Ghee Thar), Les Pattinson (Base), and a drum machine. I wonder if they named their drum machine? I would 'cause I name everything... except my towels... I don't name my towels. They all look the same and I'd never be able to tell them apart. But everything else (the trees, the tables, the vehicles, electrical items), they all have names. See why I only have two Yahoos? I've run out of names!

After a year or so, the Bunnymen hired a drummer named Pete de Freitas. The band hit the UK Top 10 a few times and experienced some notoriety among select groups in the US. They broke up in 1988 and would reunite some years later.

I'm sure you're wondering Where on earth did that strange name, Echo & The Bunnymen come from? You know... I'm wondering too! Always have. The band began with the name A Shallow Madness, then changed it to The Teardrop Explodes, and finally settled on Echo & The Bunnymen.

In an interview somewhere, Will Sergeant tried to explain the Bunnymen origin (still has me confused, however): "We had this mate who kept suggesting all these names like The Daz Men or Glisserol and the Fan Extractors. Echo and the Bunnymen was one of them. I thought it was just as stupid as the rest."

So there you have it. I still think they had an underground rabbit racing ring with bets and brokers. The races took place in an old abandoned and empty church with echoing acoustics. As they'd cheer on their big ticket rabbits, the yellings and whatnot would cause the place to echo.

Before you knock my theory, note that rabbits have always been speedy (as in The Tortoise and the Hare). It's only logical that somebody, somewhere, was racing them.

Isn't this post supposed to be about music?

Stupid name or not, I'm a big fan of Echo & The Bunnymen. The haunting melodies and euro beat always takes me to my youth... a time when I privately mocked my friends for making out with their Duran Duran posters.

The Killing Moon - Lips Like Sugar (this is a good one to run to) - Bring On The Dancing Horses - Seven Seas - The Cutter - Ocean Rain

Tuesday Tune

October 7, 2008

In an effort to increase the running library, I've decided to dedicate each Tuesday - er - most Tuesdays to finding a new tune worthy of running to/with. It's a very noble feat I know. But I think I can do it. It will cost roughly $4.24 a month (.99 + Uncle Sam's .07 = 1.06 * 4 = 4.24). Vera LOVES math - that was for Vera. As an extra bonus, I've decided not to limit the quest to only one tune. Some Tuesdays might have two or three or maybe even four! The only requirement is that the tune be new (at least to me).

As I blew my I-tune wad ramping up for the St George last week, I have no money. Not even a buck oh six. Especially 'cause I just purchased a raspberry roll and gobbled it up whole. Since there's no I-tune money, I'll have to start with -

Something Old:

Free For All - Ted Nugent. Nothing says "attack" like the Nuge. And let's face it, the sky's the limit when you proclaim it a "Free For All".

Never before have I turned on you
You look too good to me
Your beady eyes, they could cut me in two
And I just can't let you be
Well it's a free for all, and I heard it said
You can bet your life
Stakes are high and so am I
It's in the air tonight
It's a Free For All!

Something Somewhat New (and uncharacteristically poppish for the rabidrunner):

One Step At A Time - Jordan Sparks

Something Borrowed (might want to listen to this one without watching):

Switchback - Celldweller

And Something Blue as in:

Monday - New Order

Race Report

October 4, 2008

Okay so it's done. The marathon is over. The elements were conquered. What elements, you ask? Oh all of them. Headwind, Rain, Cold. And the time?

3:10:25
(3 hours, 10 minutes, 25 seconds. How come the blogger won't let me make that any bigger?)

The RabidRunner has PR'd and can therefore refer to oneself with capital letters.

Here's my acceptance shpeech....

I'd like to thank Spouse for taking me to bed early, putting food on the table (70 miles a week takes a lotta calories), and comic relief. I'd like to thank my parents for giving me a body and my Heavenly Father for my tenacious soul.

Wow.

This moment is soooo much bigger than me!

I'd like to thank all of my friends for putting up with the nuttiness of it all, the Yahoos for sleeping so awesomely, and Physical Therapist Kelson who saved the RabidRunner back from Sunday's caveman eposide (couldn't stand up straight). I'd also like to thank the best training buddies on the planet. I'm nothing without chasing you!

But most of all I'd like to thank the Winder who phoned on Friday night to inform me of the impending headwind of monstrous proportion. She then proceeded to give me pointers on "breaking wind."

Image that. The Winder giving me pointers on breaking wind.

(For the record, the pointers are for me to know and you to wonder. I'd hate for my competition to read this and you know......... break wind before me.)

Magic Mirrah

October 1, 2008

Wouldn't it be great if I had my own very Magic Mirror? This is similar to Vera's "Magic Milk" (a dizzying mix of vodka, Kahlua and cream) but not so high in caloric content. In certain circumstances, however, my Magic Mirror and Vera's Magic Milk might produce similar results... Let's investigate that!

MY magic mirror would show intentions. It would show what Spouse really means when he asks "Are you tired?" It would show what Sally meant when she told me she liked my hair. It would show how and why my tires were slashed this morning after I "accidentally" pulled out in front of some one (kidding!) But you get my drift, right? I would begin to see that most people are nice. Vera's Magic Milk, on the other hand, just makes everyone nice without necessarily having to see them.

More often than not, we read the intentions of others incorrectly. I try to be a person who gives the benefit of the doubt. I rarely jump to a conclusion of ill-intent when I feel I've been wronged. Well... at least I don't immediately jump to a conclusion of ill-intent. But seriously... wouldn't it be nice to see what exactly someone meant when they did THAT or said THIS?

And you know the Magic Mirrah would need a poem. 'Cause they only understand words that rhyme.

Mirrah, Mirrah on the wall.
What's the intentions of them all?
Did they mean to make me squirm
Whence coerced to eat a worm?
Did they intend to start a fight
Would that give them great delight?
Or was that niceness disguised as sleaze
All those demands without saying please?

I know. Keep my day job.

By the way, Marathon in 2 days. I can't hold still!