I finally put some new strings on my guitar yesterday. It’s been at least a year or two since I’ve had to re-string, mostly since I hardly played it and didn’t see a need for new strings. The difference between dead strings and bright new strings is so different that it almost feels like a new instrument. The ringing tones and sustain are so much better than on the old corroded strings that were there. I’m sure there is some kind of metaphor in there but I don’t need to spell it out. What is funny, or maybe not, is that I’ve been playing things like Sylvan Esso at work, in the car, right now while I redevelop a musical identity of my own with acoustic instruments. Identity is a funny thing, like dead guitar strings (there is the metaphor, sorry to spell it out), if you don’t really express and reinforce that identity then does it really exist? Most of my circle (just one circle now) don’t know this part of my identity but hopefully that will change soon.

Last night at the social run I put down a mile PR. I’m not fast but the last time I set a PR was almost a year ago when I was chasing the middle school cross country team on a 2 mile workout. Last night, I was just out for a run and it felt nice to just let things go and fly for a bit. It was effortless and if the temps had been cooler, I think I probably would have kept that pace going for the rest of the 5K. In a completely different vein, I’m seriously considering putting Screaming Monkey 100 on my race calendar for next year. It would require a couple of tune up races along the way and motivate the next 6 months of training. I really need a big project to work on.

Some friends are getting married on Friday and I was talking with Ben and Liz last night after the social run and realized that going to the reception/after-party is all that I can deal with in that sphere. I’d be lying if I was feeling totally off romantic relationships of any kind right now, I’m still trying to feel my way back into that world as slowly as I can, but going to a wedding is a little more than I want to deal with right now. I’ll probably go run long Saturday on a trail somewhere and maybe get a little climbing in and the get ready for a housewarming on Sunday afternoon. I’m going to make up a big batch of sourdough pizza dough and some pizza sauce and hopefully get the photo mosaic wall done and some rugs down to make the place feel a little more homey. I’ll post some photos.