Hiking. Sandia Foothills. Stretching.
Black History Month.
Someday We’ll All Be Free – Keb’ Mo’
Mbube – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Love’s In Need of Love Today – The String Queens
Spring Is Here – Ahmad Jamal
Home – Diana Ross, The Wiz: Original Soundtrack
Fly Girl – Queen Latifah
Brand New Second Hand – Peter Tosh
A Sign of the Ages – Gil Scott-Heron
Starlight – Yola
Finally Made Me Happy – Macy Gray
Hard To Love – H.E.R.
I’m Going to Live the Life I Sing About In My Song – Mahalia Jackson
Yellow Moon – The Neville Brothers
What Now – Rihanna
Crush – Yuna, feat. Usher
20 February 2025
Filed under Albuquerque, Exercise, hiking, Music, New Mexico, playlist
19 February 2025
Walking. Morning movement.
Anniversary of internment of Japanese Americans
Kenji – Fort Minor
Summer of ’42 – Kishi Bashi
Resist – Allegiance
Manzanar – Channel 3
Manzanar – Laurie Lewis
Manzanar – Tom Paxton & Anne Hills
How Can You Go? – Lea Salonga & Telly Leung
Wishes on the Wind – Lea Salonga & Telly Leung
Allegiance – Allegiance
Our Time Now – Allegiance
Stronger Than Before – Lea Salongs & Katie Rose Clark
Still a Chance – Allegiance
Sands of Manzanar – Yukiko Matsuyama & Hirotaka Ogawa
I Remember – Beth DeSombre
Asian American History – Jason Chu & Alan Z
We are the Children – Nobuko Miyanmoto, feat. Derek Najamoto
120,000 Stories – Nobuko Miyanmoto, feat. Mike Penny & George Abe
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Current Events, Exercise, Music, New Mexico, playlist
45 Mile Outdoor Challenge for The Trevor Project
I’ve signed up for the 45 Mile Outdoor Challenge for The Trevor Project because this cause is close to my heart. I want to take action and make an impact. And I would love your help. Whether you donate $5 or $500, every bit counts. I’ve set an ambitious goal because I know that with support from people like you, I can get there.
The Trevor Project’s mission is to end suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people. Learn more here: thetrevorproject.org.
Thank you for your support!
William (that’s my first name) MARK
Filed under Albuquerque, Current Events, Exercise, Friends, New Mexico
“You do magic.”
“Now Gimli, you do magic,” Lucy directed.
I sat on a chair atop an elevated slab of concrete at the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo. Lucy and her grandmother (Tricia) sat on a bench facing me.
I did not think quickly enough to say that magic is Gandalf’s gig, not Gimli’s. I did recall my one magic trick guaranteed to impress everyone.
“Watch me pull a bald head from a hat,” I said.
Slowly and dramatically I removed my hat to reveal … a bald head.
When Lucy asked for another trick, wishful thinking took over.
“Watch me pull a head with hair from a hat.” Major failure as the revealed pate was once again bald.
“My head has hair,” laughed Lucy kindly as she came to stand beside me.
“Let’s see if this works,” I mused. I placed the hat on her head. “Abracadabra,” I intoned. I removed the hat and revealed a mass of hair.
“My turn,” declared Lucy. I went to sit with Tricia.
“Pocus-pocus,” Lucy chanted. I’m not sure what was supposed to happen. And in the end it does not matter.
The magic and wonder of the day lay not in any tricks we did or did not perform.
The magic and wonder lay in the imagination and love of a child.
The imagination …
… that transformed any elevated space into a stage where one could dance with abandon or direct a magic show …
… that realized the ramp to the observation deck at the monkey exhibit provided an entry point to a ship of some sort and we needed to help each other on board …
… that envisioned a chair as throne …
… and that made music with abandon on a suspended wooden xylophone.
The love …
… demonstrated by utter comfort and absolute confidence in her grandmother’s arms …
… shown in kindness to other visitors …
,,, and expressed in appreciation for the creatures with whom we share God’s creation.
As I give thanks for Lucy’s imagination and love, I hope I can recover some of that myself. For it is a joyful, joy-inspiring, joyous way to live.
The image is from Lucy’s coat sleeve.
Filed under Albuquerque, Family, New Mexico
13 February 2025
Walking. Arroyo to Smith’s. Morning movement.
Black History Month.
Mighty River – Mary J. Blige –
Stand Up – Cynthia Erivo
The Lord God of Abraham, from Elijah, Op. 70 – Paul Robeson
Just One Of Those Things – Louis Armstrong & Oscar Peterson
Sunny Land – Elmore James
Take Time – Lenny Kravitz
B Movie (aint really a life) – Gil Scott-Heron
Different Colours, One People – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir Symphonic Soweto, feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo & Rocky Dawuni
Want Ad Blues – John Lee Hooker
Let’s Talk About Hair -Sweet Honey In the Rock
Spirit of the Lord Is Coming Down – The Blind Boys of Alabama
The Weight – Aretha Franklin
Careless Love – Lead Belly
Alphabet St. – Prince
Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Exercise, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
12 February 2025
Walking. Huning Highland neighborhood. Walking. North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center. Morning movement. Chair stretching.
Black History Month,
Late Hours At Midnight – Elmore James
We Won’t Cry – Archie Roach, feat.Paul Kelly
Pieces of a Man -Gil Scott-Heron
Bag Lady – Erykah Badu
Miami – Nicki Minaj
Girl – Destiny’s Child
That’s How Strong My Love Is – Otis Redding
Music is in Everything – Ziggy Marley, feat. Lisa Loeb
Don’t Lie – The Black Eyed Peas
Intro – Mary J. Blige
Hell No, We Aint Alright – Public Enemy, feat. Paris
I’m On Your Side – Keb’ Mo’
Colors – Yuna
That’s One To Grow On – Dobie Gray
Water Boy – Paul Robeson
Go Ahead John (part two B) – Miles Davis
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Exercise, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
11 February 2025
Walking in Downtown Albuquerque. Morning movement. Hand work. Core Work.
Anniversary of Mandela’s release.
Black History Month.
Mandela – Hugh Masekela
Nelson Mandela – Special AKA
A Madiba Wish – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Mandela Medley – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Rainbow Nation – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir S(feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Jikele Maweni – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Thula Baba – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo & Buskaid Soweto String Project)
Lizalis’idinga lakho / Senzeni Na / Thina Sizwe – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Soweto Travels – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir S (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Black President – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo & Zonke)
Wasiqoqela Ndawonya / Koloi Ena / Sizongena – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Voice Of Hope – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Nomalanga – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Different Colours, One People – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir – (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo & Rocky Dawuni)
Mathebethebeni – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir (feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo)
Asimbonanga- Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Nkosi Sikelel ‘IAfrica – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Exercise, Human Rights, New Mexico, playlist
7 February 2025
Hiking. Elena Gallegos Open Space. Morning Movement. Hand weights. Chair stretching.
Black History Month.
I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
Enough!! – A Tribe Called Quest
S.O.S (Mother Nature) – will.i.am
Fight the Power – Public Enemy
Ooo Baby Baby – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Human Mic – Talib Kweli
I Can’t Describe (The Way I Feel) – Jennifer Hudson, feat. T.J.
World Wide Rebel Songs – Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
You Beat Me to the Punch – Mary Wells
Matter of Time – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
The Lord’s Prayer – Aaron Neville
Oh Lord, You Know Just How I Feel 4:00 Fannie Lou Hamer
Behind Enemy Lines – Dead Prez
I’ll Fly Away – The Blind Boys of Alabama
Governor O.K. Allen – Lead Belly
Latifah’s Had It Up To Here – Queen Latifah
Still Gone – Yola
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Exercise, hiking, Music, New Mexico, playlist
6 February 2025
Hike. Los Poblanos Farms Open Space. Morning movement. Core work. Chair stretching.
Bob Marley birthday.
All songs by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Redemption Song
No Woman No Cry
Buffalo Soldier
Get Up Stand Up
Stir It Up
Exodus
Simmer Down
Rainbow Country
Concrete Jungle
I Shot The Sheriff
Burnin’ and Lootin’
Crazy Baldhead
War
Revolution
Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
Three Little Birds
Filed under Albuquerque, Exercise, Music, New Mexico, playlist
Sheroes and heroes
The indoor track at the North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center has become my go to location for walking when hiking or other cardio exercise does not happen outside. Many of the same people gather each evening to run, walk, jog, or otherwise move around the track.
Some people intimidate me. Some run. Some walk. Some jog. Some do all three. Each person laps me again and again and again. They are nice, but they move far faster than I ever have or will.
Some people inspire me to gratitude. We walk at a similar pace. They challenge me to do better, Keeping up with them leads me to increase my speed and enhance my workout.
Some people elicit awe and absolute respect. They are my sheroes and heroes.
The older man who makes his way slowly and steadily around the track using forearm crutches. His partner who accompanies him every trip around the track.
The younger woman who pushes a walker with a seat as she completes lap after lap. Her partner who follows a step behind her, allowing her to make the journey on her own but always at hand if the need arises.
So far, I have managed to restrain myself from cheering when my sheroes and heroes arrive. But always I tear up at their courage and grace. And always I give thanks for them.
Filed under Albuquerque, Exercise, New Mexico
