(3) Wed Aug 10 14:38:03 the most dangerous game:

Went running in Topanga State Park (via Temescal Gateway Park) on the trail between Temescal and Will Rogers State Park with alhp. Pretty great trail, although I am having a hard time getting used to the dominant vegetation being scrub brush and cacti. I don't think I'm going to miss that when we finally leave.

M*A*S*H* was filmed in the Santa Monica mountains, and I have a feeling that I saw the mountains in the opening credits today -- or at least ones that looked so much like them that for the whole run (or run/walk since I'm so out of shape) I had the M*A*S*H* theme song stuck in my head.

Did you know: The M*A*S*H* theme song is titled "Suicide is Painless" and was written by director Robert Altman's son? The iMDB says that Mike Altman made more money off the royalties to that song than his dad made for directing the movie!

Anyway, it was driving me crazy. When I have a song stuck in my head while running, the pace of the song slips into rhythm with my breathing (which is in rhythm with my footsteps) and it makes me start to feel really claustrophobic. I tried my sister's tactic of singing "Hey, Jude" whenever she has something stuck in her head -- it works for me. The worst thing that could happen is that you don't get the first song out of your head. And the second worst thing that could happen is that you get "Hey, Jude" stuck in your head which, for me, isn't much of a punishment. That song is so long, there's tons to appreciate. There are the regular verses, then there's the bridge, then there's the na na na part, and then there's the part at the end (my personal favorite) where Paul sounds like he's being electrocuted whilst trying to sing the lyrics.

Did you know: if you're attacked by a mountain lion, you're supposed to fight back? The theory goes that mountain lions can't afford to be injured predators and so would rather let a meal go than get injured in a fight. Before fighting back though, you're supposed to be loud, look big, bare your teeth, throw stuff, pray, etc., and hope you don't have to remember your karate.

In Chicago, the most dangerous animal you might come into contact with is some random rabid mammal, or perhaps a pit bull or something. In LA however, the most dangerous animal you might come into contact with is a real live mountain lion. The kind with sharp fangs and claws whose M.O. is to leap on your back and sever your spinal cord as you run by. This freaks us out. Now, truth be told, no one has been killed in our area in 110 years and we're much more likely to be killed crossing the street -- but those cats are out there, and I have to say that I think I probably look pretty tasty.