Back in the mid-80's DC comics broke new ground in the comic book industry. launching several new limited-run event series with much more complex and mature themes than were previously common. Some of those titles, like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, are still considered classics and landmarks of the art form. Prior to those two, the very first "maxi-series", was a twelve issue story by Mike Barr and Brian Bolland called Camelot 3000. I bought every issue of that thing as they came out and ate it up. The premise was an alien invasion all wrapped up in Arthurian legend, with all of the key characters reborn again a futuristic backdrop. These days the series is largely forgotten (probably deservedly so), but I thought of it again this morning as I watched the first half of Battlefield.

So let's talk about that.

I spent more time running today on the treadmill, which was a nice improvement after yesterday. I think I spent about six minutes at a running pace, scattered throughout the 55 minute workout. I've got a ways to go there, but it's progress. I have myself alternating days on the pushups, I am working with the 100 pushups app and am making real progress there. Other than that, today I wrote a ton of code and that's about it.

But I did watch the end of the circus story, so let's talk about that.

Today was definitely a "plusses and minuses" kind of day. On the plus side, I did 22 pushups this morning. A week ago I could barely do three. On the minus side, I was still pretty wiped out from my workout the evening before, so my pace on the treadmill was pretty slow today. But that's ok. Hopefully tomorrow morning I will be more rested.

As for Doctor Who, I watched the first half of the last story of the Seventh Doctor's second season. So let's talk about that.

Today for the first time on this ridiculous project, I actually spent 5 1/2 minutes at a jogging pace on the Time Treadmill. I have been hovering just below my crossover point for a couple months now and I decided it was time to just push myself right over that hump. For the very first time actually running, I think going over five minutes was pretty dang good. I'll keep chipping away at it.

I finished watching the twenty fifth anniversary story today, and noticed something I missed in the first part. Let's talk about that.

Day three hundred and seventy six of this ridiculous project, and I have nothing profound to say. So let's get on with saying it.

Can we just take a moment to savor the title of this post? I went through a half dozen variations on the theme until I found one I really liked, and I am pretty dang proud of it.

*contented sigh*

Ok, let's talk Doctor Who.

It seems pretty clear to me that, at this point, I have reached a perfect equilibrium between how much I like to exercise and how much I like to eat. My body continues to change as I add more strength training, but my weight has remained stable for a couple months now. I am perfectly, joyously happy with this. I feel great, and pretty much any time I go out like I did tonight I get multiple compliments on how good I look. I am wearing clothes right now that were packed away a dozen years ago because I got too fat for them. It's like having a complete new wardrobe without having to go shopping. And for all of this I have Doctor Who to thank. So, thank you Verity Lambert and Sydney Newman. Thank you Waris Hussein. Thank you William Hartnel, William Russel, Jacqueline Hill, and Carole Ann Ford. Thank you for everyone over the past 55 years at the BBC who provided me the perfect distraction so I wouldn't notice just how hard I was working and how much I was sweating. Five more months to go before I wrap up Phase 1 of this ridiculous project.

In other news, this morning I finished the very last Damn Dalek story of the classic era, and it was a good'n. Let's talk about that.

Can you believe it, I started the twenty fifth season of Doctor Who today. It seems like only a few weeks ago when I first stepped on the Time Treadmill and visited the Coal Hill Academy and 76 Totter's Lane, and now here I am one year and sixty pounds later, and find myself back in the same place.

So let's talk about that.

Sad news today for fans of Classic Who: actor Peter Miles passed away last week at the age of 89. He was best known for his role as Davros' second-in-command Nyder in Genesis of the Daleks. He also appeared in Invasion of the Dinosaurs as the scientist who brought the giant lizards to London, but for me his best appearance was as Dr. Lawrence in The Silurians. He was absolutely riveting in that story as he faced off against the Third Doctor. The scene in which Lawrence is infected by the Silurian plague and attacks the Brigadier is one of the best moments of the story, sold entirely on Miles' strong performance. It is at least a comfort to know that Miles' passing was peaceful. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

On a happier note, today I saw the last of Mel. So let's talk about that.

It was a weird day of viewing today. Usually I watch two 25-minute episodes per day, and usually the stories have an even number of episodes. In fact, prior to today the last time there was a story with an odd number of 25-minute episodes was with The Dæmons all the way back in the Third Doctor's second season. With Delta and the Bannermen only being three episodes, I had originally intended to just watch part three of that story today and fill the rest of my time with special features or something. But then I realized two very important details: the next story was also a three parter, and if I started that today instead of waiting until tomorrow, then I could make Mel go away a day sooner.

So let's talk about the end of one story and the start of the next.