I still listen to my sixth-generation iPod routinely while driving -- with an old school Monster hookup -- and at work -- with a cheap iPod dock.
But those days are numbered as I grow more attached to my iPhone each day and the technology evolves. After all, my iPhone holds more than twice the music my iPod is capable of holding.
The iPod will always have a special place in my heart.
Showing posts with label iPod. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPod. Show all posts
4.25.2010
Random
Clearing my desktop and consciousness of stuff from the last few weeks that isn’t related to houses, work and our transition …
It’s been a gloomy, rainy, dark weekend in The ‘Ville …
Yesterday, we nearly had a tornado swoop in. The inspector and I were standing in the kitchen when, all of a sudden, the tornado sirens began to sound. It was an odd thing, we thought, because the temperature hadn’t been that warm and the sky didn’t look very menacing. Then again, 12:43 p.m. was an odd time to be testing the sirens.
It turned out a funnel cloud was spotted near campus, but it quickly dissipated. Check out this photo of the cloud that was posted on Facebook …
I stumbled on this video a couple weeks ago. Apparently it’s made its way around the Internet a few times, but this was the first I’ve seen of it. It might make you cry …
Watch CBS News Videos Online
I have more than 5,000 tracks on that playlist and haven’t heard a song more than once in weeks. Talk about a no-repeat work day … I’ve kept it going at work, in my car, at home.
It’s been fun hearing songs I don’t hear as often as the songs I have on multiple playlists. I've heard lots of deep cuts and songs I forgot I had on my iPod.
We’ll see how long I can stay on the playlist until my desire to listen to The Shins, Guster, Death Cab for Cutie or one my other favorite bands becomes too overpowering.
In the meantime, here’s a good bit from “Funny or Die” with John Hamm …
With my new job -- in addition to taking advantage of the easy way to communicate with Kates when needed -- I’ve finally realized the benefits of texting. And I like it!
When the NCAA announced the other day it was expanding its basketball tournament to just 68 teams I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
As the plan was debated, I said several times that I’d be done watching the tournament if it expanded to 96 teams.
At least we’ll have a competitive tournament for a couple more years -- until the supposedly inevitable 96-team expansion.
* * *
It’s been a gloomy, rainy, dark weekend in The ‘Ville …
Yesterday, we nearly had a tornado swoop in. The inspector and I were standing in the kitchen when, all of a sudden, the tornado sirens began to sound. It was an odd thing, we thought, because the temperature hadn’t been that warm and the sky didn’t look very menacing. Then again, 12:43 p.m. was an odd time to be testing the sirens.
It turned out a funnel cloud was spotted near campus, but it quickly dissipated. Check out this photo of the cloud that was posted on Facebook …
* * *
I stumbled on this video a couple weeks ago. Apparently it’s made its way around the Internet a few times, but this was the first I’ve seen of it. It might make you cry …
Watch CBS News Videos Online
* * *
A couple weeks ago, I clicked the “My Top Rated” playlist on my iPod, and haven’t moved from it since. I have more than 5,000 tracks on that playlist and haven’t heard a song more than once in weeks. Talk about a no-repeat work day … I’ve kept it going at work, in my car, at home.
It’s been fun hearing songs I don’t hear as often as the songs I have on multiple playlists. I've heard lots of deep cuts and songs I forgot I had on my iPod.
We’ll see how long I can stay on the playlist until my desire to listen to The Shins, Guster, Death Cab for Cutie or one my other favorite bands becomes too overpowering.
* * *
We learned this week that “Mad Men” will return on July 25 … Can’t wait!In the meantime, here’s a good bit from “Funny or Die” with John Hamm …
* * *
I discovered recently that I sent 224 text messages last month. Yikes. … A year ago, it was an incredible feat if I sent more than four text messages in a month.With my new job -- in addition to taking advantage of the easy way to communicate with Kates when needed -- I’ve finally realized the benefits of texting. And I like it!
* * *
When the NCAA announced the other day it was expanding its basketball tournament to just 68 teams I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
As the plan was debated, I said several times that I’d be done watching the tournament if it expanded to 96 teams.
At least we’ll have a competitive tournament for a couple more years -- until the supposedly inevitable 96-team expansion.
2.19.2010
Rock 'n' road trip
It's been a mentally-tough, draining week ... But I'm with Kates and Phoebe now, and all is well.
My week included a lobbying trip to the capitol on Tuesday that started with myself, about 35 students and a few colleagues boarding a bus at 3:30 a.m. ... Old Man Winter hasn't let up on his grip ... And the distance separating Kates and I has started to rear its ugly head ...
I had planned to return to K-Town this weekend -- the first time in more than a month. The downside, however, was that this trip had to be a drive, not a flight ... I hadn't planned to leave until early Friday, but as I laid in bed Wednesday night I could only think about hitting the road when I finished work Thursday afternoon. I know the route well; if I was on the road around 5, I could be there by 2, I thought ...
Still trying to make a decision, I gathered some belongings and packed my bags before heading to the office Thursday morning ... But my mind was made up shortly after I arrived in the office yesterday morning and a couple key afternoon meetings were cleared from my schedule ...
I was on the road around 3:30. Navigated rush hour traffic in Des Moines around 6. Stopped for gas and a quick supper at Arby's around 7. Hit Illinois around 9, Wisconsin around 11 and our house around midnight ...
I had been running on adrenaline and my need to be with Kates and Phoebe all of Thursday.
But the extra umpf I needed came from the 135 songs that shuffled through my iPod during the drive ...
For your reading fun, I give you the soundtrack of my four-state road trip, from Bowling For Soup's "Almost" as I left my apartment parking lot in The 'Ville to Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl" as I pulled into my garage in K-Town ...
My week included a lobbying trip to the capitol on Tuesday that started with myself, about 35 students and a few colleagues boarding a bus at 3:30 a.m. ... Old Man Winter hasn't let up on his grip ... And the distance separating Kates and I has started to rear its ugly head ...
I had planned to return to K-Town this weekend -- the first time in more than a month. The downside, however, was that this trip had to be a drive, not a flight ... I hadn't planned to leave until early Friday, but as I laid in bed Wednesday night I could only think about hitting the road when I finished work Thursday afternoon. I know the route well; if I was on the road around 5, I could be there by 2, I thought ...
Still trying to make a decision, I gathered some belongings and packed my bags before heading to the office Thursday morning ... But my mind was made up shortly after I arrived in the office yesterday morning and a couple key afternoon meetings were cleared from my schedule ...
I was on the road around 3:30. Navigated rush hour traffic in Des Moines around 6. Stopped for gas and a quick supper at Arby's around 7. Hit Illinois around 9, Wisconsin around 11 and our house around midnight ...
I had been running on adrenaline and my need to be with Kates and Phoebe all of Thursday.
But the extra umpf I needed came from the 135 songs that shuffled through my iPod during the drive ...
For your reading fun, I give you the soundtrack of my four-state road trip, from Bowling For Soup's "Almost" as I left my apartment parking lot in The 'Ville to Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl" as I pulled into my garage in K-Town ...
Almost (Bowling For Soup) / Lucky Love (Ace of Base) / Brand New Day (Sting) / Jennifer Eccles (The Hollies) / Pig (Dave Matthews Band) / Viva La Viva (Coldplay) / Follow You Down (Gin Blossoms) / No Matter What (Badfinger) / Cheap Guitar (Richard Julian) / Lay A Little Lovin’ On Me (Robin McNamara) / Mr. Lee (The Bobbettes) / Make Me Smile (Chicago) / Braided Hair (Speech) / Red, Red Wine (UB40) / Get Back [The Love Album] (The Beatles) / Bruised (The Bens) / My Maria (Brooks & Dunn) / Superman (Lazlo Bane) / Hound Dog (Elvis Presley) / Laughing (The Guess Who) / I’m Gonna Make You Love Me (The Jayhawks) / Girl, You Shout! (Dressy Bessy) / Black And White (Three Dog Night) / Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) / Apologize (OneRepublic) / Dialogue Part I & II (Chicago) / Having A Party (Rod Stewart) / Crush (David Archuleta) / You Belong To Me (Taylor Swift) / Cotton Eye Joe (Rednex) / Stand (REM) / Just Another Day (John Mellencamp) / Runaway (Avril Lavigne) / Last Train to Clarksville (The Monkees) / Who Did You Think I Was (John Mayer) / Love Story (Taylor Swift) / It’s My Party (Lesley Gore) / Dance To The Music (Sly & The Family Stone) / American Girls (Counting Crows) / We Both Go Down Together (The Decemberists) / Bread (Stone Jack Jones) / Nobody Knows (Keaton Simons) / Ooh La La (Goldfrapp) / Fighting For Your Life (David Mead) / Hey Girl (OAR) / My Happy Ending (Avril Lavigne) / Be OK (Ingrid Michaelson) / Band of Gold (Freda Payne) / I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) / The Best of What’s Around (Dave Matthews Band) / Short Skirt-Long Jacket (Cake) / Listen to the Music (The Doobie Brothers) / Stand By Me (Ben E. King) / Galileo (Indigo Girls) / Holiday (Green Day) / Runaway (Del Shannon) / Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley) / If I Had $1,000,000 (Barenaked Ladies) / Feelin’ Stronger Every Day (Chicago) / No Better Place (Fountains of Wayne) / Revolution (The Beatles) / Shine On (Eric Bibb) / Theme from The Monkees (The Monkees) / Wonderful (Everclear) / Come Back Down (Toad the Wet Sprocket) / Surrender (Cheap Trick) / Knock You Down (Keri Hilson) / Shut Up And Drive (Rihana) / Cheerleader (The Four Bitchin’ Babes) / Norwegian Wood (P.M. Dawn) / Smile (Lily Allen) / Seventeen Dirty Magazines (Modern Skirts) / He Wasn’t (Avril Lavigne) /
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (U2) / My Girl (The Temptations) / Take It Easy (The Eagles) / Gitarzan (Ray Stevens) / Jim Dandy (Black Oak Arkansas) / Whispering Bells (The Del Vikings) / Put Your Records On (Corrine Bailey Rae) / Monday Morning (Fleetwood Mac) / Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is (Chicago) / Yakety Yak (The Coasters) / Loose Lips (Kimya Dawson) / Hey Girl [Live From Madison Square Garden] (OAR) / We’d Be Good For Us (Jon Troast) / Clocks (Coldplay) / Going To California (Led Zeppelin) / Doctor My Eyes (Ben Folds) / Landed (Ben Folds) / White Collar Boy (Belle & Sebastian) / Party in the U.S.A. (Miley Cyrus) / Never Going Back Again (Fleetwood Mac) / Meet Virgina (Train) / Walk Away (Kelly Clarkson) / Summer of ‘69 (Bryan Adams) / Toxic (Brittany Spears) / ABC (Jackson Five) / Jump (Van Halen) / New Shoes (Paolo Nutini) / Give A Little Bit (Supertramp) / Mercy (Duffy) / I Get Around (The Beach Boys) / Slide (Goo Goo Dolls) / Pills For Sara (Winterpills) / If I had No Loot (Tony Toni Tone) / Streetcorner Symphony (Rob Thomas) / Learning to Fly (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) / Hooked On A Feeling (Blue Swede) / Windy (The Association) / Sick of Myself (Matthew Sweet) / Along Comes Mary (The Association) / Upside Down (Jack Johnson) / All The Small Things (Blink 182) / Walkin’ On The Sun (Smash Mouth) / Summertime (The Sundays) / 1234 (Feist) / Speed of Sound (Coldplay) / Say Hey (Michael Franti & Spearhead) / Sacrifice (Rachael Sage) / I Wanna Be Rich (Caloway) / Misty Mountain Top (Led Zeppelin) / Should I Walk Away (Summercamp) /
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (U2) / My Girl (The Temptations) / Take It Easy (The Eagles) / Gitarzan (Ray Stevens) / Jim Dandy (Black Oak Arkansas) / Whispering Bells (The Del Vikings) / Put Your Records On (Corrine Bailey Rae) / Monday Morning (Fleetwood Mac) / Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is (Chicago) / Yakety Yak (The Coasters) / Loose Lips (Kimya Dawson) / Hey Girl [Live From Madison Square Garden] (OAR) / We’d Be Good For Us (Jon Troast) / Clocks (Coldplay) / Going To California (Led Zeppelin) / Doctor My Eyes (Ben Folds) / Landed (Ben Folds) / White Collar Boy (Belle & Sebastian) / Party in the U.S.A. (Miley Cyrus) / Never Going Back Again (Fleetwood Mac) / Meet Virgina (Train) / Walk Away (Kelly Clarkson) / Summer of ‘69 (Bryan Adams) / Toxic (Brittany Spears) / ABC (Jackson Five) / Jump (Van Halen) / New Shoes (Paolo Nutini) / Give A Little Bit (Supertramp) / Mercy (Duffy) / I Get Around (The Beach Boys) / Slide (Goo Goo Dolls) / Pills For Sara (Winterpills) / If I had No Loot (Tony Toni Tone) / Streetcorner Symphony (Rob Thomas) / Learning to Fly (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) / Hooked On A Feeling (Blue Swede) / Windy (The Association) / Sick of Myself (Matthew Sweet) / Along Comes Mary (The Association) / Upside Down (Jack Johnson) / All The Small Things (Blink 182) / Walkin’ On The Sun (Smash Mouth) / Summertime (The Sundays) / 1234 (Feist) / Speed of Sound (Coldplay) / Say Hey (Michael Franti & Spearhead) / Sacrifice (Rachael Sage) / I Wanna Be Rich (Caloway) / Misty Mountain Top (Led Zeppelin) / Should I Walk Away (Summercamp) /
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
12.14.2008
Sunday reading
OK ... So my Bearcats didn't put on a very strong performance yesterday.
Sheesh, if they would have played as well the rest of the game as they did in the fourth quarter, they would have been golden ...
That fourth quarter was going so well, I was having visions of those "Cardiac 'Cats" making another legendary comeback ... Then -- don't even get me started on that botched call after the onside kick.
So now they've lost four straight championship games. Never mind the fact they've been there four straight years (on top of winning two straight in '98 and '99).
Bring on the awkward comparisons to the Buffalo Bills.
Some of the reads that caught my interest during the last week ...
Sports ...
a Cubs fans denied ... again.
a Baseball Executives Face the Odds
a As Money Tightens, Scaling Back On Jobs and Fun
a Red Sox unveil new club logos and uniforms ... Not a fan of the change.
a From the Phillie Phanatic, a Family of Mascots
a Oklahoma case shows system isn't OK
Music ...
a Letters to Cleo reunion blasts from its past
Politics ...
a Obama Worked to Distance Self From Blagojevich Early On
a The Real Obama: A Centrist? No. A Transformer
a Two Cheers for Rod Blagojevich
Media & the Internet ...
a Pressing the Question
a YouTube Videos Pull In Real Money
a Advertisers Face Hurdles on Social Networking Sites
a Governor sought to withhold Wrigley Field funds unless Chicago Tribune fired editorial writers critical of him, complaint says ... Sickening.
Technology ...
a Apple's iPod Problem ... As my iPod continues to run smoothly -- knock on wood -- I've often pondered the notion of this story.
a The day TVs die
Life & other stuff ...
a Publishing books about the Great Emancipator is a recession-proof business
a Surviving the dark winter solstice
Sheesh, if they would have played as well the rest of the game as they did in the fourth quarter, they would have been golden ...
That fourth quarter was going so well, I was having visions of those "Cardiac 'Cats" making another legendary comeback ... Then -- don't even get me started on that botched call after the onside kick.
So now they've lost four straight championship games. Never mind the fact they've been there four straight years (on top of winning two straight in '98 and '99).
Bring on the awkward comparisons to the Buffalo Bills.
Some of the reads that caught my interest during the last week ...
Sports ...
a Cubs fans denied ... again.
a Baseball Executives Face the Odds
a As Money Tightens, Scaling Back On Jobs and Fun
a Red Sox unveil new club logos and uniforms ... Not a fan of the change.
a From the Phillie Phanatic, a Family of Mascots
a Oklahoma case shows system isn't OK
Music ...
a Letters to Cleo reunion blasts from its past
Politics ...
a Obama Worked to Distance Self From Blagojevich Early On
a The Real Obama: A Centrist? No. A Transformer
a Two Cheers for Rod Blagojevich
Media & the Internet ...
a Pressing the Question
a YouTube Videos Pull In Real Money
a Advertisers Face Hurdles on Social Networking Sites
a Governor sought to withhold Wrigley Field funds unless Chicago Tribune fired editorial writers critical of him, complaint says ... Sickening.
Technology ...
a Apple's iPod Problem ... As my iPod continues to run smoothly -- knock on wood -- I've often pondered the notion of this story.
a The day TVs die
Life & other stuff ...
a Publishing books about the Great Emancipator is a recession-proof business
a Surviving the dark winter solstice
9.09.2007
Sunday reading
The week in review ...
Technology & the Internet ...
a Apple Puts Wi-Fi in iPod Touch, Revamps Other iPods
a Apple credits iPhone buyers ... What a croc. If I was Steve Jobs I would've said "Sorry, folks. That's what you get for being idiots who stand in line all ga-ga over a phone ... " People should know better ...
a Shutting down big downloaders: Comcast cuts Internet service to bandwidth hogs
a Blogger wrote the book on driving a cab in Manhattan
Politics ...
a The Magic Touch? Winfrey Lends Her Brand and Her Empire in Support of Obama's Presidential Bid
a Watergate Bares All: Hotel to Sell Everything to Prepare for Face-Lift. Will the Deals Be Scandalous?
a Presidential Politics Roil Observance of Sept. 11
Entertainment ...
a Your Anniversary? Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson.
Baseball ...
a Report: Ankiel received shipments of HGH ... Uh-oh ... Not such a Hollywood story anymore now are we, Mr. Ankiel.
Other stuff ...
a Guilty in the Duke Case
a Thrown off plane for outfit deemed too skimpy
a The Flop Heard Round the World: When the Edsel Debuted in 1957, It Became America's Most-Hyped Failure ... I gotta admit, until coming across the Ugly Cars last week, I'd never heard of the Edsel ...
Technology & the Internet ...
a Apple Puts Wi-Fi in iPod Touch, Revamps Other iPods
a Apple credits iPhone buyers ... What a croc. If I was Steve Jobs I would've said "Sorry, folks. That's what you get for being idiots who stand in line all ga-ga over a phone ... " People should know better ...
a Shutting down big downloaders: Comcast cuts Internet service to bandwidth hogs
a Blogger wrote the book on driving a cab in Manhattan
Politics ...
a The Magic Touch? Winfrey Lends Her Brand and Her Empire in Support of Obama's Presidential Bid
a Watergate Bares All: Hotel to Sell Everything to Prepare for Face-Lift. Will the Deals Be Scandalous?
a Presidential Politics Roil Observance of Sept. 11
Entertainment ...
a Your Anniversary? Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson.
Baseball ...
a Report: Ankiel received shipments of HGH ... Uh-oh ... Not such a Hollywood story anymore now are we, Mr. Ankiel.
Other stuff ...
a Guilty in the Duke Case
a Thrown off plane for outfit deemed too skimpy
a The Flop Heard Round the World: When the Edsel Debuted in 1957, It Became America's Most-Hyped Failure ... I gotta admit, until coming across the Ugly Cars last week, I'd never heard of the Edsel ...
9.02.2007
Sunday reading
Some of the good reads that caught my eye over the last week ...
Tech stuff ...
a Apple expected to unveil a new iPod
a Is Facebook the New MySpace? ... I'm still finding my way on this whole Facebook stuff. And I still like MySpace better ...
a MySpace could lift ban on commerce
Entertainment ...
a Britney reportedly earns $737,868 per month
a Watch out Lindsay! Daddy’s coming to visit
Media ...
a Katie Couric to Report From Iraq, Syria
a It's back to basics for Katie Couric's newscast ... Now they're thinking over there at CBS. I didn't buy their schmaltzy "new and improved" newscast for a minute. The traditional format doesn't need tinkering. Just give me the news of the day straight up with a couple heartfelt human interest stories and that's all I need ...
Baseball ...
a Stretch run turns into a stress run for fans ... Got that right. I'm feelin' it this year.
a Charles Albert Comiskey II: 1925 - 2007
a Knocking at death's door with no answers: Amazing that '05 champs have fallen so far, so fast
a Guillen's rant is sent in the wrong direction
Other stuff ...
a Mining Our Treasures: An 1872 Law Paves the Way for a Rush of Claims in the West
a Enter the world of Sokolow
a A wave of disapproval greets Cardiff surf statue
a White House Vet Ari Fleischer, Back to Fight for The Surge in Iraq
a Out-of-body experience created in labs
a Big Mac marks big birthday
a Study Predicts More Severe U.S. Storms ... Scary
Tech stuff ...
a Apple expected to unveil a new iPod
a Is Facebook the New MySpace? ... I'm still finding my way on this whole Facebook stuff. And I still like MySpace better ...
a MySpace could lift ban on commerce
Entertainment ...
a Britney reportedly earns $737,868 per month
a Watch out Lindsay! Daddy’s coming to visit
Media ...
a Katie Couric to Report From Iraq, Syria
a It's back to basics for Katie Couric's newscast ... Now they're thinking over there at CBS. I didn't buy their schmaltzy "new and improved" newscast for a minute. The traditional format doesn't need tinkering. Just give me the news of the day straight up with a couple heartfelt human interest stories and that's all I need ...
Baseball ...
a Stretch run turns into a stress run for fans ... Got that right. I'm feelin' it this year.
a Charles Albert Comiskey II: 1925 - 2007
a Knocking at death's door with no answers: Amazing that '05 champs have fallen so far, so fast
a Guillen's rant is sent in the wrong direction
Other stuff ...
a Mining Our Treasures: An 1872 Law Paves the Way for a Rush of Claims in the West
a Enter the world of Sokolow
a A wave of disapproval greets Cardiff surf statue
a White House Vet Ari Fleischer, Back to Fight for The Surge in Iraq
a Out-of-body experience created in labs
a Big Mac marks big birthday
a Study Predicts More Severe U.S. Storms ... Scary
6.17.2007
Sunday reading
It's been a gorgeous Father's Day. Kates and I slept in this morning. I worked the yard. We spent the latter half of the afternoon drinking some tasty meads at a get-together with friends and co-workers. We came home tonight and called our dads ...
Now I've got my Sunday night baseball on the TV ...
In the meantime, are some of the stories and headlines that caught my eyes recently ...
TV & movies ...
a Movie studios fear the sequel to iPod
a HERE'S THE STORY: TV theme music plays a vital role
Sports ...
a Aaron's greatest hits: Man's sports collection includes famous bats
a The Stanley Cup champions belong in a city (and a country) that isn't pro-hockey illiterate
Politics ...
a The first lady’s $12,000 ‘pin money’ disclosure
a Giuliani's Ties to Black New York Troubled
Other stuff ...
a Reader's Digest Probes at Normal Folks' Nutty Center
a Hawking goes zero-G: ‘Space, here I come’
a Getting rattled on 'the Rock'
Now I've got my Sunday night baseball on the TV ...
In the meantime, are some of the stories and headlines that caught my eyes recently ...
TV & movies ...
a Movie studios fear the sequel to iPod
a HERE'S THE STORY: TV theme music plays a vital role
Sports ...
a Aaron's greatest hits: Man's sports collection includes famous bats
a The Stanley Cup champions belong in a city (and a country) that isn't pro-hockey illiterate
Politics ...
a The first lady’s $12,000 ‘pin money’ disclosure
a Giuliani's Ties to Black New York Troubled
Other stuff ...
a Reader's Digest Probes at Normal Folks' Nutty Center
a Hawking goes zero-G: ‘Space, here I come’
a Getting rattled on 'the Rock'
12.17.2006
The game (of life)
... I just finished watching yesterday's national championship game ...
What can I say?
...Northwest lost the game on their own missed opportunities and mistakes, and Grand Valley State capitalized on them ...
That and Cullen Finnerty could not be stopped ...
* * *
... Kates and I joined her family yesterday for her brother Orrin's college graduation ...
... The four of us and the family dog loaded up the family van and made the three-hour trek to the campus, meeting Orrin and his girlfriend at his apartment ... ah, the rat traps that are campus housing ...
... As if we weren't already dreading having to sit through a drawn-out roll call of names, the ceremony got off to an interesting start when the university chancellor stepped t o the podium to welcome the audience and the microphone was dead ... We waited for another 15 minutes as the tech-heads replaced the microphone and then replaced it again, and pride-filled parents spilled from their seats onto the gymnasium floor to get close-ups of their graduates ...
... Once the ceremony started, it moved swiftly. The chancellor addressed the crowd, and an alum who's now a radio show host/comedian gave the commencement address, encouraging the graduates to "save the world" with observations of his own life and times at the college ...
... Then the roll call. Orrin was in the last row of graduates, and that gave us plenty of time to decide what we would yell when his name was finally called and he crossed the stage. The options included: "You're kidding," "Save the world" and "Save a tree." He graduated with a degree in natural resources ... But when Orrin's name was called, we pretty much just said whatever came to our minds ...
From the campus, the graduation party moved to Bernard's, an up-scale German restuarant, where we feasted on duck and salmon ...
But before the food came the champagne. Each of us offered a toast to Orrin, congratulating him and passing on whatever words of widsom we had ...
When it came to my turn, I told Orrin to rememeber one thing: Plastics.
* * *
For the drive to and from the graduation, I was honored to be in the front seat of the van, iPod in hand and plugged in, providing the official soundtrack for the road trip ...
... On the way up we mostly played music heard on Grey's Anatomy before straying into some top 40. Then on the way back, I started with some mellow stuff from Norah Jones, Dido and other favorite female artists to lighten the mood a little bit, and then got into the good stuff with some truly classic rock: selections from The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Turtles, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Joe Cocker, and on and on ...
But that's not the reason I'm telling this story ...
As we sat in Orrin's apartment wasting time before our dinner reservation, Kates' dad started to mention to the group that I brought my "strawberry" and was playing music during the drive ...
Clearly, he was referring to my iPod and confused it with the popular Blackberry. But he called it a strawberry.
I burst into loud laughter, and then explained to his bemusement what he had just done.
Good times.
What can I say?
...Northwest lost the game on their own missed opportunities and mistakes, and Grand Valley State capitalized on them ...
That and Cullen Finnerty could not be stopped ...
* * *
... Kates and I joined her family yesterday for her brother Orrin's college graduation ...
... The four of us and the family dog loaded up the family van and made the three-hour trek to the campus, meeting Orrin and his girlfriend at his apartment ... ah, the rat traps that are campus housing ...
... As if we weren't already dreading having to sit through a drawn-out roll call of names, the ceremony got off to an interesting start when the university chancellor stepped t o the podium to welcome the audience and the microphone was dead ... We waited for another 15 minutes as the tech-heads replaced the microphone and then replaced it again, and pride-filled parents spilled from their seats onto the gymnasium floor to get close-ups of their graduates ...
... Once the ceremony started, it moved swiftly. The chancellor addressed the crowd, and an alum who's now a radio show host/comedian gave the commencement address, encouraging the graduates to "save the world" with observations of his own life and times at the college ...
... Then the roll call. Orrin was in the last row of graduates, and that gave us plenty of time to decide what we would yell when his name was finally called and he crossed the stage. The options included: "You're kidding," "Save the world" and "Save a tree." He graduated with a degree in natural resources ... But when Orrin's name was called, we pretty much just said whatever came to our minds ...
From the campus, the graduation party moved to Bernard's, an up-scale German restuarant, where we feasted on duck and salmon ...
But before the food came the champagne. Each of us offered a toast to Orrin, congratulating him and passing on whatever words of widsom we had ...
When it came to my turn, I told Orrin to rememeber one thing: Plastics.
* * *
For the drive to and from the graduation, I was honored to be in the front seat of the van, iPod in hand and plugged in, providing the official soundtrack for the road trip ...
... On the way up we mostly played music heard on Grey's Anatomy before straying into some top 40. Then on the way back, I started with some mellow stuff from Norah Jones, Dido and other favorite female artists to lighten the mood a little bit, and then got into the good stuff with some truly classic rock: selections from The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Turtles, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Joe Cocker, and on and on ...
But that's not the reason I'm telling this story ...
As we sat in Orrin's apartment wasting time before our dinner reservation, Kates' dad started to mention to the group that I brought my "strawberry" and was playing music during the drive ...
Clearly, he was referring to my iPod and confused it with the popular Blackberry. But he called it a strawberry.
I burst into loud laughter, and then explained to his bemusement what he had just done.
Good times.
1.01.2006
How I Spent My Christmas Vacation
Friday. A night at the movies -- at home … Kates and I rented ‘The Graduate ’ as preparation to see ‘Rumor Has It’ (which we never did see) and ‘Upside of Anger.’ … Of the two, it’s easy to see why ‘The Graduate’ has survived and regarded as a classic. For the most part, the performances, especially Dustin Hoffman, are terrific, and the way the movie was filmed -- even with the late ‘60s feel -- was quite intriguing. Top it all off with the wonderful music from Simon & Garfunkel and … yeah. Great movie. ... 'Upside of Anger' on the other hand. A couple good scenes, but mostly it left too many plotlines unfinished, I thought.
Saturday. Christmas Eve. … We ran errands, wrapped Christmas presents and took in a wonderful and inspirational 5:30 service at our church … we opened gifts -- and yes, folks, (cue angel chorus) I am now the proud owner of a white 30GB video iPod. We had our Christmas dinner -- a frozen pizza (with cheese, sausage & pepperoni) grilled to perfection in our oven. … By 9 p.m. we were driving to the in-laws for an 11 p.m. church service. … and in bed by 1 a.m.
Sunday. Christmas Day. … a gluttony of presents under the tree. And Santa was good. Many books …and lots of candy in our stockings. There was a break from the presents for more church, and then of course, more presents … the afternoon disappeared and soon the extended family was joining us for a turkey dinner, another agonizing Packers loss and, more presents.…And by 8 p.m. we were off to my parents. There we shared great conversation, decent TV and, more presents. In bed, a little before 1 a.m.
Monday. The day after Christmas. … We toured the Madison capitol building and gazed at the giant Christmas tree ...
... We strolled through Madison’s East Towne Mall for food, and iPod accessories …and a couple hours later through Milwaukee‘s Mayfair Mall (a.k.a. Yuppy Central) for the iPod accessories we didn’t find at the first mall. … home by 8 p.m.…and filling my iPod until 1 a.m.
Tuesday. Chicago. … We drove into the city amid sun, with a burning desire to see and do all the things we hadn’t had time or energy to do yet this holiday season …
Saturday. Christmas Eve. … We ran errands, wrapped Christmas presents and took in a wonderful and inspirational 5:30 service at our church … we opened gifts -- and yes, folks, (cue angel chorus) I am now the proud owner of a white 30GB video iPod. We had our Christmas dinner -- a frozen pizza (with cheese, sausage & pepperoni) grilled to perfection in our oven. … By 9 p.m. we were driving to the in-laws for an 11 p.m. church service. … and in bed by 1 a.m.
Sunday. Christmas Day. … a gluttony of presents under the tree. And Santa was good. Many books …and lots of candy in our stockings. There was a break from the presents for more church, and then of course, more presents … the afternoon disappeared and soon the extended family was joining us for a turkey dinner, another agonizing Packers loss and, more presents.…And by 8 p.m. we were off to my parents. There we shared great conversation, decent TV and, more presents. In bed, a little before 1 a.m.
Monday. The day after Christmas. … We toured the Madison capitol building and gazed at the giant Christmas tree ...
... We strolled through Madison’s East Towne Mall for food, and iPod accessories …and a couple hours later through Milwaukee‘s Mayfair Mall (a.k.a. Yuppy Central) for the iPod accessories we didn’t find at the first mall. … home by 8 p.m.…and filling my iPod until 1 a.m.Tuesday. Chicago. … We drove into the city amid sun, with a burning desire to see and do all the things we hadn’t had time or energy to do yet this holiday season …
We gazed at the gigantic Christmas tree in Daly plaza and the windows of Marshall Field‘s -- which led to me following Kates inside Marshall Field’s for trying on lots of shoes …
We were walking through Millennium Park as the sun set …
... and to Navy Pier, where we strolled through the gardens, the shops and a walk to the tip of the pier, and then a tasty Mexican dinner back in the peace and serenity of the garden …and filling my iPod (while waiting for a load of laundry to finish) until 3 a.m.
Wednesday. The farm…We had McDonald’s on the way out of town and then stopped at Grandma’s house for a mid-afternoon snack (barbecue) before heading on to indulge in laughter and togetherness at the farm. …We stayed up ‘til almost 2:30 a.m. trenched deep in a game of Phase 10 that should go down as legendary in family lore -- I surged ahead to start off the game, reaching Phase 5 in the first five hands and leaving everybody else at Phase 3 or lower. But I Phase 5 would be my home for the next six hands, as the other players caught up and passed me. That trend continued through the rest of the game with several players surging ahead and then falling flat on various phases (Kates on Phase 6 for seven straight hands and Sara remained there for eight straight hands). It culminated with Orrin coming from behind to reach the final phase, 10, but alas, he would remain there for five hands until all of us landed on Phase 10 -- together the way we had started some four hours earlier. On Orrin’s sixth ‘Phase 10’ hand, Kates laid the cards down and won. …
Thursday. Still at the farm. … Sleeping ‘til 10. Had breakfast at noon. Drove the five-mile loop of farms that make up Richland County, stopping at an Amish furniture store and an antique store on the way. …A mid-afternoon lunch of leftover Chinese takeout that Kates and I brought ….We watched 'Love Actually' (and I cried) …then a late supper (chicken sandwiches) …and a game of Spinner that was soon aborted when we realized we hadn’t been following the rules and ice cream took precedent. ….What followed that was an interesting pouring over views and thoughts that started with the question: What’s the biggest issue we’ll face in the next 30 years. …The question was inspired by John’s reading of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s autobiography of Abraham Lincoln … John said war with China. Kates said religion. I said terrorism …we talked candidates for the next presidential election. We talked natural disasters. And city planning. And heaven and visions. …and I fell asleep on the couch.
Friday. Still at the farm … a late Christmas dinner with the Perry family. More presents … and an early bed time for all of us.
Saturday. New Year’s Eve. … Kates and I made the trek from the farm back home. Unpacked. Showered. And were on our way to Chicago within two hours later to meet our pals Steve, Emily, Glen, Heather and others to celebrate the night away. Great conversation. Great music. Good food. … With about 30 minutes left in 2005, we had settled into a luxurious fourth-floor Jefferson Park condo with a picture perfect view of the Chicago skyline (only on this night it was just foggy enough to almost hide the Sears tower). We counted down the minutes on the host’s computer (which was hooked up to a projector that splashed it in big-screen form across the dining room wall) … and then moved onto the cold balcony where the 10 of us huddled together, clanked our wine glasses and watched in awe as four separate fireworks splashed across the foggy Chicago night sky. … After a raucous game of ‘Scene It,’ we were home a little before 3 a.m. Happy New Year.
Sunday. My last day of vacation. … The unpacking. The coming back to reality. The depression of knowing that this vacation went by too fast and I must return to my job tomorrow …
12.05.2005
Good reads
From the world of entertainment ...
a Raining on NBC's parade: Should Couric and Lauer be working an entertainment event?
a For Spielberg, mum's the word on 'Munich'
a Once a ratings doormat, ABC is in the running to win its first "sweeps" period in nearly six years.
a It's Mother's day: Hip sitcom thrives
a TVs turn into vending machines for programs
The craze that is the ipod ... have I mentioned that I want one?
a Consumers can personalize their iPods with assorted accessories
For all you 'Lost' fans ... (these are actually links leftover from last week. sorry. ... but they're still fun to read.)
a Showdown on 'Lost'
a Fame's a breeze for Holloway
Only in Wisconsin...
a Fishing group challenges world-record muskie as fraud
a Raining on NBC's parade: Should Couric and Lauer be working an entertainment event?
a For Spielberg, mum's the word on 'Munich'
a Once a ratings doormat, ABC is in the running to win its first "sweeps" period in nearly six years.
a It's Mother's day: Hip sitcom thrives
a TVs turn into vending machines for programs
The craze that is the ipod ... have I mentioned that I want one?
a Consumers can personalize their iPods with assorted accessories
For all you 'Lost' fans ... (these are actually links leftover from last week. sorry. ... but they're still fun to read.)
a Showdown on 'Lost'
a Fame's a breeze for Holloway
Only in Wisconsin...
a Fishing group challenges world-record muskie as fraud
11.30.2005
Ipods, a Crow and a Diamond
A couple weeks ago, a Sunday night, Kates and I were watching TV when one of the new iPod commercials came on -- the one that starts with a close-up on Bono’s face as he’s singing his heart out in front of bright blue lights; then the camera pulls out onto the vivid color screen of the new video iPod …
In a burst of whimsical musings, I started talking about the revolution that is the iPod. And how it’s forever changing the way we listen to music. And …
Kates just looked at me and, as I kept babbling, the smile grew wider and eventually exploded into uncontrollable laughter. I eventually joined her …
The obsession continues …
* * *
Over the weekend I picked up copies of Sheryl Crow’s new ‘Wildflower’ album and Neil Diamond’s ‘12 songs.’ Critics have been oogling about both of them since they were released a few weeks ago, and now I understand why …
For the mainstay in popular music that Crow has become, it‘s hard to believe that ‘Wildflower’ just might be her best album yet. I was hooked with the album’s first track and it didn’t stop there. ‘Wildflower’ is filled with lush melodies and vocals that are combined with some sweet guitar strumming and instrumentation.
It’s far from the more sultry, darker songs of her self-titled album, less pop-ridden than ‘C’mon, C’mon’ and closer to the stuff she did for ‘Tuesday Night Music Club,’ but better. It’s as if ol’ Lance inspired a whole new Sheryl! All told, ‘Wildflower’ is a cool mix of upbeat and mellow songs (and lyrically pleasing anti-war sentiments in ‘Where Has All The Love Gone’) that I could put on repeat for hours.
‘12 Songs,’ meanwhile, is even more mellow, and even more stripped down. The entire album is comprised almost solely of Diamond and his acoustic guitar. Only a few songs feature extras, but even then it’s subtle piano plinking, bells or a tad bit of percussion (the final track, 'We,' is a Beatles-esque 'When I'm Sixty-Four' type tune, and perhaps my fave on the disc) -- all things that make this collection a great disc to slip in and unwind to after a hard day’s work …
11.17.2005
The Christmas List 2005
It's the middle of November and one of the local radio stations
started playing Christmas music today ...
You've GOT to be kidding me ...
... a snowblower ...
...cash ...
or ...
Gift cards from:
Perhaps even a new roof ....
a deck ...
or a new bathroom ...
10.12.2005
My iPod obsession
What will they think of next …
I returned from my lunch break today, made a quick check of the entertainment wire and spotted the news of the new iPod.
My jaw dropped. It’s thinner, has longer battery life, holds more songs and plays videos. VIDEOS! Amazing.
Within a couple hours one my cohorts was at my desk talking about buying his photo iPod last week and complaining that the salespeople didn’t suggest he wait to purchase the new iPod released today …
Now tonight, as I catch up on the news, it’s all over the place and Letterman even included a gig with it on his show.
The little bugger was only announced late this morning and already it seems EVERybody’s talking about it …
Yep, the obsession continues.
I returned from my lunch break today, made a quick check of the entertainment wire and spotted the news of the new iPod.
My jaw dropped. It’s thinner, has longer battery life, holds more songs and plays videos. VIDEOS! Amazing.
Within a couple hours one my cohorts was at my desk talking about buying his photo iPod last week and complaining that the salespeople didn’t suggest he wait to purchase the new iPod released today …
Now tonight, as I catch up on the news, it’s all over the place and Letterman even included a gig with it on his show.
The little bugger was only announced late this morning and already it seems EVERybody’s talking about it …
Yep, the obsession continues.
9.29.2005
iPod dreamin'
So close …
As Kates was coming to wake me up this morning I was in the middle of a vivid dream involving Joel agreeing to buy me an iPod if I washed his car. Kates woke me up just as I was sitting down in front of a computer -- I think it was an iMac -- and showing Joel exactly what type of an iPod I wanted …
And then I woke up. … and groaned in disgust that my dream was over …
The dream (and the obsession) continues …
* * *
I rediscovered Fiona Apple this summer … I’d acquired her Tidal CD several years ago and it fell to the bottom of my CD stack after only a few listens until I pulled it out this summer in one of those crazy-cool moods when you long to hear anything but the packaged pop crap that gets played over and over and over and over on the radio … The decision had me listening to ‘Tidal’ this summer about as much as I listened to ’Songs for Silverman.’ = A LOT. …And during one play I said to Kates, ’Whatever happened to Fiona Apple?’ … It was like a week later that I learned about the illustrious ’freefiona’ campaign and her soon-to-be released and long-awaited new album …
Today, one of my cohorts lays the latest edition of ‘Entertainment Weekly’ on my desk and, lo and behold, there’s Fiona on the cover with Sheryl Crow. Awww yeah. … I immediately read the cover story and enjoyed every word. She’s an amazing talent, in my opinion, who’s simply misunderstood -- and under a lot of pressure. I think it’s cool that she took so much time off and I hope she continues to record her songs her way …
As Kates was coming to wake me up this morning I was in the middle of a vivid dream involving Joel agreeing to buy me an iPod if I washed his car. Kates woke me up just as I was sitting down in front of a computer -- I think it was an iMac -- and showing Joel exactly what type of an iPod I wanted …
And then I woke up. … and groaned in disgust that my dream was over …
The dream (and the obsession) continues …
* * *
I rediscovered Fiona Apple this summer … I’d acquired her Tidal CD several years ago and it fell to the bottom of my CD stack after only a few listens until I pulled it out this summer in one of those crazy-cool moods when you long to hear anything but the packaged pop crap that gets played over and over and over and over on the radio … The decision had me listening to ‘Tidal’ this summer about as much as I listened to ’Songs for Silverman.’ = A LOT. …And during one play I said to Kates, ’Whatever happened to Fiona Apple?’ … It was like a week later that I learned about the illustrious ’freefiona’ campaign and her soon-to-be released and long-awaited new album …Today, one of my cohorts lays the latest edition of ‘Entertainment Weekly’ on my desk and, lo and behold, there’s Fiona on the cover with Sheryl Crow. Awww yeah. … I immediately read the cover story and enjoyed every word. She’s an amazing talent, in my opinion, who’s simply misunderstood -- and under a lot of pressure. I think it’s cool that she took so much time off and I hope she continues to record her songs her way …
-
10.06.05 UPDATE: Fiona Apple's long, tortured trip to musical happiness
* * *
Ok. ‘Lost’ last night -- the best part was like the last 20 seconds when we actually got to see ’the others.’ … Sure, it was cool to see all the stuff that wasn’t shown in last week’s episode (a la Kate being tied up and crawling through the heat duct while Locke negotiates with the crazy man and before Jack even enters the hatch’). But seriously, spending half the show with Michael and Sawyer arguing on the raft about whose fault it was that they shot off the flair, lost their boat and Walt was kidnapped was a little much …
… the 'Will & Grace' live premiere? Awesome … I was amazed and impressed with how well the cast kept their focus in front of the live audience -- although Debra Messing did break into a giggle fit a couple times including one bit with Sean Hayes that deserved a good laugh. Plus the show played up a couple gimmicks and political jokes for the live audience …
* * *
Ok. ‘Lost’ last night -- the best part was like the last 20 seconds when we actually got to see ’the others.’ … Sure, it was cool to see all the stuff that wasn’t shown in last week’s episode (a la Kate being tied up and crawling through the heat duct while Locke negotiates with the crazy man and before Jack even enters the hatch’). But seriously, spending half the show with Michael and Sawyer arguing on the raft about whose fault it was that they shot off the flair, lost their boat and Walt was kidnapped was a little much …
… the 'Will & Grace' live premiere? Awesome … I was amazed and impressed with how well the cast kept their focus in front of the live audience -- although Debra Messing did break into a giggle fit a couple times including one bit with Sean Hayes that deserved a good laugh. Plus the show played up a couple gimmicks and political jokes for the live audience …
Grace: "I'm just going to close my eyes and do what I want. Ha! I'm George Bush!"
* * *
* * *
The White Sox clinched today …. Yay. They’re the hometown team, but geez, it would’ve been pretty sweet to see the Indians come back and put ‘em away ….
I guess Ozzie finally got his guys motivated: “Most of these guys have never been in this situation, but I have, and I have to lead them. You might want to go to your room, call your mom and cry, but when you come to the ballpark and put on the uniform, you have to be a man. I have 30 men to lead.”
I still hate the White Sox broadcaster's homerun call with a passion ...You can put it on the board -- blah!
Here's a couple good Sox stories...
a The White Sox, baseball's other historically pathetic team
a Falling White Sox can't win for losing
* * *
Four people were found dead today in a suburban Chicago subdivision where Kates student taught …
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