• Reader’s Notebook, 10/16/24

    Going to fire off three quick summaries of recent books before we head to the airport. Middle of the Night – Riley Sager The Only One Left – Riley Sager I was not at all familiar with Sager’s work, but when I saw Middle of the Night pop up on multiple lists of must read new books over the summer,…

  • Wednesday Playlist

    A special, early playlist this week, as we are headed to Denver later today to visit family over the CHS fall break. “Tell Me Why U Do That” – Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge So Grace Bowers is some kind of prodigy. She’s still in her teens, has had an endorsement contract with Gibson guitars for four years, and…

  • Weekend Notes

    Kind of a quiet weekend for us on the personal tip. Plenty of other shit to review on this gloomy, chilly Monday morning. Northern Lights Since we live inside the city’s light dome, we weren’t able to just walk out and see Thursday’s northern lights. I was able to get a couple shots, using a long exposure, that showed a…

  • Friday Playlist

    “Much Ado About Nothing” – Waxahatchee A leftover track from her most recent album that got a proper single release this week. In a very Pearl Jam-way, this as good as most of the tracks that made Tigers Blood. I nominate Ms. Crutchfield to be our queen. “What About The Children” – Gary Clark Jr. with Stevie Wonder Not a…

  • Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 104

    Chart Week: October 4, 1980 Song: “I’m Alright” – Kenny Loggins Chart Position: #8, 13th week on the chart. Peaked at #7 the next two weeks. Every successful career has a turning point, a moment that elevates it from being run-of-the-mill into something special and lasting. This song, for example, recorded as a favor to a friend for a movie…

  • Weekend Notes

    A busy, warm, disappointing, and significant weekend. FNL + Party Friday was a big night for a couple reasons. First, L was having friends over to celebrate her birthday. Seven girls, including her middle school buddy who goes to the rival high school, gathered at our house after school. They are a good group and fun to be around. They…

  • Friday Playlist

    “October” – The Helio Sequence It is here, people. Decorative gourd season. Motherfuckers. “Perfect Me” – Blossoms First off, these dudes don’t sound like your typical Manchester band. I would have guessed Southern California first. Then, they said this song is a homage to their love of Abba, Bruce Springsteen, and The Killers. I hear some Killers, the other two?…

  • R’s: Surviving and Advancing!

    What a glorious October morning today was. Made all the more glorious by the mighty Kansas City Royals sweeping Baltimore to advance to the ALDS against the evil New York Yankees. It’s like the late 70s up in here! Two tense games in gloomy, Baltimore weather, which made the Wild Card series feel so much like the 2014 ALCS between…

  • D’s Notes

    Another dive into the notebook for a selection of random notes. College NIL Shockwaves went through college sports last week when UNLV quarterback Matt Sluka, who tore up KU in week three, announced he was sitting out the remainder of the season so he could transfer and retain a year of eligibility. He claimed that UNLV had not lived up…

  • September Media

    A few changes prompted a new sub-section. Movies, Shows, etc US Open, week two The non-stop action of week one is more fun, but week two still dominated our TV. A- The Americans, season four In general The Americans is a bleak show. I forgot how beyond-bleak season four was. Thirteen episodes of crushing negativity, applied a little heavier each…