• Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 42

    Chart Week: April 23, 1983 Song: “One On One” – Daryl Hall & John Oates Chart Position: #7, 13th week on the chart. Peaked at #7 for three weeks. Sometimes I come across anecdotes on AT40 that make me giddy. For example, I first heard this episode a few years back while in the car one Sunday morning. I heard…

  • Covid Chronicles, 5/5

    It feels typical for this stage in life here on earth that anytime there is good news, it is heavily balanced by awful news. The worst, early hot spots are all calming down. Italy and Spain are taking steps to return to normal. The New York City/State area are trending in a positive direction. Across the US, many restrictions are…

  • What I’m Watching: April

    A full month of being locked in had the expected effect on what I’ve been watching on TV: I consumed a shit-load of content! I thought about breaking this list into multiple entries. Instead I’m going to put on my editing hat and pare these down as much as I can. I will put the items I write most about…

  • Friday Playlist

    It’s going to be a beautiful weekend here in Indianapolis. I hope wherever you are the weather will allow you to get outside and enjoy a nice day or three as well. Here is a soundtrack for your weekend activities. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2m70OjejtkxJ8EBtrMNp1q?si=OiwSDNEkT72u-q53Dqj-PQ “Sun Baby” – The High Violets I loved this band in the mid–00s and thought they had disappeared. I…

  • Reading Assignments: The Challenge Ahead

    I shared earlier this week that I’m paying less direct attention to the news over the past couple weeks. I am, though, still reading plenty of deeper pieces on where we are at and where we are headed. I still have several articles in the queue but I thought these two pieces were very good and worth sharing. They take…

  • Covid Chronicles, 4/28

    A big step back toward normalcy today: S went back to work. She’s on a limited schedule, just two days a week and only seeing two patients per hour, all of whom are age two and under. She’s also not back in her office as it remains closed for the time being. This will be the plan for six weeks…

  • Let’s Go Crazy

    Last Tuesday CBS aired a very important program. Officially titled Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince, the show as a tribute to the late Prince, who died exactly four years ago from its initial air date. The show got such a great reaction that CBS re-aired it Saturday night. I recorded the Tuesday broadcast and watched it Thursday…

  • Friday Playlist

    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7ddMMjiHleKoYQxrbqYtS6?si=X92EEij0R8-j-eVxPIdeQg “Runaway Dog” – Retirement Party Seems like there have been several songs I’ve shared lately that have a strong, mid–90s vibe. Not sure if that means the grunge years are coming back. Add this one to the list. Especially in the rhythm section this has the feel of a Belly song. “Wash it Away” – Black Lab This wasn’t…

  • Reader’s Notebook, 4/23

    I worked my way through my stack of library books a few weeks ago, so it’s down to the Kindle and re-reading a few books I have around until the physical library opens again. Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name – Vendela Vida With the transition to Kindle books, I’m finding recommendations in odd places. Someone on Twitter recommended…

  • Covid Chronicles, 4/22

    This is more of a random tidbits post. Nothing real earth-shattering in it. More mundane details of life in April 2020. I think we’ve reached the point in our house where we are all a little pissy with each other. Last week did not help. Damp, dreary, cool. We were stuck inside all last week due to the chilly, wet…