Stats
October 2022 Alvvays - 81 The Beatles - 48 The War on Drugs - 41 The Big Pink - 18 Stevie Wonder - 18 Complete stats available at my Last.fm page.
Weekend Notes
Friday L had the day off after our DC trip (more to come on that tomorrow), although I still had to get up and take C to school. Why did I have to take her? M was on her senior retreat Tuesday through Friday. Friday evening was the welcome home ceremony for the seniors. That was interesting, as all the kids (40-some) had to stand up and say something about their experience.
Friday Vid
youtu.be/_ul7X5js1… “Superstition” live on Sesame Street - Stevie Wonder L and I arrived at our house, tired but happy, around 1:00 this morning following a long, jam-packed, and mostly excellent trip to Washington, D.C. with her classmates. I’ll get to all of that next week. In the meantime, Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book album had its 50th anniversary this week. Pop culture writer Jeremy Gordon contributed to this New York Times feature about it, and tweeted out a link to this most excellent video for one of the album’s most famous songs.
Monday Playlist
Monday playlist? WHAT?!?! That’s right, a very special playlist to kick off the week. By the time you read this I will likely be in the air, on my way to Washington, D.C. as a chaperone for L’s 8th grade class trip. We have an action-packed week ahead of us, from the moment we land until we depart late Thursday. Gotta keep these little heathens on the move and out of trouble!
Weekend Notes
Fall Break A pretty boring break for us, as we have trips ahead of us. M went up to Ball State to hang out with a friend of hers. Apparently they went to a few parties Friday night, but I tried not to hear too much about that. Normally we get our flu shots over fall break but I couldn’t wrangle all the girls together at the same time to knock that out efficiently.
Friday Playlist
Slow week here at blog headquarters. Or actually a busy one in terms of commitments outside the home which has meant for limited posting opportunities. Expect the same next week, but more on that later… Here is this week’s selection of music. open.spotify.com/playlist/… “See” - Hooveriii Hoover three, get it? The latest track to pop up recently that has at least a hint of psychedelic funk to it. Might we be in the midst of a boomlet?
Reader's Notebook, 10/18/22
The Stand - Stephen King I mentioned in my last entry I was working through a very big book. Nearly 30 years after reading the original version, I decided to read the “completed and uncut edition” of The Stand. Released in 1990, this version included over 400 pages cut from the original 1979 manuscript, and checks in at over 1100 pages. I read the original version in the summer of 1993, my first-ever experience with a King novel.
Weekend Notes
FNL For the ninth-straight year Cathedral ended their regular season schedule against Center Grove. They are almost always great games, although CG had a 6–2 advantage coming into this year’s game. Two years ago the game came down to Cathedral being unable to get less than a yard on fourth down. This year the game also came down to one team coming up one yard short. Kind of. Center Grove (No.
Friday Playlist
Back to the (mostly) newer music this week. open.spotify.com/playlist/… “Lucky One” - The Big Pink I like the heavy, almost ominous feel of this track. “Literary Mind” - Sprints I’m a long-time sucker for songs that capture the feeling of being young and in love, and this sure does that. I especially like how, as the song builds, the band’s Dublin accents come out more-and-more. “Wolf” - Yeah Yeah Yeahs I finally got around to giving the new YYY album a listen on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Thursday Links
I’ve been focused on my book this week, so not a lot percolating in the ol’ noggin’ worthy of writing about. Thus, some links for your enjoyment. Become 007 With Pelorus’ Bond-Worthy Travel Experience I wonder if the girls will be upset when I tell them that their college accounts have been drained so that I can do this instead. A breakdown of every James Bond actor’s favourite car “Favourite.
Reader's Notebook, 10/11/22
I am deep into the longest book I’ve read in years. My Kindle tells me I’m 54% through it after more than a week of work. Figured I better get to the books I read before I started it so I don’t totally forget what they were about. Italian Ways - Tim Parks Hmmm, a book about taking trains in Italy. That is interesting. Because, you see, we will be riding on trains in Italy in about six weeks.
Weekend Notes
A quick run through a busy weekend. FNL It was Cathedral’s homecoming week. They pounded their Jesuit brothers pretty easily, winning 42–21 with two of those scores against coming late in the game. I went for the first half but it was chilly, C’s back was bothering her (she’s been seeing a chiropractor), so we left after we watched one of M’s best friends since kindergarten win homecoming queen. Next week is the big season finale: at Center Grove, who have lost one game - by one point in overtime to a team from Kentucky - in the past three seasons.
Friday Playlist
I did not do a lot of new music listening this week. So, to switch things up, I’m just going to play my Spotify Liked Songs on shuffle and see what it throws out for this week’s list. I’ll also make it extra-long, hopefully a good soundtrack as you wrap up your week. open.spotify.com/playlist/… “1234” - Feist Remember when iPod commercials took songs that were niche hits and turned them into songs everyone knew?
Kid Hoops Notes
A quick kid hoops update, as L’s St P’s team has hit their (stupid) fall break-break. First, a refresher about the dumbness of the CYO girls basketball schedule. Girls hoops has always been a fall CYO sport, so that the gyms are cleared out for boys basketball and boys/girls volleyball in the winter. Never mind that girls volleyball should be a fall sport, to mirror high school and avoid the core travel season.
Weekend Notes
A belated rundown of this past weekend. FNL Cathedral finally had their first home game of the year. Since they only have one after this, and it has already been tagged as homecoming, Friday became senior night. Which was a little weird. I stayed home and listened to an easy 37–6 win over Cincinnati LaSalle. LaSalle has won four Ohio state titles in the past eight years, but this year’s team was kind of dog crap.
September Media
Movies, Series, Shows US Open Probably watched as much of the tournament this year as I’ve watched in several years. It was time well spent. A 30 for 30: Shark I LOVED Greg Norman when I was a kid. He was my first favorite golfer and until Tiger came along I was all-in with the Great White Shark. Over time I’ve come to think he is kind of a douche, a view that has been affirmed this year as he has spearheaded the new LIV tour.
Stats
September 2022 Stevie Wonder - 62 The Beths - 40 Maggie Rogers - 34 The War on Drugs - 34 Beastie Boys - 22 Complete stats available at my Last.fm page.
Friday Playlist
Once again we are brushing up against a slowing stream of new music, so this week’s playlist is a little more eclectic, at least in terms of date of recording. open.spotify.com/playlist/… “At Attention” - Northern Portrait You cannot convince me these kids aren’t actually from the industrial north of England. Sure, their bio says they are from Denmark, but I’m not buying that for one minute. “Zenosyne” - Caroline Loveglow What a gorgeous song!
Baseball Notes (+1)
My season-long boycott of baseball has continued. It’s really not been hard since the Royals have been so shitty this year. I’m not feeling any inclination to crack in a week when the playoffs begin. I’m sure I’ll watch some of the games, but I don’t expect to be as into them as I have been in recent years. I have plenty of other things that can entertain me during evenings in October.
"Yes, Chef" - The Bear
Every so often I bust out a post dedicated to a show or movie I have watched as soon as I see it rather than wait for my monthly Media edition. Last weekend I watched an entire season of a streaming service exclusive that rocked my world. Yes, I watched the latest season of Cobra Kai last week. But this post is not about that. This post is about The Bear.