Sometimes when my wife has a meeting in Los Angeles, I hop in the car and drive her. One, sometimes there are some sketchy parts of LA that she drives through. And two, if I’m in the car, we can use the carpool lane. It’s an hour drive on a normal day. Add the LA … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Killing in the Name – Rage Against the Machine
I met friends in downtown Los Angeles for dinner. As I was driving up Figueroa Street, I saw something that caught my eye and I couldn’t look away. There was an unfinished highrise covered in graffiti. Graffiti spray painted by taggers on at least 27 stories of an unfinished skyscraper development in Los Angeles. The … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: 21 Guns – Green Day
I watched A Man on the Inside on Netflix last weekend. The story begins with a retired man coping with life after the loss of his wife. Needing to find a way to carry on becomes wrapped around an amusing storyline of him going undercover in a retirement home to solve the mystery of a … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
Persimmon update. I haven’t made the persimmon jelly yet. I did go to the store to buy a big bag of sugar, but that’s as far as I got. This is still on my to do list. Mark my words. I will make it sometime soon. But for the record, I haven’t been just sitting … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Never There – Cake
When you hit your fifties, it’s not uncommon that certain parts of your body begin to feel like they’re falling apart. Even though I’ve managed to work through a few health concerns, at least I can say the wheels haven’t completely fallen off the wagon. Give me a sec while I knock on some wood. … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Cigarette – Russian Red
Singing Gecko wrote about a wonderful phrase that stuck with me. “…the unrepeatable nature of a moment.” True, some fleeting moments can never be replicated. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing. There is beauty in the certainty that no two moments can ever be the same. At the same … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: All I Want – Toad the Wet Sprocket
I follow the blog The Beginning at Last. Occasionally he posts his photos of the moon. I always think they are pretty cool. His latest moon post made me do a few searches about the moon. A few interesting facts: The moon experiences earthquakes (or moonquakes) – Just like the Earth, the moon has a … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Killing Moon – Echo and the Bunnymen
I haven’t watched or read the news in a few weeks. It’s been easier to put my head in the sand and just binge Netflix. Last week I decided to choose something completely different and turned on The Today Show with Hoda and Jenna. It was nice to chill with lightweight entertaining TV. I even … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2
While I was walking in Pasadena last week, I was greeted by an unexpected rain shower. The week before, the temperature hit 80 degrees. And even though warm weather is very unusual for November, this turn to raindrops took me by surprise. I found myself seeking cover from the rain. I ducked into a nearby … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: November Rain – Guns N Roses
I was in Pasadena the other day. When I drove down familiar streets, it felt like home. I lived in Pasadena for over 10 years and it was nice to set foot back in the city. I had some time to kill so I went to Vroman’s, my favorite book store. This is a block … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Coming Home, Part II – Skylar Grey
I lived in a co-op in college. There were 14 guys living in a large Victorian style house. I was treasurer for a few years, in charge of collecting rent and paying the bills. Like most college kids, I was responsible most of the time, but sometimes also a little lax. One night we all … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: The Boxer – Simon and Garfunkel
I’m starting a new job Monday. I was looking for a good fit, one that would hopefully lean towards a better work life balance. I’m a realist, if nothing else. There will be times of pressure and stress. It’s unavoidable. It’s in those times I have to take deep breaths and relax. Work is important, … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Live – The Bangles
Sometimes I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. In my younger days, I jumped out of a moving car, cashed out my 401K and lost it all on a Vegas blackjack table and embarrassingly was taken by con artists in a game of three card monte atop a cardboard box while roaming around downtown … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: American Idiot – Green Day
We were relaxing having Sunday morning coffee and pastries when the topic of vampires came up. And no, not the kind you’re thinking of. I listened intently as a friend described the procedure. What in the world? Apparently, there is something called vampire facials. A vampire facial (otherwise known as a vampire facelift or a … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Bullet with Butterfly Wings – Smashing Pumpkins
I was hanging out with a friend a few days before returning home from Japan. His brother mailed him a box of books and he handed me one. I opened it and found there was a hole carved out in the middle of the pages and hidden inside were a few joints. He said, What … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Pass the Dutchie – Musical Youth
I never watched the show Melrose Place. However, I think Melrose is a cool slice of LA in real life. I was there a few weeks ago and stumbled upon an art gallery – Blitzstein Museum of Art. I was peering through the window when a kind man waved me in. It turns out, he … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
It takes strength to bounce back from something once. It takes courage to bounce back from something twice. It takes a heart of a lion to bounce back from it a third, fourth or fifth time. I read this quote from A Grace Full Life. I’m always amazed at the power of words. They are … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Little Miss S – Edie Brickell and New Bohemians
I couldn’t help being a little down today. Here is a taste of my post election playlist. Feel free to add to my song list in the comments section below. Every Day is Like Sunday – Morrissey End of the World as We Know It – REM Until the End of the World – U2 … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Post Election Playlist
Before I left for my year living abroad, I saw the Sylvester Stallone movie Cliffhanger in the theater. Survey says: Flop. It wasn’t that great. That was the last movie I saw before I boarded the plane. Fast forward. I’m living in Japan, an hour outside Tokyo. I wouldn’t call it the sticks, but it … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Hanginaround – Counting Crows
I’m not sure what inspired me, but I made oatmeal cookies the other day. For the typical person, this is not a notable thing to mention, but me? I don’t really bake. I was craving something sweet and I convinced myself oatmeal cookies are on the healthier side. Yeah, I know. I was rationalizing to … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: A Town Called Malice – The Jam
My wife is planning a sister’s trip and will be gone for a week in December. Whenever she leaves on a trip, she always asks, Are you going to be alright on your own? I have to remind her that I was single until the age of 40, with the majority of my adult years … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode
We had a friend over for dinner and were catching up. She is going through a rough patch but is slowly coming out of it. One thing she mentioned was she was trying to get her mojo back. Ah, that resonated with me. I’m in a similar boat – trying to get mine back as … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Kite – U2
My sister’s house has a large tree in their backyard. It’s so tall, they thought about chopping it down because it seemed to pose a threat to their home if it ever fell over. Unfortunately since it’s one of the tallest trees in the city, the city declined their request to remove it. The tree … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Space Age Love Song – A Flock of Seagulls
A few of the job opportunities I’ve seen are hybrid in Los Angeles. That’s an hour by car without traffic. Double that each way due to wonderful Southern California rush hour. I started researching train schedules and learned that this may be a feasible option. I can take the train into Union Station in downtown … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: You and Me – Lifehouse
It’s a little insane that Liz Cheney was campaigning with Kamala Harris. These definitely are historic times. What struck me was her comment about on the fence republicans. Cheney, a former congresswoman from Wyoming, reminded people that “you can vote your conscience and not ever have to say a word to anybody.” “There will be … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Dirty Little Secret – The All American Rejects
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