I had a Christmas hangover the other day. No, not from drinking too much, but from the crash in energy from hosting Christmas. We did have a wonderful holiday, so there are no complaints there. We caught up with all of our nieces and nephews in various stages of life: high school kids applying to … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Zombie – Cranberries
When I was a kid, we used to watch all the Road To movies starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. I knew Hope to be a comedian and Crosby to be a singer. Crosby officially became cool when I saw him sing with David Bowie on the Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy. What … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby and David Bowie
Another Gen X Christmas song I remember from ages ago. I know the inspiration behind 2,000 Miles is a little sad, but I always think of Christmas when I hear it. The Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde wrote “2000 Miles.” In an interview, Hynde said she took inspiration from the feeling of distance that she experienced … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: 2,000 Miles – The Pretenders
As a kid, we couldn’t wait for Christmas morning to open gifts. Four kids begging my parents to open a gift. I think we eventually wore them down. They ultimately agreed we could open one gift on Christmas Eve. There something about unwrapping a gift when you are a kid. There’s nothing quite like it. … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
It was about 4:30 and my day was winding down. I’m on my fourth week at the new firm and still becoming acclimated. It’s not terribly insanely busy at the end of the year so I had a moment to relax and gaze out the window. As I looked outside, I heard the sound of … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Big Empty – Stone Temple Pilots
It’s Sunday. During my sabbatical from work, this day really didn’t have any significance. When you’re not working, everyday was Sunday. Or Saturday. Or moon-day. Or whatever in the world you wanted to call it. Nobody cared what crazy name you rename it. They’re too busy at work to even notice. It’s an odd feeling … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Here’s Where the Story Ends – The Sundays
This morning feels like a Mazzy Star morning. No words. A mood. A song. Nothing triggered it. I can’t blame it on anything. Not even the weather. Today is forecasted to be seventy fricken six degrees and sunny. In winter. I have no business feeling this way. Sometimes the day starts off feeling like the … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Halah – Mazzy Star
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
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