We’re getting ready for our annual camping trip. We spend four days in the mountains, roughing it in tents. For years, I used my backpacking gear. At the time, it didn’t make sense to buy another set of gear for non-backpacking trips. It wasn’t only because of cost, it was the storage as well. Especially … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: A Campfire Song – 10,000 Maniacs
I read an article about parents breaking out their Gen X slang only to receive blank stares in return. C’mon, really? Some of our slang was pretty good. Here are a few that brought back memories. “I said something about ‘making a run for the border’ referencing the old Taco Bell commercials to my 19 … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Cool Places – The Sparks with Jane Weidlin
A few years ago I discovered YouTube videos of people listening to new (to them) music. It was interesting watching people reacting to music I grew up with. I don’t know why, but for awhile it was easy to go down rabbit holes. It was a little addicting. It started out with The Bee Gees. … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Monsters – James Blunt
We met friends for brunch on Saturday. Someone suggested dim sum and we were all over it. I discovered dim sum after college and wondered why I wasn’t introduced to it sooner. I never get tired of it. We were talking about restaurants over brunch and Tommy’s came up. The Original Tommy’s is an iconic … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Jenny (867-5309) – Tommy Tutone
I am a fan of Going Down the Road and Feeling Grand. It chronicles a wife and husband’s life on the road to explore this magnificent country. They’ve been traveling in an airstream for the past five years. So cool. Recently, they decided to put a pause on their nomadic life and set down roots. … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Summer Breeze – Seals and Croft
My wife once was contacted by a television producer. She shares the same name as a television star and they were creating a reality show where people who share the same name, switch places and are filmed living the other person’s life. My wife was a good match with the TV star. Both were the … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Carolyn’s Fingers – Cocteau Twins
Recently, I’ve found ironing to be therapeutic. Go figure. Before business casual, I dropped off my dress shirts to be laundered at the dry cleaners. Back then, it cost $0.99 per shirt. I tried all different starch levels, eventually settling on medium. I appreciated a crisp clean shirt, especially if I had to wear a … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Crimson and Clover – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
A Graceful Life wrote a post about her home of twenty years. She never intended to stay that long, life helped make that decision for her. I liked how she described the little things that made her house a home. when i look back, i see so many small moments that made this place ours: … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Behind the Wall – Tracy Chapman
So, this new car is teaching me a few small lessons. Nothing groundbreaking, but there are always lessons to be found if you look hard enough. After I bought my car, I decided to sell the old one. I looked up the Kelley Blue Book value and it ranged between $3,000 to $6,000. Not bad … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Carolina In My Mind – James Taylor
I was at Dick’s Sporting Goods yesterday and saw a sweatshirt with my high school’s logo. That made me chuckle. I moved back to the city I grew up in five years ago, but never really gave much thought about my high school years. I almost bought it. I know people who are good about … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Turpentine – Brandi Carlile
I really enjoy 50 Happens’ blog. A recent post discussed sunsetting some of things you always envision doing when you were younger. I’m sure there are lots of people out there that start wonderful new adventures at age 60, but I think, for most of us, that feeling that the path is wide open is over. That … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Landslide – Bush
I had insomnia last night. I was lying in bed in the dark. Funny how your eyes eventually adapt and the space no longer seems pitch black. I could see the smooth surface of the ceiling. I stared at it wondering what it was thinking. It was quiet. It got even quieter as the hours … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Bad – U2
I had a conversation with a young woman who works at one of the top consulting firms. Although she is doing extraordinarily well in her career, she confessed she experiences bouts of imposter syndrome. You wouldn’t know it if you met her. She is smart, confident, accomplished. She’s also able to mask moments of self … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Knife’s Edge – The Alarm
Absent any new WordPress daily prompts, I pulled one from thecoffeemonsterzco. If you could choose not to sleep without any consequences of sleep deprivation, would you stay awake forever? If you asked me this as a kid, the answer would have been No f-ing way! Well, I didn’t cuss as a kid, so that’s not … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Sleep to Dream – Fiona Apple
We finally pulled the trigger and bought a car. And no, we didn’t buy a Tesla. My wife was biting her tongue when I was considering it. Ultimately, my conscious wouldn’t allow it. Part of the struggle deciding on a car was agreeing who was going to drive it. I wanted the car for my … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Fight to Keep – Monsters Calling Home (Run River North)
I was at the mall recently and came across a Doc Martin store. I remember when I was younger wanting a pair, but it didn’t quite fit my budget. I eventually bought a pair of boots and over the years, they’ve become worn and comfy. They’re still in decent shape and I haven’t felt like … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: London Calling – The Clash
Recently, I had a conversation with a friend about her recently graduated son who was trying to figure out his next steps. It can be difficult to know what you want to do at that age. I’ve been in his shoes. After graduation, in the midst of this unknown grey, I left the country to … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Only the Lonely – The Motels
We went to an Angel’s game the other night. We are having an OK season so far. I don’t have any grand illusions of a World Series. I just want to be good enough to make the wild card slot and enjoy some post season play. We’ve had a pretty long drought and yes, that … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Only a Lad – Oingo Boingo
My oldest bother was the first in my family to get married. He had a pretty big wedding, around 300 guests. At one point, he brought out his guitar and serenaded his wife in front of the whole crowd. It was pretty romantic and I remember looking around and seeing a lot of teary eyes. … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now – Smiths Covered by a Random YouTube Guy (Elliot Smith)
My sister has been chatting with my mom about distant relatives and began sketching out our family tree. She has different drafts on various pieces of paper. I’d been meaning to sign up for Ancestry.com for awhile, but my good intentions remained just that. After a recent family gathering, I told myself to look into … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: One Tree Hill – U2
I received a deal I couldn’t pass up. Free rooms in Vegas at a pretty good hotel. I haven’t been in a while, I passed when my buddies went a few months ago. I’m pretty excited to hit the tables again. I haven’t felt this excited about Vegas in a long time. I’m impressed when … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Piano Man – Billy Joel
I attended my nephew’s high school graduation yesterday. I was looking at the list of names in the program and it went on for a couple of pages. His graduating class was about 550 kids. Announcing each kid’s name as they received their diploma might take a minute. The kids at his school are pretty … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Roxanne – The Police
Mary at 50 Happens reminded me about preppy pink back in the day. I remember a preppy surfer guy in high school was the first to wear a pink Polo oxford. He paved the way for it to be cool. After that, all masculinity was safe from taking hits for donning something pink. After reading … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Green Grows the Rushes – REM
I knew it wasn’t a good idea. I even said to myself, I’m not sure you should be doing this. But it was an early Monday morning and I wasn’t quite awake yet. So I did it, totally ignoring my better judgment. What did I learn? My lap is not a good balancing place for … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Cups – Kina Grannis and Friends
I was reading a blog recently about a woman approaching her 39th birthday. It’s only natural to reflect on life when you’re finishing off your thirties. It got me thinking about myself around that age. I remember it well. Turning 37 was the first age that made me think, Damn, I’m getting up there. I … Continue reading My Gen X Playlist: Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
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