CD Revival Revisited

I am continuing to listen to my CD collection that I started back in August. I am about half way through my collection, and I have found that the mega stars of their time like Janet Jackson, U2, Madonna, James Taylor, Dave Matthews and Sting have lasting value and what I am calling I-pod worthy. In other words I would download the entire album into the I-pod. Most other albums have one or two songs worthy of saving and some leave me scratching my head wondering what I was thinking in purchasing. I am planning a music playoff plan when I complete revisiting the entire collection sometime early in 2011. I will continue updating my supposedly interesting analysis of my music collection.

100,000

I heard a statistic yesterday that the average American gets a new car every four and a half years. It was a timely stat for me because this December 31 my Aztec will be in my possession as a new car for eight years, and on Wednesday it rolled through 100,000 miles. While I did sink some considerable money into it between miles 75,000 to 90,000 miles, it still seems like a well worn "new" car to me. I can't imagine trading it in for a new car. I know the crazy sounds and scrapes that it makes; I know the handling of it to the detail. In fact, I must keep my hands in the 10 to 2 zone on the steering wheel because it is worn smooth. In many ways, it is as much me as it is my car.
This is the second car I have taken to post 100 thousand miles. It is unimaginable to me why we as a society need to trade cars every four and a half years. I enjoy thinking about the different roads the Aztec has been on and where it has taken me. Besides covering most most roads in the central Illinois region to Chicago and the Quad-Cities, the Aztec has taken me to Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. It has helped me move three times; it has carried my bikes and bike trailer to multiple trail heads, hiking paths, camp grounds, and adventure. It has suffered through listening to Cubs wins and losses on 720AM; it has cheered on Notre Dame and the Bears as well as a few Bulls games on long drives. It has suffered through my eclectic music collections. It brought my daughter home from the hospital after she was born. It has been my home base after numerous races.
I have never gotten a car to 200,000, but maybe this is the one. Let you know in about 8 years.

The Only Road North recommendation

I finished reading a terrific novel today, The Only Road North by Erik Mirandette. It is a book for all of us with adventure in our souls.  It is not just a simple book about adventure for the sake of adventure, it links to life meanings and spirituality. The author, Erik Mirandette, does not dwell too long on events; he describes them simply and effectively probably as he experienced them himself.  The story is about a trip he takes with a small group from South Africa to Egypt.  The mode of transportation is on motorbikes.  As one can imagine, this story includes beauty, danger, and some pretty remote and lonely locations.  He concludes with meaningful observations regarding the trip and the tragedy that occurs. I highly recommend this book as it displays culture, friendship, and adventure on the highest level.  

Movie to See

Last night I watched the movie Everything is Illuminated. A young American Jew goes back to the Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather. The movie had me laughing at the cultural differences early but touching as I became more connected with the characters and the search. The conclusion is a little surprising and left me with lots of questions. I highly recommend the movie though. It is well written and directed.

Let's Hear it for the Fingers

Here's a supposedly interesting thought, I have about 6-7 passwords that I use for computer "things." But I have one really important one that I've had for a while that I can't remember. The funny thing is, though, that my fingers remember it. It is so automatic and fast that my mind can't pick up the letters, numbers and symbols anymore and I don't remember it. When I concentrate on it, I never get it right, but when the fingers just go, they get it without fail.
Let's here it for the video games I played as a child that gave me incredible hand/eye coordination, and for goodness sakes, let's just hear it for those fast, 'remembering' fingers!

P.S. If I don't post for weeks, its because my fingers forgot the password.

A Stinky Thought

I don't love running but I love a good challenge. Running meets that challenge for me, so I made a goal in July to run 100 miles before mid-November. I am making really good progress to surpass that goal; I have 40 miles left. I have been running about 10-12 miles a week since mid July. I should far surpass my goal.

In the time that I am running I take time to think about anything in which my mind will wander to avoid thinking about running. So here is my supposedly interesting thought, well, actually more like a supposedly interesting observation. A lot of cars pass me even in the early morning; cars, trucks, motorcycles, dozens of vehicles. But there is one vehicle that passes me almost every morning that I am out and it really is noticeable. In fact, I always dread when it will pass me. Yes, it is the early morning bread trucks. Wonder Bread, Hostess, Butternut bread pass me almost every day. I don't dread them because they make me hungry for sandwiches, toast, Ho-Ho's, Ding Dongs and the sort. I ironically, dread them because they are the smelliest vehicles on the road! I dont' know what the deal is with the trucks, but all of them spew exhaust that just makes me choke. Funny.

CD Surprise

Short note that is supposedly interesting on my CD revival, I can't stop listening to U2's Rattle and Hum CD. How did I ever put this gem away? It is filled with great songs, messages and memories. My CD revival may get put on hold as I fill up on "Desire," "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," and "In the Name of Love." This one is definitely i-pod worthy.