Four-fer
I'm not exactly sure what they call four beers bound by a plastic-y holder thing-y (other than a 4-pack), but I'm stepping out on a limb and calling it a four-fer. You know, "Four-fer you" on a Friday that will close the gap between work closeout and bed time. Tim Ferris calls his Friday email blast to his thousands of followers, "Tim's 5-bullet Friday," and contains links and details to what he's listening to, what he's reading,what he's drinking, what he's super happy about, and a quote he's pondering.
I'm not exactly sure what they call four beers bound by a plastic-y holder thing-y (other than a 4-pack), but I'm stepping out on a limb and calling it a four-fer. You know, "Four-fer you" on a Friday that will close the gap between work closeout and bed time. Tim Ferris calls his Friday email blast to his thousands of followers, "Tim's 5-bullet Friday," and contains links and details to what he's listening to, what he's reading,what he's drinking, what he's super happy about, and a quote he's pondering.
I love the concept and hoping my four-fer friday is catchier and does not appear too self-absorbed. I'm not so sure how deeply anyone cares about what I am doing but I find this a chance to write down some ideas, express my gratitude and share my love of learning. So, my attempt at a four-fer Friday contains:
- What I'm listening to and watching
- What I'm reading
- What I'm using
- What I'm doing
Oh yeah and a picture of a four-pack from my favorite brewery. This week, Commonhouse Aleworks of course. My favorites in order; 1. Park Circle Pale, 2. White Point Lager, 3. Looking East IPA, 4. Patchwork IPL
These are some recommended items in my life that bring me entertainment and utility. Of course, this is by no means a complete list of what I am doing or focusing on. I'm spending lots of time earning a paycheck and much of the remaining time being a good husband and father. These activities supplement the core of me being a good husband, dad and citizen and keep me entertained in this crazy time of COVID-19.
1a. Listening to (new and old):
- Nathaniel Ratliff - And It's Still Alright (2020) He was supposed to close the now-cancelled High Water Festival and Carmen and I love this guy. Feels like he's been around forever and pretty sure his music will be lasting.
- Angel Olson - All Mirrors (2019) I fell in love with her song Shut Up Kiss Me Hold Me Tight and have dug deep and found her talent and uniqueness totally engaging and entertaining
- Hamilton Leithauser - The Loves of Your Life (2020) Enojyed him as the lead of the Walkmen and now seeing this NYer in a differnt light.
- The Strokes - The New Abnormal (2020). I did not catch the initial buzz so I am jumping back in with their new album and working my way back to their classic releases in the early aughts
- The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium on Spotify
- My lists and music on the streaming service: Spotify
- Youtube - Tiny Desk Concerts:The Black Crowes one that was aired recently. Very good.
- KEXP - lots of great performances but Mitski warmed my heart. Quite quirky. And War on Drugs among others.
- Paste Magazine videos
- Shaky Knees TV - Virtual Festival - Featuring lots of cool acts, this festival was supposed to be this weekend in ATL but obviously it was moved. New show planned for mid-October headlined by the Black Keys, Smashing Pumpkins and Strokes. I'm quite torn right now what I am going to do given the current state of COVID-19 and getting together with tens of thousands of people. Stay tuned.
1b. Watching
- Better Call Saul - Season 1-4 is quite the prequel. Plus, I love Bob Odenkirk
- Tiger King - Of course, I'm driving along in my car, there is smoke and flames on the side of the road and I can't resist slowing down a bit to take it in.
- 2020 Paris Nice bike race. Just got it in under the corona virus gun. This was my April cycling fix.
- The Outsider - Stephen King's best adapted tv show or movie
- Gira / Haji - Cool Tokyo/London back and forth crime drama. Great characters
- First round of the NFL draft with Ailish
- Defending Jacob - Just starting and did read the book. Fried of a friend is the author (Bill Landay). I enjoyed the book
- The Last Season - Was not all in on Jordan at the time as I had/have a Celtics bias, but great theater. He is the man.
2. Reading
- Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI - by David Grann
- New York Times, Boston Globe and Post and Courier daily for my news updates
- Boston Globe article on BLS and exam schools
- Pitchfork article: Why Do We Even Listen to New Music?
- Paste Magazine
- The Atlantic- This Is Trump's Fault
- UESCA - Running coach certification training
3. What I'm using:
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones - These things rock. Great sound and comfort and they look good
- Eddie Bauer 4L backpack - I take the damn thing everywhere. Perfect size, amount of pockets, and rolls up into a little ball
- Nike zip up sweaters, sweatpants, t-shirts and my Dry Fit socks. I sometimes go all Nike apparel with Altra or Olukai kicks
4. What I'm doing:
- Riding the Peloton. Oh great Peloton, what would I do without you?
- Fixing: my deck, my kitchen sink and soon bathroom mirrors and basins
- Planting seeds in the new garden. Well Bridget can claim the successful planting . I'm watering and tending to the soil.
- Hanging with my friends on Friday afternoon with a four pack. To all my friends!
Questions of the week
What event, trip, get together are you looking forward to when we transition out of quarantine?
What will change for the better? Is this a reset time for us with healthcare, energy, education and buying local?
What will change for the better? Is this a reset time for us with healthcare, energy, education and buying local?
Striving for Balance
To be a well adjusted person, experts often advise that living in the present moment is one of the keys to happiness. Oh yeah, and meditating. However, let's not underestimate the importance of daydreaming. No matter how driven, disciplined or focused on the moment/or task we are, we should consider spending some time reminiscing about our past and pondering the future and what it might bring for us. Let's call that envisioning a better future. What ratio of those perspectives produces just the right balance? Of course, the optimal mix is not a hard numerical standard or goal to achieve but rather an amorphous, undefinable state that depends largely on the company we keep, our jobs, our mental outlook, mood, and our physical circumstances at that moment. We're influenced by our friends, family, mentors and heroes and together those forces along with our circumstances at the moment will help define which way we should look.
With all this unexpected family time on our hands, let's strive to be be a better friend, citizen, sibling, spouse or mentor to those around us. In this time of uncertainty, extend yourself as a listener, be present with the ones you love while balancing the joys of what exciting future lies ahead. Maybe it's a family vacation, a race, a work trip, a fishing trip, a concert or festival. Mark it down on your calendar and savor the vision of the experience. And every now and again, look back at those friendships, events and memories to help recall who you were and who you still are deep inside. Get the balance right.
Song of the week from my guilty pleasure band, Depeche Mode:
To be a well adjusted person, experts often advise that living in the present moment is one of the keys to happiness. Oh yeah, and meditating. However, let's not underestimate the importance of daydreaming. No matter how driven, disciplined or focused on the moment/or task we are, we should consider spending some time reminiscing about our past and pondering the future and what it might bring for us. Let's call that envisioning a better future. What ratio of those perspectives produces just the right balance? Of course, the optimal mix is not a hard numerical standard or goal to achieve but rather an amorphous, undefinable state that depends largely on the company we keep, our jobs, our mental outlook, mood, and our physical circumstances at that moment. We're influenced by our friends, family, mentors and heroes and together those forces along with our circumstances at the moment will help define which way we should look.
With all this unexpected family time on our hands, let's strive to be be a better friend, citizen, sibling, spouse or mentor to those around us. In this time of uncertainty, extend yourself as a listener, be present with the ones you love while balancing the joys of what exciting future lies ahead. Maybe it's a family vacation, a race, a work trip, a fishing trip, a concert or festival. Mark it down on your calendar and savor the vision of the experience. And every now and again, look back at those friendships, events and memories to help recall who you were and who you still are deep inside. Get the balance right.
Song of the week from my guilty pleasure band, Depeche Mode:
There's more besides joyrides
Little house in the countryside
Understand, learn to demand,
Compromise, sometimes lie
Get the Balance right, get the balance right
Be responsible, respectable,
Stable but gullible
Concerned and caring, help the helpless
But always remain ultimately selfish
Get the balance right, get the balance right
You think you've got a hold of it all
You haven't got a hold at all
When you reach the top, get ready to drop
Prepare yourself for the fall, you're gonna fall
It's almost predictable
Don't take this way, don't take that way
Straight down the middle until next Thursday
Push to the left, back to the right
Twist and turn 'til you've got it right
Get the balance right
Little house in the countryside
Understand, learn to demand,
Compromise, sometimes lie
Get the Balance right, get the balance right
Be responsible, respectable,
Stable but gullible
Concerned and caring, help the helpless
But always remain ultimately selfish
Get the balance right, get the balance right
You think you've got a hold of it all
You haven't got a hold at all
When you reach the top, get ready to drop
Prepare yourself for the fall, you're gonna fall
It's almost predictable
Don't take this way, don't take that way
Straight down the middle until next Thursday
Push to the left, back to the right
Twist and turn 'til you've got it right
Get the balance right
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