Probably one of the best investments I've made in the last year is my iPod. Even at 34, I'm getting a little curmudgeonly and when these little devices first came out I poo-pooed them as just an extravagant little expenditure I didn't need. Eventually I decided to get one, but not one that of those with the screen. I still don't get why you would want one of those. Sure, I can watch "School of Rock" on it, but Jack Black could be dancing on the head of a pin, he's so small. Didn't want a shuffle, either, because I wanted to be able to control what I listened to. Wouldn't seem right to be working out and wanting angry metal music coming through and something from the High School Musical soundtrack comes on (From my daughter's playlist! Don't judge!)
I ended up going with a silver little 2-gigger. When given the option of paying another 40 bucks for the extra guarantee or whatever I firmly said no. (By the way, why do I have to pay extra in case your product craps out? If something goes wrong shouldn't you be open to fixing/replacing it anyway?) For the first 6-8 months I was extry-careful with it. Since then I've dropped it on the pavement many times and it still works fine. Bogus offer for extended warranty. Came out feeling like the man on that one.
The iPod is revealing about oneself, I've discovered. It didn't take too long before I realized iTunes was my own personal jukebox to Back-in-the-Day music. I went back to the late 80s/early 90s rock tunes and got them on there before putting on some music further into the 90s from the college years. I laid off after the initial gorging and then began a curious process of putting on a song here or there -- stuff that just struck my fancy (can dudes use that term?) and I wanted then. Later at some point I would scroll through my artists and wonder things like "Trixter? When did I download Trixter? Why did I download Trixter?"
It seems that my inner old man is beginning to creep out. Lord help me, I actually listen to more podcasts than actual music. I've ID'd a few churches spread out whose pastor's sermons I like. Some other pastors I'll listen to but not often through the entire message due to them routinely going with the same preaching game plan just with a different verse. An interesting juxtaposition is that generally I check out Bible Verse of the Day immediately followed by The Onion. A couple of syndicated radio shows - Dave Ramsey and Tony Kornheiser - are in the rotation but I'm listening more and more to podcasts that have to do with writing and media. Perhaps the nerdiest thing I check out is one called Grammar Girl. Only a few minutes long (trying to justify already), it opens with a little Cacasianish hip-hop jingle followed by the correct usage of lain, or something like that. When it's over I feel a little bit smarter but a little more feminine.
Even with all of its other uses, I'm still psyched that the games in it include Breakout and Missile Command (they're called something else, but we all know what they are). This little device has been more useful that I thought it could be. More revealing about myself, too. Speaking of which, I'm about to go surf for a new podcast or two. Seems there are some out there devoted to fans of "Perfect Strangers" and the comedic genius of Bronson Pinchot.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Two giddy boys
Last Sunday my dad turned 68. Since forever he's been a huge NASCAR fan. My uncle Chuck was actually the gasman for Richard Petty for years, cementing the King as my family's favorite driver and us kids with Petty T-shirts.
Twice a year we would load up with with a few other families and caravan to Talladega. It was great for us kids. Most of us would sit in the back of a pickup that had been rigged up with a makeshift camper using a collection of 2X4s and a tarp. Somehow it held together for the 2-hour drive to the raceway. The whole way we'd cut up and raid the coolers for candy bars and Cokes.
Plenty of memories from the infield, where we always watched the race, but not enough time for that. My brothers and I have talked for years about getting dad inside a car to ride around the track. Kudos for my younger brother, Lance, for finally making it happen this year. One of the coolest things about the whole experience is that there are, maybe, 40 people there the whole time counting guys working with Dale Jarrett racing (group this was done through) and other people there having their riding/driving time. You've pretty much got pit road to yourself.
In this photo, dad is holding Jackson prior to the big guy getting his jumpsuit on. I had a feeling Jack would like the cars as they raced by, but the word "giddy" would probably be more accurate to describe him. It would also describe dad at Jackson's reaction.
Twice a year we would load up with with a few other families and caravan to Talladega. It was great for us kids. Most of us would sit in the back of a pickup that had been rigged up with a makeshift camper using a collection of 2X4s and a tarp. Somehow it held together for the 2-hour drive to the raceway. The whole way we'd cut up and raid the coolers for candy bars and Cokes.
Plenty of memories from the infield, where we always watched the race, but not enough time for that. My brothers and I have talked for years about getting dad inside a car to ride around the track. Kudos for my younger brother, Lance, for finally making it happen this year. One of the coolest things about the whole experience is that there are, maybe, 40 people there the whole time counting guys working with Dale Jarrett racing (group this was done through) and other people there having their riding/driving time. You've pretty much got pit road to yourself.
In this photo, dad is holding Jackson prior to the big guy getting his jumpsuit on. I had a feeling Jack would like the cars as they raced by, but the word "giddy" would probably be more accurate to describe him. It would also describe dad at Jackson's reaction.
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