Top Albums / 2015

 2015 was an awesome year for new music. Amazing albums from all corners of the musical spectrum. We got Trap music finding its stride. Indie pop scene was incredible.  Dr. Dre and Missy are back on the scene. A T-Swift cover album!

Most of what I listen to harkens from Spotify, so there may be a few glaring absentees; but anyhow, here’s a list of things i found this year that made my ears happy. No particular order:

Vince Staples -Summertime ’06

Twerps – Range Anxiety

Jeremih – Late Nights the Album

Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly

Ought -Sun Coming Down

Chelsea Wolfe -Abyss

Shopping – Why Choose

Chastity Belt – Time To Go Home

SOAK – Before We Forget How to Dream

Alpine – Yuck

US Girls -Half Free

Hop Slong – Painted Shut 

Young Thug – Barter 6

Leon Bridges – Coming Home

Tame Impala – Currents

Empress Of – Me

Kelela – Hallucinogen

Jamie XX -in color

Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit

Major Lazer – Peace Is The Mission

Faith Healer – Cosmic Troubles

Nickelus F – Triflin’

Kurt Vile – b’lieve I’m goin down

D’Angelo – Black Messiah

Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp

I know I don’t have Dr. Dre, Grimes, Rae Sremmurd, Drake, Miguel, or Adele, among others. Some are on purpose and some are just because I can’t see ’em on Spotify (mostly looking at you Dre). This list is music I heard with my own two ears and nothing more.

Here’s a link to a Spotify playlist with all of the above in there and a few other bonus albums. Hope you enjoy!

Thoughts? Glaring omissions? I’m open for debate… 😎

Werkin’ It Out

I’ve had a roller-coaster of “health and wellness” levels in my life.

Early 1990s
In High School, I was actually quite fit and didn’t really know it. Participating in the Marching Band as the 4th Bass Drummer is a great way to get/stay “fit.” I was also on the Tennis team albeit being “last seed” is basically a nice way of not having to say no to everyone who tried out…
Average Weight – 165

Late 1990s
In College, I got lazy and discovered 1LB boxes of Cheez-Its and Playstation. Ridge Racer baby! Ugh. I was reasonably in shape due to the large amounts of walking and having a dorm room on the top floor and no working elevator. I tried a little here and there to get active; Wally-ball, Golf, and a little Nordictrac every now and then helped, but wasn’t enough.
Average Weight – 190

2000s
After I got settled into a “career path” and getting married, I pretty much let my health and wellness go. And go… annnnnnd go… I always had good intentions and a desire to be healthier, but would act on them rarely or give up soon thereafter. Take-out, fast-food, snacks, and way to much TV take their toll.
Average Weight – 215

2010
Post-divorce. After a succession of jobs and other situations that I didn’t necessarily love, and having been forced to move home (mortgage and apartment payment just wasn’t feasible) due to monetary restraints: I decided to make some changes. I started eating better, and portioning properly. I began walking my dog like he (and I) needed to be walked. I started dating. I got a GREAT new job.
The accumulation of all of the changes did wonders. I got off my ass and started a Couch-to-5K program with an awesome group of people in East Nashville (EAST NASTY!). I dated some more. I did the Country Music 1/2 Marathon!!? Two years prior to this feat, I couldn’t have imagined EVER doing this: finishing in 2:16:38!! This is a pace (10:26/mile) that even up until today I have a hard time fathoming that I maintained for TWO HOURS AND SIXTEEN MINUTES.
Average Weight – 172

2011 and Onward
I’ve maintained a lot of the benefits health-wise, but have backslid a bit on my diet. From a low of 172lbs, I’m now hovering around 185… I’m walking the 1/2 Marathon this year with my family, and am considering P90X, Insanity, or something similar to get me back where I want to be and even past that. I CAN AND WILL.
I’ve met someone (stopped dating!) I love and after a year together, we’re getting a place together around May. She’s a little whip, so I have no doubt that we can work together to get, and stay, HEALTHY!
Average Weight – 180 (and going down… 🙂

-e

Sometimes I rhyme slow, sometimes I rhyme quick.

Some links I find interesting:
Beach Body! – A great range of workout video series that fit most styles, aptitudes, and goals…
Simplefit.com – Says it all. Found out about it at Lifehacker.
RunKeeper – I can’t begin to tell you how useful this is. I use it EVERYTIME.

 

 

I’m excited. You’re excited. We’re all excited!

I keep hearing about the next Macbook. I am currently Macbook-less. Something has got to give.

While the ideas and specs being thrown around are all speculative for now, they are exciting nonetheless… Anything coming close to a Retina display on a laptop (ohhh, iPad 3!?!) makes me a lot bit excited. SSD drives? Sexy, sexy. Thunderbolt? I can be sold on them, I’m sure.

Gizmodo says it all for me. 2012 Macbook Pros?