Some Favorite Albums I Have

Each year, I go through and listen to each song that my wife and I collectively own.  It's just something fun to do.  It usually takes me a couple of months to get through them all.  I am taking full advantage of the commute I have to and from work to get through all the music.  Listening to everything over again reminds me of albums I may have forgotten how great they are. 

This type of post is nothing new.  In fact, I'm sure I have written a post like this in previous years.  And I could go back into the archives and check, but you know.....laziness.  Anyway, I was driving home from work last night and a song came up on my phone and I thought to myself, 'I'm happy I found that band because this whole damn album is so good.'  It was a country song, which is strange for me because while I listened to country a lot when I was younger I don't so much anymore.  So here's a list of some of favorite albums I have and what I think are the best tracks in case you are interested in something you might not have or were curious about. 

The DeWayn Brothers:  'Farmer'.  DeWayn Brothers hail from Kansas and were introduced to me while working at Cowtown by a co-worker.  Again, while not a big country fan anymore, I gave them a listen and watched a performance at a local bar.  It was great.  From beginning to end 'Farmer' is a solid album that I have no regrets purchasing.  I really enjoy the fact that they have essentially co-lead vocals on most of their songs.  Harmonizing male and female voices make the song sound more complete.  Best tracks you might not know:  Wantcha Gone, Storm 

Johnny Cash:  'Live at Folsom Prison'.  Another country album, but it's Johnny Cash!  Everyone loves Johnny Cash.  I have never heard anyone connect with the people at a live performance the way he does on this album.  And you probably never will again.  Whether you found him because of 'Walk the Line' or because he was introduced to you by someone or you found him on your own, there is at least one song he has made that everyone likes.  Best tracks you might not know:  I Got Stripes, Green Green Grass of Home, Cocaine Blues

Fugees:  'The Score'.  I was never really one for rap or hip hop.  Over the past five or six years, I have found songs here and there that I have enjoyed.  A couple of years ago, I kept seeing this album come up on 'best of' lists over and over again.  And I had heard the few songs that were released, but then I took a listen to the rest of the album.  HOLY SHIT!  It is so good.  Well written songs, three individual voices and ideas crammed into fluid thoughts, and an amazing cover at the end of the album.  I am so happy that I was open to listening to them or else I wouldn't have ever given them a chance.  Which brings me to a point:  don't be closed minded about music just because it is something you haven't listened to before.  You might find something you like.  Best tracks you don't know :  No Woman, No Cry, How Many Mics, The Beast

The Killers:  'Hot Fuss' and The White Stripes:  'Elephant'.  Nothing restored my faith in musicians than these two albums.  I bought them on CD (an archaic format these days) back in 2004.  I was looking for some new music to listen to.  I went into a music store and immediately grabbed 'Elephant' and then just started searching for something else to buy.  The random employee that appeared to actually be enjoying their job suggested 'Hot Fuss'.  I am forever grateful for your suggestion obviously high music store employee.  Best tracks you might not know (Hot Fuss):  Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, Believe Me Natalie.  (Elephant):  There's No Home For You Here, You've Got Her in Your Pocket, Hypnotize

Led Zeppelin:  'Physical Graffiti'.  Is that the one with 'Stairway to Heaven'?  No.  Shut up.  This double album is just fun to listen to.  It doesn't have a ton of their hits, but covers a few music genres that they were constantly using.  While not their best album, it's a great listen if you enjoy hearing how diversely one band can be within one album.  Are you sure 'Stairway to Heaven' isn't on this album?  I will stab you.  Best tracks you might not know:  In My Time of Dying, Down By the Seaside, Night Flight, The Rover

4/120

Change!

You know what I miss?  Baseball.  The other day, Fox Sports North rebroadcast a game from last year.  It was awesome!  I got a little baseball fix and moved on.  Each time they do this, which is infrequently, it makes me miss baseball even more during the offseason.  Opening Day is slowly approaching and Spring Training feels like it is just around the corner.  Sadly, it is still a few months away.  But teams are just a month away from reporting for Spring Training!  So there's that.  After seeing this exciting news, I realized I didn't touch the Detroit Tigers offseason moves at all.  Again, I went into a downward spiral with writing last year and I wanted to write about it, but didn't feel like it.

The Tigers have a new manager.  I love Jim Leyland.  I will miss him.  I will miss yelling at him from my couch each time he trusts a pitcher for one too many batters.  I'm glad he is sticking around with the organization because I feel like they want to win a World Series for him but they know they couldn't win one with him managing.  If they win a World Series when he is still working with the organization and Leyland is not thrust upon the shoulders of players, I will cry.  And here's why they couldn't win a World Series with Leyland managing.  I think that he was too stuck in his ways of winning games by out slugging the other team and didn't want to play small ball or running.  You know, the way teams win games when their power hitters go cold.  Yes, you can bash your way through the season and yes, you can bash your way through the playoffs.  But what happens when your team runs into another team with great pitching and more well rounded hitters?  You lose in the playoffs a couple of times and lose in the World Series a couple of times.  With a new manager at the helm, Brad Ausmus, they can try something new.  And in a few major moves, they have done so.

With the big trade involving Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler, you could tell the organization was looking to revamp.  I enjoyed Fielder's short time with Detroit and I hated the fans that were booing him in the playoffs.  He worked hard one hundred percent of the time and enjoyed playing the game (see:  taking nacho from fan, having runners tag themselves out when he was standing between them and first base, his constant smile).  He hustled all the time.  He played hard all the time.  He is what is good about the game.  Everyone knows he is going to rake down in Texas and I hope the Tigers don't run into them in the playoffs in the future.  And I hope that when he plays his first game back in Detroit, he is cheered and not booed.  Be classy Tigers fans.  Please.  We aren't Philadelphia.  I love Kinsler's game.  He brings a solid glove to second base which the Tigers have been missing since Sweet Lou retired.  He brings a great running game and solid bat.  He's like Placido Polanco with stolen bases.  And I loved Polanco when he played in Detroit and I still do.

The trade that made most everyone mad was the Doug Fister trade.  I was thinking that when he was traded that Dombrowski was pillaging their farm system and found out that was not the case.  Then I thought it was to free up salary to sign Max Scherzer to an extension and that does not seem to be the case.  It was for a utility player and two pitchers.  Hmmmm.  I get nervous talking about it because it seems like a one sided trade in favor of the Nationals on paper.  I hope that, if anything, Ian Krol becomes a solid pitcher and then it will seem like a fair trade.  And we'll see what they can do with Robbie Ray.  I will give this trade three years to see where it goes before I totally weigh in on it.  But, for now, I am uneasy.

The Fister trade I thought was to free up salary for Max and then the Tigers signed Joe Nathan (Yeah! A solid closer!) and then Joba Chamberlain (ummmmmm....).  Then I looked at how much Fister was owed and didn't realize he didn't take up as much salary as I thought he did.  Whatever.  The pitching rotation does take a hit with losing Fister, but it is still solid front to back.  I am most interested to see what the offense will be like this year.  It appears to be more contact oriented and focused on base running.  It'll be like watching a small ball team with thump in the middle of the lineup to keep people on edge.  Personally, I have always enjoyed watching a team that hits and runs.  That is what the game is about (to me).  Home runs are always just an added bonus and batting lineups should not be based around power hitters.  The infield defense which has been a sore spot over the past few years is much much better.  On paper, this defense can win games for the team.  Rick Porcello has been okay since he started, but should see an upswing in wins and a lower ERA because of the defense.  I just hope there isn't a case of the injury bug this year.  If there is, I don't want to see players try to play through it.  I want to see them get healty in a timely manner.

So who knows how the season will turn out.  I still think the Tigers are going to control the AL Central.  It helps to be in a division with lesser teams.  But those lesser teams are closing the gap.  The Royals, continual basement dwellers and overall laughing stock of the MLB, are getting better and better each year.  They scare me more than the other AL Central teams.  It won't surprise me to see them and the Tigers neck and neck throughout most of the year in the next few years. 

3/120

There's Cold and Then There's Cold

It got a little cold here today in Minnesota (and everywhere in the northern midwest).  I got a screenshot of the weather app on my phone to prove it.  It's from when I woke up to make sure the cars started for work.  
 

It was so cold, that they cancelled school for the entire state on Friday for Monday.  Halfway through the day, school was once again cancelled for Tuesday.  The wind is just so cold and cuts through the layers of clothes no matter how many you are wearing.  Seriously.  I went out and started my car just to see if it would start.  I had on long johns (top and bottom), jeans, wool socks, shirt, hooded sweatshirt, wool coat, hat, scarf, gloves, Sorel boots.  You know, the norm.  And I could still feel it.  

I was suppose to go to work at 6:00 this morning, but got a call not to come in until 9:00.  It was one degree warmer.  It made no difference.  Stores were closing early all over the place just to make sure that their employees got home before it got too cold for the evening commute.  My store closed at 5:00.  Safe to say, it was not a busy day. 

As much as I am complaining about it, I liked it.  I have never felt that kind of cold.  It wasn't so much cold as it was pain.  Frostbite apparently sets in within five minutes of exposure, so this weather is no laughing matter, but it was cool to know what it feels like when it is fifty degrees below zero.  Scary stuff.  But to say that you voluntarily went out in negative fifty degree weather is something to be proud of.  I guess.  If you like that stuff.  Like I do.  

2/120

A Year of Actual Goals

Over the past two years, I have set goals of reading.  Not the biggest goals for a year, but I felt great about it.  I am a slow reader (as my wife so lovingly reminds me each time she finishes a book) so setting goals for getting through the stacks on my shelf were great.  I am nearing the end of my unread books.  I have a stack of ten books and just got one for Christmas.  So eleven total books left to read.  Not bad, but I am in no rush to get them done by the beginning of 2015.  I have come up with a few goals for this year.  Actual goals.

Drink less.  While I do not have a full on drinking problem, I do know I want to drink less (it will be tied into another goal I have this year).  I came to the following realization near the end of December regarding my work and drinking:

Four days before Christmas and I haven't been drinking heavily after work. Each. Day. Yeah, I made a smart move.
— Michael Litzner (@Litzner) December 21, 2013

I always looked at November and December as 'the heavy drinking months' because of my job at Target.  Now that I have a far less stressful job, I have not been coming home really wanting to drink heavily.  I have come home and had one or two beers, but that is about it.  I no longer have a need for four or five just to unwind from work.  So, with a less stressful job I won't be drinking as much and therefore won't be spending as much money.  Which leads to my next goal. 

Save more.  Tomorrow, my wife starts a new job!  For the first time in about three and a half years, we will have two incomes.  And it's not like she hasn't been looking for a job, it's just that her industry has taken even longer to recover from the recession.  Thanks for that recession Obama Bush.  So with this new income development, we will be looking to move from our apartment hopefully.  We have been watching our spending ever since she was laid off, but it is hard to keep your savings balance up with one income.  And a retail income at that.  Who knows if we will have enough of a savings to start looking for an actual house or if we just stay another year and continue to save save save.  With this new job, my wife will be driving forty five to fifty minutes each way each day.  So a move south of where we are now will be prudent. 

Write more.  Tons more.  While I have felt great about what I have written over the past two years, I feel like I have missed out on plenty of writing opportunities.  Maybe it is because of writer's burnout or just shear laziness, but I know there were times over the last two years where I thought about writing and then just didn't.  I am going to set a goal of one hundred and twenty entries this year.  Ten a month if you do the math.  Do I have the most interesting or original ideas?  Not really.  Do I have the most interesting life that people want to follow?  Not really.  In the middle of August I did accidentally deleted a couple of published posts and some drafts that I was working on.  It was really disheartening after I realized I could not recover the deleted posts.  And the drafts I was working on were really in depth posts.  It was right around that time that I kind of gave up on writing hardcore last year.  At the bottom of each post, I will be keeping a counter to see if I can reach my writing goal for the year.  

1/120

Best of 2013

I have had this blog going for nine years now.  Longevity is key for me when it comes to writing this.  I don't really care how popular this is, in fact I think I get most of my traffic via Twitter and Facebook, so the majority of the people that read this I know.  It's funny to look back at the very old posts and see that there was only a handful of viewings and now on average it's between thirty and forty.  So thanks for the support!  I never thought that it would get me famous or become this phenomenon.  I just wanted to do this because I enjoy writing and this is much more condensed than keeping a journal (plus, this isn't the 90s and I'm not in middle school).  I think that it has helped me become more aware and vocal to issues that either affect me directly or that I feel are important.  Anyway, here is my third Best of the Year Compilation!  

January:  GUNS!
February:  Baseball Bucket List
March:  Be Responsible, Dammit!
April:  Beer Tax
May:  Sports Introvert
June:  White Guy Honors Native Americans
July:  Erick Erickson:  Worst Person in the World?
August: The Keurig Conundrum
September:  Looking Back
October:  Too Much of a Mediocre Thing
November: Time For Change.  Time For Opportunity.
December:  Gradual Snow