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Top 200 Albums – #171 – 179

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We continue things with the next batch of 10 albums that rank between #171 and 179, including 8 studio recordings, 1 live performance, and, to kick things off, 1 comedy record.

#179: Patton Oswalt – My Weakness Is Strong
iTunes stats: 45 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

The third comedy album from Oswalt combines to make it’s debut on the list.

#179: Beatles – Beatles For Sale
iTunes stats: 45 plays
Previous Ranking: 141

Only 3 tunes make up this abbreviated total, which would be higher if I hadn’t deleted the original versions, for the remastered version of the Beatles fourth studio album.

#177: Garbage – Virgin Megastore In-Store
iTunes stats: 46 plays
Previous Ranking: 135

A slight drop in ranking for this WXRT broadcast of the in-store appearance to support the new Beautiful Garbage album.

#177: Cracker – Cracker
iTunes stats: 46 plays
Previous Ranking: 152

Only 2 songs from Cracker’s debut album make up this total.

#171: Weezer – Weezer (Green Album)
iTunes stats: 47 plays
Previous Ranking: 135

After a long layoff, Weezer returned in the early 2000s with their third album (and second self-titled effort), which had 2 songs make up this total.

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The Ever Growing 10,000 Step Club

Last year, as I was finishing up my second year with the Fitbit, I took my last look at the top 25 step days I’ve had since I first started tracking my steps way back in July of 2011.  At the time, I had surpassed the 10,000 step plateau 116 times.  In the past year, I have managed to add an additional 49 occurrences, raising the total to 165.  With my third year using the Fitbit coming to an end last week, I thought it would be appropriate to take a new look at my top 25 step days over the past 6 1/2 years, featuring 7 new entries.

btn10K-41: 6/6/2013 – 24,988 steps

My best single day total continues to be from my 2013 trip to Disney World.  The day’s excursion to both Epcot Center and the Magic Kingdom ended up with a total of approximately 12.5 miles.  And yes, it still bothers me that I didn’t get those 12 additional steps to reach 25,000.

2: 3/22/2016 – 22,493 steps

My second highest day shares much in common with my #1 day, taking place in Disney World in March of 2016.  The day’s excursion started at Hollywood Studios before heading over to Epcot Center with Jeff and Val.

3: 7/27/2013 – 20,592 steps

My third highest total came nearly 2 months after my highest, thanks to the BTN 5K and a, for lack of a better word, misunderstanding about where I should be picked up after the race.

4: 8/5/2017 – 20,218 steps

The first new entry came last August on the first day of my trip to Boston with Danny and Michael.  After landing in town, we traipsed to the Science Museum, a breakfast joint, our hotel, and, finally, Fenway Park.

5: 7/14/2017 – 20,208 steps

Our second new entry came last July, as Angelina and I took a day trip to Disney World to celebrate her high school graduation.

6: 9/19/2017 – 20,028 steps

The third straight new entry, which helped to double my total of 20,000 step days from the previous 5+ years, had a myriad of activities.  First was the latest edition of the Sprint and Stride, followed by a trip to Best Buy with Val to buy a new TV, then off to her apartment to install the new TV, and, finally, Season Ticker Holder Family Night at Wrigley Field.

7: 11/11/2017 – 19,590 steps

Our fourth straight new entry came thanks to last fall’s trip to California to see Angelina skate.  This day was spent in Anaheim at Disneyland.

8: 6/2/2016 – 18,725 steps

Day #8, which dropped 4 spots, comes from June 2016’s trip to Universal Studios.  Our first full day at the park, we split the day between Universal and Islands of Adventure, taking in all of the different Harry Potter options.

9: 6/4/2016 – 18,617 steps

Our next entry is also from the June 2016 trip to Universal Studios.  The day included another trip to Islands of Adventure, and would have ended up even higher but for an afternoon trip to the hotel pool.

10: 6/21/2017 – 18,290 steps Continue reading →

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Book 5 (of 52) – Executive Order

Executive Order – Max Allan Collins with Matthew V. Clemens

With Executive Order, Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens finish their trilogy based on the 3 branches of government.  In this outing, the US is brought to the brink of war with Russia and Reeder and Rogers must figure out who in the government is plotting against the president before either his hand is forced or he is killed and replaced.

I assume this is the end of the road for these characters, which is a bit of a shame.  But, better to go out early than stick around and wear out your welcome.  Collins and Clemens combine for yet another interesting thriller, pitting their heroes against the entirety of the US government.  My only complaint was that the ending felt a bit rushed, as though they had reached their page limit and just decided to wrap things up with some story still left to tell.

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Fitbit Year 3

A year ago, I set a goal of 2,366,000 steps, an average of 6500 steps per day. Despite my Fitbit giving up the ghost in December and a 10 week downturn to finish out the year, I managed to easily surpass my goal, coming in with 2,737,842 total steps. My average step total per week was 52,650.81, which comes out to about 7521.544 per day. The median weekly total was 52,910.5. My best week was Week 9, which used a Jiff challenge to propel me over 70,000 steps for the week.  My worst week was Week 48, where I slacked through the entire week between Christmas and New Years.

For the upcoming year, I plan to up the ante again. I am upping my goal for steps per day from 6500 to 7000, which would bring me to a yearly total of 2,548,000 steps. Seeing as I surpassed that total this year, with nearly 190,000 steps to spare, I expect I will have no issue with this.

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FB4: Week 1

We begin year 4 of using a Fitbit the same way we ended year 3, with a disappointing total well below my goal.  The week got off to a disappointing start on Sunday, where I barely surpassed 4700 steps.  Monday provided a nice bounce back, coming in at nearly 8900 steps.  Tuesday fell just short of my new daily goal, missing by 44 steps.  Wednesday was back over 8000 steps again.  Thursday was the best day of the week, finishing over 9100 steps.  Friday used a post-work trip to get my taxes done to come in at nearly 7500 steps.  The week then fell apart on Saturday, as I barley made it past 2100 steps.

Total steps: 47,393

Daily average: 6770.4

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Top 200 Albums – #179 – 190

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We continue things with the next batch of 10 albums that rank between #179 and 190, including 6 studio recordings, 3 compilations, and 1 live recording.

#190: Various Artists – Billboard Top Hits 1988
iTunes stats: 42 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

5 tracks from this compilation of the biggest hits of 1988 allow it to make its debut on the list.

#188: Tori Amos – Under The Pink
iTunes stats: 43 plays
Previous Ranking: 172

Tori makes her debut on the chart with her second solo album, thanks to its 2 hits.

#188: Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
iTunes stats: 43 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

A single tune, used as the walkup music by former White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton, puts Montell Jordan on the list.

#182: Various Artists – Dazed And Confused
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous Ranking: 181

The soundtrack to the movie about high school in the 70s gets on the charts on the backs of 4 entries.

#182: Soundgarden – Superunknown
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

4 tracks from the hit album from the Seattle group allow it to make its debut, thanks in part to White Sox catcher Kevan Smith.

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Book 4 (of 52) – Bonfire

Bonfire – Krysten Ritter

Actress Krysten Ritter, star of the hit Netflix show Jessica Jones, set the literary world ablaze with Bonfire, her first novel.  In it, a lawyer returns to her hometown hoping to both prove that a local company is poisoning the water table and solve the disappearance of her one-time best friend after high school.  Along the way, she rekindles old relationships and, eventually, finds the answers she was looking for.

I was a bit surprised at how good this book was.  When a celebrity gives some other creative endeavor a try, it is easy to dismiss it as a vanity project.  That certainly was not the case here.  I don’t know if there is more in the works from Ritter, but I would certainly be interested in reading it should there be.

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Fitbit III: Week 52

We wrap up year 3 of using the Fitbit with 9th week below goal out of the last 10.  Things got off to a slow start on Sunday, as I barely managed to pass 2400 steps.  Monday was a nice bounce back, as goings on at work got me close to 8000 steps.  Tuesday was a little worse, but still managed to surpass 7200 steps.  Wednesday was a down day, coming in just over 4100 steps.  Thursday bounced back, finishing with over 7300 steps.  Friday was the big day of the week, falling one step shy of 8300.  Saturday used some pacing while watching movies to come in just under 8200 steps.

Total steps: 45,369

Daily average: 6481.3

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Book 3 (of 52) – Natural Disaster

Natural Disaster: I Cover Them, I Am One – Ginger Zee

Continuing my run through the ABC news department, the new memoir from meteorologist Ginger Zee tells of her rise from a young girl growing up in Michigan to her college years in Valparaiso, back to Michigan to start her television career, her move to Chicago, and, finally, on the New York to work for the network.  All the while dealing with depression.

Natural Disaster gives Zee the outlet to tell her tale, including checking in to a mental hospital the week before starting with ABC news to try and deal with the demons that had plagued her for years.  She made it through to the other side, allowing her to meet her future husband and start a family, giving hope to the rest of us that there may be better days ahead.