My last week of work for 2014 got off to a good start, with over 7000 steps on Monday and Tuesday and just barely missing on Wednesday, my last day. Thursday was spent running around to get gifts and then a holiday dinner, which helped get me to nearly 6000 steps. After that, things went downhill, as I was home and left to my own devices.
Total steps: 36,376
Daily average: 5196.6
The One I Left Behind – Jennifer McMahon
A few years back, I somehow came across a book by Jennifer McMahon and, from what I remember, I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. When I saw one of her books on sale in the Kindle bookstore, I decided to pick it up and give her work another chance. And, boy, am I glad that I did.
The One I Left Behind deals with an architect whose mother was assumed to be the last victim of a serial killer when she was a kid. When her mother turns up alive, she returns home for the first time in years to try and figure out what happened to her mother and the identity of the killer.
I don’t know what it was, but the book reached out and grabbed me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I very much enjoyed it and was sorry that it ended as soon as it did. Based on this, I will definitely be checking out more of McMahon’s work, without a 4 year wait this time.
My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.
Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today we hit the midway point, looking at the 5 albums tied for 107th with 36 listens and the 7 albums tied for 100th with 37 listens.
#100: The Beatles – Abbey Road [2009 Stereo Remaster]
iTunes stats: 37 plays
7 songs make up this total for the remastered version of the last Beatles album ever recorded.
#100: Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Only 2 songs make up this total for the so-called dream pop band.
#100: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Very Best Of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
iTunes stats: 37 plays
The second straight week with an appearance of a greatest hits package from Frankie Valli and company, this one uses 4 tracks to make up its total.
#100: Garbage – Shut Your Mouth EP
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Live versions of Wild Horses and Only Happy When It Rains make up the total from the CD single for Shut Your Mouth.
#100: Offspring – Smash
iTunes stats: 37 plays
4 tunes from this debut album from the California punk band make up this total.
#100: Various Artists – OST – Veronica Mars
iTunes stats: 37 plays
2 different tracks, from The Dandy Warhols and Tegan & Sara, make up the total for the soundtrack from the cult television show.
#100: The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night [2009 Stereo Remaster]
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Only 2 tracks from the remastered version of the album released along with the movie make up this total.
#107: The Beatles – Revolver [2009 Stereo Remaster]
Continue reading →
Name: Dave Gallagher
Rank: 181
Position: CF
Years With White Sox: 1988-1990
Dave Gallagher was ready to walk away from baseball when he joined the White Sox as a minor league free agent on December 7, 1987. Gallagher was given a non-roster invite to spring training in 1988, where he sought out manager Jim Fregosi and laid it all out on the line. “I told him, ‘You don’t know me from anybody, but I’d really appreciate it if you could take me to every possible game,” Gallagher said. “I’m towards the end of my run and if I don’t make it, I’m done.’”
Gallagher had a strong spring, and the final roster spot came down to him or Gary Redus. When the White Sox were unable to trade Redus, he made the team and Gallagher was sent to Triple A Vancouver. He hit .336 over the first month of the Triple A season while Lance Johnson hit only .190 with the White Sox, so Gallagher was recalled on May 15. He went 2 for 3 in his first game and hit a game winning home run in the 11th inning the following day. He finished the season with a .303 average in 101 games, committed no errors in the outfield, and finished 5th in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
Things got contentious between Gallagher and the White Sox in 1989. While Gallagher appeared in every game for the south siders, he battled against team management over his contract. At the end of June, Gallagher announced that he would file a grievance against the White Sox for refusing to negotiate a contract with him. “We did have a meeting, and when I left I had the feeling that something was going to happen,” said Gallagher. “Here we are, late June, almost July, and nothing`s been done.” Gallagher was hitting over .300 at the time, but had a miserable second half, including a clubhouse argument with GM Larry Himes, and ended up with a .266 average for the year.
Given all of that, Gallagher was not expecting to return to the White Sox in 1990, but return he did, albeit to greatly reduced playing time. The White Sox tried to move him prior to the trade deadline, but were unable to strike a deal. 2 days later, he was claimed on waivers by the Orioles, drawing his White Sox career to an end.
Gallagher’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:
Name: Mark Kotsay
Rank: 182
Position: 1B/DH
Years With White Sox: 2009-2010
Mark Kotsay came to the White Sox in a deadline deal on July 28, 2009 which sent Brian Anderson back to the Red Sox. He finished strong for a disappointing White Sox team that finished in 3rd place and 4 games under .500, hitting .292 in 40 games for the south siders.
Kotsay returned to the White Sox in 2010, in an ill-fated attempt to split the DH duties with Andruw Jones. Appearing in over 100 games, Kotsay’s production fell off, as he hit only .239 with 8 home runs. Following the season, he became a free agent, ending his association with the White Sox.
Kotsay’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
An issue at work forced me to log in to my email yesterday, despite being on vacation, and I saw a disturbing email: the GlobalFit Destination: You program at work is being shut down. I had kind of expected this, but now I know that the end date is near. January 15, just 4 days after the mid-year point of my fourth year in the program, will be the last day, with trackers and the website going inactive the following day.
This leaves me with a little less than a month to find an alternative solution, or to stop trakcing my steps until a replacement program, mentioned in the email, is in place. iOS 8 includes a step tracker in the Health app, but I’m not a huge fan of its reporting capabilities, plus it requires me to always have my phone physically on me in order for steps to count. Is it too late to ask for a Fitbit for Christmas?
Yes Please – Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler becomes the latest in the recent trend of memoirs from female comedians with Yes Please, a collections of stories about her life and essays imparting some of the life lessons she has picked up along the way. I have a weird relationship with Poehler, in that I usually enjoy her work, but I don’t normally go out of my way to see any of it. For example, despite critical acclaim, I have not seen any episodes of Parks and Recreation beyond the pilot. Following that, I initially had no plans to pick up this book. Thankfully, events conspired to change my mind.
Around Black Friday, and possibly on Black Friday, Amazon had a deal going on for 30% off any single book. I looked around and didn’t really see anything that was essential that I get, but, thanks to my previous interest in similar books from Tina Fey and Sarah Silverman, Amazon was suggesting that I go for Amy Poehler’s book. With the additional discount, this brought the recently published hardcover down to about $10, so I figured why not. If I enjoyed it half as much as I did Fey’s Bossypants, it would be well worth the cost.
And enjoy it I did. Poehler is a little older than me, but close enough in age that we shared many of the same pop culture experiences growing up or were in a similar headspace when more current world events were going on. Plus, she was, for a small time, part of the Chicago comedy scene that I wish I had the courage to either join or enjoy. She tells tales of her time on SNL, being a mother and the love she has for her children, founding Upright Citizens Brigade in Chicago and moving it to New York, where it grew in to an institution, and much more. Having finished the book, I was a little sad that I wouldn’t have Amy Poehler in my life anymore. I wonder if Parks and Rec is streaming on Netflix?
Name: Bartolo Colon
Rank: 183
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2003, 2009
After trying, and failing, to solidify the pitching staff each of the following 2 off-seasons, GM Kenny Williams went for broke again on January 15, 2003, agreeing to a 3 team deal that sent Rocky Biddle, Jeff Liefer, and Orlando Hernandez to the Expos, Antonio Osuna and minor-league pitcher Delvis Lantigua to the Yankees, and brought Bartolo Colon and minor-league infielder Jorge Nunez to the White Sox. Colon was expected to do what David Wells and Todd Ritchie could not: lead the White Sox back to the post-season.
Colon did his part, setting career highs in innings pitched and complete games, en route to a 15-13 record with a 3.87 ERA. Unfortunately, that was not enough, as the White Sox finished in second place, four games behind the Twins. Following the season, Colon filed for free agency and left the White Sox.
6 years later, nearly to the day he was first acquired, Colon rejoined the White Sox as a free agent, joining the rotation as a reclamation project after injuries had limited him to just 36 appearances over the previous 3 seasons. To say things did not go as expected would be an understatement. First, Colon went on the disabled list with a knee injury and, when he was scheduled to make a rehab start in Triple A Charlotte, he went AWOL. “Efforts to contact his agent have been successful,” Williams said at the time. “Their efforts to contact their client have not been so successful.
After he was found, Colon went down with another injury, this time swelling in his right elbow. Again, the right-hander disappeared and, eventually, the White Sox had enough. They requested waivers on September 16 for the purpose of giving Colon his unconditional release. His second tour of duty on the south side ended with a 3-6 record and a 4.19 ERA in only 12 starts.
Colon’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
Name: Ross Gload
Rank: 184
Position: 1B/RF
Years With White Sox: 2004-2006
As spring training wound down in 2003, the White Sox acquired Ross Gload from the Rockies in exchange for minor league pitcher Wade Parrish. Gload spent the entire 2003 season in Triple A Charlotte, but made the White Sox roster out of spring training in 2004, backing up Paul Konerko and, prior to his season ending injury, Magglio Ordonez. Gload made it into 110 games and finished the year with a .321 batting average. Despite the limited playing time, he finished 7th in voting for AL Rookie of the Year.
In 2005, Gload missed time due to shoulder inflammation, which kept him either on the disabled list on in Triple A Charlotte between April 25 and July 22. When Frank Thomas went down with a foot injury, Gload was recalled to take his roster spot. A little more than a week later, Gload was sent back down when Geoff Blum was acquired from the Padres. He rejoined the team when rosters expanded on September 1. Gload was left off the playoff roster for all three rounds.
With his shoulder fully healed, Gload returned to the White Sox full time in 2006. While his playing time was again limited, he did manage to put up .327 average. Following the season, Gload was traded to the Royals in exchange for relief pitcher Andy Sisco.
Gload’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.
Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today we continue climbing up the list and look at the 8 albums tied for 112th with 35 listens.
#112: Barenaked Ladies – Rock Spectacle (Live)
iTunes stats: 35 plays
This live album from the Canadian band ranks this high on the strength of one song.
#112: Nirvana – In Utero
iTunes stats: 35 plays
The last studio album from Nirvana uses 4 different tracks to make up this total.
#112: Liz Phair – Whitechocolatespaceegg
iTunes stats: 35 plays
10 different songs make up this total for this third studio album by the one-time indie darling.
#112: Soul Asylum – Grave Dancers Union
iTunes stats: 35 plays
Soul Asylum broke through with this, their sixth studio album, which uses 3 songs to achieve this total.
#112: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Greatest Hits Volume 1
iTunes stats: 35 plays
This greatest hits package has 3 songs make up its total.
#112: Various Artists – Juno (Music from the Motion Picture)
iTunes stats: 35 plays
3 songs, from bands like Mott the Hoople and The Moldy Peaches, make up the total for this soundtrack album.
#112: 10,000 Maniacs – Our Time in Eden
iTunes stats: 35 plays
Only 2 tracks from this breakthrough album make up this impressive total.
#112: Various Artists – Music From Gilmore Girls
iTunes stats: 35 plays
7 different tunes, including many of the musical cues from the show, make up the total for this soundtrack album.