“Turn It Up!”- SMCM Basketball Player to Gallaudet University AV Goons during The Pregame National Anthem circa 1976

This year (January- November according to Spotify) I listened to:

176,689 minutes (2,945 hours) of music…the equivalent of 122 days nonstop lol

This apparently puts me in the top .5% of listeners worldwide (damn, bro…save some pussy for the rest of us).

This was spread out over 289 genres, 8,361 artists, and 13,670 songs.

My top 5 artists were Mozart, Chopin, Bach, Pink Floyd, and Beethoven (in that order). Apparently I’m only cool like 20% of the time (definitely less than that).

I (allegedly) spent 22,778 minutes on Mozart (around 380 hours or 16 days straight). (https://www.classicfm.com/composers/mozart/news/like-mozart-facebook-makes-you-clever/…lol damn, I must be an anomaly/outlier from that research).

My top song by Mozart was “Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: 2. Andante”…give it a try some time, nerd.

My top song overall was “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf…which my sons apparently made me play 169(nice) times.

I also listened to over 14,000 minutes of audiobooks (around 240 hours or 10 days nonstop) which I’m convinced was mostly “The Count of Monte Cristo” lol

Anywhooo…people often ask me how I can stand to live/work alone (and deal with literally never meeting/seeing a son of mine who will soon be a year old [fucking destroys me honestly])…without a TV (haven’t owned one in almost 7 years)…and I guess the answer is music…among other things I suppose…but mostly music.

Sending love and good vibes (and good music) as always. I hope all is well, and I hope it gets better if not.

P.S. Song of the day: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 (’tis a banger).

PssPssPss: If you didn’t at least smirk reading some of this…then you’re much worse for wear than you realize.

A Glimpse

A 24-hour window; sometimes that’s all you need (and sometimes they only happen once a year or so…apparently). That’s all you need for a reminder (although sometimes painful), a fresh perspective, and/or a glimpse into a different world (sometimes a new one, and sometimes one that you may have lost…[ahem]). Whether or not this 24-hour window opens by luck, chance, or by intention, doesn’t necessarily matter as much as what you take away from it. When the opportunity presents itself, take away everything that you can from it (both the good and the bad).

I recently stumbled across a 24-hour window (which I’m not sure was opened by luck, chance, or intention), but it meant more to me than words can describe. I was able to see some of the most beautiful and loved people whom I haven’t seen in a long time (and whom I miss more than anything). What seemed like an unapproachable and immovable curtain (that would never budge) was temporarily lifted. I must admit that I experienced a wide range of emotions; surprise, disbelief, love, sadness, joy, happiness, grief (and then all of them [and more] in a different order a few times over).

However, the window seemed to close as quickly as it had opened. Even though I’m left sitting alone in the dark again (in regard to a particular scenario/person), I’m grateful for the opportunity that presented itself. It brought me back to my senses, and lifted me out of a low spot that I hadn’t been handling very well. It was enough to remind me of what is important, the need for acceptance and detachment during this timeframe, and that so much of life is out of our control. It reminded me that love really is patient and kind. Deep down, no matter how painful some of the glimpse into that world was to me, I still wish nothing but health, happiness, and contentment for those whom I miss (and can no longer be involved with).

Whether or not the window will ever open again, I’m not sure. But, this recent glimpse will have to suffice for now (and potentially “forever”), and I’m okay with that I suppose (as OK with it as I can manage lol and mostly because I have to be okay with it in large part). Although I was painfully reminded of how much I’ve missed (and of time that I will never get back) and a present and future which I may never be able to experience (que sera, sera I suppose), I was also reminded of so many things that I need to be more grateful for. I was reminded that I need to stay the course in so many aspects of my life (which are already going well) in order to create and build the future that I want to have with those whom I love. I guess I’ll just keep fighting the good fight, and time will tell as to how everything will play out.

Love and miss ya, nerd. Always have…always will. I hope all is well…and continues to be (and gets better if it’s not). Give our little guy a big squeeze for me sometime. SOTR indeed. ay ees I nehw ay ees.

Song of the Day #1: “Brace Youself”- White Cliffs

Song of the Day #2: “Best Kind of Moment”- Stray Fossa

Song of the Day #3: “Cloud”- Riarosa

Song of the Day#4: “Coexist”- Mei

Song of the Day #5: “So Much In Love”- D.O.D.

Song of the Day #6: “distance”-Shockface, mark veins

Reeling in The Years

Song of the day: “This Is For You”- Longlost

Song of the day #2: “Fuck Me Up”- broox

Song of the day #3: “Nobody Hurts Like Me for You”- Slumberville, St. South

Song of the day #4: “Untitled”- RXLZQ

Song of the day #5: “Lullabies-Jim-E Stack Remix”- Yuna

Song of the day #6: “Jesus Gave Me $10”- Youngr

Song of the day #7: “Everything Is Easy”- Rum Jungle

Song of the day #8: “”Rising Tides”- Levity, Lhasa Petik

Song of the day #9: “Losing Control”- Odd Mob, OMNOM

Song of the day #10- “In Touch”- Murdock, Veela

Larf of the day: https://youtu.be/pfGEdmZyVyY?si=55Q2U4RNVGh10FFJ (I’ve seen your future loll…#Ravensnation…sorry not sorry)

Larf of the day #2: https://youtu.be/C7OQHIpDlvA?si=qFC_Acor9qnljHab (#CBK)

Larf of the day #3: https://youtu.be/Zh3Yz3PiXZw?si=OlBjHoSUyHnupqaa (#maf)

Larf of the day #4: https://youtu.be/zsgBkOaxwcE?si=UI5IcCQ_dzvqZnT3 (lmaooo)

Oh werr. “That’s life”…enjoy : )