A huge thank you to everybody who sent me birthday wishes through e-mail, Facebook, cards and phone calls. For a rather “insignificant” number, it was quite wonderful to see such a nice outpouring of messages from all the great friends I have in Austin and around the world.
I spent my day off taking it easy, probably the lifestyle I’d want to pursue if I won the lottery. The first surprise were the results of my Body Test on the Wii Fit. Despite my mediocre balance scores and obesity (I gained over three pounds from vacation and the snacks at Elvira’s appearance didn’t help), I still attained a Fit Age of 39, two years below my real age. Of course, it isn’t very scientific and I bet all the Whataburger in my blood could double it.
Then there were some chores I completed before I hit the road to go reflect and write, namely about those past memories of other birthdays. I didn’t get everything done but I think I always overload what I want to do in the writing department, it seems to have a snowball effect, hence all the reviews I’ve put off for over a year. The other off-on tradition got scrapped as well, going to a movie I like, because I nearly forgot my final Mayo Clinic call. I completely failed in the weight-loss department yet I can only hope I was one of the more entertaining clients Becky had. Fingers crossed Apple will do this again next year and I get Becky as my counselor. I promise to lose more weight. I have to. Somara and I started a new contest which will end on the first day of Fall. The one we were competing in (before our vacation) ended in a draw thanks to the camera breaking; a new camera for the winner was the prize.
This year will be interesting from a couple angles. In a couple months, it will be the first time Somara and I are both prime numbers in our 10 years together. As you can expect, I will make it an excuse to get out to Las Vegas for a week or longer! What’s the other? I don’t recall. Maybe it involves working in my new(er) position as a Senior Specialist, pushing to make a difference in my team’s everything.
I’ll close with this idea I’ve taken (stolen is such a harsh word) from my doctor. Before I went on vacation, Dr. Custer gave me a copy of this CD mix he made. It was a collection of songs he loved when he turned 16 which was in 1969 (he’s not shy about his age). He already had piqued my interest by explaining how George Harrison got the Doppler effect on Cream’s “Badge” through a Leslie speaker which made me feel kind of dumb because I’m sure my co-workers in ProApps automatically know how it was done and with what. That aside, I was going to return the favor (mine would be 1984), then I thought about expanding it to others who I know are up to the challenge.
Dr. Custer’s 16 Mix Challenge
Here are the ground rules I’ve tweaked according to what I reverse engineered via Shazam (he didn’t have liner notes on the CD).
- The total running time cannot exceed 80 minutes, but try to go over 70. Assume roughly 20 songs since most popular music runs three to five minutes a piece.
- No material past the year you turned 16. If the song was released after your birthday of said year, it’s OK, I’m not going to be that inflexible or strict.
- At least one third must be from the year you turned 16 but no more than half. The remaining songs should be from within a couple years of the goal and others can be older. The objective is that these songs were influential, represent your tastes, mindset, they trigger or evoke emotion, they paint a musical tapestry or memory leading to you turning 16. For example, Dr. Custer’s mix has “Blue Monday” by Fats Domino (obviously not from 1969) and mine has “Stoned Soul Picnic” by The 5th Dimension (1968); I can only explain the latter because it was a song I recall fondly from my childhood.
- Try to cross genres. One friend I know has always been into Heavy Metal yet I’m confident there are other things he still enjoys he will incorporate.
- Lastly, don’t be afraid if a choice appears obscure, overplayed or dorky. I will not be issuing grades. Be true to yourself and the accuracy and daring will easily follow.