The Play(list) Maker.

Dear 27,
In the big year of the blog and the list I've been thinking a lot about the lifetime bucket list, not just in this one year of 27. "What do I want to be when I grow up?" is an ever-reoccuring question (in addition to, "how will I ever be able to muster up the guts to give blood this year?" and "I wonder if I'll actually buy a new car before the Focus quits on me?" and "Wow. I really should be reading more." I realize the third isn't really a question, but I know we're all thinking it. 27 books.)
Yesterday I stumbled upon this article on the (most wonderful) NY Times music site. What an awesome job Mr. Jones has-- putting together the playlists for Starbucks. 
Here's the playlist he compiled for the Times feature. These are the songs Mr. Jones picked to be "...sipped and savored in the chill and brilliant heart of fall."

Feeling inspired by Mr. Jones and Starbucks music and the jobs no one has ever thought of. Now. For my picks. Because while I'm not the music picker (seriously, what an awesome job) for Starbucks, I do live my days to an internal playlist.

What would be on your coffee house playlist? 
xo-LP

Every good list needs a soundtrack.

Dear 27,

And while this one doesn't include the best songs, it's themed. And really that's all that matters.
xo-LP

No packet pick up on race day.

Dear 27,

After a long trek back from CA, I was gearing up for the secret 5k Jenni and I have been "training" for. Yes. Training. I was, as some of you know, a runner at one point in life, but years have passed since Washburn and we decided in the spirit of my list of 27 things we'd add a bonus 5k!

Here's what we learned Sunday at the Des Moines Marathon (which included the 3 mile race as well):

1. It's cold in Iowa on October mornings.
2. The marathon makes your feet hurt.
3. 9 year old boys and 62 year old women run faster than you.
4. More cowbell is a good idea.
5. You and Jenni will always dress alike even at 7am.
6. Johnny's, no matter how hard you try, will not open until 11 on Sundays.
7. Hand holding, fist pumping and pointing to the sky will get the crowd revved up as you cross the finish line.
8. You're not allowed to run without a bib number. And oh yes, bib numbers have to be picked up before the race day. Like on Friday. Or even Saturday. But not Sunday morning.

We were surprisingly bummed, but not sad enough to run the race "just for fun" and not for time. We had a great day of cheering on the many runners (congrats to my friends who ran the races-- 13 miles is a big time accomplishment!)

Looks like we'll have to give this 5k another go...
xo-LP

Muskies are 'bout it 'bout it.

Dear 27,
Thank you John Krieger. Your infinite awesomeness at age 17 forever burned the phrase "muskies are 'bout it 'bout it" both into my brain and into MHS history. You were like an early Jersey Shore with your hot dance moves ("come on ride the train" was genius) and your cult following. All the girls loved you. All the guys pretended they didn't want to be you. You're a legend of sorts or someone who had enough pull in high school to get the entire student council to agree that "'bout it 'bout it" was a terrific way to promote Muskie pride at homecoming. I still don't know what that means.
While you had football and girlfriends, I had a locker next to Shawn Reed and a slew of boys who were friends (all of whom had a thing for Becca or my sister Jen or for riding in Jake Fox's truck wearing Goodwill t-shirts.) They all loved punk rock music.
Oh how I loved the punk rock and the ska and the skanking. (That was the term for Stover dancing. Not sure it's technical. But I recall it being used in reference to a skipping move that was like gentle moshing. Not like skanky skanking.)

An ode to the high school.
xo-LP

ps. The tour-de-travel continues tomorrow. And the Bad Dreams Ball post. And (fingers crossed) a live show for October.

The birds and the Bs.

Dear 27,
Big weekend. Big Big one. An announcement from our hometown University that makes me even busier. Then my first time as a Lusher (that's lady+usher).Congrats to my dear friends Annie and B. And hello to my long time college friends-- I missed you all.


xo-LP

ps- Lots to report on this week. Hoping to make some progress on this list and working on a big challenge for November. 

You're full of masculine charm.

Dear 27,
A mini-stop in Minnesota. A lovely evening in Wayzata.

Then a stop at Cooper. (Thanks for the super service Reba. You're a delight.)

And the return of the 1 and -1. Still bizarre.

I stumbled on 8tracks and hope to be able to post music successfully and without coding error (I really don't know what blogger jargon I just used, but it sounded cool.)

In other news, I just can't get enough Rob Sheffield. His new book is high on my to-read list and you have to read Love is a Mixtape (it's heartbreakingly brilliant. the way he speaks of music, and love, and bourbon is perfect. I'll even loan you my copy with all the highlighted parts. because nothing connects to the moment like music, right friend?)

I better get to reading. And to work. And to packing. NYC trip begins on Wednesday.

And Des Moines. I miss you.
xo-LP