Welcome to my monthly mixtape, a personal roundup of thoughts, reflections, projects, music, videos, articles, and more that has occupied my time this month.
bugs, hell, & corn
If I had to describe our week long camping trip from Chicago to Omaha Nebraska, I would use those three words.
We had a wedding to attend in Omaha at the very beginning of the month. We decided to stretch the trip and get some camping in between the drive there. We stayed at two rather lovely parks in Iowa. Wildcat Den in Muscatine, and Prairie Rose in Harlan. Both offered scenic views and nice hikes, but rather terrible campsites. Of the four nights worth of camping, we were the only ones in the campsite loops three of the nights. That’s because IT WAS HOTTER THAN THE SURFACE OF THE SUN. I do not recommend camping during a week long heat advisory.
I was looking forward to the trip. However, I was not looking forward to the drive. Although, it ended up being way less boring than I remembered as a kid sitting in the backseat of our family van on our way to our family trips to Yellowstone or the Rocky Mountains. It was boring for sure, but I’ve driven in worse in Illinois and Wisconsin.
who needs a road trip playlist?
I do. I pride myself in having created a perfect road trip playlist. I don't pride myself in being smart enough to remember to download said playlist to my phone knowing cell service during our trip would be spotty. We remembered that our car has SiriusXM and it absolutely saved the day. Shout out to these channels:Ch 9: 90’s on 9
Ch 15: Yacht Rock Radio
Ch 26: Classic Vinyl
Ch 34: Lithium
Ch 52: BPM
Ch 55: Chill
Ch 62: Outlaw Country
When I think of road trip music, I think of 70’s classic rock, Americana, some folk, some old country, and a dash of yacht rock. But it was brought to my attention that the latter would not be tolerated during our trip. You win some, you lose some.
So I didn’t have my road trip playlist handy until we hit cell service, but it didn’t matter, because the Classic Vinyl and Outlaw Country stations were fitting the bill pretty effectively.
traveler's journal leather cover
I recently visited our local stationery shop and found a couple nice pocket notebooks. Specifically, little passport sized notebooks for a Traveler’s Journal. Except I don’t own a passport sized Traveler’s Journal. They didn’t have any there, and prices online for a leather cover are insane.
So I created my own. For a fraction of the cost, and with quality leather. I spent $27 for a square foot of leather, and yields two (!) passport sized leather covers. I created a passport sized one and a Field Notes sized one (which is just slightly taller). I even have enough left over to create the “pocket” sized Traveler’s Notebook cover. Still debating weather I do that or leave the rest for other small projects where I might need some leather.
schwinn super le tour 12.2 rebuild
I rebuilt my old crummy 1970’s road bike into something I actually enjoy riding.
It’s ugly and probably a little dangerous. Also, I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to bike maintenance.
cough... cough...
No, really, what in the actual fuck is up with this air quality?Chicago and much of the midwest are basking in the sweet smoky smell of Canadian wildfires. July 16&17 saw the air quality index hit the 700’s!!! Some areas north creeping towards 1,000. I think the normal is like 50…
This air quality lingers on, which has limited pretty much all outdoor activities for us. I hate that this has become the new norm for summers in the midwest.
explosive... what??
Don’t eat the salad!
lucy dacus & the chicago philharmonic
The air quality improved enough to see Lucy Dacus perform with the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park. What a show!
