A Music Playlist for Softball 2025 – New Songs or Golden Oldies?

As I’ve assembled playlists for various sports and events over the years, I’ve learned the importance of having a wide range of songs. I think it’s for obvious reasons but the biggest is because people like all kinds of different songs and styles. With that said, it’s also important to have a theme. For instance, I’m not going to play Disney songs at a funeral. Or slow ballads at a men’s retreat. There’s usually an overarching theme for each event but within that, anything goes. The most recent compilation was for my men’s adult league softball. Check it below then scroll down for an epiphany I had about the songs on the list…

I hope there are a few songs you like on that list but at the same time, I hope you’re exposed to some songs you haven’t heard before. Same goes for me. As I’m researching and listening to songs, I go for songs that I know will work well and also listen to a lot of songs I’m not familiar with. I learned something as I put this particular list together: It’s important to cater to age and tempo. Most of the guys on the softball team are middle-aged so I’m discovering what songs illicit a positive response are the ones from previous decades. Classic rock, 90s country, Taylor Swift. OK, I threw in a Taylor song just for giggles but to tell you the truth, there was more reaction to her than any other specific artist on the playlist. Crazy, right? But rest assured, there is only one Taylor song on the list at any given time. Even within these genres (classic rock, 90s country, etc), tempo matters. I’m not going to include Tim McGraw’s “It’s Your Love” but I’m sure as heck blasting “I Like It, I Love It” because it’s an uptempo song where lyrics are not super important. That’s another thing, lyrics. I try to avoid songs that require a lot of close attention. If the song is telling a story or the lyrics are deep/meaningful, I skip it. The music needs to be thought of as background noise but in a positive way.

If I were making a softball playlist for guys in their 20s or women in their 20s, the songs would be a lot different than the playlist I shared before. I guess it’s a generational thing, too. But in every sporting scenario, they’re songs that help us feel good because when we feel good, we play good. So to answer the question in the title of this post, I guess it’s kind of like a band playing a concert. Play appropriate songs that most of the people already know and pepper in an unfamiliar (or new) one every now and then.

Or something like that.

-Out of the Wilderness

Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra the Worst Phone I’ve Ever Had?

Since I had been writing 15 days in a row about my beagle passing away, I thought today would be a good one for a more light-hearted post. And since my phone is still new to me, why not share how it’s been going since I dropped the Flip 4 and began anew with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Just like you, probably, after I got the phone I continued watching Youtube videos about all the functions of the phone and how it compares to other “flagship” phones out there, most notably the iPhone 16.

Honestly, I don’t care much how it stacks up against iPhone because I’ll never be convinced to switch to an Apple phone. But with that said, it’s nice to see a lot of people out there appreciate the S25 Ultra and rate it higher than the iPhone. Still though, that doesn’t matter as much as personal experience. It’s like someone saying they’re a… oh, I don’t know… a Florida State Seminoles football fan because they watch them on TV. But a personal experience with FSU matters more than what’s on the television. And yes, I’m still very bitter about FSU and will go through the upcoming football season not cheering for them (except against Alabama because, well, it’s Alabama).

my AI rendering of the legend, Dan Marino

But back to the point of this post. Am I loving the S25 Ultra or has the honeymoon phase vanished? Yes and no. Yes, I love it and no, the honeymoon phase hasn’t ended. The phone is awesome. I love the AI images I can create (the one above and the one below), the lenses on the front look good on top of taking great photos and videos, the screens and apps and overall look is very customizable, and simply put, it’s the best phone I’ve ever had. I’m a happy camper.

I also added a fun case for it, too. I loved the offerings from Torras so much that now I have 3 cases from them. Inexpensive and they really won me over with the multi-colored button covers. Take a look here for cases fitting Samsung and Apple phones. They are really cool and make my phone experience even more fun.

Of course, I’m still of the mindset that the less screen time I have, the better it is for my overall quality of life but it’s still nice to have a device that works for me when I need it and it’s just a fun piece of tech to have and to look at.

What’s your phone experience lately? Are you hopping over from Apple to Android or vice versa? Comment below!

-Out of the Wilderness

Piper, thank you for 15 wonderfully adventurous years, I love you…

While I thought about this final of the 15 posts celebrating the 15 years I had with you, my heart is breaking again. You were my first dog, and there will always be a special place in my heart reserved just for you. You inspired me, challenged me, loved me. Thank you for the 15 wonderfully adventurous years we shared together. I love you Piper!

-Out of the Wilderness

Piper’s Larger Than Life Ears

You know how some people have to grow into their teeth? Or kids sometimes have big heads before their bodies catch up? Well, Piper’s Native American name was “Little Big Ear” and that pretty much sums her up. She was a petite beagle with gigantic ears… so big that my second children’s book (The Brave Bamboo) was inspired by those ears. It’s a hound thing, for sure. Just take a look at any basset hound and you’ll quickly notice their ears are the most noticeable trait about them, and their short legs but that’s neither here nor there. Plus, we’re talking about beagles which have normal sized legs, but still very humongous ears. I loved Piper’s ears so much. Here’s an early picture of Piper to give you an idea of how disproportionately big hound ears can be.

courtesy of JoeHendricks.com

Plus, and I think most dogs have this, she had this little flap on the back of ears that became one of my favorite things because what is it and why is it there? It’s just so cool.

I really miss “Little Big Ear” and her 10-gallon ears. Even when she was older and couldn’t hear me (or was it selective hearing?), I told her all the time that I loved her… come to think of it, maybe her losing her hearing was a blessing for her with all the songs I’d make up with her name. 🎶🎼🎸🐶

-Out of the Wilderness

Piper and the 10-Mile Date Gone Wrong

I was walking with my dog Asia recently and thought back to when we (myself, Asia, and Piper) had our longest walk ever. That wasn’t the original plan. The original plan was to meet a woman for a date of light hiking, fall madly in love, get married so Piper can bring the rings to us during the ceremony, have lots of kids, have a house with a wraparound porch and drink lemonade on warm Saturday mornings. But all of that got derailed. Scroll down for the rest of the story…

How many first dates are two people meeting up for a “hike”? Probably quite a few and this was one of those first dates. We met at Percy Warner Park in Nashville and walked with our dogs, getting to know each other and going through the normal first date type questions. Where do you work, how long have you lived here, do you have siblings, blah blah blah. About halfway through we stopped for a water break then continued up and down the hills of the park. The date went fine and at the end we said our goodbyes. She drove away never to be seen again. 🥴 Something else I never saw again… my car keys! After she left I walked to my car and poof, the keys were gone.

Our walk was a 5 mile loop. Well, that turned into 10 miles because I took the dogs around again, but this time I wasn’t looking for love, I was looking for keys. Remember when I said we stopped for a water break? I must’ve dropped them there but when I got back to that spot, nothing. Long story short, I never found the keys and my roommate at the time had to come pick up the dogs and me. How embarrassing.

But Piper and Asia were troopers that day. A 10-mile hike and they conquered it without hesitation.

(not Percy Warner Park)
(also not Percy Warner Park)

Taking my dogs for walks wasn’t always easy, I won’t sugar coat it. But most of the time we had a ball exploring nearby parks and greenways, and I’m going to miss Piper’s endless curiosity about the world around her. Of course, it would’ve helped if she could track down keys as good as she could scare up a rabbit. 🐇

-Out of the Wilderness