The Second Day of 2025. . .

. . . began early in the studio, recording some vocals for a SuperWave demo, a cover band I’ve been playing in over the last six months or so, a band that emerged from the ashes of another cover band that three of us had been with for quite some time–for one of us, nearlyContinue reading “The Second Day of 2025. . .”

The First Day of 2025. . .

. . . was spent doing all of the things (or most of the things) I love and want to do more of. To wit, a list: There could almost not be a more perfect day. I would have liked to have spent more time with my parter. But she was super engaged in herContinue reading “The First Day of 2025. . .”

Turning 60!

I’m writing on the occasion of my 60th birthday, December 4, 2024. We ascribe a special significance to those birthdays that begin a new decade. Something in us needs a marker, a milestone, a number with a zero at the end. We like that. I think it’s true that the last time I wrote aboutContinue reading “Turning 60!”

#545: How to Move Forward

Today I spent several hours moving the leaves around the yard.Our house is surrounded by gigantic oaks and every year we get absolutely buried. Because I can only afford to hiresomeone a few times a year, every November I begin the workof prepping for leaf removal by a great and laborious shifting. I blow leavesContinue reading “#545: How to Move Forward”

It’s Dark In Here

In his entire history on the planet, he could recall only one day that felt darker than this one, and that was September 11, 2001. He could tell you without hesitation the three darkest days of his life in chronological order: 9/11; the first Trump victory in 2016; and then yesterday, the second Trump victoryContinue reading “It’s Dark In Here”

#537: On Solitude

I like it. I really do. I value the time I spendalone to write, or read,the light hiking, a bike ride,and the solitary campingweekend. I think I need these moments, thesesustained chunks of timefor creativity, reflection, for communing with the self,a short, healthful respitefrom the noise, the societyof family, friends, or work. But recentlyin theContinue reading “#537: On Solitude”

#522: An “Epic” Poem in Response to the Proust Questionnaire

I don’t know that this makes a good poem, but it did, I think, have therapeutic value. Know thyself. That’s what Socrates says, anyway. It’s a big job, it turns out. I am outside on a clear day; in woods, or by water, birdsong everywhere, music and good drink, with someonewho loves me, or inContinue reading “#522: An “Epic” Poem in Response to the Proust Questionnaire”

On the Twenty-first Day of 2024: The Numbers, Again

Number of bicycle rides in 2024: 5 Number of walks I’ve taken: I wasn’t counting. Let’s estimate that I went for a walk with the dogs maybe 7 times in 21 days. Number of alcoholic beverages consumed: 0 Number of times I wanted a drink really bad but nevertheless resisted: 5 Number of dreams I’veContinue reading “On the Twenty-first Day of 2024: The Numbers, Again”

On the Fourteenth Day of 2024: OCD Record Collector

First of all, I needed to incorporate about twenty titles into the collection from the records I acquired from my big brothers who find themselves without turntables. Next, I had to reorder the collection to be in proper alphabetical order. If you look closely at the photo above, you might be able to see thatContinue reading “On the Fourteenth Day of 2024: OCD Record Collector”

On the Twelfth Night of 2024: Nietzsche and Saltburn, In That Order

It’s not very often that I do research in order to write a song lyric, but on Friday I find myself digging around in Nietzsche expressly for that purpose. I had written this song with my friend Adam for our Project MA album, and the words I wrote, inspired by a title Adam had givenContinue reading “On the Twelfth Night of 2024: Nietzsche and Saltburn, In That Order”