Sunday, June 30, 2013

From The Top Of The Trees You

song of the day(s)



we agree on this nugget

Big Time Bear Feeders

As The Sun Rises In Gemini

some miscellaneous shots from the end of June, as I was otherwise occupied...


Up And Away They Go

still sifting thru June...

Tie It As You Like It


I was unaware there were that many options, but I am trying the sawtooth tomorrow

He Could Be Anywhere Now


So Rick was our guest for a few days this week. He was taking a day or so to decompress, but the woods were either that good or he has a fear of bears, because he's back out on the road again. He just can't wait to be on the road again.


Yuula put him right to work, as she's known to do


He wanted to see waterfalls, so I did the best I could


Yuula is always up for a nice hike in the woods...


As long as she's wearing the proper shoes


Torrie showed us a few more nature spots, til it opened up and rained on us


The the next morning at breakfast Rick and Yuula traded portraits of each other. I'm not sure whose is better.

Should see Rick in GA next week, if he's not still wandering the country...

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Nothing To Get Hungabout

I'm starting to go thru the videos from the past week or so...



this is the first of a whole bunch

Morning In Vermont

While I was sleeping off my first hangover in about a decade, Laura took Yuula to the hotel pool. I'm sorry I missed it but who wants a floater interrupting their morning laps...


We headed home around 11, when it was clear the rest of the gang was gonna sleep thru it, and stopped at this little nugget at the state border...


Where they sold this...


Only in Vermont. PB&J Soda and maple syrup.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Stuck Together, Stuck Forever

song of the day



I think I may have found the perfect end-of-the-day/sun-going-down/sipping-a-summer-beer/been-a-long-day song

This Looked Familiar


Back from Vermont, and a day to digest. The weather was quite warm, and me in my monkey suit. We arrived early enough to wander the Main Street and live vicariously thru those who have real bakeries, chocolate shops and book stores instead of crap Mexican, eight Chinese takeouts and a shop called Condoms Galore.


As you can imagine the extreme spectrum of emotion occurred within a 4 hour period, wherewe partied like it was 1999, shutting down a bar and an after hours gathering on the street for no reason in particular, just because it felt like the natural thing to do.


Yuula clung onto the Gorman girls, an obvious choice as they are the most akin to her needs, and that is not meant to be a disparaging comment, at all.  

She may have even got an actual diamond bracelet out of the deal, but Renee has bling to spare.


And because we weren't nearly done went the town shut down, we gathered in a corner room at the Hampton to push thru the night, only giving in when someone peeled open a curtain to see the sun rising on 6am, and an hour or twos sleep sounded right.

Some real strange and lovely moments to think about, but the painfully underlying and unspoken theme was still "why has it taken this to get us all in the same room again?". But none while none of us were perhaps brave enough to vocalize vows to remedy, I think we may be witnessing a sea change...

Sunday, June 23, 2013

In The Beginning We Closed Our Eyes

song of the day



there are dreams we might have shared

Abide In The Light


That's Rob. 

About a week ago Rob passed away, quite unexpectedly, and today we'll drive up to Vermont to celebrate him, his life, and the affect he had on what I can only assume is many, many folks. 


Boston 1998-1999 was our heyday, short but effective, I remember lots of music, guitar practice, dancing, and mostly love. I seriously can't remember ever thinking poorly about Rob. He was always just a good time, a fresh of breath air, and constant happiness. I haven't seen Rob since 2007 but we did stay in contact. Mostly thru the internet and mostly trading music cuts back and forth. I listened to his radio program on Brattleboro radio from time to time, where he would play way too much Wilco and dared to air 8 minute guitar experimentation by Nels Cline without leaving the booth for a bathroom break. It took me back to that cramped little apartment in Lynn and listening The Bends  and Aphex Twin. We would plan out a show that would later become one of my proudest achievements. I never said thank you for that.


Rob had a reputation for being a 'free spirit', whom some would give a negative connotation, but the Rob we knew was the Rob who would randomly post beautiful little notes amongst all of our silly comments on reality television or photos of our food...

"Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. your stay is but short and the moment of your departure unknown.
None can live without toil and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and wearness will overtake you, and you will denied the joy that comes from labour's end.
Speak quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others.
Be near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered.
Take small account of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds.
Treasure silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with yourself.
Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are.
Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light, rather then blame and condemnation.
You, no less than all beings have Buddha Nature within. Your essential Mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remose nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on.
Faith is like a lamp and wisdom makes the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the Light."


That was the Rob we knew. Today he brings us all together one more time...

Saturday, June 22, 2013

The Future In Ruin


Italian photographer Rä di Martino tracked down old sets from Star Wars left to whither away in the Tunisian desert using only Google maps.


Apparently you can only get to them by quad bike, and when you arrive you have to greet the homeless guy who has moved into the ruins.


After di Martino published his photos some enraged fanboys decided to raise some money and now a restoration project is in the works.


I say leave them

Friday, June 21, 2013

The Day We Found A Sea Of Air

song of the day



PTM is usually good for at least one anthem...

Take To The Streets And Start Screaming



I love his dramas as well

Mostly Wet, And Some Monkeys

We realized last night that we haven't even watched any of the video from our vacation last week. There's gotta be about 60 files. I grabbed a few highlights and thru together a little preview... it goes by fast.



We haven't even unpacked our suitcases yet, either.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

See Our Own Gravity

songs of the day




a little yin/yang for ya

Ballin' Or Balletin'?



Blondie'll gitcha everytime

He Literally Jumped Thru A Hoop

We missed this on our road trip, not that we've ever watched the Tony's before, but this was pretty awesome...

Mommy Threw A Baseball Thru The Window



the tattler

Banana Burger Binky


nothin' to write home about

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Creed Or The Culture Now

song of the day



dish dancing

Got My Plum Nugget


We knew it'd pay off becoming loyal customers of one individual garden center. We embraced Ross N' Ross, initially because of that awesome water tower, then due to their passioned attempts at selling their products to well-informed and competent customers. They get credit for 85% of our gardens outcome. Just the stuff that blooms. But yesterday, after weeks of them seeing me stalk the plum tree harvest, they just up and gave me one!


And we already got plum nuggets.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Monday, June 17, 2013

Transitioning From The Road

missing the road

happy to be home

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Have I Been A Father That Long?

For Father's Day we worked in the yard, planting tomatoes and Japanese maples, mowing the lawn and adding a few pollinators around the yard. It was a quick but effective morning. And Laura got me a croquet set as a gift. Can't wait for some sticky wicket.

There was no need to hold on to this tree. She just wanted to stake a claim. 

Went down to Trenton for the dinner of dads. Yuula and Dylan engaged in dinner conversation, probably about American intervention in Syria, or something. It was darling.

And the two had a good old jump in the bounce house. 

Then this happened. She's already 16.