Summer Halftime

July 19, 2018
Summer is always packed with great adventures and 2018 has been outstanding so far. Travels have taken us camping in Vermont, hiking in Acadia, swimming in Bellport and celebrating with Taylors in Osterville. Future plans include The Land, The Poconos, and a 15 day European journey through Barcelona, Borde Neuve and Sydling St. Nicholas with Bucklands. These are all places that we visit most Summers so they are familiar, but they have all taken on a completely new identity with Ivy's and Miles' growth over the past few years. Their interaction with the environment is so different every year and…

Beer

May 22, 2018
I've always loved beer. I enjoy any style and, of course, the social atmosphere accompanying beverages is always fun. In high school (yes), we were extremely happy to have access to anything and had some very memorable experiences with Budweiser and its ilk. In college we consumed cases of Natural Light (and of course, Natty Ice) and kegs of whatever was available, but while at Middlebury, I was also introduced to the finer tastes of microbrews, in particular from the local Otter Creek Brewery, with its seasonal releases and growler fills. Since then, I have made an effort to taste…

Spring 18

May 17, 2018
Winter is definitely done. Last week was absolutely perfect temperature with glorious sunshine and this week has been a mega drenching with even more liquid on the horizon. I biked through the most intense storm front yesterday, which delivered some tornado features in areas north of the city; the rain was heavy, but the wind whipping copious pollen and assorted debris in my eyes was ridiculous. I realize that I have slid into a once-every-two-months pace of writing here. I'm gonna be fine with that. I began occasionally typing words here 12 years ago on June 1, 2006 and it…

The Box

March 25, 2018
Unfinished, but functional! My basement studio construction project over the past two years has been a journey and I have learned a lot about building and soundproofing while fulfilling my dream of having a working sound-space in my home. I have always had a place to play music everywhere I've lived, but never a separate and dedicated room for the endeavor; today I sit inside it with great satisfaction! Finishing work remains (making a punch list for myself), but it has already become a musical laboratory. I can descend anytime my other obligations allow and let the jams flow! It…

I Ski

March 20, 2018
It's been 69 days since my last entry here, which is slow news for me. It's been a hunker-down few months with work, and we are currently spinning into our fourth Nor'easter of the month, so SKIING! I spent a weekend exploring Sterling back-country around Stowe, touring into and sleeping at the classic Burling Camp and enjoying beautiful lines on the surrounding mountains. I scored an incredible day at Plattekill after 45" fell over 48 hours and skied Stowe with my favorite ski partner (and no kids!) after five feet in the past week. Eleven days on skis so far…

Old Year/New Year

January 10, 2018
It's been a fantastic month for the author. I threw myself a "surprise" 40th birthday party and played music and shared videos with some of the most important people in the world to me. It was the best birthday I've ever celebrated and I am truly excited about my forties! I feel like it will be a great decade for me and I look forward to looking back on it at 50! We celebrated Christmas in Warwick, cutting down a 30 foot tree to serve as our centerpiece, then attended the annual Land Gang party in Westfield. I skied with…

Supergood Reality: 40

November 27, 2017
      I have temporarily set up musical apparatus in the under-construction basement studio in preparation for showtime on December 15!

Thanksgiving 2017

November 27, 2017
The greatest of all holidays for me, with a focus on food and family, providing an impetus to feast in finest company. We congregated in Cumberland, Maine with the entire Taylor Clan, from Mimi and Papa to the littlest Lucy and enjoyed a modern traditional spread from a James Beard award winner and his stellar chef de cuisine, who crafted some insanely tasty deserts! The cousins are entering perfect social play ages, creative, joyful and exuberant, while the grownups relax and wax nostalgic. It is truly one of my greatest pleasures to spend time with my family, and when the…

Basement Studio

October 25, 2017
  Ever since Miles moved into the room formerly known as my music room, I have been pushing forward on a plan to build a soundproof studio in the basement. It has taken me about 18 months of very slow progress to construct a floor and walls and I am currently in the drywall phase. With great thanks to Land Bandmates Seth and Erik, I transported 24 sheets of 5/8" drywall (probably 2000 lbs) to my front porch (full sheets won't fit down the basement stairs), where it has been cut and attached to the wood and metal staggered stud…

Elimination

October 15, 2017
  I watched in grim horror as the US Men's National Soccer Team booted away their invitation to the World Cup in 2018, losing 2-1 to the Trinidad & Tobago Soca Warriors (with a great team name, representing the proud music of the islands) while Panama and Honduras took care of their own business in the CONACAF Hexagonal Qualifier, scoring late goals to climb ahead of the US into the quadrennial tournament. I may spend more time devoted to my hometown Boston teams (and watching the Red Sox bounced out of the playoffs by the Astros was another stinger this…