Then and Now

February 20, 2019
Life was different before kids! I lived for myself and the activities I loved, especially music, skiing, sports, travel and friends. Children can make it harder to find time for hobbies and passions, but they can also make those activities even more enjoyable as you teach and share your joy with a beginner. My career has been a training ground and now it's personal: I'm doing everything I can to instill a love of music in Ivy and Miles. I just really hope they are inspired by melody, harmony and rhythm. Likewise skiing. I absolutely need them to like skiing…

New Year

January 3, 2019
I think 2019 will be a good year and I look forward to living in the future! These recordings are from the past but they were played in the present.

Music is Fun

December 7, 2018
I am entertained! I've enjoyed some incredible performances over the past few months! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Parts 1 and 2. Required a full day and night commitment (with thanks to Grandad for the childcare) but absolutely worth it. A captivating and magical show that establishes a new standard for Broadway. Awesome music by Imogen Heap. Jon Hopkins at Brooklyn Steel. Great sound for an audio wizard. Simple solo set up with great lights and projections. San Holo at Terminal 5: An extensive performance with guitar and vocals. Melodic and emotive. Circus Abyssinia at New Victory Theater: Extraordinary Ethiopian…

Door to Door

October 21, 2018
From my point of view, we are in a dire political situation in this county that requires an immediate correction. The stakes are incredibly high in this midterm election and races all around the country are converging on election day, November 6, to determine our future vector. Beyond reading Twitter and freaking myself out, I have not personally made any effort to convince anyone else to vote until today. Luckily, Alaina has been fully committed to the cause of encouraging citizens to make good decisions at the ballot box and today she brought me to Mastic Beach, Long Island, to…

Fall From Summer

September 26, 2018
Autumn is undeniably here. The air is cool and my scholastic schedule returns. The shift back to work mode can be a bit bumpy and this year it has been inflamed by an infected corneal laceration sustained by my own fingernail while getting Miles dressed for the Sean and Kate’s wedding in France. But after a few weeks of adjusting to classes and schedules plus eight opthalmologist appointments, I am pain-free and ready to play music with kids! Sometimes it takes a break or an injury to come back and appreciate how wonderful it can be to work and be…

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…