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Live Music: Randy Newman
Randy Newman is not afraid. I take my seat among a crowd that has a preponderance of gray hair. People are talking about Newman’s soundtracks to Pixar movies like Toy Story and Monster’s Inc. I hear someone warn their companion, “He also does some weird songs. We might be for an interesting night.” Then Randy…
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Book: Chronicles Vol. 1 / Bob Dylan
My mom recommended this book as a way to learn something about my namesake. I’ve never been a hardcore Bob Dylan fan, never made a study of his songs, but I imagine some things in this book must come as a shock to those who have. Dylan definitely makes his musical development the center of…
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Blinded by Wyoming
The weather is gorgeous in Fort Collins, so we head north in high spirits to try a little skiing at Snowy Range. It is not to be. Many times I’ve seen the weather go to pot right at the Wyoming border. Today the border brings ground blizzards. In the bright sun it doesn’t seem too…
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A Year On Howes Street
In 2006 I stopped at random intervals on my bike commute to snap a picture of this view of Howes Street. It always seemed so different. Now that I’ve had a chance to compile them all and watch a slideshow, I’m surprised at the emotional impact of it. It’s like I can see the world…
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Back on the trail
I attempt to ride the bike in to work again today. It’s not bad! There are still big piles of snow everywhere, but most of the way has been plowed, including the Poudre bike trail. They didn’t plow my bike rack, though!
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Happy New Year, Metaphorically Speaking
This is one of the few times of year that reflection and introspection is culturally encouraged. That also makes it a cliché to share the results of the process! So it’s an ironic pleasure to publish one of my realizations for the year: that this blog is first and foremost a place for me to…
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Book: Lying Awake / Mark Salzman
We listened to this audio book on our drive also. I chose it because I have liked other books by Salzman. The subject of this one surprised me: it features a Carmelite nun’s struggles with epilepsy. The next surprise was that his presentation allowed me to truly relate to the character. Salzman has a knack…
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Book: The Mysterious Affair at Styles / Agatha Christie
We borrowed a recorded version of this book from the library for our drive to Idaho. I’d never read any Agatha Christie books, but they are excellent for driving. The intricate plot requires close attention, especially in audio format. I probably would have done a lot of re-reading in a printed book, but in the…
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A Sunny Day at Bogus Basin
Even though the snow at Bogus Basin was not quite as good today, I left with a real fondness for the place. With perfect blue skies and not a breath of wind, we were treated to one visual feast after another. Orange sun on spruce trees with every needle encrusted in snow. A bright half…
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The Outdoor Map
It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been fiddling with a website called The Outdoor Map for almost a year now. My vision for it has changed, but I still use it all the time myself for finding places, keeping notes and links for them, and general map investigation. I had hoped that the site would…