Evening friends. I know, I know… It’s been a while. I pass by here about as often as I twitter these days. Funny that. Much to my surprise I started twittering again unexpectedly, suddenly and regularly last week via @itisallrelated. That proved fun so I thought I would regrow the outlets I have to express myself just a little further and put the digital pen to paper and get this blog kicking for however long it lasts. I make a point of putting it that way as I know better than to make promises that don’t have a time, date and location tied to them these days.
That of course leads to the question of the hour… What do I want to write about?
Each time I’ve passed by this blog over the last couple years, I’ve found it a bit hard to find the right topic. Sometimes I find a tibbit, but I never find enough to build a rhythm.
That had me thinking, why is this the case?
I’ll admit openly that, if I’m blogging about my life, there are times that it isn’t easiest thing to talk about. Oh sure I have a mountain of things to share in Facebook updates, but that’s a kind of “life in the moment” look at things that is easy to maintain. I’m very lucky to be living a life in motion that’s full of color, great people and fun. I’ve had a ton of amazing moments to talk about and in many ways, I’ve never been more happy. That said, there are also moments, like the still too recent death of my father and other things on a similar level of complexity, that in some ways I still can’t put into words and maybe never will.
A blog, to me fells like a door that, once open, can prove hard to close because it deals with deeper meaning, more expression and more contemplation. I’ve been worried of what I might say and that’s funny considering how open I am about my life.
I joke sometimes that it feels like I realize what I’m saying just a few moments after I’ve said it. There are many times that can be far too true so I find not only the topic, but the concept of blogging, social media and self expression in the modern world to be something worth exploring because it makes me challenge myself. A blog should cut a bit deeper and be more honest if it has worth.
As if fate were laughing at me just a bit, I get a fortune cookie tonight that stops me dead in my tracks. Now I put very little faith in superstition and I pride myself on writing my own ticket in life, but just as I raise these questions I read…
“Accept no other definition of your life, accept only your own.”
If that isn’t a cue to write and live your life as you see best and fearlessly, I’m not sure what is.
A friend had this posted to his profile over on Facebook. I really couldn’t have said it better myself so I won’t try…
“I am slowly coming to find that life is so much more enjoyable when you take responsibility for your own happiness and fill your life as much as you can with things that bring you joy — rather than waiting for good things to happen to you to make you happy. That roller coaster is outmoded, falling apart, and moreover the antithesis of enjoyable.”
I’ve been lucky in that I think I’ve had more good conversations than bad over the last few years doing my podcast. I think I’ve benefited from some really great guests and every once in a while I get one that makes me proud that I podcast. I know it the moment I hang up the phone. No matter the outcome though, I always leave an interview charged up with energy. There is a rush to doing those recordings.
A good conversation usually happens when the person feels very honest, both in their opinions and in what they have to say about their own work. I’ll admit it’s tough when a guest is quiet. It’s not always the fault of the individual as I know some people are just quiet by nature. Those shows though are more of a pull to get the recording done. Yes, there have been times I was worried it was all going to fall flat but I’ve never had a interview I wish I hadn’t done.
I love those guests that just run with it though. One of the hardest things I had to learn over these last few hundred episodes is when to shut up and just let the individual go. Sometimes, I think silence is the best skill.
My favorite interview is always the one that takes an individual who has never been in the spotlight before and lets them shine. In the end, if I feel like I got to know the individual just a little bit better while we spoke (and not just the project they were there to promote), I feel like I succeeded.
Last night was a fun night. I headed over to Cosmic Charlies expecting a blast from the past and was pleasantly led down a decidedly new road. You see, some friends of mine owned a fun little house/dj club called DV8 back in the early 90′s here in Lexington. I went through a period where I enjoyed my share of house music. If I were honest with myself, it probably had more to do with dating and seeing the sun come up the next morning than the music, but that was a very different time and I was a younger guy.
Anyway, I mention that as last night I went into the show wondering if I was going to feel pulled back a decade (which really wouldn’t have been the goal) or surprised. I was surprised.
The guys spinning (The Chaotic Good with Brocktologist and the Corduroy Mavericks opening) were taking full advantage of the technology available today via light boxes, mac computers, iPads and digital turntables. Via this mix, they blended the music in a way that was really creative and surprisingly exciting.
What kind of floored me (especially when listing to Brocktologist) was a sense of drama to the music. They didn’t let the beat tear into a drone like it used to back in the day. Here, they worked the music so there was clear build-up and payoff time and again. The way it flowed from entry to exit and changed over and over taking new directions held my attention all evening.
For someone who normally wouldn’t go out of my way for this kind of mix, these guys won me over quickly. This turned out to be a perfect example of what I was blogging about last night. There are things I found here that I will hold onto and I would absolutely go out of my way to see The Chaotic Good in the future (even if they did disappoint by not rolling out the 8 foot tall robot). What was brought to bear was amazing to watch. Where I’m used to a bit more brute force in my music, this show knocked me out with pure style.
Oh yea… Also… The hula hoop dancer didn’t hurt. Video and more photos over on my Facebook page. Cheers!
I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but I’m a bit of a Tom Waits fan. If you know me, you probably just uttered an audible sigh and the worlds “well yea”.
Why do I have such a soft spot for his music?
For me it’s akin to the best parts of a quiet night when the moon lights up the world just a bit more than it should. This music represents something classic, rusty and seasoned in our culture that is missing in today’s message-a-moment world. It reminds me of many things I love about life and the more I listen the more I find there is to hear. That quality is what I look for in a classic painting and I’ve never found it more often in the world of music than when I’m exploring one of his melodic creations.
Today, I received a package in the mail containing four LP’s that are simply beyond cool for words…
These are each limited edition 180 gram red vinyl release copies of Closing Time, The Heart of Saturday Night, Nighthawks at the Diner and Small Change. They were limited to a pressing of 1000 copies each. These four represent my favoriate early albums from Tom and, quite honestly, they are musical classics that led me to explore more of his work.
For now, these four go on a shelf here at the house. In time, they will have the honor of being the very first music played when I find my new home somewhere in 2011. First the farm will need to sell, but there is a glass of wine, an old school record player and an entire new world will begin with these four albums.
Until then, they sit ready. The only question is one of time and the answer to the question I can’t put down… When?
I’ve been reminded over the last couple weeks just how lucky I am to have a mix of amazing people, both friends and family, in my life. I am very thankful for each and every person and I wish everyone reading this the very best holiday season. Thank you, from the bottom (and top) of my heart.
This weekend John Wilson and I will be traveling to Elizabethtown, Kentucky to spend the day (and night) with the creative team behind SkyStorm Studios. The studio has been going through a renaissance and a bit of a creative explosion lately. I can’t say a lot more other than they have invited us into their lives to look at their projects and help shape their plans and we’re honored.
I have to admit that I’m tremendously excited to sink my teeth into sharing options on projects and being part of the evolution of a ton of great books. It is clear to me that there are projects here that show tremendous promise. Seeing them realized for friends seems like a really good way to dedicate my time. I’m sure I’ll have much more to say on down the road, but this weekend takes me to a city I haven’t visited in years and I’m looking forward to the trip.
Before I go though, I’m spending a rare Friday night in town (departing in the morning). Tonight, I’m planning to visit a local restaurant called Marikka’s for what just may be my favorite spot for German food. It’s been far too many years since I visited this former haunt and a nice plate of rouladen with green beans and spaetzle awaits. I tell you, I would go there just for the spaetzle. They have these wonderfully thick German noodles that I crave every so often. Usually I don’t make it over. Tonight, I will dine!
From the Colbert/Stewart rally to the “day job” conference in Washington, DC to the 36 hours between flying back and leaving for a show to Mid-Ohio-Con, this has been a very busy time. I’m happy to report that, as the holidays approach, this whole tread of activity within my life shows no sign of letting up anytime soon. There will most certainly be more stories to tell.
First, let’s discuss the Comedy Central rally. You know, I had a lot of fun at the event. That said, it left me feeling satisfied but maybe just a little underwhelmed. When I went, I was wanting to feel the passion that broke through the comedy which was so clearly realized here (Crossfire clip, 2004)…
What I got felt very staged. I wanted that counterculture rallying cry that could voice with humor and cutting wit the frustration I’ve recently felt. Sadly, what I got was a show. It was a really good show, but it was only in the final minutes that I found the rally I wanted to attend. I could have used more of an afternoon of this kind of discussion…
I think I had too high a set of expectations. It was a wonderfully entertaining event and the crowd and their signs stole the show. I’ve just felt frustrated with the political world for a while now and I wanted that voice of reason to shine through. In the end, looking back, it got lost in its own cloudy lining. An opportunity missed.
Enough of that though…
One of the very best things about these last two weeks has been the surprise reconnection with friends who mean more to me than I can say. The promised reintroduction of some of them into my life and the realization that there are times when you can, quite honestly, pick right back up where you left off was a really pleasant surprise.
Thanks to Facebook, my college buddy Jon Lay (pictured above) read I was heading for DC and would be at the rally. We tried to connect there, but it was clear it would be impossible as the crowd was unbelievable eliciting surprised reactions even from DC locals who are used to this sort of thing.
That evening, it also looked like we might miss each other due to separate schedules for the day. Only as the sun set did a text arrive letting me know he was heading out for a beer. I made my way over through Dupont Circle to touch base with him and two of his friends. A legendarily fun night would follow.
FYI… Before I go on, one of the guys with Jon runs a blog you should be reading called Topless Robot. Great geek culture fun at its finest! Go… bookmark… return.
Anyway, this was Halloween weekend so the costume crowd was out in force and the second club we made it to had dancing. We left the first after they literally pulled the tables, the chairs we were sitting on and the seat cushions to make room for more people. That was not met with a good reaction, but that’s a story for another time and the second bar, dubbed simply Lucky Bar more than made our evening a great one.
This second club had a more relaxed vibe, great food and a staff that felt like they were part of our group for the evening. I think my impression of the place was helped by a kind couple from Reno who offered us the other side of their booth. They became great “one night” friends for the evening. Though really blurred, here’s a shot of the two of them…
And a photo from inside the club…
It was just one of those memorable nights and I was able to reconnect with a buddy who lives in the same town, but I had drifted away from just due to life. Thanks to some flashback Wednesday night gaming planned, that should be a thing of the past and that’s a really good thing.
Similarly, Scott Moore (no relation, but might as well be related and is pictured above) saw I was going to be at Mid-Ohio-Con and came up on Saturday. Though we didn’t have quite as much time to reconnect, the invitation to visit him in Cincy was offered and will be accepted in the weeks ahead. Again, here there were moments that felt like not an hour had passed since we hung out in years past.
These two were part of a group of college friends that were, at times, inseparable. Scott never actually lived with me, but we pretty much lived life together in college and that distinction would have been moot. I can’t understate how great it was to be met with a smile after all these years and welcomed back into their lives like I never missed a beat. That, to say the least, is true friendship (and I think I have now drummed that point into the ground).
To top it all off, while at the NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators) conference, I had a chance to chat with a wonderful woman who I was lucky enough to call my first wife, Cindy Shirley (pictured above left with her friend Aubree Hanson). Cindy and I have remained friends over the years, but not had a chance to chat much. As she does the same “day job” I do only (only on the other side of the country in Seattle) she was at the conference and we took some time out to catch up. As this outstanding blast from the past two week period really hit its stride, it was great to get a chance to sit down with her and hear how her life has evolved, hear all the latest boat racing news and catch up on a former family. She’s very happy with a wonderful partner in life who was a friend from back in my boat racing days. I was really pleased to see how great her life has turned out. She’s an awesome individual and deserves it.
I came away form these last two weeks really appreciating all the great people I’ve known in my life. I’ve taken a lot of roads and looking back I can say with certainty, success or failure at each turn, I would not change a thing. I’m very lucky.
To say I’m not your typical sports centered kind of guy would be an understatement, but I once read a post somewhere about the 50 things a person needed to do before they die and one has never left my brain for some strange reason. That was “follow a high school football team for one season attending all their games”.
As I flew from Kentucky to Washington DC this evening, it was a night flight. It was Friday. As I looked down, I saw stadium after stadium pass below me and, at least as we took off, I could see the teams on the field and it brought this list item back into my brain.
What struck me most, was just how close these grind irons actually were to one another. With that in mind, thinking about how much these mythic games mean to these kids and their team fans, week after week, it interests me. I’ve always been enamored by the concept of high school and college football. Probably more so than watching the actual game.
It has something to do with that classic story of high school kids evolving the game itself into a bit of a legend that, for some, defines those early years and lives on in the lore of the school and community. It is a concept that, narratively, appeals to me. It’s more the story of the game than the game itself that I find so interesting.
With that in mind, I have to admit that picking a random team and following that story for a year could be something really fun to try someday. Maybe that’s the thing about sports I’ve been missing for so many years. It isn’t about the game or an individual outcome… It’s about the broader story that people carry away. The myth of the game becomes more than the game itself. Maybe that list has something. Then again, maybe I need to go see a band play instead.
How about a little music for your Thursday listening pleasure? Here’s a video of the Yellow Belts performing Crazy Hand (which you will recognize as audio used regularly in my Related Recap podcast each week). So good…
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April 4th, 2011 
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