When I Grow Up

It was November 1992 when Chris and I were driving to Killington in his Jeep for some early-season skiing. The Lemonheads “It’s a Shame about Ray” had become a hit that fall with their cover of “Mrs Robinson”. On the way home, after a few beers; Chris, in his warm, Texas drawl started singing “there’s still some of the same stuff we got yesterday…” over Evan and Juliana. And so it was through Chris’ atonal mashup of “My Drug Buddy” that I discovered Juliana Hatfield.

I quickly discovered the Blake Babies– I had probably heard them on WFNX in the late 80s. And with “Hey Babe” and “Become What You Are” I was hooked. Juliana’s music would be the soundtrack to many 90s summer weeks on Hunter Cove in Rangeley. Well Juliana, PJ Harvey, and The Golden Palominos. Through the 90’s I made it to perhaps six JH gigs. Most memorable: 1995 at Avalon with Jeff Buckley opening.

For well over a decade Juliana’s music has been a catalyst for reaching my emotions. Sometimes pleasantly painful, like listening to her early 90’s work when I’m just pissed at Chris for being dead. Sometimes deep, like the riff at the end of “Ten Foot Pole”, which to me, is the quintessential, instantly-identifiable JH guitar vibe. Sometimes pissed-off – why didn’t Gods Foot get released? And how do I fix that?

Juliana’s memoir “When I Grow Up” was an enjoyable, illuminating read. The cadence of the book is not unlike a Beckett play; especially if you have some suspicions on how things might turn out… or not. Keep going!


Juliana (Manchester, NH - May 12, 2000)

Christmas 2008

We went with Ed and Claudia to Pesce Blue in Portsmouth for the traditional "Seven Fishes Feast" on Christmas Eve. Yummy. Then a mellow, mild, day with no stress at all - and the dogs happy to get out of the house.

Spring Conditions (Mine Hill Christmas, 2008)

Blue Skies Up Ahead

My emotions are amplified this time of year. What is it about the "holiday spirit"? For children, this should be a magical time - indeed, what isn't magical in your youth? And why does that fade for some? The news of Tery this year, like other tragedies that have worked to align with the stars, makes me even more in awe of this life's great arc. Good and bad.

Pig-Pen Party: Maureen, Tery, Andy, Kathy, Mike, Rick, Shep (1977)

Missing Tery

I remember Tery carrying around that Pink Floyd album with the Hipgnosis cover. Shit, that's ambiguous. The one with the man shaking hands on fire. Wish you were here.

Tery (1975)

The Ice Storm of 2008

After four days "off the grid", power, landline phone, and broadband found their way back to us. We are fortunate that we are off of a state highway that has been well maintained. It was still an ordeal. More pics on the click-through.

An Attractive Nuisance

About the year we moved into Manitou House, the Town of Olive had cleared trees and established a roadbed for what would become Hillside Drive in West Shokan. When the snow fell that December, the fat and gullible city kid would be one of the first to challenge it on sled. Of course, I went right past Rick's driveway and into the creek.

I garnered a small amount of `cred, in that I could actually hurt myself. A year or two later, "the pit", became the focal point for much mini-bike activity. I don't think I ever damaged myself too bad, although the possibility surely was there. And in time perfected my cross up.

A Vinyl-Only Evening

We stayed close to home this Thanksgiving. Ed and Claudia cooked an amazing dinner. I got to see Zoe and David. And Susan and I had a "vinyl-only" evening. I think the vinyl-only bit is vital. Three decades later, my early 1980's Technics SP10 still works fine. The LP of the evening... the original Utopia album from 1974. Frog included. Very cool.

Griff and Geo abhor daylight (Bearsville 1979)

Geo

I spoke with George today: my dear friend from "The Bearsville Era" is on the mend. It seems like only yesterday Carol, Geo, and Eddie had their digs in Mt Tremper. That was thirty years ago. Frick!

George in 'B' control at the Ted Rothstein-modded Quad-8 desk

Super Freak

Dee called and said "Halloween Party" and so we were up for it. Susan was much more into her 70's revival than my 80's rock guy move.

Rick James

The Great Depression

Perhaps because I was viewing it through the rosy gloom of youth, that last recession in the 1970s didn't seem so bad.

The Bushkill Boys (1974)

Hint of Fall

Team Nautique, Malibu, and Mastercraft each took a one-third share in a boat lift for the pond. We reason that this is a productivity tool; making it easier and quicker for us to get on and off the water. I'm missing the ROI analysis; but the idea seems sound. Water now in the 50s; the ski set days are numbered, maybe one or two.

More Dog Days

This summer, like many before it, seems to have slipped away. This isn't such a bad thing. Without question, fall is my favorite season. I find it hard to find any fault will fall. Even the raw, cold, rainy days. Yet strangely, I'm missing this summer already. These past twelve weeks have been uncomfortable at best. Plans to visit friends and family unfairly disrupted by the uncertain economics. But life is good - and the water is still warm. Well warmish.

Leona all better

Dog Days

Leona became sick after after a prey-drive toad encounter, so I regrettably sat out today's event. Brian provides some play-by-play. Scott's pics are here.
Good to hear Leona is doing better. Record books are probably not going to change dramatically, but it was a truly great day. The pond was kind to most, and I know a couple of personal bests were set or equaled. Team mastercraft and nautique both performed flawlessly. Dave had a strong 38 showing. Brooke ran 30 consistently, and got well into 32 when I was in the boat. Unfortunately I missed her second round, so I'm not 100% on the whole day. I skied marginal, mid 32's, couple mistakes cost me big. Anxious to get some skiing this week...
Julie Hommel- definitely most improved over June
Jim Degnan- 2 @ 35
Skip, Pat, Paul, and Bruce all saw 38
Justin Peterson- 1 @ 35
Dan Warner- 4 @ 35
All I can remember.... It was a great weather day and lots of fun. Ski soon, Bd

No Toads Here - Leona on a toad-free day (2008)

Terzo

I have purposely forced my way into paying a dinner tab by saying something like "I'm doing OK, when you are doing better, you can pick it up." I had used that line some time ago, and perhaps more than once, with Heidi. So this time around, despite being all camped out on her couch and all, she used the same logic right back at me: I was treated to a fabulous meal at Terzo. Highly recommended in a city where the food is better than the superlatives.

Remembering the 1980s up on Alpine

Whipple Ave.

27 years ago I flew JFK/SFO on a DC-10 for my interview with Ampex Corp in Redwood City. I remember my doe-eyed stare out the left side of the plane; my first adult view of the peninsula. Although I had never gone through that sequence of events, everything seemed natural: the plane flight, renting the car, driving for my first time southbound on 101, the warm evening air blowing in the windows, drowning me with excitement, like a fly in “absinthe classic”. My destination was an orange-roofed Howard Johnsons (is there any other kind?) on Whipple Ave where I would stay the night before the interview.

I repeated a similar but different sequence of events this morning: a BOS/SFO flight I’ve flown countless (80?) times, renting the car, and then a strange thing. I’m driving south again on 101 to have coffee with some friends when I exit on Whipple Ave and drive past that (still) orange-roofed Howard Johnsons. A warm feeling comes over me. The actions portend something good, I believe, just as it did back in 1981. I hop back on the 101 to meet my friends, just off Willow, not Whipple Ave.

Another Terrific Weekend

A too-short visit with Ron and Faith up on the coast of Maine. No drama. A birthday for Ron. Lobsters. Beach. Sun. And just down the street - so to speak. Nice!

The Gang

Team Mastercraft

Brian took up the slack (literally, but not so well at his -35 one ball) this week as I've been anxious about my upcoming travels. It was nice to get in drama-free daily sets, even if I've slipped back a few buoys. I'll blame it on the cooler, more-dense, roller-y water, even though I know it is in my head.

"The ski doesn't know if you are having a bad day."

A Terrific Weekend

The flight back was a mess. Eighteen hours to go LAX/BOS on what was supposed to be a five hour non-stop: Two planes, one with a stubborn rudder.  Three mechanical incidents and one medical incident. Everyone OK, life goes on. ... My "LA Weekend", however, was bliss, and the photo below captures the feel...

The Arts and Crafts Vibe of West Hollywood (2008)

Relentless Blue Sky

A stinging, omnipresent blue radiates from the southern California sky. Well in the day anyhow. No doubt this is considered a virtue by some. I'd prefer some variation, but for now - no complaints. Today (so far) we've had all sorts of activities, not all unique to la-la land. An F250 pickup truck moves back less than a foot and disfigures my friend's pristine E63. Bummer. The cats go to the vet and move closer to town. Cats aren't so pleased. Sushi (at Sushi Roku) for lunch. Much better. And for dinner we plan to meetup with an old college pal. Things are looking up for that blue sky.

BLD Restaurant

Dinner at BLD was nice - the conversation was better. Cindy, Tamara, Kurt and I yap it up.