Minutes left on my battery...

I am going to make a quick post and see how much I can squeeze in before my laptop battery bites the dust....

I don't like politicians. Especially ones who wink. I'm looking at you, McCain.

Sandra's fundraiser party was amazing and I'd like to thank everyone who came out and supported. It's really hard to find words to express how amazing you people are. Thank you so much, from deep down in my guts.

Thank you Pete and Dawn for organizing the fundraiser....and for the tasty dinner! And thanks to Jamie Oliver for creating the recipe. It was so good I am fully willing to overlook your Britishness.















I've been seeing this view a lot. Why am I practicing the drums?
Why not. I like drums.

I wish this horribly drawn-out election were over already.

My mom is on an airplane right now, on her way to China. I am extremely jealous, but I feel bad because I didn't call her to wish her a bon voyage. I thought her flight was tomorrow. Sorry Mom!


Usually I don't like cutsey photos, but this one reminded me of Suzuki-roshi, and I think it says something deeper than, "awwwww, how cute."
I mean, yeah, it's a frog with a snail hat. Maybe I am just seeing something that isn't there. Maybe it's just a frog with a snail hat.






















Will somebody please help this guy figure out the difference between his ass and a hole in the ground?














Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb As A Bag Of Hammers.

Lake Canandaigua

We were lucky enough to be able to take a trip upstate to Lake Canandaigua. We got to hang out, relax, eat food, and be around family. Add those up and you have a wonderful trip. I got to see some of my aunts that I hadn't seen in years and years. I got to meet my new cousin Reid and catch up on family stuff. It was spectacular, I can't wait to head up there again soon....




















Shuckin corn.



















Me and the uncle.
















I really, really didn't want to leave.
This is my reaction upon being told we had to leave.
















Remembering many fond memories of summers on the lake...















That there? Oh, that's just my summer home. (Not pictured: hot tub and fireplace.)

I HATE BARAK OBAMA

Just kidding. I thought maybe I would get some more readers with an inflammatory headline like that.

Right now there's a lot of questioning, learning, discovering, and other elements of change happening in my life. As always, music is a focal point.

I really don't know what's going on with music in my life. It's weird. Gigs are not reliable, nothing is very steady right now. All I know is that when I sit down at a drum set or have a whack on the ol' tapan (no, that's not an euphemism), it feels great. I really enjoy playing music. So what's the problem? Do I really suck that bad? Do other musicians not like me? Do I smell funny?

My homie Don has just moved to New Jerzey [sic], and another good friend may be leaving the damn country soon. (You can't really blame the guy...but come on!) With these two departures hovering around my brain, it's making me think about making some moves of my own.

I've been working on two projects and I think I've bitten off more than I can chew. One is a record of original compositions, the other is a breakbeat record. Most of the stuff has been recorded (with the exception of some overdubs) but the editing, mixing, sequencing, etc., is taking up so much time. Any spare moment I have, I am opening another file and editing music. Unfortunately I don't have any audio to share, but right now at this stage, it at least looks pretty cool:

too crazy for words

no, I am not talking about Sarah Palin.
I am talking about cancer.
I am not going to get too detailed, because frankly, it's too weird and it's too painful to dredge up certain memories from the recent past and write about them. Suffice to say, my girl has some, and she's been getting treatment for a couple months now. She's half way done with her course of chemotherapy, and life and reality feel so different that it's like being in The Twilight Zone (TM).
Neither of us has faced anything like this in our lives before, and despite all the many images that are brought to one's mind when one sees or hears the word "cancer," we are remaining positive, strong, as healthy as possible, and focusing on healing and our love for each other. We're gonna get through this, and the only way through it, is to do it! (TM)
And since we decided we don't want to define ourselves in relation to this disease, I will be blogging about things other than the cancer...because there are so many other things in life that help make up who we are.
Having said that, I want to say that everyone that has helped and supported us through this will never be forgotten. You know who you are, and your thoughts, prayers, deeds, wishes, and love have been invaluable to the healing process. Thank you so much, from deep deep down, deep in the gut. THANK YOU!!!


So, just last weekend we got to dogsit Winston again. He is a lovely dog that was saved from the streets and nurtured back to health by our buddy Matthew Fass, and it's always a joy to hang out with Winston. He's like the Robin Hood of the dog world; he's a rowdy fellow but he's good-natured at heart. He likes to play rough, but all in the spirit of fun. He's a dog's dog. Also, he's living proof that rescue dogs aren't necessarily "problem dogs;" he gets along with other dogs, humans, everyone and every thing (except maybe squirrels). So if you're planning to get a dog...please get a rescue!!! Save a doggy life like Winston's was saved! OK, that's it for today's public service announcement. Now for some cute pictures...