I’ve seen Sharon Van Etten perform at the MusicNow Festival, which was awesome. But it was a treat to see her expand with a solo set as she rolled again through Cincinnati.

Ever been to a concert and you swear a musician is looking right at you. The lyric intensifies and all of a sudden you’re frozen but trying to emote some sense of connection by nodding to the beat? And then the singer says between songs, “I can’t see a thing. How are you doing out there?”

Yeah.

Man I sound creepy, but this moment is entirely innocent.

Anyway, Sharon and her band were excellent, as was the opening set by Damien Jurado who writes sad songs, but banters on stage with an extremely enjoyable dry wit.

Also proud of the residents in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington who voted for equality of love and family.

The results may vary, but the process of voting fills me with excitement every single time.

Time for the yearly check-up.
It’s a process.
The results take a while to collect, and I’ve learned to roll with it.
Focus on the moment.
Stay occupied with projects enjoyable.
Spend time with people you love and love you even when you’re annoying.

Celebrated Cathy’s birthday with barbeque and all the fixins, the best of which was the cooked cabbage.

If you’d have asked a younger me if I would ever like or even desire cooked cabbage, I would’ve adamantly said NO.

I should also mention, of my list of loathed foods: artichokes, olives, and dried coconut — I now like ‘em all. Go figure.

My friends Kelley and Mike’s band R.Ring is doing pretty dang well, and I dig ‘em, lots.
They’re heading to Europe next year and needed an image to make an announcement.
After plunging the coffee this morning, the globe in my apartment spoke to me.