virginia

Oh November

in

November is almost over and what a month it has been…

The month began with my first extended break since the world shut down because of Covid. If you didn’t know I have worked continually through it all. It is a blessing to have a job, though it has gotten a little tiring and many times I have wondered if stepping back would have made me focus on art and music more. So it goes.

I’m still creating frequently. Need to work my focus on getting more live performances. That’s where I thrive.

Ashley Klump and I went back to the Virginia at the beginning of November. We saw my grandparents on my mom’s side, my mom and her husband Sean, Uncle Randy and Angie, Aunt Maggie, Aunt Lonnie and Bryan, my brother Jason and his wife Savannah, and their little one Audrey. Oh and Pat, mom’s friend and neighbor-she’s essentially family in my opinion. That’s a lot of freakin family in about four days.

Ashley and I also got engaged! That’s something I never really thought would happen, but this little fairy tale is far from finished. Seems this fox met his match. A wild and eccentric, yet meek and mild, beautiful woman. Thank you Ashely.

Back into the coffeehouse and back to Portland…

I’ve been reading “Be Here Now / Be Nowhere” by Raam Dass, Mahabharata.

Creating new tracks with the synth and a newly acquired theremin that was a birthday gift from my friend Jenny Duchene. The theremin is a little more challenging to record with as of now. I’ll post new tracks soon.

Thanksgiving was beautiful and yummy. Ashley and I had our friends Alan and Aimee over.

Oh there was a lunar eclipse this month. Didn’t see it / Definitely felt it.

Lots of rain in the PNW. It’s so nice to have it back. Listening to crows. The hummingbirds are everywhere again. I saw three on my “morning” coffee walk today.

Also the night after Ashley and I got back from Virginia-we saw what was only my second owl since living out west fly over and sit on the power line above us and Bonnie and I saw went walking one night and three raccoons came out to say hello to us.

Been tuning into Russell Brand’s YouTube channel a lot more frequently. His perspective and wisdom on the issues he covers is inspiring to me. There’s a lot of work to do still my fellow earthlings.

Hmmm…. I am sure there are many things I am leaving out. There’s another tab open with other projects to finish.

What A Week It's Been

in

Well there's been a lot happening this past week. It all happens so quick and you don't know what or how to think.

One moment you're in an airport, the next moment you're in a hospital room seeing your kid brother hooked up to a machine to keep his body breathing, the next moment you're meeting family you haven't seen since you were barely walking. 

It's been great to get back to Pennsylvania and Virginia. These worlds are just fragmented memories to me.

I've reconnected with family I haven't spoke to in probably 20 years.

I learned my Great Grandma on my Grandpa's side was 100% Swedish! Ironic because that's the only European country that I feel an urgency and see.

I've learned about the Thompson's. That's my Grandma's maiden name, and they seem to be where my mom's "wild hare" gene comes from. It's quite fascinating actually.

And that's just the start of it...

But now I need to get up off the couch and put some presentable clothes on. Aunt Mag is on her way over and we are going to pick up Dalton's ashes. I need to finish this coffee so I can talk real sentences. 

I miss you, Dalton. I really do. It's been good to head back to the East Coast. I can see why the forefathers were enchanted by these lands but I'm ready to return to my world in Cascadia. The land of giant trees, rivers, and mountains that damn near touch the sky. 

Here are some of the pictures from around my Pennsylvania and Virginia adventurings.