Pithy Title Here

What a weird year. On almost every front, really. I started commuting to work again a few days a week in May and, barring something unforeseen (which, let's face it, unforeseen events are very on-brand for 2021), I'll have been on about 30 flights this year (even left the country once!!)  What I'm saying is, in addition to music on while working from home, my traditional music sanctuaries of bus rides and flights were somewhat back this year. Speaking of... folks, can we talk about live music? I went to the Day In Day Out festival over Labor Day and barely knew how to handle myself. I saw Modest Mouse at Marymoor Park and even saw Coldplay indoors . Absolutely joyful. A friend and I were talking this year about how we're also still glad that albums are a thing. Despite music mainly moving to streaming options, a lot of artists are still putting together 40-or-so minutes of music that is meant to go together as one piece of work. Sure, the singles stand out, but all tho

 A year ago, it was setting in for me that the pandemic was going to be a long haul. When Washington's stay-home-stay-healthy order was first announced, it was set up in way that seemed to offer the hope that, after hunkering down for six weeks, we'd be able to have a cautious-but-not-locked-down Memorial Day. Instead... we all know what happened. Now? I'm fully vaccinated. About a month from now, Washington will reopen fully. Seattle and King County are well on the way to >70% fully vaccinated, case rates are dropping... all the metrics are good. While I did take one trip during the pandemic (a barren flight to LAX to kick off a backpacking trip), next weekend, I'll take my first trip since my shots. I expect the plane will be full. And really, looking at the research and the counsel, I feel good about living this summer with my immune system now featuring a spike protein fighting machine. I know the pandemic isn't over. I know a lot of folks can't get vacci