The Covid-19 state of house arrest continues. Will it ever end? The “experts” at the New York Times are talking two years to return to normal.
I’m bummed that I won’t get to see one of my favorite bands, Car Seat Headrest in June. Their tour is cancelled, as is almost everything else.
Their new record, Making a Door Less Open is good, at least what I’ve heard. Here are two of the tracks, “Martin,” and “Hollywood.”
I like the new character, Trait, wearing a mask. Look at that!!
I have two laptops. One that is my “travel” computer. It’s one of Lenovo’s Yoga Ideabooks, perfect for use on-the-go. It’s the very same version that thieves in Providence snatched after smashing the two side windows of Mary’s RAV4, the night before Mark’s celebration of life at Brown. My insurance money allowed me to buy another one.
On that laptop is a very long attempt at writing a review of Thursday night. I completed it on Friday afternoon after trekking to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, as Mary and I had decided to spend an extra day in the city before boarding the train north for home, on Saturday. While she caught a catnap before we headed out to a romantic dinner in the city’s North End, I was banging out a review that I guess will never see the light of day.
It was Valentine’s and Mary and I were in Boston to see Car Seat Headrest (CSHR). Actually, I was the one who wanted to see the “next big thing” in indie rock, but being such a good sport, she decided to take me up on my offer of a second ticket and hit the rock show with me, even though she could care less about the indie music I’ve loved for forever: that’s the kind of girl that she is and has always been. I’m sure that quality is also why Mark loved his mom like he did.
Today is Sunday, three days after Thursday. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in an urban environment very different from where we live in Maine. Amtrak’s Downeaster made this trip especially enjoyable.
Back from Boston (from the Prudential Skywalk)
Our time in the big city was fun. I think the reason we had such a good time is because we left the car back in Brunswick. Being able to experience a city without the hassle of driving in city-style traffic lessens the stress. That and not having to find parking is a plus, too. Of course, it helps to be in an urban environment that has a stellar public transportation system. I know the locals love to bash the MBTA, but for someone like us who live in a small town with minimal public transportation options, being able to embark on public rail to crisscross the landscape of a major American city was a plus, and kind of fun, too. Continue reading
I’m a fan of Car Seat Headrest. I have been for a couple of years.
When Mark was out on his final walk, I emailed him about the band during October, early in his trip:
Hi Mark,
Did you think the story about Yo La Tengo and the Mets was funny? I did and got such a laugh reading it last night.
Mom and I have been reading at night, and not watching much TV. Can’t say I miss it at all.
Last night, was reading, while also listening to some Car Seat Headrest from their show they did at KEXP in 2014, I think.
They have so many great songs. Will Toledo is one of those prolific songwriters who got his start making music in his bedroom and releasing it on Bandcamp at first.
The song “America” made me think of your trip. Will’s writing from the perspective of seeing the country from life on the road, most likely in a tour van. The first line goes,.
“You can drive across the whole thing in four days…if you want it,” which again is the time when you’re driving. Still, there’s this sense of America being out there if you really want to see it, which you are doing on foot, literally!
Anyways that’s some of my “wisdom” or at least thoughts, this morning.
Nearly four weeks meat and dairy-free. God, I feel so good physically and my mind seems clearer. Really enjoying Michael Greger’s How Not To Die. Reading about eggs and chicken and the risk of salmonella in the chapter, “How Not To Die from Infections” last night was like a jolt—chicken and eggs exponentially increase your risk of salmonella, which is a serious infection that can kill you. He also talks about plants and how they boost your immunity. Great stuff!!
Mom says you are speaking at a school? That’s awesome!
Well, godspeed to you today as you journey forward.
Love you!
-Dad
My new thing is to look at my Facebook page in the morning: I scroll through the first three updates. If anything is positive and appears like something other than the usual hand-wringing about _______________ (fill-in-the-blank), then I’ll keep reading until I come to a “road block.”
I’m finding that my time on Zuckerberg’s bulldozer has been minimal this week. That’s probably a good thing.
Not offering up any kind of panacea, either—sadness is still all-around.