Dear friends

Enough said. =)

Birthday

And happy birthday to YOU.

Yowza (Herbie Hancock Quartet)

One night, Birchmere, amazing. Herbie Hancock, with Nathan East, Lionel Loueke, and Vinnie Colaiuta. AH-MAY-ZING. It almost felt like someone had taught me how to breathe.

Herbie and Vinnie Colaiuta

Nathan East

Lionel Loueke

These cats can PLAY.

Birthday

Happy Birthday to you! :) [You know who you are.]

A haiku in your honor...

summer breeze whispers
sweetly through the leaves and sings
just for you

Happy day, dear one.

Heroes

Really, my whole family is what has made the most difference in who I am and who I strive to be. They each inspire in different ways. They are wonderful.

Heroes

Here are two of the most important heroes in my life. The challenges and adversity each faced were remarkable. Poverty, interrupted education, war, bigotry, societal norms.... all have been managed to the best of their abilities. Poverty, we learned to handle. On the latter points, they helped change the world. At least, the small town where I grew up has begun to change. For many who live there, that's all the world they'll ever see. It counts.

El Toro

On our last trip to Spain, as we drove through the countryside we saw lots of big billboards in the shape of a bull. He was always solid black, with no words or insignia. We even commemorated him with a refrigerator magnet (one of my favorite travel vices). It was very funny one day to see a sticker of him on the back of a car on my morning commute. It brought back vivid memories of Spain... wonderful atmosphere, rich history, colorful culture, even the tang of olives served at nearly every meal.

I later read that these billboards had begun their lives as an advertisement. After much controversy, the identifying marks were obliterated but the black bulls remained. I like them.

Heroes

Awful photo. But inspirational content.

Stephen Hawking circa 2004. Ish.

Sensei

This is Mother's teacher and dear friend, Mr. Kobayashi. His portrait is still on display in the school.

Heroes

Here is one of mine.

Elie Wiesel, 2005, I think.

Sweep

A pitcher who can HIT. Miracle of miracles.[Sorry, Ken Griffey Jr., you really are awesome.]