Garden Of Blog

It’s been almost two weeks since the debut of our oh-so-laidback podcast we call CozmiKast. So far, it’s been a blast, and we’ve done a whopping seven episodes.

Of course, that pace can’t keep up, but we can come close. Post production is minimal so we can get them up pretty fast after recording. The text feeds on cozmikast.com aren’t in very good shape yet, but the podcast itself has been working great, and I just fixed the file size bug to pretty up the feed for the directories. Now my little podcasting program can fetch my mp3 file sizes across domains if necessary, using Perl’s LWP module. Lovin’ it.

Jessica’s also been getting back into development lately. Check out her newly designed Abby site, to replace the somewhat out of date pages I had in place for her. We’re thinking it might be nice to set up a blog for Abby. Why not?

Lung cancer? Hell no!

Roll up for the mystery tour.

It’s funny (or not) how one’s perceptions can shift. One day, beauty, the next and life is a joke.

Any given day, I’m in a pretty snappy mood. I entertain myself with mild jokes, easy math problems, and goofy plans. I do things merely to do them. Certain pursuits have become more habit than joy; but the habit manages to gratify.

I remember writing a poem called “Proud Now” which addressed undelayed gratification. I was reminding myself that the joy was in getting there; in the rehearsal, not the performance; in the trip, not the destination.

Still, there have been parts of the trip I did not enjoy… black holes in the long, stangeness of it… from which I might not have emerged without harming myself or another. My ability to enjoy the present trip demands that I bury those old byways as deep as I can. It’s not the healthy thing to do. It’s the only thing to do.

Pfaw. Ignore all that. I’m just depressed because Justin left.

I used to have the #1 most plastic, insincere smile in the whole entire world.

Now I’m down to #2. Thanks Tom!

Word around town is, I’m socially overwhelmed, but the truth is I love to keep busy. This weekend we record our first episode of CozmiKast, next weekend the Hoxies of 2 Ft. Taxi fame are visiting from the Cape, and today I’m working on the sound design for NHTP’s production of The Elephant Man.

Elephantitis of the calendar can be treated by occassionally saying “no, thank you.” I did so recently, and felt badly afterward, but it can’t be helped. I’ve overextended myself more than once, sacrificing sleep, happiness and clarity (well, I sacrifice that recreationally, so I suppose I can’t count that). My mother is always reminding me to pace myself, and it’s good advice.

Also looks like we’ll be heading to Pennsylvania in April to see my father, Cathy, Jesse and Cori. It’s been way too long. We can’t wait!

Tim O’Reilly (of computer book publishing fame) has posted about an issue that I know my darling wife would be interested in. She has a large archive of emails that, I am sure, she wishes had been flagged “public” or “private” by their senders…

Our call-in number is now secure: give us a holler at (603) 397-3877 and leave a voicemail. You just might hear yourself on CozmiKast.

For a little history, CozmiKast is an idea that was born when Garden of Blog was mentioned on PCH. That bastard Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff had made me chuckle one too many times, and I had to have a taste.

I think the aural immediacy of podcasting and Skype will be the rage of the next couple years. Sometime thereafter followed by a video revolution before 2012 passes. Give us a call and share your prophecy.

I’ve been on a James Taylor kick for the better part of two years now. I was pleased to hear a couple of his standards played at Amber and Alex’s wedding last weekend.

I don’t think any of his hits can be found on Never Die Young, but man, what an album. It is heavy on keyboards, and has a decidedly pop feel. JT is an amazing songwriter, with lyrical abandon rivalling early Dylan. You have to listen to this album with a lyric sheet in hand, as some of the understated phrasings might make you miss a word or two. But I almost always find that true of lyrics no matter the artist. Taylor really has some of the best diction in the business, so I don’t even know why I mentioned this. I just want you to catch every word, I suppose.

There are a thousand moments of genius on this album. And I’m done scrawling sentences that could never do it justice. Have about ten listens to this album, if you trust me at all.

I have a buddy whose wife just asked for a divorce. This man is virtually beyond reproach. Aside from being a conservative, I can’t find anything wrong with the guy. And the conservative part was probably one of the things she liked most about him. Go figure.

We’ve heard of “Things That Make You Go Hmm.” File this one under “Things That Make You Go: What The Fuck?” It is always the personal story, especially of a good friend, that moves me far more than the natural disaster. Bring on ten Katrinas. I’ll still dwell more on my pals. Don’t mess with my boys.

But maybe divorce has a lot in common with a hurricane. People rarely say they “didn’t see it coming.” It was on the news; we just weren’t sure if it would be a category 3 or a category 5 when it made landfall. Marriage is like that: the storm of divorce gathers strength and weakens all the time. It changes course. Sometimes it only breaks a couple windows; sometimes it carries your goddamn house off.

And most infuriating is that we have no control over this weather. Sure, you can imagine having acted differently. Maybe if you had boarded those windows, or if the city had shored up the levee. Maybe we could have weathered, maybe “love” could have persevered. Or maybe, perseverence could have persevered. Isn’t that a little more on point?

Alas. These are the kickings are screamings. I know the first shock of realizing the major damage. I know the numb feeling. I know the dislocation. When the storm passes, you are left with children to care for, who more likely than not will be caring for you.

And it’s a darn lucky thing you’ve got them.

10.04.2005 – Land Ho! The Rhythm Ship docks with us to share a couple tracks from their summer release Edge of Tomorrow. After an amazingly successful Mindfest and dozens of other shows, this is truly a banner year for the Shipmates. Always a pleasure.