Wednesday, April 24, 2024

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #14 for 2024...

"A Fine Dark Line" written by Joe R. Lansdale, first published in 2002.



Tuesday, April 23, 2024

 Cowles Park after work, 3-miles in 33 minutes.

Monday, April 22, 2024

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my favorite "Rock" albums of 1966...

Albums released 1966

1. The 13th Floor Elevators The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

2. Love Love

3. Buffalo Springfield Buffalo Springfield

4. Simon & Garfunkel Sounds of Silence

5. The Fugs         The Fugs

6. The Mothers of Invention Freak Out!

7. The Seeds The Seeds

8. The Seeds A Web of Sound

9. The Incredible String Band The Incredible String Band

10. Jefferson Airplane Jefferson Airplane Takes Off

Honorable Mentions (11 thru 20)

11. Them Them Again

12. Love Da Capo

13. Cream Fresh Cream

14. Bert Jansch Jack Orion

15. Simon & Garfunkel Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

16. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde

17. The Yardbirds Roger the Engineer (aka Over Under Sideways Down)

18. The Byrds Fifth Dimension

19. Wilson Pickett The Exciting Wilson Pickett

20. The Beatles Revolver

Honorable Mentions (21 thru 30)

21. The Misunderstood The Lost Acetates 1965–1966

22. The Creation The Creation

23. The Who         A Quick One

24. The Kinks Face to Face

25. Donovan         Sunshine Superman

26. Blues Magoos Psychedelic Lollipops

27. West Coast Pop Art Exp Band Volume One

28. Fred Neil         Fred Neil

29. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band East-West

30. The Animals Animalization

Honorable Mentions (31 thru 40)

31. Small Faces Small Faces

32. The Troggs From Nowhere

33. The Rolling Stones Aftermath

34. Richard Fariña and Mimi Fariña Reflections in a Crystal Wind

35. The Deep Psychedelic Moods

36. Blues Project Projections

37. The Sonics Boom

38. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds

39. Gordon Lightfoot Lightfoot!

40. The Mamas & the Papas If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

Honorable Mentions (41 thru 50)

41. John Fahey Great San Bernardino Birthday Party & Other Ex…

42. Roy Harper Sophisticated Beggar

43. Tim Buckley Tim Buckley

44. Tim Hardin Tim Hardin 1

45. The Young Rascals The Young Rascals

46. The Animals Animalisms

47. Blues Project Live at the Cafe Au Go Go

48. Bo Diddley The Originator

49. The Beau Brummels Beau Brummels '66

50. The Mamas & the Papas The Mamas & the Papas


Jazz Albums released 1966 (coming soon)


Sunday, April 21, 2024

Took a 6-mile run between Bear Hole and Ashley Reservoir's in the morning, prior to driving back to BMC to visit my Mom in the hospital.  

Today had my mother much closer to her "normal" compared to yesterday.

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Drove out to BMC Hospital to visit my Mom early morning to early afternoon.

Stopped at Berkshire Snow Basin in Cummington on the way home to climb Bryant Mountain to the FAA Tower on top.  3-miles round trip.

Friday, April 19, 2024

Run after work at Cowles, later in the afternoon.

Completed 6.1-miles at 5.1 mph pace.  1:12:00 more or less.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Dickie Betts passed today at age 80.


Allman Brothers Guitarist / Vocalist Dickie Betts passed away today.  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the "Live at the Fillmore East" album from 1971 by the Allman's must be some of the most inspired and impressive playing I have ever heard in my life.  


The twin guitars of Dickie Betts and Duane Allman have never, ever been matched in my opinion.  The rest of the band, Gregg Allman, Berry Oakley, Jai Johnny Johanson and Butch Trucks, were all one throughout this recording as well.  It was like a jazz group playing rock music, and really well.


Betts wrote many of the more well known Allman Brother's songs, including:
  • Revival
  • In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
  • Les Brers in A Minor
  • Blue Sky
  • Ramblin Man
  • Southbound
  • Jessica

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

"High Points" along trails during March 2024... 

Still Trying...

  • North Drake Mountain, Granville/Southwick, MA
  • Crow Hill, Stafford, CT
  • Peaked Mountain, Monson, MA
  • Peaked - Copper Mountain, East Granby, CT
  • West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet (NET) Trail, West Suffield, CT
  • East Sweetman Mountain, Granville, MA
  • Holden Hill, Granville, MA
  • Drake Mountain, Granville/Southwick, MA
  • Chestnut Hill, Granville/Tolland, MA

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #13 for 2024...

"Header" written by Edward Lee, first published in 1995.  Truly, one of a kind...


Monday, April 15, 2024

From the Marathon Archives...

100th Boston Marathon
April 15th, 1996 - Boston, Massachusetts

I was fortunate to run the 100th Boston Marathon today. 

It was my 10th marathon completed, in a time of 3:24:14.

Mile Markers as follow:
  •   5.0 -Miles -    45:05
  • 10.0 -Miles - 1:23:25
  • 15.0 -Miles - 2:02:28
  • 20.0 -Miles - 2:42:59
  • 25.0 -Miles - 3:22:35
  • 26.2 -Miles - 3:32:15

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Home from our Western Caribbean Adventure....  a day to unpack and hopefully rest.

Took a run at Cowles Park between rain drops, 7.6-miles.

Saturday, April 13, 2024

 Arrive back in Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida Cruise Port.

With some time before our flight back to Connecticut, we have a Land and Sea Excursion planned for the morning into early afternoon hours.

We took a bus tour and brief walk through the city, and then a 90-minute river boat tour on the New River (I believe).

From there, it was to the airport and back to CT by midnight. 

Friday, April 12, 2024

Full day at Sea, on our way back to Fort Lauderdale. 

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Today's port is Cozumel, which is Mexico’s largest island.

We have an excursion planned labeled Secret River and Playa del Carmen.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Today's Port in Costa Maya, located 100 miles south of Playa del Carmen was cancelled due to high seas and incredible winds.

Our Excursion to Chacchoben, a Mayan ruin that dates back to 350 AD, didn't happen, but we had a wonderful time aboard the ship anyhow.