And now we pause for laughter.

Scattered thoughts on the move.

I’m way too old to go to any mall all by myself. I learned this today. I tried to stay away from any small children and, when I was alone at a table in the middle of a food court and downing my Chick-Fil-A Deluxe and waffle fries, I tried my best not to smile at babies. I just don’t wanna scare their soccer moms.

Also, when you don’t know anybody in your new, smallish town, you hardly have to utter a word. You also appear way too friendly and eager to talk when the guy taking your order at Barnes & Noble asks the origin of your name. You may as well be cupping your hands around your mouth while screaming excitedly into his ear: “PLEASEBEMYFRIENDNOWTHANKYOUYES?!?” Pathetic.

Two tickets to the Orlando Magic game tomorrow night have fallen in my lap. I have absolutely no options on a date or friend to take. Good seats, too.

It’s rained fairly nonstop and is chilly a lot and the jungle humidity doesn’t seem to exist like it sometimes has in the past. I should have brought more than one sweater. This is the kind of wetness that has the power to reach through skin and freeze bones.

I’ve never had a busier first day on the job. Ever. Talk about hitting the ground running. This ride will be a wild one, that’s for sure. Good thing I’m up for it.

There are a lot who seem to think I’ve been secretive about my new lot in life, but perhaps I just haven’t said much about it anywhere on the Internets: I am a company’s Director of Communications out in the Orlando, FL, area, helping take it to the next level. It’s a lot of work, but it’s going to be a lot of fun at the same time. Three days in, I’m feeling good about my crazy choice to move to a place where I know exactly two people.

The woman at the Front Desk thinks my name is "baby." I'm totally okay with that, too. There's something oddly comforting about hearing it said.

Kerry and I plan to scuba dive with a bunch of manatees next week, simply because we can. There will be photos.

Once upon a time, I was a little sad I couldn’t find a joint to visit my favorite bands in this semi-mysterious still-undiscovered-by-me wonderland. Then I found places that promise to bring me the Black Keys and Band of Horses and Fruit Bats between now and April. And I lived musically ever after. The End … or issit more like the Beginning?

Speaking of music, that Crazy Heart soundtrack is something else, isn’t it? Jeff Bridges does a fine, fine job, but that Ryan Bingham tune at the end just clobbers me. It’s been played way too much these past 48 hours. Basia Bulat has moseyed her way on into my life, too, doing her best impression of Natalie Merchant throughout her latest. Note: Not a bad thing, not in the least. She thrills me. “Go On” and “Sparrow” and “The Shore” and “If It Rains” … eh, okay, all of it. That’s easier. She goes so well with the rain. Thanks for both of those, Slowtrain.

Alligator tastes really greasy good. Homemade hush puppies are great as well. Even the grouper sandwich had its moments. It’s just hard to eat all of them with a dead deer in my line of sight, one wearing Mardi Gras beads and boxer shorts, no less. Could not stop staring. I’m pretty sure all of the locals had us pegged as tourists, and rightly so.

Drove around the downtown area this afternoon and my heart skipped one of those happy beats. Huge lake in the middle of all the skyscrapers to jog around. Cobblestone streets everywhere. Outdoor patio dining joints. Huge weeping trees. Air I only love breathing in deeply, like some kinda smiley Darth Vader. And some loft type units set in my sights. I think I can get used to this sort of scenery. All of it.

I could go for a pizza right now in a major way. In what world do grocery stores close at 10 anyway? In the world of 90-year-old velour-wearing retirees, yes. Boo! Boo, I say!

I've been a little busy.

And I suppose I'll get back to this blogging thing soon enough, but my new life is sorta taking precedence right now. I just wanted you to know that, well, you can buy my house if you want it. It's on the market as of right about now; it happened to treat me pretty good during my tour of Utah. To take a little look-see tour through it and find out s'more, scurry on over this way, yeah?

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P.S. Oh, and if you do buy it, I'll probably be your best friend for life and stuff. That, or I'll take you out for the nicest steak dinner ever. One or the other. Your pick.

Basia Bulat is my girlfriend.

So, you know, hands off and everything. You can listen to her some, though. Here's the exact song and performance where I first fell for her. And, after picking up her new album today, chances are she'll have to keep me around for a good long time to come: she just can't do any wrong in my eyes (and ears).

HibOO d'Live : Basia Bulat "The Shore" from Le-HibOO.com on Vimeo.

Listen to this.

"Opportunities multiply as they are seized." — Sun Tzu

Catching my breath.

Somebody went ahead and hit my fast forward button when I wasn't looking. I'm constantly catching up to the events pulling me down a new path. That said, I've got less than two days left in Utah. It's hard to fathom that but, well, it's the truth. I just hope I'm ready for my new life is all. Everything changes in a very short period of time. Here goes, eh?

Wordless Thursday.

Smile though your heart is breaking.

This isn't the first time or place that this photo of my new nephew has been shared, but, according to his mom, this is the first smile of his ever to exist in a photograph. I got to be the one to catch it, just five days into his existence ... and I'm pretty happy about that. And, well, I'm sure my ma will take to it once she returns from the Philippines in a day or two. Sometimes? Sometimes I really do aim to please.

Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone.

So I am off to Orlando, FL, in just seven days. I leave behind friends, connections, networks, restaurants, family, mountains and, well, that list is gonna stop right now. My life is all filled up with packing and throwing away. And, for reasons locked up in the lyrics, this song (and, most especially, the chorus) is all stuck up in my brain. Thanks, Whitesnake! And, after watching this video, I sure want to wear some leather pants while I'm making my last minute preparations. A man can dream. Hey, don't judge.



CLICK

My KRCL love letter.

Last night I waded through two-and-a-half hours of music that I was lucky enough to share with those listening to their radios. It was my very last program as a DJ for KRCL. I’ve been there for almost five years, volunteering my time in a variety of ways: subbing for other programs, filming musicians who’d stopped by to perform, representing the station at festivals/concerts and, well, that list goes on. Even as the station was being reorganized, I had a sense of pride about it all. I felt like I'd helped, in some small way, to build what it was becoming. Barring that, it’s just been a lot of fun, too.

Not a lot of forethought was put into this final show, but I played a lot of my favorites: Wilco, Ghostland Observatory, The Black Keys, The National, Bon Iver, Radiohead, Peter and the Wolf. I’ve done that most weeks, too, but last night hit me like that proverbial ton of bricks. When the tears came (and kept coming), it was a surprise to me, but I didn’t try to keep them back. It just became a matter of wiping my face off and composing myself between sets of music. And, when some listeners called to wish me well, I don’t think they were able to tell that my heart was as heavy as it was.

To keep things in perspective, then, I’ve had girlfriends I’ve never shed tears over. There are goodbyes that’ll happen in a week I believe will be pretty easy to say. This, however, surprised me. More emotion bubbled to the surface than I ever thought was there. I’ll miss sharing daily and weekly musical discoveries with Salt Lake City and beyond. I’ll miss simply talking to other like minds about it, too. I’ll miss everything about the relationship and connection that has developed. There's just so much there. Time will likely change things, but the feeling I had last night will be a hard one to shake.

As general and as all encompassing as this is … thanks, KRCL.

Last Rock Flight Flies Tonight.

With new beginnings come some endings. Because I'm shipping out to Florida less than two weeks from now to begin my brand new life, I'll be doing my final radio show on KRCL tonight ... just about 3-and-a-half hours from now. Rather than get all sappy sentimental about it, I'll just say ... it's been a good ride, filled with a lot of good people and songs all along the way. I'm glad I've been able to provide the service for as long as I have. Tune in from your spot of the globe by going HERE at 8 PM or, if you's local, turn your dial one last time to 90.9 FM and enjoy that spot of the evening along with me. Also, the folks at the station were kind enough to throw up their own miniature tribute, which was both surprising and touching. It shows me being a general poser, cozying up to alla the bands and pretty singers I could muster up the courage to ask for a photo op. You can read/view it by going to the station blog HERE.

It's been fun, hasn't it? It really has.

Wordless Wednesday.

Truth.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. — Helen Keller

Bragging just a bit.

I've yet to see this little guy in person, but a picture says plenty; my baby sister gave birth to this latest nephew just this morning (her first boy). I tried to get more info out of her on the phone just moments ago, but there was plenty of the chitter chatter happening in the background. I did, however, convince someone to take a photo or four. And here he is ... and here goes my bragging self. According to my ma, who has yet to figure out how to take photos with a phone, he has a "relatively" big head (family tradition), black hair, plenty of dimples and long fingernails. About 7 lbs and 21", too. And so the family continues to grow. And so continues that baffling consistent miracle of life. Congrats, sis!

Hints & Allegations.

Can this please be one of the brightest spots of your day? The day's young yet, but it certainly is one of mine. I'll prolly have to revisit it throughout this Sunday. Go ahead, try to get out of this one without smiling. I have the wonderful site Cover Lay Down to thank for this one.

St. Vincent - Laughing with a Mouth Full of Blood.

This is already showing up everywhere on the Internet and I prolly have no business posting it as along with the big guns, but, well, what's one more blog post, yeah? Besides, considering St. Vincent and my history together (not really, but still), I felt it sorta was my duty to expose this one just a little more than it's been exposed. How can you have issues with something this pretty and funny? I can't. Enjoy it like I know you will.


St. Vincent - "Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood"

st. vincent | MySpace Music Videos

I totally got married at the end of last year.

Sorry I didn't tell you then. But now seems as good a time as any to share it with you, my close personal follow-along-in-my-blogging-footsteps entourage. Her name's Anna, it was at a Winery in WA and, well, you know? How bout you go look at some of our photos instead? If a picture tells a-thousand words, there are at least 10,000 over here. That saves me a whole mess of typing.

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Oh, and sorry you're just finding out, too, Mom. It's just the way these things go sometimes. Oh, and (last apology) ... I'm sorry it doesn't look like me in those photos. It was overcast and our photographer wasn't all that great. It happens. Yay for us!

Inspiration, thy name is Hollywood.