Thoughts on a Fallen Steeple

A wind came without warning, strong enough to take a steeple clean off a church and yet restrained enough to spare everything else. When it was over, a sanctuary stood as it always had. No shattered windows. No collapsed walls. Only a steeple, white and fiberglass, torn by force, lying in pieces, carefully gathered andContinue reading "Thoughts on a Fallen Steeple"

Ivan & Alyosha – Running For Cover (Live on KEXP) – YouTube

We (The Plain Travelers) heard this band with the odd name of Ivan & Alyosha back in the mid-2010s at a club in Austin called The Parish. I'm rediscovering them today, and this tune, "Running for Cover" has some heavy lyrics wherein I'm hearing about a garden, a fall, and taking the blame... If IContinue reading "Ivan & Alyosha – Running For Cover (Live on KEXP) – YouTube"

Christopher Tolkien Remembered: Steward of Middle-earth

As January unfolds, a season often reserved for reflection and new beginnings, we remember Christopher Tolkien, who passed on January 16, 2020. For many, he was more than a scholar or editor; he was the quiet guardian of a world that had captured our hearts for generations. Though he rarely sought the spotlight, his workContinue reading "Christopher Tolkien Remembered: Steward of Middle-earth"

U2 > News > Wake Up Dead Man

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, was a blast, especially considering the topics it hit upon amidst the murder-mystery. Discovering that the film's composer was a U2 fan was lagniappe, and this quote from the article linked below really resonated with me: "I grew up in a particular strand of American evangelicalism thatContinue reading "U2 > News > Wake Up Dead Man"

“Baby, time meant nothing, anything seemed real…”

Just watched Peter Bogdanovich’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” the documentary on Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. It’s a long, winding look at a life spent chasing music, chasing dreams, and somehow keeping your feet on the ground while the world’s lights are flashing all around you. There’s something quietly moving in watching someone pour themselves intoContinue reading "“Baby, time meant nothing, anything seemed real…”"