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It's a small and crazy world! Many of you know that I've semi-retired as a Carpenter, and am working at a Lumber Yard/Hardware store here in Fairfax, CA. I help a lot of Contractors locally, and being a small town, many have heard of my work, because of Jack Irving, who I worked with on Al's house years back. Some that I'm close to have seen pics of many of my past projects. Today I got a call from an older, local Contractor/Musician (there are many in the area). He was at Linda Ronstadt's house in San Francisco yesterday. He's been her Contractor and her friend for decades. She was telling him about some bookshelves that she saw at a bookstore in the Sunset district. She wanted to know if he could build some like them? So they went to look them over. Upon arriving, the store owner recognized Linda and struck up a conversation. Linda explained how she loved the custom shelving. The owner told her about the man that built them, but that he wasn't working with the same Contractor anymore. She showed Linda more of his work at the bookstore, and then invited them to her house a few blocks away for lunch, and to see all of the custom work he'd done there. During lunch she informed her that she still had his phone number and said she'd call to see if it was OK to give it out. In doing so she mentioned his full name. Her Contractor and friend Andy Giddings said "wait, I know him, he works at the lumber counter of my local lumber yard". Today Andy Giddings got my number from my employers after explaining the story, and he called me to tell me that Linda Rondstadt would love to have me build her some bookshelves, and maybe more. He told me that I was going to love her, and she me. We talked about possibly working together on that project. He was also impressed with my work. It's a funny world. I'm not actively seeking weekend projects, but who's going to turn down Linda Ronstadt?

It’s still rocking. I just released the hookers and blow into the 6th floor.

Well, nothing has happened yet except a phone call from another Contractor. But I'm excited just to meet her. I watched her documentary a little while back and was even more intrigued with her life than previously. I'd be extremely honored to build anything for her, but there are some time hurdles to jump over before anything is going to happen. Still, I can't imagine not jumping a few hurdles to make this happen.

The funny thing is, I don't really find those bookshelves to be anything special. But people like what they like. But the bookstore owner is one of my favorite past clients. She and I collaborated on many of the things I built at her stunning $8,000,000 home. It's literally across the street from the ocean on the Great Highway. The bookstore she owns is a coffee shop as well, where I was awarded free coffee for life.🙂 It was my first big project after the pandemic, and she told my boss that on that project I would be her employee, so that we didn't have to run our ideas through the company. She paid me more than I made with the company, and we only grew closer in that time period.

"I inherited my late father-in-law's system and need some guidance." says a redditor. The system: Some father-in-law. I married the wrong woman. "Knuckles, you're not married." That's besides the point!

Went to hear Wynton tonite .. spotted Paul Simon in the crowd

As for me... played with my kids all day (my back is broken from sitting on the floor). Rachel is helping her Parents move all weekend, so I'm solo. Just ate dinner and am cleaning up. May stream later, but may be too tired. Not a bad day, but no fucking 'contacted by Linda Rondsadt's people' kind of day, haha.

A few worthy photos from CAF this weekend…

Zero Mattnog posts since 2023. What a sad state of affairs. I was just reminded that I failed to make a batch again and I am disappoint in myself. Anybody else make some or still have some in the back of the fridge? Is a month enough time for it to gel?

Cara Dillon - After The Morning. Lovely album, love her voice - sweet, sometimes frail sounding but very pure. Just what the doctor ordered after a long week for work. Helped that Andrew's cat June sat on my lap and then shoulder when I laid down. Sample song:

I'm afraid it'll start talking to me if I open it up... But perhaps there's a science project in my future to see what happens when I do.

Costco Ramen

I went on a whim when I learned a friend visiting from out of town was going. A good time, somehow felt even more snake oil heebie-jeebies than usual with obvious comarketing deals for insane cables throughout the show (my favorite claim was "Enhanced Quantum Purification Core Technology" on an AC cord. I'm actually desperately curious to take a grinder to one of these and learn its secrets. My guess? Magnets.). And VAC put a lot of energy into giving everyone amps for their rooms. Not a fan, but whatever, seemed fine. Acoras sounded great despite snake oiliness. Maggie 30.7s wonderful, as you'd expect. VPI room with JBL Everest was a fun vibe. Was impressed at the crossover tuning of the YGs I heard, but hard to say in the room. As always, Haniwa good for a laugh with a plainly obviously broken and rattling bass driver and their magic DSP which somehow multiplies all room gain and phase problems. Wish I took a closer look and chatted with the Elekit guy, anyone have experience with them? (P.S. just a taste from that link above because I can't resist, it's just too perfect) I love to have more streamline electron sharing. Oh, fine, one more. JFC.

A boat battery box of sorts. Allows me to connect my Garmin EchoMap, charge my phone and start my Yamaha motor push to start outboard. Waiting for some insulated terminal knob battery connectors to arrive before give it a go next week..

I'm not ready for a new espresso machine as the Lelit Bianca I bought some years ago is still doing a great job, but I found an announcement from Fellow interesting. I bought a Fellow Aiden I have been enjoying thanks to @luvdunhill , and have been receiving Fellow marketing emails. Here is an early review for the curious. I have to admit it piqued my interest, particularly how quickly it heats up. Looks like it can be bought for $1200 with an early discount and they toss in a credit for coffee beans. https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/the-espresso-series-1-is-the-new-crown-jewel-in-fellows-coffee-gadget-lineup-170008473.html HS

Saw Mary Fahl last night, I think the 6th time I've seen her (7th if you count October Project in 1995). Wonderful concert, some of her hits, October Project hits, and covers. The whole second set was her adaptation of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, pretty stunning. I think this may have been my favorite show of hers. Got to chat with her and her husband after the show, and also met 3 folks with whom I'll keep in contact ongoing; just some amazingly nice people.

This is just plain beautiful! All pales in comparison 💕

Herbert von and the Berliner boys getting their Antonín on.

Take Ten by Paul Desmond (1963) https://album.link/t5m4fcv3fkmcw Example: What do you after Take Five? Take Ten, of course. Lovely set of tracks - with Gene Cherico, Connie Kay, and Jim Hall on the team. Album was not on my radar until now.

This is beyond cool: I have the EV-1's user manual here and it was a fascinating thing

Paul Buchanan - Mid Air (2012) Singer of The Blue Nile, his first solo album

Does that lift the veil? 🙃

Great shots. Back from another PhotoFair, just throw shit on the table edition. Also their 50th anniversary. I was good and only bought two $5 “tabletop” old tripods (the only type I seem to use anymore). That justifies buying the ridiculous new lens I really want, right?

Ohhhhh shit.

I somehow missed this post, but just came across on Target. Dumb, but a little cool to pick up one or two? https://www.target.com/c/tiny-vinyl/-/N-7f0kq

Long form '78 guitar jam.

Maybe the biggest one album wonders ever? Debut is just an absolute, genre-defining classic. Then money, drugs etc. "Love Spreads" is a great song off #2 but the rest of it ...

Check, the word is Check. And if we could embed Instagram reels, we might see how much your avatar is enjoying things!

Physical CD Mahler was right to transcribe this quartet into a symphony (Death and The Maiden). Its been a favorite CD of mine for years.

Being Human (2008) The BBC version, not the American one

I bought a DAC3. It sounds identical to the DAC1. I’m glad to have the DAC1 for a different setup, so it all works out.

At least the Swedes are still doing punk.

Yes, I was just listening to Hats (1989) and I wanted to see if the band members had done anything else since then. I've been listening to A Walk Across the Rooftops a few times in the last few weeks, since I first got it in the summer. I think the Blue Nile is basically broken up. Their 3rd and 4th albums, Peace at Last and High, didn't garner the same level of critical and popular recognition, so maybe it's best to leave it at that (from the sound of Moore's last interviews about the band, it seems to be a bitter ending, at least on his part).

^^ Very cool - I have had this on the top of my queue for about a week and I have listened to it a couple of times. A Walk Across the Rooftops by The Blue Nile (1984) https://open.qobuz.com/album/hzszuzspagdab Example: An Amazing sounding Album. Some backstory if one does not know. Linn (Scottish Electronics fame) was wanting to test out their new recording console, and brought in The Blue Nile for their first release. (LKH 1) - they did well.

job your love, y'all

We have tickets to Wynton tonight...going with some friends. Looking forward to it. HS

That's me. I can fully relate as I was them many moons ago. Hopefully I can get them to think a bit, work together and not horribly scar them in the process. *fingers crossed* I'm keeping it no guns, and have a few fail-safes built in in case it looks like they're going to get in trouble.

I often listen to music in languages I don't understand. I find that if the music's good it'll still get the feelings & message across even if you don't understand a single word.

Awww, thanks Al. Here is the party... Jack has an obscene amount of Lego, but no fish headed people, so the martial artist is getting a Viktor Krum head (that I'm ordering). The party assembles... From left to right, Jack, Westley, Cyborg Tinkerer, Human Giant Geneticist, Fish Man Martial Artist, Bounty Hunter with Giant Slingshot. Pretty happy with all of them, but maybe the Giant Human Geneticist needs some work. Lmk what you think. What West looked like originally, but he's no longer a cat person now and for some reason has the sword of Griffindor and Captain Americas shield... The other is a villain that Jack whipped up for me.

Plenty of tennis. It’s the Nitto Master Finals in Torino. Today semifinals, Sinner won De Miñaur, now to start Alcaraz vs Aliassime.

The war and treaty at the bijou in knoxville

Between yesterday and today, giving and feeling good. I've been talking to two different (one partially) homeless people for several months, always giving a 10 or 20 when I see them. At my son's insistence (!) I just gave one of them $300 in cash. To say the least, he was amazed and driven to tears and hugs. As I walked back to my car, this woman drives up to me and chats with me. "He's not REALLY homeless..." she says. I knew that; he has a wife and a dog, and his father in law lets him stay at his place at times. Otherwise, they live in a van. I acknowledged that, but also just said that people need some help now and then. A man came out of the passenger seat, she told me it was her son, and he has autism, so don't be put off. He was fairly high functioning, but you could tell he'd always need help. Anyway, we got to talking and this woman has a home, but also has had a tough time of things. So, I took the other $300 I had and gave it to her. We both started tearing up. Now I need to pull ANOTHER chunk out to give to the other person. He knows me by name, knows I lost my wife, and like the first guy I give him something whenever I see him. He also told me that - even though he's homeless and has limited capability to help - if I ever needed something he could provide, to not hesitate to ask. These folks are amazing. So yeah, I'll get him something that I hope will help him this winter. On top of all that, today my son (staying with me while condo being worked on) has a friend over and they are listening to a few of my systems. Son brought back some speakers I gave him, so offering them to his friend. TL;DR version: it feels fucking great to give and help others as long as I can!

I too know nothing about the game (although I have a slight bit of experience with dungeons), but can come to the same conclusion as DOTU.

I don't know anything about D&D or One Piece, but I can tell you're a good dad!

Ok, I think we have our adventuring party for Jack's bday: Jack - Human (regular, which in this gets +1 to all ability scores in this!?) Warrior (based on Fighter) / Elemental Weapon Subtype + Devil Fruit (he actually rolled and got Gomu Gomu and is so happy) West - Mink(Tiger) Rogue / Thief Subtype 4 Friends: Fish Person (Shark) Martial Artist (based on Monk) / Fish Man Karate Subtype Human (Human Giant, think Garp) Chemist (based on Druid) / Genetics Subtype Cyborg Tinkerer (based on Wizard) / Robotics Subtype Human (Variant, for skills and a Haki feat) Marksman (based on Ranger) / Bounty Hunter Subtype If anyone familiar with One Piece can weigh in on this it would be appreciated as I've only really watched the first season.

Learning about the Melungeons.

Maybe….

Forgot to mention, my oldest son is turning 10 this month and we are throwing him a One Piece themed B-Day party... I'm going to run a One Piece themed game for him and 4-5 of his friends. SUPER NERVOUS! Ten year olds are harsh critics, lol. Also a little rusty, but I used to be quite good, so we'll see what I can come up with. EDIT: HA! You can double post here, excellent. Suck it Head-Fi!