Some weeks, even in summer, you just want to move quickly past. Still, there were a few bright spots. On with the weekly recap…
Artist profile: Julian Abramo.
My eyes are shot- what do you see?
Lightening up on the posts for summer.
A letter to my Godson on his very first birthday.
The day I met my husband Andy – 23 years ago.
Dazzlers of the Day included Bridget Moynahan, Cody Fern, and Matt Baume.
Twenty-three years ago tonight, I met the man who would become my husband. It had been another rainy day in a summer that had proven largely rainy, but that evening the skies cleared and the air was warm and summer felt like it had been righted. Something in my life felt like it had been righted too, and the ease and comfort with which Andy and I immediately started talking felt like a missing piece had fallen into place.
A couple of months after that first meeting we went on our first trip – to Ogunquit, Maine – which has since come to be our favorite place by the sea (and provides the setting for these photos of Andy from our last trip there). While a first trip with anyone can be a daunting and socially anxious time, ours felt easy and right – we fell into our own groove while somehow keeping our own individual rhythms.
The ensuing years brought us on many adventures – other beaches, other vacations, other anniversaries, other sorrows, other birthdays, other laughs, and other days where nothing much happened other than two people sharing a life together. And after all this time, I still get a thrill going through the most mundane and routine things – making a trip to the grocery store, spending a weekend in Boston, or watching an old movie we have seen a hundred times before. Anyone can get along during the fun and exciting times – it’s the ones who find comfort and home in everything that falls in-between those days who come to matter the most. That’s the bulk of life, that’s where all of the real living happens – and I’m lucky and fortunate to have lived most of my adult life with Andy.
Happy Anniversary Drew – I love you.
Dear Jaxon –
How fitting that in the days leading up to your first birthday you were valiantly beginning the first efforts at walking. You can stand up on your own without any assistance, and you are unmatched in crawling speed. Walking is a just a step or two away – and there is happiness and excitement and hope in that. We need all those things right now.
You’ve come quite a long way in your first year on earth. Some philosophical fool once bestowed the following message upon our hapless souls: “May you live in interesting times.” Personally, I hope the times get a little less interesting for your journey. There will be drama and interest through your own machinations alone, and I will be here for it every step of the way.
For the sake of posterity, I will put down here how difficult it was to find a formula that worked for you, and for a few months you gave us all some concern when you wouldn’t gain the weight of a typical baby. You’ve pretty much caught up since then, and I simply take that to mean you are taking after your old Uncle Al, who sometimes takes his time in getting things too. Don’t let anyone rush or push you until you are ready. There will be more than enough time to astound and delight.
Beyond that, you’ve been a joy – a happy baby who deigned to be held by your Uncles at the dinner table, or babysat by Lola, or doted on by your Mom and Dad, or even, on occasion, bounced about by your older brother and sister. In other words, you’ve become an indelible and beloved member of the family. You will hear it many times over, and it will still never be said enough: you are loved.
For my small part as your Godfather, I will do my best to guide and protect you. There is so much ahead of you – and as all the world unfurls before your eyes I have a feeling you will come to be my guide as well. Happy 1st birthday, my little Jaxon Layne. We love you.
Summer teases and summer takes away – and this summer has brought much of each with the crazy weather we’ve had and the rise of the results of global warming (yeah, it’s real, get over it and do something). The weather app is largely useless – telling me it will rain and storm only to have hot and sunny weather, or, much worse, telling me it will be lovely out only to end in a deluge of rain and wind. Sometimes the storms come up out of nowhere, wreak havoc (like a two inch waterfall in ten minutes) then disappear as if they were never there – except for the flooding that remains. We live in meteorologically tumultuous times.
The lesson I’ve gleaned from this is to take any sunny moment as it comes, and embrace and appreciate it. Gratitude can be had and found from minute to minute. As someone who is accustomed to, and enjoys, planning and preparation, this can be a difficult lesson to learn. That means it’s a valuable one.
Posts may be lighter in the coming days, as focus turns to family and other items, such as summer itself. During previous years I’ve taken the entire summer off from blogging, but as that left me feeling slightly unmoored, I returned to the daily format for my own Virgo-like love of a regimented schedule. When the world around you begins to crumble, a little structure can be a very good thing.
That said, there is something lovely about a lighter posting schedule, and lighter posts themselves. Too often I get bogged down in the weeds here, sometimes just because I can. When no one calls you out on run-on sentences or indulgent photo shoots, you get accustomed to the luxury. Summer is a good time to streamline and edit, and just step away from the laptop for a spell. To that end, I’ll finish up this post and let you carry on with your own summering for the season.
She has returned to doing some social media posts, and so there has been a little celebration of Madonna fans the world over. For someone who has always seemed, and indeed lived as, invincible, Madonna’s recent hospitalization sent shockwaves through those of us who expected her to be around forever. It’s a good time to appreciate that she’s still here, and still kicking ass.
Check out this Top Twenty list of Madonna’s Timelines.
A bit of a breather post before things get too dense around here. Just a few flower pics post rain-storms.
What am I not seeing here? This is supposedly some sort of ‘stereogram’, which, if you stare at long enough, reveals some initially-hidden 3-D image. My eyes are too shot with old age and trauma to see anything than what’s on the surface – and that just barely.
What do you see? What am I missing? Is this a robot? Am I a robot?
Cue the existential crisis.
Writers make the best dazzlers, because they do most of my work for me. Case in point is Matt Baume, who earns his first Dazzler of the Day thanks to a body of work that includes ‘Defining Marriage’ and his latest ‘Hi Honey, I’m Homo!’ But in the words of LeVar Burton, you don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s an excerpt from his enchanting website:
Matt Baume is a writer, podcaster, and video-maker based in Seattle whose work focuses on pop culture and queer history.
His latest book, Hi Honey, I’m Homo!, traces the evolution of LGBTQ+ characters on American sitcoms. His previous book, Defining Marriage, chronicles the personal stories of people who fought for marriage equality over the last forty years.
In his popular YouTube series, Matt shares behind-the-scenes stories about the movies and TV shows that changed the world, and the fascinating people involved. He’s also the creator of the podcast The Sewers of Paris, which explores the entertainment that has shaped the lives of queer people.
A GLAAD award nominee for journalism, Matt’s work has been recognized by the New York Times as “thoughtful and thorough … informative and funny.”
After Matt appeared as a pop culture critic in the Showgirls documentary You Don’t Nomi, Forbes called his observations on the film “potentially intriguing,” which he chooses to interpret as a complement.
Matt has guested on such shows as The Savage Lovecast, Out Chicago, Tomefoolery, No Safeword, and Feast of Fun; he’s delivered presentations on LGBTQ+ culture for employee groups at companies that include Expedia, Sony, Roblox, EA, and more. He’s appeared on panels at South by Southwest, Emerald City Comicon, PAX West, GaymerX, HavenCon, and the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association.
You can find Matt’s past reporting in outlets that include Rolling Stone, Vice Magazine, Slate, The Advocate, The Stranger, and NPR.
The term ‘musical prodigy’ probably gets thrown around more than it merits, but in the case of Julian Abramo it is absolutely fitting, and still just barely captures his reservoir of talent and creative drive. At just 14 years old, he’s already released an album of original music (the glorious ‘My Bedroom‘ which somehow manages to transcend his short collection of years on this earth in scope and resonance) and started a website to capture his work.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Julian since he was born, and watching him grow into a young person from a distance (and periodic summer visits) has been a joy. It’s also been an eye-opening experience where I continue to be impressed and astounded by how he lives so completely within the realm of music – playing, composing, listening and writing all flow from his creative vision. Such artistry is beautifully embodied by his first collection of songs, which finds his original compositions performed entirely by himself on piano, keyboard, and cello ~ even employing an old organ for one piece.
Such talent may be genetic, as he comes from two musically-gifted professors: my friends Missy and Joe. We go back many years, and lifelong friends are the best kind of friends. While they have focused on the academic aspects of music, Julian has thus far expressed his talents through performance and composition. It’s been apparent and a part of his life since before he started walking. I remember his parents telling me about how he was responding to sound and creating sound – with tapping and singing – and as he got older and better able to express himself, that inner call to a life of music got louder.
From a very young age, Julian was performing and involved in music in ways that most adults would find challenging. Having seen firsthand how he can take a piece of music and elevate it beyond what it was, I remain in awe of his musical prowess, and the way he hears things that so many of us simply can’t. The hidden talent of many amazing musicians is the ability to listen – it’s more than just hearing a song over and over; it’s absorbing and taking in a very specific and particular cadence of notes and sounds, of aurally sensing the texture and architecture of a piece, of feeling the intent and emotion behind a musical work. More than that, it’s about how to craft a work in a world where everyone thinks we’ve heard it all before. Just when you are being lulled into the languid piano meanderings of ‘A good day’, the dissonant chords of ‘I’m bored so I watch the sunrise’ creep in to challenge and lend tension to the proceedings.
‘My Bedroom’ has many such moments, conveying the undulating moods of life through a fourteen-year-old’s windows and walls, somehow capturing what he feels and hears and sees, then transmitting them through musical ruminations both beautiful and moving. Each song becomes something meaningful in myriad ways to different listeners, which is the wonder and magic of well-crafted music.
Julian’s own notes on the tracks of ‘My Bedroom’ are below. Listen/stream the album here, and check out all of his media links here.
1. walking outside
This piece is great to kick off the album. It creates a happy, exciting, and friendly feel. It feels welcoming and sweet. The peaceful energy to this piece makes it feel as if you are walking outside on a green day. As exciting and complex as this piece sounds, it only uses one instrument, the Cello. Played by pizzicato, staccato rhythms, and legato melody and harmony lines, the cello can create a wonderful piece alone.2. a good day
Similar to the previous piece, this one has a happy, and bright feel to it. It gives off a positive energy. The rhythmic, major piano lines give this piece energy and enthusiasm. The higher, more lighter parts give this piece character, in a way to show how it is important to appreciate the good days we have, because you never know when, or how much we get them.3. pure city
There is nothing like a wonderful day in the city. Seeing all different kinds of people, looking at amazing buildings, and so much more. There is something in the air. Something pure, and loveful. This piano
piece represents the pureful, peaceful air in the city.4. i’m bored so i watch the sunrise
Boredom is something that can be extremely frustrating. Not knowing what to do gets me all wound up. If I’m bored, and up early, sometimes I’ll look out my window next to my bed, and slowly watch the sunrise come to life. With patience and an open mind, it’s something so beautiful to see. The colors
slowly lighting as day starts once again. The birds come out and sing to one another. This piece represents the slow growth of the sunrise. It’s something to admire, and something to experience.5. saturday morning
Waking up on a weekend morning to a bright sun beaming through the windows is a relaxing thought. It’s just you, in your room, not having to go anywhere. There’s a loneliness to it, but in a positive way. This piece shows that feeling of being alone, peacefully.6. i wish to daydream
Stimulation around us can make us feel stressed, and overwhelmed. Sometimes, I wish that I could just stop, and take my mind elsewhere. In this piece, It makes you daydream, zone out, and think about your own thoughts that your brain takes you.7. our story
There are many different people you meet in your life. Some are good, some are bad. Some
are good at first, but then it goes downhill. Whatever it may be, you share a story with them. Whether it’s over, or it is still in the making, there’s always that story or memory with you and that person. For me, this piece represents a friendly, loving story. The far away piano makes me feel lonely, but also
happy. But that doesn’t matter. It is up to you to make it feel like your own story.8. my own party
It feels that life has a set of rules and expectations. Whether it may be how you dress, how much money you have, the color of your skin, who you love; the list goes on. It can be extremely hard to follow the rules. In this piece, I wanted to set up my own party, where I make the rules, not listening to anyone else. This piece gives a feeling of isolation, and dread. It shows how people can feel in today’s society.9. the past’s future
I saw an old pump organ in the corner of my grandma’s den, and I wanted to check it out. It was extremely out of tune, and it made a lot of creaks, but to me, that made it even better. After years of this instrument in silence, I brang it to life. The creaks, accidentals, and out of tune notes give this piece an old feel, but also very futuristic at the same time, almost like it’s the past’s future.10. a peaceful dream
Dreams are something so fascinating, and so unreal. No one knows what they really are. Dreams are always weird stories that never make sense. This piece creates a dreamy atmosphere, with the pitch bends, old style chord progressions, and nostalgia.11. a distant memory
Memories. A powerful and important thing we all have. It is what shapes the purpose of our lives. Whether negative or positive, there is always beautifulness in the memories we collect. However, sometimes our brains get fogged up. We end up losing the memories we wish we could get back. Sometimes these lost memories are still partly alive. We can still remember a piece of it, just enough to keep us holding onto it. These memories are a full story that is waiting to be told, or perhaps they’re missing pages in a book. This piece represents the distant memories we partly have.12. sunlight at midnight
Picture yourself alone in a huge cathedral with high ceilings that touch the sky. The beautiful artwork and architecture fills the room with magic. A stained glass window is shining in all different colors. In the front of the room, a huge choir is performing a peaceful, magical piece. Even though it is dark, the enchantment lights up the room. This piece is a great way to end the album in remembrance. I hope you enjoyed this album.
These tumultuous days of riotous weather, when the sky is moody and prone to unanticipated temper tantrums – crying and wailing and screaming and blowing – the following meme is a helpful reminder of the difference between a watch and a warning. Another way of remembering is that we like to watch, but we don’t like to be warned.
A nude bedroom selfie is usually all it takes to qualify as a Dazzler of the Day, but Cody Fern also has the acting chops and talent to more than justify it (though the thirst-trap is more than appreciated). One of the workhorses in Ryan Murphy’s consistently impressive stable of talent, Fern has appeared in many of his series, including several ‘American Horror Story‘ seasons and ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’. I once passed him on the street in Manhattan and I swear he did a double-take at my coat. At least that’s what I’m choosing to believe. As he has always been one of my fashion idols, that would be amazing.
The other evening Andy and I arrived home to these two rabbits engaged in a stare-down in the small patch of lawn next to our driveway. They didn’t bolt when we pulled in, too consumed with their focus to even move when I got out of the car and moved closer for these pics. I’ve always admired that sort of intensity, even if it feels slightly out of place with summer’s relaxed vibe. (Let’s not pretend I haven’t had my moments of summer intensity. Summer cuts both ways like that.)
As for this pair, they’ve been providing fun photo ops like this all season – and I think they may have produced a few ultra-adorable offspring that we are leaving to their own devices as long as they keep to the grass and weeds and leave the more cultivated plants alone. A dangerous bargain indeed, animals not outwardly conveying true honor or understanding of the deal, especially when night comes and we can’t scare them off.
Maybe one of them is the grown version of this little cutie. Circles among summer circles.
Remembered indelibly in these parts as the put-upon Natasha in ‘Sex and the City’ and an all-too-brief appearance in ‘And Just Like That’, Bridget Moynahan as Dazzler of the Day is a request of my friend Elizabeth, who often has divine taste in all things arts and entertainment. Moynahan got her start modeling extensively, and successfully segued into acting. She has appeared in films like ‘Coyote Ugly’, ‘The Sum of All Fears’, ‘John Wick’ and ‘John Wick; Chapter 2’, in addition to starring in the television series ‘Blue Bloods’.
The past week has been a rollercoaster of rain and sun, with some crazy storms forcing me to crack open ‘Un Jardin Apres La Mousson‘ – not an unpleasant fragrance for any summer day, but one that I usually reserve for when the atmosphere is questionable and moody. On with the weekly recap…
A frog or a toad, this is what husbands are for.
A Madonna celebration postponed.
An oopsie moment worthy of a Tiny Thread.
Words & notes & a naked booty.
Troye Sivan’s sexy ‘Rush’ for summer.
The cliffhanger of a cucamelon.
Meet me in the city with macarons.
A return to New York City with the help of some very dear friends.
Dazzlers of the Day include Christian Hull, Ryan Gosling, Janet Jackson and Olivia Rodrigo.
