Rob's New Novel Available on Amazon

You can download Rob's latest novel, Overdub (with illustrations by John Frigo), to your Kindle from Amazon here.  Here's the description of the novel:

OVERDUB is a lyrical exploration of the meaning of music, how it transforms our relationships, culture and technology. Isaac Rubinger is wounded in the Korean War, losing the ability to perceive or imagine music. Much as a person’s hearing can improve following blindness, when music plays Isaac hears physics: Space, time and even memory fold in on themselves. His brother’s young wife writes a letter that brings a visit from composer Hoagy Carmichael, and then from someone Hoagy believes to have the insight to understand this affliction. Only he’s not a doctor, but the most unlikely technologist, seeking to create new musical forms.

The novel came out May 26. Rob's previous novel, Dreaming of a Song, is also available on Amazon.

After Weeding on Memorial Day

Bonnie and I weeded flower beds for a couple of hours this morning. As I came in for lunch, my jeans were wet with soggy dirt at the knees and bagging at the butt; my shirt was outside my pants and spotted with dirt; my floppy sun-blocking hat was a little sweaty; and my leather, too dressy shoes were clotted with dirt. And though it wasn't noon yet, I was feeling the irresistible urge for a Bud or PBR. Yes, I am becoming my father. One could do worse. Anybody seen my pipe?

Eddys Heart Dylan

So here are the Eddy favorite Dylan songs, so far:

Max--"Visions of Johanna"
Phil--"It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)", with an honorable mention to "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream"
Chris--"I Shall Be Released"
Mom--"Tomorrow's Such a Long Time"
Steve--tie "All Along The Watch Tower" and "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way"
Mike--"Mr. Tambourine Man" with honorable mention to "Like a Rolling Stone" and special fondnesses for "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry," "I Want You," and "Boots of Spanish Leather"

You can still submit your favorite(s). There's plenty of great songs available.

A View of the Flood from Our Backporch

The rain has been absolutely crazy here for the past week. The footbridge across the creek, which all of you have crossed at some time in the past 20 years, got torn out of the bank and is laying submerged in the swollen creek. That has never happened since we bought the place in 1990.

Here's a little clip of what it looks like from our back porch tonight. The water flowing toward the creek is draining the fields east of us through our front pasture. The horse wading in the water is Junior. God knows what he thinks he is doing.

Bob Dylan Turns 70

I want to commemorate the 70th birthday of the musician who has probably given us more great songs than any human being, living or dead (along with his share of clunkers).  His lyrics inspired us, sometimes to action, sometimes to dreaminess, and sometimes to an exciting kind of bafflement.  And his life has been an evolving enigma that has challenged us to think about our own lives.  There has been no one like him, by his design.  Below is the great Subterranean Homesick Blues (note Allen Ginsberg in the background).  It's one of my favorites, but if I had to pick an absolute Dylan favorite, it'd probably be Mr. Tambourine Man.  How about you?

Oregon State in Bloom

Bonnie and I hit Oregon the week before last at just the moment that the azaleas were in full bloom on the Oregon State campus. A couple of samples are below and more are on a Picasa album here

There's lots of things to take pictures of in Oregon--in the Columbia River Gorge, at the ocean near Newport, and the Corvallis farmer's market, so I had exhausted the battery on my 35mm camera by the time we got to campus. These shots were taken on my iPhone, so they're not quite as sharp as I'd like.

Sisters' Day Out

Yesterday the sisterhood ventured forth into the natural world for the first time. Actually it took a little encouragement. Bonnie and I worked all day Saturday to install a chicken wire roof over the pen to protect the girls from air strikes. We kept the coop door open and one or two ventured out but soon scrambled back inside. When we turned to doing a little work inside the coop, Bonnie threw them all out. What you see below is more like an exile than an exploration, but they seem to have adapted quickly. Note Bonnie's initial observation on footwear and chicken farming.

Look What Bonnie Found

In the woods just south of the house on Tuesday afternoon. Morels! They were mighty tasty with beef fillet.