It was 20 years ago yesterday that I first clicked “Publish” on a post to this site (anything dated earlier was actually posted later).

There was a lot of activity here that first year, then gradually less and less, then almost none during the years I focused on the Beatles Blog. But lately it has picked up again and I feel very glad to have this outlet for my thoughts on music, politics, basketball, and Whatever Else.

As of this writing the stats stand at 1384 posts and 1974 comments. I extend my sincerest thanks to all who read and comment, in particular longtime Friends of the Blog like Knox, Xian, Professor Magnanimous, Cecil, Willis, and the redoubtable Merle Baggard, wherever he has gone.

My dad was a faithful reader until that one day in 2019. Both by nature and nurture, he is more responsible than anyone one else for shaping the peculiar instrument that composes these things. His spirit lingers on here.

As I write this it is a rainy early morning in McMinnville, Oregon. It is mostly quiet here in McMenamin’s Hotel Oregon, though this one of those old buildings with lots of ambient creaks, knocks, and buzzes. Now it sounds like someone’s working in the kitchen, which is good as I am starving.

I think it’s going to be a good day.