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September 2026

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  Books read: My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout Gila: The Life and Death of an American River by Gregory McNamee All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Trails walked: Sawtooth Mountain near Ward (Sep 11) Gold Hill near Taos Ski Valley, NM (Sep 18) Song(s) of the month: F avorite songs about parenthood Danny's Song by Loggins and Messina The Mother by Brandi Carlisle Excavate by Macklemore and Saint Claire Daughter by Loudon Wainwright III A Father and a Son by Loudon Wainwright III Beautiful Boy by John Lennon September Summary: This month, on Mexican Independence day, we welcomed our 5th grandchild into the world.  Even though babies are born at the rate of 4 births per second around the world, it seems like a miracle each time.  After a few back and forth trips to the hospital, both baby and mama (our daughter) are back home and healthy.  Mom and dad are exhausted like all parents of a 2-year-old and a newborn.  My wife and I have been in Taos f...
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August 2026

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Books read: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Bel Canto by Ann Patchett East of Eden by John Steinbeck Trails walked: Yellowstone National Park camping (August 6-9) Mexico City (Aug 23-31) Song(s) of the month: Favorite songs about Mexico August Summary: This was a very different sort of rambling month. Although my knee seemed better, I didn't want to risk reinjuring it before two big August trips that we had planned. There was lots of walking this month, but no big epic mountain hikes (although climbing a centuries old pyramid felt pretty epic). The month started with a camping trip to Yellowstone with our son, daughter-in-law, and three grandsons. And it ended with my wife and I belatedly celebrating our 45th anniversary in Mexico City, a place we've always wanted to visit. I've described both trips below in more detail. I was incredibly saddened to hear of the death of Dolly Parton this month. She was the rare celebrity loved by all. She never revealed her politics and m...
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