Blooming and budding trees under a cloudless blue sky at Central Park in Oak Brook, Illinois

Blooming and budding trees under a cloudless blue sky at Central Park in Oak Brook, Illinois

Rushes, reeds & trees along a creek under almost cloudless blue sky at Central Park in Oak Brook, Illinois

Looking up at a tree canopy under a cloudless blue sky at Central Park in Oak Brook, Illinois

From my noonday walk earlier today. Spring is springing, thanks to all the rain. The trees are blooming and budding. The sky—today anyway—was blueing.

Rob Bowman should do a redux of his ‘Soulsville U.S.A.’ Stax Records history in this format.

The book, ‘Land of A Thousand Sessions- The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985’ by Rob Bowman on a wood table.

The book, ‘Land of A Thousand Sessions- The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985’ on a wood table, opened to a section regarding the recording of Etta James’ song “Tell Mama”

Today at Record Store Day: No #RSD2026 records. As I’ve said before, for me, every day is Record Store Day. And for the cost of two vinyl represses, I bought this 750 page glossy full-color history of the Muscle Shoals recording scene by music scholar, Rob Bowman. Cheers to Dusty Groove, Chicago.

A yellow table with building blocks in the foreground with a description of the exhibition ‘Breakthrough: Housing Futures’ on the wall in the background

Black line drawings of public housing prototypes on the wall with descriptions on the floor. As seen at ‘Breakthroughs: Housing Futures’ an exhibition at the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago

Today at the National Public Housing Museum, part 2: Breakthrough: Housing Futures

The photographer’s hand holds up a printed card that reads “BUILD BRIDGES NOT WALLS”

A wall display of many small (5.5 x 8 inch) posters assembled as part of the Posters For the People display at the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago.

Today at the National Public Housing Museum, part 1: Posters For the People

I played the 40th anniversary expanded edition of 'Trouble Man' just yesterday! There aren't enough vocals to call it a classic Marvin Gaye album, but he made a timeless and atmospheric soundtrack that has outlived the movie and is a fabulous listen on its own.

It’s a beautiful world. Or can be.

A heart-shaped painted rock on a tree stump in York Woods with the message “stay strong”

A painted rock at the base of a tree in York Woods with the message “what a wonderful world”

A painted rock at the base of a tree in York Woods with the message “be fearless”

A painted rock placed on a tree branch in York Woods with the message “peace on earth”

Cheers to the generous soul who left painted stone talismans bearing uplifting messages throughout York Woods.

A paved trail winding through York Woods in Oak Brook with still mostly barren tree branches forming an arch above it

A patch of green ground cover and yellow flowers arise from otherwise bare soil next to a tree stump in York Woods in Oak Brook, Illinois.

A patch of green ground cover and blue flowers arise in York Woods in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Mostly barren but budding tree branches across a blue sky in York Woods in Oak Brook, Illinois

Weekday woods walk #2. Now with more warmth and blooms and less existential dread.

Screenshot of an Apple Music play of the song “Smoked” from the Hayden Pedigo album, ‘I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away’

This was my soundtrack during my woods walk. Thank you, Hayden Pedigo for soothing my nerves.

Mallard ducks floating and feeding in a pond at Fullersburg Woods.

Mallard ducks floating and feeding in a creek at Fullersburg Woods.

Anyway, here are some ducks floating and feeding and frolicking at Fullersburg Woods.

Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon. A muted blue Earth with bright white clouds sets behind the cratered lunar surface. The dark portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime. On Earth’s day side, swirling clouds are visible over the Australia and Oceania region. In the foreground, Ohm crater has terraced edges and a flat floor interrupted by central peaks. Central peaks form in complex craters when the lunar surface, liquefied on impact, splashes upwards during the crater’s formation.j

The world can be such a beautiful place. Should be a beautiful place. And yet…

Nearly barren and barely budding trees and a still greening ground cover under clear blue skies at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook Illinois.

Nearly barren and barely budding trees under clear blue skies at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook Illinois.

Nearly barren and barely budding trees and a still greening ground cover under clear blue skies at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook Illinois.

Nearly barren and barely budding trees and a still greening ground cover with an unpaved path under clear blue skies at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook Illinois.

I needed to clear my mind of the impending doom and go for a lunchtime walk in Fullersburg Woods. Despite it being springtime It felt and looked like late fall or early winter. Not that it’s a metaphor or anything.

I'm sure I'd find plenty of fun in both places, but there are literally dozens of other places in the USA alone I'd rather travel to.

Flew through Geneva Switzerland on my way to Prague.
Flew through Milan on my way to Rome.
Given my ultimate destinations...boo hoo, right? But both places I would have left the airport for if given the time.
OTOH, I've flown through Miami and Houston multiple times and haven't missed either.

The beginnings of green ground cover.

Blooming trees

Flowers blooming with the shadow of the photographer’s arm in the lower left hand corner

The beginnings of green ground cover.

Spring has sprung, in bloom. 50°F.

Photo of a two lane asphalt roadway taken from the left shoulder with a utility pole in the center distance and a stand of mostly bare but budding trees. Green grasses are on either side of the roadway with a scrubbed farm field to the left. The sky is mostly cloudy.

Easter Sunday in Indiana.

Screenshot of an Apple Music play of “Judas Cradle from the mini-album ‘Beaster’ by the band Sugar.

Some sacred spiritual music fitting of the holiday here. I’m usually blasting this in the car on my Easter travels to/from my parents’ house, but as I’m not driving today, this accompanied my stroll around the Del Webb community. Resisted temptation of playing air drums and guitar during “Tilted.”

Also, Mott the Hoople, who have a song called “Roll Away the Stone” that is not this one, probably “borrowed” the piano line in Leon’s “Roll Away” for “All the Way From Memphis”

Screenshot of an Apple Music play of “Roll Away the Stone” by Leon Russell from the compilation, ‘Retrospective’. It’s a crime that Leon’s self-titled 1970 solo debut where “Roll Away the Stone” first appeared does not seem to be on streaming services.

Happy Easter, everyone. I thought that this might be an Easter song based on its title, and it sort of is, except instead of Jesus, Leon wants to rise again after being laid low by a woman.

(Easter or no, this is a great song with all star backing by Watts. Wyman, Winwood, Clapton)

Review: ‘Grelley Duvall Best Actress’ is a charmingly bonkers tribute to ’80s movie moments This latest edition of the campy “Grelley Duvall Show” recreates moments from such films as “Showgirls” and “Basic Instinct,” with live music and puppets thrown in.

I saw 'Grelley Duvall: Best Actress' tonight, and yow, what a fun, over-the-top delight. Chicago has some crazy talented people in our midst. At the Chopin Theatre through April 12. See it if you can! www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/24/r...

The marquee of Lincoln Hall advertising tonight’s show with Cass McCombs & Band

And now I am at Lincoln Hall for my 2nd show of 2026, Cass McCombs & Band. I’m usually down on the floor but after 4 1/2 hours on my feet, I’m in a chair at the balcony railing.

One side of protest poster made of foamboard with red and black painted letters which reads: NO KINGS NO TYRANTS NO RACISTS NO DICTATORS NO OLIGARCHS NO WARLORDS NO ICE (no shit ) (fuck ICE)

Another side of protest poster made of foamboard with blue and purple painted letters which reads: YES PEACE YES EQUALITY YES SCIENCE YES HEALTH YES ART YES LOVE YES JOY

What’s your sign? #NoKings

On the march at the No Kings protest in Chicago. A large group of people are moving west down Ida B. Wells Drive in front of the Auditorium building.

On the march at the No Kings protest in Chicago. A large group of people are moving north down Dearborn Street. A banner is posted above from the railing near the Library stop on the el. The banner reads “No War In Iran.”

On the march at the No Kings protest in Chicago. A large group of people are moving north up Dearborn Street in front of Federal Plaza. A leg of the Calder flamingo is on the left

On the march at the No Kings protest in Chicago. A large group of people are moving north up Dearborn Street in front of Federal Plaza.

More marching at #NoKings up and down the streets of Chicago.

Looking toward the Petrillo Bandshell at Grant Park in Chicago during the No Kings protest. The sign in the foreground reads “We The People”.

On the march at the No Kings protest in Chicago. A large group of people are moving west down Ida B. Wells Drive and are carrying signs with an effigy of D.Tr*mp in the foreground.

On the march at the No Kings protest in Chicago. A large group of people are moving west down Ida B. Wells Drive, while others mingle in the median in front of a large painted wall mural.

On the march at the No Kings protest in Chicago. A large group of people are moving north down Dearborn Street.

More from #NoKings in Chicago today. The city looked great in early Spring sunshine, and people turned out again. I’ll say “more of this, please,” knowing I’d rather say “the King is dead,” and hope large public gatherings are for celebrating something better.

Many people gathering at Butler Field in Grant Park in Chicago for a No Kings protest and march

Many people gathering at Butler Field in Grant Park in Chicago for a No Kings protest and march with the skyline and blue skies in the background

It’s a beautiful day for peaceable assembly in Chicago. #nokings

Now I just need the 33 1/3 Oceania of ‘Boodle Boodle Boodle’

Whew. Found it. I might have too many books.

This book will not have a happy ending.

I saw The Clean perform live 3x. The first was opening for Yo La Tengo, and I thought they were the greatest band I ever saw.