It was 9 am on a gorgeous Wednesday. The first of June.

Neil Young was rocking the free world on my radio,
as I drove down the gorgeous Lake Shore Drive,
wearing a polka dot dress, and Jolly Rancher Cherry chapstick.

The moment afforded such clarity that only comes when you have the time and space to see the big picture;
a vantage I need so much.

Thank you, God.


PS: Quarters are like gold in Chicago! Between parking and laundry, we're all desperate.

Where I've Been | Picnic Edition



I love the park and beach in Rogers Park. I love knowing my neighbors. And when my passion for this neighborhood was ramping up, I realized I know a lot of stellar people in Rogers Park. They just need to meet each other. Because the more you know your neighbors, the safer and nicer your neighborhood is. Right? So I started this little shindig to get people together, hopefully a couple times each month this summer. What's better than food, friends and the great outdoors (even when you're exhausted from the previously reported trip to Iowa)? Nuffin.










Especially when things look this good.

"Hi, this is Taylor, and you have thirty seconds after the beep."

That's all you'd probably get from me on the phone these days.
Within May and June I'll have been to Michigan three times,
Wisconsin twice, Iowa once, a retreat for work, going to Jake's shows,
and for some wild reason planning a neighborhood picnic on my one night home.

I'll only be home for one solid week in May and June.
I'm starting to miss my rich, intricate, hermit life.
This season is pushing me beyond my comforts.
I'm riding the wave and keeping my eyes open.

I really didn't want to write about the failed rapture.
But one day I found myself driving 6 hours from northern Michigan straight to the airport in Chicago, from where I flew to Iowa for a 24 hour visit. It was 6 pm. And when we hit some weather in the air, I did honestly think "This could be it." This plane could be Jesus's first stop in the atmosphere on his way down to earth! 


Alas, we all know how that story ended.
But for a moment there ...

Where I've Been | The 80 ft. Swing in Northern Michigan Edition





Sometimes life is incredibly exciting.

Jake and I have been talking a lot about dreams lately.
Dreams which involve music and hard work.
Is it childish to pursue the life of a rock star? I don't think so.
But the world does.
We are talking about how music is a fickle lady,
maybe one whom can't be trusted much.
But that doesn't make her naive.
It just makes success (or survival) a bit harder.

We had a really great show recently.







Aren't those photos gorgeous? I think they look like paintings of a starry night.
All photo credits to Summers.