I know it sounds kinda scary to say, but Halloween is my favorite American holiday. Or at least it tops the list of Holidays-With-No-Purpose — that is, celebrations that we all celebrate for no reason other than celebrating something. I mean, does anybody really care what Halloween’s all about? I realize there are lots of… Continue reading No Tricking: Here's an Altogether Ooky Grab-bag of Treats for Your Halloween
Category: Musical Musings
Are You Heart of Hearing?
It’s the middle of February, and you know what that means: Valentine’s Day, one of the year’s most controversial holidays, is upon us. Similarly celebrated and hated, fussed over or made fun of, this all-sorts saint’s day is nonetheless an inexorability of our buy-or-die culture. Everywhere, from the corner grocery store to the gas station… Continue reading Are You Heart of Hearing?
Glancing Backward to Look Forward
Because the month of January (named for the two-headed ancient god, Janus) teeters on the fence between the old year and the new, it offers a distinct vantage point for glancing backward at what has been, as a way to predict what may be lurking up ahead. In other words, it’s a time for deciding whether… Continue reading Glancing Backward to Look Forward
A Triple Trifecta of Trivial Treats
Scribbleskiff is sitting in dry-dock for a spell. We’re taking some time away from the business of busyness to rest and clear out the scuppers, so to speak, to restock our supplies, chart new courses, and ready ourselves for the next adventure. For instance, we’re keeping our weather eye trained on the approaching, unusually large waves… Continue reading A Triple Trifecta of Trivial Treats
In January, We Say Hello & Goodbye
January is named for Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors, beginnings and endings. Often depicted with two heads — or, more unnervingly, with one head and two faces — Janus had the ability to look forward and backward at the same time. Which seems a fitting namesake for a month that straddles the… Continue reading In January, We Say Hello & Goodbye
A Year-end Wrap-up for Holiday Wrapping
If you live life according to Gregory’s calendar, as we do in our little corner of the world, then you’ve likely noticed by now that we’ve reached December, the final (and, at this moment, coldest) month of the year. As such, December ushers in a season of conclusions, a time for tallying, wrapping-up, and tying-off.… Continue reading A Year-end Wrap-up for Holiday Wrapping
Some New Treats and a Few Old Tricks
This week’s posting on Scribbleskiff is part treat, part trick. It’s our way of honoring Halloween and, at the same time, shirking our responsibilities. Typical? Exactly! Well, for several reasons, we just can’t be aimless and informative right now, but we didn’t want to let one of our favorite holidays slip by without some sort… Continue reading Some New Treats and a Few Old Tricks
Remembering My New Orleans, Again
As I’m sure you have heard by now, this week marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. And, as I’m sure you remember, August 29, 2005, was an awfully stormy Monday, a supernatural event that has given rise to more than a few superlatives over the years. From the sounds of things, there will be… Continue reading Remembering My New Orleans, Again
A Mix-Pack of New Music to Make Your Summer Crackle and Pop a Little Longer
It’s the same thing every year. Not long before the last pop and fizzle of fireworks has begun to echo over the waterway on the 4th of July, I suddenly realize: summer is coming to an end. Yes, I know that’s melodramatic. Technically speaking, the season is barely two weeks old at that point, with… Continue reading A Mix-Pack of New Music to Make Your Summer Crackle and Pop a Little Longer
Lifting My ‘Rule of Two’ to Buy Elvish, Bordello Music That’s Out of This World
Rarely do I purchase full-lengths anymore. It’s become necessary (and, well, funner) to simply cherry-pluck a few songs from amid the muckle of platters on the market. Being on a limited budget is, of course, the main contributing factor to this behavior. I download as many (legitimately) free mp3s as I can; most record labels these… Continue reading Lifting My ‘Rule of Two’ to Buy Elvish, Bordello Music That’s Out of This World