Post to the USS Gravely

I'm still, if you can believe it, going through all my photos on my laptop and my phone and deleting a bunch of pictures and screenshots. It's tedious as hell and endless, but I love stumbling across moments I'd forgotten. Here's a snap that Ashlee took back in December 2015 when Sean was deployed and I was writing him at least three letters a week. The poor guy was stuck on a ship, away from home, missing his new bride and their wee little Bailey. I wanted him to know that I was thinking of him, so I tried to brighten his days with silly postcards and notes. He never wrote back, which I wasn't expecting anyway because he was twenty-three and kids nowadays do not even know how to address an envelope. But this little screenshot from Ashlee made me so happy, knowing that he liked getting mail from me. Once he came home for good, he told me he kept all my letters in his seabag. That gave me the warm and fuzzies.

June 2026 Donations

HeadCount

Turning fans into voters!

HeadCount is a national, nonpartisan organization that uses the power of music, culture, and community to turn fans into voters. We meet young people where they already are – at concerts, festivals, and online – to make it easy to register to vote, learn about elections, and take action. Our country’s future depends on younger generations showing up in democracy. HeadCount gives them the tools to join the conversation.

Every time we register a new voter, it's a win. Since 2004, we’ve registered over 1.7 million new voters in partnership with artists, actors, athletes, brands, and creators. Our award-winning digital campaigns have driven over 10 million voting actions, while our nearly 100,000 strong national volunteer squad can be seen at thousands of festivals and live events each year.

I got an email from Righteous Babe Records, since I'm on their email list, and here's what it said:

Fandiem is giving away a trip to meet Ani in Santa Cruz + soundcheck access! 

Donate for your chance to win flights + hotel, tickets for Ani's Santa Cruz show on Aug 15, the chance to meet Ani at her pre-show soundcheck, a signed item and more.

Your donations help Ani support HeadCount and promote participation in democracy through music.

With your donation you are entered to win:

✈️ Round trip travel to Santa Cruz, CA, and a 2-night hotel stay for two (2)

🎫 Two (2) tickets on Ani DiFranco’s guest list for her show at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, CA, on Saturday, August 15, 2026

🤝 Meet Ani at her pre-show soundcheck

✍️ Ani DiFranco-signed album or book

🛍️ Ani DiFranco merch pack

🏄 Enjoy the West Coast with a surf lesson or beachside lunch for two (2)

🚗 Gift card for local ground transportation

After submitting my donation I thought, hmmm.....who would I take.... DUH! I'd take Bishop because, even though he's not a mega Ani fan, he is hardcore involved in the power of the vote. Plus it would be a nice getaway for him and it'd be downtime together. I mean, I know I won't win. It's just fun to imagine two full days with the coolest cat to ever rock the globe.

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Uncle Alan's Voicemail About Jax

Uncle Alan is one of thee most hilarious men I've ever known. His turn of a phrase never ceases to crack me up. Not long after Jackson was born he left a voice message on my parents' house line. Like my father, he started off by stating his full name. As if we didn't, A: recognise his voice, and B: know that he is the only Alan we knew. Well, who we knew and who was currently alive. Clearly, to maintain a slim sliver of anonymity, I cut off that bit. But here's a wee clip of the message that we saved for almost a decade.

John Adams

Years ago I heard (or maybe read??) someone state that to chalk up owning slaves was simply something that everyone did at the time, or that it was considered normal or that people just didn't know any better, that saying that completely disregards the handful of people, like John Brown, for instance, who knew that slavery was wrong and not only didn't condone it, they outright condemned it. Reading this John Adams quote has inspired me to look up films, documentaries, and maybe even a biography or two on Libby.

They're Havin' a Heatwave

Yesterday I opened my weather app and noticed it was cooler in Shaker Heights and scrolled down to see that Antwerp was hot as hell! I immediately texted Michel so as to sympathise. 

Jackson's Summer Playlist

A couple weeks back we were driving around and Jackson linked his iPhone to my Apple CarPlay. He put on his Amazon Music Summer Playlist and I was elated to see that some of the songs I introduced him to had made it to his list: Halo, White, Discussion, and Ecstasy. AND we discovered that we share the same favourite Pink Floyd song - When the Tigers Broke Free. ( I always cry at "And the Anzio bridgehead was held for the price of a few hundred ordinary lives.") I'm also herds proud that, even though metal seems his number one fave genre, that Jax has still got an eclectic taste in music. 

Neruda