I’ve been making an effort recently to get more of my photo backlog on-line. I posted stuff for the following concerts:

• Aimee Mann (23 June, 2006)
• Chris Silver (18 March, 2006)
• Massive Attack (28 April, 2006)
• Ray Davies (04 March, 2006)
• Robert Randolph (15 February, 2006)
• Roger Clyne (23 March, 2006)
• Sigur Ros (08 May, 2006)
• Spinout Records Package Show (01 March, 2006)

I also added a section called Dailies & Whatnot to hold miscellaneous photos and concert one-offs. The “concert one-offs” are where I have only one picture from the entire show, typically a shot of me with the artist/band.

Titles and captions are sparse at best. I’ll be going through and adding them later — it was a huge effort to get these posted.

Just over a month ago my beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee, “Trusty Rusty,” was rear-ended when driving home from work. Although it was still drivable, it wasn’t in good shape. The floorboard in the back bed was creased, the frame was cracked on the left side just behind the axle mounts, and the left passenger door didn’t sit right in the opening (I could stick my hand through the gap.) And those were just the easily visible problems. Suffice to say, the insurance company totaled the poor thing.

Last night I found its replacement — a Silver 2007 Mazda 6i — and bought it. Whoop-de-do, you might say, but this is a big step for me. At 41 years old, this is the first time I have ever bought a new car. All of my previous cars have been second-hand, often well loved by their prior owners. Trusty Rusty, for example, was a 1993 model with 187,000 miles that I got from my dad about 4 years ago. It was working great up until the accident and I wanted to see it through to 200,000 miles.

When I first sat down in the Mazda (I’m not usually one to name cars and “Trusty Rusty” was bestowed by a friend) it had 5 miles on it. Five. I’m kicking myself now for not taking a picture right then. After the test drive it was at 10 and the above picture is just after I got it home — by taking the long way.