Random Thoughts

2 Years Burnin' Down the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:42:00 +0000

I can't believe it's been two years since I suspended this blogging effort.

That's a bunch of Springsteen concerts, a few hundred thousand words of writing, and some spectacular memories with The Saint and the kids.

I'll share them soon. I promise.

Adam

My, How Time Flies

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:40:00 +0000

Has it really been a year?

I suppose it has, though I can't believe it.

We're all fine. Hope you are, too.

See you in another year.

Adam

Taking My Leave

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:32:00 +0000

I'll be taking a long break from blogging, so this will be the last post you'll read here for a while. I've been doing this, more or less regularly, since the first week of December, 2005. It's been more fun than I'd like to admit, but I must stop.

I'm beginning an exciting new job tomorrow (I've never named clients or employers here--past, current or future-- and I'm not about to start). I will say that I'm thrilled to have this great opportunity, which allows me to return to what I've done for most of my career. I want to hit the ground running, and as much as I've enjoyed this ongoing conversation with you (have I mentioned how much fun this has been?), I need to make sure I'm devoting my energies to my new position.

This blog will stay up, but I won't be adding to it regularly, if ever again. If there are new posts, they'll be very sporadic. I'll still be around, but I won't be checking in as much. I won't be commenting on your blogs, either.

If I have publishing news, I'll e-mail you.

In the meantime, if you'd like to reach me, feel free to e-mail me here.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you've enjoyed these discussions as much as I have.

Adam

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:04:00 +0000

We're in Fly Creek with family and friends today. Beautiful weather, great smells from the kitchen, and everyone's healthy.

On the menu: Turkey with both traditional and cornbread and sausage stuffing. My mother has two birds, so I made cornbread and sausage stuffing to go into one.

My mother's famous oysters will disappear within minutes, as they do every year. The Saint has produced a low-fat version of her favorite green bean casserole.

There are too many other things to mention. My mother is hosting 31 people at her house this year, so she's transformed her garage into a banquet hall.

Tomorrow night, we have cocktails with my cousins and then dinner with Captain Ed Novak and a bunch of other friends. We head back to Boston on Saturday because Oldest Son makes his CYO basketball debut.

I am thankful for more than the usual this year. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, too.

Adam

Magic on Causeway Street

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:28:00 +0000

There were a bunch of great vignettes last evening. The Boston Globe's review is here. Click here for the Boston Herald's take.

Bob Coles of Double Take magazine, author of Bruce Springsteen's America and beneficiary of two legendary fundraising concerts at the Somerville Theater, got the dedication for "Jungleland," which remains the highlight of the night. I wrote on an early post here that Clarence's sax solo on "Jungleland" at Fenway Park was otherworldly. Last night's was better than that one.

Some guy proposed to his girlfriend. She got a kiss from Bruce, then "I'll Work for your Love" and "Tunnel of Love," which featured an absolutely blistering guitar solo from Nils Lofgren. "Reason to Believe" and "She's The One" were both better than Hartford (and they were great in Hartford).

Somebody in our area (top row, against the wall, behind the stage; we literally touched the ceiling, several times) had seconds on broccoli and thirds on beans for dinner, if you get my (potent) drift. That experience was actually far worse than the seats. I thought the Saint was going to pass out at one point. Remember the campfire scene from Blazing Saddles? Okay, now enclose it, put yourself slightly above it, and recall from your high school physics class that warm air rises.

Back to sweeter topics.

Here's the setlist from Backstreets:

Radio Nowhere
No Surrender
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason to Believe
Jackson Cage
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
The Promised Land
I'll Work For Your Love
Tunnel of Love
Working on the Highway
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Jungleland
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
American Land

It's always a great night when I hear "No Surrender" and "Jungleland" on my iPod, so I'll chalk it up to something beyond spectacular that I got to hear them live. Such a spectacular night, with such spectacular company (excepting the Boston Beaneater), that I almost don't mind that I do not possess a ticket for this evening.

Adam

An Easy Dozen

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:45:00 +0000

A lot of superlatives tonight (spending pre-show time with The Saint, friends Doug and Tim, and Chris Phillips from Backstreets were highlights in and of themselves).

For my twelfth Springsteen show (the Saint's fifth, Doug's twelfth, Tim's first), I must confess I was a little worried. Nosebleed seats, behind the stage, against the wall, last row. I must remember that with Springsteen shows, the worst seat in the arena is still better than the best seat on the street.

So how did Bruce cure my bad seat blues? One word: Jungleland.

More later.

Adam

It's Not Even Thanksgiving Yet

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:17:00 +0000

My friend Seth Gitell has a hilarious post on his blog about how Christmas music is arriving earlier and earlier every year. He also takes a nice shot at Lowe's for selling "Holiday Trees" instead of Christmas Trees, his premise being that people out buying those trees are shopping for Christmas trees anyway.

I agree that we're playing Christmas music way too early. Cases in point:

I just put up a Veterans' Day post. Why? Because it was just Veterans' Day.
Bruce and the band are playing their last pre-Thanksgiving concerts right now: Tonight in Albany, then Sunday and Monday here in Boston.
Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) is next week. Christmas shopping season doesn't officially begin until the day after Thanksgiving.
One of my favorite Boston radio stations becomes my least favorite every December, when it switches to an all-Christmas format. Guess what? They switched to all-Christmas a few days ago.

I'm not a Scrooge. I love giving gifts to the Saint and the kids, and to our friends. I love receiving them, too. I love the "spirit of Christmas" most of all. Of course I don't mind hearing Bruce singing "Merry Christmas, Baby" or playing his version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town." Come to think of it, I also love it when Adam Sandler sings "Happy Hanukkah." But whether Christmas is a season or a single day, six weeks is a bit much.

Six weeks. That's... Lent... which is about giving up, not giving.

Thanks for the timely post on an untimely subject, Seth. And in case I forget next year, have an easy fast (which you can break with another trip to the Midwest Grill).

Adam

Saluting Our Veterans

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:50:00 +0000

As a lifelong civilian, I'll probably never fully appreciate Veterans' Day, though I do know it's not supposed to be about long weekends and war movie marathons, but about thanking those who served.

I hung out yesterday with (almost-) Captain Ed Novak and his family. Ed spent a long time showing me what he calls his "vacation pictures." These were movies and photos of his tour of duty in Iraq, for which he volunteered (to spare a fellow officer with some serious family medical issues a long time away from his family). The pictures were unbelievably moving: inspiring, heart-wrenching, and in some cases, hilarious.

I also got to read some of Ed's notes. If he doesn't write a book from them, I will.

Now that he's home and safe, I can laugh with Ed about his tour. But I also recall, from the not so distant past, the dread I would often feel after an e-mail exchange.

Spending the day with the Saint, the kids, and Ed and his family was a perfect way to remember what Veterans' Day is supposed to be. On the way back to our house, we drove through Ed's new hometown and saw all the flags he'd hung for Veterans' Day. Somehow, we'd missed them on our first trip through town (probably because we were trying not to get lost).

Thanks for the reminders, Ed, and thanks for your service. Let's do this again next year, when I'll be happy to arrive early and help you hang the flags.

Adam

Toasting a Legend

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:07:00 +0000

Let's raise a glass to the late, great Norman Mailer. Perhaps, since it's Mailer we're celebrating, we should raise ten or twelve glasses each, but not all of us have his stamina or prowess with potables.

Mailer's Pulitzer Prize winner, The Executioner's Song, about the killer Gary Gilmore, remains one of my favorites, a battering ram of an expedition into the darkness of one human mind. I last read the novel in the 90s. Some passages still frighten me so much that I haven't read the book since (particularly his descriptions of Gilmore's cremation). It's a testament to Mailer's skill that I'm terrified to go there again.

The Saint, the kids and I will be visiting Captain Ed Novak (and his family) today, who, when last we mentioned him, was Lieutenant Ed Novak. We will undoubtedly raise a glass or two (but not ten), perhaps even to Mailer. We're long overdue for glass-raising.

Testing the Parents

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 23:10:00 +0000

The Saint says I must tell you this story, and we all know that when the Saint tells me to do something, I do it. (And she's helping me tell it right now.)

So, Middle Child (he who loves quantum physics and existential philosophy) had a math test the other day. He gets (needlessly) all stressed out about these things.

He came home yesterday and said, "Wanna know what I got on my math test?"

Of course we said yes.

"Well, first of all, we had to correct our mistakes on the test. And so all the other kids corrected theirs, but I didn't. Wanna know why?" (*head cocked to the side and dimples aglow*)

He didn't let us answer.

"Because I got 100."

And then he cackled wildly. We laughed, too.

Speaking of Middle Child, he and the Saint went to the Haunted House at church last night. Middle Child had a blast, even though he was scared to death and wouldn't let go of the Saint. Daughter went to the same Haunted House earlier in the evening, except that her version was lights on. She forgot about the "fun" part, buried her face in the Saint's shoulder, and screamed.

I think she'll be recovered in time to trick or treat as a princess (Middle Child is Dracula). My only hope about Halloween: That the World Series is over by then. I promised the kids I'd take them out, but I don't want to miss a single pitch.

Adam

In No Particular Order...

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:48:00 +0000

Proof that the internet connects people: A high school classmate of mine Googled the late, great Nick Alicino. He found this blog, e-mailed me, and announced that he lives about an hour away. I think that's one of my favorite things about this blog. I hear from old friends, other writers, and fellow Springsteen fans, sometimes on a daily basis.
A manuscript you'll never read begins: "A little baby monster got lost in the woods. Daddy, I'm too scared to finish this story." Aren't daughters wonderful?
Another Daughter vignette: Daughter has a "new" easel. Drawing is one of her favorite things. On Sunday, she said to the Saint, "Mommy, can I have some paper? Oh, never mind, I found some." An hour later, I said to the Saint, "Has anyone seen the top two pages of my manuscript?" Yes, you know where this is going. I found the pages on Daughter's easel, covered in beautiful pictures of princesses.
That manuscript, by the way, is finally (really, truly this time) on its way to New York.

Adam

And It's Finished

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 04:34:00 +0000

The manuscript (all ten copies) goes back to my agents on Monday.

More when I have news.

Adam

Please Stand By

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:09:00 +0000

We are NOT experiencing technical difficulties. We are not dead. We are busy. All of us.

The Saint is busy teaching and parenting. Oldest Son is busy studying and hanging out with his friends. Middle Child is busy studying and studying and teaching quantum physics and studying. Daughter is busy changing her clothes for the seventeenth time today, every day.

I am busy parenting and proofing this manuscript. It's the tedious stage, because I'm not trying to create new scenes; I'm not trying to edit it; I'm just trying to make sure it reads well and that I haven't made any mistakes. In other words, even though the sooner I finish, the sooner we submit, it's tough, bleary-eyed, my-head-shall-soon-explode tedium.

So that's why you haven't heard from me lately. You will hear from me soon, if I survive this last read-through.

Adam

News of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:40:00 +0000

For all those who've tried thousands of times to score tickets to Springsteen shows, only to (over)pay "ticket brokers" later, today's New York Times has a must-read article.

I had many of the same experiences in my recent attempts to purchase tickets for Hartford and Boston, so the story struck home. In fact, had it not been for the extraordinary generosity of friends during the National Holiday, I wouldn't have landed tickets at all. Yes, I realize that I am very lucky to have such friends.

In other news, Oldest Son and Middle Child are on their way to Washington and Northern Virginia with their grandparents. Daughter and The Saint are having Girls' Night this evening. Though I possess a Y Chromosome, I'm also invited.

Before that, we're heading North to see my uncle, my aunt and my rock star grandmother. A year ago this same weekend, we were all together in San Diego for my cousin Matt's wedding. You might have read about that experience somewhere.

Finally, yesterday my agents asked me to send them ten copies of my manuscript and bio. For those of you who have yet to consume your Saturday morning coffee, that means that they've signed off on the manuscript, all systems are go, and we'll be submitting very, very soon.

Adam

Another Page Turns

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:10:00 +0000

I'm not sure where the past year has gone, but Oldest Son turned 14 this morning. The punchline in the card we got him says, "Thanks for being a son your parents can brag about."

I think that covers it.

The kid is growing up way too quickly. For years, people have said, "Pretty soon he'll be driving." Guess what? "Pretty soon" is only two years from now. We already know that The Saint will be teaching him the rules of the road.

Here's Oldest Son, in a nutshell: Straight As and murder in the low post. Plus a killer sense of humor and a raffish charm.

So, let me repeat: Thanks for being a son we can brag about.

Love you,
Dad

It's Cool Again

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:31:00 +0000

When I got home this morning, there was a comment on my blog from my still-unmet Norwegian friend. Over on his own blog, he'd written, in his discussion of the new album, that "The biggest surprise as a dedicated fan for the past 20 years is that all of a sudden, for the first time since I was 12, it’s cool to be a Bruce fan."

I can remember high school, when Nick Alicino, Kevin Guilfoile and I were the only Springsteen fans in the building, if not the entire Village of Cooperstown. Now, we're everywhere, and that's a good thing.

So yeah, it's cool to be a Bruce fan (not that I've known anything different since 1984). I'm just glad to have so much company.

Having worked most of my professional life on a variety of Democratic campaigns, I'm struck by how many Democratic operatives are rabid Springsteen fans. I rode to Hartford with four other Democratic operatives last night. Two, I'd known for years; the other two, I met for the first time just before we left Boston. If you were total the aggregate number of Springsteen shows we've attended, it approaches 100.

As I wrote earlier today, the concert was spectacular. We all agreed on that. Here's the review from the Hartford Courant. This one is from the Boston Globe. Finally, here's a take from the Boston Herald.

Backstreets has the setlist, which I've pasted here:

Setlist:
Radio Nowhere
The Ties That Bind
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason to Believe
Night
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
The Promised Land
Town Called Heartbreak
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Darlington County
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Thundercrack
Born to Run
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
American Land

As I wrote this morning, the "Reason to Believe", "Night", and "She's the One" trifecta was absolutely stunning. All the new songs were great, and of the classics, "Born to Run" and "Badlands" brought down the house. There was nothing from the first two albums in the Springsteen catalog, but nobody seemed to mind, because the resulting show was heavy with cuts from "Darkness" and "Born to Run".

The overwhelming consensus is that as great as last night was, this tour can only get better. That, too, is a good thing. See you in Boston.

Adam

Opening Night in Hartford

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:05:00 +0000

Fabulous romp down E Street. Every song the band played from the new album sounds better live than on the studio version (yes, we had the studio version playing loudly in the car).

The highlight of the night for me was a fabulous trifecta: A roadhouse-y, Delta Blues version of "Reason to Believe," right into "Night," then immediately into "She's the One."

Might be the best triple play I've ever heard at a Springsteen show.

More details tomorrow... er... later today. But for now, it's 2 a.m., I'm home safe, and I can't wait to see Bruce and the band in Boston.

Adam

Hot off the Presses

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:33:00 +0000

For those who need a Springsteen fix, there's a great piece in today's New York Times.

You can also see his whole Today Show concert on the show's website.

That is all.

Adam

Maybe It Should Be An International Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:34:00 +0000

I checked the Big Brother software on my blog this morning and found hits from five different countries, and none from the United States. Every visitor was searching under some variation of "Springsteen Birthday."

I'm glad I'm not the only one who treats September 23 as a National Holiday. I've made friends around the country and around the world simply because we're Springsteen fans.

Last year on the National Holiday, we interviewed Chris Phillips of Backstreets Magazine, and a few thousand of you showed up to party. I had to buy more beer.

This year, we're very, very low key, maybe because it's a Sunday, or perhaps because we're all getting ready for the new tour. But we still have beer and good music. Feel free to stop in and join the party.

Perhaps I'll see some of you in Hartford next week. One of my friends gave me a fabulous Bruce's Birthday gift this year: a ticket to the opening night of the tour.

Adam

That Time of Year Again

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:38:00 +0000

Ahh, September. We're less than a week away from the National Holiday known as Bruce Springsteen's Birthday.

Remember this post? I had fun. Chris Phillips from Backstreets had fun. Many of you had fun.

This year, the National Holiday falls on a Sunday, so it may be slightly more subdued. But maybe not.

Tickets for the Boston stop on the Magic tour go on sale on Saturday morning, so here's hoping I score some nice Bruce's Birthday presents for the Saint, some friends and me.

Adam

Remembering

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:37:00 +0000

While we remember Sept. 11, 2001, I'd like to point you toward two particularly good tributes. Seth Gitell's is here. Dave Guarino's is here. For those of you who follow the Boston media, Dave also has a particularly poignant appreciation of the late, great Paul Sullivan.

Adam

Department of Self-Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:30:00 +0000

My fabulous agents work very quickly. I sent them my edited manuscript earlier today. The agency sent out its regular newsletter this afternoon.

You can read about my novel in the third entry under "UP AND COMING FOR SUBMISSION".

Which means... well...

We're about to submit.

Batting practice is over. I'm in the game.

So if I seem both giddy and stressed out over the next few weeks, now you know why.

Adam

It's on the Way

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:35:00 +0000

My manuscript is officially on its way back to my agents.

I will now enjoy time with the Saint and the kids.

Adam

Truly Random

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:27:00 +0000

1. The Saint and the boys are back in school. Daughter is back in daycare. Everything seems to be going smoothly, though nobody is sleeping as much as we were a few days ago.

2. I saw the video for Radio Nowhere. I'm now all stressed out that I might not get concert tickets.

3. My manuscript will be winging its way to New York, via the ether, within days, probably within hours.

4. Go over and visit the Great and Gifted Jamie Ford. While you're there, congratulate him on his nifty, well-earned, six-figure publishing deal.

Adam

Still in Single Digits (Barely)

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Hurtubise) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:27:00 +0000

Honestly, I can't believe it's been a year since I wrote this post. Today, Middle Child turned nine. He's in third grade. He's brilliant. He's... He's... nine? Did I just say nine? How did that happen?

How did a little blond cherub with big cheeks and a penchant for donuts and ice cream turn into... a tall, brown-haired linebacker with a penchant for donuts and ice cream?

Last year, he celebrated his birthday with one of his best buddies, a boy with the same birthday. We all went to a water park, then for dinner at Middle Child's favorite restaurant.

Adding to my preternatural feeling of deja vu, this year, he and his best buddy, along with The Saint and best buddy's mom, went to the same water park. Tonight, we're hitting the Outback again, where I'm sure we'll eat the same stuff we normally eat (though I suppose I won't, since I've sworn off both ice cream and soda, and I've dropped nearly a stone as a result).

I suppose I should have known this day was coming. I can read a calendar. I've had the day marked.

Topping it off, I was forewarned. Middle Child starts school earlier than the rest of the family; this year, he wanted to have his birthday party while he was still on Summer Vacation. So we hosted the sleepover a few weeks ago, on a rainy, muggy, buggy night. This was a camping out theme: flashlights in the goody bags, s'mores, and a birthday cake that looked just like a campfire (The Saint worked her magic). We also set up Lt. Ed Novak's tent... in the middle of the living room. Four kids stayed up until 2 a.m. and then thankfully, slept in... until 6 a.m.

No sleepovers tonight. Though four of us will be getting up at 6 anyway (The Saint starts school tomorrow; Daughter goes to daycare; Middle Child, as I may have mentioned, is already back in school; and I deliver him to the bus and Daughter to daycare). Oldest Son, of course, doesn't start school until Thursday, so he gets a two-day reprieve.

So in most ways, nothing has changed. Middle Child has put another year on his clock, which is shocking to me only because the time has flown so quickly.

In the last year, Middle Child has earned straight As in school (again), started three or four rock bands with his buddy with the same birthday, played center on his basketball team (he's a head taller than any other kid on the court), turned into a natural first baseman, and torn up the league with his bat (at the plate, he looks like Carl Yastrzemski, virtually identical stance, and since Fall Ball has started, he's pulling the ball on almost every pitch).

How has he stayed the same? He still loves ice cream, donuts, his brother, his sister, The Saint and me (usually in that order, though sometimes Oldest Son is farther down the list). He still possesses an (even more) outrageous sense of humor. He still enjoys mooning people.

To this, I add that it's only been a year, so I haven't changed much either. Today is Middle Child's day, and I remind myself, as I do every day, how lucky I am to be his dad.

Happy Birthday, Buddy. I love you.

Dad