Pick of the Day, with Discussion

Post reply Log in to post comments

April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,084 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

Comments

sort by

Recent

Recent Oldest A to Z Z to A

Reset

March 12, 2023 - 8:47am

#1231

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

1988

Hey Bluecrow, in fours years of going to see the Dead at Alpine 86-89, I never made it into the Pavilion. We were always in the lawn, which was still a great unbelievable time. Yes. OB, the scene definitely changed after In the Dark, and the fact we could stay on the grounds the whole time. Love Wisconsin. As other spots across the country it was huge party scene.

Yes, the heat was something else. And the shows were so much fun. A true experience. Where did you stay Bluecrow?

Where can we find your write up from Gans BC?

I think there are some newer transfers of these shows from Miller via Pearson.

I will have to check these out at some point.

Oh and enjoyed the 3/30/88 OB, recording was good, always enjoy a Hey Pocky Way, West LA Fadeaway, Big Railroad Blues, Nice second set, from the Shakedown opener to the BMR. Great show. Thanks.
March 11, 2023 - 4:11pm

#1232

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

A gift lost will soon be recovered

Words to take to heart.

Thank you for tracking that down Jeff! A few years before I became Bluecrow here.

Who knows where the time goes.
March 11, 2023 - 3:29pm

#1233

JeffSmith

Joined:
June 9, 2014

A gift lost will soon be recovered.

Hey Bluecrow, I think maybe this the Grateful Dead Hour show you were featured in? Nice! Thanks!

dead dot net/features/grateful-dead-hour-no-555
March 11, 2023 - 11:49am

#1234

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

Alpine '88 cont.

I streamed rest of 6/20 - really really enjoyed it. Big fat old Terrapin > Drumz > Other One at the heart of it. The Other One probably bent a few brains, including mine, back then.

Yes Oro, it was miserably hot and I didn't manage heat well back then (that came when I moved out to the southwest.) Buckeye more of the same. I think Maine was a huge relief for the band and any heads that did the full tour. 7/2 probably show of the tour except for the things that made 6/23 special.

6/23 needs to be understood in context of 6/22 and all that heat. "A gift lost will be recovered." I wrote up my recollections and Gans posted it as part of a gdHour years ago. I'll see if I can find it. Blackbird>Brokedown was a truly remarkable musical gift to cap that night and that run. Totally off the cuff move. It was a thank you from the band and a blessing. Not so much bragging rights but just the feeling of how lucky we were to be there.

Alpine '89 was what it was musically because of Alpine '88.
March 11, 2023 - 10:15am

#1235

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

There were shows,

and there were shows, and there were shows between.
Like this lil nugget (3/30/88)!
Really enjoyed this. Great opening trifecta, couple different era songs for variety, nice Cassidy. We get a Shakedown, fun inverted Uncle J/PITD/Uncle J, and a nice post drums sequence to ramp up the vibe!
Love to check out these shows that fall between/around official ones!

Enjoyed it so much I hit 4/3/88 for extra credit. Jers starting to get the dreaded spring north east tour bronchitis, but not the whole show? Next night I recall he sounds worse? Decent show, but I dug 3/30 more.

So then I through on Dicks 30 while doing some chores, but didn’t get to the second set, though I did catch the fun BD bonus stuff from 3/25. So not a DHB but a grateful day none the less!

Summer 88, sighhhh.
Was all stoked, armed and ready for the last six of tour, until I broke my ankle…
87 Alpine was such a hot shit show as it’s rep had blown up and like all good places it seemed to get too big? So we figured Maine would be the laid back alternative to freak freely and it surely was! When we got to Buckeye the general consensus was that besides the Blackbird bragging rights, folks were writing the whole scene off as miserably hot, too many people, and the band didn’t play that great overall?
I don’t know, I wasn’t their, that’s just the vibe we were getting.
I do know that Buckeye seemed like more of the same though I thought they played decent. Over tge years I’ve really come to enjoy this show, the first set with early Bruce encounters etc, and the three new songs to open the second was cool. But being at that venue in those conditions on crutches and still pretty sore even with enough analgesics for a platoon, it was a ruff day. Pittsburg was a god send comparatively, with no adventures through the countryside and seats to keep off the leg. Don’t recall much of that one cept maybe a good Cumberland and the first of only 2 Start your Engines, which we liked.
We’ll long/short I’d had an unfortunate incident involving ambulance and hospital before the tour started that time has led me to believe was related to excessive acetaminophen in the analgesics? So had to skip Toga, gulp, yep, that one still really hurts, but had to go back to hospital for upper GI and testing. One of the few shows I had a ticket fir but had to get rid of : (
Crotchfester was a good show, and nice flat soft baseball lawn which combined with a week or so of healing made things more fun and less hassle. Another very crowded show and a really muggy day.
So when we got to Maine the night before and it snowed it was quite the change lol.
Maine was a blast all the way around. Things came together and a good time was had by all, though the long slog home on the fourth after all those shows etc was ruff and rememberer it felt weird not seeing then on the fourth.

So since I’ve never heard any of the 88 Alpines (that I remember), figure I’ll fire up 6/23/88 in BC and DVs honor!
ONWARD,

PS: yeah BC those Hampton shows truly were mind blowing. 3/27/88 is definitely one of the best shows I was fortunate to be at, though 3/26 was the only show I went to that I didn’t get in…
Sometimes you eat the Baaarr, sometimes the baaarrr eats you ; )
March 11, 2023 - 6:39am

#1236

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

Alpine '88

Yep, I was there too DV. So I have a fair amount of memories about these shows. Some of its already out there. One of the most powerful Dead concert moments was the Morning Dew last night of the run (6/23). that, and the Believe it or Not earlier in the set. But some aspects of this run were a struggle. Damn was it hot. did Buckeye and Pittsburgh afterwards. my last Midwest shows until 7/8 and 7/9/95 at Soldier Field.

Without a doubt one weird thing going back to the tapes is that Healy seemingly recorded the entire run with strong panning across the sound stage. I have never heard anything like it on any other SBD. Question came up on the GD Hour many years ago regarding the panning on the SBD source for 6/23. At the time I had never gone back to listen to the other nights, but 6/23 tape I knew very well. I replied that I thought maybe the panning was a one-off and gave the context. But no, It's there 1st night 6/19. and it's on the Jam of the Week first set 6/20. "Sort of" cool in some ways and sort of a big WTF was going on with that guy. Just odd stuff. Truly.

I had 2 mail order pavilion seats each night. sold the other to a friend who in the end only made the last night. 6/20 was near soundboard to left. Great sound. "kids" next to me proceeded to stub in 20+ of their friends on what were like 4 seats worth of tickets - completely freaking rude, asinine, and ridiculous - literally forcing myself and others out of our legit seats as more and more of them got ticketed in. I was already overheated by Day 2 and not very tolerant of that thoughtlessness. sort of still pisses me off, though I write that with something of a dream time memory smile on a beautiful rainy morning here in the high desert some 30+ years later. at set break I was wandering the lawn and ran into some other folks i knew from OH (school/home at the time) and when Set II rolled in I was like F*** the pavilion I'm hanging up here, and we danced our asses off upper hill right end. It was great. Super fun. Remember an awesome Terrapin. I'm not sure if I have ever heard 6/20 since, maybe once. listened to JOTW 1st set last night and now again listening this morning. It's a great 1st set. I'm like, Box of Rain song 2??!! Band is on. Guessing Dave will feed us the whole show JOTW but probably will stream the whole show today.

Academy of Music 3/26/72 DaP 14 - great to hear that one again (has been very much neglected in this household.) Thanks Daverock!

Will have to check out 3/30/88. Was at Hampton right before this and that was some mind blowing music.
March 10, 2023 - 9:05pm

#1237

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Hey Firstshow

Interesting Dave had the Alpine 88 shows as well as the 88 Met Center show in the Tapers compendium. To be honest, I don't look at that to much.

I was at these shows as a wild eyed 17 year old. Great times. The Alpine shows were 4 shows in five days in the hot sun. We had a crazy drought that summer. Our crew rented RVs for those shows and we were able to camp at Alpine. Crazy times.
I am hoping someday we get the Alpine box set 87-89, would be a fun ride.
March 10, 2023 - 9:11am

#1238

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

Speaking Of 1988

New in Jam-o-Week: 6-20-88 Alpine Valley.
Most days I only have time for a taste so Jam and Taper's fit the bill.
Already curated by Dave so you know it will have something tasty.
So often it gets me to try eras and tours I'm not as familiar with like last week's two from 6-11-92 (Jam) and 6-12-92 (Taper's) from Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY. Both very tasty which I rarely expect from the later era. It all just depends on whether they're ON that night no matter what era. Like this week's Taper's 6-17-88 selection from Bloomington, MN was NOT ON. Didn't help that I didn't care for the setlist. But I always learn something so thanks Dave L. and POTDWD crew.
Cheers and onward through the fog, literally this morning in W. Colo.
March 10, 2023 - 9:10am

#1239

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

3/30/88

Absolutely, count me in on 3/30/88.

I think we did hit a few other 88 shows in the past, 3/27 Hampton from the DL series, 4/1 from RT4. 2 and I believe the 30 Trips 88 show as well from 7/3.

I was going to offer a show from 87, but I will save that for next week.

Thanks!
March 10, 2023 - 8:35am

#1240

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

3/30/88

“and now for something completely different”
Think we’ve only hit one 88 here so far via vguy. (10/2/88)
Was going to go 7/29/88 off of Dave’s list, but think we’ll save that for later…

Sorry I skipped 3/26/72 as I don’t have that yet and like to save official shows for when I get them…
Makes me think I should try to get a DP 30 spin in as I just got that from Realgone fairly recently.
But first I figured something completely different for Fri yea!

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

No Box, Today's Pick

Hopefully we will all have our boxes by the end of this week or sooner.

As we continue to wait, how does 7/21/72 sound to you all? This was download series #10.

DS #10

I recently checked that show out and it snuck up on me how good it was! I think I actually went back and spun it a couple more times on account of that. A definite sleeper pick in my opinion.

Hang in there folks

It seems to be showing up most places sorta on time, and trust me, it’s worth the wait.
Oh, and GO VIKES!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to prep for a date with a garden hose mañana...

7/21/72 - Great Pick!

I never got the Download Series releases, which based on this show, I should remedy soon! Whew! Great stuff! The Playin' is particularly strong, though everything I heard (almost all of set 1) is stellar.

I believe that big online box-store has all of the DL series to stream for "free" if you pay for their Primeum service... at least that is how I was listening to it, though I see now that there is a Charlie Miller on the Archive - it is just not the source that pops up simply by searching the date. Anyway, great pick! I plan on enjoying set two when I get home this evening.

Tracking tells me I should have a box arriving tomorrow by 7. Fingers crossed! I am really looking forward to this :)

Peace

Otis

Otis, check your PM.

PMs

Are they working again?

Ha.. holy hell, my label just got created for this most excellent box set. No delivery time mentioned. Dead.net why do you mock me so...

PMs

Well, I think I sent one. I guess we will see.

Glad you got a label created email Jim.

Waiting...

I've waiting this long, what's another couple weeks... :D

12/6/73

Bonus disc...
Well the bastids didn’t kill me this time.
Man that propofol is good sheet man!
I asked the gas passer if I could get some to go and he laughed.
So since I was still enjoying the ride when I got home I figured that awesome 12/6/73 Dark Star was in order!

I might try and start in on round 2 of the box shows with stuff from that list for extra credit...

PMs

Appear to be working Jim. I sent one yesterday and received one back today.

Oroborous, are you thinking the bonus disc for RT4. 3?

Jim

Check your PM.

Re: Propofol

You're right about that.. I had a procedure done this spring and woke up feeling (excuse the cliché) groovy. Whatever they used to use decades ago had all kinds of not so pleasant side effects (sodium pentothal?).

So did the anesthesia upgrade get phased in at about the same time as crisp digital soundboards began to replace our sometimes hissy and/or audience tapes?

Cool. PM's are working again.

7/21/72

This release, I agree with others is fantastic. I remember the first time I heard it I was thinking if someone put this show on and you didn't know when it was from, you might have a hard time coming up with July 72. The playing is top notch and the sound quality is A+. Great versions of Sugaree, BTW, China-Rider, Stella Blue. Second set brings it home, the Other One stands out. The bonus tracks from 7/22/72 are also worth a listen.

Okay, moving on to 73 bonus disc.

The Quintet

Saw the last Phil show of the three night run at Port Chester last night.
Mofos can still bring it!
My suggestion for POTD (if yer not suffering from new box coma lol) is to stream it on Fans, it’s worth the 20 bucks.

Mr Jimmy

Sodium pentathol lol, isn’t that what they use on death row?
What the hell kinda medicine do they practice in those woods ; )

But seriously I’ve known folks who have an awful time with anesthesia, fortunately, I haven’t met a drug yet that I didn’t like lol.

Hey, did you get yer box yet?

Congrats to DV, I see you got yers,, enjoy amigo, we’ll see ya on the other side!

In The Back Woods...

Moonshine works.. Bite on the branch of a beech tree if they have to set a bone.

What ever they were using 30+ years ago was the brown acid cousin of the stuff they put you under with today. Now that we've got that settled.... it's got a Cumberland.

Box Set

Hey Oroborous, yes, it showed up yesterday. Decided to go with the first 72 show today. Spectacular! Man, we continue to be a lucky bunch they recorded all these shows. Unreal.

Still up for picks if you guys are?

Must have been fun to see Phil out there in CO. Lucky guy.

And we get a Dave's Picks #40 announcement tomorrow. Any thoughts?

Will Dave give us two 80 releases in a row like last year? Hard to know. I think we have a chance for 1980.
I do think we will see 10/2/77 released for Dave's Picks #41.

Looks like Tuesday afternoon for me.

So I will take advantage of some down time and revisit some of the shows tossed out here the last couple weeks that I missed...

Well, we’ll, well,

You can never tell…
Didn’t see that coming lol,
Technically a 90s, but really another 80s.
Bet that’ll whip up some whining! Lol

JIM, Sorry, hopefully I didn’t sound critical, I thought you were being humorous and trying to put one past us!
Music maybe the best as Mr Ones would say, but laughter needs to be right up there with it!!
PS, it’ll be worth the wait, I think you especially are gonna love the Box.

DV: I’m still gorging on Fox. Working fuel for building a bed. Put our big log bed in guest room so have been sleeping on a “temporary” plywood pallet for almost 3 years…my other half said if I didn’t get this done by thanksgiving I’d be sleeping in the garage!
Well it snowed, and its winter here already, and it’s cold in that garage, so I better get to it, hup, hup!

Gonna jump on the Doc 71 train again next week, but starting back to work so not sure what my listening situation will be. I really need to get a personal set up. Not only to dig more/better dead, but to drown out the construction racket. Man I hate construction jobs. Give me a nice big empty mansion with some whole house audio system any day!

No worries on my end

Enjoying the banter as always...

Oroborous

Snow already out there! It didn't make out to us yet, which is okay. You don't want to end up in the garage.
Been super busy the last couple of days with work and family, hoping to continue to listen to the new box. Loving it.
Surprised Dave's 40 hasn't sold out yet. What a great way to end October.
So, what are the two other big things that are going to happen in 2021??
I hope it wasn't the garden club stuff.

Stay well out there.

Sodium Pentothal

the only time I ever had triple vision. I see why they call it "truth serum" I had no problem telling everyone and anyone what I thought about anything, including them, unfortunately, being a sodium pentothal a hole only brought the cops who did not act kindly when I told them what I though about them... but that's another story.

DV

The 2 things remaining for 2021 are:
1) 2022 subscription
2) 30 Days of Dead

Unless Dave surprises us with a stealth release. Which would be awesome.

I didn’t see any GD on the Black Friday RSD release list. But there is still enough time to add something.

Today's Pick

Need a change of peace before I go back to the new box.

Billy the Kid mentioned this show that he was at and it sounded like one we should check out. 10/20/78. This one is for you Billy. Must have been a blast.

Conekid, I think Dave said in addition to the Dave's Picks? But who knows, I think we are done with any other music release this year after we get Dave's #40, which I am excited about.

ice cream kid

don't forget 31 days of december and the last 2 45's are coming in November

and like the DaP glasses I have all the 45's!!!!

The 45's make a great bragging point when I go to the local biker bar. Some guy will rave about his 52 pan head, or I got a 64 knuckle head. I always come back with, yeah, but I got all of the grateful dead's 45's,,,, so there!

Missed

Missed the last two glasses. Oh well..

But Dennis

The bikers respond, “you don’t have a turntable”.

I also didn’t have a turntable.
But then 2-27-69 came out on vinyl and I was able to get a copy. So then I had to get a turntable.

10/20/78

This is a fantastic show. Five dancing bears! Definitely worth a listen for those that have not heard it. Two song encore. I won't ruin it for you, but I can't remember too many shows that ended like this one. The Dead always maintained the mantra of not being a greatest hits band, that is for sure.

Billy the Kid, great time to be at these shows!

Just dipping my big toe into the big box

Starting the second set of 12/10/71 now. Incredible music on these CDs... can't wait for the rest.

I will hit 10/20/78 when I come up for air.

First world problems, I know.. too much great music to occupy my time. Thanks for keeping it all going you guys (and gals???). It's been a really weird week here.. call it spooktober, I don't know.. but the planets seem slightly misaligned and life is tossing curveballs. Such is life, at least we've got this newly delivered sonic nectar from the gods.

ice cream, stuff yet to come

.... just when I thought that was it for the end of the year,,,,, the Garcia album drops!!

BTW - when the biker mentioned the lack of a turntable, I cut em three ways, wide, deep and repeatedly. (old richard pryor line!)

Hey!! I resemble that remark

I have been keeping up on the really good LP's.. but no space to set up my turntable.

Perhaps this thread will pick up again after we get our first listen in for #40. We are busy preparing and digesting the harvest.. and what a harvest it is.

Vinyl calling me

I might need to order Light Into Ashes.
That sequence sounds so awesome on CD.
But, the thought of it being broken up into 4 album sides has made me a little hesitant.

Got my DaP 40 shipping notice today.

Get The Vinyl

...just for the sound! So much smoother and more powerful, especially the bass. There seems to be better staging, a more open sound too. If I had a super high quality CD player it might be different, but I always prefer the sound of good vinyl. Crappy vinyl, I'm probably better off with a CD as I have proven to myself replacing some old chestnuts with new CDs. But to your point the disruptions between album side flips is annoying and there is even a start-over on one flip of a couple of minutes of material. That one felt weird for sure. I should have gotten the 5 LP whole show on vinyl is my current regret. Cheers

Advice taken

Vinyl ordered.

Wonder how long it will take to arrive.

vinyl - Light Into Ashes

I'm very glad I got it. I haven't compared the sound to that on the cd, but it sounds exceptional to me. I like the fact that the jam has been seperated off, and been presented in this way. The whole show is great- but the sections on this L.P. collection are unique in their own right. Pity it's nor available to Joe Public.

I haven't bought the vinyl 12/10/71, though. The sound of those cds exceed my expectations, and I can't honestly see how the vinyl could improve on it. Maybe if it drops substantially in price I will get it. Or if I happen to log on in the early hours of the morning when rational thought has gone to sleep for a while.

Picks

Have been concentrating on keeping my place on the Doc 71 train.
I’m a bit burnt on the dead right now, at least early 70s.
Been listening to a lot of jazz to mix it up.
Looking forward to 40 for something completely different.
Soon I’ll check out some of those picks that Bluecrow and others suggested…

Burnt out on The Dead?

Maybe someone should set up a Deadheads Anonymous Group for people who have become addicted ! He thought he could handle it...
Just fooling - no disrespect to A.A., N.A or any of the other 12 step programmes out there.

No Rest for the Weary

Looking at RT 4. 4 for tomorrow. 4/6/82 and portions of 4/5/82. I see Glasser mastered this one. Time to get back at it.
Oroborous, were you at this one?

4.4

I always liked this show.. had part of it on tape and was happy to replace it when the Road Trips was released.

Ha

Had 82 on the brain for some reason?
Nope DV, missed it by that much…saw the 8th and 9th.
Definitely do that up first chance I get!

RT4. 4

I have not listened to this release in maybe 4 years. Sound quality is fantastic. Great show and great bonus material. There are several great shows and parts of shows released through this series. Need to polk around in 82 a little more. I know we hit up Jim's show in Maryland with that crazy raven space that scared my family including the dog.

Doesn't look like #40 will be here this weekend.

Suggestion for 10/27

10/27 presents a lot of choices for shows from this day, but I'm feeling 10/27/91 in light of the fact I have to visit Bill Graham Civic Auditorium today. It's a different sound from '82 but the show contains a great setlist, greater guests, even better playing. Hope this show doesn't disappoint :)

10/27/91

Hey Josh, thanks for the pick. I am going to check this out.

Jim, the Baltimore 77 show is getting released. Congrats. Didn't we hit this one up here recently?

More 77!

10/27/91 and Baltimore '77

For 10/27, I think I like the Miller. This one seems to have Hornsby in, right?

I think we hit Baltimore '77 early in the process.. it might have been me that suggested it. Not normally a hungry for more '77 but I always respected this show. It's funny.. I had put it in the same mental box as the Richmond show that become Dave's Picks vol. 1 and Dave must have looked at these two closely together also. They have the same vibe and same great sound quality. The recordings are absolutely pristine, top pocket finds.

Anyway.. it's a good show, a great recording and it was destined to be a Dave's Picks, and so now it is.

Good pick on 4/6/82. I caught the highlights but couldn't digest the whole thing. I love the energy of the short but dense TOO > a wonderful '82 Morning Dew. For me, that's the meat of this show and Jerry still had that delicate voice in '82.. it had not gotten course and haggard yet. Onward.

10/27/91

Just finished this show up this morning. Thanks for the pick Josh. Nice sounding recording. Standouts for me were the Iko Iko, the Mona was interesting. You can really here Santana in those two songs. Nice Althea and China Rider. Bill Graham to die in the crash at 60, too young.

Ha

now who’s behind lol.
Work situation has ment no tunes, well, there’s plenty of Mexican accordion music on site lol.

Well, at least caught 10/27/91 back when I was on a tear. Good show! Enjoyed that whole run. Would love to see 10/31 out someday. Think ole Conekid suggested these.

I did manage10/26/71 and into 10/27/71 today trying to catch up to the Doc train.
Haven’t hit 4.4 YET, but will soon!
Haven’t had that one very long and thus only a few listens. Feel like some 82 is needed!
Keep the mother rolling DV and company!

Re: Ha..

We all do what we can. I am taking a small palate diversion by catching some Phil at the Capitol at home on my couch. Which isn't helping me catch up.. I am hitting the highlights though, Great Althea from 10/91 and an interesting second set.

What a weird world we live in..
It's raining so much here I thought it wise to build an ark. Speaking of Ark.. have we hit any of these here recently?

Ark Ark.

Nicki Bluhm is belting out Easy Wind as I write this. It's a hard life.