“Sea Isle Ice Co.” Ocean City, NJ #DownTheShore

“Thirty One Forty Eight” Ocean City, NJ #DownTheShore

“Dot’s Parking” Ocean City, NJ #DownTheShore

I haven’t posted anything new in ages! Life has been busy lately, but good. Here’s a few snapshots that caught my eye. Riding the trolley, 6am, rainy winter day. #Philadelphia

Today feels like a good day to repost one of my favorite signs from the last #NoKings rally in Philly.

IT’S ELECTION DAY, AMERICA! Remember to get out and VOTE!!!

#REMtop30 1: Find the River Number one. Without a doubt one of the most most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Takes my breath away every time. Perfection. This has been fun! Maybe I'll do another music challenge again soon. youtu.be/KIJGlTu5sEI?...

#REMtop30 2. Daysleeper I don't know what to say about this song, other than that it's really beautiful and has a super cool music video which tricked me into thinking my tv was broken when it came on MTV back in the day. youtu.be/uUcKeKt8C1k?...

#REMtop30 3: Bad Day This is the song that made me love R.E.M. I always liked them before, but this song made me a real fan. I'll never grow tired of it. Side note: If I was bald I would totally rock this look for Halloween. youtu.be/Hyk-Vdd_Qrk?...

#REMtop30 4: Imitation of Life My Nightswimming post last night was a little silly but that's what I get for listening to sad songs after 2 dirty martinis. This track is the opposite, it's bright, bold and triumphant. Or maybe not, I have no idea what it's about. youtu.be/0vqgdSsfqPs?...

#REMtop30 5: Nightswimming If you don't get this song, it's not for you. That's okay. It's not a queer anthem, it's a queer diary entry. It's secret, it's personal. He made it public. It's hard to be gay. It's hard to be young. It's hard to be gay and young. youtu.be/ahJ6Kh8klM4?...

#REMtop30 6: The One I Love FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE!!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥 I just found out that Robert Longo directed the video. Rad. 📷 Paul Natkin youtu.be/j7oQEPfe-O8?...

#REMtop30 7: What's the Frequency Kenneth? Am I the only one who can't help but think of that episode of 30 Rock when Tracy greeted Kenneth the page by yelling "What's the frequency, Ken?!" Okay, just me. Anyway... I love this song and the video is amazingly cool. youtu.be/jWkMhCLkVOg?...

#REMtop30 8: Cuyahoga My mom grew up in Ohio and she used to tell me stories about the Cuyahoga river catching fire. She also told me that people used the say Lake Erie was so polluted back then that you could walk across it to Canada. youtu.be/mWPD1zPFZ3Q?...

#REMtop30 9: Perfect Circle I've heard that people are often confused about the cover of Murmur. I went to college in Georgia and spent a lot of time traveling the southeast so I am quite familiar with kudzu. The stuff is insidious! youtu.be/6hESQr0XVBg?...

#REMtop30 10: Man On the Moon Here we are, top 10! It hasn't been easy picking 30 of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands who has made SO MUCH music over the decades. youtu.be/dLxpNiF0YKs?...

#REMtop30 11: Crazy I've been waiting to post this one since the start! I know it's a cover but I can't get enough of it, and I adore the original #Pylon as well. 📷 Sandra Lee Phipps www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dp2...

#REMtop30 12: All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) I missed yesterday's post so I'll have 2 today. I've seen this one posted a lot during this music challenge, it seems very well loved by fans. It deserves it! youtu.be/zHlpWokiduk?...

#REMtop30 13: King of Comedy I love Monster. It's so sparkly, fuzzy, trashy, and sexy. R.E.M. through a glam-rock kaleidoscope. And an extremely bold move after Automatic to make such a drastic change. Anyway here's Michael Stipe's old passport photo, apparently. youtu.be/QbTXlvRyA4k?...

#REMtop30 14: Sweetness Follows An achingly gorgeous song, so simple and yet so rich. Perfect for a rainy day. If this one doesn’t do it for you then you’re dead inside, I guess. 📸 Anton Corbijn, right? Looks like his style. https://youtu.be/p7aHDm5dxhs?si=La0v6qiHT9J3s5h4

#REMtop30 15: Fall On Me A perfect song to sing along with loudly in the car. Or just walking down the street, you do you. https://youtu.be/lf6vCjtaV1k?si=ODjMx93fHarW3Lv7

#REMtop30 16: Stand Like Shiny Happy People, I think this is another misunderstood song. It’s fun and goofy but it’s not vapid. There is substance here. Per Wikipedia, one reviewer called it “simultaneously stupid and profound”. It’s zen, with humor.

Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center #Philadelphia #JapaneseGarden

Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center #Philadelphia #JapaneseGarden

Japanese gardens within the ABQ BioPark. #Albuquerque #NewMexico #JapaneseGarden

#REMtop30 17: Exhuming McCarthy A song the band wrote in the late 80's when they were concerned that the Reagan administration was pushing the country into fascism. So, yeah... relatable! youtu.be/Az5dzXRRh4E?...

#REMtop30 18: Losing My Religion I don’t care how many times I hear it at the grocery store, it’s still an incredible song, with an incredible video. From here to the end of the month the rest of these songs could easily fall in my top 10. https://youtu.be/xwtdhWltSIg?si=SdkHQHUdSQWiM5FN

#REMtop30 19: Let Me In A heartbreaking song about the loss of a friend. Photo by Stephen Sweet #KurtCobain https://youtu.be/lIy88eLFsoQ?si=BvTI5pXc5z6pKMj6

#REMtop30 20: Photograph Natalie Merchant has one of those voices that are like perfect comfort food to my soul, like Tracy Thorn or Sade. I only wish her and R.E.M. had made more music together. This is from a '93 comp to support NARAL and promote abortion rights. youtu.be/iO2eIebQqWg?...

#REMtop30 21: Talk About the Passion The vibe from this song feels like early fall to me, so this is a good time to share it. Photo by Paul Natkin, I think in Chicago? youtu.be/zCMy6kq5ZA0?...

#REMtop30 22: (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville This song always reminds me of my ‘ol friend Elaine. It would come on at work and she would say “don’t tell her what to do, Michael Stipe! She can go back to Rockville if she wants to!” And then we would laugh, and go back to our sad, sad jobs.

#REMtop30 23: Supernatural Superserious I always felt like Accelerate was sort of REM’s “punk” album. You can laugh at how silly that sounds, it’s okay. But most tracks are short, fast and explosive. They sound like they’re having fun, and I’m here for it.

#REMtop30 24: Me In Honey Hot take: The B-52's are one of the most underrated bands ever. The blend of Michael Stipe and Kate Pierson's vocals is pure perfection. I even defend Shiny Happy People, I just like this one better. youtu.be/uDucg0E4kMI?...

#REMtop30 25: How The West Was Won and Where It Got Us I had a high school friend who lived down the street and her dad had an amazing CD collection and he used to let me borrow whatever I wanted. He introduced me to this album, Cowboy Junkies, XTC, so much great stuff! youtu.be/9BC07l2_zKU?...

#REMtop30 26: Summer Turns to High I absolutely love the sun-drenched warmth of Reveal, and this track feels so Beach Boys inspired, makes me want to lay in the grass, stare at clouds and forget what time it is. https://youtu.be/aeFkxKyNm6g?si=O-ykEd-SqsFq6CJh

#REMtop30 27: Low I admit it. I was sleeping on this one for years until I heard it used in an episode of Brand New Cherry Flavor on Netflix (have you seen it? Go watch it, now!) and I’ve loved it ever since. It’s absolutely gorgeous and so haunting. 📸Anton Corbijn, I think?

#NativeAmerican #Architecture #BandelierNationalMonument #NewMexico #LosAlamos #BlackAndWhite

#NativeAmerican #Architecture #BandelierNationalMonument #NewMexico #LosAlamos #BlackAndWhite

Here's some more old shots from the archives. These are some b&w photos from my time in Colorado and New Mexico. #NativeAmerican #Architecture #ManitouCliffDwellings #Colorado #BlackAndWhite

#REMtop30 28: Ignoreland YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! This one perfectly sums up what it feels like to be an American right now. youtu.be/03gauuHIgME?...

#REMtop30 29: Lotus I've always been a sucker for late 90's albums from established rock bands who found themselves struggling to find where they fit in in a world that was going mad for electronic music. youtu.be/vu2jN3d2zzU?...

I’m participating in a music challenge this month started by @tansleyjames.bsky.social. September is #REM top 30, they’re one of my all time favorites so I couldn’t resist. At first these are unranked, leading to my top 10 near the end of the month. What better place to start than 30.

Vallarta Botanical Garden Jardín Botánico de Vallarta #PuertoVallarta #Jalisco #Mexico 🇲🇽

Vallarta Botanical Garden Jardín Botánico de Vallarta #PuertoVallarta #Jalisco #Mexico 🇲🇽

Vallarta Botanical Garden Jardín Botánico de Vallarta #PuertoVallarta #Jalisco #Mexico 🇲🇽

Here’s some more old photos from years ago. This one reminds me of the cover to Depeche Mode’s Exciter album. Vallarta Botanical Garden Jardín Botánico de Vallarta #PuertoVallarta #Jalisco #Mexico 🇲🇽

Just moved into a new house with my guy, and was accepted for a new job! Basically the same as my old job but more focused. A very tiring (and expensive), but good day. I’m in a better place mentally and grateful for the people in my life.

When seven crazy gays go camping together for a weekend how can it not be epic? #GaysInTheWoods

A fantastic hike! So many waterfalls! I desperately needed a few days in the woods. #Pennsylvania #RickettsGlenStatePark #ShinrinYoku

Today’s listen: Pet Shop Boys, Behavior, 1990. One of my favorite albums from one of my favorite bands ❤️