hello from the hemingway house.
Five thirty in the morning and the you can almost hear the sky groan. A sluggard in its slow rise. Black to navy to grey to orange and then, I see the foothill’s silhouette on the far side of the valley, pinking at the ridge.
I think, it’s the darkness that trues a color. A little light is best, only what’s needed. In less than an hour the colors will bleach out, fade in a surfeit of sunlight until the blue is so pale it’s swept away in the wind.
But right now is different. The world remembers how gorgeous she looks naked, sighs and checks herself in the mirror one last time before she puts on her uniform and name tag and goes to work.
I’m here at the Hemingway House in Sun Valley Idaho. I’m supposed to be writing, and I guess I am, a little. But yesterday I splashed around in the Big Wood River with Randa and made love outside and cooked a perfect steak in the oven and boiled some fresh corn on the cob and sipped a nice Paso Robles and worked on the crossword puzzle and took a hot shower and washed myself so clean I squeaked. There was too much to do to bother writing about it.
This must be the most beautiful piece of property in the whole valley. Four minutes from downtown Ketchum and somehow, sitting here at the big window of the Writer’s Apartment looking out over the smooth green grass and slender birch trees beyond, I see no evidence of man or his makings, not anywhere.
Yesterday we counted seven hawks spiraling in a lazy thermal. You can’t blame me for not getting anything done.
Tonight I’ll play a show in town, which means firing up the metronome to work out the fingery details of a tricky new song. Other than that, I’m reading a scandalous paperback (one of the Flashman books if you know you know) working on my novel about a snake handling church, and trying to figure out how we’re gonna move here in five years.
Who knows what will happen. But right now the light is right and the mood is brewing. It’s a real bull market for the soul.
Events of last week and next:
The jig is up.
Here’s a brand new clip from last week’s episode of the Morse Code Podcast with Irish fiddler Natalya Kay. She dances through the classic Cliffs of Moher while I do my best to hang on. With some players the rhythmic pulse is so strong they carry you along no matter what. Natalya’s that way. She burns, man. Check it out.
And then check her episode. As always, you can watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcasting platform. If you listen on apple podcasts or spotify, do us a solid and rate us five stars. Maybe even write a short review. But only if you’re getting something out of it. I’m allergic to charity.
An Evening with Morse Code at the Soho House in Nashville August 27
In a few weeks we’re screening Morse Code for a few industry people, in Nashville. It’s part of our yeoman’s quest to find a home for our funnysad show on the right streamer (Hulu I’m looking at you). TSH’s theater is beautiful and intimate and we’ve chosen not to make it public (we only got 60 seats!)
However, since there might be a few of you who haven’t seen the pilot…
First ten people to email me back, you’re in.
An Evening with Morse Code
Soho House Nashville
August 27, 6:30pm
You can have a plus one. I’ll play a few songs in advance of the screening. Expect surprises.
In a world of empty spectacle and talent show contestants, this show is different. It’s about my community, the East Nashville community, about people I personally know who make art because they have to. Consequently, Morse Code brims with heart and humor, for what is the creative life but an unscripted tragicomedy unfolding in realtime?
We’ve had an amazing run on the festival circuit — Best Pilot awards, Audience Choice Awards, even a few Best Actor awards for ol Korb — it’s clear there’s a spot for us waiting, we just need to pick the lock. All of my professional effort for the last seven years has been conducted to that end. Selling Morse Code.
Office Hours #103 - Aug 25 at 10a cst.
Once a month I do an AMA livestream. Ask me anything about songwriting, creative writing, what I'm reading, what strings I use, something I haven’t thought of. Literally anything. Use this form to ask a question in advance or request a song. I'll also play a few songs live.
The next OFFICE HOUR is August 25th at 10am central. Click here and tick the bell and you’ll get an email reminder when I go live. While you’re there hit the subscribe button, thank ye.
What a pleasant way to enjoy a cup of Sunday morning coffee, or if you live in Europe, an evening elixir. See you in a few weeks.
