dave mcdowell | blog

Most-Played Tracks of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:22:00 +0000

I applied some editorial judgement to this year's list, otherwise half the tracks would be from Michael Kiwanuka's 'Home Again' and Ben Howard's 'Every Kingdom', which were on heavy rotation most of the year. And for the sake of musical consistency, I pulled Megadeth's 'Hangar 18', which is an awesome metal song I re-discovered this year. Without further ado, here is a Spotify playlist of the tracks I listened to most often in 2012.

Love Interruption - Jack White
Magnolia - Alberta Cross
Green Grass - Tanlines
Need Your Love - Temper Trap
Sisterly - Fang Island
Yes Way - Tanlines
Colder Weather - Zac Brown Band
I Belong In Your Arms - Chairlift
"45" - The Gaslight Anthem
Geneva Hall - Marmalakes
It's Time - Imagine Dragons
Free - Ben Kweller
Novacane - Frank Ocean
Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
Ceiling of Plankton - Givers
In the Reverie - Bailiff
Losers - The Belle Brigade
Obedear - Purity Ring
You Know Me - Air Traffic Controller
One More - Jimmy Cliff

Most-Played Tracks of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:54:00 +0000

In 2010, I was almost exclusively an iTunes listener. But in 2011, Spotify made a big dent in my listening habits. With a new interface opened up to third-party apps and a great iPhone app, I only see myself spending more time with Spotify. Another reason I like Spotify is the native integration with last.fm, why doesn't iTunes have a native integration? Nevertheless, between the last.fm scrobbler capturing most of my iTunes listening activity and Spotify's native integration, it was pretty easy to compile a list of my most-played tracks of 2011 across services with my last.fm account.

1. God Gave Me You - Dave Barnes. It's hard to believe my number one track is a Christian song, but it's an impossibly catchy song and Lauren loves it too. I much prefer the original to the Blake Shelton version

2. Constellations - Darwin Deez. Discovered during a marathon listening weekend w/ The Spences

3. Next to Me - Civil Twilight

4. Character Piece - Mynameisjohnmichael. The first album is special, but I think the band is too polished on the tracks I've heard from the second album. They need to go back in the garage

5. Drop It Low - Ester Dean. Guilty pleasure

6 & 7 (tie). Lights - Ellie Goulding and Wolf & I - Oh Land. Two amazing female singer-songwriters

8. The Writer (Live Acoustic Version) - Ellie Goulding

9. Everybody Needs Love - Drive-By Truckers

10 & 11 (tie). Chasing Pavements & Melt My Heart to Stone - Adele. My two favorite songs from '19'

12 & 13 (tie). Wonderman (feat Ellie Gouding) - Tinie Tempah & Curl of the Burl - Mastodon

14. Echo - Gorilla Zoe

15. Cold Shoulder - Adele. Again from '19', which I must have listened to since I spent all of 2010 listening to bootleg tracks from '21'

16, 17 & 18. Love & Leave - Scattered Trees, Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes & Half Moon - Blind Pilot. Three great singer-songwriter-type tracks

19. Always - Blind Pilot

20. In Waves - Trivium. RAWK!

Spotify playlist here

'Shadow': Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar Solo Live in the Studio

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:05:00 +0000

'Shadow' is an original, fingerstyle acoustic guitar solo recorded live at Shirk Music and Sound, Chicago, IL in April 2011. Music and video produced by Steve Shirk. Written and performed by Dave McDowell.

From My Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:35:00 +0000

I love stuff with my name on it. I also love popcorn. What a perfect gift, huh?

TeXXas

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:09:00 +0000

I thought this Dos Equis sign, which I saw outside San Antonio, Texas, was so cool it needed to be shared...

Most-Played Tracks of 2010

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:22:00 +0000

It's rare for me to listen to albums anymore. I have gone to the dark side and started making playlists of tracks I'm listening to at a given time. According to iTunes, here are my most-played tracks of 2010:

Hotel California - Eagles
Let's Get Lost - Beck & Bat for Lashes
Radioactive - Kings of Leon
Bright Lights Bigger City - Cee Lo Green
Everlasting Light (iTunes Session) - The Black Keys
The Show Goes On - Lupe Fiasco
It's OK - Cee Lo Green
Twenty Miles - Deer Tick
Yamaha - The Dream
Cold War - Janelle Monae
Back On My Grizzy - Lil Wayne
Mountain Top - Bedouin Soundclash
When You Call My Name - Dawes
Save Me a Saturday Night - Neil Diamond
Kids - Two Door Cinema Club
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Tighten Up (iTunes Session) - The Black Keys
Some Chords - Deadmau5
All of the Lights - Kanye West
Young Dreams - Young Dreams

Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:04:00 +0000

I'm not usually one for training sessions, workshops, or conferences. I find I learn more by reading on my own or by jumping in headfirst than in a classroom setting. But, I attended a really interesting workshop last year that's had a lasting impact on me.

One of the questions raised in the workshop that I find myself thinking about a lot was 'what inspires you.' My answer was that I had a very inspiring group of friends. Whether it is my friend Chip, who pushed through personal challenges, examined what makes him happy, and built a new life around those insights. Or my friend Nick, who always has an interesting article, album, or adventure to share. My childhood buddy Mike, a skinny kid with glasses, who went from playing G.I. Joe in the backyard to Ranger School, Iraq, and West Point. Or another Mike, who became an Ironman.

Anyway, I've been particularly inspired over the last year by my friend Tiff. I remember the first time we met in Scott Hall -- I don't know if there was another dorm room that was quite so 'artsy'. She's always been generous with her artistic talents, whether it's designing several album covers for The Waystation or lending a hand sprucing up Lauren's blog. And for 2010, she and her sister have been sharing their talent with the world by creating and distributing a symbol, called 2010love, to inspire people to make positive change in their lives.

There isn't much of 2010 left, but there's still time to be inspired.

Boots -- Made for Walkin'

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:04:00 +0000

The sad day has finally come. I am retiring my hiking boots. My Mom bought me this pair of Technica Gore-Tex hiking boots when I was 16, which means they are now old enough to see an R-rated movie. They served me well on many adventures, whether a walk across campus or a trek through high desert country. Here are a few photos of some places we've been together...

Walter's Wiggles, Zion National Park, Utah

Edale Valley, Peak District, England

Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, California

Back to the Future

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:35:00 +0000

This Citroen in my company parking lot...

...needs a flux capacitor

The Majesty of the Camera Phone

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:33:00 +0000

As I've gotten more and more into taking photos, I've realized it's next to impossible to capture something truly grand. I try to remind myself to relax and take it all in, knowing there is someone out there that has already captured the scene better than I ever will. And, maybe I'll look for a detail or an angle that I think will be interesting to remember. I've also learned that for all the benefits of a digital SLR, you can still tell a story with the camera phone in your pocket, which is probably why the iPhone is the most popular camera on Flickr.

Flights from Dubai to Europe typically leave late at night, so you can sleep on the plane. So, after I wrapped up a work day in Dubai, I had time to stop off at the world's largest building, the Burj Khalifa, before I headed to the airport to come back to Switzerland. The Burj Khalifa was still under construction the last time I visited Dubai and I wanted to see it in all its glory. Plus, I got a few recommendations for the show at the Dubai Fountain, which is at the base of the building.

I really like these weird camera phone shots, I thought they captured the hazy sense of being in Bizarro Las Vegas, which is what Dubai feels like to me.

A Few Laughs from My Trip

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:35:00 +0000

"The man with the hat is back, and this time he's bringing his Dad." Petra, Jordan

All kinds of wrong. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Stars & Bucks Cafe. Bethlehem, West Bank

Automated Nap Machine! Amman, Jordan

Off Playing Indiana Jones...

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:40:00 +0000

Pyramid panorama by Daveness_98

DSC01049 by Entropy

Petra Treasury by DWinton

Thanks for the Reminder David Cameron

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:48:00 +0000

"For too long we seem to have surrendered personal excellence and community value in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product now is over 800 billion dollars a year, but that gross national product, if we judge the United States of America by that, that gross national product counts air pollution, and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic squall. It counts Napalm, and it counts nuclear warheads, and armored cars for the police to fight the riots in our city. It counts Whitman's rifles and Speck's Knifes and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children. Yet, the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play; it does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worth while. And it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans." -- Robert Kennedy, quoted by David Cameron at TED 2010

"What gets measured, gets managed." -- Peter Drucker

Happy 100th Anniversary to the Boy Scouts of America

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:00 +0000

I am proud to say I am an Eagle Scout. In the Scouts, I learned to ski, to camp, to tie two-half-hitches, to make a fire, to use a knife, a saw, and an axe safely, and to eat foods other than peanut butter and oatmeal (I was a picky eater when I was a kid, but at summer camp you eat what they serve.) To this day, I think of a Scouting lesson every time I pack for a trip ("a well-packed bag is a bag of bags.") And, I received some of my earliest leadership experiences as quartermaster, responsible for organizing food and gear for a patrol of 8 guys, then as patrol leader, and finally as senior patrol leader, where I was responsible for all 50 or so Scouts.

My troop camped once a month during the school year (even during cold Ohio winters), plus a week of summer camp. I remember driving across the country to go skiing in Colorado, white-water rafting in West Virginia with my Dad, spelunking in Wyandotte Caves, and many other great Scouting adventures. At summer camp one year, a group of us got pulled out of camp to unfurl a huge American flag during the MLB All-Star Game, which happened to be in Cincinnati.

Looking back, I am very thankful that the adult troop leaders gave their time to the Scouts -- especially the leaders whose own kids were long past Scouting age. Mr. Kern, Mr. Fraley, and Mr. Murphy were great mentors to me and many, many other kids. I remember expressing frustration with one of the other Scouts, who was a constant discipline problem. Mr. Kern told me, "Scouts is not really for you David, it's for him." That kid eventually became an Eagle Scout, too. Kudos Mr. Kern and kudos to all the other Mr. Kerns out there. And, Happy Anniversary...

How to Get a Job Overseas

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:42:00 +0000

For just over two years, I've been working abroad. First in London and most recently near Geneva in Switzerland. Over the past few weeks, a couple of folks asked for my advice on how to get a job internationally. Here are the thoughts I shared with them...

Know what you want: "To work overseas" is not enough. It's your job to do the diligence to determine exactly where you want to go and exactly what you want to do there. Flexibility has its benefits, but a crisp story shows that you are serious and not just looking for a vacation. Also, the more specific you are, the more likely you will be to find someone that can actually help you, which brings me to my second point...
Don't be afraid to say what you want: I have found that if you are bold enough to say what you want, people are often willing to go out of their way to help you. And, if you have a crisp story -- it will help direct their thinking to specific opportunities or contacts that can help you
Make sure you are positioned to move: It's hard to move geographies (or companies for that matter) and get a promotion. Expect a lateral move. Also, it's much easier to transfer within your current company than to find an overseas job with a new company. So, landing a job with an international company is the first step. Then, working your way into a role with international counterparts or global scope is a good idea. I had to move from a business unit that was regional to a business unit that was global in scope. Then, establish myself in the right role in the new global business unit before I was positioned to move
Network: Once you are well-positioned, it should be easier to rub elbows with folks that can help you. In my case, I took responsibility for an international marketing campaign that gave me the purview to interact with folks all over the world. So, when an opportunity became available, the hiring manager already knew me
Be flexible: I know I said it's important to know what you want. But, when presented the opportunity to move to Switzerland, myself and many of my colleagues were skeptical. Some folks dug in their heels, some folks got on-board. Switzerland is not what I planned, but I'm glad I got on-board

Santa

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:44:00 +0000

As seen at the Montreux Christmas Market...

A Year of Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Courtesy of @jthurlow and tweetcloud. Disturbed, but not surprised, to see Wendy's make the list ;)

Happy Halloween from 1981

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:13:00 +0000

That's me in my jammies with some shredded paper grocery bags for fur and a pretty scary mask, if I do say so myself. I think I am either the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz or a Werewolf.

I have great Halloween memories. My neighborhood is a mile square and fairly easy for kids to make their way around, so there were always plenty of trick-or-treaters and folks knew to stock plenty of candy. Plus, my Mom (or my Dad) would dress up as a witch and we would play a scratchy old tape dubbed from the original vinyl recording of Chilling Thrilling Sounds of The Haunted House from Walt Disney. It's out of print now, but available on iTunes for all of you digital ghouls and goblins.

The Best Greatest Hits Albums

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:40:00 +0000

A Greatest Hits album. Sometimes a bad idea, sometimes a good place to start. Sometimes replaced by the original albums once you get to know an artist. But, sometimes preferred to the original albums. Some artists pull the trigger early (did you know Hilary Duff has a Greatest Hits album?) Some artists with plenty of hits reject the idea altogether (AC/DC, for instance.) And, some artists achieve their greatest feats with their Greatest Hits (the best-selling album in US history is The Eagles' Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.)

In addition to the material, song selection and sequencing are important to a good Greatest Hits album. In my band, I've always been responsible for set lists and album sequencing. So, I appreciate the art of arranging songs in a particular order for maximum effect. With an album, you've got to start with a bang, then reel it in a bit. You deliver your single around song 3 or 4. If you follow your heaviest song with a ballad it will increase the drama. And, you can't forget to save something memorable for the end. But, with a Greatest Hits, it's a challenge -- they are all hits, after all.

I had a road-trip discussion about my favorite or most formative Greatest Hits albums. Here's my top-five...

Jimi Hendrix - Smash Hits. I remember checking this out of the public library. The sound was so dark and the production so raw next to Huey Lewis & The News or whatever else I was listening to that it felt like something from another world. And the cover art is definitely 60s, with Jimi as part Aristotle, part JC Penney model. 'The Wind Cries Mary' was my favorite song, probably because I could understand what the hell was going on
Bob Marley - Natural Mystic. I am not a huge reggae fan, but I put this on whenever I feel the urge. I also like to mix it in with some R&B or hip-hop for a BBQ. I can't remember the last time I actively played Legend. It's probably because the songs on Natural Mystic are one cut deeper into Bob's catalog and the sequencing is better. 'Time Will Tell' is the way to end a record, while Legend signs off with 'Punky Reggae Party'? Also, I think Legend drops the bomb, 'No Woman, No Cry', way too early...
James Taylor - Greatest Hits. Again, a masterwork of song selection and sequencing. Ending with something live is always a good move for a Greatest Hits. I still like to listen to this record even though I have many of his albums
Sly and the Family Stone - Greatest Hits. I don't own any other Sly and the Family Stone. But, can it possibly be any funkier? Well, maybe -- this record could be shortened to about 8 tracks for the maximum dance-party-in-your-living-room effect
John Martyn - Sweet Little Mysteries. Maybe this is more of an anthology or box set than a Greatest Hits album. But with a double-disc, I think the key is getting two different feels from each disc, which this album achieves by sequencing itself chronologically -- tracking the evolution of the artist, similar to Neil Young's Decade

Welcome to the USA, Nevermind the M16s

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:48:00 +0000

One of the things I've noticed as an ex-pat and frequent international traveler is the difference in passport control procedures from country to country. When I return to the US, I'm always struck by how militarized our border seems. Travelers are greeted by heavily armed guards and random searches. We are one of the only countries that requires everyone to complete an entry form, which is confusing for folks with little or no English skills. And, people are subjected to a series of questions that can sound like an interrogation, depending on the border official. So, I was not surprised when our border experience emerged as an issue in Chicago's bid for the Olympics.

From the NYT, "Among the toughest questions posed to the Chicago bid team this week in Copenhagen was one that raised the issue of what kind of welcome foreigners would get from airport officials when they arrived in this country to attend the Games. Syed Shahid Ali, an I.O.C. member from Pakistan, in the question-and-answer session following Chicago’s official presentation, pointed out that entering the United States can be “a rather harrowing experience.”

Unfortunately, I agree.

See You in a Week

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:30:00 +0000

Plantar Fasciitis and Customer Service

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:01:00 +0000

I first noticed heel pain getting out of my tent the morning after hiking to the top of Yosemite Falls in 2005. My feet were always fairly tender. So, I didn't think it strange to gingerly take my first steps of the morning. But a few years later, the combination of a heavy weightlifting regimen and softball games in cleats irritated the problem to the point that something as simple as standing up from my desk was painful.

After some Internet research, I suspected I had a condition called Plantar Fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the thick ligament connecting the heel bone to the toes. I first tried to treat it myself with icing my feet after softball, over-the-counter shoe inserts, and stretching (Lauren tells a funny story about me stopping in the middle of Paris to lean against a wall and do my calf stretches.) A few months went by without much improvement. Eventually, I went to a podiatrist and got custom-molded orthotics, which combined with stretching, really helped.

Though easy to inflame, Plantar Faciitis takes a long time to heal. So, avoiding inflammation is very important. One of the worst things for Plantar Faciitis is to walk barefoot, especially on sand. Also bad is wearing flip-flops, which makes trips to the beach a challenging fashion experience.

My sister has the same problem with her feet, so I was surprised to see her wearing some cool flip-flops at a family vacation in Florida last year. She found a pair from Chaco with enough arch support for the beach. But as she said, "I wouldn't mow the lawn in the them." I was excited to get a pair for myself. But, this type of product is difficult to find in Switzerland, so I asked my Mom to pick up a pair for my birthday. She turned to Zappos.

Ostensibly a Web site selling shoes, Zappos really sells customer service, which they approach with a zealous fervor fueled by a unique culture. Famous is the story of a Zappos customer service rep who sent flowers (billed to Zappos without any kind of bureaucratic approval process) to a widow who called to cancel a shoe order from her recently deceased husband.

My Mom and I had our own great experience with Zappos. I can be a size 10, 10.5, or 11 depending on the shoe brand. So, it was hard to tell my Mom what to get. Zappos solved the problem two ways: a) by literally measuring the shoe with a ruler and b) emailing us a size chart for this brand of shoe. Of course, I dawdled in replying back with my size. But despite my delay, their international shipping was so efficient I got the flip-flops the same week, just in time for a beach holiday. And, they were a perfect fit! Thanks Mom...

PS -- For anyone else who may consider buying the Chacos, I found the straps took some time to wear in. So, you may want to wear them around the house for awhile before you walk any distance in them. But, now they are as comfortable as can be...

Famous and Semi-Famous People I Have Met

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:24:00 +0000

Running into Lars Ulrich on the streets of London last Friday was my most recent encounter with a famous person. It got me thinking about other ‘celebrities’ I’ve met, so I compiled the list below (in rough chronological order.)

Cesar Cedeno – Centerfielder, Cincinnati Reds. Perhaps more infamous than famous because his gun went off in a hotel room, killing his girlfriend. His kids played on my t-ball team
“Flyin” Bryan Pillman – Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals and Professional Wrestler. Kid brother of one of my Mom’s friends. We went to see him in a WCW event at the Cincinnati Gardens and afterward he met us at Sorrento’s Pizza in Norwood. Also in attendance: Arn Anderson and The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal), who were wearing Zubaz, if memory serves
Jerry Springer – Talk show host and former Mayor of Cincinnati. His daughter went to my high school
Joe Williams – Jazz singer and Claire Huxtable’s father on The Cosby Show. I struck up a conversation w/ Joe sitting at the bar in the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, waiting for a friend. He told some amazing stories about Miles Davis, Coltrane, and Stevie Wonder. I think I even sent him a demo
John Mayer – Before his self-released EP came out, Mayer posted a few demos to MP3.com that I stumbled across. As another struggling musician, I sent him an email and we exchanged a few back and forths. He mentioned coming to Chicago to open for Delbert McClinton and Harmony Riley at the House of Blues. There were about 10 people there early enough to see his set. After the show he came out and we chatted briefly
Jenny Jones – Talk show host. My band was the musical guest on her show
Jason Hervey aka Wayne from The Wonder Years – His wife, former exotic dancer and adult film star Angel Hart, struck up a conversation with me (I swear) at Ghost Bar in the Palms Hotel, Las Vegas. After a few drinks, she asked me if she could borrow my cell phone to call her husband, whom she described as a famous producer. I acquiesced and 30min later Wayne from The Wonder Years came through the door and we all did a couple of tequila shots. The next morning I woke up and my very first thought was “I have Wayne from The Wonder Years cell phone number.” Thus began an ill-advised series of prank calls, culminating in a masterful performance from my friend Mike Meyers (real name) as ‘Noogie’ (not real name) from “Noogie and The Wayne”, a fictional Chicago radio show. Sorry Jason
Robin Williams – A friend of mine at Yahoo! somehow got tickets to the black-tie 50th anniversary celebration of the San Francisco Film Festival. As I walked to our table, I remember being annoyed because there was a big group of people crowding the space between tables. I tried to shimmy around, but managed to bump right into the cause of the crowd – Mrs. Doubtfire himself. He laughed and we shook hands. Going in, I had no idea how big of a deal this event would be, but was amazed when the speakers included George Lucas, Ron Howard, Jim Brown and Spike Lee
Daniel Krige – Australian film director who enjoys a good pint
Jean Broke-Smith – British etiquette & grooming expert and reality TV host. We did a radio promotion together for Yahoo! Mail in the UK
Lars Ulrich – Drummer, Metallica. I was drinking a Guinness outside a pub in London when I saw a flash of someone that looked like Lars crossing the street. I debated for a minute or two before ditching my Guinness and trotting after him. He was damn fast. But once I caught up, I slowed to a reasonable pace to give the impression I just happened to be passing him on the street. A sideways glance noted earrings, some big rings, and rock n’ roll bracelets. “Lars?” I said. “Yes,” he said. “Big fan”. “Ah, thanks a lot…where ya from?” “Switzerland, via the Bay Area” (I knew he lived in the Bay Area, so I threw that out there.) “Oh yeah? I live in Marin.” We talked a bit more about the Bay Area, shook hands (softer than I would expect for a drummer), and went our separate ways. All in all, a very gracious guy

Something You Don't Expect to See in a Swiss Car Park

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:26:00 +0000

As seen today at the Littoral Centre in Aubonne, Switzerland, a Toyota Previa with a wicked San Francisco-Golden Gate Bridge decal.

A Long Walk

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:42:00 +0000

I like a good long walk. At least an hour or so. I feel like you don't really get to know a place until you get out of your car and walk around. This is true of a National Park, true of a foreign city, and true of your hometown. I always take the dogs for a walk when I go home to Blue Ash. A trip around 'the big block', as we call the mile square around our neighborhood, is good for the soul.

Lately I've taken to long walks around our flat in Nyon. 10min outside the town centre and you are in a vineyard or a farm. Here's what it looks like...