The new year was ushered in to the tune of wind and rain. In time honored tradition, M, G and I were out in it at midnight making improvised "music". We always choose an area somewhat of a distance from any main thoroughfare. Last year we were close enough to a traveled area to scare some people off with our racket, so this year we went out into the woods in the rain and secreted ourselves inside a large Redwood stump. We almost made it all the way there without flashlights, but the presence of swiftly flowing water in some of the gullies combined with the near total blackness of the stormy night confused me somewhat.

The stump itself is open to the sky, but sheltered under a faerie ring of Redwoods which kept out most of the rain. Through the trees, a foggy smudge of moon provided the only light.

We made the confines of the stump our own for a small time, rejoicing in the glistening wood and the freedom to make as much racket as possible. When things got too silly, as they must always eventually do, we packed up and sloshed back to the car.

G and M slept over. Jen made a huge breakfast, including a lovely coffee cake that she stayed up late making the night before (of course, we all stayed up late talking and just generally hanging out - for a fleeting time getting to act like we had no responsibilities). The kids got overexcited, as they always do in the presence of guests.

So the year starts, in the company of family and friends. I wish this could be so for everybody.

Jen and I took the Christmas tree down today. Tomorrow I go back to work and the boys go back to school. The holiday season is over for another year. Time to forge ahead.

We begin the forging by playing a show at the Elbo Room in San Francisco on Friday.