Summer is halfway over and so is 2021. I can’t believe it’s moving so fast even though Ali and I have still been hunkering down like we were in 2020. We did have some glimpses of “normalcy” this month. We saw a couple of movies at our favorite theater and also partied in downtown Austin for a weekend to celebrate my sister-in-law’s 40th birthday. August brings big changes for me – particularly turning 40. It’s a weird time but things [Continue Reading...]
Blog Posts
Summertime is officially here, vaccines are up (but not by enough) and things are returning to “normal” whether we want them to or not – whether we’re ready or not. Ali and I have been out [Continue Reading...]
This time of year is one of my favorite times of the year, the weather is nice – not too cold and it’s just before it gets too hot outside. One of the benefits of living [Continue Reading...]
April was a hell of a month for the Rastiello’s. First off, we started the month fully vaccinated. We celebrated with family in Houston and it felt so good to see our Texas niece and nephews. [Continue Reading...]
While prepping for this month’s newsletter I had the horrifying realization that the formative albums of my adolescence will start hitting 30 years old in rapid succession over the next few years. Some of the first [Continue Reading...]
What a long year February was. Woof. It started out normally, as normal as can be that is, and then Texas was hit with a freak storm that led to a week of power and water [Continue Reading...]
Every January brings new changes – or at least the promise of them. New Year’s resolutions, promises all in the name of trying to better yourself. But, resolutions don’t need to be about correcting behavior – stop [Continue Reading...]
December’s playlist and newsletter bring two monumental things to a close: This hugely shittastic year. The conclusion of the first year of Downbeat.fm. I don’t want to dwell on the first point, because we all know what [Continue Reading...]
In 2014 I started doing a yearly “Best Of” post on my blog about media that I liked and considered to be the best of the year – really my favorite things of what I’m into, [Continue Reading...]
A lot has happened since we’ve spoken last – notably, Joe Biden was elected to be our next President which provided a huge sign of relief for many Americans – and surely even more around the [Continue Reading...]
I don’t have much to say in this intro other than I hope everyone is safe and has already voted or intends to do so on Election Day. This gets said every year, but every year [Continue Reading...]