Author Archives: ltrainlane

*Obviously I’m still here writing this, but there’s a part of me that NEEDS to be gone, once and for all. A few weeks ago, I found an unopened letter that my mom wrote to me back in early 2011, when I was in the process of moving out of my house with Michal inContinue reading “lane stowe: August 15, 1969 – May 7, 2022*”

Never have I been so thankful to have a blog title without any CAPS. Here’s the scary part….this blog tried to capitalize Urkel as a recognized name. Are you fucking kidding me? The reason that I say HATE (and I know it’s a very strong word) is that for the majority of my life, IContinue reading “carlton urkel…..I HATE that motherf%#*&@$!!!”

7 more years. In 7 years, I’ll be 59 1/2, and I’m going to retire. I would love to say that I’ve had an illustrious career, but honestly I haven’t. My career has had some incredible highs (as well as some truly demoralizing lows), but it’s allowed me to pay my bills and learn someContinue reading “sorry kermit, sometimes it just sucks being green.”

Otto and I have our morning ritual – sometimes it starts at 6:30 am, and I’m not a fan of when it starts at 4am. We do our morning stroll, so that Otto can stretch and do his business, and we get some fresh air and exercise. Some days this goes very smoothly, and otherContinue reading “the march of the dog walkers.”

On my 8th birthday on August 15th, 1977 (the same day my friend and fellow musician Jenna Marotta was born!), my mom gave me the Chuck Mangione “Feels So Good” album that truly helped set a path for me. Call it divine intervention or whatever you want to call it. I started playing trumpet inContinue reading “why chuck mangione will always be my “spirit musician.””

Are you ready for some (flag) football??? I signed up to play flag football in Fairfax, starting on Monday nights in mid-March. For the longest time, I’ve wanted to play a game of pickup “two-hand touch/stop tackle” football (or what’s known these days as the NFL Pro Bowl), and for the first time in 31Continue reading “i’m definitely not a “ready for ‘prime time’ player.””

February 15th….it’s always a unique and bittersweet day. It’s my half birthday (yes, I still recognize it at age 52 1/2), but it’s also a day of mourning, as it’s the day one of my closest friends passed away. This year my half-birthday had more significant meaning, as I have decided that on February 15,Continue reading “from type A to type F(L)…..”

1. My favorite 80’s sitcoms on Rewind TV. 2. Patience and perseverance. 3. My friends in Chicago and Milwaukee, who have shown me the true meaning of kindness and understanding. 4. The Apollo Theater on 125th Street in beautiful Harlem, USA. 5. Clinton Tuckerman. 6. The return of the USFL. 7. The music of SamContinue reading “8 things for which i’m thankful.”

I’m trying to find my motivation again. The motivation to get back in shape. The motivation to practice my Electronic Wind Instrument which I haven’t touched in weeks, as I have no gigs. I’m writing this post as I haven’t been motivated to write, and the feeling of being in neutral has been overwhelming. ForContinue reading “firing on all cylinders.”

2022. We’re only a few hours into the new year, and I feel more optimistic than I did for the majority of 2021. It’s been over 30 days since my last post….a big reason is that even though the last month has been very challenging and stressful, I didn’t feel the need to blog asContinue reading “turning the page.”