Michael Laba

As has become my end-of-year custom, I just now read through the blogs of these preceding twelve months.  And the process wasn’t nearly as painful as I might have feared!

He doesn’t HAVE to do this anymore… So why does he?…

I was tempted to follow an example I’d set up once or twice before, when my monthly email would be replicated in its entirety for the accompanying blog.  Perhaps for no other reason than to present the wonderful Halloween photos I took right here on West 87th Street!

Perhaps there is still a reason or two to believe a better path to our future may in fact be possible?…

I promise - I’m going to get off of this topic - but one of the surprising details of the new Billy Joel documentary was how directly autobiographical most of his songs were.  I’ve always regarded his lyrics as mostly fictional, as a novelist might compose, or as I seem to.  But no…  “Big Shot” is actually him taking shots

At the beginning of 2024, Billy Joel mused - in his first release of over 17 years! - “Did I wait too long to turn the lights back on?”

Things have a way of going full circle, I’ve noticed time and time again over the years.  And sometimes those circles contain other seemingly non-related circles circling around at the same time.

I’ll admit - until about one week ago, I have been 100% successful at avoiding anything to do with ChatGPT and all the other AI options out there.

It’s nice to have a change of perspective from time to time.  I’ve now been in Manhattan for over 30 years, which still feels amazing for a person with firm roots in Burlington, Vermont.  I’ve experienced this big town

The timing for this monthly blog is now officially last-second.  While we all likely experience intervals where the mind seems blank,

I’d been in the midst of recording a huge new collection of songs when this revised version of michaelaba.com went online back on June 3rd,

We’ve now had a new-yet-former President for the past 10 days and I’m still not quite ready to talk about politics.  But that’s sure to