2025 was a helluva year. Let's look back, with trepidation. And some joy. I'll give you a short (for me) travelogue of my trip to New Zealand and Australia. I attended some good concerts. There is a melancholy remembrance at the end. And all is laced with a ranting rage about the state of our country. 2025 Review.

If you follow Chicago Musician regularly, you know it's been a hot minute since I posted a new episode, so I address some of the reasons for that. I'll give you a hint: it has to do with the color orange, and consequently, I have some politics to 'unpack' (as the more popular podcasts say).

In February I went to New Zealand, including Auckland and Wellington, and then spent another ten days in Australia. I got to see quite a bit of the southeastern part of the continent starting with a good 6 days in Sydney. Even had dinner and lovely evening with chocolate queen, Kirsten Tibballs, so sometimes, the stars just align. Brisbane was next followed by 4 days in Melbourne, while a day trip to the Great Ocean Road was a real highlight (see Helicopter). Both countries are very beautiful and welcoming. The weather was hot (summer Down Under!), however a nice change from February in Chicago.

I attended some great concerts again this year. I'll talk about a few of the highlights, with names like Cyndi and Wynonna involved. I even played a concert. What the what what??!

After a year of silence, I have to blow off some steam about the shit show that is currently our country. And we'll talk about a path forward. Or if there is one. How do we stop this authoritarian regime before it's too late? Or is it already too late? I'm semi-hopeful about our country outliving yam tits and his clown show, but only semi.

Not everything is bleak in this episode, but we definitely have shit to talk about. Hold on! 2025: What the . . ?

https://sksyphotos.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand---Australia-25/Sydney