All Signs Point to Ski Season
I’m a fan of autumn in Colorado because everywhere you look, there’s evidence that another winter of making turns is finally here.
‘A Fan’s Notes’ Blog
“It was my fate, my destiny, my end, to be a fan.” —Frederick Exley
Inspired by “A Fan’s Notes”—Exley’s “fictional memoir” published in 1968—this blog explores the everyday objects of my own fandom, from beer to books, from music to sports, from outdoor adventures to travel destinations, and much more.
- Click here to read the introductory blog that started it all.
- And click here to check out my Notebook, the newest addition to “A Fan’s Notes.”
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Featured Post
Ski films are starting up and snow is falling in the high country, which means a new season of hitting the slopes is just around the corner! To celebrate this glorious time, I’m featuring my blog from two years ago honoring the seasonal tradition of ski films premiering in mountain towns to help skiers and snowboarders get stoked for winter.
‘A Fan’s Notes’ archives
Beer Break: A Perfect Pale Ale and Classic John Denver Music Video
I’m on a Rocky Mountain high as I honor two of Colorado’s greatest exports—microbrews and a beloved bard of mountain ballads.
The Five Artists Whose Deaths Crushed Me
It saddens me whenever someone I’m a fan of dies, but the passings of five particular people were especially devastating. My latest blog details who and why.
‘Memories That Can’t Grow Old’ (My Top 10 Christmas Songs)
I’m a huge fan of Christmas music—yes, even the cheesy stuff. My latest blog breaks down what I consider the 10 best holiday tracks.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller,’ a Funny Grift, and the Joy of Youth
In December 1983, my friend Jason and I pulled off a hilarious heist centered on our shared birthdays, a school dance, and the biggest music video of all time.
I’m an ‘Old Person’—and Still Listening to R.E.M.
All these decades later, I remain an avid fan of the band that shaped my youth and redefined what music could and should be. Here’s why.
The Book That’s Been Guiding Me Through the Cosmos for Decades
After an extended break, I return to “A Fan’s Notes” with an in-depth look at the satirical self-help book that has helped shape my life for 30-plus years.
Beer Break: A Poem (and Pale Ale) We All Need Right Now
My latest celebrates a Charles Bukowski poem, Tom Waits’ honest and heartfelt recitation of it, and Colorado’s finest brew.
My 25 Favorite ‘I Think You Should Leave’ Sketches, Ranked
I’m a fan of the hilariously offbeat and cringey sketch comedy show from creator Tim Robinson because it’s my exact style!
A Fresh Look at a Famous Leonard Cohen Lyric
I’m a fan of Cohen’s brilliant line, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in,” but the often-omitted words that precede it are equally powerful and important. Here’s why.
How a Grateful Dead Song Helped Me Say Goodbye to My Dad
My latest blog chronicles how the Dead’s “Box of Rain” serendipitously came back into my life six years ago—but this time with new meaning.
My Belated but Joyful Journey to the Music of Nick Cave
I didn’t become a fan of the Australian singer-songwriter until later in life, but when it finally happened, I fell hard. My latest blog explains why.
A Scamp for All Seasons
I’m back with a blog that traces the thread of our life with a retro camper called the Scamp—from the moment we first saw one 16 years ago to its present-day role as our adventure basecamp.
Coffee Break: A Celebration of Morning Brew and the Wordle
I’m a fan of my morning routine—drinking strong black coffee while solving the New York Times’ popular word puzzle. My latest blog honors both.
A Remembrance of My Favorite Teacher, Mr. Raney
My latest blog is a belated tribute to Harry Raney, who taught me AP English at Ridgeway and instilled in me a love for language and literature that endures.
How Jon Krakauer’s ‘Into the Wild’ Changed My Life
I’m a fan of the story about Chris McCandless—the young man who died in the Alaska wilderness—because it shaped my world in ways I never could’ve imagined.
Yada, Yada, Yada … These Are My Favorite ‘Seinfeld’ Episodes
My latest blog ranks the Top 25 episodes of a sitcom I’ve loved deeply for years—not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Forever Denali
When I began this blog last year, I vowed no political posts, but I’m breaking my rule to denounce Trump’s recent decision to rename a mountain I’ve loved for 30 years.
The Perfection—and Healing Power—of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’
Dig if you will the picture of how the Purple One’s masterpiece helped me cope with sadness at age 14 and continues to heal all these years later.
Bourbon Break: Two Hunter S. Thompson Quotes and an Old Fashioned
The holiday season seemed the perfect time to kick back and relax with a stiff drink and a pair of quotes that sum up the spirit of “A Fan’s Notes.”
Why I’m a Fan of the ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Finale
After recently rewatching the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” I rediscovered how much I love the show—even its polarizing ending.
All Signs Point to Ski Season
I’m a fan of autumn in Colorado because everywhere you look, there’s evidence that another winter of making turns is finally here.
The Smiths: ‘A Light That Never Goes Out’
It’s time the tale were told of how I became and why I remain a fan of the Smiths, whose music defined my teenage years and continues to resonate decades later.
The Transcendence of James Wright’s Poetry
My ode to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose verse has haunted me for decades, and whose writing style helped guide my own.
A Tribute to Leonard Cohen’s ‘Avalanche’ and Nick Cave’s Two Triumphant Covers
My latest is a deep dive into the poetic perfection of Cohen’s song, how Cave brilliantly covered it twice, and why I’m a fan of it all.
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Blog archives
Before I launched “A Fan’s Notes” in 2024, I wrote some random blog posts. Below you’ll find a selection of articles I published either on this site or elsewhere.
The Truth About Mary Jo Mayton
This blog is for anyone who knew and loved my father, Phil Smith, and for anyone who knows and loves Mary Jo Mayton. It’s intended especially for anyone who believed that Mary Jo ever loved Phil.
The Road Always Leads to Crested Butte
We were somewhere along Colorado state route 114 heading to Crested Butte when the dread began to take hold.
Top Trails and Ales in Colorado
Colorado is a beer lover’s mecca. The state boasts 284 craft breweries, or 7.3 breweries per 100,000 residents of legal drinking age, ranking third in the U.S. And its seemingly infinite backcountry is overflowing with numerous trails that begin just around the bend or down a dusty road from many of those breweries.
Breckenridge on Budget
As the leaves change and temperatures drop, my thoughts turn to winter and my travel planning shifts westward to Colorado, where the high country awaits the season’s first snow and the mountains begin calling. Autumn means it’s time to start thinking about our annual ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, a place that has beckoned us back again and again for 15 years.
The Long and Winding Road to Breck
Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. My wife, Sandy, and I discovered this when we embarked on a weeklong ski trip to Breckenridge, Colo.
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