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.
‘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.
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‘A Fan’s Notes’ archives
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.
Beer Break: ‘Find What You Love and Let It Kill You’
Time for another beer break—with another Bukowski quote. Some doubt he said these words, but the sentiment sums up the mission of “A Fan’s Notes.”
A Meditation on Jeff Buckley and His Masterpiece, ‘Grace’
On the anniversary of Buckley’s tragic death, I pay tribute to the immensely talented singer-songwriter, his signature album and the connection I feel to an artist gone way too soon.
Writing for Something Other Than Money
Despite the time and energy I put into this blog, I don’t make any money on it. That’s OK, because I’m a fan of writing for reasons beyond a paycheck.
Praise for Print Reference Books
My latest blog explores a longtime preference for print dictionaries and other reference books over their digital counterparts—including the unlikely word that made me a lifelong fan.
The Sublimity of Spring Skiing
Soft snow, warm sun, cold beer and the potential for deep pow make spring perhaps the greatest season to hit the slopes. My latest explains why—and offers tips on how to best enjoy it.
The Musings of a Memphis Grizzlies Fan
After an extended beer break, I return to "A Fan's Notes" with an exhaustive look at how I became, and why I remain, a diehard fan of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Beer Break: A Colorado Brew and Bukowski Quote
The first in an occasional series in which I forego my usual deep dive and let the art (mostly) speak for itself. To begin, an IPA from Nederland and a quote from Charles Bukowski.
An Ode to ‘Annie Hall’
“I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member”—except maybe a club for fans of “Annie Hall.” My latest is a deep dive into Woody Allen’s 1977 masterpiece.
It Was My Fate to Be a Denver Broncos Fan
My story of Broncos fandom begins five decades ago, far from the Mile High City and in an unlikely way. This latest blog details the unusual path I took to becoming a Denver diehard.
Revisiting One of My Favorite Poems
A deep dive into a Baudelaire poem that advises us to “be always drunken”—but not only with alcohol. I explore my relationship with the poem and what it means to also “be drunk on poetry and virtue.”
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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. If she did love him, she wouldn’t have done the things documented here.
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. The threat of our vacation being canceled sparked an important decision -- and memorable adventure.