“This one goes to eleven.”  Nigel explains this to Rob Reiner’s character in Reiner’s classic Spinal Tap. RIP Mr. Reiner. I’ve been revisiting his impressive catalog of movies.  Meanwhile, this is the Eleventh Anniversary of our annual Lindquist New Year Newsletter, which covers movies, music, books, personal and professional highlights. Thanks for reading every year, or some years, or maybe for the first year. Again this year I tried to talk Chelsea and Sloane into watching Die Hard with me on Christmas Eve. Again I failed.  I did persuade them to watch the Paul Newman classic, Exodus, based on the Leon Uris novel. I had to explain to Sloane that Paul Newman was one of the biggest movie stars in the world for many years. Next up, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. RIP Robert Redford. We were reminded this year that life is short and uncertain. In Reiner’s movie The Bucket List, the Morgan Freeman character tells us the Gods will be asking these two questions at the gates to heaven, “Have you found joy in your life? Has your life brought joy to others?”

Family Sloane, now 15, is going to drive this year. Please send prayers. In the summer of 2024, Sloane made her screen debut in Peter Farrelly’s new Mark Wahlberg movie, which was shooting in Australia on the Gold Coast.  Sloane shares a scene with Mark. He was gracious and let her know the paparazzi were posting pics of them together. Friends have been asking when it will be out and the answer is this spring. Sloane had an excellent season for the Bellarmine Prep tennis team as a freshman and looks forward to her sophomore year on the team.  We live a little closer to Bellarmine now because we moved from Tacoma to University Place. Our 1919 Craftsman in Tacoma is going on the market in a couple of weeks. Our new home is brand new construction, wide-open loft-like floor plan with a view of Puget Sound and the Narrows Bridge, so it’s a dramatic change from a classic Craftsman in the Wedge District. We love it and look forward to visitors.  Chelsea continues to work as Director of Communications, Marketing, and Advancement for Bates Technical College. This year she and her team organized the celebration of the 85th anniversary of Bates with a successful gala. I saw some of you there, thanks.  For our 18th wedding anniversary, Chelsea and I went to a Cameron Crowe reading where he was interviewed by Eddie Vedder about his new book, The Uncool, which is a cool read.

Safety I’m honored to report Mark Lindquist Law was voted “Best Personal Injury Firm” in Pierce County for 2025, the second year in a row. This public recognition validates my philosophy of taking on select cases and select clients. Our boutique approach allows us to deliver the best service and best results. This year we successfully resolved my last case from the Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes. We also posted high-profile wins in seven-figure cases against county and city governments.  I’ve long believed accountability leads to safer communities. It’s been a blessing in my life to be able to contribute as both a prosecutor and a civil litigator.  Our case against against Boeing and Alaska Airlines from the Max 9 door plug blowout at 16,000 feet is still pending. We represent 35 passengers. Accountability is coming.  I continue to do “expert legal commentary” for local and national media and speak at conferences. One of the highlights of the year for me was returning to Jakarta where I spoke at an aviation conference.  Mark Lindquist Law, by the way, remains at our same office in downtown Tacoma.

Travel In addition to Jakarta and Dubai, we made it to Fiji and Hawaii this year. Fiji has a unique vibe I highly recommend. Tony Robbins built a beautiful new resort there on Savusavu Island called Namale. Getting there is a long, Planes, Trains and Automobiles style adventure.  In Hawaii, we took The White Lotus Tour at the Four Seasons. The tour is cool if you’re a fan of the show, which was shot there during Covid. We also, of course, spent time at our new place at Seabrook. Our older condo at Seabrook, Urban Ocean, is in the rental pool. Please let us know if you’re looking for a family and friends discount.  If you are wondering what Seabrook is like, watch The Truman Show.

Music Though I admit I’m behind the curve on this, I have to share the utter joy I’m finding in Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet’s collection of covers, Under the Covers. Both the song choices and the performances are totally inspired. There is a heavy dose of tunes from the eighties.   Sloane had brunch with the ageless Ms. Hoffs this summer and is now one of her biggest fans. If anyone ever criticizes my parenting, I can point out I bought Sloane the Bangles first album when she was nine. Books Besides Cameron’s memoir mentioned above, I am a fan of Ryan Holiday’s new book: Wisdom Takes Work. This is the fourth and final book in Ryan’s Stoic Virtues series. If I didn’t send you a signed copy for Christmas, and you want one, please let me know. To repeat one of my philosophies yet again, Books are the best gifts. Sloane and I will be joining Ryan at a dinner party in Austin, Texas, this January, as I continue my never-ending endeavor to encourage Sloane to read, read, read, and support writers.  We wish you a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful 2026 that goes to eleven.

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you might find you get what you need.” 

When I saw The Rolling Stones in Seattle a few years ago, I thought it would be the last time. I was wrong. 

Sloane and I saw the Stones just outside San Francisco this year and it was the best time. 

Welcome to the Tenth Anniversary of the Lindquist New Year Newsletter, which covers music, movies, books, professional and personal highlights.

This is the unexpurgated version with more book recommendations, more music, more movies. For the original version with less words but more pictures, go here.

Thanks for reading every year, or some years, or maybe for the first year! 

We appreciate our friends more and more each passing year.

School

In our biggest news, Sloane, now 14, started Bellarmine Prep. So far, so good. She will be trying out for the tennis team in spring.

Meanwhile, Sloane’s musical taste continues to evolve with the help of excellent parenting. Besides The Rolling Stones, she enjoys The Beatles, The Bangles, Depeche Mode, the Cure, Metric, Taylor Swift, Nirvana, R.E.M., U2, and lately I’ve been playing Bob Dylan for her. Dylan is an acquired taste apparently. 

In the midst of her busy life, Sloane made her screen debut in Peter Farrelly’s new Mark Wahlberg movie, which was shooting in Australia on the Gold Coast. Sloane shares a scene with Mark. He was gracious and let her know the paparazzi were posting pics of them together. 

Sloane is a longtime fan of Peter. She loves comedies and especially loves Farrelly Brothers comedies. When we were staying with Peter in Ojai, she quizzed him about various actors, where he got his ideas, and what he was doing next. A year later, she was on set with him in Australia, seeing how movies were actually made.

Finally, Sloane is busy with Biscuit, her new blond dog, which has, of course, become our new blond dog. He looks and acts a little like Enzo in The Art of Racing in the Rain, but doesn’t talk as much. 

Chelsea continues to work as Director of Communications, Marketing, and Advancement for Bates Technical College. More people are choosing technical education over traditional four-year colleges these days.

Thanks

I’m happy to report Mark Lindquist Law was voted “Best Personal Injury Firm” in Pierce County, 2024. Thank you.

This public recognition validated my philosophy of only taking on select cases and select clients. Our boutique approach allows us to deliver the best service and best results.

There is no better feeling that knowing you did absolutely everything possible for a client. This year, I resolved a case against the City of Tacoma for $14.9 million. We also won several other large awards that were big victories for our clients. 

In April of 2025, my case against Boeing in the crash of the Max 8 in Ethiopia will finally go to trial in Chicago federal court. The Lion Air crash cases are all resolved. 

We also represent 34 passengers from the Alaska Airlines Max 9 door plug blowout at 16,000 feet. That case likewise is rolling forward toward accountability and justice. 

Meanwhile, I continue to do “expert legal commentary” for local and national media and I always appreciate hearing your feedback, thanks. 

Finally, contrary to rumor, I’m not moving ML Law to Hawaii where the cover photo from the original newsletter was shot. Everything I want and need is here, except when I travel for my band or ocean fix.

Seabrook

We’ve enjoyed Urban Ocean at Seabrook, our two-bedroom getaway. We are turning it into a rental though because we recently purchased a four-bedroom loft in Seabrook with extra tall windows looking out on the ocean. Our new place is called Aeroknot. We have an Instagram, but it’s not active yet.

What’s this mean for you? We have room for friends and family to visit! Give us a call or shoot us a text. We’re there whenever possible.

Also, before visiting, I must insist you watch The Truman Show, because that’s the feel of Seabrook. We look forward to you joining us.

As John F. Kennedy said, “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.” 

Books

No newsletter is complete without book recommendations. Ryan Holiday has a new book out: Right Thing, Right Now: Good Values. Good Character. Good Deeds. 

This is the third book in Ryan’s Stoic Virtues series. If I didn’t send you a copy for Christmas, and you want one, let me know. Books are the best gifts.

Walter Issacson wrote the smartest biography of Steve Jobs I read. So this year I picked up Issacson’s bio of Elon Musk, which is equally brilliant and especially timely. 

Earlier I mentioned The Bangles and now I have to add that the lead singer, Susanna Hoffs, wrote a novel any music fan and book reader will love, This Bird has Flown.

Returning to Peter Farrelly as well, his second novel, The Comedy Writer, is one of the funniest books ever written. Pete and I met when we were both writing our first novels. By coincidence, the same publisher, Atlantic Monthly Press, bought both of our manuscripts and Pete’s Outside Providence was published shortly after my first, Sad Movies.

Pete and I did readings together in L.A. in the eighties. I sort of remember this.

In between the time I wrote the original version of this new year newsletter and this unexpurgated version, David Lynch, the director, artist, Zen guy, and general visionary, died. He was 78, a smoker, and sui generis, if you’ll excuse my Latin. Catching the Big Fish, which he wrote, is possibly the best book I’ve read on the creative process.

As for my own writing, the day job is slowing down my current projects, but I’m encouraged by notes and posts I still see about Never Mind Nirvana or The King of Methlehem, thanks. I always appreciate hearing from readers and fellow music fans.

We wish you all a happy, peaceful, and prosperous 2025 where you get what you need.

Thanks for reading.