Thought for the day...

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

Loss

The last two weeks have not been what I was hoping for at the early stages of the new year. Personal loss creates so many emotions...so much introspection. Loss is part of life, but loss that makes no sense? There are many types of loss we experience, and the last 2 weeks have really added a ridiculous amount of stress.

Some things make no sense....and that makes it even more difficult to process. Sometimes being a grown-up really sucks.

The New Year!

The new year is here, and here is the month filled with ambition and resolutions. Its kind of a tough month too where all the holiday decorations are taken down and put away, and all the colors and shiny lights that lit up the night are gone, and the nights seem even darker. Spring is too far off to start thinking about...just seems like a long dreary month...or is it?

As much as I've grown to dislike the winter for the most part, there are those nights with some redeeming qualities. Don't get me wrong, I'd much prefer to sweat than shiver any day of the week, but there is something very cool (no pun intended) about a snowfall with those big, puffy, soft snowflakes that land softly and pile up quickly. The night is illuminated by everything being white. I've had some of the best runs going out on a night like this when the snowflakes are floating down, things are so quiet, the white snow so clean. It is so peaceful hearing the snow crunching lightly under my shoes. I guess there are some things to look forward to in January afterall.

I have a cousin who has been bravely fighting lung cancer. His spirit, attitude, and outlook are awe-inspiring to say the least. I can only hope to have a fraction of the courage he has displayed. January brings the last part of a pretty tough and aggressive treatment plan that he has gone through in an amazing fashion. We are all keeping positive thoughts and prayers for victory over this horrible enemy called cancer. Something else to look forward to in January...

Christmas 2009

2009 has been a very interesting year. From the start in January with my heart scare, losing my job at the beginning of May and being unemployed for 6-1/2 months, having the good fortune and blessing of landing a job in this Michigan economy, and now in the throws of my favorite season of the year. I have a much different perspective on things now...amazing what you learn about yourself when the time to do so if forced upon you. I also have a cousin dealing with lung cancer, a diagnosis that was shocking to everyone. His spirit and bravery is inspiring to say the least. It really makes you take stock in what is truly important. It isn't the money, toys, titles, all the ego-related crap. Its about the people in your life, and the experiences you have. Life isn't all about work. Work isn't all about life. The challenge is to avoid getting sucked into the machine and remain true to yourself and those around you. There is no more time to keep saying "I'll do it tomorrow". It needs to happen now.

Finally got it back!

For the longest time I could not access my own blog to edit or add entries. Finally got that fixed. Not sure how many people are into the blogging thing. Between my website, Facebook, and MySpace I'm running into communication overload. The website is due for an overhaul...just have to pick a web designer to work on it.

The latest news came last night while setting up for my gig at the Shamrock. Ciao Amici's in downtown Brighton wants me to play the next 3 Saturdays from 6:30 to 9:30pm. It is a nice Italian restaurant with a cool atmosphere. Last time I played there I was setup in the bar area. Normally I would play in the dining area but there was a large party for a rehearsal dinner so I had to relocate. It ended up working out very well so I'm not sure where I'll be set up for these gigs.

As for other news, its been a pretty difficult month with lots of things going on creating various levels of stress. While bad for hypertension (which I thankfully don't have) it is great fuel for writing. I've received a lot of grief over when I'm going to release anything new. Its really taken the last 2+ years to get to a place with this inner ear injury I sustained that I can not only function musically, but get back to creating. With guarded optimism I'm working my way back into the studio to see how it goes. Definitely have lots of things to say....