Meet "Fluffy Urban Snowball", our new family addition (Robbie's pet hamster). Ignore the cage, though (it's borrowed), FUS gets a new crib later this week (meaning the pet store is receiving a new shipment of cages). Yesterday ends the heavier holiday gigging clump, so this week things return to a better balance, and just in time, too! Looking forward to the pperformances coming up (check the schedule), along with having enough office time to deal with (at least some) things, and (most importantly) time to prepare for, and enjoy the Christmas season with my family. Yay!  

Meet Jay Heath. Had a really nice duo gig with him last night (corporate holiday party - the kind of thing that flies under the radar from public view, as many events do). Have known Jay for some time, but seldom perform with him (which can be said for the the vast majority of local musicians, as I've never sought to be well networked in this community, and most of my engagements are solo). My first real opportunity to stretch out with him, quickly leading to the realization that there is (at least some) common bond in how we go about connecting with the music (and each other). Honestly, I don't have (a strong) sense of this with too many musicians (which is meant to be a commentary on me being, it seems, out of the mainstream, in some regard, and not a deficiency in anyone else). One big difference between Jay and I, is that he made the (responsible and pragmatic) decision to put his horn down and "go to work", leading him (with his wife Denise) to open Middletown Music back in 2002 (voted Delaware's favorite music store, and for good reason. I always recommend them). I feel for Jay, as I understand the longing (need) to express one's self on whatever contraption we have learned to manipulate, but I respect him too, for allowing his feet to be brought near enough to the ground to do what makes sense (even if only to him). As for the playing; last night was the kind of experience that is generally a prelude to a growing artistic camaraderie. Am looking forward to where this may go. Of course, we both already have ideas ...    

Working on the finishing touches to my December newsletter. I kind of like how it starts off (as I am often uncreative and 'blah' at this point):

Christmas Time is Here

My favorite time of year. Hope it is a good season for you as well. I always look forward to it's coming (or put, another way, the only bad part about the Christmas season, to me, is that it has an end). This year, though, it's even better. As awareness and connection deepen from the piano, it remains with me when I stand up from the bench. If I didn't know it before, I now understand that the piano is where I learn: the desk at which I sit, as a student of creation, divine will, and purpose. Perhaps you will see a smile on my face more often these days. Awareness and connection will do that to a person, and, if not always a smile, a sense of serenity (easily lost, of course, the moment my feet touch the ground).

Hoping it's a happy season for you, and that you enjoy the tune.