Happy 2013!

Happy New Year!! My original intent was to write a fairly large post to ring in the new year on my website. I had it all mapped out in my head… I was going to write about what it’s like to be a free-lance musician in December… the grueling schedule of holiday gigs, teaching, and the occasional family or friend gathering. I was going to write about performing in the pit for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” an extra gig that came up which fit perfectly around my other holiday gigs. A gig that fit so perfectly that I only had one day off between the Monday after Thanksgiving and December 31st. I envisioned a post explaining the way touring shows work; how they arrive in town the morning of opening night, so the local musicians get only one rehearsal, then open the show just a few hours later. I was going to write about how much I enjoy the challenge of performing in those circumstances. I was going to write about how great it is to be a working musician, doing something I love to do for good pay, while so many out there don’t have that opportunity. Maybe it wasn’t such a smart idea to plan to write this post on my first day off after such a long stretch of pushing the envelope. I really should know better. As so often happens in these situations, I began to feel a bit under the weather on the last day of Grinch. By the time I awoke on the 31st, I was experiencing a full-out Michigan Cold/Flu. Now two days later, my voice is still about an octave lower than usual. That is when I can talk without breaking into a coughing fit. So, all I’m going to write is a simple Happy New Year. I hope you find 2013 to be your best year ever. May it be filled with the laughter of family and friends, peace, and love. And what the heck, let’s throw some prosperity in there, too! Happy 2013!!

• Random