Cautiously Optimistic

That's been the name of the game. Things have been falling into place, one at a time, but need to continue to do so... more specifically, I found a new job (boy, that month without one sure felt like longer than a month), found out I can keep it part-time in the fall while I take more classes, and got an A and a B in my two semesters of chemistry at SUNY Purchase (yay!) these past two months. ...but... I still need to be approved for this loan I applied for, and to find out if there's even room for me in the classes I want to take this fall (now at Manhattan College, in the Bronx, because they had physics classes), -and- register for, study for, and take the general GRE again. Phew. It's a lot, and it sure feels like a juggling act sometimes, but again, I am checking things off the list.

It feels good to be "here." I am busy and back to playing music for fun. I have also decided to stay in Nyack another year and am looking to move in (nextdoor) with Fitz and Rob. More on that later.

Right. The new job. I work at Music Minus One in Westchester, just over the bridge. They sell/distribute sheet music with accompaniment CDs, instructional DVDs, karaoke CDs, etc. Overall... better than the last job. Still the same kind of office-y stuff but at least the subject matter is more interesting. I am handed any number of tasks during the day... online research, calling music dealers, the obligatory data entry... definitely pretty busy. Do I miss having the down time to take care of my own life/stuff, to write e-mails to my buddies...? Sure, but the day sure goes by quicker with more to do. Bottom line... this, like all my jobs in the past two years, is temporary, and fortunately very flexible, which is just what I need right now.

Kirsten Ketsjer moved back to Denmark (aw!)...

Glint has "hired" me to play a final few gigs with them as they continue their search for a new keyboardist. It's win-win, really... not only are they paying me a bit, but I get to play the cool/bigger gigs I originally wanted to, and they don't have to cancel shows. These recent ones happen to have been at pretty cool venues, truth to tell... we played at the Double Door in Chicago last week in the final round of the "Last Band Standing" contest put on by Lollapalooza, among other things.

The Sabrina Stone group packed the house a couple weeks ago at the Bitter End in the Village, and we're playing again on the 15th at the beloved Cutting Room. Our 4-song EP just came out.

Last weekend Dad, Uncle Sam and I convened on Fire Island for a gig at a private party. Fun stuff.

(I never get a chance to wear that shirt)

Aaand... made a triumphant return to Mohonk/New Paltz last weekend for camping and general outdoor shenanigans, with Rob (of course!), Jacobs and Casey.

(pics comin' soon)

Overall it will have been a great summer, I have to say.