For lack of a better term, I suck at writing blogs.  It really boils down to my lack of perseverance in keeping a diary, a lamentable trait I’ve carried with me my whole life.  Never an elegant writer, I’ve been inspired to explore this a little more adamantly after going on a Christopher Hitchens binge.  As I jump on this bandwagon (thanks mainly to Matt Marks), I’m keeping in mind that like music, writing also has a deeply performative nature, and I can aspire to this art with the same passion I do for music.  Admittedly, though, good writing, is as much a gift as good music making.  With that in mind, I’ll be taking the “continuing-education-student” approach by working hard to make up for lost time.  First things first, I’ve got to get back into the habit of writing every day.  And also try to not use clichés like “first things first.”

In terms of performances, I’ll be back at the Northern Lights Lounge tonight with Mike Jellick and guest drummer Rob Avsharian.  I’ll try to get some media and include it on my blog tomorrow.

P.S.  One note about #SOPA and #PIPA.  Although I applaud the efforts of our elected officials to work out the relevant dilemma of intellectual property protection, I’d like remind them that governments that inhibit the the flow of information often get slammed with the label “fascist.”  Just sayin’.

264:  Gig w/ Scott Gwinnell’s Dectet.

265:  Drive up to Gillian’s and rehearse a little.

266:  New Year’s!  Total blast and fun to play with Gillian and crew.

267:  Drive home in the snow.

268:  Hanging w/ the Lawsons.

269:  Jazz auditions

270:  More jazz auditions!  And Northern Lights.

271:  First day of band.  Looking good for the semester!

272:  Rehearsal w/ Mark Stone for faculty percussion concert.

273:  Teaching Mark.

274:  Hanging out with the Boothroyd’s at our house.

275:  Zip, zero, zilch.

276:  Teaching a little, and some practicing.

277:  Teaching.

278:  Northern Lights.

279:  Interview for Oakland Post and Press and Miles Brown Trio at Vinology.

280:  Meeting for Master’s Proposal (!)

281:  Traveling to Cali for Kelly Brown’s wedding.  I miss traveling.

282:  Kelly Brown’s wedding!  Great time with Ray Brown’s Great Big Band.  Totally.  Killer.

283:  Come back from Cali.

284:  Teaching all day.  Lessons with Mark, Nate, and Matt.

Day 251:  Teaching, then a gig w/ Meri Slaven and Scott Gwinnell.

252:  Hanging with Rob and Nicole

253:  OU Jazz at Cliff Bell’s.  Great job everyon!

254:  Errands and other things

255:  Hanukkah

256:  Northern Lights

257:  Rehearsal with Jellick and Kramer, then to Jenine’s class.

258:  Lawson Christmas!

259:  Church, singing with the choir.

260:  Christmas day- to the movies.  Saw War Horse.  Entertained, but not overly so.

261:  Recuperating from the semester for a day.

262:  Uncle Jim, ML, and I finishing the floors in the upstairs room.  Now for rug shopping!

263:  Practicing early, then Northern Lights.