Howdy folx,
I know, I know, I know, you havent heard from me in a while and since Im stuck sitting at Heathrow Airport in London for the next 8 hours, I figure I might just take the time out to fill you in what Ive been up to, besides hard work, travel and music.
Music
Well, if you remember, I started the year out with an $8,000 loss when the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) decided that my business was only a hobby and since valuable tax monies were needed to prop up the downward spiraling too big to fail banking industry, I got the old shaft-a-roo, without lube or a kiss afterwards.
Thanks to Ethos recommendation, I started out as the second string bassist for Mo Porter, which has blossomed into a full time money making position. Yes, Im in a cover band and yes, Im playing weddings and corporate parties (no Im not the wedding singer, Im a wedding bassist), but all I have to do is show up, put my brain on coma and enjoy free drinks, good money, cute chicks dancing and the opportunity to work with old/gold friends and keep my chops up in the process, which is something I was sorely lacking whilst doin nothing but recording.
But I havent turned my back on the studio, no siree bob, Im actually doing even more recording now then I never did, working on various projects and Ive even partnered up with my good friend Rob Browning who owes a project studio as well and weve collaborated on several songs that we are having licensed for movies, video games, etc. No monies have as yet come in via that avenue, since my working with Mo Porter, it has taken the stress off NSS and might even lead to my being able to move the hobby back to a business in the eyes of the government.
Work
I was in San Francisco in October as part of a conference on an ERP system we support and I was in Las Vegas in November as a speaker on a panel with one of my clients about a software package I wrote for their business. Plus there are other opportunities that are set to launch in 2010, so Im very excited, proud and happy to be working for/associated with The PCA Group, Inc. Someday, I will be able to work at music full time, but if Im forced to have a day job, being a software engineer/consultant is really the job to have.
Women (Sorry, disappeared for a bit to go have lunch with this hot Polish chick I just met in the airport. It all started when she commented on how nice my sleeves aka tattooed arms were, so I figured Id make it a topic.)
Its been seven years since I got divorced from Veronica and as you can see, I dont even have time to write a simple newsletter, much less find that beloved companion/soul mate that everyone keeps bugging me about. Oh, Ive met and pseudo dated a lot of women, I cant help it, Im a musician/thug and I have my fathers good looks but, Im really enjoying my bachelorhood. I LOVE working (both as a musician and consultant), I LOVE the constant travelling and I love the countless hobbies I find myself getting engrossed in (reading, snowboarding, watching old movies, etc.) Now dont get me wrong, Ill probably settle down and get married again someday. Really, Im not adverse to it, Id actually do it tomorrow, but its all contingent on finding the right person and as of yet, I really havent found herbut when I doIll know it, so as of now, Im just going to do what I always dowork hard and play hard.
In Closing
Well, thats about it for me, nothing really excited, but tons of fantastic little things happening every day and all the time, so Im just enjoying life and flowing with all the things it has to offer, good and bad.
So, as I sit here digesting the Wagamamas red curry I just had and reflecting on the wild year that was 2009 and the promises that 2010 has to hold, I want to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and one hell of a Happy New Year.