December 23rd -- Ah, Christmas and the end of another year, and heck, if you count correctly, a millennium. It's enough to make a person feel a bit philosophical.
It's impossible to state just how damn lucky I am. I've got a fantastic family who raised me well, always supporting my crazy ideas, and more importantly, me. I've got old friends who are true, and new friends who are dear to me. I can do things that few other people can. I could not be grateful enough for all this.
Now it's time to leap into something new. I've already stayed at home longer than I planned. I don't know that a small software business can ever be said to be stable, but mine is established, and it's time to start acting like I have an income again. Given the amount of time I've been spending in Ann Arbor, it would be downright foolish to stay in St Clair County. Moving to A^2 means shaking off a lot of secure routines. It's a risk. But it will be fun, and, I hope, rewarding.
Of course, I still have to work out all the details. But I intend to attack this problem aggressively. I've bided my time long enough.
Merry Christmas to everyone. May the new year bring you happiness -- and new challenges.
November 16th -- Okay, I've been a bit tardy updating this. How to summarize?
Music -- Many great sessions, plus another Lunasa concert and an amazing chance to see Jon Hendricks in concert. Fun tunes and great company; what more could you ask for? Okay, I also snuck in another tin whistle lesson with the stellar Loretto Reid.
Football -- Marine City made it to the third round of the playoffs, only to lose to Orchard Lake St. Mary for the second year in a row. (The Catholic school sends five times as many players to Divison I NCAA football teams each year as Marine City sends in a decade.) Meanwhile, Michigan has a great offensive and a tragically bad defense.
Reading -- Since last report, I read all four Harry Potter books in their Canadian editions, which seem to have the original British text and covers. Outstanding books. I'm now working on the new Caroline Stevermer book, which is great.
Ambercons -- I've been to two since August, Ambercon North and Ambercon Northwest. The former has the most wonderful restaurants around, the latter the funkiest hotel.
Obsessions of the moment: The usual tune acquisition. Actually, I'm gradually starting to learn more stuff by ear, as well as going back to 121 FIST again. Recent sessions have restored my faith in Conor O'Neill's. Dodging of stupid nagging little bugs long enough to make some real forward progress.
I've finished Romeo and Juliet; still another very quick read. (I wonder if that's because I'm getting used to them, or Shakespeare's getting better. Perhaps it's simply that the histories are boring...) Next up is Julius Ceasar I'm building to some sort of Shakespeare video festival -- I want to watch Richard III, Titus, and Romeo and Juliet. I'm over one-quarter of my way through Shakespeare's plays.