Mrs. Braintree

Music: lots of boring talk radio
Book: Re-reading DaVinci Code

SNOW, glorious snow. Loads of it, heaps of wonderful, heavy, pretty snow. Writing snows and setting up some rehearsal time with Chadly for next week. I've never been a big fan of happy hour but this week I'm meeting a bunch of friends for one this Thursday. (I'm more the - open a NICE bottle of wine at home with a hunk of cheese kind of person)

I shoveled and paid bills and tried to venture out on the roads but spent an hour going 1/4 mile. So The day was spent at home catching up on housework and cooking.

Snow angels!

Words of Wisdom

Music: NPR
Book: Building Trust - Hyler Bracey

I'm in a business book mood. People often inquire why I would bother reading the Wall Street Journal or studying the stock market. After laughing, I say that it interests me and it affects me. News appears in the Wall Street Journal first, then a day later it's on CNN, then perhaps your local news station and roughly a week later in the USA Today. Just my personal opinion of course, but still my experience. Plus, like it or not, music is first and foremost a business. We have moved past the days of having a wealthy patron commission an artist to paint, write a sonnet or sing a song. The art is detached from the job, but as a musician I have to understand and appreciate this business of art before I can make a creative impact. And I ran across a lovely quote this morning that I wanted to share...

"Many people have the amibition to succeed; they may even have aptitude for their job. And yet they do not move ahead. Why? Perhaps they think that since they can master the job, there is no need to master themselves." -John Stevenson

Brilliant.

Fast Track

Music: Tom Waits
Book: "The Definition of Success" - Forbes Leadership Library

Intruiging read. I like inspirational quotes and this book is full of them. I've written some new songs, but have yet to throw them at Chadly during a rehearsal. We've been on opposite sides of the country for a while. I returned safely from Florida but needed a vacation to recover from my vacation with the grandparents - rather exhausting. However, Mickey Mouse and I were able to catch up after a 15 year hiatus. Good times. I have a show at the Acoustic Cafe in Winona, MN on Friday, March 31st which should be a low- key acoustic evening with old friends. And I am thrilled to report that contracts are being signed for my return to the Mabel Tainter Theatre in Menomonie, WI. Mark your calendars for September 29th and - drum roll....we'll be recording the show for a LIVE CD. What a thrill...