late night tune

I haven't posted a harmonica video in awhile.

Woodworkand Glasses and Cookies... Oh My!

Hi everyone,

Well, I'm finally getting pictures of my fantastic new glasses put online (sorry for the delay, mom, dad, and sis). Katy plotted with my family while I was in India and they all bought me new glasses that I needed oh-so-very badly! Also, I'll throw a couple of pictures up of my latest carpentry project. My director, Marco, hired me to do some custom trim work in his kitchen. It was a learning experience but a whole lot of fun. I didn't do the cabinets, but I did the trim and the backsplash boards. I'll get more complete pictures put up but this gives an idea of what I've been up to. Ok, going to Toronto with Katy for the night to see her folks then I'm coming home alone tomorrow to finish my thesis. Bye now.

P.S. (my version) Katy has been nagging me for more than a week (since the glasses came in) to put pictures online because she told my family she would. i finally had time today so here they are... not her fault.

P.S. (Katy's version... paraphrased) I am a big jerk and mean and lazy and it's about time I get these pictures up because my family will hate her but it's my big jerky jerkface fault and not hers. [Also included were such wonderful expletives as "jerkasaurus," "king of jerkdom," "jerkalufagus," and "jerky-the-jerkheaded-jerk-a-lump"]

update

Well, for those who may be curious, I was supposed to defend this past Monday but there was a hiccup and I am now to defend on May 14th at 10am. A few days before my defense, Marco, the program's director, found a source that will add key information to my work. At first I was really bummed. They informed me of this extension 4 days before my defense. Now, though, I am into the book he recommended and am glad for the extra depth this new research will provide. This book is called The Craftsman, and couldn't be more on-topic to my thesis. The exciting part is that this book was just published through Yale last month. That means that my thesis is timely and of contemporary importance. I'm doing research that's being published elsewhere. I take that as quite a coincidental compliment to my work. So I am still reading, still drawing, still modeling and preparing to do a bit more writing. I have high hopes for my defense. Historically, my high hopes are often dashed against the rocks but this time I think my expectations are not unfounded as so often they have been in the past. Indeed, I have worked my ass off for this. Let's hope it's enough. Ok, back to the books.

Musing from a relieved mind...

First off, it is done. I have deposited 5 copies of my Master's thesis in the office and I defend in 2 weeks. Strange... it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.

On a seperate note, i just came inside from a good long harmonica session outside. I walked around playing tonight and had a real good time. Good tunes tonight. Several people happened by and told me they enjoyed it. I had a great time. I remembered on the way back in that one of my fondest memories is of a street musician. I was in Florence, Italy sitting in the window of a fifth floor apartment in the old city and the power was out. My friends and I lit candles and cooked spaghetti while we listened to a saxophone player somewhere around a corner. I've always remembered that.

I hope I can give that experience to someone.

Ok, time to go celebrate with my hot girlfriend.

More pictures...

A few more random pictures from New Delhi while I have a couple minutes.

30th Birthday party...

These are pictures from my 30th birthday party. We all had an absolute blast and everyone who came marveled at what a nice idea it was. I think it may be repeated next year... the art party, that is. I don't know exactly how many people hung art, but we had 3 large walls absolutely full. I would guess between 12 and 15 people hung from 1 to 4 pieces each. You can kinda see in the background of these shots. Katy says she has better ones so I'll post those later. Ok, off to studio.