The last week has been pretty interesting as I've made some new friends and had a chance meetup. The new friends I've made are members of various orchestras around the SFBA, their families, and their friends. Spending some time with them has motivated me to practice piano a little. I probably won't be able to practice as much as I did while I was unemployed, unfortunately.

I was invited to a blues party last night at the home of the conductor of one of the orchestras. I have never taken any blues classes or lessons, but many of the moves are similar to moves I know in east and west coast swing. While I was there I happened to mention to another guest that I'd read a lot about the SFBA blues dance scene from lrc, and it turns out he was actually at the party! So we met up and I got a five minute lesson from him. I'll try to do some blues dancing in the near future.

Alas, there's nothing like ringing in the new year with an issue at work. If I hadn't had to work, I might've had the chance to conduct the SF Chamber Orchestra in Auld Lang Syne. (They auction off a short conducting lesson and a chance to conduct the orchestra.) I was thinking back to when I wanted to study conducting (long story), which was another interesting coincidence because the party was not too far away from the Berkeley campus, where firecat and I went to a concert one day about eighteen years ago (while I wanted to study conducting). It's funny because when given the chance (my cellist friend and the conductor were trying to encourage me to bid), I was a little reluctant to do so, whereas many years ago I would've jumped at the chance to do something like that.

Happy New Year to all.