We’re halfway through May and the blog is hitting 1600 days of consecutive posts tomorrow (today is 1599 days, which comes to 4.38 years).  I’ve really been struggling the past few weeks with extremely long days and poor sleep. My brain, naturally, is fried.

All that being said, it seemed like a good time for a midweek update.  Here are some plans for the blog, as well as some little projects I have in the works:

• I’ll be dipping my toes back into some political commentary in the near future thanks to President Trump’s masterful CNN appearance and some of Tucker Carlson‘s post-defenestration speeches.  2024 is going to be a wild year.
• Over on the subscriber-only version of the blog at SubscribeStar, I’ll continue my series on my trip to Washington, D.C., after this weekend.  I’ve been asked to give the lesson/homily/sermon at the baccalaureate service for our graduating seniors, and I’ll be posting the full text for subscribers on Saturday.
• I’m continuing to compose piano miniatures, though I need to catch up on my red tardy slips project.  I’d like to have some lo-fi recordings of that ready for the next Bandcamp Friday, which is not until 4 August 2023.
  • I arranged two pieces, “Song of the Bigfoot” and “Chorale for a Sleepy Wednesday,” for a small ensemble with typical rock instrumentation—pianos, guitars, basses, and drums—and similarly hope to take some simple recordings of my Middle School Music Ensemble performing those pieces.  Also, one of my private guitar students is playing “Song of the Bigfoot” at the TJC Spring Jam & Recital on Friday, 26 May 2023.
• Due to the baccalaureate service, I’ve had to reschedule a planned book signing event my cousin is organizing.  It’s for my latest book, Arizonan Sojourn, South Carolinian Dreams: And Other Adventures.  I’ve had an additional thirty paperback copies arrive, and am waiting for ten more hardcover copies to ship.
• I’ll be hitting the open mic scene again very soon.  Summertime affords me the time and energy to get back out there, and I’m excited to get some new live footage.
  • To that end, I hope to start booking some gigs again soon, though I’ve been hoping as such for a couple of years now.  The motivation to get out and play is not what it once was, but it’s good to keep my name and my music out there.
• I am brainstorming a third book, which will also pull heavily from this blog.  More details to come, but I’m hoping to have something out well before Christmas.

That’s it for these quick updates.  What would you like to see more of from yours portly?  Leave a comment below.

Happy Hump Day!

—TPP