I've Been Working, But Not Here

So, I've taken on some freelance writing jobs and I'm officially out of time to write here...yeah, no time at all.  I'll chime in every now and then to keep things updated, but as of now I'd probably be better off if I just got to work.

Please check back in every now and then to see if I have anything new going on.

Peace...

A day without a perdurable is like a day without sunshine

Yeah, I know, sounds weird, but I like the idea.  According to the magic of the internet a perdurable is:  Very durable; lasting; continuing long.  Like a perdurable truth....something that you can teach your kids or, if you teach school, your students.  Something like "Perfect practice makes a perfect performance" or "Anything is possible."  (Personally, I like the Adidas slogan 'Impossible is Nothing', but my kids don't really get abstract advertising yet.)

The perdurable for the day:  John Wooden says "Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."  

My baby has courage.  The FP is 4 we go hiking today and she walked up to 3 different people today who were walking their dogs and said "Can we pet your dog please?" with no trepidation whatsoever.

We've always said our kids were fearless, but this is just the coolest thing...they have little to no fear.  It will serve them well.  

I wish I was fearless, but you know what?  That's what I can wish for my kids to have better than me.

Peace.

Doing More Of My Own Thing

It just so happens that I'm not with a High School Marching Band Staff this fall. I guess the economy has hit even healthy non-profits so I'm out of work at the present time in the whole marching band area. When I got the word I was NOT pleased and not sure what we were going to do. After a week to reflect I've pretty much landed a freelance gig writing on men's fashion, shoes and fragrances, gotten good feedback from other bands about helping them out, and gotten my materials out to a bunch of local schools so I can pick up some more private students.

At the end of the day I felt alot more free. I was reminded a few years ago that I have unique talents that could be harnessed to enrich kids and produce income for my family. The example that was given to me was a lady who held a camp in the woods one each summer for middle and high schools kids and she cleared more than I make in a year in that one week. That's not bad.

So, everything seems to be falling into place. I was telling my Pastor about this and he came out of the blue with this idea for using this campground that's right here in Metro Atlanta. I mean, I have a good idea in hand, I don't need to have hundreds upon hundreds of kids attend to do well for myself on it, it'll be something I love doing, and I don't have to go to the hills of North Cacalack or Tennessee to do it? That's what I'm talking about!

I guess the thing that makes this the easiest is the idea that I have an entire school year to figure this thing out, prep it, promote it, fill it and do it. Even on the smallest scale I could have 10 kids come to my first event, hold it at a church and do quite well for everyone involved. That's promising.

That's doing your own thing. Everyone forgets that even the biggest started small. I guess we're starting real small.

Getting Back in a Groove.

So, we reconciled on one more last hoorah at the Dis in August.  This should be a fun trip where we're going to be exceedingly organized and be able to do everything we want to do.  We found a picnic lunch option at Animal Kingdom, we're taking the kids to Sanaa, Heather's going to have free time at DHS and I'll have free time at Epcot.  Quite perfect I think.

I haven't posted for a while here because I started a sports blog called "The MM Sports Link" 

Plus, I just started a blog for my Bass Clarinet material called "The Bass Clarinet Guru"

Please check out my other stuff as I branch out into the blogging world.

We've got alot going on at home with the summer rolling along and my attempts to expand my musical teaching pursuits.  I'm looking for more private students and multiple teaching jobs with local marching bands.  Needless to say, it's busy around here.

Keep in touch!

Peace.

I'm moving all the Sports!

So, I decided yesterday that I was moving all my sports stuff to a different blog.  Basically, everything ishard to find here with my personal stuff and the sports together.  So here it is:

The MM Sports Link

I'm also adding it to my blogroll in case there you forget about it.

Enjoy!

Man, I wish I could do this more often...

So, we had a loss of a job in the family.  Not a major one, but still a significant amount of money every month down the toilet.  This couldn't be helped.  Companies are cutting all over the place. All I can say is, at least I'm a teacher and musician (meaning there's lots of ways to supplement my income.)  So, it's a solveable problem. I'm going to pick up some more private students when the school year starts, but I found a ton of writing jobs online that looked fun.

If you can tell from reading my blog you probably realize that the jobs I most wanted related to sports.  I actually posted an update on twitter on that said "I wish I could write sports blogs all day."  Man, if I knew how to make money on that I'd do it in a heartbeat.  I'd be like the Sports Guy lite.  But, I'm not moving to LA and buying Clippers season tickets!  I can't!  (I mean, I'm a Lakers fan.  That would just be sacrilege.)

So, I'm thinking of actually doing a sports blog, going all the way with it.  I also thought about writing on music, but once again, how does one ACTUALLY produce income based on advertising from a website.  That has got to be a hard deal.  I'll tell you, I don't see how you would do it.

So, we're working it out.  

On a happier note, we're going to Augusta for our anniversary next month!  We've been to Savannah a few times, but that's just too far when we're going for one night.  Augusta seemed like the next best place.  Before you even ask, NO I'm not going to play golf or get anywhere near Augusta National.  Two things you need to know about me:  1)  I don't play golf.  2)  I have a high respect for the game and that's why I don't play it.  

Not to get off on a tangent here but I can't help it.  I was in an instrumental methods class in college.  That's the one you take your senior year to LEARN HOW TO TEACH.  In that class my professor (also known as college band director) suggested that if we wanted to get connected to people and become influential as music educators we should learn to play golf.  ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!  Ok buddy, if you like golf, fine, play it.  It takes WAY TO MUCH TIME!  I like being at home.  That's why I bought a house....to live in it!  This is the same person I used to tell at like 9 or 10 at night when I was still in the music building to go home.  Constantly.  At least twice a week for 3 years.  Now I know why he can't teach.  He's trying too hard.  Being in your office all the time doesn't make you successful...it makes your family lonely.

Alright, back to Augusta.  I found this cool B&B near the Riverwalk(the room has a balcony and an antique sleigh bed, how cool!?) and a cool restaurant to eat dinner and a very cool cafe to eat lunch at on our anniversary.  I'll report on it when we get back.  I've never actually been there, so it seems like Savannah-lite.  Heather will be pregnant and possibly feeling it when we go so just a nice light city and a little walking should be nice.  I'll give Augusta this, it's so small that you just find a pocket and stay in it and you're cool.  Everything is bunched together.  It's not like living in Atlanta where it takes 30 minutes to get everywhere.  Yuck!

So, if you know how to make money writing a blog, please tell me, I'd totally do it...and like it!  Otherwise...peace. 

Showtime!

Your 2009 NBA Champions....The Los Angeles Lakers!

I told my dad last night when we were over for dinner that we were going to win.  He knows sports, but he tells me they won't close it out tonight.  I remind him that Orlando is probably done.  I didn't think they'd lay down...but they'd do a form of it.  Guess what?  They did.  They gave up.  The only thing that's heartening for them is this.....

I read a tweet from Rachel Nichols who said that Dwight Howard made Jameer Nelson sit on the bench and watch the Lakers celebrate.  They're clearly planning for next year.  I don't blame them, but Dwight better work on scoring if he wants that to happen. (Oh, and free throw shooting)  Dwight, I feel bad for you because you're going to have to contend with this young Lakers team every year for a while, and LeBron, and Chris Paul, and the Nuggets. 

Bill Plaschke says that the Lakers should be able to pay Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom.  Man I hope so.  If so, we can do this 3-peat thing again.  Maybe more.  We know Kobe's going to sign a new monster contract in 2010 and this nucleus will be together for a few more years.  YES!  Please just be warming up.

Congrats to Kobe for being named the Finals MVP.  Go home and sleep.  Until October!  I'm tired of hearing how many games you've played in the past 18 months.  I'm sure you are too!

Trevor Ariza...I hope the Magic feel stupid for trading you....because you couldn't shoot!

D-Fish....I extolled your virtues on my blog previously and nothing was cooler than to see you and Kobe share that moment right when the game ended.  I don't think anybody could have come into the league at the same time as a player like Kobe and done more with such a great player.  People say the Lakers fear Kobe.  I don't know if that's true, but he definitely respects you.  Maybe when Phil retires you'll be the new head coach of the Lakers?  Please?

Thank you Dick Vitale for railing against the idea that Phil can't coach and he just wins because he has talent.  That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard too Dickie V!  I guess Bob Cousy and Bill Russell weren't talented.  Or those doofuses from UCLA..Walton and Alcindor.  Yeah, they stunk!  (Really?!?!?!)

Let's get you to six so we can have the Jordan conversation Kobe....  I just heard John Barry say that the closest thing to Jordan is Kobe.  Ok......let's get all the way there!