Again... Thank you K. Walker
I'm determined to get back to art and graphics, and I'd like to combine all of it with a little photography... and music too. That's the dream now... and I'm going for it. The perfect job for me? Remember my fascination with album cover art? The ultimate creative playground!!
After a few trips to my favorite CompUSA store, I'm armed with a new muscle-machine computer and high resolution monitor, along with the latest version of Photoshop. Stop by some day and you might hear me clicking and cursing... music playing in the background, of course.
All that driving time to the East Bay had brought music back into my life in a big way. Even before that, I had shared hours of music with an online friend, encouraging him to pursue his musical dreams while he functioned in his regular career. Each time I told him to follow his heart, I realized I should be listening to my own heart. Maybe that's where I got the courage to say "I don't want to do this any more". I didn't know it at the time, but all of this was to lead to my "Summer of Jazz"... and all the loose ends would suddenly start to come together.
Summer is Jazz Festival season in California... from north to south. After hearing the advertising for the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, I called "my twin" (you'll meet her a little later) and said "We have to do this". When May rolled around, there we were.... sitting only a few rows from the stage for three days of incredible jazz. In June, we celebrated my fiftieth birthday by attending a benefit. Rick Braun played to an audience so small it could have been a private party. (Must have been for my birthday, right?) "Jazz on the Waterfront" brought my twin north again in July and the Sacramento Jazz Festival was held in September. The grande finale for the season was the JazzTrax Catalina Jazz Festival in October.
Attending these festivals has introduced me to artists and people "in the biz" who have been wonderful in offering suggestions and introducing me to even more people. As the details started falling into place, I became even more encouraged, so now I've treated myself to a new Nikon Coolpix 995 and a great little HP notebook sporting Windows XP. I think I have all the toys I need now... so it's time to get busy.
Family and friends have marveled that I always land on my feet...
..............so maybe I wasn't so nuts after all???
See that little room at the top? When we checked into The Del Coronado in San Diego (actually Coronado Island), we found ourselves in a suite at the top... with our own private staircase leading from the 5th floor to ours. What a view!!!
click on photo
My son and I attended a Hot Air Balloon Festival in El Dorado Hills this summer. At the crack of dawn, we made our way thru the dusty fields to watch them launch.... only to hear that it was too windy to fly. After an afternoon nap, we made the trek again... this time in 106 degree heat... and were rewarded by a concert and choreographed light show. I wish you could see it life size... it would take your breath away.