2008 Closing Credits (I wrote most of this out on New Years Eve)
Well, here we are, another year gone, and a new one upon us. It's amazing to think of just how much can happen in a year. It seemed to go by in the blink of an eye, but in reality, 2008 was filled with many time consuming ups, and time consuming downs.
For me, the year started out on a positive note. Nick and I took a trip to New Orleans with his sister and a group from his family's church to do some re-building work with Catholic Charities. It was my first time visiting this soulful city, and I had a wonderful time. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about the kind of work we might be doing - although I have my handy moments, I'm not exactly built for heavy lifting, and I was quite certain that I would just end up getting in the way. We were assigned a house on the opposite side of the river from the French Quarter, tiling the home of a deaf family. Their house wasn't in the general flood region, but had been effected anyway due to the high winds tearing off their roof, creating a bowl effect in the house. One big bowl of water! The family was separated and living in different locations while repairs were taking place - two whole years later. The father did stop by a few times to see the progress we were making, and I got to speak to him briefly, with the very little ASL that I know.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work alongside some of the truly amazing full time volunteers who work for Catholic Charities - it is an amazing organization, and the saving grace of many families in Louisiana.
February was a bit tougher for my family - my father had to undergo two major heart surgeries, two days in a row, followed by months of physical therapy and recovery. It was a hard time for everyone, but we are all so thankful that he came through everything fine and is rounding out the year happy and healthy!
The spring was full of gigs and traveling, the most noteworthy being my trip to the Florida Music Festival in May. I was not selected to perform in the festival, but obtained badges for entry to the shows and the conference. It was a last minute decision, but off I flew to Orlando, where I stayed with former classmate and fellow UArts alum Jarrod, who was awesome and drove me back and forth from the festival!
While at the conference on Saturday, I ran into Sean Perry, co-founder of aXis Magazine, and co-founder of the festival itself. We got chatting and he checked in to see what was going on on the acoustic stage that night - there was a cancellation! So with a borrowed guitar from Levi of Million Year Echo, I took the "Stage" at the City Arts Factory as the first acoustic act of the night. (The acoustic performances were taking place in the art gallery - it was a neat space!)
Since Jarrod is a performer at Disney World, we spend Sunday running around Epcot, Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) and the Magic Kingdom, hitting up all of the best rides! What an awesome trip.
I returned to Florida not too long after FMF, this time to Miami, for a family vacation. In between I began work recording my follow-up EP, "The Beauty of It All," in Millville, NJ, with composer/producer/musician extroirdinaire Nathan Terry...but more on that once we hit October...
Over the summer I traveled to Kentucky where I played at a cozy coffeehouse in Louisville, and made the 15 hour drive back overnight to make it to the rehearsal dinner for the wedding of one of my best friends! (I also made my largest purchase to date...my new car! I love my Mazda 3 Hatch!) Then there were local gigs, a trip to the Jersey shore (can't beat being at the beach with your family!), camping with friends, seeing the Backstreet Boys perform AGAIN (always awesome) and many many hours in Millville, recording.
Everything was sent off to be printed by Labor Day weekend, and the CD Release show preparations began. The show was held on October 5, 2009 at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. I was so excited for the show, and even more so to share all of the hard work that had been done on the EP, Nate and I spent many a cold rainy day and muggy summer evenings in his home studio, brainstorming and recording. There were a lot of laughs to accompany the frustrating moments when it just wasn't sounding right, and I am so pleased with the outcome.
**I have to say special thanks to my parents, for making the project possible**
There were a lot of people who worked very hard on the album, and I've listed them below:
Nathan Terry
Charles Kevin Mauer - All of the photos were his artwork, and he also put everything together as far as the cd case is concerned.
Jenn Steier - She made my handwriting come to life on the front and back covers, as well as on the Ringlet Records logo.
Nick - Who drove me around while we were on Assateague Island, camping, looking for a fax machine to send in last minute changes to the printers.
The CD release (and Label Launch, actually...I've release the album on my self-startup indie label, Ringlet Records) went wonderfully! Alec Stewart opened, and I played with a full band (on just a few numbers) made up of Nathan Terry and Ryan Mackin, along with cellist Alfred James and vocalist Hilary Scholz (yep, that's my sister!).
October also saw another set of good friends get married, along with my brother - it was a full month!
November brought more traveling, this time to Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, then Thanksgiving and shows in the Baltimore area.
December of course brought winter and Christmastime, as I wrote about below, and a FANTASTIC New Years Eve celebration.
Thank you for everything, 2008. 2009...I am SO ready for you!
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