It’s official! I’m now officially a “professional” writer! My first published piece appears in the May/June issue of Transitions Abroad (pp.70-71). I’d been in print before, but so long ago, I don’t think it counts anymore. Anyway, this is my first actual travel/language piece, so I’m very excited. And it’s a clip I can put on my resume.

Hi Everyone,

Time for my tri-monthly update! I’d hoped to update more regularly, but the past few months have been a little bumpy. Some good, some better, some not-so-great.

Just a quick note to let you know about 2 upcoming gigs we, The Dying Crooners, have this month. (Times subject to change, offer void in Indiana, etc.) Be warned, I suspect these gigs will be a bit loud, esp. since the bars we’re playing at are small.

So a few weeks ago I get an e-mail from Kasim Sulton, bass player for the now-defunct band Utopia, formed by Todd Rundgren. (If any of you know me even slightly, you know how big of a Todd fan I am.) I had signed up for Kasim’s e-mail list, and I get frequent e-mails about what he’s up to.

And now, a little self-promotion…

I’ve been sitting in with the local SB band Dying Crooners lately—a one-time gig turned into a regular practice sesh. I played bass with Dan (the guitarist) when we were Trip-D many years ago, and when our drummer Dennis left to pursue a career in the Culinary Arts (as drummer are wont to do), we split up. Davo is on bass now, and I’ve been having a jolly time with the drums. And now Michelle, friend to Dan and Davo (and, I would now hope, me), will be sitting in now and again to play lap guitar (and maybe drums?). Anyway, there are some audio samples and info at:

http://www.myspace.com/dyingcrooners

Although this isn’t an actual travel/travel writing event per se, Pico Iyer will be speaking with Mark Salzman on Thursday, January 12. I plan to attend the event because, hey, it’s Pico Iyer. Nice guy, always willing to give an autograph. Oh yeah, good writer, too. Maybe he’ll thumb-wrestle me. I think I’d win. Pico might have bigger thumbs, but I fight dirty. Just ask Tim Cahill.

The Masked Rider

By Neil Peart

After almost seven years, I finally got a chance recently to sit down and re-read the first travel narrative I ever read. Perhaps my favorite travel book (by one of my favorite writers), The Masked Rider chronicles Peart’s month-long bicycle tour through Cameroon, West Africa, as part of a five-person group. Being a fan of both Peart’s band RUSH (Peart is the drummer and lyricist) and Peart’s various essays, I was very excited to grab a copy at one of their shows (much better choice than a $25 shirt). With a friendly conversational tone, Peart describes in colorful detail the numerous local characters and modern inconveniences his group encounters along the way.

Hello everyone,

Greetings from Santa Barbara! Yep, after a long hiatus, I’m back. Lots of stuff going on as always; some good, some bad. But the main thing is that I’m writing more, and I’m writing regularly. I’ve even sent a few things out awaiting response. It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to ditch the real world for a full-time career in writing just yet, but I’m working on it.

Hello, everyone!

Well, a lot has happened since my last entry (80 years ago) and even since I last spoke to some of you. Lots of good stuff and some not-so-good, but all in all, a decent few months.

Sorry for the short notice on this one, but today I serendipitously came across a booth promoting an open conversation with Lonely Planet, including Don George, Emily Wolman, and Jay Cooke plus others.