It's a bug's life.

It's 2019.07.01 on the lunar calendar today.

Hello to all and welcome new Dallas friends! It's both the first of July and the first of August today.

I haven't accomplished much since I last wrote but I did interview for a few teaching artist positions and only cried in two of them (discussions around arts education and access in underserved communities make me tear up). I have one offer as of now and it looks like it'll include choir, which is most ideal. I love choral music and will be making more of it.

I've been meeting my new neighbors and they include a violin teacher and a den of coyotes, which explains the sighting. And a colony of ants tried to raid my place but I was able to stop them with the aid of baits. The lone spiders seem endless though.

I can't wait to see both of my sisters this month and am glad to have my little cousin in town for some time. My baby sister arrives tonight and I am more than ready to pinch her cheeks and troll her in person.

Natsumatsuri @ JANM

I'll be performing at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles as part of the Natsumatsuri Family Festival, their annual summer celebration, next Saturday, August 10th. My half-hour solo set is at 1:45pm but there's a full day of festivities including crafts and taiko drumming. Come and see.

Howdy? How do ye?

Dallas was hot and humid but lovely. Here's a photo of my face upon arrival. I feel I resemble a boy scout which makes me happy because it makes me think of the boy from "Up." Meanwhile, at the Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival, "Dream of Home" was awarded favorite music video. Thanks Texas!

Gnapping

I illustrated this gnapping gnome to accompany my piece for Live Music Project (you can hear it live Monday in Seattle). I've been napping frequently, which is nice, but lacking discipline to do much else. If you have tips on how to get out of a rut, please let me know.

Currently listening to Christie Dashiell's Time All Mine 🎧Christie is a consummate modern jazz singer, one of the very best, and I've been listening to her album at least once a week since it came out in 2016.