Back and forth

I realize it's been more than three months since I've written anything, and the last entry, thankfully, is no longer topical (for the time being at least). I've been a busy boy with a lot to write about and no time to write it. There have been loads of new developments, but as I sit here, I'm overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. So, I will, primarily out of laziness, resort to producing a brief list of important* events:

1. I went to New York. In New York, I saw old friends, explored, and shopped. I saw Antony and the Johnsons perform at the Apollo. It was an adventure, and I have loads of stories, which perhaps I'll tell via this forum at some point.

2. The night that Obama won the presidential race, I was at Bottletree with most of my friends and a lot of strangers. When his victory was announced, the two hundred or so of us there cheered so loudly that we made the front page of the paper the next day. Merrilee grabbed the cardboard cutout of Obama that someone had brought there and started a celebratory conga line that took us around the block. There were tears of joy, and I imagine we all had headaches the next morning. Victory headaches.

3. Andy's Tea Party played a couple of shows. They went well. I love performing. I love my bandmates. I wrote more songs.

4. I read several books. My favorites from the last three months: The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai and Blood of Others by Simone de Beauvoir. I began reading Helen DeWitt's The Last Samurai after Nico Muhly's effusive recommendation on his blog, and though I have not yet completed it, I am already in awe. It has nothing to do with the film. I also read Breakfast at Tiffany's, which I'm embarrassed to say I had not yet done. I bought it for two dollars from a bookstand that was set up on the street in Brooklyn. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As an aside, this leads me to recall a choice quote from my stay in New York: "You know Seth, as the only known** gay living relative of Truman Capote, you sure have a lot to live up to." I guess I better start throwing some parties. [Mom, Dad, grandparents: should you stumble upon this entry, I don't drink enough and am far too vocal an advocate of kindness to ever complete the task of living up to his example. Worry not.]

5. I discovered Google Reader and increased my personal productivity. I'm not sure how this occurred.

6. I started and then quit writing a book about crazy Chicago facts. (This was a case of agreeing to a project before realizing that it would be impossible to complete in the amount of time I had available for it, especially as new circumstances presented themselves shortly after my agreement. Cryptic? Perhaps, but I might have some positive news soon--I hope. I guess I'm not ready to jump back into the freelance world quite yet.)

7. I had an excellent Thanksgiving with my family, and I got quite good at Rock Band after playing it with my nephew for two days straight.

There's a lot more to write about, but I want something to eat, so that's that. My next entry could pop up tomorrow, or it could pop up in June.


-------------------------------------------------------------------
*The word 'important' is used in jest here. I'm not deluded enough to think that any of this matters to most others out there.

**I'm sure there are more living gay relatives of Mr. Capote, but my friend doesn't know of any. Nor do I. Anyone able to help with that?