Year of the Snake

I was driving to Chicago a few months ago with my dear friend, Jin Hee. In the course of our conversation, Jin Hee said, "That's because you're a snake." Excuse me???

I was, indeed, born in the Year of the Snake. According to Jin Hee, snakes are charming, intelligent, shy, need to get out in the spotlight from time to time or they get too cold, need to hide under a rock from time to time to re-group, and they shed their skin and re-invent themselves periodically.

Now I'm flattered!

It's true that have I have felt increasingly constricted. This feeling usually precipitates a cross-country move or a career change.

Don't get me wrong, I like my job: I like the people I work with, and I'm pretty good at it. The thought of just up and quitting gives me the jibblies.

However, not long ago, I stood in the middle of an empty showroom and shouted "I'M A CLASSICALLY TRAINED MUSICIAN, DOG-GONE IT!"  luckily there were no customers to hear my little outburst.

My boss's only comment was, "Really? What do you play? Oh, you sing??"

AAAAAGH!!!!  I'm caught between jibblies and a padded room!

So, in order to facilitate the shedding of the next skin, I have hatched a mad plan. I'm starting a private music studio. I will be offering voice and piano lessons. My good friend Ted Bingham will be offering guitar lessons.

More information will be available shortly on our (currently under construction) website http://sheboyganmusiclessons.com.

Don't worry, Mom, I'm not quitting my day job until the studio is self-sustaining. And the bosses are not only supportive, they're signing up!

Here's to an auspicious Year of the Snake!