Post Standard!

My upcoming show was featured in a really nice article in the Post Standard. Can't wait to get to Syracuse! At the moment we are still in Niagara Falls. We were supposed to head to Syracuse on Wednesday but everyone here got very sick except for Dylan and Nicole. We couldn't move all day. Luckily it has passed and we expect to be on the road tomorrow morning. Here is a link to the article.

http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2012/12/syracuse-born_pianist_composer.html#incart_more_entertainment

New Desk and Bear

Dylan got a new (old) school desk, and has been working at it with her laptop and notepads/drawing boards. She is getting a lot done.

Oh, and Tamara and Ghilman sent her a Paddington Bear, from LONDON!!! She is a big fan.

Dylan Roaring

Boy does this girl love to dance!

December, And There is No Snow

I finally have a few minutes to write a post here. It has been hectic, but in the way that there has been a 19-month-old running around my legs constantly for the past few days, which generates no complaints for me. I am glad to be reunited with Dylan and Nicole, and had a successful show at the JCC Sunday night. The weather here has been surprisingly mild, in the high 40s most days if not 50s, and sunny except for today. Buffalo is not what it used to be. As has been the trend, the winter is starting later and later these days. I guess global warming might have some positive side effects. I guess some people in Buffalo have been proudly displaying a bumper sticker that says "Buffalonians for Global Warming"

I got to light the Hannuka candles with Dylan on Sunday night, so here are a couple of pictures from that:

It is great to be back here with her. She is talking more than ever, at least trying to. She seems to understand everything, so I don't think talking can be that far away. She is also climbing on everything, and trying to jump although she cannot get off the ground yet. Also, she is dancing any chance she can get, even doing different kind of dancing for slower music, and mimicking ballet. Very cute. Oh, and she went and saw Santa yesterday:

It doesn't get much better than that :)

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. I have to say one thing, that I cannot get my mind off of the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, CT this past weekend. I know that not just as a father, but as a teacher, and a human it is just one of the most disturbing things I have ever heard of. It really makes me think that all of these things that we have been wondering about, like whether or not these video games and military culture really can effect our children, well, it is time to get off the fence and say that yes, if you get the feeling that these games and movies can be influential then the answer is yes they can be. We have to trust those instincts from now on. There is a line, and it does get crossed. I was aware of it growing up, which kids had a healthy awareness of the dangers of guns and which were a little bit too gung-ho about them. You mix one of those kids with a slew of media and video games, and then give them access to and training on how to use a gun, and then mix in mental illness and normal adolescent and young adult troubles, and this will happen again. I hope we can learn something from this. I know I have.

Ok, I'm done. And here is one of my favorite songs of the year. I haven't watched this video yet, I hope it is ok. Love you all!

Gershwin Coming

Getting ready for my upcoming Gershwin shows, one in Buffalo on Dec. 16th, and one in Syracuse on Dec. 30th. Here are a couple of videos I made a month ago.

Happy Hannukah!

City Colors, City Lights

Video recording from a performance of my piece "City Colors, City Lights" last week at Katzen Concert Hall. Dylan and Nicole are still in Niagara Falls hanging out with Nana and Big Nana, and I am back here in AZ finishing up school. 11 more days and I will be joining them back in NF.

More Dancing

Dylan's dancing is...improving.

Can't help myself, I needed to post this so that I can watch it whenever I want.

Enjoy.

Dylan Playing Drums

Voting! November 6th, 2012

Yay Nana!

Nana Nunu is on the mend, out of surgery and in recovery. Hopefully she will be home soon and back to her old self. I am missing Nicole and Dylan tonight, but I am glad they are together with the family in Niagara Falls. In honor of the good news, here is Dylan in a basket!

Sending Love

Sending love and prayers to Nana Nunu, Nicole's Nana, who is not well. Nicole and Dylan flew to Niagara Falls yesterday to be with her. She is scheduled for heart surgery tomorrow and we are all worried and praying for her health. We love you Nana!

AZ State Fair - October 2012

Grandma Jill is visiting and yesterday we went to the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix. Dylan met some goats and had a great time. Here is a video montage:

Ikea and Onions

Dylan Feeding Herself

Here are a couple of beautiful videos showing Dylan feeding herself, a new skill (as you will see).





Oh, and since I have been neglecting to put videos of music that I have been listening two, here is something for your listening pleasure:

Dylan Making Vocal Effects

Ok, anyone following this blog must be wondering what the heck is going on over there in Arizona, because I have hardly provided any insight. Well, that is GREAT insight into what happens when your baby turns into a toddler. In fact, I can look back on this blog as an excellent way to track how busy I am in my life - when I am posting a lot, like during the first few months of Dylan's life, you can tell that as tired as I may have been, I obviously had some down time. No More!!!

In Dylan's defense, it might have as much to do with being a second year doctoral student and living 2500 miles away from family. But hey, she sure keeps us busy - plenty of energy with this little one. She loves to be outside, which has been a challenge as it has been in the 100s very often. The sun is just too strong when it is that hot, so we have to stay in the shade of our patio. In fact, on Labor Day I decided to walk with Dylan over to the park even though it was 105º, just because what is a Labor Day without the park? well, here is what we found there:

 NOT A SOUL IN SIGHT. Except a Grackle, which we said hi to. Dylan was happy to be out though.

It is finally cooling down into the 90s though, so we can now take nice walks to the park. And we are settling back into a routine. I think one of the difficulties of grad school is that every season you need to adjust to a new routine - new classes, new stresses, etc. I am preparing for the French language exam now, which I will have to take October 5th. So I had to teach myself French this past summer. Starting from scratch. Actually has been very fulfilling, I am really able to look at a French newspaper now and make heads and tails of it. Hopefully will set us up for a trip to Paris someday. Maybe to visit Tam, who is living there right now. She would have to dramatically extend her stay though, as I am sure we are years away from getting there.

Here is a video of Dylan playing with my sound system:

What else to say - Rosh Hashana is coming up, so it is a good time for reflection. This has been a difficult transition back into the school year. I am worrying a little too much about how to bring in some income, and not focussing enough on my strengths. I have been trying to get wedding gigs, and they are few and far between. Seems people in Phoenix do not want any of the classic jazz even for cocktail parties. I need to figure out some other things - I have maybe been compromising too much. I still believe it will come together, has just been more of a challenge than I expected. 

Otherwise we are good - happy, healthy (although Dylan is fighting a cold right now) and excited to be almost 1/2 way done with this doctorate degree. I am exploring what I want to focus on for my dissertation topic - it seems I am leaning towards writing a piano concerto which combines jazz and classical, ala George Gershwin, but I have a lot of work to get the idea formed in my head. Excited for the possibilities though. 

Ok, time to go hang with Dylan for a bit. Happy New Year!

Memories of Joe

The following is a tribute Nicole wrote for Joe, the neighbor in Niagara Falls who showed us so much about gardening and passed away recently. I thought it was beautiful and wanted to share it here for memories. We will miss you Joe!

This summer I had a garden view:

This is Joe:

Joe is the reason this garden glows:

and forever grows:

 This is Joe's not so happy face after seeing our garden:

The reason for his disappointment. He had so much to teach us. I hope to think of him with every weed I pull:

RIP Joe may your garden always grow.

Biking the Other Night

Thursday evening we took a bike ride over to the Green Belt, a strip of park that runs from near our apartment all the way up to North Scottsdale. We only rode a small part of it because it was getting late, but we look forward to exploring more soon. And it was almost the full moon.

Dylan in Buffalo

Dylan's New Outfit

Dylan wearing her new outfit made by Nancy, Kiki's Mom. 

The Boys of Summer

I thought I should post something about these two exciting shows that happened this summer. 

And of course, some pictures of Dylan:

On The Beach

Dylan (sideways) Walking in Bathing Suit

Swingin' with Charlotte in NYC

Sick Kid

Ok, next time I decide to post about how healthy Dylan is, remind me of this past week!

We were supposed to go to Florida last Thursday to see Nana Penny and go to Jodi's wedding. However, upon returning from New York to Syracuse Dylan came down with a bad cold and had a fever! She seemed really hot Wednesday, so Gwen took us all over to Crouse Irving Urgent Care in order to have someone look at her. Well, it turned out that she had gotten an ear infection, and had a fever, and was really unhappy :(. She would cry for seemingly no reason at all - so not like her!!

So, we were unfortunately not able to fly out on Thursday morning to Florida, so Dylan was not able to meet Nana Penny yet :(. She has been getting better, although she broke out in hives or an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin. She has been a trooper, eating well and sleeping well, but gave us a bit of a scare. Wow, there is nothing like having your child sick, now I understand. You are so helpless. Thank g-d for doctors! This past week made me want to go back to school and become a pediatrician!! Sorry Dad, don't get your hopes up, I've re-realized that it is not for me, but I am thankful that there are people who have dedicated their lives to learning about children's ailments.

So, in order to embarras Dylan even more when she is older, here are some winning shots from the past week:

Sick kid wishing she could go outside.

Playing indoors.

Rash 1

Rash 2

Rash 3

After pediatrician