it's 2007!
monday 1 january 2007
Happy New Year everyone!!
Another one has begun and I am feeling good about it…
I hope the holiday season was good to you? I spent mine in Georgia—having the warmest Christmas I’ve ever had in my life. As a Scotsman, I am not used to being in shorts and a t-shirt and on the tennis court in December! One lucky person in our party got a Vespa scooter as a present, so that was even more fun than a golf cart in terms of keeping myself entertained! Good food, good music, good company—it was a nice way to spend my days.
And I can hear you all wondering what Santa brought me! I must admit the best gift I got was a wonderful present from a woman that I truly respect. She gave me a cheque for an amount of money, along with the insistence that I “pay it forward”. In other words, the cheque is not for me. She wants me to find someone who is in need, and I will give them the money, the only requirement being that when they see someone else in need, they help that person if and when they are in a position to. She gave me the gift of giving and I can’t think of a more appropriate present. I can’t thank her enough.
Holidays must end though and I am really excited to be beginning work on Howard Katz at the Roundabout. I mentioned it before, but as our first rehearsal draws near, I am finding that I really can't wait to get back to theatre work again!
So… it’s a new year. And I guess we are all supposed to be thinking about resolutions, and how to make this year better than the last. I don’t know that I have ever had much luck with resolutions, but I have been thinking a lot about how we really MUST make 2007 a better year. I’m certainly hoping that 2007 is wonderful for myself and for the people that I love, but I am also hoping that it is better for the world. I had my first Reiki-Hypnosis session recently to help me focus and improve my thoughts… I’m looking forward to seeing where that may lead.
2006 has been a difficult year in so many respects. This war continues. The suffering of many people who were devastated by Katrina and other recent natural disasters is something we are reminded of daily. There are a lot of hard things and suffering in this life, and it is painful to see. My hope for 2007 is simple, but heartfelt. I hope that the people who run this world can do so with pure hearts and open minds. I hope that we can all allow ourselves the gift of giving. I hope that we can treat ourselves and each other with more kindness. It all sounds so trite, doesn’t it? And possibly too idealist, but I truly believe that simple things can change this world we share. If you need proof of this, just check out the film Paper Clips in the Euan’s Stuff section of this website!
Let me leave you with the words of playwright David Grimm. In his play Measure for Pleasure, which I had the good fortune of working on at Sundance and performing at the Public Theatre in New York, my character got the privilege of stepping forward and saying these lines every night at the close of the show. I think they are appropriate thoughts as we approach this new year:
Kind ladies and dear gentlemen, our little play is done;
And while I know it's getting late and you all want to run,
I'd like to beg another tiny moment of your time
And bear with me and this, our evening's last atrocious rhyme.
Oh never mind -- Look, go, be happy. Love is everywhere.
I know that sounds cliché and dull, but really I don't care.
The world is full of pain and fear, but you could make it grand
By simply opening your eyes, your heart, your soul, your hand
And telling someone that you care, and that we're here together.
For life is short, and love is sweet. Give pleasure without measure.
May 2007 be peaceful and wonderful for us all. Thanks for continuing to be interested in what I do. I promise I am still as interested in meeting the people who shape me and this society.
Much Love,
Euan
x
sofas have beds in them!!
Things are busy in New York. And winter is finally setting in... it's bloody freezing out there! I've been spending loads of time dealing with moving to my new home on the Upper West Side. Running round to the furniture stores to get a bed and TV and stuff on my breaks from work. Bring on the summer! Just got a lovely new sofa with a bed hidden in it!! How novel and rare!
I have just started previews for Howard Katz. Shortly after rehearsals began, I drove down to DC to perform 2 concerts at the opening of the grand new Signature Theatre. That night I returned to NY where I have been rehearsing ever since. We have just finished technical rehearsals, which is the part of the rehearsal time where all the elements that we have been working on in the rehearsal room for the past few weeks finally come together. It's when we move from the rehearsal hall into the actual theatre and get on the set, we begin to see the lighting design, and we start working with costumes. It's an interesting part of the process, and it means long hours for everyone. Generally we work for 12 hours each day until previews begin, which is when we get to experience the final crucial element of live theatre: the audience. At this point, rehearsals lighten a bit, and we enjoy getting to know the play before opening night. At Roundabout we have the luxury of an unusually long preview period for an off-Broadway play.
The play is going very well. Our playwright, Patrick Marber just got nominated for an Oscar for Notes on a Scandal. Have you seen that film? He has my vote! I'm fascinated to watch Alfred Molina in rehearsals and on stage. He's excellent, and so natural. Actually, I'm enjoying everyone in the company- We had a little celebration in honour of Robert Burns on Jan 25th. Took some time out to have my annual haggis, and to toast Scotland's great poet.
I've got to tell you, having the new place is great... for the soul. I have been living out of a suitcase for such a long time now-- for over three years. It's a great way to see loads of new places, and to meet lots of people, but it is also exhausting. Before I came to the States, I settled into a place with friends which became my home for years so I'm hoping this new apartment is a place that I can feel the same in -- at least for a while.
My family is coming over from Scotland in a few weeks, to see the place and hopefully HK. They will be staying with me. I'm laying out a plan which will save any of us from having to sleep on an airbed. Have you ever slept on one? They are awful. I have the same posture as Golum now...
My other news is that I'm putting together some new shows at a small venue in the city. It's going to be a series of concerts-- just me and an accompanist I think. I'd like to try some new stuff and wanted an intimate venue to try it out in. I think you'll like the place. Details will be annouced soon, so keep checking in here and I will get back to you with dates and times. Meantime, keep your Sunday nights in April and May free!
So... that's all for now. I'm hoping to be seeing a lot of you at the play, and also at the gigs...
Stay warm... and continue to enjoy the new year!
xx Euan
The Ides of March!
The Ides of March are upon us, and I must say, it’s working out better for me than it did for Caesar! There is much to tell. Last time I wrote here, it was freezing outside, and I was just beginning to settle into the new apartment. But now-- outside, it’s getting warmer and inside, all the painting is finished and the apartment is nearly fully furnished. I still need to buy some lamps and blinds and a rug—but it continues to feel very good to finally be a permanent brick in NYC’s concrete jungle! I still love to travel, but having a home base makes life much more relaxing. Cole (my dog) has gotten used to the new environment, too. He is a big dog and he sheds a lot, so much so that even Swiffer has a problem dealing with it, does anyone know a solution for this!? It’s driving me crazy. (I know there are worse things in the world though – I won’t let some dog hair mean I lose sight)!
The other thing I need for the new apartment is some art on the walls. As I was sitting in the living room one night, thinking about the art I don’t have, I had a great idea that I wanted to tell you all about. I have decided to incorporate visual arts into my upcoming shows at the Metropolitan Room. At each show, I will have a few guest artists. Some will sing, but I will also have artists who will create a masterpiece during the show. At the end, we can auction the art off for charity. What do you all think? I recall a scene in my friend Arthur’s movie where the artist Lonnie Holley creates a work of art while telling the story of his life. It is hypnotic to watch this come together. So… I’ve got some fabulous craftsmen (and guests singers!) lined up. I just hope they are not as interesting as me!!! (Oh dear… they really could be).
And you might have to outbid me for the pieces at the end of the evening
since I’m the one who needs the art after all.
This time, the gig is without a band, just me and a piano but with lots of special surprises. As I mentioned before, the room is small and tickets are selling out quickly, so please reserve yours now! Call 212/206-0440 to for details and reservations.
Howard Katz is still going strong and The Roundabout Theatre Company knows how to treat their cast and crew and how to throw an opening night party. Ours was at the Hard Rock Café and the festivities went on until late into the night. (So I heard)…
Another exciting thing that has happened lately is that the fantasy tennis on wtatour.com has started up again. I got some emails that some of you are playing—I plan to beat you all!
What else? Can you believe that it has been nearly a year since NewClear came out? I so enjoyed the entire experience of making my first solo CD— from coming up with what songs to put on it, to all our work in the studio, to gigging it around the country. In order to celebrate the first anniversary of the CD release, Lyric Partners and I are offering a discount. Click on the little red special offer bar for details…
So—that’s all folks. I’ll be half way up the stairs on the stair where I sit if anyone needs me.
Peace
Euan
x
Get off me!
I know, I know-- It’s been a long time! Well, I have a good excuse—I’ve been busy! Howard Katz is drawing to a close—we finish performances on May 6th. This has been an intense and exciting process for me and it has been fascinating to be part of this talented ensemble. It has also been a unique experience to play so many varied roles in one piece—following the journeys of four different characters each night has been a challenge, but a good one.
I’ve also been having a great time playing these gigs at the Metropolitan Room. It’s a nice, intimate venue, and sometimes I feel like I’ve invited a lot of friends over to my living room to hear some songs. In fact, I got in a bit of trouble for being “too political” in both my song choice and my talk. Oh well! That’s what you get when you come into my living room—me!
And I’m not sure it's even fair to simply to dismiss this kind of talk as “political”. There is a lot going on in the world right now, and I think it needs to be talked about. So I did, and I will probably do it again, trouble or no.
But… back to the shows. I’ve had some great guests singing with me, and also we’ve had some artists in. Last week, I was very excited about my special guest. I was going to have my dog come on stage and show everyone his tricks. He’s very impressive. He can wave and count (addition and subtraction—even some simple division) He can do all sorts of things—I’m not kidding! Anyway, we were all set, but on the morning of the gig Cole showed me —in the worst way possible—that he had a bad case of nerves. There was a horrifying, poo-ey mess all over the bedroom floor, so I took this as a sign that he wasn’t ready to perform in front of a crowd. Stage fright, I think it’s called. Cole’s relentless shedding continues unabated, but I’ve now learned that I prefer shedding to other possibilities.
A lot of other things are happening as well. Throughout the time I was appearing on Broadway in Taboo, I was followed around by Dori Berinstein and her camera crew, who were making a documentary about the 2004 Broadway Season. The film premiered at the Tribecca Film Festival, and now ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway is finally being released to a wider audience on May 11th. I look forward to travelling the country and stopping in wherever I can to promote this movie. It’s actually a very moving experience to see such an important part of my life literally flash before my eyes. It can sometimes be hard for me to watch the movie as it reminds me of such an emotional time in my life. However… it’s good to be reminded of how proud we should all be of the hard work we put into Taboo. I even still miss it sometimes.
So… my parents have arrived here from Scotland, and it is wonderful to share all of this with them. They’ll be seeing Howard Katz soon. They’ll attend one of the Metropolitan Room gigs, and hopefully I will get them into the premiere of the ShowBusiness documentary. Remember how I said earlier that I hoped to have the apartment completely ready by the time they got here? I didn’t quite make this goal but my dad is quite handy with a hammer, so perhaps the apartment will actually be finished by the time they leave?! It’s amazing how small a one-bedroom apartment can feel when you’ve got your parents sleeping on the couch. (like I was going to give up my bedroom just because they’ve travelled thousands of miles!) They have brought the Scottish weather with them, and lots of edible Scottish treats to combat any homesickness I may occasionally feel.
Speaking of Scottish treats! You may have heard me go on at length about my beloved Irn-Bru, a Scottish soda. When I first arrived in America, it was quite difficult to get the drink. Something about those pesky FDA regulations. I got a wonderful surprise recently when I learned that I can now get Irn-Bru in the States. In New York they are stocking it at St Andrew’s Pub on 44th Street, and the nice people at Irn-Bru also sent me two cases of this glorious drink! And a lovely t-shirt (as you can see from the pic here in this journal)! I went through both cases in a week, but it was a very happy week.
Do you wanna know what’s next? In mid-May I will be back on the road with NewClear, heading down to Virginia to play some gigs, private parties and master classes there. (What a great way to make the mortgage!) Then I plan to go back up to Canada to lock myself up in a house in Toronto, working with my musician friends up there on some new songs, and hopefully, a new CD. And I’ve just found out that I will be flying me to Austria to open a luxurious hotel. I’m very excited, but it got me to thinking that I would like to travel even greater distances to sing. And by “greater distance” I am referring to outer space. Yes, you read that right. Now that space tourism is becoming more and more of a reality, I want to sing in space. If any of you have any NASA connections and can make this happen, please feel free to contact me. And get your tickets for my concert on Mars now, cos it’s gonna be great!
Sorry it has been so long folks.
But I’ve been thinking of you all this time.
Much Love, Joy and Peace
Euan
x
New York gets hot in the summer...
So… I think it's time to take off! I’ve been talking so much about how much I love having the apartment here. One nice thing about having a great place is that it’s fairly easy to sublet it when I feel like travelling. And I am in a travelling mood…
Elsewhere on the site you will see the details of the auction I am running to benefit Rosie’s Broadway Kids. I was counting on a particular subletter to take over this apartment for the summer. When this fell through, I very nearly auctioned the apartment off online to one of you lucky people—but as it is, we will stick to the art because everything worked out in the end.
New York gets very busy sometimes. I love it, but summer is always a nice time to get away—though I never seem to be able to stay away for long.
June will be busy… I head back to Virginia for a few more gigs there, and then back to New York to return to the Zipper Theatre for a couple of concerts with my new band headed by the legendary Bryan Reeder. (See, I told you I couldn’t stay away)! At the Metropolitan Room, it was just Bryan and me, so for a change we have put together a new band so we can rock the Zipper. Get ready!
Do you love the Zipper as much as I do? It’s got to be one of the most interesting venues in New York. I love the seating, the lobby, and of course The Tavern next door.
Shortly after the Zipper gigs, the band and I are packing up and heading to Austria to do some gigs there. I’ve been wanting to get back to Europe for a while, and I’ve never been to Austria. Apparently we will be staying in a castle for part of the time… nice! I had hoped to get a chance to stop off in Scotland to see the family and to find out if I can still drive on the left side of the road, but other opportunities came up, so I will be returning to the States.
Upon our return, the band and I pack up again to join Rosie and Kelli on their R Family Cruise. I went on their inaugural cruise, but haven’t had a chance to go since then. Last year they went to Alaska, but I’ve heard that I can sign up for scuba diving this time!
Next, I’m also planning to return to Canada again to see my favourite Canadians and to work on some new music. The rest of the summer holds some interesting projects that I will fill you in on later, and I’m hoping to be able to go on another roadtrip, so maybe I will be seeing some of you who live further away. I’ve been thinking about exploring the western states. I’ll be taking loads of factor 30 sun protection for my milky white skin… gotta be careful out there under the sun.
Is this heat due to global warming? Sometimes it scares me. I’ve been following what’s been happening at home with dismay. Tony Blair is leaving and Gordon Brown is coming in, and yet there is no major change in policy. But on the bright side, at least we allow civil rights to gay couples… which won’t make a huge difference when the world is finally dying but… nice while it lasts.
OK… Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and hit the road Jack…
Much love,
Euan xx
Should I Go Hybrid?
Those of you who were able to get to the Zipper got to get a look at my new band... we headed out to Austria to stay for a bit. Played some gigs in a castle and slept in a palace-- or wait, maybe I meant that the other way round. Anyway, it was great. I had a small mishap in the middle of the lake in Velden that resulted in a near drowning (remind me never to race Bryan from the mid-lake dock to shore again!) but fortunately the band was there to rescue me. It was nice to be back in Europe, but too fast this time. I'm looking forward to going back, though I will brush up on my German in advance of the trip.
Back in the States now and I went to Philly and got a look at the remarkable Eastern State Penitentiary. I've long been fascinated by cloistered lifestyles, and this is a gothic castle-like prison, just steps away from downtown Philadelphia. Haunting. I've also been making my way through the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. My favorite so far is The Air and Space Museum. I've also seen some theatre down here, including Jeffrey Carlson in Hamlet and the American premiere of Witches Of Eastwick at Signature Theatre. I recommend both-- if you can be bothered with the travelling in this weather! The heat on the east is unbelievable… and I have been reading about massive flooding in Northern England and flooding in parts of the States. It worries me quite a bit. I'm doing my recycling share but I still feel bad every time I get in my gas guzzling car. I'm researching getting a hybrid next. Do they really make all that much difference? I've also been reading up on the tax credits you get for owning a "better for the environment" car. While this is a step in the right direction, I think the government should offer even more incentive and recognition for people who make the shift to a hybrid. And are the batteries of hybrid cars awful for the environment? I don't know...
Whilst I've been travelling and thinking my deep thoughts, there has been a changing of the guard in British politics. Tony Blair has gone now and we have a Scottish Prime Minister. He is very environmentally aware so that's a good thing eh? I was surprised by how sad I was to see Blair go but it really is time... and he can go be an envoy now trying out his world saving skills elsewhere! Ok. That's all cos it's too damn hot to type anymore. I have to go and prepare for one more round of work/holiday before I head off to Canada for a while. I'm performing on Rosie and Kelli O'Donnell's R Family Vacations cruise. I love working with this band and Robbie Roth is joining me from up north so that's even cooler! I'll be out of range whilst I'm on the boat and in Canada but please keep in touch with all your news and thoughts and keep spreading the summer love.
Get involved... do something good
Much love and peace, Euan x
May You Live In Interesting Times...
"May you live in interesting times." That's been called a blessing and a curse. We are definitely living in some interesting times, aren't we? The evening news is so interesting that I often can't turn myself away from it. War, civil rights, global warming... it's only going to get more riveting here in America as the election heats up. Are you all paying attention to Gordon Brown over there in England? I like having a Scotsman in high office, but I'm also admiring the job he is doing. Now we need to start thinking about who can clean up the mess here. What are your thoughts? I’ve decided, after much to-ing and fro-ing, that Clinton is our woman. I like her more and more… especially 'cos Rove hates her so much. Clinton ’08 say I.
So... in case you have been wondering, I've decided to be very environmentally conscious and not get a car at all... at least for a while. Who needs a car when there are boats? (Boats are much more environmentally sound – NOT). I wish you all could have been on Kelli and Rosie's cruise this year. I didn't want to get off at the end of the trip. There are too many highlights to even try to recap it for you here. If you want to get an idea of how magical the week was, check out the film All Aboard.
After the cruise, I stopped back in NY to take part in a workshop of a new musical by the gentlemen who wrote Spring Awakening. A workshop is an intense development phase for a new show. This one involved a 2-week rehearsal and then a final presentation of our work. This particular project was an excellent experience and I think you will be hearing more about it very soon. Remember how I told you that I sublet my apartment? It seemed like a good idea at the time, but not so good when I'm roaming around New York looking for a place to stay! It was nightmarish dragging my bags around in the New York summer. Thanks to good friends though I never had to sleep in Central Park… though it was touch and go.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention my exciting news. Avid readers of Euan's Stuff will know how much I admire my favourite American, Judge Judy. I finally got my very own Judge Judy moment! I went to small claims court in Connecticut! My record label had to settle a dispute with a record distributor. Usually record labels handle all this business themselves, but I went along with a representative from Lyric Partners because I really wanted an encounter with a Judy-esque judge. I was a little disappointed because our judge was a bit boring and extremely business-like. I didn't once hear him say anything like "I eat idiots like you for breakfast!" The good news is that we won the case. I wasn't thrilled to be part of an overly-litigious society, but it was still exciting to win and you gotta do what you gotta do. After the trial we went to the Norwalk Aquarium to celebrate. I'm not sure how looking at seals, fish and stingrays celebrates a successful day in court, but it felt right in the moment.
I’ve been watching loads of documentaries recently, in preparation for a possible future project. I was particularly impressed by one about America’s founding fathers. I got so interested in the topic that I decided to take in some of the historical sites while staying down in Virginia. Have you visited Mount Vernon, where George Washington lived for 50 years? Fascinating. I stood in the room where he was told he would be President, saw the bed where he died. I’m thinking of visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello next. That fun day was followed by a visit to a Civil War reenactment. I tried on both the Confederate and Union uniforms… and decided (not just based on fashion) That I should join up and be a Unionist!
I'm starting to get a bit homesick lately so I've been trying to figure out a time to get back to Scotland to see family and friends. I've been dreaming about piling everyone into a car and going on a Scottish roadtrip, the way we used to when I was young. It may be a while before I can actually get home though, so to tide me over I purchased a new cell phone, which does video and pics that can be sent home at the press of a button. (My old phone barely called out let alone anything else). I’m kind of in love with my phone actually. I always thought people who loved their phones were a bit lonely but I get it now… my loneliness is waning.
Well, so little to say and so much time to say it in… no, strike that…
So much to say and so little time to say it in.
Ah well.
Till next time we meet
Keep cool, stay... interesting,
Euan
xxx
Autumn In New York
saturday 17 november 2007
And now for another lovely autumn in New York. I don't miss the heat, do you? This is the perfect time of year. Not too hot, not too cold. Won't be long till we have to drag ourselves through Macy's stores to purchase our winter coats. Maybe I'll try the Salvation Army store again this year. I dread shopping season. Thanksgiving and Christmas are soooo commercialized that it drives me insane. I'll give thanks if I never have to go shopping again! Not that there has been much time for all that… I've been rehearsing Cyrano de Bergerac which has just opened on Broadway. It's exciting to see a show on Broadway, and even more exciting to be in one, which is why I am very happy that it worked out for me to be able to play this cameo role. It gives me an opportunity to stay in NY, work evenings and matinees on the play, and in my days I am able to work on other projects. It's also good to be reunited on stage and off with my good friend Max Baker. The man is an artist, a musician, a singer, a writer and a film, stage and tv actor. He got a little greedy when they were handing out talents, if you ask me.
A Broadway opening is really something special. People always send all kinds of gifts, cards and flowers. (How moral of me not to mind commercial now, eh)? I got one of the most unique gifts of my career this go round. A good friend sent a life-sized leg made entirely of chocolate! I got lots of curious looks as I made my way home. I don't want Cole to get to the chocolate, so I am storing it in the fridge—which makes me look a bit like a crazed serial killer who hoards body parts. Chocolaty, melty-in-the-mouthy body parts…
As for the “other projects” I mentioned above… most of it has to do with music. Bryan Reeder and I are working hard on several projects together, but two of the most exciting are the new album, which we are writing ourselves—as well as putting together our gig for the Oak Room at the Algonquin. I’ve been heading to the Algonquin whenever I can to see various performers there… It's a room I am really looking forward to playing in March. The place is so steeped with New York history—it will be fun to be a part of all that. You can’t help but feel reverent towards the place when you look at a list of artists who got their start there.
I've also been involved in a new musical theatre project—I will tell you all about it later. We are in the workshop stage, but the cast and team are brilliant and I really believe in the piece. We'll workshop it in New York, then it may have a run out of town and then end up in back here. Who knows?! I’ll have to get all my writing done for the album before a proper production starts though, because this is a bit larger than a cameo!
Are you all watching Clinton's rise in the polls? Last time I checked she had over 51% of the vote—do you think she will get the nomination? I wish I could vote here! If I hear anyone complaining about the state of things and then not voting, I will get very upset with you. I complain all the time, and my most recent complaint is that apparently, I'm simply too Scottish to vote at this point. If any of you are frustrated with the elections and feel that your vote doesn't make a difference, just vote the way I tell you to, and then maybe I will feel (a little) like I got to vote myself. Because it does matter.
Except for the fact that they refuse to allow me to vote, I am really happy to be living here in the States. Anyone who saw Showbusiness (now out on DVD!) can see that. And I have raved enough about how happy I am with having my own apartment to drive the point home even further. I love work here, my friends, everything. However, I think I mentioned recently that I am finding myself a bit homesick for the UK. I especially miss all my friends in London, and my family back home in Scotland. My niece, Erin, will be three in January and I would like to be a bit more involved in her life. We speak on the phone but it isn't the same, and it's difficult to convince her to pick up a tennis racquet to become the new British star of the Woman’s Tennis Association via long distance. A lot has changed since I've last been home. Erin has got much bigger, both my sister and my parents have got new homes, my friends have achieved many goals that I would like to celebrate with them in person… So I am planning a trip over in April. It's wonderful that opportunities keep coming up here, but getting back home is becoming a priority.
There is also some other travel in my near future. I am heading over to Europe again for some master classes and gigs, and also have some events scheduled around the country. It's a little early and plans haven't been all worked out yet, but how would you all feel about joining me down south to welcome in the new year? Keep New Year's Eve free and watch this space!
Peace and Love! Euan x
The Strike is Over! And What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
thursday 29 november 2007
Yes! It’s over. This has been an extremely disheartening time on Broadway but this long strike has at last finished. We’ve been going down to sign in each night, and the whole theatre district is like a ghost town. It has felt like the show had a very unceremonious closing and it has been very strange. So I’m delighted to be going back to work tonight. I know we all are!
The highlight of this forced down time was having my friend Greg come over from London for a quick visit. Greg is a film director and he was screening one of his movies here. I spotted his talent long ago, so I’ve been taking a lot of credit for the success he has been enjoying! It was great having him over here, and the one bright spot of the strike was that it allowed us to spend a lot of time together. This helped a bit with the homesickness problem. Not quite the same as a nice fortnight home but Greg was an excellent second.
He also joined me for my first ever proper Thanksgiving Celebration, way up at my friends place on 181st. I have said for a long time that I don’t understand the point of Thanksgiving, because it seems to me that we are ultimately celebrating the massacre of the Native Americans. People keep insisting that this has nothing to do with the giving thanks part of Thanksgiving and I finally got off my moral highhorse and had a brilliant night. Wonderful food and company, now I get it. The Grinch that snatched Thanksgiving! I brought a bizarre orange cake (apparently pumpkin pie is the traditional dessert, but it was my first time)! We played loads of games and I think there was an equal division of Americans and Brits at the table, so I felt right at home. I don’t wanna get lazy and confine our giving of thanks to one day per year though.
Here’s some New Years news... I have had relatively quiet New Years celebrations for the past couple of years—but this time around I will be doing a concert at the Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. I love it down there. I have visited a few times and talked about it in the past so this will be a nice way to get to know it better. Can you lovely folks come get to know it with me? How nice to have you who can, come join me in one of my favorite American cities.
Alright, I’ve got to go get ready to GET BACK TO WORK!
Maybe I should run my lines again too… I’m getting nervous now.
XX Euan
