new blog

Hi Reader(s)!

New computer=new blog. I'm going to take this one down when I figure out the best way to archive it on my computer (any suggestions are welcome from you more experienced bloggers). My new blog is called "Brass Tax" and you can find it at www.taxedbrass.blogspot.com

I would imagine most of the subject matter will stay the same. I just felt it was time for a change....

Hope you're well!

Love,

The Ren

Things that have happened since I last upgraded my OS

Sorry the blog has been so quite as of late, Reader(s). I guess I just haven't had that much to write about. I've had a few ideas driving home late at night on I-95, but by the time I get back, I'm not in the mood to wax poetic (or un-poetic as the case may be) about freelancing, or music, or anything. I'm preparing for another audition in a little over a week, so I'm really only interested in talking or thinking about music. I'm not spending much time with other people, which means that the only person I can bore with my thoughts on Ein Heldenleben is myself. I think it might be better that way.

My Dell is finally starting to kick it, and given that I've had it since 2002, I don't blame it for wanting to go where computers go to die. I've moved eleven times since I got this computer, if you include month-long interim living arrangements with friends and family. Four of those moves were over 1000 miles, and one of those was "international." Since I bought this computer I have finished my undergraduate degree, master's degree, and (dumb) diploma, won three jobs, lost one, lost the ability to play, and got it back again. I don't even want to think about how many people I've dated. And another thing... when I got this computer, 30 MB was HUGE.

2002 was a long time ago.

SO!!! I'm finally buying a new computer on Friday morning-- yes, this Friday. Black Friday. I am going to go to Best Buy at 5 a.m. for the "Doorbusters" sale because J. found a leaked ad that has the greatest deal on a new computer EVER. I really wanted a Mac this time, but its just not in the cards. Especially with a price like this. My plan, though, is to go in, buy the computer, stand in line, and leave. I will not get caught up in the deals. I will not think about doing any shopping for anything else. Under no circumstances will I enter another store. I will simply go into Best Buy, get the thing, and come home and go back to bed (or possibly make myself some coffee and play with my new toy).

But before then, I'm going to brave the traffic getting out of Philly on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and go home to hang with the family. Just a short trip this time, I'll be back in the Illadelph tomorrow evening to fit in some more practicing and anticipation of my new toy. I hope you are all well and that your holiday seasons are off to a Schlock-tacular start. My Christmas Craptacular season starts next week with the Kennett Symphony's Holiday show and doesn't end until New Years.

And if you're lucky, Reader(s), I'll tell you about my hilarious foray into contracting a Christmas Eve gig. This one might take the biscuit....

I was walking back to my apartment today after meeting a friend for lunch. I heard sirens, not an uncommon occurrence in any city, but especially not in Philadelphia as of late. As I was about to cross Arch Street, I noticed a procession of police cars, and as I looked around some more, noticed that traffic had been stopped and pedestrians were being stopped from crossing the street. It dawned on me then that today was the day of the funeral for a Philadelphia police officer shot in the line of duty one week ago.

I watched at least 200 cop cars pass, and that was probably not even half of them. It was poignant-- the cars were from all over the southeastern Pennsylvania area as well as New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. And it was sad. And it was poignant to watch his colleagues and comrades turn out from miles away to honor his service and his life.

The man who killed this officer was caught in Miami yesterday and will be extradited to Philadelphia on Friday. He confessed to the murder and he's probably facing a life in prison.

But as I watched more and more cars speed past, I began to get angry. Now, to be clear, I agree that it is a tragedy when a police officer (or any law enforcement civil servant) is killed. But I would also like to point out that when you decide to become a cop, getting killed is always a possibility. It is a dangerous job, especially in a city as plagued by violence and gun crime. It is absolutely awful that this officer was killed. But it is no exaggeration when I say that innocent people are dying EVERY SINGLE DAY in this city because of guns. And they aren't cops. They didn't choose lives or careers that involved carrying a gun or confronting violence head on.

I agree that cops and firefighters are heroes, and that this was an appropriate send-off.

I can't help but think that if the City of Philadelphia spent even half as much effort trying to curb city-wide violence as they did prosecuting the individual who killed one of their own, that maybe, just maybe, this city would be a better place to live.