I've been an amateur musician almost my whole life. My parents supported me playing trombone starting in elementary school and then guitar and bass when I became a teenager.

I've stopped playing for long stretches of time several times during my life but I keep coming back to it. A few months ago, after not playing for several years, I dusted off my upright bass and tried to remind my hands and ears of what they could once do.

I've been fortunate to be able to rehearse with Jennifer Harder who is a great actress, amazing musician and all around wonderful person.

A few days ago the weather was perfect so we decided to take our rehearsal outside. I was a little nervous after not gigging for so long but it went well. We got some applause, a few compliments and potentially a paying gig. I'm psyched and can't wait to do it again.

I went to my first opera last week with my friend Pete. He's a long time opera fan and came to NYC specifically to see Satyagraha: The Force of Truth at the Metropolitan Opera.

Like I said, it was my first opera but this one seems much more like a performance art piece than the stereotypical opera of my imagination. It had everything. Including, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Tolstoy, Gods, giant puppets, video projections, a newspaper monster, stilt walkers, wrapping tape and of course the iconic and instantly recognizable Phillip Glass music.

All in all I liked it and look forward to going back and maybe seeing some singing Vikings next time.

There is more info on the work at wikipedia