Back from Bush Country

I spent a full week in Texas, first visiting my family in Dallas/Ft Worth, then down to Austin for a visit with my friend J, and then back up to Dallas to spend some time with friends. I performed 3 times in Texas, all unexpectedly: Once at a Dueling piano bar in Austin, and then at a private party where I was the featured entertainment, and finally I was asked to put together a 30 min Cabaret spot at a bar in Dallas. It was fun to do that kind of music for such an appreciative crowd.

Now I'm back from Texas, and have spent an enjoyable week with my music, meditation and friends here in NYC. I've been busy learning some of the songs I heard in Texas that I will need for my reportoire for the Dueling Pianos act. Many of my friends in Vietnam have sent me Happy Lunar New Year greetings and I've gotten a couple of wonderfully long emails from friends abroad. I'll close this blog entry with some text found on a Vietnamese travel agency website regarding their "SuperDong boat":

"We assures the punctuality in departure time. Here, aboard the boat, guests will have the good sensation of living in a warm and spacious home for its harmonious interior decoration and with all the entertainments such as watching movies, enjoying snacks, light meal in the friendly and pleasant atmosphere of the boat staff. Smart steward and stewardess are ready to serve guests by their courteous manners. And with SuperDong boat, clients gill get more excitement during the voyages across the sea to make a conquest the immense Ocean. The will be healthy and fine when leaving the wharf to welcome a new day with the bright sunshines as desired."

Incidentally, this mighty "ocean voyage" is actually a 20-minute ferry crossing to an offshore island.