Summer's End

It's been a long summer, and I have to say that I am pretty exhausted. I'm not even sure where summer began but what with all the Ghosts & Girls shows, my extra practice sessions, my new song, teaching two levels of taiko, visits from friends, a visit home, drum camp drama, physical training, holding down a full time job, drum repairs, several gigs, and now, the excitement of preparation for my trip to Sado (which is NEXT WEEK), I'm tired. It's more mental than anything. When my schedule is as packed as it is, I like to break things down and figure out what is coming next, and then focus and prepare for that, and then when that is over, do the same thing for the next thing. It keeps me from going insane, but requires copious list-making and concentration. It's like I build this momentum of sprinting from one hurdle to the next and I just want to be able to see the finish line for once. It would be nice to have a little break after Sado where I can go to sleep and not wake up with thoughts racing through my head about what I need to deal with next. But don't get me wrong--I love the excitement and having to prepare for things. It's that journey of having to deliver something that makes me better and more experienced.

Sado is my last hurdle, but getting here has been a long journey.

I think my next goal will be to have the leisure time to read a novel with a cup of tea or watch an episode of a TV show from start to finish.

But first, it's Sado. I've been looking forward to this for a long time.