My Journal is WAY behind... here's a quick recap.

Todd Hobin's Journal - an Update.

I write in my Journal most days.  I like to put some of it online for my family and my friends.  The real personal stuff sits in books on a shelf in my office. (See below.)  Journaling is a must for a writer.  It helps to keep the creative juices flowing.  And it keeps you honest.  When you publish a thought, it makes it real.  When you write about something, it also gets locked in time.  You can go back and revisit it.  Memories then have a fine point on them.  Not only do you see what you might have been doing, say 30 years ago.  You also rediscover what you were thinking.

Last night, before the session got started, Terry LaCasse asked to see one of my old journals.  If you've ever spent much time around me you know that my journal is, well... colorful.  I write like I live.  One endless stream of art, love, and Irish braggadocio just comes pouring out at all times.  Terry is taking the lead in our latest Heinlein production of Space Cadets.  He's been part of our Full Cast Family for years.  One of these days, we even expect him to finally graduate from Le Moyne.  Anyway, he wanted to see what was in one of these Journals.  So, I rummaged through some shelves in the library and pulled out one of the books from 2004.  It sucked me in.  I couldn't stop reading it.  It's all in there, recording sessions with a young Erika DeSocio, WAY before she became Mrs. Corey Hobin, my daughter-in-law.  Mandy's in there.  I remember now, how much fun it was to watch her grow up.  Now, she's this beautiful, talented, hard working woman with a job and a life all her own.  And my gorgeous wife Joann.  Page after page is filled with a personal dialog about her.  It's hard to believe that I love her more today than ever.  Someday she may read these journals and know for certain how I feel about her.

Here's a couple of pages.  I know, it looks like a cartoon.  My writing comes out in all shapes and sizes.  Sometimes script, font, and precise lettering.  Many times art, and sometimes, when I'm lucky, it comes out in song.

Anyway, here's a quick recap of the events of the last month or so:

My September Solo Concert at the Le Moyne Performing Arts Center was filmed.  We're in the final stages of editing the DVD... I'm actually fixing some digital burbles in the audio track this afternoon.  I'm glad we captured this performance.  My dear friend Letizia was scheduled to perform a very special song that I wrote for Helen Boatwright with me.  (Interestingly enough, the journal page above features a cartoon of Helen in a recording session, as she's teaching a student.)  Anyway, Letizia suffered a severe back injury the day before the concert.  (She's up and out playing again, thank goodness.)  But, in the meantime, I had to do a show.  I called on one of my students, Christi Frateschi, to step in at the last minute.  She had to learn a new song and perform with me in 24 hours.  Wait until you hear her, and see her step up and out...  I can't describe it.  You'll just have to see it.  It was a very special moment.

One week after my solo concert, was the Le Moyne Music Faculty Recital.  Travis Newton (the head of the department) came up with a winner here.  Yes, put the faculty on the spot.  Have them perform for the students and their parents.  Heh, heh, it was Parents Weekend.  Brilliant concept.  And I have to tell you, my colliges came through.  Great recital.  We (all of us in music education) should do this more often. 

Later that night I hurried over to the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.  The Potsdam Alumni Association was having a gathering featuring Double Axel, probably the greatest band in Potsdam history.  They are still going strong after 40 years.  Yes, Doug Moncrief and I sat in for part of the last set.  Yes, our wives kinda hate us.  You'd think they'd be used to it by now.  There are some photos on the Todd Hobin Band Facebook Page.  We had a great night.  Many, many old friends were in attendance.  My old drummer from college days, Gary Hodges, pounded out a couple of songs too.  He's as awesome as ever.  I'll give him a call soon.  We've got to get together again.  He's living the life, down in Long Island, retired and teaching private students in his studio.

ELDERCARE GIFT OF AGE CABARET- September 31st.  This is my forth year of hosting this event.  I opened the show with "The Gift of Age", a song I wrote for my father.  I look forward to recording it someday soon.  Antoinette Montague was the featured entertainer.  She was wonderful.  Her piano player and band leader was none other than the great Tommy James, current Director of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.  It was a very special evening.  I got to personally thank Nick Carroll Coyne for putting his name on (and financing) the Le Moyne Center for the Performing Arts, where I get to work and perform from time to time.  I was also pleased to meet one of the folks in his party.  A young looking Sandra Costello, who swears she's a fan from the old days.  Hard to believe, she's the standing next to that white haired dude.  (Uh, me.)

The BIG NEWS in October was the Wedding of the Year:  Erika DeSocio to Corey Hobin 

We danced, partied out, and saw one of the most unique and meaningful weddings (shows) ever.  It was held at the Palace Theater.  Huge sound and lights, with a cast made up of some of my favorite people in the world.  Erika is very special.  She dreamed it up and Corey made it happen. Yup, this was one amazing evening.

There's so much more to catch up on.  Life is so cool.  I'll write more when I get the chance.