I, Homeowner

Well, I did it. I bought a house. In one fell swoop– well actually several swoops of a lovely pen in the rendering of an increasingly illegible signature– I became a member of the landed public. Or as the Maestro would say, the landed gentry. Not sure how PC that is. And for a few short days, I'm also a landlord (technicalities and such). Wow. Doesn't take much for one's entire world to shift.

While I don't advocate such behavior, I have heretofore been able to remain blissfully ignorant of things like bond initiatives, school boards, property taxes, gentrification, homeowners associations— all manners of things. This is gonna be one hell of a steep learning curve. There is now a real price to pay for not paying attention, rather than the moral/karmic price previously exacted.

And since all of this is happening against the backdrop of the beginning of student school (the Music place) and teacher school (the Baptist place–replete with my first ever faculty meetings), not to mention a fairly busy performing schedule, your Yankee Hobbit is apt to "go dark" again for a while. Fear not! Lo, I am with you, even when I am silent.

If you're in Houston (or Austin, for that matter), come and check us out. Lots of upcoming opportunities:

September 7, 7:30 p.m.
Ars Lyrica Houston: Mad Women. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 812 Bagby. www.arslyricahouston.org

September 16, 11 a.m.
Morning Worship, St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe, Houston, TX 77056

September 21, 8 p.m.
Col Canto: Freundliche Vision - The Songs of Richard Strauss. Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd (@ Greenbriar), Houston, TX 77005. www.colcanto.org

September 22, 12:13 p.m.
Yankee Hobbit turns 40!!

September 24 - 30
Conspirare: Threshold of Night. Concerts as follows, more info at www.conspirare.org

Monday, September 24, 2007, 6:00 pm - Choral Conversation at The Crossings (Dinner and open rehearsal)
13500 FM 2769, Austin. Tickets: $25 *Please note: Deadline for purchasing tickets is September 19th.

Thursday, September 27, 2007, 8:00 pm (Choral Conversation at 7:00 pm) - Tickets: $30 General Admission, $15 Youth
University Presbyterian Church, 2203 San Antonio Street, Austin.

Friday, September 28, 2007, 8:00 pm (Choral Conversation at 7:00 pm) - Tickets: $30 General Admission, $15 Youth
St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street, Austin.

***Saturday, September 29, 2007, 2:00 pm - Tickets: $20 General Admission, $10 Youth
St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe, Houston***

Sunday, September 30, 2007, 2:30 pm (Choral Conversation at 1:30 pm) Tickets: $30 General Admission, $15 Youth
St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street, Austin

October 1 - 5
Conspirare Recording Sessions, Troy Savings Bank, Troy NY

October 7, 5 p.m.
Bach Society of Houston: BWV 205, Aeolus Appeased, Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2325 Rice Blvd (@ Greenbriar), http://www.bachsocietyhouston.org.

October 26, 8:30 p.m.
Melissa Givens, Doctoral Recital, Dudley Recital Hall, University of Houston, Entrance 16 from Cullen Blvd (from I-45). Works of Bolcom, Scarlatti, Barber, Wolf, Chausson, Strauss and others. Free.

November 4, 5 p.m.
Ars Lyrica Houston: Love and War. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 812 Bagby. www.arslyricahouston.org

November 16 & 17, 8 p.m.
Austin Symphony Orchestra: Bach Magnificat. Riverbend Centre. www.austinsymphony.org.

December 31, 9 p.m.
Ars Lyrica Houston: Clandestine Classics (New Year's Eve Gala Concert and Auction). Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 812 Bagby. www.arslyricahouston.org