Happy 2011

Hi friends and happy 2011!

I hope this greeting finds you well. It’s been a few weeks since the big holiday get-togethers and celebrations. Did you make a resolution? They seem to be an important point of conversation around this time of year. I have an idea that it’s not a good idea to jump right into resolutions at the very start of the New Year. I feel that it’s too easy to break them by starting abruptly, especially just after the chaos that December in general seems to invite.

I was reminded of this in an email from Austin singer-songwriter Matt the Electrician, whose first official “newsletter” comprised of a short notice announcing that his New Year’s resolution was to write a newsletter in 2011. This done, he could rest easy that the “resolution” was accomplished. Now he could move on to accomplish more things that he could feel good about. It seems to help the situation, when you can check something off “the list”. I am beginning to believe that little accomplishments are a big help in tackling bigger ones.

I myself have a long list of self-betterment resolutions. To give myself credit, I am working on accomplishing steps in self-improvement all the time, even though most of the time I think that I am running in circles. I have committed to attending my German classes five days a week, January and February. (This commitment was made in November 2010 – it was not a rash New Year’s resolution.) It’s not always easy. It is dark, cold, wet and sometimes icy in Hamburg, where I am. I am not being paid to do this. I am not a kid and “I don’t have to go to school, if I don’t want to”, the bed is sooo warm in the morning É But I am giving it a good try. It is a two month commitment. C’mon, I can do that! Now that I’ve gotten in that rhythm, I have added some sports to the “resolution”. In the summer I will sign up for two more months of German. Is this sensible or what? Maybe I should write a self-help book sometime: “Resolution Solution” or, “Un-Resolution”. Hmmm … or “Resolutions for Dummies”?

On the music front: December was a great music month. Had a wonderful tour with Marvin Dykhuis. We travelled from the Midwest to the East Coast. There were many highlights, from playing for some wonderful kids at two really special schools, one a preschool in the McKinley Park area of Chicago, the other The Advent School in Boston, to the finale, our quaint and intimate Holiday show with Kate Taylor on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Between these, there were lots of miles and lots of friendly faces at our shows. Thanks to everyone, who made this tour so special for us. And … thank you to the weather gods, who kept the big NE snowstorm on our heels rather than on our heads!

Music plans: I am looking forward to recording with some German musician friends coming up in the spring. I will have a concert in Calgary in March, then some in Texas, Southern California, and Arizona in April. Also, there will be a very special European tour with Marvin Dykhuis coming up in May, where we will play selected shows in Holland, Belgium, and Germany. We will keep you posted on these events. I am very happy, as Marv and I have not toured in Europe together in a while.

I wish us all a happy and healthy 2011. Thanks for checking in. Please do sign up for the Tish newsletter here on the website, if you have not already. It announces upcoming shows and news from time to time. Also, do visit “Tiendita Tish” (“The little Tish store”) for specials on CDs and merchandise.

Take good care, and I hope to see you soon!

Abrazos,

Tish