Holiday labor

For the first time in nearly 13 years, I will work New Year's Day. No complaints. But somehow my career has sidestepped holiday work shifts. I will likely work on Christmas Day in 2014.

Speaking of labor during the holidays, I have started the next book. The idea is to bundle a collection of short stories about life as a local musician. The working title is "Song for the Local Musician." The book is for any musician - amateur or professional - who chased dreams of rock stardom and curtain calls.

That's the direction I'd like to go. The status of local musician extends beyond guitar bands that blast up the bars. How about the social worker who moonlights as a jazz trumpeter? Or the high school choir teacher who wished she were a concert pianist at Carnegie Hall?

"It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll," according to AC/DC. That rings true whether you play a guitar, piano, harp, fiddle, flute or drum kit.