This may shock you...

but I've been reading. A lot. It's awesome. When I first got here, commuting to the Symphony job was great because I finally finished the Brothers Karamazov while riding the Blue Line. I honestly started that book when I moved to Indiana over two years ago. Now with dog-walking, I ride the bus heading East every morning, and I just can't stop reading. I read some lectures Stravinsky gave at Harvard in 1940. Then I read The Rest is Noise, all about music and composers in the 20th century. Big surprise, it was nearly impossible for me to put down. Then I read This is Your Brain on Music, all about the reasons we love music, what it does to us, and what makes a great musician. Then I breezed through Choke by Chuck Palahniuk, which I absolutely loved. It was like if Kurt Vonnegut had written Portnoy's Complaint. I was so enthralled that I got another of Palahniuk's books out of the library, this one called Haunted. It's awesome, and I will finish it shortly. I also took out A Farewell to Arms, which I'll read next. Who would've thought?
Oh yeah, talking about the Symphony job reminded me that I saw one of my former coworkers at a bar near my house. He was the guy who had also worked there a couple years ago, and like me didn't really care about the job and wasn't very good at selling anything. Basically we were kindred spirits. I asked how it was going, and he said he got fired for not selling enough. Like me, he didn't seem to mind being laid off, which was cool.
Oh yeah, at the last minute I decided I'm flying to New York this weekend for a mini Bowdoin reunion. I haven't seen those guys in about a year, so I thought it was about time. Plus $137 for a round trip ticket was pretty sweet. Hopefully everything goes well!
Lastly, by all means, please recommend books for me to read. Consider that my favorite authors are probably Vonnegut, Camus, Palahniuk, and Hemingway, but I will also read any book about music or baseball. Go!

Life in the Fast Lane

Hey everybody, just wanted to inform you of some terrifying news...I've been walking dogs! And I love it! It's been a long time since I've had constant interaction with canines, and my life feels much fuller with them around. Granted I don't get the 24-7 companionship the owners do, but I also don't have to pay for food or worry about them pooping on/eating my furniture. These daily walks are a great opportunity to be outside (while the weather is still awesome) and explore different neighborhoods, and the best part is, I get paid to do it! Who would've thought.
Here's Otto. He's a puppy. So freakin' cute.
And here's Frida. She's a tiny Dachshund, she's fine when we're outside, but once we get back inside she hops on my lap and we just chill. It's great. Sometimes it rains, so I have to cover her up to keep her warm. I also love her coloring, which reminds me of (who else) our old dog Frida! Except our Frida was about thirty times as big as this little princess.And here's Lola. She's a brand new puppy, doesn't yet understand the rules. She'll learn.
I've got a bunch of other dogs whom I have yet to photograph, but I love them all. Even the stupid ones who try to eat everything on the street. So yeah, my bosses are super nice, and they really like me, which is awesome. Right now I'm making enough money to pay my rent with some left over for bills and life, etc. Obviously I'm still looking for other opportunities, like music lessons or tutoring, but for now, I'm fine with dogs.
Last weekend I got to visit Betsy in Ann Arbor, which was awesome. Nice campus, great weather, we baked a lot, I got to meet all of her friends, it was a blast. These next couple weekends I'll just get to relax and hang out, gearing up for my epic return to Boston over Thanksgiving break! I can't wait to be back on the East Coast for a few days, seeing everybody again, and hanging out with my niece who's HUGE! Last time I saw her she was always wrapped like a burrito, but now she's walking, wearing hoodies, it's amazing.
As for the Yankees, YOU STILL SUCK. Now I feel better.