new look...and a submitted proposal

I re-vamped the blog.  A few times.  I liked the dark background I had but I noticed my eyes would start to bug out if I looked at it for too long -- and that's not good if I'm trying to get people to stick around and read what I have, right??  So here is the new(est) version. It's very clean and not too hard on the eyes.  Let me know what you think of it - if you're so inclined.  I'm planning on changing the photo at the top every once and awhile to switch up.  The current photo is from a Phish concert - I'm pretty sure I posted it here on this blog a few years ago. 

On another note....

For the past few years I've been trying to present a paper at an academic conference.  I blogged about my most recent experience about that HERE.  Anyway...the process starts over again.  I just submitted a proposal and I feel like I'm going to vomit.  It's nerve wracking -- making sure everything makes sense, the endless proof reading (by me and fellow professors in the music department who were kind enough to read it a few times and offer suggestions and welcome criticism), the holding off and letting it "sit" and then going back and re-reading, the self-torture of "what if they don't like it?  What if it's not good enough?"  and blah blah blah....
Tonight I did a final reading (OK - so I read it about 20 more times...) and decided that it is what it is and to stop agonizing over it and send it already.  So I did.  As soon as I hit "send" I thought I was going to vomit -- but it's out there and hopefully someone will be reading it by tomorrow.  The conference is in NYC in March during the week of spring break, so that would work out nicely.

Send me (and the conference panel) positive vibes and good thoughts.  I'll let you know what happens!!