i spent the day at home.  puttering around the house.  working.  sleeping.  it’s been a bit of time since i last wrote…mostly because it’s been so unbelievably busy on this end. 

since mid september until now, we have shot 2 music videos (wildflower world and here and now), i’ve gigged in phoenix, sang the anthem in front of 12,000 hockey fans at the mighty ducks vs. l.a. kings game, interviewed with mtv desi, gigged at the ford amphitheatre for the WIN awards, and generally realized that when it rains…and in this case, the rains were a serious blessing.

tonight, i was watching an interview of one of my inspirations, a.r. rahman.  he said something that had me pause.  when asked how he dealt with criticism, mr. rahman replied, "if you don’t want to hear criticism, don’t ever listen to anyone and don’t ever be anything." 

whenever you try something new and seemingly outside the box, there will be a long line of people ready to tell you when and how you fuck up.  it’s one of the tough things about being "different."  mostly folks feel the need to share because of whatever’s going on in their own lives.  so i’ve learned (slowly) not to take it personally.  sometimes it’s easier than other times.  but i like this quote of rahman ji’s. 

since too many things have happened, i’m uploading a bunch of photos.  1000 words, right? 

i do want to say though that i when i was a kid in cleveland, being brown skinned wasn’t the easiest thing.  not too surprising i’m sure.  i remember one time being followed in a mall by an older caucasian woman and her 30-some year old daughter.  i was with my mom, my aunt and my cousin.  the woman followed us for a solid 5 minutes before she finally shouted out, "go back to your own country."

those moments can live in you no matter how sure and confident you think you’ve become.  i remembered that on friday night after i sang the anthem at the anaheim pond in front of 12,000 screaming fans.  just as much my country as it is yours.  i’m just glad i got to have a voice friday night. 

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