It's nice to finally not be sick.

I've had a cold for the last three weeks. 

But this past Sunday, I was able to sing in the choir, go to Andy Gale's acting class and then see Jim Brochu receive a roaring standing ovation for his final performance of "Character Man." 

Not a dry eye in the house. And celebrities! And friends! And then a party at a new restaurant, Moscow 57, on Delancey -- so new, the gas hasn't been turned on -- so that Jim could unveil a portrait of Zero for the wall. And Josh Mostel was there and they were handing out shots of vodka -- and Josh was screaming and cursing at the top of his lungs while they played the music too loud. And I was sitting next to Marcia Rodd -- look her up, who is in town doing a play.

I kind of just watched it, since I don't really drink -- one shot just to say I did -- and I privileged myself with one round of screaming Zero's favorite curse world (CS) back and forth with Josh Mostel, who was hilarious. And it was raining and the walls of Moscow 57 were red -- the owner is the daughter of the owners of the Russian Tea Room, and she was singing with the band.

And I realized I have a very good life. We may not have money, but we have a lot of great friends who we intentionally surround ourselves with, and who we care about. 

And that's what life is. Who you surround yourself with. Who you connect to. 

I have to keep reminding myself that I was not supposed to be here in the bonus round at age 60. I also have to remind myself that I have no promise for tomorrow. So, it's important to mark special events in your life. This past Sunday night was one of those nights.

I also started something new last night. I was invited to be a part of the Jack Hardy Songwriter Collective, a group of songwriters that was started way back in the 70s. The challenge is that you have to write a song a week or, as Jack stated in a paper posted on the site, you're not a songwriter.

I have had moments where I wrote a lot, but usually it was only because I "needed" to write -- most of the score from TLS was written in a month. When I helped run NAS, I didn't write at all. A song a year, I think. So this will be fun. I think my inner Neil Young is going to come out. 

Looking forward, John Yap tells me the London cast album of TLS will soon hit all the online stores. Pre-orders are now being taken on Amazon, my Mass will debut in June, a got a gig at a cool restaurant in May. And I have you!

60 is the new cat video.