So I finally took a long-overdue trip back home to the family farm a few weeks ago, as you can plainly see in the above video. In this most recent installment, I spent three weeks back home in Iowa, relaxing in the Iowan hillside, almost completely off the map. Now, back in Austin, I have resumed my frantic gigging/recording schedule, playing with numerous musicians and groups around town; Suzanna Choffel, The Motts, Becca Garcia, Dertybird, Golden Arm Trio, and various jazz groups. I’ve also picked up some video editing work for a major local sports/entertainment management company which has me working with newer and better software and cameras, as well as working on projects ranging from video blogs to actual concert footage from big shows. Quite exciting to be fully-immersed in the professional video editing world, a realm I never imagined I’d see. It just goes to show, being self-taught and persistent and disciplined WILL pay off in the end. Having never had a drum lesson, gone to culinary school, or taken a single class on video production, I’d say I’ve carved some profitable paths for myself.. So let that be a lesson to you kids; don’t waste tens of thousands of dollars on a college education when you can just as easily apprentice your way to your goals, often with only the help of a local library card and some determined Googling.

Other than that, not much else to report. I’m still scheming up plans for my mobile food vending service, but it seems that everyone and their dog has a food stand popping up in Austin this summer, so I think I will bide my time and study these new business and chart their popularity over the coming months, refining my plan of attack. Being that most food-based businesses never see their first birthday (marriage/restaurant stats are almost identical), who knows, maybe one of these saps will have a nice trailer to unload for a reduced price come September.. So until then, I am sticking to chef-for-hire and doing a few private parties and things like that. If you’d like to secure my services, please contact me.

And let’s see, oh yeah, I shaved my head for summertime scooter/swimming aero/hydro-dynamics. Also, public access channel 10 here on Austin’s Time Warner Cable has been showing my cooking show episodes in between musical performances and band interviews at 11pm Thursday nights, so if the screen on your computer isn’t big enough for your Jrm Says needs, tune in and let’s all pretend I got me some syndication, yo!

Sorry.. I’ve been watching Breaking Bad entirely too much. I highly recommend it. Best show maybe ever..

So that’s pretty much the wrap-up. It’s gonna be a busy summer of food, music, and video. Future Jrm Says episodes are going to start wandering into exciting, scary, and even sexy territory. Stay tuned. It’s about to get a whole lot weirder..

Y’all be good.

Choz,
Jrm