Second Home, Sweet Second Home

We arrived yesterday morning in the Netherlands and we're already settled in! These bungalows in the woods really feel like a second home to me.

...that a bungalow in the woods of the Netherlands feels like a second home is absolutely crazy! After all, this is our fourth time at the same place in three years, so we've definitely begun to know our way around. But still, it's nonetheless absurd.

As I've written before, the best thing about being here is not staying in a hotel room. We've got kitchens, couches, and bedrooms! Here's mine:

Look, mom! I even made my bed this morning!

The other great thing about being here is getting time in the mornings on the couch to blog. That being said...

It's been a whirlwind of a tour since my last post.

We started in Atlanta and worked our way toward New York, giving me a chance to meet up with friends along the way, and even for the band to spend a day off in New York City!

With Tara in Alpharetta, GA -- one of my best friends from high school who just moved to the area!

Outside DC with Bethany and Katie, two bridesmaids from Nora's wedding, and Emma, a great friend from college at her fourth Barrage show!

With Barrage alum, Annette, in NYC's Union Square! (Can you tell it's winter from all of the scarves in the last three pictures?)

Mini cupcakes in NYC.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

First stop: musical instrument collection.

An unused string from Paganini's violin case!

Second stop: European paintings, specifically the area with paintings by van Gogh and his contemporaries. I'm a real sucker for Impressionists and post-Impressionists. (Coincidentally, my favorite composers tend to have composed around the same times.)

Why, hello there, Juilliard!

At the NYC Ballet in Lincoln Center. I purchased the cheapest seats thinking they were in the first balcony...only to find out that they were actually in the first row! It was awesome.

With my hilarious friend Matt in Fairfield, CT.

Each time I visit NYC, I like it more and more. The amount of stuff going on there is truly overwhelming -- there's always something to see, do, or experience. What an unbelievable place.

Well, it's been nice to sit on the couch all morning and catch up on stuff, but I am here, after all, for work. Time to go practice!

Fall 2011: I'm still getting by with a little help from my friends.

Only two shows after a wedding in Mexico and I already feel like I'm settled comfortably back into tour. 

Which, unfortunately, is a feeling usually coupled with a general anxiety about needing to get things done.

It's not always anything in particular...just, you know, things. E-mails, facebook messages, organizing my computer, updating iTunes, blogging, mailing coffee beans to my brother.

Things.

It was great to get down to Puerto Vallarta last week for the wedding of a best friend and former roommate, Nora. Not only did I get a chance to room and catch up with another best friend and other former roommate, Ryan, but it was also nice to relax, enjoy the beautiful weather, and take it all in.

The wedding party on the beach.

Reception cruise during sunset.

A dolphin appeared to swim along with the boat!

Nora with her awesome husband Casey. (How did I never get a photo with just the two of you the whole weekend?)

With Nora.

Here's a nice picture of the three former roommates...

...but this is what we look like most of the time.

I'm not even sure how many times I've been to Disneyland with Ryan, Nora, and her new husband, Casey, but I'm already looking forward to the next trip!

Speaking of traveling and friends, I was terrible this past fall at mentioning the fantastic people in my life who came to shows all over the US (and Canada, too!). As is still the tradition with this blog, I always post when a friend comes to a show. In something resembling chronological order:

Lauren and Bonnie, two amazing friends from college. Bel Air, MD.

Terra, a former studio-mate and great, violinist friend from ASU.

Allison, a friend from the road with one of coolest moms Barrage has met in recent memory. [Randomly, Allison holds the unique distinction of being the person from whom I first heard that Michael Jackson died.]

Kim, one of my longest friends (since 3rd grade!) and her boyfriend Nathan. West Chester, PA.

Ashley, another great friend from college and doctor-to-be! Bexley, OH.

Daniel and me with our fiddler friend, Thomas, whom we met at the Mark O'Connor camp in Charleston this past summer. Austin, TX.

Willie, a friend from ASU and cellist with the Skyros Quartet. Austin, TX.

Alex and Allison, two awesome, musician friends from ASU. Denver, CO.

With the incomparable Denis Dufrense! The very first "Violin C" in Barrage (the part I have today) and my personal idol for many, many, many years. Be sure to check out his band Pear, formed with his wife and Barrage alumna, Lynae! Calgary, AB.

With Marcus, friend and former quartet-mate from the Killington Music Festival. You can actually still see a picture of us playing together in 2007 on KMF's website, here! London, ON.

Thank you Lauren, Bonnie, Terra, Allison R., Kim, Nathan, Ashley, Thomas, Willie, Alex, Allison K., Denis, and Marcus for coming to see a show last fall!

I've always thought one of the best parts of playing with Barrage is not only getting to travel, but also getting to see friends who live in other places. One more reason I feel so lucky to be here -- when I'm one day no longer with Barrage, I'll definitely miss getting to see these people so easily!

Me : Tom Hanks :: Hong Kong Airport : "The Terminal"...kind of

Before China called and asked Barrage to perform this weekend on BTV's Chinese Spring Festival Global Gala (the big Chinese New Year celebration on TV), I had already planned to attend one of my best friends' wedding in Mexico, so separate travel arrangements were made for me to get back home and attend this wedding. This morning, we all left Haikou, China; I flew to Hong Kong and Barrage flew to Beijing.

Around 10 a.m., I arrived in Hong Kong, went through customs/immigration (since Hong Kong, though in China, is still somewhat run as a separate country), picked up my bags, checked in for a 1:00 p.m. flight to San Francisco, went back through customs/immigration again, and then caught my flight.

About one hour in, the captain informed us that an equipment light was malfunctioning and we were returning to Hong Kong to get it checked out. At this point, lots of fuel needed to be dumped for the landing, so jets of fuel started shooting out of the tips of the wings. I'd say, conservatively, this happened for 45 minutes.

Imagine, briefly, the captain telling you there is a minor problem and then seeing fuel gush out of the wings for must certainly be way too long...

But as he's the pilot and should know what he's doing, the proper amount had clearly been dumped when we safely landed back in Hong Kong. On landing, we were informed the flight was cancelled and we were all booked for the same flight tomorrow afternoon...which presented a problem because I fly to Mexico tomorrow morning.

Off the plane and through customs/immigration we went.

Quite amazingly, I was able to grab a seat on a flight to L.A. tonight, Thursday, at 11:45 p.m. If everything goes as planned, I should now arrive in Phoenix on Friday morning at 12:45 a.m.

Despite the fact that I will have been in Hong Kong and/or its airport and/or on a plane for what must certainly be an unhealthy amount of time, I'm ultimately just relieved to be safe and still on track to make the wedding.

Also, I'd like to point out the two most ridiculous parts of today:

1) Once I land tonight in L.A., I will have six new stamps in my passport from today's debacle: one from leaving China to go to Hong Kong, four from twice entering and twice leaving Hong Kong, and one from arriving back in the US. 

2) In case you didn't catch this, I'm leaving Hong Kong at 11:45 p.m. on Thursday night and arriving in Phoenix on Friday morning at 12:45 a.m...

In conclusion, traveling is crazy.