Hello Friends and Family! This is the April edition of the monthly
Keal letter. Spring has Sprung!!! at least here in Lenhartsville.
We've been highly enjoying the beautiful Spring weather lately. We've
made a Spring resolution to go on a 30 minute walk every day. I read
an article (Reader's Digest or something) that was saying that 3 hours
of regular exercise a week has the same (good) effects as
anti-depressent drugs. We've been going almost every day (except for
days when it's pouring rain) and loving it. Just outside of
Lenhartsville is a little road that runs right beside the creek. It
passes an old mill and a waterfall over a dam. It's a beautiful place
to walk, and it takes us exactly a half an hour to walk from our front
door to the most beautiful spot on that road and back. The walking and
the beautiful weather has been doing wonders for Tirah's post-partum
depression.
Cirdan is now 9 months old. He just started crawling within the last
couple of days. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing a baby
crawl for the first time. He's like a little wind-up toy. The worst
of his teething seems to be over for now. He's got his four front
teeth in. Lately he's been his smiley, laughing old self.
We've been getting a little more sleep lately, except for the last
couple of nights when Thea had the throw-ups. But that seems to have
passed now, thank goodness.
Thea is talking more and more every day. She's using complete
sentences like "I think MeeMah is down stairs" and "I think Carl went
Bye-bye." Of course it sounds more like: "Ah dink Mee Mah eh dawn a
dits." but if you know the lingo you can hear it. (for those of you
who don't know "MeeMah and DeeDah" are my parents) She is also learning
many more numbers and letters. The other day we got her to say the
entire alphabet (with prompting for each letter). We've started using
a "Naughty Room" as a method of punishment. Our naughty room consists
of a gate closing off the area at the bottom of the attic stairs... a
very boring place to be. So far it's had good effects on Thea's
behavior, especially with her hitting Cirdan.
We got our monstrous tax refund, so we are in good shape as far as
financial survival goes, at least for a little while. Part of it is
going towards buying studio equipment for me... and I've already used
up my budget! One of the things I bought was a new Control Surface
and Audio/MIDI Interface. It will allow me to have physical control
over the functions of my music software (so that I don't have to use
the mouse all the time) and it has a huge number of microphone and line
and MIDI inputs (something I can expand into as my studio grows), and
also it is a Firewire connection to the computer instead of a USB
connection (Firewire is a much better connection).
Peter Genzlinger (who is my brother-in-law), and I are working on a
business partnership for my music career. Steve Simons (who is also my
brother-in-law) is starting a publishing company/record label with his
brother-in-law Alex. (That's a lot of brothers-in-law!) The four of
us had a business meeting not long ago to discuss me joining their
record label. It's all very exciting stuff.
Check my website (www.solomonkeal.com) for more updates about my music
career. Fairly soon my website is going to have a new look, designed
by Elise Simons.
Well, that's about it. Have a wonderful Spring day!... (if you are in
the Northern Hemisphere)
May the Lord bring you Peace.
Love from Solomon (28), Tirah (25), Thea (2), and Cirdan (9 months)
Keal.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Keal Family Letter, March 2005
Hello Friends and Family! This is the March edition of the monthly
Keal letter. I hope that February treated all of you better than it
did us. At least it's a short month. The good parts of the month for
us were that Thea turned two on the 2nd and Tirah turned 25 on the
19th. Tirah and I had a lovely time on her birthday: we went out to
dinner at a favorite restaurant, Tirah got a new earring on the upper
part of her right ear... it looks very pretty, and then we went out to
see the movie "Hitch" which we highly recommend.
Some other good news includes the fact that we're getting a good size
tax return this year which will not only help us survive, but help to
pay for my studio equipment!
All other aspects of the month have been miserable. Cirdan has been
teething horribly which means that he's usually awake and screaming for
a good chunk of the night, which means that we're awake and feeling
like screaming. Thea has entered the realm of "Two Years Old" with a
bang... many bangs.... every day. She usually spends a good chunk of
the day screaming because she's not getting what she wants right now!
Tirah and I are running on very little sleep, which often means I'm not
able to put in as many hours of work as I'd like, and worst of all: all
of this is contributing to, and making worse the fact that Tirah is
suffering from Postpartum Depression. I'm sure the cold and dreary
February weather isn't helping either. As well as my own worries
about being able to support my family... which has been contributing to
my lower back hurting for a lot of the month.
But enough doom and gloom. I'm ultimately an optimist... there's
always a silver lining. Ultimately we just need to remember that the
Lord is in charge and it makes life much easier to handle.
Let's see... oh here's some more good news. My business is still
moving forward. It's not supporting us yet, but it is moving forward.
Those who signed up for my music newsletter on my website, can learn
more about all that when I write that monthly newsletter right after
I'm finished with this one. (To sign up go to: www.solomonkeal.com.
Also check out www.solomon-keal.com and www.solomonzone.com)
Oh, some other good news is that we are getting a Contemporary service
going here in Kempton! It's starting out slow and gentle (we don't
want to offend people) but it's happening once a month, in the
Sanctuary, at 10:00 in the morning just like every other service. We
had the first one just this past Sunday, and it was received well and
well attended. We had postlude and prelude singing of some more
Contemporary and Laurel Camp-like songs. We had guitar as well as
piano. We even had many of the instruments mentioned in Psalm 150,
which was what the sermon was about, including: trumpet, flute,
recorder, harp, guitar, and cymbals. The sermon itself was talking
about how we are meant to worship and praise the Lord in many different
ways, like the many different instruments that play music. It was a
great first step in the right direction! A lot of people have been
waiting for years for this.
Well, that's about it. Sorry to be so dismal. I hope that all of you
are doing well. Love from all of us: Solomon (27), Tirah (25), Thea
(2), and Cirdan (8 months). May the Lord bless your lives and grant
you peace.
Keal letter. I hope that February treated all of you better than it
did us. At least it's a short month. The good parts of the month for
us were that Thea turned two on the 2nd and Tirah turned 25 on the
19th. Tirah and I had a lovely time on her birthday: we went out to
dinner at a favorite restaurant, Tirah got a new earring on the upper
part of her right ear... it looks very pretty, and then we went out to
see the movie "Hitch" which we highly recommend.
Some other good news includes the fact that we're getting a good size
tax return this year which will not only help us survive, but help to
pay for my studio equipment!
All other aspects of the month have been miserable. Cirdan has been
teething horribly which means that he's usually awake and screaming for
a good chunk of the night, which means that we're awake and feeling
like screaming. Thea has entered the realm of "Two Years Old" with a
bang... many bangs.... every day. She usually spends a good chunk of
the day screaming because she's not getting what she wants right now!
Tirah and I are running on very little sleep, which often means I'm not
able to put in as many hours of work as I'd like, and worst of all: all
of this is contributing to, and making worse the fact that Tirah is
suffering from Postpartum Depression. I'm sure the cold and dreary
February weather isn't helping either. As well as my own worries
about being able to support my family... which has been contributing to
my lower back hurting for a lot of the month.
But enough doom and gloom. I'm ultimately an optimist... there's
always a silver lining. Ultimately we just need to remember that the
Lord is in charge and it makes life much easier to handle.
Let's see... oh here's some more good news. My business is still
moving forward. It's not supporting us yet, but it is moving forward.
Those who signed up for my music newsletter on my website, can learn
more about all that when I write that monthly newsletter right after
I'm finished with this one. (To sign up go to: www.solomonkeal.com.
Also check out www.solomon-keal.com and www.solomonzone.com)
Oh, some other good news is that we are getting a Contemporary service
going here in Kempton! It's starting out slow and gentle (we don't
want to offend people) but it's happening once a month, in the
Sanctuary, at 10:00 in the morning just like every other service. We
had the first one just this past Sunday, and it was received well and
well attended. We had postlude and prelude singing of some more
Contemporary and Laurel Camp-like songs. We had guitar as well as
piano. We even had many of the instruments mentioned in Psalm 150,
which was what the sermon was about, including: trumpet, flute,
recorder, harp, guitar, and cymbals. The sermon itself was talking
about how we are meant to worship and praise the Lord in many different
ways, like the many different instruments that play music. It was a
great first step in the right direction! A lot of people have been
waiting for years for this.
Well, that's about it. Sorry to be so dismal. I hope that all of you
are doing well. Love from all of us: Solomon (27), Tirah (25), Thea
(2), and Cirdan (8 months). May the Lord bless your lives and grant
you peace.
Keal Family Letter, February 2005
Hello Friends and Family. Because it is dinner time, and I have to
go, this is going to be a very short monthly letter... maybe I'll add
to it later. The two big pieces of new are: Thea turned two today!
...and I have a preliminary website up for all you folks to check out.
This is not the final real website that Elise and Steve are working
on, but it will have to do for now, and it serves my business purposes
in the interim. Go and check it out! www.solomonkeal.com. Let
me know what you think!
Have a wonderful February! - Solomon
Hello friends and family. If you would like, please sign up to
receive my monthly music newsletter on my website. It will be very
much like this monthly newsletter, but only about my music career. It
will contain updates on my recording projects, and information about
where and when I'll be performing, as well as where you can buy my
music. It will be the best way to find out exactly when my next CDs
will be coming out. Also, feel free to use the guestbook feature on
my website as well.
On the home front... Thea had a wonderful birthday party yesterday.
We gave her a little goldfish which she loves to watch and feed. She
also got, from other family members, a new teddy bear, a little
2-year-old plastic garden tools set, and a wonderfully decorated little
box with cards in it, made by my mom. The cards have pictures of her
favorite things, as well as numbers and letters. Tirah made an amazing
spice cake in a bunt pan with a wonderful drizzle icing. Thea calls
all kinds of cake, "Apple cake," (sounds like "Appah Kek") so she had
apple cake for her birthday.
Cirdan is now sitting up on his own and he just started eating
crackers. Unfortunately he is not sleeping well at night, which means
we are not sleeping well at night, but that's parenthood for you.
Have a beautiful day! - Solomon
go, this is going to be a very short monthly letter... maybe I'll add
to it later. The two big pieces of new are: Thea turned two today!
...and I have a preliminary website up for all you folks to check out.
This is not the final real website that Elise and Steve are working
on, but it will have to do for now, and it serves my business purposes
in the interim. Go and check it out! www.solomonkeal.com. Let
me know what you think!
Have a wonderful February! - Solomon
Hello friends and family. If you would like, please sign up to
receive my monthly music newsletter on my website. It will be very
much like this monthly newsletter, but only about my music career. It
will contain updates on my recording projects, and information about
where and when I'll be performing, as well as where you can buy my
music. It will be the best way to find out exactly when my next CDs
will be coming out. Also, feel free to use the guestbook feature on
my website as well.
On the home front... Thea had a wonderful birthday party yesterday.
We gave her a little goldfish which she loves to watch and feed. She
also got, from other family members, a new teddy bear, a little
2-year-old plastic garden tools set, and a wonderfully decorated little
box with cards in it, made by my mom. The cards have pictures of her
favorite things, as well as numbers and letters. Tirah made an amazing
spice cake in a bunt pan with a wonderful drizzle icing. Thea calls
all kinds of cake, "Apple cake," (sounds like "Appah Kek") so she had
apple cake for her birthday.
Cirdan is now sitting up on his own and he just started eating
crackers. Unfortunately he is not sleeping well at night, which means
we are not sleeping well at night, but that's parenthood for you.
Have a beautiful day! - Solomon
Keal Family Letter, December 2004
Merry Christmas everyone, from the Solomon Keal Family!
This has been a very busy month (I'm starting to see a pattern...).
This Friday is the Kempton Christmas Sing. Saturday morning (possibly)
we are having our Keal Christmas because this year me and my siblings
are all spending Christmas with the In-laws, namely: Echols,
Genzlingers, and Coles. Saturday afternoon is the Kempton Tableaux
rehearsal. Sunday morning I'm playing special music for church.
Sunday afternoon and evening a lot of us are singing in the Tableaux.
Then on Wednesday the 22nd, we leave to head towards Ohio. Wednesday
afternoon we arrive in Pittsburgh and spend that afternoon and night
with my grandparents Jack and Sally Rose, and visit with any of my
aunts, uncles, and cousins that are around. We then leave from
Pittsburgh for Ohio around lunchtime on Thursday the 23rd and arrive at
the Echols' in the late evening on the 23rd. That way we have all of
Christmas Eve to spend with the Echols'. On Sunday the 26th, I will
be playing piano for a Day-After-Christmas musical service at the
Cincinnati New Church. We then stay with the Echols' for as long as
our two little under-two-year-olds can stand to be away from home. We
will then drive through the night all the way back to Lenhartsville
some time in the middle of the last week of December.
After all of that, life Will Go Back to Normal. O.K. I'll stop
dreaming. January will be a deciding month for my music career. A
lot of things that I've been working on so far will hopefully start
coming to fruition. My website will be designed. I will finish my
Recording Engineering course, and possibly start looking for a job in a
studio. I will hear if I've become a member of ASCAP (American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers). I will hear if I've been
accepted to Solo Piano Radio. I will possibly hear if anyone wants to
help me financially. If anyone does help me financially, I will start
buying the equipment I need to finish my home studio. I will start
recording demos and sending them into TAXI, an independent A&R company.
I will start recording my next album. I will start developing a Music
History course to offer next school year. I will start calling
contacts and performing in local coffeeshops, bookstores, etc. I will
probably start a music e-newsletter (so if any of you want to receive
it let me know). It will be a scary and exciting month! Wish me
luck!
The family is doing well. Cirdan is still the cutest, happiest
little chunk of a boy I've ever seen. He just turned 6 months. He
rolled over the other day. He is starting to eat some solid foods such
as rice cereal and teething biscuits. He has been teething a lot,
which means that between me and Tirah, we collectively get about 8
hours of sleep a night. Thea is approaching the Terrible Twos.
She'll be two in February. She is talking a lot, but we don't always
understand her, which gets her very frustrated. Tirah is, as always,
the glue that holds us all together. She works 24 hours a day keeping
track of a teething 6 month old, a terrible two year old, an unemployed
musician, and anyone else she can touch with her joyous, life-giving
sphere.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone! Love, Solomon, Tirah, Thea, and
Cirdan Keal.
"Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward
Men!" (Luke 2:14)
This has been a very busy month (I'm starting to see a pattern...).
This Friday is the Kempton Christmas Sing. Saturday morning (possibly)
we are having our Keal Christmas because this year me and my siblings
are all spending Christmas with the In-laws, namely: Echols,
Genzlingers, and Coles. Saturday afternoon is the Kempton Tableaux
rehearsal. Sunday morning I'm playing special music for church.
Sunday afternoon and evening a lot of us are singing in the Tableaux.
Then on Wednesday the 22nd, we leave to head towards Ohio. Wednesday
afternoon we arrive in Pittsburgh and spend that afternoon and night
with my grandparents Jack and Sally Rose, and visit with any of my
aunts, uncles, and cousins that are around. We then leave from
Pittsburgh for Ohio around lunchtime on Thursday the 23rd and arrive at
the Echols' in the late evening on the 23rd. That way we have all of
Christmas Eve to spend with the Echols'. On Sunday the 26th, I will
be playing piano for a Day-After-Christmas musical service at the
Cincinnati New Church. We then stay with the Echols' for as long as
our two little under-two-year-olds can stand to be away from home. We
will then drive through the night all the way back to Lenhartsville
some time in the middle of the last week of December.
After all of that, life Will Go Back to Normal. O.K. I'll stop
dreaming. January will be a deciding month for my music career. A
lot of things that I've been working on so far will hopefully start
coming to fruition. My website will be designed. I will finish my
Recording Engineering course, and possibly start looking for a job in a
studio. I will hear if I've become a member of ASCAP (American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers). I will hear if I've been
accepted to Solo Piano Radio. I will possibly hear if anyone wants to
help me financially. If anyone does help me financially, I will start
buying the equipment I need to finish my home studio. I will start
recording demos and sending them into TAXI, an independent A&R company.
I will start recording my next album. I will start developing a Music
History course to offer next school year. I will start calling
contacts and performing in local coffeeshops, bookstores, etc. I will
probably start a music e-newsletter (so if any of you want to receive
it let me know). It will be a scary and exciting month! Wish me
luck!
The family is doing well. Cirdan is still the cutest, happiest
little chunk of a boy I've ever seen. He just turned 6 months. He
rolled over the other day. He is starting to eat some solid foods such
as rice cereal and teething biscuits. He has been teething a lot,
which means that between me and Tirah, we collectively get about 8
hours of sleep a night. Thea is approaching the Terrible Twos.
She'll be two in February. She is talking a lot, but we don't always
understand her, which gets her very frustrated. Tirah is, as always,
the glue that holds us all together. She works 24 hours a day keeping
track of a teething 6 month old, a terrible two year old, an unemployed
musician, and anyone else she can touch with her joyous, life-giving
sphere.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone! Love, Solomon, Tirah, Thea, and
Cirdan Keal.
"Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward
Men!" (Luke 2:14)
Keal Family Letter, November 2004
Hello all y'all. Sorry for the tardiness of this month's Keal Letter.
I've been very busy.
This is the first month that I have been without a paycheck.
Fortunately we were able to save up enough that we're still living fine
off of our bank account. It turns out I might not be eligible for
Unemployment Compensation because I'm trying to start my own business.
We'll see what happens. I'm actually working part time for Hendricks'
Historic Doors because they needed help for a few weeks. I'm only
working in the afternoons there, and I'll probably be done that this
week. Other than that I'm working hard at getting my music career off
the ground.
My daily routine is this: I get up at 6:00 to be working by 6:30. I
then work for an hour in the morning before breakfast, before Tirah and
the kids are up. Then 7:30 to 8:30 is wake-up time, and family
breakfast hour. Then I work for three hours from 8:30 to 11:30.
11:30 to 12:30 is family lunch hour before the kids go down for naps.
Then I work four hours in the afternoon from 12:30 to 4:30. So that
way, I get in an 8 hour day, but also have an hour-long breakfast and
lunch break.
Currently I'm working on three main priorities. 1. Getting my website
up and running. 2. Getting my Business Plan written and out to
prospective benefactors. 3. Taking my Recording Engineering course.
These are occupying most of my time right now. Other things near the
top of my priority list include reading my Music Business book,
learning more about my music software, practicing the piano, and doing
marketing research. Hopefully very soon, I'll be sending y'all a
message telling you to go visit my website at www.solomonkeal.com.
It's great getting to be home most of the day and being able to see my
family more. We're able to go on family walks. My routine is flexible
enough that I can help out if the kids are sick or something. It's also
been great not doing physical labor all day... it means I'm not
exhausted by 5:00 and I can actually help out and play with the kids
and not be a zombie.
Tirah is done working at Hawk Mountain for the year, which is nice
because we have our weekends back. So now she's just working for Carl
which she does from home. We are planning our Christmas trip out to
the Echols'.
Cirdan just turned 5 months old! He's almost sitting up. He can sit
up on his own if he's sitting in a boppy. Thea is 21 and a half
months. She is talking more every day; putting together little
sentences. Her latest thing is that she knows the numbers 8 and 9 and
can point them out on a clock or in a book, saying very clearly, "Et an
nan." Why 8 and 9? No idea. But it's wonderfully cute.
Well, that's all for now... I've got to get back to work. Over
and Out. - Solomon
I've been very busy.
This is the first month that I have been without a paycheck.
Fortunately we were able to save up enough that we're still living fine
off of our bank account. It turns out I might not be eligible for
Unemployment Compensation because I'm trying to start my own business.
We'll see what happens. I'm actually working part time for Hendricks'
Historic Doors because they needed help for a few weeks. I'm only
working in the afternoons there, and I'll probably be done that this
week. Other than that I'm working hard at getting my music career off
the ground.
My daily routine is this: I get up at 6:00 to be working by 6:30. I
then work for an hour in the morning before breakfast, before Tirah and
the kids are up. Then 7:30 to 8:30 is wake-up time, and family
breakfast hour. Then I work for three hours from 8:30 to 11:30.
11:30 to 12:30 is family lunch hour before the kids go down for naps.
Then I work four hours in the afternoon from 12:30 to 4:30. So that
way, I get in an 8 hour day, but also have an hour-long breakfast and
lunch break.
Currently I'm working on three main priorities. 1. Getting my website
up and running. 2. Getting my Business Plan written and out to
prospective benefactors. 3. Taking my Recording Engineering course.
These are occupying most of my time right now. Other things near the
top of my priority list include reading my Music Business book,
learning more about my music software, practicing the piano, and doing
marketing research. Hopefully very soon, I'll be sending y'all a
message telling you to go visit my website at www.solomonkeal.com.
It's great getting to be home most of the day and being able to see my
family more. We're able to go on family walks. My routine is flexible
enough that I can help out if the kids are sick or something. It's also
been great not doing physical labor all day... it means I'm not
exhausted by 5:00 and I can actually help out and play with the kids
and not be a zombie.
Tirah is done working at Hawk Mountain for the year, which is nice
because we have our weekends back. So now she's just working for Carl
which she does from home. We are planning our Christmas trip out to
the Echols'.
Cirdan just turned 5 months old! He's almost sitting up. He can sit
up on his own if he's sitting in a boppy. Thea is 21 and a half
months. She is talking more every day; putting together little
sentences. Her latest thing is that she knows the numbers 8 and 9 and
can point them out on a clock or in a book, saying very clearly, "Et an
nan." Why 8 and 9? No idea. But it's wonderfully cute.
Well, that's all for now... I've got to get back to work. Over
and Out. - Solomon
Keal Family Letter, October 2004
Hello all you friends and family types. Welcome to the October
issue
of the Monthly Keal Letter. We are all doing well. The weather is
turning cooler and the leaves are turning colors. Tirah and I had some
hot chocolate in front of a fire in the wood stove the other night.
It's time for the season of Cozy.
Cirdan is as cute as can be and getting cuter by the day. He's
got a
smile to die for, and is starting to get very active. Actively trying
to hold things, actively trying to sit up on his own. He and Thea
love each other very much... though not enough to know what's good for
each other. Thea will often be so excited to see Cirdan that she will
scream at the top of her voice... which will then make Cirdan cry.
"What happened Mama? Why is he crying?"
Thea is talking more and more. Though her words are not
completely
formed, she is started to put them together into short baby sentences.
Just this evening, as I was giving her her bath, she heard Tirah coming
up the stairs and started repeating over and over: "Mama - tess! Mama
- tess? Mama - tess!" (Rough translation: "Mother - stairs") She has
her own words for a great many things including: Ball, star, car,
stairs, Cirdan, juice, eggs, peanut butter balls, blanket, Blue Bear
(her teddy bear), Rhino (her Other teddy "bear"), diaper, shoes, socks,
Mama, Papa, Meema, Deeda, video, cracker, cheese, house, flower, knee,
feet, eyes, bathtime, binky (pacifier), balloon, moon, "Hi," "See ya,"
and probably more as we speak. This list of vocabulary words is
pretty much the bulk of what Thea says these days... now that I think
about it, it's pretty much the bulk of what Tirah and I say these days
too. Aaahh Parenthood.
Tirah is doing well. She's having a lot of fun working for Carl
Smith
as the book keeper for his new heating, plumbing and AC business. The
best thing being that she can work out of the office in our living
room. This Autumn she will also be working up at Hawk Mountain again
on weekends. This will make life very busy for this month, but it will
bring in much needed income for the months ahead.
Yes, this is the last month that I will be working in the
carpentry,
construction business. As of November, I will have to go onto
Unemployment benefits as I try to start up my own music business. It's
a scary and exciting time of our life. But we have a good situation to
be in. Since we're renting from my Mom and Dad, we don't have to worry
about getting kicked out of the house when we miss rent payments.
Tirah's income from Carl means that we won't lose our car. Her income
from Hawk Mountain will give us a bit of a head start. And I hope to
be earning money as soon as I possibly can from music.
I am currently working on writing my Business Plan. I'm also
taking a
course in Recording Engineering, which would conceivably allow me to
look for a decent job in a recording studio, or better yet start my own
studio. Steve Simons is helping me get my website up and running.
Elise and Robert Genzlinger (just married) gave me a book on music
business. I'm half way to owning the equipment I need to have a
functional start-up recording studio. I have many ideas for new albums
to make, and I'm researching the music markets I need to tap into. The
wheels are turning my friends, and my family. We still believe very
strongly that this is all Providential. I'm surrounding myself with
Positive Thoughts such as "If you risk nothing, you risk even more." by
Somebody Or. Other. Next month will be the beginning of our new life.
Well, I must go and work on some research for my website.
See you
on the other side. - Solomon and Family
issue
of the Monthly Keal Letter. We are all doing well. The weather is
turning cooler and the leaves are turning colors. Tirah and I had some
hot chocolate in front of a fire in the wood stove the other night.
It's time for the season of Cozy.
Cirdan is as cute as can be and getting cuter by the day. He's
got a
smile to die for, and is starting to get very active. Actively trying
to hold things, actively trying to sit up on his own. He and Thea
love each other very much... though not enough to know what's good for
each other. Thea will often be so excited to see Cirdan that she will
scream at the top of her voice... which will then make Cirdan cry.
"What happened Mama? Why is he crying?"
Thea is talking more and more. Though her words are not
completely
formed, she is started to put them together into short baby sentences.
Just this evening, as I was giving her her bath, she heard Tirah coming
up the stairs and started repeating over and over: "Mama - tess! Mama
- tess? Mama - tess!" (Rough translation: "Mother - stairs") She has
her own words for a great many things including: Ball, star, car,
stairs, Cirdan, juice, eggs, peanut butter balls, blanket, Blue Bear
(her teddy bear), Rhino (her Other teddy "bear"), diaper, shoes, socks,
Mama, Papa, Meema, Deeda, video, cracker, cheese, house, flower, knee,
feet, eyes, bathtime, binky (pacifier), balloon, moon, "Hi," "See ya,"
and probably more as we speak. This list of vocabulary words is
pretty much the bulk of what Thea says these days... now that I think
about it, it's pretty much the bulk of what Tirah and I say these days
too. Aaahh Parenthood.
Tirah is doing well. She's having a lot of fun working for Carl
Smith
as the book keeper for his new heating, plumbing and AC business. The
best thing being that she can work out of the office in our living
room. This Autumn she will also be working up at Hawk Mountain again
on weekends. This will make life very busy for this month, but it will
bring in much needed income for the months ahead.
Yes, this is the last month that I will be working in the
carpentry,
construction business. As of November, I will have to go onto
Unemployment benefits as I try to start up my own music business. It's
a scary and exciting time of our life. But we have a good situation to
be in. Since we're renting from my Mom and Dad, we don't have to worry
about getting kicked out of the house when we miss rent payments.
Tirah's income from Carl means that we won't lose our car. Her income
from Hawk Mountain will give us a bit of a head start. And I hope to
be earning money as soon as I possibly can from music.
I am currently working on writing my Business Plan. I'm also
taking a
course in Recording Engineering, which would conceivably allow me to
look for a decent job in a recording studio, or better yet start my own
studio. Steve Simons is helping me get my website up and running.
Elise and Robert Genzlinger (just married) gave me a book on music
business. I'm half way to owning the equipment I need to have a
functional start-up recording studio. I have many ideas for new albums
to make, and I'm researching the music markets I need to tap into. The
wheels are turning my friends, and my family. We still believe very
strongly that this is all Providential. I'm surrounding myself with
Positive Thoughts such as "If you risk nothing, you risk even more." by
Somebody Or. Other. Next month will be the beginning of our new life.
Well, I must go and work on some research for my website.
See you
on the other side. - Solomon and Family
Keal Family Letter, September 2004
Dear Family and Friends, Solomon here. Well our life has taken a
drastic turn. For those of you that don't know yet, I found out last
Friday that I'm being laid off in two months. But we've decided to see
this potentially scary change of events as being providential. After
all, we've been praying for who knows how long that I could stop
working for Junge Construction, and do music instead. Well, be careful
what you pray for.... So rather than scramble to try to find another
day job in two months, we're going to take the plunge and dive into the
music industry and trust that the Lord is in charge. This really is
perhaps the best time to do it. And I think that the necessity of
having to make a living, will be a good incentive for actually getting
it off the ground. After all, it's either music, or try to find
another carpentry job. They're really the only two things I've got
talent in. So I might as well give music a shot. I also feel like it
would be letting the Lord down, to not attempt to use the talent that
He's given me.
Tirah is working part time for Carl's new business (Effective Heating
Plumbing and Air Conditioning), so that's a little income. She's also
going to work weekends at Hawk Mountain this Fall, so that's a little
more. We have lots of friends and family that are very generous and
willing to help us. Needless to say, the next several months and
possibly year, will be VERY TIGHT financially. Very likely, I will
need to go on Unemployment until I can actually start making money from
my music.
But, we are actually very excited about all of this. Currently I am
working on writing up a Business Plan, which will not only help me
organize and figure out what exactly I will be doing to make money, but
also will be something I can give to any wealthy benefactors who might
be interested in funding my start-up costs.
Steve is currently working on created a website for me. I will be
signing up for a Home-Study Recording Engineering course before the end
of this month. And I'm starting to do some major research into
marketing schemes. The Business will essentially consist of three
branches: a) Songwriting - This will consist of me writing songs and
recording demos to be send to publishers and/or artists to then be
recorded and released. This will (at some future date) generate
royalty income. b) Composing, performing, and recording my piano
music. This will include both marketing and selling my two previous
albums, as well as creating, marketing and selling new albums.
Performing will preferably be limiting to local gigs like coffee shops,
book stores, restaurants, and events such as weddings and concerts.
c) Recording. I intend to learn enough about recording that I can not
only record good quality demos, but good quality finished CDs. This
skill would also allow me to either look for a job at a local recording
studio, or start up my own recording studio. The plan is that we
could eventually live off of the income generated by the above business
endeavors.
The idea of doing what I truly love for a living is very, very
exciting. But until it's a reality, I'm going to need lots and lots of
encouragement and support. Tirah has been my guardian angel through
all of this. She's the Number One Reason that I believe I can do it at
all.
In other news, Cirdan will be baptized by his grandfather (Clark
Echols) this Labor Day. He's the cutest little boy ever! He smiles
at everything! It's so amazing to hold him in my arms, worried about
the financial responsibility of supporting this little life, and then
have him give me a huge smile, as if to say, "I believe in you Papa.
Everything will be O.K." His little bubble of joyful innocence is
like tuning into a Heavenly radio station. It's amazing how the very
things that cause you to worry can be the source of your consolation.
Thea is talking more and more. Perhaps the cutest thing is that she
knows Cirdan's name; she calls him "Nan-nan" and sometimes even
"Neer-nan." She's growing up so fast!
Tirah is, as I said, working for Carl, and will be working at Hawk
Mountain this Fall. As well as being a Mother, Home-maker, Wife, and
full time Support Group for me. She's amazing.
Well, enough for now. I need to go work on my Business Plan. But I
want to close with a quote from a Country song that's out on the radio
right now and is a source of great inspiration for me. "Business man
playin' air guitar; Always dreamed he'd be a Super Star; Quits his job
and starts playin' at nights; Is he giving up his living, or taking
back his life? I guess it's all how you look at it."
See you next month. - Solomon
drastic turn. For those of you that don't know yet, I found out last
Friday that I'm being laid off in two months. But we've decided to see
this potentially scary change of events as being providential. After
all, we've been praying for who knows how long that I could stop
working for Junge Construction, and do music instead. Well, be careful
what you pray for.... So rather than scramble to try to find another
day job in two months, we're going to take the plunge and dive into the
music industry and trust that the Lord is in charge. This really is
perhaps the best time to do it. And I think that the necessity of
having to make a living, will be a good incentive for actually getting
it off the ground. After all, it's either music, or try to find
another carpentry job. They're really the only two things I've got
talent in. So I might as well give music a shot. I also feel like it
would be letting the Lord down, to not attempt to use the talent that
He's given me.
Tirah is working part time for Carl's new business (Effective Heating
Plumbing and Air Conditioning), so that's a little income. She's also
going to work weekends at Hawk Mountain this Fall, so that's a little
more. We have lots of friends and family that are very generous and
willing to help us. Needless to say, the next several months and
possibly year, will be VERY TIGHT financially. Very likely, I will
need to go on Unemployment until I can actually start making money from
my music.
But, we are actually very excited about all of this. Currently I am
working on writing up a Business Plan, which will not only help me
organize and figure out what exactly I will be doing to make money, but
also will be something I can give to any wealthy benefactors who might
be interested in funding my start-up costs.
Steve is currently working on created a website for me. I will be
signing up for a Home-Study Recording Engineering course before the end
of this month. And I'm starting to do some major research into
marketing schemes. The Business will essentially consist of three
branches: a) Songwriting - This will consist of me writing songs and
recording demos to be send to publishers and/or artists to then be
recorded and released. This will (at some future date) generate
royalty income. b) Composing, performing, and recording my piano
music. This will include both marketing and selling my two previous
albums, as well as creating, marketing and selling new albums.
Performing will preferably be limiting to local gigs like coffee shops,
book stores, restaurants, and events such as weddings and concerts.
c) Recording. I intend to learn enough about recording that I can not
only record good quality demos, but good quality finished CDs. This
skill would also allow me to either look for a job at a local recording
studio, or start up my own recording studio. The plan is that we
could eventually live off of the income generated by the above business
endeavors.
The idea of doing what I truly love for a living is very, very
exciting. But until it's a reality, I'm going to need lots and lots of
encouragement and support. Tirah has been my guardian angel through
all of this. She's the Number One Reason that I believe I can do it at
all.
In other news, Cirdan will be baptized by his grandfather (Clark
Echols) this Labor Day. He's the cutest little boy ever! He smiles
at everything! It's so amazing to hold him in my arms, worried about
the financial responsibility of supporting this little life, and then
have him give me a huge smile, as if to say, "I believe in you Papa.
Everything will be O.K." His little bubble of joyful innocence is
like tuning into a Heavenly radio station. It's amazing how the very
things that cause you to worry can be the source of your consolation.
Thea is talking more and more. Perhaps the cutest thing is that she
knows Cirdan's name; she calls him "Nan-nan" and sometimes even
"Neer-nan." She's growing up so fast!
Tirah is, as I said, working for Carl, and will be working at Hawk
Mountain this Fall. As well as being a Mother, Home-maker, Wife, and
full time Support Group for me. She's amazing.
Well, enough for now. I need to go work on my Business Plan. But I
want to close with a quote from a Country song that's out on the radio
right now and is a source of great inspiration for me. "Business man
playin' air guitar; Always dreamed he'd be a Super Star; Quits his job
and starts playin' at nights; Is he giving up his living, or taking
back his life? I guess it's all how you look at it."
See you next month. - Solomon
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