Greetings and Blessings Everyone! I want to thank and welcome new members. "Welcome!" I would like to start this month's email by doing something new. I would like to extend an invitation to each of you to contact me back and say "Hello!" Too often we move through this life letting things happen to us and taking things for granted. I don't want to take for granted that there are people 'out there' in the world who have responded to me in the simple way of joining my mailing list because I took a simple action and joined NumberOneMusic. I want to challenge us all to take an inspired action step and follow through with each other. Basically, I want to hear from you! Something safe and easy. Tell me something about where you live and why it's an amazing place to be and why you're so happy there; conversely you can tell me why it sucks and you why you dream of being somewhere else. Seriously, people, we are alive on this planet together for a short time. Let's have a conversation! :) In other news, My ensemble "The Zen Sessions" is getting ready for a winter season of rehearsing for concerts! We have two new members coming in to take over what I have had machines doing. I needed to get away from even attempting to use backing tracks in performance. Technology is great and I am thankful to have the ability to play pre-recorded loops to augment a songs sonic presence. And I am so happy to hire a human to do what a machine can't. The human spark is irreplaceable. Zen Sessions has two concerts this winter, and then we head into studio land to make a new series of recordings. It has been awhile and we have a LOT of new sounds to share with you all. Michael Notarangelo and I are still working away at new songs in our guitar/cello duet. Michael is an amazingly talented man and a true joy to be around. We have had meetings with some other performers about increasing our ranks to include another cellist, violinist, and pianist. We look forward to realizing our goals in continuing to live happy, content, and joy-filled lives creating music with friends-old and new. That's it for December news. It's snowy here as of yesterday and it is lovely. Remember that you can see show schedules, videos, and purchase music at www.reverbnation.com/samhaines Blessings and Be Well. I hope to hear from you soon! Sam