I just received an e-mail from Marin Alsop, confirming that she’ll perform my piece, “Redline Tango,” at the Cabrillo Music Festival next summer! I am insanely excited about this. Marin is a not only a true champion of living American composers, but she’s also one of the best American conductors. My former teacher, John Corigliano, said that her performances of his music are consistently among the best. I am psyched.

AJ and I went suitcase shopping tonight. I’m heading to Seattle on Monday for my first of many trips this season. (1 week in Seattle next week, a week in Arizona and several days in Chicago in December, Texas in February, Seattle again in March, Kansas and elsewhere in April, and then two more weeks in Seattle in May! Whew!)

The suitcase is nice, but the evening’s highlight – other than finally seeing Stacy voted off of “The Apprentice” – was homemade shredded pork burritos for dinner. Holy delicious. (Somehow this blog is becoming my diary of music, shopping, and eating. Weird.)