In music, September is a bittersweet month that symbolizes aging and death. I think of pop standards like “September Song” and “The September of my Years,” Green Day’s pop-punk ballad “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” and Rosanne Cash’s haunting Americana duet with her father, Johnny Cash, “September When It Comes.”
However, I am excited to announce that with the turn of the seasons and the beginning of the school year where I work, my life is bustling with activity. Here’s a sampling.
I am working two jobs at two different colleges in Chicago, working as a writing tutor with a lot more hours of work than I’ve had in a while. At one job, I’m creating workshops on writing and study skills as well as working with first-generation and low-income students. That job just became a permanent position, so I am very happy about having more job security.
The other job is now involving more evening hours and, gratefully, like the other job, some remote work. The hours vary from semester to semester based on student need, but gratefully, students are asking for more help early in the semester. I love the students and the range of skills and competencies they bring for me to help them with.
I’m also blogging here and would love more paying subscribers! Remember, at least one post a month will be fully available for paying subscribers only.
I also applied for a music critic position at a Chicago publication.
I am currently a weekly DJ at CHIRP Radio, available online, on the CHIRP Radio app, on the low power FM airwaves in Chicago, and on your Smart Speaker (tell it, “Play CHIRP Radio”). This community radio station is such a fun environment to make a difference in the Chicago music community. I’m excited to consistently get to play a wide variety of eclectic music on Wednesday mornings 9am-12pm CST!
At the end of this month, my first academic journal article is getting published! It will be at James Baldwin Review and will be a substantial reworking of an essay I got published at PopMatters in 2021. I will post it here when it is up!
I am also drafting multiple essays that I hope to get published, including one a review of key music history books of the last decade and another a personal essay on Tim McGraw’s country hit “Live Like You Were Dying.”
I am considering writing a book proposal for the 33 1/3 book series on classic albums and possibly one for a memoir-in-essays as well. I am also considering revising a paper on 9/11 and country music for a publication as well.
This fall I will be participating in a storytelling show to read a story about an important relationship in my family. Details forthcoming!
I once again will be the Contest Chair for the Illinois Woman’s Press Association’s 2023 High School Communications Contest, which is opening soon. I’m excited to see the work that students are doing in writing, visuals, and other categories!
Finally, for Recovery Awareness Month, I am reposting an essay that I am very proud of: My Name Is Josh and I’m a Recovering Music Snob.
I’ll be interested to take questions about my projects and am excited to hear from you!