A good start to the week.

The photo is a slightly different view of Midland Street from earlier today. Instead of my usual shot of the studio or shot from the studio steps, I thought I'd show you a shot of bank robbery. Yes, I said bank robbery. We were sitting in the studio when 6-8 police cars went racing by to the bank a few blocks up. I grabbed the Nikon figuring that if there were any pictures to be taken, I could do some stringing for the Times. By the time they got there the bank robbers were gone, so I got a few shots of police cars and a shot of this deputy with his M-16. The best news is that nobody in the bank was hurt. They haven't caught the guys yet, but they will. Face it, bank robbers ain't exactly criminal masterminds.

Aside from the bank robbery, the last couple of weeks have been pretty surreal. I've landed new clients, most notably the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. I'm really very excited about having the opportunity to really give the SBSO a new look for the 2008-2009 season. On top of the Orchestra, a couple of other clients have come my way. It's been a good week in that department.

Better still is the interesting mix of people I've been meeting and talking to. A few of the people I've been getting to know:

Patrick Flynn, an internationally renowned orchestral conductor whose credits include the English National Ballet's historic ballet-in-the-round Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall as well as—at Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's request—the first concert performances of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Cici Carter, a rapidly up-and-coming jewelry designer who splits her time between her homes in New York City and Saginaw, MI. I am writing a profile piece about her for a regional magazine and was able to sit down for lunch with her and had a really enjoyable time. She has a lot of energy and her enthusiasm is infectious. As I write this her website seems to be a little goofy, but check it out if you get a chance. She does some beautiful work.

Kathy Quinn, the widow of Academy Award winning actor Anthony Quinn. She has signed on with Cici to have Cici create a line of jewelry based on fine art created by Anthony Quinn. It was a brief conversation, but it was kind of cool to get a chance to speak with her and listen to her stories about her husband and his art.

Danny Wiseman, a professional bowler who just won his 12th PBA tournament a couple of weeks ago. And before you laugh at the idea of professional bowling--Danny has made about $1.4 million since going pro. Sure, he's not pulling LeBron money, but the guy is doing pretty well considering that he bowls for a living. And a pretty decent living at that. It looks like there is a pretty good chance that I'm going to be working with a few different parties involved in pro bowling. I will happily add that to the roster of sports clients.

And as if all of that wasn't enough, I even found time to do some serious hanging out when a few of my friends came over to the studio for a late-night beer-and-pong session.

I am having a good life.

Okay...it's ten after midnight, I still have work to do and I hope to be back home and in bed in the next two hours. I should probably get back to work.