And we're back!!!

I'd been thinking about how slowly the project had been progressing, and wondering what I could or should do to 'fix' that. I started to think, "Maybe I shouldn't press things, and just see how it plays out. If it's slow going... it was meant to be that way." I still don't believe that there is a right or wrong answer necessarily, but I do want to pick up the pace a bit to try and be as successful as possible by the end of next year. I started debating if I should send more personal invitations or try to invite more groups of people to hang out together. Sometimes I have to remind myself that "This is Facebook. People are not constantly checking it to actually organize outings. Often their checking to see if there are any new messages or comments, drop a witty status update, post a picture, etc." So I might have to be a bit more proactive in my approach. We'll see what happens, and what works.

So yesterday, I got a Facebook message from my buddy Jesse early in the morning. He was going to be playing for a church in the next town over from me (Teaneck), and wanted to see if I was available to meet up for lunch. As my schedule for the day was very light, I was excited and 100% down!



Jesse and I have been friends since college. He is an extremely talented, versatile and in-demand musician. He plays in several bands ('Soul Cycle' just released a new CD), and is also a great producer/beat maker. We've worked together several times. The last time that I saw Jesse, I'd brought several friends to a club in the city, where his band Soul Cycle was playing. We caught up briefly and since then have sent a couple of Facebook messages/comments back and forth.

We met up at Veggie Heaven, a local vegetarian restaurant. I suggested it because it's good food, and I remember Jesse being a vegetarian. We talked at length about work, music, relationships and social interaction in the digital age. We both thought it was interesting how social networking via the internet seems to be making people more social and less social at the same time; increasing the amount of people we communicate with, and the frequency with which we do, yet limiting the "need" for actual face to face meetings (familiar, no?). We ended up discussing the beginnings of a project that the two of us would like to work on together, and I'm really excited about it (something I have not yet attempted). Will keep you posted!

Face to face #3 - 1 friend