Frustrated with Facebook controlling my expression more than I'd like, I have ventured to create a personal website to have more control over what I present and how it's presented.  It's only just begun, but I think I've got enough on it now to share it with all of you.  Right now, the primary feature is a little calendar of mostly classical and jazz music events taking place in the area.  I hope some of you find it of interest.  Future plans are for more content related to music, Maine history, the community of Winslow/Waterville, and other things you've seen me post about on Facebook.  There may be some weirdness as I figure out the technicalities of how this site and FB interrelate.  Anyway, as you can see here, I even splurged $12 to register the domain KennebecTom.com.

Well, a little more work on this tonight.  It's slowly leading me to what it wants to be.  One purpose that's manifesting is to share with others opportunities to see great music and theater live.  For me this has meant it needs to be low-cost or free.  It needs to be near Winslow.  It has historically needed to be kid friendly, although my daughters are now getting to be of an age where they sit happily through full musicals, operas, plays and symphonic performances - as long as its good.

Anyway, a lot of times in the community I am speaking with people and trying to describe what I've seen, what's coming up, and where you can find the information, but it's hard to describe in a way they could remember easily later.  So I've been tinkering around and figured out how to create a Google calendar, make it public, and embed it in this site.  That's just pure technical fun in itself.  But in addition, what was previously my private list of performances that I would like to see, is now shared with all of you.

I almost talked myself out of this whole project when I looked at a site like MPBN's Community Calendar, which is a rich listing of events in Maine.  I questioned what the heck I could offer that would be worthwhile in comparison.  But I've found that a lot of times the MPBN listings don't include many of my favorite events.  That's because the organizations or performers themselves have to create those listings.  Many smaller organizations are too busy performing or rehearsing to mount their own PR campaigns.  Also, there a lot of events that I just don't like, find boring, etc.  And there's even a good bit of classical music I don't like.  I have strong opinions about music.  Some just sucks.

What I'll do is reach out and grab those events I discover and post them on the Arts Calendar page here.  My original idea was to list every single musical performance occurring in Maine from junior high school concerts all the way up to professional orchestras.  But that idea involved a couple of student interns (that I don't have) to scour the web nightly and make entries.  Instead, I'm going to offer more of a tour-guide approach.  I'll filter these things as I do for myself and my family and list those events I think might be of particular quality and value.  I'll try to link each calendar entry to the website for the event or venue.  

 I myself am not able to attend everything I put on the calendar, but maybe I'll offer some reviews of those things I do attend.  I hope this helps my friends and others access and grow a love of music.