With my extraordinary teacher and friend, Dr. Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal studying classical piano and music composition at the Levine School of Music, Spring Semester 2020 at Strathmore, Bethesda MD

Performing with a whole new sound and songwriting style and, yes, playing a rare Taylor guitar at Coffee Nature, Washington, DC. With Joseph Oh, my friend and the owner of Coffee Nature, after completing my monthly two-hour brunch time performance for the locals and American University students on Saturday, January 11, 2020 to open up the new year of performances. My new set includes several new original songs from my forthcoming release as well as some Shawn Mendes and Troye Sivan adaptations in there, too.

With Joseph Oh, my friend and the owner of Coffee Nature, after completing my monthly two-hour brunch time performance for the locals and American University students on Saturday, January 11, 2020 to open up the new year of performances. Joseph is so kind and a great supporter of my music and other songwriters and artists. He gives back a lot to the community, too. Happy to be friends with him and always giving me the opportunity to perform at this wonderful venue.

Having another great semester studying classical piano and music composition with Dr. Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal at the Levine School of Music. Piano at Levine rocks and continues to open up new worlds to me!

Meeting and posing with Kozo Kusumoto, guitarist and synthesizerist of LITE after the show at DC9 Nightclub. It was great to speak with him in Japanese. He is so humble and kind to sign my album and take time with me after an exhausting, dynamic and great set.

One of LITE's official band photos.

With Nobuyuki Takeda (guitarist) of LITE after autographing the band's sixth vinyl release, Multiple for me after the band's killer show at DC9 Nightclub, Saturday, October 26, 2019. Nobu is a consummate gentleman and the band's undisputed leader and spokesman. I have the deepest respect for him as a lead guitar virtuoso as well as for mustering up a little English to communicate with the overall anglophone audience (takes a lot of courage to do, but so important interculturally) and for greeting the fans right after finishing his set. Nobu plays with an explosive energy on stage.

Posing with Jun Izawa (bassist) of LITE at DC9 Nightclub, Saturday, October 26, 2019.

The quiet and multi-talented guitarist and keyboardist of LITE, Kozo Kusumoto during the DC9 Nightclub performance.

LITE opening their set at the DC9 Nightclub.

The explosive energy of guitarist Nobuyuki Takeda of LITE during the performance.

LITE bathed in strobes and red light.

Kozo switching to synth during the performance.

A photo of Anzac today. She is thriving in the forest with her community of other rescued chimpanzees from the indefatigable work of scientists , caretakers and staff at the Sanctuary and the generosity from volunteers and guardians from around the world. So honored and happy to do my little part in trying to make the world a better place and speak out for the who cannot!

Thrilled to receive my certificate as an official Chimpanzee Guardian from The Jane Goodall Institute headquarters in Washington, DC. On June 8, 2020, I became a supporter and guardian of a smaller, lively and sociable female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) named Anzac at the Tchimpouga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre on Ngombe Island, Tchimpounga, Republic of the Congo. Anzac was captured by poachers before she was rescued and brought to the sanctuary. Upon arrival, she was so small, veterinarians and staff had to weigh her on a food scale. Anzac is missing a portion of her left arm, which staff believe was the result of poachers using a machete to pry her from her embrace of her mother who was killed. Further highlighting the plight of these highly endangered primates and our closest relatives from the illegal wildlife trade, deforestation, bushmeat trade, etc. Anzac now is thriving at the sanctuary and able to navigate the forest and socializing well with other rescued chimpanzees. She has received a second chance through the dedicated work of scientists, caretakers at the Centre and volunteers and guardians around the world.

The beautiful certificate signed by Dr. Jane to me.

The Chimpanzee Guardian Program. One of the many fine and important programs run by The Jane Goodall Institute throughout the world inspiring individual action by people of all ages to help animals, other people and to protect the world we all share.

Posing with the certificate given to me by the Japan Foundation on successfully passing the difficult N4 (Intermediate/Advanced Level) of the Japanese Language Proficiency Examination. Now on to and start studying for the masochistic advanced level examinations.