Lastly, the most surprising development in my professional life lately is that I was nominated for a Boston Music Award for Music Journalist of the Year.

I'd like to play it cool, but I'm beyond honored to be nominated, and am up against some talented individuals working for such diverse news sources as WBUR, The Boston Herald, DigBoston and Vanyaland. I'll admit, my competitive side is in high-gear right now. I guess it's just that there are precious few opportunities for recognition in the niche of music journalism. Last year, I won a New England Newspaper & Press Association award for Best Arts & Entertainment Reporting, and it was far more validating than I'm comfortable admitting. I've been in this business long enough to know not to put too much importance on awards, but sometimes, especially at a daily newspaper, you can feel a little out off in the fringes, you feel a bit like a luxury, like you're disposable. This is nothing anything anyone has ever expressed or implied — I work with amazing people — but it's nice to have signs that what I do is appreciated, and has value. Really, it means more than I know how to express.

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