Oh this week. I think everyone I know is stressed out by this very coming week, even though we all have different stress reasons. Finals at UNM, moving, gas prices in SLC, trip planning, future planning, GAH. It's a frantic feeling, though it's how things seem to go. You're either sitting at home bored and sad with yourself because you have nothing to do (oh that's me), or you're freaking out with the amount of stuff to accomplish. I guess I prefer the freak out.
I have officially met my songwriting guru triumvirate as of Thursday night...the elusive 3rd member made her way into the state and things worked out (Kristyn on the left who is holding her very own copy of "failed cartographer" hehhehheh). That was pretty cool. I pretty much have no future goals or plans now.
JUST KIDDING. Some days I kind of wish I was one of those kids who peaked in high school. Mostly I'm glad I didn't. The day I run out of replacement goals is the day I should lock myself in the walk-in freezer at the Radisson Hotel and never come out.
I need a job. DANGIT.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Trippin'
Tomorrow, Miss B. and I set off for Alamogordo. Home of white sand, Caliche's, and close to the INN OF THE MOUNTAIN GODS (you can't say that name without booming it out) resort and casino. We will be trekking to the casino so that Beth can get her grandma plastered...I mean...so that Beth and her Grandma can spend quality time together (hehheh), and so I can see my favorite trio'd group o' Nashvillians...Shedaisy. WOOHOO! The last two times I have seen them live, I have had kind of cruddy seats. Or had to sit through teenagers two-stepping at the State Fair (not cool). This time, I think the venue is more intimate and my seats had better be an improvement from Tingley "Cow Palace" Coliseum. Not that I ask much.
Otherwise, Ben and I played a successful gig at the UNM Sustainability Fair today -- we sold 4 CDs and those are good times. It took us about a year to get rid of the 100 copies of our first album...which was pretty good. This time, the CD has been "available" for a month and we've already sold over half. Which means I gotta get more printed. And more of the old CD. Why do things cost money? :) But it's all good news.
Beth and I can't get enough of driving around, so we leave for Austin Scouting next week. I will see apartments...we'll see some concerts...we'll stay in Buda which is so NOT pronounced correctly in Texas...good times. Hello 12-hour drive.
Otherwise, Ben and I played a successful gig at the UNM Sustainability Fair today -- we sold 4 CDs and those are good times. It took us about a year to get rid of the 100 copies of our first album...which was pretty good. This time, the CD has been "available" for a month and we've already sold over half. Which means I gotta get more printed. And more of the old CD. Why do things cost money? :) But it's all good news.
Beth and I can't get enough of driving around, so we leave for Austin Scouting next week. I will see apartments...we'll see some concerts...we'll stay in Buda which is so NOT pronounced correctly in Texas...good times. Hello 12-hour drive.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Zia'd
Hm. Well, I have gone through several phases, each increasingly shorter...all leading to yesterday, affectionately called "The Day of the Ink."
The first phase was easy. Steph and I made a bit of a pact to get tattoos together when she returned from Africa. This was about 3 years ago, and it popped up in my mind occasionally during those years. Enough that I had kind of an idea of the design I wanted.
Then Steph came back and we talked about it a little, though I wasn't sure it was going to happen. I did attempt to solidify my design choice, however.
Then, all of the sudden...now was the time to do it. I realized that while I had chosen a Zia sun with 3 rays on each side, I had no clue where I wanted it. Enter another bout of agonized decision making...equally important as "what?" is "WHERE?" For real. Once I arrived at my inside ankle area as being suitable (both visible and concealable), I was ok again.
Then...we actually MADE APPOINTMENTS. Enter total freak out mode. What will my parents think? What will other people think? Will I regret it immediately? Will I regret it in 20 years? Will it HURT? Will I cry?
I did not sleep well the night before. Then, they called to reschedule our evening appointment to the next day...postponing it further and causing yet another night of restless slumber. The next morning I ate some cereal, Steph and Joaquin came to pick me up, and I had a queasy feeling in my stomach the whole way there, while signing the permission form, and while sitting in the chair (like a dentist chair except...cooler).
We met Alex, our tattoo artist, a very nice guy and who actually had my zia all drawn out for me ahead of time in the perfect size! Yes. I liked that. So he got his ink and his needle-y thing all ready and I braced myself for the worst. The motor starts whirring, and suddenly..a little poking on my skin. Hm. Not so bad at all. Hey, I can handle this.
At this point, I'm not sure whether it was the sudden adrenaline release or what, but I realized I was happy with my decision and happy I was in the company of two lifelong friends, who would always remain so even if we aren't going to be in the same state for much longer. Alex went over the design about 4 times, and the 3rd time hurt the most. I cringed, but no crying. Phew. Steph and I traded places and she got her awesome inking done...and off we trekked into the world, with a little bit more to us than when we went in. Aftercare seems pretty simple as mine is so tiny, it's a bit red and there is a little bruising around it...otherwise, no problem! People, including my parents, seem ok with it. It all turned out ok.
I got a zia because I plan to be leaving New Mexico very soon, but we're not parting on bad terms. I've lived here since I was 4 and it has given me many, many opportunities and people that I cherish. As for the rays, each set of 3 means something different, and it would take me a while to explain exactly what. I will say that I decided one set of "3" represents a three year time span. I've gotten a lot accomplished in the past 3 years...and I learned you can change a lot in a promising way. You can morph into someone a little different or someone completely opposite, if that's what you need to do. It's a little bit of hope and forward-thinking attached to a little bit of home, wherever I go. :)
The first phase was easy. Steph and I made a bit of a pact to get tattoos together when she returned from Africa. This was about 3 years ago, and it popped up in my mind occasionally during those years. Enough that I had kind of an idea of the design I wanted.
Then Steph came back and we talked about it a little, though I wasn't sure it was going to happen. I did attempt to solidify my design choice, however.
Then, all of the sudden...now was the time to do it. I realized that while I had chosen a Zia sun with 3 rays on each side, I had no clue where I wanted it. Enter another bout of agonized decision making...equally important as "what?" is "WHERE?" For real. Once I arrived at my inside ankle area as being suitable (both visible and concealable), I was ok again.
Then...we actually MADE APPOINTMENTS. Enter total freak out mode. What will my parents think? What will other people think? Will I regret it immediately? Will I regret it in 20 years? Will it HURT? Will I cry?
I did not sleep well the night before. Then, they called to reschedule our evening appointment to the next day...postponing it further and causing yet another night of restless slumber. The next morning I ate some cereal, Steph and Joaquin came to pick me up, and I had a queasy feeling in my stomach the whole way there, while signing the permission form, and while sitting in the chair (like a dentist chair except...cooler).
We met Alex, our tattoo artist, a very nice guy and who actually had my zia all drawn out for me ahead of time in the perfect size! Yes. I liked that. So he got his ink and his needle-y thing all ready and I braced myself for the worst. The motor starts whirring, and suddenly..a little poking on my skin. Hm. Not so bad at all. Hey, I can handle this.
At this point, I'm not sure whether it was the sudden adrenaline release or what, but I realized I was happy with my decision and happy I was in the company of two lifelong friends, who would always remain so even if we aren't going to be in the same state for much longer. Alex went over the design about 4 times, and the 3rd time hurt the most. I cringed, but no crying. Phew. Steph and I traded places and she got her awesome inking done...and off we trekked into the world, with a little bit more to us than when we went in. Aftercare seems pretty simple as mine is so tiny, it's a bit red and there is a little bruising around it...otherwise, no problem! People, including my parents, seem ok with it. It all turned out ok.
I got a zia because I plan to be leaving New Mexico very soon, but we're not parting on bad terms. I've lived here since I was 4 and it has given me many, many opportunities and people that I cherish. As for the rays, each set of 3 means something different, and it would take me a while to explain exactly what. I will say that I decided one set of "3" represents a three year time span. I've gotten a lot accomplished in the past 3 years...and I learned you can change a lot in a promising way. You can morph into someone a little different or someone completely opposite, if that's what you need to do. It's a little bit of hope and forward-thinking attached to a little bit of home, wherever I go. :)
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Oh it's Going
I will start by saying that if you buy Trader Joe's Thai chile lime peanuts, DO NOT EAT the actual chiles in it unless you have gallons of water handy. Eesh. Otherwise, that place is awesome. It is cheap, the food is all natural (i.e. lacking strange ingredients whose sole purpose is to make things last 50 years)...with a sense of humor. The sign for the yogurt section says, "Get a little culture in your life!" Hahaha.
Also, has anyone noticed that if you switch to the 5:00 local news at 5:00, they have already started? They begin at like 4:55 now! As if they can beat the other stations to reporting things. Well guess what, Channel 4. If I'm watching Oprah, I'm going to miss the first 5 minutes of your newscast anyway, so it's not like I'm impressed with your aheadness. Cuz I missed it.
I'm not one to bring up my own lyrics or anything, but I think the truest line I have ever written is, "patience comes to those who wait." How horribly, horribly ironic is that? All I do these days is wait...and it's not TOO exceptionally painful, but a little less antsy-ness on my part would be swell, I think. Otherwise the weather's great, and there's much to look forward to. Let's Spring Clean, shall we?
Also, has anyone noticed that if you switch to the 5:00 local news at 5:00, they have already started? They begin at like 4:55 now! As if they can beat the other stations to reporting things. Well guess what, Channel 4. If I'm watching Oprah, I'm going to miss the first 5 minutes of your newscast anyway, so it's not like I'm impressed with your aheadness. Cuz I missed it.
I'm not one to bring up my own lyrics or anything, but I think the truest line I have ever written is, "patience comes to those who wait." How horribly, horribly ironic is that? All I do these days is wait...and it's not TOO exceptionally painful, but a little less antsy-ness on my part would be swell, I think. Otherwise the weather's great, and there's much to look forward to. Let's Spring Clean, shall we?
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Running from La Migra
...and other road trip tales.
Our trip to Juarez was successful, and I don't even have food poisoning yet. Good times! Steph, Joaquin, and I set out in the uber-fancy "Oldsmobile Intrigue" and drove ourselves to Las Cruces last night, listening to Dane Cook all the way. Well, I missed half a disc with a little back seat nap, but I got the jist. We arrived at the house of Steph's aunt and promptly went to dinner, ate a LOT of Mexican food, strolled around "Old Town Las Cruces" which is so old it literally SHUTS DOWN at 10 PM on a Friday...and then slept.
This morning I awoke with my nagging headache (probably from my head bouncing around in the backseat mid-nap) completely gone, and we set off for Old El Paso. Oh that silly border town where they think they make good salsa. We parked downtown and went...well, South. Where else do you go when you wanna go to Mexico? Avoiding the $12.50 trolley that we estimated would drive us a whole 300 feet, we crossed the border and were plunged into a land...a whole lot like the ABQ flea market. If I am ever in the market for a cheap pair of Nikes..I'm going to Juarez. Puma t-shirt? Juarez. Chile powder covered mango? Juarez. We scoped the place out for a few hours, bought some gorditas (not the Taco Bell kind) on the plaza, went to a mercado, and I had the most delicious coconut ice cream bar on the planet. I am going back just for that succulent homage to God's invention of the tropical nut. Mmm creamy white goodness.
Anyway, we hit the road about 3:00 and started back for the Burque. El Paso to Las Cruces is about 40 miles, and then a good 10 miles out of the city we FINALLY hit La Migra...the border patrol. There are probably several factors that caused this next turn of events, the main ones being...
1. I was driving, and the driver's side window is busted and therefore will not roll down. So Joaquin had to roll his down in the backseat and talk to the guard while I sat there looking shifty.
2. Joaquin is...well, not white.
3. We are all 20-something. 20-somethings do drugs.
So the guard asked us where we were, we told him Juarez. "Why did you go to Juarez? Were you partying?" Um...no. We just went there this morning. "So you were only there for three hours? Why did you even go?" Um...for the food and the culture and TO GET OUT OF THE STATE. "Get out of the car."
Oh fine. So we got out, and while the drug sniffing dog gave the Oldsmobile (such a drug dealer car) the sniff-over, another...this time more combatative...guard gave us the once over (thrice over?) and again...we really just went to Juarez for the food. And to buy Steph's mom a blanket. They realized we were ok when the dog got really bored sniffing our stuff, and they sent us on our merry way. My favorite moment of the trip? Turning to Steph in the front seat as I drove out of the station, saying, "Woo! Experience!" and giving her a high five. At which point we realized...THAT looked shifty. So I accelerated the heck on out of there before they could throw spikes out on the road because we looked like we had just pulled a fast one on La Migra.
Farther on down the road, we stopped at a gas station/A&W /Long John Silver's (I kid you not) in Belen. All of us were intrigued by the lobster bites, and while waiting for our crustacean nuggets, the nice employee guy looks at us and goes, "Are you from here?" We said not really, that we were from Albuquerque. He looks again and says, "Oh. You guys look like drifters. Like you've travelled." At which point Steph goes into detail about how they were living in Africa, and are moving to New York City, and we just got back from Mexico, and oh this one over here is a songwriter moving to Austin, and we've just done a month-long road trip to Seattle. This kid got the biggest eyes, and he told us about his aunt that writes plays in New York, and you could tell he wanted out of that A&W uniform right that second to travel the world.
We got our lobster bites and left, and I hope that kid does travel one day. I hope he gets some buddies and drives somewhere and stops at crappy gas stations and laughs so hard he can't steer straight. We also left wondering what made us look like drifters...the sunburn from Mexico? Our pant legs dirty from Juarez dust?
Maybe it was just the Oldsmobile Intrigue.
Our trip to Juarez was successful, and I don't even have food poisoning yet. Good times! Steph, Joaquin, and I set out in the uber-fancy "Oldsmobile Intrigue" and drove ourselves to Las Cruces last night, listening to Dane Cook all the way. Well, I missed half a disc with a little back seat nap, but I got the jist. We arrived at the house of Steph's aunt and promptly went to dinner, ate a LOT of Mexican food, strolled around "Old Town Las Cruces" which is so old it literally SHUTS DOWN at 10 PM on a Friday...and then slept.
This morning I awoke with my nagging headache (probably from my head bouncing around in the backseat mid-nap) completely gone, and we set off for Old El Paso. Oh that silly border town where they think they make good salsa. We parked downtown and went...well, South. Where else do you go when you wanna go to Mexico? Avoiding the $12.50 trolley that we estimated would drive us a whole 300 feet, we crossed the border and were plunged into a land...a whole lot like the ABQ flea market. If I am ever in the market for a cheap pair of Nikes..I'm going to Juarez. Puma t-shirt? Juarez. Chile powder covered mango? Juarez. We scoped the place out for a few hours, bought some gorditas (not the Taco Bell kind) on the plaza, went to a mercado, and I had the most delicious coconut ice cream bar on the planet. I am going back just for that succulent homage to God's invention of the tropical nut. Mmm creamy white goodness.
Anyway, we hit the road about 3:00 and started back for the Burque. El Paso to Las Cruces is about 40 miles, and then a good 10 miles out of the city we FINALLY hit La Migra...the border patrol. There are probably several factors that caused this next turn of events, the main ones being...
1. I was driving, and the driver's side window is busted and therefore will not roll down. So Joaquin had to roll his down in the backseat and talk to the guard while I sat there looking shifty.
2. Joaquin is...well, not white.
3. We are all 20-something. 20-somethings do drugs.
So the guard asked us where we were, we told him Juarez. "Why did you go to Juarez? Were you partying?" Um...no. We just went there this morning. "So you were only there for three hours? Why did you even go?" Um...for the food and the culture and TO GET OUT OF THE STATE. "Get out of the car."
Oh fine. So we got out, and while the drug sniffing dog gave the Oldsmobile (such a drug dealer car) the sniff-over, another...this time more combatative...guard gave us the once over (thrice over?) and again...we really just went to Juarez for the food. And to buy Steph's mom a blanket. They realized we were ok when the dog got really bored sniffing our stuff, and they sent us on our merry way. My favorite moment of the trip? Turning to Steph in the front seat as I drove out of the station, saying, "Woo! Experience!" and giving her a high five. At which point we realized...THAT looked shifty. So I accelerated the heck on out of there before they could throw spikes out on the road because we looked like we had just pulled a fast one on La Migra.
Farther on down the road, we stopped at a gas station/A&W /Long John Silver's (I kid you not) in Belen. All of us were intrigued by the lobster bites, and while waiting for our crustacean nuggets, the nice employee guy looks at us and goes, "Are you from here?" We said not really, that we were from Albuquerque. He looks again and says, "Oh. You guys look like drifters. Like you've travelled." At which point Steph goes into detail about how they were living in Africa, and are moving to New York City, and we just got back from Mexico, and oh this one over here is a songwriter moving to Austin, and we've just done a month-long road trip to Seattle. This kid got the biggest eyes, and he told us about his aunt that writes plays in New York, and you could tell he wanted out of that A&W uniform right that second to travel the world.
We got our lobster bites and left, and I hope that kid does travel one day. I hope he gets some buddies and drives somewhere and stops at crappy gas stations and laughs so hard he can't steer straight. We also left wondering what made us look like drifters...the sunburn from Mexico? Our pant legs dirty from Juarez dust?
Maybe it was just the Oldsmobile Intrigue.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Progress.
So I can either be an Informational Writer, an Admissions Counselor, or a Performing Arts Management Fellow in Austin. This is IF they like my resume. And call me. And stuff. So really, those are basically the three jobs I was qualified for on UT campus to apply for. There was one other one which sounded kind of cool -- career advisement, but they require a spelling test and I kind of have to be in Austin to take it. When really, I've won spelling bees. Can't I just send them my ribbons?
I need to find other things to apply for. Also, I need to pay bills, but I don't want to work 40 hours a week. This is a problem. Also I need to write "letters of interest" for said jobs.
Also, I saw Bob Dylan last night. Tingley Coliseum should be banned from having concerts in it, because people are cattle and hey, Guy With Beer in row 36...Bob can't see you salute his badassedness with your raised beer cup from 200 feet away. So stop it.
But anyway...Bob Dylan won me over regardless of stupid crowds and bad seating. He actually played "The Times They Are A'Changin," "All Along the Watchtower," "Like A Rolling Stone," and "Lay Lady Lay" -- which I was not expecting because I heard he was doing more obscure stuff on his tours lately, and really...if you have 40 years of material to choose from, you have a LOT of material. So I like Bob. And in some ways it almost seemed like cheating...to see this troubador of the 60's folk movement in a large arena with seats courtesy of Ticketmaster. But then again, Dylan was never "just" folk, and he never really was about "peace and love." That's just when he happened to catch on to American consciousness, and he's had a very winding and varied career since then. So it's all good, and I went home happy.
I need to find other things to apply for. Also, I need to pay bills, but I don't want to work 40 hours a week. This is a problem. Also I need to write "letters of interest" for said jobs.
Also, I saw Bob Dylan last night. Tingley Coliseum should be banned from having concerts in it, because people are cattle and hey, Guy With Beer in row 36...Bob can't see you salute his badassedness with your raised beer cup from 200 feet away. So stop it.
But anyway...Bob Dylan won me over regardless of stupid crowds and bad seating. He actually played "The Times They Are A'Changin," "All Along the Watchtower," "Like A Rolling Stone," and "Lay Lady Lay" -- which I was not expecting because I heard he was doing more obscure stuff on his tours lately, and really...if you have 40 years of material to choose from, you have a LOT of material. So I like Bob. And in some ways it almost seemed like cheating...to see this troubador of the 60's folk movement in a large arena with seats courtesy of Ticketmaster. But then again, Dylan was never "just" folk, and he never really was about "peace and love." That's just when he happened to catch on to American consciousness, and he's had a very winding and varied career since then. So it's all good, and I went home happy.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Me at 16
I am deleting files off a bunch of floppy discs that have been sitting in my room for a looong long time...who uses floppy discs any more anyway? So I find a file called, "Goals" from May, 1999. I was 16 years old at the time...and clearly a kid with crazy ideas in her head (much like now). Here are my 1999 goals, and my subsequent commentary on whether I accomplished them or even care to any more:
1. To live in Ireland. Hrm. I guess I was fascinated with Europe at the time, and greenery, and Irish accents. I would definitely like to VISIT before I decide to live there. Also, I've lost that "live abroad" itch for the time being, for whatever reason.
2. To make money playing music. Well...I've done it. I probably meant as a steady income, though at 16, I would probably have been impressed with ANYTHING...like tips!
3. To publish a book of poems. Yeah not so much. I do like poetry. I kind of quit writing it, though. I feel like...to be a poet, you have to BE A POET. You can't just scratch around and write random poems and call yourself a poet. At least I can't anyway. That's something I'd need to dedicate more time to.
4. To make a CD of my own. Check and check. Two CDs down, more to go?
5. Not be so dependent on friends. What's up with that? Still have that problem, I guess. I suck. But who CAN you depend on?
6. To have a studio in my house. Haha one day. The dream lives on.
7. To survive Finals 1999. Apparently I did...cuz I'm here. That would have been geometry and the hardest sophomore English class at Manzano. Eesh.
8. To meet Shawn Colvin. Well, I saw Shawn leaving the Lensic Theater when Jamie and I went to see her and we told her that the show was "kickass." And Shawn said thanks...but is that really "meeting"?
9. To meet Mary Chapin Carpenter. CHECK. I always was all about meeting my musical heroes. MCC is probably the most elusive one, too...because she's the most "famous" of my favorites (she's not going to play at a house concert, that's for sure) and she does not frequent New Mexico. So I had to fly to Atlanta, where I lucked out with a backstage pass. Heckyeeeahs.
There we go. I've done all right. I'm pretty sure I had other goals going on at the time but who knows what they were. Maybe I'll make another list and pull it out in 7 years. You never know what will happen.
1. To live in Ireland. Hrm. I guess I was fascinated with Europe at the time, and greenery, and Irish accents. I would definitely like to VISIT before I decide to live there. Also, I've lost that "live abroad" itch for the time being, for whatever reason.
2. To make money playing music. Well...I've done it. I probably meant as a steady income, though at 16, I would probably have been impressed with ANYTHING...like tips!
3. To publish a book of poems. Yeah not so much. I do like poetry. I kind of quit writing it, though. I feel like...to be a poet, you have to BE A POET. You can't just scratch around and write random poems and call yourself a poet. At least I can't anyway. That's something I'd need to dedicate more time to.
4. To make a CD of my own. Check and check. Two CDs down, more to go?
5. Not be so dependent on friends. What's up with that? Still have that problem, I guess. I suck. But who CAN you depend on?
6. To have a studio in my house. Haha one day. The dream lives on.
7. To survive Finals 1999. Apparently I did...cuz I'm here. That would have been geometry and the hardest sophomore English class at Manzano. Eesh.
8. To meet Shawn Colvin. Well, I saw Shawn leaving the Lensic Theater when Jamie and I went to see her and we told her that the show was "kickass." And Shawn said thanks...but is that really "meeting"?
9. To meet Mary Chapin Carpenter. CHECK. I always was all about meeting my musical heroes. MCC is probably the most elusive one, too...because she's the most "famous" of my favorites (she's not going to play at a house concert, that's for sure) and she does not frequent New Mexico. So I had to fly to Atlanta, where I lucked out with a backstage pass. Heckyeeeahs.
There we go. I've done all right. I'm pretty sure I had other goals going on at the time but who knows what they were. Maybe I'll make another list and pull it out in 7 years. You never know what will happen.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Blah Blah Blah.
I'm humidifying the crap out of my room, because my guitars need it. I am such a tool. I had issues with the neck on my Martin in December, and it finally got all happy again, and then I left the state for like a month and it got really dry again and the neck started dipping and the top started caving and why is every term that guitarists use somehow strange in normal conversation? So anyway, my skin will probably ROCK on the moisture front because of my musical instruments. Meh.
I just engaged in a little Retail Therapy and got a Johnny Cash anthology 2-disc set. That man was so cool. I'm glad I wasn't born Johnny Cash because I'd be dead, and a man, and a former drug addict...but he was cool. This, however, brings up the OTHER main annoyance of my life which is...I have no income. And everything social in this town involves forking money over like it was Lucky Charms on the Irish Cereal Parade Route. Or something. I used to justify it with, "I get paid in a week." No more!
The more I talk to people about finally biting the credit card bullet or having student loans or paying cable TV bills...the more I want to drop off the grid. The idea of drowning in monthly bills ain't my idea of "adulthood." I know this is not possible in the 21st century in the good old US, and it's not like I want to live in in a hut in The Amazon or anything...but life is just too complicated to be healthy anymore. That oh so healthy "credit" which basically equates "Massive Debt" these days cannot be good for the soul. Or the heart. Or the liver. What gives? Maybe I'll invest in an IRA CD and be responsible. Or maybe I'll just go buy some Starbucks.
I just engaged in a little Retail Therapy and got a Johnny Cash anthology 2-disc set. That man was so cool. I'm glad I wasn't born Johnny Cash because I'd be dead, and a man, and a former drug addict...but he was cool. This, however, brings up the OTHER main annoyance of my life which is...I have no income. And everything social in this town involves forking money over like it was Lucky Charms on the Irish Cereal Parade Route. Or something. I used to justify it with, "I get paid in a week." No more!
The more I talk to people about finally biting the credit card bullet or having student loans or paying cable TV bills...the more I want to drop off the grid. The idea of drowning in monthly bills ain't my idea of "adulthood." I know this is not possible in the 21st century in the good old US, and it's not like I want to live in in a hut in The Amazon or anything...but life is just too complicated to be healthy anymore. That oh so healthy "credit" which basically equates "Massive Debt" these days cannot be good for the soul. Or the heart. Or the liver. What gives? Maybe I'll invest in an IRA CD and be responsible. Or maybe I'll just go buy some Starbucks.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Oy.
"Sometimes you know where you should go before you know the way."
Harrumph. I have decided there is no point to a resume, because you are...to use the over-used cliche...damned if you do and damned if you don't.
- If you don't use the standard format that millions of books and websites give you, you have done it incorrectly and no one will read it.
- If you DO use the standard format just like EVERYONE ELSE...it's boring, unimaginative, and no one will read it.
No one's gonna read it. People keep asking me what kind of job I want to do when I get to Austin. I don't know. I'd have it by now if I knew. I figure it will hit me in the face one day and I'll know. What has my work experience consisted of so far? Leading study strategies workshops, teaching labs, producing TV shows, teaching guitar lessons, office organization, selling pizza. Tell me the trend and maybe I can tell you what "kind" of job I want. The point is, I'm open. Ideally, it will be creative, allow me to write, allow me to work on multiple things at a time, and let me play music in my other life. This leaves many jobs open. I like that. I'm NOT floundering, as many well-meaning adults think when they give me that "poor Jana is just out of college and does not know what to do with herself" look. I DO know what I want. I just don't know how to do it yet.
Harrumph. I have decided there is no point to a resume, because you are...to use the over-used cliche...damned if you do and damned if you don't.
- If you don't use the standard format that millions of books and websites give you, you have done it incorrectly and no one will read it.
- If you DO use the standard format just like EVERYONE ELSE...it's boring, unimaginative, and no one will read it.
No one's gonna read it. People keep asking me what kind of job I want to do when I get to Austin. I don't know. I'd have it by now if I knew. I figure it will hit me in the face one day and I'll know. What has my work experience consisted of so far? Leading study strategies workshops, teaching labs, producing TV shows, teaching guitar lessons, office organization, selling pizza. Tell me the trend and maybe I can tell you what "kind" of job I want. The point is, I'm open. Ideally, it will be creative, allow me to write, allow me to work on multiple things at a time, and let me play music in my other life. This leaves many jobs open. I like that. I'm NOT floundering, as many well-meaning adults think when they give me that "poor Jana is just out of college and does not know what to do with herself" look. I DO know what I want. I just don't know how to do it yet.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Mmmm.
So that whole CD release shebang went REALLY well. And I had some freak out moments, even when we were hauling everything in with 50 minutes to get a PA system, merch table, and food table set up. But you know what? It was awesome. And do you know why?
I looked around the room when we were playing (I do that to keep myself busy, haha) and there were SO MANY people there who helped us out...from Eric who loaned us the recording equipment to make the CD and the PA system to use that night...to my cousin who sold CDs like a pro...to Writer who helped us set up and made the munchie of the century for people to take home...to Josh who found us the job that paid for the CD and helped plan the whole event...and on and on and on. And to all the people who heard our desperate pleas to show up because we didn't want to feel lame!!
The moral of the story is, the night was based around some music on a disc, but it wasn't about me and Ben or what guitars we played or how many brownies we had. It really showed me that nothin' in life is done...just by yourself. Even if you sit down a write a poem or a song from YOU, someone gave you those life experiences you wrote about. Someone has to be there to listen. So the night was all about how lucky and blessed I am to have this huge community around me, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.
End mushiness.
I looked around the room when we were playing (I do that to keep myself busy, haha) and there were SO MANY people there who helped us out...from Eric who loaned us the recording equipment to make the CD and the PA system to use that night...to my cousin who sold CDs like a pro...to Writer who helped us set up and made the munchie of the century for people to take home...to Josh who found us the job that paid for the CD and helped plan the whole event...and on and on and on. And to all the people who heard our desperate pleas to show up because we didn't want to feel lame!!
The moral of the story is, the night was based around some music on a disc, but it wasn't about me and Ben or what guitars we played or how many brownies we had. It really showed me that nothin' in life is done...just by yourself. Even if you sit down a write a poem or a song from YOU, someone gave you those life experiences you wrote about. Someone has to be there to listen. So the night was all about how lucky and blessed I am to have this huge community around me, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.
End mushiness.
Friday, March 24, 2006
AAAAAHHHH!!
So the big CD party is 26 hours away and I am low on gas (literally) but quite excited and not having any sort of fear or trepidation. More morbid curiosity. Who will show up? Will we have enough brownies?
THAT'S why I'm low on gas. I get things I need one at a time, instead of having one well-planned store trip. Oh well.
I was thinking you know you're in a good place when you come to the equivalent of a "test" and you're pretty cool about it. In school, I always studied and did pretty well on tests, but I ALWAYS had nerves beforehand. Nerves drive me nuts. They mess with my system. So, taking essay tests is probably not my calling. Having a big gig where anyone could show up? A test. And there will be butterflies, but that's supposed to happen. It's all good. Feeling ok.
I'll probably post later tonight from a fetal position weeping uncontrollably. ;)
THAT'S why I'm low on gas. I get things I need one at a time, instead of having one well-planned store trip. Oh well.
I was thinking you know you're in a good place when you come to the equivalent of a "test" and you're pretty cool about it. In school, I always studied and did pretty well on tests, but I ALWAYS had nerves beforehand. Nerves drive me nuts. They mess with my system. So, taking essay tests is probably not my calling. Having a big gig where anyone could show up? A test. And there will be butterflies, but that's supposed to happen. It's all good. Feeling ok.
I'll probably post later tonight from a fetal position weeping uncontrollably. ;)
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Saturday Thots
I just found out what the new Starbucks drinks are...Spring brings about a Blackberry Green Tea Frappucino (blackberry being the *it* flavor), and Summer will bring a BANANA frappucino. Banana/Coconut or something, to be specific. This makes me happy. Must store up the bank account reserves, hehheh. They're also going to make the Green Tea latte a standard thing, which is awesome. I had one at a Seattle's Best in...Seattle, and it was quite good.
So I got a new CD by one of my favorite bands this week, and it's roller-coastered me. At first I was thinking nothing on it really matched the quality of previous albums...then I kept waking up in the AM with a new track stuck in my head, so it apparently passes the good melody test. Then I realized more lyrics are resonating with me the more I listen...I guess reading them in the liner notes alone does not do them justice. The music definitely adds to how things resonate. And I should know this by now, but I'm lame. So now I'm thinking it's all ok and love my band again. Good times. I hope I always care this much about my favorite artists, even if I have 5 kids and live on a farm. It makes life entertaining.
I'm having songwriter block. I am writing plenty down, but nothing is translating melodically or anything. I guess patience and persistence are the keys. Oh joy. BLAH.
So I got a new CD by one of my favorite bands this week, and it's roller-coastered me. At first I was thinking nothing on it really matched the quality of previous albums...then I kept waking up in the AM with a new track stuck in my head, so it apparently passes the good melody test. Then I realized more lyrics are resonating with me the more I listen...I guess reading them in the liner notes alone does not do them justice. The music definitely adds to how things resonate. And I should know this by now, but I'm lame. So now I'm thinking it's all ok and love my band again. Good times. I hope I always care this much about my favorite artists, even if I have 5 kids and live on a farm. It makes life entertaining.
I'm having songwriter block. I am writing plenty down, but nothing is translating melodically or anything. I guess patience and persistence are the keys. Oh joy. BLAH.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Legends
After seeing Walk the Line this week and hearing Rosanne Cash's stellar new CD "Black Cadillac" -- which makes even more sense after watching the lives of her father, mother, and step-mother play out on screen -- I have been quite sad that I will never see Johnny or June Carter Cash on stage. Sometimes I think that "legends" have been built up in society's minds for so long that everything thinks they are good because everyone else thought they were good. I guess that is the definition of a legend. And I usually try not to buy into that...I find it almost akin to listening to Britney Spears because she's No. 1 on the charts (that means she's GOOD, right?). In reality, Britney is the most watered down, safe, useless artist on a heap of 100's who should be paid better attention to. I think the "legend" status might have some of that unfortunate popularity contest thought to it. The Cash/Carter family though...I don't see as being watered down at all. In fact, I see them as the All-American family...steeped in tradition (June's parents basically invented American folk music), full of issues (alcoholism and drug use and hating your father, anyone?), full of redemption (the God-kind and the people-kind), centered on music (or is that just me?), at one with the highway (that's very American), screwed up kids all over (at least one of June's kids has a heroin problem), with a great love story or 3 thrown in. Someone put Johnny on the quarter.
This legend-seeing-regret has also caused me to spend more money than I should on a ticket to see Bob Dylan.
Bob Freakin' Dylan. I am excited. Here's to many more legends to come.
This legend-seeing-regret has also caused me to spend more money than I should on a ticket to see Bob Dylan.
Bob Freakin' Dylan. I am excited. Here's to many more legends to come.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Jana's Fake Italiano Chicken
I knew I was cooking dinner tonight, and I knew it involved chicken...but I wasn't sure of anything beyond that. I discovered that we had a box o' cherry tomatoes and some parmesean cheese. That screams Italian to me! Here's what I did (for a serving of 1, to make life easy):
1 chicken breast
3 cherry tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
oregano and basil (to taste)
parmesean cheese (to taste)
Preheat the oven to 375. Right. So just slit the chicken breast to make a little pocket. That sounds gory.
In a bowl, mix the cherry tomato halves, 1 tbs of olive oil, and however much of the oregano, basil, and cheese you'd like. Stuff the chicken!
Put it in a greased pan, drizzle the remaining olive oil on the chicken, and add some cheese or oregano/basil on top for cuteness purposes.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes. I served it with some olive oil-y pasta and a touch more oregano on that...quite good. Try it.
1 chicken breast
3 cherry tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
oregano and basil (to taste)
parmesean cheese (to taste)
Preheat the oven to 375. Right. So just slit the chicken breast to make a little pocket. That sounds gory.
In a bowl, mix the cherry tomato halves, 1 tbs of olive oil, and however much of the oregano, basil, and cheese you'd like. Stuff the chicken!
Put it in a greased pan, drizzle the remaining olive oil on the chicken, and add some cheese or oregano/basil on top for cuteness purposes.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes. I served it with some olive oil-y pasta and a touch more oregano on that...quite good. Try it.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
The Road Trip Song :)
My life is just an ocean
Crammed into a wishing well
I am no deeper than a map dot
But I am curious as hell
So I will take a penny for your thoughts
And give you back your change
Cause there is nothing to be said;
This town will never feel my pain
I know...I know
Gas station roadmap
Got the whole world right there laid out flat
I won't get lost nowhere
The folks back home all said their prayers
The only thing I own
Is where these four wheels kiss the road
So wherever I am
I am home
I wandered like Columbus
Lost and fearful of my world
There's a lot to conquer
For a 5 foot five inch girl
And I thought I'd found my bearings
Out in North New Mexico
But you can't get through Santa Fe
If you ain't got the soul
I know...I know
Gas station roadmap
Got the whole world right there laid out flat
I won't get lost nowhere
The folks back home all said their prayers
The only thing I own
Is where these four wheels kiss the road
So wherever I am
I am home
There are roads I have not traveled
That are probably just as good
Where the hills are just as pretty
If they don't say Hollywood
I will try and beat the traffic
In the early morning haze
I just cross my fingers and my heart
And hope they point the way
Gas station roadmap
Got the whole world right there laid out flat
I won't get lost nowhere
The folks back home all said their prayers
The only thing I own
Is where these four wheels kiss the road
So wherever I am
I am home
(c) 2006
Crammed into a wishing well
I am no deeper than a map dot
But I am curious as hell
So I will take a penny for your thoughts
And give you back your change
Cause there is nothing to be said;
This town will never feel my pain
I know...I know
Gas station roadmap
Got the whole world right there laid out flat
I won't get lost nowhere
The folks back home all said their prayers
The only thing I own
Is where these four wheels kiss the road
So wherever I am
I am home
I wandered like Columbus
Lost and fearful of my world
There's a lot to conquer
For a 5 foot five inch girl
And I thought I'd found my bearings
Out in North New Mexico
But you can't get through Santa Fe
If you ain't got the soul
I know...I know
Gas station roadmap
Got the whole world right there laid out flat
I won't get lost nowhere
The folks back home all said their prayers
The only thing I own
Is where these four wheels kiss the road
So wherever I am
I am home
There are roads I have not traveled
That are probably just as good
Where the hills are just as pretty
If they don't say Hollywood
I will try and beat the traffic
In the early morning haze
I just cross my fingers and my heart
And hope they point the way
Gas station roadmap
Got the whole world right there laid out flat
I won't get lost nowhere
The folks back home all said their prayers
The only thing I own
Is where these four wheels kiss the road
So wherever I am
I am home
(c) 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Mmmm Heat
Hello people. Or people. Or maybe just me, whoever reads this blog. I have returned from wandering and will maybe post about that later. Right now I just want to post SOMETHING.
So I will wax poetic about my top culinary love, HOT STUFF. I mean...chile. The best way to indulge this is to attend the International Fiery Foods Show here in Albuquerque, with hundreds of vendors all selling and sampling the best of the best. I found out through my heat loving buddy Beth that I would be in town in time to attend the last day. After two scoops of ice cream, tearing up, wheezing continously, and losing my taste buds for a while...it was so worth it. We probably tasted 30 kinds of salsa, plus a wide array of BBQ sauces, marinades, and some other interesting things like Jalapeno hot chocolate and red chile pecans. Glorious, all.
Least favorites: Spicy ketchup. Like...why? Also, there is a brand of salsa for kids, who don't like hot foods. So their label that says "hot" is really a mild salsa at best...what's the point? Just buy mild salsa. They marketed it saying you could actually taste the flavors of the salsa. Too bad the flavors were not stellar to begin with and the point of salsa is TANG. Harrumph.
BEST: http://www.greenbandit.com - The Green Bandit Guys. They are great. I remember their Cilantro Habanero Sauce from 2 years ago and have regretted not buying it, so when we say them we got really excited. I think they were flattered or something, because we walked away with a great deal on all of their flavors plus free t-shirts.
Why is it so good? It's basically a vinegar sauce with habanero (not too much), and a BUNCH of cilantro. Like...it looks like soupy mulched cilantro in a bottle. But their herbs are all fresh, not dried, and they bottle it so that the freshness stays put. Whatever they do, it works. I put some on my stir-fry last night and it was glorious. They have a non-hot version too, for the straight up cilantro lovers.
So I will wax poetic about my top culinary love, HOT STUFF. I mean...chile. The best way to indulge this is to attend the International Fiery Foods Show here in Albuquerque, with hundreds of vendors all selling and sampling the best of the best. I found out through my heat loving buddy Beth that I would be in town in time to attend the last day. After two scoops of ice cream, tearing up, wheezing continously, and losing my taste buds for a while...it was so worth it. We probably tasted 30 kinds of salsa, plus a wide array of BBQ sauces, marinades, and some other interesting things like Jalapeno hot chocolate and red chile pecans. Glorious, all.
Least favorites: Spicy ketchup. Like...why? Also, there is a brand of salsa for kids, who don't like hot foods. So their label that says "hot" is really a mild salsa at best...what's the point? Just buy mild salsa. They marketed it saying you could actually taste the flavors of the salsa. Too bad the flavors were not stellar to begin with and the point of salsa is TANG. Harrumph.
BEST: http://www.greenbandit.com - The Green Bandit Guys. They are great. I remember their Cilantro Habanero Sauce from 2 years ago and have regretted not buying it, so when we say them we got really excited. I think they were flattered or something, because we walked away with a great deal on all of their flavors plus free t-shirts.
Why is it so good? It's basically a vinegar sauce with habanero (not too much), and a BUNCH of cilantro. Like...it looks like soupy mulched cilantro in a bottle. But their herbs are all fresh, not dried, and they bottle it so that the freshness stays put. Whatever they do, it works. I put some on my stir-fry last night and it was glorious. They have a non-hot version too, for the straight up cilantro lovers.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Huh
I gotta say, this road trip thing is pretty spiffy. Lots has been done, and there is some left to do. I feel rather detached from many a thing. I feel rather open to do whatever I want. I feel like I miss my people back in Burque, but I know I'll see 'em soon...so I can hang around here for a bit and be ok.
I want popcorn. NOW. :)
I want popcorn. NOW. :)
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Phoenix
Day One:
A lovely drive. I know it's only the first leg, but so far I like this road trip. We saw a giant cereal truck with Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, and the Rice Crispies dudes on it parked in Holbrook. Phoenix was not hard to drive through, surprisingly, and we saw a good sunset. Palm trees and cacti. Dirt. Flagstaff was pretty.
Tomorrow: San Diego!
A lovely drive. I know it's only the first leg, but so far I like this road trip. We saw a giant cereal truck with Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, and the Rice Crispies dudes on it parked in Holbrook. Phoenix was not hard to drive through, surprisingly, and we saw a good sunset. Palm trees and cacti. Dirt. Flagstaff was pretty.
Tomorrow: San Diego!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Harrumph
Packing is now an official pain. I am out of boxes, which is sad because I thought I had plenty. This means I have too much crap to put in those many boxes...and from what I can tell, the collection frenzy only gets worse as you get older/settled/richer, etc.
I was discussing the proposition with my roommate the other night that someone brave enough should take the Two Month Challange. Neither of us is that brave soul, but it would be an interesting experiment. The rules:
1. In one two month period, document everything you own that you actually USE -- a lot, a little, no matter.
2. At the end of the two months, if you haven't used it...chuck it.
3. There are obvious exceptions and caveats: photo albums and stuff like that should be exempt. Photos and pictures on the wall...do you "use" them because they are hanging there? I say yes. Then again, this is not a reason to keep that snow globe from the Florida vacation in 1986. Be discerning.
I suppose people could adapt this to any time period they want...one month for the really ascetic, maybe a year for those who really want to be sure. Perhaps the next move I make will involve a more rabid going-through of my belongings. Until then...boxes.
I was discussing the proposition with my roommate the other night that someone brave enough should take the Two Month Challange. Neither of us is that brave soul, but it would be an interesting experiment. The rules:
1. In one two month period, document everything you own that you actually USE -- a lot, a little, no matter.
2. At the end of the two months, if you haven't used it...chuck it.
3. There are obvious exceptions and caveats: photo albums and stuff like that should be exempt. Photos and pictures on the wall...do you "use" them because they are hanging there? I say yes. Then again, this is not a reason to keep that snow globe from the Florida vacation in 1986. Be discerning.
I suppose people could adapt this to any time period they want...one month for the really ascetic, maybe a year for those who really want to be sure. Perhaps the next move I make will involve a more rabid going-through of my belongings. Until then...boxes.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Last.fm
I have joined the revolution...all the bloggers are doing it. While I don't consider myself a *real* blogger (yet), I decided to be ahead of the curve on this one.
Hence, you can now see whatever I play in iTunes...though I think they only show the full tracks played, which is an issue because I skip around a lot. Oh well.
There is also a "label page" where you can preview (and soon...download) stuff from my own CD. Yesssssss.
http://www.last.fm/user/janapo/
Hence, you can now see whatever I play in iTunes...though I think they only show the full tracks played, which is an issue because I skip around a lot. Oh well.
There is also a "label page" where you can preview (and soon...download) stuff from my own CD. Yesssssss.
http://www.last.fm/user/janapo/
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