Things I've heard lately that I'm not sure what to think about:
"I saw your website. It's cute." Someone said that to me. I was confused. I hate that word.
Newspaper Ad: "American Idol Tour comes to Austin...sponsored by Pop Tarts!"
And lastly:
Make your own sanitary pads! For the frugal liver. I guess I'm not that frugal.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
Oh my gaaaaawd.
So tired. So so so tired. Right now I am trying to resolve the issue of having two separate mailing lists for gigs in Albuquerque and Austin, because it's complicated to to have two but people in ABQ don't wanna hear when I'm playing in TX and vice versa...but the good news is I am doing this because I got a gig at a local Farmer's Market this weekend and I need to promote! Woohoo! I have always wanted to play one of those things, so I asked. And it worked. Always ask.
I had a hell of a weekend. It started lamely enough...I had plans of laundry and cleaning. I enaged in some thrift store wandering whereupon I scored some awesome wall decoration...
and had to explain to the lady behind me in line that no, Civil War songs sung by large choral groups was not my musical taste. Then I gave her a business card and told her to come to a gig. She was pleasant. Her name was Carmen.
Then I went to see Susan play and somehow out of that I ended up in Wimberley, TX on Saturday night at her house whereupon I partook of the ale and wore a mullet wig while laughing at fart jokes. Those are just good times all around. I slept out on the covered back porch which totally just made me want to own a house with a back porch because it was pretty sweet. Although you'd have to live in the country, because if you had a back porch in the city you would be listening to the sweet sound of vagabonds tramping through your yard instead of crickets, I am pretty sure. So Lisa, mayhaps you can just fly to my farm in Texas and sleep on my porch and then once every five years or so you can go to my farm in Virginia, haha. (I love how I invent fake money with which to buy fake houses).
So I went to sleep on Sunday morning at 5 AM and awoke at the butt crack of 7 AM to drive back into Austin and be at the Austin Hot Sauce Festival at 9 AM. That's a lot of AMs all in a row, people. Too many for me to handle.
me. awake. sunglasses to dull the brightness of the AMs. gah.
However, since this volunteer position had turned into a paid one and I am a poor little FFAer (Future Farmer of America, you know it), I got my arse up there. Whereupon I was informed I would be working in the beer tent. Whereupon I then stood around looking at the grass for 3 hours because you can't sell beer on Sunday in Texas until noon. At least I was getting paid. So for five straight hours I explained, "We have Ziegenbock on draft and Bud, Bud Light, and Bud Select in cans and they all cost four dollars. Yes, four dollars for a can of Bud. You're the one that came to the Hot Sauce Festival, buddy." No no, everyone was very nice and happy that I was selling them beer because it was 100 degrees out and mouths were probably burning at a whole 106 degrees.
I say 106 because come on. I have been to the International Fiery Foods Show in Albuquerque and no little park event with tables set up in the grass is gonna top a convention center full of stuff from around the world. I mean, it's cute that they try, and it's cute that they call it "hot sauce" even though salsa is not sauce and neither is jam and neither is guacamole. And I'm sure the habanero stuff was dang hot and it's great to have a taste of home around here...but Texans still don't understand that water and beer are just swilling the capsaicin around in your mouth. I suggested to one person that she should try dairy or honey to kill the burn instead of water and she was like..."hot sauce and ice cream? Ew."
Some people don't know what they're missing.
I had a hell of a weekend. It started lamely enough...I had plans of laundry and cleaning. I enaged in some thrift store wandering whereupon I scored some awesome wall decoration...
and had to explain to the lady behind me in line that no, Civil War songs sung by large choral groups was not my musical taste. Then I gave her a business card and told her to come to a gig. She was pleasant. Her name was Carmen.
Then I went to see Susan play and somehow out of that I ended up in Wimberley, TX on Saturday night at her house whereupon I partook of the ale and wore a mullet wig while laughing at fart jokes. Those are just good times all around. I slept out on the covered back porch which totally just made me want to own a house with a back porch because it was pretty sweet. Although you'd have to live in the country, because if you had a back porch in the city you would be listening to the sweet sound of vagabonds tramping through your yard instead of crickets, I am pretty sure. So Lisa, mayhaps you can just fly to my farm in Texas and sleep on my porch and then once every five years or so you can go to my farm in Virginia, haha. (I love how I invent fake money with which to buy fake houses).
So I went to sleep on Sunday morning at 5 AM and awoke at the butt crack of 7 AM to drive back into Austin and be at the Austin Hot Sauce Festival at 9 AM. That's a lot of AMs all in a row, people. Too many for me to handle.
me. awake. sunglasses to dull the brightness of the AMs. gah.
However, since this volunteer position had turned into a paid one and I am a poor little FFAer (Future Farmer of America, you know it), I got my arse up there. Whereupon I was informed I would be working in the beer tent. Whereupon I then stood around looking at the grass for 3 hours because you can't sell beer on Sunday in Texas until noon. At least I was getting paid. So for five straight hours I explained, "We have Ziegenbock on draft and Bud, Bud Light, and Bud Select in cans and they all cost four dollars. Yes, four dollars for a can of Bud. You're the one that came to the Hot Sauce Festival, buddy." No no, everyone was very nice and happy that I was selling them beer because it was 100 degrees out and mouths were probably burning at a whole 106 degrees.
I say 106 because come on. I have been to the International Fiery Foods Show in Albuquerque and no little park event with tables set up in the grass is gonna top a convention center full of stuff from around the world. I mean, it's cute that they try, and it's cute that they call it "hot sauce" even though salsa is not sauce and neither is jam and neither is guacamole. And I'm sure the habanero stuff was dang hot and it's great to have a taste of home around here...but Texans still don't understand that water and beer are just swilling the capsaicin around in your mouth. I suggested to one person that she should try dairy or honey to kill the burn instead of water and she was like..."hot sauce and ice cream? Ew."
Some people don't know what they're missing.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Genuine Joe
Yeah I'm slow and yeah so sue me. I'm sitting in this cute coffeehouse waiting on an open mic to start and it's really how I envision my living room being at my quaint Virginia farm when I buy it. :) The walls are a calming green and the sofa is yellow and 30 years old but not hippie-gross if you know what I mean. Rock on. Also they sell POPCORN but I spent all my cash on coffee before I noticed that, dangit.
So the other night driving home from another open mic (this is my 3rd one this week), I got off the interstate about 4 blocks from my place and I swear, I saw 4 sets of cops and flashing lights for traffic stops. One every block. I am not exaggerating. It made me kinda happy I was not speeding at the time, really. And then I wondered if all 4 of them were just hiding in the bushes and pounced at the same time or something. Weird.
This place has what is called a "Dr. Smoothie" which makes me think of Dr. Pepper but it looks like a regular old latte and the combination sounds gross and I'm sure it has nothing to do with soda but what the hey.
I have recently started making the tranistion into treating music as a business as well as an art form, and so far I think I am learning a little. I have been forcing myself to get up at 7 AM and actually find it to be a good time to write and get things done. It also, somehow, makes me less tired during the day. I think it's because I am finding more purpose instead of just floating around in job and gig limbo. I find my schedule to be more akin to ye olde college days...work during the day, and then work more at night in terms of either practice or playing out. Which really, I have found, leaves no room for a social life. Thus I understand why many of the artists I love have personal lives that are in the crapper...except the fortunate thing about music is it has its own built in social life. So I am not lacking in people-contact, it's just the people contact is usually at a bar or coffeehouse. Eh. It works. Goodness knows there will always be something to whine about, I know that. So I might as well start here.
Otherwise...well. I dunno. It's been a good week. I like Austin. I miss Albuquerque. I don't think I can ask for anything different at this point. Quite.
So the other night driving home from another open mic (this is my 3rd one this week), I got off the interstate about 4 blocks from my place and I swear, I saw 4 sets of cops and flashing lights for traffic stops. One every block. I am not exaggerating. It made me kinda happy I was not speeding at the time, really. And then I wondered if all 4 of them were just hiding in the bushes and pounced at the same time or something. Weird.
This place has what is called a "Dr. Smoothie" which makes me think of Dr. Pepper but it looks like a regular old latte and the combination sounds gross and I'm sure it has nothing to do with soda but what the hey.
I have recently started making the tranistion into treating music as a business as well as an art form, and so far I think I am learning a little. I have been forcing myself to get up at 7 AM and actually find it to be a good time to write and get things done. It also, somehow, makes me less tired during the day. I think it's because I am finding more purpose instead of just floating around in job and gig limbo. I find my schedule to be more akin to ye olde college days...work during the day, and then work more at night in terms of either practice or playing out. Which really, I have found, leaves no room for a social life. Thus I understand why many of the artists I love have personal lives that are in the crapper...except the fortunate thing about music is it has its own built in social life. So I am not lacking in people-contact, it's just the people contact is usually at a bar or coffeehouse. Eh. It works. Goodness knows there will always be something to whine about, I know that. So I might as well start here.
Otherwise...well. I dunno. It's been a good week. I like Austin. I miss Albuquerque. I don't think I can ask for anything different at this point. Quite.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Imported Goodness.
So apparently the local Central Market grocery store has a Hatch green chile festival every year, with a fresh batch trucked over the border for the Austinites. The store was decorated in all things New Mexico, with chile roasting, chile sausage, chile SCONES (have not gotten any yet), pinon coffee and zia suns everywhere. As I was driving this AM I saw a New Mexico license plate in front of me and I wondered if perhaps I had magically been transported back home. Then I saw someone dressed in UT burnt orange and got over that fantasy "right quick."
There's really nothing for me to say that all 3 of you who read this don't already know. I guess I could document it for later reading. I got a part time job so that I have less time to look for a full time job but more money, haha. Yaaaaaaaay.
Friday night I went to the legendary honky tonk "The Broken Spoke." It was rather charming...lots of people two-stepping and lots of steel guitar and lots of cowboy hats and polite cowboys. I don't think I'll be trading in my grey dress pants for a twirly multi-colored dress, though. Nope.
I need to finish a song. Some song, any song. Bah.
Also I cannot contain my excitement over the fact that Lisa is having a girl and I really did squeal a little in the charts room in the doctor's office while working when I snuck a listen to my voicemail and heard the news. Lydia Eleanor is going to be so cute! And I will spoil her and still be the cool aunt, hahahaha. YAY!
Speaking of being the cool aunt, time for a beer.
There's really nothing for me to say that all 3 of you who read this don't already know. I guess I could document it for later reading. I got a part time job so that I have less time to look for a full time job but more money, haha. Yaaaaaaaay.
Friday night I went to the legendary honky tonk "The Broken Spoke." It was rather charming...lots of people two-stepping and lots of steel guitar and lots of cowboy hats and polite cowboys. I don't think I'll be trading in my grey dress pants for a twirly multi-colored dress, though. Nope.
I need to finish a song. Some song, any song. Bah.
Also I cannot contain my excitement over the fact that Lisa is having a girl and I really did squeal a little in the charts room in the doctor's office while working when I snuck a listen to my voicemail and heard the news. Lydia Eleanor is going to be so cute! And I will spoil her and still be the cool aunt, hahahaha. YAY!
Speaking of being the cool aunt, time for a beer.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Chew on this.
I just finished watching a documentary made by Woody Harrelson called Go Further. It's nothing I haven't heard before, yet it is simply another piece of evidence propelling me to wonder how many times do I have to hear what is good for me to follow through? And how many millions MORE times does society have to hear things to have them sink in? Some facts:
- Food goes into our bodies. It is the thing that fuels our lifeforce. Corporations that own large farms and factories that produce this food are not concerned with our bodies. They are concerned with their bottom line. Pesticides that are sprayed on vegetables are in our bodies. Growth hormones given to cows are in our bodies. We have the option not to buy these things. We can buy organic. If everyone in the country stopped buying chemical-laden food tomorrow, these corporations would have to adapt. They can sell me my organic food if they want. No one loses, everyone wins.
- Soap, shampoo, and cleansers go onto our skin and hair. Again, these items were developed in an era of "progress." We can make synthetic soap! We can inject chickens with hormones to make them bigger! It's as if we were so geared toward progress and the magic of invention that we never stopped to think..."It's new...it's efficient...is it good?" Is it good for me to slather Bath & Body Works all over myself when I can't pronounce the ingredients? Is it good for me to inject my pores with chemicals?
- Using paper causes millions upon millions of trees to be cut down each year. It's simple to make paper products out of hemp or flax, and if this process became as refined and popular as tree-paper...well, we'd be paying no more for paper and the forests wouldn't be assualted like they are now.
- Solar power. Wind power. Electric cars. Biodiesel. They all work. They'd work better if some $$$ and political power brokers backed them up. That's how things get done in this country. That's why ($$$ and politics) the logging and oil industries (paper and gasoline) stay on top.
- So why do I play along? Right now I guess it's because I can't afford organic veggies in mass, or to buy a biodiesel vehicle. But I want to, and I will. And if every single one of us did the same thing...if we all said, "Hey, I'm buying the recycled stuff today," then how long before the powers that be, with their newly dwindling $$$ reserves, pay attention?
- Environmentalism is not against any political belief system. It is not anti-capitalist. It is not "hippie." It is now or it is never.
- Food goes into our bodies. It is the thing that fuels our lifeforce. Corporations that own large farms and factories that produce this food are not concerned with our bodies. They are concerned with their bottom line. Pesticides that are sprayed on vegetables are in our bodies. Growth hormones given to cows are in our bodies. We have the option not to buy these things. We can buy organic. If everyone in the country stopped buying chemical-laden food tomorrow, these corporations would have to adapt. They can sell me my organic food if they want. No one loses, everyone wins.
- Soap, shampoo, and cleansers go onto our skin and hair. Again, these items were developed in an era of "progress." We can make synthetic soap! We can inject chickens with hormones to make them bigger! It's as if we were so geared toward progress and the magic of invention that we never stopped to think..."It's new...it's efficient...is it good?" Is it good for me to slather Bath & Body Works all over myself when I can't pronounce the ingredients? Is it good for me to inject my pores with chemicals?
- Using paper causes millions upon millions of trees to be cut down each year. It's simple to make paper products out of hemp or flax, and if this process became as refined and popular as tree-paper...well, we'd be paying no more for paper and the forests wouldn't be assualted like they are now.
- Solar power. Wind power. Electric cars. Biodiesel. They all work. They'd work better if some $$$ and political power brokers backed them up. That's how things get done in this country. That's why ($$$ and politics) the logging and oil industries (paper and gasoline) stay on top.
- So why do I play along? Right now I guess it's because I can't afford organic veggies in mass, or to buy a biodiesel vehicle. But I want to, and I will. And if every single one of us did the same thing...if we all said, "Hey, I'm buying the recycled stuff today," then how long before the powers that be, with their newly dwindling $$$ reserves, pay attention?
- Environmentalism is not against any political belief system. It is not anti-capitalist. It is not "hippie." It is now or it is never.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Pritty Things.
Whew! I am exhausted. In a good way. Some New Mexicans wandered through this week and I got to do a little sightseeing with them. I have gotten pretty good about doing things by myself, but some endeavors are meant to be done with other people. Things like...
TOOBING down the San Marcos River. That spelling of toobing makes me cringe every time, but I'll get over it. We rented toobs and took two floats down the river. All I needed was a giant beer cooler. Full of Red Stripe.
Then today we visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Leave it to that Lady Bird to care about nature. Maybe being a First Lady is not so bad...no one really blames you when your husband screws up, and you get to do neat things like save wildflowers. So I took this photo today. I dunno what it is. It's pretty, though. And dangerous...a lot like me.
Now I need a nap. Or bed. Or a nap before bed.
TOOBING down the San Marcos River. That spelling of toobing makes me cringe every time, but I'll get over it. We rented toobs and took two floats down the river. All I needed was a giant beer cooler. Full of Red Stripe.
Then today we visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Leave it to that Lady Bird to care about nature. Maybe being a First Lady is not so bad...no one really blames you when your husband screws up, and you get to do neat things like save wildflowers. So I took this photo today. I dunno what it is. It's pretty, though. And dangerous...a lot like me.
Now I need a nap. Or bed. Or a nap before bed.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Remember the poor man's copyright.
Last night. Stared at paper all night. Stared. Chicken scratch. Crossed out. New lines. Crossed out. Sat. Fiddled. Drank lemonade. Then, this! I love blind inspiration.
If I could line you up in a chronicle;
Write you down like Kerouac.
I'd get bored in the middle
And ask for all my ink back....
Write you down like Kerouac.
I'd get bored in the middle
And ask for all my ink back....
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Meet the New Neighbors
Oh yes, beer is tasty. Tasty, tasty beer. My new drink of choice is Red Stripe, which is Jamaican and comes in ridiculously cool bottles. And it's a sweet beer, just like Jamaica. I've never been, but I bet Jamaica smells like Red Stripe. Or something. Oh just look at Hitch and forget I ever typed this.
So I have new downstairs neighbors, and they are a kick in the pants. Upon meeting them, I immediately learned how they met, how they got married, saw Doc's UT Longhorns tattoo (just guess where THAT is), and was offered piano lessons. They have 2 fluffy pretty cats, a baby grand, leather couches, and a giant TV. Like, this TV is huge. I have seen big TV's before but this is movie theater quality. And Doc really is a doctor...so if I ever sever my finger cutting butternut squash and don't have health insurance, I have options. It's all about options, people.
I've been a cover letter writing fool. A fool! I have about 5 to mail out today. Well, I should finish them today. Except I seem to have a mild or perhaps very massive form of ADD and write blogs and check my Youtube hits instead. Go figure.
I have had a steady stream of New Mexican visitors over the past couple of weeks, and it's been a good thing. To be honest, I was dreading the month of August. It's pretty much the pit of heck weather wise, and intense soul-sucking heat does nothing for the job hunt mojo. However, seeing familiar faces breaks up the monotony just enough that I feel like being productive, hence all those cover letters I need to write. I also seem to have met enough people out here to keep my social calendar full if I want to, so that's nice. Not all of them have cats and leather couches, though.
On the music front, I am currently re-obsessed with Tori Amos. I finished her book the other day, which caused me to pull out all her CDs and ponder the deeper meaning of Tori that I have decided I will never understand. I usually really like accessible artists. Songwriting that I can go, "Man! They ripped that line right out of my head!" Tori is someone I will never get and I like it that way. I don't know what the hell she's talking about; I don't think most of her fans know, either...but somehow she connects on some strange level somewhere I have yet to define. And that is the mystery of Tori. Amen.
So I have new downstairs neighbors, and they are a kick in the pants. Upon meeting them, I immediately learned how they met, how they got married, saw Doc's UT Longhorns tattoo (just guess where THAT is), and was offered piano lessons. They have 2 fluffy pretty cats, a baby grand, leather couches, and a giant TV. Like, this TV is huge. I have seen big TV's before but this is movie theater quality. And Doc really is a doctor...so if I ever sever my finger cutting butternut squash and don't have health insurance, I have options. It's all about options, people.
I've been a cover letter writing fool. A fool! I have about 5 to mail out today. Well, I should finish them today. Except I seem to have a mild or perhaps very massive form of ADD and write blogs and check my Youtube hits instead. Go figure.
I have had a steady stream of New Mexican visitors over the past couple of weeks, and it's been a good thing. To be honest, I was dreading the month of August. It's pretty much the pit of heck weather wise, and intense soul-sucking heat does nothing for the job hunt mojo. However, seeing familiar faces breaks up the monotony just enough that I feel like being productive, hence all those cover letters I need to write. I also seem to have met enough people out here to keep my social calendar full if I want to, so that's nice. Not all of them have cats and leather couches, though.
On the music front, I am currently re-obsessed with Tori Amos. I finished her book the other day, which caused me to pull out all her CDs and ponder the deeper meaning of Tori that I have decided I will never understand. I usually really like accessible artists. Songwriting that I can go, "Man! They ripped that line right out of my head!" Tori is someone I will never get and I like it that way. I don't know what the hell she's talking about; I don't think most of her fans know, either...but somehow she connects on some strange level somewhere I have yet to define. And that is the mystery of Tori. Amen.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Redeeming qualities of a day
Well, I was being a little sh*t today. I kind of think maybe I earned the right. Things started out ok, then some job stuff didn't pan out...which, when you have a slew of days (or perhaps 2 months) of job stuff "not panning out"...it gets you. And I had the unfortunate circumstance of having to TURN DOWN a temp job. That was horrific. I had to do it, though, as I have family time scheduled this weekend (which is fabulous). But I've been sick. And I made a list of all the jobs I have applied to since moving and it is LONG. I did it to prove that I haven't been sitting on my butt for 2 months, but it only served as a long list of rejection. So I hopefully sent off another cover letter yesterday, only to receive an email saying, "Yeah we already filled that position." So WHY, then, dear Museum...was the posting STILL ON YOUR WEBSITE IN BIG BOLD LETTERS?
So I whined to people including my mom and I cried and I watched 2 hours of Sex and the City and I ate WAY TOO MUCH PAD THAI so then I felt just...well, ick. Then I opened my fortune cookie that came with said pad thai. It said,
"Stop searching. Happiness will come to you."
That made me smile. For once. Then I had the fortunate circumstance of getting a last minute gig (it pays to be a reliable, non-alcoholic musician). I wasn't really feeling, you know...the MOJO...but I ain't turning down a gig in Austin, Texas. So I haul my crap over there and set up and pray I don't choke on my mucous that has been settling in my throat for the past 4 days. And I play. And some people like it. And some people clap. And some people buy CDs. And tip me. (Good lord, if you ever walk past a musician and have a buck...give it to them. You never know who's unemployed and depressed but overall a nice person that just needs a buck in their tip jar to make them feel human). And afterwards the awesome person who booked me opened up some more musical doors which is really, just what I have been looking for when door after door has been slammed repeatedly and really...here I go into self-pity mode again.
I questioned every turn I ever took today. I can see a path way back there that would have been the path of least resistance. And I can still make my way back, but would that be the right thing? My dear friend and life guru told me today that I haven't taken any wrong turns, because they all lead me to where I am this very minute, and that's where I'm supposed to be at any given time. Which is true. All you can really ask of yourself is to be present for the moment you're living in. I gotta remember that.
And what that fortune cookie told me, too.
So I whined to people including my mom and I cried and I watched 2 hours of Sex and the City and I ate WAY TOO MUCH PAD THAI so then I felt just...well, ick. Then I opened my fortune cookie that came with said pad thai. It said,
"Stop searching. Happiness will come to you."
That made me smile. For once. Then I had the fortunate circumstance of getting a last minute gig (it pays to be a reliable, non-alcoholic musician). I wasn't really feeling, you know...the MOJO...but I ain't turning down a gig in Austin, Texas. So I haul my crap over there and set up and pray I don't choke on my mucous that has been settling in my throat for the past 4 days. And I play. And some people like it. And some people clap. And some people buy CDs. And tip me. (Good lord, if you ever walk past a musician and have a buck...give it to them. You never know who's unemployed and depressed but overall a nice person that just needs a buck in their tip jar to make them feel human). And afterwards the awesome person who booked me opened up some more musical doors which is really, just what I have been looking for when door after door has been slammed repeatedly and really...here I go into self-pity mode again.
I questioned every turn I ever took today. I can see a path way back there that would have been the path of least resistance. And I can still make my way back, but would that be the right thing? My dear friend and life guru told me today that I haven't taken any wrong turns, because they all lead me to where I am this very minute, and that's where I'm supposed to be at any given time. Which is true. All you can really ask of yourself is to be present for the moment you're living in. I gotta remember that.
And what that fortune cookie told me, too.
Monday, July 31, 2006
My my my.
You know that commercial about pot where the girl who smokes it is a deflated human sitting limply on the couch and her friend says that pot did it to her? It's a good commercial. And it's how summer colds feel, I have decided. Yes, I have a sore throat/sniffly nose/congested head and it is 100 degrees outside. I decided while sitting at a traffic light today that I felt utterly deflated like the pot girl -- due to the heat and my crappy immune system. Oh good times! It's not a bad cold, though, so I'll live.
I get to go to San Antonio this weekend to see my cousin graduate from Air Force boot camp. I'm really proud of him. It's not something I could do. Like, maybe I could if I devoted the next 6 months of my life to training, but really. We all know that's not going to happen. And he decided he was gonna do it...and he did! So we'll celebrate with Pirates of the Carribean and Sonic, as per his request. I'll make him a card. Yay! And my other cousins are driving in, so it's a family affair.
I think I need to get off my butt. And do stuff. Having a cold does not help.
Also, Lisa -- I gave you a shoutout in the middle of Ashley's blogathon (somewhere in there) for your birthday! Good luck finding it, hahaha. But Happy Late Birthday from this blog too. You're a good kid and I'm lucky to have signed up for that class with you many moons ago. :)
P.S. I have a noticeable eye twitch. Is that a cold symptom? Or an "I need a job" symptom? Can we cure this?
I get to go to San Antonio this weekend to see my cousin graduate from Air Force boot camp. I'm really proud of him. It's not something I could do. Like, maybe I could if I devoted the next 6 months of my life to training, but really. We all know that's not going to happen. And he decided he was gonna do it...and he did! So we'll celebrate with Pirates of the Carribean and Sonic, as per his request. I'll make him a card. Yay! And my other cousins are driving in, so it's a family affair.
I think I need to get off my butt. And do stuff. Having a cold does not help.
Also, Lisa -- I gave you a shoutout in the middle of Ashley's blogathon (somewhere in there) for your birthday! Good luck finding it, hahaha. But Happy Late Birthday from this blog too. You're a good kid and I'm lucky to have signed up for that class with you many moons ago. :)
P.S. I have a noticeable eye twitch. Is that a cold symptom? Or an "I need a job" symptom? Can we cure this?
Friday, July 28, 2006
Feast or Famine
Isn't it strange how life ebbs and flows around us, and we usually crave whatever tidal phase is the farthest from returning. When it's winter, I crave blasting summer heat. And here now in the bowels of summer, I cannot wait to be enveloped by cold air when I walk outside. When I seemingly have no social life around me, I can't stand being in my apartment alone. When about 8 million things pop up, I freak out and want to sleep. Some days I have dreams of walking over to Target and dropping $100, but when I actually walk into the store, an intense frugality overwhelms me and I go home empty-handed.
All of this is cool, it's neither good nor bad I think -- as long as we're aware that these extreme times are just that...things that could never last. I try to keep my temperment in the middle. Those of you know me well know this breaks down with ridiculous consequences sometimes, usually resulting in a trip to the store for pumpkin cookies, haha. But really, on my headstone, I hope one of the things inscribed on it is: "That's Jana. She was pretty even keel."
The specs:
Currently working on: cleaning my apartment because Heather is coming!
Listening to: Teatro by Willie Nelson
Reading: Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer
Putting Off: Paying the electric bill.
All of this is cool, it's neither good nor bad I think -- as long as we're aware that these extreme times are just that...things that could never last. I try to keep my temperment in the middle. Those of you know me well know this breaks down with ridiculous consequences sometimes, usually resulting in a trip to the store for pumpkin cookies, haha. But really, on my headstone, I hope one of the things inscribed on it is: "That's Jana. She was pretty even keel."
The specs:
Currently working on: cleaning my apartment because Heather is coming!
Listening to: Teatro by Willie Nelson
Reading: Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer
Putting Off: Paying the electric bill.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Life Itself
So while I have had the awesome advantage of...not working for a while (too long), I have found that it takes a lot of effort to simply excel at this every day mundane process of living. Maybe it's because I have had too much time to focus on it, but I really don't think it is possible to be a successful human in terms of everything you have to do to just be kind of healthy and outgoing and responsible and whatever. It seems that if I go jogging one day, I forget to drink my 8 freaking glasses of water. Or I spend all day runnings errands and my apartment looks like crap. It's one giant game of catch-up all the time, and I find it exhausting.
Which leads me to believe that the true joy in life is not in these little things. It's in other little little things. Like Diet Coke. Screw you, water. ;)
Which leads me to believe that the true joy in life is not in these little things. It's in other little little things. Like Diet Coke. Screw you, water. ;)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Glorious.
Haha yeah. I guess if I only have one cranky post a week I'm doing ok. ;) I don't even mean the last post to be cranky, more of an observation. (The alcoholic part, that is*).
So yesterday I got to meet some fine people, hang out at a gorgeous North Austin park (more like a wildlife preserve is you ask me, but they call it a park), and play music for a neighborhood association BBQ cook-off. Thaaat's right. That meant that MULTIPLE people cooked BBQ and made enough to share. I even got to be a judge, so I tasted 3 kinds of chicken and 2 kinds of brisket. The clear winner in my book was chicken with this...luscious, sweet, sticky sauce that seemed to have been in the oven for about 6 years to achieve the perfect balance of sauce, juice, and meat. Gah. I was quite pleased. I am still stuffed.
I got paid in cabbage. No, really. :) I played for tips and sold CDs and then the nice family who got me involved in it all sent me home with a cabbage that had been grilled in tin foil. It's tasty! I'm using that as a story for many gigs to come, so be forewarned.
Also, this week I sang karaoke. TO MY OWN SONG. That was weird. My karaoke-queen buddy who booked me for an hour slot last week has a penchant for "My Best Guess." So when I showed up at karaoke night to observe the madness, she insisted I sing my own song...over myself...well, bizarre. Oddly fun. I'm not changing my act to pure karaoke, though. ;) I think the audience mostly thought "This is not Destiny's Child. We want Destiny's Child!" Next time I'll just do Bootylicious.
* JUUUUST KIDDING.
So yesterday I got to meet some fine people, hang out at a gorgeous North Austin park (more like a wildlife preserve is you ask me, but they call it a park), and play music for a neighborhood association BBQ cook-off. Thaaat's right. That meant that MULTIPLE people cooked BBQ and made enough to share. I even got to be a judge, so I tasted 3 kinds of chicken and 2 kinds of brisket. The clear winner in my book was chicken with this...luscious, sweet, sticky sauce that seemed to have been in the oven for about 6 years to achieve the perfect balance of sauce, juice, and meat. Gah. I was quite pleased. I am still stuffed.
I got paid in cabbage. No, really. :) I played for tips and sold CDs and then the nice family who got me involved in it all sent me home with a cabbage that had been grilled in tin foil. It's tasty! I'm using that as a story for many gigs to come, so be forewarned.
Also, this week I sang karaoke. TO MY OWN SONG. That was weird. My karaoke-queen buddy who booked me for an hour slot last week has a penchant for "My Best Guess." So when I showed up at karaoke night to observe the madness, she insisted I sing my own song...over myself...well, bizarre. Oddly fun. I'm not changing my act to pure karaoke, though. ;) I think the audience mostly thought "This is not Destiny's Child. We want Destiny's Child!" Next time I'll just do Bootylicious.
* JUUUUST KIDDING.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
The Grid
I am so off the grid. The Grid is my new favorite term for "in touch" and "aware." I have no clue what is going on back where I used to live. My mom references things and I'm like "Huh?" and she's all "Oh yeah, thaaat." I piece together random events and happenings in my friends' lives through freaking Myspace messages.
Oh yeah, and yadda yadda you chose it, you moved away, you have "something" to "prove" in "Texas." Well whatever. Maybe we'll meet up in 5 years and stare awkwardly at each other and say "What have you been up to?" and chat and I'll have 6 beers because I'll probably be an alcoholic by then and we'll go back to our respective "grids" and "chill" and I'll work on my annoying practice of using "quotation marks" some more.
Oh and if you're reading this, it's not about you. ;) I guarantee that.
Now I will go play music for free food.
Oh yeah, and yadda yadda you chose it, you moved away, you have "something" to "prove" in "Texas." Well whatever. Maybe we'll meet up in 5 years and stare awkwardly at each other and say "What have you been up to?" and chat and I'll have 6 beers because I'll probably be an alcoholic by then and we'll go back to our respective "grids" and "chill" and I'll work on my annoying practice of using "quotation marks" some more.
Oh and if you're reading this, it's not about you. ;) I guarantee that.
Now I will go play music for free food.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Koozies
So, in New Mexico, I used to marvel at the existence of the "koozie." Those squishy things, usually advertising something, that you slip your can of beer/coke in. What was their purpose? Why would you want to add weight to your beverage? To make it more msyterious, every Texas artist I liked (and subsequently looked around for merchadise for) sold koozies. You never see Madonna koozies. Or, more locally...Jana and Ben koozies. Because people would look at us weird.
Fast forward to my (almost) 2 months here and I GET IT. Ok, humidity gods. I understand that when you take something that is mildly chilled out of the fridge, let it sit out for 2.5 seconds, a pool of condensation as deep as the Rio Grande (haha) will form. I also understand it is cool, in Texas, to show your allegiance to your favorite Texas artists when you drink. It's brilliant marketing, really. So yes. I have busted out my Terri Hendrix koozie. And I drink with pride.
Fast forward to my (almost) 2 months here and I GET IT. Ok, humidity gods. I understand that when you take something that is mildly chilled out of the fridge, let it sit out for 2.5 seconds, a pool of condensation as deep as the Rio Grande (haha) will form. I also understand it is cool, in Texas, to show your allegiance to your favorite Texas artists when you drink. It's brilliant marketing, really. So yes. I have busted out my Terri Hendrix koozie. And I drink with pride.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Getting it together.
Sorry for the whine post below. Sometimes necessary. Things are looking up, though. Maybe because I suvived Monday and it is now 6 whole days until another Monday comes around. :) As Lisa said, sometimes you have to do a list to make your blog happy:
- I have bug bites on my ankle. It disturbs me. They itch a little.
- Cheesecake flavored Jello pudding is so NOT cheesecake, but it costs about 1/56 what cheesecake costs, and has about 1/43rd the calories.
- I ran out of milk. This is bad for a cereal luvr.
- I am writing my first song in an alternate tuning!!! DADGAD. It makes me uber-happy.
- I am also experimenting with slide guitar. Watch out, Bonnie Raitt. Not.
- It is 102 degrees outside.
- It is inexplicable how children take out life's frustrations on their mothers. "Mooooooooom I don't even care that it rained there. I have no job. Gawwwwwd." Heehee.
- I have renter's insurance!!!
- I want money.
- I have bug bites on my ankle. It disturbs me. They itch a little.
- Cheesecake flavored Jello pudding is so NOT cheesecake, but it costs about 1/56 what cheesecake costs, and has about 1/43rd the calories.
- I ran out of milk. This is bad for a cereal luvr.
- I am writing my first song in an alternate tuning!!! DADGAD. It makes me uber-happy.
- I am also experimenting with slide guitar. Watch out, Bonnie Raitt. Not.
- It is 102 degrees outside.
- It is inexplicable how children take out life's frustrations on their mothers. "Mooooooooom I don't even care that it rained there. I have no job. Gawwwwwd." Heehee.
- I have renter's insurance!!!
- I want money.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Mmmph.
Well. I got turned down for one job this week and interviewed for another today, but they won't be getting back to me for a few weeks. And when they do get back to me, it will probably be a big fat "no." Oh, wait. I mean...flowers are in bloom and squirrels are running around and it's charming everywhere.
No, life's ok. I just hate the interview/rejection process. It's like a new act of desperation every time you make contact with a person who has the simple employment you seek. Plus I don't know what I want to do. With myself. At all.
In the meantime, I'm at a coffeehouse listening to some killer songwriters so it's all dang ok.
No, life's ok. I just hate the interview/rejection process. It's like a new act of desperation every time you make contact with a person who has the simple employment you seek. Plus I don't know what I want to do. With myself. At all.
In the meantime, I'm at a coffeehouse listening to some killer songwriters so it's all dang ok.
These Meme Things.
Stolen from Lisa, the Cool One.
1. Yourself: unemployed and pathetic
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend: taking his damn sweet time
3. Your hair? ponytailed
4. Your mother? cool
5. Your Father? chill
6. Your Favorite item? my geetar
7. Your dream last night: i rarely remember them
8. Your Favorite drink: coffee
9. Your Dream Car: fuel efficient (nerd)
10. The Room You Are In: coffeehouse-chic
11. Your Ex: mmph
12. Your fear: poverty and failure
13. Where do you want to be in 10 years: making cash happily
14. Who you hung out with yesterday? the cool person who booked me and Fred
15. What You’re Not: EMPLOYED
16. Your Best Friend: my bed
17. One of Your Wish List Items: a gig
18. What makes you happy: gigs
19. The Last Thing You Did: went to choir practice
20. What You Are Wearing: jeans and a thrift store t-shirt i lurve
21. Your Favorite Weather: autumn
22. Your Favorite book: The Tao of Willie
23. The Last Thing You Ate: pancakes for dinner
24. Your Life: stop and go
25. Your Mood: resigned
27. What are you thinking about right now: the live music i am about to watch/hear
28. Your Crush: you (good one, lisa)
29. What are you doing at the moment: i should be proofreading
30. Your summer schedule: hahaha thereof.
1. Yourself: unemployed and pathetic
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend: taking his damn sweet time
3. Your hair? ponytailed
4. Your mother? cool
5. Your Father? chill
6. Your Favorite item? my geetar
7. Your dream last night: i rarely remember them
8. Your Favorite drink: coffee
9. Your Dream Car: fuel efficient (nerd)
10. The Room You Are In: coffeehouse-chic
11. Your Ex: mmph
12. Your fear: poverty and failure
13. Where do you want to be in 10 years: making cash happily
14. Who you hung out with yesterday? the cool person who booked me and Fred
15. What You’re Not: EMPLOYED
16. Your Best Friend: my bed
17. One of Your Wish List Items: a gig
18. What makes you happy: gigs
19. The Last Thing You Did: went to choir practice
20. What You Are Wearing: jeans and a thrift store t-shirt i lurve
21. Your Favorite Weather: autumn
22. Your Favorite book: The Tao of Willie
23. The Last Thing You Ate: pancakes for dinner
24. Your Life: stop and go
25. Your Mood: resigned
27. What are you thinking about right now: the live music i am about to watch/hear
28. Your Crush: you (good one, lisa)
29. What are you doing at the moment: i should be proofreading
30. Your summer schedule: hahaha thereof.
Monday, July 10, 2006
New
I can't pay my rent
Every dollar I've saved is a dollar I've spent
I'm still hellbent
On gettin' rid of it all so I can die content
Brand new town
No, I wasn't born here, but I can burn it down
I got a thorn in my crown
Cuz the last one I left didn't want me around
I wanna say that I'm passing on through
I won't miss you enough to stay
That the pressure on my chest is just altitude
But it's too soon to say too late
Too soon to say too late
This world's passing me by
But I can only pass one car at a time
It's a shameful crime
How ordinary it is outside
Nothing happens on this street
All the neighbors sit out just smokin' fireweed
What's the cost of my need?
Can you measure a life-worth in gasoline?
I wanna say that I'm passing on through
I won't miss you enough to stay
That the pressure on my chest is just altitude
But it's too soon to say too late
Too soon to say too late
Every dollar I've saved is a dollar I've spent
I'm still hellbent
On gettin' rid of it all so I can die content
Brand new town
No, I wasn't born here, but I can burn it down
I got a thorn in my crown
Cuz the last one I left didn't want me around
I wanna say that I'm passing on through
I won't miss you enough to stay
That the pressure on my chest is just altitude
But it's too soon to say too late
Too soon to say too late
This world's passing me by
But I can only pass one car at a time
It's a shameful crime
How ordinary it is outside
Nothing happens on this street
All the neighbors sit out just smokin' fireweed
What's the cost of my need?
Can you measure a life-worth in gasoline?
I wanna say that I'm passing on through
I won't miss you enough to stay
That the pressure on my chest is just altitude
But it's too soon to say too late
Too soon to say too late
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Small Town Americana
Hey kids. What's up? I'm recovering from a giant slice of small town fun...namely, the 58th Annual McDade Watermelon Festival. McDade (pronounced "MAC-day-eeeeed") is a little mapdot about 60 miles east of Austin, and some buddies invited me out for a day of wandering in the sun staring at watermelons. It was a grand time. We watched the parade down Main Street, ate BBQ (yeah!), and took in the scenery. Two fun events:
- Seed spitting contest: the cute little girl above needs a bit more oomph in that spit. ;)
- Chicken Hit Bingo. What, you ask? Well, they mark off a large cage into squares, give everyone bingo cards, and put a chicken in the cage. Then they wait for it to poop. Then whoever gets bingo with the accumulated chicken poop squares wins. I'm pretty sure someone had a lot of time on their hands for that one. Also I renamed it "Chicken (s)Hit Bingo."
The travesty: I actually did not eat any watermelon at the Watermelon Festival. I was too busy with BBQ.
Otherwise, got my fingers crossed on a job interview. I saw some awesome music last week. I hope to see more this week. I play a gig Wednesday. I got a job proofreading stuff online. It won't be lucrative but it might cover my weekly gas expenses. One hopes (oh, the costs of travel!) Speaking of which, I must go proof. Tell me about yourselves.
- Seed spitting contest: the cute little girl above needs a bit more oomph in that spit. ;)
- Chicken Hit Bingo. What, you ask? Well, they mark off a large cage into squares, give everyone bingo cards, and put a chicken in the cage. Then they wait for it to poop. Then whoever gets bingo with the accumulated chicken poop squares wins. I'm pretty sure someone had a lot of time on their hands for that one. Also I renamed it "Chicken (s)Hit Bingo."
The travesty: I actually did not eat any watermelon at the Watermelon Festival. I was too busy with BBQ.
Otherwise, got my fingers crossed on a job interview. I saw some awesome music last week. I hope to see more this week. I play a gig Wednesday. I got a job proofreading stuff online. It won't be lucrative but it might cover my weekly gas expenses. One hopes (oh, the costs of travel!) Speaking of which, I must go proof. Tell me about yourselves.
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