Stay employed when unemployed.

Its been hard to keep busy and feel productive while unemployed. I was doing better the first few weeks ... but now I have slowly lapsed into complacency. If I even make the slightest effort to find work, I consider myself done for the day and ready to relax.

I've been trying to make "to do" lists for myself and that seems to help. The positive element of this struggle is that it provides an insight into the artists life. I have been writing daily and consider that a triumph. On the other hand, I'm spreading myself thin with multiple hobby projects that have been started but not completed.

Its such a fine line to walk - I am constantly wishing I would get a call for work and also constantly in fear that I will get a job and be too busy to do all the things I have planned!! The problem is that each day I lose steam after 3pm and can't get anything done! So, starting tomorrow I am going to try and regroup and really make some progress. One of my problems is that my mind is never a rest... I am constantly thinking of new things that I want to try.

This entry is a bit of a ramble. I was trying to figure out how to tie in some more interesting element or bit of information... but I think I better just end it in the interest of moving forward to bigger and better things. Or, perhaps I should say, just wait until the next Post! I will have something exciting to say! I promise!

Our Annual Visit from Oscar.

Okay... so I know I'm a little late...

Were the Oscars boring this year? Or rather, did YOU think they were boring? I've really developed a liking for Adam Shankman and was very excited to hear that he was producing the Oscars this year, but I have to say that I was VERY disappointed. I thought they were totally wooden and ordinary.

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin's opening Monologue wasn't funny

We didn't' get to hear Lauren Bacall speak

Seemed to move slow for the first hour - which was supposed to be the most exciting. Didn't have a theme. Remember when there was the whole Cirque du Soleil theme?

Also, didn't like all the poofy skirts on the dresses. and messy hair (Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Jessica Parker.

High Points - Hot Elizabeth Smart and the dance crew. Sandra Bullock's speech. Amazing the a woman won best director.

The Who Who?

I went with SDK to see Petra Hayden and the Sell Outs, (her all girl choir). I didn't know that much about them except that a friend told about a previous performance:

"They were positively angelic. I want them to sing at
my wedding.
And for my birthday. And your birthday...
that whole birthday season I want a 9 girl singing
sleepover."

With a review like that I was positively happy to be seeing them at all, let alone entertain the thought of my birthday and slumber parties. The review goes on to talk about sleep over activities... but that doesn't have that much to with the show that I saw.

For starters, the concert space was friggin cool!! It had a recessed seating area that was carpeted and had an open fireplace with couches all around. Then, off to the side there as a larger room (although the whole thing is open, so it is really a larger "section") where the stage was set up. The opening act, THE OCTOPUS PROJECT, was actually really good. They are sort of experimental and interesting. There is one chick in the band, (she has cool hair), and she played a Theramin on one song... I'm throwing that word around like I know what it is, which I do now, but when i saw her playing it, it totally blew my mind. In fact, I had to have it explained to me at the show. Now I want one. put it on my tab!!!

So, then Mike Watt (cause he is a petra hayden mentor) played with his exwife from black flag. This sounds cool, but does not sound cool. They both play bass and frankly it gets old after two songs, let along 25 minutes. I'm glad to say that I saw it though... just to brag.

After "Dios" , Mike Watt played some songs with Petra, which were AWESOME, really amazing... but I am having trouble even focusing on this portion of the show, because the next part was so good that my fingers are getting all giddy at the thought of describing it, no matter how frantically or how briefly. Maybe someone who was at the show can comment on my blog and fill in the blanks about the Petra/Mike Duet.

FINALLY Petra Hayden and the Sell Outs arrive. They take the stage. They are cute and giggly. They clearly know each-other well. Petra has the cutest dimples you could ever hope to see. (By this point in the show I have a pretty powerful non-sexual crush in the works). They sing. and sing. and sing. They voices become instruments in the most guttural ways. Whispers and squeals echo melodies that we all know so well. Grunts pound out rhythms that we feel in our chests. Most of all, the sound is so joyful. My cheeks hurt because my smile was so wide. I felt like I was bobbing up and down for the whole show...

They kicked off the show with a small set of from THE WHO SELLS OUT, the highlight of which was Odorono. The set started strong with Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand. However, Our Love Was was my big discovery of the evening. Beautiful lyrics. Jenn, I bought the cd. You will hear it. I will bring it in when I get home and after you read this (I'll probably be sitting next to you on the couch) you can ask me to put it on, because I will have forgotten.

Then the choir sang some songs from Petra's first album, and finished with her latest song God Only Knows, by Brian Wilson. It was beautiful. I thought I was going to cry. You can download it at http://petrahadenmusic.com/God_Only_Knows.mp3

After the show I shared a hot fudge brownie sunday and learned how to parallel park. There's nothing else to say.

http://petrahadenmusic.com/

Internet Overload or Where's my writing???

So, here I am at 9:18 PST on a Wednesday morning trying to figure out how to turn hobbies and dreams into money. I realize that this is an age old tale that has founded many restaurants, specialty shops, websites and failed business attempts galore. The fact of the matter is, the long hours my day job, although I love parts of it, is getting to wear on me and I want a change. I want a creative change. I want to be a writer and artist and I want to get paid for it. How terrifying that sounds - impossible really. It seems especially unattainable after the morning I have just spent online looking at ambiguous ads for "blogger wanted", "reviews wanted" and even "creative writer". Of course there are tons of these ads out there... I'm just struggling to figure out how to make that first step. Everyone wants someone who has already "done it" and so a person feels desperately doomed to fail when they have to try for the first time. Perhaps the theme of THIS blog is currently emerging... THE FEAR OF THE FIRST. How scary it is to take the first risk - whether you are trying to get a new job, lose weight, start a new relationship or even move around your furniture. Its true, there are people out there who never have this problem. Those inherently brave soles who just stride through life like challenge is what they have been waiting for. As if doing something completely different is as normal as risking to load the dishwasher without completely washing off last nights mac & cheese.

So. I guess now I have to go for it right? I promise I will apply for at least three writing posts, regardless of how trivial or how much I don't know how to sell myself. Here we go!!!!

The Joy of Leggings discovered!

Yes, I know everyone else has been wearing them and enjoying the fad for at least three years, but I just bought my first pair two weeks ago... Well, I should clarify... My first pair since fifth grade. I used to really rock the leggings with two pairs of different colored layered socks. Yes, I will find a picture to post. Be prepared for a perm and very frizzy 1/4 curling iron hairspray bangs. I now refer to those bangs as "the fly trap."

So, I have been rocking these black leggings under a short dress all weekend and they are totally comfortable and warm and I really love them. Who Knew? (beside the aforementioned three year trendies) They are like sexy sweat pants. Comfortable and stylish. Today I took it a new level by wearing them to walk the dog. I think it was a success... no one booed at me from their car windows...

Don't worry all - now that I am legging inspired, I will continue to experiment and keep you posted with my outfit combos... what will I try next? leggings with Stillettos? Leggings with Baseball Jersey? Sequins? Suggestions Welcome.