Along with other stereotypes Artist share the one that they are all nuts and emotional recks and have messy lives.
Its true that Jack Kerouac had a messy life and while he wrote well his home life left much to be desired. Jazz musician Chet Baker struggled with drug issues and in the last movie made about him, his children begged him to spend more time with them and send money. He died before the movie was released.
Does that mean that as an artist you are doomed to have an unhappy messed up life? Sometimes it does feel like that. In seems that being sensitive to the world around you can feel overwhelming, and your heart goes out to everyone all at once.
It takes time to direct your energy to one thing at a time. I have found if I take on too much I am left not only with out energy but with out a sense of accomplishment. While some can multitask, others of us need to work on one project at a time and just get it done. Then we can think about other things, issues and so on.
As for being a mess, in some ways I am and in others not. I know I have very strong views about family. In fact in my dreams lately I have been working them out. Sure it would be nice if I had a loving and supportive family but I do not. When I am about to try something new, like I am now, I watch movies that make me feel good. I get inspired by dance and art, then I have the courage to try something new.
That is what works for me. Getting up and dancing is great for my soul. For others it is just a walk with the dogs or reading. No, as an artist I do not have to be a mess, I just have to do one thing at a time.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Pets
This week was the annual Westminster Kennel Club show, and if you don't already know, 'Sadie' the Scottish Terrier won Best in Show.
Seeing as Scotties are my signature dog, all of my friends pretty much knew I was going to be impossible to live with this week. One didn't even bother with the normal, "How are you doing?" text message but simple began with "Yeah OK a Scottie Won at Westminster...."
Now by signature dog, I mean that own Scotties and am very loyal to the breed. When I got to the Great Western Terrier Show in Long Beach in the summer, I only visit the Scottie ring and watch the Scotties. I have lots of purses shaped like Scotties, and when I don't wear something showing the breed to that show, I get scolded by the vendors that know me.
Yes we all have our favorites and we all can go on and on about the virtues of said breed. One thing is for sure, there are enough good dog qualities out there to suit every one. That's one of the great things in life, if you love cats, there are tons of cats to love. There are birds, fish and hamsters whatever your fancy. As with most projects please take the time to learn the most you can about whatever animal you want for a pet. In the show time and again they would mention the strong personalities of the dogs and just say it, "This is not for the 1st time dog owner."
Since a lot of people have lost their homes, shelters have been flooded with purebred dogs, which you can adopt, already spayed or neutered. There are breed rescues if you just have to have a certain dog.
Go ahead and hug your pet and maybe find one at the shelter that needs a good home. You never know that you might find the best friend you need.
Seeing as Scotties are my signature dog, all of my friends pretty much knew I was going to be impossible to live with this week. One didn't even bother with the normal, "How are you doing?" text message but simple began with "Yeah OK a Scottie Won at Westminster...."
Now by signature dog, I mean that own Scotties and am very loyal to the breed. When I got to the Great Western Terrier Show in Long Beach in the summer, I only visit the Scottie ring and watch the Scotties. I have lots of purses shaped like Scotties, and when I don't wear something showing the breed to that show, I get scolded by the vendors that know me.
Yes we all have our favorites and we all can go on and on about the virtues of said breed. One thing is for sure, there are enough good dog qualities out there to suit every one. That's one of the great things in life, if you love cats, there are tons of cats to love. There are birds, fish and hamsters whatever your fancy. As with most projects please take the time to learn the most you can about whatever animal you want for a pet. In the show time and again they would mention the strong personalities of the dogs and just say it, "This is not for the 1st time dog owner."
Since a lot of people have lost their homes, shelters have been flooded with purebred dogs, which you can adopt, already spayed or neutered. There are breed rescues if you just have to have a certain dog.
Go ahead and hug your pet and maybe find one at the shelter that needs a good home. You never know that you might find the best friend you need.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Out side the Box
I have been to so many seminars on writing and writers conferences, one thing I have learned is to keep your options open. Do not just think about one form of expression of avenue so much that you don't leave room to think of another. On woman that spoke to a writers group talked about how she never thought she would be in TV, but it came up and she went for it.
These days we all need to grasp at every opportunity. You can not stop networking and making connections. You really never know what will come up if you just open your mouth. A week ago I meet some one, via a friend that could help with the sale of some items we have laying around. I would have never know if I didn't ask the right questions and get to know the person across the table from me.
Its been said, 'Its not what you know, its who you know' and it is so true. I have been networking on my own for the last few years and it is really helped. In the last week I have opened myself to a new opportunity I would have never thought of in the last year. Sure jobs are scarce these days, so go out and make one for yourself. Find a need that people have and fill that need. Do people need you to run their cat to the Vet while they are at work? Will they pay you for that?
Can you do some shopping for some one, or can you cook a meal for a busy mom? Will she pay you for that? The needs are there, can you go out and think, yes, outside the box?
These days we all need to grasp at every opportunity. You can not stop networking and making connections. You really never know what will come up if you just open your mouth. A week ago I meet some one, via a friend that could help with the sale of some items we have laying around. I would have never know if I didn't ask the right questions and get to know the person across the table from me.
Its been said, 'Its not what you know, its who you know' and it is so true. I have been networking on my own for the last few years and it is really helped. In the last week I have opened myself to a new opportunity I would have never thought of in the last year. Sure jobs are scarce these days, so go out and make one for yourself. Find a need that people have and fill that need. Do people need you to run their cat to the Vet while they are at work? Will they pay you for that?
Can you do some shopping for some one, or can you cook a meal for a busy mom? Will she pay you for that? The needs are there, can you go out and think, yes, outside the box?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Courage
When you are younger and you see your parents with money problems some times it doesn't make sense. You feel as if they should always have a handle on things, they are the adults after all. Maybe its the parents on TV that give us that idea. The Brady bunch and other TV families never seemed to have issues with money, so why should mine?
Now that I have lived a while and have seen and felt the ups and downs of the economy I can understand the sleepless nights my mother must have had. Of course she didn't help, by spending like she did and she counted on my fathers child support money that rarely was seen. With what I have been through in the last year, I am so grateful I don't have to worry about children and their needs as well.
It may seem when we are young that this is what adults have to go through and it should be easy for them. Now I see that it is really complicated stuff and it takes a lot of courage to face up to these challenges.
We have to keep being resourceful and look at the example our grandparents gave us. they lived through the last depression. While that one lasted years, I can only hope this one doesn't. If it does I still have my chickens and fresh eggs.
On thing that has helped is cooking at home and trying new recipes. I tried on this week and just cooking it up made me happy. We still have a long way to go to be back where we were a few years ago and there is still some after affects of last year lingering. The only thing to do is to solider on and keep going, yes it takes courage to keep it up. In the end, it is worth it, we learn we can take more hardship than we ever knew. With our friends to help us we can make it.
Now that I have lived a while and have seen and felt the ups and downs of the economy I can understand the sleepless nights my mother must have had. Of course she didn't help, by spending like she did and she counted on my fathers child support money that rarely was seen. With what I have been through in the last year, I am so grateful I don't have to worry about children and their needs as well.
It may seem when we are young that this is what adults have to go through and it should be easy for them. Now I see that it is really complicated stuff and it takes a lot of courage to face up to these challenges.
We have to keep being resourceful and look at the example our grandparents gave us. they lived through the last depression. While that one lasted years, I can only hope this one doesn't. If it does I still have my chickens and fresh eggs.
On thing that has helped is cooking at home and trying new recipes. I tried on this week and just cooking it up made me happy. We still have a long way to go to be back where we were a few years ago and there is still some after affects of last year lingering. The only thing to do is to solider on and keep going, yes it takes courage to keep it up. In the end, it is worth it, we learn we can take more hardship than we ever knew. With our friends to help us we can make it.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
MTV where are you?
When I was in Jr. High MTV came on the scene. The first videos look lame and cheap if you see them now, at the time they were avant garde and the latest thing.
It was people like Micheal Jackson that started to spend money and make them like movies.
Still it was a while before everyone else could catch up, and only others like Madonna and Prince, people with some money that could make them look nice. You can tell even now, when some one is starting and when they have made some money, how much the look of the video is changed. At the begging they will have their friends in the background and maybe classic cars that are rented. Once the album goes platinum then there are models in the party scenes and their own flashy cars.
What kind of lives do they show us? Usually a very materialistic life throwing around bottles of champagne and flashing money, labels and jewel encrusted goblets. Its as if they are telling us, one day if you have all this money you will be happy and party like this. Isn't that great? Don't you want to be like us?
Of course now the only place you can really see these videos is on You Tube. It is nice with out the advertisements. Also more money is being spent on all the reality shows, which I don't watch. Sure it was always a fictional world that was shown, but it was fun. Many stories were told and they all differed, OK the hip-hop world told the same stories again and again. Yes pop videos and rock ones were similar as well. It was fun to have one type of story then another. It was like watching your favorite film over and over again. Sure nothing changes, but you feel better going into that world just for a little while.
Do we need to keep seeing washed up rock stars trying to get together with a new person? Do we need to see that others will do for a "Shot at love?" I can't bring myself to watch people make fools of themselves like that. There isn't the sense of fun and escapism as watching some one dance on top of a building or a rock band play in the woods with no electrical outlet to be found in three miles. Yes I know those days are long over. This last decade was not great and we could use a little escapism again. Thank you Lady GaGa!
It was people like Micheal Jackson that started to spend money and make them like movies.
Still it was a while before everyone else could catch up, and only others like Madonna and Prince, people with some money that could make them look nice. You can tell even now, when some one is starting and when they have made some money, how much the look of the video is changed. At the begging they will have their friends in the background and maybe classic cars that are rented. Once the album goes platinum then there are models in the party scenes and their own flashy cars.
What kind of lives do they show us? Usually a very materialistic life throwing around bottles of champagne and flashing money, labels and jewel encrusted goblets. Its as if they are telling us, one day if you have all this money you will be happy and party like this. Isn't that great? Don't you want to be like us?
Of course now the only place you can really see these videos is on You Tube. It is nice with out the advertisements. Also more money is being spent on all the reality shows, which I don't watch. Sure it was always a fictional world that was shown, but it was fun. Many stories were told and they all differed, OK the hip-hop world told the same stories again and again. Yes pop videos and rock ones were similar as well. It was fun to have one type of story then another. It was like watching your favorite film over and over again. Sure nothing changes, but you feel better going into that world just for a little while.
Do we need to keep seeing washed up rock stars trying to get together with a new person? Do we need to see that others will do for a "Shot at love?" I can't bring myself to watch people make fools of themselves like that. There isn't the sense of fun and escapism as watching some one dance on top of a building or a rock band play in the woods with no electrical outlet to be found in three miles. Yes I know those days are long over. This last decade was not great and we could use a little escapism again. Thank you Lady GaGa!
Friday, January 8, 2010
What next?
There was a few good things that happened in 2009 but for the most part is was a bad year. I couldn't even get out of the year with out one more bad thing happening. On the last day of the year a knocked over the only running scooter in my shop with my own truck. I guess I had to go out with a bang.
So far this year, I have a lot of new opportunities opened up to me. While I am still working on getting my book published, I have to get a new job. As for my writing I was able to get three articles published last year and did a reading in Hollywood in December of 2009. I have had my friends view it on You Tube and got some positive feed back. It felt great to get up there and read.
As for my dancing, there are some new avenues opening up and I have no idea which road to take at this point. I will do some research and see what comes up. Belly dancing has turned out to have a life of its own. I now have plenty of outfits and my first costume fits me better now, than when I first bought it. In fact I need to take the belt in, its too big. That makes me so happy.
I am glad I spent time last year taking care of my health, now I have more energy to tackle these new challenges. Since it is a new decade and I don't look as old as I thought I would by now, it maybe time to rethink and redo my hair. If anything I will try to experiment with more up-do's. I also have plans to try new recipes at home, that should be fun. I have no idea what 2010 has in store for me, but I can't wait to see. It seems like I might have some good things come my way, as a reward for getting through last year.
So far this year, I have a lot of new opportunities opened up to me. While I am still working on getting my book published, I have to get a new job. As for my writing I was able to get three articles published last year and did a reading in Hollywood in December of 2009. I have had my friends view it on You Tube and got some positive feed back. It felt great to get up there and read.
As for my dancing, there are some new avenues opening up and I have no idea which road to take at this point. I will do some research and see what comes up. Belly dancing has turned out to have a life of its own. I now have plenty of outfits and my first costume fits me better now, than when I first bought it. In fact I need to take the belt in, its too big. That makes me so happy.
I am glad I spent time last year taking care of my health, now I have more energy to tackle these new challenges. Since it is a new decade and I don't look as old as I thought I would by now, it maybe time to rethink and redo my hair. If anything I will try to experiment with more up-do's. I also have plans to try new recipes at home, that should be fun. I have no idea what 2010 has in store for me, but I can't wait to see. It seems like I might have some good things come my way, as a reward for getting through last year.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
2009 over yet?
I don't know another year I have been so glad to see go away as this year. I guess the promise of something new, better or different is so appealing this time around.
Why? This year has been the worst in a long time. I have had so many friends lose their jobs and 1st off they were living on a shoe-string budget. That budget was now reduced to a dental floss string. There have been so many events I wanted them to be with me for and the truth was, there was no money for it.
For myself I have had to come up with inventive ways to save money. Like making 24 bean and cheese burritos and freezing them, or getting chickens and raising them for their eggs. I have been recycling all our bottles and cans. We stay home a lot and don't go out to dinner much.
There have been quite a few deaths this year and we were bombarded with Celeb deaths. I really don't think anyone needs a golden casket. Then I again I wasn't a big fan of a lot of the celeb's that died. Others I was sad to see go and its just the long period of morning. It doesn't help when every one is struggling as it is.
Most of the time when I write, the very act of writing cheers me up and I end on a good note. This time, I don't mean to whine, I just need to get it off my chest. There have been good things this year too, and most of the time I focus on that, it helps. I am happy for my pups and that I have a roof over my head. I am happy for my close friends that I can depend on during these difficult times. Just a few more days and we can say good by a very difficult year. 2010 where are You?
Why? This year has been the worst in a long time. I have had so many friends lose their jobs and 1st off they were living on a shoe-string budget. That budget was now reduced to a dental floss string. There have been so many events I wanted them to be with me for and the truth was, there was no money for it.
For myself I have had to come up with inventive ways to save money. Like making 24 bean and cheese burritos and freezing them, or getting chickens and raising them for their eggs. I have been recycling all our bottles and cans. We stay home a lot and don't go out to dinner much.
There have been quite a few deaths this year and we were bombarded with Celeb deaths. I really don't think anyone needs a golden casket. Then I again I wasn't a big fan of a lot of the celeb's that died. Others I was sad to see go and its just the long period of morning. It doesn't help when every one is struggling as it is.
Most of the time when I write, the very act of writing cheers me up and I end on a good note. This time, I don't mean to whine, I just need to get it off my chest. There have been good things this year too, and most of the time I focus on that, it helps. I am happy for my pups and that I have a roof over my head. I am happy for my close friends that I can depend on during these difficult times. Just a few more days and we can say good by a very difficult year. 2010 where are You?
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