CANNONBALL!!!

I have to say that I love busy days at work.  As much as it tends to drive me bat-shit crazy with both my desk and cell phones ringing off the hook, my email chiming in new messages, and paper frantically flying around my office, it's kinda relaxing to not give my brain a chance to wander off into one of it's dark corners.  And I think I have one of the most fantastic jobs EVER!  Who else can say that they've played an active role in 7 different projects in 4 different states AND 2 different countries....all in ONE DAY?


Then I wonder why I go home and get nothing accomplished... I'm done wore out!  But I have given myself to the end of this week (not including the weekend) to get caught up on all of my outstanding projects around the house.  Its really not unachievable.  I just need to go home and not sit down:  not on the couch, not at the desk, not on the bed, not in the tub.  I will not eat them Sam I am, I will not eat green eggs and ham!  Tonight I shall finish the housework, tomorrow and Thursday will be nights of writing.  No more excuses!  Only achieving the goals I set forth.  Running for the ribbon at the end of the race.  It's time I prove to myself that I can do whatever I set my mind to.  I'm reminded of lyrics to one of my new favorite songs (Sunshine by Barley Legal):  "Take a leap of faith, hop in to the deep end, we may be broken but we are alive, come on get in, the water feels just fine."  Yes, Mr. Carver, yes it does!


In another week, I will be venturing into even more unchartered waters... the vast ocean that is the world of novel writing.  A dear friend and I will be starting our first co-written mystery book that, with lots of blood, sweat, tears and, oh yeah, LUCK will be one of a series.  As I'm sure you understand, I'm not going to go into any details but I will say this:  it'll be as wild, crazy and quirky as we are!  To kick this project off right, the two of us will be traveling to LA for a little...uh...inspiration?  Yeah, inspiration!  So we hit the beach, a bar or two, mingle with the locals while we are at it... never hurt anyone, right?


We'll also be starting to pay a little more attention to our joint blog ScroungyPizza (http://scroungypizza.blogspot.com/) where we will making a really exciting new announcement VERY shortly!  Please check it out!






Current Read:  Me, Myself and Why by MaryJanice Davidson
Current Click:  Tonight's new episode of NCIS

What I really want to do is...

So I REALLY should be working on my novel (or one of my many other partially started writing projects). I told myself I was going to lock myself in this weekend and make some headway on this stuff. Mostly, writing is very therapeutic for me. It's an outlet for me to help clear my head of all of the random thoughts that float around in my head on a daily basis... a way for me to let the "scripts" (as my mom calls them) escape so I don't have to stress over them anymore. But still I sit here with Word open and I toggle back and forth between the different windows, one for every semi-written plot. I honestly just don't know where to start. It's not that I don't have the drive to write. I'm actually very excited to see where the characters take the stories. 


*le sigh* Guess the night is still young...



Current Craving:  Movie Theatre Popcorn (with butter of course)
Current Tunes:     Leave the Light On - Beth Hart

Hooray for Hollywood!

This past weekend allowed me to cross a ton of things off my Bucket List:

1)  First solo road trip to Hollywood

2)  Right against the stage...

3)  ...for Toad the Wet Sprocket...

4)  ...at Key Club...

5)  ...on the Sunset Strip!

6)  Discovered new music (I'm always glad to find something new and unique to listen to)

7)  Chopped my hair

Ok, so it's not all true "Bucket List" type stuff, but it sure was incredible... except the haircut cut thing was a little scary...

I've been a HUGE fan of Toad the Wet Sprocket since high school (insert "old" joke here), and, thanks to my friends Shelle and Chris, I was able to see them in concert for the first time last September. As amazing as it was seeing them for the first time, it was equally amazing being so close to the stage I could have been sweat on! No offense, Todd :) The absolute highlight of my night was seeing "Crazy Life" performed live less than 5 feet from me!

And the new music I was introduced to: the two opening acts... A.MA.ZING!

Brandon Nathaniel is a young kid (well, younger than me... insert "old" joke #2 here) with a tremendous talent for songwriting and seriously rocks his acoustic guitar! He is truly living his dream and that in itself is purely inspirational. It takes A LOT of guts to put yourself out there like that. He single-handedly helped renew my passion in playing music and writing lyrics... and finishing on my novel...

To say that Barley Legal is a fun band to watch is a SEVERE understatement. I should preface this by saying that the stage at Key Club is not a vast expanse by any means. So when the guys started to take the stage, I had to count multiple times to make sure that there were... 9 members in the band?!? And as if that wasn't unique enough, their instruments then grabbed my attention: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboard... ok, pretty standard... wait! Is that a Hammond Organ? Saxaphone? Flute? Trumpet?... WASHBOARD??? What the heck were we in for? Hmmm... how do I put this... to me they definitely sound like California... kinda surf, a little ska, a teeny bit of country, but oh boy, can those guys harmonize! They have a fan base that is as wild and crazy as they are. And I am proud to now call myself a "Legalite" as well! I found out later that they are classified as "Americana"... whatever that is...

Overall, my trip was extremely motivating, but then again, every time I go to Southern California, I return with a renewed sense that I can take on the world. In fact, the more time I spend down there, the more difficult it is to drive the lonely highway home. Sometimes I feel like I belong in LA more than I do in Vegas...

So how did I cheer myself up? By getting the crap cut out of my hair! Well, to me I had a bunch hacked off... about 8"! I went from having long red hair to medium length chocolate brown with short blondish highlights. Mad love for my girl Crystal! And I didn't even shed one little tear :)

I'm ending this week with an improved drive to get my life going back in the right direction. After Friday night, I'm going to lock myself in my apartment, work on my novel, and not surface until Monday morning when I head back to the office for another fun-filled week of Art Direction (no sarcasm intended... really, I love my job).

Current Read: Perfume - Patrick Suskind

Current Tunes: All Your Stories - Barley Legal

Current Craving: Curry Chicken Soup from DW Bistro

Namaste...Here to stay!

So tonight, I rediscovered the pleasure of yoga and immediately decided that I'm going to make it a part of my everyday life. I forgot how much I love not only the exercise aspect but also how relaxed and "tall" it makes me feel. Sidebar: So those of you that know me, know that I'm...well...short (5'3" and yes, I round up!). No need for short jokes, I've heard them all. So when I say it makes me feel tall, I'm not sportin' my 4" Steve Maddens through my poses. Are you kidding? I'm also rather clumsy! I have been known to trip over flat surfaces and fall UP stairs...but only on days ending in "Y". Where was I? Oh yeah, tall...it opens me up and expands my awareness of my body, my mind, and the world around me. I know, it sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but if you have never done yoga, you really are missing out.


Tomorrow, I'll venture out to the Social Security Office to start the process of changing back to my maiden name. It'll be refreshing to finally finish washing that man outta my hair. Another step forward....very much ready to "officially" get back to being the real me!




Current Craving:   Vino Bambino Salad from Oregano's
Current Tunes:      Fear - Toad the Wet Sprocket
Current Click:       Ghost Hunters International - SyFy channel

New Year, New Me!

2010 is over and done...and THANK GOODNESS it is! It was a whirlwind of a year that was full of experiences I thought I'd never have...bankruptcy & divorce just to name two. But thanks to my wonderful family and awesome friends, I made it through! Now I'm stronger than ever and taking 2011 by storm. 


I've always loved to cook but have never been able to make an amount of food to feed any less than an army! I've rekindled my interest in books seem to be reading like a mad woman, enjoying all types of genres I never imagined I'd ever read. I also enjoy all types of movies and have an extremely eclectic taste in music. I adore traveling...even if it's just a quick weekend road trip to Utah or California.


So, dear readers, are ya with me? Joining me in my adventures for this amazing new year? I welcome your company! Here we go....


Current Craving: Chips & Salsa
Current Read:     Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward
Current Tunes:    The Elliot EP - Jakob Freely