Resolutions (a little late).
Hello, friends.
This post is getting later and later every year. I did attempt to write this one on New Year’s Day, but I wasn’t quite ready. The first week of January, I was still baking Christmas cookies for people I hadn’t seen yet during the season. So as far as I’m concerned, it’s around January 10 right now. Which is still late for a resolutions post, but I am who I am. Every year, I get a sense of renewal. THIS is the year things will happen. THIS is the year I will stick to my resolutions and make something of myself and my music. And it’s not as if things haven’t been happening. They have. Just a lot more slowly than I would have hoped. I’m the quick-fix, easy solutions girl, remember? But I have already taken steps this year to make things happen. I shipped 305 CDs and a one sheet to Tinderbox Music. They, in turn, unwrapped the CDs, stuffed and labeled a bunch of envelopes and sent them off to 300 radio stations across the United States. If all goes well, DJs will hear and love my music and want other people to hear and love it, too. Starting today, and for the next eight weeks, I will get reports of which stations may have picked me up and which songs they’re playing and how often. My fingers are crossed. Toes, too. I would cross my eyes, but it would make writing this post very difficult. In other news, I have agreed to let some old friends of mine use my music in their independent film. I keep getting very exciting news about said film, but I must keep it under wraps for now. I don't want to spoil the ending, and I don’t want to get my hopes up TOO high. But I will say that these old friends of mine are some of the most talented people I know, and they’re not passive about this film. Things are happening to move it along every day. In fact, if you'd like to keep up with it, you can like them on Facebook. Ok, and now the list you’ve been waiting for all year (ha, I kid). Truth be told, I’m still not sure what’s going on this list, but here goes: 1. Continue to make things happen. No more excuses. If music is my priority, then let it be my priority. There will be plenty of time to take care of other things. 2. Continue to cultivate my friendships. Make more phone calls, write more letters, read more friends’ blogs, check their statuses more often (I made a close friends list so they’re the first ones that pop up). 3. Keep the post office in business. This goes along with #2. Write more letters. And if I plan on saving the post office, I’d better get a move on. I haven’t written a single letter yet this year. 4. Learn when to say, "yes." Learn how to say, "no." 5. Give myself credit, and cut myself some slack. 6. Update the site more frequently. News is news, no matter how big or small. And it's even more overwhelming when I try to save it all up and do one big update (read, procrastinate). That's it for this year. No long lists or impossible goals. See that? I'm living by number 5 already. A belated happy new year! xo, Nancy M. The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. Oprah Winfrey It's that time of year again.
A friend of mine just posted something on Facebook about tomorrow being just tomorrow, not a miraculous, shiny, new beginning. I am aware of the truth of this statement. No one will wake up without those nagging last 5 lbs or a clean house or sudden financial freedom.
But I am a dreamer, and a traditionalist, and I will still reflect on this year and make plans to change in the next one. Yes, tomorrow is "just tomorrow," but I will try to wake up with a clear head and a new perspective. I admit, however, that I already have a to-do list to finish tomorrow before dinner time. I learned a lot about myself this year. My strenghts and weaknesses, my talents, and my relationships. It was definitely a year of reflection. Next year I'm sure I will reflect more. I sat down with the intention of writing my resolutions, but I think I'm still reflecting. So I'll finish this later. It will most likely not be today or tomorrow, so I wish you a very, very happy and healthy New Year. xo, Nancy Rise and shine!
Good morning. It is 6:43 in the AM. I don't have to be up for another two hours, but here I am. A perfect time to blog, no?
What have I been up to, you ask? Well, last month (or was it two months ago?) I had the chance to be in a studio again, recording some backing vocals and a duet with my good friend, Nate Clendenen. And though it wasn't my own music, I had an amazing time with some AMAZING musicians. I felt inspired and somewhat exhilirated, the way I did when I was recording The One to Shine. So I immediately (well, almost immediately), called up another good friend, Kyle Swartzwelder, who just happens to do a little recording in his apartment, and made a date for last Sunday. And then, I got in a car accident. Not a bad one - no injuries except to my beloved Prius. But borrowing cars and bumming rides sort of put a delay on the aforementioned recording plans. Beware distracted driving. No, I was not texting, but my eyes were not on the road at that particular moment, and I felt foolish and terrible after it happened. The nice lady's bike-rack-outfitted SUV did a number on me. But, luckily, the Prius was not totaled (thank you, green movement, for adding addtional value to my 7 year old, 160,000 mile vehicle) - (I should mention that only 140,000 of those miles are mine, and I've had it for 4.5 years, so that comes out to roughly 31,000 miles per year and you can now see why it is so beloved (and necessary)). I am anxiously awaiting its return this week (fingers crossed). Another recording date will be planned. Expect an EP at some point next year. Details to follow, of course. I have otherwise been spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Birthdays, retirements, and, let's be honest here - writer's block - have produced a steady stream of baked goods and recipe experiments. I am now subscribed to no fewer than seven food blogs (does Cake Wrecks count?) and my domesticity has skyrocketed. The approaching holiday season will only make it worse. Or better. Cookies galore. I've also been spending a ton of time on Pinterest. I would not say I'm addicted - yet - but there is certainly a lot of time wasted on it. No, let me rephrase. It is not wasted, as there is a certain amount of creativity involved, but to me, it's kind of akin to video games vs. outside play. I'm not getting the hands on experience. Or the exercise. Or the social interaction. . . Note to self: this is the perfect time to actually MAKE some of the things I see on Pinterest. It is, afterall, gift giving time. There are more changes ahead in my future. I'll keep you posted. Ooh, are you on the edge of your seat? "Good things come to those who wait." (This is actually a Proverb, but I'm sure we all think of Heinz ketchup and a guy running down the stairs of his apartment building with a hot dog. It's ok. Go with it.) p.s. UPDATE. The auto-body shop just called - my car is DONE!!!! I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. The name game.
Let me start by saying this: I LOVE my name. Both my first and last names are very important to me.
I was named after my Aunt Nancy. She passed away several years before I was born, but having her name makes me feel closer to her. When I was in high school, my grandmother gave me Aunt Nancy’s old sewing machine, and then I went on to study costuming in college. I'm pretty sure some of Mom's old vinyls were actually Aunt Nancy's, and I like to think that she and I would have bonded over some Joni Mitchell and vintage sewing patterns. As for my last name, I realize it's hard to read, pronounce, and remember. But I'm proud of it. I come from a long line of artisans - silk makers, trunk makers, a sculptor. My siblings are all creative, too – it just runs in the family. I’ve gotten very used to having this name. Over the years, I’ve developed a rhythm when spelling it. M as in Mary, ICC, IU, LLA. They called my Grandfather “Mitch”, and I’ve gotten that nickname, too, at different points in my life. I like having a family nickname. Anyway, what I’m getting at here is that my name is extremely sentimental, and as you may have realized, I am an extremely sentimental person. But lately, I have been toying with the idea of changing my name, or maybe using only a part of it, for stage purposes. I don't want to go for something grand like Gaga or Madonna, or something cutesy like Britney or Katy. I don't want to abandon my identity. So I've decided that I'll just be going by Nancy M. I realize, of course, that this requires a lot of work. I have to create a new brand - get my logo redone (or get a new one altogether), change my business cards, change my website. But this is ok with me. Most of you reading this are friends or long time fans, and the change won't be a big deal. And perhaps someday, I'll be able to change BACK to my full name. If Prince can do it, why can't I? :-) Ok friends. That's all for today. I'll keep you posted on the changes as they happen. It'll be slow going, but it'll go. And today's quote is apropos (though obvious): "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." -William Shakespeare A pretty good year.
I have a confession to make. More to myself than to anyone who may be reading this, but still. I cracked open my journal last night, and I haven't written in it in nearly a year! Shame on me. When I come across articles about how to cure writer's block (which I'm in the middle of), the first thing they say is to write every day - even if it's not something "creative." Oops.
But that's not the point. The point is, in addition to actually writing in the journal, I actually went back and read all of my entries from March through October of last year, and I can say with absolute certainty that I have made a ton of progress - personally, creatively, emotionally, and financially. Thank goodness. Moving on. This blog has become more about the personal than the business. That's partially due to the fact that there hasn't been much business. Not in the realm of original music, anyway. Rest assured, I am working on this, as I'm rather restless. I have do have new music ready to record, and few new songs in the works. Online sales are steadily increasing (albeit in Europe). And even though I perform more cover music than originals (I DO live at the beach, afterall), there are people at my gigs who know and ask for my original music. And I keep my identities separate so that people know MY name with MY music, and they know GINGER for covers. And speaking of names, I'm thinking of changing mine - not drastically, of course. But that's another blog for another day. Next time. One more thing, though. I noticed my last couple of blogs did not end with quotes. Shame on me again! Here is one to ponder. . . “Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them.” ― Adlai Stevenson To-dos.
My brain, on any given day, is swarming with thoughts of to-dos. Have-to-dos, want-to-dos, would-rather-dos, could-dos, can-dos, would-love-to-dos, and wish-I-could-dos. Songs I could write, crafts I could craft, cakes I could whip up, business ventures I could start in the hopes of making lots of money really fast so I could perhaps take care of the aforementioned have-to-dos and move on to the more desirable wish-I-could-dos.
I have a long list of books to read. A book full of jewelry and craft projects I want to start. An entire bookshelf of cookbooks with mouthwatering recipes to try. I could make a little catalog of all of my various crafts - maybe sell them at Christmas. Ornaments. Jewelry. Paintings. Cookies. I've just taken up crocheting, too, as if I needed another hobby. I have just scratched the surface of what goes through my head on a daily basis. The problem is that I have just as many, if not more, "buts." And while it seems as if I'm doing nothing to make the "to-dos" happen, that is not the case. I am tackling the "buts" first. And doing very well. Oops.
I had not intended to let this much time pass since my last blog. But I say that every time, don't I? Clearly, setting a little reminder in my phone to write a weekly blog on Tuesdays has not worked. Week after week, I simply put a little check mark, indicating that it's done.
My name is Nancy, and I am a procrastinator. I often wonder how to fix this about myself, but in true fashion, I get overwhelmed at the prospect and then just stay the same. Maybe I'll make a mid-year resolution. Who says I have to wait until the New Year? Saturday is my birthday, so it's MY new year. I will be less of a procrastinator and more of doer. No matter how overwhelmed I am, I only make it worse by waiting. In like a lion. . .Happy March! The year is already one-sixth over. Did it seem to go quickly for anyone else, or am I crazy? Or am I just crazy for divinding it into sixths? I can't help it. I'm a bank teller now. My days go by in numbers. Movin' on up!
It's a dreary day here at the beach. Cloudy, drizzling, cool. The weather channel says it's 52 degrees, but it certainly doesn't feel that way. It's good weather for relaxing and regrouping. Cleaning up and cleaning out. I'm actually moving, again, in three weeks. I'm staying at the beach - just moving into a new apartment. A change of scenery, if you will.
The apartment we found is incredible. It's straight out of the 50s, with a bunch of little details that make it extremely unique. We have an old fashioned elevator with a sliding grate. It doesn't work, but it still looks cool. We have a NuTone In-Built Food Center. I'm in the process of scouring eBay to find the accessories for it. It's all knotty pine, with oak beams, cedar lined closets. A huge great room, a bigger bedroom, dual vanities in the bathroom, with aluminum tiling. This couch (aside from the price) would be perfect. This week we're off to the thrift and antique stores to find some nifty stuff. I'm excited! Easy?
It's Tuesday morning/almost afternoon.
I'm on my couch, watching The Price is Right, and wishing I could go on some game show and win gobs of money, thereby solving my financial problems and lifting the giant weight off my chest. I'd kick butt on Wheel of Fortune. There I go again, looking for quick fixes and easy ways out. Oy. Well this might get the record for shortest blog post ever (by me - who knows what else is out there?). But I'm off to do some research and beading. Oh, and to ship an order I received over the weekend! Woohoo! But of course, a quote first. . . All things are difficult before they are easy. ~ Thomas Fuller xo, Nancy |