Attention Span

Sing something happy.
Dance like you command the stage.
Keep them wondering enough to flip to the next page.
Ask them something that moves them to the core.
Paint mountains with your emotions, just keep them wanting more.

Current Obsessions

1) Skrillex. I'm officially obsessed with dubstep.

2) Society6.com. This spot is overflowing with incredible art.

Found a new desktop image for my computer!

3) The Hunger Games - by Suzanne Collins

4) Sunshine. (I spend 5 billion hours in a classroom these days)

5) My happy thoughts box.... a box where I, along with any visitors to my house submit positive thoughts. Gandhi, Jimi Hendrix, Eleanor Roosevelt quotes, smiley face doodles, fortune cookie messages... you name it. The other day I found my name placed in there (nice!) and apparently a BLT sandwich with avocados is a happy thought. Not hugely inspiring and I personally don't like tomatoes or avocados, but whatever floats your boat.

6) SUCKERPUNCH SOUNDTRACK.

So I saw a screening of this movie about 6 months before it was released in theaters. At the end of the movie I had to fill out a detailed questionnaire about the plot, actors, changes I would suggest, etc.  I ranked the film as a whole a 2 out 5 and gave Vanessa Hudgen's acting job a 1 out 5. (Hah) The only reason that I left the screening totally stoked out of my mind was because of the kick ass soundtrack. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxuwsHOOZx0

7) Lean Pockets

8) "Hint Of" Water

9) Arizona Light Arnold Palmer Iced Tea

10) Subway Sandwiches.

"Pop Art"

I recently finished reading The Philosophy of Andy Warhol by Andy Warhol. His thoughts about art, style, wealth, life and love have completely changed how I look at things. The other day I was on my MacBook and I was taking pictures on Photo Booth. Something hit me. What would Andy Warhol think of the "Pop Art" photo option on Mac computers? Would he be proud or horrified? I'd love to know. He loved the TV. He loved the telephone. He loved his cassette tapes. So maybe he'd love computers? But maybe he'd hate seeing his odd, "pimply" face that he was so self conscious about in his computer screen. Maybe he'd hate his style being recreated. I've put way too much thought into this. I just got curious. He was a strange dude.

Iktomi

So I'm writing a new song. It's me addressing the fact that I am an antisocial, awkward turtle. It is also my way of advising myself how NOT to be an antisocial, awkward turtle. So I'm writing lyrics about letting go of misery and being free, yadda yadda. I needed a word that rhymed with misery and nothing was coming to mind so I decided to look online. I typed on my Blackberry Google App, "What rhymes with misery?"

Answers: Fishery, Rotisserie, Artillery, Rescissory, Missionary, Iktomi (Spider God Native American) Give To Me, Hurt Me (Doesn't rhyme at all) 

Thank you rhyme dictionary. 

I ended up using the word "Symphony" which was not on the list.

Current Pet Peeve

Your Twitter "About Me" section says:

Actor, Model, Dancer, Singer, Artist, Performer. 

Check me out on __________ (Insert Title of TV Show or Movie) 

With a link to your IMDB Page.

Please, just STOP.

Battle Studies and Falling Back in Love

On August 22nd, 2010 John Mayer changed my life. I had my heart re-broken, cried, laughed then fell BACK in love. I'm one hundred percent dead serious. So it goes a little something like this. He started with an interesting introduction set. He called it "John Mayer opening for John Mayer." For this four song intro he played with the pianist Brad Mehldau. He started out with "Wind Cries Mary" by Jimi Hendrix. Unfortunately I heard those first three chords and I instantly knew what he was playing and I wanted to kill myself. (Long story)  But everything gets better from there. He proceeded to do several amazing covers including "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin combined with "Stop this Train." Ahh breathtaking. Then Bittersweet Symphony. 

So here are the major highlights. "Vultures." It's my ringtone. You'd think that I'd want to scream because I hear that guitar riff every time my phone rings, but it was killer. A few more amazing songs, then John Mayer started reading my mind and things got really freaky. In his intro to "Perfectly Lonely" he started doing his adorable, goofy, charming thing. He said something along these lines "Sometimes being single sucks. You're sitting at home on a Friday or Saturday night and your phone isn't buzzing. No one seems like they want to hang out. No one can make up their mind about what they want to do until 1:30 in the morning. (STORY OF MY LIFE. Refer to previous entry) This song is my way of trying to make being single okay. I kind of like it because I can go to a party and dance like this (horrible, embarrassing dance moves) and not have to apologize or explain myself. This is for all you single people out there!" Hell yeah. So he read my mind once. 

Then two songs later he starts to explain the song "Heartbreak Warfare." He says "How many of you have had your heart broken? How many of you have given someone 100% and they've given you 4%? How many of you dated someone who bought you tickets to this concert and broke up with you and they are here with someone else and you still came out?" 

That would be me. 

Red wine and ambien you're talking shit again. 

A couple of tears, then a trillion laughs. That man is sooooo funny. Then he's shredding a solo with his guitar flat on the floor for Gravity and singing his heart out. Then he says "Please LA take me in. I wake up every morning feeling like there are unlimited opportunities in this city and I end up drunk in the asshole of Los Angeles. PLEASE TAKE ME TO WHERE YOU GO!?  Uhmmmm gladly. He managed to squeeze in his "deep cut" from the album, "Do You Know Me." A feather in my hand. A flower in your hair. I do yoga to that song. I love it. I cried. Then things got crazy for last song. "Half of My Heart" combined with "Don't Stop Believing." So much energy it was insane. 

Then the encore. Cried again. "Edge of Desire." One of the most beautiful songs in the world. I melted. John Mayer told us to tell someone how we really feel. "Send that text message. Invite someone you really care about over tonight." It was a cute, genuine attempt on his part to tell us to follow our hearts. I unfortunately didn't gather the courage to do that, but I'm working on it. Also working on my shredding. I will play with you in the near future Mr. Mayer. I love you (even though you pimp every female A list celebrity and you drop the N word in interviews.) 

Lonely Predicaments and Art

So it's official. I cry nearly every Friday and Saturday night. I see it as a discreet, disguised "fuck you." On those nights the static from my guitar doesn't quite cut it. Some company would be nice... but ironically I create the best art on Friday and Saturday nights. I start playing music to get my mind off of my lonely predicament. Then I start thinking about what I'm doing. I start over thinking the creation process. "Art is completely limitless." I get overwhelmed. I also want to create everything. NEW everything. Unheard of everything. Plus I'm a perfectionist. So think start to get crazy. "I'm an artist I can take this anywhere." The definition, the concept, the label it implies and allows a certain freedom that freaks me out. The other night I was lonely and this all hit me really hard. Friday and Saturday nights scare me. That is all.