No, this is not a story about how one should practice to the point of nausia to succeed.
It's just plain ole funny and I had to share it. Enjoy!
[written by ECHOWOOD on YesButNoButYes.com]
It was one of those things to check off the list. I was sure sleeping with Charlize Theron wasn't ever going to happen, nor was climbing Mount Everest due to my paralyzing fear of Tibetans. But the one item I had a shot at was playing Carnegie Hall. While I wouldn't consider myself an accomplished pianist, nor would I place myself in the camp of "musician", I know my way around the ivories enough to get by. So when my friend Mitch asked me to help him write and perform a song at Carnegie Hall, I figured it would be my one and only chance to say I'd played that hallowed hall.
And this was my first mistake.
read on...
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Press on...
These days leave me thinking, pondering, hoping and planning more than ever before. I am not of great wealth. My job ended in late Sept of last year and I have been working tirelessly to pull down any sort of design related work I can find. The hopes of a job offered was dashed when a last minute hiring freeze took place just after the offer was extended. 3 months of preparing for that job lost. Back to square one. Hundreds of resumes, countless bids, too many people going after the same jobs.
My thoughts on the economy these days are dark. I do not quite see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. Yet. We have a new president in office who has quite a load on his shoulders. I feel for him although I also feel good about him being in office. I am hopeful. It's more than one person can fix.
Signs of this wretched economy we've created are everywhere. I am acutely aware of it on a daily basis and it even haunts my dreams. I have always been very independent and enjoyed freelance/sole proprietorship and these days I am glad to have so much experience in this field as I feel it's my only source of reliance. The one thing I know I can count on is me. Not to exclude my friends and family but in the job sense and making it happen for me. Jobs offered, jobs taken away. Freelance is a tough road and you have to really want it. I love what I do although I went a few years of complete boredom with it. But it's a part of me and there is no sense in fighting it. So, I now try to relish it as I did years ago and work with what comes natural to me.
Not long ago I worked for a photographer, Melanie Acevedo. She does fantastic work and I was glad to have met her and her family. She was worked with some amazing magazines doing shoots all over the world. In the latter days of my working in her office we found out that House & Garden, a very well respected and developed magazine was closing (a Condé Nast publication). It was a sad day for many not only in the photography business but those that enjoyed all H&G brought into their lives. It was a wonderful magazine.
A bit of time has gone by and I come to find that another Condé Nast publication, Domino, is also closing it's doors. This was a magazine I read often and encouraged others like me to read as I knew they'd enjoy it. I'm very sad to see it go. Yes, it's just a magazine and no, I don't know anyone other than Melanie (who also shot for Domino) who is directly affected by this event but it's another sign of the pieces crumbling around us.
I watch the market everyday. It's scary to watch the numbers go down. I feel elated when I see a company I know of doing well. I see it's a rare sight. Some feel the pinch of the market more than others. Although I'm being generous with term "pinch" as for many of us, it's quite a bit more than that. And not quite as quick.
Greed, laziness and sheer ignorance are a few of the characteristics that I feel have brought us here. This is horrible but...I have to believe that it will act as a cleansing. Perhaps purging that which needed to be done but many just chose to ignore as that was the easier path, some hoping "it will just go away on it's own" and thus, a monster was created. Many are carrying the burden for those that should be doing it themselves and fixing the problems or dealing with the consequences. I will not name names (or companies).
Please pardon a rant but I just want to tell these companies to deal with the problems they've created and stop whining. Grab you own damn bootstraps and work it out as best you can like the rest of us are. If you fail, at least you failed trying to fix the problem. Not just asking for "Mommy & Daddy" to fix it when it's gone well beyond an easy fix and now others have to pay for your lack of good business practices. Do you see individuals asking for bailouts? I'm tempted to write to President Obama myself and ask his opinion on this. I'd feel his answer would truly be an interesting one. Actually, there is a list of people from which I'd love to hear the answer to that. Some were indulged a bit too much and now expect someone/everyone else to pick up their pieces. I'm trying to pick up my own pieces I cannot spare an ounce of pity for those that don't try to help themselves or ask for the help when things have gotten SO bad, are given it and then it's squandered away.
I have always enjoyed working with small businesses and watching them grow. I enjoy being a part of that and hope to continue to do so. Now more than ever I want to see the little guy make it. For I am one of the "little guys" and I know how it feels. I'm not opposed to big business but often those big businesses started from something small. I try to shop locally to help out the neighborhood where I live. I try to keep my business expenses within the U.S. whenever possible and thus far that has gone quite well. I'd rather spend a few more bucks keeping small businesses alive and well here than elsewhere as we need it too.
The U.S.A. could use some TLC right now. We need to not only look out to help our neighbors around the world but also not forget to take care of our own home too. All that works best does so from a strong foundation. And when you have a nation whose base is fragile (crumbling) and needs attention, how can we expect to help others?
How can one expect to make others happy when we ourselves are not?
When flying one of the first things they do is tell you the safety plans should something happen. They say that you must put your own oxygen mask on first so as to be able to help others. It's true, how can one expect others to live when we are gasping for air and have not the energy nor ability to do it ourselves?
I could go on. But enough said.
We must work hard. Think outside the box. Help others if we can. And truly make smart decisions. We are not done with these hard times. They are going to get worse I fear and it will not be a quick fix. But in order to make it happen, we have to keep ourselves strong and work together.
If you'd read this far, thank you for doing so.
Make your bright future as best you can. Try hard. Never give up. Make smart decisions. This is not a time for rashness.
"Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." - Calvin Coolidge 1872
Thank you, Dad for giving me this tiny piece of paper with this quote on it so many years ago. I take it with me everywhere I go.
My thoughts on the economy these days are dark. I do not quite see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. Yet. We have a new president in office who has quite a load on his shoulders. I feel for him although I also feel good about him being in office. I am hopeful. It's more than one person can fix.
Signs of this wretched economy we've created are everywhere. I am acutely aware of it on a daily basis and it even haunts my dreams. I have always been very independent and enjoyed freelance/sole proprietorship and these days I am glad to have so much experience in this field as I feel it's my only source of reliance. The one thing I know I can count on is me. Not to exclude my friends and family but in the job sense and making it happen for me. Jobs offered, jobs taken away. Freelance is a tough road and you have to really want it. I love what I do although I went a few years of complete boredom with it. But it's a part of me and there is no sense in fighting it. So, I now try to relish it as I did years ago and work with what comes natural to me.
Not long ago I worked for a photographer, Melanie Acevedo. She does fantastic work and I was glad to have met her and her family. She was worked with some amazing magazines doing shoots all over the world. In the latter days of my working in her office we found out that House & Garden, a very well respected and developed magazine was closing (a Condé Nast publication). It was a sad day for many not only in the photography business but those that enjoyed all H&G brought into their lives. It was a wonderful magazine.
A bit of time has gone by and I come to find that another Condé Nast publication, Domino, is also closing it's doors. This was a magazine I read often and encouraged others like me to read as I knew they'd enjoy it. I'm very sad to see it go. Yes, it's just a magazine and no, I don't know anyone other than Melanie (who also shot for Domino) who is directly affected by this event but it's another sign of the pieces crumbling around us.
I watch the market everyday. It's scary to watch the numbers go down. I feel elated when I see a company I know of doing well. I see it's a rare sight. Some feel the pinch of the market more than others. Although I'm being generous with term "pinch" as for many of us, it's quite a bit more than that. And not quite as quick.
Greed, laziness and sheer ignorance are a few of the characteristics that I feel have brought us here. This is horrible but...I have to believe that it will act as a cleansing. Perhaps purging that which needed to be done but many just chose to ignore as that was the easier path, some hoping "it will just go away on it's own" and thus, a monster was created. Many are carrying the burden for those that should be doing it themselves and fixing the problems or dealing with the consequences. I will not name names (or companies).
Please pardon a rant but I just want to tell these companies to deal with the problems they've created and stop whining. Grab you own damn bootstraps and work it out as best you can like the rest of us are. If you fail, at least you failed trying to fix the problem. Not just asking for "Mommy & Daddy" to fix it when it's gone well beyond an easy fix and now others have to pay for your lack of good business practices. Do you see individuals asking for bailouts? I'm tempted to write to President Obama myself and ask his opinion on this. I'd feel his answer would truly be an interesting one. Actually, there is a list of people from which I'd love to hear the answer to that. Some were indulged a bit too much and now expect someone/everyone else to pick up their pieces. I'm trying to pick up my own pieces I cannot spare an ounce of pity for those that don't try to help themselves or ask for the help when things have gotten SO bad, are given it and then it's squandered away.
I have always enjoyed working with small businesses and watching them grow. I enjoy being a part of that and hope to continue to do so. Now more than ever I want to see the little guy make it. For I am one of the "little guys" and I know how it feels. I'm not opposed to big business but often those big businesses started from something small. I try to shop locally to help out the neighborhood where I live. I try to keep my business expenses within the U.S. whenever possible and thus far that has gone quite well. I'd rather spend a few more bucks keeping small businesses alive and well here than elsewhere as we need it too.
The U.S.A. could use some TLC right now. We need to not only look out to help our neighbors around the world but also not forget to take care of our own home too. All that works best does so from a strong foundation. And when you have a nation whose base is fragile (crumbling) and needs attention, how can we expect to help others?
How can one expect to make others happy when we ourselves are not?
When flying one of the first things they do is tell you the safety plans should something happen. They say that you must put your own oxygen mask on first so as to be able to help others. It's true, how can one expect others to live when we are gasping for air and have not the energy nor ability to do it ourselves?
I could go on. But enough said.
We must work hard. Think outside the box. Help others if we can. And truly make smart decisions. We are not done with these hard times. They are going to get worse I fear and it will not be a quick fix. But in order to make it happen, we have to keep ourselves strong and work together.
If you'd read this far, thank you for doing so.
Make your bright future as best you can. Try hard. Never give up. Make smart decisions. This is not a time for rashness.
"Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." - Calvin Coolidge 1872
Thank you, Dad for giving me this tiny piece of paper with this quote on it so many years ago. I take it with me everywhere I go.
Monday, January 26, 2009
a picture says it all
One word comes to mind when I saw this poor, pathetic bike (what was left of it) locked to a post on the sidewalk.....lazy.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Music, more music, fresh bread, fresh fruit and fish with the heads still on...
[To preface this post I want to mention that I'm doing a full-year exercise on photo-taking. It's simply to take one photo a day. Most will be snapshots. There's more to it but pretty much it means you will all be seeing lots of random pix throughout 2009. Some of you know I've been pretty busy with work, getting work, keeping work and so on so I'm a bit distracted and might miss a day or two here and there. However, I will make up for it. It is an exercise after all.]
Friday I went to see I think it was 6 bands play at the Tribeca location 92St Y. We missed the first band, caught the 2nd, wished me'd missed that one but the rest of the bands were interesting and fun to watch. A friend of my friend was playing, Hazmat Modine. Ive seen them play before and it's quite a show. Many things going on but the music is tight, varied and fun to watch. As I'm a bit of a fan of gypsy-type music and Slavic Soul Party was the closer and they had a singer with them who was not present last I saw them. I have no idea what she was saying as I think it was in Russian (??) but it sure did sound killer. Here are some pix.
Of course, Rockband plays a role in many of my weekends with my best bud. Good thing he lives alone. (You know who you are...big hugs)
Woke up late to enjoy a mellow morning of coffee, fresh bread (literally!) and fresh fruit. I love doing that.
Sat eve I made an apple pie from some of the best apples around in Long Island where we went to his parents house for dinner (fish w/fish heads, yes, it was delicious). I haven't made an apple pie in a LONG time but it turned out pretty well. It was accompanied by homemade vanilla ice cream and trust me when I say that it was even better than it sounds! Huge nummers on that one! I'd love to take the credit but it was all someone elses patience and time. Sorry, no pie pix...didn't think of it! If you want the recipe, let me know.
Once back in the city there was a blanket of snow on everything. It was stunning. We went through Central Park in the evening in the snow, through the Ramble. Very pretty. Very quiet. The best way to do it. The sky was pink through the trees, the snow softly crunched beneath our feet, water tripped on rocks and people walked by silently enjoying the peace and quiet not heard too often in the city. Here are some pix...
Sunday was a blur except for more Rockband, yes, we Rock! Monday...back to work.
Friday I went to see I think it was 6 bands play at the Tribeca location 92St Y. We missed the first band, caught the 2nd, wished me'd missed that one but the rest of the bands were interesting and fun to watch. A friend of my friend was playing, Hazmat Modine. Ive seen them play before and it's quite a show. Many things going on but the music is tight, varied and fun to watch. As I'm a bit of a fan of gypsy-type music and Slavic Soul Party was the closer and they had a singer with them who was not present last I saw them. I have no idea what she was saying as I think it was in Russian (??) but it sure did sound killer. Here are some pix.
Of course, Rockband plays a role in many of my weekends with my best bud. Good thing he lives alone. (You know who you are...big hugs)
Woke up late to enjoy a mellow morning of coffee, fresh bread (literally!) and fresh fruit. I love doing that.
Sat eve I made an apple pie from some of the best apples around in Long Island where we went to his parents house for dinner (fish w/fish heads, yes, it was delicious). I haven't made an apple pie in a LONG time but it turned out pretty well. It was accompanied by homemade vanilla ice cream and trust me when I say that it was even better than it sounds! Huge nummers on that one! I'd love to take the credit but it was all someone elses patience and time. Sorry, no pie pix...didn't think of it! If you want the recipe, let me know.
Once back in the city there was a blanket of snow on everything. It was stunning. We went through Central Park in the evening in the snow, through the Ramble. Very pretty. Very quiet. The best way to do it. The sky was pink through the trees, the snow softly crunched beneath our feet, water tripped on rocks and people walked by silently enjoying the peace and quiet not heard too often in the city. Here are some pix...
Sunday was a blur except for more Rockband, yes, we Rock! Monday...back to work.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Technology Recycling Drive: NYC
Hey everyone-Finally, something you can do with that old computer, phone, fax, printer or whatever and stop using it as a kitty perch or dust collector. Get rid of it!
Tekserve is having their annual recycle old electronics again. Don't throw it in the garbage! Give it to Tekserve to find it a home and/or recycle it properly!
3rd Annual Technology Recycling Drive
Saturday, January 10th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tekserve has teamed up again with the Lower East Side Ecology Center to offer free electronics recycling on Saturday, January 10th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Recyclable items include computers, monitors, fax machines, copiers, DVD or VCR players, radios, telephones, cell phones, televisions, cameras, and stereo equipment.
Certain fully working electronics can also be donated to Materials for the Arts, a reuse initiative to get lightly-used electronics into the welcoming hands of NYC Department of Education classroom students and arts and cultural programs in-need throughout the five boroughs. Check these donation details to see if your equipment qualifies as a tax-deductable donation.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept home appliances such as microwaves, stoves, refrigerators and air conditioners. The components in many electronics can be incredibly hazardous to the environment - contributing up to 70% of the toxins found in landfills - so it's important that they are properly recycled.
For more info: http://www.tekserve.com/service/recycling.php
Sunday, January 4, 2009
I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing
(personal note: With a warm heart I think of my friend when I read this poem)
I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing,
All alone stood it and the moss hung down from the branches,
Without any companion it stood there uttering joyous leaves of dark green,
And its look, rude, unbending, lusty, made me think of myself,
But I wondered how it could utter joyous leaves standing alone there
without its friend near, for I knew I could not,
And I broke off a twig with a certain number of leaves upon it,
and twined around it a little moss,
And brought it away, and I have placed it in sight in my room,
It is not needed to remind me as of my own dear friends,
(For I believe lately I think of little else than of them,)
Yet it remains to me a curious token, it makes me think of manly love;
For all that, and though the live-oak glistens there in Louisiana
solitary in a wide flat space,
Uttering joyous leaves all its life without a friend or lover near,
I know very well I could not.
I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing,
All alone stood it and the moss hung down from the branches,
Without any companion it stood there uttering joyous leaves of dark green,
And its look, rude, unbending, lusty, made me think of myself,
But I wondered how it could utter joyous leaves standing alone there
without its friend near, for I knew I could not,
And I broke off a twig with a certain number of leaves upon it,
and twined around it a little moss,
And brought it away, and I have placed it in sight in my room,
It is not needed to remind me as of my own dear friends,
(For I believe lately I think of little else than of them,)
Yet it remains to me a curious token, it makes me think of manly love;
For all that, and though the live-oak glistens there in Louisiana
solitary in a wide flat space,
Uttering joyous leaves all its life without a friend or lover near,
I know very well I could not.
- Walt WhitmanThere is a Pleasure in the Pathless woods
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.
-Byron
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