Shameless Self-Promotion

I know I haven't done this much and for my benefit should probably do this more. But here is a shameless plug for a few different projects that I've been working over the last year or so. I'm proud to have been included in all of these.

Perspective

Pet peeve of the day; people that say they're tattooed from head to toe and have no tattoos in near vicinity of their head or toes. Much less, many of these people have tattoos that are barely visible when even immodestly dressed. The term "tattooed from head to toe" should be reserved for those that have committed to having tattoos in highly visible places. Where, when someone walking down the street would obviously say, "Damn, they're tattooed from head to toe."

Yet another pet peeve is when these so called "tattooed" people are showing pictures around the internet about how they're "Tattooed and Employed." But in the pictures they are clearly covering any visibility of their tattoos while at work. I submit that these people are not tattooed and employed, they are hiding their tattoos to keep their employment. If you want to impress me by saying you're tattooed and employed then show me that you, more so your company, is not afraid of allowing you the freedom to showcase your artwork while in your work environment.

Changing Tides

Things in life change so fast. There is definitely something to be learned about embracing the impermanent. Trying to imagine anything being permanent in my life on any level is just absurd. To cheekily quote a movie, "Everything that has a beginning has an end."

Coming back around after years of school, struggle, and so-called stability an awareness of the universe keeps me in check. I understand that in the realm of this grandiose universe that is vast and unending, life is precious. We have such little time spent in this life that it would be almost disrespectful to waste any of it.

There can be so much time in the day when time wasted on Facebook, Pinterest, or Youtube is restored.  I often find myself with seemingly nothing to do when I actively keep myself away from any of those social media sites. After that time has been restored I have more than enough time to practice, hold extra rehearsals, and even update my blog.

Keeping and retaining focus for long periods of time is becoming harder and harder these days. Time to build toward greater things. Someone put the idea of being a "monster player" in my head. I believe its possible, will just take time to properly acquire the mental focus to take my playing to the next level.

Value of Impermanence

Beautiful idea. Everyone together working as individuals create this space that over time becomes one and at the end it all gets painted over and ends. Beautiful idea.

Value of Impermanence

Beautiful idea. Everyone together working as individuals create this space that over time becomes one and at the end it all gets painted over and ends.  Beautiful idea.

Dreams

It's no wonder that it's hard to leave old feelings behind. How a simple dream can bring back so many emotions, frustrations of being lost in an oblivion of fear and doubt. What is right is wrong anymore.

Tattoos and Life

I've been seeing a lot more these days of people trying to make the work-place more accepting of tattoos. Although I do believe that this is an honorable cause I think that I prefer to make the Job or money making scheme fit the tattoos that I choose to get. I don't feel that limiting ones decisions or creative outlet is a proper way to make a living or more so a life.

Most would say that this is a decision that I would regret because I won't be able to get a proper job. I'll leave the proper jobs to those that want/need them. I'm perfectly happy performing tasks that the average person these days is unhappy doing. And by average I quite honestly mean lazy and unmotivated. Since I was 14 years old I have been performing physical tasks for work such as landscaping, washing dishes, running backstage at a theatre. Sure there have been many jobs that were immobile and sedentary at a desk, those were the ones that I hated the most and were the hardest to go to on a daily basis.

But at this point in time, this job is one that I cannot just discard by the wayside like so many others have been. I must find a balance that will allow me to continue forward making the money necessary to perform the tasks that I've set forth. Unfortunately there is only a choice of all or nothing, if the tasks can't be be achieved then all of the work, effort, sweat, blood, and tears will have been for nothing. So it comes down to 10 months of hard work. If I can just put my head down and trudge through these last few tasks, they are and will be by far the hardest so far, I can make it to the other side Graduated with a trip to Italy in tow for a small bit of relaxing along with some final studying.

Work, Practice, Exercise, and Studying are the only tasks on the list for the next 10 months. Obviously there are things that need to be done and thought about along the way but each one has its time and place. I leave you with this quote which is my focus for this year, this time in my life with so much to do....so much to gain.

"Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, as well as it can be done, and do it that way every time." - Philip Toshio Sudo