November 26, 2011

The grocery store tried to pick a fight with me. but I won.

Sometimes I inappropriately think my life is more complicated than it is. or busier. or harder.
Then I get a grip.
It's just different. So. Sometimes that confuses me.
_____________________

let me explain:

It's Happening...




I am currently listening to the Orange Hanson CD. 

this means I have hit the point where I need it.


Some of you are freaking out because you have this music...
You even have Hanson Christmas. Which. 
By the way. is 

click above for a treat from 1998.


( I have spent more time in my life trying to tell people that Hanson is not just MMM Bop. although I can still jam out to that. easily.
 In all seriousness, they are on my list of good music. believe it or not. Sermon over.) 

I am also wearing my glasses that help me focus. 





So things are looking ummm...shady.

Because severe deadlines have hit. 

and reality. 

as it does. 

showed its ugly face...



in the cereal aisle.



_______________




I had to get the dollar cereal.

But look. here is a good point- They have dollar cereal.
I mean. hi. yay.
There are only 4 choices. But one is the dollar version of Smacks.
And it has been 241 years since I had those last. So I am due.




Disclaimer- I have a hard time talking about the realities of my artistic leap. But I also feel like it is silly not to... because. it is part of it all.




It's just that I both laugh and cry inside when I am in stores these days. Grocery stores are hard because. well...

If it helps. I will make a chart.






(look at my chart title. see. I am full of details.)





_________________________



Here's the thing

I hit lows.








and then I call my friend who is an illustration-loving-trolley-riding treasure. and 
WE CRACK UP OVER OUR POSITION IN LIFE. 
WE LAUGH SO HARD on the phone in the grocery store.

and all of a sudden it is more funny than scary.
while we are both at the store at one moment shopping on opposite coasts for the cheapest apples.

FYI
Value = Bananas.

WHY ARE THEY SO CHEAP???!! 
 sh please tell no one. 
I think no one has noticed that their price is still from 1932. so yeah. this info is between you and me.
and if they are a buck tomorrow I am gonna know who spilled. And I am going to steal your 
$2.50 pomegranate.


.
__________________________



The other amazing thing I do to move forward
 is bombard artists that I love.

This started when I was young.
As mentioned above. I starting loving Hanson in middle school. I think I wrote Taylor Hanson 3 letters fully expecting he would contact me.
I mean. 

I worked on those letters. and edited them.


(HALT. WAIT. it started younger. I WROTE A FAN LETTER TO LISA FRANK in elementary school.)

YES. I SAID LISA FRANK.

dont even tell me you didn't appreciate the rainbow colored unicorns and dancing animals and sunglasses and well..click the link above and unicorn-techno-dreams is in the bottom right of the folder selection.

She was a staple from school supply shopping days of yesterday.


SHE NEVER REPLIED.


BUT. 

The grown up me ( I use that term subjectively) still contacts artists.

I feel an urge to tell people they are doing things right.

And I HAVE NEVER BEEN LET DOWN when I contact cool people. 


They say amazing things. 


I contacted this letterpress printer. I have mentioned him before - Amos Kennedy. And I told him-
Thank you for your documentary about leaving the corporate world and following your dream.




he wrote me back and I read his email one night when I was feeling the strain of 2 full time jobs.

He is fantastic.

He says- Proceed and Be Bold.

and in his email back to me he said
Enjoy your adventure.





(I have some of his prints. I want all of them) 

_____________________


And my friend Kelle... I reached out to her after I saw her blog for the first time.



You should read the birth story of her second daughter. it is beautiful.

*

*

*

 I said
Hi. You are hilarious, smart, crazy, and take striking pictures. but mostly I love your honesty. and the raw stories you tell.




And pretty immediately we decided we were born in the same hospital. and we hung out in neighboring little baby beds in the nursery. high-fived. said our goodbyes. were separated and found each other again via the internet.

Weird? 
YES.

BUT that is why we are cool.



_______



And friendships between artists and thinkers and DOERS are my favorite. 

I need to start shouting out to my people more often. because they keep me going. 

Because when you are looking for how to stretch a dollar. eventually that dollar breaks. 

And you need people. 

and

I am going to keep going, because I have a good feeling about things. 

______________________





See. This 12 year old wandered into my studio. smiled. and sincerely asked,
 "Why did you make all this stuff?"

I was silent for a second thinking of the answer when she threw her arms up and shrieked,
"OhhhhHHHHHH! IT JUST COMES OUTTA YOUR SOUUUULLL!!!!!"

I nodded and said,
"wow.yes. Exactly."

Then she looked around.

Smiled.

And hugged me big.




_______________________


And bam. I was full again.

_______________________




4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't reach out to people nearly as often as I should.
So i'm reaching out to say I adore your blog and i believe in you. and on nights like this when I feel alone and frustrated and none of my music is settling me I pull up your blog and fall asleep to the playlist you have.

xoxo
Shelby

Kelle said...

I freaking love this post. Sister, you had me at Lisa Frank. PURPLE SPARKLE DOLPHINS. Enough said. Okay not enough. UNICORN TRAPPER KEEPER FOLDERS. Okay, now enough.
I think there are cosmic vibes out there in the world and sometimes we collide into them and shit happens. Good shit. Like us smacking heads together in orbit and becoming friends. And now we're holding hands all leap froggin' in the galaxy and it won't be long before you collide into more cosmic vibes...as in grocery carts full of things other than bananas. This comment sounds like a crazy person. Which I am.
xoxo Love you. Keep dreaming, living, struggling, celebrating, creating, being happy. It's ALWAYS worth it. (Just like Marcel the Shell says)

Rhonda said...

and this is why I ALWAYS leave posts for blogs when I read them. Something strikes me, I comment. I forgot you were friends with Kelle. I was almost shocked to see her photos here then I remember, that's why you are on my blog roll. A reminder to tell people when they are doing good is a great thing. I work retail and am often, too often having to be scrapped off someone's shoes. I'm not an idiot working retail. I have a college degree, I had a career... I chose to be a mom!!! Have to work retail because my career is not an option right now. ANYWAYS.... Love your posts! Keep on keepin' on!!! (www.followtheknapps.com) =)

Brenda said...

I already thought you were awesome, but your hard-core Hanson love settles it forever. I also have the orange album AND the Christmas album and am not ashamed. :)

Thank you for sharing the good AND the bad of your journey. I'm contemplating a job/career change myself, and I appreciate the input and realness!

i love music. almost more than everything.