19 posts tagged “musicians”

Love Maia Sharp.

Stress-burner rockets have me orbiting like a crazy-woman.  Pedal to the metal all day long at work...spinning dishes as fast as I can to meet overlapping deadlines...trying to keep the bottom-dwelling morale from getting to me...drama galore...folks looking for signs in all the wrong places.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, house is a disaster...laundry's undone...craving all the wrong foods...too much caffeine, too little water...a zillion things I *should* be doing...and all I wanna do is listen to music and read poetry and maybe write some and just...escape. Gee, and it's only Tuesday.  ;)

And you??

Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed massive cuts in education funding in California--nearly 10% of K-12 funding.  School districts are reeling and having to take drastic measures.  The Sunday edition of our newspaper had a story outlining the cuts our school board is considering.  I read it yesterday morning when I arrived at work.  I'd link to the article, but as of a week ago our newspaper only provides online content to home delivery subscribers.  (Yeah, the logic of that one escapes me, too.)  There's another board meeting Thursday night and our faculty has their monthly meeting after school today (Wednesday).  The mood will not be festive.  The article said they're looking at cutting the equivalent of 23 positions at the junior high (where I am) and high school levels (we have three junior highs that feed into one high school)--not to mention ancillary programs.  Elementary schools are no better off.  They're looking at eliminating 37 teaching positions district-wide.  As you can imagine, this has folks on edge.  I can tell you this--nowhere in the list of proposed cuts did it say classified staff at the secondary level (my job), but it did say classified staff at the elementary level.  Everything's still in flux, but as of right now, my job is safe.

Between today's full moon, the lunar eclipse, the USS Lake Erie attempting to shoot down the spy satellite tonight and a workplace full of angst...well, it's time to take a deep breath, don't you think?  ;)

I'll leave you with this...because it made me smile so big when I found it yesterday morning...  It's Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings recording "Answer Me."  Y'all know I'm not a Christian or traditionally religious in any way, so I'm not grooving on it because it's got gospel-type lyrics.  It just makes me wanna get up from my chair...move my hips...and wave my arms in the air...  And I love it because it just goes to show that great music isn't dependent on fancy studios or high-tech equipment.  Just take a beat-up piano, add a powerful dose of soul...and cut loose...

Go through the ear to the center
where sky is, where wind,
where silent knowing.
     ~Rumi

Today's prompt at Writers Island is "changed."  My poem is here.

Where my energy has gone over the past week...

• forgetting that creativity even exists (except in a few random moments)
• feeling really stressed out about how much I have to do at work in the coming weeks and how much I'll have to rush to meet the deadlines
• spending a lot of time with family since my folks were visiting most of the week
• hauling 5 loads of laundry to the laundromat in the rain
• not sleeping enough
• forgetting to drink water
• spending a lot of time following the election (although I'm not going to feel bad about this since this is truly a history-making time)
• forgetting to buy shampoo
• running out of bottled water at home (we don't drink tap)
• feeling like I spent most of the week 'pedal to the metal'

I'm spending my Sunday winding down...since I have to really gear up the minute I hit work Monday morning.  The sun's out and I'm just going with the flow. I'm not going to try to 'accomplish' anything today (although I might get around to putting away the laundry.)  Jeffrey was gone all day Saturday at a recording session in Marin County and he's gone till late afternoon today doing his regular Sunday gig.  Here's a photo recap of last week...

January 28

January 29

Tuesday - meeting up with my brother's family and my folks at Zak's basketball game

January 30

Wednesday - dinner at my brother's with the folks...spent the evening lying around their family room in front of the fire with the pets and watching TV...

January 31

Dinner with the folks and my brother, sister-in-law and C at a restaurant around the corner from me.  Truly bizarre.  (We won't go there again.)  But I did manage to take C. across the street after dinner for a scoop of pumpkin ice cream.

February 1

Jeffrey wanted to head to Guitar Center in Sacramento the minute I got home from work on Friday.  I was wiped out...but I relented...and shooting some pictures during the drive and getting a latte at the drive-thru and hanging out in the music store made me forget all the work stress.

February 2

This was the only photo I snapped on Saturday.  Forgot all about my photo-a-day thing, so this will have to suffice.  But at least you get to see his pretty new snare drum.  ;)

Tuesday's prompt at Writers Island was "desire."  Here's my poem. 

This has been such a busy week thus far.  Crazy busy at work.  My folks got here late yesterday afternoon and I met up with them (and my brother's family) at my nephew's basketball game last night.  I'd post a photo, but my camera batteries have died.  Zak's team lost--both teams were undefeated in conference play going into last night's game.  My folks will be here until Saturday.  I've got a busy day ahead of me at work--not sure what we'll be doing this evening.

Thought I'd post some Over the Rhine this morning.  Sam Twittered yesterday that she's finally going to get to see them live.  So, for my dear, sweet Sam, one of her favorite bands performing "I'm on a Roll"...

Craig Carothers defines success...  (The video is only a few minutes long and there's a delightful song at the end.)  :)  If you're not familiar with Craig Carothers, please check out his music at his MySpace profile.  I saw him perform several times when I lived in Portland (he lived there then).  He's a super-talented songwriter.  (Trisha Yearwood covered his song, "Little Hercules.")  Check him out if he's headed in your direction--you won't be disappointed.

Joan's posting of a Sarah McLachlan music video today reminded me that I had this in my Vox library.  It felt appropriate for today...or at least for what I'm trying to feel today...

I woke this morning with the realization that with December Views, I've let go of my poetry practice.  I need it.  I didn't feel like writing for Sunday Scribblings this week since "holiday memories" doesn't conjure up happy stuff for me.  :)  So I got back to poetry this morning with the Writers Island prompt of "earth."  My take is here.