New Year's Post

Making a post before I go out to First Night. I told the paper I'm interning for I'd help take photos along with their regular photographer. Covers more ground that way. Looking forward to it, looks like there's going to be some great acts for the evening. There is going to be some poetry from local students that I'm going to catch. It's kids from the local schools, so I'll see what kind of talent is growing there.

Speaking of which, I feel I have grown a lot as an artist this year. It really helps that I've gone out and read my work for audiences and have received so much support from people. I've had room to experiment and go through phases and themes. I'll still continue to do this, but it feels great to say I've come quite a way. I'm forming my own identity over time as an artist and as a person. I'm taking elements and seeing what works for me personally, my views on the world around me are changing.

It's not always easy, and at some times it's rather painful to go through a catharsis. I've been dealing with one this past month actually. I've had good days and bad days. Days full of cheer and days where I feel completely jaded. I know I should keep pressing forward though, it's the only way to grow and improve. It gives my mind the fuel needed to create more works to share.

Holidays, Whee!

Had another wonderful open mic last Thursday. I swear I see so many delightful surprises from people when I'm there. You never know what you'll see, and it's always changing. This past open mic I saw a horn trio and someone play the digeridoo. I hope there will be one next month, it depends on demand though, since during January many of the students who populate the are go home for winter break.

I'm still figuring out which of the videos I've had taken will be uploaded and shared.

Been tired and generally bummed out, hoping it's just the winter blahs. Happy Solstice though, it means the days will start getting longer now. Can't argue with that. I have everything ready for Christmas, shopping's done, gifts are wrapped and cards sent out to family. Went to a party the other night with a huge tray of cookies I made.

At the moment I'm also reading Nightlight, a Twilight parody. I don't totally understand the hype, then again when I was a teenager Lestat was the prime vampire. Not all this Byronic *sparkle* crap. The adventures of Belle and Edwart are much funnier though, as he saves her from buying Sega products, and such.

Performance Videos Finally! and a Recent Inspiration in my Life

I finally have time to share my performance videos. I've been busy lately and had to pull out of a funk I got stuck in, but I'm feeling fine now.
And I have another open mic I'll be attending in two weeks, I'll be sure to have some material as well, been getting some good inspiration lately.

The first one is a returning favorite, I had to revise it to fit current news. It's still fun, and I ended up changing more than just to fit current events. I took out some of the more "angry" lines, feeling they took away from the general playfulness and whimsy I wanted this poem to have. I now present: Miss California's ABCs, Second Edition



And this next one, which has had a few more plays, pays tribute to a music artist I discovered back in October. I found what he did to be pure magic, even if he is an obscure artist, but I can share more videos, love him or be weirded out by him, I wrote an Ode to Klaus Nomi



Now I'll share some videos of Klaus Nomi, because he was just that awesome. First starting with a classic.






Truly unusual, but beautiful. There's a bounty of other videos on YouTube, with performances, TV appearances and a couple more music videos if anyone else is intrigued.