2007 was quite transformative. the following is a narrative listing ( in no particular order) or the events and developments that comprised and defined my 33nd year on planet earth.
1. adult add:
following up the suspicions that i had been having for a few years, i got tested for, and diagnosed with, adult a.d.d. i've read two books thus far and i have many more on my shelf to tackle. as a very very right brained, creative person, the disorder sometimes helps me, but for the most part, it has been holding me back for years. the more i learn about it, the more empowered i get. its amazing how many ceo's in the world have this. apparently i'm a master of multi-tasking, but i also have big issues with motivation.
2. local creative scene:
after living in bham for 6 years, i finally became a part of the overall creative scene machine. building upon the relationships i built in '06... in 2007 i found myself donating music to a documentary, being part of a national release by close friends through the sparks / travis morgan / skybucket, toured briefly with through the sparks as well as john p. strohm.
it is still a local scene for me musically, but it was nice to branch out. this scene is becoming solidified by the influence of the bottletree cafe, which is not only vital to bham at this point, but it has garnered national attention as a premiere indie music venue. i also played a few shows earlier this year with duquette johnston. the spots, our anti-band project garnered a following, a residency at speakeasy, local press, another interview on wbhm.org, news cameras, etc... and we released a local ep of live studio improvisations. we have no boundries musically so anything is possible.
3. creativity+aptitude:
i am a slave to my creativity. but not for long. this year i played benefit shows, dedicated hours upon hours to the muse of fire festival (with which i lost money), handed out advice, materials, etc... for free. i also jumped into some visual and graphic design projects that were satisfying... but time consuming. although i get tremendous experience and creative satisfaction for taking on various projects for free... it isn't the best use of my time. this ended in 2007, although i am very greatful for the experience regarding profitable and not-so profitable projects.
beginning with the 80's themed new year's eve party at bottletree that began 2007 for me... the time, the hours, the attention to details, dealing with other people... and finally showing everyone a good time and making a lot of money... taught me that i'm usually one of the last people to lose my cool... that i can multi-task and conceptualize an entire event in 3D.
in the instances where i do create for free... it will be for personal pleasure 1st... and if it benefits or enhances or has a use for some other entity, such as a venue, band, film etc. - then that's great too. i've also realized that although i was fortunate to play some big shows in '07... such as SXSW and the cd release show with through the sparks, john strohm and the spots... i'm still just a local musician. i won't be doing it forever.
4. in shape:
i need to get healthier. i need to stop smoking. i need more energy. more motivation. more drive. my ideas and will for self improvement is fighting against an inherently lazy physical body. it is time to tighten up. more routine. less fluidity. more exercise, less contemplation. less say, more do. i've always been blessed with very good health. fortunately in 2007, i began to eat right. and i've stuck to it.... but i have a long way to go in this area as well. perhaps dating a tri-athlete has done this to me.
5. misc. stuff i did in '07 + observations... and goals for 2008:
*i've moved on from my previous life. still reminded, but no longer haunted or affected.
*a lot of my friends got engaged or married in '07 - jesse+amber / ashby+christine / daniel+morgan / sarah leah+jim / brandon+jacklyn... even my ex got married.
*2007 marked 10 years since graduating from college. i'm still 3k in debt. its time to knock it out and buy a house within the year. that's my goal.
*i played three cd release shows in '07. none of them were for wiseblood. wiseblood didn't play a show in 2007. this seriously needs to change.
*3 years after meeting them and later working with them on the wiseblood record... pop wunderkids - the bridges... landed a major label record contract with universal/verve. i'm excited to hear what they will release. seriously... the wiseblood record is collecting dust right now.
*i still don't like anyone entirely as a presidential candidate. so far i have had eyes on ron paul, obama, john mccain... its such a crazy election cycle.
*understanding adult add as much as humanly possible in the next 6 months is another goal.
*quitting smoking. huge goal. i also wanna start swimming again. all this begins after the move.
*new web site for my various projects and interests as well as a new web site for 'we own the sky' - whenever that happens.
*ashby is moving to england for a year - beginning in sept. this is gonna be weird. i'll vist next summer - i want to see crop circles.
*i want to get out to california again... and florida in '08. i haven't seen my hometown in almost 5 years. that's wrong.
1. adult add:
following up the suspicions that i had been having for a few years, i got tested for, and diagnosed with, adult a.d.d. i've read two books thus far and i have many more on my shelf to tackle. as a very very right brained, creative person, the disorder sometimes helps me, but for the most part, it has been holding me back for years. the more i learn about it, the more empowered i get. its amazing how many ceo's in the world have this. apparently i'm a master of multi-tasking, but i also have big issues with motivation.
2. local creative scene:
after living in bham for 6 years, i finally became a part of the overall creative scene machine. building upon the relationships i built in '06... in 2007 i found myself donating music to a documentary, being part of a national release by close friends through the sparks / travis morgan / skybucket, toured briefly with through the sparks as well as john p. strohm.
it is still a local scene for me musically, but it was nice to branch out. this scene is becoming solidified by the influence of the bottletree cafe, which is not only vital to bham at this point, but it has garnered national attention as a premiere indie music venue. i also played a few shows earlier this year with duquette johnston. the spots, our anti-band project garnered a following, a residency at speakeasy, local press, another interview on wbhm.org, news cameras, etc... and we released a local ep of live studio improvisations. we have no boundries musically so anything is possible.
3. creativity+aptitude:
i am a slave to my creativity. but not for long. this year i played benefit shows, dedicated hours upon hours to the muse of fire festival (with which i lost money), handed out advice, materials, etc... for free. i also jumped into some visual and graphic design projects that were satisfying... but time consuming. although i get tremendous experience and creative satisfaction for taking on various projects for free... it isn't the best use of my time. this ended in 2007, although i am very greatful for the experience regarding profitable and not-so profitable projects.
beginning with the 80's themed new year's eve party at bottletree that began 2007 for me... the time, the hours, the attention to details, dealing with other people... and finally showing everyone a good time and making a lot of money... taught me that i'm usually one of the last people to lose my cool... that i can multi-task and conceptualize an entire event in 3D.
in the instances where i do create for free... it will be for personal pleasure 1st... and if it benefits or enhances or has a use for some other entity, such as a venue, band, film etc. - then that's great too. i've also realized that although i was fortunate to play some big shows in '07... such as SXSW and the cd release show with through the sparks, john strohm and the spots... i'm still just a local musician. i won't be doing it forever.
4. in shape:
i need to get healthier. i need to stop smoking. i need more energy. more motivation. more drive. my ideas and will for self improvement is fighting against an inherently lazy physical body. it is time to tighten up. more routine. less fluidity. more exercise, less contemplation. less say, more do. i've always been blessed with very good health. fortunately in 2007, i began to eat right. and i've stuck to it.... but i have a long way to go in this area as well. perhaps dating a tri-athlete has done this to me.
5. misc. stuff i did in '07 + observations... and goals for 2008:
*i've moved on from my previous life. still reminded, but no longer haunted or affected.
*a lot of my friends got engaged or married in '07 - jesse+amber / ashby+christine / daniel+morgan / sarah leah+jim / brandon+jacklyn... even my ex got married.
*2007 marked 10 years since graduating from college. i'm still 3k in debt. its time to knock it out and buy a house within the year. that's my goal.
*i played three cd release shows in '07. none of them were for wiseblood. wiseblood didn't play a show in 2007. this seriously needs to change.
*3 years after meeting them and later working with them on the wiseblood record... pop wunderkids - the bridges... landed a major label record contract with universal/verve. i'm excited to hear what they will release. seriously... the wiseblood record is collecting dust right now.
*i still don't like anyone entirely as a presidential candidate. so far i have had eyes on ron paul, obama, john mccain... its such a crazy election cycle.
*understanding adult add as much as humanly possible in the next 6 months is another goal.
*quitting smoking. huge goal. i also wanna start swimming again. all this begins after the move.
*new web site for my various projects and interests as well as a new web site for 'we own the sky' - whenever that happens.
*ashby is moving to england for a year - beginning in sept. this is gonna be weird. i'll vist next summer - i want to see crop circles.
*i want to get out to california again... and florida in '08. i haven't seen my hometown in almost 5 years. that's wrong.