End of August : Ch-ch-ch-ch changes

So, I know it's been a real long time since I've been able to 'log' all the stuff going on in my life, but in all honesty, I don't know where August went. July, well that's obvious, but when I stopped by the pottery place down the street from me (where I tend to work for "play" time) and the owner asked when I got back, I almost felt guilty for not coming to visit sooner. But, really... I don't know where I've been.

We've had some interesting ups and downs since returning back from the Greenland/Germany tour, and it's almost strange to think back to all the amazingness that happened over those few weeks. It's all so much different now, and though Syracuse has responded incredibly well to our return and given us tons of great press, I am starting to feel the high highs and low lows of doing this full-time. Though I must say the lows aren't really all that bad, I mean seriously... I'm playing music. For a job. It's sweet. But having no solid income (and... not being able to make a certain amount of money to keep health insurance), working at the summer job you had last year until you went back to school (though I do love the job and the flexibility that I have at this place with my schedule). It's just all foreign, and it's strange not going back to school.

Two new band members since we got back. Messed up as it sounds, it has been the best and worst time for the band. As I'm sure you could guess, it's super hard to lose members; it's so close to a relationship that you're never sure how to get around it or what to say, or anything really. But the new group is sick; we're really clicking, and it's freaking awesome. We're starting to work on new material for the album. Stoked. Plus, now I have legitimate 'homework' to do. And I get to play with my new amp (not that I couldn't before, but now I NEED to).

So, now is it. When all this talk starts happening. I'm so sick of waiting on people to make big things happen, but at the same time sometimes all you can do is wait. That's where I am. Sort of.

Starting to paint again too. Every time I go out I make sure I get myself to an art supply store and buy something, so that I will eventually have all the tools I need to paint, and I'll have no choice but to because I am spending money on it that I really don't have to spend on hobbies right now. So... we'll see. But it's a necessary thing for me right now.

On Being Home

Welp, we're officially done with the bulk of the summer's show-playing, and it's a very strange feeling. Strange in a sense that over the course of 3 weeks I had gone from never having left the U.S. before, to being a pro at international travel, and a member of an international touring band. So freaking weird. And we're so lucky; one that the tour went off without any major hitches. We made it through the airports, customs, all the venues and such without any hassles. We did blow a tire on our trailer, but Silvio had that thing fixed in a jiffy and we were back on the road. Plus, I was asleep nearly the whole time... but yeah. This experience was so incredibly surreal, and I wish I could have told all the amazing people I had met on this tour that they have no need to thank us for coming out. We're the ones that need to be doing the thanking. We're a group of kids from Baldwinsville, New York. And we're playing shows in Germany. In a tour bus. With our own hotel rooms every night.

So now we are back, the day after we returned from Germany my parents took Kaleena and I and our boyfriends to Old Forge for the weekend. It was such a nice getaway (though tour wasn't a hardship by any means), but just to be near those people you missed so much, and to be in a place where there isn't a whole lot of 'business' talk. We are working with a new drummer by the name of Kyle Corcoran, he was a friend of mine from Fredonia and is an amazing drummer. His first show with us will be the 21st show with Meg and Dia, so our prime directive at this point and time is to get everybody ready for that.

In the meantime I've made a couple of visits out to Rochester to see Michael before he leaves for Nashville, and we've done a few press things from the tours. Kaleena and I went on 'Bridge Street' again this past Thursday, just doing an interview and showing some pictures and such. Also, Mark B. from the Post-Standard came to the house earlier last week, there should be an article on us coming up in next Sunday's paper (I think in the CNY section). And even further, a new CNY magazine did an interview and sent a wonderful journalist to one of our rehearsals to be out in September. I will follow with more details as I get them.

So, I guess now we're all about transitions. Transitioning into recording the new album, making a better live show, really putting this band into high gear. Its not an easy task, and it's taken quite a toll on all of us. It's gotten down to the point where the band needs to be a full-time thing, and for the sake of everyone else we need to put everything in it. We have all given up so much to do this, people have changed the course of their lives for this. All we can do is hope for the best.