Nearly the end of another year...

I can't believe it's already December 22nd. It still doesn't feel like it was that long ago that I graduated, and seeing friends come back from their first finished semester of grad school is really making me wonder where all the time has gone. I'm starting to think that it was maybe my 'realization' period. We're going to call it that, because now I'm finally starting to a) realize what my life will be post-college, and b) get pumped and start working on this new occupation.


We had our 5th annual cookie-baking party, with 2 friends from school coming back, the boyfriend, some bandmates, friends, etc. It was wonderful. And we made a gingerbread house! I think it was difficult to behave appropriately for my age, I have never made one before. Oh, it was glorious. And after despising the smell of molasses (...tomato soup or bacon is what I think of. I don't understand), and then realizing that I love the taste of it cooked, the molasses cookies are becoming a side dish to my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oh my.


The following day our Bloodhound puppy, Marley, arrived. He is an adorable bundle of squeaks and sharp teeth, and although he's a lot to handle he's going to be a great dog. Plus, when he gets mad, he sounds like a goose. So good.

Christmas in 3 days!!

What a Wonderful Year...

Hey guys, quick post:

First, we've got a show tomorrow at the Storer Auditorium at OCC. It's the Jim Reith Spectacular, and if you want tickets you can still call in... they're $15 (it all goes to a charity), and we go on at 7:50 on the dot.

And secondly, my sister put together this video all of last night/this morning. I have watched it... too many times today. It really makes me want to go on tour again, and relive every second of the time we spent overseas playing for the troops. We really met so many amazing people and did so many amazing things, it's really starting to wear on me being in Syracuse for so long. We need to start and get this record done.

If you want to destroy my sweater...

Last night we had our first show back in Fredonia since we graduated. We were immediately pumped because the lineup included Gonculator (and Colors In the Air, another well-respected Fred band). But unfortunately at the last minute Gonc couldn't make it because of a family emergency and we of course hope that everything is going alright and completely understand and respect their not making it.

It was a benefit for the Music Industry Club, which Kaleena and I were both really involved with, which gave one more reason why I was stoked to play. AND it was a Christmas sweater contest-themed show. Oh yes, there were many sweaters. Oh yes, we played Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas is You.' Yes, I had a shirt that lit up when I moved. And oh did I move.

Longitude came on last second and finished up the night. I had an amazing time and already can't wait to go back again soon. Seeing people show up to see us play that I've missed just makes me light up; the fact that they respect what I'm doing now and want to still see us after 4 years of shows in that place... it makes me realize I have so much to be thankful for, and so much support even when it seems like months drag on without any results. So, yay. December has sneaked up on me, but we have the Jim Reith Christmas Spectacular next week.

More Christmas.

More light-up shirts.

And here, is yet another wonderful video from my life these days:

11.22.08 - So, that happened...

This past weekend (well, we left on Thursday), my family went out to New York City for a day of touristing before a day of meetings that would eventually lead up to our second show at Kenny's Castaways.

Thursday was... brief, traffic was bad so we finally got into the hotel in time to eat at one of our favorite Italian restaurants for dinner. Then Kaleena and I met up with our friend Chrissy for coffee around Bryant Park. One day I WILL ice skate either there or Rockefeller Plaza. I will, mark my words.


Friday we met with a potential manager, and then moseyed our way to Cherry Lane Publishing's office. We had a short meeting with more of the staff, played a short acoustic set in their conference room, and then went back to the hotel where I absolutely CRASHED. (I should add that we shopped between the two meetings, but since I had to play at the CL meeting I was definitely walking around the city with my guitar... through the subway, and through... Macy's. I'd rather not do that again, like, ever.).

So, nap time came and went and we went over to Kenny's where we met the rest of the band about an hour before we were to go on. An a capella group played before we did, and as I'm sure many of you know, they tend to have pretty ridiculous fan bases so of course the place was packed. I was a little nervous at first because I didn't know who was there to see who, and if the place would empty out when they finished, but to my amazement the bar remained packed through our entire set. Even though we've only played Kenny's once before, every time we play it seems that the place is near capacity, be it that people somehow hear of us, our wonderful friends bring more wonderful friends, or just a built-in crowd, the bar is absolutely great to play. And to Maria, the owner, the feeling is apparently very mutual and she again told us that we should return again soon.

After the set I met a ton of awesome people from an artist-management school in Martha's Vineyard, and saw a lot of my bests from college and even high school. We were all about to take off to go to a bar around Penn Station, when the bar tender saw me with my coat and asked why I was leaving.

"You know Ben Harper is playing next, right?"
"Uh... what?"
"Yeah, Ben Harper. He's on his way."

Out of piqued curiousity I persuaded my friends to stay here (after all, there was still alcohol aplenty). And, sure enough... Ben Harper made his appearance. Apparently he is recording a new album and moved out here. And so, as I watched him set up, I also saw him talking to our drummer. Then I see him walk off stage. Then I see him walk towards Kaleena and me.


As you can tell from my completely placid facial expression, I was by no means surprised at this conversation. Or how he told us he was sorry he missed our set, and that he'll be sure to catch our next show if we let the bar owner know to get a hold of him.

His set was amazing, and somehow I managed to not only stay awake past my usual bed time of 10pm, but I was out until after 3am. It was so great to see so many friends that I have missed, and yeah, the occurrences of the evening were beyond unbelievable.

11.16.08

So, a few new things:

- Hafner's Christmas store has opened, and I have decided to keep on keepin' on as part-time help. Kaleena has since left to focus more on teaching voice lessons, but both of us realized we need to be dedicating more time to the music so that is where we are at with that. I urge you all to go to the store whenever you need some Christmas cheer. It is beautiful, and full of it (...the cheer).

- New York City show! Yay! I cannot wait to get back out there. We have a few meetings scheduled with some people and an acoustic performance for the crew at Cherry Lane. Hopefully I will meet up with a lot of friends and family out there (p.s. if you're reading this and you're in NYC and we haven't spoken in a while, chances are I don't have your number anymore.... so please, get in touch!)

- New phone on November 20th. Get stoked.

- Boyfriend coming back on the 24th. Get stoked(er).

- The Hollow Recording Studio is almost completely done. Hopefully by Thanksgiving we can be practicing in there, and we can start recording the currently untitled album by the start of December.

So much to look forward to.

I will leave you with the latest tse video blog. Though we taped some bits from practice today and let me tell you it's a gem. Will post when it's up.

11.08.08

So, once again it's been a long time since I've updated this thing. A whole lot of nothing truly significant has happened, but still a lot nonetheless. The garden center I'm working at officially opens this coming Thursday (the 13th), so work has been getting busier and busier to get it ready for the public. I have since been doing paintings for the store (yay!) so I'm pumped on that. I am now a freehand snowflake-drawing master. It's ridiculous.

Also, I have succeeded in breaking 2 phones of the month of October. Thank goodness we're out of that wretched month. Halloween was slightly disappointing, as I donned a red pair of tights and dressed like an Incredible only to pass candy out to about 15 people who actually came to our door. But oh well, onwards and upwards. I get a new phone on the 20th of November, we have a show on the 21st in NYC and a few meetings with various companies while we're out there. Michael comes home a few days later, and then it's a week devoted to cooking and being happy. Thanksgiving is just about my favorite holiday.

Oh, Fall

It's already mid-October?! I'm half-bummed and half-pumped at that, I suppose. Not too much new stuff is going on, by now everyone in the band has caught some crazy cold that's going around, so we have had spotty practices but we're still looking way forward to those two shows we have next week. We got our pumpkins out, started decorating for Halloween, made caramel apples... I love this time of year.

After a long 8 day streak of work, I took today off and got a lot of work done. I guess I don't even realize how exhausted I've become, but I definitely slept until 10:50 this morning. I haven't done that since... high school, maybe. But tomorrow will be a long day, I have an interview at 8am tomorrow morning, a doctors appointment at 10 (for this lousy 3 week cold), and then Kaleena and I are off to Fredonia for homecoming weekend. Looking forward to going back for a couple of days.