When life tells you to procrastinate....

This is what i have been doing for the past week. It's called 'needle fellting'. Damn you Etsy! I can't look at you without jumping into your website! Anyway...these were my first little projects. I will attempt something bigger next time. I like the idea of creating little sculptures with wool. Ethan loves them too...although he would like them better if I would "put jet packs on them".

Princess Meltdown

Ok, i'm going back more than half her life time...but my hubby just put this together for old time sake. amazing job Hayes.

This is typical Shosh.....

#%^#&#%$@$%##%!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bit my tongue and it hurts so much.
It hurts to chew, to talk, and such
A great big bump is starting to show.
I wonder if that bump will grow…

I bit my tongue and it hurts real bad.
The words I yelled were very mad.
My mom was nowhere near I hope.
She would have washed my mouth with soap.

I bit my tongue and it hurts a lot.
Much more than Doc’s last booster shot.
Next time I’ll slow down when I chew.
Or drink my meals is what I’ll have to do.

I bit my tongue and it hurts like heck.
And since I did it, I’ve been a wreck.
Don’t know how to live without my tongue.
I’ve had it since I was very young.

Super Fan!

I love my fans. As a mom myself, i would never post anything without clearing it with a parent first. 'Mom in question' gave the thumbs up...so have a look.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bajzSDnO1vU

The Leash.

I’m sure you’ve all seen it.
The kid leash.
The…’not a dog’…leash for the toddler.

I saw one such confined child the other day, and many thoughts ran through my head. Among them; ‘How strange.”, “A leash, hunh?”,  “Where does one go to purchase a leash (for kids)?”, “Why have I never seen the leash aisle at Toys R Us?”
As the ‘pet-kid’ dialogue continued in my mind, a few images popped in as well;

'Nuff said.

I just wanted an excuse to draw pictures really...
:-)

Running.

Anyone who knows me would agree that I am pretty obsessed with two forms of exercise: running and yoga. Two diametrically opposed forms of physical activity, yes… but let’s move on.

I was out for a run this morning, when I realized it has been getting warmer outside. Garbage is starting to smell a bit more than it has in the past 6 months. Many runners would agree that there is nothing worse than ‘running by’ smelly garbage. OK, maybe ‘running by’ road kill would be worse… Or, having to go to the bathroom after you've run 10k away from home (the kind of going to the bathroom that would be the more embarrassing kind if you did it in your pants)… Or, the time when you finally (for the first time in your entire life) felt pretty OK about your body, and bravely decided to wear your new running shorts, when you run by a group of Orthodox Jewish men who shouted out curses of disapproval at you...

But smelly garbage is probably the worst.

Anyhoo…

I wanted to share with those of you who run, some awesome running distractions that get me motivated. I need something to keep me occupied. Something to pass the time, if you know what I mean. While I admittedly hate ‘social sports’ because I don’t want to talk to anyone while in a state of extreme discomfort, the irony is that I don’t want to spend any time with myself either. Thus the need for distraction…from myself I guess.

Here are some great things to 'run to':

#1 best song of all time to run to: Lose Yourself by Eminem (trust me, if you are not a runner, nor ever though you would be, this is the song to get you going).
#2 any Broadway musical soundtrack (I like things like Avenue Q, Shrek the Musical, Seussical the musical, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Young Frankenstein) Don’t roll your eyes…I am 100% serious.
#3 Podcasts. I love the Official Lost podcasts (☹ so sad almost over…wwwaaaaaaaahh!), but I have lately been obsessed with Jason Mraz and Imogen Heap’s podcasts.
#4 Old 80’s music, specifically Daft Punk and De la Soul.
#5 Anything my 10 year old daughter would listen to, because it’s usually ‘hooky’, and secretly I love it.
#6 Books on tape- ‘Open’ by Andre Agassi was AWESOME!!!

There. Now run Forrest...ruuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!

Update: Running by barf, and loogies...DEFINITELY worser!!!!

Bar chords....

I've taken a few days off to figure out some 'ish'. The other day I realized: "Hold on a second...I play guitar for a living!" I play in the mornings for my classes, and I am technically a children's 'musician', therefore signifying the ability to play music (in my case the guitar). The only thing is; I suck. It's kind of pathetic actually. 'Real' musicians hang their heads in shame when in my musical presence. I can't even do a bar chord.

bar chord: noun. a musical chord that is played on a stringed instrument using the barré technique (a.k.a. really hard chord that needs a lot of finger strength.)

So, I decided to spend a few days going hog wild, and learning just about every song I've ever wanted to teach myself. After 2 days, my family wanted to shoot their eyes out. How can I suck at something so bad? Which brings me to my next point...I hate sucking at things. I am a perfectionist. Type 'A' personality. I Googled 'perfectionism' and I found this picture which describes me perfectly:




Maybe that's why people succeed in life? The 'ever ending search for perfection'. When I see the wrath eminate from my 5 year old son upon 'loosing a race', or, 'not being first in line' etc. it is a scary sight. The pressure for some kids to excel, even from a very young age, can be very troublesome. As a parent, I constantly remind myself that I am their most significant role model. A daily reminder of how they should pattern their lives, and the inspiration for what they can accomplish. A huge pressure for someone who doesn't feel as though they are anywhere close to even being a grown-up...yet.

So, who cares if I suck at guitar?? Why should it bother me if I don't eat my corn on the cob in perfectly neat little rows?? Did it bother me when I heard myself referred to as 'the Jewish Martha Stewart'? Hell no!!!

I have a lot of work to do......

Sunday.

This was my day today.
I have blisters all over my hands, and my back is KILLING me!


On a more positive note...I discovered 'Paintbrush'. It is a ridiculously simple illustration program for Mac. Here are some of the other things I wasted my time doing...



'Dragasaur' by Ethan and me.




We have a trampoline. Sometimes people get hurt....

Etsy

creative.






not creative.
(house 4 blocks from me. no joke.)


I love Etsy. It is a great site for 'all things creative'. It is an ever-ending source of hand-made projects, large and small scale. I am constantly amazed and inspired by projects that people have poured themselves into, and I can spend hour upon dangerously, non-productive hour scouring Etsy. Enjoy.

This is how much I love my son.

No mother wants to cut her son's beautiful, blond, wavy, heart wrenchingly gorgeous, strangers jaws drop to the ground when they gush over how stunning his hair is, HAIR! Last night Ethan took a scissor to his own hair, almost knicking (sp?) his ear, and cut off a grand lock. He said "I look like a girl". Done. That's all he had to say. I made the appointment at 9am the next morning.

I love my brother.

He is awesome.
He is super-umba-duper (as my 5 yr. old would say) talented.
This is him.

My new video.....

Since last December I have been working on my DVD. It is basically a follow-up to my CD; concert footage, mixed with animation, some music videos, an interactive game, etc. It’s been very exciting, and a long time coming. I HOPE it will be ready by the end of June…but I will keep you posted. In the meantime, you can check out one of the music videos that will be on it. It is the song ‘Monster in my Closet’, and it was illustrated by my incredibly talented friend Irene Luxbacher, and animated by another amazing talent Sean Cochrane at Crush Inc. Hope you enjoy!

How I met S, L and B- minus B.

So, along the way, I have dreamed of having my own TV show. Re-visit Mr. Dressup for the new millennium, only as a girl.

For the past 3 years I have been knocking on doors, walking through doors, and having them slammed in my face. Well not really, but you can see the metaphorical artist angst coming through, can't you? "We think you're amazing, but there is a little thing called a recession right now that is standing in the way of all your hopes and dreams..."

Long story short. I began stalking Sharon, Lois and Bram. (see pic.)

How did they do it? Successful children's artists. Canadian. Maybe they have the answers? Stalking/snooping paid off, and I met Sharon and Lois at a fateful Starbucks in February, and thus began the sweet sweet story of my 4th and hopefully final journey towards tv show actualized. Truthfully, they were unbelievably helpful (gave me incredibly valuable contacts), lovely women, and it was an honour meeting them!

Bram, you can suck it! Thanks for not showing up! (Just kidding!!!)

I am finally on my way this time. I have a production company who seems very interested in my idea, and a brilliant writer who even wrote for MR. DRESSUP!!!!! The final piece of the puzzle is a world class animation company who is also very excited about my concept. I have been in this position before, and I know that this can all go away faster than you can say the words 'tickle trunk' (grooooaaan), but I have my fingers crossed.

Just for CRYING OUT LOUD if you see me on the street, DON"T say "good luck with the TV show!" It's bad bad luck. I truely believe that anytime anyone in history has ever said 'good luck' to me about something, it has NEVER worked out in my favour.

There. Now you know I am neurotic and superstitious too.

This is me. Is this me?

I have calmed down. Dinner was served. People ate. Done.
Now begin.
Mr. D taught me many things. To create. explore. pretend. dream. sing.
I have created a Juno Award winning CD. I have explored different visual mediums, from painting to photography. I have dreamed, I have sung. I have performed for audiences of 3000+ people. I have acted in theatres from Stratford to Broadway. I have made two positive, happy, joyful, hilarious children.
If I am everything I hoped I would be when I was sitting on my living room floor watching Mr. Dressup, then why am I still searching for what I want to be when I grow-up?

Post, shmost.

Blech. I'm not a writer. Why am I doing this again??? I have to make dinner. My parents are coming for dinner, and I have nothing to feed them. Ok, prioritize. Very important to begin blog TODAY. I have been procrastinating for months. Just start already! Mr. D doesn't care that my fridge is empty, and I have no idea what to feed my family tonight. No! He wants me to be creative and write! Creative people need to express themselves. AND we must smile and sing while we do it. Ok, maybe my type A personality is taking over here a little bit. I will try again soon....