Blogdangit

Mission

I was sitting thinking today about my life and my future which for the most part I've been silent about. I went deep into thought. As a matter of fact, I've been in thought for weeks, months, years -- let my friends tell it. I just watched the movie Ak.ee.lah and the B.ee for the first time. I didn't realize it had such inspiration and motivation instilled throughout the movie. I was taken. The quote in the picture frame touched me the most. The words were powerful and hold truths which spoke directly to me, just as it did to that little girl. I have fear, and I reluctantly step out displaying my talents and try to hide behind them because someone is intimidated by me. I am most definitely the one who tries to keep other people comfortable even when I must make sacrifices and compromises.

Just like Ak.eel.ah, I too don't recognize all the coaches around me, yet, I know they are there. I just have to seek them out. But they won't reveal themselves until I make the step to need them. I believe that! Anybody can encourage you to do what makes you happy, but a coach will help you along the way. As I wrote in a blog earlier about contemplation, it reveals my choice to seriously pursue my arts especially now after networking and meeting several prominent people, or do I continue to work under the robotic formation of a controlled work environment while having no way to express my love of music, writing and art design?

I know several successful people made the leap. They lost a lot to gain. (I guess that's where the No P.ain No G.ain phrase comes in) They suffered to succeed. They made a decision and nothing was going to stop them during their mission. Am I afraid to do that? Probably! Do I want to do that? Absolutely!

I am having a moment. A serious moment! I enjoy my work at work, however, I have a mission to complete and it's through the gifts which God instilled in me. I have to have it. I have to breathe it, live it, acknowledge and not hide it. I am a nutcase for my music, my writing, and my visual arts through photography and drawing. I'm hungry more than ever. Why now? Maybe a higher being is speaking heavily to my soul. Maybe I've been contemplating too long. Maybe my part-time love for it has expired. Maybe I've not reached the many people I'm compelled to reach. And maybe it's time for me to just listen to my heart. I've acquired all I've desired as I've journeyed through life. The traveling experience is one which leaves me in awe. It was the most captivating memorable moments.

The decision is hard to make, I will probably disappoint several people who also support me at work, but for once this has to be about the Gumbo Gurl. Time has not stalled and never will. As I wait, I lose. I've not made a decision yet, but I'm close…

Pray for me…

Sunday Stroll

American drivers, PLEASE stop driving in the far left lane on the Interstate or freeway on Monday - Friday, between 6-8 am and 4-6pm like you're taking a Sunday stroll and life is just grand and peachy and you have absolutely no place to be other than HOLDING UP traffic! STOP IT! If you aint got nowhere to be between those times, GET OFF THE ROAD PERIOD. Seriously, Ya'll causing ROAD RAGE!!! And I'm at that WISH factor now...

Lady the DJ…too?!

Last Friday, I sort of graduated from selective training with my job. Sooooooooooooo got that under my belt. I passed!!!! The facilitators were good in providing excellent training tools and resources. They know their stuff. It was cool meeting eleven other people from across the state and neighboring states who also participated. We've practically become family.

Last night, I went out to the daiquiri shop (Danny D's Daiquiri's) where I usually hang out. I DJ'd the whole evening. My boy CJ was out of town, so I filled in for him. It put some extra change in my pocket, plus I got a chance to do my thang. The crowd was the old-school/young-old-school heads. There wasn't much dancing; it seemed everyone just wanted to mentally get in the zone with some good music and good times. I threw in my share of the blues, and lots of old school joints. I threw in a few fast joints, but it just kept most of them head-banging in their chairs. I knew my cue was to just keep'em entertained as they socialized, drank, and enjoyed each other's company.

It had rained most of the evening as well, so that may have put everybody in the zone. I believe a DJ who's in tune with their audience is important. You can feel the flow of where they want to go. Sometimes you can bring them to a certain point, but they will take you right back by making requests.

I sipped on a couple of Martell on the rocks and ate the best Hot Sausage plate with a dab of mustard with crackers. Good stuff!

The shop is known for its "One Man Gang" daiquiri. (Man I hope I spelled that right – I'm not sure if it's One Man Gang or Game) All I know is that it is purple and it's good. The owners (hubby-I've known for years and just met wifey since I've been going in there) are good people. They seem to be a great team. I've re-united with their family as well who's always hanging out in there.

In providing the services, I used my boy's equipment and music. I usually like to bring my own music, 'cause I know where everything's at. But with his lugs of CD's and mine, I wasn't having it. I'm seriously thinking of upgrading the DJ setup to computer anyway. I've already got a lot of my music cataloged to my laptop, and I'm thinking of buying a DJ software package which contains software like Traktor, and an interface (usb or firewire) and run it with my laptop and main speakers. No more lugging around CD's, a mixer or gobs of external gear. Talk about simple pleasures, and with today's technology – why not? Right now, I have over 2500 songs on this laptop. Man, think I can't DJ a whole night with JUST those songs. We can get down honey!

Alright I'm threw combusating. I'm going get deep in studio and do what I do. See y'all next time for sure. Oh and thanks for the emails I'm starting to see regarding the music/studio side of this blog. I appreciate the love. Go Jaguars!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I know y'all know me as the Gumbo Gurl, but "Lady" is my music/producer alias, which I've been using for years. And you know I'm gon' always be your Gumbo Gurl! That name was rightfully earned! Go figure…

 

 

Contemplatin'

What's good everyone? I'm sorry to have been sleeping on this blog, but best believe sleep in general is far from what the gumbo gurl has been up to. Work (you know the 9-5 so-to-speak) has kept me mentally involved, while creative work has kept me mentally and spiritually connected.

With creative work, I've got a lot of irons in the fire and loving every minute of it. To give y'all a clue... I have tracks to edit and complete for 5 different artists across the country ranging from Hip-Hop to Poets. I have logos to complete for a couple of people. I have a radio spot to complete for a friend for his business. I'm collaborating with a cousin from Texas and working on getting his band booked while promoting them for a gig in Baton Rouge, and I'm still writing on 2 book projects.

The word contemplatin' is just that... My work pays the insurance premiums and builds the 401K while providing a wealth of benefits and perks, but creative work is a marriage which took place during conception, and we are happily joined with no insight of divorce. 

Y'all feeling me right?

Bombed Out Day

First… MY head hurts. My face hurts. I have the worst sinus headache of all time. (I know I say that each time I get one!) Secondly, my Mackie Mixing Board which I speak about below this post can't be repaired by them people. As I'm finally calm now, I was on fire when they called me and told me some long drawn out fable about the design of the board and how they need robots to fix the circuitry which seems to be the problem and they can't repair it because they don't have the proper tools. Uhmm-huh.

I listened to the man speak before I dived in with questions out the batooky. He couldn't really answer any of them fully. He said they'd have to send the board to Mackie for repair. I told him I can send the board to Mackie myself and could have in the beginning, but Mackie told me to take it to an authorized service center for repairs, which they are supposed to be. Uhmmm still something fishy here. Now, y'all know if you've read the previous post how long I've waited to hear something from them. I haven't made plans to pick up my board yet, but will before they close on tomorrow.

My head is pounding! (oh, I said that already…) Y'all know I get some killa sinus headaches. On top of all the issues with my board; I got sick today. Food poisoning! Waffle House! A new one! Brand spankin' new one!

And for the finale' of the day… My funds ($$$) in the bank is all tied up and on lock down. This is a first in all my history with this bank. I tried earlier today to make a $4.36 purchase with my debit card. No way no how is what the ticket that spit out of the machine read. The cashier politely passed the slip to me. I told her to do it again and there was no way this could be. She did and well you know the rest.

I immediately called my bank and told them of the mishap. They told me there was a glitch in the system and to try again. I did and everything was peachy again. Later this afternoon (How come I'm back up in Wally-world?), I attempted to make another $100+ purchase and again the system failed me. I was PO'd with a pounding headache and a queasy tummy. I called the bank and this time they told me their systems were down and apologized for the inconvenience. I asked can I stop by the bank and cash a check. The woman told me no and that all systems were down in all the branches in the area and that I couldn't even get money out of the ATM. I asked how long the system was going to be down. She said the initial time frame was about 15 minutes but the system had been down almost 2 hours. Y'all this was about 4 hours ago and THE SYSTEM IS STILL down. I'm definitely one of them no-cash carrying people. My momma always told me to keep a little change on ya. Oh well!

So I can't make any purchases, get any money or write a check because the bank said so.

What a day! Please somebody say something to make me feel better! Please!

See, Now they Gon’ Make Me act a Fool

My Mixing Board (Mackie 24x8 8 Bus) is STILL at the repair shop. I called several times today around lunch time and got a busy signal. I went up there after my lunch break and WISHED a mother would tell me something I didn't want to hear. Well it turns out that Mr. Technician was not in again today.

What I'm about to say is what ticks me off every time I'm in a professional gear place like this one. The sales guy in his late 40's or so, walked over to my board which was sitting on some speakers with my detail sheet of the issues I was having on it and the same tickets the lady placed on them when I brought it in. The man told me it appeared that the board had been looked at but he didn't know quite what was wrong. I asked him how he knew it had been looked at. He told me because of the tickets in place on top of the board. I told him those were put on when I brought it in. He then said well they typed something up here…and he started reading my notes. I then told him I wrote those notes for the tech to clearly understand the issues I was having with the board. He began to stutter. I felt he was patronizing me and trying to play me like my name was IGNITT! Heck just let me know whether the board is ready or it's not. (Know what I mean?)

I told him I was out of business and they had had it too long. (Of course y'all know I'm still puttin' it down – but he aint got to know that; it's the principle…right?!) He told me he would call the tech and call me later. LATER STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED! Man, I know I sound a bit disturbed right now, but that is because I am. I should have taken the board to the techs I'm familiar with. But nooooooooooo, I tried taking it closer to home. And I even spotted a scratch on it near my meter bridge. I showed it to the sales guy. He tried wiping off the scratch...(there goes more of that lame treatment by patronizing women like they don't know any better about pro gear). I told him it was clearly an indented scratch and not a topical mark. He then agreed it had been bumped by something and he apologized. I went silent while thinking it's best to remain that way. Y'all know at this point, I was stirred.

They got till tomorrow to say something more like what I want to hear. Personally, I don't think anyone's ever looked at it and secondly if it is repaired and no one has said anything in all this time, THE DRAMA continues…

On another note, I got in from work and went straight to the laboratory and started brewing up a HOT one. This track is exclusively for this rapper I met just recently. I can't wait to hear his vocals over this one. Well that's it. I'm not feeling well tonight. I have a tummy ache and sinus headache, so a nice warm shower awaits me.

Love ya

It’s been years

Wow! And the weekend rolls through again. Work all week was just that, but the studio work has been keeping me sassyfied. Since I've been home, things are starting to pick up. I'm running into people I haven't seen in years whom I've worked with in the past. It's like I'm destined to really get deep back into this thing. I ran into a guy a few days ago at the daiquiri shop and this man remembered me from back when I was just getting into producing. He remembered some of the stuff I used to sing and the people I produced.

I bumped into an ex-client (Rapper extraordinaire) at B&N. I haven't seen him since the 90's. He is still doing his thing but with much maturity. He's a true lyricist. He and I went out to his car and listened to his latest works for about 30 minutes or so. He's really good. His name is Al Redmond. Y'all should be hearing stuff from this boy soon.

I have a cousin in Texas who has also been in the game since way before I started back in '93. He's a producer and has a studio and production company. I ran across him a few days ago browsing my.sp.a.ce.

Today, another cousin who lives in northern Louisiana stopped by. I had not seen or talked with him for about 5-6 years. I was surprised to see him. We hung out in the studio for a bit talking about his latest endeavor. He's interested in some more gear and we're looking at collaborating and networking on some projects. We had a good visit. He had just learned that I wasn't traveling any more with work. So it's on now!

I called today to check on my Mackie Mixing Board. It's been in the repair shop for a few weeks. Some guy told me to call back on Monday. He said he didn't know the status on it and the service tech wasn't in. Soooooooooo, I'm left waiting patiently and anxiously, and of course in my mind, it's been wayyyyyy tooooooo long. I needs my toy!

I've worked on a few tracks this past week and collab'd on some other things and will be in here most of the evening finishing up two other tracks for a singer in Massachusetts and one in Virginia.

Well that's it for the gumbo gurl, Happy Labor Day weekend! Go Saints! Go Tigers!