Blogdangit

In Need of Immediate Relief

Hi friends. I am soooooo working on staying up on this blog. It will be done! For the past few days I've suffered severe knee pain. If you dig back in the archives, you'll see where I've had an ongoing issue. About a month ago, I slipped and fell in wet grass at my cousin's dorm and I landed directly on my left knee – which is now the worst of both knees. A few days after the fall, the pain was extremely unbearable. I could hardly get in and out of my car, or in and out of bed. I made plans to go see my doctor, and NEVER did. I had already visited him a few weeks before to get more injections, so I wasn't ready for him again. I have a few friends which tell me they don't understand how I endure pain the way I do as I'm not quick to get to the doctor, but eventually I do! Believe that!

So now, and ever since the fall, my left knee is very painful. I seriously can't take it anymore. Because I spend a lot of time sitting in the studio, overall, both knees are worse. The type of work I did before most definitely kept a sistah moving. And even moving about excessively also kept me in pain. Over a year ago, my doctor instructed that I do both but with moderation while balancing walking and sitting which worked out even though I was a bit hard-headed at times. I'm just not a keep-still person (isn't there a name for that?!) unless I am doing something of interest, and in my eyes NOW, that would be my arts. Other than that, I gotta keep moving.

So with trying to relieve these knees of pain and stiffness (my athletic years have REALLY caught up with me -- if you ever hear my knees pop it would freak you out), I've first called my doctor and made an appointment to hopefully get some immediate relief and of course x-rays and advice, and secondly, because I've slacked off tremendously with my routine treadmill exercise and walking, I'm slowly starting back. Of course, I'll consult with my doctor first just in case I've incurred injury to my left knee from the fall. I HOPE he doesn't send me to therapy again. I aint got time for that! And more importantly, maybe he'll think it is time for surgery since he's put me off for so long. Forget age – it's time to NOT feel the pain anymore.

 

Hustlin’

Since 11/9 (hmm - never looked at it that way), I've been hustling and grinding it out in this studio. I mean I've been putting in anywhere from 12-18 hours a day. I've begun to incorporate extra effort and determination in my daily ritual.

I've found the internet to be my most lucrative avenue because I can produce music, transfer tracks, record and mix-down projects without meeting a client face to face -- and my ultimate goal is to ensure they are completely satisfied. So that alone takes drive and commitment.

I've become so strong-forced with desire to succeed at this, that I'm comfortable with not hanging out as much I used to, or not talking on the phone (which I didn't do much anyway) or finding I'd rather be in the studio creating or networking most of the time. I'm at the point that whenever I'm in here, I'm productive. (Even if I'm just working on my writing projects) And now as things are picking up, there's always something to work on.

I used to consider this work habit as a selfish act which bothered me somehow -- but I had to lose that thought because nothing is gained when it's not earned. Labor is what brings the fruit. So the hustle is on…

I believe God placed me in this time. He created the talents within me, and when he makes demands that it's time to utilize them to the fullest and for me to stop playin' – I've got to do just that.

So, family and friends, if you're reading this and are somewhat affected by my lack of communication, let me say it's not you. It's me! It's a new way of life for me now, and what I need more than anything is for you to continue to be the true person you are as I'm being lead by God to bring this to fruition.

Until next time …

Track Aint Working

I'm here in the studio, and NEEDED to take a break. The track I am working on is just not coming together. It beeez that way sometimes… The drums AINT working with the sample, or the sample AINT working with the drums. I really feel like doing one of my off the dome pieces. You know that straight no-digging-in-crates-for-sample-stuff type of music.

I am so quick to delete whatever's not working for me. Another producer brought to light that what I may call garbage may be a banger to someone else. My thought = Whatever! 'Cause I got to be somewhere in the middle of feeling it. Ya know!

We as artists and producers need several elements to get into that creative zone. All I need is alone time. I sometimes refer to it as brain-time. I may add a glass of wine, or a daiquiri, but it's not a requirement. I mostly need my moment of no distractions to fully focus on what I'm hearing and what I'm doing. I've created some really nice tracks with nothing but me. I've heard some folk say how they have to smoke to relax and create. Whatever your hustle dawg -- it's not me, and never have been. I've never been interested! (heck naw I aint no goodie-two-shoes – I went through that crap during peer pressure in school!)

With all that said, writing relieves my mind. Always have. I can sit here and talk to y'all and not hear you talk back, and be well in spirit with that. But I have to feel like we're connected – like you are actually reading and feeling me. Sort of like I've reached out to you, and you've reached back, even when and if you don't agree.

So thank you for allowing me this moment to talk to you. I'm glaring over at my keyboard and now ready to try it again – hopefully, this time I'll bring it on home.

Peace & Light my readers…

Laptop Blues Again

Hello friends.

A few days ago, my HP laptop that I purchased less than a year ago would not wake up from the night before. I locked the screen as I left it unattended while the computer eventually went to sleep. What happened between then and the next day, I've no clue. I troubleshot the obvious conditions and still nothing. I contacted HP via live chat and they basically walked me through the same things again. Still nothing! During the latter part of the conversation after giving up my serial and purchase date etc, my tech told me it's strongly possible that the motherboard had crashed.

I've been doing much better with backing up since I've had a couple of failures in the past which I have lost data. My last backup was on December 27, 2007, which is not that bad. And honestly, I was getting ready to do a current backup the day of the failure because I'd acquired several pictures and had created a few graphic designs since then. I'm glad I do have my writing projects backed up on a memory stick. :)

I still hope they don't have to reformat my drive when changing out the motherboard. From my speculation, they shouldn't have to. I'm waiting for them to send me the RA and a box to return the laptop, and was going to put a note in it asking please not to reformat the drive. (Yeah right huh?) I'm going to contact them again online and make the same request. :) Whut?!

I even thought about pulling the drive out of the computer and install it in a enclosure kit and save all the contents to an external drive -- then reformat the hard drive. The tech even suggested I remove the hard drive and remove any content that I didn't want destroyed. He even sent me a link to a place where I could purchase an enclosure -- but of course I already have one. I should have saved the conversation, 'cause I'm thinking I may void the warranty if I tamper with the drive. So there it is – Laptop Blues. Lady's without her baby. I'd be sick if I didn't have this baby (studio desktop) although I try to stick strictly to recording on this one.

I'm still grinding with this music thing. Ya'll check my MySpace music page and hit ya gurl up if you're looking for tracks.

Peace and luv and light…