Time to Just Be Me

Fig. 1 happy Mimi

The past year has been and interesting one, to say the least. Many good thing have happened: my band got steady gig, met some... interesting... people, found out I am to be an aunt, and I had an amazing first fund-raiser for Pin-ups in Paradise.

All this aside, I also got into an accident, got arrested (long story there), had a mini break down, had three deaths in two months time, and quit my job. Well, the last thing is actually very positive, but we'll get to that later.

Here I am, though, and I am happy. Happier than I have been in a loooooong while.

Fig. 2 amazing series of faces I did in
conjunction with Gemini Photography 

How is this possible? Because I am still free to be me.

I still get to create, I still get to make music, I still get to choose how I live, I still have the chance to do exactly what I want. The main difference is now I have the time to do it. No excuses. Shit or get off the pot.

The biggest surprise is... it's working. I have never felt more confident, more secure, or more successful.

Chili, Sand, and Music

The past month has been quite the whirlwind of activity in the Casa de Mimi. Pin-ups in Paradise is putting out a calendar. Non-profit status is on its way. Band is playing weekly at Iggie's Beach Bar. I'm cooking (and playing) for the chili coo-off this Sunday. Work. Stuff.

I have so much I want to tell everyone, but I spent until the wee hours in the morning working on a press kit for the band. So, hugs and love. And naps. They are a good thing. Would love to talk to you all sometime!

I should go run errands, but I am bone tired. Going to crawl in bed now. 

Update on life, video style

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLHHjViPQfE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Just a little update on things. Gotta go, my house is flooding... O_o

Tee Shirt Design Contest

we're making shirts! Now you, too, can be an
official member of the Rum Syndicate. It wouldn't be exciting without getting you involved somehow... so... shirt designs! We want retro, islandy, vintage-y, dark, drunk, flowery, argh!

Winner gets a shirt (duh) and a cash prize! In
essence, we wanna buy a shirt design from one of our talented fans. It just sounds more fun if it is a friendly competition. Post your pictures/ideas on our facebook page.
If you need the fonts we typically use let me know.
Then we'll make an album and have you cast votes with "likes."

So, you get monies, schwag, and your art featured publicly with your name for all to see
and the notoriety that cones with it. Pass this along to other artists! It's a great way to get your art seen internationally!

The Music in my Soul

I love making music and listening to music.  It has always been such a part of me. From growing  up singing, violin lessons, practicing on my mom's bass in middle school, singing on scholarship (classical voice) in college amd finally picking up my electric guitar... it has always been one of my many outlets. Sure, I leave it from time to time, but I always come back. It's like a drug: euphoric, melodic, sensory in so many ways. The tactile sensations, auditory stimulations, the freedom.

For a while, I didn't even want to play the guitar I got so many years ago. More than twelve years later and it is road worn and scarred. Now, I can't imagine NOT owning it. It is too much a part of who I am. I may not be great, but I have fun and I have heart.

It has always been a constant in my life. Music is a universal language. It is math in all its glory. It crosses millenia and continents. It really is an amazing thing.

Now, I find myself in another band playing a genre I have always loved and finally get to create. Good old fashioned rock and roll. Roots American. Rockabilly, if you will. Songs that make me dance and tap my toes and make me feel young. It seems strange that I can vary my musical tastes so wildly and still find so much pleasure in all of it. Next up? Maybe a salsa band? Perhaps a tribal drum group? Roots reggae? Whatever it is, I will rock out and have a ball. I will do it as only I can: with passion.