keb'mo'

Wednesday evening, Keb' Mo' (born Kevin Moore 1951, noted American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter) played the Ann Arbor Michigan Theatre. Earlier that day, I received an unexpected called from the IASTA to help with the move-in and then the load-out. It was hard work made more so by the towers of speakers the tour brought with them. They were prepared for much larger venues with the equipment to haul up the speakers via lifts. Thursday I was covered with bruises and am questioning the intelligence of my working as a stagehand for these types of shows. My small stature limits my ability to do somethings and increases the risks of someone getting hurt. I was worried about my call to work, Friday, for the UofM Groove program. As it turned out, I enjoyed the work which was mostly lighting with no heavy lifting and no holding down lighting pipes loaded with three hundred pounds in stage weights that would send it flying if someone isn't doing there job. (Photos used here are from www.kebmo.com, Keb'Mo's official website and are for the sole purpose of illustrating whom I am talking about.)

gallery opening

The Krappy Kamera Club had its first gallery show, which opened last weekend. Ross (VoxPhoto on flickr.com) posted this photo of Cynthia and I at the opening. Interesting note: The soft lighting was made possible via his "Tuperware diffuser".

sunday morning pleasures

Although I enjoy cooking, I rarely have the time to make a good meal... except for Sundays mornings. The family (well, not Porscha she lives far, far away) is together and I like to make an traditional breakfast.

more renderings

costume renderings

Today, my back and neck are hurting as I have spent most of the day drawing and painting on the computer but I like the results and, therefore, it's worth the pain. For the first time I drew and colored my costume design renderings completely on computer, using Illustrator and Photoshop. Attached are some of the renderings, let me know what you think.

helping out - the sequel

Yes, I did help Madeleine. She called, again, Monday evening and asked about the possibility of my working at Eastern on Tuesday. The union has no work for me this week and the designs for the dance are going well so I managed to give Mad 7 hours today. It felt good to help her out and she managed to get funding to pay me. Woo Woo. Of course, I would have done it anyway but it sure is nice.
I am saving some money up for an acoustic guitar so that I can bring it with me, easily, and play places other than home. Today, I received a paycheck from Comic Opera Guild and it is going to the guitar fund as I worked really hard on that show and the money is really just a pittance. The pleasure I wil get through paying it will make up for some of the stress building the set caused.

the recital, the union, the mascot, the websites and friends

The IATSE has kept me very busy for the last week and I am very appreciative as the check should be enough to get me out to visit Porscha. Last night, I was up until 6a working on the drawings for Albion's dance recital. Although the drawing is going well worries about the budget and build time are hanging dark. In the morning I had an meeting with Linda of SquareRose.com. She started her business and put up a website just over a year ago and things are moving well. She took a class in DreamWeaver but isn't confident in her abilities, so she wants me to kind of hold the bike while she takes her first ride. She, also, needs a couple additions to her site and some photography done. Lisa from UofM's graphic design department has asked me to produce another mascot for them and... Madeline called first thing this morning to see if she could hire me to help at Eastern. Wow! It's nice to be in demand but since there is only one of me I have to learn to say, "no," to some of this work. Mad is a dear friend and I would love to help her out but it can't happen.
Is it a "woman thing" or just a "person thing" that makes it difficult to walk away when one could help out a friend even though it would be detrimental to the person doing the helping out? Either way, I just have to get used to looking after myself first and not always being available to help others. Geeez, just thought of it makes me crazy.

numb fingers

It's been just over a week since I bought my guitar and just over a week since I had my first lesson. My repetoire is E-, A- and B7 and Cynthia is anxious for my to learn more chords or a song. I can't say that I blame her because playing the same 3 chords each day at a 1/2 hour per day is more than 1 hour per chord and a great deal for anyone to have to listen to. Fortunately for her, I have a headset so that she doesn't have to listen to my "amplified" practices. Although my fingers are sore I am enjoying this process and look forward to my Sunday lesson.

busy again

Those that read my blog are probably getting annoyed with how many times I say it but.... "Damn I'm busy!!!" I am in the midst of my final design for Albion College and am in the drawing phase. Fortunately/unfortunately, I have the union work to do to. I love working for the union. The work is very interesting and I get to meet many unusual, intelligent people. The money is great and I am very lucky to have so much work coming in right now so I don't want to turn any of it down, besides it wouldn't weigh well toward my acceptance into the union.
This Saturday, I worked my first "big" concern, the Justin Timberlake concert at Joe Louis Arena, Detroit. We loaded in and packed up 28 semi-tractor trailors. My part of it took 10 full hours of none stop manual labor and I loved it. When I returned home I weighed myself and found I had lost 3 pounds since the morning. I had Sunday off, drew and went for a walk with my family. Today, I am back at it a the Michigan Theatre andddd Urban Tap.

my new baby

In fifth grade, when everyone else was getting an instrument and learning how to play I was just trying to survive my mother's abandoning me and my parent's divorce. Since then I have worked to afford living. Finally, I have a few extra dollars and am able to learn to play that instrument I always wanted to play. This lovely, candy apple red guitar is mine and Sunday I have my first private lesson. I am so excited that I have, already started working on chords via the instructional DVD that came with the guitar/amp package and have been practicing in my dreams. Wooo woo. Wish me luck.

Wendy, Kiyoshi and I

This souvenir photo of Wendy, Kiyoshi and I was taken on a cruise of the Seine. It's hard to believe it was only a week ago.

still lagging

I am sooooo tired. My throat is starting to feel better and I have been getting much needed sleep but I am still tired. Hopefully, it is just because I have been running myself ragged and it will soon pass. Usually I get going when I need to and when things relax I crash. Well, Sunday I have to drive to Albion for strike and Monday I have three meetings so I better crash now and hustle then.