Missed connectionS

My high school choir director once explained why there are so few love songs. He said when you're in love, you're out being happy... Loving... In the sun. The tortured soul is not tortured and therefore has no inspiration to write.
That's how I feel about Seattle summers. Hence the reason I haven't written in a while.
I've tried to be good about soaking up the summer... Relishing in the fact that for a few short months, I don't have to take vitamin D supplements. And even though I knew the Seattle DEATH was coming, I tried not to think about it.
Well it's here, and now I have to think about it.
I still struggle with the Seattle mentality every day. Wearing sweats and flip-flops in public, taking ones time crossing the street, crazy stupid drunk people in Belltown... And while I'm starting to get used to it, I in no way understand it or feel at home here.
So I put my energy and effort into making good use of my time here. Teaching. Gigging. Singing. Making connections as much as I can... Although how does one make connections whilst being self-employed?
I keep getting frustrated at the fact that I don't get featured in the stranger... Or in Capitol hill blog.... But, I work out of my home, and hardly have time to leave!
So this is the dilemma of the winter... Always.... Get out.
Anyway... If you know anybody I should know, let me know :)

quiEt

Being unable to speak for any length of time is difficult for anyone.

Me being unable to speak for 5 days was nearly impossible.

Vocal rest is not anything too out of the ordinary for singers. Your voice gets tired, just like all the other muscles in your body, and being over-stressed and over-worked can push you over the edge. So when I went to my otolaryngologist and took a look at my cords (via a little camera inserted through the nose into the throat) (blegh) and saw I had an irritation on one of my vocal cords, I agreed that the doctor imposed vocal rest was vital.

When one is not speaking.... and one's penmanship is pretty crappy....and one's typing skills are less than steno-worthy.... communication becomes very frustrating. Tiring, even. "Your Mom" jokes are still funny written down, but not 2 minutes later.

I developed a loving relationship with my little notebook....

Carrying it with me everywhere.... the mall...IHOP..... and just leaving it by my bed..... Just knowing it was close by was a comfort.

But, as I said (and as you can see) my penmanship is atrocious. (My boyfriend who grew up in communist Russia points this out often. His penmanship is quite good, and I figure communism explains a lot of things about him....)

So after a while, you start to get creative.

Pantomime is key to the mute.

Suddenly all the beginner's acting classes I'd ever taken had proven themselves useful.

Pictionary, too, is a good tool.... however I didn't use that one as much as miming.

And I was disappointed to remember on the LAST day of my vocal rest, that my Mac can talk via the "text to speech" feature. (Although you still have to be a fairly good/quick typist)

So now it's back to the land of the speaking.... 3 hour gig tomorrow night (we'll see how that goes...) and work again during the day. (Did I mention I now have a part-time job, in the leasing office of my apartment building?)

One thing is certain...

Boyfriend and I will kick your ass at charades.