it's all part of the master pan :-)

So, epic fail on a couple levels, here.

First Level: 365 project. I haven't posted any pictures in a week. Although, no one reads this, so it's fine.

Second Level: Last week was my one year marker with Blogger, and I wanted to do something awesome. However - the one year marker was also a Monday going into a Tuesday, so maybe that explains something.

Third Level: I've been hiding things. And not using this blog for what it was really intended. And I don't want to do that anymore. Although I have a history of saying controversial things that people *ahem* like to email back to my face and say, Karla, really? about, I do enjoy writing about what's in my head. It's helpful. It's like my space to get it all out where I can see it and evaluate things, you know?

So I'll start with quick recap of GraceFlock tour, because it was excellent. It was short this time, just 4 travel days and two concerts, one in Ringtown, PA and the other in Lutherville, MD. Ringtown is a cute town, lots of stuff going for it, minus the terrible cell service. They helped me get over my fear of windmills, though. Those giant white ones that stand 20 stories high and blink ominous red lights at night? Yeah, super afraid of those. They lined the ridge that was around the town, and so I got to stare at them whenever I wanted, and even experienced one up close and personal. Here's a picture:

The concert there went well. It was the first, and therefore had some of the first concert ritual mistakes, but it went well. We stayed at Penny's old house, which was fun. I played hide and seek with a 2 year old, and spent the nights icing my arm and attempting to get service in the family room, without much success.

We drove to Maryland on Sunday after we played in Ringtown's church service. Pretty drive. The concert there was great! We played well, had a ton of fun, AND, the church was air conditioned. Extra plus. :-) I had a fan club of small children by the end, and acquired a new pen pal! All around a good day. Drove 12 hours home on Monday, got in at 8 last night. Whooo tour!!

So this week, as it is yet again another Tuesday, bodes about the same as all the other Tuesdays this summer. Sad, lonely, and worthy of staying in bed all day. However, I'd rather get out of the cycle than immerse myself deeper in it, so I'm going to see if I can't break this ridiculous ritual and put some issues to rest today. I am also working on my sister's bridal shower for this Thursday, and it's jazz night at the Shrimp. Good things are happening, just have to keep my focus on them. Be selfless, Karla. It's so much better than being stuck in your own head all the time.

Here's to getting out of the muck and back on track with my life. As Lans jokingly said to our sound tech this week, "It's all part of the master pan." :-)

gah

No picture today, just some thoughts:

I am hungry.

Graceflock leaves for tour on Friday! 14 hour drive to Philadelphia. SO EXCITED.

It will be my one year anniversary with Blogger tomorrow! I will have to do something extra special to celebrate.

My room is clean, and it feels so good to be on my unobstructed bed without moving piles of clothes just so I can lay down. Also, I dusted. Extra plus there.

I'm planning my sister's bridal shower with another bridesmaid. Supposed to have the invitations ready to mail out tomorrow... Guess I should be working on that instead of blogging.

Things are returning to normalcy in my head, which is nice. Now that the fog is clearing up, I gotta keep walking in the direction that I want to go. So. I need a Google map for my own brain, isn't that sad?

I smell like mangos and mandarin oranges. Mmm.

Happy Father's Day!

just do it, ho

So, I've been waiting for two weeks for this measly little hat that has my summer mantra on it. It also happens to be the Nike slogan, so that's fortunate for me. :-)

Anyway, here's to just bucking up and doing the things that need to be done!

cloud watching

So, I've been working on this piece for a few days now... finally got a good recording at 2 am last night that I want to share.

It's sort of about me, sort of reminiscent of my fish, Kitty, that died back in January, slightly resembles the inside of my head, and sounds like the soundtrack to the day I spent a couple hours in the Shakespeare pit at Gustavus College two summers ago, cloud watching and contemplating life.

Anyway, my band might do something with it, otherwise it will show up on our next album as the last song, with just piano.

It's simple and pretty... Just how I imagine life should be. :-)

Enjoy...

post-jazz thoughts

Dear Cyberspace,

The whole point of me starting this blog was to allow myself to write, freely and generally without judgement - possible only because I know for a fact that only one, maybe two people actually read what I post. In that sense, the things that I write are thoughts in my head that I am able to eloquently arrange in sentences by picking words that best represent these thoughts. And generally when I pose questions, they tend to be rhetorical and without answer. So if you are wondering what the answers to the questions are, there aren't any. I'm still trying to figure it out. That's why this is "project karla" and not "mission accomplished karla."

There are bits and pieces that you don't know, don't yet understand, and might not ever be able to comprehend. I say this only because these words are from my head, they are written for no one and by no one except myself. If you like them, then I am glad. If you don't, then I am sorry. It's just what's in my head, that's all.

Fondly,

Karla Marie

P.S. Oh yeah, and jazz was good tonight, thank you for asking. I went by myself and was accompanied later by my guitar player! We jammed with the bassist and drummer from the onstage combo. It was slightly epic, and we're going back for more next week. Oh, how I love Tuesday nights at the Shrimp.

P.P.S I'm working on a new song. It's about me. Perhaps I will post it when I am finished. :-)

tuesdays

The only reason I can say for sure that bad things always seem to happen on Tuesdays is that I go to a jazz club every Tuesday night to eat seafood and play a few tunes with the on stage combo. And for the past two Tuesdays, there has been some sort of situation that keeps me from enjoying myself and fully appreciating the experience.

The first Tuesday it was an email that set things off.

Last week it was my own insecurities about the dress I was wearing.

And this week, it's the realization that no, I really can't do anything right these days, and if I hurt one person, I automatically hurt another person, too. It's like a freaking domino set up, except there's only 3 dominos and I'm the one that picks all three of us up every single time.

So, what am I supposed to do? Here I am, at another well in this rock bottom world I'm in, and if the only way is up, do I have to keep hurting people that I care about to get out of this mess?

I'm just so confused. But the only voice I'm listening to now is Ingrid Michaelson's, cause she is telling me to keep breathing, and that is the most logical thing I can think of to do right now.

Here's my picture for today... Went to the airport this morning, and had trouble finding parking. Cheers to the busiest airport in the world.

can't stop, won't stop

This week has been marked by The Maine's CD, Can't Stop, Won't Stop. It's currently playing in my mom's giant blue van. It's only been in there for a week, but I already know every song. Whoops... I'm stuck on track 5 - check out the music video on YouTube. It was playing this afternoon while driving to a house that I'm taking care of for some friends the weekend while they are at a wedding. And, shhh, don't tell them that I stuck my feet in the pool and chilled for a little bit this afternoon:

And then driving back on the gravel road that leads to the main drag is my favorite:

So... It's kind of starting to feel like summer. I've done a couple spontaneous non-Karla like things, and I had my first pool encounter of the season! :-) I'm so lame, I know.

What do you think of the fresh look? I decided that this "project" needed to be updated. And it is, in a word, delicious.

Happy Monday!

peace up, A town down

I drove through Atlanta today to drop off my violins at the Voss Violins shop in midtown. Just so happens that my favorite view of the city can be seen from Freedom Parkway on the way to 85 south. Isn't the ATL gorgeous?

Yes, I was driving. Aren't I good?

Here's a shout out to a certain someone whom I'm positive will read this at some point today... I hope you had fun driving semis today! Wish I could've been your co-pilot.

Happy Wednesday!

more flags, more fun

At least no one actually reads this. Otherwise, I'd be in trouble for not posting for yesterday. Well, and today, since it's after midnight. But anyway, yesterday I took a much needed excursion to Six Flags with my best friend, Emily Anderson. And rode this:

Goliath was excellent. I screamed like a little girl, and it was incredible! Just what I needed.

And then tonight, I've been enjoying a quiet post-Jazz Tuesday evening with my friends on Whose Line:

Lovely evening. Complete with a greek smoothie and my Luther sweats. Ahh...

out of order

I love the phrase "Out of Order" because it has so many meanings. I currently feel out of order, a little broken, not exactly working correctly. But that is a post for another time. :-) Another meaning has to do with my current picture selection, in that the pictures I have posted are slightly out of order in their time frame, and for that, I apologize for slightly cheating. However, this picture was taken on the first golf cart ride of the summer with my cousin while I ride co-pilot, something to be celebrated!!

the long day is over.

I'm sorry that these pictures have only been of me. I'm lame that way and forget to take pictures. This is my picture for Saturday - after a long day of doing almost nothing. I woke up at 1. Watched the Notebook and discovered the story of my life. And then I went to rehearsal. Then had a 4 hour long conversation with someone in Iowa. And now I'm still sitting here, in my kitchen, wearing a ribbon that I found in my bed. Random. So enjoy the face of Karla, after a long, long day. :-)

sun and flowers. :-)

So, I must apologize for my sole use of phone and computer cameras - I am not a photographer, although I would much like to pursue being one. Anyway, here is today's photo, of me and my new pot of sunflower seeds. We shall see if I can work magic with them. :-)