YOU WILL REMEMBER MY NAME
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<3
With yesterday being Canada Day...
Joe from the CBC posted this...
couldn't help but post it here too.
makes me want some tim horton donuts,
mother parker coffee, watch some due
south and use my candian tire money,
visit knob hill (oh that's no longer there).
Joe from the CBC posted this...
couldn't help but post it here too.
makes me want some tim horton donuts,
mother parker coffee, watch some due
south and use my candian tire money,
visit knob hill (oh that's no longer there).
HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!
my canadian friends...
Listening to the most current release by Neil Young and Kathleen Edwards today!
my canadian friends...
Listening to the most current release by Neil Young and Kathleen Edwards today!
exactly a month ago today i woke up knowing i only had so many hours with mom before we had to let her go.
...
if you get MAGIC magazine, you would have saw the photo of mom and dad
and a small write up about Mom in the milestones section.
I chose this picture to send because this was one of my mom favorites photos.
Not only are they doing the Chicken Vanish but even though you can't see me,
I was there too...She was expecting me at that time.
You can read my longer rememberence in the special section at Magic Magazine here:
http://www.magicmagazine.com/remembrance
in ref: http://www.livejournal.com/users/mai_lin
...
if you get MAGIC magazine, you would have saw the photo of mom and dad
and a small write up about Mom in the milestones section.
I chose this picture to send because this was one of my mom favorites photos.
Not only are they doing the Chicken Vanish but even though you can't see me,
I was there too...She was expecting me at that time.
You can read my longer rememberence in the special section at Magic Magazine here:
http://www.magicmagazine.com/remembrance
in ref: http://www.livejournal.com/users/mai_lin
for everyone's support through this difficult period.
for everyone who commented on any entry here in LJ land.
Twittered their good thoughts my way.
Comments and messages on myspaces.
Phone Calls.
Cards in the mail box
and cards in my email box.
and anyone who stopped by to spend time with us with
mom and at home.
It means more to us than you could ever understand.
I have good days and bad days.
Mostly not so good days.
I miss her soooo very much.
my heart is empty without her here.
for everyone who commented on any entry here in LJ land.
Twittered their good thoughts my way.
Comments and messages on myspaces.
Phone Calls.
Cards in the mail box
and cards in my email box.
and anyone who stopped by to spend time with us with
mom and at home.
It means more to us than you could ever understand.
I have good days and bad days.
Mostly not so good days.
I miss her soooo very much.
my heart is empty without her here.
We spent quite time with momma for a couple of hours
before close friends and family arrived at three for
a prayer vigil.
Lunch was on the house for my father, Eric and I.
I saw the hospice people in the cafeteria. We ate
with momma and we talked to her. gave her kisses
on the forehead.
Karen arrived with three balloons and the four calla
lillies I ordered that we put in the vase with the
magenta peonies from our yard.
I put together four photos on a piece of black
poster board (as she would have).
One was a family portrait taken a year ago by Dale Horn. He was kind of enough to email me
the image.
One of me and mom taken with my cell phone at Oberwiess a couple of years ago.
Dad and mom on their wedding day 37 years ago.
Eric and Mom hanging in my room.
(She's meditating).
PHOTOS TAGS: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/tag
The chaplin arrived with the hospice worker and
I told them the plan for the afternoon.
Karen brought two CDs. Andre Bocelli and Josh Groban.
We decided what scriptures she would read and what
pieces of writing would read of my moms.
I put "For Jose" on repeat while
People started arriving around 2:30pm.
It was one of my mom's favorite songs I wrote.
Friends and family, approximatley 20 people filtered the room.
At 3pm we played Andre Bocelli's "Go Where Love Goes".
The Chaplin said a prayer for mom.
Then Karen read The 23rd Psalm" and "Ecclesiasties verse 1-8"
I then read while trying to keep it together, three peices of her writing
from her "House of Memories" section of her book.
One about her mother and how there should more like her, in reference
to my own mom. One about memories and remembering a path,
and lastly, about things you keep.
Then we played Josh Groban "You Raise Me Up"
We did a final prayer for mom ending with the "Lord's Prayer"
Her nurse and a respitory therapist prepared for her to excubated.
Once she was released from the vent, a oxygen mask was put over her.
Where she breathed on her own for two and half hours.
My dad held her hand and talked and conversations arose.
It was quiet then loud, then quiet and loud again.
Fluctuating inbetween.
I think hearing that she was surrounded by friends and family
with chatter would make her feel good. It wasn't gloomy or
depsressing. My father talked about magic and back in the days.
There were two close friends there from Magic for dad.
Jim Sommers and Marshall Brodien and Mary.
So having them there was good for him.
I sat next to her holding her hand watching her...
Talking to her and telling her how much I love her and that
everything will be OK. Kissing her forehead.
Then around 5:45 she took her last breathe on Friday, May 29th.
And she was gone.
My dad said,
"She is in God's hands. God has called her home."
I cried...and everyone hugged me as I got to my father
on the otherside. To hug him and let him know she was gone.
I sat on Eric's lap and he held me. He started crying too.
Then someone started singing "Amazing Grace" and
everyone joined in.
People came up and gave their condolences.
Comments were made on how the send off was beautiful.
And that they have never seen one like this before.
Especially Hospice and the Chaplin. That this is how
send off's should be done.
Then it was just dad, eric and karen with mom.
We spent a little time with her afterward's.
Then we said our final good-bye.
We went down to the parking lot and dad held the three
balloons and said good bye to mom and released them.
We watched them go up into the sky.
One raced further ahead while the other two stuck together.
I think the one racing was mom because she was released.
It felt grey in the sky earlier but then she gave us a beautiful day.
I asked dad what he wanted for dinner and he requested
"Happy Family" from the Chinese take out in town.
Which he loved and would always ask momma for.
Nancy later came over with some rhubarb/strawberry cake.
Then we just relaxed at home.
Adjusting to the idea that mom wasn't coming home.
I had a hard time sleeping that night.
I was scared because I knew she wasn't coming back.
I miss her sooo much.
I have waves of emotions and will cry at a drop of a hat.
When I'm in room or closet I can't help but feel her near.
I miss her and start crying.
My dad misses mom a lot of course.
Eric said she was more of a mother to him then anyone.
She treated him like her own.
Because in all of the things she loved doing, was being
a mother and mothering was her greatest gift.
More later...
before close friends and family arrived at three for
a prayer vigil.
Lunch was on the house for my father, Eric and I.
I saw the hospice people in the cafeteria. We ate
with momma and we talked to her. gave her kisses
on the forehead.
Karen arrived with three balloons and the four calla
lillies I ordered that we put in the vase with the
magenta peonies from our yard.
I put together four photos on a piece of black
poster board (as she would have).
One was a family portrait taken a year ago by Dale Horn. He was kind of enough to email me
the image.
One of me and mom taken with my cell phone at Oberwiess a couple of years ago.
Dad and mom on their wedding day 37 years ago.
Eric and Mom hanging in my room.
(She's meditating).
PHOTOS TAGS: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/tag
The chaplin arrived with the hospice worker and
I told them the plan for the afternoon.
Karen brought two CDs. Andre Bocelli and Josh Groban.
We decided what scriptures she would read and what
pieces of writing would read of my moms.
I put "For Jose" on repeat while
People started arriving around 2:30pm.
It was one of my mom's favorite songs I wrote.
Friends and family, approximatley 20 people filtered the room.
At 3pm we played Andre Bocelli's "Go Where Love Goes".
The Chaplin said a prayer for mom.
Then Karen read The 23rd Psalm" and "Ecclesiasties verse 1-8"
I then read while trying to keep it together, three peices of her writing
from her "House of Memories" section of her book.
One about her mother and how there should more like her, in reference
to my own mom. One about memories and remembering a path,
and lastly, about things you keep.
Then we played Josh Groban "You Raise Me Up"
We did a final prayer for mom ending with the "Lord's Prayer"
Her nurse and a respitory therapist prepared for her to excubated.
Once she was released from the vent, a oxygen mask was put over her.
Where she breathed on her own for two and half hours.
My dad held her hand and talked and conversations arose.
It was quiet then loud, then quiet and loud again.
Fluctuating inbetween.
I think hearing that she was surrounded by friends and family
with chatter would make her feel good. It wasn't gloomy or
depsressing. My father talked about magic and back in the days.
There were two close friends there from Magic for dad.
Jim Sommers and Marshall Brodien and Mary.
So having them there was good for him.
I sat next to her holding her hand watching her...
Talking to her and telling her how much I love her and that
everything will be OK. Kissing her forehead.
Then around 5:45 she took her last breathe on Friday, May 29th.
And she was gone.
My dad said,
"She is in God's hands. God has called her home."
I cried...and everyone hugged me as I got to my father
on the otherside. To hug him and let him know she was gone.
I sat on Eric's lap and he held me. He started crying too.
Then someone started singing "Amazing Grace" and
everyone joined in.
People came up and gave their condolences.
Comments were made on how the send off was beautiful.
And that they have never seen one like this before.
Especially Hospice and the Chaplin. That this is how
send off's should be done.
Then it was just dad, eric and karen with mom.
We spent a little time with her afterward's.
Then we said our final good-bye.
We went down to the parking lot and dad held the three
balloons and said good bye to mom and released them.
We watched them go up into the sky.
One raced further ahead while the other two stuck together.
I think the one racing was mom because she was released.
It felt grey in the sky earlier but then she gave us a beautiful day.
I asked dad what he wanted for dinner and he requested
"Happy Family" from the Chinese take out in town.
Which he loved and would always ask momma for.
Nancy later came over with some rhubarb/strawberry cake.
Then we just relaxed at home.
Adjusting to the idea that mom wasn't coming home.
I had a hard time sleeping that night.
I was scared because I knew she wasn't coming back.
I miss her sooo much.
I have waves of emotions and will cry at a drop of a hat.
When I'm in room or closet I can't help but feel her near.
I miss her and start crying.
My dad misses mom a lot of course.
Eric said she was more of a mother to him then anyone.
She treated him like her own.
Because in all of the things she loved doing, was being
a mother and mothering was her greatest gift.
More later...
When I lay by her feet and take a nap.
I feel her arms around me and I hear her voice calling for me.
In that slow but subtle way.
"Frances!"
I already miss her and have missed her since Thursday...
we haven't even let her go yet...
I feel her arms around me and I hear her voice calling for me.
In that slow but subtle way.
"Frances!"
I already miss her and have missed her since Thursday...
we haven't even let her go yet...
I could just lay with momma
and hold her in my arms one more time.
Re-assure her about how much she really means to all of us.
and hold her in my arms one more time.
Re-assure her about how much she really means to all of us.
This movie continously amazes me to no end.
Its is vast, beautiful in every possible way.
Without knowing, I hadn't realized that it was re-released.
It comes with four DVDs.
The theatrical version
Made for TV version
and two supplemntal discs.
That include additional interviews, films and other
related such stuff.
Plus a full color book talking impart of about the
production of the film.
This is a magnificent journey of historical China.
The crosses between traditional to modern.
To fight for country and for self.
The transitions of one being put in a power situation
to losing power. Only to be imprisioned at a young
age in a city and imprisioned later in life as a war criminal.
You see many decades of history in this transition.
In this epic film you learn so much about how China
changed as did the people and their culture.
When this film first came out in 1987, I was still in
grade school. I was more entralled by that fact I
was seeing beautiful images of my ethinicity without
really understanding the political nature.
We have a collection of items from the Ching dynasty
and many books, poster and ephemera from a exhibition
that was at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1977.
Being part of a royal dynasty line ( there was a duke who was
a Louie who married an emperor's daughter) according to a
history that is recorded. It makes watching this film with wider
eyes. I also want to note, that know this doesn't make me any
more than who I am. I am still Frances, not any more special
than the next Frances.
As I grew older, I appreciated this film. I also understood
a lot of my Chinese family that lived in mainland China before
moving to Hong Kong.
With all the political upheaval, you have to wonder what
would have happened if China did not go through its
transition.
I know for one, I would not be here.
I recommend this film for its beautiful images, its story, the
court costumes, architecture and of course the history
of what made China modern.
Its is vast, beautiful in every possible way.
Without knowing, I hadn't realized that it was re-released.
It comes with four DVDs.
The theatrical version
Made for TV version
and two supplemntal discs.
That include additional interviews, films and other
related such stuff.
Plus a full color book talking impart of about the
production of the film.
This is a magnificent journey of historical China.
The crosses between traditional to modern.
To fight for country and for self.
The transitions of one being put in a power situation
to losing power. Only to be imprisioned at a young
age in a city and imprisioned later in life as a war criminal.
You see many decades of history in this transition.
In this epic film you learn so much about how China
changed as did the people and their culture.
When this film first came out in 1987, I was still in
grade school. I was more entralled by that fact I
was seeing beautiful images of my ethinicity without
really understanding the political nature.
We have a collection of items from the Ching dynasty
and many books, poster and ephemera from a exhibition
that was at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1977.
Being part of a royal dynasty line ( there was a duke who was
a Louie who married an emperor's daughter) according to a
history that is recorded. It makes watching this film with wider
eyes. I also want to note, that know this doesn't make me any
more than who I am. I am still Frances, not any more special
than the next Frances.
As I grew older, I appreciated this film. I also understood
a lot of my Chinese family that lived in mainland China before
moving to Hong Kong.
With all the political upheaval, you have to wonder what
would have happened if China did not go through its
transition.
I know for one, I would not be here.
I recommend this film for its beautiful images, its story, the
court costumes, architecture and of course the history
of what made China modern.
Two weeks ago we had our driveway re-done.
Instead of going with grade 9 gravel, we
went with Recycled & Crushed Asphalt.
It packs down better and harder.
Appearantly, gravel companies put more sand
than rock in the mix which results in crappy
driveways.
The asphalt is crushed fine enough that the oils
adhere together and has you drive on it,
it compacts down enough to make it a hard surface.
We extended ourd drive to fit my two subies
comfortably that way I wasn't parking in the mud.
Also the ruts from this past winter was horrid than
ever.
So that made it much easier plus better parking if we
have more than 3 vehicles. We also did it in front of the
truck making it an actual parking space.
Local company Hoenhe and Sons of Solon Mills did the work.
They did a really nice job.
Eric and I will probably oil it down and put a sealer on it to
make it harder so that during the winter we don't have to
worry about loose rock.
At least its not muddy soft and is decent to walk on.
PHOTOS
TAGS: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/tag
Tonight is the start of the 40th Annual Magic Collectors Weekend.
Before that I actually have a playing show early this afternoon.
Its simple background music for a luncheon.
Then tonight it is the Dessert Reception and the first lectures of the evening.
All three of us are registered this year.
I'm looking forward to it.
Its like my vacation for the year.
I'll be twitter about it and from time to time, I will definitely do
a voice post too.
Photos and possibly some video too.
I'll be playing during cocktail hour on Saturday night's banquet and show.
And as always, will report in nextweek with a recap.
Starting with the "It's Magic" Roundtable discussion from this past Monday.
o/o
Instead of going with grade 9 gravel, we
went with Recycled & Crushed Asphalt.
It packs down better and harder.
Appearantly, gravel companies put more sand
than rock in the mix which results in crappy
driveways.
The asphalt is crushed fine enough that the oils
adhere together and has you drive on it,
it compacts down enough to make it a hard surface.
We extended ourd drive to fit my two subies
comfortably that way I wasn't parking in the mud.
Also the ruts from this past winter was horrid than
ever.
So that made it much easier plus better parking if we
have more than 3 vehicles. We also did it in front of the
truck making it an actual parking space.
Local company Hoenhe and Sons of Solon Mills did the work.
They did a really nice job.
Eric and I will probably oil it down and put a sealer on it to
make it harder so that during the winter we don't have to
worry about loose rock.
At least its not muddy soft and is decent to walk on.
PHOTOS
TAGS: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/tag
Tonight is the start of the 40th Annual Magic Collectors Weekend.
Before that I actually have a playing show early this afternoon.
Its simple background music for a luncheon.
Then tonight it is the Dessert Reception and the first lectures of the evening.
All three of us are registered this year.
I'm looking forward to it.
Its like my vacation for the year.
I'll be twitter about it and from time to time, I will definitely do
a voice post too.
Photos and possibly some video too.
I'll be playing during cocktail hour on Saturday night's banquet and show.
And as always, will report in nextweek with a recap.
Starting with the "It's Magic" Roundtable discussion from this past Monday.
o/o
Happy Paczki Day!
(happy fat tuesday too)
Don't forget some of these...
tag: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/pi
(happy fat tuesday too)
Don't forget some of these...
tag: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/pi
With all this DTV stuff going on.
Eric has been doing a lot of research and reading about it.
It's not just having an antenna sticking up on your roof.
Although I live in a valley, there are quite a bit of trees around.
The most frustrating thing is that I don't get any of my
Channel 11's or even 38's.
The RCA TV I have is Analog and Digital.
So I can still back and forth on it.
The other night, I saw a tweet from Make about how to
make your own Antenna. I told Eric and said, we should make one.
I am sure I have all the materials around.
I had a piece of treated wood that was about 3 inch wider.
I found some flat head screws and a pouch of washers.
I had enough hangers.
And I had a type of transformer, but we really needed to
get the right one.
These projects look like they take only a little of time.
But this actually took us a couple of hours.
Ironically while we were in the middle of working on this,
the news was on and the breaking news said
that congress has pushed forward the DTV conversion
4 months ahead because they fear people are still
not ready. Which we think is BS because all they have been
doing is promoting it for over a year and more so since
the beginning of this year.
The side cutters I had were old and dull.
I couldn't find my trusty screw driver that was decent.
I had to use my drill to drill holes because the wood is very hard.
We started off with the hangers. Which ended up being
a pain in the ass. Because they were hard to cut and they
were hard to keep the contact with the screws.
Eventually after sanding and fooling with it we quit on that idea.
Going back in the garage, Eric saw some wire hanging by some
pipe's near the drill press. And it was closewire or picture hanging wire.
So we decided to use that instead.
So much easier because we were able to wrap the twine around the screws.
We used it for all the parts. Including the elements.
Went out to Menards to buy a transformer for around $2.00.
It comes with a cover so you can use it outside.
Came home attached it and you wouldn't believe.
IT WORKED!
in doors.
My p's were shocked, I was shocked, Eric was super shocked.
In fact, the analog channels were crappy , and would work better with
a amp to clear the picture.
But I did get at least 8 digital in clearly.
So I'm going to get some u-bolts and grab a couple of pipes and get
some couplings to put them together. Take it over to Eric's house
and put it up as high as we can and see what kind of signal we
can get.
I think the next art/craft fair i do, we'll make some hand made antenna's.
Because this was actually fun.
That actual cost to make this was only the cost of the transformer.
Since I have soo much stuff around the house.
We have other ideas and plan to make another using other other types of parts.
Really look over some other antenna's and see what we can do.
Because Antenna's are not cheap.
He bought one for about $70 and I bet this little ditty can do just as well.
Here's the end result of what it looks like.
It looks like an alien from Doctor Who!
instructions | video
Eric has been doing a lot of research and reading about it.
It's not just having an antenna sticking up on your roof.
Although I live in a valley, there are quite a bit of trees around.
The most frustrating thing is that I don't get any of my
Channel 11's or even 38's.
The RCA TV I have is Analog and Digital.
So I can still back and forth on it.
The other night, I saw a tweet from Make about how to
make your own Antenna. I told Eric and said, we should make one.
I am sure I have all the materials around.
I had a piece of treated wood that was about 3 inch wider.
I found some flat head screws and a pouch of washers.
I had enough hangers.
And I had a type of transformer, but we really needed to
get the right one.
These projects look like they take only a little of time.
But this actually took us a couple of hours.
Ironically while we were in the middle of working on this,
the news was on and the breaking news said
that congress has pushed forward the DTV conversion
4 months ahead because they fear people are still
not ready. Which we think is BS because all they have been
doing is promoting it for over a year and more so since
the beginning of this year.
The side cutters I had were old and dull.
I couldn't find my trusty screw driver that was decent.
I had to use my drill to drill holes because the wood is very hard.
We started off with the hangers. Which ended up being
a pain in the ass. Because they were hard to cut and they
were hard to keep the contact with the screws.
Eventually after sanding and fooling with it we quit on that idea.
Going back in the garage, Eric saw some wire hanging by some
pipe's near the drill press. And it was closewire or picture hanging wire.
So we decided to use that instead.
So much easier because we were able to wrap the twine around the screws.
We used it for all the parts. Including the elements.
Went out to Menards to buy a transformer for around $2.00.
It comes with a cover so you can use it outside.
Came home attached it and you wouldn't believe.
IT WORKED!
in doors.
My p's were shocked, I was shocked, Eric was super shocked.
In fact, the analog channels were crappy , and would work better with
a amp to clear the picture.
But I did get at least 8 digital in clearly.
So I'm going to get some u-bolts and grab a couple of pipes and get
some couplings to put them together. Take it over to Eric's house
and put it up as high as we can and see what kind of signal we
can get.
I think the next art/craft fair i do, we'll make some hand made antenna's.
Because this was actually fun.
That actual cost to make this was only the cost of the transformer.
Since I have soo much stuff around the house.
We have other ideas and plan to make another using other other types of parts.
Really look over some other antenna's and see what we can do.
Because Antenna's are not cheap.
He bought one for about $70 and I bet this little ditty can do just as well.
Here's the end result of what it looks like.
It looks like an alien from Doctor Who!
instructions | video
happy253rd birthday wolfy!!!
<3<3
<3<3
Happy Lunar New Year!
Its the year of the OX...
So don't act like the a bull in a china shop!
Hope everyone has a heathly and prosperous year!
Its the year of the OX...
So don't act like the a bull in a china shop!
Hope everyone has a heathly and prosperous year!
ETSY
I finally updated our etsy shop a bit.
Since I primarily manage it between Nikki & I.
I have a buch of stuff to put up...and I should
really find the time to do it in the next couple of days.
A whole lotta vintage stuff.
I found my niche @ Etsy.
Vintage items galore.
I sell my hand painted recycled purses and stuff.
Which I'm getting away from and concentrating only
on leather and man-made jackets...
along with my CDs but people really go for vintage.
Most recently I sold a bunch of vintage asian fabrics
that my parents had from when they made items for
the magic show.
The feedback for them have been extremely amazing.
That when I get them in hand, they don't want to do anything
with them.
I sold some other vintage trinkets as well, like a ink well
and spoons and a variety of supplies.
hopefully eric and i will be putting up some unique things up in
the near future...he's interested in wood burning right now.
My most biggest sale was one of the three antique theatrical
costumes that I put up. It ws sold to Courtney Love Cobain...
yes that would be Kurt Cobain of Nirvana's wife.
Which was a nice sale...
I still have some beautiful vintage fabric and remanat materials
at reasonable prices for my friends who sew. And two more
theatrical costumes available at http://alphaomega.etsy.com
mai-ling.net site
I really need to overhaul my actual website.
Its due for a re-design.
I've been using Nucelus for the past year or so.
It has worked well in a way for two areas.
But its frustrating when I can not figure out how
to intergrate it into an entire website.
So I'm thinking wordpress, or stick with basic HTML.
or make my LJ into a basic site for the pages I have
that are important.
Which are:
home · shows · press kit · music · magic · contact · store
........................................
Or just scraping the site for now and forwarding it to my various
myspace pages or soundclick.
Or making a one splash page with some info and link to various
pages and sites. (journal, store, myspace, twitter etc )
Which is the way that most musicians seems to be going.
I particularly am not fond of it.
Eitherway I need a revamp bad!
At least I feel like it ... although I like my site as is.
I just want a more easier back door to update stuff.
I'm not that clever to figure it out...
I like Karma and Slab which is for musicians...
but I'd have change hosting which I'm not keen on right now.
Since I get hosting for a very great deal.
Looking through Fantastico, I'm looking over SoHo (again),
and b2...otherwise its Wordpress, LJ or basic HTML.
myspace, CDbaby, twitter, etc
I've totally neglected it.
Since I'm not even pushing CD sales any more online.
With awarestore gone for a year now, and CDbaby the
main option. I'm just not into promoting the music.
I still have projects I want to release, but I'm not pushing
them in online sales.
People on amazon have been selling some of the CDs at
outrageous "collectible" prices in the past or even current maybe.
Which I think for $40 is over rated.
Yes I thnk it's overrated.
I have plenty of COTS, a few FAVS and around 50 doubles (chron/BKS expanded)
left. Most of which I sell at the few public shows, but stuff I've sold at
craft/art fairs, concert raffles and private/corporate events where people
have asked to purchase.
I haven't done anything on CDbaby for quite awhile. Not even credit card
purchases at shows. I find that with the state of the economy its not
worth while. Its not even worthwhile for CD sales when tipping is shitty.
I never thought there would be a time where I would not want to play
public shows anymore, and only play private and corporate concerts.
For the months of September-December I played at Caffe Luna and
the one 'bucks to keep my vendor # active, I made $15.76 in tips and
$60 in CD sales. That is down 100% from 5 years ago when I would
play a 'bucks and come out of there with at least $50 in tips alone.
I do admit, playing the private/corporate sector to be very satisfying
and I'm contented. Because I don't get anxious when tips and CD
sales falter. I get my artist fee and if I get a sale that's great. if not
at least I making a living with performing my own material ...
I started allowing anyone to add me as a friend on my music space again.
I haven't logged in to my heart, p's, uncle jay's or the label space in a long time.
I still log into my personal space some of the time.
I accept people on soundclick but not updated there.
I am up with twitter. I am happy to add anyone on my flist on LJ
here. So if you are on it hit me up on here and i'll follow you too.
Or I might find you and follow you, I hope you do the same.
I love being able to communicate with people via twitter in real time.
@gordonmeyer said twittering in 10 words is the hip thing to twitter for 2009...
i dont' think i'm capable. I can only try...
www.twitter.com/mai_linghttp://www.twitter.com/mai_ling
micro blogging is fun and I can be quick witted too.
BANJO!!!!
A couple of weeks ago while bringing some items over to Sally Ann's.
I saw what looked like a guitar type instrument in a pile of stuff.
It turned out to be a Paramount Banjo.
I asked the guy unloading stuff in the truck if he could find out how
much I could buy it for.
Instead he said, go ahead and take it.
I was like REALLY?!?!?!
and he said yes.
I was so excited I said thank you at least 5 times.
Now all i need in my collection is a Ukelelee, mandolin and autoharp.
Which I missed out on a beautiful antique autoharp two years ago
for $20.00 ... damn.
I have new strings and will get together with Dale to restring it for me.
backing up HDR workstation
Been working on backing up my VS system.
Its been a lot of hard work.
I had backed up IDE01 and 02 and started
transferring songs I could not rip from disc.
But I accidentaly copied over the songs I hadn't
ripped on one partition.
Luckily I was able to recover those songs from
IDE02 back up disc.
Now that I can record the basic 4 channels and
write them and rip into the computer as WAV files
I don't have to mix and master them on hard disk.
Which is nice. I can mix and master them in Audition
or forge.
Or for an actual album I can actually let an engineer
to the work when it comes the mixing and mastering.
Speaking of which, still working on those projects.
Hopefully last Spring...
I am currently re-working some older sonnets from
the Shake n' Poe project. So I asked Dale for the
video from when we did the show 2 years ago
to reference from.
I want to intergrate some of them into my set list
this year and start working on new ones. I'd like to
at least write to 10 new sonnets.
the COLD snap
The cold snap we have coming back here is not welcomed.
Dear Winter, make it more of a comfortable 45 degrees everyday
during this season please...
Last Saturday Eric helped me with shoveling my drive way.
Then I sorta (as well he sorta in fun) pushed me in the snow.
We had too much fun with that. But it was hard work.
Since his thrower ain't a workin'.
Eric and I went to the Goodwill that opened in Lake Zurich 3 weeks ago
and he bought a little heat fan they had there for $6. He said it really
is nice. So the following week went back and we both bought one of
the same. Except mine has a glitch. So I brought it back for a store credit.
Aldi's has a cermic oscillating heaters for $26 and I bought two.
One for the great room and one for the magic room (near the garage)
to keep it warm back there especially.
It really does help increase the temperature in the house.
I'll find out tomrorow how well it really works. Because the last
cold snap we had before Christmas it was quite chilly period!
At Eric's house he kept the thermostat at 55 degrees and the two
fans he had increased the room temp by 10 degrees. So far the
one in the great room has increased the air temp by 4 degrees
and the magic room feels much warmer. Especially the floor.
On that note, stay warm.
<3 <3
I finally updated our etsy shop a bit.
Since I primarily manage it between Nikki & I.
I have a buch of stuff to put up...and I should
really find the time to do it in the next couple of days.
A whole lotta vintage stuff.
I found my niche @ Etsy.
Vintage items galore.
I sell my hand painted recycled purses and stuff.
Which I'm getting away from and concentrating only
on leather and man-made jackets...
along with my CDs but people really go for vintage.
Most recently I sold a bunch of vintage asian fabrics
that my parents had from when they made items for
the magic show.
The feedback for them have been extremely amazing.
That when I get them in hand, they don't want to do anything
with them.
I sold some other vintage trinkets as well, like a ink well
and spoons and a variety of supplies.
hopefully eric and i will be putting up some unique things up in
the near future...he's interested in wood burning right now.
My most biggest sale was one of the three antique theatrical
costumes that I put up. It ws sold to Courtney Love Cobain...
yes that would be Kurt Cobain of Nirvana's wife.
Which was a nice sale...
I still have some beautiful vintage fabric and remanat materials
at reasonable prices for my friends who sew. And two more
theatrical costumes available at http://alphaomega.etsy.com
mai-ling.net site
I really need to overhaul my actual website.
Its due for a re-design.
I've been using Nucelus for the past year or so.
It has worked well in a way for two areas.
But its frustrating when I can not figure out how
to intergrate it into an entire website.
So I'm thinking wordpress, or stick with basic HTML.
or make my LJ into a basic site for the pages I have
that are important.
Which are:
home · shows · press kit · music · magic · contact · store
........................................
Or just scraping the site for now and forwarding it to my various
myspace pages or soundclick.
Or making a one splash page with some info and link to various
pages and sites. (journal, store, myspace, twitter etc )
Which is the way that most musicians seems to be going.
I particularly am not fond of it.
Eitherway I need a revamp bad!
At least I feel like it ... although I like my site as is.
I just want a more easier back door to update stuff.
I'm not that clever to figure it out...
I like Karma and Slab which is for musicians...
but I'd have change hosting which I'm not keen on right now.
Since I get hosting for a very great deal.
Looking through Fantastico, I'm looking over SoHo (again),
and b2...otherwise its Wordpress, LJ or basic HTML.
myspace, CDbaby, twitter, etc
I've totally neglected it.
Since I'm not even pushing CD sales any more online.
With awarestore gone for a year now, and CDbaby the
main option. I'm just not into promoting the music.
I still have projects I want to release, but I'm not pushing
them in online sales.
People on amazon have been selling some of the CDs at
outrageous "collectible" prices in the past or even current maybe.
Which I think for $40 is over rated.
Yes I thnk it's overrated.
I have plenty of COTS, a few FAVS and around 50 doubles (chron/BKS expanded)
left. Most of which I sell at the few public shows, but stuff I've sold at
craft/art fairs, concert raffles and private/corporate events where people
have asked to purchase.
I haven't done anything on CDbaby for quite awhile. Not even credit card
purchases at shows. I find that with the state of the economy its not
worth while. Its not even worthwhile for CD sales when tipping is shitty.
I never thought there would be a time where I would not want to play
public shows anymore, and only play private and corporate concerts.
For the months of September-December I played at Caffe Luna and
the one 'bucks to keep my vendor # active, I made $15.76 in tips and
$60 in CD sales. That is down 100% from 5 years ago when I would
play a 'bucks and come out of there with at least $50 in tips alone.
I do admit, playing the private/corporate sector to be very satisfying
and I'm contented. Because I don't get anxious when tips and CD
sales falter. I get my artist fee and if I get a sale that's great. if not
at least I making a living with performing my own material ...
I started allowing anyone to add me as a friend on my music space again.
I haven't logged in to my heart, p's, uncle jay's or the label space in a long time.
I still log into my personal space some of the time.
I accept people on soundclick but not updated there.
I am up with twitter. I am happy to add anyone on my flist on LJ
here. So if you are on it hit me up on here and i'll follow you too.
Or I might find you and follow you, I hope you do the same.
I love being able to communicate with people via twitter in real time.
@gordonmeyer said twittering in 10 words is the hip thing to twitter for 2009...
i dont' think i'm capable. I can only try...
www.twitter.com/mai_linghttp://www.twitter.com/mai_ling
micro blogging is fun and I can be quick witted too.
BANJO!!!!
A couple of weeks ago while bringing some items over to Sally Ann's.
I saw what looked like a guitar type instrument in a pile of stuff.
It turned out to be a Paramount Banjo.
I asked the guy unloading stuff in the truck if he could find out how
much I could buy it for.
Instead he said, go ahead and take it.
I was like REALLY?!?!?!
and he said yes.
I was so excited I said thank you at least 5 times.
Now all i need in my collection is a Ukelelee, mandolin and autoharp.
Which I missed out on a beautiful antique autoharp two years ago
for $20.00 ... damn.
I have new strings and will get together with Dale to restring it for me.
backing up HDR workstation
Been working on backing up my VS system.
Its been a lot of hard work.
I had backed up IDE01 and 02 and started
transferring songs I could not rip from disc.
But I accidentaly copied over the songs I hadn't
ripped on one partition.
Luckily I was able to recover those songs from
IDE02 back up disc.
Now that I can record the basic 4 channels and
write them and rip into the computer as WAV files
I don't have to mix and master them on hard disk.
Which is nice. I can mix and master them in Audition
or forge.
Or for an actual album I can actually let an engineer
to the work when it comes the mixing and mastering.
Speaking of which, still working on those projects.
Hopefully last Spring...
I am currently re-working some older sonnets from
the Shake n' Poe project. So I asked Dale for the
video from when we did the show 2 years ago
to reference from.
I want to intergrate some of them into my set list
this year and start working on new ones. I'd like to
at least write to 10 new sonnets.
the COLD snap
The cold snap we have coming back here is not welcomed.
Dear Winter, make it more of a comfortable 45 degrees everyday
during this season please...
Last Saturday Eric helped me with shoveling my drive way.
Then I sorta (as well he sorta in fun) pushed me in the snow.
We had too much fun with that. But it was hard work.
Since his thrower ain't a workin'.
Eric and I went to the Goodwill that opened in Lake Zurich 3 weeks ago
and he bought a little heat fan they had there for $6. He said it really
is nice. So the following week went back and we both bought one of
the same. Except mine has a glitch. So I brought it back for a store credit.
Aldi's has a cermic oscillating heaters for $26 and I bought two.
One for the great room and one for the magic room (near the garage)
to keep it warm back there especially.
It really does help increase the temperature in the house.
I'll find out tomrorow how well it really works. Because the last
cold snap we had before Christmas it was quite chilly period!
At Eric's house he kept the thermostat at 55 degrees and the two
fans he had increased the room temp by 10 degrees. So far the
one in the great room has increased the air temp by 4 degrees
and the magic room feels much warmer. Especially the floor.
On that note, stay warm.
<3 <3
Or so we will work harder to try...
I miss journaling like I used to.
I must find the time journal more but I find that
I sometimes don't have enough quirks to write.
Have I turned boring?
I spend time with certain people when time permits.
I take in whatever time I have with people and enjoy it.
I don't usually have a resolutions...I think this year I am going to
learn to not get so easily upset, angry and not to yell at the people I love.
I hope I can hold out.
anyway....
Happy New Year!
My friends.
2008 has passed us by and we dive right into 2009.
Every year it becomes more surreal.
I swear I'm getting to old to stay up past midnight.
Yesterday was Dad's birthday.
He turned 83.
We went out early in the morning to gather a few items,
and took him over to Borders to read a few magazines.
Then home where we had a nice lunch.
I made BBQ Chicken breast, with mashed potatoes, cole slaw
and the last of a few kolacky's I had made over Christmas.
I have to remember not eat at 2pm to eat at 7pm. I can't
do that anymore!
He watched about the Great Wall of China.
While I got things ready for dinner that evening.
Eric came over around 6pm ...
We had meatloaf with sweet mashed potatoes, boiled broccoli
and Lemon Meriunge Pie.
I ate too much. I felt ickky after the Pie.
We gave my dad our present to him. Which he didn't take very well.
It's a roll of toilet paper that doesn't tear. I set it at the dining table
so he can see it. Dad only gets toliet paper as presents for
the entire year. Well he wasn't happy seeing TP in place of food.
He finds it vulgar. Which I find odd.
It seemed like he was grumpy for the rest of the night.
After he had his walk and pill... All four of us watched Shrek 2 on TV
which I think is the funniest of the 3.
I was tired and so eric and I decided to lay down.
Woke up for both midnight's.
Kissed and then he left around 12:30am.
It wasn't a great NYE in general because the TV was boring
however someone was doing the fireworks thing.
But if there was anything that makes NYE special as usual
it is that I spent it with my family whom I love dearly.
mom, dad and eric.
I miss journaling like I used to.
I must find the time journal more but I find that
I sometimes don't have enough quirks to write.
Have I turned boring?
I spend time with certain people when time permits.
I take in whatever time I have with people and enjoy it.
I don't usually have a resolutions...I think this year I am going to
learn to not get so easily upset, angry and not to yell at the people I love.
I hope I can hold out.
anyway....
Happy New Year!
My friends.
2008 has passed us by and we dive right into 2009.
Every year it becomes more surreal.
I swear I'm getting to old to stay up past midnight.
Yesterday was Dad's birthday.
He turned 83.
We went out early in the morning to gather a few items,
and took him over to Borders to read a few magazines.
Then home where we had a nice lunch.
I made BBQ Chicken breast, with mashed potatoes, cole slaw
and the last of a few kolacky's I had made over Christmas.
I have to remember not eat at 2pm to eat at 7pm. I can't
do that anymore!
He watched about the Great Wall of China.
While I got things ready for dinner that evening.
Eric came over around 6pm ...
We had meatloaf with sweet mashed potatoes, boiled broccoli
and Lemon Meriunge Pie.
I ate too much. I felt ickky after the Pie.
We gave my dad our present to him. Which he didn't take very well.
It's a roll of toilet paper that doesn't tear. I set it at the dining table
so he can see it. Dad only gets toliet paper as presents for
the entire year. Well he wasn't happy seeing TP in place of food.
He finds it vulgar. Which I find odd.
It seemed like he was grumpy for the rest of the night.
After he had his walk and pill... All four of us watched Shrek 2 on TV
which I think is the funniest of the 3.
I was tired and so eric and I decided to lay down.
Woke up for both midnight's.
Kissed and then he left around 12:30am.
It wasn't a great NYE in general because the TV was boring
however someone was doing the fireworks thing.
But if there was anything that makes NYE special as usual
it is that I spent it with my family whom I love dearly.
mom, dad and eric.
Sunday we had our Notes & Poets Holiday Party.
It was a fun filled evening with great food,
great white elephant gifts and most important
great friends.
All who came had a great time and great laughs.
Karen again, graciously opened her home to us.
It was beautifully decorated.
The food was excellent.
We had sloppy joes & pasta soup.
Along with home made items like potato salad, frye bread, salad,
with potato chips and a line of sweets, wine, punch, champagne,
hot chocolate and more...that everyone brought along.
We gathered in the living area where the white elephant
gifts were. Where Karen read a heart warming story
prior to us all gathering in the kitchen for food.
After dinner we did the white elephants.
There were some pretty great ones.
We did a number system that Elysia talked about.
I got #1, Eric got #7, Mom #9 and Dad #14.
I choose Perfection and Terry who was #2 got Larry's
gift which had a stuffed pig and salt & pepper shakers
in the form of Notes. He decided to trade with me.
Which was fine. I like the shakers and the pig was cute.
I choose Eric's and picked the one Eddie and his wife
brought wrapped in Polish wrapping paper.
It was a solid wood kitchen shelf.
My mom took the box and it turned out to be a vintage
two piece vanity mirror from Bill ... very beautiful.
Dad choose the red wrapped gift which turned out to
be a bust of bull dog. He traded with Eddie's wife
for the blinking necklace lights. He was quite facinated by
them.
We ended the evening with Larry playing some christmas
carols on the piano and we chattered for a while before
going our seperate ways.
It was just too much fun.
I love the Notes & Poets family that it has become.
We have forged great friendships and support each other
in life and creativeness.
Of course some of the key people who've been coming to
N&P since the inception 3 years ago couldn't be there.
They were missed greatly.
I love these gatherings we now have.
Karen and I already talking about the Summer gathering
for the 4th anniversary.
Here's some photos from the day...
Eddie's photos:
LINK: www.resner01.gather.com
(a goofy one of me there).
My Photos:
LINK: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/ta
Enjoy!
It was a fun filled evening with great food,
great white elephant gifts and most important
great friends.
All who came had a great time and great laughs.
Karen again, graciously opened her home to us.
It was beautifully decorated.
The food was excellent.
We had sloppy joes & pasta soup.
Along with home made items like potato salad, frye bread, salad,
with potato chips and a line of sweets, wine, punch, champagne,
hot chocolate and more...that everyone brought along.
We gathered in the living area where the white elephant
gifts were. Where Karen read a heart warming story
prior to us all gathering in the kitchen for food.
After dinner we did the white elephants.
There were some pretty great ones.
We did a number system that Elysia talked about.
I got #1, Eric got #7, Mom #9 and Dad #14.
I choose Perfection and Terry who was #2 got Larry's
gift which had a stuffed pig and salt & pepper shakers
in the form of Notes. He decided to trade with me.
Which was fine. I like the shakers and the pig was cute.
I choose Eric's and picked the one Eddie and his wife
brought wrapped in Polish wrapping paper.
It was a solid wood kitchen shelf.
My mom took the box and it turned out to be a vintage
two piece vanity mirror from Bill ... very beautiful.
Dad choose the red wrapped gift which turned out to
be a bust of bull dog. He traded with Eddie's wife
for the blinking necklace lights. He was quite facinated by
them.
We ended the evening with Larry playing some christmas
carols on the piano and we chattered for a while before
going our seperate ways.
It was just too much fun.
I love the Notes & Poets family that it has become.
We have forged great friendships and support each other
in life and creativeness.
Of course some of the key people who've been coming to
N&P since the inception 3 years ago couldn't be there.
They were missed greatly.
I love these gatherings we now have.
Karen and I already talking about the Summer gathering
for the 4th anniversary.
Here's some photos from the day...
Eddie's photos:
LINK: www.resner01.gather.com
(a goofy one of me there).
My Photos:
LINK: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/ta
Enjoy!
Happy Death Day to WA Mozart.
Beloved of God.
watch Amadeus tonight.
Beloved of God.
watch Amadeus tonight.
december 1st = day without art
december 1st = world aids day
means you are allowed to be naked for a day.
december 2nd you put your clothes back on.
in memory of chuck
http://www.worldaidsday.org
december 1st = world aids day
means you are allowed to be naked for a day.
december 2nd you put your clothes back on.
in memory of chuck
http://www.worldaidsday.org
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- Thinking Music
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