So Close...

I've been working on the lyric sheet for "I Like That" for the last week or so.
It was important to me to have this with the CD so whoever is listening to it, can know what the songs are about.

I find the lyrics are the last thing I pay attention to usually but not everyone is like me...
Like I mentioned in my last blog entry, there is a demo of the songs that are going to be on "I Like That" on the right hand side of this page under "My MP3's"
15 songs in total.

So right now, I'm looking for the best option for printing the lyric booklet off but more or less, the design is set and done.

This is going to be the album cover.
Can't believe it's almost done!

I was going to sell through www.lulu.com but I wasn't given enough options for cover design so I think I'll just sell it myself from home to whoever wants it.
Can't believe it's just about done.
What am I going to fill my days with now??

I LIke That

I'm starting to get a little excited as the CD I've been working on is getting closer and closer to fruition.
I can't believe that I only started putting these songs together in April! It doesn't seem possible.
I know I've reached the end though because my creativity feels like it's at an all time low. It seems I was working on the last song for ages (although in reality it wasn't… but it felt like it!) and I dread the thought of having to work on a new song right at this moment.

So for me, that settles it - project closed.
I'm now putting the finishing touches on some of the songs, then I'll work on a CD cover, and then I'll figure out how I'm going to get this thing up on lulu.com

I can't believe it's almost done!

It's hard to be excited about your own project because you don't want people thinking you're blowing your own trumpet, but naturally, you’re proud of your achievement, whatever it is.

I'm thankful for the help and support I got from Deno. I would never have gotten this far if he wasn't encouraging me and sending me more and more lyrics... to the point where I had to say "please Deno no more!!" because I couldn't handle the pressure of having to come up with new music.
LOL
I'm a bit silly that way...
But without him I'm sure I would have given up long ago. Big mwah to you honey!

So within the next short while, I'll be advertising my new CD which I'm calling "I Like That".
Between this blog and facebook I'm sure you won't be able to miss the hoo haa when it's finished so if you're interested in getting a copy, be sure to let me know!

It's so close now!

By the way, you can get sneak peak at the unfinished versions of the songs under the "My MP3's" link on the right side of this page.

Feedback always welcome!

It's Better To Give... Right?

I've written about my hairdresser before.

I think she feels that she has to make conversation with her clients and she feels the best way to identify with them, is to agree with everything they say. I've caught her out by accident a few times - where she thinks I'm saying one thing and agrees with me but when I correct her and say I actually meant "blah blah blah" she changes her tune and agrees with me again. It's cute.

I know she means well and I don't envy her having to make small talk with everyone that comes in.

The last time I was there however, she seemed a little stressed. I can't even remember what brought it on but all of a sudden she was telling me in her "oh so nice" way, that her family were driving her bonkers!

Her kids took her for granted, her husband didn't realise all she did and took her for granted and she said

"I got so angry that I told them I was going to run away and they can see for themselves how much I really do do around here!"

That statement brought back a little memory…. When I was about nine or ten, I heard my own mother say that more than once! Being the ungrateful child I was (and as most children are) I thought she should just wear it because she's a mum, and that’s what mums do… crap…
At the time, my mother had a traditional Italian husband and three children under nine. It couldn't have been a picnic for her!

But thinking about it some more, I realised that I too have spoken those words and that made me smile.
Could it be that all mums feel this way from time to time and we all just pretend that everything is fine 100% of the time? Maybe my frustration isn't because my family is ungrateful, but it's just another normal stage in family life.

I grew up to value what my mother contributed to the family, and do likewise, no matter if it's not acknowledged… even if from time to time I go crazy and let out my frustrations for the lack of appreciation.

Bottom line is, I feel lucky that I have a family to contribute too, and in time, they too will see what I have done and hopefully they'll do the same for their families.
It's the cycle of life!

But even so, give your mum a kiss and hug today and tell her you love her and appreciate all the things she does for you…

Let the children come out to play

I'm really a little annoyed that I seem to be the only person who is not mourning the death of Michael Jackson.

I was a huge fan in the late 70's and early 80's. Most of my family will attest to that!! To say I was obsessed would be an understatement.

As he started to get 'weird' I defended him!! Yes I did!! And then in the 90's when the Jordy Chandler case came to light, I defended him again! I believed that the family was just out for money...

So if anyone was going to mourn him, it would have been me.

But you can't have someone being continually accused with more and more evidence coming up against them without some of it sticking.

I do believe that Michael Jackson was guilty of molesting those children. My heart breaks for all those that were affected by him. Just because you have fame and fortune, doesn't mean you have the right to do as you please. You can't own people no matter how much you think you can, and eventually, karma will catch up with you.

So Michael Jackson, thank you for your music but we could have done without your extra curricular activities and I for one am glad that no more children will be hurt by your desires.

She's Back

It's been a while since my last blog.

But what else could spur me out of a blog drought but my lovely dear customers…

Today I had a customer who was enquiring about his overdue bills. I told him he had two bills that were overdue and that together they totalled $103.
"Are you sure?" he replied.
"Yes. You have two invoices, and together they total $103"
He paused
"Are you sure? Haven't I paid those already" he asked, incredulous that he had charges.
"Yes I'm sure."
"There's still $103 over due?" He asked again.

This was when I took a deep breath and repeated yes, it was still overdue, I was sure.

What I wanted to say was "Yes you moran, unless the magic pixies paid your account within the last 2.5 seconds, it's fricken overdue!"

Or another favourite fantasy response is "Ha, ha. Got you! No there's nothing owing! You're our lucky 100 000 customer and as a prize, you get your charges wiped! Congratulations!"

Or - "Yes you're right, we were joking… you don't owe anything. Don't know why we sent you those invoices saying you owed us that money when you didn't. What were we thinking *slaps forehead with hand*"

No wonder I have a headache!

Need patience when I'm a patient

Late last week I felt a cold coming on. My chest was tight.
I refused to believe it though and put it down to anything from indigestion to the cold weather we're currently experiencing.

Wednesday I was supposed to go to work. I got up... got dressed... but didn't make it. Instead of going to work I went to the doctors. I thought he'd just give me the day off but instead he insisted I shouldn't be going anywhere for at least three days.

THREE DAYS???

That's an eternity!

Actually it was pretty easy to do nothing on Wednesday as I really did feel terrible.. but as the week progressed and I've started to feel a little better, I just want to start doing things. I'm sick of being home. I'm sick of being stuck in this house. I hate feeling miserable! I hate that my throat hurts, that it's hard to breathe and my nose runs like a tap!
I hate it!
I'm not a patient!! I don't get sick!
Anyone that knows me knows that I say this over and over again so when a bug does dare to infect me, I become very indignant. How dare it!! Everyone else gets sick not me!!
Reality is bummer...

What was that again?

From time to time I get calls from the interperting service at work.
These are always interesting if nothing else.
Once they've identified themselves, they'll proceed talking to their non english speaking client about the nature of the call to me. This conversation can take a very long time! During this time I busy myself with my handy, pocket sized, sudoku puzzle book.

Very often the interpreter has a thick accent and if I'm not listening carefully, I can miss when the interpreter stops talking to their client and starts talking to me.

Sometimes I'll get an italian interpreter. I always enjoy those calls as I can understand their conversation but quietly sit back, pretending I can't. Or sometimes I do the opposite and jump right in, answering the question before the interpreter has repeated it to me in English.

Sometimes you can tell what's being said. For example, the non english speaking person could be spelling out their name meaning we have it incorrect on their account.

If they're yelling and agitated it's most likely they've got a high bill enquiry. At those times I'm glad to have an interpreter to act as a buffer between me and the customer.

Sometimes the interpreter and client go off into their own world talking back and forth in their language. I wonder if they remember I'm still there at times. I want to break in and say "hey, did you still need me?" but I like the fact that I'm on a call, without actually having to do any work so I let them go on and on while I do my puzzles.

The only time an interpreter call is a bad thing is when you get it a few minutes before home or lunch time. I've been caught before! Not nice..

So far I haven't had any interpreter calls today but it's almost lunch time so the probability rate is increasing I'm sure!

Stay tuned...