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Creative Process
Settling - A Poem By Denise Levertov
There is a framed poem sitting on a table in the house I'll stay for the next 10 days. Behind this poem is the above view of Orcas Island.
I was welcomed here-clear gold
of late summer, of opening autumn
the dawn eagle sunning himself on the highest tree
the mountain revealing herself unclouded, her snow
tinted apricot as she looked west,
tolerant, in her steadfastness, of the restless sun
forever rising and setting.
Now I am given
a taste of the grey fore…
Lessons From The Road: Planning Ahead Doesn't Always Work
The beginnings and ends of shadow lie between the light and darkness and may be infinitely diminished and infinitely increased. Shadow is the means by which bodies display their form. The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail but for shadow.
my attempt at an eye-roll inducing motivational poster...
It's no secret. I make light of my OCD tendencies and social anxiety. Jokes soften the blow, but this one's gotten heavier over the last season. Now, there …
Pink Floyd & The Lists Which Need Revision
photo by Carlo Mirante
If the last 29 years have accomplished anything, it's creating the list of Things Which Make Emily Ann Peterson Cry.
Here is a sample from that list...
- exhaustion
- hunger
- pain, emotional or physical (duh)
- kindness, in any amount
- loneliness, mine or someone else's
- the rollercoaster that is grief
- unrelenting hope
- unrelenting defeat
- baby animals
Someday I'll draw up a helpful venn diagram and hand it out on first dates. That should go over well.
But I digress…
When a Facebook Post Becomes a Song...!
One of my songwriting mentors, Jan Krist, saw a post I made on Facebook earlier this week....
My original post...
Honesty - Sometimes it feels like I'm just pouring my heart into tiny glass bottles, sending them out into the Puget Sound with slim chances that it will reach someone who actually finds meaning in receiving it.
But that is not the case with concerts. Actual in-person concerts. Where we *all* wear something other than pajamas. Where we engage our whole being in something other t…
How To Drive Craft Store Employees Crazy
My crafty little collection of Christmas percussion!!! Shiny little friends!
If you're following me on social media, it should be no surprise that I'm working on recording a Christmas album (to be released on Thanksgiving day!)
So after my 5th night in a row of burning the candle at both ends with self-employment and putting this little snowflake of an album together, I deliriously found myself at a local craft store this morning.
There is nothing like walking into a craft store in late Oc…
I'm DONE with Goals. Done.
Absolutely nothing has gone like I planned it.
And before you roll your eyes and try to remind me that I promised to be done with the victim mindset this year, hear me out.
Every goal I've set goes one of two ways....
- They completely and utterly flop.
- Like hide under the covers, ugly cry, and binge watch old seasons of Law & Order SVU, just to escape the reminders of how badly things turned out.
- Like leave town and hope that when you return, everyone has forgotten how badly things went,…
Getting Artist Time When Your Week is Super Busy
This Week: Holy crap.
3 performances. Day-job clients with exciting projects. Lessons with music students. Talking with producers and engineers. Business bookkeeping...
Oh, that reminds me, 2014's taxes are also breathing down my neck. Awesome.
In full sarcasm, "Sounds like a great environment for making art, doesn't it?!"
Regardless of your artistic medium or level of ‘pro-ness’ in your art career, life can get really busy.
But that fact certainly doesn't take away the necessity to actual…
On Recording and 4am Bedtimes
You are reading the words of a morning person.
Evidently, if you stay up long enough... low & behold!
It's the morning, the best time of day!
Monday and Tuesday nights we set up recording gear in the sanctuary of Immanuel Presbyterian Church and three microphones over their beautiful grand piano.
We got to work.
On the 15 that made the semi-final cuts for the album...
Immanuel Presbyterian Church's sanctuary :)
At the end of the night I had equal parts of lethal loathing and total…
Sometimes My Weeks Look Like This. and I Love It.
Does anyone else get in a manic work-mode from time to time?
I wake up. Pee. Get coffee. & Then get to working. Until it's time to repeat the whole process.
Thankfully, I've got the assistance of Kristin and Alicia on a couple days a week. They're helping me ride this manic work-mode a little longer. I'm so gratefu…
Fuck Yes.
Yesterday, I read this article by Mark Manson.
He's encouraging readers to live by The Law of "Fuck Yes or No." (I highly suggest that you read it.)
"The Law of “Fuck Yes or No” states that when you want to get involved with someone new, in whatever capacity, they must inspire you to say “Fuck Yes” in order for you to proceed with them.
The Law of “Fuck Yes or No” also states that when you want to get involved with someone new, in whatever capacity, THEY must respond with a “Fuck Yes” in o…