Cry. Hurt. Laugh. Sing.

My new EP is officially coming out on June 4th!
And it will be called the "Cry. Hurt. Laugh. Sing." EP.
The name is taken from some lyrics in the song "Dangerous Things."
I like how it encompasses a lot of different feelings and kinda expresses the diversity of the songs on the EP.

Tracklisting:
1. Firefly (A pop/rock-ish tune about wanting someone you can't have)
2. Mysterious (a jazzy song about being intrigued by someone)
3. Not What I Need (an epic, atmospheric, folky ballad about settling in your relationship)
4. Dangerous Things (a bluesy pop song about the rollercoaster of emotions you experience while falling for someone)
5. Slow Poison (a straightforward, chill pop ditty about a somewhat toxic relationship)

When you listen to my last EP (self-titled and released in August 2011), you can tell it's very glossy and smooth. The production is very radio-ready. This new EP is less glossy and more on the raw side. I'm highly impressed by the quality of recordings I got, considering this EP was free for me. I feel very blessed to have met the people who worked on this project. They put a lot of hard work into it and I wasn't even compensating them.
I'm happy that it's coming out on my mom's birthday too. It's kinda a way to recognize her support of my music, I guess.

Yesterday, I filmed the music video for "Melody."
It went very well. Joshua Lockhart, the videographer, was very easy to work with and I think he'll make something really awesome. I recommend him.
We filmed in this alleyway with a lot of cool brick walls.
I got my hair and makeup professionally done, too.
For the "Not What I Need" video, I did my hair/makeup myself and I was very proud of the result.
But I felt that Melody needed something extra.
My hair was all teased and softly curled at the ends. It looked a little 1960s.
My hair was pretty big and full of secrets.
I also wore my "crazy pants." (A pair of Roberto Cavalli skinny jeans I got from China on Ebay. They include leopard print, colorful paint splatter, floral print, AND a colorful optical illusion-ish print.)
Josh and I joked that I should create a record label called Crazy Pants Records. Love it.

We started filming around 3pm. Around 5pm, When I was trying to get up to this platform area (while wearing 5 inch heels), I tripped and hit my head really hard on the brick steps. I felt fine, just a little disoriented with a scratched up arm. So, we continued to film.
Later that night, around 11:30ish, I started to have a horrible headache and feel nauseous.
After a few hours of progressively getting worse and being too afraid to fall asleep (you're not supposed to if you have a concussion), I decided to go to the ER (after calling and waking up my parents in the middle of the night to get their opinion).
I arrived at 2:30am and got a CAT Scan. The scan turned out to be clear, thank goodness. The doctor said I got a mild concussion and the symptoms were late onset. But, I should be completely fine. They gave me a prescription for anti-nausea meds and pain meds. I finally got back home and into bed by 4:45am.
So, I probably freaked out my parents for not big reason.
I also texted Wesley all about it as it was happening, but he was asleep so he didn't get them until the morning. I bet he was surprised that he had like 6 texts from me when he woke up.

Definitely gonna be taking it easy for the next couple days.

I filled those prescriptions today.
I woke up and still had a bad headache, but it wasn't as horrible as last night.
I took a pain pill and it definitely helped. I also feel slightly loopy. Like I took a tequila shot or two.

So, my Sunday night has so far consisted of eating dinner and listening to Eisley's new album while high on Tramadol.
Side note: Eisley's new album "Currents" is a gorgeous piece of art. It's streaming for free on Pandora right now and comes out on iTunes this Tuesday. Being the uber-fan that I am, I pre-ordered the deluxe edition weeks ago.

It's so cool how music can trigger memories.
the other day, my iTunes was on shuffle and Regina Spektor's cover of "Real Love" by John Lennon came on. I was immediately transported to freshman year of college. Fall 2008.
I first heard that song when I was feeling crazy home-sick halfway through my first semester of college.
I was also missing Wesley something fierce.
The song came on and I listened to it on repeat while crying, alone in my dorm room.
Magical.

Well, I'm gonna watch a ton of Parks & Recreation and go to sleep early.
Tramadol also makes you hella tired.

Some random stuff that's popped into my mind lately

- I had a dream last night that Eisley played a concert in one of the rehearsal rooms at UM and I was supposed to sing harmonies and play keyboards because Stacy King was sick. But, my microphone was a giant wooden plate that blocked my face from being seen by the audience. I also was annoyed because every time I tried to get a picture with the band, the picture came out all warped.

-Today: For the first time that I can remember, I came up with a melody upon waking up, as opposed to when I'm trying to fall asleep.

-It's interesting how my mom texts me saying she'll "call me in a bit," and 2 hours later she still hasn't called. With her timing, I'll probably in the shower, at the gym, or going to the bathroom when she calls. And of course, she doesn't answer when I call her first. Oh, this is the dance we often do!

-I read an article about funny lies parents tell their children and I started remembering ones my parents said to me:

•       I was obsessed with my pacifiers as a toddler. I could fit like 4 in my mouth at once. But, once I was three, my parents told me that it was illegal in Texas (where we lived) to use pacifiers if you were 3 or older. So, we got rid of them. I think I was 13 or 14 when I finally found out that there was no such law. 
• My mom told us it was illegal to have your car windows open on the highway because rocks would fall into our car. 

Anywhoozle,

The EP is ALMOST done.
I know I've been saying that forever.
But, for reals.
It kind of has to be done before the week is over because that's when Producer-Andrew's project is due.
This EP is his final project for his masters in audio engineering or something at MTSU.
Hence, I've been getting these recordings at virtually no cost to me.
We did some last minute electric guitars last night because there was something seriously missing in a few tunes.
Once we have the final mix of "Not What I Need" (which will be today), the music video can be finally be released to the public.

Also, filming music video for "Melody" (this one I actually have to pay for) this Saturday in Manchester, TN (Home of Bonnaroo). I have no effing clue what to wear. But, I am getting my hair/makeup done professionally for this (unlike the NWIN music video, where I did all that myself).

I'm really excited.
But, I'm also pretty anxious to get all this stuff done so I can focus on selling my furniture and getting ready to move. Does that make me lame?

I will be continuing this blog when I live in Richmond. I still will have a lot to talk about:
-wedding planning
-the adventures of living with my amazing fiance
-getting to know another new city
-applying to PharmD school
-continuing to do music in a town with virtually no music scene (from what I can tell)

Change of plans, y'all.

So....I know I said I was going back to Florida.....
But, this past weekend visit there, despite how awesome it was, opened my eyes to some of the pros/cons of Orlando (where my family lives) vs Richmond (where my fiance lives). I've also realized the some pros/cons mean more to me than others.

Orlando pros:

• Close to my family and a majority of my friends
• save money by not having to pay rent
• wedding planning becomes more convenient (since the wedding is going to be there and almost all my bridesmaids live in Florida)
• I'm already familiar with practically everything in the city since I'm a native-Orlandoan (Orlandoite? Orlandon?)
• Be able to do work for my mom in-person (oh yeah, btw: I work for my mom now in an online fashion)
• getting my last 7 credits for PharmD won't be expensive

Orlando cons:

• Living with my parents and/or my sister (I've really enjoyed my independence and don't want to lose it, and my sister and I wouldn't make the best roommates if we got a place together)
• Being 750 miles away from Wesley
• Less space (this house is less than half the size of the house we had back before I went to college)
• Chaos/stress ensues a lot with a family of 4 and 3 dogs, in general and specifically.
• Having to travel lots to visit Wesley (not that seeing him is an obligation. I just find the act of traveling to be a huge drag. I'm all about the destination)

Richmond Pros:

• Being with Wesley (and get some valuable time together before we get married)
• taking my credits there would probably give me more clout to get into VCU PharmD  (and I'd be a resident after a year or something)
• a new city would be a new adventure!
• Being with Wesley
• Saves me some money since we'll be splitting everything.
• Saves my parents money so they can contribute to the wedding more easily
• Did I mention being with Wesley?
• My job for my mom can be done online or through the phone like 98% of the time, so I don't have to quit.

Richmond Cons:

• Have to travel about every 6 weeks to Orlando to do wedding stuff
• If I live with Wesley I have to take responsibility for around $750 worth of monthly bills that my parents won't cover anymore. (But that won't be too bad because I need to become financially dependent from them soon anyway. I'm lucky they've been helping me out as long as they have)
• Not a great music scene (Orlando is better. Now that I've been in Nashville, I'm spoiled.)
• Living with my fiance is a scary, big life step.
• I dislike weather below 60 degrees fahrenheit. So, winter won't be too fun.

After weighing these things, I've decided that Richmond is the better decision for me. I'm turning over a new leaf and doing things that I want to do without worrying about what other people think. My whole family approves of my decision, but that isn't the point. My desire to live close to my amazing family doesn't outweigh my desire to start a new adventure as an individual and with Wesley. I literally figured this all out in the last 24 hours.

And I know some old-fashioned people might frown upon us "living in sin," but it's 2013. 

Get over it. 

ANYWAY

The weekend back in my hometown was awesome.

We had our first meeting with a potential florist, who will send us a quote in a few weeks. 

We ate DELICIOUS food choices and finalized the reception menu. We had extra food to eat for 2 days.

We toured our venue and discussed lighting. After seeing all of it in person on a beautiful Florida day, I definitely feel for sure that it's perfect.

Tasted some cakes and figured out that what we want cake-wise will cost like $175 less than we budgeted (always a good thing).

Got to hang with our amazing planner, Kristen. Love that girl. 

We are so ahead of the game with this wedding planning. 

So happy.

Got to meet my sister's new puppy, Baxter (as in Anchorman).

He is a fluffy, angelic, four-and-a-half pound ball of personality.

Got to have some nice girl time with my mom and Kelsey. 

The night before Mother's Day, I made dinner (stuffed peppers) and we all watched "Love and Other Drugs" and enjoyed lots of wine.

Then, on Mother's Day, Kelsey and I cooked brunch for all of us. We spent a while enjoying our food and mimosas up on the roof-porch in the Florida sun with the dogs. 

Sad my Dad was out of town the whole time I was there. But, he needs to be in St. Louis helping to take care of his elderly parents. My grandpa just had back surgery and my grandma needs some care as well.

At the Orlando airport today, I was going through the beginning of the security checkpoint and the TSA woman who was looking at my drivers license and boarding passes annoyingly caused the line to go to a halt by asking about 4 different TSA people if my license was fake. I have a FL drivers license with a TN address on it. I understand that she apparently had never seen that before and wanted to check. But, asking so many people and holding up the line for so long was unnecessary. I looked to the people behind me and apologized about twice during the whole thing. Later, one of the older men who was in line behind me was at the same gate. He said "Well, you definitely look like a criminal to me!" with a hearty laugh. 

Sleep calls to me.

Stuff and Nonsense

Lots of stuff has been going on lately.
EP's almost done.
On Tuesday we filmed a music video for "Not What I Need."
Very exciting.
It was beautiful day and we walked around Centennial Park among the pretty flowers and prime sunlight.
Afterwards, we went to an ethiopian restaurant.
I had never eaten ethiopian cuisine before. It was very good and very filling.
Since it closed at 9pm and we didn't get there until after 8, we pretty much were the last people there
and closed out the place at like 9:30.

In less than a week I'll be in Orlando with Wesley doing some wedding stuff and some fun hanging out with the family. First floral consultation, a food tasting, and a venue walk-through. It's starting to seem real.
Been working on a basic little wedding website.

Last night, my apartment complex had a Margarita Night. Free food and booze! Yay!
I never get to go to their monthly resident parties. I always happen to be busy on the nights they are scheduled. But, last night worked out perfectly.
I enjoyed a margarita and got to know an elderly hungarian man named Joe.
He became a US citizen like 35 years ago but still has a crazy-strong accent.
I love old people.

I wore my new dress that I bought with a good portion of the money I got from working on Nashville.
It might be the only dress I own that fits my waist and my chest without some sort of belt or tie waist.
So, I looked and felt like a 50s pin-up.

Speaking of Nashville! I never wrote here about my experience for an episode they filmed on April 19th.
I was cast as Hayden Panettiere's hand double. So fun and so random.
They needed a closeup of her hands picking up a phone but forgot to get the shot the day before, but Hayden was too busy filming other scenes so they needed a double. They asked for photo submissions of the hands of petite, white, blonde women between 18 and 28. So, I submitted and then was hand-picked (no pun intended) by the director. I pretty much spent an afternoon getting the best manicure of my life, picking up props and being surrounded by famous people. So, come episode 20, if you see a scene where Juliette picks up a cell phone while sitting in bed, those are my hands in the close-up.

After my hand scene was filmed, they asked me to fill in for one of the stand-ins.
So, they threw some glasses and a blue button up shirt on me and I became the stand-in for "Maddie" (Lennon Stella), the 13 year old daughter of Connie Britton's character.
So, I basically sat on a couch while light was adjusted on me at a few different angles in preparation for the scene with the real actors.
I got to talk to and get a picture with Lennon, who is one of the coolest/most talented 13 year old's I've ever met. I gave her my card, so I hope she looked up my music and liked it.
I also got to talk to Chip Esten! We briefly chatted about Whose Line Is It Anyway.
Man, has he aged well.
I was only there for 3.5 hours but got paid for a whole 12. niiiiice.
So, I'll be adding that to my resume. haha.