Grateful List for January – 3 March 2010

Using my current format of Grateful Lists, I’m supposed to write 99 things I’m grateful for. Dunno if it’ll happen, it’s LATE.  I actually have about 200 things I can rattle off the top of my head. Oh. Might be super-short… have a couple vids to voice.

In all, there are FORTY, 24-inch monitors, with another 20 offsite for development.

1.  Appreciating someone for the genius in their vulgarity. Steve, a day-trader featured on LifeHacker.com, took things to a whole new level in his setup. I used vulgarity in the “decadent, overkill but eff-you if you don’t like it, this is how I roll” sense.  I don’t mean it as an insult in the slightest. Sometimes I get knocked on my patootie with how people choose to express themselves. It’s honest, most likely makes the utility company happy, and speaks to the geek in me. My own expression of tech vulgarity will most likely stop at four, wall-mounted 24-inch monitors, Alienware hardware keeping it going, double-paned sound-buffered recording studio with a recording setup that would make any audiophile have a “happy ending” upon walking into the room.  In the words of my cousin, “I ain’t mad atcha.”

2. Making a wrong decision right – and honestly being okay with it. From December through February, I had an off-site office. It was soooo cute, cozy, very affordable,  with great neighbors… other small-business owners.  However, I learned that the forensics lab on the other side of my wall – which was the quitest spot in the building – started constructing a ballistics lab.  Utter chaos. I ended up turning down quick turnaround opportunities because of the noise level.  That was eventually going to cut into my overall income.  “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” I said.  I said the same thing of my first marriage… this wrong decision didn’t end in handcuffs. Good news is Hubs and I turned a corner of my home office space into my recording studio, same setup, minus 2 feet.  I’m actually happy being back at home, and the acoustics in my room are better than in the office.  Yeah, I made a wrong decision, but quickly made it right instead of beating myself up about it. Well done, me.

3.  Being in the presence of Greatness. I’m physically & electronically surrounded by greatness – be it writing, dance, singing, spoken word, philanthropic, broadcast, spiritual and even corporate.  So many beautiful souls in my midst are living their lives authentically. Yeah, I’m talking to you.♥

More soon… *group booby-smashing hug*

In the meantime, check out LifeHacker.com for practical, innovative tools for living.

Grateful List for 13-17 November

1.  History Detectives. This is a really cool show on PBS. Everyday people who acquire objects of American History have one of four detectives track down their history.

2.  Meteor Showers. The Leonid meteor shower is set to peak in about 2 1/2 hours. Hubbinator & I are gonna take a drive to a dark place to check it out.  It’ll most likely be the park. Yes, protection will be on board.

3.  Getting better and quicker at recording. I’m a perfectionist with recording projects. While I still meet deadlines, my own timeline isn’t up to par.  I’m slowly but surely learning to record — and keep recording — without editing as I go along.  It helps keep me in the flow of the project, which helps me finish quicker.

4.  Fireplace weather!! I love watching Hubbinator build fires and how toasty it gets in the living room.  I even got an urge to add a little cocoa to my evening coffee. Yeah… I’m one of those who enjoy coffee in the evening.

5.  Z-Parties!!! They are energizing and recharging!! Hubs & I went to one this past Saturday, and we really needed it. I didn’t really feel like going because of a headache, but I set that aside to get out and socialize with loved ones.  Oh, you don’t know what Z-Parties are?  This’ll get you started… CLICK

Grateful List for 11-12 November 09

My soup-coolers at rest. LOL

1.  Resting my voice. Even though I still talked to my family, etc. my voice got a good rest… especially today. I don’t think I’ve talked a total of 10 minutes today.  My voice should be stellar tomorrow.

2. My emotional health. I’m not what the AMA would call the poster child of emotional well-being, but I appreciate that my head is on straight enough to know when something in my life needs tweaking. That and having the ability to set my ego aside to listen to my loved ones when they notice I’m overworked or distraught.

3.  Public Television. I’ve learned so very much throughout the course of my life, but especially as of late.  I’ve learned about the Mexican Braceros, which consequently was never taught in any of the schools I went to – and I went to some good ones!  I’ve learned there are Afro-Peruvians thru a dancer who lived and studied around Peru for a year. Those are the two that stick out but I’ve learned so much more.

4.  Unexpected praise out of the clear blue sky. After not talking most of the day, I now have a lump in my throat, attempting to hold back a torrent of happy tears. Brandon is an amazing writer.  His writing really touches me. Even though it is genre fiction, his ability to connect emotion to the fantastic is astounding.

5. Being too flummoxed and overwhelmed to go on…

**group hug**

Grateful List for 8-10 November 09

I hope he learned his lesson about making bets. Hee hee!

1.  The friendship Hubbinator has with his BFF Mark. Mark lost a bet (he bet the Cowboys would lose Sunday), and had to get a faux-hawk. LOL The last bet he made and subsequently lost he had to watch Titanic.

2.  Getting the opportunity to record short stories for a friend and amazingly talented author!!! Check out Nithska‘s blog as well as read his latest work!!!  You’ll hear my voice attached to some of his work soon.   I’m honored to bring his written word to the audio medium.

3.  My mom calling me to tell me to take a day off and do NOTHING. Huhwhaaaa? I have so much to do, so much to prepare!! Recording, demos which I’m always tweaking & bettering, marketing, auditions, networking… **deep breath** I do have a bit of a headache from the daily onslaught of information and to-do lists.  It’s a blessing and a curse to be self-employed. I’ll give a day off a try… maybe.  I’ll most likely spend it thinking about all I have to do… if I just do it, then I won’t have to fret about having to do it, right?  Maybe I’ll chew a sixteenth of a ritalin, or do some yoga. YOGA… and dance. Much better than drugs.

4.  Candles in the Dungeon.  Today’s fragrance is Passion Fruit & Papaya. Lightens the intensity  of the workload in here.

5.  Accidentally chipping my fingernails.  That forces me to chop back the rest of them.  The upside of that is that my typing speed goes WAY up.  I have lots of typing to do at the moment.

6.  Being contacted for voiceover opportunities instead of always searching for them! In the last 3 days, I’ve been contacted by three different companies for work.  That feels amazing.

7.  Seeing how years of preparation is paying off in this new endeavor.  I can honestly say I’ve been preparing for this work for 25 years.

8.  Digital recorded works & podcasts!!! Thanks to the aforementioned Nithska… I’m listening intently to the podcasts of EscapePod, PseudoPod, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. I so ♥ sci-fi, horror & fantasy fiction, especially the short stories!!!

9. Opening myself up to new opportunities and ways to market myself… You can find/follow me on Twitter and keep up to date with my VO Career on LiveJournal.

MochaSilk Recommends: “Webchat Video: Idiot Work versus Genius Work”

Webchat Video: “Idiot Work versus Genius Work”

Be sure to check out Kevin Delaney’s latest webchat! Very thought-provoking.

Quoted from his blog entry, “In this webchat, I talk about what I call Idiot Work, and contrast it with the only way anyone has ever discovered to experience freedom and get maximum enjoyment out of life: tapping into (and selling) what you and you alone have to offer.”

Swine Flu/H1N1 Vaccine Concerns

Visit Dr. Mercola’s site to help distribute this poster…

Grateful List for 7 November 09

blurb, "Containing pearls of wisdom for the health-seeking reader, this book explores the body's physical, emotional and spiritual terrain. The text discusses body-health profiles, environmental factors, common allergens, the menopause, children, the elderly, and medical intuitive development."

1.  Holiday gatherings. Can’t wait until tonight’s!!! I made my nana’s cornbread stuffing. Turned out great last night, I’m hoping the moistness held thru refrigeration.

2. Learning something new EVERY DAY! Today (and it’s not even noon!) I learned about Medical Intuitives, how to further market myself to audiobook publishers, an idea for my audiobook demo, and more about the potential threat of the H1N1 vaccine (see above).

3.  Wishpot!! From the site, “Wishpot is an online service that lets you add anything you want to your Wishpot wish list or registry. It’s perfect for your gift list, birthday wish list, wedding registry, honeymoon registry, baby registry, Christmas list, and much more.” This is fun to do, and incredibly helpful for friends & family not nearby with shopping.  Feel free to friend me there so I can see your wishlists too! I have a few lists to remind me of a few things I’d like to splurge on, and WILL… however, if you’re a philanthropist or wealthy benefactor, I won’t refuse your kindness and generosity. LOL

Addendum to Grateful List – 5 November 09

DidiKikiLili at Christmas

I’m beyond grateful that my brother, his wife & daughter are safe. They’re all safe.  My brother, who is normally stationed at Ft. Hood is in Iraq. I’ve never been happy until now to say that he’s there.

If Kiki & Lili were home at Ft. Hood, they probably would’ve been at the commissary or PX at the time of the shooting. My family & I would’ve been going bananas right now driving there.

My heart goes out to everyone in that area, the families & loved ones of the soldiers, and even to the loved ones of those who committed this act, for something has gone seriously wrong.

Grateful List for 5 November 2009

Been a long while since I’ve posted here. WOW.  New development, I’ve stopped DREAMING of going into voice acting & voiceovers and turned it into a reality.  I’ve learned that some people don’t know exactly what voiceovers are… Listen to my Everyday VO Demo to get an idea. Yes, they’re all me.

1. My home studio, aka The Dungeon. Once a catch-all closet is now a functioning, sound-buffered voice studio. Pics later, recording today.

2. Reading & Radio Resource. They are beyond awesome. I donate my time narrating books for them. Why? Because reading for those who don’t have the luxury of sight, and those challenged by reading fills my heart.  There is a teen fiction on its way around the country for learning-disabled children. I’m now able to record at home, and have two books ready to record…. The Mists of Avalon and The Lacemaker and the Princess.

3. Happy Anxiety. This is the anxiety that goes with auditions.

 

Grateful List for 21-28 May 2009

1.  A fresh pair of contacts! Aaaaaaaah!

2.  Rattan office furniture. I’ve had it for a long while, but I LOVE it!  It gives the office an island-y feel.

3.  New ways to rearrange furniture.  It moves around the chi and re-invigorates a room.

4.  Looking forward to more home design. I still have painting to do, and I may just go on the hunt for crown molding.

5.  Finally using the permanent Jett Blacque dye I’d been staring at for months.  I lurve the richness of the color against my skin.  Later this summer I’m going to try a henna/indigo blend.

6.  FINALLY being able to update blog here, and it automatically exports to FB!  Heeeeeey!

7.  iheartradio. This is a streaming radio application for iPhone and Blackberry.  I downloaded it a few days ago, and I’ve been in love with it!  So far my favorite radio stations are Nueva Mega (Miami) and Island Music (Honolulu).  I use this on my BB in the car and it comes thru in 100% stereo.  My favorite feature on it is the Randomizer.  It’s a great app, and it’s FREE!!!   I’ve also heard good things about Pandora and Slacker as well.

8.  Getting back in touch with long lost friends.  I can’t expound too much on it right now – I’m emotional this week and I’ll start blubbering. LOL  Just… *sniff!* hey, y’all!!