I haven’t been home during this time of the year in a REALLY long time.
I’m pretty used to things winding down before Thanksgiving/Christmas/ New Years holidays and always try to save quite a bit before and things are usually up and running by Jan/Feb, which is what happened this year as well…I’ve been home since end of March and the month has REALLY dragged. This time last year I was coming home to my parent’s house after 2 crazy months with The Presets. They took me to Mexico, I actually SOLD merch in Mexico City and it was my first time that far south..A year later, BOTH Kim & Julian are proud, doting dads…seriously..what a difference a year makes. Even Ben has a new baby!! So many babies!! And I have onesies to prove it.
I always know I’m not ready to settle because I still get super angsty when I’m in one place for a really long time. This month has kept my really busy, I gained my first non-band street team client and have my 2nd one this month. It’s very exciting to know that my business/services will really start to pick up soon. I am teaching a class for the Austin Music Foundation in May, which I am STOKED about..but really haven’t had time to prepare for..yikes..I’m hoping that will give me some new consulting clients, which I will gladly take.
April-August is normally when I do a bulk of my touring..except this year I don’t have anything planned or booked, which makes me incredibly nervous. I am lucky to have my job at The Parish and lucky to have random jobs come in when I need it but touring is what always gives me that sense of security (irony because it is the most unsecure line of work there is).
I really enjoy having a non-touring family at my job, it’s weird because I was only working there for 2 weeks before I left on a 6 week tour..and now that I’ve been there for a month, I can tell people are getting used to me and even I’m letting my guard down. It’ll be hard to have to leave them all again one day. My fingers are really crossed for another tour though..
It’s weird being back because things just aren’t the same. I am balancing 30 different jobs, finding a house and trying to keep sane (as per usual). My friend Jackie has a job now and works ridiculous hours. She tries to balance us & her job & her long distance boyfriend and for the most part is doing an amazing job. My friend Rose is working her butt off at college, while Kiley is working her butt off to finish her last year at college! Sadly, one of the Austin bloggirls who’ve I’ve grown to love so much over the past year is moving back to Chicago next month and I am just really sad to know that she won’t be here to watch Glee with me anymore. I feel like we used to see each other 3 or 4 times a week and now we see each other once or twice a week if we’re lucky.
Oh the lives of working people…is this how it usually is? There are times where I really really miss just lounging at Barton Springs or doing nothing at home..now, even if I am at home I’m working on some online marketing campaign or updating some sort of social media site for work. I feel like I’m working so hard while doing nothing at the same time.
In her blog, Rose posted how excited she is about summer…I don’t share the same sentiment this year because of all these wild changes. Last summer was just soo fun, so carefree..this summer I feel like I’m loosing two friends (though I know it isn’t true..) and it’ll be so weird not to have Dani (and Kiley) at all the crazy summer events that will be happening. Next summer, who knows if Jackie will be here. I hate change, but I love change..you see how contradictory this can be? I’m selfish in that I have to be in a different place all the time but I like having the same things and the same people to come home to and that’s not happening.
This week is a slow one at The Parish..it sucks because right after I booked my flight to NYC I picked up this very well paying gig for a Private School Fair happening on Saturday. Trying to cram in as much work as I possibly can before I leave. Seeing some of my fave people will revive my spirits I hope.
April 27th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Oh, Mai. I could relate to this blog post, oh so much. Especially the part about juggling 30 different jobs and feeling swamped on the one hand, while never REALLY accomplishing all that you want to on the other.
And having friends leave is really difficult. My husband is going to Brazil for two months this summer, and while we’ve always prided ourselves on how independent we both are, I am already *freaking out* a little bit.
Reading Rose’s blog cheered me up though, with all of her fun plans and ideas. I think when you’re facing a turbulent / unpredictable time, it helps to surround yourself with calm people…in person or, like me, by stalking them online.
Anyway, keep writing, and lemme know if you ever want to grab coffee to talk about The Parish (or anything!)
Cheers,
T
PS – Your new blog theme/layout is BEAUTIFUL.
April 29th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Aw, thanks for saying I’m managing things well, because sometimes I feel like I’m really not. I can relate to the feeling of working so hard and feeling like you’re doing nothing. It really makes me appreciate the weekends a lot more, and also time I get to spend with my friends, including you!
April 29th, 2010 at 11:48 am
I’m sorry that your friends are moving. That’s always hard.
I know what you and Tolly are saying – there’s all these things that have to get done and you don’t know how to juggle your time.
I remember when I first started working a normal 9-5 job (instead of part time or school or nothing at all) and wondering how everyone else did it and still had time for everything else. I still don’t completely know how.
I hate feeling like there are other things I really want to be doing by all my obligations get in the way. Yeah, I do have a more “regular” job than you with all your freelancing stuff but anything that is a big adjustment from what has been your ordinary is tough to get used to.
I’m sure it won’t always be this busy and once you get big things taken care of like finding a house and getting moved in other stuff will fall into place.