PreHysterical

This student film came out in 2007 and I really, really loved it. So many student films (short films too) are kind of disturbing or dark and edgy but this one was refreshingly adorable. Since it's a student film and the animator (Joe Pitt) had only a limited amount of time to do it, the animation isn't complete but the characters and story still come across beautifully. Joe Pitt is now at Disney Studios and he worked on the upcoming The Princess and the Frog.

P.S. Don't worry when the dinosaur crunches - I promise it has a perfectly happy ending.

Forget About Adopting a Highway...

One of my favorite charities, World Wildlife Fund, has an adorable way to raise donations where you can adopt an animal of your choice. They have pretty much everyone's favorite animal, from koalas and polar bears to blue-footed boobies and bonobos.

When you adopt your favorite animal, you get sent your own plush of that animal and an adoption certificate. There are millions of charities all doing their part to make the world better but I really love a charity that can appeal to your cuddly side as well as your global mindedness. Takes feeling warm and fuzzy to a whole new level...

Your New Favorite Band...*

...is Pomplamoose. When I was doing La Vie en Rose last week as my blog song, I was looking for other versions of it on YouTube and ran across this delightful version. And then I saw their others - they are beyond entertaining. One of my favorites is My Favorite Things in 5/4 time (which, several years ago, another musician was trying to work out with me. True story. And I couldn't figure out how to do the lyrics that way but, there you go). Her version of Nature Boy is gorgeous as well.

Here is their Mrs. Robinson. Although they begin sparely, they begin to layer and it becomes such a lovely, melancholic masterpiece.

*I am not really a band - just one person - so you're not being disloyal if you consider them your new favorite band. Don't worry.

It's Hard to Be Unhappy...

...when you're looking at Kate Gabrielle's whimsical flapperdoodles! One of my favorite bloggers, Ms. B, mentioned them in a post and I am so glad she did.

Her nonchalant and chic cast of characters do everything from have tea parties and dances to reenact iconic film moments. Of course, my favorite flapper is Emma - she's quite the voracious reader and I think the cutest (she's the one in the frame on the left, naturally).

Kate Gabrielle also has an etsy shop where you can buy prints of these fun illustrations and currently (that is until September 23) she has a "buy one get one free" sale. So whether you need art for yourself or want to give them as a gift, you must agree that these pictures are the bee's knees!

Dot Day!

One of my favorite contemporary visionaries is the artist/author/entrepreneur Peter H. Reynolds. He is a champion of embracing creativity and following your dreams (your North Star). One of his books, The Dot, is celebrating its 15th birthday today** and so he (and classrooms around the U.S.) are celebrating creativity through Dot Day!

The author, Peter H. Reynolds, wrote this about Dot Day, “Spread the word… Dot Day.. read The Dot*, wear dots, eat dots, draw dots, frame dots, connect the dots, splurge on art supplies, try a new medium – a new instrument, write a poem, rearrange your furniture, reconnect the dots with an old friend, make something, make something with a friend, share your creativity with the world. No strict rules on how to celebrate!”

Hooray for creativity!

*If you haven't read The Dot yet, you really should. It will make you happier.

**I know it's late on the 15th, but you can celebrate Dot Day tomorrow too. It's like when you get that late birthday present in the mail.

It's Easy to Be Optimistic When...

Goodwill gives back! When they received a sculpture by acclaimed sculptor Sterett-Gittings Kelsey worth half a million dollars, they contacted the donor and returned it. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy...

Legs. Need I say more?

"She was such a lady."

(There are those that would argue Johnny Cash or Elvis Presley, but I think Sammy Davis, Jr. does the very, very best version of this ever.)

Now What?

Just saw Julie and Julia. And loved it. Now, I know there are plenty of reviewers that thought it was too happy and cheerful (including the reviewer at Orlando Weekly who has the wisdom to love my music) but, really, can anything be? (Too happy and cheerful, that is.) I loved it all - the food (of course!), the settings (ah, Paris), the happy marriages (sigh, l'amour) and the heavy- conflict-free plot-line. We live in a world with, yes, sad things but we also live in a world of completely wonderful things. And aren't the news and NY Times bestseller fiction books covering all the sad things? We need more happy thing-coverage!

Anyways, I thought this movie was a delightful example of happy thing-coverage. I'm not going to review the movie or anything but there was one thing that stuck with me in particular (besides the food, happy marriages, Paris, etc.): when the beyond-marvelous Julia Child gets a major letdown (hope that is vague enough not to constitute as a spoiler), she responds by saying, "Well, boohoo. Now what?" How fabulous is that?! When I get rejection (which, though some of you may believe never happens to me, actually does), I've decided to say,

"Well, boohoo, Emma. Now what?"

A New Resolve

As you all know, the date is currently September 4. Therefore I've decided to get started on some of my New Year's resolutions. One resolution I have in particular - I made a goal to have three songs learned and memorized by the end of the year, Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin, Impromptu Number 4 in A flat Major by Schubert and Maple Leaf Rag by Joplin. So, I'm going to apply myself, slaving at the piano until my eyes blur from the tiny notes and my tea grows cold with neglect.

My first song will be Schubert's Impromptu. Confession: I actually began working on it once I decided to blog about it so I have a bit of a head start (although not the head start I would have had if I had started in January). I shall try to think of some creative way to let you know that I have held to my end of the bargain and am learning/memorizing the songs I said I would (even if they are faster and more heavily pedaled than the originals).

Any New Year's Resolutions you are going to revisit with the crispness of Fall to energize you? And if you have an idea of how I can prove that I've mastered the new songs, feel free to suggest.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to my new and improving blog! You will soon be privy to the marvelous inner-workings of my mind and, in return, I want to know the marvelous inner-workings of yours as well. Many people come up to me after shows (millions, perhaps) that say "I'm not a musician, I just love music."

To that I say, without music lovers (be they musicians or not) music is the proverbial tree in the forest- is it really music if it doesn't entertain/irritate/illumine/titillate?

So leave comments and feel free to email me if you have a specific question of something you want to know about songwriting, music, etc. Looking forward to hearing from you!