This makes me chuckle.
10.23.2008
10.15.2008
10.10.2008
Tour Diary Cinco
#4 is on a road trip to the West Coast, so I'll bring it later... for now let's flash forward.. (again, google readers, you may have to click through.. sorry!)
10.08.2008
Danica's Debate Coverage Finale!
How it all ended.. protestors, obama fans, impersonators and all.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
10.07.2008
Danica's Debate Coverage!!!
(fyi: reader feed readers may have to click this to see the video.. I'm not sure)
Alright, so I'm interrupting the Tour Diary Videos because I am waiting on 1 file, but ALSO because today is Belmont's Debate08! (read: the Town Hall Presidential debate being hosted in the very room where I received my diploma 2 years ago)
Normally I don't follow my alma mater all that much, but this is pretty cool. (especially since I am house squatting right across the street, AND I occasionally nanny for the Obama state campaign director, I feel all up in the excitement)
In fact, about an hour ago I sat on my porch for 5 minutes and watched the motorcades go by bringing the candidates right past my door. Crazy.
Anyway, I'm STILL in awe of the fact that my camera can do video.. so this morning at 5:30am when yours truly ventured out to CBS's Early Show Taping on campus, you can be sure that I brought my trusty Canon along...
Here's a sneak peek into all the excitement around here.
More pics and vids to follow! Stay tuned!
Alright, so I'm interrupting the Tour Diary Videos because I am waiting on 1 file, but ALSO because today is Belmont's Debate08! (read: the Town Hall Presidential debate being hosted in the very room where I received my diploma 2 years ago)
Normally I don't follow my alma mater all that much, but this is pretty cool. (especially since I am house squatting right across the street, AND I occasionally nanny for the Obama state campaign director, I feel all up in the excitement)
In fact, about an hour ago I sat on my porch for 5 minutes and watched the motorcades go by bringing the candidates right past my door. Crazy.
Anyway, I'm STILL in awe of the fact that my camera can do video.. so this morning at 5:30am when yours truly ventured out to CBS's Early Show Taping on campus, you can be sure that I brought my trusty Canon along...
Here's a sneak peek into all the excitement around here.
More pics and vids to follow! Stay tuned!
9.30.2008
Letter to My Younger Self
I was in a mall the other day and ran across this book called "What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self." It's a collection of letters by successful women that they wrote to their younger selves. It's pretty interesting. Some of them are inspiring, others are a bit obvious, but overall I thought it was a unique idea.
So stole it. =)
I got to thinking about what I would say to my younger self, especially since I wouldn't classify myself as "successful" by any means just yet. After running the idea through my head off and on throughout the day, I finally sat down and wrote to myself. It was a strange experience.. I recommend trying it out for yourself!
So stole it. =)
I got to thinking about what I would say to my younger self, especially since I wouldn't classify myself as "successful" by any means just yet. After running the idea through my head off and on throughout the day, I finally sat down and wrote to myself. It was a strange experience.. I recommend trying it out for yourself!
Dearest Danica,
I love you.
I love you and I envy you for your innocence, for your belief in people, for your belief in good things.. for your belief in love. If there is any way for you to try and hold on to some of that, by all means, do whatever it takes to do so!
You are on the eve of the hardest season you have yet to face. You are making a drive against your will and you are sick with grief. I won't lie to you, it will get worse. The coming months and years will take you places, both good and bad, you never dreamed you would go. You fear that you are facing this journey alone... this is both true and false. Much of life is faced alone, despite the best intentions of those who try to help us.. but there are some pains that only the wounded can feel. Be strong. You are strong! But don't believe it just because others say it is so, believe it because it is true. Believe it because you know it is true of yourself.
You are right when you feel you can only trust yourself. Sadly, this will be proven to you, repeatedly... but you will learn, and the cost won't be as bad as it could be. I know you would like to see the big picture right now, unfortunately I still don't have one for you, but I can give you a small glimpse into your future (just a small one though.. I know how you like to be surprised)..
You are a hard-worker. You are determined. You are stubborn. You know this, but you are at times easily swayed by the opinions of those you care about... don't be. You will soon outgrow this (for better or for worse.. that's yet to be determined). Without going into detail, I will say, you will prove a great number of people wrong.. which I am sure makes you smile, but this isn't really all that important. The important thing is that you will affirm for yourself things that you currently think might be true of you. In the end you will do things because you want to do them, and not to prove a point, and that my friend, is the most important journey you could ever be on.
Listen to me: you have nothing to prove. To anyone. You are who you are, and honestly, looking back, I am very impressed by you, and my opinion is the one that should matter the most!
You have your share of cruelty, disappointment, rejection, failure, betrayal, and yes, jerks ahead of you...and believe me, you are going to make all kinds of mistakes... but that's life. You don't get a waiver just because some things didn't go as planned. Don't expect any breaks... this is 2008, children die of thirst around the world daily; no one is owed anything.
I know what you are feeling right now, and that none of this probably means much of anything to you. Tomorrow morning you will wake up and feel as if someone has pulled your stomach out of your body. You will never forget that feeling, but I think that's ok. It gives you a sensitivity to others' pain that most people will (god willing) never have. It also puts everything else into perspective for you. (I know, it's not worth it..but take what you can get girl!)
As you drive home, take heart in the fact that in 2 years you will find yourself in a new room in the same house feeling very different, yet very much the same. I know you enough to know that this probably doesn't come as uplifting news, but trust me, it's not so bad.
The truth is, there's no way to know just what the future holds. I wish I could promise you fireflies and rainbows, but I can't. I can only promise you that you keep going. You lose a lot of softness along the way, and that's a regret you'll deal with, but you'll get smart, and you'll learn to stick up for yourself too. Not to mention, you'll make some great memories for yourself... trust me on that one: great memories! You have no idea...
Don't wait for what's already gone.
Just keep going...
Love, love, love,
your future self
ps. I know you won't believe me, but you are going to run a half marathon. That's right, run!
9.28.2008
9.27.2008
9.22.2008
Here on the road...
Quick update. Tour is going well and coming to a close for me this weekend. =( I've had an amazing time these past 3 weeks meeting new people, playing new places and just enjoying life and sharing my music.. my only regret is that I can't go for another 3 weeks!
I've got a few more video tour diaries to post, but I've had some technical difficulties so I will try and get them up as soon as I can.
A big thank-you to all of you who have come out to any of the shows thus far. You guys are awesome and you make my "job" so much more exciting.
2 more chances to catch David and I together: College Station tomorrow night (tuesday) and then in Denton on Thursday.
I hope you all are well!
I've got a few more video tour diaries to post, but I've had some technical difficulties so I will try and get them up as soon as I can.
A big thank-you to all of you who have come out to any of the shows thus far. You guys are awesome and you make my "job" so much more exciting.
2 more chances to catch David and I together: College Station tomorrow night (tuesday) and then in Denton on Thursday.
I hope you all are well!
9.16.2008
9.04.2008
quick update..
met with lawyer
declined management contract
moved out
stuff everywhere
visiting the 405
then on the road for 3 weeks
argued politics
still shocked that parents purchased this:
rerouted due to weather
finalizing plans
see most of you in October
bye!
declined management contract
moved out
stuff everywhere
visiting the 405
then on the road for 3 weeks
argued politics
still shocked that parents purchased this:
rerouted due to weather
finalizing plans
see most of you in October
bye!
8.23.2008
7.07.2008
O heart bereaved and lonely...
O heart bereaved and lonely,
Whose brightest dreams have fled
Whose hopes like summer roses,
Are withered crushed and dead
Though link by link be broken,
And tears unseen may fall
Look up amid thy sorrow,
To Him who knows it all
O cling to thy Redeemer,
Thy Savior, Brother, Friend
Believe and trust His promise,
To keep you till the end
O watch and wait with patience,
And question all you will
His arms of love and mercy,
Are round about thee still
Look up, the clouds are breaking,
The storm will soon be o'er
And thou shall reach the haven,
Where sorrows are no more
Look up, be not discouraged;
Trust on, whate'er befall
Remember, O remember,
Thy Savior knows it all
Whose brightest dreams have fled
Whose hopes like summer roses,
Are withered crushed and dead
Though link by link be broken,
And tears unseen may fall
Look up amid thy sorrow,
To Him who knows it all
O cling to thy Redeemer,
Thy Savior, Brother, Friend
Believe and trust His promise,
To keep you till the end
O watch and wait with patience,
And question all you will
His arms of love and mercy,
Are round about thee still
Look up, the clouds are breaking,
The storm will soon be o'er
And thou shall reach the haven,
Where sorrows are no more
Look up, be not discouraged;
Trust on, whate'er befall
Remember, O remember,
Thy Savior knows it all
7.03.2008
All the small things.
Goal for the Week: Make it to Friday without the aid of starches.
*This will be more difficult than it may sound. I'm the type of girl who eats a bag of popcorn for dinner on more than one occassion. I love bread and starches are cheap foods that fill you up quickly. Bonus! However, I've set my mind to doing this, so I've prepared for the mission by stocking the fridge with fresh fruit and ordering a pizza as my last meal. Wish me luck!
Goal for the Month: Discontinue the use of plastic bags.
* I own a couple of those reusable bags, but I always forget to bring them with me to the store. I hope to remedy this by keeping them in the front seat of my car. we'll see if this works.
Goals for the rest of the year:
- Care less about the people who dislike me for no reason (or for stupid reasons).
* I've come a long way in this department, but not as far as I would like. I'm down to a handful of people whose opinions still matter to me, for whatever reason, regardless of the fact that I have little to no respect for them as people. It's hard when you live in a place where people are sickly sweet to your face just to turn around and badmouth you the moment you leave, usually over something stupid or because they are highly misinformed. I'm guilty too though. I regularly perpetuate the madness by knowingly smiling and making small talk with plenty of petty people who could care less if I got hit by a car tonight. It's a sick game, really. I'll be honest.. I want to be liked. I honestly like 95% of the people I meet right off (usually to my own fault), and I spend a good bit of time trying to convince myself to like the other 5%, so it bothers me when I feel like people don't like me. But I'm getting over it... I'm down to the final few. It won't hurt them, and it will help me, so by golly I'm going to try to be one of those individuals who just really doesn't care... I may have to update on this come December... chances are not a whole lot will have changed, but maybe!
- Get the road rage under control.
* This my friends, will take a miracle. I've already taken countless numbers of years off of my life just by driving. No more. I want to be that person who enjoys driving. The person who isn't frustrated by the driver going 5 miles under the speed limit, or by the moron who doesn't know how to merge, or by the jerk that cuts me off. No, come December, I don't want to be that girl. Sometimes, in my brighter moments, I can convince myself that there is a reason to people's stupidity on the road: "Oh, her mother probably just died." "He just got laid off after 25 years of loyal service" "She had a miscarriage.." etc... but those moments have become few and far between. Something has to be done. I don't want to be 25 with blood pressure through the roof because I've had to drive across town. So here's to calm, cool and collected car rides.
Things that made me say "yay!":
-Finding I have a free pool at the community center a block from my house.
* complete with a gym for $2. Awesome.
-Getting one of my invoices in, finally.
* one down, more to go...
-Hearing that Julie is flying out in August!!!
*Yessssss!!
-Seeing/Hearing myself & my music in a ghetto-fabulous television commercial.
*Bizzare, actually...
Books I've read the past couple weeks:
-Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
-Goose Girl
-The Phantom Tollbooth
-The Golden Compass
-Island of the Blue Dolphins
-The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
-The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears
-The Witch of Blackbird Pond
-Criss Cross
Music I've Enjoyed:
Missy Higgins
The new Coldplay
The new Jon Foreman
*This will be more difficult than it may sound. I'm the type of girl who eats a bag of popcorn for dinner on more than one occassion. I love bread and starches are cheap foods that fill you up quickly. Bonus! However, I've set my mind to doing this, so I've prepared for the mission by stocking the fridge with fresh fruit and ordering a pizza as my last meal. Wish me luck!
Goal for the Month: Discontinue the use of plastic bags.
* I own a couple of those reusable bags, but I always forget to bring them with me to the store. I hope to remedy this by keeping them in the front seat of my car. we'll see if this works.
Goals for the rest of the year:
- Care less about the people who dislike me for no reason (or for stupid reasons).
* I've come a long way in this department, but not as far as I would like. I'm down to a handful of people whose opinions still matter to me, for whatever reason, regardless of the fact that I have little to no respect for them as people. It's hard when you live in a place where people are sickly sweet to your face just to turn around and badmouth you the moment you leave, usually over something stupid or because they are highly misinformed. I'm guilty too though. I regularly perpetuate the madness by knowingly smiling and making small talk with plenty of petty people who could care less if I got hit by a car tonight. It's a sick game, really. I'll be honest.. I want to be liked. I honestly like 95% of the people I meet right off (usually to my own fault), and I spend a good bit of time trying to convince myself to like the other 5%, so it bothers me when I feel like people don't like me. But I'm getting over it... I'm down to the final few. It won't hurt them, and it will help me, so by golly I'm going to try to be one of those individuals who just really doesn't care... I may have to update on this come December... chances are not a whole lot will have changed, but maybe!
- Get the road rage under control.
* This my friends, will take a miracle. I've already taken countless numbers of years off of my life just by driving. No more. I want to be that person who enjoys driving. The person who isn't frustrated by the driver going 5 miles under the speed limit, or by the moron who doesn't know how to merge, or by the jerk that cuts me off. No, come December, I don't want to be that girl. Sometimes, in my brighter moments, I can convince myself that there is a reason to people's stupidity on the road: "Oh, her mother probably just died." "He just got laid off after 25 years of loyal service" "She had a miscarriage.." etc... but those moments have become few and far between. Something has to be done. I don't want to be 25 with blood pressure through the roof because I've had to drive across town. So here's to calm, cool and collected car rides.
Things that made me say "yay!":
-Finding I have a free pool at the community center a block from my house.
* complete with a gym for $2. Awesome.
-Getting one of my invoices in, finally.
* one down, more to go...
-Hearing that Julie is flying out in August!!!
*Yessssss!!
-Seeing/Hearing myself & my music in a ghetto-fabulous television commercial.
*Bizzare, actually...
Books I've read the past couple weeks:
-Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
-Goose Girl
-The Phantom Tollbooth
-The Golden Compass
-Island of the Blue Dolphins
-The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
-The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears
-The Witch of Blackbird Pond
-Criss Cross
Music I've Enjoyed:
Missy Higgins
The new Coldplay
The new Jon Foreman
6.27.2008
PS.
I put a new song up on the Myspace. (yes, finally.)
May the rough track elimination begin.
myspace.com/danicamercer
May the rough track elimination begin.
myspace.com/danicamercer
6.26.2008
A dream is a wish your heart makes?
As some of you may know I've had some sleep issues recently. In all actuality I've had sleep troubles off and on since I got out of school. Nothing too serious, just bouts of not sleeping followed by bouts of nothing but sleeping, followed by months of medicated sleeping.. etc. Things finally started to even out a bit until recently.
Right before I went to camp, for about a month solid every night I would wake up suddenly in the middle of the night. I'm not talking normal waking up either. I'm talking, waking up so scared that you grab your mace and jump out of bed. Instant alertness. Waking up with a gasp and sitting straight up and feeling like your heart is about to pound out of your chest. Every night. For about a month.
I'm guessing that's not normal.
The weird part is, it was rarely linked to dreams.. it was more a feeling. Like thinking I had seen someone in the room, or felt something or whatnot, even though i was asleep. I can't explain it. I'm probably just crazy. No big deal.
Anyhow, I was getting nervous about this because I knew camp was coming up and I'd be sleeping in a room with other people, but as it turns out, camp was the first time in a long time that I slept well, through the night, every night.
So well in fact, that I made the rookie mistake: I got confident. I started thinking I had kicked the habit...
Until last night. Last night I had 3 different nightmares in a row, but now I can only remember the lessor of the 3, the physical, more tangible one. The emotional ones I can no longer recall, just the feeling they left behind. (if that makes any sense.. probably not.) I do remember there being a lady at the end telling me something that I felt was the moral of the story. The point. I remember thinking, 'I have to remember this when I wake up, because this makes it all ok.' But I can't remember her words anymore either.
Apparently my sub-conscious is in overdrive... or maybe it's just a coward, I dunno. But I wish it would knock it off or fill me in on what it's trying to say already.
A side note: I watched part of Cinderella today (thus the title), and I got to thinking. You know..sometimes I am thankful that Disney movies aren't being watched in the dark and destitute corners of the world. I often wonder what some of those starving orphan children would say to a cartoon that sings and tells them that "No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true." Then again.. maybe that would be seen as a ray of hope... what do I know?
Sweet dreams,
~Danica
Right before I went to camp, for about a month solid every night I would wake up suddenly in the middle of the night. I'm not talking normal waking up either. I'm talking, waking up so scared that you grab your mace and jump out of bed. Instant alertness. Waking up with a gasp and sitting straight up and feeling like your heart is about to pound out of your chest. Every night. For about a month.
I'm guessing that's not normal.
The weird part is, it was rarely linked to dreams.. it was more a feeling. Like thinking I had seen someone in the room, or felt something or whatnot, even though i was asleep. I can't explain it. I'm probably just crazy. No big deal.
Anyhow, I was getting nervous about this because I knew camp was coming up and I'd be sleeping in a room with other people, but as it turns out, camp was the first time in a long time that I slept well, through the night, every night.
So well in fact, that I made the rookie mistake: I got confident. I started thinking I had kicked the habit...
Until last night. Last night I had 3 different nightmares in a row, but now I can only remember the lessor of the 3, the physical, more tangible one. The emotional ones I can no longer recall, just the feeling they left behind. (if that makes any sense.. probably not.) I do remember there being a lady at the end telling me something that I felt was the moral of the story. The point. I remember thinking, 'I have to remember this when I wake up, because this makes it all ok.' But I can't remember her words anymore either.
Apparently my sub-conscious is in overdrive... or maybe it's just a coward, I dunno. But I wish it would knock it off or fill me in on what it's trying to say already.
A side note: I watched part of Cinderella today (thus the title), and I got to thinking. You know..sometimes I am thankful that Disney movies aren't being watched in the dark and destitute corners of the world. I often wonder what some of those starving orphan children would say to a cartoon that sings and tells them that "No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true." Then again.. maybe that would be seen as a ray of hope... what do I know?
Sweet dreams,
~Danica
6.17.2008
R-R-R-Review
Back from camp.
Great kids. Great staff. Good times. Good money. So cheers all around! I even slept through the night all week.. something I haven't done in Nashville in who knows how long.
Sadly, I presided over a funeral while I was there, but I think it went well.
The CMA show went well too... though it was hot and crazy downtown. (big shocker there)
I tried to add some pictures in this post, and for whatever reason, blogger won't let me. So if you are really curious, new pics from above mentioned activities are up over on my Flickr.
And finally, I posted a little "Year in Review" over on the MySpace. Turns out last Sunday marked the 1 year anniversary of the day I left my "real job" and decided to freelance for a living.
Looking back I find myself divided between thinking A: "Well of course I've done it. I said I would do it, and I did." versus B: "Oh my gosh! I actually did it AND made money!"
In many ways it's hard to believe that an entire year has gone by: Putting the EP together, joining the MySpace madness, working studio sessions, doing voice overs for companies, appearing in random music videos, hearing my music played on Nashville's Lightening 100, licensing "Vivian" to JCTV(haha), having my EP picked up on internet radio, working with development companies, performing in showcases, talking with ad agencies and playing shows in places other than Nashville (just 3 states, but hey, it's a start)...just to name a few.
Nothing major, but all positive steps in, what I hope is, the right direction.
Honestly, the biggest accomplishment in my mind is the fact that I did it AND managed to pay off about 1/3 of my student loans. Granted, a few things came through to really move that along, but still. Almost 1/3 gone! Woohoo! And I'm only 2 years out! If only the last 2/3 would be put away as quickly... here's to hoping!
Unfortunately I actually had to PAY taxes this year as well...(even with $8,000 worth of deductions) so I must be on to something.
Anyhow, it's onward and upward from here I hope....
Happy Anniversary friends!
Great kids. Great staff. Good times. Good money. So cheers all around! I even slept through the night all week.. something I haven't done in Nashville in who knows how long.
Sadly, I presided over a funeral while I was there, but I think it went well.
The CMA show went well too... though it was hot and crazy downtown. (big shocker there)
I tried to add some pictures in this post, and for whatever reason, blogger won't let me. So if you are really curious, new pics from above mentioned activities are up over on my Flickr.
And finally, I posted a little "Year in Review" over on the MySpace. Turns out last Sunday marked the 1 year anniversary of the day I left my "real job" and decided to freelance for a living.
Looking back I find myself divided between thinking A: "Well of course I've done it. I said I would do it, and I did." versus B: "Oh my gosh! I actually did it AND made money!"
In many ways it's hard to believe that an entire year has gone by: Putting the EP together, joining the MySpace madness, working studio sessions, doing voice overs for companies, appearing in random music videos, hearing my music played on Nashville's Lightening 100, licensing "Vivian" to JCTV(haha), having my EP picked up on internet radio, working with development companies, performing in showcases, talking with ad agencies and playing shows in places other than Nashville (just 3 states, but hey, it's a start)...just to name a few.
Nothing major, but all positive steps in, what I hope is, the right direction.
Honestly, the biggest accomplishment in my mind is the fact that I did it AND managed to pay off about 1/3 of my student loans. Granted, a few things came through to really move that along, but still. Almost 1/3 gone! Woohoo! And I'm only 2 years out! If only the last 2/3 would be put away as quickly... here's to hoping!
Unfortunately I actually had to PAY taxes this year as well...(even with $8,000 worth of deductions) so I must be on to something.
Anyhow, it's onward and upward from here I hope....
Happy Anniversary friends!
6.06.2008
6.02.2008
Busy Week.
After photo shoots and interviews and music video shoots (at 2 am, with fake rain) last week (plus about 41 hours of real work), I was thinking I would take a few days to relax this week before the showcase.. unfortunately it doesn't look like that will be happening. I'm currently sitting at a coffee shop enjoying my only free hours for the next 2 weeks.***
Tonight I've got Banditos PLAYOFFS (6:30 Boys and Girls Club on Thompson!) followed by a 3-day photo shoot in heels (with Marion's party thrown in there somewhere...sad), then comes a night and a day of kid-watching, an evening of meet&greet, and then Saturday's Showcase.
Yes, it's true. I will be playing in a showcase this weekend in downtown Nashville during CMA week. If any of you are looking for something to do on Saturday afternoon, I would love to see you!
Here's the details:
Atlantic Music Group Showcase
Saturday June 7th
Buffalo Billiards
154 2nd Ave N
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 313-7665
*Doors open at 1pm
*Music starts at 2, and I'm towards the end of the showcase lineup (followed by *Van Zant, for those of you who follow country)
*FREE!
*21 and up. Sorry kids.
I realize this may be a little too "commercial" for most of you hipsters out there..(you know who you are! =) Sheesh, the world knows who you are!) Most of the other artists run pretty country, but it's free, and the music will be good, and it will be fun. Not to mention it's been forever since I've played here in Nashville (and with a full band. yay! Not my usual band, which makes me kinda sad, but all of the showcase artists are using AMG's people, and they will be great too).. Anyhow, I digress... like I said, if you are free and willing to brave CMA traffic (which shouldn't be too bad in the afternoon, though you might want to carpool if you know anyone else headed that way) come on out!
Maybe I will see some of you? I hope so. Especially since Sunday morning I go to work then leave that afternoon to go to camp and teach for a week, so I won't be seeing much of people until late June.. and then I'm due in the studio for some projects... and we all know that the studio eats people...
anyhow, that's my update. I've got an awesome picture to display for you later. You won't want to miss it, so check back!
As the Beatles say,
love, love, love,
~Danica
***FootNote: At this point, you may be thinking that my life is glamorous or something. It's not. Don't get me wrong, it is awesome. I'm not complaining, I am a lucky girl, but it definitely sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. Trust me. After all, this is life we are talking about. Nothing's ever quite what it seems.
Tonight I've got Banditos PLAYOFFS (6:30 Boys and Girls Club on Thompson!) followed by a 3-day photo shoot in heels (with Marion's party thrown in there somewhere...sad), then comes a night and a day of kid-watching, an evening of meet&greet, and then Saturday's Showcase.
Yes, it's true. I will be playing in a showcase this weekend in downtown Nashville during CMA week. If any of you are looking for something to do on Saturday afternoon, I would love to see you!
Here's the details:
Atlantic Music Group Showcase
Saturday June 7th
Buffalo Billiards
154 2nd Ave N
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 313-7665
*Doors open at 1pm
*Music starts at 2, and I'm towards the end of the showcase lineup (followed by *Van Zant, for those of you who follow country)
*FREE!
*21 and up. Sorry kids.
I realize this may be a little too "commercial" for most of you hipsters out there..(you know who you are! =) Sheesh, the world knows who you are!) Most of the other artists run pretty country, but it's free, and the music will be good, and it will be fun. Not to mention it's been forever since I've played here in Nashville (and with a full band. yay! Not my usual band, which makes me kinda sad, but all of the showcase artists are using AMG's people, and they will be great too).. Anyhow, I digress... like I said, if you are free and willing to brave CMA traffic (which shouldn't be too bad in the afternoon, though you might want to carpool if you know anyone else headed that way) come on out!
Maybe I will see some of you? I hope so. Especially since Sunday morning I go to work then leave that afternoon to go to camp and teach for a week, so I won't be seeing much of people until late June.. and then I'm due in the studio for some projects... and we all know that the studio eats people...
anyhow, that's my update. I've got an awesome picture to display for you later. You won't want to miss it, so check back!
As the Beatles say,
love, love, love,
~Danica
***FootNote: At this point, you may be thinking that my life is glamorous or something. It's not. Don't get me wrong, it is awesome. I'm not complaining, I am a lucky girl, but it definitely sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. Trust me. After all, this is life we are talking about. Nothing's ever quite what it seems.
5.16.2008
Yes I did.
There are some stories that are meant to be shared.
This would be one of them.
A few days ago I caught wind that Michelle Obama would be in town for a fundraiser for her husbands campaign. Rumor had it that the event would be held a private residence in West Nashville.
Flash forward roughly 24 hours: My phone rings with a call from one of my nanny families, who just so happen to be hosting the private fundraising event, asking if I would play piano during the soiree. With a guest list chock full of the rich and famous, a performance by Emmy-Lou Harris and a $1,000 minimum donation required for entry, this wasn't something I was about to pass up. (did I mention that Michelle Obama would be there?)
So there I was, playing the grand piano while Mrs. Obama worked the crowd, doing the meet and greet, etc etc. soon we made our way out to the backyard where Mrs. Obama gave a speech and Emmy-Lou Harris played some John Lennon.
Mrs. Obama was what I expected and more: articulate, poised, humble, approachable, genuine and quick on her feet. After a short speech she fielded a Q&A session.
Stopping by Nashville fresh off the campaign trail in Puerto Rico, Mrs. Obama said she was ready to get on a plane to see her girls. She was quick to point out that "We are not supposed to be here." citing critics and naysayers who claimed Obama would never survive far into the primary campaign season. She made point of the fact that Barack has changed the face of political fundraising history. She praised her husbands character, his notable service record and his willingness to work for change. She then went on to explain how change will take time, no matter who is elected. That change will be hard, and the whoever becomes the next President of the United States has a very difficult road ahead of them, given our current state of affairs.
She questioned what other candidate passed up Supreme Court clerkship's to work in civil rights, what other candidate worked in grassroots development, building initiatives from the ground up working with local communities, churches and government organizations. She even brought out the humor calling her husband an "odd ball," a quirky man like "an onion with many layers", a man whose parents had the audacity to name "Barack Obama: Who does that?!?"
All in all it was a typical political fundraiser: High-rollers, polite clapping, really white teeth, expensive cheese and an open bar.... one small exception: great music. =)
PS. This man could very well be one of the next governor's of Tennessee..
PPS. Oh, and this is my "Did that really just happen?" face:
PPSS. Probably my favorite: the eavesdropping neighbors..
This would be one of them.
A few days ago I caught wind that Michelle Obama would be in town for a fundraiser for her husbands campaign. Rumor had it that the event would be held a private residence in West Nashville.
Flash forward roughly 24 hours: My phone rings with a call from one of my nanny families, who just so happen to be hosting the private fundraising event, asking if I would play piano during the soiree. With a guest list chock full of the rich and famous, a performance by Emmy-Lou Harris and a $1,000 minimum donation required for entry, this wasn't something I was about to pass up. (did I mention that Michelle Obama would be there?)
So there I was, playing the grand piano while Mrs. Obama worked the crowd, doing the meet and greet, etc etc. soon we made our way out to the backyard where Mrs. Obama gave a speech and Emmy-Lou Harris played some John Lennon.
Mrs. Obama was what I expected and more: articulate, poised, humble, approachable, genuine and quick on her feet. After a short speech she fielded a Q&A session.
Stopping by Nashville fresh off the campaign trail in Puerto Rico, Mrs. Obama said she was ready to get on a plane to see her girls. She was quick to point out that "We are not supposed to be here." citing critics and naysayers who claimed Obama would never survive far into the primary campaign season. She made point of the fact that Barack has changed the face of political fundraising history. She praised her husbands character, his notable service record and his willingness to work for change. She then went on to explain how change will take time, no matter who is elected. That change will be hard, and the whoever becomes the next President of the United States has a very difficult road ahead of them, given our current state of affairs.
She questioned what other candidate passed up Supreme Court clerkship's to work in civil rights, what other candidate worked in grassroots development, building initiatives from the ground up working with local communities, churches and government organizations. She even brought out the humor calling her husband an "odd ball," a quirky man like "an onion with many layers", a man whose parents had the audacity to name "Barack Obama: Who does that?!?"
All in all it was a typical political fundraiser: High-rollers, polite clapping, really white teeth, expensive cheese and an open bar.... one small exception: great music. =)
PS. This man could very well be one of the next governor's of Tennessee..
PPS. Oh, and this is my "Did that really just happen?" face:
PPSS. Probably my favorite: the eavesdropping neighbors..
5.13.2008
Freedom Isn't Free
"I realized that my achievements were ultimately unsatisfying, the approval of man is fleeting, that a carpe diem life lived solely for adventure is just a form of narcissism and idolatry."
A few weekends ago, amidst the craziness, I sat down with a friend and watched High Fidelity. It's been about 6 years since I'd seen the film, so it was nice to become reacquainted. As the movie came to the following scene, it reminded me of a passage I had just read in Keller's book.
I've been thinking a lot about freedom lately, and while both of these passages talk about the concept of "freedom in love" I've been thinking about it in more general terms.
I feel like I've spent the past year kinda floating along accomplishing one task after another without really giving myself any parameters or restrictions. On some level, this has been extremely liberating, but at the same time I have often found myself lost in a sea of options and bound to uncertainty and fear of boredom and routine. In a weird way, I think I have become somewhat of a commitment-phobe when it comes to jobs and opportunities that ask me to limit myself, or force me into a routine. But since when was routine such an awful thing? Am I living in a fantasy? Surely I can't keep this up forever, because fantasy is never real. Eventually reality forces it's way in. "It doesn't really exist, and there are never any surprises and it doesn't really deliver.".. right?
I'm not sure what to make of it all, but seeing this scene and reading this passage within the same week was a nice reminder that sometimes limitations are what we really need in order to be fully free.
It's something to think about...
"What is the environment that liberates us if we confine ourselves to it? Love. Love is the most liberating freedom-loss of all.
One of the principles of love - either love for a friend or romantic love- is that you have to lose independence to attain greater intimacy. If you want the "freedom" of love- the fulfillment, security, sense of worth that it brings- you must limit your freedom in many ways. you cannot enter a deep relationship and still make unilateral decisions or allow your friend or lover no say in how you live your life. To experience the joy and freedom of love, you must give up your personal autonomy....
A love relationship limits your personal options. Again we are confronted with the complexity of the concept of "freedom." Human beings are most free and alive in relationships of love. We only become ourselves in love, and yet healthy love relationships involve mutual unselfish service, a mutual loss of independence. C. S. Lewis put it eloquently-
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation."
Freedom then, is not the absence of limitations and constraints but it is finding the right ones, those that fit our nature and liberate us.
For a love relationship to be healthy, there must be a mutual loss of independence. It can't be just one way. Both sides must say to the other, "I will adjust to you. I will change for you. I'll serve you even though it means a sacrifice for me." If only one party does all the sacrificing and giving, and the other does all the ordering and taking, the relationship will be exploitive and will oppress and distort the lives of both people.
At first sight, then, a relationship with God seems inherently dehumanizing. Surely it will have to be "one way," God's way. God, the divine being, has all the power. I must adjust to God- there is no way that God could adjust and serve me.
While this may be true in other forms of religion and belief in God, it is not true in Christianity. In the most radical way, God has adjusted to us- in his incarnation and atonement. In Jesus Christ he became a limited human being, vulnerable to suffering and death. On the cross, he submitted to our condition- as sinners- and died in our place to forgive us. In the most profound way, God has said to us, in Christ, "I will adjust to you. I will change for you. I'll serve you even though it means a sacrifice for me." If he has done this for us, we can and should say the same to God and others. St. Paul writes, "the love of Christ constrains us." (2 Corinthians 5:14)
... The love of Christ constrains. Once you realize how Jesus changed for you and gave himself for you, you aren't afraid of giving up your freedom and therefore finding your freedom in him."
-Tim Keller, from "The Reason For God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism."
4.29.2008
"...I probably won't do it with much elegance or grace."
It's moments like these that make me feel a little less guilty for liking this show.
4.26.2008
#13 Run a Half-Marathon
New Pair of Quality Running Shoes: $90
Over-priced Synthetic Socks: $10
Race Fee (plus tax): $90
Best Sports Bra Ever: $44
Team Technical T and Sweatshirt: $29
Accomplishing something you spent the majority of your life believing you would never do: Priceless.
There are some things money can't buy, for everything else, there's Danica.
"...I need to see something I believe in come true." ~Danica Mercer
Over-priced Synthetic Socks: $10
Race Fee (plus tax): $90
Best Sports Bra Ever: $44
Team Technical T and Sweatshirt: $29
Accomplishing something you spent the majority of your life believing you would never do: Priceless.
There are some things money can't buy, for everything else, there's Danica.
"...I need to see something I believe in come true." ~Danica Mercer
4.24.2008
End Scene.
So, last week was a little rough.. I've been sorting through quite a few things and it just so happened that a lot of "stuff" hit the fan all at once, so to speak... any how I took some time to myself, spent a good deal of time outdoors and then played some football, and that helped things quite a bit. Sometimes I forget to slow down and be 24. I don't have life or myself figured out yet.. but that's ok.
Anyhow, here's an uber quick glance at life a-la Danica currently:
-I went to see N.T. Wright speak a couple nights ago. If you don't know who he is, you should look him up. He's a renowned theologian/scholar who has some pretty incredible/controversial opinions about Paul, Resurrection, Jesus, hope.. all that good stuff. Anyways, I went back and forth with myself debating whether or not I should go, but I am so glad I did. Hearing him describe what Resurrection should mean to Christians and how we should be thinking about "heaven" and "Resurrection" and "the new world" somehow was exactly what I needed to hear.
Towards the end Wright made the point of saying that Christians should view the resurrected Jesus in John's gospel as an example of what our "resurrected lives" would be like. Jesus was the same, but different. His disciples recognized him, but also knew that he was different than before. He still ate food and did material things. Surprisingly enough though, the wounds from the nails were still present in His hands, even in His resurrected state. How interesting that the signs of love from Jesus' former life still remained.. that they had carried over. When Wright mentioned this, I thought "wow. that's beautiful"... and then I started to tear up, because thinking about how Jesus' love of us, of me, had wounded Him... Him being completely blameless, and He took it anyway, and it stayed with Him. Not the pain, but a visible reminder, proof, that He had loved still remained post-Resurrection. I don't know, something about that really struck me. Most people have examples of how their love has caused them hurt or pain, and none of us are blameless.. sometimes it's little consolation to say that "pain is proof that you've loved".. but thinking about love, and when you have truly loved and really suffered because of it, thinking about that carrying over and having the signs of love remain.. even after death seeing how loving really forms and defines us..geez, I don't know. I can't explain it. Just thinking about Jesus, and how his rising from the dead didn't negate his death, it didn't rewrite His story, it didn't erase His murder or make the past go away, but rather, it made His story and His sacrifice all that much stronger... and in the end, His signs of love still showed through. Geez, you can't write something that good... if I could only be a portion of who He is... thank God I'm accredited with His righteousness. Anyhow, yeah, NT Wright was good. Made me want to read his newest book: "Surprised by Hope."
-BANDITOS! So, we had 2 games on Monday and our first one went in to DOUBLE OVERTIME! I ate dirt several times and got an interception, 2 blocks, 2 receptions, a good run and quite a few tackles. What a night.
We still lost though.
=(
-Saturday. This Saturday!! Saturday is a very big deal for me. I've been carried away. I'm obsessed. I can't shut up about it, because it's going to be freaking awesome/terrifying/long/tiring/ and exciting. Yes, it's finally here. The half. 13.1 miles of running. No walking. I can't believe it's finally here and that I am anywhere close to ready... but it is and I am, and I've been thinking about that finish line all week. I feel like I've learned a lot about myself through this process and I am beyond proud. So, so proud of myself for starting, continuing and (as of Saturday) completing this challenge. I'm going to see something I believe in come true. It's going to happen. I'm not celebrating yet, (this is me we're talking about =) ) but I am looking forward to seeing it happen. (and it's gonna happen)
-Let's see, on the "work-front":
+I turned down the development deal, but I think I mentioned that already.
+I licenced a song for JCTV a couple weeks ago.
+Luke added me to the David Kidd playlist. haha.
+I was played on Lightening 100 a couple weeks ago.
+An Ad Agency is currently working with me and my music. holla.
+Some random Internet radio show has been playing my stuff. it's called earPlugs and the host is a fictional character named Miss Mary Francis.. I have no idea who these people are.
+I have a couple options for doing shows and recording in Chicago
+I was asked to join an acoustic sampler, but some of the details are a bit sketch, so I probably won't.
+I found reviews of my stuff on iTunes... one of them being from some girls I have baby-sat for before. Awesome. Always good to know that I have elementary-aged girls as fans. Ha.
+I've got a show in OK in May, but pencil it in. no ink.. still working out the travel details.
+There's a chance I may be narrating a book! Again, not in stone, but cool to be in the running.
-The WVEA Tour position fell through. =( I was sad, still kinda am, but I feel honored that I had such a long interview with them, especially since it was a nation-wide job search.
-Got another little something in the works (in the job-works that is)... I'm keeping my fingers crossed while trying not care about it. (It's not working)
Anyways. I guess that's all for now. LOST is about to come on, so if anyone wants to eat marshmallows and sit with me in my living room, come on by!
...I'm trying here. I'm trying.
Anyhow, here's an uber quick glance at life a-la Danica currently:
-I went to see N.T. Wright speak a couple nights ago. If you don't know who he is, you should look him up. He's a renowned theologian/scholar who has some pretty incredible/controversial opinions about Paul, Resurrection, Jesus, hope.. all that good stuff. Anyways, I went back and forth with myself debating whether or not I should go, but I am so glad I did. Hearing him describe what Resurrection should mean to Christians and how we should be thinking about "heaven" and "Resurrection" and "the new world" somehow was exactly what I needed to hear.
Towards the end Wright made the point of saying that Christians should view the resurrected Jesus in John's gospel as an example of what our "resurrected lives" would be like. Jesus was the same, but different. His disciples recognized him, but also knew that he was different than before. He still ate food and did material things. Surprisingly enough though, the wounds from the nails were still present in His hands, even in His resurrected state. How interesting that the signs of love from Jesus' former life still remained.. that they had carried over. When Wright mentioned this, I thought "wow. that's beautiful"... and then I started to tear up, because thinking about how Jesus' love of us, of me, had wounded Him... Him being completely blameless, and He took it anyway, and it stayed with Him. Not the pain, but a visible reminder, proof, that He had loved still remained post-Resurrection. I don't know, something about that really struck me. Most people have examples of how their love has caused them hurt or pain, and none of us are blameless.. sometimes it's little consolation to say that "pain is proof that you've loved".. but thinking about love, and when you have truly loved and really suffered because of it, thinking about that carrying over and having the signs of love remain.. even after death seeing how loving really forms and defines us..geez, I don't know. I can't explain it. Just thinking about Jesus, and how his rising from the dead didn't negate his death, it didn't rewrite His story, it didn't erase His murder or make the past go away, but rather, it made His story and His sacrifice all that much stronger... and in the end, His signs of love still showed through. Geez, you can't write something that good... if I could only be a portion of who He is... thank God I'm accredited with His righteousness. Anyhow, yeah, NT Wright was good. Made me want to read his newest book: "Surprised by Hope."
-BANDITOS! So, we had 2 games on Monday and our first one went in to DOUBLE OVERTIME! I ate dirt several times and got an interception, 2 blocks, 2 receptions, a good run and quite a few tackles. What a night.
We still lost though.
=(
-Saturday. This Saturday!! Saturday is a very big deal for me. I've been carried away. I'm obsessed. I can't shut up about it, because it's going to be freaking awesome/terrifying/long/tiring/ and exciting. Yes, it's finally here. The half. 13.1 miles of running. No walking. I can't believe it's finally here and that I am anywhere close to ready... but it is and I am, and I've been thinking about that finish line all week. I feel like I've learned a lot about myself through this process and I am beyond proud. So, so proud of myself for starting, continuing and (as of Saturday) completing this challenge. I'm going to see something I believe in come true. It's going to happen. I'm not celebrating yet, (this is me we're talking about =) ) but I am looking forward to seeing it happen. (and it's gonna happen)
-Let's see, on the "work-front":
+I turned down the development deal, but I think I mentioned that already.
+I licenced a song for JCTV a couple weeks ago.
+Luke added me to the David Kidd playlist. haha.
+I was played on Lightening 100 a couple weeks ago.
+An Ad Agency is currently working with me and my music. holla.
+Some random Internet radio show has been playing my stuff. it's called earPlugs and the host is a fictional character named Miss Mary Francis.. I have no idea who these people are.
+I have a couple options for doing shows and recording in Chicago
+I was asked to join an acoustic sampler, but some of the details are a bit sketch, so I probably won't.
+I found reviews of my stuff on iTunes... one of them being from some girls I have baby-sat for before. Awesome. Always good to know that I have elementary-aged girls as fans. Ha.
+I've got a show in OK in May, but pencil it in. no ink.. still working out the travel details.
+There's a chance I may be narrating a book! Again, not in stone, but cool to be in the running.
-The WVEA Tour position fell through. =( I was sad, still kinda am, but I feel honored that I had such a long interview with them, especially since it was a nation-wide job search.
-Got another little something in the works (in the job-works that is)... I'm keeping my fingers crossed while trying not care about it. (It's not working)
Anyways. I guess that's all for now. LOST is about to come on, so if anyone wants to eat marshmallows and sit with me in my living room, come on by!
...I'm trying here. I'm trying.
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