Where's my banjo?!?!

I went to a house show last night, the first for me. I'll admit I was a little hesitant to go because it didn't really seem like my scene. Boy was I wrong. Some great artists played. I was blown away by two of them, Elliot Harvey (aka Natalie Joy) and Chelsea from the Dirty Fists. They were both fantastic. Elliot played guitar and had the most amazing voice. Chelsea rocked it out on accordion.

It just makes me wonder what else I miss out on because I hesitate to join in. I'm not the shyest person, but I guess I'm not very outgoing.

I've thought a lot about my own musical endeavors this week. I left my banjo at home figuring I wouldn't have enough time to play it. I've never missed it more. I know I'm not really a musician like those I heard play last night. I'm not going to drop my life here and pack up for a coastal tour. But it is nice to create music. It's one of those feelings that's incomparable to others. I can't wait to feel my banjo in my hands once more.

Here's the sites for Elliot and Chelsea. Check them out!
www.myspace.com/nataliejoythefairyboy
www.myspace.com/dirtyfist

Don't worry, I still think you skin becomes you

"I can't think of a woman who feels comfortable in her own skin," one of my professors claimed in my media criticism class today. That's just sad. But it also made me wonder if he could think of a man who felt comfortable in his skin either.

When media thrusts images of quote-unquote perfection down our throats than what can we expect. But I think the problem runs much more deeper than this. People are afraid of what others think of them and that inhibits them. And it's not just about looks. It's about how you present yourself, what you like, and how you act. Luckily, I learned a long time ago that I'm a feminist and I have high arches and wear ugly shoes (that I love!) and everybody I encounter can deal with it or leave me alone. But for some, it's not that easy.

This is where self-esteem begins: figuring out who you are and sometimes, who you're not. And the media and the ads we encounter don't help. These portray flat, static images: woman as objects or accessories, men as depending on material things for success, and of course, everyone is way too thin and way too plastically "beautiful." How are we to build images of ourselves with these as role models? Self-esteem is one of the best things a person can do for her (or him) self. If you can wake up in the morning and know that you're really okay with yourself, the rest of the day will be easy. And life will be pretty damn great. At some point you just have to decide that you like yourself and that's the only person's opinion you should be worrying about.

Who needs prozac when you have two-year-olds?

I stopped at my mother's day care center today and ended up hanging out in the two-year-old room. The kids were finishing up snack time and suiting up to go outside to the play ground. I tried to sneak past the room on my way down the hall to the bathroom but got caught by one of the kids as I walked past the door.

"Hey!! We're going outside!!" he starts telling me, without using his "inside voice." Clearly such matters are more important than such basic trivial rules. Of course, how can I not go talk to them after they all begin to run to the door way?

After jacketing them and discussing the weather and their snack, I tell them I have to leave because I need to go to the bathroom. One of the little girls has managed to attach herself to my leg by this point and repeats my statement back to me.

"You're going to the bathroom?"

"Yeah, I'm going to the bathroom."

"You can go by yourself?"

"Yeah, I can go by myself."

She then lets me go and I make my escape, only to find them walking down the hallway after I've gone to the bathroom and am heading the same way back to the office. They had to show me all of the items in their cubbies and tell me how much they like Dora the Explorer or Spiderman.

After having such a down week, it was refreshing to find these tiny minds so excited for attention and so eager to talk about their world. Kids have such an enchanting effect on me. They see the world so differently than adults or college students. Even going to the bathroom is an adventure for them; a task they strive to excel at so they can wear big girl panties instead of pull-ups or dipers. Hanging around with children helps you put things in perspective. Maybe there's more important things than going to the party that night. Maybe you should enjoy having those extra moments to goof off with your roommates. Life can still be as exciting as it seems for children, you just have to make it so.