Hate Is A Strong Word

I'm so pissed.

Not drunk, just uber angry. haha is that even english. What the hell did I just say.

I hate the music industry.

I fucking HAAAATE it.

There, I said it.

I LUCKILY, as luck would have it, have been fortunate enough to live the majority of my life off the map, out of the claws of these people. I don't want you to make money off me. Stop coming to my shows. There, I said it.

:P <--- ptttt!

One of those days

Today was one of those really, really cool days.

After last night's show at Room 5, we decided to take it easy and sleep in. And I mean SLEEEEEEP INNNN. We were on our second round of getting up for water/bathroom break and then going back to bed when our producer friend Phil X gave us a call and said "Come swim in my pool!"

OK!!! :D



For the first time in my sun-phobic life, I actually went in the sun without sunscreen on most of my body. I still rocked 50spf on my face and lower arms (which have been getting lots of sun and, as a result, sun has been sneaking through my regular daily application of 15spf) but I let the rest of me feel the hot hot heat sans screen. I LOVE the sun. I am not one of those people who "works on my tan" even though I LOVE sitting in the sun. The hotter, the better. That's actually one of my favourite things about California...the heat. But, I'm actually very afraid of the sun (even though I love it), and worry constantly about my chances of getting cancer (there is a lot of it in the family). Anyway, it felt great and I was only out in hotness for about 10 minutes (I know, that's long enough).

While we were hanging out in the pool/sun, Phil's wife and her crew started rehearsing. It's the coolest thing you've ever seen...that total Cirque De Soleil hanging dangly biz, spinnin around and whatnot from great heights. Very cool to look over and see while you're swimmin around!!!




Then we headed home so I could get ready for band practice with Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo. When I was much younger, Letters to Cleo were on a few movie compilations I happened to own and thus, became a fan. Kay and her husband Michael are also responsible for most of the music in the Josie and the Pussycats movie. I learned my little vocal harmonies and casio keyboard part, threw on some make up and it was off to rehearse!

A psychic once told me I would work with people I only dreamed of working with but I consistently work with people I NEVER dreamed of working with (as in, I couldn't even imagine some of this shit). Anyway, it was super cool to sit in on a band practice and sing with Kay Hanley, the voice of Letters to Cleo and Josie and the Pussycats for a tune :)



Now, we're off to the Viper Room!

Why can't all days be like this.

Random Me Fact of the Day: Although some may not perceive me as particularly girly, I constantly wrestle between having nails or, playing guitar ;)

Shy

A lil something about myself for the day:

I am incredibly shy.

I have always been incredibly shy.

I remember being hungry at my little brother's hockey game once, and my mom said I could have anything I wanted, if I just went up and paid for it myself.

I stayed hungry until we got home.

Oh ya, I played a show tonight. How am I able to sing/perform in front of people, and yet I can barely speak to a crowd of more than 2? Even if at a house party, or in my living room, it is far more uncomfortable for me to play in what some might deem a way more comfortable setting (such as in my own home), then it is to play a random stage somewhere. I love small intimate shows but I HATE being at a party or something and someone handing me a guitar and saying "Hey play a song!" Normally I just flat our refuse. Too shy!!!

Bee For A Day

Today, I was a bee.

This is not a joke, and I have pictures (and video) to prove it.

Some friends of mine started this thing called ClickBee and if you've ever bought anything online, you have got to check them out. If you've never bought anything online, it's time you started...it reduces emissions by 35%, saves you time and now, you get cash back every time you buy something.

Basically, anytime you buy anything online, you save money and get it back in the form of cash. So, every time you buy anything at all, from clothes to diapers to movies to books to guitar string to songs on iTunes, they send you a check in the mail.

It works on the same principle as Amazon except for that in Amazon's case, they keep all the money. With these guys, you get it all back.

Some of the stores give you up to 25% back (some as much as 40%) and if you start switching to shopping online more and more, it's crazy how much money you save. Also, it feels pretty good to get a check in the mail instead of a bill.

The best part, though, is all the stores you can save money at. They have over 2,000, everything from Best Buy, Target, Macy's, iTunes, Guitar Center...the list just goes on and on. Imagine if everytime you went to buy a DVD, toilet paper, socks, music...anything at all, imagine getting up to 25% cash back.

Anyways, I really believe in these guys and not only did they build a great site that's been saving us a ton of cash but they're also great people too, with a tiny adorable daughter that I adore to bits. And, they let me be a bee for a day :)

Visit them at http://www.ClickBee.net and enter this code to join for free:

bpcb25

The ClickBeeMobile!


Look! I'm a bee! :D


View more photos from this day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelostcause/3687931515/

Epic News! New Billy the Kid Facebook!!! :D

Epic Epic News!!! :D

I complained to Facebook and they let me have http://www.facebook.com/billythekid !!

I'm in shock!!! I really didn't think it would work, but it did! The squeaky wheel gets the grease hey ;)

hiking

Finally!

I got to go hiking!!!

Runyon Canyon...it only takes a few hours but it's beautiful. You can see all of L.A. and it's minutes away from Hollywood (another great tourist-y type adventure is the Best View In the City horseback trails...check em out if you're ever in the area!!!)

After hiking we went to Real Food Daily, a place which is fast becoming on of my favourite vegan joints in the area. They have every dessert ever...but vegan!!! :D

I drank 2 extremely dark and extremely tasty beers then strolled around Venice for the remainder of the eve. It's fun to be a tourist :)




More Photos Here

Evolution

I'm a soggy snot rag again.
What is it with me and illness.
This re-re-occuring ailment is ruining my life! Can't sing, write, play, run, taste, breath...ugh.
Before I had this sore throat thing, thought it was strep. Then I got totally better. Now I have like, a head cold, or some junk.
Anyway. Enough about my sick, gross-ness.
Yesterday, amidst my snottiness, I went on my first California hike at Runyon Canyon. Being in the heat actually made me feel better. By the time I got home, I was barely snotty and actually thought: "Hey! I think I'm on the mend! :D"
Hiking was followed by food which was followed by a walk at Venice beach which was followed by a trip to the salt water hot tub in the backyard. After that, more food and a couple movies, one being Baraka, which I hadn't seen since high school. It's one of those movies that doesn't say anything, but says SO much. I have been thinking all day because of it. There is no plot, no movie stars...just shots of this planet and the people on it. The theme seemed to be religion, or at least how people find/worship/speak to God. Intensely interesting. Amidst the global look at culture and worship, glorious panoramic views of the Earth and all it has to offer were dispersed amongst shots of crowded subways, traffic, assembly lines and even factory farming. It made me think of humans as somewhat of a plague...just ruining all that is around us and getting so far away from any natural beauty that we at one point possessed (in my opinion the Buddhists and Indian cultures seem to know what is up the most). Then you see these primitive tribes, existing naturally and living happy and healthy lives. Where did we go wrong? Are we really evolving?
Sometimes I can't tell.

Random Me Fact of the Day: I was the last peron in my neighbourhood to learn how to ride a bike. True story.