Over the last few years I have had the time to explore and reflect many areas of interest for me. I’m taking improv classes at Second City, I’ve went to school to explore art, writing, and photography. In the next few weeks, I’m going to be taking a stand up comedy class.  What I’ve learned from all these ventures is you can’t do everything. Over the last several months I’ve been reflecting on what area I really would like to focus my life on. Tonight, I’ve come to the conclusion that my focus will be music and money. Even as I write now to make this commitment there is a certain amount of fear that I feel. This fear that I know is what I have to face. It’s the thing that I’ve avoided for almost twenty years and I don’t know why. But I’m ready to go down deep into the rabbit hole. In all of my endevors I know I have to master something. I don’t know how much time I have left in life, but I don’t want to live with any regrets. I must start now.

Larry Blackmon of Cameo

Larry Blackmon of Cameo performing at the Taste of Chicago 2009

Larry Blackmon of Cameo at the Taste of Chicago June 26th, 2009

Cameo in Chicago peforming in Grant Park

Guitarist of Cameo playing in Grant Park 6-26-2009

Tomi Jenkins of Cameo at the Taste of Chicago.

Larry Blackmon at the Taste of Chicago 2009

Larry Blackmon of Cameo

Larry Blackmon and Tomi Jenkins of Cameo at the Taste of Chicago 2009

Charlie Wilson performing at the Taste of Chicago 2009

Charlie Wilson performing at Grant Park in Chicago 2009

Charlie Wilson being suited up at the Taste of Chicago

Uncle Charlie Wilson checking himself out at the Taste of Chicago

Charlie Wilson at the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park

Uncle Charlie Wilson at the Taste of Chicago

Charlie busting a move at the Taste of Chicago 2009

Model Darshei Goode

Model Darshei Goode

Model Darshei Goode

Model Maunya Jacobs

Model Maunya Jacobs

Model Maunya Jacobs

Model Maunya Jacobs

Models Darshei Goode and Maunya Jacobs

Yesterday I spent an entire day moving the items I bought in the storage unit to my apartment; by myself. It was such an ordeal which started by picking up the cargo van at UHAUL.

Because I wasn’t able to provide a second telephone number that I can be reached at, she refused to rent me a van. When I tried to provide her with a number, she bombarded me with questions as to what type of number it was. She finally refused to offer me service and sent me to another near-by storage rental. In addition, she refused to let me use the company’s phone to call the reservation office again.

I went outside looking for a telephone to call the corporate number. It was raining heavily, I walked five blocks until I found a public payphone. When I called the regional manager, she wasn’t any help either. She told me that she was the one the manager called when I was in the store. I felt she was being biased as a regional manager as she said she didn’t have any authority to override the manager’s decision and that it was her store.

It took a total of 12 hours to move all the things from storage to my apartment. When I went back for the second trip, I had to clean out the locker.

Below are pictures of the storage unit before I cleaned it out.

My investment to date:

• 2 missed days of work - $90.00
• Auction bid - $20.00
• Van Rental - $76.93
• Pad Lock - $8.81
• Gas - $10.00
• 12 hours work

Total - $205.74
Total Hours invested - 15 hours.

By no stretch of the imagination is making money easy. However, I did try my had at yet another money making venture today. I bought some items at a storage facility. I paid $20.00 for the items. Now I must figure out how to get the items and sell them. Right now I’m stressed beyond belief. I’m going to have to stay up all night, clean and make room for all the items I bought. I’m going to have to take off work tomorrow, find a van, possibly movers, and take everything out of that unit.

When I was waiting for the auction began, I was afraid that I was out of my league. There were 15 people signed up to look at 4 units. I thought it would be a good experience just to see how it worked.  I didn’t think I was going to win a bid. No one knows what is in the units. Everyone take a look at the unit for the first time when the auctioneer opens up the storage unit. Then the bidding begins.

My investment so far is:

Winning Auction Bid: $20.00

Pad Lock: $8.81

Time Invested: 2 Hours (Arriving until completed Transaction)

1 Hour researching moving people and prices

Total: $28.81

I revealed the problem that I was having as an artist to Harold after viewing his work. That was that I didn’t know how much time to put into my drawings. This conversation lead to him explaining more about himself as an artist had what really motivated him with his work.

He explained the connection to the old ford automobile to his childhood. He spent a lot of time around them. They were an intricate part of his life. There was an emotional attachment. His exploration to that part is what produced, as one art patron described it,  “arresting” pieces of artwork.

This lead me to thinking about where my emotional connections are. That wasn’t hard to figure out actually. Music. From that moment on, I decided that all of my work, music, art, writing, and photography will be about music.

Photography

I shot my first model Saturday afternoon. My photography mentor was teaching me a few things about the flash I had just bought. The pictures turned out quite nice I thought.

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing artist Matt Lamb talk about his journey as an artist. At age forty-seven, he had an undertaker’s business. He mentioned smoking five packs of cigarettes a day and being given only months to live. He said that if he beat his deadly habit he would offer inspiration through his art.

Matt Lamb Painting

Artist Matt Lamb

The After Party