Sunday, September 18, 2011

My Happy Reunion

I'll be honest and admit it:
Lately, I haven't been all that focused on booking gigs.  I'm not sure why.  But fortunately for me, I've been booking and playing at the Songwriters in the Round at Opening Bell Coffee on Monday nights.  It's kept me connected when I sorta felt like checking out.

Oh, I love the place.

When Mom was still around, she was constantly on the look out for me.  She was my biggest cheerleader, of course.  So when she happened to be walking around at the funky building where Opening Bell resides, and the owner- the super fabulous Pascale- was hanging up her signage and getting ready to open up her coffee shop, Mom asked her, "Are you going to have music here? Because my daughter is a great musician."  Good ol' Mom!

And it's because of that conversation that I have the great claim to fame of being the first musician to ever play at Opening Bell Coffee here in Dallas, Texas!

Mom also started me into guitar lessons when I begged for them when I was in 5th grade.  Years later, I took guitar lessons again because my highschool boyfriend found a guitar teacher and I decided I wanted to take some more lessons, too!

I was at that angsty teenager age, so I'm not sure how much guitar I actually learned at the time.  However, he kept me interested enough that, hey,...here I am 25 years later, still at it!!

And the other night, we were reunited at one of my gigs.  What a huge, huge honor that he played with me on a song!!!

I love hosting the Songwriters in the Round on Monday nights at Opening Bell.  You never know what might happen.  You never know what kind of special things you might see.  This was a hugely special moment for me.  Watch the video and you can tell I am BEAMING!!!!!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

BookLust

I am most happy when my bedside table looks something like this...
I've got loads of books awaiting me... This is just one stack.  It's funny how books seem to come all at once, and then every now and then, I just can't find anything that interests me.  (I think when I'm going through one of those stages, it really says something about my overall state of mind!)

A friend of mine says he has a habit of buying a lot of books.  He said one of the reasons is, he feels like as long as he's got books to read, he can't die.  You know, because obviously, you can't die when you're in the middle of a great book-- You have to know how things are going to turn out, after all! 

Anyway, I've got a lot of reading-- and living!-- to do!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Psychology Today is So Yesterday

I got this mean little letter in the mail today from the collection agency that Psychology Today apparently uses.

Let me first say, that I been a subscriber to that magazine for about 5 years.   This year, I decided to take a little break from it and not renew.  I did not order a subscription for the year like the mean letter accuses me of doing.

I find this letter not only mean, but funny, and even ironic.  It's coming from Psychology Today?!  Don't they have a little better understanding on how to treat their customers?  It seems like they should understand human psychology better than this! 

Although I really liked this magazine, and was only taking a break, after getting this threatening letter, I will probably consider this  a total break up now.   Do they really think I'm going to want to start up a subscription now?!  Really?

Ok, so here's the letter, word for word. 

Dear Kerri Aritsa,  (Yep, that's right, they didn't even get my name right!  Way to go!)

You don't get something for nothing.

The magazines ordered from our client, Psychology Today, have a value.  Otherwise, there wouldn't have been an order placed for that subscription.

That value is in the amount of $15.97.

We expect full payment for that subscription.  The value of sending payment on your part is to protect your account with our client.

That account has a value, too.  Don't damage yours.

Make a check payable to North Shore Agency and mail in the envelope provided.

You don't get something for nothing.

It's not the way it works and you know that.  Resolve this matter and collection of this account will stop. 

Um, no. Sorry.  I hate bullies.