That's a recent way I've heard this phrase. My mom always said, "Pot calling the kettle black." Anyhow, it describes one of my pet peeves. That's when someone calls you out for doing something wrong, or not doing something that was supposed to be done, and then they go and create the same offense themselves.
I talked about an example of this when I did my audiobook "Treasures In the Tip Jar" (which is available on CDBaby!). There were some interesting fan behaviors that people would criticize in blogs or message boards...then I'd observe the offenders doing the same things in concert settings.
I had one of these "pot, meet kettle" things happen this past week. I got ripped for supposedly neglecting to do something...and then the same person didn't do this when in a similar situation. My problem is I'm so dang nice and go to any lengths to avoid confrontation in minor things that I really should use that phrase more often toward such offenders...but I don't.
Instead, I'll just have the satisfaction of knowing that other people are just as imperfect as I am...and be kinder to myself. As we should all be to ourselves.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Holy Cow...There IS A Santa Claus!
So I'm at Doak Turner's 3rd Sunday songwriter get-together and about to leave to head over to stop at my church group's Christmas gathering. Doak pulls me aside and says, "you know what you've won, right?". Um...no. I knew I had entered the Nashville Muse contest for December with a number of prizes but hadn't heard that I'd won anything. Well, we go into a side room and there are boxes of Epiphone guitars signed by Anastasia Brown (whose book I just checked out of the library)...and I had won one of them! I've thought about learning guitar or mandolin someday but of course am in no position to buy either. Now I had my own guitar.
OK my songwriter friends, here I come, LOL. Once I learn to play this thing (Anyone in Nashville giving free lessons these days? Can't afford lessons now either...), I'm gonna start writing down the ideas and fragments of lyrics that pop up in my head at times and I'm getting me a co-writer. One thing, though: somebody else is gonna sing, because I'm not. I can't and I'm too phobic.
Yes, Virginia, there is indeed a Santa Claus. Thanks, Doak.
OK my songwriter friends, here I come, LOL. Once I learn to play this thing (Anyone in Nashville giving free lessons these days? Can't afford lessons now either...), I'm gonna start writing down the ideas and fragments of lyrics that pop up in my head at times and I'm getting me a co-writer. One thing, though: somebody else is gonna sing, because I'm not. I can't and I'm too phobic.
Yes, Virginia, there is indeed a Santa Claus. Thanks, Doak.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Year End Wrap 2008
(Following is the text of my podcast episode #26 - Year End Wrap 2008. I included the podcast link with my e-cards and am providing the text here for those who aren't able to play it.)
Well, we are about at the end of another year. Last year I did a "Year End Wrap" podcast and for the life of me I don't know why, but that ended up being one of my most popular shows for this year. So why argue with success—I figure let's do another one and I can also send a link to all the folks I send holiday wishes to instead of reading one of those annual letters (and maybe they will go out and listen to another podcast or two, ha ha ha!). OK, well, speaking of the podcast, my stats for this past year are showing me at about 18,000 hits which is double what I did last year (probably because I did more podcasts), and over 6,000 downloads that I know of. I also remained in the top 10 of my host site Cyberears' most listened to podcasts. So thanks to all who have listened.
It's been an amazing ride this year. It was my first full year here in Nashville. I'm still thrilled to be here and life for the most part has been pretty awesome. I had one major life change. I did something I swore I wouldn't do again...which is, I bought a home. But this time, no 100 year old single family house for me—I bought a condo which had pretty much new everything. What brought that about was the rising cost of rent and wanting to keep up one of my health practices, that is, use my mini-trampoline rebounder whenever I wanted to without noise complaints. So I found the place of my dreams west of the city –it's a lovely area that I wish I'd moved to when I first got here, but all things in their time, I guess. Also, I finally have the home office that I wanted for so long. I also am blessed with wonderful neighbors this time around.
I thought once I'd bought this place I'd be done with the long commute to work I'd been having. But as it turned out, I ended up with...no commute. I was laid off of my job one week after I closed on my condo. I'm grateful for this timing if it had to be since it would have blown my deal and I'd have lost out on my home had it been sooner. But you know, in this period, it's been some of the most wonderful times of my life. I started freelancing and doing musician promotion here and there, I got to experience some things I wouldn't have been able to do with a normal 9-5 schedule, and through it all the good Lord's been providing all my needs. I know a lot of us are in the same boat, so I continue to live in the present moment and remain hopeful each day.
One other significant thing happened this year. I walked into my local library and I found a flyer for Radio Free Nashville, a community radio station. It said "want to be on the radio?" Those of you who follow me know the answer to that one—well, yeah! At first I proposed doing a Sunday morning southern gospel show focusing on the music as a genre, but being that Radio Free Nashville is a station with a mission of representing the unrepresented, that idea didn't go down here in the buckle of the Bible belt. So I went with my alternative idea, which turned out to be a show I called "Never Too Old". It's a mix of oldies, reflective nostalgia, and some more current music made by folks of the "baby boomer" generation-- being squeezed out of mainstream radio these days. I found a slot on the Saturday schedule and also began a blog concurrent with the show (which makes my blog total out on the net at about 5 now, I think). It's been fun, and it's had its personal and musical rewards beyond anything monetary if I was paid for it (it's all volunteer) but it hasn't always been easy. I struggled with meeting my own standards and feeling worthy of airing alongside some folks on each side of my show doing some brilliant stuff. But I made some changes and decided to go with using what works—basically, writing my show. I also decided to include some of my encouragement pieces which may be of comfort for those of us in the baby boomer generation particularly feeling the pinch of the hard times. So now I'm starting to find my own voice, and it's challenged me creatively as well. I have also since kicked myself for giving away a lot of my vinyl and other items in my music collection which I sacrificed to make the move out here. Hey, I didn't know I was going to end up doing an oldies show, or I'd have kept more stuff! God's interesting sometimes.
Of course the biggest part of my life out here is being able to do what I came out here to do, which is to support and encourage singer/songwriters and other musicians here in Nashville. I had much to write about in my Wendy V's Nashville Blend blog over this year. I've been amazingly blessed to find some incredible talent out here, and made some dear new friends among them. These artists rewarded me over and over again by taking this non-music maker to heart and my mission seriously. Again, my fears that people here didn't need my brand of encouragement were largely unfounded. I instead found a community of artists hungry for support and affirmation in situations that some described as "sometimes feeling like December in July". I also heard stories of rejection, redemption and the ongoing quest for the dream that started to make me feel as if I'd been broken open inside, as if layers had been peeled off me. I felt myself becoming openly compassionate and I'm pretty sure that some of the tears that poured forth weren't due to change of life swings.
My faith continues to be the center of my life. My church family has been a great support to me and we're all looking forward to moving into our new home after years of meeting in a school gym. I also found a sweet prayer group run by some musician friends that I'll plan to visit when I can. This year I was part of one event, the Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat, which came along at the right time with a message which I needed. I also had a great experience once again being the "official blogger" for this year's Mark Lowry's Spring Fling Senior Trip event out at Opryland Hotel –I was proud of the work I did on the blog and humbled by the response it got.
So there's my year. It's been a blessing amidst the present challenges. The plan continues to live one day at a time, put one foot in front of the other, be thankful that I can do that and remember who's ultimately in control. If you want to keep up with me, you know where to go...head to my website at www.wendyv.com and click on the blog links.
Well, we are about at the end of another year. Last year I did a "Year End Wrap" podcast and for the life of me I don't know why, but that ended up being one of my most popular shows for this year. So why argue with success—I figure let's do another one and I can also send a link to all the folks I send holiday wishes to instead of reading one of those annual letters (and maybe they will go out and listen to another podcast or two, ha ha ha!). OK, well, speaking of the podcast, my stats for this past year are showing me at about 18,000 hits which is double what I did last year (probably because I did more podcasts), and over 6,000 downloads that I know of. I also remained in the top 10 of my host site Cyberears' most listened to podcasts. So thanks to all who have listened.
It's been an amazing ride this year. It was my first full year here in Nashville. I'm still thrilled to be here and life for the most part has been pretty awesome. I had one major life change. I did something I swore I wouldn't do again...which is, I bought a home. But this time, no 100 year old single family house for me—I bought a condo which had pretty much new everything. What brought that about was the rising cost of rent and wanting to keep up one of my health practices, that is, use my mini-trampoline rebounder whenever I wanted to without noise complaints. So I found the place of my dreams west of the city –it's a lovely area that I wish I'd moved to when I first got here, but all things in their time, I guess. Also, I finally have the home office that I wanted for so long. I also am blessed with wonderful neighbors this time around.
I thought once I'd bought this place I'd be done with the long commute to work I'd been having. But as it turned out, I ended up with...no commute. I was laid off of my job one week after I closed on my condo. I'm grateful for this timing if it had to be since it would have blown my deal and I'd have lost out on my home had it been sooner. But you know, in this period, it's been some of the most wonderful times of my life. I started freelancing and doing musician promotion here and there, I got to experience some things I wouldn't have been able to do with a normal 9-5 schedule, and through it all the good Lord's been providing all my needs. I know a lot of us are in the same boat, so I continue to live in the present moment and remain hopeful each day.
One other significant thing happened this year. I walked into my local library and I found a flyer for Radio Free Nashville, a community radio station. It said "want to be on the radio?" Those of you who follow me know the answer to that one—well, yeah! At first I proposed doing a Sunday morning southern gospel show focusing on the music as a genre, but being that Radio Free Nashville is a station with a mission of representing the unrepresented, that idea didn't go down here in the buckle of the Bible belt. So I went with my alternative idea, which turned out to be a show I called "Never Too Old". It's a mix of oldies, reflective nostalgia, and some more current music made by folks of the "baby boomer" generation-- being squeezed out of mainstream radio these days. I found a slot on the Saturday schedule and also began a blog concurrent with the show (which makes my blog total out on the net at about 5 now, I think). It's been fun, and it's had its personal and musical rewards beyond anything monetary if I was paid for it (it's all volunteer) but it hasn't always been easy. I struggled with meeting my own standards and feeling worthy of airing alongside some folks on each side of my show doing some brilliant stuff. But I made some changes and decided to go with using what works—basically, writing my show. I also decided to include some of my encouragement pieces which may be of comfort for those of us in the baby boomer generation particularly feeling the pinch of the hard times. So now I'm starting to find my own voice, and it's challenged me creatively as well. I have also since kicked myself for giving away a lot of my vinyl and other items in my music collection which I sacrificed to make the move out here. Hey, I didn't know I was going to end up doing an oldies show, or I'd have kept more stuff! God's interesting sometimes.
Of course the biggest part of my life out here is being able to do what I came out here to do, which is to support and encourage singer/songwriters and other musicians here in Nashville. I had much to write about in my Wendy V's Nashville Blend blog over this year. I've been amazingly blessed to find some incredible talent out here, and made some dear new friends among them. These artists rewarded me over and over again by taking this non-music maker to heart and my mission seriously. Again, my fears that people here didn't need my brand of encouragement were largely unfounded. I instead found a community of artists hungry for support and affirmation in situations that some described as "sometimes feeling like December in July". I also heard stories of rejection, redemption and the ongoing quest for the dream that started to make me feel as if I'd been broken open inside, as if layers had been peeled off me. I felt myself becoming openly compassionate and I'm pretty sure that some of the tears that poured forth weren't due to change of life swings.
My faith continues to be the center of my life. My church family has been a great support to me and we're all looking forward to moving into our new home after years of meeting in a school gym. I also found a sweet prayer group run by some musician friends that I'll plan to visit when I can. This year I was part of one event, the Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat, which came along at the right time with a message which I needed. I also had a great experience once again being the "official blogger" for this year's Mark Lowry's Spring Fling Senior Trip event out at Opryland Hotel –I was proud of the work I did on the blog and humbled by the response it got.
So there's my year. It's been a blessing amidst the present challenges. The plan continues to live one day at a time, put one foot in front of the other, be thankful that I can do that and remember who's ultimately in control. If you want to keep up with me, you know where to go...head to my website at www.wendyv.com and click on the blog links.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Another Radio Goodbye...
This week, as I noted previously, we prepared to say a goodbye to the Morning Show on Minnesota Public Radio as we knew it. I cried through the farewell show with listeners from far and wide...not just those in the Fitzgerald Theater audience, or my former fellow Minnesotans, but around the country and around the world. Truly amazing but not surprising, and well deserved.
But with the cancellation news came some healing for our hearts later on, as Dale Connelly will continue the tradition and spirit of the show with a new streaming web and HD radio venture at MPR called Radio Heartland. The people spoke loudly and were rewarded. Welcome to your new home, my friend.
I would be remiss, though, to not make note of the fact that also last week in the Twin Cities, another iconic radio show was lost to us. My dear friend TD Mischke was let go from his long time show at KSTP-AM. The firing happened one day after Tommy's successful CD release party. Many of us are still scratching our heads. The outpouring of support's been emotional and well it should be. His show's been recognized as one of radio's most creative and original and has a loyal fan base.
But maybe, like me, sometimes it's time to "leave home". With it comes a chance to flourish in a new setting and become something personally and creatively you might never have if you had stayed. It happened for me, and I pray the same for Dale and Tommy...I'm sure it will.
But with the cancellation news came some healing for our hearts later on, as Dale Connelly will continue the tradition and spirit of the show with a new streaming web and HD radio venture at MPR called Radio Heartland. The people spoke loudly and were rewarded. Welcome to your new home, my friend.
I would be remiss, though, to not make note of the fact that also last week in the Twin Cities, another iconic radio show was lost to us. My dear friend TD Mischke was let go from his long time show at KSTP-AM. The firing happened one day after Tommy's successful CD release party. Many of us are still scratching our heads. The outpouring of support's been emotional and well it should be. His show's been recognized as one of radio's most creative and original and has a loyal fan base.
But maybe, like me, sometimes it's time to "leave home". With it comes a chance to flourish in a new setting and become something personally and creatively you might never have if you had stayed. It happened for me, and I pray the same for Dale and Tommy...I'm sure it will.
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