Josette and I May Be Crazy. But We're Totally in Sync.

Josette moved to Japan. Yes, you read that correctly, and yes, I was green with envy. The whole time zone deal really hinders communication, so whenever I see her on gchat or skype, my little heart skips a beat.   The other day, we were gchatting, and I'm pretty sure that we've been communicating telepathically. And subconsciously. 

                       josette: Help. Me.

 me: Hey!

  How?

 josette.rophael: I have no idea.

  Rewind the clock?

 me: Uh...

  Technically, I could do that by flying you back here...

  That's easier said than done

  What's the problem?

 josette: It's midnight and I'm pretty much just starting my homework.

 me: Oh, haha. Sorry :(:

  What are you working on?

 josette: Right now Environmental Science.

 me: Oh, I did that in ninth grade!

 I might remember some (Of course I didn't.)

 josette: Really?

 me: Yup! 

  And I passed!

  By some miracle

 josette: That's pretty awesome.

  

 me: I thank God for that one

josette: Know anything about microalgae?

 me: Tiny little algea?

  algae

 josette: That are apparently very oily

 me: Hmmmm

 What's the question?

 josette: Possibly oily enough to solve our energy problems

 me: Haha...Well... not really...

 josette: haha well that is what some scientists think according to the given FRQ passage.

 me: That's what Wikipedia thinks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel

 

 

 

OMG, I dreamed of your little brother last night!! (And this is where my ADD kicks in...)

josette: haha whaaa? why?

me: I have no idea. It was so weird. I dreamed that somehow I walked BAREFOOT to my grandma's house in CALIFORNIA - actually it was my aunt's house, but still, it's in another state- and your brother was there and he was SOOO NICE! Oh, yeah! And before that I was helping you with hw in Starbucks!!!!

  That is so freaky

  you had a nervous breakdown but I don't remember why

 I think it was school related

 josette: well that is just so comforting!

 me: Haha, sorry

 You kept chatting with Sofi, and I was like, Josette, maybe we should work on this, and then you started crying

  so I packed up all our stuff and walked, shoeless, to my aunt's house

  

  where my grandmother walked to the door to greet me

  sans a walker

 and your little brother was jumping on a trampoline

  that was inside the house

 josette: this is too good

 me: and he ran up to me TO GIVE ME A HUG

  ?!?!?!?!!?!

  Needless, to say, I was pretty much shocked into tears

 josette: I am pretty much shocked into tears.

  Your dreams are pretty insane. 

 me: Gosh, you don't even know the half of it...josette: I kind of want to know now though

 then I started recognizing a bunch of people... and all my sister's friends were thereThe sequence was kind of weird.

 josette: WE SHOULD START A DREAM BLOG

 me: YES!

 josette.rophael: Like how people have dream diaries

 me: We should blog this whole chat to start

 josette.rophael: haha ummm

  maybe just your parts

 me: Your parts offer a humorous deadpan
So, hopefully, I don't get in trouble with her for posting this. Because God knows oceans and countries mean nothing when it comes to Josette's wrath. 

Once Upon a Time, I Barely Used Advil

I started taking Concerta for my ADD this past summer.  Yeah, I was the pills-are-bad-for-you-and-the-planet-and-your-unborn-un-conceived-child-and-you're-already-over-medicated-and-your-liver-will-fail-and-then-you'll-die sort of person.  But then, I heard a little voice in my head ask,


Where is your medical degree, Maria Teresa? 
I don't have one? I said.  
Oh, well, you're going to get it soon, right?  
Um.  No.  
Wait, wait... do I remember correctly, or are you an artist?
Yes...
So, how has your background made you so knowledgeable about the dangers of medicine?
Uh... it hasn't.
Yeah.


So I decided that it wasn't fair to make everyone around me suffer from my constant state of confusion.  And I got a prescription.  And now I don't lose things every minute of the day.  And I can work for more than 20 minutes straight.  And I can have a conversation without taking a mental vacation.  It's like I'm on a different level of reality now. Gosh, I'm at a level of reality, whereas I used to constantly dance off  to Wonderland.

It's not all fun and games, though.  While my liver hasn't failed yet, my little pill has its side effects.  The sight of food makes me want to throw up, it takes me most of the night to fall asleep, and I've turned into a witch.

While I can force myself to eat, sleeping isn't so easy. I have insomnia to begin with, but the extra energy from these amphetamines keep me up until dawn, man.  I mean, I'm motivated. At 3 in the morning.  I'm not motivated for New Year's. Yet, I stay up in bed wondering, what comes next???  Do you want to go for a run?  Want to get ahead with your schoolwork?  Study for your SAT''s?!?! Write a book, practice guitar, learn French, save the whales?!?!?!?!!


It's weird.  I take melatonin so I don't end up jumping off the roof because I convinced myself I can fly.  

Then there are those those mood swings... I'm generally the nice sister.  Snapping at my brothers because they asked for a pencil is highly unusual-- and it made me cry.  I thought I would get over it in a few weeks, but I didn't. By the time I found a bottle of St. John's Wort, I was pretty desperate.  I take three little green pills a day, and I'm pretty mellow now.  It took  a few days to really stabilize my emotional crisis, and I'm not exactly the Dalai Lama, but it helped a lot.

Now I actually remember to take my vitamins, which I'm supposed to take four of every day.  Really, I only take two.  This brings my actual pill count to: 7 per day.

I beat my grandparents.

Indie Artist of the Week: Rebel Bran

First of all, thank God for Josette. I spent the last week in art camp and this one struggling to get an extra honors credit.  If it were not for her keeping up the blog, I would have a a nervous meltdown and died.  Really. 

Anyways, I had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Serbian singer-songwriter Rebel Bran last Saturday.  The same day I though I could just skip taking my ADD meds (I'm just adorable sometimes).  I do hope my random topics aren't too confusing. 

Enjoy!

M: You're from Serbia, correct? Can you give us some of your history?

RB: Yes, I was born in a small town south of the capital Belgrade in central Serbia.

M: How do you feel your childhood in Belgrade shaped you musically?

RB: Belgrade has a special place in my heart. All my best memories are pretty much connected to that city, especially from the time when I was at the university. The best time of my life - lots of late night working, but even more partying with friends and my band.

M: Yup, sounds like college

RB: For sure.

M: Did you always think you would be a musician?

RB: Pretty much. I always new I will be doing something creative. I started with art very early through my school, but as soon as I managed to get a guitar, I knew it will be a life long love!

M: Was there anyone or anything that influenced you to pursue music? Sometimes, it's a dream, of course, but we need someone to give us that push in order to actually be proactive about it.

RB: It was more than anything a stranger! My mum was singing beautifully and she instilled that love in both my sister and me, but the crucial moment was when Srecko (Lucky) became our family friend. He had a profound influence on me, not only with his voice, but as a male figure in my life.

M: Can you elaborate?

RB: He was our neighbor for a while, and very quickly he was attracted buy our constant singing. So he joined us and we would spend hours and hours singing around our dining table. He had a voice that was out of this earth! As my father left us very early, I started looking up to him and very soon I decided I want to try to sing like him one day. I don't think I ever got that good

M: Well, you do a pretty impressive job anyway.  Any other musicians that inspired you?

RB: Thank you.  Well, I was lucky enough that my step father was a multi-instrumentalist and when I managed to buy my first guitar he was the one who taught me my first chords. He was also an art teacher, so he had a great way of teaching you how to start playing songs very quickly so you don't get bored, as most kids do. So in about 6 months time I already started composing! It was an amazing feeling. One of my very first songs I ever composed is actually on my CD. It's called Old Story, and it's about 30 years old almost!

M: Lucky. My parents turned out to be the musically-impaired ones in their family.

RB: That's too bad

M: Eh, they make up for it.

RB: I'm sure they did, all comes with a reason!

M: And we (my siblings and I) found inspiration elsewhere. Nobody's perfect.

RB: As long as they support and encourage, they are great!

M: Exactly. And they have.

RB: Great

M: Do you prefer to sing/write in Serbian or English?

RB: I have been writing in English for a few years already. Too much hassle to rewrite them. I am becoming more comfortable in English, but I do both. All depends on the feeling and the moment. It's kind of funny but I think you can actually feel things in two languages

M: Oh, certainly.  My first language is Spanish and I think or feel "bilingually" all the time.  It can get a little confusing, though

RB: Yes, I know exactly what you mean

Are you from Mexico originally or from Europe? Sorry, perhaps some other latin american country...

M: Oh, I'm from the U.S., but my mom is from Mexico, and she would only speak to me in Spanish.

RB: Trying to preserve their roots

M: Yes. Or just a rebel. She didn't want to send me to school either.

RB: Oh, interesting! I like rebels

M: Yes, I learned a lot from her.  Anyways, back on topic. What's your songwriting process?

RB: When I get into the mood it feels the best. I know something good will come out. I do have an idea what I want to express. Usually I look for some unusual chord combinations that fit the mood, then comes a theme phrase, than the melody and the lyrics go side by side.  With the right inspiration a whole song can be done in a couple hours.

Sometimes though, I like to force myself to create a feeling. It's very exciting seeing the progress when the emotion was not initially there, but you create it

M: Yes, it's amazing to see what you can accomplish if you focus on that goal. But it is hard for us artists to work while uninspired, right? I bet life would be a lot easier if I were born an accountant.

RB: Yes it is much harder, but I have learned that you can create the inspiration yourself, and then it all starts unrolling as if you were in the right mood to begin with.  It's quite exhilarating

M: That is cool.

  

What are your next plans?

RB: I have so many plans... Over the years I have accumulated over 60-70 songs, so I sorted them all out and started practicing for my next CD

M: That's a lot of songs.

RB: There are 5 more waiting to be finished. See, if the things went the regular way in my life, it would have all been done now. Who knows, maybe it's even better this way. I am also working on my new all instrumental CD, I have about 7 songs ready

M: I haven't been alive too long, but I'm starting to learn that things don't usually go the way we planned. I figure that as long as you try your best, and not compromise yourself in the process, you're doing a pretty good job.

RB: That is the way to think, I believe it's very true. I have no regrets, it was the way it was. I believe that I have a much deeper outlook on life and my own experience from this perspective, so the final creative product should be even better. I hope people will be able to identify with it and that it will touch them in some way

M: I agree with that.

Okay last question from my sister and co-blogger, Sofia:

If you were on stage, and the world was watching, and the world could only hear one more song, what would you sing?

RB: Should I ask: of my own songs or songs in general?

M: Whichever

RB: That's tough… It's weird, but the only song that comes to mind as the last song ever that the world should here would be "Amazing Grace". I would love to sing it only with a piano.

M: That would be fitting.

RB: I guess

M: Well, thank you so much for your time, and I'm sure this won't be the last time we hear from you!

RB: Thank you so much, this was fun! All the best with your blog, I will be checking it regularly!

As always, friend Rebel Bran on MySpace, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter.

We're Back my Lovelies!!!

I was busy putting my Woodstock Puzzle together when I felt a tap on my shoulder.  I turned around and saw Responsibility looking down at me

"Ugh, not you again.  Go away."  And I got back to work on my puzzle.

"I don't think so," said Responsibility, shoving my puzzle away.

"Hey!  I've been working on that for two weeks!"

"Whatever," she said, "We have better things to talk about.  How long has it been since you've written on your blog?"

"My... oh!  Uh-oh..."

"Exactly."

She's a very concise responsibility.

"I guess I should get to it..."

"You should."

"Want to go ride our bike?"  ADD wakes up from the nap she was taking on the couch behind me.

"Oh no," says Responsibility, "She has work to do.  You are not invited."

"Well, I was here first actually," says ADD rubbing her sleepy red eyes.  She stayed up late last night reading some book, "Just ask her.  She actually asked me to help her with the puzzle you so rudely destroyed.  Right Maria?"

"I don't really care about your little play dates.  But I'm the one who stays up with her at night worrying about all the work she didn't get done, not you.  So I order you to leave."

"Whatever," mumbles ADD, stumbling off to the kitchen.

"As we were saying," says Responsibility, turning back to me.

"What would I write about?"

"Oh.  Yeah..."  And this is where Responsibility fails me, and Creativity jumps in.  She'd been decorating my notebooks in the living room.

"Hey!" She slaps Responsibility on the shoulder.  "She's right you know.  You have to keep up your blog."

"Thank you." Says Responsibility.

"Traitor!" calls ADD from the kitchen.  Creativity usually sides with ADD.

"You could write about Alex's Party," Creativity suggests.

"She missed it," ADD shouts from the kitchen, "No thanks to Miss Responsibility. She could have left that homework for the weekend you know.  Did you ever ask Ximena how it went?  Let's call her!"

"Be quiet!" Shouts Responsibility. "Hurry up and find something."

"Haiti?"

"Sofi already did!" says ADD.  The size of her sandwich makes me worry about the mess in the kitchen she undoubtedly left. "You're a little late Party Pooper.  Do we have pickles?"  ADD has no sense of self-preservation.

"You are not allowed to speak."  Responsibility is annoyed now.  ADD is slowing down our process.

"Oh!" Creativity jumps up from her chair. "Remember Taylor Momsen's stupid comment on Haiti! You can write about how that bothered you, or it's reflection of celebrities superficiality and indifference to the real world!"

"Maybe-" I begin, but Creativity interrupts me.

"Oh oh oh!  That reminds me of Miley!  That tattoo she has under left implant!  She says it’s for a cause or whatever.  So instead of donating money to a charity, she gets a tattoo, as if that makes a dent in the list of things that need to be fixed in the world.  You can write about that!"

"No," says ADD swallowing the last bite of her sandwich, "She can't.  That's old news, like the Taylor Monsoon thing.  Everyone's written about it already.  Can we go ride our bike now?"

"No!" shouts Responsibility. "Go!"

ADD rolls her eyes and takes her plate back to the kitchen.

"You two," Responsibility points to Creativity and I, "are wasting precious time."

"Chill," quips Creativity, "You can interview a friend."

"We don't have time!" Yells ADD from the kitchen.  I can hear her rummaging through the freezer.  I hope she doesn't spill anything. "Anyone want some ice cream?"

Responsibility is clenching her teeth.  I begin to worry. She has a terrible temper.

"Uh," Even Creativity is a little nervous, "Your birthday?"

"Boring!" Sings ADD.  She's back.  She turns to Responsibility "Chocolate or vanilla?  You know you want some my little workaholic."

"I hate you. And I am angry with you, Maria" says Responsibility.

"Me?" I'm positively shocked! "What did I do?"

"When you first went to that shrink and he recommended that medication, I told you to take it.  I told you!  She's a nuisance!"  That last work comes out as a shriek.

"Well excuse me!" gasps ADD, "But Maria here is a very loyal friend of mine!  And she would never betray me like that!  Never!  Right Maria?"

"I of course not!" I glare at Responsibility. She knows ADD is sensitive.

"She's a psychopath!" shouts Responsibility

"Well Maria like me more, psychopath or not.  At least I don't ruin her social life," ADD sniffs.

Responsibility says more, but I can't repeat it here.  

"I have the greatest idea!" Creativity is excited.  Responsibility and ADD quiet down for a second.

"Well," she begins, "We can write about this!"

"This?" asks Responsibility, annoyed.

She has a short fuse.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"She means this conversation," says ADD, "Boy, you both are fast ones."

"Oh. I don't know," Responsibility is doubtful.

"I don't think that's such a bad idea."  It sounds kind of cool, I think to myself.

"It's a wonderful idea!" squeals Creativity.  She looks at ADD.  "What do you think?"

"Huh?" She's painting her nails blue. "Oh, you mean that blogging thingy.  Yeah, sure.  Do we have acetone?"

"Okay, whatever" says Responsibility, "Just start. Now."

"Okay,” I say.

We all sort of just sit there, waiting for someone to say something.  Someone, obviously being ADD.  But she's busy trying to get her right pinkie painted.

"Now... being today, within this minute, this second," Responsibility pauses.  ADD just spilled some nail polish on the carpet and is trying to hide it from her.  Responsibility just shakes her head and looks at the rest of us.

"NOW!"

"Fine!"  I walk over to my laptop.

They all sit around the table watching me.

"Well. You guys can go now. I can't focus with all of you here. Bye." Responsibility grumbles and walks away.  Creativity grabs the nail polish from ADD and dances off to my bedroom.

I start typing.  Then I notice that ADD is still here.  She's watching me from the other side of the table.

"Don't you have something to do?" I ask.

She plops herself next to me and puts her feet on the table. 

"Nope. Staying with you 24/7 is my job.  You know that."

I know that. She stays the whole time.  


It's not like she ever leaves, really