So, it’s been a long, draining, soul-murdering winter. It’s been hard to stay on the happy path, but music has been doing that for me. I recently fell head-over-heels in love with Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally”. I’m thinking I’m going to sing it for my audition for The Voice. That’s right….. I’m gonna do it! I just hope my girl Christina is back! Coming up this summer is a remake of Godzilla. This one looks way cooler than the 90’s Matthew Broderick version. (not that I hated that). This new version is more true to “Gojira” and the original vision for this fire-breathing giant. Also, Bryan Cranston is in it. That’s an automatic +10. Other motivational forces have been the treasure trove that is the SyFy channel……….. so good and so bad. I’ve always been a fan of the over-the-top, ridiculous, kindergarten quality special effects, obscenity original movies. I happen to think “Sharknado” wasn’t as earth-shattering as people thought. SyFy has been putting on the ritz for years. (“Sharktapus” anyone?) The channel does cater to some incredible competition shows, too. Face Off is always enjoyable in it’s production of creepsters and ghouls. There is an incredible show coming up that I have got to mention. It is “Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge”. We are talking good old puppeteering and animatronics. Let me wipe the drool off my keyboard. This is my absolute favorite form of creature-making. Unfortunately, nowadays it is a field that doesn’t get a lot of credit because as a herd of conditioned movie watchers, we always assume that we are looking at CGI. Puppeteers don’t get the props that they deserve. So, here is a shout out to all the great puppeteers, animatronic, creature-making, life-renewing artists out there. You are the heart of this Ocian.

P.S., “Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge” premiere’s on March 25th on SyFy. http://www.syfy.com/creatureshop

So I went to Steven’s Square Art Center today with some new friends and got to see the space my art was in. It was very cool to see the gallery and all of the other artist’s work. Upon further review, I think my self-portrait is still a work in progress. I don’t know what it needs, but it needs something. There’s a compositional longing. I saw some great sculpture and ceramics work from my teacher and was lucky enough to take home some ceramic soda cans. I make art with soda cans…….. and now have soda cans that were made as art. Awesome. I also got to meet an awesome photographer, japheth storlie, and experience his expertise first hand. He works with vintage cameras and shoots a lot of miniature scenes and it was pretty awesome to see his space. Great experience meeting with my kind of folks: genuine people with authentic vision……artists.

Okay, so first off……… KITCHEN NIGHTMARES IS COMING BACK!!!!!!!!!! Okay, now that I’ve done that, I’d like to formally welcome back Gordon Ramsay, my boo. Not only is he a master wordsmith, zinger-flinger, and all-around well groomed man of insults, he’s amazing at giving people the honest truth. So his first culinary bad dream is the worst we’ve ever encountered on our journey together. It was the only time he flat out left. Amy’s Bakery. This is run by two delusional individuals. One is a bug-eyed, irrational, stick-up-her-ass, blonde “chef” with the reasoning skills and maturity that God gave a used plunger. The other is a 75 year old Godfather wannabe from the middle east……… who threatened to have Ramsay killed. And, yes, these two are married. There truly is someone out there for everyone. Anyways, these two scream at their customers, don’t give their waiters tips, and all around have neither foot in reality. In other words, this is not a Kitchen Nightmare. It’s a Kitchen Funeral, and I’ll be wearing black and attending with popcorn and big foam finger saying “Ramsay”. Cannot wait.

http://perezhilton.com/fitperez/2014-02-04-kitchen-nightmares-amys-baking-company-part-two-season-6#sthash.t1Ze2snZ.dpbs

I was listening to one of my favorite artists ever, Lana Del Rey, and stumbled upon a live performance of hers. I watched a live version of the song, Ride, and was beyond moved. This song reminds me of my summer and a relationship that ended. I listened to it on headphones while riding my bike this summer and I’m immediately right back in August, sun on my back, wind in my hair, leaves whistling through the air. There is nothing as freeing as riding away from your troubles in the summer, through the woods and away from reality. It’s amazing how much unfair life can be, but music is always my saving grace. This brings me to tears every time I listen.

P.s. She makes the most beautiful music and is one of the dopest artists ever.