We’ll be back here for our regularly scheduled tunes and runes next Monday – 7/6. Until then, I’ll be writing songs and eating much rocky road ice cream.

Y’all have a happy 4th of July!

Photo courtesy of bluecinderella.

Drew and I have been trying to get healthy this summer. Less caffeine. Less sugar (well, not the kissin’ kind). Less carbs. Less eating. More exercising.

I’m stocking up on salads and fruit.

I like fuji apples.

A lot.

I know some people might see them as a deviation from the norm, but I don’t care. I like fujis, no matter how weird you think I am. I thought they were weird, until I tried them. Sweet heaven. I left those bitter Granny Smiths behind, and I don’t regret it one bite (err, I mean, bit)!

What sort of apple person are you?

I’ll let this one speak for itself:

To grow as a songwriter, I’ve also striven (is that a word?) to expand my ability to paint word pictures, using details from all senses.

So I thought it’d be cool if we did a start/finish to work on descriptive sentences.  (we did this with rhymes) You can either submit the start of a sentence, or finish one that’s already been offered. Ready? Go

(why am I talking in parenthesis today?)

(that was facetious)

Have any of you noticed all the talk about “branding” yourself? About making yourself into some type of human product to promote? It’s the latest talk.

I’ll let wikipedia explain:

Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands. It has been noted that while previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging. Further defined as the creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable. The term is thought to have been first used and discussed in an 1997 article by Tom Peters.

Personal branding often involves the application of one’s name to various products. For example, celebrity real-estate mogul Donald Trump uses his last name extensively on his buildings and on the products he endorses (e.g., Trump Steaks).

This concept has mass-appeal for independent artists like me. And synonymous strategies are everywhere. I recently read a songwriting book that said “singer/songwriter” types must find their own unique sound, so that whenever their song is played on the radio, people immediately recognize it as “so & so’s” voice.

The same goes for creating the packaging of a website, music, logo, t-shirt, album cover, photos, etc. – all pointing towards the same image or message about the artist.

I’ve been thinking about all this. Thinking about how I can best present myself and my work. About what my “image” is as an artist. About what my signature sound is. About the album artwork for my upcoming project. About whether or not I should hire someone to amp up mandythompson.com.

And, I’ve come to a rather rebellious conclusion:

I don’t want to be a brand. I want to be a person.

I went to a small coffee shop show on Friday night. I was mesmerized by this little 26 year old chick who had a voice of sugared lightning and a heart the size of a watermelon. She’s an incredible songwriter, captivating performer, and sincere messenger.

She travels the country in her car, singing for anyone who can listen… And I did. WHAT a story she shared with us in 60 minutes. It was like magic. I had no choice but to listen to her. Soak in everything she wanted to tell us.

I thought about just giving her the few bills I had in my purse, because I so desperately wanted to support her ministry and music. But, instead, I thought I could learn a few things from her songwriting abilities, so I handed her manager $10 and grabbed a CD.

Alisa Turner, ladies and gentlemen. Book her. You want to what she’s got to say.

I’m one away from 50 songs, y’all. And hopefully, by the time my next post goes up, I will have crossed that threshold and begun the downhill slope.

I never thought I’d be able to do this, but I can see it. I can smell it. It’s at my fingertips. And much more attainable than I thought.

I’ve written some bad songs. And I’ve written some good songs. I’ve written many more songs than I’ve posted, becuase I don’t have time to get them together each time. There’s some stuff in the works that I’m excited about, but haven’t been able to properly record & post! You’ll have to wait & see.

I have no idea what’s next. But I’m LOVING where this has taken me so far. I can easily see how I’ve grown in the craft of songwriting. I’ve learned a LOT. I’ve co-written with some talented people. I’ve written a jingle for a radio show in England (I know – I didn’t tell y’all. Sorry). I submitted a song in a contest. I’ve done more jingles for a few podcasts. I’ve submitted a song to a Christian Literary Journal that will be published in the Fall. I feel like I’m finally… me.

And, I’m excited.

Yes. I’m excited.

So. I just wanted to give an update. And say “thank you” for continuing to cheer me on!

“THANK YOU!!!”

We’re at the 6 month marker. We’ll be at the end of seminary in December.

We’ve been saying goodbye to our friends since last December, and that’s how it’s gonna be for the next few months. In greater and greater amounts.

I joke that we’re at that “upperclassman” level where we check out from meeting new people. But it’s true. We probably won’t make an effort to get to know the new residents in our building.

We’re at that place where we are clamoring for time with friends that will move in 6 weeks. We’re counting down the months until we have to pack up all our stuff & say goodbye. We’re trying to stay connected with those that have grown to be our friends here.

In this community. In this little Christian society with all its imperfections and flaws. With those who have walked through difficult times with us.

And there’s little time to do much else.

Does this make me a bad person? Cold? Closed off?

Or just… efficient?

Stuff… Do we really need it?

At least once a year, Drew and I review our budget and finances. We want to be good stewards of what we have, and want to make it last.  Consequently, we are more carefully considering our costs. We ask ourselves if we really need something before purchasing it.

Like new headphones for my iPod, when the old ones work fine but are just uncomfortable.

Or like eating out, when I can create a similar meal at home.

Or like renting a movie, when we can check one out of the library.

Or like foregoing the local coffee shop when we can make a mean mocha at home.

Little things like that change our perspective – shift our focus on stuff.

Just yesterday he said to me: “I think we need to cut back on eating out again. I’ll help you with dinner more often, so when you don’t want to cook we won’t just eat out.”

(ahhhh… I love that man.)

We fight the “I NEED I NEED I NEED” monster one day at a time. One cost at a time. One savings at a time.

What are you doing, to fight the “I NEED” monster?

Drew and I started watching “Heroes” this past weekend. With Season 1. By now, you long-time readers know that we don’t do TV. We like to get seasons on DVD and just go with it.

Now that we’ve started this amazing-gross-fantastic-crazy-wild show, we’ve been talking about super-powers. Which ones we’d want & which ones we wouldn’t want.

They’ve got:

• teleportation/time travel
• flying
• regeneration
• radiation/fire (I call this guy the Unabomber.)
• see the future
• mind control
• hear others thoughts
• crazy super strength
• walk through walls/matter/stuff
• dream communication

I definitely would NOT want Niki/Jessica’s scary psycho superpower.

I think I’ll take the regeneration. Or flying. Maybe.

Which superpower would you want? Which would you not want?