someone else's list...

I ran across the list below on a blog, which I forgot to bookmark, so I can't remember who posted it originally. oops. Anywho, love the insights. Sometimes it is nice to relearn the obvious.


Here's an extract So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:

1. Ignore everybody.

2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to change the world.

3. Put the hours in.

4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big
shot, your plan will probably fail.

5. You are responsible for your own experience.

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in
kindergarten.

7. Keep your day job.

8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies
that champion creativity.

9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this
earth to climb.

10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.

11. Don't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.

12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.

13. Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside.

14. Dying young is overrated.

15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is
where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and
what you are not.

16. The world is changing.

17. Merit can be bought. Passion can't.

18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.

19. Sing in your own voice.

20. The choice of media is irrelevant..

21. Selling out is harder than it looks.

22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.

23. Worrying about "Commercial vs. Artistic" is a complete waste of time.

24. Don't worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.

25. You have to find your own schtick.

26. Write from the heart.

27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.

28. Power is never given. Power is taken.

29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.

30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.

31. Remain frugal.

32. Allow your work to age with you.

33. Being Poor Sucks.

34. Beware of turning hobbies into jobs.

35. Savor obscurity while it lasts.

please to enjoy 71

please to enjoy = 50% new + 50% new to me + 50% songs from back in the day + 50% songs that don't quite fit

Link to file:
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/640998518/33d8d9887a51971728fd1a8d61eb5cb8

please to enjoy 72:

1. Fucken Awesome - Spiderbait
2. Breathe & Stop (max romeo disco remix) - Q-Tip
3. Pablo Picasso - The Modern Lovers
4. Second Chance - Liam Finn
5. Hey Doll Baby - Vetiver
6. Fan - New Young Pony Club
7. Walk In the Park - Oh No! Oh My!
8. High on a Mountain Top - Loretta Lynn
9. I'm On Fire - Bruce Springsteen
10. In The Beginning - k'naan
11. Where Next Columbus? - Jeffrey Lewis
12. Skeleton Boy - Friendly Fires
13. U.R.A. Fever - The Kills
14. Acho Um Pouco Bom - Cansei de Ser Sexy
15. Nosebleed - Illinois
16. All Caps - Madvillain
17. Daylight - Matt & Kim
18. Suspended In Gaffa - Ra Ra Riot
19. Don't Bother Me - The Blakes
20. Bang! Bang! - The Knux
21. Parentheses - The Blow
22. Hurricane Jane - Black Kids
23. With Strangers - Little Joy
24. Unknown Legend - Tunde Adebimpe

please to enjoy: me, and me too!

Ok, I think I finally figured out a simple way to share my random "please to enjoy" cds without having to burn 15 copies for the brave souls who want them.

There are going to be 12 themed mixes, one per month, and this set of 2 cds that I made for a friend that are songs that are a part of me, for lotsa reasons, for better or worse. :) I will gladly accept cds about you...and explain some of the weirder ones on mine if you are wondrin.

Link to file:
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/640978486/00d3ff8db82031f286a9e24b80a6caa6

Also, I am still going to posting my good ole please to enjoy mixes semi-regularly.

please to enjoy = 50% new + 50% new to me + 50% songs from back in the day + 50% songs that don't quite fit

please to enjoy...me:
1. Drinking Coffee - Rufus Wainwright
2. Expectations - Belle & Sebastian
3. Act Nice And Gentle - The Kinks
4. Good Days Bad Days - Kaiser Chiefs
5. Dirty Mind - Ben Lee
6. Love of the Loveless - Eels
7. I Will - The Beatles
8. Together - The Raconteurs
9. Electric Feel - MGMT
10. Drop it like its Hot - Snoop Dogg
11. Revelry - Kings Of Leon
12. Overpowered - Roisin Murphy
13. Solo Impala - The Fashion
14. Walking On A Dream - Empire Of The Sun
15. Heart It Races - Dr. Dog
16. Oh, Sister (Bob Dylan cover) - Andrew Bird
17. Move (Cut Copy Remix) - CSS
18. Psychotic Girl - The Black Keys
19. Hi-Fi - M. Ward
20. Too Drunk Too Fuck - Nouvelle Vague

please to enjoy...me too:
1. Dancing In The Moonlight - Billy Corgan
2. DARE - Gorillaz
3. Lived In Bars - Cat Power
4. The Warning - Hot Chip
5. Strolling Down the Highway - Nick Drake
6. How Low - Jose Gonzalez
7. Four Leaf Clover - Badly Drawn Boy
8. Lullaby - The Cure
9. Creator - Santogold
10. Through the Roof 'n' Underground - Gogol Bordello
11. Young Forever - Aberfeldy
12. Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare - Matt & Kim
13. Downtown - Peaches
14. Go It Alone - Beck
15. I'm On Fire (Springsteen Cover) - Bat For Lashes
16. I'm Straight - The Modern Lovers
17. Big Jumps - Emiliana Torrini
18. Willow Tree - Chad VanGaalen
19. Top Yourself - The Raconteurs
20. Reasons To Love You - Meiko

A Karaca Gray kind of Christmas

Spent my first xmas in Chicago with my bro and Chip, Gray also making a first time xmas appearance, and it was an awesome time. Feel so lucky to have cool new family traditions, like champagne at every meal, caviar, gourmet meals by Chip, live piano music from a mostly in tune piano, scrabble, baby drool, new friends and family, catching up on shows, and chicago snow slop! (granted, there were af few parts I could have done without...what exactly does it mean to be called a liberal communist by a crazy person?!?!)

Here is a snippet of the annual xmas eve tree lighting....with real fire...




And here is our perfect little grinch.