Don't Let Time Command at All, Just Make Sure You Hear it Call...

Love this picture. Circles have no beginning and no end, as does much of life. Life is filled with cycles. Watching children grow and experience things we did, caring for our parents as they once cared for us, and birth to death to birth again... (in many Eastern faiths.) Life, in so many ways, comes full circle

Since I got such lovely comments on my lyrics in my last post, I figured I'd ride that egotistical wave a bit longer. The title to this post is from a song I wrote before most of you were probably born. (Seriously. I wrote it in 1980.) I actually co-wrote it with a dear friend whose name I won't mention (cough, Erich, cough). It's about finding love and reaching for your dreams. Funny how some things never change... Here are the lyrics:

Hear it Call
Dreaming dreams along the way
If you slow down you'll fall astray
Finding what you need in love
Knowing you'll soon rise above

Remnants of you fade away
Searching for the way to say
Loving is the only way
Let me in and let me stay

Learning all the secrets and knowing how to play the game...

I can feel it coming on
To turn your back on love is wrong
Don't let time command at all
Just make sure you hear it call

Forever is a long, long time
Don't let anger plague your mind
Passion is the key to see
You will find your way to me

Learning all the secrets and knowing how to play the game...

I can feel it coming on
To turn your back on love is wrong
Don't let time command at all
Just make sure you hear it call

What dreams have you left in the dust because too much time has passed, you're too old, or you just don't "have it in you" anymore? What new dreams have you created for yourself? What goals are you currently pursuing?

and...

Do you hear the clock ticking? If so, what do you make it mean? What is it you're waiting for?

By the way, I chose this particular watch for a reason. See that little key? We each have one. It's the key to open ourselves up to anything we choose to pursue. What does your key unlock?

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
I want to alert my writer friends of a wonderful new agency with a kick-ass logo. Upstart Crow consists of agents Michael Stearns, Chris Richman, and Danielle Chiotti. They're website is easy to navigate, and their blog is a breath of fresh air in its honesty and availability to writers. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Dead Leaves & Dirty Ground

Different is dope. So when I heard of the indie jewelry company, Prismera’s Cast, I was a little excited in the inside. Designer, Laura Su has always found inspiration in the natural—like succulents and noctiflora. But with this collection all the accessories are molded after dead, insect-eaten leaves. Dead ass.

It's so dope. Check out some more from the collection, below.






-Christopher Nic.

Just For Shaeveon LaTrey..

Sneak peek picture from the new season of Gossip Girl-

Chuck and Little Jenny Humphrey...looking like they're together?!

Regardless of what they're doing together, check Jenny's strapless Pucci dress. & the shoes....I die.


-Christopher Nic.

A Girl's Best Friend = Her Little Black Dress

Nylon's Dani Stahl, Alice & Oliver designer, Stacey Bendet & Publicist, Ali Wise at the release party for Charlotte Ronson's latest 'I Heart Ronson' collection for JC Penny. Adorable.


-Christopher Nic.

S.O.S.

S.O.S. Corazón Rebelde - Estaba Escrito

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Want Some Lady Love?

Letoya has truly proven that life after Destiny's Child can be a wonderful one. Ms. Luckett returns with her sophomore album, after the sucess of her self-titled debut, with Lady Love. She spends most of her album singing about repairing her broken heart, but the album does have it's positives. The title track, "Lady Love," an upbeat song finds her singing to a guy. Telling her to come and get that some of that good ol' lady lovin. "I Need A U" is a sensual ballad about wanting the right one, as well as "Good To Me" where she passionately sings about wanting a man who doesn't have to have a lot of money, but wanting a man to just be good to her! But the tracks that really shine to me are the ones where Letoya sings about her pains. "Regret" (the rumored third single) shines like no other. "I gave you sawg and a duffel bag. You left the best you had and no you wanna act like that." Whoever she is singing about (ahem--Rapper Slim Thug) must be upset in a corner after hearing that track. ATLien Ludacris comes in and spits bars, rescuing Letoya from the resentment. "Lazy" is another track that could be single worthy. Letoya talks about not wanting to love again because she is drained and heart is very lazy, to say the least. "She Ain't Got Sh*t" has her boasting about being able do things better than that other woman can! Guest appearance include Kanye's protege Estelle, New York's own MIMS, Bun B, Slim Thug and Killa Kyleon. Overall, if I were to give this album a grade it would most definitely be an A For ATTITUDE!

Creating Something from Nothing or Stepping on a Cloud & Hoping I Won't Fall Through

I'm a quarter into my latest novel, MURDER ON SONGBIRD LANE. Each day when I open my computer, I feel as if I'm stepping on a cloud and hoping not to fall through. That's the kind of faith it takes to create something from nothing. That's the kind of faith it takes to be an artist.

Like Elizabeth Gilbert, the brilliant writer of one of my favorite books Eat Pray Love, said in her uber-awesome speech on creativity, you must have faith in The Muse or God or Your Inspiration or whatever you choose to call it. You need to show up every day for your part of the job and have faith that she - your muse - will, too.

Here are lyrics to a song I wrote many moons ago. (Seriously, I was 20.) It's called VOICES IN THE WIND and it's about exactly that - listening for the magical voices and capturing them while you can:

VOICES IN THE WIND
Songs from within the wind
Rap upon their doors
Currents whisper to lookers who will hear
Camouflaged dancers all waiting for a show
Waiting for their show
To talk and laugh and sing

Magical murmurs are asking to be caged
So they may open up and speak their minds on stage
Absent are heartbeats, still they're living for word
Living to be heard
To talk and laugh and sing

To talk and laugh and sing
A message each does bring
To have the chance to say...

THE MYSTERIOUS CREATIVE PROCESS
We artists sometimes feel afraid to do the work we were put on this earth to do. Why? Because being a creative person is both a gift and a curse. A gift because artists see the world differently and are able to communicate our communal experiences better or more clearly or more powerfully than non-artists. A curse because being an artist is often a scary unacknowledged thing that can - if we let it - haunt our very souls.

So, here's to you, my writer friends. Here's to your courage, your commitment, your artistry, and your willingness to bare your souls in the face of what may be joyous glory or dark lonely despair. Why do we do it? Because we are artists and it is our joy, our challenge, and our calling to create.

SHOW UP FOR WORK!
So, for today, I'm showing up for my part of the job. I'm committed, as always, to creating something from nothing - and to stepping out onto that cloud feeling fully supported and free.