A Bittersweet Day

**This picture is of the view from the office I work in....Not bad, huh?!**

Today marks my final day as an intern at The Chasin Agency. When I started this internship in January, Matt (my boss) made it clear that there were no promises for a job at the end of 6 months but that the experience I would get here would be invaluable. He was right! Though the agency doesn't have the resources currently to take on any new hires, I'm leaving here with more than I could've learned about this industry in ten years on my own!

Lately I've been feeling spread too thin. I work at the agency around 15 hours a week, at Cabo at least 30 hours a week, and attending my improv classes 3 and a half hours every Saturday. Though my hours may not be much different from full time, it's hard to work until 3am some nights, get up to be at the agency in the morning, and then go straight from the agency to Cabo again! I usually only have full days off on a random day, such as a Tuesday. I guess you could say I'm ready for things to slow down. I'd like to have more time to get involved in a church in my area, make some new friends, and get in better shape! Not to mention, actually be able to talk to people back home other than through text messages. (Sorry that sounds a little whiny, I'm done I promise!) I thought I would be somewhat excited about this day, but instead I find myself very sad!

Tom Chasin and Matt Gogal were the first people in this city to take a chance on me. When I interviewed here, I had been going on job interviews for months with no luck and was starting to get discouraged. Tom hired me on the spot during my first interview with him. I had no idea at the time how God was blessing my life. Tom and Matt are such good people and have a code of ethics that is extremely hard to come by in this industry. Matt has treated me more like a peer than an intern. (It probably helps that he's only one year older than me--he's the youngest franchised agent in LA!) I never had to get him coffee or run his errands and he was always willing to teach me something new. Since only three of us work here, I've become very close with Matt and Tom...well, mostly Matt because Tom is such a busy man! I know that no matter where I go in this industry I will be ready for it and have a solid, respected reference. In the past 6 months, so much in my life has changed and this internship has been the one constant. I'll miss my few days a week at 8899 Beverly Blvd. but I'm eager to see where life will go from here!!

My First Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Hola Everyone! (I've been working at the Cantina too much apparently...) I finally got a full weekend off of work and it was so fantastic I almost didn't know what to do with myself. The highlight of my weekend was Sunday night. I bought tickets to the Ray LaMontagne/Jenny Lewis/Blitzen Trapper concert several months ago and it was finally time to go on Sunday night! The music was AMAZING. I was really surprised how packed the place was...I didn't know so many people were fans. I'm glad they are though!

Besides the music, it was my first trip to the Hollywood Bowl. What an amazing venue! It is outdoors and is basically a big bowl in the side of a mountain. You can see the Hollywood sign to the left and a huge cross to the right. I'm still having camera issues, so I don't have any pictures unfortunately. We missed the opening group, Blitzen Trapper, because we had to park SO FAR AWAY!! I haven't walked that far that fast in some time! Here's a couple videos of who we did see:

The first video of Jenny Lewis isn't from the concert we were at but this is my favorite song of hers!

The Ray LaMontagne video is a little blurry, but it was actually taken at the Hollywood Bowl on

Sunday night. His voice is so unique. They are two of the few artists I've seen that actually

sound exactly the same in person as on an album. It was an amazing experience!

Gag

These have got to be the most hideous shoes I've ever seen. I am hereby making a public declaration that you will NEVER catch me in white leather boots. If I ever go against what I have just put into writing, you have full permission to slap me in the face.


Oh and TGIF!

Blog Makeover...Sort of!

You may have noticed the title of my blog has changed. The original title, "Life's a Beach," was suggested by my mother and, though I really liked that title, I wanted to change the focus of the blog...requiring a new title! I still will be updating about what's going on in my life, but I'd like to focus on some opinions of current events and life in general as well! (I am also keeping the photo, I'm pretty proud of it and I think it's gorgeous!)

The new blog title was happened upon when I was trying to think of words that possibly rhyme with "Emily." Most blog titles either rhyme or use some form of alliteration and I was drawing a blank. So the only other words I could think of that don't rhyme with anything will be my attempt at a cutesy little blog name...

Coming Soon: Pictures from when Mom was in town! And just because I'm getting tired of seeing so many words..here's a pic I think is humorous...

Remembrance

This post is very belated and especially with the media coverage, probably not something you'd like to read any more about, but I just have to say a few words about the passing of Michael Jackson. 

Despite the controversy surrounding him, Michael Jackson is undeniably the greatest entertainer of all time. His combination of Rock and R&B created an unprecedented genre of music. His music appeals to blacks, whites, hispanics, asians, Christians, Bhuddists, Muslims, atheists, men, women, and children. He is the most famous person in the world currently. His music is not boastful or rude, and isn't loaded with curse words. Some found his movements vulgar or offensive...that's reasonable. As for other allegations against him, I believe he was just a confused child. Even into his adulthood, he was child-like. These are psychological issues that I'd rather not delve in to! But to be an artist with as much influence as he had, I am a fan because of the words in his music. His songs speak about healing the world, looking past racial boundaries, and making changes within yourself to be a better person. Who can argue with that?

For me, Michael's music is a part of who I am. Those who know me well know I was a dancer for many years as a young girl. Though I'm not technically a dancer anymore, when you love something as much as I did it never leaves you. All of those hours in the dance studio were spent learning and creating new dances to Michael Jackson's music. Dancing was my life. The people at the studio, my team mates, my teachers...that was it. It consumed my thoughts all the time. His music ran through my veins. I remember when I learned how to moonwalk and I still can today!  Most of my early memories that have defined who I am would not exist if it weren't for his music. I am deeply saddened that I will never get to experience him perform in person and that we will never have a new album from him. Some people are awestruck by the works of Van Gogh or the compositions of Mozart. For me, Michael was like my Mozart and I respect him because of the art he created - his personal life is not a factor in that. If personal lives were relevant to artistic ability...there would be no art! Van Gogh makes Michael Jackson look like John F. Kennedy. (Who, by the way, also had a questionable personal life)

What makes me so passionate about this is not Michael Jackson just as a person. I don't know him. My day to day life isn't going to change because he has passed. My passion is the binding force of music. When you create something like he has, the world sees past the hate, greed and prejudice of their everyday lives and takes a moment to simply listen. Music crosses all borders and speaks all languages. It reminds us that we as people are one. 

Though his reputation was questionable, his positive impacts are undeniable. I wish people could have just given him a break and  let him create and make beautiful art the world could enjoy. I hope that his legacy is his music and  philanthropy and not his controversy. Rest in Peace, Michael.

"In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with dispair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe." - Michael Jackson