Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I keep on fallin’

sasquatch in his natural habitat :: agganis arena, boston, ma :: march 15 2009

It’s a little more than 2 weeks until the puck drops and the 2009-2010 BU season begins!!!

I. Can. Not. Wait.

Seriously. The hubby and I are all twitchy… we’ve been viewing videos on YouTube, obsessing over players we’ve watched at BU (Gilroy, Curry, Petey Mac, Baby Bourque, etc.), and I’ve been known to sing “The Song” from time to time. I like to sing it at stop lights. When I have the windows down. With the hand motions. Just because.

And did I mention?

WE’RE! GOING! TO! FENWAY!

WE’RE!!! GOING!!!!! TO!!!!! FENWAY!!!!!!!

(I think that deserves a “F*ck ‘em up! F*ck ‘em up! BC SUCKS!!!!”  BU. BC. Fenway Park. I think that’s a Boston-area college hockey fan’s top fantasy come to life right there! Well, it’s mine at least… the media was calling it the “worst kept secret”, but how could you have the Winter Classic at Fenway and not include COLLEGE HOCKEY’S MOST INSANE RIVALRY? Especially when the two schools are just down the Green Line from Fenway…)

Anyhoo… let’s get to the point, shall we?

Three conversations. Three people who know me three different ways. One conclusion.

Freaks me out.

I’ve been thinking about this hard over the past few weeks now, and I’ve come a conclusion of my own.

When things are meant to occur in my life, they just happen. I fall into them.

Case in point # 1 - Hockey
Working in hockey was a pipe dream of mine, but I had no idea how to go from fan to staff. I started thinking about how to get my foot in the door with the Whale, and BAM! I was hired by the UConn Men’s hockey program as a student manager. I pushed that into an internship with the Whale. From there, I wound up in Toledo as the Director of Community Relations for the Toledo Storm (ECHL affiliate of the Red Wings). Granted, my career in hockey didn’t last as long as I would have liked it to, but at least I can say I did it. I achieved my goal… there aren’t a lot of people who can say that because the competition is so freaking ridiculous. I’ve tried to get back into the front office - I send my resume out every once in a while, but honestly, the desire isn’t there any more. I’d rather be a fan and watch the game rather than be staff and run around during the game.

Case in point # 2 - Accounting/Bookkeeping
I failed BOTH my accounting classes when I was getting my marketing degree. My dad was an accountant. He used to help me with my homework and I STILL didn’t understand it. (Yup. That’s right. I am the daughter of an accountant who couldn’t pass an accounting class if my life depended on it. RAWK!)  After wandering around Toledo, aimlessly, looking for something that I liked doing as much as working in hockey, I took a job at an ad agency. Slowly, I started helping out more and more with the books and accounting FINALLY started making sense. (Almost 5 years after those classes. I’m a little retarded some times.) After that, I just got more and more involved into accounting/bookkeeping things over the years. After moving back to New England, I took a class for kicks, which turned into enrolling part time, which then ended with me graduating Summa Cum Laude with an accounting degree, and wouldn’t you know? I use that damn degree daily. And I love it.

Case in point # 3 - Indie music
This, of course, is the most recent thing and one of the oddest. I’ve been over-involved with instrument for a while now (photography, lame ass graphic design, tweeting, running their Facebook group, stalling like hell on the fan site, supporting them on the road) and was kind of thinking about how to take that further. They all seem wicked busy and I’m lost now that I don’t have homework to do after work anymore, so I thought I’d extend a helping hand. Then, I kind of chickened out. They know I’ll do anything for them, and they’ve been good at asking/telling me what they need from me, so I’m just going to back off and let them come to me.  But it’s been in the back of my mind for a while and those conversations definitely didn’t help matters.

A few days ago, the amazing CC Chapman retweeted a request from his musician friend, Matthew Ebel. Matthew was looking for some virtual booking assistants. Without even thinking about it, I replied and before I knew it, I was hired. The funny/sad thing is, other than hearing CC talk him up a lot, I never really checked Matthew’s music out. I took the job based on my blind faith that CC wouldn’t steer me wrong.

I should have checked out the music the second I heard about him… instead I jotted his name down on my Someday/Maybe list and forgot all about it. (Note to self - check the books & music S/M list more often!!!) I am a freaking moron of the highest degree!

I love his stuff. I really love it. It’s my kind of music. After several days of listening obsessively to the music files he sent us, I can’t pick a favorite song.  I’m torn between “Drive Away”, “Everybody Needs a Robot”, “Trees” and well, the rest of them. He’s got a unique sound all his own, but it’s comfortable. (That’s the same word I use to describe instrument’s music, too… hmmmm.) I’m wicked excited to help him get more exposure.

So. Yeah.

Three different “career paths” that just sort of happened. I don’t see myself quitting the day job to manage instrument, but working for both of them is great exposure to the industry. So… maybe. Just like hockey and the accounting jobs didn’t happen overnight, neither will the band management gig. We’ll just have to see…

While I’m figuring it all out, go entertain yourself and watch some Matthew Ebel videos—
1) Drive Away [vid]
2) Everybody Needs a Ninja [vid]
3) Everybody Needs a Robot - live from Accident Hash HQ [vid]
4) Trees [vid]