Make Music Monday [ 2007 out 2008 in!]

As the year closes here over @ Jemibook we've got a lot of progress under our belt.

A year ago I made this first video of me playing my learning Uke on the internet



Now we're much more High-Tech with our Fancy High-Quality Uke and know more than the basic chords and strumming.

I've decided to post-pone this week's new song to bring you one of my first songs I ever made when I first started over a year ago. It's been a great year!




Secretly I'm not posting this week's new song yet because I've been in a bit of a funk with all of these days off, it really throws me off, I'm halfway done with the song now and it's coming out just as I want it to but not flowing out as easily as it usually does. But it's going to be the first song on the new album/book that will be completed I imagine early next year, we've decided it will have 12 songs and have some extra special things to go with it, that only Jemibook can bring you.

But we did update the Blog for the new year, Lovely Bryant-Boo made us a super sweet new banner and we redid the layout, Not only are we on our own name [ jemibook.com ] but now we have our own custom layout,http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif we are just super pleased and excited collectively about all the plans coming out of our brains for Jemibook in 2008. Horray!

Hope your 2008 is super productive!

Much Love,
Jemibook

Make Music Monday [ transition time ]

Welcome-welcome!

There is only one more Make Music Monday after this. It's crazy the year is going to be over, 2007 went so fast. I'm excited for 2008 Jemibook adventures.

This week's song is the very first start of the new angle that I'm going with Jemibook.
I'm starting this story line with the new character to join Jemibook adventures Bryant-Boo the Lion! I can't tell much you'll have to hear the story as it unfolds, but there is much in store for Jem and Bryant-Boo in the chapters of this Jemibook to come!





So I think I don't have to explain myself about what the song means. But you should be excited about songs to come. Because I am.

The Only good things about Christmas for a person that doesn't celebrate it, are the tons of free food peoples give out and the free poinsetta's I received from my work today. And the fact that I get to see my friends who also don't celebrate christmas and we get to cause havoc with each other when we get to get together!

Tomorrow I have the day off, and I will be spending it at my house working on my many projects.. and cleaning my kitchen oh-MY! it is a mess I tell you, entertaining guests makes a Jemi-house very messy,heh. It's worth it though!

I'm happy to have you around!

Much Love,
Jemibook

Jemibook's First Show!

So the Post is finally here, mostly because I finally was able to afford to get the pictures out of the store. heh, and I just remembered that it's Christmas time, and those crazy people out there last-minute shopping are all making life crazy for us people's who don't celebrate.. I could just feel the tension in the air!

But anyways...onto the important stuff!

My show....

It started off like any other normal day, or not so much, I was anxious in the morning, until I realized that the weather was saying it might rain, so I thought I might be let off the hook by mother nature [ terrible I know ] but as the hours dwindled down, and I prepared myself otherwise I was discovering that the weather-man was not in tune with mother-nature as usual.

I practiced some and then left for the Park around 3, I picked up some Orange Tea at the Starbucks right around the corner and then found a lovely bench in the back of the park and set up my cupcakes, blanket, cd's and such.

While I was waiting for people to show up I practiced a few songs and a few little children came by and sat by a tree and watched me play, they asked me some questions and actually knew what the instrument I was holding was called, they told me about penguins and some other things and requested I sing a song about penguins after that, which I obliged with my poor improv skills.

My friend Cara came soon after and eased some of my nerves. Shawn and his friend Anthony came after that and they brought Balloons, my favorite chocolates, and some wine to share with the others. I thought it was funny the balloons were a flamingo, one that said 'baby we love you' and then a hello kitty one that said 'happy birthday' on it, Shawn not yet knowing my hate of hello kitty, but I put that one off on that it could be Cara's, so as not to leave a bad omen on the day.

More people soon came and I got anxious to start the show at 4:30 I hate not being punctual so it was hard for me to not start at exactly 4. I introduced them to Jemivision and started off my set with ' February' .

I was so nervous at this time, there were things that I didn't think I needed to think about, like who to look at, and for how long, and did people notice I was looking at certain things, was I smiling too much, I just couldn't focus on what I needed to, so I jumbled the lyrics in my head and I couldn't remember if I sang the same verse twice, and I just didn't sing the last verse because I was afraid I would mess it up, even though the song is so simple to me, I still was too nervous.

They said they didn't notice afterwards, but I was all grossed out.

I played 'Dance Partner' after that, and I seemed to do better, and as I finished I forgot to mention that I really loathe the sound of 'clapping' and noted to them and they made an effort to do some snapping the next time around. I thought that was very thoughtful of them. It seems that it's kind of weird to not like the sound of clapping, but it really irks me.

'Elope'-'Little Asian Girl Part 1'-'Tuesday'-'Life As a Musician' were next in that order, I started to loosen up towards the end and tapped my feet a bit more to the music, and did a bit more of the mannerism I use when I'm practicing, I couldn't help but smile like a cheese ball most of the time it was so funny to me to play for these people that I see in all sorts of my life.

Finished the set with 'Menses' which the girls seemed to like the most and was happy to be done and have it over with.

Everyone of course said that it was good and they liked it, but I knew that I could be a much better performer if the circumstances were different, and not in location or anything like that, but just the set-up musically.

I realized after this show that I want to take Jemibook in the direction I had originally thought of in my head. Where I would make up the songs and music, and have someone play the music for me, and I would sing and perform and such. I didn't know anyone who would be willing or who I would trust to go on this venture with me.

But I have now! I am soo excited about it actually, like REALLY SUPER excited. It's a great step in Jemibook history.

So there may be a possibility down the line for another solo Jemibook show, when I feel more confident about playing the Uke and singing, but at least for awhile it won't be.

I have a lot of ideas for Jemibook going into 2008, and have been hashing them out with my new found side-kick. I won't be divulging into who it is until I have more stuff drawn up and songs created and such to go along with it, but it will be soon-soon-soon, because as I said I'm excited about it.

Also I'm not planning on playing any shows until possibly March or April, I may play a few impromptu songs here or there when the Uke is around, and unless some opportunity comes up that I shouldn't pass up,[never say never] but I'm not planning on it for now.

So for those of you who missed my show, that sucks for you, but just know you won't want to miss the next one because I have even more extra specials in store for it!

Much Love,
Jemibook

2007 - The Year of Jemibook

I always like doing these little quiz things at the end of the year, I'm a very nostalgic person at heart, always listening to music from back in the day and recalling about fond memories but always looking forward to new ones of course.

So I found this one via Livejournal/Google and I've decided to fill it out, If you want to fill it out let me know I'd love to read what you put!


[.]What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?:
Had my very first Jemibook in the Park, Birthed Jemibook from my loins, Taught myself some Ukulele Skills, Visited Minneapolis, Ate Magic Mushrooms, Rented My first Studio by myself, Financed My Brand New 2007 Chevy Aveo, Held Two Jobs Simultaneously, Tried Pescatarianism, Attended my First Death Metal Show, Experimented with 20s Hairstyles, Created Lesbo and Latino w/ Haniel, Went to A Con Dressed As KK-Slider from Animal Crossing.

[.]Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?:
My New Year's Resolutions from Last Year are as Follows :
[ Learn Basic French ]
[ Have First Show ] [x]
[ Get Tattoo w/ Dad ]
[ Have $300 Saved ]
[ Become Pescatarian ] [x]
[ Lose Kangaroo Pouch ]
[ Get Real Uke ] [x]

So I followed through with most of them I had intended on getting my second tattoo the one that Anastasia and I had drew up last year for my dad and I to get together later this month, but I won't have any money so I won't be able to. As for French, I was going good in the beginning of the year but it fell through I think next year I may try some other language. $300 Saved...well I just got a new credit card with $300 limit does that count? And my Kangaroo Pouch I was working on it and got side-tracked because of all my show stuff, but I have it on my mind for next year.

OF course I will make more, I live for this stuff!

[.] What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?:
More Traveling, Meeting more Uke Players, Owning a Video Camera, More Expendable Income, Being able to Quit Publix and work for myself or @ a job that is more suited for my tastes.

[.]What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?:
The very beginning, on January 20th, the day I did Magic Mushrooms, I still remember the visuals from that night to this day so vividly it was amazing and strange experience, I remember saying that I would never do them again the following days, but I believe that I felt shameful for doing them then because of the person whom I was seeing at the time, otherwise I had the most amazing visual experience of my existence.

[.]What was your biggest achievement of the year?:
Having the guts to follow through with my music and stay focused and do my show and not back down like the scared little girl I truly was.

[.]What was your biggest failure?:
A particular relationship I was partaking in for the good part of the year, it was killing my optimistic-creative nature and I didn't realize it for the longest time, I believe if I would have realized it earlier I would have been a lot more productive, but i do believe it happened for a reason and that it helped me get to where I am today and I'm thankful for that and them. So I can see it as a failure but realize it helped me also.

[.]What was the best thing you bought?:
My new Ukuele

[.]Whose behavior merited celebration?:
Anastasia - my good friend and personal muse from time to time, she graduated College this year and globe-trotted the world as usual and I was able to hear about her falling in love abroad and all that entails in her fairytail-drawn life.

[.]Where did most of your money go?:
Car Payments, Rent, Car Insurance, Phone Bills, Electric Bills.

[.]What did you get really, really, really excited about?:
Going to Minneapolis, Some of my new songs, Jemivision, Seeing certain people.

[.]What song will always remind you of 2007?:
Rod Stewart - Maggie May

[.]Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or hardened?: Happy!
ii. thinner or fatter?: My weight doesn't fluctuate.
iii. richer or poorer?: Much More poorer.

[.]What do you wish you'd done more of?:
More Music + Networking

[.]What do you wish you'd done less of?:
Dealing with a situation that I thought was right for me.

[.]How will you be spending Christmas?:
um.. well I don't celebrate Christmas, and I have no money, so probably alone by myself at home-making music or something creative-happily though!

[.]Did you fall in love in 2007?:
Several times. I came into 2007 in love, and fell in love twice after that.

[.]What was the best book/fanfic you read?:
I finally finished Reading 'Stiff' I thought that was pretty great.

[.]What was your greatest musical discovery?:
2007 was a great year for music in my life, and the greatest one would be a hard title, check below for my favorite music of 2007.

[.]What did you want and get?:
Love simple-outloud-and proud.

[.]What did you want and not get?:
Things to work out better in another relationship that I felt I put a lot of effort into.

[.]What was your favorite film of this year?
Across the Universe

[.]What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?:
My birthday I went to the Eclipse with one of my best friends Haniel-Hiaz, I made my own dress and wore my brand new [ at the time ] baby blue wig and I made Haniel's T-shirt and we drove up to Jacksonville and I got drunk and danced the night away. I turned 22.

[.]Whats one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?:
To have had realized, earlier in the year, that I am doing exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life [ in regards to my music/creative endeavors], and that it encompasses everything I ever wanted to do in life.

[.]How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?:
Experimentation more in Vintage Looks, ala 20s and 70s Fashion more so than years before.

[.]What kept you sane?:
Cupcakes, Orgasms, My Ukulele.

[.]Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?:
Sean Lennon

[.]Who was the best new person you met?:
this is hard, it's a 3-way tie actually. Cara, Liz, and Shawn.

[.]Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
You don't need to compromise for what you truly want out of a relationship, there is someone out there looking for the same things you are looking for, so don't waste your time with someone who you think will change into the person you are looking for.

------

Now for the Music I got Down to this Year..

This isn't a Best of 2007, it's what I listened to way too much and what encompasses 2007-music-wise for me.

Regina Spektor
Sean Lennon
Nineteen Eighty-Four
My Chemical Romance
The Cardigans
Rod Stewart
The Cribs
The Supremes
Rufus Wainwright
Sarah Blasko
Tegan and Sara
The Velvet Underground
Nico
Peter Bjorn & John
Lou Reed
Shangri-Las
The Exploding Hearts
Architecture In Helsinki
The Shins
The Bravery
The Bird and The Bee
Simian Mobile Disco
Gwen Stefani
ColdPlay
Chris Garneau
CocoRosie
Razorlight
Phoenix
Barry White
Michael J. Sheehy
Julieta Venegas
The Weakerthans
The Blow
Mirah
Amy Winehouse
Flight of the Conchords
Sephiroth Chorus
Metric

Below is a Playlist premade for you, of either the song I was listening to on repeat from these artists or Just a song that encompasses the artist. Download it and Jam out to this playlist Jemibook-stylie!

It's a Kind of Big Playlist so I split it into 4 Different Files:

DivShare File - First.zip

DivShare File - Second.zip

DivShare File - Third.zip

DivShare File - Fourth.zip

Also I noticed after the Fact that the song ' The Chills' didn't load up all the way, so sorry for that, message me if you want it, it's pretty great.

Much Love,
Jemibook

Make Music Monday [ BFF For Lyfe]

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Jemibook here! I've come to delight you with another Jemibook song - being that it's Make Music Monday and all over here in Florida-town and every-town for that matter.

The song for this week reminds me of something that would be on a children's television show, and that may or may not be influenced by the fact that I work @ a place where children's television is constantly playing.. either way here it is :



Sometimes the problem happens where I become such grand friends with someone that I end up falling for them romantically [regardless of sex] and I have to try and keep my romantic feelings towards them held back so as not to ruin the incredible friendship. That's the gist of this song, it kind of sounds to me as if it's spoken from the angle of a middle-school girl or something, but I really like to do all of those things now.. with my friends and best friends. Although I can never recall ever saying 'BFF for Lyfe' or the like, but I just thought that it was fitting for this song title.

In other Music/Jemibook related news. My show was this past Saturday. My First show ever, that I had been worrying/going crazy/practicing way too much/ and talking about endlessly was this Saturday. And this Saturday has come and gone, thankfully.. I feel soo much more relieved about life in general without that lingering over my head. How did it go.. well to quote my friend Cara who attended it was "Magical". I won't really go into more detail about it until I get my pictures back from the store so I can give you guys the whole feel of the show and everything because it's necessary for the whole effect, but I got good feedback from it but I know I could do better. . and I also have some grand ideas for any other kind of show that I may pursue in the future, I just have to contact some people to get it in to play.

Also I will be selling the Cd's that I have left over along with some other Jemibook goodies/swag to go along with it, they will be $7 which includes postage, if you are interested you can email me @ [ Jemnifur@gmail.com ] or just comment on this page or my myspace, I'm open to different forms of communication.

What's in store for Jemibook now that the show is over, I have a few ideas up my sleeve for a sort of subscription thing that I would like to start where you would get a cd/tape of all the music that I create over here on my blog bimonthly along with some other Jemibook swag that I'm always making and a newsletter of sorts. I also just received my new fancy Moleskin so I'll be putting all of my music into it just in case something happens with my computer again !



Hope you all have an incredible week and don't get trampled at the stores!

Much Love,

Jemibook

Make Music Monday [Excited-ole!]

Good Day, Good Evening, Good Morning!

We're back to our regularly scheduled program. And I am ever soo happy about that. Getting off track just bothers me to no end! But I digress.
This weeks song is pleasant - just take a listen :



Is it true.. do I really want a True Gentlemen? Why of course I do, but he has to be a little weird too or else he just won't get me I'm sure. This breed of man is super rare to come by in my Jemidex he's probably #323 or something super hard to find..oh and here I go talking all nerdy Pokemon which I'm sure no-one understands except me and my brother-and well 13year old children but oh well.

Jemibook has been getting around in Jacksonville lately.. in the not-trying-to-get-aids-way though.. Passing out some flyer's and posting them at some local spots in Jacksonville... so if you see a little rainbow flyer's like the ones below you should grab it up because it's super special and hand-colored by yours truly, it'll be a collector's item I'm sure.




So yes-who else is excited about Saturday? Just me.. well that's ok.. I think I'm just a bit nervous only because I"m thinking of the last time that all eyes were on me when I had to perform something when I was back in the 7th grade I believe.. My piano recital and I messed up I was soo nervous. Thankfully I'm a bit more confident than my mousey-self then, but still that's all I have to go on and well I don't like that so it makes me a little bit nervous. I think that the only part that will be nerve-racking will be the starting off part, I had to switch songs around because I knew that I would mess up or giggle too much or something. Which I don't do at all when I'm street-performing but those people are just walking by, except for the little kids who always sit and watch me, which I think is cute.

But things are falling into place, my ensemble is pretty much together, and the cupcakes and cd's will be finished on Friday when my lovely assistant Cara comes over to assist me and eat cupcakes. The Uke is in tip-top shape and I'm not sick so I think we're in for a good time, I just hope it doesn't rain because soggy cupcakes would be no good-although I would still play in the rain-maybe I should get a raincoat for my uke?

Ok I'm rambling. Music-music-Music..make music it's monday

Much Love,
Jemibook

Make Today Your Day.

Soooo.. It's Tuesday.
And What I originally wanted to post yesterday for Make Music Monday finally uploaded.
It's a little video I put together planned for two weeks ago. But oh well.



The song I'm singing in the video is a Bob Dylan Song called "You Ain't Going Nowhere". It randomly fell upon me via the internet, I had never actually heard the song before and decided to just sing it the way I thought it would go in my head. All the Footage is stuff I've taken over the past few years, some of it even includes my Little baby brother way back in 2003 he's now 4 years old.. insanity.

So what else has Jemibook been working on?! Wellll My show is coming up, Two Weeks now! and I've been working feverishly on practicing my songs, and putting together cd's and such.


[For more up-close pictures check out my flickr]

I finally came up with my Logo and it's PERFECT, exactly what I had been envisioning in my head for months, I had a practice run @ the park the other day with my lovely friend Cara and I managed to hold most of my giggles down, but it was probably more funny to me because it seemed I was serenading Cara in the park, but some children's sat nearby and listened too.

OOOH ooh, I almost forgot to mention. I recently adopted a baby Boy into my life via Cara's womb.



His name is Jaba, and he's growing up so big, He gets a lot of mail from his friends, and is a really great cloud jumper. One day he's going to serenade Cara's baby-girl and they are going to make sweet-sweet tamagotchi lovin' together. We also Made Tamagotchi Bling to hang them from our lapels and such when we are out, Mine is very communist-ie, Cara's was very cute with a Party cat on it, hopefully she'll post pictures because they are great.



Another thing, I'm having a faux-wedding this Sunday @ the Park with my Lover-Shawn, I'm working on my veil and such still, we will be taking pictures and exchanging vows and such, I can't wait it'll be such fun, fake weddings complete with cake and bloody food fights are meant for all.

And well.. that's all for now. because I must get back to work and such.

Much Love,
Jemibook

Make Music Monday {Dead}

So..........it's Monday.
it's MAKE MUSIC MONDAY..
and Ralph [ my computer ] has come back into my arms...thankfully,safely, thanks to Minnesota Lovers..
BUTTT.. the internet..the internet is not being my friend.
what I was going to be posting for today's Make Music Monday is taking 10 days to upload.. and it's not going to be Monday anymore [ here in Eastern Time] so I have to scrap it...and you'll have to wait for it tomorrow.

But it's worth it.. at least I think so.

So until tomorrow.

Much Love,
Jemibook