I have a Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies -Literature and Writing- from Western New Mexico University.
Literature and writing are my passions. I am a freelance writer and prior correspondent for Harmonic Factory.
Thank you for stopping by and reading some of my work. Leave me a comment if you want to. I’d be honored to get feedback and get to know you.
Fondly,
Marushka
There is a blogger I love to read. Her name is Rachel Mankowitz. She writes the Cricket Pages. Not too long ago she wrote a beautiful story about the last feral cat in her building and another about a squirrel. I mentioned in a comment to one of her stories that I have a lovely neighbor who takes an early morning walk each day with one of our newest feral cats. It took weeks but I was finally outside at the same time they were and I was able to snap a few photos.
Lucy is in her late 80’s. She recently lost her last inside cat (at one time she had five). I asked her if she wanted me to bring home a kitten from the Humane Society but she said no. She said that she was afraid any cat she brought home would outlive her and that wasn’t fair. Just about that time a new feral cat showed up on the property. Someone must have dropped him on our property because his ear was already tipped when he arrived. (Eartipping is the universal sign of an altered feral cat).
On this particular morning I was walking my dog Trixie towards Lucy’s building. She was coming down the street alone, looking for the black cat. We found him on the side of the building walking back towards where we were standing. We said our good byes and Lucy and her little friend continued their walk back towards her building where he stands guard by her front door when he is not out exploring.
I was laying on the couch, trying to hide from the world. Wishing it would rain. And it did, with the sun shining. A sign perhaps? This too shall pass and all will be ok again. I hope.
Binge watching series TV has become one of my favorite past times. I particularly like the very long lasting shows, Criminal Minds, Gray’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, Once Upon a Time…you get the idea. Usually after a series ends it takes me a day or two to sample shows to decide what to watch next. Sometimes I do “interim” binging like catching up on easy to watch shows like Baby Daddy, or catch an episode of How I Met Your Mother or Parks and Recreation. Now, I have a new quandary.
What to do when you find a show that you really like, it’s late, another night of insomnia and the last episode of season one has just ended and instead of going to season two, you are right back at episode one, season one!
Yes, the one-hit wonder quandary.
It just happened to me. Finished Criminal Minds. Finished Gray’s Anatomy. Searched and found a new show: A Gifted Man.
I really liked the show. Uptown Neurosurgeon runs into his ex-wife. She had been working in a free clinic downtown. Kicker is (SPOILER ALERT) she is dead. He is the only one who can see her. The remainder of the ensemble cast either work in the Neurosurgeon’s hospital or the downtown clinic. Love is in the air, really good story line, one I could have gotten involved in; one I could have discussed with my niece, Angel, as we are the binge watching team. But alas, not to be. A quick Google search revealed the show was gone after one season.
It got me thinking, maybe I should binge watch one-hit wonders for a while. It would be interesting to see how many there are on Netflix. It would be more interesting to find out why the shows don’t make it. A Gifted Man, in my humble opinion, should have gone on for years, like NCIS…
Negotiating with a client about how much to pay you for your services is a lot like negotiating your salary at a corporate job. However, freelancers experience greater freedom in deciding their pay rate, and with that freedom comes great responsibility.
In another blog post, I’ll offer tips on how to negotiate with a client for a fair price. But in this post, let’s take a look at ten factors that decide what a fair price is. After all, to get a fair price in freelancing, one must first set a fair price. Here’s what you should consider.
1. Field or Industry
Different fields command different going-rates. For instance, freelance writing doesn’t command nearly as much money as graphic design. Likewise, building a website doesn’t attract nearly as much money from clients, as building an app.
The more technical an area is, and the more scarce the skill, the more clients are willing to pay for…
Phantom Phunk, a Tampa-based indie rock band, is set to release their debut album on November 19, 2016 . Arboles Ossific was recorded and produced at Harmonic Factory, in Tampa, Florida and mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.
Patience Pays
The band spent the last the last year and a half concentrating on composing music, writing lyrics, recording their music and purposely taking the time to form a cohesive group. Since they produced the album in their own studio, they were able pursue their ideas, satisfy their curiosities in the studio, learn about each other musically and form a professional bond based on mutual respect and trust. This has led to a band that has faced challenges head on and come out stronger. They believe that taking this year to focus on recording and developing the band will be a big advantage when they face the stresses of being on the road for long lengths of time, performing in unfamiliar venues and being away from home.
Choosing a Title
When Phantom Phunk was working on their album they broke a lot of drumsticks. Every time a drumstick broke, they planted it in the yard outside their studio. They dubbed the area Drumstick Graveyard and took a picture to memorialize the completion of the album. Behind Drumstick Graveyard is a vast expanse of green grass and behind that is the beginning of the forest. If you look closely, the drumsticks have the effect of fossilized tree trunks – thus Arboles Ossific.
Cover Art
The much anticipated results of the cover art contest were announced on July 23 and with the band’s spooky yet elusive persona, it was anyone’s guess which direction the art would take. The band received amazing feedback and a lot of wonderful submissions. The cover they chose can be seen here and was created by Jamie Williams:
Filling the Park
The official debut of Arboles Ossific will be at a live concert performance in Downtown Tampa at Water Works Park, located on the Hillsborough River and part of Tampa’s now famous Riverwalk. The park itself has a new band shell, expansive lawns and great views of downtown Tampa. There will be a simultaneous release on CD Baby, I Tunes Store, Amazon, Band Camp and in local music stores. Details about the concert are available on their website at www.phantomphunk.com.
Arboles Ossific will be released on CD’s and LP Vinyl and will be available for download. For those who buy the download version, Phantom Phunk will be offering fans bonus tracks not otherwise available to the general public.
Sneak Peak
Meanwhile, Phantom Phunk invites you to explore their music before the official release date. On the tracks available here, you will discover a collection of songs that represent the spirit of Phantom Phunk. Musically, the album covers a lot of ground. From the appealing ballad of Sip of Wine to the punk circus of Snowy in Floridato the fast paced rock of The Unheard Spirit Symphony to the symbiotic relay between electronic and acoustic rhythm elements in Jungle Crunchwith special guest rapper Wayne Price, the music of Phantom Phunk provides plenty to get psyched about. Be assured, every track on Arboles Ossific will capitalize on the groove you can hear right now.
The full tracklisting
Snowy in Florida – lyrics by Juan Gonzalez
Sip of Wine – lyrics by Alex Cheine
The Unheard Spirit Symphony – lyrics by Erica Goldman and Alex Cheine
Gateways – lyrics by Alex Cheine
Hey There – lyrics by Hector Alexander
Looping – lyrics by Hector Alexander
Brother’s Keeper – lyrics by Alex Cheine
Distant Kaleidoscopes – Instrumental by Phantom Phunk
Marushka's Place 