Though for the next three weeks or so I will be compelled to almost entirely talk about school applications, portfolio updates, recommendation letters, existential trauma, tearing my hair out, and surviving on just coffee and peanut butter sandwiches (ok maybe it's not that bad), I might as well enlighten you, dear readers (all one and only of you), of the musical stylings that are the soundtrack to this process as of late.

My boyfriend, giver of fantastic breakfasts and many other early morning joys, has also quite pleasantly introduced me to Kraftwerk -- covered by a string quartet. It's perfect work music. Epic. Cinematic. Replete with drama and enough repetition to gently ease you into focus. He also reminded me why I love Chet Baker. I can only hope his soft, melodic voice can provide me with the kind of vision necessary to give my creations the style and mood I'm after. And if I feel distracted or sleepy, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble can more than easily make up for it.

I feel weird seeing acquaintances and facebook nobodies I happen to spot in my daily stalkings in print. Many of whom are blessed with the social networking abilities necessary to find themselves in local ads and magazines. So what if it's free shit on every record store newsstand? Their images are reproduced on ink and paper, tactile, real. And mine are still solely for me.

Really, what is the process? Can someone tell me how to get from nowhere to somewhere? What does it take? I leap into my work every day forcing myself to believe that with enough elbow grease something will come of it. But if you often find yourself asking "am I good enough?" doesn't that question simply answer itself? I've been breezing through Eat Pray Love in search of inspiration? Solace? But it just makes me hungry -- and not only for hazelnut gelato but, really, to live out of a suitcase again.