Hussah!! This week we’re pushing the headline of “Local Guy Made Good” and that’s the story with Andy Grammer. You’ve probably heard his song on the radio and this week Tiffany catches up with Andy and talk about his upcoming release (6/14), high school life and songs for his mom. The episode includes the track “Keep Your Head Up” – download it today!
Visit AndyGrammer.com
Buy the self titled EP on iTunes
Kellan Studios, my all-time favorite photography studio, has partnered with a few other super talented studios (Jodi Miller and The Beautiful Mess) to bring a workshop that covers more than just the basics and talks through the disciplines that have helped each of these companies in their meteoric rise to stardom. Collectively these 3 companies have appeared in over two dozen national and international publications.
Each group has their specialty but they also overlap in their strengths – and thus Venn Workshops were born. This first one is in the gorgeous Physalia Plantation in Tyro, Virginia (not far from Charlottesville)
I love this quote from Jim Rohn, “If you invest in your job you can make a career but if you invest in yourself, you’ll make a life.”
Running a small business is no small task. It’s important to set aside time, money, resource for self improvement. So many people out there buy a camera and start calling themselves a photographer. There’s no shame in that game, you’ve got to start somewhere. Workshops and training are a quick way to launch your career and change the trajectory of your life.
So check out the Venn Workshops, there’s a few spots left.
I don’t know how to start this… The following story is paraphrased.
So I’m having a drink with 2 buds at my house. The guys head out at 10:45 and I start the nightly ritual of locking doors, drawing curtains, etc. Check my email one last time and head to bed. I’ve recently just purchased some bedding and let me tell you the experience is glorious!
Just before I sleep I usually try to avoid being schooled by the vocabulary conscious contacts on Word with Friends. I check the phone clock, it’s 11:22. My housing scenario is not common. I live on the top floor of a business complex. The running joke among friends is that if the zombie apocalypse happens – they’re running to my house. It can be a fortress. There are rumors that the building was once a tuberculosis sanitarium and that it was multiple buildings before an architect blended them. If you take the stairs to my place, it’s closer to an MC Escher painting.
I hear some walking on the 3rd floor which is also not uncommon. The office of Chronicle Project are right underneath me and it’s not a strange thing to hear post production work happening or the collaboration of minds as I drift off. So as the walking keeps moving up to my level my ears perk. The only reason to come to the top floor is to see me. So much so, that most days when I’m home, the doors are wide open and I’m enjoying the breeze and the gorgeous Pasadena weather.
Amidst trying to solve word problems I see a light around my office door. My office is next to my bedroom and there’s a gap around the door jam due to the older construction. At first I think someone must be lost, I try to think the best of people so a break in the last outcome is what I’m imagining.
…and that’s when they started messing with the windows.
Even now I’m curious as to what’s happening but I’m in disbelief that someone is trying to enter my residence.
…and then a hand came in through the window and flipped the deadbolt.
Now I’ve had a Louisville Slugger next to my bed for most of my life. Originally because I love baseball and then later because I’m not a fan of guns but thought if personal protection were ever an issue, I’d be covered. The current iteration was a small 3 ft wooden bat with a flat end and it’s designed to do some damage. Growing up, I’d rehearse scenarios of what I’d do if certain things happen. Every time I moved to a new place I’d go over what I’d do if there was a fire in the house, a grease fire on the stove, an earthquake, and home invasion was of course one of the scenarios I would run through. So once I heard the deadbolt flip I was out of bed and the bat was in hand.
He jacked the window in about 10 seconds and swung the door open and took two steps inside. I had to assess the situation.
Did he have a weapon? How big was he? Is this how I’m going out?
The man looked around my office (which was in some desperate need of organization) and I finally got a good look at him. About 5’9″, medium build.. and I thought to myself, “Blitz him!”
I turned on the light and yelled in as deep a voice I could muster, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” as I closed the gap between us and was ready to crush a 400ft fastball over the centerfield wall.
I expected surprise, I expected him to run but what happened freaked me out much more.
He turned calmly and backed out of my office, hands raised, while saying, “I’m sorry, I thought this was my home. I’m in the wrong place.”
(yeah, it’s crazy, right?)
That didn’t compute. I got closer and kept on yelling, “Who are you? What do you want?”
He grabbed his bag and walked down the stairs all while apologizing.
(huh?)
I closed the door and locked it and immediately thought of the conversation I’d be having with my landlord about these windows. The thought about if I should call the cops or not. Grabbed my phone and dialed 911.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“I’ve just had my place broken into.” Immediately my thoughts of the ample amounts of cop drama shows I’ve watched way too much of raced through my mind. I rattled off a description including any noticeable tattoos and what he’s wearing.
Pasadena Police were at my door within 3 minutes. I hang up with 911 and start to give the run down of the scenario. They get a call, additional Pasadena PD have made an arrest to man bearing that description 2 blocks away. the officer asks if I could ID the man. I agree and jump in the back of the squad car.
It’s wild that they officers were so quick to protect who I was and talked me through all the steps.
Positive ID made. They caught the right guy and loaded him in another cruiser.
We head back to my house and that’s when the forensics team shows up. Sadly it was not Marg Helgenberger but a guy to print my door. They police finish up with taking my statement, some photos and making a sketch of my place.
In the midst of all the action I text my buddy Derek. He had just left an hour prior and got back in his car and stuck with me while the hive of activity happened at my house.
It wasn’t until the police left that I started thinking about how many ways that could’ve gone.
Big thanks to the Pasadena Police Department for the quick response and to Derek for sticking around.
As of this AM, a good conversation with my landlord about getting some different windows. Not sure what they’ll be doing but I’m upgrading my bat.
The South African three piece catch up with Tiffany and talk about life in the US, Afrikaans, and what inspired “Letters From the Sky”. This episode features the track “Next to Me” from their self titled album. Download it today!
Check out Civil Twilight on the web
Grab their album on iTunes or Amazon
