Good news in an ugly package.

I’ll get to the point first.
I’ve had to push the release date for my upcoming new book, Waking Up In Black And White, back one extra week. So, now the official release date is July 14th, 2009. If you’ve pre-ordered a copy already, chances are you will receive your copy before that date though :)

I know I’ve had to push the release back two times now, but like I mentioned before, there were things I didn’t like about my first release. So, I’m just doing my best to make sure you all have the highest quality printed book in your hands when you receive it.

The long story short of why I’ve had to push it back,
is simply because I finally figured out the formatting problem that screwed up the page numbers in my first book (if you have a copy and noticed that the page numbers are just symbols, then you know what I’m talking about - that wasn’t on purpose, it was a printing error that I decided to just let go because time was running short.)

I apologize for delaying the release another week, but I promise it will be worth it. This book is not only something I’m very very very proud of, but it’s also going to be ten times more aesthetically pleasing than the first :)

July.

I welcome you to the first minute of what will begin the greatest year of my life.
This “greatest year” won’t begin until July 14th,… however, July is already here.

I decided a long time ago, for no apparent reason, that my 23rd year on this planet was going to be one of the best I will ever see. So, to put it lightly, I’m actually super stoked for my own birthday for once.

Things are changing around me in exciting ways.
I’m seeing close friends gain huge success, and it’s weird to know my own upcoming plans too (that are yet unannounced), that will allow us all to see what we can make of ourselves in this wonderful chaos we call life.

I’m excited, to say the least.

I hope this day has treated you well.

If you happen to follow my music, or my writing, I’ll be updating you on the ridiculous (in a good way) things in store very very very soon.

Where on earth is Carmen San Diego?

Sorry for the complete lack of posts. Tour has consumed my life once again (in a good way.)

However, I just wanted to say that I’ll be back in action on here soon with a bunch of previews of my upcoming new book and tons more new ideas I’ve been working on ;)

Swim.

As hard as it is for me to say this right now, never give up on yourself.

Just typing this out so I can try to take some of my own advice, for once.

Sunday, 12:34pm.

I sit in the kitchen, at the old tired table my friend’s parents gave us, when I’m working on my daily to-do lists. To my left is a door with a finely placed window, just the right height for me to see out of. When I take momentary breaths throughout the day, I sneak a look outside to see what the world has to offer. The view is absolutely unbreathtaking, to say the least. All I can see is the edge of our back neighbor’s house, their driveway, some trees, and the street behind us. But it’s because of this normal everyday view of nothing new that I like it.

I see our neighbor at least once a day from this view, usually. He’s a hispanic man, and looks to be about 30 or so. On most days, I simply see him contently out by his truck, packing or unpacking work tools, but it’s on the weekend that I see him smile. See, on the weekend, the little boy that I’m quite sure has to be his son, visits. It’s on these days I see the man outside all day, simply enjoying the tree-shade sunlight with his little one. They do nothing but sit and play, play and sit, and walk around together in their tiny backyard. They don’t know this, but I’m glad they’re happy together with the simple things, and I wish I could thank them, because every weekend they give me an extra thing to smile about.