Shows & happiness.
It's been a while since my last letter. I decided that writing these at the end of the month over the start would be a better idea, that way I could look back at the month that just passed.
It's been a much better month for both this magazine and me personally. I started working the morning shift again instead of afternoons + nights, and was left with time to take care of myself and go back to working on creative projects, such as Wild Honey. I started shooting more shows, five in total this past month - Charlie Hickey, Allen Stone, Zachary Williams, Mammoth WVH & Dirty Honey, and Wallice.
My favorite was Mammoth WVH and Dirty Honey, the pictures of which will be up on this coming Monday. They were my first rock show I've shot so far, and honestly, both artists are SO good. Mammoth WVH did a cover of Alice in Chains' "Them Bones" and mid-song Wolf Van Halen's guitar strap fell off twice but he kept cool & kept playing. Totally wicked. Dirty Honey were amazing as well, being in the pit for them with 4 other photographers was so much fun. I saw The Wonder Years, not for Wild Honey, for fun, courtesy of SLUG magazine, another publication that I write for. I had a great time - I heard the songs I've loved for years and I even made a friend.
I also stopped drinking caffeine, so my hands shake less, I feel less irritable and more mellow overall. Who knew that it had been caffeine having such an effect on me. I have more energy and significantly less headaches. I still drink coffee, just decaf (with too much vanilla almond milk and sugar).
I'm trying to write again. I still haven't picked up my journal. I don't know when I'll go back to the way I was, with constantly writing on here, for other publications, and in my journal, due to both the struggle it brings me and the fact that I prefer photography now. Photography is fun, an expensive embarkment, but still fun. I loved it since I was 16 years old. I had taken a film photography class that year in school and wanted to do it forever. My inspirations are Neal Preston, Paige Sara, and just all grainy, candid photographs that show snapshots of real life.
I feel really happy most days than not now. I feel confident in my job, the city I live in, how I look, and who I am. My plans for the rest of the year just involve me working towards my long-time goals - one being "be a paid music photographer." But first, I need to get good at it.
I miss New York. I miss my mom. I miss my dog. I miss my guitar. I miss the way the air outside smelled, of fresh pines and freshly cut grass, the scenery - everything outside of the city in NY is just trees & small towns, I miss the city itself with the Strand bookstore, the energy of the people, and the Union Square Farmer's Market in the summer. I miss it all, but...I'm okay with missing it. What I have here in Salt Lake City is good for me, and I'm finally starting to make friends, shoot shows, live my dreams. I think I will stay here for the foreseeable future. Unless, of course, I end up going on tour with a band and they want me to stay with them in California, who knows!
with love,
Cherri Cheetah
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