Wow...I need to keep up with my blog

But it's okay. There's lots to tell. :)

First of all, the competition came and went. It wasn't what I expected, but I'm not complaining. It was eye-opening, helped me to see that I am not the only songwriter out there that has songs that are worth something. And it's set me on a whole new agenda, a more realistic one.

See, before this competition, I didn't have a whole lot experience with the music industry. I doubt many who travel this road do. I have my passion, my talent, my inspiration, and my abilities, but zero street-smarts in the world of professional music producing. And so, after this competition, I had a meeting with an agent named Big Ben.

Big Ben told me he liked my stuff and my abilities, he also liked my potential. But don't break out the "YAY!"s yet. Because despite my having talent and potential, I had ZIP in the area of business. As a songwriter, it's not about the songs you produce. Well, it is, in a way. But it's more about how you present yourself. I had to come up with a business name, a business bank account, a logo, a professional CD, I needed to sell CDs and tracks on iTunes, etc. And before you say "I've never heard of anyone having to do that, I've never heard of oh, say, Britney Spears doing that!" I'll have to correct you and say "Yes, she did." Because Britney, starting at age 7 or age 8, was dragged around to state fairs before appearing on the Mickey Mouse Club. Britney had a business going from the moment she was a single digit age, as did many of the artists out there....JT, Christina Aguilera, etc. And people like Katy Perry? Katy had a desk job, no car, and a sucky life until she invented herself and some random hit called "I Kissed a Girl" (And I HATE HATE HATE that song!) and now she's a superstar. Vanessa Carlton was a dance school dropout, but she knew how to work the system. Luck comes eventually, but it doesn't come to those who sit on their butts...it comes to those who put effort into it.

So, Big Ben's a great guy and he introduced me to Jason Wamble, who offered a nice CD package for me to start producing, however, I don't have that money. I just don't. I owe the IRS for 2007's taxes, I have credit card debt, I pay rent and utilities, and I do it on a less-than-desired income while my husband has his dream job. Now, we're scraping by, but not enough to afford a $6,000 CD. So, I must decline on the offer, but then God handed me another opportunity in the form of my biological father's friend.

His friend lent him some equipment to play with. And my Desert Dad can't wait to begin messing with it...and neither can I. :) And hopefully some nifty ideas will come of this, and hopefully magic can happen...and then hopefully that magic can turn into a professional sounding CD for a lot less than $6,000. And then, after that, I'll have a friend of a friend master it and then I'll talk to Jason Wamble and say "Hey, let's get producing." Meaning, let's get that logo, that advertising, etc. going.

It's exciting, too, because once Jason gets going, I'll have a professional photo shoot, a website, a logo, a CD, some music videos (which I will strongly push for a friend shooting instead of some professional yahoo) and a DVD on um, me. But that won't come for a while.



So, there you go. My news. I, Kelli Cates, have a long way to go. And a lot of names to try out for fun...Kelli Cates, Kelli D, KC Napolitano, etc...


This is fun. :)

So, the girl who's afraid of needles...

Hehe. I get to inject myself with one every day.

Let me explain.

My "Desert Mom," DJ, has introduced me to hCG injections. There's a clinic in Mesa, Medshape, (I will now supply website, so you can see for yourself--- http://medshapeweightloss.com/ )which specializes in hCG.

Now, let me explain hCG. Human chorionic gonadotropin is a glycoprotein hormone that's released during pregnancy. These weight loss clinics have found a way to increase one's metabolism using this. And so, for six weeks, my job is to follow a strict all protein and veggie with one carb per day diet in order to get this sucker going. I inject myself every morning with 2.5 whatevers of hCG and also do circuit training.

Now, let me explain circuit training, or as it's more clinically explained, the Tabata Protocol. It's a 4-6 minute workout that has proven to be just as beneficial as a 45 minute walk. First, you warm up for about 1-2 minutes, walking at a moderate pace. Then, you sprint for 20 seconds, as hard as you can. You rest for 10 seconds. Then, sprint again for 20 seconds, rest for 10. Repeat this until you've done a total of 8 30 second sets. This will seriously boost one's metabolism.

So, mix the Tabata protocol with daily hCG injections and a protein diet to keep my muscles from atrophying, you can safely say that I am going to lose a lot of weight. They say the average person who follows this diet effectively will lose 45 lbs in six weeks. I have several advantages that might help me lose more.

1. the average person on this program is a lot older than I am. My metabolism still works faster than older women, I just don't boost it much.
2. I also incorporate tennis in my weekly workout, not only with my husband, but also with several of the kids I work with. Extra metabolism boost right there.

This is a safe, effective way to change my lifestyle. I mean, the Kelli who normally eats McDonalds breakfasts and adores chocolate has eaten an egg white and spinach omelet and half of a boneless skinless chicken breast today. I get to use whatever dry rubs and seasonings I want, as long as oil and butter aren't involved, and I get to eat alllll day long. As a meat lover, I find nothing wrong with this plan.

My only downfalls will be soda and chocolate, but I've noticed something. As soon as I started injecting myself with hCG, my craving for chocolate completely left me. I tried eating some chocolate lava cake with my West Coast dad, Mark yesterday, and couldn't eat past three bites. Maybe hCG is what controls your appetite and cravings? I don't know. So soda's really the only thing, and I actually discovered sparkling water has NO sugar OR calories, so if I need a carbonation boost, I might drink that. It's not really the caffeine I thrive on, it's the carbonation. I love that bubbly feel.

So, why am I doing this, you ask? I've heard so many people say "Kelli, you're so pretty, you look fine the way you are." And I say no to that. Thanks for the compliment, but I am morbidly obese and this is a Godsend. I have a big audition coming up near the end of November, and if I stick to this plan, I can lose anywhere from 60 to 80 lbs in that time. Guaranteed. It's time for me to return to the Kelli I used to be--before college, before desk jobs and before Needles, CA. (I gained most of my weight there). I want that peppy, upbeat girl back and I want to be Tigger again.

AND I don't want my weight being an excuse for agents to not look at me.

So, therefore, I press on. Not that I'm complaining...I got an omelet and chicken for breakfast and I'm grilling some tilapia later. Can't complain about that! And when I notice the pounds drop and my old clothes fit? Yeah. That's a good enough incentive to stay on this diet.

Okay, that is all. Thanks for reading. ;)

Opportunities of a lifetime

So, I have obviously been neglecting this fresh new blog of mine. Whoops. :)

So, to update you on the news on the life of a not-so-starving artist, I had an audition for H.I.T. Search last Sunday (9-7-08). HIT Search is like American Idol, but without the cameras...oh, and they also look for dancers, actors and models. Not just singers like myself.

Personally, I thought I screwed my audition up horribly. It was rather pathetic. The mic was too far away and I couldn't hear myself properly which probably led to pitch problems. In fact, in my conversation with the producer, she stated that I had pitch problems. But I don't care. Say whatever you want about me, just get me in the door.

And I DID! I get to audition for some of L.A.'s top agencies on November 22 and they will see if I have what it takes to be a signed artist! HELLO!!! We are talking about the big guns here, ones with lots and lots and LOTS of money. :) And I've been wanting this for decades. Not kidding. I remember being five years old singing Jungle Book songs to some construction workers next door, trying to show off my voice. I remember applying for all the school's talent shows so that I could get noticed around school. And when I was 18, I remember becoming a songwriter, learning about this talent that God gave me, and how I had the ability to put music to lyrics in such a way that spoke to people, really moved them. I want that to be my talent in the world of talents. I want that to be my evangelical tool, I want that to be what I've been given as a teaching tool, a relating tool, and a tool to help others.

This gets my foot in the door. This opens opportunities for me that I didn't have one, two, three, etc. years ago. I was sitting there, writing music, chewing on my pencil and thinking "Dangit, I wish I knew how to get this out in the open. To be heard, without playing in bars and clubs." This just might be my answer.

And who knows, they may shudder at me. I am, after all, far from the look they usually look for. I need six months of hard-core Kate-Hudson-post-pregnancy diet and workout regime to be able to hit the scene. But I want this, and I'll do whatever they want me to do, exercise and eating wise. I will conform to the person they want, I just want my name out there. Selfish? I guess so. But I believe that God inspired these songs inside of me for a reason and I want people to hear them.

Anyways...I'm going to get ready for bed. I have extensive TCI training in the morning (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) and it's a six hour training. Yeesh! But it's needed in order to continue my work. :) It's my day job, people. My heart belongs on the stage.

When sudden inspiration hits...

You just gotta go for it. I found the words inside of me, finally. The music came too, and it just...clicked. That's always a good sign in my world. :)


*The Phoenix*

Like a phoenix rising from the flames
I say your name
I say your name
From the ashes of a broken shame
I say your name
I say your name

There's so many reasons not to trust
But you believe
You believe
I fell into a trend of blood and dust
But you believe
Believed in me

And I want to give you all of me
And I want to live so happily
But like the dark, I need a lot of light
So will you fight, like I'm prepared to fight?

These memories
Are remedies for a broken soul
That you have made whole
And so I try
To block the high
That holds me down, and so the Phoenix flies

Like the sun rising from the east
I find release
I find release
Like a shadow in a baking heat
I find release
Oh, sweet release

And I want to give you all of me
And I want to live so happily
But like the dark, you need a lot of light
So will you fight, as I'm prepared to fight?

These memories
Are remedies for a broken soul
That you have made whole
And so I try
To block the bitter high
That holds me down so the Phoenix starts to fly

Like a phoenix rising from the flames
I say your name
Your beautiful name
Like the victim of a child's game
I am to blame
Yes, I'm to blame

But I want to give you all of me
And I will love you endlessly
But like the dark, we need to do what's right
So will you fight like I'm prepared to fight?

These memories
Are remedies for a broken soul
That you have made whole
And so I try
To block the bitter high
That holds me down
So that the phoenix starts to fly

These memories
Are remedies for a broken soul
That you have made whole
And so I try
To block the bitter high
That holds me down, and so the Phoenix flies.

Things are already better

It's amazing what simply talking with your spouse will do. Or rather, crying to your spouse, lol. But since Chris is my best friend, I can tell him pretty much everything and not worry about judgement or him trying to 'fix' me. I can count on him to simply listen and when I need it, he provides words of either comfort or just plain common sense.

But, last night was amazing and definitely needed. I feel closer to my husband than I have in, well, months. I guess we all need those little fixes every now and then.

The audition for the talent scout from L.A. is looming, and I'm pretty much a wreck. I figured I'd be more prepared for when the time came that I would audition or try out with my songs to someone who mattered. For one thing, I'd weigh less.

Oooh, I forgot that I was going to document my weight loss. There's no way on earth I'm telling you what I weight, but let's just say that it's an absurd amount and I never in my life thought I'd be this, well, heavy. I used to be so thin, so athletic. I used to swim, I did gymnastics. I'd play basketball and football with my brothers, I'd go climb rockwalls at the Y and jumped on trampolines. Then I got a desk job....then I got married and got another desk job...then I got a job working with kids but by that time I'm so far gone I needed a boot to the head (hehe) to get me back on track.

And so, I'm trying out the diet that works for Kelli. I don't ban foods, that'll just make me binge. I don't count calories, that just makes me remember that I can't have the foods I want. This is the only thing I do, okay? I only eat when my tummy painfully growls at me. I wait for the hunger to gnaw at me before I succumb to it. I'm done with emotional eating and eating when I'm bored, I've found other things to do. I'm dead set on this, and it's worked for me so far. I've lost 6 lbs in a week. I still get to eat my favorites--pasta, cheese, etc. But I know when to stop. I eat big at breakfast to help satiate my hunger for the next 5-6 hours, and I usually don't feel the hunger again until the evening. When I do, I eat a salad, and not just a tasteless bunny salad, I add meat and my favorite creamy Italian garlic dressing. That way, I'm getting my veggies, satisfying my cravings and it keeps me motivated every morning when I step on the scale and I weigh 1 lb less than the day before. Patience. That's what I've been lacking for the last five years. Patience.

And to think, I almost went and had a lap band surgery done. Tsk. Lap band surgery helps, but it's for those who can't keep the willpower to stay on a progressive diet. Like me. I love my diet, it suits me.

And starting tomorrow, hopefully, Chris and I will hit the tennis courts at 7am to play for roughly 1 hr a day. That's 60 minutes of exercise and a heck of a lot of calories burned (don't believe me? YOU try chasing a fuzzy green ball around a tennis court when you weigh what I do). I am surprised to admit that I absolutely love tennis. It's like the exercise I've been missing out on. I should have played as a kid, dangit.

Anywho, I'm going to call my momma and get ready for work. Thanks for reading!

First Post

Make sure to cue the parades, etc.

Juuuust kidding.

I decided to blog elsewhere, rather than Myspace or Facebook, mainly for the sole purpose of the fact that I blog absolutely way too much and I feel rather bad for my Facebook friends who have to constantly see me in their Facebook feed. Therefore, I migrate over here, and do so in the hopes that my faithful readers (all like, what, two of them?) will follow.


Needless to say, I have way too many thoughts scampering around in my head to actually write a decent blog, but I will mention that I'm starting to develop a nice headache from all this drama in my life. I've got drama in work, drama in family and drama in my social circle...memories from the past rising up again, the struggle to put my husband first and foremost, and the fear that maybe because of all of this I am falling away from my spiritual life. I don't know, it's so easy to spout off the words "I'm praying for you," or "Pray about it," but my prayer life is so limited that it's not even funny. Hmm. Well, I did pray last night, and I'll find time to pray today, but before that? The only time I prayed was in church.



As for the musical part of this blog, I've been blessed. Yesterday I took a friend out around the town to capture her memories of living here (she's moving soon) and we stopped in Steinway of Phoenix. For those of you left ignorant, Steinway is the brand of a piano, in fact, a pretty revered brand. We walked around the place, playing different pianos ranging from $500 to $50,000 before I settled on a white baby grand, on which my friend encouraged me to play the first song I ever wrote.

To make a long story short, there were two guys in the Steinway place who listened, and encouraged me to try out for a talent scout from L.A. I know I don't have the look, or a spectacular singing voice, but I do have a fervor and a gift, and while I'm no Billy Joel, I am certainly more talented than some of the talent already existing in L.A. I've been sitting on my butt, hiding behind my songs for over five years and I think I'm finally ready to give it a try. It's not American Idol, but it's huge for me, and since this scout has connections to music companies, I'm batting big.

So, if this succeeds, who knows where this blog will take me. Needless to say, I'm excited. :)