A site for my art, music, pictures, and words.

A few weeks ago, I decided I would check out some live music, in Second Life. I don’t get to do that often enough and thought I’d go listen to a performer that I hadn’t heard in quite some time. As I entered the place (name of venue, performer and others have been removed for obvious reasons)…a particular avatar said ‘Hi JueL’..as did quite a few others, as I’m far from a noob, in Second Life…

I listend to the performer on stage, someone I’ve known for quite some time, and who has come such a long way in their performance, especially when it comes to acoustic guitar.

I was completely into the groove, as usual. Then the ‘particular avatar’ that said Hi, said ‘JUEL YOU AIN”T NO ANGEL” and I almost laughed out loud. I decided not to acknowledge the comment, because I simply had no idea where it came from. There was no ‘build up’ to the comment, they just continued to say it and I continued to ignore it. Obviously they needed some attention, but it wasn’t going to be from me. Eventually I left, after the performer on stage said (again completely out of the blue) ‘SOME PEOPLE, don’t know my friend ____… he writes my music for me on my backing tracks.

BINGO.

Why would anyone take time, at their friends performance, to harass another performer, because of their originality, or because they openly raise awareness for benefits, fundraisers and such.

So to you unamed souls out there….I pity you. I have always loved a certain handful of musician and performers, artists etc…but when you harass your audience for no reason, other than you are upset because they do something you don’t…it just shows the shallowness. Changing your avatar because you…well, don’t make friends so easy..due to the fact you find it  more fun to harass…is sad…and people that support those that do these things…it’s ok, I feel really good without that in my life.

There are a small handful of people that find it more fun to draw the negative attention, public attention to themselves, rather than enjoy their experience in SL.

It’s best not to let people like that, ruin your SL experience.

I’m not into drama, which is why I don’t respond to negative comments. I don’t have the energy to get into a WHY DID YOU SAY THAT TO ME conversation…I outgrew that a long time ago. I came to hear music and that’s what I did. Most times I don’t even see the chat. I had left the computer to grab a bite to eat…and happened to see this particular boy, flapping his words around instead of listening to his ‘friend’.

I heard someone once say  ”We tend to let that one negative experience, get to us…and forget all those who love us’

TRUE!!! It’s a bit of our human nature. So instead I thought of all the things I love, all the friends who make me smile, all the moments that are unforgettable in life and before you know it, I have a big grin on my face.

I remind myself, that ONE persons perspective of me, is certainly just that. One. I remind myself that for everyone one person that is feeling challenged, simply because of their own insecurities…is certainly no way for me to judge my path, and there are 10 others who support what I do, because it resonates for them.

One lesson I’ve learned…never try to be like someone else. I learned that when I was very very young. I’ve let it guide my whole life. I’m not jelous of any musician, song writer, artist…I am in awe of them, they move my spirit, they inspire, but they do not dictate who I am, they do not define what I do. They are not ‘competitors’ to me, I do not find myself challenged to be better than someone. I find myself challenged to exceed what I expect of myself, and that is peace to me. I find it my mission to find the best words to describe the pictures in my head….and well, if one little avatar (or the coward behind it) doesn’t like it, and finds it their life mission to copy and paste conversations, or to draw negative attention to themselves….I guess I look at them as the Monkey in the cage….slinging poo because they just simply have nothing else to focus on, but the actions of others.

And now that I’ve put it on paper, and into words…it’s been eliminated from me….like any toxin…it simply turns to waste, and if you’re wise, you know exactly what to do with waste. When life gives you lemonade, you make lemons. When life gives you ‘chit’, you plant a garden.

While I still have today, I would like to somehow, someway, make you smile, or make you think. I would like it if you would take a look inside yourself, and find something that is new, unused, something you haven’t been to before. While I still have today, I would like you to stop forgetting where your flowers are planted, where your seeds have been sewed, where your smiles have harvested. While I am still alive, I would like to know where the bounty of my life has been spent, i would like to see where the path has been cut, so that the next generation can find their way, down a road less traveled.  While I still have this moment…I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has positively challenged me, taught me a different way, a beautiful way. I would like to say THANK YOU to those that have inspired me, taken my measure in their soul, taken my heart in their thoughts, have known me, personally…not superficially.

While I am still breathing and while my heart still beats, I would like to give gratitude to my  parents, to my sister, to my family, for always, always, always having the heart to listen, the mouth to speak, the soul to forgive. I would like to thank my husband, for all his hard work, his love, his faithfulness, his gratitude, his forgiveness and his unending love….I would like to smile in complete joy, for all the laughs we share, all the stories we mend, all the hearts we hold…he is a work of magic in and of itself.

While I am still here, still breathing, I would like to say WOW BOYS….the children I have raised and have had the joy of watching grow, have done nothing more than amaze me! For this, I am always grateful. What amazing men they have turned out to be. My friends, My SouL Sistah’s…my soulMates, my spiritual connections……Thank you…..from the absolute bottom of my soul and up, ALL the way! Thank you for the most gracious times, the most incredible moments, thank you for your remarkable stories of faith, loss and success, thank you for always being real!

Good day everyone! Some of you might be aware, that this page is going to change soon, as Graeme is working his azzz off on making this more geared towards the ideas I have, and he has…which are collaborating quite nicely, I must say!!!

I took a little break from songwriting for awhile and suddenly seemed to get spit on  by my personal inner muse, who decided it was time to break the dry spell and pop out a few new ones…and after writing these new pieces, I realized a new theme was unfolding…and has been for quite some time…it’s just I don’t always notice these things, as they take their time, weaving themselves into my soul.

Rides. Rides, and more rides! Hangin’ On For The Ride, Did You Enjoy the Ride, Nothing Like I had with You, and He Wore Me Out….those are the new additions to my songs, and I must say, it’s probably the first time I’ve been pleased with all of them. Bluesy type feel, heavy lyrics, vocal stretches that are a bit new to me, and well….more guts than I’ve put into my music in awhile. I guess age has a few benefits eh? We really start finding our voice as we get older…perhaps wiser as well.

Bruce Springsteen once said “An artist/musician must always be troubled by something, that’s how the writing continues’… I agree 100%, sadly…but it is true. I once put on my profile “Always at a crossroads’ because I always am. I’m always contemplating the next step, always wondering what direction life will take me next. Sure I believe I make my own path, and my path is in the hands of my muse..she never lets me down, never never never…although when she disappears for awhile, I do get a bit worried, I mean, she is the essence of my soul, she is me, she is a vessel for me, inside me…and inhales those wonderful words and textures that surround me, or that I may sometimes miss. It’s more like absorbing a bunch of colors hoping that they’ll come out as a new color, and when they do, it’s truly the gift of the day for me! And when they don’t, well, nothing wrong with a little mud in my music eh?

And getting back to the TROUBLED BY SOMETHING statement, HELL YEAH! I’m always troubled. I’m used to this. It is as much of my life as breathing and I don’t have a clue what it’s like to live a life of never worrying or never contemplating. I must say though, it is nice to have those days where nothing bothers me. I think we hide things under our surface sometimes…so they can age, ripen, and eventually fall into our bowl of mental soup. If the ingredients are just right….or maybe I should say ‘just write’…well then it’s done…whatever creative thing my soul is cooking up, must come out somehow…be it a song, or a drawing, a painting, or just a random thought that I get to write down, to chew on at a later point. All little gifts my muse delivers…sometimes they make no sense, then another gift comes, and another, and eventually I see it as I am meant to see it and it all makes sense.

Troubles can come in the mOst unusual ways!!! An old friend from the past, raises their head, someone you may have forgotten….and they bring into your life, a little swarm of memories, some good, some not so good…and there comes more lyrical emotionally packed sentences…phrases, pictures and eventually a finished product…of sorts. Troubles can also come by allowing your mind (GOD HELP YOU IF YOU DO) letting your mind wander in the wrong direction, creating scenarios that will never happen…it’s a fun little mental game for a few minutes, but dwell too long and well, you just gave your mind some CRAP you don’t think you need….but the mind or our muse has a beautiful way of taking all the CRAP OUT of our minds and creating something fertile, something useful, something beautiful!!!

The New songs will be on the cd I am currently working on. This will be my 4th ‘professional CD’….and of course, who knows what ‘random’ number it is…I’ve made quite a few CD’s and recordings over the past 25 years or more…I mean, well, I shouldn’t say a few….I can’t recall, there have been many and I am thankful for my lil muse for being so complex and amazing.  Just realize that when I refer to my inner muse….it’s me, I mean, don’t be thinking I’m all crazy that way…..then again, I guess that’s already been established…nothing plain or ordinary about me, but that doesn’t mean I’m a freak show either!! Just a little off the beaten path, I suppose.

There is a lot going on this summer….and I encourage you to keep checking out the links I’ve put up on the side, for new music, updates etc….

My fan page on facebook is the primary one that I use and I would be honored if you would like to Join it !

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129165623776368#!/pages/Suzen-JueL/45430674299?ref=ts

Adding to the rest of all this…my passion for bird watching has kicked up full notch!!! I have quite a few pics in my Bird Folder on Flickr.com/suzenjuel if you care to look…I have several nests on my house and the barn swallows of summer have begun their brooding and nesting…it’s quite amazing, watching them. I also put a bird feeder out in my garden….a few birds came the first few days..a.nd after a full week, they emptied it out. NOW…..I have to refill it every other day!!! I guess WORD OF MOUTH works even in the Birds Lives….. Feel free to Spread the seed of my music around…that is if it inspires you in any way, or makes you feel good, or anything… send it off to a friend.   CD’s are on itunes and this website as well…please, don’t take my music for free, it doesn’t help me one bit. This is my career and it’s what I do. This is my livelihood , whether it brings in copious amounts of cash (can’t hurt to dream) of $10, it’s all put to good use, trust me!!!

Have a fantastic week all of you and thank YOU for reading me again!

-Suzen JueL

WOW a lot is happening! I haven’t updated in a bit, in between 3 mice who passed on (2 because of JuJu my lovely murderer ferret) lol!!! And another just passed on his own…..THEN I celebrated an amazing 12 years of marriage with the Love of my Life. My grandaughter Alexis was born….on our 12 year anniversary…how COOL IS THAT!

There she is…..I keep hearing that Stevie Wonder song in my head EVERY TIME I see this little amazing bundle of love…’ Isn’t she lovely….’ that song has been stuck in my head since she was born. JUNE 6…4.pm…same time my husband and I celebrated the RECEPTION when we got married.  Pretty amazing eh?

ON the other hand….

HOUSE PARTIES!!!!

I do them! Want to have me at your place? Send the invites and get a group of people who Love live music….and I’ll be there. You can email me direct at suzenjuel@gmail.com      In the VIRTUAL world, I have not been performing nearly as much as I once did, and for obvious reasons…Summer is here, life is CRAZY!!!!  But I don’t forget my friends, my family, my fans…FFF!

I have written a few new songs in the past month or so, … It’s been a LONG TIME since I’ve written THREE in a month…so I feel great about that. They will be available on the new cd…..(not date set yet, but absolutely this year)  As far as my last CD “Untitled #13″ you all rock, that bought it!!! And if you didn’t…well just go to the Tab at the top of the page #13…and get it FOR GODS SAKE!!!!! LOL

I will update in a Proper way, soon, right now life has me by the hair and as long as it doesn’t YANK it out, I’m cool! I’m looking forward to a summer filled with Music, Jams, Friends and love!

Peace and i hope to have you around, when I do the next show…..IF you listen online, well HELL..you can just hit that PLAY button on this main page!!! Or, join Second Life ™ –free- and search JueL Resistance…that’s me, in the virtual world……I perform from time to time online…and of course, the RL gigs….

BIG LOVE n Peace and Happiness and Stars to all of you!!!