The Beginning

So this is my first blog...and if I'm lucky, someone is interested enough to read it. I have begun this endeavor because I need an outlet and for some reason, I have found that people actually find my life interesting. I tend to believe that's because I'm married to Ivan de Prume, the former drummer for White Zombie and a professional musician, producer, and engineer. And people do always ask, what's it like; or the question I had today which was from a Census worker who asked, "Is it all it's cracked up to be?" The answer is simple - I love being married to my husband and it can be fun sometimes to have the "benefits" that go along with it but since I am the one in the family who primarily deals with the business end of things - to that aspect I say, it's not the best. This is the only business I have ever encountered that can be on a net 500 days payable schedule (it oftentimes takes a year for reporting and then can be another quarter before receiving payment). And, that's if everyone is paying you on time. Now I am not in any way versed in every business, but I did work in finance/human resources/personnel for 15 years before meeting my husband, and most business' would not be open still if they were on this type of payment schedule. So, when you see an artist being credited as selling a million records for their first record and you think they are swimming in the lap of luxury, think again. First, they have to pay back the record company for everything they are in hock to them for; then if they are very lucky, they might be in the black after a year or two and get their first big check (yes, I said a year or two). And, depending on how extravagantly they lived while waiting for the first check, they may not even see a dime for many years due to advances, tour expenses, merchandise expenses, etc

Ok, here's the fun part - My husband knows just about everyone in the business and going to the few shows that I actually attend is always really fun (I'm not a die hard metal fan but I am a die hard fan of 80's bands like DLR Van Halen, Motley Crue, , etc.). He's also an amazingly talented musician and I can't even begin to comprehend how his mind can write songs, play songs, and produce and engineer music so beautifully. Oh, and Ivan is not only a heavy metal drummer although that is what he is best known for - he completed the Drumming and Percussion program at Musician's Institute after he left White Zombie. And, that is who my husband is - always trying to better himself with his craft to the point of being compulsive. He has a real love for World Music which is a complete "about face" from Metal and loves many other styles as well.

We have three kids - I have one from a previous relationship that Ivan has taken on as his own from Day 1 and we have two daughters together. We had both been married before and weren't looking for a relationship when we met each other. When we did, and without sounding too cliche, it was as if we had known each other for a long time. I think the previous marriages had set us up for knowing what we wanted and not being afraid to state it outright. All of the BIG things that a relationship needs to have commonality fit with us and we were both on the same path in life. That's not to say we didn't disagree or have a parting of the ways on certain subjects, but all of the big pieces, kind of like foundation of a house, were all there. And so we were off.

Signing off - Goodnight Universe!! Thought for the night - if we combined all of the assets in the world and split them up evenly, would anyone be homeless, hungry, or without any of life's essentials? Or would we all be living richly and not have such an unbalanced world of power with 10% of the population holding 90% of the wealth?