Him: "Hey, I have a really cool opportunity for you."

Me: "Oh yeah...What's up?"

Him: "I've been working on this independent music project down in Boston and we're shooting videos of a bunch of musicians for a new channel on Time Warner Cable. We're doing videos and interviews and it's all about real musicians and..."

Me: "Wow, that's great."

Him: "Yeah...This is probably the biggest thing I've worked on."

Me: "Sounds like it, yeah."

Him: "So, they need a couple of background vocalists to stand in during the shoot, and I thought you might be interested. You'd be lip synching along with the songs. It will only take two hours and they'll pay you 100 bucks on the spot."

Me: "Really?"

Him: "Yeah! But you have to be here by 8:30 on Tuesday. So you can either come down on Monday night and crash at the hotel, or leave mad early on Tuesday."

Me: "Ok...I have a lot going on with work and everything...I just gave my 2 week notice last week."

Him: "That's awesome, congratulations!"

Me: "Thanks. So...I'm going to try to work something out. It sounds like a lot of fun. Who's the artist?"

Him: "His name is Vance Gilbert, he's been up and coming in New England so it would be a great opportunity. These are really cool folks working on this project."

Me: "Wow...Ok. So, how am I supposed to learn these two songs by Tuesday?"

Him: "I'll send them to you on Monday night."

Me: "So...I'll listen to them on the drive down or something?"

Him: "Yeah, can you handle that?"

Me: "Absolutely."

Oh boy:

"The GMAT exam includes Analytical Writing Assessment, Quantitative, and Verbal sections. Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving questions are mingled throughout the Quantitative section and Sentence Correction, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Reasoning questions are intermingled throughout the Verbal section...

...You will need a student visa to study in a country where you are not a citizen. Proof of sufficient funds may be required in order for you to obtain the necessary visa. Obtaining your student visa can be a lengthy process, so plan accordingly...be sure you have enough money."

-GMAT Information Bullentin for testing in 2006

Him: "From what I know about you as an artist and kind of humanitarian, I just can't see you going into the world of business...I mean just look at yourself."

Me: "Come on...I'm all business."

Him: "I don't know...I just don't think you'll like it."

Me: "Hm. I'll be sure to let you know."

Me: "I keep hearing my mom's voice saying, 'You should just stay at your job for a while longer.' Or her friend saying, 'What are you going to do about health insurance?' Or my dad saying 'If you want to take a vow of poverty and live as an artist that's one thing...'

Fairy Godmother: "Well you have quite a harem of voices in your head, don't you? If you're going to listen to voices, then listen to mine: FLY. LIVE YOUR LIFE. DO IT NOW. SUCCEED. FAIL! TAKE CHANCES NOT DRUGS. FLY. FLY. FLY! MAKE YOUR ART. WRITE POETRY. SING. LAUGH. WEEP. LIVE YOUR LIFE and LIVE IT NOW."

Her: You said something to me that I'll never forget.

Me: When?

Her: When I was up in Maine. You were so drunk, but you said, "Things could be worse, but they could always be better."

Me: huh.

Her: I'll never forget that.