Sara Hammerzmith

I’M DONE WITH MY ROOM! Can I hear a hell yeah from all of you? Thank you, thank you so much! I’m happy. This means I can finally focus on packing for the US, because I really need to do so. It’s crazy to think that in a month from now, I’ll almost be on my way home from the US. How? It’s crazy. And it’s going to be so much fun too.

And it got even better today as I collected the photos from my disposable cameras. However, much to my dismay, only 11 pictures out of 55 seemed to survive, and only about six actually had anything visible. I think the mistake is on my side, so I’ll give it another shot in the US, and hope it turns out better. But I’m so happy about the pictures I got – they are all from France, and they got that exact quality I wanted. Seeing these pics of Sophie, Laura, Florian and Emilie makes me long to get on the road again, I’m so ready. Bring it on, 2017!

The only thing that saddens me slightly I guess is the fact that I miss out on HammerFall’s Built to Tour. But hey, what can you do you know. Everything for the monstars. I’m still hoping and praying that maybe, MAYBE they’ll throw in some Swedish or Norwegian dates. I don’t expect it, but you can always hope, right?

// Sara

My adventures setting up my room is moving on, and it’s going at a rapid pace. It’s like seeing the light in the tunnel as far as my room goes, it’s always been a bit of a problem thing to deal with. Before when I’ve re-done it’s been mostly just cleaning up everything instead of actually getting things around. I’ve been able throw out basically three boxes of things. Which is good.

Hopefully, I’m done by the end of this week so I finally can get on with packing before the US trip. I’ve thought about already starting to pack some of the necessities, like the toiletries rather than not doing anything, but I want to have the space for my suitcase as well.

It is absolutely crazy to think that in like, less than a month from now, we’ll be there. We’ll be in the Sunshine state, or whatever they call it. I’m excited, nervous and a little scared. All the work we put in is finally coming up to something. What was once something we just discussed is now actually put into plan. It’s crazy to think.

I can’t wait.

// Sara

Work all day have left me quite… tired to say the least. I guess it’s because, for the moment, it’s not every day, which fucks a little bit with my cycles. But I’m getting better – I’m actually getting in bed on time, getting up in time on the mornings etc, so it’s a big personal improvement. From being someone who simply could not get out of bed, to someone who gets up at 5.45, it’s pretty good, don’t you think?

Aside work, I’ve continued to work on my room. It has stopped being about the floor, and nowadays more about the small shelves and spaces, clearing out space to put things, or perhaps even pressing things together. I had two shelves with one box each containing fabric and sewing things. So unnecessary! Shoved it together in one box, and stored the box on a completely different location, so now I got a lot of space. Or well, I had some space. I finally did the thing and moved away my Nightmare on Elm Street movie collection, which shared the shelf with some KISS videotapes, to make room for my perfumes.

Now, that made it sound like I have a lot, but I don’t. Well, yet. I plan to try out some new ones – Katy Perry’s “Mad Potion” being one, and also one of Taylor Swift’s. Taylor’s will be a blind buy, so I have to read in carefully which one to pick. But, that is a different story and topic.

I plan to have some additional stuff made. Firstly, Eurovision, or Mello-Hamster survived the cut. I spmly cannot remove my festive Eurovision hamster. And Perry, he’s everywhere. Always. I have some plans to make this space even better, by adding some photographies of Katy and Gaga, but since I want my own pictures, that I photographed, it has to wait a little.

The good thing, what makes me really happy, is actually seeing how little stuff is being moved around. It’s barely anything left, and it just makes me relieved. Because I could really use buying those tickets to the show in the US, and then FINALLY start packing. I really want to have it done asap, in case some things come up.

// Sara

So, today was my mothers birthday, so we did some low scale celebrations for that. It was a pretty nice little dinner and cake and all of that, celebrating her special day a little extra. I love doing small things for people. It’s really the small, everyday thing that counts.

Besides that, I’m still working on my room. It’s.. slowly, but yet quickly coming together. I see the end of the tunnel, and hopefully it’ll make my days a bit easier. I’ve managed to clear out an entire workspace, with that said I mean I even made room for folders and all other things you might need when running your own business, so I’m excited about finally having everything on the same place, and neatly as well, not just stacked on top of each other everywhere.

I’ve also started really prepping for tour. It’s still almost a month away, but seriously, it will come sooner than you’d think. I listened through all of my Epica albums today, and tomorrow I’ll probably go over Powerwolf. I cannot believe I will finally see them so soon, and again. I can’t wait. Seeing Powerwolf again will pretty much KILL ME.

With that said, I’ll now go to bed with Anders. Well, not literally, but the book. Pervs.

// Sara

Have been working all day today. Or well, first part anyway in the stable. It was a decent day, smooth, running like always or how to put it.

The best thing about working in the stable is that, while you’re working, or I’m working, my brain works a lot. And thanks to this, I have now managed to shape out a lot of ideas that I hope to put to reality very, very soon. Like, US trip kind of soon. I don’t want to talk too much about it just yet, as it is still in planning process and I really need to see how much I can actually muster to get done before then, but all I can say is that it’s time for me to fresh up my animation skills. I made my own musicplayer in school actually.

With that said, I must admit I’m starting to get a little stressed. It’s less than a month left to the US, and I have not yet started to pack. It scares me a little, because I have this tender feeling that before I know it, it will all start fall apart. Like, I’ll get over-filled with work and everything just fails.

So that is exactly why I’m going to go to bed RIGHT NOW, so I can get up early tomorrow in order to finish off the cleanings of my room, and thus, be able to start packing a bit. God, I cannot believe this is happening so soon! Gaah! Today I listened to Epica most of the time in the stable, as in preparation for the gig. “The Holographic Principle” is just so good.

// Sara

Slowest. Day. In. History. Or well, at least for this year. But, it is the 6th of January – so Happy Topsy Turvy all of you people! I hope your days were upside down and upsy daisy. Mine wasn’t. I should try to make a better Topsy Turvy celebration every year.

I have been a little good in the shape of applying for a couple of new jobs. For some reason I’m on a constant jobhunt, but what can you do?

However, the planning for the trip continues. I’m a member of a group called Glam Rock City on Facebook and I turned there with questions regarding what to do and see in L.A., musicwise. Obviously we have all the big ones covered, but I also wanted to discover the underground scene a bit, and I got some really great responses. Thanks to those guys, this trip will be magical and so rooted in the 80’s.

Speaking of which, I have to start packing. I know it’s like, a month left, but it’s better I start right away rather than wait til last minute. I have told myself to really try to bring as little as possible, in order to not need more luggage and such, and it will be a bit of a challenge. But I reckon I can do it. I must be able to. After all, we aren’t going to be there for that long. The good thing is that I know exactly what to wear for Powerwolf, and at least one of the shows in the US, which will help a bit. I’m going to have a major clear out of my closet, so hopefully I’ll find some hidden gems. And things to sell.

With all that being said, I’m going to retire with some more rice ala malta and keep talking to the people I was chatting with on Facebook. See you!

// Sara

So, today has been a real slacker day. I actually promised myself this would not happen, but after todays work I was just dead. It’s something about me and stable work – whenever I’m about to work in the stable, I simply cannot fall asleep. I don’t know if this is a subconcious thing because I’ve spent the past two years going from the club straight to the stable, and thus only sleeping three hours. Or less. Oh well. It leaves me very tired at the end of the day, and even though I did have very little planned, I got not too much of it done sadly.

What I have done today though, is looking at new tents for the festivalseason. I have had my silver tent for a good ten years now, and sadly, it has started to mold a bit. Sabaton open air does, for now, mark it the last festival it was ever erected on. Who knows, maybe it will return one day.

I’ve been looking at a three or four person tent (SPACE!) with an additional room. What I always missed on my old tent was an extra space, like a livingroom or what you wanna call it, a lounge, in case it was raining, or just to get out of the sleeping room to get a bit more space. And this one got that. And it got a roof height of 1.90, which is amazing! Now I just have to save up for it… It ain’t cheap sadly. But it’ll be worth it.

Even though I have a lot of exciting coming my way soon, I can’t wait to be back at the festivals. Like now. Speaking of that, Alestorm announced today they’re recording a new album. Great news, isn’t it? Just in time for festivalsummer.

// Sara

So today I visited the rehearsal lot for the first time in what feels like forever. Which isn’t so weird, being sick and all of that! It was really good being back, although right now, I feel like I’m stuck at the same spot, trampling over and over. I know both of the songs I’m currently rehearsing very well, but there are still small things that I may miss out on – like a double bass pedal here, a cymbal here etc, small details that probably doesn’t matter too much in the big picture for someone who’s only played drums for well, barely a year if you count it all together, but it bothers me. When it comes to music, I’m a perfectionist, and I was such all the way since my days in a symphonic orchestra.

And I figured my problem right now lies in the fact that I have to listen to the song and also play it on the same time, and to be fair, while my ear HAS gotten better, way better since I started, I’m still not too good at it, so what I planned to do before next times rehearsal is to transcribe the notes and read from a notesheet when playing, instead of trying to listen for the double-pedal as I’m playing. I’m obviously, as you probably figured from me playing in an orchestra, that I’m more used to reading notes than listening by ear, even though I have no troubles hearing when I play wrong. Hopefully, this helps me move on. I’m starting to get real tired of these songs.

Aside that, I have been running some errands. I FINALLY left off my disposable cameras at the photoshop this afternoon, so I’ll get to see what the result is like before I make up my mind to get more. I searched endlessly for travelsize heat protection for the hair, but none to be found, at least not downtown. I hope I can find some online, because I REALLY want to squeeze my luggage this time, but on the same time I don’t really wanna leave for this long of a trip without all the necessities.

So now, I’m going to call it a day and retreat to Anders Johansson before bed. Good night folks!

// Sara

I feel confident about this year. A couple of days ago I wasn’t really ready for 2017 to begin, but the focus has shift into an excitement that bubbles in me to no end, which makes me… well, happy! I guess it’s because I’m seeing the light of the tunnel. Clearing out toxic people out of my life has helped so much, and finding new opportunities and possibilities in everything. I’ve even found myself drawing new blueprints, which is was something I haven’t done in a long time.

Speaking of which, the tour is coming together as well. Today we booked the flights and the last accomodation for our trip, and it makes me soooo happy. So happy knowing how close we are. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finishing up booking a tour and knowing you have an incredible funtime ahead of you.

And now we get to the other preparations. Like, what should I wear and bring? I plan to bring as little as possible, but still want to be smashing. Gladly, I have the gigs themselves sorted out, so I really just need to know what I would want to play around with once we have some free days off.

And speaking of that, I got some exciting news for you as well. I have been blessed enough to get a GoPro camera from my mother, so hopefully I will, or we will, be able to actually start making documentaries again, starting with this US trip! How amazing isn’t that? I hope it turns out great.

With that said, I’m now retiring with my book and possibly some more bookings. Until next time!

// Sara