musings from the road

Cliches Aren't Always Bad

2012-02-04T06:51:00.242-06:00

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Nashville, TN: At the end of last year, as I was heading out the door to partake in a ridiculously amazing meal of fish & chips (and pints), I realized if I kept up the same eating habits I had somehow seemed to acquire over the past few ~~weeks~~ months, I may have to go shopping for some new pants... in a bigger size. Before I left my hotel room, I googled "East Nashville Boot Camp" and checked out the first result that popped up: Julia's Body Shop. In a very start-the-new-year-with-a-resolution-to-lose-weight cliche, they offered a boot camp starting January 2. Within 5 minutes, I signed up for the 5 week boot camp.

And then I left my room and ate the hell out of some fish & chips

When January 2 arrived, I found myself outside of a non-descript building with a single sign rigged up that said BOOT CAMP and a phone number underneath. While the idea of skipping this adventure all together and going to the nearby wine bar around the corner crossed my mind, instead I headed inside and met my new best friend for the next 5 weeks.

Julia!

Julia Ledbetter, the owner, is just a hair taller than me with a body that most women couldn't even dream of having. She used to compete and train in the martial arts, then went onto bodybuilding and now personally trains in her own gym with her husband, Levi Montgomery, who you would never want to run into in a dark alley (unless he was protecting you!).

The boot camp is held 3 times a day in the gym: 6am, 9am and 5:30pm. In the winter time, all of the classes are held in the gym, though I've heard rumors (and seen pictures) of the 6am class moving to a park in the spring and summer. Luckily, there is no way I am getting up at 5am to go work out, so I'll continue to stay in the temperature-controlled room at either 9am or 5:30pm.

You can sign up for a regular boot camp, which is meeting at the gym 4 times a week (class time of your choice) or a "mini-boot camp" which means you go 3 times a week. Originally, I signed up for the mini (God forbid I make a full commitment, especially when it comes to yet another workout program), but after the second class, I realized there's no way I'm actually going to work out on my own, so why not jump in for the long haul? By January 4th, I was a full timer.

The workout itself is an hour of intense circuit training. 50 seconds of doing some sort of cardio really, really fast and 10 seconds to catch your breath. Each day was a focus on a different muscle group, so in between short spurts of cardio, on arm day, we'd do bicep curls for 50 seconds with the heaviest weight we could handle for as many times as we could muster. It isn't fun, per se (not that any type of working out I would consider to be "fun"), but because you figure you can do anything for 50 seconds and there's something different to do in the next minute, the hour seems to fly by.

Plus, Julia is a true cheerleader. Just when you think you have hit your limit on being able to lift your leg any higher or do any more crunches, she yells, "you can do it! Just one more!" Except for Julia, her "one more" promise begins with about 20 seconds remaining, which means it's more like just TEN more.

Though a professional trainer, Julia uses real, blunt language that pretty much everyone who is at her gym understands. For example:

- do your shit right.
- drink your water.
- if it tastes to good to be true, spit it out.

Which leads me to the next component of the boot camp: eating. I figured I'd have to change my not-very-good (but very-delicious) pattern, and was hoping I could just cut out the fish & chips and call it a day. Instead, I was handed a booklet called the "Eating for ABS Plan." Nothing in it was shocking or a big secret: eat whole fresh foods, drink protein shakes, eat five times a day, etc.

But the ABS part was going to be the big shock to my system. For 5 weeks, no Alcohol, Bread or Sugar. I've done the no alcohol thing before (for 40 days, thanks to lent!) and I can give up sandwiches for salads if I really need to, but the sugar part was going to be hard. I'm a fake-sugar-aholic. Pink, blue or yellow -- if I'm drinking coffee, it's GOT to be in there (plus sugar free vanilla, if we're talking a Starbucks non-fat latte). If I eat oatmeal, I'll forgo the brown sugar for a little packet (or two). Hell, even if I'm eating a strawberry, dipping it in a pile of powder makes it taste that much, well... sweeter! And now I have to give up all 3 at the same time!? I suppose if I really want to see a change, I've got to play by the rules. Plus, it's only 5 weeks, so I can suck it up, right?

Credit

And on that note, another part of the whole plan is drinking a lot of water. And by a lot, I mean a GALLON of water A DAY. Do you know how much a gallon of water is? And better yet, do you know how much you go to the bathroom after drinking a gallon of water a day? A LOT. Between working out, eating 5 times a day and going to the bathroom, I kind of feel like I didn't have time to do much else.

I didn't want to blog about this from January 2nd, since not only would it be a typical new year's cliche, but also because after looking back through my blog, I found myself mentioning more than once (like multiple times) the newest eating plan I was trying or a new gym membership that I had joined. And while I suppose it's good that at least I'm doing something in terms of trying to stay healthy, I do feel a little ridiculous when I mention the latest trend I'm attempting and they respond with, "oh, you're joining another gym?" Er, yeah, I guess....

So, instead, I'm writing with the results. The 5 weeks are up. I went to boot camp a total of 20 times. I met friends for walks instead of dinners. I didn't have any sweetener, which means I only had 3 lattes (with only soy milk!) and 1 cup of coffee (I tried it black... but just couldn't do it). I had NOTHING alcoholic to drink. I ate vegetables and lean meats and hard boiled eggs. I cooked! (Surprisingly, my stove really does work!) I drank a lot of water (not always a full gallon, but a whole bunch more than I ever have).

I also kept one cookie in a cookie jar that my mom brought to me from my parents' Thanksgiving trip to Nashville. Not that it would have been necessarily good after sitting in a jar for over a month, but it was a reminder that I COULD have the cookie if I wanted to. I have a CHOICE in this whole thing, so if I wanted to eat whatever I wanted to eat... the cookie is available. The good news is that the cookie is still there. (Probably time I threw it out now.....)

Thanks to Julia, her workouts, her eating plan and her positive daily emails, in 5 weeks, I lost 9 pounds and 4.5% body fat! Granted, it would have made for a better blog to have lost 10 pounds and 5% body fat... oh, who am I kidding. I wish it was 20 pounds & 10%! But, I am still proud of myself and happy that it at least went down instead of up. Plus, my body just feels different now, so I am pretty sure I'm going to sign up for another boot camp.

Of course, this will have to wait until March since I plan on eating the hell out of some fish & chips in a few weeks.
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Searching for God? Try the Mall.

2012-01-29T22:21:00.376-06:00

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Nashville, TN: One of the most freeing things about The Great Church Search is that I'm learning I can talk about my faith without feeling too preach-y or making the other person uncomfortable. I've spent years silencing myself for fear that my beliefs were too much. Or the greater fear: if I finally did speak my truth, and the other person didn't agree, I would be left alone. (Which has happened. Multiple times.) This project is a good segue for me to be able to talk about the importance of faith in my life, by sharing my experience of the structured journey I am currently on. Others who are curious about the concept might be more open minded to having conversations with me about faith, which they wouldn't necessarily have otherwise.

Case in point: I'm in a bar, watching a band, strike up conversation with a nearby muso and somehow in our conversation, we talk about churches. Specifically, my great church search. For the record, I don't ask the "so, where do you go to church?" seemingly-southern-prerequisite-question I got a lot when I first moved to town. This piece of information comes up in a more organic way. Think more along the lines of, "so, what do you do for a living? What do you do for fun? What sort of random projects have you started at the beginning of the year and are blogging about still?" Ish.

His response surprised me: "I go to church in a mall." Now, I understand it's not the structure of the church that is what's important. But, a mall? This I've GOT to see for myself.

Sadly, Peanut was on the road this weekend, so this would have been my first solo search. Realizing the shared experience together, yet separate reflection is a big part of the process for me, I opened up the question, "anyone wanna journey together this Sunday?" I got a note from Bill, a friend of a friend, who I had met a couple of times, but didn't know well. He seemed up for the adventure, so we met at 9:15am on Sunday morning. At the mall.

Aesthetics: I'm not kidding you. The Church at Antioch meets at the Hickory Hallow Mall. Recently, some of the anchor stores (Macy's & Sears, specifically) have closed at the mall, built in 1978. Not good for business, but it became an opportunity for this new community. Plus, Sunday morning mall parking makes it a snap to find a spot and make your way into the 2nd floor entrance near Macy’s (as they direct you on their website).

Greeting: We were greeted immediately with a friendly welcome by two members at the entrance. Prior the the service beginning, another woman came over and introduced herself to us, seeing that we were visitors.

Community: This was, by far, the most diverse community I have seen thus far. There were roughly 80-100 people in the intimate (and fairly hip) room who made up a beautiful blend of Caucasian, African American, Latino, Asian and I'm guessing a few Portuguese people, considering they read one psalm in Portuguese. The average age was in the 20-40 range, with about 15-20 kids, mainly young couples with a handful of older folks, perhaps attending with their grandchildren.

Music: Let me highlight the music in three parts:

1) the instruments: not only were there four great voices offering four beautiful harmonies, but the instruments played were the guitar, keyboard, tambourine and a trumpet. And during communion, it became a muted trumpet. Like the people, the instruments were just as diverse and lovely.

2) the language: all the songs were sung in English, as expected... until they sang one in Spanish. Hearing the congregation sing to Dios, (Spanish for God), I somehow felt a deeper connection to the world as a whole, not just in my little space in Antioch. It also gave me a good energy boost to continue with my Spanish lessons!

3) the music leader: ok, this is not technically important and has nothing to do with God or the journey, but the main music guy reminded me of AJ from the Backstreet Boys. And he even did a little rap in the very first song to seal the deal. I wouldn't put it past God to throw a little boy band resemblance in front of me to get my attention. (Thanks, G.)

Credit - HotFlick (right)

Service: The service was comprised of songs and a reading of one psalm for 35 minutes, sermon for 50 minutes, communion/tithing/final prayer for 15 minutes. That's a 1:40 service. That's a long time to stay focused. Plus, even with the doors closed, it was hard to ignore the background music of the mall. (Somehow, Sara Bareilles singing about Love Songs didn't quite go with the theme of the sermon, communion.)

Message: If you're going to do a 50 minutes sermon, you've really got to grab my attention and keep it there. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Even my new technique of asking God to specifically talk to me, though the pastor/priest, was hard to hear. Though the topic (why do we take communion?) was interesting enough, the eight fairly significant reasons listed were attempted to be explained within the keep-it-under-an-hour timeframe. I was left with more questions than answers and felt my attention being pulled away by other un-communion-related thoughts. Perhaps an eight-week series discussing each point in detail weekly would have made them more understandable.

Denomination: The Church at Antioch is a non-denominational church who proclaims itself to be "multi-ethnic and multi-generational." It started this year -- literally, January 1, 2012 (same day as I started my project!) -- and was specifically set in Antioch, since there are more 70 nations are represented in that one area.

Overall: I am impressed with the diversity of the people and the eclecticism of the music. I was a little disheartened that the message didn't grab me as I hoped it would have, but perhaps after only being in progress for five weeks, it may take a little bit of time to get the flow.

Contact:
5252 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
(@ the Hickory Hallow Mall)
Antioch, TN 37013
Website: www.thechurchatantioch.org/
Facebook page

Reflections on the Journey Thus Far: I knew I would find God in more places than just a traditional church, but I really hadn't considered the mall in my top 10 list. I guess it just goes to show that one step leads to the next, which leads to the next, which leads to the next. And eventually you're closer to where you were at the beginning... or you're officially a mall walker.

One More Thing: So, as mentioned above, Peanut was away this weekend (today, in Bloomington, IL), so I didn't have her expertise in researching the post-church-debrief-lunch as per usual. To add insult to injury, our mutual road pal, B.Fluke, texted me a picture of her & Peanut, together in IL, holding a homemade Peanut lunch creation. Though jealous of B.Fluke stealing my plus one (and lunch!), I took my plus one du jour to the closest food establishment we could find. I won't be reviewing this one (and I doubt Peanut would either), but I figure a little IHop couldn't be too bad after a little church hop.

PS. Thanks to Bill for joining me, sharing in great conversation and for breakfast! What a great way to get to know you more.
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TMA: Genius Scan

2012-01-26T23:04:00.131-06:00

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Nashville, TN: One of the best features of the iPhone is the app. Not only are there mindless games, news sources and photography manipulation ideas, but there are some apps that actually make my job easier. With a few touches on the screen, I can save time & energy by a simple downloaded program in the palm of my hand.

I've decided to start a new feature on my blog (since I obviously don't have enough!) called TMA -- Tour Manager Apps. I was going to try and do it weekly, but realize I would stress myself out from the self-imposed pressure from yet another time-based theme. Instead, I'll keep a list (on my iPhone, of course) of interesting and helpful apps I discover or get turned on to and post... eventually. Or this may be my only one. Who knows! (Ed. note: This is me, throwing caution to the wind. Sad.)

The first TMA is Genius Scan. By using the iPhone's camera, you can take a picture of anything (receipt, hand-written note, parking lot space number at the airport, etc.). The app then acts as a scanner, turning the photo into a PDF or JEPG, which you can file into a folder on your phone and even email if you want. You can also tweet or facebook it, though I'm not sure why I'd want to post a copy of my receipt from the bar I went to last night online.

Here's a visual tutorial of the Genius Scan process:

App is added onto my home page of my iPhone.

Snap a picture of the receipt.

App captures the image, just like a regular photo.

The app then detects the corners of the piece of paper.

Then gives the option if you want to use that edit.
You can also drag the corners of the orange box to change as you like.

Once cropped, the app enhances the receipt, giving it a better contrast.

Wah-lah! Receipt is now scanned in your iPhone.

You can then create folders and pick where you would like it to be stored.
credit: iTunes

And there lives all of your receipts in one folder!
No more need for collecting small bits of paper
and bringing them home to try to find a place to put them.

Best news? This app is free! But because it is going to save me TONS of shredding and wasted paper, I would have definitely paid $1.99 for it.

PS. Thanks to Rachel (aka TMerchel) for the recommendation!
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#ThisIsGodTalkingToYou

2012-01-23T22:25:00.214-06:00

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Nashville, TN: On Week 1 of The Great Church Search, Peanut had arrived at Woodland Presbyterian Church to find the door locked and place seemingly empty. Determined not to give up an exploration into the Pres'es (is that even a word?), we tried it again this week. And the added bonus is that staying within the 'hood provided us with a good excuse to sleep in an extra 10 mins.

Aesthetics: From the outside, the building is an colossal and ornate. Surrounded by a well-manicured lawn and flower bed, the middle double doors were open, which indicated our welcome into the establishment. Inside was a similar setup to the East End United Methodist Church: pipe organ as altar backdrop, stained glass windows and much cozier than one would expect when passing the massive structure.

Greeting: Upon entering, we were greeted by... no one. Literally, there was no one in the church except two kids up front who didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that they were the only ones there. We decided to take our chances (and our seats) and see if anything actually would happen when 10:30am rolled around. About 5 minutes before the set go-time, we heard voices wafting up from behind the sanctuary. Turns out, the coffee/juice/pastry hang happens BEFORE the service, though one wouldn't necessarily know that on her first visit. Once we were spotted as confused newbies, the pastor immediately made his way over with a warm welcome and a few of the other folks who had settled in around us also extended a handshake and a hello.

Community: There were about 50 people in attendance, 15 of them children and only one different race represented (African American). It definitely catered to families and seniors.

Music: The pipe organ was used for traditional hymns and during the offering, the organist mixed things up a bit with a piano solo on a grand piano.

Service: The service seemed very typical as compared to the other few churches I have visited. However, this venue added a little special something for those 15 young'uns that were otherwise engrossed in coloring books and iPods: the Children's Sermon. The pastor invited the miniature people up to sit with him on the steps of the altar and he began talking about hearing God calling you. "Does God's voice sound like your Mom's voice?" he asked the eager crowd. "Noooooo," they replied in unison, shaking their heads. "Does God's voice sound like your Dad's voice?" Again, a robust, "Noooooo." "What about your teacher's voice?" he pushed them. "NO!" was the firm response from the group. "That's right!" the pastor applauded them. "No!.... And YES!"

Message: Here's the thing: understanding this God stuff is not easy. When a priest / pastor / someone with some sort of authority in a spiritual manner tries to explain it to me, an adult, it's hard to follow and comprehend. I figured listening to the pastor spell it out for a bunch of kids, I might be able to grasp it a little easier. But when you hear something like "no AND yes," it's just as confusing. The pastor continued (to the rest of us big kids), "it's hard to sort out what God is calling us to do versus what we want to do, the temptation from others and the impact of advertising. How nice would it be if God's call came with a hashtag?" That made the most sense out of any of it. Can't God just be a little more direct on when there's some sort of action that needs to take place? Then again, if I have to really start using my twitter account, I will most likely miss the message altogether. Perhaps I just need to keep listening and perhaps I'll start to get a clearer sense of what God is actually saying.

Denomination: Woodland Presbyterian is a part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), or PC(USA), which is a denomination of Presbyterian. The Pres'es (again, can I say that?) originated in Scotland in the 1700s but the PC(USA) was established in 1983. According to my new friend, Religion Facts, the official stance on The Bible by Presbyterians is that it is inspired. "For some, that means the Bible is inerrant. For others, it means that even though the Bible is culturally conditioned and not necessarily factual or even always true, it breathes with the life of God." Wow. That inspires me!

Overall: It is a lovely church with lovely people. There is a true sense of family and welcoming to visitors (once they figure out where everyone has disappeared to before church begins!). For me, it didn't necessarily satisfy the place I am in my life right now, but it's just another step on the hill to gaining knowledge, wisdom and a closer relationship to God.

Contact:
211 North 11th St., Nashville, TN 37206
Website: www.woodlandpresbyterian-nashville.org
Facebook page

Reflections on the Journey Thus Far: God's voice may be difficult to hear without a hashtag, but the conversations I have with people about their faith lives have become one of the most extraordinary gifts of this journey thus far. I am learning to not only find my voice, but not be embarrassed to talk about it. Who knew others wanted to talk about it too?!

One More Thing: Despite the grey day, Peanut & I went to Sky Blue for delicious (and healthy!) breakfast food, discussion on our morning and much appreciated laughter. Here's her chef-approved blog: Bullet The Blue Sky.
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My Little Life

2012-01-20T00:15:00.003-06:00

Nashville, TN: Tonight, my old friend, A, wanted me to go see her new friend, Korby Lenker, at The Basement. She and Korby just met a few weeks ago, connected by the strange coincidence that they are from the same hometown (contrary to popular belief, Twin Falls, Idaho is not a common hub from which Nashvillians originate). I like music, I like A, I like the fact that he was going on at 9pm (therefore done by 10pm) -- sure, why not?

After a lovely meal at The Yellow Porch, as part of Restaurant Week 2012 (though sans wine, I'm still not sure if the restaurant is as good as I remember it to have once been....), we headed to The Basement just in time to catch the end of musical act 1 to the beginning of musical act 2: Korby. I love arriving JUST in time and not having to wait through yet another OA. (I've been spoiled, what can I say.)

Credit: Scrape TV

Credit: Dave Matthews Band Fan Site

Korby is a mix between Jason Mraz and Anthony Michael Hall circa Sixteen Candles. Quirky and chatty, Korby seemed slightly nervous on stage, until he started singing. Then, he began doing what he's wanted to do his whole life (one would guess... or write in a good bio) and couldn't seem more comfortable in his own skin.

Best part of the set came at the very end where his band departed and Korby stood on a chair in the front of the stage. With no mic, no amp and only a tiny guitar (otherwise known as a ukulele), he began singing one of the best songs I've heard in a while. It was catchy, it was clever, it was cute.... and it was a great reminder that regardless of the things (or people) I have or don't have, it's my little life, which is all I've got. (Which is actually not too shabby.)

Here's the travelin' version... picture this in a small club, on a chair, with crowd participation during the "do do do do's." I've got more than a little love for this little song.

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Be Not Afraid

2012-01-15T22:48:00.234-06:00

Nashville, TN: One of the challenges to going to any church on any Sunday is that sometimes... you're just not in the mood. Today, I woke up at 5am, flew from Providence to Charlotte to Nashville, went to the office, went for a power walk, rushed home to shower and change, picked up Peanut, then drove to the 6pm service at The Village Chapel. From 5am - 5:59pm, I did not want to do anything but put on sweats, turn on SATC and zone out. Instead, I showed up, I listened, I discussed, I ate and now, I blog. And though I'm still tired, I am much better for it.

Aesthetics: The Village Chapel holds 4 identical services each week in the the 100 year old chapel of the St. Bernard building, in Hillsboro Village. Feeling much like entering a school building (since that what it was), we walked down the hallway and entered a large room with rows of stacking chairs. People gathered in the back to get a cup of coffee or tea before the service began and it felt like a mixture of prayer service meets AA meeting.

Greeting: Since I overloaded my day a bit, we were running a few minutes behind and I didn't pay much attention to the greeting at the door (after snatching the bulletin from the nice man's hands.... thank you, sir!). But once seated, after the initial prayer, we were instructed to welcome those around us. The interesting thing I noticed is that it wasn't a quick, "hi, how are ya" kind of interaction, trying to say hello to as many people as you can in 12 seconds, but rather, people around really wanted to know who you were. I was asked my name, if I had been there before or was a visitor and was told their name as well. It was like they actually wanted to know a bit of my story. Granted, that only came from the 3 people in front of me, but it was nice to feel that they were actually wanting to connect.

Community: Because the church is based in Hillsboro Village, there was definitely more younger folk - around 20s-40s - with a few older couples and a sleeping baby sprinkled in. A mix of hippies and hipsters, I felt like I blended in fairly well (though I think of myself as a different kind of hip). Diversity... not so much. In the sea of approximately 175 people, it was all white from my vantage point. Then again, there are three other services, so maybe the diversity is spread out in the morning.

Music: The music was mellow and folk-y, lead with an acoustic guitar and a bongo. Words were shown on a large screen for easy crowd participation. Though engaging, it was a pretty dramatic contrast from the super speedy speaking pastor.

Service: The service began in what I've seen from the past two churches as very typical -- music, announcements, greeting each other, prayers for individual community members, mores songs. The rest of the service was a full-fledged bible study. I'm used to hearing a couple of readings, then taking the message and seeing how it weaves into our lives. But this was more specific into the history of what was going on in the time, what the people must have felt when this was occurring, how Jesus was delivering the message as a man as well as God. It was very educational and intriguing, just not exactly what I thought this church was going to be like.

Message: Once again, I tried the ol' ask-God-to-specifically-talk-directly-to-me-through-the-pastor trick and it seemed to work. (He obviously knew exactly what I needed to hear when he mentioned the coffee station in the back of the room!) But the main guts of the message was: do not be afraid. "When you hear of wars & disturbances.... do not be afraid. When everything crumbles around you... do not be afraid. When you are betrayed by those who love you... do not be afraid." It reminded me of a song I heard growing up in church and at pretty much every funeral I've ever attended: Be Not Afraid. Easier said than done when, at times, you've got a heart wrestling anxiety and a mind tangled with doubt. But somehow these weekly outings are facing me in the right direction of letting the fear go.

Denomination: From the website, they are a "non-denominational church whose focus is on worshiping God and developing community." Basic enough. But even better is on the front of their bulletin: "whether you've come looking for a place to grow and develop your faith, or you're looking for a place to build community, or you're hungry to serve and respond to the needs of our local and/or global community, or even if you've come tired and need to just sit for a while, we have a chair for you." I am grateful for the coffee and the chance to literally just sit a bit.

Overall: I'm not 100% sold on the bible study / worship meld, but I did enjoy the atmosphere and community of people kinda like me. And with 4 services each week, it does a good job catering to everyone's needs.

Contact:

2021 21st Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212
Website: www.thevillagechapel.com
Facebook page

Reflections on the Journey Thus Far: The more churches I go to (ok, it's only been three during the Great Church Search, but still), the more I realize it's not actually about the church itself. It's about the conversation and the reflection and the message. Today, it was about something even more. In the bulletin, they listed a seminar being held Monday night called "Surviving the Road: How Your Relationships Can Navigate the Spring Tour." I know I'm picking these churches at random, but there's got to be something more to it if something like THAT - so specific to me - can just happen to be organized the next day. Come onnnnn -- coincidence? I don't think so....

One More Thing: To follow up our inaugural evening service, Peanut chose Fido as the dining establishment du jour. Which, in my mind, meant one thing: perfection. I go to Fido so often that I refer to my favorite salad (Mediterranean salad with grilled salmon and carmel champagne vinaigrette on the side) as the "Snelly Special." Of course, those that work there don't know what the hell I'm talking about, but that's besides the point. In any event, I think Peanut is a believer (in Fido) now too. Check out the latest on the Peanut Gallery: Proverbs 12:10.

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100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #23

2012-01-15T00:46:00.022-06:00

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Uncasville, CT:

It's free.
It's presented nicely.
It's a plethora of choices.
It's already prepared.
It's healthy (at least it can be).
It's ready when you are.
Its delicious (most days).
It's something you don't have to think about.
It's making me wish I had it at home.

It's #23: on-the-road catering.

Another one of the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life.
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You're Breaking My (Electric) Heart

2012-01-11T21:31:00.000-06:00

Nashville, TN: Granted, I did the 365 Project last year (and am attempting this year as well), but haven't had a lot of time to take pictures. And if there are no pictures, that means also no creative manipulation to them (ala Lightroom). It's been a bit of a creative drought.

So when my sweet friends, the L's, asked me to snap some shots of a band they are working with, I eagerly agreed.... until I found out they started at 10:30pm. I'm such an old lady these days, but I hope to be in bed by 10:30pm! Nevertheless, that's what friends are for and I showed up. I am grateful I did too because these guys are GREAT. They're called the Electric Hearts and lead singer Jessica Breanne can sing the hell out of some songs.

Here are some of my personal favs. And maybe these pics will end up in their VH1 Behind The Music story someday.

Keep Keepin' On

2012-01-09T13:36:00.000-06:00

Nashville, TN: As week 2 of The Great Church Search commenced, I entered the new establishment feeling beaten down. I had some pretty strong words of opposition used against me and, while I tried to acknowledge the fact that not everyone is going to agree with every choice I make in my life... it still hurts. However, my spirits were lifted when I entered Holy Trinity Community Church and was welcomed by an entire room full of voices singing loud and proud.

Aesthetics: The structure is a non-assuming ranch-house-style building across from Nashville West. Inside were simple & functional brick walls, a simple cross and two video flat screens with lyrics to the songs, ala karaoke.

Greeting: We had an unfair advantage, since were invited by and arrived with two friends who were already members of the community. However, the female pastor did make her way to personally welcome us before the service actually began.

Community: The community was predominantly LGBT men and women, mostly white, with a few other ethnicities sprinkled in the packed room of 150+ people. I heard a few children's voices and saw a few heads of white hair, but otherwise, the age range hovered between 30-50.

Music: The music was uplifting and spirited with the choir in black robes and a full band to back them. Having the words helped the congregation sing along and you might have stood out if you didn't clap your hands.

Service: The service, about 1:20, seemed to fly by with a mix of music, scripture reading, sermon, offering and a final blessing. Today, they invited us to the altar to receive a touch of water to the head, to commemorate our baptism. For those that receive ashes during Lent, think of a similar technique, but cooler on the forehead.

Message: Today, someone suggested I pray before I went to church and ask God to specifically speak to ME through the pastor's sermon. Not to be selfish, since we all know everyone has needs, but to ask simply if God would give me a personal shout out. The result? A little eerie. When I was wondering if God is even a part of this journey with me or letting me flounder on my own, my doubts were pacified. I was encouraged, "As a Christian, I'm not going to hide my light...."

Denomination: The United Church of Christ was a merger of two other denominations in 1957. It's under the Protestant umbrella, though congregations have the freedom to govern themselves. They can bless same-sex marriages and are active in social causes. When they state "you are welcome here" on their bulletin, I'm pretty sure they're talking to everyone.

Overall: I loved the openness of the community and the engaging sermon. Though I was welcomed, the church's modest walls can only hold about 100 comfortably, so sitting nearly on top of 150+ of my closest new friends made for bit of an uncomfortable morning. However, they are working on raising money to build a new church to hold the 600+ total members (right now, they're doing three services each Sunday to accommodate everyone).

Contact:

6727 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209

Website: www.holytrinitycommunitychurch.com

Facebook page

Reflections on the Journey Thus Far: This journey isn't going to be as easy as I had thought. When I feel like I might have bitten off more than I can chew or am possibly chewing on the wrong thing all together, the messages I'm receiving during the services seem to give me the gentle push to keep keepin' on.

thanks to Nikki & Kim for the invite & hospitality!

One More Thing: In the spirit of trying new things, the four of us ventured to a Vietnamese restaurant nearby called Kien Giang. No having ever tried that cuisine before I was surprised to find how much I could actually like soup as a meal! Peanut had a few thoughts of her own, which I'll share now on the accompanying blog: The Peanut Gallery.

G is for Gertie

2012-01-06T10:44:00.000-06:00

Nashville, TN: I promised myself that I wouldn't do it again. After last year's furry relationship ended, I was hell-bent to keep my home pet-free in hopes to alleviate any attachment issues I would have when I would have to say goodbye.

But after looking at my fairly open schedule... and my fairly large condo.... and my fairly increased amount of free time, I sent a note to Mary at East C.A.N., just mentioning that I might be available for SHORT TERM babysitting-for-fosters, if one happened to present itself in the new year. Just four days later, I got the call.

"We found this girl on a porch near Shelby Golf Course this morning. She is older, very sweet and gentle and wants to go home! No collar, no tags."

I mean, who am I to say no to a little old lady that just wants to go home?

I told them I'd be available to take her for a few days, until they found her owners or they found a permanent foster family. They said her name was Holly Rose, after the street she was found on, but once I saw her, I knew this was no Holly. This was a Gertie.

Why Gertie you may ask? Here are just a few reasons, brought to you by the letter G:

Girl. Frank was a boy. And while I LOVE having a boy around (sigh...), girls are sometimes just easier to get along with. Plus, the squatting-while-going action is so much more lady-like than the stick-the-leg-up-and-pee-on-anything-in-sight deal the boys do.

Granny. Gertie is old. Like 13 or 14 years old. At the vet, where they tested her for heartworm (negative - yay!) and gave her basic vaccines, the doctor said she was old but her teeth were clean, so it seems as though someone had taken care of her throughout her life. She has arthritis, so steps are hard (especially my second story condo and additional stairs to my loft) and even getting out of her crate in the morning is tough if she's faced the opposite direction and she just can't get out. She also has cataracts, so runs into things and doesn't actually see me coming to her unless I clap really loud. Good news is she sleeps most of the day and doesn't bark when I leave. I'm guessing if Gertie were a human, she would take lots of naps and may consider getting a walker at some point.

Gas. Gertie's got gas. A lot of it. I'm talking about the kind when you're sitting in a quiet room and you hear that certain noise and you look around to see who it was. I'll look down at her and Gertie hasn't even moved from her red blanket to acknowledge it. Usually you can blame it on the dog, but in this case, it really is! (I promise I would claim it if it were me.)

Great hair. Not knowing exactly what breed Gertie is, I can only assume she is full breed Mutt. Her fur is very coarse and she doesn't really shed (thank goodness). She's got these great white eyebrows that surround her eyes and smaller patches of other white on her chest and paws. But her BEST feature is her brown mohawk in the middle of her head. I'm guessing she was a hard-core punk rocker back in her heyday.

Good love is on the way. I haven't bonded with Gertie like I have with Frank. She's too big to cuddle and doesn't seem to need the attention that he did. But there's a need I'm fulfilling and even if she doesn't show me by snoozing on my lap, I can tell she appreciates it. I realize I'm learning something from each of these foster dogs. With Gertie, I understand more clearly that everyone deserve to be loved. Including the elderly and the poor and the homeless. And when I have given her the love she needs at this point, someone else will take over and continue to love her.

The other reason she's a Gertie? I didn't think of Bea Arthur first. (damnit)

Two Lapsed Catholics Walk Into A Church....

2012-01-01T22:00:00.276-06:00

Nashville, TN: January 1st just coincidentally falls on a Sunday in 2012, so what better way to start the new year than by jumping right into my project: The Great Church Search.

Almost immediately after I posted my Facebook note about wanting to visit a different church each week, I got a text from a friend who was interested in joining me on the adventure. The thought of having a plus one when I went on my church dates seemed too good to be true, but at 10:15am this morning, I got a call from Kris, aka Peanut, fulfilling her end of the deal. She was standing outside of Woodland Presbyterian Church.

"I don't think anything is happening is here today," she said. "No one is around and the door is locked."

Great. Our first choice of nearby-church-with-a-mid-morning-service was a no-go. Was this a sign that maybe we shouldn't be jumping around? We are both lapsed Catholics, afterall. Maybe God was telling us that we needn't be snooping into other denominations. (Oh, Catholic guilt, how I can always count on you to show up!)

I jumped online and found the next closest location: East End United Methodist Church. Five minutes later, I was standing outside the tall structure with Peanut. With the pangs of Catholic guilt still not fully released, I took and deep breath and told her, "let's do this."

Aesthetics: Visually, the structure sits regally atop a hill in the beautiful East End neighborhood of (East) Nashville. From the outside, it looks as if you might be walking into a cathedral (and is awesome as a wedding backdrop, as my friends B&C did). But once inside, the room is smaller than you imagined and offers a simple, homey feel. The stained glass windows add a nice touch of color and the organ's gold pipes make for a nice backdrop behind the altar.

Greeting: We were greeted by a soft-spoken older woman who offered us a bulletin. When we sat in the pew (middle, back, naturally), we noticed the pastor (a female - still strange for me to see, yet inspired that some religions have finally come this far) was chatting with a group of women in a nearby pew. I liked the buzz happening in the room (instead of the complete silence that is encouraged in other establishments), but was hoping she wouldn't come our way & ask too may questions just yet. As we were leaving, however, she did make it a point to personally welcome us to the community. It felt genuine and I appreciated the gesture. (Though I didn't mention to her that she was part of my experiment... not sure if that would intrigue or offend people.)

Community: There were about 50 people at the service and the majority were old white people. There were a couple of families with small kids, a few lesbians and two people of mixed ethnicity (probably African American). Considering there are over 700 churches in Nashville (that's right seven HUNDRED), I guess I can't expect all churches to be über diverse.

Music: As I mentioned above, there was a pipe organ, so it was pretty obvious the music would be traditional hymns. There was also a lovely piano with a couple of tunes played on that. A bit too stiff for my personal taste (and a wee too loud), but it seemed to fit the scene.

Service: The service was exactly an hour and had a nice flow to it. Personal prayer requests, song, readings from the bible, sermon, sign of peace, communion, more songs and final close. Communion was nice because the pastor invited everyone to the alter and said "it (the bread & wine) doesn't belong exclusively to our congregation, but is open to all who seek the grace and love of Jesus." It was also nice because she used hand sanitizer before she broke the King's Hawaiian Bread and poured the grape juice.

Message: The sermon consisted of a handful of mish-mashed stories. There was something about a bucket list and not being able to get off of a mailing list and getting toilets fixed. Just when I was just about to zone out and think about what we'd be having for lunch afterwards, the pastor got me. "The question for the year is: Where is God in all of this," she challenged. "Ask when it's easy, but also when times are most frightening. And the hope is to have an immediate answer to share with those hungry to know that God is love and grace." Lucky for her, I am hungry! To know God... and to figure out where Peanut has decided to go to lunch today.

Denomination: Thanks to my friend, Wikipedia, I've learned the overall basics of United Methodists. It was founded in 1968 and came out of the Church of England. They believe in the trinity, the bible and salvation through Jesus. They ordain men and women and are against alcohol and abortion. They don't approve of homosexuality, but "implore that families and churches not reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends." Another website said "If you want something done, get the Methodists to do it." Not a bad tag line.

Overall: I can say the United Methodists are at the top of the list right now. (Granted, they're the first one we visited, so the competition is scarce.) The location of this particular church is a huge bonus (within walking distance from my house, if I'm feeling motived). I'm not necessarily sure I would go regularly to services there, but I do know that if I went back, I would definitely be welcomed.

Contact:
1212 Holly St., Nashville, TN 37206
Website: www.eastendumc.org
Facebook page

Reflections on the Journey Thus Far: One thing I've got to keep in mind is that Peanut and I both grew up Catholic. So, any reviews we have to offer is going to have a Catholic filter. The best part about Peanut joining me is that because she and I are from similar backgrounds and in a similar spiritual spot now, I'm interested in discussing our reactions to the same church.

One More Thing: Did I say the best part about Peanut joining me is because we're both lapsed Catholics on a hunt for God? Ok, true, but a very close second is this: The Peanut Gallery. I forgot to mention the fact that my friend Peanut is also a roadie (like moi) and a chef (not like me AT ALL). So in addition to seeking out a different church each week, Peanut is going to find a different restaurant each week, at which we can discuss our discoveries over brunch. Turns out she's also a really witty writer, so with a little coaxing (and by coaxing, I mean I said "you should write a blog!" and she said "ok!"), she now has her own blog about the happenings after our church-dates.

From today's adventure, check out: The Madonna and Mad Donna's.

Crab Cakes Benny, 2 for 1 Mimosas and conversation about God.
I honestly don't know anything better.

If you have any suggestions on great churches in Nashville to check out, I'd love to know! Looking forward to next week's adventure.

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The Great Church Search

2012-01-01T09:27:00.000-06:00

Nashville, TN: Yesterday I put a the following as my status update on Facebook:

I was amazed at the response I got. From "LOVE it!" to suggestions of which church to try to a friend's text to say she wants to go too... people seemed to be really receptive to the idea. One friend's comment was a bit more curious:

Why the search?

What a great question. I had put SOME thought into it when I initially came up with the plan, but then got a little swept away by the Facebook buzz. So why would I delve into such an experiment? There are a variety of reasons:

1) Community. I miss the community a church has to offer. Granted, my real community in Nashville for the last two years has been Thistle Farms. And I am definitely not ending that anytime soon. But I like the idea of having an extended church family that I see each week and have a chance to grow in relationship with others.

2) Routine. When I'm not on the road, I feel a little out of sorts. It's important that I have a routine, something to mark the time. Knowing I have a thing to do each week - and then doing it - gives me a sense of purpose.

3) Gaining knowledge. I don't know the "right" way to God. No one really does. There are so many different religions -- who's to say which one is the ONLY way? I believe there is a God but I'm not convinced there's only one way to know God. Problem is: I don't really know much about any religions. So why not learn about different religions and discover how God is found in each of them? Maybe that way I can figure out what is the right way (for me) to get to God. In the words of GI Joe, "knowing is half the battle."

4) Writing. My blog has gotten really lame lately. It's hard to share really personal feelings because I don't want to haphazardly hurt anyone else. And because I don't want to sound like a crazy person. Most of my writing has focused on the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life and it's helpful to have a subect. This way, I have at least one blog each week that I know will have some sort of thread / meaning from the previous week's post. And I won't sound like crazy person. (hopefully)

5) Do What I Do, Not What I Say. I talk a good game. I say I want to share my spiritual journey with others. I say I want those who meet me to immediately know the importance of faith in my life. Well, how about instead of just talking about this journey that I'm on, live out this journey that I'm on? I can sit and talk about it all day long (and trust me, sometimes I do), but until I'm out in the world, really trying to learn what it all means, it's simply just talk.

(That being said, once I go to a church each week, I plan on blogging and talking about it.)

But the MAIN reason behind this weekly call to action is simply: I want to grow closer to God. I know God lives in us and all around us, but considering religions and churches have been around for hundreds of thousands of years, God's got to also be hanging around these holy places too.

So now is the official introduction of my once-a-week (when I'm in town... giving myself a bit of grace here) feature on my blog called:

The Great Church Search
(aka The 2012 Spiritual Establishment Hopping Project)

My hope is to find a different church each week to attend, pay attention the building / people / message, research the denomination, reflect on the overall feeling I got there, then blog my results each week. As the journey unfolds each week, it will be interesting to see how I'm feeling with progress and perhaps how others respond to my musings.

Credit: Ironman

Although I would love to say at the end of this experiment, I'll find the perfect church for me. But even if that doesn't happen, I'm excited about all of the knowledge I'll acquire and the stronger relationship I hope to form with God. Plus, it's about the journey, not the destination.... right?

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Focusing On The End Of The Year

2011-12-31T20:12:00.114-06:00

Nashville, TN: So at the beginning of the year, I decided to really focus on what I was doing in my life. To not just exist, but to live. Enfocar. I realized a few things while trying to keep that intention active throughout the year:

I've still got to figure out a way to multitask more efficiently. It wasn't that my focus wasn't always there, but it was that I was focusing on too many things at one time.

Just because YOU have a set focus about life doesn't mean others have the same focus. And it's easy to slip into un-enfocar (if that's even a word) if you're not paying attention. I've got a work on constantly bringing it back to my core and re-focus everyday.

Enfocar is exhausting.

So as a way to prepare for the new year -- and a new intention -- my friend, A, suggested a ritual to honor the moment. During the summer, A had brought over a prayer lantern and offered up my deepest hopes in to the night sky. It was a beautiful list of desires and dreams and I could only pray they were read directly by God. (Though I'm pretty sure the flame blew out & it landed somewhere in East Nashville. But as long as someone got my list, right?)

With two lanterns still in their packaging, A and her trusty companion, Mother Teresa, met me at the lake (her wishful thinking. more literally: the Centennial Park pond). There, we spoke of our heart's longings and wrote our words of intentions on the delicate paper.

A chose faith, a simple but powerful means to alleviate disillusionment. I chose wisdom, so that, as I continue to gain knowledge and skills, I actually know what to do with them.

Once our prayers were made, we lit the lanterns and sent them into the dusky sky.

A went first:

And then me:

As the lanterns disappeared into the night, I was reminded of how temporary this all is. The joys and the pains; the highs and the lows... they're all wrapped up together in a package we know as 2011 and then suddenly they are gone and a new year will begin. As I begin the next chapter of this autobiography, I offer up a borrowed prayer: that I may have serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

The Ongoing Interwebs

2011-12-30T09:55:00.007-06:00

Nashville, TN: It's amazing what the internet holds. Pages and pages filled with songs and musings and stories about life and heartbreak and insight. I got away from my time spent blog-browsing for a while and for good or bad, I've got time now. Lucky for me, the blog-writers never stopped, so now it's just a case of me catching up.

Here are a few of my favorites today:

My Spiritual Journey - Take 2
Top great excerpt: Anybody starting a sentence with, “You must look within,” chanced me throwing Eckhart Tolle’s book at them.

Time Lost and Found
Top great except: Can’t they give up the gym once a week and buy two hours’ worth of fresh, delectable moments? (Here they glance at my butt.)

30 Things To Stop Doing To Yourself
Top great excerpt: Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.

And my new favorite video today: Somebody That I Used To Know. Between the lyrics and the facial expressions, I might as well trade in my coffee for a stiff drink.

More findings to come....

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You Say You Want A Revelation

2011-12-26T07:50:00.013-06:00

On a plane somewhere between Omaha, NE and Dallas, TX: It’s the end of December and I can’t believe I’ve only written one blog. Actually, I CAN believe it, I just hate that it’s true. It’s been a combination of too busy / too lazy / too sad. I’ve had some blog ideas over the past few weeks, but haven’t had or taken the time to help them come to fruition. However, I’ve had their titles in my mind:

The Gambler (you’ve got to know when to hold 'em…)
Don’t Speak
Ghosts of Christmases Past

Sometimes, I feel like my blogs should be documentation of the BIG things that happen in my life. And while some have been, considering my blog is titled “musings from the road,” it really is more about my aimless thoughts about life as I see it from wherever I’m standing. So maybe I can cut myself some slack.

I’ve had a few revelations over the past month that aren’t mind-blowing, but more of a recognition of “this is how it feels when life is this way.” They’re like mini-aha moments.

A few choice selections:

One of my greatest fears is being somewhere in the world and no one knowing where I am. One of my greatest adventures this year was being somewhere in the world and no one knowing where I was. Interesting how I feel differently about it when I look at it in a different light.
Having a spiritual life is like having a child. You can pretend it doesn’t exist or isn’t as important as you want it to be, but eventually it’s going to come around and expect to be taken care of. It might be easier to just introduce the child right away so it’s not a surprise later on.
People are going to disappoint you. Even the ones you really love and even if they either don’t realize they’re doing it or they think they are doing it for the “right” reasons.
The only thing that stays the same is change. The more you try to control it and keep things in the same box that has worked in the past, the more you lose control over it.
Unabashedly bawling your eyes out (thank U, Alanis) with a real friend is truly cleansing.
Sometimes the better choice is to walk away. Sometimes the better choice is to just do it. Either way, both decisions can make me feel shitty and second guess myself. But at least when the decision has been made, I can begin working from that new place.
This moment, good or bad, does not mean it’s going to be the same forever. We have no idea what the future holds so just because it’s happening a certain way right now does not mean it’s going to happen the same way again the next day or week or year.
Careful what you ask for. You just might get it.

My hope is to eventually get the new iPhone where it records your voice and translates it into text for you. That way, I can just talk into my phone and eventually go back and copy & past them into a blog. Maybe that way, I’ll get a few more revelations out as they’re actually happening.

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100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #22

2011-12-03T01:53:00.000-06:00

Las Vegas, NV: At the end of the night, when I REALLY need a beer, and I'm willing to shell out $8.99 for a Corona in the mini bar (because I REALLY need a beer), there's nothing more frustrating than having a bottle opener not do it's job.

Thanks to my Reef's, I can take care of that problem on my own. Makes for a perfect Little Pleasure of (Touring) Life.

#22: Multitasking flip flops: shoe and bottle opener.

Because I REALLY need it.

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The Dreaded Dog Show

2011-11-24T13:21:00.002-06:00

Nashville, TN: Thanksgiving morning. Turkey cooking. Mom reading. Dad futzing (with the PC he just fixed up for me). Me blogging. The Macy's Day Parade is now over, but the TV remains on. Mom and I aren't paying attention until we hear the host announcing the next round of dogs. Somehow, we had left on the National Dog Show and they were now on "working dogs." We're waiting to see our favorite type of dog -- the dog I considered to be mine, yet really raised by M&D while I trotted off to college.

Credit: Pets Funnies

I got Shasta when I was 9. She was already an adult dog, housebroken, calm and sweet. She was like the other only child in the family, but as she got older, the vet suggested we get a puppy to "help her feel young."

Credit: Pets For Sale

Around 16, I got Jadie. We plucked her out from a pile of purebred pups and after she recovered from a case of worms (that's what happens when the puppy farm loses track of who's getting shots), she was energetic & hyper, yet still sweet. Shasta wasn't a big Jadie fan, but I loved watching the two of them together.

Even though I'll always have a special place in my heart for other four legged friends that might come into my life (FRANK!), I still melt when I see the furry, white smiling breed I grew up with.

The Samoyed. For years, when I talked about Shasta & Jadie, I told others of their make and pronounced it just like it looks -- sam-OY-ed. No reason to think it could be said any other way.... until this morning's dreaded dog show.

SAM-eye-ed.
(click on the link to hear)

Mom and I look at each other in shock. What is a SAM-eye-ed!? After 27 years of having these dogs in our lives & hearts, it's pronounced differently? It would be like suddenly she tells me my name is actually pronounced Caro-LINE (though I actually get that quite a bit from my friends in the South.....). Dad comes into the room to see what we're freaking out about and I play him the pronunciation on the computer.

SAM-eye-ed.

He first looks confused, then shakes it off with confidence. "I don't care what the hell they say, it'll always be sam-OY-ed." Mom concurs. "I could have gone my whole life without knowing that."

So, in the future, I plan on:

- not watching dog shows again. Who knew it would be like finding out there's no Santa Claus (not that I actually can confirm nor deny that yet...).

- not sharing new information with my parents that may go against their current understanding of the world... or at least against their understanding of dogs.

- getting a dog in the future that's breed you can only pronounce one way: MUTT.

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100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #21

2011-11-21T23:08:00.000-06:00

Nashville, TN:

I love my job.

I love the music.

I love the travel.

But after a big chunk of time on the road,

I'm ready for

home.

bed.

quiet.

The next little pleasure of (touring) life:

#21: Coming home.

post-road suitcase vomit.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #20

2011-11-18T10:22:00.021-06:00

Biloxi, MS:

It's November.
It's cold.
I'm wearing gloves AND a scarf.
(with my bus flip flops, of course.)

Yet still,
my morning view
from the bus window
brings to mind
a scene from a beach movie.

#20: Seeing a body of water outside of your window, no matter what the month or temperature.

(one of the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life)

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100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #19

2011-11-18T01:36:00.014-06:00

On a bus somewhere between Lafayette, LA & Biloxi, MS:

There are sometimes when it seems appropriate to get off the bus at a truck stop. There are other times when it seems appropriate to get off the bus at a truck stop... in costume.

#19: Truck Stop + Costumes + Middle of the Night = good clean(ish) fun!

(another of the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life)

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100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #18

2011-11-03T08:44:00.033-05:00

Omaha, NE:

Another of the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

#18: When the first show of a run starts in your hometown,

you can fly in early to see your family.

M+D

A+B+C

G+G

'nuff said.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #17

2011-10-22T11:14:00.021-05:00

Credit: K-Love by J.D.

Bismarck, ND: One of the craziest mind scrambles, while traveling on a bus, is trying to figure out (and planning ahead for) what time zone you will be in when you wake up. Thankfully for the iPhone, I can set my alarm for the time I want to awake and somewhere in the night, it will automatically change my clock when it crosses that magical line.

But the best part of this mystery is a 100 Little Pleasure of (Touring) Life:

#17: Getting an extra hour of sleep because of changing time zones.

Granted, today I actually lost an hour by going from Mountain Time to Central Time, but it was a perfect reminder of how good it CAN be when it goes the other way!

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100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #16

2011-10-19T19:46:00.035-05:00

On a plane somewhere between Denver, CO and Bozeman, MT: The part of any plane ride I dread the most is not the security lines, not the small seats (yes, even for me) and not even the completely exhausted feeling I have once I get done with a 8 hour travel day. Ok, well maybe I dread that part a little bit. But more importantly, the part I dread the most is the time in between taking off and reaching 10,000 feet and the time when we're "beginning our initial descent." Why? Because that is when we're instructed to turn off all portable electronic devices. Hmpf. I'm sure there's a good reason why but it still bugs me. And although I suppose I could read or meditate or take a much needed cat-nap, I'd really rather be blogging.

But, this blog series is about focusing on the opposite of the negative bits of touring life. So, instead of pointing out the parts I dread about flying to my work city du jour (sorry for the rant), I wanted to present the next 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

Credit: Consumer Travel

#16: Reading the free magazines in the seat back pocket and making plans for future travel.

Not only do they show a map of the places I've been to or hope to get to, but they give me some creative ideas to do when I have down time. You know, all the places I want to travel to when I'm finally off the road from traveling.

Newest plan, thanks to United Airlines: Three Perfect Days in NYC. Though I'd better wait until it warms up a bit... 2012 perhaps?

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100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #15

2011-10-15T09:37:00.001-05:00

Huntington, WV: He's been working all night, traveling steadily down the road, drinking red bulls & blaring country music. As soon as he arrives in the city du jour, he's ready for bed. But before he lets his vampire-like sleep routine take over, he gathers all of the key packets and rooming lists from the front desk, places them neatly on the front lounge table and sometimes - when parked in a far away land (or around the other side of the main entrance) - will leave treasure maps to help us figure out where to go.

#15: Waking up on the bus to find the hotel information and key packets laying neatly on the table.

*Another 100 Little Pleasure of (Touring) Life.

I am grateful to my bus driver for helping us ease into the morning. Oh, for that, and also for getting us here in one piece.

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Welcome A-Board

2011-10-14T01:18:00.000-05:00

On a bus somewhere between Green Bay, WI and Ft. Wayne, IN: Despite my normally high stress level and some seemingly out-of-the-blue attacks from those who are supposedly on the same team as me, life is really good. I'm finally getting caught up with my daily duties after my three week paid vacation and have been getting some very kind praise from those I encounter on the road. A certain someone is back in the picture and life is simply better with him in it than without him. M&D stopped by for a lunch on Sunday and it was the perfect fix I needed for a little parental love.

800+ supporters at the Fall Fundraiser.
photo by Jordan Walker

And to top it all off, the place I've spent most of my energy focused on over the past two years (which has given me more energy than I ever thought I could get!), Thistle Farms, has officially asked me to become a board member. What that means, exactly, I'm still not 100% sure (glad I didn't have to apply for this job), but all I know is that I am so grateful and proud to become an official part of the community - or at least have a title that is a little more accredited than "blog queen."

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #14

2011-10-06T21:44:00.008-05:00

Moline, IL:

#14: First show of the new tour.

(from 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life)

After all the planning,
and building,
and prepping,
and stressing,
the lights go black,
the music starts,
and the screams deafen.

And we're off!

Paid Vacation

2011-10-01T08:23:00.000-05:00

St. John's, NL Canada: My job duties on the road are pretty consistent, including: book travel, put together ticket/passes envelopes, make sure all 9 band members are accounted for at all times (which gives me a new appreciation of being a parent... and a reminder of why I'm not).

But sometimes the call of duty requires me to get a little more involved. I mean, if the boss needs someone to set up & go on guided sightseeing tours of cities we've never been to and eat meals at the city's finest hidden restaurants, who am I to say no? Its my job, after all! I am grateful for these more-or-less paid vacation days I am able take (though also burning the midnight oil to catch up on the work I'm not doing since I'm out galavanting in new-found-lands!).

Here are some pics from my latest (working) adventures in the great north:

Niagara Falls, Ontario

The falls up close & personal again.

Smart thinking this time: water shoes.

A few more of us don the blue rain slickers.

That was us on that little boat! (ok, not really us, but we did ride that boat.)

Panoramic view from my room. I finally made it over to the other side!

Halifax, Ontario

Halifax was the closest city with a train port to the Titanic tragedy, where families of the deceased could look for their loved ones. Here, a small replica of the Titanic floats in a pond, with a (seemingly oversized) bird on it.

Jack Dawson's grave?

On top of the Citadel

Canadian beauty

Drinks at Alexander Keith's Brewery

St. John's, Newfoundland

View from my circular window in my hotel room

From here, you can get to Paris, Dublin, London & the Titanic.

Canadian thistles

On top of Signal Hill

I made it!

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #13

2011-09-27T07:58:00.000-05:00

Halifax, NS Canada: Why this took me how-many-years to figure out, I'll never understand, but I'm so glad I finally figured it out (and my band is pretty happy too!).

The next 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

#13: Bringing your own power strip to the airport.

If you're lucky enough to spot the one outlet (with two plugs) hidden on a stone column, you're probably not lucky enough to be the FIRST one to discover it. My own power strip now allows me to charge my computer and phone AND cuts out on possible band whining. Win win for everyone.

(Wonder how much I should be charging for power now....)

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #12

2011-09-25T10:07:00.000-05:00

Gilford, NH:

Most days, it's easy to find the down side to everything

(and some people make sure to relay that information to me).

I'm all about acting as a sounding board,

but when I've done all I can

and it's STILL not good enough,

I have to wonder...

will it ever be good enough?

will I ever make everyone happy?

I know I can't,

yet I still keep trying....

not sure if I am a glutton for punishment

or just an idiot.

Or maybe it's that no matter what others say,

I don't know any other way to work

- or live -

than to keep trying and do my best,

over and over again.

It's times like these that a little something sweet

will catch my eye and remind me:

it's gonna be ok.

From the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

#12: Spotting a little something sweet that makes you smile.

Today's sweet treat was found at catering

in the form of little dog salt & pepper shakers

(held together with magnetic noses)

which helped me shake off the funk,

if only for a moment.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #11

2011-09-17T14:28:00.076-05:00

Bangor, ME: There's a moment of silence before soundcheck begins. The set has been assembled, the chairs have been placed and the band is on the way from the hotel. But before the first drum has been kicked, the air is filled with sound -- sultry and seductive. If you stop to listen to the music, the words, the voice, you can feel your heart start to long. But you can't get too wrapped up in the feeling, because at some point, it will abruptly stop and you'll find yourself looking around to see if anyone has caught you in this moment.

The next 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

#11: Hearing Jeff Buckley used to EQ the FOH system.

Soon, the music will change to the sassy twang we're all grateful is keeping us working, but for a brief moment, I am swept away by the sweet sound of a lost soul.

listen below:

The Sequel

2011-09-12T12:04:00.002-05:00

Nashville, TN: I'm still not a believer in happy endings. The idealized Hollywood "he comes back and they live happily ever after" wrap to all major motion pictures is something made up to make girls pine for an unrealistic finale.

But then again, maybe I'm wrong.

Sometimes he does come back. And sometimes time apart is just what you need to realize how much you miss that person. But this isn't any Hollywood ending. There's work to be done. It's about constant communication and putting my needs on the table. It's being strong enough to stand up for myself, but flexible enough to compromise. It's saying "I'm sorry" when I'm wrong and expecting nothing less than total respect from my partner. It's about laughing and loving and letting go of my fairy tail illusions of "happiness."

Though I still don't know how this movie sequel will end, I'm overwhelmed with true happiness that I have a starring role in it.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #10

2011-09-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

On a plane somewhere between Charlotte & Nashville: While sitting on my latest flight, I just realized my next submission to the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

#10: Finding fun things to do while on planes.

While in a plane, you’re virtually trapped for the next X amount of hours, so why not make the most of it, instead of complaining about your middle seat, the lack of leg room, the smell of urine in the teeny tiny bathroom (though, don’t worry, I do that too….)? Here are just a few of the most recent “fun with flying friends” activities via the highway in the sky.

Taking pictures of people sleeping. It happens to all of us. You’ve had a long day yesterday. You’ve got an early morning call time today. You take your seat on the flight and can’t take out any electronics until you’re above 10,000 feet, which means that you have at least 20-30 minutes to…. fall asleep. And thanks to good “friends” and their iPhones, you can have a lasting memory of what you really look like as you sleep sitting up.

Making puppets out of barf bags. What are those paper white bags in every seat back really for? Puking after a bit of turbulence and a case of air sickness? Not anymore! How about borrow that crayon some screaming kid left in your seat and draw a face on it? Then, simply *put your hand in the bag, hold it up to the seat in front of you, and wah-lah: instant hand puppet.

*fair warning: make sure the bag is unused before you put your hand in it!

Having the flight attendants announce a birthday. Only a few minutes left until you land and the flight attendant announces which baggage claim your luggage will (hopefully) be… and your touring compadre's birthday. Technically, his real day of birth isn't actually for another six months, but who’s counting. Today, a plane full of strangers are singing “happy birthday” to him. And, if you’re lucky enough to be on a certain Southwest flight, they will ask everyone to turn off turn on their flight attendant call button, and present to him a plane full of birthday candles.

Photo Credit: Lighthouse Dispatch

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #9

2011-08-31T20:27:00.012-05:00

On a plane somewhere between Edmonton, AB and Ft. McMurray, AB: Working in the country music genre doesn’t give me much opportunity to travel internationally (as of yet!). So when we do head out to a town where a passport is required, I try to take in and appreciate as much as I can of the foreign land, even if it is simply our neighbor to the north. Yes, sweet Canada offers a sense of embarking on a global voyage, while keeping within the comforts of the same continent (and taking US currency).

My hunger for worldwide travel is partially satiated while, in Canada, I am treated to hearing and reading all security rules in two languages. I know it’s more work for flight attendants to have to show you how to fasten a seat belt twice (while the recording explains that you simply lift the lever to release the belt in both English and French), but it feels very sophisticated and world-traveled to hear it.

Which brings me to my next 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

#9: Being exposed to a variety of languages while traveling.

And who knows? Maybe I’ll pick up a phrase or two in another language if I really start paying attention. I just hope people whom I converse with want to hear about using seat cushions for flotation (or le coussin du fauteuil sert de bouee de sauvetage).

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #8

2011-08-25T23:07:00.020-05:00

St. Paul, MN: Deep fried. On a stick. So good, just not good for you. I'm talking about none other than (on my list of 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life):

#8: Fair food.

In my life, only the road would take me to multiple fairs in a few short weeks. The average fair-go-er's mentality of "I'll only eat this once this summer" goes out the window when you visit the Iowa State Fair one week and the Minnesota State Fair just five days later. I admit I indulged a bit the first week (how many times can I really turn down a corn dog?), but the second week, I just took pictures instead. Funny, I still feel guilty just looking at them...

The original: corn dog

Anything you want on a stick

Fried pickles (with ranch dressing, naturally)

Grilled corn on the cob

Bags and bags of cotton candy

The healthiest thing I could find: deep fried fruit

A road map to hotdish on a stick

The ultimate: Pig Licker (chocolate covered bacon)

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #7

2011-08-20T09:57:00.117-05:00

Des Moines, IA: Today is the first show in a long time that I'm back on a bus. Over the past few months, the few shows we've had have been just far enough away that we've had to fly. As much as I love accruing frequent flier points, it's really nice to get on the bus in the late evening, snuggle under the covers of my freezing bunk and wake up in the show city -- without having to deal with security lines.

This fall, I'll be on more of a weekend warrior schedule (not like THAT, but rather, leaving home on the bus on Wednesday nights, shows Thursday/Friday/Saturday, home on Sunday mornings). As always, I take the time right before the start of a new tour (or the start of a block of time at home, for that matter) to rethink my health and fitness rituals. Which, in most cases, starts on a good foot (literally) but ends with receiving a "we miss you" emails from the latest gym I've joined.

It's a bit of a catch 22 -- when I'm at home, I can get a gym membership. But I soon lack the motivation to get up and drive to said gym when I've got a lot of other in-town responsibilities pulling at me. On the road, I'm really limited to just the hotel and venue, but being out there drains me, so I'd much rather pick 30 minutes of extra sleep over getting up and doing anything proactive for myself.

I'm starting to realize what I'm doing wrong (with this topic, specifically. The "things I'm doing wrong" list in general is wayyyy to long for this blog). I set my sights on one time period -- on the road or off the road -- then I tell myself I'm going to make huge life changes when that allotted time frame comes up. Mainly, because I've failed at doing anything during the time period I'm currently in. I don't, however, take into consideration the fact that I'm physically busier / in more places (while driving myself around) during my time at home AND that I really do need as much sleep as I can possibly get when I'm on the road, to keep up my strength for three shows back-to-back.

So, instead of having an all-or-nothing mentality this time around, I'm going to see what it looks like if I JUST run when I am at home (hello again, Centennial. It's been a while.). No new gym memberships (just yet), no trying to cram in cardio AND strength training in one day. Just an early evening run that I can still get my things done during the day and go out for the evenings to keep up some sort of social life. And, in fact, I might just enjoy being outdoors again (especially when it cools down a bit).

Then, when I'm on the road, I'm going to see what it looks like if I JUST do strength training. Weights, machines, sit-ups, push-ups (well... TBD on the push-ups, since I really really dislike them). If all goes well, I can sleep in until 8:30am or so, roll out of the bus and into my 3-hour room, work out for approximately 30-45 mins, then have enough time to shower, re-pack and get picked up to go my office de jour.

Which brings me to my next - very long winded - 100 Little Pleasure of Touring Life:

#7: Hotel Gyms

- almost ALL hotels have them available
- most have machines and free weights
- they're hardly ever really that busy
- you only run into one or two of your band members, not all 9 of them
- they're only a few floors below your room
- 99% of them are FREE with NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED!

Now the challenge becomes whether or not I can stick to THIS newly revised plan instead of just writing about it. If there was only some way to get in shape by just talking about the great ways to get in shape.....

Surreality Bites

2011-08-13T12:55:00.001-05:00

On a bus from Portland, OR to Astoria, OR: And when I say "on a bus," I don't mean our comfy home-away-from-home tour bus, I mean a 55 passenger tourist bus that normally schleps the elderly from their group home to the nearest casino. We started today with a 6:45am lobby call (much better than the 3:45am lobby call we had a few days ago), a quick hour flight from Washington to Oregon, and now we spend the next two hours in this road boat, heading to our final show destination. Tomorrow, post-show, we'll get back on the same coach and do it in reverse.

To be honest, travel hasn't been that bad this week, but I had to giggle at the Surreal McCoy's latest cartoon. Perhaps she should consider starting a career as a travel agent?

Where The Wild Things Are

2011-08-12T00:51:00.001-05:00

Airway Heights, WA: Tonight, I saw the movie, Beginners. It wasn't necessarily one of those movies you could throw into the good or bad category. I definitely liked it, but I left furrowing my brow, knowing I'd probably be thinking about it for the rest of the night.

And here I am, writing a blog about it.

The furrowing brow came from the following dialogue between an elderly father and his 30-something year old son:

Dad: “Let’s say you always wanted a lion ever since you were a kid, and you wait and wait, but the lion never comes. Then along comes a giraffe. You can be alone, or you can be with a giraffe.”

Son: “I’d wait for the lion.”

Dad: “This is why I worry about you.”

A review of the movie from Screened explains it like this:

"There are two kinds of people in the world; those who will gladly take the companion of a giraffe to avoid the abyss of loneliness, and those who will wait for their lion to avoid the equally daunting abyss of disappointment. In short, you can either wait for that perfect partner, or you can compromise and learn to accept what’s on offer."

credit: National Geographic

When I first heard the line, I thought "well, of course I'm going to wait for the lion! I don't want to settle for the giraffe just because I'm lonely or think the lion is never going to show up. Plus, what if I give up and go with the giraffe and then the lion comes along? Then I'll be stuck with the giraffe, knowing if I had only waited a little longer, the lion would be waiting for me!"

credit: National Geographic

But after reading the above description, I wonder if the lion actually even exits. Maybe this holding out for the "perfect partner" is just a crazy idea put into our heads by others that have gone before us who are unhappy in their own relationships. Maybe it really is all about compromising and learning and working with what is in front of you instead of pushing it away in hopes to meet "the one" -- that may or may not actually exist.

I'm still not sure how to figure out if someone is the lion or the giraffe... or if it means I am supposed to hold out for the lion (if he is even real) or go with the giraffe (as long as I'm not with him because I'm lonely). What I do know is that I am so grateful to be in the place where the wild things are. I just hope I will be shown what the hell to do in this zoo.

Charlie

2011-08-08T18:19:00.016-05:00

On a plane somewhere between Toronto, ON and Saskatoon, SK Canada: A friend recently shared news of the fate of his dog, Charlie, with me. After many years of a good life -- being watched after and fed heartily and scratched and rubbed and loved on -- Charlie was old, sick, and unable to do much for himself anymore. It would only be days -- or maybe hours -- that Charlie would be with us.

I wanted to give my friend something that he could hold onto once Charlie was gone. A memory of the unconditional love he offered while he was here. I thought it might be fun to also capture the rest of Charlie's brothers and sister (all four of them!), together with their adoring master, so this moment in time would never be forgotten.

The results were sweet and chaotic, with lots of panting. Much like living with five dogs at once, I'm guessing. I've added an album to my website -- called Dogs -- and have also included some of Frank, who is now with a new family, but never forgotten.

And to sweet Charlie -- may he spend the last of his days on earth knowing what a good boy he was.

The Choice Is Mine

2011-07-30T15:11:00.001-05:00

Indianapolis, IN:

Thank God for almost 90 degree temperatures while standing in the middle of an asphalt track. The heat makes me dizzy and the sunlight makes me squint, leaving no room for any thought other than the moment at hand. Which is good, since my brain is seemingly trying to compete in some sort of race of its own.

I'm watching mental preparations of contestants around me. I think back to the days of my competitive dance, where I would play the same song through my headphones before each performance. It would psyche me up and fill me with confidence. I knew that I would give my all and do the very best I could in the moment that would soon emerge before me.

I'm seeing if that song still holds the same power.

Bliss

2011-07-25T13:06:00.035-05:00

On a plane somewhere between Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN & Nashville, TN:

After six weeks “off” (and by off, I mean not traveling to any shows but doing the minimal amount of work each day to lay the groundwork for our next round of shows), I am returning home from two shows. Despite a bit of rustiness from not doing this for the last month and a half and a couple of hiccups that I’ll try not to obsess over (until the next one takes their place) – I’m really happy to be at it again. I’m not really good with time off (which is why I spent the entire month of June working on the Thistle Farms’ 10 Year Anniversary campaign), but I know I need the balance to maintain a healthy work life. And though having too much time to think may be the death of me, I’ve learned that if I bury myself in work, the same issues will still be waiting for me, so I might as well face them now. So, I’m grateful for the time off (as painful as some moments have been) and really blessed to have a job I love, that gets me out of my house and into the world where I am needed and useful and have a purpose.

My mom reminds me of a phone call I made to her one day, back in the early early days of touring life, where I called her and said something like “I can’t believe this is my life - I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing and couldn’t be happier.” 13 years later, I’m more traveled and tired and have seen the dark side of the road and relationships. I can understand how the naïve and hopeful me was feeling, but I would love to pat her on the head and give her a sympathetic warning, "just wait... ." But even through my cynicism, I can still say I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing and couldn't imagine it any other way.

Just remind me of this bliss when I'm stuck in between airports next month.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #6

2011-07-22T23:42:00.003-05:00

Syracuse, NY:

#6 of the 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life:

Perfectly

Made

Crisp & Clean

Hotel

Beds.

There's something about walking into a room,

flopping your bags on the floor

and being greeted like a lover

by the smooth white linens,

tightly tucked into each corner.

Multiple pillows

are just waiting to be crawled in under

and there is no sadness

about sleeping in the middle.

With the shades pulled taut

and the hum of the air conditioning unit as soundtrack,

the promise of a good night's sleep

is truly the best thing

anyone or anything can offer.

Like A Prayer

2011-07-18T01:25:00.004-05:00

Nashville, TN:

We all make mistakes.

Sometimes the mistakes we make aren't necessarily malicious or on purpose. Sometimes, it's just being negligent with needs or haphazard with hearts.

Today, a friend was careless with me. It hurt me specifically because she knows me better than most people & understands the kind of struggles I am going through. I guess the saying 'you hurt the ones you love the most' rings true. But it still sucked and made the rest of my day pretty grey.

Tonight, the same friend showed up at my door and tried to fix it. Along with her sincere apologies, she brough a bottle of white wine, white chocolate covered strawberries, a bag full of savory nuts and cooked me a little pasta. Well.... at least we're off to a good start.

But then, she instructed me to come outside with her and presented me with the ultimate I'm-sorry-and-I-really-mean-it gift:

The Prayer Lantern.

On the very thin consistancy, she had written down prayers for me... prayers only a real friend truly knows.

In the evening air, in the back of my condo unit, she sacredly lit the bottom of the prayer lantern,

and held it up to let the flames fill the hot-air-balloon-type apparatus.

She looked towards the heavens,

and released it.

There, in the night air, we watched the lantern -- with my deepest desires written on it -- float away,

and I could only hope that my prayers would make it up to God's ear... or at least somewhere in the general vicinity of His peripheral vision.

I've learned that even in the midst of messy mistakes, sometimes all it takes is showing up at the door and saying "I'm sorry."

(Prayer lanterns & white chocolate-covered strawberries are not required, but encouraged.)

thanks, a.

Friday Night Thoughts (In Solitude)

2011-07-16T00:25:00.000-05:00

Nashville, TN:

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

   I do not see the road ahead of me.
   I cannot know for certain where it will end.

   Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think

I am following your will does not mean I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost

and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

- Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

Paris, 2008

Grazie, Italia

2011-07-10T17:42:00.007-05:00

Nashville, TN: One of the most beautiful aspects to my procrastinating imperfect perfectionist tendencies is that in the time I wait to finish a project, new tools are invented to make the said project even more lovely... when I finally get around to finishing it.

Five years ago this summer (FIVE YEARS!), I went on a trip with a touring friend who was in need to get out of his normal routine & headspace almost as bad as I was. Since we knew we already traveled well together on a bus, we decided to expand our horizons further and crossed the waters over to Italy. Both armed with cameras in hand, we explored Rome, Venice and Vatican City and tried to capture as much beauty as our SD cards could possibly hold.

We also ate a LOT of pasta and drank a LOT of wine.

When I returned, I had big dreams of photoshopping my pics for the perfect Italian photo album, but I immediately started a new job and time slipped away from me... and suddenly, it's 2011. However, the waiting paid off a bit since during that in between time, Eat, Pray, Love was released (which gave such beautiful written descriptions of places I had traveled to) and Lightroom released a layers program (which allows me to take a semi-interesting photograph and bring it to life!). With both gifts in mind and hand, I finally put the finishing touches on my photographic memories of my trip from so many years ago.

And I invite you now to see the fruits of my Italian labors... to Capture this Moment, 2006.

MONKOTBSB

2011-07-05T12:01:00.005-05:00

On a plane somewhere between Chicago and Nashville: Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to see two concerts featuring my first musical loves. 25 years ago, M&D took me to the Douglas County Fair to see the Monkees. That was my first concert ever. They were there as part of their 20th year anniversary tour, which made it hard for me to comprehend why Davy Jones was a 40 year old man instead of a 20-year-old boy from the TV show I had been watching on MTV (I quickly understood the concept of “rerun” after that).

So now, on their 45th year anniversary tour, I was able to take M&D to Harrah’s Casino to see them once again. And though I’m a lot older and different looking now than at 11, I’m still a little shocked when I see how the 20-year-old boys from the TV show have, errrr, matured. (Kids, don’t do drugs.)

With the assistance from a friend in the biz, I was able to be a part of their meet & greet – which was a good way to help me remember what it’s like to be on the other side of the camera: little conversation, one quick picture & you’re outta here. Oh well – at least I have the pictures to show for it.

A couple of weeks prior to the OBB (original boy band), I went to see the combined forces of New Kids On The Block and the Backstreet Boys. Because the only thing better than 5 guys dancing and singing on stage is 9.

I was able to meet them again too, and am sympathetic to – yet cringe at – the fact that they just really don’t want to be there (sorry, 15 year old self – they still don’t love you like you thought they would).

I sat in a suite for the first time and loved the freedom of having my shoes off and not having to deal with other boy crazy fans in my dance spare (though nothing will ever top my last experience seeing them…).

What I love most about these trips down memory lane is that I was able to recapture some of the pure bliss of first loves… prior to responsibilities and grown up decisions and heavy hearts. Where I can lose myself in music and memories. Where the “dance like no one is watching” mantra comes to fruition.

The second thing that I love most is all the funny comments from friends (via Facebook or in person) about my never-ending crushes. I used to get discouraged with the constant teasing I got while growing up. ButI’ve come to appreciate even more that if music moves you in a certain way, it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Plus, at the end of the day, it’s just FUN! A friend texted me during the show and said “this is proof that God wants you to be happy and to dream big.... or at least He wants to squeal with you!" All of this is part of what makes me me – a quirk that you must embrace if you ever want to really know me. And seriously – look how loyal I am! ☺

Next time around, however, I’m hoping they assemble a little tighter so I can see all three groups in one night. I’ll go ahead and coin the band name now: MONKOTBSB.

Dear Photograph

2011-07-03T16:13:00.010-05:00

Omaha, NE: Before I left town to spend a non-freezing-cold holiday in the Big O, a sweet friend of mine turned me onto a website called Dear Photograph. The idea:

take a picture of a picture from the past in the present.

Simple enough AND since I was headed to the place that photographs of my childhood were stored, I figured this was the perfect time to try out this new creative method.

After a trip to Mom & Dad's basement and Grandma & Grandpa's attic, I came back with some pretty fantastic results. I'm going to submit them to the website (and Facebook page, naturally) and see if they get chosen to be displayed. If they don't, however, it's really not a big deal, since the best part of all of this is that I'm inspired again.

Dear Photograph:

I want my bike back.

Love, Carolyn

Dear Photograph:

Both Mom & Aunt Betty thought that was me. It's actually Cousin Katie.

I guess we all look alike on Grandma's back porch.

Love, Carolyn

Dear Photograph:

Date night never looked hipper.

Love, Carolyn

Dear Photograph:

So many memories were built here.

Love, Carolyn

Dear Photograph:

I'm glad there's proof I actually mowed once.

Love, Carolyn

Dear Photograph:

I miss family dinners.

Love, Carolyn

Dear Photograph:

I'm still blowing kisses.

Love, Carolyn

Foster Girlfriend

2011-06-30T23:29:00.015-05:00

Nashville, TN: It's been three weeks since I've had Frank. In that time, we've gone on at least 25 walks (which includes picking up at least 25 bags of crap),

learned some basic manners from a professional trainer,

tried out the "let's not freak out when we see another dog" idea,

did a little work,

did a little play (sorry, Frank's not very modest....),

and did our best to show off his super cute and perfect-to-adopt abilities with the help of little shameless self-promotion.

Tonight, I dropped Frank off at another foster home, so I can take a mid-year trip to the big O. After Frank's aggressive, yet short-lived, attacks on the other two pugs that already live at the house, he seemed to settle into his new digs, happily stealing & chewing on pug #1's bone. As I drove away, I was looking forward to getting back to the house and packing and possibly salsa dancing and then... it happened.

I realized I missed him.

I just spent most of my time over the last three weeks with him. I would leave parties early because I knew he would want to get out of his crate. I spent money on toys and leashes and treats to try to make sure he had things to play with and snack on and run with. I watched the Dog Whisperer and hired Nikki Ivey because I wanted to teach him how to behave so he could be the best dog he could possibly be... even within the short amount of time we'd be together.

I grew to love him.

But as a foster dog parent, I knew this was all temporary. The whole idea was that he stays with me until he gets adopted into his "forever home." With all of the traveling I do, being a full time adopter isn't the best option. My job was to simply take care of him and love him and wish him well when he finally found his new owner. I just didn't know it would feel this sad to say goodbye.

And then it hit me.

I'm a foster girlfriend.

In past relationships, I care and I give and I listen and I love. But at some point, the relationship ends. And at the same time, coincidentally, the ex-lover will start to work on himself - perhaps somewhat influenced by me - or at least me leaving. Which means that now he is a much better suited partner for his next relationship. And not to say he wouldn't have gotten to this next level of enlightenment on his own, but who's to say that I didn't have a hand in (eventually) making him want to be a better person? (And this has happened multiple times, so I know it's not just some sort of fluke.)

I would like to end this blog saying this: At least I know I loved them the best that I knew how and at I wish them happiness in their "forever home." And someday, I will be the one that does the adopting and I can thank the former foster for getting their shit together for me.

But if I were being honest (which I try to be, even though it's hard to be so vulnerable most days), I would say this: I can't believe that just yet. I don't know if I will be able to offer the "forever home." I am a good temporary fix but who's to say I would ever be ready to adopt? Or maybe I won't find that perfect mutt for me? And if it keeps feeling like this every time I have to say goodbye, I'm wondering if it's really worth it?

Wait... are we talking about boys or dogs again?

At least for now, I know I get to see Frank one more time when I return. Which means it will probably hurt AGAIN when I say goodbye to him when he gets adopted. But to see this sweet face once more -- I have to believe it really is worth it.

Does That Make Me Crazy?

2011-06-29T14:30:00.004-05:00

Nashville, TN: An oldie, but a goodie... with a little bit of personal interpretation (from Faith Field Guide):

There is a story about a 30-something woman with fabulous glasses and a foster dog trapped at home during a terrible storm. She soon realizes the condo will be flooded, and she climbs gingerly, as to not ruin her sparkly Toms, to the roof. As the waters rise, she prays to God for help. Just then, a neighbor appears in a rowboat. But the woman refuses to get in. “I’m waiting for God to rescue me,” she says.

A little while later, a sheriff’s deputy arrives in a motorboat. Still the woman refuses to get in. “I’m waiting for God to rescue me,” she says again.

Then, with the water lapping at her feet, a helicopter descends from the clouds and drops a line to the stranded woman. But she still won’t leave the rooftop. “I’m waiting for God to rescue me,” she shouts.

Inevitably, the woman drowns in the flood waters. When she arrives in heaven, the woman asks, “God, why didn’t you answer my prayer?”

“Are you crazy?” replied the Lord. “I sent you a rowboat, a motorboat, and a helicopter! Why didn’t you get in?”

Dear God:

Please help me get in.

Love, Carolyn

Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

2011-06-27T14:43:00.002-05:00

Friends...

As you all know, I am a big fan & supporter of Thistle Farms. This year, they are celebrating their 10 year anniversary by raising money to bring 10 new women off the streets and show them a new way of life.

We are hoping to raise $10,000 by the end of June (yes, as in this Thursday). I've decided that if I am going to ask my friends to give their hard-earned money to a charity that I love, I am going to put my money where my mouth is. For everyone who pledges on my behalf, I will match every donation, dollar for dollar.

Please consider making a donation to Thistle Farms and know that every cent or dollar you give will personally help a woman see that love really does heal.

Follow this link to pledge (set up through Causes on Facebook, though you don't have to be on Facebook to pledge): http://wishes.causes.com/wishes/315280

With love & gratitude,

Carolyn

Morning Has Broken

2011-06-25T19:17:00.005-05:00

Nashville, TN: I've been holding off on writing this blog because I wanted to write one called "Mourning Has Broken." Get it? But I can't yet. And I honestly don't know how long it's going to take, so if I wait until that is a true statement, this blog may be null and void.

So, I'll resign myself to the simple fact that I'm not there yet; I'm not perfect; things aren't totally fine... and I guess I need to settle into the fact that that's ok too (as much as I wish I could just snap my fingers and get over it).

In the meantime (there's that damn "in the meantime" again...), I do have some control on other aspects of my life, including dimming the morning sunlight from pouring into my room and waking me up whenever it feels like. Thanks to The Blind Man (again), I can finally sleep in a bit longer.... or rather, until Frank decides to wake me up.

Just goes to show if it's not one thing, it's another!

here comes the sun...

... just not directly into my room

Rain

2011-06-18T12:20:00.015-05:00

Nashville, TN: Today on my morning walk with Frank, I was starting to get mad. Not at Frank (though he still does not understand that "let's go for a walk" is very different from "let's leave the house and you run like hell down the street, pulling me behind you like I'm your bitch"), but at God. Why would God give me both a head and a heart? I can understand the head: the logical, clear-thinking, get-down-to-business organ. And I can understand the heart: the hopeful, wide-open, free-spirited organ. But to have both? That's like mixing oil & water. How are supposed to make decisions when the head is in complete opposition from the heart?

I thought of a quote heard in my spiritual direction group from St. Teresa of Avila:

"God, if this is the way you treat your friends, it's no wonder you have so few!"

What friend would give you such opposing gifts? And not knowing what the future holds, how can I be expected to pick one to act on without for sure knowing it's the right decision in the long run? As I neared my house, I was fuming.

And then a funny thing happened (and by funny, I mean something else). It started to rain. It was first just a drop of water and in temperature, but then the heavens opened and it started to pour. Frank and I made a mad dash the 1/2 block back to the front door, but were still pretty soaked by the time we made it in. As I dried off and Frank shook off, there was a little lightbulb that went off in my head.

What if there was no rain? What if it were sunny all the time? It would warm and bright all the time and... well, it would be LA. But LA is actually best right after it rains. It lifts the smog up so you can see the Hollywood sign clearly. And it brings down the temperature considerably. And it gives all the greenery time to do its thing.

Credit: Take Sunset

But if it rained ALL the time, it would be dreary and depressing and... well, it would be Seattle. And since I've never lived there, I can't tell you about the times it's NOT rainy. Sorry.

Credit: MBody

All this to say, for the perfect atmosphere, it seems you really have to have both. The sun AND the rain. The good AND the bad. The head AND the heart. There is something spiritual about being trapped in a downpour. You can run as fast as you can and fight is as much as you want, but you WILL get wet. Guaranteed. In the same way that we really have no control over all situations in our lives. If we stop fighting ourselves so much, maybe life will lead us where it is supposed to, by God's design. And eventually, the rain will subside and give way for the sun to dry it up.

And on this rainy day, I'm trying to embrace the fact that I simply don't know which organ is best to use in all of life's situations. I give thanks to the head AND the heart, Frank, chai tea, deep breaths and the following artists, who will hopefully explain these whole rain phenomenon better than I can.

Let Me Be Frank

2011-06-12T11:28:00.023-05:00

Nashville, TN:

Actually, let HIM be frank:

Meet Frank, the latest (temporary) addition to the snellycat household.

A few weeks I signed up to be a foster volunteer through East CAN. In addition to feeling the need to put my money where my mouth is on the whole "we're put on this earth to help others" theory, let me truly be frank: I know it's in my best interest to have some companionship right now. Alone is not a very comfortable space for me and although a furry body won't exactly fill the specific void I'd like to fill, it would at least provide me with a sense of temporary purpose.

So, last Tuesday, as I was frantically trying to finish last week's assignment for my Spanish class that was happening in the next 20 minutes, I was cc'd on an email from Elizabeth with East CAN. It read:

Found Friday in parking lot.
Vet and they said they think he's a puggle and about a year old.
He does have grey on his snout and a white star on his chest.
No owners yet. Didn't have collar on when found.
Finders are selling their house and can't keep him there.
Are any of you willing and available to foster this guy?

Carolyn, might be a great fit for you!

Of all the fifty-some people she emailed, she thought I would be the perfect fit for this foster situation. Granted, I had just emailed her the night before in a bit of buzzed desperation if there were any needy dogs ready to accept my love, but I'm still convinced she knew I was the perfect person for the job.

I sat through two hours of practicing greetings and saludos en español, just dreaming of what my future pup would be like. I envisioned cuddling on the couch watching black & white movies, showing off new tricks at the dog park and going for energizing runs daily.

credit: Treasure Coast Running

Post-class, I drove like a responsible bat of hell. Feeling like a mother waiting to meet her adopted child for the first time, I arrived at the current temporary parents' home and was greeted by a small black dog jumping up and snapping at me. This overzealous (and un-neutered) ball of energy was posing as my cuddly lap dog.

They told me they were calling him Buddy, but that didn't seem like it fit him. Though I had the name for the dog of my dreams in mind, when I got him home, I knew he was someone else. Someone who was tough and you didn't mess with and could possibly smoke cigars and play poker and love velvet in his adult years. Someone named... Frank.

Over the last few days as a new foster mom, I've realized a few things:

- dog crates are awesome, even if they look like a cage

- when I wake up at 6:30am to go to the bathroom, going back to sleep is actually not an option if he sees me awake from his crate

- running down the street with a dog is not actually as sexy as once envisioned when you're carrying a plastic bag of poop with you

- there is a LOT of poop, even for a small dog

- post-neutering / still slightly drugged dogs are the most cuddly... though it will eventually wear off (and by eventually, I mean the next morning)

- having a being at my house actually takes up a lot of head space & worry when I'm out & about, complaining about my circumstances

- Cesar Millan may or may not be my newest TV crush

- This shit is a lot of work

Though he's definitely helping me snap out of "woe is me" moments, there's also a new stress in my life. I feel like I am failing as a parent. I am leaving too much, I'm not discipling enough, I don't know how long I can do this for, etc. When I talked to Mary, the Foster Coordinator at East CAN, she reminded me that if it weren't for me, Frank would be on the streets or in an over-crowded shelter or even dead. I am trying to remind myself that it is not my job to love him perfectly, it is only my job to love him as best as I know how and in this moment. Life lessons by Frank, I suppose you can call it.

In the meantime, I reached out to my own Cesar, who has five dogs and seems to live his own life as well. He gave Frank a human voice and helped define the life lessons a bit more:

"Progress, not perfection." - Frank

"I like to see how strong you are. It reminds me that someone is in charge and makes me feel safe." - Frank

"It's funny, but as soon as I moved in with this chick, my nuts started getting smaller." - Frank

So for now, I will do my best to enjoy this new creature in my life and try to pay attention to the learn life lessons Frank is trying to teach me.

And like any proud parent, I leave you with some photos....

and if you feel a little tug in your heart to meet Frank and potentially bring him home forever, please email info@eastcan.org or moreinfo@snellycat.com.

The Big Help

2011-06-06T20:46:00.011-05:00

Nashville, TN: In the midst of my musing, mulling and mourning, I lost focus on an important event going on around me: the 10th year anniversary celebration of Thistle Farms. Not that I haven't been totally engrossed in the preparations, and if you see me on Facebook or Twitter or just by talking to me, you'll already know about it. But I hadn't had a chance to really reflect on it and get it out in blog land.

credit: BellaLu Photograpy

I know I always talk about it and feature it on my website and tons of blog posts (and Facebook... and Flickr... and now Twitter...), but it is such a huge part of my life that I can't imagine what I'd be doing now if I weren't involved with it. Not only does it give me a project to work on in my down time (I do love a good project), but the amount of strength and grace these women posses make me want to be a better person.

I believe there's a reason we were all put on this earth. Some of us were made to lead, some of us were made to follow, some of us were made to perform, some of us were made to organize those performers. But the common theme I feel that we all are responsible to do is simply, help others. The "how" isn't as important as the "when." And the "when," to me, is: as often as possible.

I am very blessed. I have a job, a home, friends, family, health -- what good is it for me to sit with all of that around me and not share? I was given plenty so I can give. And what I receive from that giving -- a hug from Katrina, a note from Jennifer or inspiration from Tracey -- fills me up more than any other other form of happiness I've tried.

So here's what my help looks like this time around: I want to help raise $10,000 during the month of June to provide education and training for 10 new women beginning work - and a new way of life - at Thistle Farms.

This is how YOU can help:

- Go to Thistle Farms' Facebook Cause page. Click on the "GIVE" button (a Facebook account is not necessary to donate).

- Choose the tier you like or create your own amount and follow instructions.

- Important: Whether you can give or not, share this link with your friends on email and via Facebook (just "Like" the link).

In the words of Jerry Mcguire, help me help you help them (errrr... something like that....) ...just please help! And when I say The BIG Help, I mean whatever you can do is totally worth it.

Many thanks from my heart to yours....

Happy Endings

2011-06-04T11:06:00.023-05:00

Nashville, TN: As much as I love a good movie, I also have to mentally prepare myself when I go into a theatre or scroll through my Netflix for the inevitable: the happy ending. Because as good as a movie can be, the wrap-it-up scene is almost always the same: the girl gets the guy, they live happily ever after, and all is well. You know, not REAL life.

In especially delicate times (like now), I have to be really careful with the movies I see. Like most gals, I love me a good romantic comedy, but when I'm ruminating on the deep meanings of love and loss, the last thing I want to see is the guy coming back. Because - guess what? He doesn't. (And sometimes that's better in the end, but that doesn't sell movies... but that's for another blog....)

The new movie Bridesmaids was recently released. From the title, I knew it was going to involve a wedding (which doesn't bother me) and there would be some talk of love (which doesn't bother me... too much). But for two separate friends who had seen it and highly recommended it, I posed the questions: is it ok for me to see it right now? As in, in my current state of affairs? And both of them responded enthusiastically, "Yes! It's sooooo funny! I couldn't stop laughing! And it's really smart too!"

I've needed a good laugh and since I trusted my friends, I figured I could handle this one, PB. Plus, it's with Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph - two of SNL's funniest ladies - so even if the movie wasn't the best, it was guaranteed to have at least some funny facial expressions.

credit: Access Hollywood

So I went with another single gal pal and we were both ready to escape reality for 2 hours & 5 minutes. But here's what happened: besides Kristen & Maya being the best TV-transitioning-to-movie-stars they could be and Melissa McCarthy pretty much stealing the show, the movie leads itself to the predictable Hollywood ending: the girl is happy only when the guy shows up in the end. In the words of my are-you-kidding-me???-movie-going-friend, "I think this movie may have hit a little close to home for women who are newly single or perpetually single."

As always in life, I try to find the silver lining in dark(ish) situations. In this movie, it came in the form of a scene between Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. Annie (Kristen) has hit her bottom: lost her job, got kicked out of her apartment, has no boyfriend, lost her business, etc. Megan (Melissa) comes over to her place (which happens to be Annie's Mom's house, where she's now living) to make her feel better... with a little tough love. She literally crawls on top of Annie and starts pushing her and wrestling her saying, "is life bothering you right now? Well, I'm life. Are you going to fight for your shitty life or are you just going to take it?" to which Annie (after getting beat up by this random new friend) finally fights back. She decides she WILL fight for her shitty life.

credit: Hollywood Online TV

And then the very last scene (to those who haven't seen it, sorry that I'm giving it away), there is a surprise performance by Wilson Phillips. They were the bride's (Maya Rudolph) favorite group in her younger years and now they're doing the full circle performance at her wedding. And you know what? I got it. It's cheesy and a random part of the movie but it makes complete sense. (And I was able to slip back to high school days for just a bit.)

You could sustain or are you comfortable with the pain?

You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness

You got yourself into your own mess.

Letting you worries pass you by

Don't you think it's worth the time

To change your mind?

The bottom line is: my life may not end up in the form of a Hollywood happy ending, but I WILL fight for my shitty life. (Even though technically it's actually pretty good, minus a shitty part I'm going through right now.....)

And now, (until that scene from the movie shows up on youtube), I leave you with: Wilson Phillips. Air drumming encouraged.

The How-To Guide

2011-06-03T02:01:00.003-05:00

Nashville, TN:

I remember seeing this once, a long time ago.

(At least in the last 2 years).

And I thought it was sweet.

Now I'm re-watching it again.

And taking notes.

Sitting Shiva

2011-05-26T13:57:00.007-05:00

Durant, OK: When someone dies, it is customary for visitors to gather at the home of the deceased to pay their condolences. In Jewish tradition, there is a week-long period of mourning and grieving known as sitting shiva. In both cases, friends will bring over dishes of food as an offering of peace and nourishment during this painful time.

In the time frame of a PB (post-break), which can be - at times - as equally traumatic as a death, many friends will offer the same sympathies in other forms (though food is also appreciated!). They bring gifts of song, share promises of comfort and suggest forms of redirection.

Another type of this much needed sustenance comes from books. I received one in the mail the other day from my favorite aunt, who is also my Godmother, so you know she knows me. It was a small book, in the "Life's Little Instruction Book" style, but without all the happy endings.

It's called "Dear Old Love" and is filled with "anonymous notes to former crushes, sweethearts, husbands, wives & the ones that got away." On the back, it tells me "you are not alone."

Well, technically I am right now, but I see their point.

Here are some of my favorite ones so far (and by favorite, I mean heart-stakingly painful and pretty funny to boot):

I started listening to Cat Power for you, but screw that - I'm going back to Beyoncé.

I finally found someone who doesn't mind if I wake them up in the morning to say goodbye.

You didn't break my heart -- you just made it heavier.

As I flip through the book, I feel a connection with the entire world. Heartbreak is SO universal and even if it takes me longer than the seven allotted days, I know I am truly not alone.

Resurfacing

2011-05-20T00:07:00.011-05:00

source: Meadowlake Gardener

Nashville, TN: Last week, Lennox Wilson came over to my house to spend the morning with her Godmother while her parents went to meetings about their fab TV show. When her mom was dropping her off, she pointed out to me two fairly large bugs perched on my porch. "In 3 weeks," L's mom warned, "this porch is going to be covered with cicadas."

First, I thought she was trying to scare me (not that I'm typically scared of bugs, but anything COVERED with insects might make me jump a bit). Then, I thought she was simply lying since I had never heard of a bug called a cicada before. But, low and behold, as soon as she preempted my porch's fate, I confirmed it with Facebook (the real source of all news, naturally) and it was true -- this rare bug and all of his friends were starting to resurface.

But the most interesting part of this otherwise boring story is that these bugs live underground and only come out every 13 years. That is just crazy to me! What I think is what happens when they return. Do they wonder what happened to the landscape post flood? Or perhaps do they think people are fatter/slower/meaner?

I was wondering what it would be like to go back 13 years and tell those cicadas what to look out for in 2011. Or, better yet, what I tell myself to look out for in the next 13 years. It was 1998, I had just graduated college the year before and was just about to go on my very first tour. There are a thousand things I'd like to tell 23 year old me, but I've narrowed down a few choice ones here (and am obviously in list-mode):

1. Lilith Fair will be the best tour you'll ever work on. Probably because it was your first and you're not quite jaded yet. Enjoy it. Love it. Remember it fondly, but also know it will never happen again in the same way.

2. Lilith Fair will try to come back again, but it won't work. Don't let that get you down. Because you were a part of it when it was great.

3. You can really only live in LA if you have money. You should live there to say you lived there, but get out before you get miserable.

4. Your career is really important to you, which is awesome. But you know what else is important? EVERYTHING. Don't get so caught up in climbing the ladder that you miss everything else going on around you.

5. You're going to date. And fall in love. And have your heart broken. And won't be sure how to function again with a broken heart. And doubt you'll ever find anyone else to date.

6. You're going to repeat #5.

7. The gym will always suck. But you've gotta keep going. Oh, and wear your mouthguard when you sleep. Otherwise, you'll grind your teeth down & your jaw will ache.

8. People in your life who you thought would never stop talking to you or cut others out of their lives will do just that. It will hurt. But it's not your job to fix them. Just keep praying that hopefully someday they'll do something different.

9. NKOTB will have a reunion tour!!!!!

10. Acrylic will help you stop biting your nails (and will make your fingers look fabulous).

11. Your passion for social justice / cultural diversity / sexual equality will continue throughout your life. Make sure people know how important these issues are to you.

12. You know that amazing singer/songwriter duo that you just recently discovered? They're going to be your friends and you're going to be hanging out with them while they're in the studio, recording their album.

13. Create a social networking website and call it Facebook. It will change the world and make you a ton of money. Do it now before some really smart kid at Harvard does it.

14. You're not going to have any kids just yet. And your parents will be fine with that -- especially when you send them on international vacations.

15. When it comes down to it, God will still be the biggest driving force in your life. You're going to struggle with this and question your faith and lose relationships over it. But it really does matter and you've got to do your best to stay on the path.

Not sure if any of that will do 23 old me any good, but it would be nice to know that she'd at least listen. Now if only 49 year old me would pay me a visit and let me & the cicadas know what to look forward to for the next 13 years....

Grateful List

2011-05-15T08:41:00.001-05:00

Nashville, TN:

I heard when you’re low, make a list of all the things you are grateful for. Supposedly, that gets you away thinking of the negative and focusing on the positive. I’m feeling a bit cynical right now, but I’ll give it a shot & see how I feel at the end of it.

Things I Am Grateful For In This Moment:

1. For the simple fact that Facebook wasn’t created in 1989. If Facebook was created in 1989, one of my status updates would have read something like this: “Andy B. is finally done dating Kerry… and then Shawnda… and then Charity… and NOW he finally is dating me!” From 1992 to 2002, my relationship status would have changed from “single” to “in a relationship with” to “single” to “it’s complicated” to "single" to… what other options are there again? And from 2002-2005… I don’t even want to think about the shit I would have posted then. I feel really bad for my sweet-almost-16-year-old-Goddaughter that has a Facebook account and how that simple website affect her life in ways none of us can even predict. As a 36 year old grown woman, I’m struggling with how to deal with Facebook. Am I supposed to untag or defriend? Do I change my status? Do I say nothing? Do I simply step away from the computer? (quiet, peanut gallery.) All I know is that I’m grateful I’ve only been on this thing about 4 years instead of 24.

2. For poems like this and excerpts of books like this. For all those painstakingly beautiful heartbreak songs played on repeat, but also for the other ones that make you feel a little stronger.

3. For half empty old packs of cigarettes that make me think I will be comforted like an old friend.... but then remind me that they're actually still pretty f*ing gross. (Though I can't seem to throw the rest of them away completely....hmmm....)

4. For muscle memory. You know, “when a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort.” (thank you, Wikipedia for the specifics and former shrink for the idea.) So, in theory, you would think that with a few heartbreaks throughout one’s life, your heart would use its muscle memory to “endure the next grief.” That’s what I’m banking on, at least.

5. For hot tea instead of wine. At least for now.

6. For Act One. Dr. Phil. Just listen. Trust me.

7. For phone messages that encourage me to “believe that God has lead you to this very place right now.”

8. For a community of women that will hold me up and wipe my tears and make me a laugh and inspire me to keep moving forward and looking up. It's a bit ironic that I had to go through a huge heartbreak to find them in the first place....

9. For sleeping through the night and being able to get out of bed the next morning. (If you've been through this before, you'll understand how huge this is.)

10. For the last two years. For opening myself up to love again and to being loved again. And then, for knowing when it's time to step aside and having the strength to do it. (Even though it hurts and it’s sad and I wish there was another way around it.)

End of list and I'm feeling... ok, so a little better than when I began. It's still going to take a while, though. The heart is a terrible thing to waste.

The Journey

2011-05-14T10:23:00.003-05:00

Nashville, TN:

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice ---

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

“Mend my life!”

each voice cried.

But you didn’t stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do ---

determined to save

the only life you could save.

by Mary Oliver

Oh, Mexico

2011-05-07T16:05:00.009-05:00

Napa, CA: I love taking photos. And I love working on them in photoshop. But when I take a TON of photos (which is most of the time) and I want to spend a LOT of time sorting and sifting and fixing and tweaking (which I don't have much of), I end up having only half of my photos ready to display. Which means I'm not going to show any of them, since I'm a bit of an all-or-nothing kind of girl. (At least with photos, anyway....)

Because of all that, I'm sitting on photos from Italy from 2006, Israel from 2008 and an entire round-the-world trip from... honestly, I'd have to see a picture just to remember when. I'm making a conscious effort to put some of my perfectionism aside and just get them UP. Even if they may not be exactly what I was hoping they'd be, they do still capture a moment in my life that was special or poignant or... simply, mine.

The additional beauty of folder full of photos is that it holds the sweet memories you can return to whenever you want, regardless of how much time has passed or what the future holds.

Enjoy my latest photo posting adventure... Christmas in Mexico, 2010.

If It Hadn't Been For Love

2011-05-06T17:12:00.008-05:00

Eugene, OR:

Oh, Adele. Thank you for covering the Steel Drivers. I love hearing you soul-up my friend's song.

Also, thanks for the reminder of the ridiculous things done in the name of love.

Whoever said this was easy is the one who needs to be shot.

Linger

2011-05-05T11:51:00.011-05:00

On a bus somewhere between Seattle, WA & Bend, OR:

The bunk is a good place to hold contained thoughts. It's different than sleeping in a bed, where dreams and plans swirl around your head and float away up to the ceiling. Because the bunk is so compact (as in, if you try to sit up straight, you will automatically bang your head on the ceiling), the thoughts you have feel like they hover over your entire body, like a thick heat from a sauna or a ghost floating inches away from your face.

Last night, the thoughts were palpable. My brain would not shut off, so instead of fighting it, I just let the words escape and linger in the air.

source: outsapop

a silent phone

purple nails

inevitable futures

mother's day cards

fried food regret

awkward reunions

grinding teeth

waning friendships

I tried to craft a prayer that wasn't my standard "change it" or "fix it" or "HELP!" I want what is best for me to happen. Not as I think it should, but as it truly should. The words dissipated and in their place, my silent prayer filled the space:

Comforting God,

I ask to I remain faithful

to the woman

I was designed to be.

Amen.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #5

2011-04-21T04:01:00.000-05:00

On a train from London to Liverpool, United Kingdom: My last show was 2 weeks ago and I don’t have another one for another 2, but today is the perfect day to talk about the 5th of 100 little pleasures of (touring) life:

#5: Having time off in between shows to travel for fun.

It seems fairly strange that one of the first things I think about doing once I’m finally off of the road for a bit is figuring out where I can go to next. But there’s something very exciting about knowing that when I get an extended break, I can go someplace for vacation. I love traveling with my job – especially because the main expenses (airfare, hotels, ground transportation) are being covered. But most of the time, I rarely get real experience a city because I’m, well, working (which got me there in the first place & which I actually enjoy... so no complaints, just stating the facts!).

After settling back into home life a bit once off the road, I research the places I can actually take the time to see myself (and not just from the inside of an arena!). Like for instance...

Abbey Road Studios in London with my Mom.

Just another ~~gigantic~~ little pleasure of touring life.

Weekly Whirlwind

2011-04-17T16:59:00.008-05:00

Dallas, TX: The last week has been a bit of a whirlwind with wrapping up one leg of a tour,

and preparing for my vacation with Mom (which, I made a kick ass itinerary for, naturally),

and then there was helping film 10 videos of 10 Thistle Farmers,

and inviting some friends to paint their nails purple

for an upcoming Thistle Farms 10 year anniversary celebration.

All this to say.... I'm SO ready for vacation!

(though I'm hoping there's free internet to keep up with the momentum of everything....)

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #4

2011-04-08T23:43:00.006-05:00

On a bus, somewhere between Columbia, MO and Louisville, KY: This one is short, sweet & to the (ball) point:

#4: Free hotel pens

Yep, this is definitely one of the top 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life. It's a simple way to remember where you've been, offers a quick fix when you are searching for something to write with and let's you act out your fantasies of thievery without the guilt (or jail time).

Now, where did I put that pen....

When She's 64

2011-04-04T09:25:00.001-05:00

Las Vegas, NV: I called my Dad in February. “Dad,” I said cautiously, “I have an idea I need to run by you.” The idea itself came to me four years ago, when my parents were turning 60. Thanks to my around-the-world promo trip, I had accumulated enough frequent flier points to send my parents and their best friends to Ireland. I was so grateful to have an opportunity to give them such a gift (and without it costing me my life savings), but I wondered how I would ever be able to match it in the future. It was while looking through their beautifully touristy pictures on their return that I realized what the next BIG gift would be a few years down the road. (When I was able to build up my miles again.)

But now it was time to run it by the person I had hoped would become my cohort in the plan.

“So, you know how Mom is turning 64 this year,” I continued. “And how she’s a huge Beatles fan…” I could hear him verbally nod over the phone. “Well, in honor of the whole “when I’m 64” theme, I was thinking of taking her to London to celebrate.”

I wasn’t sure of what the reaction would be on the other end. I had enough frequent flier points for just two tickets and could only swing one night hotel room in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Plus, I thought it would be fun if it were a girls’ weekend, but didn’t want to make him feel bad that he wouldn’t be crossing Abbey Road with us. I held my breath as he responded.

Credit: Clash Music

“I think it’s a great idea.”

HUGE sigh of relief! This is exactly what I was hoping for and now the plan was officially on!

Over the last month and a half, my Dad and I have been researching and brainstorming and in typical me-fashion, I have been preparing a packed-full itinerary. But the best part of the planning was figuring out HOW to tell her. With the boy’s help (and by help, I mean I told him what I wanted it to look like and he did it all), we created a short video to explain the entire trip to the tune of, naturally, “When I’m 64.” It was so much fun to make and is – at least at this point – more exciting than the trip itself!

But then, I had to wait until her actual birthday – which was 36 days from when we made it – to show her.

(NOTE: do you know how much sleep I’ve lost over the anticipation of seeing the look on her face when she watches the video?! I’m exhausted!)

Luckily, today, on this 64th celebration of my Mom being born, I was finally able to show her. Via our skype date this morning (thanks again to my partner in crime for setting that up!), I watched her watch it. And although it did almost kill me to wait 36 days (which, ironically, is how old I just turned), to see the look on her face was totally worth it.

And now that she’s seen it, I can show everyone else! Enjoy the best-homemade-video-I’ve-ever-created-for-my-mom’s-64th-birthday:

Happy birthday, Mum (I’m practicing my British-speak)! Here’s to the best 64th birthday you or I will ever have. ☺

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #3

2011-03-26T09:39:00.004-05:00

Lubbock, TX: Walking off the bus this morning in flip flops and t-shirt on led me to construct my latest installment of 100 Little Pleasures of Touring Life:

#3: Having much better weather in the city you're in than in the city you usually reside in.

Granted, I'm normally only in a new city for one day and the only time I actually get outside is the walk from the bus to the hotel, then from the runner van into the venue. But even in those short spans, it's nice to feel the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the breeze, when normally, I'm bundling up to fight the cold or duck in from out of the rain.

For instance, today in Lubbock, the weather forecast looks like this:

And in Nashville, it looks like this:

So technically it's going to be a little chillier here tonight, but with no rain or thunder, I bet it'll still feel nicer.

And then I'm back to Nashville weather for a few days... but very grateful to have had a little sun along the way.

36 Is The New... 36

2011-03-24T16:13:00.015-05:00

Somewhere on a plane between Nashville & Dallas: The good news about this flight is that the wifi onboard is not working. To be honest, if it were working, I’d pay the 10 bucks and spend the 2 hours calculating mileages on Google maps or reading the latest Facebook status updates. But because it’s not, I’m able to force myself to write this blog. It’s the one I’ve been meaning to write since my birthday and haven’t had the time. Or have been too occupied with the internet to take the time to write.

So… here goes my birthday wrap up:

I started the celebration the night before with friend (and proud Magdalene graduate!) Tasha at the “Salt-N-Pepa's Legends of Hip Hop Tour." I figured what there would be no better way to enter 36 than by stepping back to 13.

I have vivid memories of singing “Push It” in the gym after 8th grade lunch with Shawnda Schaudel and Kerry Synowiecki (scandalous for 3 sweet catholic girls) so when SnP put on the leather jackets 23 years later and the beginning “ch-ch ch-ch-ch’s” started, I was transported back to what I believe, truly, were “the good ol’ days.”

I started the day of my birth itself with a skype date with M&D. It was great to actually see them and watch my mom’s yearly tradition of singing me “Happy, happy birthday babyyyyy.” I also got to open their package (full of lovely treats to brighten my home) and the perfect birthday card.

Throughout the day, I loved reading all of the Facebook wall posts, emails, texts, cards and loved hearing the few phone messages that came in with birthday wishes. (At last count, I was up to 248 FB posts.) Thank goodness for the handy reminder on the News Feed – how else would all of those people (some of whom I haven’t talked to in over 20 years) remember March 19^th as THE day?

Next, the boy was ready to present his gift. He handed me what looked to be a check box.

“Sorry I didn’t wrap it,” he said sheepishly.

Of course, I already loved it, wrapped or not, but when I opened it, my eagerness turned into a bit of confusion. Inside the box were small rolls of camera film, packaged in silver shiny wrapping.

“Baby… thank you so much… this is great, but...."

My voice trailed and my mind wandered… he must have meant to get me Polaroid 669 film that I use with my CopySystemPro for Polaroid Image Transfers? Or did he forget I do everything with a digital camera?

I had to break it to him.

“But, I don’t have anything to use them with.”

“You don’t?” he asked as he got up and headed to the front door. “Guess we’ll have to fix that.”

And sitting on the stairs was an oversized cardboard box, which he brought in to me.

(I love that he set it up like that!)

I opened the box gingerly to reveal what my new 120 mm film rolls would be used in… a Diana F+ camera. But not JUST the camera – the DELUXE collection, with extra lenses and a flash with multi-colored filters and pieces that I have yet to figure out what their purposes are. It was lovely and vintage-looking and it left me in true shock -- I wouldn’t have even thought to get myself something like this!

And then he surprised me one more time – “and tonight, I thought we could go on a photo shoot of our own and try it out.”

(Author’s Note: last year, I mentioned I had the best day ever. I would like to updated my statement to best day ever… of 2010. THIS will soon take the (proverbial birthday) cake for 2011.)

Cameras in hand (I had to bring my digital to take pictures of us using the new camera, of course), we headed downtown and spent a breezy night on the pedestrian bridge, swapping cameras and trying out all the features on the Diana F+.

The only downfall is that I have to actually get the film developed before I can see my creations, but I’m excited to get the results back… in another week. Luckily, the digital (and tripod) provided me a few captured moments I can share here now.

To bookend the weekend, we went to 3^rd & Lindsley on Sunday to see David Ryan Harris play. DRH & I toured together for a year in 2006 and went literally all over the world together. He is one of the best people I know and also a great f*ing musician.

I love being able to share the music I love with the people I love, so I was extra specially grateful that the boy was able to join me.

You know, last year was a BIG deal – turning 35 was a bit of a milestone and I did my best to embrace it (read: entering into my MID-thirties) by focusing the day to benefit Thistle Farms. This year, I feel simply comfortable turning 36. No need for extra bells & whistles or special attention, just happy to spend time with the one I love, see the people who created me, hear the music that moves me and have a new camera on hand to capture it all.

Seems to me that I've caught up with myself and am exactly were I need to be. 36 is the new…. 36.

The Fact of the Matter

2011-03-16T17:40:00.006-05:00

Nashville, TN: When I'm on the road, I always eat out. There's catering on show days and per diem to pay for meals on days off, so I never even think about cooking.

When I come home, it's hard to switch gears. I'm not much of a cook (read: I am really bad in the kitchen) and if I go shopping, I'm usually leaving in the next 2-3 days, so most perishables will go bad. Plus, after working multiple shows and jumping around time zones, the last thing I want to do when I get home is think about spending any time in the grocery store or slaving over a hot stove.

The fact of the matter is -- I'm going to go out for dinner. A lot. I try to come up with reasons of why eating at home is cheaper, healthier, the "adult" thing to do, etc. And I've tried to motivate myself to make a grocery list or watch cooking shows, but sometimes it's just easier to face the facts.

Working within this fact, I am doing my best to find ways to save money and explore the city a bit more. My new mini-obsesssion? Deal-of-the-Day websites. First it was Groupon. And it took me a while to really get into this one since I wasn't 100% sure that it wasn't just a scam. But I bit the bullet and tried it out... and enjoyed my first Groupon experience last night. I paid $15 for a $30 coupon (er, groupon) at Whitfield's Restaurant in Belle Meade. This is some place I definitely would have not gone to if I didn't have the extra incentive and even though it was a bit of a drive, the boy ordered probably THE BEST FILET I've tasted in Nashville. Granted, with a filet (an a bottle of wine and my meal and a soup and a salad), it was still pretty pricey, but we did save $15 from what we might had spent anyway.

A few days ago, I met with a friend for coffee and she was all about Groupon too... and then some. She told me about a couple of others -- Living Social and Sharing Spree -- and from a bit of my own research, I also found RunDaisy. I signed up for all of them, so now I'm getting 4 emails a day with local deals that may just save me a few bucks when I go out to eat that night.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL....

Sharing Spree also offers a charity component to their site. Every deal you purchase benefits a local charity. You can select one charity as your default to ensure that they receive a percentage of every purchase that you make. Plus, each daily deal benefits a specific charity, which rotates each 24 hours.

Obviously, I jumped on this immediately and by the time it was all said and done, Thistle Farms is not only added as a charity you can choose from but is also featured on TODAY'S daily deal! *which is $29 for a $60 meal at The Standard Restaurant -- a 52% savings!

(NOTE: You now have 7 hours left to order your deal and donate to Thistle Farms -- get on it!)

Last but not least, I even went as far as getting the book. Not THAT book, the other one. For only 20 bucks, I have over 300 pages of discounts at restaurants, attractions and stores. I may not get to use them all by the end of the year (or even remember each time I go out), but I'll certainly make it my goal to at least have a little something to take away from the bill each night.

The fact of the matter is, I may be turning into some crazy coupon lady, but I probably still won't make it into the kitchen... unless it's to refill my wine glass.

#2 Turns 2

2011-03-08T09:55:00.008-06:00

Guess who's 2?!

It's Goddaughter #2, Ms. Lennox Wilson!

On Sunday, her parents threw her a birthday party

including some of Lennox's friends and some of her Mom & Dad's friends

(hence the wine glasses AND sippy cups).

Lots of little people hanging around,

(do you know how hard it is to get 6 children to sit still and look at the camera at the same time?)

and snacks to be had,

(loving the foot on the table... that's my girl!)

and cake to be eaten,

(I'm guessing that's the "I'm making a wish" face)

and candles to be blown out,

(looks like she got her wish!)

and kisses to be given.

(love love love)

And of course, there were presents to be given,

which provided me with the challenging question:

What do you give your 2 year old Goddaughter for a birthday gift?

Last year, it was her first book of sushi

(she's got to learn sometime... who says 1 is too young?)

So this year, I thought it would be appropriate to get her:

The Great Revolutionaries

Finger Puppet Set

(what 2 year old doesn't want to learn about history with finger puppets?!)

The best part -- they were a hit!

(Look how much fun Che Guevara and Lennox are having!)

(Give Ghandi kisses...)

But the BEST part of the afternoon was spending time with

one of my two favorite Goddaughters.

Love you, Len!

xoxo Aunt Carolyn

Dinner Date

2011-03-06T01:17:00.017-06:00

On a bus somewhere between Rosemont, IL and Nashville: I should be curling up in my bunk to get the 6 hours of sleep I'm guaranteed before I have to get off the bus and readjust to my other/non-touring life, but instead, I'm perusing blogs mindlessly. It's such a great way to relax after back-to-back shows, yet I find it funny that staring at a computer screen is my source of zoning-out, when I've been doing nothing BUT that exact same thing for 12+ hours a day.

My new favorite blog is my friend, Ellen's, called Black And White And Loved All Over. She's another Eastie, a creative type, a music lover with a gorgeous family and a great laugh. My favorite part of her blogs is that she posts pictures of herself from every day life. Like what she wears on date night. And what she's cooking for dinner. And most of the time, her just-as-hip husband, Nekos, takes the pictures with his Canon 7D, which are simply -- lovely.

Which leads me to this post. I have a 7D. I take pictures. I do stuff. :) So why aren't I posting more? I think part of my hold up is that I'm sooooo particular on my post-production work. I can't just put a picture out there without a little extra love. But when I take 300+ pictures on one photo shoot or trip, it's hard to narrow down and touch up in a timely manner.

Luckily, taking pictures for the 365 Project has inspired me to at least pay more attention to what's around me than I normally do. And in addition to taking a picture each day, I'm going to also try to be better at posting more photos here of the seemingly "normal" parts of my life. It probably won't be much of what I'm wearing or cooking, a la Ellen, but it will hopefully continue to push me on my creative path.

So, even though it's a bit late, I wanted to post pictures from a dinner date last month with the boy. I brought my camera with me that night, in hopes of taking some romantic snapshots of our evening together and actually captured a few I'm pretty happy with... without annoying him too much.

(Ok, technically it was Valentine's Day, but I wasn't sure what the limit was on when you could still talk about the holiday once it's happened.)

I was a bit worried that the tradition may have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but again this year, my sweet surprised me mid-day with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, especially designed for moi.

And he gave me a little something else special -- a Wine Journal with the tag line "journals for the loves of your life" which I'd like to add - "from MY love"

For dinner, we finally ventured to a restaurant in our neck of the woods which we had yet to try, the Holland House.

It was very earthy and cozy and provided all of us sickening couples in love with a set Valentine's Day menu.

To make it a night to remember, they also gave each of the ladies a rose as they departed. Which I took this beautiful photo of... then promptly forgot to take home with me.

Ahhh... I feel better now. Accomplished. Complete. And now, really tired. I bid you adieu and look forward to our next virtual rendezvous.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life: #2

2011-03-04T08:14:00.014-06:00

Cincinnati, OH: In trying to keep up (slowly but surely) with my new blog feature, 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life, I bring you:

#2: Seeing random friends in cities I normally never go to except when I have a show there.

One of the best parts of living a touring life is, well, the touring part. Sometimes I get to really amazing places like London and San Francisco and New York City. And other times I get to go to not-as-glamourous places like... Auburn Hills, MI. Not that there's anything specifically wrong with this 8-Mile-adjacent city, per se, but there's just nothing really there.

EXCEPT...

for two family friends, one of whom lives there and the other one who came here just to visit me (and see a show, but still)! It makes being in Auburn Hills (or insert random city name here) that much sweeter.

Some other of my favorite stops along the journey (in the past 8 months or so) have been:

catching up on a day off in Boston with a college pal,

seeing old friends from the past in Indianapolis (and marveling at how big they've gotten!),

and getting a special visit from my BFF in Rancho Mirage with some of her colleagues (one of them being Charlie Soap, which makes this "Charlie and his angels" photo completely appropriate).

So bring on the next random city USA. You never know what sort of blasts from the past I'll be lucky enough to catch up with.

The Search for Rock & Roll

2011-02-19T01:00:00.010-06:00

Somewhere on a bus between Cleveland, OH & Auburn Hills, MI: I was bummed as we made our way to Cleveland last night, knowing I wouldn't have a chance to see one of the city's greatest attractions: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

photo credit: Upatke

But before I had a chance to pout too much, I got a note from the boss, asking if anyone was interested in going the next day. Well, if it's a work-thing, then I definitely will have to go! Knowing we couldn't just show up at the front door of the open-to-the-public location, I searched my Mail program for the words "hall of fame." Sorting through thousands of emails since July 4, 2007 (the fateful day of the computer crash), up popped a handful from Shelby Morrison, Exhibitions Assistant & Coordinator of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Bingo!

Last time I was there (back in 2007), Shelby was our tour guide when my former boss took a few of us to see the latest exhibits at the Hall. We also got a private tour of the Vault, where items first live after they are received and before they are presented to the public. Some of these items are truly remarkable and my favorite one from that time was John Lennon's last passport.

photo credit: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

I emailed Shelby again, hoping she was still there and actually remembered me. In the morning, I checked my inbox on my iPhone and there was a response from Shelby. She did, indeed, still work there, remembered me and was more than happy to set up a last minute tour. Our group leader was none other than the President & CEO of the Hall, Terry Stewart, who is a wealth of knowledge. We started in the Vault once again and this time got to see John Lennon's first passport. Awesome.

photo credit: Reba's Twitter

And, even more importantly than seeing some of the items that make up rock & roll's huge history, I reconnected with Shelby and look forward to continuing a great friendship with her!

Just another perk of traveling for a living.... And of having the "search" feature in Mail.

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life : #1

2011-02-17T05:04:00.012-06:00

Indianapolis, IN: One of my favorite websites to read is Google Reader. Mainly because it's the place I keep a list of the blogs I subscribe to. I don't know everyone who writes these blogs and for the most part, I don't even read these blogs everyday or every time they're updated. I may have read one blog post that I liked, so I'll save the entire blog to my subscription list and suddenly, I've got 100+ blogs I get updates on.

One of the blogs I tend to glance at the titles of (mainly because I don't have the time or patience to read the entire post) is 1000 Awesome Things, which is, exactly what it says it is. Random things that happen in life that are simply awesome. Nothing too big, mostly unnoticed, but when you stop and think about them, they just make your day. Some of my favorite examples (and by favorite, I mean the most recent ones that clicked for me) are:

Leaving your belt in your pants for tomorrow (currently on my hotel room floor)

When dust gets so big you can pick it up with your hand (what happens everytime I return home from a long stint on the road)

Drinking with Grandma (ok, doesn't happen so much with my Grandma - unless it's hot water, that it - but I still love the idea!)

So after reading this and having a little moment of awesomeness myself in the wee hours of morning, I decided to start my own version of 1000 Awesome Things... via the road life. I'm now introducing a random, every-now-and-again feature on my blog called

100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life.

*100 because that is more realistic than 1000 (though I should have started at 10!)

*little pleasures because sometimes they're not awesome, but they do make me smile

*touring life because some of this stuff just doesn't translate into "real" life (air quotes semi-appropriate)

I'm not giving myself a schedule or timeline with this, I'm just hoping it makes me pay more attention to my day to day, similar to what the 365 project is doing for me.

And for my first attempt at listing 100 Little Pleasures of (Touring) Life....

#1 : Waking up at a super early time in the morning with just enough energy to get the band checked into the hotel and the driver parked up, but still sleepy enough to get back to bed in your own room.

While touring in a bus, shows are usually anywhere from 3-6 hours apart. Which means, by the time we get rolling on the bus, and I have a gotten everything prepped for the morning (next day's info sheet hung, hotel called with our ETA, possible relaxing beer drank), it's already an hour and a half into the trip. This is the crucial part where you decide if you stay awake or not.

In cases of a 3 hour trip, I can usual hang in there with just a little baby-headding in the jump seat. However, when you're pushing 4 or 5 hours, there's just no way I'm going to stay awake. I'll crawl into my bunk for, what I hope will be a light nap, but as soon as my alarm goes off and the bus stops, I feel like I've just been yanked from the deepest sleep of my life.

The next portion is crucial: you must be awake enough to be coherent at the front desk and make sure you have all of your room key packs, plus make sure the driver knows exactly where to park the bus. However, you don't want to wake up TOO much so that when you can finally get yourself and your bags to your own room, you don't lay down with your mind already spinning in to-do motion.

This morning I was in the perfect zone of awake-but-not-all-the-way and was able to fall right back to sleep in my comfy bed before I had any time to let the realities of the day notice I was awake.

And that is just the first (of 100) little pleasure of touring life.

Good Is Good

2011-02-14T00:48:00.011-06:00

Nashville, TN:

Things that are good:

moonlighting in Florida

appearance in March's Food & Wine Magazine (showing my best side, of course)

my favorite nonprofit getting a shout out by one of my favorite bosses

The resurfacing of one of my favorite books

seeing this face in mere hours

good IS good.

Wisdom From A Goose

2011-02-07T09:20:00.003-06:00

San Antonio, TX:

Mother Goose's version

of an old standard

which can comfort

in the darkest nights

and brightest mornings:

For every ailment under the sun

There is a remedy, or there is none;
If there be one, try to find it;
If there be none, never mind it.

Pandora's Box

2011-02-05T11:04:00.003-06:00

Las Vegas, NV: I haven't been inspired much by new music lately. I have my iTunes catalog full of some favorite standards (Josh Rouse, Ryan Adams, The Beatles, 70s soft rock, early 90s R&B and a few of my former bosses), but honestly don't have the patience to dedicate to finding new music to learn to love.

That's the beauty of Pandora. Especially while in hotel rooms getting ready for the day, I'll choose a station featuring an artist I'm familiar with and they'll play a few songs in a row that are recognizable. Just when I'm relaxed and not really paying attention anymore, I'll notice a voice of someone I don't know and I start to listen. Every once in a while, a line will catch me and remind me of a someone or a somewhere and I investigate further.

The latest, this morning, is by Rosi Golan, via Adele.

What if I fall and hurt myself?
Would you know how to fix me
What if I went and lost myself?
Would you know where to find me
If I forgot who I am,
Would you please remind me?
Cause without you things go hazy

Ahhhh.... just the perfect amount of inspiration I need.