The first Page

Well it has started. The first page is done. I was waiting to finish the edits on the first novel in the series but I just couldn't wait any longer. Let me tell you something about myself. I hate stagnation. If I stand too long in one place I will go mad for sure. I love to move forward. I love movement all together. When I am in the middle of something I am at my happiest. The end is agonizing, the beginning bliss. So there lies the conundrum- should I wait to start the next book in a series until all the T's have been crossed and all the commas are in the right place of the first book... I think No. That can be done and will be done by my sweet loving editor, and I will make the changes necessary to fix what needs to be fixed but I had to move on. There is just too much to tell and my characters need to breath again, so yes the second book is under way and now I cannot stop it. I didn't really know how I wanted it to begin but that is the most wonderful thing about telling a story that wants to be told, it just happens. Of course I have an outline, I have ideas and notes of things that have to be included, but once that blank page is in front of you, it is only then that your heart takes over your hands, that the magic of creation can truly begin. So here I am in bliss once again as the story unfolds...

Motherhood

Could there be too many kisses I place upon your sweet face?
Would it wake you as I hold you in a loving embrace?
I cannot control my lips when they meet your soft new skin...
They just keep raining down upon you again and again.
You don't seem to mind as you lie in a peaceful slumber...
only to smile once in awhile as my lips brush yours.
Some will say I spoil you, the horror it must be true.
But I cannot seem to stop myself, so I wont, here is another kiss just for you.

Who needs Turkey?

I have never been so happy to be a vegetarian than on Thanksgiving. Everyone seems to base this wonderful glutinous holiday around carving a corpse. I really cannot preach to anyone, I have only been a veg for 5 years now but it has made such a wonderful difference in my life. I finally feel like I am becoming the person I always wished I would be, and growing up on the Oregon coast with a hunter/fisherman enthusiast as a father- I had the steaks stacked against me. When I told my father I was going to become a vegetarian he scowled at me and said "You have been on the sidewalk for too long". Sure, everyone I know back home eats meat and posts photos of their yearly kill lovingly on their facebook page. I get it, I totally understand- and really there is nothing right or wrong about it, but I have made the decision not to do it and that makes me happy.
Believe me, we eat good on Thanksgiving- my husband is passed out cold in a food coma on the sofa as I type this sentence but we didn't harm any animals doing it. I am sure I will piss off a few people with this blog post but fuck it, it is my blog and if you don't like it, don't read it. So anyways I didn't really have a reason for this post I just wanted to actually give my kudos to the product 'Tofurkey', who have made an exceptional product and I cannot believe how tasty and delicious it is... I just started typing and well that is what came out. ;)

A Long Long Time

Yes well it has been a long long time since I have written. Why? Well there were many reasons but for the most part of it "Life Happened". I got engaged, planned a wedding, got married and went on a honeymoon, got pregnant on the honeymoon, moved into a house, had a baby boy, had a minor breakdown from lack of sleep, wrote a novel, and well I think that is it.
Since I have been an artist for most of my life this whole 'Mommy' thing has been a new bag of chips for me and has taken some time to get used to. Yes I still write songs, not as often as I used to, but if anyone out there is an artist you know that it comes and goes like the tide ebbs and flows- it is nothing to worry about when it is not 'flowing', it always comes back. Yes I still sing, actually I think I sing now more than I ever did, although the songs may not be up to Wall of Tom standards but my sweet little boy sure loves them. Tony and I play all the time but instead of playing to a crowd it is for an exuberant audience of one. Our son is immersed in music and he seems to love it, we are just waiting for the day when he joins in, and if his squeals of delight are any indication of his vocal range, we have a future front man on our hands.
I did take the down time of pregnancy to write the novel that I have had in my mind for over 10 years but never had the time to write it since I was so engrossed in being a singer in a band. There was always something else I should have been doing. Booking shows, calling promoters, rehearsals, creating fliers, shmooooozing, writing songs, updating every web page to promote the band, playing gigs, shmoooooozing, sending out press releases, photo shoots, and so much more it makes me begin to hyperventilate.
The book was not finished before the baby was born so I think I typed at least half of it one handed while I cradled the baby in the other arm while bouncing on an exercise ball. Seriously.
Now that the book is done I have begun the tedious editing process and have a few people helping so once that is done then the real work begins in finding a literary agent and then a publisher. Such fun. I am always better at creating the art than doing the business that surrounds it, but I know this is the curse of so many artist.
Ok so now that I have broken the seal and begun this page again I will do my best to write as often as possible, sometimes it may be one handed haiku's, sometimes more. Let's just treat this blog as a Forest Gump quote 'It's like a box of chocolates- you never know what your gonna get!"

The Music is groovy

So the songs are finally to a point that I am going to let myself get excited. They sound good. Tony is a GOD and a really good engineer too. This is going to be a beautiful album that I will be so proud to release. We are enjoying this process too much I think- it is the layers of recording that just blows my mind. We have finished all the basic instruments, some vocals and now comes the fun. A little peppering of piano, and little shaker of salt- and we got us an album. I am very quiet at times and concentrated so if I go for a bit, and I don't make a post... it doesn't mean I wont be back soon.

Don't forget to rock that side ponytail.

oh that reminds me. I got into a conversation this evening while I was doing my 'side job' of supporting myself so I can live and create music. The conversation consisted of 'items' being called a Rock Star. Hmmmmmmmm I feel A Rock star cannot be a wine, or a restaurant, an inanimate object... or even an exceptional person. Unless that person has worn some form of spandex- or three week old jeans on stage in front of over 5,000 people and played their ass off, broke a string the second song in and some guy runs on stage and gives you another perfectly tuned guitar, Toured the world and the USA of a couple times, broke down in a van or bus 6-7 times, and of course the screwing of lots of ugly people. That is a Rock Star. Please do not use that term loosely. We all strive to get there but some of us just sing the blues.

Ha!

boy I am sassy tonight. Must be the ponytail.

For the month of May- I am planning to single-handedly bring back the side ponytail... or the side/ braid- what ever you choose. Keep your eyes on the trash mags.- this just in... Mariah Carey is the first side ponytail victim.

Busy Busy Bee's

So much going on. Sorry it has been awhile but I just get busy and I forget. We have been traveling the last couple weeks- Arizona and Santa Barbara. Mostly for fun, some for research.

If you didn't know- Tony and I are engaged. Yep. We broke the band rule. Broke it hard. And yes we know it didn't work out for Fleetwood Mac- but they sure did get a lot of great songs out of that romance huh! So yeah, we have been together for almost six years now and Tony finally convinced me that we should make this groovy thing legal. While I have a hard time believing in marriage I really believe in love, and I really believe in our love.

So the process has begun to find the perfect spot for T-n-T to tie the knot. I am really out of my league here and for the longest time I have been putting this off for even the thought of it makes me queasy. I just am not that type of girl. All the flowers and the fluff makes me break out in hives. I just want to play a show. I have no problem booking, promoting, finding a great inexpensive vintage dress, and singing onstage for a show... so for a while there I was trying to convince myself that this was just a fancy show at a fancy venue. Hmmmmm...
Tony has had to stop me many times to not just hit the drive through Elvis in Vegas. So I still have made no solid plans and still have no clue- even though I did break down and buy a 'Brides' Magazine.(not the best idea I have ever had) It just reminds me that I need to book a show for Wall of Tom because I need something else to work on! I am the worst fiance ever!!!

Speaking of work! The album continues to amaze me and even though this is the slowest process in the world it is really taking shape and sounding wonderful. Another project in the works is our bass man Dave's pilot for 'XPC' and it looks amazing- Dave is gonna be a big time Director soon! Tony is doing all the sound for the show and the boys are real excited about getting it finished. Again I will fill you in as much as I can when I can but for now just dust off your pillows and get ready to rumble!

;) Tv