Something to think about

And so it begins

The joy of music and wonder begins at an early age. Being the child of two musicians could be a bit intimidating, so it's something my husband and I talked about before we had kids.

We wanted to create an organic environment that opens the door to music, making it a playful option to all the regular toys. Around our house, instruments are scattered, always available when the creativity strikes. We play and sing together, listen to all kinds of music, and cheer each other on through it all. Our son had to live through making an album and I'm sure he is scarred for the rest of his days, with those songs from our 'The Lovers' album permanently imprinted in his brain with all the studio time he put in. 

Our newest family band member is music to her core. She loves the guitar and lights up when it is played. She plays any instrument she can get her little hands on and as of yesterday, her little fingers can finally reach the keys of our piano. Her face was pure joy as she realized the infinite possibility of her musical future. Or maybe that was something in her diaper.

It's not that we want them to grow up to be rock stars, (although it may be too late, our son is a natural) we know what a hard road it can be to travel... but instilling the beauty and love of such a wonderful gift that is music is something that I am happy to pass down to my babies.

Music and the Rain

There is something about the rain that makes most people want to stay inside, tucked safe and warm under the covers or snuggle in front of a roaring fire. I think that secretly Santa Barbarians know, the rain will be gone in a day or two, so they don’t mind falling off the face of the earth and going into a blissful, Netflix hibernation.

I mean hey, I would stay the heck off the streets too, since, come on, you know it just as much as I do, Californian’s are not the best drivers in the rain. Just a quick lesson people; do not drive at top speed and then slam on your brakes when you begin to hydroplane. (I know it seems like common sense but I have seen it so often, I thought I would give you a little reminder, your welcome.)

Who the hell made me chief of the driving in the rain police? Well, I was born and raised on the Oregon coast, they have crazy rain there, not the little misting rain that California gets, but real godforsaken rain, sideways rain, hail the size of golf balls, and Oregonians never know when it’s going to stop, so they have to go out into it daily, no matter what. So I consider myself a driving in the rain expert, although I have lived in Southern California for over twenty years now, I will never forget, although my webbed feet are happily back to normal.

But I still love rainy days and this wonderful rain that has swept across Southern California may have been a torment to most people, but for myself and a lot of Artists I know, it has been true bliss. Why you ask? Artists love rain. Artists hate rain. Artists love to hate rain. Why again? (You sure do ask a lot of questions) Because rain forces us to stay inside and create our art and we love it. No one bothers us, or questions where we are… why haven’t they seen us out schmoozing and boozing at The Brewhouse or Fig? Why haven’t we had our morning cup of crack at The French Press, or our afternoon blood transfusion of red wine at Pali?

Because it’s totally awesome to be left alone for some Artists, who actually hate people, conversation and all human contact that detracts and distracts them from what is their Art and I understand and quite enjoy their darkness and brooding ways. But most Musicians are a bit different than other types of Artists, although they sometimes group us together, we love human contact and crave it, in fact, for it gives us what we need to create our art… all our life is inspiration for a song, all our art for a Muse.

Where’s the party? Oh wait, we are the party.

Don’t get me wrong, we love the attention, and being on stage is like being totally at home for most Musicians. So it’s really hard not to go out and the rain gives us the perfect ‘rain check’ excuse to stay away, go inside ourselves to do what we do best, what makes our soul feel at peace. We play. We sing. We write. We soak up all that liquid that falls from the sky and let it fill our homes with music, and with song.  

If you are a Musician who has children, it is a joy they will share, join in with, and learn to love as well, or maybe they will hate it so much they will become bankers, I don’t know, but my children at this moment, seem to like it.  Although I must admit, my three-year-old son does put his foot down after my husband and I have had an ultimate jam session and he no longer feels like he is the center of attention, which to me screams lead singer disease and assures me he is, in fact, a Musician as well.

So even though this rain will most likely be gone by the time this column comes out, it’s effects will live on in our fauna and song. It’s happy tears that have blanketed the west coast may cause mayhem on the pavement, but for the world of Art and Music, the heavens have smiled upon us, blessing us once again with that which never existed before… Well, at least that’s what we tell ourselves.  

The Search

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I am displaced. Well, not really as of yet, but half of my life is in boxes. Why is this so you ask? Oh, just the normal thing that families do, they grow. And even though mine has only grown a half, my daughter is just six months old, and she is quite teeny tiny, but it seems that Christmas broke us. Not in the ways of cashola, but in the ways of space. Let me explain…

Going from living in a large four bedroom house, with a huge pool on a 7,000 square foot lot in Burbank, to living in a 700 square foot two bedroom in Santa Barbara has taken it’s toll. Yeah, yeah, it’s super charming and walking distance to Leadbetter beach, but damn people! How do you do it? There is no room here! I have a hard time having a clear thought in this small space, but maybe that is the wine from Santa Ynez that I enjoy too much, but I am sure it’s the space, yeah, the space.

I mean yes, we could buy a nice home here… Wait, I have to stop laughing, it’s hard to type. Ummmmm, ok I’m back.

Not to worry, we are happy renters and only strive to find the home that we can rent, afford and thrive in for a very long time. And that my good people of Santa Barbara brings me to the point of this whole column, it only took me two hundred and seventy seven words to lay the ground work but here it is… How the hell do you find a decent rental in Santa Barbara?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a bit of a rental snob and I have extremely high standards, which is cause for a slight panic, and twitch that has become part of my psyche, as I search Craigslist for the umpteenth time, but I have faith- because I have caught glimpses of greatness, a few that hold our application within their teeth, but I must trust that the perfect home, and landlord have been waiting for my little family and all is well in rental heaven.

It’s funny… because I will not live in a condo, nor townhouse or duplex, and Santa Barbara has GORGEOUS condos and townhouses and duplexes. Such is the fate of a musician and mother who will not quiet herself, nor her own children or husband for that matter, who is a wizard on guitar, nor risk suffering her neighbor the audacity of her own and families existence, one that we find relaxing and totally normal.

And therein lies my conundrum. So I search, and search, and search some more, and acquaint myself with more parts of Santa Barbara than I care to meet. I find huge homes in Goleta and my new friends scoff, ‘Goleta? It’s sooooo far away!’

Really? Really people? I lived in Los Angeles where it took me thirty minutes to go to the grocery store, and if one of my friends moved from Hollywood to Santa Monica it might as well have been Canada for all I cared, I would never see them again and they knew it.

But alas, I understand because it’s something that I have grown to love about Santa Barbara living- I can get ANYWHERE in ten minutes. When I say I will be there in ten minutes, I mean it.

So I keep searching, and I keep packing because I know it’s out there… I even made my dream board with my three-year-old son last week. My requests to the rental universe? Three bedrooms, two baths, vaulted ceiling’s, a big fireplace (that works), lots of outdoor space so I can plant a garden, with a fenced yard to keep my kids locked in safe and possibly for a future pet, (on a side note… why don’t landlords take pets? It’s amazing the amount of ads I see that don’t allow them. They would rather allow a group of seven to ten students rent their home, than a family with a dog? Come on, didn’t they go to college? I did, and I can’t seem to remember most of it. Sorry landlords, for all the pet owners out there, I had to say something.)

But back to my list… A lot of privacy so I can make noise and not worry, lots of light, a view, whimsical architecture, and lastly a great school district. Too much? My son added that the home needed to have a red door and a cool doorbell, so there’s that too.

I know it’s out there, I’ve actually seen it and if I thought the landlord (who lives in Connecticut) would read the Sentinel you would think I was baiting him. No, I’m just pissing in the wind, but after talking with a few friends about the tough rental market, I thought it needed to be written. Is this a rant? Heck no! I live in Santa Barbara, or at least I do until March 1^st, I have no worries at all.

*as seen in the Santa Barbara Sentinel for my American Girl Column Page 25

Wall of Tom is back in 2014

• If I had one resolution this new year of 2014, it would be to play live again... Ok, so instead of talking about it and making lists, we are just gonna do it. Mark you calendars now, February 9th @ 5:00pm at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company in Santa Barbara. Now that's what I'm talking about! More info to come!

A year in review

2013 was a pretty good year for us and I am so very grateful. A new city, a new book, and last but certainly not least, a new baby. I feel like most of my year was a blur of crazed activity, but I have vivid memories of the most amazing moments, that have warmed and expanded my heart tenfold. In 2014, I do have some things I want to get accomplished, but really, I want more of all these fuzzy warm feelings that fill my heart on a daily basis. Personal successes are really cool, but love is all I need. Wishing you all so much joy in the new year- smile at strangers, laugh out loud, and love deeper than you ever thought possible. Happy New Year!

Column #2 For The Santa Barbara Sentinel