Here We Go~ FAWM!

In just a day, February begins.

I think of it as the coldest month.  And the shortest month.  And the month of LOVE.

And what better thing to do than write a lot of songs? And what better way to get motivated than to join  the FAWM online challenge?

The rules of the challenge are simple:  Write an album's worth of songs during the month of February- hence the acronym FAWM~  February Album Writing Month.  14 songs in a mere 28 days. 

I'm in!  I'm all over it!  I've been saving all my love for you, February!

Me, age 4.  Hot pants and go-go boots never go out of style!

Committed

I've been waiting for months to get a copy of Elizabeth Gilbert's latest book, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage.  Due to budget cuts, there just aren't many books to go around at the public library these days, so if you want a new, popular book, you gotta be willing to wait.  And so I've been waiting and waiting.  Impatiently.

The other day while visiting the library, I noticed a copy of Committed on the book shelf.  It wasn't the actual book, but instead, it was the audiobook.  I've never bought or checked out a audiobook before.  But since the book I requested long ago still hasn't arrived, I decided to check this one out.

I loaded all 7 CDs onto my iPOD just yesterday.  I'm now about a CD and 1/2 into the book.  I wasn't sure how I'd like an audiobook.  Usually I run to music.  Lately it's all Bob Schneider.  All the time.  And I do not want to wear him out.  So it seemed like a good time to try something different.  But I wasn't so sure that words minus the music would do it for me.

It ends up... I love it!  The reader is actually the author herself, and I like her voice, telling me her story of why she was fearful of marrying her second husband, but why they went ahead and did it anyway.  (Both her first marriage and his first marriage were disasters.  But after her boyfriend, Felipe, faces possible and probable deportation, they decide to walk through their mutual fear and get hitched.)

Today I ran to the chapters in which she talks about arranged marriages of Mong women, and how the expectations going into those marriages differ so much than the typical marriage here in America.  It made me think, first of all, how grateful I am that I live in a country where I got to actually choose who I married.  And I am thankful that although I've grown to love my husband in new and different ways over the years, I'm glad we started off with love. Love may make it all more complicated, but for me, that's what it's all about. 

But it is good to remember that although I grew up reading fairy tales and about the "happily ever after", those were just...fairy tales.  And marriage is something quite different.  Or at least, it's a different part of the story.

Thanks!

Thanks so much to all the people who came out to hear me perform last night at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse. And of course, thanks to those sweet people who run the place- and all on a volunteer basis.  It's an incredible acoustic live music venue and is always an honor to play there.

Everything

Although some of my recent performances have been video-ed, none have turned out great.  But, I'm going to go ahead and post one up anyway in hopes of getting people revved up for my upcoming performance Friday, Jan. 21st at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse here in Dallas, Texas.

If you can make it to the concert and buy your tickets online in advance you can enter a drawing to win a copy of my new CD "50 Different Ways."  Just leave me a comment that you've purchased your tickets and I'll put your name in the hat.  I'll draw the winners (there will be 5!) Friday, Jan. 21 at noon.

I can't wait!

By(e) George!

I've seen lots of "Lost Pets" signs over the years posted up around my neighborhood.  Usually, the pets on those signs are dogs or cats.

But a few months ago, I started noticing a sign in my 'hood, as well as other nearby neighborhoods, for a missing cockatiel.  I remember at the time thinking it a little odd, and wondering how I would actually convince the bird to land on my finger if I did, in fact, find him. 

Yesterday, while on a run, I saw this sign for "George", the missing tortoise.

 How is it that these pet owners can't keep track of their pets that don't even go outside to use the bathroom?  Aren't they sort of caged animals?  Or are they just running and flying around in their backyard, until one day, they just went a little too far and couldn't find their way back home?

Well, George...I hope you make it back to your owners...Although maybe you're happier out at the creek with the other Texas Tortoises, in which case, Run Free, George!

Incredible Things

I bought this cool little handmade pendant at a craft fair not too long ago.  I paid for it, I put it in my purse, I got home with it, showed it off to my husband and then~  misplaced it for over a month.  

Oh no!  Losing something with such a beautiful statement to myself felt like a bad omen.  

And just when I thought I might never find it, that perhaps I had mistakenly thrown it out~ I found it.

I have been wearing it almost constantly since.

I've never tried positive affirmations before, but I've heard they're powerful.  I want to do some incredible things.  I want that SHE stamped on the pendant to be ME!

So I wear this around my neck.  I touch it often.  And I repeat the phrase in my head many times a day.  

SHE CAN DO INCREDIBLE THINGS

My Resolution Revolution

Seldom do I make resolutions.  I'm not really that kind of girl.  Resolutions don't seem all that fun and I hear so much about people breaking theirs so soon after the new year.  But I've decided to start a Resolution Revolution this year.  My resolutions are pretty easy, mostly fun (all but one), and I think they'll make me a happier person, and the world a better place!

And so begins my Resolution Revolution:

1.  I'm going to support local art shows more regularly.  Whether it's an art show, a play, or a concert-- I'm going to make an effort to get out and see all that Dallas has to offer.  I'm always happy once I get myself out to a show, but sometimes the getting myself there part is a little difficult. But being a performer myself, I know how meaningful it is to have people show up to something I've worked really hard to get ready for.

A concert I went to recently at the Kessler Theater. 

2.  I'm buying more handcrafted goods off of Etsy this year.  Which means more than 2 items, which is all I bought last year. I love one of a kind things made by someone, rather than a machine.  And if I'm spending money, I'd much rather it be going directly to an artist, rather than some big manufacturing company.

A painting I bought from the very talented Jessica Stride-- on Ebay!

3.  I'm going to cook LOVINGLY.  I look at cooking dinner as a chore, rather than an act of love for myself and for my husband.  So I'm planning to put on my cute apron, turn on some good music, and cook up some great new recipes this year.

Even when I don't look cute, my apron does!

4.  I'm devoting more time to marketing my music.  I'm super proud of my new CD, and I really want as many people to hear it as possible.  I write the music and play it mostly for my own enjoyment, but why record it unless I want people to hear it? And I do! I do!

Get your copy of my CD HERE!

And I've saved the best for last...
5.  There's going to be more passionate kissing going on at my house.
(Sorry-- too passionate to post a picture here!)

See?  Don't those sound like fun?  No dieting.  No quitting any bad habits.  Nothing that seems overly challenging that I will give up on by February 1st. And I was vague enough that it nothing feels too regimented and difficult to stick with.  That's my kind of resolution!