Audition

It seems my goal over the past few years has been to do things that take me out of my comfort zone. Today's way of doing that was to attend a "workshop" with a Disney casting director. Actually, it was an audition. Have I ever done an audition before. Once - the one I did to get into the workshop. And that one was pretty informal. This one was informal in a way but also intense. At least it was intense for me. I tend to move around on stage a lot- guess that's from performing for young kids so much. And I was concentrating so hard on singing loud enough to be heard over the piano that I wasn't able to put any emotion into the song. And then I was concentrating on rooting myself to the floor. Bottom line, it was a great learning experience. I just with I could have had the experience before today!

New Year - New Me?

It's 2008. Twenty years ago this coming October my husband and I met. Twenty years ago this summer I moved to San Francisco to be a supervisor in the FBI office there. And twenty years ago I was living in Arlington, Virginia, a media spokesperson at FBI Headquarters, an avid racketball player, and played music for myself and to relax.  Fast forward to now - I'm married, have teenage girls, play music for a living (wish I actually made a living from it), and bike and walk for exercise.  Weigh about the same, I think. Anyway, what's the point of this? It's that twenty year thing. That's a long time. Seemed like a good time to think back. I don't usually like to look back - I like to look forward.  But, given where I am, I can't help but think back.

So, looking back over 2007, I can say I attempted some new things and accomplished a lot. And left some things started but not finished. The biggest thing I accomplished was overcoming fear and not being complacent. I tried things I had never done before and, to some extent, succeeded. I applied for a position as editor of a journal - something I have never done before - and got the job. So, I ended 2007 editing. Didn't finish the issue yet, but will by the end of the week. How do I know that I'll finish by then - because I have to.  I tried co-writing a song long distance via email and phone - came up with a good song, but have to admit that I didn't finish it. The song could be better, but I was writing it for a specific purpose - to perform at a fundraising gala - and once I performed it (which was a biggie for me - to perform for adults in a fancy setting) I didn't push myself to finish. Which means I have now cut off the possibility of co-writing with this person agin. Which is too bad, because I could have learned a lot and we could have come up with stuff i could never do on my own. So, while this may seem unfinished business to some people - to me it is good - I took steps to push myself out of my comfort zone.  And, this year I hope to do that more and to finish some of the projects I started in 2007.

So, time for a fresh start or time to finish what I've started?

Both!

So, happy new year and here's to fresh starts and tying up loose ends.

On the Road in New Mexico

It's hot. I just finished a great bike ride - went from Farmington nearly to Aztec and back. Some tough climbs and beautiful views. Rocky like in western Colorado - makes sense since I'm in northwestern New Mexico.

I had a really fun library show this morning. ABout 150 people, I guess. The fun part was it was a totally new show. So, new that I wrote one of the songs this morning before I left. Actually I had written the words yesterday and used them as a super hero quiz - kind of a chant, with the audience filling in the name of the super hero at the end of each verse. It worked okay when I tried it yesterday in Shiprock (tough show, older kids, smaller crowd) as a spoken word thing. It worked great today when I sang it as 12 bar blues.

I also started working on a song about engineers - not the train kind, the brain kind! The lyrics need more work and I need to figure out a melody, but it's a good start. Because I was trying to work it into the superhero show, it's kind of about how engineers are superheroes because of all the stuff they figure out and design that we get to use. So, here's what I have so far.

Engineers

How could we get here if we didn’t have a car?
Who designed the engine so we wouldn’t have to walk far?
Who designed the roads and bridges, street lights and tunnels?
Thanks to all those engineers.

Who designed the computer that I surf the web on
And the TV and radio, the list goes on and on?
Who came up with the internet and video games?
Thanks to all those engineers.

We give them problems and they solve them
With their calculators, rulers, and computer programs
Using math, science, and some common sense
Superheroes using their brains.

Who uses math and models and stress analysis
To figure out how to make things work and be safe?
Electrical, mechanical, aeronautical and general
Thanks to all those engineers

The scientific field of technology and invention
Has brought us cool stuff to use and have fun with
And important stuff we couldn’t live without.
Thanks to all those engineers.

We give them problems and they solve them
With their calculators, rulers, and computer programs
Using math, science, and some common sense
Superheroes using their brains.

Back In the Saddle

Back in the saddle again - and hopefully, I'll stay longer than last time. So, I haven't written since December. Been busy. Thought about writing lots of times, but didn't get to the page- or the computer, in this case. So, now I'll try again.

Last week, I subbed for an elementary school music teacher hwo had to have surgery - so I'm filling in for the last two weeks of school. So, basically, she said I could do whatever I wanted with the kids (I've subbed for her before) becuase it's end of school year, class programs are done, etc. I told her I'd probably write songs with them. Which is what we're doing. But, what I didn't tell her is we would write songs for her. At least that was the intent. And that's what we did in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade classes. Wrote and recorded songs in two classes of each grade - I missed Wed because I had a school asembly and a class program at other schools. Anyway, in the 4th and 5th grade classes we did something a little different. I let them form their own groups of up to 6 kids or go solo, and write a song about whatever they wanted to. So, we wound up with some pretty interesting stuff. And, that's okay. We also had enough time in a couple of the classes to have a show at the end of the period and perform and record them. Way cute ... "My name is ____, we're in Miss _____ class and our song is _____. But, my brain, body and voice are pretty fired.

Yesterday was the first day of the Boulder Creek Festival and for the first time in 8? years I wasn't running the kid stage. But, I was scheduled to perform so I did go. And, had a great time having three of my guitar students play. They did six songs, had a good size audience, and did GREAT!!! Then I got to do a set. And was very happy to see several families in the audience who I knew came because I was playing - 5:15 PM is a tough time to bring kids out to the Creek Fest - so that made me feel good. Haley, one of my students played the first song with me, Down by the Bay. Knew it would be a good show when the audience sang along! Then, my friend Eric who I've known since he was in utero came up and asked me to do Twinkle Little Star, so I did. And told him he could stand on stage with me to sing it. Which he did! He walked over to the side and stood and sang the whole song. Unbelievably cute!!! And, why would I think of quitting this job? Oh, yeah, the money. Forget the money - just watching him was enough to carry me through.

Gotta go - I'll try to write more later.

Snow ... again!

It's been snowing since about noon and this time it's a heavy wet snow. Last week was easier to shovel; it was lighter. This stuff hurts. And what makes it even harder is that I have to lift/throw it on top of last weeks piles, some of which are about my height. But, once again, it's beautiful. The sky is white and it is so quiet. And, my forearms hurt. I'm not sure I could play a show this weekend if I had one scheduled. Tendonitis here we come.
I'll post pics tomorrow.

My nephew asked if we're stuck in our house. It depends upon what you mean by stuck.

Becky is in California on a road trip with a friend to go to a wedding. The friend's mom is the sister of the bride but she had to give finals at CU yesterday and now she can't fly out there (the dad drove the kids and the mom was going to drive back with them).

All of the highways are closed and all they ever plow around here are the main roads (N/S, E/W routes). Steve's car is on the street under at least a foot of snow(that's it in the picture I took from the office window) even though I cleaned it off at 11:30 AM yesterday hoping to use it. It didn't start. Evidently he's been having trouble starting it if it sits for more than a day in the cold, which it did. My van is on the driveway because I couldn't get it all the way up the driveway (not much of an incline, but was slippery) at about 2:00 PM yesterday - it took me about 45 minutes to do a 15 minute drive.

The market and video store near our house were open yesterday so I'm going to walk over there later and see what's open today. Steve is scheduled to get the packing removed from his nose this afternoon but the doctor's office is "hoping to open" at noon. I'm not sure we can get there anyway.

It was beautiful last night. I walked the dog at about 10:00 PM - white sky, perfectly quiet, snow on the trees, holiday lights... gorgeous.

So, I guess we're stuck, but stuck is a relative term.

It's still snowing and absolutely gorgeous outside. I love walking outside at night when it's snowing. The sky is white, no cars (state of emergency and nothing's open anyway), so you can just walk on the street. I'm sure tomorrow will be full of shoveling. Only problem is we're supposed to go to the doctor's office to get the packing stuff out of Steve's nose (back to gross stuff, sorry). I'm not sure they'll be open. And, even if they are, I don't want to have to drive there. I couldn't get Steve's car started which is our 4 wheel drive vehicle. That's it covered in snow - and I cleaned it off at around 11:30 AM. Evidently he has a special way to start it when it's cold. How sweet!

In our area, they only plow major roads - i.e., major east-west and north-south routes. The problem, of course, is getting to the main roads. I'll wait until tomorrow to really care.

I made a short video at dusk - I love it then. The snow looks blue just before dark. It only lasts for a short time - very special. Click here to see it on youtube.