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.

Let it snow, let it snow - it is!

It looks like winter again here in Colorado. At least five inches already here in Boulder. It's beautiful and powdery and easy to shovel every couple of hours. So, here I am at the orthodontist for what we hope will be the last check-up and then ... braces off in January. Yeah! One down, one to go. Once Becky loses another tooth she'll probably be back in brass. Did the expander thing a few years ago and she is sooooo sick of her retainer.

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Solstice to all! For Hanukkah my husband got a nose job. Really. Not cosmetic, although the kids and I are hoping it will show a little improvement. No, this was to remove some blockage, etc. Very gross to describe. So, he's still on drugs and I'm sleep deprived. Pretty much normal for any family with kids, even though ours are older (14 in just 10 days and 12). Older kids, more complicated type problems.

Got to go. I'll get back to music stuff next time!

I'm back!

Okay, I'm really going to write this blog on a more regular basis, as opposed to my previous post, rest, post method. But, I may need to start tomorrow because I have to drive Jamie somewhere in about 30 minutes and she hasn't eaten dinner yet.

Working on scheduling spring shows. What a drag it sometimes is. I'm not real good about follow-up. And, sometimes it's hard to just get started. As you can see from my previous blogging history. And, getting interrupted/feeling guilty about a sick 12 year old who just got her makeup homework assignments is not helping. Now that she's screamed enough to cause a long coughing jag I feel sufficiently bad that I'd better go. Hopefully, I can work on another post tomorrow and actually get into what it is I actually try to do for a living - sing! For now, I'll work on the most important aspect of my life - my family!

Children's Hospital

Sang at the Queen for a Day event at the Children's Hospital of Denver last Thursday. Happy/sad for me. I've had plenty of families in my classes who spent many nights/weeks at Children's and currently have a guitar student who's due to go in for surgery in a couple of weeks. So, it was something I wanted to do, but it's tough when you look around.

I mostly wound up playing for visiting family, but there were several patients, too, who were able to come downstairs by wheelchair or on their own. I didn't go up to the floors (have done that at Denver Medical Center and it is so rewarding, but so hard), but managed to sing with kids on and for about two hours. Draining but worth it. I gave out kazoos and a few CDs.

It was quite different from the shows and songwriting programs I did at Lafayette Library last week. On Tuesday morning I did shows for toddlers and preschoolers. And on Wednesday I did songwriting workshops with grade kids 1-3 and 3-5. What different song ideas they had! Wow! The younger group came up with so many upbeat titles that we decided to use them all (or as many as we could) in the body of the song. So, the song is called "The Greatest Library In the World" and is way fun. I'll put the lyrics up in a few days. Don't have them on this computer. The older kids' titles and ideas were way deeper than I though we would get. We wound up writing about the Purple Cats with a line, "So, you want to change the world." whoa. I put it to 12 bar blues in C and we gave it a little bounce. Yeah. I'll put those lyrics up next week, too. There was one verse we had trouble singing and when we finished I don't think any of us really wanted to keep it, but we didn't have time to scrap it and write a new one. Oh, well. Guess, I'll try to work on that next week. Need to work on the Library song, too. It definitely needs work - what do you expect from a one hour workshop? And, also want to work on the peanut butter song I wrote with the second graders at Horizon. I pretty much like it, but there are a few lines that could be stronger. And, it might need a bridge, but I'm not sure what to say in it. As I said, it need work. Here's what I/we have so far:

Nutty, smooth, chunky
Yummy peanut butter.
Nutty, smooth, chunky
Yummy peanut butter.

Open a new jar and see that swirl
You dive right in like a little squirrel
That nutty, smooth, chunky
Yummy peanut butter.

Give it to my dog, she licks it on her face
It gets in her fur and all over the place
That nutty, smooth, chunky
Yummy peanut better.

Put it on bread with jam or jelly
Nutella or honey to fill my belly.
That nutty, smooth, chunky
Yummy peanut better.

Eat it on apples or celery,
Crackers, Oreos, on anything for me.
That nutty, smooth, chunky
Yummy peanut better.

Nutty, smooth, chunky
Yummy peanut butter.
Peanut butter, peanut butter, …

Off to see Beauty and the Beast and take pictures of Becky's friends since she's at overnight camp and will miss all the shows.

"Best Friends" song receives Honorable Mention in the Children's Category of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest! This is a biggie for me. I entered two kids songs into the general contest (judging not based on genre) - didn't make the final cut in that, but did have one of the two songs that received an Honorable Mention in the Children's Category. Check out the link for a list of all the finalists and the Honorable Mention winners in each category, http://www.newsongfestival.com/contest/2006_finalists.htm.

Has it really been over a month? Let's see, I got my new CDs, shipped several off to CD Baby, Amazon, and a couple of award competitions; did several shows; went on a 2 1/2 week family vacation; scheduled some fall gigs out of state - been busy!

On the music front, not much new going on. My summer shows are going well - the Paws, claws, scales and tales theme is good for all of my shows, so I've been doing lots of animal songs. Only problem is, I don't have nearly as many shows as last year, so income-wise, we're not doing too well. So, I've got to count on CDs sales and maybe licensing a song or two (got some feelers out, so cross your fingers for me).

On the home front, my eleven year old had a dance camp this week. Luckily, she was able to take the bus there, but I had to pick her up every day. And since I was pickering her up, why not get her friend, too, and bring them to the pool. My 13 year old had nothing planned and managed to keep it that way for most of the week. My challenge was getting her to do anything while I was gone. Most of what she did (emptying dishwasher, walking dog, getting dressed) happened just before or after I got home from morning classes or errands. Speaking of errands, i made myself bike ride whenever possible, which was fun, but hot (hit 100 a couple of days). So, I'm a bit tired from doing classes or shows nearly every day and biking at least 10 miles every day. But, it's a nice tired.

On the work front, I filed a substitute teacher application in Boulder Valley. Now have to send some supporting docs, but I've got that on my schedule for later next week. Have classes on Monday, library gigs on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Children's Hospital (free one, but that's okay with me) on Thursday. And, I drop the kids off in Denver on Wednesday AM for the bus to overnight camp. Which means parts of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday will be spent packing, shopping, nagging, doing laundry, shopping, packing, nagging, packing ... Actually, I think we're in pretty good shape, but that['s what I think now, before we've starting filling the duffel bags and trunk.

On the web front, I'm hoping to work on my website and web exposure the week of 7/24 when my show schedule thins out, kids are gone, and no interruptions except my dog and my bicycle.

Got an order for CDs from the Malden Public Library - my mom was a librarian there from about 1967-1981. That's where I first sang with kids, at my mom's branch library, The Faulkner Branch. I remember doing a big show at the main library for the summer reading program, probably in the mid-70's. So, it was fun to get that order. I did a postcard mailing for my early childhood CDs (Wiggle and Whirl; Wiggle and Whirl, Clap and Nap). Have been getting a steady flow of orders, not too many, but a few every week. So, now I'm doing a mailing for Best Friends. Hopefully, that will start to generate interest and orders. Then, I'd like to do another mailing in late August, highlighting all four CDs, mayber get orders for my Halloween CD, "Boo, Cackle", and maybe have sent enough to get some libraries to finally order any of them.

Going up to the mountains to do a couple of shows at Keystone tomorrow, so need to be up early. Don't have to hurry back, so I'm looking forward to mayber riding a little on the bike path and then enjoying some ice tea and fresh air before I head back.

TTFN, Sue.

Eagerly Awaiting CDs and Stiff Neck

Had a fun show at the Bemis Library in Littleton, Colorado last night. Did a nice mix of original songs and covers. My covers include The Gum Song by Mary Dart, and other lesser know folk songs and traditional songs. Audience was great, librarian loved it, parents loved it, kids had a great time. Evening shows for kids can be tough. Parents are tired and kids are tired but a little wired because they're out. So, it was a little too active for me during one song, but it settled. Gave out kazoos (don't usually do that - like to sell them for $1 to get them up to the CD table), but I was in a good mood because the show was so fun and my new CDs are arriving today. They left Commerce City on the truck at 4:44 AM. I really wish they could get here before I leave for the opening Fantastic Friday this morning, but I think I'm getting a little too obsessed with their arrival.

I have had a really bad stiff neck since Wednesday morning. Woke up in the middle of the night and could barely move my head without pain. I think it I pulled a few too many muscles in my shoulders and upper back while moving boxes around to make room for the new CDs (just can't keep them out of the conversation, can I!). I didn't realize how bad it was until it woke me up. Got a massage on Wednesday - that helped a little. Went to the chiropractor yesterday - that helped a little more. And then I did my show last night which included loading sound equipment in my car, unloading, re-loading, and unloading when I got home. I should have asked Steve to unload when I got home, but it was late so I didn't. Really should have. I'm paying for it now. Had trouble getting to sleep, had trouble sleeping, and I've got two-45 minute sets this morning. In front of my hometown crowd. So, I can't wing it with my usual stuff - they deserve new stuff. I wrote a new hello song on the way home last night. I'll try to do that. But, I need to learn how to say hello in more languages. Anyone out there have any - email me if you do.

Thanks.

Best Friends CD is on its way!

Just got word this afternoon that my new CDs were shipped today. Should have 10 cartons on my porch on Friday. Having a pre-arrival sale -- $14 or CD, including shipping and a kazoo. Order directly from me, sue@weebeemusic.com.
Can't wait to see and hear one!

New CD is at the plant!

After assorted delays due to producer tour and gigs, engineer working on a major project (Merlefest), and assorted other minor schedule problems, we shipped the master and graphics files on Friday. So, in factory speech, today is day one of ten production days, then two day air for shipping, and 1,000 CDs all boxed up should be on my porch or driveway some time Friday June 16. Which is good timing because we leave for vacation on the 18th. I'll miss having them at several gigs, but at least I'll be able to get them to CD Baby, Amazon, and local stores before I leave. I've already done the advance work for CD Baby - it's in their database just waiting to get CDs to sell. I'll do Amazon tomorrow once I get the bar code. And, then the excitement begins. Send it out to the award folks, sell at gigs, send complimentary copies to all the kids who helped out by singing on the CD or co-writing songs and all the musicians who played on it. And cross my fingers that I make my goal to sell out my first 1,000 by the end of the year.

I'll send postcards out to libraries in mid-June and to elementary schools in early September. Goal for schools: sell some CDs, sell some backing track CDs, and book assemblies. Tour a little? YES!!!

My life gets so strange

Okay, the CD will be finished this week. I'm not as anal as my producer and engineer. And, they definitely hear stuff I don't hear. I mean "sonically speaking". So, I've been getting a little frustrated that this project is now three weeks behind my schedule. Which I guess is okay because I haven't figured out the graphics for the cover yet. Had a cover but decided it wasn't rockin' enough. It was cute. My kids said it was cute; other kids said it was cute. And then, I looked at it again and thought, hmmm. And asked my 11 year old, Becky, and she said it was cute but cheesy. Okay, it's out. Back to the drawing board. And still debating myself over whether or not to include lyrics. In this day and age of computers (duh!) I should be able to get away with just including a web link to download a pdf that would fit in the CD case and also full size lyric sheets. But, the parent and teacher part of me thinks, whoa, why should I have to work that hard just to read song lyrics. And what if the CD is at a library or school. So, now I'm back to an 8-10 booklet which costs more to design, more to manufacture, more, more, more.

Had a very nice mother's day. Becky was up early and designed a computer card for me, literally. It's the new background on our computer. Put a jpg on my website, http://www.weebeemusic.com/photos.html. And my kids gave me a journal that they each wrote in. I hope they don't expect to be allowed to read it. My journal gets a bit harsh, on me mostly.

So, Monday my 13 year old had a fit before school. Over clothes - she doesn't like t-shirts. And, it was pajama day so she put on her pajama pants, no problem, and then put on a tight fitting tank top that's a little revealing. Actually, it's way too low. And, I suggested most kids wear a t-shirt with pajama bottoms. And, I wouldn't let her wear a tank top with them, so put on a t-shirt. Blah, blah, on and on. Bottom line, when the weather's nice, I won't drive them to school. So, I didn't. Made her ride her bike while I walked (wound up running) the dog and carried her social studies project. She made it on time; so did I. And, in honor of our quality morning discussion, no more tank tops for school ofr the rest of the school year - just 3 1/2 weeks.

Today it was the 11 year old. it was "fashion" day at school. So, she dressed, primped, ate breakfast, finished homework, brushed teeth, did hair again, and then re-did her outfit which, of course, meant she was running later than usual - she's usually early. Then had to pack her backpack and melted down. She doesn't argue though, she goes into guilt mode. Teary and sobby. Her sister gets teary and loud. Anyway, she scootered to school, got there in time, and I walked the dog and dropped off her lunch (she can't carry it when she scooters). On the way back, as I was scootering with dog, my cell phone rang. Someone in Calgary, Alberta wanted to buy 13 copies of my Wiggle and Whirl CD. How wierd a transition is that?

Stuff like that just sort of happens at the time when I most need it. Stuff with my kids like yesterday and today really gets to me, so it's nice to have a pick me up out of the blue and totally unsolicited.

Late Nights

Whew! My husband has been working late which has been upsetting the kids and putting extra pressure on me. I don't mind the working late- I worked a lot of overtime pre-kids and do a lot of weekend gigs during the summer - but, it's definitely bothering him and the kids, which is a problem for all of us. So, I've been doing my best to make it easy for him (and guilt free), but the kids are upset that he gets home at around their bedtime. And, has been working on weekends.

As for me, it makes me re-think the musician/should I get a real job question. Part of me wants a steady income/job, and part of me doesn't want to quit what I've started and give up this freedom. So, I've begun to halfheartedly look around. Found a music teacher opening at a private school. I should apply, but I have this thing about private schools. I live in Boulder - the schools here are good and you have lots of choice in going to focus schools. So, who goes to this particular private school? Not anyone who lives in my neighborhood! Which is a dilemma for me. I'd like to teach, but don't have a teaching certificate. Which means I can only get a job at a private school. But, that goes against my grain. To get a teaching certificate I'd have to go to school and student teach which would take 1-2 years, lots of money, and I'm 50! What school district is going to hire a 52 year old first time teacher? I could sub. And that's what I should have done this year. But, I was too lazy to submit the application and then I got a part-time afternoon job, so that ruled out subbing most days.

So, I guess the compromise is to apply to sub for next year, hope I don't have the afternoon commitment, and earn some money that way, so I can keep gigging and keep doing the music thing. I'm already getting leads for 2007 summer concerts - a western Colorado tour, which if I worked at it, I could probably extend into Arizona or up through Wyoming. All it takes is a lot of emails and followthrough. I'm good at the emails. It's the follow through that I suck at. And I've never booked a tour before. So, that scares me a bit. Paralyzes might be a better word.

Got to go - Steve's home and almost done reading to Becky.

Sick Child

Becky has been home sick all week. Finally got her fever down to 100.3 -100.6, but her cough is driving her (and me) crazy. Actually, being home with her for the past three days is driving me (and her) even crazier. I love my child, but such closeness is clautrophobic. So, I've been spending my time cooped up working on a postcard mailing for libraries and lots of time on MySpace. In fact, I need friends. http://www.myspace.com/sueschnitzer

Haven't worked on songwriting or my CD very much. It's amazing how tired I feel when I don't get out, don't walk the dog more than a few blocks, and can't sleep well because I'm worried about my kid. Today, I got out long enough to go teach my songwriting elective - my students are 5 sixth and seventh grade boys. Interesting group actually. A couple of them are in a band so they want to write a song for that, entitled "Camping sucks". I don't think we'll be able to share that one at share day (all grades, K-8). But, I'm letting them write it and we'll record it so I can burn them a CD. It's always interesting coming up with song ideas and titles with middle schoolers. Two of the kids are working on a song about poachers (not eggs!). It's about the elephants and tigers they're hunting in Africa turning the tables and hunting them. Hm.

Longmont Library

Had a great show at Longmont Library today. Becky and her friend Lizzie danced and sang along with "Best Friends". Then boredom and moodiness returned and they took my car keys and left. Luckily, they don't drive. They just wanted out so they played in my van. Listened to Fall Out Boy on my ipod and rearranged the back seats. Ah, the life of a performer.

Should get the rough mixes tonight of the rest of my new CD. Still trying to figure out how to get my first one manufactured - the films are old and I'd like to update contact info. Lession learned, only put my website on the CD and booklet. Email addresses can change.

Finished recording, I hope!

All right! Have a CD of rough mixes for six songs - can be heard on my website, http://www.weebeemusic.com/music.html. They sound great! I can hear a few things I might want to fix/tweak, but I'm really happy with what we have so far. Can't wait to hear the other 9 songs and the joke track. Not sure where that will go on the CD, but I've got a few weeks to figure that out.

Just realized the other day when I did inventory that I'm almost out of two of my CDs, "Wiggle and Whirl" and "Boo, Cackle, Trick or Treat". So, now I'm trying to figure out how to order more W&W's because the artwork is all on film, not digital (from 2000). It may be cheaper to just redo the graphics than to go with what I have. Argh. More work, more time, and more money. And, somehow I need the money to reorder Boo and then get graphics done for the new one, "Best Friends", and decide whether to go with 1,000, or be optomistic and order 2,000 of the new one. Not sure yet on that, but I have a few weeks yet to figure it out. Need to reorder W&W ASAP. Can probably wait until June to reorder Boo. This is getting way too complicated and way too expensive.

But, I'm hoping to get lucky with some of the tracks on the new CD - licensing? Who knows. Whatever I can do, I'm already starting to look around.

Whew! Decided to add a joke track to the CD, so brought in four "best friends" to tell jokes and laugh. Quite a fun time, but a bit stressful for me and the engineer. Hopefully we got enough good stuff to get about a minute and a half track out of. And, had my own moments in the reording booth. Harmonies, which is fun, but Arthur and James were really picky. They actually wanted everything exactly on time and in pitch. I've done harmonies before, but this was as perfectionist as I've ever gotten. Some lines were a little (okay, a lot) harder to get right than others. But, the end result sounds awesome. Thank you James and Pro Tools!

The kids had a great day.. After their studio time, they hung around outside. Then I took them to Taco Bell (how do you spell ewe as in yucky?). They had lots of fun while I worked on filling out stuff so our accountant can finish our taxes. Then, we picked up roller blades and skooters, dropped one kid off at home, picked up one daughter and dropped her off at horseback riding, and headed back to the studio. The kids roller bladed, walked the dog, and made lots of noise (outside) while I did those awesome harmonies.

So, the fiddle player comes in tomorrow, and I'll have a rough mix on CD by next Wednesday. Them, Arthur's on tour, I return to life as usual, and we pick it up again in late April. Then it's four days of mixing, a day of mastering, and hopefully, by then, I'll be good to go with the graphics and we're off. Just a matter of figuring out how to pay the bills now. The hard part's done. Now I just need to figure out how to quadruple my income for the next few months. Ha ha.

Can't wait until Wednesday to hear what we've got. Should be pretty good mixes. James has done most of the editing as we went, so we're in good shape with the cutting and pasting (Pro Tools magic). Hoping to use some of the mixes for submissions for song contests and other stuff coming due soon.

Adios. Tomorrow I'm doing a short program at the Boulder Cesar Chavez remembrance. Wrote a song tonight, but not sure I'll sing it tomorrow. I'll try it out on Jamie and see what she thinks of it. She's 13, so I'll get an honest vocal opinion.

Best Friends CD - Update One

Vocals have been recorded for all songs. Vocal edits will be done on Friday. Kids came into the studio on Saturday. That was a zoo, but fun and the kids were great. They added vocals and sound effects to about 7 or 8 songs. Six kids - 4 girls, 2 boys. We'll probably double their good tracks. On Friday Becky and her best friend Katie will add some talking stuff to "In trhe Middle" and do a bunch of jokes. We're hoping to have a joke track. The one on "Boo, Cackle, Trick or Treat" is so much fun (people actually download it from iTunes!) we decided if the CD is entitled "Best Friends" then we should have something best friends do a lot - joke around and laugh! So, I hope Friday is fun. It's a touchy process - big sister is jealous that younger sister will be on more songs/tracks. But big sister and her friends don't have the timing and giggles that younger sis and her bff do. Oh, well. One more thing for me to deal with.

After Friday, we'll do a rough mix which I hope to get out to some teachers and librarians for quotes I can use on the CD packaging, my website, and other marketing. And, in the middle of all of this I'm trying to finish getting everything together to do our taxes. Accountant meeting is tomorrow AM. So, enough for now. I'm hoping to get better at updating the blog. Maybe even daily.

CD Progress

Working on a new CD. Title will be "Best Friends" and it will have 13 originals, two traditional songs that I wrote new verses for, and one of my favorite folk standards, Stewball. More later.