Green Day

First and foremost - prayers and love for all those affected by Hurricane Harvey. 

Ways to help:

Click here for donation links on Texas.gov

Click here for Washington Post article, "How you can help..."

This blog WAS going to be about Russ coming home from the Chic / Earth Wind & Fire tour, but then we went to see Green Day.

When I saw Matt and Christine a couple of weeks ago, we had been trying to think of something fun that we could do together. I love hanging out with my young relatives!!! Green Day was mentioned, tickets were bought and we all piled in the car to head to Darien Lake for the show.

Merch was purchased...

THE SHOW WAS AWESOME!

Click here for The Buffalo New's "Green Day brings explosive 'Revolution' to Darien Lake"

The experience was priceless. The collective soul of the crowd was... (I can't think of a word good enough) how about... "POWERFUL." The energy was terrifically high and the musicianship was outstanding. I love how Billie Joe Armstrong said to look for the heroes in times of catastrophe - they can always be found. The mosh pit next to us was happening - even if I did think someone's shoe might hit us in the head a couple of times - lol.

Special thanks to Matt for the idea to go in the first place and for sharing his favorite band with us. Huge thanks to Matt, Christine and Russ for the journey! THAT was a really good time. Thanks for sharing it with me. xoxo

Here's to the music!

Namaste,
T

Moral Fiber

Life Lesson this week:

Moral fiber can't always be found in the traditional places.

Note to Self:

But it CAN be found. Look for it in everyday people, places and things. Look for it within yourself.

In the drama of our lives, we often cast a "hero" where one doesn't actually belong. People we expect to be role models often let us down. It can be very disappointing when a role we historically cast one certain way, is revealed to be only a myth of our own making. We create expectations for athletes, celebrities, police officers, judges, politicians, parents, loved ones, etc. - then they don't behave the way we imagine they should. If we're going to be honest about it, we disappoint ourselves sometimes too.

Sometimes things are so scary...

we don't even want to look.

#DigDeep and then #DigDeeper.

Keep on loving. Ease up on the blaming of others for our own perceived shortcomings. Carry on and expand the love... watch it grow. #FocusOnTheLove

As darkness literally descends on us this week (via solar eclipse), let us emerge and shine brilliantly from all the lessons learned. We go through. We uncover truths. We live. We learn. We grow.

Namaste,
T

Concert Going, Baby!

Of course he won't remember... but he'll always have the pictures.

WHO TAKES A BABY TO SEE A NILE RODGERS & CHIC AND EARTH WIND & FIRE CONCERT!!!??? - TWICE!!!???

A mommy who knows that his daddy is up there on stage playing keys.

"I play keys too Mommy!"

I was fully prepared to abandon the idea and go back home at any moment if he seemed overwhelmed. He didn't. He had his noise blocking headset. He was fed and changed and content. He slept on the way, was interested in the activity around him at the venues and was happy to see his dad backstage. I had braced myself for judgmental looks from people who couldn't possibly have guessed what we were both doing there. There weren't any. A lot of people smiled and said hello to him. One post from after the show summed it up nicely: "This kid has about a thousand Uncles and Aunts."

Meet and Greet, Keybank Center

I know that's right! #WeAreFamily

MSG

with Ray Chew and Vivian Scott Chew

with Joey and Val

with Donald and Sandra

with Nile Rodgers

A million thanks to all our dear friends and family! It was so great to see everyone in NYC and Buffalo who came to the show! I just adore all of you - truly. LOVE to all the people and musicians who make this life journey so warm and wonderful! Prayers for everyone's continued good health and well-being... Love is in the house.
xoxo

Namaste,
T

Just Start

I was overwhelmed with tasks to be done, and was talking to myself out loud. I gave myself instructions and wrote them down:

"When you don't know where to start... start anywhere.

Just start."

It must have been a good idea because I managed to eat healthy, do workouts six days of the week, walk every day, get my receipts organized, get all the filing done, clean out the closet, write a new verse, practice / learn an upcoming show's worth of material, pack for a road trip and keep my sanity (along with all the regular daily tasks). I even made it to the spa!

Ahhhhh... the spa

I'm going to have to remember that instruction. ;) #JustStart

Have a great week!

Namaste,
T

A New Mom's Vacation

Misery was predicted and two people were lined up to help me. One person spent the night to help with the baby and another came in the morning to drive me to and from the appointment. As my "prep" work commenced the day before, I was told I seemed to be tolerating it well.

Honestly, I didn't think it was as bad as I'd heard it described. Then I realized that it was the most time I'd had to myself in months! I had the luxury of alone time! (I'll stop just short of saying it was "great.") I even got a warm blanket and a very nice nap! The truth is... my colonoscopy was a little bit like a vacation.  ;)

Like a day at the spa...

This week I will be going to the REAL spa to celebrate my clean bill of health - thank you very much. LOL

Have a great week everyone! xo

Namaste,
T

#ChangeYourSong

Have you ever tried complaining to your doctor about how hard it is to eat healthy? Mine told me I had to change my thoughts. Instead of thinking about how hard it is, "Just think of making better choices." Every day, every meal is a choice. It seemed simple enough.

That thought lingered with me throughout the week. By thinking of how hard it is (and before you say “it’s not that hard” - please keep in mind that I'm taking care of two dogs and a baby) I was focused on the challenge. Changing my mind is simple enough, but not always easy. My doctor was right. While focused on the challenge, I was sabotaging my own power. It’s not something difficult. It’s a simple choice. Remembering that I DO have a choice is empowering. It allows me to take the reins. With that in mind, I started making healthier food choices.

I carried the idea of changing my mind over to other things too. All day long I make up silly songs to entertain the baby. I decided some of the lyrics needed a change.

“Ay, ay, ay, ay… no sir I have no bananas” soon became “Ay, ay, ay, ay… Yes I do have some bananas.” (What can I say, he thinks the word “banana” is hilarious.) “Bananas, bananas galore... Bananas yes please I’ll have more… Ay, ay, ay, ay… How I do love my bananas” etc. (You get the idea.)

Why would I repeat a lyric about a state of lack? Why wouldn’t I sing from a place of bounty and reinforce THAT idea? Hello? What was I thinking?

Of the thousands of thoughts we have in our heads all day long, what do we keep repeating to ourselves that we could change? How can I continue to change my song and improve my life? This week, I’ll listen closely and #changemysong.

Namaste,

T

#WriteYourSong

I've been so busy with baby and family lately. I felt a strong desire to get back to some music and singing (and not just baby songs - which I sing ALL THE TIME). I found a necklace pendant made from a "reclaimed singing bowl" and thought it would be the perfect thing to help me focus on singing and hold that intention close to my heart. I bought it and started wearing it, thinking of music every time I put it on.

I soon received calls from four different music associates that I haven't spoken to in a while! #Cool!

Then the song "Unwritten" popped into my head and wouldn't leave. It reminded me of an anonymous quote I read recently:

"On your last day on earth, 

the person you became will meet the person you could have become."

- Anonymous

I started thinking of how tragic it would be if the songs that could have been - never were. So on a long drive this week, I wrote a new song. I didn't want it to go unwritten.

#WriteYourSong

More to come...

Namaste,
T