Thank you, Amen.

Well, I am alive. We all are.

Click here for carbon monoxide safety from The National Safety Council

I had been cleaning all day and preparing for a gig. The babysitter was coming at 6pm. It was probably 3:30-ish when I was starting to wrap things up and go pick up Zach. The house had a kind of sulphur smell that I thought was from me cleaning out the drains. I had windows open to vent and it was cold outside, so the heat was probably kicking in more than usual.

Then there was a beeping sound. I couldn't figure out where it was coming from at first. Russ was on the phone. When I said I thought it was coming from the basement, he said it could be the carbon monoxide detector. I went down to find what seemed like smoke. I couldn't see any source.

I hung up and called 911. ("The whole house smells like sulphur and the carbon monoxide alarm is going off.")

First they asked who was in the house (just me and the dogs), then they said to get the dogs and get out of the house. The Fire Department was on the way. I gazed up at the dining room as I opened the door. There was an eerie haze covering the lower half of the room. I didn't even take the time to grab my purse.

After they arrived, the captain confirmed dangerous levels of CO in the house. It was traced to a malfunctioning furnace. It was not safe to go inside. They cleared out the house and shut off the furnace and hot water heater.

There was no time to waste. I had to pick up Zach, get the dogs to a kennel, collect overnight clothes for me and Zach and get to the gig. The babysitter would have to come to the gig and stay at the hotel with Zach (hotel gig). The neighbors would keep an eye on things until the fire people managed to get the garage doors shut again, and they would also keep the babysitter warm at their house in the event she got there before I was back. Russ was calling family, the kennel, and furnace repair people from Abbey Road Studios in London. It was complete chaos - and way more than usual.

Even now, as I write this late Monday night, we are in a second hotel, the dogs still at the kennel. The new furnace comes tomorrow and maybe, just maybe, I can feel like I have some semblance of normalcy this coming week.

The gig was great. I made it on stage in the nick of time without nails or lipstick. Zachary and the babysitter were right behind me and they stayed for a few songs before he went up to bed. Everyone was very kind and I am especially grateful for the help and support of friends, neighbors and even complete strangers who went above and beyond to make our lives easier this week.

With Charlie, Gregory, Kristina #DancinMachine

Zach is having a fine adventure...

I asked for a sign and saw this.

Here's the thing. If the timing had been different... if that alarm would've gone off in the middle of the night, I would never have heard it. As crazy and as stressful as this has all been, I'm reminded that we are incredibly Blessed in ways we don't always even comprehend.

Grateful for that. Yes.

Also, for the record, we should all have carbon monoxide detectors on every level of our home. I'd like a system where they are all connected, so if one goes off they all will sound.

Love,
T

Balancing Act

Did I have the game on? Yes. Did I catch every play? Hardly.

I was also busy playing "Pete the Cat - The Wheels On the Bus Game" during the Super Bowl.

Looking back on the pictures from this week, I realize there was a lot of balancing involved.

At one point I was even trying to explain to Zachary how to balance work and play. I hope I know what I'm talking about. I'm about to do a show Monday (yes, a MONDAY show), then fly off to Vegas for (ahem) business.

Yep. OK. On that note - I'm off. xoxo!

Love,
T

Intensity

Russ, Flute, Paul Anthony, T, Kenny, Jerry

What an amazing time!

Russ, Carmen, T, Paul Anthony

It was a celebration in honor of Rick James' birthday. Rick's brother Carmen threw a great event with three outstanding bands! I sang a Teena Marie tribute with the All Star Band alongside Kenny, Jerry, Wade, Flute, Russ, Joey, and Paul Anthony. Megan and Shelby (from Buffalo's "Confidance") joined us to dance on Behind the Groove.

Megan, T, Shelby

We prepared, traveled, rehearsed, dressed up, danced, sang and got down with our funky selves. I had the chance to hug people I haven't seen in years and made some wonderful new friends. It was beautiful!

Eric Jensen left me some PHENOMENAL photos that he took from the last Buffalo performance with the Original Stone City Band!

Ty (The Left Handed Bandit) presented his AWESOME sketch to Paul Anthony.

I managed to create some new promotional postcards and T-shirts (with help from New York Marketing and Artden) and launched my NEW WEBSITE!

Click here for the new and improved tanyadiona.com

I'm going to call the whole week "intense" - in a good way.

Love,
T

Studio Time - and a Summer

STUDIO TIME!!!! #YEEEESSSS

Then we tried to cram a summer's worth of activities into a day and a half. There was bike riding, the beach, an amusement park, a first haircut, restaurant dining and more - before we watched the planes that would fly Daddy back to London.

Now I'm settling into a routine of some serious working out and rehearsing - big shows coming up! #VegasBaby (More on that later.)

Much Love and well wishes for a productive and happy week! xo

Namaste,

T

Back To Life

Saturday was my first gig since having the baby. It felt like I was re-entering the world. #Goodtimes - and we PLAYED that song too, lol.

WHY DIDN'T I TAKE ANY PICS ON THE GIG?

Truth: I didn't think of it. I had charged up my camera the night before and forgot it at home. Upon realizing this, I thought I'd just use my phone, but then I was too busy worrying about lyrics, my shoes, my sore throat (which came out of nowhere just before the show), mic volume, trying to find the room where they served the band dinner and trying NOT to be worried about anything!

This was taken AFTER I finally got home. AFTER my hair got all frizzed out in the damp air and AFTER the bandleader texted to say I had left my iPad behind and I turned the car around and ran back inside only to find that he had already just left with it. AFTER I ran to catch up with him in the parking lot and was relieved to find him getting into his car.

"I'm a basket case!" I said, shaking my head as I approached.
"No," he said with a smile. "You're a mom."

Anyway... The show itself was fantastic and a lot of fun! It was GREAT to be back! It's such a pleasure to work with outstanding musicians who are also so very nice and have such high spirit! I loved being there with them and being a part of the music that connected all those happy smiling faces on a packed dance floor. There really was nothing to be worried about. :)

Had a blast! Hanging onto that energy this week - with a smile.
xo

Namaste,
T

(What is) The Jeopardy Blog

Alex, it's great to be here! I'll take "Recording Studio" for 200 please.

What are things on the vocal booth window ledge?

(Voice of host) "That is correct!"

I saw this random collection of items as I took my place behind the microphone this week and thought, "I LOVE THIS PLACE!" Looking further beyond the glass, I saw speakers, cables, keyboards, a big industrial shelf filled with drums, and a few musicians taking a break in between sound check and their evening show. Where else in the world would I see this combination of items and people? It meant I was in my favorite place, with my favorite people, doing what I love. It was the best!

#FindWhatYouLove #MoreOfThatPlease

Here's to doing what you love!

Namaste,
T

#BackToWork

With all due respect and appreciation for times of reflection, relaxation and introspective examination, last week was all about getting back to work.

There were workouts, video production, travel, song writing, studio recording, a very interesting photo shoot with a dragonfly, strategic marketing development sessions, contract execution, more travel, vocal practice, song learning, and a gig. It was a pretty full week.

My view in the studio...

With Russ and Joey

With Russ and Robbie

Yes. I can get hair done, have a production meeting,
 and color at the same time... LOL

With Vincent and Russell at NYGMS

L to R: Harvey, Bobby, Me, Jim, Doug, Bill, Chandlar, Paul

I feel good about everything happening, and there's a lot happening!

This week, as I plow through the ever-mounting pile of tasks, I'll keep a steady pace and remember to enjoy the process as I go. I know that if I keep balanced and make sure there's room for laughs and quiet thought (or pictures of dragonflies), I'll get an amazing number of things done AND feel rested and strong as well.  :)

Here's wishing us all a successfully balanced back to work/school week!

"Namaste" - said the dragonfly...

Namaste,
T

"Namaste" - said the chick singer...