Did I mention that one dog got "skunked" and the other had severe diarrhea for a week? TMI? It happened over a week ago but I am definitely still feeling the ramifications. SMH. They're both fine now.
There were also some really fun shows!
After a lot of hard work and traveling, there's no end in sight for this week. #KeepGoing
I'm carrying lessons from the dragonfly and the bee this week. They managed to make numerous, conspicuous appearances so I looked them up. Apparently, the dragonfly has a unique ability to change flight direction and the bee is considered a symbol for miracles since it is not supposed to be able (aerodynamically) to fly.
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
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!
I was tired. I didn't know how I was going to muster up the strength to get through the whole, four-hour-long, high-energy gig without anyone noticing my exhaustion.
A friend had sent me a selfie as I was leaving the house. I tried to send one back, but none of them were coming out well. I thought, "Geez, I look terrible." I was wearing my fatigue outwardly.
But then something amazing happened. After the long drive through the beautiful Hudson Valley and a very pleasant encounter with the nicest valet guy ever, I began to feel a little better. Upon greeting the other singer and some of the musicians, we started kidding around and laughing. By the start of the gig, I felt a LOT better. The crowd turned out to be the sweetest group of lively, friendly people, the staff was smiling and happy, my bandmates were the greatest bunch of guys (besides being awesome musicians), and I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of the whole event family. I had a fabulous time! No one would've guessed that I had started off the day so sluggish - including me! LOL.
"We cannot live only for ourselves.
A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow man."
- Herman Melville
L to R: John, Chris, Me, Paul, Harvey, Doug
Being a part of that fellowship was truly energizing - such an uplifting experience. I drove home with a profound sense of happiness and an energetic spirit, grateful to have been surrounded by such wonderful, positive energy. Also, I was reminded that we are exactly as we believe we are. Somewhere along the way, I had stopped thinking that I was tired and started thinking that I was going to have a lot of fun.
"Every thought we think is creating our future."
- Louise Hay
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
The mind is everything. What we thnk, we become."
- Buddha
"The words, 'I am...' are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to.
The thing you're claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you."
- A.L. Kitselman
I'll listen carefully to my thoughts this week. If I start telling myself "I am tired" or anything I wish not to be, I'll replace it with something more like, "I am going to have a great day!" It's just a thought, after all. It can be changed - like magic.
Russ and I met on stage at the World Trade Center, on the 107th floor of the North Tower. It was during a gig with a band he had played with for years, and I first came in that night as a guest vocalist.
Last night (Sunday), Russ was on stage in London playing with Nile Rodgers and Chic. He received a text message from New Jersey that included a picture of himself, there on stage in London, and the words "We see you."
Russ on stage with Nile Rodgers & Chic at the British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park
It was from the bandleader and entertainment company with whom he had worked for over a decade - the same band that first brought us together on stage years ago.
Someone who books that band in the UK and Europe was in the crowd at the London show, recognized Russ, and sent a picture to the bandleader in Jersey, who then forwarded it to Russ on stage in London. (Cool!)
Every week, I am pleased and honored to see that there are blog views from all over the world! I welcome all of the worldwide viewership and am so glad to be a part of this era in which we are more and more connected globally!
Mom sent them. Apparently it is a snapper and over a foot long (that's a size 8 flip flop next to it). She found it crawling along the path near our house. She named it Pokey.
This week, I was driving from one gig to another when I got a phone call from some relatives who will be visiting me shortly and they were all excited about the possibility of seeing a turtle that size during their stay. About a half hour after that, I stopped at a roadside furniture store that looked interesting and a man with a chainsaw came running across the parking lot to tell me that they had four showrooms inside, and if I needed him, he was on the side of the building carving a turtle. When I conveyed the story to mom, she said she had seen another turtle just before I called.
He is usually giving you
the message that ‘slow and steady wins the race.’
Pay attention to details in
your current project and take your time with it.
Don’t be tempted to skip steps
or take shortcuts. You will get there!
Just trust
in the process and stay in the moment.
Bigger, stronger, faster are not always
the best way to reach your goals."
- Spirit-animals.com
(Alright then. Makes sense to me.)
It was a very busy weekend with a gig in Vermont...
L to R: Harvey, John, Me and Trevor
and then a gig in New Jersey...
L to R: Frank, Matt, Jim, Joey, Joe, Me, Eddy and Junior
Apollo Joe and Me
Instead of rushing back home in between gigs, I drove straight to Jersey from Vermont. I was glad to have enough time to be able to stop and take some pictures when I saw something interesting along the way. When my navigator declined to tell me where to go, I just asked the nice kid at the gas station to point me in the direction of the moose on the back of a truck... (true story). He said, "I know exactly where you mean." LOL! I had remembered that moose from the drive up and wanted to head back that same way.
This week, I will remember the message of the turtle and not race around too much. There are so many cool things I might miss if I'm moving too fast. ;)
The Big Moose Deli and Country Store, Hoosick, NY
LaFlammes Inc, Bennington, VT
Outside the Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT
Carpenter's Touch LLC, Johnsonville, NY
Carpenter's Touch LLC, Johnsonville, NY
Carpenter's Touch LLC, Johnsonville, NY
Flower Bed - Creative Custom Woodcraft, Hoosick Falls, NY
Creative Custom Woodcraft, Hoosick Falls, NY
Who wouldn't stop and take a picture of THIS street sign?
Thursday was a fabulous day! I was having an amazing time at my gig - with OUTSTANDING singers/entertainers and incredible musicians.
I sent Russ this picture:
With John J. and Bobby D.
He responded with this picture of his own:
Russ with Sir Elton John
AWESOME!!!!!
Today (Sunday) was a BEAUTIFUL DAY! It was the first really warm and sunshiny day of the year, getting all the way up to 63 degrees. I spent most of the day outside enjoying it.
I really got a jump on the weed situation this time. Last year, I remember getting a very rude awakening to an out-of-control weed situation in September. This year, I was all over it early! I clipped, weeded, and laid down five bags of mulch. I decided I was NOT going to let it get out of control like last year.
Wish I could say Bentley was helpful...
It felt as if I was working off some steam too. I had been thinking heavily about some comments a "friend" had made the day before that were not sitting well with me - at all.
When I got back in the house and checked Facebook, I found this quote:
"People inspire you or they drain you. Pick them wisely."
- Hans F. Hansen
This week, I will not be afraid to let things go. I will choose to spend my time and energy wisely and will not allow my thoughts to become weeds, choking out new growth.
At the beginning of the week I saw a few online posts like this...
"If you want something you never had,
you have to do something you've never done."
- The Mind Unleashed (Facebook)
"An open mind allows you to explore and create and grow.
Remember that progress would be impossible
if we always did things the way we always have."
- Dr Wayne W. Dyer
So I started trying to think of things that I've never done, and then do them.
I found a new gym and signed up for a trial membership. I quickly decided to join and took a Zumba class (never did THAT before). The gym membership included a complimentary physical assessment with a personal trainer. I liked the session so much that I signed up for twelve weeks of personal training sessions (never did THAT before either). The fitness routine with the trainer included many new exercises, some on machines that were new to me and which I was excited to learn about. After realizing that Russ could be added to the same membership, I brought him to join too, and we both took a cycle class (spinning class) together. THAT was new for both of us and was NO JOKE! WHEW!!! That was a serious workout.
Thursday and Friday included meetings in the city and in a spirit of adventure I went to two new restaurants that I had never been to before.
Waterfall art inside Rosa Mexicano restaurant - NYC
On Broadway
So, by week's end there were a number of new things I had done. I soon realized that they had all cost money and wondered if I should do something new that didn't cost anything. What about volunteering somewhere?
I Yelped "volunteer opportunities" but nothing came up in my area. What did come up required advanced training and an application that would take time to process. As "coincidence" would have it, my gig on Saturday was a fundraising event for an organization that is dedicated to developing and promoting volunteerism. It was one of the same organizations that came up on the search! The idea was reinforced, and I knew I was on the right track. Although several meetings that I attended this week involved volunteering my time and efforts for various causes, I wanted to find something NEW, and to do something I have never done before.
At the gig with Joe (bandleader/guitar) and John (bass)
At the gig with Dean (drums)
Sunday brought with it just the opportunity I was searching for and I seized the moment. After church service, I approached the gentleman who had made announcements, and introduced myself. I knew that they had been looking for volunteers for various tasks in the past, and asked him what types of things I could help out with within the parameters of my usual "last minute" type of schedule. He was very nice and welcoming and offered several suggestions of things I could help with - even though I am only a visiting guest to that congregation. He insisted that Russ and I join the gathering downstairs for brunch and fellowship. There we were met with friendly faces, hot food and a lovely sense of community. There was a table near the door with signup sheets for various volunteer activities. I smiled and stopped to sign up for a few before I joined Russ, who was conversing with a couple of people. It just so happened that they were talking about the concept of "ask and ye shall receive" as I approached. I smiled again at the recollection of just how true that had been for me all week.
Just as soon as I had looked for something new to do, I had found it. Just as I (literally) had searched on Yelp for volunteer opportunities, circumstance had placed me directly at an event held by an organization at the top of the search list! Just as I set out to find a more immediate opportunity to volunteer, I found several.
Today, as I sit here writing this, it occurs to me that there are many other new things that we can do that cost nothing. We can forgive someone. We can love greater. We can care more. We can shift something inside of ourselves to a new level. We can strive to understand someone better. We can let go of some anger or resentment we've been holding on to. We can smile at a stranger. We can go the extra mile on almost anything we do. We can surprise a loved one with something unexpected. There's always something new to learn. All of these things would fall under the category of something "new." They can cost nothing, require little time and can have great significance!
Russ surprised me with this bouquet :)
This week, I'll keep my eyes open for anything new. I'll seize moments and take new steps forward.
I really had no idea what I was getting into when I took a gig singing with Zoe's Big Band Bombshells last week. Whew! That was a fair amount of work - AND AN AWESOME GREAT TIME!
sound check - my view from stage
The gig was for the after party for opening night of the Broadway Show "On the Town" - a show that originally premiered on Broadway in 1944. We played big band style songs in full costume and wigs in lower Manhattan on Thursday night after guests made their way down from the Broadway show at the Lyric Theatre. We learned Andrews Sisters harmonies, played some big band classics, and also performed some modern pop songs with a 40's style twist. I had an absolute BLAST!
sound check - as dancers rehearsed
I've always loved the art of "the show" - by that I mean, the careful consideration to costume, hair & makeup, harmony, song selection, set lists, song arrangements, and dance movements along with the contagious emotional energy of the performance. This show had all of that, complete with rehearsals and plenty of practicing. I was so impressed with all of the work that our fearless bandleader Zoe put into this performance. Every detail seemed to be handled with the utmost degree of professional attention and loving care. (I seriously think she might really be Wonder Woman - but that's another story.)
Me, Zoe, Zhana
The crowd seemed to really enjoy themselves, based on the dancing, the compliments, and the fact that the party was extended in length. :) It was such a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of it. Zoe and Zhana were truly wonderful to work with and I hope I get the chance to do it again soon.
The rest of the week kind of pales in comparison to that. There were phone calls, a doctor appointment (follow up for the poison ivy - and I'm fine), a lovely street fair where I bought some very pretty stones for myself and officially began Christmas shopping, a lot of yard work, and a church service filled with dogs. (Apparently it was "bring your dog to church day" where they had a Blessing of the Animals.)
If there was a running theme this week, it finally became apparent after I loaded twenty-plus bags full of mulched leaves into big paper bags for disposal and decided that it was time for a cookie.
Before
After
I remembered hoping, after all the work that went into Thursday's show, that Zoe had taken a relaxing day off and enjoyed a sense of accomplishment afterward. I remembered talking to a friend (who is interviewing for some amazing career opportunities) and hoping that, while he is so humble, he can also take pride in and celebrate all of the hard work he has done and all of his accomplishments thus far. I remembered another friend who enjoys one day off a week from a strict workout and healthy eating regimen to dine at a favorite restaurant. I realized that the whole after party was a celebration of the fantastic achievement of opening night on Broadway (and like a giant cookie, of sorts).
In church, you could hear thumping sounds as dogs wagged their tails against the pews. People shared incredible stories about pets - some tear-jerking, some comical. All of the collection money was to be given to an animal rescue organization, which had a representative there with one of their rescues, Kingston. Kingston is a very friendly Pit Bull who wouldn't stop kissing every person and dog in sight. It was hard to believe that just three years ago, he was so fearful of everyone and everything that he appeared aggressive beyond reason. With love and positive reinforcement he learned to trust again, and is now free to be the genuinely happy creature he really is. We were reminded of how loving and how forgiving pets are, and how much we can learn from them.
Bentley is a rescue - but we didn't bring him to church on Sunday
The dog two rows behind us kept crawling under the pews trying to meet new people and collect pats on the head. I remember her owner trying to get her attention by asking, "Do you want a cookie?" Maybe that's why, as I was admiring the practically leafless lawn later on, I decided that it was "cookie time" for me. Do we remember to celebrate a hard week's worth of work by doing something enjoyable? Do we have enough time, or are we always on to the next thing? Are we always so busy that it seems there never are enough hours in the day or days in the week? I'll try to remember that it's alright (and even healthy) to sit back for a minute and enjoy a well-deserved sense of satisfaction for a job well done.
