Coming Out of the Blender...

Hi Everybody!  It’s so good to be back!  Whew – what a whirlwind I have been in…

Let’s see… we moved to L.A. with our two dogs, I became a vocal arranger for the number one show in America, worked as a vocal producer for the record company (one of the biggies) affiliated with the show, we lost both of our cars (one to a freak accident while it was parked overnight, one to a costly repair job that just wasn’t worth it), packed up our entire apartment in a day, said goodbye to all of the most wonderful people that we’ve worked and lived side by side with over the last four months who have become our family, shipped a pick-up truck full of boxes through FedEx, installed a trailer hitch on my new car and rented a trailer, hauled our butts back across the country in five days after twice having to stop for antibiotics because we both got sick, arrived back in New York in time for Russell’s rehearsal for the Apollo Theater’s Spring Benefit Gala, unpacked and returned the trailer, and went to the vet for the dog’s heartworm medication.

On the way to L.A.

Sadie and Bentley outside our apartment door in L.A.

Me and Russ at the studio

With Ray Chew of "Ray Chew Live"

With Napoleon and Tabitha of "Nappytabs"

With some of our favorite studio guys... Pete, Jose and Phil

Bye to our lovely little courtyard... and little doggie friends...

"Bye for now" to our GREAT neighbors... Robert and Dan

Sadie and Bentley trying to drive us home

Can I take a nap now?

:)

It was a strange sensation coming home.  After being gone so long, and working so hard in what felt like another life, home felt almost like a stranger.  I just stood and looked around the house, taking it all in for a few minutes thinking, “I remember this place.”  Maybe it’s time to move from here – our other place near Buffalo feels so much more like home for me.  Well, that’s another story.

Thank you for understanding my absence for a little while.  This sure is a crazy life.  There are times when I wish for a steady, predictable, safe and comfortable lifestyle where I can just rock on the front porch, drink lemonade and read a book.  Maybe I could go to the farm stand and buy some corn to cook up for dinner… Maybe I’ll hitch up the trailer and take that old snowblower in to Monte’s Small Engine Repair to get it all tuned up and purring like a kitten. 

In short, I can hardly wait to get “home” home again.  I’m watching “American Pickers” on the History Channel and dreaming of the “sometime soon” when I can get back to my Western New York, small town roots.

At "Panama Rocks" last year

Xoxo

Much Love,

T

I'm Here! I'm Here!

Hi All!

Just wanted to let you all know that I am thinking of you.  I have become very busy working - which is a GREAT thing!!!  But I am plagued with guilt for having no blog last week.  Russell and I are in our element when we are working ourselves like mad though, and so here we are.

We are both very proud to be a part of Season 11 of "American Idol!"

I will try to make sure - no matter how busy I am - to at least drop you all a line here, to let you know things are good.  :)

Much Love and appreciation,

T

xoxo!

Backtracking to Carnegie

Backtracking to Carnegie…

I realized that I never put up these pics…

In February, Russell and I were fortunate enough to be a part of the band for Ray Chew’s “A Tribute to the Music of Motown” show at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Here are some pictures from the show – and rehearsal.  It was an absolute honor to be there and to sing background vocals for such incredible performers. 

Tanya and Ray Chew outside Carnegie Hall

Ray Chew, Tanya, Russell after the show

Russell, Alyson Williams, Tanya

Tanya, BeBe Winans

Stefano and Tanya at rehearsal

Eric Roberson, Tanya

Tanya with "Kindred the Family Soul"

Paul Shaffer, Tanya, Dennis Edwards of the Temptations

Tanya, Martha Reeves

Other performers included Dionne Warwick, Boyz II Men, Melba Moore, Ryan Shaw, and Kelli Sae.

Xoxo!

Today's Miracle...

“Today’s Miracle is tomorrow’s standard.”

Russ heard this from somebody this week and it seems to be true.

Did you ever work so hard at some seemingly impossible task that the end result seemed like a miracle?  Did anyone notice?  Then did they come to expect that kind of performance from you all the time?  Did you expect more of yourself?

Clearly, Russ can lift boulders...

I remember working very hard on songs that I can perform easily now.  I remember feeling Blessed that I had people around me who pushed me to strive for more. 

It’s not just in musical performance.  It applies in any kind of work performance.  What about if you make an absolutely delicious batch of cookies?  Don’t people know you can do it then – and expect that level of deliciousness the next time?  (I know we all anxiously await my mom’s batch of chocolate-mint brownies at Christmastime.)

Chocolate-mint brownies?  (Hint, hint)  Do we really have to wait for Christmas?

Anyway, the point is… well you get the point…

Note to Self: 

Set your standard for yourself high.  Once you get there – set it higher.  Keep going.  You know you can do it – and so does everyone else.

Rattle Your Cage?

A friend of mine once conveyed this sentiment…

“Are you nervous?  Scared?  Do you feel short of breath?  Are you all anxious?  Are you sweating?  Heart racing?  Then congratulations my friend!  You are really living!”

Russ rides the "FireBall" at the County Fair

Russ rides the "FireBall"

The point was that sometimes we get all "too comfortable" with ourselves and just go through the motions of life when we could be pushing the envelope a bit and gaining a wealth of experiences.  A little stress (in moderation, of course) can be a GOOD thing!

Try something new!  Get out there and go for it!  Do something that might feel a little scary or uncomfortable at first – it may be totally invigorating!  You might make a new friend – or discover something you love!  - This was the point.

The Apollo - that was scary... but sure glad I did it!

Life is too short.  Our time here is so limited.  Sometimes we have to have our cage rattled to wake us up a bit and help us get into the spirit of living life to the fullest! 

These are the ideas that surround me this week as I work my butt off accomplishing new tasks and find myself thoroughly enjoying the challenges.  It feels like people all around me are echoing the idea – friends, neighbors, and new acquaintances alike. 

Hey, when it feels like the universe is trying to tell me something…  I like to try and listen.

Just wanted to share.  J

Xoxo!

While certainly scary, probably NOT the best idea to let the dog drive...
A+ for effort though Bentley!

So Sad... that it's Hilarious!

Here’s how a friend relayed the story to another friend:

1.) Russell’s car got hit and totaled while parked on the street overnight… (wait for gasp)

2.) [It was hit] by a police car… (wait for an even bigger gasp)

3.) [The whole thing happened] ON HIS BIRTHDAY… (wait for the “get OUT of here!”)

CAN YOU ALL BELIEVE THIS!!??

Yes, it is true… well, it may not actually be totaled – we are waiting for the complete damage report.  This is what Russell woke up to on his birthday.  It was so unbelievably bad and ridiculous, that it was actually funny. 

Our very nice neighbor asked him, “Did you hear the accident this morning?”

Russell replied, “No, where was it?”  After determining that it was right where Russell had parked the night before, and after describing what kind of car he drives, the neighbor politely offered to watch the dogs while Russ went to check things out.  The car was smacked fifteen feet from it’s original location and part of it was completely missing.  Eventually, he found the fender and placed it in the trunk.

One person I spoke to found it astounding that we were not upset over the incident.  We thought it was funny.  For some reason, the fact that it was his birthday made the whole thing even more ridiculous and we laughed.  The main aggravating thing was the time it took for the “investigation” which took about three hours and made Russ very late for work. 

Apparently, a car pulled out in front of a speeding police car with sirens on and the police car spun out, hitting Russ’s car and another oncoming vehicle.  No one was seriously injured.  It could’ve been much worse.

Note to Self:  Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Faith - Get On the Horse!

It is ALL about the faith this week my friends.  Faith is a miraculous thing.  Pray for it.  Strive for it.  Work toward it.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other until you are there.  If you don’t believe it, just keep telling yourself it’s true until you see that it really is. 

Here’s the thing… casting calls and rejections are a part of life in this industry of entertainment.  If you do not allow yourself to be defeated, then you won’t be.  Sometimes it is really just as simple as that.  Simple, yes – easy, no.  Get back up on the horse that just kicked you – and don’t let it see that you’re afraid.

Bentley's not afraid of this nice burro named Rudy...

This is what I kept telling myself for the last few months.  Finally, I think I’ve rounded a corner, but you’ll hear more on that later.  J

To all the young musicians out there trying:  please don’t give up – ever.  The only one who can make you quit is yourself.  Things don’t always turn out the way you want them to.  A lot of times though, if you just keep going, they turn out even better than you could’ve imagined.

Crossing that bridge when you come to it...

Note to self:  I have GOT to start posting some band/song footage.  I have so many stories relating to this theme.  It just keeps coming up in my life. 

Here’s two songs:

Only Way Home

Let It Roll

Much, Much Love,

T

* Both photos by: Cathy Tuminno