stuff

Music: Melissa Ferrick...still
Book: can't remember the title..sea something

Shopping for graduation gifts and random things. So so dinner in Uptown and a misbehaving puppy. Maybe I'll do housework tomorrow or something...nothing sucks worse than that. Oh, and it's cold too....

Spalon!!!

Music: Ani Difranco - Little Plastic Castles
Book: In The Dark - Melody Taylor

I've never won anything in my life. You know...the kind of random drawings and lucky numbers that powerball is made up of. But yesterday my name was pulled out of the hat for an entire day retreat at Spalon Montage in Edina, MN. How cool is that?!??! Now I have to decide when I want to pamper myself for the day and destress. Just knowing that you get to relax and be pampered is enough to melt away every last ounce of tension in the body, but it doesn't necessarily detract from the joy of such an experience. I'm thinking about end of June maybe after my "Heading West" tour....it'll be a ton of driving and a nice way to close off the month. Started writing again...I guess you could say it's for CD #6.

Coffee Hag

Music: Heather Nova
Book: In the Dark

The coffee hag was a wonderful treat on Saturday night; great set up and an attentive audience. I bought the book mentioned above at the store as the author was there working away on her second novel. It's a vampire story by Melody Taylor...one of my favorite book topics. I'll let you know when I'm done. The only down side to the evening was that it rained CONSTANTLY on the drive down, during my show and horribly the entire way home. I don't mind it usually but site was rotten and I was worried about hitting a deer. I arrived home safe and sound though - so it all worked out.

Better morning

Music: Flutterby by Butterfly Boucher
Book: Face - Dean Koontz

The rain has washed away (rather violently) part of my garden so I'll have to do some damage control this evening and repair. I swear to god these flowers better be PRETTY or I'm buying silk ones next year and faking it! I hate playing in the dirt. I just finished the USA Today ("gives new depth to the word shallow" - hee hee, love that quote) and am starting koontz next. I received Butterfly Boucher's CD in the mail yesterday afternoon and it's great. What's most astonishing is that she played every instrument, wrote every song and arranged absolutely EVERY SINGLE THING on the album. I find that very inspiring. Plus...it's a damn good listen! Currently I'm enjoying a Red Tea from the republic of tea collection - tasty and relaxing. I have a beautiful bouquet of flowers right next to my computer and just finalized another gig for my "west" tour in June. After a bit of telephone tag I was able to reach my grandmother last night in Necedah for a brief catch up chat. I'm truly out of sorts if I don't speak to her every so often. Now I'm off to read.

P.S. Because so many of you have sent nice little notes and inquiries about my right arm hairline fracture...it's healing nicely. I haven't played the guitar since my last show and still no yoga, but I'll be 100% soon and back to writing songs. Thanks for your kind thoughts and words...

Alarm bells

Music: none
Book: USA Today

I woke up to alarm bells this morning. Not my alarm clock but my motion sensor security system. Mr. Manager set it before I was even awake. Odd. Anyway, after the animals calmed down I took my dog on a freezing cold walk. I've spent the morning on the internet being unproductive but at least I know what the weather is like in Memphis. Booking calls have been strange this morning. No yes no or maybe to report only things like "I'm off to a carpool, I'll call you back at 4:45pm"..."My husband took the booking calendar to work by mistake" Or "What day is it? Bad morning...can you call back tomorrow?...oh and we really liked your cd". As I said: weird. It's as if everyone is having a scattered day. I've found that some days have better booking karma than others so if it looks bad, just stop right then and begin again the next day. On the flip side though, if things are running smoothly and the phones get answered, the response is positive and the calendar is filling up - then you must continue until you drop. Just my experience of course... Today, however, is a new one...I think I'll stick it out.

Glorious storms

Music: none
Book: random magazine

A book hasn't been able to keep my attention for the last few weeks...I guess that means it is spring!

Minneapolis had some glorious storms last night. Tons of rain, thunder and lightning - my poor doggie was crossing her legs (I thought she was going to wet her pants) because the winds and turrential downpours would have carried her away. She got brave a time or two but then backed away quickly once I actually opened the back porch door for her to go potty outside. Around 8pm she gave in, ran outside, ran back in (completely soaked) and promptly went to bed - under the covers next to me! Not that this is interesting to any of you, but Sweetie Pie looked so funny, I couldnt' stop laughing about it.

Singing for my...flight

Music: radio
Book: Newspaper

So, Mr. Manager just booked a series of Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport gigs called Friday Night Live. Seeing as 20-30K people go through the airport on any given day I'm amazed at the reach capabilities of this opportunity. While traveling through Atlanta in the fall I witnessed a similar set up at the airport but didn't catch the music as I was boarding my own plane. But I thought it was a great idea and am thrilled to be a part of it in Minneapolis. The tentative start date is April 30th...but I will definitely keep you posted on the details. Cheers! Oh and Mr. Manager worked the American Idol show at Xcel center in St. Paul last night so now our house is full of Clay and kelly paraphinalia..even flowers. I guess Clay didn't want them...