postsecret

Thought I would share this blog.

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/



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songwriting and stuff

OK I am going to try and finish writing that song today, I only have a few cover songs to learn for the next casino gig, so its a great time for me to focus on writing.

I just wish I was more accomplished musically, I am so impressed with how easily it comes to some people. It is work for me. My gifts are mimicry and performing. I am in kindergarten when it comes to songwriting. I took a few stabs when I was a baby ( in my 20s) , but I sucked quite badly, I was way too 'affected' in those days.

Ever since my father died last year, I have been letting myself try songwriting again. I have been putting basic chords and rhythms to lyrics, and posting the rough drafts to You Tube (I know its mortifying to some people, but I am quite fine with it, I am an 'around the campfire' kind of girl. 'Polish' is best utilized by the people who really know what to do with it). Anyhow, I struggle with song writing, because I am clearly limited by my musical abilities, or lack thereof. I did do a pretty good job of co-writing however, when I lived in England. A lady singer was advertised to play at a local tavern one Friday night, and I went to see her, thinking that if I liked her stuff, I would see if she wanted to collab.

She was sweet and very good, but she didn't do any country (which I was into at the time). She told me that her guitar player was into Rockabilly, and she introduced us. I had sung background vocals for Buddy Knox in the early 90's, so I was familiar with Rockabilly, and I liked how this gentleman played. I considered that he seemed like the kind of guy whom my (then) husband would not be threatened by, so I decided to give it a try.

We set up an appointment to write, and it went very well, he took some of my chorus/verse ideas and matured them. We continued writing for a couple of months, wrote about 12-13 tunes, and I really enjoyed the process, I looked forward to it. He was positive and open to my ideas so that I was not fearful to try anything, or throw ideas out there. It was a great classroom for me because he had the musical ability to help mature my nursery rhymes into real songs, plus, he had a real Jim Croce style which appealed to me at that time.

We were just starting to play the songs out at open mics, when my husband got the call that we were being transferred to Africa. I had a matter of weeks to pick up my life and move it to another country.

The writing stopped, but not before we sat down one day and recorded all of my vox for the songs we had written. We did a very rough draft of our catalogue of songs, some that were not even complete. When I listen to the vox, there are moments where I deeply wish we had, had the ability for punch ins, but we only had time to do one take, live acoustic and vocal.

Not to worry, it is what it is, a way to remember the songs, and I am grateful I have it. I found a copy of it the other day, and it brought back memories of collaborating. I saw it as a message to remind myself that back then, with the right guidance/ writing partnership I was able to grow and learn. I had forgotten that it can really work.

My worst collab attempts did not go very far at all, possibly because they were with boyfriends who were impatient with my insecurities. One of them, compared me to that bugs bunny cartoon of the dancing frog, who would only blossom into a singing and dancing frog in secret. LOL, I guess I only dance when I feel like I am safe.

But in fact, I have 'danced freely' before, that old CD I found, reminded me of that.

I think one clever thing for me, would be to not be 'involved' with my writing partner. If I'm not invested emotionally, then nothing can be taken personally, and I just may have a shot at learning something. ;)

Speaking of writing songs, I said I was going to work on one, the first step in accomplishing my goal today, is to get off the computer and pick up my guitar.

Later...

Lindsey Buckingham

This is perhaps one of my favorite performances to watch. I would have loved to have been there in that audience. The tune, the guitar playing, the singing, its just insane. I can not watch it, and not be moved, at 1:23 begins the solo...........................magic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGQKuUeQC8&feature=channel_page

my friend Megan, also known as, jewelchic

There is this great lady from Australia, who emailed me on You Tube. Her name is Megan. I typically get a new You Tube subscriber, every few days or so. Most often I will go have a peek at the channel of the person who subscribed, to see if there is anything I can learn from them.

I opened up Megan's channel, and there on the screen was this beaming, beautiful, bright ray of sunshine. She had words like Positive, Happiness, and Law of Attraction in the titles to her videos. I noticed a reference to Dr. Randy Pausch, and I hit subscribe immediately. I knew I was about to meet a friend with a similar hopeful outlook to life.

We became online pals, Megan and I, and though we don't have time to do it often, we do check in with each other on Instant messaging, where we cheer each other on, proud of each others victories (or we offer each other support through the crap). We both feel that you can design your attitude, and you reveal your character by choosing your responses to things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wna9muuqi-U&feature=PlayList&p=D593732DF4600177&index=1

When she talks about the 'energy' drawing her to the book,..... well, I get that. I feel like there is an energy, but I don't know how to define it. I don' t really spend a lot of time contemplating it actually, seeing as Its beyond anything I will ever fully understand.

I just want to know how to use it. This energy. I'm getting better at it, I try to be open to it. I look for the little signs and affirmations that tell me I am heading in the right direction. These signs, they could be nothing, or they could mean everything. I try and be open to it all, and at the very least, if an affirmation gives me a boost of confidence right when I need it most, well its hardly a bad thing now is it?. Laugh if you want, but my experience tells me, these little signs are guideposts, affirming that I am on the right path.

OK, then. Now that you know I am just a little bit flaky sometimes, you can validate those thoughts with this virtual scrapbook video of my last year, I made these clips into a birthday card for my dear friend Megan. Yep, that's me lending the BG vox to the tune.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9mGY0qE3X4&feature=channel_page




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bubblewrap

Just thought I'd post this link.

http://www.therightfoot.net/mystuff/whatever/swf/bubblewrap.swf

have fun
rach~

my kid and his cars

My aunt used to send my son a hotwheels car every once in a while in the mail. As a treat, she always poured a bunch of candy into the envelope, her little effort to make sure she retains her status as the 'best aunt' in the family. My kids get more junk food than they should have, and so the less candy that finds its way into the house, the easier it is on me. But when I asked her not to send candy, she denied my request flatly, saying it was her duty as my aunt, to drive me crazy in regards to my kids. I couldn't help but laugh, she was very quick with the delivery.



Anyway this isn't about candy, this is about the hotwheels.



One day while my aunt visited from out of town, she spotted the hundreds of cars that my son has, and asked, "HE has so many, Why do you ask for cars for him when I ask you what I can bring?" ( she wants to bring 'special' things ). I assured her that he does play with all of his cars (he's overly focused on them in fact), and that he still appreciates every one. I told her I would watch him as he turned each one around and studied them in detail.



She still figured she was wasting her coins on hotwheels.



So aunty devised a plan, as she was packing to go home, she told me she had decided to sneak a few of his cars from the bottom of his toy bin, back home with her (thinking, he will never even notice if I send one back to him).



Sure enough, the next month she sent a package with a car and some candy in the mail.



Would you believe me if I told you that my son, (4 at the time) opened the envelope, looked inside, and said, "Hey Mommy, Aunty sent me my blue and white car!"

my friend Sharon

My friend Sharon, is dear to me, we met a year ago, and we couldn't be bigger fans of each other. She is the person who turned me onto reading blogs. I love the way she finds humor in everything. I adore the way she expresses that humor. If you know a dynamic mother of young children, send her this link: [ Heads up, this is for Mom, not the kids.]

http://motherhoodtheultimatesurvivor.blogspot.com/



Unknowingly I made an appearance on her blog one day.... caution to young children who might be reading, there are swear words ( they are not mine, LOL).

http://motherhoodtheultimatesurvivor.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html


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