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Showing posts from April, 2010

Magical Moment 85, "A New Song"

I’ve started writing a billion songs. I’ve finished maybe 4 dozen. I’ve recorded maybe 2 dozen. And I like about 6 of them. I’ve been pedaling and polishing those 6 (or so) for what seems like years now. In fact, the last song I wrote that I liked, was “Sparrow” from last summer. I’ve been working so hard on distributing and pushing those songs that I’ve completely lost track of writing some new ones. I have a trunk full of writing material. There are about 5 spiral ring notebooks, tons of loose scratch paper, random napkins, offertory slips, and brochures with chicken scratch all over. Sometimes I go through and read the chicken scratch and think, “Wow, I should really write that song. It might be a good one.” But then I feel like I should finish the ones I’ve already started before I begin a whole new one. Then I think, “Quit driving yourself crazy and just write something!” So that’s the new deal. Buckle down and write something. Slap it together on garage band and wa-la. Eve

Magical Moment 84, "Fly with the Wind"

"Fly with the Wind" by Elizabeth Grimes A small little bird once tried Through strong, gusty winds to guide. Her wings soon ached, tears poured as she wailed. She felt defeat. She thought she failed. "The wind is too strong and I’m too small. What use is there to try at all?" But after a short rest on a limb, She worked up the strength to try it again. This time, she changed her route And the wind helped her to fly about. Far above the clouds and the trees She realized now she could fly with ease. How silly she felt for giving up before When a simple change caused her to soar. Though the wind is hard to fly through, Remember if you let it, it can carry you too.

Magical Moment 83, "Follow the Passion"

I have too many ideas rolling around in my head and not enough time in my life to get them done. Even if I did have time, I wouldn’t know how or where to begin. I’ve got about 4 novels written in my mind, an idea for an awesome sitcom (it would be better than Friends ), I kinda want to start a radio show similar to some of the music talk shows on NPR, me and Eddie want to open a train-themed restaurant, I want to be lead piano for a Broadway play and act in another one, and I also sorta want to go to law school. Now tell me, how do I choose what to do first? Isn’t there anyone else out there whose brains drive them crazy with thought after thought, but whose bodies are hindered by lack of knowledge and know-how? I’ve got books all over my office and bedroom: “Home Recording for Dummies,” “Study Guide for the LSAT,” hard copies of old screen plays and manuscripts to study the format, I’ve moved to New York for crying out loud, to be near more opportunities. So, am I just setting my

Magical Moment 82, "Zoo Animals"

At the zoo we saw lions, snakes, and baboons, Penguins, rabbits, owls, and kangaroos. A spider named Goliath that could eat a bird, And the loudest peacock squeal you ever heard. But of all the creatures that smelled, yelled, and moaned, The most rambunctious animals were our 2-legged own! This is little Zoey. She would have gone on chasing the purple fish for hours if we'd let her!

Magical Moment 81, "A Date"

She put jewlery on and brushed her hair. She picked out her clothes and shoes with care. She grabbed her purse and checked the time. Then one last glance in the mirror, she looked fine. He picked her up and and opened her door. Arm in arm, his jacket she wore. Dinner, a movie, and conversation they had. She said when it was over, "Thanks and goodnight, dad."

Magical Moment 80, "Fight For Me"

This song is another one of my favorites. Probably second to "Sick and Tired." I hope you enjoy it! "Fight For Me" words and music by Elizabeth Grimes Copyright 2009 Vs 1: No, I won't pick up the phone unless you call me first. I made up my mind. So what. May have been my choice to let you go, but you sure didn't fight. Hey, I'm a jewel that's hard to find. I sure was sweet to you, wasn't I? Seems I gave you more than you gave me. Appreciation's so hard to find. Chorus: And I can't waste my time with someone stuck in the middle. So goodbye until you fight for me a little. Vs 2: Love, well it's such a stupid thing. I know you're bad for me and still I'd try. But a heart can only take so much and there's only so many tears I have to cry. I wanted you for so long, I never thought I'd call it quits. All it'd take if you tried my dear is some effort, and this might get fixed. Chorus: But I can&

Magical Moment 79," Lilacs"

My nephews and I played outside yesterday and collected flowers for a table centerpiece. Three dandilions, a leaf, and a lovely little white flower became a beautiful bouquet to adorn the dining room table. As we took a short cut back to the house, I suddenly smelled one of the most beautiful scents in the world, lilacs. At first I couldn't tell where the smell was coming from, but I turned around and found a huge lilac bush in the neighbors yard. It's funny how a scent, just like a song can bring so many memories to mind. From the lilac bush in my Grandma's yard, to the house I grew up in, lilacs have always been around me. I was even desperate to have them in my wedding, but after researching hundreds of species of lilacs, we discovered that none of them bloom in July. Eddie planted a lilac bush for me at our home in North Carolina, but we don't have a space to plant them at our apartment now. The boys and I snuck like thieves to the neighbor's lilac bush and

Magical Moment 78, "The Little Ones"

I saw my nephews for the first time in months and was touched beyond words that they still remember their Aunt Wisabiff so fondly. I miss them so much and ache because I'm not a part of their daily lives. We played and played; trains, tractors, building bridges out of books, upside down airplane, crashing cars, and more. Later we'll go to the park and zoo and create more adventures to conquer. Zach radiates exuberance with every delighted squeal as he runs a lap around the kitchen table. Ethan, though older, occasionally shows a vulnerable side through his "alpha" brother demeanor. I sat with both of them watching a movie and thought about their future, their innocence and desire to be loved, their day to day goal of fun and play, and their simple delights and what makes their world crash into a million pieces. To top it off, Mrs. Jumbo was rocking little baby Dumbo to "Baby Mine" (that movie should be outlawed, it's too sad). I thought about the c

Magical Moment 77, "The Good Life"

Home to me is as vast As day and night are a contrast From where I live, home of Central Park To where I’m from, home of the Meadowlark. Goldenrods, General Pershing, and more Huskers, Pioneers, and of course Pla mor. Green, rolling plains, Chimney Rock of stone. There’s no place like Nebraska, There’s no place like home. 

Magical Moment 76, "My Knees Hurt"

This morning I decided that I would go on a run and not stop until I thought of something to blog about this morning. I ended up running for over an hour (knees are pretty sore right now). I listened to my feet pound steadily on the sidewalk and my breathing go in and out as I scanned music on my ipod. I ran past parks, ivy-covered gazebos, and gardens on a warm, sunny spring morning. I thought about why I run. I never did until the Army and even then it was only so I didn’t have to hear the arguments and gripes that females can’t be as physically fit as males (a completely ridiculous argument since most of the female officers in my unit could outrun and outruck most of the males, we were some tough broads). But still, I felt I had to keep myself physically disciplined to prove myself. I never really enjoyed it, even though I did well. So if I don’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore, why do I do it? Habit? To burn calories? After all, gone are the days when I could lose 4 po

Magical Moment 75, "Serenity Now!"

New Yorkers are often considered some of the angriest, rudest, and jaded people in the country. After spending a few months here, I understand why, and almost fear that I’m becoming one of them. I realized this yesterday after a series of events caused my blood pressure to rise so high, I thought I might have a heart attack. First, after finally thinking I had the transportation schedule down, I allowed for an hour and twenty minutes to get to my destination and got there in under a half hour. How does that happen?! It takes 2 hours on a Tuesday morning, but 30 minutes on a Monday morning? Yes, it’s less time in the awful traffic, but now I had all this extra time to walk around the city and do nothing. I shook my head thinking about the extra sleep I could have gotten, or the one more article I could have squeezed in. Instead, I sat at the Port Authority coffee shop drinking coffee and watching people be angry and rushed. As I went down the escalator towards the subway, a man pus

Magical Moment 74, "A Top 10"

I have a top ten song. Well, not billboard top ten, but it's a start. Broadjam is an online music community where over 85,000 artists from all over the world can showcase their music, enter contests, and network. My song, "How I Say Goodbye" came in top 10 this week for the Folk/Alternative category. I admit, I was a little surprised as the recording is not that great. I've been meaning to re-record the vocals (they sound a little flat to me) and acoustic guitar. Never the less, there it is. Take a look at the website and listen to the song (on the broadjam website, or just scroll down below). I hope you enjoy it. http://www.broadjam.com/browse/songs/top10/?l0=g&l1=1044 “How I Say Goodbye” words and music by Elizabeth Grimes Copyright 2009 Verse 1: You don’t know. You can’t tell. You think everything’s just goin swell. But secretly in my mind A common theme’s beginning to unwind. When you’re feelings get too strong to ignore That’s when it gets a little too c

Magical Moment 73, "Her Favorite Present"

A father and his curly haired, little girl stopped in the rain to fill the old truck with gas. He pulled into to the tiny station and fueled up while she waited in the passenger seat, fascinated with the tiny water droplets on the windshield. She made a game out of watching which drop would trickle to the bottom of the windshield without getting cut off by the wipers. Soon, the game had rules, each drop had a name and was on a team, and she was the announcer, just like on TV. Her dad opened the driver’s door wide enough to poke his head in and say, “Wait here sweetie, I have to pay.” The little girl unfastened her seatbelt as she cried, “Daddy, I want to come too!” She was already halfway out the truck before her father had a chance to protest. He reluctantly shut his door, walked around to meet his daughter, and together they ran through the rain to the shelter of the station. At the counter, he asked for a pack of cigarettes and hastily handed cash to the clerk. With several more

Magical Moment 72, "Hello, Old Friends"

A recent gift from my best friend, Deb, inspired me to walk down memory lane and recall an entire category from my childhood that helped shape my personality, imagination, and creativity. There is a whole list of movies and TV shows that I remember with fondness and nostalgia. They introduced me to characters who were as dear and important to me as those in real life. They gave me familiarity and comfort, and to this day I squeal with delight when I see them on PBS, re-runs, or in a two dollar bin at a going-out-of-business video rental store. First I remember Anne-with-an-"e"-Shirley. Oh, you imaginative, spacy, red head, how I've missed you. My sisters, mother, and I watched her get in and out of shenanigans on lazy Sunday afternoons during PBS fund-raisers. And they always took breaks to sell that adorable porcelain doll that I always wished I could buy. Of course, we can't forget Ramona Quimby, the awkward little who I remember identifying with as the younger

Magical Moment 71, "The Treasures of a Middle Class Life"

Not every day is full of excitement and adventure. Some days, most days, are just regular days. Wake up, go to work, do some laundry, make some supper, watch TV, and go to bed. Maybe a few times a week I have something out of the ordinary to prepare for or look forward to, but to be honest, that usually involves a large amount of stress. The other day, I had a quick accompaniment job and I knew Eddie was preparing a delicious seafood dinner while I was gone. On top of that, an unopened Netflix movie lay next to the TV. And I realized, I was looking forward to that night more than any other night in a very long time. We hear songs on the radio and hear people say, “It’s the simple things in life…” all the time, but as I took a moment to think about my life and the things that really made me happy, I realized little treasures were all around me.

Magical Moment 70, "Don't I Feel Sheepish"

If anyone is keeping track, it's late. I know. But I have a good excuse. I was moping. I shot up in bed this morning at 5 am with the distinct feeling of panic. Suddenly my mind rushed with worries of finances, goals, and my uncertain future. I went to the computer having made the decision that I need a steady job. Music gigs are not as reliable as I need them to be. As I searched all the career sites, I thought, "I went to college, I was in the Army, you'd think I'd be qualified for something , right?" Not so much. Two to five years experience required for everything . I have two to five years experience of nothing except music and Army. And let's face it, no one understands what goes on in the Army, so they don't know what I am capable of in the civilian world. I ended up applying for clerical and office assistant positions - a fancy word for receptionist and secretary, the kind of stuff I did in high school as a summer job. So, feeling rejected and d

Magical Moment 69, "Lodi"

“How do I get into these situations?” That’s what I asked myself last night as I worked my tail off playing every “show-stopper” song I had in my repertoire. Somehow, I wound up in a Russian bar in Brooklyn playing for tips. I agreed to play for tips because I’ve never had too much trouble bringing them in before, especially when I bring my list and people start making requests. I quickly found out that a tough-looking, Russian speaking crowd doesn’t sing along and break out the 20's when a Billy Joel or Eagles song comes on. My song list carries a wide enough variation in styles, that I can always find a song to please every crowd, however I guess I neglected the all-Russian crowd. I decided to use the evening as an opportunity to rehearse some songs that I’ve never done before. Ever since we moved to northern NJ, I’ve been fascinated with the song “Lodi” by CCR and as I played it in front of a crowd for the first time last night, I decided it’s my anthem. Especially the

Magical Moment 68, "Who Wouldn't Want a Song About Them?!"

I mean, really! Let me list just a few of the timeless classics that name the object of ones affection in the chorus: “Amie” by Pure Prairie League, “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White Ts, “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, “Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin, and TONS more. Well my friend, I am here to offer you the deal of a lifetime – your very own song, professionally recorded, on a real live album. The catch you may ask? NOTHING! …except fifteen thousand dollars. But other than that, NOTHING! All you have to do is go to this website: www.sellaband.com , type in Elizabeth Grimes in the search box, and click Fund this Artist 1500 parts. This will fund 75% of my album (production, mixing, engineering, photography, distribution, etc.). And once 100% of my goal is reached, I can record a top notch, grade A, music industry standard album that will most certainly propel my career to new heights. On this album, should you choose to fund 1500 parts, will be a specially written song, in your honor, wi

Magical Moment 67, "A Little Help"

Two heads are better than one, a good theory but one that took me a little while to admit its’ truth. When I was single, I had to figure everything out: bills, cell phones, apartments, car payments, maintenance and moving. I didn’t mind it because let’s face it, if you want something done right, it’s best to just do it yourself. After I got married I held onto this attitude for a while. But once I started to give in, I found it remarkably comforting that I didn’t have to worry about everything all the time. It started small, pawning off the cell phone service to Eddie to figure out. Gradually it became more and more until we bought a house, and then it was really handy to have a partner help figure all that out. Lately I’m discovering that even more reassuring than help with money issues and moving the furniture, is the small things that I appreciate the most. For the last 3 months, I’ve been alone, traveling in and out of the city, dragging bags of sheet music, microphone stands,

Magical Moment 66, "A Moment to Remember"

Today, Aprill 11, is a day to remember the Holocaust. May we all take a moment to remember this horrifying time in history so that it is never repeated, and a moment of prayer and respect for the millions who lost their lives, and lives that were forever changed and affected by this tragedy. Below are lyrics and videos/recordings of 2 Jewish songs. The first, "Zog Nit Keynmol," is a Jewish anthem from the 1940s, often still sung at Holocaust memorials. It soon became a symbol of resistance against Nazi Germany's persecution of the Jews. The next, "Wiegala," is a Jewish Lullaby, heard throughout camps during the war years. There is even an account of a woman singing the song to her son as they walked into the gas chamber. "Zog Nit Keynmol" (Never Say We Are Trodding the Final Path) - words, Hirsh Glik; melody by Pokrass Never say that you are on your final way, Though lead gray skies blot out the blue of day. The hour will come at last for which w

Magical Moment 65, "Recipe for a Great Breakfast"

The Recipe for a Great Breakfast: 1 morning, chilled (this will bring out the cozy flavor) A heaping amount of time 2 cups orange juice 1 online recipe for made-from-scratch pancakes 1 husband, whose been gone for 3 months 1 wife, whose birthday has not been celebrated yet 1 table of spoons, forks, and plates 10 tsp of TSP (talking, sleeping, playing) 3/4 of the weekend remaining Combine ingredients together and mix well. Whisk away to a special location if desired. You will instantly have an amazing breakfast to enjoy!

Magical Moment 64, "The Improbable Star"

I went to the Broadway musical “ Chicago ” last night, one I’ve wanted to see for a while. I wanted to go a few weeks ago when Ashlee Simpson played the lead role of Roxy to see if what kind of talent she really had, but I missed out. Instead, Michelle Williams from Destiny’s Child played the role, and she sang and danced brilliantly, as I expected. I’ve seen 4 shows on Broadway since I’ve been here and every time, I have the same routine. I arrive early, get my Playbill, sit in my seat, and feverishly read every page word for word. I count how many actors are in their Broadway debut and get nervous for them. I count how many names I recognize from a previous show. I find the lowest name on the cast list and think how lucky even that person is. I read the understudies, the scene setting, the choreographer, and song list. And then I go to the very bottom of the page, in the tiny, squished, brief paragraph and read the names of the musicians down in the orchestra pit. Unlike the m

Magical Moment 63, "If I Die Before You Wake"

April is a month full of promise, new life, and change. And no matter what is going on in my life this time of year, my mind always drifts to thoughts of my friend,  Kevin Gaspers . We were cadets together at UNL, as well as good friends. Throughout those 4 years of ROTC, our class was about as tight knit as we could be and we spent nearly every waking moment together. And as if spending Monday through Fridays together weren’t enough, we spent every Sunday night at the Plamor Ballroom, 2-stepping and swing dancing the night away. To this day, every time I hear a Chris Ledoux song, I remember how excited Kevin got, a scarce moment in his laid-back demeanor. He and I shared the same birthday and celebrated together every year we could. He chewed tobacco and one year, I bought him a can of skoal, put a candle on top of it, and told him it was his birthday cake. He said it was the best cake he ever got. Our senior year, Kevin was at the top of the class, earning the position of Cadet Batt

Magical Moment 62, "From the Sky"

I always thought fall was the most beautiful time of the year. The vibrant, colored leaves that fell from from the trees at times were so numerous, it seemed like a rain shower of leaves. They settled on the ground, spread out like a grand carpet for all to walk over. People after all, drive for miles to see the east coast fall colors. Nothing is more beautiful than colorful, falling leaves. And then the first snow fell, and I thought this must be the prettiest season. Glistening, large flakes descended peacefully from the sky. Smooth, crystal white snow evenly covered all surfaces. Nothing is more beautiful than falling snow. And now spring is here and as I walk underneath the blooming cherry blossom and dogwood trees, the softest wind can blow the fragile petals from their limbs, showering the earth. When a large gust blows an entire row of the trees, there is nothing more beautiful than falling petals, swirling to the ground, emitting a heavenly scent. When summer arrives, I

Magical Moment 61, "You Want Me"

You Want Me" is one of the very first songs I wrote that I was actually proud of. I took it to the Nashville Songwriter's Festival in June of 2008 and got some great feedback from songwriter, Turk Wilder. To see a video, scroll down. I hope you enjoy it! "You Want Me" words and music by Elizabeth Grimes Copyright 2009 Let me catch you Stealing a glance And letting it linger A moment more than you should have. Then touch my hand By accident, baby And give me that smile That makes me think maybe… You want me, don’t you baby? You want me like I’m hoping, Then show me. I’m tired of guessing. I lose sleep at night Analyzing your actions, Praying I’m right. I’d wait forever If I was sure you cared. But it’s taking you so long, Frankly I’m scared. You want me, don’t you baby? You want me like I’m hoping, Then show me Find a way to be close to me. Fall all over yourself just to be near me! When you’re not around I can feel my heart sinking. You want me here too. S

Magical Moment 60, "Waiting For Me"

A long weary day is over at last. I hurry home, driving too fast. A disheartening thought, now I drive slow. In such a hurry, but nowhere to go. For when I arrive, no one is there To ask about my day or show me they care. He is gone away, this love of mine. Not to return again for some time. What use is there to rush on home Only to find I’ll be there alone? But at the door sits a card and a rose And poem with words carefully chose. The rooms don’t feel quite so bear When someone far away shows they care. How silly and foolish I must be. He’ll always be there, waiting for me.

Magical Moment 59, "Joy and the Easter Bunny"

This Easter morning, I woke up to perfect weather, an amazing sunrise, and a row of blooming cherry blossom trees outside the hotel blowing the scent of fresh flowers through the open window. Eddie and I would pack up, share a quick meal, then head back to New Jersey and North Carolina after our impromptu weekend in Winchester, VA. I took my dog, Joy out for her morning walk and admired the scenery in full. The sun was just rising behind the row of cherry blossoms, sending bright rays of light through the black, silhouetted branches. The sky was mostly purple, blanketed in white and gray wispy clouds. I circled the building and came back around towards the front where I saw a man and wife empty their mini van of 2 small children and loads of baggage. One of the little girls was crying inconsolably. Being it was 7 a.m., I assumed they drove all night and the little girl was just waking from a restless, uncomfortable sleep in her car seat. Her mother tried to cheer up by explaining that

Magical Moment 58, "Rock Out"

In a spur of the moment decision, Eddie and I decided to meet halfway between New Jersey and North Carolina to see each other over the-3 day holiday weekend. We weren’t planning on it, but suddenly the thought of missing an opportunity to spend a little time together seemed unbearable. We took off around midnight, after I finished a job in the city and met somewhere in Virginia at six in the morning. After sleeping the day away, we woke up that evening starved and decided to walk next door to the Cracker Barrel. It was a beautiful spring day, no need for a jacket. The trees were in bloom and the sky was clear. I realized how lucky we were for so many reasons. First, that neither of us fell asleep at the wheel as we struggled to stay alert and awake in the wee hours of that morning. Second, how we’re willing to do those kinds of things for each other. It’s those moments that I feel more and more certain we’re meant to be with each other and we’re each other’s best friend. That evenin

Magical Moment 57, "Branch Out"

Last night I had a gig in Brooklyn booked for 8 pm. For this particular event, however, I had to bring a mike, mike stand, amp, cables, and a bag of sheet music. And because I have no "roadie," I had to drive my own car in order to transport everything by myself. I decided to leave my house freakishly early because I've never driven to Brooklyn before and I didn't want to risk being late or even the stress of cutting it too close. I arrived in Brooklyn and parked my car in a nearby garage about 2 hours early. This being only the 2nd time in my entire life to set foot in Brooklyn, I had no idea what to do with myself when I walked out of the parking garage. I looked left. I looked right. Then decided to walk until I found a Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts and sit for 2 hours. After several blocks, I had no such luck. Apparently, there is no coffee chain on every corner in Brooklyn like there is in Manhattan or New Jersey. I broke down and decided to do some shopping. Y

Magical Moment 56, "Forward March"

I hate the feeling of fear and panic. Sometimes for me, it is all too familiar when I look at my calendar, practically void of any booked jobs or gigs. Suddenly, in a matter of seconds, it triggers feelings of failure, unproductiveness, and even foolishness for moving here in the first place. I think, shouldn’t I be farther along by now? And what if I’m still in the same place in a year? I thought about the encouragement people give when someone is trying to reach a goal. In the Army, learning to run can be challenging for some. We would tell the struggling runner that it doesn’t matter how slow they run, just as long as they keep running. I thought about when I am playing a song at a venue and I miss a note, or forget a lyric or chord. I never stop in the middle of a performance, I just keep playing… something . I thought about when I tried to teach Eddie how to dance and he missed a step, or became so wrapped up in counting that he lost the rhythm. I told him, “Just keep dancing.”