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Showing posts from March 10, 2010

Magical Moment 40, "Another Train"

Last summer, I was in my hometown of Lincoln, NE eating lunch with my mother and grandma at the Lincoln Foundation Garden – a cozy downtown garden square where during the summer, local artist perform at lunch hour. Employees pack a brown bag lunch and emerge from their offices in suits and skirts to enjoy the music and scenery. It’s also where my mom used to take my older sister and I after swimming lessons at the YWCA and the library to buy us rainbow popcorn when we were little girls. That particular day, we were in for a treat. A charming acapella group called the B aby Needs Shoes Trio was performing energetic renditions of the Andrew Sisters songs as well as some quirky, comedic songs about the ups and downs of womanhood, making the audience smile and keeping us happily entertained. They began a slower, more serious song and it soon caught my attention. In fact, I suddenly hung on every word and could not take my eyes off them. They were slightly older ladies, one even made sev

Magical Moment 39, "Belt It"

I've started the process to complete a lifelong dream. I know it will be a long time before it's finished, as well as challenging and expensive. I am recording an album. I have dozens of my songs recorded on my Mac with me playing the part of every instrument on my midi keyboard, but I know that if I want this album to be a true success, it must be the highest level of professional. Because the average cost of recording a full length album at the industry standard is on average about $30,000, my first step is obviously to raise funds. Thankfully, I was introduced to a website ( http://www.sellaband.com/ ) where people from all over the world can search artists who they believe have true potential and can support them financially. I have no romantic ideas about how this will work. I know years may pass before I reach my financial goal and even after it is reached, I know that a CD release is a gamble. But I’m optimistic. So many doors have been opened to lead me to this point a

Magical Moment 38, "One Rose"

"One Rose" is a song I wrote about my grandma and grandpa after my grandpa passed away. This is a true story that my grandma told me. Sorry, there is no recording available on line to listen to, but I hope you enjoy the lyrics.  One Rose by Elizabeth Grimes Copyright 2009 I know a man, quiet as can be. Rake and a rambler once was he. I know a girl so patient and smart, beautiful and sweet, she softened his stone heart. After working one long day, she greeted him. And he said to her, his bride through thick and thin, He began softly for he seldom spoke. Then from behind his back, he handed her a rose. “One rose means one true love. And Shirley, you’re mine.” Was all he said with love in his eyes. The church bells rang one fall Sunday. And the man fought hard, but he slipped away. She wept in her garden for her man, Then kissed his cheek and placed a rose in his hand. “One rose means one true love. And surely, you’re mine.” Was all she said with tears in her eyes.

Magical Moment 37, "Randy Forever and Ever Amen"

Last night was surreal. One of the few times in my life where I was in the presence of someone who to me, is larger than life. Randy Travis – one of 2 voices on the planet that can melt me into a puddle by singing one note, one word, it doesn’t even have to be a real song. He could hum and I would be smitten (the other one is Bing Crosby if you’re wondering). Last night I was happy to hear that he sounded just as wonderful as he ever did. I first stalked Randy – I mean, met Randy several years ago in Lincoln, NE when he did a radio interview on a local station. I waited for hours in a parking lot across the street from the building where I had a view of all the exits. In hand was my “Storms of Life” record, a sharpie, and a disposable camera. I knew he would have to come out eventually and when he did, I got an autograph and a picture. Yesterday I bought a poster board, blew up that old picture of the 2 of us, and wrote in huge block letters, “Randy, I’ll love you forever and ever am

Magical Moment 36, "Goose"

She plays piano, sings, and taught herself how to strum chords on the guitar. Not me, my cousin-in-law, Sarah. We call her Goose. I still have no idea why. She, her sister, and her parents were the nearest family to Eddie and I for three years. On weekends, we drove up to stay with them and many holidays were spent together as well. It was nice having such wonderful people so close, able to just hop in the car and be there in a few short hours. Over the years, Goose and I have discovered we are super-naturally alike. We haven’t quite figured out the cause yet, but we think it has something to do with the star's alignment when we were born. She and I were strangers only 3 short years ago, yet continue to discover that we have the same unique taste in music, movies, clothes, food, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Our favorite song is Sentimental Journey . First of all, who under the age of 50 even knows that song? We have the same in depth discussion about the movie

Magical Moment 35, "The Line Between Dedicated and Crazy"

I’m running like a mad woman down a mountainside in sweatpants, t-shirt, slippers, and wet hair in 40-degree weather, through mud puddles, gravel, and overgrown brush. Why, you ask? Let me tell you. About once a month, I drive down to the North Carolina Smoky Mountains to visit my husband as he finishes up school. While I’m here, I do much of my correspondence with the New York City music scene by e-mail and phone. I send out resumes, headshots, musical recordings, and videos to possible employers and all but beg them to hire me for an advertised gig that I’ve found online. It’s a taxing life, with little stability, but one that I am willing to give up job security, our four-bedroom house with a yard and a pool, and any sense of a normal life for. Dedicated, or crazy? I applied for an internship several weeks ago with a large New York City record company. I thought, Here is my chance to learn all the ins and outs of the business, make some contacts, and maybe get some discounted stu

Magical Moment 34, "Fly Girls"

There are photos that give me chills when I see them. There is one theme in old photos that still makes my heart race, causes me to swell with pride, and even brings a tear to my eye out of the sheer passion it stands for. I’ve seen them hundreds of times before. You have too. They are black and white, displaying men and women in military uniforms. The style of hair, the dark lipstick, the time frame is clearly World War II. I first saw these kinds of photos as a young girl, 7 or 8, as blown up cardboard cut outs displayed in an exhibit at the WWII Canteen Museum in North Platte, NE. My family went to the museum every summer. And even when I was that little, I remember thinking how beautiful the women were and how amazing it was that they were in military uniforms. I never personally met an actual female in the military until I was well into my teens. My father was in the Army National Guard, along with my older brother and all my uncles and I was proud of them. Fiercely proud of t