Oh it’s going to be a hot summer. Our sad little window air conditioner is chugging away, “I think I can, I think I can,” while the electric fan is going full blast and it’s only May. Last night, Eddie used the oven and we thought we were going to pass out of heat stroke. I thought lugging loads of clothes to and from the laundry room was bad in winter, it might be worse in the stifling heat. I think there will be moments this summer when I long for my old backyard swimming pool and central air, our body rafts that we floated on while sipping cool lemonade and wearing our big straw hats. Sigh. But I’m learning season by season to live in this vastly different area. And when I’m not dwelling on what I miss, I am free to focus on all the amazing things I’ve never seen before. Who says a backyard swimming pool is better than endless music festivals, shopping, museums, and the beach anyway?

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...

"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.

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...

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!

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."

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...