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Showing posts from July 9, 2010

Magical Moment 161, "Optimistic Gamble"

I’ve never put so much as a quarter into a slot machine or purchased a lottery ticket. Once I played poker with skittles. I try my best to plan ahead, be prepared, and make informed decisions. But soon, I’ll make one of the biggest gambles of my life. There are no guarantees, just nail biting, forehead perspiration, and silent prayer. I’m about to dive, head first into creating an album with Modern Vintage Recordings . It’s a total investment of time, heart, soul, and money. And while I have full confidence in the creative team that will help give life to my songs, I know that nothing is a sure thing. It is said that only about one in twenty independent artists who finance their own album, distribution, and publicity will gain enough momentum to have a successful music career when it’s all said and done. I do not like these odds. But when my dad told me without hesitation that I was one in a million, I began to think that maybe it could happen. After all, doors have opened thus far, l

Magical Moment 160, "Sunburst"

Yesterday, my husband was hard at work like I'd never seen him before. A few years ago, I bought him a painting easel to fuel his creativity, however it has rarely been used since. But yesterday, he sat on his wooden, swivel stool for hours, creating in silence. I wanted to look over his shoulder. I wanted to ask him how it was going. I wanted to know what he was painting. But I stopped myself short, understanding how those seemingly harmless actions can hinder someone who is "on a roll." Late into the evening, he finally lifted the small, square canvas from the 3-legged easel and reluctantly handed it to me. "I painted this for you. You can name it," he said simply, unenthused, and waiting nervously for my reaction. I immediately smiled with admiration at the array of blended colors and texture. It was a true piece of art. A star so full of beaming light, it couldn't be contained by just one snap shot. Even the largest telescope in the world couldn&#

Magical Moment 159, "Open Mic Night"

Magical Moment 158, "A Four AM Reminder"

The other day, I drove my parents and little sister to La Guardia airport after their week long visit to the Big Apple. It was 4:30 in the morning and we were all exhausted. We rode mostly in silence through the dark, deserted streets of New Jersey, Manhattan, and Queens. The only noise came from the radio that was at half volume playing Madonna’s “Ray of Light,” a popular 90s song that reminded me of my high school days. I suddenly thought of the one person who wasn’t there, my older sister Regina. The early car ride, dark morning, and song took me directly back to Regina and I's high school paper route. I laugh to myself every time I think about those days. I scarcely remember doing it. I suppose because I was in such a sleepy stuper most of the time. I do remember that music though. The good thing about being in a car at 4 in the morning, is radio stations don’t play commercials. So at least we got uninterrupted Alanis Morsette, Backstreet Boys, and Ace of Base. There was one

Magical Moment 157, "The Boys I Love"

What I love most about this short video is not the fact that my two nephews, who I love more than life, are adorably banging on the piano with no rhyme or reason, although that is super cute. I watched it over and over and saw the same thing clearer each time. Zach can scarcely contain the pure, exuberant joy and happiness that uncontrollably overflows from his tiny, butterball body. He’s happy because he’s sitting next to his big brother who he loves and wants to be just like. He’s happy because his big brother is smiling and playing with him. He’s happy because he is in his Papaw and Granny’s house, a safe and comfortable place in his small world. And I believe he is happy because he is creating the funny sound that’s coming from that big, brown box. All is right in his world right now. And although I am not there in person to applaud after the boys’ musical masterpiece is complete, I'm happy to at least witness those moments of total joy in the lives of the 2 little boys I l

Magical Moment 156, "My Debut in Time Square"

The first time I saw the lights of Times Square in the heart of Manhattan, my jaw dropped in disbelief. My eyes wandered to the sky as I searched for the top of buildings that seemed to go on and on forever. I was surrounded by theaters, restaurants, music, cars, and people. There is almost no use in attempting to describe what I saw, because there is nothing I could say that would do it justice. I felt like an insignificant ant, swarming in the midst of hundreds of other ants, with skyscrapers for blades of grass that sprang up from the ground, and pavement for dirt. I was so pleased to see that 2 pianos had been placed in Times Square for the Play Me, I'm Yours project. As I sat down to play, I remember thinking how absolutely surreal it was that I was there. In the Big Apple. Doing what I love. I hope in my future, there are many more moments of that feeling. To see more photos from Play Me, I'm Yours, click here . To see more videos, click here .

Magical Moment 155, "Gaga for Erica"

Today I woke up at 4 am, walked for blocks, and stood in line for 5 hours to watch a concert in the pouring rain. My little sister, Erica, and I were squished like sardines in a crowd of over 18,000 hoping to catch a glimpse of the fabulous Lady Gaga. And on top of everything, we wore blue and purple wigs all over Manhattan just for the occasion. I told Erica months ago that Lady Gaga would be playing Rockefeller Center the Friday she was in town and to my surprise, she was hell bent on going. When all was said and done, we ended up behind the stage, across the street, and around the corner for the duration of the performance. I snapped one very fuzzy picture of the entertainer from a half-mile away. And even the enormous Today Show sound system and speakers didn’t have enough juice to pump adequate volume as far back as we were. Yet, we stayed for hours. And when it rained, no, down poured, we still stayed. Through pushy rude crowds, cranky children, and stuffy humid weather, we