Greeting friends
Hope some much needed sunshine has found it’s way to you!
I am currently reading Peter Gay’s short bio on the life of Mozart and am amazed how his life seems (to me) parallel to the life of Michael Jackson. Two men who began as prodigies, managed to bring that creative dexterity to adult hood under a heavy-handed, money-motivated father. Times may change but the human condition, not so much.

While Mozart  and his sister nick named Nannerl (who was no slouch musically) spent much of their time performing secular music for aristocracy, he spent much time performing sacred music as well. Like them — and many other singers since — I find myself in a similar space these days. After those cafe and wine-bar gigs, most Sunday mornings it’s sacred music for me. You will find me as song leader at The Center for Spiritual Living meeting at 11am most Sundays at the Nova School with music director Brent Pendelton. And you can catch up with me on the third  Sunday of the month at Olympia’s Christian Science Church (services begin at 10am).

Both communities are warm and welcoming. If you are looking for a spiritual community, perhaps you may find it in one of these communities.

I am also teaching again (part time). My  focus is  performance coaching, both for vocalists and other creative folks (singers, actors, and anyone else who has to be creatively “on” in public). I love helping people identify and overcome obstacles to their creative goals, and rewrite their internal scripts. As a creative counselor, perhaps I can help you to access your creative self. Please free to email me, for more information.

That’s all for now, hope to see you soon and as always, thank you for your support.

It was suppose to be a quick trip.  My favorite thrift store was having a sale, I had a little time on my hands, a little change in my pocket and I was looking for a deal. The only catch was that I really only had, a little time, my” to do” list was looking over my shoulder and trolling Goodwill was not on the list.
Since it was the end of the day, the isles were clear of shoppers so I started my rounds confident that I could stay within my time limit which was 15 minutes . I was feeling pretty proud of myself after ten minutes but  then something happened. I noticed the music.
That night there was  something was different, the usual strange blend of  70′s southern rock and 80′s funk soundtrack was replace with country music.Unapologetic Johnny Cash, Hank Lockin, Tanya Tucker country music.
I like to think of myself as a musical omnivore, I try to listen to everything. And honestly while my musical education was/is eclectic, country music was never really officially part of my curriculum. I heard a little Johnny Cash but had never listened to a whole album, uh, I mean CD.
So that 15 minute trip turned into a half hour clothing meditation as I listened to the words of Johnny Cash’s  Man in Black and  One Piece At A Time. Listening to One Piece at a Time made me a little giddy. It was like tasting chocolate chili pepper ice cream for the first time. It made no sense why it was so tasty but it was delicious!
Yep, I did get a couple of bargains from that  thrift store trip, but the unexpected reintroduction to Johnny Cash was defiantly worth my 15 , um 30 minute trip. Thank goodness for Youtube, Johnny and I can get reacquainted.
Until next time…
Be well and be kind,

I speak to my Mom and Dad pretty regularly and  like all good parent child phone conversation the weather is often discussed. I try to explain the northwest weather experience, but it sounds so complicated in comparison to the rest of the country. (Ok we don’t have hurricanes and tornadoes) Natives correct me if I am wrong but spring makes an appearance some time in mid May and summer rolls around in August.  Many times when talking to my  east coast folks I just try to simplify all weather discussion and say that I am in a rain forest without monkeys.

Thanks for all those who came out for the Water Street Cafe and Swing gigs in April. Had a great time making music with Joe Baque, Steve Luceno, Micheal Olson and Vince Brown. Gentlemen, let’s do that again real soon.

Upcoming in May I will be joining the line up of wonderful vocalist for a benefit for KBRD!  The Lakewood Community Jazz Band will be  swinging through the night with guest vocalists, Jessica Blinn; Lizzy Boyer; Rich Sikorski; Vickie Anderson; Daven Tillinghast; Christine Corey to name a few. If toe tapping isn’t enough for you, there will be dancing; and if you don’t know how to dance there will be a beginning dance class at 7.

Where? When? What?

KBRD Benefit with The Lakewood Community Jazz Band

Saturday, May 19th from 7 till 10 PM at The Olympia Elks Club, 1818 4th Avenue East in Olympia.

Also in May I will be singing at the Center for Spiritual Living  on Sunday May 6th and May 27. Hour long services begin at 11:00 at the Nova School in Southeast Olympia located at 2020 22nd Avenue SE Olympia.

Hope to see you some time this month.  Be well, be kind and thank you for your support.

The school tour of Wilma with Book-It All Over is coming to an end, with a few extended performance planned for May. A couple of weeks ago, myself and other cast members smiled, giggled and cooed, ” that is soooooo cute” more times than I care to admit  as we read through a pile of thank you letters from students. The spelling and pictures were…priceless.

Any hoo, I’m singing in April and I would love to see you there:

April 21st, Saturday 9:30-12:00

Water Street Cafe610 Water Street Southwest

Olympia, WA 98501

(360) 709-9090

with Joe Baque, piano  Steve Luceno-bass  Michael Olson percussion

April 27th Friday 8pm

Swing Cafe and Wine Bar

825 Columbia Street Southwest  Olympia, WA 98501

with Vince Brown on guitar

Center for Spiritual Awakening April 29th Sunday  11am

Services held at the Nova Private Middle School

2020 22nd Avenue Southeast  Olympia, WA 98501

with David Rhys Johnson on piano

Who’s Lin?

That’s what I asked my husband when he mentioned reading about  the new media darling or should I say dude-ling Jeremy Lin. I am not a basketball fan, but it didn’t take long to get caught up on his stats. Basically, 23 year old Lin had been warming the bench of the New York Knickerbockers.  In early Febuary  he got some court time and rose above and beyond expectations  becoming the first NBA player to score at least 20 points and have seven assists in each of his first five starts. Warning, that is as much basketball lingo as you are going to get  from me on this post. And just for the record that was stolen from Wikapedia.  Couple that with a rocky and serendipitous road to New York this humble ex bench warmer is improving with every game and playing like a superstar.

There are many folks who are really freaked out that he is an Asian-Americanand *gasp* playing  basketball!   But then, again, there are people who are having a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that  Obama is president  and well,  Vanilla Ice has a TV show. Take away all the media hype and the terrible puns on his name, the fact is that by authentically expressing  himself he is part of a force that is working to expand our collective view of where ability, talent, and contribution  can be found. As a culture we are ready for that expansion and as a world we are ready long overdue for it.

Funny we have to be reminded over and over again that each us has a gift and a mission and God/ Universe ( your name of Deity here)  picks the messenger and we just gotta deal with it. Yep, I like that.

Happy President’s Day and have a great week!

I have been on the road a lot lately. I’m currently visiting schools with two other actors in  Book it All Over’s touring production of Wilma Unlimited. We have been taking the story of human being extraordinaire and pioneering athlete Wilma Rudolph. We have performed in front of hundreds of  sleepy, squirrelly, entranced, delighted and indifferent, kids ages 6 and up. If you don’t know about about this amazing woman, check her out, her life is the picture of perseverance and determination.

Today, while I was driving, I glanced at my rear view mirror and noticed that the car behind me was riding on my bumper. I realized after looking at my rear view mirror several times and mentally griping about how this ( fill in the blanks) driver was surely out to get me, after a moment, I had to giggle because I was so fixated on what was going on behind me, that I was not paying attention to what was literally right in front of me. Hello LaVon, there are cars right in front of me that I need to pay attention to. Duh!

You know those ordinary moments that become marvelous teachers, Well, that driving moment, was a  good a reminder to not hold on to the past too tightly, otherwise, there is the potential to get tangled up in the present rather than enjoy it. When I think about Wilma Rudolph and how she overcame so many obstacles of health, racism and poverty, I realize that there was no way that she could have overcome if she was fixated on the past. She had to use the past events as positive fuel and move forward gracefully.

It’s a fine art to know how much and what part of our  past experience to hold on to; and still keep your eyes front and  alert to current gifts.  It may look like I am just driving in my car all over tarnation, but honestly, some good thinking happen there too. Hope your commute offers you good fruit.