The last time I was a single woman was in 1988. The world has changed in major ways since then. I have not started dating yet because I have been focusing on my health, spirit, career, and the ability to confidently stand alone, and to take care of myself, allowing the Universe to be my best friend and companion. It has worked. I feel like I am now seriously ready to Rock-n-Roll!!!

I have always wanted to perform and sell my art in the northwest, so I planned a scouting trip. I just left Portland, Oregon after a for day visit for my music, art, and soul!!! I might have a new retail outlet for my jewelry and art. Will let you know about that shortly.

I stayed in Portland with Rachel, one of my oldest, dearest, and most favorite friends in the world. She plays guitar too, so we spent a grand time jamming and singing. She has been like a sister to me since I was seven years old. We went many years with out seeing each other, but she is an angel on earth now as much as she was when I was a little girl. She lives very close to the Alberta Arts District so I spent a lot of time wandering around there. I was blown away by a gummy bear portrait of Obama, enjoyed an hour and forty minute yoga class at “I Am Yoga”, and just had a great time window shopping.

Saturday was just magical. We toured the J.Christopher Winery. Jay Somers who owns the winery is also an AMAZING Songwriter. I was given

the honor to sing one of his songs called “Rain” for a charity album. “Rain” is a jazz song. Click hear if you would like to hear. I had never sang jazz, so this was a super cool experience for me. If you know me, you know I have enough energy to provide electricity for an entire town. I have to exercise everyday just to keep from combusting. Anyways, this song was REALLY REALLY SLOoooowwwwww. I contemplated taking a sedative to try and get in the groove because it is SO chill, and I am SO hyper, but the charity the song was being produced for is to help recovering addicts, so I knew the Universe expected me to find my center, and naturally get in the groove. It WORKED and it is one of my proudest vocal accomplishments. Hopefully Jay and I will work together again soon on the music. Until then I will be savoring his incredible wine.

The Vinyard was SPECTACULAR and BREATHTAKING. Jay the owner and Kelly the general manager

graced us with the most incredible palate my taste buds have ever experienced in a wine situation. My favorite red wine was a Pinot Noir called “Nuages,” The word Nuages means clouds in French, and I am not kidding you, with one little sip my head was dancing with the clouds. My favorite Chardonnay was called “Cuvee Lunatique.” If you collect exquisite boutique wines from America’s Northwestern coast then you will want to order from J. Christopher Winery at http://www.jchristopherwines.com

Portland was perfection. I was sad to leave. On Sunday night I travelled alone to Seattle on the Calabas train for more music and art. I have wanted to visit Seattle my whole life. I will blog about this leg of the trip soon!!! Signing off for now. Sending you a ton of love!!!

 

It has been a very interesting year for me. Last spring my daughter graduated from high school. In the

final moments she ended up at GA Tech. In June she started Tech’s summer school, living down the street from my son/her brother. I found myself alone without my children for the first time in 21 years. I filed for divorce at the end of June after 28 years of sharing a life together. I went to yoga everyday, and focused on mindful living.

August 10th I was rear ended by a woman texting. She did $5,000 worth of damage to my car, and I was injured in a bad way. The divorce was final on August 11th. Within a week of the accident, the whiplash was so bad that I could hardly sit up in bed. No yoga, no painting, no guitar playing. I had to lay in bed wondering if the pain would go away.

My former husband and I remained living together until the house finally closed after being sold twice. I moved into the most adorable rental house in October that my dear friend owns. I have always wanted a house that looked like a spaceship, and I FINALLY got it.

 

During this scary time MANY MIRACLES happened. The most incredible friends showed up out of the blue at the perfect time showering me with light when it was DARK. Because of the neck injury, I could not sleep, I could not excercise. I just sat there missing my kids while in pain and could hardly play my guitar or paint. I had two performances and had to tough it out. The Orthopedic surgeon did several tests and found I had incurred a bulging disc as a result of the accident and put me on prednisone 3 times, pain killers, and sent me to the physical therapist, etc, etc.

I had been asked in July if I would paint in November breast cancer survivor’s physical breasts with body paint for a charity called Breast Strokes, hosted by Hadassah. Hadassah is an American Jewish volunteer women’s organization that fundraises for community programs and health initiatives for all people. Growing up most of my best friends were Jewish so this was a no brainer for me. With all of my heart, I was honored to paint for this organization.

I am actually in many ways a very shy person, so I was a bit nervous. I had never used skin paint before.

My first survivor asked for a butterfly. She had one breast, and was left with only part of the other breast with no nipple. As we talked and I transformed her idea onto her skin, her breasts took flight as did her spirit. It was so incredibly humbling for me to sit with her and transform her scars into an image she treasured. I received so many incredible gifts from her. Her courage and strength were contagious and transforming to my heart.

The next survivor I painted was from Texas. She has lived in Atlanta a long time but yearns to return home. She wanted the yellow roses of Texas, bluebonnets and the outline of the state. This was extra serendipitous because I had sung a Willie Nelson song earlier in the year for a different charity and I just love him. It turned out she loved him too, so we bonded immediately over

Willie. As I started to paint her breasts I got the idea to turn it all into a giant tattoo. It was fun how it all came together. We drank wine, laughed, cried a little and she will forever hold a place deep in my heart.

My experience painting these survivors filled me with hope and in awe of the resilience of the human body and spirit and the witnessing of women who actually punked breast cancer and are thriving in ways they never imagined because of the power they found in themselves during the battle for their life.

I continued to ache through the Holidays and on Christmas morning decided enough was enough. I consistently thought of my survivors. I quit taking all medicine and started going to yoga again. Sometimes I just sat there doing nothing if it hurt to do the pose. I started juicing and meditating daily. My neck is getting better all the time, I am happily divorced and I am enjoying life alone tremendously learning I am stronger and more capable than I ever knew. Every time I use my hammer drill I get a little cocky and think I’m Wonder Woman until I almost fall off the ladder.

On Saturday night, Hadassah had The Big Reveal where all the breast paintings were printed on canvas’s and auctioned off. I went alone and immediately bumped into my beautiful Texan survivor. We took pictures, hugged and together said a million things with out saying a word. All of the survivors inspired me profoundly. During the holidays these woman gave me a real reality check.

I will always view breasts in a completely different way for the rest of my life. They are miraculous. It is amazing that something so beautiful that feeds an infant into self sustaining life can also be the thing that kills a woman, a mother, a sister or a daughter. I pray Hadassah finds a cure, I pray this disease becomes obsolete…….. most of all I pray that anyone currently battling this disease knocks it in the trash, and any one who has already conquered this beast continues to thrive and inspire. You all more than inspired me!!!

It was 10:00 am in Jaco, Costa Rica when I wrote this….Up since 4:30am. Went to a lap pool
with my host Brian and swam for 30 minutes, and am now sitting at the “Room2Board” hostel pool after an  incredible healthy breakfast, resting before I go surf.

I traveled here by myself as my daughter wanted to hike the Appalachian trail alone with her dad for her senior spring break. My baby girl and I had our mother daughter trip out west last summer, so it was time for her to do the dad daughter trip.

Two weeks ago I was at my friends birthday party and commented how I was bummed because I wasn’t going anywhere for spring break. She said why don’t you go to Costa Rica and stay with my family and perform at our hostel, so now I sit here mid week enjoying an incredible day with beautiful RED wild toucan’s flying above me, iguanas fighting over fruit, and a sunsets that far exceed any I have ever seen before.

I am just so thankful. I can’t express my gratitude in words because I am so overwhelmed with the kindness of my friend, her brother Brian, the young travelers I’ve met, the Costa Rican’s, and the beauty this Universe has blessed us with….

Yesterday I awakened at 7:30am to hike Miro mountain with 4 woman I met at the hostel and my friend’s brother Brian. He runs the hostel. He is pure joy to be around!!! I told him that, and it turns out his sister’s middle name whom invited me is “Joy.” How cool is that? I have never met so many young adventuristic souls in my life. The hostel is filled with 20 somethings, but

I’ve also met the coolest professional women in there thirties. Last night Brian and I  had dinner with two best friends, one from Denver, the other from New York. I have been invited non stop to do the funnest things by all these wonderful ladies. This is important because there is a lot of talk today about the importance of women supporting each other and being more inclusive, and I can say with my whole heart that “room2board” attracts this kind of energy, and is a definite reflection of the family that owns it.

Zach Brown is on the speakers here at the pool, and I have had a blast at the music festival called

“Jungle Jam.”  Friday night I was blown away by a musician from Hawaii named Mike Love. His songs were beautiful, thoughtful, and they deeply touched my heart.

Jeff Sipe and Otiel Burbride played Saturday night. I am loving how I can travel to another country, be surrounded by beautiful country music and the blues from my fellow Atlantan music brothers!!! The jungle jam was sooooooooo incredible.

When I got invited to come to Costa Rica I almost fainted when I found out there was a music festival. I sat on a blanket in the middle of a jungle and listened to “Fire On The Mountain”, and it was a profound experience. My life is such a “Fire On The Mountain” right now, but the evening brought me a great peace. I literally started falling a sleep as they played, and if you know me, that is a miracle. To close my eyes in a jungle, to a jam of a Grateful Dead song would seem impossible, but the music wrapped me in a blanket of love under some beautiful stars as I sat thanking god for the moment.

A few days ago I went on a monkey tour with some new friends. The monkeys literally jumped on my head. We also came upon a sloth and her baby. They were the sweetest little creatures I have

ever spent time with.  The trippiest thing were these little lizards they call Jesus lizards because they walk on the water. I am going to edit the video into slow motion at some point so you can see. I just have to figure out how yet.

I spoke of the sunset’s earlier, but quite honestly they are impossible to describe. Truly they look unreal. I went out to the beach with some

of the new friends I’ve made, and we did night yoga. It was INCREDIBLE!!! Soooooo beautiful. After watching  the sun set, one of my very favorite things to do is to just go on the hostel rooftop terrace and lay in the hammock and stare at the stars!!!

Friday morning I went to the farmers market and enjoyed the best coconut water ever. They just took a machete and chopped the top off and stuck a straw in it.

Pure heaven in the mouth!!! I could drink a Costa Rican coconut every single day for the rest of my life. Especially after surfing.

The surfing is a blast but it’s a serious workout. Way harder than running a 5k. I am a bad news bear on the surfboard but I LOVE it. I realized it is 3 yoga positions. First it is cobra, then it is a tree pose laying down….. into warrior 2. Thankful to “Sana” at home in Atlanta for teaching me yoga for the last five months. She was preparing me for surfing with out even knowing it. I can’t wait to get home to atlanta and practice tree to warrior 2 every day, because once I get that down I am going to be catching some serious waves.

I think EVERY woman in there forties on should take up surfing. I want to design a line of surfing clothes for the woman who wants to learn to surf seriously. I wanted to concentrate on the wave and not get distracted. The first day my suit was not appropriate. It was sooooo annoying. The next day I went into town and bought a
men’s shirt. I ended up wearing the guys shirt and my bathing suit skirt cover up on bottom. I know it looked ugly with me in that shirt and that skirt, but I wanted to focus on the wave and not my body parts hanging out!!! It worked too. I felt like WONDER WOMAN riding that wave. I want to design a line for women so they can wear a cool skirt surfing,keep covered and focused, and then walk up to the pool lounge and feel beautiful.

One other incredibly cool thing I have found in downtown Costa Rica is an art gallery called Tico Pod. Jaco, Costa Rica is known for the saying Pura Vita, which means the pure life and the gallery is
filled with paintings that ingulf just that!!! If you vista Jaco, you must visit this incredible gallery!!!

This trip is ending but it has definitely introduced me to a new journey I am beyond excited for. If you have not traveled alone, I would highly suggest it because I’ve never felt less alone. The people I am meeting are just incredible. I am inspired and can’t even wait to write some new songs, and paint some new songs, and get into a regular yoga practice. If this trip looks as amazing to you as it was for me to experience, then visit Jaco, Costa Rico. I did not post pictures of the waterfalls or the zip lineing but they have that as well. The Hostel is called Room2Board. I can not even wait to send my children here to visit alone. I stayed in a condo and ate at the hostel. The condo was incredible and is called Club Del Cielo . You can rent a condo for a great price if you prefer. When I go back, I will stay at the condo, and put my children up at the hostel. I Have had several songs inspired by this trip and look forward to sharing them and the art work that goes with them. Thanks for visiting a reading!!!

Sedona has been incredible.  We left LA at 8:30 AM and were hiking a peak called “Bell Tower” by 5:00 PM. The drive was a piece of cake.  Something came over us though!!!  We have been on the road for 13 days.  

We started off the morning with Starbucks frappacinos. I must admit, we were a little sad to leave, so maybe that is what caused our irresponsible behavior, but about 3 hours into the road trip we went into the gas station and bought Gas station FUUUUNNK.  Flaming hot Cheetos,

jalapeño Pringles, cheeze-it’s, Take 5 Bar, kit Kat Bar, bubiliscious. Diet Coke.  We just bought it all and got back in the car and chowed.  It was so GROOOOOOOSSSSSS but GOOOOOOOODDDDDDD at the same time.

The air conditioner was acting up again. It was seriously hotter than Haiti.  Another thing that was annoying was with all the fluid intake we kept having to stop. The ladies bathroom always has the longest line. I told Iz I thought we should get some depends so we could skip the bathroom stops.  She thought that was crazy and disgusting.  I thought it was GENIUS. She has refused this idea, but I’m seriously considering this option.  I just can’t stand wasting time in bathroom lines when we have mountains to climb and vistas to take in.

We came upon a storm that was beautiful.  I was so confused because I thought it did not rain in the

desert, but sure enough their was a serious storm hovering over Sedona upon our arival.  We checked into our hotel and headed straight to “Bell Tower.”

When we got to the hike destination we started up the incline.  This is serious rock climbing.  SCAAAAARY!!!  Anyways, my daughter SCREAMS. I get to her and am greeted by a beautiful snake.  We continue the incline

to a new path.  I am then greeted with a large black crow feather.  Many of you might recal my black crow experience on the path to where I wrote songs in a prior blog.  I got the goose bumps.  I was going to take the feather with me but Iz was concerned it was unsanitary.

We hiked to the top. I felt scared for my life many times, but man am I glad we kept climbing. We continued to experience HEAVEN to the EYES!!!  The natural wonders of this tiny part of the world Iz and I are exploring is just mind boggling.  It seems impossible that such perfection exists.  The land, the

creatures, the soaring birds….. Just all these gifts provided to us for free from the Universe.  It is hard to understand how these gifts are not always cherished.

We made it to the top.  The decline was terrifying.  I wore a dress on the hike.  MISTAKE!!!  I was having serious problems.  My back pack was giant. and kept hitting things and throughing me forward then backwards on to my seat if you know what I mean. When I would fall on my seat, the gravel cut me up.  I slid many times but fortunately I did not get cut up too badly, but a lesson ladies…  NEVER EVER wear a DRESS hiking. I did take a selfie, as I could not believe what we had just accomplished.

Famished, we stopped at a Chinese restaurant on the way home.  Even after all that gas station funk, we were still starved. We had an AWESOME dinner.  Came back to our room and passed out.

Sedona is definitely at the top of our favorite destinations on this trip!!!  I would love to make a music video on one of these peaks!!!

 

Tomorrow we will hike again, and head back to Santa Fe for a day. Then we have a 12 hour drive to Little

Rock Arkansas, then to our final destination called “MEMPHIS”.  I am so excited to take Iz to Sun Studios and Graceland.

Day 9 was thrilling.  The drive to LA was so much fun.  We were just so darn excited.  Half way to LA, Iz took the wheel.  It was nice to have her drive.  About an hour out of LA, the traffic became insane.  I offered to take over but she said she wanted to finish the job.  My 17 year old daughter escorted us into the amazing “City Of Angels.”  I was just so darn proud of her!!!

We arrived at a wonderful hotel Elizabeth had told us about called The Beverly Laurel.  It was in a terrific location.  After we got unpacked we headed over to the Farmer’s Market and The Grove to meet my cousin and her daughter whom we hadn’t seen in 15 years.

Both my cousins daughter and my daughter are named after the same great great grandma and great aunt.  My great aunt “Isabelle” was a character.  She would come to visit and we would eat artichokes with hollandaise sauce. While at the dinner table she would say “Alexis, Alexis strong and able, keep your elbows off the table’. She also loved my mom so much.  It would make me so happy to see this woman look at my mom with such love.  She was pretty proper and serious but she had a twinkle in her eye every time she looked at my mom.

It was amazing to see the two young Isabella’s sitting beside each other.  They both chewed there food the same and expressed themselves with there hands in similar ways.  It was a trip!!! Considering we have had no interaction since my cousin’s baby was less than a year old, it seems kind of magical that the two have these similarities. I just sat there in awe of the Isabella’s, hoping that their great great aunt Isabelle’s SPIRIT and LOVE would continued to be honored for years to come by the newly introduced cousins!!!

Day 10 was a blast!!!  We visited the Grammy Museum. It was truly incredible. I am so proud and honored to be a voting member of the Grammy’s and Narras.  They had a whole section dedicated to Tupac. It was AMAZING. I got REAL goosebumps!!! I wanted to read every single one of his note books they had on display. I could have stayed there the whole day. Unfortunately we had to leave, but I can’t wait to go back!!!  TUPAC has a hold of my curiosity and heart.

 

We got in the car and headed to USC for a tour. I had to make a quick stop when we arrived at the conference room. I told Iz I would meet her in the lecture hall.  When I returned and opened the door to the lecture hall I found a room FILLED with SERIOUS faces.  I scanned the room, found IZ and made eye contact.  Her eyes popped open and I could feel her telepathically telling me to not embarrass her which made me LOOSE it. If you know me well, you know that I am a nervous wreck in these kinds of “Eyes on Me SERIOUS  situations”.  It was horrible. I got the giggles and it was so bad, actually terrifying. I kept my head down and walked right past Iz. I headed up two rows behind her because I knew if I sat next to her it was going to become a traumatic scene for both of us and we would be history at USC.  As hard as I tried to stop, she could still hear me, and I could see her shoulders bouncing from holding back her laugh. The lecturer even started to laugh. At one point I was SOOOO close to SNORTING. I buried my face in my hands and had tears running down my face. I just begged god in my mind to help me stop laughing.  I then pictured my dogs face (she passed away last year) and that seemed to help finally break the inappropriate hysterics. This laughter problem I have is a real “CONDITION”, and has caused me TREMENDOUS embarrassment in this life. The tour was about 2 hours and Iz and I had to combat the giggles the entire time. She LOVED USC.  We will ALWAYS remember this visit!!!

Iz also loves thrift stores so we left USC and went to a store called it’s a wrap where they sell used close from movies and TV shows. She got a super cool top that Queen Latiffa wore on her show.  It was real fun.

We then went to an awesome Ethiopian restaurant called Industry Cafe and Jazz. My cousin and her daughter met us there.  My cousin had heard it was an incredible venue. I had the BEST dinner!!!

I actually got up and performed. I was told I performed with some Jazz and Blues legends.  I believe it too because they were seriously tight and talented!!!  I loved the way BB King sang “Sweet Angel” so

I decided to sing that song.  The band was AMAZING!!!  Then their lead singer named Hollywood Charles invited me to sing “Moondance” with him.  I was ill prepared, but gave it a shot.  So so much fun!!! A man gave me his number and said they were in talks of doing a Jazz Idol and he would like to have me on the show.   I was honored.  Such an incredibly fun night and the owner of the restaurant was super cool!!!  Several people took video so maybe one day you can watch the performance.

Day 11 Iz and I took it easy and then had lunch at the Ivy.  The atmosphere was fun.  Someone famous was sitting alone next to us but I’m not sure who he was because I’m not good at that stuff.  He did have remarkable energy. He had an aura.  I’m being serious too. After lunch we hit more thrift stores and Iz found a sweater that she had dreamed about for years.  It was a sweater that retails for about $300 and she got it for $40 so it was a jackpot

day for her.  That evening we went to Venice and walked the canal.  The Venice Canals are just so beautiful at night!!!

Day 12 we met my cousin and biked from Venice to Santa Monica and Back!!!  Such an awesome bike ride. We returned to our Hotel at the Beverly Hilton and relaxed by the pool. The Beverly Hilton is known for it’s pool. It was really peaceful. We had been given points to stay at this incredible Hotel so it was a giant treat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few hours later we hit the town and went to Griffith Observatory.  WOOOOOOOWWWW!!! So beautiful. There are a million things I’de like to do up there. Watch the sunrise, watch

the sunset, have a dinner party.  it is like a fairytale up there. I just can’t even wait to go back. Afterwards we drove by the walk of fame and then went to a comedy club…..  Then back to the hotel for a little shut eye.

Day 12 We were suppose drive to Sadona but decided to wait a day so we could see Malibu and watch my

cousins daughter perform bass at an Irish Pub in evening.  The drive to Malibu was wonderful. When we drove through on 1 North I was kind of confused.  I have heard my whole life about how beautiful Malibu was but I wasn’t feeling it. It was very cloudy and cold out and it just did not look like the beautiful Malibu I’ve read about my whole life.  We got to this place called “Paradise Cove”, but the parking was crazy so we turned around and headed to a restaurant for lunch called “Dukes”.  Low and behold Malibu became BEAUTIFUL.  Heading South

on 1 is INCREDIBLE.  It must be how the light reflects on the water and mountains.  I seriously would never believe you if you told me I drove down the same highway minutes earlier, if I hadn’t been behind the wheel myself!!!  Just amazing.  In life we can always see the bright side of things or the dark side and MALIBU is just like that!!!  Haaaaaa.  I also popped in an art gallery where they where having a show of a pop artist.  It was really fun and made me smile.  Iz and I sat inside at Dukes and I had the best salad. We looked out over the ocean and counted our blessings.  Talked about life and college.  She said she was interested in Seattle.  Minutes later a boy walked over from across the room and started talking to us. I asked him where he was from and he aid Seattle. I got a real kick out of that!!!

After lunch we headed to my cousins and hung out until we went to the Irish Pub where my cousin daughter was sitting in on bass.  She played bass on a Stone Temple Pilot song and she was AWESOME!!! She is only 15 and is incredibly talented.  My cousin has really been such a nurturing mother to her daughter and her talents. It made me so happy to see her being a beautiful, loving, protective mom!!!  She was so gracious and wonderful. We spent the night at their house and I just kept thinking about how cool my great aunt Isabelle was and how thankful
I was she brought us together for this amazing unexpected visit.

Tomorrow is Sadona and We’ll be on a mission!!!😊

After a wonderful visit in Santa Fe we left for a night at The Grand Canyon. It was only a 6.5 hour drive. We arrived at the Grand Canyon around 4.

Increeeeeeeeedible!!!  Nobody can prepare you for the site of the Grand Canyon.  How this giant hole in the earth filled with mountains and peaks was created is beyond my comprehension.  We walked around the south rim and then climbed out on this rock and watched the sunset. My daughter made me climb out on some serious ledges.

Her fearlessness is inspiring. A perfect accompanyment to the daily messages in my book I am reading. Such an unbelievable day and evening.

I want to write more but I don’t have words to describe what my eyes have seen.  I will just post several of the pictures, knowing that they

can not capture the beauty and magnificence of this natural wonder, but it is the best I can do!!!.  I can’t wait to return and camp here someday.

We definitely have some material to paint!!!

In the morning we leave for LA. We are so excited we can hardly stand it!!!

 

We left White sands and travelled to Santa Fe to visit a dear friend I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. I was excited, but at the last minute I got REAL nervous!!! The highway between White Sands and Santa Fe is a completely different topography than Texas.  Also, the speed limit is much lower in New Mexico.

New Mexico is the most calming place. I believe it might be the altitude, but it definitely creates a hallucinogenic feeling!!! In Texas the speed limit was 80 and we went almost 90. In New Mexico, the speed limit is 55 on the back roads we travelled. You REALLY go 55 because ALL the people with a NM license plate go 45, so you just know if you top that, your a idiot!!!

Interestingly enough, we came upon a pistachio and nut farm. We stopped and bought gifts and it was great fun. At one nut farm they had 20 different flavors of pistachios to try. My favorite was green chili!!! I love spicy and hot. Isabella loved the sweet and spicy brittle. It was amazing to see all the flavors they created.

We got back in the car and as I drove, it felt as if the PERFECT setting was painted and was a moving scenery on a movie set with our car being a prop sitting still. I seriously kept feeling like I was hallucinating. After spending a day driving 90mph on a straight road the prior day, my mind was just confused going 45mph. It seriously felt like the car was not moving.

We finally arrived at my friends house!!! It was amazing!!! The home is
hidden by a secret fence!!! They have two dogs, three cats and 7 fish. One of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever visited.

After a wonderful night’s sleep, I awakened and walked to town. I passed a gallery with the doors open and walked in. It was the gallery of Angel Wynn. All over her walls where photographs of ghosts. It tripped me out. I have been working on recording a song about angels, so I it made me smile that the first gallery I visited was an Angel!!!  🙂 You can check out her work here. Check out her work

I returned back to the house, and my friend Elizabeth whisked us away
to the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. We spent the day soaking in a mud bath and arsenic, iron, soda, and mineral waters. This was such a gift beyond words.

On our way home, Elizabeth slammed on the breaks and pulled over on the side of the road.  She said “Check out this photo op.”  She is an AMAZING photographer.  Low and behold  we walked around the side of the building she had seen from the road and it had Raphael’s “Two Putti’ reconstructed on it!!!

I have been painting angels that go with the song I am recording called “A Part Of Everything” and Raphael’s angel’s have been of great inspiration to me, so this gave me serious goose bumps!!!

We then returned home to an unbelievable dinner Elizabeth prepared. After dinner we all walked into town to The Plaza. Santa Fe is soooooooo beautiful!!! You can REALLY see the stars at night too!!! As I go to sleep tonight I am thankful for stars, angels, and friendships that surpass time!!!

The second day, we relaxed and then walked into town. The weather was amazing. It was about 100 degrees but felt cool. I love the dry air. In town we came upon an incredible show of the works by Margaret Bourke-White at a beautiful gallery called the Monroe Gallery. I was so intrigued. She was the first female photographer for Time magazine. Her photos were from the 20’s and 30’s!!! They told stories in a way that I hope my songs and oil paintings tell stories. If photos could be proliphic, her’s would be equal to our most prolific writers in history. My favorite was a school room full of kids. The gallery also had pictures of Ghandi and his family. I recently wrote a song where I speak of Ghandi. “BE the change you wish to see in the world” really speaks to me and challenges me daily!!!

We visited local shops and then The Plaza, and met tons of Native American Indians selling their hand-crafted pieces of art. I fell in love with ALL of it, but I was budget-behaved. I did get my daughter a gorgeous little necklace and it looks so beautiful on her!!!

As we walked home, the Catholic Church was having a giant processional. I took video and then we walked along the river and through the woods back to the secret hideaway.

Elizabeth made steamed muscles, artichokes, and bread. Not sure I have ever tasted anything so good in my life!!! We then went for another midnight stroll back into town and we walked the labyrinth at Cathedral Bascilica of Saint Francis Of Assisi.

Ready for another great night of sleep and then up early to drive to the Grand Canyon!!! As you can tell, the miracle book is working!!! I am finding myself surrounded by such beauty, goodness, and unexpected incredible surprises!!! Just feeling so darn thankful!!!

Our next stop was San Antonio. The eight our drive was really nice except for the flash flood warnings and TROPICAL storm we barreled through!!!  Soooooooo SCARY!!!

We finally arrived, went to the gym, and then hit the sack. Around midnight I got a call from the front desk asking me to come to the lobby. I almost went but I then called the front desk and they were confused. CREEPY!!! Regardless, we got a great nights sleep once we fell a sleep!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We woke up early to see the Alamo, the boot, and visit Paris Hatters Hatters. Unfortunately the storm we barreled through the day before was hovering over us. We had to hit the road by 10:30 to get to White Sands Monument Park to see the sunset, so we ended up having to miss seeing the boot. We took a photo from the car at the Alamo because their was no parking, but we did go to Paris Hatters and they ARE truly AWESOME!!! The owner picked out my hat and I love it so much. My daughter got a hat too, and we both got boots and jumped in the car and took off for the sunset.

I am looking forward to returning to San Antonio. I really liked it there. It was a nine and a half hour drive to the next destination!!! I-10 West is the longest road I have ever driven. The speed limit is 80….so of course you go close to 90. The air conditioner kept failing because it was 105 degrees. We had to roll down the windows and sun roof. By the fifth hour I got a lil figity, but then I saw a caution sign for rough roads. I was stumped about what that meant until all the sudden my 90 mile per hour started popping all over the road like popcorn. SCARY!!! My daughter has big beautiful blue eyes and those eyes just about popped out of her head in sheer terror. Man did that wake me up!!!

Then a bird decided to fly into my windshield. That bird and I had complete eye contact until it’s end.

I felt so bad for the bird. I got tears. My daughter had her head down so she did not see the calamity. She only heard me scream and get the tears. She could see the windshield remains. Terrible terrible sight it was.  For real too….  This is the truth. My daughter was laughing so hard because I got the tears. I just felt bad because of our eye contact. We stopped at a gas station in the middle of no where and I told the clerk I needed to clean my windshield because of what had happened. She said I was LUCKY. She said if it had been a buzzard it would have broken the windshield and landed in the car with us. She also said that BUZZARDS SMELL worse than a skunk. I was gratefully counting my blessings.

When We got back on the highway, I started getting movie of the mind. I was seeing movies of Buzzard hell and it took real discipline to make my mind STOP. It was just so scary.  I-10 west is definitely a mind game. Thankfully day two practice was the affirmation “I choose to see things differently” so that helped turn the scary movie off!!!

We finally made it to El Paso when a state trooper pulled up next to me. He then drifted back, then zoomed up again and just stared at us. The next thing I know his siren goes off and he points to us to pull over. He walked up to the car and I said “Sir, what have we done?”  He said your passenger doesn’t have her seat belt on properly.  He made Isabella get out of the car.  He started asking her all these questions, separated us, asked me questions. The Alanis Morrisette song “Ironic” started playing in my head. I hoped we didn’t drive all day to miss the sunset because of this smokey. He finally let us go and we did not get a ticket for the crooked seat belt. I was thrilled she had her first experience of being pulled over with me. Every mom and daughter should experience that together. Not sure why I feel this, but it was truly a bonding experience!!!  Two hours later we arrived in Alamogordo NM to see the most spectacular sun set in my life. If you get a chance to drive to White Sands Monument park, I would highly suggest the visit. Tomorrow is Santa Fe. Isabella and I have some spectacular images to paint and this is only the beginning.  So excited!!!

The beginning of our journey was quite interesting. Within the first hour I knew we were in for a real adventure. The car was packed to the brim and in the back seat was a refrigerator cooler filled with food for the next week. The cooler started moaning and every five seconds my daughter had to hit it to quiet it down. We were about to loose our minds. It finally died so we had to get a regular cooler and fill it with ice and transfer the food.  Two hours later, the car air conditioner started going batty and quit working.  Quite concerning since were headed towards the desert.  5 hours into the trip I hopped out of the car to get gas, and my flip flop broke.  They say trouble comes in three’s so I was thankful for the broken flip flop!!!

Fortunately I started reading a book called “May Cause Miracles: A 40-Day Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Radical Change and Unlimited Happiness” by Gabrielle Bernstien.  I made the first day of our trip day one of the book practice. On day one the affirmation to practice is “I witness my fear but I choose love”.  I refused to be fearful of the broken cooler, air conditioner, and flip flop trend and add that kind of fearful mojo to our journey. Instead we focused on all the incredible circumstances that led us on this TRIP.  Plus, the three theory is pretty cool.

We finally arrived in New Orleans after seven and a half hours of driving.  New Orleans was amazing!!!  We had a blast eating Jambalaya at Napolean’s.  We listened to some wonderful music, danced, and accidentally walked down Bourbon street. Funnest town!!!

 

 

We ended the evening with a cup of coffee and a beignet at Cafe Du Monde and then headed back to our hotel in preparation for the big day that awaited us.

 

 The visit to Tulane was incredible!!! Top choice!!! We were sad to leave.  The architecture, food, beauty, and MUSIC is just a dose of inspiration to this mind of mine. Tulane is in the Garden District and for a minute I was ready to buy a house and move into it, until I

found out how much a house cost….  HAAAAAA.  If my daughter decides to apply to Tulane and is accepted, I will be over the moon.  The people at Tulane were just amazing and the school had the most positive upbeat ENERGY!!!!

Off to San Antonio in the morning.  My friend John told me to go to this giant boot and get our picture taken, and visit Paris Hatters. Can’t even wait!!!

 

The music keeps playing but the nest is getting rather empty!!!

I spent the last month recording and painting.  The show at Steve’s last week was SOOOO much fun!!!  I also just completed another commission that goes with my song “A Part Of Everything”.  I LOOOOOVVVEEEE commissions!!! Print’s will be available online VERY soon!!!  In the meantime this train is definitely moving and the little baby birds are definitely flying.

My son left for Rome in May to study abroad.  He is attending a program at Oxford University in England through GA Tech and won’t return until August. I am just so darn proud of him!!!  I asked him to send me pictures, as I have never visited most of the countries he will be studying in, and the pictures he has sent take my breath away!!!

My daughter just finished her junior year of high school. She thinks she wants to be a doctor so she volunteered to go to Peru through a special program where she will work along side of doctors. She hopes this experience will help her decide if she wants to declare pre-med in college. The one major question that stumps her, is what college to attend. Rather than sit in fear, the two of us are going to hit the road. I will bring my guitar and play along the way, she will assist me, we will paint pictures, and in the process we will explore our beautiful western United States Of America, and find out if the west will become her home upon high school graduation.

We will start our journey from Atlanta to New Orleans and visit Tulane, eat some beignet’s, and check out the towns incredible music and art.  The following day we will head West to Texas, New Mexico, LA, Arizona, etc, etc…….

I will continue to blog about our journey in life, education, art, and music. If you get a chance to send us some good vibes, prayers, or whatever positive thing you feel comfortable doing, we will be grateful beyond words!!! Until then, sending you a ton of love!!!