Everyone Deserves Music

Music is one of the biggest inspirations in my life. I love to listen to all kinds of music - I have very eclectic tastes. When I first met my husband Andy - 4 years ago - my world had become devoid of music. I have no idea what happened (welll, I can take a guess - I was basically a stay-at-home mom, overweight, lonely, and kind of deadened) but over the years, I had let music go. I can go back to any time in my childhood and remember the songs I listened to: Donny Osmond when I was 8 (I was 8, ok?!!), Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Allman Brothers all through high school, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell in college, and then jazz, latin beat, hip/hop, opera, and more after I moved to San Francisco.

But by the time I was 38, music was not a big part of my day. Then I met Andy. Andy is a musician and a sound genius - he used to own recording studios in Denver and makes audio equipment now. He started making me cd's when we started dating - mostly love songs - but they were all over the map - electronic, rap, hard rock, alternative. Like Doroty, my black and white world because techni-color overnight. I awoke (again.) The gift of music is a powerful one. My heart opened up like a dried up bud, thirsty for rain. I started buying music like crazy on iTunes, and then I started giving it away - making cd's for friends. I joined a dance class and danced several times a week to all kinds of world beats. Today I have one of the best music collections I know of, and I enjoy it daily. I have an iPod in the car, a stereo in the living room, and one in my bedroom too - that even plays in my bathroom! So I can sing in the shower as loud as I want - hah! I just made a bunch of yoga cd's for my yoga studio and it was a gift from the heart. I love music and I love sharing it with others - truly an inspiration! Peace.

(p.s. click on the title "Everyone Deserves Music" to hear Michael Franti playing an acoustic version of this song - a great album by the way...)

What Inspires Me...

The lotus blossom inspires me - every time, never fails. Even before
I consider how it grows, I just see the visual image of the blossom
itself and a bell rings inside my soul. I am a sucker for every
lotus blossom card, refrigerator magnet, t-shirt...there's something
about the beautiful blossom unfolding that captures my heart. I hope
that is what is happening to my heart; a tight bud, slowly, slowly
unfurling, one petal at a time.

Now throw in the fact that the lotus grows its roots deep down in mud
and manure but chooses to have an extraordinarily beautiful and
fragrant blossom, which I believe can be a great metaphor for how I
choose to live my life. And I just read that the blossom represents
creative power and purity amid adverse surroundings. Love it! What
inspires you?

Dreams

Last night I dreamt about tornadoes...and orcas. Not the same dream
- two different dreams. Both recurring themes however...why orcas?
I get tornadoes. It symbolizes my fear that things are getting out
of control, or impending doom. In my tornado dream, I was literally
heading towards the basement of my childhood, but I was holding my
current dog Ruby. Dogs are amazing don't you think? I can't believe
how much pleasure I get from just having Ruby - she is not overly
affectionate and she's horribly trained - but I love her little
face. Today she was taking a sun bath on the living room rug and she
looked like the cow jumping over the moon. I just had to stop what I
was doing and kiss her all over!

Anyway, in my dream, I believe she was my talisman. I was carrying
her down to the basement. Remember I said the other day that I felt
like I was cleaning out the basement of my soul? Well, last night,
in my sleep, I got to journey into that basement and see what it
looks like - and let me tell you, it's gross. But I went down there
with Ruby (who represents sheer joy to me, pure pleasure) and really,
I think the message I took from the dream is that yes, there are a
bunch of tornadoes flying around out there right now, and/but it's
time to get my basement in order and focus on cleaning that out. But
I can bring my guardian angel(s) with me and I'm not alone. And
neither are you.

Alive in Boulder!

Hey all,

Got the news today - bronchitis. Now I'm on antibiotics and looking
forward to an upswing - right quick!

Yesterday I spent all afternoon sitting in the living room with Andy,
going through the past 3 years of financial papers - credit card
statements, bank statements, bills, receipts, etc. We got them all
sorted by category, year, etc. All my money stuff was staring me in
the face. This quote kept echoing in my head: "Clean your plate if
you want dessert." I felt like I was cleaning out the basement of my
soul - dirt, cobwebs, moldy boxes - ugh!!! I gladly would have
poked my eyes out but I had to sit there and go through it (with the
flu + bronchitis) because Andy was helping me and he was making the
time (with the flu and laryngitis) and my lawyer wanted all the info.
by tomorrow so I did it.

"Lawyer?" you ask. Don't even get me started...let me just say now,
if you are thinking of getting a divorce, think long and hard.
Better yet, if you are considering getting married, think REALLY long
and hard about it. But I did it - twice (get married) and I'm really
glad I did do it (the second time.) But my therapist said re.
divorce "everyone will pay a price" and we did, and we are...nuff
said (for now.)

It's clear to me that I have to get my money stuff in order before I
start to reap the bounty...I need to build a solid foundation so that
abundance isn't wasted. it's also clear that it would be great to
start making money sooner rather than later - so I am calling in a
wonderful way for me to make money - soon! :) what that might be, I
have no idea...yet. Maybe videos of Ruby - she is my most popular
video by far on youtube - hysterical!!

OK - that's enough for now. I'm making a come back - oh yeah!

Fading Fast

I've got another appointment with the Dr. tomorrow - fever's back, cough is bad...don't know what is happening but I think my body is saying "Slow Down!" and I just haven't fully let myself rest. This is my 'edge' - I really hate resting. ugh. I missed a 5k last Thursday and it looks as if I'm going to miss the Colder Boulder. boo hoo It's invitational and I'm really proud that I was in a fast time slot. Grrrrrrrrr. I'm having a feverish temper tantrum and a pity party all at the same time. No song today - it's just too darn cheery (the one that I've been rehearsing) and I'm not there (yet.)

The most inspirational part of this post is that you are not me right now! Give thanks!

Sick Sick Sick

Hello All,

So I know I promised you a song and I just can't do it! I am still fighting this flu virus and I am not up to par. I did make you a very delightful video of me being sick however. Remember how I said my favorite humor is self deprecating? Well, I hope you think it's as funny as I do. My humor can be a bit obscure, and a bit immature, and a bit off...be warned. (if you are up for it, click on the title: sick sick sick)

Right now my motto is "Never, never, never, give up." That's a quote from Winston Churchill. I am going to keep on getting better, keep on sending love out to "those who would perceive me as an enemy" and keep laughing out loud.

Peace.

ps - The blog photo is a sunset photo that Andy took from our front porch!