Channeling Patsy Cline


It never fails! I do not care how exhausted I am, I will inevitably wake up around 3 a.m. each night. Sometimes I'm thirsty; sometimes I need to go to the potty and sometimes, like Tuesday night there is no apparent reason other than "Surprise By Design" is on Discovery Home Network and maybe in my sleep I heard the sweet sounds of Robert Verdi joking with Rebecca Cole, so therefore, I needed to wake up and watch it.

At any rate, there I was, snug in my bed with Hank Kitty by my side and bong eyes wide open. I look at the TV - yep...3 a.m. So I think, just lie still and hopefully drop back off to sleep. NOPE.

As I am prone to do...a tune begins percolating in my head. Why I believe it's "Crazy" by Patsy. Yep, you guessed it. I broke into full rendition, right there with Hank being the rapt audience as he has no other choice to be.....and I have to add.....I think it was probably one of the best renditions of her I've done yet.

Perhaps it was because the Peoples Choice Awards aired that evening on CBS. I only got the later half of the show and I highly suspect that I didn't miss anything in the first half that would have made any difference.

Being one of thousands of songwriters living in the metropolitan Nashville area, these shows discourage me greatly. Granted, the PCA's are not primarily music but some of the winners in the music category just boggle the mind. I don't get it. Perhaps the most discouraging of all is the fact that it really doesn't matter how talented you are vocally or instrumentally OR how great a songwriter. In fact, it really doesn't matter how BAD vocally, instrumentally or inept you area as a writer either. If one person with any clout or money happens to agree with you, you are allowed entry into the inner sanctum of celebrity.

Granted, it's not all about becoming a celebrity - well at least not for me - but more of being able to make a decent living doing what I feel I am most gifted to do and hopefully change the world in some small way.

Just to prove my point, I've made a list of ten songs that should have never made it but did:

1. Cracklin' Rosie - everyone's favorite made popular by Neil Diamond.
2. Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini - I don't know & I don't care!
3. Disco Duck - this needs NO explanation.
4. She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy - pipe down you TN hillbillies
5. Ice-Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice (I guess that's the name of it)....can we say JOKE?
6. Anything by Weird Al Yankovic - nuff said!
7. Fidelity - Regina Spektor - my sources say she is on VH1 right now....heard it...she needs to stay home!!
8. Puppy Love - by Donny Osmond - gag me!!!
9. Beauty School Dropout - Franki Valli - okay LOVE the movie but do your own hair at home son!
10. Tall Paul - one of the one-hit wonders from the 50's....my source says it sucks big time! All I can think of that brand of cigarettes....Pall Mall? something like that. Anyway, it ain't good.

See my point? For those of you who google and aren't familiar with any of these....go take a listen....trust me....you'll agree. I'm sure there are hundreds more that need to be added to this list but given the space and time....ten is all you're getting.

As for me....until that ONE person comes along who has the keys to the celebrity door or at least the broom closet, I'll just keep writing and singing and channeling Patsy at 3 a.m. There are worse I could be channeling.

New Beginnings (Again!)

Well we have successfully managed to coast through another New Year's Eve party (or lack thereof) and have made our resolutions, half of which are bogus and the other half we've already forgotten or broken two minutes after appointing them to the resolution list. Congratulations, we're right on target!

I have been sadly remiss in posting any blogs since August. Those of you who know me near and dear know why and for those of you who may not yet know, I am once again a single woman. Long story which I will not take time to share. If you must know all the details, you can email me separately for the scoop.

In reflecting back over 2006, I have to admit that not all was steeped in pain, drama, chaos and the packing of boxes. I was able to realize the completion of my second album, "Home" with my partner - our first together, my second total. I learned a lot about myself in terms of where I want to go and who I want to take with me and also that nothing is ever as bad as it seems. I also realized a creative way to make a few extra bucks with my budding "Diva Designs" custom art. I made some new friends in 2006 that I feel certain are life long friends. My immediate family is well and has a roof over their heads. I have a roof over MY head - somehow in the scheme of everyday, it's enough.

Being the spiritual person I am (probably more so than most realize) my daily prayers have turned more towards thanks and praying for those around me that I see need some divine touches. I stand by my theory that for those who may not believe strongly or even at all is due to one major reason: they've never experienced a spiritual moment that forever changes their minds. I have been blessed on many occasions over my 40, almost 41 years, to see the hand of the Almighty speak directly to me. God meets us where we are and He speaks to each of us in ways that are totally designed for us as individuals. How He speaks to me will be totally different than how He speaks to you. Trust me - when He does, you know it and you never have cause to doubt. It's my prayer for all my friends and family to experience His divine touch in some way this year.

As for me? 2007 is going to be about me; not just in what I want but in what I can do for others. I've been given many talents and it's about time everyone starts seeing those. I go forth into this great new year with one prayer for myself....it has become my motto, my chant, my theme if you will. I started repeating it at the end of each prayer I send heavenward a few weeks ago. I can happily report that each day this prayer has been answered in some way. Listen closely as I whisper it's sweet cadence.......lean in now........can you hear it yet?

Let it be better than I expect.