Making Re-Entry

Came back a few days ago from our zen retreat in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The drive is long but the road trip is good. Here's a video clip my husband took of the hummingbirds feeding near our dormitory door.

Click here for the video.

Cloudiness

It's a thankfully cloudy day in Ojai, and I'm grateful for it after the 100 degree weather the other day. What's up with that? In April. My son's home from school and going to see the doc at midday, and my husband needs oral surgery just after that. Whatever's going on with me, hey, I'm doing ok compared to that! I tweaked my reverbnation profile and widgets this morning. And the truncated versions of my online stores appear here, but if you click on them, they respond nicely.

I've been doing more gigging lately, and that's good for my inner workings. Seesawing between duo jazz gigs at the Ojai Valley Inn and the folk bag I find myself just as comfortable in these days. I'm even playing my guitar onstage! There will be evidence... pictures, recording. down the line.

No more chocolate for me. Made me ill yesterday. I kinda knew it before, but this was a real wake up. I'll do a little grieving, but I'm pretty sure I can live without chocolate. Pretty sure.

stonecupid

Chili

My husband (who is from Cincinnati) is making Cincinnati chili over spaghetti for us tonight. A guilty pleasure!

It was such a spectacular day in Ojai today. The weather and flora and sky were resplendent with springtime. A brisk chill in the air and gusty wind, but enough cloud action to remind me that yes we do have weather changes out here. They're subtle, tho. I come from Iowa, and my youngest brother just surprised me with a visit from there this weekend. He was on a road trip with his friend Don, his son, 2 of Don's kids and a german shorthair/beagle puppy who was very cute but had a penchant for pissing willy nilly and putting his forepaws up on the counters to get a better look. 

I had a concert in Ojai last night that went very well in the end, after light commitment in the community that had me in a hand-wringing, bawling tizzy on Thursday during which I vowed not to do a similar show in Ojai for at least a year. Too upsetting. I have the little jazz gigs at the Inn, sitting in with people, and sitting here practicing my guitar and writing songs for me and for my songwriting group. I will be playing Altadena on April 19th, sharing a bill with the same cool songwriter with whom I shared the bill last night, and I'll try to book Santa Barbara, Orange County, Northern California, Texas and Iowa for little jaunts this year. I'll play Tujunga in July. I'll be teaching, and setting up a performance workshop. I have plenty to do.

I went and spent a few days while the wildflowers were popping in the Anza Borrego Desert March 8-10. Above is a picture of a desert lily from that trip. 

My son has just come home with a funny movie he wants us all to watch. So I'll sign off.

Caffeine and Taxes

I'm doing everything I can to postpone getting back to my receipts readying for the date with the tax accountant on Friday. It's a yearly ritual, and every year I vow to do upkeep as I go along, or input to Quicken, or start sooner. But every year we make our date with Ed, and jam to prepare for it just days before his arrival. I've been on my email, my listserv, my linkedin, my tea and now coffee (Obama blend= Kenyan+Kona Blend) to steel myself. Now I'm here and this is getting ridiculous. It's zero hour and I have to add up all the receipts I sorted yesterday.

Here goes nothing. And it's a lot of nothing this year.

The simple joy of sitting outside

There is a burbling pond situated outside our bedroom window, next to the screenporch where the meditation spot and hammock reside, and astride my "diva shed," the office I don't inhabit often enough. It's a beautiful day and I've got my feet up on our outdoor mosaic table and plan to look at Louisiana recipes and peruse Peter Case's book, "As Far as You Can Get Without a Passport."

Life is indeed good. I have to remember that, because most of the time I'm hunkered down trying to drum up interest in my music, or cheerlead for my husband, or wrangle/learn to let go of my teenager.