I apologize that its been a few days since my last post – you might say my creative mind has been in a traffic jam. You know, it’s similar to trying to fit 10,000 cars up a one-way street in a fog – [lol]. My mind has been so full of ideas and directions that I haven’t been able to get through but I promise a change is on the horizon.

Even as this is being typed out on my trusty keyboard, I am preparing to release a number of new projects all for the discerning eyes of the public at large. So hang in there, I’ll provide a pay-off for the patient.

In other news . . .

1. I’ve been integrating a new iPad into my workflow (which hasn’t been as easy as I thought) but I have to say – WOW – if you have a chance or a choice, the iPad is DEFINITELY the way to go!

2. It’s that funky time of year when the weather [or the fog] can’t make up it’s mind what it wants to do. For a photographer the fog is a funny thing . . . never any when you want it and stuck in the way when you don’t. I’ve got to figure out a way to get the weather to cooperate with my schedule. If anyone has any ideas please let me know [tee-hee].

3. I’ve recently been working as an accompanist with 2 very talented individuals which has filled my mind with even more “stuff.” I love being around singers and musicians – even the primadonnas. It makes life challenging and rewarding all at the same time – sorta like heaping sweet and sour sauce on everything at the Chinese buffet (guilty confession).

4. Writing, writing, writing . . . I’m so far behind on my query letters I may never get another gig. Do you writers find yourself procrastinating in this tedious, but necessary task? I’d sure love some advice on how to more smoothly work this into my everyday plan, and then actually stick to it!

5. Now to the speakers out there – what do you do to keep things fresh and exciting? Is there a routine you have or maybe just plan to change things up from event to event. I’m starting to find myself getting a little bored with myself which signals real loud that it won’t be long before my audiences start getting bored with me too so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I’m so sorry that I dumped all this in everyone’s lap but at least we can all know that we, as creators have a lot of hoops that we jump through. Its kinda funny that most people who don’t do this think all we do is sit around all day throwing paint on a canvas or taking snapshots of flowers and then we get to spend the majority of the day on the golf course. Geeez – I wish. My clubs have more dust on them than your average desert and it seems like every time I get a chance to sit down and have some me time, I just fall asleep.

All that being said – I wouldn’t do anything else for the world!!

I’m starting to re-think my routine – perhaps something a little less sobering [or at least less dramatic] so early.

But then it hit me, just like a huge piece of space junk falling from the sky…

I begin every day with pain – all over my body. My disease sometimes lives up to it’s billing as crippling – but it is managed. Meds slowly kick in and a hot shower affords immediate relief and I’m able to go ahead and move forward with the day. There are good and decent people all over the world who can’t make it that far, at least not on their own. They are without hope just existing to make it through another day. I am so blessed.

I am sad – every day as I reflect on 2 of my own failed marriages. Relationships that are unfulfilled and loneliness are a sure recipe for emotional disaster. There are times when I’m so lonely that it hurts physically, not to mention the isolation from care and touch and yes, love. Then I read of those who have given-up on love and romance. Their marriages and relationships are in shambles and they fight and argue constantly. No peace. In place of true love they have substituted work and careers, hobbies, and even one-night stands. I reason that I truly believe there is someone, maybe just one, but someone out there in this big world that would love me and I could love them back with total commitment and devotion. I have not given-up, I have not conceded to the blindness of cynicism and bitterness. I am so blessed.

On and on it goes. Issue to issue, struggle to struggle. Everyone has problems that they face. Many are defeated and yet, there are many who push through those heartaches and pains and overcome. I am inspired as I read of the prayers of the faithful, the encouragement from family and friends, and the “stuff” that some are able to gather inside of themselves to rise above whatever adversity it is they face.

Yes, I am truly blessed. It is through those trials, through the pain, through the loneliness and the suffering that we as human beings can begin to understand the kind and loving heart of our heavenly Father who cares so much for us. It is through His refining fires that we grow and become the people He wants us to be.

Yes, we are all so blessed.

“A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.

Climb ev’ry mountain
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow
Til you find your dream.”

From “Climb Every Mountain”
The Sound of Music
by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

For years [dating back to when my children were small] I’ve been a big fan of the Disney movie, Little Mermaid. I’d even go so far as to say it’s in my Disney top 3 favorites, which is saying a lot. One of the main songs that is performed by Ariel [the lead, "little mermaid"] is titled Part of Your World, a beautiful, longing melody written by Alan Menken [words by Howard Ashman]. The song has been covered many times over the past several years by famous and not-so-famous vocalists and instrumentalists.

I’ve always wanted to do this piece, I just like it I guess. At the same time, I’ve never really wanted to record it or add it to any albums in the works or planned. So, I grabbed some chords and the melody line and recorded my cover version of Disney’s Part of Your World, if for no other reason, because I wanted to. It’s a simple piece with dramatic passages that give the overall performance a little depth. Please enjoy . . .