I kicked off my Thanksgiving weekend at the Alamo, where I performed for a nice crowd of family, friends, and friendly strangers. I had a whole lot of fun, though I suffered for my art...I'm now sporting band-aids on two right-hand fingers thanks to some overzealous strumming. But it was definitely worth it!

I spent Thursday with both my family and Zach's, and we ended the night with very full hearts and stomachs. This year has been a blessed one for me. Not only did I marry my best friend, but I've been lucky enough to make progress as a music therapist as well as nurture my budding career as a singer/songwriter. 2008 will be hard to top, but I'll sure try my best.

Now there is no doubt that the Christmas season is upon us, which Zach and I welcomed as we decorated the house and put up the Christmas tree on Friday. We were not among the brave souls who ventured into the retail world, thankfully. I prefer to do my shopping where I do my blogging: online.

My review of Jason Mraz at the Fox is forthcoming...stay tuned!

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Thanksgiving Eve

Well hey there! I know it's been a while since I've updated, but I've been just a little busy traipsing around the country for various weddings. I've decided to change careers...just call me the nomadic wedding singer :) Just kidding; it's been fun, but extremely tiring. I'll be glad to be home for a few months.

Zach and I just returned from his brother's wedding in Connecticut, and we are completely stoked to see Jason Mraz in concert tonight at the Fox in St. Louis. We have seen him twice before, and I've even blogged about him here. So needless to say, we're superfans. Look for a review here soon.

But really the reason I stopped by today is to tell you about my next show, which happens at the Alamo on Wednesday during Happy Hour (5:30 - 7:30 pm). Thanksgiving Eve just happens to be the biggest going-out night of the year, so hopefully I'll have a decent turn-out. I even got a mention (and a picture!) in the Illinois Times on Thursday.

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What You Have To Do

This song is based on my favorite quote - one that I've repeated to myself on many occasions since I first read it.

All of her friends went to the lake, but she stayed behind.
Her daddy had made up her mind.
"You've got a paper to write, by the end of the night,"
And then he said what he always said,

Do what you have to do when you have to do it,
So that one day you can do
What you want to do, when you want to
Sometimes your time just isn't your own,
But don't worry, you're not alone,
Do what you have to do 'cause right now,
It's not up to you.

Out on her own, a couple years passed by.
All alone, she started to cry.
She made a call home, her daddy picked up the phone.
And when he heard her voice he said what he always said,

CHORUS

It's hard to play by someone else's rules, when you don't agree.
And when you're in it, sometimes you can't see.
But when you've made it to the other side, and learned along the way,
You'll be surprised to hear yourself say:

CHORUS

All of her friends went to the lake, spent the day on her boat,
Bought with the money she made from the songs she wrote.
When people asked her how she got there, she just had to share.
Her daddy would have been so proud of what she said:

I did what I had to do when I had to do it,
So that one day I could do
What I wanted to when I wanted to,
And though your time might not be your own
Don't worry, you're not alone.
Do what you have to do so that someday,
It's up to you.

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Sweet Sweet Summer

I wrote this on a random Sunday night earlier this fall. I'd been thinking about how amazing my summer had been and how sad I was to see it end, which inspired the lyrics.

Na na na, na na na na, na na
Na na na, na na na na, na
Na na na, na na na na, na na
Na na, na na na, na
Na na, na na na, na

We walked hand in hand,
We wrote our names in the sand.
The tide was low,
So where did they go?

Daylight faded with the blink of an eye
Tell me why we had to say goodbye
Tell me why we had to say goodbye, to the

Lazy mornings sleeping in,
The heat rising off your skin,
Waiting for the night to begin.

Looking up into the sky,
Feeling like we could fly,
So happy thought I might cry,
Sweet sweet Summer, goodbye.

Laying in the sun,
It was like we were one,
You and me,
Hoped that we always would be.

But life moves fast, and we gave it a try
Tell me why we had to say goodbye
Tell me why we had to say goodbye, to the

Lazy mornings sleeping in,
The heat rising off your skin,
Waiting for the night to begin.

Looking up into the sky,
Feeling like we could fly,
So happy thought I might cry,
Sweet sweet Summer, goodbye.

Turn around and fall has gone,
Winter moves along,
Spring flowers start to grow,
And then it’s time to say hello, to the

Lazy mornings sleeping in,
The heat rising off your skin,
Waiting for the night to begin.

Looking up into the sky,
Feeling like we could fly,
And both of us wondering why
Why we ever said goodbye.

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Three Months and Counting

It's hard to believe that as of today, I've been married for exactly three months. Three months!! Married life has been a whirlwind so far, and it's just about to get even windier. Next week, Zach and I will be jetting off to Orlando for the nuptials of Vanessa and Luis, and then the following weekend will be spent in Connecticut, celebrating the marriage of Rob and Shannon.

Less than a week later, I'll be performing again at the Alamo (more on that later!) and then...Thanksgiving. We all know that turkey day is the unofficial kick-off of the holiday season, so life will only get crazier from there. But crazy in a good way :) I can't wait!

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Hail to the Chief

Zach and I spent several hours last evening glued to our TV, flipping between CNN, ABC, and NBC as the election results came in. We eagerly waited for each state's votes to be tallied, hoping that they'd be placed in the left-hand column. We even made a game out of it, betting on how many electoral votes Obama would receive (I lost). But the only moment that mattered was when Obama topped the magic number - 270 - and he was declared President-Elect of the United States.

We watched John McCain concede gracefully and eloquently, and then we watched the new first family walk onto a stage in Chicago before thousands upon thousands of people (including Oprah and Brad Pitt). We listened as Barack Obama gave the speech of a lifetime, giving us reason to believe that things are going to change. We've waited this long...we can wait 76 more days.

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life....and I'm feelin' good.

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I Voted...Did You?

In fact, I even skipped my morning workout so that I could beat the crowds - and now I'm sipping on a free Starbucks coffee :) You can get one too if you go vote.

Ooh, and if you do, get a slice of pumpkin loaf...it is delish!

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Second Chance Dance

The first song I ever wrote was actually a Valentine's Day present for Zach. It was a hit, and we even included it on the CD we gave to our wedding guests as favors.

You and me, under a tree.
Younger versions of the people we grew up to be.
One innocent kiss sparks a short-lived romance.
As the stage was set for life’s second chance dance.

One step forward, three steps to the right.
Say hello, stay a while, then kiss me goodnight.
Three steps backwards, switch partners, turn around,
Come back to me, and hold my hand, safe and sound.

You walk by, no second thought.
Moments between us, we long ago forgot.
I flew south, while you drove north.
We’d meet in the middle, that far away June fourth.

Three years later, a lifetime it seems.
The girl you once knew was now the woman of your dreams.
My heart told me one thing, but my head disagreed,
For once I tuned it out, and my feelings took the lead

You and me, under a tree.
Planning our life together, happy just to be.
Who knew ten years ago we’d make our own romance
All the time rehearsing life’s second chance dance.
All the time rehearsing life’s second chance dance.

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Johnny + June

Not bad, right?

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