Margaritas at 1pm

Adrienne and Mardi doing the thing we love the most...

Its a perfect day....

Standing on the edge...

Risk......such a mother fucker of a concept...discuss?

Point Dume

Me, one of my great mates Adrienne and her boy Ollie down in Malibu, CA. I did a double take when A told me the name of the beach we were walking down....I was like, great, point doom? That's all I need.

Its a sunny day out here, we are standing on the rocks checking out the dolphins and the rock climbers. Something about the ocean air and the smell of the salt on my skin and the sound of the water, soothes my soul at its core.....and helps with jet lag.

Xxm

Sunrise

Between fiji and Hawaii, signaling a new day.

The art of unattachment...

I think the universe is giving me strange lessons in learning how to be unattached...whilst remaning conscious and awake. It's an interesting lesson to learn and I am a little tired from it right this second....kind of in a 'okay, okay..I'm getting it' kinda way. It's tough to not feel a little beaten down by it in the process but I know that's all about attitude anyway....

I am sitting in Adelaide airport waiting to get a flight. MY flight to Sydney was cancelled for some unknown bizarre reason. Airports are always stressful at the best of times I think...worries about luggage and weight restrictions and carry on and the price of water, but I am watching people lose their cool as they try to get news about the what, why and how and I am choosing to just breath. Knowing that it will all work out and the airline will find flights and eventually we will all get to where we have to go to. I figure this way I get to stave off any unwanted extra grey hairs and my heart will tick for a few more years because I haven't put any unnecessary stress on it. And anyway...who wants the energy that goes with that kinda stress. Not me.

So...here I sit, choosing to breath...choosing to be calm....choosing to be unattached. Just choosing.

xxM

Mother Mary...

I was sitting in a bar in Adelaide, having a glass of wine, writing in my journal and I was in the middle of some sad melancholy kinda writing...not being sure of myself or my situation or my future...you know those moments, right?

Well, there I was, sipping on my glass of Aussie chardonnay, my heart beating fast and hard in my chest...and I looked up and in between the bottles of wine sat Ms Mary in all her glory, just sitting there...doing her thing, not bothering anyone...being all peaceful and pretty and stuff.

Now, I'm not catholic and I actually have, in the past, had very little connection with her or her image, but she is featured on the front cover of my cd (because my good mate Kate Wolf gave me some of her photos for the cd and she has a really poignant side profile shot of Ms Mary) and for some strange reason, I found comfort in seeing her sitting there. Like there was some magical connection between everything that happens in the world...even if it's miles and miles apart.

I think about the 'hand of providence' often and wonder to myself if everything really does happen for a reason, or are events just a series of coincedences? Sometimes if I lean towards the idea that things really do happen for a reason, it makes me feel a little stronger in myself. That if I continue to show up, speak my truth, live passionately and openly with respect to the world, then somehow I will make it through...not at all unscathed, probably ever so slightly broken, but with amazing experiences to speak of.

I don't profess to know really, sometimes I am just making shit up because it makes me feel better, but these are the thoughts that pass through my head on a rainy night in my old home town.

xxM

The little dude with the eyes of an old man....

As promised, this is a photo of my almost one year old nephew, Ethan (who btw, sounds like he is just waking up). He looks like an old fella when you look into those big blue eyes. His favourite word at the moment is 'tickletickletickletickle', courtesy of his big sister Skyla, and when he cracks a smile it makes my heart melt.

It's a rainy night here in Adelaide and I have three more sleeps until I am on a plane.
I'm coming....please wait for me.

xxM

The Cutest Door...person...ever

So, anyone who reads anything from me knows what I normally call the wonderful door people at shows but I just can't bring myself to call my niece the B word, even if it is in jest...

But isn't she damn cute? The little bobbles on her head? The oversize tshirt?! She was the hand stamper at the gig on saturday night, in between running through the audience and making everyone laugh. Wonderful cheap labor too...wonder if she will go on the road with me. This is how much I love her...this weekend, I am going to kindermusic with her and then to her Disco Birthday party where I will no doubt have to dance some horribly fun disco dance. Soaking her all up though as I won't see her again until she is 5...and that just sounds crazy as I type it.

Next blog...I will show you my new nephew, who I just met on this trip....

xxM

TVJ

This is a shot from our show in Adelaide last Saturday. I think my favourite part is the fan, see the tilt it's on? That's because it was so damn hot in there we had the fan turned up full trying to cool us off!! I also like the fairy lights.

I am getting ready to head back to the US on Monday. A month has almost gone and I keep having moments where it feels like it's gone super fast and then another moment where it feels like it's gone super slow. I am excited to get home and get into the next phase of my life..the move & the new recording, the touring..and everything that comes with all of those things. But then I also get sad when I think about leaving my family and the comfort of that and knowing life here.

I am feeling a little discombobulated today as things get to a point back there where I really need to be there though..to sign papers, send cds, earn money, make decisions, buy a car, unpack my suitcase (4 months out of a suitcase is a little wearing)...but I am trying to learn how to just enjoy the moment more.

And kinda failing at it...

I think that's the big lesson the universe is trying to teach me at the moment. To be in THIS moment, right here, right now...experiencing and feeling everything and everyone within it. I can tend to get too far ahead of myself sometimes, too consummed by thoughts of other people or other places and I miss the right now. I REALLY REALLY want to GET this lesson...I really want to learn it. Sometimes I think that's the bugger of email and the trackable forms of communication....although, I didn't recharge my Aussie phone this time around, which means in some ways that I have actually be hard to contact. There's something about that that feels nice.

Anyway, I am raving a little...just letting the process flow, fall onto paper....onto screen should I say. I wrote a letter a few weeks back, first time in years I have hand written a letter..it felt nice and I was inspired...and it gave my hand cramp (lol).

xxM

Umm Wendy?

you want this tshirt don't you??

beware of woman wielding mascara......

South Beach...

This is the beach where I spent a few hours sunday and monday swimming. This photo doesn't do it as much justice as the one I took and can't get off my camera right now..grrr. The joys of modern technology, especially when it doesn't work.

Anyway, it's probably one of my most favourite beaches in the world. The water is clear and I spent a long time under it just watching fish and being in the quiet. There's nothing better I think than being able to float underwater and be absorbed in the beauty and the quiet...away from everything and everyone. The water was kinda chilly and it's one of those days when you just have to jump right on in rather than stand on top and get the chills....some great analogy in there for life too I think.

I am in Adelaide now, hanging out with the familia, will post photos from here soon. My nieces 4th bday today...woohoo...never played with barbie as much as I have today. My last show this saturday and then I have a week off before heading back to the US.....3 days in LA hanging with mates, a week in SF to spend with friends before the big move and then, I am off to Chicago.

xxM

Kidogo Arthouse....

Hmm...so this is from last nights show at Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle, Western Australia. My mate Corrine took them and if you have a facebook account you can see all the rest.

The show was a lot of fun...at least in my head. I played with no shoes on because my feet were too hot in the blunnies and the crowd was beautiful and warm...in the literal as well as figurative sense. The highlight was the 5 dolphins that swam into the shallows as I was sound checking. The beach is about 20 metres from where I sit and it was a beautiful summers night here...a little sweaty, especially from playing and I found it hard to stay in my seat.

I wish for venues like this all over the world. 200 year old limestone, old wooden floorboards, original art from around the world on the walls and a great audience.

I have a day off tomorrow and am excited to hit the ocean.....

xxm

Wakin.....

So, my camera is behaving badly so I stole this one from somewhere else...but this is who we opened for last night in Perth. The show was at the Burswood Entertainment Center theatre, which holds around 3000 people, I think. Might be more because there were three tiers of people to look up at. It was Chinese New Years and the artist we opened for, Wakin, is really well known in the asian community. The production of the show was bloody massive!! Supposedly 20k was spent on renting instruments for the show alone. You can't see it in this shot, but there was also a 8-10 piece orchestra and a complete band, they had smoke and bubbles and I am pretty sure at some point there would have been something that went 'BANG' but I didn't stay for that part of the show.

Anyway, it was an experience and I had to stop myself looking at myself on the big screens on either side of the stage...I kept wanting to stick my tongue out. There were also three massive plasma screens on the floor in front of the stage, Wakins teleprompters or something. I asked his crew if that was so we could watch movies while we were playing.....I am not sure if they understood me that well but they did laugh. And the cameras...let me just say, at one point, the ENTIRE second row had their cameras out and were about to take a photo all at once. It actually scared me...I think I closed my eyes for the shot. Oh dear.

The highlight for me was being able to plug into a concert level sound system, I miss those kinds of shows. The first strum of my guitar was absolutely perfect....

So....the rain has stopped, I am with my good mates Jemma & Jane, and trying not to be like an excited puppy dog that wants to wake them up for breakfast. I can just see myself jumping on their bed with my tongue hanging out going....'eat...gotta eat'. Would go down really well. I get to sit on the beach today....perfect, well....almost. I could think of at least one other thing that would make it absolutely perfect...

xxM

The Garage

My last show in Sydney was at a place called the Northwood Garage. I figured it was some funky name for a theater or something and Alex and I arrived there and immediately laughed outloud...it was ACTUALLY a garage..complete with a car hanging out the edge of the roller door. Inside was a funky little artists community with couches and painted walls...which was great once you got over the shock of the 'actual garage' part!!

It was nice to see a few old faces there, folks from the days when the velvet janes would tour through town. Thanks for coming back you guys..and girls...and spanky (haha..just giving you shit mate).

I am in Perth now, got in yesterday and it started to RAIN. Damn, what is it with me and rain. Left SF after two weeks of horrid rain and most of the time I was in Sydney it rained so hard you could barely do anything and now Perth? All I want is a little sun....is that TOO much to ask for in the middle of summer in Australia? Mind you, it's still warm enough for me to go swimmin in the ocean, which is what I really want..so i will quit my complaining.

VJ shows start tomorrow night and we are full on into rehearsals and press interviews today. Yay for us...

xxM

Bloody Excellent!

Thanks be to the suitcase gods and all those of you who offered a thought....got a call from the wonderful Tracy last night from Qantas baggage services...she personally went and found my bag for me. I am waiting right now for them to deliver it and it should be back to me within the hour...just in time for me to fly to Perth tomorrow. Lol.

All is well in the world!!

xxM

Summer in Australia....

Beautiful oneday......

umm....and yeah, that's the next day above.

xxm

Newcastle, NSW

This is a photo from the edge of the water in Newcastle, NSW where I played last night. It was beautiful to just sit on the edge of the inlet and look out over the water. I played with a crew of local musicians last night at a fundraiser gig for HOWL (not sure what that actually was) and the room was warm (as were the people) and I soon got sweaty. It was nice to sing and to just forget all about my suitcase woes for a moment.

Speaking of which, I JUST got off the phone to Qantas and a lady called Tracy just told me she was going to go out and look through the bags that have just come in that have no trace numbers on them. She said she has had pretty good luck finding bags today and I am hoping that her luck continues with me. Thanks for all the thoughts and the shout outs, hopefully our combined intentioning has worked and Tracy finds it.

xxM

Prayer to the gods of all things suitcase...

Dear Suitcase Gods.....

Please bring my suitcase and everything that is in it, back to me. It's going on three days now and my friends are starting to notice the smell.

I am trying to be unattached to my belongings but as I think on it more I realize that my favourite pair of fluevog shoes are in there...my webcam, my camera, my minidisc recorder with hundreds of song ideas is in there (I know, I know..they tell you not to pack electronics into your suitcase...I promise to listen to that in future). My favourite tripler pedal is in there, along with my guitar tuner, capos, strings, picks and pedals (I sounded like crap last night all out of tune and everything). My absolute favourite shirts are in there..and anyone who has seen my favourite shirts KNOWs that they are good shirts to have as favourites.

My clean undies and bras are in there. And socks...not that I can wear socks here at the moment because it's too hot, but still, my socks are in there.

AND my workout clothes are in there and I haven't been able to exercise and my muscles are fading away to nothing...please, for the love of my muscles, bring it back to me.

My cell phone charger is in there....and no one knows how to find me. Please, have mercy.

Please suitcase gods, have pity on me....my 4 year old niece and 10 month nephews presents are in there. My niece will be devastated not to have the latest Polypocket and Dora Explorer toys. My nephew DESPERATELY needs those outfits...he has NO clothes.

And lets not mention my favourite necklaces and leather arm bands I had made for me....they too are in there and my heart aches to see them again. Along with my toiletries and make up...my body needs these things...please have pity on those around me.

And then of course, my British Citizenship documents are in there. My mum will be heartbroken to not be able to see them and gaze upon their glory and witness the fruit of her loins proudly displaying them.

My board shorts....my crocs....my sunscreen....please suitcase gods, I am in Australia in the middle of summer and have only one pair of jeans...surely I am being punished for something and I beg your forgiveness. I will NEVER do IT again...whatever it is. Please bring my suitcase back to me.

I beseech thee, oh suitcase gods of the world, somewhere between San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nadi (fiji) and Sydney...lies a black upright hard case samsonite suitcase with a bright orange luggage strap around it. It misses it's owner and is desperately missed by it's owner. Please now allow it to come home, please return it and it's gutse safely to me...it is loved and cherished and I promise to take better care of it and get it some body work and annoint it with oils when it returns.

Please return it....

Love....Martine