Loving Pink....and

Yes....I am digging Pink at the moment. Ipod in my ears, turned up loud...riding, walking, moving to the beat...understanding her words.

And Brandi Carlile.....yes....what a cutie. I think I see her next week with my friend Julie....hmm.

These words....speak to me right now. I get them....you know...in a 'get them' kinda way.

Pink...

One night to you
Lasted six weeks for me
Just a bitter little pill now
Just to try to go to sleep
No more waking up to innocence
Say hello to hesitance
To everyone I meet
Thanks to you
I guess I'll never know
What love means to me but oh
I'll keep on rolling down this road
But I've got a bad, bad feeling

It's gonna take a long time to love
It's gonna take a lot to hold on
It's gonna be a long way to happy, yeah
Left in the pieces that you broke me into
Torn apart but now I've got to
Keep on rolling like a stone
Cause it's gonna be a long long way to happy

Umm?

Okay, doing another 30 mile bike ride (now I have padded pants so my ass doesn't hurt!).

Just rode past this and wondered if anyone else notices the proximity of these two signs?

Xxm

oh and ps....there was NO school ANYWHERE near the sign....???

Way too many

Stuffed animals on this blog. I swear to god, this is the last. Now I am going to have nightmares about stuffed animals that stomp all over me, instead of people.....lol. What's worse?

Finally...

She sleeps, crayons in hand.....

Haha.....

Perhaps...

If I had room on an arm, my next tattoo would be:

forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit

it is latin for:

'perhaps we'll look back on this oneday and smile'

(loose translation)

Oh hell, I have plenty of body parts left...surely it can't be that hard to find somewhere. I realise that I like to get 'mantra' types of things tattoed on me, all of them so far have been really important things for me to look at and remember.

Anyway, I am not fully sure about this one as I am working out that sometimes it's tough to see yourself looking back on something and smiling. Especially hurtful things. I am told that time is all it takes...you know, TIME. If I think back on 8 years ago when I first came to this country, I remember being really scared, unsure and sad about leaving my family, friends and country...but also feeling kinda high by the thought of the journey ahead. Knowing that I was exactly where I was mean't to be at the time and that in the midst of everything, I would be safe.

I am what is considered to be a 'latch key kid'...in that for most of my growing up I was left to make up my own world after school etc. I spent hours either getting lost in my parents warehouse while they worked or I would catch a bus or walk home from school so I could ride my horse through the bushland around where I lived exploring, or swimming in the dam or building tree houses with my bro, or playing cricket with the kids who lived around my area...all pretty much unsupervised. It mean't that I also got into a lot of 'trouble'....you know, raiding the liquor cabinet, trying pot, experimenting with sex. All those things and more. I know some people grow up with a sense of feeling abandoned because of the latch key thing...but I have realised recently that it actually helped give me my sense of safety in the world. That I always felt able to take care of myself or work out what to do next and have always felt a pretty deep sense of being looked out for wherever I go. In my late teens, I use to always have dreams about the angel Gabriel hanging out with me...just keeping his eye on things.

Anyway, some of that sense of safety has been a little wobbly lately...not being sure, you know, all that stuff (I am sure regular readers have felt that here)....trying to work out why and how and how to get it back. I know part of it is just deciding that I am safe...and also deciding that I am exactly where I am mean't to be at this time.

So....I am sure oneday I may decide to look back and smile...but I definately know that I will look back and know that this period of my life was unbelievably defining. Huge growth in my person, huge lessons, huge heartaches and sadness....but, I feel a little tingly feeling coming back...it's either gas, or it's that high 'wow, what next' kinda thing going on.

Off to drink beers with mates....wanna come?

xxM

Sleepless in Chicago

I think I am working out that sleep is rather over rated. Or perhaps I am still on west coast time? Or perhaps its just the later. I am working out hard, meditating, reading, eating early, taking valerian and everything else I can find, scanning d-listed (thank W for that literary marvel)....you know, all the things they say you should do, and then some things I just make up by myself, and still I lay and twiddle my thumbs. Poems and song ideas fly around my brain and out my fingers. I think sleeplessness has been passed onto me by my mother, its happened on and off for a lot of my life....thanks muriel. Maybe I need a noise machine....

Anyway, this picture is of doggie. I have had him since I was 12 years old and I just took him out of storage to bring back with me. I knew I'd need him. Someone just made the comment that he has probably seen a lot and felt a lot of tears in that time. Too true. I think as we get older we get embarrassed to show things like this....nah, not me (surprising no?). I love the fact that I still have him, that I still feel good cuddling up to him sometimes at night and that he has lived in 6 States and 2 countries with me. And yes.....seen a lot and felt a lot of tears.

But still, even he can't help me sleep right now.....

Xxm

New Addition..

Yes, I am finally getting around to adding new things back to the new site....so, now I have put the photos page back up....click the 'on the road' link above and you will see it. Adding new photos to it as I go...trying to get my sore, bike riding, car hunting, meditating, song writing, friend loving, gardening ass organized....

ahha....yes I am.

The vigilante car buyers

My friend Kathleen and I are on a mission. We just went into the Toyota dealership to look at cars when Chuck, the friendly dealer, tells us about a fellow who bought a new car yesterday and didn't want to trade his car in because he thought he could get more privately. So, Chuck, gives us the address of said fellow and we have been sitting outside his house spying on the car.

We just found out that his niece is coming to look at it in an hour.....but I am imagining myself in it as I sit here. Its white, which I can deal with....and its an acura, which I can deal with too. Low miles. Think good thoughts my friends and imagine us sitting down low in the mustang looking at the car....and you could soon see me touring in it.

Xxm

And so...it begins

Life and yummy veggies

Blind hill?

I rode 30 miles today. My ass hurts, my legs are sore but damn it felt good. It was a beautiful day out here, lots of beauty and creatures to look at, punctuated by good conversation and check ins from mates.

Can I say again, that I am enveloped, held, loved and supported by the most amazing community of women, all over this country and my country, and that I am incredibly grateful for each and every single one of them.

For the love and words that they bring to my life just when I need it the most. Wise, strong, passionate, honest, loving, kind, honoring, clear, magnificent women with intergrity, who witness my journey in all its raw honesty. People who I have exposed the deepest parts of me and the most painfilled parts of my journey to and who lovingly remind me of my truth, 0f my strength and my intergrity, of my heart and of my intention, of who I want to be in this world. They kick my ass when I need it, help me apply salve to my wounded self and wipe da tears away. They listen patiently to me as I try to understand and wrestle with things (some of which need to be wrestled to the ground, some of which are just a waste of my air) and tell me to keep my hand away from the hot plate as often, and as patiently (and sometimes not so), as I need to be told. They teach me each day about this journey and the gift and lesson of honoring, loving, healing, protecting and respecting myself and my heart.

I am so thankful for them in my life.....so thankful for the tremendous lessons and wisdom they are imparting to me and feel like my prayers to the universe for healing, growth and the desire to never be in this place again are answered by their love, friendship and guidance.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And yoah, Wendy, non ho...tour ho.....my debt to you is cleared (check out what's missing....) and get ready to pay up big lady!! How long again?

Xxm

ps...clarification...wendy, the non ho tour ho...has this 'thing' she does with me and other daring individuals. An example...oneday she bet me a dollar that on the next double lane road, that I wouldn't drop my pants and flash the car next to us (which happened to have Lynne Deeves and Trina Hamlin in). Because we were on a back country road in the middle of nowhere and hadn't seen any double lane road for a long time, I bet her $10 that we wouldn't SEE a double lane road. Literally 3 minutes later....what happened? So...I ended up owing her $9 for the privilege of dropping my pants to an unsuspecting T and Lynne. My debt is now paid off because she bet me the remainder of that payment today....and lost.

Bali.....

My friend Henri just got back from Bali and sent these photos from her trip, they made my heart very happy on a day when I needed the boost, reminded me of the beauty and wonder of the world, and of my friend....thought I would share them with you, just incase they help you too.

xxm

Umm

So, I really wanted to buy this one legged teddy.....take it home, love it, let it know it has a place amongst other bears.

But I walked away, scratching my head, realizing how it is that stores play on our emotions......

But not before I looked back with sadness in my eyes at the one legged Teddy.....

My heart feels kinda sad today anyway....sure this sight didn't help any.

Gratefulness

There was a box waiting for me when I got home from tour over the weekend. In it was this lion with the words 'courage' around his belly and a letter from 'the girls in evansville' as I like to call them. This amazing group of women who run the Inside Out Festival in Evansville, Indiana. Their letter was filled with beautiful, encouraging words that touched my heart deeply and made me feel unbelievably grateful for the dimensions of my world.

I get to do this 'job', I travel around the world playing music, doing what I love....along the way I get to work with some great folks. Good, solid, beautiful people... who become my friends. I am not kidding you, sometimes I get most excited to be heading to an area because it means that I get to hang out with those people again.

And those evansville girls are like that for me. I love em, am humbly grateful for them, and can't wait to see their smiling faces again.

Xxm

So....

This was actually finished hours ago but I had to just sit and marvel over the work we did for a while. And....I had to bathe my tired arms, feel like I was a brickies laborer today (my aussie mates know what that is!).

What a damn achievement no?

There is still cocoa bean mulch to go in and of course, tomorrow is planting day. And then we get to sit back and reap the rewards right?

I love doing things with my hands and building stuff like this that you can sit back and be proud of, thrills me. I always said if I wasn't playing music that I would do something with wood because of the way it feels under my hands and the amazing things you can create with it.

Anyway, dontcha feel like you are watching a before and after home show right now?

Xxm

In between

Why did you sing hallelujah
If it meant nothing to you
Why'd you sing with me
At all?

Why'd you fill my sorrow
With the words you borrowed
From the only place
you've ever known

Why did you sing hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why did you sing with me
At all?

Monday afternoon words that speak to my heart.....

And how DOES this hat look? I mean, really....? Lol

What do

Touring musicians do when they are home?

Why, build vegetable gardens of course....

Here in lies the beginning of the veggie garden....good for the heart as well as the belly.

Xxm

Meditation.....

I built myself a meditation area tonight. Somewhere to sit and calm my monkey mind and my bunny heart. Somewhere to take some time to pray and offer up thanks to the universe for all the amazing things and people that it brings to me. Somewhere to help me find faith and belief again.....in myself, my core, my dreams, in love and in others. Somewhere to remind myself of healing for my sensitive soul. Somewhere just to reconnect and to breathe deeply.

To be surrounded by a love, a peace and an energy that I want to always be connected to. Redefining spirituality is an interesting journey and what pushes us to that place is equally as interesting.

So, here I sit. Meditating. No, really.....I am.

Now

Chalk and laughter

I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone

Etc etc....(my chemical romance)

Wendy the non ho, tour ho has been arrested and we are all trying to work out what she did. Its been a very funny game.....sorry Wendy, at your expense mate. Call if you need anything....and don't bend over.

Its a beautiful evening out here as we all sit and exchange stories.....funny and not so. I love it when you have a group of people together who feel safe to one another, safe enough to share intimate details about their journey. I always feel honored to listen (and promise not to blog them up here....lol) and to share. I think I work out at the end of the day, that we all just want to be seen, to be heard, to have and live truth. To love, be loved....and to laugh really fucking hard.

Xxm

Guitar hero?

Getting my ass handed to me by a 14 year old......

Memorial day drawings

We are all outside doing chalk drawings on the driveway. Nice to get creative and hang out with mates, getting ready for afore photographed ribs. I know my brother will be jealous....

Now THIS

Is how memorial day weekend should be done....

Xxm

The night continues

Damn

These Chicago folks are wild....

Lake Michigan

At dusk.....its a calm, beautiful night here.

Off to play pool, drink beer and possibly eat chicken wings. For some reason I just felt like doing exactly all three of those things and didn't have to look far to find someone to help!!

Nice night here in Chicago, would be nice to be riding around the lake right now too.

Xxm

There she is....

See her, snuggled under the baby seat? My baby hasn't gone under the plane in a long time and she only does it now because she sacrifices the seat on the plane for her much older sister. Bringing my 1949 Martin parlor guitar out of storage and back to Chicago with me. I have missed her.

Sad farewells this morning (but I kept the house key....which is secret musician language for 'I am keeping it because I know you love me and would welcome me back to your house any time...even unexpectedly'). I think I have 5 sets of house keys in my bag....I have a wide and beautiful family.

Xxm

Beautuis

City...us

A little high on sake, friendship and all things new....

Dana

The goddess of the best sake drink in the world....

Random....

Chillin....drinkin sake with the chicks.

This is my extremely good mate, Rachel (who owns Dolores park cafe, say hi to her when in there) and her sweetheart Dana. We just ate great sushi and are now listening to young singer/songwriters do their thang while we (I) drink sake.

Last night here in the city and they are all trying to talk me into coming back, offering rooms and such....I just gotta know that the time will come and be right.

And have faith.

See, there's that word again. Faith.

Xxm

Me and my mates

Just chillin, waiting for my friend Julie to come sit in the park with me. These dudes looking at me, while I'm looking at them. Wondering about their story.

Finished shows for a week or so and head back to my Midwest family tomorrow. Looking forward to hitting the bike trail, getting ready for the national festival in a few weeks, heading to indy for one show with my good mate Trina Hamlin. Hopefully sleeping better.

I have an OM token in my pocket....means every time I put my hand in my pocket that it reminds me of my mantra, the desire to honor myself and my truth. To be aware, to breathe. Sometimes every moment I need to touch it (sounds kinda dirty!) but those moments will start to have space between them......I have faith.

Xxm

To all ye that need to hear....

I peformed a mini secret show at a place called Mecca tonight, they have a womens night every thursday. And can I just tell you....it was....or should I say, it felt like Mecca.

There are sooooooooo many beautiful, amazing, awe inspiring, sexy people to meet and experiences to have in this world, that it just makes me realize how everything really can turn on the edge of a dime. Wow, life is so fucking big!!!

Its nice to be reminded of that.......

Xxm

(this post is slightly powered by really good tequila and general happiness)

Kitty cuddles

Dominic will be jealous.....sorry fur husband. See you soon

Xxm

Thursdays View

Staying in the mission district of SF for the next few days with my mate Rachel. Crazy views, no? I could quite happily sit and look at views for hours, guitar in hand, writing songs. Think its the voyeur in me.

Had some bloody ripper phone calls and emails in the last 24 hours. I love nothing more than a huge meaty conversation with people who aren't afraid to lay themselves out. You know, those really honest, no holds barred, vulnerable moments shared with another human bean. Where we all sit there and realise that we aren't alone out here, that we are all working out deep, tough things about our worlds.

I am just so appreciative for those moments in my life. So grateful to the universe for placing its arms around me and surrounding me with like minded people, some of whom I have barely known until the last month or so. Random moments where we have been brought together and have an instant beautiful honesty with each other. I feel like I have this HUGE spotlight on top of my head, that I am working double time at removing the thought processes, actions and beliefs that have been hidden in my depths, that don't serve me anymore....and infact, do nothing but hold me back. Events over the past few months have brought me to an absolute heartbreaking screaming halt and what a perfect opportunity to rebuild.

Anyway, all of those conversations and reveals have helped and are helping that process, for all parties. And to feel so embraced in the middle of my reveal and to embrace back in the middle of their reveal, is nothing but wonderfully healing.

So blessed, we be.

Xxm

I mean...

Really, how hard WOULD it be to fit two guitars, two suitcases, cds AND a musician in here?

Grace...

I was sitting having a big old chat to my good mate Deb, in Arizona, we have 'lay it all out there' chats often. Today we were talking a fair bit about understanding and how some times it really just is impossible to understand events or places or people and how sometimes, its just best to let it all go, without having the whole truth or complete understanding. But that's easier said than done, no?.

After hanging up with her I had a sudden urge to head to Grace Cathedral. Its the most magnificent church in San Francisco all i knew is that it was on top of a hill, so I just kept walking up until I was at the highest point downtown, and there she was, all beautiful and holy and stuff.

Not only does it have some of the most amazing stained glass windows but it has this beautiful labyrinth right in the middle of it. I walked into the labyrinth with all the questions and things I couldn't understand and as I walked around it, I offered them all up to the universe. Asking it to take the maddening thoughts and the wonderings why, to help me truely honor and love myself enough that I would actually want to let go of the things that are doing nothing but harming me and my heart, that don't serve me, or my growth or my highest intention in this world. I argued with myself as I walked around that labyrinth. I argued hard. I tried to tell myself that letting go was the wrong idea. Part of my psychic reading a month ago drew two cards....the death card and the moon card...and the psychic told me it meant that a certain situation in my world was dead and that I was still under the illusion that it was something it wasn't or had never been.....as I walked the labyrinth, I argued against that too.

Until I kinda got tired of it all. Until my spirit and my heart hurt. Until I had nothing left to argue with.

I then stood in the middle of that labyrinth and offered it all up to the universe.

I told it that I was tired of thinking about it all and didn't want it anymore. That I couldn't understand and would probably never understand. That I wanted it gone from me.

Then, I bundled up all the questions, the hurt, the lies, the wants, the desires, the tears, the hopes and the dreams from the last 6 months and I literally bent down and dropped the package in the middle of the labyrinth (sorry to the cleaners, its probably an oozing package).

I turned my back on it and started saying the mantra 'OM NA MAH SHI VA YA' - I honor the divinity that resides in me.

For 40 minutes I walked back through it, listening to my brain argue, trying to talk me into going back and picking it up again, that somehow I needed it or would be scared of it's loss....but I kept walking and saying my mantra....wanting it, begging it...to fall deep deep into my soul, into my cells. Asking for healing and for protection and peace and with each step knowing I was letting go a little more. With each step, I was honoring and protecting myself a little more. And with each step I moving away from the old and opening my heart up for the new. Knowing that what will be, will be a 100x better than what was.

I got to the end of the labyrinth and although I knew I wasn't fully done yet, I was more aware that at least the claws of it were out of me. That my spirit was returning, the my heart was feeling lighter and my mind feeling healthier.

I took a big deep breath, wiped my face, held my child warmly in my own arms....and exhaled, not looking back at the bundle of ooze on the floor in the labyrinth....and then, I walked into the sun.

Xxm

Journal-isms

I got a new journal this week....it was a pretty happy moment, in a new beginnings kind of way (and no, I didn't end up burning, I screamed at it a few times and then put it away, thanks for the advice kind folks).

I am sitting here on Polk St, in the warm sun, writing. I have been talking a lot lately about honoring the creative process and how vital it is. In that, if your creativity presents itself and you can't be bothered writing or recording it, then it will disappear. I firmly believe that and have seen a lot of songs fall out of my head because I was too busy, tired, asleep to honor that moment.

So, at 2am this morning when I woke up with a new poem whizzing through my brain, I begged for sleep for a second and asked the poem to come back tomorrow, but nay, it wanted NOW!

I crawled around in the darkness and found my phone and laid in a half asleep state typing away. Until the energy of it woke me up completely and I got excited by the flow and the movement of the words. Being thankful for being able to express something so deep inside me (I will post it up on the writings section of my site in the next day or so, so you can see).

Point of the post my friends, honor the process, let it flow wherever you are and you will no doubt be rewarded with a gift of insight and understanding (into yourself and any 'situation') and beauty that may never have been birthed otherwise.

So....back to the writing....and the sunning......and the coffee-ing......and the random moments with strangers as they pass by.

And cheers to creativity, it saves my soul.

Xxm

_ ache

Stole this from my friend Andrea. (superherodesigns.com). Hope she doesn't mind. She is an amazing photographer.

This photo touched me and I wanted to share. So simple, and yet so powerful.

It matched part of the book 'eat, pray, love' that I am reading so passionately again...

'Do you think there's any way humans can love each other without complication?....it's two human beings trying to get along, so it's going to become complicated. And love is always complicated. But still, humans must try to love each other. We must get our hearts broken sometimes. This is a good sign, having a broken heart.

It means we have tried for something.....'

Xxm

The streets of SF

Its a cooler day here in the city and my how quickly my mind forgets. It can turn from warm to cool here in a heartbeat and I am jumper-less (ie no sweater for the yanks reading).

I am having an afternoon just wandering around town. Most of my commitments are over and it feels nice just to wander and have no great plan. I always find those are the moments when something glorious and unexpected happens.

Regular reader and mate, KC is in KY today hanging out doing some campaigning for Hillary with Gretchen. Check out the blog: http://hillaryclintonarmy.blogspot.com/ looks like bloody fun and the texts saying 'wish you were here' make me wish it too!

Anything for an adventure, no? Life is too short for safety, no risk and non adventure, my friends. The mayan calendar finishes in 2012, so we better get on with living.

Xxm

Fall From Grace

From KC - recorded in Chicago

And then, Me and Trina playing...

Words for this day..

Look for god (whichever or whatever that is for you) like a man with his head on fire looks for water.

My friend Mayra and I are sitting here drinking wine, talking about our lives and what we have gone through and pulling cards....she has every card pack known to woman. We have dolphin, medicine, angel, fairies, miracle, angels, and intuition cards to choose from. We are taking cards from each pack and reading them out to one another.

I just pulled this card.

Card meaning : don't settle for less than your dreams. Once you make the commitment to manifest and improve your situation, the universe will find a way to deliver it to you.

--------
Deep down, you know what type of life you're meant to live. By drawing this card, you're being reminded that you deserve and can manifest any situation you wish.

Affirmation : I deserve and expect the best in life. I hold high standards for myself.

The city

That changes in an instant.....

Frog song.....

I am at the Frog Song co-housing community in Cotati, CA. Its about 2 hours north of San Francisco and its made up of 54 adults, 26 kids and 30 homes all pooled together into one big 'let's live together' community. It took the 5 years to build and in that time, only one person has left the community. And no wonder, its a beautiful harmonious space filled with laughter and creativity.

Honestly, I feel a little jealous of them all. I know living in community isn't always easy but damn I love the idea of it. Pooling resources, having people to hang out when you want and not if you don't, creating something as amazing as this with other people.
I feel like I get to live in community all over the world....I have mates and homes and lives that I become a part of for a period of time and I always feel so happy when someone says 'it feels like you never left.'

I tell you though, if I had all the money in the world, I would build something like this and invite all my favourite people to come live together. I often find myself saying to a mate somewhere 'oh, if you met this person, you would SO love each other'.

It makes me pine for you all....and dream about the idea.

Xxm

Better to say...than not

Its better to say too much
Than never say what you need to say

So....say what you need to say

Who knew I could find inspiration from John Meyer today.

Standing in the labrynth

I went to a service at the center of spiritual enlightenment this morning. It was nice to sit in a congregation again and feel spiritually connected to a group of humans that come with their own set of beliefs, all of which are as valid and powerful as my own.

Afterwards I walked the labrynth offering prayers of thanks and gratefulness for my life and journey and I asked the universe to remind me of my sense of safety in the world, I seem to have misplaced that lately. I also felt myself remember parts of my being that I have been beating up lately, my intuition and trust and faith in my own decisions. Its interesting to see the things that we let affect or wound those part of us and the intention it takes to find those parts of us and trust them again when we have been hurt. I hear the still small voice inside me wooing me back to myself, and that causes me to smile.

Its a beautiful day and I am immensely thankful that I have loved and am loved and can love.

Xxm

The crew here....

This is the crew in San Jose. (Monica, me, Alissa, Libby & June). I have been doing concerts here since 2002 when The Velvet Janes came over and did a show in their backyard. Damn good folks all the way around. I stood in their backyard and sung tonight while I watched the moon rise up behind the audience and through the trees. It was a wonderous sight to behold.

Xxm

Once upon a time

I was on tour and I came home after the tour and noticed new stickers on my guitar case. And Wendy, the non ho, tour ho....had placed these kind words upon my guitar case.

Nice huh?

She knows me so well!!

This is how the afternoon goes....

This is my mate Rachel and her boat out on the Sausalito bay. She is trying to pretend that she is all professional and sailor-ish. We just worked up a killer sweat cleaning all the shit off it and now we sit and enjoy....

Gotta hop in the car in an hour for the drive to san Jose for the show tonight so, its back to sitting on the boat and soaking up the rays.

Xxm

You see the strangest things

Just hanging out in the sun.....

The view from here

Stuck in the middle of here...

Just finished the show with my mate Julie Wolf, in a perfect world I would play music with her all the time. I equate it to being in the middle of the biggest, warmest, safest hug ever. She is my closest confident and has witnessed my life over the past 6 months, like my shadow. And the whole time she has stood in my corner cheering me on, believing in me and reminding me that better things are yet to come. I feel crazy grateful to have people like her in my world. They see my shit and my heart in all its glory.

Anyway, a moment of gratefulness that I wanted to share. Now off to drink good wine with my mates Rachel and Dana on their balcony over looking the city.

All good mates
Xxm

L'ho provato sulla mia pelle

L'ho provato sulla mia pelle is Italian for 'I have experienced that on my own skin'. Meaning, I have been burned or scarred in this way, and I know exactly what you are going through.

They say it and empathize so beautifully. I think I should need to start learning Italian, now I have my citizenship means I can head off to work anywhere in the EU. Wanna come?

Xxm

Famous for its winding-ness?

So, this is the famous winding street in san fran. Its just up the corner from where I am and I have to confess that sometimes I just want run over all the tourists that stand in the middle of the road to take photos of it. I decided just for a minute to become one of those people, to see what it felt like.

It didn't feel that exciting.

Its another glorious day here and the locals are starting to complain about the heat. Damn, I am loving it. Its dry heat though, which is my fav.

I went to see my favourite doctor while I was in town and she gasped when she saw me and immediately threw me on the scales (which is never a good sign).
'20 pounds? In the last 3 months?' she cried and wrapped me up in her arms and squeezed me until I teared up and then she grabbed my arm and ran her hand across my new tattoo and said 'just remember this darling, remember this.....'This, too, will pass'.....and go and buy some new pants, you look like a bum.'

I love people who can laugh in the middle of serious, its a wonderful healing remedy.

Xxm

The ever changing face of here....

If there's one thing I have learnt over the past 6 months, its that EVERYTHING can change in an instant.

Not unlike this city.

I just got back from a great show I did over in the East bay....people are celebrating the supreme court decision, even if just for a minute, and there is a nice feeling in the air. Its still pretty warm, which this little Aussie is soaking up.

I realized when I got home that I was hungry....it was a pretty exciting moment for me, I tell you. I haven't really had the hungry feeling in over 3 months...and it aint because I have been eating non stop!! So as I sit here with cheese and crackers, celebrating my hunger, todays decision, the fact that my body and voice are tired from singing my heart out... and this amazing life....my heart is yet again filled with gratefulness.

My aim is to take a moment every night before I try to sleep to say outloud the things I am thankful for. To have a spirit of gratefulness. Maybe we can all try it together? Let's see if it changes anything in our worlds?

Ready?

Xxm