Solstice....

Well, it's been a long time between blog posts. The longest time every probably. Sorry about that for those of you who regularly read. It's winter here in Indiana and I am surrounded by more snow than I have ever seen in my life. Learning how to live in it is interesting in a 'do I need to buy snow pants, how do I get my car door unfrozen' kind of way. I have moments of being amazed but it and then moments of being just utterly pissed off and wanting to get back to my Australian summer.

I am sitting here listening to the final mix of the new live cd...it's bloody fantastic, if I must say so myself. It feels so nice to have captured such a beautiful show. The audience members sing like angels and clap and whoots like devils....it's wonderful. Someone just asked me if the pre-sale is still going.....it is, and you can find it here: http://www.martinelocke.com/pages/presale.php . Hopefully will be ready for posting by mid February and then I will start to plan cd release shows around the country.

So, it was solstice Tuesday night and for the first time in 700 years that coincided with an eclipse. It felt like a very powerful time to me. I watched the eclipse via a webcam in Chile (coz of aforementioned snow blocking the sky here) and felt in myself like it was an amazing thing to witness. I wrote my intentions out and mailed them to myself via futureme.org - it's set to send me an email in one years time. Such a freaky concept. Tuesday night I went to a solstice party and they had a fire out back for people to burn the things that they wanted to leave. For me, I had to burn things to do with my time in the church. Guilt and feeling responsible. It's very strange to have found all of that inside myself still after so many years being away from it. But there it was.....and there it went.

Happy holiday to you however you celebrate them and I hope that you get the chance to take a moment and think about what it is you are willing to let go of during this solstice time. Things that don't serve you anymore. Let them go.

xxM

the days of our lives....

Elizabeth Edwards passed away on Tuesday from breast cancer. A lot of you would most likely know who she is but google will be able to tell you if you don't. One of her last quotes moved me deeply today as I try to work out where my brain is at and why it feels all so muddled with this life of mine. I share it with you, as it was shared with me, to offer a remembrance of the shortness of life....


“The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.“ –Elizabeth Edwards

Cracked....

I get it.
I know how it feels.
Reminding myself of the old Chinese tradition of filling cracks with gold. That cracks were seen as a valuable part of the history of the piece that held it. Filling it with gold brought attention to the crack...honored it...made it all shiny and bright.

I am choosing to learn to honor and respect my cracks. Remembering they are a part of who I am. Not to hide them away in shame or embarrassment. To own them.

Gulp.

Maybe tomorrow I will honor them. Today I am a little weary of them.

Xxm

“I am Me. 

 

In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. 

 

Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it -- I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes. 

 

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. 

 

By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. 

 

I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know -- but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me. However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. 

 

I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. 

 

I am me, and I am Okay.”

 

`Virginia Satir

look...

Even
After
All this time
The sun never says to the earth,

“You owe Me.”

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the
Whole
Sky.

~Hafiz

to thank...or not to thank.

It's thanksgiving here in the States tomorrow and for such a 'thankful' holiday it's interesting to witness how much grief it brings people. Obligations and anxieties about family get togethers and how long to spend where. What to take, what not to take, what to wear, how much to drink beforehand....

It seems like far too much pressure for a day of thanks.

Now, lets not even go into the meaning behind the actual day. That's a whole other fucked up story.

On this day, I am choosing to be even more conscious for the things I am thankful for. To have gratefulness in my heart for my life and for the people who love me. My plan is to take some time when I wake up to meditate...to reach towards something bigger than myself and just say thank you.

And then go out and eat, drink and be merry and laugh with people who love and are loved by me.

Happy day of thanks mates.....

xxM

The Art of Non-Conformity....

(reposted from The Art of Non-Conformity )

If you are confident, they will say you are arrogant.

If you are deliberate, they will say you are too sure of yourself.

If you have a sense of purpose, they will say you are self-absorbed.

If you know who you are, they will ask, “Who are you, anyway?”

If you believe in kindness and compassion, they will say you are naïve.

If you are a dreamer, they will say “join the real world.”

If you are a rebel, they will try to shut you down.

The instructions include:

rein it in
slow it down
wait it out
pull it back
take your time
play it safe

But you will know:

They are envious because they want what you have.

They are afraid of change even as they crave it.

They are projecting their own regret into resentment of you.


As for the others, well, you will remember what Gandhi said:

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

The Rally Cry...

I sang Hallelujah to a group of people last night who were gathered to show their support for kids who get bullied in school. To say 'it's not okay'. We lit candles in rememberance of the kids who have taken their own lives because of what bullying has done to them.

It starts with us. Us older folks, us adults, us ones who teach them ones to be different. It starts with our churches, our community leaders, our politicians.

It starts with us saying 'you are you. i am me. that's okay'.

It was a freezing cold night and a few hundred folks stood in the chill to raise their candles high and I felt proud to offer my talent, to have it stand high too. To be part of something and some cause bigger than myself.

Thanks for having me IYG.....thanks for having the balls to put the rally together, to speak out and on behalf of all of those who feel like they have no voice....or no choice.

xM

the great big wow.....

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”                                         

Martha Graham  (American Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer of modern dance, 1894-1991)

Nothing is too scarey.
Nothing is too much.
There is a path.
There is no crisis.

There is but a moment to stop and say, 'wow.......'
(usually quickly followed by a 'holy fuck, look at that sky'....at least for me). 


xxM

Saturday Nights Magic....

And grateful I will be for all the love in the room...

Here we go....

Here we go people....today is the day.

Everything is ready.

Well...almost....I have to wash my hair.

THEN I will be ready.

I am doing my first ever live solo recording tonight. The show is sold out, people are excited, I am excited..and a little nervous. I have been working on releasing attachment to anything being perfect. The idea is to catch a live show..in all it's glory...and I want to remember that as I play, as I speak, as I be. I was  dreaming last night of things I want to say and hopes I have for the night and for what is captured.

I also had a dream that I forgot to thank everyone for all their work and promptly woke up and reminded myself that the show hadn't actually happened yet and it was okay...

Honestly, I mostly want to forget that it's being recorded and just do what I do. Be who I am. In all my glory.

I am sure more will be posted on here throughout the day, and if you are friends with me on facebook there are already a tonne of photos and video up there. I am blessed to have wonderful people around me as we all walk into this experience together and know that I couldn't be doing it without the talent,  belief and the love of all of them too. My heart is so turned towards community that I feel myself well up when I think and see all of their faces in my mind. How is it that I am blessed by such amazing hearts.

So...here we go peoples.

See you on the other side!

xxM

The Martine & Trina Show

Yes, it's true. December 11th, the wonderful Trina Hamlin and I will do a double bill show here in Indianapolis. We haven't done a proper show together for a while and felt like it was time. It will be my first show at Earth House, a wonderful community based venue here in downtown Indianapolis, that is an amazing old church. 

During the day in the same space is the 3rd Annual Alternative Gift Fair where MuseKraft and 30+  local artisans will have their wares on sale for your Xmas present buying pleasure.

Tickets are on sale at Brown Paper Tickets now, so grab your mates and put a xmas group together and come and be with us for the night for a lot of fun music.

xxM

Art....and music.

This is my guitar, getting a beautiful new dress. She looks amazing, no?!

Xxm

Check 1, 2, 3

This is a shot from the last time I played a show here in Indianapolis at the Indy Indie clubhouse. It's where I am going to record my live cd in three weeks time and no doubt, the audience will look somewhat similar to this.

I have been rehearsing with Dionne and my friend Jamie Price who will be sitting in on djembe with us for a few songs and slowly have been getting the set list ready for it. I am sure I should be more nervous than I am, but its just a live show. I know I only get one chance to make the cd sound pretty and part of me knows that I have to get myself to a place where I just let go of my perfectionist and let it just 'be'.

It's going to be a live performance with all the cracks, pops, garuffs, laughs, moments of blankness and spontaneity that a live show usually carries. And that is going to be a beautiful thing to capture on tape (or disc, as it is now known...).

The show is pretty much sold out and will be filled with warm, loving, excited humans who are there to be a part of the magic of recording. Peoples who will bring their voices and their hearts ready to lay it all down with me. Then the recording will be mixed, mastered, pressed and sent out into the world with all it's character and beauty.....and it will be, as it is.

And for that, I am tremendously grateful.

xxM

The path...

I find that my path, my journey is never boring.

Never has been, never will be.

It's sometimes beautiful, straight and clear. Other times dark, cloudy and unclear. Sometimes, its even beautiful, unclear and filled with leaves....lol.

I thought about that when I saw this staircase in Turkey Run State Park today. Hiking in the midst of.such beauty reminding myself to stay present, to breathe. The words of Pema Choudron ringing in my ears;

"As each breath goes out, let it be the end of that moment and the birth of something new."

I know that my brain can get so caught up in the 'what ifs' that I forget to pay attention and breathe in the now...and then look at what I can miss out on.

Back to breathing.....in and out.

That's all I can control...

Xxm

Hand art...

For the days when your brain and heart forget...and a tattoo parlor isn't close by.

Budget cuts?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Fall....

As does it....so do I.

The Adventures of One Little Aussie - Ohio Womens Festival

There's bikes in them there racks...

We were in Des Moines, Iowa last weekend and as we drove in there at 9pm at night one of the first things I noticed were the new bike racks that the city had put up. Complete with BIKES!!!! Such a crazy good idea and so amazing to witness Des Moines as it changes so dramatically. It's inspiring to see a city be so committed to art and fitness and to put their money where their mouth is. The downtown area has come alive with art and green space and of course, to me, it makes it a happier place to be.

And no, I am not getting to paid to promote Des Moines...lol.

I just love to see how art can change a place and it's a great reminder too.


xxM

Wide open...

Driving out here on highway 74, barreling towards Iowa City to set up for a festival today. I sometime wonder how many hours of my life have been spent sitting in a car. Definitely sleep better as a passenger in a car than I do in a bed most times.

It's a strange grey day out here...the color of the sky compliments the yellow of the corn though and everywhere I look, it looks like a painting. The trees are slowly changing their colors and I actually find myself excited by the thought of fall and then...gasp....winter.  The fun aspect of winter. Talks of skiing, or learning how to ski, sledding and snow living sounds so exciting to me right this minute....give me a few months in snow and check in with me again....but right now, as giddy as a 5 year old!

Who knew.

Xxm

My drum gonna make ya...

Damien Rice has a song about playing a drum. It's a hypnotic tune that draws me in everytime I listen to it. The music is intense and the lyrics seems to match the tune...even though I had no clue what it was actually about. I would sing along making images up in my head...or not at all. Just happily.singing along feeling the energy of the tune and the way it felt in my body.

Recently I found out what the lyrics were about and in some strange way I think my body knew it.

Instinctively.

(Go look it up, I'm not gonna tell you!!!)

I am sitting here amidst 9 drummers. All absorbed in what they are doing with their hands. Their bodies. Making music as though they have no other choice. It has to come out of them. It's the only way.

It reminds me of the power of music...the power of letting your brain connect to your hands, connect to your drum, connect to the world.

Bloody awesome.....

Back to smacking the skin....(ha ha...oh damien would laugh!!)

Xxm

Music by Fire....

(photo by Jamie Price)


Went camping this past labor day weekend with a bunch of great mates. The weekend was spent sitting by the fire playing music or sitting under the stars chatting it up. It was an awesome and awe-inspiring weekend in so many ways. I felt blessed to get to do it, with such an amazing community that I am slowly being more confident to call 'my own'. I usually work most weekends so it was nice to have a free long weekend to just go and 'play' and to be inspired to pick up my guitar and PLAY whilst there was a nice surprise.

This weekend we are in Ohio for the Ohio LBA festival - check it out here: http://ohiolesbianfestival.wordpress.com/ We play Saturday night and will have a MuseKraft booth there all weekend, so come find us if you are around!
peace mates

xM

Magic...

We are in rehearsal mode for the live cd recording in November. I am writing a few new songs and trying to lock down the old ones that will get put onto it. Here's your chance to not only pre-purchase a copy of the new cd (and therefore help get it recorded), to attend the concert BUT...you can also help choose the songs that will go onto the cd.

Leave me a note here to let me know which songs you would like to hear.....would love to know why too, if there is a 'why'.

Our good mate Jamie Price, djembe drummer extraordinaire and fine personage, is joining us for a few songs at the live recording. It's sounding bloody amazing laying her into the tunes and the energy is always high and exciting. Magical even.   This is from a rehearsal a few weeks ago....just wanted to share.

Will surely get some new footage up soon and give you a sneak preview of what we are working on over here.

xM

Thankfulness....

Dionne took this photo last night before our show in Cincinnati. It was my 'pre-performance' nap, or catch up moment. Packing, driving, unpacking, setting up, sound checking, setting up, writing set lists that never get used.....this is the minute I try to take to let it all go and just be. To sit in the energy of the room I am about to play in and put my intentions out to the world.

It was an awesome show.....if I must say so myself. I watch folks in the audience as they moved their bodies to my tunes, as they raised their hands above their heads and clapped, as they laughed and were silly with me, as they wiped tears from their eyes and as they stood to their feet in appreciation at the end of the show.

I am constantly humbled when people turn up. When they pay money at the door and come ready to be a part of something. To listen and to send love towards me and my songs. So humbled.

Thank you Cincinnati....and thank you to Ruth & Marsha for believing enough to put their sweat on the line.

Love this life.....

*stuff*

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.  ~Kenji Miyazawa


Don't you just want to track Kenji down right now...and slap him?

When I am going through *stuff* and I read quotes like that, I do. I know it's right. It resonates deeply enough in me to cause such a strong reaction. But still, I don't like it so much. The middle child Capricorn in me wants to tell him to shut the fuck up.

I have lots of mates going through really hard *stuff* right now. *Stuff* that makes my heart ache for them because I know what its like. I might not be going through such hard *stuff* right this second in my life, but the experience of going through hard *stuff* is still close enough that I can feel it when someone else is going through it.

I want to help them fix it and I know I can't.

I want to just make them laugh...and so that's what I know I can do. Anything to help lighten the load of the *stuff* , even for just a second.

I do believe that its how we go through our *stuff* that determines or shapes who we be in the world. We all have people that we know (or have known) that have become angry and bitter souls because of their *stuff*. Or we see them on the street, or driving a car, or in line at a store...you can see it scarred onto their face like a trophy they like to carry around.

It seems like such a sad waste, but I get that it's their journey.

Many times over I have pondered on the realization that fire can help create purity. Can help us find the things that really matter, the things that define us and take us one step closer to the real us.

Do I want to hang out in the fire all the time?

Hell no!!!

But I get it. I see it. I feel it.

I feel the heat of my friends fires and they touch the scars left from my own and make me wince for a minute.....and then I try to help create a space that they can sit in to heal from their burns, or a space that they can rage in the fire, if need be. We all go through the fire alone....we may have people on the sidelines with buckets of water, salve, air, or a good strong cocktail..but, we go through it alone. At night, in the morning, when other people are sleeping, as we work, as we play, as we create...we move through our fire.

When the Japanese mend broken things they fill the cracks with gold because they believe when something has been damaged and has history, that it becomes even more beautiful. Not less. The metal is put through the fire to become pure, to become liquid and poured into the lines to connect side a to side b and then put back on display. I imagine in my head that it's put on an even bigger pedestal than it was on before.

I see my own lines of gold, my own filled in crack lines, my own scars and chips. I can run my fingers across them and appreciate the amazing beauty that they bring to me and to my life, I can also still feel and appreciate how they were created....and I know that they are there because of the fire.

I can appreciate them now.

Not so much at the time, but now.

On the inside of my right arm I have the words 'this, too, will pass'. That is the one guarantee we have in this life...everything will pass.

Sometimes, I hang onto those words with both hands, repeating them as a mantra to my rocking self. Other times, it serves as a reminder that this is it.

Here.
Now.

To be present. To feel the fire. To choose to walk through it knowing that you will come out the other side...different, but alive. 

So, how are you feeling right this second?

Right Here?

Right Now?

And so..it begins.

The live recording is scheduled for November 6th here in Indianapolis and amidst the excitement about the event and the experience of recording a live cd, there are 'things' to do.

Two of those things are:

sell tickets

sell presale copies of the cd

You can do both of those things now!

Head [here] to grab your tickets. A limited number are being sold through Brown Paper Tickets and others can be picked up at Bjava Coffee House (Lafayette Rd). This show always sells out anyway and will surely sell out fast this time....so come be a part of the magic and have your voice be heard on the cd.

The cd presale has also started and you can read more about the packages available [here]. You can buy them via paypal or if you are in the US, send a check. Check out the packages first though and thank you for your support. It makes it happen, you know.

That, and a tonne of sweat and love that is....

And while you are there....check out this funny video we did with Cathy from Indy Indie to advertise the show.

The flowers 'know'.....you know?

I don't usually do this, but this past year I have entered into a few different competitions. Song competitions, show competitions...beauty pageants...haha, okay maybe not the last one. Competitions of the musical kind all over the globe.

I haven't won any of them.

That doesn't feel good.

Infact the whole concept of putting my talent, and what I do, against someone else's so that a third (or fourth or fifth) person can determine who's better just goes against a deep internal grain for me. Even as I was entering them I was reminding myself of that….and not listening to myself.  I had other peoples voices echoing in my head saying ‘you have to enter to keep up’ and ‘what a great opportunity when you win’ and all the other assorted well meaning, wanting me to succeed and kick some ass friends and supporters opinions.

Isn’t this the way it goes though? We know something in our core but then we defer to what other people say. I think some of it is because I am scared of being the victim of my own opinions all the time and actually DO want people I love to push me to ‘get myself out there’. I was for a moment giddy with the thought of winning too though. I thought for sure, a few times, that I had synched it…and then didn’t. Fortunately I caught myself, most of the time, from going down the ‘I suck’, ‘I have no talent’, ‘who am I kidding’ slope but was then kinda crabby that I had put myself into the situation of even comparing myself to someone else.

My deep belief system is that every single one of us is here to fulfill a purpose of some kind that we can only do. That only I can do what I can do, in the way that I can do it. So there’s no point in comparing myself to other people…because they are doing exactly what they are doing, in the way that only they can do.

I look at flowers, and plants in my garden, and know deep inside that I am as unique and as different as each one of those are from the other. I have never seen two flowers that are identical…and nor would I want to. I sit here and look at the flowers in my vase and I am glad that each one is different to the other, that each one brings something unique to the posey. Each is beautiful and magnificent in it’s own right.

Just as I am.

Just as you are.

The Adventures of One Little Aussie - Episode 13

Okay, so I am a little behind in footage...but better late than never, right?!

Peace,

Martine

Warts and All.....

So, I just announced the presale for my next cd.

My next cd will be a live cd.

Did you just hear me gulp loud?

I am not sure really why it makes me nervous, other than the fact that I have one chance to capture a tune that will end up being on thousands of cds in thousands of peoples ears.

Hmm....why would that make me nervous, right?

It's a thrilling experience in actuality. The chance to capture a moment and to capture the energy of a group of people who are all excited to be there. That's one of the reasons why I wanted to record the cd here in Indianapolis. Every time I have done this show it's been filled with people who are excited to be there. Who are excited to sing with their whole hearts (and voices) and are attentive and beautiful and an absolute thrill to play music for.

And I don't want to let them down.

And I want it to be good.

So...between now and then I will work on my nervousness and instead allow my excitement to lead the way.

Until then, I have set up a cd presale event to raise funds, in advance, to make this cd happen. Check it out here: http://www.martinelocke.com/pages/presale.php . Tickets will also go on sale soon and I will let  you know where you can pick them up AND if you have thoughts about what songs you would like to hear on the cd, then please let me know when you put your order in. I wanna know.

Peace mates,

xM

Declaration of Principles....

The author Paulo Coelho, writer of one of my favourite books The Alchemist, has a blog and recently I was passed a link to his 'Declaration of Principles'.

I was immediately captured by the first one:

1] All human beings are different. And should do everything possible to continue to be so.

I adore that idea and live that belief. I got called 'weird' once and for a while I was a little offended by the thought....and then I spent time asking 'well, isn't everyone like that?'....and now, I just proudly accept the title.

I am happy to be weird. 

Reading his declaration got me thinking about my own set of beliefs in this world and how much they aligned to his. I think like minded people often draw to themselves other like minded people and it didn't surprise me how much I clapped my hands at his beautifully eloquent set of principles. Rather, it made me feel not alone in the world again whilst also wishing that I had've written them the way he wrote them. 

They just make so much sense.

6] Each human being has his own sexual profile, and should exercise it without guilt – provided he does not oblige others to exercise it with him/her.

Watching the debate around Proposition 8 in California over the past few weeks has been maddening in a 'I can't believe how much time and money people have spent over this stupid thing' (oh so eloquent martine). And I have decided that I am going to get a tshirt made with number 6 on it and send it to all the folks who have spent bazillions of dollars fighting for Prop 8 to be upheld....or should I say, fighting for discrimination to be a right. I am so tired of religious bodies believing that it's fine for them to stand in judgment and condemnation of the rest of the world.

Anyway, my brain is not quite focusing this fine monday morning but hopefully passing on this set of Principles will cause you to have a think..as it did me this morning. Thinking is a good thing....like with anything, in moderation.

To read more of them head over to here: Declaration of Principles.

See if any of them make sense to you and I would love to know what and why.

L&C=M

We just spent the weekend in Des Moines, Iowa doing a couple of shows and it just so happened that the OneIowa organization was doing a rally for marriage equality while we were there.

Now Iowa already has legalized gay & lesbian marriage but it seems in the next election in November that there is some fella running for office that has promised to write the whole 'one man, one woman = marriage' thing into the constitution.
Bloody tosser.

So, here they are, having to fight for equality again. Or at least to remind people not to be complacent in their voting.

I wish I could vote everywhere. I would just spend my days traveling around learning about important things, like this, and then just turn up and vote.

Coz you know there's nothing worse than someone who belly aches about things and then doesn't even bother to turn up to vote.

Lazy asses.

I think this might be our Xmas card this year. Will make sure to send it to all my right wing Christian ex friends who love to think its their job to tell people how to live.

Bloody tossers.

Xxm

The GINORMOUS watermelon...

This is my first ever home grown watermelon. It's so amazing to watch it grow, literally centimeters  every day.

This photo is rather deceptive in that my watermelon is only about an inch and a half long (I know I am confusing those of you who believe in learning one form of measurement or the other...trying to keep it fresh people).

I know I rattle on about my garden all the time and people around me are likely getting sick of it.....in the same way people get sick of hearing about new children, or new puppies...I suspect. But in the same spirit shared by new parents and new puppy owners....I DON'T CARE!!!!

I love it. I love watching it grow. It teaches me about patience and real honest reward for real honest work. I sometimes feel like I work in a 'world' that has a skewed idea of reward....so this is a real balancing work for me. It brings me back to earth, gets my hands dirty and I feel true joy every time I get to pick something that I have watched grow for weeks and

EAT it.

...unlike a new parent...or a new puppy owner.

It's creativity in a whole new form and I feel like this year has been all about that for me. Not limiting my creative energy to just one area. It's been strange, at times scarey, ego challenging and definately has given me pause for thought many times. At the end of the day, I feel like my world is more balanced than ever in the creative...and in all ways actually. I feel calm, I feel inspired, I feel loved, I feel safe, I feel like my input is mostly equal to my output, I feel in awe and I feel energized by this world I get to dream up and live in.

And perhaps soon, I will get to have a watermelon party.

xxM

November 6th

It's official.

November 6th is the date for our live recording in Indianapolis. One night with the indy indie crew...a redux of shows gone by. A room full of amazing souls ready to laugh, sing and become part if my first solo live cd.

Put the date on your calendar now!! Will let you know about tickets soon.

Yay for us....now to dream and rehearse the show into being.

Xxm

Sunflower Envy...

Sunflowers are my most favorite flower in the world. I have them tattooed up my arm, that's how much I love them.

These aren't my sunflowers, they belong to my friend Beth. I have sunflower envy. I planted seeds everywhere around my garden and even though EVERYTHING else is growing out of control...my sunflowers are non existant.

Perhaps next year.

Until then I get to Ohhh and Ahhh at Beth's sunflowers and their 'volunteer' mates and occasionally steal some for home.

Xxm

I Believe She's Amazing.....

I watched this with tears falling down my face. The power of music and dance and beauty and good intention all together in one space. So powerful.

Read more about it and join the movement here: http://www.ibelieveshesamazing.com/

Thanks to my friend Andrea for passing it along...

xxM

The story of the whowho.

My good mate Kathleen, or KC as I have often referred to her on here, is doing a ride across Illinois this week. She is riding at least 513 miles and tell the story of why at her blog www.spokein.com if you have a minute to drop her a note of encouragement, please do, I am certain it will help a lot.

I text her two days ago to ask her if her bum was sore yet because, well you know, these are the hard hitting questions I ask. She text me back to let me know her bum was doing fine but her whowho wasn't doing so well. We got into this whole conversation about chaffing and such and as we were texting about it (kc riding on her bike the whole time), she looked up and took this photo. It was the town she was going through at the time and no doubt the universe was having a huge old laugh at kc's whowhos expense.

Needless to say, I found it pretty damn funny too.

Go check out her adventure and say hello....she has 84 miles to ride today in honor of her nephew who is a cancer survivor and I know you will do her heart, and her whowho, good to hear from you.

Xx

oh my...

It's been almost a week since my last blog post....so "unlike" me. It's good. But, it's weird. Once upon a time I use to post sometimes a few times a day. It's not like I don't have anything to say these days, because believe me, I do.....I am constantly thinking up weird shit in a *pondering* kinda way or in a *wonder if anyone else feels that* kinda way and oftentimes I think about posting it out to the world.

But then, I just get distracted.

It seems life is crazy full of amazing distractions these days and most times I am merrily humming along to myself (in a Winnie The Pooh kinda way) and then just change course for a minute and wonder what I was going to do in the first place. It's extremely nice to be distracted in such a happy and mind blowingly fulfilling kinda way.

Right now....my life is filled with this.

Ripping the crap out of our second bathroom to make it how we see it....

This is it after we ripped out the tiles, the surround, the bath, the vanity and the wainscoting. (I will show a final picture once we are done). If you look back you will see our kitchen finale picture...that was pretty impressive, if I must say so myself.

Then of course, there is this.....

Playing tennis. Keeps me very distracted.

We have started the Midwest Tennis, Sushi and Sake event that happens once a week....sometimes more. Our mate Jamie plays with an ever revolving bevy of partners that either can't keep up with us or seem to just not come back. I think because Jamie keeps losing (ha ha, had to get that in there) she secretly disposes of them.

This is Jamie with Megan, a very very...most incredibly...famous sand retardist. She is really quite an amazing sand retardist I have heard....and come to think of it, I haven't seen her since this day.

Hmmm....

Ohhhhhh...and sometimes, there are things like this that distract me..:

Isn't she/he amazing? We ran into the beauty at the Irvington Farmer's market on the weekend, which is our local farmers market. They had all these awesome animals to show....even a skunk, which I was rather distracted by in a 'where does it's smell go' kinda way.

And a ferret...which I have never understood in my whole life. Why would you have a ferret for a pet?

So......many things take my mind away into many directions and I LOVE it. Life is crazy happy and full of music and art and creativity and hanging with friends and building community and working hard and aching bodies and days where it's nice to just sit and BE.

I feel so blessed by this life that I get to live. That I get to choose everyday. It's the life of my dream and I know that there will be days when I am sore from playing music and jumping around a stage, which I adore, and then there will be days when I am sore from playing tennis or renovating the darn bathroom.....and then there will be days where I just get to breath and pick up my guitar and play a sweet tune for no one else but myself.

I am in love with this life. Whoever I need to send a thank you note to, please let me know...I will make a really pretty one.

xxM

To drum...or not to drum

I am sitting in the middle of a rehearsal for the indy drumming group Ashre. They have so kindly let us, and particularly me and my non drumming ability, into their rehearsal night to learn and laugh and to continue being a part of the amazing community of them.

We have not so secretly dubbed ourselves the 'cult of divine bliss'.

I have never been very good at drumming. Usually, when the drumming kicks in at festivals etc, I excuse myself. Mostly out of fear of embarrassing myself. But there's no embarrassing here. It's an accepting group of fine musicians who patiently teach me, or let me just be. It's nice to have that kind of musical community. There's nothing attached to this other than the joy of smacking a drum and making a loud amazing noise together.

It's very liberating.

And humbling....

And occasionally 'alternatively rhythmic'....or perhaps that's just me.

Xxm

...home

 So, I know this is a blurry photo and I am a little annoyed at myself that it's the only one I actually took but it just goes to show I was 'into' my night more than I was into documenting it.

We celebrated our home over the weekend with a group of fine people who came to warm it and bring love, light and music into it. We sang, we drummed, we drank, we ate, we (well, Rachel) did lap dances. We caught up with old friends and bathed in the joy of our new friends and took a moment to stop and be proud of what we have created here. The beauty that we have surrounded ourselves with, both in our home and the amazing souls we are fortunate enough to call friends, is a blessing I can't put words to.

I feel truly honored that we have found our tribe here in Indianapolis. That we have found it and they have found us and as I sat with my old friends and my new friends, I felt blessed and lucky and honored....and home.

Tis a good feeling.

Thank you beautius ones....

xxM

perfection worth waiting for....

'..they found it..and then, they waited..'

I think it's true that the things you really want are actually worth waiting for. Now, coming from a middle child Capricorn, that is a BIG....no, HUGE thing to say. We....well, me....is/are notoriously impatient. We/I want it...and want it now, kinda deal.

But I have so learned over the last few years that the things you really want...sometimes without knowing it at the time.....really are worth waiting for.

Whether that be the love of your life, a dream, a good meal, a piece of art, tile, an idea or.....

a knob..

I know you are probably thinking, WTF Locke...you have like, totally lost it...and all. Whatever. (haha....oh valley talk is so, like, um....80's).

But it's true...........

We found this knob. We knew we wanted it. That it was like a piece of art to me and my sweet love and absolute perfection in our eyes for what we were dreaming of.

But there was one thing.....we had to wait to get it.

Like, weeks......!!!!! 

Just like we had to wait for our tile.

Just like we have to wait for the beautiful material that will become our bedroom curtains.

Just like we had to wait for each other....until the timing was perfect.

Life has a strange way of doing that I think. Making us wait.

I believe, with all my heart, that if you are clear..and open...and willing to wait but then also willing to jump when you know in your gut the time is right....that life will deliver to you EXACTLY what you ask of it.

And our knob, is the perfect example of that.

It's worth waiting for.

Now wait.....

xxM

The view from here..

Chilling in the sun under my tree.

Tis a perfect day with weary, happy exhaustion to be laying out...taking it all in.

Xxm

Beauty...and tile

I learned how to tile yesterday. It was very exciting and very empowering. This home ownership thing is cool because I do whatever the hell I/we want to our house and no one can say anything...but us.

I feel very fortunate.

And very tired...lol.

I think I laid awake all last night, after tiling our kitchen back splash, day dreaming about how pretty it was going to look...and then forgot to sleep. Doah.

I do that sometimes.

Our mate Dawn came over to guide us in our tile learning and was an extremely wonderful teacher. She even smiled warmly at me when I dropped the huge heavy ass tile cutter machine thing. Ahh, such a good mate. She made it fun and less scarey...and also very arty at the same time. She has been doing tile since she was seven years old (and boy, is she tired....haha...insert sound of slapping own knee here) and it really shows. Her ease and comfort with the process balanced our frantic 'ohmygodwhatifitdriescrooked'-ness.

So this is our beautiful work....the three of us created this using granite and glass tiles (that we found randomly one day and had to wait two months to get in...) and it was a lot of fun to create something with my hands, other than music. It's very zen, and balancing, and unique and....ours. It's a reflection of who we are individually and together and that's the best kind of reflection to have in a relationship, I think.

Ahh, sweet love.....and tile.

ohh...and spaghetti squashes with faces drawn on them

....insert cricket sound here....

or a photo

How the hell am I ever going to eat them if I keep putting faces on them??

I ask you...

xxM

This weeks...

Colour.

Every week it seems a new colour of this flower pops up in our garden. It's an amazing thing to experience the wow of new beauty and I have very...very...small moments of feeling bad for the woman who use to own our house and planted all these plants that we get to witness now.

So if any of you meet a dentist in Ohio called Helena...tell her we love her garden!! (But not so much the dog hair we keep finding everywhere...).

Xxm

fasting...schmasting...

That's all I can say.

It's one of those things that I got into the habit of doing once a week or so, you know, just to give my body a rest. But shit, when you haven't done it for a while, it really takes some getting use to.

And I am not use to it.

I feel all crabby and annoyed. And I just want to eat a big cheeseburger. Mmmm...cheeseburgers.

I know...I know...

I will feel better for doing it. I know. Already.

My girl is doing it today too. Which helps, but I think she wants to cut someone right now.

My mouth is watering at the thought of a cheeseburger. Oh great. See what you started??

Insert photo now...

gardens gone wild....

I think "gardens gone wild..." would be an extremely sexy video series. I wonder why no one has ever thought about it.

My garden grew about 5 inches higher in the 4 days that I was away. I am quite astounded and felt a little scared when I first saw it. I figured the organic soil I paid lots of money for wasn't working and surely there was some secret growth hormone in there (yes I know, it is working and things are thriving); or the over abundance of coffee grounds was working. I even had a moment of feeling overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it all and in a moment of guilt declared to the universe that I would use the excess to feed all the poor.

I realized yesterday as I stood there and looked at it all that I have very strange emotions around a garden.  After a number of years of not even having to be responsible for an indoor house plant I figured I had probably 'done something wrong'. Like my garden growing to extreme levels was some how my fault and terribly irresponsible.

I know, sounds bizarre, right?

But it is what it is and it was what it was and I just watched the emotions and the feelings gently and then laughed at myself.

And then got to work weeding and staking and giving things room to breathe.

That's a big thing in my world..

making
sure
everything
has
room
to
breathe.

I have learned a lot about that idea in the studio. Recording songs and laying down instrument parts and vocal parts and always being mindful that everything has room to breathe, to stand on it's own, to be allowed to shine and exist on and IN it's own right. And I know I have translated that idea into my daily world.

Whether it be me or my sweetheart or my friends...or my songs, or my guitar playing, or my art.....or my home or my body and yes, my garden too. I believe EVERYTHING in this world, alive or not, needs to actually have room to breathe...to have air around it and in it. I know that air is what sustains us and my garden, but I believe it actually sustains everything. 

Giving a beautiful piece of art enough space and air to shine makes that piece of art look completely different than it did a minute ago on a wall filled with a hundred other pieces of art crammed together. Music takes on new life when given a minute to exist, our bodies and our minds change when we take a moment to breathe air deeply into our lungs and release, truth comes out when air is blown through a lie, fake people fall when they are breathed upon and gardens produce and dance like super human 5 years olds when given air.

I might not have done a great job with what I initially planted in my garden, I may have planted too much all at once because I was excited. But really, whose to say? The proof will surely come in the pudding as my mumma says....or in the case, it will come in what gets produced and I will learn for next year...and the year after...and the year after that.

But for now, me and my garden are giddy 5 year olds.....

xxM

The view from here..

This was my view this morning out the back of our friends Suz and Kel's house. If this was a fully interactive blog you would be able to hear the bazillion frogs in this lake. It's a very bizarre sound but one I always associate with a relaxing space. The first time I stayed with them I was giddy like a child at the noises and would sit out here and laugh every few minutes at a new sound they would make. I love the way nature has the ability to make us feel so many emotions. Well, at least it does me. I sit in awe of it often.

We are still a few hours away from home after a wildly successful weekend in Milwaukee. It was one of those weekends where you work your ass off and feel like what you got back was equal....very rewarding and inspiring.

Now we have a bit of time to relax, play with our mates at home (licking my lips as I think about ginger margaritas) and get creative all over again. I have two new songs in the works, d is trading djembe lessons for drum lessons, my garden is growing so insanely fast that I am certain to pluck something from it this week and we have a whole slew of custom orders to make.

I live in a constant state of gratefulness and wonder.

How is it that I get to live this life?

How is it that I get to sit and listen to frogs?

Xxm

The Adventures of One Little Aussie - Episode 12

Oopsey...someone just reminded me that I actually forgot to post this video here, to my blog. Doah.

So here it is. The last installment. Another one will hopefully be up soon!

xxM

What awaits...

We are driving home in the rain after a wet weekend in Michigan. Seriously water logged and weary. We were at the Mt Clemens art fair in Michigan this weekend and after a long four days, we just want to be home.

Especially since we were sent this photo of what awaits us. We have this fantastic group of people we have fallen in with in our neighbourhood. Artistic, cheeky, warm, kind, belly laughing funny and generous souls who do things like pick the cherries from our tree and then make us cherry pies.

Like this one.

Our friend, and master drummer and maker of all things with cherries in them, Jamie, sent us this.

A photo of our soon to be cherry pie.

I can't even tell you how happy this makes me feel and how much more it makes us want to be home NOW.

Never mind the fact that they are all just starting a margarita throw down that we are also trying to get home to partake of. We havent been a part of their.community for very long but miss them all already.

Life sure doesn't suck when you are blessed with such people.

Xxm

a stage and it's story....

I think every stage has a story to tell. Oftentimes I need to stand on one for a long time while I sound check and sometimes that time is spent just waiting....so, it gives me time to look around and have a think.

I often think it's quite beautiful actually.

There's something about a stage being marked out that inspires me, excites me, makes me realize I am not alone. And of course, it's just pretty.

This was the stage at Virginia Women's Music Festival on the weekend and as you can probably tell, it was pretty organized. A great crew of women took great care of us. You know it's good when hours before performance someone asks you if you need 'room temperature water' and 'towels'. Seriously, these things make a difference to a show. Especially an outdoor one in the middle of a hot day.

Such a good crew of people out there and I always feel so in awe of the work they all do....and feel so honoured by the chance to be looked after by them.

So thank you, it would have been shitty without you.

xxM

ps....the Lilith competition is still an unknown right now. We moved from #1 to #2 to #1 to #3 all within 12 hours. Still means we have a shot at being in the running for a performance and we are visualizing like mad.....see us performing there!!! Please, it will help!!

Help...

Here we be. In the middle of Kent Store, Virginia. It's 92 degrees.90% humidity. We are sweating our asses off.

And its the final 12 hours of the Lilith Fair competition.

We are in the final top 10 and keep moving from #1 to #2 and back again...and need your help to get us back to #1.

http://www.ourstage.com/contests/3995-lilith-local-talent-search-indianapolis

Set up an account, takes a minute. Hit the judge tab. Listen to 15 secs of each artist only once. Click through the votes until my cd comes up and give it the highest score you can. And keep voting, as we will come up more than once, through all 45 rounds and know that we send you abundant thank yous.

12 hours left. That's it.

Xxm

....finding a way to live differently

"radically bring about a transformation of the mind...to not accept things as they are...but to understand it, to go into it, exact it, give your heart and mind into finding a way to live differently. But, that depends on you...and not somebody else."   Zeitgeist: Addendum

I started watching the movie below this morning over a cup of coffee. I couldn't sit and watch the whole thing because of time but I know I am going to want to sit down and watch it fully, to understand it. The whole BP fiasco is pissing me off on a whole new level and I just don't want to sit around and wallow in the thought process that nothing I do will make a difference...that its too big and too scarey or that nothing ever changes. That kind of thinking creates complacency and is exactly what the powers that be would love. That way, they can go about their dirty business and we will all keep quiet...letting them line their pockets with the blood of our earth, with the sweat of the people who have gone before us and the people that are out there working for them...sitting in their fucking gold lined offices, probably smoking cigars and laughing it all off.

Hell is too nice a concept for those people.

I am a believer that conversation and engaging with people helps us create change in ourselves and so am grateful that this movie was suggested to me. To at least keep me learning and open and aware and to give ideas about what I actually can do on my own 'martine level'.

It's two hours long but hopefully a lifetime of change will come from that two hours.

xxM

The things you see...

Representing domestic chickens everywhere....

My mate Gini just happened to be here....at earth day.

Xm

ahmmm....and ps, Gini, your chicken zipper is down 

...change

I am realizing with the over taking of Facebook that I *think* I am writing on my blog a lot more than I actually am. Instead of sending notes here, I seem to be sending them more. That's fine though, change is good and necessary and all that stuff.....I know, deep huh??

I am also not sitting in the van for days as much anymore....like I am right now. Seems this is what I do when we are driving to the next show...

Anyway, here we both are. Driving. Heading up to Joliet for shows this weekend...or first time in Illinois this year.

See....that's different too!! Use to be that I had hit IL at least twice by now....

Ahh yes, change.

What would we do without it?

Xxm

.....the most beautius garden in the world

I have been working on my garden a lot the last two weeks. Trying to get everything planted knowing that we were starting to head out on the road more and that time would be limited for a few months. 

I am happy to say, she's planted...she's growing and wow, does she look beautiful. 

I think I would have to say it's the most beautiful garden I have ever seen. 

And yes, I know I am bias.

This whole 'making home' thing has been good for my soul. Good for the balance of my being, it seems. It's also a little worrisome as I woke up the first day on the last tour and realized that I missed our home. That I had started to get really attached to it, which...you know, is not necessarily good for someone who tours for a living. 

I have had to get use to the feeling of 'missing' a lot over the last 12 years so you would think that I was use to it. 

But...nope, not so much. 

It still pangs as hard as it always has. Whether it's people, places, events or now....my garden and my home....it still aches. 

That's okay though because I have realized that I would rather feel everything deeply, truthfully and respectfully, than not at all. Tis no life to live with no feeling, or with a feeling of indifference towards things. 

Do you think if I look at it hard enough, something will grow enough for me to pick it and taste it before I leave again on Friday??

xxM