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

YES!!!

photo stolen from Jamie Price....thanks mate!!

You know those days when you have a long list of things to do. Things to finish. Things to start. Things to sit and think about a little longer?

And then something happens.

Something that changes everything. None of those things on your list gets done (or hardly any of them) but you really just dont care because the thing you DID do ended up being the greatest thing you could have actually done with the day?

You know THOSE days?

I had one of those days today........

My 'to do' list sitting in my head. A moment with some new friends that was one thing and ended up turning into something else entirely. Something amazing and magical and more unique than anything else in the world.

It was one of those days.....and here is a little moment of evidence to share.

These are some of our new friends here in Indianapolis. Friends that we have magically fallen in with, friends who surely heard the universe whispering into their ears and who came and found us and swept us up into their gracious, honest, welcoming arms.

Our afternoon was spent swapping stories and playing music and drinking margaritas and laughing enormously...and it all happened because we were all willing, in that moment, to be spontaneous.

A moment where we all said...YES.

xxM

(or 'fuck, yeah'...as I would say)

Help us get onto the Lilith Stage!

Okay....heres the 411....THIS IS NOT AN INVITE TO THE GIG....just an invite to vote for us TO GET THE GIG!! We have been floating around in the top 10 since it started and need to remain up there!

It's a lot to ask, I know, but leave us a note on the fan page to let us know you voted and we will pick someone's name out of a hat and send that person a copy of the last 5 cds, a tshirt and a rocker girlie Musekraft piece as a thank you.

The contest is split up into three rounds of voting. The first round is May 1st May 24th to select the Top 20.
If Martine makes it into the Top 20 voting will commence May 25th May 28th to select the Top 10.
If Martine makes it into the Top 10 voting will commence May 29th May 30th for the winner of the Local Talent Search!


Here's what to do........

Sign up on www.ourstage.com with a Fan account

You have the option to sign in using your Facebook account, which helps!

Go to Martine's fan page :
http://www.ourstage.com/profile/martinelocke/fans

In the right-hand column you will see 'Is this your favorite artist?'

Click the green tab that says Make This My Favorite Artist

Go up to the top and click the Judge tab

Over on the right click Lilith Fair Contest

Select Lilith Fair: Indianapolis

Check out their 3 steps to voting!

- Listen to at least 15 seconds of all songs

- Choose which one you like better

- Put it in order of least favourite to best...and click lock in your vote


If you don't get Martine's song 'Don't Hold On' right away, keep clicking through until you do!

Go back to Martine's page and tell us you voted - we would love to know and will put your name into a hat and send one person a copy of the last 5 cds, a tshirt and a rocker girlie Musekraft piece as a thank you.


PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS!!! EVERYWHERE...AROUND THE WORLD!! INVITE THEM ALL....

And thank you....

Who knew....

That tulips could grow on trees? Not me. But it seems this is, indeed, a tulip (not lily) tree...and on this cold Saturday afternoon, that makes me very happy!

Xxm

Friday night!

This Friday night from 5-7pm, my sweet love is having her first ever exhibition premier. Her installation is called 'walkabout' and features photos she took while we were in Australia this year. I am so very proud of her and the work she has done and hope if you are free and live in Indianapolis, that you would consider coming. It's actually up for two months and before we had finish hanging today, one piece already sold.

So....

Bjava tea and coffee
5510 lafayette road

Come and see!

I'll be serving wine!!

Xxm

Oh me oh my o

We're driving back from Ohio...sing along with me everyone!

We are driving back from a oneday craft fair in findlay, Ohio....this is our dinner!!! Not only because we both love vegemite but also because we don't want to stop. We just want to get home.

Musekraft just vended at its first ever craft show and I gotta say, it wasnt very successful. We have been talking about it driving home and really, its the first unsuccessful festival experience we have had in the year that we have been doing them.....and from what everyone tells us, its totally bound to happen.

So now that we have that out of our system.....here's to realizing again to not take it personally and just keep the pony moving forward!!

And, its back to the vegemite sandwiches...which are, of course, the answer to everything!

Xxm

The box.....

So, I bet you never knew that I was so multi talented huh??  .....sometimes, I forget too. You are looking at my first ever raised garden bed. I put it all together with cedar that I bought from Menards. I drilled the holes and screwed the screws and dug the ground and then buried the posts... and not only does it look damn sexy, but it smells amazing.

I am quite proud of my work.

Of course, it's not filled with dirt yet...or thriving vegetables for that matter, but hey, it's together...in place and ready to go. We have to travel this weekend to a show in Findlay, Ohio and I am thinking I need to wait till I get home again to fill it with dirt....and then plant!!!

I am so excited about having my very own garden. One that I can grow amazing vegetables in. One that I can walk outside my back door and pick what I need for that night's dinner. I can't even tell you how excited that makes me feel.

It makes me feel a little settled.....which kinda scares me and excites me all at once.

You gotta understand. I have lived a itinerant life of some kind for the last 12 years. I haven't lived in my own house...with a garden....or a front door that people can just turn up to...for at least 10 of those years. And this is more than just 'my own house'.....we bought it. We own it. I have never owned my own home.

So, it's a little freaky.

Occasionally I get scared that I have 'settled' down and that life will be boring or uneventful or that I will lose my creativity or want to have a baby or something (ha ha....okay, so not all of those things are true...) (breath honey...breath). Occasionally I get scared of the responsibility of owning my own home. I get scared of the work that will always have to be done...of the fear of something going wrong that will cost a lot of money. Of getting bad neighbours that you can't escape.

They are all just fears though....not reality. That's the weird thing about fear...at least for me, I have to back peddle myself out of them and remind myself that they aren't real....they are what 'could' happen. Especially if I spend too much time dwelling on them.

The trick is to stay here...and now. Ever present. Ever grateful for this divine moment, which is unlike any other moment I have ever experienced in my life.

And then, I just have to remember to breath.

And plant tomatoes.....

xxM

the crabby one....

I read on someones blog over the weekend that it seems the only posts that ever get put up on blogs are ones that talk about how wonderful and amazing life is and never the 'life is messy, isn't so wonderful and amazing' posts. Longtime readers of this blog will know that isn't true for me. I tend to put the whole lot out there and have had some really big 'life is fucked' blog posts. 

I do actually believe that my life is wonderful and amazing and most days I am awed by the amazingness of it...

Not so much today. 

I barely slept last night. No real reason except possibly that second cup of LARGE coffee earlier in the day...and no exercise perhaps. But you know, when I lay awake my brain gets bored and starts to stress about things....some of which I was actually stressed about before but had under control, and others that I really wasn't stressed about...until then. 

So I got up and made myself busy around the house until around 4am when I thought I could possibly sleep and stop freaking myself out about things that weren't really that bad....but not so much. Which of course, makes my day so much more fun today.

Infact, I am sure that it is that lack of sleep that caused me to just declared outloud that I don't like being an adult today. 

I don't like trying to find health insurance here in the US that will cover my wife and I and wont cost me a fucking shit load of money for NOTHING. Who knew that health insurance would be so much more expensive living in Indiana than it was California. Well, perhaps not 'so much' more....but still...more!! And hell, I barely get anything for my health insurance now and I pay around $150 a month for it. It's for those 'just in case' moments. I am severely frustrated that most of the plans I looked at don't cover the absolute necessities for women here. 

You know, like a visit to the whohaa doctor. 

SO important and I am unwilling to pay hundreds of dollars a month for insurance that LEAVES THAT OUT.

We LLC'ed last week and I had grand thoughts that trumpets or something would blare on high once we did it. That somehow we (MuseKraft LLC) would be easier to manage and would open up the way for us to have access to 'secret' special company stuff. 

Yeah...so secret and special. 

The $950 a month Aetna tried to slog us for health insurance (for two of us) was anything but special. 

Just incase you were wondering.....I am yelling towards DC hoping that Obama and the dumb republican cronies that are being fuckheads, will hear something from out here in the world and actually get something done for healthcare in this country.  Because this is stupid. 

So...anyway, there you have it. 

My crabby post. I'm in a 'sleep deprived, overwhelmed, pissed off, over the rain' funk and am trying to work out what to do for myself to pull out of it. (Yes, thank you for the suggestions because that's what we all really love....haha, that bit sounds crabby but I am actually giggling as I write it).

If you were to see me right now, I would look very similar to this kiddo here. Walking around the house stamping my feet, my lip hanging out. My year one teacher use to make us sing a song when we were like this; 'nobody loves me, everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms. Long ones, short ones, fat ones, thin ones. See how they wiggle and squirm.'  

The difference between me and this kid though (and that kid from grade one).....is that I can drink.

(haha...but it's a little too early, even for me)

xxM

The fortunate life...

I feel pretty fortunate in my life, I have to say. I feel like I have been blessed with good art, good people, good friends and an amazing partner. 99% of the people I work with on a yearly basis are solid human beans with integrity and a good sense of humor. I have just moved into a beautiful home that I get to create the life, the art and the space that I want in. I (and we) asked the universe for kind, creative, passionate souls to come fill our lives, our hearts, our home and that is starting to happen. Those days when I feel alone 'out here' trying to catch someones eye or just find connection with folks out in the world get fewer and farther apart.

I suppose all I am trying to say right this second is that I am grateful. Grateful for how I get to live my life. Grateful for the people, the belief, the love, the truth, the honesty. Grateful for friends who know when they can kick my butt and tell me to pull my head in. Grateful for people who love me and like to spend time with me. Grateful for the wonders that have been given to me in this world.

Just grateful.

Grateful for fresh flowers and fresh eggs.....

xxM

Flowing Well park...

Just outside of Indianapolis is a city called carmel, its where D's mum lives. They have a flowing artesian well that they let people come and fill up their water bottles at.

I think its a totally cool idea and I was extraordinarily happy to be standing here in the warmth of the sun doing something as simple as filling up our water bottle. It felt all natural and earthy like, or that I had stumbled upon this amazing gift.

Ahhh Saturday ay home. Only our second one so far and the bbq isn't far from being ready to cook on.

So rock n roll huh?

Xxm

Hmmm

For some reason, this intrigued me. The fact that they would put pesticides right next to pet supplies, it seemed wrong and I actually spent far to much time walking around the store, in a buyers 'setting up house' haze, thinking on this.

Probably wasted a whole pile of time doing it, but you know, sometimes my brain just needs to go meaningless sometimes...you know?

Xxm

The view from here....

It's been fun getting use to living in a new place. We have been working 16 hour days painting and unpacking and are both happily exhausted. I sit here right now listening to all the sounds in and around my home. To me, getting to know sounds is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience. Especially if its a train horn waking me up at some ungodly hour in the morning.

I can tell new songs are going to happen. As my sweetheart and I create beauty and life around us, it will pour out into our creativity....and into the world. It's one of the great things about being exactly where you are meant to be. It's all harmonious and easy and stuff....

Yeah....and stuff. Lol.

Xxm

For my brother

Who I am sure, would approve of this...and indeed, probably salivate at the thought. This is my first time at 'steak and shake'....we are in 'too tired to cook' land right now. Junk food is our friend for this second....

Xxm

The things you find...

We keep finding fun things in our new house....this is my latest. The gardening gnome...who knew that oneday I would own a gnome.

Xxm

31 hours...

Of driving....and we are finally here. And I'm not going anywhere for the next month.

Who knew I would oneday be happy to see this sign.

Xxm

Tile mania....

We are in Santa Fe, New Mexico and just walked through the most amazing tile showroom. We are finally, after 5 months of traveling, on the way to our home. We are in 'creation' mode. Finding the things we adore to put into our new home.

One of those things is tile.

Who knew that such beautiful tile could thrill me as much as it did. All handmade and superbly made. That is the mandate for our home.

Xxm

Flagstaff, Arizona

Now, don't no one be saying that I haven't done winter....

Here it is.

Today.

And brr..is it cold.

Xxm

Just call me..

Martine the boo boo fixer..my first act this morning as a married woman was to fix my sweethearts boo boo. This was my solution.

We are back in the van, driving half way across the country. Our 'stuff' is on a pod making its way across also. We get to stop in some yummy fun places along the way. Our stuff doesn't.

We are tired and weary from...well, the last 5 months of traveling. We are both giddy with the thought of unpacking into our house...at last.

Life is grand and beautiful.

Xxm

Today

My sweet love, 40 of our closest peeps, beautiful candles and food and wine and love.

We are blessed by those that stood with us.

Happy wedding to us

Xxm

Wedding mates part 1

Or something....great mates, celebrating with us

THE week....

This week is a flurry of activity in our lives. Actually, the last 12 months has been a flurry of activity. I can't tell you the amount of times people have said to us 'you don't do things by halves, do you?'. And well, the answer is 'NO....what's the point in that?'

Dionne and I get married this saturday in an amazingly beautiful ceremony with our family and closest friends around us - whether in real life or virtually. My family and mates in Oz are logging in online to watch the ceremony via the complexities of webcam and although not the same as having them here, at least I can feel like they are involved. We have mates and family flying in from all over the country and the world and the feeling of excitement in people just furthers our excitement.

Often times over the last week, I have looked at my sweet love and felt tears falling from my eyes. How lucky I feel. How loved I feel. How much I love how much I love her.

I look at the pile of hundreds of candles we have bought, the colors we have chosen, the people's names that are coming, the beautiful food that is being created, the cupcake wedding cake that is being made, the songs that are being sung, the person that is officiating our ceremony (wonderful funny lady Lisa Koch is coming in from Seattle to do the honors), the wine that will be drunk, the fire that will be built, the music that will be played......and then I catch the look in her eye, the one that she gets when she is just sitting looking at me as I think on all these things, and I feel the water rise into my eyes and my heart burst with absolute passionate love for this person.

At that time, I sigh and say thank you to the world. To the universe. To whatever powers make things be. To her. To me. To this love that we have found with each other.

And then...

I smile.

xxM

One week....

Today....

I become her wife.7 more days.

How lucky am I?

I ask you.....

New for Mothers Day!

So, new in MuseKraft land is this piece that we made for Mother's Day. Check it out at our site www.musekraft.com or at our etsy site where you can custom order your own piece, with your own words on it if you choose. It's a beautiful piece and I wear this exact one around me neck.

We will be putting up new pieces especially for mothers day really soon, so keep checking back!

xxM

Picture perfect...

Driving back to LA today, we happened upon this beautiful body of water.I think its the San Gabriel something arother. We pulled off the road and D went climbing down the hill with her camera in tow to try to capture the moment.

We did our last show in sf last night and caught up with the last mates this morning and now we head back to get ready for our wedding and for our move into our home. We are very excited and so ready....

Xxm

Tonight....

This is the space for tonights house concert at Cindys. It's warm, its sweet, its Cindy Buck for goodness sake.

Xxm

Harris Farm Ranch

This is what it makes us do everytime we drive past. The stink of cows poop make us want to cry. Imagine if that was what people thought of when they thought on you (I only know a few things and one person that causes the same reaction). Oh poor cows at Harris ranch....

Xxm

There's snow on den der hills...

Ha! I can hear my Midwest friends say...that's not snow!!! Yes, tis true but hopefully all the snow my chicken butt is going to see.

We are bound for my beloved Bay Area for a weekend of shows and fun things with friends. The first lot of mates fly in for our wedding this week too. Mates kerrie and rachel come in from my hometown, Adelaide. They come into the usa for the first time ever and are hitting some fun west coast spots before the wedding.

Anyway, its a big month in our world...another one, and we are excited for it all...and, in 4 weeks...we get to move into our house. After 5 months of being away from her, I can hear her loud and clear.

Xxm

Some things just aren't sacred....

And of course I mean the selling of an inferior brand of tim tams at ralphs grocery store here in the usa.

I think I stood and looked with my mouth open wide....shocked and appalled I tell you. Arnotts biscuits...what were you thinking when you sold them a license to use???

Xxm

The day..

Is coming to an end as we made the drive back to LA from Las Vegas. I think its a great way to combat jet lag...perhaps.

We have 4 weeks till we get married and everything is ready...except what we are wearing so part of today was spent clothes shopping. It was mostly fun and we are definitely well on our way. We have mates flying in from all over the country, and the world and we are both giddy with excitement over it all.

This is what I think on out here in the Nevada desert this monday.

Xxm

Ummm

A tv in the mirror in the bathroom? Now, I could poop with that...

Who thinks of these things?

I love the flamingo so far, even with donny and Marie Osmonds faces all over the side id the hotel!

On the road....

Driving to Las Vegas, the memory of a hot Australian summer replaced with a cold rainy day out here on highway 15. The comfort I find in the tour van....the smell, dashville, my girl, the crew of friends we are driving to meet for an adventure this weekend.

All of it keeps me warm inside and puts a smile on my face.

Xx m

The view from here....

Yes, believe it or not, this is someone's view...from their apartment. I just sat and stared at it, trying to absorb it all and take in the beauty of it. It felt very special to sit there and just look. Watching the cars go back and forth across the bridge, watching the city as it turned to night and all the beautiful lights came on. The friend who lives in the apartment told me that the first night she stayed here she walked in and saw the view and burst into tears...it's that awesome.

Of course, this is Sydney Harbour. Somewhere I would never live but was grateful to have a few moments to soak in the beauty of her. Of course...I might consider living here if this was my view every night!!

We fly home today after 2 1/2 months of being here. My sweetheart got to see my country from the ground up. Living with friends and family, sharing with them, loving them more and becoming part of their world.

And now we say bye for another year (or until they all get their asses over to the US!!). 

Tis always the hard part.....

xxM

FAIR DAY......

We arrived back in Sydney last night and found out that it was fair day here in Sydney on Sunday. Fair Day is the equivalent of Pride Day in the US.

A huge park, lots of naked men wearing chaps, free condoms and lube, lots of entertainment..you know, everyone being just who they are...in all their glory.

We walked around it holding hands, smiles on our faces, sweat on our brow...it's was so fucking hot we could barely last a few hours but came away with lots of fun photos and swag. None of which we have room for in our bags (which by the way we are putting off repacking because we are scared of how much shit we have to pack...).

D is making her way through a pack of tim tams and we are all indulging in yummy frangelico while we sweat up a storm here in Sydney (secretly I am jealous she can eat tt's and put on NO weight at all...lol).

Homeward bound....

xxM

Dreaming of Kidogo...

Our last show in Perth was at a place called the Kidogo Arthouse. It's a 100 year old limestone art gallery that sits on the edge of the Indian Ocean in Fremantle. There is no seating...just wooden floors that people bring blankets and cushions to sit on. People bring picnics and wine and groups of friends and sit and share dinner together before the show starts. You can sit and listen to the sound of the waves crashing outside and smell the salt in the air.  It's a magical building and I have always said its my dream to find venues like this in every city I play in.

It is actually one of my dream shows to do. Relaxed, intimate, friends sharing with friends, amazing history and acoustics, it feels really earthy with an open appreciative audience that is happy to do and go anywhere. We finished this night with a song by U2 called 'Still Haven't Found'...and it was stunning to sit back and listen to 100 people sing it back to me.

Perfect show. 

xxM

The Duty of The Aunt

 

This is me, my niece Skyla and nephew Ethan. We had a 'Bindi' birthday party on the weekend to celebrate their 6th and 3rd birthdays respectively. Skyla does an amazing Bindi Irwin impersonation. 

This morning, I am off to do Aunty duty and take Skyla to school and go watch Ethan do gymnastics....yay for Aunty duty....at 7am. The musician in me is screaming 'who gets up at this time?'...just seems so wrong. lol. 

We have one more week here in Australia. My heart feels sad to leave my country, my family and summer but then, it's also excited. Excited to be heading back for our wedding, to move into our house (at last) and to start creating our home and for some of the great playing opportunities that are starting to come in for the year. 

It's always the dilemma my heart faces....the juggling of missing and excitement.

Off to school then!!

xxM

Adieu....

We just spent two days down south again....saying 'see you later' to the ocean...the one that looks like this:




















This is bunker bay and by far my most favourite beach in the whole world. Any wonder why. The water was a little chilly this day but it called to me the second we hit the sand and I just dove in and didnt want to come out.

But then, it was our mates Jemma & Jane calling us out to whisk us off for lunch and a few beers later and a wonderful sunset and this is what we were reduced to:














Good mates that we say bye to for another year (or until they get their asses over to us). Makes both of our hearts hurt to say bye to them. Where's my giant suitcase when I need it?

Shows finished, oceans swum, bbq's had, aussie cup full...now its back to Adelaide for the final week of family time and 6 year olds birthdays and then we start the journey home. A little browner, a little wider (well, me at least!!) and our hearts filled with love for our mates. Dionne loves it here and often times has looked at me and we have pondered moving back here together. For now though, our home in Indianapolis is calling us...and our wedding day and a year filling up with fun shows, festivals and creativity.

xxM

Just because.....

So damn cute....and the joey aint bad either.

I was under pressure to provide an opportunity for my visiting loved ones to witness a Kangaroo. It was starting to weigh on me. One day, we stopped in a little beach town called Busselton and were finishing eating when we looked up and low and behold..there, on the grass, were three baby joeys. A man, who I will call 'Rick', was looking after them. Pulled them out of their dead mummas pouches on the side of the highway and was nursing them to a place where they could just go out and be back in the wild...of some sort. Or at least, just not dying of thirst and starvation on the side of the road.

They were absolutely beautiful and I felt like a good Aussie.......

xxM

Me and a Kite

This is an Australian Black Kite...it's only a baby, about 18 months old. It sat on my arm and I looked deep into it's eyes as it looked deep into my brain...a kite can see so well that you could hold a newspaper a mile away and it could still read the headlines. I felt like it was checking out the lines in my brain as it looked at me and seeing my own reflection in it's eyes was kinda humbling.

We have a week and one more show left in WA. It's been awesome to be here. To hang out with mates, to do some great shows, to swim in some awesome water and to just be. My heart pines for the house that we have bought and the home we will create but I am trying to keep myself present here right now, enjoying every moment. Being grateful and open to the possibilities. A million people have asked us if or when we are moving back and my mate Jemma keeps threatening to hide my passport. Who knows really, but not right now is the answer.

Keeping in the moment...

xxM

It's how we roll....

Sunday nights house concert with our mates Jemma & Jane. It was a magical night in White Gum Valley...the weather was close to perfect, the moon close to full, the crowd magnificent. It was one of those shows where everyone felt excited to be there, they were ready to hear music...to listen, to laugh, to be involved.

We have another 10 days left here in Perth and three shows...a lot of swimming to do and mates to hang out with. It's been a great time and I wish I could bundle them all up and take them with us. Just makes us committed to coming back more often.

Oh...and I bought a didgeridoo today. It's been years. I started to learn how to play about 15 years ago up in Darwin and stopped because I was told it was disrespectful to the aboriginal people. I have been talking to a number of folks about that and was recently told that there are some tribes where only the women play and that generally, if a women's ceremony is taking place then a woman plays the didgeridoo. So, I bought one and got it shipped home. Hoping oneday I can play it respectfully and spiritually...that day may be a long way away though coz damn it makes me dizzy to play. Gotta get that circular breathing going!

Anyway, this is our life...today.

xxM

A perfect day in WA.....

This is a Wedge Tailed Eagle we met up with today at Eagle's Heritage Rehabilitation center just outside Margaret River. They have about 40 birds there in huge cages. Birds that have been tortured or injured by stupid humans. We met one bird that kept crying like it was lost, we found out later that it was kept in a parrot cage and had cigarette burns all over it when these folks found it. Stupid humans. There were birds that are released each day for a big ole fly around and come back every day to their cages, to the people that help them heal. It was pretty awe inspiring to be that close to birds of prey, birds I grew up with flying around South Australia. I remember them talking about how they were pests, how they carried away baby sheep and how they needed to be culled because of that. Many wedge tail eagles are now extinct because of government mandated shooting programs. Stupid governments.

We then wound our way down Caves Road towards the tip of Western Australia where we found ourselves at Cape Leeuwin, its the most south-westerly mainland point of Western Australia and it's the point where the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet. The Southern Ocean seemed prettier today - three shades of beautiful turquoise green but a little too rough to really swim in.

We stood on the edge on the Indian Ocean side and spread a small portion of Tyler's ashes...knowing that he would have loved being here with us in person and knowing that he was here with us in Spirit. It was his birthday last week, 5 days after mine. I watched my girl scatter his ashes and felt a familar pain in my heart for her loss, for my loss and for our loss....I also felt incredibly proud of her and the fine person she is in spirit, soul, heart and body.

I marry her in two months.



From a perfect evening here in Margaret River. Our second bottle of local wine, fresh food waiting to be prepared for dinner, parrots squawking outside.

Hmm...what will tomorrow hold I wonder...

xxM

All photos (c)2010 by Dionne Ward & Martine Locke. Please don't steal them.

The Irish are Coming....

We are having a 'nanna nap' right now, getting ready for our show tonight in Perth. It should be a fun, relax show at a local irish pub. My mate Jemma is playing the show with us too and I have heard that they have the best guiness on tap...what more do you need, I ask you!? Love Irish pubs, I am yet to see a 'real' irish pub...in Ireland...but that will come soon enough as we have already started talking about doing a tour through England/Ireland. Will give the guiness report then too.

We have had a busy week of shows and family. D's dad and step mum came into town on thursday and we have been walking the city and trying to stay cool. Last night we had a family get together and they got to meet my mum and Jemma & Jane, who are family to me. It was wonderful to sit and watch them all talk and tell stories of growing up in other countries and traveling. I felt honoured to sit there and witness it and to listen.

Of course the highlight was the bbq...which is very australian, and very needed. Feel like I am getting back in touch with my Aussie roots, another dozen or so bbq's should do it.

So...what do you think the caption of this photo (taken by 42) would be then huh?

xxM

And now for something, completely different....

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in
1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the English issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666. The Scots raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards" . They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country's military capability. It's not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing."Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.

Meanwhile...

New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA!". Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the airforce being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is "Shit, I hope Australia will come and rescue us". In the event of invasion, New Zealanders will be asked to gather together in a strategic defensive position called "Bondi".

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No Worries" to "She'll be right, mate". Three more escalation levels remain, "Crikey!', "I think we'll need to cancel the Barbie this weekend" and "The Barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Perth....

We arrived in Perth two days ago and have already hit the markets in Freo, gone for a swim at South Beach, eating breaky at the fav cafe and had a bbq. It's nice to be back and sitting in the warmth and love of my friends Jemma & Jane.

Jem and I have known each other for about 13 years and Jane and I for about 7 years and they are real 'heart' friends. I haven't seen them for 2 years and yet instantly we were sitting talking deeply about life and laughing hard over silly things that no one but us gets. And they have both welcomed Dionne into their hearts and world with open warm arms. It's yummy.

My mum flies into Perth on Tuesday and D's dad and step mum fly in on Thursday and we all all get a few days to hang out together. They haven't met each other yet and I am excited for them to do so. We are taking D's dad and step mum down south for 5 days to Margaret River - probably one of the greatest places in the world. AND in between times we have a slew of shows - both solo and Velvet Janes shows to do.

I feel very blessed....on this, my birthday.

xxM

Me mum.....

This is, of course, my mumma. For anyone who has read this blog before you have seen her before.

I love my mum a lot.

She drives me crazy sometimes but I miss her when I am away and still cry when I think about her not being on the earth anymore. The same way I cried about it when I was 12 or 13.

I think most of us have such up and down relationships with out parents. I didn't have a relationship with my dad for the last 15 years or so of his life because he wasn't a nice man at all and I just decided that I didn't want him near me. I cried when he died but it was more because my little brother cried when he told me he had died and I didn't like to hear my little brother cry.

I am so grateful for the way my relationship with my mum has grown as we have both gotten older. I realized a number of years ago the best thing I could do was to just let her be, to not try to change her but to celebrate her just the way she is...with all of her quirks, none of which I have inherited of course.

I think if I can move through this life with her sense of humor and her ability to still smile widely and truthfully, even after all that she has gone through, then I have indeed lived a successful life.

xxM

Port Pirie....

My family and I are all hanging out together all week up in a town called Port Pirie. For those who have never heard of it, its about 2 1/2 hours north of Adelaide and honestly, was never a place I would have considered coming for a family hang out. We have a mate who has a holiday house up here and it turns out, its a wonderful place with amazing views of the ocean. You can't really swim out the front, which is a bugger, because of all the rocks and HUGE blue crabs...but it's nice to sit out there and sip some wine as the sun goes down.

We have been playing board games, card games, eating, taking walks on the rocky beach and watching movies. We tried to go crabbing yesterday but ended up being either too scared to venture into the deep seaweed to flush them out or just kinda giving up in a fit of 'oh well, we tried...and didn't want to eat crab tonight anyway'. At one point my nephew Spencer and I were joking about driving up to the deli up the road and buying a dozen crabs for $17....although we couldn't quite work out how to explain to everyone why they were frozen (when, afterall, we had just spent hours catching them....ahhm).

Anyway, it's been a lot of fun to hang out and to have this time to spend with the family and for them to get to know Dionne. I am not sure if she is quite chilling with the Aussie sarcasm just yet but she definately is in there holding her own!!!

We hiked out to the end of the Port Germain jetty yesterday which is almost 2kms long but before we did, the ladies of the family got together for a quick pickie! This is three generations of our family together.....all of whom I adore and are proud of.



Now just to work out how to get them to move a little closer....hee hee

xxM

The New Moon....

This is the moon that greeted us and welcomed the new year in for us here in Adelaide. I took it as a good omen...a beautiful welcoming into a great year. I do believe this will be a big year. I am marrying my sweet love, moving into our house, creating a beautiful home filled with art and light and love, recording probably 2 new cds and continuing to develop and experience this truely creative life.

I feel very blessed. Sick of me saying that yet?! Well, I can't help it. I do.

Last show in Adelaide tonight and then a week vacation with my whole family together by the beach. Hopefully some time to write in there and to sit and soak in my family....and possibly the two will combine!!

xxM