“Do it again.”  “What, you forgot the words?” “You sounded flat right there.”  “You need to hear it again?”

  I am back from recording again at Osceola Studios with the man who’s been dubbed the “career assassin”.  That would be Dick Hodgin.

   Today, I recorded Peel Me A Grape, As Time Goes By, and Cry Me A River.  All sounds that I just adore.  In the end, after recording each song three times, it all came out the way I wanted them to.

   I truly am in awe at the way the masters mix the work.  Dick picks the best of the 3 songs.. editing bits and pieces of each into one masterpiece– it’s going to get a little more magic sprinkled on it before it’s released.

    It’s good on my end that we aren’t recording and mixing all the songs at once.  I am getting a chance to think and reflect on what I brought to the session.  Today I am left with a feeling that I held back.. that I didn’t go full out.. that I played it safe. Still, it was better than the first time out last week. 

   The game plan for NEXT time:  To bring some more upbeat tracks to the studio.. and leave with no regrets.

    This will be a challenge for me.  At least that is what I’m thinking right now. I am not blown away by any of the more up tempo songs I’ve performed since I’ve been singing.  It might mean learning some new material before I go back in.

    Say, if you’re following this journey of mine, and can think of jazzy tunes that have a swing, I’m all ears!

   Onward + Upward!

Mommy.Daughter love

     Unforgetable, that’s how I’d describe this Mother’s Day weekend.

     More than that, I believe this has been my best one, ever.

     That darling child I carried in my stomache for nine months amazed me.  She flew from Chicago to Raleigh to spend Mother’s Day with me.

     Normally, on weekends, I am thinking about singing– the gigs I wish I had– what I can do to move closer to having what I once had– a regular Saturday night venue.

     This weekend, my mindset was, who cares?

     I believe there is nothing stronger than a mother-child bond.  Yes, circumstances and love that was missed out on can change the strength and integrity of that bond.  That is true, but at its core that love is deep, pure, and unbreakable.

     So Ashley Marie came home to me Friday night.  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  Over the moon begins to describe the joy, but it is hardly enough to define the depths.  I felt like my heart had grown three sizes like the Grinch’s.

     I cared about just one thing this weekend.. enjoying the company of the young woman my daughter has grown up to me.   What a package!  Sweet, strong, bold, proud, intelligent, witty, loving, silly, insightful.  People, I am just scratching the surface.

     A short visit to be sure, but it was full. So full!  We did a mani/pedi treatment … ate sushi.. drank fine wine, saw Ironman 2, watched tv on her laptop, laughed at The Wiz,  and talked a lot.   All the feelings were there… loving, trusting feelings from then up until now.

     I have never been so proud to be a mom.  What could top it?  OOOooooh, I think I know:

     Ashley calls me on the phone years from now with details on a mommy-daughter trip that she finances this time:  A trip for two to Bora-Bora!

     Onward + Upward!

     And a Happy Mother’s Day to all the other mommies out there in the world.