FIRST YOU DREAM: Crafting a new solo show and watching the amazing Audra McDonald Live From Lincoln Center. (She just won the Tony for "Lady Day.") Talk about an inspiration! I'm going to sing all of my favorites like she does in concert except the tunes won't come exclusively from the American Songbook and Broadway - though I will sing a few of those. Gospel, Blues, Disco, an Aria - I have this voice that can handle so many genres, yet I have so few opportunities to sing them all in a concert …
When I Miss Her Most … thoughts on Mother’s Day 2014
I lost my mother on April 14th 2000. It was sudden and upon hearing the news I learned the true meaning of heartbreak. When I got the news that Mommy had passed, I fell to my knees and screamed. The primal scream: I found it that day. But that's not what I want to dwell on here. Usually, I just let Mother's Day slip by. But today I want to write a tribute to my dearest love, my mother. All that I am, any goodness in me, came from her. There's some fucked up shit too but I know that I am a …
Old Dreamers
This is a note to myself and others like me: underachievers, those with gifts who believe they haven't fulfilled their potential, those who have been writing a book, play, or dissertation, making a movie, recording a CD, going to a comedy open mic, opening a restaurant, going back to school and haven't done it yet. We know who we are. I have written about this shit for years: losing weight, writing my one woman show. And I reckon this is just another testament in a long series of promises I …
The Act of Forgiveness
If you really want to be closer to God - try forgiveness and understanding. Accept the fact that as Humans, we make mistakes, and the ability to forgive someone's misstep even if it may have had devastating effects is truly a gift of the divine to a deserving person. And sometimes the person or persons may not be worthy of it but the generous heart spreads goodwill to the World in general by the act of forgiveness. The worthy will pass it forward. …
Haters are So Boring and So Obvious
Being older and wiser mostly means you have developed a thick skin. Being in show business requires this with all of the rejection and criticism you must face every day. But a recent experience just begs for reporting here on my blog. I did a very successful concert and afterwards whilst basking in the glow of a job well done, I was the recipient of a barrage of thinly veiled insults from a somewhat mousey and obviously envious young woman. It was a small matter from a person with a limited …