Being a musician really is a lot of fun. OR ”Once we get a lot of money, then our happiness will come.”

If there’s one thing I learned in Lincoln about being a musician, it’s that if you can do it – it’s a whale of a time. I met some cool guys who are recording and playing music, and they’re making a living at it. In the 2 days I was there (and after hearing their music and realizing it is awesome) I could honestly say that what they get to do with their days is nothing short of a good time.

But there’s a flip-side. How many of us get to be that lucky? “Once we get a lot of money, then our happiness will come.” When I hear that I think, “haha. yeah right.” Except, if you think about it – it’s kind of true. At least to the degree that needing to support oneself with an income is a undeniable part of doing what you love. 

So what I learned is, some people make it work. What I haven’t quite figured out yet is, am I gonna be able to make it work for me? I stand by my early belief, however, that whatever does or doesn’t happen in the next year of my life – all of this is only a part of the bigger story.

You’d have thought I would catch on. OBSESSED with blogging about the weather, wishing for snow, thinking I was somehow “special” for living in one of the most unique climates in the nation. You’d have thought that blog complaint equates a less than love.

Turns out it doesn’t.

Last week I had the privilege of visiting the state of Nebraska for the first time in life EVER, and on the way up I entered a pretty crazy snow storm. No skin off my back, right? I’m an ALASKAN. But driving 30 miles on the freeway for 3 hours in basically white out conditions is a stressor to anyone, I would assume.

Oh those are just some semis that slid off the side of the road. And that car in the far left of the last picture? It’s stuck in the snow. How I loved my Element on this road-trip (and every other. Am I right? Right?) Let’s nevermind the fact that I was taking photographs while driving in a snow storm.

Anyhoodle, when the threat of death subsided and I’d finally made it to Lincoln, the 2 feet of snow on the ground was like a warm blanket for my cold feet. And the 7 degree temperatures actually made me HAPPY. So weird, right? One can only conclude that I was made for the great white north. 

AND THAT IS WHY I NOW LIVE IN TEXAS.

The End.

1. I LOVE snow. And I even love cold weather. How did this happen?
2. Being a musician really is a lot of fun. 
   
3. “Once we get a lot of money, then happiness will come.”
4. Not everything that is awesome is always new. But some things definitely are.

It might be a short list, but just you wait until I elaborate… It’s a little something special I like to call the “Lincoln Logs of Life: Things I learned while on the road.” 

Wait for it….

For the record, I am in Lincoln, NE. When I have access to a real computer I must regale you with stories of my drive up. I mean it was a doozy, Suzy..

For now you’ll be happy to know that I’ve been blessed with a fantastic place to stay.

And tomorrow? Tomorrow is when it all goes down. I’ll have to let you know exactly what that means once it does.

I’m just learning as I go here, people.

“A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God.”

-1 Timothy 6:6, The Message

Every night before going to bed I think, “I don’t want to wash my face.”

But every night I do it anyway because this one time, on Gilmore Girls, Lorelei made a crack about an old sour looking wrinkly lady by saying, “And that, ladies and gentleman, is why I never go to sleep with my make-up on.”

Too bad she never similarly motivated me in the ways of flossing…

You guys! I won a songwriting contest.

It. Happened.

I entered “Changing My Ways” into a contest called “Tune My Life.” (You can listen to the song I entered here.) From their own website, here is some more information about the campaign:

Music Moves. 
If you’ve ever wanted to do good with your music, to move someone with your lyrics, here’s your chance. Through the power of song we want to help young women and men make better choices. Define goals and reach their potential. Live healthier lives. Through this creative effort, we can speak to these young people in a way that should inspire change. That should empower them to take control of their lives and their futures. That should make them recognize that the time to tune their minds, their lives and their relationships is now. 

Tune is a movement about self-adjustment and self-awareness. A shift in how young people take care of themselves today and in the future. Just as an instrument was never meant to be played out of tune, our lives and bodies were never meant to either. The time to Tune starts now. 

They selected 8 winners for their campaign to begin in 2010, and I am one of them!

I will have the opportunity to spend a couple days in Lincoln, Nebraska, record my song with producers and studio musicians there, and be interviewed about the song and the stories in my life that influenced it. And bonus? This spring when the campaign is in full effect I will probably have the opportunity to do some live performances and radio interviews. 

All I’m saying is, WAHOO!!! Thank God! It is so encouraging to have the chance to use my music for good, to have the flexibility to enter contests such as this one, and to experience new and exciting opportunities in the music realm.

This is exactly why I’m here.

Despite my personal mandate to blog at every possible second, I’m finding it difficult to be creative these days.

Was I not supposed to admit that?

I’m attempting to be intentional in regard to reflection and meditation, and would love to spend more than I have in songwriting and refining my skill. But I’ve been filling my time with computers and job searches, phone calls and potential connections. The business and logistics and ideas and “feet to the ground”-ing it of all of this are sucking away my time.

And my vitality, if I were honest with you.

Suffice it to say, it is a practiced discipline to have faith – to do what is possible to do and still focus on the joys and privileges of “now.”  To trust that it won’t do me any good to attempt more than is possible anyway.

I’m not the one who determines what happens with what I do during this time. I think I’m so worried about squandering that I hold too tightly to things I cannot control. And isn’t that so much like life sometimes?

These are the things I’ve been thinking about lately…

Today, my work station is Starbucks. 

I’m drinking a peppermint white mocha and listening to Imogen Heap.

I look like this:

(I find resting my chin in my hand helps me think more clearly, though I doubt I’m usually this “smiley” while thinking. Something in me thinks that part is staged for this photo. Shhh.)

Irregardless of my natural smiling tendencies, I am happy to be doing what I’m doing today.

*PS, can you believe irregardless is even a word?? I disputed this in high school, mocked it, even. And yet here I am, using it a mere 10 (11? 12?) years later…