Life as a Musician...

Life as a musician is NOT always glamorous. Don't get me wrong. I have had many days filled with diamonds, designer clothes, people doting on my every move, private planes, and Penthouse Suites. All unnecessary. But for some of our gigs, that just the way we roll.

But this week, it's been crazy. Monday was full of school stuff. Lots of work, at the DOH, and the hospital. And a last minute flight to Sin City. Followed up with a long rehearsal. I needed to know the music, that I would be teaching. Everyone else had had 8 hours of rehearsal. Yup, I was just trying to keep up! My night didn't end there. Nope. It ended with 2 exams online. And 2 hours of sleep.

Tuesday and Wednesday were fun. I can't help but admit that. Lots of teaching. Spending some quality time with el Maestro. Learning from him, when we weren't teaching. And more rehearsals. But a little bit of the glamour did peek through...

When I wasn't teaching, or practicing, I was enjoying a little bit of Sin City. The amazing food, the glorious Penthouse Suite, and all of my amazing friends. Oh ya! Have I said this before? I get the largest room, and I travel by myself. All by myself. I've asked about this, but no one ever answers me. So I usually let the "Itty Bitties" sleep over. Yes, me and about 10 little girls. Watching cartoons early in the AM! Ordering Room Service full of yummy breakfast treats. Because it's all comped!

Thursday included 6 hours of teaching. Realizing I forgot my bridesmaid's dress. And a mad dash to catch our flight. Back home. Because we were scheduled to perform at 6PM. Rain had a different thing in mind for us. And the Tornado Warning, well that just postponed things too. But we celebrated Little M's 3rd birthday. Enjoyed some cake and ice cream, in one of the ballrooms. Because, we weren't allowed to leave the Convention Center. Not to worry! We could entertain ourselves. :)

Then we played. 2 hours. The rain came. We left. The entire group headed to A's house. About 10 minutes away. To relax. And take everything in. OK, it also included eating. And making fun of one of our friends. He's getting married on Sunday. And was in some major trouble with his mujer.

We headed back to downtown, and we played for about 5 hours. When? At 11:30PM. Because we had to play for El Grito. In the wee hours of the morning, I finally headed to the hospital. To do some work. A few hours later, I headed home. More than an hour away. To shower, grab my dress, and check on my house.

Friday morning, I tried to catch up on Facebook. I was ridiculously behind! I managed to pack my Bridesmaid dress. I even watered my flowers and lawn! Then I met A for breakfast, and we headed out to rehearsal. Oh ya, my car, I haven't driven it since Sunday. I have a sorta major oil leak... :(

Breakfast was extra yummy that day. IHOP. Seriously, I rarely eat there. But those Nutella Crepes, are just like heaven! Our rehearsal wasn't too bad. Or too long. La Senora Adriana was hilarious! As always. And I'm pretty sure she was eying A. Especially when we busted out our fancy dance moves. :)

Then I headed back to the hospital. More work. About 4 hours worth. Then, back to the concert. Where, my friends totally surprised me. With tickets to go see Santana! I LOVE me some Santana! So A and I rushed to his house, to change and head out. Yes, our Compadres bought us tickets, and dinner. As a little Gracias, for being good to their ninitos. :) We've got some incredible friends!

After a delish dinner at PF Changs, we headed off to the concert. Where, let me tell you, we had a BLAST! A and I happen to be, the hilarious 2 of the group. We LOVE to dance. And just have fun. And we did just that. For the entire concert. Santana has still got it!

As we were leaving, we got a call. From our friend and boss. Could we possibly head back to that concert, the one we were supposed to play? Senora Adriana wanted to know what happened to us. And you know, we worked so hard on that dance routine. Seriously?!?!?!

Luckily, we got changed, and to the venue. With about 2 minutes to spare. And the last 2 minutes of the show, some how became another 90 minutes! Have I told you? Los Mexicanos like to celebrate their independencia. But we all had such a great time. It was well worth it.

You'd think we were ready to pass out. Honestly, it sure felt like it. But everyone headed back to A's house. We all needed to get changed. And since he lives closest to the airport, that's where we went. Some of the guys grabbed some food on the way. And we all ate and changed. Their wives, girlfriends, and kiddos were all there too. Why? We were all headed to the airport...

At 3AM, we were ready to head out. Straight for Sin City. Pretty much, everyone on the plane slept. Except me. I had my laptop out. Doing homework, writing a paper, and trying to study. You do it when you can. Right? This is when I'm glad, that my professors rarely ever, have us go to class. Usually, I hate them because of this very thing. But this week, it's been nice to just to my work, and get to do my paying job too!

And that's where you find me. Somewhere high above the Earth. Doing homework, and blogging. While everybody sleeps. A is next to me, holding one of our Goddaughters. Both are out for the count! And I'm typing away. About HFCS and I's/O's. I also have to find time for 2 exams today. Wish me luck!

Because when we land, well get a few minutes, to head back to our rooms at the casino. Get cleaned up. And then, we've got some rehearsals and sound checks. It will be the only rehearsal time, with the performers, that we're backing up tonight. We'll quickly go through a few of our numbers. Then off to a fancy lunch. With the "High Rollers" in Sin City.

Later, we'll have a "Fancy Pants" dinner. And of course our show. Which we're all excited about! I just hope, that I don't fall asleep, during any of this. Oh, and our amigos are getting married tomorrow afternoon. The Mariachi is in the wedding, and playing for it! Can you say...BUSY WEEKEND! But I'll finally get to see this guy again! He's back from Spain. Happy Saturday! ♫

Que Viva Mexico!

Today is Mexico's Independence Day. Yes, it is! And all the bad weather last night, well that didn't bother our celebration. No way! We played well into the wee hours of the morning. Yes, it was a good night. Celebrating El Grito!

I'm very proud of my heritage. And the fact that I get to share the gift of music with so many people. To be a part of something fun, uplifting, and enjoyable...well it feels good. Because lately, there has been so many "Debbie Downer Moments" in life. It's nice to forget our problems, even for a few hours, and celebrate an important day.

The celebrating hasn't stopped. And by the looks of our schedules, we'll be playing all weekend. But that is definitely part of the fun. We're Mariachis after all! Now I'm going to go eat something yummy, try to finish up some work stuff, and figure out how to catch a few minutes of sleep...before the celebrations continue. Oh ya, and we'll be doing a heck of a lot of this....



all weekend long! ♫

Paradise in the Desert...

Ol' Blue Eyes lives in the SE. But for the last year or so, he's been spending a lot of time, here. In the SW. For half the week, he hangs out with the band and I. Just hanging out. Enjoying our little town. Helping the guy move hay. And stuffing payroll envelopes with me.

On Monday, he bought a new house. Here! OK, not just a house. But an entire farm! With a working orchard. HUGE business! And he just bought it. Like he was buying a soda. Because he wants a place to just "relax and hangout." Seriously?!?!?!

OK, so I couldn't resist the offer. He called and invited me over, to see his new place. I went over on Tuesday, after work. GORGEOUS! This house, it's amazing. Dude can barely cook. And he has 2 gourmet kitchens. Did I mention the outdoor kitchen? How about the 7 bedrooms? 10 bathrooms. Ginormous windows. There's also a couple hundred acres of property.

But hold your horses! What about the "Guest House?" It's bigger than my home! And the tree lined driveway. Man, this place is amazing. Did I mention...this is just his home to "hangout" in? Oh, and there is a gorgeous swimming pool.

So I don't know how to swim. But it didn't stop me. I sat poolside all afternoon. Laughing and enjoying the company of my friend. Talking about our futures. What we like to do in our "down time." Just enjoying the warm weather.

That evening, we enjoyed some BBQ. Sat on the floor, watching TV. Enjoying Combat Hospital. And some frozen fruit. It just cracks me up. Only in a "Man's World," does someone buy a house, and then a TV. Furniture, curtains, dishes...never even crossed his mind. :)

At the end of the evening, 'Ol Blue Eyes, asked me to decorate his house. No budget. He's seen what I've done for J. How I've decorated 3 of his homes. And we're working on a 4th. From the ground up. So I've got me a new job. Decorating Ol' Blue Eyes' new home.

I can see myself, and the band spending lots of time there. Just hanging out. Perhaps practicing for gigs. Or maybe just enjoying a meal and some poker. Yes, we are a "Texas Hold 'Em" kind of a group.

So now that I'm going to be spending some serious time at Ol' Blue Eyes' new home, maybe I'll learn how to swim. He's offered to teach me. This man has enjoyed water and swimming all of his life. Me? I'm more of a "Dangle my feet in the water" kind of a gal. So let's see.

But you can't deny it. Our friend got an incredible deal. Funny how he finds our town as an oasis. To just get away from life. Probably because very few people around here, recognize him. And he gets to live a "normal life." But seriously, his home is amazing!

It doesn't hurt that the place feels like "Heaven on Earth." That his "farm" is more like a piece of paradise, than a piece of desert property. Now, I just need to find the perfect furnishings. It's nice to have an unlimited budget. I'm drooling at all the possibilities! ♫

Any Given Tuesday...

On The Ranch, I've learned, to never really plan out my day. I need to get my work done, days ahead of time. Because, you just never know, what the day will bring. Like this morning. I decided to tackle the payroll. 2 days early. I thought it would be a slow day...

Then all sorts of yummy things happened. Ol' Blue Eyes came for a visit. he had us all laughing. And yearning to go out and drive a fast car. My Lil' Cowgirl was hanging out with J. She was also toting around in her Nana's high heels. This girly is learning early! Especially since her Godfather bought her a crown to wear too!

The guys were trying to clean up. You know, we had a horrible wind storm last night. Lots of clean up was required through the orchards. And we were getting in some animals at 9AM. The foreman insisted that I'm married to J. And that our Goddaughter, is really our daughter. This is a daily event. Which lead to all the guys, adding in their 2 cents.

I was also tackled with a crap load of government paperwork. The guys are getting ready to start hauling cattle again. So the proper paperwork needs to be done. And it had to be in the mail by 2PM. We received it at 9AM. Talk about hurrying!

But my boss and friend, J, always has something up his sleeve. Like at lunchtime. When he walked in with a yummy, iced cold Sonic drink. And My Lil' Cowgirl. Shortly followed with a bowl of strawberries, my favorite BBQ sandwich, and cucumber water. Does this man know me or what? I'm absolutely spoiled at work!

I should have known something was up. Especially when Ol' Blue Eyes mentioned our upcoming gigs. And then we went into updating the Band's website. And noticing, just how bad I am at updating people, on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Ya, I suck!

The best was yet to come. You know, at the sleepy hour of 2PM. The office was a little quiet. The heat and the wind were picking up. And I could just tell, something was up. Then J started playing this song...



And before we knew it, we were on the porch...DANCING! In TRIPLE DIGIT WEATHER! Folks, I think we've lost it. Seriously, we have! Then we decided to get some stuff together for our "Big Gig" in October. More dancing. A little singing. And some fiddle playing.

During which time, our Goddaughter was fast asleep. On J's dogs. Who were also asleep. On the floor, in his office. When we were done with the band stuff, I picked some Sunflowers for the Break Room. Made some lemonade for the guys. And started printing checks.

Before long, hay was being piled onto trucks. Guys were hooting and hollering. They were working on the fields. Some were coming in for the day. And one guy, he was about to pass out from the heat. We threw him in a horse's water bucket. The thing is bigger than a bathtub! The guys covered him in ice. And I talked to him. Took his vitals. And before long, we had him inside drinking water.

Yes, that is just "Any Given Tuesday" on The Ranch. We're always moving forward. Rarely if ever, do we go off the plans for the day. We try to. Tasks need to get done by a certain time. But every day life, well, it just happens. And we're just trying to get it all done. Before the sun goes down.

Now I'm getting ready to leave. My Lil' Cowgirl is chasing Chance (the dog) and J is talking to some of the guys. Ol' Blue Eyes is eating. And 2 other dogs, are swimming. In the pool! I tell you, this is the life! Who else gets paid to make payroll, eat yummy food, play with their Goddaughter, laugh with their friends, and dance? I'm not sure. But my job is pretty wonderful! ♫

Being a Girl...

I'm working at the Ranch today. All day. We're really getting swamped. You know, with all the paperwork. All the guys will be traveling again...soon...really soon. So I'm buried in work. Trying to get all the files in order.

And whenever I work at the Ranch, especially doing this kind of stuff, I really just want to go in sweats. Honestly. Hair in a bun. No makeup. Probably because I work in my office, rarely go out, and oh ya, there are at least 200 rough and tough cowboys around.

Especially now. When we're in the middle of a triple digit heatwave. All I want to do, is stay home. Maybe put on some shorts. Forget about hair and makeup. And nice clothes...ugh! But this video has inspired me...



So as to not scare off all the guys at the Ranch, or my boss for that matter, I'm trying to be a girl. That includes a shower, with yummy smelling body wash. I even straightened my hair today. And I may or may not have tried this makeup look. Oh ya, I'm also wearing a dress. Don't tell the guys, it's just easier than jeans and a nice top. Happy Thursday! ♫

What I Needed.

Last night, I finally just got "to be." I got to enjoy myself. And really have a good time. It was the first time, in a very long time, that I really got to enjoy myself.

To begin with, our show was a lot of fun last night. Plenty of time to have fun. We saved all our really good stuff, for last night. When we played a HUGE show for a Charity event. We wanted to make sure, that everyone was enjoying themselves. And we weren't going to be happy, until we saw smiles on faces, and people dancing. Simple as that.

But afterward, we, the band, got to enjoy ourselves too. It was time to dance the night away! Yes, we get paid to mingle with the guests. But since the event was by invitation only, it meant, we got to let our hair down, when we were done performing. Something I needed to do.

I don't drink. But honestly, I didn't need to. Not this time around. I just had fun. I had a permanent dance partner in my friend/boss. And he was all for having a great time too! Why? Because he has been working just as hard as we have. The last 10 days, well we've all been going nonstop! So don't judge us for never leaving the dance floor. We were both up to having a good time, and forgetting all of our troubles. :)

Beyond the fact that we helped our friend/boss score an amazing DJ. Well, he knew the guy, but the band was the one that suggested him. We had some amazing music. I swear, you could feel the beat of the music, long after you had left. The dance floor was completely packed! And everyone enjoyed it. Until the sun rose, early this morning. Yes, folks, we enjoyed life a little. Then, we got to watch the sunrise, on the roof of the club we played at. :) Along with a very yummy breakfast!

At the end of the night, it was nice to know that we helped score this Charity, a 9 figure donation. Yes, 9 figures!!! All by playing some music, dancing, and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. It was an incredible feeling. Just to know how many kids this is going to help. That right there, makes it all worth it. Every single time!

But the best part for me, was just living in the moment. Having some fun. Dancing the night away. And forgetting my worries. The last few months have been beyond stressful! And I'm so glad that I got the chance to just be me. To live a little. And to enjoy a little bit of life. ♫

Playful

Ol' Mr. Blue Eyes, he is in an awfully good mood today! Smitten really. And it's nice to be around him. In general, our boss/friend is this amazing man. He has a heart bigger than Texas! And this great personality. It's honestly, such fun to be around him.



But today, he happens to be in such an amazing mood. Not sure why. OK, I know. His career is definitely on an upswing. Even with what unfolded yesterday. But I can tell you this much, I'm not asking al the details. I'm just glad that he is happy. And at peace with himself. I can't imagine living the life that he lives. Being under a microscope like he is. It has to be difficult. Having the world judge all of your failures and successes.

But for now, he gets to be a normal, thirty something year old man. Just hanging out with his friends. It's crazy to think, how we've become such great friends. How this entire band, went from just meeting him, to him hiring us, to all of us being such great friends. Crazy! But I'm glad that he seen our show in Vegas, all those years ago! ♫

Watermelon and the Band

We had a few hours off today. You know, to do a little bit of nothing. Which lead to some hilarious conversation. But that's what you get with these guys. This band is hilarious! And there may have been 8 watermelons involved too!

At one point, one of the guys asked, if seeds really do fall from the watermelon slices. You know, like on the skits from Sesame Street. Well, that raised all kinds of stories. And before long, we had a seed spitting contest going. There were many different techniques used. And in the end, I was the "Watermelon Champ!"

We should probably check back with our boss, in a couple of months, and see how many watermelon vines he has growing. Yes, 8 watermelons, 1 band, and a hilarious seed spitting contest. That's a lot of seeds, even in that large field.

What else do you do on 200 acres of land? On your day off. With one of the most famous athletes? Ya, I know. But we had a blast! The South, well they grew 'em better! Everything! And everyone. :)

Now, I'm off to do some cooking. I promised the guys a yummy dinner, before our gig. See, I cook. And I'm not entirely sure who cleans up. But I know it's not me! :) I'll be in hair and makeup. Happy Wednesday! ♫

Getting Ready for a Long Day...

Today, my MUA and I decided to try a little something different. We wanted to have a little fun. But neither of us wanted to spend hours and hours getting ready. And we needed something that could go from "business attire" to "formal." And quickly.

Mrs. M, well she liked this hairstyle. And it's what we settled on. Along with some "natural" makeup, with a little "twist." I also have 5 outfits for the day. Oh ya, it's gonna be a long night!

But today, we're going to be a part of "history." And honestly, it's going to be so fun! I really do like this annual trip/gig that the band does. We get to be a part of something special. Now I just need to finish getting ready! ♫

Made Him Smile That Smile...

To say that my boss/friend has been a little stressed out...well that's just the understatement of the year! No lie! And he was looking a little stressed out. Not too long ago...

By the way, the entire band is melting. It's that crazy hot out here. But we're here, supporting our boss/friend. And since he's been incredibly understanding of my situation this week, and let's just face it...nice to me, I knew I needed to make him laugh. :)

What I didn't anticipate was...that smile! You know, the crook'd smile. Sly. Boyish. The one that says it all. While not saying anything at all. Well, that's what I got. Maybe I shouldn't have picked this song to dance andd sing to...



But I did. And we all laughed. As the band pounded out rhythms. On trash cans no less! And I sang my own version. All while making him laugh. Pre-work. Y'all I didn't want to distract him that much. Yes, we have a playful relationship. But he still has a job to do. He did have a good laugh. Especially when I convinced a little L, his nieces, and my Lil' Cowgirl to do some dancing with me.

It definitely got his mind off of things. My boots are little dusty. And I'm sure there are some people trying to figure out if all the people from the southwest are this silly. Um, ya we are! And now, we're all ready for tonight's BIG event. I'm pretty pumped up myself! How can we call this work? Why do people pay us for this again? Please tell me. Happy Saturday! ♫

Thinking About...

Do I? Or don't I? Cut my hair, that is. M is here and I'm tempted. It's so HOT out here! And I've wanted to cut my hair for a while now. Maybe I'll just go with it. Nothing too crazy. But get some of the length of it off! You know, maybe like this...



What do you think? A little more sassy. More of a style. Honestly, for the last 9 months, my hair is generally up. In some sort of a messy do. Because I don't know what to do with it. And I don't have the time to straighten it every single day! Maybe I need a cut. It would be fun. ♫

Salty, Sweet, Delicious!

Do you see this brownie? Yum! That's all I can say. It's salty, sweet, and so delicious! My mouth is watering...just thinking about it. I might just have to bake some. Sometime today. You know, for all my friends/band mates. Since we're working together. For the next 12 days or so. :)

Because of my niece's graduation, I'm a little late getting to the gig. :( But they understand. And so does my boss. But this would definitely score me some points. Yummy brownies. I think they'd forget all about me missing 2 nights of gigs. ;)

To be 100% honest, I just want some of these brownies. hahaha You know me and my sweet tooth. But these are just extra yummy! I think it's because they're slightly salty too. Anyway that you put it, have a Happy Thursday! ♫

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Cinco de Mayo! We've been working since yesterday afternoon. And we're scheduled to be going well into tomorrow morning. I'm more than positive that Americans celebrate more than the Mexicanos.

Pero, we're having tons of fun! It's not 48 hours straight, of performing for us. But it's a long schedule. We do get to enjoy the yummy comida. And the other performers. Including many of the Mariachi's ninitos. Most are dancers.

We're enjoying ourselves. Being safe. And working. Not much more you can ask for. It's really an incredible event. I really do love this city! And all the cultura that is packed into our lives. Now I'm off to enjoy some yummy birthday cake. ♫

Fiesta Mexicana!

This picture can pretty much sum up my week. It was a good week. But a very busy week! Lots of teaching and performing. Lots of learning. Lots of singing. Being part of this big weekend, well, it takes a lot of hard work.

I had the pleasure of performing for this Big Mariachi Show. Filled with greats, giants, and lots of Maestros. Men that I respect more, than you'll ever know. That have taught me about my cultura, and the musica. That have taken me under their wings, and have shown me the ropes.

Seeing all of my favorite little girls learning, only added to the experience. Seeing them learn about our cultura. Carrying on the traditions. It was amazing. But sharing the stage, was just magical.

This has been a week filled with music. Lots of it. The best of the very best. Lots of trajes. Many Maestros. Everything oozing with the spice of the Vida Mexicana! I enjoyed every second of the week and weekend. Every single second!

It didn't hurt that so many of my friends were here too. Sharing the stage. Teaching alongside me. Laughing. Sharing their families. Enjoying our cultura. It was magical. It was just magical to see how traditions are past from one generation to another. These shows and conferences never get old. Never! Que Viva la Vida Mexicana! ♫

Making Magic

Making Magic. It's what Maestro G always tells us to do. When we are performing. Making the audience "feel" the music. Do more than play your instruments, sing the words, and dance. Make people feel the music. Make them cry. Remember. And fall in love.

Tonight, I take the stage with some of the most amazing musicians out there. Full of talent and accomplishment. On such a big anniversary. I'm beyond excited! And to know, these musicians are also some of my very best friends, I know that I'm blessed!

Now that my "Music Man," S and I are on good terms again, it makes many, many people happy. Por que? We trained together. I learned how to sing with him. We became the performers we are today, by working together. Many days and nights...blood, sweat, and tears...and even broken hearts, got us to where we are. And let me tell you, we know how to put on a show!

For days now, we've been rehearsing. Long after the participants and students have gone to bed, we are on the stage. Working with all the "Maestros." The lighting is perfect. There's not one mistake in the music. Everything is good to go. And in the middle of those "Canciones de Amor," my heart dancing. A feeling that I never thought would happen again.



Did you watch that? From 1:44-2:50, el Maestro G tells us, we can recreate that magic. On stage. For everyone to see. Ya, S gets that "sparkle" in his eye. And I roll my eyes! But tonight, we are pulling out all the stops. For one "Grand Performance!"

I've got my "Music Man" back. Two performers that are destined to perform together. Possibly forever. That part of our story...well it's still left to be written. But the music part, we can't deny that. We are a good team...together.

I can't help but have butterflies in mi pansa! I really can't. And to get to share the stage with all of my good amigos again. That alone is the reason I couldn't sleep last night. Add in my cute ahijadas who are dancing, and we are set for one grand Fiesta Mexicana! ♫

An Ordinary Day

Sometimes just those "Ordinary Days" are what we need. What the doctor has ordered up for us. You know what I mean? I think I've sorta missed these crazy days. When I drive from the hospital to the DOH, then to school, then to WIC, and finally to my night class. A busy day!

Oh, and somewhere in that mix, I've found time to head to the Ranch and pick up my paperwork. Maybe I even got to steal a moment of peace and quiet, a quick shower, and half a sandwich. :) Yes, these busy days, they're part of me. Well, at least for the moment. And I really do enjoy them.



But as much as it's been "relaxing" to get back into my routine, I'm not completely in the "here and now." My mind is still wondering. Thinking about my parents. My Dad's health. About the thousands of things I need to get done. Yes, that's me. That person.

Busy day or not, crazy college costs included, it's been a good day. A day to reconnect with friends and co-workers. Something I desperately needed. My mind has been on overdrive for the last month. I needed this. And so much more. But I'll take what I can get.

And now, it's time for me to climb into bed. Hopefully shut down my thoughts. And get some rest. Who in the world thought a 6AM class was a good idea? Not me. But I need to leave my house by 5AM. A time that comes way too quickly! Good night my loves. ♫

Visions of Sugarplums

It's funny. I really do LOVE the holidays. Every single thing about them. Going to church. The beautiful music. The sweet smells. The yummy food. Shopping for gifts. But this year, I just haven't been into it. I don't know why.

Until, I stopped to watch this video. Absolutely beautiful music. And amazing dancing. You really can't ask for much more. I'm a big fan of ballet. And obviously, I LOVE classical music. Just watch this video. I know you'll enjoy it!



Now I'm feeling a little more festive. Not all the way. But I'm getting there. I might just put up a Christmas tree afterall. What can I say? I just think work is draining me right now. I need to remember to stop, and enjoy life a little. Especially, when it's my favorite time of year! ♫

I've Had Just Enough Time...

Isn't that so appropriate? Just enough time. I'm going to be honest here, I never thought I'd make it to 21. That's 21 years old. And here I am, 27 years old...

I don't know what it was. But I always had this feeling, that I'd die young. Believe me, I've been in the position to die more than once. There were car accidents, health issues, and being held at gunpoint. More than once. Have I mentioned how unsafe my job can be?

But for whatever reason, My Dear Lord feels like I need to be on this Earth. He must have better plans for me. And I'm grateful. I get to live. And to have a positive impact on so many lives. It really is amazing.

But this song, since the first day I heard it, it touched something deep in my soul. Something that I couldn't quite understand. But something that just felt right. That felt honest, comforting, and welcoming. I can't explain it.

In more ways that one, I can relate to this song. The lyrics, it's like someone was looking into my heart and soul. No lie. There are very few songs that speak to me like this one. But this song, it just does that to me. And I find a lot of comfort in listening to this beautiful song. ♫

Up On the Ridge

This song is AMAZING! One of my new favorites. I just like Bluegrass music in general. Just the raw emotion of the music. It's fun. Just like this song! And let me tell you, this is one of the bands favorite songs to play! I just LOVE that!

We're getting ready for some big gigs. I'm so excited!!! And this song, it makes my toes curl. I really can't wait to hit that "Good 'ol Carolina Stage." Seriously, these are some of our favorite gigs. EVER!

And pretty much, from now until the end of May, I'm not getting much of a break. But I can't complain. I get paid to hangout with my friends. To jam. And to perform some really fun music. Now I'm off to listen to Dierks some more. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE his music? :P ♫

She's Country

She's country. Who you ask? Me! I somehow survived yesterday. It was so much fun. But a heck of a lot of work! 12 pairs of boots, 5 racks of clothes, and who knows how much makeup later, we got our pictures.

Now it's on to work on playlists for the gigs. N will do his work with the pictures. He's amazing at what he does! In about 3 days, we'll get the negatives back. B (the leader of the band), my bosses and I will decide on what we'll use. These pictures are for promotional stuff like posters and flyers. They'll also print a few group shots, our head shots, and who knows what not all. We use these for our appearances and VIP events. That's what we sign. Which I'm still not sure about. Who really wants my autograph?

The best part of the day, was definitely the shots with Mr. Blue Eyes. He is so goofy! And the only "real professional" of all of us. Because, he actually does this professionally as part of his job. The rest of us, well we do it for gigs. That's it. You can actually see him on tv and in print ads. But we had fun music blasting the entire time! And it was just about us having fun!

The wild west shots were hilarious. Mostly because I was having wardrobe issues. Talk about malfunctions in my costumes! But we managed to keep it light and fun! Because that's how we roll. You know, the band is like a bunch of brothers. They are sincerely my big brothers. And together, we're all just about having fun.

Happy Tuesday! And take a looksy at the video. This song always puts me in a good mood! Mr. Blue Eyes even managed to get some video of me dancing to the instrumental break (after 2:10) in the song. It was really kinda funny! ♫