My Blog
Life is an oddball circus and staying awake is a really good idea. You never known when some unexpected message is going to creep into the room and jump up in your lap. The other night, I went to the gym to row. Rowing is a relatively new thing for me. I’ve only been at it for a few months. I was inspired by my sister Martha. She started a month or so before me. I’m not sure what motivated her to climb on that…
A few weeks ago, my landlord sent (finally) the maintenance guy (Waffi) over to deal with a variety of problems in the apartment: an oven that wouldn’t light, a bathroom sink that wasn’t draining properly, a busted hinge on the hall closet door and a perpetually dripping faucet in the kitchen. We’d been living in a state of disrepair for several weeks. Waffi is a sweet but incredibly busy guy. Everyone wants a spot on his dance card and we’d been waiting a long…
Purr Gato’s maiden release “Heart Beat” is an 11-track mélange of smartly crafted modern music that touches on themes of longing, love lost and found, respite and the liberating abandon of being out on the scene. Marked by ethereal vocals, seductive melodies and deeply rooted bass lines, the band’s sound draws from a distinct range of influences– post-punk 70’s, British synthpop of the 80’s and downbeat club of the 90’s– and redefines them for the contemporary listener. “Heart Beat” features Katrina Kope on vocals and…
The other day, I was talking to a guy who, by most definitions, would be considered a success. He earns six figures a year and works in a beautiful office in the Galleria Office Tower in Houston. (To those unfamiliar with the Galleria, think swanky.) He recently got remarried. His new wife is super smart, highly successful in her own career and lovely in every way. He adores her. They honeymooned in Budapest, by way of Paris. Upon their return to Houston, they bought a…
It seems that all roads lead back to grace and love. For the past several days, I’ve watched as a community has shared collective grief over the untimely passing of one of its own– Joshua Wolff, who died yesterday from pancreatic cancer. Joshua was a highly regarded jazz pianist and even more, a great spirit who clearly touched the hearts of many. From the time of his diagnosis, just over a week ago, to his death yesterday, Joshua’s friends and family have held a…
Today, justice bitch slapped bigotry and the world is a better place for LGBT youth. The following link says it all: Congratulations to Bayli and big thanks to the ACLU!
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a suit against the Lake County School Board over their efforts to block the formation of a Gay Straight Alliance at Carver Middle School. To view the full press release, please go here. To view the complaint which was filed at the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida, go here. Needless to say, I am thrilled at this development and am hopeful that justice will prevail for Bayli Silberstein and LGBT youth everywhere.
A year or so ago, I was chatting it up with a fellow vocalist. We were chortling, snorting and swapping stories, when at one point in the conversation, she told me that she doesn’t practice. (Screeching brakes, crashing plates) “Huh? Say what?” I sputtered back. She said it again, “I don’t practice.” In that moment, I was completely incapable of hiding my disbelief. My face contorted just like Curly’s does right before he falls over and spins around on the floor. Part of me…
My sister Martha and I stood on the lip of what was surely heaven, mesmerized by the panoramic view. We were high on the sandstone cliffs of the Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico, looking out at mammoth rock formations, an endless blue sky and a vast pink mesa dotted with Pinon trees. The relentless wind filled the afternoon with dust. We were cold and our hair was in our faces. But we didn’t care. Martha and I, along with our brother and his very soon-to-be…
The other night, I went out to see a good friend play at a local nightspot. This cat is one of my favorite performers on the scene and musically speaking, it was a great night. The band was smoking. The songs and arrangements were very cool. And of course, my friend was on his A-game, per usual, and completely brought it. It could and should have been a perfect evening….. ….except for the stunningly obnoxious group of women sitting at the table next to me.…
