What a difference a few years make. Four years ago, in 2009, I started going to my first open mic nights and I could barely play three songs. What were they? I'm not totally sure but I think one was "Angel from Montgomery." Keeping a rhythm, changing chords and singing simultaneously were a challenge. I had always enjoyed singing but never tried to learn to play a song on the guitar. How weird that seems, looking back.
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| Who's this kid? 1997 |
Other that that, I also was involved in community theatre, did a lot more gardening, had never been out of the country (went to Ireland in 2010!) and had never been to Key West (again in 2010). You can see from the pictures in this blog how different I look. The oldest photo is from 17 years ago when I visited New Orleans with my mom and brother (Mom's been gone 8 years now). The next photo is from my cousin's wedding in 2009 and the most recent ones are from this year. Of course, this is just the stuff you see on the outside. What's going on inside? Good question!
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| 2009 |
Without going into too much BORING detail, or getting too personal, becoming a traveling, performing singer-songwriter has changed my perspective of my relationship to the world. My first CD, "TropiGal," is 10 songs put together from observations made from where I sat (or stood) at the time. The song "TropiGal" is an anthem, a call to action, if you will. Four years ago, "tropigal" was part of my e-mail address. Four years later, it's my brand, my nickname and a bigger part of who I am. Something I had to define now defines me.
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| 2013 |
I began writing songs in 2010 just for fun and because I was improving musically. The rest of the songs on "TropiGal" are based on my experiences prior to then. The next CD, which will begin production soon, is observations and experiences since then. A lot has happened in my life since the release of "TropiGal" and the next CD will reflect that. Musically it will also be a stretch because I've learned a lot more since then and I don't want to keep writing the same kinds of songs over and over. I hope you'll like what you hear. Kevin Johnston, my producer, seems to like a lot of what I've sent him and he will be working on my next CD, as yet untitled.
As I embark on new adventures this year, I have to wonder what other changes are coming. Life is unpredictable at best and hopefully the punches don't come too quickly to duck. With love and luck I'm expecting good things. Thanks for hanging in there with me so far and thanks for listening to my music! Stay tuned. Things are just getting interesting…
The first time I traveled to Key West was in November 2010 for my first Meeting of the Minds (see previous blog posts for more info and stories about MOTM). When Barb, Sharon and I blew into town in Barb's rented red Ford Mustang convertible it was nighttime and we were trying to make our way down Duval to the Hog's Breath. We had one big problem: the closer you got to Front St., the more water you had to drive through. The road was flooded and finding a parking spot was insanity!
The next two days were downright cold by Key West standards. We were thwarted for a couple of nights in our desire to see the famous sunset and participate in the Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square. Finally on what I recall was the third day there, we would have our chance. It was still a bit cool but steadily improving. To find out how that story went, listen to "Drunk on Mallory Square" above. It's a true story! I did follow some chickens there while carrying a rum punch and feeling pretty sauced. I'm still not sure how I managed to work my video camera.
A couple of days later it was bright, sunny and downright gorgeous. Since my compadres were feeling a bit under the weather, I walked down to The Bike Shop on Truman and rented a bicycle. Then I decided to get lost. That's when I discovered the island.
MOTM is a rat race. Any convention or tourist happening is. There is too much to do, too many musicians in town to see, but that's what it's all about. Abbondanza! On this day I escaped the rat race, rode on some back roads, and this is what I found: a community, a spirit and a place of rare beauty once you get off the beaten path.
I rode for a few hours around back streets stopping for fish and chips and Guinness at Shauna Key. Then I traveled down S. Roosevelt past the airport, almost back to the Overseas Highway intersection, then turned around and headed back.
At Higgs Beach I stopped to talk to some folks and caught a rugby game. I'd never seen a rugby game before and it was wild, crazy action. The teams were playing on the beach because the rains from a few days ago had ruined the pitch. It was enjoyable to just kick back and chat and enjoy the game. I had lots of time on my hands and no desire to head back to Duval so I rode over to see the Southernmost monument and visit Ernest Hemingway's Key West home on Whitehead.
The monument was busy as usual. I should have had someone take my photo with it but I guess I just didn't think about it. At the Hemingway Home I paid my for my ticket, locked up my bike and had a little time to explore before tour time. I recommend going on the tour because my tour guide was just great. He pointed things out I wouldn't have known on my own and he was very entertaining. Upstairs on the balcony that runs around the house I was struck by the interesting views, feeling almost like a ghost watching the proceedings. The house has a beautiful, still feeling that's hard to explain. Being an animal lover I enjoyed the fluffy felines everywhere. Finally we stopped by the pool and learned about the famous first pool in Key West.
Finally it was time to meet up with friends and get back to the drinking and debauchery that we were there for. Sometime later I recall a bit of inebriated bike riding down to the Casa Marina for the night's entertainment. Something tells me it was Jimmy and the Parrots.
In any event, of the days from that trip that I cherish most, I'm quite sure this day was the top. Seeing Key West from a more local perspective is eye opening. I highly recommend ditching your car and renting a bicycle, not a scooter. You'll find a heart of an island better when you're not zooming around it at 25mph.
At Higgs Beach I stopped to talk to some folks and caught a rugby game. I'd never seen a rugby game before and it was wild, crazy action. The teams were playing on the beach because the rains from a few days ago had ruined the pitch. It was enjoyable to just kick back and chat and enjoy the game. I had lots of time on my hands and no desire to head back to Duval so I rode over to see the Southernmost monument and visit Ernest Hemingway's Key West home on Whitehead. 
The monument was busy as usual. I should have had someone take my photo with it but I guess I just didn't think about it. At the Hemingway Home I paid my for my ticket, locked up my bike and had a little time to explore before tour time. I recommend going on the tour because my tour guide was just great. He pointed things out I wouldn't have known on my own and he was very entertaining. Upstairs on the balcony that runs around the house I was struck by the interesting views, feeling almost like a ghost watching the proceedings. The house has a beautiful, still feeling that's hard to explain. Being an animal lover I enjoyed the fluffy felines everywhere. Finally we stopped by the pool and learned about the famous first pool in Key West. 