Shakespeare's Sister

I have had a sister since I was 18 months old. She has been my best friend and my worst enemy for most of my life. We were raised like twins but could not be more different. She came to visit me in Nashville recently and her presence now has an enormous comforting effect on my being. I miss her when she is not with me. She has two offspring which I miss even more when they are not in range of my auntie affection. She is the ying to my yang and I cannot imagine my life without her. I love her more than those words can express.

Joy to the world.

My friend, I have written about her and her husband Nate on here before, is a very talented singer songwriter. I had the honor of doing her hair and make-up for her first ever indie photo shoot. The experience was a fulfilling one. Being creative with like minded creative people has been something I have longed for my whole life and since Raze ended has been difficult to find. I found it again on the shoot w/ Joy, Nate, Tec (a brilliant photographer) Talitha (a talented very cool stylist), and Kayleen (the best make-up assistant). Here are some shots from the day.

Cape Town

As much I was not really looking forward to going to Cape Town (I know I am ungrateful) it turned out to be an amazing experience. Ian, completely detached himself from his computer, was relaxed and energetic. The weather was sunny and warm. The city and surrounding areas exceeded my small expectations by massive amounts. One of the most beautiful places I have had the privilege of visiting. Words and photos seriously do not do it justice. Here are a few of the hundreds of photos I made Ian endure on our adventures. Oh and the food was freakin amazing!

Cape Town Day 1.....should be day 2

Did you know that flying to South Africa requires 2 blank VISA pages in your passport? No? Neither did I. I found out when I arrived at check in in Heathrow Terminal 1 August 10th, 2008 7:00pm. I was told I could not fly because the 2 blank pages in my passport where not accepted in South Africa. That was it. Final. No options. AAAHHHHHH!!!! When the manicured woman informed of my fate I had an internal I freak out. This could not be happening. £45 later I arrived back home and prepared for the journey to the US Embassy to have more pages added to my leather bound US passport. Luckily, that was not as bad as it sounds. A trip into London around 8:00am and a 20 min wait for processing I had my new pages. They didn't match the old ones, but I let that slide considering the new freedom of flying they offered me. Feeling uneasy being back at the airport and facing an 11 hour flight I lined up to have my baggage weighed. Now I have learned from my may years of flying and my consistent habit of packing more than I need, that weight limits are strictly enforced and I have taught myself how to obey them. Walking confidently up to the weighing man I placed my bags on the scale. "12 kilo's over that will be £340." he said to me as I starred blanky back at him. I could feel the rage monster awaken. AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! ANother internal freak out! I won't bore you with the details that followed but the end recults was a trip downstairs to the "I could care less about my job and am enjoying these chips way too much to apy attention to the blonde girl that looks flustered and in a rush" stored luggage guys. Swapping items and repacking bags, leaveing my precious straightener and tioletries behind, I left a bag with the the "guys" and rushed back to check-in only to be informed I was stuck in a middle seat on a full flight. Oh my Gosh!!! In that moment I decided to learn the lesson that I think God was teaching me and tried to feel the peace that He promises. Walking to the gate I repeated peace, peace, peace and reminded myself that people are dealing with much much more right now...bombings in Russia, starving in africa, earth quakes everywhere. A middle seat is not the end of the world. I guess God or my luck decided to smile in my general direction and blessed me with an isle seat given to me at the gate. 11 hours and 1 and a half movies later I arrived in Cape Town to sun. Praise God. I aim to be more grateful and easy going for the rest of this journey. In South Africa and in life.


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Leaving for the Embassy.

Hair today gone tomorrow.

About a month ago I did another hair show. This one was less scary looking than the previous ones, but more scary feeling. I had my hair done on stage. Yikes! Something I had prided myself on never having done. The deal was no cutting! I made sure to clarify that my precious hair, that I have been attempting to grow out for about 2 years, would stay as it is. Promises were made extensions were glued in, and corsets were tightened. Seriously so tight I had to take shallow breaths to stay alive. On a brightly lit stage I sat listening to a monologue about my hair. Halfway into the dialogue I hear the slinging sound of scissors. It was time for the cutting. I thought about the promise that was made to leave the hair attached by the root to my head alone. And then it started happening. Thinning shears, I could see them out of the corner of my eye and then my lovely not as bleached blonde hair started falling. Not a lot but enough. My stomach tightened and that sick feeling moved in and I started sweating. Why? Why was he cutting my hair? We had an agreement, he promised. I kept telling myself it's not the end of the world, but it is my hair that I want to be long that I want to grow and it cannot grow if you cut it! The cutting stopped. A cloud of hairspray appeared around me. Holding back the urge to cough I stood up, still a little shaky from the trauma and even more shaky on my 8 inch platform heels. As gracefully as I could I walked to the front of the stage, stood in the lights, and posed. No one would no how my insides were turning cartwheels at the thought of what I was going to find when the extensions were removed.
The next day when the last glued in pieces finally came loose from my scalp I saw for the first time the real damage. Thinned out wispy hair that I am sure in the hair world is considered a wicked cut. But not for me. Not for me who stopped bleaching my hair to thicken it up and allow it to lengthen. There I was again sadly starring at my lifeless short hair in the mirror repeating my all too familiar mantra "It's just hair. It will grow back. At least you are not bald" I went to the kitchen and swallowed my prenatal vitamins which I have been "promised" will help my hair grow.

A couple weeks ago Ian and I took a trip to the oldest market in London to buy goodies for a picnic. It was lovely day. Here are some photos.

Yes I cannes cannes..

I went to Cannes. Not just the city, the Film Festival.

I didn't see any movies, or red carpet events.
I didn't party on a yacht with P Diddy.
I didn't drink champagne or lay out on the beach.
I didn't go to the premiere of Indian Jones.
I didn't see Jack Black on the Kung Fu Panda stage.
I didn't pay 45 euros for 3 gin and tonics while sitting on wet seats. Oh wait..yes I did.


I thought I would start out with what I didn't do so you wouldn't hate me too much.

I did eat and drink at a private members club on the beach.
I did dance like a crazy person at another club.
I did see Paulo from Lost and had to catch my breath. He is by far one of my least favorite characters, but just the mere fact he had worked on the show stopped me in my tracks.
I did get stopped on the street by paparazzi wanting my photo. (That was weird but flattering I guess.)
I did walk right past Star Jones and yes her head is too big for her body.
I did have lunch at the same place as Dennis Hopper and he looked like KFC's Colonel Sanders.
I did hitch hike down the Croisette to get to a party at Baoli.
I did go to Baoli the restaurant/club where the Vanity Fair Party is held.
I did lay out by the pool in the sun.
I did have an amazing time and am glad I can tick that box. Next time I want to go because I have been hired to do make-up or because I am a respected yet not super well known indie recoding artist that has the title track to the new oscar hopeful indie movie of the year. A girl can dream can't she?

Three's Company..

The last couple of weeks have been fun filled. Quite a change from my usual sitting at home cleaning and being alone. Nate and Joy Yetton have been visiting from Nashville. This is a couple that does not let social expectations define them. They opposed the perplexed looks of their peers when announcing they would be heading of to Europe for 6 weeks. I applaud their sense of adventure and commitment to experiencing as much life as they can.

Nate loves music and breathes it in like pure oxygen. We all went to a performance of Blonde Redhead. I had never heard of them but they were awesome for lack of better, more descriptive word. The lead was beautiful and sang beautifully. I left the night wanting more.

They graciously let me tag along with them Paris. Again it was awesome. I love experiencing cities with new people. We literally walked the till we could not take another step and saw as much as we could see in our limited time there. And ate as many nutella and grand manier crepes we could stomach.

Having motion in the flat has been so comforting. Watching Nate and Joy interact with other humans is like watching a ballet. Their ability to choreograph fascinating conversation is mesmerizing. They are a unique layered couple that I have felt honored to have in our little London living quarters.

New York City!

I went to visit Ian in NYC while he is on tour with a Queen cover band. The band is actually amazing. The players are really good I should say and the guy that plays Freddie is amazing!! I wish I had some photos from the show, but I was not feeling well on this trip and didn't have the energy to retrieve my camera from the dressing room where I had left it.

Seeing the show ignited an interest in Queen and Freddie. I have done some research and have decided I am a Freddie fan. This decision has created a feeling of sadness in me as he is no longer with us. Although a he lead a hedonistic lifestyle he was an unbelievable performer with an incredible voice. I miss him.

The rest of the trip was spent doing somewhat touristy things in NY. It was freezing. Follow this link to the photos I did manage to take if you are interested.
NY Photos

October 30th, 2007

How beautiful is that? Can you believe that is what I see when it is sunny (rare) on my walk to the station (often). I am learning to take a moment and enjoy the sun as its presence here is limited. The clouds seem to own the airways and take full advantage of that fact. So moments like these are to be fully appreciated. Loved like a poem or a beautiful song. Then you save them and put them in your back pocket to be taken out on a rainy day.

Enjoy the sun where ever you are.