WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Howdy!

Last week I got an email from a cousin asking me if I was okay because I had not written anything new on my blog in awhile, and she was wondering if I was okay. So I felt it was time to sit down and talk a little. :)

I'm okay.. just been really, really busy. I've been out of town a lot this month (October). Went out to Vegas for 13 days. Had a MARVELOUS time. One of my oldest, dearest friends and his wife drove up to see me from California, and it was great being with them for 2 days. This friend of mine and I have always had a lot in common. We both had a PASSION for something. Me.. music and him... comedy. I do consider him to be one of L.A.'s finest comedians. He used to perform a little, and then he just gave it up, quit. I did the same thing with music at one time. I didn't take my guitar out of its case for almost a year one time. In talking with him on this trip, he sounds like he might have the desire to start up his comedy act again. I hope he does what makes him happy. If it doesn't make him happy anymore, then fine, but if it does, GO FOR IT. I feel like in the entertainment business, you only get so many shots. :(

Anyway... VEGAS.. I used to live there. Actually, I have lived there twice. I found myself missing that area when I was out there.. even went to look at some houses and met with a real estate agent. HA. There are some nice, beautiful outlying areas around Vegas that would be ideal and not too crowded or overwhelming to move to. Who knows.. The second time I lived out there, I performed there. Vegas used to be nonstop entertainment, as far as music. 24/7 you could walk into a casino, and there would be at least 2 stages with bands playing. Some were terrible, and then some were really good.... as with anywhere. This trip... I saw ONE band play at night only ... and downtown there was a sax player playing to tracks... This was it!! I know there were some more going on cause I read it in the Vegas magazine... but the point is.. it used to not matter what time of day or where, there was some musician with a gig... I think it's changed a lot. I went to a country impersonator-type music show. The headliners were two guys that did Brookes and Dunn, and let me tell you, Ronnie Dunn has a twin who looks, sings, and acts just like him... if this guy had walked by me on the street, I would have thought it was him. I was VERY impressed with this guy's vocals because Dunn is one of the most awesome country singers there ever has been. I won a little money playing Keno the last full night there. I hit 8 out of 9 numbers.. If I lived there, I would be the Keno Queen. :) I know how to play this game, how it works, the numbers that come in... I am not what I would call a "real gambler," but I do enjoy Keno, and I can win if the casino is going to let me. :) HA.

I also drove up this past weekend to Cherokee, N.C., with my parents. The fall colors were surprisingly good despite the lack of cool temps or rain. It was beautiful. So.. I've been out and about.. but I've also been working on some new songs, and Bill and I got a new song back that we are very happy with and hope to see something become of it. I'm trying to add some new songs to my soundclick page if you want to take a listen.... http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=222276

The Georgia Music Industry Association (GMIA) is getting ready for election of new board or directors and officers. We have so many ideas and plans for next year. Please check out our website: www.gmia.org

I guess that's it for right now! I'm alive and well, and I'll be writing more later! Oh, and BOOOO. Don't let any monsters get ya this week!!!

~~shelia