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My daughters, Perry and Jette, are now almost 3 1/2 years old. It’s a magical time of princesses, pirates, pumpkin patches, sand castles, towers made from cans of cat food and forts made out of chairs and blankets. They dress up in my clothes, Chip’s clothes, and will snag any iPhone that an unsuspecting adult dares leave unattended. They talk about their feelings, are painfully honest, and are completely fulfilled by watching balloons fly or jumping in a bouncy house. Of course I am completely fulfilled by watching them. I am so fulfilled that I chose the ignore the goat that ate the back of my favorite Free People dress at the petting zoo. It wasn’t until I heard the Zoo Keeper call loudly to his assistant “Get Nibbler out of pen NOW!” that I even noticed.

Ever since November 1, 2011, Perry wanted to be Snow White for Halloween 2012. She’s even playing Snow White in her preschool musical. Actually, Jette is Snow White too, as is their friend Blue. I hear the program will read Snow White, Show Whiter and Snow Whitest… But today Perry announced to me (and her entire MyGym class) that she’s going to be a Pumpkin. Jette, on the other hand, has changed her mind daily – mostly vacillating between Belle, Ariel, a Scary Skeleton and a Pirate. But today she told me “Mom, I am going to be a Belle Zombie,” at which point she pulled down the corners of her eye lids with her fingers, rolled back her eyes and stuck out her tongue. I think she will be the first ever Belle Zombie.

I truly enjoy being a Mom and a Wife. But I think my satisfaction these days is enhanced by the fact that I have had the time and support to release creatively and put music back into my life. I feel like Myself again. Thank G-d. Writing and releasing “Every Rise and Fall” was exactly what I needed to re-group and re-focus. I’ve played some amazing shows with my favorite musicians, and reconnected with old friends and fans. THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me in this process, to everyone who has purchased the CD and come to the shows.

Thanks for visiting. I know I have a lot of updating to do and I will try to get to it in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! Big hug to Dave Muhr who helps me maintain this site. And a shout out to Rick Mattie and Joe Nimziki who are working hard at editing my video for “Wonderful.” Oh! Thanks to Eric Williams and Kurt Klocke at J&M Promotions, I now have new super cool t-shirts that say “Tell me I’m Wonderful”… pictures coming soon. Pair one with a CD for a perfect holiday gift 😉

xo
pnut

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Duet
My most beautiful song is a duet

I almost blamed my kids for that horrible smell wafting through the house. But it’s worse outside. I read the news – it could be the Salton Sea but scientists are baffled. Whatever it is, according to “Experts,” the smell of rotten eggs and/or dirty diapers taking over Los Angeles is not a health threat. However, it’s keeping me up and therefore, it is affecting my health – in my opinion. Since I should be sleeping but can’t, I decided to say hello to my website and the lovely YOU reading this.

Continuing with the subject of THIS SMELLS, my gig at Newport Dunes was CANCELED a second time. Let’s just call it circumstances beyond my control and practices beyond my comprehension. I’m quite bummed because I was looking forward to seeing many friends and fans on the beach for a musical picnic. As I just told my friend and guitar player Luis Maldonado, sometimes plans that go awry are actually Assistance and Redirection towards that which will lead us to a more productive and beneficial fulfillment of our desire. Well, it’s a nice way to look at it and it keeps me from getting too pissy.

Because if I really wanted to get pissy…I could over my video, which is still not complete. The editing process is like swimming in a tar pit. Once again I sit myself down and talk to myself (so that if you didn’t think I was insane, you do now) and say Pnut, calm down. It’s all about Patience, my big lesson in life. I know it well. Some day, one day, I WILL have a video of “Wonderful” to share with you. And I STILL have feathers throughout my house to prove that we did indeed shoot it. Not a goose, the video. Thank you Joe & Kristi Nimziki, Gonzalo Amat, Austin Harris, Marla Sokoloff, Landon Ashworth, Tiffany Johnson, Ashley Carson, Shane Stanley, Meg Barrick, Mark Espinoza, Kash Hovey, Emma Lukin, Anthony Grana, Rick Mattie, Terry Watson, Amanda Capamaccio, John Stapleton, Cris Garcia, Rachel Brown, Dorit Wright, Nick Robert Ballesteros, Lindsay Caldwell, Lauren Wanner, Mike and Stephanie Morris, John Woller, Hanna M. Devine, Parker T. Riley, Catherine Aquino, Denise Weintraub, Tommie Moreland, Savanah Wernick,Lexi Yamron, Kaleigh Wernick, Kim Ferry, Alfonso’s Breakaway Glass, Kami Lerner, El Conquistador, Reform School, Don Adkins, Javier, Wooden Nickel Lighting, Jenna von Oy, Steven Neibert, Craig & Lynne Hawley and The French Girls. Extra special thanks to Chip Moreland for giving me the time to do this and the extra support throughout the stressful preparation and clean up. Making this video WAS two of the greatest days I’ve had in years. Hopefully you’ll be able to see that soon.

Totally off subject except for the fact that it has to do with me, the JOHN HIATT show at Saint Rocke was such an honor and I had a great time opening up for him. I met the entire band and crew (great bunch of guys), but not Mr. Hiatt. I did, however, stand directly in front of him for his entire show. I stood for an hour and a half in 5 inch platforms and my toes are still numb (a week later). My cheeks still hurt from smiling. The things we do for love. Cry Love. Extra special thanks to the beautiful and talented JANIVA MAGNESS who literally saved my voice. The day before I damaged my vocal cords at a recording session because of taking Zyrtec (dried out my voice). Janiva taught me a trade secret that involves “huffing” Afrin. I can’t explain it to you – she had to come up to the dressing room and personally show me a half hour before the show. But it WORKED and I had my voice back for 3 hours. And then I turned into a pumpkin. But I wasn’t a pumpkin for the show and that’s what matters.

Before Jack the cat walks across my keyboard (again) and makes me retype this entire blog (again), I will sign off. Til next time,
xo
pnut

PS: Happy Birthday to my brother Marc 🙂

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Jack feels the effect of Mercury in Retrograde

I’m starting to believe in the power of Mercury in Retrograde…  I feel like every bit of communication and scheduling has gone haywire and all of my plans have been thrown up like confetti.   I have a vision though, and I’m sticking to it.  I read something written by Molly Hall:

“July 15th to August 8th, 2012 Mercury in Leo (retrograde) remind us what we truly love. This respite cycles you back to your own unique story. It’s time to journal, and reflect on your ambitions, how you shine, and what you long to create.

Some serendipity happens that puts you in the spotlight. You reconfirm your talent for leading and encouraging others. You help someone see their own uniqueness. Children, or another kind of pride and joy — like your artistic creation — becomes a preoccupation. This could be time to revive a creative idea, give yourself a pep talk, and make plans to bring it to fruition.”

My obsession this month is to create a music video.  And of COURSE I am planning, creating and filming during this illustrious period called Mercury in Retrograde.  Thank you Molly for putting a positive spin on what has been a continuous slap in the face for the past few weeks for me.  Chin up, best foot forward, I walk/rock on….  🙂

Some cool things to put on your calendar for Fall:  9/4 I’m opening for John Hiatt, and 9/22 is the rescheduled date for the show I was supposed to have tomorrow….but someone decided to get married on my stage and have their reception in the audience.  How convenient.  It only means that I was meant to put on  a BETTER show on 9/22, right?

Thanks for checking in.

xo pnut