Crashing California

I am caught in an interesting point of reflection.  We are playing a show tonight (a very late one at that, so that sucks slightly) so we jammed quick and have come home here to chill before we make the 40 min drive down into San Diego, to the Ruby Room to get on stage at 11:00 pm ... so here i sit, all made up ... with my glitter and boots and heavy eyeliner, in an odd reflection.   It's times like these I wonder a bit why we are doing this.  Off we go, to another (prob. empty) club, with a small stage, dirty floor and crappy sound system, to bleed our creativity and souls out on the stage and over the floor and hope that it soaks into someone out there ...I wonder sometimes if it will really matter, and what God really thinks of this, does he love me in my war paint that I say I put on for him?  Is it really for him? for His glory? or am I just attaching the name of Jesus to my dreams so that no matter what they are, somehow they seem valid and meaningful?...

  (a word about the card -- I wanted to do our own take on the whole "family picture" Christmas Card deal, this is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I thought it was cute, and couldn't resist!) This year has been a weird one ... very eventful, stressful, and hopeful all at the same time.  Prob. the biggest thing for me was finding my dad and the whole other family I didn't know I had ... we finished and released our first album ... I guess it's been a year of beginnings, I hope and pray this next will be a year of growth. Growing in our new relationships, growing our band, growing in faith and hope and love.  May we never forget the reason for this season, and the REAL meanings in life, and love. We are but dust in the wind, a fading flower ~ all is for nothing if there is no hope in Jesus. Thank God there is! Merry Christmas Everyone!! Till Next Blog ~ love, a.

This past Friday we finally, FINALLY celebrated the release of our first project, My Death. We were fortunate enough to have it at MediaTech, the state of the art facility where Cedrick works. We decorated (well, myself and Adri did) and we invited about 60 of our closest friends to enjoy some light refreshments, tours of the studio and we recorded AND taped an acoustic show at the end of the night. It was really spectacular, and if money was no option, I know exactly what I would do with these raw elements that we have now at our disposal.  ;)   (Enhanced DVD in a double disc set) ... I have no idea how much that is, lol ... but I guess it's something to put a mark towards. It's kind of strange being on the other side of this now.  Not really sure where to go, and at the same time, the canvas is wide open. Opportunities now await ... but where and when remains to be seen ... for now I'm going to focus on Christmas preparation (services on the EVE and the Day ...

( see full image ) so I just finished putting up the tree ;) feels good but now I have to vaccuum lol  till next blog! xoxo

Yesterday (which was Black Friday here in the Almighty America) I spent most quietly at home, with my computer, tidying, cooking and preparing for tracking some vocals for a new song we've been working on at the studio which has become familiar and like family w/ our friend Cedrick at the helm. There is something very sacred, very "alive" and beautiful about the studio experience for me. There is something great to be said about being creative with your whole being, your whole soul, pouring into the digital world, your breath into sound ~ you are an architect for a moment. We spent 3 and a bit hours doing just the verses for our new song (called "peace is"), we needed to come back another day for the more aggressive vocals because I am yet still recovering and my voice can only spill out so much, but it was such good time. I share with you this shot, of where I was yesterday night. The mic is a neumann (pronounced "noy-man") and worth about ...

So, in keeping with some fun stuff ... check out this photo book I made for my mom for christmas (hopefully she won't look on here anytime soon, she's generally not very good at keeping up with the blog, lol, but if she does check, well, serves me right and now you know what you're getting for Christmas mom! I wanted to share tho so you can see my fam =) These pics were taken by my good friend Kristin Genna (our bass players wife) in June when my mom and brother (who I had not seen in over three years!!) came to visit. I'm so thankful we got the opportunity to visit =) enjoy! Click here to view this photo book larger Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

YEARS!! It's been five whole years!! Five years since we left home and hearts to peak out a new life and existence here in Southern California ... guess that means it's sort of this blogs birthday too. Wow, so what can we look back upon over these five years?  An ocean home, a God-gift of a band, music to sing my heart to sleep, def. some new challenges too, but no debt (for us both, paying off loans), new car, new motorbike, and the time just goes on. It's strange how sometimes the years just begin to bleed together, and I can't remember when exact we saw parents last, or how many years we've lived in our beach home (when I thought in the beginning that we'd only be here a couple months cause they might tear it down).  This time here in Southern California has brought so much to us.  Not to mention such a wonderful, and unexpected church home.  Never in a million years would I have thought we'd be leading worship at a small church plant in North Ocean...