The famous saying goes – What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas…Well not this time… The bonds forged and memories made this weekend will be in my heart and mind FOREVER. Soul2Soul Summer definitely went out with a BANG.

The weekend started off kinda stupid cause I got stood up and flaked on by a girlfriend in LA which left me a little stuck and stranded for a minute. Thankfully I just came off five weeks practicing my flexiblity and resourcefulness, so I managed to salvage the night, even though I feared it was an omen of bad things to come. Fortunately, the weekend just got better and better and better.

Got to Vegas around 4pm on Saturday, met up with Miss Jane (my roommate for the weekend, xoxo), and then we headed over to the Luxor Buffet for dinner. The food was soooo amazing. I think I had like 3 plates of food AND managed to save room for dessert (oreo cheesecake, chocolate mousse AND this brandy cake with whip cream). I love food, so that really put me in a happy place 🙂 Unwillingly, lol, we tore ourselves away from the food and headed over to Mandalay Bay to meet up with the rest of the posse and see the concert.

I use the word posse intentionally, lol. There were a GRIP of us, from as far as New York, DC and Chicago. I swear, its gotten to the point where when I head off for a show, I’m not sure who I’m more excited to see – Tim or my girls. I’ve become ridiculously attached to some of these women (Iris, Colleen and Mom for SURE after partying with them in Dallas, Nashville, LA AND Vegas), and they just made this tour. McFriends freakin’ ROCK ya’ll!

I was so excited because I had a 3rd row seat on the opposite side of the stage from where I usually sit, and I finally got to see Faith perform Cry! JohnJohn also hooked me up with a 256MB memory card, so I got lots and lots of amazing video from that vantage point. It was a great show, as usual.

Afterwards, a group of us headed over to the Coyote Ugly to drink and dance. Colleen must be working through some latent exhibitionism, because the first good song that came on, she was up on top of that bar, LOL. Everyone except Mom and Jane joined her at one point or another, including me. I swear, the things I’ll do for my girls 😉

We were fully on Vegas time by this point, and Jane and I didn’t get to bed until after 4am… Then I had to get up 6 hours later cause there was much to do and see! Spent the morning laying out by the pool working on my tan, then hit up the spa, then met up with the girls for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate Mama Karen’s 50th Birthday!

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

After lunch, I squeezed in a quick power-nap, then headed back over to Mandalay Bay to attend the pre-party concert backstage. This was very, very cool. Lots of band members and random entourage folks (like Sherman, Tim’s video director of choice) were milling around where I was standing so I got to overhear some pretty random and hilarious conversations. And Joe Don from Rascal Flatts was there with his wife! I kinda flipped out a little bit at that one cause I LOVE Rascal Flatts. Anyway, Jimmy sang a song “The Illness and the Cure,” Billy came up and sang a song on request, I *think* Denny sang a song, then Tim and Faith came out. Tim sang “Suspicious Minds,” which Faith finished for him. And I think he might have sung another song but there was so much going on and I was a little drunk, lol. Then Faith sang “Lights” by Journey and they took some questions from the audience. It was a really intimate performance, and even semi-catered, so I enjoyed it.

I got a little emotional during the concert, choking up a tad when I’d realize “Oh, this is the last time I’m going to hear ‘Cry’ this tour…” and stuff like that. But the show was incredible and Faith was so on point it wasn’t even funny. I’m telling you, that girl can SANG. Since it was the final show, Tim treated us to 3 extra songs that weren’t on the original setlist – “Break Down” by Tom Petty, “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard, and “So Good in Love” by George Strait. AWESOME! Then after “I Need You” everyone came out on stage for one huge curtain call and they were all hugging and waving, then walked off stage in one huge processional… *sniffle* I can’t believe its over.

I cannot even describe how much fun I had hanging out with these wonderful, wonderful, women this weekend. There is something so amazing about having someone to share your obsession with. I’ve never really had that before, and it just makes everything so much more FUN. I miss ya’ll so much, but you better believe I will be seeing you next tour! 🙂

So I’ve been home for a couple of weeks now… Slowly reintegrating back into the “real” world. This past weekend was actually my first full weekend home since July 1st, and it was a little strange. Strange because, by the time Saturday evening rolled around, after a full day of lounging around doing nothing, I started to feel restless and bored. Like I just had to get out of the house and do something. Now I refer to this as “strange” because the old me LIVED for her downtime. Two full days with absolutely nothing to do was my idea of heaven. The ultimate homebody, the words “bored” and “home” would never get strung together in any sentence I might utter.

It appears my five weeks on the road has triggered a shift in lifestyle that is turning out to be more permanent. All I can focus on these days, is where I want to go next . I daydream constantly about returning to Sedona and the Hot Springs, the itinerary for next summer’s road trip, and if its too early to make my hotel reservations for BEA in New York. I’ve even been kicking around the idea of taking a cruise in the Bahamas… After I get back from visiting KC and the kids in Maui…

I’ve got issues.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with this newfound itch to travel… Aside from being financially unreasonable (if not downright irresponsible), the more I reminisce about how good it felt to be “free” this summer, the more I want to just up and quit my day job so I can immerse myself in a carefree, nomadic existence. Oh yes, that sounds SO practical! That fits perfectly into my well-thought-out five-year plan. WHO THE HELL AM I?!?!?!?

Apparently a woman in the midst of an identity crisis.

I do not want to be held back by anyone or anything right now. Freedom is essential. There are so many places I want to visit… There are so many places I want to live. Seriously, I’ve browsed the real estate listings in Sedona several times since I returned home. I never thought I could live somewhere outside of California, and now I’m fantasizing about changing my address every three months and homeschooling my children so they can move around with me… I don’t know what is going on with me.

Needless to say, readjusting to the day job has been rough. Oh how I hate punching a clock, lol. I need to liberate myself from this monotony as soon as its financially possible. Really. And in the meantime, change my scenery as much as possible. Last weekend I left the house on Sunday to spend the day with two of my favorite things – my nephew Devin, and RENT, lol. I guess Bill and Jes saw RENT a few weeks ago when the show passed through SF, and Bill, demonstrating yet again that he is indeed MY brother, lol, fell all in love with RENT. Went out and bought the DVD, and was watching it when I got there. It was awesome. Though I must say the BEST part was when we got to the end and about half an hour later he goes “I think I’m gonna start RENT over again.” That’s what I’m talkin’ bout! So we all watched RENT like a happy little family, making sure to cover Devin’s eyes during Mimi’s stripper scene at the Kit Kat Klub, LOL. Good times, good times.

Ah well, I shouldn’t be pouting and lamenting the loss of my endless summer just yet. One more trip. This weekend I get to go to VEGAS for the last stop on the Soul2Soul Summer Tour. So much fun on the agenda, it’s gonna be off the hinges! This is just what I need to send this summer off in style – the open road, my girls, Tim and Faith, and SIN CITY (aka one of Steph’s favorite places in the world). I love Vegas. I love it even more when Tim is there. So excited am I.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend everyone!

So I’ve been home for a couple of weeks now… Slowly reintegrating back into the “real” world. This past weekend was actually my first full weekend home since July 1st, and it was a little strange. Strange because, by the time Saturday evening rolled around, after a full day of lounging around doing nothing, I started to feel restless and bored. Like I just had to get out of the house and do something. Now I refer to this as “strange” because the old me LIVED for her downtime. Two full days with absolutely nothing to do was my idea of heaven. The ultimate homebody, the words “bored” and “home” would never get strung together in any sentence I might utter.

It appears my five weeks on the road has triggered a shift in lifestyle that is turning out to be more permanent. All I can focus on these days, is where I want to go next . I daydream constantly about returning to Sedona and the Hot Springs, the itinerary for next summer’s road trip, and if its too early to make my hotel reservations for BEA in New York. I’ve even been kicking around the idea of taking a cruise in the Bahamas… After I get back from visiting KC and the kids in Maui…

I’ve got issues.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with this newfound itch to travel… Aside from being financially unreasonable (if not downright irresponsible), the more I reminisce about how good it felt to be “free” this summer, the more I want to just up and quit my day job so I can immerse myself in a carefree, nomadic existence. Oh yes, that sounds SO practical! That fits perfectly into my well-thought-out five-year plan. WHO THE HELL AM I?!?!?!?

Apparently a woman in the midst of an identity crisis.

I do not want to be held back by anyone or anything right now. Freedom is essential. There are so many places I want to visit… There are so many places I want to live. Seriously, I’ve browsed the real estate listings in Sedona several times since I returned home. I never thought I could live somewhere outside of California, and now I’m fantasizing about changing my address every three months and homeschooling my children so they can move around with me… I don’t know what is going on with me.

Needless to say, readjusting to the day job has been rough. Oh how I hate punching a clock, lol. I need to liberate myself from this monotony as soon as its financially possible. Really. And in the meantime, change my scenery as much as possible. Last weekend I left the house on Sunday to spend the day with two of my favorite things – my nephew Devin, and RENT, lol. I guess Bill and Jes saw RENT a few weeks ago when the show passed through SF, and Bill, demonstrating yet again that he is indeed MY brother, lol, fell all in love with RENT. Went out and bought the DVD, and was watching it when I got there. It was awesome. Though I must say the BEST part was when we got to the end and about half an hour later he goes “I think I’m gonna start RENT over again.” That’s what I’m talkin’ bout! So we all watched RENT like a happy little family, making sure to cover Devin’s eyes during Mimi’s stripper scene at the Kit Kat Klub, LOL. Good times, good times.

Ah well, I shouldn’t be pouting and lamenting the loss of my endless summer just yet. One more trip. This weekend I get to go to VEGAS for the last stop on the Soul2Soul Summer Tour. So much fun on the agenda, it’s gonna be off the hinges! This is just what I need to send this summer off in style – the open road, my girls, Tim and Faith, and SIN CITY (aka one of Steph’s favorite places in the world). I love Vegas. I love it even more when Tim is there. So excited am I.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend everyone!

In addition to having a McGraw-filled weekend, I also got to catch up with some dear old friends who are finally back on the West Coast after too many years in dreary Ithaca, NY. Chris and Liz, both fellow Capricorns, are one of my favorite couples. To be honest, I usually can’t stand to be around couples for extended periods of time, but for some reason I really enjoy hanging out with Chris and Liz.

In the past five years, almost everyone I know has either gotten married, engaged, and/or had a kid. I suppose that’s what happens when most people approach/reach their thirties. But you know me, I’ve always been fond of the road less travelled (aka the long way), and I’m starting to wonder if I really want those things right now… Especially coming off this trip and seeing how much world there is to explore – the thought of “settling down” just doesn’t have the allure it used to. I have so many things I want to do in this life, and so many places I want to see. I think the travel bug that my mother has (she’s currently en route to Russia of all places, lol) finally bit me. And any new parent can tell you how much children impact one’s mobility…

Which brings me back to why I love hanging out with Chris and Liz. They are an awesome couple, incredibly committed (this is their 10th year together!), but they don’t buy into that whole “get married, have kids” thing that society tries to steer us towards. God, it is so refreshing! The white picket fence really isn’t for everyone, and it’s nice to have that validated for a change… It’s also nice to see what I consider a healthy, functional relationship in action. They are two strong-minded and strong-willed individuals who have figured out how to argue and disagree with respect. They’re independent, but they’re a team. Capricorns are notoriously difficult to get along with, so to see two of them navigate relating so successfully really impresses and inspires me. I can’t wait to have a relationship like that someday. 🙂

I’m frequently talking about “soulmates.” I believe in soulmates, and I believe we have several of them (I personally have eight, lol). A soulmate to me is someone with whom I have a unique connection, an intimate understanding of each other’s essence and core, because we are ‘cut from the same cloth.’ When I meet a soulmate, I feel as if I’ve known them forever, even if its only been hours, minutes. When I meet a man where the physical attraction equals the soul connect, I call him a soulmate. But when I meet other men and women, where the connection is solid, but the lust absent, I call them kindreds. They are just as precious and rare to me as soulmates, and I cherish my kindreds spirits dearly, holding them close to my heart like family. When my incredibly relaxing weekend with Chris and Liz was over, I didn’t want to leave. I felt so comfortable there, so at ease. But I came out of the visit feeling refreshed and recharged (as opposed to drained like most other interactions leave me), and I am just so grateful that I have a space like that I can run to, when schedules permit. To commune with truly like-minded individuals and feel understood. You guys help me bring clarity to my path, and I freaking love you for it…

People, never underestimate the value of a true friend…

Well this has been an awesome weekend (and it’s not even over yet, lol)! Rolled down to LA on Thursday to catch Tim and Faith at the Staples Center… I know, I know, after seeing the show already in Dallas, Nashville, and Seattle — why the need to see it again… Normal people just don’t get it, but that is why I thank God for my McFriends *grinlove*

Needless to say, the show was AWESOME! I had a 2nd row seat on the North catwalk, right in front of a video monitor. This was key because for the first time I actually got to see what was going on on the other side of the stage, lol. They were both in good spirits and sounded/looked amazing. I really love Tim’s new song ‘Fly Away’ the more I hear it, and ‘I Need You’ still gives me freaking chills. And duriing ‘No Woman No Cry’ (yes, they covered Bob, lol), Tim cracked me UP when he goes – “Everything’s gonna be alright, everything’s gonna be alright… A few more years and everything’s gonna be alright…” LMAO–I LOVE YOU TIM!!!

They played three shows at the Staples Center, but I only bought a ticket for the first night, which ended up working out great since we got wind of a Bread and Water show at the Whiskey after the concert on Friday. Bread and Water shows are a Tim tradition, where he’ll go play a small club, reminiscent of the days when he was just starting out, charge a minimal cover charge, play late into the night, and donate all the proceeds to charity. The set list is made up primarily of cover songs. I was lucky enough to attend the last Bread and Water show at the Whiskey, and these shows are just amazing in the sense that they’re intimate, casual, and you just get to see Tim in a setting you don’t normally get to see him in. Well, I got to the line around 7:30pm, checked in with my girls, then went to get some dinner (which ended up being a lot of beer and only half my dinner, lol). Hung out with the girls (and BrothaMatt) in line for many hours waiting for the doors to open. They finally let us in sometime around 1am, and they played until 3:30am. It was a late night, and my feet are KILLING me from standing for all those hours, but it was soooooo worth it!

Tim opened the show by coming down and messing around on the acoustic guitar. He knew we’d been waiting long, and didn’t have any patience for the grips who were still fiddling with the equipment and sound levels… He kept saying “Forget it, we’ll fix it as we go along. Ya’ll don’t mind if we sound like shit for a little bit, do you?” I. Love. Him.

He sang several songs off his upcoming album, and I love new stuff so this rocked. My favorite is called “The River and Me” which I gather is about an abusive husband/father that Tim ends up killing in the end. I’m no advocate of cold-blooded murder, but just like with Goodbye Earl we make exceptions 😉 The music on this song is awesome!

Faith took the stage with her band after awhile, and sang one song then brought Reba McEntire out to join her. Now I’m still a little irked at Reba for dissing the Dixie Chicks, but I have to admit I love her music and it was awesome to see her up there. They covered a Linda Ronstadt song “When Will I Be Loved” and then did one of Reba’s songs “Does He Love You”, which surprisingly, even though Faith opened up for the woman on tour, she didn’t know any of the words. So Reba is feeding her the lines and Faith is doing her best not to F it up, LOL. She actually did a good job, and then towards the end, Tim came down to role play the man they were fighting over, and they made a Reba/Tim/Faith sandwich… AWESOME! I wish they had let us bring cameras in, because that picture would have been freakin’ priceless!

Reba left the stage and Faith sang some more songs sola… ‘The City’ by Journey and ‘Think’ by Aretha Franklin which was my second favorite song of the night after ‘The River in Me.’ I just love it when Faith gets all soulful… Then someone requested Sunshine and Summertime, which annoyed me cause the point is to hear them do stuff we DON’T typically hear them do, and she said she didn’t want to do it, but they kept yelling so she sang it. Her keyboardist made the comment like “Well at least you know the words to this one!” (she messed up the lyrics to most of the songs…must have been a lil tipsy).

Speaking of tipsy, Tim was totally wasted and I love it when Tim’s wasted. He’s just so much more “Tim” — the drinks, he swears, he tells inappropriate jokes, LOL. He was telling a story about how he loved playing in small clubs better than for 30,000 people… How in the beginning, when they had only a van and a trailer, they’d play clubs like this and only five people would show up… And how Darren would lay all five of them… But that they were fat and ugly… Then Darren goes “Well I had to do something, its not like I was getting paid” and Tim totally flipped him off! Then during the last bit of “Forget About Us” where he’s singing that part “your soft green eyes, warm skin, the way you say good morning” – he was singing it to Darren and Bob and making lovey mushy eyes at them which cracked me up. Oh another thing that cracked me up was drunk Faith dancing!!! I swear, we all know dancing is not Faith’s specialty, but if she must dance, ply the girl with alcohol first because she can shake that booty! During one song, “That’s Alright Mama” I think, they were both up there gyrating and shaking their hips like they were having frantic bunny sex! I could NOT stop laughing! I have never, never seen her act so silly. Oh to have that on video…

They played until 3:30am and I didn’t get home until 4am. Long night but so memorable and so worth the wait. A big hi to all the McFriends and McGrawGirls I met and chilled with tonight (Iris, Colleen, Dawn, her daughters, Karen, Ann Marie, Ann, Sheila, BrothaMatt and Veronica). Hope to see most of you in VEGAS!!!

So most of you know that I’ve been waiting very patiently to hear back from several publishers who are reviewing my manuscript… One publisher in particular I was very anxious to hear from, as they were one of my top choices, and two editors at this publishing house had shown interest in my manuscript. Well I seem to have hit a little roadblock with that publisher — the editor who requested my manuscript is leaving the company for a position with Warner Books.

When I returned from my trip, I found my manuscript had been returned by this outgoing editor (returned not rejected, along with a letter stating that I should “feel free to resubmit to another editor within the company until further notice.” This was disappointing on several levels, but mainly because I was already “in the door” with this outgoing editor, and having to start over from square one with another editor adds another 6-9 months to the waiting game. Aargh! Also, I didn’t know how to proceed… Should I query editor #2 first, or just send the full manuscript explaining the situation? Should I send it to Editor #1 at her new house? The last thing I want is for my manuscript to end up in the slush pile (editors seldom pay much attention to manuscripts unless they are specifically requested). What to do???

I decided to drop an email to one of the industry contacts I made at the Black Writers Conference in Dallas. This agent is currently reviewing my manuscript for possible representation, and hosted an excellent panel at the conference where she explained that “Black Publishing is a very small circle… actually, it’s not even a circle, it’s a dot.” Well she knows just about everyone inside this dot, so I emailed her and explained my situation, and within the hour she CALLED me to answer my question.

First of all, the turnaround time on my query, when I’m so accustomed to waiting forever to hear back from people, was Awesome. Her feedback and insight on the situation was incredibly helpful (saving me a grip of time and frustration), and she even offered to mention my situation to Editor #2 the next time she talks to her, and forward the manuscript along if Editor #2 wants to see it… Now that’s what I call efficient. And I’m not even her client!

So for now, things with that publisher are on “pause”, until some stuff shakes out… But I have someone on the inside looking out for me, which is a nice feeling. Writing can be such an isolating business in some ways, but now that I have other writers to commiserate with, and guardian agents looking out (THANKS MJ!!!), it’s much easier to ride out the waves of uncertainty. And I know that with each step, even the tiny ones, I’m inching closer to my dream…

36 days, 23 States (and into Canada), 10,302 miles, and two hubcaps later (lol), I am finally back home in Santa Cruz. What a wild and crazy adventure it’s been! The euphoria I felt upon returning home, seeing my boys again (JJ is freaking HUGE now!), and finally getting to rest, smoke, and veg — it’s been like the cherry on top of a extraordinarily delicious sundae loaded with whipped cream… Those of you that know me know I’m a total homebody, so this whole summer adventure was quite the departure from the norm… But I feel like this journey introduced me to a whole other side of my self (a freedom-loving, spontaneous, flexible, adventure-seeking side) that I didn’t know I had… And what do you know -she’s actually happy and whole a lot of fun… I really don’t want to see her go, lol. I have to find that perfect balance between home and away, responsibility and reckless abandon…

Processing this trip and everything that happened to me will take months… But you will all be able to read a fictionalized version of this summer’s misadventures when I complete the book I’m planning to write about it, lol. After I finish WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH… Which I plan to do sometime in October (I’m borrowing Esco’s deadline, lol). 😉 That’s right, I’m not just returning to the reality of my “day job”, but also to the reality of this other dream I’m bent on chasing — launching my writing career. There have been many developments on that front in the past month, and I need to sit down with all my options and make some decisions soon… I will definitely keep everyone posted on any good news 🙂

5 weeks on the road, a good portion of it travelling sola, was quite an undertaking… Many people thought I was “crazy” (I’m assuming in a good way??? lol), others were flat out inspired by my balls and determination. But I would (and plan to) do it all over again. This has been, hands down, the best summer of my entire life. I’m not gonna be all cliche and cheesy by saying I “found” myself, but I did gain a greater clarity on my dreams, goals, and desires than I’ve ever had. I know exactly what I want out of life. And I think I have a plan on getting there. And I’ve learned that every step along the sometimes crooked path I’m going to take to get there has beauty in it if I just slow down and look a little closer. There is beauty everywhere, even in heartbreak and pain. There is a reason for everything that happens. I’m not religious by any means, but I do believe now that God (Great Original Doer), has a plan… We just get so caught up in things that don’t mean anything folks… Love yourself, love everyone around you, and don’t take a moment you have on this earth for granted — it’s really that simple. Hard, lol, but simple… But we are all blessed to be alive and breathing ya’ll… Every last one of us…

In the spirit of spreading love and giving thanks, I have to acknowledge all the people along the way whose path I crossed, who added a layer of love, laughter, or knowledge to the mission. I have one hell of a story to tell, and each and every one of you contributed a priceless memory to it that I will cherish forever… To my poet for the love, inspiration, and companionship (I miss you); Meg for being the perfect Thelma to my Louise (I LOVE YOU!); my Jackson Fam (and Cousin Doug!) for giving me the feel of family when I was so far from home (I love and miss you guys so much! I’m already planning my return trip!); dear friends I was able to reconnect with after being geographically challenged for too long (Faby, Lil Chris, Nicola, Carolina, Corey, JoJo, Berhan, Benito) – thank you for the food, shelter, and friendship… Seeing a familiar face at regular intervals refreshed my spirit in ways you’ll never know…xoxo); all the McFriends and McGrawGirls I met and reconnected with – it’s so much fun having folks to share my obession with! (special shouts out to Leish, her beautiful children (I’ll be back Rachel, I promise!), Iris, Colleen, Mama Karen and Paige…xoxo); everyone I met at the Black Writers Conference in Dallas for the inspiration, advice, and community; everyone I interacted with in the South that showed me that “Southern Hospitality” is not just a myth or expression, but alive and well; Officer Hamilton and Deputy Dyk for their compassion and caring; every random person I met along the way that extended their kindness in my direction (especially Captain Mark!); Ann, Alcide, and Leo for making sure my boys, bills, and home were well taken care of when I was gone; and everyone back home who was missing me and praying for my safe travels – I definitely felt like I had a host of guardian angels with me every step of the way.

Flickr has been updated with the remaining vacation photos… So many memories, wow. I hope I can inspire some of you to plan your own little getaways… I’m telling you life is too short to not be L-I-V-I-N…

36 days, 23 States (and into Canada), 10,302 miles, and two hubcaps later (lol), I am finally back home in Santa Cruz. What a wild and crazy adventure it’s been! The euphoria I felt upon returning home, seeing my boys again (JJ is freaking HUGE now!), and finally getting to rest, smoke, and veg — it’s been like the cherry on top of a extraordinarily delicious sundae loaded with whipped cream… Those of you that know me know I’m a total homebody, so this whole summer adventure was quite the departure from the norm… But I feel like this journey introduced me to a whole other side of my self (a freedom-loving, spontaneous, flexible, adventure-seeking side) that I didn’t know I had… And what do you know -she’s actually happy and whole a lot of fun… I really don’t want to see her go, lol. I have to find that perfect balance between home and away, responsibility and reckless abandon…

Processing this trip and everything that happened to me will take months… But you will all be able to read a fictionalized version of this summer’s misadventures when I complete the book I’m planning to write about it, lol. After I finish WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH… Which I plan to do sometime in October (I’m borrowing Esco’s deadline, lol). 😉 That’s right, I’m not just returning to the reality of my “day job”, but also to the reality of this other dream I’m bent on chasing — launching my writing career. There have been many developments on that front in the past month, and I need to sit down with all my options and make some decisions soon… I will definitely keep everyone posted on any good news 🙂

5 weeks on the road, a good portion of it travelling sola, was quite an undertaking… Many people thought I was “crazy” (I’m assuming in a good way??? lol), others were flat out inspired by my balls and determination. But I would (and plan to) do it all over again. This has been, hands down, the best summer of my entire life. I’m not gonna be all cliche and cheesy by saying I “found” myself, but I did gain a greater clarity on my dreams, goals, and desires than I’ve ever had. I know exactly what I want out of life. And I think I have a plan on getting there. And I’ve learned that every step along the sometimes crooked path I’m going to take to get there has beauty in it if I just slow down and look a little closer. There is beauty everywhere, even in heartbreak and pain. There is a reason for everything that happens. I’m not religious by any means, but I do believe now that God (Great Original Doer), has a plan… We just get so caught up in things that don’t mean anything folks… Love yourself, love everyone around you, and don’t take a moment you have on this earth for granted — it’s really that simple. Hard, lol, but simple… But we are all blessed to be alive and breathing ya’ll… Every last one of us…

In the spirit of spreading love and giving thanks, I have to acknowledge all the people along the way whose path I crossed, who added a layer of love, laughter, or knowledge to the mission. I have one hell of a story to tell, and each and every one of you contributed a priceless memory to it that I will cherish forever… To my poet for the love, inspiration, and companionship (I miss you); Meg for being the perfect Thelma to my Louise (I LOVE YOU!); my Jackson Fam (and Cousin Doug!) for giving me the feel of family when I was so far from home (I love and miss you guys so much! I’m already planning my return trip!); dear friends I was able to reconnect with after being geographically challenged for too long (Faby, Lil Chris, Nicola, Carolina, Corey, JoJo, Berhan, Benito) – thank you for the food, shelter, and friendship… Seeing a familiar face at regular intervals refreshed my spirit in ways you’ll never know…xoxo); all the McFriends and McGrawGirls I met and reconnected with – it’s so much fun having folks to share my obession with! (special shouts out to Leish, her beautiful children (I’ll be back Rachel, I promise!), Iris, Colleen, Mama Karen and Paige…xoxo); everyone I met at the Black Writers Conference in Dallas for the inspiration, advice, and community; everyone I interacted with in the South that showed me that “Southern Hospitality” is not just a myth or expression, but alive and well; Officer Hamilton and Deputy Dyk for their compassion and caring; every random person I met along the way that extended their kindness in my direction (especially Captain Mark!); Ann, Alcide, and Leo for making sure my boys, bills, and home were well taken care of when I was gone; and everyone back home who was missing me and praying for my safe travels – I definitely felt like I had a host of guardian angels with me every step of the way.

Flickr has been updated with the remaining vacation photos… So many memories, wow. I hope I can inspire some of you to plan your own little getaways… I’m telling you life is too short to not be L-I-V-I-N…

I’m so happy that when I mapped my itinerary I ended the trip by coming home through the Pacific Northwest… I’d been to Seattle and Portland before, but have never driven through this part of the country. It is so beautiful everywhere, and the closer we get to California, the more and more things are starting to look and feel like home. Feels great to be back on the West Coast again — the Westside RULES!!!

It took us two hours to get across the border coming back from Canada, but we got into Seattle by 4pm, enough time for me to grab a hot shower and a grubbin’ dinner at the Outback Steakhouse before the concert. Seattle is a great city, and I loved being in the thick of it. Our hotel was walking distance from the Key Arena and Seattle Center, which made my concert mission totally manageable. This show was special because it marks my 30TH time seeing Tim McGraw in concert 🙂 The fact that my 30th show falls in my 30th year is kinda like ball players scoring a triple double or some other silly statistic like that — I love it! And Mr. and Mrs. McGraw did not disappoint — they blew the roof off that place like they always do. Faith ad-libbed a bit during “There Will Come a Day”, letting her political leanings show (“I don’t believe in war… I don’t believe in killing people… I believe in LOVE!!!” GO FAITH!) And Tim played a brand new song which I’d never heard before, “Fly Away”, which had Gracie, Maggie and Audrey singing at the end… AWESOME! I also ran into a couple at the show that I partied with at the Coyote Ugly in Nashville which was so Random but hella cool! See, I’m not the only fan that travels far and wide chasing cowboys 😉

After leaving Seattle, Megan and I drove down to Astoria, Oregon which was an awesome stopover. Meg wanted to see it because the Goonies and Kindergarden Cop were filmed there, lol. But it was a cute little fishing village town on the Columbia River, and we stumbled across the Astoria Column which is hands down the coolest column I’ve ever seen. The mural wraps around and up telling the story of how the area was discovered and settled. Then we climbed to the top of it (164 steps!) and had a gorgeous 360 degree panoramic view of the surrounding area – oceans, rivers, mountains and all. GORGEOUS. I’ll upload a full set of pics to Flickr as soon as I can, but for tonight all I have the energy for is the blog…

From there we drove down the Oregon Coast which is just GORGEOUS. It almost hurts me to say this, but the Oregon Coast kicks the California coasts ass! And I can’t even describe to you how giddy I felt laying eyes on the Pacific Ocean again after all these weeks away. I have officially made it from coast to coast to coast people!

I’ve decided that one day I must also own property on the Oregon Coast, lol, preferably in Cannon Beach or Arcadia. Imagine dense lush forests, tree-covered mountains, bridges and bays, AND the ocean all converging in one scenic vista. It was amazing. Simply amazing.

By the time we arrived at our destination in Cape Lookout, Oregon, I was already awed and beyond inspired… But when I pulled into our campsite just STEPS from this gorgeous beach, I realized what it means to be truly blessed. It could not have been a more perfect stopping point. We pitched our tent and then headed down to the beach where I got to watch the sun set into the Pacific Ocean for the first time in five weeks… And then later I fell asleep to the sound of the ocean waves rolling and lapping against the shore. For an ocean girl such as myself, this is about as close to heavan as it gets folks…

Currently we’re in Ashland, Oregon, about 15 miles north of the California border. By this time tomorrow I will be resting peacefully in my own bed, cuddled up with my kitties, having come full circle… I can’t believe I’m almost home, but at the same time, I’m so ready to be home… California, here we come!!!

It’s pretty crazy to me how as much of this country that I’ve seen in the past month, that things are still able to awe and amaze me. I swear, as we make our way West, the scenery just gets more and more gorgeous — and after the South and the Tetons, I didn’t think that was possible… But yet again, around every corner I see things that just leave me speechless…

After we left our river campsite in Twisp, WA (the most quiet, serene, peaceful place I’ve stopped thus far), we took a scenic drive through the North Cascade Mountains in northern Washington. GORGEOUS. I highly recommend the Hwy 20 scenic loop. There were rivers that ran alongside the road, snow-crusted mountain peaks that loomed above us, and the most surreal mountain lake I’ve ever laid eyes on…

I’m not exactly sure how/why the water was that particular shade of turquoise, but it took my breath away.

After we toured the Cascades, we decided to take a detour and head into Canada, lol. Not on the original itinerary, lol, but Meg really wanted to see Vancouver, and since I’m all about flexibility and spontanaiety (this summer ;-), I was happy to oblige. The border guards hassled us a bit upon entry (good thing they confiscated all the contraband in South Dakota!), and they took our pepper spray, but they were friendly and funny (unlike the asshole cop in South Dakota), and after a brief interrogation, they let us through. We spent the rest of the day cruising around Vancouver and having a gay old time…

Apparently some refer to Vancouver as “San Francisco North”, and I would totally agree except its much cleaner and prettier. Water everywhere, bridges everywhere, and a bustling city without the graffiti and homeless people. We drove all over Vancouver and didn’t see one slum, ghetto, or run-down area. The trees in Stanley Park were lush and very much reminded me of the South (minus the humidity). The exchange rate worked in our favor so we got more for our money everywhere we went (we splurged on a hotel and a nice dinner to celebrate!), and Megan fell totally in love with the area (she’s abandoning her plans to move to South Dakota or Montana now, favoring the Pacific Northwest). All in all, it was a wonderful day — the memories of speeding tickets and flat tires far behind us. Thank God.

We’re making our way home now, and after 4+ weeks on the road, I’m ready to be home. I miss my kitties something awful and my body is pretty sick of spending 6 hours a day in the car, lol. So while I expected to be sad that my most awesome summer vacation is drawing to a close, I’m actually ready to come off the road. We should be home by Saturday or Sunday. I can’t believe I’m two states away from coming full circle on the trip of a lifetime…