:: Dokken ::

Woke up this morning at 6:30 to pouring rain and thunder. I was having major flashbacks... last summer on July 4, my parents and grandparents were supposed to come and stay in Bandera for the holiday, and Bandera was underwater and we were flooded into our house. I can't believe that was only a year ago! At any rate, I had the fleeting thought this morning that it was happening again, and my first thought was, "Oh no! I need to go to the store!" We have quality, sugary baked goods for days, but nothing in the way of actual sustenance. We would die of malnutrition, but be really hyper in the process. I *forced* myself to do my dishes yesterday, even though I felt like total poo poo on a stick, because I was wanting to flee the house every time I'd walk into the kitchen. I just couldn't take it anymore. Maybe today I'll do all that laundry. But probably not. I'm declaring my independence from chores today. And spelling.

We were glad for the flood, though, last year, because we were stuck at home and forced to finish writing songs for the album we were supposed to record the next week. I can't believe it's been a year since we were in the studio! I wrestle with many emotions regarding that. On the one hand, I want to make sure we put out the best record possible for our listeners, so I don't mind taking as long as we need to make that happen. On the other hand, I'm so afraid that no one will remember us or like us by the time we finally get it out. It's been so long since we were really working the local circuit. The buzz is gone. Out of sight, out of mind, right? And to really play on my fears, every time I send out a newsletter I get a number of emails that say, "Oh, yeah, umm, could you take me off your list? We don't want to hear about Lady Jane Grey anymore." Well that doesn't feel very good! What, you don't care about us anymore? See, that's that little whiny artist ego that I have to slap around every now and then for being a big baby. Our music, unlike other professions, is a part of who we are, so little barbs like that are very hard not to take personally. But we haven't been out among the living in awhile, and so sometimes you lump all those negative vibes together and assume that that's the collective feeling out there. We really just have to pretty much start over again. But I'm ready to do that. I'm looking forward to the challenge of finding new venues and radio stations and stuff... and really want to make a splash with the album. It's a great album. I can say that because we had so little to do with the fact that it's a great album. God did it all. And Sinko got such amazing talent, and he is so great at what he does, and it just really sounds like an amazing, beautiful album. I can't wait to get it out there.



Is this not the coolest picture? It's one of the angels at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, TX in the midst of a lightning storm. Bass Hall is my favorite venue ever... someday we will play there. Saw Mary Black there a few years back. What an amazing show... Mary Black in Bass Hall. That needs to happen again very soon. I need a live music fix.

Speaking of that.... wow. I'm really excited about this one. Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, and Dar Williams all on tour together. I can't wait. What a once-in-a-lifetime show that's gonna be! I'm a huge fan of, of course, Shawn, as well as Patty and Mary, but I'm not too familiar with Dar's stuff. This is a tour that's not to be missed.

Okay, my SARS is starting to make me feel worn out again. But that's good... usually I'm only up a couple of hours and I start wearing out. Today I've been up since 6:30, and now it's 1:30pm and I'm just now wanting to go lay down. Hey, look I'm getting better. And my dreads got re-waxed last night, so they're all happy and nappy again. Life is good. I want to bake an apple pie. Well, after I take a nap.