So much has happened since my last post. With a very sad heart I have to report, Nellie the sweetest dog that I have been dog sitting this month, had to be put down this week.
Last week, she began to suffer a new set of terrible health problems.
She was almost 19 years old, (that is 130 years old in human years), she was almost
completely blind, deaf, incontinent, and was losing motor function of her legs
and very disoriented most of the time.
3 days after my last post, she began to show signs of what
looked like a stroke. I rushed her to
the veterinarian emergency hospital, and then Wednesday, October 24th,
I gently caressed her sweet little head, as the doctor softly helped her cross over the rainbow
bridge.
My heart goes out to the Doyle family who gave her the
richest most loving and beautiful life. It was an honor to be her friend.
She is so very missed.
HUGE THANKS to my sweet friends who were by my side and my support and help during this very sad and difficult situation. Love you all tons!
I woke up this morning and looked around the room and said, "Whaaa? Where did I park last night? Where am I?" It was dark in the room and I sat up and realized, I was not even in my van. I was in a king size bed alone, then remembered I was house sitting for a dear girl friend who left the country. A weird moment, that only a full time vanlifer would understand. ha, ha, ha...
I am lucky to be getting paid to house and dog sit for a month in a nice house on the Pacific ocean, and extra happy it has an outdoor hot tub. One of the perks of my life is having outgoing friends who like to travel and have adorable pets that need to be watched over. I am watching a very sweet older dog.
Nellie is an 18 year old Westy and she likes my soul funk wake up music filled mornings, and whatever new house music at dinner I dance around with when I start cooking a little shumthin, shumthin, when I get home. Mostly she likes my snuggles in front of a good Netflix movie, bacon and vanilla bubble baths before bed and then drying off in front of the fireplace all warm and comfy together.
She has lost much of her eye sight and hearing, and is mostly incontinent now and gets stuck in corners and can't back up anymore by herself. Her little legs can't stand for very long and she has a hard time eating from a bowl without you holding it for her. She is still kicking it and she still talks to me. She actually makes sounds like she is saying, hello - when I open the door and say "Hello Gorgeous Puppy."
She loves my singing of sweet jazz standards around the house while cleaning and rolls her eyes at my stupid jokes. I love her so very much! Nellie is an Angel, with fur.
Today was my first day at my new corporate contract Biotech day job. As far as Science day jobs go, I PICKED THE BEST PLACE. It felt strange to be back in a corporate environment after being off since March, but really good at the same time.
I am a more alive and stronger than ever
now that I am living without pain!
I am a free range chicken that does well with structure in my daily life. I think this is how I can successfully do 20 things at once without dropping a ball. I love living with so much freedom as well as my structured consistent reliabilities. It's a nice combination that allows me to deliver and make my commitments and deadlines on time in my life. They are a sweet balance that are the building blocks to my entrepreneurial fun filled future!
The new group I am supporting are as smart as hell and funny, appreciative and very nice people. I feel honored that I am now part of their team. I have some hard work ahead of me. I am fortunate to help make the difference in the lives of those who need my expertize, TLC, organizational help, event and party planning fun and daily happy ju ju.
Some of us who didn’t grow up with much guidance or support,
had to make it on our own and really learn the hard way. We made mistakes,
trusting the wrong people, being betrayed by a cruel world and many of us
losing ourselves in the jungle of life without a machete. Many close to us
didn’t survive, and this made it even more terrifying. Many of us spent much of
our lives learning how to forgive our own mistakes and those of our
families and how they affected us. Most just hide from life and go along with
the flow, never rocking the boat so they will make it through without too much
damage inside and out.
But there are a few of us out there who never went along
with the flow, or the herd. We fought, we loved, we called bullshit out and
suffered the consequences. We learned to observe from a distance and found our
own balance and self-expression were the only truth to living a life worth
living. Also, a tough and lonely way to go. We were rejected, and even
feared by the culture and society.
We are the ones who saw a need and were sly enough to
gracefully change the direction of where the herd was going, out of snoozville
and into someplace exciting and new. We were the first one on the dance floor,
that got the party started. We were the wild ones who jumped in that pool with
our clothes on at the end of that paid gig. We were the ice breakers, the trend
setters that saw what was possible next before everyone else.
We started the creative things and stepped back to behold
the fun they brought, because it was never about us, it was about what we
created that took on a life and positive change all on its own. We also knew
how to climb the ladder to success but didn't like where that ladder was headed
if it was set up by someone else. We knew we needed to find our own way on our
own terms.
Eventually, we became what we needed, our own fathers and
mothers to ourselves. This led to
becoming the guidance that developed our own beings into something much more
valuable than what we observed in the kids we saw we grew up with, that did
have loving and intelligent good parenting.
Many of us had enough time, determination, and passion to
survive and let go of the shit and stuff we really didn't need to set ourselves
free and live a better life.
Many of us don't have anything huge to show
as far as worldly stuff on the outside anymore, but we certainly do
on the inside. We did, but when we changed what we truly valued in life, we let a lot of it go. I think this is why so
many I know start later in life to create the real fulfilling life they want.
They finally got real with themselves and discovered what matters most.
This life factor creates “Late Bloomers”. Yet the advantage in being a late bloomer
that you may not know is, late bloomers bring much, much more to the table of
whatever they engage in. Be it business, intimacy, friendship, and any form of
creative expression. We are the Real Deal because we not only have the
knowledge, we also have the applied experience that has been tested out. We
late bloomers have the scars and awards to prove it.
This combination Knowledge + Life Experience = Wisdom, is
the definition of what living breathing real wisdom may be. Late bloomers who rediscover themselves in
the last half of their lives, tend to give themselves the permission to live
their lives as they were originally intended. Some may have endured much more
than their share of heavy, burdensome, overwhelming painful lives, that at the
last half of life, they get to be happy, free and full of joy and playfulness,
living the childhood they missed as children themselves.
We learned how to trust ourselves and follow our own inner
guidance. We learned the secret of self-reliance and the importance of good
quality friendships, how be a good friend to those we love, let the toxic ones
go, and nurture and cherish the truly good ones we have.
We learned that happiness did not come from being competitive with others as everyone
else was around us. Real winning comes from the honor from our competitiveness with ourselves to
attain personal excellence refinement and self-mastery. We learned that the
secret to true success in relationships was to not take our egos too seriously.
With wisdom comes good timing. Late bloomers are methodical, intuitive and
patient, but also realize that they are running out of time. This combination
is how magic happens in one’s life direction and purpose!
When a late bloomer finally wakes up and decides to step
into their true power, beauty and life – BIG THINGS HAPPEN.
Whatever they decide to do will become a success. A Real
Success in ways that the world around them may not understand. They make huge
changes and may do drastic things that may freak out their friends and family
during the transition. It involves discovering what really brings meaning,
purpose and what legacy they want to leave behind for their own.
There are even what I call “Crazy Diamond Late Bloomers.” We
are the ones in a hurry to create something we can leave behind for our beloveds
and inspire and help the heart of humanity.
We choose to live these lives because we are the Crazy Diamonds that
have something to share that is truly valuable. We are bold, fearless and
seasoned by life. We have inner wisdom golden nuggets of goodness that many
need to hear to better their own lives.
We know how to create a life for ourselves in a way that is manageable,
profitable and fulfilling, fun and full of real true freedom. The smartest ones
get paid to have fun and share their inner wealth of love and joy.
This is the true reward at the end of life. The trust we
have earned with ourselves and ability to attract like-minded beings to us, is
the icing on the grand cake. We create the family we never had and a creative
home that we are proud to share with those we love.
Even if you have not known “Great Love” yet. As a late bloomer, you are more prepared for
truly great love than anyone. You have learned from your mistakes in loves
past. You are wiser now. It is your time now. The loneliness you once felt as a
child will be melted away when you feel their lips touch yours. There is
someone longing to love you and share in your dreams who will be there for you
when you need them the most. THERE IS
SOMEONE FOR EVERYONE.
This love coming your way, will not rob you of your freedom.
So, Shine On and Allow Love to find you just as you are
right now. You may be a bit older but are more lovable than ever. So, if you are frustrated sometimes and feel
behind, slow or just lost. Trust in yourself. Listen to your positive inner
guidance. Do what you always wished you had done. Create a beautiful happy life
while you are still here. DO IT NOW.
My poetic writing, lyrics and musical style expressions are getting ridiculously sexual these days. I just listened to this amazing artist and she says so much of what I have been feeling lately, or at least fantasizing about. Listen to this....
I looked at my life and went back in time and can't believe the truth of how long it has been. OMFG.I said I was going to keep it real. Yes my friends, well here is the truth....I have not been officially intimate with a man in 10 years as of October 1, 2018.
The Chasity belt short summary goes like this... After my last serious intimate relationship and I broke it off in 2008, he suddenly up and died unexpectedly at 46 years old. I decided to take a break from romantic love for awhile. It started out as a vow of celibacy and alone time to grieve and heal for one year, then several other very close friends started dropping dead and it became 2 years and then 5, and then lots of agonizing physically unbelievably painful and then extremely scary, tortuously horrible health shit happened. Then empowering fighting and inspiring life affirming, powerful winning true life miracle kick-ass stories after that. It was seriously fucked up and transforming at the same time. I loved myself back into life from the inside out. The end of the story is, I MADE IT OUT ALIVE! TAAA DAAA! I'm back. I feel truly here. I'm more in my body than ever in my life. It's like all of my senses are working better. I am sensual in a way now that is hard to describe. Life has become so much more precious and important to me now. Why are door knobs beginning to look so good to me? I can't keep my eyes off the cucumbers in the market, and I don't even like cucumbers. Looking back now, I didn't want to be with someone until I was honestly whole again. I can say that I am more whole than I have ever been in my life. Once these new bionic knees are bed making functional, I may need someone to show me how it's done again. I feel new, fresh, (pure would be too far) but innocent in many ways, and a little embarrassed, but now you know. I can't believe I told you.
Now you know why such an outgoing girl has been so shy.
So there I was, laying in my van last night parked on the hill next to the beach. I was all hunkered down in my comfy bed and curled up with a cuppa hot chocolate and a movie I'd really wanted to finally see...
The Greatest Showman Movie
If you haven't seen this, I encourage you to watch this one. Hugh Jackman will blow your ever loving mind. Any Wolverine images of sharp knifes ejecting out of skin and bad hair will vanish from your memory forever when you see him in this inspiring film. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC IN THIS ONE.
So I'm watching the Broadway like production (Which I am usually not a fan of, but was totally digging the energy)
and then this one song began... and I jumped out of the bed and started dancing and singing. I flung open the side doors of the van and started jumping and shouting at the moon...
This Is Me
Keala Settle, The Greatest Showman Ensemble
I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are
But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in
We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun (we are warriors)
Yeah, that's what we've become (yeah, that's what we've become)
I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
This is me
and I know that I deserve your love
(Oh-oh-oh-oh) 'cause there's nothing I'm not worthy of
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh)
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
This is brave, this is proof
This is who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause here I come)
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)
THE ENTIRE SOUNDTRACK IS OUTSTANDING, BUT HOLY CRAP. This song hit my heart and hit me right where I live. This is totally where I am and what I am going through in my life right now.
Being an artistic, possibly eccentric. maverick type of soul that is attempting to create something different and new is not an easy life. You have to be a dreamer and shoot for the stars, but also outside of the box enough to believe in it and bold enough to get out and make it a reality. I'm crazy like that. If you know me, you know I get an idea and I JUST DO STUFF. Big stuff or little stuff that packs a wallop.
I am on my own doing this van life style in my area, (I have met a couple others in person that seemed a little bit... "overly friendly", and not in a good way, so I keep to myself) and I am embarking on a big new career change, creating something I am really passionate about. I am refining my creative talents, trying new mediums and working very hard at taking my music to the next level.
These health road blocks I've had for the past few years slowed me down a bit and probably would have destroyed other people, but I am a warrior diva, I am very strong. I have my health issues resolved. DONE. I have moved on now.
My challenge is that I am a recovering perfectionist, emphasis on the word recovering. I know what I am capable of, and I am not there yet. Practice, practice, I am practicing my ass off right now. I know I am not as young as I was when I was touring and singing, I just miss the things I was able to do before vocally. In many ways, I feel that today, I am better than I have ever been in my life. I have lived some and have a depth in my being that was never there in my voice before. Age has given me that. I am also more grounded than ever in my life. I am unafraid to be who I am and share the real me with you. I will always be true to you.
I wrestle with myself inside because I know who I am and what I am meant to be. My best self is shinier, brighter, playfully witty and romantically goose bump and toe curling good on any day of the week, but especially as a performer, I can be even better if I get to the point where I Can Deliver skill wise. I am working my ass off right now and getting my serious vocal chops and entrepreneurial Mo Jo back.
It's hard to know when to put yourself out there. Auditions and rejections can be brutal over time. Timing is huge, but being prepared and ready is everything. I like to run my own show, so that makes things easier on one hand, but way, way, WAY more work. I will need to go back to a day job to build this and I am dreading that, but staying in the van and saving money will help me launch this faster.
I am that sort of passionate, over the top, real love that doesn't know how not to just open my heart completely. I can't help but express the truth of what I feel inside, yet you may be surprised at how quiet I am in person, at the same time.
For as shattered as my heart has been at times in my life, I still am kinda innocent and naive in the squishy places inside me that matter. I still believe in love. This is why I have to be careful and sometimes wish for a strong protective man to be by my side.
This is why I have been locked away, writing, disciplined, focused, studying, testing, practicing and preparing. I know I will never be perfect, I don't want to be that. I want to be the best me I can be.
I believe that being the best version of myself in the world shows my highest respect to you, and life and me.
My style of art, music, words and self expression aren't just beautiful and fun, they secretly are transformative. They work on several levels at once. This is the real purpose of my self expression in the world. To serve the world, love, music, food, art and fun. It will taste and feel like hope, joy, comfort and empowerment. The kind of safe place every child-like heart, at any age, will come out and play with.
My life, my little stories of how I survived it and how I changed myself will hopefully give our next generations of awesome humans what they need to make it on their own and a better world for everyone in it. This is me. Told you I was weird. 😜
I am still learning that balance between pushing myself to be my best, and being okay with not being where I want to be. This song really helped me just be okay with where I am right now.
I am not sure if I will actually pay to sign up for Match.com yet, but I filled out the bio tonight... it's like I'm practicing.
Would you call this an abuse of metaphors? What does this even mean?
At least a guy knows what I might like for dessert. I have not been on an actual date with a man in a long time.
My apologies to any cool guys who may be trying to contact me on Match.com. I haven't joined yet, so I can't see your responses. Would anyone answer an ad like this one? I could write dozens of ads, but they all just come out as weird as I am. Oh, and I just moved out of a million dollar home and into a custom stealth camper van full time to save some money and start my own business. I am the woman on stage singing as the star of the show, or the lady in black sitting in the corner at Starbucks wearing a headset working on learning video editing and other new software tutorials. Or I'm that chick swimming in the pool working on her graceful freestyle stroke wearing a swimsuit that says, "I'm a reality show," and a waterproof MP3 player listening to deep house funk or inspiring music, doing laps sometimes before the sun comes up. I don't really spend much time in clubs anymore unless I'm working as an event planner. I figure, I'll meet someone at work, the gym, a party or at one of my shows or events. Maybe going online is the best way to save time? Does Amazon Prime have a shopping cart to find amazing single or divorced men in their 40's, 50's or 60's? At my age, most all of the good ones are married and staying put in their relationships whether they are happy or not. I am not against getting married again, just not today. I also don't want the charming booty calls from ex-boyfriends. I haven't gone there either. I think if I really felt like I needed someone to share my life with right now, I would hunt him down in the most adorable, creative, romantic ways and get him. Hunting is not my style, but you may have gathered by now, if you found me here from Match.com, this is more like "Fly Fishing". A guy has to really show an interest in me if he wants to get my attention. There is a diferrence beween a want and a need. My nickname Tré (short for Tracy) means a couple things. It stands for "3" or "III" as in, "Three times as good", and "Very". I am very something. Let's just say, I'm not a match for a man that owns a sweater vest. I am happy in my really weird beautiful life,and with myself and I've been okay without someone for the past few years. I think my heart has survived this long because of my complete infatuation with nature and beauty in the world.
Is it possible that it is no longer enough to sustain me? Am I longing for intimacy with a man? Wait, did you just hear something? I think my pussy just whispered, "yes." 😉 "Shut up down there." Maybe I am saving myself for someone worth loving for real, or just looking for a loyal fun friend to goof off with and if there is chemistry between us, and we both really dig each other, then we can mess up each others hair in creative ways and see where it leads us. I'm not really looking for a boyfriend, but who knows what can happen. How do young at heart weirdo's like me meet other single fun outgoing weirdo's? The thought of shopping for a guy in an online store is so generic to me. I am not your normal everyday woman. It's so strange to try and write something like this, it's like a resume for mating. I think this is why I never sign up. I am sure that my path will eventually cross with someone else's, who is being, loving and living his beautiful life in the same direction as mine out there. Ain't it better if we just bump into one another because we are already living the lives we love? I think meeting someone whose life dreams are already going in the same direction as one another, is a sure fit for a deliciously fun life, don't you? I AM GETTING READY TO REALLY SHINE MY LIGHT SO YOU CAN FIND ME, WHOEVER YOU ARE OUT THERE. 💞
I was so happy to see the great Aretha Franklin 3 years ago live at the Oakland Coliseum. Tonight I opened my little jazz set with the Barbary Jazz Quartet at the Comstock Saloon in North Beach district of San Francisco with a sexy jazz version of "Chain of Fools", in honor of my beloved Aretha Franklin, who passed away earlier this morning.
God Rest her precious soul. The lady gave me strength during some of my darkest days.
She is the reason why they call me "Mama Tré" when I be singing the soul songs I do.
It's because of her heart and SOUL that somehow bonded with mine. I am soft and heartfelt in my songs and also have a powerful big voice when I want to open the love from my heart. I have a great capacity for giving and receiving love. This is why I must express myself creatively in the world. I once used all four of my vocal octaves when I was singing full time. I don't much anymore. I'm pretty rusty right now, but working on them. I am listening to her right now and honoring her amazing contribution to the world of real soul music. I LOVE YOU QUEEN OF SOUL. My personal favorite live performance, as a professional vocalist that I love the most, was when she was asked to fill in for Pavarotti last minute, when he was ill.
CHECK THIS OUT:
and my other favorite:
May I one day shine as bright as even the shadow of you.
This morning was extra fun during my Aqua Zumba class at 24-hour
fitness.There is this one very old tiny
lady named Annie. She is 86 years old. She wears a
bright colored swimsuit and always has a smile on her face. Today's class was
exceptional.
Aqua Zumba has awesome music and its super fun and high energy. It's like a Zumba dance class, but in the water. That's even better because you have less impact on your joints, but with the resistance of the water, it's an added benefit, plus if you are uncoordinated, no one can tell because you are in water up to your chest. : ) If you do it right, it will kick your ass, in a good way. I work very hard in class three days a week, in
the deeper end of the pool and secretly pretend I am a young Jane Fonda the entire
time. (Have you seen her lately? Jane
looks frigging gorgeous for her age.)
Jane Fonda is 80 years old, I know right? Amazing.
Annie stays in the shallow end of the pool and is very
chatty with the other sweet old ladies and tries her best to participate in class, but today Annie was amazing. During
class she sang every song in her full voice like it was karaoke. I could not help myself but join in with her. The entire class including the instructor did
as well. We all had a total blast!
Her joy was contagious.Even with her little humped back and completely wrinkled body from head
to toe, she shined like the most beautiful sun into each of our hearts.
Your age inside is as young as YOU decide it will be.
I feel like the universe is guiding me in the best ways. After losing my house, my job, my car all within a four week period. I was laid off by a company I really loved working at, and with people I really cared about. Then a few weeks later I had double knee replacement surgery, the most unbelievably painful surgery and recovery of my life. Being bed ridden and unable to walk for what felt like an eternity, I wasliterally helpless even go to the bathroom.Bed pans are the worst. I was feeling pretty low, humiliated, and helpless. Not once did I feel hopeless however. No one likes to have their ego and heart both knocked down in the dirt.
My recent lack of confidence at times was daunting, but somehow,
I kept my head high and knew I would win this fight. The sweet hard working very kind nurses and the young handsome funny physical therapists that I was lucky enough to be my guys, are the reason why I have full flat and bendable range of motion in both of my knees. My dear friends that came and visited me, let me stay with them and watched over me and kept me laughing and feeling loved certainly made all of the difference.
Running low on funds, and feeling the need for getting my independence
back, I started doing research on YouTube for tips on the best ways to live in
a van full time. I found a couple other beautiful trail blazing, shining stars out there, that somehow (like a cosmic defibrillator) reached across the continent and gave me that “Spark of fire” back that had
gone out from taking such a beating from a full life smack down.
I am very grateful for my life and the beautiful other souls
on this planet that are free to just express themselves and shine their bright
lights out into the world.
From the water and fire I emerge!
Between the healing waves
of the Pacific Ocean, a chlorinated swimming pool and the powerful passion fire like the Sun that shines from the lights of others.
I AM BACK! MY CREATIVE HEART, VOICE, MIND, BODY AND SOUL ARE RECHARGED AND ON FIRE! It's time for me to shine again.
I have cool creative new things cooking! STAY TUNED!
I had no idea how fulfilling this van life
style was going to be. Having the freedom to get away from the world when you
just don’t want to be around people is truly a gift.And then also being able to have a safe
secret hide-a-way stealth bedroom, being parked right in the middle of where
all the real action is also – ROCKS!
Convenience is a huge value to me in my life. I know
myself well enough that if I want to change a habit or start something new and
follow through with it until the end, it needs to be not too painful to make
the changes consistently over time. Van life is giving me that. It simplifies your life and allows you to be
parked close to where you need to be.
I am more engaged in my life than ever before. It makes
you get out and see the world. It makes you go visit people and do things you
always wanted to, but just never could before because you were working your ass
off somewhere to pay for a giant life that may have lost it's way. Downsizing and simplifying my world is an easier way to live. I love you all out there on this planet. You know what a
ridiculously generous heart I have and how much I love, giving love to you. Today is my time. ME TIME!I’m resting, nurturing, cleaning up my act, re-learning how to walk again, designing a creative business, taking
my body, mind and soul to the edge of life and falling… IN LOVE WITH LIFE AND A NEW ME AGAIN. Sometimes we need a reboot to our system.
SO HERE I AM, IN LIVE RE-BOOTY ACTION LADIES & GENTS!
I’m feeling like I am falling off a cliff into the great unknown again. This time I am not afraid, I welcome the free fall and almost the impact coming my way. I’ve been here many times, but this time I am planning on where my impact happens and will land on my feet. I AM IN
CHARGE OF MY LIFE AND DESTINY. I’m giving me a chance to get reacquainted. I am being utterly and unabashedly selfish right now. It is truly a gift of time and attention that was long overdo.
When I love and accept myself, I am freed from the burden of needing you to accept me.
A kind of acceptance I may have never had before. A chance to build trust and kindness and earn the self-respect I forgot to
give to me. There is a lightness I am experiencing
inside me and in my body. I feel like as I am laying here wrapped in these silk
sheets inside my van, I am in a sweet selfish chrysalis. I love new authentic experiences. I am becoming someone new, again.
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am,
then I can change.
“Yoga
is the journey of the Self, through the Self, to the Self.”
I'm laying here in my van. It's my very first night to be sleeping in here as an official Urban Nomad. I can understand why it's easier to have a pet to keep you company embarking upon such a journey. Yet, I know I can keep quiet with less worries all to my silky soft headphone wearing vanilla kissed self.
It's now late and dark outside. I am parked under a safe street light and warm, comfy and feeling... AWESOME, happy, yet sort of like I am getting away with something. Tonight I toast to this new full time van life. ADVENTURE AWAITS!
It's time for me to save some money and follow my heart!
Instead of boring updates on Face crack, I thought I'd just write yall' a short novel on what's up with my new bionic knees and my really weird beautiful life!
EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE YEARS? A year that may be kicking your ass but in a new WAY BETTER DIRECTION? Check this out...
My landlord sold the house I was living in for $1.4M. I got help from my muscle bound pals moving everything I own into my storage unit by the sea in Pacifica, CA. I got rid of tons of stuff. It is a year of "Letting Go" so far. I am on track.
I got a 3% raise and a big bonus at my Bio-tech start-up job again this year. What I wasn't expecting was for them to eliminate my position all in the same week. I got an amazing letter of recommendation and have nothing but positive references. They gave me 4 months severance at my new pay rate, the bonus and 4 months of full Cobra medical, dental coverage. A week after I got the news of all of this change, my Gnaughty Gnome Art Car daily driver died and went to the Big Keebler Heaven in the sky. I donated it to a charitable cause (after I removed the bad boys). My last day at my house and at work was on February 28th.
I was already going to have one knee replaced due to this bloody osteoarthritis, (which I guess is genetic in my family, and totally blows) that was scheduled and approved for March, but when all this happened, my surgeon said we may as well just do both of my knees at the same time and get it over with. THIS IS WHAT THEY DID TO MY KNEES.
Are you freaking out? Yea, so, I doubled down! I had double knee replacement surgery on March 27th and was released from rehab after 5 weeks and into the care of a very kind couple friends of mine who have been watching over me as I learn how to walk again and get back on my feet. I am doing my personal physical therapy diligently everyday. I am off of the walker and am using a dazzling black sequin cane to walk more than 300 steps still. If I have to use one, it had to be a FABULOUS ONE!
I am having very sharp pain if I stand or sit too long. The nerves that were cut in my bones during surgery are still healing, and my muscles are getting stronger everyday. I am weaning myself off of the pain meds into over the counter pain relievers when needed. Ice really helps too. This shit makes you feel old, but I know that once I am healed, this means I will be able to dance until the day I die!
I just sold the Leopard Lounge VW Artcar Bus to the perfect person. A beautiful redheaded creative VW loving Burlesque dancer with a husband who is a car mechanic. PERFECT FIT! She is keeping the theme and is continuing with the next level of epic fun restoration.
I have no art cars today, it feels so weird, but I am always working on some new fun creative project. I needed a cargo van for my events and bought a 2015 Ford Transit Commercial Cargo Van that I am building out into a beautiful camper. For over 20 years I have been longing to have a comfortable reliable stealth camper.
It started when I wanted a private place to take 30 minute naps during my lunch break at work, but after trying to sleep in a VW Camper Bus Art Car painted like Austin Powers wet dream, with all the attention it got there was no peace at all I assure you, I decided I wanted to become invisible when I needed too.
I love to cook! I also really like to eat low carb with lots of fresh vegetables, and save money, so being able to cook and make my own food in private was also a huge need for me to stay on track for my weight loss goals and over all health.
I am updating my resume and searching for a new job, and have lost a bunch of weight and am feeling good considering I am still slow at walking, bending and doing stairs etc. I don't want to go into a job interview with a cane if I can help it.
For as hot as it sounds, I also don't want to continue to walk like Frankenstein, which I kind of look like right now. My new knees are great, I'm just still getting used to them. I have titanium and plastic in them now. The airport security is going to love me.
I think in the past I would be curled up in a corner freaking the fuck out right about now, but honestly - I FEEL HAPPIER THAN EVER. I sat at that desk working days, took work home every night and worked at home on the weekends way more than I wanted too.
I would be helping and giving to people all day long, working long hours and then putting on a sexy black dress in the work ladies room and then helping unload and then set-up the sound system in high heels and then singing a 4 hour jazz gig until the wee hours. Music is what feeds my spirit, singing and expressing such beautiful songs in my own romantic femme fatal way was my refuge for so many years.
I remember looking out the high rise window from the San Francisco office and wishing I could just change my life somehow. Why was I working so much for other people and not having time to really enjoy my life? Start-up jobs are like that. I love the challenge and I wore several hats there, but the stress was taking it's toll on me.
I need some me time. I have an opportunity to change my life now, and I am doing it. Now with unemployment help and a little cash cushion saved up, I think it's time for an adventure!
So, I have decided to move into my van full time to hit the road starting July 4th for the summer! I'm celebrating our fabulous countries Independence.
I AM CELEBRATING MY INDEPENDENCE TOO!
Haven't you had the fantasy of ever doing this? I HAVE FOR YEARS! I actually have been kind of preparing myself for this for a long time. The cost of living in San Francisco is at an all time high and I have been sharing houses, renting tiny rooms with other people for a long time now. I do not want the burden of being tied to a high ass mortgage payment by myself right now, this late in the game.
Having a van that is custom built for my needs and lifestyle is like having a swanky bedroom with a mini kitchen all to myself, but on wheels. I think my biggest fantasy has been, being able to go to all of the fun music festivals and events I want, and the money I would be paying for hotels, I can spend on better event seating tickets and fine dining. I am a frugal diva when I need to be, and it's just me right now (no pets at the moment). I am pretty simple and pretty easy to please. I'm very inspired by the young cool kids out there around the world who are living their minimalist dreams traveling in their pimped out stealth van cribs.
I did purchase some of the big things I knew I wanted for the van, so for now I am holding off on buying the other possible big ticket items for the van until I know what I really can't live without. But will have the basics all ready to be comfy, safe, cool and stealthy. I have never really done anything like this before. I want to learn and enjoy the process of building out this van. I know I want to stay connected with you all, and you know what a kind of clean freak I am, so having it orderly and well appointed is a must for my mobile boudoir. San Francisco is freezing in the summer, I may need a good heater!
I am a little nervous, but I am more excited to try this out just for the summer until I land the next awesome bio tech project manager/sr. executive assistant/corporate event planning position. Then I'll find a cute apartment or share a big house with fun friends and move into new digs.
Eventually, I'd like to put a tow package onto the van and tow a sweet 30 ft. travel trailer. My glamping style is getting easier - with lower gear setup plans as I get older. I have a vision of an art car camper trailer - doing metal art and an artistic brushed aluminum on the exterior of a vintage restored Airstream and add a fiberglass claw foot bathtub inside. Towing it with the cargo van, it could be my garage, so most of what I am putting in there now is removable.
Imagine an Airstream that looks like this on the outside!
For this summer, I'd like to take advantage of the freedom and opportunity to travel the west coast of the U.S. and Canada and visit friends. I also have a great gym membership, so I can use the pools for low impact physical therapy in my rehabilitation and start some weight training for getting a tighter body. I won't have a shower in the van, but I do have a high end nice flush-able portable toilet. I like to shower everyday, so taking Pilate's, spin, yoga and swimming are what work well for me and are helping.
The outside of my work van looks like all of the other nicer newer (slightly used cosmetically : ) commercial vans out there with a roof rack. I have 4- 100 watt glass solar panels, and 4 enclosed large Universal 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM Batteries. I also have 2 Fantastic roof vents. They feel like skylights inside.
The roof rack is painted white, so it all just blends in. It's not that stealth, but it's clean, and just looks like every other work van out there. I may add an event business logo to it once I design it, but I don't want to draw attention to the van and or make it a "MILF Dwelling", but the van is for my glamping events long term.
I have a new steel bulkhead partition with a door. No windows on the sides of the van, just 2 on the back with limo tint. 3 LED lights, and one warm white strand of copper string fairy lights on a USB 12 volt connection. It's a low roof van. I'm 5'6", so I can't stand-up in there. I have an adjustable stool on wheels to sit on and move around the van inside, to save my knees.
Nice commercial work van outside, romantic beautiful Tuscany summer cottage inside.
The full size custom built super soft memory foam bed converts into a dining room that seats 4 comfortably. I am sewing a screen curtain for the back so I can open the doors to see the ocean while having morning coffee. I just want to take the time to read, study, take song writing and art classes, write, teach myself new software programs, make cool stuff and sell them on ebay & ETSY, and make working out at the gym and walking on the beach my new day job for now. By the end of summer I expect to be happier, sexier, stronger and walking like no one would ever guess I had a double knee replacement surgery. I mostly want to be ready for the next great move in my career and it's time I learn everything I can about how to start my own business and make it successful. I may just end up working for myself doing something I love! After managing and performing live music for so many years, it was nice to take a break, but I really
miss crooning my favorite toons on stage. I'd like to have all of my jazz charts/arrangements professionally redone and have them in pdf for my new jazz quartets ipads. Writing and adding spoken word poetry into my sets has been something I've wanted to do for years. I've been too chicken to do it yet. I am reinventing myself and finding new music in my heart to share with the world.
I would like to finally take all of the courses to become a professional astrologer, I have been studying for over 30 years now. I want to become better at film making too. I love well produced and edited YouTube videos. It would be fun to create some great ones to share with the world. I want to do my own jazz & blues radio show at a collage radio station. SO MANY FUN THINGS I WANT TO DO!
What would you do if you had all the time and money to do what you want with your days, what would you be doing?
I am into creating, learning, and sharing with a fun community! Living a life that feels like a vacation and enriches the soul, while looking and feeling good doing it.
I also miss one more thing. I miss kissing. I've been married before and have had a few other long term relationships, but I took a break and it's been a few years now since I have really kissed someone. I love my freedom. I don't see myself ever "settling down", but maybe I would if I met someone who could keep up with me and who also an independent spirit. He would have to be exceptional, super outgoing and fun, a man conscious of his own sacredness, who may be getting older on the outside, but not on the inside.
I could see myself worshiping a Leo man forever or racing with a dare devil Aries man all over the globe. I have adored the witty smart ass Gemini guys. I think a sweet Pisces man may be what is a good fit for me. WHO KNOWS? I'm open to the possilites. I'm going to let my new path lead my way.
So I'm off to explore my new life in a whole new way. I'm like a sensual sillier version of Kung-Fu from the television series journeying the world in search of Truth, good micro brew, BBQ, natural hot springs, little French Bistros, as much MUSIC as possible and meet other weirdos doing this out there who are not afraid to just say fuck it and get out and be present and really experience all we have been missing.
I'll post some pictures of the van build and adventures soon. STAY TUNED!
A book so important, it is free in a pdf here for your mind blowing pleasure.
David Bohm was one of the foremost scientific thinkers and philosophers of our time. Although deeply influenced by Einstein, he was also, more unusually for a scientist, inspired by mysticism. Indeed, in the 1970s and 1980s he made contact with both J. Krishnamurti and the Dalai Lama whose teachings helped shape his work. In both science and philosophy, Bohm's main concern was with understanding the nature of reality in general and of consciousness in particular. In this classic work he develops a theory of quantum physics which treats the totality of existence as an unbroken whole. Writing clearly and without technical jargon, he makes complex ideas accessible to anyone interested in the nature of reality.
