blog about nothing much

So, I am home from Canada! I have been home, but, updating my blog is never high on my to-do list which is pretty lame of me! I apologize. It's really difficult for me to concentrate on anything right now because I keep thinking about how much I want some Easter candy, and what would be the best way to go about getting some, and it's a continual distraction.

Definitely want to thank everyone who came out and donated to The Rock N Roller Derby last night. It was a great success and all of the women's shelters that benefited expressed major humility in light of the big ole donation. I am not really good about seeing blood and there was a good bit of that so I had to dip out a little early, but from what I hear it finished just as strong as it started.

The Canadian shows...I can't really say how much fun they were and how much playing them meant to me. I had never done a solo tour up there, and getting to play acoustically, and with some of my best friends, was more fun than is probably legal. I got to cover a different requiem villa song each night of the tour, and they got to cover mine--which was a total trip. I wish I had all of their versions recorded, if you do, upload that stuff to youtube please!

I don't know how many of you know it, but April is Earth Month. I know, you're all expecting this to turn into one of my typical enviro-nazi spiels, but I promise that's not about to happen. Maybe just a little tangent. I was super sorry to hear about President Obama's proposal to open up our domestic shores to drilling. I 100% understand the need to be independent from foreign oil for our national security, but I am continually disappointed by his administrations lack of commitment to the climate change crisis. All the electric cars in the world aren't going to make a damn bit of difference if our electricity still comes from dirty coal. We need to make an energy overhaul in this country NOW. Why don't people understand! It baffles and saddens me. End tangent.

Anyway, this month I encourage everyone to do something environmentally responsible, from starting a recycling program to putting solar panels on your house to picking up trash, whatever you can do!

I will end this blog by saying that I am excited to go to Coachella, and sharing visual evidence of our beautiful Earth as taken by James Milton during our Thanksgiving drive up the PCH. You may recognize my dog, Abigail Ann, in the photos!

I'm not sure why, but whenever I watch programs about the geological history of the Earth, it makes me think about the future. The History Channel has a series called 'How The Earth Was Made' that airs on Wednesdays, and I spent a good chuck of yesterday holed up in my hotel room watching it. I got to look out the window at the Rockies while listening to the story of their formation. It was a coincidental moment. The way the Earth changes completely fascinates me. It's hard to think about it and not freak yourself out, but seriously, none of it makes any logical sense. When I start to think about the reasons why anything exists, I understand more why people are religious. The universe is just so beyond my comprehension.

I've only been back in school one quarter, but I spend a lot of time studying in the Geology library and I've managed to do a little bit of talking with the folks that congregate there; all of them agree that man contributes to global warming, most of them agree that 'going green' could provide us with a temporary solution to the issue. The idea of temporary scares me a little. I feel like we, we being world governments, really need to invest more time, money, and intelligence to the climate crisis. No species can live forever on Earth because its climate changes are so severe and can often be rapid. Am I suggesting we need to strap in to the U.S.S. Enterprise (I think that's the name, Jayda would be proud) and kick it into hyperspeed to the next galaxy? Maybe. The truth is I don't really know. I will keep buying my local dairy and organic cotton, but I'm not naïve enough to think in the end it will be enough.

I went skiing earlier to clear my mind, looks like it didn't really work. I'm a little lost on the employment front, feeling uninspired about music and rocks, and other things too. I miss home. Any advice about getting out of a rut? I should probably take some.

Happy early olympics day (and maybe v-day, too),

Phoebe

Hello friendly, personal blog readers!

How's everything with you? Good I hope. I am doing mass procrastinating on writing a final paper about the natural disaster of my choice (suggestions welcome!--I'm thinking the eruption of Mt. St. Helen's perhaps) so I thought I'd do my monthly check in just to blab on about my life. I know I should probably update my official site with this stuff instead of just post links to this blog over there, but this one is just really so much easier for me to operate.

Anyway, I suppose a lot of you probably heard about my run-in with the law, and I just want to take this time to sincerely apologize for that mistake. There is really no good excuse for drinking (or smoking) and driving, no matter how little it is. I knew that then as I know it now, and all I can really say is that I dropped the ball. I am lucky to have great friends and fans who forgive me when I do stupid things. I appreciate you all, and for those who are curious I am all signed up for my mandatory driving classes and without a license for a year, though I did manage to get school privileges.

Speaking of school, it's going well. Math is hard, but I am getting by. English, Geology and 'my sex class' as I like to call it (human sexual behavior problems) are all great though, and I'm really excited to be done with my first quarter in just a few more weeks. I am getting very excited for a few days off at Thanksgiving, it's my favorite holiday and we're taking a drive up to my favorite place, Oregon. Couldn't be better.

In terms of work, I wrote my first new song in forever about a week ago when I was feeling really stressed out. James is turning our den into a studio right now and as such all of our musical instruments are strewn out around our living room (see here: proof) so I just put down my math book and grooved on the piano a little. I always like writing on piano more than guitar, what about you? Oh yes, I suppose my label (yes, I still have one) would like me to mention that I have a song on the He's Just Not That Into You soundtrack. It's called 'You and I' and I wrote it and sang it with the best of all best friends, Danny Palmer. CLICK HERE FOR NEW SONG. More things you should check out include: Jayda Barclay's solo album (if you haven't yet), Chloe Porter's solo EP, and Miranda Callenway's new record, I was honored to collaborate in some way on all of them!

I think that's all I have to share with you for now, I'll be doing a Christmas benefit show in New York sometime next month, so be on the look out for that. In the mean time, let's keep with the spirit and tell one another what we're most thankful for today.

Since I'm known to be a sap, I'll go first. I'm still most thankful to find this in my local cereal aisle:

hello friends. I'm taking a break on catching up on this season of the office to check in with you all, that's how important you guys are to me! hah. I hear the Jim/Pam wedding is freaking cute and I am very excited to watch it. (I have tissues handy, I know I'll be needing them). Apart from that Project Runway is tonight, too. Thursday is a ridiculously awesome night for TV. I am rooting for Carol Hannah or Althea, just so you know. Hold on I have to get my portabellas off the skillet.

Okay, back. School is really intense right now. As I suspected I am pretty behind in math, but I've been going to the tutoring and that has been helpful, I recommend it! My Geology class is fascinating if not a tad depressing (I have to watch a lot of clips of people dying in Natural Disasters) it just leaves you in complete awe of nature, for example, the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake that caused the tsunami threw off the rotation of the earth and days are now .003 seconds shorter now. Learning so much about earthquakes has really only increased my anxiety about living in LA, not that Portland was better, or any place on the west coast. Maybe I should move to Iowa, what do you guys think?

I just had my last midterm today, in English, and I think overall they went well. I feel really relieved, like I'll actually have time to have a life for five minutes. I haven't done anything fun at all since school started aside from Micha's birthday party last weekend, I don't know how I managed not to drink myself into oblivion with all this stress I've been carrying around, but somehow I managed and I think everyone had fun. I hope anyway.

I can't believe it's almost Halloween. Does anyone have anything fun planned? How about costume ideas? I was graciously invited to Gabe Rawn's annual Halloween Bash, so obviously I'll be there. I just have no idea what to go as yet. Alex suggest and Esmeralda get up, so she's the front runner for now, though I think pirate could look kinda cool with the dreads, right? If only I could have a peg leg. I bought some runts for Trick Or Treaters, I'm excited to pass them out. I wonder if we'll have any. If I'll have any, rather. James won't be back for 2 and 1/2 more weeks, but I am starting the official count now.

Just so this blog isn't totally pointless, I'll give you some food for thought. What is your opinion on multiculturalism? Is it good to respect the right of a sub-cultural that inherently oppresses women and personal freedoms to exist within your own cultural, or should individualistic, western countries not be afraid to say that their way of doing things is better, and if you wish to live within the borders, you need to assimilate? I've been reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali lately, and she definitely has me thinking!

Me again, hard to believe, I know. I'm actually starting to get bored enough to blog regularly--this is kind of sad in and of itself.

I still have almost a full month before school starts and I really have no idea what to do with myself. It seems the best part of my summer...the part I had been looking forward to since June, flew by in a major hurry. Bum out bus, indeed. Not that I had a bum out bus time, I got to go to Hawaii and see a beautiful wedding, a beautiful volcano, and a lot of my beautiful, air conditioned, room service provided hotel room. I wouldn't change a moment of it.

Post-Hawaii time was spent on a tour bus venturing up and down the California coast for a few days. It's a pretty state. I forgot how small bunks are, and that made me a little sad. Only a little, though. I was mostly ridiculously happy the entire time as James is one of my favorites and watching him perform on a nightly basis is one of my favorite things to do. I think I would probably faint if I had to be on stage in front of that many people, though. Thanks to all the people I saw at those shows that said nice things to me, and thanks to all my friends that came.

Speaking of friends, I have Jayda back now and I am happy about that. Needless to say being alone in a big house in the hills sucks. It always makes me feel like the place in haunted. It won't be much longer before Jay's album--which I played drums on, hello announcement--will be out, and I am pretty pumped on that. I will post the exact date here once I know it. In the mean time I have been trying to convince her to come with me to yoga class. I have been thusly unsuccessful, but, here's a picture from this mornings session to inspire her:

Other friends who are awesome include but are not limited to: Chloe Porter. She showed me some beautiful lyrics she wrote the other night (I am very priviledged, I know!) and I think we are gonna jam sometime this week, so I am super excited about that. I am definitely in drum mode so any chance I get to play is welcomed.

Today I bought some new school clothes and supplies, it was like a time warp. I cannot believe they sell Ed Hardy folders. Word to the wise: do not wear Ed Hardy unless you want to look like a tool! This whole school things is starting to feel real and it's really exciting, but scary at the same time. I have this intense fear that I will show up and be the most clueless person in the class, so, keep your fingers crossed for me.

Well, my dog is whining to be let out, so I must bid you all adieu.

Until Next Time,
xoxo
phoebe

Hello friends! How are you? Well I hope. Alright! without further ado I've decided that instead of the same ole, same ole non-visual blog, we're gonna try this new fangled idea I call picture blogging. After stealing this master idea from someone, I went through my camera and found a bunch of pictures that will hopefully help illustrate my life recently.

First and foremost, I have to share these hair photos. I have had my dreads in since I was about...18, so about three years now, and they are a constant work in progress but holy crap, I am proud of them. Behold:

Epic dudes, EPIC. I really thought they would have stopped growing by now. In all honesty ever since I moved back to LA I've just been contemplating shaving my head and getting rid of they, they're so hot and heavy in this So Cal heat. Speaking of SoCal, yes, I am back! I know I said I'd never live here again, but a few certain someones changed my tune and alas, here I am. It's nice to be closer to my sister, and some of my friends, especially Danny and baby B. Since I just got a call from my Aunt last week saying these photos were in Life & Style, I see no harm posting one here. The new digs:

It's a compromise house, but, I'm glad because I've really ended up loving it more than the original. Who knew that men don't see the logic in buying a 5 bedroom house because 'it's pretty tho :[ '. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me!

Since I've been back in LA I've had a little orange haired wonder staying with me a lot, which has been nice since we've both had kind of a lonely summer. She's finishing up an album that's going to blow people away, because she rules like that. I've also gotten to sneak in some precious hang out time with my faux big brother. I don't know what I'd do without them both: here's a photo I snapped of them when we all went out for dinner the other day:

Talk about the cutest people ever. Love love love them.

Speaking of things I love love love. I ended up with a new pet :[ Normally I am not a cat lover, but, animals are animals and we've had this stray wandering up to our porch for about a week. She didn't have a collar, and I tried to call around to see if anyone had reported her missing, even asked around the neighborhood, all to no avail. Finally three nights ago when she was whining outside the screen door I just decided enough was enough and took her in! I named her Dolley in keeping with my tradition of naming animals after the wives of American presidents. This is her debut:

I start school in a little over a month and I'm already getting pretty nervous. I mean, I know I got in and I didn't even do all that horrible on the math placement test (this is a miracle, trust me) but I still can't help the feeling that I'll be behind because I've been out so long. I'm excited about my major though, evolutionary biology is just a big fancy name for trying to answer the question: "Where did we come from?". If you know me, you know this is one of my favorite topics of discussion so it really couldn't be more perfect. I had my orientation last week, it was really hot, really overwhelming, but also really cool. Here's a picture of UCLA for good measure:

I think I'm just about done rambling right now, but, since my friend Garbo is always posting about her fabulous meals on Twitter, I figured I'd better toss in this photo to show her up! (in my dreams, she cooks the pants off me!) This is what I made for dinner tonight:

Vegan tofu herb lasagna! Hopefully Jay will approve.

Until next time kids,

xoxo phoe

Wow, I have not written in here in a long time. I say that everytime I write a blog so I suppose it's sort of redundant (ent?) by now, alas. Things have changed a lot in my life since the last time I wrote, I don't really know where to begin, so I don't think I will. This week marks a very interesting anniversary, it's the week I met someone who changed my life for better and for worse, but who taught me a lot about life and myself along the way. Someone I still think about a lot. I'm happier now than I've ever been in my life, and I feel incredibly luckily to have made it here.

This is the first time since I was 16 that I haven't been working on any music, and I have to admit I thought I would be more anxious, but in truth I haven't started missing anything just yet. I recently moved back to Los Angeles and in with my manfriend (as carrie would say) and so far unpacking all my mountainous crap, redecorating here and there, and catching up with old friends has been consuming a lot of my time. It's very domestic, but I don't mind it in the least, it means I get to spend more time with my dog and she is lovely. I did however have to give up my quarterhorse, Martha. I left her in the care of stable where she was being boarded. It's a family run place and I know they love her and will take the best care of her possible. I still do miss her though, maybe someday we will be reunited. That seems to happen to me a lot, losing things and then finding them again, and having it be better than I ever remembered. Yeah.

Danny and Hank's bouncing baby is due any day now and I am waiting with bated breath. During my time off I've been helping him get the house together in preparation. I've never seen him more excited for anything. I don't claim to be very good with babies, but I must admit he is rubbing off on me. I can't wait to meet this kid.

In fact, I am late to his house for dinner. I just wanted to check in with a little update, I hope everyone is doing well, and continue to watch this space because I'm cooking up a blog musing about the meaning of life.

xoxo

phoe