how many licks does it take...

to get my effing car fixed!?

It is like it is a sick game or something. I got my car back the first time on Friday, July 8. Not too bad when the accident was on July 2! I was so excited I actually hugged the car. Then it broke down on Zelda Road in 5:00 pm traffic and had to be pushed over to the side of the road. No hugs.

So, I was out another week but they found the culprit. Great! So, I get my car back this past Wednesday. Thursday I notice that the driver's side door does not shut completely and my window does a little shake shake on the way down. So...I am back at the shop at 7:30 am this morning for some lube - ha :).

Now, I have the car and it runs, but am waiting for a new part to come in so I can take it back to get fixed yet again.

Oh and did I forget to mention the guy tried to make a joke and said my parents need to cut the chord and let me grow up and handle things on my own?

Not a good time for jokes, man.

Not a good time.

what else could it be?

Disclaimer: This post is not meant for a pity party on myself. It is just something that has been going through my head and I want to get it out. I do not really know what it means or what its purpose is. It just is.

July 2 I was in a car accident. I am OK! I just broke a rib and had a minor concussion. I was crossing a highway when a young girl hit me right at the driver's side tire area. We both never saw each other. It was just a random coincidence of some sort. There happened to be this other car turning into where I was pulling out of. That car was going the exact speed to block my vision from seeing her and her me. How often does that happen!? I mean usually the car slows down or speeds up and the other car is revealed. But not that day. The other girl is fine too. No physical injury, but I think she was just a little traumatized.

Now that over a week has passed I do not really replay how the accident happened in my head anymore. It is what I heard during the accident that I cannot stop thinking about. I keep remembering voices. I know, I know!!! This sounds crazy and I am by far not the type of person quick to vocalize what I think God's role is in everything. Whatever your path is to believing in a higher power is your own right, but no matter what, we can all still hear voices.

At first I was confused. I was kinda looking around after it happened, but only a few people were there and they were just getting out of their cars so they could not have been yelling. Right before the hit, I heard what sounded like a few people yelling there was about to be an accident. But it was not a far away yell. It was more like there was a group of people in the car and they just hastily stated we were about to crash. Then I heard, "Ok, you have been in an accident. You need to keep control and get your car out of the road." Now that last one really could have just been me telling myself what to do, but the multiple voices telling me I was about to crash? That was something else. Or someone else.

Was it Mama Anne and David working together to protect me and lessen the blow?
Does God actually have angels guarding us as we live each day?
Was it my own conscious talking me through how to handle the situation?
Am I totally insane?

Whatever it was or who it was, I will never have the exact answer.
But regardless of who or what it was, I was comforted in knowing I had guidance and I am protected...even if it was just me.

how it all began

One of my favorite things to do during the week is go to lunch with my best friend, Tracy, and my amazing god-daughter, Avery (aka Ace - she renamed herself). Mom called me the same day Tracy and Ace did to go to lunch so we all met up at Zoes. It's perfect because Ace can run around on the benches and not really get in anyone's way, plus we love the food!


Mom and I got our regular chicken salad and Tracy branched out with some kind of sampler plate. We were just starting to eat and Tracy noticed my mom eyeing her hummus like she wasn't too sure what that stuff was all about. Being the polite lady Tracy is, she asked my mother if she would like to try some of her hummus. Mom was so taken off guard because she had obvisouly been busted glaring at someone's food that she just couldn't get her words together. So what came out was: "No thank you. I don't eat hummus...it's communist".


And that is where it all began...

change of direction

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in like a year! There probably isn't anyone readying this anymore so this really is just another way for me to talk to myself. But fortunately I do like myself, so I will just talk away.


I have decided to change the title and point of my blog. I honestly do not really think there ever really was a point in the first place. So, we have changed from "Chasing Your Dreams May Lead You Home" to "I Don't Eat Hummus...It's Communist" (don't worry, there is an explanation above).


So the new goal of this blog I was talking about, well, it's really just to ramble about amazing things my mom says and basically anything I feel like sharing with the world.

Not Really What I Had In Mind

Ugh, the title of my blog is getting on my nerves. What it means now is definitely NOT what I intended it to mean when I first started this blog. I did not mean home like as in my parents house. I meant like the area maybe? Somewhere close by or somewhere that reminded me of home, but of course God won. Again.

P.S. this post is referring to the former title which was "Chasing Your Dreams May Lead You Home" = gag me, I know!

I Miss Singing

i miss singing

with the windows down

not caring about the car next to me at the red light

belting at the top if my lungs as i move from room to room

not wondering what the neighbors must be thinking

i knew i was good

how all my practice had paid off

that singing on the treadmill actually sounded good

i miss singing

keeping it as my secret

not letting my friends know how good i was

planning to one day take the stage

shocking them all

never an intention to make singing my profession

despite the countless offers

but only for fun with my friends

people beg me to go on tour

but no, not me

i'm just in it for the fun

not the spotlight

the music industry's best kept secret

i miss singing

the extra boost

better than the blackest coffee

the way my mind drifts into stories

without limits

the connection it builds with another

when you start tapping to the same rhythm

how it calms the night

justifies the tears

explains the pain

stretches the smile

i miss singing

but not anymore

my windows are down

there is a long drive ahead

i will have my voice back in no time

do not worry

just keep your eye on the stage

Back To The List

So I have a great connection who has helped me get back on my list in life. He put me in touch with someone who can help me learn to play the harmonica and below are some of the questions he asked me in order to get a better feel of how he can help me. I already know I like this guy because these questions tell me how much he cares. He asked me if he has soul, I don’t even think I need to ask if he does.

Please enjoy...

Original Questions

What's given you the desire to want to learn to play?

Are you influenced by a particular player or genre of music. Blues perhaps? If so who/what?

The harmonica or (harp) is an instrument that takes allot of "feel" or "soul" to really play well. Do you have it?

Do you own any harmonicas, if so what type and what keys

Any other info you'd like to share would be great like, do you aspire to play live, do you sing, what's in your CD player right now etc.

My response

Jeff - I love this email! I can tell what music really means to you and that you do not look at me or anyone looking to learn as just another lesson. I am going to answer your questions below, but keep in mind I could write a novel for each answer. :) Thank you for asking me these.

The desire to play: I keep a list of things I want to be sure I accomplish in life in my wallet. For the first 5 years out of college I lived by that list. For the past year I have been in a big slump and have honestly forgotten about it. To me, forgetting this list is no way to live. Why the harmonica in particular? Simply put, I think harmonica players are bad asses. I can hear a harmonica in just about any song it is in (at least I think I can. I guess I wouldn't know if I didn't hear it), at least it stands out to me. All instruments allow the artist to express their soul and tell a story in a fitting format for their personality. This is how I want to tell my part of the story. You know when you are really getting into a song and you just want to pick up an instrument and jam along with it? Well, my mind automatically wants to pick up the harmonica, whether it is in the song or not. Wow, enough for this question - sorry.

Influence of music: I like all types of music. I would say country is my biggest, but not like that Tim McGraw or Rascal Flatts crap. More like the old school stuff and Texas country. Clint Black has an amazing harmonica solo on an old CD that I will be able to die happy if I can learn to play it. In my CD player right now is GLove, they have some good harmonica on there. My ipod has 311, Joss Stone, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Miranda Lambert, Stevie Wonder, OCMS, Counting Crows and please tell me you are a fan of Jupiter Coyote. I may be a last name standing on that one. The ipod has a lot of other stuff too, but I think these give you an idea. I mean, who doesn't have Lady Gaga on their ipod?

I absolutely love live music and have the urge to play a harmonica every time I go hear live music. When I say I love to sing, I really do not think I am expressing it enough, but NOBODY would pay to hear me. I have always wanted to play music. I want to be able to sit around with my friends (who many of them do play) and let it all out. I don't care to play for money, but more for fun. I have a group of friends up in Nashville who have all started a front porch band. They literally have made a bass out of a tin bucket, a poll and string. Only a few knew how to play instruments already but others have learned as they go. That is the fun I want.

Soul: I would classify myself as having some soul. At least I think so and I really like my soul. I am a writer and a painter and one day hope that all my little random phrases can come together as a song or two.

I do not have a harmonica, so I am sure that is another investment I need to look into. About a year ago I bought a book on how to play the harmonica and a friend of mine got me a cheap one, but I took it apart to see what it looked like on the inside and it didn't match what the book had. Shortly after, life took some unexpected turns as it does and I had to pack everything into a 10 x 10 unit so the book is packed behind a couch and a washer and dryer.

I sure hope this helped and wasn't an annoying novel of an email. I totally understand being really busy right now as I am too, so keep emailing me if that is easiest for you.

Thank you for your help!