SMOKY KARAOKE!!!

Oh it's been a great coupla days! First of all, last Tuesday night I was in the semi-finals of the Rising Star Songwriting Competition at Puckett's in Franklin, TN. I did not make it to the final four. I know! Unbelievable! I was shocked myself. But, everyone was really good so at least I was beaten by really talented writers. Like that makes it hurt any less! Waaaahhh!!!

Then after, Kenny and I decided to go to karaoke. Even though I needed to be up at 5 am to leave for my holiday trip to Michigan and Canada the next day. We went and did you know you can still smoke in some bars and restaurants in Nashville? Oh yes, and it seemed like everyone in the place was lighting up and puffing away. I can't believe I ever did that! Oh well, we had a great time and I got back to my house around 11:30 pm. Finished up some last minute packing, put my clothes in the washer, and went to bed around 12.

The alarm went off immediately after that, at 5. Groan! I got up and went to put my clothes in the dryer. I had forgotten to turn the damn washer on! So, what to do? Wash them and dry them and get a late start? No way, I just washed them and traveled with a set of wet clothes in my car. But at least they weren't all smoky!

I know, that was a really inane story, but I thought it was funny at the time. Reading it here, I'm wondering, "who will care??? Really!"

So I hit lots of holiday traffic on the way and my 9 hour trip took 11 hours. But I had my bluetooth earbud (thanks Dave!) and caught up with a lot of friends and family on the way. Also listened to Stephen King's new book "Under the Dome" on audiobook. He's awesome. And, worked on a couple new song lyrics. All in all, a productive road trip.

I arrived in my hometown of Port Huron, Michigan, safe and sound, my friend Connie met me at my hotel and then we went out to The Roche to see who was going to show up to this mini-reunion we had tried to put together for the past month or so. It was great! But, did you know, you can stil smoke in some bars and restaurants in Michigan. Yeeeessssss.

Many of my childhood friends showed up, some I knew about, Connie, Lisa, Janice, Becky, and some I wasn't sure were going to make it, like Leslie, Joel and Tammi, and Connie's sister and niece. Dale and his friends were spinning some great tunes and we chatted and danced a little and then decided it was too crazy and smoky in there so we went next door to this brand new place called "The Alley," a non-smoking establishment, and more people showed up like Pam, Kathy, and Mark! I know I'm leaving people out, I'm sorry but this blog is going to be too long if I don't wrap it up soon!

Anyway, had such a blast! Next day, Thanksgiving, I traveled across the border to my Aunt and Uncle's in Corunna, Ontario, Canada. Their Thanksgiving was last month, but because my family is so cool, they prepared an American thanksgiving feast for me. My cousin Stephanie and her husband and kids came over. Her 13 year old boy is taller than me. I am shocked!

Yesterday my Aunt and I did a little shopping and visited my cousin Mark at his store, The Eye Opener, where I met the most recent addition to his family, Plano the Pug. That's her photo up there! She's so young, she still doesn't have full command of her legs! So cute and what an attitude. You know I love her to bits!

I went back into Port Huron last night for dinner at Connie's house and to see her kids again. I hadn't seen them for about 10 years. Her 16 year old son is taller than me. What's going on here? We had a great time going through old photos and laughing and her children are wonderful.

Today, my Aunt Carol is going to teach me to make cheese biscuits from scratch, because I've never been able to bake, and she's like the Yoda of baking, "there is no try, there is only do," so we're going to attempt this thang! Later we're having dinner with my cousin Mark and his family, then my cousin Stephanie and I are having a girl's night out. Wheee!

Tomorrow all cousins and kids will arrive for the tree-trimming festivities. And, although Christmas is a really hard holiday for me ever since my mom passed away, I'm sure watching those kids run around with the decorations is going to be spectacular. They're good for the soul, I tell ya.

Then Monday morning it's back on the road, back to Nashville for another fun-filled month of music.

Stay tuned for more fun!

Even though my classes at the Y are kicking my ass, I'm getting a lot of rest during my sabbatical. I rarely use an alarm clock and sleep well unless lyrics wake me in the middle of the night, which has happened on more than one occasion. I end up lying in bed with my phone set to the iTalk App., reciting lyrics that have come to me in my sleep. I love me some Nashville!

I am a little homesick, I'll be honest. I miss all my loved ones in California. Having said that, I know that when I leave Nashville, I'll miss this place too. Such a cool city. I seriously have not met one mean person since I've been here. Even the people who work at FedEx Kinko's were sweet. I know! Crazy!

When I played at Douglas Corner Cafe the other night, people kept asking me for my card, and I noticed business cards were being exchanged. I haven't had cards in forever, and certainly not cards that say "songwriter." So, I ran to Kinko's (or is it FedEx Office now? It will always be Kinko's to me!) and made some really quick-like. They're awful, but I'll get new ones eventually. Especially if I decide to come back to Nashville next year.

Oh, so the other night I played at a pizza parlor! Yes! I was invited to play at a Writer's Night, and it was at a pizza parlor! But not quite what you'd expect. It's this group of people who started getting together to try out new songs on each other and it's grown into this really cool venue and they call it "The Not Uptight Writer's Night." I did four songs and had a blast. I'm seeing a lot of the same people all over and everyone is super nice and supportive.

I'm collecting lots of cards!

Tonight, I'm going to Kenny's parents for a Cuban dinner. Hello and Yum! I've been making so much homemade chicken soup, this is going to be a real treat. Plus Li'l Momma can COOK!

Then tomorrow it's Open Mic again at the Bluebird Cafe and Tuesday night is the Semi-Finals at Puckett's. Wednesday off to Michigan and Canada.

I really am getting some rest. I swear!

IS THIS THING ON?

Douglas Corner Cafe, Nashville, TN, 12:16 this morning. I finally climb onto this stage --

-- to perform at the Open Mic Writer's Night. When I arrived (at 8:00 pm), I found out I was number 30. It was a crowded room even when I played. The way they do it there is "in the round," like a lot of places around Nashville. It's kinda cool, you're onstage with three other writers and you each do one song, then another. It makes it really interesting and mixes up the styles, genres, stories, and the people. Oh my goodness. The range of ages and backgrounds, it was pretty wild.

These little cuties were Gospel singers. So good! Then there was this other gentleman, probably in his late 60's early 70's, white hair, white goatee, blue jeans black leather jacket, really a cool looking dude. And he could play and sing like you can't believe! Come on! Some of the people have had successful songs cut by big recording artists, and they can coast now and just hang. And they do! And they play their hits and it's very cool and the people love hearing the hits (which I am usually unfamiliar with).

There's this guy named Craig that I see around, really amazing player/writer. He wrote a song called "I Miss Living in Louisianne." Just Cajun as can be. I could watch him all night.

We had three real lookalikes. Jared Leto lookalike decided to show up dressed as Colin Farrell. Old Neil Diamond and Willie Nelson showed up. They really looked just like them! But older versions of the stars. It was kinda uncanny! Oh, this other guy gets up there wearing the birkenstock-type sandals, with white gym socks. It was cold last night! Then he started singing and his voice was like an angel and his songs truly poignant and beautiful (he and I talked for a while after I sang. Cool dude. Along with a bunch of other people who were very complimentary about my songs and voice and I was sincerely touched!).

When my name was called, there was only two of us left to play, myself and this young cutie named George. From what I understand, he's had some hits because he had requests. Which he seemed to love. He was awesome! After our two songs each (I again did "One More Song," and "Starting to Shake," killed 'em!!!), they asked us each to do another because "we're diggin' y'all." So I thought fast and did "Flawed," which was adequate.

Needless to say I had a blast, OH! and I was asked to join a Writer's Night this Friday which I will attend. They make videos as well, so you know I'm all for that!

Douglas Corner Cafe, 1:16 this morning. I skip out to my car, happy to be here!

STIR CRAZY

Remember that old movie with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, Stir Crazy? So funny!

Not what I'm writing about, but a little how I feel. I have spent two days solid in this room working on my song "Starting to Shake." The acoustic version is available as a free download at

http://www.reverbnation.com/staceykblack

I've been working on the produced studio version and it's kicking my ass.

This is the view I've had for about 48 hours straight.

Yesterday I had a break when Kenny came over with the canine part of his funky bunch and we ran around the backyard. Okay, then I went out for a little while last night to the Bluebird Cafe Writer's Night, but basically, I need to crawl out of my cave tonight and attempt to play at the Bluebird again. I don't know why, but I really love that place! Wish me luck!

I SEE STARS!

Yesterday I went on a fruitless search of Nashville Pawn Shops, looking for a large piano size keyboard. You'd think in Music City they'd be plentiful, right? Nope. Nothing. Lots of guitars and drums, but no keyboards and I visited many, many pawn shops.

Found a Studio Instrument Rental place that wanted to charge me my mortgage to rent a keyboard for two weeks. They must have mistaken me for Taylor Swift. That happens all the time and quite frankly, I'm getting tired of it.

So I went back to Shelby House and practiced on my little keyboard. I knew I should've brought my biggun!

After a day of making music, or trying to anyway, I wanted to get out of my own head for a while. SO!

In Brentwood, TN, they have this observatory run by Vanderbilt University. Wait, I have to mention that every time I see a sign for this University, I think of my 8th grade designer jeans. Can't help it! Anyhoo, so the Dyer Observatory has Open House Telescope nights from March - November. Last night was the last time this year to look through their telescope, so naturally I went. It was a hoot. A loooong line of people, many of them boyscouts, yay, and docents along the line giving us information on space, and the observatory, and what we would be seeing in the sky this fine clear evening. I knew I wouldn't be seeing Saturn as she is a morning star, but luckily on the docket... Jupiter! I was stoked. So I waited in the line, shuffled forward inch by inch, and looked at star charts and read up on nebulas, which are my personal favorite. So beautiful. They had huge photos taken from the Hubble space telescope all along the walls with written descriptions. Globular Clusters, The Tadpole Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy which is moving toward our Milky Way even as we move toward it... It boggles the mind.

So I finally made my way into the main dome which houses the telescope. It was pointing to an open spot in the dome through which I could see the night sky. And my pulse said "HI!"

After I hijacked the Observatory personnel to take my photo (on my iPhone which he was not familiar with. Fun for everyone especially the people waiting in line behind me), I was able to look through the powerful telescope and gaze at Jupiter. The red spot was not toward me but I was able to clearly make out the stripes and striations of moving gasses. And the bonus? Three of his moons, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto were visible, with Europa's shadow visible on the planet's surface.

Call me a geek, but I almost started crying.

Afterward, I decided I needed a treat and three weeks was long enough to go without sushi. I found a nearby place and it looked promising. However, I was thoroughly disappointed. Why is it that I can peek into the window of my neighbors 365 MILLION miles away, say howdy to their moons, and on this very planet, most sushi places can't put fish on rice and make it delicious?

I mean, It's not like its astronomy.

Sheesh.

Who Says Second Best Ain't Good Enough?

I just realized today that my hair is getting long! Finally! Oh but that's not what I want to write about.

Hey so I'm in the semi finals of that open mic contest I entered tuesday night. The chick who came In first place that night won't be here for the rest of the contest, so second place is in it to win it. That's me! I'm stoked. The competition was great and I am proud to have kicked all their asses!!! Haha! Hopefully Firsty won't decide to come back to town for the semi finals. That would suck!

I'm writing this from my phone so it's short and sweet this time. I'll write more later!!!

Thanks y'all!

PROOF!

Used to be, you went on vacation and visited friends, and took pictures to show your friends and family back home. Nowadays, our worlds have become so compact, and with the advent of facebook and twitter and all the other online communities, it's so easy for our friends and family to remain close, even though they are thousands of miles away. I, for one, love it, because I don't feel as far away from everyone as I used to. I know what's up with y'all's kids (Yep, I said it. Y'all's. HAHA!), your jobs, your loves, and it's comforting to me. But what it has created in this little musician/filmmmaker's mind, is a freakin' monster! I am not content with showing a few photos. Just ask my band, Nobody's Station, and the FONS (Friends Of Nobody's Station), and they will tell you, whenever we go camping, or have a party, which is often, I have video cameras all over the place. No one is safe. Rachel takes the most amazing still photos, and she will caress you with her lens. I will violate you with my digi-vidi. Be prepared.

Anyway, having said all that, I want to share with you a big part of my sabbatical to Nashville, which is my first performance at The Bluebird Cafe. Kenny, bless his heart, shot this video from WAAAAY below me, so my chin(s) are actually the real star here. What I love about it, is how my vanity regarding said chin(s) is non-existent these days. Thankfully!

Oh, I guess if there was no more vanity, I wouldn't have even mentioned it. Yikes. Oh well, I'm trying!

So here's my terrified performance of my new song "Starting To Shake." 

Chin(s) and all.

(Click on the link below to see the video via facebook. Thanks!)

Starting To Shake, The Bluebird Cafe, 11-09-09

BREATHE DAMMIT!

I did it. I got up in front of a bunch of strangers, a bunch of strange SONGWRITERS that is. Last night at The Bluebird Cafe. In a nutshell, I didn't suck. I thought I did, but when I watched the video, I realized that it wasn't horrible. I know I can do better, but no one else there knows that... yet!

It was fun. Kenny and his sister Karen were my tag-team support group. I literally could not breathe up there. It was very intimidating, but I'm so glad I finally got that first big performance out of the way. Now I can concentrate on managing stage fright!

The coolest thing about Nashville to me, so far, is the diversity in the people who are attracted to the music. Much like Los Angeles, people congregate there for the film industry. But last night, the first guy to get up and sing was I don't know. 100? Old dude. And so cute and awesome! He was from Arkansas. Then, there was this little 12 year-old dynamo, Sweet Caroline, look for her soon. She's something. She came all the way from Clearwater, FL to play the Bluebird. It attracts people of all ages and backgrounds, although, I wouldn't mind seeing a little color once in a while. I am staying in a culturally diverse neighborhood, thank goodness, but the music scene is pretty white. Maybe that'll change soon I hope!

I had positive feedback from a lot of the other musicians there, which was really great. Tonight I'm going to another place. Hopefully I will be able to breathe!

Here's a funny story. I stayed up too late last night, because when I got home at 12:30 I had to watch another episode of Battlestar Galactica. OBSESSED! So I slept late and made it just in time to the Y for water aerobics, and for the first time, Zumba. In my haste to pack and get out the door, I forgot a bra. I mean, I wore my bathing suit there, did the water aerobics, doing the quick-change thing for Zumba... no bra in my duffel bag. Mmm... Yeah, you know me and my... proportions... and Zumba is dancing. I was just about to scrap the whole idea, when I decided to just keep on my bathing suit as my undergarments for the class. I arrived not quite knowing what to expect, let's just say, a sport's bra is on the agenda for tomorrow.

Haha.

Breathe indeed.

HELLO AGAIN!

Hello again! It's been what, a week since my last post? Well let me tell ya, it's been exciting here in Nashville. Music City, USA dammit all!

My first week, I went to the Y every day. They have an amazing YMCA in downtown Nashville with water aerobics, which I love, and this great Cardio Cinema room. It's a room filled with treadmills, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes. It's pitch dark, and there's a huge movie screen with a different movie each day of the week. You actually forget you're working out. Well, I don't because I loathe exercise so much, but still, I did get a little lost in Mrs. Doubtfire. "It was a run by fruiting!" Gets me every time!

I also explored Nashville some more, and hung out with Kenny's Funky Bunch quite a bit, and I was at his house each night when he came home from work so we could spend time together catching up as much as possible. I even tried to have dinner waiting a few times, but didn't always time his arrival just right. Hey, "domestic" I never claimed to be. The highlight meal so far has been Joe's Crab Shack. Delicious beyond my imagination.

Kenny and I went to The Bluebird Cafe last Monday night and I signed up for the Open Mic, but it filled up too fast and I didn't get to play. So I am guaranteed a spot the next Monday Open Mic I attend, which will be tonight! We stayed and listened to the talent and I gotta say, Nashville has some great songwriters. I'm not so much intimidated, as I am wondering what the HELL I'm doing! But here's something that cracked me up. This one guy, says he's from New York (called it Manhattan, which Kenny, a true New Yorker, informed me is inaccurate. True New Yorkers call it "The City," but I digress), so he says he's from Manhattan, and then sings his country songs with the deepest twang this side of the Appalachian Mountains. Seriously. Then, last night, there was a featured Writer's Night at the Bluebird, so I went to check it out, and another guy, from California, totally no accent while speaking, then singing? Even the word Lord had two syllables. Lo-ord. What gives? That kinda cracks me up. However, most of the singer/songwriters I've seen and heard here are more Folk than they are Country, and that suits me just fine.

Saturday afternoon, I moved into my little rental house. I already miss the Funkys, but I visit them every day. The house is super cute and the living room furniture is not comfortable. Which is great. I won't sit and grow roots into it. Although, I have been watching an episode of Battlestar Galactica just about every day. God I can't get enough! I'm almost done with Season 4. Great show, if you haven't seen it, you should go get it. Crazy good. Addictive.

Been working on recording, well trying to anyway. My equipment started to get a little moody yesterday so I wiped my computer clean and reinstalled everything. Hoping today goes more smoothly.

I shall write more tomorrow, hopefully with good stories of my open mic adventure tonight at the world famous Bluebird Cafe.

I hope I do real goo-ood.