So "Never Too Far" was originally written and recorded two years ago...and here we are desperately trying to prepare it for it's big day...the shooting of the visuals that will represent all it stands for...this song is special, and in my desire to help it be all it can be, we are on bounce #23, but you know what? It is sounding soooooooo rad! And yes, it's almost done. I'm glad I didn't rush and release it two years ago. I'm a firm believer in that everything has it's right time, and I'm thankful that I've had the time and the resources to be able to do this. I'm learning so much about the musical process and although my frustration has made me speechless many a days when I didn't know how to convey what I hear in my head, that is slowly starting to change. I play guitar and a little piano, but know nothing about drums and bass...I just know what I like, but that doesn't help too much in the creative process.  I truly admire those people who can play tons of instruments and can entirely produce their own music. I'm gonna do my part and learn as much as I can so when I start recording my sophmore album it will be a breeeeeeze! Although I didn't go to college like most of my friends, I've been in the musical school of life by singing on the streets, recording my own acoustic album, recording this studio album, and being around so many amazing musicians and watching friends of mine go from the street singing and college circuit that I am in now, to the big time! It's right under my nose and I WILL make you proud :-)

I'm sitting at the kitchen counter at my parents' house while my step-mom (who raised me since I was 5) is cooking Christmas dinner...I'm browsing through the Bed Bath and Beyond site pondering what I'm going to buy with my gift card...smelling the fresh homemade yams as the maple syrup and brown sugar are absored in their pourus flesh...the cranberries are sitting under my nose waiting to be transformed into sugary deliciousness...uh oh...the onions are about to be cut...no wait! it's just a peeled apple...thank goodness! I would have had to excuse myself and move elsewhere...don't feel like crying right now...spiced apples...one of my favorite Christmas treats...Dad is over preparing the Honeybaked ham...I've been a vegetarian for the past 8 years so doesn't entice me but still smells pretty darn good...every time I write the word GOOD I keep mispelling it as GOD so I'm taking that as a sign...I'm a believer, and it's important to remember what this day is about...not just the amazing food and presents and movies and family...it's about JESUS...the reason for the season...through his existance we are given the promise of everlasting life...and nothing more...we are not promised an easy life, but an everlasting one. That's pretty rad! hard to fathom, but fun to think about :-)

So as long as we remember that, go ahead and indulge in all the fanciful pleasures of the BEST day of the year! wanna hear what i got? lots of cool stuff for my iphone! I got a portable speaker dock, a credit card thing that attaches to phone so i can actually sell you cds at my shows even if you don't have cash! technology...crazy! and i also got the movie "Crazy Stupid Love" cause it is my new favorite movie...the wrapping said it was from ryan gossling, but i think rodrigo was just trying to get me all excited...hehe...oh and the new coldplay cd! 

Our morning started at 5:30 am so we could skype with my new neice and nephew...it was their first Christmas and we weren't gonna miss it! it took em about an hour to open two presents...they were so awesome! Remember those little lawn mower type things where the little balls would pop like popcorn inside? yeah...they got one of those...super cool! and a classic radioflyer wagon, but it had a nice little sunshade and some cup holders! Then we all went back to sleep for a little bit and I had a dream that we were still skyping but I was holding my niece and then my nephew...for the first time! It felt so real. Then woke up to pancakes and presents...now movies and cooking...Very traditional Christmas for us, except we don't have any dolls or action figures to play with...The pains of growing up...at least I have a live stuffed animal named daisy who's pretty much the coolest thing ever. speaking of, she probably needs to relieve herself so I should take her outside for a bit.  Anyways, just wanted to put my day in words more for my reflection than anything else, but I hope you enjoyed! I also hope you and yours had a beautiful day and a Merry Merry Christmas!!