Baby Steps

Last Saturday I did the Food Lover's Mkt gig with Keith again, this time with vocalist Vincent Nel as my guest artist. This coming Saturday I'll be there, as usual - it's Thursday and I honestly don't know who my guitarist will be. And I'm not worried. Everything will work out just the way it's supposed to. Of that I'm sure.

Had my guitar lesson with Wayne yesterday, and I felt, once again, that I'd turned a corner, moved past a previous barrier. I love playing my guitar, and I want to keep learning, practising, playing, until I die. Worked on "Waltz For Debby", by Bill Evans, as well as "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise" (Romberg). Wayne's an excellent teacher; I've been with him for 17 months, now, and it's been quite a journey.

Last night, after taking a longer break than planned, I went for a walk/run, doing mostly walking for the 3km, because my ankle started feeling tingly and I didn't want to hurt myself again. Felt so good to be out on the road again. Another journey, in its early stages, I'm committed to and am already starting to enjoy. There was a time in my life when I was miserable when I hadn't run for two days, and I can see myself reaching that point again. Baby steps. I've made a decision: I'm training for myself, to gradually build up my fitness; the half marathon is what my partner's training for. If I'm able to give it a bash, with a sensible strategy for the day (Two Oceans), I'll do it. If not, the fact that I'd have moved from years of laziness to some form of fitness would be an achievement in itself. I could do a few 5km runs this year, possibly even 10km, and consider the 21km for 2011, the year I turn 50.

Like I could ever say it all in 15 minutes!

Picture: KEITH TABISHER and I, 2008, Mugg n Bean, The Paddocks, Milnerton
Other one: Me, 6 December 2009.


Ok, so I'm back.

On Saturday I was back at The Food Lover's Market, to do my 7-10pm gig, but this time Wayne couldn't make it, so I played with KEITH TABISHER, with whom I'd worked for six years in the duo, "Jazz, etc.". Keith and I know each other very well, as friends and as musicians, and there's something cosy about working in that format, like reverting to a childhood home or putting on a favourite pair of slippers. And I mean that in the nicest way! Haha! One of the nicest parts of the gig was that I played my guitar for most of the night, something I tend not to do when I work with Wayne. I've thought about that a lot, and I know all the reasons it happens. Don't forget that Wayne's also my guitar teacher, so there's that dynamic with us, as well.

JANICE DE LILLY, guitarist and vocalist, appeared again as our guest artist for the night, and WOW!...... she just keeps getting better and better! This young lady REALLY knows how to sing! She takes guitar lessons at Jazz Workshop, with James Kibby, and I can see her confidence growing, along with her repertoire and technique.

To my delight, another vocalist, MEGAN FRANCIS, turned up to have supper there, and she agreed to come up and sing two songs. Another really great singer with a bright future.

It turned out to be a very nice evening, with three tables of my friends pitching up and staying to enjoy the music. Thanks to Barbara and family, Terence and Lynne, and Kim and Clive. I simply love it when our friends come to our gigs. Also cool was seeing the old combination of my partner and Keith's wife, chit-chatting.

I played, for the first time in public, Sigmund Romberg's "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise". Also played my two current favourite Jobim songs, "How Insensitive" and "Once I Loved". There's just something about the bossanova played on guitar that makes me feel I can handle anything and eveything that life throws my way.

I thought about something the other day, and it reminded me of my conclusion I came to many years ago: that you can go to a psychologist for months, even years, and not say what it is that's really bothering you. The thing I thought of was how, even when I'm dealing with really hectic issues in my private life, it's my choice to blog about other things, more upbeat things - things I myself wouldn't mind reading over and over again, either because they're interesting, funny or just generally inspiring.

I've decided to attach a picture of Keith and myself, taken in 2008. I must be honest, that's not the same me I am today. I've changed - a bit on the outside, but a lot on the inside. You'd be surprised. (Just added a recent one, to highlight the external changes!)

Fifteen minutes

I have 15 minutes in which to be profound, funny, cryptic, ironic, or simply just to blog about whatever comes into my head.

Quick stats update: 350 profile views on my blog thus far. Yay!
And 100 facebook "friends". Diluted yay!

I started training for a half marathon on the 1st day of the year, after about a decade of unfitness (I suppose you could call me an unfit mother?). Have been doing running and walking, to a plan of run 8 mins, walk 2. Like the Trudy of many, many moons ago, I can feel myself getting excited (and fanatical) about running as a major part of my lifestyle. Got up this morning at dawn and was on the road at 5:10am. Loved the morning crispness, the sky's soft light, and the easy atmosphere between my trainer/partner/confidante and me. Reached my halfway goal, the joggers' drinking fountain on Ladies' Mile Rd, and started walking back, when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles tendon, and that was that. Couldn't run, could hardly walk, so we took a gentle stroll back. And now, with all this enthusiasm inside of me, I have to NOT run for a few days, and basically doctor myself. Been taking anti-inflammatories all day, and trying not to walk. That's like saying I was alone with my guitar, nothing to do, and I tried not to play! Man!!! One day, a student asked me, "Trudy, CAN you walk slowly?"

So much to say, as usual! Have started planning my next concert of original music ("restless" doesn't even BEGIN to describe how I feel), and am ECSTATIC to say I have the following people in my band: WAYNE BOSCH, CHARLES LEZAR and....... FRANK PACO!!!!Can you imagine how cool this concert's going to be?! I'm out of my skin with excitement!!!

DATE: Saturday 6 March
VENUE: Baran's Theatre Restuarant, Greenmarket Square
TIME: 7pm

Once again, lots to do, but this time I'm giving myself 8 weeks in which to put it all together, and there'll be some major improvements on the last one.

Met fascinating Frank Paco on Saturday for the first time, have started a collaboration exercise with him, but more about that when it's further down the line.

2010, I already love you!!!!!

(ok, that was 19 minutes!)

Law of Attraction

Another incredible picture, taken at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, by wave photographer, Clark Little.

Sometimes solutions come in ways we least expect. Sometimes endings are beginnings, in a way we could never have dreamt. Starting to ease my brain into arranging my next show with some interesting changes. Stepping out boldly. Learning from previous show's mistakes. From a business perspective, DEFINITELY some radical changes. It's ok to say philosophically that, for me, the previous show was successful in every way but financial, but it doesn't mean I have to say it ever again, right?! Haha! It was a huge learning experience for me, but also extremely satisfying. I think for years I've been unconsciously (or consciously?) trying out different permutations, moving inexorably towards my goal of professionally recording a CD of my original work. I've never felt more ready in my life! Everything about 2010 screams out that this is the year it'll all come together.

There's a Mind Power affirmation I frequently do: "I always attract the perfect people and circumstances."