Why I am MIA and my nasty fall in the snow

Things have been quite nice this holiday season. Went to Big Bear and decided to try snowboarding after a 7+ year hiatus. Shockingly enough, I picked it right up the second I locked my boots into the board. Just like riding a bike - who knew :) The slopes are pretty much empty on Xmas eve - which was entirely shocking to me. I expected the opposite. So if you are thinking of traveling here for holiday skiing - I highly recommend it. Very few people on the 24th-26th. At Big Bear, CA at least :)

Had one nasty fall though. I landed flat on my face at the top of a steep hill and LITERALLY ate snow for the entire length of the mountain. It was so steep - there was no stopping myself. I did a few 360s too. Completely ridiculous. By the time I got to the bottom, I was a living snowman. Snow covering my person, in every pocket, entirely up my nose, down my pants... It hurt, but was more funny than anything. My dad got a good kick out of it. :)

Have more family to see tomorrow for a few days in Idyllwild, California and then I drive to the Bay Area to help friends prepare a New Year's party. This whole holiday season has been very jet set-ish for me. Rare for me. I tend to be a homebody near the holidays. Been hard to get to internet and email.

Hope you all got good gifts this year and families are all in line :)

I'll be back soon enough! Can't wait to catch up!

PS - Playing lots of board games and am kicking booty at Clue!

Cormac McCarthy is pissing me off

I am almost finished with this thing called a book - The Road - by Cormac McCarthy. It has been making rounds among friends and I was gifted it twice over. It is a quick read.

The thing is just PISSING me off. I have rarely reacted so negatively to a book before. I honestly can't remember the last art piece that got such an angry reaction out of me.

Every time I open it I get so depressed, I start mumbling under my breath, pondering the gray lackluster experience we call Life.

I have no idea why people adore this thing. I have no idea why it grates me so much. I love it for making me so itchy and hateful, I abhor it for pushing me to such lows. There is no coming up for air. No chapters. Just a string of words that keep getting worse and worse. No hope from beginning to end. And yet with all of this .... I am still reading.

I have to finish it, just so I can have a cohesive argument for or against it. His writing style is wonderful and original. He has a way with phrasing things... yes. But the story itself is haunting me to the point of direness.

Those of you that have read it already... what do you think of it?

Dr. Lust, Vocal Condoms, and it's SACHA not SASHA!

Well I have been missing in action from the blogosphere for so long it's ridiculous. Funny how that happens. What's even worse is that I have been collecting pictures for so long now. Thought that I would at least post them rather then let it fade into oblivion. :)

This is what recording looks like at times for me... I will record vocals and piano at my own place most of the time. It gives me time to think about the parts longer and really work on the record in a private way. I prefer to keep everyone else for studio time and my own parts to be on my clock.


My old school pro tools set up at home... just got a new set up actually which I am very excited for.

So I had a show SO freaking long ago in Iowa at Wartburg. They are always so great to me there...

I was even an honorary guest to their dinner before the show. nametags and all :) name spelled right no less... It does tend to win me over when people get my first name spelled right, I get a lot of sasha :) and it's not like it pisses me off - but there is sort of a... pause.

Had a lovely show at Longwood University ages ago. They were really wonderful... tried to get me to do karaoke but I slipped out of it. karaoke is a big no no for me! It just doesn't work for some reason :) I've completely embarrassed myself on those stages in the past. some really bad memories... Notably my version of "Slave for You" still has me in shivers...
how awesome is this and how much would you pay for a voice lesson?
Before a Santa Barbara show at Rocks, we got pizza! See how excited Jenn was?

My sisters dog is rather adorable. I pinned flowers to him on our walk. :) His name is Oliver.
Corey, a friend from LA, sent us a HUGE basket of chocolate and candy to send us off on our tour. It just arrived at the venue (Lestats) in San Diego. That thing lasted us about 2 weeks and probably added a few pounds to each of us (me definitely). It had the GOOD stuff too - snickers, mounds bars - my fav, cheetos, milky ways, musketeers, etc.... Thanks Corey! It was one of the sweetest things to do (sorry - couldn't help the dorky pun).




Chris Robley is one of our favorite new acts that we had the chance to play live with. They tore it up that night.... we are hoping to do more shows together. Check him out and say hi here! See how my name gets misspelled? :)Got dragged to Fatburger for the first time... We have a running joke that I always make them got to Subway on the road. It's usually the only somewhat healthy option when you are traveling. Hardest thing to do is to eat right when you are on tour.

Sometimes when I really have to go to the bathroom - I WILL just break into the girls room - if the boys has been locked for way too long. Jennifer caught me...
I serenaded the girls in the car. I tend to make up songs around people. Not serious ones, like most hear... but completely insane ridiculous ones - just to get a rise out of people. Some of my classics include "Tropical Fish," "Alexa Sexa," Jennifer + Harry Potter = Love," and "Please Wear a Vocal Condom When You Make Sweet Harmony Love To My Voice."

I drag us to way too many Starbucks... see how much Anna and Jennifer love that?


At our Phoenix show we ended up at the most random bar ever. I love stuff like that... Jared, John-Michael (who I've known for years now and has the most amazing place!), me, and Samuel from Allalom.com!

I didn't know what Cheese Crisps were... there was whole convo about them for some reason and then we saw them on the menu. Just love how passionate people got about those things and then freaked out when I didn't know about em. The menu is even insecure :)
It says: "Cheese Crisp - if you need a description for this one, the short bus comes by around 8pm."


I wanted to steal Eric's haircut so I took this picture of him... but it never really worked out. I got a hybrid of my old one with his. It still works, but I think he beat me on haircuts for this month dammit.

Venues always tend to give us free beer you see...

Alexa ran dry and got sad... thank god for her drumming obsession...
Anna's personal beer mug.


We went to this awesome Greek restaurant and started groping the random statues. Yes... I like to grope things... :)

Alexa was having way too much fun over there -so I got invovled myself...Definitely go to the Mad Greek just outside of Vegas. It is hugely popular and there were so many characters in the place - it felt straight out of Hollywood. The food is awesome as well :) just a great experience all around...


In Vegas we played with a lovely band called Pan de Sal. They even had a video display of fireworks behind them. The band is a ton of fun :) call their style ghettotech
They passed out noise makers before the show - so you could play along. :)

Sacramento shows are in a bit of a rough neighborhood - downtown. Both times we played there we end up loading and unloading our equipment amidst homeless people... there is a definite crack problem there. almost an epidemic downtown.
A beautiful sunset. you tend to catch most of them on the road :)


Me celebrating fall and scary enormous pumpkins.Just after the Hayward, CA show. Nick got all the coins to stand upright. It was way more impressive in person :) He and his fiance Ruby are pretty much the most amazingly supportive people. They help so much with our shows up north.


Jennifer finished up the Harry Potter series in the car when we were on the road. It was funny trying to bother her while she was trying to read. I'm pure innocent joy in the car.

Anna all bright and bushy tailed.
the always lovely Alexa.
We ate at a diner and saw this at the front podium. How awesomely random is that. A place called Peters in San Bruno, CA I believe.

I love random signage. We went to a restaurant called "Splash Cafe" in San Luis Obispo. Loved the Clam illustrations... Sorta scary and unappetizing - but oh well :)

I have no idea what this guy is. A dolphin?? It was just disturbing :)
Adam was lovely enough to hang out with us after the show. We ended up at a restaurant next door to the venue where everyone was dressed as vampires (it was NOT halloween inspired). Completely random and freaky. They had a dance floor underneath full of them and no, it wasn't goth. it was just random people in costume having a night of it.


So now what! For those of you that actually read this far... we are working on a bunch of new live material at the moment and I am still writing new songs. Have a ton so far but still feel there is something more to find - so I am trying my best to keep writing and keep focused.

The shows are truly become great experiences - we are really connecting on the stage in a way I didn't imagine. I love that. I've seen all of us grow in some incredible ways. It's definitely affecting the new songs too...

Anyway - I really do want to keep this thing updated more often. So stay tuned!

The White Rabbit

I was the White Rabbit this Saturday and went wild.
White everything - tux, face, hair, rabbit feet, hands... red nose.
I think Halloween is my favorite.
Nothing better than seeing people
as archetypes.
Lose themselves,
Become something more,
sometimes better,
faulty
but beautiful.

Vegas, San Fran, Crickets, Height Restrictions, and beeeeeeer!

Beautiful lake somewhere. I believe it is in Nevada - but I can't even remember. One of the best things about touring is all the awesome landscapes you come across.
We stayed a night in Circus Circus in Vegas. I thought it would be fun, but it was pretty horrible. The check-in line was 1 hour long! How does that happen? We were so over it. Barely had time to put our bags in the hotel before we had to jet to the venue. Phew! I wouldn't suggest staying there. Hate to be like that - but it was over the top awful. Hotel rooms didn't supply pens or paper, barely soap... and there was an extra fee for staying past 10am - $15!
the line goes on and on...

We had a fun show that night. Lots of beer and chicken wings I believe. Right after we hit the stage, the next band was so loud we had to hide away in the corridors in the back of the venue just to hear ourselves talk. It was awesome. They were called "broken teeth" and brutally assaulted the stage. Complete metal. It was highlarious that we opened for them. They couldn't have been nicer guys. Metal heads are usually that way though.
I thought this was Bob Dylan at first, but Anna said it is Vincent Price. I think she's right. Whoever it is, it looks like Roscoe from Dukes of Hazzard. He was toting pistols. I wish it was Bob Dylan dressed like a sheriff though. It would make me love him that much more I think.
BROKEN TEETH!
We had a lot of fun chatting after the show... :) Hayden and Alexa!
Doug, Teresa, Jennifer, and Laura!
And the next day we hit up Circus Circus just for the hell of it.
But Jennifer wasn't allowed on some of the rides...
And I just killed everyone at basketball - much to Jennifer's dismay. She tells everyone that she's "good at basketball," but the truth is that I am so beyond her talents... it's like I tell her - it's all in the wrists...
And Alexa didn't win at the ghetto drumming game. The thing was so dated it was really funny... you couldn't understand the rules to begin with :)
She drew a crowd around her regardless...
I made Anna sign up for the trampoline ride thingy.
And we all sort of held our breath...
Up she went and tried to complete a flip.
but didn't quite make it this time around ;)

Meanwhile Jennifer was practicing so she could finally beat me at something. I admire her efforts at least. It's sort of sweet in a "baby clown" sort of way.
She really loves NBA Hoops! (she hit an all time high score).
This was pretty much the only gambling we did. I wanted to play Craps so bad - it's my favorite thing now. But we didn't have time to screw around and lose all my money. I think we put in $5 at the slots and that was it. I didn't even get a bloody mary (for some reason Vegas=Bloody Marys for me, don't ask why).
We really tried with those $5!


It didn't work the way we would have liked... :(
Alexa and Anna were good about keeping my windshield clean. The car was so freaking dirty on the outside. I never wash it... and I don't think I can get away with that anymore :)

We found some really scary candies at a gas station on the way down from I-5. This one is a cinnamon lollipop - except...
It has a cricket in it. They also had some with scorpions, worms, and god knows what. Chocolate covered crickets seemed the most popular...
Anna and Jennifer giving me that ever present disapproving look. But they secretly cherish me... I can just feel it... :)
I was minding my own business and they looked too chummy here...
So I attacked.
And we went a little wild.
No better feeling than beer in the pants if you ask me...
The best part about Brainwash was their Nachos!
Jennifer has a real penchant for fatty foods... she just let's herself go on tour - it's amazing to watch ;)
Anna got a bit carried away with 'em too.
We picked up some hot dogs after the show too on the street - my first time eating something like that... and it was way too GOOD :)
We played a place called the Bistro in Hayward, CA. And it was an awesome show! Really loved the space and the energy of that place. We all had a little too much fun up there, even to the point where the girls got me up there to start improvising a bit and make up some songs :) The girls all killed it!

Someone did a drawing of us all during the show - which we were all amazed with.
We found me, Anna, and Jennifer pretty easily - so we decided that the naked goddess butterfly woman was Alexa :)
on the long drive home...

Anna was really into her paper :)
And we finally got Jennifer to drive! :) It's a little nerve wracking with the trailer and all now - I almost got us stuck in a parking lot at Dennys (Sacramento). Backing up with that thing is a nightmare. Alexa used to drive with a horse trailer, so she got us out of my mess...