So. It’s 2:45 am (and that’s the “non-daylight savings time 2:45 am,” which means my body thinks it’s 3:45 am) and I just finished the November issue of the singingly newsletter.

In order to finish up the newsletter, I had to finish the promo page for the workshop I’ll be teaching next month (Dec 4 from 1:00 to 5:00pm) and then between creating the graphics and the different versions of the email and testing them … it’s 2:45 am.

And I have a blog post to write. *tired smile*

…

And I leave on Tuesday for another trip north to Duluth. I am really excited to work again with Sara Thomsen and her choir, not to mention the students at Univ of MN Duluth. (And, I just found out Regina Laroche who I performed with in last weekend’s concert will be joining us!)

I feel honored and excited (and, yes, a teeny bit exhausted) to have so many interesting and soul-feeding projects happening and in the works, but also a little distressed because all these cool projects mean I have had to go looking for more time.

More time to rehearse, more time to teach, more time to plan …

Okay, I’ll just come out and say it.

I have to take a blog sabbatical. Til the end of the year.

…

I have been conflicted because I take my commitment to you and the honor of your readership VERY seriously, but this latest little admin marathon has tipped the scales. (Hey, it’s not you, it’s me. *grin*)

I am consoling myself with the thought that the holiday season is nearly upon us (my guitarist and I started rehearsing our holiday music last week) and you will hardly notice that I’m not emailing you on Mondays and Fridays. (*nervous giggle*)

I mean, we are all going to be quite busy for the rest of November and through December. (Right?) I have concerts, workshops and Songtaneous sessions to do and big singing/teaching/performing stuff to work out for next year. (And you will have concerts, workshops and Songtaneous sessions to attend. *snicker*)

Don’t worry, the blog isn’t going anywhere. You can come peruse the archives any time you need a Songtaneous fix. And if you are really missing me, you can come to show, look for me on facebook or shoot me an email. (Besides, you’ll hear from me in December when I send out the Dec issue of singingly. Go here to sign up if you aren’t already on the list. *smile*)

Take care, sing and I will see you here in the new year.

“Forget about enlightenment, sit down wherever you are and listen to the wind singing in your veins.”
– John Welwood

“Of all the things that exist, we breathe and wake and turn it into song.”
– Mark Nepo

My weekend and concert Holiness and the Feminine Spirit in Duluth were beautiful and reverent.

I so enjoyed working with my fellow performers and meeting artist Janet McKenzie. We met Friday afternoon for our dress rehearsal and then convened Saturday afternoon a talk with the artist.

Janet is soft-spoken, quietly funny and passionate about her art. She explained that her work changed in the mid-90s when her nephew (then a little boy of color) couldn’t see himself in her artwork. And so her work opened.

That opening put her on the path to including people of color and, in particular, women of color in her paintings. She feels it is the work she was put here to do. (Having work you are called to do is an idea I can relate to. *smile*)

During the afternoon she talked about her work, her journey with her painting “Jesus of the People” and answered questions. Mary Lou, Regina and I also presented a preview of the evening’s music and dance.

…

In the evening, we gathered at Peace Church to present this eclectic event of offerings inspired by her work. We sang, dance and, important to me, told stories.

A big part of my improvisation journey over the past year has been discovering stories in the music.

I love this story that I “found” during this weekend’s concert.

Here is the image that was projected during the story.

© Janet McKenzie Study #1