Happy 15th Birthday Rose!

Cameron's family came to town last week for the CD release, and with them came Rose! Rose and her parents (Cameron's cousin, aunt and uncle) are a big part of touring family; Ryan and I often stay with them whenever we are touring through Kansas City, MO. Rose's birthday was the perfect reason to bring all of our families(Cameron's, Ryan's, and mine) together to meet, eat and make music.
Rose and Cameron...

Dad and Haleigh...

The moms!

Ryan, Rachel and Mary...

Phil (Uncle), Linda, and Kathy (Aunt)...

Rose!

Cameron and Ryan...

Family!

My parents and niece (Haleigh) came to visit last week! I had to work almost everyday, so I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with them as I would have liked, but as my mom reminded me, "we got to have dinner together every night, which is way more than we normally get to do!" It is also nice to come home from work and find freshly planted flowers in the backyard, fresh ice tea in the fridge, and folded laundry in the basket ... Thank You!
Haleigh, mom, and me on the Phone Line Trail at Sabino Canyon:

Haleigh acting natural for the camera:

Jay-Z, Kelly Clarkson, and Ryanhood??

Some more good news... Ryanhood is one of 5 finalists in the contest to play at Arizona Stadium April 29, 2009, with Jay-Z, Kelly Clarkson, Third Eye Blind, and The Veronicas.

You can cast a vote for us here


Vote daily if you can (for 7 days, then the contest ends)

We've got big plans to film the show and to write a song for Kelly Clarkson in order to charm her into taking us on tour. But first, we have to win the contest!

If you know any email groups or lists that might want to throw their support behind us, by all means, go for it!

And teachers... if your students are old enough to have email addresses, feel free to take field trips to the computer lab and help them sign up and vote as well :-)

Thanks
Ryan

Ryanhood!

So, I must say, last night's show did rock my world. I told Ryan that I think it was the best concert I've ever been to. Like, not just Ryanhood concert, but of any concert I've ever been to. I know there might be some bias perspective there, but really...it was so fun, and they did so well! I think the final ticket count was like 762 people! I went up to the balcony at one point and everyone was just dancing away, it was so totally rewarding after all that has gone into making this record.

Suntran continued...

One thing I forgot to mention in yesterday's post is this on-going idea I've had for a short documentary film. When living in Boston it was a common site to see people in business suits, City Year jackets, and with guitar backpacks running--sprinting!--after the train/bus. I think it'd be hilarious to have a film of just watching different cases of actual people chasing these moving objects...sometimes catching them in time, other times being left in the dust (exhaust), being saved by a nice bus driver stopping, getting angry at a 'mean' bus driver, etc. Anyway, I've been reminded of this because I have found myself having to run to catch the bus from time to time, and people here just stare at me like I'm crazy running down the side walk with my purse/bag clutched tightly...I honestly think they are wondering if I just almost got mugged or if I just stole the purse/bag.

Tomorrow is the big concert...we've already sold 700 tickets!! :)

Oh Suntran...

I've been taking the bus to and fro work for the past 6 weeks. If you've been to Tucson, or if you live in Tucson, you will know that we don't live in a "bus friendly" city. Buses run on a grid, and to get anywhere that involves a right or left turn, takes careful planning. BUT, I love the bus! So much, that I even bought my first Suntran Monthly pass for April. I have found that I am a much friendlier person when I have that time to gather my thoughts in the morning, and also to decompress at the end of the day. I also love sitting next to strangers, making friends with others at the bus stop, eavesdropping on funny high school conversations, seeing people help others (with kids, who are blind, in a wheelchair, elderly, etc) on/off the bus...I could go on...I am a big fan of the Suntran!

Bitone Beds!

We received a wonderful package in the mail yesterday from Bitone (the children's home in Uganda that we volunteered at in January). It was a letter accompanied by a disc of photos of them installing their beds, hanging their mosquito nets, and making their home a little cozier!













Ryan and I were discussing last night how seeing those photos and picturing all of those kids now having an actual bed to sleep in just feels so good. We recently got a new shower in our master bedroom, which cost 2X the amount of money that it did for the beds. And while we do love our new shower, especially since it is free of mushroom growthage, giving to Bitone and places like that is where we'd rather spend our money. The ripple effect is so much more gratifying. It's hard to always keep that perspective, so if you see us slipping, please give us a gentle reminder. :)

Seasons...

Life has been feeling quite busy here lately. And to be honest, I don't like to feel busy. I love to be able to have time at home to hang dry my clothes, lay in bed and read, cook yummy dinners, etc. Whereas the truth right now, is that there are clothes hanging on the clothesline that have been there for at least 3 days, and every morning I just walk outside, get what I need, and then continue getting ready for work...so eventually they will all come off the line...it might just be a while. Not to mention the fact that there are 'clean' clothes in the wash that have been there since last night that need to be dried, but I just don't have the will power right now to get up and hang them (nor is there room on the line). I haven't gone grocery shopping in over a week...all we have in the fridge is eggs, tortillas, cheese, and lettuce...good thing I get free food at work! :)

Despite the busyness though, I do love my job. I was telling Ryan today that it feels like I'm doing exactly what I am meant to be doing for this season in my life. The trainees are wonderful people for me to learn from and grow with.

And, it is soo exciting to see Ryan working so hard in preparation for the cd release show. I love the passion and motivation that is springing out of him.

I'm just missing the downtime of playing boardgames, making dinner, drinking tea, and talking that we are so used to having together. Hopefully that time is just around the corner for us though.

On a random note, I feel like I'm going through the awkward middle school phase with growing out my bangs again. I got many compliments on the "Halle Berry" wanna-be hair cut, but when it came down to it, it just didn't feel "me"...so the bangs are going and I'm wearing scarfs in my hair everyday to hold the bangs back. Luckily this time around, my hair is much shorter so the process should be quicker!

The World Awaits!

Three years and two months in the making...we finally have Ryanhood's latest album in our hands!! As many of you know, this process was very long and painful at times. Thank you so much for all of your support during the ups and downs along the way...it really has meant more to us than words could say! The good news is, we are really happy with how the album came out! Not only is the packaging all made from recycled cardboard and vegetable dyes...it sounds GREAT too! :)

You can pre-order a copy of the cd here.

If you are in Tucson...
We will be having the cd release at The Rialto Theatre on April 4th! You can buy tickets here.
All tickets come with a copy of the new album, The World Awaits. We really hope you can join us!!

If you are in Boston...
We will be having a cd release at Cafe 939 (located in Back Bay) on May 29th! Stay tuned to Ryanhood's website for more details.

And, if you are located elsewhere, we hope to schedule a show near you soon!! :)

The unveiling of the album...

Life at the Garden

We are back in Tucson for a while, so I decided to look back into working at Cafe 54 in the Botanical Gardens...and YEAH...they just so happened to be looking for a job coach!

For those of you who may not be familiar with Cafe 54, here is the text from a blog I wrote a couple of years ago while working there...

There is an incredible organization in Tucson called Cafe 54 (www.cafe54.org). It's a unique cafe that hires and trains individuals with mental illness to work at the cafe to gain job skills and confidence with customer service, food prep, serving food, counting money, etc. Whenever the trainees are not working, they can spend time at the Clubhouse, which is a day center located nextdoor to the cafe, and work on their resumes, coverletters, check email, attend meetings, etc. Once they are feeling confident and ready, we then encourage them and assist them in applying for jobs out in the community and then coach them through the interviewing process, etc.

Well, to make a long story short, the Tucson Botanical Gardens has a horticulture therapy program for individuals with any sort of mental or physical illnesses, where they garden for therapy. The Botanical Gardens love that Cafe 54 is a like-minded non-profit, so they asked us to start a Garden Cafe in the Fall of 2006.

It's a little adobe cottage set in the most beautiful surroundings. Right now there is a huge butterfly exhibit going on, so everyday I go over and check out what stages they are in and also see many butterflies just fluttering around the gardens.

It's a really tasty menu with prickly pear and raspberry hibiscus iced teas, goat cheese tarts, salads, mediterranean plates, pesto/mozarella/tomato sandwiches, etc...oh, and I shouldn't forget to mention the carrot cake and whole wheat brownies! All of their plates, silverware, etc is 100% compostable, and any food scraps that are able to be, are composted and re-used right there in the garden.

Here's the front of the cafe...there are tables out in front, but they are hard to see in the picture...


Here is the ramada area where a lot of people sit to eat...

Rodeo!!

Many of you may remember our devastating trip to the rodeo two years ago. We were determined to not let that happen again, so we bought our tickets in advance this year. Unfortunately, I forgot to borrow boots this time, but I had a pretty rockin' belt buckle to wear...and Ryan wore his cowboy shirt. Our attempts were nothing though compared to how decked out the kids were...


I'm not too sure of what I think about rodeos to be honest. I can have fun at them and see how it all stemmed from practicalities of ranching...but watching the calf roping is a little much for my taste. I much prefer the barrel racing and bareback riding.


Well, we skipped past spring and summer is here...it's in the upper 80s already! I'm not really complaining though, it's nice to be outside in the sunshine. My morning adventure for this week was the Douglass Spring Trail at the end of Speedway. Rumor has it there is a waterfall somewhere on the trail, but I must not have gone far enough...perhaps next week!

The dirt is always browner...

As we travel around the country, I begin to have a bit of wonder-lust wishing I lived everywhere except for Tucson. Boston, San Francisco, Peaks Island (Maine), Vermont, ....those are just a few that come to mind. But, then we return to Tucson and I'm in love with the sun, the mountains, our friends, ...unfortunately though that feeling of being in love with Tucson doesn't always remain. I think it's because I don't take advantage of all the things I love here as often as I should. And then you know, I start thinking that the dirt is always browner (or maybe fertile enough so that grass could even grow), everywhere but here. So, as a way to keep myself present and content, I decided I would spend one day a week where I "splurge" and take the time to go for a hike or run somewhere other than around our neighborhood. So far...the results have been great! I'm loving Tucson!

Last week's adventures:

The trailhead at the end of Alvernon Way:


Sabino Canyon:


Today:
The trail at the end of Broadway:

Life with Grammie

Living at Grammie's has been wonderful, as I mentioned in an earlier post. I feel like there is so much to learn from living with someone who has almost 50 years on me. Her husband (Bill) has been living in a home for people with Alzheimer's for the past 4 years. And, she still visits him six days a week (Wednesday she gets her hair and nails done at the time when he is usually awake). It's beautiful to see her love for him continue despite the fact that he doesn't know who she is anymore. She still brings him his favorites of frappuccinos, strawberries, and yogurt, even though he probably doesn't even know they were ever his favorites. It's love. It's marriage in sickness and in health to the very end...filled with love.

Last night Grammie had some friends, The Reillys, over for dinner. She's been friends with them since she moved to Tucson (almost 50 years ago). She met the Reillys while moving her parents into their old house. I love it. Just a little real estate transaction, turned into a life long friendship.

Another couple she is close with, she met because they used to both go to the same restaurant a lot, and always see each other. Now, with Bill being in the home, they invite her to partake in dinners, vacations, movies, etc all the time...again, beautiful friendship.

Tomorrow we'll be moving back to our home. I'm going to miss the hour long breakfast chats, cozy home, and bedtime hugs. Good thing she only lives 20 minutes away. :)

There have been many laughs while living here. Grammie is laugher (as is Lori)...I love it. A couple of years ago when Ryanhood was taking press photos, she found the perfect look that they should go after...it was based on a photo of Michael Buble, her musical crush. Unfortunately it was not the look Ryanhood was going for, but just for fun, I made Ryan pose like him so I could take a photo. I don't think we ever showed her that photo. So, perhaps tonight will be the night to bring out that photo to make her laugh.

Michael Buble


Ryan Green

Two steps forward, three steps back?

Our last hotel of the tour turned out be pretty sweet, despite the lack of a trusted name. (Normally I'm anti-chains...I like small businesses, but when it comes to hotels...I like the consistency and cleanliness that comes with recognizable names). This particular hotel was called "The Lodge", and well, it looked like a lodge! Log cabin on the outside, and log cabin-looking on the inside...very cute. AND, it had a putt-putt golf course in the back that guests could use for free! The owner told us we were the first golfers of the season, so we had to clean off the twigs, and astroturf was a bit water-logged...

...but she never said anything about the dog losing his leg over the hard winter!


Onto other things...
Our road "kitchen" has moved up in ranks! We recently discovered the electric skillet! (So much better than having to use a hot plate with a pot/pan on top of it)...the electric skillet totally simplifies the cooking process...not to mention it's way bigger, and heats up much faster! The only problem now though, is that we are often tempted to plug it in outside of gas stations so we can eat hot food for lunch instead of eating our tiresome turkey sandwiches. :)

One of these is not like the others...

We are staying at Grammie's house right now (until Saturday) while our house is still being rented. I think this was the best way to come "home". We can see all of our friends and family, be in the sun, do our laundry non-coin-op style, etc...but no guilty feelings of needing to clean the house, pull the weeds, etc. Plus, Grammie happens to be very nurturing, drinks tea, and loves to play card games! It's the type of community living I picture loving (although roommates may make me clean, pull weeds, etc...but that will be okay). :)

As we pulled back the covers to go to bed on our first night here...we found a surprise from Grammie...Ryan's blankie after years and years of separation! :)



Gray Beauty (aka our 1987 Nissan Sentra) feels a little out of place, but we keep re-assuring her that we really don't want a Buick LeSabre until we turn 65... (please note that these are only the Buick LeSabres we pass coming and going from Grammie's, we haven't walked down the streets of other condos yet...

Dominic!

Dominic Christopher Giambelluca arrived on Sunday morning! Everyone is home and doing great. Here are a few photos...

Saturday evening...


Sunday morning...




Monday evening...


It's probably fair to say we are stalkers. :)

More posts to come about the wrap up of the tour...so nice to be home, I think I'm just going to enjoy it for now instead of blogging. :)

Today!

Last weekend I heard a sermon that really moved me. It was the first thing that the pastor said though it had nothing to do with the sermon, in fact it was a prelude to what turned out to be a joke, but it was still striking...and it has left me thinking ever since. He said, "Today doesn't have to be a carbon copy of yesterday". I have a job that is truly different from day-to-day...one day we are in Iowa playing a show, and the next day we are driving 8 hours through Wisconsin passing time playing games in the car, and the next day we are at home booking shows for the following tour. But it can still be a carbon copy of the day before if I allow it to be. My thought patterns, what dreams and passions I put aside, the food I eat (even though I'm sick of it), the phone calls I avoid, etc. I don't want to live out a carbon copy of yesterday though. I want to have more spontaneity. I want to dream big dreams. I want to actualize those dreams. I want to stay up too late for once and be okay with not getting enough sleep. I want to get caught up in conversation with a stranger. I want to have the confidence to sing at a family sing-a-long. I want to live in the moment. I want to choose to be joyful.

Dreams/passions I'd like to pursue...

* Hang out with children in some capacity (volunteer in Child Life, be a substitute preschool/kindergarten teacher, be a "big sister", spend more time with Rachel, offer to babysit for my friends' children, invite the neighbor kids over more, ....)

* Take more time with crafts. Usually I start a project and want to finish it soon...I don't want it to carry on for a long time...I want to wear it, give it, sell it, etc as soon as possible. But, what if I allowed it to take me a few weeks...a few months...could it become even better...might my creativity develop even more?

* Try my hand at painting using mixed media.

* I'd love to get to know my neighbors more.

* Make Ryanhood concerts benefit shows for various causes.

* Send cards to friends and family for no particular reason.

* Spend less time on the computer.

* Be involved in a cause...not really sure what this involvement looks like right now, or what the cause may be. Two current thoughts running through my head are: a.) something to do with marriages--it saddens me to see so many marriages that surround me lacking communication and complacent with their unhappiness. and/or b.) something to do with human trafficking.

* Take time to play outdoors everyday! (run, hike, garden, etc.)

Something More

One of Ryan's new songs has me totally captivated. I wish I could upload audio for it, because the melody is beautiful, but I unfortunately don't have a recording of it yet.

I love finding music that I can connect with it. I love it when I find it to be so true to me. I love it when it inspires me to be 'something more'.

Something More
Some people say that I was born a man
No time to play while I was making plans
I never learned to dirty up my hands

Cause even when I step outside
I hold it in and my kite won't fly
I'm tangled up in a fear of highs

Please come before me
Make me into something more
I feel the need to love
But I haven't got enough

I wanna swim in the sea at night
Unafraid of the deep inside
Learn to love in the full moonlight

I'm tryin' to find what I'm made for
So you can get your moneys worth that you paid for
'cause I've got nothing left that I need to save for
I'm ready, I'm ready to spend myself

Please come before me
Make me into something more
I feel the need to love
But I haven't got enough

I've waited for myself
But nothing's coming
There must be someone else
That keeps me running

You keep me running

Please come before me
Make me into something more
I feel the need to love
But I haven't got enough

Touring along...

Here's a random smattering of what we've been up to lately...

*We just saw the wiener mobile in Madison! I don't know why it is so exciting to see a car in the shape of a hotdog, but I love that it can totally make my day.

*I'm loving the snow! I grew up with seasons, and I think part of me just needs to see summer turn into fall and fall turn into winter...I love it! I guess this is the great part about touring we get to experience all the seasons.

*We've been surrounded by Little House on the Prairie country while touring Minnesota! We made a stop at the Walnut Grove Mercantile the other day to get some fresh fudge...they also had bolts of fabric, just like Mrs. Oleson would have had.


*We did a little snow shoeing (we decided that skiing was not an option considering the recent finger damage)...



*And, we hit black ice...spun the van into the highway median (thankfully filled with fluffy snow)...the tow truck pulled us out, no injuries and no damage to the van!

*Yeah Arizona for making it to the Super Bowl...we were cheering you on at my sister's Super Bowl party!

*Welcome to the family Lucy!! We're so glad we got to finally meet you!


*Wonderful meals and time spent with family and friends in the midwest!

*I was inspired by Halle Berry to get my hair cut...

...unfortunately having the haircut like her's, doesn't mean I can style it the same way...I'm working on it. ...sorry no pictures at this point. :)

Only 9 more days until we are home...this tour has flown by!