Day 2 of the #Trust30 writing challenge is from Liz Danzico, who asks us to consider that being genuine is all about being in the here and now, today. The challenge is to describe today using only one sentence.
My response:
Today is an opportunity to commit to the current experience of all five senses.
Right now: I smell the complicated city morning air. I hear the birds (and the distant traffic) outside my open window. I feel the breeze gently floating by me. I taste the lingering deliciousness of my first cup of coffee. I see the contrasting colors of my neighborhood landscape change with the rising sun.
If I forced myself to get up 30 minutes earlier every day, read this sentence, and spent some quiet time with it, would I become more grounded in today? As I am sitting here, focused on really experiencing my senses, it occurs to me that I’m not obsessing about my day, what I have to get done, what I didn’t do yesterday, what deadlines I have to meet, and all those details that are NOT about *right now.*
(…she thought to herself, as a small smile appeared on her unsuspecting face, surprising her with the realization that she is joyfully in the now.)
Is it just that easy? Ok – not easy – but maybe it’s just that simple. A simple thing that is very hard to do.
Well, I’m pretty happy right now – so maybe that’s all that matters anyway.
Now what? I think if it were really true, I wouldn’t cry (like I am now). Although that might all depend on if I’m the only one with 15 minutes to live or if some ridiculous end of days is on the way, and we all know it.
If I were home, I’d find little J, and find my husband, and hug them. A lot. And tell them how much they mean to me.
As much as I love writing, I just don’t think I’d actually spend it writing. Though I do sit here, scheduler and planner that I am, thinking about what I would write or say if I only had 15 minutes left.
1. J and J, I love you to pieces and am so grateful to have been in your lives. J – you encouraged me when no one saw it. Little J – you are a beautiful soul and don’t ever let anyone take that away from you. Do what you love.
2. Mom & Dad, you gave me more than I could ever have hoped for. All the blessings I have had, and the life challenges I’ve seen and overcome are, in many ways, a testament to you as parents.
3. My brothers and sisters – to the whole lot of you – your support in my crazy adventures has meant the world to me. You might not know how much I appreciate each of you. It’s hard with so many of us…but know that you all have been special to me in your own way.
4. My extended family and dear friends – you have touched me – just know it. I’d list out each of the fun times but I only get about 6 more minutes now. I am running through them all in my head.
5. My music friends – thank you for helping me find and share passion. I found new energy in life because of you.
And I’m pretty sure put my arm around my husband, take little J on my lap, and sing to him until the end. Or let him sing to me. Whichever he wants. Because at that point, it wouldn’t be about me anymore.
So it’s not my life story. But it’s life. And maybe it’s ending on a cliche, but I don’t care as long as I get to spend it with J & J. So there.
It’s a traveling month! If you are near Rhode Island, Connecticut or New York, I would love to see you!
Friday, May 13 – 7:30-9:00 pm
Songwriter Sessions at the Vanilla Bean Café
450 Deerfield Road, Pomfret, CT
Hosted by Lisa Martin, with Lara Herscovitch, Dan Cloutier & Kim Jennings. We have each been challenged to write a song with the theme “vacations gone bad.” Join us!
Saturday, May 14 – 8:30-11 pm Rhode Island Alehouse
1200 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI
Come by the Alehouse for a wide selection of craft beer, a full menu, and live music with yours truly!
Monday, May 23 – 7-10 PM
Bar East – FUN-raiser for M.O.M. (Museum Of Motherhood)
1733 1st Ave. (at 90th St), New York, NY
$8 cover; free beer 7-8 pm. Various performers from 7-10 pm; my set is just after 8 pm. I am honored to head back down to NYC to be a part of this great mom-focused week of events!
Blogs
No!!!! She says too much already! Wait…you want more? Ok. Here you go!
So folks – Dan Cloutier, my Birch Beer Records compadre, is starting to make his next CD. Dan is working to raise funds for the album through Kickstarter, a website that is all about creative funding for creative projects. Please check out Dan’s project – his rewards are very cool (and some very funny as well). And watch his inspiring video. And while you’re there, if you don’t yet have his CD “Live at the Masquerade Ball”, you can download the album for free just for going to his page. Scroll to the end! Here’s the link: http://kck.st/foREcY
I have a show **this Saturday** ~ opening for Sam Bayer at Rob Mattson’s Upton House Concert Series. Yes, that’s THIS SATURDAY, October 23 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 – please email rob@robertmattson.com, or call 617-899-0799 for reservations. This will be a great night of music – and I am honored to be part of an evening with Sam! Please check him out at www.sambayer.com and come to the show!
Birch Beer Records News…Christmas in October?
And, as I start saying in February every year, Christmas is right around the corner! And it will be a very Merry Birch Beer holiday at that! I am tickled all red and green that Birch Beer Records is releasing a Christmas album: Birch Beer Christmas Cheer! The CD will be available on Tuesday, November 30 and includes six original Christmas songs from Dan Cloutier, Levi Schmidt, and yours truly, along with a few traditional songs with our very own BBR spin on them.
I am super excited about this record, and the whole BBR gang is thinking of all kinds of creative ways to get our music out there. We’ll even have download cards that you can send out to your holiday-giving list, if you want to spread our music around as well! And there will be shows…you can count on it! Make sure to like Birch Beer Records on Facebook to keep up with all the news!
We Support Local Music – The Blog
The local music blog that Birch Beer Records is running at www.we-support-local-music.com is going so well! We have had many wonderful people contribute great posts, some informative and educational, others provocative…and I am amazed and humbled by the energy and time that all our writers are putting into their posts for the blog. In less than 3 months, we have 30 articles! Here are a few – please check them out and more – learn all about the writers on our Profiles page.
Sat 10/23 – 7:30 pm
Opening for Sam Bayer
Upton House Concerts (Upton, MA)
Tickets: $15
Email: rob@robertmattson.com
Call: 617-899-0799
Sun 10/24 – 1:00-3:00 pm
With Dan Cloutier
Holliston Mill Open Studios
24 Water Street, Holliston, MA www.hollistonmill.com
Tues 10/26 – 4:30-5:45 pm
With Dan Cloutier & Levi Schmidt
Westford Farmers Market on the Common
Main St/Lincoln St/Boston Road, Westford, MA www.westfordfarmersmarket.com
Wed 10/27 – 6:00 pm
With Dan Cloutier & Levi Schmidt
Birch Beer Records performs at White Birch Brewing Open House
1368 Hooksett Rd, Hooksett, NH
Birch Companies Unite! www.whitebirchbrewing.com
Sat 10/30 –1:00-3:00 pm
Great Brook Farms Saturday Acoustic Series
356 Main St, Bolton, MA www.greatbrookfarms.com
Wed 11/3 – 8:00 PM
Absolutely Fabulous
454 Main Street, Melrose, MA
781-620-0940
Save the Date Boston Friends!! Fri 11/12 – time TBD
Birch Beer Records Showcase, with Dan Cloutier, Kim Jennings & Levi Schmidt Dennis PearneOpens
Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA
Tickets: $10 – more info to come www.artsatthearmory.org
This is our first Birch Beer Records showcase!! The three of us will play all kinds of great music throughout the night! And don’t forget the wonderful food! Pejamajo Café is a creperie – dinner crepes, dessert crepes, beer and wine are all available. Come join the fun!!
Sunday, April 18 – 4-6:30 PM
The Real School of Music Open Mic Night
56 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA
This is an all ages open mic night. Bring the kids…bring a song! The Real School of Music is revolutionizing music education in the Greater Boston area. Very cool.
Tuesday, April 20 – 7:30 PM
Twice Told Tales Open Stage
Harvey Wheeler Community Center
1276 Main Street, Concord, MA
Hosted by John Ferullo and Betsi Mandrioli of Two Cat Folk
Sign up at 7:00, music begins at 7:30. I’ll be co-featuring with Sandra Waddock at this great acoustic open stage.
***Wooooo!!***
Thursday, April 22 – 7:00 PM
Worcester Music Awards
Lucky Dog Music Hall
89 Green St., Worcester, MA
Sponsored by The Pulse Magazine
Yes!!! I am playing at the Worcester Music Awards! So thanks for nominating me, and voting for me. It will be fun to see who ends up winning all the awards! And now I get to say things like: “It is such an honor just to be nominated.” Good times!
Ccome have a pint with me, hang with a bunch of local musicians, and take in some tunes from other acts like The Flock of Assholes, Prospect & Righteous, The Last Call Band, and DJ Reckless. And ME!!! It’s going to be an eclectic evening of music to be sure – this is what it’s all about folks! More info – and a great review of BBR’s own Dan Cloutier and his “Live at the Masquerade Ball” CD (scroll down!) – at The Pulse Magazine’s website.
***Coming Up…NYC!***
I just got word that I’ll playing at the national MAMAPALOOZA conference in New York City in May. This is super cool – and MetroWest music moms and my good friends Carrie Rowan and Lori Diamond will be playing at the festival too. It’s my first time playing in NYC! Yeah, baby — Saturday, May 22 — more info to come!!
Here’s my approach to New Year’s resolutions. I don’t make them. I have this crazy thinking that I want to make positive changes in my life all the time. So instead, January is my time to stop putting so much pressure on myself to be better…healthier…more whatever. Call it my rebellious nature, I can’t help myself.
So now that it’s February, I look back at January with no regrets. And I want to thank all of you for your support in 2009 – including making my CD Release show a wild success! If you missed it, or want to remember it, I have some video from that show (thank you Chris Flynn) posted at my new Youtube channel here: www.youtube.com/user/kimjenningsmusic.
Need a copy of the CD? Let me know and I can help you with that – or head on over to www.birchbeerrecords.com/store.html and get one before you see me again.
Saturday, March 27 – 3-7 PM
Johnny D’s Uptown ~ 17 Holland St./Davis Square, Somerville, MA
All ages show!! Tickets: $10 at the door
I am honored to be playing in Chick Singer Night, a nationwide program that does benefit shows for music programs at local schools. How cool is that – and Johnny D’s sure is a cool venue to take in some live music for a very, very good cause!
Thursday, May 20 – 7:00 PM
The Bull Run Restaurant ~ 215 Great Road, Shirley, MA
**split bill with Lori Diamond and Fred Abatelli**
Tickets: $10 in advance – just let me know!
The Bull Run is a important and historic venue that is doing a ton for local musicians. Not only have many artists that I admire played at the Bull Run, their season this year alone includes the likes of Antje Duvekot, Kris Delmhorst, and Cheryl Wheeler. I am splitting a bill with the wonderfully talented Lori Diamond and Fred Abatelli. Lori and Fred and I have collaborated on each others songs, so it promises to be a great evening…where we’ll very gently rock your world. We’d love to sell out this show!! Let me know and I’ll get you your tickets.
The “My Own True North” CD Release Show is Friday, December 4 at 8:00 PM – and it is fast approaching!
Rich Wilkins and Ethics will open, and it’s going to be a “feel the love for local music” kind of evening. I’ll be joined by Seth Connelly, Lori Diamond, Andrew Greene and Mally Smith. I can’t tell you in words how excited I am for this show! I hope you can join us for a fantastic night of music, complete with some fun twists along the way.
Tickets for reserved seating are available now by calling the Amazing Things Arts Center at 508-405-2787.
Amazing Things is located at 160 Hollis Street, Framingham, MA.
I just posted a two songs from the album – “One More Time” and “I’m Only Human” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kimjenningsmusic and Myspace at www.myspace.com/kimberleyjennings. “I’m Only Human” also has Seth Connelly on bass and Andrew Greene on harmonica. Again, am I lucky or what?
In other news, “One More Time” has been selected for the internet radio playlists at OutboundRadio.com and for WomenOfSubstanceRadio.com!
And I’ve been blogged! David Greene gave me – and the December 4th show – a nice mention on his blog when he reviewed the CD Release Show for Perry Desmond-Davies’ “Sweet Ride” and Sonic Bridge’s “American Dream.” Check it out here: http://blahblahginger.blogspot.com/2009/09/perry-desmond-davies-sonic-bridge-and.html
As I think back over this year – which, if you ask me, still has a LOT left in it – I have to tell you all how much I appreciate your encouragement and support. I can honestly say that I really do believe that the best is yet to come. And this is all thanks to YOU.
Thank you sooo much for listening.
~Kim
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www.birchbeerrecords.com
www.kimjenningsmusic.com
www.facebook.com/kimjenningsmusic
www.myspace.com/kimberleyjennings
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Sign up for KJ’s e-mail news at http://www.kimjenningsmusic.com/signup.htm
I’m thrilled and humbled to be opening for the fabulously funny Don White on Friday, September 11 at the UnCommon Coffeehouse, First Parish Framingham (24 Vernon Street).
Help me bring a big crowd to this great show! Tickets are available online at www.uncommoncoffeehouse.org, or through Centre Music of Framingham by calling 508-875-0909. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door, $13 seniors/students.
To my friends not already deeply rooted in the local music scene: if you aren’t a Don White fan, you really should be – he is just side-splittingly hilarious. You can find Don White on Facebook, Myspace or Youtube.
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Also – my appearance on the NECN Coffee House has been rescheduled to October 23. More to come…
Friday 9/11/09 ~ 8:00 PM
**Opening for Don White**
UnCommon CoffeeHouse at First Parish Framingham
24 Vernon St., Framingham, MA www.uncommoncoffeehouse.org
Thursday 9/17/09 ~ 7:30 PM
**supporting Ruthann Baler – Open Mike Feature/CD release**
Amazing Things Arts Center, Folk Open Mike
160 Hollis Street, Framingham, MA www.amazingthings.org
Thursday 10/1/09 ~ 7:30 PM
Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival
**featuring Alan Crane and David Amram, with Jon McAuliffe, Andrew Greene & Kim Jennings** Cappy’s Copper Kettle
245 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01852 www.lowellcelebrateskerouac.org
More shows!! I have a couple of opening slots in August and September. And an appearance on NECN at the end of this month! I’m humbled and honored to have these opportunities, and hope you can join me in support. Come and pinch me – help me make sure I’m living in reality with my two feet planted on the ground.
Saturday, August 8 ~ 8:00 pm
Opening for Cliff Eberhardt
Amazing Things Arts Center
160 Hollis Street, Framingham, MA
Tickets: $20; call 508-405-2787
www.amazingthings.org
Friday, August 28 ~ 9:40 am and 10:40 am
New England Cable News Coffeehouse
Catch the segment after the airing on www.necn.com
Friday, September 11 ~ 8:00 pm
Opening for Don White
The UnCommon Coffeehouse
24 Vernon Street, Framingham, MA
Tickets: info coming soon…
www.uncommoncoffeehouse.org
Thank you so much for listening!
~Kim
E-mail: kim at kimjenningsmusic dot com
Website: www.kimjenningsmusic.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/kimberleyjennings
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-Jennings/43649423036
**Only 13 fans to 100!!**
