Cary at Telluride

Thanks to Thomas Schweda for snapping this pic right before my performance.

Fishes and Wishes

Hannah and I have been getting up every morning at 5:45 and walking for 30 minutes before getting ready for school.  I love spending this time with her before the world is awake.  It reminds me that children come with a built in sort of trust for their parents and what an awesome responsibility it is to try and not break that trust.  It reminded me of this story that happened when Hannah was five:

 

Fishes and Wishes

Last Monday, we went on a fishing extravaganza with Tom’s family. Altogether, we were quite a crew. Tom’s parents, Tom and Ardys, brother Danny and wife Idella, sister Patty, sister Polly and her two sons, Alex and Zach, and cousin Lorraine. Along with me, Tom, Caroline, Hannah, the captain (whose name I’ve blocked out for psychological reasons) and the first mate, Jason. Quite an eclectic group to be sure.

First of all, this is only the second time I’ve ever been fishing in my life. The first time was also with Tom’s family two years ago. That trip, we caught little fish on a little pontoon boat on the Potomac River. This time, we were getting serious. Going after the almighty Rockfish swimming around in the Cheasepeake Bay. We had collectively rented our boat for 8 hours and we were supposed to catch a 27 fish limit of fish that weighed over 28 lbs. Last time, the fish I caught could have lived happily in a large aquarium.

The girls were very excited about the trip. We had been talking it up for weeks and they always love spending time with Tom’s parents whom they’ve named “GrandmaMA and GrandpaPA” (those particular names chosen, I think, because they were the most exotic sounding grandparent names they could come up with for their adopted indian grandparents) I don’t really know what the girls were expecting of this excursion, but I’m pretty sure it had nothing to do with the reality that took place.

We boarded our boat at around 2 in the afternoon, met our captain and first mate, and set out toward the extremely rocky waters of the Cheasepeake Bay. The first thing the girls wanted to do was explore the boat. Not being up on boats or boat lingo, I have no idea what kind of boat it was except to say that it had a main level where we did all the fish catching, an upper deck that you had to climb a ladder to access, a small inside cabin with a table, and a lower inside level with small airplane-type bathroom. For throwing up.

As it turns out, the bathroom got a lot of use that day. After touring the boat, Caroline decided that where she really wanted to hang out was downstairs. Unfortunately, it turned out to be very rocky and very HOT downstairs. She christened the bathroom with the first round of throw up. Shortly after Caroline exited the bathroom, Tom’s sister-in-law, Idella entered, never to be heard from again. Fish smells and throw up smells…a lovely combination.

Caroline was trying hard to be brave, and trying really hard not to throw up again since the bathroom was now permantently occupied, but her stomach was not cooperating with her plan. Luckily there was a trash can on board and a box of trash bags which became her bathroom for the rest of the trip.

To balance all this, the rest of the crew was having a great time and catching a lot of fish. BIG fish. Tom’s dad is the most avid fisherman of the group and he seemed to be pretty happy. As did most of the others.

The captain, while i’m sure he is a really nice man on land, seemed to be hellbent on winning the tough guy at sea award. He seemed to take great pleasure out of yelling things like “We don’t have enough people catching fish on this boat! Or, I don’t hear anyone telling me how much line they’ve let out! People people people!!” Between fishing poles flying, caught fish flopping in the poor dead fish bucket, changing out throw up trash bags, getting stung by killer flies, and trying to entertain an utterly bored and too small to fish, Hannah, I couldn’t really tell if I was having fun or not. Well actually I could. But it didn’t seem polite to say how I really felt.

Caroline and I found a corner near the back of the boat where I sat on an ice cooler and she lay across my lap while I rubbed ice on her forehead and neck. We tried to coax Idella out of the bathroom and out in the fresh air with us (as Caroline seemed to be feeling better out there) but she was past the point of being able or strong enough to move. All the while more fish were being thrown in the flopping bucket. The only thing that seemed to keep Caroline and Hannah entertained and hanging on was making bets about who would catch the next fish and counting down how many fish we had left to catch in the 27 fish quota.

Somewhere around 25 fish, Caroline looked a lot less green and actually started to feel better. Hannah on the other hand, was going down hill. It’s a lot to ask of a 5 year old to stand on a boat where everyone is too busy to pay much attention to her, and she’s not big enough to fish. My heart was going out to my kids. So I made a determination. *I* was going to catch the last two fish. And we were all going home.

I know what you’re thinking. You can’t just decide to catch fish and then actually catch fish. But I’m here to tell you, there’s MUCH to be said about the power of positive thinking. In fact, on my only other fishing experience, I told Tom as we were driving to the boat, I’m gonna catch some fish today. (Tom had never caught a fish before either). He said, “Yeah yeah”. I said, “No, I mean I’m GONNA catch a fish”. And sure enough, not only did I catch one, I caught two at once on one line (with two hooks)! And I’ve got pictures to prove it.

So as I was sitting there with Caroline next to me looking pretty miserable, and Hannah wandering aimlessly looking equally miserable, I determined that I was going to save my children from further misery and catch the damn fish.

So I stood up, grabbed a pole and cast my line out into the water. Less than five minutes later, fish number 26 was tugging on my line. Nothing to it, I was thinking. And my girls were so pleased that Mom was saving the day. Jason the first mate came over to add my fish to the flopping bucket and I set out to catch number 27. I forgot to mention that Tom had caught two fish by this time. And somewhere after catching number 26, he made the mistake of uttering a throw down of sorts. Something along the lines of, “Yeah well, I caught two”. That statement didn’t get by me or Jason, who was still standing near and whispered to me, “All you got to do to hush him up is to catch this last fish”. Which is exactly what I intended to do. All along.

Everytime someone would catch a fish, the first thing the captain would ask was how far out were you? And the fish catcher was supposed to respond with some kind of number. I must have been knee deep in throw up when this little system got started, cause I had no idea what they were talking about. So when I caught number 26, I told him I had no idea what he was talking about, and then Jason, my new buddy, explained it to me. Every time you let out an arms length of line, you counted. And if the fish didn’t bite after a couple of minutes, you were supposed to let out or reel in a few more lengths of line.

After catching number 26, things slowed down a lot. No bites. No hope of bites. Minutes dragged by. The nasty killer flies were the only things biting. And the kids were still tired and bored. So I just kept letting out a little more line and a little more line and a little more line. All the while saying to myself, I’m gonna catch this fish.

Someone started up the betting game again and asked the girls who they thought was going to the catch the last fish. Hannah said without hesitation, “My mom is going to catch the last fish. I believe in my mom.” And over and over for the next several minutes, she would repeat that and “You can do it mom, I know you’re going to catch the fish”. And I just kept letting out more and more line.

Then lo and behold, something bit! And I started to reel it in. I reeled and reeled and reeled for what felt like an eternity. I asked Jason how close was I getting, and his response was less than motivating. “Oh my god”, he said, “how much line did you let out?” “I have no idea”, was my feeble answer. At that point, I felt like I was back in high school running track, and I had just given everything I had to running the 100 yard dash only to have the coach say “But you’re signed up to run the MILE”. Now I felt like *I* was going to throw up.

I really wanted to reel the thing in by myself, but I’m a girl who is comfortable with my limitations, so I called for backup. “Tom! Come help me catch this fish.” At first he said something like, “No baby, you can do it. Catch this thing by yourself”. But when he could see how desperately tired I was, he did stand behind me and take over the reeling until HE got too tired to continue. (Now he likes to say he quit on purpose so that I could actually do the final reeling in. Yeah right.) At least it was enough of a break for me to get my second wind. All the while Jason was still commenting on how far out it was and how much line I must have let out. I made another determination to tune out Jason.

When I had reeled in enough line so that the fish was actually getting pretty close to the boat, Jason said, “Holy cow, I think you caught a small child!”. I wasn’t sure if he was being serious, or just patronizing a middle aged woman. But as he put out the net and pulled up my catch, I knew he was being serious. THIS was a big ass fish! They took it over to the counter to measure it, and it was longer than the yard stick. Turns out, it was 39 inches long!!! The biggest catch of the day.
And Hannah was excited and proud. “I knew my mom was going to catch it. I knew she was!”

There’s a lot more I could say on the gory end of things. Like having to stick my hand up under the gills of gigantofish to get my picture taken while gigantofish was still flopping around. And having blood from gigantofish dripping all over my white skirt. (why would I wear a white skirt on a fishing boat?? That, of course, is another entry) But I’d rather end on a positive note. Since this is all about the power of the positive.

Did thinking I could catch the fish really enable me to catch them? Was it luck? Was I born with good fishing karma? Do I really lead a charmed life like my good friend Susie says? I don’t know. I only know that I decided to catch them and I DID. And that Hannah believed in me, the power of her mother. I know I won’t always be able to deliver in such a visual way on all of her proclamations of faith, but I’m glad that on this day, I could.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65247764@N00/20863542/

ZuZu’s Petals (a bipolar love song)

Yes, Tom and i are fine. I wanted to write a song about all the self doubting thoughts we all think when we’re completely honest and vulnerable but very rarely have the guts to say outloud. Sadly, this is kind of how my brain works.

I wish I had a garden in my yard 

I wish I didn’t think my life was hard 

I wish I did those things I wish I’d done 

I wish I thought you thought I was the one 

You thought I was when you first fell for me 

The night you lost your shoe under my tree 

The night we closed the bar after the show 

The night I knew I couldn’t let you go 

 Cause no one ever loved me like you did 

I didn’t have to keep my feelings hid 

Cause I believe you mean the things you say 

But part of me is scared you’ll run away   

Whenever it’s not easy anymore 

And so I sit and listen for the door 

I’m never slow to sadness as you know 

That’s why it’s so much easier to go 

 I might as well just beat you to the punch 

And do it all politely over lunch 

I know how much you hate it when I cry 

Every time I try to say goodbye 

Cause trust is never something I do well 

My heart is pretty battered you can tell 

You didn’t know how broken I would be 

Its hard to love a broken girl like me 

 But baby you can’t say that I don’t fight 

For all the things you think I think are right 

You never seem to see my tender side 

That’s why it’s so much easier to hide

Behind the armor that I always wear 

I’m afraid it’s just my cross to bear

I shouldn’t be ashamed about this part 

I needed more protection for my heart 

When I was too green to be afraid 

Of what would happen if the choice was made 

To leave it all behind and walk away 

After we both had the chance to say

The reason why we thought it didn’t work 

And why we both hold on to so much hurt 

Instead of trying everything we can 

To be a better woman and a man 

 Just like Georgie Bailey Christmas eve 

When Clarence showed him reasons not to leave

I put ZuZu’s petals on my car 

To remind me not to go too far 

Away from all the ones that matter most

Father, daughters and my holy ghosts 

Kiss me baby like you did back then 

Midnight at the Inwood skin on skin 

 Looking back I think I have to say 

I handed you my broken heart that day 

And fell for you while Natalie Merchant sang 

And kissed you while you whispered the refrain 

Take me back to when we both believed 

And didn’t know how long that we would grieve 

And didn’t know we’d have to be so brave 

To save the only lives that we could save 

 So here I’m standing on my own two feet 

To let you be the man you need to be 

And I will be the woman who won’t hide 

Behind her greatest fears and stubborn pride 

So if you feel my fingers when they touch 

I hope you know that I want very much 

For you to lace your fingers into mine 

And tell me that you love me one more time 

Thick Skin

“A thick skin is a gift from God.” – Konrad Adenauer

I had the very surreal experience last night of sitting in the TV room at my house with Tom and Hannah watching myself on TV. And while it felt like a very private experience -the three of us watching – the reality of the experience, that many other people across the country were also watching, was not lost on me. And I have to say, it sent me into a momentary panic.

When I realized at age 37 that what I wanted to do with my life, besides being a mom, was to become a songwriter, I knew that I was going to have to develop a thick skin. I was met early on with a lot of crazy looks and a lot of skeptical but well meaning questions. “You want to do what??” “You want to leave your comfortable life to become a starving artist?” “But you don’t play an instrument and you have little kids” “Are you going through a mid-life crisis?” Etc etc etc.

When you’re fighting for the survival of your soul, it’s not hard to ignore such questions. Mary Oliver, in her gorgeous poem The Journey, says it like this:

But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life you could save.

When you’re fighting to save your life, you do what you know you have to do. Whatever the cost.

But at some point, when you realize you’ve made it through the night and you’re still alive and the dust starts to settle, those “voices” (even the ones in your own head) can sneak their way back in.

I think part of the reason why I waited so long to dive into my passion was because I grew up an with an extreme case of perfectionism. If I couldn’t do something perfectly, why bother trying. If someone out there could do it better, let them do it instead. But what I finally discovered was that my perfectionism was keeping me very stuck. And what I was stuck with was a bad case of resentment, growing bitterness, envy and jealousy toward anyone that was doing what I secretly desired to do myself. And it was indeed killing me.

When I did take the plunge, I knew the only way I would ever be brave enough to do what I wanted to do was to “listen to the new voice which I slowly recognized as my own and save the only life I could save”. And I dove in head first. In spite of the opposition. In spite of the naysayers. In spite of my perfectionism. In spite of myself.

And I started to get happy. I started to see little successes. I started to realize that I really WAS on the right path for me.

Then I met Tom. And at some point started doing music with him. And had to battle my perfectionistic demons once again. Facing all of Tom’s long standing fans who loved him as a solo performer and were resistant to see that change, was like meeting my new set of critics. Thick skin was necessary. Thick skin got me through. Thick skin kept my dream alive.

I had the experience of watching Hannah go through this just the other day. When she was in kindergarten, she sang “Tomorrow” from the musical, Annie at her school talent show. We videotaped it and a friend put it up on YouTube for us. Hannah is now in 5th grade and that little YouTube video has 1,864,374 hits. http://youtu.be/uUtzEB9wzAA Hannah loves to click on it occasionally to see how many hits it has and to read the comments people write. And you’d be amazed at the kind of things people say. Some are very kind and encouraging, but for every kind and encouraging comment there are probably 5 negative, mean spirited comments. At first, these would hurt Hannah’s feelings, but now she reads them and laughs. Thick skin.

Last week, after the first episode of Troubadour,Tx aired, I went online to see what people were saying about the show. For the most part, the feedback I read was very positive. But I happened to come across a blog that took a pretty critical stance against the show and did so in kind of a mean spirited way. I wasn’t really on that episode, but it dawned on me in reading the blog, that there will be people out there who will be negative. Who will say whatever they feel. And I have to be ready for it. Thick skin.

Which leads me back to last night. As I was watching myself on the show, I had to fight the urge to go to my most critical place. Thinking things like, “You were too nervous. Your voice was so shaky. You sounded like crap.” All the while getting texts from friends and family who were watching and cheering me on..and me, fighting the urge to respond to the texts apologetically, from my most dark and critical place, instead of letting their kind words sink in.

I am on a journey. A new journey of sorts. Tom and I aren’t doing much performing together anymore. I don’t have him to lean on musically anymore as I step out into this new world of solo shows. And this new and solitary journey of mine is being documented for the whole world to see. I am sure to stumble. I am sure to do less than my best at times. I am sure to continue to deal with my demons.

And once again, I am reminded that thick skin is a gift from God. I am ON this journey. I have a God-given desire to write songs and to perform them and to reach people with my music. I am proud of the songs I write. I am proud of my ability to touch people with them. Of course, there will always be better writers, better singers, more entertaining performers, but I can’t let that stop me. I am doing what I love. I am doing what I was called to do. I am singing the song that I only I can sing.

I am thankful for the amazing opportunities I have been given. I am grateful for thick skin.

Go Where The Doors Are Opening

Go where the doors are opening. Might be the best advice I’ve ever gotten.

We all have doors right? Doors we long to open. Doors we’re afraid to knock on. Doors we’ve tried beating down to no avail. I had one such door this week.

My sweet Tommy was asked to play at this cool liberal christian festival in North Carolina called the Wild Goose Festival. People like Jim Wallis, T-Bone Burnett, Tony Campolo and Beth Nielson Chapman are all on the bill of speakers/performers. My mouth waters just looking at the list. As soon as he was invited, I was making plans to go with him. Figuring out who I wanted to hear speak. What gigs I would try and catch. High anticipation on my end. And then the letter came in the mail saying that Caroline had to take a class in summer school. No absences allowed. Bummer. I went on a quest to see who might be available to stay with the kids while I went with Tom. The girls’ dad? Busy. The girls’ grandmother? Also busy. My mother? Lives too far to drive every day to make sure the girl is in school. I knocked on door after door after door. Nothing was working out.

You know that feeling you have right before you know you need to give up? The one that says, hang on just a little longer? But deep down, you know you’re hanging on for the sheer sake of hanging on? That’s where I was Sunday night before I let go of the rope. And got a little depressed. And admittedly had a little pity party about the whole thing. Sometimes you just have to.

Come Monday morning, the world looked a little less bleak. I felt a little less miserable. Probably because I had something fun to look forward to that night. Be Music and Entertainment was sponsoring a “Nashville style” songwriter in the round at 41 Entertainment Production Studios. I was invited to be part of an audience privileged to hear great hit-writing Nashville songwriters. The guys that wrote Jesus Take The Wheel (Brett James), Live Like You Were Dying (Tim Nichols), and Oscar nominated Coming Home (Bob DiPiero). It was a great night. Made even greater by a new unexpected door that was placed in front of me.

While at 41 Entertainment, Robin Creasman, one of the producers for the upcoming TV show that I’ve been cast in asked me if I was busy this saturday. When I asked why, he said that he had a gig for me. Opening for Jon Christopher Davis (who has had his songs covered by Dolly Parton, Hal Ketchum, Tammy Cochran, Sherrie Austin, Billy Ray Cyrus etc) at a big beautiful amphitheater in Plano. They’re expecting a crowd of over 1000 people. Outside of playing at festivals with Tom, probably the biggest gig I’ve ever had. And not only that, the Troubadour,Tx film crew will be coming to the house on saturday afternoon to film “fly on the wall style” what it’s like to be a mom with kiddos getting ready for a gig. And then filming the gig.

Whenever I pause to remember…go where the doors are opening…I don’t fret. I don’t beat my head against the wall. I sit back and allow the universe to work it’s magic. Because it definitely has magic to work. In my life and in yours.

Go where the doors are opening. I’ll say.

Full Circle

I spent last week at the Kerrville Folk Festival. My first time being there was in 2000. I was a fledgling songwriter. A fledgling guitar player. But I had a fire in my heart and Kerrville was the place I knew I needed to be. So I went and dove head first into the community that I now know and love so well. I went to every Ballad Tree. I played in every song circle that would have me. I stayed up all night and dreamed of my future. Of future songs I would write. Of where this musical journey might take me. Good dreams. Hopeful dreams. I walked around the ranch virtually anonymous except for a handful of Dallas folk that I had come to count on as part of my tribe. I liked my world. I loved my world, in fact. Little did I know how soon it would all change.

In 2002, Tom Prasada-Rao went from being the musical icon I respected from afar and producer of my first CD, to the man I was growing to love. Loving Tom came with many gifts. But it also changed Kerrville for me forever. My world broadened in the blink of an eye. The caliche paths I wandered anonymously as a single girl, I now wandered in full view of everyone that knew and loved Tom. Sometimes this was exhilarating, as doors began to open for me that never would have opened when I was alone. Sometimes it left me feeling invisible, standing in his all too present shadow.

When Tom and I began doing music together, I quickly surmised that in order to stand by his side and not drag his career down, it was best for me to put down the guitar. I never planned for that to be a permanent move. Just something that would enable us to present what we did together in the best light as quickly as possible. But as time passed, I grew comfortable in my role as singer/songwriter sans guitar and didn’t look back. And I lost a lot of the skill I developed in my early days of playing. This never bothered me much until I would get to Kerrville.

At Kerrville, I would find myself feeling resentful of Tom if his plan of what circle to play in differed from my own. I was tethered to him and his desires on the ranch. And I spent many a year at Kerrville unhappy, unsatisfied, and quite frankly, blaming him. It’s so easy to let a wound fester and even easier to blame someone else for it’s existence at all. It took a lot of dark days before I was ready to see my own part in what I had given up. And to find the courage to get it back. Little did I know that my salvation would come in the form of a ukulele.

Last summer, right after returning home from Kerrville, I randomly picked up Tom’s ukulele. Only four strings. Easy chord formations. Fun. When I played it, I started hearing the beginnings of new and different songs forming. So I went with it. For whatever reason, the ukulele wasn’t as scary or daunting as the guitar to me and I gave myself a lot more freedom and grace in learning to play it. And in the process of learning the uke, a lot of my fear around the guitar dissipated as well. I started to play out at more shows. I started to write songs that didn’t take me weeks to learn the guitar part to. And I came to LOVE the uke.

All of this came at the perfect time. Tom and I had dropped the name, The Dreamsicles, and started doing split bills as ourselves, Tom Prasada-Rao and Cary Cooper. It was a good transition for us, but still not providing either of us with as much freedom as we both desired. When you write a lot of songs, you end up feeling dissatisfied quite often because there is never enough time to play all the songs you want to play in the course of a gig. And when you’re sharing the gig with someone else, it cuts down what you’re able to do in half. Tom and I were both feeling the restraints of those kind of gigs. But secretly, I was still feeling a little apprehensive about stepping out all on my own. Something I hadn’t done since the very beginning of my journey.

Fast forward to this Kerrville. I came armed with lots of new songs and was dying to get out in circles to play. Tom on the other hand, wasn’t feeling the same way. He’d spent the majority of the year locked in the studio working on other people’s projects and hadn’t had the time to work up much of his own new material and was weary of playing the same old songs he’d played for years. It was a scary thought to me to be out on my own. Playing without him. But almost like my first time back at Kerrville, I was desperate enough not to care.

It was a revelation. Not only did learn that I didn’t need Tom, but in many cases, my songs were better received without him. Freedom is good. Freedom is necessary. Welcome to my independence day. I played and played and played. In big song circles. At the river. At the ballad tree. For any friend that would listen. I played. I celebrated. I gave thanks. I let go.

I am so happy to be on this new leg of my musical path. It is full of possibilities. It is limitless. It is joyful. It is mine. Thank you for traveling with me.

Make A Little Room

Two tall trees standing side by side
Till the roots have gotten tangled
And the branches all collide
It’s so hard to see the sun
When you’re standing in the shadows
When you’re not the only one
Reaching for the light

So you grow your way
I’ll grow mine
And we’ll meet in the middle
Most of the time
You grow your way
I’ll grow mine
And we’ll make a little room
Make a little room
For the sun to shine

Hand in hand for a million miles
Ain’t worth it to me baby
If I can’t see you smile
It’s the laughter I miss most
And it’s calling from my memory
Like a lonesome holy ghost
Reaching for the light

So you grow your way
I’ll grow mine
And we’ll meet in the middle
Most of the time
You grow your way
I’ll grow mine
And we’ll make a little room
Make a little room
For the sun to shine

It’s a big blue sky
We were born to fly

So you grow your way
I’ll grow mine
And we’ll meet in the middle
Most of the time
You grow your way
I’ll grow mine
And we’ll make a little room
Make a little room
For the sun to shine

(written at the Medina River, Kerrville 2011)

i believe

It’s so easy to look around this crazy world and only see the things that drag us down. That make us feel bad. That make us worry about the world that our children are growing up in.

I don’t know about you but i’m tired of dwelling on these things.

So I wrote a song. It’s called I believe.

Here are the lyrics:

I believe in santa claus
And angel wings just because
I’m the kind of girl who like
Believing in what’s good
I believe in peace on earth
And butterflies for what it’s worth
I believe that change can happen
Just because it should

I believe. I believe. I believe.

I believe in baby’s cries
Miracles of any size
Birthday wishes, dandelions
I believe those too
I believe in peter pan
And things that I don’t understand
Like fairy tales with happy endings
I believe in you

I believe. I believe. I believe.

I believe that love can save a life
Even on the coldest night
And the sound of church bells ringing
In the afternoon

And I believe when hope is gone
That darkness comes before the dawn
Tears can turn to laughter as
The sun begins to rise
I believe the hardest hearts
Are only hiding broken parts
That melt away when kindness shines
In someone else’s eyes

I believe. I believe. I believe.

What do YOU believe?

Tell me! I wanna hear!

Happy Holidays,
Cary

Progress and Pipe Dreams

What a difference a couple of years makes. Last weekend, I had the honor of participating in the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Competition at the Sisters Folk Festival in Sisters, Oregon. Sisters is a beautifully quaint little town up in the middle of the Cascade Mountains about 3 hours southeast of Portland. There were five finalists chosen out of hundreds of entries across the country and I was lucky enough to be one of them. I didn’t win, but I DID accomplish my goal which was to play guitar for myself, and do it confidently and sing my songs with all the conviction I could muster. And that, I feel, I did very well. But the thing that made me the happiest about my performance was thinking back to two years ago when I was in another songwriting contest in Colorado. I wrote about it on myspace…here’s what I wrote:

********************

MY ANGEL, MARY GAUTHIER
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural
I think I came out of the womb a perfectionist. It’s true. I could blame my mom and dad and the way they raised me (and don’t think for a second that I haven’t spent many a year and money for therapy doing just that) but at some point, you have to accept responsibility for the things you refuse to change. A different spin on the serenity prayer.

My day of reckoning for my perfectionistic self was in August. As many of you know that keep up with my blog, I made the ambitious/insane/courageous decision to enter the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter’s Showcase competition. The ambitious/insane/courageous part is because it’s a solo contest and I’m not what you would presently call a solo player. But I have the desire to be. And my thinking was simple, if you enter, you’ll practice. It will be motivating. And it was. Until I found out that I was selected to compete. Then it was petrifying. Immobilizing, even. But I kept practicing, what else could I do? All the while, the monkey on my back got bigger, uglier and scarier with each chord.

It got so bad on several occasions that I totally melted down in front of Tom, and he had to coax me back into the land of healthy thinking. Easier said than done, I’m afraid.

Anyway, fast forward to the week of the contest. I was attending song school at Rocky Mountain – a fabulous school – I highly recommend it to all songwriters, regardless of your level of experience. It’s a great hang, an incredibly creative environment, a place where magic happens. And here I was in the middle of this spectacular place just freaking the fuck out. I’d have one good day (translated: maybe I can pull this off) and then a meltdown day (translated: there’s no way in hell you’re going to pull this off – you should go home NOW!) and everything in between. Total roller coaster crazy. And not the state I like to live in.

One day somewhere in between sane and crazy, I had a conversation by the river with my friend, kate graves. She was so sweet to listen to my rantings and share a few of hers before telling me in no uncertain terms could I let song school end without attending Mary Gauthier’s class. She wouldn’t give me much in terms of detail except to say that it was going to be exactly what I needed.

Fast forward to the last day of song school. The day before the last day had been a huge meltdown day and I’d managed to let it slip by without taking any classes at all. (But i did manage to weasel a therapy session out of a naked stranger in the shower…AND i wrote a song, so all was not lost…**) So I decided on Thursday, the last day, I’d have to go to Mary Gauthier’s class just to see what all the fuss was about. Plus, my horoscope said I could expect 3 miracles that week, and I was waiting for them.

I have no history with Mary Gauthier. I’d never met her until song school. A couple of days before taking her class, I did go up to her and say that I thought she was one of the coolest looking people I’d ever seen. It’s her really short hair, her funky clothes and the rose colored glasses that were forever covering her eyes. So I sat down in the class with several of my friends, some new (Ben, Sam, Mercedes and Cheryl), some old (john and viv, tim and kathrin) and some fellow competitors (also friends) in the contest (sarah and amy).

I had no idea what to expect. And a lot of the class itself is still a blur of emotion for me. But somewhere in the first couple of sentences out of Mary’s mouth, there were tears already rolling down my face, and i knew my miracles had arrived. And may I say for the record, I’m not a crier. ** Not a public one, anyway. That’s something I definitely got from my folks. The only proper time to cry is in the movie theater. But I was crying in the class. Mary started by saying that we are vessels for the creator. We don’t write the songs, God does. When we get out of the way. She also went on to say that it doesn’t matter what we look like, how good we sing or play the guitar, if we have connected to the heart of God, we have a message that someone needs to hear. And if we focus on that, we’re doing what we’re called to do. That hit something so deep inside me.

For weeks Tom had been telling me, you’re making this contest all about the guitar, it’s not a guitar competition, it’s a songwriting competition. And he was right. I WAS making it all about the guitar. When I would practice, all I could think about was every mistake I made. When I played my songs for other people, all I could think about was, “shit I missed that chord, and now they’re thinking about what a crappy guitar player I am”. There was nothing joyful in it, nothing meaningful. It was all about me and how bad I sucked at the guitar.

And Mary Gauthier reminded me that I’m not that important. It’s NOT all about me. But if I make it all about me, I lose the joy and I lose the meaning of why I do what I do. It was lightening strike worthy. I was struck. And thanks be to God, I really was changed. Who can account for when we get what we get?? Who can account for how much self inflicted agony must be present before we’re able to hear the message we need to hear the most? I have no idea…I’m just glad that I was ready that day. And that Mary was the bearer of the message – my incredible gift of freedom, my miracle.

She told me that I wasn’t there to win a contest, or even play the guitar. I was there to sing the song that for whatever reason was chosen and needed to be heard by someone that was in the audience. She also told me a prayer to recite before I took the stage. I may be getting this all wrong, but I believe it was found in the pocket of the chaplain for the new york city fire department – the first known/named casualty in 9-11. The prayer goes something like this:

Take me where you want me to go
Introduce me to who you want me to meet
Tell me what you want me to say
And help me get out of your way

Well, I prayed it. I prayed it more than once in the course of the next 24 hours. I prayed it right before I went on stage for the contest. I had a whole little speech prepared to introduce my first song, but I prayed the prayer right before, and I found myself on the stage saying something completely unplanned. But evidently, it was what I was supposed to say.

By the way, not only was I NOT nervous, I was actually joyful. I didn’t actually care about winning, I didn’t actually care about messing up (I did have a couple of baubles during my first song – but the world didn’t end, I was no less loved by my friends and no less supported by the audience – in fact, I was probably supported more because of it).
Tom said it’s the strongest he’s ever heard me sing or perform.

I guess in a perfect fairly tale, I’d end this blog by saying “and the best part is that I WON”!! But this is the real world, and frankly, I prefer it. Where life is hard but the lessons oh so sweet when we really learn them. And Mary Gauthier was the first one who hugged me backstage after I didn’t win and reminded me that I did what I was supposed to do, and who knows who needed to hear it. Since then I’ve learned of several people who DID need to hear it. Also people who needed to see someone like ME onstage. Someone willing to take a risk. To make themselves vulnerable. To risk failing. To hear the call and to follow it, no matter what.

I’m so glad I did.

So now I have a new tattoo on my foot. To remind me of this important lesson. It’s not about me. It’s about heart. God’s heart, my heart, the hearts of those that need to hear…
Need to hear it in the way that only I can tell it. Only I can sing it. Only I can play it.

Thank God for Mary Gauthier. Thank God for her hard lessons and her willingness to be used. Thank God for Kate Graves urging me to go. Thank God I listened.

I got my tattoo at Resurrection Tattoo on South Lamar in Austin Texas. It felt like the appropriate place. I have been resurrected, thanks to an angel named Mary.

********************

When I think back to that contest and the emotional turmoil I went through in order to just MAKE IT to and through that contest, I realized how far I’ve come and how much progress I’ve actually made. Both personally and professionally.

For one, my attitude HAS changed. I do realize that it’s not all about the guitar. I don’t put myself in a box anymore and expect perfection or set unrealistic goals I’ll never reach. And I’m okay with where I am. That in and of itself feels huge.

And two, I HAVE improved on guitar through practice and performance to the point that I don’t HAVE to worry the way I did two years ago. And if I screw up, it’s no longer the end of the world, or the only way I view and judge my performance.

That’s progress folks.

Another way in which I’m making progress is asking for what I need. Used to, this was the hardest thing in the world for me. Appearing needy was a fate worse than death. At least that was what I was taught growing up. But life has taught me different lessons. Life has taught me that if you ask for what you need, chances are a lot better that you might actually get what you need because people are good and are willing to help when they can and when they feel moved to do so.

This is where I am needing help today. I haven’t had a guitar of my own since Tom and I got together. I had one originally, but we sold it because it wasn’t really the right guitar for me and we needed to get rid of a few guitars. I have “made due” since then with various guitars of Tom’s, knowing that until I improved some and until we had the money to get me what I needed, it didn’t really matter all that much what guitar I was playing.

Well, it’s starting to matter. I’m actually developing a “style” of playing and as it turns out, it’s very different from Tom’s style and none of the guitars we have really suit what I do. And I’m starting to feel the need to have my own guitar so that when I play, the “tone” is right.

Last weekend when we were in Oregon, I found MY guitar. It felt a little like a spiritual experience. Breedlove Guitars was a sponsor for the festival, and Tom plays a Breedlove, and is a “rep” for them. So we were spending time hanging out at the Breedlove booth getting to know the people who work for them. They had around 20 -30 guitars on display in the booth. Normally, when Tom is being a “gearhead” I zone out and go look at jewelry or find someone to talk to as I could really care less. But this time, I stuck around and looked at guitars. One in particular caught my eye. And for some reason, I just knew that when I played it, it was going to have the sound I was going for. And sure enough, it did. I thought to myself, “this has to be a fluke”. So I took it around the corner where there was less noise and continued to play it. Beautiful tone. I still wasn’t convinced so I asked if I could take it into the Breedlove RV where no one was around. Still beautiful and deep and resonant. Then I knew it had to pass one more test. The TOM test. He would tell me for sure whether or not I was imagining that I found the right one. He came into the RV with me and listened to me play it and said, “I can’t believe that you’re getting that kind of sound out of this guitar. It was made for you to play it.”

But here’s the deal. It’s a $4000 guitar. Because Tom is a rep, we can get it for $1900. But that’s still $1900 for two people who are lucky to keep all their bills paid each month. It’s a pipe dream. The other day I wrote on my facebook status that I had fallen hard for a guitar. Somewhere in the ensuing comments, one of my friends suggested that maybe if some of my facebook friends chipped in, they could help me buy it. It was (and is) an incredibly generous offer but it’s made me believe that maybe it’s actually possible for me to get the guitar.

Breedlove has given me one month to come up with the funds. They are willing to hold the guitar for me for one month. This is where you come in. I don’t want anyone to feel pressure. Or to do anything that you aren’t moved or inspired to do. And this is the one and ONLY time you’ll ever hear me talk about it. But if you feel like you’d like to contribute to help me get this guitar here’s how you can do it:

http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-09-15.1993541323

Copy and paste the above link and make a pledge. Or go to my website and make a donation through paypal.

http://www.carycooper.com

I know that times are tight for everyone and some of you may have zero interest or ability to help with this. But some of you might. And you never know till you ask, right?

I am so thankful for you.

Back to Homepage

ALL I EVER WANTED

Sometimes you write songs. Sometimes songs seem to write themselves. This one wrote itself, more or less. If you’re wanting to write, and you are constantly conscious of that desire, songs appear in your every day life. Here’s how it happened for THIS particular song:

1. Went to Barnes and Noble to peruse book titles (I often get song ideas from book titles and since titles are not copyright-able, it’s perfectly okay).

2. Saw a book called, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown. Immediately thought, “what a cool hook for a song, hmmmmm”.

3. Started mulling the title over in my head. Pretty soon the chorus was written (sitting in church, actually), melody and all.

4. Took the dog for a walk, passed a little house with a white picket fence and wrote the lyrics for the bridge.

5. Thought a lot about how the chorus would be most powerful in the meaning of the song.

6. Wrote verse one and its melody.

7. Wrote several verse twos before coming up with what stuck Here’s an example of my initial shot at verse two:

I used to wish on every radio tower
Not even elvis is famous enough for me
I might wear Vera Wang to accept my grammy
I’d thank my parents and the academy

(kind of fun and silly but doesn’t really contribute to the meaning of the chorus which just introduced the element of a person…YOU. Needed to find something that would play off that in the second verse)

8. The final missing piece was the melody for the bridge. The rest of the song had taken on a sort of “beatle-esque” feel and i knew the bridge had to be funky and weird and modulate all over the place, so I employed the help of my genius bridge modulating husband and 5 minutes later, the bridge was done.

9. Voila! A new song is born.

Hope you like it.

All I ever wanted
by Cary Cooper (with help from Tom Prasada-Rao)

I used to wish on every meteor shower
One shooting star was not enough for me
I used to search for skies wrapped in rainbows
One pot of gold was not enough for my dreams

All I ever wanted was everything, everything
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted was everything
Till all I ever wanted was you

I kissed a thousand frogs looking for Charming
My mama said it was the thing to do
I’d close my eyes just like a kid at Christmas
Imagine my surprise when I kissed you

All I ever wanted was everything, everything
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted was everything
Till all I ever wanted was you

I don’t need picket fences
I don’t need diamond rings
I don’t need anything
anything anything
But you…

All I ever wanted was everything, everything
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted was everything
Till all I ever wanted was you

Back to Homepage

FACEBOOK: Friend of the delirious traveler…

Tom and I just went on a little trip to Nashville and ended up with what some folks are calling a “travelogue” on Facebook. If you were my Facebook friend, you TOO could enjoy the madness. Befriend me. Or run like hell. Whatever your preference.

Cary Cooper ‘s got her motor running. heading down the highway.
July 15 at 7:00am

Dave
Looking for adventure and whatever comes your way?
July 15 at 7:04am
Stacy
Ya’ll sing pretty…
July 15 at 7:09am
Stacy
Excuse me…but are you going to include NC on your tour? No word about that yet…
July 15 at 7:11am
Patricia
…I gotta go make it happen…
July 15 at 8:24am
Kevin
Heavy Metal Thunder ………….Fire all of those guns today
July 15 at 8:37am
Cyd
Yeah, baby, gonna make it happen, take the world in a love embrace, fire all of your guns at once and explode in space. like a true nature’s child, we were born, born to be wild, we can climb so high, never gonna die. Born to be Wiiiiild!
July 15 at 10:12am
Cyd
That song is soooo empowering! Love it!! Definitely one of my all time favorites!!
July 15 at 10:13am
Petra
must be something in the air as u are the 2nd person to post that song’s lyrics..haha
July 15 at 1:25pm

Cary Cooper are we there yet? how much longer? i need to pee. stop touching me!! Mom!!
July 15 at 10:39am

Krista
Nothing like a road trip!
July 15 at 10:41am
Kristin
Watch it. You’re channeling the girls!!
July 15 at 10:42am
Cyd
sing a dorky road trip song. it will be fun and it will break the tension
July 15 at 10:44am
Tiffani
sounds like our travel ventures, lol
July 15 at 10:48am
Kate
haha
July 15 at 10:48am
Annie
“MOM- he’s BREATHING next to me!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep- I just got back from a European trip ( by train)- Have fun!
July 15 at 10:59am
Deanna
Embrace your “cone of silence”
July 15 at 11:02am
Rachel
At least they are girls and they don’t have gas. Think of the positives xoxo
July 15 at 11:46am
Carey
The mantra I used was, “they will grow up…they will grow up…they will grow up…”. Well…they all did, and now I actually miss that! Enjoy the chaos while you can, sweetie .
July 15 at 11:51am
Erik
and, that’s just what Tom’s sayin
July 15 at 11:56am
Cary Cooper
yeah. uh. it’s just tom and me in the car.
July 15 at 11:58am · Delete
Linda
Ours is over for another year, or maybe, decade?
July 15 at 12:45pm
Rachel
Do the license plate game. It will keep them occupied. Just give a dollar to whoever can get the most license plates from different states- have them keep a list. It worked well with my nephew. Whoever sees it first wins the plate.
July 15 at 1:26pm
Bob
just think, “tom and i will grow up” “tom and I will grow up”
July 15 at 1:26pm
Rachel
Or flags, or church steeples, or any number of things
July 15 at 1:26pm
M. Jennifer
Yes, and that’s “Mom” with two syllables and two pitches, I’m sure…
July 15 at 1:31pm
Cary Cooper
I love it. my fb friends are my new entertainment in the car. (oh. and rachel, the girls do great in the car. this time, they are at their dad’s. it’s tom and me that need a social coordinator and a referee.
July 15 at 2:36pm
Rachel
Ahhhh! Like I said, do license plates, flags, etc. Works for any age. You can also bargain with something a bit more adult
July 15 at 2:59pm
Rachel
GREAT motivator!
July 15 at 2:59pm
Sonia
see you all in late august to record a bit with Neal and TPR yay!
July 15 at 4:59pm

Cary Cooper 152 miles to nashville. sweet!
July 15 at 4:17pm

Kristin
Woo-hoo!! Hugs to TK from me, please. : )
July 15 at 4:19pm
Sara
Hoo!
July 15 at 4:22pm
Karen
Hugs to all the usual suspects and one big smackie kiss to DH!
July 15 at 4:29pm
Betty
You are coming to Nashville? What are you doing there? Come to Asheville too!
July 15 at 4:33pm
Kathy
Cary – you’re coming too? I was already disappointed that I couldn’t make the show tonight. Now, doubly so.
July 15 at 4:48pm
Kim
Will you guys be in Nashville Thursday as well? I will be…playing at the Copper Kettle. It’s no bluebird, but hey, it’s made of copper…which is stunningly close to Cooper…. hmmmm
July 15 at 4:55pm
Judi
Traveling mercies!!!
July 15 at 5:11pm
Barry
I love Nashville!!! Tell Crystal Gayle I love her.
July 15 at 5:12pm
Kathy
tell Crystal you love her here:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1253982477&hiq=crystal%2Cgayle

she’ll love to hear from you!
July 15 at 5:16pm
Bonnie
That’s one of my favorite places to go!!! It is just so beautiful there!!!
July 15 at 5:18pm · Delete
Barry
Thank you Kathy!!! I just did!!! So excited!!!!
July 15 at 5:18pm
Jimbo
flew right by us huh? did you stop off at Stuckey porn at exit 68?
July 15 at 5:22pm
Kathy
you’re welcome Barry : )
July 15 at 6:01pm
Pam
Say hi to TK from Bambi. Give yourselves a big hug from me, as well.
July 15 at 6:02pm
Andrea
Fun trip or the musics?? Where playing and when? You are supposed to tell your Nashville peeps ahead of time so we can spread the word.;-) Plus I’ll need to get a sitter.
July 15 at 9:42pm
Ben
And me, I was on my way to Dallas. (well to nevada, tx, anyway). May have passed you on the way, who knows. I was driving anonymously.
July 15 at 10:17pm

Cary Cooper just performed the undignified task of primping in the pilot travel center including walking out with rollers in her hair and sassy trucker comments
July 15 at 5:57pm

Jim
I’d have loved to have heard your retort to the trucker comments.
July 15 at 6:02pm
Bob
but did you have on the sexy glasses?
July 15 at 6:09pm
Julie
I bet you were so hot :~D
July 15 at 6:15pm
Rex
Baby – you’re the Queen of the Flying J.
July 15 at 6:23pm
Jenny
Hey purdy mama! Whistle whistle grunt grunt
July 15 at 7:18pm
Leslie
Rex, there’s a song right there!
July 15 at 7:22pm
Kevin
Good luck Cary. Going to come to your gig on the 31st Kevin
July 15 at 7:33pm
Kate
Ha! I shaved my legs in the car earlier.
Us musicians know how to get things done! ;]
July 15 at 7:35pm
Lisa
kate likes to live dangerously
July 15 at 10:08pm
Ben
I stopped and primped in the pilot travel center. No one noticed any difference for me. And those rollers just wouldn’t stay in my hair. . .so I stapled them. That took care of it.
July 15 at 10:19pm
Stephen
I did the same thing, Kate… but that’s another story for another time
Thu at 1:50am
Linda
We hit a couple of those Pilot trvl centers on our trip–don’t we love road trips?
Thu at 3:45pm

Cary Cooper Who says musicians don’t travel in style.
July 15 at 5:58pm

Kathy
musicians.
July 15 at 5:59pm
Bob
Not me
July 15 at 6:10pm
Kate
depends on your definition of style
July 15 at 6:17pm
Julie
well, in comparison to roadies, then yes…..
July 15 at 6:18pm
Rex
Cheap is a style, right?
July 15 at 6:23pm
Geoffrey
if an “anywhere or bust” tattoo on the thumb is considered style…… then yes!
July 15 at 6:29pm

Cary Cooper Nashvegas baby!
July 15 at 6:46pm

Kate
Kiss it hello for me.
July 15 at 6:46pm
Tao
A friend of mine has a Limo company there if you really want to do it up right, Nashvegas style!
July 15 at 7:41pm
Patricia
Did you take the rollers out yet? LOL
July 15 at 7:43pm
Julie
ha!
July 15 at 8:51pm
Leslie
woo! have fun!
July 15 at 9:12pm
Ben
I love the bluebird cafe. Glad you are getting some spotlight there.
July 15 at 10:20pm · Delete
Stephen
Well, there’s thirteen hundred and fifty-two guitar pickers in Nashville… and they can pick more notes than the number of ants on a Tennessee anthill.
Thu at 1:47am
Patricia
The new nashville star! They are all in for a real treat when you get started!
Thu at 3:09am

Cary Cooper bed. nuff said.
Thu at 3:17am

Cary Cooper slept better in a strange house in nashville than she’s slept at home for the past three weeks. maybe god is trying to tell her something.
Thu at 12:06pm

Cary Cooper
and no nancy, i promise i’m not moving in.
Thu at 12:07pm
Rodney
What is She trying to tell you?
Thu at 12:08pm
Linda
Yeah!!
Thu at 12:14pm
Patricia
“…you should sleep in strange houses more…?”
Thu at 12:22pm
Eperiodlperiod
yeah god says get a new bed
Thu at 12:27pm
Jimbo
she’s trying to tell you to get a new mattress.
Thu at 12:36pm
Gail

Thu at 1:31pm
Kate
or some feng shui
Thu at 2:27pm
Rex
You may need to throw out all your sleeping habits. Sorry, Tom.
Thu at 2:28pm
RaeAnn
i knew i should have had you swing by to pick me up!! i’m glad someone got good sleep last nite!
Thu at 2:40pm
Pam
Personally, kiddo, I think you were pent up about this trip.
Thu at 6:01pm
Trish
god is telling you to make more money and get a nice hotel! LOL
Thu at 6:52pm

Cary Cooper had fun being don henry last night.
Thu at 2:24pm

Jimbo
Did they call you Harley?
Thu at 2:25pm
Patricia
Was Don Henry you? I bet je looked funny with rollers in his hair, too! Seriously, sounds like a great time…and lunch with Tommy Emmanuel…WOW!
Thu at 2:30pm
Kathy
hey my husband was on Tommy’s sessions yesterday morning (and afternoon?)…you guys just missed the possibility of having lunch together without knowing who the other was. Wouldn’t that have been funny? : )
Thu at 6:29pm
Kathy
oh your lunch was today. nevermind. my comment makes no sense now.
Thu at 6:34pm

Cary Cooper is so vain she probably thinks this song is about her.
Fri at 1:22am

Melanie
Ha Haa Ha
Fri at 1:26am
Beth
it probably is…
Fri at 1:28am
Christine
Lol!
Fri at 1:31am
Beth
not that you’re vain…just that you deserve it
Fri at 1:33am
Terra
Don’t you? Don’t you?
Fri at 1:57am
Bob
did you hear about the vain weather vane? It was STUCK UP on the roof. (ducking)
Fri at 1:58am
SheeShee
you are the best….a whack letter i received from a friend of yours was indicative of, welpppp….insanity!! unreal…to say the least and i am fairly cool and really nice.
and the song was about you and not warren or mick……carly told me!!
Fri at 3:45am
Lynn
You walked in to a party like you were walking onto a yacht
Fri at 7:39am
Jackie
hey, it probably is about you. Aren’t they all?
Fri at 1:47pm
Susie
lol!
Yesterday at 6:41am

Cary Cooper wonders if someone would call her phone at 8:00 in the morning and wake her up? she’s too lazy to get out of bed, walk across the room and dig through her purse.
Fri at 2:00am

Jim
would that be east coast or central time?
Fri at 2:11am
Cary Cooper
central u gonna call me??
Fri at 2:13am
Bob
that “in the morning” part lets me out
Fri at 2:45am
Jade
What Time is that West Coast – I may still be awake It is 1:44m here
Fri at 3:45am
Jim
Yes Ma’am I will
Fri at 7:57am
Jim
Yes Ma’am I did.
Fri at 8:02am
Eric
You guys are so cute.
Fri at 8:39am
Jim
awe, gosh-golly
Fri at 9:15am
Cary Cooper
and thank you mister jim. you are ever so kind.
Fri at 11:11am
Jim
a pleasure to serve. I hope my calling helped to start a enjoyable and productive day.
Fri at 11:16am
Beth
So- who WAS it?
Fri at 2:32pm

50 Lame Ass Things You Probably Don’t Want To Know About Me
Fri at 3:09am

Copy this message. Go to you Notes page and create a new note. Paste this note, delete my answers and add yours. Tag whoever you want and then publish this note.

Once you’ve been tagged, you have answer this and tag 15 people, including the person who tagged you.

1, What color is your toothbrush?
I have no idea. i’m usually half asleep when i’m brushing my teeth.

2, Name one person who made you smile today:
the waiter at the thai restaurant.

3, What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
drooling on my pillow

4, What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
surfing, lurking, stalking

5, What is your favorite candy bar?
baby ruth

6, Have you ever been to a strip club?
several. but not recently

7, What is the last thing you said aloud?
dude roll over

8. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
b&j’s coffee heath bar crunch

9, What was the last thing you had to drink?
red red wine

10, Do you like your wallet?
LOVE does not begin to describe. i bought it today at pangea in hillsboro village and it has a picture of a very hispanic looking jesus on the outside holding a picture of either the virgin mary or our lady of guadalupe. i always get those confused. oh! and the best part was that it only cost five dolla!!

11, What was the last thing you ate?
red curry at siam cafe

12, Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
no clothes but a silver sparkly beaded bangle. (note the double alliteration)

13, The last sporting event you watched?
my daughter learning to ride her two wheeler last week

14, What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
kettle

15, Who is the last person you sent a text message too?
buddy mondlock

16, Ever go camping?
but of course

17, Do you take vitamins daily?
hell to the no

18, Do you go to church every Sunday?
hell to the no (i just like saying that)

19, Do you have a tan?
in my dreams. actually the only evidence of any color on my skin is my oh so sexy watch tan line. yeah baby. i know you’re drooling with desire.

20,Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
me love chinese. actually any kind of ese.

21, Do you drink your soda with a straw?
always

22, What did your last text message say?
that’s private.

23, What are you doing tomorrow?
hanging shopping writing schmoozing telling tall tales

25, Look to your left, what do you see?
a very dark very loud snoring man

26, What color is your watch?
brown leather with silver

27, What do you think of when you hear Australia?
that i have never forgiven jim heath my father’s friend during my childhood for promising to bring me a koala bear when he went. you should not promise kids things you have no ability or intention to deliver. i really wanted that damned koala bear.

29, Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
i’m i’m by myself, i drive thru. if i’m with my drive thru impatient husband, i go in. if he’s driving that is.

30. What is your favorite number?
3

31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?
caroline and hannah. i don’t remember which one said hello and which one said goodbye.

32, Any plans today?
my current plan is to hurry up and answer these friggin questions so i can go to sleep. ask me again tomorrow.

33, How many states have you lived in?
one. unless you count 4-6 weeks every summer as living someplace. in that case, three.

34, Biggest annoyance right now?
the noises coming from various parts of my husbands anatomy

35, Last song listened to?
wow. i’m in nashville and i don’t think i’ve listened to a song all day. so i guess it would be the last song the sherpas did last night which if i remember correctly was “one heart.”

36,Can you say the alphabet backwards?
i doubt it without hurting my brain. i can, on the other hand, recite all fifty states. in alphabetical order. in less than a minute. after consuming impressive amounts of alcohol no less.

37, Do you have a maid service clean your house?
a what?

38, Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
silver flip flops

39, Are you jealous of anyone?
of course, on occasion

40, Is anyone jealous of you?
not that they’ve confessed to me

41, Do you love anyone?
lots of people. some more than others.

42, Do any of your friends have children?
yes

43, What do you usually do during the day?
make food, make rules, make plans, make fun, make war, make peace, make love, make trouble

44, Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
not with a passion

45, Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily?
i’m more of a hi girl

46, What color is your car?
a pitiful little blue

47, Do you like cats?
like em but can’t pet em

48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
yes

49, Have you ever been to Six Flags?
last time was 2 years ago with hannah before she started first grade. we rode RIDES. we got WET. we had FUN. then i slept for a week because that’s a hard labor day for a middle aged lady.

50, How did you get your worst scar?
knife fight. with a dermatologist.
*****

Susie
i like the whole ” hell to the no ” thing !!!! i may use that today ….
Fri at 8:23am
Dee
I may use that to on occassion..that’s good;)
Fri at 9:00am
Patrick
of all the lists I’ve read, this was the best, and for a reward I am going to Autralia to get you that koala bear
Fri at 9:57am
Kristin
You couldn’t sleep, right? You were bored? LOL!
Fri at 11:03am
Lisa
watch tan line. you so pretty.
Fri at 11:19am
Geoffrey
I like #35. Cary you are soo cool!
Fri at 11:25am
SheeShee
i wanna know 51!!!!
Fri at 12:38pm
Cheryl
#33– Did you count the State of Exhaustion, State of Mind, and State of Confusion?
Fri at 3:16pm
Andrea
re:10. You are not confused; Nuestra Senora de Guadelupe IS the Virgin Mary, or a particular depiction of her, anyway. Well, that is at least a part of Guadalupe. She is also a main symbol of Mexico and perhaps a depiction also of the Goddess Tonantzin.
Yesterday at 12:25am
Bill
the closet mathematician in me (very closeted! would like to see the “hell to the no” saying become “hell to the power of no”! : )
Yesterday at 12:55pm

Cary Cooper is prying open her eyes and stumbling toward coffee. well she’s hopes it’s coffee, her eyes are still half shut.
Fri at 10:37am

Stephen
mornin’ sunshine!
Fri at 10:53am
Cary Cooper
why thanks.
Fri at 10:53am
Jenn
Coffee machine busted here. Had to drag myself to Starbucks! How do you even stay awake to make that trek??
Fri at 10:54am
Jeffrey
Snortin’ freeze-dried Folgers over here…desperate times and all that…
Fri at 10:56am
Cary Cooper
my poor friends. i empathize.
Fri at 10:57am
Jim
oh Jeffery, you made me laugh so hard I had a coughing fit.
Fri at 11:18am
Lisa
but did coffee come out your nose?
Fri at 12:11pm
Jim
no, no coffee yet today. I guess I should consider myself lucky.
Fri at 12:38pm

Cary Cooper Table 4 one and enjoying the company
Fri at 2:00pm

Doug
Scott & Michelle were here with us for a couple of days and I’m decompressing from the frenzy that is Mrs. D.
Fri at 2:03pm
Terra
Awww to be alone…
Fri at 2:06pm
Jenn
Where do I find that kind of space??
Fri at 2:10pm
Patricia
Ah…the silence! Enjoy!
Fri at 3:26pm
Di
I love a table for one with my favorite book, a great meal, my own company and time to myself. Try it. Take yourself out to lunch or dinner.
Fri at 3:57pm
Patricia
I agree with you Di Vine. I relish time in a restaurant alone. No pressure, no one to accomodate, no pne to please with polite conversation…just me and a fine meal with good wine. Ah…the good life!
Fri at 4:18pm

Cary Cooper is thinking about her daughters and missing them. a lot.
Fri at 4:16pm

Julie
I bet. ((hug))
Fri at 4:21pm
John
Big HUGS!!!
Fri at 4:34pm
Cheryl
I miss them, too . And I still smile thinking of Hannah watching me watching Wall-E to make sure I laughed at the right parts. And guess what the first thing I saw was when we arrived in Athens, Greece? A giant IKEA store. Go figure. I thought Caroline would like to know .
Fri at 6:08pm
Kate
I know how you feel. My daughter graduated from U of Mich in May and is now living and working in Madison, WI. I miss being able to get together with her at will!!
Fri at 6:32pm

Cary Cooper just informed tpr that walter c was gone. his response, you mean he was still alive?? yeah we r up on things round here.
Fri at 8:18pm

Susie
ok how shallow is this … yes, walter died ,,,
but the necklace you have on in the bluebird photo’s is fantastic !!!
Fri at 8:49pm
Tim
Don’t you guys know his daughter, Cathy, the Kerrvert?
Fri at 9:34pm
Cary Cooper
seriously?
Fri at 9:35pm
Melody
Well, he was an “elder”, but usually it’s only if they’re related that we can relate.
Fri at 9:37pm
Tara
I hate to admit it but I thought the same thing. I really thought he had died years ago.,,,guess I’m in good company. I wonder how many others will admit they thought the same thing.
Fri at 9:37pm
Tim
Seriously! She loves Texas songwriter/singers. We sometimes bought hamburgers for Kenneth Threadgill at 2-J’s and teased him about the good/bad old days.
Fri at 9:45pm · Delete
Cary Cooper
wow. cool. nope. never met her. you’ve been holding out on me evidently.
Fri at 9:49pm
Tim
You weren’t old enough to eat hamburgers unescorted at the time. Of course I’m holding out! I have done a lot in my many years. I even met Gary Cooper (super dooper)!
Fri at 10:13pm
Cynthia
that was thom’s response too, as well as a few other friends of mine on fb. but i knew he was still alive and i loved him and respected him and admired him very much.
Fri at 10:50pm

Cary Cooper is kinda into seedy motels.
Fri at 9:50pm

D.c
I know I’m partial to seedy motels with broken AC units
Fri at 9:51pm
Marv
My favorites are ocean side seedy motels where the floor tiles have caved in and you have to stand on the floor joists while you soap up… or down….
Fri at 9:52pm
Rachel
They can be fun!
Fri at 9:56pm
Bob
Don’t touch the sheets!
Fri at 10:02pm
Sharon
you say some of the oddest things ~ but it’s always interesting!
Fri at 10:03pm
Daphne
it’s the comforter – DON’T TOUCH THE COMFORTERS….notice there are never any comforters on the maids little carts…they don’t change those things and if your in a seedy hotel it’s fair to assume there has been some seedy business goin down….that’s what we would do in a seedy hotel – right.
Fri at 10:05pm
Rachel
Yes- the news shows always have all these undercover people going in with microscopes and black lights- yuck. But hey, if you’re getting seedy anyway, join the party!
Fri at 10:07pm
Cary Cooper
it’s not THAT seedy. i’m a big fan of exaggeration. in case you hadn’t figured that out yet.
Fri at 10:09pm
Daphne
Hey, I’m all for it. But still – jus take off the comforter, it’s not hard and if your gettin seedy you won’t need the extra cover.
Fri at 10:09pm
Rachel
I NEVER would have guessed that from you
Fri at 10:09pm
Daphne
well, you know we respond from our own reality, so when you say seedy where our minds go is very telling….of us
Fri at 10:10pm
Cary Cooper
hmmmm…i mention seedy motels and all the sanger girls come out!! not sure what to make of this.
Fri at 10:10pm
Rachel
There are no judgments Cary. None at all. Get as seedy as you want to be!
Fri at 10:11pm
Daphne
ouch….sorry i said anything
Fri at 10:11pm
Geoffrey
It’s the hotel that’s seedy!
Fri at 10:11pm
Cary Cooper
i was TOTALLY playing!!
Fri at 10:11pm
Geoffrey
we all are too
Fri at 10:12pm
Rachel
Me too! This is just fun- messing like this!
Fri at 10:12pm
Cary Cooper
i was just worried about the ouchy.
Fri at 10:12pm
Daphne
=D LOL…I’m good Cary, not real ouchy here!
Fri at 10:17pm
Terra
Even in nice hotels they don’t change the comforters. And the things some people do in hotels… Hehe
Fri at 10:28pm
Terra
Tom said seedy too! Must really be seedy! Lol
Sara
I’m totally into motels with cactus.
Fri at 10:34pm
Sara
Carry a black light when you travel. Instant room upgrade when you show the manager.
Fri at 10:36pm
Kim
That blacklight tip is priceless. I could have used it in Decatur a few years back.
Fri at 11:15pm
Doug
I thought the goal was to “christen” every bed you’ve never slept in before.
Fri at 11:58pm
Melanie
until you find a big blood stain on the floor or a roach in your bed! (just thinking about some of my past pleasant experiences from the road)
Yesterday at 12:06am
Susie
I seem to recall a few stories you’ve told me! hehe!
Yesterday at 6:39am
Paul
if the roaches start movin the bed you got “TROUBLE” hehe
Yesterday at 8:04am

Cary Cooper is sitting on a motel bed, sipping wine out of a plastic cup and watching “new in town” with her feller. and trying to put all thoughts of seedy comforters, black lights and past customers (i mean guests) out of her head.
Fri at 11:21pm

Dee
LOL!!!!!!!
Fri at 11:21pm
Brooke
Gettin’ itchy yet?
Fri at 11:22pm
Kristin
ewwwwwww!
Fri at 11:23pm
Gail
Know what? I looooove Priceline. I can get a three star hotel with a pool for less than a Motel 6. Although you have to do without that whole seedy thing… it’s kind of a trade off.
Fri at 11:24pm
Sara
Sounds like y’all are making a little mulah on the side…Could be wrong, but it’s starting to sound
super seedy, not just plain ol’ seedy!
Fri at 11:38pm
Kathy
where are you guys staying? and I’m sorry we didn’t hook up today (so to speak)…
Fri at 11:41pm
Terra
I’m gonna start taking a blacklight with me, but what exactly shows up in black light???? Hmmm
Fri at 11:57pm
Daphne
LOL! good luck with that =D
Fri at 11:57pm
Aimee
I am sure it will be wonderful
Yesterday at 12:08am
Bob
maybe you could use the word “clients”
Yesterday at 12:24am
James
I’m getting syphilis just thinking about all this…
Yesterday at 12:27am
Nancy
Ahhh…wine in a plastic cup…nothing like it!
Yesterday at 12:45am
Caren
where the glamour never begins….
Yesterday at 1:56am
Tom
Ah, if those walls could talk…
Yesterday at 2:02am
Dave
Good night, sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite.
Yesterday at 2:46am
Mary
ugh
Yesterday at 6:27am

Cary Cooper has coffee in her cup, npr on the radio, tree lined music highway outside her window, compass pointed home.
Yesterday at 8:56am

Skip
Safe trip, Artist!
Yesterday at 8:58am
Terra
Already heading home?
Yesterday at 9:20am
Cary Cooper
Heading home, picking up the girls, then turning around on tuesday and heading to d.c. and virginia for a week or so…
Yesterday at 9:28am
Skip
You giggin’ on this trip, or just visiting?
Yesterday at 9:30am
Terra
That’s right.. You guys are tearing up the highways this week, huh?
Yesterday at 9:31am
Cary Cooper
Yup, terra we are. tom had a bluebird gig in nashville and had some writing appts. i have a gig in dc but we’re mainly going to visit tom’s family
Yesterday at 9:47am
Karen
Louise is waiting for you! We can do paper work Monday.
Yesterday at 10:32am

Cary Cooper dreams in status updates.
Yesterday at 9:09am

Julie
LOL! :~D
Yesterday at 9:12am
Geoffrey
I dream in facebook action too sometimes. Maybe the virtual world is taking over.
Yesterday at 9:19am

Cary Cooper would like a goat.
Yesterday at 10:28am
Karen
Really? We can help you with that. Be sure it is a female or a wether. Boy goats are VERY smelly and have DISGUSTING habits.
Yesterday at 10:30am
Helen
hahahaha any particular reason? guess that begs the question ‘are you KIDding?!’
Yesterday at 10:30am
Andy
goat cheese is yummy
Yesterday at 10:31am
Sharon
there you go again.
Yesterday at 10:31am
Jen
so you don’t have to mow?
Yesterday at 10:31am
Jimbo
yes goats are tasty. hey we are on 30 too just past little rock headed to Dallas. do you guys have dinner plans?
Yesterday at 10:32am
Kate
ME TOO!!!
Yesterday at 10:32am
Helen
yeah goat cheese is awesome especially French! x
Yesterday at 10:40am
Cary Cooper
Just listening 2 an interview on npr…
Yesterday at 10:48am
Jim
you wouldn’t have to mow the lawn either.
Yesterday at 10:51am
Melina
Goats are cool animals. They have a great sense of humor and are very playful.
Yesterday at 10:53am
Beth
Goats rock. I want one, too. Always have!
Yesterday at 11:10am
Sherry
I know where you can get them for $10, baby goats, either bottle fed or off the bottle…only males though, no females. They are the cutest things ever!!!!
Yesterday at 11:10am
Wil
there is not much cuter than a baby goat. I used to have 8 goats when I was a kid. I lost my favorite goat Casper in a custody battle and miss him so. They are soooo smart. Just as smart as my border collie.
Sylvia
I hope you get a goat, and I hope no one gets your goat!
Yesterday at 12:31pm
Martha
I especially like pigmy goats! they are super cute… That’s what I wanted for christmas!
Yesterday at 1:31pm
Patricia
Pygmy goats make great pets, they mow the lawn and love KIDS (pun intended)! Plus, if you are willing…goat cheese, yum yum. Nothing like it fresh, aged, smoked…yum.
Yesterday at 1:39pm
Kevin
Me too a 1962 or 64 full restored with a hemi.
Yesterday at 1:50pm
Patricia
Dang, Kevin! I haven’t heard of ‘goats’ like that since I was a teen. Won a couple of drags with one when I was 16! We would sneak onto the airport runway (seldom used) and drag there, hoping the *FUZZ* would stay clueless! LOL Those were the days, totally carefree.
Yesterday at 2:01pm
Rhonda
Me tooo Cacry….. I absolutely love goats….. Hubby bought me two for Christmas and donated them to VIllege in Katito Africa…..
Yesterday at 2:17pm
James
I’ve got them for you!
Yesterday at 3:43pm

Cary Cooper Thinks that celery is underrated.
Yesterday at 1:24pm

John
Probably not..it seems to get lots of credit, even when credit isn’t due.
Yesterday at 1:27pm
Kristin
Blech.
Yesterday at 1:36pm
Terra
Are we talking taste or nutrients?
Yesterday at 1:37pm
Cary Cooper
I love the taste/smell ofit. jus thad somein a salad and i loved how it changed the taste/added flavor. i know i know. i’m in the minority on this one.
Yesterday at 1:41pm
Terra
No if I leave it out of chicken salad, it’s just not the same…
Yesterday at 1:42pm
Kristin
Sorry. Blech. : )
Yesterday at 1:44pm
Cary Cooper
Picky picky.
Yesterday at 1:47pm
Kristin
I have been called a picky eater. ; )
Yesterday at 1:51pm
Laura
celery sticks with cream cheese… yummm
Yesterday at 1:57pm
Sherla
I go back and forth on liking it. I’m currently on a Like lick. Put some natural peanut butter onit- Yum. Hope your trip is safe and quick:)
Yesterday at 2:07pm
Sherla
Meant kick and not lick. Joy of facebooking on your phone.
Yesterday at 2:08pm
Cynthia
it’s delicious in soups and for snacks but i hate it when people put it in dahl and sambar. then it just seems like cheap filler!
Yesterday at 2:22pm
Terra
Hehe Sherla said like lick.. Hehe
Yesterday at 2:30pm
Laura
I like peanut butter on it and cream cheese. Also got really desperate one time when out of chips and ate salsa using celery….. that was kind of weird but at least it crunched.
Yesterday at 4:03pm
John
I don’t think I could do peanut butter and cream cheese on celery. I don’t think peanut butter and cream cheese go together.
Yesterday at 5:07pm
Niki
ok, how bout XXX.
Yesterday at 6:19pm
Gary
Here are some actual ratings for celery that suggest that some varieties are very highly rated indeed:

http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/mainSearch/showAll.php?ID=15&sortBy=overallrating&order=DESC&searchIn=1

12 hours ago

Cary Cooper is borrrrrrrrrred n the car. going to take a little nappy and hopes to wake up n TX.
Yesterday at 1:51pm

Patricia
Sweet dreams…maybe you’ll dream up a new song.
Yesterday at 2:02pm
Margie
I hear Texas is the best place on earth….at least that’s what my friends from Texas tell me!!! Lol!
Yesterday at 2:03pm
Kevin
Have a safe trip back Cary. Are you still doing the gig on the 31st at the church and what time. I’ll also need an address if you would
Yesterday at 2:07pm
Christine
It is and it isn’t! Take it from a True Texan! Born And Raised! Nice in some places but others so conservative! But mostly you have to be able to take the heat!
Yesterday at 2:10pm
Sara
Hope while you are napping Tom is driving. Otherwise, it will be a very long nappy and that would make us unhappy!
Yesterday at 2:19pm
Terra
Margie, they lie…
Yesterday at 2:32pm
Katy
Oh!!! Maybe if I take a nap I’ll wake up in Texas, too!!!
Yesterday at 2:37pm
Katy
You know, there may be something to this (she typed while parked in the Dickey’s BBQ parking lot after polishing off some okra and chopped brisket.) I may not be in the Land of Blue Bell anymore, but if I’ve got real BBQ (not that pork stuff people in Lynchburg THINK is bbq), my Texas dream came true.
Yesterday at 2:44pm
Cary Cooper
Wow. my wish came true. back in the lone star state!!! thank you to my darling driver tommy.
Yesterday at 3:43pm
Connie
If I take a nap, will I get to wake up in TX???
Yesterday at 4:24pm
Tom
Well, if you had a goat in the car, it *would* make things more interesting…
Yesterday at 4:28pm

Cary Cooper plans to spend the remainder of her time in the car flashing peace signs to fellow travelers to see how many people will flash her back. in loving memory of her childhood, may it RIP.
Yesterday at 3:54pm

Andrew
Rock & Roll Will Never Die!
Yesterday at 3:59pm
Justin
what’s up with the goat? you coming to song school?
Yesterday at 4:00pm
Danya
peace out, goddess! I’m all about everlasting childhood!
Yesterday at 4:04pm

Cary Cooper would like a job as a professional status updater. and a goat.
Yesterday at 4:12pm

Beth
I’m not sure you’d want a job as a goat; it’s pretty tough work.
Yesterday at 4:14pm
Conrad
Talk to Kate Hearne. She seems to have a thing for goats too!
Yesterday at 4:14pm
Susie
i want a job as johnny depp’s professional island drink-maker.
and a horse.
Yesterday at 4:16pm
Bob
Your hired!
Yesterday at 4:20pm
Bob
i will be interested in the status updates you post when you are hard at work being a goat. Or maybe that is an easy job. Would you be “butting in” a lot?
Yesterday at 4:21pm
Denise
what is the goat for?
Yesterday at 4:23pm
Gail
“Cary Cooper is… still chewing grass and gnawing on old shoes”
Yesterday at 4:25pm
Patricia
Ok…you’ve been a professional ststus updator for some time now and I assume the pay isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Perhaps the goat would be a better choice: free lawn care, fresh milk and lots of chevre! WooHoo!
Yesterday at 4:27pm
Tiffani
I would have to say, you would be a very well paid professional status updater, lol. And at your reunions, you could say you are a PSU and everyone will think you are a VIP :0D
Yesterday at 4:39pm
Patricia
Good one, Tiffani
Yesterday at 4:41pm
Kate
My sisters boss is paying one of her employees 1000 bucks a month to update her company’s twitter site! Crazy!
Yesterday at 4:47pm
Patricia
I want that job!
Yesterday at 4:51pm
Petie
You want a job as a goat?
Yesterday at 4:57pm
Carolyn
well goats do get to eat anything they want
Yesterday at 7:09pm
Gary
A good goat’ll do that.
12 hours ago

Cary Cooper Is singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall and preparing to hitchhike at least a few of these last 33 miles.
Yesterday at 5:08pm

Melody
Did you ever get that car you were going to look at?
Yesterday at 5:17pm
Cary Cooper
Not yet, but we ARE getting it on monday!!!
Yesterday at 5:18pm
Cyd
Suzy had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell, suzy went to heaven and the steamboat went to……….
Yesterday at 5:19pm
Melody
With a/c I hope. I just got a new (pre-owned) one a month ago with a/c. whew!
Yesterday at 5:20pm
Cyd
You remind me of a man. What man? the man w/ power. What power? the power of vood doo. who do?you do! I do what? you remind me of a man……
Yesterday at 5:21pm
Melody
What the heck?
Yesterday at 5:22pm
Cyd
didnt you ever do those on road trips when you were a kid??? They’re fun!
Yesterday at 5:24pm
Melody
Oh yeah…I may be slow on the uptake, but I get it now. It’s been a while since my last road trip. LOL! Carry on!
Yesterday at 5:27pm
Grant
Just so long as you are not trying to *drink* all of those bottles (at least by yourself!)
Yesterday at 5:30pm
Peggy
I remember torturing my parents singing this song on road trips. Is this your way of torturing the kids?
Yesterday at 5:49pm
Celeste
This is the song that never ends! Yes it goes in and on my friends! Some people started singing it not knowing what it was. And they’ll continue singing it forever just because, this is the sing that never ends…
Yesterday at 5:50pm
Francis
how dharma-bum-esque!
Yesterday at 6:01pm
Cary Cooper
it was my way of torturing my husband.
Yesterday at 6:04pm
Stephen
You’re a brat! Tom probably needs it to be Margarita night TONIGHT after putting up with that. lol
Yesterday at 6:46pm · Delete
Lisa
on one Malvinas roadtrip, Beth sat behind the drivers seat and played shaky-egg for 60 miles. You notice the Malvinas never do percussion in our shows…
Yesterday at 6:58pm
Bruce
…and the love roars on, like a LOCOmotive
Yesterday at 10:47pm

Cary Cooper gladly reports an end to the madness. she is now back home. woohoolelujah!!
Yesterday at 6:06pm

Kathy
I’m glad you guys are safely home! I can’t believe I didn’t get to see you…next time : )
Yesterday at 6:19pm
Niki
Is there a goat there?
Yesterday at 6:33pm
Susie
A goat??? I have one I can get for you! Her name is Susan!
Yesterday at 7:19pm
Cary Cooper
go to tom’s page and read the last comment on his goat status.
Yesterday at 7:23pm
Harry
congrats – what ya think of the videos? be honest!
Yesterday at 8:54pm