Tumbledown House interview

 

 

Every once in a while, we get to experience a legend in the making.  When it comes to the duo, Tumbledown House, I'd say it's like being in the presence of two upcoming legends, two musicians who are amazing entertainers and time travelers. Two people who span the ages with their music and take us on a journey back to a day most of us have never been.  A time our grand parents and maybe their parents might remember. 

Their sweet and soulful sound makes me imagine a sweaty, sexy speakeasy or jukejoint in 1930s New Orleans~

The last time these folks visited Prescott, where they actually called home for a short time, I had the honor to see them play twice, and did a little question/answer session with them.

Here's what they had to say:

 

 

HTC: How long have each of you been involved in music, i.e. playing or singing?

 

Gillian: I took piano lessons in the 6th grade and kind of hated it except for the fact that Mrs. Gee made killer lemon bars.  But then I took to playing guitar in 8th grade and started writing hilariously terrible songs.  I love singing and writing from then on.  But I didn't perform in front of anybody until I was about 20 years old.  It went terribly.  It took me a very long time to get comfortable on stage.  Meeting Tyler and having a partner up there changed everything.

 

Tyler: I started playing guitar when I was 8 years old.  I found a beat up acoustic guitar that smelled like cat pee in my mom's closet and was totally hooked. 

 

 

HTC: Name one song that reminds you of childhood:

 

Gillian: "Here Comes the Sun".  My dad told me when I was young that it was his favorite song and he doesn't often take to too many tunes, so it always makes me think of him.  I remember exactly where we were when said it.  I don't know why it struck me and stayed with me. 

 

Tyler: "Sweet Child O'Mine" by Guns and Roses always takes me back.  MTV was pretty new when I  was a kid and was pretty influential to me because back then, they actually played music videos. 

 

HTC: Which old song would you each like to cover but haven't yet?

 

Gillian: We just heard Mel Torme's Blue Moon and both fell for it.  He does another one I love, but I can't remember the name.  I'll have to get his record and search it our.  I also love Nina Simone's "My Baby Just Cares for Me"

 

Tyler: I've been working on a version of Sidney Bechet's "Viper Mad" but I don't think it's ready yet. 

 

 

HTC: If you could spend one day chatting with an entertainer, singer, musician from the past, who would it be and why?  What would you talk about? 

 

Gillian: Josephine Baker.  She's my biggest inspiration.  I think I share zero personality traits with that fearless womean, but I put her on the tallest pedestal.  I've watched documentaries on her so I know a lot about her life, (including the fact that when walked the boulevards betweend her shows with her pet cheeta, the Parisians would joke that they never knew which end of the leash held the wild animal--I man, to be famous for wearing nothing but bananas around your waist?  That gal must've had some crazy stories!!!) so, I would just ask her terribly personal questions that the documentaries didn't cover. 

 

(Gillian, I'm right there with ya!  I LOVE her, I adore her wild heart!!! She inspires my soul!)

 

Tyler: I think that, if I could talk to any musician from the past, I'd like to sit down with Jimi Hendrix.  He had a way of effortlessly channeling awesomeness when he was improvising.  Everything flowed and there  and there was never any fear or hesitation.  I guess I'd ask him about that, and how fame affected his artistic vision.

 

HTC: 1st 5 songs on your Ipod right now, or at least, top 5 songs you have been listening to currently.

 

Gillian: I'll just name some artist that rev my jets lately.  Their voices and production really do it for me.  In no particular order:

Laura Mvula, Tune-yeard, Sylvan Esso, Cecile McLorin Salvant, PHOX, Emily King, Sally Shapiro, Polica, Kimbra, Lucius, Y La Bamba, Hurray for the Riffraff....so many talented ladied to choose from!!!

 

Tyler: Dramaphone by Caravan Palace

       Coffee by Sylvan Esso

       Operation Costs by Lusine

       I didn't know what time it was by    Cecile McLauren

       Salvant Chum by Earl Sweatshirt

 

 

Thanks for answering my questions guys! Hope to see your beautiful faces and listen to your delicious music live again soon!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Ya know, there are those times in life when every person should be made to feel like a rockstar.  Yesterday, I definitely felt that way.  I'm having to move back to Albuquerque again due to unfortunate ruling of the judge last summer in regards to my custody case against my ex husband for our 5 year old, Jasper. 

Being a gal who supports herself on a small income, moving expenses can be a little "hairy scary" to come up with.  Especially moving state to state.  This entire ordeal has been such a drain on me, emotionally, physically and monetarily, as one could imagine.

My darling friend Becky, however put together an amazing event yesterday to help me get a heads up on what sort of costs are to come.  She hosted it at a place here in Prescott called Granite Mountain Brewery.  They brew some of Prescott's finest ales and porters.

So, we decided that it would be a fun way to make some cash by doing a raffle.  I asked around to a lot of folks I know in town and around to donate items and the response was unbelievable! I was able to make 5 of the coolest gift baskets anyone could have asked for! They were packed full of art, jewelry, gift certs for restaurant's, massages, bike tune ups, etc.  I decorated the baskets with fun glittery embellishments and the event goers were crazy for them! 

I was able to gather a fine assortment of local musicians for this fun event as well and I am SO delighted and flattered with everyone who showed up! We started the day with my friend Sky, who sings a little rockabilly, and little old school country and a variety of his own, fun and danceable tunes.  a couple of which I was actually the muse for!

Then, my dear friends Meg and Jonathan played their eclectic and super fun songs for us on their ukulele s and Meg's accordion~ Miss Kay Pifer joined in for a few on her fiddle.  These folks did some sing a longs and a few fun filled versions of some old tunes~

 

Next, the one and only Don Cheek performed.  He's a town celeb, and plays with his band The Cheektones around town almost every weekend, as well as lovely duets with his wife on occasion.  He belted out a few covers and a few of his originals and reminded us that The Cheektones CD is due out soon.

 

AFter that, my very own sweet fella Sandy entertained us with is beautiful stylings and sounds on his guitar.  I even got to join him for a song we'd been working on together! Such fun!

 

Let's see...

Okay, then, 3 amazing women came on and started out with one of my favourite tunes from "Oh Brother, Where Art Though".  They all played guitar and harmonized.  Becky, my wonderful friend who put on the event, Ember, a local I've known around town for many years and Rosemary, a lovely woman I've only ever ordered wine from at The Raven, but now know her in a very different light.  They sounded amazing!  Then Ember and her sweet voiced solo'd.  She sang one of my favourite Joni Mitchell songs too!

Finally, local band Salt of the Earth came on. Leas singer Susan is a local mother I've know for years and she belted out both originals and covers with her band backing her up. 

The amazing Becky Dalke, who put on the event was going to close the show, but she had a yucky bug of some sort that was making her feel pretty rotten.  She did honor us with one song, but, it was about all she had in her.  The fact that she made it through the day and put this event together for me has me feeling grateful beyond words.  I am feeling so blessed and honoured for all that I have and for the love of one fantastic community!!!
 

Muchos Gracias Prescott!!!!

Bad Ass Women! Hell Ya!!!

While scrolling down my Facebook feed today, I cam across an article from Elephant magazine, which I love and read pretty much everyday.  The title was "This is for Women who don't give a F*CK"~

Well, ofcourse I HAD to read it. The 1st 3 things on the list resonated with me:



*The women who are first to get naked, howl at the moon and jump into the sea.
*The women who drink too much whisky, stay up too late and have sex like they mean it.
*The women who know they aren’t sluts because they enjoy sex, but human beings with a healthy    sexual appetite

So, I read on....

*The women who will ask you for what they need in bed.
*This is for the women who seek relentless joy; the ones who know how to laugh with their whole souls.
*The women who speak to strangers because they have no fear in their hearts.

What??? Do they know me???

A few more down.... hmmm, yes, no... OH, HELL YA!

 



*This is for the women who rock combat boots with frilly skirts.

The list was beautiful and although maybe not everything on it were things I do or can agree with, for the most part, I consider myself a "true wild woman", a "woman who runs with wolves" (these are literary references, so those of you who get it, HUZZAH!)

To see if anything on the list applies to you, read it here: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/08/this-is-for-the-women-who-dont-give-a-fck-adult/

 

Then, I went back to Facebook and this, THIS was the next thing I see:

 

http://news.distractify.com/people/powerful-photos-of-women/?v=1

 

***52 Powerful Photos Of Women Who Changed History Forever***

Margaret Bourke-White ( I did a paper on her in a photography class a few years ago, her story is AMAZING!)

 

WOW!!!!! WOW!WOW!WOW!

These images gave this girl serious chills, and even created misty eyeballs, no joke~

Jeanne Manford marches with her gay son during a Pride Parade. [1972]

 

I mean, if we're gonna talk about true WILD WOMEN, those women who clearly DO! NOT! GIVE! A! FUCKITY-FUCK-FUCK! and did it anyway...

Here's to you babe!

The following are just a sample of the amazing images of these VERY SPIRITED, LIVELY and AMAZING women, who, well, without them, where would the world be???

Members of the Hell's Angels gang. [1973]

A Swedish woman hitting a neo-Nazi protester with her handbag. The woman was reportedly a concentration camp survivor. [1985]

Maud Wagner, the first well know female tattooist in the United States. [1907]

So, seriously, head over there via the link above and check it out, I dare you!

 



Swimming in the Deep End

I wonder sometimes how others deal with pain, with grief.  I know people who have had horrible tragedies handed to them, yet, whether they want to or not, they somehow find it in them to survive.  I have not had a tragedy quite so destructive, but, i have had a pretty severe "kick in the balls" and for the first time in my usually sweet and charmed life, this happy go lucky girl is having a difficult time just getting through. Sometimes it feels like i'm living in a choke hold, gasping for breath, wondering if i should tap out or keep fighting.  The intensity is only deepened by the sights and sounds of giggling children and happy families.
I have tried several times in the past 2 months to blog about how i was feeling, and what was going on in my battle for Jasper, but, every time i tried, i was overwhelmed and all of my thoughts swirled around and around in my head like a hurricane, with no beginning and no end.  To figure out a way to collect them and express them in any sort of eloquent manner was un-excusably and undeniably too difficult of a task to undertake, so, i would log off and walk away from the computer.

When i received the letter from the courts telling me that my ex had been awarded custody, i felt like my whole world was crumbling down around me.  I felt shattered and broken.  I was reading the letter in the truck of the man i had been seeing for the past year and he watched in awe as i broke down shaking and crying.  He had been in my life long enough to watch this complete madness unfold around our relationship and held space for me the best he could during my moments of crazy.  He took me home and sat with me as i lay on my bed crying and scratching at my skin because it didn't feel real.
In the weeks that have followed, i have been in a state of loose cannon type emotions, having to leave work early, or duck out of a grocery store because some cute little boy was standing in front of me, reminding me that mine is a 6 hour drive away.  He's alive and well, and for that i'm happy, it's not like i lost him tragically and will never see him again, but, knowing that he's being raised in another town, that his father, who i obviously do not get along with, is the one putting him to bed at night, helping him with school projects....not only that, but another woman, my ex husbands much younger, pregnant girlfriend is surrogate mom. 
NO! okay? NO!
i'm angry, i'm hurt, i'm exhausted from over use of my tear ducts and i'm FED UP!
In the coming days, as often as i can, a regular account of my return to the land of the living and what i plan on doing next will be available to follow~
For now....
i wake up, i get up, i enjoy the gifts surrounding me and i breath~

The Hotel Blue - Hotel Review

Located at the West end of Albuquerque's downtown district, The Hotel Blue is a great place to stay for those who want to be near to nightlife, restaurants, Old Town, The Bio Park and more.
I stayed here recently while in town to see family.  I usually stay with my mom, but she's a little far from everything, plus, well, this place has a pool and it's summertime, enough said.
The decor is a little Art Deco meets 1970s chic, with beautiful black and white checker'd floors and nice, not so bright lighting. I pulled up in front and walked in to the lobby to check in and was greeted by a friendly young lady, who was helpful and sweet. The parking lot is fenced and one can only enter it with the room key, so it felt safe and secure.
My room, on the 5th floor was clean and well taken care of.  I had an eastern view, which faced the pool, as well as downtown Albuquerque, so that was nice.

I spent the afternoons in the pool with my children, and we really enjoyed our time there.  The pool was clean, and did not seem so overly chlorinated that you felt like your skin was falling off when you got out. The pool was surrounded by chairs, tables and lounge chairs, and when we needed extra towels, the front desk staff was happy to oblige.

The Hotel Blues offer a complimentary breakfast from 6 to 10 and is full of everything from instant oatmeal, to mini muffins, to scrambled eggs, potatoes and bacon.  They serve Starbucks coffee, and everything seemed clean and well stocked.  If i might make any suggestions, it would be to maybe have a few fixings for the eggs and potatoes, like grated cheese and salsa or chives.  I would also suggest a few more healthy options, like perhaps fruit and yogurt. 

Rooms run from about $69-$129, and i was able to get a good deal on one of those discount travel sites.

A little history: 

Opened as Downtowner Motor Inn in June 6, 1965, this hotel has gone through several name changes; the current name "The Hotel Blue" was given to it in late 1990s when it was renovated to a chick boutique in an Art Deco theme. Downtowner Inn, Quality Inn, Ramada Inn-Downtown, Downtown Inn, Quality Inn - Central, Quality Inn - Downtown, Ramada Inn-Downtown are the names give to the hotel before the current name " The Hotel Blue".
The current ownership renovated all the rooms in 2007 & 2008 and continuously improving the amenities and services keeping our guests in mind. The projects in near future are complete makeover of the exterior and the public areas.

***I would give The Hotel Blue 3 1/2 Stars in a 5 star rating.

And yes, i would stay there again.

One last thing:

Albuquerque is known for hot air balloons.  It's the home of the International Balloon Fiesta, which, if you have never seen, absolutely must at least once in your life, but, on any given morning, there are at least 2 to 3 balloons in the air.  It's really very beautiful and peaceful. 

This was the view outside of my room on my last morning there~

Stunning! 

Beyond Magenta: Transgender teens speak out
by Susan Kuklin

For those of you just coming on board, i am the parent or a trans gender child.  My middle child, Ronin was born with boy parts, but, quite honestly, anyone who has watched this child grow up would tell you how magical and androgynous she has always been.  I won't go into our whole story right now, but what i WILL do is direct your attention to a book that i bought for her last spring that quite possibly helped her to release a bit of fear and anxiety about her life and her struggles.  

Award winning author and photographer Susan Kuklin interviewed and photographed 4 separate young transgender adults and has compiled their stories and images in this hard cover "coffee table" type book.  These 4 people tell their stories, talk about love, hard ache and everything in between.  In the times we're living where our children now have role models like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock gracing the covers of magazines, and telling their stories, let's not forget to give a voice to those young folks who are still maneuvering the dark waters of what it means to be transgender in the world today.

Here are the links to parts I & II of Kuklin's interviews on Pirate Tree and her website.

http://www.thepiratetree.com/2014/03/13/beyond-magenta-an-interview-with-susan-kuklin-part-i/

http://www.thepiratetree.com/2014/03/20/beyond-magenta-an-interview-with-susan-kuklin-part-ii/

http://www.susankuklin.net/

The Painted Girls (Book Review)

The Painted Girls
by Cathy Marie Buchanan

"A historical fiction based on a sculpture by Degas, this story was captivating in its ability to encapsulate the world of three lowly, underprivileged sisters in1880's Paris. As soon as I was introduced to Antoinette and Maire, a beautiful picture was already painted in my mind of the girls in their laced up ballerina slippers and tattered practice skirts. The coming of age, the sisterly love, the loss of innocence and the idea of a better life, kept me up nights wanting to know more and read on. Buchanan pulls together reality and imagination and weaves a tale of a tie past in a way that made me feel like I was walking the streets of Montmartre with every page."