Louvette's Online Journal - *may or may not have much to do about music
Monday, October4, 2004
LEGO Existence!
Legoland. Carlsbad, California
September 24, 2004 Click HERENot quite done with the Brits, my husband's cousin came in from Scotland and stayed with us for two weeks. It was a wonderful visit with Elizabeth and there were a few times when she cracked me up. Aware of life, people, idiosyncrasies and style, Elizabeth was a joy to have around.
At first, she spent three days just relaxing, reading a three-inch thick book, and then finally, I took her (drumroll)...to Legoland! Ok...I've never been and she wanted to go! Although we didn't look like the type, we did romp around the park and appreciated the incredible figures made out of these tiny stacked up blocks. On the way out, I had one of the artists do a caricature of me. Check out the link below this pic, and notice the floor length hair the artist gave me!
Besides the fact that Elizabeth was a champion ice skater in Europe, she is altogether, one beautiful person. Her visit was a special opportunity because I got to know her more. I believe she also soon realized that I was the artist that I am, because in no time, she reminded me of work I had to do in the studio and that it was perfectly fine to let her read more books.
By the time she left for Scotland, we had attended a Persian birthday party, visited art galleries, saw a few movies and went out to lunch and dinners. Mostly, we went shopping. Quite the lady after my own heart, Elizabeth understood art, music, and fashion. Anything else? Yes...truth. We both realized that sometimes, you just have to accept and LEGO of things!
Gone British!
Villa Lourdes ~ California
September 12, 2004 Click HEREGeorgie and Sarah--my young British friends came to visit with us for three days. Georgie is my friend Lisa's daughter who is on the left and that's Sarah on the right, Georgie's best friend. Oh how time flies! Georgie was only two years old when I last saw her. Oh righto, she's now 20!
Well...these girls got me going with a temporary British accent that when my young son came home, he looked at me wondering what had happened to me. I suppose when you're musical, you can easily pick up accents and intonations. With certain words used--well that was just a matter of remembering a few British films or sitcoms we used to watch on the tele when we lived in Hong Kong. Good enough! I asked them to help me fetch a supermarket "trolley" when we shopped together for food and admonished them to stop complaining about the "dickie" seats at the back of my car. Hardy har har! With precious time spent , there was absolutely nothing mundane. We dined, watched chick flicks, listened to music and talked of The Corrs and Alice Band among other things.
Interestingly, Robert Palmer, an LA based music producer contacted me while the girls were visiting. I then learned that Robert produced one of Alice Band's #1 hits called One Day At A Time. The good news is, Robert and I will be working on a few songs these next few months. I'll keep you posted...right here! British pop anyone? Uh-oh. Not quite. We're still very Americanized.
Home Again!
Louvette, Makati, Philippines
July 15, 2004 Click HEREThis summer was marked with exuberance, joy and absolute glory. I went back to the Philippines where I was born, and to say I felt wonderfully "home again" would be an understatement. The words certainly mean a lot more and this happy photo was taken on my half-sister's 18th birthday.
We visited with my Dad and I reconnected with my heritage. Besides visiting the Philippines, my family and I also went to Vietnam and Thailand.
Some of the funniest things happened to us while there...but it wouldn't be that funny for me to relay to you these events. You just had to be there!
I love these exotic places and I intend to go more frequently. After all, life should be this good as often as possible.
I also looked into all sorts of investments. I have a few fun projects brewing but I can't talk about them until I decide that they're worth pursuing all the way. It seems though that in all the bliss...music didn't fail to call. Two weeks after my return to the USA, I wrote 8 songs in 10 days.
Steely Jeffrey!
Louvette with Jeffrey Steele
Saturday, June 5, 2004 Click HEREI attended the Durango Songwriter's Expo held in Santa Barbara and enjoyed the three day stint they had with various guests from the 3rd of June. The metal of this man--Jeffrey Steele, was heard in the various hit tunes he wrote and played for about 200 of us. "My Town", "These Days" and "The Cowboy In Me" were some of them. This guy is an absolute sweetheart! We had a brief conversation, but it didn't take me long to feel this man's soul.
It was certainly an inspiring program/convention amongst some of the very talented singer-songwriters I have ever met. Some of them, intellectuals like Dr. Michael Norden, Author of "Beyond Prozac," made it clear to me that it is absolutely alright to be doing music and many other things as well. Some of us are truly in it just for the mere joy it brings us. At any rate...some people are also just truly gifted. Marshall Altman of Columbia Records blew me away. At the panel discussions and critiquing of songs, a segment I actually really learned from, Marshall was the most helpful of all. That man can listen to your songs on the spot and know all the chords and its melodic nuances as you go along without second guessing himself. He's fast, straight to the point and just incredible!
It was also good to know that Beth Nielsen Chapman wrote songs according to vowels heard--just like the way I do! She co-wrote the famous "This Kiss" hit for Faith Hill amongst many other songs for country superstars like Willie Nelson. This venue definitely gave me a confirmation that sank in deep--we have to trust no matter what the outcome. Like Jeff said, "Just do your thing! But in my case, I can't do anything else." He said, "I'm either making music or sweeping floors!"
Journal of the past continued...HERE
