back for more...

here i am again, folks...about 7 months this time...it's been a wild winter to say the least...too much to talk about just yet, but i'm getting back on the wagon...to the left are some shows i've booked this summer...feeling good about feeling the need to play again...so much that life has to offer, i hate to miss out on any of it...hope to see you out there...xoxo

and another 4 months...

i think it must be the number 4...i used to only date guys for 4 months...now it's blogging...think that is my magic number?

just finished with a whirlwind of gigs this weekend...i called it my fall tour...friday at the orpheum theatre, then a private party, saturday was at the artichoke, and sunday at the brickyard opening up for uche, scott and 2 guitars...their cd release party...it was a blast of a weekend...sharing the stage with dennis hardin and mark foley...premier musicians in wichita...dennis is in 4-5 other bands, and mark is in the symphony and heads up the knob fest...i'm so lucky...

saw a great duo last month, 'storyhill'...totally worth reporting...their harmonies are spectacular...gave me goosebumps almost every song...their records don't do them justice...if you get a chance to see them live, do it...you won't be sorry...

just bought a hybrid...toyota prius...her name is ruby...filled it up with gas the other day, and it only took 6.5 gallons of gas...i went 348 miles on 6.5 gallons of gas...incredible...so now i'm researching solar panels and homemade wind turbines...getting my green on...totally fun...

a dinette and a galley away from finishing lucille (lovely lucille on facebook...go check her out)...gary has all the parts ordered, it's a matter of designing and putting it all together...he does amazing work...just like him...amazing...

k...see you in another 4 months...;-)

jeeeeez...

it's only been 4 months...i knew that would happen...every monday "blog" comes up in my reminders...i'd like to blame anyone and everyone but it's me that isn't blogging...i'm not apologizing...i believe in phases...i must not blog, so i can blog...anyhoo...i'm back...whatever that means...we'll see how long this lasts...

tonight is the first of 6 teleclasses...studying to be a lifecoach...i do a lot of it at my job, so i figure i should sharpen my skills a bit...it's so intense...i'm uber nervous...but it will be wonderful...

i started a jewelry class...i'm fascinated with precious metal clay...you form it into whatever you want, let it dry, leslie fires it in her kiln, and BOOM! i've got a piece of jewelry! it's downright nuts...tell the truth, it's been a blast to reconnect with my creativity...it's more natural than i thought...

i leave next friday for the bike across kansas....475 miles over northern kansas...you should come...all the cool kids are doing it...it's everything i want in a vacation...a tan, lots of food, and i come away losing weight...what more could a girl ask for?

the bad side of the bike across kansas is that i'm going to miss a very important event...pat-a-palooza...a benefit for a great man, pat audley at the artichoke...i'm trying to put in some legwork ahead of time, organizing and such, so that not being there will sting less...i'll never forget the feeling in my knees when he asked me to play at the artichoke...it was my first gig as a headliner...too cool for words...

well, this was fun...i hope to continue...

it's monday again...my alarm went off, and when i looked at my phone, it said...'don't forget to blog!'...i have this as a repeat event...every monday...'don't forget to blog"...i don't blog every monday...but at least it's a decision and not me forgetting...

i'm finding in my years, that i have become fairly forgetful...i'm not sure if it is deterioration or the fact that i have so much going on and so much to keep track of that no one in their right mind could keep up...gary always gives me crap for having over 700 friends on facebook...i'm not sorry...because we all know, they are mostly acquaintences, however, i do try to keep up with as many as i can...

i found myself at a crossroads on saturday night...i had the night off (i.e. i wasn't playing anywhere) and on those nights i like to get out and see whomever i can, because i can't when i'm playing...but his saturday i was exhausted...my day job has exploded and i have more work than i can handle...add that to a thursday night gig that went late, and a wonderful day with my mom, celebrating her birthday and i'm spent by saturday night...i used to get sad when people didn't come to my gigs...yet another thing i'm finding in my years, is that we all have to take care of ourselves, and sometimes that means that i can't go to the perk on saturday night to hear my dear friend uche rock the house...it killed me, but i needed to fall asleep at 830p and not wake up til the next morning...i often have people apologize for not coming to my gigs...please don't...i understand...in this rush rush rush land and the more we can do the better, just leaves us tired and feeling like we have to push harder, and frankly, we need more rest!

a few weeks ago, i visited 'rockin' daddy's'...a byob joint at douglas and hillside...it was $5 at the door, you bring your own everything and just sit and enjoy the show...i want to create a venue with couches and recliners where you can come lay down and be comfortable and rest while you listen to live music...bring your own whatever, and just enjoy...

it seems like a good idea?

baby, it's cold outside.

8 degrees last night...i have steam heat in my apartment...usually VERY warm, shorts and tank tops around the house...but, these days, i've got blankets and sweats on...what the? i'm a big fan of seasons, however, i wish this one would be over already...i have been so very spoiled in my years past of having a very mild winter...and am whining explicitly due to this one...

i have been taking it easy over the holidays for obvious reasons...we all need a break, sometimes...but, january seems to have a promising coupla gigs...the 9th, i will be at the trusted artichoke...the rock of my success...where it all started...i will do the first set with trusted side-kick, dennis hardin, then gary palsmeier and mark foley will join us for the rest of the evening (after their restaurant gig at bella luna east)...jan 21 will be the first installment of the KAAA winter concert series...show is at 7 on a thursday night...i will be joined by jennifer petterson and amanda lind to start the evening, then finish up with gary palsmeier, dennis hardin and beau jarvis...should be a fun time, i'm looking forward to performing again!!

put together an old tune that i had been working on...not quite finished, but hope to have it done by the 21st...

i hope everyone had a happy new year celebration, and an even better christmas!! this was the most relaxing one yet for me! ;-)

happy days,
nikki

cheeseball city

here comes the challenge...no gigs to write about...no gigs til january to pimp...what on earth will i talk about for...i don't know, at least a few paragraphs? i write in rhymes...in 3 minutes or less...including an instrumental solo!

i have to admit, i'm blocked...i haven't written a song since 'take your time' back in october of LAST YEAR! i make myself too busy...seems there is always something that needs to be done...and rightfully so, there is, however, i didn't have any problem putting that aside all those years ago, to pop out a song...i didn't have to schedule it...they practically fell out of me...i feel i have come to a time where i have to step outside of myself to draw on experiences...i happen to be in love right now...love songs are cheesy...i've been trying to write one for 6 months...everytime i try, i get frustrated "it's too campy" or "oh man, cheeseball city"...and it's hard to rhyme 'cheese'...don't get me wrong, i'm still working it out, but i've also heard one songwriter say "as soon as i wrote her a song, she left me"...don't really want to risk that...maybe i'm making excuses for myself...i hate when i do that...

it's turned cold again...it was downright 'warm' this last week...only one layer required, and no hat...it was great! now...it's not supposed to get above 20 degrees...i'm not a big fan of the cold...if i could stay in all day when it's cold, i'd be just fine...i used to question those that went south for the winter...their 'winter homes' in arizona...i totally get it now...someday...

ok, time to get some stuff done...wittle my list down so i can justify picking up my guitar, and see what happens...

carry on,
nikki

oooops...

i didn't get my blog written yesterday....so, here i am...today...an icky, icy day that none of my clients and myself didn't want to get out in, so i get a snow day!

this weekend was incredible...it was the guitars for kids event at the artichoke sandwich bar...we sold cds, charged a cover and sold raffle tickets for prizes like my massage, tie dye tees, kaaa cds and shaker/bottleopeners...and we raised over $1500!! that's 15 guitars...so very cool...

i spoke with blenda at college hill coffeehouse today, and scored a gig on feb 5!! it's one of my favorite gigs...no amps...houseconcert style...very very cool...

speaking of gigs...

when :: saturday, jan 9
where :: artichoke sandwich bar
where exactly :; 811 north broadway
who :: me, dennis hardin, mark foley and gp will join us later
how much :: $4 at the door

when :: thursday, jan 21
where :: murdock theatre
where exactly :: 536 n broadway
what :: KAAA winter concert series
who :: the wichita sessions set up :: dennis hardin, beau jarvis, gary palsmeier and myself
how much :: $10

when :: friday, feb 5
where :: collegehill coffeehouse
where exactly :: 403 soward winfield
who :: me
how much :: freebie!!