Couch Surfing In East Didsbury

Meter maid in uniform. Love the cap! Cash flow problems just increased for these two.

Life is a beautiful thing! That's what I tell myself daily. Just a reminder to keep my dreams big and my intake of breath even bigger.

So, I've been up to my usual antics. I met a lovely woman, Kathy, who reminds me of dear friends stateside. I'm hanging at her place with her 2 boys and a toy dog named Lucy who, for some reason, fell in love with me the day I came to visit. Apparently, she doesn't like many people. So we'll just say Miss Lucy has great taste. Plus, I must taste great since she insists on licking my face constantly. Sweets for the sweet. Kath(pronounced "Kaff") has had the week free allowing me an opportunity to roam around a bit: walks in the park, trips to the post. Nothing too touristy at the moment, but I'll get there. In fact I haven't even seen a postcard. She and I have shared a bottle of vino and deep, esoteric conversation. You know me!!! All is fairly tame at the moment and I'm relishing the downtime. There's waay too much bread & chocolate in my diet, but it would be rude to reject such generous offers. No?

Sweet Lucy & Me lookin' like a whoozit! God, no shame!!!!

Europe On A Shoestring!

My temporary neighborhood

...the title of my new book. Greenbacks are a bit gray here, lacklustre as hell. What's a girl to do? Got my eyes open for some royalty with a chateau in the countryside and a spacious city flat. Not sure if he's lurking in my part of the UK at the moment. Ahhh damsel in distress, a role I've mastered over the years. Thought I'd moved on to self-sufficient princess. Disappointed? No. Work in progress? Somebody shout, "hell yeah"!


I managed an open mic at a sweet cafe/bar the other night. In fact it is where I now sit at the computer: Fuse Cafe, a cute, mixed crowd establishment sorta hippy, folky. When I say mixed, I mean ages not necessarily races. Oops! Retract on that. I just turned my head and spotted a black woman sporting locks. She looks a bit like my buddy Toni from the side, but a bit taller. Well there you have it...I don't know what I'm talking about. Or like me, she just stumbled in here by chance.

Fuse Cafe- during the day a bit quiet, a night packed with coffee drinking booze swilling folkies

The open mic was singer/songwriter full of guitar angst slinging dudes. If a woman sang I was too late to catch her. I was pooped Wed, laid down for a nap and woke at 10p. Questioning whether or not to still venture out solo at that hour, I asked "what would Josephine do? Hell, what would Katilda-my alter ego- do?" I strapped on my boots and headed to the session. I was dying to sing, but the list was full. No guitar on this mama. I was prepared to infuse the room with my soulful a capella. Darn that nap! I know I'll find the spot soon, 'cause I'll keep searching.

The open mic room, a smoke-filled upstairs bunk. Great acoustics! I even chimed in harmonies...

Gotta go now. It's Friday and I haven't a clue what the weekend will bring. Music, hopefully... Peace

I'm A Mancunian!!!

I landed at Manchester Airport early yesterday morning. Could be today for you. It's Wed 3/21, first day of spring and I'm sporting a Shetland wool jacket courtesy of my sister. I'd rather be too warm than freezing my booty off. Don't ask where I am just yet. My bearings are faulty. Plus I had a wee setback 1st day of my UK adventure. You'll just have to wait for details when I have less time constrictions for posting.

In the meantime... all is well in my world. I'm pretty keyed to be here. My pals, Howard & Dave are frantically trying to put a music tour together for their Santa Cruz connection. Looks like I may have to find my own musical outlet this time. Oh well.. I got the music in me, a couple of my books, and my microphone. Certainly, I'll give it all the ole college girl try.

Keep your fingers & toes crossed for me! This is my magic time, so I'm gonna wander right into situations and places where I can shine on!!!!

Aahhh! Sweet Procrastination...

Look at this! I'm supposed to be packing, but this stuff keeps finding its way in and out of my bag. Notice the small can of jalapenos? Can I shove those in between my jeans so, at least, I have my comfort snack for my first days in Manchester? I have friends who'd be all cinched up and ready to roll by now.

Jon, where are you Master Packer??!

You who know me, understand the state I'm in at this point. No apology. Just letting you know I'm still me. The last 3 years brought tremendous growth down the pike, but this packing thing still needs work. Since I'm procrastinating 'cause I can, here are a couple more images from my days in DC...

After nearly a decade on air with National Public Radio affiliates, I finally get to HQ. This is NPR...

Oh ma gawd! Guess you're really big when your portrait sits in the National Portrait Gallery. This childhood playmate has made quite the operatic splash! How mahvelousssssss! Imagine my surprise when this popped into view on my way to Josephine. No pressure... Jealous? Not much. Lying? What do you think? Proud of her? Most definitely. http://www.denycegraves.com

Not quite my diva moment, but I was being chef extraordinaire when I paused for a quick chuckle with my big sisters. I'd better lay off the corn muffins if I'm gonna wear just feathers!

Me & Josephine

China Town, ya think?

Well, I've been down before but the last couple of days have been hellish with children's germs invading my healthy body. Geez! I'm really fighting off this cold-whatever it is- thing. Perhaps pre-travel stress lowered my immune system? Plus, everyone knows I don't spend gobs of time in the company of kiddies. That alone is enough to... Let's just keep it all positive. I'm blessed to have nieces who tell me my late night cooking-combo weekly menu planning, private time for libations- gives them good dreams! See... something good is always rearing its beautiful head just when you're ready to kill.

Despite being held hostage by gunk in my chest, I had to venture out today for various things. One of them was to play tourista in the city of my birth. I rarely come here and when I do, my schedule is chocked full with this 'n that. So... today I had to check out Ms. Josephine Baker's exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. My gracious, the city has really been revamped! Then again, how can you go wrong with magnificent old brick buildings and columned halls? I offered to bring Mom with me, get her out of the house. She wasn't havin' it. Most likely there were horrific images of me trying to navigate her wheelchair on the train. Hey! They're equipped! Tons of people are proof positive it can be done. However, I must admit she was probably wise to stay put. You know me...Adventure-Puss! There would have been challenges, no doubt, but lots of fun!!! Perhaps a little overload for someone who doesn't venture out unchauffeured. No loss for Mommie. Not really. I dished up homemade favs, bean soup and moist corn muffins, before I dashed away to China Town.

Starbucks everywhere. It was the brownstone that drew my attention.

Back to the FABULOUS Josephine... Got some pix. Thank God I didn't get tossed out- the security guard passed only once in that part of the museum. You could easily spend a day or two in just that gallery. HUGE!!! I was on a tight schedule, so I beelined to my intended... Josephine!

She was fantastic whether drawn or photographed!

The eyes have it!!!

Can U imagine singing & dancing with this on your head? I can!!! I know I could manage it! I can! I can! Can, can can!!!

OK. Now this gown... magnififi, dahling. Ahhh!

She was so long & lean! Look at those legs!!! Well, I may not have the height, but I KNOW I could pull off the headdress (above)!

There was more to the outing. JoJo was just so inspiring. She wowed Europe. I'm leaving for Europe. Dare I hope? Stretch? Who knows? Perhaps I'll show up on the blog wearing nothing but feathers and fabulous shoes with the much anticipated message that "I finally made it!" Where I'll be at that moment, we'll leave to mystery and frisky imagination. I'm done... It's late!

I'm checking out gmail posting possibilities for this blog. The excitement is building as I approach my departure date. Just 10 days before I jet out and I'm dealing with details: mobile or no mobile, will I need the leopard boots, what about the vintage seal coat? Geeez, the things a girl has to figure out all by her lonesome...

PP Cont...

Ben's celebrates 50 years in 2008

My Kevin visit was short, but fun as usual. I ended up on U St. again. What's up with that? I grew up in DC and could count on one hand-til recently-how many times I had been in that area. Changes, changes!!! It's a good thing, I'm sure. Well Kevin's friend, Kao, had to have a 'half smoke' from Ben's Chili Bowl (famous place on the block where Bill Cosby gets this same smokey dog when in DC). Ben's has survived all the transitions in the U St.corridor, including the decline after the DC riots in '68. Rage caused by the assassination of Dr. King brought riots which closed down most of the city; Ben's was granted special police permission to remain open to provide food & shelter after curfew to activists, firefighters, and other public servants trying to restore order.

Ok here are some photos from the last couple of days...

DC train station-the start of my trek to U Street

This wasn't here before... The Black American Civil War Memorial

The filmmakers' hangout, the Mocha Hut- a wi fi coffee house of course

Interviewing Gordon at Busboys', another cool spot complete with baby grand!

Me with producer & filmmaker

Z-Free and Jomo, another producer

The B'day Girl... love the shrine!!!

Party Princess!!!

March has brought warmer weather and opportunities to be my social self. My niece, Christian, celebrated her b'day Friday evening. She looked cute as a button, which is about how big she is. The day began with a train ride to what used to be 'Black Broadway' in DC, U Street. The area where Ellington, Basie, MLK, Jr., and all the Black luminaries spent their time performing or just hanging out. I was there to witness a documentary filming of today's artists in that area. Z-Free, my uber creative brother, pulled me into the mix to sing backup with Grammy-Award winning songwriter Gordon Chambers http://gordonchambers.com/index.php. It was a blast and all impromptu!!! The subject of the day's filming was "faith and art: does faith play a role in an artist's ability to live solely from the work produced?" I was inspired by the various responses, especially Gordon's. I know I've jumped off the cliff!!!

Gotta run...Kevin's visiting from Seattle and I'm going out. AGAIN!!!!! Will add photos later.