london sky in baltimore
yesterday i heard Joni Mitchell interviewed on NPR’s Fresh Air program. it was the first time i’ve ever heard her interviewed- i’ve read press before but never heard her speak about her life and music. it was bittersweet…Joni is an otherworldly hero of mine and she was also my mom’s favorite artist- she used to torment us kids on long roadtrips by playing the cassette of “Court and Spark” over and over. hearing Joni talk about how she gave up her daughter for adoption when she was very young and how she found her in recent years and now “has her family back” made me happy for her but deeply sad. i miss my mom so much. i can hardly believe it’s been 5 years this month since we lost her. hearing that interview confirmed what i’ve suspected for a long time: that Joni is one of my heroes that i don’t ever want to meet, i just want to admire her from a far. she’s brilliant but not very warm and even Terry Gross, the host of Fresh Air, who regularly interviews VIPS of all kinds sounded intimidated. i bet she’s a big Joni fan too.
today i’m sitting under yet another gray sky in Baltimore, feels like London. i’m going home on sunday and am looking forward to a bit of neurotic LA sunshine. i’ve decided that the sun in LA is passive aggressive…even when it’s in a crappy mood and pissed off at you it shines cheerfully on and you think it’s such a wonderful friend until it unexpectedly burns you. seriously though, being the moody singer-songwriter that i am sometimes i can’t take sunshine day after day so i’m really appreciating the muted feel of the cloud cover.
this morning i wrapped up in a coat and scarf, took a walk down by the harbor and found my way to a post office to mail my absentee ballot. i’m going to be in Tampa, FL for a gig on election day…what a tease, i wish my vote could count in that battleground state. hey, not to preach cause i hate when people preach at me, but do yourself and everyone else a favor and VOTE! at the risk of offending some, i proudly support Kerry/Edwards and have been displaying my bumper sticker on my guitar case everywhere i go. (was a little nervous in texas, wow is that Bush country!) if you’ve been as frustrated and frightened as i am by the direction this country is heading in, do something about it. vote, volunteer to help shuttle those without transportation or with disabilities to the polls, donate at www.moveon.org or www.johnkerry.com. but whomever you support, VOTE! (unless its Bush 
just kidding…kind of)
tonight i’m going to cook for my gracious host in Baltimore. i’m not so good in the kitchen but i can make a few things really well. (my mantra is “cook to live” not “live to cook”) tonight on the menu is one of my deceptively simple creations: sautéed rosemary, garlic, tomatoes and mushrooms in olive oil over wilted spinach and pasta with goat cheese on top. yum!
well, i’m headed out into the gray to the grocery store to get some supplies. until next time…
kyler