I wouldn't let my child drink it. "That's how you get sick.", I'd say. But, we have clean water. Millions don't.
Did you know the world's water crisis could be solved with a mere 10 billion dollars? Solved. Sound like a lot? Put it into perspective. This year, we Americans are expected to spend 130 billion on Christmas. Think. That's just the people who celebrate Christmas. Wow.
I think we can do this. Two ways.
One:
Join Chris Taylor, Laura Marie & Friends for dinner! A portion of your bill will HELP provide clean H2O to communities in need.
RSVP HERE That's right, you don't have to make a separate donation. You just have to BE THERE. Free entertainment provided by Chris Taylor and Laura Marie. Special guests TBA.
Song written and performed by Chris Taylor. Backing vocals: me
Two:
Can't make it but want to donate? Click Here. Buy the EP
Why?
For the last two years, Chris Taylor and I have participated in our church's effort to raise money for Advent Conspiracy.org. Advent Conspiracy is a movement that calls on people who celebrate Christmas (churches) to "Spend Less, Give More, Love All" (That's EVERYBODY. Not just other church people) and in doing so "Worship Fully", "Love Well" and "Give Wells" through our friends at Living Water International.
I'm not a preacher or a pastor. I'm a musician and I have more questions than answers about most everything. But, I know this. Our contributions over the last two years helped to provide clean drinking water to three communities in impoverished nations. Lives were saved. This is a fact. It moves me to tears every time I think about the parents who no longer have to worry that their children will die from drinking the only water available to drink. For me, this is joy at Christmas time. This is Christmas. 3,900 children each day are dying. Each day. The $10 I spend on just about anything could give one of them clean water for life.
Be forewarned, this is a rant. If you don't want to hear it, don't read it.
Dear KENS 5,
What is going on there? Do you realize how incredibly insulting your promo "Is yoga the path to hell" is to an entire culture. There is a group of human beings for which the practice of yoga is a spiritual one. Do you understand that?I'm not talking about people such as myself who practice yoga mostly for the health benefits. I'm talking about those that the religious leaders in your story would accuse of trying to seduce us with their deep breathing and incredibly flexible demons. Now, I'm not at all surprised that some would try to demonize something different than their accepted path of enlightenment or salvation. We see this everyday and fear is rampant. I mean, what's one more religious leader condemning people of a different tradition? Even though, and since you are talking about Christians in your promo, my understanding is that Christ himself spent most of his recorded time criticizing hypocrites of his own faith while exemplifying love towards people of other traditions.
But, that's beside my point. What really disgusts me is that a news organization would add to such condemnation by suggesting a "dark side" to yoga. It's at worst prejudiced and at best ignorant. Forgetting that you should be unbiased, if you are somehow trying to support the views of some denomination of Christianity, perhaps consider, in that respect, love and compassion should far outweigh fear and intolerance. People who spiritually practice yoga are human beings we live among in this world and I think they deserve more consideration than your promo would suggest.I also think you owe the community an apology for your contribution to the fear and, possibly hatred, spread by your suggestions. But, who knows, I've been practicing yoga for about 12 years now. Maybe I'm possessed.
Laura Marie
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury,pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
In case you happened upon a purple picture of me and wondered why I posted it (or, more accurately, posted, removed, corrected the typo and re-posted it), let me 'splain.
My heart, like the hearts of many others, has been moved by the recent rash of teen suicides and the reports of bullying that preceded them. My sympathies go out to the families that are left to grieve, to the people who are left wondering if they could have made a difference and, yes, even to those who either mindlessly or intentionally influenced the decision of anyone towards taking their own life. Undoubtedly, some of them will come to realize the pain they've caused and suffer greatly because of it. I don't wish these kinds of pain on anyone.
I've spoken out before about this issue because my family has been touched by an incident of suicide and because I am a suicide attempt survivor. I was not bullied but I know what it feels like to feel hopeless and with every fiber of my being I want to say that it CAN and WILL get better. There is always hope. I'm living proof.
To those who feel that this is not a big deal, that they can't do anything for the "crazy" or "sick" suicidal people, I say, there is something you can do. Be kind. Be kind to people who are not like you, who don't have the same sense of well being you have in your heart or the sense that they are as acceptable as anyone else. You may feel that someone's appearance, sexuality, religion, ideology, life style or behavior is unacceptable and you are free to think that but, it is far more unacceptable to view and treat another human being without compassion. We all suffer. We all make mistakes. We all make transgressions against ourselves, our own beliefs and the beliefs of others because we are all DIFFERENT. No one can possibly live up to the standards that the whole world would set for us. It's hard enough living up to our own. And, if you don't agree, when was the last time you felt comfortable saying that you are perfect just as you are? And, if you are so filled with self love, how could you possibly hate or intentionally hurt another person?
I know it can be intimidating to be around people who are "different" than who you are used to. The world seems like a dark and sinister place when you can't find common ground with the people that surround you. So, I'm asking you, when and where ever you can, to be the common ground. Be the one who connects to their humanness. Don't participate in bullying of any kind or, even better, be the one who speaks up when someone is being abused or harassed verbally or physically. It's no longer acceptable to tear another human being or group of human beings down. It's no longer 'just the way it is'. In everything we do, we make the world what it is.
A lot of people stood by my side when I was hopeless, when I couldn't see the value in my own life. It breaks my heart to think that anyone would ever feel alone with such thoughts of self hatred. People don't commit suicide because you say they are worthless and unloveable. They commit suicide because they've come to believe that those hateful judgements are right. How could anyone desire to be a part of that...ever? I don't understand it. But, I see it and it moves me deeply.
We can turn our hatred inward (suicide) or outward (bullying). Either way, it's the same thing. It's a plea for compassion and understanding. It's a plea for love and acceptance. And, the only control we have is in what we choose to do. Choose love. No matter what. - LM
If You Only Knew
(I wrote this song a few months ago when having to deal with some people who were quiet comfortable expressing their hatred of others. It lightened my heart. I hope it lightens yours)
It moves my heart to see you
in this pain it's hard to be you
in this world throwing sticks and stones
like it's only you and you alone
you feel like you're surrounded
by the darkness you are hounded by the past.
The insecurities have brought your future to it's knees
I know, I know
There's all these words that you can't trust
and fear each time you turn a page
it's hard enough and now you're just
five seconds from anger to rage
I know, I know
But, oh, If you only knew how much good in life
is all because of you and how much you are loved
you wouldn't feel this pain, you wouldn't feel so helpless
you wouldn't have to rage
it's true, it's true
But, it's all that you can do to vent
this anger you can not explain
for every word you never meant
there's something true you need to say
with all these people telling lies
and sweet disaster everywhere you turn,
you try and open eyes but they don't see, they don't care
I know, I know
But, oh, If you only knew how much good in life
is all because of you and how much you are loved
you wouldn't feel this pain, you wouldn't feel so helpless
you wouldn't have to rage
it's true, it's true
And it's okay, I'll stay with you tonight
you can scream your heart out, I'll tell you it's alright
If it's easier to blame me I want you to know
you can say you hate me, I'll never let you go
But, oh, if you only knew how much good in life
is all because of you, how much you are loved here
you wouldn't feel this pain, you wouldn't feel so helpless
you wouldn't have to rage
it's true, it's true
Oh, if you knew how much better life is all because of you,
how much youare loved here, you wouldn't have this pain,
you wouldn't feel so helpless, you wouldn'thave to rage
I got all pissy today because someone said something that offended me. I tried to walk away. In fact, I did walk away. And, as I did, I realized I didn't want to feel that way. I didn't want to go home and re-tell the story about how someone pissed me off or what I could have or would have or may still say when I'm faced with them again. I didn't want to continue feeling offended and angry. What I wanted was to feel happy and joyful and past it or as if it never happened.
I thought about what I was thinking and how easily I could justify my anger. I could have continued to feel angry but then I realized that what I wanted was to feel happy. All of a sudden, that became more important. Still, I was struggling to let it go.
Being obsessive, compulsive helps sometimes. I went on the hunt for quotes that would calm my heart. Here is what I found. I thought I'd share them because you may find yourself in a situation that makes you angry and you may decide that you'd rather be happy than angry and, let's face it, how many people would encourage you to let it go? Yet, if I wanted you to be happy and to find peace, that's exactly what I should do. So, here they are. Feel free to add some of your own:
To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it. ~Confucius
Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved. ~Marcus Antonius
Say you are well, or all is well with you, and God shall hear your words and make them true.~Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them. ~Elbert Hubbard
Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.-Proverbs 20:22
A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world; everyone you meet is your mirror. ~Ken Keyes, Jr.
Try to understand people who cross you and whenever anybody tries to inflame you, mentally say: "I am too comfortable to be angry. I don't want to be sick with anger" - Paramahansa Yogananda
It is no longer good enough to cry peace, we must act peace, live peace, and live in peace. - Shenandoah proverb
Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace - Buddha
If you can't forgive and forget, pick one. ~Robert Brault
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. - Muste
Peace, to be real, must be unaffected by outside circumstances - Mahatma Ghandi
Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.-Buddha
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.-Mother Teresa
Would you rather be right or happy? - A Course in Miracles
By the way, I highly recommend A Course in Miracles for those who are seeking peace in their own hearts.
If you haven't seen our tweets or status messages, Chris Taylor and I are writing songs from friend/fan suggestions for some upcoming duo performances (TBA) and possibly a home recorded CD (or live web broadcast - in office concert). Chris will be taking the lead in writing half and I'll take the lead on writing the other half but we will most likely collaborate on all.
These are the song topics and the friends/fans who suggested them:
Taken from Chris' peeps
Jenni Warren: left home to find myself, found home instead
Paul Q-pek and Rodney Boerm: John Mayer Stole My Girl/ You've Ruined Me/Any man that wants her should be a better man than I (all worked into one song)
John McJilton: tension between justiec and turning the other cheek
RedBeard Dread Cantu/Kim Possible: There's Beer in my Tears and Crazy Keeps me Sane
Paul Soupiset: local landmark song
Matt Barker: where do all our lost thoughts go and please can I have them back?
Taken from Laura's peeps:
Miguel Villerreal/Darrin Newhardt/Nikki Young: true friendship male/female - just friends
Mitchell Connell: If you believe - the power of belief and how it's used for good and evil with Mitchell as guest guitarist
Rudy Sanchez: That's what I said but this is what I meant
Carl Charles: Gotta Be A Reason
Ruben Lopez: Haiti
Margaret Vasquez: fix your own damn self
Alternate:
Chris Callanen: Daddy is home (definitely an idea I want to work on but we were hoping to rock out a bit with this project and I think "Daddy is Home" needs something sweeter)
There were so many great ideas! We truly appreciate every single one, even the suggestions we didn't choose. These were all ideas that we felt like we could run with right away.
Some things I learned on my trip to Marfa for SWRFITA (SW Regional Folk Alliance 1Day Seminar in Marfa, Texas) :
1) You can make it from San Antonio to Fort Stockton on one tank of gas but, if you don't top off the tank before you get there, those last 10 miles are the longest you'll ever drive.
2) Hospitality abounds in West Texas.
3) Really great pizza exists in the most unassuming places. (learned that in Italy too)
4) Some roads actually do lead to no where
5) The Marfa lights really do exist and, no, you won't be able to figure it out either
6) The stars at night ARE big and bright...
7) We're all in this together and the "folks" really get that
8) You've got to go your own way but pay attention to the people who cross your path. They are there for a reason.
9) A good girl talk in the morning can make all the difference
10) Those name brand freeze dried packets of coffee will do in a pinch... believe it or not
Thanks to all the folks who shared their music, their experience, their room and their supplies. :)
If you are a singer-songwriter in Texas, I highly recommend this event for next year as well as the upcoming SWRFA (SW Regional Folk Alliance) in Austin, Texas on the first weekend of October. The deadline is tomorrow, August 10th to submit your music for showcase consideration. Do it.
Today, I went from "Why does this keep happening to me?" to "What can I do about it?". From the musician who accused me of being afraid to work with people of his race when I turned down his offer to collaborate to the dental assistant who assumed I would share her view of "blacks" as a race of people prone to violence, the past week has been a doozy. I understand that stereotypes are based on experience. But here is the thing, they are based on LIMITED experience and very little understanding. I'm not denying that we are culturally pre-disposed to some behaviors. I'm hispanic and I can identify with some of the stereotypes but don't reduce me to them. I'm more than that . I am a human being capable of making decisions and taking actions outside of a group. So we come from different backgrounds. So what? As our environment changes so does our behavior in that environment if we allow it. It's a choice. It's an individual choice. And I'm not saying that we all have to conform to the same behaviors but we do have to share space on this planet and either we do it together or we destroy one another. Which do you choose? Whether you are allowing yourself to be who other people make you out to be or you are allowing yourself to dismiss the humanity of another human being because they are black, white, asian, arab, hispanic, gay, lesbian, transgender, conservative, liberal, libertarian, athiest, christian, buddist, agnostic, american or otherwise...whatever. Your statements about others are more of a reflection on you than they are on them. You can not possibly fully understand another human being unless you are that human being so why don't you just give people a break? As far as I'm concerned, the only choice we have is to act with love or not. For the rest of my life I will do my best to choose love. I don't expect to be perfect but I'm certainly going to try.
- LM
Blindside
Bone dry, inside my mouth but let my words fly
My hands were shaking, made my fist tight
‘cause I was about to start a war
it was a good day, the blue sky blazing with the suns rays
then I saw nothing but your cold hate
In words I wish I could ignore
Yeah, it seems like you were patiently waiting on my
blindside, just walking the pavement and the
worst sign was that I couldn’t take it
No, I can’t go there ‘cause you don’t play fair sometimes
You know that nothing’s right just because you paint it on a
big sign. Just because you care to take your piece of mind
and cast your fear into the world
I thought I knew this,
but my anger built beneath my surface
and before I knew it, it unfurled
Yeah, it seems like you were patiently waiting on my
blindside, just walking the pavement and the
worst sign was that I couldn’t take it
No, I can’t go there ‘cause I don’t play fair sometimes
I wish I could take and make the world right
Just so I see you in the best light
Maybe, if I can let it go….let it go…..let it go
But it seems like we are patiently waiting on the
blindside, just walking the pavement and the
worst sign is that we never make it
when we take it there ‘cause we don’t play fair ………
we can’t take it there ‘cause we won’t play fair……sometimes
There is so much to say here about all the people who made the new EP possible and for all the people who came out to support it's release last month. I'm going to be brief. Not awards ceremony brief but, c'mon, there are a lot of people to thank and they all mean so much to me. I could go on and on and on but you'd never read that long. Perhaps you've already stopped...don't
The team players. The people who actually put the music together. I don't know how I got in a position to work with such talented people. At one point, I looked around the room and said "I'm the least talented person here" and I'm not fishing for compliments, I really meant it and that being in that situation was awesome. I want to be surrounded by people to learn from so, thank you for being you:
Mack Damon, Anthony Diaz De Leon, Joe Cortez IV, Jason Ybarbo, Robert Cherry, Justin Schneider, Jake Owen, Nate Davenport, Wes Harllee and Matt Adler. And thanks to Steve Fallone at Sterling for mastering and Colton Holiday at http://www.krop.com/coltonholliday/ for the artwork.
I would love to tell you about each of these people and why they are so amazing both personally and professionally. I won't here but, trust me, amazing.
The muses, producers, collectors and contributors whose very generous contributions enabled me to present Last of the Ones in the best way possible:
Liza and Bella Stevens, Marc and Kathleen Weiss and www.solesupportmedical.com, Randy Langford, Virginia Valenzuela, George and Marcy Valenzuela, Veronica Wood, Rebecca Rojas and Rachel Marsh.
Margaret Vasquez, Celia Barrera, Viq and Tom and the Watkins Family, Dew at Dewberry Jam Community Radio http://am1670.net and Wild Bill Rowan (Swamp Angel too!) of the same station, Nate Davenport at www.natedavenport.com, Kevin Clougherty at http://turingtest.com, RB of www.rbacoustic.com, SQUIRREL :), Darren Ramirez, Mig Villarreal and special thanks to Steve Circeo at www.T4TX.com for his support and participation in the CD artwork.
There is also a long list of people near and far who also pre-purchased the CD in support. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Then, this happened....
The CD release party was amazing. Many of the people listed above were present and my heart was full to see so many friends and family members in one place. I felt like I was having another wedding. My face hurt from smiling.
The artists who performed in support of the event are all amazing and deserve your attention.
Chris Taylor -could not have pulled it off without him either. Full on emotional support and running sound. Count yourself blessed if he is among your list of friends.Though, you probably already do http://www.facebook.com/christaylorfanpage
Wendy Colonna -a beautiful, wonderful force of nature. Attention San Antonio people, she drives down from Austin to play here. Get out and see her!http://www.facebook.com/wendycolonnamusic
Jake Owen who performed with me. Jake rocks. Period.
*******
The people OMG! The people who were there. My family, my friends (since grade-school), my new friends, my biz friends, musician friends, their 'fans', FB friends, Myspace followers,Twitter and social media people, ...here is a partial list of the businesses/organizations who were represented (I list them this way because, besides being great people, their work in this city should be recognized) and families:
Hollywood Studios, Rockhills Church, Texas Music Coalition, G2E Services, Primadonna Productions, Melissa Ludwig Band, D'Anthony Salon Spa, San Antonio Film People-Dora Pena et al, Tesoro friends, SA GoGirls, SAPodcasters et al, Navarrete Consulting...I know there are more but I'm drawing a blank...
Families: The Valenzuela and Kleffner families, The Harllee family, The Vasquez Family, Chris and Cat's Rock Group :), my music family (Reza, JP)
*******
And, I can't forget The VIPs
The night was possible because Pete Kleffner, Margaret Vasquez, Irene Ruiz, Chris Taylor and, yes, Mack Damon made it so.
Friday night Invasion of the GoGirls during Austin's SXSW. See that tiny person on stage in the picture below (wish I had my zoom app)? That's Melissa Ferrick. If you don't know who that is, let me 'splain.------ For you So Tx people, think the female version of Monte Montgomery. Some would compare guitar skills to Ani (I don't know Ani well enough to say) and her voice has super powers. She was thrilling------- I was honored to be on that same stage and it was great to hang out with Addie Brownlee (NY), she is 'good people'. Madalyn Sklar was rockin' the chatroom and Carol Plunk (who plays that stage tonight) was a wonderful stage manager.------ Looking forward to my gig tonight at Thunderbird Coffee. A little more laid back, I'm sure but I'm still aglow from last night. It was so wonderful to have so many friends in from San Antonio, familiar Austin/ Buda faces in the house and to have Chris Taylor with me on guitar and my old bandmates JP Leal and Rudy Diaz (both of Bombasta) on bass and drums. Good times!-------- All my best, Laura Marie (sent via mobile)
Performing songwriter. (Read like 'dancing bear' and loving it) I read, write, run and sing and never stop learning things about stuff...generally speaking.
Seriously, you're decision but, you are going to have to make up your mind. So, subscribe...or not.
I mean, pros and cons here: Subscribing means you never miss a thing. Not subscribing means you may miss a whole bunch of things unless you are one of those people that remembers to check back every so often.
I'm not one of those people so I can't really imagine what that's like. I need reminders. Sometimes, I ignore the reminders. I also hit the snooze button 10 times before I get up so that gives you some idea of who you are dealing with here....
All my best, Laura Marie (sent via mobile) 
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