The Living Big

Almost 3 years ago, through the wonders of the internet, I blog-met (it’s a thing, people) a girl named Marijke.  “Muh-RIJ-key?” I wondered.  No.  “Muh-RY-kuh.”  Like “Mariah” with a k. A fellow blogger, fellow songwriter, fellow dreamer, Marijke has been living in Anchorage, Alaska, for several years.  She has had a steady job, but music…

Behold, the return of the deadbeat blogger! I mean, seriously.  It’s embarrassing.  I have been like an unfit mother – one who leaves her kids in the car while she hits up the Safeway for PBR and tampons.  I have abandoned this blog in the parking lot for far too many days – and in…

In a grand twist of events, I found myself dining last night at the Eastland Café with my two roommates, one of their mothers, and two strangers. I had the duck. I love duck. The strangers quickly became friends. I fell in love with these women. I heard their stories – what brought them to…

Tonight, I am moving out of my sweet little Music Row apartment – the one that has held me for my first year in Nashville. When I moved in, I had a chair and a dresser; I slept on the hardwood floor in a sleeping bag, and drank my morning coffee wrapped in a blanket…

What on earth would ever induce me to get out of bed early on a Saturday morning, pull my hair back, and go running – running! – in the 26 degree weather? I remember running “The Mile” in elementary school. Mile day was the most terrible, foreboding event known I could think of – worse…

(A word of caution: Prepare yourself not for art, or beauty, or wisdom, or humor, or insight… but simply for an explosion of my heart.) Remember this mysterious, ambiguous entry? I received an email this morning: Annie, Congratulations! You’ve passed our audition process… And on June 21, 2009, I’ll be fulfilling one of my biggest…

It is impossible to be courageous without first being afraid. It is impossible to be courageous without first deciding that you are willing to fail. It is impossible to be courageous without first accepting the possibility that your very best efforts might truly prove you to be inadequate and out of your league. – –…

We are all responsible for our own happiness. Not to say that life isn’t going to throw us some catastrophic curve balls, or major disappointments, or unjust circumstances. These letdowns are inevitable, and if you haven’t been hit yet, then you will be someday. Pain and discouragement are a part of life, and there is…

It’s hard to believe – impossible to believe – but one year ago today I moved away from Seattle. I just went back and re-read the entry I wrote that day, and it remains one of the most honest things I have ever written; it hits at a deep place, even 365 days later… excuse…

After the long weekend, I am back at work. Today is the start date of 3 new employees, which technically should increase my workload by 60%. However, as my mother pointed out, 60% of zero is still zero. I spent yesterday with Meg and Josh recording my latest song, which you can now find on…