When I got home I sat down and really reflected on the night. I had several requests for songs and one person in particular that led me to write this on my Blog. Brian requested Time After Time and i knew the song and i was so glad I could sing that for him. There was this other guy…and I have never met him before, but he acted like he owned the place, and he was wanting Rock music. I have no beef with Rock music and in fact I know a ton of it, but he wanted me to sing Led Zeppelin. As much as I love taking song requests I think it is fair to say that you cant just throw randomness on me. Even if I know the song I would want to be able to practice it with Mark to make sure I can really remember it. Time After Time worked perfectly because Mark, Myles and Myself all knew the song but I didn’t feel comfortable singing Led Zeppelin, even if I had felt comfortable I wouldn’t want to. So I have decided to publicly ask that if you want me to learn a song to sing at Jay’s to email me a week before.

I love learning songs and I do so everyday…So don’t be shy.

Also if you cant remember to email me or you find yourself sitting in the audience thinking…”Gee I really wish she would sing…” Don’t be afraid to ask but keep in mind that I may say I cant do that song, and try not to get mad at me.

My point and problem with my experience on Saturday was that I was in a position where the guy was not accepting to the fact that I wasn’t prepared to sing Rock music at a Jazz Lounge. I am good, and I can pull thousands of songs from my memory but not any song ever written and without being able to hear the music to jog that memory it tends to put me in an embarrassing situation. I also think the 30 odd songs we performed that night were wonderful! Special thanks to Mark and Myles, you both Rock my socks! And Jon Long (Trumpet) joined me on a couple tunes as well so we had fun

Next featured night for me will bring a night of all new material. So I am going to be working my butt off to learn 30 new songs in the next week or two…because I love ya!

“If your lost you can look and you will find me…Time After Time…If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting…Time After Time” -Just for you Brian

So as some of you may know my wedding is in 2 months…ahh I am starting to feel it now Hahaha. I am getting things finally rolling which is a good thing but the stress is starting to sink in. My wedding is going to be beautiful regardless, I don’t think my family is really capable of having an ugly looking anything. Ok maybe some of the furniture in my office is ugly but it is all a matter of perspective. My look on it is that my orange rocking chair form the 70’s is retro…mainly for the fact that I spent $4 on it at the Longmont Humane Society (yes they have one for furniture and stuff and not just animals)…It is one of the most comfortable chairs I have ever owned.

Anyway back to the wedding…

It will be spring colored. Meaning lots of yellows and whites. I am adding some pictures so you can get an idea of some of the look of the wedding. Enjoy!

I am also having the Maids in white spring dresses with a yellow sash…sash idea below

More Ideas to come…as they come together

Greg and I have become best buds with an amazing guy named Wayne. He being from Louisiana is a HUGE Saints fan. We watched the last 3 games before the Superbowl at Jackson’s Bar and then when the Saints won the last game sending them to the Superbowl we all decided that we would take a road trip. Call me crazy but the 22 hour drive there and 22 hour drive back didn’t see so long. Wayne and 2 of his buddies left on Thursday…Greg and I left on Friday afternoon.

There is something to be said about road trips…they are a ton of fun looking back on them but it seems there are chunks of time that while you are sitting in the car for22 hours straight you start to wonder why you didnt fly down. We drove because it was leaps and bounds cheaper!

When we landed we spent the first hour lost in the French Quarter trying to find the hotel…met a lot of nice people though haha.

That night we went to Pat O’Briens  and had some hurricanes and then ate dinner at the restaurant in the Hilton Hotel. SO GOOD! Crab Dip was dream worthy!

We watched the Superbowl in the House of Blues…I sat and looked up to see Louis Armstrong, Etta James, Billy Holiday, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder and the rest of a list of legends. I came to the decision that one day I will find myself performing in Louisiana. I will make that happen some way, somehow…

There was this awesome guy that was in the HOB…he brought a flag that read “You’re in Saints Country” and every commercial and every thirty minutes someone started that saints chant (”Who Dat Sayin they gonna beat them saints…Who Dat!”) Every-time the entire room full of people sang along. EVERYTIME! Hundreds of people all hugging each other and crying. Huge grown men crying…The rest of the night was Chaos and I wont go into details because it was honestly like Mardi Gras started early…never seen so many…beads.

Sorry it has been a while since the last time I posted on this blog, I have been pretty busy. That being said I think it is time I wrote about what I have been up to.

In January I had a concert with Hannah Holbrook. It was a great success and we sold out our Friday show and Saturday was a full house. I wanted to say thank you to all of you who were able to make it…and those that missed it, thanks for the encouragement! We sang over twenty songs and had an amazing time doing so! The best part for me was when we got a standing ovation. We sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and had everyone who could sign, ASL, sign along and we invited everyone to join us to sing. What a cool moment for me. I asked Cynthia Vaughn afterwards if it was loud in that room because of everyone singing, she smiled and said it was. It’s moments like those that make me wish I could still hear, but you will have to report for me *smile*

Hannah and her family just got back from Nashville, yahoo for SHEL! I am so proud of those girls. And I missed them terribly. SHEL is a group based out of Fort Collins and they just got signed with a major record company! If you haven’t heard their music you are missing out. You can go to their website www.iloveshel.com or Myspace page www.myspace.com/coloradoshel

Later this week I will talk about my Adventures in New Orleans! That’s Right I went to New Orleans to watch the Super Bowl!!! WHO DAT!

I will also fill you in on wedding stuff… How exciting!

Hope you are having an Amazing Day! Keep singing -Mandy

1st: I have realized that because of playing with her I have grown more confident and I have started to tap into another realm of music and or being a musician. I have always had a deep respect for people who write their own music. In turn I have always wanted to write my own, but I was always scared to really try it. I worry about failure far too much…doesn’t sound like anyone else I know ; )

This has been one of the best experiences for me and I actually get excited everytime I get to go over to the Holbrook House. That and everyone there is oozing of creativity and personality…(yes I said a non sarcastic compliment, it happens just not that often…ohh and Eva if you read this i meant all the Holbrooks but you…mainly because you get me into trouble ; )

2nd: I have realized that she has opened a door for me and lit a fire under my butt…she may not know this. I have now started to learn as much music as possible and I have turned my driving time into “Music with Mandy.” It’s time where you make jingles or songs while you drive. This has lead to several fun adventures in my head.

In conclusion I would highly recommend that you turn off your radios in your cars. Not for a day but for the next 2 weeks, force yourself to not cave in but instead think out-loud andsee what songs you can come up with…they might not all be Grammy winners but you will soon find yourself surprised at how much fun it is and that you actually have your own personal style. Sing your lungs out to your own songs!

Good Luck! And tell me how your adventures go…and as always…Hannah you ROCK!

I have been asked a lot recently about the *For Gerry* which is placed on the back cover next to the song Bye Bye Blackbird. Gerry is an amazing man who goes to Jay’s Bistro most Thursdays…

I got to know him before my summer trip to Europe, we sat down and talked about WW2 and how he was serving in the war. He also asked me to find a bar in Heidelberg “Red Ox”

The Red Ox has a rich history and it has been recorded for centuries. If you ever get there you can ask to sign your name in the guest book. All of those signatures are archived and if you ask you can look back into history and see name after name…

Gerry signed his name in the later part of April of 1947. His one request was for me to find his name and take a photo of it…unfortunatly he signed 2 days or so before Marilyn Monroe and his signature is in a museum so we could not get the picture. He was just thankful we tried.

Mark Sloniker, Erik Applegate, Andrew Vogt, Mark Raynes, Anthony Walker, Cynthia Vaughn…

The genius musicians who graced my album with their talent and direction.

Jay Witlen…for allowing me to sing at his Bistro and putting up with me for the last year…also for taking a shot of patron with me on my 21st birthday, that is a story for another time

Bob and Donna Visocky…who put this idea in my head to make an album in the first place (So if you have any complaints you can take it up with them).

You have all inspired me and I am truly Blessed to know you all!