"WATCH THE VERTICAL, CAMERA 3!"

Saturday afternoon found us driving to T's gig at Anchorage Square on Fisherman's Wharf when his cell phone rang (what else is new?). He starts chatting away with Marshall - the MAN - Lamm (you'll know why in the next sentence why he's THE MAN!). Marshall books for the Sonoma Wine and Jazz Concert, where T was scheduled to play the next afternoon. But, Marshall needed someone to represent the concert series at the KPIX Channel 5 news station for the Sunday morning news -- and who did he call? Terrence Brewer!

So, on Sunday morning we drove to SF and Terrence was interviewed by Lisa Chan and Joe Vazquez and had a chance to play live on air on KPIX morning news from 7:30 - 8:30am. Then, the same news crew hosts the UPN Channel 44 morning news from 8:30 - 9:30am and they asked him to stay for that; so, he was interviewed again and played some more.

It was very cool, especially since some people up in Sonoma said they came up just to see Terrence because they saw him on the news. It looks as if I may have to compete with either 6 year olds or 60-something women for Terrence's affection;).

Needless to say, that experience was crazy enough, but the Monday prior (5/22/06), T had his 1-hour radio interview on www.kcsm.org with Chris Cortez, then a feature article on Thursday (5/25/06) in the Contra Costa Times.

And, if all that wasn't enough, T filmed a segment for Back in the Day with Satin Dawl for public access TV today (5/30/06) and all I kept hearing was, "Watch the vertical, Camera 3!"

Yeah, someone - the director - actually said that to me! I can now add camera operator to my resume. When we showed up at the studio (right here in good 'ol Alameda) they were short one camera operator and somehow, I was recruited for the job -- my name is actually going to roll in the credits - how funny is that! Camera 3 is in charge of all the close-up's of the host -- watch for my fancy work:).

More musical mishaps to follow...

REMEMBERING THE SMALL THINGS

I got so excited last night! Terrence mentioned that they were going to play Cat Nap, which, if you didn't know, is my favorite song -- I think it has the most memorable melody - but that's just my opinion:)

Anyway, as soon as they started playing the first few notes, this guy sitting next to me said, "Hey, I know this song. I heard it on the radio the other day. I didn't know what song it was because I didn't hear the DJ say the name, but this is it!"

How exciting is that???

IT REALLY IS THE SMALL THINGS THAT COUNT...

T had a gig last night at a 'listening' venue -- not some restaurant where the music is meant to be heard in the background and the the conversations are usually louder than the music - but a real listening venue.

Okay, let me take a moment of your time and define the difference between hearing and listening (all my students reading this better be able to define it!).

Hearing is a physiological process where sound waves are taken in and recognized by the eardrums. Listening is an active process where you become mindful, select, organize, interpret, respond, and remember information. You can 'hear' many things and not really 'listen' to them. Take for instance, you're busy typing or reading something on the internet and your loved one in the other room is talking to you. You can 'hear' that they're saying something, but you're not listening to them (shame on you!) because you are not being mindful and choosing to organize in your mind what they are saying so that you can respond to them and remember what they've said.

So, as I was saying before my typing was interupted by a vagrant who tried to shimmy his way between our house and the neighbors fence to 'take a drink' and then insulted me and called me m'am . Where's a good watch dog when you need one??? Pit bulls are vicious my a#@! She didn't even give a bark. Okay, where was I? Oh yes....

Terrence played a listening venue last night in Berkeley - Anna's Jazz Island. And, as the guys were playing and taking turns with solos, people were clapping, not just at the end of each song, but AFTER EACH SOLO! I leaned over to a friend and whispered, "You know, it's the small things that count; it's just nice to hear people clap after a solo without me having to start the clapping and to know people are really listening and enjoying the music". :)

If you want to 'listen' and enjoy the music, check out www.terrencebrewer.com or come to an upcoming gig -- there's lot's of 'em! -- Most notably his CD release party at Jazz at Pearls in SF on Thursday, June 1st. www.jazzatpearls.com

Amazing Students

Maybe one of the reasons I became a teacher is because I love school so much! And I love summer vacation but always look forward to going back to school. This is true for me as a child and now as an adult.

But, I just get so attached to my students. They're great! All of them have a very unique 'story' and in the past five years during my time in the Contra Costa Community College District, I've had the opportunity and good fortune to have some amazing students in my classes. What's even better are the interesting things I've learned through speeches as well as the life lessons I've learned from them...

- a student fled from Mexico and a man died so that my student could get here to the states safely - gratefulness/thankfulness
- international student who wants stricter border control - taking a stand even when it's not a popular one
- DUI/jail - the importance of knowing even when one drink is too much
- mercury poisoning - perseverence and the importance of health
- rape - bravery, courage, and self esteem
- lesbian who's parents found out she was gay b/c of a speech - pride!
- hemophiliac - the importance of donating blood
- single moms - kids are important and family always comes first
- knew a friend who committed suicide - the pain that depression and suicide cause to others

To be continued....

MY LIFE ON THE INJURED LIST

Well, no sooner do I recover from a torn calf muscle, my ankle gives out... swollen and throbbing with pain.

Terrence is always saying I could write a book about all my various injuries. I say, maybe not a book, but at least a blog entry:)

From head to toe...

1. hair loss from stress
2. lice (way back in the 4th grade)
3. conjunctivitis (pink eye)
4. stye (in my eye)
5. paper cut in my eye (when I worked at the printing press)
   
6. bloody noses (quite frequently when I was little)
7. root canals
8. gum grafting
9. 13 teeth pulled in total (7 at one time)
10. TMJ
11. tonsilectomy (at 25)
    
12. back spasms
13. arm out of socket - both arms, numerous times
14. broken finger
    
15. fractured rib
    
16. bladder infection
17. broken tail bone
18. torn left MCL (medial crucia ligament)
19. torn right calf muscle
20. shin splints
21. broken right ankle (back in junior high)
22. burst blood vessel in my right leg (my birthmark - blood spurt out in a straight stream!)
    
23. broken toe(s)

A SATURDAY GRADUATION

six years of seeking guidance
nonjudgmental about my 'split'
tears and laughter
depression
it's all been listened to
and now
my wings repaired
experience growth
ready to spread and fly
sing to the world
in my authentic voice
OKAY!

FRIENDSHIPS COME AND GO...

I know the quote that states, "Some people come into your life for a reason, season, or a lifetime" is kinda cheesy, but it is so true.

And I'm always saying that everything happens for a reason even if we never figure out the reason why, but it doesn't stop me from trying.

I have a friend who comes and goes in and out of my life. It's a bit annoying, confusing, and at times heart-breaking. I have a blast when we're together but she is so inconsistent with our friendship that I often question if it's worth salvaging. How do you know when to let go? The costs of our friendship seem to outweigh the rewards, but it's hard to move on. I still care about her and love her like maybe sisters love one another... she's been as close to one as any girlfriend I've had, but still there's something not quite right. We haven't spoken in over 6 weeks now... she got annoyed because I couldn't do something she asked of me and hasn't called me since.

At least with relationships (boyfriend/girlfriend ones), one can move on if there is an official 'break-up' of sorts. But with girlfriends it's different... do you say, "hey, we're breaking up?" Because that's been said before... years ago, but then, our friendship resumed after a few months of separation.

Are friendships supposed to be this difficult to maintain? Is that my nudge to say sianora and push on ahead without her? T has a similar friend and we discuss this off an on, on and off, but neither of us had come to any real conclusion. We just wait for them to act like friends "because that's what friends are supposed to do". And each time it doesn't happen, a little bit of me becomes a bit bitter about it.

It also makes me sad because we've been friends for so long... our friendship has been off an on (mostly on) for the past 12 years or so.

There's no one answer that sits best with me right now; I'm not sure I want a solid answer. Maybe the waiting to see what will happen next is better than the finality of saying 'goodbye'.

I DIDN'T KNOW I LOOKED LIKE A MOTHER...

But, now two people have said so, so maybe it's true... here' a funny one for you!

About 6 years ago, I went to one of Terrence's gigs at Starbucks in Alameda (yep, he made the coffee shop circuit!). When I was in the store browsing all the cool mugs, a guy, about 30 or so, came up to me and tried picking up on me. Now, I don't say this because I particularly want you to know this, but it lends to the story and ultimately my rationalizing the situation.

After politely turning him down and telling him I had a boyfriend, Terrence walked up to see what was going on. When Terrence started talking me to me, the guy asked, "Is he your son?". My first reaction was to laugh, and then to be shocked, and then I got angry because I know I'm not THAT much older than T. [To set the record straight, I am four years and four months older than Terrence -- Demi and Ashton have a few years on us:)]. I ended up rationalizing (with T's help) that the guy was a) pissed off that I turned him down, b) drunk, c) crazy.

I usually don't think too much of it anymore, except when I want to tell a funny story every now and then.

But then, tonight, it all came back to me...

We were at an event and I was selling CD's for Terrence. As we were leaving an older woman came up to Terrence and asked if we were still selling CD's. He told her 'yes' and I started to get the CD's out of the packed bag. As he turned toward me, he told her, "Catherine will get the CD's for you". She then turned to me and said, "Who are you? Are you his mother?"

I just stood there with my mouth open looking at her, then said, "Excuse me?". Then, she asked me again, "Are you his mother?". And when I didn't answer (I guess I was in shock), Terrence said, "No, she's my wife." And she said, "Oh, you're married? (her pale face becoming even more white) I'm so sorry... I'm so embarassed, I'm so sorry".

I experienced the same emotions I felt the first time this happened... maybe even with more intensity as my emotions have been on a rollcoaster as of late (chalk it up to lack of sleep, feeling overwhelmed with obligations, and the desire to take a month off from everything and just relaxing!).

Really, do I look like a 50 something African American woman???

How do I rationalize this one? I mean, the woman wasn't old enough to be senile... she was older, but not OLD! There was plenty of free alcohol at the event, but she didn't seem drunk. And, she definitely didn't seem crazy, I mean, she was smart enough to want to buy a CD... so, how do I rationalize this?

I'm willingly accepting any theories you may have... send them to me!