Missed one!
July 29, 2006
Here is my 6 o'clock post....just ran in with the book and jotted this down to say WE ARE HERE at Central Market. We stopped by the hotel and checked in our stuff and will head directly to MacHenry's after this.
In Ft. Worth. I have to pee.
posted by Sara Hickman at 04:08 pm
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Rally for Invisible Children
This hour's entry is actually this month's podcast, interviews from a rally for Invisible Children in Austin last April.
You can subscribe to my podcasts using iTunes (click here) or download them individually (click here)...
posted by Sara Hickman at 03:34 pm
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Eating Snacks & Looking for A Coffee Joint
posted by Sara Hickman at 03:10 pm
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What Girls Talk About in a Dirty Van
We talk about our dreams, we talk about our disappointments. We are talking about the show, and practicing a lot out loud as we drive along.
So, I have to go back to practicing....I am excited. This is the first time Kristin and I have gotten to sing the new songs together.
I'm looking forward to seeing Devin Pike, who first alerted me to the blogathon. He will be at the show tonight, blogging as well. So if anyone in the Fort Worth area is actually reading these posts, and wants to come out and see me blogging live (during a show!) this would be the day/night to do it.
And then you can hear Kristin sing, and me sing, and watch Eddy play some incredible keyboard. While our new guitarist, Allison, grooves along.
(Ok, Allison is really me. Just thought it would be fun to have an alter ego for a second.)
posted by Sara Hickman at 02:47 pm
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The City Of Glass
The day I wrote the song...I was thinking about how Dorothy was tripping down through the poppies, excited about the gleaming green glass of Oz, directly in front of her, and how happy she seemed that she was that close to her dream.
And it made me think of cities, in general, and how as I drive into them, or fly over them, they are these centers of hopes and dreams and people working and parking and moving...to quote another song lyric of mine, "like giant ants"....
And I realized that cities represent the epicenter of where people want to succeed, no matter where you are in the world.
It's why the Mary Tyler Moore show had Mary throwing her hat in downtown Minneapolis. It wouldn't have the same sense of accomplishment if she was jubilant in the middle of a radish farm in Wisconsin.
Although, now that I say that, I don't think there is any doubt that the opening scene from the "Sound of Music" isn't one of the most uplifting, and famous, scenes in cinematic history. And there are no gleaming cities in sight...only thatched roofs and church steeples in the distance...
So, let's just suffice it to say that when I wrote "In the Fields" I was thinking of how COLD and HARD the glass of cities is, and how SOFT and DREAMY "a city of weeds" would be....which, also, makes me sad because a "city of weeds" could construe a place has died and nature has taken back it's rightful ownership....
That's why songwriting is a joy...you focus on what is important out of vast ideas and simplify what needs to be shared immediately.
posted by Sara Hickman at 02:02 pm
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What We Have Seen
Too many one person drivers in too many brand new cars, which tells me the economy is better for some people....at least the ones on the road
with shiny new cars. Although I did see one funky one, about twenty miles back. It was plum colored and had a dash board full of junk (papers and such) and I was surprised the fifty something hippie driving it could see anything over his steering wheel except decaying NY Times. I think it was
an old Camaro, but he was driving on the far side of the highway, opposite direction, so didn't really get past thinking about why someone would keep so much crud in their line of visual impact.
The weather has been overcast, which is good because it has been searing hot and sunny in Austin for way too long...and heading towards Ft. Worth can usually mean it is going to get even hotter.....but the AC has been blowing just fine
We have not seen a Starbucks as this is the part of the drive where there isn't much at all...we're veering off I-35 at the split to FW so there is a lot of prarie. I have a feeling this entry will be late. Hang in there with me, people! I hear ya cheering! Thank you for your bloggin' love!
posted by Sara Hickman at 01:47 pm
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In a booth with Jim
Sara!
I was the PD of KPEZ in Austin, Tx. We went to Baby Acapulcos and had fun! Just wanted to check in with you two decades later! I found your cd tonight and the photos we took! I knew you would do very well!
Jim Jones
posted by Sara Hickman at 01:08 pm
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People I Play With
But making music with a band....wow! Filling out the sounds of my guitar and voice with other instruments and players ideas is so fulfilling.
When I was in Domestic Science Club, I don't think I had ever experienced anything like that, except, to some degree, when I did madrigal singing in high school or performed with the Folk Group (Gretchen Phillips, Julie Campbell, Julie Prejean).
Domestic Science Club had some very fine moments. To this day, I think "Blue Diamond Mines" and "Unseen Angels" are perfect pieces of music.
Our three voices (Robin Macy, Patty Mitchell Lege and myself) were each so unique and undeniably our own, but blended together we became a completely different creature. Sometimes on stage, the flow would be so evident, so ripe, so lush. It was almost too much. Although we had our squabbles and didn't always see eye to eye, that was a highlight in my life and I am grateful we recorded two records for posterity.
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to play with amazingly gifted players. From Chester Thompson to Andy Timmons and Rose Stone (Sly's sister) to one of my favorites, Abe Laboriel. You can imagine how excited I was to record with Adrian Belew and Tony Levin; sitting on a bench with David Sancious as we discovered the voicings I'd created (in an open tuning) and transcribed them for piano. Watching Tori Amos play on "One In Our Happiness" through the control room glass....(not released, sorry! In my closet, on a shelf...) Laughing with the awesome drummer, Brian Hartig, at rehearsals, and seeing the concentration on his face as he gives his all on our "Austin City Limits" performance...Doug Bryan coming up with the killer hook on "Last NIght is a Big Rain"....Brad McLemore bringing so much love on classical guitar to "Simply", and really bring a marriage of his guitar and mine for all time...
Singing harmonies with Debbie Talasek, my first back up singer....You can see her on "Austin City Limits", as well....or singing year after year with the beautiful Kristin deWitt (who is in the car with me at this very moment!), a woman who can match my breath and depth and range with aplomb...
Having Eddy (also in the car today) play the piano so tastefully, so masterfully...whether on recording or live...His subtle Mona Lisa smile always there when I look over...I will ALWAYS love "The Wave" on the album "Faithful Heart"....totally sexy and stunning moog work!
And Brad...our drummer/percussionist. We've worked together since "Faithful Heart", as well. I will never forget the day we were recording the title track,and Brad got all choked up over the way it was sounding...it really moved his heart, and moved us all to see him with tears in his eyes.
Zirkel on bass. His trumpet on "Coolness by Mistake", by the way, is killer. I love that version of the song ("Faithful Heart") That song means so much to me, as it is about a time when love was washing over me completely....Anyway, Zirkel's bass on "Mother's Little Helper" totally rocks ("Motherlode"). It is exactly what I hoped it could be. Zirkel can also get caught up in the tidalwave of emotion....When we played at Gruene Hall a few months back for Mothers' Day, I looked over as we performed "My Mama's Hands", and tears were streaming down his cheeks. He lost his mother last year, and to be together, playing this song of great love, on a day of great meaning, well....he made it all the more special by openly sharing his heartache...
Sitting in the studio of KBCO in Colorado, performing Adrian (Belew's) song, "Dreamlife", which I love so much. I had worked up the guitar part and surprised him by playing it on the air while we were in the studio together (we were there for the Gavin Convention---1994)
Being on stage at Carnegie Hall with 350 people singing "Just One Race" behind me. THAT was a surreal moment!
But, mostly, I just want to say the swirls of sound that surround me when I am on stage with my current band are the arms of support I could only dream of...and I want to thank all the musicians who are here in the car with me, and all the musicians along this path to the city of glass.....
posted by Sara Hickman at 12:34 pm
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First Stop
Back to the car, that is.
posted by Sara Hickman at 12:06 pm
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Kristin is Helping With the Driving
We are at the part of the drive where we just passed Georgetown and I wish we had time to stop at the caves and go spelunking.
But just looking for another Starbucks to hop out and get this to YOU.
( I guess really to me and then to you because if I don't add it to my site, how can it reach you?)
posted by Sara Hickman at 12:02 pm
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Ok, Now I’m at Kristin’s
Hope to find many Starbucks along 1-35 North.
If not, here is a thought for the moment:
The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.
posted by Sara Hickman at 11:17 am
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Packing Up the Old Van
Make: Ford Windstar
Doors: 4 and rear hatch
Birth: 2000
Color: White with smeary dirt gray
Job: Get Sara and the Kids around
Today's Task: Carry Sara and Crew to Fort Worth for MacHenry Show!
And......I'm off!
First stop: Kristin deWitt's house
Second stop: Starbucks to submit next entry
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:53 am
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Soon
And head towards another performance
A living dream
A hope that this will be the one that awakens a soul...my soul, your soul, someone's soul...
To purpose continued, living...finding, stretching. Shaking it up.
Because you can.
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:02 am
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Kisses
A kiss hello, a kiss goodnight...a kiss in the mid-morning to say
"You matter to me..."
The soft pink tender skin upon skin
Sparkling teeth
Loving eyes
Looking past the moment of desire
And into the future of many more kisses
And kisses upon kisses...too many to count
Until the kisses become a way of life
Two hearts beating as one
Two hands holding on
To the kisses of yesterday
And the thrill of yet to come
posted by Sara Hickman at 09:38 am
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Clean
Looking for adventure........orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr whatever comes my way......
posted by Sara Hickman at 09:07 am
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10:30 am
I look forward to the day I can have a vehicle that doesn't use gas. I would love an electric van. Or a van that runs on hope and peace.
I find it unbelievable how long the fighting has been going on between Israel and Palestine.
My heart really aches for all the people wanting to have lives with their families, and how confusing, disruptive and horrifying war must be.
We Americans have no idea. No concept at all. Except for those who have been among the chaos---soldiers, peacekeepers, volunteers,
missionaries, medical staff---we have no idea how blessed we are to have these simple things:
running water
running water that you can drink without getting sick
electricity
gasoline
grocery stores
movie theatres
art museums
roads
clothing
toilets
plumbing in general
yards to play in
playgrounds
airplanes to travel in
bus lines
computers
telephones
fax machines
cell phones and blackberrys
schools
shoes and socks
soap and shampoo
medical supplies
toilet paper
writing utensils
notebooks, paper, envelopes, stamps
flower gardens
a postal service
fed ex
something under our feet besides dirt within our homes
homes
porches
roofs that don't leak
a hand to hold
parents that love us
people who speak out on behalf of others, no matter what the cost
politics (be it as crooked as it may be, it is still the most amazing democracy on the planet...and we MUST continue to speak out and take action to keep it this way)
birthday parties
one day, we all went to ken's rock n roll donuts on guadalupe, and all i could think as we were buying these inexpensive, tasty treats was the fact that millions of children in this world will never know the taste of a donut.
i am trying to consume less. i am trying to eat less.
i want to be more humble, and speak out even more on behalf of people everywhere.
this sounds so simplistic, but i want for people to enjoy their lives while they are here. i want everyone to have housing, and food and water, and warm clothing in cold climates and protective clothing in hot climates. i want everyone to have the opportunity to dance. i want everyone to have arms to hold them, gently, lovingly. i want their to be universal singing of peace, and i want it right now.
and the reality is that war exists and it is the most foolish of choices...chaos only leads to continued violence and terrorism.
the alternative is love. always love.
people roll their eyes at that simple answer.
but love has changed monsters. it has removed fear. it has brought hope to millions.
love, love, love. i believe in you, in your variety of colors, in your never ending giving.
love.
love to the whole world. love now.
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:23 am
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Life Moves Slow, but the Life Within it Changes So Quickly
And I will go hold Lance, and I will go hold io (Lily is at her dad's house this weekend), and I will whisper how much I love them, and I will stay still while looking in their eyes.
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:02 am
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First song I ever wrote
(written by me, Sara Hickman, for my grandma and grandpa, Martha and Al Hickman in 1970 when I was seven years old...I still have the original sheet music I wrote out so my grandma could play it on the piano!)
Down in the pasture where the grass is green
There isn't much and nothin' to be seen
But I know that someday that old pasture will be gone
We'll remember the good times...and all the fun
In the pasture...the old pasture
Children playing in the sun
When it's gone....when it's gone
We go to that pasture every year or so
Where my grandma lives on the hill up above
And she tells of the sweet things that we long to hear
And we know of the sweet life...she holds so dear
In the pasture...the old pasture
Children playing in the sun...when it's gone....when it's gone
There's a breeze softly swayin' and the sun's about to rise
The pasture's down there glowin'
I can...see it in her eyes
And it tells of the good life that we hold so dear
And we'll remember the good times...year after year
In the pasture...the old pasture
Children playing in the sun...when it's gone...when it's gone
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:38 am
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Wrapping Gifts
Sending cards to loved ones far away
Getting ready to make a set list for tonight
About to clean out the van
Whoo! It is hard to stay on a half hour schedule and write every half hour!
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:35 am
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Talking With Magda
People who can find the brightest star in the darkest of nights and point it out to everyone, everyone else around them who may be floundering in what to say or do or how to be when things are rough, confusing or overwhelming. People who are in the process of life change, who are losing their capacity to use their bodies in the most ordinary of ways...and, yet, they still don't lose sight of that star.
Magda is one of those amazing people. Someone who carries a smile in her voice, someone who understands what your heart wants to speak when you can't find the words. Her cheer is abundant and radiant.
I just got off the phone with Magda, and I just wanted to say that if anyone reading this wants to send me a card for Magda, to brighten her day just because it would, I promise to package it carefully among other gifts I will be sending her, and I know that it would bring such joy to her.
Send your cards/letters/thoughts to:
Magda Lynn
c/o Sara Hickman
3005 S. Lamar D-109 #412
Austin, TX 78704
And, Magda, bless you. I love you. Thank you.
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:24 am
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Accounting
And io is outside picking flowers. Which one sounds more fun to you?
Off to add to the bouquet.
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:23 am
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iolana’s up so the gig is up
here is a riddle io made up:
it's fuzzy, it's green and it's long....what is it?
answer: a cat tail!
there you have it. your first riddle of the day from a six year old, which is most likely the result of our walking around the ditch last night and picking some of the tickly, bendy plants...after, of course, we pocketed some of the snail shells from the "snail cemetary"
you should see it...about twelve feet of dry soil (very dry due to the drought) and hundreds of bleached, empty white shells. i'm not sure why the snails were there, or when they were there....but it is fun to pick up their shells and say, "oh! there's another one!" and hop along scooping them up
til your hands are overflowing
another riddle is coming my way:
what is red, a bump and itchy? (io asks)
hmm...what IS red, a bump and itchy? (mom asks)
a bug bite! (says io, rolling her eyes)
posted by Sara Hickman at 05:58 am
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Lily’s Show
Her band was called SLEEP ROCKER and rock they did...
Lily was the front woman...wailing away on Rolling Stones and Little Richard songs....she has a new Greek fishing cap, denim black, with silver stars across the bridge. And she wore a J.Geils striped shirt and blue jeans she decorated with "ROCK" and a skull and crossbones. To top it off, she threw a cream colored sash around her neck.
She stands so still and focused when she performs. Occasionally, she'll make a flick of her wrist and wiggle her shoulders. But, wow, what a voice.
She sounds like a young Toni Braxton!!!
Then we all went out to Kerbey Lane to celebrate. A tradition for two years now!
posted by Sara Hickman at 05:36 am
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Breakfast in Bed
I think I will surprise them with Hello!Kitty chocolate chip waffles in bed. With some fresh cut flowers from the garden.
A wee pitcher of syrup. Fresh squeezed orange juice, hot hazelnut coffee for Lance and hot chocolate for io.
The mockingbird that lives outside our window is starting her morning song. She has been heartbroken, as of late, since Shadow, our beautiful all gray cat, captured her lover and all we found were feathers strewn next to the sunflower
bed.
But this morning she sounds hopeful, she sounds as if she has found her footing and is giving up all the glory she can.
This is the same bird who used to live over on Montclaire when Lily was first born. I know you are thinking...uh...Hickman...that would be a ten year old mockingbird...not possible!
But I say:
Never doubt that joy can follow you on wings of gossamer and charm.
posted by Sara Hickman at 05:01 am
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Whether you've learned about Sara Hickman through her music, her family, her causes, or her films, you know that her originality, creativity, and enthusiasm bring a fresh meaning to the well-worn phrase "living life to the fullest."
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Motherlode
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Faithful Heart
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Big Kid
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