TuesDayNewsDay Vol.2 Issue 14, October 1, 2019

#WeeklySongSeries video tonight (I’ll post the video link here later). I’m going to play the first track on the upcoming album #SurrenderingToTheSacred – Changin’ Time Blues – October is where I feel the most connected to love in the world, to Ransom’s Spirit, and to my brother Skip’s memory. “I wanna look in your eye and see the October sky, oh baby I got the changin’ time blues…”

Dedication: Today’s newsletter and song is dedicated to my late friend Burke Stedman. I attended his memorial service on Sunday prior to playing at the Carrboro Music Festival. The tears shed in that building were innumerable. Burke was an amazing person, inspiring and beautiful, passionate and one of my first spiritual teachers. We spun fire together when I would accompany him and Neidra “WhiteFire” ~ the Burning Love Firedance performance group they created. His dancing is unforgettable, I would giggle at his sprite-like scooting dance moves as he was twirling his poi and cracking his fire whip. ~ He and I both loved Tom Robbins. His love went back most of his lifetime and once I had the privilege of hearing Tom Robbins speak in his home, Blowing Rock, NC. For Burke, Tom signed his latest book “Tibetan Peach Pie” and I gave it to him as a gift. He was so touched! HAHA! ~ On a more serious note, the details of his demise to me are very frustrating and I seriously blame the corrupt and oppressive system of law for his passing. All I can say is that if you have ever felt that marijuana should be legalized, you should advocate for it. Call your reps. Tell them how it matters to you. Tell them how the criminalization of such a sacred and helpful plant ruins peoples lives and wastes resources in the criminal “justice” system. Donate to the MPP. (https://www.mpp.org/) One of my all-time heroes, Willie Nelson said that weed saved his life! (https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2019/05/03/willie-nelson-details-how-marijuana-saved-my-life-new-rolling-stone-interview-new-album/3660987002/) I need not say more on this. We need to make changes and legalize marijuana. Period. I am as steadfast on this point as I am with abolishing the death penalty and ending perpetual war and rampant systems of bigotry in this country. I don’t even smoke weed. *steps off soapbox*

Quote “A true believer may worship Jehovah, Allah, or Brahma, the supernatural beings who allegedly created all life; a true believer may slavishly adhere to a dogma designed theoretically to improve life; yet for life itself—its pleasures, wonders, and delights—he or she holds minimal regard. Music, chess, wine, card games, attractive clothing, dancing, meditation, kites, perfume, marijuana, flirting, soccer, cheeseburgers, any expression of beauty, and any recognition of genius or individual excellence: each of those things has been severely condemned and even outlawed by one cadre of true believers or another in modern times.”
― Tom Robbins, Villa Incognito “As of 2013, Robbins is a member of the Marijuana Policy Project‘s Advisory Board, alongside numerous other notable figures such as Jack Black and Ani DiFranco. The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the largest organization working solely on marijuana policy reform in the United States in terms of its budget, number of members, and staff.”

Song: “I’ve Got To Get You Into My Life” – The Beatles – tps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_tCX9I8fxU Burke LOVED the Beatles (this song is about marijuana according to Paul McCartney https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/pot-sounds-the-20-greatest-weed-themed-songs-of-all-time-627951/the-beatles-got-to-get-you-into-my-life-1966-2-628022/ ) ht

Dear Humans: I’ve been a bit long winded today, but not for naught. Burke’s passing and memorial reminded me of how sacred life is. My latest mindset has been pretty amazed by how much time passes without us even knowing it or realizing it. How often we don’t do things because we are afraid of “the future and worrying about the past…” (Joni quote from the song “Help Me”). I’m making a concerted effort today to truly be in the moment more often and stop using my phone so much. More broadly, to stop considering why things won’t work. Stop concerning myself with other people’s thoughts and motivations. “Keep inside your hula-hoop Anita” my Al-Anon sponsor reminds me. (I have a meeting with her in 30 minutes. 🙂 I have songs to write and projects upon which to focus. Focus. Focus. I had a woolly worm visitor who told me to do some self-evaluation, pay attention to the “weather” and remember my determination, endurance, resilience and sacred survival skills/experience. There was also a tarot reading last Friday that wrapped it up too. The cards said I need to develop my “no” muscle and highlighted the inner struggle I have between my wild, untamed side and my “as I am expected to do” side. It’s ALWAYS a choice… The reading also told me to pay attention to my dreams and to allow love into my life – don’t push away gifts freely given. That was *spooky* I’m developing a podcast concept right now based on Self-Justice, Self-Care and the greater, worldly implications of such systems of gifts, priorities, and just yesterday another concept crept up in catching up with an old friend: “To be a rebel is to ask for help.” (especially in good ole individualist America.) These concepts and Moore on my new podcast, Moore on That. Moore to come. (See what I did there.) HAHA

Upcoming performances: There aren’t any! Not until November with Crystal Bright at Lucky 32 restaurant in Greensboro. Recording this album and going into the studio is my top priority right now. Once these songs are finished being recorded and the final edits are complete, I will start booking shows again. Until then, I’ll still be doing my Tuesday Weekly video series and developing this new podcast! Love y’all.

This week in pictures: