Life & Times of Glo!

Perky

2011-10-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

perk·y ˈpərkē: Adj. Cheerful and Lively!

This is the name I was called for the first five years of my life. I didn't know my actual name was Gloria until the day before the first day of school. I asked my mother how to spell my name (Perky) so that I could have a bit of an edge in my kindergarten class the next day. Much to my surprise, I was told my name was Gloria and not Perky. It was quite embarassing sitting in class on the first day and completely not responding when this name, Gloria, was called because it really wasn't my name yet. It took me a while to take full ownership of it.

During the Yoga retreat I attended last weekend I had a visit from Perky. You read right. During one of the morning meditation sessions, my young self paid me a visit and I'd like to tell you about it and what I think it meant. What you will read next is taken directly from my journal ... here goes!

Sunday, October 9, 2011:

Today is the last day of my Yoga retreat and during morning meditation I had a visit from Perky ... my young self. I first appeared as a shy little silhouette; then as the figure sharpened, I recognized it as me! I was wearing green pants, a white top, white sandals with the straps under my heals instead of on them, with white barrettes in my hair. It was like I stepped right out of one of the only photos I have of myself as a youngster.

There was my little self looking up at me with awe and wonder in her eyes. Perky was offering me something cupped in the palms of her hands ... her arms were lovingly stretched out to me. And there in my young hands was a lotus flower. Only the night before I had learned what the lotus flower symbolizes:

The lotus flower is one of the most ancient and deepest symbols of our planet. The lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by the impurity, lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind. The lotus flower represents long life, health, honor ... light!

I accepted this blossom, this light from my young self with the full understanding of what it meant. Perky was proud of me. She looked upon the woman we've become with fascination, awe and wonder because she knows better than anyone that we started with nothing, we often times felt inferior, and we certainly couldn't have imagined the path our life has taken! The lotus was what connected Perky to me. We had blossomed from nothing into who we are today ... and she was proud.

Pride was the last thing I was feeling when I arrived at the Tilton House to begin my 3-day Yoga journey. I came to this retreat feeling like a failure. Like my life hasn't really mattered and like I've not really done anything important. My intention for my practice was to get some clarity as to what I was going to do with myself. Since moving to the UK just over a year ago, I've been feeling very small and lost ... like all the things that made me "me" in the US only made me invisible in the UK. I'm not quite sure how to be me in England. I've also realized that I've spent my whole life trying to be what I thought people wanted me to be and I've consistently failed at this. I've never been the "favorite" and I have so often wanted to be.

My talent has been treated as mediocre by so many people that I sometimes follow suit. It's hard to believe in yourself when no one else does. I've tried so hard all my life and it's exhausting. I seem to always be trying to get noticed, trying to have my talents recognized, trying to be good enough ... well, I'm sick of trying. I just want to be me ... even though right now, I'm trying to figure out who I am. I just want to be happy with the life I've lived and with the life I'm living. I want to be proud of myself!

Perky is proud of me. She looked up at me and I could see utter happiness and contentment radiating from her face. Like she couldn't believe the life we're living. I smiled at my little self and took the lotus blossom in our hands and allowed the light to shine between us. Then she turned and started to walk away, waving as she went ... leaving me with the light!

I so enjoyed my brief visit from my self as I was so many years ago, and I will continue to let the light of simply being shine through me, and at dawn of each new day I will rise and open again to the possibilities of life!

Self-Esteem

2011-08-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

I have discovered a wonderful blog ... MyThoughtCoach ... and wanted to share it with you. I particularly enjoyed the post on Self-Esteem.

It is so easy to base our self-esteem on external things when those things really have absolutely nothing to do with who we are and what makes us great. I've attached a song from my CD, Life Lessons, that speaks to the idea that we're not what we do, but who we are.

I recently asked myself who I was outside of being a wife, daughter, sister, friend, singer, songwriter ... what's left? Or better yet, who's left? Just me ... a human ... being, not a human ... doing! Because I'm a person who likes to be in control and enjoys being busy, it's very hard to just be and allow myself to live in the moment. I'm getting better at it and what I find helpful these days is meditation ... sometimes guided, and sometimes silent. Through meditation, my thoughts are directed to stillness which allows me to see, feel and understand me a bit better. MyThoughtCoach offers a lot of great guided meditations, so if you're looking to tap in to you, I encourage you to visit this website and discover who you are without all the stuff!

Enjoy ...

Gratitude!

2011-06-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Gloria Miller, and I'm a whiner! Ah, let the healing begin.

No one said moving to a new country would be easy, but that's no excuse for the amount of whining I've been doing lately. My poor husband has to put up with my constant mood swings, while being forced to ride the roller coaster of my emotions. He's been absolutely brilliant at being there for me while maintaining his own sanity. I'm sure it helps that he travels a lot so he misses out on some of my mania.

Over the weekend while wallowing in my own self-pity, I was also browsing Oprah.com and found so much inspiration. The running theme that screamed out to me was Oprah's gratitude for the life she's been blessed with. Take a look at this clip: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprahs-Finale-Sign-Off-Video. This is the final sign off for the Oprah Winfrey Show.

After I watched this clip I stopped the whining and began to thank God for all that is amazing about my life. The list was long and the remembering sweet! Just that slight shift in my focus put a pep in my step, a smile on my face and a new determination in my heart to focus on the positive and live in the NOW!

What are you most greatful for today? I look forward to gaining inspiration and insights from your gratitude. Leave your thoughts in the comments section!

Glo.

Nourishment

2011-03-31T14:53:00.000-07:00

During my month-long hiatus I met the most amazing baby … Sweet Annie. Annie is a ball of sunshine and her smile simply melts your heart. Honestly, every time she smiled I wanted to give her money … and she smiled A LOT! Annie belongs to one of my best friends, Kimberly!

I had an epiphany while watching Kimberly care for Annie … and I want to share it with you. Kimberly was bringing Annie back into the front room after nursing her and I noticed that Annie’s cheeks were very rosy … no really, it looked like she had red Christmas lights in her cheeks. I asked Kimberly about it and she said that this happened all the time after Annie would nurse. It dawned on me that Annie was showing physical signs of being nourished by her mother! She sometimes even looked a little tipsy after nursing because her mother’s milk was so satisfying!

The idea of being nourished went around in my head for several days after my visit with the beautiful Lies family, and then when I was having lunch with my sister Ruth, she asked me how I liked being married and I said to her that I had rosy cheeks. She looked at me a bit strange until I told her about Annie! Later, I started to wonder if I’m being nourished in all the areas of my life … physically, mentally, spiritually and in my relationships.

Physically … am I making good choices about the food I put in my body? Am I exercising as much as I should? (Well, now I am ‘cause I’m training for a marathon.) Mentally … am I making good choices about how I spend my time? Am I resting enough? (After a month’s vacation, yeah, I think so!) Am I learning new things and challenging my brain? (Use it or lose it!) Spiritually … am I connected to my local church? (I’m working on it.) Am I able to still myself enough to connect with God? Can I feel his guidance? Relationships … am I surrounded by toxic people? Do I have the strength to walk away from toxic people? Am I a good friend?

I’m not sure if my cheeks are “Annie” rosy in all of these areas, but I do feel nourished in them. What about you … are your cheeks rosy? If you feel that they aren’t in any one of these areas, then it’s up to you to connect with the things that nourish you and to walk away from the things that don’t!

Love,
Glo.

There is Therefore Now

2011-02-05T04:47:00.000-08:00

I am the first one to admit that I probably watch too much TV, especially in the “reality” TV era where talent is no longer in the equation for fame. However, sometimes you’ll find a place of solace amid the noise that drowns our airwaves. I found this place in the middle of an episode of “Without A Trace.” One of the actors said, “screw the results and enjoy the process!” and it stopped me in my tracks. Here’s what I got from that statement … “The result of life is death, the process of life is living, enjoy the process.”

This is a Great Read!

Maybe as I come into middle age I'm more aware of my own mortality and often this awareness colors my thoughts and even my actions. Death is inevitable, but life is NOW! So hearing that statement reminded me that the only true power we really possess is the power of now. I think we need to pour as much living into the moment. I often quote this scripture from the Bible … “There is therefore NOW …” Not the past or the future. But now! This is a powerful place in which to live!

Hope

2011-01-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

Why did I have a panic attack at 12:05 am New Year’s Day? Why was the idea of starting a new year, this one in particular, so frightening? What I do know is that fear is irrational so I’ve decided to start there in trying to understand why crying uncontrollably over my pink champagne was my first act of 2011.

I know that my fears have absolutely no basis because faith in God is the foundation of my life. The beginning of a year is always such a hopeful time, however, it’s a big responsibility when you have this brand new, mistake-free year starring you in the face. You can’t help feeling that the New Year will magically be different than the old one, and you hope that you’ll magically be different too. You some how feel that come January 1st you'll stick to a healthy diet, you'll have the energy to get everything done that you need too, you'll be more diligent in yyour work and in pursuing our goals and dreams, and the list goes on and on and on. The reality is December 31st and January 1st are no different than any other two days! Why do we think they are?

This question brings me back to hope! The challenge then becomes how do we keep hope going throughout the year … beyond the first week of the year when we all feel invincible? Setting quarterly goals is a good way because every three months you can renew those hopeful feelings you had at the beginning of the year by seeing what you've accomplished so far, and by refocusing on your next set of goals. Something I’d like to focus on this year is not wasting the precious time that I’m given on this earth with activities that aren’t yielding results or enriching my life in anyway. I’m a firm believer of working hard and playing hard, and I think a part of working hard, while maximizing how you use your time, is working smart. Smart people don’t waste time. I’m reminded of something I heard Denzel Washington say on the Oprah show … “Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.” Sometimes we waste valuable time because we don’t want to tackle the task at hand. However, if you get the things done that you have to, that frees you up to do the fun stuff!

Then there’s the fear of the unknown. There’s so much happening in our world and life is full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows … yet, we journey on trusting that God is with us every step of the way. With this thought, my fears always fade away knowing that God is ordering my steps and that my future is safely in His hands.

A few minutes after my New Year’s day panic attack, I accepted that the fears that caused it were completely irrational and allowed myself to hope … knowing that my faith in God will give substance to everything I hope 2011 will bring!

Keep hope alive!!!

Retreat!

2010-11-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

Glo @ Yoga Retreat

ri-treet: a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet; hideaway: an area where you can be alone; withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat.

Last weekend I was able to retreat to a lovely Georgian country house for 3-days of yoga, meditation and vegetarian food with Michelle Cross. I don't know that any other "retreat" that I've been on changed me as much as this one and in so many different ways.

Since returning to my life, I feel so much stronger in my body. Yoga may look like stretching and bending, but there's also a great deal of muscle involved in getting into poses properly and then being able to hold those poses. I can feel the strength that developed from doing 10 hours of yoga during this weekend. Yep, you read right ... 10 hours of yoga. I've noticed this new found strength in my other workout classes, and in how I'm carrying my body. My back is straighter, I'm holding my head up just a bit higher, and I feel calmer and more in touch with myself. Not to mention how it's affected my singing. This week I've been preparing to compete in the Finals of Concorde's Got Talent (which is tonight, by the way) and my breathing is more consistent, my notes are more supported because my core is stronger, and I'm discovering new things that my voice is capable of.

Tilton House

The other big change has been unplugging a bit more. Unplugging from the internet and from TV. It's amazing how much more productive and focused I feel. I've been reading more this week, I've started to think about the book I want to write, and I've gained some major insight into finding the courage to only doing those things that I really feel passionate about. When it's quiet and your spirit is still, you're able to hear what's in your heart ... there's beauty in stillness!

Lastly, after eating a completely vegetarian menu and having so much more energy and less strange smells coming from the nether region, I've modified the way I'm eating. No, I've not gone vegetarian, but I've added more fresh fruit, veggies, and grains to my diet.

So I ask you, what would a retreat mean for you? For me it was stepping back from myself in order to see myself a little bit clearer. Maybe you can't get away for a weekend, but I'm sure you can find a hour over the coming weekend to retreat, be it into a book or magazine (this month's Oprah Magazine is very powerful), or a meditation or Yoga session (or both), or taking a much needed nap. I encourage you to find a way to retreat in the coming days. I guarantee you will immediately feel the benefits!

I'd love to hear about your journey ... happy retreating!

Glo.

Life in the UK - Three Month Review

2010-11-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's been just over three months that I've been living in the UK and it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride. In hindsight, I now realize that you can't really mentally prepare for being uprooted from everything that felt safe and familiar and replanted in a place that at times feels unsafe and really unfamiliar. By unsafe, I don't mean that I worry about getting "jacked" in the sleepy little town of Waterlooville where I live, I mean unsafe in not having all the comforts of the familiar that YOU are probably taking for granted right now!

The biggest, on-going adjustment is to Neal (the hubs) being away so much. He's an entertainer who works on cruise ships and most of the time he's on a ship and I'm home alone. "Johnny No Mates," is a term I've picked up over hear and it aptly describes how I feel most of the time since I've only made a few friends since moving to England in July. It's strange, because sometimes when Neal is home, I feel like he's impinging on my life ... like I have to drop everything to spend time with him.

Honestly, what's taking up most of my time is working out. I go to the gym and/or yoga class five days a week. Which brings me to another adjustment that's taking some time. The Brits are a laid-back people and the Americans are typically not. I'm a typical American in that I'm friendly, chatty and maybe at times a bit "in-your-face." This doesn't go over well here. In the fitness classes at the gym it's dead silent accept for me going "woohoo," "yeah" or making any sound that might come out depending on the level of pain I'm in at any given time. Even in Zumba class, I'm the ONLY one keeping up a ruckus! I can't help myself, and I've tried! Also, no one comes up to speak to you. I feel as if I'm constantly breaking the ice. One day just before "Step" class, one of the girls from Zumba struck up a conversation. Well, apparently it takes just one brave Brit to speak to the newcomer in order for the rest of the Brits to pipe in. And pipe in they did. Suddenly, I'm surrounded by ladies and we're all chattering away. I'm thinking, finally, the ice is broken and I'm no longer "Johnny No Mates." Wrong! The next week I was right back to nobody speaking to me.

There's is hope, though, because there are two ladies, Belinda and Tania, who seem to be of the same "tribe" as me and on several occasions we've been chatting away like old friends. They even invited me shopping today! Maybe I'm up to five friends now! I do have some awesome neighbors and I've joined the wives (Clare and Maureen) for Yoga on Monday nights.

Driving is coming along quite well. I'm no longer terrified of roundabouts and driving at night only slightly terrifies me. The fact that I've been doing some performing has made me have to face the night driving. Speaking of performing, I did my first official gig this past weekend at Thirty Three Restaurant Cafe in Poole which is about an hour from my house. Prior to that I entered "Concorde's Got Talent" sponsored by The Concorde Club and I performed in the Semi-finals in October and will compete in the Finals on November 12th. I'm making some good music connections and have even been invited out to Cypress in January to perform at several 5-Star Hotels. I'm still negotiating the terms, but it's looking promising.

I love the convenience of where I live. Everything is within walking distance ... the grocery store, the gym, the eye doctor, the medical clinic, shopping in general, to name a few things. I'm trying to walk more because I entered the "Moon Walk" Marathon in London that will be held in May next year. I've always wanted to complete a marathon but wasn't thrilled with the idea of running one. This one you walk during the night and it's proceeds go towards Breast Cancer Research. I've been trying to talk Neal into walking with me, but so far, he's not having it!

Overall, my first three months have been awesome. I feel like I'm in my stride now and relishing the adventure and the newness of everything! I miss my friends and family back in the states and I sometimes feel disconnected from my old life. However, I'm loving my new life and learning how to cope with the occasional bouts of loneliness. In American tradition I'm planning a big Thanksgiving Dinner, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with my new family and new friends! I have so much to be thankful for!

Competition

2010-10-12T04:59:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been noticing how competitive I can be. My competitiveness seems to be surfacing in the strangest situations. I recently joined my neighborhood fitness center and have been going to various workout classes. Because of my competitive nature, I find that I have a much better work out in class because I want to be the best in the room, so I end up pushing myself. My competitive spirit also reared it's head during Yoga, of all things! There's one lady in the class who rocks at Yoga, so I found myself holding poses longer and going deeper into stretches with the mindset of, "If she can do, so can I." And again, this competitiveness is making me a better Yogi.

My first instinct in seeing my competitive side surface was to suppress it, thinking "you don't have to be the best, just do your best." But then I thought, if being competitive is making me work harder and push myself beyond what I think I can do, then it's all good.

I guess I've always been competitive, but haven't found myself in situations where it's come to the surface. I did see glimpses of it when I was living in Milwaukee and booking gigs. My friend, the fabulous singer Jeannine Rivers, and I definitely had a unspoken, friendly competition going. I would find myself checking her website and seeing how many bookings she had and then get stirred to action if she had more than me. That got me on the phone book and on the net researching new places to perform. I even went after gigs and places she played. That's right, I'm not afraid to admit it 'cause I know she was doing the same thing ... LOL! (Jeannine, if you're reading this I just have one thing to say ... "Twist 'N Olive" ... LOL). That friendly competition with Jeannine kept my calendar filled because I was not going to be outdone!

So many people have asked me if I'd try out for one of the reality shows like "American Idol" or "Britain's Got Talent." I always say "no" because I can't imagine putting myself under that type of pressure. However, I have entered a local contest based on one of these shows called "Concorde's Got Talent." I auditioned for the competition on September 25th and was put through to the Semi-Finals, which are being held tonight ... YIPS! My competitive nature is stirred up more than ever. I've got seven minutes to wow the judges and the audience and I haven't been this dedicated to rehearsing and fine tuning my performance in a very long time.

With this competition, though, I don't feel the need to be the best singer. I'm focusing on giving the best performance that I can possibly give, and I've been rehearsing and preparing to do just that. Don't get me wrong, I WANT to win, but I also want to absorb the lesson that I'm to learn from this experience. It's given me such a boost that I'm thinking, maybe I will try out for Britain's "X Factor" next year, especially since they're doing the over 28s category. You never know, right!

So, I said all that to say this ... a little "healthy" competition is a great tool to make you the best that you can be. If you find that you have a bit of a competitive nature, use it to help you grow at whatever it is you're endeavoring to do! Win or lose, I guarantee you'll discover a little bit more about what you're really made of.

Jeannine recently told me that she may be moving to London to go to school. It seems Jeannine will be keeping me on my toes, even in England ... bring it on, sister!!

Quit Your Whining, Move It!

2010-08-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Hi, my name is Gloria Miller, and I’m a whiner. Well, lately anyway. I’m not usually a whiner, but the past six weeks of living in this strange country called to UK … yes, I’ve been whining … a lot! I thought it would be easy adjusting to life here but it hasn’t. I haven’t at all been motivated to do the things I know I need to do to plug in to this existence. As much as the US and UK are alike, they are equally, if not more, different. Just because you’re using the same words does not mean you’re speaking the same language.

Example … I asked my niece (in-law) Millie to hand me my purse. So she rummaged around in my purse and brought me my wallet. I said, not just the wallet, bring me my purse. Then she stood there perplexed ‘cause she had already brought me my purse. You see, in the UK purse means wallet and bag means purse. So the proper thing to say would have been “Millie, bring me my bag.” It took us 20-minutes to sort that out.

Also, I’m starting to lose some of my words … to the accent. I didn’t think it would happen, but it’s starting to. I met this awesome lady, Marlene, who is also an American who married a Brit and now lives in England. However, when I first spoke with her on the phone, I thought she was a Brit! She has an amazing British accent. It wasn’t until we were out for drinks that she told me she was from the states. I couldn’t believe it! I never would have guessed it. Then I started to worry about my accent (which is a strange mix of Midwest meets Southern meets Ebonics). Marlene said she picked up the accent so that she could be understood by the locals. And strangely enough, I get that. I wasn’t expecting to have so much miscommunication in a country that speaks the same language.

Then there’s the fashion. The UK style is not quite European and not quite American. It’s a strange in-between look that I’m not sure I want to adopt. There are definitely some fashionistas that know how to bring it, but the typical look is unique to this part of the world. Admittedly, I’m no fashion plate, but when I walk into the City Center of the bustling metropolis of Waterlooville, my new town, I feel quite fashion forward.

I do love that the full-figure is celebrated in the UK in a way that it’s not done in the states! Thanks to Gok, I love my big bangers! Gok hosts a show called “How To Look Good Naked” and it’s been an education for me on dressing for my body type (and age). My sister Ruth always says I dress like an overgrown teenager. I’m working on that. However, I did go shopping with Millie this weekend and was introduced to a wonderful store called Hollister featuring clothing for 12 to 18 year olds. Alright, maybe I had a minor relapse ‘cause I bought the cutest pink top … LOL!

Wow, did I get side-tracked. Anyway, back to what I was saying about whining … something seems to have clicked in my mind yesterday to kick me into gear to get my life up and running. I’ve been idling for six-weeks and today when I got out of bed, I did so with purpose, focus and a clarity that both surprised and excited me. Now that I’m back in gear, there’s no stopping me.

Today, I’m happy to say I’m in recovery from whining. I know I have to take it one day at a time and that there might be the temptation to whine again. My intention, though, is to stay whine-free!

If you haven’t done so already, please check out “The Power” by Rhonda Byrne. It’s the sequel to “The Secret.” I just started reading it today and it’s a great read so far. Click here to preview the new book.

Glo.

Stuck in the Middle

2010-07-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you were stuck “in the middle?” That’s how I’m feeling these days and rightly so. Here’s why. I seem to be somewhere in the middle between …

Old & Young - I turned 44 this month and somehow that seems waaaaaayyyyyy older than 43. I find myself modifying my goals ‘cause it seems unrealistic to keep “trying” at this age. I know that’s not where my head should be … but it is!

Being a Mother & Being Childless - Trust me, Neal and I are definitely trying to rectify this one. Until I was 37 I never thought I wanted kids. Then I met Neal and something changed … I also started having night sweats. The idea that the “kid-having thing” might no longer be under my control seemed to have jump-started my internal clock. I swear, prior to that, I never heard the tick, tock!

Famous & “Who?” - Worldwide CD release, minimal sales. Wanna buy a CD?

American & British - My husband Neal is British and I just moved to the UK this month. I didn’t think I’d feel so lost during this transition period, but I am. It’s only been a couple weeks but I’m not sure where to start in order to plug myself into “this” life. I’m slowly coming out of neutral and into first gear. I guess that is a start, right?

Fat & Thin – Currently, bulge is winning. But I’m not defeated yet. Two-weeks ago I started “Body for Life” and I gained 1 pound! I’m pretty sure that 1 pound is muscle and not the nachos I ate on the cruise ship last week!

My Ego & My Self - Can’t I just be me? Why are we defined by what we do instead of who we are? Wife … daughter … sister … friend … singer … entertainer … writer … when these titles are striped away, what’s left? Me. Is that enough?

So I ask again … Have you ever felt stuck in the middle? I would love to hear about your “middle” ground or how you’ve managed to pick a side. As always, I welcome your thoughts, rants and comments!

Much love …

Glo.

CD Release, Wedding, Relocation – Update

2010-07-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

CD Release

It’s been almost 2 months since “Let Go” was released and I’m amazed at the wonderful feedback I’m getting on the project. It’s one thing when you think you’re great … it’s something completely different when someone else thinks you’re great, LOL! The release party was at Piano Blu on May 14th and it was an awesome night. So many of my friends and family came out to support and buy the CD. I have worldwide distribution through www.cdbaby.com/cd/gloria3 and worldwide airplay through www.Jango.com/music/Gloria+Miller, so I’ve also had some internet sales and internet airplay all around the world. The latest single, “Your Touch,” is available as a free download when you join my mailing list. Join and download yours today!

Wedding

About a week before the wedding I seriously started to wonder why people even bother with planning big ceremonies. Everything was starting to go wrong, people who I thought I could count on went AWOL and time was ticking away! Then, June 5th arrived and it was one of the happiest days of my life. Honestly, I couldn’t stop smiling. When I began planning the wedding, I knew I wanted it to be an intimate setting with the people who love and support Neal and me. We arranged the ceremony so that Neal and I would face the audience instead of having our backs to them, and as I stood there looking around the room, all I saw were the faces of the people I love most in the world and I was overwhelmed by the love and joy emanating from them! It was an incredible day.

I have to say a little about the honeymoon too …

Neal and I do a lot of travelling between the US and the UK, as well as for Neal’s work, so the last thing we wanted to do was spend a lot of time travelling to a destination. We decided to take a “driving” trip through some of the New England states. We flew into Providence, Rhode Island where we picked up our rental car and embarked on a week of leisurely drives, Bed & Breakfasts, and the best seafood I’ve ever tasted! We visited Cape Cod; Cheers in Boston; Portland, Maine; and Bar Harbor, Maine where we spent two days exploring Acadia National Park and eating lobster.

Of course, a week wasn’t long enough. As soon as I started to unwind, it was time to come back home. We were so blessed that we travelled when we did, ‘cause we were just ahead of the mad rush that the area was gearing up for. We were able to spend time walking and travelling at our own pace without the hassle of traffic and the typical tourist trade. We even stuck to the coastal roads instead of the main highways, and some of the views of the seaside and the homes were breathtaking. We’d like to go back in the fall when the leaves are changing … that has to be amazing!

Relocating

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It’s official now, I’m a UK Resident. I applied for my Spouse VISA just before the wedding and was expecting to have the VISA before we left for the honeymoon. We knew that we would only have a few days after the honeymoon before Neal would have to fly back to the UK for work, and we were hoping I’d be able to go with him. Of course, the VISA didn’t come before Neal had to leave, so less than a week after the honeymoon, Neal left me. We were only separated for a couple weeks. The VISA arrived about 3 days after Neal left, but since he was headed right to a ship for work, we decided to fly me over later when he’d be back home to get me from the airport. That was Saturday, July 2nd.

Packing up my house was strange. However, when I first moved into the house in 2007, I kept saying that I’d only be living in it for a couple years. Neal was completely out of the picture at that time, but somehow I knew my living there would be temporary. By the time I sold or gave away my stuff, my life was reduced to eight boxes that cost a small fortune to ship to the UK. Did you know that the post office will only ship boxes internationally by Priority Mail? Well, I didn’t! Neal and I were sweating bullets as the dollars were adding up as the clerk weighed each box. Well, in actuality, it cost under $1,000 which is much less than it would have cost had I been shipping furniture, etc. I basically shipped music, clothes, books, and all my memories that you simply can’t get rid of (photos, year books, video tapes of shows, etc.).

So, I’m starting over yet again and I’m jumping in with both feet. I’m excited to see what happens over the next few months as I adjust to my new marriage, home and country! I love the idea of having a fresh start and feel like this is a chance to reinvent myself. Please stay tuned to this blog and take the journey with me! Come on … it will be fun!!

As always, I welcome your thoughts, rants or comments! Join the conversation ...

Glo.

CD Release, Wedding, Relocating

2010-04-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

Word of advice, never try to accomplish the above-mentioned, life-changing events at the same time. I wish someone had given me this advice!

CD Release (and Party)

I started working on this CD almost two years ago and have finally sent it off to the manufacturer to have the CDs pressed. It was such a relief when the project was no longer in my hands ... at least for a few days before I began marketing the thing. The party ... well, really it was a gig I already had booked and since the timing was good, I decided to turn that gig into a release party. I'm pleased with how the CD has turned out and I'm proud to present it to the world. I just hope somebody buys it ... LOL!

Wedding

I'm getting married on June 5th and honestly, it's been a very smooth process so far. I've enjoyed every minute of the planning and thankfully, I had some great friends to help out ... thanks Georgie and Andrea! As I'm writing this, I'm in the UK so I've had to be creative in managing all of these projects, especially with the 6 hour time difference. I've still got a few loose ends to tie up for the wedding ... hostess dresses, Neal's ring sized, wedding programs, table settings ... Okay, I'm gonna stop there 'cause I just felt my blood pressure go up! Plus, I've got home work from my DJ to do and I just can't face it. Being a musician, planning the music should be the easiest part ... well, it isn't! Any suggestions about music to play at the wedding/reception?

Relocating

That's what I get for marrying a Brit! Yep, I'm moving to the UK just after the wedding. This one has taken me by surprise. A year ago there's no way you could have convinced me that I'd be leaving my family, friends and local music scene to start all over again in England. But I am. The idea of it is both exciting and terrifying. The past few weeks I've been getting a taste of life in Waterlooville (you read correctly, that's the name of my new town ...LOL!) and because I don't know anyone yet, and because Neal travels a lot, I've been on my own for most of this visit. It's been a challenge. Luckily, I have a CD, wedding and relocation to prepare for to keep me busy ... otherwise I'd be talking to a soccer ball right now (Castaway ... Tom Hanks ... Wilson)!

Oh, and did I mention the volcano? I was supposed to join Neal on a ship just a few days after the London airports closed, and unfortunately, my flight was cancelled. I've lived in Chicago with its wind, snow and tornado warnings ... Florida with its hurricanes ... Milwaukee with its cold weather and snow ... but never anything like this. I have flown since the airports re-opened, and surprisingly, there were no delays, the plane wasn't even full, and there were no issues in the air. Thank you Jesus!

So, I guess it's going to be a busy couple of months and I'm going to have to do yoga everyday to keep myself calm. Stay tuned as I countdown to the UK!

Yellow Chair

2009-11-13T09:48:00.000-08:00

I’m in another airport heading to another ship. Three days ago we were in Malaga, Spain staying in this ultra modern hotel room with a delicious yellow chair against a backdrop of muted gray tones. I immediately claimed the yellow chair as mine, even though I don’t think Neal even noticed the chair. It was in this yellow chair that I continued to read “The Time Traveller’s Wife” which is a poetic yet disturbing tale of one man’s journey through the blurred boundaries of time.

Malaga is a beautiful city and Neal and I had a wonderful late night meal in an authentically Spanish café drinking Sangria and munching on a massive amount of local cuisine. To work off some of the meal, we took a walk and ended up strolling along the beach … quite unusual for a mid-west girl to be doing in November!

Then it was off to join the Navigator of the Seas, which is a massive Royal Caribbean ship. Neal’s show was the first night and he worked for a total of 15 minutes and received an entire week’s pay (slacker). For some strange reason, after the show we headed to the disco and I was dancing like a complete maniac. Maybe it was the Strawberry Margaritas I was drinking … lol! When we first got to the disco I was the only one dancing, but I think my enthusiasm spread ‘cause before long the floor was packed and we were Electric Sliding, and Soul Train lining and trying to remember Michael Jackson moves when “Thriller” was played. I danced so hard in fact that the next day I was barely able to get out of bed. That’s what dancing like a fiend at 43 will do to you! So, we spent our second day on the Navigator in bed watching T.V. only getting up to eat breakfast. When we got hungry again, we ordered a feast from room service including a Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert … how decadent!

The next day we were on the island, Funchal, Madeira, just off the coast of Africa for a day. We spent a few hours exploring the city and enjoying the ocean views and finally stopped off for Sangria before heading back to the ship (we really like Sangria). That night, we went to see the Production Show on the ship, and I had totally forgotten how great Royal Caribbean is a putting on a show. It was awesome … the costumes, the singers and dancers, everything! As many of you know, I used to work for Royal Caribbean as one of the production singers, and seeing the Navigator show really did bring back some awesome memories. Also, one of the dancers I worked with during my first contract was on the ship … Jason!

So, here I sit in Athens, Greece and I’m exhausted after having spent 6 hours walking around and taking in the sights. It was a wonderfully sunny day and the weather was perfect for wandering! Neal and I are pros at that. Now we’re both on our computers, completely ignoring each other just like an old married couple … and we’re not even married yet! I don’t want to think about the implications of this behavior … LOL!

More on Greece after I’ve had a nap!

Later …
Glo.

Ode to Dry Land

2009-11-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had the desire to kiss the ground? I have on three different ocassions. First, when I returned from Belize, Central America after having spent a week there. When we arrived in Miami International Airport I literally wanted to kiss the ground. The second time was at the end of a Transatlantic cruise from Europe to the US. When we arrived in Nassau, Bahamas after six days at sea, again, the ground was looking mighty good. And most recently, four days ago at the end of another Transatlantic journey. On Tuesday, October 27, we left Tenerife, Canary Islands and set off to the Caribbean. I knew we were going on a cruise, but I had no idea exactly where we were going, and surprisingly, had done no research as to the ports we’d be visiting.

Much to my surprise, we were headed to several Caribbean Islands with our final port being Barbados. First of all, I did not pack the right clothes. I’ve done about four transatlantic cruises and usually the weather is iffy, and often cold and rainy. However, the route from Tenerife landed us in the most amazing, sunny weather. I didn’t even have a bathing suit. The challenging part of this journey has been the five sea days in a row right at the beginning of the voyage. Once I hit the shops and bought some beach wear, I found my self sitting up on deck, working on my tan, and adopting the persona of a slug. I read, I slept, and I ate to the point of chronic boredom.

Just when I thought I wouldn’t be able to take another day of lounging around the pool, we arrived in St. Lucia, and again, I had the distinct sensation of wanting to kiss the ground. I lived in Florida for almost 8 years so I’m used to the hot weather, but nothing could have prepared me for the heat I experienced in St. Lucia. It was so hot that it was a little scary. I found myself muttering away to myself in disbelief as the sweat was pouring out of places I didn’t know I had places. During our walk I noticed a guy standing on a corner muttering to himself and I was wondering if this was a common effect of the heat, especially since I was muttering away to myself. Maybe after several days of being exposed to that level of heat, you simply go crazy. I seemed to be well on my way. We found our way to a bar and had a cold drink and enjoyed an afternoon of Karaoke with some locals.

Our next port was St. Martin and was another extremely hot day. On this day, instead of muttering to myself, I was simply drained of any energy I was supposed to have. I could barely move, and was a bit irritable (just ask Neal, poor thing)! We still managed to spend several hours wondering around and made a few stops at bars along the way. I think I might have suffered a little heat stroke, ‘cause once we got back to the cabin, I took a shower and was out cold until Neal woke me for dinner, and then after dinner, I went right back to bed and stayed there ‘til morning.

Yesterday, we were in St. Thomas, and since it’s a US port, we had the wonderful pleasure of going through US Immigration before anyone could leave the ship. I waited in line for over an hour. Once I showed my passport to the Immigration officer, she said that I was the only American passenger on the ship. Amazing. I’m on a P&O ship, the Ventura, and it’s a British cruise line. Neal said I was probably the only American on board, but I didn’t believe him until the Immigration officer confirmed it!

Today we’re in Antigua and Neal’s doing laundry and I’m blogging. We do plan to have a little look around the town for a couple hours. I’m on a mission to find some black hair products, ‘cause I know once I get back to the UK that will be a challenge.

Wish me luck!

Glo.

Hangin' Out With My Future In-Laws

2009-10-26T04:26:00.000-07:00

When Neal arrived home on Friday morning after leaving me on my own for 11 days, we knew we only had the weekend to get everything in order so that we can both leave on Tuesday morning and start ship-hopping for the next month. We have been running around non-stop until yesterday when we took a moment to exhale. We slowed down enough to spend the day with my future in-laws on The Isle of Wight, which is the Norman Rockwell-esque community that Neal and his Brother, Chris, grew up in.

You have to take a ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to The Isle of Wight and it was a very pleasant 40-minute journey ... we slept the entire time. As soon as we cleared the ferry, Neal pulls over and it's my turn to drive. It's time to see if those driving lessons paid off. Unbelievably, I was driving like I've been driving in the UK my whole life, that is, of course, after I realized I was driving in the wrong lane. But, once I got that straight, I was driving like a pro. Neal had to admit that the lessons were worth every dime, and he seemed quite impressed with my newly acquired driving skills. We drove over to his dad's house in a town called Shanklin, and the first order of business was to have a cup of tea. I love how the men of England can talk of having tea while sitting in a garden without the fear of having their man-hood questioned! Then we had a little pre-lunch stroll to the seaside cliffs and for the end of October, the weather has been quite mild and we were blessed to have a beautifully sunny day.

The seaside was great. Then it was off to meet Barbara, the neighbor of over 40 years, at The Conservative Club. This is a social club for one of the UK's political parties of which Neal's dad is a member. We each had a traditional Sunday roast. Mine was lamb and besides getting a great upper-body workout trying to cut the lamb, my meal was great. The meal also came with Yorkshire Pudding. Now, the name gives you the idea that it is a dessert and that it should be thick and creamy. NOT. It's bread made of flour and egg. It tastes amazing, especially if you cover it in gravy ... well, let's face it, everything tastes better covered in either gravy, bacon or cheese.

After lunch and great conversation, we went by Barbara's to see her new bungalow. After 40 plus years of being the O'Connell's neighbor, she has moved across the Island to a smaller place. For a little old lady, she's got pretty awesome taste. Her home was still in that "just moved in" state, but her furniture was classic and extroadinary. The type of craftmanship that you just can't find these days. I'm looking forward to visiting her again when everything is in place.

From there we headed to a special church service that was remembering those who had passed on. Neal's mom passed earlier this year and we were invited to honor her memory. Neal's brother Chris, joined us and it was a very nice service. Then it was back to Neal's dad's house for more tea and a sweet.

We ended our awesome day on the Isle of Wight with Neal´s brother´s family. Of course we started the visit with more tea and a little adult conversation, before Millie & Ellis joined us to update us on the goings on of the UK teenager. Millie´s a little dancing queen and Ellis is a brainiac! Millie and I are definitely kindred spirits both having a flair for the dramatic, though I think Millie´s got me beat by a mile. If there´s not an Oscar in that girl´s future, I´d be very surprised! After we got caught up on each other´s lives, it was off to the pub for dinner. The kid´s talked me into a cheeseburger with bacon (really, it didn´t take that much convincing) and it was soooooo good. I had to keep an eye on Millie who was keeping her eye on my pint. She wanted to know if it was as refreshing as the commercials say it is, and I convinced her to take my word for it, it was!!

Finally, we made the mad dash back to the docks to catch the 10p ferry home to Waterlooville. It was a pleasant 40-minute journey, we slept the entire time!

Glo.

My Weekend in London - Day Two

2009-10-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

I can’t think of a better way to have started my second day in London than a wake-up call from Neal. We had a lovely chat ... Neal was heading off on his own adventure to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. So far I hadn't seen my host, Johnny Jay. I got the key from his doorman when I arrived on Friday, and returned home pretty late after “Sister Act.”

So my plan for Saturday was to do very “English” things, so I started out by having a traditional English breakfast at a pub just down the street from Johnny’s flat. So this traditional English breakfast is quite a feast consisting of barely toasted toast, hash browns, baked beans, sausages (not those skinny ones we get in the states), bacon, a fried egg, 1 mushroom, and a strangely prepared slice of tomato. As difficult as it was, I managed to eat the entire breakfast except for the strangely prepared tomato.

Then it was off to The Tube station to head to the West End to pick up my ticket to see the matinee of “Billy Elliott.” This was a much less complicated Tube ride than Friday’s. I only had to transfer trains once. I arrived at Victoria Station and found my way to The Victoria Palace Theatre with no problem. After getting my ticket, I decided to take a stroll. Again, I walked until I actually heard my left knee cursing me out. By that time I had wandered to what I dubbed “Designer Row” in the Chelsea/Knight’s Bridge area. There they were, Versace, Gucci, Prada and many, many more. I was pretty sure I would be arrested by the fashion police if I actually made eye contact with anyone so I kept my head down looking at my no-name Wal-Mart trainers in utter shame. Once I lifted my head, I was at the famed Hyde Park. Just as I was going to walk into the park’s gates I stole a little glace at my watch. To much surprise and horror, it was 1:30p and “Billy Elliott” started at 2:30p and I had absolutely no idea where I was in relation to the theater.

I am blessed with a good sense of direction and was pretty sure I was headed in the right direction to get back to Victoria Palace, but I couldn’t chance walking. Thankfully, there’s a Tube station practically on every corner so I headed for the nearest one and like a pro, found my way to Victoria Station just in time to hit the pub and have a pint before the show. Whoa, that was very Bri’ish! Oh Lord, I’m already dropping my “T’s”!

After downing a pint of Strongbow and a bag of crisps (that’s chips in American), I found my seat and waited anxiously for the show to start. So, where “Sister Act” was all glitz and glamour, “Billy Elliott” was all grime and grit! “Sister Act,” overtly American, “Billy Elliott,” very British. There was so much of the dialogue that I just didn’t get. By the second day in London I had gotten cheap so I didn’t buy a program so I don’t know the actor’s name who played Billy, but he was pretty fabulous. A pint-sized triple threat. He sang, he danced, he acted and did it all with ease! The show did feel long and had some political moments involving Margaret Thatcher that I could have lived without, but overall, I enjoyed the show. I’m not sure if having ice cream during intermission is a traditional British thing to do, but I did have the spoonful of ice cream that cost me 3 pounds (about $4.50), and it was good!

I thought I would return to the same pub that I went to before the show to have fish ‘n chips, but it seems everyone who left the theatre had that same idea, so Plan B was to head back to Putney and have dinner near Johnny’s place. So my final traditional British task was to eat of meal of fish ‘n chips. I went to The Boat House, had another pint, and had the most wonderful meal, except for the “mashed peas” they served with the fish ‘n chips. Hey, I like sweet peas so I figured I’d like mushy peas … NOT! Me no likey.

Thankfully, I only had to walk a couple steps to Johnny’s building, ‘cause I was stuffed like a pig, and my legs were about to revolt. It was only about 7:00 p when I got home and still no Johnny sighting. I decided to read the book I’ve been trying to finish since last Thanksgiving until Johnny came home. By about 7:30p I was sound asleep and the book was still unfinished. I finally woke up about 10:30p to wash up for bed, and then I passed out again ‘til morning.

Sunday morning I was feeling all of my 43 years and finally, a Johnny sighting. He was heading off to a meeting, but he had a few minutes for coffee and the reader’s digest version of the Neal & Glo engagement story!

Finally, about mid-day I was on a train headed out of London and back to reality. My weekend was exhausting, stimulating, inspiring, fun and definitely an adventure. My next adventure starts in a week when I will begin a month of ship-hoping with Neal.

Stay tuned …

My Weekend in London - Day One

2009-10-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

I woke up Friday morning ready for my adventure running around London on my own. The first challenge, however, was getting there.

Taxis, Trains & The Tube …

It’s amazing how a simple thing like phoning a taxi can seem so daunting when you’re in a foreign country. So, I nervously call “Andi Cabs” and with the timidity blaring through my American accent, I manage to order the taxi and it arrived right on time!

I had a fantastic cab driver. We laughed and cracked jokes all the way to the train station, which was great ‘cause it kept my mind of my next scary task … buying a train ticket. I made Neal walk me through what I needed to say and he swore there would be a person at a ticket booth from whom I could buy my ticket. There was a booth, but no person. Then I spot them … these very complicated looking automated ticket machines. Let’s face it, none of us enjoy looking like we don’t know what we’re doing, and we certainly don’t want to look foolish. There I am staring at the machine, experiencing a private summer from the heat of looking foolish, and I have no idea what to do.

Finally, someone takes pity on me and walks me through pushing the right buttons and then out pops a ticket and I’m good to go … or at least I thought I was. As soon as I turn to walk onto the platform I’m confronted with gates that are closed and I again have no idea what to do. Then I remembered all the other trains I’ve successfully boarded around Europe and most of them you have to run your ticket through a slot in order for the gate to open onto the platform. So I ever so coolly look for this slot, and bingo, there is one and I’m now safely on the platform.

I was already ready for a pint and I hadn’t left the train station yet. The train ride was great. The London exit is called “Waterloo,” and needless to say I couldn’t get that tune out of my head. You know the one, ‘cause it’s now going through your head. Sorry.

Neal had arranged for me to stay at his friend Johnny Jay’s place in the Putney area of London, so once I got to the Waterloo station I had to follow Johnny’s instructions to get to his flat. Listen at me sounding all British! Thanks to great directions, I arrived at Johnny’s flat, aka, the lap of luxury, with no problem. This place was fabulous. Here’s the view from my bedroom window … nice huh? As difficult as it was, I managed to pull myself away from the lap of luxury and head off to The Tube to find my way to the London Palladium to pick up my tickets for the 7:30p show of “Sister Act.”

I guess navigating your way through the subway system is a lot like riding a bike ‘cause in no time at all I was figuring out where I needed to connect to different lines in order to make my way to my destination. My stop was “Oxford Circus” and up to this point, moving through the train system was just as ordinary as walking around Milwaukee. A manageable amount of people, no big deal. Then, I found my way out of the station onto Oxford Circus and the word circus could not have been more fitting. I couldn’t believe the amount of people. I sometimes like to listen to what I call “conversation fragments” and one fragment that rang through to me just as I was trying to cross the street without getting killed was … “I hate London.” I couldn’t help but laugh cause at that very moment, I was completely enamored with it! I instantly picked up my walking pace to keep with the flow of traffic and before long I was knocking people over right along with the rest of them!

I found the theatre and picked up my ticket, then headed off to do some shopping. Turns out I was in the perfect area for that. Amazingly, I managed to not spend any money. Okay, I did spend some, but only in LUSH where they sell homemade cosmetics, soaps, etc.

I walked my legs off ‘til about 6p when I finally crashed at a Starbucks for a pick-me-up before the show. The people-watching was fantastic. The Café Mocha gave me just the boost I needed and at 7p I headed to the theatre. On my way inside, there was a huge group of “Nuns” preparing to go in as well. I tried to resist, but to know avail. I had to have a picture with them.

I took my seat next to Barbara and Helen from Liverpool (home of the Beatles) and as soon as the curtain rose on Sister Act it was ON! The show was fabulous. The set was extremely high-tech with moving parts and pieces flying in and stuff dropping into the floor … really cool. The star of the show, Patina Miller, who I’m pretty sure is my cousin, was too amazing for words. She commanded the stage from start to finish! Another highlight was Ako Mitchell who played Eddie the cop. He had some “steal-the-show” moments. And, I can’t forget Sister Mary Patrick (the hyper, high note singing one), played by Claire Greenway. She was as good as the actress who played the character in the movie, if not better!

The show let out about 10:30p and the streets were still heaving with people. I’m not sure how this happened, but I found myself in line at McDonald’s ordering a Big Mac meal. It’s probably been 2 years since I’ve had a Big Mac, but for some reason that seemed like the perfect late night meal to have after seeing such an awesome show … and it was!!!

So, with my stomach sufficiently stuffed, I navigated my way back through The Tube and found my way home to rest my weary self and wake up refreshed for day two of my London adventure … more on that tomorrow!

Survived My First Driving Lesson

2009-10-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

Roundabouts, piece of cake!!! So I survived my first driving lesson and it was definitely easier learning from a complete stranger than trying to be taught by Neal. My lesson was a great start to the day and then I headed off on the bus to Portsmouth. What a sense of accomplishment to find my way there and back without getting lost.

My first stop was a shopping/dining/living area called Gunwharf Quay. I've been there before with Neal, but was so excited to have found it on my own. They had lots of sales on at the shops, but I didn't buy anything, even though there was a red dress that I can't stop thinking about. After having lunch, I walked through Portsmouth to a shopping center called The Cascades. I was doing my wifely duty of exchanging a gift that Neal bought for his best friend's son.

I was headed home just as the kids were getting out of school and all I could think about was Harry Potter! LOL! All the kids looked like extras from the movie with their little ties on and crisp white shirts. They were just missing those black robes and wands! I also have to mentioned the two ladies who sat just behind me on the bus ... from the smell of them, I think they spent the afternoon in the local pub ... LOL! Definitely a liquid lunch.

Well, that's it for today. I'll have another installment after my London weekend. I'm thinking about seeing "Billy Elliott" or "Sister Act" in the Westend. I saw an advert for "Sister Act" today and it looks fabulous. My friend Evan says he saw "Billy Elliott" and loved it. What's your vote?

'Til Next time ...

Glo.

First Day of Exploring on my Own!

2009-10-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

Last night was my first night in my UK home and let me just say that I'm not used to the house noises. I probably sat up in bed 12 times thinking someone was coming up the stairs ... it didn't help that I watched a documentary about Jack the Ripper right before I went to bed. Yeah, I just couldn't make myself stop watching it. Hopefully tonight will be a bit better.

I have to pause here and tell you about the amazing sunset I'm seeing just outside my kitchen window. Pink, purple, yellow, and some patches of blue are filling the sky right now. Awesome!

Anyway, I decided to venture outside today and take a look around my new neighborhood. I'm not driving yet (I have driving lessons set up for Wednesday and Thursday), so I had to to explore on foot. I live in Waterlooville which is a very small town south of London. The city center is more like a strip mall so there's not much to it. I did, however, manage to spend a fair amount of money.

The weather today was beautiful and I really enjoyed my wander around town. I found a grocery store that sold baked-chicken flavored potato chips (crisps as they're called over here). I tried them and they are frickin awesome!!!

After my driving lesson tomorrow, I may venture onto a city bus into Portsmouth which is the nearest big town. To be honest, the only place I really want to go is Asda's which is the UK's version of Wal-Mart! It's not nearly as big as what we have in the states, but it will do. I want to do some decorating while Neal's away and I know I can find what I want at Asda's. If my lessons go well, I may venture there on Thursday. Neal bought a GPS for me, so I'll hopefully get to put it to use.

I'm headed to London over the weekend and my plan is the do some shopping (of course), have some fish 'n chips, and see a show in the West End. I'm thinking about seeing "Billy Elliot."

I'll let you know how my lesson goes tomorrow!

Cheerio!

Glo.

Greetings from the UK!

2009-10-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

If you haven’t heard by now, I’m getting married. FINALLY … LOL! I was engaged to Neal Austin on June 29th and I seem to have been caught up in a whirlwind that is still spinning quite fast! Since June 29th I have finished recording my CD, quit my day job, performed my last gig of the year, and temporarily moved to England. See what I mean about the whirlwind?

I have decided to blog my adventures while in the UK and wanted to invite you to come along on for the ride. All future blog entries will be available by subscription only. If you would like to subscribe to my blog so that you are automatically alerted when I’ve made a new entry, please click the subscribe button.

I’m on hiatus from performing ‘til the beginning of next year, however, I am still adding the finishing touches to my CD which is now scheduled for March, 2010 release. We are in the mixdown/mastering phase and it’s going great. Please stay tuned for additional information on my CD release.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

2009-09-25T08:59:00.001-07:00

Only working a half day today so that I can go sing for my elderly friends @ Aurora Adult Day Center. Piano Blu tonight! YAY!

2009-09-22T19:45:00.001-07:00

Time for bed ... Nite!

2009-09-22T19:27:00.001-07:00

I finally got around to my todo list ... I got a lot done these past two hours!

SPECIAL EDITION Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 13 "Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk"

2009-09-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

In honor of my mom, Christine Miller, and the countless others who are living with Alzheimer's, I am determined to make a difference in the fight against this disease. By participating in the 2009 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk® on Saturday, October 3rd, I'm committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer research, care and support.

Currently more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, and 78 million baby boomers are at risk – unless we find a way to change the course of the disease.

I want to do my part to fight this disease, but I need to ask for your support! Please make a donation to help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide. Please visit my fundraising website: http://MemoryWalk09.kintera.org/milwaukee/gloriamiller and make your donations directly to the Alzheimer's Association on-line. Any amount you donate is greatly appreciated. Also, if you'd like to join my team and walk with me, you can sign-up right online. That would be awesome!

On behalf of the millions of Americans who are living with this disease thank you for supporting my efforts. We're on the MOVE to end Alzheimer’s! Please stay tuned to future editions of my newsletter for updates on my fundraising efforts and highlights of the Memory Walk coming up on Saturday, October 3rd!

That's it for this week! As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts, rants or general opinions! Hope to see you at Memory Walk, and again, thanks for your support!

Glo.

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 12

2009-06-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my weekly newsletter providing you with a little glimpse into the world of Gloria Miller Music!

I’m baaaaaaaaack! Did you miss me?

I apologize for being so silent over the past several weeks. My absence has been for good reason though. As you know, I’m releasing a CD this year and I officially started recording it on May 19th. My band and I started with recording the basic tracks … keys, bass and drums … recording everything live with me doing “reference” vocals. I am blessed to have some of Milwaukee’s finest musicians playing on my CD. Scott “Buttermilk” Currier on keys as well as assisting with arrangements; Chris Mell on drums and Jon Matelski on three different types of bass (electric, fretless and upright) … Awesome!

Once the basic tracks were recorded, I had Jeff “Mush Mouth” Kuliga come in and record percussion. I wasn’t there for his session and when I finally got a chance to hear what he did, I was floored. Jeff has an arsenal or over 100 instruments from around the world, so I’m not quite sure what he was using to make the magic he made, but I love it! That’s why it’s so fun playing gigs with him … I never know what new toy he’s gonna pull out of his bag of tricks!

I’ve had three sessions where I recorded background vocals. I’m doing all the background vocal parts and let me tell you, sometimes it gets quite confusing trying remember what part you’re recording. Glen, my engineer, can attest to that! There were times when I was supposed to be recording the alto part and ended up singing the tenor part … LOL! I had an awesome time arranging the background vocals, which I do in my head … yeah, it’s scary in there! The weird thing about arranging in your head is that in theory, everything sounds awesome, perfect even … however, when you start actually singing parts out loud, things can get a little tricky. Glen has done an amazing job creating a relaxed environment where you can test out your theories to create something magical. The vocals we ended up with sound great!

There’s still lots to do on the project, and my hope is to be done by the end of June, mid-July at the very latest. On my way to the studio this past Tuesday I had a pep talk with myself giving myself permission to relax and to take whatever time is necessary to make the best CD possible. I realized that I was imposing these “deadlines” on myself which was stressing me out. Now, I’m cool …

So, 7 songs are recorded and I have 2 more to do, maybe 3. I’m thinking about recording a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” Scott and I have developed a killer version of this song which has evolved over the past year or so that we have been working together. Now, every time we perform it we look at each other with that “we need to record this song” grin on our faces. What do you think? Should I include it? Your input would be greatly appreciated here … hopefully, you’ll help me make up my mind!

Next steps will be to get Mark Rattner in to record guitar; Janet Schiff will lay cello parts; Glen Quarrie is adding alto and tenor sax, and Scott has a few finishing touches to add. This Saturday I’m going to start recording “real” lead vocals which will take us into the home stretch!

So, that’s why you haven’t heard from me in so long. I’m back on track now and will keep you updated with “Glo’s Week in Review” every week! Stay tuned … Follow this link to view a slideshow of my studio antics ... http://www.slide.com/r/wlomjedf6D-4RKlmWZufuOlQnwpTZfqD?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original.

MAMN

The Milwaukee Area Musician’s Network is hosting our 4th monthly networking meeting and we have a wonderful evening planned for our members and guests. For more details about this organization, please visit: http://www.milwaukeemusician.com/.

Here are the details of the meeting:

Tuesday, June 23rd – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Baby Grand Piano Bar

11302 W. Bluemound Road
Wauwatosa, WI 53226-4030

P: (414) 778-1577

http://www.babygrandpianobar.com/

If you are involved in any capacity with the Milwaukee area music scene, please plan on attending and learning more about MAMN. RSVP BY: Monday, June 22nd. Email or call Stephanie at 262.293.3527 or http://www.steph@o2mproductions.com/.

Well, that's it for this week! Thank you so much for your continued support. As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts and rants.

Join in the conversation!

Glo.

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 11

2009-05-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new weekly newsletter providing you with a little glimpse into the world of Gloria Miller Music!

I know you've been waiting with betted breath for this edition of Glo's Week in Review." Sorry for the delay, but I'm changing it's release day to Sunday instead of Wednesday. I'm a lot more focused on Sundays after usually sleeping in on Saturday recharging myself physically, and going to church on Sunday recharging myself spiritually! So, here we go ...

Featured Gig

I will be making my debut on Saturday, May 9th at Andrew's @ The Delafield Hotel, performing with Scott Currier on keys. Looking for something to do that night? Come and join The Gloria Miller Duo as we perform your favorite Jazz, Blues and R&B songs with a few surprises thrown in to keep the night interesting. Scott and I will also be previewing a couple tunes from my upcoming CD. You don't want to miss this great night of entertainment. Here are the details ...

Saturday, May 9th
7p - 11p
Andrew's Bar & Restaurant
The Delafield Hotel
415 Genesee Street
Delafield, WI 53018
http://www.thedelafieldhotel.com/

Scott and I are looking forward to seeing you there on May 9th! Mark your calendars!!!

MAMN

Let me say that singing in front of people is so much easier than speaking in front of them. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to conduct MAMN's second monthly meeting solo. The meeting was held on April 28th at The Jazz Estate and that entire day I was a nervous wreck. Trying to remember everything that I needed to bring and all the info I wanted to cover was a challenge. It helped that I am very organized and I that I live most of my life pulling things together at the last minute. I was able to have everything ready and set up before the first of our 15 guests arrived.

The meeting went great. Our guest speaker, Mike Canter of Sonicjive.com shared some incredible insight into social networking and gave us a sneak preview into his social networking site, http://www.sonicjive.com/, and outlined some of the many new features that will be rolling out this Fall, including a new name, http://www.jivewired.com/. If you are a musician and don't have a Sonicjive page setup yet, do it today! There will be some amazing profit-sharing opportunities exclusive to members joining before the Fall rollout.

Also, if you are also a member of MAMN, Sonicjive will host your website for free. Just one of the many benefits of membership in MAMN. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 26th (location TBD). Please mark your calendars and plan on joining us as we work to unite musicians, venues and providers of professional entertainment in the Milwaukee area to position our work to be on the cutting edge of the world's music scene!

CD Project

I can't believe it's already May and I have yet to get into the studio to get my project done. I started working on it in June of last year and really thought it would be done by now! Oh well. I'm trying to put out the best release that I can and that's taking time. We are close, though. Next week we have two rehearsals scheduled and the following week we should be ready to start recording.

In last week's issue I mentioned that we would be using a cello player on the CD. Honestly, at that time that was a sheer statement of faith 'cause I had no idea who that cellist would be. You see, I didn't know any cellists! But, thanks to my friend Cheryl who stopped by my house on Friday, April 24th to drop off a flyer to go to an "Art Walk" in Wauwatosa, I found a cellist!

My friend Georgie and I were chillin' at my house gabbing a mile a minute (as we often do) when Cheryl stopped by on her way up north to drop off the flyer. Georgie and I decided to go and headed over the Wauwatosa. Long story short, as we're walking into the Underwood Gallery, there sits this beautiful woman with a beautiful cello and I whack Georgie on the arm nearly knocking her over 'cause I doubt she weights 100lbs soaking wet ... LOL! As I'm steadying Georgie, I proclaim, "There's my cello player!" Not wanting to freak the cellist out, I hover towards the back of the room while she's finishing up a song. As soon as she was done I pounced ... introducing myself, begging her to consider playing on my CD and getting her business card … all in one breath 'cause I was so excited, LOL!

To make things even more fantastic, the music she was playing was all original and fabulous. (I'm just as excited reliving it ... so much so that I've forgotten to tell you her name. Janet Schiff.) Anyway, she said that she would be able to write the cello part for me, not just play it. I nearly fell over! While tiny Georgie was trying desperately to steady me, I shamelessly gushed over Janet and told her I'd be in touch. YAY ... I have a cellist!

If you'd like a sample of Janet's work, visit her website: http://www.cellojanet.com/.

What is so exciting about my CD project is that I'm using all Milwaukee talent and there are some of the best musicians working in this town! I have Scott Currier on keys and helping with arrangements; Jon Matelski on bass; Chris Mell on drums; and Janet on cello. Also, my recording engineer, Glen Quarrie also plays a mean tenor sax so he'll be lending his flavor to the project too! I'm still trying to tie down a guitarist. Oh, how can I forget?... I have Jeff Kuliga throwing down some killer percussion. And that rounds out the project.

As always, I will keep you posted on how the CD is shaping up!

Mirrors of Desire

Just a quick reminder for you to get your ticket for my Milwaukee theatrical debut as I join some amazing Broadway singers in the reading of "Mirrors of Desire," written by Billy Kirchen and James Chudy. Here are the details ...

Mirrors of Desire
LaCage
Monday, May 11th - 8p
801 S. 2nd Street
Milwaukee, WI

Tickets are $20. Contact me to reserve your ticket or visit http://www.mirrorsofdesire.net/ to purchase your ticket online.

Well, that's it for this week! Thank you so much for your continued support. As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts and rants.

Join in the conversation!

Glo.

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 10

2009-04-23T20:13:00.001-07:00

FEATURED PERFORMANCE

Mirrors of Desire, a dark musical comedy, is the story of one man’s journey towards forgiveness, redemption and enlightenment, written by Billy Kirchen and James Chudy.

Save the date:

Monday, May 11
LaCage
801 S. 2nd Street
Milwaukee, WI
Tickets are $20
Visit: www.mirrorsofdesire.net to purchase your ticket.

Cocktails start @ 6p; the preview starts @ 8p and then they’ll be a DJ from 9:30p until close.

I am thrilled to be a part of this preview. We’ve already had a couple rehearsals and this show promises to be an emotional journey that you don’t want to miss! Get your ticket today!

SPEAKING OF BILLY KIRCHEN …

I had a great time sitting in with Billy at The Baby Grand on Sunday, April 19th. We did a few duets, including an impromptu “The Way We Were.” Billy is an amazing Broadway singer and it’s such a pleasure to listen to him perform.

Billy and James Chudy wrote a beautiful song, “Only Love” that they asked me to take a listen to and see if I would like to sing it. At first, I wasn’t sure about the song because when I first heard the song it wasn’t in my “key” so I couldn’t really get the feel for it. Then Billy sent me an MP3 of the song in the perfect range for me, and every time I would sing it, I fell more in love with the song. Finally, I sent him an email asking if I could include it on my CD. And he said yes. Wait ‘til you hear this song. It’s awesome. I sang it twice on Sunday … LOL! (Billy made me … LOL)! I think “Only Love” is the perfect song to close out the CD. It just may become my “signature song!”

BELWAH CAFÉ SHOW UPDATE

On Friday, April 17th I had the pleasure of performing at The Belwah Café @ Beloit Inn with my Quartet! It was awesome. We started out playing outside, but as soon as the sun set it was freezing outside. So, during our first break we headed inside to finish out the night. Thankfully, they fed us ‘cause after having to set up twice for the same gig, we needed a little sustenance. Beloit is a little over an hour from Milwaukee, so it’s a bit of a drive, but the great crowd and getting to work with my Quartet made the trip totally worth it!

We made quite an impression out there, because they have already asked us back for five more dates over the course of the summer … YAY!

CD PROJECT

We are just a couple weeks from actually being in the studio. I have my core musicians all set to record the basic tracks, then we will go back in to record the guitar, vocals, cello (yes, we’re going all out here), and some funky Latin grooves courtesy of Jeff Kuliga! I have Scott Currier on Keys, Jon Matelski on Bass, and Chris Mell on Drums. Scott and I are meeting one more time before we have one or two rehearsals with the band, and then it’s on … to the studio we go! I’m getting more and more excited about the project. This is my second CD, but the first one where I’ve been this involved with selecting the musicians, and the songs, everything really. It’s fun being in charge … LOL! (And quite stressful!)

MAMN

The Milwaukee Area Musician’s Network (MAMN) will be hosting its monthly networking meeting on Tuesday, April 28th @ The Jazz Estate (http://www.jazzestate.com/).If you are a musician, venue or music professional, please plan on joining us. Our guest speakers will be Brian Sanders of The Jazz Estate and Mike Canter of Sonicjive.com (http://www.sonicjive.com/). Here are the details …

MAMN Networking Meeting
Tuesday, April 28th6p – 8p
The Jazz Estate
2423 N. Murray Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 964-9923
http://www.jazzestate.com/

Free pizza will be provided by Transfer Pizzeria Café (http://www.transfermke.com/) one of our sponsors. Please RSVP by Monday, April 27 by email (steph@O2Mproductions.com) or by phone (262-293-3527) if you plan on attending.

That's it for this week!

Thank you so much for your continued support. As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts and rants.

Join in the conversation!

Glo.

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 9

2009-04-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new weekly newsletter providing you with a little glimpse into the world of Gloria Miller Music!

Piano Blu

It was so great performing with my Trio this past Friday @ Piano Blu. There was a great crowd out on Good Friday and the dance floor was packed. We even got a request to do some Salsa, so Jeff Kuliga, who really is the King of Latin on the drums (in my humble opinion), took Cole Porter’s “Love For Sale” from standard Swing to sexy Salsa! Caliente!

CD Project

Scott and I met again this week to work on the arrangement for “Your Touch” which is one of 12 original songs I wrote for the project. As Scott and I go through each song, we try to categorize the song, e.g., Bossa, Swing, etc. However, this song can only be categorized as “Sexy Chocolate.” LOL! It’s not Rated “R,” but its close. Nah, I’m just kidding. It’s full of subtleties and innuendo, and YES, very sexy.

MAMN

The Milwaukee Area Musician’s Network (MAMN) will be hosting its monthly networking meeting on Tuesday, April 28th @ The Jazz Estate (http://www.jazzestate.com/).
If you are a musician, venue or music professional, please plan on joining us. Our guest speakers will be Brian Sanders of The Jazz Estate and Mike Canter of Sonicjive.com (http://www.sonicjive.com/). Here are the details …

MAMN Networking Meeting
Tuesday, April 28th
6p – 8p
The Jazz Estate
2423 N. Murray Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 964-9923
http://www.jazzestate.com/

Free pizza will be provided by Transfer Pizzeria Café (http://www.transfermke.com/) one of our sponsors. Please RSVP by Monday, April 27 by email (steph@O2Mproductions.com) or by phone (262-293-3527) if you plan on attending.

Reminder

Save the date:

Mirror of Desire

Monday, May 11th

@ LaCage

801 S. 2nd Street

Milwaukee, WI

Tickets are $20

Cocktails start at 6p; the show starts at 8p and there will be a DJ from 9:30p 'til close. Email me @ gloria@gloriamillermusic.com to reserve your ticket.

Lastly, I wanted to share a web-site with you that may be helpful if you or someone you love has ever struggled with substance abuse or has been physically or mentally abused: www.myspace.com/wearesafe.

That's it for this week!

Thank you so much for your continued support. As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts and rants.

Join in the conversation!

Glo.

http://www.gloriamillermusic.com/
www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Miller-Music/9486129890
www.reverbnation.com/gloriamillermusic
www.myspace.com/theshipsinger
www.twitter.com/Gloria_Miller
http://www.gloriamiller.blogspot.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/gloriamiller
www.sonicbids.com/gloriamiller

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 8

2009-04-08T18:21:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my new weekly newsletter providing you a quick look into what's currently happening with Gloria Miller Music!

Wow, it’s been three weeks since my last newsletter. There’s lots to cover so let’s get started!

PIANO BLU

Let me start by saying how exciting I am to heading back to Piano Blu on Friday, April 10th. So far this year I’ve only performed as a Duo. I’m sure this is a direct result of what’s happening in the economy. Well, Piano Blu marks my first gig this year with my full band! Yep, Gloria Miller & The Glo Trio are back! So, if you’re looking for something to do this Friday, join us at Piano Blu. We start @ 9p and the dance floor will be open.

MAMN’S DEBUT

I am happy to report that the first monthly meeting of the Milwaukee Area Musician’s Network was a huge success. YAY! We had about 20 people come to check us out, including musicians, singers, booking agents and venue owners. This is exactly who MAMN wants to bring together to put Milwaukee back on the “music” map as being a viable, thriving hub of great entertainment.

A special thanks to our sponsors: Transfer Pizza, Bucketworks (http://www.bucketworks.org/), and O2M Productions (http://www.o2mproductions.com/) for being a strong foundation of us to come out strong for our first meeting. We had several people join MAMN and will be holding our next monthly meeting on April 28, 6p @ The Jazz Estate. Plus, our first committee meeting is in the works to start getting our members involved.

If you are a musician, entertainer, venue owner/manager or other music professional, please join us on April 28 to see what MAMN is all about.

CHICAGO GETAWAY

On Saturday, April 4, I went to Chicago to be with my God-daughter Kayla to celebrate her 14th birthday. We went to see the Alvin Ailey dancers and they were absolutely amazing. That was my first time seeing them in person, I’d only seen them either on TV or DVD. If you are not familiar with them, please check out their website (http://www.alvinailey.org/) to learn more.

CD PROJECT

I am very fortunate to be able to work with some of the best musicians in the Milwaukee area and Scott Currier is one of them. He has graciously agreed to work with me on my CD project and we had a meeting this week on the songs I’ll be recording. We brainstormed and came up with some fabulous production ideas. I’ve been working on this project for several months and it was great having Scott’s perspective on the songs ‘cause my perspective is a bit jaded ‘cause I’m just too close to the project. After our meeting I felt excited, energized and ready to get started.

Over the next couple weeks we’ll be working out the final song arrangements and putting the musicians together. YAY, we’re really on our way!

GLO OF ALL TRADES

Okay, so you know I’m a jazz singer right? And in a previous life, I dabbled in Broadway/Musical Theatre-style singing when I worked on cruise ships. Well, I’m thrilled to be getting the opportunity to venture back into this genre and be a part of the preview of selections from the musical Mirrors of Desire written by Billy Kirchen and James Chudy. Mirrors of Desire, a dark musical comedy, is the story of one man’s journey towards forgiveness, redemption and enlightenment.

Save the date:

Mirrors of Desire

Monday, May 11th
LaCage
801 S. 2nd Street
Milwaukee, WI
Tickets are $20

Cocktails start @ 6p; the preview starts @ 8p and then they’ll be a DJ from 9:30p until close.

I am excited to be working with such talented singers and musicians and I feel very challenged by the material that I’m being asked to perform. I’ll be stretching here folks and you don’t want to miss it! If you are interested in joining us for what promises to be a fantastic night of entertainment, please contact me for more info or to get your ticket.

That's it for this week!

Thank you so much for your continued support. As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts and rants.

Join in the conversation!

Glo.

http://www.gloriamillermusic.com/

www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Miller-Music/9486129890

www.reverbnation.com/gloriamillermusic

www.myspace.com/theshipsinger

www.twitter.com/Gloria_Miller

http://www.gloriamiller.blogspot.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/gloriamiller

www.sonicbids.com/gloriamiller

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 7

2009-03-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new weekly newsletter providing you a quick look into what's currently happening with Gloria Miller Music!

Okay, so it turns out the third time is not a charm ... LOL! I just can't seem to find a format that I like and want to stick with. So, I'm back to combining the newsletter with my blog. This allows me to not only share my weekly shananigans with those of you who are on my mailing list, but also to my friends on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.

So, here we go ...

UPDATE FROM THE BAYOU

On Friday, March 13, Sam Steffke and I were Back at the Bayou! What a great place to perform and this time I had some food. WOW. Very good. I had a Shrimp Poboy and I had about 15 minutes to eat it in between sets. Besides having to swallow a few burps during the second set the sandwich was amazing and I'm looking forward to hitting the Bayou again when I'm not performing so I can indulge in the Jambalaya. Care to join me? Just say when and I'm there ... LOL!

We also had a people celebrating birthdays and anniversaries so I found myself singing happy birthday a couple times, and serenading couples with their favorite song for their anniversary. Here's one birthday girl, Tracy (second from the left) with her boyfriend, sister and me.

CD PROJECT

I have to admit this project is stressing me out. I'm coordinating the musicians, the studio, and working on the song arrangements. That's a lot to juggle and sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed. On Monday, I came very close to simply throwing in the towel and calling it quits. Thanks to Joel Osteen's very encouraging "free" podcasts ... specifically the one entitled "You're Closer than you Think," I was encouraged to keep moving forward and not to grow "weary in well doing."

I met with Scott Currier who's playing the piano on the project and helping me with the song arrangements, so at least I feel like we're making some progress. I'm actually still writing songs for the project. Since I'm not booked to perform this weekend, I'll use that time to work on the last two songs.

WEARING OF THE GREEN

I'm not Irish, but that didn't stop me from celebrating St. Patrick's Day! The best thing about the day was how warm it was in Milwaukee. It was sunny and that fact alone was enough to make you want to celebrate. Anyway, after work my friend Cheryl and I headed over to "McBob's" for a traditional Corn Been 'n Cabbage boiled dinner. I didn't have any "green" beer, but there was plenty of it floating around the place. Then I headed over the Transfer Pizzeria & Cafe (http://www.transfermke.com/) to "audition" to get booked, but there were so many singer's there, it turned into a regular JAM session. Another great singer, Brenda Smith (www.myspace.com/besmith3) was there and she brought the house down. Crooner Jerry Grillo (http://www.jerrygrillo.com/) was there wowing the crowd with his awesome vocals, and then there was me trying to hold my own up against these amazing performers. I gave it a good effort ... LOL! My friend Georgie met me there and then we headed off to swing dance.

Georgie has been inviting me to go swing dancing for weeks and I finally worked up the nerve to go. Swing is usually held at The Milwaukee Ale House, but because of St. Patrick's day, it was moved to The Warehouse. I honestly had only planned to be a spectator, but before I knew it I was on the dance floor. Apparently, I'm an old man magnet 'cause every old man in the room seemed to find his way to me and ask me to dance ... LOL! Finally, a young one grabs me to dance and I couldn't help feeling a bit like a pedofile every time he put his arms around my waist. He was a mere child! LOL. Really, I had a great time and can't wait to go again.

If you're interested in learning how to Swing dance, Maureen Majeski teaches lessons in various locations around the Miilwaukee area. Check out her website for more info (http://www.jumpinjiveclub.com/). Maybe I'll see you at the Ale House next Tuesday!

MAMN

Just a reminder that the Milwaukee Area Musicians Network will be holding it's first networking meeting on Tuesday, March 24th! Here are the details ...

MAMN Networking Meeting
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
6p - 8p
@ Bucketworks
1340 N. 6th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 305-1324

http://www.buckworks.org/

This event is being sponsored by Transfer Pizzeria Cafe, O2M Productions & Bucketworks.

If you are a musician in the Milwaukee area, please plan on joining us for what promises to be a great kickoff meeting and a continue source of valuable information regarding the local music scene. To RSVP, email steph@O2mproductions.com.

That's it for this week!

Thank you so much for your continued support. As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts and rants.

Join in the conversation!

Glo.

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 5

2009-03-04T21:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new weekly newsletter providing you a quick look into what's currently happening with Gloria Miller Music!

Let's get started ...

I will be performing at Hotel Metro this coming Saturday. Here are the details ...

Hotel Metro

Saturday, March 7th @ 9p.m.

411 E. Mason Street

Milwaukee, WI 53202

(414) 272-1937

Hope to see you there!

So much has happened in the past week that I hardly know where to begin. Okay, here goes … You may recall that I was scheduled to be in the studio on February 21st to start recording the vocals for my upcoming CD release. Well, a few days before my session, Glen Quarrie, Owner & Engineer of the Sound Quarry Studio where I'm recording calls me and says that we need talk. This makes me just a bit nervous and after a little game of phone tag, we finally catch up to each other. Long story short, he didn’t feel that the music that my record company had produced was exactly what I was expecting and thought that instead of my session being a “recording” session, we should make it a “listening” session. I agreed.

By the time that Saturday rolled around I had picked up a last minute gig and ended up rescheduling our listening session to the following Tuesday. I get to the studio, Glen and I sit down with a nice cup of tea and we start listening. First we listen to some of the current projects that Glen is working on. Then we get to my project and I’m unpleasantly surprised at what I’m hearing. Glen is right. The way the music was sounding was not what I was expecting and I could slowly feel the wind going out of my sails as we discussed how to get the project back on track.

I’ve been in a few conversations with my record company and they are very much in partnership with me to release a project that we can all be thrilled with. The situation in my mind has boiled down to this … either Tate Music Group will re-record the music in their studios in Oklahoma or, they will allow me to record the entire project here in Milwaukee. I expressed to them that I want to record the project here with musicians who I know will get the job done! Stay tuned to see what happens. I will know one way or the other by the end of the week!

Friday, February 27th I performed at Bayou Cajun Restaurant and Lounge and it was such a great gig. I had Sam Steffke with me on keys and got a fantastic surprise when my sax player, Lyn Lewandowski walked in. Most of my gigs last year were with my Quartet which included Lyn. However, so far this year I’ve mostly been performing as a Duo. It was so nice having Lyn sit in with her Alto Sax -- she really spiced up the night!

I also had some friends who I’ve become friends with through Facebook come to the show that night … Madelaine and John. They are performers as well so I invited them to sing and they did “Embraceable You.” At the very end of the song Madelaine pulled out this teeny beany “Ewe” and placed it on John’s shoulder. It was very cute. The next morning I was still giggling about the little Ewe.

That brings me to tonight. My friend Georgie and I went to the Spreenkler networking meeting held at Bucketworks where we were able to get some great information on some of the creative things going on in the Milwaukee area. If you’d like to learn more about Spreenkler and their networking event, please visit their website: http://www.spreenkler.com/.

Also, I am co-founder of a new organization called the Milwaukee Area Musicians Network (MAMN) and we are holding our first meeting on Monday, March 24 @ Bucketworks. Here are the details:

MAMN Networking Meeting
Monday, March 24th
6p – 8p
Bucketworks
1340 N. 6th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212

The other co-founders of this organization are Stephanie Wagner of O2M Productions (http://www.o2mproductions.com/) and Tracy Anderson (http://www.organizemeplease.net/).
If you are a musician in the Milwaukee area, please plan on attending this networking event to learn more about us and to become a part of what we’re doing. Also, if you are on Facebook, please join our MAMN Group: http://www.facebook.com/events.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=51694007010.

If you haven't done so already, please join my Facebook Musician Page. Here's the link: www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Miller-Music/9486129890. We are up to 103 Fans. YAY!

Thank you so much for your continued support and I welcome your thoughts, comments or rants. Join the conversation!

http://www.gloriamillermusic.com/

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Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 4

2009-02-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new weekly newsletter providing you a quick look into what's currently happening with Gloria Miller Music!

Let's get started ...

This Friday, February 27, I’ll be performing at Bayou Cajun Restaurant and lounge. Here are the details …

Friday, February 27th @ 7 p.m.
Bayou Cajun Restaurant & Grill
2060 N. Humboldt Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 431-1511
www.bayoumilwaukee.com
Featuring Sam Steffke on Keys!

This past Saturday, February 21, I performed at Centennial Bar & Grille for the first time and it went great. It was such a pleasure performing with Hal Miller (Bass) and John Hefter (Keys). For that night we decided that we would all go by the last name “Miller” and I would introduce Hal and John as my cousins. Just to give you a slight visual, here’s a pic of John. Hal’s coloring is of a similar nature so the audience had a lot of fun with us … and trust me, we milked the whole cousin thing for laughs the entire night!

Many cities around the world have gone “smoke-free,” however, Milwaukee has not fully jumped on the band wagon with this concept so I am including a link where you can take action for smoke-free workplaces in Wisconsin. I urge you to take action and spread the word!

Click on the link below: https://secure3.convio.net/ctfk/site/Advocacy?_oo=kHJYhRPz_EhwNz6dXyAyqw..&id=325

A couple times a month I am blessed to get the opportunity to sing for the elderly and on Friday, February 20, I performed at Aurora Adult Day Center. For this center I’m usually the birthday act and we sing, dance and generally have a fabulous time. Here’s me with a couple of the birthday girls. I’ve been singing at Aurora since last summer so we have a growing list of favorites that I have to do every time I’m there. Of course, I have to do the Birthday song, and there’s no way I can leave that place without singing “Amazing Grace.” Every one in the place joins in on this one, including the staff!

On Sunday morning I went to my sister and bro-in-law’s new church, International House of Faith, where they serve as pastors. Admittedly, it had been a while since I’ve been to church and I really have no excuse. The service was so beautiful and I cried through most of it. I don’t know if that’s because I’m a heathen … LOL … or if I was just caught up in the Spirit! I choose to believe the latter. So, if you’re looking for a place of worship in the Milwaukee area, check out their website: http://www.heavensgateministries.net/.

In today’s economy there are just a few things that you can buy for under a buck. Music is one of them. Did you know that my music is available on I-Tunes? For just $0.99 you can download one of my songs. Visit: www.gloriamillermusic.com/music to download!

If you haven’t already done so, please join my Facebook Musician page: www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Miller-Music/9486129890. My goal is to grow this page to 1,000 fans. So far the count in 89. You can help me reach 100 fans by next week.

Well, that's it for this week.

I welcome your comments, thoughts and/or rants. Or, if you just want to give a "shout out" I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time ...

Glo!

http://www.gloriamillermusic.com/

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 3 - Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2009-02-19T17:34:00.000-08:00

Let me start by thanking all of you who came to my Valentine's Day show at Twist 'N Olive. We had a standing room only crowd, thanks in part to the efforts of Tracy Anderson, who has been helping me with booking and promoting my shows!

Joel Freishinger was my accompanist for the night and with his skill and expertise, we were able to move seamlessly through many genres of music, including a hip-hop version of "My Funny Valentine! Thanks to Joel's drum machine and amazing left hand keyboard bass playing, our duo gig felt more like a trio gig!

The highlight, however, was when my friend from high school who I haven't seen for over 15 years walked in with her husband. Brenda (Humphrey) White and her husband Troy drove all the way from Chicago to Delafield, WI (which is almost an hour past Milwaukee) just to come to my show. It was such a pleasure to see her and it brought back so many awesome memories ... like when we used to color our hair with kool-aid! LOL! I'm not even joking.

On Sunday I had an impromptu performance at The Baby Grand in Brookfield. On Saturday, I forgot to bring Joel his pay for our gig so we arranged to meet at The Baby Grand where he was playing on Sunday. The event was a mix of Broadway and Jazz music, featuring Billy Kirchen (http://www.billykirchen.com/), Rachel Exner, Sue Russell & Gail Valenti. My main reason for going was to pay Joel, however, I was more than happy to join in the performance when so graciously asked to by Billy.

First, I sang "Fever" which has become one of my favorites to perform, and then Billy asked if I'd sing "Summertime" with him as a duet. Never one to turn down a chance to sing, I agreed and we did a fabulous, totally off-the-cuff version that was a beautiful mix of Billy's pure Broadway sound with my laid back Jazz styling that breathed new life into this classic song. Good times ...

In last week's newsletter I shared the Nick Name Guy's website with you and one of my fans, "Scuba Judy" shared her nick name story on their website and with me. Here's the address again if you want to check it out: http://www.thenicknameguy.com/.

My next performance is at Centennial Bar & Grille. Here are the details ...

The Gloria Miller Trio

Saturday, February 21 @ 9p

Centennial Bar & Grille

10352 N. Port Washington

Mequon, WI 53092

(262) 241-4353

My good friend Jeannine Rivers, an amazing singer in the Milwaukee area, asked me to fill in for her as she's recovering from vocal rest, so I get to work with her fabulous musicians. I've actually worked with John Hefter (piano) before, but this will be my first time working with Hal Miller (bass) and I'm thrilled.

So, if you looking for something to do this weekend and you're in the Milwaukee area ... I'd love to see you out!

Lastly, also this Saturday, February 21st, I'm meeting with my producer to start discussing my new CD due out later this year. Please stay tuned for updates on how the project is progressing!

Well, that's it for this week.

I welcome your comments, thoughts and/or rants. Or, if you just want to give a "shout out" I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time ...

Glo!

Question: Does (or did) being single make you feel embarrassed or empowered?

2009-02-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

It’s always around this time of year that being single is magnified in the light of Valentine’s Day. As I was contemplating my singleness a question flooded my thoughts… Do I feel embarrassed or empowered as a single person?

Most days I would say I feel empowered. Why? Because I’m taking care of myself, I create my own happiness, and I love the fact that I am solely responsible for how I spend my time. Admittedly, I do spend a lot of time by myself, but I rarely feel lonely. There always seems to be so much to do with working fulltime, running my music business and trying to stay connected with friends and family, that when I do have down time, I’m usually too tired to feel lonely.

Not that I never have moments of loneliness, because I do. It usually sneaks up on me and I’m always surprised at how palpable it can feel. I am very thankful that the lonely times are few and far between.

So, I ask you … Does (or did) being single make you feel embarrassed or empowered?

I welcome your comments, thoughts, and/or vents and invite you to subscribe to my weekly blog and join in the conversation!

Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie!

2009-02-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Gloria Miller and I’m a self-help-aholic!

I remember laughing at my friend Kimberly whenever she was chattering away about the lastest self-help book. I thought those types of books were for wimps, and I wouldn’t be caught dead in the “Psychology” section of a bookstore.

Well, that was then and this is now …

Then … in love, in my late 30’s, thriving career, waistline tight.

Now … dumped, in my early 40’s, challenging career, waistline gone … enter self help!!

I like my self-help administered directly to the brain via IPOD, either in the form of an audio book or podcast. This week I tried a little experiment to see if I could go a week without any self-help of any kind. Here’s how the week unfolded (or should I say, unraveled) …

Monday: I felt fine, no problem.

Tuesday: Still fine, but a little edgy.

Wednesday: I felt strange, confused and lost.

Thursday: My daily workout routine was out the window and I found myself sitting on my couch like a slug.

Friday: I wake up bear hugging “The Power of Now,” but I have no idea how the book got in my arms.

Saturday: I stayed in bed all day.

Sunday: I binged on junk food at a Super Bowl party.

The next Monday: I'm back on self-help ... I listened to two Joel Osteen podcasts and all is right with the world!

Today as I write this, I admit that I’m thankful that there are tools that we can use to support us through the transitions of life! According to “Body for Life for Women,” I’m in the 3rd of 4 phases of a woman’s cycle and let me tell you, aging is not for wimps! I learned more from that book than I wanted to, but knowledge is power and I find the more I understand about what’s going on in my body, mind and spirit, the easier it is to stay positive and focus on ways to feel better instead of being stuck on “why is this happening to me.” And the “this” can be anything …

If you’re facing your own “this,” I encourage you to face it head on and not shrink in fear. Learn everything you can about it because no matter what you’re facing, good or bad, there is always a root cause. If the root cause is positive, you’ll want to learn how to cultivate it. If it’s negative, you’ll want to know how to uproot it.

Self-help is my way to stay the course and face whatever my “this” happens to be at any given moment. What’s yours?

I welcome your comments, thoughts, and/or vents and invite you to subscribe to my weekly blog and join in the conversation!

Paddy's Pub Debut & More!

2009-01-27T20:41:00.000-08:00

Last week was awesome. Let me tell you about it … On Friday, Jan. 23rd, I performed at Aurora Adult Day Center for their Senior guests and we had a great time. I perform there monthly, usually for the birthday celebration and singing for these wonderful people is always the highlight of my performance schedule.

On Saturday, Jan. 24th, I performed at Paddy’s Pub for the first time and what an awesome venue. It’s so eclectic and fun. There was a great crowd, the staff were fantastic and so helpful, and they had Strongbow on tap. My kind of venue! I was blessed to be working with Sam Steffke for this gig and he is an absolute wonder on the keyboard! We both seemed to feed off of each other allowing us to feel free enough to stretch and try out some new stuff. I was trying stuff vocally that I’ve never done before ... and it was working! Sam said he was trying new licks too! I can't wait to work with Sam again!

I’m scheduled to be back at Paddy’s on Saturday, March 28th. http://www.paddyspub.net/

Sunday was family dinner day and I headed out to the West Bend area to my parent’s house. My sister Chris makes a mean meatloaf, and to my surprise, she had my favorite chocolate dessert, brownies! There went the diet …

The next couple of weekends I’m not performing, but I am preparing to go into the studio to record the vocals for my debut Tate Music Group release due out later this year (http://www.tatemusicgroup.com/). I’m visiting Sound Quarry, a recording studio in Brookfield, WI this coming Thursday to discuss my project. Here’s their website if you want to check them out: http://www.soundquarry.com/.

More to come next week! Until then ...

Barack Obama!

2009-01-20T19:21:00.000-08:00

What a sense of pride I feel today … not just the pride in being an African-American, but mostly, the pride in being an American! As CNN’s Campbell Brown put it last night, “without the hyphen, just American!”

It’s a scene of beauty the confetti of faces that I see as the various angles are captured of this mega crowd of people poised to witness “change” often breaking into the simple, yet poignant chant that permeated a dynamic campaign to victory … YES WE CAN!

When Obama rose to prominence in Illinois, I was entertaining on cruise ships and though I occasionally would catch CNN while on board, there was very little talk of him on an international level. I do remember being home in Chicago during one of my vacations and seeing campaign signs with this strange name “Obama.” I, like many others, thought the person attached to this name had to be a Muslim, and if a Muslim, then probably a bit radical. Of course, this is a stereotype that I’m ashamed to admit that I subscribed to, but I did. Then I see the person behind the name and in looking at this straight laced, nerdy man, radical was the last thing I thought about him.

Illinois Senator … U.S. Senator … Presidential Candidate …

Honestly, I have no idea when all these milestones in Obama’s political career took place, but when I realized that November, 2007 would mark the end of my last ship contract and that I would actually be home during an election year, I started to pay attention to those vying for my vote.

The choice to vote democratic was kind of a no brainer considering the current state of affairs under a republican leadership, and it didn’t take long before the democratic field narrowed to just two … Clinton and Obama. It wasn’t until I surfed across Oprah’s endorsement of Obama that I really started to lean towards him and ultimately decided to cast my vote for CHANGE!

As it turned out, many Americans voted for change and elected Barack Obama as our 44th president. As he is sworn in today, the DREAM becomes a reality in all of us, and under President Obama’s leadership, it’s up to all of us to right the wrongs that have lead us to these challenging times.

“In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.” - President Obama.

Life & Times of Glo!

Perky

perk·y ˈpərkē: Adj. Cheerful and Lively!

Self-Esteem

Gratitude!

Nourishment

There is Therefore Now

Hope

Retreat!

Life in the UK - Three Month Review

Competition

Quit Your Whining, Move It!

Stuck in the Middle

CD Release, Wedding, Relocation – Update

CD Release, Wedding, Relocating

Yellow Chair

Ode to Dry Land

Hangin' Out With My Future In-Laws

My Weekend in London - Day Two

My Weekend in London - Day One

Survived My First Driving Lesson

First Day of Exploring on my Own!

Greetings from the UK!

**SPECIAL EDITION** Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 13 "Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk"

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 12

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 11

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 10

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 9

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 8

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 7

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 5

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 4

Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 3 - Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Question: Does (or did) being single make you feel embarrassed or empowered?

Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie!

Paddy's Pub Debut & More!

Barack Obama!

SPECIAL EDITION Glo's Week in Review - Vol. 13 "Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk"