11: LIFE/happiness

Finally have something to write about this week. :-)
Hope you are all doing well out there in the world..Im doin pretty darn good. I have a lot on my mind lately..so warning.. this post might get a little lengthy...and maybe a bit emotional...

 I went to Wyoming to visit the family for the week of the 4th of July. I had a great time. Its always great to be home..However it is much different coming home now than it was 10 years ago. My friends all have little families of their own and I got to spend some time with them..never enough time tho..I also got to spend some time with my family which is way more important to me now than it was 10 years ago when I would have rather been partying with my friends. Life is different..things are different..but in a great way!! I couldn't be happier to see my friends so fulfilled and so in love with their new families. It literally brings me tears of joy...I so wish I could be around more to be a bigger part of everyones lives..And as for my family..we have a brand new addition that I got to meet when I was home. She is beautiful!! And while her life is just beginning, other family members are aging and changing everyday and it seriously kills me to not spend every possible minute that I can with them..So going home was amazing...but it makes leaving so incredibly hard.

As I previously mentioned, we had a new addition to the family..My youngest cousin and his wife had a baby girl!!  I am so a happy and proud of both of them..I decided to declare myself "crazy aunt Jennell" :-) Ill post pics below! So exciting!!! However, with that exciting news, I got asked the question by several family members when I was going to settle down..HAHAHA..They say Im getting old and need to hurry before they aren't around anymore..Not to pressure me or anything right??...HAHA..Well..This darn dream of mine that has me on a wild goose chase makes settling down and having a family right now preeeeetty difficult. My 96 year old great grandmother seems to think that I don't need a man..I can just go have a baby injected into my belly...I suppose she is right..and I guess at some point..it may boil down to that.. :-)

Carly Jo
July 2nd 2014 

Self Declared "Crazy Aunt Jennell"

Now back to that dream.... Lets take it back to where it all began..many many moons ago... It started when I was about 4 or 5 and was introduced to Shirley Temple films..I was hooked and had the bug ever since. All I have ever wanted to do was sing, act, perform, and entertain..Sometimes I wish this wasn't what I wanted..and I wish I had a different dream or plan.Sometimes I really just wish I could be satisfied with a more typical life, steady career, a home, a family etc...But right now I can't be. I get the question all the time.. when am I going to quit/ how long will I stick it out/ when am I going to settle down/etc...And here is my answer: When I know I have given it 100 percent, and have achieved everything I think I possibly can, then I may consider retiring and just focusing on the finer things in life such as family, etc..But Ill never quit..Because Im not a quitter. I never said I was the BEST singer, the BEST actress, or the BEST entertainer..There are millions of people much more talented than me...But I might be the BEST at wanting it most, and I may be the BEST non quitter..and I absolutely LOVE it..So whether I am average, good, great or the BEST...I love doing it and am going to stick to it!!

So now that we have that covered...
My last day of work was last week and there was no bitter sweetness to it..it was just sweet!
Leaving that job has given me some free time to focus on why I am here..I had an excellent couple of writing sessions last week!! I am super excited about the new stuff!! Not sure if the songs will be for me to sing or if we will try and get someone else to sing them..either way they are cool and I can't wait for everyone to hear them. I also had my first Nashville show last thursday night at Tennessee Brew Works..It was just a little acoustic set..but it  was really fun and I was just happy to be back doing what I love.
This week I got to finally meet with my band that will be performing with me this weekend at the Pepsi Southern Original!! The band sounds AMAZING!! So much better than I had anticipated!! I can't wait for Saturday and really hope it goes well so I can preform at the Gulf Coast Jam Festival in Florida alongside Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood!! PLEASE KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR ME THIS SATURDAY!!!

Well that is all my news for now I think!!
Ill let you know how Saturday goes..I should know the results of the contest by Aug 4th!!
Keep sending me those good vibes!!

Mom, dad and I on the boat

Grandma and Grandpa 

My rocks..

My BFF Joy!!
So happy for her and her adorable family

So proud of all these girls
And so happy for them!! 

Congrats to the new parents
of our newest family member!!
Love you all!!

First show in Nashville 

Jennell
#onestepcloser

10: GOOD NEWS..Making moves..Making changes.

Well, clearly this is no longer a weekly blog...Hahaha..Where to start??? I have been so busy the past few weeks with work. I have been working 5 nights a week for about 10-12 hr shifts and then sleep a lot....That has been very frustrating for me. Its hard to be productive in music when I am always either working or sleeping. SO I am making changes. Yesterday I put in my two weeks notice. I am not usually one to quit a job before I have something else already lined up, but I was so miserable, and if I just didn't get it over with it would just keep draggin out. So now..I am back on the market (job market that is.) I do have a possible lead...Vanderbilt Children's Hospital is trying to make space for me at their clinic. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. At first I didn't really want to do therapy here because of the commitment that comes with it. I couldn't just ditch a patient for music. I figured a server job would be easy and flexible, but its not all its cracked up to be either... I can make much more as a therapist in a lot less hours and have more time for music..So fingers crossed children's hospital has room for me soon :-)
EXCITING NEWS!!!!
I got chosen to sing/compete in Montgomery Alabama for the PEPSI SOUTHERN ORIGINAL..
Basically I have to perform two original songs with a full band.. (STILL ON THE HUNT FOR A FEW MORE BAND MATES) If the judges like my songs and I win then I get to open for BLAKE SHELTON at the PEPSI GULF COAST JAM in Florida. SO..Again...please cross your fingers and toes for me!!
More good news:
I have my first Nashville gig on July 17th at Brew Works. Its an hour set of originals so that will be fun :-) If you are around you should come on down. Show starts at 6pm :-)

Other news and stuff and things:
The past few weeks I have been working in the studio with a guy named Rory..He is quite the character. He invited me to come in and sing back up vocals and harmonies on some of his tracks..It went REALLY well, so he asked me to record a few duets with him. They are sounding pretty awesome. We are pushing to release one early Feb for Valentines Day :-)

Hmm what else??
Yes.. I am leaving town again...But this time I am going HOME!!!! YAY...Back to Wyoming for the 4th of July.. some BBQing, Fish Fryn, Boating, Boozing. Family Good Fun!!!  I can't wait..

Thanks for sticking with me...Have a safe and fun 4th of July!!
#onestepcloser
Jennell

http://www.gulfcoastjam.com/lineup/pepsisouthernoriginal/

Recording our Valentines song :-) 

2 AM studio session after 7 hrs of work..

My view from the vocal booth 

A peaceful walk at Lake Radnor to replenish my soul