So many states, so little time! Wednesday my southern lark/tour/eating frenzy will begin. Lord knows what I will find? So far I am most excited about the Barn show. Cause its a show, In a barn! Bonfires and bbq and awesome people will be involved! Need I say more? I am beside myself in anticipation. I don't know if the south is my spiritual home land, but I am almost certain that my stomach thinks it is. If my tummy makes a good enough case over the next few months, who knows, I could be willing to be persuaded...

Well, there was a double purpose to my trip this time. The need to travel for no other reason then that I like to travel is always a big factor in my expeditions:) In this case though, I knew that my mom had always wanted to go to Italy so I thought I might just arrange that for her. I took my mom and my sister on an all expenses paid trip for the first two weeks and we stayed in posh but still vaguely affordable digs. There was a medieval villa just outside of the little town of Pescia and a vineyard located near Radda in chianti both of which were lovely. We ended up in Rome where I put them on a plane and then backpacked my way around for another month and a half or so in the style to which I have grown accustomed, which is to say, on the cheap. It was amazing and I had many adventures. I was taken clubbing and to the Opera in Rome, I rode in a Gondola for a ridiculously cheap price in Venice, I ate muscles and floated on the Mediterranean in Cinque Terre, I camped in the Italian style in Sorrento and I almost got arrested in Capri. I also sang Opera in the streets with two lovely Brazilian girls in Perugia and played a set in an adorable little enoteca in Florence during a wine tasting after which the owner of the vineyard that was hosting the tasting took me out to dinner and taught me loads I didn't know about wine. After Italy for about a week I hung around in the lake district in england with some very good and hospitable friends. Staying in there 300 year old cottage hiking in the true romantic style and drinking tea and mulled wine in the evenings. All in all, I feel that I had a worthwhile time. :)

babbling voices
1000 tongues
What does being a Venetian in Venice mean?
How does the town look late in December when the babble,
and the money, and even the Venetians go away?
A beautiful ghost town made just to wonder at, and sinking away to join every other beautiful fragile thing. Bellini painted pictures 5 centuries ago. Now I walk through Bellini's streets. I see everything he painted in all the perfect, multidimensionality of life, and I wonder at a world that is so generous as to leave it here and whole at least long enough for me to see. In its gold, and mystery, and splendour.

I sit slowly and watch the world. Early, at Siesta, and when even rocks want to sleep, just to memorize this moment from every point in time. I don't bring a camera to travel with me so I have to find another way, another mode, to share these thoughts and places with you.
My fingers smell of firewood burning on a half chilled night in a medieval village in Chianti Tuscany and smelling my smoky fingers, I am thrown back, laid back, and happy.

But how does a tactile learner such as myself teach what green feels like? Or Blue? Or new? How do I explain about lying still in the salt sea magic of the Mediterranean and feeling it meld and melt through me into every other salt water memory I have ever known? In that simple and perfect stillness, in that place in me that feels this now, and learns the sea?

Aloha from Hawaii! Holy crap things are great in Hawaii!  After a day out on a sailboat with a fishing line dragging behind, we caught a very nice and tasty looking fish.  Going down below we blended up some freshly picked coconuts in order to make coconut milk to grilled the fish in.  afterwards we seasoned it with a little lime juice we pilaged from a tree in the yard were i stay and finished off with a dash of salt from the sea.  We ate the fish with our fingers, watching a fireworks display while sailing into port on a light breeze.  I don't know how I could improve on a day like that...  I have been enjoying the island of Oahu for 2 weeks and I will travel to Hilo on Friday morning, followed by a little bit of Maui after that.  I have been snorkling, body boarding, hiking, camping, discovering hidden waterfalls, playing music and eating at Zippy's.  Apple bananas are delicious...  I had a couple of great gigs last week and another one tonight.  Everyone is so friendly and supportive.  I wrote a new song with my friend Shawn, which only Hawaiians will ever hear  unless I convince Shawn to come touring with me:)  All in all, Yay Hawaii!

You may wonder why I am not answering your email this month of December. Its because I am gone! I am flying away tomorrow morning, which means that I will be just a speck in the sky by the time you read this. I am sure there is a computer or two on the continent that I am going to. but I intend to be far to busy to use any of them! My first stop will be in Egypt where all the history is:) Then Kenya because it is frikin' Kenya! I will be back before I know it and will sing and write again. but for now
Ma'a Salama! (Goodbye in Arabic. Man I wish I knew more Arabic!)

Hello there,

Just a heads up regarding the two shows on the docket for this week. The show at the Green Room on Tuesday should be a lot of fun. It is a songwriters showcase however, with several different artists playing half hour sets through the night. I am not sure exactly when I am on but if that is your flavor I would love to see you there.

The next night, Wednesday I will be at the Tea Zone and Camillia Lounge. The Camillia Lounge is an Awesome venue in the pearl district. It's a cocktail lounge that is tea themed so all the specialty cocktails have different kinds of tea in them. I suggest the "Stairway to Heaven." I will be doing a two hour set starting at 9pm and running to 11pm. Honestly, this is the show to go to! They have wonderful food, wonderful drinks and a wonderful atmosphere. Plus I need people to drink with me afterwards:)

Kate Elliott