JACINTA launches stage production Dream! in Wenatchee!

April 09 Update

It's been a busy few months for Jacinta with Electric Universe, I See Fire (with Cybersutra) and now Day In Time (with Wild Jaam) appearing on charts, radio and Clubs across the USA. Since it's release, Electric Universe has risen to the coveted #1 spot on HOT96 (Portland OR) and iDanceRadio.fm and also peaked at #3 on FusionRadio (Chicago). Check out www.youtube.com/chunkymusic for all the latest videos and now you can follow Jacinta on Twitter too - www.twitter.com/jacintamusic.

Jacinta has added another string to her bow as the new co-host on the Psychic Norbert Show. Listen in Tuesday nights at 11pm eastern, 10pm central and 8pm pacific on www.ask1radio.com. You'll hear a very perceptive Jacinta talking and Psychic Norbert doing live readings as well as catching the latest music from Jacinta in her Dark Hours and electronica styles.

The Winter Music Conference was a huge success for Jacinta at the end of March, with Showcases throughout the week in Miami and lots of media attention during the Global Media Summit. Lots of pictures from all the events can be seen on Jacinta's myspace and facebook pages.

Don't forget to check out all of Jacinta's music... now available everywhere, including iTunes, Amazon, Masterbeat, Perfectbeat and CDBaby.

The alarm went off Saturday morning at 5:30, its still dark as we pack the van and hit the road...first stop...Starbucks. The Highway that will take us to the Hill Country, would be deserted except for all the cars in sight have bikes attached! Some as many as 4 & 5. We must have all been excited, ‘cause everyone was doing at least 80 mile/hour.

We arrive at Krause Springs, a gorgeous location with waterfalls, natural springs and the biggest wind chime I've ever seen hanging within a lush butterfly garden. Breakfast is on, campsites are emerging, organizers are checking in riders, tire pressures are getting checked, pics are being taken, teams are gathering and then at 8:30 we assemble at the starting line to the beat of a collection of disco hits including one of my personal favorites ... Age of Aquarius! I don my helmet with pride as it features the names of each of my sponsors and they will ride with me. We are all happy to be here....finally. More than 200 volunteers are in place and 613 riders commence their Hill Country Ride with plenty of cheer, bicycle horns honking, bells ringing and lots of happy faces clapping, yelling and waving on the sidelines. To feel so special riding a bicycle. What a trip ... well it was about to begin.

I'm not sure why, but I was surprised by how many hills there were, lots of rolling hills and one that they call Mt Everest that challenges each rider to stay on their bike all the way to the top. I made it YEEEEHHHH amidst encouraging chorus of 'you can do its'. Whether you walk or rode to the top of the steep ascent, you had arrived and each and every rider was greeted with a cold, wet bandana that a volunteer tied round your neck and how good did that feel...and then another approached you with a selection of flavored ice blocks. I thought I picked lemon, but it was banana flavored. That reminds me, I now have a new found food fetish ... banana with peanut butter smeared over the top. This was on offer at each pit stop. Delish! We had a headwind most of the way that got quite blustery at times, but there were three pit stops each with their own theme, music and characters, where we 'carbed up', replenished our drink flasks and recharged ourselves. 5 and half hours later we were riding the last exhilarating couple of miles which were downhill and so we all went very fast! At the finish line every rider was greeted with a medal and a hug from David Smith (the man who envisioned the ride 10 years ago)

A hot shower or a swim in the springs or both. Wonderfully refreshing. At 5pm, everyone convened by the water where a heart felt ceremony took place where we remembered those we have lost to AIDS. Grammy artist Craig Hella Johnson sang a most beautiful song with the lyric, I know you by heart. There wasn't a dry eye in the house and I think at that moment we all felt the most connected. It was powerful. It was then time for dinner where we reflected on the preparation and the ride and celebrated the successes. David Smith told us how he had been encouraged by other ride directors in the country to lower the overall goal of $650, 000 in light of the current economy. But David explained that he couldn't lower the goal when the need out there is so great. The morning of the ride we had raised 84%, disappointing, but understandable and we weren't going to let that dampen our spirits. So when he told us at the dinner that we had in fact reached the goal and surpassed it, most of us were totally surprised and so so thrilled to hear the news. At time of writing, we have raised $670,200 and the team I rode for, Full On! Full On! were the team that raised the most money reaching our goal of $50,000....awesome!

That night, we shared some wine, laughter and sang some songs around our campsite village. It sprinkled rain lightly on and off throughout the night and I slept out there in it, under the stars and the clouds, with a great sense of appreciation. Thank You to my fellow team mates for having me ride alongside you and to our team captain, Tim Young who made me feel so welcome and appreciated. A big thank you to my beautiful buddy Colin "Barnsey" Barnes who not only planted the seed to ride this year but who has shared the journey from the moment we registered. He also worked on my bike, getting her into shape as did my Papa in Australia who got my bike happening before I bought her back to ATX.

And finally, I am so sincerely thankful to the wonderful people who sponsored my ride and those that sent their prayers and well wishes. My original goal was the required $500 but soon raised it to $1000 after receiving some fabulous support. When it seemed this goal was much tougher to raise, Barnsey and I put the word out big time and in the following 24 hours, raised a further $800. I was so amazed and overwhelmed too at the support received from family and friends in Australia. It's beautiful to feel this love flow from my home. Contributions also came in from London, Sweden and Holland. You have all made a tremendous difference to the lives of many living with HIV and AIDS and I appreciate you and love you so much for your kindness. Let’s do it again!

PL&L
Jacinta :)

PS For those of you who were keen to donate but haven't yet, the cut off is this Friday May 1st.

PSS Check out the pics and vids at www.chunkymusic.net/HillCountryRide and if you're on facebook, there's plenty more up there too.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not go direct to my Ride page, you can visit the web address:
http://www.hillcountryride.org/site/TR/HillCountryRideforAIDS/General?px=1254741&pg=personal&fr_id=1080&s_tafId=11912