Hey!
It's official:
POP INC has entered the building *and* we're Looking 4 The KLF...
www.myspace.com/popincorporated

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
xxx
LP

She was FIERCE.
She packed the highest high heels, a back combed honey-blonde semi bouffant, a pint of Jim Beam, a pack of Parliment Lights and a shot gun at all times. For about 25 years, she drove a bright yellow jeep that she let me name Anabelle when I was 8. We drew, camped and sang together A LOT that year.

Growing up, Auntie M was like Annie Oakley to me. She was the original hellion- a fast talking, gun toting, tough-as-nails-despite-her-manicure-dame. She gave me my first manicure when I was 5; I hope to God someone finds that photo of me on the couch in Oregon wearing my little white leotard and showing off my freshly painted hot pink nails. She played acoustic guitar (so much for those manicures...) and had a good, strong singing voice even if she was a little off key sometimes. And sometimes when I get off key I wonder if I sound like her too. She loved fashion... Chanel, Dior and Sassoon jeans especially. She believed that every girl should own a good pair of jeans. She loved hers so much that she got married in them rather than in some stuffy wedding gown. She loved children, but never had any of her own.... So she treated us- the nieces and nephews- like we were hers.

She wore one of three perfumes. Chanel 5 (in the 70's and 80's), Joy by Jean Patou (in the 80's & 90's) or Poison (whenever she was on a mission). I brought a small bottle of the latter with me to the hospital in case she got better, but she didn't make it through.

She wrapped presents in the Sunday comics, except at Christmas when she'd hand decorate wrapping with snow scenes in little shiny confetti trees, snow flakes and other wonderful things. She also cut comics out that she knew would make us laugh and mailed them to us with letters back in the day before everybody had email. She cooked a mean Pot Roast and New England broiled dinner, which she learned from my Nana. In latter years when she didn't have money, she collected odds and ends she thought we could make things out of and sent them to us. And seeing her- even at her worst when she was sick- was always somehow like coming home. She taught me how to camp, shoot, cook, put on make up and - with my Nana and Mommy's help- about shopping for the best deals. More than all of that, she taught me to dream, to shoot for the stars and to never give up, the latter of which she illustrated in a grand fashion by fighting for her life and sticking around for DAYS after they were sure she'd pass.

She fell in love once. I mean REALLY in love... like in love for all time in love. She didn't believe in living in regret, but he was her one regret. He was a wonderful man- truly loving and supportive. Though it didn't work out for the two of them, you have to know that when a man who hasn't seen you or your family in 20+ years shows up to hug you and be present in such a scary time, he is a man of compassion and substance. And when a man like that- despite his own feelings- marches into her hospital room and takes her hand after two decades, that he is solid and worth that sort of legendary love.

I wish I could write more here, but feel the need also to keep a level of privacy for my family. I will- however- tell you one last thing. For all of her gun toting, chain smoking, buy-the-biggest-push-up-bra-you-can-find wild ways, what she really wanted more than anything else was to be loved- loved unconditionally, for all time. And she was. And she will continue to be.


R.I.P. AUNTIE M, R.I.P.

THE GRAMMY REPORT CONDENSED: PARTS 1, 2, 3!
WARNING: EXTREMELY LONG READ, BUT DECIDED TO BETTER HAVE IT ALL IN ONE BLOG, DIVIDED UP.

PART 1: RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD
SATURDAY, FEB 9TH (THE DAY BEFORE)
I arrive early afternoon and it’s GORGEOUS out… The sun feels so close that you can taste the Vitamin C in the air. While waiting for Bubbles/Nadine to weave her way through traffic, I witness a random twenty-something-year-old Indie punk rock act with matching "emo" haircuts and belts pile into a limo they’re probably paying thru the teeth on the back end for and chuckle.

Bubbles rolls up and we dodge the remaining L.A. traffic. We stop off at a grocery store near the hotel so as to procure items for a pre-Grammy room party and a couple hours later— after a quick bath— my long lost L.A. friends pitch up! Philip (my friend from South Africa) arrives first, then Andreas (who I interned with @ Twin Tone!), followed by Jonny (Autumn Leaves, Diablo Cody’s ex) and Erin (former Le Cirque, current kick ass actress). After a few drinks, a FASHION 411 comes from Mr. Moir, who’s downstairs debating a shoe dilemma. We speed down the Sheraton elevators like the Fantastic Four (except there’s five of us so… ermmm) and meet Monte at Macy’s. In about 90 seconds or less, Andreas scores a delicious pair of dark brown lace ups that turn out to be a dapper solution. Fashion crisis averted, we return to the room and crash a couple cups before blasting off to Hollywood in pursuit of bad karaoke.

We whisk away to the dive bar to end all dive bars, the Smog Cutter. The next thing you know, Andreas is singing 80’s power ballads, Bubbles blows the roof off the joint with ’Magic Man’, Jonny croons Bowie and Erin and I whip off our jackets and braid our hair in pigtails to drunkenly duet ’Paradise City’ (yes, yes- G-n-R) as The Southren Comforts. Post karaoke, we find ourselves at this ’50’s style deli (Called Canter’s I think? Somebody please post the correct name here!). We get this super cocky waitron with the best Eraserhead style hair I’ve ever seen and I think to myself "Damn, I miss this CRAZY ASS town!" Jonny and I split the most amazing Monte Cristo I’ve ever had in my entire life... And I think about how much my Gran would have loved this place. I’m pretty sad for a second, but shake it off when I remember what a blessing it was to see her the day before, to be able to be with my friends, that the man I love is waiting for me back at ye olde hotel and that we’re going to the Grammys. We finish up our meals, there’s hugs across the board and we bring Andreas back home to his apartment on Argyle. To my TOTAL SHOCK, it’s the same apartment building that Hakeem and Bob lived in, where I crashed the last time I was in town! I stood outside in disbelief, trying to decode whatever message the universe decided to send a fairly buzzed me at 2:43 am. I mean… of all the places Andreas could have picked to live in Los Angeles… It was just bizzare. Mystified, I hopped back in the car. We took a quick jaunt up into the Hollywood Hills, then stopped for an obligatory photo op in front of an overhang with Capitol Records in the background. We found our way back to our hotel and crept in quietly so as not to disturb Monte. I sank into the bed and fell fast asleep, thinking of the big day ahead.



PART 2: GRAMMY PRE-SHOW & EARLY EVE
SUNDAY, FEB. 10, 2008
10:37 am: Monte phones from dress rehearsal to tell me that I have a backstage pass, but that I have to be ready at 2 as opposed to 3. At first I’m SUPER excited but then realize I have to be ready an hour early! HYPERVENTILATING ENSUES.


11:15 am: Coffee’s on, my wits are gathering but feel distant… kinda like an operator connecting an over seas phone call from a third world country circa 1983. To top it off, I’m terribly confused about which dress to wear where… Thom Navarro backstage/to the Grammys and Electro Couture to the after party… or the reverse? MORE HYPERVENTILATING.


11:43 am: Monte returns. Bubbles helps me work my way into the snug-as-a-glove retro 80’s ECC number. We then switch to the Blade Runner inspired Thom Navarro piece for comparison. After some furious prancing/catwalking about the hotel room, we synonymously vote Thom for the Grams and ECC for the after party. I’m thinking I should have a shot of brandy to calm my nerves but instead order a grilled cheese and pray I’ll still fit into the ECC frock.


12:29 pm: After a great deal of pacing, the $21 (!) grilled cheese sandwitch finally shows up. I breathe a sigh of relief and wolf the first half.


12:37 pm: I’m so nervous that I can only eat half. At some point I offer Bubbles my ticket and actually mean it. She says rubbish and tells me to get in the shower. I have a sort of panic attack- the kind I used to have back stage before shows. I think about the odd convergence-- well juxtaposition-- of past, present and future that I’m experiencing… Almost a sort of vertigo. Being in L.A. again; Andreas living in Hakeem & Bob’s old building; the fact that around 80% of my musical heroes will be at this event; that Bubbles- who was my band mate in TELEPHONE!- happens to be present… That there’s some hidden message somewhere in all of this (I swear???) but whatever it is continues to allude and taunt me, like some bad Sodoku puzzle. I have a headache and it’s getting worse…


12:52 pm: I finally convince myself to get into the shower.


1:25-ish pm: GOD BLESS BEST FRIENDS… Bubbles helps me blow dry my hair & get into the Navarro. Monte’s ironing his shirt. My makeup and hair don’t seem to want to cooperate and I’m absolutely sure that if Darth Vader existed, he’d be on the other side of the bathroom mirror watching this predicament with great amusement. I can almost hear his breathing now…


1:53 pm: "The clock is ticking" and Cinderella has GOT to be ready in less than 10! I mean… here I am, lucky enough to be going in the first freaking place and the only evil step-sisters I have are my own insecurities. "SNAP OUT OF IT!" I tell myself. I apply a dallop of pomade to my badly behaving hair and pray for some small miracle. Mascara is the last detail I can manage before resigning myself to the fact that I’ll have to find a ladies room somewhere back stage to finish the job.


2:03 pm: Mr. Moir calls the elevator. I realize my album is literally playing it’s self out in real life. What’s that saying- Life imitates art or art imitates life??? Chicken and the egg, chicken and the egg.


2:06 pm: We wait out front for the limo. Morris is clad in gold and cutting up; Jerome looks down-to-business in blue; Terry, Jesse and Jellybean are there as well. There’s a bunch of famous looking folks dressed in way-too-expensive clothes hanging out, but I’m too busy trying NOT to be noticed without full makeup and hair to pay any sort of real attention. Bubbles gives me one last pep talk and clicks a few pre-show candids as we were informed that no cameras would be allowed at the venue… :(


2:23 pm: The stretch pulls up and we pile in. I realize that I’ve never actually been in a limo before and find it kind of anti-climactic. I think of the Indie-punk rock act I saw at the aeroport the day before and make fun of myself.


2:48 pm: We arrive at Staples Center and I’m 1000% RELIEVED to see that the Red Carpet has not been opened up to the paparatzi yet. HYPERVENTILATING STOPS. We check in and I’m given my pass (thank you Vida!). While being ushered up to our dressing/green room, we rush past a newly blond Nelly Furtado. I could say something kind of b*tchy here, but I’ll refrain. In show business, we all have bad days. Plus I really like some of her songs. Anyway... some fellow— either Usher or Ne-yo— hops in our elevator last minute but the Armani aviators sucessfully keep dude’s identity under wraps.


3:13 pm: We settle in upstairs. Our security attaché (Joe) is dressed for success and very friendly. Everybody gets their makeup as well as hair done for television. Jerome pops open a bottle of Dom Perignon. I assume responsibility for locating as well as distributing snacks. We call Matt [Fink] back home in Minneapolis to wish him a "Live from the Grammys!" Happy Birthday... :)


3:30pm- I run downstairs with Monte to check his keyboard. We pass Lindsey Lohan and a slew of other young pop perfomer types hanging out in the hall. We go through the backstage labyrinth and Eddie- The Time’s awesome sound guy (who I met on New Years) is there! A bunch of tech people are running around back stage like chickens with their heads cut off (understandably so). There’s tons of gear and stage props/set changes and everything else you might imagine down there. Monte checks his analog synth and we’re good to go. We return to our green room.


3:45-ish pm: The gents- looking impeccable as ever- head out door to do some press. I steal the make up mirror and the face that should have been staring at me around 2pm finally shows up. Insert additional sigh of relief here.
Rihanna’s dancers are in the hall warming up. I shoot the sh*t with them for a sec and think about some of the first breaks I got in the business [dancing]. Again, the universe seems to be whispering "Remember…" On my way back to the dressing room, Donna Summer saunters by.


4:22 pm: I crack open Cokes for Monte and myself. Jerome tells Jimmy & Terry’s assistant about my album and the Elevator Operator video. I find myself blushing because well… I’ve always admired Jerome (he’s MAD funny!) as a perfomer/personality and let’s face it- being at an event like this is intimidating. It’s kinda like being Eliza Doolittle at the Embassy Ball in My Fair Lady or something.


4:30 pm: With the help of Joe, a hot buffet is delivered to our room.Jimmy Jam surfaces. He’s wearing a fantastic pinstripe and seems like a pretty nice/solid dude. There’s a current in the air-- if you play in a band then you know the one I’m talking about-- it’s the thing you get before shows when it’s almost time to go.


4:58 pm: The guys prepare to take places. They look amazing and absolutely chuffed. I hug my dude and tell him that they’re gonna be great. I’m nervous, but I know everything will be grand.


5:00 pm: We take our seats and brace ourselves. Alicia Keys comes on in her marvelous green dress and just KILLS IT in a virtual duet with Frank Sinatra. It’s VERY twenty-first century and damn, I don’t think I’ve EVER heard Alicia sound so good. Carrie Underwood struts out next channeling the other Sinatra (Nancy, of course). She blows the roof off of Staples… literally. Next Prince pops out and presents an award, then Jimmy’s up front. He gets hi-jacked by Morris and Jerome and… We’re all on the edge of our seats… The stage opens up and there they are. Even after all these years, I’m always surprised by how awesome they are live. I feel strangely guilty for lusting over my hot boyfriend and remember the first time I ever laid eyes on him. They’re off and running and WOAH! Rihanna joins the party and she’s wearing the most AWESOME dress I’ve seen all night! The set climaxes with the entire stage doing the Penguin and I’m absolutely sure that the ghost of Cab Calloway is lingering about Staples Center somewhere, proudly watching. After they get done, they go straight to the press rooms and I spy the Cirque de Soleil backstage, preparing for their number which is BREATH TAKING.


5:40-ish pm: After the performance of ’Love’, I go grab something to eat since I’m STARVING. The guys are still off doing press. Until they pitch up again about an hour later, I pretty much lose track of time. I remember Kanye West & Daft Punk, Fergie and Beyonce & Tina coming out. I loved the Beyonce & Tina team up... Tina’s always been one of my faves and she kicked it super RIGHTEOUSLY. And then... I come back after a jaunt down the hall to stretch my legs and who but Jessy Greene is storming the screen with the Foo Fighters? I bounce up and down and pump my arm/fist in the air furiously as if we (MPLS) just won a superbowl (of music). Since my phone was stolen since we last spoke, I call engineer/producer Joe Mabbot and ask him to pass on that she’s invited by our dressing room if she has time. I jump up and down and call everyone I know in MPLS to say "TURN ON YOUR TV- JESSY’S ON AND IT’S ABOUT F*ING TIME!" [Side note: I was totally IRRITATED when I read Jon Bream’s review of the Grammys with the Minnesota round up. HE DIDN’T ONCE MENTION HER!]. I next remember Aretha’s amazing choir-laden set and Amy Winehouse being nominated as well as winning a whole bunch of stuff. We all wondered what the big hubbaloo was until we saw her perform live. I was definitely blown away in ways I wasn’t expecting to be... She’s like a cross between Elvis and Patsy Kline and some freaking super model… what’s her face, the one Angelina Jolie played in that one film... Gia?!? And damn... Amy actually has STAGE PRESENCE (you know- that thing that became a minus in the business around the early 1990?)!


6:50 something-ish pm: A few of the guys return and I come out of the green room and have a chat with Joe, who I wish could watch the show with us. We start talking about music and I mention that I’m working on a rock album. I say something about hearing a lot of 50’s style Jerry Lee Lewis type piano on parts of it and he looks me straight in the eyes and says "Jerry Lee’s downstairs… You know you have an all access pass, right?" He tells me Little Richard’s down there too and my eyes pretty much POP OUT OF MY HEAD. I run into the dressing room, grab a couple of CD’s and write out postcards to both of them post haste. I whisper in Monte’s ear "I’m going to find Jerry Lee Lewis!" He looks at me like "No way!" and I give him a "You bet your sweet ass!" look. I grab my schwag and head out the door, winking at Joe. I head for the elevators and…



PART 3: GRAMMY EVE & AFTER PARTY

OMFG!
The original members of THE TIME (Morris, Jerome, Jimmy Jam, Monte Moir, Terry Lewis, Jellybean & Jesse Johnson) have gotten back together and were invited to perform at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards with... take a wild guess... She's one of my favorite younger/newer artists... Does amazing choreography with umbrellas... Yes, YES y'all....  Rihanna!

Courtesy of Mr. Moir, I'm being toted along for the weekend and am super excited... :>

Also- to all LA friends- if anyone wants to hook up for some pre or post-post Grammy partying, I'll be in town Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th. Hit me with a note here via pvt msg!
xxx
LP

Hello.
I just got home from one of the most wonderful trips I've ever been on.
2008 is shaping up spit spot and I thought it only proper to recap the craziness of last year... :)

Let's see... where to begin...
In late JANUARY, I met an MC from Germany called NiK-1. He was a sure riot and a great talent. Along with Ricardo [Autobahn] and a slew of other guests, we later collaborated on a track called 'LOOKING FOR THE KLF'... To be released somewhere down the line, under some other alias.

In FEBRUARY, we mailed out 300+ packages (of the ELEVATOR OPERATOR single) to DJ's all over the globe. This led to crossing paths with the one and only Danny Morris, who- with the grace of God or other deity to be determined- remixed the ELEVATOR OPERATOR video.

In MARCH, I went to Miami to WMC to promote the ELEVATOR OPERATOR single and video with my best friend Nadine (aka Bubbles). We had way too much fun rolling around, party to party, club to club, shop to shop. I collected seashells and lots of weird things on the beach in between rain storms and even managed to fit in a short swim. I plastered South Beach with Lolly Pop posters; got rid of 300+ flyers and awarded nearly 60 E/O promos. We met lots of interesting folks there... Most notably: Felix Da Housecat (holler!) and Mike Nielsen of DJMIX.NET. It turned out that Mike was actually my neighbor (lives about a block away from me!) and we have pretty much been best friends ever since.

Just one week later, we met Benny Benassi at Spin (Minneapolis). He was here DJ'ing post WMC. He is one of the most gracious men I've ever met in my life... Also one of the wickedest DJ's I've ever heard. He had a complete understanding of his crowd- the way all great DJ's do (Felix has this too). They watch the room, feel where it's going and connect with the energy. It's never about them- it's about the room and the people in it. These two- Felix and Benny- have a unique gift that I've rarely seen. I will never- as long as I live- forget Felix bumping First Avenue or Benny banging the decks at Spin.

In APRIL, I began writing material for a second Lolly Pop album. I wrote a cute/sassy track called MAJORETTE, another titled DRESS FOR SUCESS, a boy/girl duet called VALENTINE'S DAY and a ballad/ode to my real life fairy godfather, DEAR ARTHUR (which we tracked a demo of in June).

In MAY I celebrated my birthday. I shan't say which one because that would be too American of me... lol... ,) Post WMC, we watched sales sky rocket and approached breaking even on what we spent making the album. We began planning a tour- the OVER THE RAINBOW TOUR- for late summer.

In JUNE, Danny Morris got the ELEVATOR OPERATOR remix video in rotation with RockAmerica. Record sales continued to blast off and I figured- with a video in rotation, tour and a second record on the horizon- it was now or never. I quit my day job to work the album and focus on new material. During this time, I spent half the week at the gym and the other half being where I needed to be and doing what I needed to do to make "it" happen. By the end of the month, the record was in several stores and we shifted focus to on on-line and radio promo to push sales. We also had a wonderful review from Jim Meyer at Minnesota Monthly Magazine, which helped greatly. I worked steadily on booking the tour and attracting sponsors. Everything seemed poised to break.

It was around this time, somewhere in this rush, that I met Willie Moore, my saxophone player. We met by chance on the bus; I was heading to my once-a-week booking/MC'ing gig at Club Underground. He had on a leather necklace with a mini African Drum. I said: "You must be a percussionist?". He replied: "No... I play Saxophone!" My eyes lit up and sirens went off in my head... I'd been thinking of adding brass- especially for the new material and suddenly... Willie shows up. Long story short, we've been friends/collaborators ever since!

In mid-late JULY, we went to play Madison with LOVEWHIP, which was great fun. It was there that I met my friend Tiah. Tiah was a long-term Myspace friend who offered to work merch. She showed up but wasn't quite drinking age... so it didn't exactly work out, but the bar let us hang out before doors. I'd forgotten what it was like to be a teenager, about all the things we go through. We've stayed in touch since and she's been a light in my life. She also inspired my recent haircut... ,)

By late JULY/early AUGUST, things began going askew. Record sales tapered off, band chaos (we lost a member- which led to cutting gigs/$) ensued and family as well as financial worries chipped away at my spirit. Tour dates weren't clearing the way they needed to either and it became a HUGE source of stress for me trying to co-manage as well as work press for a national tour with 16 different acts. Having learned from the last three outings that you DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW, I cancelled the whole bloody mess. In doing so, I lost the $2 Grand I had in sponsorships and guarentees that were to carry me through Fall. Anxiety set in.

The main highlight of AUGUST was playing the COMMINGLE Fashion Show (which THANKFULLY paid my rent for part of the month) with Willie and meeting Jannus Lee, who became our bass player. DJ COPPERTOP (who I toured with) came to MPLS on her yearly stop; Jannus showed up on the back patio at Hard Mondays while we were hawking COPPERTOP cd's. We got into a discussion about DURAN DURAN, whom we both LOVE. Turned out he'd played with a friends' band years back and had just moved back to town. I gave him a cd (with our cover of THE CHAUFFEUR) and he came to COMMINGLE (along with Kenzie!). We talked about working together after the show and have been ever since.

Despite the elation as well as relief of finding a new band member, I found myself in a serious financial pinch, burned out from the month and a half before, not being able to sleep, extremely depressed and having relationship troubles with my then boyfriend. I began writing material reflecting those feelings... Most notably, a song called 'MOODY', in which I b*tch about local Press and the trials of being an independent artist. With record sales at a near stand still, I was convinced that the lack of local press had rushed the album (and quite possibly my career) into an early grave. Earlier in the year, we'd had people writing about us in Boston, New York, London, Sweden, Ireland and various other countries. In the meantime, we were STILL BEING IGNORED AT HOME. We'd been promised two feature stories (City Pages as well as Rake) that never happened. To top it off, there was a change of guard at the radio station that supported us the most. Instead of getting playlists in my mailbox, I got a big (but polite) F*** you when I called to check rotation. Now I don't care who you are: major, minor or whatever- without press and continuous radio play, you're dead in the water.

And so... I watched what had started out as one of the most promising years of my life slowly go down the drain.

I spent the rest of AUGUST in tears. I broke up with my then boyfriend, who didn't seem troubled in the least by the split. Also during this time, Nadine/Bubbles moved to San Francisco. It was great- she got a position jocking for Energy 92. It was her absolute dream job and I couldn't have been more excited for her! At the same time, it was hard being away from my best friend. I didn't want to rain on her parade, so I didn't say much aside from the obvious. Those two events wracked up with the other stuff and by the end of the month I was a NERVOUS WRECK.

SEPTEMBER found me looking for a day job again and wanting to jump off a very tall building pretty much every other day. I was terribly dissapointed and hurt. I felt like I'd blown my only chance... I didn't know why or how, but I had failed. I couldn't put on that happy face anymore and so... I decided to end Lolly. It was time to put away the song and dance, that wonderful, crazy @$$ debutante. After her final show at the Bedlam Theatre, I sank into an even deeper depression.

In late SEPTEMBER, though, something wonderful happened. I found my long lost real life FAIRY GODFATHER- the one who I'd written DEAR ARTHUR about! I'd been looking for Arthur for over a decade, ever since I came back from Africa. I found an art show listing on-line with his name on it. I called the Museum, who called him... Just hours later, I found myself in tears on the phone with that unforgettable, unmistakable voice. We had a lovely time re-connecting. He's still wonderfully flamboyant, colorful and wise. He's a stylist now, which I somehow always knew he would be. He had the gift- even way back then... He just KNEW how to cut and LONG before anyone actually taught him. He also kept at his art and has been making strides in that area. I couldn't be more pleased or more proud of him at all!

Around the same time, I got a job dressing people at a cute store that shall remain nameless downtown. It didn't pay very well, but I met some wonderful people. It gave me a safe and cheerful place to be, kept my bills paid and food on the table. It also led to a different day job, where I now get paid a nice bundle of cash for yes- you guessed it- dressing people.

By OCTOBER, the light at the end of the tunnel began to emerge. My friends Alex (Apraxia), Tom and Troy took me to Duluth Pride to see Lady Miss Kier. We met Kier back stage pre-show and wound up invited on stage. We had a raging good time... I found myself laughing for the first time in months. Also, Monte (the fellow I dated before Mr. AUGUST-BREAK-UP) and I found our way back to each other. We'd gone out before, but it was kept hush hush. I was afraid I'd be looked at as "dude from The Time's girlfriend', rather than as myself, which is what happened the last time I dated a remotely known musician. During this time, I started counseling, which has been helping tremendously.

By mid-NOVEMBER, I was nearly back to my old self. I began writing new material, re-learning how to breathe. Part of my inner faith had been trampled over the summer and re-inventing it was going to be a task. Things took another turn for the better when Monte and I took a road trip to Springfeild, IL. I'd always loved Abraham Lincoln and being able to see and visit his home reminded me of the good in the world. I made my own individual Myspace page when I came home from that trip... And we've been busy cutting rough demos ever since. They aren't Lolly material mind you, but they are very real.

Early DECEMBER brought another bit of light- a trip to San Francisco, where I met up with Nadine/Bubbles! She took me to the Energy 92 FM anniversary party, where we ran into some of the folks we met in Miami. We also got to see September, Taylor Dayne and a lot of excellent talents perform live.

Late DECEMBER brought a cheerful Christmas and another musical gift. My favorite members of Greazy Meal flew into town for the holidays and decided to have a live jam at the Kitty Cat Club. I was reminded that I had a musical life before Lolly Pop... And was told by an old friend that I'd given up too soon. A few days later, Monte flew me out to Connecticut for Christmas. I got to spend New Year's with him and the guys/The Time, who I hadn't seen in a couple years. Watching them perform again and thinking about everything that happened in between, I realized that everything had come full circle. It was a comforting feeling somehow. I got to meet the people from Creativity In Music (Gi and Joe) who ran my radio promo in late '06, when Lolly Pop debuted. They were warm and encouraging, as was everyone who's path I crossed over the course of those two nights.

On NEW YEARS DAY, we drove to Boston. Monte met my family and we spent a couple days without stress, without worry or care. Coming home to Boston- just miles from where I was born and lived the first part of my life- somehow grounded me. For the first time in months, I felt at peace. A huge wave of relief rolled in, like the near-by tide caressing the sand. I've never felt anymore at home than near the ocean... Except for in certain parts of Africa, of course.

There's not much else left to tell... We've had another exceedingly glamorous and not-so-glamorous year of ups and downs... of MUSIC and of LIFE. 2007 was rough... But parts of it were fantastic. It ended on a high note, with a sense of healing. I hope I haven't bored you with all the whiny parts... lol

And I hope that you too have arrived at a safe and hopeful place here.

Here's to 2008... a world of new and exciting things... :)
Love,
Lolly

HOLY GOODNESS!!!
Matthew Chojnacki- author of 'THE 1980's @ 45 RPM'S' just emailed me- he built me/us a Wikipedia entry!
Click below to go...

LOLLY POP in WIKIPEDIA!

Thanks so much Matthew... Your book is genious & we can't wait to see it in print SOON!
xxx

Hi gang!
Just a quick note to let you know that I'm in 'Frisco and will be here through Monday... And while I'm away disco dancing ((meet me @ MEZZANINE tonight [Friday]- adress: 444 Jessie Street San Fran, California 94103- and giving away Lolly cd's for best disco costumes!)), I've posted a few new goodies on Youtube for you guys...
www.youtube.com/lollypopcoutureclub

Also, I will be @ the ENERGY 92 party tomorrow night @ The Regency Ballroom on Van Ness (downtown). Look for grey patent leather shoes with black buttons!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All my love...
xxx
LP