Since this is Breast Cancer Awareness month I feel compelled to post info to let women know there is a great screening tool available that is non-invasive and unlike mammograms, does not increase your risk of the getting the cancer it purports to detect - there is absolutely no radiation involved. It is also very cheap (I paid about $250 for a series of two tests done 3 or 4 months apart) so though not covered by insurance it is well worth the money to me. You can choose to have this study instead of or in addition to mammography - your choice.

The screening tool is Breast Thermography. Please Google it to learn more and you can also do searches to find a center in your area that does thermography. If I post any one particular article then someone might write to me with something to counter that particular one or try to discredit that source. There are articles on both sides of the issue of whether thermography is valid...everything I have read leads me to trust it far more than mammograms when all factors are considered. That is my personal decision and you may feel differently.

My reason for writing is just to get info out for women to follow up on in making their own healthcare decisions. The information we are spoon-fed by the mainstream ad-supported media is hardly a true and accurate picture and if you rely solely on that information, you cannot make informed choices.

I encourage you to read about thermography (and many other health issues) from a variety of sources and form your own conclusions. At the same time I challenge you to be very aware of the source of information for ANYTHING you read about healthcare, whether it is pro or con on any issue. Consider the profit motives. Also sites/media that are ad-supported, for instance (most of our mainstream media) are most certainly going to have slanted views because they cannot irritate their advertisers. (We do not have a true free press in our country.) The medical and pharmaceutical industries are the source of the biggest advertising dollars. (We are one of the only countries in the world that allow that type of advertising.)

If you are the sort that does still prefer to get info from mainstream media, here is a video that tells about thermography from network TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaS3VIyltJQ
(I think this is a pretty good video except that I personally disagree what they say at the end about encouraging women to still get mammograms in addition to the thermograms.)

------------------------------
Posted using ArtistData - The easiest way for musicians to update multiple sites at once.

Back home now after a long road trip to lovely Arkansas for SERFA (Southeast Regional Folk Alliance). After a few days of little sleep I was pretty tired but was happy to discover that eating SUNFLOWER SEEDS is a great way to stay alert/awake while driving -- they keep you busy! And one little bag lasts a long time. Podcasts are also good company.

I'm having a blast at SERFA (Southeast Regional Folk Alliance) in Mountain View, Arkansas! I'm here as duo "3 of Cups" with my great friend Rachel Nelson of Minnesota. We are performing in official and private showcases and attending workshops in a beautiful scenic park in the Ozark Mountains. Meeting new friends and getting inspired!


------------------------------
Posted using ArtistData - The easiest way for musicians to update multiple sites at once.

R.I.P. Jeff Hickey of Madison WI - a very fine guitarist/musician and a very kind person who I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with on a number of occasions.

Excerpt below from http://www.thirdhandcapo.com/bio.html
(Jeff, along with his colleague Harvey Reid, was one of the pioneers of the partial capo.)

Jeff Hickey (1951-2009)

Howdy friends/fans. Here's a grab bag of unrelated items...

(1)
I'm saying goodbye tomorrow (Wed. March 25) to my thyroid gland.
Prayers or general positive vibes appreciated. I'll be in the hospital
overnight but if all goes well will be home by Thursday evening and
enjoying some good drugs. I'm looking forward to watching some stupid
TV and working puzzles for a few days but will be anxious to get back
to working out and playing music as soon as I can.

(2)
I've got some songs on JANGO internet radio now - if you could check it
out, play a tune or two and give my songs a positive rating (assuming
you like what you hear) that would be super....it would help get me
more plays in regular rotation. If you are unfamiliar with Jango,
please check it out -- it's a VERY COOL internet radio station where
you can customize what you want to hear by creating your own "stations"
of your choice of artist, genre, etc. You can find my songs at this
link or click the JANGO logo at left:
http://www.jango.com/music/Tracy+Jane+Comer

(3)
THANK YOU to those who attended the Likely Stories CD release show or
have ordered a CD!! Likely Stories is a collaborative project with my
pals Nancy Rost and Dave Schindele -- some duos, some trios, a mix of
instrumentation (I played a good bit of cello!) with songs written by
each of us. If you missed all that -- the CD is now available for sale
online....click the CD image to get there or CLICK HERE.
You can listen to audio samples there to see if it's your cup 'o tea.
(More sales options and downloads through iTunes etc. coming soon!)

Peace,
Tracy

Likely Stories CD Release Show
March 21 (Saturday)
7:00 pm to about 9:00 pm
(doors open at 6:30)
Prairie Coffeehouse - Keyeser, WI

Keyeser WI 53532
(608) 846-4462
No Cover - Freewill Donations

Likely Stories is a singer-songwriter collaborative...we each perform some of our original songs in-the-round and back each other up with harmonies and various instruments.

Tracy Jane Comer (cello, guitar, vocals, bass, percussion for this show)
Dave Schindele (piano/keys, vocals, percussion)
Nancy Rost (piano/keys, vocals)

See our web site for more info and audio samples.

Full details about the show here:
http://www.tracyjanecomer.com/showinfo/2009-03-21lscdrelease.htm

I said goodbye to my longtime best friend (for more than 30 years), Mary Ann Kyles Ingram, on October 30, 2008. She lived with cancer for over 2 years. I say "lived with cancer," because that is exactly what she did.

She was just 45 years old, mother to six terrific children (ages 5 to 19) and a devoted wife. She packed at least 10 years worth of living into the last 26 months and was a wonderful role model to everyone for treating each day as a gift. She gave her all to her children, homeschooling them plus being a scout leader, dance coach, sports mom (basketball, judo and more), and in providing them many opportunities to make friends and explore all kinds of activities from piano lessons to Gavel Club to designing computer games. And she and her husband have raised their children in a very faith-centered household as well. Her children have thus been empowered to live up to their full potential with confidence, honor, dignity, and compassion, and with a sense of balance.

I was very fortunate to be able to visit Mary Ann frequently during her illness, so a blessing for me has been in getting to know her children better and forming bonds with them. It was an honor and a privilege to be with her family, around her bed, when Mary Ann drew her last breath.

Another blessing has been the opportunity to learn from Mary Ann's example. The last 2+ years have been a time of much reflection for me in terms of examining priorities and looking at issues of life balance.

I lost another good friend in May to a tragic murder, and my grandmother passed away in July. Now there are others very close to me with serious health concerns. So, more reason to reflect and prioritize. Spending time with my loved ones is definitely a priority to me now.

Consequently, I have made a decision to change the nature of my musical life for the indefinite future. This decision is to allow me to heal emotionally and physically from the effects of an increasing lack of balance and a blurring of life vision in the last several years, since beginning my career as a singer-songwriter. Sadly, the nature of independent music in today's world requires a 24/7 effort in marketing plus a plethora of other tasks and details and trivialities that do not involve picking up an instrument or singing. For me, that leaves far too little time for music, let alone for other things in life.

I will always have music in my life in one form or another, even if just in my living room. But for me, making music a "business" has removed the joy and steadily drained my creative energy. I applaud those who are more energetic (younger!), or have the resources to accomplish the marketing and booking work via outsourcing. There are many fine artists out there who enrich our world with great music.

I appreciate the strong support I have had from terrific fans at live performances and through Internet sites and music sales over the years. I may record and publish some new material for digital release in the future and may perform from time to time in informal settings but I am not seeking bookings and will probably not be updating websites/profiles regularly.

Peace,
Tracy 

OK, so it's official, I have the proper "bio" for a real musician these days. I am in rehab. Yup, me and Amy Winehouse, we be tight.

NOT.

Well, OK, so it's PHYSICAL rehab, for my back, so maybe that doesn't count and won't get me on A&E. (For the record, I do not use drugs of any kind, I don't even like over-the-counter stuff, and rarely even drink, so I'm guess I'm too boring for this biz.)

As for my back...A few of you kind folks have been asking. I have some sacroiliac joint dysfunction, apparently, which has been a bit of an ongoing issue for a couple of years and put me into spasms in early August. After a bunch of expensive tests and a lot of radiation exposure, anything really nasty has been ruled out (yay!). I have found a great chiropractic/rehab clinic (Healthsource in Fitchburg WI) that is helping me get past this. So, thanks to Dr. Stacy and Dr. Dean, and also to my exercise therapist, Beth, I hope to be back to 100% before long, and even hope to resume belly dancing classes soon. (TMI?)

I highly recommend chiropractic if you have back problems!!

While we're on the topic of alternative health...let me put in a plug also for ACUPUNCTURE and herbal remedies for nasal congestion - from allegies or colds or whatever. I had a really rough time last winter and spring with what is apparently just "nonallergic rhinitis," meaning I have a fussy nose for some reason that is easily irritated by things that don't bother most people. I could not breathe out of my nose for about 3 months, but allergy testing and even a CAT scan revealed no apparent cause. After reluctantly trying all kinds of things and medicines suggested and prescribed by doctors (ENT, allergist, and regular doc), I was still hopelessly clogged. Desperate, I tried acupuncture, and after the VERY FIRST visit, with needle treatment and a couple of relatively inexpensive herbs, my nose was dry as a bone within an HOUR after that. I kid you not - it was nothing short of a miracle and sure made a believer of me. I had a few more treatments and now if I start sneezing or clogging up (I have learned that there are chemical triggers, like FeBreeze), I take a single capsule of one of those herbs and that takes care of me for days. Problem completely solved. No inhalers, no steroids, and no antihistamines daily as the docs were saying I would need -- just one little green herb capsule maybe once a week.

I promise I do not get kickbacks from any alternative healthcare providers. Those who know me know that I am NOT a fan of western medicine and I have had more of doctors and tests this year than I ever wanted to have in a lifetime...all for nothing. The only 2 useful healthcare providers I have seen this year have been the chiropractors and the acupuncturist. Next time, I'll skip the "modern medicine" route!

Oh - music stuff...
I am mostly on hiatus and that has been largely due to the need to attend to my own health and reduce stress where possible, but also because I have been spending time with my dearest friends and relatives in the Carolinas. There are a couple of very serious illnesses among my clan down there, plus two deaths in recent months (a longtime friend in May, and my grandmother in July). The folks who are now ill are two of the most special people in my life -- my best friend since junior high, Mary Ann, and my Aunt Jane. These two beautiful women are the folks most responsible for my becoming a musician, and what I owe them on so many levels is immeasurable. If you are the praying sort, your prayers for them would be welcome.

I do have gigs coming in on FRIDAY OCTOBER 10 (Oregon Arts Festival, solo show) and in early DECEMBER (a Christmas concert, with Michael Bryant and Randy Green). Watch my site for details.

Peace,
Tracy 

Hi all - When it rains it monsoons, huh??

First the BAD news...I'm so sorry to report that I injured my back (ugh) this morning, and am on bedrest for at least a few days...Hopefully it is just a muscle spasm (that's what they are treating it as). I will have some follow-up next week. But I'm rather immobile at the moment. So the upshot is that I have had to cancel our shows tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday). I am so sorry that you'll miss the chance to hear my fabulous colleagues, Michael Bryant and Randy Green, who were doing these shows with me.

But now the GOOD news...The shows go on!
(1) FRIDAY at Gov. Nelson State Park, the awesome acoustic duo of Amy Curl & Dan Kennedy will perform! It will be well worth your time, so head on out.

(2) SATURDAY for Folk on State - The fabulous and fun-loving duo of Small Potatoes will perform both sets (1:00 and 2:00) instead of just playing the 2nd set.

Thanks a bunch to these musical pals for keeping things rolling...please go, and bring friends!!! Details for these shows are still posted at my site, at http://www.tracyjanecomer.com/Gigs.htm

OTHERWISE: As mentioned in an earlier blog, I'll be on an indefinite break from performing for a while now (starting a couple of days sooner than expected!). I do have one appearance on September 13 as part of "Country Cornucopia" at Art in the Barn (Fitchburg, WI) supporting Nelson Graham, so maybe I'll see you there? Otherwise...please continue to support local indie music!

Peace,
Tracy