Someone suggested I do this, and since my lunch mates have been asking me a ton of questions (throw the "not polite to talk with your mouth full" rule out the window!), here goes:
Q: When are you moving to Nashville?
A: Early April--hope to be there by Easter.
Q: Do you have family in Nashville?
A: Not blood relatives but lots of friends there and in surrounding states...so you could say many members of the "family of God".
Q: Do you have a job there?
A: I'm considering options at this time...conventional and freelance opportunities. I am also taking any leads in both those areas that anyone may have!
Q: What will your life be like in Nashville?
A: Full of music, music, music!
Q: What will you do once you get there?
A: My calendar is filling already! Senior Trip Branson, GMA week, CMA Fan Fair, lots of gospel music school concerts, music networking events and much more!
Q: What will you miss the most in Minnesota?
A: My musical friends' gigs in person. But, I trust the power of the Internet will keep us ever connected.
Q: What will you not miss about Minnesota?
A: The winter. Getting up for work and out the door early in the morning for a crowded bus in winter.
Q: Why can't I leave a comment here?
A: Well, now you can! All comments are moderated, so spammers, go elsewhere.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Farewell Tour Stop: MPR
It's altogether fitting that one of the few stops on my "farewell tour" here would be the place it all started for me. I went to Minnesota Public Radio's 40th anniversary open house. It was the first time that I got to see MPR's new building. It's very high tech and slick, as you might expect.
I got to see a few familiar faces I haven't seen in some time. I've been out of the MPR volunteer loop for many years, so I was surprised that some of those folks remembered who I was. And, finally, I did something which I've been trying to do for many years. I would go the MPR booth at the MN State Fair year after year and fill out the little card that asked if I wanted to do a testimonial. Of course I did. After all, MPR changed my life. No one ever called. Today, I got my big chance. I did a couple of fund raising promos and told a little of my story of how being A Prairie Home Companion fan got me out here. I must say, all of the demo and podcast work seemed to pay off a little--from what I could hear, it sounded pretty good. Someone will have to let me know if it ever airs, I guess.
There were a few MPR personalities scattered about. I had a nice conversation with Cathy Wurzer of Morning Edition (and Almanac). I had to be honest with her and tell her that I watched her more than listened to her, it being she's on opposite my friends Dale and Jim Ed. She is as warm and friendly as her spouse, Erik Eskola, who I met many years before at the State Fair. I brought up my podcast, as she's thinking of doing her own, and left her my card. Maybe she will get a chance to listen. That'll be cool.
Over at the Fitzgerald Theater, Dale and Jim Ed did a couple of routines and hosted some great musical sets by the Auto Body Experience (a witty band with solid musicianship) and the always fine to listen to Becky Schlegel.
All in all, a pleasant nostalgic afternoon which gave me the sense that I had come full circle.
I got to see a few familiar faces I haven't seen in some time. I've been out of the MPR volunteer loop for many years, so I was surprised that some of those folks remembered who I was. And, finally, I did something which I've been trying to do for many years. I would go the MPR booth at the MN State Fair year after year and fill out the little card that asked if I wanted to do a testimonial. Of course I did. After all, MPR changed my life. No one ever called. Today, I got my big chance. I did a couple of fund raising promos and told a little of my story of how being A Prairie Home Companion fan got me out here. I must say, all of the demo and podcast work seemed to pay off a little--from what I could hear, it sounded pretty good. Someone will have to let me know if it ever airs, I guess.
There were a few MPR personalities scattered about. I had a nice conversation with Cathy Wurzer of Morning Edition (and Almanac). I had to be honest with her and tell her that I watched her more than listened to her, it being she's on opposite my friends Dale and Jim Ed. She is as warm and friendly as her spouse, Erik Eskola, who I met many years before at the State Fair. I brought up my podcast, as she's thinking of doing her own, and left her my card. Maybe she will get a chance to listen. That'll be cool.
Over at the Fitzgerald Theater, Dale and Jim Ed did a couple of routines and hosted some great musical sets by the Auto Body Experience (a witty band with solid musicianship) and the always fine to listen to Becky Schlegel.
All in all, a pleasant nostalgic afternoon which gave me the sense that I had come full circle.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Details, Details, Details
(First, a reminder that if you came here by way of Mark Lowry's Senior Trip website and you're looking for the Asheville reports, I've summarized those here.)
Update on the big move: We have a move date. It will be over Easter weekend. The goal is to be in Nashville for church on Easter Sunday. Since we are using my car and a minivan to move me down, half of my apartment will be junked before my departure. Some of my stuff will be pre-shipped. I am quite surprised how difficult it is to get rid of some good furniture...even to donate. Hey if need be, it will be junked, which would be a shame...but I can't take it with me.
A lot of people have wished me well and I am up to my ears in "lunch before you go" dates. But what also surprised me is the lack of reaction to the move of some who I considered friends, who have yet to say even a word. I guess I will just slip out of town without them even noticing.
Someone asked me how I can concentrate on my job with all this going on. In fact, my boss commended me for staying present despite all of the preparation and being very excited. Well, you do what you have to do. If you are still being paid to show up and work, then you have to put one foot in front of the other and do it...or try to, at least. Believe me, it's not easy. But I will be taking some time off to do things and try to reach places that you can't on the weekends.
A few months before I made the final decision to move to Nashville, I did an exercise that came with an audio series I got from Changing Course called "Making Dreams Happen." It was to describe your ideal life. I came across that sheet of paper this past week and saw that many of the things I wrote down are in the process of happening. Gave me goose bumps.
Update on the big move: We have a move date. It will be over Easter weekend. The goal is to be in Nashville for church on Easter Sunday. Since we are using my car and a minivan to move me down, half of my apartment will be junked before my departure. Some of my stuff will be pre-shipped. I am quite surprised how difficult it is to get rid of some good furniture...even to donate. Hey if need be, it will be junked, which would be a shame...but I can't take it with me.
A lot of people have wished me well and I am up to my ears in "lunch before you go" dates. But what also surprised me is the lack of reaction to the move of some who I considered friends, who have yet to say even a word. I guess I will just slip out of town without them even noticing.
Someone asked me how I can concentrate on my job with all this going on. In fact, my boss commended me for staying present despite all of the preparation and being very excited. Well, you do what you have to do. If you are still being paid to show up and work, then you have to put one foot in front of the other and do it...or try to, at least. Believe me, it's not easy. But I will be taking some time off to do things and try to reach places that you can't on the weekends.
A few months before I made the final decision to move to Nashville, I did an exercise that came with an audio series I got from Changing Course called "Making Dreams Happen." It was to describe your ideal life. I came across that sheet of paper this past week and saw that many of the things I wrote down are in the process of happening. Gave me goose bumps.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
My Kind Of Winter
You shall hear no complaints from me about the abnormally mild winter we are having here in MN. I love it. I especially like it because that is what I will have to look forward to in TN next winter.
But for all you Minnesotans who have forgotten what snow looks like, a blast from the past: here is how it looked in the winter of 2000-2001 when I was a new homeowner.
We had about 20 inches or so in a short period of time that I can recall. I remember panicking because I thought the snow was going to pile way over my back fence and I had no clue where it would all go.
Nonetheless, preparations for this year's St. Paul Winter Carnival have begun. Rumors of plastic being used in place of ice for sculptures have been squelched. One of the carnival traditions is the Torchlight Parade. Here's a story about that from the early 90's. My friend, the "angel" who helped me settle here, invited me to come hang with her and her gorgeous daughter who won one of her many youth beauty titles, enabling her to ride in the Torchlight Parade. So we're hanging out by the US Bank building, waiting for them to load the kids on the KARE-11 bus on which they will ride in the parade. Before we know it, they were ushering both kids and us adults on the bus. Well, okay. I figure, I'll sit in the back of the bus and be stupid and wave to everyone. No one would see me anyway.
Wrong.
The parade was televised live that year, and I set up my VCR to tape it. After the parade, my friend, her daughter and a few kids came up to my apartment to watch the tape. Well, when the KARE-11 bus came into view, guess whose waving mug came on camera along with the kids?
So, if anyone should ask--let's say I was Miss Transplant Minnesota for that year.
But for all you Minnesotans who have forgotten what snow looks like, a blast from the past: here is how it looked in the winter of 2000-2001 when I was a new homeowner.
We had about 20 inches or so in a short period of time that I can recall. I remember panicking because I thought the snow was going to pile way over my back fence and I had no clue where it would all go.
Nonetheless, preparations for this year's St. Paul Winter Carnival have begun. Rumors of plastic being used in place of ice for sculptures have been squelched. One of the carnival traditions is the Torchlight Parade. Here's a story about that from the early 90's. My friend, the "angel" who helped me settle here, invited me to come hang with her and her gorgeous daughter who won one of her many youth beauty titles, enabling her to ride in the Torchlight Parade. So we're hanging out by the US Bank building, waiting for them to load the kids on the KARE-11 bus on which they will ride in the parade. Before we know it, they were ushering both kids and us adults on the bus. Well, okay. I figure, I'll sit in the back of the bus and be stupid and wave to everyone. No one would see me anyway.
Wrong.
The parade was televised live that year, and I set up my VCR to tape it. After the parade, my friend, her daughter and a few kids came up to my apartment to watch the tape. Well, when the KARE-11 bus came into view, guess whose waving mug came on camera along with the kids?
So, if anyone should ask--let's say I was Miss Transplant Minnesota for that year.
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year News
Happy New Year!
Today I made the big announcement that I've been itching to make for weeks, but decided to wait until after the Christmas holidays: I am moving to Nashville in April.
The early reaction to the news have been overwhelmingly positive, supportive and sweet. It seems I did not shock a lot of people. I've been pretty transparent on my feelings about Nashville. It is gratifying to hear affirmation from musicians that I did actually accomplish something important that I set out to do.
I am also hearing the same words come up that did when I made the move to Minnesota from Connecticut: "brave", "courageous", "daring". A couple of points I must make about that:
- As I said, I've done this before. In fact it will be nearly 18 years to the day when I move from Minnesota that I arrived there from the East. And, I had a lot less coming here in terms of contacts and resources than I do going in to this move. When I came to St. Paul, I knew only one person--someone I'd met in a church (and I truly believe she was an angel sent by God to assist my transition). This time I have friends and contacts in Nashville and nearby states--as well as two people I refer to as my "angels" this time.
- I am, after all, also a personal coach who helps others realize their potential and go for their dreams (and I am grateful to have watched that happen with clients this past year). I would be a bit out of my integrity if I didn't follow my own advice and try to go for my own dream. It did work once.
I won't deny that making a living is a concern in my current place in life. But the answer to the question of will the uncertainty stop me from moving is NO. I know I have made a significant impact in the lives of others...if I can do that here, I'm sure I can there as well. God has flung the doors wide open so far in every aspect of this move. Either I trust Him...or I don't. I choose to.
Some other news: My podcast continues to do well. I can't figure out why, but the episode I did on "More Radio Memories" is having a flurry of activity. Someone must have plugged me somewhere. I've had over 90 podcast subscribers alone just off that one episode. Today's statistics on the site that hosts my podcast show "Wendy V's Ponder Cast"
back in the top 10 of most listened to audio. The stats change by the day, and sometimes the minute, but I'll take it.
So far, so good for 2007.
Today I made the big announcement that I've been itching to make for weeks, but decided to wait until after the Christmas holidays: I am moving to Nashville in April.
The early reaction to the news have been overwhelmingly positive, supportive and sweet. It seems I did not shock a lot of people. I've been pretty transparent on my feelings about Nashville. It is gratifying to hear affirmation from musicians that I did actually accomplish something important that I set out to do.
I am also hearing the same words come up that did when I made the move to Minnesota from Connecticut: "brave", "courageous", "daring". A couple of points I must make about that:
- As I said, I've done this before. In fact it will be nearly 18 years to the day when I move from Minnesota that I arrived there from the East. And, I had a lot less coming here in terms of contacts and resources than I do going in to this move. When I came to St. Paul, I knew only one person--someone I'd met in a church (and I truly believe she was an angel sent by God to assist my transition). This time I have friends and contacts in Nashville and nearby states--as well as two people I refer to as my "angels" this time.
- I am, after all, also a personal coach who helps others realize their potential and go for their dreams (and I am grateful to have watched that happen with clients this past year). I would be a bit out of my integrity if I didn't follow my own advice and try to go for my own dream. It did work once.
I won't deny that making a living is a concern in my current place in life. But the answer to the question of will the uncertainty stop me from moving is NO. I know I have made a significant impact in the lives of others...if I can do that here, I'm sure I can there as well. God has flung the doors wide open so far in every aspect of this move. Either I trust Him...or I don't. I choose to.
Some other news: My podcast continues to do well. I can't figure out why, but the episode I did on "More Radio Memories" is having a flurry of activity. Someone must have plugged me somewhere. I've had over 90 podcast subscribers alone just off that one episode. Today's statistics on the site that hosts my podcast show "Wendy V's Ponder Cast"
back in the top 10 of most listened to audio. The stats change by the day, and sometimes the minute, but I'll take it.
So far, so good for 2007.
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