lisa ann stone: News

I survived the week back at work, even if it was only four days long.
I have been suffering a little from a bit of sunburn from all that sun, but I will survive.
I still haven't listened to any music since the trip to Eden. I suppose it might seem strange to do a musical fast, but I think it is kind of nice to wait and see what kind of music can well up inside of me. We will see what the future brings.

Today was my last day at Eden. After breakfast, I had a chance to take one last dip in the guitar pool with Connie. I brought a guitar, of course, and we played a little.
But all too soon I had to leave. I stopped by Elmer's shop on the way out and he showed me around fro a few minutes, then it was back to the road. I left at 2:30 and expected to get back by 10:30.

It was so nice to reflect on the happenings of the weekend. I drove back in silence, no music or radio, just me, alone with my thoughts. It was a nice trip!

Last night was so great!
I got my tent set up with some help form some other happy campers!
I did make it in time for dinner, which was awesome, and then some socializing, and then off to the great pool! Live music from Connie, John, Eric and Porangui, all out under the stars!

Today was was filled with hot mineral baths, a mud bath, and a neat little natural jacuzzi! I got to take some video of Connie with a water halo rising out of the pool. It was so cool! I hope she might post it on youtube or something like that. I will keep you posted.

I tried to get an early start, but I really wanted to make a few stops around Phoenix. It has been so long since I was there. So I took a little time for myself.
I stopped and got some roses for myself. I am worth it! I stopped by this cute little store at Thomas and Third. They were so sweet!
I stopped by Target and got a cooler and a flashlight, then off to a grocery store for some ice and wine, then a quick stop by Tokyo Express for some lunch. Tokyo Express didn't seem the same as it used to be. I was kind of bummed. Like that phrase, You can never go back home, I was kind of disappointed that my fond memories of that place were not the same as it was today.

I considered just getting on the road for Eden, but I really wanted to stop and see Tim. But the doubts started creeping in. What if he is not there any more, or has the day off, or any of a hundred other possibilities.
I decided that I have come this far, so I need to do it. So I stopped by Guitar Center in Scottsdale to say hi to Tim, but he was working at the Peoria store, and yes he was working today, so I headed over there on the 101 and then the 17. It has been a few years since I have seen him, and I have often wondered how he has been doing. It was so nice to see him! He is doing fine and he is looking great. I was so glad I stopped!

I finally left Phoenix at 3:00 and started off to Eden. It was a pleasant drive. But I did get a little emotional as I got closer. The tears started flowing as I made the turn off of the 70.

Wow, I made it!

I got off of work at 3:30 and got on the road. I got as far as Phoenix and stayed the night there. I was awful tired as it was 11 pm when I checked into a hotel. The drive out to Eden Hot Springs from there was a dark road, so I thought it would make more sense to drive the last three hours in the daylight when I was more awake. Sweet Dreams of Hot Springs!

I have been getting tired lately. Work is getting pretty physical and my body has been getting weary. I need a respite.

There is a Raw Foods event going on at Eden Hot Springs for Memorial Day weekend, and I could so use a soak!

I know gas is expensive lately, but I am in dire need of a road trip. If I can only make it through until next weekend.

I stopped at Aurora tonight and saw Joey and Peter playing their original songs. Joey was playing acoustic with Peter on the djembe drum and a little rattle thingie. They sounded great and had that place hopping! They booked to be the Saturday night music. If you get the chance, you really should stop in and see them, they are awesome!

I was supposed to meet up with some friends afterwards at Woodies Wharf. It only took half an hour to get in there, but when I did get in, I didn't see anyone I knew. So I had a nice leisurely stroll back home under the full moon. It was a nice night.

I got to see the international space station doing a fly-by tonight @ 8:24 pm, california time. A lifeguard on the beach pointed it out for us and watched it with us. It was so cool!

He told us we could check out further sightings @ www.heavens-above.com
If you are interested in seeing the space station, check out that web site!

I had hoped that I would be able to take today off of work and attend the ASCAP Expo for songwriters, but it has been very busy at work. So I guess I'll have to try again. Maybe next year.

I was really hoping on being able to go. There was an interview with Jackson Browne today. But I missed it. His early stuf is so cool, he is like the king of broken hearted depressing songs. Just my kind of music!

So I kind of splurged tonight. I made up a double batch of won tons and froze them. I wonder if it might not seem like a big deal, but I consider it food for the soul.

A girl has to eat, right?

I got the word that this could be a hot springs weekend. It would be back in Arizona, so it would be a long drive. I hated to do it but I had to decide against it. There is a chance I might be able to go to an ASCAP sponsored seminar, but I think that I will most likely gave to work. Oh what a bummer.

But at least the weather might be nice!

I had some leftover won ton soup after I got home and it started a little spark. I found some energy and ended up searching through a few notebooks and typed up a few songs that made it to my list.
I even had some energy left to stop by Aurora and say hi.
I guess that means I'm not as tired as yesterday. Just sick...

I was feeling pretty bad tonight. I got home from work and was tired and sick. I think it might be that cold that is going around. I was craving won ton soup, but I so did not want to leave my cozy little apartment. So I ended up making won ton soup from scratch. I even had to make the won ton wrappers!
It was nice to have some time to myself, though. Even if I was tired and sick!
I started organizing some of my older writings. I kind of put a little list together of some recent favorites, and found out I have quite a few favorites...

I made it to that benefit for Aurura and met up with John from work and his wife Suzanne. I had a great time, listening to some great music and talking with old and new friends. I didn't play tonight, but that was fine with me. There were a lot of musicians there that were wanting to play. And play, they did! There was a duo that was exceptional! I forgot their names but one guy played guitar and sang while his accomplice played the box and a few other percussion devices. Awesome!
Before I knew it, though, the night was over. Some people went off to another place to continue the evening. I didn't have a car, so I took a cab back to my place. I got to spend a little quiet time with an old friend, the moon. Life is nice sometimes.

Nice show!
It was so nice to meet Peg and Billy. I had the chance to jam on the harp and get into the blues with Billy on guitar.
I also got to hear Lon, he is awesome!

Well it looks like this Sunday night thing at Aurora is on for next seek, too! Just an acoustic thing.

If you want to hear some live music this Sunday night!

Just Acoustic

Well, the buzz at work is that we will have Sunday off. I will know for sure, tomorrow, but I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Hey, I just realized that today is February 29th!

So this is really a leap day!

I hope you can try to do something special today. This day only comes around once every four years!

Well, it looks like there is this project at work that is bigger than both of us. Well, it's bigger than me, anyways...

But I had heard talk that will be definitely working Saturday. And I am wondering if I might have to work Sunday, as well. I hope not, for I was planning on getting over to Aurora on Sunday evening.

I will keep you posted on details as they come in....

I stopped by my favorite little hangout, Aurora in Newport Beach, today. It is a cute little cafe with a Mediterranean slant to their menu. It is a nice comfy cozy place that seems to bring everyone so happy and friendly all together under one roof. Anyways, I was invited to play next Sunday. March 2nd.

I will keep you posted.....

clowns will eat me....

Well it's 4:00 am and I can't sleep.
I went outside for some fresh air and froze my butt off. I then realized that it's a full moon. No wonder I can't sleep....

Today is a holiday for me, or should I say, a paid holiday for me. But I am so tired, it feels like just another weekend, albeit a short one. I worked Monday through Sunday this week trying to get some scheduled project out at work. And those were all ten hour days, to make it even more interesting. I suppose it is normal to feel tired.
I did laundry, which was good because I was in dire need of clean clothes, and picked up some groceries. I want to try to see a movie tonight. It might feel like I did something on my weekend that way. I was hoping to do the 10:15 showing of "Definitely, Maybe". I have been wanting to see that, the trailers look interesting. So I am off to get a quick bite and.... Oh does that mean I am treating myself to dinner and a movie?

I got back from Sedona about 4:00 am, so I suppose you could say I survived another road trip.
The drive there was nice and calming. It's funny, I've made this trip how many times and it never gets old. I noticed as I was passing the exits for Twenty Nine Palms and Death Valley that I had these vague memories of going there. Like some past life with my ex. Old memories never die out. They just fade into a dream. I could say nightmare, but after all these years, the pain has faded.
I had a great time in Sedona, and Cottonwood, and Jerome. It is always so nice to see Connie again. On the night, or should I say early morning, of my arrival, we stayed up until the sun was up and took a walk to have breakfast. It was nice to stay up al night with her. I can kind of justify it by saying I had to get used to night shift....
Saturday night we went to Grapes up in Jerome and who did we meet? Joanne and Tina were there! It was a complete surprise for all of us. To breeze into town on a weekend road trip and meet up with them. What a very pleasant surprise!
I had originally planned to leave around noon on Sunday, but I ended up staying around and left at 10:00 that night. It was nice to spend the day out and about Sedona. I miss that place!

Well, I get to start working night shift on Monday. I suppose that means that my day job will be a night job.
But I hope I can take care of some personal business during the day, and maybe start taking some classes again. Maybe I'll get that degree some year....
But this is a perfect chance to do something this weekend. It looks like my prior plans to go to Catalina kind of fizzled out, so my alternate plans are a road trip to..... drum roll, please..... Sedona!
I left about six pm.

I was tempted to title this:
The hills are alive!.... sorry, Just a flashback from some childhood memory that had something to do with musicals. Anyways...

I was driving out to Corona today and all I saw all the way out was the mountains all covered in snow. It was such a beautiful drive that I started thinking... I have my boots and a spare sweater and a coat.... maybe if I kept on driving, I could spend the night in the mountains...

I noticed a sign on the way there that Highway 91 would be closed at midight. So it would have to be either come home after the visit or don't.

But I ended up stopping in Corona and saw my friend from work. It was a pleasant visit. He bought me lunch, and I got to meet his wife and son. We spent a few hours talking about stuff.

I decided to head towards home. I really wanted to stop at Mitsuwa and pick up a few things. The ride home wasn't quite as nice. I was driving away from the mountains and all I saw were rain clouds building.

I got to Mitsuwa quite easily. But I couldn't find their tamari shoyu, it looked like they were sold out of it. So I settled for tokusen organic. I also couldn't find okonomyaki sauce, but I will get by with some worcestorshire and or mayo. But I did pick up some daikon, umeboshi, soba noodles,a bag of rice (tamaki gold, I heard it is good), asakusa nori, roasted sesame seeds, and a bottle of sake. It looks like I will be adventuring in the kitchen this week!

I survived the day at work. I was feeling awful bad, bad I made it through it. I tried to do some errands after work, until I got to the bank and somehow remembered that today is MLK day and that the bank is closed, along with the DMV, and the post office. Oh well.
But I did stop and pick up a few things at the grocery store. I then made up up a pan of Okonomiyaki. It was my first try. It was not quite as good as my mother used to make, but the last time I had it was when I was seven years old.
I will definitely have to try this again.

Oh and if you couldn't tell, I am feeling much better, thank you!