Cindy Grayson: News

I now have a student from Germany, Kristin Trittermann, staying with me. I think more people should open up their homes to these kids. We can all learn so much from each other and the advantages gained in knowkledge on both sides is priceless. Kristin is a wonderful young woman and I'm enjoying haveing her in my home quite a lot.

I got offered a job 2 days a week working at The Heart Of Texas Gift Gallery in Nacogdoches and I also got offered a job starting this Friday at The Manhattan Fine Diningroom on 1st street in Lufkin , Texas . I'll be the background dinner music from 6:30 - 10:00 pm. It's a really nice place and I hope I can do it justice. It will be the first regular music job I've had. I'm so nervous about messing it up that my upper vocal register is trying to dissappear. I am so glad to be able to get work that will not only allow me to do hwta I love to do but it will be inside out of the weather. Keep your fingers crossed and hope my voice does what I want it to do.

It was a fun evening, even though Guy and Pip Gillette ( sp?) weren't there. I actually made it through another set without a hitch - except for my older son calling me just as I started my set - twice in a row. I have got to remember to turn my phone off when I go in the door.
I must say that my time that I've been spending on learning other peoples songs has helped make my performances smoother. I've also had a chance to meet some really tallanted and interesting people I wouldn't have otherwise. I'm looking forward to next month.

I'm having my property, known as Wilderhill, select cut and having all the big pines cut to try and generate some money to fix the fences and buy some equipment for property maintenance. I know, of course, that my mother loves her woods just the way they were but they live elsewhere and I'm in charge and there are some things that just have to be done at this point before the fence falls down and the plants take over. My first buy has been a riding mower so instead of 8 , it now takes 2 hrs to mow the yard and I don't have to push mow it anymore. YEAH! I just have to learn to wear a mask and protective glasses since I've now had to take an entire day off to try and recover from the grass and pollen and dust allergy attack I got. I have to clear up my voice by Saturday night so I can play at Camp Street. I guess I'll learn sooner or later:-).

I'm headed to play at the open mic at Camp Street Cafe this Saturday. I have three more songs picked out. So far I haven't had to repeat anything but since I've stopped keeping track, it could happen soon. I thought I'd start out with " Streets Og Larado" and then do an old funny tune and then I thought I'd drop an original on them and see what the reaction is. They all do oldies and I plan on sticking to that - really - but I just want to see what they do if I stuck one of mine in there. I'll have Don take some photo's and put them on here. Open Mic is the 1st of August and starts at 6:30 ( I think ) pm. The show is always great. Come and join us.

I just added some photos of some wonderful times singing with Joe Vega. The photos are taken by his parents, Joe and Gloria Vega. Not only is Joe Vega a great musician and performer but he has the best parents I know. If you're even in the Blind Pig Pub in Austin, stay for the evening show. He and John Chavez will rock the evening away and you'll have a great time.!

Well, talk about a full day. I don't know if I could do music for a living - not that it wouldn't have it's perks - but I'm exhausted! I know, I'm a woos. I played at the Farmers Market from 8 - 10. Then I packed up and went to Don Jones's place in the next town and Ken Ryans showed up so we all piled into Dons' van and loaded up our instruments and headed off to a family reunion at Lake Livingston where we all played for about an hour - trading off. So far so good. Responce was great and I got called to stay and play one more.
Then we went to Crockett for the open mic. Ken played the bass behind the three songs we agreed to work on " Gypsy Rover", "Blackest Crow" and" Wild Mountain Thyme". Applause was wonderful and I hit home. Got lots of good responce and Pip Gilette said he's even been playing songs from the copy of the Celtic Cd on the Saturday morning radio show in Crockett. Cool! I promise I will get the Cd - as it is- sent in to Cd Baby but I'm out of ink at the moment. Things run a little slow when you're producing your own cd's. Apparently they liked the cd so I'll get copies made asap.
All in all it was a great 4th of July and Don and Ken and I had a good time.

My thermostat on my kitchen wall said 111 yesterday. Today is about the same. For those of you who are not in East Texas, Be glad. We seem to have a heat wave that is stuck right on top of us. It's so hot.
Hope you stay cool and dry.

I've been actually spending some time playing with the music section of this site and I think I've got it to where you can listen to the songs but you can't record them. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making the cd's.
Blessings to all.
( If I haven't - then I'll hear about it I'm sure)

Pot Luck dinner and a room full of musicians is a great way to spend the evening. Everyone with a chair and full of good food is the best way to spend an evening that I can think of these days when having a good time can cost so much. We aught to do it more often.
Everyone had a good time and we've all decided to get together again next month on the third Sunday - at Terry and Gladys Rays' house. It's a really nice house and was built in 1908. The Ray's have done a wonderful job on it and are wonderful hosts.
Don and Ken and I got to play through three songs we want to play at Camp Street in Crockett on the 4th of July. I think we may do ok.

Apology on not having my cd out yet. It's been a busy time trying to keep up with the flowerbeds I take care of for my clients and trying to work around this incredible heat is getting pretty tuff. I do believe that global warming is really happening because it's about to cook me.
As soon as it cools down enough for me to spend some more time here at my computer , I will make up several copies of my Celtic Cd and get then available to you on Cd baby.
Bless all of you and may you all stay as cool as possible this summer!

I have to say that at this point , 70% of my meals is coming out of my garden. Hopefully more will be forthcoming. I personaly believe we need to produce as much of our own food and other things that we can.The way things are going, survival of the fitist applies to us as well, regardless of what some may think.

I'm really upset at my guestbook being used for drug advertising. It's disgusting and I'd appreciate it stopped. Until I can spend the time to remove all the trash I found there, I'll have to close it down. I apologise to those who would have wanted to add something worthwhile.

I went to Camp Street last Saturday again. I had a really good time again except I drew a blank right at the beginning of " Gypry Rover" and could not get it back so I played another one. They were all so supportive but it aggrivated me that right after i sat back down, I remembered them all quite easily. My new musician friends, Don Jones and Ken Ryan were there and Ken was going to play the upright bass to back me up on it and I blew it! I've agreed to try it again next time which will be the first Saturday in July, I think.
Keep your fingers crossed.

Everyone needs to have friends over to eat and play music. I tried it last Sunday and had a great time. I've met some new musicians in the last several months and there is a promise of more fun to come. I'll post some photos.

My friend, Don JOnes who works at Encore Music in Nacogdoches has been trying to get me to go to the open mic at Camp Street Cafe in Crockett, Tx for alomst a year , I think. Don and his friends werte playing at the Freedom Hill Trade Days just before I played and before I left, they had convinced me to go. I must admit, I had a great time, the 3 songs I played went over well( they all laughed and clapped loudly) and the attention I got for the rest of the evening and the great time I had will definatly take me back that direction. I even got an offer to have a place to sleep for the night at the home of one of the musicians with a private guestroom. They really made me feel welcome and I was asked to leave my email address. I am looking forward to hearing from them and will keep you updated.

Sorry it's taking so long to get "Celtic Seasoning" in the CD Baby store. I sent it to the studio to get it proofed to see if any improvements could be done. It'll be here soon.

Here's hoping your Valentine's Day is filled with those you love the most.

For those who dream the dreams of sleep
Are blessed upon their open eyes
That bits and pieces dissappear
And the dissappointments fly.
For those who dream the dreams awake,
They are at the mercy of the livings fate,
along with that which dissappears
Are the reasons that we try.
For those who dream for love's own sake
Take all the time you need to take
For all the dreams that touch your heart
Come full circle by & by.

And now the day has passed in silence,
Gone before the breath escapes my lips.
The glow in flame that was the sun,
Slips quietly through my fingertips.
Within in my head a hum persists
From the absence of a moment missed
The silver ghost, the waneing moon,
Among my dreams , dance hands in fist
With hands that reach out to the night,
and sing my song till mornings mist
Has draped itself upon my brow,
And love has finally kissed my lips.

I've updated my calander. It seems I won't be letting up on the music this year. I noticed that my visitors on the site have dropped off sharply. Please bare with me, I'm not going anywhere.

Just got a possible request for a show at the library in Tyler in February. I'll post it on the schedule as soon as I find out more.

I promise things will continue. I have the Celtic Seasoning Cd in the process of being mailed to Cdbaby and it will be availiable this month. I don't know when I'll get the next one done but I have a cd of spiritual songs in the works. I won't quit even though I will probably only get the Celtic Seasoning out this year. I have to come up with money for the studio. Happy New Year!

Please understand that I speak and read english. If I can't understand what is entered into my guest book, I will probably delete it. It doesn't mean I don't want to hear from you, it means I can't decide whether you're trying to say you like my site or whether youre using it to your own benifit and banking on the fact that I don't know what you've put there.. Please put your entries in English. I love hearing from you.

With a wonderful gesture from my brother, Clyde, in Little Rock, I'm up and running again. I'm a little slow but I'm getting there. I hope to have my second Classic Folk Cd out by the middle of January. It isn't all I 'd hoped it would be but it is 10 of my favorites and I got to do some harmony with myself. I'm sorry I was off the air for a little while but I'm back. Bless all of you who stop by and see what I'm up to. May your 2009 yr be better than ever!