Life Beyond...

I have often asked myself if there is life beyond the kitchen; being an empty nest'er, since my son goes to college and lives on his own in St. Louis; should I stay home and be a simple house wife; I worry if I act my age looking for good social food and wine scenes (kidding, who cares right!) since my cafe closed down a year ago. All those years of hard work in the food industry since I was fourteen. The dream of owning my own cafe all went whoosh down the toilet a year ago today. The owner went bust. My cafe was doing great, but I did not want to rent the entire space she occupied. You always start small; then add on as you grow, but not in this economy.The property did not want to downsize the space for me. Now they sit two thirds empty.

All my savings, and inheritance money gone. I felt at times all I had left was my open mic ambitions (I began to blog about my life and work). Sure I have my personal chef job, and consulting for other restaurants through the states woman's small business programs, but I felt there was more for me. So, focusing on the open mic to showcase my writing and helping others get out of there living room studios and into a spot light...I marched on. I now run three open mics around my area, and have been pushing the pencil, well, the computer keys for the past six months. Chugging out whatever comes to my mind. I often wake up from dreams and put it on paper while it is fresh.

Not all of my work is good. I would be fooling myself if I really thought that was the case. I do know that I have written some good stories, news paper articles, and poems over the past forty plus years of my life, and have published a number of them. I remain humble though, for I feel fortunate that I have more than a few talents in this life. My mother also had a dream like me. She was a simple housewife in an abusive relationship with my father, and she wrote poetry. Her artwork never saw the light of day, but I intend to change that one day. She did have ambition, but I only saw it in her eyes. I have many dreams, and intend to see as many of them as I can come true.

This past Monday I was contacted by a radio show in Boulder, CO (they found me through my blogs). The owner/host ask me if I was interested in submitting food poetry for their Crops To Cuisine show that airs Monday, 3 PM MT. I thought about it, contacted three of my possible/available friends to help me choose and edit work. The radio station contacted a local communications program at a local college, and arranged for me to go in studio and record. Nervous, anxious, but excited I went and had my first 'real' recording studio experience.

Win Howard my engineer for the afternoon was just as nice as can be! She helped me feel comfortable, and told me how to clear my throat without more irritation (I have allergies). I felt like the microphone was a second skin. I do emcee four times a month hosting my Cultural Art Expression- Open Mic groups, but to walk away hearing such a clear voice on the MP3 CD. Wow! I liked my voice. I liked my work. There is a good writer in this big silly southern girl body!

The Crop To Cuisine show received my recordings today, and called me to say "Hey there E, I was just gonna nibble, and listen to one. But one led to all. I love them. They each have their own character, and tell me a bit about you. Some tempt my appetite. Some bring back memories of my own. They are all great. I love how "onion soup" reads like it is following a recipe or technique. But it makes me feel like I am experiencing onion soup on a cold winter day. I love how " An Iceberg" tells a story everyone knows. They are great. Please keep em coming". - Dov

We will see where this leads me down the spoken word path? What will this mean for my writing career? Who cares/! I am having fun, and it is another thing to check off 'The Hunt'...

A few things that have helped me get through the hard times of my life since my daughter passed away nine years ago, as well as other things I have had to overcome...

Laugh more, love more, express yourself more, and help others...

I would like to thank Michele Kallman, Creative Writing/Drama Teacher for her friendship, tutoring and editing skills. She also writes some damn good poetry! Thank you Jeanne Estridge/Writer for her friendship, kindred writing spirit, tutoring and editing my works. She tells great jokes and is also a damn good writer! Thanks Melissa Gaffney for you friendship and editing skills as she is a journalist and is a fellow NJ blogger. I would like to thank Christo Gonzales AKA Doggybloggy for staying on my rear end this past year. He himself a Creative Writer Graduate. I have heard he is also a great poet/writer, and fellow blogger. He has told me time after time; if I am going to claim I am a writer then produce top grade work. Last, a great big Thanks for all of your encouragement too...

 www.croptocuisine.org
Monday, Nov 16, 2009, 3 PM MT, 4 PM Central, 5 PM Eastern
The show Crop To Cuisine airs twice montly...