Hey! Look Who I Met!

I had such a great day last Thursday!  I went to an incredible lunch and forum for children's performers up at the home of PETER ALSOP in Topanga!  I met some of the most talented musical artists and theatrical performers in L.A. who specialize in performing to kids.

It was such an amazing afternoon that I decided I just had to blog about it!  If you have kids, work at a school or library or some other venue for kids, you've just hit the jackpot with the information you're about to receive!

First and foremost, I have to tell you about the host of the event. Peter Alsop is sort of a wise wizard. (Looks a bit like one too!) With 20 albums under his belt, he is a wealth of talent.  Being the Psychologist that he is, it helps him to create songs that have more depth and insight in them than most anything else you'll hear on kid’s radio.  Please visit his website to listen to his music. You'll love his wise and witty songs:  http://www.peteralsop.com/.  He also writes incredible music for grown ups.

Cynthia Conway is a wonderful storyteller who loves to perform for children and if you visit her website, you will find all kinds of resources for your next children's party, school or library event.  Visit http://www.supershowstoppers.com/ and be prepared to be awed by so much GOOD information!

 KC runs a children’s music resource website called: http://www.clamorhousekids.com/.  She has found some of the best talent in L.A. and rounded them up so you don't have to. If you're looking for the best music for your kids, just visit her site. It will save you a ton of time and energy!

Amy Trulock is a 21^st century entrepreneur. She started her own indie internet kids radio station!  It’s also a great resource for finding out what’s going on in and around L.A. If you want to hear hip music for kids, click on http://www.hipyoungparent.com/.

Renee Stahl has one of those voices that's genuine and pure. Her songs are simple and eloquent and she makes beautiful music with Jeremy.  Go to http://www.reneeandjeremy.com/ and you'll see what I mean.

Phil Briggs is quite the clown (and I mean that in the most positive way)!  He's funny and smart and you can take your kids to see him LIVE every Sunday and Monday in Studio City. Go to http://www.jumboshrimpcircus.com/ for more info.

Randy Green and his business partner founded JITTERBUG TV  so kids can watch quality internet programming 24/7 without any weird surprises, like you might get on other internet video sites!  Please visit www.jitterbug.tv  to see how many amazing children's music videos they've rounded up!

 Debra (Didi Pop) is a talented and charismatic children's musical performer. She's also an amazing musician who can play three instruments at once.  Please visit http://www.didipop.com/  and you'll see that I'm not kidding!

 Debi Derryberry is cute! You've  heard her voice on several animated cartoons, TV shows & movies.  She's an award winning songwriter and performer.  She's also created an amazing hand lotion that smells like a pina colada I once had in Hawaii. Visit: www.debiderryberry.com/   to hear her amazing  voice and see for yourself just how cute she is!

Groovy David is just that!   He is GROOVY and if I were a kid I would want him to perform at my party!  He's also a D.J. and can bring his amazing sound system to your next party if you give him a little notice.  He's probably booked pretty solid so, don't waste any time!  Visit http://www.groovydavid.com/.

Melissa Green is yet another talented singer/songwriter! Her songs can easily cross over to the adult crowd, so parents, if you'd like to play music for your kids that you'll enjoy too, check out Melissa's music at http://www.greencirclemusic.com/. She's also available for concerts, parties and school/library events.

David Tobokman is a very talented songwriter and composer.  He composed the music for the CBS series Family Law and has also been a contributing composer for numerous other TV shows including 3rd Rock from the Sun, That 70's Show and The Larry Saunders Show. All in all, he has participated in the scores for over 20 films and 10 TV series!  So, I'm sure you can imagine the quality and integrity he brings to writing his children' music. Visit http://www.edgewisemusic.com/ to learn more about him.

 Lonnie Martinez is one of the most talented (and humble) individuals I've ever met! I’ve been blessed to have her as a friend and songwriting partner for over TWENTY years! She's my soul sister, but also my SUNSHINE SISTER! Together we've written over 200 songs with kids in schools throughout California.  She’s the master mind behind the songwriting workshops that we’ve been offering for over five years now.  She's also just published her first children's book, based on her beautiful song, "Shoot for the Moon" (available at amazon.com). Steve Perry from Journey once told her she has the voice of an angel. And, she does!  Visit http://www.thesunshinesisters.com/ or http://www.tunelittle.com/ to learn more.

Well – I think I’ve given you enough information for one blog!  If you have friends with kids and you live in the L.A. area please pass on this information.  All of the talented performers and entrepreneurs I’ve just introduced you to would definitely appreciate your support and patronage.

The Middle Path

I just got back from Palm Springs where we went to the BNP Tennis Tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.  It was a great weekend - the weather was perfect and we saw Maria Sharapova play against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain. Maria won!  It was an exciting match. 

Way back in high school and college I played tennis and I remember my coach telling me to get back to the middle of the court after each play, always go back to the center base line to await the next shot.  And, as I watched the girls playing from my vantage point, I could see how they were striving for that same goal, however, it's not always easy to get back to that place.

And, then I thought about Buddha and his teaching of the middle way - that path between extremes.  It's something I try to do in my own life.  Not too big or too skinny!  Nor a carnivore or a Vegan.  Not too drunk or too sober! Too rich or too poor.  It seems as though I've followed these principles for a while and watching the tennis match last Saturday night reminded me of the importance of sticking to the middle path whenever possible. 

I mentioned this philosophy to my Dad once - who leans far to the right in politics. He said that the middle path is for people who don't have the courage to take a stand. He described these types as being wishy washy.  I guess he didn't get the concept, or perhaps I didn't explain it well enough.  The way I see it, the middle path is where you have a bird's eye view of both sides - or several sides of a situation.  It's not a final landing place, it's a place to perch and meditate and study your surroundings.  And, after you've gathered the knowledge to make a wise decision or conclusion then you fly to your final destination, whether it be to the left or to the right at any given time and then you return to center until the next situation comes along. 

If you've ever played a game of tennis you'll know that anybody who lingers too far to the right or to the left of the court will only be able to hit a limited amount of balls.  And, when your opponent knows where you always stand, it's real easy for them to switch their strategy and hit the ball to the other side of the court over and over again until they've won the game. I suppose the game of life works that way too.

I don't play tennis much any more.  I miss playing the game but I'm more of a spectator now that I'm in my 'middle' ages.

March 11th - First blog

Today is the first day of the rest of my blogging life.  I really don't know what my focus will be.  I think I already have blogger's block, but I'll forge ahead. 

There are many stories I'd like to tell, but I believe that since today is quite historic, I'll focus on the earthquake in Japan and the tsunami that has resulted from it. 

Yesterday, I had to drive into downtown L.A. It's not often that I have to make that trek, but there was an item that I needed to have appraised, and so I headed down into the jewelry district.  As I was exiting the 110 freeway I stared up at the enormous, beautiful shiney buildings. They loomed high up in the sky, blocking out the sun. My heart sped up a bit and I thought, I hope there's not a huge earthquake right now! If so, I would surely be caught up in the midst of instant chaos, not to mention it would be absolutely terrifying and life threatening.  I found a place to park at 7th and Grand (each quarter I placed into the meter gave me a whole four minutes!) I soon found out that the item I brought in for appraisal was worthless.  So, I got the hell out of downtown L.A. and headed to USC where I had a date with some kindred spirits - an old friend of mine (Scott) and a few new friends (Fredo, Sara and Donovan).  There's nothing like being with your tribe - like minded individuals who come from your planet and get who you are, as you get who they are too. 

We congregated in a small basement room under the Electrical Engineering Dept. and watched experimental videos on Pano (Panoramic) Chamber plasma screens.  It was fascinating and I was sad to say good bye but it was getting late so I made my way home, via the 5 freeway, which was STILL jam packed at 8:30 at night! (How do people do it every day!)

After arriving home and eating a late dinner I was flipping through channels when I saw it.  The devistating footage was just starting to filter in on CNN, Fox and various other news stations.  It was hard to watch, but you couldn't look away either.  I saw people on foot trying to out run the waves as they raced up over the beaches devouring farmland and houses. I saw a huge semi truck bulled over and carried as though it were a tinker toy.  I saw someone waving a white sheet from a second story window at a helicopter pilot, trying to get his attention and help.  I saw amateur footage of office workers and grocery store surveillance film. I just sat there and I watched. And, I cried.  And at some point I realized, it could have been me along with millions of others in Los Angeles.  But, instead, this time, it was their turn.  And, my heart goes out to the Japanese people.  My thoughts and prayers too.

Today I watched Obama on television. He was asked by a Japanese reporter how the Earthquake in Japan effected him personally.  Obama said something to the effect of how it made him realize - through all of our differences, we are all 'one' on this planet.  His words reminded me of a song I wrote a few years ago (From my "Explore the Earth" CD)  which goes something like this, "We all live here together. We cannot escape. So let's get along. Learn how to relate - because we're all in this together, we all share this world. And, we're sailing through the universe. We're orbiting the sun. On a silver blue spaceship. We might as well have some fun. Because we're all in this together. We all share this world..."

And, each moment that we battle each other over our differences, and each day that we waste precious energy and time separating ourselves instead of uniting is one more day lost because there will come a time where we will need to join forces to protect this incredible planet, whether it be from a natural disaster or an alien invasion, and we will have all wished we hadn't been so goddamned stupid and petty and counter-productive, wasting valuable time fighting each other over power, religion, oil, land, and god knows what else!  And, I hope that I will be alive to see the day when we really all do become 'one'!

Thank you for reading my very first blog.  (It wasn't so difficult after all!)

Janine