Rest in peace Utah Phillips

I still can't believe it.



I just sent him another batch of stuff from Austria when I heard he had fallen ill again.



He was is and will always be my hero. A true storyteller, songwriter, lover of life, adventurer, hobo, activist. I love you Utah. Goodbye my friend and see you someday.





Rest in peace.


love,
Chris

Dust & branches ... songs from a wanderer is almost here!

It's almost here .. the new CD!
A little over a week left in duplication and it's in my hands ... yeesh!

If you would like to see me live, I'll be all over the place this Summer.

Starting with the UK, Scotland & Ireland ... moving on to Scandinavia, Australia (this may reschedule-we'll let you know) Eastern Europe and the USA...

Feel free to pass my information on to anyone you think might want to come out for a warm & cozy night of song & stories.

http://www.ChristeneLeDoux.com

The site is being updated constantly with new shows, music etc... and the link to buy the new CD will be up just as soon as it's released...!

Thanks for coming along for this ride. I'm so happy you are here and hope we meet up out there on the roads!

leibe Grüße,
Christene

all night just this once?

Working on printing/office tasks here in Austria is a riot.

Ok, I'm lying.

It's annoying as ....

Well put it this way. There is no Kinko's where I live.

A gorgeous little city in the alps (that as we speak has fully blossomed into Spring - yay!) but nowhere near as cosmopolitan as our big bad Wien.
Which admittedly, I don't want anymore so that's the upside.

The downside?

The printer around the corner is A. Not open all night which does not lend itself well to my back to vampire hours while working on my CD graphics.
(Confession again; I'm glad things don't stay open all night here but I do miss this one little thing when I am working *smile*) and B. It's run by if you are lucky 2 half-way clueless college students (sorry guys, I do love you).

More often than not it's one guy with his cute little vintage t-shirt and dark jeans, converse and hair in his face.
And as sweet as he is and to look at (um, sorry honey) he's usually so overwhelmed it can take as long as 20 minutes just to be seen. Really.

And most times, especially at the busiest which with a place that closes at 6pm I believe means alway they (he) usually asks you to come back in an hour.
Well, if you're lucky.

But really?

2-3 hours and sometimes he has even asked me to come back another day altogether.

Yikes.

So as I have just spent the past 14 hours straight designing every last detail in my 12-page CD book, I am wondering how all this will pan out when I mosey on over to see the printer for a practice run before going into duplication.

Helli has the day off and although it's nice having him here during the day, I must say while trying to work it's a bit maddening. Love can be a great big time consuming distraction. Nuff said.

Anyway, it should be fun to to have him work with me tomorrow.
He can get a good laugh and see just what it is I am talking about.
He's been to Kinko's with me in the US - my favorite past time next to Office Depot. I know, I'm a little sick. I mean, an office store is like a toy store to me. Geesh.

Ok well I made a vow to slow down on the journals because I am spending more time on them than writing songs. That's not good.
And I don't even post half of them which is downright scary.

My head is spinning from layers and fades, bleeds and cutting and pasting. I think some ranting was called for.

There.
So getting office tasks done in Austria is no small deed.

The end of my big exciting news for today.

breathtaking...

Christene LeDoux * Little Pumpkin Music News

WELCOME to the.....

Christene LeDoux * Little Pumpkin Music Newsletter
May 2008 (!) NEWS for songwriter Christene LeDoux
Issue No. 89

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- Message from Christene
-- Dust & branches...songs from a wanderer available in JUNE!
-- PLUS *bonus* "tumbleweed...live, unreleased & rarities" CD coming soon after...
-- Tour dates this Summer/Fall in England/Scotland & Australia!
-- Want to host a concert with me in your home? You host in any country, I come to you! Help organize or host a show in general anywhere in the world?
-- Quote for the month...

Hallo (as we say in Austria)!

You may be wondering if I am still alive... !
I am here! :-))
If you didn't already know, I want to share with you that last year health-wise, was probably the most challenging I have personally had. I am doing really well now - completely on the mend - and charging full (ok, a little slower than that to preserve my health!) speed ahead back to finish the new record and touring this Summer and Fall.

The hospital stays, time at home and struggle to make it out, changed a lot of things for me, mainly how I was living my life out there. For a long time, it was music only, at the expense of my mental and physical health, my family and more - so I am not surprised that at the end of that particular road, I had a good old fashioned break down.

It's just like the children's fairy tale humpty dumpty except I was lucky enough to get the pieces of me, back together. :-) I apologize for last Spring/Summer/Fall cancelations and thank you for understanding through it all.

Onward...
The new CD's are absolutely and miraculously coming this June 2008! You have been so patient and loving to me through the years and I want to say thank you for that. It means a lot to me to have such amazing friends, family & fans in this world. Please note CDbaby has been re-stocked with more Little Lighthouse CD's and the first 45 are autographed! Thank you for waiting so patiently.

I have just returned to Austria as of a few days, as we speak - preparing to put "Dust & branches...songs from a wanderer" into duplciation!
Recording in Austin with Mark & friends was challenging due to allergies but aside from that, amaaaazing! I am sooo happy with the outcome and cannot wait to share the CD and all the surprises that come with it!

Another CD, "Tumbleweed... live, unreleased & rarities" is also coming this summer (albeit a bit later as it's being shipped from the US) and was mastered by my good friend and Little Lighthouse producer BZ Lewis at his Studio 132 in San Francisco/Oakland. I just picked up the master while in America last week and will be putting that into duplication as well. Thank you so much to Vic & Reba Heyman for allowing this CD to happen!

Starting in June, I'll be all over England and Scotland as usual and later this year am excited to take my first of many tours to come of Australia.
If you would like to host a house concert, help organize a show or can house me while I am in Australia, England & Scotland and well anywhere in the world, please send me a private email. I will happily come to you and give you a private show we will both remember for years to come.

House concerts have been in my schedule for years and are the most intimate, comfortable and best way to see me perform. They have and will always be my favorite way to perform for you. We pick a date, invite some of your friends, family, co-workers etc.. some of my fans if space permits, either have a potluck or offer snacks (if you'd like) and wala! I love playing acoustically and do not need anything more than a warm place to sleep for the night and even if we can't manage that, I can find one! Feel free to hit reply and let me know your thoughts. I am happy to tell you more about house concerts, how easy they are to host and help you every step of the way.

You can view my current but ever-changing schedule: http://www.ChristeneLeDoux.com

I hope we cross paths soon & more than anything, I hope wherever you are, you are happy. I miss all of you and that crazy, long, tiring but calling to me road...

love,
Chris
p.s If you sponsored Dust & branches... way back when, please send me a private email with your name and the amount. This is important so I can include you in the thank you's! :-)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote for the month...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common- this is my symphony..." {William Henry Channing's Symphony}

- William Henry Channing
You are receiving this message because at some point, you have asked to be on my mailing list via a live show in the US or Europe, online or asked me personally.

I promise your email is never shared with a soul...only me. :=) If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe

Click here to forward this email to a friend

If you have trouble viewing photo's or links, be sure to add littlepumpkinmusic(at)yahoo(dot)com. I know this is true of AOL accts. and could be for many others. Also, be sure to check your spam box and bulk folder. Often times a newsletter like mine could end up there. if you're still having trouble viewing or reading, please let me know.

Contact Christene:
singingchris(at)yahoo.com
http://www.ChristeneLeDoux.com

wandering homebody...

It's 2:30am.

Nowhere near my 5:00am bedtime last night but dogonnit, nothing close to the wonderful early to bed, early to rise hours I kept while in the states. *sigh*

Believe it or not, my emergency sleeping pills were robbed in Austin, Texas by none other than the maid at the hotel I had to move to the last 3 nights there. *geesh*
I had a hunch that day to hide everything as I had 3 guitars and a ton of luggage at that point (from clearing storage) as well as my mac...so thank goodness for that.
Still. I sure could use those suckers now.

Anyway....

I have wanted to write so much for so long and have really had no time.
I still don't but since I can't sleep and I'm really not up for taking cold medicine to get it, here I am.

It's unbelievable how much I accomplished in the nearly 5 weeks I was away in America.

I had hight hopes and expectations and despite not being entirely done yet, I met them all. Exhausted but boy do I feel good about the progress.

Amazing how last year was such a stink for me. Hospital stays and canceled tours.
It's like I am making up for the past year in a few months. *yikes*

As of today, I officially located a duplication company I will use for the new CD.

This is big news for as I spent months and weeks agonizing and researching the best options.
Since I am living abroad, it's a bit complicated with shipping and customs and timing. I have none of that now. Time I mean.

So what a relief today when I met and formed an instant what I know will be lasting career relationship with a local duplicator.

Speaking of making up for things...
It dawned on me on the flight home, after coming out of some heavy family drama, that maybe when you live far from it all, your siblings somehow keep a sort of "family credit card account" on you.
Like when you return, since you've been gone, it's time to pay up.
But the kind of credit card you will never pay off and without the usual perks that come with it. Just a bottomless American family express card.

I never noticed this before this last trip but I must say, after a very uncomfortable confrontation with my always hard to get to older sister, I realized that I am the one that has changed and not her.
I could see it all so plainly even while it was happening (albeit after a brief but necessary losing it moment) but it wasn't until the homecoming flight home that I could put it into perspective.

And after it all was..is said and done, it helped to close some much needed doors and fears I had about growing old and further away from my family.

It looks like I was right all along that America is not where I belong and being that I moved out a little over 16 years old and began my life on the run at 20, it definitely opens my eyes to maybe why I left and stayed away in the first place.

As good as things are with the rest of the family, I can still see this so clearly now. Which was necessary to bring me to the peace I needed to feel, at leaving it all behind forever. Or at least for what now feels like forever. I suppose there really is no forever.

I was the happiest arriving home than any other time and calling Innsbruck and Europe home, I mean a real home and what an amazing feeling.

Getting on that crazy autobahn, stopping at a beautiful little village in the alps before home, by the sea, watching the sunset with my husband.
Driving into my little city with the pretty snow-capped alps, driving up to our 100 year old apartment then walking in and smelling the 100 year-old wood floors, was nothing short of amazing. Even having the real wife moment I had been waiting for.... my husbands pile of unanswered mail, laundry and dead plants.

I have never in my life felt a sense of home or belonging anywhere.
And although life is still life and I will always be a tumbleweed, I realize how good I managed to make things.
Now after my wanderings, I get to come back to a real home, with a beautiful man and real friends, a life. Something I never thought I would get to see in well, my lifetime.

It's late and I've definitely rambled. So I guess I'll save the story of playing at my 7 year old niece Maya's school for the next one. That's whole nother' epiphany altogether and boy did that give me new wings to fly on.

love from a happy but sleepy jet-lagged and happy wandering homebody,
Chris

just gone...

Hitchhiking back home because we walked too far and we were late for dinner. Six and seven years old.

Staying awake all night, going to 7-11 to buy junk food. Stay up, eat it, wait for the milkman to come and run around the neighborhood stealing milk. Sometimes mom waking in the middle of it all telling us to get inside and us running for dear life, laughing and saying, "noooo" (giggle, giggle) Around seven and eight years old.

Ditching school with our big brother as the ring leader. Going to the laundry mat where my sister said, "there was all kinds of fun to be had."
Putting our little brother in large dryers, pushing each other around in the laundry carts. Eleven, seven, six and four years old.

Having Cinemax in our room growing up, getting a way too early lesson by watching movies like "Lady Chaderly's lover." Always.

Toilet papering our neighbor's house across the street and realizing she'd know it was us, so toilet papering our own - then getting caught.

These are the stories I am falling asleep to.
These are the tales my sister told me tonight and despite the fact that I am supposed to be the storyteller, I can't remember a thing about.

If you asked me what my childhood was like, I would say not tragic but ignored. I would say we raised ourselves. All five of us and that's sadly the truth.
I would sigh in relief we all turned out pretty good considering.

There are so many more that even now as I sit in bed, I can't remember.

Everytime I come to Merced and stay with my older sister by one year, Nettie, I get a glimpse into my past, a childhood that to this day, I cannot remember.

There are little bits here but hardly anything really. And as far as long stories about scenarios and moments both mischevious and hilarious, I couldn't tell you.

It's a strange thing I never really explored or that has seemed to bother me.
Not remembering I mean.

But I suppose the older I get, the more I realize if I can't remember not only the stories but my childhood now, I never will. And like my sister said, without siblings, I'd have no history.

So after a belly-laughing conversation and bonding with my wonderful sister, I am excited to see what I will dream.

I am kind of hoping she planted a seed and maybe some great story or memory will just play itself out like a movie.

I would love to know what it was like to be me as a kid. I have no idea, no recollection at all.

Anyway, what were we doing staying up all night going to convenience stores, stealing the neighborhoods milk and hitchhiking back home at six and seven?
Where was everyone?

floating...

Wow, when did I ever feel this relaxed.

Sitting in the hot tub with my first glass of red wine (or anything alcoholic for that matter) in nearly 2 months, was next to being with my husband, a wonderful celebratory evening.

I'm with my sister and her family and finally, even though still buried in work, beginning to feel the stress of the last months lift. *ahhh*

It's surprisingly chilly in California right now (which I admittedly love) and was the perfect night for a hot tub.
It made me miss my sauna's with one of my best friends Patri but was a good distraction until I make my way home this weekend.

My intended day of departure was Wednesday but as it turns out, I have a lot to do here before I go, including a photo shoot as well as a reunion with my friend and producer of Little Lighthouse BZ.

So although I am dying to get home, I went ahead and changed my plans to fly out Saturday instead. And because of all the March 27 Terminal 5 stress, the wonderful British Airways specialist Dave changed my flight 2 times free of charge. *yay* (Thanks Dave!)

I have mixed feelings, as always, about leaving America and heading for Austria.

On one hand, I am with my family and just as I get into the zone, it's time to go. On the other hand, I am completely missing my husband, friends and life back in Innsbruck and can't wait to fly home.

As always, I can never figure out what I want or what is right or... So I just go with the flow (as usual) and let the universe figure out the kinks and make it right.

At least Dave informed me today the British Airways Terminal 5 in London kinks have been worked out so that's something.
And after shipping a container from Austin to Austria via an International shipping company, giving away the last of things and hauling the leftover bits here, I am not exactly jumping for joy at the thought of hauling all of this through them.
We'll see but I'm hoping for the best.

It has taken me some years to get this point.
This point of everything (nearly) I own in one place, one country.
And although it's been time consuming, expensive and sometimes very troublesome, I am very excited at the idea of not attaching one more Uhaul...ever again.

The days of taking everything I owned from state to state, country to country either in a big truck, car towing a Uhaul or suitcase, does not appeal to me in the least bit. Not anymore anyway.

Dreaming of the peaceful days that await me in Innsbruck, in between the hectic touring ones, keeps me on my toes and waiting to see what comes next.

At the moment, at least until the next nearby wave hits, I am relaxing the night away feeling accomplished and proud of all my hard work.

Just floating.

12 makes me happy today...

12 must be my lucky number today.

I woke up at 4:12am with enough time to head out to the airport, check in my 3 guitars and 3 very large bags from clearing out storage completely, finally.
I arrived at oddly enough 5:12 with enough time to breath and walk calmly to my gate without running.
I sat at row 12 and met the most amazing person. We completely annoyed all within earshot with our laughing and talking but I don't care. After being on vocal rest, sucking on lozengers and drinking throat teas on my way, then after what I went through when I arrived in Austin with allergies, talking to my hearts content was well, a relief that I am still me and able to relax and chat on planes. :-)
The whole don't talk, breath your nose and suck lozengers was getting very, very old.

I am sitting now in Denver, Colorado at the airport. My layover is long which I purposefully planned as the other connection left me with only 30 minutes to spare from plane to plane. And with all my luggage I knew I would have, I figured that could get risky too.

I am chatting via Skype with my husband, eating my yummy organic apples...yeeehaw and reflecting on the very hectic but amazing and accomplished 12 days in Austin.

I don't want to give anything away ... or too much anyway ... about the record but I will tell you because I think I forgot to, my voice on Monday (the second to the last day of recording) returned to about 80%! Not 100 but enough to get a great sound out of these here old lungs and although I couldn't totally reach my head voice, it all worked out in the end.
Mark tells me I got a great little record here and from what I heard when I left, I would have to agree. More work is taking place as we speak. Very exciting.
I still can't believe it.

Yesterday, Dick and I met to discuss the cover and we have one! Yeehaw... So now that it's out of the way, we can build from there.
About 2 weeks or less to get this done is pushing it but like the record time recording this record (get it? heee... lame I know, sorry) things seem to be falling into place.

After all the loans and organizing/coordinating, details and stress, it's going to be if not in my hands in time for the start of my touring in June, surely by mid-June give or take.

Speaking of, "tumbleweed... " is also coming. More on that later as I haven't even begun to think past getting the files mastered. That is done and now I will think about the cover.

So much work to be done.
And although I feel very accomplished and totally exhausted, I am up for it and ready for the remaining long haul ahead of me. Including the insane schedule I will be keeping this summer and fall.

We'll see.

Funny how things work out in the end.

All it is taking today is the number 12 to give me hope.

Blowing through...

After driving over the bridge every night from the studio, watching the locals and tourists alike line up to watch the bats wake, last night I finally "caved" in (get it? lol) and stopped to watch.

It was fun to join in the crowds lining the bridge and the river banks below with picnic baskets, wine and cameras.
It's cooled down a bit the last few days and the weather has been absolutely glorious. Though, as a self-confessed cold-weather lover, I will admit I missed the mid-late 80's - 100% humid weather we had the first week I was here.

It was like a warm blanket wrapping around you, making your skin silky soft.
I actually started to enjoy it.
What I didn't enjoy living was (and never, ever will) were the long late-spring/summer and fall unbearably HOT months. No siree.

On a new note...

Today was both productive and fun.
I had my first day off from recording, it is Sunday after all.

I started the day by waking WAY too early, 6am. Nonetheless, it got me to a great start and I got a lot done for a day off.
I was too early for Austin Java, they weren't even open yet. So I logged into their free internet in the parking lot waiting for them to open. *smile*

I enjoyed my first cup of coffee with cream since leaving California.
That was by far the highlight.
Oh yes, I am already imagining it again after Tuesday when I have no more vocals. *yay*

I skyped with my husband for a couple of hours while working in between on graphic stuff, emails, trying to cut down the never-ending to do list while I am here this last week.

I met with my graphic designer and we got a really great start to the project. I can't wait to meet again this week and see how it's going.

On my way out, I decided to hit up my storage unit which was something I have been dreeeeeeaming about for a long time now.
Wow! It was like going shopping! I had soooo many clothes that I forgot how much I loved just waiting for me. I really feel like I went on a shopping spree. So great.
And the best part? I FOUND my favorite, old fishing hat with all the pins I have been collecting since a child.
I though I had lost this when the UK postal service lost, then destroyed a package of my things my friend tried to send me from the UK to Austria. *yay*

After digging through all my goods (very joyfully) I made piles and decided what I will ditch, ship and try to haul in my extra 3 (yes, I said 3) bags I plan to take on the plane. Is this even possible? I have no idea. But dammit all if I am leaving my old Martin guitar, mandolin, vintage suitcases, box of old lyrics from here and there and all those wonderful clothes. No way sucker. Not this time.
I'll find a way.

So I am back at the condo now.
My plan to sit poolside went far out the window but that's ok, I made the most amazing spinach salad yet, cleaned up before I pick up Karen tomorrow (I've been lucky to have it all to myself) went through some discs I found with old demo's I had forgotten about that I will add to formerly named, "tumbleweed the live album" to the newly named, "Odds 'n' ends... live, unreleased & other oddities."
Don't worry, the tumbleweed live album will for sure be next.

Now I am getting ready to work out my song part on a beautiful co-write I did with my very talented Norweigen friend.

I guess I am trucking along now and despite the past week being a total vocal nightmare for me, I actually feel pretty close to normal today. Go figure.
Just toward the end...
On well.

I may end up in there doing a marathon re-recording of vocals if need be but despite my voice, Mark tells me it's great and sounds great... so maybe I will have to re-listen and decide. We'll see.

All I know is the steriods have calmed a bit. I am still suffering the D word (sorry, gross) and the last 24 hours had a slight, dry nose bleed but otherwise, I don't feel too weird. And it seems the weight gain I had last time I took the pills isn't coming. That's nice because although I am far from vein, I have been losing weight with my super healthy eating and giving up all things booze and sugar to prepare my voice for the record. A lot of good it did me in the long run but the weight loss was a nice surprise.

I'm looking forward to hearing Karen's mandolin on the record, having a surprise vocal guest *smile* and driving through this weird, beautiful town.

Austin never ceases to amaze me. On the ride home from storage (oh yes, this was after my quick stop at my favorite Goodwill on S. Lamar) I saw in a matter of minutes; a man that looked like he should be on the cover of GQ with only shorts and flip flops on a harley, a homeless "cowboy" who held up a sign saying, "Howdy, I'm just an old cowboy," two grown men in front of a toy store on the sidewalk playing an array of toy instruments to entice people in and a runner that looked to be 80. He was hauling butt too. And the smell. Oh, I can't describe that but I'll try. Why don't I say it's just like a never-ending barbq smell everywhere.

I don't think I will ever "really" live in America again. I adapted well to the slower, calmer pace of European life and realized it's much more suited to my neurotic nature. Being in a busy country just blew me in circles all the time. I don't miss that at all. Family and friends, that's another story.

But I do love Austin and have a new appreciation for it when I blow through town.

love,
Chris