Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Blunt

I'm listening to a CD series about menopause (shaddup, all of yas). This morning on the way to work, the segment included a couple of jolting, highly appreciated statements: 'Women going thru menopause are truth tellers. And that's not a popular thing in our culture. Up until now, women have been people pleasers, but at this stage, we begin to operate from our autonomous and informed center, and to use our voice.'

And then? My Message from the Universe this morning:

"Give it thought, Toni. Consider every angle. And then speak your mind. You've not been drawn into anyone's life just to listen. You're not here to be quiet. Actually, you're one of my spokes-peeps.
Loud and proud,
The Universe"

I find this enormously synchronistic. I've never been famous for my library voice; people learn fairly quickly about me that if they ask, they're going to hear what I have to say. [Hey, I DO wait to be asked!] Lots and lots of people never ask again, but I inevitably prefer the company and presence of those who do. Works out quite well, that way.

Finally: NEW MUSIC ALERT: Amazon says: "Vienna Teng's fourth album, Inland Territory, is a tour de force musically and lyrically, a complex and deeply thoughtful work from an artist cut loose from limitations. Recorded over five months and in four cities, with instrumentation ranging from orchestral percussion to found-object loops to polyphonic choirs, it's without question her most ambitious work yet. The credits alone read like a "Ones To Watch" list: engineer and mixer Eddie Jackson (James Taylor, Patti Sciafla), violinist and concertmaster Rob Moose (Sufjan Stevens, Beth Orton), guitarist Kiyanu Kim (Gwen Stefani) and bassist Jeff Allen (Duncan Sheik), to name a few. Guitar virtuoso Kaki King lends her signature soundscapes to a few tracks, renowned clarinetists Ben Goldberg and Beth Custer trade fours, and fellow singer-songwriters Ari Hest, Julian Velard, Odessa Chen and Noe Venable all contribute vocals.

6 comments:

Holly said...

No, you are not there to simply listen...what you say always cuts through to the quick of things. And, many don't like it, but more do. And, I am one of those who cannot belief how fortunate I am to have found you...again.

Yours is not an easy life. But, oh so very necessary. And, thank you for what you said to me today. I will certainly hold it close as I move through the day.

Cam said...

You're just keeping it real, Toni!

How many people can say the same? So many are hanging around, hiding out in modern day camo: flashy cars, fancy houses, labels, tiny little boxes containing an image they choose to project to the masses.

You are real. You are a powerful woman: complicated, loving, changing, truthful...

beth said...

you are my "spokespeep" without a doubt....especially when it comes to javier....because I'd get all tongue tied around him....seriously, can you imagine ???

Carla said...

I definitely say my piece. I'm always working on being more diplomatic, because it's not easy for me. I tend towards bluntness.

MuseSwings said...

Listen? Who's got time to listen - especially at my age!

sam brightwell said...

Being a spokespeep for the Universe is a difficult job to hold, but only the bravest are selected for this role.

I used to believe I should not tell the truth if it hurt people or intefered with their own path, but recently I've come through a learning curve on that one, and realized that now I'm being pushed to be more truthful, even completely truthful, with friends & associates. It is not always the quickest way to being popular, but someone's gotta do it. I think those of us who can do it with feeling and compassion are best placed for the task. That's definitely you, hun.

Keep up the good work.