AnnieMac's Blog

I left Nashville last Saturday night after another eventful day in the city. Woke up early and had breakfast at the reliable Cracker Barrel, went for a fun motorcycle ride through the west side of Nashville and then on to Music Row, and ended with having an awesome dinner with Gary Allan Patrick who is an amazing artist and songwriter. I met him through my vocal teacher Ken Orsow. They are song writing partners and are going to make a BIG splash together when Gary releases his next CD. I can’t wait to hear it!

I left about 8pm and drove East towards Asheville. I made it to Monterey, Tennessee where I suddenly had a bad stomach problem. I stayed the night at a Super 8 that happened to be right there on the exit. I must say it was really nice room and perfectly situated for me. Being sick on the road by yourself is truly a drag – yuck. I had a lot of driving the next day and it was difficult to do it alone, but I made it back to the loving home of my friends O’Neal and Pete. I loved staying there again and having some real home cooked yummy food. I really don’t want to offend anyone, but I just don’t get the grits and gravy thing – sorry!

The next time I go back,  I may just spring for the GPS system you can rent with the car. I am good with directions and I still found the freeway numbering system out there confusing. One freeway can have three different numbers and two cardinal directions on it at the same time… Crazy making! If I had a copilot it would be different, my iPhone rocks, but it’s hard to read and drive + not a good or legal idea!

Monday I flew back to SFO. On arrival I heard that my dad was in the hospital with a bad stomach thing too. Wired timing – us McIntyre’s and our stomachs… My dad doesn’t recommend the hospital he stayed in. Not a great experience, but he is better and back home thank god! After going and visiting him at Kaiser Vallejo Tuesday morning, I drove up to Ashland with my friend Kia.

We dropped through thick cloud on the north side of the Siskiyou Pass and the valley and Ashland appeared below. A shinning beacon in the fog. I am so happy to be home.

I’ve been incorporating the lessons of both parts of the trip. My seminar was outstanding, profound and life changing. If any of you have an interest in knowing more, I’m happy to email you about it, just ask. The music part of the trip was eyeopening and a wonderful learning experience. I look forward to a collaboration with the wonderful Melody Guy, and I can see going out to Nashville for 2-3 months and doing some intensive work on my writing. I’ve been working on a new song about forgiveness that I wrote during the seminar. And, I can’t wait to find that new co-writer I am looking for. Where are you anyway?

There is a lot of change in the air for so many of us these days. I hope you can meet it with love and compassion as I am doing my best to do.

Sending love and thanks again for your support and listening,

Annie xox