2021 A Year of Madness, Adventure, and Stories in Review

It was a year of adventures, enlightenment, and new experiences in the House of Rainbows and Awesome and beyond. Within the ever more artistic and confusing walls of The House of Rainbows we played host to fireworks displays, beat saber matches, Red Tent nights, sword fights, belly dance rehearsals, and tarot readings. We hosted two Salons, one presented by Max on the Nazca Lines and his endless research for his book; the other on hypnosis and past life regression, led by author and hypnotherapist, Ronald Tobin.

The House of Rainbows and Awesome enjoyed visits from Katy, Janette, my cousin Danny and my family who traveled from afar to bring us an RV packed with history, food, and a spiral staircase (more on that later). We experienced Sunday gatherings, craft and movie nights, and all manner of holidays with coworkers and students who have become dear friends.

We also enjoyed virtual adventures that bridged home and the world with musicals, ballets, conventions (*waves to CoKoCon friends*), and even weddings (congrats to AE & Heather)! 

Beyond the comfort of home there was live music by friends Jen X and the Boomers, and dancing at the Van Buren to AbbA of all things! And a triumphant return to live conventions with Glendale’s LibCon and the Purple Lotus Psychic Fairs. We celebrated old traditions in new ways, like Easter at Danielle's with a food pick up window. And new to me holidays, like Passover with Kim’s family. 

Travel extended to Jerome, AZ for a three day retreat with the girls, Payson and Pine for weekend adventures, antiques shopping and tree hunting. And as far as Oxnard, CA for my first (and potentially last) deep sea fishing adventure, where I learned about boats, fish, and seasickness.

Got a new tattoo, or I guess it should count as two, since it’s one on each arm at Fifth Finger Tattoo

Even in all of this madness we still found time to improve the House of Rainbows and Awesome with a spiral staircase, all manner of garden veggies, more mirrors, and a new kitchen!

We learned to make wine, and most of it was impressively received as palatable! I started drawing again, created new perfume scents. And I even spent a month writing songs for ukulele, harmonica, and theremin! They are awful, but I did it! I continued to study French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and of course, Valerian. All while sharing knowledge in classes for Sword Fitness, Bellydance, Tarot, and Writing to new friends and old. We even started a Discord server! 

I wrote thousands of words, including the sequel to Cloud to Cloud; published serial versions of An Ideal of Roses, and a return to Blackstrap’s Ecstasy on Kindle Vella and Tapas. Created eleven episodes of Casing the Cover with Mary and eight episodes of the Ra Intuition Podcast with Ra. And goodness knows how many Tarot videos I’ve posted to Youtube! 

It was a year of ups and downs, but I think I can safely say I’m on the other side of it stronger, smarter, and better than I was a year ago. The show must go on, and all that, but it's a show I am happy to still be writing and performing in.

Speaking on shows, my kid finally moved into his own place and is doing all those real life adult things that great spin-offs are built on. I look forward to his adventures vastly outshining mine in the years to come.

A massive thank you to everyone who played a starring, or supporting, role in the chapter of my life in 2021. I look forward to 2022 and I hope so do you! 

Until then,

Let Creativity Move You! 

In case you are interested in some of the madness and pop culture I consumed in 2021, here is a list of books, movies and TV series I devoured in varied degrees of enjoyment. Read/ watch/ listen at your own risk. 

Books:

Amish Country Christmas

Arctic Fury

Before She was Helen

Burnt Tongues

Carmilla

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Extreme Ownership

First Conspiracy

Gulp

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Kings and Griffins

Marrow Thieves 

Memory Police

Mexican Gothic

Midnight Library

Murders of Molly Southbourne

The Round House

Southern Book Club's Guide to Vampire Slaying

Swamplandia!

A Tale for the Time Being

Touch of Jen

We Sold Our Souls

Movies:

1776 (Musical)

Anna and the Apocalypse

Army of Darkness

Being There

Children of the Corn

Craft

Crawlers

Crow

DownEurovision

Evil Dead

Evil Dead 2

Exorcist

Friday the 13th III

Heavy Metal

Howl's Moving Castle

Just F*cking with You

Krampus

Kubo and the Two Strings

Lodge, The

Midnight Kiss

Missing 411

Moana

My Valentine

New Year, New You

Promare

Purity

Quiet Place 2

Red Shoes (Matthew Bourne Ballet)

Shining, The

Space Sweepers

Spirited Away

Sword and the Sorcerer

Treehouse

Wolf of Snow Hollow

Wool 100%

Series:

AHS: Red Tide & Aliens

Archer: Season 11

Ash & The Evil Dead Season 1 - 3

Beyond Evil

The Great: Season 2

Great Courses: 30 Great Works of Art

Great Courses: Ancient Cities

Hannibal: Season 1 - 3

Only Murders in the Building: Season 1

Sarah Connor Chronicles

Full Moon Adventures

The world is clearly opening up again if I have events and gigs booked multiple weekends in advance. This past weekend Rachelle of Ra Intuition Podcast , and I popped up shop at the latest Purple Lotus Event in Tempe. This is the second time we were able to participate in one of their events and it has been such a pleasure. The organizers are the most down to earth and sweet people, and things always seem to run smooth for vendors, staff, and attendees. It is nice to see family run events like this draw a warm and welcoming crowd of all ages too.

I cannot help but spoil myself a little bit at events like this, and I have never been able to resist great art by local creators. So, I'll share with all of you the latest finds and offerings to my growing collection. 

This one is by Rachelle. She started working on it at the last event we attended together and finished it up as we packed it in this time. For those who are into astrology (or Sailor Moon), the little images in the painting should look familiar as zodiac and planetary symbols. Rachelle creates personalized astrology paintings and each one is uniquely stunning. On most occasions she will tell you all about your signs and astrology as she is painting too! I don't know of another astrologer who does anything like it.

On an equally unique and fun note, my dear friend Beverly made me a spectacular set of custom coasters in honor of my little cat family. There are six of them, 'butt' since I have two calicos and a trio of black cats I'll share just a sampling. And yes, there are matching fridge magnets! 

I love my creative friends! And I love that they are willing to trade and gift in exchange for each of our talents! 

Returned from Exile

     I was exiled from my Amazon Author accounts due to technical issues. But now, as if right on schedule, I am back and discovering so many interesting things. I'm looking into Kindle Vella, adding episodes to Tapas.io and learning how to turn chapters into cliffhanger experiences. 

    That's the latest stuff to look into, but I have been up to so much more. In 2020 I taught myself to play the ukulele, and blew the dust out of my harmonica. I entered a song writing challenge in February, because, of course as soon as I can plunk a tune that's what I should be doing. So that mess is on SoundCloud, if you are looking to torture the auditory senses of your friends and enemies alike. 

    In December of 2020 I completed a Gothic Novel. An Ideal of Roses. It will be my experiment into the world of serial releases, which seems appropriate for a story filled with a serial killer. It is currently released through Tapas, and will be available on Kindle Vella as soon as that goes live in a few weeks. 

    At some point in the middle of pandemic land I rediscovered my YouTube Channel and my Tarot cards. That made for some interesting videos. This is what happens when I am trapped inside. I find new ways to unleash my madness upon the world. As it goes though, once the Universe caught wise of what I was up to, and the world opened up again, the cards and I were called out of hiding to attend events in the real world. So, I and my dear friend Rachelle have popped up shop at the Purple Lotus Events in Phoenix.

    And through it all I never stopped dancing, sword fighting, and making my usual mischief. And currently I am back to teaching bellydance, sword fitness, and writing classes at Rio Vista Community Center in Peoria. 

    Oh! And I would be slacking off if I didn't mention that Mary and I are still actively producing Casing the Cover episodes. Which consist of a ton of insights on books, covers, and the not so occasional rant about fonts. 

    So, busy. Yes. I stayed busy while in exile, and if a pandemic couldn't slow me down, wait until you see what it wound up!