Rest & Relaxation

I had a very restful holiday and weekend. I spent it with family and friends, people that I loved. It was great. I cooked a massive Thanksgiving dinner and had a great time. I shopped, I ate, drank, ate some more, chilled out and I am not really looking forward to the resumption of business as usual, but life calls. I have gotten over my cold and my voice is trying to hang in there. Hopefully I'll be in good enough shape to make it into the studio this week. Fingers are crossed. On top of all the fun, love and laughter, Alabama won the iron bowl!!!!



Roll tide!!!! :-) I'm very happy about the win over Auburn.



Oh well, that seems to be all I have to talk about for now.... Before I forget, my friend P has been in bed since Thursday with a cold. Feel better buddy!!!!

Anyway, on that note, I'm going to get ready for the LONG week ahead.

Till later! :-)

CJ
**

Today, I have a cold....

...and it sucks. I sound like crap. I look like crap. I feel like crap. And I have to work today, crap. But I guess I'll still smile...:-)



Thats my blog for today.

Holiday Season & Updates

I know its been awhile and I am going to make a resolution before new year's to make a conscious effort to at least update once every week. I hope I can do better than that. I'm actually plugging in a reminder to update in my BlackBerry as we speak....

Anyway, let's see....
I hung out in Atlanta a few times; in August, September & October. I realized how much I missed that city. I could never live there - well maybe not right now, but later and I say that because there is just SO much going on ALL the time! I would get so distracted and would probably have no way of focusing on one thing. I hung out with my girls during both trips(we had such a ball - and we named ourselves "The Shiz" which MAY be explained later if it ever comes up again...LOL). The Westin was lovely each time (as usual)....

What else...? OH, there's been a bunch of sorority stuff going on and a few new developments to be discussed later :-) A girls gotta have some secrets.

I have been procrastinating (sp?) as far as going to the studio goes BUT in my defense I have written 3 lovely songs! So I hope to get in some studio time this week, possibly today after I hit the gym. So I'm looking forward to that!

Anyways, I think thats all for now! I love the weather change and I love the season period because that means a wardrobe change!!!! YAY!

Thanks for listening...(reading)....

Later,

CJ

My new place....and stuff...updates....

I guess its not so new anymore. I've had my condo since June and I love it! Sorry the pics are so late!

But anyway, its been a busy past couple of months. Let's see if I can give a brief run down:

1) I have recently rediscovered my keyboard and have written a couple of new songs and come up with several new melodies. Its pretty great and I'm super excited.

2) I have switched to completely online classes this semester. So far its pretty cool and I'd love to see how it goes....

3) I have begun to embrace my total self: voice, body, personality, quirks, issues...all the pieces of me and I am loving each day of it.

4)Lastly but MOST importantly, my grand father, Nathan Hale Turner Sr., passed away on 9-1-2008. It was one of the hardest things I have had to deal with in my life. He is the closest person to me to ever pass away and I have had a hard time dealing with it. I don't think I'm back to being totally myself, but it has changed my outlook on life. He lived a full life and all, but life is short and tomorrow is NEVER guaranteed so NOTHING should be taken for granted. I was in ATL on vacation when I heard the news and I was so upset (and still am) that I had to pull over about 5 times in order to recompose myself. What was normally a 2.5 hour drive for me was 3.5 hoours. It was just such a shock; not that he wasn't ill because he was, but it was a shock. Someone who was there is not there anymore. What do you do?

So, its been a pretty busy couple of weeks. I've been taking exams and going to class. Its driving me insane. Anyway, I had time to hang out with my sorors this weekend. We went and got pedicures on Saturday and out to O'Charley's for dinner THEN I went to O'Charley's on Sunday with Koko too! It was her choice and I couldn't turn her down cause she had just gotten back from being gone with the military. Yep. My sis takes care of our country. How could I say no to her O'Charley craving? :-)

Anyways, I'll be more regular in a week and a half. Promise! :-)

Just so you don't forget how I look....I added that recent (Sunday after dinner) picture of myself. :-)

Pictures from the 4th as promised...fireworks...food...fun!!!

Can you believe that this is the view from my living room window????
Roasted/baked chicken That's my plate. Yeah. So much for low-carb. :-)

Ribs. Mac 'n' cheese. Chicken. Mmm, mmm good!


Not the smiley face, but still BEAUTIFUL!!!

"Oh I Remember on the 4th of July...."

Those are the opening words of one of my favorite songs by Toni Braxton called "Best Friend". Its a great song as are most of her songs. Its not related to anything that I have going on in my life right now, but I thought about it when I was considering what to blog about today. The 4th of July for me this year was a nice and quiet one. I cooked alot of food and spent quality time with loved ones. Chardonnay was my cooking companion and we did a great job. As usual, I took pictures which I will upload tonight. Don't ask, I just like having memories of the huge meals that I create because alot of people are doubtful when they hear me say that I can actually cook! I still don't get it but I'm ok with it. Seeing - or better yet - tasting is believing! But anyway, I saw the fireworks from my living room which was great because it made the whole day perfect. Who knew they could put smiley faces in the sky with firecrackers? I hope yours was great too!

Till later,

~CJ~

DVR's

I love DVR's. I've had Tivo service through Tivo and Moxi through Charter as well as Brighhouse's version which is what I have now and it SUCKS! Thats all I wanted to say. I was trying to record a show about vocal range and voice maintenance late last night and it just wouldn't record it. For that reason, Brighthouse's DVR sucks! Keep tuning in!

~CJ Out~

Since I've been gone....

I've been MIA for a reason - I became a member of SIGMA GAMMA RHO Sorority Inc. Maybe one day I'll get to meet my idol/SoRHOr Victoria Rowell.

OK...So, I'm a slacker...

I really feel bad about letting my blog slip to the wayside. I want to apologize for anyone who waited for updates - I doubt there's anyone, but lets just imagine. By this time next year, I hope to have at least performed five times in front of more than ten people not counting karaoke. :-) I think thats a pretty reachable goal - I'm going to throw myself into it starting today. Half of the year is gone and this is a fitting way to start the last half.

I'll start by working out more. I'll post pictures by July 15th to show where I am and then we'll start tracking my body image from there. Thats a major factor when it comes to selling albums. I'll also start drinking more water, practicing more, listening and playing more music and taking all around better care of my voice. I hope to be able to post a clip of one of my songs really soon.

I'll be back in the next few days I promise - I'll set a reminder on my blackberry and we'll see how this goes!

Till later!

CJ

NEW YEAR, NEW RESOLUTIONS....

Happy New Year everyone!!! Its a new year and I've got some new resolutions. My top goal is to have my debut album done and out of my hands. Now I have a confession - the album is 98% done already, I just need to touch up a few songs and then I have the rest of the year to make it to the top of the charts. This blog will be used to update anyone who is interested on my rise to the top because that is where I'm headed. It will include all the drama and flops on the way. I'm excited and I can't wait to see what happens, so thanks for reading and joining me on this crazy adventure!