The Long Haul

New Year's Let Down...Happens To Us All

Here we are, 25 days into the new year of 2011.  And have I conquered the world?  Or for that matter, have I even gotten to number one on my "things to do to kick off the new year" list?  The answer to both:  NO.  And that's OK.  I have to keep telling myself that.  And so should you.  We all get excited for a new year and a fresh start and say "Now THIS is going to be my year.  I feel it!"  And we actually foolishly believe that just because the calendar year flips to a new number, we are somehow miraculously going to have a new motivation for life and be turned into an organized go-getter.  I'm here to admit that I have lapsed into a brief depression due to the expectations that a new year holds.  Combine the letdown of not accomplishing all we set out to do right off the bat, with the gloomy winter weather, with the fact that others proclaim that are kicking butt in the new year (lies)...and you will find yourself feeling a bit worthless.  So I am officially deeming January the month of "unaccomplishment."  Yup.  Be lazy in January.  Expect less and every small fete will seem more promising. 

My January has gotten started off with many a snow day here in Nashville.  And I allowed myself to check out on those days and pretend I was home from school that day.  I drank cocoa, went sledding, made home made mac and cheese, and curled up in front of the fire with a book (and by book, I mean trashy reality TV).  I have used much of January planning for the upcoming months, rather than trying to achieve all life long goals in the four weeks that follow the New Year's Eve countdown.  I have allowed myself to come down from the holidays, the travel, the shopping, and the anxiety of hosting and/or attending the best holiday parties and family gatherings.  I've allowed last year to sink in and then fade away, and I'm trying to be realistic about what the next steps in life are.  I've set baby goals, rather than obligatory monumental ideas that I will change my image, change my life, change the world.  And therefore, I'm ready for February and ready to conquer all my dreams, as well as others', next month!  Kidding.

Find comfort in the little things.  Find comfort in being happy.  That's all that matters.

A Stolen Story From a Blurry Day

I am very blessed to have a beautiful, independent, creatively talented friend, The Hollywood Housewife.  We've experienced so many things together and know each other all to well.  She was my freshman year college roomate, my Los Angeles roomate, my bridesmaid, and my confidant for many years (probably heard and seen more of me than she sometimes would've preferred!).  She has put a lot of time and effort into her blog The Hollywood Housewife and I suggest you follow it as she always has exciting stories and interesting tidbits and advice.  She married a Hollywood director and good friend of our's, and has arguably one of the cutest little girls I have ever encountered.  In today's blog post she recounts my crazy wedding and tells it better than I could as the details of the chaos get a bit blurred for me.  And you can hear the song I recently wrote about the day, as well as see pictures from the craziness!  I hope you'll take time to check her out, as she's a very special little lady :)

Below is the Housewife and I at the Jackass 3D premiere in LA a few months ago. 

Also a pic from something she references in her blog post..."One of my favorite memories of the night was seeing us all fancy and nervous diving into that chicken and bbq sauce."

Rain On My Wedding Day

When it rains, it pours.  And my life is never the exception.  June 16, 2007, Dallas, TX.  The months leading up to this date had been consumed with massive rains and flooding.  I had planned, 7 months prior, an outdoor wedding.  And refused to have a backup plan, because it never rains in Dallas in the summer.  But it did, and it did, and it did.  15 minutes prior to the ceremony's start and all the guests were seated in their fine attire. 10 minutes prior to the ceremony's start and the skies turned black.  And then the downpour and people running through the mud.  By the end of the night we had moved locations 4 times, heard the word "evacuate" 2 times, moved a full bar, buffet and wedding cake 2 times, pulled several people out of the mud, had guests who arrived in SUV's go get their cars in order to shuttle people across the rising creek, and we had watched chairs and the aisle runner quickly float away.  They say rain on your wedding day is good luck.  And the more that people told me that during the chaos, the more I wanted to kick them with my high heels. 

3 1/2 years later I decided I should write a song about the day since I had a built in music video with the wedding footage.  Video is on the way and it's funny to say the least.  But in the meantime I've put the song to a slideshow.  I hope you enjoy my chaos!

 

West Bound and Down...2010 Humanitarian Bowl!

Boise, ID.  Ummm, potatoes?  Cold?  That was about all I knew of this cozy little city, much to my chagrin.  It’s so much more than that! It was so wonderful.  I haven’t quite returned my jaw to it’s closed position after dropping it repeatedly at the beauty of the mountains, beauty of the people, and beauty of the event we were a part of last weekend. 

The Truckload Carriers Association sponsored my performance at the UDrove Humanitarian Bowl, and I was honored to be a part of it.  Besides being a great bowl game event in Boise, the 2010 Highway Angel, Shawn Hubbard, was being honored for his heroic acts in saving a life last year.   He pulled the survivor from an overturned car on the side of the road…he was the ONLY one who stopped to help.  Read his full story HERE.  Shawn, along with countless other truck drivers on the road, are the inspiration for TCA’s Highway Angel program, as well as my new song, co-written with my super talented producer Chris Roberts, Highway Angel.  Click below to listen!!!

Highway Angel

 

While performing for the UDrove Humanitarian pre-game festivities Saturday afternoon, I can’t tell you how moved I was to be approached by several truck drivers thanking ME for MY support.  It certainly should be the other way around however!  These men and women are out on the roads every day, away from their families, making the LONG HAUL across the country to bring us all of our wants and needs.   And to add to it, they are the eyes and ears on the highways, helping others in distress when no one else will stop…when everyone else is in too big of a hurry.  So being able to meet these lovely individuals, such real people, and entertain them for the afternoon was truly MY privilege.  And playing Highway Angel with my most amazing band, THE LOVE PILOTS, was such a cool moment, as they announced Shawn Hubbard, told his story, and we performed, with Shawn on stage, to a tearful audience. 

In addition, Ice Road Trucker’s Lisa Kelly was with our group as well signing autographs….and I heart her!!  She is an amazing girl and we’re hoping to work out some fun projects together to bring your way very soon…stay tuned!  Go watch her NOW on TV…you won’t regret setting your Tivo to record Ice Road Truckers.

I cannot wait to grow with this program and the trucking industry, for as long as they will have me!  Truck Drivers are like rock stars to me these days.  I’m inspired by you all and look forward to meeting you all ON THE ROAD. 
Thank you again TCA, UDrove, Healthy Trucking (HTAA), Fikes Trucking, Lisa Kelly, Share the Road, and you amazing drivers out there for such a memorable weekend.  AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY HIGHWAY ANGELS!! 

Below, the Lindsay Lawler and the Love Pilots with Lisa Kelly from Ice Road Truckers!

I Think A Snail Just Passed Us

25 miles.  That should take around 20 minutes to drive on the freeway, right?  Not on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010.  It took the Chrysler 300 I was riding in 7 and a half hours to go approximately 2 miles that afternoon.  Did I eat before we left?  No.  Did I grab some water before we left?  No.  Did I use the little girls' room before we left?  No.  There was no need.  We were just heading back from playing at a benefit about 80 miles out of Nashville.  I would have a nice meal and relax when we got home.  But we entered the freeway to snow, ice and overturned vehicles all over the freeway.  What could possibly be so major that the authorities couldn't clean it up in an hour?  And if something was as major as this, why on earth was NOT ONE SINGLE RADIO STATION even making mention of the catastrophe?  After panning through station after station for almost 4 hours, no one even eluded to the thousands of motorists trapped on Interstate 40 East.  We were in park.  We would maybe move forward a few inches ever hour.  Maybe.  But had no idea that the freeway had been shut down.  And wasn't until we made it home at 1:00 in the morning that we found out we were stuck behind 3 jack knifed 18 wheelers, turning 40 into a parking lot. People were in danger of running out of gas (many actually did run) forcing them to have to turn off their cars and sit without heat.  I saw one poor man running up the emergency lane looking for milk cause his baby had to eat. I will say, I will not forget the faces of the HIGHWAY ANGELS who came walking up the middle of the freeway.  A family of five; Husband, wife, 2 pre-teen daughters, and a young son being pulled in a Radio Flyer red wagon.  They had variety packs of chips and cases of water and were delivering to motorists who had been stranded for hours.  And they did it bundled up in 14 degree weather.  It was such an amazingly kind act.  That day I cursed the authorities for not having better response systems in place.  I cursed the radio and news stations for not giving us stranded motorists any updates or information on the situation.  And I cursed the careless drivers who got us into this mess.

People were injured that day, and my selfish self sat and cursed the wreckage up ahead.  And when I finally made it to the exit by my house 8 hours later, I caught a glimpse of a man sleeping under the bridge in a tent, wind and snow flying at a brisk pace in the now 10 degree weather, and I couldn't help but beat myself up for ever complaining I was hungry, thirsty or cold. 

Motorists Stranded For Hours On I-40 In Cheatham Co.