Team in Training Update: $1250 Raised!

Wow, thanks to your generosity I've raised $1250, or 43% of my goal for Team in Training/The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Many of those who are sponsoring my Olympic-distance triathlon race have shared their experiences with cancer with me. They voice a strong sentiment of doing whatever it takes to eradicate the disease.

Have you donated? It's quite easy online, and you'll get a receipt for your taxes immediately via email. Just click here.

Now for a bit of history:

Team In Training (TNT) began in 1988, when Bruce
Cleland of Rye, NY formed a team that raised funds and
trained to run the New York City Marathon in honor of
Cleland's daughter Georgia, a leukemia survivor.

The team of 38 runners raised $322,000 for the
Society's Westchester/ Hudson Valley Chapter. Because
of the pioneering efforts of Cleland and the
Westchester/ Hudson Valley Chapter, Team In Training
was born and has grown into the world's largest
endurance sports training program. Cleland was
honored by Runner's World magazine in 2004 as one of
their "Heroes of Running" for his role in establishing
TNT.

Team in Training Update: Double Workouts

Since beginning with Team in Training, on my own once or twice I have done a run and a spinning class, or some combination of triathlon disciplines. This morning at 8 am was my first experience doing a double workout: swimming 1700 yards (drills and paced laps) and running 6 miles.

I. Am. Wiped. Out. I don't remember feeling like this even after finishing a marathon! But all this week I've been tired and slightly below my normal energy level. On Thursday we had a gig and I just didn't have the juice to really shake it on stage like I like to. Thankfully the other singer was really on fire that night and I didn't have too many songs to sing as it was mostly a funk/R&B date. "What's wrong with me?" I thought. "Oh yeah, I'm training for a triathlon." It makes me wonder about my gig schedule--I've been toying with the idea of taking a gig in Monterey on a Saturday night but it might not be such a wise move if I've done a double workout that morning.

The coaches say it's normal to hit a period of exhaustion as your body adapts to the new demand you place on it. This morning I was absolutely panting in the pool--I had graduated to a lane with faster swimmers in it. I asked one of the coaches if I was going too slow for the lane and he said no, but that I needed to work on not having my arms cross over on my stroke. Of course, trying to implement that advice ruined my form and made me quite tired.

Then we got out of the pool after an hour, toweled off, laboriously squeezed our wet bodies into running gear and headed out. I was aiming for 7 miles but after 3 miles of keeping pace with the front-runners, which include two really fast women, I gave myself a break. When I saw the first guy turn back I asked him how far he'd gone and he said the 3-mile turnaround was just ahead. I think it helped that it was a man, and a fast one, who had made that decision. I looked at my watch and saw that I'd been at 9-minute miles and was gratified.

But I tell you, the return trip was brutal. Only three men were in front of me (the 7-milers were still outbound) and I really had to argue with myself to keep going. But as long as I could see those guys, I felt I couldn't quit. At the end, I was convincing myself to make it to the last corner. Once I got there, I convinced myself to make it to my truck. When it was over I realized I'd done the whole 6-mile run at 9-minute pace, which is pretty good for me.

This process makes me realize I'm more competitive than I think. I mean, I'm really not fast for a weekend warrior, but knowing that I'm not at the back of this pack is great motivation.

I got home and crawled into bed at 11 am but an AWOL bass player called and woke me up an hour later. So now I am just hoping tonight will be spent in peaceful slumber. I need it so bad.

The Atlantic Monthly on Public Schools

My dad forwarded me this frighteningly well written piece on public schools. I can totally relate to the author's experience with public school (phrases like "totally relate" place me in a lesser category of scribe than Sandra Tsing Loh, unfortunately. Guess that's why I don't write for The Atlantic Monthly). I'm still amazed that I can get good, free school for my son here in Oakland, a city with a maligned system that is still under a state takeover (an honor it shares with gritty Compton in So Cal). Most of what you hear is how atrocious our schools are, but once you probe deeper you see there are vast resources and motivated PTAs throughout the district. Granted, they're not in my neighborhood, but a liberal transfer policy lets me and a lot of like-minded parents choose schools with better track records than the ones down the street. At first, I assumed we were part of a tiny minority who had transferred into my son's school, but I soon discovered that it was nothing to be ashamed of, with some 40% of families coming from outside that neighborhood.

But Loh sounds like she's an awesome super mom, one who puts me to shame. (Heck, I'm not really trying lately, other then my once-a-week stint in the classroom.) She's started a music program with grant-supplied instruments and took a poor(er) immigrant student under her wing for violin lessons in her home. Overall, I liked Loh's take on music:

People used to make music together, singing in churches, playing in bands. Today, music is a commodity, marketed as an item to be possessed by individuals— “my music,” people say. The image of a listener is one person, alone, headphones on, entranced by his personal shuffle. It is now de rigueur to mock the sort of genteel suburban ’60s childhood I experienced, with its Scout songs like “This Land Is Your Land” and “Bingo Was His Name-O.” However, when the 5-year-olds in our kindergarten were asked to name a familiar tune, the one most of them recognized was from High School Musical. With today’s separation of church and tribe and home country, if public schools don’t create a common culture, Disney or Nintendo will.

Team in Training: I Feel Tired

First off, this is so gratifying to see -- your donations have reached 33% of the goal I pledged to raise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! I appreciate your generosity so much!

Last night Emilio wanted some peace and quiet so I packed the boys off to the gym, never an easy task. I went to the spinning class as they've recommended that as a good way to build up cycling endurance. I have been looking at buying some pedals on Craigslist, but I don't really know what to get so I asked the instructor. She told me Shimano SPDs work on the spinning bicycles as well as on mountain bikes. She also told me to check out a pair of shoes someone left in the room a couple months ago. I did and they're an 8 and a half, which is too big for me. I wore them anyway just to experience being clipped in (I always have ridden my bike with cages on the pedals). It was good although I did have to concentrate on keeping my foot forward in the shoe since it was roomy. They urged me to take the shoes home so I did, but today my knee feels tweaked and I hope wearing the wrong size shoe won't mess up my biomechanics. Anyway, maybe I can transfer these cleats to a shoe that fits.

Today I am exhausted, however. I'm debating going to the pool and trying some triathlon training exercises I saw online. On Saturday one of the coaches complimented me on my freestyle stroke and I realized how helpful it was to have taken that swimming lesson last summer. It taught me some crucial things about breathing on both sides and using my lats to pull more effectively. I think my weakest point is probably my kick. Overall, I'm not fast, but on Saturday morning in Moraga we did a timed 32 laps, and it didn't take long for me to find a rhythm (although I have a lot of trouble remembering how many laps I've swum). When I was done I didn't feel particularly tired. Apparently, that was about half the distance we'll have to swim in open water.

There are a lot of helpful triathlon training videos on YouTube. Here's the one I mentioned:

Important Update from the Back Seat

"Mommy, Mommy, baby has booger all over his face. It's green and gray and slimy and it's even black in spots and--"

"Alright, alright, I can't turn around and wipe it while I'm driving."

"But Mommy, it's really big and disgusting--"

"For crying out loud, I don't need the detailed description, OK?"

"But Mommy--"

"No more, please!"

"But Mommy, I have to tell you something amazing!"

"What is it?"

"The booger is shaped just like the state of California!"

Team in Training: Now We're Making Headway!

I've raised 12% of the $2900 I'm aiming for! Yippee! Thank you to those who have donated thus far, but we still have a ways to go. It's so easy to donate online, just click here!

Here's a picture of me and my mentor, Claire. She and her husband, Matt Rhodes (who survived Hodgkin's lymphoma and not only learned to walk again, but to compete in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon!), have become Leukemia and Lymphoma Society devotees. This year they're organizing a race at Lake Merritt in Oakland on April 6! Check out the RHODES RACE 5K details and register (I'll be there!):
http://motivatedpixels.com/rhodesrace5k/

Team in Training Update: Track and Field Workout

Hi folks, here are some videos of my training session this past Wednesday. Today we had a swimming workout at 8 am followed by a bike workout, but I had to skip the biking to make a studio recording date. As usual, the recording takes a long time, hence the opportunity to catch up on my blogging.

But I've also got to catch up on fundraising. I've still got money to raise! I'm aiming for at least $2,900. I've had some early donors -- thank you!!! -- but if you're reading this why not click this link and donate to this worthy cause for the the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Life is short but with luck, cancer need not be the end of it. These people are working hard to find cures for blood cancers, as well as support for patients. If you're like me, you probably know several people who have been afflicted with cancer. And much progress has been made, with great leaps in survival rates for many diagnoses. With a small, tax-deductable donation of $10 or $25--or more -- you can legitimately say you're helping cure cancer!

Dindi at Pearl's

Here's a little video for you, taken from my music stand at the last show at Pearl's.

After the Gig

Well, it's taken me a whole week to blog about the Pearl's gig, which went so so well. The last show on Sunday night was a lot of fun--we had had a good crowd for a Sunday night, but the second show was sparser, as expected. It was still better than I had feared, since I've seen bands playing to 10 people at the last show on a Sunday at Pearl's. I did my thing I had done at each show, dancing out in the crowd. Only this time, as I came back to the stage as a joke to crack up the band I dropped and did five pushups. The next morning when I told my husband about it he was shocked and said I should control my antics. Up till that moment I had felt rather proud of my silliness. I love feeling free on stage and at that moment I wanted to do something over the top though I hadn't planned it in the least. Anyway, I only got enthusiastic feedback from the audience, so ultimately I'm not going to censor myself in that way.

Once the show was over and the band was paid, we hung out a bit and chatted. Standing out in front of Pearl's proved to be a bad idea, as the "kings of North Beach" began talking to us and couldn't be persuaded to leave. "What's that you're wearing? Why does it shine?" said one of the homeless threesome. "It's a sparkly dress," I replied. We repeated the question and answer two more times, until I realized there was no escaping. I slipped back through the club door. The bartender and ticket seller were laughing. "That's the only way to get away from them," they said. Later, I walked up the street with two others and got an amazingly tasty burger from Sam's, which is a hole in the wall that has apparently been in operation since 1966. The owner told me he'd seen many jazz greats over the years at the now defunct Keystone Korner.

As we ate our burgers at 2 a.m., a series of crazy characters challenged the owner. A thin, fidgety man came in and slapped two dollars on the counter. I didn't turn to look at him but his nails were painted red. "Candy at the Imperial says it's two dollars for a hotdog," he said. The yellow 1970s-era sign listed hotdogs for $2.75. "Who are these pretty ladies?" he asked to our backs. "I know them. The one with the curly hair. I know her." We continued to eat our fries and ignore him. Suddenly he yelled: "That's it, that's the story of my life, always the anguish, always crushed and rejected by the opposite sex!" The owner quickly came out from behind the counter and led him outside. But he continued to fume and gesticulate, standing on the double yellow line in the middle of the street as cars rushed by him on either side.

I commented to my friends how the nightlife changes from a Saturday to a Sunday. Saturday I had left at midnight in hopes of getting a good sleep and preserving my voice. At that time, it was almost painful to go home, with the streets so packed with life and social energy, filled with nicely dressed young people going dancing and clubbing. On a Sunday night these folks were gone, and only the royalty was left--the homeless and the insane. I asked the owner of Sam's if the street had changed in the 30 years he had been there. He said that the crazy people weren't as polite as they used to be.

I drove home and watched a little TV. I lay down but, as usual, I couldn't sleep. It's been a few days of getting back on my diurnal schedule but I've got myself readjusted. Of course, more gigs are coming, sending me back into my nocturnal bliss.

Last chance to see us! We sold out last night!

Last night was wonderful. North Beach was jumping, with people lounging in sidewalk cafes and jamming the clubs. The weather was balmy. Pretty girls were wearing atrociously high heels everywhere you looked. Guys were strutting their coolest struts. And we sold out our first show at Pearl's, and played all night to a packed house! I'll tell you, what a difference that makes! I had to commemorate that because it's not easy to sell out Pearl's in February. Of course, I always have to have a higher goal, so ideally I'd like to sell out a three-night run, but hey, this was fantastic feeling. As a performer, playing to a house like that, it's as if you're floating on a bed of air. You have to control the energy, because everyone gets excited, but once you find your rhythm it's a celebration.

I love mingling with the audience afterwards too, because I hear so many interesting things about who people are and what they liked about the show. I can never predict what people will like best. One woman said she was a fashion designer, and she loved my vintage dress (60s black sheath with embroidered red and orange flowers--I saw it in a window in Rockridge the other week and had to have it.) She wanted to talk to me about wearing her fashions during my shows.

Another said she was nearly brought to tears by my ballad "You Cry, I Dry Your Tears" and wanted to choreograph a dance to it. I told her I love working with dancers and to get in touch with me. The funny thing about that is that there was a slight buzz of chatter (though people were respectful and mostly listening) as I sang that song, and in my head I wondered if I was losing them. But I stayed in character with the song through to the end.

And there was a sweet fan who told me she loved my personality: "You're so positive! You should be a motivational speaker!" "Hmmm, maybe that's where all the money is..." I replied, and gave her a hug. In my head I thought, thank goodness she hasn't seen me when my kids are getting on my last nerve!

Got home, ate some chow mein that had been left for me. Opened a fortune cookie that read "seek pleasure at home and you will be rewarded." Rather apt for someone who had just left the San Francisco party scene a bit wistful that she couldn't just forget everything and dance the night away. I watched some TV and lay down at 2 am. And here's the best part: I slept until noon! Praise the Lord!

Tonight's the last show. It's a weeknight, OK, but I hope the balmy weather will entice folks to come out...

Tonight and Sunday, Two More Nights at Pearl's!

Thank you to all of you who came out last night! We are having so much
fun at Pearl's, a jewel of a listening room that's dedicated to the
sweet sounds of jazz! If you haven't yet, won't you join the party?

The Alexa Weber Morales Band is at Pearl's February 8th through
Sunday, February 10th (ticket details below). We're emphasizing
Brazilian repertoire, with songs by Edu Lobo ("Ave Rara," "Ponteio"),
Guinga ("Orassamba") and Ivan Lins ("Sambadouro," "Lua Soberana").

I've also got some new originals for you ("Into the
Stratosphere" and "Let's Not Ruin This Affair"). Both of 'em really
cooked last night! And Murray Low played a luscious interpretation of
my paean to motherhood, "You Cry, I Dry Your Tears." Frank Martin
recorded it on my album, so this was the first time I heard Murray's
take on it. Amazing!

We've got "Morning" and "Calling You" with accomplished singers Bryan
Dyer, Zareen, and David Chaidez. We're joined by Murray Low, piano;
Scott Thompson, bass; David Flores, drums; and Emiliano Benevides,
percussion.

Last night I couldn't resist dancing through the audience to that
irrepressible Brazilian groove driven by Emiliano and Scott, since
they both have so much experience in the genre (Scott's mom is sax
player Mary Fettig, who toured with Stan Kenton, Toninho Horta and
Flora and Airto, and Scott has already shared stages with Chico
Pinheiro, Guinga, Jovino Santos Neto and others).

At Pearl's, named one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world by
DownBeat magazine, there are two shows: 8:00 ($20) and 10:00 pm
($20).

Doors open 30 minutes prior to each show. Jazz at Pearl's is located
at 256 Columbus Avenue (at Pacific), San Francisco. For ticket
information, call 415-291-8255 or log on to www.jazzatpearls.com.

Tonight through Sunday We're Playing Pearl's in SF!

The Alexa Weber Morales Band is at Pearl's, tonight, February 8th through Sunday, February 10th (ticket details below). We'll emphasize Brazilian repertoire, with songs by Edu Lobo ("Ave Rara," "Ponteio"), Guinga ("Orassamba") and Ivan Lins ("Sambadouro," "Lua Soberana"). I've also got some new originals cooked up for you ("Into the Stratosphere" and "Let's Not Ruin This Affair").

But wait, there's more! Only once in a long while do I get to bring you the a cappella sounds I love LIVE! We'll do "Morning" and "Calling You" with accomplished singers Bryan Dyer, Zareen, and David Chaidez. We'll be joined by Murray Low, piano; Scott Thompson, bass; David Flores, drums; and Emiliano Benevides, percussion. All eight of us have eclectic taste, an addiction to rhythm, and a love of great songs from around the world. I'm eagerly awaiting that irrepressible Brazilian groove that Emiliano and Scott will drive home, since they both have so much experience in the genre.

At Pearl's, named one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world by DownBeat magazine, there are two shows: 8:00 ($20) and 10:00 pm ($20).
Doors open 30 minutes prior to each show. Jazz at Pearl's is located at 256 Columbus Avenue (at Pacific), San Francisco. For ticket information, call 415-291-8255 or log on to www.jazzatpearls.com.

Woo hoo, It's Time to VOTE!

Don't forget, folks, if you're in California or anywhere else there's a primary election! This is so exciting! This is the first time since 1980 that no incumbents are up for presidential candidate. They're expecting record turnout!

Oh my goodness -- I just got a phone call (recorded, of course) from Stevie Wonder! He sang "I just called to say I love you" and then urged me to vote for "my friend, Barack Obama."