GayleSkidmore.com

Late last night I got a call from my neighbor advising me to look outside.  I walked to the end of the street, rounded the corner and felt a rush of heat as I took in the scene.  The entire horizon was ablaze!  Mount Miguel, less than two miles away, was consumed in flames.  I figured it was probably time to leave…

So, here I am on Dave and Andy’s couch.  Almost everything I own is in my car, and I’m just praying that nothing gets stolen…  I’ve got the telly on and am trying to stay informed.  I’m grateful that I have somewhere to go and am going to try to get down to Qualcomm to volunteer later.  I’m still way too tired.

Two weeks ago now (wow!  already?)  I took a trip to LA to play a show.  I was feeling melancholy–driving past my old apartments, haunts, etc.–and down about a friendship that died for reasons that don’t make sense to me.  I started feeling homesick for my flat in Oxford.  (Alright, I’m always homesick for it, but was especially homesick for it as I drove around Azusa).  Sometimes I think places miss me.  I spend so much time alone that I often get more attached to the place than the people in it.

I was driving along feeling frustrated about being so misunderstood by this person that I let my hopes rally around… and wrote this song about England.

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What a week!  It’s only-wait-Wednesday right? Well, technically, I guess it’s Thursday.  I never count it as the next day until I’ve slept or it gets light out.  I haven’t been getting enough sleep lately.  Mostly it’s just the gut-wrenching disappointment that is my life.

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Today was lovely.  And by lovely I mean wretched.  I asked the guy who gave me the guitar if it would be cool if I sold it so that I could buy a guitar that was a better fit for me and he said I should give it back.

Since I was a young lass I’ve been adept at sneaking and wheedling.  Tonight I sneaked and wheedled my way backstage at the House of Blues… one of my proudest accomplishments in the sneaking and wheedling department.

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1. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WATCH “BECOMING JANE.”  This would be a colossal mistake.

2. DO watch “Tommy Boy.”  Tee hee.

3. DO NOT listen to Pedro the Lion.  He is slit-my-wrists-spectacular.

4. DO listen to Jimmy Eat World.  Don’t be a music snob–I know you’re tempted.  Jimmy is totally solid and “Bleed American” is life-affirming in its own way.

5. DO NOT sit at home moping or sleeping.

6. DO call someone, dang it!  You do have friends.  Maybe they are lonely too.

7. DO NOT have conversations with people who don’t get you.

8. DO call people who you know will not make you crazy.

9. DO NOT measure your worth by how many messages you got on myspace today.

10. DO listen to records and have a cup of tea.

11. DO NOT dwell on the foolish things you’ve done.

12. DO dwell on positive things people have said to you (not too much though).

I am not making any claims of deep insight here… just notes to myself, really.  If they resonate with you, cool.

When I was on tour in August, our last night of tour was at the Starline in Fresno (Rheanna’s home town). By that night I was homesick, restless, and feeling the weight of spending 2 weeks in a Honda Accord with three other people. I wasn’t super excited for the show…I kind of just wanted to get the heck home and sleep in my own bed. A few of us weren’t getting along so well and I could have done without the show. Point made. Anyhow, right before the show, I got a call from two of my favorite San Diegans and oldest friends–Josh and Tim. I couldn’t believe it! Now, I love these guys, but they never call a sista. I went on and on about their calls to Amelia, Joe and Rhe, “They never call! I can’t believe they both called!” I almost cried. It was so so good to hear familiar voices of people who care about you! Especially under the stresses of my first tour.

On the way to the Starline I was getting a bit nostalgic. I kept thinking, “I wish I could see those guys! Instead I’ve got to spend the evening with people with whom I am on their last nerve.” We arrived at the venue and I started tuning up… and heard, “Hey Gayle!” I looked up and spent a whole minute trying to understand what I was seeing! Josh and Tim were standing infront of me!!!! Then I really did cry. Their band The Silent Comedy was on tour as well and had originally been booked on the night. When their show in Santa Barbara was cancelled, they came to Fresno, ran into our friends in Aspen Hollow (also on the bill) and got back on the show. They found out that I was playing and surprised me!! It was wonderful.

This last weekend my friend Jonathon from Aspen Hollow came down to come to my cd release party. He needed a ride back, so it was decided that I should drive him up and sneak onto their Tuesday night show with none other than The Silent Comedy and Get Back Loretta!!! I got to get them back and surprise them this time. Kevin and Steven even had a bet when they saw me coming whether or not it was really me. Kevin said, “That looks so much like Gayle that it isn’t Gayle.” I had called him earlier to mess with his head and ask if he wanted to hang out in San Diego. Anyway, it was a rad night and I got to close out the evening with some new songs. The guys all stayed for me even though they had to drive to Reno last night, and a girl named Tish came out expressly to see me whom I had met last time (awesome–especially since it was a super secret last minute show). It’s funny how things work out.