Kathy 2026, FAWM

“Second Date” #FAWM 2026

When we moved to New Smyrna Beach right before my first FAWM in 2018, we’d landed in a tiny apartment while our house was being built. Okay, it was two bedrooms but coming from our Vegas house, our stuff was crammed in there. Besides some storage, we had to put the bedroom dresser in the dining room, the book case in the bathroom, music studio and home office in the extra bedroom, etc.

Anyway, I felt claustrophobic and started writing a story I was calling “Tiny Apartment.” The premise was about a woman who was getting odd messages from strangers like “You were great last night” etc. She didn’t realize she was sleepwalking. Anyway, I put that aside and just dug it out for the Nov/Nov writing challenge. I started stalling on the story so I wrote an outline of sorts listing songs I might write for FAWM to help me with the plot. This is song #3 “Second Date.”

Mixed in headphones.

Kathy 2026, FAWM

“Woman in Black” #FAWM 2026

Song #2 for FAWM (February Album Writing Month) continues the theme of song #1, “Night Moon.” and is called “Woman in Black.”

Funny thing about the “Sazerac” line. I’d jotted down some lyrics while writing about a woman who sleepwalks and ends up in a place called the “Night Moon.” Later, when we were sailing on “Star of the Seas,” Lou’s Jazz Club had a drink called the Jazzy Saz, a play on Sazerac. Maybe it’s a thing now.

Mixed in headphones.

Kathy 2026, FAWM, Writing

FAWM 2026 Has Begun With “Night Moon”

As part of Nov/Nov (the replacement for NaNoWriMo), I started writing a novel called “Night Moon” last November. And as I was writing, I began imagining an album. This is my focus for FAWM (February Album Writing Month) this year.

As a bit of background, the story is about a married woman who sleepwalks and ends up in a place called the “Night Moon.” You can sign up for news of its release here.

This is the title song, “Night Moon.”

Mixed in headphones.

Kathy 2026, Cocktails, Cruising, Music

Lincoln Park Supper Club on Star of the Seas

I gathered a few clips from our fabulous evening at the “Lincoln Park Supper Club” on Star of the Seas in order to experience the highlights as one piece.

The 6-course meal is paired with a cocktail for each course (no, I did not finish them all – tasting only – lol!) and the music was paired with the theme of 1930s Chicago. On its sister ship, Icon of the Seas, the supper club has a New York theme and is called the “Empire Supper Club.” The upcoming Legend of the Seas has a Hollywood theme and is called “Hollywoodland.” And, yes, we’re booked on that ship!

It was all so fabulous in its own right but I felt especially close to my dad who loved Jazz and music and fine dining. Yes, I’m definitely his daughter. In fact, when I met him for the first time as an adult, we were sitting in his living room and he stood up to turn on his music player and said, “If you’re any daughter of mine, you’ll love this.” It was Jazz, of course. And I loved it! Yes, dad would be proud!

Kathy 2026, California Girl, cover songs

“Surfer Girl” #remix #nostalgia #newportbeach #california

Really feeling the emotional tugs from the past on my heart this week so I had to do my version of the Beach Boys “Surfer Girl.” The video is from Newport Beach and a couple of nostalgic “then” and “now” photos. The older I get the more I miss the past – what a cliche – lol!

Mixed in headphones/recommended for listening.

Kathy 2026

“If You Go Away” #remix #SoCal #highschool #nostalgia

I’ve been in a real nostalgic mood lately. But I do that when I’ve been living in Florida for too long. I’m also missing those that I knew from way back when. There’s something about people who knew you *back when* once you get to a certain age.

And what better way to warm of for FAWM (February Album Writing Month) – less than a month away.

So this is a remix of the song I sang in my high school spring concert. Dedicated to Mr. Vaughn, my music director who chose me for the Acapella Choir, the Concert Choir, and for my first public solo when I sang “If You Go Away.” Later I discovered he had ties to Karen and Richard Carpenter and, somehow, made me feel even more honored.

Also dedicated to my friend Carol (the tall one in the pic) who shared so many adventures together.

This is wildly different from how I sang it in high school but to think of the great production tools I now have at my fingertips is pretty cool. I think Mr. Vaughn would be proud.

Kathy 2026

It’s a New Year and a New Month

It’s a new year and a new month and I always think of Elvis in January since his birth date was 1/8/1935. We were an Elvis family with me in the lead, although my mother didn’t mind hiding behind me in her swooning (she was born the same year as Elvis). I wrote this song after she died (August 16, 2023) – the same “day” that Elvis died.

This story is fictional but the photos are real. I miss those days more and more.

Photos:

Swimsuit beauties – my mother and her friends on Balboa Island, California. My novel “Letters on Balboa Island” is loosely based on those adventures.

My mother’s kids – my sister, brother, and me.