islands in the stream of consciousness: 2019 in review, whaddup 2020

I’ve got a lot coming up in 2020, y’all. But at the present moment, I’m sitting on the couch at my folks’ house, up north dontcha know, in Outing, MN… My dad’s next to me, working on some stuff for the newspaper he and my mom own and run together. And I’m just thinking about life and tingz (aka things).

Boy oh boy, did 2019 have some unexpected bullshit, and some unexpected COOL things alike. I continued my schooling in pursuit of becoming a dental hygienist, and now I’m just a semester away from finishing - WUT. I spent 8-16 hours per week at Loop Dental. I played a TON of shows, starting the year off strong with First Avenue’s 2018’s Best New Bands in the Mainroom. Sang in Jamaica for my friends’ wedding. The Hewing Hotel Rooftop. The Turf Club. The Fine Line. The Aster Cafe. The Parkway Theater. HiFi Hair & Records. 7th Street Entry. The Warming House. Uptown VFW. Mississippi Music at the Bemidji Waterfront. The Hook & Ladder. Papa Charlie’s in Lutsen. The MMC Gala. Senses Working Overtime: XTC Tribute. The Caravan du Nord with Reina del Cid in Redwing, yup I got some new boots! Also, I played a few private house shows and backyard extravaganzas (hit me up if you’re interested in something like this!). And my goal of 2019 to play the Mainroom again? Well, THAT HAPPENED for a Tom Petty Tribute in September. And many other super fun shows, events, weddings… Who Do You Think You’re Fooling was one of The Current’s top local songs of 2019 (THANK YOU!). I made some awesome new friends at a Shania Twain Tribute show at the Turf Club in August (lookin at you, Savannah Smith). Keep your ear to the ground for some fun stuff she and I are planning for mid 2020… And I continued to work on the album I’m releasing in 2020. take care will be released late spring/early summer, and it is sassy as fuuuuucking fuck and also sad as shit. Basically, sadssy. I’m hoping to drop a couple of singles before then - but let’s be real. Nobody knows what they’re doing, ESPECIALLY ME. — As my dad taught me, “double patience.”

Some other stuff happened. I had to find a new guitar player & lawyer. My dating life continued to be an absolute ~*mess*~ and honestly that’s ok, I have more time to focus on the stuff that matters: music, fam, friends, & of course school (nerd alert). Classes were insane, you guys - dental hygiene school is no joke. Unfortunately, I expectedly and unexpectedly lost some people that meant a lot to me. And, the kicker of all kickers… my mom’s cancer came back over the summer. Watching someone you love dearly battle cancer, go through chemotherapy, and endure surgery is unlike anything. The surgery went as well as it could have in December, and my momma is on the fucking mend. Thank goodness.

Stress was the word of 2019. Anxiety and instability were truly my vibe for a minute there, and to be completely fucking honest, still are a little bit. The year of stress started on a high note in First Avenue’s Mainroom, and took me for a bit of a ride. It was beautiful, it was painful, it was a true test in patience, and I learned a lot. It reminded me to hug the people I love & like, say what I mean, and keep fucking going.

2020, please be kind. I’m scared but I’m going full speed ahead baby.

To those reading this: Please, let’s stay in touch. Please, make it out to a show. Please, lemme know what you think once take care is out in the universe. If you’re not already, feel free to follow me on the socials - instagram if you enjoy comedic content. twitter if you want to know my deepest darkest thoughts, and if you enjoy comedic content. facebook if that’s your thing.

And as we enter 2020, I hope y’all really do TAKE CARE, as my ex who is now marrying the girl I was always worried about closed an email letting me know he got all of his shit out of our apartment less than 2 years ago. I also hope y’all know that he and I are cool, and though i’m not invited to their wedding, I wish them all the best. And I’ll be submitting my ideas for their wedding hashtag to him, via email of course.