Mark is in his happiest place – snapping photos of the beach while bike riding in Ventura.
We had SO much fun in Ventura for Mark’s Birthday
Not seals, Surfers! Loved to watch them frolic in Ventura. It’s something I wished I’d done. Maybe someday?
Weird to Travel Unplugged
I deliberately went to Ventura sans computer and recorder. I wanted to focus on Mark, the moment, and to just rest in the downtime vs. my usual blog writing, recording and documenting. It was weird, let me tell you. It was for sure, a taste of my soon to be future.
It’s starting to sink in what life will be like without the show. It’s so strange. I almost feel as if I’m missing a limb. For the last 18 months, wherever I’ve gone, whatever I’ve done, I’ve been thinking about how the story of my life would be told to you in the podcast. I’ve been my own narrator. And that came with LOADS of benefits. Check this out!
One reason I like this photo is it isn’t really flattering. I look my age, and yet I am SO happy. I am what I am, and that’s ok with me. Wow!
I can’t believe that I actually just put on my suit and went swimming without thinking about it. I knew I looked jiggly, I knew my sun-damaged skin is starting to wrinkle and sag, and I knew that despite my stylist’s best efforts, the grey at my roots is growing ever faster and it’s impossible to hide. I am what I am. And for once in my life, that is all I need to be. This miraculous change of attitude is directly tied to my learning so much about myself through the show, AND through your comments and friendship. The show has given me the gift of acceptance – and not acceptance in a settling kind of way. I truly value all of myself these days. Even my formerly hated thighs, crazy eyebrows, the crooked scars on my face and lips that change how I smile and speak. True, I can no longer play the flute, but I can do so many things.
Real Life Stories
Some things I’ve been working on for the last show include recording some of our friends from the writing group Mark and I attend. I thought it would be fun for you to hear what I hear when we go. They are so creative and had so much fun recording in my new home studio. Mark and I are determined to keep our house cleaner in future so we can have literary parties where we roll our story cubes, have drinks around the fire pit and get to know these friends better.
I’m also hopeful that we will have a version of BC Dave’s mini radio play ‘Dave vs. the Robot Aliens’ done by professional and voice acting students. My coach, actor and director, David Babich held auditions for it, and will try to get the recordings to me this week. The only reason this project won’t make the last show is if David needs to rearrange his schedule due to unexpected acting work of his own. But let me tell you, it was just thrilling to know that I am now part of this wonderful voice acting community and I had so much fun in this process.
I won’t say budding songwriter anymore, but FLOWERING singer/songwriter, Fionna wrote a brand new song for our last episode. XOXOXOX Fionna, I so love it, and can’t wait to share it with the BCs. I will be honored to say I knew you when.
Mark will give one last update as my scale replacement and share what we plan to be up to in the next year or so.
Alen Standish was kind enough to record a mini update and good-bye.
Stéfanie from Quebec sent one last secret topic and Dawny sent a cute audio segment about saying good-bye.
They will all go down in COD history, as being part of the last show, but more importantly, all of these people are truly part of my life now, not just my show.
Want to be part of COD History?
As promised I will still post blogs on topics that hit me and give status updates about what I’m up to, and if I have huge news or just feel like it, I may post a bonus episode or two. But for all intents and purposes, YOUR last chance to be on the air and say good-bye in some way to the BCs and myself, comes to an end Aug. 8, 2015. That’s the cutoff for material because I need a chance to arrange it, write the last show, record it, edit it, and send it out to you before the end of August. So if you were thinking about calling the bravery hotline, using Speakpipe or any of the other ways to send audio to say good-bye, it’s time to do so. The clock is ticking on our time together with COD, but no matter what, I wish you all very well, and I still, really, really care.
xoxoxoxox
LOVE LOVE LOVE the REAL you and the TRUE happiness you’ve posted here Laurie!!!
Although Ive missed you greatly already, im sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happppppppyyyy FOR and WITH you!!!
HUGS to you, and I cannot wait for the episode, it will be AMAZING, I can already tell
Big hugs GF, your enthusiasm always makes me smile! xoxoxox
I have finally come around listening to 119. Funny, I listened in bits and pieces, like you savor a great expensive chocolate. Wow how peaceful you sound here. What a great zen state that is. I hope a long streak of that for you, and many other things.
I guess people are showing up to your party ☺ I can’t wait to hear it and be part of the new chapter in your book xxx
Awww, Mon Amie, I’m glad you are showing up to my party too. xoxoxo. I’m looking forward to day 120, it is shaping up to be a fun show. As I’ve said before, I’m not disappearing, I’m just making some time and space for new adventures. If anything warrants it, I’ll record a bonus show now and again. I’m so glad we got to know each other through COD, and that will not end either.
Please play this for Mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxOviBI-8fc
We are going to miss you both.
BC Dave and Kathy.
Thanks so much for Mark’s birthday greeting. It was cute. We will miss you too, but thank goodness you can still comment on posts! Big Hugs to you and Kathy xoxoxox. I’m putting in the sounds to your story right now. So freakin’ fun!
We are looking forward to the final production, I’m glad you are having fun.
Girl, you look pretty dern good in that picture! My guess is when the last show is in the can a huge breath of fresh air will come swooping through your whole being. And then a whole lot of creativity will follow. You’re just changing directions, not petering out on the hike! Can’t wait to see what all you get up to. 😉 Hugs! {{{Laurie}}}
Ahhh thanks GF. Some pics go better than others, but I’m getting used to letting them just be and not to get in my head about it. Hmmm maybe with age DOES come some wisdom. And I think you are right, that sad as I am to let the show go, that it leaves the space and energy for me to try new things and recharge that creative space. 4 writers from our weekly writing group came over to record one of their stories for the last show and it was so fun. I may go that way some day. Podcast for stories or creativity or something. It was SO cool to have people who were having as much fun as me recording. The writing group members have heard over all of these months as much about the BCs and the show as you have all heard about them. They were SUPER excited to share with you. And I think it makes a nice transition. Thanks too for your AWESOME good-bye recording. It is so well done. You have always been in my corner GF, and I remain in yours WHATEVER I get up to. xoxoxoxox
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