I have never felt so happy in all my life to be home! What is that? A place where people can easily understand everything you say! Where you can really get what you WANT, and if it’s the wrong thing, after you get home, you can take it back, and get what you REALLY wanted. Note to all: Never try to bring back something to a store in India. Forget about getting your money back. Even exchanges are hideous to try and get.

I had a great and intense experience in India. Everyday was a new challenge. Even if I stayed in the ‘neighborhood’, anything I did became a ‘scene’. People still stare all the time at you if you’re a foreigner.

Indians are wonderfully, different, and sweet people. Culturally, extremely different. Still I would have liked bringing a few home with me, if it were possible. Like the piano player, my masseuse, the chef, who I taught how to make my favorite anchovie pasta, my housekeeper, ‘boy’ Shudiker who would get special ‘permission’ to open the permanently locked window on my veranda, and let me have some ‘fresh’ air while he was happily cleaning, and I typing away on my computer.

Today, for the first time in 6 months, I washed my own dishes in my darling miniture dishwasher here in my atelier in downtown Wallingford. I even went grocery shopping for the first time in months. It was so fun to CHOOSE what I wanted to ingest. And know what was REALLY in it.

I bought some whole grain bread from Essential Baking Co. Peets Coffee, and Almond milk. Pacific Tomato soup, and made a grilled, cheddar cheese sammich. (I do most of my grocery shopping at Bartels). I also bought some beautiful young garlic and fresh green onions, and sunflower seed sprouts from the Wallingford openair market on Wednesday. What a salad I enjoyed! With Brianna blue cheese salad dressing. On sale @ Bartels…

They have no ‘awareness of salad’ in India. It was stressful to try to get one in my hotel, I usually just got a plate of raw veggies and some lemon juice dressing. One day, I saw a big plate of what I thought were green beans! Wow, I’d never seen them in India before….My first huge mouthful told me why….they were NOT green beans, they were green Chilis! Unable to eat anything after that, I learned an important lesson. IT MAY LOOK LIKE SOMETHING YOU COULD LOVE, but, it aint….

I am going to start sprouting my own sunflower seed sprouts. So many things I couldn’t do living in a hotel room.
About the most organic thing I did there was cut open pomegranits and compile the seeds into a bowl and pour on soy milk on them and crunch away. That was a comfort food to me. And quite messy I might add.

You learn so much about what you love, when the moment of being separated from it happens. I missed my kitty, so substituted the street dogs. I ended up having a pack of playful yet wild dogs surround me, anytime I walked out the door of the hotel on to the main small street in front of the hotel. I named them all. Lola, and Lulu, (the girls that I helped get spay) Rocky, and Guru, the boys who avoid the dog catcher uncannily, and the young twin black dogs, Black eyed Susan, and Princess, that would run and play like speedy, otherworldly animals, and were so skinny and worn down before they met me! I always brought them a bowl of water, and food. It was my way of having a spiritual experience. Sometimes they’d follow me to the park like grounds at the hotel across the street. I was the Alpha to them, and they centered around me, fought for my special attention, and loved to show off and play together with me watching. I gave up caring that others were staring

A cab driver friend named Suresh, is feeding them now, I bought him two large bags of Pedagree dog food. He keeps it in his trunk. A housekeeper boy, named Kelvin is in charge of bringing them water. Plus an American friend name Kat is looking after the cab driver, to make sure he is doing his promised job. (I will send her $ to buy more dog food, she’s an animal activist in India as well as a baker of dog birthday cakes and home made dog biscuits).

I guess I haven’t completely abandoned them. On the last night, a cab took me away from my strange little familiar cul de sac by the airport, that had become my hood for the last 6 months.

On my last evening in Mumbai, despite the rain and thunder and lightening, when it subsided, I went out to and fed the dogs one last time, some special ‘snacks’. It was a bit messy out there, what with the mud, and the bags of goodies I was handing out a bit difficultly in the dark.

The taxi’s waiting he’s blowin’ his horn, already, I’m so lonesome I could cry .

Lola, my number one doggie, was sitting at the foot of the driveway, as the cars exit the hotel. I opened the window and said goodbye, she didn’t quite recognize me in the cab, and I didn’t want to linger and have her know it was me going away for the last time, never to return. I may have been the only someone she had,in her street life, felt loved by.

The monsoons are upon them now. The dogs stay off the street, out of the rain, somewhere, no one really knows where they go. Sometimes in those big water pipes that just sit on the side of the road waiting to be planted for some future infrastructure.

I had to go.

Now in Seattle, a million miles from Mumbai, I feel so in love with life. There’s a gnawing in my soul for those I left behind. Some of the people too. They told me they’d miss me with all their heart. You’ll be back they warned…

Today gonna take my kitty in for a check up, as she waited so patiently (6 months) for my return. She has an ingrown claw….ouch. But, isn’t complaining so far.

I just keep sighing, as I am so relieved to be home and still ‘intact’.

It’s stressful to be away so long. I learned how to make something, out of nothing. I think I possibly earned a PH.D in International Relations! Now if I can just make it work for NEXT time.

During the time I’ve been gone, they raised my rent, the Gulf turned black with oil, several friends became unemployed, and my nephew Roman, was shipped out to the Persian Gulf. Ok, so, let’s have a drink and go to the Fremont parade.

Do several things when I go out, not just ‘run to the bank’.

Do it all. Then stop driving. Save on oil.

Ok, call me.

I’ll try to come out and see you sometime soon.

Happy summer. There’s no place like home.

I am attending the Cabaret Conference July 23 in New Haven. Thinking of what I would like to achieve through it for 9 glorious days at Yale!   It’s been a whale of while since I’ve had any professional feedback on my ‘career’, I’m too busy doing it, not quite at the level I’d like to see myself. I need to make some new ‘moves’.

So a little tune-up is in order, a little refresher course. One of my other goals is to take Ballroom Dancing! I met someone here who was so good, and I think it would help me with rhythm and counting that is so important in music. I am really looking forward to my own return.

I find singing in India with a substitute  rhythm section, (the drummer and bass player were in a serious motorbike accident) very challenging.   The new bass player claims he plays ‘by ear’, yet he doesn’t hear the way the pianist plays the chords.  The drummer says he’s never played THIS kind of music before. What kind HAVE you played? I WILL SURVIVE, I SWEAR TO GOD! This gives a whole new meaning to the word, substitute. (I work part-time in the schools as a sub).  I think I will stop doing that myself…

I prefer to sing with a good accompanist. I am currently singing Joni Mitchels, A Case Of You. This is so rewarding to do. Interpretive ballads.

Sometimes I wonder if by calling myself a ‘jazz singer’ I’ve limited my expression. I  think I am a singer of any songs I resonate with.

My latest new odd song NEVER ON A SUNDAY seems to really fit the venue as well as the band. Well it worked for Nana! Indian people REALLY like this one!

Anyway! I am also exploring the whole concept of self- valuing as a performer. I listened to New Dimensions and I even took notes. (Hope I can find those notes again) ]

The author of this self help book being interviewed said, “ when people are trying to hire you for ‘less money’ than you know you’re worth, that’s the time to ask for even more!!!!” YES!

As an artist one tends to undersell oneself.  But once you wake up and really smell the coffee….like Howard Shultz of the Starbucks empire did, there is NO turning back. Does anyone out there relate?  Let’s twalk!

Hopefully one eventually gets smart about it. You know what they say,” Live and Learn, if you don’t learn, you don’t live too long!”

(Della Reese)

This job has really been a lesson in that. Especially since it’s such a long contract, 6 months!

terrible moment in show business. Very few people , who are not singers, can understand when enough is enough.

It’s hard to get rested up even though my whole day is free. There are always little fires to put out around here, dealing with laundry, (that dress USE to be a perfect fit, what happened in LAUNDRY?)  Working- out in the dark dungeon of a gym, with less than enough air to breathe,.  (but hey, it’s free!)

Finally, after 5 months I’m getting over ‘culture schlok’. Maybe because I know I’m going home! I’M GOING HOME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myk7N75Pnb0&feature=related

It’s a glamorous life living in a 5 Star hotel overlooking the swimming pool.  I can check out all the new guests before they show up in the lobby. See who drinks, who smokes, who laughs who jokes.  Who is with ‘someone’, who is alone, who knows how to swim…who’s willing to use the poolside shower covered in electric lights that go on at night, but during the day they’re “off” so no one has to be concerned about being electrocuted.   Famous last words!  “THEY’RE NOT PLUGGED IN” . That’s why I don’t fit in in India. I worry about stuff like that! I’ve got to let go and relax, I think.

I am stepping outside the box of ‘jazz singer’ and going more for the ‘entertainer’ and humor… (I enjoy falling back on that) AFTER ALL THE WORST EXPERIENCES MAKE THE BEST STORIES! (Quote from Dan Sherman, one of Seattle’s most observant personalities).

I was adlibbing about ‘it’s so hot here in Mumbai, that even the swimming pool is more like a hot tub. I was so hot, I had to  take off my swimming suit, that’s when management stepped in!” (ya had to be there!, in fact I wish YOU were).

Fortunately one of the ‘best drummers’ in Bombay has been coming by, and we’ve had a few friendly meetings, and borderline dating. He’s a bit irresponsible though when it comes to ‘time’.   I guess they call it ‘Indian Time’. Typical excuses in India are: ‘traffic, family parties’ sudden births, national holidays.

What can you say?? It’s funny, but I know how to be on time here, just take 2 hrs to get anywhere.

I let little drummer boy know that I didn’t want to make plans with him, IF there was a possibility of a birthday party happening in his extended family.

I told DB, I’d let him ‘make it up to me’ for being so late.  He did by taking me someplace I’ve never been before. (I like that in a feller!).

To a resort out of the city, early Sunday evening to watch the sunset.  (It’s basically too hot to do things in the daytime)  He has a car that he insists on driving, this is a rarity for most of the locals I’ve met. We could chat more freely.  Usually there is a driver who can or can’t understand, but it’s the presence of a third person that changes everything.

My ‘date’ is quite intelligent,(I think) and a great musician, and makes me laugh a lot.  Road rage is the norm, I noticed he would swear, and say F word at lot at drivers. At first I thought, it’s not my bizness to tell him to chill.  Isn’t a precursor to wife beating? I read that somewhere.

I said swearing is‘casting aspersions’! I wonder where I ever got that line??? (New Dimensions radio program?) I wanted to say: Focus on me darling, you’re haulin precious cargo!…. Crash

Then I tried to explain that peace starts with each individual…little things mean a lot…..I doubt if he understood a word I said. Ya know, quoting Ghandi and stuff….(I just noticed how strangely I speak when I’m kind of nervous!)

The resort was called, D’monicas in a small island town outside of Bombay called Manori Island. There is a ferry, but you can’t bring the car on it so it was a long drive to it.

We walked on the beach for a bit. It was nice, he seemed a little hesitant…”don’t wanna go that way….” So we sat and talked and listened to the sea. I haven’t done something like that since I met a local gigolo in Goa, friend of my driver, named Romeo. (Was that his real name? I’ll never know)

So, that’s how it goes. Then he took me back to my hotel, after getting lost several times. Overall it was fun!  He drove me up to the hotel entrance, screeching to a halt! (Was he trying to say something without words?)   (Was that necessary?)   A varied arsenal of  uniformed men are  always PATIENTLY WAITING:  Hotel cabbies; the  tall friendly man dressed in the (extremely warm) Rajistani costume, always a joyful smile and opening doors! (a saint); and of course the handsome security guards!   All  on guard. A waiting “Miss Julie’s  return’. It’s nice to know people care where you went and who you were with. One needs that sense of ‘someone is looking out for you’ here in lovely Bombay. It would be so easy to disappear here.

We shake hands, hmmm fleshy, and say goodnight…I had no idea if I should ‘invite him in??” Or what? Take him to my hotel room? Not Yet.

.

I’m helping the street dogs here, they just came back from getting sterilized. Ouch!

(I was responsible for that), I found out about an NGO that does that sort of thang!

I’m kind of nursing them by giving them lots of water and tidbits from my huge meals.(I love to feed the hungry animals and hungry people too!) But in India, one  has to be careful there are so many hungry ones. I’ve got 7 or 8 dogs, I focus on.   I buy Pedigree dry food for them, but they prefer my left over rotis and tidbits from my meals.

This early evening the 2 girl dogs, Elsee and Lulu are coming back, having had their ‘operation’. They may be a bit sore. It will be nice to see them all again.

Rocky, the macho boy dog freaked out when they got carried away by SAVE OUR STRAYS!  The Van guys couldn’t catch the 2 boy dogs.  They’re too clever!

“.No one’s takin my cahonies!”

I hope I’m not overdoing the involvement with the dogs, but  it feels like the right thing to help with. This will increase the quality of  their lives.  My heart goes out to these babies, so  vulnerable, nowhere to go, but the street. They just lie down and sleep on the warm pavement at night, and hide under a car during the day to avoid the extreme heat. If I bring a little ease into their hapless lives for a few months, so be it.

I am recruiting helpers to take my place when I’m gone also. Asking a singer at a hotel across the way, as well as some hotel workers. Mostly I’d love to see them be adopted, but no one seems to want a mature dog. Please remember, mature dogs and cats really need homes.

See you June 15^th 12:30 PM.

Looking forward to seeing you back in Seattle.

I’ll be doing a come back performance party on one of my favorite days of the year, French Independence day. Wednesday July 14^th in the Chapel.

At my car window in Mumbai, flowers for sale

Here I am in the Crystal Lounge at Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Bombay. This is the substitute band, and I now have a new rhythm section. Lenny Heridia on piano continues as a steadfast side kick. Julie Cascioppo sings WILD WOMEN DON’T WORRY.

View video on Facebook

I met another singer in town at a fabulous hotel called Taj Landsend. Anyway, the hotel I work at is a smaller boutique hotel, and not exactly on the grand scale of many other hotels in India. This makes it more ‘homey’ and familiar and almost the great big family I never had. In fact, it’s out by the airport.

Airport usually means a lot of planes flying overhead, but I mostly hear helicopters. When they fly over I ‘m usually hanging out by the pool in my Life Guard bathing suit. I wave to them, and then they come down real low, and I shout out to pool boy, ‘That’s my boyfriend!” Then i get on my cell phone and call someone and pretend I’m talking to ‘my boyfriend…” (An overactive imagination comes in very handy here.

This is a Business Hotel. That means businessmen. They seem to think anything goes at the hotel. At first when ‘guests’ asked, “What hotel room are you in?”, I thought it was out of curiosity regarding the ‘décor, or view’. I found out, they looked at my answering this innocent enough question as if it were a green light to ‘stop on by’ later.

I arrived in Bombay on Christmas Eve. I know God wouldn’t have booked me here if there wasn’t something I HAD to learn, and something God wants ME to do, and help with.

I’m getting to know the poor kids that are waiting for their parents, while the parents are busy working, digging up concrete, with what appears to be garden tools, in order to lay water pipes. You see these poor men and women, both working equally hard, doing back breaking bending and pounding of the cement with sticks and wooden bowls. Their children look on, obediently staying in a roped-off area, playing together with no toys, and happily running about within this small area. They likely don’t go to school, as parents have to pay for the privilege.

I had gone out to talk to a taxi driver at the taxi stand, to ask about fares and to say hello to the dogs. (My location is quite remote, I don’t get out much) and when I do, I’m gone all day. This is one tough city.

At first I did not think I would ever find my way around here. In Delhi I had horses and monkeys to play with…and expat lady friends and even a few Australians stopped over to travel the wild country together when I had a break between seasons.

The pay is ok, as I’m spending so much less here, and I’m getting several more perks — like one massage a week, and in-room dining — extra days off (built in). I’m glad I’ve got a gig, although I really miss Bali!

There’s another singer here at a huge hotel, very busy, and lively and near the sea. I’m conveniently located near the airport, so I can hop a flight to Goa or wherever I like, quite easily. Like I said: God puts you where you are for a reason!

I had some leftovers from last night’s dinner and today my new Indian friend Salil and I went walking out around the hotel area here, and found this little sweet trio underneath a truck. I brought out the goodies, wrapped in bread, and some cheese. They were so sweet and appreciative, catching it as I threw it, and wagging their tails. It was a happy moment for all of us.

Salil also works with abandonded designer dogs. The ones that are so cute as puppies and people buy them for their kids, and then no one knows what to do when the dog needs to be walked. I’m going with him to walk them someday. He’s a nice human being, and fills one of my criteria for a friend: Must be a compassionate animal lover.

I have the sweetest musical trio now, too. I call them the Juliettes. Adorable, loving, clean-living guys. I must remember to count my blessings. This could be a great opportunity for me.

I went out yesterday with my ‘driver’ to meet the Manager of the new Westin. He’s a good friend of a friend from Bali. He would like me to sing for the brunch crowd, which would happen in every one of his five restaurants. Do that many people go out to brunch?

Then I went shopping in the ‘Oberoi Mall’. It’s characterized as a fantastic high-tech mall, but was really uninteresting to me. It all seemed a bit tacky and artificial, and I never know how to find what I actually need. They need to get a Bartels here!

We’re really a bit dynamic for this somewhat conservative, Royal Palace of a hotel — but I’m getting a lot of work accomplished musically.