Animals are the bestest. So far on this trip, a female deer approached me and sniffed my hand, then in Canada we watched a hawk try to catch a black squirrel. While driving, I've seen a raccoon, a woodchuck, and I almost hit a snapping turtle on the freeway yesterday. I pulled off onto the shoulder and we got out to scare the poor thing down into the bushes. She was a huge mean old turtle....but cute. We took a midnight walk last night, and 2 inchworms decided to find themselves a cozy spot on Jon's hat. They were adorable.

I have a day off today, so I'm thinking about baking a rhubarb pie. We are back in Vermont after a bunch of Canada shows. Oh I almost forgot, we drove by Niagra Falls yesterday too! It was beautiful. Nature is so powerful. But it was a little cheesy because they had colored lights shining on the falls. It was very touristy.

I think I might write a song today...

Talk to you later,
Holly

Wow it's beautiful in Vermont! I don't think I've ever seen a place so green in the spring.

So far on this tour, we've played in Burlington, VT and somewhere in New Hampshire, and now we are in Montreal, Canada. I'm sitting in the dressing room waiting to do sound check. Duncan is amazing! This tour is going to be so much fun, I can tell already.

So guess what...I have over 20,000 myspace friends now! I never imagined I would have this many fans. You guys are the best, thank you for everything!

Oh, and we finally picked a focus song for my record, it's going to be "Giving It Up for You" so please check it out! You may think I wrote this song about a person, but it's not true. I wrote it about my career in music, which has always been my #1 priority over all things, including school and boyfriends. Sometimes it's hard to say no to things, but when you're as passionate about something as much as I am about music, it makes it a lot easier to skip a party and go write a song instead! The great thing about music is that people can relate to songs in their own ways. Have you ever compromised and given up one thing for something else?

Holly

Heyyyy friends...

Lately I've been on the road, so internet access has been scarce. Tonight I am in Phoenix, AZ because I had a show opening for Josh Kelley and Joe Firstman. OMG my album comes out TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to be in the airplane on my way to Burlington, VT, but I'll try to pick one up at Best Buy as soon as I get there.

I have so much gossip to tell you. You probably already know that I got to play "Where'd You Go" on Jay Leno. I had a great time. It was sooooo cold in there though! During the sound check, I played "Curious" for a small audience...that was fun.

Oh! I have a funny story! On Thursday, I played a show at the Roxy in Los Angeles. I saw some very familiar fans there! But I didn't get to hang out after the show because I had to catch a plane to NYC. A red eye. Guess who was on my flight....John Kerry, the guy who went up against President Bush in the last election. I thought it was weird he didn't get a charter jet or something. Anyway, I slept 2 hours only that night, and when I arrived, I decided to go introduce myself to John Kerry. I gave him my CD. He was really nice and actually seemed interested in what I had to say. Then, I had to go straight to a photo shoot with Teen People! So, did that till 4, and then went right back to the airport. Yes NYC and back in less than 24 hours! Crazy! I'm still trying to catch up on sleep...but thought I'd write a quick blog before I go to bed. Peace!

Holly

HeeeeeeeeeEEEYYYYYYY People!!!!!!!! OMG can you believe my album will be out in just a few days??? I thought it would never happen.

Not only will my album be out June 6th, but also you will also be able to hear live-in-studio recordings of 4 of my songs at www.connect.com. What is it? Well, a few weeks ago I went into a studio at Sony and recorded "Curious," "Saturdays," "All I Want" (Joni Mitchell) and "What I Wouldn't Give." I showed up with Jon Ingoldsby, who played guitar on WIWG, and Cameron Stone, my all time favorite cellist. Three of the recordings you will hear at www.connect.com were done in the first take!!! "Saturdays" I had to do twice because I fucked up. But I am honored to be the featured Sony Connect artist for the month of June. Please check it out!

Holly

Okee dokee.

James Paterson's book "Maximum Ride" and if you are into adventures, GET THIS BOOK! It really takes you for a ride, no pun intended. Yes, it's for young adults, but I think older people will also lose themselves in it. There were a lot of strange parallels between it and things in my life, helping to see the world in a different way. It's a very fast read, and I usually hate reading but I couldn't put this one down. So simple, yet so poignant.

So, I've been thinking about my next album. I can't wait to start working on it. I have so many songs written already, and so many production ideas. And, I have artwork ideas, including album cover and website. Of course, I can't tell you my ideas, as that would ruin the surprise. But my brain never stops. It's like a creative machine that never runs out of fuel. Sometimes it's frustrating. Actually, most of the time it is. I get so anxious when I have an idea but don't have the time, money, or means to execute it. Other times I can't fall asleep because I'm designing my dream house, or clothes.

One day I want to open a boutique. I will make the clothes by hand. And I want to be a pilot. And an air traffic controller. I want to put out a record every year. By this time next year, I want to have another 10-15 songs out. I also want to write a book. And a musical or an opera (which is already started). Hopefully I'll be touring nonstop until late fall, then back to the studio. Oh, it's raining. YES!!! I love rain. I want to grow a garden with pretty flowers and garlic.
Well I don't want much, do I.

But mostly, I want to somehow help everyone I meet, and the rest of the world. I guess the best way I can do that is by doing what comes so naturally....making music. Music can be so many things to people. Emotional release, medicine, cocaine, strength, comfort, and hope.

Holly

To all my friends and fans:

I am soooooo excited about what's been going on lately. As you know we got to perform on TRL over a week ago, thanks to your hard voting work!!! It was really a fun experience...hopefully I'll get to do it again someday. Damien was a sweetheart, and the makeup artist gave me a free MAC mascara...ha ha that was great. And now we get to do Leno on the 24th!!! That's crazy I love that guy.

Also, we are really starting to focus on the release of my own record, which will be out June 6th! That was D-day in 1944!! And you know what else that means... 6-6-06... scary. Oooh and I'm putting a band together for touring, and there is talk of shooting a music video (I'm not telling which song yet though, maybe you can guess).

Anyway, I encourage you to keep voting for us on TRL and anywhere else, as it will be a very helpful not only to Fort Minor, but also to my record. Thanks again! You guys are the bestistististististist.

Holly

Friday, April 27, 2006

If you are wondering where I get my inspiration for songs, this is a really good example of something that gets my juices flowing:

The other day, I got a flyer in my windshield wipers. I didn't read it, I just grabbed it and threw it in my car. I found it again tonight as I was looking for something else. It got my attention this time. It said "Please stop the mass killing of Falun Gong practitioners for illegal organ harvesting." After reading the whole article, all I could say was "If this is all true, then what the hell are we doing in Iraq?" This may be our country's chance to really do a good thing and stop genocide. It's like the holocaust all over again...we can do something about it. But why won't we? Because Bush is a pansy. We do too much business with China and it would be an economical disaster. I just wish people in this world would be more honorable. Why does it all have to be run by money? I wish I could start an army to go over there and bust the camps and save the lives of the innocent.

For a series of reports on the Sujiatun death camp, please visit: http://www.theepochtimes.com/211,111,,1.html

And just to lighten things up a bit, I thought I'd let you know about all the other sad things that have happened lately. Yesterday the famous test pilot Scott Crossfield crashed his little cessna. He was the first guy to break mach 2. Then today, my childhood cat, Sandy died. My Dad e-mailed me to tell me. His letter cracked me up though....

"We had plans to take her to the vet on Saturday to be euthanized, but she stopped drinking even water about 3 days ago and then she went pretty fast.

The weird things were that 3 or 4 nights ago I dreamed that I picked Sandy up and she broke in half. Then I saw just her 2 front legs, chest, and head walking toward me without her body. Then, last night I dreamed that she died and I put her in a bag in a van to go bury her. But she wasn't really dead. When I heard something and looked in the van, her head broke through the bag and she meowed and then she morphed into a composite of you 2 girls. But all that was there was most of a head and part of a torso. One eye was hanging out, and I popped it back in.

Then I woke up with the radio alarm and went out to find Sandy lying dead by my easy chair. I thought she might die in the night because she was lying on her side and couldn't get up when I went to bed at 10 pm. I stroked her and sang her a song and then said goodbye. I heard a weak meow about 5 minutes later as I went to bed and nothing more all night. There could've been nights before that she had sort of moaned off and on most of the night. So, now she is in kitty heaven."

Other than all that, I had a great little gig tonight in Ventura. But I hit my lip on the mic and it started bleeding. Also, it's really exciting that "Where'd You Go" is doing so well, though I don't have TV so I haven't seen it on TRL, sadly. And I'm starting to put a band together so hopefully in the near future my shows will sound more like the record! I have had so much fun doing all the music acoustically, but I think it's time for a change.

Damn, I'm sorry this journal is so depressing. Hopefully it will be more cheerful next time. Love you all.... Holly

Has anyone seen the Sunday LA Times? I got 2 copies today...its such
cute picture of my cat, Uma! Anyway, go buy it if you can. It's a
cool article.

Today I am sitting up here at Great Western Soaring School enjoying
the great weather, watching the gliders take off and land, and
working on my computer. It's nice to have a day that I am not on a
schedule for once.

Sorry I haven't written in my journal in a while. As you know, I
went to Australia with FM which was a wonderful trip. I had some of
the best Guiness in Sydney I have ever had. The shows were lots of
fun, and I even got to see my sister in Brisbane because she is
currently traveling the world and just happened to be there at the
same time!! Also, after the last show we had a party for Cheapshot's
birthday....and I have to say, my boobs sure were a hit! The
balloons I mean, of course. When I got back I did a bunch of my own
shows up and down the West Coast. More and more fans show up each
time I play that run, so thanks for that!

We got some great news about "Where'd You Go" this past week...it was
the #1 most added to Top 40 radio stations! It will be so weird to
hear my own voice on the radio. So everyone listen for it! I'm
really happy with the way the video came out as well. Another great
piece of news was that my 5 song sampler got up to #42 on iTunes' top
album downloads!!!!!

Hmmmm......anything else? Well to make a long story short, my album
artwork is just about finished, my new website is being worked on,
I'm demoing up a lot of new music on my off days, I'm looking for a
new place to live, and we are starting to plan my record release
party. All good stuff.

Hope to meet ya'll at my shows soon!

Holly

I'm back in LA! It's so weird to be home...I don't feel like myself. I miss the tour so much! It was just one big party. I'm really looking forward to the show in San Francisco on Tuesday the 21st. It's sold out already and it's going to be great to see my new family again.
My cat missed me so bad! When I got home she was like pissed at me for leaving her for so long... but she forgave me and now won't stop purring when I touch her. I wish people were as forgiving as kitties.

Yesterday and today I went shopping. I needed it. Shopping is like therapy to me. I bought lots of new clothes, jewelry, a new turntable, and 3 CDs - Beth Orton, Death Cab for Cutie and Fiona Apple. Know what's funny? I was in Best Buy and just browsing through the CD's trying to figure out what to get, and there in front of my face was Linkin Park's "Reanimation" and I suddenly realized that I have never heard it. But I didn't buy it because I'm hoping I can get one for free! ;-)

My SkyTeam website is almost up and running, so if you are interested be sure to look out for the launch of it.

Can I just say that I am so excited about putting my record out, and I really need to get some more touring set up. But, I'm also ready to start recording again. I have so many new songs that only I have heard! By the way, that reminds me please check out my song "Giving it Up for You" and let me know what you think!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo

Because my song "What I Wouldn't Give" is going to be on the show RELATED, I decided I should let you know a little bit about the song and what it's about.
This is a song that was written about 2 years ago in my house in Wisconsin. It was one of the first songs that Jon Ingoldsby and I wrote together, and the only song that my sister Tiffany contributed to on my album. At the time, I was going through a lot. I had just started traveling back and forth between WI and LA, which was hard in itself because I was leaving friends and family for months at a time to pursue my career. But also, I was very naive and was getting sucked up into a lot of bullshit in Los Angeles. For example, I was working with a guy who was like a placeholder for a manager, but he was very mentally abusive and manipulative. I was also living in a house with an alcoholic who would bring home prostitutes and offer me cocaine. I'd go up to the kitchen for breakfast and there would be a leftover line from the night before. I knew I was in a bad situation, but I thought that it was something I'd have to go through in order to get where I wanted to be. The lyric "What I wouldn't give just to forget, so I can remember how to live again" means that part of me really just wanted to forget what I was doing, go home to WI and have fun and live life with the people who loved me. But I knew that would also ruin my career. So, after some time I managed to find a way to also live happily in LA. I didn't think it was possible at first.
I think it's great that they chose this song for their TV show because, as far as I hear, the story is about relationships between sisters, and not only was my sister one of the writers on this song, but she is also my best friend and I miss her very much now that I live so far away. But we do make it a point to visit each other often. I hope you enjoy the song!