Thanks to Facebook and Twitter for that eh? Consuming us in our own micro blogs full of information that seems to be made just for us!…. and we can thank Google for that and all the ad’s that pop up just for you,  about you. Makes me feel a little creepy to be honest, yet I’ve grown up in the light of this new technology…but still remember land lines, visiting friends, playing records ‘WHO KNEW?’ 

  Taking things to a whole new level, my husband and I are moving over the summer and this has been an exciting and crazy journey. The last time we moved was over 10 years ago. We raised the kids in this house and entertained our families and grand children, the kids new lives, graduations and so much more. It has been a hell of a journey!  So we’ve been searching for a new home and WOW!!!!! Things have certainly changed.  I’ve been with  my husband 16 years, so it’s almost like culture shock to comb ads for a good fit between house, neighborhood and us.   Me being a musician/artist…well I have a whole different concept of places to live.  In the 11 years we’ve been in this house, I’ve been used to having a lot of room to roam, big open windows and a rather large yard ( I prefer small yards…or if it’s a bigger yard, trees are nice ) I like to imagine various potted plants on my front steps and patio. I like to think if my cat happens to roam a little bit, that it won’t scare the toes off his crazy feet! I’m not fond of close neighbors, I like space, I’m loud and so is my husband. Between his X box, my music, and our love of music…it can get loud here.  Close neighbors would kind of kill that ‘open vibe’  So, what’s cool? CORNER Lots that have NO houses across the street. Yep.  I have a CD to finish, which is getting more and more difficult to finish, due to the process of constantly searching properties for that ideal area  my time is spread out thin and when I can finally relax… my head is spinning on ideas of what the inside of these houses look like, what does the floor feel like, how long before I get used to all the new noises, was it haunted? (some places look rather old and beautiful…makes you wonder)…I like to dream. So I do.

  I want to thank those that donated to the making of this new CD. I finally set up an account with CD BABY but have not put anything up yet.  Right when I’m about to get close to my goal, the whole moving trend renders me to the edge of pinching everything, because everything goes to something, and it’s been a challenge in more than just the ‘music and art’……I’ve gone back to my single days, living on very little, and have suddenly started creating dishes out of pretty much anything.  I scan the kitchen in my mind for awhile, going through everything and putting things together until finally I run through the house like my azz is on fire to the kitchen to make some strange concoction of a meal.  Last night was left over lamb chop, and broccoli and sweet potato fries. Not that it’s odd, but I’m surprised that one little lamb chop lasted me 3 days of leftovers with rices, or with fried potatos…..and not expensive at all! I’m almost willing to live off rice and beans in order to pinch what we can.  Not sure if that’s such a great idea, but I could do it!!! haaa

  So thankfully they allow pets in most of the places we’ve looked…and I’m just a mess about how they’ll take the whole moving thing, but that’s just me…I worry more about how they’re going to be, than I do about myself haaaaa.  They’ll be fine, I know…SKETCHED OUT and TWITCHY but fine.   

  I”m still working on various art and have started the JUEL TONES page on FB for my art…I”d sure love it if you’d visit and give it a peek and a like. I often post my  new art there first.  The stuff that people groove on I’ll usually post on my Esty Shop page

Thanks for all of your support in my  new journey…the CD will go up on CD baby when finished and the delay will be well worth it. Keep moving me around in your world and sharing and I’ll do the same for you any time I get the chance!

I’ll keep you posted….usually through facebook, just because it’s quick or Twitter….

Peace n Love n StarZ

-Suzen

 So here is a bit of an update…A few months before Thanksgiving, my grandmother became quite ill and I spent a week or so visiting and doing what I could to help my folks out with her needs, as she had gone to live with my parents during her final days. She also was dx with Lymphoma Cancer a very aggressive form of it and it took her very quick. She passed on ChristmaS eve….she sure knew how to leave this planet in Style and is now smiling in a world where she can be with her Love, my Papa Jule. She went very peacefully in her sleep.

 After that I’ve lost two other friends, in the music world and have been faced with that whole ‘we’re not getting any younger’ thing that happens at a certain age. A wonderful Journey life is, but as we hit our mid life, we certainly become more aware that we don’t live forever, and sometimes the things we did when we were younger, have a funny way of catching up with us as we reach mid life…..a lot if it is quite lovely and a much needed challenge, and some of it, is rather overwhelming when we find we must let go of so much in order to be happier.

 I saw this saying that made me laugh and it also struck me as SO TRUE.     “I am going thru a lot of changes right now, and if you don’t hear from me….You’re one of them” ….. I’ve let go of quite a few ‘toxic’ people in my life.  When I was younger,  I guess it never bothered me much to have toxic people around, because I also have so many wonderful Nourishing friends as well. Often when we are younger, we live with the ‘better to have a few toxic people than no one at all’ kind of thinking……..Now there is NO way I can handle that type of person in my life…..so slowly I have come to accept that life without these people, is sooooo much more free, so much more open…and of course, it has made a wonderful space in my soul, for some very special people that have ‘moved into my heart’…..I believe everything is for a reason…and I certainly don’t have to know what it is, but I do know and am witness to every day in my life, that the reasons are always good.  So 2012 is the year of ‘My way or the freeway’ and I prefer the back roads, the quieter paths, the space to move around at my own free will instead of being  burdened down by toxic personalities.   Granted, people come and go our WHOLE Lives, and rightfully so, all with good reason.  I spend my time feeling out the universe and trust that all my needs will always be met, and have found this to be very true…..and all I’ve asked for, I have been presented with…..of course not quite how I expected, but I LOVE the challenge of Mother Nature, the Challenge life presents us to change, to grow, to expand our comfort zone, to feel out things we’re not familiar with, because to stay in the same world without exploring things that can cause a lil Growing pains….is no life for me…..I expect to be challenged with radical ways to only broaden and strengthen my own world.   .          .  Having Lost the people in my life that have greatly impacted my own life, is not waste of time, it has been a sweet blessing to have known the people they were, here on this earth…and their soul, remains in tact with the Web of the Universe……and for those I have chosen to no longer include in my daily life, they have their own challenges too and my  best hope is for them to find a sweet peace within and to also expand and challenge themselves to always be strong and compassionate, to listen to what the world says.   When we spend ALL our tiime focusing on ourselves …we forget what the Wind sounds like, when it touches the leaves and plays with the grass, when the rain hits the ground and nourishes all we have planted in our lives……  L i f e is quite full of magic, when you take the time to listen to it.

 I’m finally getting back into Second Life and doing Live Shows again, but the grid is KiLLiNG my experience with all kinds of lag and other issues. From listening to others involved in SL, this seems to be an issue that I”m certain wiill resolve itself soon….and prob. come back from time to time.    The LiViNG RooM #13 is now merging with MOONACY where the SongWriters Sessions will grab hold of the grid in a few weeks……aka “Naked AcoustiC Sessions’ and we’ll be scouting out the artists of Original and Live Music…along with IndieSpectruM Radio….. I”m looking forward to yet another Wonderful Adventure in  Music.

The songwriting did a major BLOW out in a short period of time, meaning something snapped in my head and I wrote quite a few new songs while learning some mind bending changes in chords, rhythm, and song writing tips from some very close friends as well as one of my fav. musicians from Back in the day  ”Willey Wisely” he had Much to offer in songwriting and again, it was a challenge that I had already been grabbing onto that just seemed to finally make sense to me.  Moving FOrward is my plan, not just for 2012 but for Life…it’s been in motion for years and I love how things just come together, when the time is right.

MUCH Peace to ALL of you and thanks for your patience with my Slow Brew of getting back into the swing of things…….May your new year be CHALLENGING in a Mind Blowing and Strengthening way

  Well .. last week, I gave the last two Kittens away to their new and wonderful owners….What a life they are having. I’m fortunate to be in touch with most of the new families, as some are friends…..or have become friends.  Now LuCi is about to have her second litter…and very likely her last, as it’s just not the healthiest thing for smaller cats to have too many litters….Being that she is Maiine Coon…she is still a kitten herself….One year old, with 3 more years of growing…as these cats tend to get a bit larger than the average house cat.  I’m anxious to see the new crew….which will likely enter this world in about 10 days or so……they’ll be ready for CHristmas and I’ll again be screening the ‘potential new homes’……I’m particular about this…as I made sure the last litter had Plenty of interaction, play time and so much love that I almost thought of them as my own little fluffy balls of love.

  My CD “DiRTY CRiMES” has almost been collecting dust. So many positive and wonderful changes have taken place in my life, that the Finishing of this  CD has been a bit of a challenge, not to mention funding which seems impossible considering I don’t do my own fundraising…although I have considered it!!!   I have had the Great Fortune of working on some heavier projects, like ELEPHANT GIRL with Jane Devin…which She FINALLY received funding for and she has big plans with her book, the song I wrote is part of it…….her story is incredible!!!  I’ve also done the vocals for Slim Girl Fats song ‘SUNRISE’ and we’re both very pleased at the outcome of that………You can listen and download for free http://soundcloud.com/slimmie/sunrise-feat-suzen-juel-free we hope you enjoy it as much as we have!!!!!

 My whole life has changed in the past several months….sometimes that’s why I can’t keep up on things, because so much has happened that I don’t even know where to begin talking about it, nor do I even think it’s relevant to my blog…..those that know me well, well………….they know me well, and there are very few, who truly know ‘me’.  I”m grateful for my close friends/family….without them, I sure would have stayed a big mess…..but when someone Turns your Lights on in life…as difficult as it is to see the mess before you, it’s awesome to see the  beautiful things you once overlooked…because of the darkness one can surround themselves with sometimes.   Sometimes people find it easier to stay in their darkness….it’s familiar…..but I’m finally taking off the ‘sunglasses’ because I’m finally used to this amazing light in my life…..and now, it’s comforting……and to be honest, I like the struggle of change…even though change is tough, hard and uncomfortable…….once it’s over, it’s pretty damn amazing to see this ‘new world’ before me.   Now I’m trying to be patient with the songwriting…as I’ve always been partial to the darkness of my chord in life…….finding the lighter side in life, has left me with new WORD Challenges and I’m anxious to see where this leads me…in my writing.  I must say….SUNRISE with SlimGirlFat has been a blessing…..a HAPPY SONG is nice too!!!

 I hope to KICK off OCTOBER with a new season of NAKED ACOUSTIC SESSIONS and have already been getting requests from musicians to be a part of this seasons Sessions……So I”ll be starting that as soon as I can sit down and find time to Log into Second LIfe……….summer was sweet and busy and chaotic and wonderful…….and with the cold bitter chill of Minnesota Winters….I”m ready to settle down for a few months and perhaps get into Second life, more regularly instead of for my regular scheduled shows.  I also have more gigs in the Metro (St. Paul and Minneapolis areas) which keeps me afloat and connected. THere are a few musicians I’ve been meeting locally that II find  Great Satisfaction in performing with.     …….

ENJOY your first day of AUTUMN and I’ll certainly try to keep you posted on new things……………For more regular posts….join my Facebook network ( Suzen JueL ) pretty easy to find….I also have a FB Fan page…with my same name…one is with a small l and one with a Capitol L……………………….PEaCE ON with your badaZZ self!!!!!

PS….. check out thestage.tv                     I’m a big fan of this website, however I am not on it as often as I once was, due to lots of projects happening here and now that don’t include sitting in front of my computer all day……there is just no way I have time to do that,  but on a good day, you can find some great Live Music with it’s Open Mic format and it’s a great way for musicians to expose their new stuff….jsut not a place I care to oversaturate anyone with my music…..being that I’m working on a new cd..the last thing I want to do is over saturate my dearest fans…..you all know where to find my music   STAY TUNED for the new cd….I am still uncertain of it’s release date, but as usual, when my Soul is ready to explode it out, you’ll know!! THANKS for all your support and Do feel free to donate what you can, to help me with expenses…….and believe me, there are expenses!!!!  ( there should be a donate or paypal button right on my website) Much peace and Much Love in all you do!!! – Suzen JueL

FUN FUN FUN…all the artists are ones I’ve loved hearing over many years (most I know personally) and it’s going to be a FUN Event….I’ll be filling a nice chunk of time up with WOODSTOCK style tunes…..LOVE those 70s acoustic mmmmmm yeah!!!

Most of you know, life is a STRANGE RIDE indeed and we all could use a Prize now and then, for our effort, time and of course to feed our families!! There is a $500 grand prize, and my goal of course, is to Entertain you and have a great time doing it, as I always do, and the prize is a nice bonus, for whoever wins it…me, or any of the other Talented People out there.

My fan group is not the biggest in the world, as most of you are not in Second life, but can always tune in and listen on my stream, on this page…. just push play…. the URL to hear ALL the performers is… http://listen.metaverseradio.com:8000  you may have to take off the :8000 part, not sure how that all works……… I will begin at 10AM PDT/SLT.  NOON CST. 1p EST…For my fans in the UK… 6pM, if you are in Germany, France, Spain it will be 7pm Your time……    Thanks SO much for all your support and if you want to kick this up a bit..Pass this info on

JueL Resistance in second life, it Has been added to Events so it’s easy to find, and if you are NOT in sl.. the streams are listed right here. MAIN THING is vote with love   .. friend me on my metatunes page and remember, this site is for both Second life and NON second life fans/musicians…..XO XO XO

I will likely not write much about this, because the process of change is ever evolving and every day there is a new challenge and a new perspective to see things from.  Transitions are prob. the hardest part of change, going from one way, to another,  becoming YOU again…and of course, there is always change and I believe it is something to be embraced, even if it’s a little prickly and hurts sometimes….it’s because embracing is accepting..and that has a way of changing us, letting us see ourselves in the mirror again, showing us we really are there.  And it hurts and it’s a relief and it’s change, and that is life.

On another note, I finished Elephant GirL for author Jane Devin feel free to take a listen, @janedevin on twitter, wanted me to put that up on Soundcloud before adding to her book Trailer “Elephant Girl”. I have been honored to be a part of this experience in her book, you’ll have to read her blog to read about the fantastic piece of word art, she has created!

Kitten news…they’re within a week of being ready to head off to their new homes. I still have two little girls with quirky crooked tails and multiple toes awaiting new homes….meanwhile they can remain with me and my original Luci and 7 Hemmingway… ‘meet the parents’  haaa!   I post lots of pictures of them, in their folder LuCi and 7 Hemmingway and of course, lots of the little ones, there are four total.  They grow fast..hardest part is litter box training, some go easy, some go next to it some go in a WHOLE NEW SPOT that you never would have thought of, like your pile of imp. papers that you carelessly tossed on the floor for a moment,  prob. while thinking of something else, that you never came in that room for to begin with…and the papers sit there, because you’ve forgotten you even grabbed them and…for what? Anyway, yep, there’s a brand new treat left by one of the furrr balls that have taken over my bedroom!  I like to focus on the photo opportunities these creatures give me, and the wonderful hair styles they make on my head while I’m sleeping…a nest of sorts, as if they have created a new home, in my hair…top of the pillow, perched up there like they get to have this whole bed….and oh, well  ’she’ can sleep here too I suppose! haaaa

After finally finishing Elephant Girl, I hope to continue on my CD that has been put on hold, for so many reasons……. A good theme is my title…..and it seems to finally be ready to shoot off in the direction of finding just the right songs to represent exactly what the CD means…. Dirty Crimes is going to be a tight set of songs that have found their ways into the changes, the creases, the paths in my life……I’m shooting for Oct, November……Maybe sooner…..we’ll see. There are many doors more to open and many more that will close and then there will be an entirely new color evolving in the constant string of words, that is my life.

The evening went on and we all gathered at a local pub, to jam with all the various musicians. SADLY I had forgotten my camera at home, or you would see MANY More pictures up here…..I did a duet with Dan who had an Astonishing voice, then we each did some solo….everyone did 2-3 songs, the rest of the time was spent in the back courtyard talking about the wonderful experiences we’ve all had with JazzyJ….. On JUNE 6th, my husband and I celebrated our 13 yr wedding anniversary AND our grandaughters One Year Birthday, and then later that evening as I was picking around on my guitar, I heard one howl from LuCi and then silence….less than an hour later, LuCi had given birth to 5 Wonderful Kittens!!!!

We lost #5, the runt, 5 days after he was born….I named them 1, 2 , 3 and 4…in the order of their wonderful and prob. scary entrance into my Closet Laundry Basket……Of course LuCi has moved them 2x since and they are currently under my bed…OF ALL PLACES!!!!!  They are growing SO fast and so BIG…all of them have the Multiple toes and of course, the Maine Coon/Bob cat traits….curly tails, bobbed tails and lots of toes……   A few days after they were born, the world lost another great soul, Drew Stein who was a victim of 9/11 and passed….adding to the number of 9/11 related deaths…you can see more on his Facebook page…… It’s been a truly crazy June with 5 birthdays, fathers days and graduations….as well as my Son and his family visiting before they take the big Move to GERMANY….my Son is in the Air Force…

I’ve been asked to write a song for a Powerful and Gripping story by Jane Devin called “Elephant GirL” her story line and words inspired me and to be honest, moved me quite a bit more than I had expected. This woman has a way with words that seem to wrap their fingers right around your soul and there is no doubt of the power of her warm grip….  “Janes Blog”……   Meanwhile I’ve been performing A LOT and have been fortunate enough to be released in a fantastic Press Release by ‘TheStage.TV’… PRESS RELEASE where I am mentioned, as some of you know, the spotlight player IS on my website….. you can check out ‘thestage.tv’ here…. there is Much talent on here and it all follows the theme of an Open Mic….it’s not NEW, but t’s just coming into it’s own, after a couple years. I find myself on there from time to time giving some new songs a test drive and keeping the old songs in a present form, trying to keep up with myself actually.    New songs in the works and ‘DiRTY CRiMES” and “iNDiGO ROAD” seem to be getting a nice dose of LOVE from my fans…you can check these and more out on my YouTube Page (SuzenJueL) all one word, and I would GLADLY put the link up, but I keep getting an error….so You might hve to just search

I hope all of you dear readers are having a fantastic summer.  My projects are piling up and I really should get the balls rollin’ on the freeway of thought here. Much peace to you ALL!  You can see some photos of my recent Performance at MENDO BERRI as well as the amazing kittens I’ve been trying to capture  FLICKR for Suzen

First video player that gives emerging original artists a simple way to engage fans through donations, online music sales and social media exposure…Use that link to read the full article. And to feature and try out their New Player, you’ll see me there!!!

As well as a few other musicians from TheStage.tv …. You can read the article when you have time, and find out more about how the Open MiC style website is  making a rather noteworthy Splash in the music scene.

In other news……I have finally put Ava to sleep, on June 3rd. We were fortunate enough to have a vet. that could come to our house….it was just Ava and i outside in the grass, where she favored being more than anything – besides the garden of course….could never keep her away from.  She passed away very quickly and very peacefully in the grass, head on my lap…watching birds while I sang ‘Ava jean, she’s my queen….’ she was gone.     3 days later, my grand daughter celebrated her First Birthday and my husband and I celebrated our 13th Anniversary, and Luci delivered 5 Kittens at 8:30 that evening.  June 6th is turning out to be one LuCky DaY!  Sad we lost Ava, and grateful for such a sweet series of events to follow.  5 days after Luci delivered, one of them didn’t make it…I called him #5, I believe he was the runt…… But the other 4 are doing quite well and sometimes get so fat from Mama LuCi’s great milk they can hardly move sometimes.

When You Get some time, please check out TheStage.TV and pass around the Press Release…good Karma and suCh!   Some of the things that are coming up in the near future is a collaboration for a book with Author Jane Devin on an upcoming book called “Elephant GirL” you can read some of the pre publishing reviews on her page. We’re both excited about this project, and I am truly honored that she asked me to do it…. This among another few platefuls of projects and things I need to finish, however writing songs and performing are things I am happy to spend my time on…many times it paves a beautiful path of experience, leading into even more spectacular dimensions….always excited to view peeks of the next things life may place or even hurdle in front of me….I just gotta keep my balance and I’ll be fine!!!

The Kittens are 9 days old today….I have posted an ongoing photo series of them on my flickr photo page warning, it is a bit of a CUTE OVERLOAD…I’m grateful LuCi lets me sneak in little photos of her Crew….

CD in process….new songs have been added almost weekly. This is a unique time for me and quite a load of lyrics have been waiting in piles and memory clips, moments and solitude have left their snapshots of words and I’ve been writing quite a bit….my main focus these next few days is to finish with some ideas of titles and CD art, and prepare the 2  Hour OriginaL OnLy set I will be doing at MendoBerri on June 25th…(hope you can come!!)  … Also a friend of mine Jazzy J of TwinCitiesRadio.net passed away on June 3rd….there will be a memorial for him tomorrow that I will likely be attending with friend/musician MJ Kroll who was especially close with Jazzy. He will be remembered for all his passion, love and outpouring of support for the Local Music scene as well as his role in Second Life Music as well!   ………………………………….. More to come…thanks for keeping up with my Slow Pace  - Suzen JueL

Adorable and loyal, dedicated and smart. An all around clever dog. She went on long runs with my husband, played with great affection for everyone. Usually outsmarted US on most occasions, learned quickly to sit, stay, come…what no means…never learned to quit begging though, she knew those Brilliant Green eyes would win us over every time.

When we moved into our home….in 2002, Ava explored her much larger space, ran through the woods with me, while I went to pick blackberries in the grove buried far back in the woods, she chased rabbits, sniffed the tracks of the red fox, the deer, turkey vultures and other critters that roam the forests near our home. Walked with giant prances and happy leaps every morning and afternoon with me…picked the carrots from our garden and circled around the yard with it like a trophy…she had to do this for at least 20 min before she actually ate it, and that in itself was just pure comedy.

The memories are just a pure flood for me, but

writing this is part of a healing process…not to mention some closure, for myself and perhaps also for all those who loved her in her long and crazy lifetime. I thought she’d live forever.  This, will be the first time that I’ll have to put a  very very loved pet, who has become a BiG part of our family, to sleep.  In these past few years…after having greeted all the kids, their friends, our family members, other pets, children, babies, strangers…..she has become old. Tumors and cysts, arthritis and recently has lost her hearing, and her appetite.  She has great difficulty going up and down the stairs, often fearing the fall. It’s almost daily now that she loses her footing half way up or down…she just sits there for a moment, then continues.  She still stands on the top of the stairs with her silly grin making her happy groans, every time any one of us, walks through the door, always eager to greet us, always completely satisfied once she gets a good rub on the head or sometimes a treat.  She’s never let anyone sleep alone, n ever cried and howled … even in her worst pain. Has survived a life threatening ‘BLOAT’ attack and after a 1500$ surgery, was pretty much back to her old self…..but a few years after her surgery, she started to slow down….and the masses of growth, started out as little lumps that grew into her side, effecting almost every thing she does, now…..it’s a struggle for her to breathe sometmes…..it’s just time. Sadly, it’s time.

So we always hope….maybe one day she’ll just be better, maybe she won’t hurt..maybe we should let her have her last summer….is it really Time???? REALLY????  That was our plan, to let her have her last summer, but the pain this is causing her, is starting to become a bit more obvious. She’s happy in the sun, in the grass, at my feet as I linger outside in the garden, sitting in the shade reading, she is right there…..But then she has to get up, and move and go up and down those stairs again…..and it pains her, I can see this just starting to overshadow her Joy in life.   I called the vet last week and talked it over….I went through Months of ‘thinking it over’….I have to prepare myself, I can’t just up and go like that…it’s a process, one that takes much thought, much consideration and No Selfishness….it’s not right to keep a pet in pain just because you’re not ready.  She has a few good days left in her….and within the week she will be gone, and there will be a sense of relief, for I have gone thru every single step of this over and over….and like my dad told me, when I was younger… “Sometimes the Right thing to do, is often the most difficult’  words I know are true, words I’ve assured myself with, many times in life. Once again, I know this.

And as she goes….I have visualzed

myself standing next to her, singing a song I’ve been singing to her since she was a puppy….. “Ava Jean, she’s my Queen, and she’s never ever mean” and she wags her tail….closes her eyes with her silly little grin….belly up to the sun and happy as she can be.