TOAL.

Trip of A Lifetime.

I go away for 2 weeks, perform to my heart's content for a great and diverse audience...only to realize that what I want to do is travel the world and spread positive music. What do I do with that dream as I sit at a cubicle for 9 hours 5 days a week?

I sigh.

I pray.

I dream.

I wait. patiently.

God has a plan that is now, slowly being revealed. Something is brewing within me...further. the same thing that brewed in me and resulted in a life changing move to Chicago. I don't know when I will be ready to go after my dream with both wings...but something tells me...soon...(but also) not too soon. I have yet to learn what it is I need to learn in the present situation that I am in. So until I yield to God's will and His instruction, I won't be going anywhere (that is, in a physical sense)...there is always the studio down the block which will let me go somewhere mentally and sometimes spiritually.

But until then, I will be paying bills and dreaming of the Spinnaker Lounge where I did my first gig ever with On The Fly and the Stardust Theater where I performed in 7 different productions. I will dream a dream that was once alive enough to whet my appetite for my REAL purpose....and will become alive again.

Wedding Fever

So...my best friend got married last week. And now I have wedding fever. Can't wait until the next one. Key things to great wedding weekends: get a wedding planner; have a bomb bridal party (bridesmaids and groom's men); have a joint bachelor and bachelorette party (some may agree to disagree); keep God first...

that's it.

the time of my life.

and it wasn't even my wedding.

"Professionalism"

Who wrote the rules on "professionalism"? Why does it have to be that an employee can't show emotions other than neutral and happy? Isn't it natural to have a bad day? Isn't it natural to want to cry? And whose fault is it when you leave the room quick enough to hide your tears? God made us fearfully, wonderfully, and uniquely. Some more emotional than others. Yes, there are the annoying drama queens, but by no means should the showing of an emotion be considered weak (let the disagreements begin!) I am an artist existing in this corporate setting. There are bound to differences in outlooks on professionalism when it comes to emotion. There are bound to be disagreements in perceptions of productivity, punctuality, effectiveness, organization, and just the whole concept of "professionalism". ugh. Sometimes my soul screams out from my cubicle for real life to rear its natural head within my bubble of "professionalism". Everyday, my destiny is reaffirmed when I walk into that bubble and for all the annoyance that it causes, me I am thankful for the reassurance. Music is not only the food of love. It is My life. My calling. My First Love. My Best Friend. And it all comes from God who is all that and more...

Whatever...Corporate America.

L-O-V-E

Having my bout with L-O-V-E right now. L-O-V-E, eh? yea..very interesting thing. It is the type of thing that can be there while there is STILL hot mess going on. In some instances, it can be good and be seen as unconditional love. In other instances, it is just crazy. I'm at the crazy point. But, I just wanted all of my readers to hear a very tried and true saying that I am not taking into consideration (and not just for me but for many that I see around me): "YOU CAN'T LOVE OTHERS IF YOU DON'T LOVE YOURSELF". It is plain and simple. Now, be careful. This issue can manifest itself in a variety of ways: jealousy, hurting others (both intentionally and unintentionally), cheating, abuse etc. My advice is, don't try to love someone else if you don't love yourself. It will save you from a lot of heart ache and pain. The FIRST lesson of the year 2009.

From this point, it is onward and upward.

Thanks for listening.

God Bless.

2009- Off To A Good Start

Wow. Happy 2009. This year has turned out to be great so far....our President is a God-fearing, Intelligent, and Humble Black Man. Couldn't ask for anything more. Well...yea...I had to ask God if our choir could sing at one of the Inaugural events...and God said....YES! We sang at the Inaugural Finance Committee Welcome Breakfast on Sunday, January 18th for the Financial Committee. You can see us on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MlCjgB1IBg). We rocked the house! Praise God! And we got to sing behind Bebe Winans, Carole King and Yolanda Adams. No one could ask for anything more.

Other than that, I am working on finishing my album. I am currently working on getting my demo tracks onto my myspace page, so you can see what I have been working on. Be patient. I am also working full time and doing other random things! There is never a dull moment.

A NEW SEASON.

NOW. I had the good pleasure of being in Grant Park when history was made. Let me lay out the night for you in a few quick sentences as I know some of you may be tired of hearing about it (NOT I!)...so, I live in downtown Chicago and after work, there was a hum of hope and anticipation over chicago. As I walked to Grant Park, it was around 70 degrees, there were thousands of hopeful people making their way to bars, parties, different parts of Grant park, big screens everywhere so that travelers wouldn't miss out on any updates, the flashing lights from the stage that had Barack's name all over it were in the background as people moved like ants on a mission (I am speaking from the perspective of not being in the main part of Grant Park). Once I got to my standing spot, I actually thanked God that I wasn't in the main part because it would have been more crowded. Where I was had a great personal space room and a great view of the big screen. Hallelujah.

We all know that the moment CNN displayed a "BREAKING NEWS!!!!!.....BARACK OBAMA IS ELECTED PRESIDENT", the crowd went wild. Some laughed, others clapped, others smiled, still others reflected, and other yelled and screamed. Then came the "YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!" chant and we were off. The whole world at that point was trying to call home which meant no one could get through on their phone lines, but nonetheless, we had each other to celebrate with. Perfect strangers came together like old friends and everyone beamed. We just beamed with pride.

I have to give it to McCain, he made a pretty decent concession speech. And as Obama took the stage, chills came over my body and we all cheered. There are no words that can encapsulate his extreme humility and accomplishment in that one moment. THEN (and this is secretly, my favorite part!) his family came out. God only knows how to create such a PULCHRITUDINOUS family ( I had to use that word...it's my favorite word).

NOW. Michelle Obama is a whole different story. Especially for me, as a young African-American woman. Her beauty radiates in so many directions that one doesn't know what to do with oneself. All I have to say about her is: the next day, I put on my best work clothes, put on my stilletos, put on my make up and walked into work representing myself in such a proud and confident manner that I thought I didn't have in me. She helped to bring it out of me (judge me if you will, but everyone gets their inspiration from somewhere/someone). A friend told me that NOW black women are vogue because of her.

Well, I mean...have you looked at her lately? With that unique, everyday beauty that is not glorified much..with her real woman figure (real women definitely have curves), her beautiful Michelle Obama smile with it's hint of crookedness (very slight)....all of that makes such a beautiful role model for all of us.
NOW. Because of Michelle, GBKs and the like can look up, be encourage, and aspire.

NOW. Because of Barack, black men have a chance to enhance their image which has been misunderstood (by both blacks and non blacks). Yes, beautiful black men, YOU CAN DO IT! whatever it is...

NOW. Because of Barack and Michelle, Black MARRIAGE and BLACK LOVE can begin to move to higher heights in from the outside perception (others looking in) as well as the inside perception (us looking at ourselves and determining what it should be like).

NOW. Because of the Obamas. Black family can begin to move to higher heights as well. MAN Oh MAN. Nothing can stop a strong, positive, God fearing Black family. Nothing.

Whew...I am going to come off of my soap box because I have a tuna casserole to check, but all of this rambling to say: IT IS INDEED A NEW DAY. In soooooo many respects. I haven't even scratched the surface in this blog.

TO everyone out there, like Esther in the Bible, why wouldn't Barack step into office during such a time as this?

With GOD, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

And MOM, I know you see this from where you are. YOUR EFFORTS have NOT been in vain. You were there before Michelle Obama, teaching me how a black woman should conduct herself and her business. I love you and miss you as always. MY heart will never stop bleeding for you, but TODAY is also a new day. And I am seeing the hope that you have given me, rise up in me again.

Much love.

NY! NY!

I had a blast this past weekend.

I went to NY with my Gospel Choir and we visited a church in Harlem, 2 schools, a Jewish Community Center, and Lincoln Center was the last stop. Amen.

I had a great time debuting my demo songs at Jazz@ Lincoln Center! Now onto finishing my album!

My choir is dolng big things. big things. If only you could see us. Well...I guess you can...
go to Waltcunningham.net and there will be a list of our performance appearances.

Our goal is sing music of hope, faith, and inspiration. Plain and simple. Plain and simple.

I realize that my blogs have become less catchy and I apologize for that...I'll hit you up with better posts soon.

But in the meantime, go to Waltcunningham.net!!!! :0)