After my hiatus...

Sorry guys... I put too much on my plate in January. I went through some "writer's issues" but other than that, no excuse for not continuing. I am working on more stuff, but hopefully this will get you all started...

So we got back from Belize right after Christmas and went right into resuming my duties as a bridesmaid for Jill. The second wedding was beautiful! I love winter weddings; deep, rich colors are my favorites and Jill decided violet was great for winter. She was right.
They didn't get much of a honeymoon, though, because our press tour started January 14. We went from radio station to television sets and even an appearance on Good Morning America and Craig Furgeson (FUNNY dude!). For a month, we went to various media outlets and interviewed, interviewed, interviewed. Mostly the same questions, and I didn't realize how tough it is to dodge relationship questions. Shane laughed at me when he saw the first tv interview we did for FUSE- the VJ asked me if I was dating someone and I blushed and stuttered (typical Evie, not so good for Evangeline) before mumbling something about not wanting paparazzi to take interest in me or something like that. He and Ty ganged up on me and called me a bad info hider. Sheesh.

The press tour was over mid February, and we started attempting to plan our actual tour. Who knew finding a decent headliner was so much work? It took us two months to get another band where we fit in and felt comfortable- we ended up going with Tunnels to Holland, a New Jersey band. They're nice guys. Our kick off is in New York, at a small venue in Manhattan, in July.

Mom finally started to see the good in Shane, and by the time he left the morning after our "disagreement" she hugged him. BIG step for her. She told me on the plane that she could see why I was drawn to him and that as long as he treated me good and respected me, she would learn to let things go and let me have my boyfriend in peace. Dad, on the other hand, just doesn't like me having a rock star boyfriend and won't get over it. He didn't say much to me after my tantrum. I called him when we got back and I was unpacked (SSG I guess had vacation... he wasn't there at all. Hm). We talked for a while, but he was still a little put off by my outburst and was short. I tried to call him out on it, but all he said was "It's your life, Evie." Thanks, Dad. I still haven't figured out what to do about that situation, and it's been months. I've visited with him since then, but most of the conversation is between me and Angie, which is odd by itself. She's never been a fan of mine and I just tried to stay out of her way while I lived there. It was a long adolescence.

So, that's pretty much it. Hopefully I will have something to actually write about soon.

Beginning with Belize...

Hi, all. I certainly hope everyone's holidays went smoothly. There is so much to catch up on! Oh, where to start...

Ok, we'll begin with Belize. Can I just say ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL? White sandy beaches, warm sunshine, palm trees swaying in the breeze... We arrived on December 16th, all on the same flight- My mother, Eric, Carrie, my father, Angie (my stepmother), and I. We had an early flight, so even after checking in the hotel, unpacking, and resting, we still had almost an entire afternoon to spend at the pool, which made Eric very happy. He loves putting on his floaties and splashing around in the cool water. Carrie and Mom let Eric chase them around the pool for a while, then he wanted to sit in the jacuzzi- another guest turned on the jets- to play with the bubbles. He was having a blast! Seeing delight on his face gives me so much joy... to have his view on the world is an innocence I covet.

We spent the vacation on the beach, in the shops along their boardwalk, and gorging ourselves on delicious food and laid back lifestyle. Shane arrived on the 21st, and stayed 3 whole days. Both my parents have reservations about him because of his lifestyle and they don't like anyone I date. I was so irritated with my dad's backhanded comments and my mom's coldness. Shane was civil to them, but I could see (and hear when we were in our room) his frustration. So I confronted my parents the last morning Shane was there. Separately. I made my dad get out of laying in the bed (he'd taken to skipping meals while Shane was there- he missed breakfast that morning), and our conversation went something like this:
"Dad, what is the matter with you? You have no right to treat Shane this way. He is a part of my life, and you WILL be civil to him. Got it?"
Then, I turned and stalked out of his room before he could say anything and headed down the hall to Mom's room. That conversation went something like this:
"Mom, what the hell? You have no right to treat Shane that way. He is a part of my life, and you WILL be civil to him. Got it?"
Then I turned to stomp out of her room too. But she wasn't as easy. She said "Stop right there, young lady. I am still your mother, and you're not talking to me that way. You know I have concerns about him. You know what they are, and you also know how I deal with things. I thought I was being civil by keeping my mouth shut. I'll work on it, but you owe me an apology."
I was already feeling irritable for the shut out she gave Shane that morning at breakfast, and not at all apologetic. So I stood there and stared at her. Glared, really. Finally, I took a deep breath and coldly told her. "Fine, Mom. I apologize for talking to you like that." and left the room.

Shane and I would not be deterred, though. We were determined to enjoy our last day, with or without my parents. We rented jet skis and chased each other around the soothing blue waters all morning, and docked at a small seaside local bar for lunch.
"Evie," he started to say after we'd ordered, "I appreciate you standing up to your parents. But regardless of where you are, it is still Christmas, and I do not want to cause a fight between you and your family," he waved me off as I started to interrupt, and continued, "I don't want to be a sore point. I really like you, and I enjoy our time, but I can see how close you are to them, and I know this is bothering you. When we finish eating, I want you to go back to the hotel and at least try to have a nice afternoon with them, ok?" I looked in his eyes, and saw concern mixed with determination. He wouldn't have it any other way.

I wish my parents could have seen him. They'd have changed their minds quickly, and (well, Mom, at least) would have fallen for him immediately. I did- all over again.

Guess What?

Hi guys, sorry for the long delay... life is funny when you least expect it. I've noticed that all bloggers take hiatus at some point... this was mine. I am pleased to announce, however, that I am back, and (hopefully) better than ever :)
I've started the new post, and over the next couple of weeks I will be catching everyone up on Evie's story from the last post. I will be attempting two posts until it's in real time, on Mondays and Fridays, k? Once it's current I will be posting either Monday evenings or Friday evenings, I'll take a poll and see which you prefer.
So basically, check in on Monday evening and there will be a new post.
Thanks again for being patient with me...

Uh- oh

I want to thank everyone who has been reading and acknowledge the incredible patience you all have shown me with the inconsistency of the posts. I am sorry to say, though, that I will be taking a hiatus until things calm down. . . I am dealing with some personal problems right now, and I don't think I can show the story the time and effort it deserves. Thank you for reading and all of the helpful and encouraging comments. Hopefully, I will be back mid- January, so don't forget me!

Reflection

Thanksgiving went without a hitch. All the food was good and the conversation was . . . well, what can I say? It was Thanksgiving, a time to share with family. Unfortunately, some of my family wasn't as happy for my new career and me as I would have hoped. Both Grandmas, for example, don't like the fact that it looks as though I don't have a job and just spend my days laying around and doing nothing. My dad's mom- Nana- said I've become a bum. I guess no one actually realizes how much time was spent making the album and editing it. Two months I spend in the studio, living, eating, and sleeping there like it was my new home. I realize I don't talk so much about the time I spend in the studio, even after the album was recorded, so I guess it does sort of seem easy. But believe me, it was anything but easy. In two months, Ty, Max, and I poured our blood, sweat, and tears from the last four years into this record. We wrote new songs, tweaked melody and beat, ripped apart our own work . . . it was sometimes like ripping out our own souls. So many things were fought for, or against, both among each other and with the record company. Truth be told, I feel like if Ty hadn't been part of the editing, we would have ended up sounding like Michelle Branch. Don't get me wrong, she's a great writer, but entirely too "Pop" for our direction. If UnRequited were an XM radio station, we'd be in the "Dark Rock" section- with Evanescence, Breaking Benjamin, etc. I don't want to sing pop, and I hate the idea that we could have ended up like that. I'd rather stay true to my writing and be unsigned than sell out and have a major deal, you know? Our sound is moody and anxious, trimmed with silver lining- Shane said that to me once, after seeing some new material that I was working on. Anyway, try telling that to a 62-year-old woman who listens to talk radio. Or, if you're really up for a challenge, try explaining it to a 62 year old woman who listens to talk radio, then a 67-year-old woman who's idea of good music is the classic gospel station- both of whom don't believe they could ever misinterpret something. HA! I felt assuaged at both houses, and even though the rest of my family is happy for me, the only one at either house who supported me was my present parent. I felt- still feel- like I've lost the respect of my entire family, and it hurts so much I can't explain it. No one has called to attempt to talk to me since I got the deal, something I would have noticed if I'd had my head out of my ass long enough. Suddenly, I feel so lonely. Even with Shane at my side, and Ty trying to salvage our friendship, without my family, I'm no one. Wow. Could I be more self-involved? Moving on, Belize is set. Mom, Eric, Carrie, Dad, Angie, and me leave the 16th for Tropicana Cabana. We will be there 10 days. It's what I was hoping for- just the family and me. I've started considering Carrie as family, too, since she's with Eric so much it's strange when I don't see her. Sun, drinks with little umbrellas, palm trees instead of pine trees, and warm sand fill my thoughts of Christmas this year. Oh, and Shane's coming for three days while he's got a break in shows. I'm so excited! Nervous that he's meeting my family, but excited that I get to spend time with him. Max and Jillian's "engagement" party was lots of fun. There were pictures of them everywhere, and memorabilia from their time so far together was placed on tables, windowsills, even hanging from the chandelier. They look so happy together, still like newlyweds with sparkles in their eyes. The fact that they are so much in love gives me hope that I will one day have that feeling for someone- the need to be near them always and the desire to hear them laugh every day for the rest of my life. Cheesy, yes, and I'm not very romantical, but I do want to get married and have kids. I know this rock star thing won't last forever. Unless we become Rolling Stones :) I want someone to call me every night- if we can't spend them together- and recount the day's happenings. I know I have Shane, but we are nowhere near that part of a relationship, even though we find out new things about each other every time we speak. He's becoming a huge part of my life, a part that I look forward to enjoying as much as possible. Shane's calling me now, actually. I'm gonna answer.

All I Want for Christmas. . .

According to Guy, the album is finished. We're all happy with it; it sounds like us. Our next step is to set a release date and press schedule to advertise. We will be going around to different radio stations and will have a release party the day the album is available. I can't express how excited I am to be moving forward- the anticipation is killing me. Nate is getting a schedule together and he said we should start traveling after the first of the year which means more down time. I'm thinking about Christmas in Belize. . . Kenny Chesney put out a song that said "All I want for Christmas is a tan" and that's the one thing I want for Christmas now. So, I've decided, since I can't be away from my family at Christmas, I'm going to get everyone a room at the nicest hotel I can find- my mom and dad, while on speaking terms, don't want to be in a house together- and we will all go on vacation. I think it's a good idea since Nate says the "real work" starts with the press tour and we should be using this downtime to rest up and spend time with our families. Now, if I can manage to get Shane to Belize. . .

Jillian and Max decided to have their wedding on New Year's Day, so I only get a day or two in Belize after Christmas before I have to come back. But I'm happy to be there for them, and I do owe them an engagement party, which will be the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Luckily, Jillian gave me a guest list and Alex loves planning parties, so it will be a piece of cake to pull off :) They don't want anything fancy, but I've rented the ballroom at our city's best hotel and the decorations involve pictures of Jillian and Max all over the place and the one of them during their first dance at their first wedding will be the backdrop at their table. And, it's catered. It's all planned and paid for, so they better not announce divorce before the party :D

This Thanksgiving, as are all my holidays, is divided between my parents. I have to eat twice. I know, wah-wah, right? But seriously, I'm going to be very disappointed that I cant have as much of my favorite things at either house cause I have to save room at Mom's and I'll already have eaten when I get to Dad's. Apparently, everyone in my dad's family is going to be at his house this year, so the good food quadruples. Dad's wife, Angie, is already an amazing cook, and mix her with my grandma and there's no hope for anyone to be able to leave their pants buttoned. I think I'll wear stretch pants :D

Thanksgiving with Mom is going to be very small, as usual, just her mom and her sister and Carrie for a couple of hours while Mom cooks. Gramma is a little. . . um. . . well, she can't cook at all. My mom kicked her out of the kitchen a long time ago. I can help some, with easy stuff like peeling potatoes, but one year I almost took my thumb off with a can opener (I know, only I could do something like that) and Mom gets antsy when I have anything larger than a peeler even though she knows I cook just fine at home and I still have all my limbs and fingers and toes.

I know when I get to Dad's pretty much everything will be done, so I get to sit back and enjoy the conversations that fly around the kitchen. Over the years, I've learned alot about my family- and they are a funny bunch. Both sides. So, more than likely, I'll be able to laugh off the calories. . . if that actually works. I'll let you guys know.

Shane is in California for Thanksgiving, so even if I was ready for him to meet the family, he couldn't. He asked me if it was important for him to be there, and I said "No way! We are definitely not ready for that. Good try though, " I said with a laugh. Since he didn't have anyone to introduce me to, there was no question if I would come to him. He may fly in for the engagement party, though. That would be fun, if only for a short while.

Now, I'm on my way to help Mom go shopping for all the food she's cooking tomorrow. Ah, the holidays.

Continuation of 11/14/08

I slept all through the night, tossing and turning, waiting for the fever to break. Mom said it finally broke around 5 a.m. and I slept more restfully after that. I still wasn't 100% on Wednesday, but I was better than Tuesday. I called Shane to see how he was faring, and he sounded better, too, although his fever hadn't broken and he couldn't keep anything down- including his medicines. He was thinking he was going to have to go to the hospital until I told him that viral Pharyngitis spontaneously cures itself after a few days and he decided to hold out until Friday. I could hear him getting drowsy on the other end of the line, so I told him I wanted him better and I missed him bunches, but I would talk to him later.

Ty called me about 3 hours later and flipped out. Turns out, he was just ignoring my phone number and forgot about checking his messages until right before he called me. He felt even more like a jerk, compounding with the fight we'd had on Monday. He'd been drowning his sorrows in Jackie Danielson (that is actually the girl he was with. Not kidding!) and was doing everything he could to make me even more angry with him. I snorted a laugh at him. "Do you really think that after all this time of you and your. . . misbehavior, I'd get really upset about you being with yet another Barbie?" I asked. His cockiness is truly exhausting, cause when I hung up with him I was so weak I couldn't put my phone back on the night table and left it beside my head. A few minutes later, it rang again, this time setting off a headache. I figured it was Ty again and answered grumpily. "What?!" I said.
"Is that how you answer all your well- wishers when you're sick? Tell Mama to open the door, Jillian and me are comin to take over so she can go back to Eric," Max said and hung up again. I told Mom that Max and Jillian were here to relieve her, and after some coaxing and convincing, she went home. Jillian started me some fresh soup (at this point, I don't care if I never have another bowl of chicken noodle for the rest of my life) and Max rifled through my linen closet for fresh sheets and then my regular closet for fresh PJs. I gotta say, it's a good thing he's married or I would have thought him very stalker like in how he knew the whereabouts of my stuff. Then he caught my eye and eased my mind with "Women put everything in the same place, regardless of the house."

He set about changing my sheets while Jillian gave me my soup and drew me a bath. What service! You'd think they were striving for that 5th star from Hotels.com! After I ate, Jillian ushered me into the terrific bath with chamomile and green tea extracts. I felt soooooo much better climbing into my fresh bed. I went out like a light, Max and Jillian downstairs watching TV and me with my juice. They will be such great parents!

I finally woke up feeling 100% on Thursday evening. The apartment was quiet so I figured Max and Jillian went to dinner or out somewhere. I took a shower and stripped my bed again- I do NOT want that crap ever again!- and called Jillian's cell. "So, if you can make calls on your own, you're feeling better. Or, this is a 911 responder and you are definitely worse," she answered jokingly. "No, I'm way better and just wanted to say thank you so much for your help. Your engagement party is totally on me!" I said. "Are you 100%? 'Cause me and Max are tasting cakes again, and nothing helps sickness like 62 samples of frosted goodness," she finished with a laugh. "Oh, yeah, I did take you away from that didn't I," I said, blushing even though she couldn't see me, "but I think I will let you two have your cake and I am going to relax on the couch. I just wanted to say thanks, really, alot," I answered. She said she was glad I was feeling better and she'd see me tomorrow at the studio. "Studio? What for?" I asked. "Ty didn't call you? The editing's done. The final listen is tomorrow. I can't believe he didn't call you," she said, as my phone started beeping. It was Ty, and I told Jillian so and I'd see her tomorrow, then clicked over preparing to give him yet another piece of my mind. "I was waiting as long as I could cause I didn't want to wake you up or anything," he said before I could say anything. "I didn't wake you, did I? Are you better? Hello?" he asked, sounding a little nervous. "If you'd shut up long enough for me to say anything you'd know I was better. Now what's this about the editing being finished?" I said, grumpy again. "Right," he started, "the editing. It's done, and that's what I was calling about. Nate and Guy will be here, so if you can, you need to be here too. We're ready to set a release date. At least, I think so. So you will need to be here so we can coordinate schedules for press and junk. 10 a.m. please," he said. "Alright, I'll be there," and I started to hang up before he said, "Evie, I really am sorry about how I acted. It is none of my business who you're with, and I will truly be nice to Shane. I promise. I don't like this at all, but I will respect you like you've done for me in the past. Can we be OK now? Please?"

I hate to hear a grown man beg. Especially Ty. "Don't beg, Ty. It's very unbecoming of you. We're OK. Professionally. Personally, it's gonna take a while. You were mean and insulting," I snapped, probably a bit harder than I should have, "Now, good- bye. I'll see you tomorrow."