Competition

Lately, I've been noticing how competitive I can be.  My competitiveness seems to be surfacing in the strangest situations.  I recently joined my neighborhood fitness center and have been going to various workout classes.  Because of my competitive nature, I find that I have a much better work out in class because I want to be the best in the room, so I end up pushing myself.  My competitive spirit also reared it's head during Yoga, of all things!  There's one lady in the class who rocks at Yoga, so I found myself holding poses longer and going deeper into stretches with the mindset of, "If she can do, so can I."  And again, this competitiveness is making me a better Yogi. 

My first instinct in seeing my competitive side surface was to suppress it, thinking "you don't have to be the best, just do your best."  But then I thought, if being competitive is making me work harder and push myself beyond what I think I can do, then it's all good.

I guess I've always been competitive, but haven't found myself in situations where it's come to the surface.  I did see glimpses of it when I was living in Milwaukee and booking gigs.  My friend, the fabulous singer Jeannine Rivers, and I definitely had a unspoken, friendly competition going.  I would find myself checking her website and seeing how many bookings she had and then get stirred to action if she had more than me.  That got me on the phone book and on the net researching new places to perform.  I even went after gigs and places she played.  That's right, I'm not afraid to admit it 'cause I know she was doing the same thing ... LOL!  (Jeannine, if you're reading this I just have one thing to say ... "Twist 'N Olive" ... LOL).  That friendly competition with Jeannine kept my calendar filled because I was not going to be outdone!

So many people have asked me if I'd try out for one of the reality shows like "American Idol" or "Britain's Got Talent."  I always say "no" because I can't imagine putting myself under that type of pressure.  However, I have entered a local contest based on one of these shows called "Concorde's Got Talent."  I auditioned for the competition on September 25th and was put through to the Semi-Finals, which are being held tonight ... YIPS!  My competitive nature is stirred up more than ever.  I've got seven minutes to wow the judges and the audience and I haven't been this dedicated to rehearsing and fine tuning my performance in a very long time. 

With this competition, though, I don't feel the need to be the best singer.  I'm focusing on giving the best performance that I can possibly give, and I've been rehearsing and preparing to do just that.  Don't get me wrong, I WANT to win, but I also want to absorb the lesson that I'm to learn from this experience.  It's given me such a boost that I'm thinking, maybe I will try out for Britain's "X Factor" next year, especially since they're doing the over 28s category.  You never know, right!

So, I said all that to say this ... a little "healthy" competition is a great tool to make you the best that you can be.  If you find that you have a bit of a competitive nature, use it to help you grow at whatever it is you're endeavoring to do!  Win or lose, I guarantee you'll discover a little bit more about what you're really made of.

Jeannine recently told me that she may be moving to London to go to school.  It seems Jeannine will be keeping me on my toes, even in England ... bring it on, sister!!

Quit Your Whining, Move It!

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Hi, my name is Gloria Miller, and I’m a whiner. Well, lately anyway. I’m not usually a whiner, but the past six weeks of living in this strange country called to UK … yes, I’ve been whining … a lot! I thought it would be easy adjusting to life here but it hasn’t. I haven’t at all been motivated to do the things I know I need to do to plug in to this existence. As much as the US and UK are alike, they are equally, if not more, different. Just because you’re using the same words does not mean you’re speaking the same language.

Example … I asked my niece (in-law) Millie to hand me my purse. So she rummaged around in my purse and brought me my wallet. I said, not just the wallet, bring me my purse. Then she stood there perplexed ‘cause she had already brought me my purse. You see, in the UK purse means wallet and bag means purse. So the proper thing to say would have been “Millie, bring me my bag.” It took us 20-minutes to sort that out.

Also, I’m starting to lose some of my words … to the accent. I didn’t think it would happen, but it’s starting to. I met this awesome lady, Marlene, who is also an American who married a Brit and now lives in England. However, when I first spoke with her on the phone, I thought she was a Brit! She has an amazing British accent. It wasn’t until we were out for drinks that she told me she was from the states. I couldn’t believe it! I never would have guessed it. Then I started to worry about my accent (which is a strange mix of Midwest meets Southern meets Ebonics). Marlene said she picked up the accent so that she could be understood by the locals. And strangely enough, I get that. I wasn’t expecting to have so much miscommunication in a country that speaks the same language.

Then there’s the fashion. The UK style is not quite European and not quite American. It’s a strange in-between look that I’m not sure I want to adopt. There are definitely some fashionistas that know how to bring it, but the typical look is unique to this part of the world. Admittedly, I’m no fashion plate, but when I walk into the City Center of the bustling metropolis of Waterlooville, my new town, I feel quite fashion forward.

I do love that the full-figure is celebrated in the UK in a way that it’s not done in the states! Thanks to Gok, I love my big bangers! Gok hosts a show called “How To Look Good Naked” and it’s been an education for me on dressing for my body type (and age). My sister Ruth always says I dress like an overgrown teenager. I’m working on that. However, I did go shopping with Millie this weekend and was introduced to a wonderful store called Hollister featuring clothing for 12 to 18 year olds. Alright, maybe I had a minor relapse ‘cause I bought the cutest pink top … LOL!

Wow, did I get side-tracked. Anyway, back to what I was saying about whining … something seems to have clicked in my mind yesterday to kick me into gear to get my life up and running. I’ve been idling for six-weeks and today when I got out of bed, I did so with purpose, focus and a clarity that both surprised and excited me. Now that I’m back in gear, there’s no stopping me.

Today, I’m happy to say I’m in recovery from whining. I know I have to take it one day at a time and that there might be the temptation to whine again. My intention, though, is to stay whine-free!

If you haven’t done so already, please check out “The Power” by Rhonda Byrne. It’s the sequel to “The Secret.” I just started reading it today and it’s a great read so far.   Click here to preview the new book.

Glo.

Stuck in the Middle

Have you ever felt like you were stuck “in the middle?”  That’s how I’m feeling these days and rightly so. Here’s why. I seem to be somewhere in the middle between …

Old & Young - I turned 44 this month and somehow that seems waaaaaayyyyyy older than 43. I find myself modifying my goals ‘cause it seems unrealistic to keep “trying” at this age. I know that’s not where my head should be … but it is!

Being a Mother & Being Childless - Trust me, Neal and I are definitely trying to rectify this one. Until I was 37 I never thought I wanted kids. Then I met Neal and something changed … I also started having night sweats. The idea that the “kid-having thing” might no longer be under my control seemed to have jump-started my internal clock. I swear, prior to that, I never heard the tick, tock!

Famous & “Who?” - Worldwide CD release, minimal sales. Wanna buy a CD?

American & British - My husband Neal is British and I just moved to the UK this month. I didn’t think I’d feel so lost during this transition period, but I am. It’s only been a couple weeks but I’m not sure where to start in order to plug myself into “this” life. I’m slowly coming out of neutral and into first gear. I guess that is a start, right?

Fat & Thin – Currently, bulge is winning. But I’m not defeated yet. Two-weeks ago I started “Body for Life” and I gained 1 pound! I’m pretty sure that 1 pound is muscle and not the nachos I ate on the cruise ship last week!

My Ego & My Self - Can’t I just be me? Why are we defined by what we do instead of who we are? Wife … daughter … sister … friend … singer … entertainer … writer … when these titles are striped away, what’s left? Me. Is that enough?

So I ask again … Have you ever felt stuck in the middle? I would love to hear about your “middle” ground or how you’ve managed to pick a side. As always, I welcome your thoughts, rants and comments!

Much love …

Glo.

CD Release, Wedding, Relocation – Update

CD Release

It’s been almost 2 months since “Let Go” was released and I’m amazed at the wonderful feedback I’m getting on the project. It’s one thing when you think you’re great … it’s something completely different when someone else thinks you’re great, LOL! The release party was at Piano Blu on May 14th and it was an awesome night. So many of my friends and family came out to support and buy the CD. I have worldwide distribution through www.cdbaby.com/cd/gloria3 and worldwide airplay through www.Jango.com/music/Gloria+Miller, so I’ve also had some internet sales and internet airplay all around the world. The latest single, “Your Touch,” is available as a free download when you join my mailing list. Join and download yours today!

Wedding

About a week before the wedding I seriously started to wonder why people even bother with planning big ceremonies. Everything was starting to go wrong, people who I thought I could count on went AWOL and time was ticking away! Then, June 5th arrived and it was one of the happiest days of my life. Honestly, I couldn’t stop smiling. When I began planning the wedding, I knew I wanted it to be an intimate setting with the people who love and support Neal and me. We arranged the ceremony so that Neal and I would face the audience instead of having our backs to them, and as I stood there looking around the room, all I saw were the faces of the people I love most in the world and I was overwhelmed by the love and joy emanating from them! It was an incredible day.

I have to say a little about the honeymoon too …

Neal and I do a lot of travelling between the US and the UK, as well as for Neal’s work, so the last thing we wanted to do was spend a lot of time travelling to a destination. We decided to take a “driving” trip through some of the New England states. We flew into Providence, Rhode Island where we picked up our rental car and embarked on a week of leisurely drives, Bed & Breakfasts, and the best seafood I’ve ever tasted! We visited Cape Cod; Cheers in Boston; Portland, Maine; and Bar Harbor, Maine where we spent two days exploring Acadia National Park and eating lobster.

Of course, a week wasn’t long enough. As soon as I started to unwind, it was time to come back home. We were so blessed that we travelled when we did, ‘cause we were just ahead of the mad rush that the area was gearing up for. We were able to spend time walking and travelling at our own pace without the hassle of traffic and the typical tourist trade. We even stuck to the coastal roads instead of the main highways, and some of the views of the seaside and the homes were breathtaking. We’d like to go back in the fall when the leaves are changing … that has to be amazing!

Relocating

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It’s official now, I’m a UK Resident. I applied for my Spouse VISA just before the wedding and was expecting to have the VISA before we left for the honeymoon. We knew that we would only have a few days after the honeymoon before Neal would have to fly back to the UK for work, and we were hoping I’d be able to go with him. Of course, the VISA didn’t come before Neal had to leave, so less than a week after the honeymoon, Neal left me. We were only separated for a couple weeks. The VISA arrived about 3 days after Neal left, but since he was headed right to a ship for work, we decided to fly me over later when he’d be back home to get me from the airport. That was Saturday, July 2nd.

Packing up my house was strange. However, when I first moved into the house in 2007, I kept saying that I’d only be living in it for a couple years. Neal was completely out of the picture at that time, but somehow I knew my living there would be temporary. By the time I sold or gave away my stuff, my life was reduced to eight boxes that cost a small fortune to ship to the UK. Did you know that the post office will only ship boxes internationally by Priority Mail? Well, I didn’t! Neal and I were sweating bullets as the dollars were adding up as the clerk weighed each box. Well, in actuality, it cost under $1,000 which is much less than it would have cost had I been shipping furniture, etc. I basically shipped music, clothes, books, and all my memories that you simply can’t get rid of (photos, year books, video tapes of shows, etc.).

So, I’m starting over yet again and I’m jumping in with both feet. I’m excited to see what happens over the next few months as I adjust to my new marriage, home and country! I love the idea of having a fresh start and feel like this is a chance to reinvent myself. Please stay tuned to this blog and take the journey with me! Come on … it will be fun!!

As always, I welcome your thoughts, rants or comments!  Join the conversation ...
 
Glo.

CD Release, Wedding, Relocating

Word of advice, never try to accomplish the above-mentioned, life-changing events at the same time. I wish someone had given me this advice!

CD Release (and Party)

I started working on this CD almost two years ago and have finally sent it off to the manufacturer to have the CDs pressed. It was such a relief when the project was no longer in my hands ... at least for a few days before I began marketing the thing. The party ... well, really it was a gig I already had booked and since the timing was good, I decided to turn that gig into a release party. I'm pleased with how the CD has turned out and I'm proud to present it to the world. I just hope somebody buys it ... LOL!

Wedding

I'm getting married on June 5th and honestly, it's been a very smooth process so far. I've enjoyed every minute of the planning and thankfully, I had some great friends to help out ... thanks Georgie and Andrea! As I'm writing this, I'm in the UK so I've had to be creative in managing all of these projects, especially with the 6 hour time difference. I've still got a few loose ends to tie up for the wedding ... hostess dresses, Neal's ring sized, wedding programs, table settings ... Okay, I'm gonna stop there 'cause I just felt my blood pressure go up! Plus, I've got home work from my DJ to do and I just can't face it. Being a musician, planning the music should be the easiest part ... well, it isn't! Any suggestions about music to play at the wedding/reception?

Relocating

That's what I get for marrying a Brit! Yep, I'm moving to the UK just after the wedding. This one has taken me by surprise. A year ago there's no way you could have convinced me that I'd be leaving my family, friends and local music scene to start all over again in England. But I am. The idea of it is both exciting and terrifying. The past few weeks I've been getting a taste of life in Waterlooville (you read correctly, that's the name of my new town ...LOL!) and because I don't know anyone yet, and because Neal travels a lot, I've been on my own for most of this visit. It's been a challenge. Luckily, I have a CD, wedding and relocation to prepare for to keep me busy ... otherwise I'd be talking to a soccer ball right now (Castaway ... Tom Hanks ... Wilson)!

Oh, and did I mention the volcano? I was supposed to join Neal on a ship just a few days after the London airports closed, and unfortunately, my flight was cancelled. I've lived in Chicago with its wind, snow and tornado warnings ... Florida with its hurricanes ... Milwaukee with its cold weather and snow ... but never anything like this. I have flown since the airports re-opened, and surprisingly, there were no delays, the plane wasn't even full, and there were no issues in the air. Thank you Jesus!

So, I guess it's going to be a busy couple of months and I'm going to have to do yoga everyday to keep myself calm. Stay tuned as I countdown to the UK!

Yellow Chair

I’m in another airport heading to another ship. Three days ago we were in Malaga, Spain staying in this ultra modern hotel room with a delicious yellow chair against a backdrop of muted gray tones. I immediately claimed the yellow chair as mine, even though I don’t think Neal even noticed the chair. It was in this yellow chair that I continued to read “The Time Traveller’s Wife” which is a poetic yet disturbing tale of one man’s journey through the blurred boundaries of time.

Malaga is a beautiful city and Neal and I had a wonderful late night meal in an authentically Spanish café drinking Sangria and munching on a massive amount of local cuisine. To work off some of the meal, we took a walk and ended up strolling along the beach … quite unusual for a mid-west girl to be doing in November!

Then it was off to join the Navigator of the Seas, which is a massive Royal Caribbean ship. Neal’s show was the first night and he worked for a total of 15 minutes and received an entire week’s pay (slacker). For some strange reason, after the show we headed to the disco and I was dancing like a complete maniac. Maybe it was the Strawberry Margaritas I was drinking … lol! When we first got to the disco I was the only one dancing, but I think my enthusiasm spread ‘cause before long the floor was packed and we were Electric Sliding, and Soul Train lining and trying to remember Michael Jackson moves when “Thriller” was played. I danced so hard in fact that the next day I was barely able to get out of bed. That’s what dancing like a fiend at 43 will do to you! So, we spent our second day on the Navigator in bed watching T.V. only getting up to eat breakfast. When we got hungry again, we ordered a feast from room service including a Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert … how decadent!

The next day we were on the island, Funchal, Madeira, just off the coast of Africa for a day. We spent a few hours exploring the city and enjoying the ocean views and finally stopped off for Sangria before heading back to the ship (we really like Sangria). That night, we went to see the Production Show on the ship, and I had totally forgotten how great Royal Caribbean is a putting on a show. It was awesome … the costumes, the singers and dancers, everything! As many of you know, I used to work for Royal Caribbean as one of the production singers, and seeing the Navigator show really did bring back some awesome memories. Also, one of the dancers I worked with during my first contract was on the ship … Jason!

So, here I sit in Athens, Greece and I’m exhausted after having spent 6 hours walking around and taking in the sights. It was a wonderfully sunny day and the weather was perfect for wandering! Neal and I are pros at that. Now we’re both on our computers, completely ignoring each other just like an old married couple … and we’re not even married yet! I don’t want to think about the implications of this behavior … LOL!

More on Greece after I’ve had a nap!

Later …
Glo.

Ode to Dry Land

Have you ever had the desire to kiss the ground? I have on three different ocassions. First, when I returned from Belize, Central America after having spent a week there. When we arrived in Miami International Airport I literally wanted to kiss the ground. The second time was at the end of a Transatlantic cruise from Europe to the US. When we arrived in Nassau, Bahamas after six days at sea, again, the ground was looking mighty good. And most recently, four days ago at the end of another Transatlantic journey. On Tuesday, October 27, we left Tenerife, Canary Islands and set off to the Caribbean. I knew we were going on a cruise, but I had no idea exactly where we were going, and surprisingly, had done no research as to the ports we’d be visiting.

Much to my surprise, we were headed to several Caribbean Islands with our final port being Barbados. First of all, I did not pack the right clothes. I’ve done about four transatlantic cruises and usually the weather is iffy, and often cold and rainy. However, the route from Tenerife landed us in the most amazing, sunny weather. I didn’t even have a bathing suit. The challenging part of this journey has been the five sea days in a row right at the beginning of the voyage. Once I hit the shops and bought some beach wear, I found my self sitting up on deck, working on my tan, and adopting the persona of a slug. I read, I slept, and I ate to the point of chronic boredom.

Just when I thought I wouldn’t be able to take another day of lounging around the pool, we arrived in St. Lucia, and again, I had the distinct sensation of wanting to kiss the ground. I lived in Florida for almost 8 years so I’m used to the hot weather, but nothing could have prepared me for the heat I experienced in St. Lucia. It was so hot that it was a little scary. I found myself muttering away to myself in disbelief as the sweat was pouring out of places I didn’t know I had places. During our walk I noticed a guy standing on a corner muttering to himself and I was wondering if this was a common effect of the heat, especially since I was muttering away to myself. Maybe after several days of being exposed to that level of heat, you simply go crazy. I seemed to be well on my way. We found our way to a bar and had a cold drink and enjoyed an afternoon of Karaoke with some locals.

Our next port was St. Martin and was another extremely hot day. On this day, instead of muttering to myself, I was simply drained of any energy I was supposed to have. I could barely move, and was a bit irritable (just ask Neal, poor thing)! We still managed to spend several hours wondering around and made a few stops at bars along the way. I think I might have suffered a little heat stroke, ‘cause once we got back to the cabin, I took a shower and was out cold until Neal woke me for dinner, and then after dinner, I went right back to bed and stayed there ‘til morning.

Yesterday, we were in St. Thomas, and since it’s a US port, we had the wonderful pleasure of going through US Immigration before anyone could leave the ship. I waited in line for over an hour. Once I showed my passport to the Immigration officer, she said that I was the only American passenger on the ship. Amazing. I’m on a P&O ship, the Ventura, and it’s a British cruise line. Neal said I was probably the only American on board, but I didn’t believe him until the Immigration officer confirmed it!

Today we’re in Antigua and Neal’s doing laundry and I’m blogging. We do plan to have a little look around the town for a couple hours. I’m on a mission to find some black hair products, ‘cause I know once I get back to the UK that will be a challenge.

Wish me luck!

Glo.