Those pesky shipping 'peanuts'

Peanuts: Those packing foam-ish, stick to everything and get everywhere packing fillers.  What to do with them, even if they’re made out of recyclable material?  I pack mine in clear plastic bags (recycled ones of course) and drop off at the nearest shipping office or supply store.  Same for other packing materials, as long as they are clean, consider passing them on.  To just recycle or throw away, isn’t giving these useful materials a chance to have a longer life cycle.  Shops are usually happy to take them.  Otherwise save and use for future packing, or share with family and friends who might be able to use them especially around the holidays.

why bother?

Sustainability and Life Cycle consideration for every thing:

Living a life with consideration for sustainability takes time, takes conscious effort and intent.  My take is the effort is well worth the time well spent, it’s good to feel good about caring about our world!!

I have many ideas to add here, maybe you do too, so please let me know.  In time, even one thing done to help make a difference, does make a difference.

 

Idols update IDOL: We're down to 7! Abramson & Meyer

Hello Idolers!! Since we didn’t get out a recap e-mail yesterday, this is a special double edition e-mail in honor of the double elimination week! After collecting opinions about this week’s shows, most of you agree: you loved Adam Lambert as a mentor and you weren’t at all surprised with the 2 contestants who got the boot. In fact, over HALF our pool thought that both Andrew and Katie would be the next ones voted off. Congratulations to the following people – ALL of whom correctly guessed that BOTH Andrew and Katie would be going home as #9 and #8: Craig, Jonathan, Kelly, Lauren, Bridget, Dave, Gail, Isander, Jack, Jeff, Jessica, Brittany, Kathy, Kelli, Linda, Michael, Michelle, Andrew and Tiffany. (Please note you get “correct” credit if you guessed Andrew as 9 and Katie as 8 OR if you guessed Andrew as 8 and Katie as 9.) And a special double
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The Independent Music Show, internet radio Ireland

Received from Ireland internet radio host Tom Lambert,  "Have added this link to your excellent site on the playlist page of‘  'The Independent Music Show’.

Your music will be featured on Saturday 17th April from 2pm till 3pm UK time"

check it out!  Anyone who has written on the opening page of their website,  

"My wish to the world, No more War, Hunger or Fear" gets my attention!   It's fun to be heard across the "Pond"

Update

on 2010-04-20 20:04 by NYC Subway Girl

fun they played my song, What Fools Do, nice to know my music is heard so far away.

WNYC's Battle Of The Boroughs performance

NYC Subway Girl Cathy Grier performs Comin' Back To Me.

My experience performing for The Battle Of The Boroughs, was actually quite surreal, I never expected such an amazing in the pocket response from the audience. Maybe I have been performing underground too much!  I went on about 5th in line which was perfect.  My Sugar Bar open mic warm up of the night before was more than I could have hoped for too, as it got me in the mood of performing on a stage with lights and an audience. Thanks to Kathy Jordan Sharpton for her huge encouragement (I had met her one night at the Apollo Theatre). 

At the Sugar Bar, I waited my turn with an amazing gentleman who gave me some amazing tips, one being a question, "what's the first thing you should be thinking about as you walk onto a stage?" answer "Once Upon A Time." Wow, what a perfect truth and tip. His name Kent Drake, my new Sugar Bar mentor, "you've got a story to tell, well tell it!"  So as I walked onto the stage at the Greene Space I thought....Once Upon A Time, and I "told" my story=song 'Comin' Back To Me', the audience joined in at the end, made great encouraging sounds as I sang a certain line and basically made me so buzzed. 

I didn't really give justice to Terrance McKnight's interview, I made some lame response to his compliment of how I learned to play the slide. Commentators Leital Molad Senior Producer Studio 360 and Helga Davis WQXR host, gave me great thumbs up in my performance and song choice.  Helga wondered how I was able to keep my vocal chops so clear because of the brutal subway conditions not so kind to singing. Wish I had more time to answer that one too, but alas my time was up.  

check out my pic's of the night 

Voting Ends Tonight at 11:59PM

Down to the wire. Have you voted yet??? 5 artists and only one can represent Manhattan in the Battle of The Boroughs. I think nyc subway girl representing Manhattan would be perfect. Every day that I perform in the subway people tell me in so many ways the importance of live music underground. It keeps the city vibrant and real. So one last time, follow the link and vote for NYC Subway Girl to

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The Judges Save has been used! Abramson & Meyer

I've been enjoying the postings from Abramson & Meyer, they speak where I dare not go.....

Hello Idolers!

WOW!  Idol is bringing the excitement back (well, they are trying really hard anyway!)!  And not just because David Archuleta almost hyperventilated (once again) because he didn’t have his inhaler on hand.  The JUDGES SAVE HAS BEEN USED to keep Big Mike in the competition!!  In case you missed the dozen times Ryan Seacrest has smugly explained this, here’s the deal: the judges get to use ONE save to over-ride America’s vote BEFORE the competition is narrowed to the Top 5.  Technically, Michael Lynche was voted off last night by America, but the judges decided to save him!  In other words, there was no elimination last night.  And that means the competition in our pool rages on!  It also means there is no chance that any other Idol contestant can be saved by the judges this season.  You better start voting to make sure your favorite isn’t eliminated!

Before we bring you our precious moments recap, we turn to this week’s guest correspondent, Margie McGlone (perfect scorecard intact!), for her thoughts on last night’s show:

I have to say - that opening medley sounded like a subpar cheesy church choir! What was that about? It was so weak. I thought Lennon/McCarthy were Rockers!! The top 9 sounded straight out of Adult Contemporary. Weeeeeak!

How about that strobe effect during Jason Narulo's (sp??) performance?!? That's hawt dawg!!

Was that a Ryobi wheel grinder that chick was engraving in her abdomen of steel?!? What? Great message for the kids - go grab your own Ryobi and you too can mutilate your own belly!

Great use of the save. I love Big Mike!!

Tune in to next week’s Idol to see ADAM LAMBERT as the guest mentor!!  YES!!!!!  Now THAT will be some good entertainment.

Meyer & Abramson – OUT!

 

Tips, come what may

I love performing in the subway, if I didn't put a bag down, people invariably try and give me money while I'm still playing, my hands, my mouth too busy. And it feels strange to stop in the middle of a song just to take money from someone. So I put a bag down. Some tips have prompted me to take a picture. Today I

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Abramson & Meyer Idols Beatles Night

Hey gang!

Hope everyone watched last night’s Beatles-fest. It was one of the better shows we thought – but still not super exciting either.  Apparently to be cool on Idol, you find the most random instrument to join you on your song.  Can you say didgeridoo or bagpipe anyone?!?

 

And we loved the “oh, it was just a coincidence that my hair is a Beatles style…” Sure it is Tim.

We did get a submission from one of our leaders from last week  - Sadie Abramson!

“The top 9 are as normal as apple pie with no secret ingredient thrown in to make them stand out or make you want to take another piece.  Thank goodness for the didgeridoo and bagpipe players.  If they had been on this year’s ballot I would have voted for them to win.  I still stand by my #1 pick Casey James because the only people voting are the female tweeners who are as superficial as America can get and will simply vote on who is the cutest.  That said, Lee could be a dark horse.  The bagpipe was genius and made Lee look totally awesome – plus I don’t think Lee was high last night and he sang his face off.  Originally I had picked Katie to go home tonight, but somehow she was body-swapped with someone who could actually sing last night.  So I think Andrew is going home.  Whatever happens on tonight’s elimination I truly hope that Paul McCartney does not embarrass himself further with another public service announcement that includes a brief nose picking – did anyone else catch his nose swipe?  I mean, couldn’t they have done another take?  Oh Paul. That was so 2-years-old of you, and you really don’t need my demographic at this point.”

Let’s see who goes home tonight and which one of you is that much closer to winning the Idol pool!

Abramson & Meyer – OUT!

 

 

Kids are soooo much fun, and I like horses too.

it's the kids that make me smile, their curiosity, their joy, their seriousness and silliness all at the same time.  I have captured some really fun moments, here's a few.

and guest subway performer Heidi Kole.

song Through My Eyes words/music C. Grier Singerfish Publishing SESAC

clip montage by Brendan Padgett

the five outsiders blog, jessica's street performers

I wanted to have someone really special. I started to go through some of the past musicians we’ve featured, and one of my absolute favorites is Cathy Grier. She’s got energy like nobody else and always “brings it.” She’s a great supporter of her fellow musicians. Not to mention, she’s been a cool supporter of The Five Outsiders

The Five Outsiders blog

 

Seth Rogovoy Berkshire Eagle

As heard on her new solo CD, “Comin’ Back to Me”, singer-songwriter Cathy Grier is a soulful singer and a bluesy guitarist, one part Laura Nyro (for whom she once warmed up a crowd), one part Bonnie Raitt. A Connecticut native, Grier lived in France for several years, where she wound up writing for French-Algerian guitarist Pierre Bensusan.

Seth Rogovoy, Berkshire Eagle