Here I am, visibly pregnant and waddling around North America like a duck, and there’s not a day that goes by when someone doesn’t ask me whether there’s a girl baby or a boy baby in here. I would prefer the question to be, “How are you?” or, “Do you need to sit down?” but, 9 times out of 10,…   …read more.

The second time I met Guo Jian was on my second journey to China. I was three days into my trip. I had arranged to meet my friend Traci at a local folk music bar and she felt like a beacon in my fog. I didn’t really know why I had come back. There was some sort of invisible magnetism…   …read more.

It’s been over a week of performing shows on this tour and Little Spark is dancing up a storm. I realize that I reported on feeling the baby move ages ago when I was in that Beijing music venue in mid July and felt the need to leave, that twinge in my gut, that instinctive need to free Little Spark…   …read more.

One of the most common discussions that queer women have when we first get together is about our past relationships. We talk about our exes, what we’ve learned, what we hated about the dynamics, what we wish had been different. We often talk about the ex-ex-exes too and string each experience together like a series of episodes in a complex…   …read more.

I have been on the road for a week. The miles already stretch out behind me from Sudbury, Ontario where we started to where I sit today, poised to drive to Cincinnati from Southern Indiana. Lately, I have been touring with a GPS. It’s such a helpful tool, but I admit that I miss the tactile nature of maps and…   …read more.

When I first met Guo Jian, I had already noticed him. I was in a music venue in Beijing called “Mao Live House” in June of 2007. I had just performed with my American friend Traci’s (now ex-)boyfriend’s band. I played three songs, one of which was backed up by her boyfriend’s band members after only one really casual rehearsal…   …read more.

Newsletter Final Thought: September 2011 I used to view my CDs as my babies. People would ask me which one I liked the best and I would say, “I can’t choose one child over another!” They’d laugh and I’d smile and then proceed to tell them of each album’s virtues, just like a proud Mom. There’s nothing like having a…   …read more.

Newsletter Final Thought: July 2011 I am preparing to leave Beijing this week and head back to Canada for the first time in over six months. In fact, this is the longest stretch that I have spent away from my homeland. This morning, I found myself quiet on the balcony after I had watered the tomatoes, cucumbers and other veggies…   …read more.

So, let’s talk about breasts. I really had no idea. I know I’ve mentioned before that my breasts are enormous and that I’ve wondered what random woman has inadvertently swapped breasts with me. I’ve asked people openly, “Whose breasts are these? I mean, they’re not mine!” and this has made everyone laugh and openly acknowledge the mountainous masses on my…   …read more.