(As I have not been keeping up with the blog here, I'm reposting a few things from livejournal and myspace to get this blog up to date. This was a myspace post form Oct 23)

I've had several comments and emails asking me when I'm coming home, so I think it's time I let you all know that as of last weekend, I signed a lease on a 2400 sq ft work/live loft in downtown…Detroit.

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It's a risky move with the economy here in such bad shape, but the low cost of living is allowing me to get a space where I can live and work and create my dream studio. I simply couldn't afford a space like this in any other major city. I would work so much to pay for a loft like this in say, LA, or even Phoenix, I would have no time to create, and I'm ready to step up my game to the next level.

Another factor in my decision was travel time. Most of my work as a travel nurse will be on the eastern side of the country, and specifically around Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. While my company offers to fly us home every other weekend while on assignment, I quickly discovered I spent all that time in airports, usually routing through Detroit, as it's Northwest airlines hub (they were even routing me through Detroit when I was traveling from South Carolina to Phoenix.)

When I saw this loft, I knew I had to seize this opportunity. It's an amazing space and it's near the Eastern Market which is a neighborhood moving up. This is my dream, right here. So I was exhilarated when I signed the lease, but then it hit me how much I was giving up.

Getting that digital camera and coming out to shows in Phoenix has completely changed my life. I went from sitting at home every night to rebuilding my life and rediscovering a dream I had put aside for too long. I will be eternally grateful to all the people and the bands in Phoenix who took a chance on me and helped me get to this point. There are too many to list, but the first and most loyal were The Limit Club, Calabrese, Stitch Hopeless and the Sea Legs, Zombeast, Glass Heroes, The Fed Ups, Lennore, The Numptys, Adams Evil, The Video Nasties, The Quakes, The F-Holes…there have been many bands who have made kind comments, but these people went above and beyond with their encouragement and support. Thanks also to all the venues, some of which are no longer around: Chasers, Jugheads, The Cypress Lounge, The Paper Heart, Stray Cat, The PHiX (Lee, I forgive you for thinking I was one of the mothers of the Limit Club), The Rogue West, Ginger Mortiis' backyard, Day's Customs in Window Rock, Club Red, Studio 111, Hollywood Alley, The Surly Wench and The Pub and Grub — I never saw a band play there, but got fucked up with Stitch Hopeless on a few occasions, namely after shooting the cd cover at the bar. (Speaking of which, thanks to Jordan for his assistance with that uh…device I was struggling with at his house after the shoot. Just don't post the photo of you helping me with it.) Thanks to Troy in Tuscon and the F-holes for letting me and bands party at and crash at their places after shows. And thanks to Merciless Entertainment (RIP) and all the fans who watched my back in the pit.

Psychobilly and the Phoenix scene in particular will always hold a special place with me. I will always consider you all family. So it's with mixed feelings I close this chapter in my life and start another.

On the bright side, if any of you come to Detroit, I have plenty of space to crash. And for bands to play.<