Gone With The Wind

Picture this.... I'm in my car, which is usually all neat and tidy ~ not looking like it belongs to a  hoarder, but today not so much, it looked like total muckery.  Packed to the brim with everything but the kitchen sink that I took with me on my trip: boxes of Zone Bars, my vitamin suitcase (yes I have a suitcase for that doesn't everyone?), healthy rations, discarded Dunkin Donuts/Starbucks coffee cups and countless pairs of sneakers after a very relaxing vacation.

I was heading north on I-95 trying to rush back to New York for the premiere of my new music video "Gone" when my mom calls me and tells me that several tornadoes have touched down  just a few miles from where I was at.

I was in central Virginia, miles from the warmth and beauty of the Florida beaches I had just spent 10 beautiful days at and yet still several hours from the safety of my own home in New York. The rain was relentless, the wind was blowing and the thunder and lightning was deafening. I text Mr. Bricks that I was scared. In typical  Mr. Bricks' fashion, he never responded. As my Sweetie was driving, my mom was on the other end of my cell phone reporting to me the minute by minute updates she was getting from NOAA.gov - She told me that tornadoes have been touching down all over the south and midwest and at least 72 people have lost their lives. That saddens me. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and communities affected by these disastrous storms. I also pray for the safety of the rescue workers who will be put in harm's way to try to help others the next few days.

The weather was so severe I had to take refuge in a Denny's in Doswell, VA. The restaurant was in lock down for about an hour, it was just too dangerous to let people leave. I was happy to be someplace warm, and safe. The fact that it smelled like pancakes was a bonus. The entire time my Greek noggin raced about all of the people and animals who were less fortunate than I was and who had to brave the elements without being fortunate enough to be able to find shelter. I was thanking God the entire time that I was safe and prayed for those effected by this terrible band of storms.

Finally, after dealing with some last-minute bumper-to-bumper traffic at 1:00 AM on the New Jersey turnpike (what was that all about?) Oh good gravy, where in the world was the entire state of New Jersey going at 1:00 AM? Don't they know, nothing good ever happens after midnight? But I did make it home, braving the wind, rain, lightning, tornadoes and all. 

As exciting as the release of my new music video "Gone" is for me today, I still have  sadness in my heart for those families who have been effected by this disaster and ask that in addition to watching my new video,  you also say a prayer for those effected by the storms.

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Packing For A Road Trip

As I was packing the car to head to my Mom's for Thanksgiving, I noticed two of my neighbors were also packing their cars and appearing to be heading out-of-town for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. It should be no surprise because we are heading into the busiest travel days of the year. With all of the muckery and groping the TSA is doing at the airports, I am surprised anyone wants to fly anymore.

Even though I'm not leaving for a couple of days, I still need to start packing now so when the time comes I can just scoop up the four dogs and be on our merry way.

I do not consider myself a high maintenance girl, but when it comes to road trips, well just then maybe it actually does take a little more to maintain my sense of happiness than other people.

I know many of you think I must travel with one suitcase of just my sneakers. The truth is I usually only take three or four pairs with me when I travel, not an entire suitcase full. However, when I go to my Mom's I can get by with only packing two pairs because I still have a pair of old sneakers there in the closet of my old bedroom. They are there with my cheerleading pom-poms and other sentimental things I don't want to part with just yet. Don't worry I am nowhere near as bad as being able to star in my own episode of Hoarders. I promise.

I also have a set list of grocery and must have things that I need to purchase before heading out.

They include:

A 5 lb bag of raw almonds (Actually I always have almonds in my glove box)

And I must always be chewing gum:

10 packs of Wrigly's Extra Dessert Delights Sugar Free gum (Strawberry Shortcake or Key Lime Pie)

and

10 packs of Orbit White Bubblemint Sugar Free gum

Coffee (always have to have plenty of hot liquids)

Several Chocolate Fudge Graham Zone Perfect Bars

Several Chocolate Peanut Butter Zone Perfect Bars

Multiple bottles of VitaminWater Zero -Grape flavor, thank you

And also because my Mom never has this on hand: A bottle of the Coffee-Mate Fat-Free Hazel Nut Creamer. You don't want this Greek girl to wake up without this to put in her morning cup of coffee - just sayin'


In addition to everything I might need, I must make sure the dogs have all of their crap which includes multiple dog toys, leashes, collars, scarves, kibble, balnkets and dog beds for all four dogs.

Of course along the way there are several bathroom breaks for the dogs (and for me - it's all of that hot liquid and Vitamin Water  I drink.) If I do stop to eat at anyplace, maybe I will go to a Wendy's and get a baked potato and a side salad.

I don't take any magazines or books to physically read because that would make me car sick. I do take along my iPod and a few audio books to listen to. It's funny because as I pack, everything must go into the exact same spot in the car every time. That way I just can glance at an empty hole and realize that something is missing. It may take me an hour to decide what is actually missing, but I won't leave until the missing item is retrieved and the hole in the packed car is filled.

Well, time to get back to doing laundry and packing the car.

Have a great day!

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Visist my website at www.avaaston.com

Great things are around the corner!

I was heading to visit my Mom this weekend and it was truly a beautiful weekend in New England  for a road trip. I love seeing all of the fall foliage and the vibrant colors they bring to the area this time of the year. The reds, the yellows, the oranges, the browns...they're all from God's crayon box. As I was being driven down the winding road it seems that every turn revealed more breath taking beauty that the previous one.

This got me thinking. Isn't that just like our own lives where more great things are always just around the corner? We certainly were not born and that ended up being the highlight of  our life, no...as we grow and experience everything life has for us, it just keeps getting better.

I have been blessed to be in a career that has allowed me to travel all over, visit amazing places and meet some wonderful people. But I'm just getting started, and I believe, just like I saw with all of the beautiful New England leaves this weekend, great things are just around the corner for me...and for you!

Obviously I really love to sing and also to write music. I'm always going to give 100% of my energy to every crowd I perform for because they made an effort and they showed up to hear me. As long as God is allowing me to do what I feel I am put on this earth to do, I will try to never disappoint any of my fans. I appreciate all of the love and support they give me at the live shows, on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter.  So, I don't know what God has in store for me or what is just around the corner, however, I do know it will be great.



Blessings,


Ava  xox
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