This is the third time I have made the 2,000-mile trek from Minneapolis to San Francisco.

I drove by myself, and I enjoyed the many hours to reflect. As I pondered, though, I almost ran out of gas in Iowa. Heads up: There are very few gas stations along 35W from the border of Minnesota to Des Moines!

I made my way through endless Nebraska — which I don't recommended for others with ADD — and finally entered Wyoming. I traveled through Salt Lake City, then through Nevada, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. As I drove, with the window rolled down, and breathed in the fresh, crisp air, I realized how much the landscape and my life had in common.

As I drove over one mountain, in the distance there was another mountain, even bigger than the last. At times, I feel like I am continually dealing with challenges, and as soon as one is resolved, something even more challenging is thrown my way.

As my little Toyota and I went up and down, a bit white-knuckled near Lake Tahoe, I realized that you never know what is around the corner. Sometimes it a wonderful surprise, and sometimes it's an unwelcome event. As I made my way down the foothills, I could see the golden hills of California and the bay glimmering in the distance.

I smiled, because without the ups and downs, I'd never grow as woman and that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Attached is "Paper Wings" from my new album. I hope you enjoy it!

During my performances, I can't seem to help myself anymore.

I just can't be one of those artists who sit up on stage, terribly cool and aloof. They are seemingly uninterested in the audience and barely address them in between songs.

Maybe it's because I grew up in the Midwest and come from a family of hams - we love to make people laugh. Along with some musical talent, the funny bone was passed on down to me.

I tell audiences about my days as a UFO beauty queen, being mistaken for the short Dixie Chick, and my old quest for a smart cowboy.

When I filed for divorce from my husband, my friends and family kept telling me how nice it was so see me back to my old self — the old self that laughed and smiled all the time. At the time, I almost felt worse when they said those things, because I kept thinking about how much of my life I had wasted being unhappy with my ex husband. How could I have let him bring me so far down?

As I moved farther and farther away from the divorce, and my old self started to peek through more and more, I felt better about the decision to leave my husband. Never again will I let someone take laughter out of my life.

Thank you First Wives World readers for all of your comments! I enjoy reading them and appreciate your insight.

In my last entry, I complained about unpacking my things and cleaning the new apartment. However, it's amazing what one can find. I have no idea why I felt the need to pack magazines I will never read again and endless amounts of hangers, but oh well. The one item I did unearth was an old journal of mine.

I started journaling when I separated from my ex-husband. Many songs have been pulled from the words and emotions tied to them. As I read, I realized just how far I had come. I have been divorced over five years and my mother was right: Time does heal. When you're going through something as traumatic as a divorce, it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel--meaning, where your life is going or how you're going to make it through. I sat down and read my entries about feeling lost, and concerns about whether I'd ever find a love filled with respect and trust.

I also read entries filled with anger towards my ex and I was surprised by how scathing they were even for a reserved Swede like me! However, again, it was part of my healing process to express the anger. It doesn't do any good to keep it all locked up inside because it eats away at your self-esteem and confidence.

So, as I placed the dog-eared journal back in a box, I smiled: There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it sure feels good. Have a listen to my song "New Beginnings" by clicking on the download below.

Good grief. Ever had one of those weeks (or years for that matter) where you seem to roll out on the wrong side of bed every day? It's as if everything that could go wrong, does.

When I was a kid, I loved the book "The Little Engine That Could." Maybe I love it because of the whole idea that you can accomplish anything when you believe in yourself. Perhaps, it's the ending where the underdog overcomes the odds.

I feel like I can relate to the underdog. I think I morphed into one after my divorce and became a single woman again. Most days, I wear the underdog cape and I'm quite happy doing so. As an independent musician, you have to make your own way and it's a lot of work and luckily, I love it. I chug along just like that little blue engine on my musical journey taking music to all corners of the country.

But, there are days when I don't feel like being the underdog. I get out of bed only to find that there are fires to put out, relationships that need attention, chores around the house, music to practice and no quiet place to do so, calls to make, e-mails to return and if I'm really lucky, I get to deal with all of this while having PMS. It makes me want to grab a good book and head to bed. Maybe the thing that bothers me the most is that when I was younger, I could do exactly that. Now, I'm officially an adult and can no longer hide from the world when I want to.

Fortunately, the challenging times pass as we push on, full steam ahead, up the hills and into a valley where we can step into the sunshine to enjoy the rewards of hard work. Perhaps we can then remove the underdog cape, pour a glass of wine and then, take a nap.

One of my gigs when I first got into the music business was playing the piano at the Nordstrom department store in Chicago. It was a great gig because I could play anything I wanted and I definitely had the best shoes that year!

People would stop by the piano and ask me to play “Misty” or “Memories” about 400 times a day, but other than that, I would play my own music and Nordstrom was gracious enough to also sell my CDs.

The gig was a four-hour session, so I would play 45 minutes and then take a 15-minute break. The 15-minute break would usually cost me money since I spent it shopping. However, I would also stop by the ladies’ room to check my lipstick and use the facilities.

My husband had recently been fired from his job due to his drunken insults toward the boss’s wife and he wanted to return to Minnesota. I was just starting to pick up a lot of work in Chicago and I really didn’t want to go back and start all over again. This mattered little to him.

At this point in our marriage, things were starting to deteriorate pretty quickly. Anyway, one day at Nordstrom, I had my usual 15-minute break and made my way back to the piano. About mid-way through my second song, my left hand felt odd. I looked down and discovered that my wedding ring was missing from my left hand.

I didn’t have a diamond, but we had gold bands made by an artist who I adored. So, I tried to remain calm and retrace my steps. I went back to the bathroom, searched everywhere, including the trash and couldn’t find it. The only place it could have gone was down the drain in the sink when I was washing my hands, and I believe that’s exactly what happened since the ring was a little loose anyway.
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I grew up in the Midwest and one of my fondest memories is the beautiful fall weather. Personally, it’s my favorite time of the year. I love the leaves and cooler weather.

My favorite thing is slipping into sweaters I haven’t worn in a year while watching the evening sky turn orange and gold. In fact, my ex and I were married in September because of our fondness for the weather at that time of the year.

Even after our divorce was final, the ghosts of our marriage would haunt me. Even though I knew deep down that I’d done the right thing, part of me still thought of my ex on occasion. Someone would say his name, or I’d see something that would remind me of him and I’d be thrown right back into memories of better times.

I can still remember the morning I wrote the song “Anymore.” I had a gig up in northern Minnesota at a resort. The people who booked me put me up in a beautiful lodge and my room was cozy and it had a whirlpool. Yes, sometimes the rock star perks of touring are nice!

I was nearing the two-year mark of my divorce and was trying to move on and date other men, but there was still a part of me that was locked in the past. However, when I woke up on this particular Sunday morning and wrote in my journal while looking out the window of my room, I realized that for the first time, I wasn’t waking up brooding about my ex and my failed marriage.

I felt an incredible sense of freedom and that I’d actually let go of that piece of my past. I put the pen to paper and wrote “Anymore” in about 10 minutes. Here are the lyrics; click below to download the song...

Sunday morning. Gray sky.
The fog is lifting and
What a beautiful surprise.
‘Cause you see for the first time
In a long time
I woke up without you on my mind.

I guess I don’t miss you anymore.

I lingered too long and cried too many nights. read more »

I’ve owned a piano for about eight years. It’s traveled to Minneapolis, Chicago and then back to Minneapolis and now to New York City.

It’s a little scratched up, but still running strong…kind of like me. That piano has helped me write sad songs, love songs, funny songs and beautiful instrumental pieces that have helped me sustain a life in music. In a sense, my piano has been my therapist by listening and helping document stories that I set to music to reflect what’s going on in my life.

But as all good things come to an end, I'm selling my piano to a dear fellow who’s just starting piano lessons. I had to replace it due to the types of gigs I’m getting. And I don’t have room for the big piano and a new keyboard.

The piano’s being picked up today. As I write this, I realize that the only constant in my life during my divorce was that piano.

Sure, I have a few items of comfort clothing (a well-stained sweatshirt I will never give up) and my Bunn Coffee Maker (once you go Bunn, you’ll never go back) that have also been constants, but I’m not nearly as attached to them as I am to that piano.

What I'm realizing, however, is the only constant is change. It is with bittersweet sadness that I bid farewell to my therapist with the 88 keys.

Click below to download the song, “Goodbye San Francisco.”

It’s amazing how life throws a curveball and then you find yourself in the midst of change. I have many friends who absolutely dread change. They want to keep everything the mundane same. It gives them extreme anxiety to break out of the routine.

As for me, I would love to keep everything rolling along on calm waters, but life throws the occasional tsunami at me. When I went through my divorce, my parents asked me if there was a moment where I knew that my marriage was over—you know, a moment of clarity.

For me, that moment was the culmination of all my ex-husband’s alcohol and verbal abuse. It just came to a point when I would look at myself in the mirror and wonder, “Where did you go?” It was at this low point that I realized I had to leave.

The song attached is called “Moment of Clarity” from my first album. When I wrote it, I was reflecting on the moment I had when I decided to follow my passion—music. Now, as I listen to the song while sipping my coffee, I find new meaning in it and want to share it with you. Click below to download the song.

Please share your “Moment of Clarity."

The weekends mean something different to me now that I’m touring full-time. Now, Fridays and Saturdays are work days filled with performances rather than time off, which can be a bit of a bummer as this is when most of my friends are available to have some fun!

However, a few years ago when I wasn’t touring so much and before I was married, I lived for Friday nights with my girlfriends. I would sit at my desk on Friday afternoons at my day job and watch the hours crawl by at a glacial pace, all the while praying my boss would come out of his office and tell everyone to go home. Unfortunately, that was a dream more often than a reality.

I lived in Minneapolis at the time and my friends were scattered all over the metro area, so downtown Minneapolis was a relatively central meeting point. We would all park in the Target ramp (because if you spend $25 at Target, parking is free!) and dash over to our favorite Irish bar that always seemed to be brimming with cute guys.

My friend Lisa's a few years older than me and an expert at meeting cute guys. She could scope out a place for prospects, delicately sip her Chardonnay, gingerly apply lip gloss and hold a conversation with five people ALL at the same time. I secretly envied her!

As outgoing as I am on stage and with my friends, I had a hard time coming out of my shell in social settings. Lisa didn’t let me fade into the background. She was capable of engaging just about anyone in witty banter and then she’d decide if the situation was worth pursuing. I met some pretty fun guys through her…nothing serious, but fun is great when you’re single!

I think all divorced, separated and single women need a “Lisa” in their lives because not only do they make life a lot more fun, but you’re bound to meet hot guys in the process! If you have stories about a “Lisa” in your life, please share!

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The other day, I was walking back from the post office and it dawned on me that the first man I dated after leaving my ex-husband had an apartment in New York City. We dated casually, on and off, for a shade under two years until I finally pulled the plug for good.

I remembered that after I left my husband it seemed as if I didn’t know how not to be in a relationship. So, the natural and comforting thing to do at the time was to jump into something else. The NYC guy was my security blanket.

He wined and dined me and traveled the world for work. I thought he was a pretty sophisticated guy! Then, just like a shiny new toy, the finish starts to rub off and you begin to see the “real” person. It took me a little longer to recognize it because we didn’t see each other all that regularly, but my friends didn’t care for him at all.

So, after the split, I decided to write a song about him. Back in Wisconsin, where I grew up, a popular dance at weddings and pretty much any celebration, is the polka. You can always count on a great uncle venturing out to the trunk of his car after a few cocktails to pick up his accordion and get the party jumpin.’

I decided NYC needed a county song inspired by the polka beat. The title came to me during a night out with a friend. I was complaining about men and I said, “Who put the 'Good' in Goodbye?” and he said, “Well, who put the 'Hell' in Hello?”

And just like that, a song was born.

For those of you with a sense of humor and who can relate to dating your share of undesirables, this one’s for you. Click below to download: “You Put the Hell in Hello and the Good in Goodbye.”