Last night, my beau and I stepped into a bit of an adventure. Trying to get back to our Friday Date Nights, we picked a restaurant called “Opaque.” The concept, to experience complete darkness.

Well enough. We though, ‘Oh, how romantic. Candles, plush seating, dark chocolate and cherries.’ Not quite.

The concept is actually much deeper. When you enter, you’re asked to pre order your meal and check your bags and cell phone or any other light emitting device at the door. Fine. Did that.

Next, your server appears. She is blind. And you’re asked to take her right shoulder as she leads you through this pitch black maze until you get to your table.

Folks…when I say pitch black, I mean not really dark. I mean, you can stick you fingers a milimeter from your eyes and you WILL NOT be able to see them. There is no adjusting to the light. This is it. Black. New meaning to the word Black if you ask me.

To be honest, when I first sat down, I started to panic. I got lightheaded and clammy. If it was possible, I thought I was going to black out. My beau reassured me and after a few deep breaths and quiet moments, I slowly settled into a night of heightened audio perception and touch. But it was not romantic or sensual. It was primal and based in survival. Bottom line: It was amazing.

What an experience to enjoy a meal in utter blackness all the while trying to remain normal and in control. The control freak in me was challeneged to the nth degree. At the end of it, I took home a shocking understanding of what it might be like for someone who once saw light, but now is in the black. They must be incredible people.

If you ever get the chance to experience this, please do. If you’re not in LA, see if you can create this for yourself at home.

On that note, may you all have a fabulous, eye-opening 2008 filled with lots of love and joy.

With lots of love and peace,
Shaheen

Tags: Food and Drink by Shaheen Sheik
1 Comment »

this past year has brought a lot of personal turbulence.  with my mother and my father-in-law both being diagnosed with cancer, we’re not exactly sure how we all just got through it.  most recently, my sister-in-law’s parents were killed in their home in india.  the insanity and tragedy of such violence overwhelmed my entire family.  for sure, we’re all looking forward to the end of 2007.

with things finally settling down at home, i decided to get back to finishing my album.  everyday i sit down in the studio surrounded by my instruments and my notes hoping that my muse will find me once again.  no doubt, i’ve met her a few times in the last week.  she’s looking well.

the latest song i’m working on is called "i wonder" and it’s about the murders in our family.  i can’t help but cry each time i track the vocals or listen to the song from start to finish.  but i think those are the best pieces of art.  the ones that make you feel something in your most sacred spaces are the ones that are worth sharing.

when the album is done and you all get a chance to listen to it, i hope i can touch your hearts with this song.

Tags: Music & Creativity by Shaheen Sheik
No Comments »

just something i saw today and wanted to share. peter gabriel is one of my heroes and this performance makes me love him even more given that he’s bouncing around in a giant ball on his stage. i LOVE it. hope you enjoy!

Tags: Music & Creativity by Shaheen Sheik
No Comments »

This is a recent message from DJ Elayne in the UK.  It’s very exciting!  "Circle" is climbing up the charts.  If you can email her and request "Circle," maybe we can get it to #1!!!!

——————————————————————

Just to let you know, your track ‘Circle’ is been played on Colourful Radio and is currently in my Top 30 chart; up 2 places from last week’s 18 to this week’s 16. Please ask as many of your friends who likes ‘Circle’ to email my show afternoondelight@colourfulradio.com and request that it be played this will move it up the chart.

Elayne
Afternoon Delight

Tags: Press and Radio by Shaheen Sheik
No Comments »

dear friends,

my song "wildflower world" (co-written by rick neigher) is up for a spot on the star lounge cd.  also if i win, i get to perform live on star 98.7 fm.

but it will take your vote to make it happen.  here’s how to do it:

1)  stop by star987.com

2)  scroll down to "wildflower world" by shaheen

3) click the button next to the song and enter your email address before you hit submit.

4)  you’ll get a verification email to the address you entered.  there will be a link there.  click the link so that you’re vote is counted!

one vote per email.

thanks so much!

love and peace,

shaheen

Tags: Press and Radio by Shaheen Sheik
No Comments »

in a way, i feel a little bit like i’ve been in some sort of crazy car crash, broke my leg and finally got my cast off!  but now that the cast is off, i have to build up my muscles to walk again.  i have broken my ankle once, years ago.  i know that the rehab left me a lot stronger than even before the break.

that’s what i’m hoping happens with my music.  last night, i ran through my vocal exercises for the first time in 6 months.  if you can believe it, i broke out into a sweat and was short of breath.  clearly i am out of shape.  this long away from practicing is too long, but life happens and you figure out a way to reintegrate right?

it felt good though.  and i felt proud.  for being willing to go through my version of rehab and for actually starting the process yesterday.  plan to write a song soon.

Tags: Music & Creativity by Shaheen Sheik
1 Comment »

it actually happened.  my mom made it through four rounds of chemo.  yesterday was her last one.  my dad and i were with her in the hospital and we just talked and managed to laugh a fair bit.  a far cry from her first chemo, where for the most part, she cried through the whole thing.  all six hours of it.

now she’s at home, resting and recuperating and getting her energy stored up for my wedding.  in 2 1/2 weeks, i’m getting married to one of the most gracious, generous men i’ve met.  we’ll be with 60 of our closest friends and family on a beach in cabo san lucas.

our special day will mark the end of mom’s chemo and my father-in-law’s brain surgery he underwent last week to remove a tumor.  both parents are at home safely recovering.  all doctors have given the go-ahead for the wedding hangama and travels.&nbsp

there is a light at the end of this tunnel.  healthy parents.  exchanging life-affirming vows with my beloved.  we made it through.

thank you all for your love, prayers and kind words though this very intense time.  if nothing else, my sweetheart and i have a new-found, deep appreciation for the zest of life. 

when all is said and done, my wish is that all the fire we walked through left me stronger and more raw for my music and art and of course, for life.

Tags: Life & Philosophy by Shaheen Sheik
No Comments »

sometimes the mood strikes me to write and let it flow.  mom is not doing so well.  her chemo is starting to rage through her body and pain and discomfort are becoming more of the norm than not.  that is hard to be witness to.  i see my parents entering into a different chapter in their lives.  one in which they are bound to each other to give care and nurture.  my dad gets up with my mom when she cries from the pain and presses her head or puts on new age music on to relax her.  it worked the other night.  she fell asleep.

i’m not sure how to help my dad though.  when i go home, he doesn’t really take a break, though i want him to.  i want him to get in the car and drive to the beach and just hang, but he’s not that type.  he likes staying at home and watching the indian channels on tv and translating all the tamil movies to my friend bula - she’s assamese. 

times like these show you how important family is - chosen or genetic.  it also shows me how immediately your life can be put into a tailspin or on temporary hold, depending on how you look at it.  time seems suspended in the air right now.  it feels like the longest 5 months ahead of us.  chemo, radiation. 

there are some good things happening too though.  many blessings coming down the road.  mom will be cancer free.  that will be the biggest gift.

Tags: Health by Shaheen Sheik
2 Comments »

this weekend, mom’s spirits were up for the most part.  we met with her oncologist for the first time last week - his name is sohail syed and he’s pakistani.  he’s the right kind of doctor for mom.  he just tells her what to do - as in, let’s start chemo this week.  i think she likes her doctors clear and confident in their recommendations.  it makes her have to think less.  she’s rather not be empowered with the decision, but put her trust in the doctors she aligns with.

so…chemo starts this thursday and goes every three weeks for a total of 4,  3-hour treatments.  dad and i will be with her at the sessions playing electronic sudoko and whatever else to distract her from the taxotere and
cycholophosphamide surging through her.

ahila and i took mom to naimies in the valley to find a wig for her.  we found her one.  she will end up having better hair than me or ahila.  she
will have luscious 25-year old hair.  we might have to thin it down just a little to keep our jealousies from taking over!

i also got a book called "what to eat if you have cancer."  i figure i could pack lunches for all of us for these thursdays since kaiser has posted signs saying that they have stopped their lunch service for chemo patients.  they
recommend we bring a packed lunch.  easy enough.  apparently nutrition can be the difference between low energy and energy enough for a toddler during chemo.  i’m aiming for the energy of a insolent teenager.  that would
suffice and be funny.

okay…here are the dates so you can light a candle or say a prayer extra:

thursday, may 10
thursday, may 31
thursday, june 21
thursday, july 12 (we’re done!!!!)

sohail the pakistani gave us the go ahead for the wedding and mexico and thought it would be lovely for mom to get to travel.  he said if her immune system is a bit knocked down, then they’d give her a shot of neupogen to jump start her white blood cells enough to make the trip.

by god’s grace, we are getting through the days just fine.

thank you for all of your love.

Tags: Health by Shaheen Sheik
No Comments »

friday morning my mom was diagnosed with first stage breast cancer.  thankfully it is early enough that she has all options available and given her age, her prognosis is great.  but we are in the middle of this world we never thought we’d visit.  here we are though.  cancer.  chemotherapy.  radiation.  surgery.  and not necessarily in that order.  she wants books on health and healing.  i am heading to my yoga studio today for practice and to browse the bookshelf there.  she told me not to get her anything too smart.  she wants to be able to understand it.  no talk of metaphysics she says.  forget that she’s a doctor.  remember that she’s a patient who wants to be filled with hope and positivity.  prayers help.

she’s calling the surgeon today to schedule her surgery.  after agonizing over what surgery she should do, she called me and asked "do you think it’s okay?"  i told her absolutely.  she’s going to be so fine after all of this is over and she will have too many other things to look forward to so that cancer will be such a small part of her daytime musings. 

i will keep you posted as this goes on.  life is fragile, precious and beautiful.

Tags: Health by Shaheen Sheik
No Comments »