Well, a year has passed with no performances or training. It was a year of studies, family, friends, gardening, and simple indulgences. It was also a year of healing. Though I removed my website and announced my retirement due to a severe injury last July, I am extremely pleased to announce that I was able to return to the skies on July 8th, 2010 with a SkyHi performance in Toronto.
Lifford Wine Agency invited me to return for performances at their annual prostate cancer research fundraiser for Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital back in March, and although I was apprehensive, I gave it my best shot to begin training again. Amazingly, four months later, I performed two shows with no pain, and I wasn't hobbling around the next day with overly sore muscles either.
In summary, I have decided to return to the industry. This will be on a part-time basis however, as I am now happily employed full-time at Toronto's renowned Hospital for Sick Children. I began last December as a Phlebotomist, and now have moved up to Pathology. It is a very rewarding job, and I am inspired daily by the endless fight that child patients display every day, battling some of the most serious illnesses and conditions. It certainly puts things into perspective.
Please feel free to contact me anytime by email or phone to inquire about performance or class bookings, and I will respond within 24 hours. Allow me to share my passion for aerial arts with you. It would be my pleasure, and hopefully yours too!
Thank you for your continued support.
Erica Leah
SkyHiGirl
I'm BAAAAAACK....
The End of SkyHiGirl?
Yep! It's true. I have decided to go back to College and begin a new chapter in my life. I am studying at a private college taking an accellerated program to become a Medical Laboratory Technician. It is hard work, since it is 18 months worth of studies piled into six, but I am loving every minute of it.
Medicine has been a passion of mine since a very young age, and I was actually attending U of T on a full scholarship after high school taking pre-med. I left after one year because the opportunity to travel the world, dance and develop my aerial act came to me. I made a pact to myself that I would one day return to school, and now I'm doing it! :-) (I think my parents are especially happy lol)
Although I am not studying to be a surgeon as my original intent was years ago, I am happy to be back in the field, and I feel lucky that I may be working in a hospital or clinical laboratory by as soon as June of 2009.
So, I have been asked a lot..... "Is this the end of SkyHiGirl?"
My answer is no. In fact, for my clients this is the best part: I have cut my rates by more than half. This weakened economy is affecting almost everyone, and since I truly love what I do, I felt it necessary to make this change. I will mostly be performing locally, but out of town gigs will be possible here and there.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Believe it or not, I am STILL waiting on an answer for my US immigration appeal. I have been waiting since February 2008. In any case, I am remaining positive and filling my mind and time with things that I love.
I have Billy, my family, my ongoing education, a roof over my head and a love for aerial arts....a love that I can assure you, is not going anywhere yet.
Happy Holidays Everyone! Follow your dreams.
Medicine has been a passion of mine since a very young age, and I was actually attending U of T on a full scholarship after high school taking pre-med. I left after one year because the opportunity to travel the world, dance and develop my aerial act came to me. I made a pact to myself that I would one day return to school, and now I'm doing it! :-) (I think my parents are especially happy lol)
Although I am not studying to be a surgeon as my original intent was years ago, I am happy to be back in the field, and I feel lucky that I may be working in a hospital or clinical laboratory by as soon as June of 2009.
So, I have been asked a lot..... "Is this the end of SkyHiGirl?"
My answer is no. In fact, for my clients this is the best part: I have cut my rates by more than half. This weakened economy is affecting almost everyone, and since I truly love what I do, I felt it necessary to make this change. I will mostly be performing locally, but out of town gigs will be possible here and there.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Believe it or not, I am STILL waiting on an answer for my US immigration appeal. I have been waiting since February 2008. In any case, I am remaining positive and filling my mind and time with things that I love.
I have Billy, my family, my ongoing education, a roof over my head and a love for aerial arts....a love that I can assure you, is not going anywhere yet.
Happy Holidays Everyone! Follow your dreams.
SkyHiGirl Featured in the CMT 40 Sexiest Music Videos
Just In!....
SkyHiGirl has just been featured on CMT's 40 Sexiest Music Videos for Cowboy Troy's "Hick Chick (Dance Mix)" video which made its debut in August 2007. SkyHiGirl appears in the video spinning and stretching from the ceiling of the night club, Graham Central Station, high above the crowd. To view the video, visit www.youtube.com/cowboytroy
SkyHiGirl has just been featured on CMT's 40 Sexiest Music Videos for Cowboy Troy's "Hick Chick (Dance Mix)" video which made its debut in August 2007. SkyHiGirl appears in the video spinning and stretching from the ceiling of the night club, Graham Central Station, high above the crowd. To view the video, visit www.youtube.com/cowboytroy
MTV LIVE Gladiator
Think you saw these photos of Erica Leah on MTV? You probably did! Thanks to feedback from viewers, you can now watch MTV LIVE Canada and catch Erica Leah putting MTV Hosts to the test on "Gladiator"!
Send your continued support for Erica Leah to feedback@mtv.ca
Send your continued support for Erica Leah to feedback@mtv.ca
My Quest to Return to America
It has been a dream of mine for as long as I could remember, to be a performer on stage, whether I was dancing ballet, jazz, tapping in my tap shoes, flipping around doing floor acrobatics, public speaking, learning to juggle, or just making things up as I went along. I spent many long years training as a dancer and had the wonderful opportunity to tour much of the globe on cruise ships once I got out of high school. I left a full scholarship to University behind, and my plan to become a heart surgeon, to follow this dream...an opportunity I grabbed hold of and held onto with all my might. My travels took me through the US, Central America, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, Canary Islands, Africa, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and more. I was slapped with some serious reality checks, fending for myself on international waters alone, without family or friends, at 19 years old. I learned more about life living on those ships and through those countries than I could have ever learned from 8 years of studying books in school. Among those things, how to survive being whisked off to a hospital in Sardenia (sick as a dog after eating some terrible meat in Banjul), have the ship leave me behind, spend 9 days of hideous hospitalization with no translators, being released and getting myself back to Spain to rejoin the ship, with nothing more than my dirty old pyjamas and a purse with no bank card in it (it got stolen!!). How I made it out of THAT alive....a testament to how determination and faith can work miracles!
I returned to Canada after four contracts and got a full-time office job as an event planner and event hostess. I loved it; I was good at it; I loved working with people. It gave me a chance to get dressed up in an evening gown every Friday and Saturday, emcee on the mic, host games and live auctions, chat with guests at parties…..whooops! and how could I forget the gourmet five-course meals!!!
After only less than a year being home from cruise ships, thinking all was settled for me, I got an out-of-the-blue interview offer for spokesmodel on the Playboy 50th Anniversary Club Tour. It was an extensive process, but soon after, I was packing my car to drive south and board a beautiful tour bus which would become my home for the next 4 months. I would travel through 50 states, mingle with celebrities, and spend the finale of the tour at Hef’s “Mansion” in Los Angeles. Upon my return I started to develop an aerial act in the basement of my father's house. It was not a career idea, just something on the side I was having fun doing when I had spare time. This led to an almost immediate gig at a small club in a small town near my home, and after feeling I could do more with it, I got some repeat gigs, and sent photos in emails to a number of companies, asking if they liked what I did. Within a week this flourished into a job offer from Maxim and Bud Light to be their solo performer on their U.S. National Maxim Exposure Tour. What an honor! But it wasn't that simple…. It required a LOT of paperwork to obtain the appropriate status to work in the U.S. Many said it wouldn't be possible, but with the help of a great immigration lawyer, we did it!! I then toured 56 cities across the US with Maxim and Bud Light and it was amazing. I worked that year, traveling back and forth from Toronto every week, most of the time taking Greyhound buses at ridiculous hours to Buffalo to catch my flights to other states (flights were far too expensive from Toronto), running around town with my luggage in tow, plus my equipment, sleeping in bus terminals and on cold airport floors ready to take early flights in the morning…. It was crazy, and looking back that was SO unsafe, but I did it continually, all in the name of doing what I loved: Performing. On a positive note, I learned where the best sleeping spots were in each airport, how to get free internet, and even how to get from being stranded on the side of the road with a broken rental car miss a flight, find out the airport closed early for maintenance, and somehow find a way to get BACK to Toronto within hours (without a ride) to catch a different flight from Pearson. Sometimes I don't know how I managed. I think I made my family tired just telling them about my escapades sometimes.
I worked that tour for two more years, 2006 and 2007. I also performed at Bud Bowl 2006 in Detroit with Snoop Dogg and Staind, and at Bud Bowl 2007 in Miami with Jimmy Buffet and Pharrell Williams. Fantastic time to say the least.
I couldn't take much more of the traveling insanity after the 2005 tour, sleeping in bus stations and in chairs with arms…..so 2006 came and I MOVED TO NASHVILLE!!! MY FAVORITE CITY ON THE PLANET. Why you ask? Nashville has the most friendly of people, it's a beautiful metropolitan city, not too large, with milder weather and affordable living. It has a breathtaking skyline, the Cumberland river dancing with Showboats, and an endless array of something that keeps my heart singing….music.
And here begins the journey to begin my life in a new and wonderful place….
Once I got here, I got the keys to my apartment and somehow managed to purchase all of my furniture AND have it delivered before 5pm, the same day! I was truly amazed by the peacefulness and beauty of my new home. The nature was breathtaking. The sun warm on my skin. The sound through my window, the water fountains putting me to sleep each night. I was in heaven. Each email I sent to my family and friends with updates was bursting with happiness and positivity.
My wonderful roommate, Jen (also from Pickering) showed up a couple days later and we packed the car to the ceiling with items from Wal-Mart to get the place nice and cozy. She stayed for three months. We had fun together, but I was sad when she left.
My first hockey game was in Nashville, NOT Canada!! Imagine that! But the Canucks won LOL! It was a proud moment.
Ahhh…the best hotels. Some with full kitchens….
Some with heavenly baths….
Some with fireplaces.
My favorite part of every single trip remained: Hanging above the crowd.
In June of 2006 I arrived at my hotel room in California to find Maxim Magazines slapped across every surface! I was on page 6-7??! Good lord! Patrick, thanks for doing up my room like this. It was very nice.
And then there was Denver.
I climbed mountains…
Went bowling (one of my favs).....
Rigged my equipment at Invesco Field…
Got to see my great friends….
Performed my show…..
And then I fell down a stair, resulting in THIS!!!
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g181/dancerica/IMG_2927sm.jpg
(I can still feel the pain when I look at this) I CAN BE SUCH A DORK!!!
That season we rode Big & Rich's Tour Bus to Knoxville for the Maxim event. It was much more comfortable than a plane or mini-van. I'd take that anyday. Thanks to Big & Rich!!
Shortly thereafter, I entered myself in the Miss Free FM 2007 Talent Competition in Dallas which I heard about through MySpace of all places. Took a chance and flew there on my own tab, hoping to get the win. I snuck into the venue during the day to rig up my equipment and hide it in the ceiling (so nobody would have a clue what I was gonna do) performed my talent that night…. And WOOOOT!!! My $600 expense turned into a $3000 profit! I was so honored to be selected the winner, and that risk I took paid off.
Then Tabu came along…..They did a weekly event called "Freak on Fridays" in Alabama, and I became a weekly guest performer. It was a sort of freakshow/goth/metal club. Very different from what I was used to. But I developed an appreciation, I met great people there and made some wonderful friends. I also witnessed some very interesting talent, including a fire-eating man who staple-gunned things to his forehead and hung three irons from each of his nipples. ACKKK!!!
Before I knew it, 2007 had arrived. The Maxim Tour 2007 began in March, this time known as "The Bud Light Maxim Hook Up Tour"!
I received a call halfway through the tour from a music video producer, asking if I would be available to perform in the new Cowboy Troy Music Video. Heck yea!! I'm still amazed that it took 13 hours on set to get three tiny appearances in the video. But that's not important….it was GREAT!!! And I would do it again in a heartbeat.
AND THEN CAME THE WWE DIVA SEARCH 2007. Now THIS topped everything I thought I'd ever do. I remember falling to the floor laughing and crying at the same time like a crazy person as soon as I got off the phone with WWE, so happily hysterical I couldn't even formulate a proper sentence. I called Gus, my gym buddy, great and wise friend, the man who's encouraged me for several years to submit to WWE, and he could barely understand what I was trying to tell him. He was really excited too. WWE wanted me to fly to LA for the WWE DIVA SEARCH! Holy craP!!! At this point I'm wondering what the heck is going on??! SO many great things it seemed!….. ;-P I was enthralled.
My friends and family back home got together with me for a little good luck soirree at home and at the Bear and Firkin before I flew to L.A.. They were all so supportive, and positive-minded that I would do well. I thank them for all their time and support and I will cherish that forever. Days later I was off to Huntington beach for the big competition.
I made it through three rounds, but sadly, was booted in the last round. They said if we made it that far, then our days with WWE were most likely not over. So here's to hoping they call one day soon!
As Miss 105.3 FREE FM, I was proud to entertain as the opening act for their Live 7 concert in Dallas at the Nokia Theatre. The show went great and I had fun. The concert was a blast too. I got changed into regular clothes as quick as possible then ran out to the audience and watched. Good times. If anybody is familiar with the groups "Mini Kiss" and "The Dan Band" you'll know what I mean.
Ahhhhh then there was the Discovery Channel Series……what a stress to try and get my video done properly. The whole video thing was NOT WORKING OUT FOR ME. They loved what I did for a living, they were super duper interested in the idea of me being a new series host for a show based on stunts, and in the end I had to submit a silly webcam video rather than my creatively planned digital video cam dvd. Uhhhh yeah so, I didn't get the gig. ;-P But it was great to be considered and brought through to stage 3 of the casting process. I'm proud I made it that far.
Who can forget about Nashville! I did some fun performances in my new home city too! These gigs in Nashville were all so much fun, and the audiences enjoyed them too. Flatteringly, I was nominated "Performance Artist of the Year" for the Nashville Nightlife Awards, which took place on the 24th of January, and was presented the award.
It has all been such a wonderful experience being in the US, moving here, living here, working here. I wish I could stay forever. But the sad reality is that even after all this work, I am being made to leave. My permanent residency application was denied on Dec 22nd while I was in Canada for some shows in Calgary and to spend the holidays with my family. I had a seriously hard time getting back into the US just to get my lease ended, collect my things, and return to Canada with my belongings and my car. I went through ridiculous interrogation coming across the border and in the end they only gave me til Feb 2 to take care of my things and leave the country. Sadly, years of hard work has come down to this… no job, no status to work or live in the US, and because I was denied (I suppose this is a post-9/11 thing) I will now have trouble returning to the US even to visit. Unless I marry someone. bahh! Yeah right. I will do as they order.
Since the beginning of this adventure I have felt it necessary to be here the honest way, file the proper forms, pay the proper fees, and apply for what I am qualified. If I would just marry someone to stay here, I would be married a long time ago. I've had the opportunity, and I've refused everytime. I will marry the person who I fall in love with, and who falls in love with me, wants to build a lasting, caring, positive and wonderful life with me, but that's the only way. I want to be in this country proudly, work hard, and not have to rely on anyone else to make that happen. The rest will fall into place. But it saddens me to know there are so many illegals in this country who end up being granted permission to stay, and those who do it the right way are made to leave. But this is life. I will work even harder this time to reach my dream. That's all I can do.
Nashville has offered me so very much. I will take home with me memories to last a lifetime. good friends. rock concerts. warm fires. coffeeshops. the peaceful sounds of water fountains at night. painting mod targets. painting OVER mod targets. sushi. acorns. laughter. love.
To my family and friends, I love you all so much. I am heading back to Canada at the end of this month but I will be working hard everyday to get back to this country the way I have always hoped, planned and strived for. I am currently appealing the denial of my residency using a wonderful lawyer who firmly believes my denial was unjust. We feel confident that this can be beaten. I made it through this much; to me, this isn't the end.
Please keep me in your thoughts, keep visiting my page for updates on my shows in other places, and most importantly, To Nashville: Please don't forget about me, cuz I'll be coming back to see y'all one day.
God Bless America.
God Bless. I'm Erica.
Jan 19, 2008.
I returned to Canada after four contracts and got a full-time office job as an event planner and event hostess. I loved it; I was good at it; I loved working with people. It gave me a chance to get dressed up in an evening gown every Friday and Saturday, emcee on the mic, host games and live auctions, chat with guests at parties…..whooops! and how could I forget the gourmet five-course meals!!!
After only less than a year being home from cruise ships, thinking all was settled for me, I got an out-of-the-blue interview offer for spokesmodel on the Playboy 50th Anniversary Club Tour. It was an extensive process, but soon after, I was packing my car to drive south and board a beautiful tour bus which would become my home for the next 4 months. I would travel through 50 states, mingle with celebrities, and spend the finale of the tour at Hef’s “Mansion” in Los Angeles. Upon my return I started to develop an aerial act in the basement of my father's house. It was not a career idea, just something on the side I was having fun doing when I had spare time. This led to an almost immediate gig at a small club in a small town near my home, and after feeling I could do more with it, I got some repeat gigs, and sent photos in emails to a number of companies, asking if they liked what I did. Within a week this flourished into a job offer from Maxim and Bud Light to be their solo performer on their U.S. National Maxim Exposure Tour. What an honor! But it wasn't that simple…. It required a LOT of paperwork to obtain the appropriate status to work in the U.S. Many said it wouldn't be possible, but with the help of a great immigration lawyer, we did it!! I then toured 56 cities across the US with Maxim and Bud Light and it was amazing. I worked that year, traveling back and forth from Toronto every week, most of the time taking Greyhound buses at ridiculous hours to Buffalo to catch my flights to other states (flights were far too expensive from Toronto), running around town with my luggage in tow, plus my equipment, sleeping in bus terminals and on cold airport floors ready to take early flights in the morning…. It was crazy, and looking back that was SO unsafe, but I did it continually, all in the name of doing what I loved: Performing. On a positive note, I learned where the best sleeping spots were in each airport, how to get free internet, and even how to get from being stranded on the side of the road with a broken rental car miss a flight, find out the airport closed early for maintenance, and somehow find a way to get BACK to Toronto within hours (without a ride) to catch a different flight from Pearson. Sometimes I don't know how I managed. I think I made my family tired just telling them about my escapades sometimes.
I worked that tour for two more years, 2006 and 2007. I also performed at Bud Bowl 2006 in Detroit with Snoop Dogg and Staind, and at Bud Bowl 2007 in Miami with Jimmy Buffet and Pharrell Williams. Fantastic time to say the least.
I couldn't take much more of the traveling insanity after the 2005 tour, sleeping in bus stations and in chairs with arms…..so 2006 came and I MOVED TO NASHVILLE!!! MY FAVORITE CITY ON THE PLANET. Why you ask? Nashville has the most friendly of people, it's a beautiful metropolitan city, not too large, with milder weather and affordable living. It has a breathtaking skyline, the Cumberland river dancing with Showboats, and an endless array of something that keeps my heart singing….music.
And here begins the journey to begin my life in a new and wonderful place….
Once I got here, I got the keys to my apartment and somehow managed to purchase all of my furniture AND have it delivered before 5pm, the same day! I was truly amazed by the peacefulness and beauty of my new home. The nature was breathtaking. The sun warm on my skin. The sound through my window, the water fountains putting me to sleep each night. I was in heaven. Each email I sent to my family and friends with updates was bursting with happiness and positivity.
My wonderful roommate, Jen (also from Pickering) showed up a couple days later and we packed the car to the ceiling with items from Wal-Mart to get the place nice and cozy. She stayed for three months. We had fun together, but I was sad when she left.
My first hockey game was in Nashville, NOT Canada!! Imagine that! But the Canucks won LOL! It was a proud moment.
Ahhh…the best hotels. Some with full kitchens….
Some with heavenly baths….
Some with fireplaces.
My favorite part of every single trip remained: Hanging above the crowd.
In June of 2006 I arrived at my hotel room in California to find Maxim Magazines slapped across every surface! I was on page 6-7??! Good lord! Patrick, thanks for doing up my room like this. It was very nice.
And then there was Denver.
I climbed mountains…
Went bowling (one of my favs).....
Rigged my equipment at Invesco Field…
Got to see my great friends….
Performed my show…..
And then I fell down a stair, resulting in THIS!!!
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g181/dancerica/IMG_2927sm.jpg
(I can still feel the pain when I look at this) I CAN BE SUCH A DORK!!!
That season we rode Big & Rich's Tour Bus to Knoxville for the Maxim event. It was much more comfortable than a plane or mini-van. I'd take that anyday. Thanks to Big & Rich!!
Shortly thereafter, I entered myself in the Miss Free FM 2007 Talent Competition in Dallas which I heard about through MySpace of all places. Took a chance and flew there on my own tab, hoping to get the win. I snuck into the venue during the day to rig up my equipment and hide it in the ceiling (so nobody would have a clue what I was gonna do) performed my talent that night…. And WOOOOT!!! My $600 expense turned into a $3000 profit! I was so honored to be selected the winner, and that risk I took paid off.
Then Tabu came along…..They did a weekly event called "Freak on Fridays" in Alabama, and I became a weekly guest performer. It was a sort of freakshow/goth/metal club. Very different from what I was used to. But I developed an appreciation, I met great people there and made some wonderful friends. I also witnessed some very interesting talent, including a fire-eating man who staple-gunned things to his forehead and hung three irons from each of his nipples. ACKKK!!!
Before I knew it, 2007 had arrived. The Maxim Tour 2007 began in March, this time known as "The Bud Light Maxim Hook Up Tour"!
I received a call halfway through the tour from a music video producer, asking if I would be available to perform in the new Cowboy Troy Music Video. Heck yea!! I'm still amazed that it took 13 hours on set to get three tiny appearances in the video. But that's not important….it was GREAT!!! And I would do it again in a heartbeat.
AND THEN CAME THE WWE DIVA SEARCH 2007. Now THIS topped everything I thought I'd ever do. I remember falling to the floor laughing and crying at the same time like a crazy person as soon as I got off the phone with WWE, so happily hysterical I couldn't even formulate a proper sentence. I called Gus, my gym buddy, great and wise friend, the man who's encouraged me for several years to submit to WWE, and he could barely understand what I was trying to tell him. He was really excited too. WWE wanted me to fly to LA for the WWE DIVA SEARCH! Holy craP!!! At this point I'm wondering what the heck is going on??! SO many great things it seemed!….. ;-P I was enthralled.
My friends and family back home got together with me for a little good luck soirree at home and at the Bear and Firkin before I flew to L.A.. They were all so supportive, and positive-minded that I would do well. I thank them for all their time and support and I will cherish that forever. Days later I was off to Huntington beach for the big competition.
I made it through three rounds, but sadly, was booted in the last round. They said if we made it that far, then our days with WWE were most likely not over. So here's to hoping they call one day soon!
As Miss 105.3 FREE FM, I was proud to entertain as the opening act for their Live 7 concert in Dallas at the Nokia Theatre. The show went great and I had fun. The concert was a blast too. I got changed into regular clothes as quick as possible then ran out to the audience and watched. Good times. If anybody is familiar with the groups "Mini Kiss" and "The Dan Band" you'll know what I mean.
Ahhhhh then there was the Discovery Channel Series……what a stress to try and get my video done properly. The whole video thing was NOT WORKING OUT FOR ME. They loved what I did for a living, they were super duper interested in the idea of me being a new series host for a show based on stunts, and in the end I had to submit a silly webcam video rather than my creatively planned digital video cam dvd. Uhhhh yeah so, I didn't get the gig. ;-P But it was great to be considered and brought through to stage 3 of the casting process. I'm proud I made it that far.
Who can forget about Nashville! I did some fun performances in my new home city too! These gigs in Nashville were all so much fun, and the audiences enjoyed them too. Flatteringly, I was nominated "Performance Artist of the Year" for the Nashville Nightlife Awards, which took place on the 24th of January, and was presented the award.
It has all been such a wonderful experience being in the US, moving here, living here, working here. I wish I could stay forever. But the sad reality is that even after all this work, I am being made to leave. My permanent residency application was denied on Dec 22nd while I was in Canada for some shows in Calgary and to spend the holidays with my family. I had a seriously hard time getting back into the US just to get my lease ended, collect my things, and return to Canada with my belongings and my car. I went through ridiculous interrogation coming across the border and in the end they only gave me til Feb 2 to take care of my things and leave the country. Sadly, years of hard work has come down to this… no job, no status to work or live in the US, and because I was denied (I suppose this is a post-9/11 thing) I will now have trouble returning to the US even to visit. Unless I marry someone. bahh! Yeah right. I will do as they order.
Since the beginning of this adventure I have felt it necessary to be here the honest way, file the proper forms, pay the proper fees, and apply for what I am qualified. If I would just marry someone to stay here, I would be married a long time ago. I've had the opportunity, and I've refused everytime. I will marry the person who I fall in love with, and who falls in love with me, wants to build a lasting, caring, positive and wonderful life with me, but that's the only way. I want to be in this country proudly, work hard, and not have to rely on anyone else to make that happen. The rest will fall into place. But it saddens me to know there are so many illegals in this country who end up being granted permission to stay, and those who do it the right way are made to leave. But this is life. I will work even harder this time to reach my dream. That's all I can do.
Nashville has offered me so very much. I will take home with me memories to last a lifetime. good friends. rock concerts. warm fires. coffeeshops. the peaceful sounds of water fountains at night. painting mod targets. painting OVER mod targets. sushi. acorns. laughter. love.
To my family and friends, I love you all so much. I am heading back to Canada at the end of this month but I will be working hard everyday to get back to this country the way I have always hoped, planned and strived for. I am currently appealing the denial of my residency using a wonderful lawyer who firmly believes my denial was unjust. We feel confident that this can be beaten. I made it through this much; to me, this isn't the end.
Please keep me in your thoughts, keep visiting my page for updates on my shows in other places, and most importantly, To Nashville: Please don't forget about me, cuz I'll be coming back to see y'all one day.
God Bless America.
God Bless. I'm Erica.
Jan 19, 2008.
