I could never live in LA.  The traffic.  The mayhem.  The outrageously overpriced housing market.  I could go on … but you feel my pain.

Mind you, I love to visit Los Angeles.  It’s like a foreign country, like a United Colours of Benetton billboard suddenly came to life.  I’ve got some dear friends there who show me the ropes.  An aspiring comedian.  An aspiring porn star.  An aspiring actor.  An aspiring model.

And then there’s my dear friend Lisa Donnelly … you guessed it, an aspiring singer.  Out of all of my friends, she’s the one whose talent is LIGHT YEARS above anyone else.  She should have been plucked from obscurity long ago.  But she forges on, dazzling people with her amazing voice and raw sensuality.  Lisa moved to LA to make it big a few years ago.  She’s fronted a rock band, released a funky, folksy solo CD and now is teaming up with another Kansan in a female duo called Foxxglove.

I make a point to see Lisa every time I’m in LA.  She’s one part tour guide, one part hostess, one part storyteller and one part delicious, hippy freak.  Mandatory stops always include the infamous Mustard Seed Café.  Not once have I ever gone there without seeing (or sitting next to) someone famous.  Color Lisa unimpressed.  She’s not the pop culture sponge I am.   “Look!  There’s Jason Lee from ‘My Name Is Earl!'”, I bark.  Lisa’s eyes will casually dart up and she’ll shrug her shoulders and then continue wolfing down her turkey burger.  (Best in the world, I might add.)

Yes, pity poor Lisa.  I constantly drag her to go play Joe Tourist with me.  This trip I wanted to go see the Hollywood sign with my friend Cristobal.  Of course, Lisa knew the perfect spot.  (Right next to Madonna’s former abode.)   I think she gets as much of a kick out of me as I get out of her.   I still represent those genuine midwestern values she grew up with.  Lord knows I’d let her corrupt me if given the opportunity.

After you’re done reading this blog, go to iTunes and immediately download her album “We Had A Thing”.  That CD has been firmly entrenched in iPod and stereo for the last six months.  Her voice is smoky, ethereal and divine.  And, yet, she can still manage to wail like a banshee playing gigs at The Roxy.

Wow, if I didn’t know any better … I’d think I have a crush on Lisa.  What ARE the chances?