An Exclusive Interview... with Myself.

Wearing an oversized t-shirt and shorts with holes in them, Diana smiles apologetically as we meet at her home for our interview. "You caught me before naptime," she jokes. "That's when I usually get ready for the day."

Leading me through her small three-bedroom townhouse, I see dishes leftover from this morning's breakfast, toys strewn about on the floor and some laundry piled in a basket waiting to be folded and put away.

Her three-year-old daughter, Marley watches a Disney movie on the computer in her bedroom and one-year-old son, Cohen climbs over his mom as we begin our interview.

WestFamilia.blogspot.com: You've always been a big dreamer with childhood fantasies of winning Grammies and interviews with Oprah. How do you feel about the path your life has taken?

Diana: I always thought God gave me this intense ambition for a reason; I must be destined to be rich and famous because I always wanted it so badly. But, you know, the older (and perhaps more mature) I become, the more I realize that perhaps not all God's gifts are given to us for obvious reasons. Like, God made teenagers with raging hormones, so does that mean he wants them to shack up with everybody they meet? No. Well that's kinda how it feels with me. Maybe I was just being tested and the greater reward was after the challenge.

WFB: So you don't have any regrets about not reaching your goals?

D: Regrets? No, none. Do I still have that small desire to travel the world singing to sold-out stadiums and walking down the red carpet in a gown designed just for me? Honestly, yes. I think part of me will always dream of that. But the better part of me knows that I am exactly where I belong doing exactly what I was truly destined to do.

WFB: So you were destined to be a mom?

D: Absolutely. Not even I can dream up anything more fulfilling, rewarding or beautiful as being a mom. I'm sure every one who is a mother would agree.

WFB: So if an opportunity presented itself right now for you to sign a record deal and go on tour, you would pass it up?

D: Are you kidding? I would be all over it. But I'd make sure my family was still my top priority and I'd bring them on tour with me. And since we're being hypothetical, Conway would be able to quit his job and I'd make big bucks and my whole family could join us on the road.

WFB: Are you actively doing anything right now to pursue a music career?

D: I haven't done any real gigs in a while. Before I had kids I was singing all the time: performing at restaurants and cafes and anywhere else I could. I still sing all the time, only now it's just lullabies and kid songs. And my audience consists of Cohen, Marley, and an occasional neighbor or church congregation.

WFB: You followed the same route as many aspiring musicians before you by moving to California when you were 21 years old without a job, with no money and occasionally having no place to call home. Looking back now, would you do things differently?

D: Like I said, I can't have regrets because everything I did then has led to to where I am now. I originally moved to California to find fame and fortune. In the beginning it seemed like it would be so easy. I found a manager right away who was getting me regular gigs all over Orange County. I honestly thought I would just get discovered and the rest would be history. It ended up being a bumpy road with lots of ups and downs. Ultimately though, California is where I found Conway so everything worked out just as it should.

WFB: Just for the record, you did try out for American Idol, right?

D: Yes I did. Twice actually. I think it was the third and fourth seasons. The first time I showed up too late and didn't even get to sing. The second time my best friend and I slept in line overnight and I sang my little heart out only to be cut after the first round. I was disappointed but I've had so many close opportunities that I was able to shrug it off. Although to be honest I have boycotted the show. It seemed a little unfair that the only person in my entire group that made the cut was the embarrassingly terrible singer.

WFB: Close opportunities?

D: There was always someone who knew someone who could get me in contact with someone who could get me a record deal. But the one time I really had my hopes up was when I was at a taping of Dancing with the Stars and after singing as part of an audience participation contest, I was approached by Carrie Ann Inaba's manager who took my information and asked if I'd be interested in being in a new singing/dancing reality contest show. She called me the next day and spoke as if I were already on the show. She said both Bruno and Carrie Ann were impressed with my voice and wanted me to participate but they had already filled the slots. She said if any positions opened up they would contact me and rehearsals would start the next month. But obviously, no spots opened up and nothing ever came of it. C'est la vie.

WFB: Are you still writing music?

D: The last song I wrote was four years ago. I was pregnant with Marley at the same time my sister was pregnant with her first children (twins). We both had serious complications with our pregnancies at the same time. Around 19 weeks, my problem corrected itself but Karen's didn't. She had to deliver her babies early and she lost them both. It was difficult for me emotionally both because I felt sorry for her loss and because I felt guilt for my blessing. I wrote a lullaby for her and gave it to her on a CD for Christmas.

WFB: You've recorded several CDs. Tell us about them. Any favorites?

D: I loved the experience I had making my first CD Everyday Epitome. The studio was amazing and the musicians were talented, but it was when I first started writing music and playing the guitar. I can't listen to that one now without cringing. When Conway and I got married he asked me to make a more current demo. I had a friend with a small studio in his backyard and we recorded ten or so songs, half were originals and half were covers. And then I made a lullaby CD while I was pregnant with Marley. I recorded it myself on the computer so the quality isn't great and I was huge and pregnant and had a hard time singing and breathing at times so it's not my greatest work but I'm still really proud of it. It was a CD that meant a lot to me. It's all covers that I arranged into lullabies and the song I wrote for Karen. I also recorded a jazzy arrangement of "Come, Follow Me" for the Home Teachers soundtrack. And I recorded vocals on an educational CD about Geology called Rock Music. It was fun and also helped me learn a little in the process. I guess if I had to pick a favorite, maybe the demo.

WFB: As far as music goes, what can your two fans expect from you in the future?

D: Whoa, two fans, that might be stretching it. I don't know if I have any fans left. It's been a while. But I've always said I'll keep singing until I don't love it anymore. And I still love it. Even though I don't do it very often these days, I still love performing my songs for people. As far as the future goes, I'm not really sure. My family and my children are my number one priority right now but I still sing whenever and wherever I can. I don't know. I guess we'll just have to see.

We at WestFamilia.Blogspot.com are curious to know if there are any fans left out there. So we are sponsoring a small contest. The prize is a copy of Diana's Lullaby CD and/or her Demo CD. To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen randomly from the comments. I'd say you probably have about a one in five chance of winning.... If five of you are even still reading at this point. Did we lose you? If not, thanks for hanging in there. Contest ends Friday night 10/22.