Here we go way to fast, watch out boy, you're gonna crash

Danny crashed yesterday at the Dunes, he seems to be alright despite the quad landing on him. He says his ribs are sore. No I don't worry. Jesus. Since he is ok, the worst part was, he was not on his quad...UGH..he was on his Dad's...Crap! He is finally home. Hopefully no more dunes for awhile!

Still typing my concerts attended, up to 1994. More shows I don't remember attending. Usually I can just visualize the band on stage, just some small recollection. Here's a few in this batch: The Sundays, Curve and OOHH- Weezer. My concert list says I saw Weezer..oh dear, I must not have been impressed (and as many know, I am still not!) It was a Material Issue show and it says they opened. Maybe I was backstage or chatting it up with someone? I will have to find a journal or calendar that corresponds to it, may shed some light.

This next week marks the end of an era in Phoenix radio, some of which I was a part of. The Zone is switching format to some form of Hot Talk. It has been alternative in some form or another since maybe '89 or something. It is sad to hear, especially leaving The Edge as the only Alt in the valley. I just goggled myself, I don't make the first page anymore-hahaha! That damn Leah Miller on Much Music is everywhere now- Apparently she is Canada's teen fashion queen- Please Laugh Very Loud for that- I think I started this blog about Leah Miller being a Much VJ- Still hilarious-COME ON!
Well, farewell KZON, I have quite a few memorable moments in that place incluing winning my Best of Phoenix there. I can't find that online anymore but
Here's some I found:
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/1999-04-15/music/music2.html
http://internsteve.panhorst.net/take-one.html

Btw- when I googled my entire name, I LOVE that my name linked to The Posies official site because of my photos being in the boxset! Woo hoo! I actually linked to two Posies sites.

I started a top songs of 2005 list, I share type it out soon OK?

Still no further work on Bay Window, I just want to shake myself out of it! I did talk to a SMB pal last night about building guitars, so I DID do research.. I am sad with myself but I wasn't feeling it last night despite reading it for two hours to get me in the mood. So Sad..don't tell me I have lost my writing urge already, or is it writers block???

Same Old Flame - Sloan

A photo of what I have been looking at for the past few days, the wall..as in not getting much accomplished!

I started making an excel spread sheet of all the concerts I have been to, now there's a time passer!

I have things to do, and even if I didn't, I could be working on "Bay Window" which I now fear I am avoiding!

Today is a Sloan Marathon in the said above office. I have 5 discs full of live stuff and B-sides to last the day(and more it seems) I had downloaded them from SMB and finally got them off Dan's computer last night.

I was mortified today as I swept through my daily websites and saw Jen Good had photos of her and Matt in the shower. I ask this question to myself or anyone? Would you post photos of yourself in the shower with your husband? Now add the element that your husband is a major rock star and a lot of random people see said website. I wonder if I had her looks, would I take as many photos of myself as she does. I think I would take more pix of Matt then myself. Oh and she is in full makeup in the shots. If you were Matt, would you like this? I guess I am more private. It is a moral question to think about.

Why am I avoiding Bay Window? I'm worried now. (sorry that is on right now, sweetest little Patty song) No seriously, I could have written the last three days yet I think I am avoiding it. I looked back at some of my early blogs about writing, I was exhilarated. I still can be but I am struggling so much with the painful part. Can't I just write a novel where it is all happy, happy? "Nothing bad ever happens to me" I don't think I will finish by year's end. But hey, no one is holding me to anything.

Dan is still in the dunes until Friday now. Sad and quiet around the house. I wonder how he will deal with me gone for a week. I guess he usually doesn't hang out at the house when I am gone. The dogs definitely act different when someone is missing. Della has been acting up, nabbing whatever she can get her paws and mouth on. Wicket is clingy and Jasper is mouthier than ever.

I think it is scary that I look at this list of concerts I saw and I can’t remember some of them. I don't smoke or drink, I have no excuse. Violent Femmes at Mesa Amp, Aug of 1991. No recollection at all! School of Fish at Mason Jar-I love SOF but never remember seeing them at the Jar. Had to be boys distracting me. Some concerts I remember like they were yesterday. Bizarre!

I guess I should do some type of tops of 2005 list. I have been bad about those in recent years. I could write a year in review, highlights, concerts attended. That consists of 3 I think! (BUT what a threesome) Maybe tomorrow when I am avoiding work and Bay Window (sniff)

Never travel far without a little Big Star

Andrew keeps telling me I need to dump CFOX for The Edge in Toronto. I had tried it before, when I first moved into the basement office but they played WAY too many commercials! And too many whiny Brit bands I don't dig. I can put up with harder rock then wimp alt I guess.. So today when BOB got to me, I switched to The Edge in TO. It was funny, Andrew called me the last week and I could hear Sloan in the background, he was listening to The Edge, called me to tell me I really need to switch. Within about an hour and a half I heard both Matt and Sloan but they still play waaaaaay too many commercials. The fun bit however was they just did a tribute to both Paul Westerberg and Alex Chilton's birthdays (Chilton today, Paul is on 31st) by playing "Alex Chilton" by The Replacements. Awesome to hear on the radio of course! There was actually a new Big Star record that came out this year, it was decent, there's at least one good Jon song, one good Ken song, one good Alex song. The biggest bummer of hearing it was that he said "Pleased to meet me" came out in 1988. I used it in a scene in the novel but it's still 1987 in the scene..bOOOO! I haven't done my back up fact checking on all the music references to make sure the years are correct, that just answered that one. I will have to use a song from "Tim" instead, no major biggie, just don't get to use "Alex Chilton" for Elise to dance around to.
Just like every winter and spring breaks, I am staying up way too late, screwing around, not the least bit productive. Problem is, I still have to work this break, unlike last year. I am dragging ass! I hate getting old and not being able to stay up late and not feel it. Dan is at the Dunes, so he's not home to yell at me to get to bed.
"Children by millions scream for Alex Chilton when he comes around"- "Alex Chilton"- The Replacements

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year to you

I think the above lyrics are from "Reggae Chirstmas" from the Big Bryan Adams...To much egg nog and Canadian Christmas songs! Hehehe
If the above shirt could only be amended to read "Cronkite Village" Called!

Message Board holiday parties??

Last night I "attended" a message board holiday party...Bizarre, an indicator of the world coming to an end? A huge indicator of what a LOSER I am??? But here's the odd part, it was fun!.. There are things to love about the computer and things to despise. I have always loved the idea that you can meet folks from all over who have similar interests. I was on the Posies mailing list for many years. I met many folks at shows, got Christmas cards and shared music from people as far away as Belgium. Growing up, I always had friends in many states due to traveling with the drag boat. So meeting people (nice normal people) on line is not so odd to me or is having a penpal=email pal. The internet is flipping out at ASU today so I can't blog long or may lose it. There is some rumor going around ASU that Pres Crow's office is checking if people are working full days today.
So anyway, the Sloan message board party was fun, Dan thought it was sick but got a few laughs out of it. I do worry about myself sometimes but oh well..talking music is my objective, is that wrong?
I did do some writing yesterday but I need a full, uninterrupted night to get through this scene properly, it is too important to rush through... I tried a bit in the basement here and started balling again, not good work form-hahaha Mod Maid-the poster child for "good work form"
Happy Holidays to who ever bothers to read my blathering...xoxxo

You gotta "Gimme that, Gimme that" chart!

Here they are, Top 5 are Top 5, rest are random. I am still learning all the b-sides, etc.. list subject to change by next 12/21. Remind me to do a Posies one soon!
Mod Maid's favorite Sloan songs (12/21/05)

I am the cancer
Everything you've done wrong
C'mon, C'mon
500 Up
Sugartune
If it feels good do it
The N.S.
I can feel it
It's in your eyes
So beyond me
Hollow Head
Dreaming of you
Try to make it
Worried Now
Sensory Deprivation
Gimme that
She Says

Matt Mays and Sam Roberts together

Found this photo today on Chart site. It is from a holiday show Gord Downie of the Hip had last week. That would have been something to be at! Plus Sam has been out of the scene for awhile, he looks better than he did at Live 8. 2006 should mean a new Sam record. That song City of Lakes must be on Matt Mays first record, more for the want list! I told Dan he could get me a Maplemusic.com gift cert and I would be one happy camper (wait, I will never be a happy 'camper', strike that statement)
I am currently loading Best Kissers in my itunes, haven't heard their stuff in ages...actually I am adding some obscure tunes I like from bands like: Senseless things, Second Self, Then Jerico, Railway Childran, Queen Sarah Saturday. All those CDs in my closet that are in cut out record bins throughout the world. I think I am the queen of cut-out bands. My record collection isn't worth crap because I like bands that never sold any records.
54*40 is on BOB as I type. Been a good BOB day- Arias and Symphonies-Spoons, Diamond Stud and My Song-GT, We Run- Strange Advance and "Angel in my pocket" One to One-yeah!
I have not written now in over a week, maybe one of the longer times I have gone without(it's like a drug, I am jonesing, seriously) KBM asked me if I had a goal to when to finish. I have felt all along I should finish in 2005. I think I can once Christmas is over. I have one of my favorite plotted out scenes to write next, I actually can not wait. KBM also said I should be excited to finish not sad. I should be excited to edit? Yes and no, cutting out things will be difficult, cleaning up older scenes I wrote early on will be fun. I doubt I have any sense of how to edit properly. Then there is the task of finding all the tense issues. I also still have some of it written from all perspectives, not just Elise. I have an entire scene written from Patrick's prospective that I felt was a crucial scene. I need to somehow re-write it from her point of view (which would be difficult since she is sleeping) or determine if it is necessary. I want to tweak Mimi's character as I think she is so rich a character but I missed some of that in translation. I might try some character writing exercises to draw more of her out. Spoiled attention starved rich girl who tries too hard, hurts those she cares about, too dramatic for her own good. I will need to work on that. I was telling Molly something about the novel yesterday and they way I tld her it sounded like I was telling a real story, like the people were real. It kinda freaked me out! I said that to Molly but she didn't find it outlandish at all.
Had a Sloan dream last night which was nice because I have been having rotten nightmares as of late (eating dinner too late?) So in honor of the guys showing up in my dreams I will post my top 16 Sloan songs in the next post.
Gotta get back to work now...yeah really work, I swear!

City of Lakes - Matt Mays

May I introduce you to Dartmouth, NS resident and fine musician Matt Mays. I had Andrew get his most recent CD a few months back. Leave it to me, I have yet to listen to the whole CD but I have been hearing a few more of his tracks on the all Canadian channel on XM. Last night, after a lot of fuss to get my Sirius radio receiver working (Dan on roof placing antenna properly) I finally got to hear the show on Sirius hosted by Chris Murphy and Jay Ferguson. I have been trying to listen for the past few weeks, Sears had my receiver on back order, the online feed was down, etc.. So their first song they played on their show was "City of lakes" by Matt Mays. Significant why? Well you know how many times this loops back to the novel. The City of Lakes is Dartmouth, NS where my story takes place. Am I reaching? Well, I finally hear the Sloan show and the first song I hear is a song about a city in NS, not too odd for them to play it, but for me, it just figures..
In my novel I also had Elise receive 6 roses at her dorm for their 6 month anniversary. It goes with the story that her beau is coming home the day after their 6 month anniversary. Not making the connection in my own mind, Dan came home yesterday with 6 roses... well of course that is because it was our 6 year wedding anniversary..but still... Dan usually just buys a bunch of flowers, he has never specifically picked out an amount of flowers. I think these things are odd, maybe I think too much!
Back to Matt Mays, I promise I will listen to the whole record now and pick up his first also. I am really digging what I have heard so far. The XM channel has increased my Canadian artist want list, I keep hearing tons of new artists. Now with Sirius, there are 2 all Canadian artist channels. I will explore them more soon, we have it set up in Dan's living room through the TV which won't really work since it's the only TV. I wanted it in the computer room but the dumb home kit is bad news. XM doesn't have troubles like this..maybe Howard will hear about this and buy a stronger satellite or something..all the hubbub, could care less if he's on there, just give me Chris and Jay every Sat and Sun night. The Smugglers singer has a show too which was very entertaining.
Been busy with holiday, taking away my writing time..maybe I will get in the spirit soon. Dan brought home a tree today, we'll see if that helps my holday cheer. I think I need to dig out my fave Canadian Christmas songs too.
School is so dead today, kids are all gone. Time to get all my projects done before they return. Gotta get the plans for 2nd semester Cronkite Village going. (Because I just can't wait to drive the 15 seat van again-ugh) Plan to build the alumni website for the Blaze. All sorts of projects.
Got more pictures up on the flickr site.

Soul Breaking-The Tea Party

I have to tell ya, The Tea Party are the best mood music when you are writing the most depressing portion of your novel. My ipod always plays the right mood music for what the mood of the scene I may be writing..it's a bizarre phenomenon. This past week has been gut wrenching trying to write. I think I balled my eyes out for two hours while writing a chapter. If one wonders if this is good therapy, I would guess I could attest to that. I am coming up to a scene that I have always believed would be the crux of the novel. I hope it writes as well as I have envisioned it. I am slowly winding it up, I guess I have a goal of finishing in 2005 but we'll see. Holidays seem to get in the way. I am formulating Jim and Andrea's story in my head, guessing that one is next but I better take some time off. Trying to plan my trip to NS in June, if I work hard, I hope to have Bay Window edited by then. My real job is going to get pretty hectic soon between selecting new Village kids, summer broadcast institute and orientations are coming soon. I hope I have energy to write after all that starts flooding in. I guess I realize spring semester is more work! I need to really take advantage of these next few weeks of quiet. You know, not spend it blogging, SMBing or reading my work from the night before ;)
OK I just got an email from Bob Geldof..it's funny how the One campaign makes their emails appear to come from Bob! I haven't heard "Do they know?" yet this year. Maybe that is why I am bah humbug.
I did my radio show Wednesday. I had a blast; I goofed around and sent a bunch of songs out to my Blaze kids, my pals, etc... I babbled on like I always did on the air ;) No I don't suddenly think I miss it, I just had a lot of fun doing it. It was comfortable. I just hope it wasn't my only natural talent. Albert stopped by when I was done, such a nice surprise. I miss my grads! Andrew called me and said it was the best wo hours he has heard on radio for years. I said "Yeah, that's because most of the records were yours!" He was surprised I have opened my ears to DFA 1979 and BSS. I can hear stuff beyond Haywire if you try me!
Almost time for the Cronkite School holiday party. Doing a white elephant gift thing. Just hoping they have something I like to eat as they are having Mexican. I guess it wouldn't be cool if I show up at the party with a cheese sandwich eh?
Thinking about going to Mich for New Years, not sure..want to go see those guys on NYE but they are playing in Barrie, a rather long drive from Mich. Just kinda wanting something fun to do. Dan is going to Dunes again, I am certainly not! Just kinda thinking about it because my Miller cousins want to see me (nice to be wanted) of course Nova wants me to come too. We'll see...
Got Dan a new wedding ring last night. That makes me very happy. It is titanium, just simple but won't get so muffed up like his did at work. I looked at a few places for a bigger Posie ring. It was good as I did some Bay Window research looking at caret sizes for my lucky female characters ;) Maybe someday I'll get a few more caret sized Posie ring too... Not like I haven’t hinted to Dan for a few years now...I even have a picture of one up in my desk at home.
Yeah to Canadian Christmas songs! BOB is playing "Christmas time" right now, yesterday I heard The Kings "This Christmas"!!!! On the lunch requests, Milky played Haywire then said it was for some girl heading home to Halifax, they were the only Halifax band she could think of. UMMMM...no...They are from PEI...HELLO..Milky went on to say he could have played Sarah Mac or Sloan....oh them...at least he would have played a band from Halifax then..although...Haywire is the only one of the three who still live near Halifax I suppose....hehehe Fussy Canadian music fan!
Hoping my Sirius receiver arrives today, they called and said it was supposed to come in today. Hoping to listen to the Jay and Chris show this week...So mad at stupid Sears.. Like I want to go to the mall again today...why advertise something for $30 then not have any. They can't make those Sirius receivers fast enough because of dumb ole Howard Stern...I just want it for the Chris and Jay show!

Too fast for you!

Hello! I have had not "spare" time to blog as of late. I have been working (no, don't go count my posts on SMB in the last few weeks, you may refute that last statement) Seriously between The Blaze and CV Christmas parties, final classes and grades due plus last minute Blaze jocks needing to do their air checks..I have been busy! Really, honestly...
I am struggling today with recording final grades. I had to not pass two and feel like I am pressured ass to what to do with the problem student I have spoke of. It is hard grading and even more difficult to fail people. Maybe I care too much. I doubt my Math teachers had a hard time failing me the 7 times I took Algebra in college... ugh.. why did I bring up that memory?
In better news, I am doing a best of '05 Maple Minutes tomorrow on the Blaze (noon-two) Should be fun, I haven't done a radio show since spring of '04. I am sure I am rusty but I am planning my breaks in advance like I tell all my students to. :) I borrowed some goodies from Andrew and burned some CDs to make the show super easy. I am going to make it a shout out show, dedicating all the songs to people ;)
I salute The Church again because I saw them again on The Alternative while writing Sunday night. Last night Dan was flippiing to VH1classic and ran into a Church video. He turned it up loud to get me to come out of the bedroom but I was playing with the dogs and could not hear it. I asked what it was and he couldn;t see the name because he had the screen on the bottom. So he went through all my Church CDS and videos to figure out what it was. He was bent on figuring it out. He points to Marty's photo on the back of one and says "This guy was singing" He went through all the videos and it wasn't any of them ?! I am confused what he saw. Marty only sang one song per record. I must say as I was watching the video Sunday night I was thinking that my main male character is certainly part Marty (subconsciously!) Plus one must remember that I always felt Marty had Douglas characteristics...
I got most of my Christmas shopping done over the weekend except Dan. His stuff requires more $$ than I had hehehe... I felt good that I stayed on target and went into stores knowing what I had to do and did it. I only bought two items for myself-not bad..hehehehe
Sunday was the 6 years since my dad died. I was definately having a rough emotional day but again I saw how much writing has become therapy for me. I had a breakthrough on my ending Sunday night-out of nowhere. It was a good feeling to have a path open up. I still have no desire to suddenly get all Christmasy but I felt like I could warm up to the holidays a little. My parents loved the holidays so much, I am sure they are shaking their heads at my bah-humbug attitude.
I have had lunch twice now with Andrea, she has been such a God send, it's incredible. She wants to talk about NS and I need the insight from her. She brought some incredible photos from all over NS, she loves to take landscape style photos which is part of what I need. She shed some light on Peggy's Cove which I have a major scene take pace in. She has also filled me into to what malls kids went to in Dartmouth and Halifax in the 80's. Things I just wouldn't know. I knew Mac's was a convience store in Ontario she told me they were not in NS, it was Green Gables (yeah..like Anne) She is excited to help. I feel like I am asking too many questions but she enjoys it...so we are meeting again tomorrow. If I ever do soemthing with it, she is getting a huge thank you. She was placed in my life for such an obvious reason..it's kinda spooky. Just like going to that Sloan show. I was thinking how close I came to blowing off going because I couldn't get Dan to go. I wanted to see them, I even remember telling Missy that morning I was going. It takes so much to get me out anymore. I know I took a nap that day because we had garage saled that morning. I also remember being sad when I drove up alone until I saw their big bus and thought better..I was like "jesus, I am seeing a band I have loved for a long time in a small club." Then I recall texting Karen during the opener because they were so bad and I was bored. The turingin point was similar to seeing them in Detroit, when they came out it was like seeing huge ock stars in your mind two feet in front of you. They just have an air to me, just like I can;t explain why I was star struck with Johnny Dee but not Tim Farriss. Not sure the why's. Anyway that was a tangent but I see so clearly things that were "Meant to Be!"
One other thing, Sunday night on The Alternative I also saw TPOH. It was a video for "I'm an adult now" but it wasn;t the one I knew. I guess I never saw the US one-it wasn't very good but it was funny to see them as I had bonded with Kris the guitar player the couple of times we had them come by KASR. It was fun to see. I had just heard on my XM all Canadian channel a band Moe Berg produced called National Anthem. The XM channel is my new obsession as you can imagine...! My Sirius receiver is still on order.

Rex Racer to the rescue

Here's some notes I wrote on post its on my desk:
On one day:
"Situation Critical" into "Dream Police"
"Someday" Glass Tiger
"Pretty Vegas"
"Romantic Traffic"
"Rest of my Life"

Then I also wrote that I heard the Replacements at Four Peaks.

A quote from Thomas Steinbeck, author, son of John:
"For me, Writing doesn't always mean I'm actually sitting down at the computer. Before I turn on the computer and do any of that, I daydream the story. I daydream a lot. I do it again and again in my mind. And each time I dream it, I add a little more. What I find is that, ultimately, only the good stuff is remembered."

That is so much how I go about my writing. It has been what I have been doing since I was a teenager writing my first novel (Leah's luck of course LOL) Most of my major scenes for Bay Window were plotted in that year before I started. My problem right now is I went in a different direction then originally plotted. Elise led me elsewhere..but she hasn't led me to an end. I am struggling, it is killing me. I have my own pressure to wrap things up yet a hand has not been guiding me to that unknown territory. I had an ending but it doesn't match where I went.
I need Rex Racer to save me...!

Whatever happened to That girl on the airwaves?

Wake found this online at radio-info.com Made me feel pretty good today especially since I have been feeling so insecure as of late... I had a talent at one time...I guess..

"I got this idea from looking at the Dallas board. What, in
your opinion, was the best Phoenix radio station of
all-time, and when was its peak?


That would have to be KUKQ when Jonathon L, Mary McCann, and Leah Miller were there. That station had the most incredible mix of alternative classics and new music. But it was the personalities of those three people that raised the station above every other alternative station the Valley has seen.

Also, don't forget The Key (KEYX) in the mid-80's. "

Your dreams have come true

How is that possible? Well, an all Canadian radio station that I can listen to in Arizona...that's a pretty big dream come true isn't it? More than one Canadian radio station listenable in my vehicle? What else could it be for a girl who was the orginator of the Mighty Maple Minutes~! (Which I am doing on The Blaze next week BTW) Wake left me a message last week saying XM 52 seemed to be playing unsigned and Canadian bands. All the while I have been hearing about Chris and Jay Sloan hosting a show on Sirius. I have been trying to find out for sure if the US gets theses channels when the saltellite radio launched in Canada. Back when I still could watch The National, they said it would be here in US as well. So low and behold Saturday morning I tune in my XM and it's all Canadian Content-3rd song after I tune it in is "Weapon" Matt Good... OK.... I listen 3 hours straight..no Sloan..which is weird because I had heard Hot Hot Heat and Matt three times at this point. There are a little lacking on amount of artists so far. They are also sort of odd because they play mainstream rock bands like OLP, Thornley and Theory of a Deadman yet then play every off shoot of Broken Social Scene. Rock half the time Alt the other half. I finally heard Sloan boys later in the day , oddly "Underwhelmed" live. I listened again a bunch on Sunday, three Matt, no Sloan..maybe because Sloan is doing the Sirius thing??? SO, I go to r-away on Sunday and Wake is just getting back from purchasing Sirius at Sears for $30! He looks on line and finds the channels for CBC radio. I am on a mission now...off to Sears I go! My $30 receiver is on order but hopefully by the next C & J show, I will be hooked up!
I want to mention a few good and bad points of students for a minute. Good is a kid named Wasef. He was the kid who got me a Sloan shirt at Coachella autographed. He is a gem, helped me not only with my freaking out computer today but also helped me in my final class while ZI handed out papers. Some students avoid adults or treat them differently. I am grateful for students who I can treat as adults, I find so many co-workers who do not treat students as adults. Admittedly there are some who do not deserve it. Case in point, my student I mentioned I was having issues with was Stupid enough to post something online about having someone cover for her in my class-using me by name.... Do you really think I won't find out? If it's online, someone will see it right??? Hey, I know when I post here, it could be seen... Best part of it was the karma, the day after I find this out, I listen to her assignment. There was nothing on the disc...karma....If you are going to turn something in, better make sure it's there..dooohhhh. Go ahead, try and run to my boss again..hehehe.. I have My Space proof of your skipping out on your hours...

All by happenstance

So last I wrote, I was on my way to teach the frosh kitties..actually just need a whistle to get them to pay attention...ugh, they are still so high school.. I had a resume writing guest speaker lined up through learning resources at ASU. So she shows up at 4:30pm, I am frustrated with them to no end. She starts speaking, tells them if they don't understand something she says, ask because she is from Canada. A few of my kids laugh knowing my Cancon obsession. Then I ask, well where are you from in Canada? Can you just guess.... Yep Nova Scotia... next out of my mouth, with a few more of my kids laughing,"And you've seen Sloan?" Yep...she's from Halifax..of course she is.. COME ON what are the chances she shows up in my classroom..?? She says to me after class "I believe we were meant to meet" That is totally something I would say! She is excited to have someone to talk Canada with and I am reminded yet again why all this nonsense of writng a novel must be meant to be...
So today my NS pal emails me and says our meeting was "happenstance" Can you believe that?? I just said in my last entry that I heard a song by that name that morning...and then she uses that particular word to describe our meeting... Eerie I tell you! She and I are meeting for lunch next Tuesday. She said she was sending me a NS pin through campus mail..Even Dan asked me today if I heard from my new Canadian buddy..yep..we nearly emailed each other at identical times even...
I did not write tonight, not sure why, just not in mood and kinda screwing around online instead. Talking to my Sloanie pal... Dan thinks I am avoiding finishing. Yikes...am I? can I not let Elise go????

Just South of Nowhere

Photo**Ashley and Scotty J on The Blaze last week!

Random rants today!

*Camping + Mod Maid = BAD ,
*Prescription Dramamine + Mod Maid = Passed out for 14 hours camping
*Free food for strangers + Thanksgiving = No mashed potatoes for Mod Maid and family,
*3 dogs + 3 days in RV = unhappy camping Mod Maid.
*Quad + sheer drop straight down = panic attack Mod Maid
*Sloan on ipod + first time in sand car = kick ass ride for Mod Maid!
*Sand car + acceleration to 11 second monster = similar ride to Mod Maid's beloved Big Red=Happy camper!

** "Christmas is coming, it's been a long year, I wish you were here." Yet again, neither Dan nor I are in the spirit at all. Mom just made it special, neither of us have it in us to do it up the way we used to. Once again, the only house in the cul de sac without lights, the house that used to be Chevy Chase's.

**I hate itunes with a passion today. I can not get it to load songs and each time I try it freezes my computer so bad, I can't even re-boot. Just plain lame and frustrating.

**Sweet JEW version of "Last Christmas" is on The Blaze right now..I soo loved this song growing up, absolutely Top 5 Christmas song along with "Do they know it's Christmas?", "Another Christmas time without you" - Michael Damien, "Christmas, Baby please come home" - U2, and "Rudolph" - Corey Hart

**I found a journal from my freshman English class, as much as I look back on my years at Eastern with such fondness, if you read this journal I sounded like a tortured soul. Freshman boy problems of course. I think my sophomore year was better based on the calendars and being mainly with the Pre-teens for the year!

**The president of ASU, Mr Crow, is starting a blog and office hours. It just struck me as LOL funny. He is just the typical business guy trying too hard to connect with the kids.

**Today is last day of class for the Village kids. They have a Christmas karaoke party next week. Guess who is hosting, he's already practicing and getting nervous.

**I have been kinda sucked in to the SMB lately. I talked to my pal from there the night before I left for the Dunes. It is nice to have some others to talk about your fave bands with. I was on the Posies list for years, met lots of great people on there.

**I started a flickr photo account, stole the idea from the Matt Good site again just like using this blogger. I need my computer pals wise assistance to add the account to the side of this blog. Sometime, after I get this dumb itunes problem solved. For now

**I didn't get to write while on camping duty. I managed to write 4000 words Monday night but on Monday's I am so tired, it turned out rather disjointed. I will fix it tonight. I know I need to wrap it up, but I am now experiencing the difficulty of finishing. Pulling everything back together is tough. Writing about bad things is hard. I know that is such a simple sentence but I am having the worst time getting to the life altering moment. I guess I have enjoyed writing the sweet, nice stuff as a release to reality. Writing about painful events is just a reminder of my own. It becomes less of a release and more of a heart wrenching experience. Don't get me wrong, I need to do this, and I love it but I am struggling right now, I am quite aware of it.

**OK now The Blaze is playing a cover of "Christmas, Baby please come home" Funny since I just mentioned it. It is Death Cab for Cutie doing it, very sleepy version but I like it, first time I have heard it.

**I heard a great song on my ipod today, Happenstance by Gladhands. Happenstance is a good word, the song was adorable. I got the riot act again Monday night from Dan about not knowing every song on every CD I own. Actually it was my weekly Sloan riot act reading. I told Dan I could switch and become a Tea Party freak if he preferred (NOT!) On our drive home from the Dunes, we listened to my Top 25 most played on my ipod (What a great feature, especially from a girl who used to rate my Top 10 favorite guys in 8th grade) Anyway, you can imagine who was on that list. Dan admitted to liking a few more songs from CPAJ....

**Tony is bugging me to get some work done..hehehe..he loves to give me shite too..

Imperial Sand Trooper

Sand car- FAST and FUN!

Papa trims the turkey out at the Imperial Sand Dunes - Gordon's Well

Della loves her momma...

Cute kid alert! Hunter and I laying around the RV playing Wario Ware!

INXS vs Gin Blossoms -vie for Mod Maid's heart in 1989!

Scotty is on The Blaze right now and just said it looks like Gin Blossoms are going on tour with INXS next year... Hilarous...I literally went from my devotion to INXS in 1988 to my life being a Gin Blossoms fan in 1989...now a tour??... More later! Leaving for Dunes in a few hours..

Little Terror - Matthew Good

Last night was a "Calgon take me away" kind of night. First the Dairy Queen screwed up my o so nutritional meal. Then the home computer was crashing as usual. I finally settled into writing around 8:30pm. I listen to my ipod entirely too loud and don't notice Brendella throwing up her just fed meal all over the living room. Finally I hear her right below my feet just as both my cell phone and the house phone are ringinig at once. I am shoving her out the door, the house phone is Dan telling me he is sick. Then I go looking around to find she also threw up in the bed...UGH! Bassetts are barfers too, be aware before you ever look at those sad eyes and fall in love with one at the pet store. (Not that the little Corgi hasn't killed my carpet) Dan says my anniversary gift is my new wood floor for the lodge room, I can't wait. I am so sick of shampooing the carpet. Oh boy, domestic bliss. I really never got very far last night as I kept running out side with Della. I was determined to get some writing down so I stayed up until 1am. I am suffering for it now. Little Terror is a song Matt Good wrote originally as a song about his dachshound so I dedicate it to my big girl hound Brendella...truly the definition of "Little Terror"
I was driving home from my hair appt last week and saw a billboard on McDowell for Cingular and itunes - it said "Talk INXS" Wow...if this works, they are the come back story of the year, of the last few years! The new CD with JD comes out a week from today. I haven't really heard "Pretty Vegas" here in town, only on BOB. I also caught a half hour of their videos on the request hour on VH1 Classic. They are playing requests people paid for to help Hurricane Katrina victims, so somebody must have purchased the half hours worth. (their label?) I know they are putting out yet another Hits video and CD collection. Unfortunately sucker complitists like me fall for that crap.
How about a list of things I am thankful for on this Thanksgiving week:
*My add a links bracelets, who else do you know that has Sloan and Eye Eye links on the same bracelet
*Internet radio- I live in my fantasy land everyday thanks to it.
*Chris Murphy's "She says what she means" opening bass line
*Guest Speakers for my classes, love the break from teaching every few weeks
*Green Apples
*Four Peaks lunches
*Tony Tony Toni! Phat Tony my oh so sensible Blaze station manager
*This song on the radio right now, produced by Dave Genn "Bang" by Armchair Cynics. Not my usual style of tune but the chorus is turn up good!
*The sound of Big Red, Dan fired her up over the weekend, that sound of open exhaust gets me every time. And shakes the photos off my hall wall-heehee
*Casa Grande folks - I love my Casa pals! Diane's boyfriend Seth won his class at the IHBA world finals this past weekend! I think there was divine intervention there, I can see Mom watching over Seth making sure he was safe!
*My Pro track champ Ryan - Ryan is so consistant in calling my cell weekly to keep me excited about drag racing even if I haven't been in my car in 2 months.
*KBM - She's always so patient to listen to all my rants, read them too. I liked how you tried to tempt me with your big screen TV and Sloan videos again.
*Ms Scotia - Now that she has email, I get daily reports from Mich. So in addition I am grateful for email so I can keep in touch with Nova and plan our trip to the source of her DJ name.
*My puppies, despite the carpets, I am lost without them.
*Patrick Pentland's "Everything I've done wrong" The words ring so true in my own life so often.
*Eye Eye on Switchback - Watched it Sunday night, Bill Wood was so amazing looking on that appearance...that show inspired one of my favorite scenes in "Bay Window"
*Sloan being on the radio right now...."Rest of my Life"
*The fact that I am in 80 degree weather most of the winter, it is a blessing..
*The great group of Village kids I ended up with.
*My Blaze Directors this year and a couple from last year (You know who you are)
*"Prophecy" - Remy Zero
*My basement office that allows for such total wastes of time like this ;)
*My sis in law Missy, the chances of the two of us being so close would not have been something anyone would have bet on. I have to be the oddest person she has ever met let along the fact I am closer to her mom's age than hers. And while I'm at it...Travis and Hunter too. If I had no Collins family, I'd have no family at all. Mom and Pop Collins too... Marriage doesn't always mean you are accepted to the family, but they have so my thanks is there.
*That hubby of mine who didn't want me to drive to the dunes by myself so is making the 3 hour drive back to Mesa to get me on Wednesday. He came up with a new name for my band in the novel because I have never been happy with Nome. God bless him for even understanding this bizarre need to write, his patience has been incredible. He would easily tell you that patience is not his strong suit. I love the fact that he trys to sing my favorite songs on Karaoke even though he doesn't know them. 6 years in a month, I am most thankful for my Daniel.

What, usually you're my type

Was watching The Alternative last night and Dan pulled out the Blossoms DVD Outside looking in. Apparently I own it but have never watched it..such a shock. How many CDs do I own I have never listened to?? Don't answer. Dan used to pull out 6 CDs out of my closet and put them on to quiz me if I knew who they were. He nailed me a few times with obsure KUKQ bands I saved the CD for one song I liked. So we watched a GB show from Chicago, looked like circa 93-94. I need to ask Scott this week when he comes to The Blaze why they never recorded "What" or "Everywhere". The Blaze directors had to announce at their meeting today that they met Blossoms, it was a big event last week. BTW, Robin asked me where The Blaze was, I answered, same place you always used to skateboard to see me. That is how we got into the conversation as to why the station was no longer KASR but KASC.
I think it is the right week to pull out the Robin tour reports. Should make for some good memories. I am bachloretting it for 3 days so I can spend it reminising again, only this should be much less painful.
I had a pretty quiet weekend, which was needed. I even baked cookies! I spent the weekend getting Dan ready to leave for the Dune Sea. He is on the road as we speak. He is going to come get me and the dogs on Wednesday. Oh boy, three days camping...I am not a camper...even with a fully stocked RV.
I wrote Saturday night until around 2am I think, I was on a roll. I laughed, I cried, and I woke up Sunday not sure what I wrote. I am so unconscious when I do write, I surprise myself the next day when I read it back. No I swear I am not drinking. I liked a sweet little scene I wrote about Elise buying her wedding dress. I jotted down some notes for the next few scenes, there is just not that much left. I didn't write last night despite having plenty of time. I think I am sad to finish so I am trying to extend my time with it a little longer. I will probably work n it the next two nights since I will be home alone. It is really weird how some nights things just come out better than others. Some nights, I just don't have a good flow, ones writing is sorta like our bio-rhythms. I guess I need to work on the sequel but I swore to myself I would try one of the other stories first. Will it be the story of Jim and Andi or the yet named bracket racer girl who meets her top fuel driver of her dreams?
OR will it be the tale of the campus radio station advisor who finally cleans her house after 6 months of ignoring it to write a novel?

C'mon, C'mon

I couldn't believe my ears yesterday when I heard Cmon Cmon by the Gigolo Aunts on a commercial for the Food Network. Their Cmon, Cmon and Sloan's Cmon Cmon are both songs I sing all the time. Both pure Power pop at it's best. Yeah for the Aunts making some extra $$$. Wonder if they are still together, their last record was brilliant, seems like that has been about 2 years ago now.
So is there a full moon, or some cosmic weirdness in the earth's core? 2 weeks ago I spent two wasted days reading my journals that anguished on about two certain guys and then two weeks later I see them both one day after the next? What are the chances? I have yet to leave the house today, too scared who I may run into next.
Scotty J agreed to meet with me yesterday to help answer some music business questions I had for the novel. It was mighty kind of him to respect that I am serious. We're old pals anyway so I was glad to just hang for a few minutes and hear his demos for his solo record anyway. I figure if I ever were to get published, I would never want any of my musician friends to read it and say "that would never happen" I want accuracy in my fiction. Well, you know where this is heading, I walk out of Mayberry and there's Robin. It is always so wonderful to see him, I certainly don't run into him enough. He came and sat down with the Blaze kids and I at lunch, talked college radio and why KASR is KASC now. He brought up the Romantics, told him I loved them, he does too. After he left, my two girl directors were busy oggling that they met two Blossoms. I wasn't sure if 18-19 years olds would still be impressed with that but alas..a rock star is a rock star right? One said-"We were all about them at my elementary"... old I am, OLD...Blossoms are older though ;) The Blaze kids also toured the studio which they loved.
I am not shy abut my years adoring Robin because I know it was always so innocent, I never pursued it and eventually told him, never affected our friendship, etc.. Hopkins used to rail me about it so hard...it was a precious morsel of knowledge for him and he teased to no end...he had a happy go lucky side..not many remember that. His favorite line to me was "get over it" Since I am reminising, I recall we had only seen the Blossoms once, the infamous first time we stumbled into a show (Jesse was still the lead singer at the time, we kept saying to each other, "They should let the other guy sing more") Any way, I was on a guest list to see a band called Love Tractor at the Sun Club. We were just hanging out and Robin walked by me and smiled and nodded. I didn't know him, not sure why but I turned to KV and said I was hooked, that was it....I knew he was from the band we saw a few nights earlier. I plotted out with her my plan to tell him I was the PD of KASR and ask him if they want to come by the station, my big lure to get to talk to him. The best part of the story was not that fact that I did, that I gave him my little hand stamped card but the fact that Doug was standing behind us the entire time, listening to my plot. He was alwys noisy like that as we later found out but we didn't know them all by face after only seeing them once. By the way, we went to see the GBs a couple days later. Robin didn't remember me-heart break! After that night, we probably didn't stop going to see them weekly until they got signed and left on tour.. An era was born at Love Tractor at the Sun Club.

So beyond me - Sloan

Last night we finally made it to Rockeoake, better know as the common man's chance to sing with a rock band. Since Dan works so early in the morning and it's on a Thursday night, we have yet to get to go until last night. Unfortunately they had an opening rockabilly band form out of town that would not stop playing. Dan got frustrated at how late it got and didn't end up singing. As pictured, Marcus did! He sang "Bang a Gong"- T-Rex. He did it so awesome!!! (Btw that's my Division qualifier hat Dan is wearing while looking at the song book)
I had a reminder of my past in the way of running into someone I hadn't seen in a good many years. My days in the Tempe scene may be good fodder for a novel but the whole scene is now So Beyond Me. It was also an eye opener for me that I am forever grateful that the correct sliding door opened for me to get beyond that scene. It was important for me to see, that was not the way I would have wanted to go, nor would I have ever been able to deal. Despite my initial panic over confronting my past like that, it was probably the world's best timing for me. I have been thinking so much about all those experiences, and then I see that I definitely would not still like to be in it, I moved on. I think I moved on when I bought the race car. I had a defining moment last night, it was very important even if I can't describe it properly.
Timing again! Scotty J from the Blossoms just called me, says I can interview him today for the novel!!! He's gonna stop by our table at Four Peaks. Am I crazy? I am doing research for something I started as just a recreational exercise, now I am planning trips to Nova Scotia and interviewing real people for accuracy. Commits me to do something more with it doesn't it?
I may be writing about "girls and bands" but I know now I don't want to relive it. Once was enough. I can go be fan for a show, meet my fave musicians but I am so beyond living in the scene ever again.

Fashion in her eyes

LOVE. Noun
A temporary insanity curable by marriage
Ambrose Bierce

One of my students in Cronkite Village put that quote on the blackboard in our classroom. So glad to hear our youth are optimistic about marital bliss.
Pix of Jian aka Jean from Tall New Buildings. Nina sent me an email about a show he hosts on the CBC called National Playlist. www.CBC.CA/nationalplaylist His solo LP is on my ipod and I always enjoy the tracks when they come up, thoughtful and sweet. I notice in all his Bio stuff, he never mentions Tall New Buildings. Renounce the 80's right? I love those two 12 inch singles I have of theirs. Accept that the 80's happened...It's OK to love the music of that time! Speaking of which, I need to have a talk with Andy Ryan and Paul MacAusland about re-mastering their 80's contributions to my life, every time Haywire or Eye Eye come up on the ipod I have to turn it up. Can somebody get me in touch with those guys, I promise I won't stalk them; they missed their chance to marry me.....
Let's review my ipod this morning shall we, it was a warm glowing way to start my day:
"X-Ray Eyes" - Eye Eye- The song Hall and Oates gave to our Toronto heroes. It really doesn’t match the rest of their material but it's a turn it loud sing along in the Denali. I must look ridiculous when you pull up next to me. "I (I) can see through your heart of stone because I (I) am the one with the X ray eyes"
"You and I" - Boulevard - I am discovering this song more so lately, I like BLVD back in the day but this song has been a fave lately because I think it would work great on the Bay Window Soundtrack (available now on ModMaidProductions records and tapes)
"Virginia" - Gin Blossoms - such a sweet little song from Congratulations.
.great version of Blossoms style Power pop
"Cruel to be kind" -Nick Lowe - Who doesn't love this song? Which reminds me, another female singer I like is Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo (they did a cover for 10 things I hate about you)
"21 and over" - The Romantics - From my fave LP of theirs National Breakout. Old Detroit faves!
"Worried Now" - Sloan - I think I understand why every girl on the Sloan message board complains about Patrick's rock songs, they want him to do these soul baring sentimental numbers. My tendency is towards the ones I can turn up loud and sing along to(as mentioned above) but this song made my heart melt the first time I heard it. It screams "don't hurt this fragile soul” It also screams Bay Window.
Oh sure, I am writing this and listening to FM96 in London, they are giving away tickets to Sloan. Of course I have yet to hear Sloan but I can call in and win tickets right now...If I win tickets, will that convince Dan I should go to London? Does that include the plane tix to get there?
OK back to the ipod, couple more I want to mention:
"You're gonna lose that girl" - The Beatles - My fave Beatles song. My parents used to have the "Love Songs" 8 track they would play in the van on the way to boat races. I nearly fell over the first time I saw The Best David Swaffords in the world do this song as a cover. I had seen Robin do Beatles covers at his Biff Del Monte shows but full band, one of my fave songs of my youth...yeah!!! Gotta get out some Swafford bootlegs out eh?
"Sweeter Love" - Athenaeum - I knew of this band from playing them on The Zone but hadn't really explored their music that much. I put their Cds on the pod to explore them and this song is an utter emotional rollercoaster. I would say it's my favorite discovery of the past year. A demo version on their B-sides Cd is even more emotional and raw. Their singer should have been recognized more, just stunning!
"One simple Thing" - The Stabilizers - This song was something I heard for the first time on the radio in Phoenix before I moved here (On The Storm I think) I was here for the Spring drag boat race the summer before I became Music Director at WQBR. I went home and sought out the record to add to QBR.


EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK FM 96 is playing Snowsuit sound now...ok I'm not mad at them anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently it's snowing in London, they just did a theme set to win Sloan tix which included:
"Sweater song" weezer
"Boots and Hearts" - Tragically Hip
"Snowsuit Sound" - Sloan
YEAH!

Now you've been tantilized

I just heard myself on the radio, didn't recognize my own voice. Weird, I know. I called Milky on BOB to play One to One for me. I have had "Angel in my pocket" in my head for the past week, it's such a sweet perfect little pop song which makes me smile, makes me think of hearing it on my bedroom clock radio. It is funny because all my friends know that I pretty much hate female vocalists but Louise Remy is an exception I guess... I do have a few exceptions, Luba, Pat Benatar...hmmm...have to think on this more...The singer of K's Choice, can't think of her name....hmmm..Have to get back to you on this one.. Anyway my phone call sounded decent, like I had a voice for radio or something-hahahahaha...not trying to sound conceited, radio is about the only thing I have ever done right in my life. We all have our insecurities but it's the only thing I think I knew truly how to do...are we allowed to have more than one talent in our lives? I certainly wish I could be a better bracket racer, a better teacher, a better wife, a better house keeper, and yes...I wish I could have as much success with my writing as I did with my radio career. I guess I wonder if we are meant for just one success in our lives or if we could be so blessed to do well at something else. I have already been blessed with a second career, but a third? Could I be so fortunate? Just something I think about.
Sunday night I was writing, enjoying the chapter I was working on. I made a reference to The Church and not five minutes later "Tantilized" came on The Alternative that I was listening to on the TV. I actually got off my A$$ and ran into the TV room to watch the lord guitar god Marty Willson Piper..oh man...I would have to say The Church are one of my favorite overlooked bands. I mean I love um, always have but forget about them sometimes...then I hear and see um...Love them! When I was PD at KASR I had a poster of Marty up in my office, we wrote love post it notes to Marty on it-hence the title "Lord god Marty" It's well known that I have travelled to see bands like The Posies, GBs back in the day but I also travelled once to go see The Church! Around the time I was in full Church mode, it was well known they had a bad experience in Arizona when a show they were supposed to play was cancelled. I wanted to see them so bad, I flew with a few pals to LA to see them, I wanna say in Ventura. I remember they were incredible live, that we stood in front on Marty's side. I didn't get to meet them but we spotted Marty looking out a window above the club and we shouted to him to come out. He never did. I think I was about 21 or 22 at the time, went with Carrie with a C and a guy named Rob who was a listener friend we had met. We drove back to the airport and slept in LAX until the flight back the next morning. They have never come back to AZ, even these many years later. So yet again, ironic I make reference to them in Bay Window and there they are-am I the only one who thinks this is too weird for words, they don't exactly show The Church on The Alternative every week.
So I did some productive writing over the weekend, I am realizing I have very few upcoming notes left which means...I am almost done. I am getting sad, never thought finishing would be depressing. I guess I will welcome the chance to go back and fix stuff once I am done. That one lady who did the critique with me said 90% of writing is editing anyway. I am quite sure I could write another set of adventures for Elise, so a sequel is quite certain but for now...I need to close this one and try something different for a while. I plan to write up two treatments for the other two stories I have in my head to help me decide which one I want to tackle next. I am too addicted to writing now to just stop after Bay Window is done. I know I will appreciate these blogs to remind me where my head was during the writing of it. I told Dan I have a harder time writing about bad times, I am in the midst of the big conflict and I struggle more with being fluid about bad things. It's all tharapy for me obviously....
One more big thing to mention, Friday I got confirmation that I will be going Super Street racing! I have made that my goal with the car for many years, it means I will be able to race at NHRA national events like the CSK's here at Firebird! My dad is smiling upstairs big time over this development. Travis agreed to trade me my motor and open trailer for his motor. Dan is going to put it in the car before the Dec race and I will be runnning 10's!!! Yikes! Probably around 125 mph... I am ready!!! I will not make the total switch until the 2007 season as I want to race one more year in Pro before switching to Super Pro. It is unbeleivable when I think about my old days running 14 seconds and wishing I could run 12's. All in good time right? Ryan was sweet and said he predicts he will be sitting in the stands watching me go rounds in Super Street...I hope so, I don't want to be a duck anymore!
BOB played Eight Seconds today and The Spoons along with my One to One request...a good day reliving my youth here in my basement office of Stauffer...Is that one does in their 30's, relive their youth?? Or just me?

Gnome is a band from the Pacific Northwest

Weirdness ensues... I had to go to the neighbors because their handy man left his cell phone in our yard while fixing the fence. By the third try stopping by and ringing the doorbell, I realized the lady had lawn gnomes all over..then I think oh of course...Nomes....(for the uninitiated Nome is the name of the band in Bay Window)
I am exhausted today, I read until midnight last night and then decided I needed to write a scene..was up until at least 1am.. At 4 am, Dan is telling me to get up, turns out, one of the dogs had thrown up all over my freshly shampooed living room carpet...I mean all over... I am exhausted cleaning it up, then have a tough time falling back to sleep. No shower even, I crawled out of here this morning. So tonight, my usual Thursday productiveness is nil. I decide to keep reading the book by Semisonic's drummer. I want to write but too dozy. The drummer says his hair dresser sugested he dye his hair blonde. His hair dresser? Mimi.... I know these things happen, little ironic things I notice, but again I see them as glaring signs pointing at me saying "Yes Leah, you are doing the right thing."

The past is gone but something might be found to take it's place

Perfect photo considering yesterday's blogging topic. Reading the journals made me miss Hopkins so much, what an experience being friends with him was. I wish I would have kept even better accounts of the times spent with him. I plan to use one time I remember as a scene in the book. One night Doug came over to KV's house and the three of us got into this huge long discussion over the first promo photo taken of the Blossoms. It had 4 out of 5 of them in flannel(which was pre-grunge days) We argued with him over why the photographer let the pix happen with them all looking pretty similiar in the photo. He agreed with us eventually but it took several hours of arguing that it was not how they normally dressed. I don't think I can properly describe Hopkin's unusual style of dialect and way of expressing himself. He had his own language, his own phrases that half of the Tempe musicians copied. I have never seen someone so idolized as he was in the local scene, he did no wrong even though he had times when he was the bastard he called everyone else. He had such a distinctive deep voice also, it always warms me to listen to an old interview. I had an interview with them on KUKQ the night before a Qfest. I had it labelled the Blossoms interview from hell. I listened to it a few months ago, I am guessing it was the first time I did. I was so ticked at the time because I was newer to my full time shift and had worked hard to get ready for the interview. Several things were bound to happen, first off, 4 out of 5 showed up, too many in the studio, second, They knew me too well so trying to act all professional wasn't being taken seriously. Robin wasn't going for it and giving me all sorts of heck on the air. The reason I bring it up was the best discovery I found by listening to it again 16 years later was that Doug was trying to help me get things back on track, he recognized the value of acting professional on the air. Much as I loved Robin, that was not a good night. Of course later, Robin ended up doing tour reports weekly on the air with me, all of which are an incredible chronicle of the early days of the Blossoms (ding ding ding...suddenly a lightbulb appears over Leah's head...get out the tour reports for research!..I saw the compilation I made for Robin in the shoebooks I found the travel tapes in)
I must report about last night's BBQ with the Dean for the Cronkite Village kids. There were only little snafus,like the Dean being late but no biggy problems like I feared. I have to just mention I had a nice warm feeling after, partially because I put together a successful event but also because I bonded with a few of them I hadn't yet. One in particular whose last name is ...ironically Sloan. She and I had not had much of a chance to talk. Turns out she loves to write, we got in the conversation of her writing a play her high school plans to perform. I mentioned I was writing a novel. She asked me if I had it all plotted out and I said I did but sometimes thing head a differnt direction. She said exactly what I feel, the characters lead you sometimes, not you leading them. I was so impressed how she had experienced the same thing, it was even incredible how she expressed it, she made it sound as mysterious as I find it to be, it's impossible to explain how it happens. I saw it in her face when she brought it up. The same group started talking about which director jobs they wanted at The Blaze which also made my heart warm. I will be pleased if some of my first CV kids end up running the station a few years from now. I beam with pride again over both my groups of kids.
I didn't listen to CFOX today, shocking eh? I heard "It doesn't really matter" on BOB this morning along with some Colin James. Today I have been fine just enjoying The Blaze. Thinking I will listen to London for a while to hear adds for the show I can't go to.
Product review of today are Le Nature Dazzlers (couldn't find a photo) Dan has been working there for the last few months. He brought home a bunch of flavors to try. They are plenty sugary like koolaid, no skimping on flavor. I don't deal well with Splenda so I avoid those but the raspberry, lemonade and orange have been stellar little bottles to grab as a drink on the way to work. The green punch and grape were not as impressive to me. Maybe the grape reminded me a little of the might "Funny Face" brand koolaid - legendary stuff!
Oh sure....Blaze is playing "London Calling" of course..... The right time to see Sloan again will present itself...but I love London..sniff...

Smoke and Ashes - 13 Engines

This will probably be a quick blog as I have to go to Sam's club with some of the village kids to get the items for their BBQ with the Dean today. I am quasi nervous about it, scared something will not go right.
I was just looking at yesterday's blog and thinking that I love the image of a guitar player with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Now this is an intersting yet very conflicting thought... I hate that Dan smokes, I was just telling Karen and Marcus that I could smell smoke all over my clothes while I was in Michigan. Dan knows I wish he would quit but I don't pressure. And let's be totally frank, smoking killed my mom. So, I looked at the picture again and do you know what I saw?...I saw Doug Hopkins and I could almost see his swaggering leg over leg movements while sucking down his cigarette, putting it in his guitar and doing his perfectly timed guitar kicks. It was all part of his image and it worked. I was still thinking about it and walked by my Blaze music director standing outside smoking. It suites his image... Shouldn't I be a huge advocate of how smoking will kill you? I guess I lived with it all my life, understand addictions and bad habits. Why do I find it attractive on guitar players? It's all in image I guess but it is a big contradiction in my life personally.... Does my main character in Bay window smoke...what is your guess?
I ran in to Scotty Blossom last Friday at Four Peaks..oddly speaking of Blossom guitar players. He told me the Blossoms got signed to a new label run by the old president of A&M. Makes sense, they turned down Universal for this label. They are heading to Memphis soon to record with John Hampton again. They are not using those demos they did last year, just starting over. I asked him if I could use his knowledge of the industry for research for the novel. He was very receptive and said I could call him and interview him anytime. I need to work up some questions. I want everything I write to be feasible, not too far fetched. I thought he could shed light on some things I am kind of forgetting, some of the process they went through. I have been reading a book by the drummer of Semisonic that has been a good guide also but I think Scott will help me smooth out some items. I also talked to Guido, Philly Blossom last week. Why is a whole 'nother story but I guess they kicked him out again, sad to hear that. I told Phil that I should search out all the old "Blossom" girl fans and see if I could compile a book of journal entries done by their fans while they were playing the local scene. Could you imagine the difference between say, my take on a certain night and another girl who went to the after parties and rolled in bushes with them. I read some of my Blossom nights, so sweet, so innocent, I don't think I ever realized they did any drugs, drinking etc.. I was like "Oh Robin called me and requested The Sidewinders" Next night, Robin told me he heard me play the Winders for him...
OK more later...

She's come undone

"So what now? That’s the big question. I do have to make a record next year, as I owe Universal one more. I find myself in a new and strangely exciting position, one that I am somewhat unfamiliar with. Sitting here I know that I cannot waste this opportunity, that I must take the sort of chances that I once did when sleeping on floors and playing coffee shops was routine. Hopefully I will do just that, and to the utmost of my ability. I owe both of us no less." Matthew Good (11/7/05)


Nov 27 - Sloan London, Ont The Drink

OH sure...I spend my morning doing work and while I am working, Matt sounds like he's quitting the music business and Sloan goes and schedules a show in my fave Canadian city Thanksgiving weekend. I should have known it was a Canadian music kind of day(umm..which days are not?) BOB this morning played Harlequin(which you know why that amuses me today) "Boy in a Box" and Plat's "Contact, each of which I have never heard on BOB. I do my daily switch to CFOX and as I flip "Underwhelmed" is on CFOX and then Neil is yakking about Chris Murphy's b-day yesterday (And he knows that because of...?) So I finish my work and decide to read the Sloan message board for lunch. I was on the Sloan official site yesterday and no dates mentioned yet today, after seeing a clue on the message board, I see a London date. Nina has been hinting for me to come to Mich for t-day since I was there Labor Day. I dismissed the idea figuring I would be a family outcast if I left AZ for t-day. This idea is more so true now since I have my own quad. Ok, there will be more Sloan dates to look forward to, I will have to let that idea go. BUT it doesn't sound so great for Matt dates, hmmm, what is he up to? I hope he is not thinking of going acoustic, the acoutic versions on "In a coma" drive me nuts, not so great-Andrew agrees...
Today on Apache Blvd, cops and immigration vans were at three of the old 'motels' as I drove by. I love the old style motel signs, have a book about the old days of like the 50's when people discovered motels. The signs for the ones on Apache are classic but of course they are run down houses of sin now-wink!
I have a student going after me because she is unhappy about her grade in my class. This is one of the reasons I dislike teaching, the kids these days don't own up to things, they just try to fight something they don't like instead of admiting they are not doing what they are supposed to. UGH!
Funny item from the weekend, I heard the neighbors behind us gossiping about our dogs. I suspect they are the ones who called the cops on my barking dogs. I think you call the cops for crime, not dogs who go out about 4 -5 times a day and occasionally bark at cats who come in their yard. I heard a kid say "Mom, they got a new one, it's black and evil" The mom says something like "the brown one is barking all the time again" I went inside before I got too angry and started mouthing off. Jasper(the brown one) has discovered 2 kittens living in our yard and it's been a pain in the behind to get him in the house. If you ever think about getting basset hounds, think twice, stubborn mules they are! I am now calling Della "the black one" our evil dog-hehehe. No gossip about Wicket, hehehe.
At target this weekend I bought a nice sweater that has fur around the neck. Total splurge as it was $30, Missy and I are hoping for some type of work Christmas party the boys have to go to so we have a chance to wear our new Christmas clothes. I call it my Mimi sweater! (Mimi being one of my favorite characters in Bay window, she dresses in fur, feathers and outragous stuff all the time)
Speaking of, didn't write last night. I am always too tired on Mondays but tonight looks promising. I am inspired today, kinda feel like working on it now but I need to pack up and head to The Blaze..see if they are burning down the place or anything. I did work on the website, I am working on getting the site revamped (with Jon's help) so it can have articles added like a blog, make it easier for others to contibute and save it before my home computer completly crokes, which it is about to.
I am pushing to race this weekend, missing racing..but Big Red needs fixing still. We'll see.

Ride on baby ride on - Gigolo Aunts

Observations on a Monday:
There it is, my new atv, knew it was going happen eventually, can I ever say no? I lasted over a year resisting. I see it as a fine pit bike at the track, right? Will tow Big Red back to the pits when she conks out on me...Told Dan I wanted scenic trails, not boring dune seas. I certainly loved my snowmobile growing up, live in AZ, you ride sand instead of snow right?
Got Neil on CFOX to mention it as Chris Murphy's b-day today on nooner. Then he played Matt Good...ok...
Dan lured me to ride to Arizona City with him on Saturday to pick up his camaro. I am excited that he is finally going to build his car. I wanted to stay home and write but he tugged me in by promising Cracker Barrel, gotta love the restaurant with yummy food and shopping too.Which btw, I got a lot of Christmas shopping done this weekend. (not at Cracker barrel)
Last night I watched the last NHRA race of the season in Pomona, sad the season is over. It was a race full of drama, plenty of me yelling at the TV. Was so bummed that Dick LaHaie is retiring. It will be a bummer not seeing Claudia at the races when they are in AZ. Jeggy retired too, not expecting that one. Funny thing about that was I missed him saying it because I was drawn into reading this harlequin romance.
So let me tell you about this book versus what I am doing. I had grocery shopped and picked it up for two reasons, to see if what I am writing borders on harlequin and second, it was about a girl radio DJ. First of all, I have never read one of these in my life..so I was seriously laughing out loud. I mean I haven't laughed this much in ages..Admittedly I was amusing myself but seriously...How come they can't cuss in it but using the word cock is ok? Holy crap... By chapter two our radio girl is in bed with the radio afternoon guy. He tells her his dad died and he's from California and she thinks, oh...he's opening up so much to me, I'll screw him... I'm over 150,000 words and my main guy is still spilling all his neurosis and they finally had some awkward version of intimacy...hello am I not supposed to write about real life here???? So I decided I could easily write Harlequins, it's so ridiculous...wonder how much they make? It's slutting for writers, isn't it? Does this mean my main character can't cuss?
Oh I was thinking my novel is not the first time I was inspired by a band to write a story about them. Back in college, here at ASU, I wrote an A short story for my fiction class about two girls going to school at York in TO who both go out to a bar, fall for two different guys. The story chronicled how each dealt with these guys they met, one with happy ending, one tragic ending. The one girl met the lead singer of Tall New Buildings. I knew very little about the band, just had seen the video for "Breaking her walls" and was charmed by their singer. So I wrote a story with him in it..not him obviously but a character fashioned after an image I conjured by the video. Funny thing about him is that not too long ago I found out what ever happened to him...occasionally I go on ebay looking to see if Tall New Buildings ever put out an album and I couldn't understand why it said Moxy Fruvious in the title on ebay. Turns out Jean from TNB is Jian from Moxy Fruvous...It was a huge discovery because not only is he now a famous broadcast journalist for CBC entertainment stuff...but worse......I saw Moxy Fruvous...and didn't know it was him....(was probably looking for Robin at the club) So yep, Jian was the first musician I built a fictional story around..although I think in the story he morphed into Mark Holmes.

Generation X Wing

Watched "Revenge of the Sith" last night. Not sure if it is my mood this week but I disliked it. This coming from a sworn Star Wars fan club member. I hate how Lucas made Padme such a withering frail creature in this flick. He starts out with his females being so strong then softens them too much by the end. Leia was almost the same near end of Jedi but not nearly as much as Padme looking out on the patio the entire movie. Something bugged me about Ewan's performance last night too...His scences with Anakin never made me feel the bond they supposedly had. Like I said, maybe my mood but I just didn't enjoy it on my third time seeing it.
It's Friday, the salute to Matt is because he is playing in Vancouver tonite and tomorrow. Sadly not going but I will see him again, I'm sure. Sounds like the weather is horrible in BC anyway so maybe it is best.
Been thinking about TO for some reason, mainly for Bay Window reasons plus Karen gave me a TO book last week. I really want to find those travel tapes. I heard "Not in Love" - Plat and "Tell no Lies" - The Spoons today so they both make me think of TO too. I think Nina and I went in search of the old City Hall where Plat filmed that huge concert that broke them. I need her to confirm but I think that is when her and I almost got locked in the subway as they shut down around 2am. Bad full memory on this but I think we were looking for the city hall area. I also looked up flights to NS again yesterday and it had an overnight layover in TO...long enough to do some record shopping???!!! I'd love to go to thet Sam's again! Or find Bill Wood??
Random thoughts:
Hate that the hoilday season is approaching, I can almost feel the tense family situations brewing already. Dan wants to go to Dunes for T-day, hearing his parents don't want to..I can't go anywhere until Thursday because I have few vacation days left.
I did work before I blogged, I just want that in print.
Commercial about the Hip boxset on the radio right now.
Dan wants me to get my own quad tonight. I must be strong and say no. I will post a picture of it next week. (that was a joke, but we know it's true)
I haven't wrote much this week, kinda in one of my writing funks again, not confident, not sure where I am going, threw myself off track last time. So many emotions for something that will probably just rot in my closet.
Had lunch yesterday with the Get Out crew, great to see them. Was fun working there for the short time I did! I am not a journalist, but I work for a bunch of them! ;)

Crazy Frosh Halloween party

The two contest winners, A tetris piece and a voodoo doll plus the rather creative boys who dressed as their favorite sport.

Blazin through the Cronkite Luncheon

My Blaze directors clean up nice... Haughty touhgty freu-freu dessert at the AZ Biltmore also shown...raspberry something..was yum yum!

Push just a little too late

This blog is titled Maple musings.. I just had a maple musing as I was flipping the TV channels after watching the Alternative on VH1 classic (fave vid tonight-"I don't know why I love you"-House of Love) Turned to MTV2 and there was David Usher singing..threw me for a loop! Turns out it was Beavis and Butthead making fun of the video for "Push" Hello! How happy 90's am I to see Moist on my TV..maybe I should watch TV more often! Of course they were making fun of them, said David Usher sang his words funny (he kinda does..) Neil on CFOX said he lives in New Jersey the other day. Apparently he did not want to live the rest of his life in Canada..hehehe. At least OLP Raine moved to Malibu, why would any Canadian move to NJ? Must be for a girl. Speaking of attention misplaced, I actually saw Moist back in the day, at the Gold Rush (or Electric Ballroom, not sure which name it was at the time.) As I recall, I was selling merch for Dead Hot Workshop and was way more intersted in talking to a certain guy I had, shall we say a "deadly" crush on. Do I remember Moist's show? Maybe I remember thinking, "Oh here's the hit" Only Silver was out at the time. I just want to hit my self for not paying attention to some of the shows I saw...Did I pay attention when I saw The Replacements the first time, no I was too busy watching Robin, Did I enjoy seeing Toad when I first saw them, no I was too busy watching Robin, Did I really pay that much attention when Jellyfish played Qfest, no I think I was looking for Robin. Wait I hear a trend here... Anyway, my point is, crushes on boys took it's toll on my complete attention span to the loads of bands I saw in the day. Heck..I probably saw Sloan in 1993 for all I know, I was probably looking around the club to see if Robin was there... hahahahahahahaha.

Must have been some kind of kiss

So funny...my station manager at The Blaze thinks the version The Blaze is playing of "Enjoy the silence" is yet another cover. BUT it is really Depeche...so many covers that these youngsters don't recognize the orignal.
The salute to the Crew is because I saw one of those I love the 80's shows on VH1 this weekend and they used "Died" for their De ja Video feature. They did their usual ridicule of the song but found little to make fun of. My heart fluttered hearing it. The late Kevin MacMichael was a Scotian. One of my favorite stories in my music discovery is this: I used to listen to a show on CKLW called On the edge. Everyday I would write down everything they played. One of my very favorite songs I ever heard on the show was called "Tears on your anorak" by The Drivers. For some reason they only played it for a short amount of time, a couple weeks maybe. Never knew anything else about them until I was in college reading an article about Cutting Crew in Music Express. The author revealed that Nick Van Eede was formerly in the The Drivers who were on tour with Kevin's band Fast Forward in Canada when the label dumped them and left the Drivers stranded in Canada. Then of course, magic struck, Nick and Kevin formed the band who would go on to craft my favorite song of all time. I think CC was considered Can Con...I played on the maple minutes but a few of my friendly detractors gave me heck for that. I don't have them in my Canadian section in the closet. Does anyone else in the US have their music library divided by Canadian then everything else?
I am not gonna lie, I had a rough weekend. I should have not gotten the journals out, it was too difficult to read, too difficult to relive. As the Crew says, I should have walked away... from so many things... I guess I will leave it at that.
What always perks me up, writing these days. Jon emailed me the link for the National Novel writing month, I read a book about how they do that, you write a 50,000 word novel in a month. I was very interested in doing that before I started Bay Window, in fact some people have asked my why I don't just use it for the contest but the rules say you should start from scratch. I thought about starting another for it but I am so close to finishing Bay window, I can't start something else right now. I have had my mind buried in college radio, bands being signed and places kids hang out in Halifax..I don't feel like shifting gears yet and researching another topic. I did get over 5000 words written over the weekend. Finishing 50,000 in a month for this contest would not be a challenge. As we see from these blogs, shutting me up is the problem. Last night it lead me again, I did something I absolutely wasn't planning in all my notes. I feel like I am not being disipline to my notes by letting these things write themselves.
The radio kids are in rare form today. And Tony wonders why I can't get work done here. The CV halloween party was a big success, they had very creative costumes to say the least. My freshmen..crazy kids. Afeter dressing up in various forms of narcotics they got up early Monday morning and got their picture taken with their namessake Walter Cronkite. My pride and joy, my frosh-hahaha! Yesterday was the Cronkite Luncheon. I can never go to the AZ Biltmore without thinking of meeting INXS there. The award recipient was Dave Barry, who was hilarious. I have never had a subscription to a newspaper with his column but am intersted in checking out his books after hearing how humourous he was.
A photo or two from the Cronkite luncheon to follow. I am going to attempt to work...I know that is as funny as Dave Barry.

She's got 20 questions...oh wait there are 40..

Yee Haw- Here's a happy Halloween photo of racer friend Alex and Dan from the ET finals hillbilly weekend. Here's another silly survey I am wasting time with until my next appointment.
1. What is your full name? Mod Maid Miller

2. What color pants are you wearing? Purple-my favorite ones!

3. What are you listening to right now? BOB FM, just played Honeymoon Suite!

4. What was the last thing you ate? Pretzels in my office

5. Do you wish on stars? All the time, for a team race win...used to wish for a husband, be careful what you wish for-hahahaha!

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple

7. How is the weather right now? I am in the basement but I think it is in the 80's

8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Blaze MD Matt

9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? OF COURSE!

10. How old are you today? 38

11. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper, love the Cherry Vanilla now

12. Favorite sport? NHRA Drag Racing of course...

13. Hair color? Molly's concoction of auburn and red, I would be totally grey if not for Molly since I was 23! Sad but true, I could buy a condo in BC if I had the money I have spent on hair dye.

14. Do you wear contacts? no

15. Siblings? nope, only child

16. Favorite month? Used to be Dec but Christmas has changed, March probably!


17. Favorite food? Cheese, Strawberries, Prime rib

18. What was the last movie you saw? In her Shoes

19. Favorite day of the year? Dan and I's anniversary - Dec 18

20. What do you do to vent anger? Drive Big Red

21. What was your favorite toy as a child? My Star Wars Princess Leia barbie size doll-of course ;)

22. Summer or winter? WINTER...of course...

23. Hugs or kisses? Both!

24. Chocolate or vanilla? chocolate

28. When was the last time you cried? Something I was thinking of writing again..

29. What is under your bed? Airchecks from the Mighty Maple Minutes, all my years on KUKQ, KSLX, Zone.. Boxes of magazines, old bills, shoes...lord knows what else.

30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Karen and Nina- 20 years this year!

31. What did you do last night? Got Dan ready to go to Dunes, dinner with Karen with teen style girls watching band videos on her TV, DQ...

32. What are you afraid of? spiders....tornados...dying

34. Favorite car? 1969 Camaro in a trailer in my back yard

35. Favorite flower? Violets, lilly of the valley

36. Number of keys on your key ring? 5 I think

37. How many years at your current job? Almost 6...wow!

38. Favorite day of the week? Probably Saturday- Race Day!

39. What did you do on your last birthday? Had nice day at work, did orientation that day then went to dinner with fam at Cracker Barrel. Got XM from Dan for gift!

40. How many states have you lived in? 2 Mich and AZ

41. How many cities have you lived in? 2 Walled Lake and Mesa