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

Tip of my tongue

One more.... Miss Hart didn't believe me that Murph likes to lick.....;)

Libra - Jay Ferguson 10/16/68

For Karen's new Sloan education- here's Jay. I think we would have a fine conversation about power pop with him if given the chance. Maybe if they ever come back to our sandy shores. He loved Suger High Sean's young Elton John shirt at the Big Fish Pub. I got Jay to sign my Chart but had no good convo starter with him. He never came out after the show in Pontiac.
So is the big screen TV busy this Sunday night after the CV halloween party?

Virgo - Patrick Pentland 9/20/69

I think Big Red was built in Sept of 1969...hmmm...
Karen...left is Patrick, a virgo just like yourself...must be a fussy guy...I have made fun of K being a Virgo for the now 20 years we celebrate of "friendship"
Chris is also in photo-I think he is your fave...nerdy cute for Miss K!
OK, now I have to find recent pix of Jay.

Scorpios - Chris Murphy 11/7/68 Andrew Scott 11/15/68

OK, before I hear any shite for this, Karen insisted I give her an instructional blog on which Sloan member is which. She and I went to dinner to celebrate her birthday 10 days late(Adult life sucks) We had a lovely, delicious dinner at Rigatony's in fab Chandler. We got on the conversation of my husband taking our only TV on his trip to the Dunes this weekend. This complaining wife was distressed because I had brought home my Sloan and Matt Good DVDs to finally watch on TV instead of my laptop. Then it occurs to me that Karen has a BIG screen TV-hehehe. She is so sorry she had me over last night now, I kept her up until 12:30am watching the Sloan DVD. (Karen does not particularly care for Mr. Good, we have now established after about 5 videos from him) For some reason Miss Hart could not grasp which one was Andrew...(Which one is he?" -K, "Andrew" - L..."Which one is he?"-K, "Andrew"."IS that Patrick?- K, "No that's Andrew"-L "Is that Patrick, he has grey hair?"-K, "NO that is Andrew"-L) I'll give her only that when she and M showed up at the Tempe Sloan show, Andrew was singing which has now totally threw her off. So thanks to Karen, "500 up" on big screen (which also confused her by starting with a young version) We had fun last night, thanks buddy! I have been listening to her and I's 1991 trip to Vancouver still, we are very much the same...we were so broke on that trip...so funny!
So Karen, here's Chris on the left(Your Val Kilmer if you prefer) and Andrew on right(Stewy Copeland)

Closer

Inch by Inch

Can you see how close I was to scraping the top of the ASU van in the America West Arena. I don't even want to go into how hellish our trip to this tour was. Let's just say the parking garage guard was a raving maniac who let me to this near bad encounter then the tour was horrible. My kids kept begging him to show them the media area for after games, where the announcers called the games yet the tour guide found it more important to show them the Lexus area seats that rich people can buy. It was unbelievably bad, bound to happen I guess... Chalk that one off for next year. I was so wound up between fear of hurting the van and the traffic, I needed serious amounts of wine...unfortunately I just ended up going to bed early, worse yet...without the ump to write last night...I hope they ban the vans so I never have to drive one again! (They are trying to ban them due to an accident at U of Utah recently)
I think the art students at ASU have the most fun, how much more fun would it be to have art projects as your homework than writing papers or in most of my student's cases, finding lame stories to report on. Between Tony and I, I don't know which of us has been interviewed more for stories for journalism classes. I see these art and design students everyday since The Blaze shares the building with them and I think it's so much more vital, so much more creative.
I am debating if it would be absolutely crazy on my part to just hop a plane to Edmonton this weekend. Andrew can't go but said it would only cost me around $100 to go. I am fighting my practical vs adventurous sides as to whether to go for it or not. I should save my money for NS right??? I got an ebay item I won yesterday, a magazine about the Cabot Trail. I hope I can work that into my trip but with my desire to see PEI also, not sure if I would have enough time for everything. For now, I read guide books, dream and write about my characters visiting there.

I wear my reading glasses at night

OR- I can see my laptop clearly now or 54-40's I (no longer) go blind

Can going to the eye Doctor be a revelation?- (Dr. Gerald Ford for your amusement)
I am a nit wit, apparently he already did my vision test, I just never had one before so didn't know that was what he was doing last time when he told me to not go 150 mph.. So I go yesterday and they tell me it's much too soon to have another. I tell the nurse my issues, she tests me with the little magnifying glasses they sell at Walgreens. It's a miracle I bought some stylish $17.99 reading glasses and I am a NEW woman, I wrote for over three hours last night, fearing they would give me a headache but NO, they helped me write ten times better-hahahaha- riveting drama unfolds thanks to walgreens and a peanut butter crunch blizzard for dinner. I have 20/25 vision by the way.
Getting ready to drive the Cronkite Village kids downtown for a tour of the Sun's arena. Driving the 15 passenger van-yeah...ugh...
Karen's product review- I tried mint Kit Kat's from the grocery store for a limited time- WOW - can you say yum yum! Try them before they are gone.
Did I ever write that my racer nemesis and I mended fences at the ET finals. Turns out I was conked out in front of him in line and he helped push, I thanked him and suddenly we were back speaking. I hope he figures out his issues, I know his life is difficult. His best bud was our track champ who committed suicide. I understand he feels he has a standard to uphold, a legacy to follow. I feel better that is appears to be resolved. It is unhealthy to have ill will brewing in a dangerous sport.
How much do I love this photo above, snagged it today, ah the 500 up video..inspiration to work on Bay window tonite again- almost 5000 words last night, I was definately on a roll...haven't read it back yet to see if it was any good. That is the weirdest part, I write and keep going and really don't know what I wrote fully until I look back and read it again...it's that case of the writing leading me, not me leading the writing. ok..nuff rambling...

Go for a Soda

Lots to note in the last couple of days, let's see if I know how to make it brief- that was a joke-hahaha!
Photo is of the garage sale find of the century a few weeks ago. Dan brought it in the house and it doesn't fit where I had envisioned it. Ugh..it means I need to make decisions about rearranging the kitchen, and/or getting rid of something to make room for it. I will be asking my pals for advice, I can never think these things out before I actually see them in place, can't visualize before. It's pretty awesome though don't ya think? I know- I am sooooo spoiled!
Kyle Vincent returned to town for the weekend. The minute I heard him start singing on the air at The Blaze, I got teary and melty. He has one of the most incredible voices I have ever heard. He and the Blaze jock had a great interview then I persuaded Karen to go with me to the Living room concert at some fine folks named Tony and Mary who lived an hour away from my 'hood. They had a grand piano which made it different than when he played my house with an electric keyboard. Either way, he is fantastic as a story teller in both song and verbal. It was a lovely night of music. Oddly, we were asked at the last minute if we would drive Kyle back to his hotel which was fine but by the time he was ready, I was ready to crash, so tired! Karen and I got Kyle talking about his opinions on the INXS show, which of course were not very positive. I know for a musician, what they did is the ultimate in sell out which is what Kyle was conveying. He told us that he had a chance to be on Star Search back in the day but refused it. He believes in the pure idea of writing some songs, getting signed and people liking the songs..without the use of these TV shows to expose your stuff. We enjoyed picking his brain. Then being the way I have been lately...I ask him if he writes anything else besides songs...he flips, he can't believe I asked because he had just written 10 pages of something on his flight to PHX. Apparently my new goal is to encourage my favorite musicians to write novels, TV Shows, screenplays, autobiagraphies..whatever... hehehe... Kyle tells us he wrote something autobiographical that day, read it to someone on the phone that afternoon and it caused a lump in the person's throat. nice! Kyle got a little nervous as I got turned around trying to find his hotel but I found it, if you know me, I don't get lost so it is still bugging me what went wrong in my drive there. Anyway, I feel bad as I was so tired from Friday night, I went to bed at 9pm Sat and didn't go see his club show..I need to email him and apologize. I did get the honor of being the first to buy his new CD he had gotten delivered to the hotel that day. One of my other favorite momemts was in the beginning when he asked me what requests for songs he won't play I had...He was making his set list. And nope, he didn't play any of my requests..hehe..why do artists always want to renounce their older catalog? Here's to Kyle...!!
I have been listening to the trip to Vancouver travel tape on my drives to work. Yet again, laughing out loud while driving...I still contend that Karen and I still talk to each other pretty much the same. This tape was Sept 1991, I sense a maturity in myself over the GT tape from 1988. Glad to hear I grew up some-hahaha! I was working doing the morning show by 91 so I had a different confidence, you can tell in my talk of the industry, etc.... There is a good part of the tape that talks of our adventures at Bumpershoot, it is amusing, especially my comments about Mr. Auer. Apparently Ken was tickling me, didn't remember this which is why these tapes are GOLD! There were quite a few things I forgot, including Jon giving me his phone number (Which we kept repeating on the tape) We even left the tape on when we crossed the border to BC, funny hearing the border lady asking us questions. More amusement on the tape was when Karen and I ran out of money and trying to figure out what to do without any more cash. We sat in the lobby of the Grouse Inn watching Much Music for our evening entertainment. Hilarious! One other thing funny was I made us stop for ice cream because we were losing the radio station The End in Seattle as we drove to BC, I made us stop because the DJ said The Posies were coming up and I had to hear them on the radio near their birthplace of Bellingham...My geekiness has never really stopped when it comes to stuff like this....
I have not worked on Bay Window since Thurs night, the weekend was just too messed up in my sleeping. Sunday night I watched drag racing and The Alternative with Dan.. Actually I was formulating one of the next stories, you know, the one about the girl drag racer who meets the Top Fuel driver of her dreams... Last night, I was wiped out from a way too busy day at work...read a little of Bay Window, jotted down some notes and crashed at 9pm. I hate getting older and not being able to stay up late like I used to-ugh again!
Let's see, Blaze - all great there, Cronkite Village- those kids are not getting kicked out which is good. Found out yesterday I will probably have double next year-60 kids..how that will work out? I have no idea right now. Itching to get Big Red fixed, nagging Dan gently. He is going riding this weekend and actually fixing the RV finally. I have no idea what this weekend may hold for me. Still plotting my trip to Nova Scotia for next spring. Going to eye doctor today to make sure my eyes are ok since I have had these headache issues. I worry about all my time on this laptop and my eyes.
Heard a song I liked by Arcade Fire on CFOX, also heard Matt Good's "Enjoy the Silence" on there. BOB played One to One last week, "Hold me now" had kinda forgot that song but will work good for the Bay window soundtrack-hehehe. Got a little crazy with Sloan items on ebay last week- I won some vinyl and the guy wrote me and asked if I wanted to buy his entire Sloan collection of vinyl and collectables...I had some but .....boy did that guy find the right sucker.... then says he has Matt Good stuff too... (I haven't bought that yet..I have some control?) I need to stay away from ebay...honestly I usually do but....well we go back to last week's theme "If if feels good do it" There should be a follow up track "Guilt suffered afterwards"

Oh Diamond Stud

I am quite positive Karen will never let me hear the end of it by putting an obligitory photo of Sloan in a blog about Glass Tiger so here are the Diamond Stud boys in all their 80's glory.

Road trip tapes

Yesterday in talking to Nina we started talking about missing our college days and I told her we needed to pull out our old travel tapes. I think I mentioned in blogging before that we used to talk into a tape recorder when we would go on road trips, talking about all the events around us. Talk about being able to relive your college days! So I dug through the closet of doom, didn't find either of the Toronto trips but found two others, one of Karen and I in Vancouver, the other of Nina and I going to see Glass Tiger in Tucson.
What a blast!! The story goes, we were supposed to go putt-putt golfing one night with Paul (Sloan on CFOX NOW...) while Nina was visiting. I must have used my bad influence on her and we both got a second hole pierced in our left ear. She just mentioned I should use that in my novel as she was in trouble from her mom for doing it. So we got the ear piered and I hada bad reaction, I got sick both times I ever had my ears pierced. So we stayed in my room listening to the radio. I told her I could pick up Tucson stations so I left KLPX on for a while and they run an ad for Glass Tiger playing there the next night. Can you imagine the pre-teen screams, it was the next night...! I had only lived in AZ a year and we drove through a horrible dust storm in the nightmare area of duststorms area Casa Grande. You can tell in the road trip tape that I had never really experienced one, lucky we made it ok... So listening to the tape revealed some observations- I was annoyed with myself, kinda mouthy and bossy...hope I am still not too much like that-hahaha! You should hear the questions we came up with to ask Glass Tiger for an interview...ahhh youth.... some of the stuff was kinda suggestive prompting me to think, good thing we didn't dress or act like sluts because some of the questions could have led us sweet young girls down the wrong path...hahaha! Nina wanted us to ask what color boxers they wore... as I recall, we never saw Alan Frew after the show as he was in a back room with a girl the entire time until their tour manager blew a whistle to get them on the bus. One of the other band members told us Frew was rolling around with a girl who was up front with us during the show. All my years of of chasing bands, well I honestly never wanted more than to just talk to them...but it was scary to hear how innocent Nina and I sounded ...and refreshing...
So next point I found facinating was that she and I were going on about our current guys we had crushes on at the time..That's what 20 years old girls talk about..and I was struck by the fact that we are both still in touch with those two guys. Mine comes and speaks to my classes now-hilarious but a good feeling that we can still stay in touch with the people who were important to us in our lives. (And no, believe it or not it was not a band guy for me, I did go through my sports guys and football players phase. We know I ended up marrying the football player-wink!) I am a true believer in keeping in touch with people in our lifes as much as we can, it ties our past to our current lives.
Next surprise, I realized I think I remember a lot of things from my storied past yet I was talking about stuff on the tape I totally forgot.. I had a pool party which I did remember but I didn't remember said crush guy ever even being to my house yet apparently he came to this party, left and came back then I walked him to his car...again..ahhh youth.... Also even more surprising, I was singing along to songs by Alta Moda, I don't even remember that song yet I knew the words back then. Music isn't something I usually forget. Must have been in heavy rotation on the Mod Maid's mighty Maple minutes at the time.
I listened a little to the GT interview, so bad..How I ever ended up with a successful radio career is now in question in my mind... I think I got better...hehehe
I also listened a little to the Vancouver trip, it struck me completely different. I think Karen and I still sound exactly the same when we converse to each other, I think we use the same phrases, same amusements...I will have to make copies for my fellow pre-teens. I am mystified where the Toronto trip tapes are...
All this nostalgia kept me from writing last night but I had a self imposed night off. It was good for me, enjoyed remember what else I do in my spare time. I have been thinking lately, what did I do before I started writing. I guess I was working on my website a lot, emailing, IMing... for a moment I was interested in cooking.. hmmm...what did I do? guess just messed on computer.. when Mom was alive, we were always running around plus I watched TV with her. Dan watches movies I have no interest in, we have never shared the TV watching thing, I know he wished I would watch more with him but I was never a TV kid even before the computer came along. I was making tapes or out..or on the phone I suppose.
I was on the phone last night with Missy, I told her my new plan. I think I will write a second novel before I try to look further into editors, publishing etc... (things I know NOTHING about) I feel like I am too close to Bay Window and would be too emotional for someone tearing it apart. If I write soemthing else that is a little less close to the heart, I may be able to handle the process better. For as long as I have wanted to write, I did not start with the story I have had in my head the longest. Missy was kind to say she was floored I had two more in my head ready to go...I know I know she's probably biased but she is the only one who has read all of Bay Window.. (war and peace of a college radio girl) I hate talking confident, there is only one thing I was ever confident about in my life and it was my on air talent... but I feel soo good about my writing..I feel like I know when it's not good too... If it feels good do it..somebody wrote something like that...hmmm...have I mentioned how sexy I now find grey haired men.... how come women can't look so sexy grey....ugh..mine are coming in faster than ever...
OK so what did we learn...old crushes never die? WQBR Pre-teens grow up some, and still live in their pre-teen days, I am obsessed with my novel..yep...many lessons learned from the past.
I guess I should have used a Glass Tiger photo but it looks like those boys in the photo are going on a "trip" Ode to my pal Nina, they are on AIR NOVA! Hey, if it feels good do it is our motto today.

Waiting for the flood, actually I'm waiting for an appt so I'm messing about...

The kids all do these survey things so I snagged this one from a student's live journal for fun...

First best friend: Christine Miller in Kindergarten

First screen name: Racergrl754, still is..

First funeral: My grandfather, my mom didn't take me to my dad's, thought I was too young (almost 4, Feb 1970)

First CD: Platinum Blonde "Alien Shores" bought it in Canada before I got a CD player

First pet: Snoopy Mom got him right before I was born he lived until he was 17!

First kiss: Richie Nell outside St. Matthews maybe 7th grade? Was horrible!

First piercing/tattoo: well my ears I guess in high school, no tat yet but that mapleleaf beckons me, almost did when Dan got his SS in London, ONT.

First big trip: Mom, Grandma and I drove from Mich to Cali when I was 7. Went to see my Uncle drag boat race at Long Beach!

First flight: To Tampa Florida to visit Butch's mom when I was maybe 12. I remember we sat in the back of the plane as my parents could smoke back there.

First job: West Oakland Rollery as both the DJ and a skateguard at 14


Everyone also has their lasts…

Last car ride: Rode with Dan to get dinner last week, we don't drive well together, hate each other's driving.

Last time you cried: Thinking about scenes I will write for the end of my novel, driving home from work yesterday.

Last movie you watched: Saw "In her Shoes" on Sunday

Last food you ate: Had Steaks R Us last night for dinner

Last item bought: A cake for The Blaze's b-day yesterday

Last annoyance: Drivers on Apache Blvd, every morning.

Last shirt worn: Blaze one yesterday, the grey and turqouise model

Last phone call: Set up a tour for next week with prospective student

Last time at the mall: Wow, not sure...Maybe Fiesta several months now while Dan and Hunter went to Fantastic Four, Missy and I went to Fiesta

Last Person you kissed: Let's hope it was Dan..hahaha!

Last song listened to: "A Million Miles Away" -Plimsouls on the ipod

Nice Segue- who's your favorite vocalist?

My favorite vocalist- The one in the hat in the photo! Nobody sings better than my Danny...The Katies really need to call him ;)

Happy camper here...CFOX just went from "Oh be Joyful" to "Money City Maniacs" I usually never get them back to back... I heard that it was a low point in Sloan's career when they opened for Matt...I wonder why they ever even agreed, they are the stalwarts who do things their way... I feel like I'm not supposed to like them both...but I do.... Sloan is more my power pop style, Matt just appeals to my rock half plus I think he has an incredible voice, which I don't say about many..

Here's a list Dan and I made a while back of our favorite vocalists...as always I can never narrow it down.
Leah's
Robin Wilson
Ken Stringfellow (The Posies)
Jonathan Auer (The Posies)
Robin Zander
Andy Sturmmer (Jellyfish)
Bill Wood (Eye Eye)
Adrian Smith (Sugar High)
Paul MacAusland(Haywire)
Nick Van Eede(Cutting Crew)
Kyle Vincent
Matthew Good
All 4 Sloan boys (1.Patrick 2. Chris 3. Jay 4. Andrew)
Tom Dunne (Something Happens)
Mike Reno (do I have to tell you?)
Glen Phillips
Bill Blake (Bitter Sweet Alley)
Michael Hutchence
(Honorary mentions to Mark Holmes(Platinum Blonde), Chris Cornell, Ron Dante (The Archies),David Usher (Moist)& Andy Gibb)

Dan's
Robin Wilson
Jason Moore (The Katies)
Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace)
Crosby, Stills and Nash (But not Young!)
Ken Stringfellow
Brian Vander Ark (Verve Pipe)
Freddie Mercury
Lindsey Buckingham
Chris Bell (Big Star)
Chip Z'nuff

The Blaze turns 23, Dear 23

Did I flippin jinx my college radio station? I was talking about lightning striking and it did...it struck our tower last night on the eve of 23 years of broadcasting...
For now Han and his tauntaun are celebrating 23 years of being ASU's original alternative (or New Music Source or breakin stuff or whatever other catch phrases they used over the years) KASR forever in my mind!!!!!!
More later when I finish my work...if I finish my work.....

PS - Van Halen is the next Rockstar show..I thought Sammy was still their singer, what do I know??

2nd generation blossom

I snagged this picture off Robin's blog but look how cute his kid looks in the batman shirt on stage at the Phoenix Zoo. The event was last weekend while I was at the ET finals. (Plus I think it was $300 a ticket, charity thing) He says the Blossoms are about go to Memphis to record which is fine news! I guess the stuff I heard last spring was just demos.
Today I had such a bad fuzzy headache, I cancelled class, I couldn't focus my eyes. I made an eye appointment. More than likely it's the weather as it's actually raining today in Tempe. I am worried it may be my late night hours on the laptop too. Tony showed me how to change my laptop display colors to ones that are easier on the eyes... I am better now but it was an all day ordeal rendering me useless.. tomorrow I have all day blocked off to get things done..let's hope!
I wrote last night, in fact I wrote Fri/sat/sun with results I am proud of. and the big moment happened in last nights writing....oh you know which big event...They are in Vancouver so I am enjoying writing about BC. I realized I am close to finishing which is actually a sad thing. I am kinda thinking about the next one, so I think this is going to ba a hard habit to break. If anything, I will use Bay Window as part of my application to grad school if I do it. I will probably go as far as having a professional reader to gauge if it's of interest. Will I be heart broke if nothing happens with it? Nope, I love it and I will share it with my friends..and know that I did it... I will spend time editing it after I finish and rewriting some older early chapters.
I priced tickets to NS and they are cheaper frm PHX than DTW. I can't fathom how it could only be $300 from Phx to Halifax but if I did the online thing correctly, I need to book a ticket now! Maybe I will look for publishing houses in NS, a love story about college radio kids going to Dalhousie may sell in NS....and maybe only in NS...hehehe
I have had three long talks with Cronkite village kids today which makes me feel good that I can be there for them as they adjust to college life. Somebody asked me again recently if I had kids...I have around 100 of them at The Blaze and 30 freshmen, not enough? ;)
I won some Sloan goodies on ebay, oh it's good I only check out ebay occasionally I am trouble on there. I found a guy who agreed to sell me all their vinyl that I didn't already have. I got this interview disc from the release of Navy Blues which has always been my fave Sloan record, I remember listening to that ne over and over while building my website ages ago. Anyway, it has some classic quotes on it and very insightful. It is hard being a fan of Canadian bands when you don't get to see or hear all the radio/tv interviews etc.. You miss the nuances of inter-band relationships (which I am apparently rather interested in-research of course!)
I am contemptating getting my journals out soon, it will be over 6 years since I have seen them. It will be my own emotional roller coaster if I do it.

Swingin Party

I had to blog as I had an incredible experience just happen to me. I certainly am a believer in signs..
I have been having a tough time of getting back in the groove of writing, going through my usual self doubt as to why I am wasting so much time on this. I seriously have been beating myself up this week..check my emails to Nina for proof..
I wrote a scene yesterday that was the first one I felt I wasn't going to use, that I wasted my time writing.. Today I resisted writing the entire day despite my laptop being out and beckoning me...I even mopped floors! By 9pm I had no more resistance left and decided to give it a shot. Mind you, I am at that point I keep mentioning where I need to move things along, find a way to explain what happens over a few months briefly (I am not good at brief...as you can tell) I found the perfect way as I sat down and started..I have been fretting over this for at least a month...I love the idea I came up with...Elise is keeping a journal of all the things happening to his band so she can give it to him for Christmas the following year (there's more to it, but that is the short of it) So I found a way to chronicle the band's signing, recording, making video, etc... relief..so I am enjoying this chapter, feeling good to be back at it.
The Replacements have played a major part of this story from the start, one day when I first started writing it, I heard "The Ledge" on XM and decided I could use it for a key part of the story. I kept using them for differnt parts of the story and decided that the band would get the chance to open for The Replacement for their first ever tour. I swear to you as I typed the words of Patrick telling Elise they got the opening slot for The Replacements. "Swinging Party" came on my ipod. Now I know that doesn't seem that fateful but I have 4000 songs on that thing, maybe 20-25 are Replacements..let alone it being from "Tim" which I used for a scene just a couple days ago. I personally started crying...I know I am emotional but I felt like a lightning bolt hit me in the head to keep writing again.... the same bolt that hit me the night I saw Sloan in Michigan... man, how many times can one girl be struck by lightning?

What ever happened to fun?

Next week Kyle Vincent will be back in town for another Living room show, I held one last January, was amazing. It will be nice to see him again.
Kinda a rough day today, troubles a foot in Cronkite Village..I am not trained to deal with roommate issues or overbearing mothers...
Didn't get to write again last night, still on 4 day of racing hang-over. Fell asleep by 9:30pm last nite. I can hope for the chance again tonight. I am about to write new years eve then on to the moving along of the next few months...
Team Firebird won the Team Spirit award which I feel so personally proud of since I was leading the cheers at the bottom of the grandstands. My voice is still not back totally. I enjoy getting into costume and making a fool of myself! Having hillbilly be out theme for the race was hilarious since being at that track is as if you are in hillbilly country. I wore these crazy long red braids and full on hillbilly hat, buck teeth and this country gal looking shirt that Missy found me at a garage sale (in my size-unbelievable) I have to say, the team spirit thing was the most fun part of the race, maybe if Big Red wasn't acting so wounded all weekend...
Gotta go, my old pals Thomas and Sam are speaking to my class today...Hopefully I will catch up with a certain young lady names Elise tonight ;)

Somebody Somewhere

This morning I was listening to BOB FM and they play "Not in Love" from Platinum Blonde. I'm pleased, never heard them play it, amused as I listen remembering I wrote a paper in college anaylizing the lyrics. The song ends and Milky says- "That's for Leah out in cyberspace" I choked! I checked my old emails, back on June 30 I sent an email that suggest several bands including Plat..do you think that was it OR is there a Leah in Ottawa who emailed a Plat request? Too weird! Then he proceeded to play INXS then Honeymoon Suite, It was a great start to the day! Of course Platinum Blonde is one of my main character Elise's favorite bands-wink!
Mr Good is on CFOX as I type, they played a Sloan song about 5 minutes ago..yeah..
I have not written in over a week and I miss it sooooo much! Hopefully tonight! I thought a lot about how to move on, what elements I can gloss over and which scences need to be written. I will say that the ending changes in my head often so we'll see what happens. I wrote a lot of notes while at the track, I can be in a whole nother world and still be working on it in my head. Missy told me the last few chapters made her cheeks red, now I am not sure what that means but hey..if it causes any reation, it must be effective?
Karen told me that INXS is not playing here for their tour. That kinda bums me out as Dan and I have both said we miss the show and hearing JD. She said the show Vegas(With Dan Tanna?) played "Dirty Vegas" on it. Seems strange they are skipping AZ but maybe there is a second leg. Milky said on BOB today that everyone is talking about INXS especially since their singer is Canadian now. JD is Scotian baby, I am making on of my characters from New Glasgow in honor of writing while the show was on.
Randomness: They are stomping on the floor above me here at The Blaze, I swear the art teachers tell them to do it to get back at our loud music in the building.
They cut down all the palm trees in the middle median of Apache Blvd. Wonder why?
The new itunes is acting so slow and blowing up my computer, so annoying. The Blaze is now playing INXS, must be an Albert left over (hell I mean a Leah left over, I was PD when this came out...)
Some band called Tony and I's phone line, said they were called "Original Booty Burglers" pretty hilarious name. Ahh College radio...
Back to something I mentioned briefly last week, when I got my grey washed out last week with Molly my hairdresser, I was so excited to hear what she thought of the Posies show. I thought she was acting excited about it but then realized her emotion was of utter disgust. She not only said the aforementions"fucking sucked" she also said they were arrogant and cheesy. She never even got to comment on Ken's panties... How bizarre that two people can see something in such opposite terms. I have seens them 17 times now and the potential was there for them to have lost some of their mojo-right? I saw no sign of them not still being one of the best live bands I have ever seen. I thought having Dan see them for the first time was a good test too, but he was dazzled, rocked, everything a Posies show does for you. She said their new songs sucked and I asked how long it had been since she had been following them lately as they played very few "new" songs. I think if you go to see the Posies thinking they are going to sound like "Golden Blunders" or "Dream all day" then it would be a shock to the system. They have always been a "harder" sound live. I thought Ken was ten times more animated since he joined REM and he was already pretty entertaining on stage. She hated him, said he was the arrogant one (uM...WRONG) I also explained that I think they have a tendancy to joke around on stage and that their comments were probably tongue in cheek. I related it to her as how people always misunderstood Robin's commentary on stage. But I understand there are many opinions, I had just never heard anyone in all my years of loving them say they were even the least bit bad live. She didn't believe me when I said they were my favorite band. I can't really think of anyone who has challenged that long running distinction. Even Scotty from the Blossoms would tease me that I loved The Posies more than them. (They are in a totally different catagory, it's differnt when they are your friends) Oh sure, I listen to Sloan and Matt way more now, one has to keep finding new things to amuse..but since 1988, it's been Posies for me. My engagement ring is a Posie flower for goodness sake, there are reasons for these things....
So that leads to the debate over the new OLP record. The first night it came out Dan had to drive to Casa Grande so he took it. He ranted to me for a half hour after about how bad it was and how dissapointed he was. I like them a lot but Dan is a much bigger fan. He was so bummed. I talked to Andrew not long after and both he and a friend say it's great-love it. I waited a while to listen to it, and my official statement is-boring...I listened to it 3 times in a row, just did nothing for me... One of my Cronkite Village kids said he sold it back he was so disappointed. So..differing opinions...everywhere....
Last thing-I think I may be getting a faster motor...Leah goes Super Steet racing?? 10 seconds? maybe... Dan's answer to any car problems, put a new motor in it. This time I may actually agree.
Did I mention Sloan in this post, never enough I am sure ;)

Big Red Blog entry-Give me an F for...FIREBIRD

Wow, let's see if I can recount all this mess... First let me say, so many people where so kind to ask me if we got problems solved, did I get a good pass, etc... Thanks so much, I appreciate those who care..I really do...
Friday started with hopes of all things better than Thursday right...wrong...We put the new plugs in and indeed, spark plugs can solve odd conking out problems...hey I thought it was crazy but the motor was fine for the rest of the weekend. problem solved..old one resurfaces...I have had three races this year that my tranbrake cord has wrapped around or yanked out completely. no zip ties or tape or anything was keeping it from getting stuck in the groove or the key, etcc.. so first pass Friday, I go to do burnout and no line lock. I look, see my accessories switch is on, think that is it. Didn't even think the trans brake was fried too..Go to stage, no transbrake, catch it but ended up foot braking too late, no rpm up, no shift light, .wasted pass. Dan reconnects the ripped wires, replaced grounded fuse and we hang my transbrake button so I need to just hang on to it, no more long cord. 10 hours later, time for pass number 2, full of hope and promise. I am nervous over the idea of holding button, do kinda crumby burnout (struggling with that with big tires but we'll get to that later) Do my own staging, not watching other lane at all, come up on converter and turns out other guy is pokey puppy...I'm on the converter a good 10 seconds, I spin so hard, never see a shift light come on full pass. The rest of Friday night is bad news. Let's just say Dan was very frustrated with me, I assumed I have killed the converter. I was ready to pack up and admit fully I did not belong at the finals. I can tell you, we definitely should have spent more time testing, we are still gathering data on the changes and I had to just keep thinking I used the ET finals as 4 days of test n tune but believe me, I don't believe that is where you come with a car you are still figuring out...I believe in the finals being the baddest of the bad ass racers battling, not someone who has barely made 10 passes on a practically new car. I know it and was very embarrassed to be such a problem all weekend. So back to our tale, Dan tries to find a converter, no luck, we decide to check a few things and the tranny fluid was super low, probably drained out slowly out at Speedworld's top end (wink) Dan messes with it, seems like it's ok. I am ready to quit racing. (yeah it was one of those kinda nights, the ones were you doubt you have any talent for this sport.)
Saturday comes around, good night sleep, I feel like if I have a car that works, I know I can race. I am ready to give it another shot. Dan adjusts the rear shocks to soften them up, but no help. First time run comes, It spins super bad again (1.80 60ft..yikes) My 11.50 car has yet to run in the 11's at all. Time for First round, I am total duck soup....really, I feel bad for the guy who red lit to me because I dialed a 12.00 and came no where near it as I spun again. BUT I feel somewhat better knowing that I, at least, gained my beloved TF one point. I didn't totally make a fool of myself for accepting a slot on the team.
Sunday comes, I was just so glad to still be racing on Sunday 2nd round. I actually felt pretty good, I didn't think I was going to red light but I did -.007 red. I thought I hung it out and was late, guess NOT, but it did hook up a bit better, that didn't help. I felt sorta bummed but I felt good about my lights all weekend and I know I can finish line race with the best of them. (If given the chance)
I never ran 11 seconds all weekend. There is no question Big Red is wounded and the overwhelming consensus is that the converter is slipping We believe it has been even at the last team race causing me not to spin the tires but the trouble is the converter slipping. My wise young brother in law called it at the TF race, said the converter was toast then. We have another, it's just on a certain lady named Lily at the moment. We plan to get her changed for the next race in Nov. I am getting better at the bigger burnout, I spent so many years trying to take them easy to preserve my tires I am just not aggressive enough. I took some wise advice from Jody Davis, spun them harder than I ever have, I just need to drive her out of it a little further. She is just so much more of a handful and I am a slow to change habits style person. I mean, my feet still want to foot brake, old habits die hard for me! By the way, one habit that wasn't hard to change...I love holding the transbrake button, it's like using my practice tree- I let go and drop it, no worries, I actually adjusted to that right away...Hey!
As for the weekend on the whole, I tried to stay calm and cool over all the shite Big Red was tossing at me.. I was so glad to be at a finals again! I was so happy for my bud Ryan Smith, I hope he knows his victory meant a lot to his friends too! Thanks for letting us be in the photos! I had some good words in to some folks I know upstairs for him. The finals were some of the most amazing memories I had in recent years with my family, we always had a ball from painting signs, jangling pepsi cans or my mom sewing FIREBIRD letters on shirts. I was very emotional to be back in those stands knowing how much fun the whole team spirit thing was for my parents and I. So I just ran down there and tried to get the gang cheering... The "Give me an F" cheer was aimed right up at Butch for wearing that F with pride... So if I was loud, obnoxious or nutty...it was divine intervention...

Every bitter drop

Stringfellow:“I’m always slightly amazed,” Stringfellow says now, “by the things that have left and re-entered my life. People disappear for a while, and then they come back. This band, and the connection between Jon and I — those two elements are really impossible to separate. If one doesn’t work, the other’s not going to — at least, not well. And that period of us not speaking, and not making music, is getting further and further behind now.”

Auer: “After everything that’s happened — a breakup, a falling out with someone who was one of my best friends in life — even after all that, there’s proof that things can work out. I mean, talk about optimism: This band’s a living example of it.”


I have layed down the law this week that I am to go to bed at 10pm yet here it is 10:03pm.... I have things to talk about but will have to quickly mention and return to them
The ode to The Posies today is 2 fold, they are in Detroit tonight-yeah! and today my hairdresser said the conert in Tempe "Absolutely Fucking Sucked" WOW...need to make many comments soon... It is worthy of a blog about differing opinions...it can include the harsh debate over the new OLP record also...
I am so sad to not be writing... I literally miss my characters...too weird... what am I gonna do when I finish? I am pretty much at the turning point of making time pass..I guess I will think about this for a week and figure out how to casually mention things that happen over a year... I maybe at a loss for how to do it...
I have a new pal on the Sloan board, had fun talking to her last night...looking for some inside info...she's a sweetie..
I will try ot blog tomorrow, I have a ton on my mind when I should be preparing what to take to 4 days of racing... My laptop....yikes!
sad to be aware..posiegrl754

She says what she means

Only I could be loking for pictures of turtles online and have google find me Nova Scotia Turtles. Even when I try to think of other stuff, Sloan sneaks in.
Hunter won Scorpion of the week at his school, San Tan Scorpions! He never wants me to see his school shirt because he knows I saw that big ugly black scorpion at Speedworld. Dan was watching "The Longest yard" last night and there he was, the black ugly scorpion starring in a scene in the movie. I mention this because of course I am finally racing at Speedworld this coming week for the ET finals. I have not gone down the quarter mile there since my hood came up in 1997! My car has, Dan drove it there for the first check out passes after the tubbing. It is a big week, the finals should be a ball no matter what. I have been hitting my practice tree. I also need to hit the pillow sooner. I tried to last night, skipped writing but now I am kinda sucked into the Sloan message board and eneded up reading that until 11pm even though I desperatly needed sleep. I have to be well rested this week for 4 days of serious racing. I may write tonight and tomorrow then I better take some time off this week to focus and sleep. Oh and Hunter also got to say something over the loud speaker for being scorpion of the week, "I always do my personal best" I told my shy nephew I can get him a gig on a college radio station when he is ready-;)
This past week was emotional as the approach of two years since mom died approached. I was in a total funk over my writing and even good things bummed me out. Today we went to garage sales and I swear she was leading us to the right ones. We had my mom in law with us for the first time ever, We pulled up to one and they had just put out a 50's coke machine for $125! One time I saw one when I was with mom, wanted to get it so bad but didn't have the funds with us, it was like $400. It was on my birthday maybe in 2002. I think she placed this one right in my path today...Even if my mom in law wasn't along, we would have gone to the bank, it was too good a deal...But alas, Dan is fussing about where we will put it. I need to think it out, easiest would be to put our freezer in the garage but one does not mess with my hubby's garage space. I had to buy my own garage for Big Red after I fought for years to keep it in the garage. Oh and we found a real gum machine for $25 also...my kitchen is gonna look even cooler.. maybe I will be inspired to clean it now-hahaha! Missy found something I know mom always wanted to get her for Christmas which sealed it for me that she was along for the ride today! I am quite certain my writing is therapy, I miss her so much I can't think too much about it. I have to keep busy, keep productive, keep her proud of me...
I went to see a Cronkite school professor last week, he owns an antique shop and found me a pie rack for my kitchen. Anyway, he is also a publishd novelist. His agent works for the Creative writing dept at ASU. They also publish books too. He raised an eye at me when I told him my subject matter, slight interest. As usual I don't thik I properly described it. Although I did get past my bumbling "girls and bands" that I said to Patrick. He kept saying I need an event, a definative action that happens. I am fearful I am taking way too long for this action to happen. He asked me how many words I had so far and again raised a surprised eye when I said over 100,000. He said a first time novelist would usually be right at 100,000. I am gonna be way beyond...but I am sure an editor kills most of it anyway. I was a little bummed but he just said the same as the others I have met with, just keep writing, finish it before I worry. He told me I could come see him anytime to talk more about it. I think he will be a great contact and mentor if I pursue this further. He was very encouraging just as I was depessed the day prior over writing a scene I didn't like as much. I think I maybe forcing it sometimes and have now had two times I was less than thrilled with the outcome. I wrote again Thursday and had my groove back on..:) I think I will appreciate reading this blog later and remembering my struggles with what maybe the biggest undertaking in my life. School is fine, I have been underproductive there, having a funk about work to, not the Blaze or the Village kids, just school stuff...need to get productive there too.
Heard lots of fun stuff last week like "Nova Heart" and "Crying over you" plus lots of Sloan from Neil on CFOX.
Was thinking about seeing Matt again but Andrew can't go...should I wander up to Vancouver myself? Thinking about it...MIssy thinks I should, Dan didn't fuss but would I enjoy it on my own?