I Am The Cancer - Sloan

July 22, 2009


I had such a fantastic day I am inspired to return to blogging. Besides, a blog on the “crazy broad” trying to find a new life and job in Washington should be fun read, right? I will post on facebook and return to my blog also.

The day started with an actual hairstyle as I haven’t used a blow dryer or hairspray since my last day at Cronkite. The hair ended up looking 70’s era Kristy McNichols since I had to have most of the two-tone black hairs cut out prior to leaving Phoenix. It was funny looking and made me think about how much I loved the movie “Little Darlings” when I was a young teen. Tatum O’Neal is filming the new Runaways bio pic. See, my hair style may make a comeback when the world sees Kristen Stewart (As Joan Jett!) and Dakota Fanning (As Cherie Currie!) sporting feathered hair!!

The job fair was smaller than I expected. Most of the companies were young male based, like the Army, Navy, CIA and the Edmonton Police. The two Universities represented both informed me their academic adviser-style jobs were sales driven. I have always been aware I am not fit for sales, I would cry every time someone said no! I found humor in the jobs in Alaska that were available. I spent the most time discussing how to become Canadian with the kind fellas from Edmonton. It inspired me to work hard to look into communications jobs in civil service in Canada as they may speed up my goal to get permanent residency. Or convince someone in Canadian radio that I am a one-women Canadian record store…

I went to a small Lutheran school in Michigan. There were 8 students in my graduating class in 8th grade. All the boys at St. Matthews were hardcore football fans. Jimmy, a dolphins fan, Jonathan loved the Cowboys. Being the tomboy in the class, I already loved the NFL and claimed Fran Tarkington and the Vikings as my team. But in 1976, my crush on Tarkington dissipated as I spotted a scrappy lefty who was the quarterback for the new team from Seattle, Washington. That year, our teacher had us write a journal daily. I ended each day with my new daily affirmation: I love Jim Zorn! I collected the articles from the Detroit Free Press every Monday, and then wrote an entire year report on the Seattle Seahawk’s season. They were fun to watch, and as the hormones sparked each year, this girl could not get enough of the duo of Zorn and Steve Largent, his favorite wide receiver. I wrote an A graded short story for Mr. Bond’s creative writing class about said duo! In my second trip to Seattle in 1993, I toured the King Dome. It was only natural that I was overjoyed to travel to Qwest Field in my very first week living in Seattle. I had to find the tour!

I felt like I should have had Cronkite Village with me on the tour! I wasn’t there to see a suite, the field or the press box this time though… I wanted to see the Seahawks history; I wanted to see those players’ photos in that Ring of Honor. The tour guide walked so fast I constantly lagged behind as I tried to photograph all the historic items. I was honestly annoyed that the tour was not focused at all for an actual Seahawks fan. And then, the guide said Zorn was now the coach of the Giants. I cringed at myself; miss know-it-all had to spew “Redskins” to correct him. But come on, the guy is a hero in this town! Get it right! No matter, I was beaming happy as I left the stadium.

My fine host, Mary warned me of the traffic on I-5 after about 3pm. In my truck at 4pm, I tried to decide if I would fight it. As I flipped on my Sirius satellite radio, the guest-DJ take over show on Iceberg was just beginning. The Canadian musician hosting? The one and only Joel Plaskett. SCORE! I will gladly sit in traffic for the next hour! (not to mention, stare at Mt. Rainier while listening!) Oh Joel, he is such a music fan. No question he brought his own stash as he played absolutely nothing Iceberg has ever played. He spoke of his Halifax history, Thrush Hermit tales and his fond memories of seeing Chris Murphy and Jenny Pierce singing “I am the Cancer” live. The show was fantastic! I included the artists Plaskett played below.

Maybe only I find these kinds of connections but as “I am the Cancer” played I started to tear up. In 1993, my first radio job at KUKQ came to a close as the station changed format to all News. By chance, my vacation, a trip to Seattle/Vancouver was planned the week after this surprise event occurred. I considered cancelling my trip but my parents encouraged me to still take the vacation and relax. On that very trip was when I first heard “I am the Cancer” on the radio. It was the song of our trip, as it was in heavy rotation on the alt-radio stations in Seattle and BC. Now I am living in Seattle, staying with a former co-worker from KUKQ and I hear “I am the Cancer” ?! See what I mean? Or is it just me? 

Random notes from today:
Rural Alberta Advantage remind me of Immaculate Machine (No wonder you like them, Andrew!)
I like Lauren Burrows and Lana Gay on CBC3 but not Lisa Christensen
Heard band Green Go today, pretty fun stuff
New Cancon band called Davinport (sorry t, they spell it wrong but you wouldn’t like them)
I am so bad; I bought a Seahawks heart necklace-LOL!
Delicious Blue Cheese hamburger for dinner.
Sleeping puppies all around me!

Tomorrow-Pike Place Market!
Friday – Star Gazing at Mt. Rainier


I love it here  Leah

Plaskett played:
Martha Wainwright
The Constantines
The Nils
Al Tuck
Dave Marsh
The Band
Old Man Luedecke
Joni Mitchell
Sloan
Two Hours Traffic
One track from each of his 3 new records