Mod Maid's Maple Musings

2009 in photos

2009-12-31T15:09:00.000-08:00

Kill Your Television - Ned's Atomic Dustbin

2009-09-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

Mod Musing from the Pacific Northwest:

*I have been going on about these bikini espresso places, and had to laugh when I caught on the news that a local “Grab and Go” was raided for a sting operation. Seems the girls at Grab and Go were charging for flashing customers and even more for allowing the clientele to touch them. Yep, arrested for prostitution out of a coffee hut. Amusing as heck to me…

*I saw a caterpillar on the road while walking. (Yes I have started walking again and it feels great!) I swear I can not remember the last time I saw a caterpillar-wow to the little things!

*Direct TV shows reruns of Trailer Park Boys!! I am finally getting it, and loving it! I also love that show I spoke of before, the Meatloaf hosted “Rock and a Hard Place” Music trivia answered by musicians- best show evar! LOL! Today- Tommy Tutone vs Ray Parker Jr. and Lisa Lisa vs Da Brat. I saw Sha Na Na on there a few days ago, they were real members from back in the day when they had their TV show. RIP Chico…

*I continue to get snide comments when I am walking my three pups. I bet if it were just two, I would not get the comments. I don’t understand why people feel the need to say something mean about the fact that I love dogs? Some people are nice, don’t get me wrong..I have adorable dogs but the people who pop off, why? I am a good dog owner who picks up after them in parks. And in doggie news, Wicket is ahead of the curve in his recovery..he is doing fantastic. I knew it wasn’t his time yet.. 

*A few after notes on the Polaris Prize:
It was interesting to hear the radio folks saying the next day that F*cked Up winning could push the awards a step back. It did seem to be an interesting problem, as other stations couldn’t even announce the name of the winner. It was so odd how they saved them for last to perform, a food fight breaks out and then this hardcore punk band, stripped down to their underwear wins the award for artist merit. I am willing to guess there are more people who think it was a mistake although I heard some say even if you don’t like hardcore, it is a masterpiece record. I saw F*cked Up while in Toronto for the 6 nights of Plaskett. That was the band Chris Murphy got up and sang punk with. Let’s be truthful, why else would I have seen a punk band? LOL

Jian Ghomeshi not only played with my least favorite band Patrick Watson, he introduced hip hop star K’Naan. I was quite impressed with K’Naan as a person and performer. I was not impressed with Patrick Watson, Jian or no Jian-LOL!

Elliott Brood, Hey Rosetta! And Joel sounded the best live! I don’t understand why Metric couldn’t play full band. I want to see Elliott Brood here in Seattle. We shall see, they are here in 2 weeks. They used cookie sheets and wooden spoons in the audience for percussion.

*Speaking of Hey Rosetta! I knew I like Tim Baker! His first concert was Glass Tiger!! LOL GT for Polaris Prize next year!

*I applied for a lot of radio jobs this week. Maybe I will get one response from them? Oh man, this is yet another of my most difficult challenges of my life. Believing something right will come along is HARD…

*I watched the premier of CSI for the heck of it last night. A lot of the good characters are gone-hello no Grissom? Gil was the reason I ever started watching, William Petersen is a fine actor in my opinion. But I bring this up because I can’t handle shows like that anymore. Plus it had spiders on it last night. My dreams after were nothing but bodies and spiders. Nope, can’t do that or horror films..

*Jon Auer is playing in Phoenix, I am excited for my friends that get to see him! He called from his hotel, so funny..it was in my old hood, where Karen and I always went for Joanns and Cracker Barrel. I am hoping one of my pals will call and let me hear a song from the show. I am sure I will get a show sooner or later living here..He did sayin an interview Serene Dominic did that they want to do another Posies record! Yes to all my fave bands still recording new music!

*Hoping I may get to drive someone to Portland, Oregon tomorrow!??

Leah's take on the Short List nominees of the 2009 Polaris Prize

2009-09-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

K’naan – This is the nominee I am least familiar with as I am not a hip-hop fan but I know He got some airplay in the states. He has the reggae thing backing his rhymes. Canada is not known for it’s Hip-Hop. Maybe they aren’t angry enough or have enough attitudes. This is the first hip-hop nominee I recall. It is well done from what I have heard but I highly doubt this will surpass the CanCon Indie superstars nominated.

Malajube – You know, I think Malajube has some pretty good odds. They make French speaking music that is fun to listen to whether you understand the language or not. They have poppy songs, very cool piano use in their arrangements. Sometimes they even add hip-hop flare. They have a decent shot at winning, but they probably won’t. Maybe-because it is in French? (I can say that, I don’t write for anyone!)

Elliott Brood – Hearing strains of this record again recently reminded me how original this band is. You may want to lump them in the Americana category but they are more then that. Yes they, Elliott Brood is a band, not a guy. I think this is a fantastic record, different than anything else that has ever been nominated. There is a dark horse shot here…

Metric – It seems like each year, there is one band nominated that is commercially more successful than the rest. (Ex – The New Pornographers, Stars, or Arcade Fire) It almost feels like it gives some mainstream attention to the rest of the more unknown, indie bands. Metric has a fine record nominated “Fantasies” that is quite varied in styles and instrumentation. Emily Haines has proven she can change up her singing style. It is a fantastic danceable record with 80’s undertones. It is also the most commercial sounding of the nominees. If the Polaris prize is political, Metric will not win. This award appears to be about rewarded the more independent band. Metric is not that band. If Arcade Fire didn’t win for Neon Bible, Metric will not win.

Patrick Watson – Patrick Watson is a band of super young guys who make music that sounds much older than they are. Patrick has an operatic-style voice (think Jeff Buckley only higher) The songs are deep lyrically but quite frankly put me to sleep. Patrick Watson will not win the Polaris prize again. Yes, what they do is unique but this new LP is not that much different than the one they won with 2 years ago.
Hey Rosetta! – There are bands that are good but even better live. I believe this is the case for NFLD’s Hey Rosetta! I was a casual fan of theirs but once I saw them live, I understood all the fuss. Tim Baker is a fantastic song writer; he commanded an audience like Dave Matthews does. The young girls love him; the guys dig the whole band thing with string instruments. I watched a college age crowd bounce with complete adoration for them. I listened to “Into your lungs” on the drive back from seeing Hey Rosetta! Live and it wasn’t quite the same. Oh I would love for them to sneak in and win, I will be rooting for them but I don’t think they have enough clout yet…

Joel Plaskett – There is absolutely no question Joel Plaskett can write a memorable, catchy song full of his self-deprecation, down-home honesty and love for his home Province of Nova Scotia. He went for a concept record once again, this time all about Three. It includes Three records, songs with three word titles and in some cases, three singers-himself with Ana Egge and Rose Cousins. The three CDS each have their own theme. It all works, it shows a different side of Plaskett and should win. But “Ashtray Rock” didn’t win and it should have. I fear Three is too long for the judges to vote for it. Plaskett is certainly the king of Canadian Indie rock but this may not be the record he will win with. I will still be cheering this sweetheart of a fella on!

Fucked Up – Believe it or not, I actually saw this band live, for a Christmas show no less! They do punk rock like all the great ones did. It is not that far from any other pure punk rock record. It was wise on the Polaris Prize nominating committee to recognize this band’s talent. They will not win however.

Great Lake Swimmers – Most everyone who follows this prize thought GLS had it in the bag for their debut record 2 years ago. Patrick Watson later even came out and said GLS should have won! I think there is a soft spot still in the judges for this folky band to win. Do not rule them out Monday night. Their most recent “Lost Channels” is a very, very quiet effort. Too quiet?

Chad Van Gaalen – If you listen to Canadian Independent radio and writers, He should have won two years ago and will win Monday night. His music is unique, I understand that but in the Indie media, he is the second coming of Neil Young. They will award him the Polaris Prize. He will mumble some bizarre thanks and the Indie CanCon world will all be happy he finally got what they all believe he deserved. If he doesn’t, my jaw drops and he becomes the Susan Lucci of the Polaris Prize.

Don't Change - INXS

2009-09-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

Last night Karen read me a letter I wrote her in May of 1989. Want to know what the scariest part of it was? 20 years later and I sound the same! I was chattering about bands, life in AZ and our friends. It was insane how little I have changed yet some much transpired in between. My favorite line from it was: “I don’t mind rock radio playing alternative stuff.” OMG, hilarious! I was going on about KUPD playing The Cure. Hahaha!
What I also find interesting about this letter is that when my mom passed away, Dan insisted I changed. What I think may be more true is that I changed (conformed) when I got married and that the real Leah came back. Because I no longer had my mom, I reached back inside and found me. I went back to what I truly enjoyed from crafting to travelling to see bands. What a revelation! Dan had me convinced I changed. Of course, without my mom I was altered but I don’t believe I truly “changed” even though he had me believing I did. I rediscovered ME! In fact, I am a bit disappointed with myself if I compromised who I was for marriage. I have watched so many girlfriends do that for their husbands, I swore I never would but maybe I did. Our demise had more to do with finding our true selves. He did too and then he realized that our true-selves had completely different directions in which we were heading. I think that is why we were both so ok with our divorce. We both knew we only needed each other for that period of time. I sense that is why I am so at peace right now, I finally have returned to 1989 Leah… It explains my desire to move too. The very first thing I realized when I swallowed that the divorce was happening was that I didn’t have to stay in Arizona anymore. Complete peace will come when that job slips into my pocket along with my own place; And when I am entertaining friends again at my own place. That is me.

Randomness:

It dawned on me that I should do a search for diners in Washington! I bet there are some cool ones here!

One thing I don’t necessarily like still from 1989 is my constant need to have a crush. It is lame at 42 because you have too much sensibility to let it just be fun. But trust me, I always have a crush and most of the time, it is not a healthy one.

So remember how I was saying they have these bikini espresso places here in Washington. Well now I drove by a place that proclaimed- No Bikinis! See, I knew some women would object! They have ones labeled Bikini bottoms too- oh brother.. Plus they have city meetings to ban them. Hilarious.

I noticed that out in the country, the convenience stores have fryers so the food in the case is fresher than a place like 7-11 with hot dogs rolling. I am guessing this is because you have longer drives so you eat more “real” food from the gas station? On a drive to Port Angeles I stopped at the absolute nicest convenience store ever. I can’t even describe it but it was nicer than most AJ’s plus it was huge! It was on a reservation near a casino, not sure if that had anything to do with it.

I took the dogs to a “forest” today. It was part of Spanaway city parks. It was very nice but it was the first time I realized I should be more concerned with my safety. I saw an unsavory character heading into this forest then as it wound around a lot of woods, I realized I shouldn’t do everything by myself. I am awkward enough trying to walk three dogs. If someone would have robbed me I would be so easy with the clumsiness of the dogs. I will not be returning there. I need to stick to open dog parks with lots of people. Maybe I am too independent sometimes..

The Polaris Prize is only 2 nights away. I wonder if anyone else gets as excited for this as I do. Next year I will host a party for it! Hahahah! I need to listen to Jian on Monday! Wish he was hosting it again but he is not, Grant Lawrence is again.

I miss being social. This should not be a big surprise. My life was always so packed with activities. It is good to reflect but I need to just hang out with my pals-just laugh and have fun…Thank goodness for the phone. I have gotten some great laughs on the phone since in Washington-you know who you all are! ;)

You know who I have been listening to lately..The Posies.. Must be something about the location?? ;)

I heard the K-os take over show on Iceberg this week. I really like how much of a music fan he is. He is very humble to be around other musicians. He told stories of meeting Moe Berg from TPOH plus his appearance in the Death from Above video. I knew he would play Sloan because I knew he was a fan. He went on about how he thinks Chris Murphy is talented at everything he does. He also played "The Other Man" and hinted to it being about Feist but would not break musician code. Sorry, K-Os, most fans know Chris was the other man who stole her away from which ever BSS guy she was with at the time. The most entertaining story he told was about Sam Roberts. He said he was watching Live 8 and saw Sam sing a new song at the time "Brigde to nowhere" K-OS thought it was a song about him and was bummed out. Then he said he talked to both Peter Elkas (:HEARTBEATS:) and Murray Lightburn of The Dears. They both thought Sam wrote the song about them. As K-OS concluded- we were all so vain, we thought the song was about us. That was funny! Maybe other musicians confide their deep dark secrets to Sam Roberts. Who wouldn't? If it meant a longer chance to stare at that gorgeous man, well? He must have more bromance than Plaskett!

Karen swore I would love the new Mountain Dew Ultra Violet but nope. I had another self discovery! I do not like fruity flavors carbonated. They have to be like kool-aid. Carbonation for me needs to stay in the cola family. Who am I kidding, carbonation needs to stay in the Dr. Pepper family for me-period. Did you know I never drank carbonated drinks until my late 20's. Now there was a habit I should have kept! I had an ex-boyfriend who loved Dr. Pepper. I would sip his everyday and boom- I was hooked! Damn him! LOL!

Did I mention I am seeing Matthew Good in November? I suspect so for the next 2 months until the show!

Bandages - Hot Hot Heat

2009-09-18T22:25:00.001-07:00

Ode to DB Sweeney! Found out he is on a TV show called Crash. Glad he is getting work, will have to see the show...

I was super insecure about myself pretty much until I started racing. It stemmed for the constant desire to please people along with the desire for everyone to like me. Plus I was never shapely or particularly cool. I was a successful on-air personality for years but never had a confidence about what I did. It was an odd thing, it was more important for my ego and self-confidence to do well drag racing. It was something I had to put effort into, it was not a natural talent like talking on the radio. My desire to race constantly was because it advanced my confidence. But when I did poorly, it was hard to hide my disappointment. I also credit my ex-husband for making me realize someone could accept me for me. He encouraged me to believe that I was beautiful. I will always credit him for that. I refuse to let those feelings of confidence rescind just because our marriage ended or because I am not racing anymore.

Not finding a job is clawing at that confidence. After the split, I found myself to be stronger than ever. I believe it showed. I was feeling so good about starting a new. I was free from the very difficult situations that came with my marriage. I wore my clothes with a different belief. I had a successful career; I worked hard plus I believed that I would find love again also. I have got to get that sense back. I know it is in me. Yet today, when trying to make a radio demo, I felt like that insecure girl of 25 all over again. It makes me think I should have capitalized on the Best of Phx and local CD release. But I was too insecure to realize those accolades could have moved me beyond where I was in radio. I never had enough confidence to push open bigger doors. My answer when asked what I do best is radio. I know in my heart that it is the one thing in my life that is the most natural. (Along with caring for those I love) So why, why would I not feel the most confident ever in the idea of approaching radio again? It is so subjective, one program director may love ya, and the next finds you lacking energy. I suspect that too much is riding on this so I am pressuring myself beyond belief. Therefore, not sounding natural…

I watched two married folks at dinner tonight look so happy and in love. I can only pray it can happen again. But it will have to be an equal partnership this time. I don’t want it just to have love in my life again. I believe I will repel anything that resembles the difficulties in my marriage. I liked being a wife, I really did. It just has to be completely equal if I ever enter something again.

Music Musings…
The Polaris Prize Gala is this Monday. You know I am counting the days to listen! I will try to write out my evaluation of the ten nominees in my next blog.

Jon Auer is playing in Phoenix next week. I am excited for my friends to see him. Maybe someone will hold up the phone for me to hear some of it! I have been trying to help him get some press in town prior to the show. He is heading by the Blaze too. Of course I will be even more thrilled when I get a show to see here in Seattle. Kinda funny I move to Posieland and Phoenix gets a show before I do…

This lack of money is crimping my concert going desires! In-Flight is playing in Vancouver as is Two Hours Traffic but I can not justify going up there for shows until I have an income. Hence I am looking for jobs closer to BC, so it is easier yet to see all my CanCon bands.

Two shows I am definitely going to: Amy Millan in Seattle-oh yes..I will ball my eyes out when she does “Skinny Boy.” That is a given. My dear pal Andrew purchased 2nd row tickets for Matthew Good Nov 10. I am so excited for both!!! I have wanted to see Matt again so bad and Amy solo is going to be amazing!!!

Listening to some extra Plaskett songs from itunes-good stuff. Plus he has a funny little hip-hop song with Classified. I would love to see him win the Polaris. I just think the Three record is just too long for the judges.

I heard a band I liked on CBC3 last week. They are called Hospital Grade. While poking around the internet, I went to their website. Their latest news? They finished recording a song for the Sloan tribute record. Of course.., Of course… So it turns out indeed there is a tribute record being done. It should be fun a few times, I liked The Posies one but tributes only last a few listens in my opinion.

And finally, good old Kella on Iceberg could not pronounce Nanaimo. (nor could she say Polaris) Give me that girl’s job!!! See I haven’t lost all my self-confidence….LOL

Day Job - Gin Blossoms

2009-09-13T00:08:00.001-07:00

Don’t quit your day job unless you have another one signed and sealed! Times are extremely tough; some jobs are getting hundreds of applicants. I have a file full of big rejection letters. Shame on me for being so confident my resume was enough to get myself another gig. I maintain that I have the talent and the skill to kill at any job hired for but I am a job search virgin. Seriously, I never had to do this before. How blessed I have been, I went from job to job by reputation without ever needing to search for one. My interview several weeks ago with UW was my first committee interview ever. I plug away but the internet applications do not substitute for face to face contact. My resume certainly may throw off some educational institutes. I did not have a conventional job so the adviser jobs I apply for are probably thrown out the window. The one job closest to my Cronk job needed a fricking Masters degree. I suspect one needs an insider to assist in getting any interview. I magically dream that someone in a hiring committee sees this resume, says “Look how interesting and different this gal is.” Doubtful considering the amount of calls I have gotten. (That total is 1)

Here is the truth…I am scared and I am running out of money. What I am not out of is optimism. I took a huge leap leaving Arizona. I refuse to believe I made a mistake doing so. I absolutely LOVE Western Washington. I want to be here and I believe somehow I will find a way to make this work. I have my moments of depression, who wouldn’t? I miss having my own home, my chance to be creative, heck I miss my shoes.. ;) I have worn the same set of clothing I packed for the drive to Alaska. But do not read this as a feel sorry for me blog. I am so grateful to have a place to stay with Mary. I never realized it as much as when I drove back from Bellingham. I felt like I had a ‘home’ to return to. Being in this atmosphere has helped heal me. I was a wreck when I left Phoenix…I was worse from the Alaska ordeal. The peace I have been seeking since Dan said he wanted a divorce is happening in Yelm, Washington. I am learning so much about spiritual teachings. The ideal of living in the “now” is appealing to me on so many levels. I believe I will be thoroughly entrenched in bliss once the job search ends. It is such a nagging tap on my shoulder.

I was supposed to start the temp job at the Puyallup Fair this week. At training we were told we would work 12 hours a day for 22 days straight. Add an hour drive both ways for me and it would have been 14 hours a day. I really wanted to do it and was looking forward to the chance to mingle with all sorts of people! And yes I need the money. It just wasn’t going to work. Various reasons from the dogs to not being enough money made it impossible. I wish it could have worked out but it wasn’t meant to be for some reason.

One of those reasons may be the opportunity to meet with a GM at a radio group in Bellingham, WA this past Friday. Once again, my guardian angel of Yelm Mary made a few calls and found the contact for me to email. I have been thinking a lot about Bellingham as an option because of it being between Seattle and Vancouver. I also suspect the rent may be fairly less then Seattle. Mary encouraged me to take the 3 hour drive up and explore. The GM responded quickly to my inquiry, kindly agreeing to meet with me the following day. We had a very nice 45 minute talk about the Phoenix radio market in which he was quite familiar with. He was impressed with the stations I had worked at. It ended with him telling me to do a simple demo for him and he would “see what he could do.” That was more than I was even expecting so I felt empowered again. Empowered that I could do radio again, that I wasn’t too far removed from it to be considered. It was a reminder to myself that I did do major market radio and it could still be recognized as such. It was also an interesting juxtaposition of occupational interview styles. The discussion was much more down to earth. It reminded me that I was never fully part of the educational world. Job or no job, the meeting was important to my self-worth and confidence.

I don’t know what happens when I run out of money. It is the major worry I keep trying to fight. I know I need to keep looking for temporary work. My therapist suggested I advertise dog-sitting. I like that idea! Selling items is also an option. If I move my items into a storage space, I could sell the trailer. And yes, if worst came to worst, I start selling my CDs. It is so hard to explain but I am so calm and happy inside even though I am in the direst circumstances of my life. Oh if we didn’t need money in our lives…

Random music notes:

In the very same day I listened to the new Two Hours Traffic, Amy Millan and Matthew Good. WOW! I still just get so excited for release dates of my favorite artists! At this moment I would say that Matthew Good’s Vancouver will be my LP of the year. We shall see in December ;)

I got in the car to drive to Bellingham and Chris Murphy was co-hosting on CBC3. Naturally I was tickled! I have expressed a zillion times how much I miss his and Jay’s radio show. My favorite giggle of the show was Chris saying who else would host a show like Q than Jian Ghomeshi to which Craig Norris responded “You.” Chris said he tries to get Jian to let him fill in all the time to no avail. Love it! Another giggle was Chris looking at a picture of Sloan and saying “There I am with my old collarbone.”

Elephant Stone is a project from a former member of the High Dials. Big Ah-ha moment. Makes perfect sense now as opposed to them coming out of nowhere.

Andrew and I are plotting to go to Vancouver to see In-Flight Safety in Vancouver at the end of September. (I told Dan to send me money-LOL!) Two Hours Traffic are playing there the same week but I need to choose. I pick In-Flight because I know THT will be back but In-Flight seems to be touring less. Their record came out in Jan and they are just touring on it now… I am now Andrew’s flight partner. It means I fly as if a family member of an airline employee. Of course until I have a job, I won’t really be able to take advantage but I hope it means I can be at CV2 graduation…

(And I had no real good reason to use the adorable picture of Jim Zorn except that NFL starts tomorrow-Go 'Skins and 'Hawks!)

Last Parade - Matthew Good

2009-08-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of Matthew Good! His new song was the first thing I heard when I turned the radio on today. Fantastic tune..New CD in October!

There is live mariachi music out my window, I am out in the middle of the country…ok I really can’t get away from AZ (I am sure John thinks that is a racist statement)

I have a lot of random thoughts to blog today. I have had an absolutely wonderful week after one day of pure depression. I am fighting so hard to have less and less of those days where I dwell on what I don’t have or what happened in the past. Live in the moment. Believe in your decisions. The past is gone, no changing it and no need to relive it in my head. No more wishing for things I don’t have, let things happen as they may. All those positive chats need to be present constantly. No more getting those neurons all worked up into frenzy! Yep, if I focus on good, things all flow.

Some things about Washington:

*I saw a store called “Stupid Prices” I should go in and see if it is true. It was next to a dollar store, does that mean it is less than a dollar?

*To attract folks away from Starbucks, many espresso places have bikini-clad girls working the drive thru. A few thoughts come to mind…
a. what about the women customers, where is Jim Zorn to serve me my Chai tea? (Ok maybe most women want that Twilight guy or Brad Pitt)
b. Is this wise? What if she accidentally spills, scalding her body…
c. Is this any different than Hooters, I am sure it offends women. I am indifferent to that but many women find this super degrading.
d. I never saw this in Phoenix where it is warm, I bet these women in Washington are freezing. Oh now I get it…

*They have a lot of these “roundabouts” on their roads. The first time I encountered one was in Halifax. I was pretty sure I was going to die. The ones here in Washington are not as traffic-filled but still scare me. I just don’t think everyone gets the concept, therefore “danger-danger!” Why can’t we just stick to 4-way stops? A traffic light?

* Ivars is a famous seafood place downtown Seattle. Maybe they have always had these but I just noticed they have Ivars fast food joints around the rest of town. It is a small consolation for lack of In ‘n Outs… “Giant Prawns to go pleas!”

*I keep seeing the same people! Even the same cars! The day I got the job at the Puyallup Fair, I was parked next to a cool PT cruiser with flames. Two days later I saw it in the town I am staying in which is a good 30 miles away.

*Grr to a Sheriff who came flying up on my rear while driving. It made me figure I was nailed for speeding. I was waiting for him to pull me over as he tailed me for miles. When we finally came to a second lane, he flew around me like a jack-ass in an import racer. I watched him with other cars after, he was a tailgating Sheriff. JERK!

* I hear the most bizarre noises at night out in the country, Ones that wake me out of a dead sleep. The funniest one wasn’t outside though. Mary’s refrigerator must have demons to shake when it defrosts. Scared me straight out of bed one night! Speaking of beds, when I finally get my own place I am going to get a King size bed. My two hounds take up more room than I do.

*Oh I found a tiny little scam…I heard a women say to a sales clerk that she was from Oregon so they didn’t charge her sales tax. She just had to show her drivers license. Guess who has a driver’s license from a state with no sales tax…. (and no I don’t mean AZ. AZ has plenty of sales tax…)

*Finally if I may make a small suggestion for my bearded male friends, never go apply for a job with a comb stored in your beard….;)

What You Need - INXS

2009-08-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

It's Tim Farriss' 52 B-day today!!!

I think I am listening to my favorite record of the year as I type! Before I moved, I heard a single from this band Elephant Stone on The Verge. Oh the single was killer! Then they ended up on the Polaris long list. I searched all three Canadian record stores I got to stop at on the way to Alaska. Only one had a slot for it but no CD. Today, I wised up and looked on itunes…I just never expect obscure little Canadian bands to be on itunes but it was! This is sweet poppy heaven! The vocals are very slightly Jay Ferg sounding..

Also discovered today that I can listen to CBC3 and CBC1 on my iphone! I finally looked into applications for it. I have not cared for the phone because it does not last for a long phone call. Maybe 2 ½ hours at best. I am a long way from my friends; I need long phone calls to keep me socially adept. Hahaha!

Saw Mt. Rainier today, I haven’t seen her in a few weeks. She just towers over everything and is impossible not to stare at! It is so odd how she is just sort of away from any other mountains. John Muir Quote: “Of all the fire mountains which like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific Coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest.” Yelm is in the most ideal location to view her perfectly. Blessed I am to be in such a beautiful location!

I have now been turned down for 4 jobs. Maybe I am vain, but I thought I would get to the interview stage sooner than this. My resume is outstanding for education jobs, I know it is. I am not going to slide into self-doubt. I am learning to focus on what I want and making it happen. The tricky part is that my truest desire is to live and work in Canada. So do I focus on that or do I plan on staying in Washington for a while so I can work on manifesting my desire to become Canadian? I will change my citizenship. I don’t think I have ever fully expressed that to anyone but when I voted in the last US election, I prayed it was my last as a US citizen. After Canadian Residency, you can work towards citizenship. And I will.

Last week while poking around careerbuilder.com, I fell into a website I wasn’t even looking for. A website for Canadian radio jobs. Radio gigs open in Halifax. What could I do but try. I was out of my mind trying to be practical. I thought I wasn’t being focused enough, that I shouldn’t even go there. I have been avoiding the radio option. But as my dear friend Andi reminded me, I have a talent that could someday get me to Canada. Not every job skill could get one there. No matter what comes of this, I have to remember that doing radio is my God given talent. I may not love the business of radio but I can do it. I am staying with a dear friend who has a studio, all I can do is put together a real good demo and keep trying. I felt really good about the top 40 demo I did. I always was accused of being too bubbly on alt radio..so maybe top 40 is my gig-LOL! I still feel like I could have done even better had I not been hurried. There were more too, Northern BC, and small town NS stations.

So the question is, what do I focus on? I need to make a few calls this week to find out where the process is at. I also need to go back and check all the Washington schools again for new postings to apply for. I plan to check in with University of Washington’s Comm school as their opening has not posted yet. But what of those other radio jobs? Oh Halifax….I want to be there so bad, for the rest of my life. Is that desire keeping me from getting a job in Washington? I need spiritual guidance. I know the Universe will work for me if I work it.

What else happened this past week?
I like doing yardwork in a nice climate. I think I may even have a garden and flowers myself. Another reason I don’t miss Phoenix.

Della has a yeast infection which has caused her to need special bathes and pills twice daily. She is all dandruff looking and losing hair. I worry, of course. It is probably from the change of area, maybe even the nettles scratching her low-lying belly. She can chase a rabbit though, man she is fast! Jasper seems to love being in the country the most. He was always guarding his yard in Mesa. Now he seems to love to investigate all the acres here. Wicket actually has worried me the most. He seems to have aged from this trip. He is getting slower and looks like his legs ache when he wakes up.

I am listening to Airborne Toxic Event now. Andrew says they are the most Canadian non-Canadian band there is. I like it so far, but I knew I liked the radio tracks.

The new OLP is just that, new OLP. It seems like the last three records have presented this more polished adult rock band instead of the harder alt rock they used to be. But they always have a hooky tune or two per record. I adore their new single so I still buy.

I went to a rubber stamp store last week. Shame, shame…. I only bought one…GUILT!

I got to view the Perseids meteor shower last week. I had just spent time reading about how to live in a joyful state. The timing could be more perfect. They were almost like a dream, in fact when I awoke the next day I wasn’t sure if I really saw all those meteors or not. So weird but so fantastic. Some of them were so brilliant they would take my breath away. I am always in awe of God’s universe.
At that I say goodnight! Here’s to a great week!

"Rearview Mirror" - Pearl Jam

2009-08-06T20:52:00.000-07:00

I just added my resume to Career Builder.com and it spit out some recommendations based on my resume! Senior Citizen’s home activities director or Pizza Hut Delivery Driver! I am on my way!!! (Or several jobs in the US Army) Today I applied for a job that demanded an hour long personality test. It was like a facebook quiz but not as fun. It also had two math sections! I skipped the entire math reasoning section. Not surprisingly it stated the fact that I could use some math courses in the evaluation.

I have been pondering if I am a city or a country girl. (Is there a fb quiz for that?) I love being out here in the country while staying with Mary. But admit I miss being closer to the city to head out to a show at a moment’s notice. I know my reaction to an ugly orange spider the other day does not indicate I will be camping anytime soon.

It has been so enjoyable to watch my dogs enjoy the open space. Della spotted her first rabbit recently. I thought she was going to bring it back for me she ran so fast! Jasper’s sight is not so stellar; he has had two bunnies in his path but did not know it.

The job search continues. I am trying to think outside of my box. I have been exploring more general job websites now. I think I have hit all the Universities and colleges in the surrounding areas. (Maybe a few a little farther east also) I got declined for an advising job at University of Washington but it was Adviser Senior. I was pushing it-LOL! UW has new job postings daily so I frequent it. Thanks to a contact with their Communications program, I am awaiting one to apply for. It is working with Grad students. I believe I can work well with any age student. Basically I feel good if I find one or more to apply for a day.

My mind has been in overdrive, especially since we watched “What the Bleep do we know?” I am not sure I have words to properly describe how all the theories work. I just know it has opened my mind, made me think long and hard about how I have been living my life. Most importantly, how I want to see my life in the future. Visualizing what I need feels so good to me. The women I am staying with are absolutely incredible.

Watched the Tinted Windows concert on Direct TV last week. I will tell you one thing; if you looked away you would think Taylor Hanson was Robin Zander singing. They are a tad boring live but the music is so perfectly power pop. Hanson was meant to sing this style of music. Bun E. looked really fit and healthy, I heard once he had back issues. Schlessinger knows how to write a perfect pop song but we knew that already from his penning “That Thing You Do!” (Which we listened to the soundtrack several times up to Alaska and back)

I haven’t blogged yet about what happened to Chris Murphy. Chris was hit by a drunk driver while riding his bike. By the grace of God, he only has a broken collarbone. He was thrown from his bike into a parked car. I just felt sick to my stomach hearing this. I certainly sent him my get well quick wishes. Word was that Greg was learning the bass parts so they could still play a big Hali show. I think he could be a great voice for “Don’t drink and drive” in Canada once he recovers.

Dizzy - The Wonder Stuff featuring Vic Reeves

2009-07-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

Just random notes today:

This is so simple for some people but I have got to learn to take better care of myself. I was dizzy all day from not taking meds for a while. (It is called broke with no insurance..) I am waiting on a package with my cobra information mailed from the Ex… I almost passed out the night we got into Seattle for the same thing. Today I was just plain annoyed because if I am dizzy, I can’t focus on a computer screen. Mary picked up my meds for now, bless her heart of gold. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be back on track!

* Andrew and I are really into following the Polaris Prize. It is a Canadian music prize of $20,000 to the artist whose record is the best of the year, according to an industry panel of judges. They select a long list of potential records then eliminate it down to the short list of 10 records. We like to try to predict the winner. They air the awards show on CBC3 this Sept 21. I am going to attempt to listen to each record fully before. Of course we have our favorites. Andrew is all for Metric- “Fantasies” to win this year. I believe Plaskett deserves it for “Three.” I even wrote out little odds this year. I will share them soon. My guess to win this year is Chad Van Gaalen for his CD “Soft Airplane.” He lost to Patrick Watson two years ago and I think they will give it to him now.

* It is a well known fact about me; ridiculous things make me burst out in tears. Now I really don’t mean to. It is involuntary most of the time. So please laugh that I burst into tears twice yesterday. First for hearing In-Flight Safety’s “The Coast is Clear” on Iceberg. Then I got sniffles for seeing a young gal driving a gorgeous Chevelle as her daily driver. (In-Flight because it reminds me of my first trip to Halifax and the Chevelle because I used to drive one daily also.)

* Andrew was in Seattle but we didn’t see each other-LOL! He was too busy spending 3 hours at one record store here called EM. I think I better stay away from there for a good long time. Same with the rubber stamp convention here this weekend.

*Unbelievable! John is back in Phoenix as of yesterday. That my friend is a heck of a job that you can manage that amount of time off! I don’t even remember what day we left for Alaska anymore. His fb status was something about the joy of sleeping in your own bed, I bet!! I can’t wait until I can own my own bed again!

*In the Tacoma paper yesterday was an article about what Jim Zorn did for the summer! HEEHEE. It was mainly about training camp starting but it detailed his vacation stops and the books he read. I am just guessing that article did not run in the Arizona Republic.

*I turned the TV on today to find a music trivia game show hosted by Meatloaf. The competition was between Leif Garrett and the Bay City Rollers. One of my favorite singers, Kyle Vincent (In photo above) has been touring with this version of the Rollers. There he was, Kyle on TV. It was fun to watch! Kyle does these Living Room performances where he will come to your house and do a show for you. I had him do one at our home in 2004. I also had him speak to my class about the music industry while he was in town plus play live on The Blaze. Another Phx resident also had him do a show a few years later. He is a wonderful guy with an absolute angelic voice. He was once the vocalist for 80’s band Candy with Gilby Clarke, later of G n R fame.

*On the same channel, The 101, they are showing a concert of Tinted Windows. They are the power pop super group with Bun E Carlos from Cheap Trick, James Iha from the Smashing Pumpkins, Adam Schlessinger of Fountains of Wayne (and wrote “That thing you do”) and vocalist Taylor Hanson. (Yes that Hanson!) I missed it today but it is showing again tomorrow! Can’t wait! Their record is in the running for my favorite of the year!

*I saw a gorgeous shooting star above me tonight reminding me it is all going to work out. I may have gotten my first rejection letter today and been sick but I have the highest of hopes and peace around me!

The Key - Erroll Star

2009-07-27T00:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may be interested in reading this blog I started back in ’04, you might need a key to terms used often in the Mod Maid language. As with anything, it is best to start from the beginning and attempt to follow. Attempt is the key, a Mod Maid’s mind is tough to decipher sometimes!

Key for terms used on Mod Maid’s Maple Musings blog:

Mod Maid – A nickname given to me at my first college radio station, WQBR at Eastern Michigan University. My on-air name throughout college. Origin of the name comes from the brand name of my 1985 winter jacket. Alliteration of name was used for specialty show playing all Canadian music: Mod Maid’s Mighty Maple Minutes. (at Midnight)

CanCon – Term refers to Canadian radios stations requirements to play a certain percentage of Canadian artists. Canadian Content. I utilize as a term for my favorite music.

The Verge, Iceberg and CBC3 – Satellite radio stations that play all Canadian artists. My sources for hearing my favorite Canadian music and learning new ones.

Andrew – My Canadian music partner in crime… Between the two of us, we own just about every rock-based Canadian artist in some form or another. If neither of us have heard of the artist, they must still be playing in their parent’s basement.

The Blaze – (AKA – KASR/KASC) the campus radio station at Arizona State University. As an undergrad, I was music director and station manager in KASR days. From 2000 to 2008, I was their professional advisor.

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications – My employer at Arizona State University from 2000-2009. The school I have my BA from, 1991.

Cronkite Village (AKA – CV, with year variations-CV1, CV2, CV3, CV4 and now CV5) – A Living Learning community for freshmen students from the Cronkite school. I was charged to form this community and develop it.

Big Red – Nickname for the 1969 Chevy Camaro SS I owned and bracket-raced from 1996-2009.

Dan – The ex-husband. LOL

“Bay Window” – The name of the novel I wrote in 2005-2006. The early portion of this blog is all the emotions I went through writing this novel and editing it.

Patrick and Elise – The main characters in “Bay Window”

Sloan – A favorite Canadian band. After a performance of theirs in 2005 in Tempe, AZ, I was inspired to write “Bay Window” based on all the rock band members I had known and experiences I had lived through in my personal days as an on-air personality in Phoenix radio.
There are also many references in this blog to members Chris Murphy and Jay Ferguson (C & J) who once were radio show hosts on CBC3 that I wrote many letters to.

KUKQ, KUPD, KSLX and KZON – Radio stations in Phoenix, Arizona that I once worked for at some point in my radio career. Mary McCann, who has kindly opened her home to me currently, was a colleague at both KUKQ and KZON.

Karen and Nina – My two best friends who I met at Eastern Michigan while working at WQBR.

Blossoms – Gin Blossoms. A band from Tempe, Arizona that were playing clubs while I attended Arizona State University. My life revolved around them during my years at ASU and beyond. I believe I can state I was the first on-air personality to play them and interview them on commercial radio. KASR was also first radio station to play this multi-platinum act. My most prized possession is a Gold record presented to me by the band.

Robin – The lead singer of the Gin Blossoms.

Hopkins – Doug Hopkins, Deceased lead guitarist of the Gin Blossoms.

The Posies – My favorite rock band since 1988. From Bellingham, Washington. I have seen live 16 times, many of which I travelled throughout the country to attend.

Jon Auer – One of two lead vocalist of said favorite band; The Posies. Ken Stringfellow is also Posies lead vocalist. Each have solo careers along with the band they began as teenagers.

NS – Nova Scotia. Mentioned often on blog because of two incredible trips there, fictional location of my novel Bay Window and my desired future home.

AZ – Arizona. The state my parents decided to move to in 1987. I left Eastern Michigan University and transferred to Arizona State University. I lived there for 22 years.

AK – Alaska. The state I moved to for about a month in June/July of 2009. Things did not work out as planned. I retreated to Washington due to, presumably, more career opportunities, more record stores, tons of musical acts playing live in the city of Seattle and because St. John said “I can get you as far as Seattle.”

St. John – A former student and director at the Blaze that has become one of my dearest friends. Inducted into sainthood after agreeing to drive this “crazy broad,” her three dogs and a trailer full of music all the way to Alaska. HE: Re-packed the trailer three times, never allowed me to drive once the entire trip, endured my tears daily, scrubbed an f-ing carpet in Jasper, Alberta, listened to me babble on about Canadian music, didn’t complain about the amount of Kleenex strung through the cabin in Homer when I was sick, didn’t guilt me when I killed my fender on Dino, waited for me to record shop in Canada, drove the horrible roads of the Yukon slow enough so the trailer didn’t bounce too bad, and then…offered to drive me back down to the lower 48 when I decided not to stay in Alaska. That is the definition of a great friend and a saint, ladies and gentlemen….

Dino – Nickname for my GMC Sierra Denali. Did I forget to mention I also had a minor fender bent and broken off in AK also..?

Jasper, Wicket and Brendella – My three dogs I was awarded full custody of. *wink*

Jasper is a mutt, Bassett mix who is a distemper survivor. Named after city in the Canadian rockies of Alberta. He was my parent’s dog. Apprx age: 13

Wicket is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named after the Ewok who befriends Princess Leia in “Return of the Jedi.” He is 7 years old.

Brendella is a black colored Basset Hound. She was named after a manufacturer of drag and ski boats. My parent owned drag racing boats while I was growing up. Most often referred to as “Della,” she is 5 years old.

Lucky Star - Goo Goo Dolls

2009-07-25T19:24:00.001-07:00

July 25, 2009

Just finished harvesting strawberries from Mary’s garden! Those were direct orders from her to harvest and eat them while she is at work at KPLU playing jazz music all day.  Found about 20 really red ones that are incredibly sweet.

I have officially been in Washington for a week now. Spent Friday job searching online, I first checked University of Washington (UW) and found two more to apply for. That brings my total at UW to 13 jobs I have applied for. Most have an end date next week so perhaps some interviews will come early August? I spent most of the day on craigslist. That yielded some amusing considerations. I wrote a new cover letter insisting that both advising and radio was the ultimate in customer service. (With my editor’s help – wink) I then applied for front desk clerk at a boutique hotel downtown Seattle. I am a big fan of those hotels that have special flare in each room! I then applied for an attendant on the Victoria Clipper. This is the famed (in my head) boat that goes from Seattle to Victoria, BC. Monday I will return to scouring Universities and Community Colleges in Western Washington.

I had a fantastic last two days! Thursday I met John at Pike Place Market. At first I couldn’t find him..I told him I was the girl in the Sloan shirt-LOL! Then I saw some young dude that vaguely looked like the guy I spent 5 weeks with in a truck with. Hee! The Grizzly Adams beard for Alaska is gone. I guess that means he may finally be getting ready to return to Phoenix. We watched the fish throwers pull out a huge octopus out of a box. Yikes! We ate at my old favorite Athenian where Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner sat in “Sleepless in Seattle”. My mom and I loved that movie so much! John sat in Tom Hanks’ spot. When I was trying to find John, I spotted really cute purse at one of the booths. I am not like most women, I am pretty fussy about purses and don’t have a bazillion of them. While walking by it, I showed it to John. He walked up, looked at that label and said they were his Aunt’s creation! He had told me before his Aunt had a booth there but never even told me what she made. Bizarre coincidence! After a day of tooling around, John had to get back to Port Angeles for dinner his step-mom was making for him. Knowing I am a ferry-loving fool, he suggested I ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island with him and back. It was super crowded as it was rush hour on the boat. It raised my imagination for what it would be like to commute on a boat daily. While I was pleased as punch to be ferry riding, I was pretty sad returning to Seattle knowing it was the last time I would see John for a few months at least.

By missing the rush hour, I made it back to Mary’s in only an hour and ten minutes as opposed to 2 hours the day prior. I-5 is a nightmare when it wants to be. Seattle lesson number 23!

Friday evening, Mary and I set out for Mt. Rainier. She spotted a program in the paper that they were holding called “The Heavens of Paradise.” Paradise is the visitor center area at about 5000ft. They have a gorgeous brand new visitor center and Paradise Inn. Leah’s love of mountains- check, Leah’s love of road trips –check, Leah’s love of lodges –double check and Leah’s love of stargazing- triple check! The road was crazy switchbacks to get there. Narada Falls was a quick stop then we reached the center. Mary and I took a little hike along a path to get a better view of my new favorite volcano, Rainier. Not 50 ft away, a lovely deer having her dinner. We took some pix and relaxed. I stared at the mountain and did some serious praying again that I could find a way to stay in Washington. I would have picked Seattle area had I started out just saying, ok where do I want to move in the United States. I have had a picture of downtown Seattle in my bedroom since the early 90’s. The theme of the talk was wilderness does not just end at the horizon. The talk was inside the lodge. Oh my, I was in awe of the lodge décor. I am a fan of that look. It rivaled Jasper Park Lodge for design and décor! After the talk, we were invited to a “Star Party.” The Tacoma Astronomy club had various sized telescopes set up in the parking lot to allow all of us to gaze into that celestial wilderness. Local Girl Scouts were set up to help celebrate 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy. They helped us built constellation maps. The magnitude of the universe is beyond my comprehension. Looking at millions of other galaxies was mind blowing. I honestly had never looked into a telescope before last night! Mary had a night of shooting stars; she even saw one in a telescope that was not visible to us! I learned so much about Nebula, the Milky Way, Jupiter that was visible and the zillions of stars we can not see with the naked eye. It was fantastic. And more of the peace my body needs right now…

Random music notes:

On the drive Thursday, I heard Superfriendz, Dog Day and Two Hours Traffic on CBC3. THT song “Stuck for the Summer” is apparently the theme song for an MTV show about “band camp.” Yes for one of my bands getting some US airplay!

On Iceberg I heard a double shot of Gowan (random!!) and “It doesn’t really matter” – Platinum Blonde. Of course my distain for DJ Kella on Iceberg increased when she once again talked over the ending of Platinum Blonde. Did they not teach her at her radio school that you don’t talk over COLD endings? URGH!

CBC3 played a band called The Lodge from Halifax. It was killer but it took me a few google searches to find said band because of the generic name. My dear friend Mike has a radio station by the same name!  Turns out The Lodge are former members of The Inbred and friends…of course, Mike O’Neill is involved. Andi, this is info for you dear! ;)
For Andrew: Ten Second Epic has a new single featuring Lights called “Everyday” and I am digging on a band called Contrived.

I Am The Cancer - Sloan

2009-07-23T00:33:00.000-07:00

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

In and out of love - Bon Jovi

2008-06-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

There are a set of people I have adored since I was a teen. This guy above is one of them. He is Mark Oswald, former driver of the In and Out Funny Car. He jumped back into a race car last weekend in Chicago and qualified 2nd. I just wanted to shout it out as he is one of my all time favorite people I admire!

I got the wisdom tooth out on Friday.... the one that was supposed to come out in 1986 (Best year ever for Canadian music!) In March I found out it was coming out but kept putting off the extraction. It was abcessed...no wonder I have had such a hard time sleeping! Now I am bruised and swollen but it is gone before the big trips!

New York is a go as long as we get on a flight. (flying stand-by) Dan is going to help me make some coasters today for Rob and Jay. I want to give Rob something for getting us into Mamma Mia! Want to make Spoons and HMS coasters for him.

I have a ton of work to do before NS but I will be dilligent to get it done so I have no worries while I am gone!

In my search for a show to see while I am in the mariti,es, I finally found it!!! The New Bruswick countdown to Canada Day announced it's headliner!! In-Flight Safety!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More soon :)

"It's a mistake" - Men at Work

2008-06-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

Iceberg is STILL playing something by New Pornographers that is NOT "Myriad Harbour" I was laughing as the idiot DJ stumbled through the pronounciation of Myriad then out comes this fantastic other song. I wish I knew what that song is that they are playing because it is not on Challengers! The song ends, I go out in the kitchen and The Verge is playing the real "Myriad Harbour" Oh I laughed!!!! (And yes I keep radios on in most every room)
So have the real "Myriad Harbour" It is a cool video! Iceberg is not cool for this blunder! I really have to wonder if they are playing a B-side from a CD single or what??

"Lost Together" - Blue Rodeo

2008-05-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

I can not get the above song title out of my head. It was the encore for the Blue Rodeo show I attended this week. They called Luke Doucet and his wife Melissa McClelland on stage to sing the song. The entire night was a fantastic night of Canadian music talent new and established. This was the third time I have seen Blue Rodeo but the time lapse between is so lengthy, it felt anew. Best I can recall off hand, it was 1993 they played an opening set in Hayden Square. I also saw them at SXSW but festival shows are never the satisfactory way to see a band. This was 2 hours of all the hits and the latest CD. I felt like I did the first time I saw Sloan. Here is this huge bus at this tiny club, a high caliber, Canadian headliner playing to 60 people. Sad representation of our country but huge advantage for the diehards who "know" how fortunate they are. People shouted out "Thank you" to Blue Rodeo for coming to Phoenix. That gives you an idea...Sigh for the talent little known to the mass public. It probably goes without saying but Blue Rodeo was fanastic!

I am listening to Main Street on CBC Halifax so I can pretend like I live there. They are talking about gas prices and if it will affect your summer travel. Gas prices are not even in my head for my travel plans to Nova Scotia-haha! It cost $95 to fill my truck today. It is hard not to mention this. I was stuck in traffic the other day, no clue why as it was in the middle of the day but it turned out "W" was in town at some small Mesa business. There were tons of protesters, I raised my fist in solidarity. I am not political whatsoever but I know the government could change this oil issue.

The Blaze received the new Sloan CD yesterday. It makes a difference being able to listen to it on my stereo in my truck. I would still say my Sloan mood is Jay lately. I do believe I go through Sloan member moods in regards to their songs. I remember in Nova Scotia, all I wanted to listen to was Andrew. Chris ruled the NHTEOI era. Patrick was the reason I was sucked in hardcore around Action Pact era. Jay's songs were the early Sloan songs I liked so I guess I am back around. I hope Andrew and I get to go to the show but we are going to try stand-by. It is tough getting on flights these day that way. If not, I will find a show later this summer I suspect.

The Blaze is also playing Two Hours Traffic and Tokoyo Police Club. Also Jason Colett and Black Mountain. I have my CanCon at work all day now too! :) Having an office at a radio station means music the entire day. Good thing we have excellent music! When I listen to Jian, I have to turn it up to overpower the Blaze monitor because it doesn't have an off switch.

Still no luck with artists playing in Halifax while I am there.

We have an interview with Hayden on the Maple Minutes in two weeks.

Iceberg is still playing the wrong song by New Pornographers. Hilarious! I heard new Sloan on both Iceberg and The Verge.

Finally, I saw Speed Racer with my nephew. I have thought a lot about it since. I understand why it is not a hit movie. The story is pretty convoluted, even I lost what was going on at certain points. BUT I think they cast it very well, the actors made the movie. I liked it, I wasn't expecting to. It has it's problems, it is much too long but as a fan of the story of Speed Racer I am pleased with the tale.
KBM found a Barbie doll set of Speed and Trixie. I am trying to avoid buying the new merch. I have collected Speed stuff all my life, it has never been the easiest stuff to find. Now it is everywhere but I have resisted. Except the Barbie set...;)

27 days until I leave for Nova Scotia!

Magic Power - Triumph

2008-05-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

You know you think about Canadian music too much when you have a dream you are making out with Rik Emmett of Triumph. I swear to god, I never had any crushes on any Triumph members or was really ever that much of a fan. My Canadian music subconscious got mixed up!

In something that was a dream to do, yesterday I interviewed someone I have adored since I was in high school, Rob Pruess of The Spoons. (And Honeymoon Suite) Long story short, I googled him after writing “God Bless Rob Pruess” in my last blog. I found he had a myspace, asked if he would do an interview and here is the result:

http://www.theblaze1260.com/events

Rob's story is absolutely fascinating- He started in the Spoons at 15. You always hear about Tommy Stinson but Pruess got his start just as young! The Spoons toured with Culture Club on CC's first US tour when "Do you really want to hurt me?" was starting to happen. Rob quit the Spoons at 20 because he needed to relax.....at 20!!
Then he joins Honeymoon Suite at their highest point. When HMS started having manager problems; Rob moves on to the call of Phantom of the Opera in Toronto. Ever since he has been working as a musician in huge Broadway plays! He lives in NYC now and is an assistant music director for Mamma Mia! His story is book worthy and made for a hell of an interesting interview. I mean, I know I am a fan but Danee and Andrew were impressed with his story also. He is so super nice! He invited us to come to New York to see the musical. Here's the kicker- I think we are going to!!!!!!!

Does this also involve Sloan? But of course. As I said on the air, I am a one-track mind. I'll explain more when I know more, it may fall through, or it may be amazing!!

In the meantime, I am already packed for NS/NFLD...5 weeks in advance...

I have been delving into something else I have been a fan of for years-WKRP in Cincinnati. IT is SO AWESOME to finally have it on DVD! It was my favorite long before I ever imagined I would have a radio job...it was meant to be! And I think The Blaze has elements of it-hahahaha!

So once again I say, God Bless Rob Pruess!

"Walking in my shoes" - Depeche Mode

2008-05-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

I adore shoes just like most women. People ask me all the time how many Converse I have. I honestly don't know because they are scattered around the house. We used to have Converse outlet stores in AZ. I would buy a few at as time, they were cheap back then. When the company moved to Asia, the shoes got more narrow and I had to go up a size. I actually sold a few pairs on ebay that just didn't fit. Ask KBC, I almost fell to the ground crying when I saw Target was selling One Stars. (In joy...I love One Stars also) Surprisingly I have yet to design my own like you can now. My most recent purchased Converse were ones with a Diner Menu on them and a no lace pink pair on sale at Target. An old friend bought me my first pair, plain old black, as a joke because Robin wore them. Now it is an obsession collection.

What I never realized is that they are not really the best walking shoes. I have very wide feet but Converse always fit so I don't bother with much of any other kind. I have a soft spot for Doc Martins so my nice shoes are DM Mary Janes. Ever since Dan and I started walking, I realized Converse offer zero for support or cushion.

I can't be the most fashionable but in my life, I HAVE to wear cool shoes. I found out this week that I am a complete shoe snob and picky as hell! Wal Mart had plenty of fine, wide size Dr. Scholls walking shoes that would be perfectly fine for our neighborhood strolls. BUT I COULDN'T DO IT! I hate white tennis shoes, in fact I realized I hate tennis shoes in general. I saw some flat looking Puma that kinda look like my race shoes but knew they would not be the cushion I need. I went into almost every shoe store in Fiesta Mall (Malls are shoes and jewelry, ya know!) My last store I went in, one I never go in, was Macy's. Not only did I find the shoes I saw in the newspaper as a possiblity, they were on sale! Anguish over, somewhat acceptable shoes found! That is them in the photo above. I don't adore them but they will do. I know I need something for the trip too as many items in the travel books say you need to walk a bit to see them..(Vistas, Lighthouses, Seals)

I do still have a problem heel. I have had it for over a year. I thought it was one of those bone spurs. ( I Sound so frickin old discussing aches and pains!) But now the handy internet tells me this: Atrophy from Diabetes!

Ahh Yes, this Diabetes this.... You know, it took them a while longer than it should have to diagnose me. I guessed it a good 3 years ago. I realize now I had a crappy nurse practitioner. Ever since Dr. Jones took over the practice, he found it on a hunch. I have been really good about giving up sugar. I haven't had real ice cream in 5 months! Ice Cream is my absolute favorite food group! I gave up Dr. Pepper which was also an addiction. Diet Doc is ok but just not the same so I don't drink as much. Bread and pasta are still the problem... But I think I am managing. I got a blood monitor but have yet to use it (The doc just said we could check every 3 months if I just take my pills) Bottomline, I am dealing ok with the diabetes I think. Dan won't let me cheat anyway. I may have some ice cream on vacation though... wink!

Maple notes

** Sam Roberts was on Jian's show today. He is so smart and cleaver (Sam, really I mean Sam!) The new songs sounded great. One was called Detroit 67. I was born in Detroit in '67 so it is a fave already. It has great mentions of the city and eventually ends with the riots. I am looking forward to the new record which comes out this week.

** Know how I ended last blog entry with a nod to Rob Pruess. Well holy crap!!!!! I get another chance to talk to one of my fave 80's Candadian idols. Yes! Rob of The Spoons and Honeymoon Suite fame is going to do an interview on the Maple
Minutes! OH YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Raise a little hell" - Trooper

2008-05-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

Oh am I nervous about seeing this film. Speed Racer was one of my first favorite cartoons growing up. It was on after Kimba the Lion on Ch 50 in Detroit, I believe. I read a review in the paper today that said Racer X died. I sure hope they didn't deviate from the original plot that Racer X is Rex Racer. I will be annoyed. I am still annoyed that Princess Leia says she remembers her mother in Jedi then Lucas kills her off in Revenge. I do NOT like plot inconsistencies!

OK this blog is supposed to be Maple musings, right?

*I am giggling about SMB having the lyrics for the entire new Sloan LP. Man, who has that kind of time to try to figure them all out?! I am giggling because of CMM's thinly veiled lyrics about giving up his Peter Pan life for fatherhood. None of us ever want to grow up but why let it completely drag you down?

*I went on about this on the Maple Minutes but I am still annoyed that Chart magazine has this headline of it's cover - Tokyo Police Club: The next Arcade Fire. I haven't read why but that might be the most idiotic headline in Canadian music history. They are supposed to be the sorce for Canadian college radio yet they make an ridiculous statement like that? TPC is 4 guys who make fun, quirky pop. Arcade Fire is a million members with stylish, plodding, intricate songs. I guess one must remember how affected this magazine is by US success for CanCon.... One year Len was their artist of the year. Every year their artist of the year is seemingly the one who sells the most. And has YET to have Plaskett on their cover!

*In pulling out some old files, I found articles about Harlequin and Headpins from teen beat style mags. Proof once again, I have saved everything... Harlequin put out a record last year. My pal Roger made me a copy but I have yet to listen. (bad LMC)

*Iceberg seems to not be playing New Pornographer's "new" track anymore...heheheheh (I wrote them to tell them the song they were playing was not "Myriad Harbour") Know it all brat I am...

* Andrew played the new Awkward Stage single and it was really good! I need to get a hold of a band called Elias also. I dig The Orchid Highway from Vancouver. CBC 3 is playing Kevin Kane of Grapes of Wrath. I need that record also when I go shopping in Canada.

* One of my Toronto pals texted to say she was seeing Peter Elkas tonight. Darn I need to reschedule that interview!!

* Andrew also told me that CBC3 did a listing of the best record stores in Canada. I want to see or hear that list! I wonder how many I have been to? I wonder how many are still in business thanks to me-LOL! He said one was in Halifax. I bet it is the one I spent $300 at! (Can't think of name) Recordland in Calgary probably floored me the most in recent years. I know there used to be a killer huge vinyl store in Toronto but I believe it is gone. (Jferg told me once all the old ones I remember are gone)

*I used a Trooper song as my title because on SMB I was joking about Trooper playing in Halifax for Canada Day and DAMN if it isn't true. I was totally just thinking of some old washed up band I didn't like (Because most are still my fave bands-LOL) I looked up Casino Nova Scotia and there they were! I hope some other show develops because it does not look good for July 1 so far! The PEI Festival of Lights show is posted. I was relieved that no one I die for is playing so far because it would be a major pain to get up there. It is a fine bill, don't get me wrong but no one I haven't seen a ton (except Matt Mays) OLP and The Hip who I have seen countless times. Hip maybe at about 16 times... Anyway, it doesn't appear that I will be trying to get to PEI. Keep your figers crossed for just one cool show for me while in NS!

Maple raging done for the night-Over and out! Long live Rob Pruess <3!

"Two hearts beat as one" - U2

2008-05-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

OMG!!!! Strombeshi! I am dying! Two of my faves parodied!

"Dancing in the sheets"- Shalimar

2008-05-04T22:35:00.000-07:00

HEE HEE One of my fab directors of the Blaze sent me the link for making your name in anything, including Vinyl...I couldn't resist. Not only could I not resist, I am crafting with them for the new office.

I never did report back about said new office which I saw. It seemed a tad small to me. I have a hard time visualizing things before they are done so I look forward to seeing it with the U shaped desk in it. Then I will truly know how much crap I can fit in it. I may need to stop buying stuff for it. I did realize I need shelves to move up instead of things for limited floor space. I have the record stand, a floor shelf from my living room, a small cabinet I painted from Michaels this weekend and there should be a bookshelf provided. I was pleased that the 3/4 window has a ledge. Ledge = more knick-knacks=LOL!

The last few weeks have been one year end event after another. Only graduation is left this week. The CV party was lovely in the secret garden. The Blaze prom was beyond cool. They transformed the station with black rolls of paper and sparkles. I said it reminded me of the end of Footloose but most of the kids hadn't seen it. (!) Dan and I did the DJing. We played fun 80-00 dance music. When kids wanted requests, they would just hand me their ipod... Crazy!

Some other fun things from this past week:

Took Hunter to see Iron Man. Much fun and good flick!

Two of my frosh helped me do the Maple Minutes while Andrew is in Germany. We had a blast doing it. They let me play 80's stuff and made fun of me.

Found out Blue Rodeo is playing in PHOENIX! I was looking for bands playing in Hali and found them here, this month!

Taught Cheryl and Karen how to make cute magnets for gifts. I want to be a craft teacher!

Met some great new CV kids at orientation.

Won best promo at the Blaze prom. Also gave the Hornstein-Kelly award to dear Ashley H who I will miss so much. She cried, I was touched.

Took three walks with Dan. 8 years of marriage, we have never gone on a walk. Now we are regulars, holding hands and everything.

That's a darn good week!

Far from over - BLVD.

2008-04-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

Indeed the school year is almost over. Tonight was the end of the year party for Cronkite Village. CV3 as I call them. Watching the video they produced of all the year's events made me teary. It was a lovely evening weather wise so it set a nice tone in ASU's secret garden. I made cards for my peer mentors and paraprofessional. They worked a ton for me this year, I gave them gift cards in gratitude.

Last week was not the best week for me. I had some real rough times at work. Rather than re-hashing it, I am hopeful for a good week to come. In the photo is the band that headlined the Blaze Kick Ass Spring Concert. They are called Mostly Bears. I was stunned how good they are! To me, they were a mix of Sabbeth and Soundgarden. We rented a PA so the sound was huge and clear! I recommend them whole-heartedly. Sam had played them to me on Myspace prior to the show and I was not affected. I think their reorded material may not represent them fully.

The week hit me so hard emotionally and physically I decided to not go to see Stars. Timing just sucked. I had been so drained from responsibilities all week, I had no desire to drive downtown and find parking among people going to a Suns play-off game. I just knew I didn't have the patience. I haven't heard from Andrew how it was but I am sure it was fabulous. I had a nice dinner and time with Dan, we hadn't had dinner with each other all week.

On what would have been Mom's birthday, I had a very nice honor. One of the CV students took me to an ASU tradition called Apple Polishers. He had to get up in front of the room and tell why I was an influence on him at ASU. It was among Deans, faculty and staff members. It was a very lovely night and very flattering to be selected.

I am still trying to fill up the new ipod. It still kills me that I lost my old one. I can't seem to get the same great mix of music on this one which is ridiculous because I have the same CDS. It just took a long time to get that one the way I wanted it. I need it to be my company on my trip with all my driving I plan to do. I doubt there are killer can-con stations in Nothern Newfoundland. I just added a band called Big Bang. Shame on me, I can't recall what they sound like whatsoever.

I got my Sirius Subscription back. I wrote Iceberg today being the snotty know-it-all. They are playing a New Pornographers track and keep saying it is "Myriad Harbor" but it isn't. Sorry but a major CHUM station f-ing up is a big giggle for me. Funny thing is, I don't know what song they are playing, it is not on Challengers. I like it though....Nico and AC singing..

I have still only listened to the new Sloan once. I will listen some more this week. Tour dates are starting to trickle out. If west follows their east coast dates, I am completely screwed for US dates again. Not that I am complaining about going to Nova Scotia. Just looks like timing may be about when I am gone... Which is funny because my love for NS came from them.... Something will work out though, I will find my way to the right show!

This week I get to DJ the first ever Blaze Prom. I think it will be a blast. I am looking forward to it. Dan is going to come help me. It will be broadcast on the air so if you feel like reliving your prom from the 80-90's, tune in Wednesday night around 7pm www.theblaze1260.com

I'm not a kid anymore - Sloan

2008-04-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

I just listened to the new Sloan record, it doesn't even come out until June 10. Well...I am not prepared to write a full review (Nor do I like writing them) I feel like it is a Jay and Andrew record. Their songs seem to shine. Patrick's don't seem as definitive as his. Chris' will need to grow on me. I can't say it affected me like NHTEOI. We'll see, I am going to hold judgment until I can spend more time.

School year is ending soon. I have the first of many year end activities tonight. So hard to let go of some of my kids as they graduate.

Blaze huge concert tomorrow. I will report more soon.

"The Perfect Size" - Jon Auer

2008-04-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

Last week was spectacular! Two major events for the year in one week! Thursday I interviewed Jay Ferguson of Sloan on the Maple Minutes! Oh boy, I was so ready! I wrote all my questions out and stuck to them without sounding rehearsed (I think?) It is on www.theblaze1260.com. I was not nervous and he is just so easy to talk to. I kidded about Murphy, make jokes about Andrew smoking and Patrick being the penny counter in the murder records headquarters. My favorite question was asking Jay if there was anything else in his life besides music. I remember always asking Robin about other things in his life because he would always just update me on Blossoms news. Jay answered NO! :) Bless him- he is such a good man and he writes a damn good song or two! I teased Jay that they should come to me for once-as in Sloan in AZ! My fear would be them in AZ while I was in NS. I was lobbying Jay to find out about Paul McCartney playing in Halifax and how Sloan should open! (Because it maybe while I am there!)

I think I was more nervous about Jason Collett the week prior. That interview was fine, a little hairy because he was running behind and we had a set amount of time with him. It was fine though. Next is trying to get Elkas to reschedule!

Still pleased as punch over talking to Jay, I then had a full Saturday with my crafting guru, Mr. Tim Holtz. (See happy Leah in photo above with said Grunge God) He is very funny, and just has the best ideas for crafting that merge two of my loves, scrapping and antiques. Tim loves items that look old so he encourages you to distress, antique, hammer and grunge your crafts. I went to two of his classes last year and crushed hard ever since. He is from Prescott and worked at a Ben Franklin store. I loved those stores! LOL! Not all of my stuff ends up looking like his but I love what I have learned from him! Last time I was sick, I watched his DVD I got for Christmas in bed. Made me so happy-hahaha! I wanted to go on his cruise but it also was a choice of the cruise or NS/NL. Anyway, I had an incredible day, felt great about the projects I made and made a few friends too. Dan was even impressed with the items, especially the shadowbox.

Since we last spoke, I have booked all my hotels and rental cars for the big trip. I went home on one of my breaks on Tim-Day. In the mail I got both the NS Doers and Dreamer guide and the Newfoundland and Labrador guide. I have poured over all my books several times now. I made a few changes in my agenda. I think it would be near impossible for me to get to PEI on Canada Day. I booked a hotel in Halifax that night. I guess I will let the cards fall where they may. One of the hotels, the Blomidon Inn in Wolfville looks spectacular! It was an addition to my plan that I added last. Besides missing Danny and the dogs, I know this will be an incredible experience! I will certainly blog it all but it looks like there is no internet in Twillingate, Newfoundland. What will I do four days without internet? LOL! I will write!!!!!!

Touring the new Cronkite building tomorrow. Will I see my new office!?!

xoxoxLMC

Cold as Ice - Foreigner

2008-04-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

I just blew my life savings to buy plane tickets to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland!!! LOL! I'll never make it to retirement anyway. More soon, so tired from work being busy! P.S. I didn't cry this time like I did when I bought tickets last time to NS. Heehee

Jason Collett on Maple Minutes Thursday..OK! AWESOME!

"Can't you figure it out?" - Sloan

2008-03-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken by a dear friend named Beth in Toronto. She is so talented with her camera!
www.rockpaperpixels.com
OH YES! Jay Ferguson is going to talk to us on the Maple Minutes. I have always wanted to talk music with him but get kinda tongue tied in person. I mean, how do you start a conversation about about a million bands while other people are waiting to talk to him after a show. He is just a sweet, sweet man so I am honored. Hopefully I get out a few things I have always wanted to ask. When I would listen to his and Chris' show each week, I would pretty much be their third anyway-LOL! It should be fantastic.
Elkas forgot to call in this past week but sent the most charming apology. We will have him on also in a few weeks. In-Flight Safety's Daniel Ledwell is this week. I adore them too as you all know.

Today a member of local band The Love Blisters was on for guest DJ week. I heard the starting chords of "Fashionable People" by Plaskett. I hear that song so often on the radio it took me a minute or two to realize it was on The Blaze. After Plaskett he played "Last time in Love' by Sloan. I was floored. I went in and introduced myself. He proclaimed NHTEOI and Ashtray Rock the best records of last year. I said we need to talk more! Nice guy. He also played The Zombies! I had to leave to teach but wish I heard the rest of his set.

More maple madness today. Billy Talent is playing the Tempe Music Fest. I am not a huge fan but see no reason they do not come by the station since they are a block away. I called around and ended up on the phone with their publicity guy. Super nice guy, talked music for a bit. Turns out he does publicity for Arts n Crafts. Holy nice phone call... He was super interested in The Blaze and I mentioned we would like Jason Collett....What a huge connection! Hi, could we talk to Amy and Torq please? <3

My birthday last week tunred out to be a super nice day. No drama, all good feelings, fun gifties and wonderful friends and family around me. And I laughed so much at Sloan on with Jian that morning. Jian handles everyone so smooth but Chris Murphy always throws him off a bit. I told Chris that, he is about the only one who can snag Ghomeshi's cool demeanor on air. Hooray for fun birthdays!

We interviewed that gal Lights that Jian manages. She was just an absolute ray of sunshine. Super positive and very sure of herself and what she wants to accomplish. Sadly we lost the interview to a technical glitch. I can wish and dream Jian heard it, right? It went really well. I think she is going to be huge. The Old Navy commercial is already helping that.

I have been just pouring over Newfoundland books trying to plot my course of action. I am going to work at it again tonight to plan making both my Nova Scotia travel aspirations and Newfoundland ones work.

A little wrench in my plans to travel for now on came on Saturday. Dan decided to fire up Big Red and put her in the trailer. I know it may seem ridiculous to some but the minute it started up I balled my eyes out. I loved racing and hearing my car start for the first time in two and a half years was a jolt. Of course, uncapped, it jolts the entire neighborhood and all the pictures on the wall also. I can not imagine being able to travel and race. It was so hard to see Dan drive it the few feet he did to get it in the trailer. I just don't know.

Work is crazy but good. Orientation season has started and somehow I still ended up involved in it. Not all students are reacting well to our school's move to downtown Phoenix. There are only a few weeks left of school and I will have to say good bye to more of my fave kids. Plus 2 of the first Cronkite Village group are graduating (in three years!) It gets so hard to see them come and go. Then I have lunch with some of my past directors and hear all the new marriages, babies and even divorces. 8 years worth of students now, I am so fortunate to have a job I LOVE!

"Romance" - The Payola$

2008-03-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

Or Bromance....
I am dying! Peter Elkas on the Maple Minutes this Thursday...YES!~

Cars - Gary Numan

2008-03-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Cars is one of the first New Wave songs I ever loved along with "Generals and Majors" - XTC and "Pop Musik" - M.

I am helping Dan sell auto parts at a huge auto swap meet this weekend. Having done many a garage sale, I find it facinationg how men at sales like this are so different. I suppose because they are more competitive, they behave worse? We got out to this event at 5:30am. It is supposed to start at 7am. Just as Dan opens the trailer door there are guys trying to come in his trailer to get first look at what he's got... He kicked them out but as he tried to unload, more and more guys kept perusing his stuff. He had to answer questions and could not get a minute to finish unloading the trailer. I don't think we ever got it all out. They are insulting in their offers but that is true of garage sales also. I understand wanting to get a deal but we price cheap anyway! It was amusing for me to hear my very shy husband be a sales man. He is pretty good at it, likes to be really nice and tell the part's entire history. The men at these sales have carts or wagons they bring. Differnce is, they have hundreds in their wallet. I have probably once had $100 if that to go garage saling. Dan made a few grand, so I guess all the work was worth it. The economy has made no dent in men's pockets who are rebuilding cars! The funniest part to me was these guys who tape pictures of their cars with a price on their T-shirts. This is their own walking advertisement as they are shopping. I saw so many, it was hilarious. Some would have no pictures, just lists of parts and prices. Too funny.

An old racer friend was at the swap meet. He stopped racing prior to me. We were catching up and he asked me how mom was. I froze. That was the first time I ran into someone who didn't know. My face must have told him as he reacted and said , oh I am sorry. (Mom had cancer for 4 years, so I am sure he knew she was battling) It was just so odd because I thought everyone in our circle of friends knew. I had that happen once after my dad passed away. A racer came up to me at the track, looking for my dad. I felt so bad for him because he broke down over it right there. Just hard to deal with. Mom is on my mind so much, it hit me so odd to think someone thought she was still with us. I wonder if Dan has had it happen yet with his dad? The person feels so bad too but you know it is an accident, you can still tell they feel stupid for not knowing. If you ever make that mistake to someone, just respond by how much you liked that person. That always makes it easier for me. I want people to remember how amazing my parents were.

I love swap meets, even auto parts ones bring out a few antiques. I am on this old radio kick to decorate the new office. I was determined someone would have one out there. I was so surprised to find a fella out there who was simply working out of his truck advertising old radio repairs! It makes sense as these old cars for sale need radios. He said that was the majority of his business. I asked if he had any radios with him. He pulled out a 1947 Philco, plugged it into his truck with a little mini amp and it played beautiful. I ran back to Dan who graciously gave me some of his earnings. It is gorgeous! Now I was very careful in my negotiations so as to ask for best deal but not insult what was obviously a beautiful radio that worked. I had been shopping on ebay for some last week but to actually buy it from a fellow who fixed it back up and was kind to sell it was much better. Spoiled me, I also found a tiny old transitor radio for $20. Like I need another collection.. Now officially I will get 4 old radios for my birthday. Two of them were only $100 which I believe were smoking deals. The other two were only $20 each. I will photograph them Monday when I "open" them. I will try to contain this collection...Is that possible with me?

Pickin flowers for - Best Kissers in the World

2008-03-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Tiny bits today:

*I took the posted photo! It may be the best photo I have ever taken! I had a bag of Anne of Green Gable wildflower seeds. We had so much rain this year, wildflowers are aboundant. I smile when I drive up and see them. Even Dan comments how beautiful they are. Need to go to NS to buy another bag of seeds-haha!

*I am listening to the new Bauhaus CD. Yes, they have a new release. I seem to have this tiny goth side to me. It is pretty damn good so far.

*Speaking of the NS trip. I had so much more planned by this time last trip. I am waiting for tax return to buy flight. I am just so confused what to do about NFLD. I need a panel of experts as to what to do.

*I did not end up going to California for Matt Good. Andrew could not get off work because it is Spring Break. Maybe we will go up to see him with a full band but those dates get close to the NS trip.

*Spring Break is right baby! Some folks have told me it was no big deal when I had to give up the stauffer office BUT this week is proof that I need my own time. Now don't get me wrong, I love the kids but just the opportunity to finish an email without interruption is a blessing. I needed the mix of alone time with student time.

*I turn 41 in less than a week. I dragged Dan around shopping so I assured myself some gifts-hahaha! I got it in my head I wanted an old radio for my new office. (huge shock, I found out last week I get a window!) I ended up with two radios, one from an antique store in Chandler and one from ebay.

* Saw video of 4 new Sloan songs today that they did at the murderrecords relaunch. Nobody seems to like the Murphy song but I did. Jay's song was my favorite of the 4 songs. Ever since Ruh told me that most folks in T-dot would like to hear a Jay solo record, I have thought about the fact that his songs are closest to the indie pop played on college radio these days. It is good old power pop to me but I can see why he is the indie kids fave member.

*No students at ASU for a week means Leah can play Jian's show loud in the entire Blaze offices.

* Billy Talent was added to the Tempe Music Festival. I am not really a big fan but it would be cool to have them come by the Maple Minutes...

* Sugar Free candy is pretty darn good. They need to work on sugar free ice cream.

* I eat yogurt now, with nuts. Who am I?

* I should have listened to Hutch, I love this macbook way better than my own laptop.

* Dan and I realized we are magazine addicts.

* Peter Murphy still has a great voice. A new generation of kids will want to slit their wrists to this record-hahah!

Oh How you used to know me so well - The Superfantastics

2008-03-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

This is the band I interviewed today. This video is absolutely adorable as was Stephanie, the gal I interviewed. One of my students asked me how I prepare. I guess it is honestly the most natural thing I do in life outside of loving someone. No matter what career I have now, my most natural instinct is to be a radio broadcaster. Does that mean I should go back? No, not unless The Verge or CBC3 come a calling.

This same student, Sarah, is the last of a dying breed. A Tempe music fan, as in the old days of Mill Ave. She is egging me on to write something about those days. I can't really wrap my head around the idea. The writing coach I went to see suggested I write some personal essays about events and see where it goes. I feel like all my old aircheck tapes and articles in boxes need to be exhumed. It would take years. I also keep telling her that it would just end up being ode to Robin. I left monumental shows to go where ever the Blossoms were. Won't my memoir just be a girl with an unrequited love with alternative bands and radio set in the background? I heard a quote from Robin recently about the first time he heard the Blossoms on the radio. He said he was overlooking the Phx lights, on a date making out. I just shook my head because I guarantee you he had me on KQ. I am sure I was playing it, it was probably the day we added Dusted. I know I was the first to play them on KUKQ. In fact, I am such a stupid pack rat; I still have the index card from KQ. (We had all songs on a card system; you initialed the card when you played a song) So are my memories of that time period worth repeating? Maybe as I tell someone or blog but probably not a novel. I need to think on it. I would love to write another fictional story. That seems ten times easier than real life.

Sloan is playing their Canadian Music Week show as I type. I am ok not being there. It just didn’t seem to be the right time to go back yet. I would guess I will sneak to a Detroit show so I can visit. My heart is thinking about the NS trip now, not really much of anything else.

Beat So Lonely - Charlie Sexton

2008-03-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

I had a dream about Charlie Sexton a few nights ago. Now I certainly like the guy but seriously, how does someone like that end up so vivid in one's dream? My best guess was that recently, while researching how to contact Peter Elkas for a Maple Minutes interview, I saw Charlie's picture for his myspace on Peter's myspace. (Because Sexton produced Elkas latest release.)

In the dream, I was watching a movie Sexton starred in. He was the hunky romantic lead who the main female gets to kiss in the end. I remember I was thinking to myself, "Wow, I didn't remember Charlie Sexton was in a movie." (He was not, this is the dream.) Dreams are such weird things; my mind tries to rationalize even in my dreams. It is just like every time a guy gets near me in a dream, my mind says no, I can't I'm married. Jeez, let me dream without guilt!

I do have a few Charlie Sexton stories though. I remember in high school my old pal Michele and I waited up on New Years Eve to see him on their special. Sexton was our age, so cute and pouty. He was the last artist on the show, like at 2am or something. We were so cool for staying up so late to see this hot new artist!

His second LP has a song written by Marty Willson-Piper. Now there is a dream duo of high cheeks. Put John Taylor along for the ride and I will explode in teen screams for sure.

When I was station manager at KASR, my team of gal directors all traveled to SXSW in Austin, TX. Debauchery was abounding for that weekend. As we arrived at Sky Harbor to leave, we walked by Charlie Sexton. Girl squee ensued. We kept watchful eye as he meandered into the bar. We followed. (5 girls all approaching? -look out!) I recall trying my brainy about music approach that got me nowhere all of the time. My music director Christine managed a few more words out of him with her earthy approach. We finally left him to his drink after discovering he was on our plane to Austin. We all hoped our ticket would be next to him but alas, Charlie didn't take any of the KASR girls home to Austin with him.

That weekend in Austin was all about the schmoozing. Label reps bought us Shiner Bock at the all Arizona bands showcase starring the Sandrubies. Blossoms were involved, naturally. We drove to Houston to see them play with Dash Rip Rock. It was a long drive but come on, did I ever not follow Robin where ever he went? Doug was in rare form at that show. The Blossoms played downstairs, Dash Rip Rock upstairs. Robin jumped on stage with them and wore the singer's ten gallon hat. Pictures exist somewhere. Oddly I remember having a long conversation with Phil Blossom outside that club. We stayed with Jules's family then drove back. The party was in our room the next night. Mercury reps took us to the hotel hot tub to listen to the "next big thing", Mother Love Bone. They were half right.

As I recall, I had a puppy following me the entire weekend, yes I mean a guy...I never got the guy as I always had gorgeous, slim friends but for once, this one was after me. I had spoke to him a bunch by phone prior as he was a college radio PD from Florida. He was Jewish, he must have thought he found his girl when he saw my nose-hahaha! He was smart too. Yeah, if his name wasn't Robin, I never took a second glance. Too bad as this fella even came to visit me in AZ later for my graduation! Years later I saw him on TV, he was a doctor on some late night paid programming. I kid you not!

I spoke to a writing coach today about writing non-fiction. It was interesting but just as I write blogs, I can really only remember bits and pieces of events. I would guess if I could remember what we tried to talk to Charlie Sexton about at the airport would make a more interesting story but I can't. I feel like I have interesting tidbits from my past but not a memoir. I have to think on it. I enjoyed writing fiction so much, I think non-fiction would annoy me. I think not remembering as well as I would like would just tick me off.

Two bands on Maple this week- The Superfantastics and The Blood Lines. I am excited!

Radio - Sproll

2008-02-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

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Oh I love that band! I had such an awesome interview with them! We finally worked out a way to host the interviews on the Maple Minutes. Here is the link:
http://theblaze1260.com/events/

We are working on getting more including Marianas Trench, Blood Lines, The Superfantastics, In-Flight Safety (sigh!) and ...Eek- Peter Elkas!

Take that Situation - Nick Heyward

2008-02-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

Tidbits today

*One of my racing best buds won a huge National event here in Phoenix this past weekend. I was happy for him but went into sad mode that I don't race anymore. My mind debates the issue of returing ot racing often. As Dan pointed out, when we get the tax money I plan to buy a ticket to Nova Scotia, not fix my car...

*I still haven't decided if I am going to Toronto or LA. At this point, it looks like neither since I have nothing BOOKED! The Mark Inside is one of the reasons I want to go to Toronto! Really!

*I love The Hollies.

*This weekend is the Rubber Stamp Convention. I am more excited for this than the drag race last weekend. Another clue I might be over the racing portion of my life.

*Kill the Lights is a new band I love. I also discovered a singer yesterday named Jon McKiel. Looked him up, from Halifax-what a shock!

*I definitely decided on NS over Alaska BUT I need help deciding how and if I go to NFLD. I think I would be happier just driving all over NS but I want to see Icebergs, Northern Lights, whales, etc.. I need help figuring it all out. I relish the idea of driving where ever I want. I think I need to not plan to tight depending on that huge July 1 P.E.I. Festival of Lights. I just have a "feeling"

*A Canadian band - Hello Operator is playing The Blaze's Kick Ass Spring Concert thanks to my noticing they were playing in Tucson the day before. Yes! It will also be the last day of CV's class so what a fun way to end the semester!

*I am constantly thinking about decorating my new office in the Cronkite school when we move in July. I am already crafting items for it! I am going with a music/radio theme. (How bizarre!-;P) I am looking for old radio items, I am going to frame some KASR/KASC items, use some of my gold records and frame some band photos. I guess if I don't have a window, I should be glad as it means more wall space-LOL!

*I love that blogger now automatically saves as I recall losing a post or two. Way to go blogger.

*Maple Minutes tomorrow. My favorite day of the week.

xo

She's got fashion in her eyes, fashion in her eyes, eyes, eyes...

2008-02-20T21:33:00.000-08:00

I think someday I will finally meet Jian Ghomeshi because he is everywhere in my life. Admittedly this because I listen to him on CBC everyday but seriously how could I not? I think I have documented this before but indulge me. Back in those forgotten Canadian 80's, I saw a video for a band called Tall New Buildings on Good old Sam Taylor's show Video Hits. Hooked... Searched and searched, only found the 12 inch mixes for "Breakin on through her walls" and "Fashion in her eyes".

As I entered college and started my creative writing courses, I needed my male hero for my short stories. That character was the image of the guy I saw in those Tall New Buildings videos, yes...my character was Jean (as Jian was known then) I got A's on all my Creative Writing classes! I never got an "A" in a broadcasting class. One of my fave silly facts about me. "Jean" and "Andi" went through a lot together-LOL!

While doing the Maple Minutes in college, I interviewed a gal and her brother known as Candi. They were a dance hit duo. In Candi's video, guess who reappeared! Yep, Jean was in their video, I even asked her about it. I recall her being surprised and said "you know who he is?" My guess by her reaction was, he was "close" to her. Hmm?

Now here comes the ridiculous, fuzzy, middle period with Jian in my life. Years pass, I hear of a band called Moxy Fruvous. I was at a festival in Barrie, Ontario that they played but did not get there in time to see Moxy but someone handed us free cassettes. I have no idea our hero Jean is now in Moxy Fruvous using his real name Jian. It gets worse. KBM and I go see Nick Heyward here in Phoenix, guess who opens?! Oh yes, I SAW Moxy Fruvous. We loved them, bought merch, I start collecting their CDS. Seriously, still no clue nor make the connection. Remember there was no internet back then. I read liner notes but how would I have translated Jean in TNB to this guy. I live in Arizona, I didn’t have videos on youtube, only one magazine, etc..

Now fast forward to about 6 years ago. In my fave ebay searches I would always looked for Tall New Buildings. I was still in the dark whether there was a full length LP or just those two 12 inch singles. (I still have this mystery) One night, while working with Wake at Rockaway, I notice in the title line in one of the TNB 12 inches it says Moxy Fruvous. I was perplexed so I head over to the M section; grab a MF CD we happen to have in stock. It was one of my favorite discoveries of all time....there he was...Jean! Then I hit myself over the head a zillion times fully seeing him in my head playing with Moxy Fruvous.

The rest is what you would figure. I research, see him on The National when I still had that on cable, turn on all the CBC shows he has been a part of online. (I never saw him on The Hour, living in the US has it's limitations you know...)

He walked by my table last year at a High Dials show during Canadian Music Week. Ask my T-dot friends how I dealt with that...

So why the Jian fawning today? My Maple Minutes co-host and Cancon pal Andrew is really into this Toronto band Lights. Andrew emailed Lights' manager for an interview on the Maple Minutes. Lights' manager? Jian Ghomeshi.... I told Andrew forget Lights, get me Jian on the phone! Don't you think?! Jian responded promptly today, said we had Lights for next week. Andrew told him I was a fan. Is that the correct definition at this point?

Shake Some Action - The Flamin Groovies

2008-02-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

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It is one of those work days where I just want to come home, curl up in bed and read. Over a year ago, I ordered this book. Somehow Not Lame lost my name, I wrote them several times and finally, according to the owner, I got the very last copy! I am eager to read it, see how many of the Top 100 power pop lps I own, etc.. I started glancing through it briefly and got a tad discouraged. First off, my fave LP of all time "Dear 23" by The Posies was #84 below some lps that I think pale in comparison. Then I am reading the post script of artists that didn't make it.

Some other artists didn't show up because they either seemed too inconsistent for my taste (Split Enz/Crowded House, The Lemonheads,Let's Active, Grin, The Odds, The Last and Apples in Stereo all fall into this camp) or because quite frankly, I never did - and still don't "get" them. (The Jam, Frisbie, The Sorrows, Zumpano, Sloan, Weezer and the Dandy Warhols are the best examples.)

Needless to say this turned me off to the book. I am angered enough to blog about it-lol! But I can somewhat see his point as I think more about these artists. I know you think I am angered about Sloan but seriously, there is no Sloan record that is completely power pop. Andrew Scott does not write power pop. I was most stunned by two of these bands mentioned. One is The Jam inclusion, this guy has to be deaf to not get The Jam's contribution to melodic hooks and melodies. The second floors me but not many will understand because they don't have their LPs. One of my pop Holy Grail finds was The Sorrows. I first heard "Christabelle" on a compilation around 1980 called Exposed. The song is power pop magic as are both Lps which are impossible to find and expensive. (They must have had the same distribution problem Candy did.)

I will attempt to read some of the book, forgetting the postscript. Guess I should not have skipped ahead. I think they should have done singles also to make use of some of the bands who's entire records may not be power pop.

I really need to stop buying these kinds of books. I picked up the Top 100 Canadian LPs of all time while I was in Toronto. I will count for certain but it may have only had 10 lps from the 80's. (If that many!) And trust me, those are whatever Hip or Blue Rodeo records came out then. Canada avoids it's own 80's music like the plague. Are they afraid to admit "Thin Red Line" by Glass Tiger won 6 Junos in 1986. It is a brilliant record whether it is cool to like GT or not.

I flipped a page to see Kyle Vincent's Ten Favorite artists. His #6 is Gin Blossoms. Hmmmm I had See Spot Run on the Maple Minutes a few weeks again and Chris, their singer, brought up his love for the Blossoms too.. I guess they are ok for the author to mention. I will comment again after I read some more.

Vs.

2008-02-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

I missed bloggin so much! I am BACK! I don't have nearly the time I used to but I am going to make a big effort to update often.

Today is about travel choices. This March I would like to take a mini spring break. Last year I went to Canadian music week. It was perfect, I got to see 12 Canadian bands in 4 days. This year, I have been watching the line-up and have not been as impressed. In the meantime, while deciding Matthew Good announces a U.S. tour. This happens never. Matt may have toured here once, pre-Underdogs. So my Canadian music loving pal Andrew and I have been planning a trip to California to see Matt's LA and SD shows. Yesterday Ruh tells me what I expected to hear, Sloan is playing Candian music week. My husband says go see Matt, I have seen Sloan and will see again. I would love to see Sloan in a small club again like last year. Plus new music... Any point and counter point discussion would be appreciated. Meligrove Band on Sloan bill, Matt Good playing acoustic.. What to DO?

Next in this versus discussion, I may have another decision to make for summer plans. I have had it in my head I was going back to NS and NFLD this summer. IN fact, I was not far from buying the plane ticket when I get our taxes back. However, my cousin Susan and I talked tonight. She says she wants to go to Alaska in July. Wants me to come too. Says the Northern lights woke her up last night! (She is there right now, as my Aunt Janet lives there) Place to stay in Alaska would be cheaper than hotels in NS BUT I have been plotting the return in my head since I left there in 2006. BUT I have wanted to go to Alaska since I was a kid. I haven't askedmy hubby's opinion yet but I know what he will say, go to Alaska, you haven't been there. Again, I am going to be so torn.

Sloan vs. Matthew Good
NS vs. Alaska

???

Those year end things I never stopped doing

2007-01-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

Leah’s Top LPs of 2006

1. Sloan – Never Hear the End of it
2. Jon Auer – Songs from the Year of our Demise
3. Mobile – Tomorrow starts today
4. Amy Millan – Honey from the Tombs
5. Two Hours Traffic – Isolator EP
6. Sam Roberts – Chemical City
7. City and Colour – Sometimes
8. Meligrove Band – Planets Conspire
9. The Format – Dog Problems
10. Cinderpop – Their Skies are Beautiful

The rest of 2006 love (even if some technically came out in 2005)
Jason Collett – Idols of Exile
Novellero – Aim right or the holes in their lives
MIR – The acoustic record
The Stills – Without Feathers
Quinzy – Please baby please baby baby
Neverending White Lights – Act 1
In Flight Safety – Coast is Clear
Pilot Speed - Sell control for life's speed
Sproll - Soft Science

Nice return
Those new Replacement tracks!
Soul Asylum – Silver Lining
Cheap Trick – Rockford

Huge Disappointment (shhh!)
Gin Blossoms – Major Lodge Victory

I finally GET it award
Stars (sometimes it takes me awhile)

Best unexpected find
Three Season Ant

2006 CDS I bet I will love when I hear
Memphis
Matt Mays
Super Deluxe
The Bicycles
Adorables

Haven’t found yet but like what I have heard on radio
My Sister Ocean
Waiting for Roger

Kiss the Maritimes dirt?

2006-12-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

This is precious- INXS - Huge in Newfoundland!

INXS soldiers on. J.D. Fortune and co. play back-to-back, sold-out concerts in St. John’s, N.L. Per capita, the province has purchased more copies of Switch than anywhere else in the world.

The Laissez-Faire System is not quite working right

2006-11-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

That is Novillero. Holy great stuff! I ordered a CD of theirs earlier this year but it was not the latest-Aim Right For The Holes In Their Lives. I knew I liked them the first time I heard them on The Verge last December but finally got the newer Mint release (which I could not find in NS or TO) Two nights ago I put it on while editing and it make a huge impression. Just really well done power pop, clever lyrics, different arrangements and good crunch! I am hooked~but I knew I was from the first listen.

I am exploring a few of the newer purchases I had yet to listen.
The first Meligrove Band CD "Let it Grow" is way too much of a copy of the Sloan led Halifax scene circa 1994. However, "Planets Conspire" has been a soundtrack of 2006 for me. I suspect a high entry in the LMC Tops of 2006.

This summer, thanks to "Skinny Boy" by Amy Millan I have been led into the world that is Stars. I have documented my love for Amy's "Honey from the Tombs" but have yet to mention how I fell in love with Torquil Cambell after hearing an interview with him on Jian Ghomeshi's "Sounds like Canada in the summer” His material with Memphis is a breath of fresh air even though I have yet to get my hands on the new CD. It was time to take the steps to get into Stars since I have individual admiration for them both. Last night, once again while editing, I popped in my newly purchased "Set yourself on fire" and was transformed. I certainly knew a few of the songs off the radio but...what a musical journey those two voices can take you on.

The next listen in the last few weeks has been local darlings The Format. I certainly liked their material but always classified them as more of one of Dan's bands than mine. I had picked up "Dog Problems" when it came out for Dan but he had yet to listen to it. I pulled it out the other night while we were both on our computers. I don’t think he paid attention but I did knowing that one of Redd Kross' MacDonald brothers produced and I think The Format had been studying Jellyfish's "Spilt Milk" The record is very gorgeous in it's orchestration. It is a departure for them as they are known for their catchy sing along style, not these dense numbers. It is one that needs to grow on me but it has all sorts of potential.

Finally in the changer is Sloan's "Never hear the end of it" Once you get it, the 30 tracks and the transition between the many personalities of that 4 songerwriter axis, there is no listening to it in pieces...It is a whole sitting, it becomes one song with many different changes. It is not really meant for singles because the songs seem lonely on their own, without their lead in and out. Originally I felt there were some weak inclusions but now, I can't imagine the sequencing without them. To me, the CD really needs to be played in order live but without a separate drummer; I can't see how they could. It will be my CD of the year but not just because it's my fave rave, etc...It is because it is that amazing. I have not had an entire CD grip me like this in years.

Angels Tonight

2006-11-12T01:01:00.000-08:00

Reprint from LJ-

Once upon a time, I was a Tempe music scenster. I went out to shows 5-6 nights a week, knew everybody, was pretty much friendly to everyone, saw most every band in town at one point or another. The scene, like any other had it's share of drama. I stayed away from most of it because I didn't go to the after parties or sleep with any of them. I did have one thing a few of the musicians *may* have used me for. Airplay. I question now whether one boy I was very, very fond of actually hung out with me for that title of mine-Music Director at the only Alternative radio station in town. He was the only fell for full force in all my scenster days. Once he was in a signed band, he didn't need me anymore. The reason I speak of all this is because I started reading a book this week. It had slipped to the back of the book shelf, I forgot I had it. It is by the former bass player of The Refreshments. http://www.amazon.com/Stuck-Outside-Phoenix-Arthur-Edwards/dp/0595281095/sr=8-1/qid=1163319427/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0134975-7805677?ie=UTF8&s=books I didn't really know him but I KNEW other members in his band (read a few sentences back) This book is making me gasp outloud, often. It is a fiction story but you bet your bottom dollar everybit of it is the Tempe scene-1990-when I was a scenster. First thing that had me laughing was the local band that played Chuy's every Friday night to frat guys. Jejune July in the book, sounding a Hella lot like a certain August Red. I remember we had to kinda keep it a secret that we actually went to August Red shows, fans of orginal music did NOT go to August Red shows. We would wander down the street from the Blossoms at Wongs to Chuy's so I could get a fix of my crush. Next up in the book by Arthur Edwards is the obvious band that was the money maker in town, about to get signed, played packed gigs that made over a grand a night-of course his version of the Blossoms. Going along, the main character is at Wong's (called Richmond's in the book) and the server is described just like Sara then he starts talking to the only other guy in the bar, the guitarist for The Prior Angels (Blossoms) YUP, of course a Hopkins character! MY GOD, the author quoted things Doug said to me a zillion times. This book is like reading my journals only with some altered names. IT is flipping me out. Today, the main character is talking about a band who has a hit on KUKQ-YES, he uses KUKQ...My KUKQ, my first radio job. Not only is this book tripping me out for the obvious recount of the scene I lived in also but for another reason, Bay Window. Let's face it, while it maybe based in Halifax, everything I write about as far as a music scence goes and as far as a band developing goes is Tempe, not Halifax.. So what Arthur knows and wrote about are similar to my own expereinces. There were times when I thought my main male character had Hopkins quotes coming out of his mouth also. Surprisingly there doesn't appear to be a character in it similar to the boy I adored (yet) I think the Robin character is about to be introduced (singer of the Prior Angels(LOL)

One other thing of interest to me in this book is the use of names. As mentioned, he uses no real band names except signed, well know acts like The Replacements, Jane's Addiction, etc.. As for the Tempe scene, he uses real bar names but only of ones that are long since closed. If the bar is still open, he uses a fake name. I assume this is due to law suits? It has me perplexed. Even the Mesa Ampitheater, he doesn't call it that. I really need to know this as I use many real names in Bay Window. I wonder what is legal.

Chris and Jay were on the radio today, I caught the last hour assuming I could listen again later...but it wasn't on later and I am so lame because I am depressed, it appears they are done with it. I shouldn't be surprised, Murphy already said Ruhee and I were the only listeners anyway. He told me he didn't want to do it anymore but Jay did...guess Murph got his way. I don't understand why he didn't enjoy it, radio is a breeze for personalities like him. It is ridiculous but I am genuinely sad that it is over.

Finally something Maple to muse about!

2006-10-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

I have found a female singer I dig!

2006-08-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

For as many years as a music fan, I have been a female singer hater. I might as well have been in a guillotine when I had to go to Lilith Fair for the Zone. Anyone who knows me knows I am hard pressed to answer what female artists I even own in my thousands of CDs/LPs. Hence can you believe my favorite song so far this year is by a female? Yep, I have been quite taken in by the voice of Amy Millan. I knew of Stars from Andrew but it was Amy's solo record that caught my attention, particularly "Skinny Boy." I predict it could be my favorite song of the year. Now I need to pick up the Stars records. Today she was on Jian's Sounds like Summer radio show and impressed me at how cool she is. She just spoke naturally and seemed like someone you would want to be friends with. I have just been so impressed, first the song, then the CD "Honey form the Tomb" and now in interview form. Earlier this summer I heard Torq from Stars on Jian's show also. He impressed me so much I ordered the Memphis record yesterday. Overall, I have to say I have been so immersed in discovering new music since satellite radio added Canadian channels. Between The Verge, C & J show on CBC3 and Jian's show all summer, I have learned so much more! No wonder I ended up buying 75 CDs in Halifax and still had more to find when I got to Toronto.
Other female artists I own: Pat Benatar, Luba, Feist, Kay Hanley/Letters to Cleo, Veruca Salt....hmm...that's about it...

"Avalanche" - Matthew Good drama on the internet

2006-08-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

Some of the best drama is not on TV, not with the internet around, not with people so open with their lives on their blogs. I had gotten away from Matt Good's blog reading because he had taken it down for a while...now I know why, he has divorced that cooky chick he was married to. She had a blog I used to read also. I said a zillion times to Andrew, "is she for real?" no one could be that full of themselves and stereotypical. Whether you agree with his politics or not, Matt is a smart guy. It was so curious that he would be married to a, for lack of a better term, ditzy blonde. I know, I know..she is hot, whatever, that gets old when it comes time for conversation. So when Andrew and I went to Sam Roberts, some guy told us that Jen Good cheated on Matt and that Matt was being very open about it at his acoutic shows. It really surprises me that someone in the public eye like that, with know freakish fans, would be so revealing. Does he really need the sympathy of strangers? Well he is getting a ton of it.. I have to say, I am pulled in because he is so obviously in pain and he is an eloquent writer, hence the pain is more pronounced. He had to give his dogs to his parents, he is seemingly moving away or travelling to get away from it all. It is a soap I am suckered into. The look on his face in the picture above says it all. Read the Open Window entry on his blog-damn...

I did experience Canadian music euphora on my recent trip to Toronto to see Sloan. Oh sure, their shows were fantastic but no...I speak of the very first night..I had been thinking of my previous trips to TO anyway..first being in 1986, my very favorite year of music releases. I went to TO on a train with Karen, Nina and a guy from the radio station. I bought loads of records, found elusive The Kids record, a poster of Mark Holmes...it was a magical trip! Anyway, on Much More Music, it might as well have been 1986..I mean I think I have seen more CanCon 80's videos in my last two trips to Canada then I did back then! I was in the ladies room and I came out and T says, "Hey, I was gonna ask you who is this?" I focus to see The Spoons on the TV, first EEEAAPPP! I had to kinda be cool, I think I would have scared her with one of my true pre-teen screams. I really had to hold back the spaz factor as two videos later, PLatinum Blonde comes on..ok, happy...lalalala...next comes Glass Tiger...I am amused, giggling see the old video after just seeing them in NS, explaining that we were seeing two from the holy Five Golden Rings of CanCon bands back in the day (The Five: Plat, Haywire, GT, Eye Eye and maybe Corey? I have to consult with Nina on this) So as the GT is nearing end and I am rolling on the sleep comfort Sheraton bed, biting something to keep from exploding I say "Why don't they just give me Haywire next?" OMG, I nearly fainted (LOL) The beginning of "Dance Desire" came on! I was 18 again...It was unbelievable...and then INXS came on after for good measure

Speaking of INXS, Timmy turned 49 yesterday! I know I am getting old, but I don't think any of my rock heart throbs have turned 50 yet..yikes-;) A student that works at the Blaze told me today he went to INXS when they came here. He said they were stiff and that J.D. did some rapping. Oh dear god...When we saw them with that other singer from Noiseworks, they were hardly stiff. Dan has me sucked into watching Rockstar again. I guess it is nice to have something to watch together again. And Gilby was in Candy....

I did the majority of my blogging about the SLOOOOAN Toronto, London, Bala trip on my LJ. I think I have decided to make this blog my music blog and the LJ is more personal thoughts, etc.. I do have to mention that C & J were seemed very earnest in their gratefulness for my letters to the radio show. I gave Murph the chance to make total fun of me for all the letters but he said so kindly "No, your letters make the show." Aww, he must have asked me 5 times to keep writing and was telling me how dry the show is and how they struggle to fill all the time. I think they don't give themselves enough credit for the amount of knowledge they share in their breaks. I have learned a ton on their show about Canadian bands. I think that says something. Jay was kind to tell me thanks and asked me to keep writing also. They held to their word on the radio and played a song of my choice in Bala. That ranks as my Favorite part of the trip! Here's the set list from the show- My choice, "So beyond me" was first!!!!!

Who taught you to live like that?

2006-07-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

In the duldrums of summer and post NS depression a new Sloan single has got things a buzzing. I think the song is catchy as hell and very different. It is making me more excited for the trip to go see them in August. I just seem to not get so wound up before hand like I did when I was younger. Too many other pressures to dwell on I guess. Just like with Melissa prior to NS, getting details worked out with PPF is making me more excited also. I seem to feed off my friend's excitement. I think this trip just signals the end of summer as the kids arrive a week after I get back. Summer goes by too damn fast!

Just a spark

2006-07-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

I hear the Church tour is acoustic which is kinda a bummer. I am sure they will be great anyway! It is this Saturday!
I am trying to hear the new Sloan single on the radio, I don't know why I am trying CFOX, they failed me on Matt last year. Now CFOX is talking about alexisfire new material. sigh..
My last dream before I got up today I was in some living room and MArk and Sergie form Platinum Blonde were there. I told Mark I could promote their upcoming show at The Church show. He was all happy and impressed then started kissing me and pushing me into the bedroom...then I woke up-LOLOLOLOL Now there is Maple Musings!

I finished my travel journal for the most part-Check out the LJ for rest.(Link in last couple of entries)

It's your hairclip, my heart rips... THE KATIES are back together!

2006-07-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

I have to SHOUT! I found out last night while screwing around on the internet that The Katies are back together. I had them in my list of bands I only got two recordings out of but adore- NO More! They have a new record coming out this year plus I just found a ton of downloads of rarities. I went from post NS blues this weekend to overjoyed. The Katies are a band Dan and I discovered together while still engaged and we have shared their music so many times plus he sings them the best. I guess it is a heart warming thought that Dan and I have that to share together again. I was so excited I had dreams about it last night. Funny what music can do for you!
The releases coming out this year is unbelievable. Of course I have learned of some many new bands thanks to XM all Cancon channnel but then add my big boys in the mix- Already a fantastic Jon Auer record, The City and Colour disc I love the Mobile CD and then Blossoms in August and Sloan in Sept plus possible Matt Good, Loverboy and now the Katies- It is one heck of a great year in music. My favorite songs so far this year include "Save your sissors"- City and Colour and "Skinny Boy" - Amy Millan (Yes that would be a female singer)"out of my head" - Mobile. I haven't heard the Blossoms single enough yet but it sounded pretty darn good. Gee, then there is the Cinderpop and Quinzy records oh and MIR..I will definatly have a top 25 Cds this year!
OK i had to rant on The Katies for a minute. I will try to finish my NS trip blogging later. I came home to a corrupt driver in the home computer so I finally have it back tonight. Dan has to work at night so I will try to stop playing with slideshows on My Space long enough to finish my trip blog. :)

Coast is Clear - In-flight Safety

2006-07-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Two parts of the Maritimes journey done so far.

Farewell Nova Scotia

2006-07-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a a BOAT load of pix, much to journal...for another time..

One Week - BNL (hate that song but it is appropriate)

2006-06-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Maybe because it is only one week away or maybe because the summer institutes are OVER but I am finally freaking out over going to Nova Scotia. This time next week we will be on the plane from NJ to Halifax. Next Friday will be a long day as we have to be at the airport at like 5am, then we don't get to Halifax until 8:30 pm. Long layover in NJ, thanks to a flight time change. I am half way packed. I need to do some laundry this weekend. It is finally feeling real. Missy is way more excited than I am, she is so eager, it is contagious. And she is re-reading Bay Window to get ready. Maybe I should be doing that...;)

The Institutes were a lot more work prior to the students arriving but I was still on call for a lot of things during the past two weeks. Taxes took so much out of the payment I near cried as I counted on that money for the trip. I just need to spend less money on junk-LOL..yeah me, the pack rat queen. I am more worried I will buy tons of cds. I have been doing the Maple Minutes weekly now so I will be looking for material for the show-haha... I plan to take an extra bag in case to lug stuff home.

Amazing this is that once I get back it will only be a month before I head back to Canada for Sloan shows. We have been plotting that trip a bunch too. It will be another trip with lots of driving but at least PPF and I will share that driving, in NS only I am driving. I am nervous because we will be flying stand-by. Nervous to get there, no worries about getting back-LOL

I went to speak at Intro to Mass Comm for Dr. Godfrey last week (who was one of my old fave profs) He had me explain rotations and clocks in radio. I always ask the students for examples of what they think it heavy rotation songs, etc.. They were sleepy dead class and I had no idea what was current. I finally came up with Shakira but Dr. Godfrey said I was getting old that I couldn't name current music-HORROR... My former prof called me OLD! Sniff! I could have told him the heavy rotation of rock radio in Vancouver and London, damn it...;) (Buck Cherry, Godsmack)

So cute, my karaoke singing hubby said he fancies himself as kinda a John Easdale, a scruffy, bigger guy as a lead singer. We keep seeing Dramarama videos on the Alternative. Dan did get some new Karaoke discs last week, thank god. I was so sick of the old ones-;) Now "Nearly Lost You" is his new fave sing. He loves Coheed but no one can sing like that guy except Geddy Lee.

Next week should blow by, we have lots of lunches, meetings and two orientations. This weekend we are taking Hunter to the pool then of course Father's Day. Leaving on that jet plane is gonna be here before I know it! Have I packed too much-Oh I am sure of that!

For the first time since 1988

2006-06-08T23:28:00.000-07:00

The Church is coming to Phoenix! I can not believe what kind of musical year this is shaping up to be! The Church would never come here because of some issues they had with promotors, I had to fly to see them back in the day..Now FINALLY! July 22. Nice treat between NS and Ontario trips! OK it is very late, off to bed.

Day Job - Gin Blossoms

2006-06-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

Random quickies:

Yesterday was a rather monumental music day in my lil life. I heard the new Gin Blossoms single. Pretty catchy and sweet. I also heard the new (!?)Loverboy track...not bad, honestly! Also bought the new Cheap Trick which has to be the best CT record I have heard in years. Heavens, this is a big year for new releases for *my* bands. I need to keep better track for year end lists this year!

My truck has this nifty feature that allows you to see recent history. I was telling Dan that it is running so fast now that he placed the *magic* chip in it. He checked my history, giving me shite for going 75 one day until we got back to Sun of Memorial weekend when he came back from Flagstaff. Clocked 117! (He did, NOT me) Take it to the strip, not the street kiddies!

The summer Institutes are here now, kinda smooth, a few bumps. I need a vacation, that is evident in my easily annoyed attitude. I think it is 16 days until we leave for NS. I have been so busy chatting with pals regarding the Ontario trip, I have gotten behind on my NS planning. I did start packing last weekend (and wrote down all my outfits to take, I haven't done that since I was in college!)

Yesterday we tried to convert my ipod tunes to my new work computer. It erased all of my ipod so I plugged into itunes and it took and hour and a half to refill it...annoying!

Gotta tell about Sam Roberts concert last Friday but need to go give a tour of The Blaze. I will do that soon!

Waiting for Wednesday - Lisa Loeb

2006-05-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

Random thoughts for a mid-week:

Today is the one and only Corey Hart's b-day. He is 44 today! A Gemini. Kind of funny that it was in the Arizona Republic today.

Also while reading the paper at lunch, I see they are doing Rockstar again only this time, it is a made up new band. The band consists of Tommy Lee(reality whore) Jason Newstead(Metallica fans are prolly up in arms) and Gilby Clarke(!) So they are going to look for their new singer. I will not be wasting my summer on that even though I do have a fondness for Gilby. Wonder what Kyle's take is on this one, especially with his former band mate.

I am listening to FM96 in London. I dropped a line to Andrea since I haven't been listening to them since last summer. I heard a hilarious commercial for Labatts about Canadian miracles. I will have to write down the funny lines from it, there are so few good radio spots anymore. As I was on the way to the airport to head to LA, PPF left me a message that Sloan was playing in London the day prior to the show at the Kee. I love London so much from years of going there for the boat races. I have so many memories from that track...Jim surprising me at White Oaks mall, Little Lemon guys following Bonnie and I around the hotel, shopping with my cancon lists, I even remember having memories with Adam Jones there.(My very first crush) Of course, Dan and I also went there a few years back and he got his SS tattoo. I can not WAIT to go to London again! I love hot air balloons too...(geek) So I was so caught up in the idea of going to London again, I went to gate B8 instead of D8. I swear it may have been one of my dizziest moves ever. I ended up walking most of terminal 4 to get to D8. I think I am more excited for London than Bala. Andi can come to Ontario now too! Two trips to Canada this summer..I am so LUCKY!

22 days until NS. I have not really done much in the way of preparing lately. I bought a new suitcase. Our large suitcase does not have wheels so Dan always carries it. I needed one to pull. I think I am taking 4 bags, maybe 5. Am I the only person on earth who dwells on what bags to take on vacations. I should be nicknamed bag lady. I dragged Dan into Marshalls to look at another one and realized I have a million bags. I actually walked away!

Dan made me dinner last night. I was warming some chicken and noodles and he took the chicken, breaded it and put all these yummy spices on the noodles to livin them up. I have no idea how to just randomly grab spices and breading and make food taste so good. He amazes me.

London keeps advertising this smoke free city new laws...I guess I won't get Dan back there. They also have a drag race coming there so I am amused by those advertisements. (although FM96 plays way too many commercials) Now they just advertised a record store called Grooves.

PPF and I went into a record store in Burbank and the band Lost Prophets were there. I should have snapped a pix. I keep telling her that I have liked California better the two times I have visited her. I always detested California in my many visits there. For some reason, the areas she has taken me are nicer or something. All the little neighborhoods near her place have all these lovely flowers in their yards. I even love Burbank airport, it is so easy and has a certain old charm to it. Maybe it is the departing via steps off a plane. Oddly, Hollywood seemed less icky to me while there too. We went to a store called Magic Eight Ball, totally my kind of kitschy products. I could have bought the whole store, such fun stuff.

Oh how funny, 13 Engines is on the radio...I was just telling PPF about them. They were on the bill with The Posies and Pere Ubu when I went to Chicago for the Material Issue baseball game radio trip. One of those other times I surprised a certain Mr. Auer by showing up at a show.

Dan and I went to see X-Men on Monday. I knew nothing about X-men before Dan. I certainly grew to enjoy the stories but I was highly disappointed in the flick. I liked their stories and more dialogue. This movie seemed like it was more about action then story. I haven't talked to Missy but I hope Hunter handled it ok. He loves Cyclops, even named his build a bear Scott. In the movie Cyclops dies. I think Hunter saw it, would guess that would bother him. I know he didn't really handle the demise of Anakin in Episode 3.

OK 'nuff rambling from me. I am trying to decide if I am going to blog NS on blogger or LJ. I am having problems figuring out LJ stuff but you can add more pictures I think. Such decisions, such a dork.

I wanna go wanna go..to Ontario (ok it's a Ken song but...)

2006-05-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

One more pix not on LJ, JA in the ghetto. For the JA review

I will be there

2006-05-22T00:51:00.000-07:00

It is 1am, I should be in bed but I napped today. I just spent a half hour trying to figure out why I can't find the rich text feature on LJ. Computers drive me nuts sometimes. I think it maybe the same reason I can not see who is "online" on MySpace, something is disabled on this computer.

So here is quick lowdown on life in general. I had a really bad week last week. I tried to make some changes in life that didn't go over as well as I hoped. Last week ended after stroke of midnight last night, that is about the time I pushed buy on the "buy tickets" button for Sloan in Bala, Ontario.

Today is a better day, and soon to be a better week. Even with the knowledge that I am going to Canada twice this summer, I can still have an off week, right? Let's just say I am trying to see someone else's opinion from all angles..and their angle sucks! (No, not Dan)
OK on to less cryptic (believe me I wish I could share all this, hence why I was trying to use the private LJ version)

Here's the giddy silly stuff: Glass Tiger has one date on their Pollstar listings...Dartmouth, NS June 30. I am guessing I might be the most overjoyed dork flying all the way to Nova Scotia and will end up seeing Glass Tiger....I had to get an 80's band, right? Makes me laugh thinking how I had recently listened to the travel tape of Nova and I seeing GT in Tucson. I haven't told her yet, too bad she is not going...we could have truly relived our youth. Maybe we should never go back?

Indeed a month later I will fly to Toronto to drive 3 hours to see Sloan at some lake country resort area. The scenery alone (No, not the band) is making me swoony. Seriously, I adore Ontario and want to make it my setting for another novel so I really am thinking about all the notes I plan to take. It is about as far north as Mackinac Island, MI. And yes, of course I will be *pleased* to see the band again also. Not to mention I am beyond excited to be in Toronto... this is turning out to be one heck of a summer.

Before all that Canadian vacationing begins, I am heading off to La-La land again this weekend. Seems we need a part Deux for PPF and I's misadventures! Jon Auer is this Friday night. The solo record is just plain dreamy so this will be a treat to see him acoustic. Saturday is Glen Phillips which should be a great night also. The following week, back in AZ, we actually have a decent show here..SAM! Sam Roberts is playing June 2, although there are like 5 opening acts which is annoying as hell.

I had the last three Blaze station managers at one table on Thursday..that was the highlight of my otherwise shitty week! Nick M was visiting from SD, wish I could have spent more time...

I have other pointless babble in my head but better sleep...I want to start writing number two but Bay Wiondow looks like it needs another edit from what I have gone back and looked at..bleck to editing!~

Only the lucky ones get to see te show

2006-05-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Random ramblings from the Mod Maid herself on a Monday:

Listening to 91X online because Marty Willson Piper is supposed to be on. Sigh, I still love Marty so much! PPF got to see him over weekend. She said he was fantastic plus he is funny and smart! I need to make a list of artists I still wish I could see. Marty solo would definitely be one of them. I have never seen Stringfellow solo either. Of course the two big 80's I never saw: Cutting Crew and Haywire. Then there are The Katies :( Wow, I am quite fortunate I have seen most every artist I love but those are the ones who stick out in my mind.

New stupid girl’s habit - I keep seeing girls in their fuzzy slippers at the store. Today I saw a girl crossing the street, dressed in decent clothes, not shorts and her big green fuzzy slippers. The funniest part was you could tell she could feel the hot pavement. Here's the deal, in AZ you can not even wear thin flip flops or thin soled shoes in summer. I have seen this trend a few times lately-just looks stupid and will burn many girls’ tootsies.

So relaxed today, classes are over, no students for 3 months. I am sure I will get bored and lonely but for now...ahhhhhhhh...

This new Snow Patrol song isn't bad but I hate trendy bands...

Melissa is so easy going! I told her there was a concert with three bands she has never heard of in PEI. She's like cool, we can flip our plans around, let's look at hotel prices in Charlottetown! Oh and she said, make me a CD to check out all three bands! (Hip, Sam and Matt Mays) We are waiting on the plans until we hear who else is playing that weekend. I spotted that Pilate and Immaculate machine are both playing while I am there now too. Looks like there should be some good shows. Pilate is at the Marquee too! (I maybe able to see the inside!)

The writing conference I went to this past weekend was pretty interesting. A very nice gal asked me if I wanted to sit with her. Turns out she kinda started writing the same way I did in that she had a sil who read a lot and she kept chapters going to give her sil something to read! She told me she had an agent but didn’t trust the agent. She ended up self publishing. It doesn't really cost that much too just get the book printed yourself. You promote yourself, you build your own website and they print the books as they are ordered. It serves more as a memory or legacy. It is the idea that you are not trying to get "Signed" to some big money book deal, you just put it out there for your friends, etc... My guess all along is that no big publishing house is going to see me as some fresh faced writer they want to give a big signing bonus. Not too many people would see value in a novel about a girl in radio in the 80's in Canada. Sure, I could try to shop it to some Canadian agents but I am not kidding myself. I just liked doing it. It would be nice to have it in a book form. So I am thinking about just self publishing for the fun of it. I could design a webpage and sell it for like $10 bucks. I wouldn't have to change anything for some editor. I could have Dan draw the cover too! (Although I told him he could not make Patrick and Elise into cartoon super heroes)

I actually did a lot of work today! Even with no commitments whatsoever! :proud of self:

I found a cookbook I have been looking for today while cleaning up Stauffer office-Yeah!

I don't have a good reason to have both a blog and an LJ but seem to have no problem blabbing selfishly on both...

It looks like Ontario is a strong possibility if I can get flight passes. Even the idea of flying into Toronto makes me giddy! Toronto and NS in one summer-Holy spoiled brat! But I worked so frickin hard this past semester, isn't that why we deserve vacations? Fingers crossed~!

Sloooooan Aug 6, The Kee in Bala, Ont

2006-05-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Wasn't sure if it was going to happen but it appears to be...Ontario in Aug???

Many things to tell. Life has been hectic due to the end of school year. I have been to many end of semester dinners and parties. Tonight I am at work late because it is the Cronkite school graduation. Two of my Blaze directors are graduating, one of which is the student speaker for the event. It has been hard to say farewell to this group. We had a huge Blaze party last week, the kids gave me a huge Canadian flag they made me put on as a cape. The next night we had a nice dinner for just the Blaze directors. Tony told me they were bidding on a Jim Zorn jersey for me (sniff) They got outbid at last minute.
Last weekend we had the end of year banquet for my Cronkite Village kids..I just can't get over how well that all turned out. I let the kids put that together and it was at a fancy restaurant, we had to dress up. The menu was choice of salmon, steak, chicken or pasta. They put together a music slide show of their year together, and gave out mock awards. They were so kind to me too, they gave me roses, an engraved pen and engraved business card holder. I guess I am so blessed that this all worked out well for not knowing what the heck I was doing to start.
Last night was the new Blaze directors dinner. I think we have a great group again, just different in that they are a fun loving group, lots of joking around. I am excited for them to see them at work.

I did DJ shift this week, was a dork and nervous for some reason. I decided to do it for the summer to break up my monotony that is the basement of Stauffer. At least it will get me over to Blaze each week and fun to boot!

I am going to a Writing conference tomorrow. I have no idea what to expect but interested in learning. It will be a long day as I will drive straight to Casa Grande to see the Garcia girls who both graduate this week also!

OK, more soon...time for graduation....

Take the Dartmouth Ferry to....

2006-05-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

Last night May 1 at 11:53pm, I finished editing Bay Window. I suppose one is really never completely done with one's work but I don't think I will really want to change anything now. I need to spice up some exacts, like names of some specific items or places. As far as story content, I am done. Finally tally seems to be 7 months to write and 3 months to content edit.

Dan is watching a horrible movie (per usual) called The Faculty. I remember playing junk off the soundtrack on The Zone. I am often reminded why I don't watch TV and movies.

Can I rant about Tempe Arizona being the stupidiest town known to man. They have a university that already has near 60,000 students. They want 100,0000. YET, some developer bought the property across the street from The Blaze to build some huge high cost condos. Now they already built high cost condos on Mill that they had to sell to ASU because no one wanted to foot the 200,000 a year bill for a loft. SO instead of having food and service options for the zillions of students, they took an entire block away. The first sign this week was Hogi Yogi closing. There is a sign in the door with a snarky remark "closed due to University Progress.." Something to that effect. Now today one of the directors found out that an investor bought the whole block, which includes Dave's Dog house, Lorenzos, Subway, Restaurent Mexico, etc... I remember that plaza from the first time I came to Arizona in 1981, went to a skateboard shop. Sigh, progress in Arizona is usually always stupid.

My new neighbor in Stuaffer Hall offices told me today her favorite band is Our Lady Peace. What are the chances? I was so nervous my new neighbor wouldn't quite deal with, well me and my kids dropping by... I think I am safe, she has travelled to see them...gosh who does that? ;)

Now American Idol is on,(I'm at inlaws) I have never seen this show, honestly ever! This guy Taylor on right now has early grey...oh my...insert pix of fave guitar Canadian player here...I should just let mine go LOL! OK this is s lame, again, no wonder I don't watch TV. (Rock Star was just as bad, I know)

Andrew brought by my new Canadian CDs by today! Now I can listen to "Save your scissors" over and over! Yeah I finally have City and Colour, such sweet songs. I got the new Sam, Mobile and two Meligrove Band cds.

Funny, a commercial was just a spoof on Twister! OK, no more TV for another year or so..

Tell all your freinds - Project Orange

2006-04-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

Weekend tidbits:

Spoiled brat here bought herself a pink razor phone...I have had same old phone for like 3 years.(horror) It was only $60 bucks, I thought they were like $300 or something. Must amazing feature, ringtone purchase-My phone now rings "I'll be you" - The Replacements. ZOMG! Dan says I can have a different ring for each person who calls me. I need to figure out how I can put my own music on it.

Had a nice long lovely talk with TNT Friday night. She is a great reminder of how fortunate one can be...and how not to sweat the little things. I need some red bull for the next convo though..sleepy all weekend!

Hunter and I just totally checked out the X-Men 3 website. We watched the trailer and read all the profiles of the characters powers! He corrected me on the word Adamination (or whatever Wolverine has) My 7 year old nephew is correcting my reading. He is almost up to Dan's shoulder, he seems like he will be taller than all three Collins men eventually! We were practicing multiplication, so smart!

Chris and Jay announced they will be on hiatus for a while so they can finish the Sloan record. I sure love listening to the show but..yeah a new record, tour..seems more important-hahaha. Have tour dates will travel, but where??? Rather embarassed but they called me their favorite letter writer last night. I feel like dork but I love writing letters...always have. They broke it into three parts -LOL.. I just told them about seeing Jon Brion and Jason Collett. What, oh what will I do on Saturday nights now?

Diane G's boyfriend Seth raced his boat this weekend at Firebird...He actually won again. He left a message on Friday and I ended up having drag boat dreams that night. I have them pretty often..I guess after 18 years of being around it, it never leaves the system.

I got some cleaning done. I lost Saturday to a killer headache that crippled my actions completly. I still haven't finished editing. It is funny, I stalled on editing in the same spot I stalled on writing..the tough climax scenes...I just need to be alert and in the right frame of mind. I will sit down this week and finish them. And I will miss the characters greatly, I know that for sure!

This week is the last week of school...pretty unbelievable. I am so sad to see this Blaze group go..I am suffering Tony withdrawl. I feel great about new group but always sad to see the kids leave. Also the end of my first Cronkite Village kids..crazy! They have their banquet next Sat night. Should be a nice night, such a pleasant surprise, the 30 kids I ended up with... 40 will be crazy next year!

OK that is the short of it, the juicier details are all in LJ - ;)

The Year of our Demise

2006-04-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

OH my, huge sighs...Jon Auer is playing acoustic on the radio as I type on KEXP in Seattle. His solo record finally comes out this week. Man, his voice just melts me into mush. I tried to get my pal Jon to listen with me but my gushing must have scared him off (and my lack of wireless in my basement office) "Six Feet Under" was first track, "The year of our demise" was second. Jon said it was the bookends of the LP. Now Jon is talking about the Posies being darker then most people think (What gave that away, maybe "Everybody is a Fucking Liar") Kevin Cole is doing the interview who used to be my old pal B's boss at Rev 105 in Mlps.

OH, Jon is doing it stripped down for the tour...Awesome!!!! I would rather see him that way for the solo tour. When I saw him in SF, I didn't like or accept the idea of him playing with another band.

The Posies will do another record he says and are BACK! “Treacherous waters to navigate” Jon says about being in a band. WOW, he says The Posies write in a group now instead of bringing individual songs to the table! That is probably why the last record was so different.

OK, he is playing again...Did I say he is one of the best singers known to man? My oh my, I am feeling a nostalgia to my old love of the 90's...;) This is making me very excited to go see him in LA! This song seems to be called “Josephine.” I haven’t decided if I am going to email him and tell him I am coming to the show or not. I seem to remember surprising him in Chicago many moons ago (blogged here recently) I should wear my Posies necklace. (God, will I ever not be such a dork?)
"Sundown" is on track he is doing now. Darius is with him in the studio.

DAMN it, a fricking student just came to ask me stupid stuff about not being able to get a hold of another student. I had my door shut too…GRR I missed the last part of the interview. I can’t even shut my door, oh and upstairs called and asked it I would do an impromptu tour. I am positive I do not do tours on demand or zero notice. I guess I should ask my boss but NO WAY!

Not that I wasn’t but now I am officially psyched to go to see JA in LA!

Too much time on my hands(NOT)

2006-04-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Some people eat when they are depressed, some are self destructive...I am wallet destructive...Witness above photo...actually I really wanted it and almost bought it for myself for my b-day...I didn't have as much self restraint when a second one came up for auction. It will look very nice in my office, especially when the school moves downtown and I get the fancy atrium office with the advisors (no more posters and bulletin boards full of junk LOL) I haven't gotten it yet, just won it. Unfortunately it doesn't come with a frame so I probably need to get it framed too.

Work has been out of control again this week. I am scared I am forgetting things because I have so much to keep track of right now. This is a true test of my organization and memory. I missed a meeting yesterday because it wasn't on my outlook. I fear sometimes I am in over my head. Hope not! Today my shitty job is to tell some students they didn't get the Blaze director job they applied for. I think I avoided it all week, now I know I have to do it.

The new version INXS is finally coming to PHX..when I am in NS! Oh well, not that jazzed about their album. Still love my Timmy of course but...I would rather be in NS of course! It is funny I will be in JD's hometown that night. Blossoms never ended up getting that tour.

Speaking on NS, Missy and I were watching Whale watching website virtual tours last night! WOW, we are going whale watching now...one tour said money back guarantee if you don't see whales! We redid our itinerary, looks like we will be going more places now. We are going to drive more of NS and will pretty much circle the entire province. I hope we aren't trying to fit too much in or that I don't get sick of driving. Nothing seems more than 3 hours a day of driving. Dan, being the sweetie he is, pledged our tax return to me for the trip! Eases financial worries! Of course he got a dirt bike out of it but hey...compromise right?

I have been getting home so late from work, I haven't been focused enough or awake enough to edit...that always depresses me too...Proof that my writing is my way of relaxing and taking me away from it all....Of course I have said I have lived in a fantasy world all my life! LOL! Well I am still 6 chapters away from finishing the content editing. I think next I need to do what I call product placement, make sure names of places, stores, food items, etc...are all what I want. Then I need to do some research on songs used to make sure they are the right years for the time the chapter takes place. (Like for example, I make reference to Replacements "Pleased to meet me" but need to make sure it was out in the month/year I connected it to) I need a research assistant; I don't relish doing that portion actually. Oh I need to replace some songs I used also. Then I go to NS, decide the whole things sucks and throw it out! JK! I told JH this week I am past my insecurities about the novel, honestly, I love it and could care less if no one else does. One can hope others like it but that is not what I did it for in the least!

I got my plane tix to go to LA for Memorial Day weekend. Yet another angel move on my hubby..he is giving up opening weekend at the Cinders riding so I can go see Jon Auer and Glen Phillips (and get in lots more trouble with PPF) I need these getaways to sooth my restless weeks at work. Most weekends I barily leave the house anymore, so treats...I guess I live off treats. Things will change when I go back to racing too, which I am sure I will. I won't have the opportunity to run off to concerts. I figured out, all these years of racing had my life so planned out for me. Being without a team race schedule has allowed for freedom I obviously missed some. I need to equal out things some, not be such a slave to the race schedule and race when I want.

When you google search photos of Eight Seconds, you do not get the Ottawa band, you get Luke Perry.
Sigh, I am too depressed to blog today, don't worry..I am just suffering overwhelmed at work, guilt sets in!

Save for later

2006-04-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Lifeline, I wonder how you last so long,
You must be strong,
When I see the flowers in your hair,
And the pretty mouth with the red you adorn,

When you get close,
Ah danger senses please beware, it's so unfair
That I'm paying such a heavy price,
By looking at the garments, that you wear so well

(Chorus)
I won't kiss you if you want me to,
It's much too easy with someone like you,
In the rain or a winters night,
Just wouldn't do, it's got to be so right,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,
I'll kiss you then and only then,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,

Fineline, that's what I'm walking when I look at you,
You know it's true
Of all things the thing that I want most,
To catch you at the point where you don't have a clue.

(Chorus)
I won't kiss you if you want me to,
It's much too easy with someone like you,
In the rain or a winters night,
Just wouldn't do, it's got to be so right,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,
I'll kiss you then and only then,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,
I'll kiss you once, but never again...

(Chorus)
I won't kiss you if you want me to,
It's much too easy with someone like you,
In the rain or a winters night,
Just wouldn't do, it's got to be so right,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,
I'll kiss you then and only then,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,

I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,
I'll kiss you then and only then,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,

Senses beware (Back vocals)

I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,
I'll kiss you then and only then,
I'll kiss you when it's dangerous,

Senses beware (Back vocals)

Lead Vocal by Jim

Don't tell me I'm wrong,
'Cause I've been watching every move that you make.
Hearts you steal, in your make up and heels
Trouble for the man that you date.

Every time you walk in the room
I couldn't ever be sure of a smile
You were never the same way twice,
I'm falling in love
Oh, night after night - oh it's crazy...ooh
So many people who said, ooh
Girl you've got nothing but time
Oh you are a shining star
Don't you worry 'bout what you're leaving behind.

Every time you walk in the room
I couldn't ever be sure of a smile
You were never the same way twice,
I'm falling in love
Oh, night after night - oh it's crazy...

Oh you got to try, try, try.
Ah don't you know you've got to try,
Try, try. Oooh
Oh baby you try, oh.

SOLO

Every time you walk in the room
I couldn't ever be sure of a smile
You were never the same way twice,
I'm falling in love
Oh, night after night - oh it's crazy...

Oh you got to try, try, try.
Ah don't you know you've got to try,
Try, try. Oooh oh baby you try, oh woah woah try, oh woah woah

Happy Easter

2006-04-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

A girl can never have too many bags! I am a bag lady, have been for years. Closet full of them! But I have not bought a toiletries bag clearly since the 80's! Hence the need for a stylish new one for all the travel plans this year! Went to Target depressed or something yesterday. Target looked like Walmart, a tornado had gone through the Easter section! I spent too much and frivolously bought just about every travel convenience bag they had. I don't even leave for NS until end of June..and probably don't need all the bags for LA trip on Memorial Day. Overzealous to go apparently! But the new toiletries bag has such great compartments. Oh dear god, my blog has turned into Jennifer Good. Stop me if I start talking about shoes!

Not much new to mention. I still want to blog my old SXSW experience but not in mood to do that right now.

Photos of the new computer case..pretty cool eh? Too bad it sits in a cabinet for no one to see. My pops in law built is all for me! Holds 100% more items than my old filled up computer. Flat screen too-woah! I have separate drives for music, photos etc.. So spoiled I am!

When I am in computer room, Della loves to sleep in the closet for some reason.

No letter on the C & J show, maybe next week. Or maybe I am psycho for writing letters! Jay said he loved the Hudson Brothers this week...I wonder if they have those on DVD!? Fun and great music! Just like the Sha Na Na show- man I loved that and Chico!

Be a Pepper too!

2006-04-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

Most of my mod maid life I did not drink carbonated soda because it made me hiccup too painfully. Then circa 1993 I dated this guy who got Taco Bell everyday (and he was Hispanic, because TB is real Mexican food right?) Anyway, I didn't like anything at TB but always ended up sipping his Dr. Pepper. He was an asshole and I ended up addicted to DP because of him. (That sentence is supposed to make you laugh) In Michigan, they make a POP called Faygo. I grew up on Faygo, mainly redpop. Although like anything it was a treat if my mom bought me redpop. After I moved to AZ, Nova would smuggle redpops on the plane for me when she would visit. This all leads to the fact that I think Dr. Pepper stole Faygo's recipe for something Faygo calls Rock N Rye. This new Berries n Cream tastes exactly like rock n rye. I am going to buy a rock n rye (they sell um at AJ's fine foods here) and do a taste test! As for DP, I am now a true Cherry Vanilla lover. Makes plain old DP pale in comparison. And don't even get me started about Mr. Pibb!

All this gibberish is to help calm me from one of the worst weeks of work, definitely worst since I went full time. (And worst non-Blaze related crap)
First off, it was way too jam packed. I am bad about piling too many things in a row. (Like 8 interviews for Blaze Directors in a row today) I had some tense moments, I stayed late most nights to catch up on work and I even broke into tears at the potluck today (embarrassing, I am a crier but I have held myself pretty well in the Cronk school) By the end of the day, I almost felt like the week was breaking. Apologies were made, awesome people stood up for me and the interviews went really well. Reward was YC's for dinner tonight! YUM!

Dan is at the Dunes for holiday weekend. My bargain is another trip to California Memorial Weekend. This time I am going to see...Jon Auer and Glen Phillips!!!! PPF told me about Glen playing there today! Very exciting, I need some perks (how funny Jason Collett is on radio as I type) The whole saving for Nova Scotia hasn't gone well yet but I need to do some ebaying now that I have this new computer! I am not too worried because I get paid for the extra summer cash from the HS camp stuff but now Nova is not going so it will be pricier to split two ways instead. I still have some hotel bookings to change now plus Missy and I are now thinking we may explore more of NS. I am sure we can nail down some adjusted plans when we get together for Easter.

My friend TNT talked me into signing up for a Live Journal now. I doubt I will use it as I prefer this blogger format. One needs to be signed up for LJ to view others I guess. I may just do all the dorky surveys on there for fun. My students crack up every time they heard I have a MySpace. Yesterday Ash and Justin went into fits when they heard I have an LJ too...is this a indicator they are laughing at me for "living like a kid?" I draw the line at facebook LOL!
(Iceberg just went from All used up to The Gate (the new Sam Roberts))

This week I receive something in the mail I never thought I would own. As mentioned in a prior blog I found the first Haywire tracks on a Q104 comp. Now a few weeks later I received a search find on ebay for Eight Second's EP Ottava Rima. I didn't believe it was truly it..Opened the add and almost fell over...Literally looking for that for abotu 20 years. Of course I put some outrageously high bid on it..of course no one else even bid or even looked at it! LOL. I am going to treat myself to it tomorrow! UNBELIEVABLE! I still have a few 80's cancon treasures to find but in the past month I managed to cross of two HUGE always looked fors. (Both from ebay searches I just kept renewing)

Wouldn't be a blog without a Bay Window update. I was trekking along on editing this week until the shitty days started happening (Pure is on now, killer night on Iceberg!) I found if I am pissy mood, I don't want to edit. Fair enough...So I have gone three days without but undoubtly will get some done this weekend. Again, nothing but pleased with how it is going. The last chapters are going to be tough, just as tough to edit as they were to write I suspect but I don't think I will go into some month long sabbatical from the last edits. Funny, the last time Dan went to dunes I was starting to edit now I am almost finished. (well..now Rush is on, it should have been the song after Sloan LOL!)

And this time I will anticipate it and it won't happen but I wrote a letter to the old C & J radio show again detailing the Jason Collett and Jon Brion shows I went to in LA. Tune into Sirius 94, usually they read letters in the first hour...embarassing but I am too addicted, I can't stop writing now...GOD I need a life! (Or my race car FUCKING fixed!)

So tired, tired of waiting for you...

2006-04-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

I want to blog as I have done some much in the last week in a half but alas, it is near midnight and I am ready to collapse. (My radio show addiction on Sunday nights is KILLING me! Even with the time change)
Speaking of..I was staring at PPF's computer at 2am last Sat when the time changed and her computer went 2:00am then 3:00am immediately. It was trippy to see it! And depressing. I am glad we do not lose hours in AZ! Crazy girls up at 2am on her computer after seeing Jason Collett. We were SMBing it to find out about the Sloaners show that happened the same night for the Junosfest in Halifax. (Damn why didn't I plan my trip for March like I originally wanted!) Anyway, I had a great time in LA LA land, one of my least favorite places. I may hate Cali but it is fun when you have an agenda that includes ice cream, pizza, pretzels and videos of Canadian band boys trying to act. Holy.... Hence the picture of the coffee table after two days of viewing. AND I think I am going back for a Jon Auer solo show.
JA was part of last week too as was Robin making it my old crush week apparently. I got a email on My space from JA!!! He was asking for the Blaze addy and suggesting I come to LA to see him...He made reference to our putt putt outing..sigh! (Let's see, that was Nov 1990, 16 yrs ago...) Robin was on guest DJ week at The Blaze last week (photo to come) He was sweet as pie, naturally. He was showing me pix of his son on his lappy. I handled myself ok..got a little tongue tied. Something kinda struck me about a reference I make in Bay Window that was definitely something he did. It threw me as I realized how much of Bay Window revolves around my experiences at Blossom club shows .It just hit me while we were talking about this guy who used to film all their shows. Memories make me smile most of time! Jim Adkins of JEW was in the station for guest DJ week also. Pix below. I don't know him but he is a very nice fella, the Blaze girls were swooning! I did a guest DJ shift too on Friday. It was a blast.
Here is my playlist:
Cmon, Cmon (Let get it started) - Sloan
I'll bring the sun - Jason Collett
The night is soft - The Church
Please - The Bolshoi
I don't know why I love you - House of Love
What Now - Something Happens
Cartoon- Soul Asylum
The Ledge - The Replacements
Chamber of hellos- Wire Train
Girls Talk - Dave Edmunds
Bastian Cooper - Cinderpop
Beating heart baby - Head Automatica
One day in your life - MIR
Outerspace- the Katies
Games of Magic - Jon Auer
Spite and Malice - The Posies
Obsurity knocks- Trash Can sinatras
King is half undressed - Jellyfish
Back of a car - Gin Blossoms
Burger Christ - Dead Hot Workshop
Dirty Ballerina - Sugar High
Sugar High - Coyote Shivers
You and me song - The Wannadies
Cope - Giglo Aunts
Sugartune - Sloan
Deep Six - MGB
Blue - The Jayhawks

Much more soon, must sleep! I am on Chapters 54-55 of editing..almost done! sorta sad again. But need to start a new one!

AND FINALLY: See the pix of the guy above! I swear he was at Burbank airport and on my return plane. (the plane did go on to NYC which is where he lives) I kept looking at him..why oh why would I not ask him if he was Frickin David Usher!

My past week in some photos for now

2006-04-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite..people...

2006-03-31T10:32:00.000-08:00

As we begin hiring new Blaze directors for next year, here's some photos of the great group who rocked the 05/06 Blaze world! Students who run college radio stations are the best!

Roger Clyne for President?

2006-03-30T14:19:00.000-08:00

I drove by a car today that had a bumper sticker that said Roger Clyne for President. Those crazy Peacemaker fans, I am surprised it didn't say Roger Clyne is god or at least start him in local government first! LOL.

Next week is guest DJ week at The Blaze. Robin is bringing his partner in the new side project (see photo) The stuff I have heard online sounds fantastic! The guy is Steve French who Robin met ages ago from the band Star Club. I seemed to recall August Red opening for them here at The Roxy. That was the night everyone thought I took out an add for redboy in the back of the New Times. (I certainly did NOT!) Anyway, this year is going to be crazy for great new CDS, this Long Shadows, a new Blossoms, a new Matt, Jon Auer's solo, and a new one from those other guys...um NOME?

I am heading to LA tomorrow! So excited to get a short vacation. A chance to get out of town and see some music! PPF and I plan plenty of wine and chocolate for our viewing fest! Hopefully I will have plenty of tales to tell when I return. Maybe I will make it to Ameoba to!

Everything is cool biz around the homestead. Dan and I have been having a ton of fun lately. I finally got him to the doctor about his allergies too-Dan to the doctor-amazing! Next amzing feat will be him putting that new motor in that red car...

Artic Monkeys are the new Carter the unstoppable sex machine.

Bay Window is going fantastic. I have edited through Chapter 48. There are 71 chapters but I eliminated one and combined two others so...I guess that means I am more than half way through the edits (Although some of the last chapters seem longer. Maybe?) Again I can just say I didn't think I would enjoy editing but I really have. (Content editing, not english type stuff-bleck!) I suspect based on my sessions with the writing coach, I could still use more weeding out.

Trip to NS plans are moving along. We ran into a snag with one of the hotels. We found one on the internet that has 3 beds and two bathrooms-I have never seen a hotel room that large for the price we got quoted! Waiting to hear if Nova approves of it. Missy and I are now trying to come up with clever ways to make more dough. I plan to teach her ebay so she can put some of my junk up.

The Blaze has a ton of Hot Tamales! So today's catch phrase- try using it-is "Hot Tamales!"

Just between you and me...

2006-03-24T12:45:00.000-08:00

Observations on a Friday:

I just drove by a smart car while I was driving the golf cart. It was smaller that the golf cart. If you got hit in one of those, you would die..period.. that is smart?? I will stick to my gas guzzling big ole truck thank you!

Tony and I were meeting to dine at the new Long Wongs in Tempe..but you see...it is NOT Long Wongs as the once great venue for bands to play. It is a chain Long Wongs with T-shirts that say, Long Wong's is back. Far from it, not the same owners, small menu and no music. Tony was so turned off by the fact that they are trying to pawn it off as the original, we left. I call that dedication to an establishment.

Yesterday was proof I should NOT work on Bay Window at work. I needed to return a call to a girl named Millie. It rang for a while and I get distracted as to who I was calling. When she answered, I asked for MIMI! She giggled because she said her nieces call her Mimi but you know I said it because I was looking at my computer screen! LOL! THEN, my appointment comes, the gal looks at all my photos of our dogs and says she has a lab named Murph...I near choke.

I am busting through editing now, at about chapter 29 now. Enjoying it immensely, keeping me from doing chores as usual ;) I can add or delete one sentence that can manipulate it the way I need it to go. I read a chapter this week that I don’t think I have seen since I wrote it, like last June! I had forgotten what I wrote!

I had to attend this "Future of local Television" this week that kept me at work until like 9:30pm. I certainly listened but also wrote three "treatments" for new novel options. Jim and Andy was one of them, the girl racer one which didn't seem to have an obvious conflict to it and a third idea which seems the most intriguing. It combines an old short story I wrote back in college and a newer idea I had talking to my pal E-Ruh! We'll see, I told Missy, I think I will start on number two after we return from Nova Scotia. I hope to be done with my content edits of Bay Window by the time we go. Then upon return, add anything I was struck by while visiting. Then I think it will be time to begin again. It will pretty much be one year from the time I started Bay Window. PPF has volunteered to grammar, format and spell edit (oh, but she knows I owe and will pay her back big time! I know her weekness!) Then I figure out IF I pursue it?? I am still inclined to wait until I am done with number 2.

Up until Christmas time, I had never heard of fan fiction. Now I learn there are stories about Qui Gon and Obi Wan in love.... or Jon and Ken...or Matt Good and Raine from OLP... I keep forgetting to tell Dan, he is going to laugh his ass off.

One more week until I go to LA! Yeah! Concerts and loads of video watching. Can't wait to actually have something to do for a weekend. Was supposed to race this weekend but alas that team I race for cancelled a opportunity to race in nice weather. What a shock! I swear, Team Speedworld looks better every year! I'm off to edit, I mean get work done! :)

39 things that happened on my 39th birthday

2006-03-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

Somewhat in order of occurence...

1. My SMB buddy MIR started a b-day thread for me at midnight EST, lots of photos of my fave rock musicians ensued. Made me glow, thanks guys!
2. Woke up to Jasper having his worst seizure yet, full body. Dan eased him out of it.
3. Unlike last year at work, there were no signs on my office door or flowers in my office. I did have nice emails and ecards.
4. Just like last year, I had to do Freshman Orientation, needy kids this time too.
5. I got b-day text messages from KBM, M, and Wake!
6. The academic advising crew took me to Ruby Tuesday for lunch.
7. I was late for my own lunch due to needy kids at orientation
8. Matt and I bitched about Sirius while waiting for Orientation kids
9. First song I listened to on ipod in morning- "The Good in Everyone"
10. My co-worker who was out for surgery came back for my lunch. Great to see her!
11. Had RT salad bar, second to Marie Calender in Salad bars IMO.
12. Drove golf cart-love that thing!
13. Co-workers sang to me at RT.
14. My pal, PPF called, told her she didn't have to sing
15. Tony left message, he was supposed to go to 4 Peaks at 6am, based on VM, he may have!!
16. Had mini-work crisis, had to go see Dean, all worked out fine.
17. Had call from idiot incoming frosh mom, "My Johnny this.." "MY Johnny that.."
18. Spent last hour at work final editing Bay Window Chpter 3-5.
19. Took out on of my very favorite lines becuase it was all knowing and nothing else follows that point of view. Still sad to remove it
20. Dan finally called, he had fell asleep and panicked to run to grocery store to get cake and flowers about 10 min before I got home.
21. Had to go straight to dinner at Fogo E Brasa, a Brazilian Steak place
22. Collins clan didn't seem to like Fogo like Dan and I do.
23. Bill was $375! Yikes, I will never hear end of that!
24. It was YUM, meats were tasty and rare plus They had shrimp!
25. Dan got me dozen roses, pack of gum,and a snoopy card. He already got me a new race jacket at the CSK's 2 wks ago.
26. J & S have new foster child at dinner, they maybe able to adopt him, maybe soon we will have 3 nephews.
27. Hunter ran straight past his mom to give me a hug first at dinner.
28. MY ipod played a nice selection of Harlequin, GT, Sloan, GB's and Posies for my day.
29. Watched dvd of Collins clan trip to dunes last week, proof that Dan was jumping my quad.
30. Blew out number 39 candles on my Chocolate cake (Crowded House) Made same wish I always do..someday it will come true!
31. Opened gifts, money from Mom & Dad Collins for NS trip.
32. Gifts From Missy, Travis and Hunter- Lil fridge for my office plus Dessert perfume and powder (Missy knows so well what I look at in stores!)
33. Gifts from Jody, Sue and Matthew - Posie flower jewelery, purple and black shirts that I opened up to find Sloan decal ON! LMC stunned! PLUS Maple Music gift certificate!
34. Showed Missy and Sue my SMB b-day thread
35. Hunter served me my birthday cake and ice cream.
36. Went to restroom, came out to M & S pulling me into kids bedroom
37. World War 5 erupted between Collins boys and their parents. I left, Dan didn't come home until midnight.
38. Opened gifts from Nina at home, cried how much I miss my family, called PPF to keep me occupied and not as depressed as I was getting. (Thanks ;))
39. Della and Jasper got in fight over bone, Dan got bit by Della. Went to bed. The End.

Election Day - Arcadia

2006-03-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

Observations Day:

Spring break around these parts making it very quiet-love it! I have orientations three days this week but fortunately they now end by noon. Last year we were lucky if we got back to office by 6pm. Ash and Wasef leave for SXSW today! Oh the memories there! I will have to blog that this week. They are so lucky; nearly every newer Canadian band is playing this year plus Sam Robert and Jon Auer! I told them if The Blaze was sending them, it was advisor orders that they must see at least one Canadian band. I know Wasef will, we'll see if Ash does-JK!

I booked our hotel in New Glasgow, NS yesterday. I have my eye on a lodge style place for our night in Cape Breton. I need to check with Missy, she and Hunter went to Sea World. I should have all reservations done by this weekend. Once that is done, I just need to save like crazy!

While Dan went dune riding this past weekend, I spend hours editing. I did do a few household chores as I always get sort of guilty if I don't do something else. It was so weird how I avoided editing at first because NOW I love it. I am so happy finding the little things that needed tweaking. I still need a grammar master to be sure. I am enjoying content cleaning, not comma usage! Oddly I still think I like the very first chapter the least. I need to find just one or two little sparks to make me satisfied with it. I struggle with introductions to characters I notice, like um...the main ones..

On Friday I got something I won on ebay that is rather unbelievable. I won a radio station compilation from Q104 (where Elise get's her first job of course) It has TWO Haywire songs on it I have NEVER heard before. 20 years later (ugh that sounds so horrible) 1986, my favorite year of Canadian music! I always remember being at the mall in London,ONT at Sam the record man searching for a list of bands that included Eye Eye, Glass Tiger and Haywire. Then my boyfriend at the time surprised me by showing up at that mall, while I was in that store. He had just gotten to London from Iowa. (We were there for a drag boat race. I'll have to think hard to remember how he figured out I was at the mall)

Tempe is the dumbest town known to man. They now have construction on Apache and University. Last week it took me an hour to get to work! I have rethought my approach. I have to get up earlier now, damn them and I actually take the freeway to work! This is for like the next two years. I have never, ever wanted to be one of those people who sit in traffic everyday. I have avoided it for all of my working years until now. GRRRRR

Oh yeah, I am turning 39 this week. I haven't really thought too much about my birthday. I am not upset about age or anything. Like I said last year, it was my mom who make sure to make my birthday special every year so it just becomes a day where I miss her, not like I don't suffer from that every day anyway. Dan tries, I know he does. Anyway, I'd like to go out to dinner but it will be tough this year with it being on a Friday. I need to think of a place that no one would think of to go to on St. Patrick's day (like Chinese or something) LMC, successful at 39 years of avoiding green beer ;)

I was thinking that I have been listening to XM 52 every day since Wake discovered they were playing all Canadian music. Everyday! I can not believe the amount o new bands I have discovered thanks to that and C & J's show. Oh and I am STILL having problems with my Sirius receiver. It rained Saturday (first time since Oct 18, like 145 days or something) anyway; the satellite wouldn't work, because it rained??? If it were not for C & J's show, I would tell Sirius where they can stick their satellite radio.

Dan suggested he and I go to Washington DC to see all the museums. I have to go to a convention in Nov at Syracuse. We started talking about it as he asked me if I wanted him to go with me. I told him he would be bored in NY but maybe we could go somewhere after. Then he suggested we meet in DC. (Soul City-Partland Bros is on) I think this would be a great idea for us to finally have a vacation. Don't think I didn't try for Toronto though LOL! No, I hope we do it, it would be a great vacation. (Me, vacationing in a US city nowhere near the Canadian border-unbelievable! :))

"Music is my aeroplane"

2006-03-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, with a tiny tear in my eye, I clicked accept on the reservations for a flight to Halifax, Nova Scotia via Continental airlines. 10 days, 9 nights to a destination that will be the farthest I will have ever traveled from home. Melissa is super excited; we spent last Sat plotting out where we will be each night so we can book hotels. Nova herself, who I met 20 years ago, calling herself Nova Scotia on the air is already booked on a flight and will join us for the last 4 days. This weekend I will finish booking the hotels as Missy and I will be hanging the first half of the trip in New Glasgow with my pal Jay who is helping us plan some day tripping to PEI and Cape Breton. I couldn't help but marvel at what a journey this novel has led me on in some many ways. On the Tuesday of the trip, we have deemed it "Bay Window" day, we are going to hit many of the locations I placed my characters in. (Except Peggy's Cove which we will save for when Nina gets there)

The iceberg DJ just said he went to see Jeff Martin of Tea Party at the Mod Club in TO last week and that Loverboy played after him. He said they did new material and said "they still have it, goods new stuff." When they were on the "Hit me baby one more time" show last summer, Reno seemed to be having a tough time singing.

Until the trip, not only do I need to keep saving dough (I haven't bought a CD in a few months!) I have been so swamped at work, ebb and flow...many times in this blog I joked about not having much work to do; now I am getting killed with three big projects all at once while still maintaining things like the radio station, the CV kids activities and teaching. The big three stomach churners are orientation; the summer broadcast high school deal (that is officially mine now, last year I was assisting) and finding 40 freshman to live in Cronkite Village next year in a month. They changed the deadline from May 1 to April 1 so I am pulling my hair out to find the right 40 incoming frosh in a short time. I have been getting a mailer ready for the last two days and personally calling leads all over the place to lure them in.. After school gets out, I have 40 kids and the summer deal is over, I will be able to breathe! And then I will leave for NS (think I will need it??)

Editing is going a little better with Bay Window. I have been kinda sick this week, missed work Tuesday and just laying low trying to kick it out of me. It has been a good chance to read and do a casual edit. I am enjoying it now and not afraid to pull poor sentences and stuff that was frivolous. I plan to rewrite a couple early scenes this weekend as Dan is heading to the Dunes. I will certainly do some chores but my main plan for the weekend is to edit (oh and those 8 hours I spend listening to those guys on the radio.

Dan wants me to go watch a show called I love Toys on VH1 so I am going to go check it out.
Jason Collett is on the radio! Maybe I will be seeing him in a few weeks. I love this song- "I'll bring the sun" (last CD I bought come to think of it!)

I have no idea how to get rid of the double post prior! Now the same DJ is talking about his My Space page. I will have to check it out later, I have been collecting bands on "jasper's" My Space. It is kinda fun, I thought Jon was crazy when he told me to set one up last year-that Jon he is always a head of the curve! I still think Jasper is the only dog on my space with his own email address! ;) You can write Jasper or Wicket, Jasper (at) millercollinsracing.com or Wicket (at) Della doesn't have her own yet -LOL! We're talking about a dog that ate a razor this week and we had to rush her to emergency to have her x-rayed for it in her belly. She was fine, no razor...dumb Bassett hound...;)

YHZ, here we come!

2006-03-05T09:49:00.001-08:00

Darn old work has been keeping me from blogging-hee but this week I am grateful for work as I finally found out the fate of CV. All is well and CV will continue-Yeah! I have a ton more work to do before April to get it filled. Anyway, work is good plus dumb old orientations started again this week, I am scheduled for all of them except when the high school institutes are and when I go to Nova Scotia.

Speaking of said trip, Plans are really taking shape and within a day or two..I will have plane tickets! I certainly have been focusing my energies on research and plans. I always said I should have been a travel agent (although they are useless now thanks to the internet) Looks like we are flying with a layover in Newark and leaving a day sooner so as to not lose a day in travel there. Nina has her flight and hotel booked already. I need to make a few different reservations in the different towns we will be in before she arrives. It is becoming more a reality, which is making me sooo excited!

Letter number four on the C & J show last night, I am such a DORK! I just like to write and they just read um...I say they don't need to read them on the air. I always wrote letters to Ken Posie too, just fun..oh well, I need to lay off...but it was fun. Jay Sloan has so much of the same music taste as myself, I enjoy commenting on it. Today he was talking about how he can't get into a band if the singer isn't good/sweet sounding, which anyone who knows me has been true forever!

I have been doing some reading of Bay Window since some of it I haven't read in a few months. Not much editing still, Missy says I am overanalyzing it and worrying about it too much. I think it is not very fun. Although, I think I am going to take my very favorite scene and rewrite entire thing for fun and to clean it up. Some rewrites need to wait until I can make some NS impressions.

Not much more than work and passing out early lately. Oh, I did become an SMB legend last week which is yet another piece of evidence that I have lost all my social skills and entered dorkdom. Nah, I love it, I always had friends all over the country, this is another chance to meet other music people which has always been fun, I wonder about my old Posies pals but I fear getting started on their message board.. I thought I had fun observations for this blog but forgot them all now. Will work on that, after I nap ;)!

2006-03-05T09:49:00.000-08:00

Careless Memories

2006-02-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

First off today, you may note above magazine inclusions I have published here, wanna hear the wildest part to both of these. Until this week, I swear I have never seen either of these before. I have a pretty good memory (debatable this week also) but both these name in prints did not look the least bit familiar. Let's explain how these came up. After last week's C & J show, I started thinking I was at 1992 SXSW so I looked up my concert list and it said I went to a "Canadian band showcase" while there. Oh no...It did not say what bands and I start thinking, I could NOT have been at a Sloan show and not remember it , could I? I decide to find the program for that SXSW. I have my SXSW, CMJ, NMS etc programs together, but guess which one isn't there... So I am driven and obsessed as usual. I go to the race room and dig under the bed. (bin full of my Drive through playlists!) Under the bed bins full of old school reports, playlists from various radio gigs, etc.. Then the second bin was full of old magazines, even that old mag "Song hits" that just had lyrics to popular songs. I found a treasure trove of Canadian magazine as one can imagine. Hence where I found this letter above. That was from 1995. My bugged eyed obsession that night colminated with me scanning Sloan pictures until 1 in the morning. Do I worry myself- YES. But why can't I remember who I saw at this showcase at all? I know I went with an ex-jerk that year which may be why..I am wishing for rewind so bad in my memory files.

Friday we went to a lunch at work, came out of it to leave and the golf cart was gone...mini panic for about an hour as to whether it got stolen. I would die if that had been true. Fortunately, security dorks moved it instead of leaving a note or ticket that I was parked in the wrong place. Yikes! A Cronk school secretary (who I think would kind of look like Elise would) found it for me because I had to give ten bizillion tours that afternoon.

Yesterday we went to Firebird for CSKs. I was fine until the Super Stockers started coming to the lanes, just the sight of the lanes and the sound of an open header Chevy motor got me very upset. It may have helped. Dan seems more determined to do it soon but we'll see...will my motor get placed in the car before Chinese Democracy is released? Dan bought me my b-day gift early, a new, much too $$ new race jacket. I needed it as my old one is stiff (I think it wasn't supposed to go to the dry cleaner as many times as I sent it with mom) I better still be racing for the money spent on new jacket (and I didn't get red!!) It was great to see my pals, I haven't seen Ryan or Lonnie since Oct! I also got to see Mark Oswald, my old favorite NHRA driver, he is crewing for a new driver. That made me happy!

Missy is going with me to NS! We spent Friday night finding hotel and researching airfares. We booked hotel, we already have rental car. We now just need hotel in New Glasgow and enough money to purchase plane tix. We found a decent flight on Continental that has lay over in Newark. The only other good option is Air Canada through Toronto but lay over is longer and it says terminal change, not sure if that means another wait in customs, etc.. Much as I would love to got to TO airport, guessing the Continental one will make more sense for us. I know it seems vain sounding but she is excited to see the places I wrote about and help me do the rest of my research. I need all the help I can get! Plus, bless her heart; she said she has never been on a trip where it has no family visiting involved. I am pleased to be the one to take her, even though technically I am family.

And speaking of the old novel, I also started editing this week-finally! By the end of the week, I realized I prefer skipping around on this task as opposed to going chapter by chapter...I need to go where the mood strikes me, not force things in areas I have not thought out yet. So I am more excited to do it now, plus I enjoy reviewing the research. All a fantastic experience, just as usual, things get in the way like trying to plan a garage sale, house cleaning..damn domestics ;)

I had two Cronkite Village dreams, a good indicator that my worries appear in my dreams.. I am worried, no decisions yet...more gray hair appears on my head.

C & J are playing a band called the mountain goats, that wins for worst band name of the week. And so goes the life of this red headed nutty gal in AZ....

MOEV rhymes with Stove

2006-02-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning, TF race #2 day and here I sit in the office listening to Chris and Jay. Rough weekend to say the least. Oddly at peace with not racing this morning. Maybe due to the Cinderpop on the radio, the cool breeze coming in the window or just my lack of sleep. Not to over dramatize but I do wonder when and if I will race again. Next weekend is the Nationals here in Phx, I am sure I will go Friday afternoon at least. Going to a national event has never been the same without mom. We'll see what kind of mood I am in next weekend. Will probably go Fri and Sat.

I have been pulling out all sorts of goodies to garage sale. Next weekend I will probably price the stuff while watching the race on TV Sunday night. Someday I will actually run Super Street and actually be racing it-right? Maybe I am suffering more than I let on.

Jay Sloan just mentioned Phil Seymour and Dwight Twilley on the show while talking about Cinderpop- Oh my!! Sigh, Jay knows his power pop! I think I followed that Cinderpop has a former member of Moev. Now that is cool, "Head Down" is still one of my favorite Canadian songs!

Ran into Scotty and Robin last week. They agreed to do The Blaze guest DJ week which is cool because I thought Robin had basically moved to NY but turns out he says he won't really be moving for a couple years yet. He was telling Missy and I about the recording of the new record and that Al Cafaro didn't like the mixes so they are going to have a different mixing team take it on. He said it may just end up being Jesse. He seemed bewildered why they didn't like the mixes at the label because John Hampton did they and John has done all their stuff. He said they had a great vibe recording the record. What a music year this potentially is, a new Blossoms record after 10 years, Jon Auer will finally put out a real solo record and then a new Sloan record?!?! I also talked to Scotty about finishing up some of my questions for my research. He says he will come by The Blaze so we can.

Dan watched the Sloan DVD with me yesterday (He put it on to get me to hang out with him LOL) He has never seen what they look like before I can not even repeat what he said to me after watching 500 Up.

I am very excited I am going to LA in April- I so need little mini vacations to get me through life. Work has had it's share of moments as of late so I welcome diversions and welcome a chance to get me out of the house lately. My hermit status has been returning lately. I want to be out this year, travel, see bands, experience more! I am going to see Jason Collett and Jon Brion which should be amazing. Andrew tells me David Usher is playing in LA but it is a Tuesday night, I can't with CV class on Wednesday. I need all my wits about me for class day with the villagers. I had to yell "Shut Up" in class this past week- that is ridiculous. I have to yell shut up to college students to get them to listen. Hence I need travel this year! Moving along with my NS plans also, I have the vacation days officailly off now, planning to purchase plane ticket soon. It looks like Missy is going too, she is excited to travel somewhere without having any obligations. She said she has never travelled anywhere just to see it. I am glad to be the one to take her, there is always that part of me who wanted to be a travel guide.

I have continued to get all my research for Bay Window in one place. It seems like it will be the best way for me to find what I need as I edit. I have yet to edit, I fear this maybe because I don't like change. I am worried I will lose the orginal which I will always value. So I am divising ways to edit without losing the original version. That maybe my hold up, I think about the changes I want to make everyday but feel like I need a huge shove to get to it. I am close, I think.. Hopefully once I start I will emerse myself in it the same way the original writing took me over. It is so silly because I have a ton of discs with the original on it and Missy has the entire thing in hard copy. My mind confuses me sometimes. One builds up crazy odd defenses.

Oh, Robin said they still don't know if they got the INXS tour or not. INXS is like a teeneybop band now because of JD which is just too weird. I guess it would be good for the Blossoms to be in front of big crowds. I am sure the my age women still go see INXS too, they should like the Blossoms theoretically also. Although in my life I went from hardcore INXS to the Blossoms, I am not so sure it is a good match. He did say they may do some stuff with Blues Traveller too which kinda makes more sense but less visible for them. This photo on this blog is one I found on ebay and I have NEVER seen it before.

OK now I am Pissed, my satellite just went out, it did last night also...I am so calling Sirius this week. I have a stupid antenna on my roof and it is still doing this. My XM antenna it sitting on top of the boombox with never a problem. Grr!

One more thing- In Get Out magazine this week, my pals over there have lists of power pop bands of the decades listed next to an article about Nada Surf and Supergrass coming to town this week. Under the 90's, the last two nicely typeset together were The Posies and Sloan- I felt a nod from the Get Out gang!
I must disagree with Jellyfish being in the 80's however, and the 80's were lacking some big boys!

In your letter - REO Speedwagon

2006-02-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

I think I will just send out invitations to my dork mitzvah now. Chris and Jay Sloan read my letter again on their radio show. For those of you who are not keeping count, that is now number 3. I am nearly a regular on the show now. This time I told them to not read it on the air as my Sloan friends were starting to get jealous...sure fire way..so they read it...and it was my dorkiest one yet. See the photo above, I sent it to them to show off my Archies collection because I heard Jay mention something about The Archies. I am now officially embarassed and being inducted into the dork hall of fame. I just like writing people letters, is that so wrong? It has been fun to have something to look forward to listen to on the weekends. I think I now need to take Chris a GI Joe from Dan's bro who builds them. And BLESS that guy who lives with me and my obsessions- Dan got on the roof at 10pm Saturday night because the wind had knocked my Sirius antenna off. I still don't understand how Albert and Tony's Sirius has no problems yet Dan had to now attatch the antenna to the roof to get mine to work.

I think I am going to get my passport tomorrow at the post office as they told me you need one know if you fly into Canada. Fun, I will finally have a passport! The Nova Scotia trip will come up rather quickly, I want everything ready. I spent time searching for more items to garage sale this weekend. I am being good and getting rid of things, I know if I haven't seen or touched the stuff in the 6 years we have lived in the house..it is time to go. I found a box of fireworks I never knew even existed in our house! Dan's from way before we got married. My mom was a master in making use of every space available! Missy always laughs when I say I found things in my house I didn't know existed. That show Clean Sweep is my worst nightmare.

I have three songs from this band Mobile now and I am in love! Need to remember when I do year end list in 2006.

That cruise Dan and I were considering going on is happening soon. I have only one comment, I was right about who may be on that cruise and BOY am I glad we did not book that vacation. I will hold out for Alaska someday! I think I will get Dan to Seattle soon, he brings it up often enough..maybe I can actually get him on a vacation out of this state! (that doesn't have anything to do with: Drag racing, quad riding, family obligations or a band playing) Wait, we could have a band playing couldn't we???

I did a few hours worth of research and prep work for Bay Window this weekend. I have not edited yet but getting ready to. If I want to use a word, and or reference, I need them all in one spot. It is too hard to go, oh what was that flower shop, let me go read that book or find that email. I need all of my research in one place. I think this method will work for me. I bought so many books I would see somethign to use or I have notes from Andrea about places, notes from Lisa, etc.. I need that stuff all together! It is fun researching something you are really interested in! Plus I am learning for where to go and visit while I am there!

Squirrel Chasers and Morning Mayors

2006-02-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

So it is true, Plat's singer Mark Holmes has a radio show on the Edge in Toronto. What a hoot! It is like a dance club style radio show. He sounded distracted (read drunk) and back announced like 10 songs back. He did play something that sounded like him(them?) It was a great tune. Which reminds me, on New Years eve I learned that Gord Deppe has a new band/music out also. Can't remember their name but they played on Canadian TV on NYE. Quite amusing all the way around. Now if Bill Wood were still singing...

I was thinking of Plat and was reminded of WQBR one day. This tall good looking Duran Duran style guy came in the station and he is wearing a Platinum Blonde t-shirt. I think I nabbed Nova and KBM and we squealed all the way to the Huron Hideaway. Not long after Jerry arrived at 'QBR, we went on hayride somewhere in Ann Arbor. I certainly have no recollection of how I lured him but somehow ended up making out with him in the back of C-squared's car on the way back to EMU. KBM was sitting in the front seat, sort of unaware of what was taking place and started asking me my views on the Genesis song on the radio "Turn it on again” It has been a long running joke since then. But alas, Jerry was a Frosh and we were upperclassman.. One day, in our probably two-week relationship, Nova, KBM, Jerry and I were walking to the Hideaway. Jerry started chasing a squirrel or two that were minding their own business. I would guess it was KBM who dubbed him squirrel chaser. I was too embarrassed of my youthful, 12 year old acting frosh beau to continue. Years later, Nova told me she heard him on 89X as a jock. Even a few more years later, we were in Michigan for my dad's funeral and there was Squirrel chaser, hosting some fast paced sports show on TV after the news, like on UPN or something. I was most amused that not only was Squirrel Chaser now on TV but that he aged worse that I had (DOH!)

Tony called me last night, apologized for calling me at home on a Friday night but had to tell me some monumental news. I thought it was about The Blaze, just 'cause he's all business since he has been station manager but it was not! He was telling me that the Filibertos right by the station had gone out. He said he rode by on the bus earlier and saw something on the window and had to go back to see it for sure. It said Long Wong's. I hope it's true and I hope Robin goes back to doing acoustic nights because I am aching to go out but nothing is too interesting around here right now to me. That is great news for our lunching too, I told Tony we had to go there everyday until he graduates! It seems like Tony is the last of my old Blaze crew, not that I don't love the new ones, just the last of that group. Oh that reminds me, Albert got a gig on The Edge, I am glad for him since the horrible crumble of demise that is The Zone now "Free FM.” Stupid “Free FM” even accidentally plays IDs from LA station-such bad talk shows.

Which brings me to Dave Pratt guest speaking to the Village kids this week. What a past blast that was. He got the CV kids asking me what happened those 6 months I spent on the air with him. wink! We had a fine conversation reminiscing about the KUPD days. Plus I was teasing him about that awful building he works in now (where the Zone was) All the crime! So afterwards, via my thank you email, he asked me to write a little something for his book he has coming out. The last chapter is everyone he ever worked with saying a few words, memories of his show. How cool! I am trying to think of the right memory to share. I remember he had mom on the air for something, can't recall what. He was saying as he was writing his book, he wished he had kept a journal. I said I did, he was surprised when I said I used to write down all the bizarre calls I got when I did nights on the Q. Then I told him I wrote a novel about being a "girl on the airwaves” He was kind of stunned, I was just saying it matter of factly. So we told each other we both wanted autographed copies of our first pressings ;) It was kind of fun listening to him speak to the CV kids because most of them had no clue who he was, having just moved to AZ. He charmed their pants off; they are talking up a storm about it on their discussion board.
Looks like TF race number 2 isn't happening for me either, bad place for me right now. I also haven't begun to edit yet, not sure why. I think I needed a break but that doesn't mean I am not eager to dig in. I have all sorts of tiny things to add and some items I am sure I want to cut. That seems to be it around here. Hunter's b-day is tomorrow, 7 already! I love that kid so much! Aunt Leah signing out~!

Compliment? - The Posies

2006-02-09T16:10:00.000-08:00

How to make your day better at anytime or you just need a compliment?

Happy Birthday - Concrete Blonde

2006-02-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

Today is my Danny's b-day. Poor darling woke up with such a bad sinus headache his dad told him not to come to work. I used a cake pan I got for Christmas that allows for you to put a filling inside it. Dan suggested pudding for my first try, but it allows for ice cream filling also! Last year on his b-day, we had our Blaze meeting with the President of ASU, I was so worried then! As Tony said yesterday, "see Leah, nothing ever happened!" I sure hope Dan's headache is gone. I have to work late but his mom is making him Tostadas so he is happy.

Oh that tiny domestic side of me appeared for the last two days. Gone again I believe, except I am gathering goodies to sell in the garage sale Missy and I are having. I need to part with some of my JUNK to get myself to Nova Scotia. The hotels are not yielding any cheaper results yet. I am also trying to figure out things to sell to get Missy to Nova Scotia also. I was thinking of selling all my old t-shirts on ebay but I am not sure I want to take on the task of selling on ebay right now.

I have been pondering a lot of things as of lately, nothing I can really go into but disturbing nonetheless. I just need to get at editing "Bay Window" to escape reality. If I had a running RACE CAR maybe I wouldn't be so distracted as of late. I feel like I am over the top obsessed as of late and very annoyed with somethings happening around me.

The village continues to create drama around here, all sorts of behind the scences crap this week. Still no decision on how many for next year. One got kicked out of the dorm last week, it is always something. We hired a new Production director at The Blaze last week. He is the kid who got me the Sloan autographed shirt at Coachella. He and I enjoy talking music quite often. I am just glad we figured out that issue quickly at the station. Paid for our Promo director to go to SXSW yesterday. Jon Auer is playing it along with a load of hot Canadian indie bands and The Plimsouls-weird! I should do a memories from SXSW blog sometime. I hope she has as amazing a time as we did when we went years ago!

Some random music thoughts:
The self titled Loverboy record is a full on NEW WAVE record except maybe two tracks (Turn me loose being one of them) I have not heard that record in years and the tracks come on and I have to remind myself it is Loverboy because those tracks are FAR different than the band that went on to "Working for the weekend"

I can not wrap myself around The Arcade Fire or Stars. I hear them so much on my XM Canadian channel. More ones I love include Cinderpop, Quinzy and Sleeper Set Sail. Oh and I like In Flight Safety. I have a list so long for buying records! City and Colour has been my favorite of all the new artists I have discovered from Satellite radio. Dan says it is my Dashboard style band, I agree!

I have been listening to The Edge in Toronto, they have good and bad points but overall I hae enjoyed it. They have had excellent guests most every afternoon. Still an issue with the amount of commercials compared to all the other Canadian stations I listen to. I still listen to BOB in the morning but the stuff I wade through to get to the occasional GT or HMS is grating on my nerves lately. (I DO NOT need to hear "Paradise by the dashboard light" everyday OR ever again if I have a choice!) I keep forgetting to try a new station in Edmonton that Chester told me about.

There is some rumor about Sloan playing in Vancouver in April, seems tempting unless there are a bunch of bands on it as it is some type of festival. Andrew said he had heard of the fest and that Matt has played it before but didn't know much more about it. Dan said I could go if I wanted but I hate festivals if the band is not the headliner, I want a full set if I am going to travel.

Pratt is speaking to my class today, should be interesting. Now that will be a trip down memory lane too. Hopefully I can get home at a decent time for Danny's b-day. That's about the excitement right now...pretty slim I know!

They may have lost but look at treasure of articles for me!

2006-02-05T21:21:00.000-08:00

Like this one too:
UNDERCOVER MAN: Terry Pfeufer, wandering through the Marriott hotel wearing a Steve Largent jersey, looked like any other Seahawks fan -- but he wasn't.

He lives in Pittsburgh, born and raised, exposed to pro football during the Steelers' glory years of the 1970s.

As Pfeufer, 38, explains it, he was more interested in adopting the expansion Seahawks than climbing on the Pittsburgh bandwagon. He liked Jim Zorn and Largent, preferred the Seahawks' colors.

"My father is a big Steelers fan, a big fan of Franco Harris," Pfeufer said. "I'm happy to inform him that Franco retired from the Seahawks."

Each year, he makes a pilgrimage once or twice to Seattle to watch a game. He buys souvenirs off eBay. He owns a signed Zorn jersey, photos of Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander and former players Shawn Springs and Chad Brown, and lithographs of several Seahawks players. He has Direct TV to watch all of Seattle's games.

At his suburban Coraopolis home, he usually raises a Seahawks flag on Sunday during the season. He didn't do it this week. He's planning on putting the place up for sale, and doesn't want it damaged.

Pfeufer is in Detroit enjoying the Super Bowl festivities with a friend, but hasn't landed a ticket, and doesn't expect to.

He naturally gets ribbed in Pittsburgh about his Seahawks affiliation. He's heard a lot of insults lately.

"It's almost like being back in college, when you hear somebody say something about your girlfriend or a buddy you don't particularly care about," he said.

"It gets sensitive when you're a Seahawks fan."

Oh and I LOVE this one:

And their
kids go to college together!

Spirit of '76!

Hosted by Mark Holmes?!

2006-02-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

I need to go home after a LONG two days! I am listening to The Edge in Toronto and they were talking about some club night at the Mod Club. The DJ said- Hosted by Mr. Mark Holmes. Could it be? Yesterday they had a member of Chalk Circle on to talk about the 20th Century Masters released. I am jaw drop that my old faves get mention on a station that plays too much Coldplay. It gets better for me! I look up Plat on google to find a nice photo for this blog. I look at this Plat site and the guy has a photo of his ticket to a show. Plat and Eye Eye Sept 18, 1986 in...HALIFAX! Yes! My research for the novel falls in my lap sometimes! (Elise mentions the only concert she has ever been to is Platinum Blonde) YES! Must go home..will try to blog again soon! Now, who wants to go to Toronto with me to see Mark Holmes host a club night? Maybe Bill Wood owns the club? and Andy Ryan will drop in for drinks?

Photograph- Verve Pipe (not that god awful Nickelrazorbacks)

2006-01-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

There is my example of a photo wall; I have room for more too. I like to be surrounded by visual stimulation and displaying the ones I love. I like wall photos better as I have enough to dust then to add a whole shelf of stand up frames.

Saturday I was floating after my critique session with the writing professional. I certainly didn't go to it looking for justification but she was so positive with me I left with renewed energy. She gave me some great editing tips to bring down the word count without worrying about pulling full scenes. She also said to stop worrying about word count! She said I got everything needed in an ending, and said it was well written. Actually we had an interesting convo about ending to early without tying up ever end but I like the last scene too much. She indicated she was for hire for grammar editing which is excellent, I will need that desperately. Missy has started re-reading from the beginning and assisting me in checking that all the story meshes, things I may have missed and what the reader my question. We wrote down some little things not needed and a few things I need to add. I am ready to start editing and excited to do it!

I did not go to the time trials which bummed me out a bit on Sunday. Racing is really calling out to me which is making me impatient and cranky. Somehow I need to motivate Dan; he admits he has no interest in cars anymore which leaves me some what in a rough spot.

Tony has a German radio station on in our office; they are playing OLP and played several other Canadian artists earlier. Cancon loved the world over! I heard One to One earlier on BOB but remembered that they are from Ottawa. Andrew is back from Germany but I haven't talked to him yet to hear if he saw The Posies in Regensburg.

Nina and I are getting closer to booking our flights and hotels in Nova Scotia. It doesn't look like she will be there with me the entire time but I am fine with that- I need a lot of time to take notes. It will come up quickly; I am immersed in Nova Scotia books and maps. I did the same when I went to Montreal.

Not much else on my mind today. I taught well today which is always something I stress about. Kinda sleepy, I love talking to my SMB pals late night but my old woman need for sleep is kicking in.

It's all too much - Blossoms

2006-01-27T20:34:00.000-08:00

OK I am starting to hate that Much has her as a VJ, I have never even seen her but I don't want her sharing my name! I Love Leah.com-why didn't I register that domain name? Dan says I'm way hotter but he clearly needs glasses to the Hotness that is Leah Miller Canadian style. I am sad! My KUKQ fans never built me a site. It just occured to me I am glad Sloan boys did not read my name as Leah Miller on their radio show or I would be connected to her cheese factor! I stole the website from Ross, thanks for making me laugh so hard out loud! Here's fun quote from said website-

Welcome fellow Leah Lovers, to the first ever Leah Miller fan site! Here you will find many people, boys and girls, from all over the country (Canada obviously) who...just can't seem to hide their love for Leah.

Now on to life as we know it for AZ's Leah Miller. Usual work junk but huge news at like 4:45pm! They banned the vans! No more driving the 15 passenger vans as they are no longer legal for ASU to use- there was a motion to get rid of them due to some roll over deaths. So two days after I had to drive one! YEAH!

I spent most of afternoon reading a thread on a messsage board called locals that seems to be about things people do in their local area. I think that is called The Peacemakers board in these parts, anyway...It was about growing up in the 80's in Halifax indie scene and did I hit pay dirt on research! Correct record store names, streets where kids hung out, club names, shows my characters could have gone to-it was something I was missing. I wrote all my clubs as Tempe style because that is what I know but I can add some names that fit now. I realize I will not have the complete real feel to them but I am not writing a documentary on the Haifax music scene, The story is just set there. I wrote two pages of names and notes-it was something I was missing in my research! Andrea went to Dalhousie but she didn't frequent the alternative scene. I had lunch with her today, she had some more tidbits for me too. I guess beyond editing, I am still completing research. I have my critique session tomorrow,I need to jot some questions for her tonight when I finish this.

I want to say that Something Happens is my most underrated band in my favorites. Everytime they come on the ipod, I melt at Tom's voice. I have to find my interview of them because I had them play "Daisyhead" acoustic. That is probably in the airchecks tub under the bed- that is a full day task in itself to sort through. I wonder whatever became of them. I wonder if they have a message board- just funning!

KBM and I just had dinner, we had another topic to have me blog but I forget what it was. I will address the one she suggested: Do you have photos in your wallet?
I do not, I used to until I went out so much I feared losing them. I often think I should keep a photo of Big Red in my purse as I always seem to answer what I do as in drag racing. Especially because I wear the SS necklace, I have to always explain what an SS is. Dan does not have any photos in his wallet either, when we were dating he had a picture of me in front of my car in the visor of his truck. Now he has a photo of Wicket in the visor. The dog replaced me... When I was in High School, the photos in my wallet were of Loverboy and Jim Zorn's football cards. Somethings never change for me. Fangirl for life?

On the wall as you enter our house are photos, a whole wall of them. I will have to take a pix later. Anyway, our discussion about photos in wallets led to whether you have family photos on the walls of your home. I even have a photo of mom holding me as a baby that my dad(Sam) carried in his wallet. Karen told me she doesn't have photos of her family up in her house, nor does her parents have many if any. My grandma had a wall as did my mom. So is it something of a habit handed down? Missy has one. My other sis in law only had pix of her family until Dan's bro complained. I made sure I had lots of Dan's family too although not as many photos exist on his side. One further thought on my part was that many brides only seem to have wedding photos on their walls, maybe because they are professionally taken but I believe there are many other special photos outside of that day! I think I came from a huge line of phototakers!

So add a comment- Do you have wallet photos or family photos on your wall?

Snowsuit Sound

2006-01-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

Quick blips today!

I found this photo yesterday on flickr, what a find! Something sexy about winter clothing with me- don't ask me why? I miss it? I always loved jackets. I wear one about twice a year now. I had weird dreams about searching Flickr after. Oh the subconscious!

Driving van to The Edge in a little bit-ugh! Dreading it so much today for some reason. Not even driving very far today. Just building my dread up for some reason.

Jay Sloan said he loved the Bay City Rollers on a recent show. I heard "You made me believe in magic" on my ipod (yes I have BCR on my ipod) and decided it would be a great tune for the "Bay Window" soundtrack. Maybe Sloan would cover it for the soundtrack- LOL

Speaking of- Missy finished reading! She was making me cry just telling me how she felt about the ending. She said "Now that was some powerful writing" She said she didn't want to sound like she didn't enjoy it before but she said my style changed in the end. (Not sure how to correct that) I think it is because I moved things along quicker in the end. She said I dealt with the conflict in the perfet way and that she cried twice! Sorry I am just excited, she was moved which meant I moved one person- success in that alone! KBM says I can not celebrate being "done" until I finish editing. Going to the critique session this Saturday.

Time Trials are this weekend- very exciting. Would be better if I was racing it but you know how that goes... Plan to go hang out on Sunday. Research for next novel right???

KBM and her sis have a blog topic for us to discuss next time, consider this? Do you have photos of your family in your wallet, on your walls at home etc? Will discuss this topic along with women who only have photos of their wedding day on their walls at home.

Seahawks are going to the Superbowl!

2006-01-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite people in the world-Jim Zorn! The 'hawks just won! They were showing old Zorn to Largent footage too! Yee Haw~!!!!

A little less sixteen candles, a little more "touch me"

2006-01-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

I am not a Fall Out Boy fan by any means but Dan pointed out that song as a good one for the Bay Window soundtrack. The lyrics match some scenes, especially reference to your parents porch. I went to Changing hands and bought 6 more "How to" writing/editing/selling a novel books. (used of course!) Certainly that implies I am going to try but not really..just looking for editing tips more so right now. I turned the ending over to Missy, so I eagerly await her response. Dan took me to Red Lobster to celebrate finishing, which was awesome.(combo of king and snow crab legs!) Maybe he took me to dinner to celebrate my no longer being attached to my laptop. No really, he has been incredibly supportive!

Took Hunny Hunter to golfland last night. I practiced stuff with my new camera while they played. I was fascinated by the amount of kids who go to the arcade there to play Dance Dance Revolution. I am terribly uncoordinated so I can't even imagine what it takes to do what they were doing. One girl showed up in knee pads. They had ones you do with your arms too but that one looks sillier.

Missy and I wore ourselves out going garage saling Saturday. We hadn't gone in a few months but we didn't have very good luck yesterday. Had fun anyway. Bless her for listening to all my babble!

I made Dan and Hunter hurry up at Golfland's arcade (I did play centipede and get on the high scores) Had to get home to listen to Chris and Jay Sloan's radio show at 10 pm. Made it home five minutes late-hahaha! I was just hanging on SMB, downloading the putt-putt pix and they start reading my second letter! I was stunned as I wrote it the day after they read the first one to remind them they didn't actually tell their favorite cds of 2005. I am most excited that when(if) I get to see Sloan again, I can introduce myself to Jay and maybe he will remember my letters. I really would love to talk a little power pop music with him as he knows his stuff. I think he and Sugar High Sean talked a lot at the Tempe show. I haven't seen Sean much to ever get a chance to ask him. I need to ask Sean if he has Sloan pix of when he and Adrian went to Tucson to see Sloan. anyway...I got my letter read again - kinda blushing but mainly very excited.

Pix is of Peggy's Cove in the winter. Nina and I have been looking closer at plane flights, looks like last week of June is set, although we almost switched our plans to May. The sooner I get to NS the better in trying to finish Bay Window.

How to write and sell your first novel

2006-01-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

I have been scouring my books I bought at Changing Hands as to how to edit. I liked some of the ideas I have seen so far. I have been carrying said "How to" book with me under my arm as if it is the bible. I have yet to do anything more since I finished but had some additional thoughts in the shower this morning to add to the ending. Like I should add anything, I did a word count this morning. 200,789. Holy too many words! I am still savoring the accomplishment of saying I am done. And I am still suffering like I had to say goodbye to some close, wonderful, colorful friends. Such a journey! And the journey isn't over as I have every intent of continuing my research for accuracy plus my trip to Nova Scotia will come up quickly. I so want to spend that trip slowly exploring and taking in everything. I refuse to have the trip be fast paced or it will not serve its purpose. If I want to sit at a picnic table and pull out the laptop, that is what I will do.

I feel like I am having a bit of a life shift again. Not an epiphany, just a mind opening feeling lately like I have been more open to new ideas, new style of music and exploration. I resolved to not miss a concert if I want to see it. I feel like I am getting some grief for meeting new people but that has been so refreshing for me. I have even taken to spending more time listening to some of my student’s music they suggest. I don't know, seems like 2006 is a new discovery year for me.

I witnessed something creepy first day of class. I was walking to my car and a fella approached this girl walking in front of me in the parking lot. Handed her a card and asked if she was new to Arizona because he did student tours of places like the Grand Canyon, etc... It just felt and looked very messed up to me. She stopped and listened which worried me more. I have been wrestling with the concept in my mind of meeting strangers. I have done it all my life and really never ran into anyone with ended up being a freak. I met so many listeners, heck two of my best buds were listeners-Steve and Andrew. I also met many a Posies fan. So strangers aren't always scary but you just need to be wise and smart.

The Village kids were crazy yesterday as per expected. I decided to not teach both classes on Wed. It is too hard with needing to get the vans, bbqs with the dean, etc... I need Wednesdays free for the village kids. OK just a life programming note there. It is certainly different already with the students return. I am glad to have students dropping by, chatting asking for what classes to take.. I definitely spent too much time alone over break, need to be needed I guess.

My eyes keep puffing up, driving me nuts. I forget what my sis in law suggest it could be. Maybe lack of sleep? No, she had a name for it.

Dan is supposed to be taking me out to Montes for dinner tonight to celebrate finishing (totally his idea!) but I can not find him and it is 4 pm.

Guess things are sorta quiet right now.. so I will not babble any further. A bunny sitting on cds seems to reflect my week- (wink)

Super Drop

2006-01-16T23:16:00.000-08:00

At 12:07am on January 17, 2006 I finished Bay Window. I'm balling my eyes out like usual and not sure how to feel but I did it. 7 months and probably around 200,000 words. I think I am just numb. I think I will just relax a little before I decide what to do next. I just did something I have been attempting to do since I was 14. I can't believe it, I really can't.......

Piece of the puzzle found

2006-01-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

Today was bizarre in some ways but it is Friday the 13th with a full moon. First thing this morning I had to welcome the new Spring semester students to the Cronkite school. While waiting for them to show up I hear what sounds like tap dancing outside the Union. I look out the window and there is a circle of about 20 High School students all dressed in black. Turns out there were high school debate teams on campus today. They had these incredible rituals they did in this circle, from hand slapping, tap dancing to shouting style warm ups (Aluminum Titanium over and over was one of them) Then each person in the circle led them in some style of chant or arm movement exercise. Their advisor was the only one not dressed in black and you could see the command she had over their attention. I had slight jealousy over her ability to motivate them. I started thinking I should start doing a circle of the Blaze directors warming up at the retreat. They could chant "That is new Death cab for Cutie on The Blaze"
I am hearing Sloan for the first time on Sirius, as in their music (Obviously I hear the Chris and Jay radio show but I have yet to hear them played) It is on their Iceberg channel, sort of adult alternative Canadian stuff. Weird part is they are playing "The Other Man" and it's a different mix of it. They are opening for The Rolling Stones tonight. Oh and I heard them on XM today too, yeah!
So next on my agenda after greeting the new students was to race back in the nitro powered golf cart to get to the Faculty meeting. I usually don't have to go to those but because I was asked to be on that action team, I had to go. They are a odd group to say the least. I then fired up the cart and Tony, Matt and I went over applications for the specialty shows on the Blaze. That always has some amusement, somebody wanting to do a Billboard Top 40 show was probably the most ridiculous one this semester. MD Matt nearly fainted when they auditioned it starting the show with Carrie Underwood. Think of it this way. "That was Wolf Parade, next on the Top 40 show, see how "My Humps" is doing on the charts" We departed for lunch, had a fine time talking radio (terrestrial and satellite) with Tony and Albert. We were at four peaks and as I went to leave, I saw they had tables set up for a wedding in the back, around the brewing tanks! Now that is a beer lovers wedding. They had all their napkins and matchbooks printed with beer mugs! It is not a nice area back there, the floors are not done and it is always damp, sorta cold-crazy place for a reception!
Back to school, MD Matt and I start talking about SXSW as we usually send a couple of Blaze directors each year (who started that I wonder?) I ask Matt who is playing and about fall over when I see the list. First name I see in the alphabetical order is Jon Auer- of course!! By the time I am to the letter N, I tell Matt that I am taking his spot on the trip if the word Sloan appears in the S. Such randomness like The Plimsouls, Glen Phillips, World Party then all these newer to me bands I have been hearing on XM like Novellero, Jason Collett, and tons of other Canadians (trying to remember off top of my head) No Sloan but I got a bit of a hair to go when I saw Sam Roberts on the bill. Must see what Andrew is doing. I think I tried to talk Andrew into going two years ago when Posies and Big Star were on bill. Andrew is in Germany as I type. How funny is this, the only band playing in the town he is staying while he is there is....The Posies. He has never seen them, I told him he had to go. I also gave him instructions to tell him Dear 23 girl and/or Putt Putt Girl says HI! I think it is this weekend. He is gonna flip when he hears Sam Roberts is playing in the states again.
Now on to why the puzzle piece. Everything came together last night, it fell into place. I had a feeling the way yesterday went, that I would break my slump and find the way to return to writing. I know I always sound crazy but I think divine intervention played a part. I needed to get out of my slump and I think I did. I figured out a piece I needed for a major scene. I was a tad rusty at writing but I got my mind back on the story, found a way to tie it all back together. The way I see it after what I wrote last night is that I may finish this weekend! In fact, I am going to attempt it after I finish this blog. That should be right now-Right? Write!

"Radio, Radio" - Elvis Costello

2006-01-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

I certainly knew yesterday was the end of my easier days. Today I was in meetings all morning, which may be common for some folks but odd around the Cronkite School. The meetings got kinda saucy near the end, I love when heads start butting, as long as I am not involved. I deal with that enough with the Blaze kids (who have a meeting this afternoon) Anyway, I obviously have time to blog so work must not be too demanding yet. I am doing this during lunch though (Like I have to defend or something?) So during the staff meeting the new Dean of the school singled me out as someone he specifically wanted on a committee to study what basics of radio we are teaching our students. Raise arms for a touchdown- I am beaming! All my Blaze kids complain about the lack of radio instruction in their courses and it was my largest complaint back in my days as an undergrad here. I have barily even spoken to the Dean in regards to this which makes me think someone else recommended me to assist. So yes, I am grinning today between that and the meeting kudos Matt and I got for calling all the students on academic probation.
Did I work on Bay Window last night, you ask? Well no, but remember I said barring any unforseen circumstances. I swear I should never use that phrase. Dan and I went to help Tony jump his batteries on his chair that had drained while he was gone for winter break. Funny thing in Dan and I's crazy life, we couldn't get at the battery charger without pulling out the trailer so we just went and bought another one. No wonder I stress on bills-hahaha! Actually it is so much smaller than my old charger, it will be way cool at the track (that place I would like to return to soon, hopefully in two weeks, maybe, please!) So anyway, I could have wrote when we got back but it just felt too late to start.
Now I know it is a great day, I just got an email from Nina saying that she went to Mom and Dad's grave today! She said she put some Hydrangas and bird of paradise on for Mom and found a heart shaped rock for my dad. She said it's 55 in Mich and a beautiful day. She said exactly what I felt when I was there, it has an incredible calming affect. Here's what she said:

I always feel good there. Like I know that everything will be ok--I feel a bit more strenght to endure the rough times. I know that Pam is always around but sometimes it feels good to go see her and do something cheery for her and your Dad and grandparents. I found a heart-ish shaped rock and put it on Dad's grave for you. They are with you! They will help you!

You know, my mom just knows, she always knew when I needed it. I wasn't expecting this to become an emotional entry, but Nina's email made me realize things happen with incredible timing in my life.
Nina also agreed to the last week of June for our Nova Scotia trip!
Woo hoo-2006 is going to be a great year, I can feel it ;)

Sucker sticks? I didn't know who Otis Haynes was either, Mod Maid is an idiot this week!

2006-01-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Thrush Hermit

2006-01-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

I got a wild hair about an hour ago to see if I could stay a hermit in my office the entire day, never go upstairs to the office, and never really leave except restroom. I already conned Matt to get my lunch. I haven't called anyone. I have answered the phone because I am not completely avoiding work. Not sure why I am in unsocial mode but I think I am just dreading the large amounts of work and stress the spring semester promises. Today is my last day without any appointments, orientations, students, tasks due, etc... But alas, my plan is foiled by the smart doors man who needs to teach me how to change the keypad code at The Blaze. Damn it! I could almost do it! (And I seem to think I am coming out of my holiday funk??)
Here's something goofy from SMB- try it with your favorite bands
Today I explored My Space for the first time fully. It is like following a linking chain of your past. I found Sugar High's page from Cartwheels from Albert from Jon, it's like the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon thing. You can find people you know through all these other people you know. I am still unsure of the point of it. I understand for musicians but for just friends, you can talk easier via an AIM style than posting tiny messages. I just couldn't believe the musicians I found that I would never think even touched a computer, like Steve Larson. Found a spot for Jon Auer, Scotty J, all sorts of people including Blush. I screwed around with it for a while but I'm still just uncertain why to waste time on it. I guess blogging could be considered an equal time suck (as Kate called it) I have always had a journal of some sort so I don't see that as a time waste. (Although we know how well my re-reading of my journals after 6 years went)
The smart door guy just called-see obligations, I hate 'um! Gotta go! xo Lazy Maid

OK, I'm back, maybe a half hour later with a new theory. Maybe the dungeon office is the reason for my dim view lately. Just sitting over at The Blaze while he worked on the door perked me up. The sun felt so good walking over there too. I just wonder if part of my psyche can be blamed on my dim lighting and lack of windows.

I am not racing this weekend; I am trying to be ok with it. I told Dan I did not want a short term fix, but it means missing the first team race for the third year in a row. I am trying to stay optimistic that I will be racing soon. I have yet to work on Bay Window still. I had a huge headache last night, hoped it would go away after we went to dinner but it didn't. I think tonight is the night, barring an unforeseen circumstances. .

One more funny thing, remember my blog about guitar players with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths? Definitely a Doug and Robin thing! I was looking closer at a picture of Sloan that I have on my office hours and have decided they are sucker sticks, not cigarettes- hahahahaha!

Warning: The surgeon general warns that sucking on any type of sweetened candy on a stick is hazardous to your blood sugar level.

A few photos to go with today's blog

2006-01-10T22:10:00.000-08:00

Dirty or Pretty Vegas?

2006-01-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

Robin’s brother Lance sent me this pix of Blossoms playing on New Years on Freemont. They didn't end up playing with Cheap Trick, they played with Spin Doctors(Glad we didn't try to go to that, what a let down from Trick!) I suspect I will be in Vegas sometime this year anyway. Also Vegas related, I just looked at the final results from the Chart year end poll. INXS ran away with the votes, I guess the Canadian teenagers are loving JD, he won sexiest male. (Sorry us old women still love Mig) In terms of my musical history, it is ironic that INXS are now sooo Canadian. They didn't have the option to vote for Tim Farriss for sexiest male though..WTF? Roll eyes now.

Just ate lunch outside at Einstein's Bagels, much as I love the dungeon office, I felt like I needed sunshine and fresh air. I am wearing a sweatshirt and shorts, dorky but the dryer was dead until last night. Dan found a hair scrunchie blocking the fan. Good thing I didn't blow up the house, yikes. Anyway, it is gorgeous outside, a slight breeze, maybe 75 degrees. I have to take in the times when it really rocks to live in this god forsaken desert. I think I am coming out of my two month funk anyway so the air and sun made me hopeful for cheerier days. Then the ipod knew I needed the music boost to go with my awakening so it played "The good in everyone" - Sloan then "Hard Road"- Sam Roberts to further my warming vibes.

I bought this box set called "Children of Nuggets" It's full of the bands I was into in the 80s/90s, power pop stuff. Didn't start listening to it yet but plan to tonight. It had a photo of The Posies in it from a photo session I have never seen circa 90 I would say. I took a double look when I thought I could see the necklace I gave Jon Auer around his neck. Upon examination with my handy magnify glasses, it was clearly it. I gave him that posie flower necklace the night in Tucson when they played with Jellyfish and Redd Kross (my favorite concert of all time as mentioned prior) Later that year I got to fly to Chicago to see them. Let's recall some of this trip to Chicago shall we?

My KQ boss asked Julia and I if we wanted to fly to see Material Issue in their hometown of Chicago for an industry event that included a Cubs game with MI, an acoustic MI show then a show with MI and Simple Minds. We were in, loving the Issue of course. A few days later Julia called me over to her office and said she got a fax of the itinerary for trip and that "I better come see it" The entire building heard my shrieks as I saw the opening night of the trip included a concert with Pere Ubu, 13 Engines and ...The Posies! The trip started out having nothing to do with them! Now here is where once again, I went wrong in the music industry. We all went to dinner (this is when Jules and I got to sit with Matt Pinfield, pompous ass who later became well known MTV VJ) At said dinner, it got time to see 13 Engines and I told which ever rep, I was going to go watch the show. I can not tell you how many industry functions I left early to go see the band we were flown in to SEE. I never fit in with their partying. Jules stayed (hence why she is still in industry, I am not?) I was walking around Cabaret Metro waiting for 13 Engines to come on and there's Rick Posie. I tugged at his sleeve and what a surprise! He and I talked for a good long time, hanging while 13 Engines played. I was kinda looking around (For who I wonder?) and I spot Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick walk in. I turned around to Rick to show him. (BTW, Tom looked so much like a rock star compared to the Posies or most any one I've met) Rick nodded, said he met him earlier and got his bass signed. As we are standing there, Rick spots JA before I did, pulls him around by the arm to face him towards me and says "Look who's here!" Jon and I were both wearing our matching Posies necklaces so we both pulled them towards each other like "wonder twins activate" It is probably in my top 20 most memorable moments of my life. Between his glee to see me and the necklace toast. Later that night, while Pere Ubu played, Jon came and literally plucked me off a staircase to go for a walk around Wrigley field. We walked the entire time with our arms around each other. Had a fantastic talk as I recall, (of course, we usually always did) I remember I was wearing black and white pants with posie flowers on them with a shirt to match-hehehe-I'll have to scan a pix of that wild outfit. The rest of the trip was certainly fun. For the Cubs game we were on the rooftop of a complex across the street from the field. MI sat with us at the game (they knew us well from all the Qfests so they sat with Jules and I) So proof of the necklace was nice to see again via a box set.

I am really starting to miss a certain young Miss Elise, which is good, maybe I am ready. I hope so, I have come so far, I feel so empty by not being able to come to a conclusion. I did not spend 6 months, writing 150,000 words to not finish. I signed up to meet with that writing teacher again who critiques. I am hoping to speak with her more about ending a novel properly, how to wrap everything back up. She certainly helped me before, got me to really delve into it being Elise's story. I think I could use some expert advice again. It is not until the end of the month so I hopefully can get somewhere with the ending before I meet with her. I got a good amount of sleep last night; I think I may give it a shot tonight-fingers crossed!
HELLO, if you read, please feel free to comment, I don't mind, wish you would!! (I will accept if is this stuff is so fricking boring, there is nothing to say. I basically blog to help jog my own fading memory)

"My baby wrote me a letter"

2006-01-09T08:54:00.000-08:00

For my delight this weekend, Chris and Jay Sloan read my letter on the air on the Sirius radio show on CBC3. Was a nice surprise and made an otherwise lousy weekend better. I felt a tad embarrassed but I honestly wanted to hear their Top records of 2005. I have always made those kinds of lists so why not want to hear your favorite bands records that they enjoyed. I learned about a ton of bands from Robin and I am sure I got turned on to lots of artists via The Posies too. It is a nice train of learning, learn more music by checking into music your favorite bands either like or cover or are influenced by. I bought my first Big Star record thanks to asking Jon Auer about "I am the Cosmos" I like the way that works. Unfortunately, all this music I keep hearing on my new satellite Canadian channels is not available here. That has never stopped me before but I lose my trading in stuff option. Like right now, I have a bunch of DVDs Dan bought to trade into Rockaway yet they can't order any of my current list. Maple Music needs to take trade! So yep, Jay read my letter, Chris made comments (LMC letter-"You guys really know your indie scene", CM- "Yeah 10 years ago") and I was giddy late Saturday night

"38 years old, never kissed a girl"

2006-01-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Had the Tragically Hip on the mind for various reasons. I picked up a live DVD at Hoodlums before Christmas- those guys at Hoodlums are big fans. They think they can order the new Hip box set for me but I am still trying to ascertain what it consists of as it is quite pricey. Then some folks on SMB have been talking about them. I mentioned I had only really been around pot with them (and Jellyfish but that is a tale for later) One of the many times The Hip played Tucson, KV and I ended up back at their motel hanging out with them for a while. We had agreed to drive their drummer Johnny Fay back up to Phoenix as he had a flight out that night to get home for family matters. We already knew the Hip from the first time they came through Tempe. I was still doing the Maple Minutes at the time so I had an interview with them on their bus prior to their Sun Club show (July 19, 1989) plus we hung out with them at CMJ in '89. Johnny was also friends with Phillip Rhodes. (who we also drove back fro Tucson from a gig one time, but I digress) We went back to the hotel for Johnny to get his bags. While waiting we went in a room and literally I recall the entire band being in the one room plus Dave their manager. They were passing the joint to everyone in the room. KV and I both passed it but didn't partake. I specifically remember Gord D bringing up something called the Meech Lake accord and when I asked what it was, he gave an in depth, through explanation better than any politician or journalist could. Johnny was great company on the drive back, kinda shy if I recall. Real cute I thought although KV liked Paul the guitar player. She got nowhere-haha. I just found the date of the Tucson show, June 2, 1990. I think I counted that I have seen the Hip 14 times, I have to count again. Just saw them again in late 2004 with Sam Roberts; it was a blast seeing them again.
Life has been a struggle as of lately I have to admit. I don't know if I am still in a holiday funk or what. I need to snap out of it because the students will be back in a little more than a week. I have just not been getting enough sleep. Today a co-worker said I look like I have a hangover. Sadly no. Now if I could say, oh I am lacking sleep from working feverishly on my novel, I think I would be less depressed. I have not worked on Bay Window in nearly two weeks now. I just can't believe I have halted like this after 6 months of non-stop exhilaration. Andrea brought me back that book pictured yesterday. It has some great localisms I will be able to work in easily. I guess again, once I got to the difficult part of the tale I have shut down not wanting to face my own issues that go with the characters issues. Did that make sense? I think I will just continue having a difficult time during the holidays for a while to come. I tried to explain this to someone recently. I saw a movie on Monday called The Family Stone. I didn't know what the entire plot was. (Stop reading now if you intend to see this film) Wrong choice! It is about a family coping with their mother's cancer at the holidays. At the end it shows them the following Christmas all smiling and fondly remembering her around the Christmas tree. Yeah, only in the movies folks. What they didn't show was the next few years Christmas' when you continue to deal with that loss with a few more tears than smiles. Well, I just need to get to bed earlier, get back on a regular schedule and start writing again, even if it means putting "Bay Window" to the side and start a new one. Hunter is coming to stay this weekend which will be a big boost then next weekend is Team Firebird race #1. Can you believe it, a new race season already? Will she make it, always my question when it comes to Big Red.
That's about it around here. Maybe I will be less depressed next post-sorry!

2006-01-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

Long Wongs is gone!

2006-01-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

JH just told me today that they actually raized Long Wongs. I was on Mill Ave Christmas shopping and it was still there. OH dear, this is a very sad day. I could do a whole separate blog based on the nights spent at shows at Long Wongs. Entertainment Tonight even came and did a feature on it back in the day, Robin gave the tour. Sad, sad rain tearing up on my face again.

Who doesn't think their nephew is the coolest kid on the planet?

2006-01-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

Hunter was just over visiting for a few hours, loves me that kid. I always wanted to be that cool aunt, I hope I am for him. He got a stereo for Christmas, I keep telling him he'll get to an age where he'll be asking Aunt Leah if he can come borrow some CDS. (or my race car) He's already trying to steal Missy's Ipod.
Survey time for the 2005 in review posts. Borrowed this one from a SMB gal, thought it should yield some interesting answers.

01. Is there any song you listened to back-to-back-to-back-to-back this year?
The top tunes of the year is coming soon, promise!

02. What was the single most beautiful physical, geographic place you found yourself in?
Honestly, seeing mom's grave stone was the most beautiful place I went this year.

03. Who is a delightful person you met this year?
Quite a few- Miranda for sure, Andrea, SMBer's like Anne, Kate, Trigger and more. Most of my CV kids! Darth Benya, EDIT- I forgot Matt my office neighbor (and coolest dude at the Cronkite school) and Vikki(my LLC guru)

04. What was the biggest point of upheaval or change in your life since last December?
Life has been an upheaval consistantly since 2003 but the biggest changes would have to be working full time now at ASU and writing the novel.

05. What was a really, really good time in which you had a lot of fun with people?
Two in particular would be: Dressed in long braids and hillbilly teeth shouting cheers to a stand full of my Team Firebird teammates then watching Ryan win the ROC.

Second would be my entire weekend in Michigan on Labor Day weekend. From hanging with Nova, then the Miller's having a picnic in my honor, visiting Glen Eden then on to the Sloan show. That whole weekend was beyond expectation and spooky how inspiring it also became.

06. Who do you think you talked with the most over the last year?
I want to think and say Dan but I would guess Missy is right behind in word count ;)

07. What is your favorite material belonging you acquired over the past year?
Wow, that is tough. Maybe the XM receiver. I think I cut back on my material purchases this year (?) The Pie rack is mighty cool.

08. Did you fall in love this year? Say something about it? If not, what sorts of crushes or relationships or hobbies did you prefer?
um... hobbies, well I think if you read this blog you know I have finally uncovered my life long desire to write. It has consumed me. The good thing is that it has made me less obsessive about the other hobby. I particularly remember a night in July when Dan got home too late to get me to the Team Firebird race and I didn't even fuss because it meant I got to work on Bay Window that night! For me, that is unbelievable!

09. What food item / beverage / illicit drug was your most characteristic this year?
Gotta be Lorenzos white pizza nearly everyday for lunch.

10. What was your best blooper-reel moment?
Pretty sure I was "Forgot to fill her Miller" once this year, most all of the first passes on Big Red when I returned to the track after being off 2004. I would guess the accident in the Denali would fall under this catagory too

11. Describe a conversation you had this year that you will never forget.
There is no question it is the conversation Nova and I had with Sloan's Patrick. It was the strongest confirmation I should continue working on Bay Window. If you believe in this stuff, the Lord works through people to make one realize they are on the right track. It was nothing he said spefically, it was a coincidence. And then telling Missy about it after at JB's.
BUT I will also never forget Jon Auer asking Dan if he could hug me!

12. What was the funniest 'inside joke' of the year?
Jon H and I had quite a few while sharing the office at the Blaze!

13. What was your most expensive purchase of the year?
The GMC Denali, at least we got it used ;)

14. What was your favorite live performance (a play, a band, an orchestra, the ice capades) that you attended this year?
I saw three concerts this year (in 1992, I saw about 3 a week) All three were incredible. Dan getting to see The Posies meant so much, I honestly never thought I would see them again myself. In the same week I saw Sloan again, that was such a blast with Nova. She swung into action, between her investigative snooping backstage then she started screaming as soon as she saw them, having never heard a song of theirs in her life. Because she was so into it, I found myself holding up signs and screaming my lungs out too. And then, when I almost chickened out of talking to Sloan, text messages from Missy and KBM made me gain enought courage to do so. Kyle was the third show I saw, he is just an incredible voice.

15. What song will always remind you of this year?
Try To Make It - Sloan (the person I borrowed this survey from had this answer too)

16. What is a 'big lesson' you learned this year?
Using a transbrake is fun and easy. Dan's biggest "I told you so" this year!

17. What was the phone number you called most frequently this year?
Danny's cell I'm sure.

18. Describe one instant this year in which you were giddily, grinningly happy.
Had to be during and after those two concerts but also the success of the Cronkite Village opening reception.
19. What place, thing, person, creative outlet, etc. did you turn to when you needed cheering?
In this grocery bag of new feelings I am going through while writing, Missy wins hands down but Dan has been very supportive too.

20. What did you do this year you'd like to do more of in the future?
We all know the answer to this one but I have say that in addition to the new joy of writing that I really enjoyed doing Freshman orientations at work, helping kids new to ASU feel a little more comfortable. AND Go to Four Peaks more! AND go to more Sloan shows AND Race more!

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

2005-12-30T14:51:00.000-08:00

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???