The next singer of INXS? We vote MIG!

I got Dan to watch my cheese reality show tonight. But it's hard to call something with one of my favorite bands of all time - cheese.... 'Course I do love Cheese you know. Dan thinks JD still has a pretty good chance even though he killed Queen. He thinks it's a scam to give him a chance to sing an INXS song tomorrow. I am beginning to wonder because I tried to vote again tonight and for the second time it didn't work...hmmm....west coast block out or? They did already have this picture on the website, it all seems weird as to whether it is live, if they are taping earlier in the day ala a late night talk show or what? Well Mig seems to be my favorite today. Ty, Jordis, Mig, JD and Marty are probably going to be in the final five. If they keep eliminating only one a week, this show is going to be on forever.
Today I was completely frustrated trying to write a promotions section for the Blaze operations manual. I have been writing 4000 words a day on the novel but I could not settle into writing manual style. I tried to make myself not touch the novel again until I was done with the promo pages but alas, no self control, I was working on "Bay window" first thing this morning. My frustration came from the stupid Tower Center heating and lack of cooling and the music on my streaming today. How's this for a slap, I choose to go with CFOX yesterday to hear the new Matt but I had half a mind to try Winnipeg station. So after no sucess on CFOX, I try Winnipeg's Power 97. I open their website and front and center is a vote if you like the new Matt Good track. I'm pschyed, this is a good indicator I will hear it right? NO NO NO I have to hear 3 AC/DC tracks, 3 Jimi Hendrix, 3 Pink Floyd, 3 Stones and even 3 OLP in a span of 6 hours. Can I tell you it was the worst artist separation programming I have ever heard. If they want to play classic rock with their new rock, they should try finding more than 4 classic rock artists. I mean no Zepplin or Kiss or whatever to add...it was excrutiatingly painful. I know I am not the poster child for classic rock but I know radio well enough to know their programming today was a clusterfuck. Not just because I didn't hear Matt. Oh I heard Matt today, never was I so disappointed to hear "Everything is automatic"
The quest for "Oh be Joyful!" continues. Who should I try tomorrow? CFOX had the new Default-whoopeee...kill me now!
I realized how little some of my habits have changed. I got out my old college calendars from 1985, 86. You can look at my calendar today and it has scribbles of what songs I heard, some I already know and new ones to check out. My 85 one says I should look into songs by The Spoon, Eye Eye even The Church. I guess it is a sign I never grew up? I am using these for research as my main character is in college so I wanted to see some reminders of my own hectic college life. A life altering day is listed on there, it is an appointment with my academic advisor to change my major. Yep, sophomore year I changed from Creative writing to Broadcasting. Now I teach one and aspire to be the one I gave up.

Take a picture it lasts longer

They had to go and make it better a few months after you buy it! Not only that, they go and lower the price- That sucks! Don't get me wrong, I would have to say I have loved my ipod this week more than ever before. It is bizarre that a product could bring such pleasure but I swear it has played just the right songs at the right times on shuffle this rotation. I am sure it's all in what you program in it, not the ipod itself right? Music has been so instrumental in this writing odessey I have been on. I alter between my ipod and XM's channel Fred for inspiration. Dan has spoiled the heck out of me with all these techie music toys.
Dan is playing The Katies self titled CD right now, this CD could be on par with "Beautiful Midnight" for the biggest records of the past 6 years for me. Big statement, eh? I have never felt so bad that a band didn't get it's shot as much as I do for The Katies. Not since Eye Eye have I been left with so little music for a band that has made such an impact on me. I always thought it was not quite right to think of Eye Eye as one of my Top 5 favorite bands with only two releases. Now the same goes for The Katies...some amazing talent just never get a full shot, but thank god for two releases from them both! Who can you think of that are among your favorite bands who only have one or two releases?
Watched RockStar tonight, Timmy got some screen time. It was amusing enough tonite. No Dave Navarro made it even better.
I waited most the day on CFOX to hear the new Matt single, no go. I emailed the midday jock Neil Morrison. He is pretty funny. He said he didn't know anything about it. He played me Sloan though on his 90's lunch. Yep got my name on Canadina radio again today, wasn't really trying. Tony was witness, said I was proliferating Canadian radio one city at a time. It is my only way to make up for never achieving my dream of moving there and programming CanCon!

Breathe - How can I fall?

Ok Karen likes my product reviews so here's another new one I got recently on a trip to Bath and Body Works (the best lotions- bar none) I love the little spray bottle you can spritz just a little and smell all refreshed up after a walk around ASU campus on 114 degree day! Who am I kidding, I drive the golf cart at any given chance. Speaking of, it is hilarious that people in cars tail you when you drive those, like I can speed up?!
Tony fixed BOB for me today! I was missing my dose of Canadian 80's tunes and Milky's request lunch hour. I think I am done with Winnipeg, they love Matt but I haven't heard Sloan all week.
I wrote another 3000 word scene last night, I am obsessed with writing right now, it has made my website suffer but I needed a break from that anyway. I bought some software but I just need to get everything in my head out first before I try to use software to organize it. I read this book about a online writing contest where you spend all of October writing a 50,000 words novel. It sounds like a blast, for the amount of words I have written so far, I don't think that sounds too difficult to obtain. The rules state you must start a new so I wouldn't be able to use "Out my bay window" (working title) for this contest. I have other stories in my head so I think I could do it. We'll see where I am at in late Sept as I know I will be overwhelmed this school year with both the Village and The Blaze at once to look after.
I need to go back to my old reflection stories on this blog. Soon... For now my creativity is in use elsewhere and I'm loving it!

Who are the kings of power pop?

Get out has a review of Sloan's GH record today written by my old pal Thomas the power pop fan! He called them one of the best power pop bands in the same breath as FOW and Teenage Fanclub. I guess I didn't convert him to Posiesland while I worked there... FOW is so derivative of The Posies, it's hard to swallow them being more recognized than Jon and Ken. Speaking of, I see The Posise are playing Bumpershoot this year. I knew they would be before I even found their name. Karen and I went to Bumpershoot in 1991. It was sooo packed. We saw said Posies open for Crowded House. We also saw The Young fresh fellows (I think..I am hazy headed today...headache) I am still not digging the new CD....it got a mediocre review in Blender. That review also referenced FOW as being superior...grrrr...listen to Dear 23 and Frosting on the Beater before saying such blasphemy!
Listening to Winnipeg again today. The DJ mentioned the new Matt song, said it was a rocker. It should be out Monday, I can't decide who to listen to to make sure I hear it. I figure CFOX but this Winnipeg station seems to love him.
Back to Sloan, Andrew says he has become a full fledged fan after purchasing the hits collection. That is cool! I check their date’s everyday, nothing west coast yet. I met the guy at Hoodlums who is a Sloan fan. I said to him "I hear you are a fan" and he said "What do you want to know?" umm..... I said, "I want to know if you can get them back to ASU and play your store" He said he was the drunk at the show and his sister was throwing beer at them at Big Fish. I didn't continue my convo....
Dave Navarro is useless on Rockstar. I thought I liked him but he is annoying the crap out of me on the show. He looks bored and has dirty looks going on, I think he is wondering why he is there. Timmy could have easily been the spokesperson from the judges. As the singers keep singing tunes each week, there are very few that have a lot of talent. Even front runner Ty looked weak this week. From the looks of it, a dreadlocked girl named Jordis looks like a shoe in to win. I can't stop watching, I still love INXS too much to not watch despite the huge cheese factor and Dave Navarro.
I wrote a 4000 word scene the other night, pretty much took me all three hours of my laptop's battery. I can't describe the rush I feel writing, it's glorious. Gotta go!

Oh be joyful

I'm in Winnepeg via radio today, I am exploring new provinces lately...I hate Staind, just in case you wondered...
Feeling blahs of summer....I think I hate Jet too, they get played so much in Canada... I heard Tragically Hip in Fry's last night!! This station, Power 97 in Winnepeg, has a Hip spotlight daily "In our Hip pocket" I guess they are at that point, a feature daily like Zeppelin or Metallica on most stations.
Yummy new product of the day- Dannon Frusion Smoothie! The strawberry blend is making my morning better than average. I am obviously not in the mood to work today. I have a class today about Powerpoint. My excel class last week was kinda useless except that I researched clothing from the late 80's, early 90's during the class. It was not geared towards what I use excel for.
Matt's new single comes out this coming Monday, can't wait to hear it. I heard "Weapon" on my ipod the other day and I think it is one of my top 5 Matt songs. I will have to work on my list of his songs. (10 minutes later)

OK I did my top ten Matt Good songs for ya, here I go:

1."Rico" - Sometimes in life, you just need to sing "Fuck you" three times in a row very loudly in your car. If I had a stereo in Big Red, I'd play this before every round along with "Time to Move" by BSA and "Deep Six" It's my Racing motivation!

2."Hello Time Bomb" - Sentimental favorite as you have to go back to that point of discovery and say if it were not for this song and for Beautiful Midnight being so freeking good, I would be the huge fan I am today. Of course Time Bomb was also the song of Dan and I's honeymoon!

3. "Weapon" - This song is one that can give you shivers, it was so powerful on first listen. Try it a few more times with earphones, it is the number one testiment to Matt's talents.

4."Deep Six" - Matt uses my favorite sport as a metaphor. I will acknowledge any song that mentions drag racing. It is a listen loud in car tune for me-see "Rico"

5. "It's been a while since I was your man" - I think this is Matt's first full fledged love song. This song is like a romance novel you want to read, so much sentiment in it.

The rest of the top 10-
"The workers sing a song of mass production", "21st century living", "Look happy, it's the end of the world"(His GBs sounding tune) "Anti-pop", "Prime time deliverance" "Strange days" "Everything is automatic" "Load me up"
Oh, oops was that more than 10?...Matt had his own up on his site but he took them down..I think I wrote them down in my Blaze office. I can't understand why he changes stuff on his site soo much.
Oddly, just as I finish this ode to Matt Good, the Winnepeg station is playing "Flashdance 2" I don't think I have ever heard this one on the radio! Very cool!

Chocolate heaven

This could very well be the best Chocolate ice cream I have ever tasted! Wow! Here's the description: Chocolate ice cream with chocolate ice cream pudding and chocolate cookies! Almost better than the Baskin Robbins dark Chocolate brownie.
Random thoughts: I see the most bizarre things when I drive down Apache Blvd. to work. Yesterday actually I saw a near midget asian man carrying a large rod with two huge trash bags on both sides of the rod. I assumed they were heavy and it was some type of exercise. I am not trying to be racist in anyway, it was just an odd sight. Today I saw a large group of 5 year olds all wearing green shirts holding hands as they walked up to a tire service station. Were they getting a school tour of the tire bays? again, sort of odd. And by the way, the Mesa Thrift store parking lot is always full yet I drive by two other thift stores on my drive to work (Gracies and St Vincent de Paul) and they are never as busy. I always wonder the difference.
Ty immerged as my favorite on the second night of RockStar. I like Tara, don't get me wrong but my friends who are also big INXS fans don't agree that they could have a female singer. If fans won't acccept that, ok...then just not a guy who mimics Mick Jagger's moves. Articles often compared Hutch to Jagger but I never agreed, I thought Michael had his own swagger.
BOB is not working this morning so I am listening to Andrea doing the Nineties at noon in London. She played Pluto then Limblifter is on as we speak "Tin foil" Of course Ryan Dahle is playing with Matt now- great combo!
I am supposed to race this Saturday, what are my chances of getting to race? Do I still have my zen like calm? The heat will lull my competitors to sleep.
It is supposed to be 115 today, ugh...if only we had a pool. I certainly never used my parents pool enough. As Cinderella sings "Don't know what you got til it's gone" Yes a Cinderella reference....why not.
Maybe more later....
Now she's playing The Doughboys "Shine"- YEAH!

RockStar debut for INXS show

Here's my pick for the new singer of INXS. Shocked it is a female? Don't be, it would be the answer for them to move on past Michael and have people give them a different listen. Will their fans agree? Well, personally as a fan that followed them on tour and saw them in their heyday over 10 times, I say, I don't really want anyone else trying to sing like Michael. When Jon from Noiseworks was singing for them 2 years ago, it was too much like Michael and it made it seem like a cheap feeling. They were fantastic but it is like the movie Rock Star- you want the original. So if INXS want to attract new audiences and write hit music in 2005, they do not need someone imitating Michael.
The show was ok, I am not a reality fan and it smacked of MTV style reality. I felt more comfort in seeing that the singers were actually semi professionals who have some experience in local bands, etc....I didn't really see the need for Dave Navarro but I guess he is bridging the gap between my generation and the young folks who may watch the show. I heard some radio commentary yesterday on CJAY, the young girl could care less who sings for INXS and it seems to be the problem with the show, younger music fans can't understand why anyone would want to sing for a shriveled up old band. (Timmy hardly looked shriveled to me-yum!) I watched for the INXS interaction and enjoyed that portion the most. I wonder if they will play a role every time as Navarro seemed like he had a bigger role yet to come. It seems like the INXS guys could easily filled that role but...again...they used Dave to attract the MTV crowd? Dan was relatively interested after it was over and asked all sorts of questions as he was listening through the wall. I told him to watch it tonight with me since he likes to sing so much. My favorite quote of the night was from my pal Karen who says via text message. "I don't know if I want to invest three months in this" Yet....she text message her opinions on each one as they sang... I am teasing ya buddy but How could you be a true INXS fan and not care who ends up singing for them? Or do you give up being a fan after they made this cheesy choice to broadcast their search? Karen's choice is Neal by the way. She and I both agree on Ty also. Hard not to get hooked for me....Tim Farriss on my TV 3 nights a week- Damn I am 21 again and heading to the Arizona Biltmore to meet them- (blog that story later!)
Tara Slone, former Joydrop singer, hails from Halifax originally...probably dated a Sloan guy eh? She's my girl! She'd kick butt with INXS.
Tried a new station today- The Wolf in Regina. A little bit of a smaller town feel and talent to match. No Matt or Sloan yet today which makes it an unlikely choice tomorrow. Some Moist, Tea Party, OLP...usuals there. Some older Adams, Jeff Healey, Red Rider and Colin James made them a bit different. Apparently it is hot in Moosejaw...high 32!
I got lots of work accomplished today. Yep I worked hard all day! I also stayed up past midnight writing the great novel...now that I started, I want to write all the time. I have no expectations of publishing, just doing it for myself to say I did... I was a creative writing major when I started college, radio lead me astray...my only "A"'s at ASU were in Creative Writing...go figure. Too bad my spelling, grammar and punctuation brain cells died.

How was sweet was this guy when he told the girl she didn't have the chops to be the singer of his band. Always my fave-Timmy! 

Should 80's bands give up?

Just had this conversation, how many bands whose popularity was predominantly in the 80's are capable of a comeback? For that matter, how many 90's bands? Two examples lie within two of my major bands in my life. This snide little article appears on chartattack today
While I am cynical about the RockStar show with INXS myself, to say they should not be allowed as musicians to continue because their lead singer committed suicide is the same as saying New Order should have never formed. Is it because INXS members are over 40, they should not be allowed to perform or release material?? The article also states that Hutch was their driving force. The journalist who wrote this is obviously unfamiliar with the band. Andrew Farriss was long the quiet leader and writing force of INXS. Hutch was the face, an amazing front man with the presence every band could only wish for but INXS was never just about him, ever! When we (Karen, Marcus and I) saw INXS in 2003 with Jon from Noiseworks singing, they were the same incredible live band they always were. These guys were always underrated for their live shows in a world of U2, ETC.. They are great musicians, and at the show at Celebrity, they were so happy to be playing, it was obvious! It was one of the better concerts I have been to, yet it is wrong for these guys to still play? I fear a young singer will be too odd with them but to just think they should stop playing? In the world of Chart, which I have read for years, should the Sloan boys stop when they reach 40 also, because they are not far behind...
Then there's the Blossoms, bands from their era have had a tough time surviving. How many can you name still recording with success? I have been impressed that Better than Ezra has survived, most of the bands still record but don't have major deals anymore, like Soul Asylum for example. The Blossoms are an odd case because there are just 2 records well known...then nothing recorded in over 10 years. Is there interest in something form them? For their fans, of course! For the 20-somethings I work with, most of them are even too young now to remember them. The new Blossom songs I have heard are amazing. I just wonder if a new Gin Blossoms song could fit into the current music scene? They would sound fine on a MIX style format but are those PD's willing to give it a shot over a newer, younger band. I know MIX 96.9 here in Phoenix gave the new Duran Duran a shot but it just didn't develop into a hit. There is talk on the Blossoms website that they are being looked at by Lost Highway (Sam Roberts, Jayhawks, Glen Phillips) and Universal. I just want to the new music from them...but do I want new music from INXS? hmmm..? Def Leppard put out a very good album a few years back,got no play...now they cover "No Matter What" and are getting airplay. Jellyfish did it so much better!
In other thoughts, I went swimming yesterday. I am truly a pisces because I never feel better than when I am in the water. It is like a shot into my system with warm energy bursts. I was thinking about this because Missy said she doesn't like the feeling of being wet. I was reflecting that I am the exact opposite of this. When I was young, we would travel from city to city and all that mattered to me is that we stayed at a place with a good pool. I made my mom watch me at the pool as often as I could talk her into it. The best hotels were the ones who had large indoor pools like the Midway in St. Louis. One time we stayed at a sheraton in Ohio that had a water slide, in the 70's, this was onheard of! I begged my parent to go back there many times. (Never did) In London ONT, we would race there in May or June. Outdoor pool there was truly swimming in ice but I never cared, just let me swim! Watching Hunter learn to swim has been a joy because he has they same love I did. Although not by blood, he's got some of his Aunt in him! So I'll go back to my dreams of being a synchronized swimmer to get through the rest of this unbearably hot day......

Get Out's Top 50 valley songs

Much more to comment soon on the Chris Hanson Orf list of top songs from the valley. I am up too late to make proper commentary. I will say at first read I agree with many and surprised to see some of the nds that made it. Just like my record shopping in the cut out bins, many of my choices are in honorable mentions! For now, pick up a Get Out or www.getoutaz.com. Hoping to have some lively discussion on this list. I included an old Dead Hot flyer in honor of the list.
I spent most of the last hour watching some Live8 on AOL but it is distorted. Nothing could help Raine Maida's distored vocals, man they have sound problems a lot. Since this is Maple musings, may I say there is a fellow who should not try a beard! Sam Roberts, yes, Raine Maida-NO! Despite OLP's less than great Live8 performance, I would predict thet new single as a possible top tune of the year for me....but alas some one larger in my music world has a new single at the end of this month so I will hold judgement.
On Robin Wilson's blog, he has a list of cool things he can say he has done that no one else has, something like that. I will have to post it here, anyway, I was watching the Live8 videos and realized that I could say I actually know someone who performed on a Live8 stage. Someone who would know me by name at first sight, pretty cool eh? I am very excited and proud that one of my favorite musicians was actually on London's stage! I speak of the one and only Ken Stringfellow! As a long standing Posies girl, how could I not be proud of my favorite band's member being a part of such an amazing event! I swear the camera man hated him but obviously he is not the focal point of REM. Actually REM sounded great, I like "Imitation of Life" and kinda think I should explore the last three albums a little more. It is a pretty sweet gig he got, playing with them! I watched some REM at AOL sessions and Ken was much more prominant.
OK better get to sleep.....
Here's Robin's list:
Ten things I've done that you probably haven't.
posted at 02/25/2005 12:21 PM EST 2 Thumbs
Joe Rybicki and John Scalzi of OPM have encouraged us all to make such a list. I invite you to post yours here.

1. Smoked a joint with Phil Hartman backstage at SNL. When I met him he shook my hand and said "Hi Robin, I'm Troy Maclure. You may remember me from such educational films as Locker Room Towel Fight: the blinding of Larry Driscol!"

2. Wrote a top ten single.

3. While in the studio with KISS, I was the first person to show Gene Simmons a "Spawn" comic book.

4. Awarded a gold record backstage at the LA Forum.

5. Bought a Sega Genesis in London. Gave it away at the end of the tour.

6. Married by my wife's old boss Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show and Minister in the Church of Universal Light.

7. Taught a dog to Jet Ski.

8. Collaborated with one of my favorite comic book artists on an album cover. Artist Geof Darrow of Hard Boiled and The Matrix.

9. Performed National Anthem at a Major sports event. Suns, D-Backs, Monday Night Football.

10. Got a part time job writing for one of my favorite magazines. Seriously.

Hey Jealousy

Wow, I had to be in the middle of an arguement today, and it wasn't between any of my students! Quite frankly, I am used it around the Blaze, two students, altering opinions, escalating into silly pissing match. I witnessed many and tried to referee sometimes. I learned my lesson near the end of the school year and listened to both Dan and my boss who said to get up and walk away instead of letting it stress me out. This time it was between two co-workers, all over jealousy I believe. We went to a computer class. One gal, we'll call Martha, one named Carrie. Carrie asked if Martha and I already knew the material, I said yes because we had taken an online class already about the topic. Carrie was upset that I did not tell her about the class because obviously I had told Martha. Oddly, I don't remember telling Martha. Anyone can find courses offered for staffers online. Carrie went on to ask Martha what more she knew about the classes they are both teaching. Martha said she had a list that Carrie did not. This all happened as we were waiting for our orders from Burger King, right there by the counter. There were plenty of other students, staff within earshot while this escalated. Carrie was playing the "I was left out" card then Martha gave up explaining that she wasn't purposely leaving Carrie out. Martha took a sort of martyr role, saying "I guess I'm a lier if you won't except that I just haven't got to the act of giving you the information" It went on and on, both staying in the roles: Carrie- wounded, left out deer in headlights, playing dim(all the info could easily be obtained) Martha: frustrated, taking the attitude of "ok I'll take the blame" I finally said we needed to leave as it was starting to attract attention and there was no stopping it. Carrie kept it up on the return, Martha decided to stop arguing back. I am most interested in the roles they took, it didn't take long before both fell into a rut and couldn't work their way out of the arguement, each appeared to be enjoying the role more than looking for a resolve. It was similar to a married couple who automatically take a an attitude. I see it in arguements myself, I take a role with Dan I never did with anyone else. I kinda hate it, it becomes expected. I saw it full force between these two, as if they had practiced these roles in prior arguements. I am feeling a bit awkward towards my co-workers after being in the center of this escalating situation. I know arguements happen in the workplace, I just get enough of it with the college radio kids, don't really need to be in the middle of co-workers also.
Treble Charger just on The Bear...Drove the golf cart all over today, didn't get any work done. Maybe tomorrow....

Where have all the good people gone?

Technology can be a determinant to getting things done. I have spent the last half hour trying to get the AOL feed of Live8 to work and watch Sam Roberts. Should I been doing work instead of pressing ten buttons at once and yelling at my laptop? Surely work should be in there somewhere between the struggle to get blogrolls or AOL video to work! Guilty feeling? Not really...hahaha!
Karen and Cheryl drove me to work because I had to take the Monte to the dealer to get the window fixed-one month after the warrenty is over-of course! That was super kind of them! They totally blasted me when they found out that I had never been to Niagra Falls. It was pretty funny, they were both shouting at me and appalled that a Canada fan like me had yet to experience the ultimate tourist trap. I would certainly love to experience the Maiden of the Mist! The down side of growing up with a drag racing family is that we didn't go on normal summer vacations. The places I went every summer were based around where the race tracks were. Fortunately one was in London, ONT-hence my orgins of loving Canada even as a youth. I always wanted my family to go to Hershey, PA too, never had a race near there....
BOB DJ says it's National Kissing Day!
Gotta go over to the Blaze and to a computer class today. I will try to write something of substance later. I have been reading some books on how to craft fiction. It has some writing exercises that I may try on my handy blog here.

Happy 4th of July

Hello, Just messing about with the new blogger add an image feature. It's the 4th of July, last of 3 1/2 days off. We took Hunter to see Batman Begins last night, also went to Sugar Bowl for dinner and the new Zia. I bought some Thrush Hermit and a GT LP for a craft project. Dan got Coheed's first CD and The Rosenbergs. I will write more soon, maybe tonight...

Found this in my search for photos from Barrie

I found this guy's rant.... Hilarious .... a Cats Can Fly reunion would be great, he forgot Haywire, Plat and Corey...those artists would have made it better....GT was great the other night on that dumb show! Why do Canadians hate their 80's stars so much?

The question wasn't whether the Canadian Live 8 concert announcenment yesterday would prove worthy of scorn, but how much. The answer is SCADS. It's like they gift-wrapped the whole thing for critics and naysayers with a big stinky bow on top. The concert will indeed be held in Park Place (née Molson Park) and feature such luminaries as Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, Our Lady Peace, African Guitar Summit, Barenaked Ladies, Jan Arden, Bruce Cockburn, Deep Purple, Gordon Lightfoot, Tragically Hip, Tom Cochrane, Motley Crue and Sam Roberts and it will be hosted by Dan Ackroyd and Tom Green (I would have rather had Terrance and Phillip, especially with Celine taking part). I find it amusing that the CBC article says that Barrie "won" the concert. Getting stuck with Our Lady Peace doesn't feel much like winning to me.

Now I don't necessarily have anything against most of these performers but collectively put forward as the face of Canadian music, it's about as horrid, irrelevant and anachronistic as you could possibly get. It's like they've taken every bit of progress we've made in recent years in building a reputation as a country that produces innovative, creative and just kick-ass music and summarily dismissed it. "Yeah, you young'ns are all great but we're going to go with the 'Everything I Do' guy". Celine won't even actually BE at the show, she's phoning her performance in. Nice "headliner" (I've heard Bry-boy is doing the same but can't confirm that). It's a sad day when Motley Crue is the most exciting act on the bill. Hell, I could have accepted it if they had gotten Nickelback and Avril - certainly not my cup of tea but at least you could rationalize their popularity and global profile. Instead, we get artists who aren't even relevant in Canada anymore, let alone abroad. At this point, it wouldn't shock me if they added Glass Tiger, Honeymoon Suite, Cats Can Fly, The Box... Sigh. Know what a better lineup would have been? Leonard Cohen. Just Lenny. Sitting on stage, doing whatever. Making toast. Gawd. CHAGRINED.

Chart is hoping against hope that rumours of more acts to be added will make the event worth covering (since they'll have to anyway) and Radio Dan has his own act-by-act take on the lineup. Hello Newman prognosticated this days ago, Torontist is enraged and Pop (All Love) is just confused. As are we all, Aaron. As are we all.

Some good quotes from Live 8

SIMON LE BON (Rome)

"I think 20 years ago people thought that it would be OK to just dip into their pockets and that would be the end of it. That's like the Western mentality -- you know we just want to give somebody some money and forget about it.

"I think what this is about now is us actually taking responsibility and it's only going to work if it's the beginning of something that carries on."


BONO, lead singer of U2 (London)

"The rock stars and the hip hop stars can't change anything but our audience really can.

"We're not asking you to put your hand in your pockets but we are asking people to put their fists in the air."
DAVE MATTHEWS (Philadelphia)

Asked if the G8 leaders were watching: "I think they're paying some attention. I don't know if they're rocking out right now, probably Tony Blair might be, and Putin might have some moves ... I think they're aware of what's going on.

Live 8 let down?

Spent the majority of the day listening to the show from Barrie. I really think it was a poor representation of Canadian artists. I don't deny the relivance of the ones who were on stage, nor is it just me wanting some of more of my faves on. It just seems like the artists were not energized enough. I actually really enjoyed Bruce Cockburn, Blue Rodeo sounded great, OLP has sound problems(just like everytime they come to AZ) Hip had odd song selection except one, BNL were sorta sedate. It was hilarious that the crowd booed Celine Dion is her taped appearance, the announcers on XM were speechless as were Tom Green and Dan Ackroid. I think it needed more rock bands, even if it was crappy Nickelback, it needed something. Jann Arden between OLP and Motley Crue was obsured! I missed earlier acts due to sleeping in, missed Sam Roberts but hoping to catch him on replay. Took my new XM boombox to pool with Missy and kids! Got a tad burnt, but I have had no tan this summer. It was difficult to listen there but still had to have it with me. My music geek friends and I were text messaging (Nick, Karen and Jon) about the show. I caught some others when I would switch for a minute or two. I heard Def Lep doing "No Matter What" I heard all of Keith Urban, who was great-YES I like a country artist-unbelievable! I did not stay for Neil Young (sacrilege to some) 'course I skipped him live at Blockbuster years ago too. Besides, it was shaved ice time and who cares if the Stones got on stage (Never heard yet if they did) Why Jet? Ugh, anyway it was fun, I am liking my XM but I agree with Hutch, none of the performances stood out for a memory, just the event in general.
I heard a band called Hurst yesterday and guessed it was Econoline's singer, I was right as I saw an add for them in my new Chart magazine.
A major occurance happened yesterday and I forgot to mention it! I think I blocked it out due to disappointment. I got the new.....Posies CD in the mail...... Yes them, my favorite band for many years, yep! they got back together last year and decided to record again. Here's Dan's quote "Stick to what you know" oh boy, I sure hope it can grow on me. There are 2 songs that are pure Posies, just awesome. I would have to say the rest were outtakes from Jon's never released solo effort. Yikes, that was hard to say.... I guess I think Jon has lost his touch and Ken likes to experiment. The two have developed distinct differences and it's not hard to guess which one I prefer. Ken just still has the chops to write great lyrics and you can tell his years now with REM have influenced him. In fact, REM played Live8 today which means a Posie made it to Live8! The best thing they did with the new Posies record is layered vocals and used harmonies, the thing that works best for them, their voices combined. I will give it some more time......kinda sad....I never thought they could do wrong.
It was a black cherry shaved ice... I am sorry Neil Young fans....;)

Paul and the boys in Haywire back in the day! 

Barrie Ontario, center of Canadian universe tomorrow

Not accomplish much today, long weekend in mind! Found an article in my readings this morning giving motorist tips in getting to Barrie, ONT. http://chartattack.com/damn/2005/06/3005.cfm
My tip from being in Barrie once long ago, Just keep driving, you'll get there eventually. When leaving parking lot, don't back into fences and have some good conversations in mind for the 3 hour wait to get out into rural Canada roads!
I got my XM set up so I can listen to Live8. I bought the wrong boombox at Wally world so I have to take it back. It doesn;t appear that they make a boombox for my receiver but they have a home set up kit. I will trek to Best Buy to find this instead. Doing some shopping today anyway. I am going to AJ's Fine foods because Karen tells me they carry Faygo. How amazing! I can get my favorite pop from Michigan here in the dusty, friggin hot desert.
Today is the anniversary of the walkman, introduced in 1979. The jock on CFOX just told me this. It is Canada Day. They should play all Canadian artists on the radio! May switch to Bear in a bit, BOB sucked this morning.
Karen says I should blog about all the technology we have now. I said to Dan yesterday that I would never have believed I could listen to Canadian radio everyday in Arizona. When we moved from Michigan, I was seriously depressed I could not listen to Canadian radio anymore. I begged my parent to get a satellite dish so I could watch Much Music. Of course I was not that spoiled, dishes were super expensive back then. We would visit friends in Parker who had it and I would sit in front of thier TV watching Much the entire day. I remember seeing the Hip back then (1987, 88) I also remember they showed an REM video (which song?) and the girls were all topless and on Much they showed it while MTV put black bars across the girls boobs. I did finally have Much for about a year until they changed to Much USA and Fuse. They seriously sucked by then but I did get to see Matt Good a bunch while wading through Spice Girls and Outkast.
I survived the years with out by reading Canadina magazines and Chuck Cordell taping me episodes of Stu Jefferies. I remember Roger had a Canadian section at Rockaway of imports-aor style of course but it helped make it less far away. Roger was probably one of the first people I met that I could talk Can-con with along with Pamela.
I am glad we didn't have computers or cell phones back in college, they just make commuincation more convoluted. I watch kids at the Blaze talk to each other via IM when they are in the same room. I admit, I have done it. So silly! Cell phones are a pain in the neck if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, I have had flats and witnessed crime, all of which were make much easier by having the phone. I just think cell phones are a distraction for people in communicating also. I could not believe a student had the nerve to call someone at orientation this past Monday while we were in the midst of explaining how to register for classes. I truly try hard to not use my cell phone in my car and the text messaging thing is crazy, just call the person!
I just got the politest message on the phone"Your party is not answering, we're sorry but your call will now be disconnected" Leave it to Canada to even have a nice message from their phone company. OK, I am geek again, I just requested a song on CFOX- Deep Six from Matt. It is a request weekend.
I better do some work, I am getting guilty here. I will at least clean my desk before the weekend!

Awesomely not a good show

So I just wasted an hour on a show that lured me in with this:
Canada is doubtless one of the most diverse and beautiful countries in the world. With thousands of miles of breathtaking wilderness, cosmopolitan cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, superlative ice...
I was admittedly not having a great night, just kinda bumming and soaking in some things I found out today. I check my email and I get one from VH1 that says they have a show called Awesomely Canadian. I'm thinking, how cool that VH1 is honoring our northern brothers on Canada Day. I clean my kitchen to pass the time til it comes on and it is one of their typical shows making fun of everything. I thought they were going to expose places, and cool bands.... no just another excuse to make fun of Canada. I know Loveboy is the brunt of many jokes, heck I was even embarassed for them being on that show "Hit me baby one more time" This show was just plain stupid and reaching to the same old jokes, Canadians drink beer, love hockey...doh... You know, some of the most amazing cities in North America are all there- TO, Vancouver and Montreal. I saw my first punk rocker when I was like 12 when I was in Ontario for a drag boat race. UGH I am so mad I watched it. Here's the absolute worst part, Rachel Perry was the host. Canadian, former Much hostess and she kept referring to them as "they" She never owned up to being Canadina in the show... So lame, a reminder again why I don't watch TV. I miss Ahmer and "Bands Reunited"
Answer to the question "who is in the picture?" It's Paul MacAusland, singer of one of my top five all time favorite bands Haywire. They played a show in Dartmouth, cross the bay from Halifax tonight. I was quite sure at one point I was going to marry him and move to PEI. So things change 20 years later, but I would still marry him.. ;)
Back in real life, I had a fine lunch with my buddies at Get Out, found out that Brian moved back to AZ(ugh), enjoyed an afternoon shopping with the family and then got my XM set up to listen to tomorrow for Live8. Dan says he may only have to work tomorrow, I wish, I miss him and I see him everyday-crashed out sleeping.... Still uncertain about the Cruise, I think a new wrench has got my mind changing about it.
I got to pick my favorite local song for an article in next week's Get Out. So nice to be asked still. So many to choose from but it had to be the Blossoms, they were my life for so many years, all the rest are icing on the cake. I will have to think about my favorite local songs...make my own list. I picked Kelli Richards, once I thought a minute, that seemed obvious. I could have said Found out about you, remembering the time Karri V and I listened to it million times to transcribe the lyrics but Kelli encompasses early era GBS and makes me remember how many times I would put them on while mom and I would be in the pool or doing something. It represents my parents supporting me in all my interests, including going to Blossom shows and loving them too. They listened to many a tale about the Blossoms at the dinner table.
hmmm, top of my head without going in the closet... My Star- Sugar High, Burger Christ - DHW, Hold Me down - Blossoms, Drive - Jamie's Brother, Stay away sister-dare I say it?, I got more, give me a chance to look in the closet, definately some Spinning Jenny, Beat Angels, Ashbrook/satellite, Deadly Arnez, a song I love from Serene Dominic, hmmm... good, this has got me thinking.....Steve Larson singing The Cure, Whose's side are you on- Gas Giants, Do we count the Sidewinders? hmmmm, Looking forward to seeing the list!

Quiz- Who is this? Hint- his reunited band is playing in Halifax tomorrow for Canada Day. How fast can I get there from AZ?  

Jennifer Good always has pix of her dogs on her blog so I thought it time to include a pix of my three babies together, riding in the RV to the Dunes back in Dec. Della ate my brand new CD that was cover songs of the band Bread. I am not pleased that she now eats CDs. Need to be extra careful where I leave them. Love my puppy but ugh, she needs to get past the chewing of everything, including my carpet! 

This is supposed to be the mighty Patrick Pentland, I got it from some site I found while searching for Sloan research. Simpsons versions of Sloan? Kinda fun! 

Action Pact day

Live 8 is going to be broadcast on XM, including one channel from Barrie, ONT. I think tonight, I am finally inspired to set up my XM... The Bear says they are just broadcasting 6 hours of it. I am so in love with internet radio and my ipod, I haven't set up my XM I got for my b-day back in March. I think I want to get the boombox to insert the XM receiver in as I don;t drive enough to have it specifically in the car.
Today I heard the new OLP on The Bear. It was really good, it had a really poppy chorus for them. They also interviewed Jeremy, he said they almost broke up recording it.
In Sloan news today, (can you believe I can find Sloan news daily?) I was at ASU's record store, Hoodlums today and turns out their manager is a huge fan. He was one of the wild guys requesting tunes at the show. He is on vacation, but I am going to go bug him about them soon. The owner Kristian was telling me that they are all fans of Canadian bands at Hoodlums! It came up because I was looking for The Vanity Project from Steven Page and Stephen Duffy. Then I asked if they knew if The Stripper Union Local was out in the states. (it is not) So we started talking Hip, etc... Then they said that......are you ready for this..... that Matt Good did an in store there...... could this be right or true? Andrew would have known or told me....weird!
Remember to vote for what artist I should make a purse of, any artist, as all I have to do is provide the LP! I think I have a few to choose from. I certainly have collected LPs for years. I haven't counted lately, maybe 3000? In my blessed life, Dan designed a closet specifically for my music collection. When we got our home addition, the closet was fitted for all my CDs and LPs. While working at Rockaway, I acquired alot more vinyl and now have more that I have shelves.
Today I had lunch with a gal who is in charge of the living learning communities here at ASU. She is newer to ASU but I have felt a bond to her right away. I don't feel that way about a lot of girls as basically, I don't trust a lot of girls. After a few girlfriends screw you over, you don't trust many girls to be genuine. Anyway, I could tell I liked her. She and I ended up talking as her dad is suffering from cancer. It is so hard to hear others going through the pain of seeing their parent suffer. I hope to think I helped her some, even if just an ear to bend. I sometimes wonder how strong I could be, being able to handle the type of loss I did in a short amount of time. I wanted to be strong for her and say the right things. I am hardly fine about things, just know others can benefit from talking to me about the things I also dealt with. She made me wonder why I didn't need more psychiatric help, maybe some day I still will. I just told her I watched how strong my mom was and knew I had to be that strong also and would always want to emulate that strength. It also made me remember again as I need a reminder sometimes, as to how strong Dan was through everything and how much he helped me get through everything. God truly placed Dan into my life with incredible timing!
Well, my blog got all serious today but I feel good as I feel she and I are now friends! Time for the whistle to blow-time to go home! Maybe tomorrow I will get my desk in my office clean. I got a second shelf of Star Wars started-yep they pay me for this stuff!! hahaha
Mod Maid herself!

This one is for Karen- Soon a show will begin on CBS about INXS finding a new singer on a reality show. I am super skeptical, saw the contestants are all very young. But I will watch just to see my fave Timmy on national TV!  

Here is the other way they make them, smaller version. They have a hard resin over them and are made with auto seat belts for handles! 

A lady at work's son actually makes these. I attempted to make one but not entirely pleased. So I can order one, my choice of LP cover but I love so many bands! I need my friends to help me choose. Please add a suggestion! I so much loved the one Cathy Swafford was carrying at the Sloan show of Cheap Trick . CanCon band? Blossoms? Posies? Cutting Crew? So hard to choose! Help!  

School Kids

Whisper to a Scream cover by a Edmonton band called Social Code is on The Bear as I begin to write. I tune in and no more than 5 minutes in, they are talking about Sloan opening up for the Foo Fighters! I checked their dates yesterday and that was not true. They are now on the Canadian Foo dates! Awesome for them, how about those dates in the states... I guess I don't know if the foos are coming here. I did just get the Foo's CD and loaded it into the ipod.
I should write an ode to my beloved ipod. I suppose everyone loves their ipod, I used to have my walkman with me all the time when we would travel to drag boat races across the country. I would pack this huge case of tapes, mainly ones I taped stuff off of radio on. I have tapes and tapes of Detroit and Windsor radio stations playing New Wave in the 80's. It was how I listened to music until my mom started driving me to Harmony House or that cool Indy store on Northwestern. My grandma used to let me get 45's and the occassional LP at Kmart trips but it certainly wasn't until college that my collection began to grow seriously. I remember so fondly when Karen and I would ride a bus from Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor to record shop. (Neither of us drove until our 20's) I suppose those were the beginnings of she and I's many times shopping together in the almost 20 years we have been friends. Although she and I battled on time for an OMD 12inch mix of "If you leave" I think I have it? She probably remembers the names of the stores, I only remember School Kids. She and I were just recently talking of the stores we used to go to in Windsor. I think Dr. Disc is still there but the rest of downtown Windsor is pretty dead except a huge casino they built. I went to Dr Disc in London a few years back but it was not so great. In fact that is one of my fave stories. Dan had been so patient as Iwas in a shop called Speed City(?) for 3 hours looking at all their boxes on the floor. I even found a Bitter Sweet Alley record there. Anyway, he was so sweet and patient, then carried the heavy box full of records back to the car. As we were walking to Dr. Disc, he expressed not really feeling like another record store. We walked by a tattoo shop and I said, do you want one? I figured him getting a tattoo would keep him busy while I shopped more for Canadian records. Turns out the Dr. Disc was weird because the record guy wouldn't let me look at the vinyl. He made me give him my list and he would look them up. He admittedly had a mess but part of the fun is the search and maybe finding something that is not on your list! So I wasn't there long. It was the first store I ever saw Canadian band bootlegs but they were super expensive and only 5 or 6 tracks. So I went back to the tat place. Dan wasn't nearly done so they directed me to some other stores. I love his tattoo he got on our trip to London, it is his SS. He later got me a necklace to match as I don't have the nerve for a tattoo. It was a wonderful trip and one of our better vacations. I also remember it was the first time I ever heard Sam Roberts as I was listening to London radio (probably FM96)
Not too much else for excitement, I did some more pre-writing for the novel. Just been writing scene ideas and some details to each. I want to get some software that assists in writing. They make some that pretty much write for you but I found one that just helps get you to write profiles of characters and piece your scenes together. I may ask Dan if I can buy it, it costs $129. One of my pals said, use Word...yeah, I know but a little guidance would be nice if I am finally going to honestly write a novel. I used to write all the time when I was a teen, I have pages of stories I wrote back then. I just need to say I finally did something I always wanted to do, even if it is just for me. It feels good to stretch my mind and write so much. Yesterday I was even doing so while waiting for Dan at the inlaws. Made good use of my time by having my laptop with me!
Was at The Blaze for a while today, I so much love seeing and hearing new directors so excited for the school year. I wish I could keep any bad things from happening, keeping them fresh and not end up beat to death by the end of the school year. I still have high hopes for a lack of controversy this year... I have to keep my optimism.
July 4th holiday is coming up, as is Canada Day (wink) Dan now thinks he may have to work all but the 4th. Probably not doing anything, maybe not even a day at the lake if he does have to work. He is so exhausted. July 2 is Live8, I guess I can listen all day on a Canadian station. I don't get why they wouldn't ask Matt Good, he is such a hard worker for poverty and Amnesty International. He is perfect for their show. The line up is weak for the Canadian show even for someone like me who likes so many Canadian artists. It is at Molson Park in Barrie, ONT. We went there to see a show when we Pre-teens were in Toronto last (humm, 91 or 92?) We saw Bryan Adams, Extreme, Steve Miller, Sass Jordan. We missed Moxy Fruvious (bummer now!)
It was a big drive from TO as I recall, I also backed into a fence with the rental car. (fortunately I never got charged) Oddly I mostly remember hearing "Buzz" by Haywire while waiting like 3 hours to get out of the parking lot. We have some fun pix from then. Nina had never heard any of Steve Miller's songs.
Nuff blogging rambles for now... ;0 LMC

Spits and sputterings

Things have been terribly dull lately, not that I am looking for drama or stress, things are just duldrums of summer I guess. Listening to BOB, they are playing things like Great Big Sea and Spirit of the West today, very traditional sounding Can-con. Dan is working 7 days a week, so we haven't really gone out or done anything. Nor have I raced since the May team race, I just knew I would finally get my car back and something else would hold me up from racing. I figured it would be him going out of town. I am glad that is not true!
Some random spouts:
Today is the last day of student orientations, I like them but I am glad they will be done. I want to get back to my projects for Blaze and Cronkite Village. Pretty soon someone will move into the office next to me, I have enjoyed having the hall to myself, I will have to turn down my Canadian radio-boo!
I discovered a new station I have been listening to - The Bear in Edmonton. They play alternative tracks by Matt and the first day I listened, they played Matt then an ID from Patrick into "All used up" Speaking of, there is a second video for that track and it is funny, Patrick plays a stuck up rock star, big fur coat and all. Watch it at http://www.vikrecordings.com/sloan/asides/
Sloan is everywhere lately for me. It has been nearly a year since I saw them but I can't seem to get over them. It is nice to discover a new band to love, although I certainly knew about them just didn't get it til now.... In fact, oddly I distinctly remember the Geffen rep working me on it when I was music director at KUKQ.. They were hyped as the Canadan Nirvana. The rep was pushing them hard on us and I honestly remember listening to "Underwhelmed' and Curtiss Johnson saying it left us underwhelmed. I wish I would have caught on then so I could have chased them around to a few cities to see them back then. I am still not a huge fan of that song but then I remember being in Vancouver listening to this amazingly cool AM station cira summer 1992. They played "I am the Cancer" as if it was a single. I changed my mind some about Sloan and picked up their CDs throughout the years. Dan likes to tease me that I had all their CDs but never listened to them til now. Oh I have a few of those bands in my collection. Even Moist was a later learn to love band for me. Tea Party is still growing, so it is not uncommon for me. Anyway, I was reading the new US mag with Denise Richards on the cover and I am looking at this pix of Alannis Morrisette because her bangs look dorky and I suddenly realize the woman next to her in the pix is wearing a Sloan shirt- in US mag! They are everywhere for me....lately! As I mentioned before, One of my students went to Coachella and got me an autographed shirt. I finally got a chance to thank him for it and he said they were old and one of them was an ass. I pressed for which but he could remember, I showed him a pix and he says, "They don't look like that anymore" It's the grey hair I like the best..... hahaha! Back the day, Karen and I would make fun of Nina for liking the older guy types like David Foster(!) , now I find greying attractive, my, how things change!
I am building a website for alumni of KASR/KASC. It has been a fun project and should be ready to view in a few weeks. I have gotten a lot of responses but it will get more difficult to locate people after a while. I am trying to think of creative ways to find people. I may do a mailing if my boss agrees. I am kinda unsure of some of the mid 90's staff as I was not as connected with the station at the time until I came back for the advisorory board.
BOB is playing this 1985 song, while I am a grad of that fine year, I think this song is just trying to capitalize on the new preoccupation with the 80's. It is pretty lame. I ran into my invite to the big 20 year reunion while cleaning my desk Saturday. Part of me wishes I could just go and see what people look like now without having to communicate with anyone. I hope I can get the book at least to hear what people do now. I doubt I will go although if I did, I could sneak a trip to Canada with it. Wish I could talk Dan into a drive to TO. Hmm, maybe I will work on it.
We have been talking about going on a cruise that features Tempe bands! GBs are headlining of course. It is three days to Mexico. It would be fun and a chance to check out a cruise to see if we would like it enough to go on the Alaska one. We'll see, a few other vacation ideas are starting to lure me away. Dan kinda nodded to BC, maybe we could work it out with a Matt date. That would be nice too, I want Dan to see the Pacific Northwest.
I will try to blog more often, I love doing it, never have enough time, damn work getting in the way.... I have a list of tales to tell of my days of yore. It is ok if life gets dull in your 30's, it is better than too much drama!!!

Been too busy to write lately but I did start writing! If you know what I mean. I will blg again soon. For now... my inspiration!  

UnNatural Abilities

Somethings come so easy for people but the changes to my race car have not been the easiest to get used to. I am not like other drivers, hop in and instinctively know how to adjust immediately. Some may have this ability naturally but for me, it takes me some practice before I have a grasp of something. Even after practice, I am still going to make a mistake or two... I write about this because I am feeling good that I am more at ease with my car and felt comfortable that I am getting it, I am actually liking the changes particularly the transbrake. I resist change so often I am missing out on the better options available in life. I guess I was feeling pressure from Dan and others to just jump in the car and be used to the complete change of habits I had developed in the past 8 years of racing. It was like learning anything new, you struggle, feel like it's too challenging and then suddenly it's just there, the skill becomes natural.
I will not get over confident but I feel more confidence after Saturday night. I was hardly expecting to be competitive already but it turns out, I can still compete and do well. Sometimes the lord knows when we need a confidence boost!
So the weekend was spectacular, the movie was an emotional rollercoaster. I was dissappointed that some details did not follow the original story but I was impressed how well the story was woven. I was dissappointed that Lucas didn't use Padme in a stronger fashion given his use of strong female characters. I still left the theater in awe and very affected. I doubt the things that bugged me are concerning to others.
Saturday Hunter and I had a full day of Star Wars toys at BK and Walmart. We watched "A new hope" prior to heading to the track (maybe that is why I did so well) The race was fun and felt so good to win some rounds, it has just been so long since I felt competitive. Unfortunately a few oil downs made it for a much too late night as we got home at 4am...
Sunday was very special also as we picked up the enclosed trailer for my car. I was so darn tired, it was hard to comprehend until Dan drove Big Red into the trailer around 8pm. It is such a dream to have this, I am so blessed. I did feel sorta emotional I wished my parent could have enjoyed this dream they shared with me. Actually I always felt bad we didn't get the RV for mom to enjoy whereas my dad would have been beaming over the trailer...
I am not getting things done I want in my summer days so far, I need to buckle down and not lose precious time without students. I am taking an online course right now and in two days, it has been very informational and useful for improving my classes. I always wondered how online classes work, it is good for me to experience it.
I haven't heard any good 80's today as I didn't get to listen to BOB. I have been listening to FM96 in London today.
I did have an odd couple of happenings at the race Saturday night. Having a website has many good and bad points. I try to keep my site as positive as possible and keep the news tidbits away from any controversy or opinions. I do use a kidding around style on occasion. I made a reference to a racer, totally kidding around that he was mad at the forum because he hadn't been sharing his results like he used to. What I didn't know was, he really was "mad" at me. I honestly have no idea why as I thought I got on fine with this young man. I always wrote extra items about him as I was a fan of his racing. So I happen to pull up behind him Saturday night and said hi and he proceeeded to come over to me and unload on how ticked off he was at "my shit" and how I was one of the reason he would want to quit racing for the shit I write. He said he came out there to race not put up with people like me. I was truly dumbfounded and sorta thought as he was yelling,"he must have other issues because this was way beyond a tiny blurb I wrote" He called me stupid and other not so nice things. I only responded with "I am not like that" but he was already walking away when his tirade was finished. Usually someone yelling at me like that would get me all discombobulated (sp?) but I let it roll off me. It didn't really make any sense really. I am always amazed how angry I have seen some people at the race track, it is sorta sad that someone puts that much weight in how they perform at their hobby. I understand pressure to do well but there are so many other more important things in our lives than how you do at the track. It all started from me mistakingly referring to his car as "purple Yurple" instead of it's correct name "purple nurple" He yelled at me about that at a race a few weeks ago but I thought he was kidding.... I honestly don't know him well enough to understand the outrage but he also doesn't know me at all to accuse me of maligning him. Anyone who knows me I have only good intentions with the site. I wanted to tell him it was completely innappropriate to yell at someone who is sitting in their race car , strapped in, ready to go make a pass in a high powered vehicle. I observed him for the rest of the night and witnessed him to be angry all night. I saw him sitting away from all the other racers when there was an oildown, isolating himself from everyone, I also watched him go out of his way to avoid me. He was helping another guy who played some games on the starting line and got disqualified. His buddy got out of his car and kicked cones and the two of them stompped off together. His buddy even purposely blocked a line of cars from running while he protested his DQ. I am stunned if I am the only cause of Purple Nurple's bad night. I can't believe that at all. I would like to talk it out with him as I am always one to apologize if I wrote something he was that upset about. He certainly wasn't going to give me a chance that night. I suspect he is not doing as well racing this year as he did last year. For some people, that is all they hang their hat on.
It was a night full of lessons as another racer yelled at me later for something else. He asked me what kind of games I was playing but I had just made a mistake that he perceived as a head game-hilarious.... Most everyone knows I am just still getting used to the car. I quickly explained to him and he backed off. Ryan said it must have been a full moon, I looked up later and it was nearly full. Full enough... I am stunned that anyone pays that much attention to how I race. It is sort part of the sport but sometimes I think it has to do with being a female in a male sport also. I doubt either of them would have had the courage to come up to my window and make accusations if I was a guy the size of Dan. I don't think it's only about being a female but it makes it easier for them. I find it sort of facinating to analyze it. I am sure that would piss them off too!

Dance Desire

Heard Haywire's "Dance Desire" on the radio today. It really got me reminising about the road trips I would take with my best pals- the "pre-teens" as the guys at WQBR guys dubbed us. We got the name for our habit of screeching like pre-teens over things like EMU football players, Canadian Band boys, and squirrel chasing freshman. Karen, Nina and I's trips began with Nina driving us across the border to see Eye Eye in Windsor in 1986. Our next trip was driven by Canadian railway as we rode the train to Toronto. As we got older and I started driving, we took more trips to Windsor. After I moved to Arizona, we would road trip to Sedona when they would come visit. We also drove to Toronto on one of my visits back there. What I remember most about our road trips where listening to Canadian radio and always having a tape recorder with us that we used to record our conversations while driving. I think we picked up that habit from our buddies Nick Naime and Chuck Cordell at WQBR. When they would road trip they did the same plus make road trip music tapes. Pretty sure I made a few road music tapes for us too. Usually Karen would insist on holding the microphone and be sort of the host of our travel tapes. She was the inquizitive one, asking myself and particularly Nina the type of questions that would make us blush. Or in our terms, make Nina want to go "cue up a record." (when ever we were at WQBR and she wanted to avoid a question she would say she had to go cue up her next record) Karen would also use the mic to sing along to whatever tunes we had going. It explains her current love of Karaoke now.. I am sure those tapes are full of my current band boy crushes, Nina's talk of her favorite Sun Devil "Sparky" and our constant ranking of the upper echelon of Canadian bands. As I recall, our top 5 essentials were Haywire, Eye Eye, Glass Tiger, Corey Hart and Platinum Blonde. We called Bryan Adams "the lord god king boo-foo of Canadian" We worshipped Stu Jefferies of Good Rockin Tonight after he mentioned us on the show and sent us a bunch of 45's for the station. Nina had a strange attraction to David Foster and other older guys. I should go back and listen to a few of those tapes, it would really be a time piece. I guess that is why one gets hung up on an era of music, it is a very pleasant reminder of a memorable time in your life.

I can die happy now?

Well, I always said I would die happy after I saw George Lucas finish the story. I am going this evening for my first viewing of Revenge of the Sith. Yeah! we have been so excited to go, we have been watching all the movies prior and Dan has been playing the video game non-stop. It is a very eventful weekend. A constant reminder of how blessed I am. Tonight the movie, Hunter and Melissa will be seeing it with us, then my return to compitition on Saturday( so far I have only tested the car, not actually raced anyone) On Sunday, another dream realized when we pick up our new enclosed trailer - Big Red's new garage! All very exciting!

Random encounters

Seems I am in the mood for some random thoughts on this lovely Friday afternoon. It is not hot yet in Phoenix which is reason to celebrate alone!
I just heard Gob doing "Paint it Black" weird version. I heard Eight Seconds today on BOB FM and I happened to check the Seattle station at Udub. They had a live performance from Sloan on today. I listened live at noon, they sounded fantastic, were witty as usual and really made my day to actually remember to listen to something! I really could see me living my 90's over again only as a Sloan fan instead of Posies fan. Some of their band past history is very similar. I guess I would have gone to Canada more than Seattle to see Sloan! Sloan never ended up coming here, only as close as Indio for Coachella. A student of mine was so nice, he got me a shirt fromt he show-autographed!!!!! I will see them again. I found it interesting in the interview that they talked about how different they are live and how that doesn't tranlate to record. It is funny on two fronts, that is exactly what The Posies always said also. Plus it is seeing Sloan live that changed me from a casual fan to a megafan. Needless to say The Posies were always incredible live also.
It is final exam time at ASU. We had our end of year party for the station. While I will greatly miss some of the students, I was relieved to end this school year, this semester particularly. The stress it created was once again beyond any amont of money I am paid for my job. I can only now hope for the future and learn from my mistakes with this group. I know have the summer to get fully prepared for the 30 students who will fill the first year of Cronkite Village. I will also spend much of the summer getting the Blaze operations manual complete to present to the future staffs. I will miss my 394 class, I njoyed many of them this semester.
I have been realizing that I have taken on many of my mom's interests since she has been gone. I love reading cookbooks now, something I would have never imagined or ever done while she was alive. I also enjoyed my time in the desert while Dan was returning that girl. I walked around checking out different cactus and all the blooms on them. She would have been proud that I recognize the beauty in cooking and desert life now.
Dan surprised me and visited me at work yesterday. We are really enjoying doing various things together again. The time spent on building Big Red took it's toll on our time spent together.
Things I am excited for: Seeing Revenge of the Sith, a few months without teaching/blaze problems, maybe a vacation?, racing again(I have still only tested so far), getting Dan to put my new shelves up, getting an enclosed trailer, peaceful time in my heart....

Hot Hot Heat

Canadian boys playing on The Blaze as we speak. The heat plays into an odd tale I tell today of something that happened Sunday out in the middle of the desert. Dan and I went riding quads at Sahauro Lake on Sunday. We many miles into the ride when we came upon a motorcross bike rider. He flagged us down and asked us if we could give a young red curly red headed girl a ride. It was strange because as we rode up, it was apparent that she was not riding, she was wearing shorts and a tank top. She was bleeding on her face and her knees. She said her friends left her out there. Dan and I didn't really think too much about it, he just said he had to take the bike I was riding and I would stay behind. She kept saying thank you and seemingly crying as she got on the bike. She was visibly dehidratated and frail. I asked her at that point if she was ok and she started crying more. I talked to the motorcross guy after Dan left. He said he thought it was some kind of joke as he rode up because she was laying on her back spead eagle as if she was dead. She got up and told him she had been throwing up. She told him her friends left her but later she told Dan she had been with her friends at Butcher Jones beach and wandered off. She told Dan she had been walking for 5 hours. It was probably 10 am when we came upon her. Dan rode her back and she kept letting go of him. Dan feared she was going to fly off so he rode extremely slow. The motorcross rider asked if I needed him to stay with me but I sent him on his way. He ended up going back to the parking and meet up with Dan. He took her back to town. Honestly it was exactly like you hear on TV when a high school kid is lost in the desert, probably drugs and alcohol involved, dehidrated and rescued by a helicopter. We were very affected by the involvement we had in helping the girl. When Dan returned, we rode on and got to a turn off with a burnt out old car, we rode down to it and in more surreal times for the day, the ground was littered with shotgun shells. Dan took one look at the area and motioned me to get the heck out of there. Not sure if we rode into a shooting range or more so "unofficial shooting range" So I must go unfortunately without reflecting as much as I wanted but time to meet my new directors, all full of hope and promise....
Been hearing Plat nearly everyday!!Yeah!

A very grateful gal in B.C. for a show in August 2004 

Andrew and Matt

www.matthewgood.org Thanks to Andrew and my hubby, I found out about Matt Good... I submit this photo I took of Andrew and Matt in honor of my addition to mblog readers blogs today!!!! To Matt, thanks for the amazing music that stirs and inspires your fans so much!

Driver's Seat - Sniff 'n the Tears

It finally happened yesterday.... I was back behind the wheel of my big red '69 Camaro after a year and a half. The wait was agony in some ways, testing every bit of my patience as I felt something had been taken away from me permanantly. In the past few months my impatience honestly changed to a calming simmer. I suspect that I started getting nervous instead and feared the changes. I was insanely calm for this build up. There were a lots of racer friends waiting to see me, cheering me on but I remained very sedate almost. I already knew it would be fine after Dan ran it so maybe I just hopped in figuring it would be the same "old heap" (John Force's affectionate term for his race car) But it was not the same by any means. It may sound really odd to the uninitiated but a great race car driver is very in tune with her car. I knew Big Red backwards, knew when something was wrong, anything... I felt bolts break in some instanances. When I drove the car to tech and everything sounded different.. louder, clunkier. The motor, while not changed a bit, sounded different in my new surroundings. One pal at the track kept referring to my new car, it was funny, he kept correcting himself but it might as well be... So many people said such nice things, how bad ass it looks, how intimidating it looks, what a great job Travis and Dan did(which they certainly should hear a million more times) One racer said I should race(I was just testing) because I would win rounds just by the competitor looking at the car and panicking... The nicest thing said to me was from Team Underdog racer Jim who said "Welcome home" with a hug. I would never even live in Arizona if it was not for Firebird International Raceway! I would have never met my husband if it was not for Firebird. It truly is home for me! I certainly made plenty of mistakes in the 3 passes I made, The most humorous being my forgetting to step on the gas when I set the transbrake. I was so worried about trying to leave off the button I forgot the minor step when you are supposed to mash the gas after you press the button and take your foot off the brakes. Dan filmed me, abeit with shaky hands, Travis walked me into the water box in effort to get me to do a few better burnouts (even that process has changed) The team photographer who has worked with me on my website was taking a zillion photos(he knows a sucker, oops, I mean good customer a mile away) Travis kept giving a thumbs up while I was spinning the tires in the burnout. After the second pass, he says politely to his silly sis in law, "when I give you a thumbs up it means give it more gas" (Not good job ya dork) Dan is already shopping to build a faster motor, I can't even handle the one I got yet...
The track went away and we decided to call it a day as the guys need to tweak on the motor and fix a little problem-no shift light!!!! I am trying to figure out all these new sounds and motion and the shift light isn't working! Nothing like throwing me off even more! I used the tach by pass three but honestly I had too much else to think about let alone that being missing. Oh and then there's the pass where my belts opened up by accident....(shh) Still I swear I never even shook or got that feeling I get when it's time to race a first round. I can't explain... but I guess I was back home in Big Red even with all the changes.
P.S. BOB FM played Eight Seconds for me as I was on Canadian radio again last week! I heard Plat-"It doesn't really matter" and "Situation Critical" last week and more Spoons too. And someone else requested Haywire last week (swear it wasn't me!) Sloan has a new single that Pat sings- swoon ;)
P.P.S. My last post was obviously written in a very dim time. Certainly some of these things still loom and are very troublesome. I am working through some stuff including how to not get so involved with some students who end up not being the individuals I trusted. I am also very troubled over my naive optimism causing a lot of stress to people I care about, more than just myself. I have to be less trusting that people have the desire to learn. The race car did not nessaraily exercise out all my demons out yet.

Or is this a hint to what was going on?? I have read her say before she was on drugs while filming all three. What do you think happens to kids with Vader for a dad. 

Carrie Fisher recently announced she is going to write a behind the scene, tell all book about the filming of the Star Wars trilogy. I think this pix might hint at what incestious things were happening. 

Spring Fling

Somehow this week there was a reference to the Spring Fling that happens yearly at the U of A in Tucson. I wish Icould meet the person who set up the show for the 1991 Spring Fling so I could thank them. It was at this show that I witnessed the best concert I have ever been to. Someone was brilliant enough to book The Posies, Jellyfish and Redd Kross together. It was the first time they met and there was some rivalry between Jellyfish and Posies but they ended up loving each other. They decided prior to the show that they would do an encore with all three bands. I was backstage witnessing them trying to decide what song they would do. I will never forget seeing members of all three bands standing in a circle harmonizing "Pulling Mussels from a shell" They actually ended up doing "Go your own way" with all members on stage. It kills me that I had a sucky camera because I have pix from it but they are pretty crappy. I went to the Show with Julia Trainor, a gal I was friends with from KASR. she and I went to the space musuem on campus with Chris from Jellyfish and Rick from The Posies. That was very fun. I didn't really talk to Jonathan Auer 'til later. Oddly I kinda recall talking about jewlry with Jon. I had gotten my posie necklace and Jon loved it. I later went back and got him one(which he was wearing the next time I saw them which was the Chicago trip -a story for another post) I also remember Jon telling me at that show that he was engaged which made my little infauated heart break. I recall thinking back then was when Jon and Ken were in that best buddies phase when they were inseperable. I witnessed that to change in the many years following that I would see them. I also remember sitting out on the grass watching The Posies with Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish right next to me. All three bands were outstanding of course! I guess I didn't tape which was so odd for me at that time. I know they arranged some more shows later after the fun they had at this Spring Fling! I witnessed power pop history and it stands as the best concert I ever saw... I'll try to remember to post the pix I have of The Posies from that show.
Glad to hear Spring Fling continues!

Here's another of the twins-wink! 

In anticipation of May 19th and Revenge of the Sith! Hunter and I are going shopping for the release of toys this weekend 

Past is gone but something...

Much of this blog is focused on the past as I mainly do this to write things down I don't want to forget. Lately my past , particularly people from my past have been surfacing. Never sure it that type of thing comes in waves but for the most part, I am glad to hear from people from my past. In a post I never finished I was going to tell you all about my recent opportunity to go into the Gin Blossoms recording studio and hear some of their new recordings. Turns out Robin's studio is next to a restaurant we have started to frequent for lunch. I have been so happy to see him as the intervals I see him get longer and longer. His broter Lance asked my kids and I to lunch and then gave us the tour of the studio. It means a heck of a lot to me to say I have been there while recording their first new material in 10 years. Jesse was very kind, we talked about his record with Craig Northey of The Odds. We even got to the topic of Matt Good, Jesse said he knew Matt. Bill was very cordial. We talked to Scottie for a good long time about a week later as he came and sat with us. It makes me feel a little more connected to something I was once embroiled in. The new music sounds fantastic particularly a song called "Jet Black" I haven't really had a chance to talk to Robin as he is always on the phone or something (like riding his lil scooter around) but he has a blog I enjoy reading often.
In the past is gone but it always returns, I got an email this week from Chris Wright, the former guitarist of local band Jamie's Brother. I always enjoyed his company as we went to a couple concerts and dinners together. He was always very tough guy to get a hold of, so it was nice that it was him seeking me out to see what I was up to now. I don't know if it is right or wrong but I like that I stick in some people's memories enough that they look me up years later. Particularly people I was very fond of, perhaps without them knowing how fond of them I really was. Not too long ago I heard from an old pal Charlie who I worked with at KSLX. He said I was haunting him by hearing things like Loverboy or seeing movies we saw together like Austin Powers. Maybe it is vain but I like haunting my old crushes-;) Maybe I also enjoy that myself and my interests are so unique that people have a hard time forgetting me. :) Anyway, Chris Wright is in a band up in Seattle now and I will get a CD from him soon. Jamie's Brother, Like August Red had more of an AOR sound than alternative. Chris said he just got married. I saw pix of him on his site and he has aged like us all but still a rock star. I saw some recent pictures of Blush today also, he did some Roger Clyne tribute show in Indiana. That in itself is bizarre since Roger kicked him out of The Refreshments. So he got up with tribute bands and played his gutair parts to his songs-bizarre.. Anyway he looked really thin which makes me think he may be having troubles again-who knows?!
Hey Honeymoon Suite is on the radio right now-"Burning in Love" I also heard The Spoons earlier. I am addicted to this station- BOB-FM in Ottawa. It plays tons of Canadian 80's, it makes my day.
We are also going to start a count of days with toronado nightmares, it is a reoccuring dream I have so it will be interesting to track. Last night we watched it form and it was small but then grew as we watched it come to our house. It then appeared to hit the house next door. I was not in any house I know and all I remember was my dad being there. I think they usually occur if I am troubled, eat late or eat something disturbing.
Time to pack up and go home for Easter weekend and maybe my return to the track????

38 St. Patrick's days

Today is my 38th bday, I had a nice surprise as I got to work and there was a sign on my door with pix of my car and dogs and turtles plus converse with The Blaze emblazed on them :) There were Shamrocks on my desk from Karen's garden. (one of the Cronkite school's secretaries) I was teary eyed as those were things like my mom would always do for me. Karen texted messaged me this morning plus I got ecards from Chris Denton, Roger and Cassie and Steve.
I am going to write about some birthdays I remember. I am always rushed to write this blog but let's see how far I get. On my bday in 1999, Dan took me to get diamond earrings and ended up really planning to buy me an engagement ring. I wore it on my right hand until it was official and he asked my dad. My friends all knew it wasn't just a friendship ring ;). He decorated the house in 50's stuff and a big sign he drew for that bday. My 33 1/3 bday was at Ed Debevics and we got up and sang Grease lightning with the crew at Ed's. On my 26th bday, my morning show producer on KUKQ got some of my faves to call me on the air and had August Red come to the studio to sing Happy Birthday. The Gin Blossoms were on tour at the time. Scottie Johnson called because he kept knocking on Robin's door with no answer. Robin did call later off the air. She even got Jon Auer of The Posies to call me but he got the wrong day and called on the 18th. I didn't mind! I interviewed him on the air about their next LP, "Frosting on the Beater" (later to become one of my faves of all time) I recall a bday when my parent went with us to The Vine to see Spinning Jenny and Gene Pool. I think on my 34th was the time Our Lady Peace played at Nita's Hideaway. 36th was pretty special is a very different way, Mom had just had her surgery and was recovering. Dan was in Yuma so it was just her and I laying around all day relaxing. She had wrapped my gifts before her surgery so she brought one out for me each hour of the day. Fun little stuff! I finally got dressed to go get us Long John Silvers that night. As a kid my mom knew how to make every bday so special and she still did even on our last one together. In my K-8 school, St. Matthew's, I always took brownies on my bday that mom made with power sugar on top with little shamrock picks in them. My school friends always couldn't wait for them. I always had the best cakes of course because that is what she did for a living. On my 30th bday, she managed to get a cake out to the race track where they surprised me with a cake that had a tire doing a burn out on it. I had every cake from turtles to camaros to canadian flags to underdog and Archie as a youngster. One year when I was in college, I was at a conference called SXSW music festival. It was an ok day, we went to see the Blossoms in Austin but I was homesick. When I got home, my parents had built a entertainment center in my room. One other year they built a lamp made of 45 records. One year my mom cut out a ton of shamrocks and put them all over the house.
One thing that was always true growing up was that we would always get a snow storm on my bday and my lil friends couldn't come to my party because of the weather. Nina still tells me if it snowed or not back home. Today I called my latest favorite Canadian radio station BOB-FM in Ottawa and requested Eye Eye. I was on the air with my call of course and he played "X Ray Eyes" Very fun! Nina's mom finished the Divet cover that mom was working on for me. I got it a month ago but saved it for today because I know Mom would have given it to me on my bday . So I am looking forward to opening it tonight!
I am sure I will think of many otehr bday memories throughout the day... Other people make bdays special, thank God for the many special people in my life!

Here's Lawrence Zubia pouring his soul into his songs as always. 

The black and white photos are so dramatic, I sent this one to Robin's wife, it is a good shot! 

My friend Chris Denton took these shots at my Cd release party- This one is Roger Clyne 

Always loved this Dead Hot flyer