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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Same Old Flame - Sloan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Never travel far without a little Big Star

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

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year to you

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

Message Board holiday parties??

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

You gotta "Gimme that, Gimme that" chart!

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

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

Matt Mays and Sam Roberts together

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

City of Lakes - Matt Mays

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

Soul Breaking-The Tea Party

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

Too fast for you!

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

Rex Racer to the rescue

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

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

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

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

Whatever happened to That girl on the airwaves?

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

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


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

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

Your dreams have come true

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

All by happenstance

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

Just South of Nowhere

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

Random rants today!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Imperial Sand Trooper

Sand car- FAST and FUN!

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

Della loves her momma...

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

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

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

Little Terror - Matthew Good

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

What, usually you're my type

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

C'mon, C'mon

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