My Little Radio Show

I Cannot Believe This

2008-04-12T10:21:00.004-04:00

Now, when I was complaining last night about my computer, I had no idea that it would take revenge on me.

I had left my computer on overnight which I sometimes do. When I sat down at my desk this morning, I noticed that it had a black screen instead of the usual screen saver.

Oh no.

I tried to get it out of sleep mode with no luck, so I manually shut it down. Then it wouldn't restart. After many attempts, I finally got it started in safe mode, but once I was in safe mode, I couldn't do anything. No system restore. Nothing. So, I shut it down. It shut down cleanly, but now, nothing. It won't restart. It will power on, but all I get is a black screen.

That damn computer died! This is the second HP laptop that I have owned that has just died. At least this one waited a couple weeks later than the first one and died after I finished tax work for my clients.

My six-month warranty on that PIECE OF SHIT just ended LAST WEEK.

So, I have to buy a new computer. Bye-bye summer vacation.

Radio Show Friday, April 11 8-10am

2008-04-11T23:10:00.003-04:00

Ella Fitzgerald - A Tisket A Tasket
Tex Williams - Suspicion
Basia Bulat - In the Night
David Bowie - Queen Bitch
Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Constipation Blues
Billy Bragg - The Beach Is Free
The Spinners - It's A Shame
Ruth Brown - Teardrops From My Eyes
A Girl Called Eddy - The Soundtrack of Your Life
Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home
Golden Palominos - I'm Not Sorry
Acid House Kings - This and That

I had a mostly uneventful radio show today. But I was excited about playing that David Bowie song. I don't know anything about David Bowie. I mostly learn about his music through other artists who cover his song. But I do love "Queen Bitch." But like with Bob Dylan, I don't even know where Bowie era to begin with. It seems like his music has changed so much that it's all too overwhelming.

Last night, I went to see Shelby Lynn. I just don't get her. She has some CRAZY obsessed fans who were much more entertaining to watch than Lynn. But I just don't get what the fuss is all about. Her voice was nice and all, but she never belted it out Neko-Case-style which is what I wanted her to do. And she wore a freakin' business suit. Who the heck performs at the Artscenter in a freakin' business suit? But on the way home, I listened to Clarence "Frogman" Henry. His song, "Ain't Got No Home" makes me very happy and makes me dance with my shoulders.

I am still in a bad mood over this computer, so it's hard for me to express any joy over my radio show.

Here's the link to the entire playlist.

I HATE VISTA AND I HATE MY LAPTOP

2008-04-11T22:22:00.003-04:00

Seriously. I really really really really hate this machine. And I really really really really hate Vista. Alot. A whole lot. I have never in my life felt hatred like this.

Here's a picture. This is the laptop you should avoid like the plague. I about typed "avoid like the plaque." We should all avoid the plague, the plaque and this laptop.
I'm ready for my tax refund so I can buy a new computer.

The Life Of A Mix Tape

2008-03-26T23:35:00.008-04:00

As I have mentioned before, I am a musical whore.... I'll exchange mix tapes and cds with any willing participant. Over the years, my mix tapes have multiplied. The mix cd collection has grown so huge that it filled up an entire shelf in my record cabinet to the point that I had to move a few feet of records out to a closet.

So, a month ago, I decided to clean them out. I filled an entire garbage bag full of old mixes. Yes, an entire garbage bag. Things that hit the can included old cd club mixes, mixes from long lost friends, and hey-I-can-out-obscure-you mixes. I told some folks about this big purge. They looked at me in shock as if I had thrown away the family heirloom silver collection.

But really... how long is one supposed to hang onto these things? Mix tapes and CDs are like greeting cards or postcards: you keep the interesting or meaningful ones and toss the rest. Really. What am I supposed to do with a collection of unlistenable covers of Tori Amos songs? (Thank god I never got one like that.)

Recently, I got a mix in the mail from my cd club. There was no return address. I opened the package and removed the cd. Then, when I opened the cd case, a little slip of paper fell out.

This is what it said:
To improve playback in Itunes:

Insert CD
Right click first song and select "Get Info"
Click on the "Options" tab
Then make the following adjustments, hitting "Next" to move from one track to the next:

Track 1: Change "Stop Time" to 3:25
Track 2: Move "Volume Adjustment" to 100% and make "Stop Time" 6:02
Track 3: Change "Stop Time" to 5:00
Track 4: Change "Stop Time" to 3:35
and on and on and on for each track.

HOPE! I! DO! I have never in my life received a mix cd that came with instructions! And what tedious instructions. BLEAH!!! This mix not only didn't make it to the CD player, but it went straight into the trash. I didn't even read the track listing. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I believe that one should be able to just put a CD into a CD player and have music come out.... without having to send it out to be mastered and tracked. It's that simple.

What is your mix tape/mix cd shelf life? Do you hang onto them forever?

Radio Show Friday, March 7 8-10AM

2008-03-13T21:26:00.009-04:00

Radar Brothers - Happy Spirits
Shout Out Louds - Impossible
Sarah Vaughan - East of the Sun (West of the Moon)
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions - Suzanne
Dolly Parton - Here You Come Again
Ronnie Lane - Kuschty Rye
Super Furry Animals - Carbon Dating
Steve Miller Band - True Fine Love
Butterglory - Waiting on the Guns
Sandro Perri - Everybody's Talkin'
Golden Smog and Roseanne Cash - Seven Year Ache
Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant - Stratosphere Boogie

Do you love Dolly Parton like I love her? I recently watched 9 to 5 which ignited my desire to hear late 70s - early 80s era Dolly. I love her yodel "Muleskinner Blues." But even more than her yodel, I love "Here You Come Again." I have probably played that song 50 times in the car over the past couple weeks. And I cannot wait to get back to the station to play some off the 9 to 5 soundtrack which WXYC just acquired.

2008 has not been kind to me so far. One of the saddest things to happen is that the High Dollar Hot Dogs broke up. Well, I guess we have broken up. I never got officially dumped. But they've stopped returning my calls and emails. I was told that breaking up is what bands do. It hurts a little, but I knew that it wasn't going to work out. In memory of our little band, I played my favorite song that we covered, "Seven Year Ache."

But there is still hope for me and the uke. I told a few folks about my dream to start up the Steve Miller Band Ukulele Cover Band. Several people are interested! But I need to find a good lead uke player, because that surely isn't me. Last weekend I stayed up until 4am playing uke with Mark. We learned the Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved." I also want to play Steve Miller's "True Fine Love" with the new band. Do you? Come join! Bring songs! Unfortunately, this band is still very much a dream, but maybe once things slow down a bit, I can bring this band to life.

Last week, I played Sandro Perri's cover of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin.'" Because of this song, I rented the film Midnight Cowboy. I knew nothing about the film when I put it at the top of my Netflix list. I didn't know that John Voight (who is hot) and Dustin Hoffman were in it. I didn't know that it was the only movie rated X that ever won an Academy Award. I didn't know that it was about a hustler in NYC. I finally got around to watching it last night and it blew me away. I loved it! The little experimental film bits were incredible. I also have a new appreciation for Dustin Hoffman. I highly recommend it.

I am still very much obsessed with Ronnie Lane. Last week it was "Kuschty Rye." This week, it's "The Poacher." I would be playing "The Poacher" tomorrow on the radio, but since it's spring break, I am taking a week off. But tune in from 9am to noon to hear Tim's show which is really wonderful.

The rest of my playlist from last week's show can be found here.

Barbecue and Basketball Makes For A Perfect Day

2008-03-09T23:19:00.011-04:00

Yesterday, Mark, Lance, Sara, Nora, Kevin and I piled into a car and headed down 64 to Lexington to have some barbecue. Holy moly. The barbecue at Lexington #1 was phenomenal. As soon as we pulled in the parking lot, you could smell the smokehouse.

I got a hotdog and a plate of barbecue and slaw:

The barbecue was smoky and flavorful all on its own. The slaw was very vinegary and seemd to compliment the barbecue perfectly. The hushpuppies did nothing for me. I thought they were bland and dry, but I was the only person in the group that felt this way. What do I know.

After we ate, Lance, Kevin and I wandered around to the back of the restaurant and were invited inside to view THE MEAT IN THE PIT!!!!

It was fun to be in the car with a bunch of music geeks. I was teased for liking Bill Withers and John Schneider. But it's cool because I introduced them to this unique version of Van Halen's "Running with the Devil" which thrilled Nora to no end.

After we got back, I came home and practiced ukulele for a little while before walking over to Kevin's to watch the biggest basketball game of the season. After loading up on tacos and tamales from Azteca Grill and plenty of beers, we watched the game on the BIG HD TV. During the second half, Lance asks us if we would prefer seeing Paulus' jaw broken or to have UNC win the game. But even better than having his jaw broken, Paulus was offered some tea:

And then we won the game. I celebrated by coming home and drinking *more* bourbon and dancing to Richard Hawley in the kitchen.

North Carolina in March doesn't get any better than that.

New Blog Tag: Ronnie Lane

2008-03-02T23:49:00.004-05:00

This weekend has been a Ronnie Lane weekend. I got a little drunk last night and ended up buying a very expensive out-of-print Ronnie Lane LP online. Amazon One-Click is dangerous.

I also bought two Faces CDs at CD Alley today.

I love Ronnie Lane.

Why is his music so hard to find? Where is my Ronnie Lane box set? Why can't I find some good ukulele chords for "Ooh La La" online?

Taking A Break

2008-02-28T21:52:00.002-05:00

Now this makes me happy:

I want to be the dancing girl on stage with him.

Still Not Able To Blog

2008-02-23T12:58:00.006-05:00

I still don't have time to blog. But I just wanted to share with you the best show I have ever seen in my entire life. Watch it. Watch it. Watch it.

Thank you to everyone who sent me this link!!!!

Stress + Work = Messing Things Up

2008-02-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

Ok. If you have asked me to do something for you or if you have scheduled a meeting with me or if you have asked me to do something with you, I have forgotten what it is.

I don't usually cuss on my blog, but let me just say that all this work stress is making me fuck up royally. I have missed meetings & appointments & outings & deadlines. I even forgot to pick up a friend's mail while he was out of town for two weeks. And I missed an important non-work meeting. And my nephew's birthday.

I am just really fucking up.

Just don't ask me to do anything for awhile.

Hiatus

2008-01-31T22:48:00.000-05:00

I've got alot going on right now. No ukulele for awhile. No bowling for awhile.

No more posts for awhile either.

Panicked And Way Behind

2008-01-27T22:20:00.001-05:00

You know what it's like when you plan just enough time to get to an important meeting across town? You look at the clock and grab your keys and run out the door and get into your car and you think to yourself, "I have just enough time to get there. I'll be fine."

You take off down the street and you discover that you left your wallet and have to go back home. Once you get on the road AGAIN, you discover that traffic is stopped for road construction. And then once traffic gets going, you get stuck behind someone driving 20 miles per hour and you manage to hit every single red light. Once you reach your destination, you cannot find a place to park! You end up being 20 minutes late. You know how stressful and frustrating that can feel?

That is how my life has been for the past two weeks. It's felt like one of the most stressful times of recent memory. I just keep hitting obstacle after obstacle with work stuff. I've lost sleep. I've even lost 5 pounds in the last week. It's nuts.

I am working so hard, but I still feel like I am sinking. I just feel like if I could only stay awake a few more hours each day, I might be able to get caught up. Bleah.

My New Boyfriend!

2008-01-22T23:24:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, I went to dinner with some friends. And this was no ordinary dinner. I had been looking forward to this since September when Ross and Maggie first told me about their amazing experience at Bryan Zupon's Z Kitchen. If you don't know about Bryan, you can read about him in this NY Times article. Read it. After some rescheduling and more rescheduling, we were finally able to get over to his dorm room for dinner on Friday night.

Our courses included:

Scallop, avocado mosaic, olive oil-poached grapefruit, tomato-cumin chutney, mustard, Sichuan peppercorn, Old Bay

Red snapper, fennel, raisins, candied olive, pomegranate

And then there was the course that changed my life. The course that made me feel like I had died and gone to heaven. It was BACON-WRAPPED BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Bacon-wrapped pork belly) Oh. My. God. I fell in love. See that picture below? That is my boyfriend. My boyfriend is BACON!

Seattle Meets New York – Bacon Wrapped Bacon Buns: Pork belly, Nueske’s bacon, miso-butterscotch, snow peas

Bryan said that this dish might be his "greatest achievement and contribution to humanity at large." I agree. It was so delicious.

To see some of our other dishes, go here. I even licked my dessert plate!!!

After the meal, I went home and cried. Never has a meal moved me to tears before. But this one did. I love bacon. Bacon loves me. Maybe I should write a song for my new boyfriend on the ukulele. Woot!

My Little Radio Show Is Back

2008-01-17T23:30:00.000-05:00

I'm back on the air beginning tomorrow morning! This school semester I'll be djing Friday mornings from 8-10am. Tune in locally to 89.3FM or online.

I am so excited. I've missed being on the air. I have no idea what I am going to play tomorrow. All I have been listening to is "A Good Start" by Maria Taylor over and over and over.

Weekend of Lessons

2008-01-13T20:37:00.000-05:00

As DJ Lance Rock might say, learning is awesome!!! This weekend, I had two lessons: uke and bowling. The music lesson was fascinating. I remember very little from my piano lessons when I was little. Even so, Mrs. Alexander never taught me anything about chord theory or the cycle of fifths. All I can remember from those days is eating peppermints in her living room. (Sorry if you wasted your money on me, Mom.) I still have a long way to go, but I am finally understanding the relationship of notes on a scale and finding that scale on the uke. Lots of little lightbulbs were going off on Saturday. My goal right now is to work out the introduction to Rosanne Cash's "Seven Year Ache." After my lesson, I got about halfway there.

Today, I went out to Village Lanes to have my first bowling lesson with Larry. Larry is in a league with my hero, Mr. Perkins. He averages in the 220s and has been teaching bowling for years. He had a little notebook and a instruction manual and was extremely enthusiastic. After just 15 minutes, I increased my score by 20 points. And no more straight rolling. I can roll with a curve, baby!! Gutterglory is going to be so impressed. I wanted to stay after my lesson and bowl, but I ripped myself out of there after three games. Larry and his brother were really impressed with the progress that I had made. Next week, he is going to show me the math and the geometry of positioning in regard to picking up spares.

These lessons definitely lifted me out of my funk from last week

I found this video today and I like it alot. She's not playing a soprano banjo uke like I do, but she's inspirational nonetheless. This song is actually gorgeous.

The Honeymoon Is Over

2008-01-09T23:29:00.000-05:00

So, today was my sixth day at my new job. I kinda drifted last week... I had to wait for my shiny new laptop to arrive and then get that set up. I shopped for office supplies. I read their 2006 tax return. I brought in some extra artwork from home to hang on the walls. I sent out some emails. I piddled around on the files on the server and in the accounting data file. Easy as pie.

But things changed this week. I am finally getting a idea of what my job is going to be. And I am a little scared. It's a whole lotta work. More than I thought. I am going to have to make some system changes here that I know it is going to make me into the bad guy at work. And that stinks. Sigh.

In any case, I love the robot on the wall in my office.

And I loaded my work laptop with all my Richard Hawley music. Yay!

Could It Get Any Worse?

2008-01-09T00:56:00.000-05:00

Why, yes! Yes, it can!

I have been so enthusiastic about my new bowling ball. Right after I got it, my score increased by 30 points. I was rockin' it! But since those initial games, my scores have radically dropped. Over the past few days, my scores have been abysmal. I have been averaging around 65.

Monday night, I went to see Mr. Perkins at J&J Pro Shop in Northgate Mall. I had to get the thumb hole on my ball enlarged due to what Mr. Perkins' calls "bowler's thumb." While waiting my turn, I met a Jackie who had recently wanted to learn to bowl since that is what her husband did all the time.

She was having Mr. Perkins fit her for ball. It was pink and purple, her favorite colors. She had only bowled one game in her life, which was last weekend... with her TUTOR! Her husband and Mr. Perkins (and I) convinced her to go with a fingertip grip. While waiting for the drilling and such, Jackie and I sat and talked about what we're learning... the stance, the number of steps on the approach, the release, etc. Her husband bowls close to 200.

After leaving J&J Pro Shop, I headed to Village Lanes for our league's handicap night for the newcomers. I just wanted to practice a little more. My scores dipped again... 57, 61, & 96. Ugh. I was frustrated and disappointed, but still determined.

Last night, I went to the lanes again after work before heading to Chapel Hill for a rock show. Jackie was there! We bowled side-by-side. She was bowling in the 80s and 90s. I was bowling in the fifties and then I hit a new low... a 47. I wanted to cry. Even the guy working the desk at the bowling alley laughed at my score. In response to my 59 score of my first game, he said, "Man, I can bowl better than that left-handed."

Jackie and I discussed her bowling coach and she called him to see if he would be willing to coach me, too. He was. He is going to give me and Jackie a lesson on Sunday afternoon. Just the two of us. Maybe, he'll have a cool clipboard like this one.

In the meantime, no more bowling this week. Instead, I am going to concentrate on ukulele practice. It's time to just give the bowling a rest as practicing is not helping.

2007 Top Ten List

2008-01-04T00:44:00.000-05:00

1. Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge (Mute)
2. Club 8 - The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming (Labrador)
3. Iron & Wine - Shepherd's Dog (Sub Pop)
4. Bishop Allen - The Broken String (Dead Oceans)
5. Great Lake Swimmers - Onigiara (Nettwerk)
6. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
7. Little Name - How To Live and Swim (Sleepy)
8. Loney, Dear - Loney, Noir (Sub Pop)
9. The Clientele - God Save the Clientele (Merge)
10. Elliott Smith - New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)

Bowled Over and Over-Bowled

2008-01-02T23:48:00.000-05:00

Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? Maybe to lose weight or to practice guitar or to ride your bike to work? I have a few. None of those that I mentioned. I have things on my list such as practice ukulele two hours a week, floss more, and to throw away socks.

One resolution that I might need to make is to cut down on bowling. I seem to have a bit of a problem. When my bowling team finished the season this fall, I was pumped to become a better bowler. I wanted my own ball, my own shoes, my own bowling bag. Right before Christmas, my teammates granted my wish and bought me a ball of my own. There it is on the left under the Christmas ~~tree~~ angels.

The day after I got my ball, I bowled eight games. I bowled eight more games the day after that. I even played hooky from work to bowl! I was sick with a cold/flu/sinus infection for the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, so I wasn't able to bowl at Village Lanes those days, but I bowled with my nephews on the Wii at which time I bowled a 210.

Yesterday I was feeling better and I bowled eight games. Alone. And tonight, my intention was to only go bowl two games to try out my new wrist support, but two games quickly turned to seven games. When I am alone at the bowling alley, I just can't seem to stop. I am going back to the bowling alley tomorrow, but I'll have friends to tear me away from the lanes after a reasonable number of games.

You might think that all this bowling is improving my game. It's not... which is so frustrating. But I now know that with this new equipment and my new knowledge, I have the potential to bowl in the 130s-140s. (Before I was bowling in the 90s.) But trying to master my fingertip-grip ball and this darth-vader-looking wrist support is causing me to score all over the place... as low as 66 and as hight as 145. I just need to practice more. I need to bowl. MORE MORE MORE!

Tonight, my arm hurts. I think I have bowled over my arm limit. How much bowling is too much? When does enthusiasm turn to obsession?

High Dollar Hot Dogs With Chow Chow

2007-12-30T11:34:00.001-05:00

Last night, the High Dollar Hot Dogs performed our second house concert at Glencoe. It was a housewarming party for Noah and Elizabeth as well as a birthday party for Noah. This time, not only was the crowd bigger, but the band was bigger, too. We had the usual four soprano ukes, but we added maracas, the marimba, the wood block and drums. And I played the shaker and claves on a couple songs, too. We decided to name the accompaniment appropriately, chow chow (our favorite hot dog topping).

Our set was all 70s pop and soft rock:
The Steve Miller Band's "The Joker," "Rockin' Me" & "Dance Dance Dance"
Firefall's "You Are the Woman"
America's "Sister Golden Hair" & "Tin Man"
Climax Blues Band's "Couldn't Get It Right"
The Little River Band's "Reminiscing"
Kenny Loggins' "Danny's Song"

We had amps and mics, too. It was weird to be electrified. But the crowd loved us. There were even kids dancing which is always a good sign. Ted looked like a real rock star with his electric uke. Someone said that he looked like Huey Lewis.

After the show cleared out, we went back to Noah & Elizabeth's house and sat by the fire and listened to music... probably one of my all-time favorite things to do. What a great night!!

Robert Writes About Our Food Adventure

2007-12-29T16:10:00.000-05:00

My friend, Robert, writes for the Village Voice. Here is his tale about our eating adventure in South Ozone Park, NY.

Birthday Champagne

2007-12-29T12:48:00.001-05:00

Can't get your cork out of your champagne bottle? It's easy! Just use a sword to get it off.

Radio Show, Wednesday December 19 10pm-midnight

2007-12-29T11:22:00.000-05:00

The Spinners - It's A Shame
Bjork - Big Time Sensuality
Thurl Ravenscroft - You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Stephin Merritt - Ukulele Me!
Of Montreal - Lysergic Bliss
Looking Glass - Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)
Steve Miller Band - Dance, Dance, Dance
Two Dollar Pistols - When It Was Over
E. G. Daily - One Way Love
Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend
Mazzy Star - Flowers In December
Ivy - The Best Thing
The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
The Monotones - Book Of Love

Germaine introduced me to the voice of Thurl Ravenscroft. He was the voice of Tony the Tiger and he can be heard in many animated Disney films. I wonder if he and Cliff Edwards ever worked together. I just love his voice: deep and kinda ominous. Germ sent me a couple Marlboro commercials and a song about North Carolina featuring Thurl. I like it when they pop up on my Ipod. As I was searching for a photo of Thurl, I found this slew of Thurl Ravenscoft mp3s. Holy cow!

I keep forgetting that we have the soundtrack to Better Off Dead at the radio station. I just love the school dance scene with E. G. Daily and her band singing "One Way Love." After googling her name, I discovered that she not only has a website but she is still making music as well as doing animation voiceover. She's contributed her voice to Rugrats and the Powerpuff Girls. She looks weird.

My entire playlist can be found here.

I Don't Hate All Christmas Music

2007-12-23T10:35:00.000-05:00

I am not a fan of Christmas music. But there are a few yuletide songs that I cannot live without. Pearl Bailey's "Jingle Bell Cha Cha Cha" being one of them. And I guess that there is only one more, "Winter Wonderland" by Darlene Love, but only because that song is featured in the my favorite movie of all-time, Better Off Dead.

But now I'm adding one more song to the list. "White Christmas" by the Drifters. Listen to it. Doo wop makes everything better.

Thanks, Christa!!!

UPDATE: I was so impressed with the Drifters' version of "White Christmas" that I ran out to Offbeat Music and bought a Drifters Greatest Hits Collection. OH. MY. GOD. It's incredible. They sing a version of "Memories Are Made Of This" that just about made me run off the road. I think I have listened to it at least 15 times today. And I have watched that silly little flash video of "White Christmas" just as many times. The Drifters are the best!!!

I Don't Have Time To Write

2007-12-22T21:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know how I got roped into working both Saturday and Sunday when I am permanently leaving my job next week. Somehow I have managed to work every single day since Monday, December 3th. Not only have I been slaving away at my full-time job and working for my clients, but I've been helping out at a friend's store during the Christmas rush in my free time. Boy am I tired. And I have to be back at work tomorrow at 8am. I have to work Christmas Eve, too!

With all this work, I just haven't had time to think about writing at all. My posts have been so impersonal lately and just completely boring. Someone even complained that I am no longer telling any good stories. I just can't think of any right now.

So, in lieu of personal stories, how about some personal pictures? My mom sent me these last week.

This is me sitting in a tub on my grandparents' back porch in Danville, VA. The table and chairs are now in my own kitchen. (Thank you, Dr. Buckley, for the eight eye surgeries to uncross those eyes.)

This just makes me laugh:

Merry Christmas!

Radio Show, Wednesday December 12 10pm-Midnight

2007-12-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

Mark Kozelek - Up To My Neck In You
Fred Neil - Everybody's Talkin'
Roxy Music - More Than This
Ricky Nelson - I'm Confessin'
Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
Akron/Family - Love, Love, Love
Ike & Tina Turner - Sugar, Sugar
The Shocking Blue - Send Me A Postcard
The International Submarine Band - Folsom Prison Blues & That's All Right
Billy Stewart - Reap What You Sow
Lou Barlow (The Sixths) - In the City In the Rain
The Spinanes - Kid In Candy

Do you know Fred Neil? I don't know Fred Neil, but Richard Hawley cites him as an influence. I know his once song, "Everybody's Talking," but only because Harry Nilsson covered it.

Ike Turner died last Wednesday. In memory, I played Ike and Tina's version of "Sugar Sugar." I gotta say that I just have never really gotten into their music. It seems that it should be up my alley.. Perhaps there is a certain era or album that I should try, but I haven't found it yet.

I definitely don't listen to the Shocking Blue enough. When I was in NYC, Robert was playing a collection of 60s & 70s Asian psych pop which contained a cover of Shocking Blue's "Send Me a Postcard." That song just rocks my world and then some.

It's such a crazy time for me right now: I'm trying to tie up loose ends at work before I leave. I'm trying to get ready for the new job that starts in a couple weeks. I'm trying to finish Christmas shopping and Christmas cards. I'm trying to get in as much ukulele practice as possible as I have to play in front of people twice next week. I am also trying to bowl as much as possible so that I can get used to my new ball before the new season starts. AND I have been working my Christmas job on top of all my other jobs. It's just nuts. I did one more radio show last night, but I probably won't do another one until the semester starts back up. But the one thing that has been pushed to the side is my blog. I hate that. Writing makes me happy. But I'll get back to it soon. I hope.

The playlist for last Wednesday's show can be found here.

Merry Christmas To Me!!!!

2007-12-17T19:11:00.001-05:00

I bought some new shoes! For bowling. Pink and silver. Ooh la la!

And I got my own ball. The guy at the bowling store convinced me to get a fingertip grip. We'll see how that goes. I wanted this blue one.

My goal is to break 100 in at least half my games in 2008! Go Gutterglory!

Can I Get An Amen?!!!!!

2007-12-17T00:14:00.000-05:00

Why I am happy, proud, and absolutely relieved that I am single. I couldn't have written it better myself.

This Is Just Wrong

2007-12-14T17:14:00.000-05:00

Paris Hilton is pushing a new product these days: champagne in a can. If Miller High Life is the champagne of beers, then is Paris' new Rich® Prosecco the beer of champagnes? Drinking prosecco from a can just seems wrong. A marketing strategy like this makes me think that it probably taste like pee.

Clyde Angels

2007-12-11T22:20:00.000-05:00

So many wonderful things have happened for me this year. I think that 2007 has been one of the best years of my life.

One of the great things to happen to me this year is reconnecting with my old friend, Clyde Jones. In the mid-nineties, I would go out to the Critter Crossing to visit Clyde at least once a week. I learned about Clyde through Craven, who studied Clyde during a UNC folklore class. He said, "Charlotte, you just gotta meet this guy." So, I went out there with only the knowledge that this guy built animals out of wood using a chainsaw. Whatever. Big Deal. Yawn.

But wow. Before you even reach his yard, you can see his work from down the street. And then when you finally reach his yard, it's just mind-blowing. There are critters and paintings everywhere. I was instantly charmed by his work. I squealed when I saw his animals. The passion in his artwork could immediately be felt upon entering his yard. The critters were cut by chainsaw from logs and pieced together with huge nails. The heads were made of cedar and decorated with paint, glitter, flowers and other found objects. Each horse, dog, cow, mosquito, giraffe, person, elephant, fish, deer, and cat had individual personality. I found myself wandering around his yard petting each one and talking to them.

Eventually, one time when I was out visiting, Clyde came outside to meet me. We had a great time talking and soon became really good friends. During our weekly visits, I'd talk to him about how I wanted to move away or how I was having a hard time with my parents or stuff going on at work, and he would always offer simple but wonderful advice. And he would discuss his artwork with me. He would discuss how he was trying to paint new animals or how he was out trying to find new cedar stumps. I was honored that he sought my opinion on his work.

During that time, we even made several critters together. We made a HUGE giraffe for my porch. We made painting for my parents. We made little critters which are still scattered all over my house. I even made some artwork for him to hang on his porch. My favorite subject to paint was Clyde and his dog, Speck. But once I moved to Durham and started working in Raleigh, our visits became less frequent. And when I did make it out to Bynum, it seemed that he was never at home. He's a busy artist.

But this summer, when I was regularly out tubing on the Haw, I started visiting Clyde all over again. And we just picked up where we left off. And I've been out to visit him about once a month ever since. Yesterday afternoon, I went over to Clyde's for a visit and to pick up an angel that he was supposed to be making for my for my Christmas decorations. He had been working on the Nativity for his yard, but was having trouble with the Baby Jesus. He instructed me to drive by the Bynum Church down the street from him to see a finished Nativity.

This is Clyde's Baby Jesus from the Bynum Church Nativity:

So, Clyde ended up giving me three angels for Christmas. Two for me and one for my mom and dad. While listening to my favorite radio show of the year, Bill Burton's Best of the Year Show, I wrapped my angels in lights. It's better than a Christmas tree:

I was going to get a real Christmas tree for the first time ever. (The thought of that just seems so grown-up.) But since I was out of town last weekend and I am swamped this weekend, I decided to put off getting a Christmas tree for another year. I think that the angels look better than a tree anyway. Now I just need to wrap some presents to scatter at their feet.

More Ricky Nelson

2007-12-11T00:18:00.000-05:00

Writer, Jody Rosen explains Hawley like I am unable to. Rosen really gets it. All I know is that Richard Hawley has rekindled my obsession with Ricky Nelson now.

Ricky Nelson makes me swoon.

Radio Show Friday, November 30, 2007

2007-12-07T22:52:00.000-05:00

Damon and Naomi - Lilac Land
Massive Attack - Better Things
Tippy Canoe - Neighbor of the Telltale Heart
Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - Enola Gay
Joe Henry - Civilians
Roy Orbison - In Dreams
Emmylou Harris - Sweet Old World
Ella Fitzgerald - I Can't Get Started
Holiday - Everything You Say
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Rick Nelson - I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow
Everything But the Girl - Another Bridge
Richard Hawley - Valentine

What a week. I should've posted about my radio show much earlier in the week, but I was busy in NYC seeing Richard Hawley.

I love Richard Hawley's music partially because I love Roy Orbison and Ricky Nelson. I forgot about my love for Ricky Nelson until this week. I used to play him almost every day when I worked at Cameron's. When I was the cute little sales girl and arrived at work early enough, I got to pick the music that we would listen to for the entire day. It usually consisted of at least one of the following: Fred Astaire, Tex Williams, Elvis, Ricky Nelson, Van Morrison's Enlightenment record, and Aretha Franklin's Sweet Bitter Love. Getting to program the music for the day was the only incentive for me to get to work on time. There were a couple of folks that we all dreaded to program the CD changer. One guy was addicted to the Rent soundtrack and played it so frequently that I was on the verge of going postal. [By the way, support your local businesses like Cameron's during the holidays. Buy local.]

Here is Nelson singing "Lonesome Town" which Hawley covers. Ricky Nelson makes me melt. [Christa, this is for you.]

During my radio show, I played two songs in honor of my band, the High Dollar Hot Dogs. We haven't played in so long that I feel like we've broken up. But we're supposed to be doing some uke gigs after Christmas. In honor of us, I played "I Can't Get Started" as performed by Ella. And I played Ricky Nelson's take on Hank William's "I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow." Both of these songs are in the HDHD's repertoire. Well, Noah and Ted have worked out the arrangement for "I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow," but I haven't heard it yet.

My entire playlist can be found here.

Now that the semester is over for the kids, I've lost my 8-10am Friday morning slot. But for you west coast folks, I'll be on at a time that you can hear me... the next two Wednesday nights from 9-midnight EST.

Richard Hawley @ Other Music Dec 3, 2007

2007-12-03T22:11:00.000-05:00

Call Me Irresponsible

2007-12-03T10:48:00.000-05:00

On the advice of my friends yesterday, I went to check out the space at Other Music, which is hosting Richard Hawley's free in-store performance this evening. While I was in there, I became excited over three things: 1. I found a CD of the soundtrack to the 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, one of my all-time favorite movies. 2. I saw Parker Posey shopping in there! 3. The record store was tiny... about the size of my living room! Seeing an acoustic performance by Richard Hawley in such an intimate setting was too tempting to not stay.

So, I changed my flight. I am staying here an extra day. It feels so wrong. I am too responsible to do things like this. I feel a little freaked out. But darn it, I will never have this sort of opportunity again!

Oh Tonight, Oh Tonight, Oh Tonight, I Got It Real Bad

2007-12-02T12:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a super fine day. After sleeping in, April and I hopped in a car with Robert and headed out past Canarsie to South Ozone Park to eat some of the best Indian, Trini and Guyanese food I have ever eaten. Heck, I don't think I have ever had Guyanese food before in my life. We had Roti (a savory dish in which some doughy bread was stuffed with some sort of vegetable or meat) and Barfi (sweet candy along the lines of frosting). I love saying that. "Robert, could you please pass the Barfi?"

We stopped at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to watch the sunset on the way back to Manhattan. At one point, we just sat on a bench and listened to all kinds of birds chirp, squawk, shrill, and hum from all around us. It was a breathtaking experience.

After finishing up a bottle of Cava, Robert and I met up with Lee and headed to the Bowery Ballroom for the big event. I was very much impressed with the opening act, singer-songwriter, Ferraby Lionheart. Upon Bill's recommendation, I made sure that I got there in time to hear him. His songs are sweet country-tinged folky melodies. His sound is much more lo-fi compared to Hawley's.

After Lionheart, we waited for what seemed like an eternity for the guitar tech to get the gazillions guitars ready for Hawley and Hawley's guitarist. But then in what seemed like a dream, Hawley drifted in, picked up a guitar and began singing "Valentine." I was aglow. I couldn't stop smiling. I was watching Richard Hawley!! But it was an odd experience, because my obsession with him has been so private. Well, I write about it here, but I listen to his music alone, without anyone else around. So, it was a little strange to be sharing this experience in a room with 500 other people. But it was a great show. I danced like a fiend to "I'm Waiting for Someone to Find Me." And his performance of "The Sea Calls" and "Born Under a Bad Sign" just made me melt.

I woke today feeling like my life is complete. It's snowing outside. If my flight is cancelled then I am staying for Richard Hawley's in-store performance tomorrow night. I really want to stay. Should I stay or should I go?

My Christmas Wish List

2007-11-29T21:40:00.000-05:00

If you've ever been to my house, you've seen how my fascination with outsider art has manifested itself. I have artwork not only on walls and over door frames, but also under beds and in closets. I've kinda run out of wall space, but you know... I can always try to squeeze more somewhere. The ceilings are bare... I need ceiling art.

In the early 2000's, I frequently visited San Francisco and would always stop by Creativity Explored. It's a non-profit arts center for developmentally disabled adults. The artists create some of the most amazing artwork I have ever seen. And their monthly gallery openings in that space are just phenomenal. The artists are more than willing to talk to you about their work and are always very excited to see folks buying it. The artwork is powerful and rich and emotional and raw. Creativity Explored is the one non-NC non-profit to whom I regularly send contributions.

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival screened a documentary this April called Cross Your Eyes Keep Them Wide about this facility, the artists and their work. I took Christa with me, who was quite impressed. This film won Full Frame's Jury Prize for Best Short.

This piece is by Andrew Li:

The last time I was in San Fran YEARS ago, I ate dinner at a restaurant where I struck up a conversation with some folks from the Black Rock Arts Foundation (the arts group who provide grants for Burning Man artists.) They were headed over to Creativity Explored gallery opening after dinner and invited me to tag along. I was more than happy to go! I had the best time meeting the artists and checking out their abundant masterpieces. I shipped stacks and stacks of artwork back to North Carolina. It was a great night.

This piece is by John McKenzie:

In the mail today, I received a postcard from Creativity Explored that their annual art sale is going on December 7-9. I really wish I could go. But there is no way that I could swing that. But if you happen to be in San Francisco looking for a Christmas present for me next weekend, Creativity Explored is where you should go. Whee!

Less Than Forty-Eight Hours

2007-11-29T20:41:00.000-05:00

Holy cow! Holy cow! Holy cow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wootie woot woot!

After finishing the really amazing "Cheese Pork!" and banana pudding at Crooks with Maggie and my parents, I jumped into my car and let out a little "woo hoo!" My meal was soooo delicious that I felt giddy. And then I realized, I am not going to work tomorrow and that just made me feel all warm and happy. I clicked around on my Ipod to pull up my Richard Hawley playlist and hit play. (Who am I kidding, I haven't stopped listening to him since this summer.) The beautifully dreamy acoustic version of "Darliin'" came on and I just melted and I just smiled and smiled and smiled. By the time I reached 15-501 headed back to Durham, I was listening to his song "Serious" and I started squealing in the car. I literally screamed at the top of my lungs all the way to South Square. I am so darn excited! I am going to see Richard Hawley perform on Saturday night!

I'm flying to New York tomorrow afternoon in time for supper with the Badgers. Before the show on Saturday, I am going to spend some time eating with Robert. I think I might have even convinced him to come with me to the show. I need to pack my elastic waistband pants so that I can eat alot. I really hope I can make it to Crif Dogs. I haven't been there in a few years and their bacon-wrapped dog is divine.

But the show is going to be great. Seeing Richard Hawley is going to beat watching Duran Duran from the fifth row in the Greensboro Coliseum when I was in middle school. I hope I don't act too freaky. I am going to take Hawley a copy of my hot-off-the-burner Food Mix. Is that weird? Am I being too weird and stalkery? I am a little bit crazy.

Richard Hawley is performing an acoustic in-store set on Monday in New York at Other Music. Should I call in sick on Monday and Tuesday and stay a couple extra days? I feel like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Hawley do this in-store show. I am seriously thinking about it. And who cares, really... I'm quitting this job anyway. Hmmm. What should I do?

The Melody Haunts My Reverie & I'm Once Again With You

2007-11-26T19:26:00.000-05:00

Around ten years ago, I regularly hung out in the local record stores blowing entire minimum wage paychecks on music. There was one store on Franklin Street, that I thought was the coolest. The manager, Brett, was so nice and we totally clicked musically. We clicked on a old school level that no straight man had ever clicked with me before. He'd order things for the store with me in mind, especially western swing, vintage country and 1950s pop vocalists. When someone came in selling an old R&B CD or doo wop or some old vocalist CD, he'd save it for me. There was always a little Charlotte pile waiting for me each week.

And the music that he introduced me to was just mind-blowing to me: the harmonies of the Everly Brothers pop hits, the craziness of Billy Stewart's scat, and the cowboy tunes of Tex Ritter. He helped me get beyond the cheesiness of 1950s pop, too, which was no small feat.

And then the mix tapes started. These were all cassettes of course. We traded like mad. And to this day, no one has made a better mix tape than Brett. There was one that contained the most heavenly selection of music that I had ever heard. I loved that tape. I listened to it constantly. Each 45-minute side was perfectly dreamy and pretty. And he made the tape just for ME! I swooned over him. I painstakingly tried to uncover hidden meanings in his song choices and song placement hoping to discover that Brett was in love with me. He wasn't. But we did have a small handful of dates, one of which ended with me dancing in his arms to "Since I Don't Have You" by the Skyliners. Ah...

After that date, things fizzled for Brett. We still traded mixes, but it wasn't the same. Soon the record store closed and Brett moved away. I have no idea what happened to him, but I will never forget him or that mix tape. To this day, it is my favorite mix tape ever.

His song selections included:
Night and Day - Fred Astaire
It's All In the Game - Tommy Edwards
You Belong To Me - Jo Stafford
Indian Love Call - Slim Whitman
Memories Are Made Of This - Dean Martin
Five Minutes More - Tex Beneke
Give Me More More More of Your Kisses - Lefty Frizzell
Wish You Were Here - Eddie Fisher
Book Of Love - Monotones
I'm A Little Mixed Up - Betty James
Tears on My Pillow - Little Anthony and the Imperials
Love Letters - Ketty Lester
Summer Place - Percy Faith

The tape is old now and very, very played. I am scared to listen to it because I don't want it to break. One day, I'll transfer it off the cassette and onto my laptop. Is there a USB cassette deck on the market yet?

Ella and Her Fellas

2007-11-24T11:36:00.000-05:00

I needed an Ella fix this morning. About halfway through this, it gets really really nutty... a cappella scat and it just gets better. She is crazy brilliant.

Radio Show Thursday, November 22 9AM-Noon

2007-11-23T17:56:00.000-05:00

Wendy Renee - Bar-B-Q
Cisco Houston - Beans, Bacon And Gravy
The Viscounts - Shortnin' Bread
Louis Prima & Keely Smith - Banana Split For My Baby
Frank Sinatra - The Coffee Song
Big Bill Schaeffer - I Hate Popcorn
Louis Jordan - Cole Slaw
Little Joe and the Thrillers - Peanuts
Little Eva - Let's Turkey Trot
Oliver Twist - Food, Glorious Food
The Ink Spots - Pork Chops and Gravy
Sweet Violet Boys - I Love My Fruit
Little Jimmy Dickens - Cornbread and Buttermilk
Lonnie Donegan - Ham N' Eggs
Roscoe Gordan - Cheese and Crackers

On Thanksgiving morning, I did a three-hour show on food. Nothing but food songs. I loved it. I searched hard to find songs just about food. Not songs that mention food or songs about food-named dance styles. I wanted to hear folks singing about food or eating. Chomp. Chomp.

I made two exceptions to this rule, due to the fact that I rediscovered how much I love doo wop while researching this show. One of these exceptions was "Peanuts" by Little Joe and the Thrillers, which I played at full volume ten times before leaving for work on Wednesday. I was dancing hard in the kitchen until I realized that I was late for my 8am meeting.

The other exception to my food rule was Little Eva's "Let's Turkey Trot" which is about dancing. But I thought that this song is just brilliant. Instead of the backing vocalists singing "doo wop diddy diddy" as you might expect in a standard doo wop tune, they were singing "gobble gobble diddy diddy." How cool is that!?!?! So I just had to play it for Thanksgiving.

I discovered lots of new-to-me food songs from folks I know like Little Jimmy Dickens, Louis Jordan, the Sons of the Pioneers and Anita O'Day. And then there were songs from folks I had never heard of like the Sweet Violet Boys, the Thrones, and Bradley Kincaid.

But I think my favorite was the Viscounts' take on "Shortnin' Bread." That song is so much fun. It's a high-energy rockabilly number that makes me want to put on a cowgirl outfit with lots and lots of fringe and rollerskate around my house and dance like a lunatic. Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!

You can see all seventy-two food songs here. Chow!

Thanks Mr. DJ!

2007-11-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

I had the worst soul-sucking day at work. Dazed, I left work and headed to the Federal for a beer with Patty and Mary. But I felt like crawling into a hole somewhere and not coming out until spring. When I arrived at the Federal, I was surprised to hear them playing Neutral Milk Hotel over the speakers, but I am always pleasantly surprised by their music choices. While I sipped on my Duck Rabbit porter, Patty mentioned that she had listened to some Richard Hawley and liked it. And then it dawned on me that I will be in New York City seeing Richard Hawley one week from Saturday!

But I left the bar still feeling kinda foggy. It can be really difficult to shake off a mind-crushing day at work sometimes. Today was one of those days.

But then, at 11:55pm, my melacholy was lifted. Bill played "Tonight the Streets Are Ours" by Richard Hawley. I squealed at the top of my lungs and ran into the kitchen and turned up the volume and pogo-stick danced all over the kitchen. I knocked some of the kinder egg toys off the windowsill during my shrieking dance fest. I think that if I made a top ten list of all my favorite things in the world, one of them would be hearing my favorite music randomly on the radio.

I cannot wait to go to New York next weekend. I am so excited.

But right now, I am afraid to go to bed. I am scared that I am going to have dreams involving Yo Gabba Gabba! I think I might love that show. It's now being recorded daily on my DVR. It's a kids show with wacky life-sized, brightly-colored creatures and psychedelic cartoons and kids dancing and indie rock. I swear one of the songs they played was sung by Dominique Durand of Ivy. But I couldn't find her listed in the credits anywhere. If you haven't heard of this show, here's a sample:

(Thanks, Skip!)

Thanksgiving Radio Show

2007-11-19T22:43:00.000-05:00

I won't be on the radio this Friday morning due to the holiday schedule, but I will be on Thursday from 9am to noon eastern standard time. I just got the motherload of crazy old food songs all of which I hope to play on Thursday. I even have some new hot dogs songs!!! Heaven. And wouldn't you love to hear Sammy Davis, Jr. singing "Plop Plop Fizz Fizz" or the Andrews Sisters' take on "One Meat Ball?" Well, I got 'em!

I just have to figure out how to get these songs off my computer onto a CD. I cannot seem to burn CDs, but I am hoping that I can burn through Itunes.

I hate my new computer.... it is so frustrating and depressing. This is part of the reason that my blog posts have been less frequent. If you are interested in a fancy new laptop running Vista, let me know. I'll give you a deal.

But tune into WXYC on Thursday. Food songs always improve my mood. Even if I don't get this new crop of food songs off my laptop, I still have lots to play. I wish I could find a song about bacon-wrapped hot dogs. Yummmmmm. My next mix CD will definitely be a collection of meat songs focusing on pork products.

Radio Show Friday, November 16 8-10AM

2007-11-18T16:39:00.000-05:00

Astrud Gilberto - Beginnings
The Brothers Dimm - To Oblivion
Keren Ann - Between the Flatland and the Caspian Sea
Clare & the Reasons - Track 1
Arizona - Midday Midnight
The Silver Seas - The Country Life
Ikettes - Doo Ron Ron
The Coasters - Yakety Yak
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Gone, Gone, Gone
Loudon Wainwright III - Valley Morning
Clyde McPhatter - Come What May
Everly Brothers - Kansas City
Magic Apron - Tender Ghosts
The Bird and the Bee - How Deep Is Your Love

At the beginning of my show, a woman wandered into the station because she loved the song that I was playing, "Beginnings" by Astrud Gilberto. She looked about my age and was in a professorish-looking suit. She said, "This is a Chicago song. It is music of my generation." She then asked if I was studying djing in school. I can't decide if it is cool or depressing that this woman close to my age thought I was a 20-year old college student. She then asked, "What kind of music do you normally play on your radio show?" (As if I don't listen to Astrud Gilberto on a regular basis.)

I played mostly stuff out of the new CD bin and there were some great things in there this week! The Brothers Dimm, Clare & the Reasons, The Silver Seas, Arizona... I hadn't heard of any of these bands, but I loved what I heard. I really liked the Clare & the Reason's track.... great indie pop with her beautiful voice and nice harmonies.

My entire playlist can be found here.

Musical Horrorscope

2007-11-12T23:42:00.000-05:00

Sammy Davis, Jr. - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Robert Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders - Sing Song Girl
Tom Waits - Come On Up To the House
Donovan - Riding In My Car
Billy Stewart - I Do Love You

I haven't gotten my musical horrorscope in awhile. I can't really read too much into this, except for maybe the first song.

I have my last board presentation tomorrow afternoon. I have only 6 more weeks at my current job! I am very excited about the change. At my new job, I'll have the joy to work around music, while still crunching numbers. It is so exciting and I am extremely happy. So, when that first song came up on the Ipod, I thought about my board presentation and telling the board goodbye and then jumping on the conference table and in my best Sammy Davis, Jr. voice, singing:

"You go your way, I'll go mine.
It's best that we do.
Here's a kiss - I hope that this
Brings lots of luck to you.

Makes no difference how I carry on.
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone."

In all likelihood, I won't do this, as our board is comprised of a bunch of really nice folks and the words of that song are a bit harsh. But that certainly would make my presentation less boring.

Radio Show Friday, November 9 8-10AM

2007-11-11T10:14:00.000-05:00

Manu Chao - Tristeza Maleza
Lightnin' Wells - 12th Street Rag
Beirut - In the Mausoleum
Caetano Veloso - Irene
Two Loons for Tea - Monkey
Georgie James - Henry and Hanzy
A Girl Called Eddie - The Soundtrack of Your Life
The Drifters - Save The Last Dance For Me
Unrest - Make Out Club
Imperial Teen - Do It Better
Euros Child - Horse Riding
Helen Forrest - Bewitched
Jose Gonzalez - Time To Send Someone Away

It had been three weeks since I had been on the air. I felt a little rusty. I had no idea what to play and just wandered aimlessly through the stacks before my show trying to find things to play. Some Fridays I feel inspired and others I do not. This past Friday, I was not. All I could think about was how much I didn't want to go into work after my radio show was over.

Although I didn't have a very good idea of what I was going to play, it didn't really matter since there was so much good NEW stuff in the goodie bin: Manu Chao, Beirut, Two Loons for Tea, Georgie James, Imperial Teen, Euros Child, Jose Gonzalez... It was great.

I don't really know anything about Manu Chao. When I told Craven this a couple months ago, he said, "REALLY!?!? Gosh. Where have you been?" Maybe I'll go out and get his new record, La Radiolina, and try to figure out what I'm apparently missing.

On Friday, I played a track off Beirut's new one, The Flying Club Cup, that featured a ukulele. So, of course, I ran out yesterday to buy it. It is going to require some serious listening (i.e. not in the car) as it sounds dense and complex. It's a big oompa-oompa orchestral sound. I really like Zach Condon's voice, too.

Friday night, I went out to the General Store Cafe in Pittsboro with Mark to check out their food and to see Lightnin' Wells play. Good golly. What he can do with the guitar and the ukulele is mind-blowing. We were both impressed. The General Store Cafe is a weird place. There are chatckies on every surface, which is kinda distracting. Unfortunately, I wasn't too impressed with my Mayan burrito. But the music was wonderful. Lightnin' even played the "12th Street Rag" which is one of my favorites. It's a fast-paced poppy song that seems impossible (to me) to master. But Lightnin' rocks it. Not too long ago, I put that song on for an evening of wig-wearing, rollerskating and cake-baking. That was a great night.

I gotta get back to practicing my uke. It's been weeks. The past week, I've been still trying to get over this Maltese cold which has made me feel like doing absolutely nothing. I am better today and I know I should get some practicing in before I attempt to play with the Durham group on Wednesday. They're good enough that they can just choose a new song, print out the music and just start playing it. Heck, one guy can just play any song without any sheet music at all. It's intimidating.

My entire playlist can be found here.

Guess Who's Going to See Richard Hawley!

2007-11-07T00:02:00.000-05:00

I AM!!!! ME!!! ME!!! ME!!! How about you?

Saturday, December 1st at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Woo hoo!!! His other US Tour dates are here.

Run. Don't walk. Get your tickets. Book your flights.

Oh! I almost forgot my Italian Richard Hawley story!! While Ross, Maggie, Chris and I were waiting on the ferry in Pozzallo to transport us to Malta, we killed time in a little cafe eating gelato, drinking espresso and playing scrabble. The cafe was playing the radio over the speakers.. Italian and American pop songs. And then to my surprise and excitement, I heard Richard Hawley! He was on the radio!!!! (On something other than my own radio show!) Unfortunately, the gelato man turned the station about halfway through "Tonight The Streets Are Ours." But with the energy I got from hearing that song on the radio, I creamed my scrabble opponents. Go Triple Word Score!!!

My Favorite Things About My Vacation

2007-11-06T21:33:00.000-05:00

Besides being away from work for two entire weeks, which is wonderful on a whole different level, these are the things that I loved most about my vacation:

1. Pupi. This is the Italian plural for puppets. We saw a puppet show in Siracusa which delighted me to no end. There were pupi for sale in every chatckie shop and tourist stand. In Taormina, we saw giant pupi. And I just love saying pupi. Pupi. Pupi. Pupi.

2. The seafood. It was the best. Robert, sent me a newly published book of slow food restaurants in Italy. We tried a couple of them and we scored. I had tuna tartare at a restaurant called Metro in Catania that blew us all away. I don't have a picture of that, but here are sea urchins from the market in Siracusa.

3. Mdina at Night. We arrived in Mdina, Malta, very very late and had a tiny bit of trouble finding our hotel at first. So, we ended up walking around Mdina, (The Silent City) in the middle of the night. It was gorgeous and quiet. This is the entrance to Mdina (a medieval fortressed city) as we saw it after being dropped off by our driver.

4. The Opera at the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania. I know bits and pieces about music here and there. But opera is a genre that I know little about. I think I have only seen two or three operas in my lifetime. Ross, Maggie and I saw Tosca at this opera house in Catania. There was a part in the opera that made me tear up a little. It was beautiful and sad. And the opera house was jaw-droppingly beautiful. And they served corn nuts.

5. Dwejra, Gozo. As I said in a previous post, the Mediterranean is so blue. It was thrilling to take a little boat ride out into the ocean and around the enormous rocks.

6. The Cardinal Visiting the Antique Car Show in Mdina. We got back to Mdina after doing some sightseeing and walked into the Cathedral Square to find hoards of people and rows of antique cars. We had so much fun looking at the cars. And then the cardinal arrived. Whee!

7. The Hike to Castello Saraceno in Taormina. I was sick at this point of our trip. And I am embarrassingly fearful of any sort of heights. The hike was steep with overlooks that made me dizzy. I wanted to give up about 1/5 of the way there. But Ross and Maggie encouranged me to continue. We hiked from way down in Taormina toward our destination which was the Castella Saraceno. Here is a shot taken during our hike. At this point we were 3/4 of the way there.

But dagnabbit! We were denied! The gate to Castello Saraceno was locked!

8. Mgarr Harbor in Gozo. It was just beautiful and we drank beer and ate malt balls as we overlooked the harbor.

And then we saw a horse swimming in it.

9. Mt. Etna. Hiking along snow-covered craters of an active volcano felt like walking on the moon. The lava rocks were extremely hot to the touch in some spots. It was so amazing up there.

10. St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina. I don't think I have ever seen anything quite like that. It was beautiful in there. There was different kinds of marble everywhere. Every surface was covered with some sort of decoration. It was just stunning.

11. Francesco, Our Taxi Driver. He was just supposed to take us from our hotel to the bus stop in Siracusa, but he ended up driving us all the way to our destination in Pozzallo. He gave us a tour of Noto on the way. He was such a nice man. I sat in the front seat of the taxi with him and he played music for me and I wiggled and danced in my seat in appreciation. That is Francesco in the lower right corner.

12. The Good Graffiti in Catania. I wasn't all that impressed with Catania. I thought it was smelly and dirty and there was graffiti everywhere. Most of it was really really lame. But then I discovered this one artist. I found a couple of his works in the city. I thought it was really amazing stuff. If you're going to do graffiti, do it right.

Sick Day or Vacation Day?

2007-11-05T18:38:00.000-05:00

I decided before leaving for my vacation that I would take an extra day off after I returned from Sicily just to rest. Sometimes you really do need to rest after a vacation before jumping back into work. I haven't done much today, but hang out in my pajamas, try to pop my ears, catch up on my finances (vacation and computers are expensive!), cough up a lung or two and tackle laundry.

I would really like to get my hearing back sooner rather than later. Tonight, I am going to venture out to see a super dooper show at the Cradle: Josh Ritter, Maria Taylor and Eric Bachmann. I love all three of these folks and they are playing at the Cradle. I am too excited. And with my ears stopped up as they are, I won't need any ear plugs.

Oooo, the show starts at 8:30 and I am still in my pajamas. I should go shower. It's so exciting.

As soon as this show is over, my vacation will officially be over. That is so sad.

Where Am I?

2007-11-04T22:43:00.000-05:00

So, after two weeks of vacation, I am home. It's very disorienting: I've got jet lag; I'm back in the states; it's cold here; I have mountains of work; I have mountains of laundry; I'm failing at getting my new computer set up; and I have a terrible head cold.

First of all, let me just say that Windows Vista SUCKS. I will spare you a lengthy rant about how much I despise Vista and just say that I am really disappointed in this dreadful operating system that NOTHING WORKS ON!!!! I have wasted a good portion of the evening trying to get my old programs and files on here and I swear, giving a bath to a dozen feral cats all at once is probably less painful and easier than this is.

My frustration is only exacerbated by one of the worst head colds ever. Or maybe what I've been suffering from is the flu. It wasn't much fun to be sick while climbing Mt. Etna as the change in atmospheric pressure made my head want to explode. But holy cow, Mt. Etna was gorgeous. It helped me temporarily forget about how sick I was.

I haven't posted all my vacation pictures yet on flickr, but you can view the photos of my travel companions, Ross and Maggie. Ross took that photo above. I have dozens just like it, because it seems impossible to take a bad picture on top of an active volcano covered in snow. Maybe I'll get to posting the rest of my vacation pictures tomorrow. I miss being on vacation: crazy cab drivers, Gozo, Siracusa, the opera, Mdina, and the seafood. Oh. My. God. The seafood in Sicily is amazing. The best I have ever eaten. Tuna Tartar. YUM!!!!

But my cold is killing me. I have been taking so many drugs over the past few days: antihistamines, decongestants, cough suppressants, and pain killers. It was absolutely terrible on the flight home. My ears still haven't popped since the plane took off from Catania yesterday morning. During the flight from Milan to Philly, the pressure in my ears was so intense and hurt so much, that I was writhing in my seat. It doesn't hurt as bad as it did on that flight, but it feels like I have in ear plugs. Today, my hearing was so bad that I almost got run over by a motorcycle because I couldn't hear it approaching. I called the 24-hour Blue Cross Blue Shield nurse hot line and was told that I should regain my hearing in a few weeks. FEW WEEKS!?!?

Anyway, I am currentlytrying to get this darn new computer setup because I have work to do. I thought I would be happy with a brand new computer, but it's been somewhat of a letdown. My printer doesn't work with it. My Ipod doesn't work with it. Maybe I should've bitten the bullet and gotten a Mac.

Returning from vacation always sucks.

Malta!

2007-10-27T12:48:00.000-04:00

Since my last post, I've left the USA for vacation! Ross, Maggie and I spent a few days in Catania, Sicily with Chris Rossi before heading to Malta for three days. We just returned this morning to Catania and instead of writing about it here, I'll let you read Ross' account of what we've been doing. He's even uploaded his photos and tagged them all.

The Mediterranean Sea is so blue. This was taken off the island of Gozo.

The New Art Genre: State Fair

2007-10-18T07:50:00.000-04:00

Skip and I went to the State Fair this week. I always look forward to the State Fair... not for the American Idol runners-up playing at the arena, not for the deep-fried food, not for the rides, and definitely not for the Village of Yesteryear. I go for the arts & crafts. This year there were some really phenomenal pieces.

This one caught us by surprise. Are those supposed to be eye bags?

This vest is made from the tabs from aluminum soda cans. It looks itchy.

It took us awhile to figure out what this was. It's a "decorative" birdhouse. The attendant said that it was supposed to be a conversation piece to be displayed in someone's house.

I have to say that the deep fried banana pudding was really good. Weird, but good.

Radio Show Friday, October 12 8-10AM

2007-10-14T23:40:00.000-04:00

The Ramones - Pet Sematary
Belle and Sebastian - Ease Your Feet Into the Sea
The Smiths - The Boy With a Thorn In His Side
Iron and Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash
Crooked Fingers - Don't Say A Word
Badfinger - Baby Blue
The Bats - Empty Head
Chris Isaak - Don't Leave Me On My Own
Lefty Frizzell - Always Late (With Your Kisses)
Kay Starr - The Headless Horseman
Bobbie Gentry - Fancy

Halloween is fast approaching. Although I am not a big fan of the holiday, I do love some seasonal songs, such as the Ramones' "Pet Sematary," and Kay Starr's "Headless Horseman." Oh my gosh, this Ramone's video is really funny to watch. They must've had a blast making this:

My absolute favorite Halloween song (shucks, it's on my top ten of all-time favorite songs) is Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash." Whenever I hear it, I get this urge to dance like a dork. That song has been on continuous play at more than one point in my life. It is great.

Iron and Wine's new record, The Shepherd's Dog, is out. It is really a great record. I've been listening to it alot this week. The vocal harmonies make me melt. (Is Sam Beam just singing with himself?) And I find myself entranced by the percussion.... which is very much in the foreground, but not too overpowering. Iron and Wine make the most beautifully intimate music. This record is not as sparse as his earlier efforts, but the added instruments do not distract from its powerful subtlety. I look forward to listening to this record alot more.

So, that was my last radio show until I return from Sicily. My entire playlist can be found here.

Recommended listening while I am away from the station: Fleetwood Mac, the Smiths, Richard Hawley (duh), Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Slim Gaillard, the Shout Out Louds, and the Great Lake Swimmers.

Everything Is Better With Roller Skates

2007-10-11T22:56:00.000-04:00

It was a real soul-sucking day at work. I haven't been this stressed out at work in a long time.

But this video made it all better. I have watched it at least 5 times since I've been home tonight. The last two minutes are absolutely mind-blowing, so don't miss it. Put Gene Kelly in a suit and on roller skates and you'll get my vote for the hottest man that ever lived. Sigh.

I've always thought about what kind of postcard would send to Post Secret. I think that my anonymous secret would be that every now and then I look on Ebay for autographed photos of the young Gene Kelly because I want to own something that he touched.

Tired and Stressed

2007-10-10T23:23:00.000-04:00

I always get really stressed right before I leave town for any sort of trip. Once I am on the road or in the plane, I am fine... but it's the days that lead up to the departure that are the worst. And I am feeling this trip anxiety early. I leave for Sicily in a little over a week, and I am really feeling the stress.

On top of my usual trip anxiety, I am feeling stressed because I'm waaaay behind in work for my clients. I have a tax deadline on October 15th for one organization. I also have a couple clients who are on Franklin Street. I usually work for them on Sundays, but last Sunday, I didn't get any work done. I couldn't get anywhere close to Franklin Street because FestiFall took over downtown Chapel Hill. It made gettting into and/or out of the city impossible. I absolutely despise those idiotic downtown Chapel Hill street festivals. They shut down the Franklin Street area and practically kill any business for the storefronts. And do these street vendors really sell enough macramé plant holders and silverware wind chimes to warrant closing down the street? And aren't these festivals dangerous? Why not have them somewhere else besides an already congested downtown? FestiFall and Apple Chill always put me in a bad mood, because I cannot get any work done!!!

Things at my main job are absolutely nuts. Today I sat in my office and just shouted "CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!" over and over all day long. My workers are a little scared of me right now. I am so swamped that I don't even have time to make a to-do list. I could work 24 hours a day and not get caught up. It's a horrible feeling.

And on top of things, my laptop died Sunday. Died. Dead. Gone. Bye-bye laptop. I have ordered a new one, but I won't get it until after I return from Italy. I am so grateful that I got loaner from my mom, but it is still weird and I don't have my bookmarks or my files. I want my stuff!!! Fortunately, I did a backup a few weeks before the computer died, but I still lost some data.. mostly pictures, but I'll survive. Once I have my new laptop, I'll move my backed up files to it.

But for now, I really miss my Itunes! I am without all my Richard Hawley live recordings! Since I am without my computer's music, I am playing a radio station on my TV. I never knew I had this many channels. This particular one is channel #915 called Retro-Active. It's not bad... they played my favorite Morrissey song, XTC, Sisters of Mercy, and lost of music I have never heard of like Lene Lovich's "New Toy."

I want all this stress to go away. I want to sleep. I want my stomach to stop making these horribly weird stressed-out noises. I want to be caught up with work.

But mostly, I just want to be in Sicily right now. Chris has been keeping us updated on what's happening in Sicily here. I cannot wait.

Radio Show Friday, October 5 8-10AM

2007-10-09T19:32:00.000-04:00

The Archies - Sugar, Sugar
Calvin Boze - Keep Your Nose Out of My Business
Jimmy McCracklin - The Walk
Stephin Merritt - This Little Ukulele
The Mabuses - Mirth
Feist - 1234
Richard Hawley - Tonight The Streets Are Ours
Fred Astaire - Cheek to Cheek
New Pornographers - Failsafe
The Real Tuesday Weld - It's A Wonderful Li(f)e
Great Lake Swimmers - Song for the Angels
Lee Morse - Side By Side
Robert Mitchum - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
Glenn Mercer - Wheels In Motion

I haven't played any ukulele music on my radio show in a few weeks. I've been so busy with work and weddings that I haven't been practicing my uke either. The other night, I was over at Ted's and "This Little Ukulele" by Stephin Merritt popped up on his Itunes. That song is just great. I usually skip over the Eban and Charley soundtrack when I am needing a Stephin Merritt fix, but that song is definitely mix tape material. I've heard rumors that the Magnetic Fields will have a new record coming out soon. Thank goodness!!! I really need a distraction from Richard Hawley.

I have never really liked Feist. I dunno much about Leslie Feist... I always thought she was overrated and lame. (My assumption was not based on actually listening to her music.) Elizabeth sent me the link to this video for Feist's song "1234" as it nods to Busby Berkeley. I am not so sure if I've changed my mind about Feist, but I am willing to give her a shot. When I watch this video, it just makes me want to watch real Busby musicals. But I appreciate what she's trying to do and I like her voice. Heck, I was even thinking about getting the CD.

Bill introduced me to the music of the Great Lake Swimmers this summer. Holy cow. They are probably the one band who could actually get me over my Richard Hawley addiction. Their self-titled debut album was recorded in a silo in Ontario. Their second album, Bodies and Minds is beautifully mesmerizing. I might go put it on right now.

I really love that "Wheels In Motion" song by Glenn Mercer. He used to be the lead singer for the Feelies, a band with whom I am unfamiliar. But this song is so cute and poppy and has wonderful hooks. That is my kind of song.

My entire playlist can be found here.

Blog Etiquette

2007-10-06T18:20:00.000-04:00

I've been keeping this blog since January and there some rules that I have discovered along the way about how and what to blog. These are merely guidelines, not necessarily hard-and-fast rules, but generally, I try to stick to these:

1. Don't write about work. I used to be an avid reader of a blog called Dooce, of which the author, Heather Armstrong, blogged about her misadventures at work and was subsequently fired. I don't read her blog anymore, but I did take to heart what happened to her. I always write as if my boss were reading. I never mention where I work or any specific events at work. It's just better not to risk it.

2. Don't write about your family. Now, I follow this rule kinda loosely. I mention little things from growing up such as my dad's bedtime songs or my sibling's childhood adoration of muppets, but I refrain from writing too much about my family as I know that they read my blog. So, stories about our goofball family of nerds (I think that all of us could agree that we are nerds) are out. Sorry, no posts about the family wedding this weekend. But golly, I would never fall short of topics if I could break this rule.

3. Don't cuss. This is another rule that I follow kinda loosely. Those of you who know me and see me on a semi-regular basis know that I have a mouth dirtier than a landfill. But for some reason, I keep the seven words you cannot say on television according to George Carlin, out of my blog. Maybe it's my attempt to be more lady-like. Ha!

4. Don't write about people that don't want to be written about. I have some anti-social, reclusive friends who I love dearly but who don't like to be blogged. I try to respect that. Even for the friends who don't mind being blogged, I only use first names. And I certainly do not blog personal information about anyone.

5. Don't write about current, past or prospective boyfriends. It's hard for me to follow this rule, as I have some jaw-dropping, side-splitting stories that I could tell that could make this the most popular blog on the internet. But alas, out of respect for these fellers, I do not mention my current or past love life at all. [Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.]

So, those are my rules for my blog. They keep me out of trouble. I don't feel that these rules need to apply to other blogs except for maybe rule #4. That's an important one.

A couple weeks ago, I discovered that someone's been blogging about me. This blogger does not have any blogging manners at all. Not only did this person blog personal information about me, but this person used my first and last name and linked to my blog. I find this irresponsible, despicable and mean. I would like to use George Carlin's seven dirty words to come up with something to say to this blogger, but I will follow rule number 3 and just say this: Blogger, please remove any mention of me from your blog and find something else to write about. Thank you.

Oh, and I just about forgot the next rule.

6. Don't pick your nose while blogging. For goodness' sake! You'll get boogers on the keyboard. And that is really grody.

Lady's Bridge Released Today

2007-10-02T12:41:00.000-04:00

Richard Hawley's Lady's Bridge is now available stateside. Run. Don't walk. Get it today.

Hey, look! There's Renee Weaver!!!

And this acoustic version of "Tonight The Streets Are Ours" just makes me weak in the knees:

My obsession with Richard Hawley just won't go away. WXYC got a copy of Lady's Bridge. So, be sure to call and request it on the radio. I doubt that it will make rotation, but it should. It's my number one record of 2007.

Radio Show Friday, September 28 8-10AM

2007-09-30T23:50:00.000-04:00

Regina Hexaphone - The Forty-Niner
Jonny Polonsky - Evil Scurvy Love
Bongwater - David Bowie Wants Ideas
Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign
Violent Femmes - Gone Daddy Gone
Bishop Allen - Butterfly Nets
The Tourist - The Ol' Ball & Chain
Spencer Davis Group - I'm A Man
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
The Replacements - Alex Chilton
Bongos, Bass and Bob - Thorazine Shuffle
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down By the School Yard
Two Dollar Pistols - Stranger Things Have Happened

A friend suggested that I listen to "David Bowie Wants Ideas" as I would get a kick out of the last line of the song. He was right. I haven't thought about Bongwater or Ann Magnuson in years. I might try some more of their stuff when I am up at the station next.

When I was searching for the Bongwater LP, I ran across another record in the "BO" section of the library. Bongos, Bass, and Bob!! I have a cassette of my very first radio show ever from June 1989 at WSOE - Elon College/Burlington where I played a song by Bongos, Bass and Bob called "The Thorazine Shuffle." That song just cracks me up. I was so happy to discover it in WXYC's stacks. That just made my day.

On Wednesday night after the Sea and Cake show at the Cradle, Bill and I wandered down to OCSC. A song came on that I liked and Bill pointed out that it was the Replacements. I never thought I liked them as I thought that were dissonant rockers... but I think I was getting them confused with the Residents. I keep hearing Replacements songs in random places. Perhaps I need to explore some Replacement albums. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

If you are looking for a sweet contemporary ukulele song, I suggest Bishop Allen's "Butterfly Nets." It was sooooo pretty. I don't know who they are or where they're from, but that song is just really nice especially with the uke. When the saxophone kicks in, it makes me think of Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin in The Jerk (although she played trumpet instead of sax).

I am very excited to see that Regina Hexaphone have a record out called Into Your Sleeping Heart. Sara Bell's voice is so endearing. I haven't gotten this record yet, but it's on my list. I need to go to the record store soon.

My entire playlist can be found here.

Going Down the Grade Making 90 Miles an Hour

2007-09-29T11:18:00.000-04:00

I've been given all sorts of advice concerning my stress and anxiety and my difficulty sleeping. Folks have offered their advice on relaxation techniques, meditation, breathing exercises, etc. The one thing that helps me to relax is to clear my mind by concentrating on a relaxing, comforting place. For me, this place is my grandparents' house in Danville, VA.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite things in the world was to go visit my grandparents. I was able to visit for a week or more alone without my brothers or my parents. My grandmother and I would kill beetles and water the roses in her huge rose garden. I'd spend time climbing one of the two excellent climbing trees in her yard. We'd make lemon squares in her kitchen in the afternoons. After supper, my grandparents and I would walk around the block, sometimes down Mount Vernon Avenue where I could climb on the "cannon." I will always cherish the time that I spent with my grandparents at their house. It was truly special.

So, now, when I am feeling stressed or restless, I can close my eyes, take a deep breath and start remembering my grandparents' house. In my head, I can walk through each room... the living room, the den, the upstairs bedrooms, the basement, the kitchen. I know what's in every room down to the texture of the dining room wallpaper to the rug in the back upstairs bedroom. When I visit their house in my head, I can even remember items in drawers and closets like the wall-mounted ice crusher in the back porch closet or my grandmother's facial powder in her dressing table drawer. Lately, the memories of the items in the drawers have been fading, but I can remember most of what was in all the closets.

My grandmother died about nine years ago, at which time we emptied their house and sold it. I haven't physically stepped foot in Danville since. But last Saturday, I decided to return.

The Danville Science Center was having Train Days celebrating the 104th anniversary of the train wreck of the old 97 which happened September 27th, 1903 in Danville for which a song was written. I think that the song is more famous than the actual wreck. This song has always been special since it was one that my dad sang to me when I was little. My dad took pride in his non-traditional bedtime songs. So, I decided to make the trek to Danville to participate in the Train Days festivities and to wander around Danville.

First, I went to Main Street to check out the architecture and the Grove Street Cemetary behind Midtown Market. I could try to write about how jaw-droppingly beautiful the architecture was, but it's best to just look at the pictures. Afterwards, I went to Midtown Market and packed my cooler with oatmeal cookies (two dense cookies with frosting between... like a real Little Debbie, but only better), pimento cheese, and chicken salad.

Then, on friends' suggestions, I went to Short Sugar's Barbecue across town for lunch. It was disappointing. I ordered a chopped barbecue plate with hush puppies, slaw and fries. The fries were tasteless... obviously frozen. The barbecue was terrible. It tasted old. It was chewy, fatty and had no flavor whatsoever. I tried to flavor it with what I thought was barbecue sauce, but I think it was just an unmarked bottle of steak sauce. After I watched my waitress behind the counter scream at the other workers while flossing every tooth in her face, I left.

I toured the Science Center whhich is actually the Danville Train Station which has the most eerie collection of mounted animals and birds. It really creeped me out. After watching an old-time band and a couple of old guys clog, I boarded a shuttle to take a group down to the famed train site. But it was gated off! The owner of the land was doing some demolition work and had the entire area locked up. I was slightly disappointed, but not terribly so since I was now thinking about driving past my grandparents' house and I felt a little scared. I didn't know what kind of emotions it might stir up.

To my surprise, when I arrived at their house, I saw that the new owner (she bought the house in the spring) was doing some gardening in the front yard. She was really nice and told me that her neighbors are always telling her stories about my grandparents and what wonderful people they were. She invited me walk around the house and take pictures. Many of the trees had been cut down including my two favorite climbing trees. She told me that the previous owners really let the yard go and she was trying hard to get the yard back to its full glory. As I walked around to the back of the garage, I saw the remnants of my grandmother's rose garden and I burst into tears. About half of the roses were gone, but some were left and the sweet aroma of her roses was intense. It was such a joyous site. I felt like a little girl all over again and I even found myself looking for a beetles like I used to do.

I left Danville and headed to Glencoe for a picnic and wading in the Haw River. We ended up playing "The Wreck of the Old 97" on ukulele which was the perfect way to end my Danville day. That song has great ukulelability to it and it is perfect to sing loudly and off-key. You can listen to Jenks Carmen's version here.

I'm In Live Television and Anything Can Happen

2007-09-27T12:48:00.000-04:00

I have been busy and not posting. Maybe tonight, I post something about my trip to Danville last Saturday.

Today, I ran across the following video clip. (Thank you, Apostropher!) I cannot stop laughing. WARNING: DO NOT WATCH IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH.

Radio Show Friday, September 21 8-10AM

2007-09-24T23:14:00.000-04:00

The Real Tuesday Weld - Kix
Hank Snow - I've Been Everywhere
Great Northern - Home
Carolyn Mark - The One That Got Away (With It)
The Cure - In Between Days
Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It
Danny Kaye - Inchworm
Bright Eyes - If the Brakeman Turns My Way
Kishore Kumar - Doob Doob Jata Hoon
Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Sol Hoopii - Weave a Lei
Okkervil River - Savannah Smiles

When it comes to new records, this is my favorite time of year. It's like Christmas. It seems like everyone's got a new record out and is touring right now. It's a fun time, albeit an expensive time. I played a ton of new stuff on Friday from the Real Tuesday Weld, Bright Eyes, the Great Northern, Carolyn Mark (half of the Corn Sisters with Neko Case). I wish I had an extra few bucks to get some of these fabulous new releases, but instead I've been spending my cash on cocktail dresses, cashmere wraps and wedding gifts.

But I am thinking about taking on a new accounting client.... one of my FAVORITE restaurants in Durham. I could use the extra cash. But I cannot decide if I should take a new client or not, as I am already working six days a week. The food is fabulous... what should I do?!?!? If I work more, then I can buy more records. But if I work more, I won't have time to listen to these new records. Oh well, I'll decide after I return from Italy.

A friend gave me the new Shout Out Louds record a few months ago and I just fell in love with it. I played it for a friend who said that that they sounded like a derivative of the Cure. But I don't care. I love their new wavey pop sound. They're coming to the Cradle in October (all the way from Sweden), but I am going to be out of town, which I am a little sad about. Our Ill Wills, is probably gonna be on my top ten list for the year. It is extremely catchy and fun.

Okkervill River. Who are they? Where did they come from? Why haven't I heard of them until now? How come they didn't invite me to go canoeing?! I've played them a couple of times on the radio and I liked what I heard off their new record, The Stage Names. But today as I am typing this, I can't remember what they sounded like! I might just get their new record and listen. They're coming to the Cradle soon as well.

And if you missed my show on Friday, you missed this great song by Danny Kaye. He's got some really wacky songs, but this one is very pretty. For some reason "Inchworm" reminds me of my grandparents. But I don't know why. Probably because I was just in Danville (where my grandparents lived) this weekend. I do remember him singing this on the Muppet Show.

My entire playlist can be found here.

California, California You're Such A Wonder That I Think I'll Stay In Bed

2007-09-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

Craven and John got hitched last weekend on a hilltop in Calistoga, CA. It was a really touching ceremony. Lots of Magnetic Fields quotes. I cried.

There was alot of partying and playing and hiking and swimmng and dancing.

I was voted best dressed (besides the happy couple who looked extremely dapper). But 2 1/2 inch heels were not meant to be worn in grass.

The whole weekend was full of love and happiness. Craven's dad gave such a wonderful toast on Friday that I cried. It was great to see everyone so happy and having such a great time.

It was also wonderful to catch up with old friends that I haven't seen in years and years.

Today, I am exhausted. I got in late last night and I couldn't sleep. I made it into work at 8am and it was a blur. It is so busy at work and there is no time for me to be jet-lagged. I should get to bed.

For my drive up through wine country to the ranch, I chose to listen to Richard Hawley, which was perfect road trip music through the hills of Napa Valley.

Congratulations, John and Craven. Y'all are the greatest. And the bacon was the best.

Busby Berkeley and Eddie Cantor

2007-09-12T23:04:00.001-04:00

I showed Denise the amazing dance sequences from Kid From Spain last night. It is so very embarrassingly and painfully socially incorrect. But the dance sequences are jaw-droppingly amazing. I love what Busby can do with alot of ladies in a pool and Eddie Cantor. There are no YouTube clips from this film. But I did find this beautiful shot.

With the resurgence in popularity of musicals these days, how come no musical film producer is doing anything like this? Wouldn't High School Musical or Hairspray or Chicago be so much better with some Busby Berkelian Matrix-style dance numbers thrown in? Berkeley did it all with simple tricks like mirrors, reverse film direction, funky camera angles, etc. I want to see a Busby Berkeley number with some Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 3-D effects!

I Need This Song

2007-09-12T00:59:00.000-04:00

I was watching a Roy Lichtenstein documentary, and the song"(Money) That's What I Want" was played during the opening credits. I loved it. I couldn't find this version on Itunes, but the Waylon Jennings and the Barrett Strong versions are fabulous.

But I did find it on YouTube. As an added bonus of my discovery, there is a really bizarre ukulele segment. Who are these Flying Lizards? Woot!

Damn, Now That's Sexy

2007-09-09T23:04:00.000-04:00

I've had the song, "I Only Have Eyes for You" on the brain lately. For one, some of Richard Hawley's songs remind me of the Flamingos' take on "I Only Have Eyes for You." And second, I've been watching Busby Berkeley clips and my absolute favorite is the "I Only Have Eyes for You" scene that he choreographed for the film, Dames. In fact, the song was written for that film.

I searched YouTube to see what I could find and I found this version featuring Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour. I am becoming more and more of a Peggy Lee fan these days. This just makes me melt.

Radio Show, Friday September 7th 8-10AM

2007-09-09T21:45:00.000-04:00

Lullaby Baxter - What's Wrong With You?
Dean Martin - Just In Time
Iron and Wine - Kingdom of the Animals
Great Lake Swimmers - When It Flows
New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour
The Clientele - I Hope I Know
Nick Drake - Milk and Honey
Caribou - She's the One
Carmen Miranda & the Andrews Sisters - Cuanto La Gusta
Geeta Dutt - Chin Chin Chu
M Ward - To Go Home
Built To Spill - Else

Iron and Wine have a new album coming out toward the end of September and we have the single at the station called Boy With A Coin. They're touring this fall, but they aren't coming to NC. Boo.

There is a new collection of Nick Drake songs out called Family Tree. It's songs that he recorded before his first full-length album Five Leaves Left that his family released from his estate. I played "Milk and Honey" from the collection. It's great. I cannot wait to hear more.

The Clientele's new record, God Save the Clientele, is really great. This London band plays bright melodic pop tunes that are very sweet and tug at the heart strings. And they're playing at the Cradle on Tuesday night! I was just talking to a coworker about some of our favorite live shows and we both agreed that the Lambchop/ Clientele/ David Kilgour show at the Carolina Theatre a few years ago was one of the best. I am very excited to see them again. They're opening for Pete Bjorn & John, who I don't really know anything about, but I've been told that I would like them. Woot!

My entire playlist can be found here.

I'm A Very Stylish Girl

2007-09-06T20:57:00.000-04:00

Well, I am not really a stylish girl, but I do love that song from Dimitri From Paris.

In the next month, I have three weddings, two rehearsal dinners, and a baby shower. You know what that means? I need dresses. I haven't bought a dress since last spring and I bought it only because it was the first one I tried on. It's not that great. In fact, it kinda sucks.

But for the first time in my entire life I purchased three new dresses in two weeks. So here are my purchases.

This little red dress is so cute. And I found the perfect necklace for it at Cameron's. The dress is cotton with a tulle underskirt that makes the skirt poofy. It has hidden pockets perfect for fidgeting in. It looks very 1950s. It is for wedding #1 and possibly wedding #2:

This next dress is silk and fits me like a glove. I look super hot in this dress, especially with my new black patent leather heels. It's for at least one of the rehearsal dinners, possibly both.

I am a bridesmaid in wedding #3, so this green dress was chosen for me. I'm instructed to wear a sash with it.

All these weddings and social occasions kinda stress me out. But there is a light at the end of all this.... in ITALY!!! Two weeks after I return from wedding #3, I leave for Italy. I won't need to wear dresses there. But I was told to wear super tight jeans. Apparently the women in Italy wear their jeans skintight. Hmmm.

Lunchtime with WKNC

2007-09-06T12:59:00.000-04:00

Today, I had to run a couple errands at lunch. I jumped in the car and heard Camera Obscura on the radio. I thought, "COOL!" And then, the dj played some Magnetic Fields, Andrew Bird, Of Montreal, M Ward, and Billy Bragg & Wilco.

I felt like I was listening to one of my own mix tapes. It was great. I just LOVE stumbling across a dj that plays song after song after song of music that I love.

I don't know who he was, but I should find out and try to listen every Thursday around lunchtime. My only complaint was that he talked about every two songs, which I find annoying. But his talksets were short and to-the-point. His playlist was great.

You, too, can listen to NC State's WKNC on the internets.

Now That I Know How To Embed YouTube Videos

2007-09-05T18:41:00.000-04:00

Do you want to watch a Richard Hawley video? Here's one.

I really don't get this one. But again, I don't get music videos at all. But I watched this video over and over this summer just to hear "Tonight The Streets Are Ours" before the album's official release.

I heart Richard Hawley.

Now That I Am On A Busby Kick

2007-09-05T18:15:00.000-04:00

The first Bubsy Berkeley film I ever saw was Golddiggers of 1933. I rented it from VisArt Video over by the Harris Teeter. It was on VHS. They had three films choreographed by Berkeley in their collection: Dames, Golddiggers of 1935 and Golddiggers of 1933. I remember watching them with Craven and we were both absolutely in awe. I have no idea how we learned of Busby Berkeley... I think that maybe we saw a documentary on PBS or something? The last time I was in VisArt which was YEARS and YEARS ago, I checked and they no longer carried any Busby Berkeley musicals... probably because I was the only one who ever rented them.

I received the Busby Berkeley DVD box set as a Christmas gift this year. It was my favorite Christmas present. There is one entire DVD that is just of various money shots from his films. Oh yeah!!! Busby Berkeley spent over $1 million for a spinning circular stage. In the 1930s!!! Gotta love that.

Here is a great clip from Golddiggers of 1933. Unless you are a fan of Dick Powell, I would skip the first 2:30 seconds. In other words, begin it with 3:23 left and watch from there. But if you're like me, you are a Dick Powell fan, too. He's is so weird. But I could live without Ruby Keeler. Why is she in so many of the Berkeley films? Why her? She bugs me. And she looks like a clod when she tap dances.

And if that isn't enough for you, here's another one from YouTube. It's cut up and I hate that... because to get the full effect of the "I Only Have Eyes For You" dance, you need to see it uninterrupted without breaks or cuts. Oh well. At least you'll be able to see why Ruby Keeler creeps me out.

Speaking Of Busby Berkeley and Dream Jobs

2007-09-04T23:37:00.000-04:00

I want to be Carmen Miranda when I grow up. In Busby Berkeley musicals. With bananas. And monkeys.

It's Not Just A Summer Fling

2007-09-04T21:56:00.001-04:00

It's for real. I thought that my love affair with Richard Hawley would only last a few weeks, like so many of my obsessive musical crushes.

Last summer, my musical affair was with Camera Obscura. I listened to their record, Let's Get Out of This Country, over and over and over on the way to the beach and back. When I hear a track off that record today, I get pangs in my heart for my old flame. I loved that band so much. My dream job is to one day play tambourine in Camera Obscura. Seriously. I'm not kidding. But I betcha they don't offer health insurance and a 401K package which is mandatory for me. But I'll always dream.

Anyway, this summer, I fell in love with Richard Hawley... first it was just a few tracks that folks sent me. Then I got his record Lowedges. Then it was Cole's Corner and then Lady's Bridge. Oh, and then there were the live recordings. Ahh.

This summer, I was doing alot of driving around the triangle... more than my usual two-minute commute to work. It seemed that I spent most of this time driving in a love-induced haze obsessively listening to Richard Hawley. I'd be headed off to a particular destination and I would find myself lost or headed to Raleigh when I should've been driving to Chapel Hill. It didn't matter. I just loved to be alone silently listening. Alone in the car with Richard Hawley on repeat. I was cuckoo for cocoa puffs. And I still am.

I've been good lately listening to other music... the Rosebuds, Josh Ritter, the Shout Out Louds, and the Sea & Cake. And I've been listening to my Ipod on shuffle, instead of on Hawley. I took the afternoon off today and was rushing all over town for appointments, cocktail dress accessories and shoes, post office, etc. As I pulled into the post office parking lot, Richard Hawley's "Darlin'" came on. I sat in my car and cranked that song. (Supposedly, the Prius is sealed so that sound doesn't penetrate easily, but I know that everyone around could hear it.) I was sitting there in this blissful state practically in tears... wishing that I could play "Darlin'" on my ukulele, but there are no chords on Chordie. I am kinda glad that there aren't chords as there is no way I could ever play that song like he does.

After that, I switched the Ipod back from shuffle to Hawley again. When I was driving back from the maul with my new cocktail dress shoes (some hot patent leather heels with a peep toe) listening to Hawley's "Valentine", I was thinking... if this is what "love" feels like, I sure haven't felt like this about anybody in years. But then I felt weird... is it normal for someone to fall in love with someone's music? Is it pathetic for someone to fall in love with someone's music? I gotta get out more.

So, I am feeling much better than I did on Saturday. I no longer want to kick people in the shins. I want to spread the Richard Hawley love bug to everyone I know.

Watching a new-to-me Busby Berkeley musical made my weekend too. Oh, and chocolate chip muffins. Wootie woot woot!

Radio Show, Friday August 31st 8-10AM

2007-09-01T15:01:00.000-04:00

The Reflections - Just Like Romeo and Juliet
Dwight Yoakam - Free To Go
Patsy Cline - Back In Baby's Arms
Django Reinhardt - Embraceable You
Harry Nilsson - Moonbeam Song
Ivy - I Get the Message
Little Name - I Always See the Sun Rise
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
Pearl Bailey - Frankie and Johnny
Linda Thompson - Versatile Heart
Sun Kil Moon - Neverending Math Equation
Love - Always See Your Face
Chris Isaak - Two Hearts

When I was pulling music from the library on Friday, I went to get the Summertime Gold box set, thinking that I would find something good and summery to play. As soon as I saw the words "Romeo and Juliet," that Reflections' song got stuck in my head. It's still stuck now. What will make it stop?

I also discovered a new band, Little Name, who play sugar sweet pop along the lines of Belle and Sebastian. I really like it. If you're into that sort of thing, call up WXYC and request it. Or listen on their MySpace page or on the band's website.

My entire playlist can be found here.

So, that was yesterday.

Today, I feel like I could kick someone in the shins. Stay outta my way and don't ask.

Last Supper of Summer

2007-08-30T22:40:00.001-04:00

Today felt like the last day of summer for many reasons:
1. It's the second to last day of watermelon milkshakes at Cook-Out.
2. Summer tomatoes are getting fewer and greener.
3. I really feel the shrinking daylight hours.
4. School's back in and students are everywhere.
5. I have this great urge to shop for jackets.
6. It's Labor Day weekend which means it's almost September (which reminds me of the Earth, Wind, & Fire song).
7. It's only 90 degrees outside instead of 105.
8. My fall semester radio show starts tomorrow morning.
9. Starting next Tuesday, I'll no longer be able to wear my white shoes, according to the fashion rules.

Since I was feeling like summer was coming to a close, I decided to celebrate with my last meal of summer: two barbecue sandwiches featuring the meat we brought back from our trip last weekend (one on the left has barbecue and slaw from Bill's & one on the right has barbecue and slaw from McCall's), a sliced summer tomato with cottage cheese (which is how my mom adorned tomatoes growing up), hushpuppies from Cook-Out, and the watermelon milkshake. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to eat all this food. I finished only 2/3s of each sandwich and only one hushpuppy. (Stick to the cheddar burger and milkshakes at Cook-Out, as the hushpuppies aren't their strong point.) But I did finish that tomato. Yum!

Although summer is over, I'm really excited about the fall. Trips to Calistoga and Sicily. A slew of weddings and a baby shower. Lots of rock shows. And I just finished the audit at work. This fall is going to be great.

I can hear Maurice White, now:

Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing.
As we danced in the night,
Remember how the stars stole the night away

Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in september
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day

Barbecue Country Doctor Drag Strip

2007-08-29T22:23:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, a group of us took a road trip to eastern North Carolina for a day of barbecue sampling in Goldsboro and Wilson, a winery tour, Vollis Simpson's whirlygigs in Lucama, the Dunn-Benson Drag Strip, and the Country Doctor Museum in Bailey.

Ross can give you all the details about the barbecue we sampled over at Chowhound. Let me just say that I am ready to take a banana pudding tour of NC barbecue restaurants. Oh my god. I have never been a big banana pudding fan, but I am now!! Do all barbecue restaurants in this state carry banana pudding? I think I need to take a road trip to find out!!!

As far as barbecue is concerned, my friend, Robert has always sung the praises of Wilber's Barbecue on Highway 70 in Goldsboro. Other NC barbecue enthusiasts hold Wilber's as the eastern NC standard by which to gauge all others. Hmm. We weren't that impressed. Some coworkers and some other Goldsboro natives have told me that right across the street from Wilber's you'll find better barbecue at McCall's. They were right. McCall's ran out of barbecue soon after we arrived. We got the last pound of it. Time to make more.

The visit to the Country Doctor Museum was amazing. The museum itself didn't thrill me all that much, but our tour guide was the best. I swear this woman looked like she was an 18 year-old, sweet-as-pie, sorority girl wearing the cutest little sundress. She kept amazing me with her ability to just spout off the facts of the museum collection in this matter-of-fact tone. She told us which instruments were used to saw off limbs in less than 60 seconds, which plants could induce the shits, and how the iron lung chorus used to creep nurses out. It was borderline performance art.

You should definitely check out the Dunn-Benson Drag Strip if you are in the area. Don't forget your earplugs. I have never witnessed anything like that before in my life and for some reason, I really loved it. Wheelie-poppin' fast cars!!! Woo hoo!!!

Have you ever been in the presence of Vollis Simpson's whirlygigs? There's nothing I can say to explain the experience. So, if you haven't ever been to Lucama to see his artwork, please go. He is an amazing person to chat with. Very sweet man. He's 87 or thereabouts, so don't put off your trip to visit him. And his artwork is phenomenal. I bought one of his pieces a few years ago. I haven't put it out in my yard yet, but I should. It's got a bird sniffing a cat's butt on it. Now that's what I call art.

Moonbeams and Weird Dreams

2007-08-28T07:23:00.000-04:00

Last night, I woke up at 3:45am. I was fully awake and trying desperately to get back to sleep. But then I looked around and noticed that I was sleeping in a moonbeam. I woke just at the right time for the couple of minutes that the full moon moonbeams made it through the trees and were shining on me. I quickly made a wish and sang the moonbeam song. I sure hope my wish comes true. It was a good one.

I fell back to sleep only to have really wacky dreams. At one point, I dreamt that I was at a friend's house which happened to be a few blocks from the Rich and Thompson Funeral Home in Burlington. This friend doesn't actually live in Burlington, but he did in my dream. I was at his house getting ready for a cocktail party at the funeral home. I put on my cocktail dress and heels and grabbed my transportation: a hula hoop. I remember other people arriving at the party in cars and on motorcycles, but I arrived by hula-hooping down the sidewalk. I remember being out-of-breath when I arrived, but thinking that I was cooler than everyone else.

New Radio Show Time

2007-08-27T22:03:00.001-04:00

So, school has officially started. In honor of this momentous occasion, I played "Love Will Make You Fail In School" by Mickey and Sylvia last Tuesday on WXYC.

I will no longer be on Tuesday nights. Instead, I have my beloved Friday morning 8-10am shift back throughout the fall semester. Good bye west coast listeners! Hello Friday morning commuters!!!

Radio Show, Tuesday August 21 6-9PM

2007-08-27T21:38:00.000-04:00

Papercuts - Just Another Things To Dust
Flatlanders - Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown
Petula Clark - Downtown
Golden Smog & Roseanne Cash - Seven Year Ache
Orange Peels - Back In San Francisco
Richard Hawley - I'm Looking for Someone To Find Me
Nick Gilder - Hot Child In the City
Rosalie Allen - Wide Rolling Plains
Mickey & Sylvia- Love Will Make You Fail In School
Tex Williams & Texas Caravan - Won't You Ride In My Little Red Wagon
Congress-Woman Malinda Jackson Parker - Cousin Mosquito #1
Kate Bush - This Woman's Work
Magnetic Fields - All My Little Words
Albert Hammond - It Never Rains in Southern California
Josh Ritter - Right Moves
The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
Yma Sumac - Wimoweh

Last Tuesday after this radio show, I went to see Un Duex Trois, t he Papercuts and Ladybug Transistor at Local 506. I absolutely loved the Papercuts. I like their record alot. I played songs by them and by Ladybug Transistor trying to plug the show, but there were still only around 40 people at that show.

Over the past month or so, I have searched the library for the Flatlanders CD, with no luck. But last Tuesday, I found it and played "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown." Naturally, I had to follow it with Petula Clark's "Downtown," which I think only Craven heard all the way out in Oakland, California.

I think that the High Dollar Hot Dogs have officially adopted "Seven Year Ache" into our repertoire. I hope so. I am so addicted to that song. I need to learn more about Roseanne Cash. That song is so great (especially the Golden Smog/Roseanne Cash version) and Elizabeth sings it so heavenly.

The HDHDs finally have a CD of some of our songs. I think it is difficult to listen to, but Ted thinks it is great. I love being in a ukulele band. I think that everyone should be in a ukulele band.

So, only my closest friends know of my obsession with 1980s teenage angst movies... especially ones with John Cusack. Better Off Dead is my favorite movie ever. Ever. Ever. Ever. I want my two dollars. Say Anything is a close second. I think that if John Cusack were to woo me with a boom box over his head, he needn't play any Peter Gabriel. I think that my boom box woo song would be "I Only Have Eyes For You" by the Flamingos. Dreamy.

My entire playlist can be found here.

Haw River Vacationing

2007-08-20T22:32:00.000-04:00

In a couple months, I'm going to Italy. For two whole weeks. I don't think I've ever taken two weeks off work EVER... except about 12 years ago when I was in the hospital, but that wasn't necessarily a vacation. In fact, it was pretty awful, except for the morphine-enhanced Welcome Back, Kotter marathon on the hospital TV. But that doesn't compare to a healthy two-week holiday in Sicily... I cannot wait.

But since I am taking that trip to Italy, I've had no other vacation time to use for any other trips this summer except for the few days in Brooklyn for the hot dog eating contest. But it's been ok because I have been taking weekly mini-vacations on the Haw River. After work or on the weekends, I've joined other folks tubing on the Haw in Bynum. It's been incredible.

I grew up around the Haw River in Burlington, but didn't think much about it except that we drove over it on our way to my grandparents' house as we headed north toward Danville. I really fell in love with the river and with Bynum in 1992-93 when Craven took me out to meet folk artist, Clyde Jones (see his paintings above) and to sit by the dam by 15-501. I just thought that Bynum was magical. Over the past ten years or so, I've unfortunately spent less time in Bynum with Clyde or by the Haw (except a few visits to Glencoe).

But latey, I've had the opportunity to go tubing about once a week on the Haw in Bynum. It's such an amazing experience, I don't even know where to begin to describe it. The craziest, most stressful day just melts away while lounging lazily in a tube floating down the river. The scenery is breathtaking and the water is so calm. My favorite thing is seeing the water reflected in the trees... which looks like little fairies. Usually we're the only people around. We able to see creatures such as damselflies, herons, and some little fishes. We've even seen a bald eagle. I like to zone out on the sound of the cicadas (which I called crickets growing up). I'm sad that it's mid-August and the summer will be over soon and I won't be able to experience the Haw like this anymore.

But until summer is over, I want to tube the Haw as much as possible.

Please Help Me, Miss DJ

2007-08-17T01:08:00.000-04:00

I have three weddings in four weekends coming up. That means that it's dress-buying time. UGH. UGH. UGH. I would rather go to the dentist, clean a litterbox, go bra shopping or mow grass than go dress shopping. (Well, maybe not grass mowing... I really hate that.)

I went to Nordstrom tonight and forced myself to try two on. I didn't like either of them. I couldn't handle trying any more on. I ***HATE*** buying dresses. I hate shopping for clothes and shoes. I really hate it.

But I have to get a dress before September 15th as that is when Craven is getting hitched! I do have this dress that I seem to wear over and over to wedding after wedding. But since I wore it to Craven's sister's wedding, I probably should try to find a different one. I found a picture of me the infamous dress and it is a hysterical photo.

So, I got some emails from Craven today regarding his wedding reception music. He completely stressed and needs help. He asked if I could help him put together a playlist. [Big grin.] He needs four hours of danceable music that will please the parents and the kids and those of us in cocktail dresses. [Bigger grin.] It's the ultimate mix tape!!!!

I am excited to help out with the music and I have a huge playlist ready for him.

But I still have to find a cocktail dress. I am going to brave the boutiques this weekend in search of a dress that I can tolerate. I don't even know where to go. I hope that Modern Times has something. Where else can you find a dress around here?

Sweet Jenny Lee

2007-08-15T15:53:00.000-04:00

Well, it finally happened. My ukulele arrived in the mail this afternoon. It's a little Bushman Jenny Soprano Ukulele. It looks and feels and sounds wonderful. I'm in love. As soon as I opened the box, I squealed and ran to show her to all my coworkers. One of them is an old-time banjo player who wants to start playing some old-time songs with me during our lunch break. I am so excited. All I can think about is my new ukulele. She sounds so beautiful. I was torn between tubing on the Haw this evening or staying at home with Jenny, but uke playing will have to wait until I get home later tonight. It's too hot to turn up a good tubing opportunity. I'll probably end up staying up all night playing Jenny after I get home. When I think of her, I think of this song:

Sweet Jenny Lee from sunny Tennessee,
You'll love her when you see Sweet Jenny Lee!

Each little bird is singing merrily
Just getting set to see Sweet Jenny Lee!

She's got that certain little something in her style,
She's got a great big bit of heaven right in her smile.

She promised me that she'd say yessiree,
That's good enough for me, Sweet Jenny Lee.

Sounds ukulelable to me. I'm in love.

No Radio Show Tonight

2007-08-14T12:17:00.000-04:00

I won't be on the radio this evening due to a work function, but you should tune in anyway. My sub is awesome. She's been filling in during sign-ups this month and I caught her show last Friday. Her show is really fun and very listenable. She even played Betty Hutton's "Blue Skies."

Tune in.

Taking Baby Steps

2007-08-12T19:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I made it through the day with only listening to one Richard Hawley song, "Tonight the Streets Are Ours" off his upcoming record, Lady's Bridge. I only listened that song once. No more Richard Hawley. I was so proud of myself.

I listened to Josh Ritter instead. I wrote about my addiction to Ritter's music a few months ago and how I loved his record, The Animal Years. And now, I think I love his new record. Alot. I listened to The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter several times yesterday on the way to and from the farmers market and Raleigh. It's got some really amazing tunes on it. I think that my obsession with the new record rivals the obsession that I had with The Animal Years. That record made me get up and dance on one foot when I had my broken ankle!!! Clearly, the Animal Years moved me more than any other record during my ankle recovery. I suffered through pain just to dance to it. Woot!

I am so excited that Ritter is touring with Eric Bachmann this fall and will be coming to the Cradle in November. Eric Bachmann and Josh Ritter are going to be here! Together!! That's a show that I would travel to see, but I don't have to, because they are going to be here! SWOON!
The only problem is that they are playing the night after I return from Italy. I am going to be so jet-lagged. But I'll have to drink coffee or something to stay awake.

Well, today I steered clear of both Ritter and Hawley on my drive back and forth from Chapel Hill. I listened to Squeeze's Singles 45's and Under. It seemed safe enough.

But when I got home, I checked Richard Hawley's MySpace page and whaddaya know... there's a new track off the upcoming record up there. I've only listened to "Looking for Someone To Find Me" three times so far. I love it. It's definitely got some doo wop going on, which is just amazing to hear. I seem to really connect with the 50s pop influence in his music. Each time I listen to his track, "The Nights Are Made For Us," I am reminded of the Flamingos' "I Only Have Eyes For You." Ah, so dreamy.

Let's Watch Your Home Movies

2007-08-10T08:47:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is International Home Movie Day. It's a day to celebrate your old vacations, birthdays, weddings, or whatever that your family recorded on film. Home movies are my favorite kind of documentaries.

So, go find your old home movies and bring them down to NCSU tomorrrow, Saturday August 11th 1-4pm to view them or just to watch home movies from other folks. It's alot of fun. There's even Home Movie Day Bingo with prizes!!!! Don't miss it!

More information about the event can be found here.

Radio Show, Tuesday August 7 6-9PM

2007-08-09T21:40:00.000-04:00

The Hollies - The Air That I Breathe
Jacobites - Before I Die
XTC - Mayor of Simpleton
Patti Page - (How Much Is) That Doggie In the Window
Dooley Wilson - As Time Goes By
Mungo Jerry - In the Summertime
Spoon - Don't You Evah
The Cyrkle - We Had A Good Thing Goin'
Dimitri From Paris - A Very Stylish Girl
Nada Surf - Concrete Bed
Misha - Scars
Lush - 500
The Softies - Favorite Shade of Blue
Chris Bell - You and Your Sister

Someone requested "Concrete Bed" by Nada Surf on Tuesday. I had never listened to that band before, but I liked the requested track. I wonder what the rest of their stuff sounds like.

At the station, some of our djs will come in several days before their actual radio shift and pull CDs and records that they want to play on their show. They'll fill mail bins with music and leave them all over the station. One time I counted eight bins full of music. It seems ridiculous to me that someone can't show up for their shift early enough to pull music to play. But what do I know. When I was up there on Tuesday, there was a bin with probably 25 CDs and only one LP, which was XTC's Oranges and Lemons. That record was just begging me to play it. I love the song "Mayor of Simpleton" off that record. It was great.

The High Dollar Hot Dogs haven't gotten together in a couple weeks for any practice. I'm jonesin'. One of the songs that has been suggested that we play is Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime." I have a hard time hearing the ukulelability in that song, but if the other guys do, I am sure that they'll teach me.

I didn't list above the four Richard Hawley tracks that I played. I still haven't stopped listening to him. I am so addicted. I've tried to stop by listening to the Shout Out Louds' new album as well as the new Sea and Cake album, but I keep going back to my Richard Hawley albums, especially Lowedges. That album is amazing.

Entire list (including the Richard Hawley tracks) can be found here.

I'm In Love

2007-08-06T22:39:00.000-04:00

Over the past couple months, two friends separately have been trying to introduce me to Richard Hawley. Upon first listen, I thought to myself, "Uh, Okay. Whatever." But I kept finding myself coming back and listening to the few tracks that they sent me. And last week, something happened. I fell in love. I feel hard for Richard Hawley's music. I am 100% obsessed.

Over the weekend, I've kept my listening to myself. I was scared to share my new obsession with anyone except with Tim and Robert, the two who kept insisting that I give Hawley a try. I mean, Richard Hawley's music isn't cool. You won't ever find it in rotation at WXYC or WXDU. But it is absolutely beautiful music. I am no musician, but the guitar sounds ethereal... what kind of guitar makes sounds that sweet? Oh, and his voice is deep and dreamy. For the past half hour, I've been playing "Hotel Room" over and over so loud that it rattles the windows in my house and makes my green chair vibrate. [Thank you, Rossi, for my super-duper stereo speakers.]

To me, Richard Hawley sounds like a combination of the best of Morrissey and the best of Lambchop with a dash of Roy Orbison. It is just perfect. And there's so much yearning in his music that I just cannot help but be obsessed. I haven't fallen in love like this since that Vetiver show back in February. I really want to listen to other music, but I can't right now. I've got mix tapes to make. I've gotten music in the mail that I haven't opened. I just cannot get Richard Hawley out of my mind.

I haven't been able to sleep at night lately... not because of Richard Hawley, but just because I having difficulty sleeping. So I find myself staying up late listening to the few tracks of his that I have on my computer. I just got his album Coles Corner in the mail on Friday, which I quickly devoured. I'm waiting for two more of his CDs to arrive later this week. He has a new album coming out at the end of August, that I am dying to hear. I've also been watching his videos on YouTube here and this one from his new album. That second one I play over and over just so that I can listen to the song. You can listen to some of his tracks on his MySpace page.

I accidentally fell asleep in front of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer tonight and my poison ivy is driving me nuts, so it looks like it might be another late night with Richard Hawley... but I am not complaining.

He is so dreamy. Sigh.

Radio Show, Tuesday July 31 6-9PM

2007-08-06T20:57:00.000-04:00

Pure Prairie League - Amie
Dave Van Ronk - Mack the Knife
Coco - Move On
Squeeze - Black Coffee In Bed
Rabbit Muse - Darkness on the Delta
America - Riverside
Pilot - Magic
Public Image Limited - Happy
The Arizona Wranglers - Wreck of the Old 97
Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea
Frankel - Thermostat
Everything But the Girl - Frost and Fire

Last week, I was completely obsessed with Dave Van Ronk's version of "Mack the Knife." Noah had put it on a mix tape for the rest of the High Dollar Hot Dogs to hear. I cannot wait to play this with the band. It has a very high ukulelability to it. It is just beautiful. One day, I want to figure out how to play the jug while playing the uke.

I once told my friend Lightnin', that it was my dream to be wooed by someone playing "Beyond the Sea" on ukulele. He sent me the chords for the song and wrote that I can learn to play it myself and not have to wait for the wooing. I'm learning it. I can chug through the first verse or two. One day, I'll woo myself with it. In honor of my struggle, I played Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea" which is just absolutely dreamy. And I am sure that Christa would agree. Bobby Darin makes the two of us melt.

It's been absolutely wonderful being on the air during the evenings this summer as Craven can listen to me on the west coast. I played Public Image Limited's "Happy," remembering how I played that song over and over the summer of 1989 after I graduated from high school. That summer, I djed at WSOE (Elon College) and PIL's Nine album was in heavy rotation. I played "Happy" on Tuesday hoping that Craven would hear, which he did and remarked that it brought back memories of that summer for him, too. I LOVED djing at Elon that summer. Friends would gather at the Elon College radio station and hang out until I got off the air at 9pm. Afterwards, we'd ride around in my 1979 Honda Civic blaring WSOE and either go to the pool, the truckstop, some random Elon party or a kegger in a cornfield. Ah, those summer nights. I don't think I've been to a kegger in a cornfield since that summer. Do those happen anymore?

Entire playlist can be found here.

Oh How I Love That Potato Salad Song

2007-08-04T15:02:00.000-04:00

I have never seen "Solid Potato Salad" performed by anyone ever. But now I can say that I can (and you, too). Minty sent me this amazing video.

Watch the whole thing. Don't give up after a minute. Just watch the whole thing. Yowza!

Half Dollar Hot Dogs on Air

2007-07-31T12:28:00.000-04:00

Ted and I (half of the HDHDs) are going to play a song or two live on WXDU tomorrow night around 8pm during Chris's show. [Ted's the one with the demonic eyes in the photo above.] I'm scared...not of Ted, but of singing and playing into a microphone. I was trying to practice last night and I wasn't doing so well. But Ted is really really good, so maybe I can just hide my playing behind his. My strumming is still not up to par and my vocals leave alot to be desired. Where's a magic ukulele fairy when you need one?

Last night, my strumming was aided by the use of a pick. I do love to play with a pick. Is that so wrong?

Seasonal Happiness

2007-07-31T08:10:00.000-04:00

In the past, I have noticed that I suffer (as we probably all do) from a little bit of seasonal depression. It seems like around December, my jobs get crazy busy, it's cold outside, there's not alot of daylight, there's alot of holiday obligations, etc. It can be a drag.

But in July, it's different. It's warm outside, there's lots of daylight, you can sit outside on the porch and have beers with friends, you can go swimming in the ocean, etc. And of course it's National Hot Dog Month. I was thinking about hot dogs last night. (Shocking, I know.) The hot dog is simply a happy food. I cannot imagine someone bawling their eyes out while eating a hot dog. I could see someone crying over a bowl of soup or a piece of toast or oatmeal, but not the weinie. Hot dogs are often eaten with other people who are also happy. You just can't be sad and lonely while eating a hot dog. And I have noticed that it's hard not to smile while eating one. Have you noticed that, too? Maybe, I am nuts.

Also adding to my seasonal bliss this July has been the ukulele. Like eating a hot dog, I cannot imagine anyone being unhappy playing or listening to ukulele music. Well, except maybe some of Stephin Merritt's ukulele songs. But with the inherent brightness and beautiful tone of the instrument, even Merritt's sad uke tunes make me happy. At High Dollar Hot Dog practice, we are continually coming up with quirky, playful songs that we want to play on the ukulele... such as Roger Miller tunes, 70s pop songs, and some vintage pop songs from the 30s. I doubt you'll ever hear an Elliott Smith or Morrissey song covered by the HDHDs.

National Hot Dog Month ends today. I am a little sad that the holiday is over, but not too much. I'll just have to make more of an effort to eat hot dogs and play ukulele music throughout the year. Maybe my parents will serve bacon-wrapped hot dogs for Christmas dinner. Or the HDHDs could find a New Year's Eve gig. That would be the best.

One day, I promise to stop writing about hot dogs and ukuleles. But it might be awhile.

What Happens When You Google Hot Dog

2007-07-27T22:59:00.000-04:00

I like to post pictures with my blog entries as anyone can probably tell. I am an extremely visual person. In my previous post, I really wanted to post a picture of a hot dog, but I didn't find one that fit my mood tonight. However, I did find these, which kinda creep me out.

Radio Show, Tuesday July 24 6-9PM

2007-07-27T22:53:00.000-04:00

Allman Brothers - Midnight Rider
Desi Arnaz - Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
Skeets McDonald - Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes
Ashley Stove - Amen Grasshopper
Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
Small Sins - Is She the One
Brian Eno - I'll Come Running
The Replacements - I Will Dare
Marshall Crenshaw - Cynical Girl
Luna - California (All the Way)
Gene Kardos & His Orchestra - A HOT DOG, A Blanket & You
Les Chauds Lapins - These Foolish Things
Fluffy Hunter with the Jesse Powell Orchestra - The Walkin' Blues

Sunday night, I ended up having dinner at James Joyce. (Federal was too crowded and James Joyce was blaring Camera Obscura, who I love to the point of obsession). About halfway through my burger, I heard a familiar guitar line and the words "I've gotta run to keep from hiding/And I'm bound to keep on riding." I racked my brain trying to figure out who was singing this song. Once I was told that it was the Allman Brothers, I knew I had to play it on my radio show. There is definitely not enough Allman Brothers being played on WXYC these days. And "Midnight Rider" is just a great song. I just now tried to play it on the ukulele and it has too few chords and it relies too much on vocals. Neh.

And folks, my favorite holiday of the year is coming to a close. National Hot Dog Month is just days away from ending. So sad. In honor of the last few days of this monumental holiday, I had to play "A Hot Dog, A Blanket, and You" by Gene Kardos and his Orchestra.

I gotta get back to the ukulele practicing. But I do want to play some 70s soft rock or 70s country rock on the ukulele. Maybe I can try America's "Sister Golden Hair."

My entire playlist can be found here.

Late Night Horrorscope

2007-07-26T01:25:00.000-04:00

America - Lonely People
Ocie Stockard & the Wanderers - You've Got Me There
The Four Yanks - Dudu Wam
Eric Bachman - Genie, Genie
Ella - Angel Eyes
Roba Stanley - Single Life
Beck - Paper Tiger
The Minders - I've Been Wondering
Little Willie John - Let Them Talk
Wayne Newton - Strangers in the Night

It's hard to listen to any song these days without rating it ukulelebility. America's "Lonely People" has a high ukulelebility rating, but Little Willie John's "Let Them Talk" doesn't.

Right now, I am really trying to figure out the chords on Buck Owen's "I Betcha Didn't Know." My musical limitations are really killing me these days. I want to be able to play four-fingered chords, strum in rhythm, and sing in key. AND I CAN'T!!!! And I really want to be able to listen to songs and figure out the chords for them. I want it so bad. I just gotta conquer this one Buck Owen's song.... maybe tomorrow.

Gutterglory & Gut Glory

2007-07-24T22:46:00.000-04:00

My senior year at UNC, I realized that I needed to take one physical education class or else I wouldn't graduate. Yikes. I had taken an 8am aerobics class my freshman year and I knew that I didn't want to do anything like that ever again. Who wants to work out that early in the morning? As a college student, I sure didn't. During my senior year, the only time I worked up a sweat was dancing all night long at a local rave somewhere.

Anyway, there were stories about an easy PE class that didn't require any physical exertion or sweat and even allowed SMOKE BREAKS. (I am so glad that I grew up in this state.) I needed to take that class. It was bowling. It was hard as hell to get in the class because everyone else at UNC wanted an easy PE class, too. I took a gamble my final semester of college by signing up knowing that there was a great chance that I would be rejected. Thank god I made it into the class.

Bowling met on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons around 3:30 or so, which was great, because it allowed me, some of my classmates and a huge group of friends to go to Papagayo's for margarita pitchers before class. So not only did we get smoke breaks, we went to class tipsy on margaritas.

Our instructor was cute, but he wore those god-awful, tight, polyester coach shorts. Ew. But he was cool. Well, at least he didn't seem to mind or notice the margaritas on our breath. He encouraged us to do midnight bowling (bowling with the lights off)... which is always fun when you're a little tipsy. We had ridiculously easy multiple-choice tests, like how many pins are there in a frame? He didn't grade us on our bowling scores or number of strikes or technique really... if he did, I would've flunked. I never even broke a 100 in my bowling class. But I did make an A.

UNC offered its final bowling classes this past Spring semester. The student union's bowling alley is now closed and the university plans to turn that space into offices.

In March of this year, I joined a bowling league. I became part of a super team with some guys who are bigger music geeks than I am... I love it. They came up with the brilliant name Gutterglory, a nod to the now defunct indie rock band, Butterglory. The day before Gutterglory's first game, I fell and sprained/fractured my ankle. Luckily, the boys were able to find a last minute sub, who's been covering my slot since April. But last night, I was back in action! We got beat by the other team 2 out of our 3 games. But the one game that we won, I bowled a 120!!!! My cute, polyester-shorts-wearing, bowling instructor would be proud.

I wanted to celebrate my incredibly high score, so my teammate, Mark and I headed over to the Federal to meet up with some of the other bowlers. After a couple beers, Mark, who was starved suggested that we drive over to Cook-Out to get a burger and a milkshake. I was a little hesitant because for one, it was 12:30 at night and two, I am not a fan of fast food burgers. But he said that they had really good milkshakes. Let's go!!

As we were driving, Mark was telling me about Cook-Out's seasonal WATERMELON MILKSHAKES. Oh. My. God. We pulled up to the lighted menu board and then everything after that was a big blur. Before I could blink, we were driving away with two bacon cheeseburgers with grilled onions and two watermelon milkshakes. Mark and I sat at my kitchen table and enjoyed an incredible, late-night, gluttonous meal. The burger was really great for fast food. It was a decent thickness and rather juicy and had a good meaty flavor. The bacon on it ROCKED.

Oooooohh. But that milkshake. It was incredible. The watermelon chunks were so large that they kept clogging my straw. You couldn't help but use a spoon. I was afraid that the creaminess of the milkshake would overpower the sometimes delicate taste of the watermelon. But that was not the case at all. It was great. They had a gazillion milkshake flavors on that menu board, but the watermelon will only last another month or so.

I think that a late-night trip to Cook-Out might be mandatory for all future bowling nights.

Today's Playlist

2007-07-21T20:32:00.001-04:00

Today, I spent some more time looking for my lost beloved John Schneider album. During my search, I realized that I have been really neglecting my records. So, this evening, I decided to listen to some. They included:

Electric Light Orchestra - On the Third Day (side two)
Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger (side one)
Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman (side two)
Little Feat - Sailin' Shoes (side one)
Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze (side one)

I just don't get Electric Light Orchestra. But I loved that Seals and Crofts album side.

But John Schneider is still lost.

High Dollar Hot Dog's Second Show

2007-07-19T22:56:00.000-04:00

If you didn't know already, I belong to an all-soprano ukulele band called the High Dollar Hot Dogs just formed last month. The HDHDs had our second public appearance (and our fifth time playing together) last Saturday night at a party on my deck. It wasn't our best performance, but it was our biggest audience. But we didn't suck. I personally had a great time.

Once we sat down on the deck, got our instruments ready and our music set up, I looked up and thought, "Whoa. What in the hell are we doing?!? And who the hell are all these people!?!?" I have no idea how many party-goers were at my house on Saturday night.... somewhere around 70. And I didn't really know alot of them. That made me feel nervous about playing and singing.

But then we kicked into gear with the High Dollar Hot Dog theme song, "Ragged But Right." I felt a little better then.

At our practice last week before our gig, I was told that the band voted [without me] to drop "All of Me." I was sad, so I said, "What if I sang it Ethel Merman style?" We tried it with my accentuated vocals and Ted was stunned. It was a hit Saturday night, but I think that Ethel and "All of Me" now need to be laid to rest. I sang it again at practice last night (with just my regular voice) and it just didn't feel right. "All of Me" now needs to be retired to the HDHD archive.

Here is a super short video of us playing "Ragged But Right." Noah's voice is so great.

Radio Show, Tuesday July 17 6-9PM

2007-07-18T23:40:00.000-04:00

Mark Kozelek - Up To My Neck In You
Jefferson Airplane - She Has Funny Cars
Hall & Oates - Had I Known You Better Then
Great Lake Swimmers - When It Flows
The Shocking Blue - Send Me A Postcard
Chris Isaak - Don't Leave Me On My Own
Innocence Mission - Tomorrow On the Runway
Frankel - Dressed In Uniform
Jens Lekman - Black Cab
Annie Hayden - Wood and Glue
Camp Creek Boys - Honeysuckle
Eels - Packing Blankets
The Hi-Life Companion - You're The Greatest
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Bill introduced me to the Great Lake Swimmers last month. Their record Bodies and Minds is really wonderful. I don't know much about them except that they are Canadian and they play very pretty music and I missed them when they came through town earlier this summer. I listened to their three albums on the way to the beach and back.

Tina and I used to dance around the radio station to "Send Me A Postcard" by the Shocking Blue. That song absolutely rocks. And I love Mariska Veres' boots.

The entire playlist can be found here.

I still haven't found that John Schneider record.

John Schneider Is Lost

2007-07-16T22:19:00.000-04:00

On Saturday night at Christa's going away party, I was telling Chris and Elizabeth about my prized John Schneider album. I said, "I'll go get it." I left to look for it and never never returned. I didn't mean to leave them hanging but I couldn' find it and then I probably got dragged away by someone else at the party.

I'll never forget that John Schneider record. That was the first record that I ever bought with my own money when I was nine. I was so proud of myself. I bought it from Zayre in Burlington (even though my family and our neighbors called it Zayre's for some reason). I loved that store... the records were right there when you first walked in. At that same time, I also bought a K-Tel collection of soft rock hits called Songbird. What an monumental event that was. I mean, who would I have become if my first album purchases in Zayre's were REO Speedwagon or Pat Benetar or Hall & Oates?!?! (I didn't become a Hall & Oates fanatic until I started djing at WXYC.)

Tonight, I searched through all the rock albums in my house and I couldn't find it. But as I was searching, I ran across Bonnie Tyler's Faster Than the Speed of Night album. I almost mistook Ms. Tyler for Mr. Schneider.

I Heart Richard Serra

2007-07-15T18:04:00.001-04:00

My trip to New York this month was filled with wonderful things. In addition to various hot dog activities, there was a recording session with the Badgers and Ewald made bacon-wrapped figs dipped in chocolate. The music was rough and I learned that attempting to play Duran Duran's "Rio" on ukulele is harder than I thought. And good lord. Figs. Wrapped in bacon. Dipped in chocolate. Incredible.

On my last day in New York, we went to the MOMA to see the Richard Serra retrospective. His work is so amazing and I think he might be my favorite sculptor. To be in the presence of one of his works is just thrilling. Serra creates these magestic metal torqued ellipses and spirals that have subtle bends and twists. I feel like you have to spend a good five or ten minutes with one of his pieces to "get it." Upon first glance, the sheer size and material of his works can be very intimidating. But the closer you get, the more inviting they become. Walking in and around them is dizzying and mezmerizing. They manipulate sounds as well as your perspective and balance. Heck, I can't describe his works. I lost the art history lingo when I graduated 14 years ago. But if you have the opportunity to see Richard Serra's work, I highly recommend that you go.

All the pictures from our Richard Serra experience can be found here.

My Musical Horrorscope

2007-07-14T11:15:00.000-04:00

Today's horrorscope (long form):

Esquivel - Johnson Rag
Golden Smog - Pecan Pie
Ray Charles - It's Alright
L'Ensemble Tamaril - Papio
The Beatles - He Said [Sketch II]
Ella Fitzgerald - Summertime
Bob Dylan - Forever Young
Magnetic Fields - You Love To Fail
Emmylou Harris - Every Grain of Sand
Jimmy Preston & His Prestonians- Rock The Joint

Two Dylan songs, a song about pie in the summertime, and the final song about rockin.' Seems like a great horrorscope to me. Today's going to be good.