Less Than Forty-Eight Hours

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?

Radio Show Thursday, November 22 9AM-Noon

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!

Thanksgiving Radio Show

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.

Seasonal Happiness

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

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

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.

Radio Show, Tuesday July 10 6-9PM

Bob Mould - See A Little Light
Badfinger - Baby Blue
Jonathan Richman - That Summer Feeling
Trembling Blue Stars - Idyllwild
Billie Holiday - Blue Moon
Stampeders - Sweet City Woman
Kermit & Fozzie - Movin' Right Along
My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow
Ella Mae Morse - Solid Potato Salad
Chris Powell & The Five Blue Flames - Hot Dog (BEST SONG EVER!!!)
Lulu Belle & Scotty - How Many Biscuits Can You Eat
Emmylou Harris - Every Grain of Sand
Beatles - Girl
Gene Kelly & Donald O'Conner - Moses
We All Have Hooks For Hands - The Man Trying to Outfox Us All

Tuesday night's show was fun. At one point, a random thought popped into my head that had absolutely nothing to do with what I had been playing during the first two hours of my show... I wanted to hear a song about potato salad. I left the control room with 30 seconds to go on the song playing over the air. I knew which potato salad song that I wanted to play (I say this as if there are dozens of potato salad songs), but I couldn't remember which section in the library the CD lived. Deep in thought about finding the potato salad song in less than 30 seconds, I hurried down the dark narrow hallway toward the blues library. I wasn't looking where I was going and I bumped into Bill.

When I ran into Bill, I was still immersed in my task at hand and I said, "I gotta find a song about potato salad." Once that sentence came out of my mouth, I realized how ridiculous I must've looked and sounded.

Entire playlist can be found here.

New Jersey Hot Dog Jaunt

I was really happy to catch up with my friend, Robert, on this trip to New York. He loves a hot dog and is always more than willing to take me, Lee and Ewald to try new hot dog stands in and around New York. He can tell you where to find some of the best eats around the city... always a good friend to have.

Today, Robert, Fenna, Lee and I took a short trip over to Jersey City to try a dog at Boulevard Drinks, where they only serve hot dogs. No french fries, no onion rings, no hamburgers. Just hot dogs. And soft drinks. I tried their onion chili hot dog. I learned that this did not mean two condiments, but it was a single condiment of spicy chili laced with onions. Very tasty.


We also traveled down the street where I ate my first White Castle burger which was very odd. We don't have White Castles in North Carolina and I've had only one fast food burger in the past 18 years to compare the White Castle to. The sandwich is a little bit smaller than a Biscuitville biscuit and the meat is the thickness of a piece of bologna. Robert, Lee and I shared it and then ate an Indian pistachio popsicle (not from White Castle), which I gotta say was better than Locopops.



Robert also took us by Singh's Department Store, which was a bit scary. Lee and I thought it was closed at first since you couldn't really see inside. But then we realized that the reason you couldn't see anything was that there was stuff packed to the ceiling. There was only a single narrow path down the center of the store and you really couldn't see a thing. It seemed like what bad dreams are made of. I think that someone had an obsessive compulsive hoarding disorder and filled a room with as much stuff as possible and slapped a store sign over it. I really loved it and could've spent all day in there. The figure that you see standing in the photo below is standing in the entrance at the very front of the store. That's how crammed this store was.


Robert says that he might be coming to North Carolina to work on some new stories on barbeque and might be willing to take me along. Whee!

Folks, We Have A New Wiener & Champion Of the World

Last night, I rewatched the hot dog eating contest on ESPN2 here at my new favorite Brooklyn bar, Shenanigan's. ESPN edited out Koby's reversal of fortune at the end. They showed a crowd shot for the final seconds instead. I was told by friends in the bar that I was a conspiracy theorist since I accused Kobayashi of cheating last year and again this year. I even dreamt last night that Kobayashi's score was changed from 63 to the letter 'C.' However, I am not really sure what the 'C' stands for, but hey, it was a dream.

Entire photo collection of the hot dog eating contest can be found here. Don't worry, there are no puking pictures.

66 HDB!

The event began with of all things... CLOGGING!! Clogtastic!!


I love the horrified face of the number-spinner:


GO SONYA GO!

Yes, I was this close to Joey. I took this picture. Luckily he didn't puke on me when I got his autograph. He stole my pen.


Koby doesn't speak English, so I couldn't ask him to pose with me. He had on a clean shirt.


More later.

It Feels Like Christmas

We finally have the VIP Passes for THE big event, thanks to Jared, my hero. I didn't think that they would come through, but I got the email that the passes were at the IFOCE offices and I just needed to send someone over there to get them... easier said than done when one's still in NC. But I am here now and I am so excited, I cannot sleep.

I am just a few subway stops away from where I'll see Takeru Kobayashi, Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas in just 12 hours! I am so wound up and excited. Not only am I on vacation from a crazy time at work, I'll have the pleasure and the privilege of seeing Kobayashi and Chestnut battling it out up close and personal!! We have never been inside the gate at the Coney Island event. But we are this time. WOO HOO!!!

I keep thinking, "I hope I get spewed upon." But then I realize, "Oh wait, that's kinda disgusting."

HAPPY HOT DOG MONTH EVERYONE!!! May you be spewed upon only if you're into that sort of thing. Otherwise, I hope that you and your friends can keep your hot dogs down.

Is Kobayashi's Reign Coming To An End?

Many folks have emailed me this week about Kobayashi's reported jaw arthritis. Brought on by misaligned wisdom teeth and competitive eating training, Kobayashi's ailment allows him to only open his mouth as wide as two fingers.

Is it true or is he just full of bologna?


Joey Chestnut (on the left) ate 59 1/2 HDBs (hot dogs & buns) last month at a Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Qualifier in Phoenix, AZ shattering Kobayashi's old record of 53 3/4 HDBs. It seems that Kobayashi has maxed out at 52 or 53 HDBs at the past several Hot Dog Eating Championships. Can Joey eat on July 4th at Coney Island like he did in Phoenix?

By the way, the reason that Chestnut is pointing to Kobayashi is because he cheated last year. Kobayashi threw up into his cup. The crowd saw it. We all booed and screamed, but the judges let it slide. Usually a "reversal of fortune" means instant disqualification, but Kobayashi drank it. That's all I have to say about that.

I want Joey to bring the coveted mustard belt back home to the USA.

Despite the hype of the Chestnut/Kobayashi rivalry, my hot dog hero will always be Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas. Swallow Sonya Swallow!


National Hot Dog Month starts tomorrow. Happy Holidays!!!!

Hotdogs on Sunday

Ok folks! Hold onto your seats. I have some very exciting news!! Durham will soon have its very own downtown hotdog stand. Look for its premiere on June 23rd at the Durham Rising Festival. I was told that this festival was to be a celebration the completion of all the downtown sidewalk and street construction. But the website doesn't say that. Heck, the website doesn't even say what the festival is for... probably because I don't see how in the world the City is going to finish the downtown mess in two weeks.

Claud (pictured standing by her brand new hotdog stand above) will be premiering her hotdog stand at the CCB Plaza on the 23rd. Today she had a trial run in her backyard. She has a couple adjustments to make on the cart and she needs to work on some bun issues, but overall, I think it's going to be a big hit! Durham just keeps getting better.

Hot Diggity! Hot Diggity!

Before you read this post, let me tell you something. I love hotdogs. I am obsessed with hotdogs. I was a vegetarian for 12 long years and the meat that I missed was hotdogs. My craving turned into obsession when I worked at Merge. I think that everyone in the office loved hotdogs. On a very regular basis, someone in the office would make a hotdog run to Squeaky's up at NCNB Plaza on Franklin Street. In 1999, we gave our ten-year anniversary compilation called Oh, Merge the subtitle Sexy Panties and Hotdogs. Fans mailed us weird hotdog-themed items such as odd photographs, whistles and squirtguns. We loved it.

Today, my obsession (aka sickness) for the beloved frankfurter was rekindled. Despite the sunburn and Skip being sick (I hope you're feeling better!), today was an amazing day. Chris, Germaine and I took a trip to Charlotte to see an IFOCE-sanctioned National Hotdog Eating Contest Qualifier. As I am sure that everyone reading this knows, there is a huge event on the corner of Surf and Stillwell at Coney Island every Fourth of July: Nathan's National Hotdog Eating Contest. In order to compete at this event that is now broadcast on ESPN, you must win one of the qualifying events. Today marked North Carolina's first ever qualifier.

Germaine was asked by the IFOCE [International Federation of Competitive Eating] to film the contest. She shot some amazing footage and I cannot wait to see it. Rich Shea (one of the masterminds behind this whole marketing scheme that is called the IFOCE) was really nice and told the two of us to go wherever we wanted for the event. We could go backstage, in front of the stage, even ON STAGE during the event. I shot alot of great pictures. But who the heck is that Sonya poseur on the right?



That guy in the middle, Hal Hunt, or as Rich Shea says "the Faith-Based Eater" won with 28.75 HDB (hotdogs with buns) which is less than half of the world record holder, Joey Chestnut. The Sonya Poseur only downed 28. But Hal had Jesus on his side. He prays before each event. He even prayed when Skip, Germaine and I saw him win a grilled cheese sandwich eating contest at the NC State Fair in 2005. (That's him sitting and praying on the far right in the photo below.)


Rich is going to send me some t-shirts and VIP PASSES to the big daddy event on July 4th at Coney Island. This will be my fifth year making the pilgrimage to Nathan's. I am so excited. It's gonna be freakin' HUGE. I have to get my signs ready. I'm still rootin' for Sonya Thomas, as the black widow of the gurgitators will alway be #1 on my list. But I want Joey Chestnut to beat that pompous punk Kobayashi.

The King Has Been Dethroned

Move over Kobayashi. Your piddly 53 hot dogs are not going to cut it this July 4th.

Joey Chestnut: 59 1/2 in 12 minutes.

NEW WORLD RECORD!

USA! USA! USA!

I Am A Musical Whore

The past few months have provided lots of musical excitement. I've got CDs coming from folks all over and it's absolutely wonderful. I joke with my friends about my many musical affairs. I am such a whore... I'll trade mix CDs with anyone who's willing!

I once met a musical partner in Mt. Airy by accident. I overheard a conversation this old-time banjo player was having about a mix CD that a friend gave him. As he was describing the songs, I realized that it was one of my mine! I introduced myself and we instantly connected musically. We had an amazing ongoing musical affair for a couple years. He would send me multiple mini discs of these crazy old ska 45's that he very roughly recorded and collections of dirty blues songs. I'd send him mixes of food songs, dirty R&B, silly old country songs and indie pop. I haven't heard from him in years, but I still send him a mix CD every now and then.

Christa and I started our affair in the late 90s, when she cohosted a few Thursday Night Features on WXYC with me. We'd do these three-hour shows on dreamy vocalists from the 40s and 50s and we's share tapes or CDs of our favorites. And then there were the tapes of our annual Bettyfest on Divaville at WXDU. Our musical affair continues to this day. She is the only person around who I can geek with on the best decade of Bobby Darin's career, the slur in Sarah Vaughan's voice, or the best version of "The Way You Look Tonight."

Back then, WXYC led me to another musical partner. A listener in Brazil had loved one of my shows and emailed the station to find out who I was. I can't remember his name. He was obsessed with Superchunk and I was obsessed with Latin psychedelic music and Carmen Miranda. Our musical affair was beautiful. He would go absolutely nuts when he received a stack of autographed Superchunk CDs in the mail.

There was also Jason. Over the course of many years, I'd get a phone call every few months: "Dude, whatcha doin' tonight? Well, ya see, I need your help, Charlotte. Can I come over?" We'd pull out the bourbon and cigarettes and I'd listen to his sometimes dire stories of his romantic relationships. His stories would end with "What should I do, Charlotte?!? I really like her!"

My response: "We have to make her a mix tape!" Concocting a mix tape on cassette would usually take us all night since we were recording in real time and we never managed to hit the stop button at the right moment. And then there was the discussion of the lyrics... everything had to be perfect. We couldn't give off the wrong impression!!! Our mix tapes of woo always seemed to work for Jason. I know what girls want. A couple years ago, the night before Jason moved across the country, we made our last mix tape together. We made a pact that twice a year, we'd make mix CDs for each other. It worked for a little while, but alas that musical relationship has fizzled, too. (Jason, come back!!! I need your mix!)

I have been having an ongoing musical affair for the past couple years with my friend, Lightnin'. I saw him about a month ago and found out that when I was going through my Donovan obsession, he was on a Donovan kick at the same time. How cool is that!? He's sent me some great ukulele music, some crazy calypso, yodeling, and we even swapped comfort CDs.

Every now and I then I am invited to be in a musical orgy, more politely called Mix Tape Club. I am currently having musical relations with a bunch of folks in Manhattan, some of whom I will never meet. There's 12 of us and each month one person mails out a CD to the rest of the group. It's thrilling!! My month is July which is National Hotdog Month... heh heh heh.

Sorry, No Hot Dogs Today

I'm in Brooklyn visiting my friends, Lee, Ewald and Fenna for the next week. Today, the four of us went to their friend, Max's fourth birthday party. I swear when we walked in there were kids bouncing off the walls, chasing beach balls, playing soccer, dancing and screaming, and having a BLAST. It was very intense and mesmerizing. The calming voice of Patsy Cline coming softly from the speakers seemed to have no effect on the insanity in that space.

I had never met Max before, but he somehow knew about my passion for hot dogs. Max stopped playing to come over and tell me that unfortunately, there were no hot dogs being served at his party, but he did have birthday cake to offer me. He told me that he was going to be five on his *next* birthday. He assured me that the cake was going to be really good because it had writing on it and a big soccer ball.

UNC vs. Duke at 4pm today... last game of the men's season. Ewald and I are psyched. Fenna and Lee couldn't care less. Go Heels!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

May your day be filled with hotdogs and chocolate (but not together at the same time... that seems grody unless the chocolate is in the chili and then it is quite tasty.)