Recovering DJ: my five pence on Susan Boyle

So I’m finally chiming in on the whole Susan Boyle controversy, upheaval, or whatever you want to call it. I'm prone to comment on anyone named Susan, as well as music in general.

Like most news items, I've been paying attention with just half an eye and ear. I see drips and drabs on TV news and scan headlines here and there online or in one of those old fashioned newspaper things. You can’t miss her really; she’s s all over the net and is consistently a trending topic on Twitter.

In case your attention span is worse than mine. Susan Boyle is a contestant on "Britain’s got Talent," She's a tad bit frumpy to put it mildly, and the audience immediately thought she wouldn't be that great. But alas, it’s not true, she got “the voice”.

As a girl who’s got the perfect face for radio and makes everyone in a gym feel much better about themselves when she walks in, I gotta say Bravo Susan B! You make a Susan proud.

Some people are of course now commenting that perhaps it’s all been a calculated act or something, but backlash is inevitable.So what if she did have a few tricks up her taffeta sleeve? It’s called marketing and P.R. It's O.K when actors and other dubious “celebrities” plan their little plots, but heaven forbid a woman like Susan Boyle joke about never being kissed and then admit later she was joking.

The truth is, I just now watched the entire video of her first audition and I started SOBBING, even though I’ve seen parts of it already. Her cute little victory jig at the end reminded me we all have feelings and dreams and we should be permitted to go down our own paths, without getting trampled on by people who think they know it all.

And now I’ll go back to paying half attention.

No more unwatched flicks

The Recovering DJ household recently jumped on the "cost cutting caboose". Factor in that plus plain 'ol principle, and we decided to cancel our Netflix membership. It was really the principle of the whole thing, but strangely I'm a little sad. Cinderella was right, You really don't know what you got until it's gone.

I love Netflix, I really do. From what I've read they're a great company with excellent execution on a great concept. You generally get your new DVD the next day, and now you can even watch certain flicks on the net.

But a problem arises...when you don't watch the movies. Either for months and months or...ever. I've mentioned before that I had possession of a DVD for over 7 months before I watched it. The lack of pressure to turn in a movie on time for some reason lulls me into a mode of "I'll just watch it tomorrow, or the next night, or on the weekend."

Apparently this household isn't the only one suffering from self-induced Netflix nonsense. If there really are alot of people like me out here, the Netflix concept is even more genius.

In the meantime, it's back to cable movies. Thank goodness the new USA shows are starting.

It's not just Earth Day for some people

Song of the Day: "Birthday"-The Beatles

Today is Recovering DJ day too.

It’s funny how it's such a big deal to some people it’s their birthday and some people could care less. There must be a big psychological study about how you react to your big day defines the kind of person you are. As if it's that easy.

I have friends that go way overboard on their day, all "me me me" and it's like come on, we’re gettin' too old for this. But then I have some friends who don’t make a big deal at all and I think that’s wrong too.

Your birthday is your day; (unless you share it with other's- I happen to share it with four people I know, which I feel is an unusually large amount. I want my own day, HA). But regardless, you should be nice to yourself, treat yourself to something-however small but important only to you.
I think of my birthday as New Year's Day, which it really is. Another year of your life. I reflect on the past, and future and pour myself a glass of vino because it's all so much. Another story for another day.

I also try to do something nice for myself-like a mani/pedi, and responsible- I schedule doctor and dentist appointments before my birthday, that way I know every year when I’m due for my check ups. Ugh, that’s such a grown up thing to do now that I go back and read that.

When I worked in radio, saying a birthday over the air was a BIG DEAL, to both the birthday person as well as the person who made the request. I felt I possessed a great power over civilians, which I guess I did. But the simple gesture made people happy, so it was worth using the power for good instead of evil. At least I don’t think I ever used it for evil, unless I said someone’s age or something, broadcasting it to thousands of people at once…Oops.

Aaliyah (may she rest in peace) sang: “Age ain’t nothin’ but a number”. True, but sometimes it’s not a good number, not a number you want out there. I know some people hide their age, although now that I think about it, not in my circle. I am probably the only one who has started to think about shaving a few years off here and there, I mean who would it hurt really? I know some people who think they'r sooo old and therefore are acting so waaayyy too soon. And then I know people who don’t act their age, and I’m not sure if they ever will. I think I fit somewhere in the middle.

Today is also Earth Day, something I find veddy veddy amusing. Without giving too much away, Earth Day was created AFTER I was. Therefore, a somewhat egotistical maniac who thinks the world revolves around her might think Earth Day is about her.

Alas, not so. Just a funny little coincidence, which I think might help people remember my b'day. Or not, if they're aren't Earth Day sort of people.

At any rate, it’s certainly better than being born on a day like Christmas. You really get gypped on the gifts. Of course you do when you get older too, but that’s a story for another day boys and girls.

I love USA!

The network... Well and the country, of course.

I came to this fascinating and startling conclusion the other night while watching the season 2 premiere of “In Plain Sight”-a show about a pair of U.S Marshalls in New Mexico and the madcap mayhem that happens on the job. The male Marshall is named “Marshall” which my “punny” humor just loves. The female lead is played by Mary McCormack, formally a “West Wing” cast member, (In fact USA seems to employ a lot of former “West Winger’s” which I find incredibly amusing as well) **

At any rate, while watching, a promo comes on for a new USA show starting in June called “Royal Pains” starring Mark Feurstein, he of “In Her Shoes” (a once top-secret favorite Recovering DJ movie, now obviously that’s out)

“Royal Pains” also co-stars Campbell Scott, a fave of mine in the David Mamet classic “The Spanish Prisoner” and of course the Seattle singles scene in “Singles”. Add in the fact that the story sounds fun and I am hooked.

Another promo comes on later for “Burn Notice” featuring the hottest spy in the world played by Jeffrey Donovan and this is when I exclaim to my husband, startling him away from his Kindle, “ I love this network!”

He nods knowingly, his wife is a TV junky and her new fix is now within easy reach on one channel.

I got hooked on USA last year when I started watching “Monk” every day to catch up on the show. The network does such a good job of promoting all their shows that I began to watch more and more. It doesn’t hurt that I am a marketer’s dream, pretty much swayed by slick production and quirky characters.

Yes, I watch too much TV.
I guess admitting it is one step towards recovering though, right?

**What makes USA the “West Wing” Network? (File under things only I care about.)

• Mary McCormack on “In Plain Site” played Kate Harper, deputy national security advisor

• Dule Hill on USA's “Pysch” played Charlie, the President’s assistant.

• Bradley Whitford-Josh on WW guest stars on “Monk”

• Richard Schiff who played Toby on WW had a two episode story on “Burn Notice” when I checked him out on IMDB it states he also guest stars on “Monk” and “In Plain Site” crazy!

Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)

My tribute to "The Bird"

My mom told me the other night, a quick one line e-mail…”Did you hear Mark Fidrych died, “The Bird” he was 54. I had not heard, and the news made me blue.

I honestly can’t recall if I ever saw the “Bird” pitch live, I feel like I did, and I'm telling people I did, but it's possible I'm embellishing a bit. I know back in 1976 I was a really really young, but I think the mid-70’s was when I got intrigued by baseball.

I think the crazy, wacky “Bird” got me interested in something I never cared about before, an entity that has become a part of my life since then. Late nights listening to my scratchy little AM radio next to my bed, Ernie Harwell calling the West Coast games, lulling me to sleep. Baseball was warm summer nights to me back then.

He spoke to the ball, he jumped over the white lines, he immediately congratulated great plays made by his teammates. His excitement and love of the game was infectious.

And I think the “Bird” got me into pitchers. All the great Tiger pitchers from back in the day-Dave Rozema, Jack Morris , Dan Schatzeder, Dan Petry….and on and on.

Back then, I couldn't wait to go see Patty Smyth and John Waite, at the time two of my favorite singers touring together was "totally rad". However, Kirk Gibson and Rozema showed up and sat two rows ahead of us. Guess whom we ended up watching more, the concert or Gibby & Rozie? That's how much I was into pitchers and the Tigers.

I remember my first game, at old Tiger Stadium at Michigan & Trumbell, the non-gentrified stadium that seemed a lot more “baseball like” than parks like Comerica and Safeco…both great ball fields that I’ve been to many times, I’m just sort a purist when it comes to the old school. Although then first time I went to Yankee Stadium I thought it was a total dump, but I got over that.

I loved my first game. My dad got box seats for the four of us. I believe we played Toronto. The seats were bright orange and the sun was burning bright. It was a good day.

I recall the game when Al Kaline's number was retired, I thought that ‘s when I saw the “Bird”. But it would have been too late for him then, his career was sadly already over. One great summer.

A sweet, genuinely sincere guy who was happy no matter what he was doing. Certainly an inspiration. The sad/funny thing is, these days, “The Bird” would not have been accepted.

I’ve been listening to Dan Patrick lately (and surprisingly liking him even though he’s a sports broadcaster). But he something the other day about Fidrych, how “We are so cynical and snarky now… (we would all think it's an act) it’s orchestrated, it’s pre-meditated, its not natural”

It’s true. We have celebrities that do absolutely nothing but let the paparazzi follow them. But a guy who is livin’ his dream, a dream of many people, would be ridiculed for enjoying the ride.

Let's hope he's still enjoying.


More articles on "The Bird"
Freep Flashback

Drew Sharp "When the Bird Was the Word" (that title has been in my head all week now"

I am 12 years old I swear. It's bad enough I'm a social media junky. Now I have discovered I can text in a blog post!? This is a test, this is only a test of the emergency recovering Dj network.

DC Tea Party Protest Shut Down By Secret Service, Package Thrown Over White House Fence (VIDEO)

What is wrong with people??? Bush is the one who dragged us down into this mess you idiots. What a bunch of lemmings, it just makes me sad and sick. Although I will say the government must hate people who don't own their place and who don't have children, trust me I know because we got TOTALLY reamed. What can you do? Absolutely nothing. You can't fight city hall. Death and taxes are the only things certain in life.
About Tax Day Tea Parties
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Starting again, once again, in a matter of speaking

Hello dear readers-all two of you.

I really loathe pushing the "fourth wall",that invisible divider that separates the character from the audience. Ironic, since I spent a long time talking directly to an audience. Well actually, just an audience member, one person....that's the key to great radio...one on one communication, talk directly to one individual.

But I digress...

I know I've been remiss on posting as frequently as I should. You know how it is, once you get off that bicycle...you head to a bar and then you can't remember where the heck the bike is, or something like that.

I know, I know the saying is really: "it's like riding a bike"...the all purpose catch phrase for something not forgotten... but doesn't seem to apply to me... I don't even know if I could ride a bike anymore quite frankly. I'd like to, but with the hills around here...who knows.

The bike I was on, metaphorically speaking, was the East Coast. I was distracted all week from writing even the simplest of posts to keep the blog momentum going. I couldn't get a New York minute in at all. It's crazy I know, and it’s something I really need to work on. And that's important, keep working on, not giving up.

Cuz sometimes it's so much easier to give up.

It’s always a process really, being a human being, trying to keep going. It’s easy to get caught up in the smallest minutia of life and forget the big picture.

So, once again, as always, I'll pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again.

The adventure continues my friends, the adventure continues.

But I'm suppose to be Susan!

Song of the day: "My Name is Not Susan" Whitney Houston

A long forgotten dance gem in my opinion.

I loved "talking out" of this song on the radio, because simple humor amuses me most.

" 10:52, Whitney Houston there, who's not Susan, but I am!"

I used to think that was sooo funny. But it probably wasn't to most people. Which can explain alot.

Yes, my name is Susan. And I'm here to claim it.

What got me on this protective Susan rant is something I just read about- a new "mockumentary" that will be appearing on the web. And it stars Sarah Silverman. Who I don't particularly care for. I don't know why. Some would say it's jealousy. But whatever, the point is...her characters name is SUSAN! grrrrr.

But of course I've just given the show a plug, so there you go. Any P.R is better than no P.R I always say. Look at Britney if you don't belive me for heavens sakes!

But I digress...

Sarah Silverman playing a Susan is not as bad as the mother of all eyebrows lady who I really really don't care for, Brooke Shields who did a show called "Suddenly Susan" for what seemed like forever. I could NOT believe Susan was her characters name. I took it as a personal assault. Back then I was on the air and I would rail about it constantly. The universe had plotted against me. That too would probably explain alot.

Cute Susan side note, while Googling for "Suddenly Susan" I came across a interesting little blog by that name.

See, my "Susan bashing" is random. For example, I didn't mind Madonna's character being called Susan in "Desperately Seeking Susan".

Although I always wonder-Why does the flower's name have to be Black Eyed Susan??

Why are trays that rotate around called a Lazy SUSAN???

Yes, my name is Susan and I'm a bit of a a nut job.

It's been about six months since I started this blog, and I wasn't quite sure where I was going with it. I just knew it was something I really wanted to do. And felt I should do. People have been asking me, what is your blog about? And I usually say "pop culture", which is partially true. But really it's about me I guess, and my little observations on the world. And it's a release for rants that would normally be reserved for the radio.

We are all "me centric". We all think the universe revolves around us, and can't understand why people would not agree with us, hence the reason there is so much bickering going on in the world.

I used to say, "I'm the sun, and you are all planets circling me"
And someone said to me, "Well in that case, I want to be Pluto, as far away from the sun as possible"

That brings you down a peg.

Because in the end, it's the over sized ego that gets you, no matter what your name is.

A tale of an April fool on the radio

Once upon a time, in a land that is “hi” in the middle and round on both ends* there was a beautiful on-air radio personality. And lo, she was a funny girl too, at least she thought so anyways. She decided it would be a hoot to play a little trick on the 1st of April on the kindly townsfolk.

She thought and she thought, and finally came up with a brilliant idea. At least she thought so anyways.

When her radio show started, she began to report the most wondrous news to her eager listeners. She told them in the most convincing tone that her show was being filmed, live! If you, dear listeners, turn your television sets to channel 77 you will see the fair maiden DJ in all her glory.

The townsfolk were so excited and eager to see this spectacle; they immediately ran to their TV’s and switched them to channel 77.

But alas, there was no picture, only a fuzzy grey and white pattern. They were sad, for they were so looking forward to seeing the inside of the grand radio studio as well the fair maiden DJ.

“Don’t fret”, said the DJ. “You just need to wiggle your antenna, or jiggle your set.”

“That doesn’t work!” exclaimed an excited listener, calling on the station request line.

“Perhaps you need to adjust your cable, make sure it's plugged in all the way." responded the DJ.

And so it went. Caller after caller tried to get reception on channel 77, and nothing was working.

Some thought they might see a shadow of some sort “ See me now, I’m waving my hands back and forth” announced the DJ at one point to a caller live on the air.

“Oh yes” squealed the listener, “I can see something shadowy moving on my screen, now that you mention it.”

And so it went on some more, as listeners became callers, but alas none of the townsfolk were able to get television reception on channel 77. Although some claimed they could indeed see something moving on their screen when the DJ persuaded them to look harder. The power of persuasion, especially from a soothing voice, can be very magical.

And then suddenly, the dreaded Studio HOT Line rang. This was a super duper, top-secret phone number that only the evil program director boss knew. He would dial this number whenever the fair maiden DJ was doing something wrong, or what he deemed to be wrong. The Hot line ring was every DJ's greatest fear, behind dead air.

The evil boss roared, “The cable company is getting flooded with calls. People think there is something wrong with their cable because some fool DJ is telling them to turn to channel 77 to view the radio station studio live.”

The fair maiden DJ chuckled. Channel 77 did not exist in this town. The listeners, unwittingly, and fallen prey to an April Fools Joke!

And oh, how she laughed and laughed as she told the townspeople the news. And oh, how they screamed and yelled when told they had been the victims of a prank.

But they didn’t stay angry for long, and everyone eventually had a guffaw over the whole affair.

And every once in awhile, some townspeople would admit later, they’d turn to channel 77…just to see if MAYBE it wasn’t a joke after all.

*(Ohio)

Recovering DJ's latest grooves

Indie Songs I’m groovin’ on this month-just a few of many

It’s that time of year, we're over Winter and anxious to move on to Spring already. While I can’t do a darn thing about the weather, I can offer up some musical gems that might take the edge off.

There’s an irony in my little household that once upon a time, I was the one discovering new music to spin on the radio. Find artists to educate the masses…make the listeners see, well actually hear, the error of their musical ways and try to persuade them who they really should be listening too. At least that’s how you think it’s gonna work when you start out as a baby DJ. Record companies and artists were always sending me albums and CD’s so I didn’t have to look for music, it came to me.

Now, my main source for new music is my husband. He’s got a knack for discovering a quirky group…usually someone he read about in Blender or Rolling Stone. With the rise of iTunes (and the Genius feature, which is awesome.) Anyone can find new music.

Most of these songs I came across on XM satellite radio, Channel 43 XMU. It's actually Sirius XM now and unfortunately, XMU is not that great since that the companies have merged, which is a shame because it was a Xcellent indie music source. It's funny I liked XM much better, because they were owned by that biz killer, Clear Channel.

It’s kinda hard to make note of new songs when driving, which I only do about once a week. I try to say the names aloud a few times over and over in hopes of memorizing the band name. If I have paper and pen close by, I try to write and drive, or sometimes I take a picture of the radio with my phone in hopes of being able to see the digital readout later. That one doesn’t work out so well.

Truthfully some of these tunes aren’t “new” but they’re new to me, and therefore as far as I’m concerned, new to my universe. What’s old is new again. Like flowers poking their heads once again through the frozen dirt, some songs finally reach the surface of my existence and I finally notice.

Rogue Wave-“Chicago X 12”
I’d call them a “poppy-alternative” hybrid. These guys are on Jack Johnson’s label now after Seattle’s Sub Pop dropped them.

The New Pornographers -“Twin Cinema”
Title track from their 2005 release, I missed the boat the first time around on this cheeky band from “up north ay“ in Vancouver.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah -“Over and Over Again””
Another ’05. All the kids call these Brooklyn/Philly boys CYHSY. The lead singer totally sounds like David Byrne, which is a big duh for those who have already been on the train. I again remember reading about them, but eh…just never got around to checking them out, for shame!

The Kills-“The Good Ones”
I should really call this list the "best of ’05." I guess Sirius doesn’t have any newer CD’s, what with having to pay Howard Stern (*SNAP*)Anyways-this one of those songs that just really gets under my groove skin, which is different than your regular skin, don’t ya know?

M.Ward featuring Zooey Deschanel-“Never Had Nobody Like You”
This one is actually from 2009!! M. Ward lives in Oregon and his latest work is an old school sound with a fresh car smell. A bit more popish than some of his pervious work I think, but the addition of the always-"Elfish" Zooey gives this song a unique feel.


While "music is within a world within itself, in a language we all understand (so says "Sir Duke" himslef, Mr. Stevie Wonder), music is also EXTREMLY subjective and personal, so if you don’t like my list…please keep that in mind.

Before You Tube, it was just...the Tube

Song of the day:
"57 Channels and nothin; on"-Bruce Springsteen

For me, TV is comfort food. Good ol’ shows like “Seinfeld”, “Gilmore Girls”, “Will & Grace”, Frasier, 90’s shows in syndication on your basic cable channels like TBS, Lifetime, and Family Channel. I hear the snickers now, but whatevah.

New shows don’t it for me as much. “Family Guy”, “Ugly Betty” and “How I Met Your Mother” about my only new “comfort “ shows. I love “Lost” but that’s an event, not a soothing moment. And then the so-called reality TV is not reality at all and all the voyeurism just wears me down. How does the minutia of someone else’s life seem interesting??

TV lulls me, soothes me and whatever your arguments are about TV, I know I’ve wasted a lot of time with the boob tube, but isn’t admitting it the first step towards recovering? You’d think so anyway.

Like last week I was half watching “ER”, something I haven’t done in years. Half watching means I was on the phone, or reading, or playing Pogo. Back in the day, “ER” was a show that introduced me to a whole different world. The Michael Crichton writing the George Clooney hotness, it was such a high-speed, slick show at the time.

You have cop-show people, soap opera people, I think I’ve always been a hospital show person. “St. Elsewhere”, “Chicago Hope”, “ER”. And yes “Grey’s Anatomy”. The first season was crazy frothy fun with a great soundtrack-CD that got me through a lousy time. A show about a city I had never been to nor had any desire to see. Yes, the irony that I now live in the shadow of Seattle Grace doesn't escape me.

Who says TV doesn't model real life??

I often wonder why there isn’t an “all-old” sitcom/drama network. I know there’s “nick at night” but I’m talking only the stuff I like.

I know there’s licensing issues and the money it costs to make all this happen. So maybe someone can come up with a “My channel”? If you are a subscriber to a cable network, and you could pull together all the shows you want to watch on one channel, like a mix tape. Stranger things have happened.

A (news) paper cut can go deep

I know I’ve belabored it, another post about a silly newspaper. In a town I’ve only been in a few years yet. Wall Street crumbled and I hardly even blinked an eyelash, GM might go under and I shrug, but now my eyes keep spilling over as I read the last print edition of the Seattle Post- Intelligencer, the P.I.

I know I’m harping, but it seems no one else is. Which makes me even sadder. I’ve been leafing through the last edition, and the history that the paper has been a part of is awe-inspiring.
There’s an episode of “Seinfeld” where Jerry tells a woman that his friend George Costanza is a marine biologist. George exclaims “But you know I’ve always wanted to pretend to be an architect.”

I myself-I’ve always wanted to be a journalist, and I'm sorta pretending to be one now. Had I not been so lazy when I was younger I think I would have tried a lot harder to get into print or broadcast news.

(One of my all time favorite movies, “Broadcast News”…the part where Holly Hunter unplugs the phone and cries hysterically than goes back to work…. I can relate. )

But for me, there was also a glamorous glow in newspaper writing. I don’t know where I got that feeling, but I think I’ve always felt that way.

I feel bad for the PI employees who had to go. Some of them, 10, 20, 30 years on the job. I know what it’s like to be in an extremely specialized field.

I remember trying to get a “real “ job in New York City. I was registering with a temp agency and the recruiter went over my resume with a black Sharpie, obliterating 10 years of my life. She reduced my radio career to whatever “administrative” or “managerial” work I had done, insisting I include nothing about being on-air, which she said would hurt my chances for getting a job.

She slashed and cut, and a piece of me went too. I left the building to sob on the corner in the pouring rain, realizing I didn't have enough money to get a hot dog AND get the bus back to Jersey. That’s when I realized radio was no longer payin’ they bills, the mean ol’ Sharpie lady was right.

It’s ironic that the very part that was cut is the very part that people are fascinated with. My friends, family are always like “my friend used to work in radio” It doesn't matter what I’ve done after. That will be the defining time of my life. It can be exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time.

So I do empathize with the PI peeps. It’s hard to adapt to “civilian” life. I don’t think I ever really have. I truly wish them all well in their future endeavors, and hope they don't run into too many recruiters who are brandishing Sharpies.

And I think the kids today; they don’t know the glitz of the daily’s. The well written thought out news stories, in-depth articles, thought provoking opinions. Instead, the cynical "short attention span" generation gets all it’s news from a bunch of yahoo bloggers. Yes, present company included.

There’s a picture on the front page of the last PI issue that’s showcases a quote from Thomas Jefferson gracing the walls of the P.I building:

“Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."


Here here!

Seattle PI put to bed

The Seattle PI is no more! Tomorrow, March 17, 2009 will be the last edition. It's so sad, the demise of a paper.

As I mentioned last week, I've only been a Seattle resident for a short time, but anytime a journalistic empire goes under is cause for dismay.

Songs of the Day:
In honor of the PI

"Sunday Papers"-Joe Jackson

"Second Hand News"-Fleetwood Mac

"News of the World"- The Jam

Would you believe that's all I could find??!!

Why I picked the P.I

When I was a baby DJ, the Internet was still just a gleam in the eyes of many a tech geek. News came down the old fashion way, from the AP news wire. Show prep (in civilian terms, that means prepping for your show) was done in the most archaic fashion, pulling it from the wire and reading the newspaper.

I’ve always been a big fan of the newspaper. I enjoy the feel of scratchy paper and rubbed-off ink on my fingertips. I grew up reading the Detroit papers, the News and Free Press (The Freep had better comics, that’s all an eight year old cares about.) Many a day was spent pouring over the pages, not understanding what I was reading sometimes but overjoyed at the prospect of what I might learn.

I wrote for my High School Paper (The Blue & White!) and my college paper for a short time. I was torn between going into broadcasting or print journalism. I had given up my kindergarten ambitions of being an actress or the Queen. I went with, what I thought at the time, was the safer bet-radio. (Yes, that’s a whiff of sarcasm mixed with irony)

At any rate, as I began to move around the dial I’d grab my locals every day-The Lima News, The Akron Beacon Journal, The Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Buffalo News. And when I moved to NY/NJ It was like a newspaper junkie’s dream come true; it was the land of a dozen papers. The Star Ledger, The Bergen Record, The New York Post and the gray lady herself The New York Times. All could be easily folded and read on the subway. And all had a special place in my heart for different reasons.

My newspaper Jones doesn’t diminish in my travels. Of course there’s always the USA Today, which I have to say isn’t the worse thing I’ve read. I’ve picked up The L.A Times, The Miami Herald, and The Chicago Tribune, even the Las Vegas Sun. Wherever I’ve been I’ve perused the local paper.

So, you can imagine, moving to Seattle and leaving my East Coast stable of papers behind was a little daunting. I was somewhat mollified when I discovered Seattle was a two-paper town, The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post Intelligencer. With a JOA in place that is sort of like Detroit’s, the Sunday paper is a combo of both. The dailies are a bit different and unique, and it took me awhile to decide who was going to have the honor of gracing my doorstep. Call me a loon, (and many do) but opening the door in the morning to the newspaper at my feet is one of my most favorite things. It doesn’t take much for me, and my husband is constantly grateful for that.

So how to pick? The P.I’s office is right down the street, with an old school “Daily Gotham” like globe spinning atop the building. At first I didn’t really know where the Seattle Times office was, but I knew they didn’t have such a hip rooftop ornament. The P.I name was more unique; different from any paper I’ve known. The Seattle Times…well around here they’re “The Times”, and I thought at first people were referring to the only paper that will ever be just “The Times” to me…The New York Times.

In most towns, you have the conservative leaning paper and the liberal leaning paper. In Seattle, there’s the liberal paper, (Seattle Times) and the really liberal paper, (Post-Intelligencer). I don’t normally pick a paper for its politics. There are certain ascetics I’m drawn to- like layout, lifestyle section, and various syndicated columns. The New York post is ultra right, but I love Page Six. The New York Daily News has better sports. The Bergen Record was more about North Jersey and had a much better layout than the more popular Star Ledger.

And the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has better comics. Yes, the eight year old won. Not to mention my husband liked the sports section better. And I also liked the layout and lifestyle sections.

But now, just like that, The Hearst Corp. is cuttin’ the P.I loose. No more printed word, only a glowing, cold online format. I’ve been through format changes, I’ve been through staff changes, but I’ve never worked at a station that ceased to exist.

And the sad thing is, most people don’t care. Most people don’t read the dailies anymore. The ‘net is a great place, and yes I get most of my news from it these days. But it just feels like an end of an era. You can’t really fold up the ‘net and read it wherever, or tear out a recipe out or cut out an article.

And it's really hard to read the comics online.

My happy thoughts go out to all the P.I people who are cut lose. As you compete for the same jobs I’m going for now, just know that you'll persevere, you will pull through. Hopefully.

And at least some of the time, you’ll at least think you’re recovering. ☺

SNL: The Rock Obama: Don't Make Obama Mad (VIDEO)

I have to admit, "The Rock" can be entertaining! If you can't laugh, then what's the point...this is a hoot.
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

A little ditty 'bout time

This morning my brain was brewing a clever li'l post about time. And then I realized I already wrote a little ditty about time in the fall.

Spring Forward!

I did want to mention the switch to Daylight Savings time this weekend. We lose an hour, ugh. And it seems so early this year, no?

Time was really important in my on-air radio career. When struggling for what to say at the next break (which was often) I'd start with the time. “Q-9 5 5, Susan Cruise at 10:52 with the latest from Matchbox 20 there….”

Time became a crutch, so I was told. It wasn't so important in midday's. (10am-2 or 3 pm shift) as it was on the morning show, where time checks were given all over the place, in several different forms...digital..."It's 10:52”...old school…"It's about 10 minutes before 11:00."

You also had to be on time for work. People really really noticed if you were late for your shift, so there wasn’t any excuse that was good enough. If you were prone to tardiness, it was great when you didn't have a talk break right away at the top of the hour.

But usually that was not the case. Nothing like racing to the station and hearing someone else do my first break. AND they're telling the world they are doing it because you are late. Oh yeah, I wasn't sneaking into the studio without getting yelled at after that.

The time changes also messed up the playlist. Playlist? Oh yeah, the top secret playlist “civilians” aren’t suppose to know about. Long story short, every hour has a list of music. So when a shift has an extra hour, (like during “Fall Back” in the fall) I had to make sure to add an extra page of music. I'd also have to remember to tell the idiot night jock that there actually WAS an added hour of music, so they didn't play the same hour twice.

Although, truth be told, I’m sure not that many people noticed that.

Recovering DJ props to Paul Harvey

Just a quick Paul Harvey tribute, who died over the weekend. He was a true radio pro in a biz full of posers. In several of the small markets I worked at I had to run his show, and what started as an annoyance (he was taking time away from MY show) turned into a comforting habit and lessons learned in consistency and loyalty.

Whether you agreed with him or not, he had longevity and CLASS in a business that has very very little of either. Unless you're a syndicated douche blowhard taking jobs away from everyone, than you might have some longevity....(snark, snark)

At any rate, there are few old school radio peeps left these days that I respect. Anyone who has persevered as long as Mr. Harvey had deserves a standing "O".

My movie two cents...

...Two Cents...adjusted for inflation...what would that be???

I'm know I'm a day late and a dollar short....but man oh man...the Oscar's were pretty excruciating!

I was all excited I got home in time to watch them... AND I thought it was sooo money they were live on the West Coast..all the other awards shows are taped which soooo annoys me...

But it was pretty much all for naught. The Hugh Jackman/Anne Hathaway bit was cute. But then... Previous supporting actress winners came out to give long drawn out homage to the 2009 nominees....and suddenly I knew it was going to be a long long haul.

The even moolah was on "Slumdog Millionaire" so not too many people were disappointed. Despite the Slumdog backlash. There's always backlash, but I felt this film was deserving..much more so than past winners...


Top 5 Best Picture Oscar winners that didn't deserve it:
1981 "Chariots of Fire"
My friend and I went to see this after it won, and it was sooooo awful we left pretty early. I think it's the only movie I ever walked out on!

1990 "Dances With Wolves" Never saw it, never will. Have no interest in it. Just the way I roll.
1997 "Titanic"
Ohhh, will never watch this long, lame monstrosity. The boat sinks, they all die...I'm really going to waste 3 hours of my life? There's more to my Titanic distaste, but for another day...

1999 "American Beauty"
Really thought this was weird, bizarre and awful. I think I'm the only one though.

2004 Million Dollar Baby
I was soooo rooting for "Ray" and "Sideways" that year. Hey, maybe it's the word MILLION that helps a flick win? But seriously,Baby was lame and personally I think that's why the far superior "Gran Torino" did not get Clint ANY nominations....the academy blew their wad on this one!

And so ends another award season!

Sick of being sick?

The Recovering DJ is Recovering!

I've been sick. Bad cold, nothing serious. But I'm a big baby. And I haven't been sick in quite awhile, so it hit me hard. I'm not surrounded by people as much, so my immunity is not boosted by others anymore.

Working in a small, airtight on-air radio booth sharing a microphone with others is a HUGE breeding ground. It's worse than a daycare. I remember one time in Lima the P.D using what seemed like a CASE of Lysol to spray down the on-air studio when one of the jocks came down with the flu. If one got sick, we all got sick. But of course you still had to work because there's no such thing as a sick day for DJ's, unless you completely lost your voice. And even then it was debatable. Oh, the glamours of the radio biz, snark. Even today I panic when I lose my voice, old habits die hard...or never at all.

When I first moved to the NJ/NY area, I was illin' all the time, a blast of bugs to my system. But after about six months, I was hardly sick at all. I attribute that to riding the great mass transit system know as the PATH to the New York City Subway. I say everyone should lick a subway pole and that would boost your immunity ten-fold!

If that just made you throw up a little in your mouth thinking about it, sorry. But I know there are other things you can do do boost your immunity, everyone has their favorites. I like Vitamin C, and those Zinc supplements. Plus lots of tea and water and juice. I don't do echinacea anymore, but I do think yogurt and garlic have their merits.

It's all a crap shoot probably, or perhaps it's a little bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy- If you FEEL the vitamin or supplement will help you get better, than perhaps you WILL feel better!

5 Songs About Illness

1. "Night Fever"-Bee Gees
2. "Bad Case of Loving You"-Robert Palmer (RIP- R.P)
3. "You Be Illin'" -Run DMC (RIP Jam Master Jay)
4. "Unwell"-Matchbox 20
5. "Cat Scratch Fever" -Ted Nugent

Bonus : "Fever"-Various Artists

Many have recorded this including Peggy Lee, Tom Jones, Elvis & Madonna