big hands I know you're the one

So there's some big assed hands sticking out of the ground in Chico.

This is apparently the skinny on those:

Our Hands: Municipal Center Building, East Plaza. Large hands made of cement and terrazzo with images of Chico embedded in them. (Donna Billick 2000)

More here

What the hell is it with ants at radio stations?

Back when I first started working for Wild and the Beach back in SLO we had this epic ant epidemic. Like you opened the freezer and a thousand ants had marched to their freezing cold death in the freezer. You'd turn on the kitchen light and it would look like the floor was MOVING. Insanity. We figured our building was built on some sort of ancient ant burial ground, but no, it was just out in the middle of nowhere, where all kinds of critters would be hanging out.

This is my third week in Chico and by week two it became painfully clear that we too are being overrun by ants. And these are weird HUGE mutant black ants and no matter how much ant spray we spray on them, they just won't die or go away. We'll get them out of one studio and they'll move into another. It's frustrating and kinda gross to be honest.

It was also kind of fortunate because I got to introduce the good people of the Chico radio group I work for to the ant eater meme. Remember these guys?




We now have ant eaters in both rock stations, but I don't think they're actually helping anymore than the ant poison. Nuclear mutant ants! I even tried the unthinkable this weekend... I cleaned the studio. I'm talking on my hands and knees with disinfectant wipes, cleaning the shelves. I was richly rewarded for this by stabbing myself in the finger with an industrial strength staple that was hidden up in the shelving unit somewhere.

Never let it be said I don't bleed for my work.

The last great San Luis Obispo mystery

When I was working in SLO at Mapleton part of my job was to cut up and load this talk show hosted by a guy named Karel for our AM station. Karel is an openly gay liberal talk show host and his show is GREAT. Seriously if you're still in SLO or a market that broadcasts him, listen dude, he's fantastic (he also pod casts!)

Anyway part of loading the shows was listening to his bumper music which for lack of a better word was always FABULOUS! My former boss and I would crack up at all the Timbaland and Justin Timberlake and Cher going out over the AM airwaves, but Karel had this one song that Jo would sing all the time and we never knew who did it. Why I never thought of looking it up via the lyrics while I was still in SLO, I'll never ever know. Probably because when we were joking and singing this song, I didn't think two weeks later I'd be 300+ miles away.

At any rate, yesterday some conversation I was having with someone brought this song back up in my mind and I was determined to figure out who the hell sang it and I finally did! Yay me!





Enjoy

stuff i mentioned on the air

I think it was today, I was telling the story about one of the times I met Godsmack. I can't remember if it was today or yesterday or five minutes ago. I'm just in a constant state of exhaustion these days. What year is it again? Who are you people?

Oh right, Godsmack. Here's a picture of that.



This was in like 2000 I think.

A few years later they came to Santa Barbara and I met the rest of the band.



So there, my rock radio cred. Or something. It's Friday and I'm beyond exhausted.

Michael Jackson

Today is the one year anniversary of Michael Jackon's death. I can't say I was a huge Michael Jackson fan growing up. I recognized good music and that he made amazing videos and was a great dancer but I was more of a Prince kid.

However I do remember where I was when we heard that he died. I was sitting in the Black Sheep with Kristin and Todd and we were getting ready to go see Transformers 2 (which in hindsight we should've just stayed at Black Sheep watching CNN.) It was just one of those surreal moments that you will always kind of remember where you were. And that's where I was.



This is my favorite Michael Jackson song. So here you go.

times like these

You are currently reading the blog of one very very tired DJ.

I had my first day on the air here in Chico today and while there were some hiccups and a few technical boo boo's I made it through and even got some nice comments from some listeners. So I guess I live to fight another day.

I posted about starting my job at WiLD awhile back and how weird it was. I mean previous to walking into that building, I had never worked anywhere less than seven years. Seriously, I was at both of my previous clusters for seven years a piece and when I walked into the building out on Buckley a year ago, I wondered if that was where I was going to spend the next seven years of my life.

As it turns out it wasn't, even though some of the friendships I built there, I can't imagine my life without them now... So here I am less than a year later, starting all over again. Life's a trip that way.

I still miss everyone back home terribly. Like more than you could imagine and more than I will ever admit, lest you Central Coasters get swelled heads. But today was probably the first day since I've been here that I felt in control of the things I'm supposed to be in control of and I wonder if being on the air was the missing piece since I got here. Probably, I'm a freakin' ham. Since I don't know anyone here yet, might as well talk to the microphone, right?

Next I just really want my house unpacked and set up. I want the epic amount of laundry I have to wash to be cleaned. I want my cable and internet on (although presently I'd settle for having my television plugged in and the dvd player set up!) and I want a bed. I'll get all the other pesky things... friends, a social life, a hang out, a favorite sushi joint... it will all come in time.

Or if I remain as exhausted as I am today, that stuff won't matter anyway, so either way, it's a win-win situation. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a hard earned glass of wine waiting for me at my house, along side of 98089787 boxes I still need to unpack.


This song has been in my head since I quit my last job.

apparently..

I was told the Deftones aren't popular in Northern California. I find this odd. Anyway, I love this band. I've seen them play about 10 times at least, and would love to check out the tour for the newest album. We'll see how things go.



Anyway, first day back on the air today. Hopefully it goes okay....

had this one in my head for awhile now...

Been on an Incubus kick lately...

Out on the town

Last night was my friend Amber's last night here in Chico, so she took me out again and we went to a couple of the local "mall" eateries for drinks and appetizers and girly gossip, since no one knows when I'll be getting that in my life again, as I don't know ANYONE HERE! YAY!

We had a really great time and I'm really grateful to Amber for her help in my move and for keeping me company for a couple of days. Now comes the part I've been dreading, actually unpacking everything and getting on with that whole "life," thing. Should be a trip. But first a couple of pictures for all six of you reading this....
We were in fact, at Red Lobster.... trick. I love this sign though, because I'm wondering how this food was fresh from the sea. As I used to live next to a commercial fishing pier, I'm sort of a fresh fish snob. Sue me.



We did try a little of everything though

I've already had some of this beer at the Sierra Nevada Brewery where they make it. It's pretty good if you like wheat beers, which I do when I'm not drinking Newcastle or some other form of liquid bread. Unfortunately for you guys at home playing the "OMG I want everything Stephanie finds in Chico" home game, you can only get this beer with this label on it here in Chico. No worries, come visit me, I'll take you to the Brewery. It's one of four places that I actually can find without GPS.

(By the way the Brewery is near the Target and is HUGE, so it's kind of hard to miss, y'all.)

music to share

Earlier this year I lent my voice to a friend of a friend to do some drops for a compliation he was putting together and I finally got to hear it today. You can download it here:

The Rawbar

My friend Amber is here helping me move into my new place and last night we went out to The Rawbar to celebrate my move.

I didn't try the tofu yet, I plan to though!

Eel!

Tuna, Salmon and Octopus

Lemongrass Lemondrop.

The Rawbar is very cute, very trendy, pretty resonable in price and right downtown. Speaking of my sushi obsession, last week I went to Gen Kai in Chico as well.

some pics from the move

Endless amount of time on the I-5. I never want to see that freeway again.



Chillin' in my U-Haul somewhere along the 5



CHICKEN N BISCUITS. No chicken was actually consumed.



A nutritious dinner!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

To catch you up...

If you're one of my five readers here and you're not my facebook friend, you haven't read this yet. This is a repost of a note I wrote about two weeks ago during the last week of my job at 95.3 the Beach and WiLD 106.1, two stations I will forever and ever treasure working for.... Enjoy!

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So if you've been watching my Facebook you know that I am leaving for the moon AKA Chico, CA this weekend. After eight years (and six years longer than I meant to be here) I'm taking my Sennheisers and my radio and going on to be a mother effing program director, again and or finally. Depending on who you ask. ;) I mean it was on allaccess yesterday so I guess I've gotta go!

But first, let me do this: let me hand out love to the people who got me here:

First and foremost my Dad deserves props for getting me into the family business. Yeah, radio is an unholy dog from hell but it turns out that I'm adequate at it and I've made some of the greatest friends in the world because of it. So even when I've struggled and couldn't always get my way in the business I've been thankful to my dad for getting me into it and supporting me when Ive needed it. I love you!

Also huge crazy love to my friend, my brother, my protégée the amazing Tristan Negranti who I have taught everything I know and who I have learned from as well. Never hire people who can't teach you things, you're only ripping yourself off. This guy is now the gaurdian of two of the first things Ive ever loved, New Rock and our amazing brain baby the Punk Ass Bitches Show (and about 15000 dollars worth of my music collection) and I am so proud of him. Thanks brother for everything.

Speaking of the Punk Ass Bitches Show, I love you brats too, past and present. Taylor Stevens is a force to be reckoned with and has amazing hair ;). No seriously he's the annoying brother I never wanted and watching him book shows and be freaking amazing over the years fills me with pride. You done good son. And of course the other Punk Ass Bitch in my life, Jon Hansen, there aren't words dude. We fought a war together and probably with each other too but this kid's brain is scary and you should run and hide when he wants something, because he'll get it. Get out the way people, this guy will cut you. I love you both so much and Im honored to have shared a studio/mic legacy with you.

Then there is the legendary Teresa Lara. Tee lee, t-rawk, sister of mine... Damn dude nothing I can say about you is public appropriate but that's why were friends. To the grave damnit. You're my blood and my heart and goddamn I do not know how Im going to do anything without you. Thank you for being my agent, my friend, my Mexican mafia and thanks for sharing your parents with me when I've been 200 miles away from mine. And hemming my pants. And cutting my jeans off. At the office. Ha ha. Remember that you are the best in the world and even when I'm on the moon you only need to call if you need a damn thing. We's family now, polite left three exits back.

On the family tip let me throw this out there; thank you and holy hella love to Danny Palicios, DJ Slick, Javi and DJ Sol for bringing me into the WiLD 106 family and never once making me feel like an outsider even when I clearly didn't know what I was doing. You all have been like brothers to me which is crazy because I've never had brothers but Im assuming this is what it's like. You guys are the best and I love you!

Hugs and holy crap thank yous to Rich Hawkins, Jason Squires, Jason Griffin, Jennifer Lea Goodwin, Amber Vanek, k-Dizzle, Darcy and freaking everyone who told me to do this. This includes you Steve Murray, Jenn Wynn, gorgeous Nicole no longer Sigman, amazing Rachel, Rob Weldon, all my awesome listeners who are now and always will be my friends, just wow thank you. Yes you too beautiful Tiffany Olguin, Micheala Tanner my social director for the last bit here. Vance Fahie, you're a prince and Im so glad we got to work together before we left. Scott Taylor and his amazing wife too, thank you thank you!

And finally there is this: a year ago I wasn't working at all and some dork with a funny name gave me a job and while it wasn't at the time the job I dreamed of, it was a life raft and it was a board and it was a mic and me talking on the air again and it was just what the eff I needed. If there's is anyone on the planet that I owe anything to that I'm not related to, it is the lovely and talented, the supremely amazing, crazy to still be here in SLO because he's that goddamn good, kind, paitent and above all slightly scary Jojo Mother Effing Lopez. When I am 900 years old living on the moon I will still remember and be grateful this guy, because even though my leaving is sucking donkey ass at work he pushed me to do this and helped me to go through it. I couldn't and wouldn't have done it without his support and I am enternally grateful. My brother from another mother, my friend, yeah dude, gonna miss you like hell.

And so that's it. Eight years. Over and out.

Thank you Central Coast. Visit me on the moon sometime.

Oxoxox

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On that note I'll try to keep up on my blog in the future. It will be easier once I get the internet turned on at my new place.

got my smile got my orange crush

Well in this case Cherry Crush.

I was at the Food For Less yesterday and noticed that there are two liter bottles of Crush on the market. You might remember this soda from the 80's.



When I was a kid, my grandpa used to take me to this place in a town called Pumpkin Center. It was a feed store. Yes a feed store, we had cows, wanna fight about it?

Anyway this feed store was in my little kids mind enormous and had all kinds of weird stuff in it, that I couldn't find a use for. I mean I was six or something. I have no idea why we were at the feed store. I just know my grandpa seemed to know everyone, much like when we'd go to the "junk sale" on Sundays. And at the end of the feed store outing, I'd get to get a soda out of the soda machine that sold glass bottles. Seriously, these things existed in the world.



My favorite was always Cherry Crush, followed by Orange and in extreme emergencies, Grape, but usually if it was left between Grape and Coke, I'd just get the Coke. I'd pop the top on the little bottle opener and then it'd be off to the pick up truck to take whatever contraption or food we'd bought back to my grandparents house, sometimes even listening to 8-track tapes.

I bought a two liter of this Cherry Crush yesterday, and it's really sweet and not in a glass bottle but if I close my eyes really tight and take a sip, I smell hay and I smell home.