No. Just. No.

Are you serious?

News story:

Michael Vick Wants to Own a Dog Again

MICHAEL VICK is legally barred from ever owning a dog again . . . for obvious reasons. But Vick thinks he's ready for a new pet. And he thinks it would actually help him.

--He says, quote, "I would love to get another dog in the future. I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process.

--"I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals."

--Vick blames his upbringing for not knowing that dogfighting was wrong . . . quote, "When I was younger I got caught up in dog fighting . . . It was something to do.

--"I hate to use our culture as an excuse. It is what it is. I love animals. I love dogs. I love birds. I love all types of animals. But this is just the way I was brought up. Nobody ever told me it was the wrong thing to do."

--Vick says that he works with the Humane Society and goes out on speaking engagements . . . even though the courts don't make him. And he claims he's learned his lesson.

--He says, quote, "Dogfighting is prominent all across the country, and I know it goes on in a lot of different urban areas.

--"A lot of kids have probably seen it happening before. Hopefully, they're not involved in it, and hopefully they take away from what happened in my situation and avoid it at all costs."

(--Should Michael Vick own a dog? I know very few dog lovers would say yes. But the guy did serve his time, after all. Aren't we supposed to be about giving people second chances? Discuss.)

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No really, I'm curious internets, what do you think?

If you've spent five seconds on this blog you know what I think, but... How the eff can this guy go around saying he loves animals but didn't know brutally murdering them was WRONG? No. Fail. Get the eff out. I have ZERO patience for people who hurt animals for fun. None. It's just flat out wrong.

I was talking with someone the other day that was actually MORE disgusted about Brett Farve and his sexting and apparently small package. Is what Brett Farve did wrong? Sure. But guess what, I'm way more willing to forgive a little sexting than I am an animal murderer.

People often mistake animals as lesser beings. That they don't feel. That they don't have little personalities and memories and love just as much as human beings do. They're wrong. Animals love fiercely, loyally and most of all unconditionally. They put their blind faith in their human companions. And this is why we should protect them. They give us love, companionship, laughter, some help us walk/see/take our medication/call 911 if we pass out, some help kids learn to read, some help people with social anxiety, some comfort the dying... Animals work for us, care for us and trust us. We should protect them and we should see people that hurt them as absolute villains, as we should see any one who preys on anyone that is helpless and or unable to protect themselves.

I can not point to and re-post this article in Sports Illustrated enough. Look at what Michael Vick's dogs did after they were rescued. These are dogs he would have had shot, electrocuted, drowned, mauled, had beaten to death or tied to a tree to die in the woods because he "didn't know" it was wrong.

So no, I don't think Michael Vick should even be allowed to own a goldfish again, much less a dog or a cat or well anything. I'm not even cool with his return to football and the fact that everyone is so ready to stand up and act like he's some kind of a hero because he served his jail time and now can run faster, jump higher and play harder than before.

Dear Pixar

Dear Pixar,

Thank you for your "It Gets Better" video.

(If you haven't seen it, here it is:)



This video had me in tears.

Here is why:

These are "regular" people. These aren't celebrities. These are just people like me and the rest of the world out there who got to find their way in life and they want to show troubled / bullied / scared kids that it does in fact get better.

But also because Pixar is not afraid to support Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered people. Pixar is the one company I least expected to come out and say "Hey a ton of our family/staff is gay and we support them," not because I didn't think this was the way it was, but because this is sort of a dangerous statement to put out there when you are in children's entertainment and when you are marketing to a majority.

I love you Pixar, for looking at this situation like "money be damned, this is who we are and it's okay and it's okay for you to be that way too."

I am probably reading too much into this but big props to you Pixar. This was beautiful.

Love
Stephanie

tokens...

I love this song because it really does capture the point of being in love with someone where logic and ration goes out the window. Love is not always logical. Mostly it's not. Mostly it's messy and strange and crazy and the most illogical of all emotions humans feel.

But it's wonderful too. To be loved. To love someone... It's a wonderful thing. I'm terrible at it, but I've seen other people do it really well. I wonder if there is a class on this... I mean come on there was one at the community college back home on how to start a blog! (What was the first step? Pull your head out of your ass and log onto the internet?)

Crazy thing is I'm not even bitter at the moment. I have no reason to be in this department. I just realized over the weekend that I'm not the easiest girl to love sometimes. I'm messy when I'm overworked (that's all of the time pretty much,) I'm not fantastic with money. I can be a flake when I just do not feel like doing something. I'm geeky and love childish things. I'm overly social and I talk a lot. I get my feelings hurt sometimes, very easily. I'm a crazy perfectionist when it comes to work. I swear too much. I forget to wear make up as often as I remember to wear it. I love my cat A LOT. I have a lot of male friends. I'm overly loyal to friends as well and that's caused problems. I'm driven and ambitious and busy an awful lot. I like going out with my friends. I don't ask permission to do things, because I don't need it.

But I'd like to think that some people find all of the reasons I was "the worst girlfriend in the world" to some of my exs, these things make me amazing. Or you know, not intolerable.

Things about me you may not know

I'm a pretty sensitive kid. You wouldn't know it because I'm always joking and I laugh a lot. I like making other people laugh. I like to make other people feel like the best person they can be. I live for that kind of a thing. Hell if you think about it, it's kind of what I do for a living. I think the world would be a better place if everyone went around thinking how they could make other people feel good about themselves.

But for all the smiling and joking, I'm really a sensitive kid. I cry pretty easily when I'm alone. How emo, I know, feelings are lame. But it's true. I cry at talking animal movies, any movie where someone dies, I cry at books, I cry at sad songs. I am just this massive ball of emotional retardedness.

Someone asked me recently why I always say "It's fine, don't worry about it." I think it's because I'm telling myself that. Because being so far away from my support system, falling apart every time something hurts my feelings, it's not an option. Because if someone yells at me at work or I misread someone's intentions in my life, I can't just run over to Teresa's house or go to the Black Sheep and tell Nicole about it over some veggie chilli. Hell I can't even go to the radio station and unload on Jojo (which I'm sure he's relieved about, ha ha) or make Tristan go to McCarthy's with me so he can tell me to sack up, rub some dirt on it and walk it off.

On the same level I can't just get in the car and drive two hours and be at my parents house either. Or Jackie's house. Or well... anyone. I'm six hours away at least from everyone who knows me best. So being sad, having a fit, needing something, these aren't options. It has to be okay. I can not worry about it.

Like on Thursday we had this huge event. And some stuff went wrong. And I couldn't freak out. I had no option but to say it was fine, walk it off and put a big smiley face on for the television camera and for my people. So yeah I guess I say "It's fine, don't worry about it," a lot. It's sort of like my mantra any more.

And it is.. it's fine. Moving up here was the scariest thing I have ever done. I don't think anyone understands how good, at least emotionally I had it at my last job. I was safe. I was with friends, hell those people are my family. It was fun and I had very little to account for. (Although Jo would probably tell you I kept trying to get more to do and probably over worked myself for what I was making, but hey you do that for the things/people you love) But with the love and support of my family and friends I made this jump to the moon and I'm here now trying to make my way. Trying. Most of the time it's going well.

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.

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.

all six of you should know this

So if you caught my show or follow me on twitter, you know that yesterday was my good friend / boss's birthday.

I had promised not to embarrass Jojo yesterday, but today I can. (ha ha!)

I have never been so blessed to work for someone in all of my radio career. I consider this kid (who is always going to be older than me) family and always will.

Thank you for everything, and Happy Birthday, brat.

Happy Holidays

So I've been lacking a little holiday spirit this year for many reasons, mostly that Christmas isn't really my thing to begin with but money, being busy and it just not feeling like Christmas hasn't helped much either.

But yesterday I got a Christmas Miracle of being able to shop for my family and a few of my friends and today I went out and picked up a few things and I am feeling a little less doom and gloom about the holiday season than I was last week.


I know Christmas isn't about presents but it does make me feel good to be able to make the people in my life that I love know that I appreciate them and love them as well.

In case you don't hear from me until after the holidays (yeah right, I'm a total blabbermouth) have a safe and wonderful Christmas.

xoxo
Stephanie



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