I thought I should remind you that I have been rotating my station playlist, in case you haven't noticed. You can open the little player widget here and keep a tab open on your browser to just have some nice tunes to enjoy while you work (if you don't have your own playlist handy...)
Right now, the music will sound mostly like these sweet guys (and gals)..
I was the first person from my family to go to a big university. I worked hard to get there and I paid my way through. It wasn't easy getting there; emotionally, financially, in every way...it was a challenge for me to find my path away from my youth.
So, I made a pact with myself that I was going to do it all. I would explore all of the action my campus had to offer. I was intoxicated by the freedom of getting away from my wacky childhood and giddy over having complete independence in a new town, far away from home.
I wanted to do everything. I joined organizations. I protested for animal rights (and paid a $200 fine for doing so...really dumb.) I welcomed Freshman on move-in day. I was the assistant to the director at the campus student union until I got bored and decided to pledge a sorority so that I could see what all of that was about, (like feeding "sisters" pieces of dry bread and saltines before they ralphed on fraternity dance floors.) I eventually quit that, but kept the sincere friends. After that adventure, I lived with the exact polar opposite of frat types in a big house off campus during my senior year and evolved some more. I became News Director for the campus radio station and I even DJ'ed my own show. It was one of my best gigs. I still keep tabs on that little corner of the campus. The kids that have filled my generation's spots at that radio station keep me informed on all that stuff I might never hear of again if it weren't for the power of the internets. They never fail to surprise me with their wonderful musical discoveries. Much like the friends I made at MUSIC EXPRESS, the little independent record shoppe where I worked while I was also DJ'ing and completing my studies, unique points-of-view grow and thrive in these little hubs of local culture. I particularly liked the curly haired guy who also worked for that record store managing the home brew supplies and comics and whatnot. He matched my weird combination of being an open-minded traditional in the package of a free-spirited type, ....so I eventually decided to marry him :)
Actually, I might not have met my hubby if it hadn't been for my life at the radio station which led to my job at the cool local record store where this boy worked too. (If you believe in that sort of chain-reaction thing!) Along with life partners, that radio station leads many faithful listeners to obscure talent, generation after generation. This clip of an amazing beat-box artist was shared by the latest group of campus station alumni who have finished their finals by now and are off to big summer adventures. MUSIC EXPRESS closed a few years back and was replaced by a chinese restaurant. Places like that come and go, but new voices, organizations and stores pop up all the time to keep college life fresh for the new recruits. This constant tide of fresh ideas is what I love most about college towns. The beat always goes on.
I know she hasn't modified her gypsy look in like 40 years, but I just love Stevie Nicks. Beyond Rumors and the Edge of Seventeen she is an old-fashioned soul with a voice like a jagged razor blade. The video below is from 1983 when she looked so fragile (probably from drugs, but whatever...) I also like her because she got kind of fat at one point and didn't hide herself away because of it (ala Ann Wilson of Heart.) Here is one more reason why my love for her goes on - read this article about Stevie's take on technology and our children: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/09/stevie-nicks-rails-agains_n_185077.html
