hey ms. dj...

I have been in a nostalgic mood lately.

I've not only found my cassettes from my old radio WMUR - Marquette University Radio shows, I find myself listening to them. There are moments I miss being a DJ, but I opted against radio as a career because there's no money in it. For some reason I thought Sociology/Social Welfare would rake in the bucks. Ha ha ha. Talk about college junior wisdom. Despite only being involved with radio as a listener, my time at WMUR has had a bigger impact on my life than I would have expected.

The obvious influence would be musical. In high school, I liked some of what would be called "alternative" but I was pretty much a rock girl with some new wave and pop infusion. During my time at WMUR, this genre called "grunge" started a music revolution of sorts...and I was there in the middle of it. Nirvana, AIC, Pearl Jam...you name it, we likely played it. MUR was also big on Wisconsin's own, the BoDeans. I also heard of the Goo Goo Dolls long before "Name" and that song off "City of Angels". In fact, their debut CD is somewhere in my CD stash and the song "Just The Way You Are" (no, NOT a cover) is still awesome. Of course, there was the not-so-common and the obscure...the Dead Milkmen and the Rainmakers, for example.

Looking back, the music I once spun has influenced the music I listen to today. I will maintain that the early-to-mid 1990s was the best span of music created in our lifetime (thus far). However, my main genre continues to be alternative music - both classic and current. You'll still find me listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM and older U2; bands who are around today due to college radio. I also love hearing new and emerging artists such as Billy Talent, Rise Against, MGMT and Alexisonfire...and I wonder how the music scene will evolve. Hopefully, it's back to the artistry and individuality of the 1990s, but only time will tell.

The other main impact is not so apparent. You wouldn't know it today, but I was shy in high school. Sure, around my friends I was fine but otherwise I could barely give a three minute presentation in speech class. I couldn't tell you why. Maybe I didn't feel I fit in (which was probably true). Maybe I wasn't comfortable with myself at that awkward puberty stage, and for a late bloomer, it was even worse. For these reasons and others, I decided to high-tail it out of Maryland and attend college elsewhere. Elsewhere ended up being Marquette.

Upon arrival as a freshman, I knew absolutely no one. While it was daunting, I realized that almost everyone else was in the same situation. I figured the best way to meet people outside my floor was to join some sort of student organization. As with any college, there were a plethora of clubs, organizations, etc. and radio piqued my interest. Let's face it, as a shy person I still liked to talk if I was comfortable with the situation. So I joined the radio station. The first semester was just learning the ropes and maybe doing on-air stuff. Second semester I was paired with an upperclassman to teach me the ropes so I could have a show of my own.

Well, it was a freakin' blast...and I fell hook, line and sinker. With radio it's just you, a mic and a remote audience. Since no one actually saw me, it was easy to put myself out there. It was a perfect fit for someone who will still joke that she has a face for radio. Radio also allowed me to express my individuality through music selection, studio guests, DJ babble, etc. Furthermore, I learned my brand of rumor (in moderation) translates well to radio. But really, my time as a DJ served as a platform for me to come out of my shell...although I'm sure some people wished I would have stayed in.

Back to those radio show cassettes...I still dislike my voice. My Maryland "o" is prevalent, and I'm strangely happy about that. I discovered that I still am amused by the content of the shows and my dorkiness, which much like the Maryland "o", hasn't wavered. And most importantly, I learned (in front of those ten listeners) that I can indeed be comfortable in my own skin.

So if you give this girl a mic, you never know what might happen...

birthday wishes 2010

On Monday, it occurred to me that it was four weeks until my birthday. This usually begs the question: "What do you want for your birthday?"

As a kid, the list was long and plentiful. There were always toys, books and games (board and video) to be had. Even as a somewhat materialistic kid, I looked forward to my bday party with friends which started as a day at CJ Park and in later years evolved into slumber parties. And I'm sure an O's baseball game and apple pie (instead of cake) were involved somewhere. As an adult, it's a hard question to answer. If I want something like a book, I usually just buy it. If I want to see my friends, I just do - no birthday party needed. Now if I could just get my mom to send me apple pie...

Yes, the concept & celebration of birthdays do change as we get older but one thing remains the same - we all have birthday wishes. Each year, I have a friend who compiles her birthday wish list. Some of the items are material, some far-fetched, some realistic. Inspired by her, I have come up with my own birthday wish list for 2010:

• promote/develop my freelance design "business" (using that term loosely)
• a MacBook
• take more photographs (those of the artsy, landscape variety)
• learn to play bass
• catch up with friends I haven't seen much in the past year
• keep in touch with friends I actually see
• visit friends in faraway places - specifically those in Florida, Arizona and Connecticut - who I keep promising I'll visit
• teleportation to see said friends and my nephews more often
• travel internationally without my mom
• the adapter thingie that allows you to use your iPod in the car
• a Wii Fit
• lose that last 20 lbs
• manage my finances more effectively
• actually watch some shows I've DVRed
• become more involved with the K-Family again
• world peace (sorry I had to)
• instead of complaining about something, do something to change it

Is everything included on this list attainable? Doubtful...that's why it's a wish list. But I guess really don't need or want much of the materialistic this year. I've been fortunate, albeit too busy on occasion to do some of the things I'd like to do. Maybe the actual acknowledgement of those things in writing will inspire me to start on at least some of them.

As another birthday looms, I can't complain. I'm generally happy, relatively well-off in the grand scheme of things, loved by my family (for some reason) and surrounded by good people. A girl can't ask for much more than that.

summerfest = bummerfest

Music. Food. Friends. The Lakefront. Sounds like a recipe for a fabulous time, right?

Well, yes..in theory. The Big Gig, aka Summerfest, has touted itself as "the world's largest music festival". This indeed is true. I mean, where else will you find an event that runs for 11 days with 11 stages filled with all different genres of music.

I myself have been a frequent goer to The Big Gig (including one year where I went seven of 11 days) since my early 20s when I adopted Milwaukee as my "home". Yearly, I had the obligatory Saz's Sampler (sour cream & chive fries, mozz sticks and cheese curds) and a cold, frothy beverage...well, maybe more than one. My college roomies would converge on the fest for at least one day, and likely find others we knew along the way.

But really, Summerfest is all about the music! In my early fest-going days, you could get "hand-stamped' for the main stage - meaning you lined up outside the gates, paid general admission (about $10 at the time) and rushed the Marcus to get that coveted stamp. What did it get you? "Free" grass seat admission to the main stage. As a result, I've seen the following for $10 each: Prince (2x), BoDeans (2x), Violent Femmes/Goo Goo Dolls, Stone Temple Pilots, John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Smashing Pumpkins...to name a few.

With the firing of Bo Black (RIP) as Executive Director and the hiring of Don Smiley (coincidence, seeing the logo of Summerfest), this fine tradition died - and the music died as well.

Don't get me wrong, there is still music at Summerfest. However, the music aimed at the mid 30s to early 50s crowd (plus their expendable income) and their children - aka classic rock, pop and country. Case in point, I give you the 2010 headliners:

Classic rock: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers w/ZZ Top, Eric Clapton w/ Roger Daltrey, Santana w/ Steve Winwood, Rush

Country: Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn w/ Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood

Poppy Crap: Justin Bieber w/ Sean Kingston, Usher (sans "Yeah"), American Idol tour

I realize that Tom Petty loves Summerfest and vice-versa, and I understand (per my brother who incidentally falls in the target audience) he puts on a great show. But think about it...all the classic rock main stage acts were making music/touring before I was born. Really? The only "new" acts (or at least acts that came of age this millennium) you could find were able to book country and this poppy crap trying to pose as music?

Now I realize that not everyone likes alternative/new rock genre (even though it's the best in my opinion), and that for some odd reason, the general populous likes country music. I also realize that Summerfest as a business needs to make money, and apparently the classic rock and country acts will rake in the dough more than the others. But I ask...where the hell is the alternative genre represented?

I would say on the side stages, but nope. In perusing the schedule most of it is made up of classic rock/80s music including: Night Ranger, Wang Chung, Kool & the Gang, Blue Oyster Cult, 38 Special, Moody Blues, YES, Scorpions and Peter Frampton. True, there are some good songs in this group of aging acts which I like - and I totally rock "Burnin' for You" by Blue Oyster Cult at karaoke. But I seriously thought Wang Chung and Kool & the Gang were dead. And none of these acts have had anything new since about 1990.

I did find some bona fide "new" alternative music, which by Summerfest standards, means their first hit occurred after 2000: Toyko Police Club, Cage the Elephant, Puddle of Mudd, The Bravery and Against Me! That's a mere five of hundreds of acts.

I believe my genre of music just got bitch-slapped by a smiley face.