Went to the doctor today and it looks like I’m getting better.  So, with all things going well, I’ll be back at work on March 15th. 

One huge indication that I’m feeling better is that I can read and retain what I’ve read, which I wasn’t able to do since the surgery on Feburary 9th.  I would read one page over and over again and the words would just leave my mind.

The book I’m reading is one that was suggested by a friend at work.  It’s the “Story of Edgar Sawtelle” which is this richly woven story and just a pleasure to read.  I’m up to page 120 and I just know something huge and heavy is about to happen.  So, I’ll go back to reading since I have nothing really to say for now, just that I’m getting better.

Thanks for the well wishes.  It’s been helping.

Okay, I know this sounds like a c. op out because I’ve been home with my feet up chillin’ after surgery.  Actually I was pretty active…taking daily walks, cooking a little…things of that nature, until Monday.  I’ve been laid low by an infection, complete with a rising temperature and a visit to the doctor.  We have more scheduled. 

It sort of reminds me of when I was a kid, except with TV.  Oh, we had TV…but there were 3 channels and soap operas and lame game shows on except for the occasional fun re-run.  I was too sick to put on my own records, and I just had this horrible little transistor radio that was fine for riding my bike with the thing dangling from the handlebars, but horrible to listen to in my room when I was sick.  Ultra sensitive. 

I don’t remember being out of my room when I was sick with a fever.  Fevers are so interesting because on my side of the family they spike really high really fast.  I used to scare my mom by passing out as a kid.  My son did the same thing.  Seems it runs on my side after a conversation with my father.  Also when I run a fever, I hallucinate.  Seriously.  I was dozing in and out of conciousness in the living room (with TV) and by the time I actually opened my eyes and saw the ad for the new Tim Burton movie of Alice in Wonderland, I felt like I’d been watching it the whole time I was asleep.  Wild crazy dreams. 

Dreams that involve radio as well.  Dreams where I’m wandering into a completely “new” studio with antiquated modes of equipment, or things that never existed at all.  Radio nightmares are common in this occupation.  One that plagued me as a recurring  (or is it reoccurring) dream for years was the one where I would come into the studio and all the records (yes, vinyl) were in white covers and were in no order, and then when I would put one on after the long silence, it would be some horrible song that was not even close to rock and roll.  Like polka music.  I’d wake up all sweaty having an anxiety attack after that one.  The one I had two nights ago when the fever started was one where all the music was on cassettes (which in my 35 years in this business has NEVER been something that happened) and they were completely out of order.  Like going into someone’s dorm room in the early 80’s and trying to make quick sense out of it all.  I can’t even think about it in the light of day without getting somewhat nauseous.  Maybe that’s just the fever coming on at the end of the day.  It seems to do that.

So, this is just an update, and I have no idea what I was just saying.  I think I was hallucinating.  Is this thing on?  I’ll be back when I’m better.  Whenever that is.  Mom, is that you?

This will be a quick update because my mind wanders and I have no intention of having it wander all over the station blog.  I had hernia repair surgery on February 9th, and it went very well.  They found not only the one that I knew about, but a second hernia which explains the pain that I had been having.  The repairs were successful and my recovery is going very well.  In fact, I feel better than I did before the surgery in many ways.  Strange but true. 

This time, I’m taking an appropriate amount of time off, and including a vacation at the end of the medical leave to make sure I’ve got things right.  Jeff Mitchell is doing a great job filling in for me and I’m thankful he’s there to help. 

Right now it’s great to just watch the Olympics, the Pebble Beach Golf tournament (I used to go every year when I was a kid), and DVD’s that I needed to catch up on.  I’ve got 3 books started, but with the pain medication I can’t seem to stay focused.  Just how many times can I read the same page and not understand or remember what I just read? 

In between the rain squalls, I manage to get a good walk in every day, and that’s been huge in getting my energy back.   

I plan to return on March 15th.  Workforce Payroll will be well underway by then.  In fact, it starts on Tuesday, so if you aren’t registered…well, you know the drill.  I hope you win lots of money. 

Until then, stay well.  As the Stones said…”Miss You.”

Iris

I was calling it “Post A to Z Mortem Depression” earlier today, but that’s too depressing.  And I’m not really depressed, just confused.  We love doing the A to Z thing, and I hope you like hearing it as much as we enjoy playing the tunes.  When we’re done, there’s just this energy lag that happens, and a sort of “where am I” confusion that sets in.  That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.  So if today’s show was a little out there, or disjointed, that’s the deal.

Or it could be that I’m a week away from another surgery.  Nah…

The “Play or Die” Jam Benefit for Dub DeBrie was nothing short of amazing.  Musicians from the Portland area, and ones who had even left town came back to play in this event to raise money for their friend who is fighting HIV.  I was honored to be an MC for the event along with musician Lindsy Scott. 

I wrote an earlier blog about Dub and Anne DeBrie and the event.  If you haven’t read it yet, link here and catch up.

I keep trying to pinpoint my favorite part of the evening, and there are so many, that it’s hard to do. 

When Norman Sylvester took the stage for a rousing version of “People Get Ready” with the house band, and Dub on guitar…well, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Or when there was about 6 guitars on stage for “The Sky is Crying” and all were phenominal, especially from Doug Rowell, who I used to follow from bar to bar when he was in Legend.  Ah, those were the days!  I adored that band.  Doug is as amazing as ever.

The set with Dub’s dear friend Gary Ferreira (Fernando) got everyone on their feet.  I knew that one would be special because they are such close friends, and I’ve seen “Nando” show up at many a jam. 

When Melody Guy sang  with Dub on guitar, it was like heaven had opened and let angels out to play. 

“Mambo Kings” brought out the love in a big way.  I can’t believe how many people claim it as “their song.”  Hey, I thought it was MINE!  It’s that freakin’ good.  Why this was never a huge national hit just mystifies me.  People were dancing and telling stories about how special that song was to their various relationships.  I’ve heard Dub refer to Saturday night as “date night” in the  clubs, and with that perfect song that he wrote, it’s sure to have sparked many a romance.  Once when I was watching him at Rich’s Kitchen, I audibly sighed at the end of the song, and the woman in the table next to me leaned over and said “I know….” 

There were so many memorable moments in the jam last night, with musicians weaving in and out of sets, highlighting one or two artist at a time.  They would then step back into the role of side player…seamlessly.  The selections included familiar favorites, blues, and original DeBrie tunes.  The thing that cut through the most, was this intense love for the music from each artist, and their love for the man they were there to honor…Dub. 

Dub took the stage at several times through the evening.  His wife, and musical partner, Anne said that he wasn’t feeling well last night, and he was feeling better when he was playing because the music distracts him from the pain.  So he played…quite a bit.  Conroy DeBrie finished up the evening with some originals, and much to our delight, when the crowd started yelling PINBALL…he grabbed the acoustic guitar and said “this is the last time we’re going to do this one.”  HA!  He says that everytime he plays it.  Dub launching into “Pinball Wizard” would have made Pete Townshend himself proud. 

Dub thanked everyone for coming, and Anne made the comment that “we’d like to do this again next year.”  The crowd went nuts.  Dub said he will do his best to be here, and promised to keep fighting.  I wouldn’t have expected anything less from the “miracle man.” 

There was a professional film crew there last night and from what I understand it will be turned into a DVD.  I’m so glad!  While it was a night that will live in my memory, it’s nice to be able to hear it again…and again.

As for Dub, the love from the room was great medicine last night.  He’s given us so much through his music over the years, I only hope we were able to give it back in kind.

So far 2010 has made me discover all kinds of things that I’d squirreled away at home thinking I’d deal with later.  Welcome to later.  Stuffed toys, bedding, old files, old pictures of who knows what, old dishes, old pans…It’s making me nuts.  I need to hire my friend Jeff, who actually has a business organizing people and their stuff, to come and help me deal.  When families go through this without a referee, usually some kind of  loud misunderstanding takes place.  “Well, if I get rid of THAT, YOU will have to throw out THIS!”  You know.  So to keep the peace and make some space, I’m methodically going through old files, closets, looking under the beds, and doing trips to the charity donation bins, shredding, and burning my way through this crap. 

Pictures are the hardest.  What to do with the pictures once they’re scanned into the computer?  I’m keeping the ones of my immediate family, but beyond that, I get this creepy feeling about throwing out old pictures.  So, I’m making piles of different families and friends and will mail them the originals.  Then they can deal with them.  Way to pass the buck!

Now we’re starting a big cleaning project at the radio station.  I’ll let you know if I find anything cool.  I can NOT take anything home.

I’ve always been a cat person.  Ever since I was a toddler and could chase them down and hold those little furry purring beasts, I’ve loved cats.  I even remember when I was about 4 years old and found a litter of barn cats on the property behind our house in Louisiana.  I came home gripping two of the pitiful little things begging my mom and dad to help them and let me keep them.  My Mom told Dad to go get some flea powder at the store, because they…and subsequently I…were covered in fleas.  I helped get them powdered, fed, and was as happy as could be.  Being barn cats, Dad explained that they had a purpose, and a mother cat that was probably looking for them.  So we took them back to the barn where they were reunited with a very confused mother cat and the rest of the litter, and I was content to watch them as they grew.  Sort of.  I really wanted a pet. 

I love dogs too.  When we had moved to the shack (that’s what my son called it when I drove by it in 1993) in Louisiana from our beautiful little home in Pacific Grove, California, I had to leave my dog “Boots,” who was a gorgeous black and white mixed breed that had to be part Border Collie.  He loved to herd me to and from my playhouse in the backyard.  He was also bigger than I was at three.  So, while I loved sitting and petting him, it was hard to walk around with Boots being so attentive to me.  Just the wagging of his happy tail would knock me down.  We found him a home on lots of land when we moved away, and I was heartbroken.  Of course the great parent story of “we’ll get you another pet, honey” made the tears stop.  Well, the barn cats weren’t the answer.

I made do with pet salamanders that I’d find in the stream by our house in Ukiah when we lived there.  I put them in my baby pool filled with water so they could swim, but was mystified as to why they would disappear from the pool when I went inside the house for lunch, until one day I saw a bird flying off and carrying a wiggling salamander in it’s talons.  Then there was the box turtle that we found in the yard.   Reptiles are fine, but I still prefer the kind that bark or meow.

I never got another dog while I lived with my parents, which is weird, because before they adopted me, they always had cocker spaniels.  They decided cats were lower maintainence I guess.  I think my Dad also thought he wouldn’t get as attached to a cat as he did to dogs.  That’s what he thought.  The cats we got after that had a different idea.  Dad loved them all. 

When I was doing the Morning Show in the early 90’s, we had a guest who did cat rescue, and she also was a breeder specializing in British Shorthairs.  Those are beautiful and expensive cats.  I’ve always owned shelter cats and dogs or strays.  Oh, there was one Persian when I was in 1st grade, but we were just keeping it for a friend until they found a place where they could have the cat.  His name was Sufi, like the poets, and so soft and beautiful.  Anyway, the guest on the show , Pamela Barrett, was doing a benefit and I was invited to be a judge in the “household pet” category.  I had no idea what I was doing.  I went to the Cat Show and tried to be a judge.  By the second cat, I knew I had no business being there.  It’s one thing to love my pets, and quite another to do anything in a Cat Show.  Also the people showing cats and judging them are…interesting.  Not all of them are like the movie “Best in Show ” but there’s a lot of them like that.  Quirky.  I had a friend who showed her dogs.  Same deal.  Do not be offended if you are a person who shows your animals.  It’s your hobby.  Own it.  I’m just saying it’s a different world.  Kind of like a gathering of radio people.  We’re quirky.  We speak a different language, we’re usually loud, opinionated, and we usually are the most addictive people you will ever find.  Okay?  Feel better?  Good. 

So, I made it through the cat show, only got clawed and bitten once, and I don’t blame the animal.  I wasn’t doing it right.  It was an afternoon where I was totally out of my element.  I did however love it when the hairless Sphynx cat hugged my neck.  You’d think it would feel snake-like, but they are actually quite soft, but with a look that repels most people.  Poor naked little things.

This is all leading up to me letting you know about an event on January 30 & 31st.  The International Cat Show & Food Drive for the Oregon Food Bank.  So, you not only get to see all these varied and amazing breeds of cats, but you get to do something good for the community.

January 30 & 31, 2010-Holiday Inn at the Portland Airport

Sat & Sun, 9am to 5pm.  $3 admission+ 2 cans of food.

Funny to serious, naked to fluffy, stocky to thin…they will all be there.  My favorite is the gentle giant-The Maine Coon.  I think my Lily is part Maine Coon.  She is fluffy, she stomps, and she is polydactyl…she has extra toes.

There will also be cats and kittens up for adoption from the Chapple Hill Cat Sanctuary and Purrfect Pals, vendors, and almost continuous judging both days.  I will not be one of the judges though.  It’s been a while since I’ve been to a cat show, so I think I’ll take this one in.  Remember to bring cans for the food bank, and buy your feline a catnip mouse or two while you’re there.

I am not a crazy cat lady yet.  That is my plan for retirement.  And I’ve only had 6 cats in the household at one time along with Edgar the dog who was so very sweet and tolerant of his feline buddies.  I don’t think of that amount of animals as a big deal really, since I grew up with kids who came from families of 8 kids or more in some cases.  Cats require much less maintainence.  My Dad was the eldest of nine children.  My grandmother assured me that kids were much harder to raise than cats or dogs.  And nobody knew more than that little woman!

I’ve watched the devistation on the TV like I did with the Katrina aftermath, and the days following the September 11, 2001 attack.  There’s the Steely Dan song “Haitian Divorce” that keeps looping through my brain.  Also a comedy bit done by National Lampoon in the 70’s about vacationing in Haiti wanders through my mind where the soft sultry voice beckons “Come to Haiti” while there’s horrible things going on.  Such are the imprinted radio things that come to my mind (whether I want them or not) while watching one horrific scene after another on the news.  I can’t imagine what they are having to deal with day after day.

My friend Tudie, who I met during the early days of my radio journey, and who also was on KGON in the late 70’s, sent me this link to the story about a morning radio guy, Carel Pedre, who’s providing a huge service and choosing to sleep in his car near the radio station so he can be right there for easy access.  Here’s the link.  He’s a hero in my book.  Plus, it makes me glad that when it comes to immediate information, radio is there.  God bless this man.

It’s all very overwhelming.  If you are feeling like you would like to do something to help,  here’s a link to the American Red Cross who always rise to the challenge no matter where it is in the world.

The story is all there.  It’s compelling, amazing, and honest.  I adore Dub and Anne.  Please make your plans to join us at the event at the Roseland on January 31st.  Here’s the link to the Oregonian online.  The video is so good I just want to wrap my arms around both of them and keep them safe.  Let’s all be at the Play or Die Jam Session at the Roseland!  See you there.

Link to the video online by clicking here.

What a bummer.  Timothy B. Schmidt said that apparently it won’t be happening although it was being pursued for a while.  What do you think was the problem?  Scheduling?  Egos?  Too many former lovers of Stevie Nicks?  Ah well, they still have time to add someone else on the bill.  I’d actually like to see Jackson Browne open for them.  That would be cool.