CCR- Credence Clearwater Revisited- Awesome show last night

FINALLY!!! Working in radio for many years, I've been able to see many concerts and meet some cool people and of course have some of those "what happened on the bus, stays on the bus" moments with some of country music's finest. However, since radio I have not been to many shows. After last night, I realize that live music is what I love. At any rate-- I have been wanting to see CCR for a long time. Forever, really. And the 'new' CCR kicks major ass.

I will add a mini-review to this post later today, but wanted to get these pics up. The only thing that kind of sucked was that I have this massive cold and my throat is super sore, so I could not scream or sing along (off key, of course) and that was a bummer.

By the way, I look like total crap in this picture (I REMOVED THE DANG PICTURE)- I was giving directions to the tour manager, Wayne while I was posing for the picture and I think he snapped it while I was saying something- but what are ya gonna do? I'll blame it on my cold.

Andee of Wilkes Beacon Writes About Blogging, Interviews Yours Truly

I love Andee Scarantino. Watch out media- she graduates soon. Actually, watch out WORLD!

At any rate, the editor-in-chief of my favorite college newspaper, the Wilkes University Beacon wrote about blogging this week. Check out the story. She interviewed me for it, so you get to see my thoughts and reasons for writing things like, this post for instance!

Good Samaritans... They Still Exist

I know that I am a good Samaritan, as much as I can be and when I have time. I felt terrible the other day when I drove past one of those boot drives and had no cash- which is usually the case with me since they invented the VISA check card.

At any rate, this blog comes a little late. Things have been busy. But, I have to write a little about my Thursday morning. On my way home Wednesday, I was not paying too much attention to the gas gauge. It beeps an warns be when there is 32 miles left to drive. I was already passed the last gas station when the beep went off and the orange light came on. I was too tired from the gym to turn around. I could make it to the station in the morning.

I had two choices when the morning came. To drive two miles to the Red Rock gas station which is out of the way and is probably the only gas station in the county that does not have pay at the pump. So, I opted to drive the seven to the Pump-n-Pantry.

When I was about a mile from my destination, the car died. And there is barely a shoulder. So, I parked in a ditch and called Dave, who really could do nothing for me since we freakin' live in the middle of nowhere and he was already at work. So, I started to walk. There is really no shoulder like I said, so I was walking in the dew-filled grass- I was soaked up to the knee cap. Cars were whizzing by and no one was stopping. I took of my sweatshirt and right after I did that, someone stopped. I must have looked like a bum before.

"A little early to be pickin' up cans," he said.

I laughed and hopped in his van, not even second-guessing that I was getting in a stranger's van. It was a company van, Stone Stackers in Sweet Valley. I told him what happened. He drove me to his place of employment which was a stone's throw away and got a gas can from a shed. Then, he drove me back to my car.

He put some gas into my tank, but my Yukon would still not start- it was on an angle.So- this kind man pushed by behemoth truck onto the highway. Then, it started. I zooomed off before it could die again. He followed me to the PnP, where I filled my tank. After all that, I was only seven minutes late to work. I had left early because I knew I needed gas. (I was just a little wet from my ordeal when I go there...)

So- I am thankful that I live in an area where everyone seems to have a work truck and gas can. ; ) I have not run out of gas in years, but this reminds me how I can't let things like this slip. Although I could always argue that I was doing an experiment on samaritanship.

And, if anyone needs landscaping work, call Stone Stackers in Sweet Valley. They have nice guys working there.

I work for one of the fastest growing companies in America! Inc 500! Plus, CCR interview!

Woo hoo. I know I just started at Solid Cactus, so I am not a part of its success (yet) but I am damn proud to work there. We were just named to the Inc. 500 at #255 for "Fastest Growing Private Companies in America."


That's a HUGE accomplishment considering just how many private companies there really are in America. So kudos to our owners, officers and everyone who helped make this distinction!

The company had special Inc. 500 t-shirts made and we had a company photo and then a slew of us went out to Fuse to celebrate, all donning the t-shirts. It was a good time! Here is the whole company (I am on the bottom row, third from the left):

CCR- Credence Clearwater Revisited
For those of you who know me, you know that I love CCR. So, I was thrilled when I got an e-mail out of the blue from the band's publicist, Wendy asking me if I could do an interview with one of the members for their upcoming show at the Bloomsburg Fair. My editor okayed it and I spoke with the original drummer Cosmo (Doug Clifford). That was a big highlight for me. I've been fortunate to be able to interview lots of cool people, but this is the first person from my fave era of music and one of my life-long favorite bands that I have interviewed. Look for the story in this Weds.'s Weekender.

Doug was very open and extremely cool to talk to. I didn't want to bring up anything about Fogerty.... For those that don't know- this new CCR (with the R meaning revisited, not revival) is made up of two original CCR members and three new guys-- but all the same hits! They also have an album out: Recollection.

Credence Clearwater Revisited will be at the Bloomsburg Fair on Weds. Sept. 26. Check them out.

BONUS MATERIAL: A Funny Dream About CCR Music
In other CCR news-- and this is something that I did not Doug in my interview-- a few years ago I was overplaying my CCR Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits CD and I guess it went into my dreams. I had this dream that there was a Flintstones Musical and Fred and the gang had headset microphones on and they were singing to the tune of "Up and Around the Bend" only it went like this:

The Flintstones Are Back Again/We're Coming Up and Around the Bed (yes, as in Bedrock!)

and then instead of "Doo Doo Doo, Doo Dooo Doo, Do, Do Do Doooo...." it was

YabbaDoo/YabbaDoo/Yabba Do Do

Yeah. I did that. In my head. In my sleep. Yeah. If you think I'm nuts when I am awake, you should see my dreams... Incase you forget how the song goes- here is a link to a video.

FINALLY! Graduation- 11 Years Later

I need not tell the whole story again- so here's the nutshell version. I graduated Wilkes University with my Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in sociology... 11 year after I graduated high school.

Dave, my mom and my grandmother attended. I didn't have the biggest crowd in the joint- but it was quite special. My mom bought a "Wilkes Mom" shirt and wore it to the graduation which was a cool surprise.

I was also glad that by the time I finally took the challenge exam for the lingering computer science class-- the ONLY thing that stood between me and the degree for a year- the summer graduation was about here. That meant a quick and painless ceremony!

I think a part of me didn't want the college experience to end, so I think that's why I put off taking that exam for so long. But if I did not put it off, I would not be with the creative writing group I am with in the MA in Creative Writing program-- so I believe things happen for a reason!

I am glad to still be a part of Wilkes in the MA program-- it's like I can never leave this great learning community!

Augusten Burroughs Rocks, and my Writing Retreat

I had an aweome Labor Day weekend! This post is a little late, I know. At any rate, I headed to Elwood City, a little north of Pittsburgh to hang out with some new friends I met at the MA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes. Michael and his wife, Mary Anne were wonderful hosts. Their house and property was just lovely and there was plenty of room for all of us!

Over the weekender, we all were able to read each other's works, do some creative writing stuff with prompts and were able to discuss our classes and ideas. We also watched a foreign film, Like Water for Chocolate and discussed it. What a beautiful film! The words were lovely!

The whole weekend was wondefully inspiring and it made me miss my other classmates who did not come out to Mike's-- we all posted on the message boards for our group and posted pics to show them what they missed! After I returned from the 8-day residency at Wilkes, I was so pumped. I have to admit that I have fallen behind on work and readings for the classes, so being around my classmates for the weekend has been renergizing! It was great to see Michael, Angie, Justice, Rocks and meet Rocks' finacee' Diana. In addition to writing, we also had loads of fun and ate well!!

AUDIO BOOKS- Augusten Burroughs Rocks

So since I was making the five-hour trip by myself, I decided to pick up some audio books- one for the way there and one for the way home. I only listened to one audio book in the past, so I was exicted. I ended up buying Running With Scissors, a memoir by Augusten Burroughs. I read his only novel, Sellevision and also have-- but never read- his second memoir, Possible Side Effects. I could have drove clear to Ohio because I was having so much fun listening to the book, which was read by Augusten. I HIGHLY reccommend the book or audio book to anyone looking for entertainment. It's the crazy, true story of Augusten's childhood-- about his parent's divorce and his spending lots of time with his mother's shrink and his family. The book was laugh-out-loud funny.

When I got home, I went to Augusten's website and found an announcement that he and his publisher had won a lawsuit against the family Burroughs wrote about- in the book he gave them a fake name, The Finches and also gave each family member a fake name. This kind of pissed me off that they sued-- I mean, in the grand scheme of things- who cares about the family. Who is gonna know? Except for the people who live in the same town, no one is ultimately going to care. How can anyone then- who had a remotely 'interesting' upbrining write a memoir without getting into trouble-- but that is a whole other blog topic!

Although Augusten did describe them as quite odd and perhaps slobs- the impression I got was that he was also fascinated by them, and developed great friendships with the daughters-- and while Augusten didn't come out and say it in the book, I got the impression that the family really did save his life. I did not get the impression that Augusten was mocking them in any way shape or form.

I did find an article on this suit-- and the only interview thus far with the real family at: http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2007/01/burroughs200701

And then, for more info on Augusten- http://www.augusten.com/.

The other audio book I got I am still listening to- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon. The book is from England and is read by a Brit- and is just incredible to listen to! This story is great and I can't wait to see how it ends. One thing we have been learning about in my fiction class is 'the unreliable narrator'- when a book is written in the first person- but there is something wrong with the narrator. This book is from the perspective of a 15-year-old with Aspeberger's Syndrome-- it is just so fascinating to hear a story from this boy. The story is a 'murder mystery' of Christopher trying to find out who murdered his neighbor's dog- but in during this investigation, he begins to discover things about his family. A good read so far! And I hear I have to get the physical book as it is illustrated with the pictures I am hearing the narrator describe.

I met Lauren Weisberger- Author of the Devil Wears Prada

Writing and publishing a novel seems a little more within reach after attending a night with Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears Prada.

Nikki invited me to the event and I am so glad we went. Both aspiring novelists, it was so wonderful to hear Lauren speak. Lauren is only 30- and Prada was practically an accident. She told us how after her assistant job at Vogue, she worked at Departures, a travel magazine. There, she got a little too creative with her short travel pieces so her editor suggested that she enroll in a creative writing class after work. That's where she began to write about her experience at Vogue magazine. Her teacher was impressed and said she should find an agent.

That was very inspiring to me. The whole nigh just rocked- Lauren was so down to Earth and seemed very humble. She was pretty honest with the Q&A-- and like many writers I've read about recently- she really has no structure to her writing life. That is also inspiring to me as I don't do well with structure. She tries to write when she can and has no real set time or place to do so- although she says she can't deal with coffee shops. One thing I thought was cool was that she belongs to a writing room in NYC- but has yet to go. (Kind of like a gym membership!) But, she still pays on it each month to say that she writes at this room. She prefers her living room.

My one suggestion would have been to have someone younger, or at least hipper- interview Lauren in the conversation Q&A format of an event (which was better than a lecture...)-- Lauren would go off about something cool and the librarian who was interviewing her would just say, "Interesting." and move on to the next question. Nikki and I just looked at each other.... But, the event was sponsored by the Lackawanna County Library System so I guess it made some sense...

I actually have to admit that I did not read Prada yet (or see the movie)- I did read her second book, Everyone Worth Knowing which I adored. If you are in PR or want to be or used to be, you can appreciate this novel! I bought Prada that night and had Lauren autograph it to me at the signing. Nikki and I were a bit disappointed that she was not allowing photos-- but since there were hundreds of people in line I could understand. Thank goodness we were close to the front and didn't have to wait very long.

One tidit of info that I did not know until I read Lauren's bio was that she was born in Scranton and lived in Clarks Summit until she was 11 and then went to school in Allentown and did not leave NEPA until college- so that is also very inspiring-- people in NEPA or other small towns CAN hit it bit!

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty

24 hours.

Alone.

In Redneck Territory, where everyone likes to shoot at things in their backyards.

I wish my nine-year-old cat, Spectra had a little camera attached to her head so I could see what adventure she had the past day or so. On Tuesday night after work, Dave was hard at work in the garage working on the Dodge Neon (my soon-to-be gas saver)-- so when I came home from the gym I made coffee and brought him out a mug. I then sat down on the couch, did some work online, read a little and then fell asleep. Dave came in, got ready for bed, woke me up and then we went up to bed. It was around 11:00. Something was missing. THE CAT.

Dave told me that when he came in from the garage, the door was open. I knew she got out. She's only ever gotten out once before, but we got her right away. She must have been lured away by a firefly or something and eventually wandered off. I looked around in the yard, but couldn't find her. I decided to sleep downstairs with all the windows open, hoping she'd meow and I'd hear her and let her back in.

I woke up Weds. morning very early and went around the yard and the woods looking for her. No luck. My neighbor to the left, Jean heard me yelling and said-- from her bedroom window- she thought she saw a cat chasing a rabbit earlier in the morning. So, she came down and helped me look for a little while. No luck. I had to get to work. On the way to work I called my other neighbor to the left of me to let her know. Before I left for work, I put food on both porches, as well as a blanket so she could curl up and wait for Dave or I to get home.

After watching the Secret a few months ago, I learned to not think negatively. So,even though my imagination was playing out all sorts of plots, I just focused on my day at work, didn't talk about Spectra and just thought positive thoughts. I came home, and my neighbor Doloris had put catnip on the porch for me to help lure Spectra. That was so nice. Dave and Doloris and I looked again for quite some time. I then continued, walking a half mile or so up and down the highway, looking along the side of the road for, gulp, Spectra. And called, and called for her. No luck. It was about 24 hours now. My positive thoughts were wearing thin.

Before I went to bed, something told me to look again. Cats are on the prowl at night. So I grabbed Dave's flashlight and headed to the yard again. Jean had said she saw the cat and that also her boyfriend thought he heard a meow somewhere in the afternoon. But Spectra didn't answer our calls, and she usually comes like a dog when you call her. So, I decided to try Jean's yard/garden one more time.

As I shined the light through some plants, I saw her scared eyes. She didn't come when I called her so I hd to just scoop her up and carry her home. I have no idea if she was there the whole time, but something tells me she was and she was just too scared to come out because maybe she didn't know how to get home, or maybe the traffic scared her....

At any rate, her adventure is over and she's back to bothering me as I type. ; ) She slept with me all last night and I fed her a feast of wet food- her favorite. I usually only give her half a can, or a 1/4 of the larger cans-- I gave her an entire can. And I gave her a good brushing to make sure I didn't see any fleas.

My Specky's home! Nine years I've had her, and now I guess she has at least eight lives left.

More Random Thoughts

I heard something sickening today on NPR during my morning commute.

A (go figure) Southern Baptist college in the south- forget the name now- does not allow women to take courses to become a pastor. That's not the bad part. Guess what classes they offer, which are only open to women?

How to be a wife and mother-- the spokespeople at the school say that these classes prepare women for their most important role their ever have.... being a wife and mother.

The world changes so much. For instance, I am typing on a oooohhh computer. And I am able to communicate with blog readers via the WWW. We have cars now. We have DVDs now. We have telephones...

Anyway, my point is this. If we ae embracing so much change in most other areas of our lives-- why are their still such conservative views being preached to young women in institutions of higher education. After all, what kind of EDUCATION is that?

I'm going to college to learn how to freakin' iron and change diapers. I'm going to college to wear wrinkly unwashed clothes. I am thankful for the culture and broad worldviews I was exposed to at Wilkes and I pity the people who enroll in that class.

Valley-itis: A Disease with symptoms like 'lack of ambition'

I love the Wyoming Valley. Many people I know have escaped the Valley for the bright lights and big city. There are truly exciting things out there. It is so cool that someone will take a risk and leave everything they know behind. I admire that and in my going back to college as an adult, I lived vicariously through the blossoming young writers who headed to NYC, London, LA, San Franciso, Philly and more. That is cool.

However, many people say you HAVE to leave the area to have a good career. In certain cases if you are going into a very specific field—for instance if you are going to school to study transportation you may have to move to a city that has more of a transportation system. But if you have a more ‘general’ degree such as business, marketing, communications, education, etc. you don’t necessarily have to leave the area to make your mark. So, the people who say there is NOTHING here… they are lying. You just have to look.

Many people remain in the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton areas and have great careers and great lives. There may be lesser options and you may have to work smarter and harder, but it can happen here. Staying here does not make anyone not ambitious. However, there is something in this area that is spreading like wildfire. It is a true sickness and I didn’t realize how bad it was until recently.

Before I get into that sickness, I must also add that there is culture here—there is arts and entertainment galore—you just have to find it. This area truly has many things big cities have…

But many people who are tied to this area have no ambition. None. I am the first person to say that I can respect someone with a menial job or limited education as long as they are aspiring to be the best they can be at it. However, since I live in a rural area, the past few months I have been growing more and more disgusted with certain types of people around here. If I call them rednecks, will anyone be offended? And, there is also the general redneck mentality that is infiltrated to the city.

Case in point. I know someone from the West Side who hated her job. We had many, many talks about this. I inspired her to find a new job. I inspired her to take a risk and change her life and just be happy. I even helped said friend get job. And I did something I will NEVER do again: I put my name on her. She was hired. She was supposed to start there in two weeks. Then you know what she did? She rescinded her job offer and opted to stay at the place she was so miserable at. I cannot for the life of me figure people like that out. (P.S. I know how miserable it was because I too worked there and I left for the same reasons, if not more, as she wanted to… )

I was mad for a few days—not so much about my putting my name on the line—but angry at her and the people like her who are so afraid of change and so afraid of doing something with their lives. Now I write this blog as therapy.

There is a term called “Valley-itis” here in the Wyoming Valley. It’s used to describe people who will settle. People who are happy with menial jobs, no or low education, etc. These people have a limited worldview and are in general so very ignorant of the world around them. They laugh when someone has a different accent. They scoff that a Korean food restaurant opened in Sweet Valley, as one example. People are afraid of things not like them. Why? They also laugh when I say I am getting my master’s and ask me why I’d want to go to school past high school. (Because I don’t want to be like, you, you jackass!)

I run into people all the time at these country bars. I can carry a conversation with them about what Paris Hilton has done recently, but if I try to talk about what I do for a living, they start to get all awkward and goofy because they don’t understand. Anyone have a similar situation? When someone doesn’t understand the subject matter, they start to mock it. I cannot tolerate this ignorance and I do not want to go to these places.

I seriously had an epiphany the other day. I am the type of person who loves everybody and I never wanted to look down on someone. I have always been accepting no matter what. But you know what? Now I know why people go to upscale bars and cultural events—because you will be surrounded by like-minded individuals that you can actually converse with. (Or to be frank- it weeds out the trash.) I don’t think I could afford to go to these places all the time, but the reality of it is, I may have to start. Either that, or just make sure I am with a group of people that I want to hang out with. I am a social person and like to talk to everyone, but if I keep going to these country bars- whose poor grammar-ridden menus and handwritten signs say things like “Jello Shot’s 50-cents”—I think my own level of intelligence may dwindle. I met one girl and her sister- they live in a two-bedroom house with a family of seven. That’s right. No one ever moved out. None of them went to school. All of them work in fast food or at gas stations. What a way to live your life. Cooped up with my four siblings and parents. No drive. Except to drink at the redneck bar.

I am not saying these things to be mean by any means. I am just starting to realize the difference between people who have ambition and those that don’t. I think education plays a vital role, but not always. In certain trades and fields a higher education isn’t necessary. There are many self-taught geniuses and self-made millionaires. So book education doesn’t mean everything—but being open-minded and knowing about the world around can replace any deficiency in education.

There IS a Cure For Valleyitis. No prescription necessary. (I am sure that every area has a similar sickness.)

1) There are many fine institutions of higher education in Northeast Pennsylvania. Pick one. Finish there.

2) There are many print publications in our area that contain classified ads. Grab a marker and start circling. But the trick is, after you circle it, send in your resume or stop by for an application, depending on what kind of job it is.

A job will most likely ask you to come in for an application, while a career would have you send a cover letter and resume, just so you know the difference. A career is better, but it may take you some time (see #1), so a job is also acceptable. There are A LOT of jobs around here and at least you will be off your ass.

3) There are wonderful bars in this area. However, keeping a set schedule and always showing up to the bar at the same time each day does not mean you have a job. Do not spend all day at said corner bar. Use the corner bar as a place to unwind after a day at your job or career. Do not use it as a place to exist.

4) If you have a job or career, look above you. (Not literally.) Where can you go from here? Just because you are gainfully employed does not mean you have to stop where you are. That is called “settling.” Perhaps parents or other naysayers said you could settle. Don’t. Please.

5) Newspapers. Read them. Books. Read them. NPR. Listen to it. Then, watch your vocabulary grow.

6) Other cultures. Why are we so hung up on ourselves as Americans? Hello! The Earth is a tiny speck in the universe, just like America is a tiny speck on the Earth. Learn about other cultures. Realize that there are people different than you.
GET OUT OF YOUR FREAKING COMFORT ZONE!