The future is ours..

So I'm finally back to my normal schedule tomorrow..seriously looking forward to that. Not that I mind doing mornings, in fact I love the morning show, so different than MY show but I will not miss waking up 3am.

and tomorrow when I go back to normalcy, a new normalcy will be instilled when OBAMA is inaugerated. I am elated. Watching the "We Are One" concert/event yesterday was unbelievable and the proudness I have now more than ever to be an American is a beautiful thing.

this is totally random, but I haven't written in a bit so I have a lot of catch-up to play. Watched Sober House yesterday..I'm addicted. and that's a healthy addiction so I'm not worried about it. I've always thought about other careers I would be involved in if radio (or any facet of the music business now that I've done pretty much it all) didn't work out and drug/alcohol counseling has always been at the top of my list. And seeing just one episode of this show makes me want to jump in head first.. Ahhhh. The only little rage that built up inside me is when Steven Adler showed up with needles and smack. Just thinking about it sparks something in me based on recent events and then to see it. I never will, ever, blame my brother for his choices..and I will never blame any other addicts for their addiction. And I hope that that will serve as a lesson for viewers of Sober House. It is beyond their control, let's help them, before it's too late.

On a happier note...Real World: Brooklyn! I need to be there. I would be hands-down perfect in that house. Ok, maybe maybe not, I think automatically because I engaged in a love affair with NYC for 5 days a few months ago, that I've convinced myself that it's right. AND sarah and i are bloodsisters. While we differ in sexuality, we are, like, identical..and look alike too. wierd.but awesome.

And in MLK JR Day..lots of reasons to be proud this week.

"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours."--Cesar Chavez

It's a New Year...

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. Only because 63% of them fail, and why set myself up for failure when a resolution is supposed to lead to success? However, there are things I want to do to overall better myself, but if I miss one or two, or five, it'll be ok and I won't be lumped into that percentage that is WAY higher than it should be..it's sad actually. So on that note...


- When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement: "My purpose is to _____ today."

- Take a 10-30 minute walk everyday..and when you walk, smile, it's the ultimate anti-depressant

- Live with the 3 E's: Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy

- Read more books than you did in 2008

- Make time to practice meditation and prayer..they provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives

- Spend more time with people over 70 and under the age of 6

- Dream more while you are awake

- Try to make at least 3 people smile each day

- Clear the clutter from your house, your car, etc. and let new flowing energy into your life

- Don't waste precious time/energy on gossip OR issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you can't control. Instead invest that time/energy in the positive present moment.

- Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

- Smile and laugh more, it will keep the negative blues away.

- Don't take yourself too seriously..no one else does.

- Don't compare your life to others, you have no idea what their journey is about.

- Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.

- No matter what..get up, dress up, and show up

- Enjoy the ride: Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life, so make the most of it and enjoy the ride. And if it's making you sick, it's your roller coaster, get off at any time, and get on a new one.

- Every night before bed, complete the following statement: "I am thankful for____. Today I accomplished____."


AND keep in mind:

- Life isn't fair, but it's still good

-Envy is a waste of time, you already have all you need

- Life is too short to waste time hating anyone

- What other people think of you is none of your business

- However good or bad a situation is, it will change

- The best is yet to come!

And the City...

So last night I rang in the New Year with a few girlfriends, one that I've grown up with and see somewhat often and another I haven't more than once or twice over the past 5 years. If you know me, you know that my groups of friends, while different, all have the same thing in common, which is that they consist of all dudes, with the exception of the occasional girlfriend who hangs every now and then.
BUT sitting around with the girls last night, enjoying many a cocktail was wonderful. What you can talk about with girls is different conversation than I have with the guys, cause no matter what the relationship is with me and my boy-friends, I've faced it..there are some things even they don't want to hear.

So I decided today, the first day of 2009, to contemplate what I want to do in this new year that is brought upon us, what I want to focus on to enrich my life. I watched "Sex and the City" (the movie) and while a tear was brought to my eye that the saga is over, the story is complete, it was perfect timing. Watching 4 girls have such an unbelievable friendship, has got me wanting to not shun, but embrace friendships with those I share a gender with, hell, we already have one thing in common. Last night was our own little version of Sex and the City (though our version, more like Sex and the Cornfield) talking about sex, love, and life and we've ALL been through it, all of it.

Thinking about the city, I need to spend more time there, and I will. The longest, most beautiful relationship I've had has been my love for the city. The city never disappoints me and can never break my heart. The city air is filled with temptation and provocation that always excites me. The people that are out and about are absorbed and stimulated with all the city has to offer. The knowing that our city, Chicago, is another world that is so close, is comforting, that I can just pick up and go, alone or with friends, and be put into that atmosphere I so regularly crave. I will go, into the new year, to new cities, with a bang.

"This city now doth, like a garment, wear the beauty of the morning; silent bare, ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples lie open unto the fields and to the sky; All bright and glittering in the smokeless air"--William Wordsworth

I Wanna Be Your New Victim

Only not so much..it's quite irritating actually. So this weekend, Saturday night to be exact, I was at Bob's watchin' the fights..good night, good fights, lots of good friends, etc. BUT my car got hit. And it was a total downer, seriously. So my buddy comes in asking me to move my car since I was parked behind his, cool right? No big deal, sure I'll move my car. It was only then when I went to unlock my door that I notice a HUGE ass dent in the side of it..so I'm freaking out "Who the F*&^*k hit my car?" He's like "Yeah, I meant to tell you..um.." No dude, I totally called you out. Arghhhhh.

And since I'm doing the T&L Morning Show with Haro again all this week that was my "Number One Thing I Learned This Weekend"...a lesson.

Tell Your Friends If You Hit Their Car...do not make them call you out.

For The Record..

So yes, Britney. I love her. And ya know what, I almost feel bad for talking shit before..like the whole head shaving incident and showing her va-jay-jay to the world. That doc was GOOD and this girl would probably be a bad actor so I doubt she was putting on a front. For the 2nd time did I watch that special today.

AND I realize it's been forever since I've written here, but I promise to myself that I will keep up on this. A lot has happened that I kinda just wanted to avoid talking about, more or less write about and so I stayed away from pretty much every outlet that I would have to do that. BUT needless to say, through all the trials lately and getting used to my new life without my brother (as much as you can get used to something like that), I'm having more good days than bad days and that in and of itself I am very grateful for.

I also watched Scream Queens today, since I missed it last Monday, and since day 1, I became an addict. And the last episode is tomorrow, and I'm freakin. It's kinda like a bad wreck that you just can't take your eyes away from, but I can't call it a wreck because it's one of the better "reality" shows on tv right now. And due to the awesomeness of JetBlue airlines, I was able to watch the new episode on my way back from NY a few weeks ago. Love.

Speaking of NY, I really should just write a whole new post on it. My new favorite city deserves more than just a mention. BUT as far as "reality" (yes, the quotes are THAT necessary), Whitney from The Hills has a new show coming out, The City (ahhhhhhhhhh. seriously.)

hearts.

Surrealism

It's amazing how much my life has changed in the past few years since I realized that radio is exactly what I should be doing. Even more so in the past (almost) 5 months since I've been doing midday's on WIIL Rock. The opportunities I've had here are almost too good to be true and things really couldn't get any better.

This week alone was definitely one of the best.

On Monday night Tom Morello came in. He was on Rockline, a radio interview show based out of LA. Since he was here staying with his mom for awhile in Libertyville he came in to use our studios. Being a HUGE Rage fan, I really couldn't believe that he was sitting in front of me all night and just chit-chattin' with me like we were old friends. Rage was one of the first bands I remember seeing on MTV when we used to sneak downstairs after Mom and Dad went to bed when we were younger. Then of course with the Guitar Hero craze, that brought on a totally new and different conversation we had..and yes, I had him sign my guitar. "Marija--you most certainly rock".

On Tuesday, 10 Years came in for an interview/acoustic performance with me. One of the coolest things for me here at the station is the opportunity to interview all the bands that come in. I'm a music junkie and am constantly reading and looking for stuff on bands that I like. Once it's in my head, I need to do something with it..and what better way to go, then to talk to the bands about it! The guys put on a spectacular performance and were really nice to talk to. Sweet Southern boys...who I was told later even used Ma'am and Sir at Arby's :)

Then to close out the week, Royal Bliss came in on Friday. I've been a fan of theirs for quite some time and right off the bat we had..an interesting introduction. Between finding Chris, one of the guitar players, standing outside the back door for God knows how long to going into their RV and have them offering/threatening to dance naked for me..it was like being the sister in between 5 brothers. Their acoustic set turned into a big sing-a-long with their anthem "I Was Drunk" and the interview was the most off-the-wall, fun interview I've done.

Later on Friday night I went to Durty Nellies for a show we did with Supagroup (hiliarious, good ole rock-n-roll), Royal Bliss, Lynam, and Earshot. All the guys in all the bands were super generous (I should've been buying THEM beer..) and it really was a good show, with the exception of the 25 person crowd. Yeah..it was dead. and a real shame it was. At least I was there..and I had a kickass time.

While I hate to write about what I've done and what I do..it all comes together in the sense that for me, I couldn't imagine having a career that didn't involve all the cool things I have the opportunity to do, and all the cool people I have the opportunity to meet. I've used that word a lot throughout..opportunity.

"Opportunities multiply as they are seized" --Sun Tzu

That's Bananas

So I had another blog, and I forgot the password (and they don't make it as easy to get a new one or reset as they should) SO I just decided to start completely fresh with a new site and a new password that I highly doubt I'll forget.

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So Ryan started a new work schedule and is now getting up at 4 in the morning, therefore going to bed at 8 while I'm all riled up and energized so I've been staying at home more often now, much to my dismay, but in the end it works out SO much better this way for both of us.

I started watching tv last night when I got home around 7 and so and saw that 90210 was on, and then that new show (is it new?) Privileged. Thought that maybe since I'm uber-obsessed with The Hills that I would give 'em a shot, and was absolutely perturbbed with the bad acting and ridiculous plot. Right then I realized why reality tv is so popular these days. While we all know that "reality" isn't "real", I find it to be entertaining nonetheless. After giving that up after a half hour, I think I gave it that, I went to the gym and got into the same conversation with a buddy I ran into, and thought about it some more.

Of course by the time I got home from working out, my 3 favorite reality shows were on: Project Runway, Janice Dickinson's Modeling Agency, and (my newly can't-beat-it favorite) The Rachel Zoe Project. I am a fashion junkie so these shows are just amazing. She is so frickin' quirky with her one-of-a-kind lines "I die!", "That's bananas", "Shut up right now". Rachel Zoe is my new fashion I. While they mainly show gowns on the show, I've gotten a lot of new ideas from what Rachel wears just day to day (some of it, I admit is a little wierd and would probably get me some laughs if I wore it..i.e. her pirate ruffle shirt) BUT whether you go high-end with it, or shop stores like Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe you can get a lot of the same sort of clothing for much cheaper (price and quality for that matter) and still look fab.