Context? CDXLVII

A radio announcer who accidentally gave the wrong time and said it was May instead of July admitted that he was in "a different temporal space today."

That's a classy, honest way of saying, "I goofed." 

Once a DJ, always a DJ? III

When most people see that the current temperature is 77 degrees, they probably think, "It's feeling kind of warm."  When I see a temperature of 77, however, I immediately think or sometimes say, "The first voice in St. Louis, 77 WEW."

That slogan I used to say on the air is still a strangely entrenched habit with me 30 years later.  I don't know if I expect the station's former studio to appear or a Nat King Cole song to start playing when the slogan comes to mind, but 77 will always be associated with that radio station for me.

FM dial scan highlights CCCVIII

Five recommended tunes heard this morning:

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Sooner Or Later-Nyah Grace (Easy-on-the-ears vocals and instrumentation suitable for late nights--and equally at home in a smooth jazz or R&B playlist.)
• Summer Cruise-Dee Brown (A sunny, uptempo smooth jazz guitar groove with saxophone enhancement.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• I Feel Hope Coming-Alabama Shakes (A lyrically sound wish for a fairer world, set to a relaxed dream pop backdrop.)
• Time Is A Bomb-Metric (An honest admission that a relationship is one-sided.)

KEZK 102.5 FM

• Dreams-The Cranberries (Dolores O'Riordan's lyrics and vocals from 1993 still hold up.  This is still a great song for driving, and it's one of the highlights of the CD, "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?"  Also recommended: "Linger" and "Wanted.")

Context? CDXLVI

This morning, an interviewer on a news/talk radio station asked his guest, "So, the moon is hollow.  Have you given any more thought to that?"

Before switching stations, I thought, "That's a question I haven't heard anyone ask before.  It's the middle of the night, though, so why not ask that if you think your guest has a reasonably thought out answer?" 

A function of age LII

I was glad to hear KTRS play "W*O*L*D*" as bumper music this morning in memory of Harry Chapin.  Chapin passed away on this day 45 years ago, and it was refreshing to hear announcer Carl and listeners on the text line praise Chapin's insightful singer-songwriter abilities.  I wasn't surprised that Carl cited "Cat's In The Cradle," as it's Chapin's biggest hit and one of his best songs, but I was startled that he mentioned "Flowers Are Red" as a favorite song.  Lyrically, "Flowers Are Red" is a clever reminder not to be too rigid in one's thinking, so I was pleased to hear it referenced unexpectedly.

Now, let's also give "Sunday Morning Sunshine" and "Tangled Up Puppet" their due.

Context? CDXLV

Kudos to the reporter on the radio yesterday who follows a relative's advice to "never trust a man who says, 'Trust me.'"

The reporter's response when someone says that is correct, as well; whenever he hears that, he thinks, "What was my other option?"

Persistent earworm alert CDXLVI

You know it's a long, challenging month at work when the earworm in your mind paraphrases Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Karn Evil 9" as "Welcome back, my friends, to the month that never ends..."

Summer is often our workplace's most difficult season, and July is typically the most difficult month.  I know it'll end eventually--but it doesn't feel that way, at the moment.