The week that was...

First off, the Colts are The Champs in the recently-concluded Superbowl 41. Frankly, it wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be, but my second-favorite team in the NFL finally got a much-deserved Vince Lombardi trophy, and so, yey!


I'm back, babeeee....

The biggest deal that happened to me this past week was that I survived my first week at my new job. As I mentioned in my previous post, a radio station recently hired me. It was humbling and flattering to know that I'm still of some value in the radio community, as it was said radio station that came to me for the job and not the other way around.
The radio station is 106.7 Dream-FM.
The first couple of days were a bit nerve-wracking, simply because it has been awhile (almost two years now that I think about it) since I last went on-air, and I was re-learning to work the console, deal with commercials, doing the news and ad libbing, and familiarizing myself with a play list that I wasn't that knowledgeable with. Fortunately, I was quick enough to adapt, more or less (still trying to get used to doing the news though).
Besides the play list, probably my bigger concern was the traffic going to Novaliches. I was worried that the "fastest" travel time that it would take me to work from my place would be an hour and half. But, surprisingly, the longest time it took me to get to the station was about an hour and ten minutes. Usually though, it only takes me about forty-five minutes. So I no longer consider the traffic to be a big problem. Not yet anyway, as I heard from one of the jocks that it does get pretty bad during special occasions (I'm guessing that's something like, say, Christmas). The distance isn't something I'm complaining about (yet?) either, as I'm fortunate to drive a car that is quite fuel-efficient.
The road leading to ABC 5 or Dream, which is Quirino Highway, is awful though. Poor (car) shocks is what I have to say...!
The salary would probably be an issue, but I('ve) never got(ten) into radio for the money (it sounds corny and maybe unbelievable, but it's true) -- it was for the love of it. But, of course, I know that everyone also needs to be practical. Even if I'm single and not supporting anyone, I still need to make a living that would keep me alive (after all, I live on my own). Fortunately, I'm (and have been) blessed to have a lot of gigs to earn extra mula. And even more fortunate that the higher-ups and Program Director of Dream were nice nice enough to give in to my request for a weekend sked that would be beneficial to me (it was one of my concerns before I accepted the job -- I was originally to have an afternoon shift, and that would have ruined my chances of accepting hosting or voice over gigs that I may have or get on a Saturday and/or Sunday, the weekends being the days when most events steadily happen).
The problem I had with ad libbing, or lack thereof, isn't actually as bad as I thought it would be. Even though I sometimes feel that there should be more, and that it's in a style that I'm not accustomed to (it's in a very low-key, meaning I'm almost whispering, and in short bursts), I still get to ad lib the way I('d) want to, and it's not confined to a monotonous or always-the-same-line spiel. So it's not exactly dumbifying (is there even a word like this?) as I had feared it would be.
And besides challenging (as I'm not familiar with a lot of of the songs the station's playing), I do love the play list/format. It's high-end (although, don't get me wrong, I love a cheesy song like the next person).
I volunteered for the graveyard shift, but since Dream isn't on 24-hour broadcast (they say they'll eventually go 24 hours, but I'm kind of doubtful), I was either going to get the 9pm sked, or become pinch-hitter. I chose the latter. So I have what i call an irregular-regular shift -- everyday it's different, but it's the same every week.
So I'm the pinch-hitter -- I fill in on days when a dj takes a day-off, and this is how my weekly sked looks like :

Monday - 12 to 3pm; Tuesday - 9am to 12pm; Wednesday - 9pm to 1am; Thursday - 9am to 12pm; Saturday - 9am to 12pm; Sunday - 6 to 9am. Friday - day off

Over the course of the week, I also discovered a terrific song. After watching the week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, there was this tune that appeared during a scene where Meredith (Grey) breaks down after a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) patient is put to rest. I checked the 'net, but I wasn't sure of the title, so I downloaded all the songs that appeared in said episode. It turned out to be Scratch by Kendall Payne. But, as great as that song was, it wasn't the one I was pertaining to above. It was actually The Simple Things by Jim Brickman, featuring Rebecca Lynn Howard on vocals. It kind of reminds me of Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles, melody-wise. Take a listen to this if you're feeling down-and-out.


The Simple Things

Hey, Time won’t wait,
Life goes by,
Every day’s a brand new sky,
Every tear, comes to dry.

All that really matters,
In this crazy world,
Is you and I together,
Baby just remember.

Chorus 1:
The first leaves off the tree,
The way you look at me,
A thousand chiming church bells ring,
The simple things are free
The sun, the moon, the stars,
The beating of two hearts,
How I love the simple things,
The simple things just are.

So here we go,
Let’s just dance,
Teach my soul to take this chance,
Put my heart, in your hands.

Out of all the moments that,
We leave behind,
Turn around and tell me,
Baby we’ll remember.

Chorus 2:
The thunder and the rain,
The way you say my name,
After all the clouds go by,
The simple things remain,
The sun, the moon, the stars,
The beating of two hearts,
How I love the way the simple things,
The simple things just are

Chorus 3:
The ocean and the sky,
The way we feel tonight,
I know that it's the love,
That brings the simple things to life,
The sun, the moon, the stars,
The beating of two hearts,
I love the way the simple things,
The simple things just are.

I love the way the simple things,
The simple things just are.
Simple things just are.
Simple things just are.


I also found out that we play the song on Dream.

'Nuff said.