So I decided...to honor the King of Pop

We all feel something a little strange when we experience a celebrity’s death. For most, it’s certainly not because you had a deep bond with that person, but more likely because they had some kind of influence on your life in an indirect way. Seeing someone in movies and on television allows for this strange sense of connection even though you’ll probably never meet. For me, this is particularly the case when I hear someone’s music, especially if they are also the writer. It’s an intimate form of artistry that evokes emotion and a sense of experience, aside from being entertaining.

This post has obviously been inspired by the recent death of Michael Jackson, of whom I was a big fan. I certainly don’t want to pretend that I am some music critic, but I love his music and I wanted to post about my reflections on his work. I thought a fun way to do this would be to go over each of his albums, listen to them over and over again (everyone around me is probably sick and tired of hearing it) and try my best to pick my top 10 favorite Michael Jackson songs of all time. Here goes…

Honorable Mentions: “Scream” from HIStory (1995) and “You Rock My World” from Invincible (2001)

Unlike most of the songs from the previous album, Dangerous (1991), I felt like “Scream” revisited this bass-driven, “hard” sound that Jackson and Quincy Jones brought to Bad (1987). “You Rock My World” was a surprise and a good, modernized version of classic Michael Jackson.

10. “Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough” from Off the Wall (1979)

First single off this album, and I think the best. This is where the King of Pop born…

9. “Thriller” from Thriller (1982)

The video for this song is entertaining, albeit a little strange. I love the bass line and the horn work in this song. Not a #1 hit, but how many times have you tried to imitate that dance? Enough said.

8. “Black or White” from Dangerous (1991)

Easily the best song from this album. I would argue that this maintains Jackson’s tradition, though some tend to disagree. I think it was culturally relevant and topped the charts for reasons other than riding Bad’s coattails. Can't help but have a strong connection to the video and it's huge prime time premiere with Macaulay Culkin.

7. “Man in the Mirror” from Bad (1987)

Jackson didn’t do a whole lot of “ballad” work, but this is the best. It stood out from the styling of the rest of the album and it paid off: another number one hit. The man was versatile.

6. “Beat It” from Thriller (1982)

A classic in its own right. Quincy Jones wanted rock-n-roll and he got it and who better to feature on the track than Eddie Van Halen?

5.” I Want You Back” from Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 (1969)

A young Michael made the Motown label glad it left this song for the Jackson 5, rather than the likes of Gladys Knight & The Pips. More than a few critics have placed this song on the top hits of all time list…

4. “Bad” from Bad (1987)

The second single from the title album and one of five #1 songs. Jackson created a more “hard” sound on this track and changed his image from the younger version of the pop star – and not always well-received.

3. “Billie Jean” from Thriller (1982)

This song is no less than legendary. The Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television performance of this song and the unveiling of the “moon walk” solidified his status as not just a pop icon, but the pop icon.

2. “Dirty Diana” from Bad (1987)

It was a #1 hit in 1988 and Rolling Stone still called this song “filler” for the album. I don’t care what anyone says, I love the edge of this song and the more I listen to it, the more I love it.

1. "The Way You Make Me Feel" from Bad (1987)

To me, this song is Michael Jackson. You hear the style he brought to Off the Wall and Thriller with a little bit of the new flair he intended for Bad, you can even hear a little of Motown Michael in this song. The third #1 hit from Bad: unstoppable.

This was a really hard list to make and evolved even as I was writing it. Overall, I love just about all of his work. He made a great impact on the industry and I hope that the world will remember that, despite the struggles he faced in his lifetime.

A Farewell to Cricket

When I graduated from college, I had about zero ideas for where I was going. I started one job about 3 days after graduation, but I knew that a new one just across campus was in the works. What did I want out of a job in research? Well, an incredible experience from some of the best scientists in their field is certainly a perk. I truly enjoy the everyday challenges of my work, too. I’ll tell you what I didn’t expect to find, but certainly did – a true friend. Have you ever met a new person who it didn’t take you long to figure out was truly good to the core? Malcolm Gladwell in Blink would say that this is a natural ability of our subconscious to quickly and distinctively judge things in this way. So while I had my initial judgments, I have also spent the last two years creating a bond that I now fully recognize the magnitude of.

When K (I’ll use her signature format for this post) first started talking about leaving the lab and going to medical school, I have to say that I selfishly wanted her to stay another year. Now, I am truly happy for her in my heart of hearts. That’s what you ultimately want for your friends – happiness. I am lucky to see everyday how excited she is about this new season in her life, and share in the occasion (and definitely in the planning!). I am not typically your sentimental type, but here I feel it is both appropriate and necessary.

So this is one of my forms of a farewell to Cricket, because I know that the blog is near to both our hearts and will stay that way. I will miss her dearly and it will never be the same without her. I hope for her only the best of the best. Lastly, I will be as cheesy as I know how to be and quote Sex and the City…

“After all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away...”

So I decided...Everything is Better Grilled.

Growing up, my family always spent Sunday afternoons at my Grandma or Great Grandma’s house to eat and congregate. This is a tradition that I really cherished and it’s something that has really stayed with me throughout the years. In this way, cooking and entertaining has always been a source of comfort for me. Now that I don’t have those Sunday afternoons at home anymore, I find myself seeking that comfort through beginning my own traditions in my young-adult life.

Like I said, I’ve always really enjoyed the comforts of cooking and entertaining, but when I got my first grill this all when into overdrive. I really had no idea what I was getting into at the time. Now, I never pass up the opportunity to have people over and fire up the grill, in hopes of sharing that feeling I always had growing up. What better way to spend an evening than with good friends and good food? I’m pretty sure most of my friends are really happy that this is something I enjoy doing and they reap the benefits of it, but that’s what it’s all about!

I will try, at least once, to grill just about anything. If it’s meant for the oven, who cares? I’ll cook it on the grill anyway just for fun. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love to cook in all sorts of ways – hello, Crock-Pot, I love you – but grilling is my absolute favorite. If I had to pick my favorite thing, I’d say it’s the beer can chicken. I rarely follow a recipe for anything I do, except as maybe a general guideline (also something I picked up from generations of women in my family), but there is nothing quite like a cajun chicken (orrrr a bone-in turkey breast). Throw in some fresh veggies from the NC State Farmer’s Market (let’s say, fresh corn on the cob, for instance) and maybe some fresh cornbread in the cast-iron… see what I’m saying? This is only the beginning: ribs, steaks and pork shoulders, oh my!

Now, throw in a few lawn games (cornhole, ladderball, bocce, etc), maybe a few dogs running around the yard, some good music and you’ve got the perfect entertainment package. It’s something I look forward to doing for the rest of my life and I hope my friends do too. Even when I’m preoccupied with all my other obsessions, I always find time for food…

So I decided...Love Can Be Unconditional

I have always loved animals. I had a rabbit, hermit crabs, a turtle (before they were illegal) and begged for a dog until we got our rat terrier when I was 10 (who is still alive and kickin’ it). Growing up my Dad also had a golden retriever, who I remember fondly as a friend and companion for the weekends I spent at his house. Of course, as a kid, you don’t really know what responsibility goes into having a dog; you just know that they are fun and loving in a way that really impresses you, even at a young age.

I’ve always thought of myself as a “dog person” and a “big dog person” at that. I’ve always had a great connection to the canines in my life, even those that didn’t belong to me and my family. Naturally, when it came time to move away from home for college, I wanted one of my own. For my first Christmas away from home, my mom got me a stuffed puppy – really funny. In retrospect, she was, of course, right that I didn’t need a dog in college. Duh. So I waited anxiously until graduation. I talked and talked and talked about getting a dog. I did all the research and read all the books (read: The Loved Dog by Tamar Geller). I read all about different breeds and their personalities and wanted to find the perfect match. I don’t know if my mom actually thought it was a good idea or if she was just tired of hearing about it, but she surprised me early in the spring semester with the idea of a puppy for a graduation present. I nearly jumped out of my skin. So I decided on a golden retriever and milled over breeders until I found a suitable one and then I milled over names.

Sutton the golden retriever. That’s Sutton Tweedmouth of Carolina, to be exact. He launch me into this culture of dog parks, pet stores & bakeries, weekend trips to different swimming holes and daily trail runs (Umstead State Park is one of our favorite places). Luckily, Sutton and I also have great friends to share time with – shout outs here to Amanda & Kolby and Chris & Gunner. Funny how you become a pair like that when you have the kind of dog that goes everywhere with you…

What has developed over the past two years with him has been a whirlwind of laughter, tears, adventure, frustration and, above all, love. Pure, unadulterated love. I never imagined I could have this kind of emotional attachment to an animal, but he is my unwavering confidant and companion. This may all sound strange and desperate to someone who doesn’t understand such a relationship, but I also know I’m not alone here. I look forward to everyday I have with him and I hope there are many, many to come.

If I had the time, money and space I’d have a whole pack (having a golden retriever farm should have been on my original list). And why not turn my love into a career – both a veterinary practice and a dog bakery. And somewhere between all this, I’ll continue my dream of being a DJ…

So I decided...Tuesdays are Two-Fers

There is nothing quite like going to watch a baseball game and having hot dogs and beer in the summer. If you’re lucky, like I am, the park is just a short drive away and really evokes a sense of community spirit. This is something that I have really embraced while living in the triangle and I just can’t get enough of the Durham Bulls and Wool E. Bull (and thankfully they play 6 months out of the year!).

This year, I’m going all out – I even bought a t-shirt to wear to games (AND I got a cap at the season opener). What kind of fan would I be without paraphernalia? I try to go see the Bulls at least once per week that they are in town. Typically, this has turned into a Tuesday night tradition for me and my friends with the advent of the 2009 season “9 Inning Vacation” – option #3 is Tuesday Night Two-Fer with any two terrace reserve seats for $9. Going to the games also contributes to #12 from my original post: planning group outings.

Farm league baseball is something that I feel a connection to as a part of American heritage, and I happen to love the Bulls as a North Carolina native (and I love the movie Bull Durham). The Durham Tobacconists were founded in 1902 and went through a myriad of phases as the Bulls, the Raleigh-Durham Mets, Phillies and Triangles. For the longest time, they played in that great old park built in 1926 (rebuilt in 1939 because of fire) and then came the new DBAP in 1995 – a beautiful venue in downtown Durham. As a side note, the Durham Dragons, a pro fast-pitch team, played in the old park for a while after the Bulls moved to the new DBAP. Then came Wool E. Bull in 1992. I love mascots in general and think it would be fun to be one, so seeing him at the games is just the icing on the cake. My favorite is when he rides the go cart around the field. Priceless entertainment. What is it about an over-sized cartoon bull??

There are lots of games left in the season, so if you live in the area, you should go show the Bulls your support! And in case you were wondering, Option #1 is $9 box seats, and option #2 is terrace reserve and peanuts for $9, not to mention that there are $1 concessions on Thursdays and fireworks every Friday. If I can find time to go between being a DJ and a pro rock climber, surely you can too…

So I decided... I'm disappointed

On the heels of Apple’s WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), I had to write about my love affair with a phone.

Let me say first of all that I had no idea that the new iPhone 3GS would be available so soon; I’d have predicted a more holiday-timed release. Despite being an absolute iPhone fanatic, I have found myself feeling lackluster about the iPhone 2k9 announcements. My focus has been on the 3.0 OS release - my heart will be pounding until June 17 - and let’s be honest, I just got the 3G in December so I wasn’t keen on dropping another several hundred dollars, but I could have dug up the money with enough enthusiasm. I had already decided in the back of my mind that if the unveiling was compelling enough, I’d probably be reeled in. Lucky for my wallet, I was just as disappointed in the new hardware as I expected to be. Not only are there no major overhauls, but Apple is doing more to sell new customers on the 3G by making it available for only $99 (to all of my friends who don’t have one yet, this means I will be bombarding you). So what’s new with the 3GS? 3-megapixel camera (up from 2mp), video recording/editing/sending capability, a digital compass, voice commands and better battery life. That’s about all I can gather. It’s supposed to be “up to 2x faster” too, but the rate limiting factor is ultimately going to rely on your cellular/wi-fi connection. So, unless you are really excited about taking mediocre videos, save your money and just get the 3G.

Don’t be fooled by my seemingly bad attitude surrounding the new iPhone 3GS. If you’ve got the cash, buy the thing! Once you own this device, be it 3G or 3GS, your life will change. I can’t rant enough about its capabilities and how the applications will completely shift your perspective on both productivity and entertainment. I know that some people are into the Blackberry OS, but trade me for an iPhone for 48 hours and I won’t be able to pry it from your hands. I think the only person I couldn’t convince would be someone who just absolutely has to have tactile buttons, but I think even they could be hypnotized by the myriad of features. I love that Apple allowed the developers to be in the driver’s seat with SDK. They provided an innovative platform that gives the best developers in the world a venue for brilliance. Need GPS? In the palm of your hand. Need to know a great restaurant in an unfamiliar city? Done. Want Pandora radio at your fingertips? No problem. How about a freaking level to hang pictures? You see where I going with this? And all in a neat little device that is completely intuitive to use. I could go on all day here, but I’ve got to go work on my plans to open a dog bakery…

-DJ Brizzle

So I decided... that I love airports.

So I am digressing already from my original blog proposal, but maybe not really? (Although, it wouldn’t be at all out of character for me to do so) I am exceptionally intrigued by the breadth of sociology encompassed in the crossroads of an airport. I’m immediately reminded of the opening scene of Love Actually. Now, I couldn’t find a good clip of this in English because of copyright laws, but this homemade video serves the same purpose without the overly sentimental tag line, “love actually is all around” (the David Gray track in the background is still a little much). Speaking of overly sentimental, this also reminds me of the John Mayer song, Wheel:

“And airports see it all the time / When someone's last goodbye

Blends in with someone’s sigh / Cause someone's coming home

In hand a single rose…”

Seems kind of cheesy and emotional, but my interest is at least slightly analytical in nature. The fascination exists for travel by planes, trains and automobiles, but I can’t help to be bombarded by it in the airport. I knew a journalism major once that had the idea to travel by train all over the US and just talk to people – to see who they are, where they are going, how long they’ll be there. I think it’s a wonderful idea and I think it would translate beautifully into a book and/or documentary (has this already been done and I don’t know about it?). Maybe I’m just nosey, but for everyone I see, I want to know their story. Maybe they are coming home, maybe they are leaving home. Maybe they will be back soon, maybe they are leaving that place forever. Maybe they are happy, maybe they are sad. Maybe their story is interesting, but maybe it’s just as boring as mine. Lucky for me, this captivation is enough to keep me occupied and distracted from all the things about airports that should completely annoy me and ruin the allure of traveling (read:(your name here) laughed’s post about TSA).

On top of all of this, I just love planes and the science of flight. I still haven’t gone to the flight observation deck, but it’s been on my list of things to do for quite some time. Maybe I’ll squeeze it in sometime between becoming a professional bowler and training for a marathon…

-DJ Brizzle