Fever In Fever Out reminds me of my light blue '85 Subaru GL wagon and the Rocky Mountains. I used to spin this CD a lot making sojourns between Westminster and Colorado Springs. That drive. I used to hate that drive. It was usually happened late at night after having worked a full shift. Pitch black skies and an ass-biting chill in the air. I hated that fucking drive. Years of neglecting those memories have dulled how long that commute was but it was not short. I think I hated it less at night than during the day. At night on the highway, no one can see you when you're singing at the top of your lungs along with whatever is playing on the stereo. Countless hours spent daydreaming, playing "air" instruments, trying to process reality and trying harder to find ways of escaping it. Can you believe I didn't have a wreck on one of those nights?
So why was I driving between Westminster and Colorado Springs all the time? For a girl, of course!
Thank goodness The Wife to Whom I Am Married is far too busy with important things to read these humble scribblings. By now you are probably putting together that Colorado and The Wife to Whom I Am Married are two different people. And how. Something tells me this part of the column will not be her favorite. Go figure. Anyway, that is why I was making regular sojourns. I was living in Westminster and was seeing someone who lived in the 'Springs.
This went on for a few months but as it turns out … Colorado and I were not a good fit. The process by which that was fairly awful. I'm ridiculously happy with the way my life has turned out and The Wife to Whom I Am Married and I have been married nearly six years and together for longer than that so this story does have a happy ending. I did not know that at the time, so I can assure you it sucked righteously at the time.
The hard feelings I held onto for so long are gone now. It stands to reason I put more blame on Colorado than I did myself because I see things from a distinctly me perspective. That said … I was no fucking picnic to be with — that's still true today, just ask The Wife to Whom I Am Married. So I have forgiven that which needs to be forgiven. Unfortunately, I haven't forgotten — not all of it, anyway. I wish I could because this chapter of my life has been over and there aren't going to be any new pages added to it. There is nothing worth reliving and I really am over things to the point where there is nothing I need to avoid or hide. Time has a way of taking bitterness and turning it into ambivalence — that and I have a natural inclination towards "I could give a fuck." I just want it to go away. Besides, it really was all her fault.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Here I was under the impression that Luscious Jackson was a type of apple.
2 - DJRadiohead
I could take this conversation straight to the gutter if I was of a mind but I think I will resist the temptation.
3 - DJRadiohead
If only my powers of summoning were always this potent: this weekend, after having searched on multiple occasions, I saw LJ's first two CDs in a used bin. I hadn't seen them new in I don't know how long. So I got both In Search of Manny and Natural Ingredients for under $10.
It's the Circle of Life, Simba.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
How'd wifey end up liking the column?
5 - Mark Saleski
very nice. love this record. Lucious Jackson was one of the performers at the Lilith Fair show i went to. they totally rocked the joint. between them and Emylou Harris, the show could not have been better.
6 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Saleski, for finding, reading, and commenting this.
We didn't have the greatest Lilith Fair set. I can't believe Emmylou Harris wasn't booked for Nashville. I guess they thought that was too obvious. I wanted Luscious Jackson, Sheryl Crow, or Shawn Colvin. Got none of them. Sarah Mc was fabulous, though. Never got to see LJ live. Would have liked that.
7 - DJRadiohead
In fairness, I told her I had finished it. When I said she is too busy to read/listen to my stuff I was not kidding. She just doesn't have the time. That's how I get away with things like this. Although, she did tell me she went trolling around Blogcritics last week. I may yet find out what she thinks.
I'm still married, anyway.
8 - Scott Butki
I heard Luscious Jackson open for REM. They rocked the house. They had a great frunk groove thing going.
Quick question: is it offensive to call someone a "fanboy"?I've heard mixed reports on that.
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
"When I said she is too busy to read/listen to my stuff I was not kidding"
Yeah, she's too busy reading MY stuff. Oh snap!
But in all honesty, I know that situation all too well. Chelsea is in fact a busy girl and has too many more important things to do than read my goofy little posts.
10 - Mat Brewster
I don't think my wife has ever read anything of mine. Same reason, just way too busy. When she has a free moment I'd rather her pay attention to me anyway instead of what I wrote.
My long distance commute story turned into a good one. Premarriage I traveled some 350 miles from Tennessee to Indiana every few weekends to see the girl who is now my wife.
11 - Mark Saleski
not only did we have Emmylou doing a set with her band, Spyboy....but when we first walked in, on one of the small stages, we heard Syd Straw doing a set with Emmylou and Buddy Miller. they did a version of the Stones' "Some Girls". incredible.
12 - DJRadiohead
Scott, like with a lot of things the term "fanboy" can be used in a derogatory manner. I know what I mean when I use it in referring to myself so I just go with it. Other people wouldn't like it. I guess caution is the word when flinging it.
I never got to see LJ live. I do remember them opening for R.E.M. It would have been very cool to see both bands.
13 - DJRadiohead
Suss, I'll give you that. That was good, man. That was good.
The Wife to Whom I Am Married loves that I write and when she reads what I write she usually likes it, too. When I test material designed for my podcasts she usually laughs. She just doesn't have the time and she really doesn't like sitting in front of the computer very much. Plus, my fanboy tendencies go well beyond her musical interests.
That said, Suss, the sports area might be the area she is least likely to travel.
14 - DJRadiohead
Brewster, The Wife to Whom I Am Married and I commuted from a distance a good deal less than that but still at a bit of a distance. I think it was probably an hour-ish. It worked out ridiculously well for me, too.
15 - Scott Butki
I just pulled out my copy of their cd.
I was trying to remember which song of theirs I most like and it is... "City song."
It has that great comination of fun, sultry voice and is damn catchy.
16 - DJRadiohead
Scott, "Citysong" is on Natural Ingredient which is the album that preceeded this one. It is damn catchy. I love that one.
17 - Scott Butki
Ah heard Naked Eye that one is good too.
18 - Joanie
I think we covered this before, but I used to live in Westminster (and made that same drive, for different reasons).
I have many songs/artists that remind me of that time in my life, as I do every period. I call them memory songs, and regardless of the emotions evoked, they're all there...waiting to be activated.
19 - Scott Butki
For some reason their songs make me think of New York City.
20 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
this may be my favourite of these beautiful pieces thus far. I'm with you a hundred percent, with regards the portkey. Sometimes it's a swell ol' place we end up in, like when i fling on "Basket Case" for example. Other times it's a horrible horrible place, and that's why i cannot listen to "24 Hour Party People" by Happy Mondays, which sucks, since it was one of my favourite songs.
this series of dreams, recollections, melodies, you'd do well to look on this, Sir DJ, and say aye, somethin mighty beautiful i've created. and am creating...
21 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Duke, you are much too generous with your praise but I sure as fuck appreciate it. I thought about you and some of your magnificent sagas when I was writing this one. Fortunately, I am still able to love the music aside from the occasional horrible regurgitation of the wretched past. Maybe I'm lucky enough not to have experienced anything too awful or I am just a glutton for punishment. I guess, too, I like the process of being transported even if I don't always like where I end up in the end.
In fact, you and Sir Saleski have both had a profound impact on this series and I give a tip of the cap to you both.