Back 2 School?

So last week I got the chance to go back to Murfreesboro to tape some Audio for a new wrestling show for MTTV (campus television). The family and I left the Boro in the summer of 2005. We have been back briefly for a game or chance to see the Jaydogg (who still lives there), but haven't had a chance to just look at the campus since before Hannah was born. It was nice.

Parking, I could see where construction of Corlew Hall is taking place. We ate there all the time, because it was all you can eat and was based at the Ladies Dorm. Looks like it will be nice on the inside when done, lets just hope the food is better then what I remembered.

Next to Corlew is the Business & Aerospace Building. This was the campus headache for the first 2 years of campus life while it was built, due to all the fences keeping me from short distances from Nicks Hall. But once it was completed, I got to enjoy it my Junior & Senior years.

I went inside and could see where some of my favorite teachers still have an office. At least this time when I walked that hall, I didn't stink of cigarette smoke. It was weird seeing all the spots where me and some classmates would take a break and thought "Why did I ever toke". But it was a good chance to reminiss about the ol' days. Then it was time to go back to the studio where I spent some much time having fun recording Dandy.

The new head of MTTV, Rob, is a cool dude and was funny to see one guy have to set up the entire studio by himself with no help and do this show with no help. Reminded me of how hard the Pessoni's, Drew, Ryan, & others had to work to just get the tape rolling. The stuido was different, but still as small as I remember. Who knows if the show will be any count, but it was fun to get back in there where I hadn't been in over 10 years and see the red lights on those cameras again. Just wasn't the same without Trev blasting me or my momma.

Maybe there should be a Dandy 10 Years Later Special?

God Bless,

Fes

Goodbye MJ

It has been 4 days and I still am having trouble realizing that Michael Jackson is dead. Maybe because I am awaiting him to show up at a UK press conference with Bubbles and McCullay saying "Fooled You!"
But reality is that my generation's Elvis & Lennon, went before his time. I will never forgot pulling into my driveway on Thursday evening, hearing our local SportsTalk expert, George Plaster, say "and we are getting reports that Michael Jackson has died of an apparanent heart attack". I sat in my own driveway shell shocked for a couple of minutes until I realized that I could turn it on FoxNews or CNN (if desperate) to find out for myself. I did and sent texts and posted on Facebook hoping that it wasn't real, but it was. Now I can't turn off the TV.

I can't get enough of the videos. I can't get enough of the news updates. I can't get enough of my Sirius/XM Channel 51. Just like MJ said "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough". Why? Because he was the Soundtrack to my Childhood and now that he is gone - then a big part of my Childhood is gone too. I am grasping and trying to hold on to memories that are associated with each hit......

"Billie Jean"
- Remember sitting in my room, listening to this on Y107 & Coyote McCloud. Became a MJ fan to this song.

"Beat It"
- I remember this is first video that I got into. Watching this at my Granny's house because she had cable way before we did. If the Cubs weren't on WGN, we were watching MTV and this played every hour it seemed like. Austin, Kim, Jay, Shelly, Melissa, and I spent a lot of our time watching this.

"Thriller"
- One of my favorite trips (just my mother and I with my aunt Faye and my cousin Shelly to Gatlinburg)
- Charla scaring me out of my mind at Millersville Elementary with her magazine
- Having my sister, Janice, hide her VHS copy of "The Making of Thriller" before I would enter her house (and we were over ever week)
- Begging my mother to shield it from me when we were at the movie rental stores in Goodlettsville
** Yes, early I was freaked out by the zombies for too long backthen, but now I enjoy the terrific costume and effects that would be a hit today. No other song of MJ's contains so many memories for me.....

"Bad"
- After the fire at our house in Millersville, this song was stuck in my head. A stretch of nights where I couldn't sleep, remember "replaying" it until I went to sleep. We finally got cable in Millersville to go along with our new upstairs, and this was the hit during that time.

"Smooth Criminal"
- My favorite dance video and was theme to Sega Video Game that my brother, Jay, saved up to buy - fun times indeed
- Made this my Mr.MTSU finale dance number in 2000, Jay - Muff - Rippy - & I had some fun in the Tucker Theatre to this song....

"Leave Me Alone"
- Video I saw a bunch while visiting my Granny Hannah while she was with us. Now today, I wish I had spent that MTV watching time there in Hendersonville to listening to her stories more.

"Black or White"
- Song that anchor'd my Freshman Year in high School - trying to fit in. Remember sitting in Ms.Tuttle's Art Class discussing this video with Travis and others.

"Who is It"
- Sums up a bunch. The beat is bumpin' and is the best video besides Smooth Criminal to watch

"Scream"
- Song of summer of '95

"You Are Not Alone"
- This was the song that I remember was on when crusing with Mandy, Martin, and Lindsay. Writing letters to Grant while he was at bootcamp and writing letters to Jana while in Illinois.

"History"
- Did a Fes Anthology RAP TAPE (coping MJ) The Past - Present - and Future of this Honkey.... (insert your jokes here) Trevis gave his away to some dude that we ran into at the Media Play. Dude said "you know that crap rap tape you gave me - I copied over it"........ the look on T's face when he said "oh this is the guy who did it" .... priceless

"Wanna Be Starting Something"
- Funny that it wasn't until my college years that this song finally meant something... Scott taught me a specific dance to it and for 3 years, we rocked it whenever the DJ spun it - can do that dance today!

"Invincible"
- Remember buying this album after 9-11 and first talking to Courtney. Only listened to this album a couple of times, but I remember the hoopla and hype that only MJ would bring to an album release. I cared more about my new P.Y.T. than listening to this and any other music since.

All in all, MJ was my Elvis. The Soundtrack to my childhood and life. I guess its more sad to me because I realize that I am getting farther and farther away from those memories. Wish I could see those that makeup those memories. Some I can, but some I can't until I get to Heaven. I don't know if MJ will be there when I get there, but if so - I want some dance lessons and I'll moonwalk on those streets of gold. But he has with his passing given me some new memories, watching Hannah dance to Black or White and Emma asking for "More Mike Jack!" I'll one day tell them about my Music Icon passing.

Til then, I am left with questions. Will Justin Timberlake be the next generation's Icon like MJ was for us? Is it Madonna or U2 that is now the greatest from the 80's still alive? Who will be the MJ for my kids as they grow up? Will Usher finally get original?

God Bless,
Fes