A very good day

My very good day started off like this. Yummy.

I think the last time I had one of these there was a kickoff involved.

Now, you know that means my very good day also included a nap. As do all very good days at my age.

Amy’s surprise 40th birthday brunch. Everyone’s loyal, caring, amazing, Amy-able superhero role model rock star was very surprised and took home  a good haul of gifties.

very surprised

two of my favorite people

and look: two more!

beginning a very good day

After said nap, I snuck to the movies, finally. Zombieland was at the dollar theater and it was just the funnest movie I’ve seen in ages. Loved the slo-mo scenes at the beginning, and especially the list graphics and narration throughout.

I don’t know what’s up with me and the zombie movies. They are gruesome and jumpy and make me afraid to drive home in the dark. But I can’t stay away from them, and this one was a rollicking good time. Watch this, then go rent it and turn it up loud.

Other good things ensued, until finally it was time to pick up Warren and friends. And I think it’s pretty cool they have this place: an all-ages venue for locals to try out their noise on a real live audience.  Check out the vocal talent on this one (and yes, I think he said “A Beating Heart in Cold Hands.” which would be the only thing he said that you can repeat on a nice family-oriented blog like this one):

The weird thing is, the place is in the strip center me, Jaffner and Lyta used to walk to when we were kids. Right between where the Majik Market and North Cobb Drugs once were. Life comes full circle for homebodies.

Best of all, I had H. Johnson’s Jazz Classics to get me through waiting for the kids in the parking lot, where I was creeped out that zombies might come crashing through my window any minute. (Though Warren did text me to take a peek inside. “come in. you’ll think this is funny. hahahaha” Just a few numbers  were enough for me.)  Jazz Classics is the perfect way to end a very good Saturday, carrying me through this post and all the way til 2 a.m. I’ve had a nap. I think I’ll hang with H. until he’s done.

Left end of the dial

There’s no reason to listen to commercial radio in a town like Atlanta, which has plenty of noncommercial options down at the left end of the dial. Not just the college stations, but public radio and community radio, too.

My ideal Saturday starts, if it’s an early morning, with 89.3 WRFG’s oldies show. Then on to WABE for some laid back weekend NPR, then “Car”Talk” (which Tom absolutely loves) and the oddly hilarious “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.” After that, I have to punch the button in a hurry so no one has to listen to opera, and head for WRAS Album 88.5. “Music for the Prepubescent” seems to have a new, later time so I don’t have to choose between WABE’s lineup and wacky nostalgic kid tunes. At noon today I heard a medly of TV themes that included George of the Jungle, Transformers, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, the A Team and Huckleberry Hound. Also on Saturday morning is Martinis Con Queso, enough cheesy lounge music to last the week.  In the afternoon, you can catch the Quintessential College Show and rockabilly on WRAS.

a classic

But without a doubt, the best radio of the week starts Saturday at 9 pm on WABE, when H. Johnson boogies into “Glory Glory/Battle Hymn” to start the evening of Jazz Classics, which doesn’t wrap until 2 a.m. I don’t know nuthin bout no jazz (at least nothin H. didn’t teach me), but I can’t imagine there’s a better radio show anywhere on the planet.  

It seems like this show has always been part of my life. I remember my parents listening on Saturday nights when I was in high school.  H.’s commentary and interjections irritated the hell out of my dad, but it feels right to me. My mom’s worried that Jazz Classics will be lost to posterity and wants me to start taping it. I suppose we should, but I’m relying on WABE to have a huge library of shows so they can just play them every Saturday night into forever if and when H. retires.

H. and his tunes are, after all, timeless.

Program Guides

WABE 90.1 (Atlanta public radio)

WRAS 88.5 (Georgia State University)

WRFG 89.3 (community radio)

More local college radio links