davidcedillo.com

A couple of weeks ago my favorite DJ, Marisa, played ‘One’ by Electric Six on her KKFI show, The Mixtape.  One was originally made famous by Three Dog Night in 1968-69.  The 21st century metal version brought a smile to my face.  I texted Marisa my appreciation for her music, and she responded that she was glad to hear from me a few minutes later.  Once I got set up at my desk I discovered another cover that was less raucus, but just as cool.  This version of Wichita Lineman by Flea featuring Nick Cave makes perfect sense to me.

First there was Callin’ Oates. Then there was Phil Call-Ins.  Just in case you’re wondering– anyone who dials these numbers can hear a telephone quality version of their favorite Hall and Oates and/or Phil Collins song.  Recently, I discovered that calling a THIRD number will do the same thing as dropping a quarter in the jukebox to hear a Tommy Tutone classic WITH THE SAME NUMBER!!! Voices on the phone already sound like they are coming from a transistor radio, so these songs are just as good now as they were when I first heard them! Just pick up your phone and call:
Callin’ Oates: 719-266-2837 (719-26-OATES)
Phil Call-Ins: 424-888-7445 (424-888-PHIL)
567-867-5309

The sky clears, the voices stop, and ET’s finger glows when healthy word pasta sticks to the brain wall.  A patient asked me where his clinic was earlier today.  I looked him up in the system & pointed toward a green extension we could both see outside (his eyes followed in that direction), then I told him the name of the building (he nodded knowingly, not in a blank way) I watched as he walked away from me and went right to it.  The number of times this DOESN’T happen would astound you, but when I throw that pasta at someone’s brain wall, and it sticks, it is truly gratifying.

There’s something about certain overcast days that take me back to a laundromat in Seneca where Mom is loading a washer, and a jukebox is playing Chuck E’s in Love or any song by Steely Dan. If I let my eyes roll back, I can see the wood grain, smell the detergent, and hear the music coming from a tinny jukebox. Hello March.

Before he was old enough to drive, I took Ian to see the movie Bladerunner.  Fast forward a few years – Ian returned the favor and took me to see an equally strange and awesome movie this weekend that is still working itself into my subconscious.  He warned me about shaky handheld camera, but I threw caution to the wind and met him at the theater to see Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.  It felt like I was watching Chris (Ian’s dad) and myself living out our craziest delusions– and I loved it.

It’s an honor. The same year this blog appeared, the seeds were sown for an annual observance that would become World Radio Day. That was 15 years ago. I just heard about it on The Mixtape while I was driving to work this morning. I knew that R.E.M. had a song called ‘Radio Free Europe,’ but I’d NEVER heard ‘That’s Why God Made The Radio’ by the Beach Boys until today. So to reiterate – Happy 15 years of World Radio Day today & Happy 15 years of davidcedillo.com this month!

One of the warmer days this week at work I was walking up the hill toward 39th Street after parking in the employee lot.  When it’s cold I usually go indoors as soon as I can, but if it’s above freezing, I walk up Rainbow Boulevard.  The wind was at my back, and I was in my own little world with my headphones on.  I slowed down when I saw a folded note lying on the sidewalk.  I stopped and picked it up.  It said “Bodey” with a heart drawn next to the name.  On the inside it read:
I know things are tough right now
but we’ll get through it together.
I love you and I want nothing more
than for us to be happy.
I hope you have a good day honey.
I love you. Forever.
I put it in my pocket. It felt like a warm ray of sunshine.

The sixth episode of Audio Flare Gun is available for listeners.  It is almost a 30-minute collection of soundscapes & indecipherable lyrics… well hang on, I’ve just been informed that you CAN hear the word ‘squirrel’ on the second track.  Here is a link to the cacophony.