Jerzei Collie's journal

I found a job opening at KRCC last night. The station is looking for a new local host for Morning Edition. I applied even though I don't have all of the skills required. The only downside of the job is the hours. The position is weekdays from 4:30 AM to 1:30 PM. That would affect my listening to Doggy Radio on Monday mornings, as well as possibly affecting the Rabbit Hole on Sunday nights.

I was looking at past DreamWidth and LiveJournal entries and was surprised by how much has changed. Back in May 2018, I was still working at KRCC, I had had just begun applying to work for various delivery companies and my mom was still alive. Ten years ago, I used my tax refund to buy the laptop I'm currently using. Fifteen years ago, I was a news writer for the local office of Metro Networks in addition to working at KRCC, and I was looking forward to a Halloween singles cruise later that year.

I'm brewing a pot of coffee at the moment. I wanted to finish off the pitcher of "Purple Rain" vodka lemonade tonight, but I'll save half of it for the end of Doggy Radio. The pitcher had more servings left than I expected!

Once in a while, I'll remember a song from an album that's out of print and not available on iTunes or other legal download sites. Luckily, I was able to find the CD for a good price on eBay. I have a few of Concrete Blonde's albums, but I was looking for the "Group Therapy" CD. I remembered the song "Your Llorona," which the Sunday 2-5 AM DJ played occasionally at KRCC before my Weekend Edition shift.

I'm thinking of taking a Christmas vacation to Las Vegas using some of the online rewards I've earned. I discovered I've earned more than enough points playing Pop Slots to pay for a two-night stay at certain MGM-owned hotels, as well as extras like food, beverages and gambling credit.

My dad told me my tax refund this year will be around $4,800. That's about $1,000 more than I've gotten in previous years since I didn't have any KRCC work hours to write off. I hope I can find a new job this year so I can keep more of the refund in my accounts.

10 days until I leave for Furry Fiesta!

I looked up more radio jobs and saw the local classical station is hiring for a weekend announcer. According to the job description, this would be an afternoon position, which would be easier for me. My morning shifts at KRCC required me to wake up around 5 AM to get ready and drive to the station by 6 AM. I do know one of the classical announcers who also previously worked at KRCC. I hope that will increase my chances of getting hired.

I haven't had to do this yet, but it's hard to compile a Christmas list when I really need things that can't be wrapped. My car needs a ton of work, I need to find a great-paying job that I actually want to do, and I'd like to eventually move to Denver or anyplace away from my family.

 My boss at KRCC called me this morning. He said there were no other duties available for me at the station, but he promised to consider me if anything opened up in the future. It looks like my 19 years at the station (17.5 years not counting the furlough) have come to an end.

I hope I can find people who can help me start my own station. I'm definitely not ready to retire yet.

21 days until DenFur! The organizers of the FoxTrot meets said the meets will resume in October.

The KRCC staff announced yesterday that the station's 15,000+ music CDs were donated to another public radio station in western Colorado, KVNF in Montrose: https://www.kvnf.org/post/cd-day-celebrates-donation-over-15000-cds#stream/0

KRCC's record collection was mostly donated to local music store The Leech Pit for resale. A former Celtic DJ got the station's Celtic vinyl in exchange for a large donation.

I made some cinnamon bread French toast for breakfast. The recipe uses egg whites and evaporated milk to make it a bit healthier.

I was having trouble remembering which station I had heard a particular song on. One of my recent earworms is the song "Witchoo" by Durand Jones & the Indications. Most of my radio listening is done online via the websites/apps for KRCC in Colorado Springs, Indie 102.3 in Denver, 89.3 The Current in Minneapolis and Pride World Radio from the UK. I had downloaded the song on June 11th. Looking through the stations' playlists around that time, I didn't find it on KRCC. I saw The Current had played the song during the time I had been driving to a meetup on the 10th.

I searched for and found one of my "KKFM Friday morning sing-along" tapes from 1993. I used to listen to the Mark Brothers morning show in high school and college and especially loved their Friday shows.

Speaking of radio, I had a one-on-one meeting with the head of Colorado Public Radio to update him on how I was doing. I let him know that I haven't been in the studio for over a year, the duties I previously had were discontinued, and that I would be willing to fill any role in Colorado Springs or Denver.

I saw a video of a man on Telegram over the weekend that I mistook for a fursuiter. I initially thought the man in the video was wearing a fluffy white fursuit head. Another view of the person showed he was carrying a Samoyed in a backpack-style baby carrier.

I'll be going to Manitou Springs tonight to see the funk band Illegal Cheeze. A former co-worker plays bass for this and several other local bands (I've lost count!)

A few former DJs and music fans from KRCC lamented the station's upcoming discontinuation of music shows. One of the Celtic DJs was able to acquire the station's 300 or so Celtic albums with a donation. Most of the remaining records were donated to a local music shop for resale. I wonder if enough listeners would want to support a new freeform music station, either online or over-the-air. I've been fantasizing about starting one for years.