Well, well, well.  It seems like I haven't blogged in forever.  2013 to now.  10 years goes by in a flash.

What a crazy May it's been, left the Sun-Times, found my biological family.  I have a brother from another mother, with the same dad born 1 month apart.  I have another brother from the same mom as me, and a host of relatives, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews who all seem to really rock. 

I've been on a few interviews, and I would ask for your prayers, and good wishes, as I need to find a way of supporting my little family.  I know there is an opportunity out there, whether it is in Computers, Radio or something completely new.  I know it is chapter 3 in this life of mine. 

For those who haven't heard my elevator speech, let me explain what I mean by Chapter 3.  I grew up in Aurora, IL in the 60's and 70's listening to WLS and WCFL, sleeping with them under my pillow at night.  I was always dreaming of being on the radio in Chicago.  I thought being a DJ would rock, college brought me to Roosevelt University, where I quickly found WRBC, and started working there at the college station.  At the end of my second semester I met a guy at a coffeehouse I was running lights in, who was PD at the radio station in Hammond Ind, Rick Patton.  He hired me and I did overnights, and weekends for 2 and a half years, followed by WCRM Dundee, KCFO Tulsa, WCFL Chicago, and then Y108/Y107.9.  I was doing the morning show, after we were bought by WCKG, and moved downtown, i found myself one morning looking out over Lake Michigan as “Morning Has Broken” was playing, and I realized somewhat tearfully, that I had achieved my dream of mornings in Chicago. 6 months later they changed formats and we were all out. 

I set a new goal as I turned to a career in computer support, with the ultimate goal to help out with the technology at a media company of some sort.  Temp firm Manpower tested my computer skills and combined with my verbal skills put me on a helpdesk, where 6 months later I was made lead, and then moved to Houston to combine the two helpdesks.  I did this at several companies until 5 years ago when I landed at Sun Times Media as Technical Support Manager, achieving my second dream job in life. 

I now have yet to set a new goal, but achieving 2 dreams in one life ain't bad.  I am planning on setting my goal a little higher this time though, once I see the direction things will take.  Open to the possibilities.  So as I said, keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Vocie-Overs in 2013!

      In 2013, I am resolving to really get back into Voice-Over work.  I have done a few commercials, a few narrations and the like in the past few years, but as a hobby mostly, I now have a studio at home, and wil be actively pursuing paid work.

     If you, or someone you know needs a voice for a project, please don't hesitate to email me @ mailto:jimmcnicholas1@gmail.com  I'll return your email quickly and we can discuss the project, timeline and compensation at that time.

Title questions

So, does the title mean I don't or cannot bring myself to enjoy current music?  No, quite the opposite, you see the fact is I do enjoy, most everything.  Yes even country, some, not all.  I spent 20 years on the radio, in the Chicago area, from WYCA, WCRM, KCFO in Tulsa, WCFL, WAUR to Y-108 to Y-107.9.  I played Christian Rock, Pop favorites, to The greatest hits of the 70's.  Oh and even a stint at WMCB in Michigan City, IN playing MOR, from Frank Chacksfield to Kermit the frog and the rainbow connection.  I've done it all and loved all of the formats as they exposed me to different types of music, and I have always had a rule, which I still live by.  If music is loved by even a few people there must me something about it that is good, and if you open yourself to it, enough to find that place, you grow a little bit.  


I never appreciated or really liked Bob Dylan, so I loaded up my ipod with his discography, and listened over and over again.  I had an epiphany one day while listening to "Like a Rolling Stone", I glanced out a train window and saw a homeless man sleeping in an alley, I realized, incorrectly, that it was about being homeless, and poor...  I mean the lyrics, Now you don't seem so proud About having to be scrounging for your next meal.  Nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street.  And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it.  Of course napoleon in rags reference to the clothing of the homeless, i rewound it and listened to it with new eyes, and it all fell into place, what a genius.....


Then I read what it was really about, I found out that not only does the Napoloen in Rags line refer to Andy Warhol, but that the song in general is addressing Edie Sedgwick. Dylan & Sedgewick were involved, and he was criticizing her for being one of Warhol's girls.

You see dylans genius is that the way he plays with words, his songs can fit most situations and like true art, you can see it through your own eyes.  So I did the same with 2PAC, Eminem, and others over the years listening for the genius, and have never been disappointed, it's there you just have to find it.

So here's to the search, the journey, after all "When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose!"

Jim

Was listening to Breaking Benjamin, the looks I got...

So, I'm at my desk working on a spreadsheet for something or other and a 20 something walks by, and hears breaking benjamin, and comments, borrowed your daughters ipod???  I looked at her and said, no, it was mine.  At which point she just looked at me, cocked her head and walked on.  I have been a lover of all music for almost 40 years now, I listen to, enjoy and even DJ techno, trance, hardstyle, ROCK, pop, oldies, classic rock and everything else ya can imagine.  For someone with maybe 10 years of "ears" top judge mine, is not only egotistical, but just wrong, I mean am I supposed to listen to Perry Como, and Frank Sinatra???  I don't think so, ain't gonna happen, so move along nothing to see here....and BTW, SOAD was so much better before they started singing opera... I have 50,000 songs loaded in my SAM Broadcaster, and regularly mix blues and metal and something old.  Variety is the spice of life!   **SMILES**