No (reason for) Depression

The hubby and I have been volunteering a lot lately at WMNF. I'm currently unemployed, so I've got plenty of time on my hands. I've always preferred to work for free rather than waste time at a boring/useless job for good money. Not that I can really afford to be unemployed for much longer, but I'll enjoy this "free" time while I've got it.

We sat in this morning for the ND Hour, the Americana/alt country show on 88.5 WMNF. (The playlist is below, and you can stream the show online for the next week.) We took noncommercial radio to new levels, I tell ya. We played lots of current folks who get very little recognition but deserve more face/ear time than the hacks that make millions. I've included some links if you want to check out these artists for yourself. There's nothing like the feeling of finding a new favorite.

ND Hour Playlist for May 25, 2009

Artist -- Track -- Album/CD
Ramsay Midwood -- When God Dips His Pen -- Popular Delusions
johnny cash -- Last night I had the strangest dream -- At Madison Square Garden
Mae West -- Little Bar Butterfly -- Come Up And See Me
Jesse Winchester -- I'm Lookin' For A Miracle -- Best Of
Rich Whitely -- A Good Talkin' To -- Ruby Fizz
Louvin Brothers -- Great Atomic Power -- Hillbilly Music, Thank God
Kasey Chambers -- We're All Gonna Die -- The Captain
Marshall Chapman -- Leaving Lochapoka --
Ben Vaughn -- Ava Gardner Blues -- Hit The Hay
Maura O'Connell -- Ireland -- Real Life Story
Dave Alvin -- Haley's Comet -- Blue Blvd
David Lindley -- Mercury Blues -- El Rayo X
Michael Nesmith -- More Of Shelly's Blue

ND Hour playlist 4.06.09

My hubby and I hosted the ND Hour this morning. You can listen to it online for the next seven days. Here's the playlist:


Artist -- Track -- Album/CD
Ramsay Midwood -- Planet Nixon -- Popular Delusions
June Carter Cash -- I Used To Be Somebody -- Press On
Alabama 3 -- Hello...I'm Johnny Cash --
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash -- Mountain Dew --
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion -- Cease Fire -- Exploration
Doug Sahm -- Goodbye San Francisco, Hello Amsterdam -- Get A Life
Maddox Brothers & Rose -- Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down -- That'll Learn Ya,
Dan Reeder -- Three Chords -- Dan Reeder
Burns Sisters -- Bring Them Home -- Wild Bouquet
Larry Murray -- Dakota -- Sweet Country Suite
MG Greaves -- Fight Of The Century -- Fight Of The Century
Walt Bucklin -- Why Baby Why -- Hit The Hay
Carlene Carter -- Every Little Thing --
Bob Geldof -- A Gospel Song -- Vegetarians Of Love
Cat Mother & The All Night Newsboys -- Strike A Match And Light Another -- Albion Doowah


Ronny picked out most of the music; lots of our mutual favorites (Ramsay Midwood, Walt Bucklin) and stuff I'm not that familiar with but he knew I'd like. The Burns Sisters for example, did a great peace song, which was a good follow up to last night's Woody Guthrie tribute show.

I was so overwhelmed at the half-full Tampa Theatre. ($30 ticket for a Guthrie inspired show?! I wish it had been free and open to all.) Obviously one of the biggest reasons to love Ronny is his anti-war stance, and there was a peaceful relief over the audience last night, as if we're all getting used to the idea that we are not going to wake up from this Obama dream, he is real, the other shoe is not going to drop. We have thoughtful, smart people leading us again - the sensitive progressives who love all people and living things don't have to live in fear of random acts of horror and cruelty in the name of this country.

Most of the audience was celebratory, but I, and a few others, were sad too. Overwhelmed. Everything coming undone regarding the war and the economy is a result of greed and all the other ugly sides of being human. Guthrie's words and songs were from another era, and thank goodness the good company I keep has exposed me to it. I'm naive enough to think it's powerful enough to save the world, although it sure hasn't yet. Although, perhaps, just my world, and that's as good as anything.

No Place Like a Nursing Home

Acting Medicare Administrator Kerry Weems was on C-SPAN's Washington Journal Monday morning discussing the direct relation between low paid nursing home workers and the quality of residents' care. As someone who's only been in the health care field for 2 months, I've already seen enough. I'm appalled by what's considered a "decent" place.

I started working as a CNA primarily because I just needed a job. My day consists of assisting or providing complete care for the elderly by changing diapers, dressing them, transporting them from bed to wheelchair. It's sweaty, hard work and we're always given more work than physically possible. Lots of the CNA's (mostly all women) take shortcuts, like using shaving cream instead of soap (it cuts the smell, cuts down wash time). I dislike most other CNA's I've worked with, with a few exceptions. But it's also the company that owns the nursing home (usually a for-profit investment firm) that's taking short cuts. The whole system sucks, and as usual I'm driven to save the world. Or at least Florida. Or Tampa. (I'm wearing myself out.)

I started my third position in three months yesterday. It's a nonprofit facility with a five-star rating. And they over staff instead of under staff, which is the opposite of how most other homes work. Imagine that: happy employees equaling happier residents. Is that really a progressive thought?!