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Mary Lucia: What picks you up?

Joe Strummer
Joe StrummerImage courtesy IFC Films

by Mary Lucia

June 01, 2017

Today is one of those days where I'm walking through MPR's hallways, and people are like, "Hey, how's it going?" And I've had to think, "Do you really want to know?"

I'm not fine today. Today, I'm bored, I'm restless, I am angry, I'm sad, I'm feeling a little useless because of everything. Life is getting in the way of life right now for me.

This morning, I do this as a ritual when I'm feeling really desperate for some inspiration, I troll YouTube like just about anybody else in the world, and I found this Joe Strummer excerpt of an interview that he did that is so timely for right now.

I listened to it almost like a mantra this morning, and I came into work. I have a crappy old VW Bug — and it's a convertible, that's why I keep it — and I thought, "This is gonna shake that mood out of me. I'm just gonna tear down 94 with the top down."

Nah, that didn't work either. So I got to work, I was talking to a co-worker, and I decided to be really honest. He said, "How you doing?" And I said, "I'm feeling bored and burned out." And he was kind enough to actually inquire further what that meant, and I told him a little bit. You've gotta be honest sometimes —nnot necessarily with the Caribou Coffee barista: "How are ya?", "Well, actually I'm feeling really terrible about …" —nbut I feel like I'm going to be honest.

Today I am looking for some inspiration, and I hope I can find it during my show. I've programmed some pretty good music. I've got new Liam Gallagher, I'm very excited about that. And new Foo Fighters, too.

Anyway, I'm just rattling on here, but I just thought I would share that with you and ask you: When you feel like this, what do you do? Is there any go-to thing? If you have any suggestions, lay 'em on me. Thanks.