Oh baby, baby it’s a wild world

First and foremost…condolences to the Simpson family in Zion, IL. They just lost one of their family members to Lake Michigan. Joshua Simpson was attempting to save a girl that was struggling in the waters at Waukegan Harbor when he himself drowned. If you’d like to send condolences you can email Myra Simpson (his grandma) at: msimpson@waukeganschools.org. Although I didn’t know Josh very well at all (his grandmother is a family friend) it hit me hard to hear that he drowned. I can’t imagine the sadness his family is feeling now. When I read the articles online I couldn’t help but shed some tears when I learned that he was actually trying to save someone else’s life. What a noble way to go…

You can read his obituary at:

http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=LS000089000534X

Also here's a story from the newspaper (probably the News Sun in Waukegan):

Teen hero remembered with smiles and tearsJune 10, 2007

BY ERICA MASINI

ZION-- A comic, a dancer, a hero. That is how 19-year-old Joshua Simpson of Zion is being remembered days after he drowned rescuing two friends from choppy Lake Michigan waters at Waukegan Municipal Beach. Saturday,his selfless act of bravery prompted his family to remember him with pride and smiles. At his uncle Benjamin Simpson's wedding, Benjamin said Joshua stole the show with his hip-hop dancing and suave conversation with the ladies. Joshua Simpson, 19, of Zion (inset photo of his 2006 high school graduation) drowned Thursday in Lake Michigan near the band shell at Waukegan Municipal Beach as he tried to save a female friend who was having trouble swimming.(Josh Peckler/News-Sun; grad photo: Special to the News-Sun)"He outdid me at my own wedding. He has always been the center of attention," he said, laughing as he glanced at the North Carolina-bluewristband Joshua had given him. Joshua enjoyed having dance battles at home with his family, capturing them on camera phones to laugh at them later. He also was part of the"Step of Faith" dance team at Christian Faith Fellowship church in Zion from the ages of 13 until 18. A 2006 graduate of Zion-Benton Township high school, Joshua's contagious sense of humor took the stage when he participated in his school's Individual Event (IE) speech team in the category of humorous interpretation where he would make "everybody laugh" with his impromptu speeches, according to his mother. He also dressed up as a member of TheTemptations in one of his school's musical revues."He was a flashy dresser," Simpson, known by Joshua as "Unc," said. "He always wore classy suits and athletic gear and Timberlands. He looked good."Authorities say Joshua drowned around 4:30 p.m. Thursday in water near the band shell at Waukegan Municipal Beach after he rescued two friends (a male and female) who were having trouble swimming in the rough waters. Joshua helped his two friends make it out safely, but he was stranded about 150 feet off shore in choppy water, made worse by fierce winds. Powerless, all his friends could do was watch as Simpson was dragged farther and farther from safety. Rescuers found his body 20 minutes later. He was pronounced dead later at Vista Medical Center East."We were talking in the car the other day and asked ourselves if we could do what he did, and we don't think we could," his mother Antheria Simpson said. "He only knew the woman he saved for a day and that says alot about his character. He did such a selfless thing."Joshua was working full time in customer service for a Bannockburn company and planned to join the Navy through a buddy system, Antheria Simpson said. She said he was also a great friend and a loving brother to his younger brother and sister, Josiah Mars, 8, and Jadyn Mars, 5."People aren't saving people these days," a friend of the family said."People are killing people. What he did is a blessing."Benjamin said he took care of Joshua when he was a child, which made him feel like a father to Joshua."I'm so proud of my first son," Benjamin said. "I'm so proud of him I don't know what to do with myself."His family described Joshua as a "real person" who did not wear a mask. His godmother and cousin Rachel Miller said he brought joy to anyone in his presence and people loved him because of it."He was my first companion for 11 years. He was my baby. He is my baby,"Joshua's mother said. "Joshua gave himself just as Christ did," she added. "His name, after all, means 'Jesus Saves.'""His service will be felt," Miller said."For him to do what he did so that two more people could live and dowhat God called them to do makes me proud as a mother," Antheria Simpson said. Joshua's wake will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday June 14 at Bradshawand Range funeral home in Waukegan. The funeral service will be held at11 a.m. the same day at Christ Faith Fellowship Church in Zion.

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Hey it’s been a tough one this week! Basically anytime I have to study here I get really really depressed because, well, studying sucks. Especially when it’s sunny and nice outside. Especially when your classes are completely pointless. Studying depresses me and then I start to think of home and the homies. I get anxious cos I worry about getting good grades. And such… Also I’ve been working a lot at the radio station…which is so rad, but time consuming and freaks me out cos I feel like I don't really know what I'm doing. I really haven’t got the time management thing down in this place. I don’t know what it is cos usually I’m a time management multi-tasking whiz. Maybe it’s just the new environs, etc. The southern hemisphere is a trip. It's June and freezing. As much as this shouldn't mess me up...I think it's screwing with my brain's sense of time.

This week I took my last 2 exams (I’M FREEEEEEE!) of the semester. I studied for literally 12 hours for one of the exams and the other one…well…I think it went okay. Wednesday was really hard cos I looked at the semester grades from the exams I took earlier in the month and I saw that I got a 63% in my carbohydrate biochemistry class. Yo, that is not acceptable. I was pulling a 77% in the class (that’s an A w/a “distinction” here). I basically had to totally fail the final exam to get a 63% in that class. I know I didn’t fail cos the test wasn’t that hard. So I emailed the professor on Friday and she said that there had been a mistake in the grading and that my actual final grade was an 81% cos I got an 84% on the final exam. Woo! But before I found out that news…I was just crying all day. Serious. Carbohydrates was the first exam I took and it made me doubt my abilities if I ended up w/a 63% in a class. But I guess all those tears and worrying wasn’t even worth it. When will I EVER learn?!?! I’m stressing too hard about stuff here. It really sucks.

Just when I’m laying lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut the universe reveals its most beautiful and fragrant flowers to me. It keeps happening, but I keep stressing. Like I said, when will I ever learn? Case in point…Friday. Which, by the way, was “Day in the Life.” You can see the photos of my day at: http://picasaweb.google.com/lynseemelchi. I also added some photos to the general photos and the Rotary photos. Enjoy!

So Friday morning I had my last exam (did I mention I’M FREEEE?!?)…Microbiology. I only studied for like ½ a day for the thing, but at this point I just didn’t care anymore. And the dude’s tests aren’t that hard cos you don’t have to prove you actually know anything. All you have to do is memorize useless facts…something I’m not too bad at. I calculated the score I needed (c/o of Ben…thanks!) to get a “distinction” in the class and all I needed was a 66% on the final exam. Which I think I got. We’ll see next week I guess.

So I finished the exam at like 10am and went to the radio station to check email and chill out w/the radio folks a bit. I read the stuff about Josh Simpson online, which made me cry a lot…but then the flowers started to bloom. And they just wouldn’t quit. I was chatting online to my best friend Graeme, who stays in Poland right now, and then he called me on my cell phone. It was initially the happiest :45 of my day…little did I know the day was only going to get better! I found out that I didn’t screw up my test and that I actually got an 81% in my class (which is a SUPER A here). So I did a little dance, literally, when I found that out. Made a bunch of plans to hang out w/folks…which is something I’ve been craving hardcore lately. Took a nice nap and generally just reveled in the fact that I have unburdened myself of school for the moment.

My friend Luso invited me over for dinner and we watched a movie. If you haven’t seen Lemony Snicket and the Series of Unfortunate Events…well you are just missing out. It’s a fantastic movie based on a set of fantastic kids’ books. I haven’t read the books yet, but I have it on good authority (from the Urban family kiddies) that the books totally rock. I have them on my iPod…just haven’t listened to them yet. The movie is about 3 kids w/cool talents that become orphaned. They have to fight against this evil dude (Jim Carrey) that is trying to kill everyone they come in contact with and wants the family fortune the kids were left. The movie has a Tim Burton-esque feel to it, so it’s a visually stunning movie and very dark. Think Edward Gorey type stuff. Also some great actors: Billy Connely, Meryl Streep, Jim Carrey. Basically the kids persevere and they see that their series of unfortunate events was actually helpful to them. The journey is the destination…which is actually something that Graeme told me earlier in the day. A message I need to take to heart! It’s funny how sometimes you’ll just need to hear a message and then randomly it appears to you. It happens a lot for me with music, but movies are also a good source.

Friday night I was supposed to go hang out w/a friend of mine from the radio station and have a sleepover w/her and some other girls…but it just didn’t work out. No matter though cos the end result was even better. I went down to Hatfield Square w/my friend Chris (he stays in my dorm) to meet a friend I know that’s in the vet school here, David. Just drinks and sitting around, yawn…but good company…so salvageable. We ended up going to another bar from the one we started at because David and friends needed to meet up w/a guy they know. So we go over there and I’m waiting at the bar to order a drink when the biggest most fragrant flower of the day burst open in front of my eyes…

I looked over and randomly see this guy that I knew from my time here in 2002, Mas Tyali. I haven’t met up with him yet because I lost contact with him. I actually sent a letter to his parents’ home when I arrived here to try to get back in touch with him…but I guess he hasn’t been home yet. So I look over and am thinking “is that him?” I went up to him and was like “Excuse me…what’s your name?” Sometimes here I think I see people and know them when I really don’t. I mean, I guess that happens at home too. Also I knew this guy when he was just 18-19yrs old and he’s not a scrawny little dude anymore. Mas didn’t answer he just gave me a look that said "you know it's me, dummy" and said “Oh my god what are you doing here?” Craziness!!!!!!!!

I was sorta involved with this guy back in 2002 and then also saw him again in 2003 when I came back to SA for a visit. We weren’t dating per se, just kicking it (as we say in the USA). This is hands-down the hottest guy I have ever seen. Hot guys almost never talk to me. It’s just the truth…I’m sorry to say. So when this guy was interested in me it was like a one in a million event. I don’t really care that much if a dude is hot or not. It’s the between the ears stuff that really matters…but it doesn’t hurt if you are one sexxxy mutha!

I don’t trust African guys. Black or white. I think they are all a bit shady. Maybe I just don’t get them yet. I don’t know. Sorry if you are an African guy and reading this…it’s just my opinion! If you disagree with me…prove it! It’s been my experience that men and women here don’t actually interact much except to make babies, especially among black people. That’s a blanket statement that doesn’t always apply, but I stick to my general observations on this one. So if a guy is talking to you here…you know what he wants. He doesn’t usually care about you or what you are saying or whatever. He wants to make babies. Yo, I need substance, so I don’t really dig this modus operandi. But this guy Mas was something else. He is sincerely sweet and kind. How refreshing! When I visited him in 2002 I had just had an INSANE situation go down in Zimbabwe and had also missed my airplane from South Africa to the USA such that I had to stay in SA for an extra month. Needless to say, I was a bit upset at the time. One thing I remember about this dude is that he would always be asking about what I was thinking about and how I was doing and all that. And I could tell he really cared. He has no game…which is I think his game. Guys here are big-mackin’ game-layin’ down players. It’s not cool. I don’t appreciate mind games. Just be straight up with me…it’s just easier that way.

Mas told me that he had looked me up on Google (okay I looked him up too a long time ago) but he hadn’t been able to locate any contact info for me. But he was like “Dang, girl! There is like 4 pages of hits for Lynsee Melchi. What have you been up to?” Google me…it’s fun. Anyways…so turns out this dude lives in Pretoria. And has lived here for a few years. He lives, literally, 10 minutes from my house. If that. Damn the universe just gets curiouser and curiouser every single day that passes. Ben told me that sharks swim to stay alive. I guess I just need to keep swimming.

Oooooo…on the radio tip. There were 3 producers in my department at the radio station, plus our boss and script writer. One of the producers just left to make his fortune in the UK. Actually he’s a production god. I can imagine what it would be like to have watched Van Gogh slap paint on a canvas after seeing this guy make a :30 commercial. No joke! So now it’s just me and this other dude, Jayton, doing all the production work for the station. Hey that’s a tall order cos I’m green and work slow. I think I’m producing good work for the most part (which is good) but it takes a lot of effort to get there. It’s actually tiring. Creatively tiring. We have a daily program that airs at 1:30pm called the Lunchbox. It’s an arts & entertainment, celeb gossip, movies, etc type of piece and it’s about 5 minutes long usually. My boss has asked me to produce this and to make it my thing. Jayton and I switch off producing it based on our schedules…but it’s supposed to be my “thing.” So for the last 2 weeks I’ve been producing this daily show. It’s really taken a lot out of me, but I enjoy it. I would so much rather be producing than studying useless material for useless classes. But the production stuff has been really stressful on top of the studying for exams stress and whatever other stupid things I’m worrying about. I think the radio stress is going to settle down a bit soon. I’m getting more and more comfortable with the production stuff, so it’s taking a bit less out of me each day that passes.

When Rob, the production god, left he had a final final “I’m leaving on a jet plane tomorrow” drink down at a local spot. When I was saying my last goodbyes and thanking him for infusing me with production know how he said something that really gave me hope about my production steez. He’s the type of guy that tells it like it is. He wouldn’t build you up just to say nice things about you to your face. If he’s saying something to you then you know he means it. He’s just a brutally honest guy. He told me that he’s cut a lot of producers at the station (he’s been there for like 5 years) and that he could see that I’ve got what it takes to make it (nice!). He told me that I know WAY more about producing then a person who has only been making stuff for 3-4 months should know. Awww…thanks man :) So I stress a tiny bit less now when I’m making things. Also I’ve been getting tons of good feedback from my boss as well as Jayton so I think I can just keep swimming and stop worrying about this radio thing. I’m doing it. It’s working.

Another random radio tidbit…there’s this dude called Barney Simon that is a DJ at our station. I think I can safely say that he’s a radio legend in this country. He’s got all sorts of radio shows, writes for magazines, had his house featured on a “Cribs” type show they have here in SA, etc. The guy is in his late 40s-early 50s-ish, if I had to guess, and still dresses like an old school rocker. Black band T-shirts, heavy metal chains with dragons and crazy symbols, black pants, Doc Martens. I gotta respect someone that age who is still being true to what he likes…especially in this crazy suit and tie world. Anyways, he does a show on Monday nights here that is a rock extravaganza (7-10pm…you can stream it at http://www.tuksfm.co.za/). He plays a lot of really hard stuff, but also I’ve heard some softer indie rock tunes on his show. I sat in on a production session he has with Jayton each week before his show and the guy is super excited about my voice. He wants to use it on his show as well as wanting to push for my voice to be used for some general station jingles. I’ll keep ya posted…but I might be a voice for TuksFM here one day. Cool man! Finally whiskey and cigarettes are paying off for me in the sexy voice department!

Also noteworthy...I have a friend in Urbana, IL USA from Radio Free Urbana that has a good friend in Pretoria. They've never met in person, but have been friends over the internet for like 2 years or something. Cool! So I finally met up w/this guy 2 Fridays ago for his 28th birthday party. It was a great party that was super chill and held at his parents' house way in the north of Pretoria. Carel, the dude who's bday it was, actually arranged a ride for me any everything. He's a really nice guy, very smart, and good sense of humor. Definitely my type of people. Also I learned tons of new Afrikaans words...yeah! I look forward to hanging w/him sometime soon! Thanks Eric for the friend hookup!!

Well I don’t know if I mentioned it…but I’M FREE! Free from the shackles of school. Wonderful. I think I’m going to chill out in Pretoria for a week-ish so I can collect my thoughts and make some radio without the pressure of school on my back. There’s a really amazing Arts Fest in this place called Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape province. I went in 2002 and had a great time, so I’m going back at the end of the month to check it out for a week. The big thing is that Eagle Eye Cherry (sexy!) is playing at the fest. People are really geeking over that! There’s tons of plays and dances and performers and musicians that hit Grahamstown during the fest. I think it’s pretty much the only time of the year that Grahamstown is a happening place to be. Otherwise it’s an old military fort that turned into a town. It’s in the middle of nowhere and that’s about all I can say about the place. It is in pineapple country which is pretty cool.

And in between…who knows. I’ve been invited to a banana farm in middle of nowhere and maybe will try to hit up some Rotarians in the north. Just need to get a hold of them. Hey but for right now I’m not going to think or strategize anything. I think I deserve to let all thoughts leave my head. And on that note…I’m off to ride my bike around town. Peace.

Much Love

Lynsee