I'm into anything musical. I also love to write, draw, and sing! I've written several stories, and I contribute daily to my blog at jdmatthews.blogspot.com when I can. I've got a few pictures I've drawn .., and if you're lucky, I might show them off.
Music
I like just about any form of music. I've been a DJ in stations with rock, R&B, hip-hop, and country formats, so I'm pretty well versed in any genre. Usually it takes a good hip-hop beat to get me going in the morning, and then it's on to a Motley Crue CD on the way to work. While working I may listen to Top 40 or R&B. On the way home to unwind, I'll usually pop in a calmer singer, unless of course I want to get wound up. At home it's generally a mish-mash. One of my friends used to tell me I was a musical schizophrenic. I even have to have music on while I sleep, though I tend to play classical and new age then. I have been known to play rap all night to sleep by on odd occasions. I have a few favorites, I suppose. In the rock arena, I like Megadeth, Motley Crue, and a lot of the newer metal bands as well. As for pop stars, I really enjoy Kelly Clarkson and Natasha Bedingfield. It kills me to say it, but I really like the new Backstreet Boys CD, which is probably a sign of the apocalypse. For rap, I think 2pac and Biggie were both the masters of the genre, and no one yet has stepped up to take their place. I do enjoy some Christian conscious rap, like T-Bone. As for country music, I like George Strait, Martina McBride, and several others.
My sister is a musician as well, and I hope to post one of her songs here soon!
Movies
If I'm going to pay for a movie, I want to either laugh my butt off or get scared out of my skin. I love the old "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" movies. I think they're the best comedies ever. Still, a good creepy movie like "The Exorcist" always gets me going.
Television
I have to say right off the top that I love "Reality Remix," and I'm not just saying that because I've been on it twice.
Where to begin with all the good TV shows on today? Of course I'm crazy over "American Idol," and I can't miss a week of "24." Other than that, I enjoy "Cold Case," "Close to Home," any of the "Law & Order" series, "CSI," "Everybody Hates Chris," "King of Queens," "Medium," "House," "E.R.," and of course all of the old G1 Transformers cartoons!
Books
There have been several books that have profoundly effected me as I grew up. First and foremost among these is and always will be the Bible. I've drawn inspiration from several classics in my own writing. Twain heavily influences my writing. I remember as a boy sitting and devouring "Tom Sawyer," "Huck Finn," and the "Incredible Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." I didn't even have to be assigned them in school. I also voluntarily read "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley and "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens. Some more contemporary books that effected me as I grew up were the "Hardy Boys" series and "The Boxcar Children." I've continued to read more classics as an adult, and I think I might actually understand a little about Shakespeare now. My own writing borrows heavily from three major humorists: Lewis Grizzard, Dave Barry, and Douglas Adams. I've read every book the three have ever published.
Heroes
My Heroes: Jesus Christ, my father and mother, Tab for risking it all to do what she believed in, Rachel for being almost too headstrong, and Sarah for being a survivor and not a victim. Also, the love of my life, Priscilla, for showing me how to enjoy life again.
About me: I don't know what to tell about me. Part of that is because I'm still discovering more about myself as I go along. The basics of me are this: I'm a guy who wants to make an impact and wants to make his life better. I've found that one to share my life with, and I love my wife dearly.
I've been through a lot in my life. There were times when I didn't think I'd be able to go on...times I thought I'd never in a million years be forgiven for. I've lived through my own self-made Hell here on earth, but thankfully I've been blessed and given a chance to better myself.
I've done so many things that people usually don't believe me when I tell them. I'm a veteran radio personality, having worked in several different formats and producing different shows. I'm also a social worker, and I've worked with all sorts of different populations.
I'm also a writer, and I publish a blog at jdmatthews.blogspot.com called Musical Ramblings. I'm hoping to draw some attention with it so somebody will throw piles of cash at me someday.
So yeah, about me... Well, I grew up mostly in rural Southern small towns, which have their advantages. I can't really complain too much about my childhood. My mother and father are my heroes, and they gave everything in the world to me that I needed to make it, the most important of which is my faith in God. If I ever mess up my life, I will always know I can't blame them.
High school was good for me. I was miserable in math and science classes, but literature and composition were wonderful. I'd already been published before getting out of Junior High, so it was natural that I'd keep on. I always had a deep love for music as a child too, and that has definitely carried over. I decided when I was a junior in high school that I wanted to be in the radio business, and I chased that dream on into college.
I took sort of a turn in college and decided to get a degree in Psychology. Believe me when I say it was the worst decision I've ever made. Granted, it's given me lots of experience and insight, but it has majorly hindered me in following the careers I believe I'm truly meant for. Still, even with my degree in Psychology, I managed to squeeze a broadcasting minor in there.
After finishing school I had a couple of jobs helping people out. Probably the most rewarding was working in a rehab clinic. I helped a lot of people save their lives and get off of drugs and booze. I lost a lot of good people too, but I suppose you can't save them all. I'm grateful that that job let me spend a lot of time in courtrooms and hospital ERs. I've learned an unbelievable amount about the legal system and emergency medicine just by watching those guys do what they do. After a couple years of doing that, I helped a buddy of mine build a center for emotionally disturbed children. That was particularly rewarding. But it wasn't too long before time came to move on.
In the meantime, I still found jobs to do at radio and TV stations. And I've also managed to get some articles published in some magazines.
I recently married the love of my life, Priscilla, and I am looking forward to an exciting future and raising a family with her. I love her with all my heart.
So, all that has led me to this point in my life. I feel as though I'm at a crossroads. I want to write, I want to be in radio, and I don't want to be a social worker anymore. I'm hoping the right opportunity comes my way so I can do the things that I love to do.
I hope the rest of you can live your dreams as well.
Who I'd like to meet: Anybody famous, really! I can't wait to hang out with old friends and new at the next Reality Convention!
Um, I guess if I had to be specific, I'd really like to meet John Schneider (or anyone in the cast of Smallville) in person. I'd also like to meet Kathryn Morris, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Jamie Lynn Sigler, T.I., and the hot chick who plays Rachel on Alias. How's that for a mix? My dream radio job would be guest hosting on the Bob & Tom morning show. And I'd definitely like to hang out again with MY American Idols, BROOKE AND LEAH BARRETTSMITH, JESSICA SIERRA, KELLIE PICKLER, SCOTT SAVOL, APRIL WALSH, AMANDA AVILA, LISA TUCKER, WILL MAKAR, ANTHONY FEDOROV, BOBBY BENNETT, LINDSEY CARDINALE, BISHOP STYLZE, MIKALAH GORDON, HEATHER COX AND STEVIE SCOTT!
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