Weird Al plays the Tiny Desk Concert beneath the trademark sign.For the last ten weeks I lived a dream. Working within the NPR Music team of writers and web producers I admired for years was a glimpse into an alternate reality. This was an office from another world where people don't hate their jobs, aren't mindlessly going through motions, foster creativity and focus on music's importance in everyday life.  Not to mention, world renown musicians would constantly play at the desk a few feet away from me.

 I was a starry-eyed eager intern when I first saw the "All Songs Considered" sign carved out above the ceiling high shelf of albums behind Bob Boilen's desk. That feeling of awe and amazement lasted throughout remedial tasks like opening mail and filing hundred of cd's on tightly packed shelves. And when I saw more opportunites come my way, I of course bit off more than I could chew.  While the workload was stressful and I pushed myself beyond exhaustion, in the end, the internship with All Songs Considered was the most fulfilling time in my life.

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I first heard about All Songs Considered in 2005- 5 years later, a trip to SXSW, and massive blog posts later- I'm on the show. It is incredibly surreal to listen to my voice through the NPR player along side Bob, Robin and Stephen. I  sat down in the production room, put on the headphones, and tested the mic levels. After that all i did was talk music. And in the midst of extreme nerves, I think my talking was insightful too! Geez, how can I swing this gig!

It took me a few days to work up the courage to hear the playback. Fortunately, I don't sound like an idiot, which rightfully worried me because a ton of people listen to this show. But a good amount gave me positive feedback particularly about The Hood Internet pick.

On the first week of the internship, I caught some flack for adoring mash-ups as much as I do, which is why I was hesitant to bring "Two Weeks of Hip-Hop" to the table. Ultimately, Professor Johnson's voice resonated in my head, "It takes a lot more courage to stick your neck out for something you believe in, then going along with what's safe."

Perhaps Get Down podcasts are in the near future. Afterall, what else am I going to do? Internship is done on Friday and unemployment is ready to greet me in Jersey!

There's an on going series at the All Songs Blog where the Interns review classic albums. I put myself in an incredibly stressful and vulnerable position when i chose to review The Velvet Underground & Nico. I knew the NPR audience would be attached to this groundbreaking record, and I dont discount the impact, but people are not taking to my thoughts kindly. Even Collin Meloy of The Decemberists added his two cents via twitter."\

"They sounded sloppy and self-indulgent, especially John Cale’s grating viola drone." An @allsongs intern reviews VU. Head on a plate, pls.

This is technically my first real day from NPR since starting the internship and I love the exhaustion it causes me. I'm putting in all of my energy into something I absolutely love, but unfortunately The Get Down is falling to the wayside.

Since I recently learned my primary duties for All Songs are basically the same as what I'm doing here, I think it's best I put The Get Down in it's beta version. You'll find redirects to the work I am doing at All Songs Considered and I hope that suffices. For me to maintain any sort of endurance and avoid carpel tunnel syndrome, I'll be posting less than I initially anticipated. The Get Down will still have a presence and Hear/Says will be recorded but my primary focus belongs to All Songs Considered now. 

I apologize to the readers (though there are probably only about 20 of you). If you keep going to NPR Music and the All Songs Blog and show your support there, maybe this dream world I'm living in can last beyond the internship term. I'm having the greatest time of my life and though it may not be the most followed blog on the web - The Get Down and everyone who supported it really made this all come true for me. 

Now, excuse me while I kick ass in D.C. - I'll check back in soon enough!

It's official, The Get Down is taking a backseat to NPR. Sorry to the readers, but the latter is a paid gig that I absolutely love. Since I started last Monday, I have worked 10 straight days and opted to leave my earned vacation day till later on. I don't want to miss a minute.

NPR's Bonnaroo concert coverage had me working marathon hours in the office (I didn't leave till 3 am Sunday Morning, and went back at 5 pm). But seeing my efforts published online, knowing that 100,000 people now have access to archived festival performances was instant gratification. Plus, I got another byline!

It was hysterical seeing the other supervisors zonked from their hard work. They have every right to be exhausted, but I'm ignoring my own fatigue because I don't have their job security. 

Today I got to experience my first Tiny Desk Concert- a classical cellist performed some pieces that will be posted in the coming days. It wasn't exactly as enthralling as Phoenix, but there's more name on the list coming to the office, you'll see.

NPR is blowing up with fresh ideas and new directions. Hell, Drake even got homepage coverage for his album review, which was a point of heated discussion in the office. Some say he's got flow, I say he rhymes like Yoda. ("I can teach you how to speak my language, Rosetta Stone") If he just could slip "like" in before "Rosetta Stone" to complete the sentence I would give him more slack. But that hook blows to. No thank, Drake.