Saturday, January 14th 2006

And this is what is on my 5 disc CD player at home...


Probably my favorite album by her, the one I have listened to the most for sure.


Some of the best "fusion" music ever. I love the cover.


This WAS the album on my player the summer of my 16th year


Good luck finding anything out about "Redeye"


Underrated southern rock band and really nice guys. Loved this release

The boy returns...

..from Egypt, safe, sound and full of praise at the hospitality of the Egyptian people. Of course, he was over there with four women. In Egypt, in some areas, you are allowed to have four wifes. Apparently he was viewed by some as being a powerful American. How funny. He lived in a youth hostel in Cairo
for a week and then witnessed the Festival of Eid. That is a religious holiday where families come together on the last day of Ramadan. It could be likened to our Christmas and Thanksgiving together. Apparently, they also slaughter livestock in their driveway and give away some to the poor. His last week was in the apartment of the head librarian of Alexandria,
a city he called absoulutely beautiful.
He came back changed and more of a man. As a parent, you see him slowly drifting away, but as we learned in "The Lion King", it is the cycle of life. He has done more at 21 than I have ever even thought of. In some ways, he is more of a man than I am.

The Traffic Jam

We were very, very good. Played our first show on St. Patrick's Day on the landing in St. Louis, then opened for groups like Shooting Star, The Rainmakers, Jeff Healy, Missouri and yes, do the 4 hour bar gig on Saturday Night. It was some of the best times ever. We did Stevie and Stevie proud, along with ZZ, Cream, Jimi and others. Wrote some of our own, too. Me in the middle, guitar player is Steve Percaro, yes, THAT Steve Percaro and Jim Evans on bass.

One of the greatest songs ever

Man, everytime I hear this song, it gets me... I had it on the Ipod and after last week when I buried my cousin who served in Vietnam, he reminded me so much of my brother, who served with him. My brother is buried amongst the rolling hills of Jefferson Barracks. Mark Knopfler is a musical genius to be able to write words that effect people so much...

Brothers In Arms...
These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arm
Through these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Again...

Man, what a weird year already. Jack Snow was one of the nicest, classiest people I know. Always a gentleman when I saw him; always knew who I was and always asked how I was doing. A Notre Dame alum who was with the Rams forever.Maybe Billy Joel was on to something...he was only 62. Godspeed Jack Snow.

The New Dodge Challenger

This is the new 2007 Dodge Challenger. I can't picture myself (50 next month) tooling around the city in it. Or can I....? I applaud Chrysler for trying something new.
Us old guys remember when the Dodge challenger was a muhfugga on the streets it looked like this:

Driving a car like that would turn a boy into a man very quickly. Also, gas was 37 cents a gallon.

The New Year

Man, the first week has been rough. I have a head cold that I can't seem to shake. I lost one of my favorite people and had to bury him on Friday. I got into a dust up with my daughter last night (over nothing). I am really looking forward to getting back to work. I would much rather deal with business challenges than deal with personal ones. Let's hope it starts looking up. I have faith in God and I know this is just a test. I hope I pass the audition.

Exploding Star

Here is what an exploding star looks like over a few months time. That must have been one fast explosion...here it is.

My son in Egypt

The word that he was going to Cairo Egypt just about floored his mother. The first word that came to her mind was "kidnapping terrorists". Okay that's two,(sue me) but when is he going to have a chance to do this..when he's married with kids? I don't think so. Judging by this, I think he's OK.

What a Football Game

I stayed up WAY too late last night to watch..college football. My Hawkeyes lost (with the help of the officials), Mizzou won on the back of Brad Smith. I usually root for the underdog, even if it means...holding my nose...and rooting for Texas. USC had won too many, it was time for someone else. WOW! What an ending and what a game. After the game, Pete Carroll, coach of USC was humble and gracious in his praise for Texas. He showed me why so many kids want to play for him. He showed great class. On the other hand, Keith Jackson
who is by far better at calling college football than anyone before or in the future was just lost. It was like seeing Willie Mays playing for the Mets or Joe Namath playing for the Rams. There comes a time to go, and at 77, he deserves to go when he wants to, but Keith, it's over, you made absolutely no sense last night. I counted in one play, six mistakes. You were the greatest and I want to remember you like that, not like last night.

Yuks from my friend Jay...

It's happened already

Unbelievable! Not even two days into the New Year and we have lost people we know and care about. My cousin, Karl McNew Jr. died of throat cancer yesterday. Second from left with the McNew boys. It was very unexpected. He was the oldest man in my generation of relatives and probably my late brothers best friend. They joined the Army together. He was staying with us when the Beatles played on Ed Sullivan on 2/9/64. He was in the room when it came on. I will miss him dearly.He was 58. Leo Chears, one of the great names in St. Louis broadcasting passed yesterday, too. Everyone in the radio business in St. Louis knew of Leo. "The Man In The Red Vest" was 72. My daughter lost a friend yesterday too as he died in a car accident. He was NOT wearing a seatbelt. Let this be a lesson to all that we are here for just a short time. Make it count. Do not hesitate to tell the people you love that you love them. You never know when your time is up. I ask for your prayers and blessings in this already disappointing year.

Goodbye Dick and thanks

When I lived in KC for about a year and a half, I got to reacquaint myself with my friend Lisa, who works for the Chiefs. Lisa and I have been friends for years and she is one of the sweetest people I know. One night (knowing the huge Chiefs fan I am), she asked me to go to "Dick's party". Apparently, once a year, Dick Vermeil throws a party for his coaches and the people in the office. Dick also owns a vineyard and makes his own wine. After a wonderful meal and a lot of wine, I was sitting at a table, thinkin how surreal it was that I was eating and drinking with Gunter Cunningham, Al Saunders and feeling that I really didn't belong there. At that time, Carol Vermeil sat down next to me and said, "so, Randy, what's your story?". I reminded her that I had interviewed her once when I was at the Rock in St. Louis during the championship season. She remembered that the studios were downtown and it was a pleasant experience. We chatted for a bit, I told her how grateful St. Louis was for guys like her husband and Kurt Warner and the whole championship season. About ten minutes after that, Dick Vermeil walks over, sits down, puts his arm around me and says, "Randy, Carol and I are SO pleased you are here with us. Thanks so much for coming, any friend of Lisa's is great in our book, we are so happy you are here, can I get you anything?" Wha? Dick friggin Vermeil is asking me if he can get anything for me? Wha? I said, thanks Dick, you have given me so much. Then he hugged me. First class in every way.
Although I loved seeing you like this...

I always remember this...

Thanks Dick for everything you gave the state of Missouri. Enjoy your retirement.

Happy New Year

I pray this will be a great one for family and friends. RIP those close to me that I lost last year..Jason Calvin, Kyle Riley, JC Hall, Abigail Pollay and Cindy Kelly. I hope there are no names next year.

First Interview Ever

was with this guy...

Ronnie
Van Zandt






(picture taken by me @1973)
I helped put together our radio station in high school and one of my duties was to write to all of the record companies and ask them for service. One who did give us service was MCA. In 1973, these long haired southern guys released their first album and we got a copy. If I am not mistaken, we also got copies of "The Groundhogs","Mose Jones" and "Wishbone Ash", all were on MCA. In September of 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd opened for ZZ Top in Davenport and the MCA record guy at the time got me backstage with Ronnie. I asked him why he was barefoot onstage and he said it was because he wanted to feel the stage burn. I remember thinking how young he was, not much older than me. I wish I still had that interview today. The sad thing is, I really don't remember when I lost it. After opening for ZZ Top, the Who asked them to open on their American tour, not bad.From that day forward, I was a fan and I genuinely hurt the day the plane went down. One of those days that I will always remember where I was when I heard the news. Yes, I know they were rednecks, but damn, they could really play. With all of that in mind, I present my top five Skynyrd songs:
"I Never Dreamed"
"Seasons"
"I Know A Little"
"I Need You"
"That Smell"
I thought "Street Survivors" was their masterpiece and then they were done.

My Last Weigh In of 2005...

was at the Y after playing basketball today...198 pounds. Good Lord, at the beginning of this year I weighed 183. So, my first New Years resolution is to lose 25 next year. Let's see how I do, it's only a half a pound a week. No sweat, right? Right.

Brush With Greatness Part Deux

Yes, that would be Gene Simmons and myself at the Hooters on Craig Road in St. Louis. That was when I did mornings with Smash at KSHE and our producer on the show used to be their manager or something like that. This was 1992 I believe. We used to do morning shows on the road. He seemed like a good guy, liked to laugh a lot. Well...duh, who wouldn't in his shoes?

I WISH I WAS THERE!!!

I have lived in Denver when it has snowed like this. Give me a house about 9,000 feet up somewhere around Estes or Breckinridge, some tunes, wine, some Rossingnol 140s and watch me be thrilled.
It really doesn't get any better than that.

A week of nothing..a nothing week.

But, it's alright. I wanted to do nothing so the time off would last longer. It's the way I think. I have played basketball three times (and am I really sore)and watched the local holiday high school tournaments. I love going to them and like to do that each year between Christmas and New Year.
On Tuesday I saw two games, and I did last night too. I am always comforted to know that just about anyone under the sun comes to see these games. Last night, I saw white guys hugging black guys, black guys hugging white guys, tall guys, short women, young girls, old guys and midgets. I am rooting for two teams, big bad Webster Groves (the rival from the suburb next door)and Kirkwood (our boys). Webster is the favorite and the final four has Kirkwood in it. The farm boys from Troy Mo are there along with a Hazelwood school. Other than that,I went to the bank, out to eat and been a slug sleeping in. It's good for the soul to sometimes do nothing except be with the family.

Post Number 150!

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."-Teddy Roosevelt

My house...in the middle of the street

From the satellite, here's my house. Cool, huh?

Post number 148

"You are never too old to become younger"-Mae West

February 9th 1964

All my father could do was shake his head.

My Yoko shots..almost

Yoko came to St. Louis in August of 1986 to promote a showing of John's art work at the Joann Perse Gallery in Chesterfield. One of the first things I did when I got to KSHE was to establish myself as "The Beatles" guy. Rick Balis allowed me to do a show called "The Afternoon Beatles". Each day at 4pm, we would play a song or two with some actualities or facts thrown in. Apparently, Joann liked the show and when the opportunity arose to promote,she chose my show.
Yoko and me at the premiere
Unfortunately, it was one of the worst interviews I have ever done. I was incredibly nervous and it showed. What a time to get a case of the yips. I interviewed her at the Doubletree Hotel in Chesterfield and this is a shot from that day:


I found her to be very cool, calm and yes somewhat attractive. I have a special autographed souvenir provided by the guy who took the photo of Yoko, Mark Gilliland.
I have a picture of Yoko and me sitting on the couch together but I can't...find...it. I will post when I do.

Damn Kids...

A couple of postings ago, I was really frustrated about getting my internet connection to work. I brought back this perfectly good computer from KC and it has sat idle since I got back more than a year and a half ago. Had it ready to rock and could not for the life of me figure how to keep an internet connection. It would connect and then poof, gone. My son got back from Notre Dame last week and I asked him to look at it. Two nights ago, he had time, so I said.."here's the instructions and here's the software, and good luck"! Eight minutes...eight friggin minutes was all he needed. How embarrassing! All he did was type in the code to the place where you are supposed to type in the code. Then, later in the evening, for doing his sonly duty, he wanted to be compensated. Another $20 gone with the wind. $20 for eight minutes. I used to make that kind of dough. Double Arrrggghhh! Now, I think my printer's shot because it doesn't work either but then you have clogged jets and stuff. I wonder how long it will take him to figure it out. the over under is 6 minutes.

THE best Calvin and Hobbes Christmas Cartoons

I love Calvin and Hobbes and these are the best cartoons dealing with winter ever. Enjoy!

My favorite Non Traditional Christmas Songs

I love the classics.."God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen","O Come All Ye Faithful" and such but here are my top five non traditional songs
"Easier Said Than Done"-Jon Anderson
"Happy Xmas"-John and Yoko
"2000 Miles"-The Pretenders
"Please Come Home For Christmas"-The Eagles
"I Believe In Father Christmas"-Greg Lake

Guaranteed to put all in a good mood.

So, this is Christmas

Maybe one of the better Christmases in the family. I love my job and am blessed to have it. I still have this radio paranoia where I am waiting for the other show to drop, maybe I'll get over it, maybe not. I think that drives me to succeed. I have nice co-workers and really enjoy being there. My family is healthy and happy, although I wish ALL of us could be together, but I think Jess is spending time with someone she enjoys. I am healthy (thank God) and I am blessed for that. I have a nice house where I am comfortable and a part time gig that is really sweet. This is all I need, the rest is just icing on the cake. It's a sweet cake this year, definately better than last year and all in all, one of the better ones. Would I be too greedy to ask for seconds?

The Top 200 Albums of 2005...ugh!

Here is the list of the top 200 best selling albums of 2005 according to Billboard magazine
This is further proof that most of the stuff classified as music these days pretty much sucks.
The list

This place is gonna make me fat

Good Lord, what a place at Learfield around the holidays. Cookies here, fudge there, caramel, bit-o-honeys, cake,...etc. I love these guys but man, I'm afraid that...I'll end up like this...
"But sir....it is wafer-thin."
Notice that I am posting on my lunch hour?(it's either this or eat)