My Bad!

I know, I know, I know...someone out there is going to be like, "Where the hell did you go?" Well, lets just say these last two weeks have been utterly busy and will not slow down yet. Oh, and today was the first snowfall of the season, but then it turned into a rainy mess. Before I forget and feel like a complete tool-- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I have a funny feeling I will be away from the computer this whole Thursday, so I'm getting a jump on the holidays a little early. Speaking about the holidays, I cannot stand how Christmas stuff continues to be put out in stores earlier and earlier each year. At all costs, I avoid buying, putting up, or listening to anything Christmas-oriented until the day after Thanksgiving--that's how it was when I was a kid, and that will continue to be the way for me. Thanksgiving should not be shafted, so I will celebrate it all the way through.

Work update: So now that Gloria has left the station, all of her clients have been divided among the sales staff that are still around, which is a major reason why these 2 weeks have been nonstop, on-the-go production work. We have spots that have to be re-cut, reread, and completely redone. The production has been flowing in, which also makes sense because of the holiday season we're in until about January 1st. Now, as some may know, my strong suit and first love of radio is production, but sometimes it can be a little on the frustrating side...especially when it comes at you all at once and you have about a day turnaround on lots of it. And then stick a 12 hour full remote smack-dab in the middle of it all, and chaos can ensue. Don't get me wrong, the all-day remote that went down last Wednesday was amazing because it was a food drive and the pantry was able to gather 253 turkeys and HUGE amounts of nonperishables and necessities, but it drain some of us out just a little bit. Oh well, as long as it's for a good cause, then I'm fine with being in a zombie-like state for 2 days.

Cool thing with Gloria leaving (besides the fact that some irritation is gone) is that Samantha, the sales exec for our brother station, 95.3 FM Info Radio, has been promoted to sales exec for Magic and WMWV. With the amount of work that she completed with Info Radio, she definitely deserved this position! And with her moving to that position, we've gotten a new employee to the staff to take her place. Her name is Peggy and she use to work part-time for the station about 2 years ago. So far, it seems like she'll be fun to work with--she brings me a joke for the day, and we all know how much I love comedy and humor.

So, I'm hoping that the rest of the week doesn't kill me in some form or fashion--prayers are highly requested and asked for at this time.

Possible Cake!!

Tomorrow is Gloria's last day at the station. A question came up from June our office manager--"Should I make a cake on Friday for Gloria even though I've never really gotten along with her."

My reply, "Yes, because you don't want to deprive the rest of us from your cake." And then J continues, "And look at it this way, it could be a celebration cake."

I know, mean, but if you knew the working-relationship between those 2, you would probably chuckle some. As June said, she doesn't (and never has) hated Gloria, she just has never gotten along with the woman. So I'm thinking we're getting some cake tomorrow--Sweet Action!!

Comedy

Saturday Night Live! It's the show that has outlasted wars, deaths, huge dips in ratings, and horrific tragedies in our country and world। And somehow, the show comes on every Saturday night, bringing us that little piece of humor that we really need after a week of work or other busy things in this fast paced world. To be able to make people laugh and give them that small glimpse of happiness must be one of the most rewarding jobs ever. If I had the chance, I would try out for that show in a heartbeat because I Love to make people laugh--comedy and laughter are great for the soul, and I firmly believe the healing power in it all. As I've heard news and entertainment stories about Lorne Michales possibly looking for another woman or two for next season, it just made me wish more and more that I could be one of those lucky few. And the good thing is is that I wouldn't go in to the audition empty-handed---my life experiences so far have given me some great material, ideas, and characters to use on a show like SNL (I'm not joking, I have so far a list of 4 different characters/sketches).

Music has always been a BIG part of my life (besides my faith, family and friends), but I would have to say comedy and humor are right up there with it। It's why I love being a radio DJ, it's why I love doing skits for my church and community organizations, and it's why I would love to do SNL one day। Comedy can make a grown man come to tears because he's laughing so hard, and it can make the most bitter old woman crack a small smile. Just like dramas, music can help emphasize a comedy and push it to new limits, which is why for me, the 2 have gone hand-in-hand so many times. Yeah, I may play the song you requested as a shout out, or thrown out some cool music history, but I also do radio to make that one listener smile.

Get Involved

Everyday is a new day to make a new impression. We all have those moments where we may think, "The world is traveling at lightening speed around me. I don't have time to put my neck out there and meet new people." It's as if human connection is put on hold in our lives when we think that, and because of it, we never grow in who we are, the experiences we have, the people that we meet. I see it every time I hang-out with the co-host. The man has been in this area for about 6 years, and you want to know how many people he hangs out with, calls friends, or can say "Hey dude, what's up?" to? Let's just say it's a slim amount of what makes up this whole area. Now don't think I'm dissing the man--he definitely has a lot going for him and he really can be the life of the party. But at the same time, he thinks that he's big in the area and that he doesn't have to really get involved with anyone outside of the "club group" he knows (he works as a DJ on the side at a local club). The people at the club are really nice and great to chat with, especially when you can walk in and the usuals know who you are, but that is a very small group in the whole realm of what makes Mt. Washington Valley. If only the co-host would get out of the box a little more and possibly get involved with other things in the area--community groups, organizations, societies--then he may begin to realize that the world is a lot bigger than his posse, and promoting his DJing business would probably double in size. He would have weddings after parties after anniversaries to deal with every weekend, and possibly on certain weeknights.

It's the same reason why when I say I work for Mt. Washington Radio, people in the area automatically think of our sister station--93.5. Don't get me wrong, the station is good and it's been here for a lot longer than Magic, but it's also because of the involvement that J and (especially) Roy have in the community. Every remote that I have helped with or run the board for, you can hear the people who greet Roy and him greet them in return. When I say he should be the mayor of Mt. Washington Valley, I really do mean it--he knows so many people! It does help that he's lived up in this area for 30 years, but I believe that even if he was up here for as long as the co-host, he would still know tons of people, therefore being able to promote 93.5 a lot better, and putting himself out there. And putting yourself out there is what the radio world is about, just like TV and film. That means getting involved with more than one or two groups of people.

I have to say, the biggest compliment I can get in any day is that someone listened to our morning show or to me on the weekend or mid-days, and they heard something that made them laugh. It's that joy, that humor, that happiness brought to our listeners that makes me thrilled beyond belief. I don't know if it brings as much excitement to the co-host as it does to me, but to know that what I love to do as a career is affecting people in a good way, well that is just unbelievably reassuring. It helps me know that I chose the right job and path, and that I could probably do bigger things and make more people smile down the road. Yeah, I may not be up here for forever, but with the time I do have, I want to meet our listeners, make new listeners, and bring a little light to someones day.

For me to hear from Roy that I have done an awesome job adjusting to this area and really delving into getting to know the community and many who are in it, that makes me feel a little honored and proud with myself. I'm just little 'ol me, being friendly to all I meet, and making new friends, but I guess people are noticing that and I may be making a slight impact, which would be so cool! Even if I become a "big fish" in the small pond here, I know that God and my close friends here will help to keep me grounded always. I just sometimes wish that the co-host would come out to events, places, and groups with me so that he could meet the people that listen to us, or could possibly be future listeners. Maybe, just maybe one day, he can see farther outside of the rectangle he's chillin' in---not only to help himself and his business, but to help the station and others.

May This Week Be...less dragging

Busy, busy, busy week it's been...yet at the same time it's felt as if it's been dragging. In between production, being on the air, and running errands for Young Professionals and the MWV Chamber Annual Meeting and Dinner, I really didn't feel like I was taking a breather until today, or at least until this evening. Each day felt as if they were 40 hours long, but every hour was taken up with stuff. I also had my birthday this week, and even though I didn't really go out and "do something" that evening, I had a really great day--cake with the co-workers/friends, great care package from the fam, and birthday hugs/messages from all of those who have become near and dear to me.

One of the downfalls this week, as surprising as it might be, was Halloween. The one night where you dress up, hang out with friends, and just have some fun (possibly grab loads of candy) turned out to rank right up there with the Halloween where I was sick. I don't know if it was the fact that I decided to take the extra job of running the sound board for the High School football game, or if it was I received a phone call from my Choral Society director that just didn't fly with me, or that I was starting the night off really late. Overall, I ended up getting out of the station at almost 10pm, was dressed up as a 60's Hippie, and ready to start the night, just to drive over to a friends party that had already been winding down, then driving back and realizing that everyone I knew was already leaving to go home or at some other party too far away. This Halloween was just not my cup of tea---memo to self: DO NOT take overtime at work on Halloween, it messes up the whole flow of the night!

I do have to say that the night before (Thursday) was a great evening, and I supposedly made a splash with the MWV Chamber members. I don't know what good it really will do me in the end because many of the Chamber members are in their 40's+ and are usually weary of "outsiders" or "transplants," but at least I helped make them crack up in the mock debate I was co-moderator for. I heard Lorne Michales (from SNL) may be looking for some more women to join the cast--I wonder if I should try out some way :) Oh to work as a cast member on SNL would probably be the coolest thing ever! It's right at the top of the list, alongside being a Radio Announcer that get's syndicated across the country (like Ryan Seacrest or Casey Casem, not so much as Delilah--too soft for my personality).

Well, I should probably hit the hay, so I say adios to all my readers and buenas noches!