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Forgive my lack of postings (again), I have been suffering from an acute case of Rectal Oculosis. This is a condition where the optic nerve somehow becomes attached to the rectum resulting in a corresponding outlook on life. So, I’m trying to pull my head out of you-know-where and get on with life. The fact of not posting for a week was weighing me down, so this is part of my therapy.
Hope you have a good weekend.
I am sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days. As some of you are aware, I suffer from disseminated Lyme disease. Right now I am experiencing an acute flair-up of symptoms.
So, I guess I could say, “We are experiencing technical difficulties, please stand-by”.
Oh, yeah, prayer would be helpful. Let me know who I can pray for during this time.
I know this has been a burning question in your mind. Are you in ‘Pop’ country or ‘Soda’ country? Here is the definitive map:
You can find the full-sized map here
Yesterday my 10yr old daughter and I were listening to Fr. Roderick’s ‘God’s Keynote Address’. We had fun listening to the content and then looking up the Apple references via Google. The more she understood the references, the harder she laughed.
At the end she asked me how Fr. Roderick made his voice sound that way. I decided to illustrate. I grabbed my cheapy mic, plugged it into my computer and recorded her speaking a simple sentence. I then played it back normally and then with a deeper pitch and a higher pitch. This second approach really caught her attention since it sounds like the chipmunks.
Soon all the kids were around the table. They sang a verse of some chipmunk song and then I made their voices sound like the chipmonks. It was fun-o-plenty!
Next, they chose a song they all knew (Silent Night) and sang it. We kept playing with different variations, they made suggestions, we tried them, some worked and some didn’t. We recorded a few other segments for our Chipmunk Christmas Carol.
What was interesting for me was how much it stretched me. I had four kids wanting to hear the results ‘now!’. So, I was under a bit of pressure there. Also, I learned a few techniques that I hadn’t used before. I had just never done a little project like this before. It was fun for me because the end result was not to be published. It was just a fun little project.
It occurred to me that if I want to build my skill, I not only have to be producing more, but some of this production should involve ‘flights of fancy’. So, play some more and see what you end up with.
Oh, yeah, if you want to hear our end result, check it out here.
My dad called the other day to ask if I wanted to go to a ballgame. We have the Akron Aeros (AA ball - I think) locally, but he wanted to do a big league game. I agreed by due to my limitations I told him I’d need an overnight. We are going to a Pirates game (it’s a day game against Milwaukee - kickoff at 12:35). We are then heading to Cranberry Township for Quaker Steak and Lube (great wings) and then hitting the hay at a hotel.
It’s gunna be a great day tomorrow - 81 degrees (F) and sunny. I will be gone all of tomorrow and some of the next. So, no post tomorrow. So its root root root for the, um, Pirates….
My parents gave me and my wife an overnite at a B&B in Amish Country. I am on my way out the door. I am not likely to post again until Tuesday.
Enjoy the break.
No post today. I’m pretty sick. I’d appreciate your prayers!
The folks who populate Catholic radio in this country are so kind and loving. I received a message from a local radio station while I was out of town. Before you can appreciate the beauty of this email, I must explain some things - first I posted some things a couple of weeks ago about a certain radio personality who was starting to do some work for a certain radio network. One radio executive began frothing at the mouth (I assume) and sent me some great hate mail. It was REALLY good hate mail. I pulled the posting down and while I am still apparently hated by those involved, I did apologize and admitted that I was a total git.
Now to the new stuff: I got back from seeing my specialist and I received a kind email from someone I have worked with in the past at a certain radio station. Evidently she is upset with my actions as well (what a small wonderful community, this Catholic radio world). She stated:
“I would appreciate you removing any reference regarding WILB from your bio. I suppose it is true that in the past you consulted with the station but you are not presently a consultant and we are in no way your home station. If you could get that down by this coming Friday, the 30th it would be appreciated”.
The bio she was speaking of was my Disciples with Microphones bio (Go to http://www.discipleswithmicrophones.org/members/ and click on Michaelk for the up to date revision). It was indeed out of date and so I changed the tense of the verb from ‘is’ to ‘has’ . I have also added an appendix and addendum to the posting to make the situation clear so as to no longer worry Living Bread Radio, WILB, 1060 AM. If you notice, they do not deny that I consulted with them, but that they do not feel it is appropriate that I state that I have worked with them. Such kind people.
First, this is my home station since this is the Catholic station I can get on the radio from my home. If anyone wants to come over and check, they are free to. I wrote this person back and mentioned that I would continue to mention I had consulted with them in the past at my discretion. I am thinking about it more and am leaning towards not mentioning my affiliation with Living Bread Radio any longer. Not because they have asked me to, but I do have my reputation to think of. My mentioning the fact that I have ever worked for such an outfit has the potential of sullying my reputation. I’m not sure. What do you think?
Let me make this clear: I once worked as a consultant for Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio. I produced a show for Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio. I was the point man on the redesign of the web site for Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio (find it yourself). I did voice work for some commercials at Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio. I was responsible for coordinating John Martignoni’s visit and presentation in Canton, Ohio that was sponsored by Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio.
I am surprised they do not want me to mention my PAST affliliation with Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio. I am sorry they no longer want me to mention Living Bread Radio in my bio or to anyone else in the radio world. I also want to make it clear that I resigned from my association with Living Bread Radio because of problems I encountered at Living Bread Radio. I stated that I would not publically mention the many problems I encountered at Living Bread Radio following my resignation, and I have refrained from ever mentioning Living Bread Radio in any kind of negative light up to this point. But when Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio (WILB, 1060 AM in Canton) goes so far as to pretend that they even know me. I can promise that if WILB, Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio wants to push this any further, they will not hear the end of this.
So, That is the end of my mentioning of Living Bread Radio in Canton, Ohio. Have a good day. Such nice folks they are too. Hmmm.
I set a new personal record today. North Canton, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio in just under 4.5 hours! In the event you are not aware of the distance, that is about 100 miles. Man, were we cruzin’ or what.
Let me splain. I am on my way to Missouri to see a specialist (yes, there are plenty of Psychiatrists in Ohio - but it is not yet time for THAT trip). Rather, I am on my way to see my Lyme disease specialist in Springfield, Missouri. It is difficult for me to travel, so my family and I making a mini vacation type thing of it.
We (my wife and four kids) set sail this morning at around 9am. After about an one and a half hours our serpentine belt skipped, dropped, vamoosed (whatever the technical term). We were in the middle of a terrential downpour in Mansfield. I must say two things about Mansfield: First, they have the nicest, most helpful folks I have met in a LONG time. Everyone from the staff at the local Stop and P (a cross between Stop & Shop and A & P), Bob Evans, and Monroe Muffler were just great; Second, their cell phone reception stinks. I finally found a place out in front of Bob Evans where, if I stood facing west, I could get one bar of reception.
After an hour and a half the road warrior clan was back on the road, briefly. After less than 10 miles, the belt slipped again. Some local advice sent us to Castle’s Garage in Marango (I think), Ohio. They put our new belt on, that we happened to be carrying with us (don’t ask). They also discovered the core problem - there was a water drain that had become unplugged and so was funneling rain water directly onto the serpentine belt. Off we sped for another 10 miles when, just outside of Columbus, we hit stand-still traffic.
We got to the other side of Columbus at around 1:30pm. So that’s why it took us 4.5 hours to travel 100 miles! Kewl, huh? We are spending the nite in Terra Haute, Indiana. We are heading to Springfield tomorrow (probably around 390 miles) tomorrow. Will will meet up with Lynette’s mom at a park in Missouri to let the kids muck about in a stream before heading hanging our hat in Springfield tomorrow nite for an early morning appointment. We will then throw it in reverse and start heading home Friday. We are going to try to stop at the Little House on the Praire museum.
I am just looking forward to some uneventful days. Keep me in your prayers, I am feeling the strain of travel. It is great to be with the family. We are taking pictures, but did not bring along a downloading cable.
I’ll check-in with you over the next couple of days as time, internet connections, and energy allows.
On my way out to a clown picnic. Yep, it’s that time of year when the Ohio Clown School holds its annual reunion/graduation picnic. Why am I invited? No, I am not a graduate, but my dad is the Headmaster.
Here he is as Rufus D. Dufus (the ‘D’ stands for Clyde). I’ll try to take some pics, but as usual, I can’t promise anything.
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