WIXY's Gone Bananas

I received an email from Jane Lasser of Gray and Company, publishers of many titles pertaining to the Cleveland area. Jane wanted to make us aware of a sample chapter available online of the book Big Chuck! I had reviewed the book in January but since then I have gotten some new friends here. A couple of these friends, Margaret and Ben, spent their college years in the area and doubtless spent some Friday nights watching Hoolihan and Big Chuck, or Big Chuck and Lil John. And as I had mentioned in my review, I spent my high school years seeing Chuck and June Schodowski at various school functions as I attended Highland High School with Mike and Mark, their sons, and can attest to the fact that Big Chuck was as good a person in that setting as he was on the air. So check out the sample chapter and then order the book. I know you'll want to have one of your own.

On my way to work this morning, I stopped at Circle K for my newspaper and pop to take to work. I was pleasantly surprised to see Tabatha working there, as I hadn't seen her since I wrote this post about her . Out of curiosity, after explaining to her that I wrote about her on my blog, if she had heard from regional office. I had also wrote an emailing to them, complete with a link to that blog post. She told me that she hadn't. That's a real shame. People who do a good job and make people feel welcome when they come to make any purchase need to be rewarded. You can argue that this is why they get a paycheck and almost be right. But you also have to take into consideration that people like Tabatha will bring customers back when other places are open offering the same items at the same prices. Cashiers are called on the carpet when they are rude to customers, so reward those who provide exceptional customer service. Your bottom line might reflect this in a good way. Cliff ...

Sit down for this. I want to give some kudos to somebody at Clear Channel Cleveland. As I was listening to the Lanigan and Malon e show on WMJI/105.7, Jimmy Malone said something that made a lot of sense. He questioned whether it was appropriate for the House of Representatives to proclaim a moment of silence for Michael Jackson. He also said that it wasn't right for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to fly the U.S. flag at half staff. I don't feel that I would be offending anyone by agreeing with Mr. Malone, pictured above. I feel bad for the family, but I don't feel that Michael Jackson should be deified.

I am not very organized and I procrastinate quite a bit. Those are two very good reasons that I don't participate in things like A-Z Mondays and Weird Object Friday. I once participated in a Friday 55, but that was a special circumstance. Lack of organization has gotten in the way of my not accomplishing much in life. It's been said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Because of my failing to plan, this person of otherwise above average intelligence, graduated in the bottom third of my high school class, didn't go to college, and didn't have the career in media that I wanted. All you would need to do is look at all the books on my bookshelf that I haven't finished to realize how disorganized I am. I, of course, have much to blame my disorganization on. I blame it mostly on the one currently sitting at the keyboard. Procrastination? I always wait until something happens in order to get something done. I have a panic attack every year when the quality audit com...

First, the WIXYmobile is now back on the road burning gas. The problem turned out to be the crank sensor.One friend did the work while another loaned me the money to cover parts and labor. Next, I was never a big Michael Jackson fan, so I won't say much about his passing. It will be interesting to us who were around in August, 1977 to see if Jackson's death will have the same all around effect that the passing of Elvis Presley did.. I dodged another bullet as far as work is concerned. The company I work for will have a shutdown at the plant in which I'm assigned. My department manager will have me doing some special projects at the other Cleveland location. I now will be able to use my remaining vacation time at my digression. And Shaq got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ho hum...

A tip of the hat to ODOT for the placement of the portable electronic sign stating "77 NORTH ALL LANES" right before the lanes split for bridge construction. Too bad it had to be a result of a 2 car accident with injuries.

Today as I was driving home from work, I turned my car radio to WTAM/1100 just to see what the talk of the day was. Mike Trivisonno, the antihero of this blog, was on and he was talking about the effects of slashing the funding of Ohio libraries . A soundbite , people chanting "save Ohio libraries" was played over and over. Triv said that he hoped that libraries would close because it was about time things were taken away from the poor. Maybe if you'd go to a library once in awhile Triv, check out a book and read it, you might have a clue, you moron! I realize that this is an act and he's just a mouthpiece for cheap channel, but I think that most of the banter that I heard coming from that waste of frequency thisafternoon was in extremely poor taste. Many people, regardless of social status, use public libraries. Quite a few use them to hone their skills, and that is very necessary in these times of mass unemployment. I figure that his current lackeys should use their...

Or...When you see a fork in the road, take it! I was late for work this morning. With a 46 mile drive, I usually take special pains to get out of my house in order to clock in on time. Sometimes there's a wrench thrown into the works. We all know that the orange barrel is currently in full bloom and interstate 77 has two places that I travel in my daily commute where there's construction. Right before the Ohio 21 exit in Richfield, Ohio, there's bridge work and the northbound lanes are split. The "fast lane" is routed over the median and runs alongside(separared by a temporary concrete barrier) the south bound lanes. It becomes an express lane since the two lanes don't come back together until after the Ohio 21 exit ramp. Anyway, there are several signs alerting drivers of the change. You can drive straight through and remain on 77 using either lane. You need to use the right hand lane if you want to exit 21 and it's suggested you stay in that lane if you ...

In the 1003 previous posts in this blog, several have been about WMMS/100.7. The radio station was a soundtrack for many who spent at least part of our lives in Northeast Ohio. Another image identified with this area is the Buzzard, which was created by local artist David Helton. Brian Chalmers had been chosen to succeed Helton, after David had been promoted to head up the art for all the Malrite radio stations in the 1980's. Over the past weekend, Brian Chalmers passed away. Not only did we lose part of this area's heritage, but we lost someone at way too young an age. John Gorman wrote about this in his Buzzard Blog. Funny how things happen at times. I am finishing reading The Buzzard for the second time and am getting ready to write a second review of this great book, along with a companion post sometime thi.s week. It's always sad to say goodbye to someone you never knew but were affected in a good way by their work. Rest in peace Brian.

Please accept my apology for being a lazy blogger. It occurred to me that it's been 5 days since I've posted here and figure that I better put up an update before people started worrying or, in the case of my personal friends, yelling at me. I want to wish all the fathers reading this a happy Father's Day. Show your dad some appreciation today if he's still around. And say a prayer for people like Struke, who lost his dad a few months ago. I will be mowing my father in law's lawn this afternoon. My dad has been gone for almost nine years. My Sunday Musing today was supposed to be about organization and procrastination. This wasn't planned but I'm putting this off until next week. I lost some motivation the past few days. There will be a book review coming up. I have been redeeming some time by reading. I received a book last week and although I've already read it, I find myself not able to put it down. I reviewed it before and I found some different thin...

This past Saturday, Kathy and I had the great pleasure of meeting Diane Ferri, of Coexist fame. She was reading from her Liquid Rubies chapbook on the patio of Visible Voice Bookstore in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. Diane was one of several who read their works and by far, the best we heard that evening. While we were waiting for the reading to begin(we arrived about 30 minutes early) I took a look around the store. This place is a book lover's paradise, especially if you would be interested in the history of the region. If you live in the area, you should check it out for yourself. Visible Voice bookstore 1023 Kenilworth Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216-961-0084

My later starting time at work had me wondering this morning if everybody else thought that sitting in traffic, waiting to go through an intersection seemed way longer than three minutes doing other things? I would like to thank everybody for all of their kind comments on the last post, especially those who wrote poems in my honor. My favorite morning show hosts now have their very own website. Check out WynnandWilson.com . Make a comment if you feel lead to do so. Long time readers here know my disdain for some local traffic reports. Now another service, Metro networks, has decided to do most of their reports in this region from a hub in Detroit. If you want to know how this may work, do a Mapquest of a route familiar to you. This is what happened to me yesterday. I had to go to a rental place to put a deposit on a sound system for my company picnic. I used an internet map service(they shall remain nameless since they own Blogger). I thought this may be a quicker route than the one I...

It was almost three years ago When I started on this blog Sometimes I write when things are clear Other times in a fog I told my friends all about The things that I would write Not knowing how they would react When my words were in their sight I'd post on things I would know And just myself I'd be I know about no one else But the person that you see I'd write about my favorite food And students in the band And sometimes when I feel real low You'd come and give a hand You come from all around the world Big cities and small towns Your comments serve to lift me up Prevent so many frowns I do so love to promote your work Your posting is so grand I couldn't have much better friends You're best in all the land My thousandth post is almost done This poem's almost through And if you wonder who this is for You're reading this, it's you! Cliff Note: Thank you for all you have done to help me get to 1000 posts. I hope to have all the friends I have, and some mo...

I am starting on this week's musing on Wednesday. If all goes as planned, this will be post #999 for this blog. Every once in awhile I think about the general goal of this blog. Most of the time it serves as a communications vehicle. What makes me feel the best is the reaction when I'm promoting other bloggers or their blogs. I like the fact that there everyone who comes here has a product worth promoting. I think the mission statement of this blog is to share my life, talents, and friends with the blogosphere. I think that anyone who starts a blog and doesn't have a mission statement is dooming their blog to a short lifetime. From Mission Statements.com, here is the definition of a personal mission statement: "A personal mission statement provides clarity and gives you a sense of purpose. It defines who you are and how you will live." With a clear mission statement, I think blogging becomes easier. If you start a blog simply by copying someone's work, you ste...

Bad thing about a laptop is when the keyboard is messed up, you have to get that repaired. With a desktop you replace the keyboard. Even a simple repair of a laptop keyboard is more expensive than replacing one for a desktop. My 53 year old eyes couldn't see to put the parts back together. But sixteen dollars wasn't that bad. This evening at 7:30, Diane Vogel Ferri will be reading poetry from her Liquid Rubies chapbook at the following location: Visible Voice bookstore 1023 Kenilworth Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216-961-0084 Kathy and I are looking forward to this event and also looking forward to meeting a fellow blogger who also is in the same profession as our daughter, a special education teacher. And at this point the WIXYmobile is still sitting in my company's parking lot in Cleveland. I hope to have it back up and running pretty quickly. A d if you've been following my Sunday Musings, tomorrow's will be about mission statements.

I'm doing a bit better today, though my day didn't start that way. Had one of our cats walk across the keyboard of my laptop this morning as I was checking my email. When I went to take the cat off, three keys also come off , the "I", "U" and "Alt" keys. So I have another reason to feel sorry for myself. The WIXYmobile is still sitting in the back of the parking lot of the "other shop." I have some friends over at my shop who are going to look at it next week. I was thinking of joining the Amish church but have a problem with that. I cannot find their phone number or their website. At least I have my health and my job... I was told by the safety manager not to go postal because he needs me at work. I told him that I will be having some very loud conversations with my steering wheel later...

I am typing this post from a computer at the other shop, I forgot my cell phone today. It was one heckuva day to forget it. Anyway I was getting ready to leave today and was driving out of the parking lot when my car just stopped running. Battery was fine, starter was fine. I had a mechanic from the shop look at the car. He told me that the timing belt was busted and would cost about 2000 dollars to fix it. Problem is I only paid 1700 for the car. Kathy is coming to get me. With both my son and son in law unemployed, it isn't the best time to have something like this happen. I wish I could catch a break. Pray for me. I need it.

Michelle of House of Lime fame is a blogger I visit on an infrequent basis. She is one of these people who comes off as herself in the best way possible. She is also very popular as some of her posts get more comments than I get hits in a day. Right now Michelle is going through a rough time. She had received a concussion a short time ago when the hatch on her mini van hit her head and the end of last week she was involved in a head-on collision when her van hydroplaned across the road and hit another vehicle. I think she could use all the encouragement she can get. Please visit the House of Lime , and give her some as only my friends can.

Those who have followed this blog for the past 1-1/2 years know that Brenda is one of my personal friends and one who has followed this blog from the beginning. She is also a long time (former) face of the World's Greatest Band Boosters(tm). Brenda is a good friend to have around. She puts a smile on my face and is quick to give me a quick constructive comment in regards to my blogging. Those who read my blog in December, 2007 were introduced to Brenda as I presented her with an off blog friend award. The reason I did this was that I was having a bad day a few prior to that one and unloaded in an email to her. I thought for sure when I hit the send button that I was going to lose one of my best friends. Brenda then showed how good a friend she was when she sent back a very well thought reply. I then had to tell the blogosphere what a good person she was. Brenda also would frequently go to the other blogs on my list and leave anonymous comments. All during this time I would tell her...

I have worked at my company for, unofficially, 17 years. When I first started working there in June, 1992, the average work week was 55-57 hours. Sometimes you worked more than that. I was 36 years old at the time and I could handle the long hours and short nights of sleep. 17 years and three knee surgeries later, I need less hours work and more hours sleep. Even moving into a quasi desk job, I still find it difficult to crawl out of bed at 3am. I could get up later if I wanted to put up with both rush hours. But this morning, things will change slightly. I received a call from my department manager yesterday. I was notified that I had to cut my time down to 40 hours. This would be down from 44-45 that I normally work. No surprise there as all the other departments got notified before I was. And I had to split my time between plants, doing calibrations at the other shop 1-1/2 days a week. I'm actually looking forward to the change. I also like the prospect of getting an hour extra...

Michelle of Crow's Feet fame has bestowed me with this award. In so doing, she made this notation: The recipient of this award is recognized for the following: The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervade amongst different cultures and beliefs. Their Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage, and offers solutions. There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Cultures, Sciences and Beliefs. The Blog is refreshing and creative. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking. The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following: Create a post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award. The Award conditions must be displayed at the Post. Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved - preferably citing one or more older posts as support. The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurr...

As I prepare this post, it will number in the 990's. Part of me had hoped that I would have already posted number 1000, but everything comes in it's own time. Having so many posts allows me at times to put up "classic" posts where I may do some simple edits to make it a bit more relevant, or just a "Cliff Note" to explain when I first posted it. In posting, I'm always reviewing my old posts, some I view as a proud father, others are just there for posterity. Then there are those that stick out like a sore thumb, like my first f ew. This is how I "signed on" on August 26, 2006" " Okay this is the beginning of a new blog. Who am I? I've posting on several internet forums under the name of 74WIXYgrad. I use that name since I graduated from the WIXY School of Broadcast Technique in 1974. Most people who post with me simply refer to me as WIXY, and that's cool. I consider it to be an honor to be associated with one of the legendary...

Yesterday I went to Evil Big Box Store(tm) #2966 to get a few items. Kathy and I have had a rough week so I got her some of her favorites; a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, a package of double chocolate Klondike bars, and some roses. I had bought some items for myself as well. Cliff Note: Busy Bee Suz will be happy to know I also bought two of those reusable shopping bags. 50 cents apiece, what the heck. Anyways when I went to the checkout, there was a young man with only one item, so I let him go ahead of me in line. It took him a little longer than I thout it should to check out. I know you want to know why. This young man was texting and not paying attention to the cashier. Now this annoyed me somewhat. Not only did I let him ahead of me in line, but I was doing my part in trying to save the planet, and he couldn't delay his texting for 30 seconds? I hope he sprains his thumbs.

Cliff Note: As you can see the YouTube folks finally sent the video. Both times. 35 years ago I was a member of the most recent graduating class of Highland High School, Medina, Ohio. One of the top acts of the day was Alice Cooper and one of my best friends in school had a cousin who was Alice Cooper's drummer, so I heard much about the act. Anyway I found it fitting to post "School's Out" for those who look back at the seventies as the time when they did most of their growing up. And here's to you, Gordon Dutt, wherever you are...

This past Tuesday, June 2, was the 35th anniversary of my high school graduation. For what it's worth, I'm still not interested in going to any reunion, except to show off my still full head of hair. I was the fat kid from "the other side of the tracks." Cliff Note: Now you know where I got the inspiration for the name of my poetry blog, Whattville is on the Other Side of the Tracks. Anyway, I have tried twice to post from YouTube, the Alice Cooper hit "School's Out" . That was a big hit in 1972, two years before I graduated. One of my best friends in school was his drummer's cousin. The post was meant to be a tribute to all students out of school for the summer, 35 years since I wore the cap and gown, and to my high school friend, Gordon Dutt (just in case he decides to google his name.) Now with my recent luck, the song will probably post twice when I'm away from my computer and those who are just surfing the web, coming across this blog, wil...

And I still don't know what I'm going to write in my coming Sunday Musing. The day has already started on the wrong foot as I overslept by 1-1/2 hours. Got to work on time, but I didn't have my first cup of coffee and forgot my work keys. Scott and Sue got their show started on the right note for me as the first song they played was "It Happens" by Sugarland. If you've heard the song, the first verse hit home with me today. When I get a few extra minutes to spare, I will share with you the award Michelle gave me last week, along with the cool prize Elise(Pigeon) sent me for being a runner up in her recent caption contest. Also for all the Cleveland area readers, a week from this Saturday, on June 13, Diane Vogel Ferri of Coexist fame will be reading poetry from her Liquid Rubies chapbook at Visible Voice bookstore in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. I'm hoping to have a date night and take Kathy there that evening. I also will be posting again abo...

Okay, so the Orlando Magic beat the Cavaliers four games to two, putting an end to an otherwise great season for the Cavaliers. Now the buzz about town is the way Lebron left the court without congratulating the Orlando players and leaving the building without talking to the media. I'm not an expert on basketball and I cannot give you the mechanical reason the Cavs lost except to say that in four games Orlando scored more points, as a team, than the Cavs. I'm also not an expert on human behavior and can't give you an exact reason why Lebron talked to no one immediately after the game. Only thing I can tell you on that subject is that people put too much faith, or way too much damnation, in their fellow man, whether it be an exceptionally gifted athlete or the president of the United States. Sports is a good diversion from real life, but that's all it is, a diversion. In my neck of the woods, we have fallout from the auto industry to deal with, as a Chrysler plant, a GM ...

I was just reading thet Susan Boyle, the runner up on Britain's Got Talent, has entered a clinic as she's suffering from emotional exhaustion. As everyone knows, Susan was the 48 year old who had learning disabilities, caused from oxygen depravation at birth. She had claimed to never have been kissed. She made it all the way to the finals of the competition and ended up runner up. The exposure and the pressure from competition evidentually took it's toll. In this case, is reality television worth it? Several years ago American Idol held auditions in Cleveland. Our son Adam wanted to try out for the competition. As the readers of my wife's currently inactive blog know, our son suffers from bipolar disorder. As far as his singing is concerned, he is very talented. But as a concerned parent, I could not, with a clear concience, let him go to the auditions. At the time, he wasn't diagnosed yet with bipolar disorder, but was having seizures caused by stress. Being raked ...