WIXY's Gone Bananas

I have enjoyed the comments from the last post and I wish to further the dialogue along those lines. Even being unemployed, I don't find myself watching a ton of television. In my mind, the only thing that has improved about it are the sets themselves. I also know that as people, we all have different tastes in what we prefer to watch. I would rather watch shows from the 60's and 70's over most of what's being presented today. Some of my favorites are Andy Griffith, Happy Days, Welcome Back Kotter, All in the Family, and MASH . I can sit and watch several hours of a show like Sanford and Son , and not get bored and have quite a few laughs. I also like to watch crimes solved within 30 minutes by Joe Friday on Dragnet . If all those shows are too old for you, how about checking out the gang at Cheers ? That was a very good ensemble show. I shouldn't get Struke started by mentioning the news, but too many news outlets have watered down the product and made it seemingly...

This month, I've had more of an opportunity to watch some reality shows, like the staged auditions on American Idol. I've also wanted to go to the Biggest Loser ranch and slap that lady from the red team. I do have a proposals for some reality shows. One would be The Normal Life where people are just themselves. Another idea would be for a surreal show called The Golden Rule . On this one everybody treats one another like they would like to be treated. Along the nice lines would be one called Your Mother's Watching . On this one, if you are caught doing something your mother wouldn't approve of, you would either be sent to bed without your supper, or made stand in the corner. And the actual mothers would be the judges. For something real bad, the father would come to the house and take you behind the wood shed. And you would always have to eat your veggies. Of course right now I'm in a real life reality show called Unemployment . If I win, I get a job. There are to...

I'm sure that most of you here in the states are familiar with the 4 dollar generic prescription drug plans, as the Evil Big Box Store(tm) has it in all of their pharmacies. I happen to use Giant Eagle when I fill those prescriptions, as I can also get fuel perks. At this time, I can save 60 cents a gallon. Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment, he was concerned about my blood pressure, so he doubled up one of my prescriptions. This one happened to be on the 4 dollar list, which also allows you to get 90 days worth for 10 dollars. He faxed it over to the Giant Eagle, and since I had enough to take the double dosage, I decided to wait until today to pick it up. When I got there, I was pleasantly surprised, or at least I thought. The cost of my prescription was $2.11. I picked up a few grocery items, checked out and went to my car. I then checked my prescription and saw that I paid $2.11 for THREE TABLETS. Luckily for me, my doctor's office was just around the corner(literal...

...with your pants on the ground! And with those words, I give to you my favorite new song, "Pants on the Ground." "General" Larry Platt, you have a hit! The song echoes the sentiments of many of us. When I was in school, the style was to wear your pants skin tight. That was when bell bottoms were in style. I would have been stylish, but it was my shirt that had the bell bottom. The pants were up over the hips, and it was the old folks who wore the boxers. The youth wore briefs. I have no problem with what you wear under your pants, as long as it stays under your pants. Also to those who show "mechanics cleavage", if your pants don't go up all the way, get some shirts that come down a little further.

Since my bedtime has changed from 8:00pm to whenever the heck I please, I have been watching some of the late night television wars. It seems that Conan O'Brien and I will have one thing in common as of tomorrow night. We will both be unemployed. However, I think Conan will have an easier time paying the bills. Between all the jabs from Leno, Letterman, and Conan, the comedy makes for some good drama. Of course all the tabloids have, or will be weighing in with their observations, since empty inquiring minds want to know. And since controversy attracts, NBC has been getting extra viewers. And the boy riding the bike into the Kia plant probably likes that. When all is said and done, television is still a vast wasteland.

Out of my mailbox come an offer for a pre-approved platinum Visa card. Now at this point in my life, the last thing I need is a credit card of any kind. As I'm getting ready to shred this gem, I noticed that the annual fee for this card was $69. You know, that is quite appropriate considering what credit card companies end up doing to millions of people.

Here's what I now look like without all that hair. My neck and ears have been very cold the past two weeks.

Our friend from Texas, Amias , has started a Happy Birthday Friends blog. this is where she encourages all of us to stop by and wish someone a happy birthday. She wants to get things rolling a little early and wish a happy birthday to northeast Ohio's own Michael Golch , who is celebrating his birthday later this week. This is a great idea from a great lady and a great writer.

Let's see.....Since about noon December 31, as I was driving home from work in Cleveland for the last time, I have not been north of Medina, or Bath, or Fairlawn. Anyway, unless I have tickets to an Indians game, I have no plans to go back into Cleveland anytime soon. Today, I had Cleveland(dot com) come to me. John Kroll from the Plain Dealer wrote me this email: The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com are creating what we hope will be the most comprehensive directory of Northeast Ohio bloggers. Your WIXY site is one I've been following, and I'd like to see it on our list. Please sign up at http://bit.ly/5pTxkw To be honest, I am flattered to get that personal invitation from the Director of Training and Digital development of the Plain Dealer. And if you are a Northeast Ohio blogger and you haven't been approached by the PD then let them know you exist by clicking on the link above. As bloggers, we all have something to say and if we didn't think it carried some deg...

As my regulars know, last year I established the Top Banana Hall of Fame, naming Suzanne Horne, who departed this life on December 24, 2008 as the charter member. This year, I want to present you with a new member of the Top Banana Hall of Fame: Kathy Eckermann wrote the blog Kathy's Klavier until she officially signed off April 9 of last year as life was just preventing her from effectively keeping up a blog. Kathy's Klavier was a collection of her thoughts and stories of the life of herself and her family; Her husband, Eddie and his physical struggles and her children. She is especially proud of her son, who is the drummer of the Christian band A Plea for Purging . When she was keeping up her blog, she also made up all aware of the band's activities. Had I not been sick and at home that day, I would have gone to where they were playing in Cleveland to introduce myself to them. I always enjoyed going to Kathy's blog to read her musings, as she wrote them in devotiona...

I have.

Greetings from not so sunny Northeast Ohio. Only thing better than not having to drive 46 miles early in the morning to go to work is driving 46 miles early in the morning to work during a winter weather warning through the secondary snow belt. Anyway, I didn't realize that I would be too busy to blog this week, but it is appearing that that's the case. Let me continue with my 2009 Top Banana Awards . This is the honorable mention post. Strike up the band. The first honorable mention goes to Matthew Killough . He's a young man in my town who is a big fan of the Rittman Band and writes a blog called WIXY Rittman Indian High Band Goes Bananas. I see Matthew and his mom, Kathy, at all the football games, photographing and recording all the action. He also posts some of this on YouTube. He is also a very big fan of this blogger. Next honorable mention goes to a friend who is a sometime blogger. WZZP is a frequent commenter here and has been a follower here from the beginning...

First, I do promise two more Top Banana posts. I never realized that I would be so busy and unemployed at the same time. Now on with this post. Last night I had to get some items at Save A Lot. The store was almost empty so there was no one around to heart me chuckling to myself as I made a couple of observations. First, I wanted to make some muffins for breakfast this morning, so I picked up a couple of packages of blueberry muffin mix. I noticed this on the label: "Naturally and artificially flavored with imitation blueberries." HUH? Tell me how you can naturally flavor something with imitation blueberries? Then I walked past the freezer case. I saw this dessert that had small pieces of cheesecake, but those who packaged it weren't very nice people. The container's label said " Sara Lee Bites ." And one last observation as I took my son grocery shopping today. Now that I don't have to drive to and from Cleveland on I-77, at least for the moment, I do...

We all know they like to get awards. But who cares about the CMA Awards , Marconis , or even an Emmy , I'm talking about the coveted Top Banana award. Some are bloggers while others have had some influence here and I want to show my appreciation to all of these good folks. First the Tough Job, but Someone's got to do it Top Banana goes to Scott Wynn of Scott Wynn's Window fame. Scott is one half of the Wynn and Wilson Morning Show on WQMX 94.9, Akron, Ohio. He also reviews movies for AkronNewsNow.com . The reviews along with his view of various life issues is available on his Blogger site. Scott is also a good guy and shows it in public. Next, the Real Sweetie and Even Likes My Poetry Top Banana goes to the other half of that morning show, Sue Wilson , of Voiceover fame. I have been told by several in media how well liked Sue is and I feel it an honor that she has given me recognition over the air of some of my blogging. I will miss hearing the first part of their pr...

When you last left me, I was heading back into my home state of Ohio. I have some Top Bananas to award to my Buckeye Blogging Buddies. First, the Who Moved My Cheese Top Banana goes to Struke , of Media Matters fame. I had another one, but I had to put that back in storage for another time. The name of this award comes fromn the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson MD. This book tells the story of two mice and two little people and the way they cope with change. Struke has been in contact with me this past weekend letting me know how he had coped with changed on two prior occasions when he found himself in the unemployment line. He gave me some encouragement as I am now dealing with the movement of my cheese. The Dancing and Smiling Top Banana, goes to Daisy of Dancing with Daisy and Smiling with Daisy fame. Daisy is a librarian living in northwest Ohio, but through her husband has some Cleveland roots. Her creativity and humor makes for two very interesting...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! Cliff Note:This post was originally going to go up yesterday afternoon, but the events of the day delayed my writing of it. I want to thank everybody for your support on the last post. I also want to make you aware that I will not use my blog to launch any venom at my former employer as there are some who work there and read this blog. It's also not my style. No on with the Top Bananas! First I want to say that you folks are great! So far, the awards have achieved one of my goals for them, and you all are checking out my other friends. I hope they all soon become your friends also. They always are fun to present and very much a privilege for me to do. I also get a kick out of the creative streak it brings out in me. Most of the awards are made up as I go along. Now lets hop in my covered wagon as I go west to present this round of the 2009 Top Bananas. I first have to go to Arizona, as no one was at their ole' Kentucky home. The Bluegrass Around the Ca...