WIXY's Gone Bananas

Today marks three months since I was called into the outgoing big guy's office and given my walking papers. There have been some nibbles, but so far, all they have resulted in have been a couple of "we will keep you in mind if something comes up" notices. Nice thing is that I have been available to help with a family crisis. Would be nicer if said crisis wouldn't have happened, but as it is paraphrased, life happens. The way I could look at this time without a job is that I have had a 90 day weekend so far.

I am a graduate of Highland High School, class of 1974. In recent years, I hadn't had much contact with my former classmates. You know about Beth at the convenience store and most recently, Debby at the Giant Eagle pharmacy. This past weekend I made contact, via Facebook, with several other of my former classmates. And a few of you know about me and my popping up on your Facebook chat. I did that with about three Highland graduates. I got to look at some photos taken this past weekend at a get together of former classmates(Cliff note: I had no idea this was happening.). I have come to the conclusion that some of these folks have gotten old and ugly, while some of US have aged gracefully. Some of US have even gotten better looking. Regardless, I am looking forward to once again having contact with those I spent part of my youth with.

One thing I can count on with those who read my musings on a regular basis and that is that you are a very diverse group. And with that, I wish to introduce my newest friend. This one is local for me, one who participates on one of the radio boards that I do. She tries to bring it some class but that is trying to put lipstick on a pig. Jacqueline Gerber is morning show host on WCLV/104.9. The format at WCLV is classical music. Jacqueline uses her personality and sense of humor to bring all those dead composers alive, and I think they would all appreciate what she does for them. She has been called the Queen of the Morning, and shares her thoughts now in a blog called Queen of the Morn . Some of her blogging serves to bring us all to her level, whether it be highbrow or lowbrow. Once a week, she might share with all of us some word that might sound naughty but really isn't. If you have a taste for the classics, but live outside the WCLV listening area, click here to listen via wclv...

This morning we got up and decided that we would sit out from church since we had a very busy past week or so. So I left the house and drove my sister to her church. Next stop was a new thrift store in town where I bought a few items then had to gas up. I parked at the pump, was going to insert my debit card, and start to pump. Cliff note: Hooray for modern technology! Then my cell phone rang. Cliff Note: Boo to modern technology . It was my son. Adam needed a ride to his church. I gassed up then headed for Wooster and took him to his church, then did some other things for him. By the time I got to Rittman, it was time to pick up my sister. So my morning of leisure never happened. Now if the church comments have surprised my new Facebook friends who attended Highland with me and remember my foul mouth, be assured that I have changed greatly over the years. Final Cliff note: One of my next posts will introducing a new friend to the blogosphere.

So the job fair yesterday didn't pan out too well yesterday. All the plum jobs had very long lines of people waiting to talk to the reps. I did however, get some good information at a seminar sponsored by AARP, and was able to get a counseling session where my resume was critiqued. I may have some fun with the seminar part here in the future. Today I had a Facebook friend request from one who graduated high school a year behind me. His name is Ferris Brown, former Medina County treasurer. So I now have a politician as a friend on Facebook. Ferris' brother, Dwier Brown, played John Kinsella, who was the father of Kevin Kostner's character in the movie, "Field of Dreams." Ahh..connections. So I got ambitious and checked around Facebook and made several requests of people I went to high school with and got one answer back this evening. We shall see how this all pans out. You have to realize this: I haven't always been the sweetheart of a guy all of you, my onlin...

This afternoon my grandson and I were working on his bicycle, fixing a flat tire. We had to change the inner tube, after which we put the tire back together. When we inflated the tire, it didn't come back together as planned. So I had to deflate the tube and hold it together while Ben pumped. This time was a success. I asked Ben, who is a first grader, what happens when we don't get things right on the first try. He correctly answered that we learn from it. I then told him that Thomas Edison failed ten thousand times before he succeeded in inventing the incandescent light bulb. Ben was amazed that it took him so many times. I then asked him what would have happened if Edison had gave up before the 10,000th try. Ben told me he didn't know. I told him that we would have to watch television in the dark.

Today I went to get some resumes printed up, as tomorrow, I will be heading to the I-X Center in Cleveland for a job fair. This will be the first time I've been inside Cleveland city limits since I was laid off on December 31. Hopefully my job will be there. I also put in an application at a company right up the road from me in Wadsworth. If the job is there, that would be great since it would be only a ten minute commute. In my travels this morning, I bought me an Akron Beacon Journal. The headline stated that Smucker was going to eliminate 700 jobs, a good number of them in their plant in nearby Orrville. Now these jobs will be eliminated over the next three years and mainly through attrition. There will be retirements and buyouts. These cuts will be due to improvements made in the plants and automation will make these 700 positions unnecessary. Still this is not good news when you consider the facts that in January, Ohio had a 10.8% rate of unemployment. In Wayne County, where ...

The photo posted is of Chippewa Creek, off Ohio-57, about a half mile from my home. We have had quite a bit of rain the past couple of days. After looking at the volume of precipitation we have had, many of us are glad this wasn't snow. Even though this has been a cold, damp, dreary day, it's good to know that warmer weather is just around the corner. It's also good to know that the rain has come and added to the water table since I live in a largely agricultural county.

Here's the talented Steve Martin performing his hit song from the seventies, "King Tut." Included in this performance is a guest appearance by Henry Winkler.

It's the end of a long winter and it's time to get out and do some very irrational things. So let's all get out and WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN! Make 'em wonder what we are up to.

156-My blood glucose reading this morning. Adding some exercise, as well as watching my carbs is finally working out for me now. I think I'm also getting over a hump caused by my losing my job. My blood glucose had been well over 200 and for awhile I had thought my doctor was going to put me on insulin. Now it looks as though I can keep it down. 1200- The number of this post. Now I've gotta go for a walk.

I ran into someone yesterday at Evil Big Box Store(tm) #1812, whom I hadn't seen in a few years. Cliff Note:I shaved before I left the house . Anyway when I saw him, I said "hi Gary." Gary replied with "Hey fat boy." Now Gary hasn't missed many meals in his life, and I know this was tongue in cheek. But I also know that my clothes have been getting tighter since I lost my job. I'm glad that Spring is coming and the days are now longer. I'm also glad that I also had the initiative to move my fat rear end out of the house and around the development. 2.15 miles later, I am now writing this post and getting ready to hit the shower. I don't like being called fat boy, even if it's true. So I need to do something about it.

All wireless carriers like to keep their customers, and mine is no different. In the past, I've been somewhat rough on my phone, so when it's time to upgrade I'm ready. The WIXY/at&t-phonecam has been replaced by the WIXY/at&tVideoPhoneCam, and yes, I got it for free. Now I have got to figure the video part out, then I can add some moving pictures here. 20 years ago, I never would have it was possible to capture video on my phone, much less a phone I got in the mail for free. I just wonder what I will be able to get for free the next time I'm ready for an upgrade in 21 months...

Yesterday was an adventure in cooking. Adam volunteered to make dinner for the group he goes to church with on Thursday evening, called "Four 14". Adam actually volunteered his mother to make chili beans, following his grandmother's recipe. Now the beans are actually pretty good, but to make 75 servings of them is very taxing mentally and physically. Another thing I didn't mention is cornbread was also part of the deal. It was up to me to figure out what we needed in regards to ingredient amounts. The church paid for the food. Now it was quite comical going through the Evil Big Box Store(tm) with a cart with 24 cans each of various sorts of beans and 12 pounds of hot Italian sausage, less comical preparing it. I browned the sausage Wednesday night. And browning 12 pounds of hot Italian sausage does open the sinuses. I brought Adam over to assist in the preparation of the rest and Kathy was opening cans while I drove to get him. We overshot our capacity. Kathy prmised...

Well, yesterday was our anniversary. Kathy and I have been married now for 31 years. Where do you go when you are unemployed, but want to celebrate? If you get the right emails, you can celebrate on a budget and get a good meal. We went to the "Historic Smithville Inn." We had buy one get one free deal, as I'm on their email list. Smithville is a nice quiet town, not that far from Rittman. I think their main source of income is state route 585. The locals know what I mean. The weather yesterday made the dinner more of a treat. We both ordered creamed chicken over biscuits. We had plenty to eat and with the drinks and discount, the bill came to $11.03. And I did tip based on the full value, before discount, of the meal. I hope everybody is having a super day!

As all my long time readers know, I have lightened up on my blog's antihero, WTAM/1100 afternoon personality, Mike Trivisonno , since the passing of his wife, Linda, last year. This is not post where I'm starting back, but one where I will post a link to his site. April 9 and 10, there will be a benefit show, hosted by Triv . The proceeds from this will go to the Ireland Cancer Center in Linda's name. The link I have given will direct you to the Triv page at WTAM.com where there is a place to donate. Having two siblings who have died from cancer makes me want to see this be a success.

Last night Kathy wasn't feeling all that well. both physically and emotionally. Usually the prescription that works best for her is a package of Reese's peanut butter cups, or it's seasonal equivalent. Being after 10pm, the best place to go was into Wadsworth since Rite Aid closes at 10. So onward I go, to Evil Big Box Store(tm) #2966. I hadn't shaved all day, and my shirt had a stain from supper. You know what that means, don't you? This means the time is ripe for running into someone I haven't seen for years. But that didn't happen. This time, I ran into a reader of this blog, whom I met last night for the first time. But once again, I met him at the Evil Big Box Store(tm). Cliff Note: Please note that I have never said I don't shop there. As I was pushing my cart through the produce department, I'm asked, "Is your name Cliff?" I answer in the affirmative. "Cliff Feightner?" Again I answer yes. He then told me that he read my bl...

Anyone in Northern Wayne County(Ohio) reading this should read the police report in this week's issue of The Post. This contains reports from the police departments of Rittman and Doylestown. Anyway, this week there was a complaint filed from a resident of Doylestown. He claimed that his neighbor's dog keeps defecating in his yard. When the police arrived at his residence, he said that he didn't see the neighbor's dog leave the latest deposit and there were tracks leading in all directions. He didn't see the the alleged perpetrator of the crime, or the master. He suggested to the police that they take sample and have it tested for DNA. The police told him that this would too costly for the crime, a minor misdemeanor. You really can't make this stuff up.

...it's Confessions of a Domestic Diva! Although our friend Tracey isn't new here, her latest blog is. Tracey has been a long distance friend of mine for over 1-1/2 years and was the author of another blog. She had felt that blog had run it's course and she launched this one late last year. Tracey is in the insurance business(but we love her all the same), and she also is a very faithful wife, mother and friend. I originally met her through Busy Bee Suz , as they are life long friends. If you haven't met Tracey yet, go on over and enjoy what she has to share, her love for her family and her love for the Lord. You will enjoy her view of life. And Tracey will enjoy the fact that I thought of doing this post as I was downloading "The old white guy" on my mp3 player.

As I noted in my last post, I come across this treasure while killing time at Goodwill. It was a copy of "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom on cassette. It cost me $1.50. Over a year ago, I got a copy of the book at another thrift shop and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was impressed by how much an easy read the book was. It also prompted me to get a copy of "The Five People you Meet in Heaven," also by Mitch Albom. I enjoyed that book too. Monday when I saw the audiobook, I thought I would give it a listen, and I'm glad I did. For those who hadn't read the book, or otherwise know the story, Morrie Schwartz was Mitch Albom's favorite college professor. They lost touch for 16 years, but resumed their friendship when Albom saw Schwartz being interviewed by Ted Koppel on Nightline. Morrie was suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS. ALS, once diagnosed, is a death sentence, and Morrie was about to teach his final course. Mitch was his only stude...

The company I interviewed for last week passed up on one of the best candidates, as they informed me that I did not get the job. This means something better is waiting for me elsewhere. Furthermore, I'm not feeling sorry for myself yet. We are still down to one car , as the WIXYmobile is getting some major transmission work. I should have it back by the end of the week. About the Kmart liquidation: Kmart does not control the prices at the stores which are having the going out of business sales. There is a liquidation company which controls the pricing. My daughter had informed me of that and the local Fox affiliate ran a story on their news last night confirming that. Catch me here in the next couple of days, as I tell about my latest treasure from Goodwill.

..It's the Total Money Makeover live event, and it will be simulcast across the USA. Above is a scan of the flier to the simulcast I will be attending in Wooster, Ohio at the Grace Brethren Church. The times listed are in the Eastern time zone. Click on the image to see the details where most of us can read them. Cliff Note: If you can read it without enlarging, I envy you. I wear trifocals . For info where others in the United States can catch the local simulcast click here. It will contain advice your grandma would give, only Dave keeps his teeth in.