I was looking for something for a coworker yesterday and was going through a bunch of thumb drives. I actually found some photos that I had forgotten about. Look at this gem:
Sam and I took a trip down to Cleveland for our anniversary one year. We visited the Christmas Story House and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The photo above was one of those green screen pictures they take when you first walk in. They used this ridiculous pose and put us on stage with a huge crowd in front of us in one picture. My favorite was this one.
This one made me think of the Dr. Hook song “On the Cover of the Rolling Stone.” Neither one of us thought that our pose was good, but it made us laugh, so we bought the pictures. When I found it I actually chuckled out loud remembering the first time we looked at it.
That was a fantastic trip! It reminds me that we are overdue for a getaway for the two of us!
One thing I hate about working second shift is I lose Friday nights. One thing that was a very common thing for us to do on Friday nights when we first moved up to the area was go to the local hockey game.
We moved up to the Flint area in about 1999. There was a minor league hockey team called the Flint Generals. Watching these guys was an absolute blast. There was no bad seat in the arena. These guys would be hitting the glass right in front of you.
Our station used to sponsor games there. We gave away tickets all the time. It was a cheap night of fun. At some point, and I don’t remember exactly what the details of it were, team was disbanded. This left the town without a hockey team.
Now today we have a very successful hockey team called The Flint Firebirds. It’s very similar to the hockey that we watched when the Generals were around. Up north in Saginaw, they have the Saginaw Spirit and they’re kind of our rivals. The team actually plays pretty well, however the tickets aren’t as cheap as that used to be and neither is the concessions. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a game.
I tell you all of that, to tell you this. In between the Firebirds and the Generals, there was a short-lived team. This team was the Michigan Warriors. It was in a league that was lower than the other two teams, and it was mainly college kids playing. You might see a fight now and then, but it wasn’t as often as the other two teams. It still made for a good night out.
When the news broke that there was another hockey team coming to town, they had a contest or something who name the mascot. The mascot was a skeleton and that went right along with the logo of the team. Eventually, they called the mascot Skully. My kids absolutely loved him.
Whoever they had inside that suit was just absolutely fantastic with people. I really miss those games.
Somewhere in my basement, is my Michigan warriors jersey, which probably won’t fit me anymore!
37 years ago this week I graduated from high school. I was such a band nerd in high school. Band was my life in high school. It was a place where you were accepted, you worked together, and core memories were made.
I remember my sophomore and junior years playing music before the commencement ceremony began. The entire band played together until a couple minutes before the senior class walked out and to their seats. The seniors from band would get up shortly before then and take their place in line. After one more song, the remaining lower classmen would play Pomp and Circumstance as the seniors walked in.
I have posted pictures on this blog before of me conducting the band at graduation. That is a memory that will not fade any time soon. It was such an amazing moment. After the number I conducted, another senior (our drum major) got his turn to conduct the band. I can’t recall the number we played before we had to leave the band and get in line, but I remember the sadness that overwhelmed me as our group of seniors got up.
Our band director, Tom Shaner, was such a mentor and friend to me. That remained the case long after high school. When he passed away, I wrote about him. You can read that here.
As we walked to join our class, my friend Joe (who is in at the right of the photo) and I took a detour and walked past Mr. Shaner. There was no way I was walking by without hugging him. I was so grateful that my parents caught this moment on camera. I’m not sure, but I was probably crying. LOL
One thing that I never really noticed in the picture is that my friend Mary (who went on to teach) is actually snapping a picture of the moment, too. Next to her is my friend Theresa whose left leg is in a pink cast. If memory serves me right, she had broke it just a couple weeks before dancing at our band banquet.
If I go back and compare this photo to the one of me conducting, I could probably tell you who is next to Theresa. I don’t recognize the legs or shoes in this picture. LOL
I cannot even believe that it has been 37 years. What I wouldn’t give to be able to experience sitting in band class again. What I wouldn’t give to have one more chat with Mr. Shaner.
I’m not sure kids today realize just how special those high school years are. Good high school experiences will stay with you for a lifetime. The bad experiences will too. I pray that kindness, encouragement, and friendships overcome bullying, hatred, and the cruelty that is found in so many schools today.
I’m glad that I can look back fondly at mostly good memories from high school.
Every now and then I find a picture that I have taken that I haven’t posted anywhere. In searching for another photo, I actually stumbled on one. Now, I didn’t take it, but we had someone take it for us.
For newer readers to this blog, back in 2019 I shared the story of how my wife and I came to be wed. It was a three part blog. First, how we met, dated, and such. The second was the proposal and finally our wedding.
I proposed to her on a horse drawn carriage ride in Frankenmuth, MI. The story is one that always seems to get a laugh or two. This photo was taken at the end of our ride and after she said “yes.”
For those who don’t know the story, you can read it here – The Proposal.
I forgot just how good this picture is. I wish the horse hadn’t moved, though.
I found some more Moose pictures that made me laugh this week. I am not sure if this was for a charity event or if it was a St. Jude Fundraiser. Our staff was asked to play in a basketball game. They got us uniforms with the station logo on the front and each of us had part of “94.5” on the back.
I’m not sure what $24 dollars was going to do for us, but I did try to bribe the official to make things go in our favor.
There is no doubt that we were all pooped after the game. We’re all red faced and gasping for air. The next picture was one that made me laugh out loud. Morning guy Jim Biggins is holding his knee in pain, intern Crack of Dawn Shawn is flat on his back, morning gal Jodi K is the only one who doesn’t look like she’s exhausted, and I look like I am dying!
I don’t remember much about this game. If I were to guess, we lost. Events like this were one of the reasons I loved working in radio!
Back when I worked at B-95 in Flint, for whatever reason, my boss and I always greeted each other the same way. Oddly enough, when we call each other on the phone, we still do it. I’ll say, “Brian Cleary, ladies and gentlemen!” and he says, “Keith Allen Everybody!” (or vice versa)
Our morning guy from B-95, JB, wound up doing mornings at the Moose shortly after I started working there. He was aware of this exchange and used it on occasion, so I’m thinking he was responsible for one of today’s photos.
The first few years we did our St. Jude radiothon, we broadcast from center court of the local mall. One year, they rented a sign to show the running tally of the money we raised. Sometime shortly after I started my show, I looked over and noticed the sign.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Eventually, they moved the radiothon back to the on air studio. All the stats showed that stations raised more money this way. Less distractions, I suppose. I truly missed those mall broadcasts, though.
I loved the interaction with listeners. I loved seeing all the silent auction items that people could bid on. I loved being out in public doing the show. It gave me an energy that I didn’t get while in the studio. You get to watch people watch you and react to what you are doing on the air. It was unique and I loved every second of it.
Today’s photos are not only a flashback, but they tie into a current situation as well.
You may remember that last fall, Andrew was playing soccer. I say “playing soccer,” but it is more of a game oriented introduction to the game. There were days that he loved playing and days that he hated playing. Some drills were fun and some were not.
What I didn’t remember was that when the fall session was over, there was a spring session that went along with it. That session will begin this weekend.
Parents are expected to be out on the field with the little ones. Last year, we ran up and down the field cheering them on and helping them do the drills/games. Ella wasn’t signed up to play, but she joined it and played, too.
My wife was the one who got all the text messages about soccer. Last weekend, she says to me, “I guess they need a few more volunteers to help coach this session.” (Read that “Keith, I think you should help coach soccer this session.”) I do not know the first thing about soccer. Kick the ball in the net and don’t use your hands. That’s really all I know.
I purposely waited a couple days before calling to see if they still needed help. I hoped that they would tell me that they had all the folks they needed. Instead, I was greeted with “We are SO glad that you have volunteered to coach! We’ll get you set up with all the equipment you need and a coaches shirt. You will love it!”
I found out that before I could coach, I had to watch about 2 hours of videos. Some were on the beliefs of the league while another was on what to do and not do. Then there was a series of videos about concussions, how to recognize them, and what to do if a player has one. Then there was a series of videos about kids in sports and cardiac arrest. These videos were really thorough!
So, this weekend, I will venture out and do what I can to help the little soccer players. I have to meet someone extra early this weekend to get all I need. They have paired me up with another late to the coaching game coach. Hopefully, we will be able to get the job done.
I may have to stroll over to Barnes and Noble to pick up a book before the game …
Tomorrow marks the 31st anniversary of my paternal grandfather’s passing. My maternal grandfather passed away 13 years earlier and taught me that those near and dear to me won’t be here forever. Because of that, I became very close to my paternal grandfather.
I have blogged about him and the special relationship we had in the past. I was devastated when he passed away. I find myself quoting him and thinking of him a lot.
My dad posted a picture of him on social media last week. He said he was thinking about his dad. He had posted a picture of him, my grandma, my great aunt and my great grandma. I went to a folder on my hard drive looking for that picture to post, but instead I stumbled on another photo.
The photo is of my grandpa and my dad when he was younger. They are sitting on a couch together. My dad and I look a lot alike today, but there are photos of him as a kid where he looks like me, too. The picture of him and my grandpa reminded me that there was a similar picture of me and him together. Coincidentally, it is also taken while we sit on a couch.
I found each of these separate, and seeing them side by side for the first time is really neat. There is no doubt that big eyebrows run in the family!
One day I will have to go back and dig deeper into these pictures and talk about the stuff in the background. For now, it is all about “Pops.” I truly miss him.
Today’s photo flashback takes me back to one of the craziest trips I’ve ever been on. My buddy Steve asked me and a bunch of friends to go up to his parent’s place for a weekend fishing trip. It was a weekend to remember, although some of the guys don’t remember much of it.
As I recall, we all arrived at his parent’s place in the afternoon. Each of us had brought beer to drink. Once we were settled, there was a bonfire. We were all telling stories and laughing while drinking the beer. Next door, it sounded like they had been partying for much of the day. A couple of the guys went over to say hello. They came back saying that they had a lot of booze and that we should all go over later.
We had planned on getting up early to head to Skidway Lake to fish the next day, so after a while, a couple of us decided to call it a night. Others decided to go back next door to hoop it up a bit. They paid for it that night and the next day. My best friend, Jeff, and I had nabbed bunk beds when we arrived. I was on the top bunk and asleep before he got back from next door.
In the middle of the night, I could hear him throwing up below me. I figured he’d grabbed a trash can or something. It wasn’t aware until the next morning that the receptacle he threw up in was my shoe! Thankfully, he was kind enough to clean it while hung over.
The above photo makes me a little sad. I was at my goal weight when this picture was taken. I really wish I could get back down to that weight. I’m trying.
When we walked outside in the morning, I remember seeing all the beer bottles on the picnic table and laughed like crazy. I had to get a picture of it. I think we all took it easy that night and only had a beer or two.
As far as the fishing trip itself? Skidway Lake is not too deep. We were pulling up 3 inch fish. It was quite humorous actually. We almost always got a fish with every cast, although there were far from anything you’d share with anyone.
Despite his hangover, Jeff caught the biggest fish of the trip!
I got a call this week from my oldest son. He was so excited to tell me that he is getting his own place. He is ready to move into his own apartment. I’m very proud of him. He has been working a lot and getting himself in a place where he can do this.
As a parent, you truly hope that they have learned how to budget and keep all the bills in mind. He has always been pretty good with his earnings, so I think he will be fine. I hope that this means we’ll be able to get together for lunch or dinner more.
We’ve had some very special father/son moments. The one that stick out the most is our trip to Louisville Kentucky. He got onto the robotics team at his high school. That year they won their division and also went on to the state competition. While there, us parents cheered them on and they qualified to go to the national competition in Kentucky.
On our trip down, we stopped at a place for an amazing breakfast. On the way down, we hit a spot where there was a huge traffic jam. While we waited in traffic, I decided to see what we could do on the evenings after each round of competition. I found out that there was a minor league baseball team and their park was about 10 minutes from where we were staying.
I hoped that there was a home game during our stretch, and there was! I ordered tickets in the traffic jam and planned our outing. We had great seats and enjoyed all the things you enjoy at the ball park – hot dogs, pop (beer for me), nachos, etc.
We got their early enough to be able to swing into the team store. We were sure to get something (a bat I think) for his brother. We each got team baseball hats. That night at Louisville Slugger Field was a a fantastic father and son trip. We got the see the Louisville Bats win the game and walked away with memory neither of us will forget.
The robotics team did pretty good for their first time at the national competition, but there were other teams that had been there many times. I guess this is where you say, “It is not about winning or losing. It’s about the experience.” It certainly was a great experience.!
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 