I wonder sometimes what it's like being in Oprah Winfrey's family. Having all your laundry put out there for the entire world to see. I also wonder how much of it is really true or to what extent. I will put my hand up right now and say I cannot stand Oprah Winfrey. Truthfully I feel like she makes half the stuff up about her life for the sake of having something sensational to put on her show for the sake of viewership numbers.
Yesterday was a perfect example of that manipulation. They teased all weekend about a "shocking family secret" coming up on Monday! Ohhhhhhhhhh, awwwwwwww. Then this shocking secret that Oprah says "shook her to the core" is that she has a half sister she just found out about! What a waste of suspense.
I, too, have a half brother I've never met. I've known for a long time that I did. I don't remember being shook to the core when I found out. I have no desire to meet him or know where he is or what he's done with his life. I can't say the same for my mother. I know that she would love to find him and meet him and will till the day she dies. I wish I shared her heart's desire for her sake, but I just don't. I'm a believer that everything happens for a reason, and you should leave well enough alone. I have a sister who's one of my best friends and that's all the siblings I need.
I also have a half-eaten potato salad in the fridge. Maybe I should do a whole show of my own about that. Ratings grabber I say!
Tia
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Dude Doesn't Need a Wingman!
I got this email via Facebook today from some dude. I'm going to assume it's a scam, but for just a moment I had butterflies (rolling eyes...throw up in my mouth a bit butterflies)...read and enjoy!
"Hope you don`t mind my email because I was just surfing through my matches as it was sent to me by this site and I guess your profile captured my minds eyes, Oh I’m sorry for not introducing myself, your beauty almost took me on hostage, Am James. I’m new here and am hoping you could say hi and let’s see what fate has for us, do you believe in Faith? Sweetie, why don`t you tell me a little about yourself, you know a journey of a thousand miles always begins with a step really wish to get to know you and start correspondence with you to see what we can make out of this. I am eager to get a response from you soonest on my private email"
I think he forgot to ask me "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven like that".
PASS!
Tia
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Stealing our Format
Every few years, not unlike any format, country music goes through this cycle of cookie cutter-ness in order to survive. It went through it in the mid 90's when even Garth Brooks was struggling to put out a good product that radio and fans were receptive to.Sadly our format is, in my opinion, back in that boat.
Every time it happens, someone comes along and saves our dying format. Say what you will about Shania, but she was very instrumental during that dry spell in making our format sell-able again, even though it was a mediocre product. The world suddenly took notice and the format had a breath of well needed fresh air blown into its weak lungs. Shortly after, the Dixie Chicks came along and took it to whole new heights, only they actually kept the element of "country" in it.
The major difference nowadays, is that the artists coming along are "Shanias". Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and so forth. By Shanias, I mean they're artists who sell records like hot cakes, but they're also artists who other formats are raping us of. The other day a friend told me she was listening to a Hot AC station in our market that played Sugarland, Keith Urban and Johnny Reid back to back! Can you believe that?? AC stations are doing the same.
So as a country format, what are we doing about it to make our product retain our listeners? What can you do really? You can' t tell the other stations to stop or you'll spank them. You can't tell Keith Urban to make his music sound more country.
Here's what we should be doing. We should be reaping the benefits of the strength that country "gold" music offers us. Those other stations aren't going to suddenly start playing Mark Chesnutt, or Clay Walker, or Clint Black, or Lorrie Morgan, or Pam Tillis or the older George Strait stuff. So why not play it!? It's like an oil well in your back yard that you're not doing a damn thing about. You and I grew up listening to that stuff. It's a part of our being and it sounds damn good on the radio.
Am I wrong?
Tia
Every time it happens, someone comes along and saves our dying format. Say what you will about Shania, but she was very instrumental during that dry spell in making our format sell-able again, even though it was a mediocre product. The world suddenly took notice and the format had a breath of well needed fresh air blown into its weak lungs. Shortly after, the Dixie Chicks came along and took it to whole new heights, only they actually kept the element of "country" in it.
The major difference nowadays, is that the artists coming along are "Shanias". Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and so forth. By Shanias, I mean they're artists who sell records like hot cakes, but they're also artists who other formats are raping us of. The other day a friend told me she was listening to a Hot AC station in our market that played Sugarland, Keith Urban and Johnny Reid back to back! Can you believe that?? AC stations are doing the same.
So as a country format, what are we doing about it to make our product retain our listeners? What can you do really? You can' t tell the other stations to stop or you'll spank them. You can't tell Keith Urban to make his music sound more country.
Here's what we should be doing. We should be reaping the benefits of the strength that country "gold" music offers us. Those other stations aren't going to suddenly start playing Mark Chesnutt, or Clay Walker, or Clint Black, or Lorrie Morgan, or Pam Tillis or the older George Strait stuff. So why not play it!? It's like an oil well in your back yard that you're not doing a damn thing about. You and I grew up listening to that stuff. It's a part of our being and it sounds damn good on the radio.
Am I wrong?
Tia
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tia to the Max
Do things happen in 3's? I'm hoping that holds true with the lotto luck I've been having as of late. First a free play, then the next week $2. Today I bought my coffee and lotto max ticket feeling like it was my time to shine.
Statistically speaking though, it's probably not going to happen. The odds are about 1 in 30 million, and I'm not sure what kind of person I've been for god or whoever's in charge these days to bestow some goodness on me. Geographically, it's probably not Saskatchewan's turn to come up big in the "random" draws. New Years eve we had two Maxmillion winners. Last week I think there was an Alberta winner. This weekend's win will likely come from PEI, BC or Manitoba. Poor Manitoba doesn't get a lot of winners. I think it's because of they have a football team named the "Bombers" personally, but who am I to say?
But perchance I defy the odds, what would I do with $32 million or even half of it? This workin' for a living thing would be over in a real hurry I can tell you that! I'd buy a place on Jekkyl Island and golf day and night, or until the Georgia skeeters ate me up, whichever comes first. I'd also buy a place in Toronto, flip houses in Cabbagetown, and busk in Kensington Market. Obviously I wouldn't need the busking money, it would just be great material to blog and webisode with! I would probably go back to school as well and take something that would be useful should I ever blow my wad of cash too fast. But I've got some mean busking skills, so I can't see money ever being a problem.
Wish me luck ;)
Tia
Statistically speaking though, it's probably not going to happen. The odds are about 1 in 30 million, and I'm not sure what kind of person I've been for god or whoever's in charge these days to bestow some goodness on me. Geographically, it's probably not Saskatchewan's turn to come up big in the "random" draws. New Years eve we had two Maxmillion winners. Last week I think there was an Alberta winner. This weekend's win will likely come from PEI, BC or Manitoba. Poor Manitoba doesn't get a lot of winners. I think it's because of they have a football team named the "Bombers" personally, but who am I to say?
But perchance I defy the odds, what would I do with $32 million or even half of it? This workin' for a living thing would be over in a real hurry I can tell you that! I'd buy a place on Jekkyl Island and golf day and night, or until the Georgia skeeters ate me up, whichever comes first. I'd also buy a place in Toronto, flip houses in Cabbagetown, and busk in Kensington Market. Obviously I wouldn't need the busking money, it would just be great material to blog and webisode with! I would probably go back to school as well and take something that would be useful should I ever blow my wad of cash too fast. But I've got some mean busking skills, so I can't see money ever being a problem.
Wish me luck ;)
Tia
Monday, January 10, 2011
Osgood Did Good
This time of year always reminds me of my first semester of college. My dad drove me to Medicine Hat with a pick up truck loaded up with all my worldly possessions, which could have fit in a Toyota Corolla truthfully. We checked into the Resident Advisor's office, paid our fees, got our keys and went to our rez building.
As soon as we opened the door, we were hit with a draft of hot air. Apparently the rez advisor (whose name was Simon if I remember correctly) was checking houses over the holidays. Ours must have been a little cool, so he turned the heat up. All the way up and then forgot to go back and turn it back down! It was so hot in that place, that without a word of a lie, I can tell you that even the frozen foods in the freezer were melted.
My poor room-mates came home expecting a Chinese room-mate. They expressed happiness I was not. But they had quite the mess of melted food to clean up thanks to a dumb boy.
Aside from that hiccup, living in that rez was one of the best times of my life. I met one of my best friends from Saskatchewan who ironically now lives 45 minutes north of my hometown in Alberta. I dated a volleyball player from the Rattlers, which apparently was kind of a big deal. Although he turned out to be a nerd. And I met a future NHL'er before he was famous.
We had been out to the club (Mario's was the hot spot then) and ended up bringing a little party back to our rez. One of the guys there was this hot shot that played for the Tigers. He was pretty lit up and decided he was going to hit on my room-mate all night. I'm not sure her interest level, because she left him passed out on our living room floor. When we woke up he was gone though. Apparently he had walked from the college area, very poorly dressed for the blizzard that day, likely hungover, all the way up to the Crescent Heights area where he lived.
That's how I'll always remember Chris Osgood. I guess even though he struck out with the ladies that night, who am I to judge? Because he's now of course a millionaire playing in the NHL.
Tia
As soon as we opened the door, we were hit with a draft of hot air. Apparently the rez advisor (whose name was Simon if I remember correctly) was checking houses over the holidays. Ours must have been a little cool, so he turned the heat up. All the way up and then forgot to go back and turn it back down! It was so hot in that place, that without a word of a lie, I can tell you that even the frozen foods in the freezer were melted.
My poor room-mates came home expecting a Chinese room-mate. They expressed happiness I was not. But they had quite the mess of melted food to clean up thanks to a dumb boy.
Aside from that hiccup, living in that rez was one of the best times of my life. I met one of my best friends from Saskatchewan who ironically now lives 45 minutes north of my hometown in Alberta. I dated a volleyball player from the Rattlers, which apparently was kind of a big deal. Although he turned out to be a nerd. And I met a future NHL'er before he was famous.
We had been out to the club (Mario's was the hot spot then) and ended up bringing a little party back to our rez. One of the guys there was this hot shot that played for the Tigers. He was pretty lit up and decided he was going to hit on my room-mate all night. I'm not sure her interest level, because she left him passed out on our living room floor. When we woke up he was gone though. Apparently he had walked from the college area, very poorly dressed for the blizzard that day, likely hungover, all the way up to the Crescent Heights area where he lived.
That's how I'll always remember Chris Osgood. I guess even though he struck out with the ladies that night, who am I to judge? Because he's now of course a millionaire playing in the NHL.
Tia
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Career Aptitude Test
When you hit grade 10, you might have gotten scheduled for a sit down with the school guidance counsellor to discuss "your future". I remember Mrs.Thorton and that tiny little dark office in a wing of the school library very well. After all the multiple choice questions one could answer, my career aptitude test suggested I go into the army or become a detective. It's ok, you can laugh out loud at that all you want, I know I did at that time!
20 years later, I think being a detective would be great! I watch Criminal Minds and NCIS all the time after all. But I did not follow those career paths. Instead I started out taking psychology. My reasoning was that I wanted to help people, but reality was, I came from a bad childhood and wanted to figure myself out moreso. That and I couldn't afford to go to university for the length of a master's degree. So I switched paths and decided to go into music production. However, somehow in my interview process, I got put into the broadcasting program instead. I thought "what the hell" and here I am today almost 20 years of radio under my belt.
I'm sure everyone questions their career path at some point. Guilty as charged! When I was living in Lethbridge in the early 2000's, I decided to look at going back to school after working in a station that was stress riddled with turmoil. I remember sitting on about the 5th hole of a golf course with my friend Linda, telling her that if I didn't get a job at the station in Medicine Hat that I had applied for, I was going back to take my New Media program which I had been accepted for. About a week later, I got the job in Medicine Hat and continued my radio path.
Present day, I often wonder where I would be if I had gone back to take that New Media program. It's a field these days that's in demand, and we radio folk know how fickle our industry is for jobs don't we? Given that situation though, would I know the people I know and have the friends I do if I had followed that path?
Catch 22 I guess.
Someday I'll figure out what I want to be when I grow up :)
Tia
20 years later, I think being a detective would be great! I watch Criminal Minds and NCIS all the time after all. But I did not follow those career paths. Instead I started out taking psychology. My reasoning was that I wanted to help people, but reality was, I came from a bad childhood and wanted to figure myself out moreso. That and I couldn't afford to go to university for the length of a master's degree. So I switched paths and decided to go into music production. However, somehow in my interview process, I got put into the broadcasting program instead. I thought "what the hell" and here I am today almost 20 years of radio under my belt.
I'm sure everyone questions their career path at some point. Guilty as charged! When I was living in Lethbridge in the early 2000's, I decided to look at going back to school after working in a station that was stress riddled with turmoil. I remember sitting on about the 5th hole of a golf course with my friend Linda, telling her that if I didn't get a job at the station in Medicine Hat that I had applied for, I was going back to take my New Media program which I had been accepted for. About a week later, I got the job in Medicine Hat and continued my radio path.
Present day, I often wonder where I would be if I had gone back to take that New Media program. It's a field these days that's in demand, and we radio folk know how fickle our industry is for jobs don't we? Given that situation though, would I know the people I know and have the friends I do if I had followed that path?
Catch 22 I guess.
Someday I'll figure out what I want to be when I grow up :)
Tia
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