Monday, December 19, 2011

There's Nothing On!

My daughter made a random comment the other day while we were riding in the car. Some of our best conversations start like this. She wondered why the networks run all of the great Christmas shows right after Thanksgiving! Here it is a week til Christmas when you're in the mood and there's nothing!

I never thought about it, but it's true. I think "Rudolph" was on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. They were running promos for it during the Macy's Parade.

What are some of the favorites?
- RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER
- CHARLIE BROWN
- SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
- FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

I know that most of these shows are available on dvd but I guess it just goes back to my childhood that I like to sit down with a bowl of popcorn, turn on the tube and be entertained.

Monday, December 5, 2011

I have a beautiful nativity set that my mother made and it is always a joy to put it out for the Christmas season. I must say, my eyes hurt after I found these on the internet this weekend:




Monday! Why does this keep happening??!!

Someone pointed out today that there are only two more Mondays until Christmas. That's either cool.....or time to panic if you are like me and haven't started your shopping yet.

If you missed the Impossible Question today, it was the same one we had last Friday..."Only 9% of us have ever done this during the holiday season. Done what?" The answer was: Roast Chestnuts. (Cue up Nat King Cole!) I've never eaten any but I have smelled it and if memory serves me well, they don't smell very good. A few years ago I had an appearance at the Padanarum Christmas Stroll and they were roasting chesnuts on the sidewalk. Gotta say I was not a fan.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Can you help?

Saturday is our annual can drive "Cans Across the Park" at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford.

My crew tells me I get like this every year. Worried. I get worried that we won't make it. We try to make a line of canned goods through the middle of Buttonwood Park. We've been doing this for almost 20 years but the need is so great this year and people are so busy I always get worried that we won't make it.

A colleague told me this week that the need is 3 times as great this year as people are still struggling.

We will be donating food to the Red Cross, St. Martin's Church, the First Congregational in Fairhaven, the Dartmouth Council on Aging and Mercy Meals.

Please join us Saturday from 10am to 2pm at Buttonwood Park. Greater New Bedford has never let us down before. I hope to see you.

Thanks

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Tuesday

Fun on the show today as we spoke with Eva Larue who plays Natalia BoaVista on "CSI MIAMI." Not sure how I feel about the fact that they film the show in LA! I love to watch the beauty of Miami, now that I know the truth.....oh whatever.

Another favorite story today was the release of William Shatner's new album. He sings, or should I say, "speaks" "BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY." It was....uh.....interesting? It's funny....it's so bad....it just makes you want to check it out. Typical Americans. We watch NASCAR and wait for the crash.

Another highlight from today was the sunrise. We had just the right amount of clouds to make it a masterpiece. If you believe in a higher power, it made me pause and reflect on the beauty of this planet.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Do you Doodle?

WHAT YOUR DOODLE SAYS ABOUT YOU (Daily Mail)

FACES: The expression on a doodled face is often a good indication of the mood or character of the person who has drawn it. A nicely drawn, good-looking face suggests you see the good in others. If you sketch weird or ugly faces, you are probably mistrustful. Comic faces demonstrate a desire to be the centre of attention. Child-like doodles of faces suggest neediness. Profiles indicate you're an introvert.

CHESS BOARD: The black and white checkerboard doodle suggests patience and persistence. Perhaps you are weighing-up various options regarding a tricky situation? It's also the favorite doodle of people who are prone to mood swings.

FLOWERS: Soft, rounded petals around a circular flower centre suggest an amiable, family-centric person. If the center of your flower is a circle, but your petals are pointy, you are probably hiding a warm heart behind a prickly defensiveness. If you doodle a bunch of perky-looking flowers you are likely to be sociable. Drooping flower heads, on the other hand, indicate you're burdened by worry.

BUTTER: Flighty and romantic, fluttering butterflies, birds and bees suggest you don't want to be tied down -- or landed with difficult tasks or problems.

HEARTS: Obviously a romantic doodle. Drawing a heart indicates you're in love with love.

INTRICATE PATTERNS: Busy, highly-detailed doodles are often drawn by people with an obsessive nature, who simply will not let go of their ambitions or loved ones. This type of drawing is often a favorite with extreme introverts.

STAIRS OR LADDER: Symbols of ambition and a willingness to work your way methodically 'up the ladder' in life, drawings of stairs and ladders also often indicate you have an important, long-term task in hand. They can represent a spiritual quest, too, perhaps a desire to be happier or more relaxed.

ARROWS: A determined person with a specific goal in mind will draw arrows, subconsciously 'aiming' at his or her 'target'. If the arrow is sharp and angular, the target probably is something important -- perhaps a person who needs to be confronted or a job that needs to be applied for.

BOATS AND PLANES: Doodling any form of transport often indicates a desire to escape from a situation.

HOUSE: This common doodle indicates a need for security. A neat drawing of a house suggests a secure home life, a more messy-looking sketch (especially one without windows) indicates unhappiness with your home life. A house pictured on its own on top of a hill suggests you're feeling isolated and lonely.

SPIDER'S WEB: This can symbolize a feeling of being trapped -- or the desire to entice someone into a particular relationship or situation.

NAMES OR INITIALS: Doodling your name or initials is common for those who enjoy being the centre of attention. Teenagers often doodle just their first name or the initial of their Christian name, indicating a desire to break away from the family and do their own thing. Doodling someone else's name, on the other hand, shows they are in your thoughts -- perhaps romantically or because they are a presenting a problem you need to deal with.

STARS: Stars are often drawn by ambitious people. Lots of little stars indicate optimism. If you've drawn one big, bold, embellished star, you've got a definite goal in your sights. Neat, uniform stars suggest good mental focus, while freehand, asymmetric stars show an energetic personality.

SQUARES OR BOXES: Drawing a square indicates you want control of a situation -- that you are thinking through a problem. If your squares progress to a cube or box, you're likely to be a very efficient, analytical person who can deal with difficult situations with little fuss.

ZIGZAGS: Just as patterns made up of soft, flowing, curvy lines suggest a romantic, female approach to things, patterns made up of lots of straight lines, indicate more aggressive masculine characteristics. Zigzags are a particularly common doodle and show energetic thinking and a desire to get on with things.

STICK FIGURE: Commonly doodled by highly successful people, the simple stick figure reveals someone who is in control of their emotions and incredibly focused on their goals in life.

Friday, September 9, 2011

9/11 Specials

ANNIVERSARY TV SPECIALS

Friday, September 9th

9/11: The Days After (9 p.m., History Channel) -- Documentary from the filmmakers behind 102 Minutes That Changed America looks at the chain of events caused by the attacks.

Saturday, September 10th

Voices From Inside the Towers (9 p.m., History Channel) -- About the audio messages left by Twin Towers victims and survivors who tried to contact family and friends from inside the burning buildings.

Portraits from Ground Zero (10 p.m., A&E) -- Profile of subjects in photos taken by Andrea Booher, only of only two photographers who were allowed unlimited, 24-hour access to Ground Zero in the days after the attacks.

The Love We Make (9 p.m., Showtime) -- Overview of how Paul McCartney quickly put together the huge benefit Concert for New York City six weeks after the attacks.


Sunday, September 11th

9/11: 10 Years Later (8 p.m., CBS) -- Filmmakers Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet and James Hanlon update their acclaimed film 9/11 with new interviews with some of the firefighters from the original. The special hosted by Robert DeNiro also looks at some of the health problems the first responders are facing. The French Naudet brothers happened to be following a company of firefighters on 9/11 and filmed the first plane striking the north tower, one of only two known filmed images of the impact.

Making the 9/11 Memorial (8 p.m., History Channel) -- Documentary on the National September 11 Memorial, which is opening on the same day.
The Twins of the Twin Towers (9 p.m., OWN) -- Tells the story of the more than 40 men and women who lost a twin in the attacks.

Great Performances: A Concert for New York (9 p.m., PBS) -- The New York Philharmonic performs Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Resurrection.
Rebirth (9 p.m., Showtime) -- This Sundance Film Festival honoree looks at a decade in the life of five people who were significantly impacted by the 9/11 attacks, at the same time as it gives a time-lapsed look at the evolution of the National September 11 Memorial.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Day After The Day After

Life is slowly getting back to normal. I know there are some people that are still without power and I feel for you. Ours came back yesterday morning so we were out for about 24 hours.

We are still getting calls from folks at the station that don't have power and they are getting pretty upset. We were talking yesterday...can you imagine if this had been a bigger storm, say a Category 4! If we have this many people affected, what would have happened then?

If you're still out....good luck. Remember to smell it before you eat it!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

What?

Anyone who has listened to the show for awhile knows I spend alot of time at local ballfields. It's either baseball or softball a few times a week.

It's not unusual to hear parents cheering from the stands or shouting encouragement. Many times they coach from the stands which drives me and the other coaches CRAZY! I always want to say, "If you want to coach, give up three or four nights a week like the rest of us and volunteer, otherwise please be quiet so I can coach."

The point I want to make though is something I'm hearing more and more of this year. That's the parent that not only coaches from the stands, but criticizes and, at times, yells at their child from the stands. I don't even yell and I'm the coach. I believe in instruction,positive reinforcements and correcting mistakes when they happen with instruction on how to do it better the next time. What does yelling and criticizing accomplish? Most kids I know will shut down and tune you out.

Lately I've started worrying about some of these children. I wonder what they have to deal with at home. If the parent will yell and criticize at a park filled with people, what do they do at home behind closed doors?

Monday, June 6, 2011

Pomp and Circumstance

It was a great day yesterday as thousands of students graduated around our area. I was at Fairhaven High School as my son Doug graduated. It was nice to see everyone there in their caps and gowns.

Dr. Robert Baldwin gave a speech and asked how many of us had graduated from high school. He then asked how many could remember what their Superintendant had said that day. No one could of course. He reminded the students that what was important was who was there. Family and friends and how they are always there for us.

I wish all of the grads the best of luck with their future endeavours. This is not an ending but a new beginning and let's see where the road leads.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Bruins! Woohoo!

So Game 1 is tonight and the fans are coming out of the woodwork and.....I don't have a problem with that. I know that some people get upset with the "pink hats." Some fans don't like those that jump on the bandwagon, but I'm okay with it. The more the merrier!

Bruins jerseys, hats, and tshirts are flying off the shelves, statues in Boston have shirts on, anywhere you can put a logo you'll see one. Even the ducklings at Boston Common (the Make Way For Ducklings statues) are decorated.

I think it's great. I salute the fans that were there through the lean years but let's all have a good time!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tuesday, May 31st

Random thoughts on this Tuesday-That-Feels-Like-A-Monday:

-The Bruins are in the Stanley Cup Finals! Haven't typed that in awhile. Who do you like? Of course I'm going to say the Bruins BUT! This will be the toughest series yet. Let's hope. I just hope people don't go too crazy if they win. We have a friend on the State SWAT team and I'm sure they're practicing already.

-Asking myself why I hate Lebron so much? Porbably that whole "Decision" thing and I don't like what he did to Cleveland.

-Can Sarah Palin really think she'll be elected President? I just don't think she's smart enough. Do you want her in the White House trying to figure out our economic situation?

-I think Obama vs. Mitt Romeny will be a good campaign.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Play ball!

We had a good meeting this week with Robin and Rita, the owners of the New Beford Bay Sox. The Bay Sox are getting ready for a new season, their third at Walsh Field in New Bedford.

The players have been signed and now we just wait for the start of the season in June.

WBSM will be getting involved this year with ticket giveaways and Jack Peterson and I will broadcast the home opener on June 12th. We also hope to get involved with the Bay Sox Literacy programs in area schools.

Looking forward to it!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

We The Jury......

Does anyone ever get that letter in the mail about Jury Duty and say "Alright! Jury Duty!!!" I didn't think so.

Yes tomorrow is my turn. I have Jury Duty in Fall River. My wife told me to ask for an extension. I guess you can put if off a few times. I've had friends tell me all kinds of ways to get out of it. I guess I'm crazy because I don't really mind.

No I wasn't happy when the letter arrived, but I figure I'll just get it over with. I've been before. A couple of times I was on stand-by and didn't have to go. Once I went and then got dismissed after a couple of hours. Once I served and was even appointed Foreman. That was interesting.

I just hope it's not an all day thing where you wait and wait to find out that both sides have settled. I hate wasting time. But it's my duty.....so here we go.....

Monday, March 7, 2011

Paid for by the committee to.....

Getting caught up on a few things here....

It's been a busy couple of days here, what with life in general and our trip to Florida. I didn't have a chance to blog about the new developments in the Mayor's race in New Bedford.

I was surprised to hear about John Saunders pulling out of the race for Mayor. I really thought that this was the year he was going to go for it. It was looking like he would be one of the front runners in this year's race. John decided to pull out because of family considerations. He has a 13 year old son and he wants to spend time watching him play baseball.

I was very surprised to hear that Matt Morrissey is also pulling out of the Mayor's race. I felt like Matt had been waiting to run for Mayor since the last time he had run for mayor. He also pointed to his family as the reason for not running. Matt has 4 young children and wants to see them grow up.

I salute both of these men. It must have been a very difficult decision but I'm sure it is the right one for their families. I have had the pleasure of being there to see most, if not all, of my children's games and special events and while it has meant some professional sacrifice, those are the things you can't get bck.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

I Can't Imagine

I can't imagine having so much free time on my hands.

I was working on tomorrow's show. (Yes, we do actually sit and plan some of this stuff) Tomorrow is Clancy Brown's birthday. He is the voice of MR. Krabs on "Spongebob" on Nickolodean. I thought it would be nice to have a sound clip of Mr. Krab's to add a little "flava" to the segment. So, I went on youtube and did a search for Mr. Krabs. WOW! There are more than 5,000 videos and these are not episodes from the show. They are various clips, many of which are set to music. Some.....VERY ODD.

That leads me to today's title..."I Can't Imagine." Imagine having all that free time?? Would you spend it putting Mr. Krabs cartoon clips to music? Imagine if we did something helpful and productive with that time?

In second thought, I guess it did help me to be productive and come up with something else to talk about and scratch my head about.