A Listening List 3

After a very nice weekend, the details of which I'll share with you in an upcoming post, it's time to wrap up this blog series. 

So far, I've shared with you the Disney based and TV connected podcasts I listen to on a weekly basis. 

Today, I'm going to share with you the podcasts that have a connection with radio, and one that doesn't really fit into any of the previously mentioned genres. 
In addition I will share with you some other sources I turn to for audio entertainment throughout my day. 

The Bob & Sherri Show: Bob Lacey and Sherri Lynch have had a syndicated morning drive radio show out of Charlotte, North Carolina since 1992. 

I started listening to them on a local Kentucky affiliate when I first moved to the south. They were the morning drive program on at least one local station or another for about the first 10 years I lived here. I had the opportunity to meet them during their stop in Bowling Green back in 2006. 

 As is inevitable in the radio biz, those stations eventually changed formats and the Bob & Sherri show disappeared from broadcast radio in my area. 

A few years ago I discovered that Bob & Sherri had started a podcast of their on-air show. I started listening to them again.

The program covers a wide variety of subjects including: pop culture, relationships and behavior, some science (fact and fiction) and top 10 rankings of any and all kinds. 

As someone who likes finding out new things about pop culture, books, and entertainment, I appreciate the plethora of things Bob & Sherri talk about. 

The curiosity their discussions evoke in me often take me down a path that leads to other interesting things.    

Here's an example. I listened to their interview with Dianne Lake, who as a teenager was a follower of Charles Manson. As a result I bought the audio version of her book, "Member of the Family."

In 2019 when I went to see Quentin Tarantino's Oscar nominated film "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood." I had a whole lot more insight on the characters and the plot than the average movie goer. 

Some of the main features you hear on the Bob & Sherri podcast include: Morons in the News; movie reviews with Lamar "The People's Movie Critic", Sports Confuse Me with Jim Sokey and "I Don't Believe This..." 

Add into the mix recorded feedback messages left by listeners, lots of talk about their personal lives and idiosyncrasies and you have my favorite radio podcast. But wait there's more. 

The Oddcast: This is the "off the air" version of the Bob & Sherri Show. This means it has a bit more of an edge. The language is very "adult" in both words (in my opinion the expletives are not really necessary) and subject matter. But its focus is mainly on things that can't be shared on the radio show for one reason or another. If you like the first podcast and want more Bob & Sherri, this will do the trick. 

The Bob & Tom Show:This is another podcast version of a popular syndicated morning radio show. They are currently on a local station and have been for a long time. Occasionally, I get to hear them in the morning but I am subscribed to their podcast because most of the time, I don't. 

I have been a fan of this show for longer than I can remember. The show is hosted by Bob Kevoian (Tom Griswold retired several years ago). He leads discussions with an ensemble of mostly men around my age, and a woman, Kristi Lee, who reads the news. 

They spend 4 hours a day talking about the news, sports and whatever else comes into the conversation. 

The show's main focus is comedy. There is always a stand up comic or two in the studio to participate in the banter or sing a funny song or two. 

The show promotes live stand up comedy better than any other radio program on the air. I've discovered some of my favorite funny men through the Bob & Tom Show. 

There is also a cast of characters who call into the studio and do their own schtick. 

I must warn you, this podcast isn't for everyone. The humor is aimed mostly at men my age, however, my son, James is a fan of the show as well. 

The jokes can be rather irreverent and very sophomoric. I must warn you that a lot of people would, more than likely, find the show offensive. But I have to admit that most of the time it falls right in with my sense of humor. 

This is the best way I can describe "The Bob & Tom Show". If it sounds like something you might like, give it a try. 

The School Of Laughs:This podcast is hosted by stand up comic, Rik Roberts. It is recorded as a supplement to his comedy writing classes that goes by the same name as the program. 

It is all about the world of stand up comedy. Each episode focuses on some aspect of being a stand up. 

Rik is a great guy and I consider him a friend. I've even been on stage as part of his act. 

Although I will only ever be a sideline observer when it comes to the world of  "stand up comedy" I will always be a fan.   

Listening to The School Of Laughs podcast gives me a good "behind the scenes" look into a career that will always be one of my "roads not taken."

If you are someone with a more than average interest in the world of stand up comedy, check out this podcast. 

That about does it for the podcasts I want to share with you. I do have a couple more things, that I listen to on a regular basis, I want to share with you but they are not podcasts. They are programs on Sirius XM radio. 

As a subscriber I get to listen to the satellite service in my car and on my mobile devices. The two programs I like to listen to either when they are on the air or through "On Demand" both have to do with music. 

The 60s Satellite Survey: This 3 hour program airs on the "60s on 6" XM channel. It is a countdown program currently hosted by Dave Hoeffel. 

Each weekend he counts down the Top 40 songs on the Billboard charts from that week during a specific year of the decade of the 60s. 

I really like this show because I get to hear songs I never heard before; along with some I remember but haven't heard in years. This helps me add to my personal music collection. 

I also enjoy the stories and trivia the host shares along the way. If you are fan of 60s music you might enjoy these deep dives into the Billboard charts of the past. 

The Diner: This talk show airs on XM channel 106 known as "Volume". It is hosted by Lou Simon. The name of the show is based on the idea that Lou and all his listeners are gathering at imaginary "greasy spoon" just to sit in a booth and talk about their favorite subject. 

For two hours each Sunday night, from 9-11PM central time, the topic of discussion is music; mostly pop music. 

People who are music nerds, like me, call in and talk about all kinds of subjects. They suggest making lists called "diner topics." They are very specific. 

Recent topics of discussion have been songs where the artist starts singing right away and cover songs that are better than the original. 

It is a 2 hour exchange of unusual and obscure music trivia you would probably would never hear anywhere else.  

If you are the kind of person who knows which studio musician played the drums on Tommy Roe's 1969 hit "Dizzy" or what the songs "Running Bear" by Johnny Preston and "The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde" by George Fame have in common than you are a prime candidate to give "The Diner" a listen.

The last thing I want to mention as far as my listening list is concerned is the Amazon audiobook service, "Audible." 

I know millions of people use this service and it is something that I enjoy and listen to a lot. 

I have listened to dozens and dozens of books over the years. They have covered subjects that range from science fiction novels to biographies to inside stories of TV shows and movies. It is the best online subscription I have.  

So there you have a list of what I am currently listening to. I hope you check out any that might interest you. You can find the podcasts almost anywhere online.  

Thanks for taking the time to read this series of posts. I hope you have a great last week of January. I'll be back soon with another edition of the Yankee Near Nashville blog. 






  

A Listening List 2

Okay, right from the start I have to let you in on something that makes me happier than I have been for more than a month. 

This past Thursday was the day I was cleared to transition into my "full weight bearing" stage of my broken foot recovery. 

No scooter, no walker, just a cane to help me get around in my walking boot.

Of course, I have to ease back into "normal" activity so I am still using my scooter around the house at times. However, I am very glad to be getting back to doing the things I wasn't able to do with the cast. 

I just wanted to share that bit of good news with you so that as you read this entry you can picture a guy who looks exactly like me smiling as he bangs away on the keyboard. 

Now to get to the subject of this 2nd post in my current series: A Listening List. 

First up, podcasts connected to TV. I've subscribed to a couple of these rather recently but I really enjoy them. 

The Way I Heard It:  What connects this podcast to television is the host and writer, Mike Rowe. 

You know him mostly from the TV show, "Dirty Jobs". He has had other shows and done voiceovers for even more. His "average guy" personality and baritone voice makes it a pleasure to listen to his podcast.  

Rowe describes this program as "the podcast for those with a curious mind and a short attention span." He writes and delivers each story, himself. 

The compelling element in every episode is that the stories are both detailed and cryptic at the same time. 
They get you thinking one way only to make a "right turn" or introduce a
"twist" to reveal a "surprise" ending the listener never expected. 

It is very reminiscent of the "Rest of the Story" a feature that radio broadcast journalist Paul Harvey presented for on the radio for more than 50 years.  

What keeps me interested in the program is the challenge of trying to figure out ahead of time what the ending is going to be. Sometimes I'm right. Sometimes I don't see it coming. But I'm always entertained. Check out "The Way I Heard It". I think you'll enjoy it. 

Mobituaries: This weekly podcast is hosted by Mo Rocca, correspondent for the CBS news program, Sunday Morning. 
It's focus is on learning more about people who have died, or places, and things that are no longer around. The general public knows little about them or, for the most part, they are forgotten. 
Rocca, has covered a variety of subjects over the course of the first two seasons with episodes that focus on pop culture, show business, and history. Those are very broad descriptions but the episodes get very specific. 
Mo is a very likable host and his natural curiosity is the steam that drives this podcast engine. If you often ask yourself the questions: "Whatever happened to.. or "I wish I knew more about..." this is the podcast for you. 

The Johnny Carson Show: "And Now, heeeeeeeeeer's Johnny!" If that iconic catch phrase takes you back to the days when you stayed up after the 11 o'clock news just to watch NBC's late night programming, you are in luck. There is now a podcast that brings back one of TV's greatest shows.  

The program debuted just this past December. As of this post it is only 7 episodes into its run. Its a tribute, Johnny Carson, the king of late night television for more than 3 decades and his kingdom, The Tonight Show. 

So far the guests on these podcasts have included: Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield among others. 

Also included are the features and routines that were the true treasures of the Tonight Show. I'm referring to Johnny's opening monologue, Carnak the Magnificent, and The Mighty Carson Art Players. 

Host, Will Shriner, introduces each episode giving it context and sharing a bit of his insight based on his many Tonight Show appearances. 

There's not really much to write about this podcast. The recommendation is simple. If, like me, you grew up watching Johnny, Ed and Doc at 11:30 every night this one will take you back. If provides everything except the soft glow of the TV screen.  

This last TV connected podcast is the newest one on my weekly menu. I discovered it when the host was a guest on another of my favorite programs. I'll have more about that in my next post when I share my "radio" based podcasts. But now let's move on. The title of this one is a show business pun. 

Hollywood & Levine: Without a doubt, my all time favorite TV show is M*A*S*H. I have watched the episodes over and over and over. Almost any time I find it on my TV, I watch it. If its not on TV (and it always seems to be) I can get out my DVDs and watch the entire series. 

Not only am I familiar with the characters and actors but also the names of the producers, directors, and writers as well. I've seen their names flash before my eyes at the start of every episode hundreds of times. 

That's why I was thrilled when at the start of January, I discovered a podcast hosted by Ken Levine. 

Along with his writing partner, David Isaacs, Levine wrote many of the episodes for M*A*S*H throughout their 5th, 6th, and 7th seasons. Among them my favorites, "A Night At Rosies" and "Patent 4077".

They also wrote for many other TV shows including: Cheers, Frasier, Mary Tyler Moore, The Jeffersons and many more. They have even won an Emmy or two.  

That's why I was thrilled when I discovered his podcast "Hollywood and Levine". 

It's just Ken sharing knowledge about comedy writing or his stories and experiences as a radio DJ, television writer and a baseball announcer. All of those are things are among my interests as well. 

So although I've only listened to a few of them, I am trying to catch up on all 150 + episodes which date all the way back to 2017. 

I really like this guy and am enjoying his podcast. If you like being entertained by someone who has been in show business for a long time check out "Hollywood & Levine". 

So there you have the podcasts I listen to that have ties to television. 

In my 3rd and final post of this series I will share those that have connections to radio; as well as a one or two that fit into no specific category. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this Yankee Near Nashville blog post. See you next time. Have a great weekend. 





When it comes to common interests this guy checks almost the boxes for me. 

A Listening List 1

Hello there. Greetings from south central Kentucky. Before I get started on the main topic of this, the first in my next series of posts, I want to give you a bit of an update on what's happening in everyday life for me.  

After getting the cast removed from my left foot, last Thursday, I am now wearing a walking boot and am a little more mobile. I've gotten the chance to drive into "town" and pick up some prescriptions and a pizza. An odd combination I know but I was so happy to find myself in the driver's seat again. 

I've got a least 2 weeks in a walking boot before I can get back to wearing shoes again. But that's okay, I can see things getting back to "normal" soon.  

Since its been a while, I'm going to take this post to share, for the first time on this blog, the podcasts I listen to on my I-pad every week. It's a rather eclectic group and shows my range of interests. I will list them by subject matter but in no particular order.  

I made a general reference in my last post to the Disney themed podcasts I listen to, so I'll start with them. 

The Dis Unplugged WDW edition: I listen to this podcast because it gives a lot of up to date information and unbiased reviews in regard to what's going on at Walt Disney World. It is one that's directly connected to the Dreams Unlimited travel agency. The agency owners are the main hosts. But their is such a diverse group of both "Dis Unplugged" staff and DU travel agents who rotate on the panel each week that it's a very enjoyable program. Pete Werner (the Dis unplugged "boss") is a transplanted New Jersey guy so I have a bit of advantage in understanding his approach to a lot of things.  Overall, the show has honest open and not always flattering opinions of what's going on at WDW. The camaraderie among those around the mics makes for some candid moments and irreverent humor; but it doesn't cross the line. It gets PG-13 at the most. I have listened to this one for at least 5 years if not more. 

Connecting With Walt: This is another of the podcasts in the Dis Unplugged cache. Its hosts are "Disney historian" Michael Bowling and Dis Unplugged producer and videographer, Craig Williams. 
This program is an entertaining combination of news and opinions about current Disney happenings and deep dives into Disney history, particularly the parks. Their "this week in Disney history" at the end of every show is my favorite feature. 

The Jim Hill Podcast Network:This is not a single podcast but a group of 6 and I listen to them all.They are: Disney Dish, Universal Joint, Looking At Lucas Film, Marvel Us Disney, Fine Tooning, and I Want That.  Jim Hill co-hosts all of them. 
He is probably my favorite internet entertainment reporter. He has insight and information on all things Disney, past, present, and future. The depth to which his knowledge of and resources within the Walt Disney company extends is absolutely amazing. 
Disney Dish" which was Hill's first venture into the podcasting along with former WDW Today co-host and Touring Plans founder, Len Testa. It is my favorite Jim Hill offering but I like them all. I have a little more of a connection with these programs because I have met 4 out of the 7 hosts in person. You may not enjoy all of these but if you are a Disney fan you're sure to find one you like. 

WDW Radio: If there is a program that sits on the "throne" of Disney based podcasts its this one and Lou Mongello is Disney podcast king.  

I've been listening to him since 2003 and have met him on 3 different occasions. His programs and books have helped me plan several trips to Walt Disney World over the last 16 years. 

I still listen to WDW radio but not with as much "loyalty" as I used to. Don't get me wrong. I will always love WDW Radio. It was my first Disney podcast and taught me so much about the parks and their history.  
But I feel that over the last 3 or 4 years, the podcast has lost touch with the "average" fan and is very focused on an specific niche of extreme Disney fans. Those who can afford $500 a night concierge level hotel rooms and go on 3 or 4 cruises a year. 

Lou seems to be one of the nicest, down to earth and humble guys I've ever met. But quite often he dismisses his shinning the spotlight on the most expensive things in WDW with the casual disclaimer, "Its a little expensive but worth it." 

Even though I feel like it has left me behind as a Disney fan. I will continue to listen to the podcast but with the mindset that I'm listening to "Life Styles of the Rich and Famous: The Disney Fan Edition." 

I know these are just 9 of the hundreds and hundreds of Disney themed podcasts out there but they are the ones I listen to. 

As a Disney podcast fan I'm always on the look out for another one that I will enjoy. If you have one you think that I would like please let me know by sending me a PM on Facebook. 

This concludes the first of my series about the podcasts I listen to. In my next post I will talk about those I listen to that are based on things in the world of show business and entertainment. I will let you know when that is published. Have a good week. Thanks for reading the Yankee Near Nashville Blog.  

Discovering Walt's Park

Back in 2003 Paula and I decided to make our first vacation with James & Michael, a trip to Walt Disney World. 

As soon as that decision was made I became obsessed with planning our trip. I ate, slept, and drank Walt Disney World for almost a year. 

By the time January 2004 came, I had packs of colored index cards to use as a guide for our day in each park. This was years before "Touring Plans", Lines or My Disney Experience apps were invented. The plans helped. It was a trip we still talk about 17 years later. 

Since that '03 trip I have been back to WDW 5 more times and with exception of my two solo trips, each have been planned as extensively as the first; sans the index cards. 

Despite being, a devoted WDW fan and getting to Orlando whenever I can, I've never had a real desire to visit the park that started it all; Disneyland.   

Now, as a "boomer" I grew up when Walt Disney was on TV every Sunday night.  My favorite episodes of "The Wonderful World Of Color" were those where Mr. Disney showed us behind the scenes of the latest attraction or event happening at his magic kingdom in California. There was no doubt that Disneyland and the attractions that were created for it, were Walt Disney's ideas come true. 

The episodes that featured The Enchanted Tiki Room and Pirates Of The Caribbean particularly fascinated me. 

But from my childhood days until recently, I've been convinced that a visit to "Walt's Park" all the way across the country would never be possible for me. 

So ironically as a defense mechanism  against continually wishing my "impossible dream" would come true, I totally dismissed any interest in Disneyland. 

I must point out that, ironically, dreams coming true is the theme of most Disney animated features, and the subtext of the building of Disneyland, itself.  

Over the last few years, the Walt Disney World podcasts I listen have become much more inclusive when it comes to the California resort.  

Many of the podcasters, most of whom are 10 times the WDW fan than I am, have become fans of Disneyland as well. 

Their visits to Anaheim have given them an appreciation for "Walt's Park" that, they say, completes them as a Disney Parks fan.  

Because I have gotten a lot of valuable information from them over the years, I was influenced by their opinions and began, considering the possibility of, one day, making a trip to Disneyland. 

As of August of last year, "one day" became a specific date on the calendar. 

This coming July, the National Color Street Conference is being held in Las Vegas. Of course, my wife is very interested in attending. Disneyland is only a 4 hour drive from Vegas. 

This means, if I go with her to the conference, I will be within a days drive of Anaheim. Which creates an obvious opportunity to make my first trip to Disneyland. 

Let me take you back, once again, to before our 2004 WDW vacation. At the time I approached this event as though it was the only chance I would ever get to go there. That's why I went so "all in" when it came to making sure that I made the most of every minute while there. 

I go into this Disneyland opportunity with the same mind set. Thus, I need to learn all I can about the park. This will be a bit of a job because, although I know a lot about the resort and it's role in Disney history, I know almost nothing about the logistics of visiting the area. Essentially, I am starting from scratch. 

I will begin with reading the 2020 edition of the Unofficial Guide To Disneyland I got for Christmas. Next I will search for info the Disneyland devoted websites and travel guides on the internet. 

Third, I will find some podcasts that focus exclusively on DLR (Disneyland Resort). 

Finally, I will seek to tap the knowledge of family, friends, and social media groups I'm a part of, who have visited Anaheim. Nothing is more valuable than someone who's been there and done that. 

If you have any favorite resources for learning about Disneyland, I would appreciate it if you would share them with me on my Facebook page or by pm. 

So, as I progress in this new aspect of my Disney education, I will be sharing what I learn in this blog. 

I go into this research project with one goal in mind. I want to do my best to make this chance to walk where Walt walked, a memory I will smile about for the rest of my days.   



  

  

M*A*S*H Encounter

Happy Monday Everyone. This post is for a few specific friends but I wanted to share it with all of you.

Sometimes in life we get unexpected opportunities that have significant meaning to you.

Last night, as I usually do on Sunday nights, at 9 o'clock I tuned into a Sirius XM radio program called "The Diner". Its a talk show hosted by Lou Simon where listeners call in to talk about their favorite music. Most of them are baby boomers like me who talk about songs from 50s thru the 80s but there's really no boundaries put on time frame or topics.

As a matter of fact the things discussed are sometimes unbelievably obscure or specific. For example, last night the topics were: bad or unnecessary rerecording of hit songs by other artists, songs that start with the artist singing right away, and hits that were recorded live in concert.

.

I tuned in to Sirius XM channel 106 on my I-pad, with the intention of calling in for the first time this year.

I dialed my phone and got put in queue to talk on the air. While on hold I got a pleasant surprise. Lou invited a couple of listeners as guests into his Los Angeles studio. One of them was Ken Levine.

Most of you won't recognize that name but chances are if you watched TV sit coms in the 70s and 80s you've seen his name in the opening credits many times.

He's written episodes for Cheers, Fraiser, Wings, Almost Perfect, The Jeffersons and more. But the show I know him from is M*A*S*H.

Anyone who knows me, knows that it's my all-time favorite TV show by far. I own the entire series on DVD and watch it almost every time I find it airing anywhere on TV.

Along with his co-writer, David Isaacs, he wrote and edited many of the episodes for M*A*S*H's 5th & 6th seasons. Among them are some of my all-time favorites: The Merchant of Korea, The Smell of Music, The Billfold Syndrome, A Night At Rosies and my #1 favorite episode, Patent 4077.

I enjoyed listening to Lou, Mr. Levine, and the other in studio guest, writer and Billboard chart expert, Fred Bronson talk among themselves and to other callers while I was on hold for a little over an hour. Finally it was my turn to talk on the air.

Now this might not be a big deal but it meant a lot to me. As soon as I got on the air I addressed Ken Levine. I thanked him for writing Patent 4077 and A Night At Rosies. He thanked me and added that he and Isaacs wrote the "Rosies" episode over a single weekend.

I then went on to talk about some of the music related things I had originally called about. But without a doubt the most memorable thing for me about this

conversation was the opportunity to talk with Ken Levine.

I also learned from the show that he has his own podcast called "Hollywood and Levine". I have already subscribed to it and look forward to hearing what one of TV's best comedy writers ever has to say. I'm following him on Twitter and Instagram as well.

This story isn't what I had initially written to publish in this post, but I just had to share it while it is still on my mind.

If you are a fellow fan of the "4077th" I know you appreciate my experience.

Thanks for taking the time to read the YNN blog. Next time I will share with you a new and latest endeavor in regard to yet another of my fandoms. See you then. Have a good week.

Be It Ever So Humble...

Hello again. Thanks for taking the time to read YNN blog. 

In my current situation, which I will expound on in a bit, I don't have anything very compelling to write about. So this post is rather pedestrian but it gives me some-thing to do. 

The title of this post is a reference to the fact that I've been in my house for 17 straight days. The last time I was outside was to see a movie on Christmas eve. It was only the 2nd time I'd been out since I found out I had a fractured foot on December 16.

The difficulty I had getting in and out of the house both times convinced Paula and me that I should just hold up in the house while I healed. Venturing out wasn't worth the risk of falling and sustaining further injury. So the next time I'll be going out into the world will be for my next doctor appointment on January 16. 

Unfortunately, about a week of my  housebound time was spent dealing with a stomach virus that put both of us down for the count. Paula got it first, the day after Christmas and I got it that Sunday. 

Getting around the house without putting weight on my left foot has been challenging. 

I have managed fairly well. I wouldn't be as mobile without the assistance of the scooter I got from Amazon.

The biggest challenges have been getting up and down the two steps into my office and getting a shower.  

I have been doing my best not to go "stir crazy." At times that has been difficult. I've been a little more moody than I usually am. The two things I've done the most to pass the time is streaming shows on my Firestick.  

I have watched The Imagineeing Story and The World According To Jeff Goldbloom on Disney+. I am in the middle of the 2nd season of the "Jack Ryan" on Amazon Prime. 

I watched film"The Irishman" as well as the current seasons of The Crown, Designated Survivor, Lost In Space, Toys That Made Us, and Movies That Made Us on Netflix.

The biggest unexpected pleasure I have watched was a Netflix documentary called "Jack of All Trades." It's about a man who starts out trying to discover why his baseball card collection has lost its value and ends up on a path that takes him face to face with his past. 
If you are someone who enjoyed collecting baseball cards as a kid, it's well worth the time to watch it. 

On cable TV I have been watching game shows on GSN, as well as The Price Is Right and Let's Make A Deal. In the afternoon my "go to" is reruns of MASH.  

In addition, I have been catching up on assembling some of the Lego sets I have queued up in the closet in my office. 

I'm not tackling the larger sets just the smaller ones that I can easily put together while in my recliner. My favorite so far is this one. 

Although I am limited, I do what I can do to help around the house. I manage to do some of the laundry and load the dishwasher. 

I've also kept myself busy wrapping up the things from last year. I edited and organized more than 2500 pictures from 2019. This included dating them and put them into folders by subject. 

Then I reviewed them and narrowed them down to the my favorite pictures of the year. I have chosen 22 of them that will, soon be displayed in the picture frame in our hallway.   

Still ahead of me in the next week is the sorting of all the statements, insurance EOBs, utility bills and other records from last year. 

I can't give you a true picture of what my "medical confinement" has been like without mentioning the role my wife has played. She has had to take on the logistics of our house that I usually take care of. They range from something as incidental as taking out the trash to as important as picking up groceries. In addition she has to help me get in and out of the shower. 

Balancing all that with her full time job and a very busy start to the year for her as Color Street stylist has been very stressful. But she has not complained about it at all. Like always, she adapts to whatever the situation and does what needs to be done. It's one of the things I love about her. I couldn't have made it through this broken foot thing without her.  

So with less than a week to go until I emerge from my confinement and head to the doctor, I am looking forward to getting this darn cast off my leg. 

It may take a few more weeks to get back to normal. But I'm hoping for at least a walking boot so I can at least get around the house and outside with no problem. 

Once I am "free" and can drive again, I don't know what I'm going to do first. But one thing's for sure I'm going to appreciate the ability to do it. 








  

19 For '19 Part 3

Hey everybody. Time to put the last brick in the wall that will serve as the memorial to the year 2019; at least from my perspective. Here are the top 7 memories from the year for me. 

7. Two Trips To St. Louis

In addition to spending time with our friends, Patty & Mark, in Branson during June, Paula and I made trips to visit them in St. Louis at both the start and end the year. 

On the 2nd weekend of February we headed to the "Gateway To The West" for our first visit of 2019. 

On Saturday afternoon, Mark and I went to the Enterprise Center to see the hockey game between the Predators and the Blues. 

Unfortunately, the Blues won 3-2. It was the 5th victory in the middle of what would be a 11 winning game streak. 

Nine months later, the weekend before Thanksgiving, once again, we crossed the "Might Missisip" to see our friends for the third time in 2019. 

This was a pretty quick trip but it took me to my favorite (non-Disney related) entertainment venue twice.

On Friday night we went to The Fox Theater to see the a capella group Straight No Chaser. 

The next afternoon we returned to The Fabulous Fox to enjoy a concert by Manheim Steamroller. 

Although it was in the middle of November, I consider that weekend the unofficial start of the 2019 Christmas season for us.

The details of the entire visit is in this post link:November Highlights

6. Water Day

Sometimes, the combination of spontaneity with a plan, make for a day that will be talked about for years to come. That may be the case for this instance. 

On Friday May 25, our grandchildren came to visit us. It was a beautiful, rather warm, afternoon. While we were playing with the kids outside, Aria suggested that we get some water balloons. 

Eventually, this led to my making a quick run to the local Dollar Store for some outdoor water play supplies and a memorable afternoon with the kids. The fun ranged from them breaking balloons over their Papa's head...

...to sitting in a make shift tub. 

It was just a few hours with some rather in expensive things bought at a Dollar Store but the memory of hanging with the kids in our front yard that day is priceless. 

5. James' Reboot

In terms of number of details, this is probably the shortest of all my memories. But please, please, please, do not let that diminish the degree of importance in regard to both looking back as well as forward. 

The reason for the brevity of words is that, while it's a top 5 memory, it's not my story to tell. 

In July, after a rough first half of the year, my son, James, made a decision that has turned his life around. 

There was, and still is, a very strong spiritual aspect to his "reboot". As 2019 came to an end he was in the "best place" he's been in for several years. 

That's about as much detail as I'm going to go into. 

Of all the memories on this list this is the one that, going forward, will without a doubt, have a "pebble in the pond" effect on both James and his family, and subsequently the rest of us. I mean that in a very optimistic positive way.  

Paula and I just want to convey to James how proud we are of him and the courage he's shown in making some difficult changes and that we love him very much.  

4. On The Road With Color Street

Seven times during the last five months of 2019, Paula and I set up her Color Street booth at 8 vendor events. 

Five were at 2 venues in nearby Bowling Green, 2 were in towns over an hour away, and one just half a mile away from our house. Each one was a unique learning experience. 

The first one was outdoors at the end of July in the middle of the hottest heat wave of the summer. The heat index was in triple digits. It made the first time effort exhausting. This is what the set up looked like that day.

 There are so many moments and memories connected to these vendor events. 

Sales and potential customer contacts were the primary reasons for setting up. But there were secondary benefits as well. Among them were learning to create a better booth and help customers more efficiently. A perfect example of that progress is a picture of the booth at the last event of the year on December 15. 

Paula's Nail Haven presence at vendor events has improved greatly in just 5 months. 

My favorite thing about the vendor events was working with my wife. The teamwork required to pull off any degree of success has transcended to the dynamics of our marriage.  I don't recommend doing this kind of thing for everyone. But for us it has had a positive effect on our relationship. 

I'll have more about how a product that's 95% dry nail polish has changed our lives later in this post.  

3. Fall Break In The Smokies

Four out of the last five years, Paula and I have spent time in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee. 

This year we went during the 2nd weekend of October along with James and Brandi. Some of Brandi's family was there too. It was the first time in 10 years we'd been there with more than just another couple. 

It was so great to be in our favorite vacation spot with our grand children. 

We went with them to the Pirates Voyage dinner show and treated them to a pirate makeover. 

Then we had the joy of watching them being enthralled by the show. 

We got to play miniature golf and went to The Island with them. Took them to the Frizzled Chicken Farmhouse to for breakfast as well.

In addition to all of that, I had the opportunity to visit the newest Gatlinburg attraction: The Sky Bridge. 

My in-depth report about our long weekend can be found in a 4 part YNN blog post series entitled "Fall Break Getaway."

The combination of the two things I just mentioned makes the October trip to the Smokies the 3rd best memory of 2019. 

2. SOKY's Got Talent

I don't know if this runner-up memory would have ever happened without my performing at the Edmonson County Library. It gave me the confidence to sign up to be part of the 2nd annual SOKY's Got Talent a fund raising competition for the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center.

I auditioned at SKYPac on July 20; the same day as Paula's first Color Street vendor event. 

Getting to perform on both the Capitol Arts theater and SKYPAC stages for the semi-finals and finals, respectively would have been enough for me. Winning the "Runner-Up" award within my age category was the cherry on top. 

I wrote posts about my progress and you can find them in this blog in the months of July, August, and September. 

The time and effort I put into my SOKY's Got Talent performances was the most intensely focused and creative effort I've made in a long time. 

If you had told me when I started that I would place in the competition it would have exceeded my expectations. 

I consider the overall experience my greatest personal accomplishment in 2019. It is a memory that, as I write this, inspires me to try again in 2020. And this time, be good enough to win.  

Well, I'm up to the thing that I consider the #1 on my list for 2019. Before I tell you what it is, I will tell you what it is not. It is not a single event or a road trip. It's not actually a memory. It is a turning point. 

The #1 thing I'll always remember about 

 2019 is...

1. Paula Starts A Business

Although I do remember the day in April when my wife told me that she was going to spend $150 to buy her Color Street starter kit and become a "stylist" I don't think I realized what she was telling me. 

I thought she was just going to "dabble" in selling the nail tabs enough to support her own interest; the way she'd been doing with Doterra oils for the last couple of years. 

But this was going to be more involved than what she had been doing with essential oils. It was going to be a means to prepare for our future.  

Over the next couple of months I would see her go into setting up her new business with commitment and intensity. 

Not ever having been involved in direct sales before she had to learn things from the ground up. She spent nearly every free minute at night and on the weekends watching and learning about things that she'd never done before. 

She was "living" outside her comfort zone but didn't let it get the best of her. She was in it for the "long haul"; determined to succeed from the start.  

Of course I wanted to support my wife in what was obviously something very important to her. 

I didn't really understand what this career as a stylist was all about but I volunteered to help in any way I could. 

This turned out to be a good choice. I became her shipping clerk and creative adviser. I helped her come up with her new and interesting ways to interact with her Facebook group. 

As I've already mentioned earlier in this countdown, I also became her helper for vendor events. 

I could go on and on with the details but I'm not sure they would convey just why I have made Paula's getting involved with Color Street my #1 take away from this past year.

Let me attempt to do that by telling you that, at the end of 2019 and going into 2020, Color Street has permeated our lives. It is everywhere for us. 

This means it effects something as minor as what's setting on the couch in our living room (nail sets that are yet to be added to the inventory) to major decisions such as how we are going to spend our vacation in 2020 (going to Las Vegas for the national conference?) and most things in between.   

I am impressed with the brand Paula has built over a short 8 months. Whenever I see evidence of it I am as proud of her as I can be. I admire her more than I can tell you.  

With that I must say that as I write this post, her efforts in 2019 are starting to show results. 

I will continue to do what I can to support her because with her determination and drive, there's no telling where Color Street will take us in 2020.   

So there you have my top 19 take aways from the last year of the 2nd decade of the 21st century. 

Thank you for taking this journey with me. Sometime I think taking a look back helps us gain a little perspective on what lies ahead. 

I look forward to sharing with you the adventures and stories of my life as 2020 plays out. That should start as soon as I get the darn cast off my foot. See you next time. God Bless.