Help Someone In Our Own Backyard

We've all seen the devastation from the tornadoes in Suffolk, Driver, etc. Now it's time to act. It's time to help. After living in Texas, Alabama, and Georgia for about 20 years of my life, I've seen, first-hand, what a storm like this can do. It leaves you feeling lost and empty. Let's help alleviate that feeling. Do what you can to help. The Suffolk Red Cross Disaster Relief number is 757-539-6645. Volunteer, give....HELP!!!! This is family!!!



Thanks!

What Happened to the News?

I do realize that we will be voting for the most important office in the land but, is it my imagination, or has it been nothing but campaigns and candidates on the big cable news networks??? Realize that this is only April and the primaries are being treated, on TV, at least, as seperate elections -projected winners and everything. We still have two conventions ahead in August and September! If we were getting information on the candidates, that would be one thing, but all this rhetoric is driving me nuts. I'd rather watch the NBA playoffs even knowing they have almost two months to go. What do you think?

Ever talked to a 9-year old?

This past weekend, my wife and 9-year old daughter decided to take advantage of the nice weather and go out for lunch. I should have known what was ahead when the little one was doing, what I call, "The World According to Meredith" which, invariably, includes lots of laughing and silliness. So, at lunch, I decide to let the her in on a new, personal thing that Daddy is doing for her that will really affect her future, positively.
What was I thinking???? The conversation with her focused, primarily, not on the benefit of the fact that she would be taken care of in the future, but what would constitute that situation. Her little mind, of course, mentioned broken arms, the flu, a pulled muscle from running.....and, of course, it went downhill from there when I realized that there was no way this would be a serious discussion. So, it ended with either my wife or I having bubble gum stuck in our hair being a criteria for her benefits. Oh, the joy of youth!!!!!....I think I'll wait until she's about 16!!!

Is It Me Or Is Customer Service a Thing of the Past?

I have had two situations occur over the past two days - one personal and one with business. Both had to do with subscriptions, deliveries, etc. On the business side, our company subscribes to a trade magazine for 4 of our 5 radio stations. This company requires that each of the four subscriptions be separate with each station's name. Well, that's an accident waiting to happen...and it did. That wasn't the issue, though. The issue was how they credited two payments to one station and none to another. From there, it went downhill! Trying to get someone to really take the time to figure out what happened was the biggest issue plus , all along, they made us feel as if we were the culprits, not them. The issue STILL hasn't been resolved and we have had to initiate every contact. You would think this magazine would be concerned about losing a customer!
On the personal side, I get a morning newspaper delivered every day to my home - usually very early......and I'm usually up very early. Well, for two consecutive days this week, we didn't get a paper. I called to register my complaint the first day. You would think that the message would have made it for the second day but, no, it didn't - no paper again! That second day it took me three phone calls to get to these folks, after being disconnected twice. Once I got to a human being, that experience turned sour pretty quick. No apologies for the inconvenience or the mistake. All I did receive was a "I'll get a manager on it and we'll try to get this taken care of for tomorrow" Try?????......amazing! I did get my paper the next day but the process just fried me.

Please , if you are listener, tell me when we neglect our customer service. I need to know. I really believe that every experience with a business should be a good one, no matter what, so , please help make me and the rest of us here better. Last thing I want is for you to feel the way I do right now!

Let me know what you think.

What's Really Important

Okay, so did I mention I went on a family vacation.......lately???? It's been a week since we returned from the "wiles" of the Northeast but, I will tell you, I feel a bit different than before I left. It was the longest vacation I had taken in about 30 years (a Friday to a following Sunday) and I spent it entirely with family. No concerts......no radio.......no Jimmy Ray......:).......just me, the wife and the little one. We visited my Dad, my grown daughter and her family (see blog of March 29th) and then, New York City. Not once did I worry about my job, the Eagle, the rest of the radio stations.......anything like that! Instead I found myself immersed in family. I got to see two little boys experience the of joy of discovery each new day brings. I got to spend a little time with a man in the twilight of his life who still embraces each day as he did when I was growing up. I saw two people work the hardest they ever have but enjoy every minute of it. Most of all, I got to know, just a little bit more, the two women with whom I live. My wife, who sees the best in everyone and everything...EVERYDAY!!!.....and my little 9-year old daughter, who learned all she could during our latest "adventure". On top of that, after a visit to "Ground Zero", I saw a country embracing the future by learning from the past. So......why do I mention all of this???.....because it has all stuck with me. I see myself looking more for the best in everyone, no matter what they do. I find that little things that used to bother me...suddenly don't. Most of all, I see , now, that the best part of the day is the time spent with those two women with whom I live. It's never too late. Enjoy your friends and family every day. Stay in touch. CARE!!!! Remember - when it's all over, no one judges....and I mean NO ONE.....the time you spent at work.

Got Gas?

I have to tell you about something from my vacation that hit me after the news I heard yesterday about the amount of money our oil companies , and Iraq, are making. We actually drove up the eastern seaboard hitting Philly, Boston, then back to Northern Jersey and New York. The oddest thing - in case you didn't know - is that it is a New Jersey state law that drivers are not permitted to pump their own gas. So, you've got to figure that the price of gas there would be astronomical. Not so, Exxon breath!!! Gas in New Jersey is, at least, 10 cents a gallon cheaper than most places here and, in some cases, 15 cents cheaper. Once again, getting us closer to proving that this "oil crisis" is nothing but hype. Why, in the shadow of the nation's largest city (with VERY expensive real estate) would gas be the cheapest in the northeast......with attendants pumping the gas to boot???? Go figure!!!!

What do you think?

Music You Should Check Out

So, today, I have spent some of my time listening to some of the new music that has hit my desk (Okay, it's the part of my job that is really hard to call "work"). Do yourself a favor and check out some of the music of Lady Antebellum - not just their single. Some real good stuff. Now - if you want to head to the other end of the country spectrum, there's Ashton Shepard. Her new full-length CD "Sounds So Good" is very appropriately titled. This lady has it going for her. Check out the title cut, the single "Takin' Off This Pain" and "I Ain't Dead Yet". This girl was, literally, a pea picker in South Alabama a year ago. We got to see her perform (and, hopefully, you did) at Eagle's first Winterblast in January. It was her first full band show. (Ironically, we were also the first radio station she ever visited.) She knows how to entertain, for sure.
A couple of other tunes I heard that may wind up being something: Heidi Neufield (former lead singer for Trick Pony) has a strong love song called "Johnny and June"; Jimmy Wayne is finally back with something pretty good called "Do You Believe Me Now". Finally, another Winterblast performer, Emily West has a good one called "Rocks in Your Shoes". She's another one who puts on a heck of a show.
Each of these folks have MySpace pages to check out their music so I suggest you do that when you have a minute and let me know what you think. If you've heard anything else that you want me (or us) to know about, let me know, too!