You Want Me Out fo Danger But You Still Want Pictures

Late last afternoon and night (7/29), we had some horrendous storms in the Hampton Roads area - several tornado warnings, flash floods, big thunderstorms with lots of lightning.......it was, as the paper said this morning a "Super Soaker". Of course, we provided some coverage of it, with our limited staff, on our radio stations. I monitored the TV stations so we could get a feel for the storm from the various meteorologists. During this whole process, one thing struck me. Here we were, in the midst of several tornado warnings, and they're telling us to take cover, yet, in the same breath, they ask for us to send any pictures in that we might have taken. I'm trying to wrap my arms around that one. Go to cover but make sure you peak out and send us some of what's happening outside near you. I actually saw one home-made video of someone walking in the rain, wind, etc., IN A HALF OF A FOOT OF WATER while the warning was still on!!!! Then, they showed a reporter knee deep in another flooded area as she walked through it. As THAT report ended, they wondered aloud why so many people were out. Ya think?
Wouldn't be a good idea to recommend cover and then, when the storm subsides, THEN, ask for the pictures and video? I really believe they are sending mixed signals in an attempt to get eyewitness accounts. I'm in favor of sacrificing sensationalism for bit in the name of safety. How about you?

Hot Enough for Ya?

Okay, what are oyu going to do when the next person comes up and says "Hot Enough for Ya"?.....answer "Yes" and see what happens. Stops them in their tracks.
So what do you when it's this hot? Swim?.....you still have to deal with the heat when you get out of the pool or lake or ocean.
Here's a thought...use it to spend some time INSIDE with a loved one or two and play a board game (not to be confused with "bored" game), watch a movie together or just talk to each other (there's something novel). This is a great chance for all of you NOT to go your separate was with your separate agendas. Use the time wisely and I'll bet it'll reap some future benefits.

No One Is THAT Important

Now that it's four days after "The Decision", I have digested all that's happened in Miami, Cleveland and points in between. Of course, it may be contradictory if I did admit that I did watch Lebron James one-hour ESPN special, especially, after I reveal my feelings about this whole situation. I guess I would have had to seen something in order to have any opinion, don't you think?
I watched as a man turned away from his home area because, as he said, he wants to win multiple championships. Who knows if that will happen? Only time will tell, of course, and, when I bring up the names of Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (all of whom had opportunities to leave their original team and didn't), you see the deck is stacked against Lebron.
Over and above all of that is how I saw this man, literally, lose sight of himself as this story unfolded. His "handlers" (as we learned) approached ESPN about the 1-hour special. He handpicked (and paid) the so-called "journalist" doing the interview - a man I thought had LOTS more scruples than this - Jim Gray. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the decision the man made. I am flabbergasted by the manner in which he did it! Lebron James lost sight of where received his talent to play basketball. He lost sight of what's most important to HIM! To top it all off, 13,000 screaming fans fueled his "self-centerdness" the next day at a "rally" in Miami.
Is anyone really this important? In my lifetime, I know of only one and He IS the One! Hopefully, some day, before it's too late, Lebron James will realize this.

Wrong Place Wrong Time

Now, the holes in Michael Vick's story about his birthday party last weekend begin to surface. Whether they are real "holes" or not, remains to be seen BUT it is obvious this man STILL hasn't learned. Why would you put yourself in a position to be in public at a party with hundreds of people you do or do not know? I noticed they charged $50 a ticket to get in to the party. What they didn't do is screen every guest so anyone, with the money, could get in. And that means "anyone"! What were Michael and his "advisors" thinking? This has nothing to do with his involvement in the situation there or not. It is more to do with thinking through everything he is doing. His livelihood is at stake here. I'm sure if it were you or I, we may be thinking twice (or three times) about putting our jobs in jeopardy. There is no second chance for this man and I have a feeling this thing is about to blow up - justifiably or not. We can only hope that this is a close call for the man and he learns that this whole "party" thing is not a good idea.

Spend the Time Before Its Too Late

Last week I had the pleasure of being in Nashville (what else is new these days for me?)for the CMT Music Awards and CMA Music Fest. We were involved in live broadcasts for both,BUT - that wasn't the main reason I was there. I was getting some "Daddy-Daughter" time with my grown daughter. As I booked my trip, I decided to get her into Nashville at the same time. She'd never been there so this would be a great experience for her with all the events of the week. On top of all that, we hadn't had Daddy-daughter "alone time" in about 20-25 years. It was long overdue.
What a week we had!!! We were both totally comfortable doing this and just enjoyed the week. Lots of great memories packed into a little over 3 days. The one main thing that came to mind when it was over was let's do this again so we plan to do it - same time, same place, next year.
What I learned from the week is that I shouldn't have waited this long to do this. 25 years? I am darn lucky we're both still here after that long to enjoy each other's company. I know, now, that this same "daddy-daughter" time needs to be taken with my 11-year old, too. And not in 25 years!!!!
My advice to you if you're a parent...or, heck, even if you are a child? Make the time for your parent(s)or child (children). Make the time to spend with them privately. Enjoy their company and savor every moment. I'm sure glad I got to do that before it was too late!

The Power of the Human Spirit

I've spent the past couple of days in Nashville on business and, while here, of course, I had a chance to take a look at some of the damage from the floods of two weeks ago. There were some very sad sights - one which, particularly, struck me was seeing the side of a brick home blown out by flood waters. It looked as if it had exploded. What I also noticed were people helping each other. Neighbors helping one person with his collapsed garage. A group of folks assisting another couple with moving out some furniture.
The common theme with all of this was the fact that all of these folks were moving forward; doing what they could to make things better. You can feel it in the city from the mayor on down. Driving through most of the town, one would never know that that alot of it was under water two weeks ago. Shows you what can happen when all differences are put aside for one common good. Skin color didn't matter; religious or political persuasion was totally insignificant. No one complained about being ignored. The community has just banded together to get it done and they are.
I've seen this before right here in Suffolk two years ago and when Hurricane Isabel hit almost 7 years ago. It's the power of the human spirit.

Just a Very NIce Observation

In my position and business, I get to experience some things that some don't get to experience in a life time. This past weekend, I was privileged to, not only be in the audience for the Martina McBride/Trace Adkins concert, but I was also, with my wife and a couple of others, given the added privilege of sitting in the sound board area to watch the show. That turned out to be a memorable experience but NOT for the reason you might think. You see, Martina McBride's husband, John, is her sound engineer. He controls the sound board for her part of the show. He is one of the best in the business being the man behind the legenday Blackbird Studios in Nashville.
Trace Adkins rocked as he normally does and then the show took a bit of a turn, obviously, with Martina with lots of love songs, ballads, etc. There was one point in the show when Martina made her to the back of the arena to a small circular stage right by, you guessed it, the sound board. Again, the memory is not what you might think. As Martina sang several of her exceptional love songs, I couldn't help but notice John running the controls and turning back looking at Martina with a loving smile. He did this over and over again and that's when it occured to me that this is the same show she has been doing since the beginning of the year, week in and week out, yet there was John looking at her proudly and lovingly on what was the 10th or 11th week of the show plus probably the 10th or 11th YEAR he's been doing this with her. That my friends is total, true love. He sees the same thing over and over again from his wife yet still shows the real feeling he has for her. It was a fabulous show and that was the icing on the cake. Take the time to notice those everyday things that you have always loved about your loved ones. I'll bet you'll be smiling proudly and lovingly.