Information on the all-new Dodge Charger keeps trickling in, especially within these past few days, and a blog from me on this hot new ride is long overdue. Where do I even begin? 

First, let's talk about just how different it looks from its predecessor. The biggest change has me jumping for joy: there is once again a two-door Charger! That makes me so happy, as myself and others felt the reintroduction of the Charger in the mid-2000's as a sedan was a betrayal to its legendary roots. (It was almost as sinful as calling that FWD L-Body from the 80's a Charger!) There will still be a four-door variant of the Charger come 2025, but the coupe came with the cost of the Challenger nameplate retiring after this year. 

Design on these new Chargers is a departure from the past and a stride towards the future for Dodge. The cars give off a sense of familiarity, yet they're unlike anything we've seen from Stellantis thus far. They're some sleek looking rides, with futuristic styling inside and out that doesn't disregard the company's heritage.  You can tell its Mopar, especially from the windows upward, but the changes aren't subtle. 

Beyond aesthetics, there's a whole lot I could fill you in on with regards as to why this new Charger platform is so exciting. What's probably the biggest thing is that there is no longer a V8 offering. As blasphemous as that may be for some, what's offered instead is in fact a replacement for displacement. With a battery instead of a gas tank, the Charger Daytona is what's being described as the first muscle EV. It's something else!

You can either go with that, or opt for an Inline-6 powerplant to continue making trips to the pump and to keep that rumble beneath the hood. The ICE will be dubbed the Charger Six Pack, and those aren't expected to hit dealerships until 2025. The Daytona coupe should be the first variant of these cars to arrive to consumers. Both drivetrain options put out some massive numbers, but the EV is unparalleled with up to 670hp available out the gate. 

All that power is put to the ground via AWD, and that's the only way they'll be making any Charger going forward. Pair that grip advantage with advanced launch control, and these muscle cars are going to be borderline impossible to beat off the line at the stoplight, or even at the dragstrip. The temporary top-of-the-line Daytona Scat Pack is reported to have a quarter mile time of 11.5 seconds with a 0-60 in 3.3. That's blazing fast for a production vehicle, and apparently it's only the beginning for Dodge's journey into electrification. 

On that note, Dodge has attached a symbol to this new era they're entering, and I couldn't neglect to bring it up here. To denote a new chapter in muscle, they've revived what is known as the Fratzog. The Fratzog could be found on various Dodges in the 60's, such as my all-time favorite car, the 1967 Charger. It's something like an equilateral triangle with inward-curving lines, and you'll often see it depicted in red. I don't believe it is much more than a cool logo with no deep meaning, but I dig the nod to the cars of yesteryear. 

That's really what it's all about for new Dodge; changing to keep up with the future while remaining true to themselves and maintaining their fanbase. I'm glad they had the courage to push forward into the uncertain instead of sticking with the past out of principle. There might be a little hesitation initially on the part of the consumer with just how different these cars are compared to their predecessors, but I think that will fade quick when they hit the streets. The proof is in the pudding, as we'll discover, and my expectations are huge. 

I hate to admit it, but when it comes to EV's; if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! I still consider driving one to be crossing over to the dark side, and I'd go with the Six Pack myself, but you can't argue with performance. 

Anyhow, as much as I'd like to tell you all about the Fratzonic "exhaust" the Daytona is set to have or give you specifics on the battery range or tire size, I think I'll finish off this blog here. If you would like to know more about the all-new Dodge Charger, check out these links below! 

• From Dodge's Website
• From Road and Track
• From Car and Driver

It's now March, and we are closing in on springtime. The changing seasons bring us a variety of fresh, reinvigorating smells. 

That's the inspiration for this week's Top Ten blog; I've been enjoying these temperate days spending my time outdoors. Between the rain showers and warm atmosphere, my senses have been flooded with freshness and life. Soon enough, we'll add budding flowers, BBQ, smoky bonfires, fresh mulch, and mowed grass to the aromas we encounter. Those days can't come soon enough, and there's nothing quite like them. 

We do our best to encapsulate the feelings these natural aromas give us in things like wax candles and incense, and I enjoy burning both. I also enjoy artificial colognes and perfumes, I love hanging air-fresheners, and I don't even mind most of the sprays. In whatever form, heres my Top Ten Scents!

10. Fresh Brewed Coffee

9. Lavender

8. Vanilla

7. Leather

6. Cooked Meat

5. Classic Car Interior 

4. Orange

3. 2-Stroke

2. Lemon

1. Citronella

So, how about you? What's your favorite aroma?

Thanks for giving this a read, and for giving 94.9 WQMX a listen. Now, go stop and smell the roses! 

I'm getting close to a month without my Blazer, and I sure do miss the old thing. It's been in the shop for a broken clutch pedal, and apparently that's some obscure part specific only to the manual Blazers, of which there were far fewer than the automatics. Initially, they attempted to use the parts off an S-10 truck pedal to make the repair, and that didn't last me even a full day. Thankfully, I managed to float gears back to the place, and it's just been in limbo there since.

First, they told me last Wednesday, then it was Monday, and now it's apparently not going to be ready for pickup until the end of this week at the soonest. Ugh! Allegedly, we're waiting on the proper part to ship in from Ebay. I can understand. 

I'm doing my best to practice patience, but this is testing me. There's nothing I can do, however, aside from hoping. Really, I just hope that they're fair with me on the price. I already paid for the job once and I won't mind covering the cost for the right part, but I don't think I should have to pay labor twice. I don't even think I got ten miles out of it before it failed again.... We'll see how that all shakes out.

I'm so very grateful for my mother and her allowing me to use her Silverado. Without the truck I'd be forced to whip the El Camino around, and my Eleanor is not exactly daily driver material, ideally. I still stand behind my purchase of the Blazer and I genuinely think it's a good vehicle; some things just wear out over time and when they do, I'll fix them. The body and frame are in phenomenal shape, the motor runs good, and it's paid for; so it'll all be alright. I'm just ironing out some wrinkles right now! For what I have into it, I really can't lose.

Between my classic, the motorcycle, my mom's truck, and the fiancée's car; I'll always have alternativesfor transportation. With or without a backup, though, I'd stick with the Blazer. I believe in it, and I have zero intentions or desire to get something else. I just want it back!! 

Some of my favorite movies from back when I was a kid are Garfield The Movie and Garfield A Tale of Two Kitties. For what they are, they're genuinely decent flicks, and I've always felt they are way underrated. Bill Murray as the voice of a fat orange CGI cat could not be more perfect, and the humor and charm of those movies still hold up today. The silly misadventures of Garfield and Odie bring a smile to my face, and the movies appropriately maintain the spirit of the comics with fun twists and turns along the way. If you're looking for something family friendly to watch that both parents and children alike can enjoy, I'd certainly recommend either Garfield.

Now in 2024, we're apparently getting a new Garfield movie and I'm stoked for it. It's called The Garfield Movie and it's set to hit theatres exclusively come Memorial Day weekend. Chris Pratt is the new voice of Garfield, and that works for me. He fits the part, it seems. Also in the movie is the voice of Samuel L. Jackson, and even Snoop Dogg has a small part! I predict this film will either be wildly successful or it will fail miserably, but I'm hopeful it will be just as cool as the live-action films. That's the big difference here, though, as this new one is animated.

Check out the newly released trailer for The Garfield Movie here, below!

I may work inside an office building, but you wouldn't know it from my hands. My knuckles are often bruised from wrenching, it's not uncommon for there to be dirt or grease beneath my nails, random wounds are a constant, and the coarse skin matches the years of abuse I put them through in both physical labor and fun. I have taught them how to play the bass guitar, skip a stone, tie a fishing knot, write in cursive, swing an axe, and rebuild a carburetor; among countless other abilities. Now, I'm proud to say these hands have learned something else new: how to weld! 

This past Christmas, I was thrilled to find a welder beneath the tree. It's such an awesome gift, and I had been waiting for the opportunity to test it out. Well, I've been working on this big go-kart buggy thing for a while now and it was time to reattach the front end, so my friend and I went to town on it. We cut up some scrap metal, threw on a mask, and got to laying down some sticks. We fixed the shocks, got the steering together, and connected it all to the main frame. Although some things aren't quite fitting or looking exactly like I want, it's a start, and I'm just happy that my sloppy welds actually held. I've got a lot of learning to do when it comes to properly using that machine, but for my purposes over the weekend, I think I did alright! 

It was honestly a lot of fun and I'm excited to continue learning about how to use the welder properly. More knowledge and practice will open up my options on what I can accomplish through the use of it, and that goes the same for these hands of mine in general. Just because I'm not in school anymore doesn't mean I care to stop learning. It's just that now the garage is my classroom and I've traded-in my pencil for an angle grinder. 

With this, add welding to the list of things I sort-of know how to do! I'm hyped. 

Thanks for giving this a read, and if you get the opportunity to do so, try something new! Maybe you've been curious about knitting or you want to play the harmonica. Go for it!

So... I bought a trailer! I picked this bad boy up off my friend for a really good price on Thursday and I'm ecstatic to now have a means to easily transport my powersports with the Blazer. This is especially nice when it comes to transporting my large buggy project or maybe even my quad with the snowplow attached. 

Previously, I was just barely able to fit my four-wheeler in the back of the Blazer. It took two people, I had to completely deflate the tires for clearance, and I snapped some of my brittle late-90's GM interior plastic in the process of getting it in and out. That's not even to mention the mud and dirt brought into my cargo area or the fact that I had to leave the drop gate/hatch open as I went down the road. It made for a loud, windy car ride in that situation, but I made it work! If there's a will, there's a way; but now there's a much better way.

It's going to need weighed and put into my name, and I'll have to slap a plate on the old thing. Otherwise, it's pretty much ready to roll. The lights work and the bones are good, but the floor has rotted out a bit. I'll get it all fixed and looking good in no time. Maybe it will even give me an opportunity to practice welding with my new setup. 

I'm overjoyed! 

Of all the Thursday Top Ten lists I've compiled thus far; I can hardly believe I haven't touched on the topic of pop. Boy, do I love me soft drink, and the more sugary it is, the better! 

I'm an Ohio native, a Midwesterner, so it's pop. While pop is what we all call it, I'll admit that soda is an acceptable alternative too. If you call it coke, no matter what the drink actually is, that's where I draw the line. How are you about to call a can of root beer a coke? 

I am passionately against drinking diet pop. I can't get past the artificial taste and I've heard it's ironically worse for your health overall. I understand its the only pop option for some, like Diabetics, but I'd rather have anything else. And, while I could easily spiral into a tangent on the pop versus soda debate, let's get into the list.

Fizzy bubbles, it's My Top Ten Pops! 

10. Crush Orange

9. Mountain Dew Voltage

8. Squirt

7. Sunkist Orange

6. Mountain Dew

5. Mountain Dew Pitch Black

4. Mountain Dew Throwback

3. Mountain Dew Live Wire

2. Crush Grape

1. Big Blue

So, what's your favorite way to enjoy a pop? For me it goes from: glass bottle, then can, then plastic bottle, and lastly the tap. There's just too much unpredictability and variation from place to place when it comes to a pop from out of the fountain. The exception is those magic Coke machines that they have at places like Cedar Point. I keep thinking about the grape Hi-C out of those on a hot summer day; oh my! That stuff's dangerously good. Still, nothing even comes close to Big Blue, though. 

If you don't know about it, Big Blue is made by the same company that makes Big Red- not the bubble gum but the pop. If the color blue has a flavor, this is it. I've always described it as a blue cream soda, but there's really no distinct flavor besides sweet. It contains a stupid amount of sugar, enough to put a cavity in your sweet tooth! That's exactly why I like it. 

It is such a shame that Big Blue isn't really available in Ohio. It's a regional beverage which is most prominent in the south, and I look for it every time I travel. I even called the Big Red corporate offices a while back to try to locate that sweet nectar locally and it's just not around. Unfortunately, they're somewhat expensive to buy off the internet, too. If you do ever come across the stuff, give it a try and maybe pick me up a few too! 

Thanks so much for reading this and for tuning in to 94.9 WQMX. Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather coming our way, and maybe celebrate with a refreshing pop! 

Having my wisdom teeth removed has affected me in a number of ways. I've struggled to eat or drink anything, talking has not been easy, and I've been in pain for over a week now. I've done little more than wait for each day to turn to the next, coming closer to full recovery with every tick of the clock. It's been awful, truthfully, but I keep hope that I'll feel better soon. 

I'm in a rough spot as I write this. I'm already behind on sleep and can't catch a wink of shuteye due to pains in my face. It feels like my lower jaw is out of place, as if it no longer fits into place in my mouth. I simply can't stand it; it's consuming me. 

I really hope you don't have to go through the discomforts I feel currently, but if you're ever struggling to drift away; don't forget WQMX is up at all hours. We are proud to be live and local, and I'm here for you weeknights from Midnight until 5a.m. for better or for worse!

Hopefully, I can finagle even just a few hours of rest after my shift....

I'm sure you noticed that it has been just gorgeous outside, especially considering it is still February. I'm personally stoked whenever it is above freezing, let alone nearly sixty degrees and sunny, so this fair weather has put a smile on my face. It's a welcome reminder that spring is really on the way and as much as it may seem like it, winter won't last forever. Soon enough we'll be wearing shorts, eating ice cream, firing up the barbeque, and doing all those fun summertime activities. 

One of my absolute favorite things to do when the weather turns nice is to drive my El Camino, Eleanor. Sunday and Monday were both excellent opportunities to wake up the old beast, so that's exactly what I did. I gave her an overdue bath and went for a pleasant little cruise with the windows down. It was a good feeling being back behind the wheel of that Chevy, and I am so ready for the cold and road salt to be behind us. How about you?

Are there any warm weather activities that you've been longing to return to? I've sure got a list! 

Whatever the weather is, thanks so much for keeping it tuned to Your Country 94.9 WQMX! 

If you missed it; I had my wisdom teeth taken out this past week and I have been in recovery since. Let me begin by telling you just how good it feels to be back in the studio here doing my thing! I was tuned in throughout my time off, and I want to thank Nate, Nick, and Marty for filling in for me during my absence. 

I'd rather not go into much detail on the surgery itself, but it was successful. The team of professionals taking care of me did a fantastic job all the way through, and I am so very grateful that it was a smooth operation. I was totally freaking out as I awaited sedation, and I am glad they wasted no time in knocking me out. I was somewhere in between awake and asleep for the procedure, but once that IV was going, I felt nothing. I was a little loopy for a short while afterwards, but I had it together more than I had anticipated for the car ride home. 

For the remainder of the first day and even into the next, I was numb. I couldn't feel my lips or chin, and that really messed with me. I also could not open my mouth more than a little bit, and even drinking a sip of water proved nearly impossible as I just couldn't figure out how to swallow. Alongside the overall pain, these things improved in the following days. The swelling, on the other hand, got worse before improving. 

Once I was able to eat, I tore up a ton of creamy mashed potatoes. I've had so much that I think I'm good on that dish until about Thanksgiving! I would switch between those and vanilla ice cream, and it was several days until I was able to have anything else. 

Just as my choices for nourishment were drastically limited, so too were my options for things to do. I'm not the type who enjoys being idle, but I was forced to take it easy. I watched a lot of television and movies, and I barely left the house at all. Our housecats, Freddy and Fiona, kept me company as I healed. I managed to get a little work in on my buggy project and played some video games too. That was pretty much it.... 

So, where am I at in my recovery currently? I still can't eat anything that requires chewing. Talking isn't the easiest thing, and I'm doing my best to not let that affect my performance on-air. I'm still very sore and a dull face pain remains constant. I'm swollen and outwardly bruised. The process is certainly slower than I had expected, but I'm taking it day by day, and each one is now better than the last.

I'm just glad to be back! Thank you for tuning in to 94.9 WQMX.