Someone I worked with a while back introduced me to a helpful trick for clearing frosted windows that has stuck with me ever since. It's equally effective as it is uncomplicated. 

No one I know enjoys having to use a scraper, or worse a credit card, to get that icy opacity off their car's glass. It's particularly annoying right now as there is no snowfall. Instead of just brushing in order to safely drive, we need to scrape... or do we? 

While scraping is totally viable, I'm here to inform you that there is an easier way! It's all in a little thing known as alcohol. I'm not talking about that can of Twisted Tea that's been rolling around in your trunk since summertime, but rather, rubbing alcohol! The 91% is the good stuff, but any isopropyl type will do just fine. From there, you simply put the rubbing alcohol on the glass. 

The best way to do this is via a spray bottle. Whether you safely reuse one from another mixture or pick one up at the dollar store on the cheap, they're easy to come by. Just fill it up and keep it with your scraper. A couple spritzes on the windows and maybe a quick wipe, and you're on your way! It's also great for unfreezing doors or door locks, especially if your car is like mine without a remote fob. 

Alcohol and glass generally get along well, but especially if you have any type of stickers or tint, do be careful. Hopefully this helps you out this winter, and thanks for reading! 

Today the Browns play the Broncos in Denver and no matter what kind of season the Broncos are having, it's always a tough place to play.  The Browns are built for this with great defense and that should keep them in most any game.  Although, huge kudos to DTR who played well enough to win a big game at home.  But the Browns QB situation is an interesting one.

Lets talk about that for a second.  With Watson missing the rest of this season, it got me thinking about the future of the Browns and his role.  This year Watson showed very little of the great player many claim he was in Houston.  Same goes for last season after he returned from suspension. But there have been flashes of greatness, but most would agree, not enough of them.  A lot has been made of his "lack of reps" in practice and games, and I agree.  It's hard not to play and expect great play from a QB in the NFL.  So we look to next season, using this year and the last two seasons as our historical guide.

If his surgery and rehab goes well and he's cleared to start camp on time this is the scenario.  He will enter the 2024 season having played in only 11 of the last 51 regular season NFL games since 2021.  I'm not beating on him, I'm stating math facts.  Remember, he sat out the entire 2021 season on his own because of his problems with the Texans, and they were glad to let him if you remember.  Then in 2022 he was suspended for 11 games for the massage therapist scandal.  Now this year, it's a pair of shoulder injuries that have him missing the balance of this season.  You can't help injuries, no one can fault him for that. But things could have handled very differently by him in 2021 and 2022. 

Watson is 28 years old and has 3 more years on his contract.  So we have to ask, if the lack of reps and rust that he has been shaking off for the past 1.5 years, will it continue next season?  Very possibly, that's been his track record.  So if he's healthy, stays healthy, gets on the field, by about 6 games into the schedule NEXT season, should we see the old Watson?  That's about the best outcome with his own history being our guide.  If that ends up being true, his 235 million dollar contract will be about half over.

The contract Watson signed will follow and dog him here forever.  Being honest, I personally couldn't care less about his money, the contract is not a factor to me.  But for many the only thing that will take away that bad taste is a Superbowl WIN!  Fans here are living paycheck to paycheck, they spend big money to watch the Browns and many are not happy with Watson and his Bezos-sized bank account, then watching him sit yet again. 

But Watson is in a position of his own volition.  Again facts, he sat out 2021 out of personal anger.  He sat out most of 2022 because of personal bad behavior and now he's injured.  It's fair to remember, he had zero interest in playing here until "fully guaranteed" showed up.

That single decision, by the BROWNS and not him, will dog the Browns for years, as other owners are still ticked off and will be in zero hurry to help us out with trades or transactions.  So we put faith in a great defense to keep us in the fray as we make a playoff push without the guy acquired to lead it.  It's also fair to point out the Texans used the Browns front office to put on a clinic on how to rebuild a franchise that was in shambles.  And they get to do it one more time in 2024 as the trade will finally conclude.

Is the trade a bust?  I honestly feel no one can say yes or no yet.  Being fair, the final answer will come at the end of 2026. 

GO BROWNS!

About a year ago I did a two part series called The Influencers and it was very popular.  It was a two-part series talking about those over the years in Country that were heavily influential to the next few generations. Seems like a good time to revisit it, in case you missed it the first time around.

Thanks for reading and thanks for listening!

The Influencers (Part 1)

The Influencers (Part 2)

There are not many things cuter than baby animals! The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is celebrating the births of more right now! First, they recently had a baby Koala born. Now, it is the Tiger's turn! Yes! The Tigers had a pair of cubs recently and are going to be staying inside with mom for about 2-3 months according to the zoo.

We should be able to see all of the cuteness early in 2024! YAY! 

I'm going to my very first Ohio State Buckeyes game tomorrow in Columbus and I am stoked! Our undefeated home team is taking on the Minnesota Golden Gophers at 4pm, and alongside my brother and my dad, I will be there seeing it go down live!

My dad has been a lifelong OSU fan, and this year for his birthday my brother and I splurged a bit and decided to pick up some tickets. It will be our first time at Ohio Stadium all around, and seats sure were pricey but I think it will be worth it. As much as I'd like to see them duke it out in some crazy game versus a top-ten team, I want a win and I'm sure that's what we'll get. (It's all but guaranteed with a 93% win probability for Ohio State.)

I've been hoping all year that they would at least make it to this game undefeated, and here we are 10-0! With all of the disappointments we face up in Cleveland, the Buckeyes are a much-needed rock for us to lean upon and trust in.

We plan to get to Columbus early in the morning and tailgate for several hours before the game. I've never actually tailgated before so I'm really excited to see what the energy is like around the stadium on a game day.

For me, tomorrow will be about much more than just watching football. It's the men in my family coming together to bond over an experience and have fun. Its taking a road trip together to a faraway place unlike we have done since I was a kid. It's experiencing an iconic Ohioan sports rite of passage. Really, it's about showing our appreciation for our father and doing something extra-special for him! It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I won't soon forget. So, let's go Buckeyes! OH-IO! 

Since Thanksgiving is next Thursday, I figured this would be a wonderful time to bring this up. My mom was trying to plan out dinner for next week and asked if I wanted Turkey or something else. I am not the biggest fan of Turkey. I don't hate it, but I rarely eat it - usually this time of year. She gave me the choices of Turkey, Pork Chops, Ham, or something else - even dining out!!!

I gave it some thought and responded that since she already has some Turkey breasts in the freezer, we will go ahead and eat those. I tend to get more of the side dishes anyway - the corn, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, etc.

I also do not like Pumpkin Pie. Cannot stand anything Pumpkin. So I will gladly take a Chocolate Cream or Apple pie for dessert. Happy early Thanksgiving and enjoy all the food!

Southern Pacific  - Any Way The Winds Blows  - 1989 -  (Album -County Line)

Southern Pacific was the first artist I featured in my Country Music Memory Lane Series here at WQMX.com 4 years ago.  These guys were amazing musicians as they were made up from former members of the rock bands Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Pablo Cruise.  They had a nice run of country hits for a few years and collaborated with Emmylou Harris and Tom Petty.  This was not their biggest hit, but it was a top ten.  Country was shifting more traditional when they showed up and the stars were coming on fast and furious.  These guys were great, but we may not have been ready for them quite yet.  Many times, timing is everything and they may have been ahead of their time.  But there is no denying they made a lot of great music in a very short time. The songs, and thier incredible harmonies are sensational.  This song was also in the Clint Eastwood movie, Pink Cadillac.  This was their last big hit and it's my favorite song from them, as it was just outside of my 50 Favorites From 40 Years Series. But it is close, maybe #51.  If you've never heard of them or this song, I urge you to take a listen to this gem of a song.  If you like the sound of say, the Doobie Brothers, the Eagles, Alabama, you'll love this. This one is terrific, worth a listen or two!

My Full Profile On Southern Pacific

#4 - Reba McEntire - You Lie - 1990

As I put this list together it was a big job going through 40 plus years of songs.  Some were no brainer's and others I knew would be high on the list.  There were also some surprises on just how much I liked them, and this is one of those.  I rounded up the artists and picked a few songs from each.  Then some songs I was considering had to go through "brackets" like a basketball tournament to see who would win and this song just kept climbing, all the way to #4.  Reba had some great songs, but truth be told she had some that missed with me over her many years.  I was always drawn to Reba songs that showed her more natural voice, her true emotion, her sheer ability, and her total conviction to the song.  I always loved, Whoever's In New England, Up To Heaven and others.  But this is in another league still, by far my favorite Reba song.  It's strong, sad, honest, grown up, and country.  This is amazingly honest, it could cut too close to the bone for many, but that's why I love it.  This is the most surprising song on my 50 Favorites list because it just kept climbing and passing songs I originally thought I liked better.  To me, Reba's best performance of her remarkable career.  A big #1, her 14th, and a work of country art.  At this time of her career, she was untouchable.

Last Week #5

My Full Profile On Reba (Mega Star Series)

Yeah I know, just what we need is more food after that huge food weekend. But stuffed mushrooms are great and delicious.  And according to this, not super hard to make, so lets get busy.

The BEST Stuffed Mushrooms There Are

Turkey Day is just one week away, and I am so ready to smash on some food and to visit with the family. Between my fiancée and I, we typically have no less than two places to be on Thanksgiving, making appearances at as many gatherings as we can. It's cool to see how different cooks take on the challenge of Thanksgiving dinner, and my favorite food absolutely depends on who prepared it. For this blog, we'll talk general, traditional Thanksgiving foods. 

It's time to let that belt buckle out a couple notches and go back for seconds, this is My Top Ten Thanksgiving foods! 

10. Cranberry Sauce

9. Stuffing

8. Sweet Potatoes/Yams

7. Dinner Rolls

6. Green Beans with Bacon

5. Mac and Cheese

4. Apple Pie

3. Mashed Potatoes

2. Turkey

1. Gravy

I'm a dark meat kind of guy when it comes to Turkey. A few pieces of that, some mashed potatoes, a buttery roll, green beans, and a borderline criminally insane amount of gravy is all I want on my plate. Honestly, just give me the boat! Pair that with a Mountain Dew or two for some balance, then top it all off with a warm slice of apple pie and its nap time on the couch for me. 

Here at the station, around this time of the year and always, we are so grateful for our wonderful listeners. You're truly the best. From the WQMX family to yours, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving! 

Bonus: Check this out! →