Late last week, many of us from the station attended one of the best, and biggest charity events in Akron every year. It was Red And White On Thursday Night, which benefits the Arthritis Foundation at the beautiful Quaker Square.

I make sure I go every year, because these are people worth supporting.  There is no doubt the food is great, the wine is too and the company you meet and greet there is wonderful.  But the thing that always strikes me about this event, is the good you're doing supporting this organization.  These are people worth supporting.

Windy and I ran into Sue and Tim there - Great peeps!

Every year members from the Arthritis Foundation come in and speak on our Morning Show, and it always stuns me on the amount of people affected by this disease.  They estimate about 1.2 million people in Northeast Ohio are dealing with it.  That number simply puts me back on my heels. This is not to minimize the seriousness of other worthwhile and challenging charities, but I would never think that many people would be in that number.

That means someone you know, that I know, that is in your family, or you are affected.  So, I make sure we give this event a voice and platform to get the word out, and we do it proudly.  We get so many texts, and comments about this, it make us feel like we are doing good for those who need good done.

If you didn't attend this year, make it a plan to go next year, or make a donation here right now and help someone you know deal with something that is tough to deal with. 

Please support the Arthritis foundation!

The Gentleman

This has a big cast and has the look on the surface of The Kingsman series from a couple years ago. This would appear to have John Wick-like violence, and the decency of everyone wearing a suit and tie while doing so.  Toss in a heavy dose of parody and a killer boomer soundtrack and you may have a mild hit here.

It's late January, movie purgatory.  We'll see.

The Turning

A young woman takes a nanny job for a couple of whacked-out, possessed, horrible kids and her life goes down the drain.  But we have to ask this question.  Why not just quit, go home and let some other poor sap nanny deal with this mess?   Seems easy enough.  When things don't really add up, it irks me.

Silliness, but then again many of these kind of movies are.  Could be a decent showing though, these always find an audience.

This week has finally brought some winter weather and we've all felt it.  Even the dogs have.  In our house, Windy and I have three dogs, Juneau The Husky and 2 Pugs, Luna and Midnight.  They have opposite views on this time of the year.  A true Ying and Yang....

Juneau - This weekend laying in the snow for about an hour as I cleared the driveway and walks.

Midnight - At the same moment, crashed on the soft pug rug in front of a heat register.

Luna -  Same thing.

They are not unlike us.  Some of us are built for the cold, some are not.  But as opposite as they are in this respect, they are great friends in life.

 Ya Gotta Love Dogs! 

"The happiest people I know, are those who openly celebrate the success of others...."

It took me a while to really learn this.  Not the being happy for others part, but the effect it can have on others part.  Think about it. When something really good happens to you, it is a many pronged thing. There may be more money for you involved, or a promotion, a new realtionship, new love, new friendship, new possesions, or seeing a life long dream coming true. 

You get the news first, you're ready to burst, and what's the first thing you want to do? Share it with others, or course.  Right then, you learn a whole lot about some of the people in your life.  When someone is truly happy for you, you know it.  It's easy to see, it's authentic.  And at that moment, your good fortune feels even better, as joy should be communal.  You can't feel much better than during those precious minutes.

Sadly, there are many who can't bring themselves to that moment. They resent your minute on the pedastal, and that's easy to see too. In fact, far easier.  It's awkward, phoney, and it's a shame.  I feel all those people are doing is denying thier own joy.  It feels good to feel good for others. Life is so short, and the highs are to be relished.  One day it will be thier turn, and they will want someone, you, to look and smile at them while they are on the podium. 

Celebrate the victories of those in your world, and remember we all get our turn, and sucess alone, is...success.....alone.

I've been getting up at about 2:30 to 3:00 AM for about 40 years now to do morning shows in many different markets.  I'm not really a geek on this type of thing, but you do notice stuff preparing a show all these years. I joke with my showmates, that we get up before the morning low temperature, and it's true.

I looked, and around here the coldest nights are the first 4 weeks of the year.  The records reflect that.  This week is the anniversary of the coldest nights in Akron history.  Over the weekend, the 19th, the record is -25  (1994)  And the next two dates are -24 (1985). (today)  I remember the second one very well, and always will.  January 20th 1985 was Superbowl Sunday, San Francisco and Miami. The whole country was cold that weekend, and I was living in Columbus, doing the morning show at a Country Station there, WRMZ.  I think the low in Columbus was about 24 below that night.  It was historic all across the country.

The daytime high I think that day was -15, and I was getting ready to watch the game in my condo.  I then heard it was going down to stupid degrees that night, and I had an idea.  I went out about 5PM and started my car, my 1983 Buick Skyhawk.  After I barely got it started, I let it warm up, and then knew I would never get it started again at 3AM at -25 below, plus wind chill.  So, I locked it, and let it run all night.  Right there on my street parking, as I had NO garage.  I watched the game, went to bed, and then got in my warm car, and drove in to do the show that started at 5:30, with my parter Dan Weldy.

I have no idea how many laws or ordinances I broke that night, and I didn't care. I was young, and had a show to do.  When I got to work I, and we, all went out and started our cars about every hour or so to make sure we would get home.  Then the cold snap broke and we got back to normal.

Yes, it has been cold this week, but not "leave your car run all night cold."  Warmer weekend ahead.

I have always been a huge supporter of the Akron Zoo on and off the air.  I have done tons of apperarances and functions at the zoo over many years and I am proud of it.  When I first went to the zoo, it was not anything like it is today.

Wow has the zoo taken off, and much of it thanks to you.  About every seven years or so, you pass a levy for the zoo that helps fund it, and they are completely thankful for you.  In an era where many of our dollars are seemingly wasted all across the country, it's good to see them doing good at the zoo. The expansion is great, and this is a wonderful place, especially if you have small kids.

Kathy and Pam from the Akron Zoo!

I was proud to emcee thier 34th annual Snow Bowl at Stonehedge Lanes over the weekend. This is one of thier biggest fundraisers of the year, and one of the really fun ways to raise money in winter time. Last year we had a blizzard this day, and this year we had slush, but the place was packed, and everyone had a great time.   My Zoo hosts Kathy and Pam were very gracious to me, and made sure everyone had a wonderful time.  If you missed Snow Bowl this year, make plans for your team to be in it next year.

Bad Boys For Life

This is another installment of this franchise, as Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back again.  Whether this is good or not is still up in the air, but we continue to walk down memory lane with no real original ideas being the word of the day at the movies.

This will find an audience.  Could be fun!

Doolittle

Now that Iron Man has died, Robert Downey Jr. is looking for new projects, and this is certainly an interesting one.  This is not your dad's or grandads Dr. Doolittle.  Yes, the good Doctor can still talk with the animals, but the Push-Me-Pull-You's are packed up and it's high tech, high action CGI animals.  This is going to be available to you in many different formats too.  And the list of celebrity voices is impressive.

Will be loud and very actiony.

Proudly, for many years on WQMX, I have been the voice of The Amy Wengerd Group (TAWG).  She and her team are amazing realtors in our area that get incredible results of course for thier clients, and are simply great people to know and befriend.  Amy is a very nice woman that leads her intrepid team, and is always asking me, "What more can we do for the area, or charity?  Let's team up and do something." 

They believe in giving back, and always support our community and the meaningful events we do on WQMX.  They sponsor Bosom Buddies and always contribute generously to our WQMX Tree Of Lights, which benefits NEOPAT now.  (Northeast Ohio Foundation For Patriotism)  So last week when I had lunch with Amy, we discussed what more can be done.  At that point we discussed her new TAWG acronym.  And as the conversation continued, the idea for TAWG For Troops was born.  Which means this.  For every home Amy's group sells this year, they will make a donation to NEOPAT.  As this conversation continued, I was reminded just how proud I was to have them as a partner on WQMX.

We are a local company at WQMX, and Amy is too, and so are so many other great partners we have, like Klaben Auto stores. who also generously support every important fundraiser we do on WQMX, and who I am also a voice for.  That's why we only raise money for local charities at all of our station events.  We have so many wonderful ideas lined up for sensational fundraisers this year, I can't wait to get going. That includes our first ever bowling fundraiser at Charger Lanes in Norton Febraury 15, also benefitting NEOPAT.

So remember, TAWG, The Amy Wengerd Group's TAWG For Troops all of 2020 if you are buying or selling a home this year. And thank you Amy. 

Amy At WQMX Bosom Buddies

You may have heard that the Indians signed Frankie Lindor to a nice 17 million dollar contract for the upcoming season.  Good news.  Does that mean he'll be here for the next two years?  No.  They will never be able, and shoudn't pay him, or anyone 300-400 million to play ball here in Cleveland.  But it does mean if the Tribe gets off to a good start, and is very much in the playoff hunt, he'll be here all year. 

I feel the Indians are really thinking about making a run this year.  With good health, good pitching and some good luck they should. And Lindor will be right in the middle of it. Bad start and fall out of it, Frankie could be dealt by late July.  It's about that simple.  I love him too, but the price tag is far too high, and I think most of us know that, although not liking to admit it.  The owners are not cheap. They are smart, and run about the best originization in MLB, and 300 million is a lot of money on a single player, and would strap the team.  Think about this.

The vast majority of the top paid 15 paid players in MLB last year were NOT in the post season.  Teams simply can't afford to spend it, and put a good roster on the field. Look at Bryce Harper. All those years in Washington, leaves and signs a 350 million dollar deal with Philly, who don't make playoffs and Washington WINS the World Series.  Not coincidence.  The Yankees, and Dodgers spend zillions, and they have not won it either recently.

But what Lindor has done and will do will be remembered for years here.  He's a great guy, great player, and when they drafted him he was the front man on rebuilding the franchise.  He's taken us to the playoffs, and World Series. And this year he may again.  But then there's the future legacy.  When the time comes for him to go, he will rebuild the team yet again, as he will bring a kings ransom when they do trade him.  But let's worry about that when the time comes.

This year, let's watch him work his magic, let's get this thing started.

Well the Browns hired another head coach, and there are plenty that are less than happy about it. Kevin Stefanski is in, and the harsh critics are out in full force.  Will he be any good?  I have no idea.  None of us do.  Time will certainly tell.

Fans are venting their frustrations because this looks exactly like all the rest of them on the surface.  There's no way around that. It does. Same kind of guy, same level of experience, same no name.  I get it, it gets tiring after a while. It's like having the same bad dream every night.  But again, only time will tell.  And being frank, I would have gone a different direction, and that's no reflection directly on Stefanski.

The Haslams have put themselves back on the hook.  Hiring say, New Englands Josh MacDaniels would have taken them off of it. I don't know if he would be a success or not either, as I am not here speaking as a MacDaniels fan. There are questions there too.  But his 6 rings from the Belichick tree, and his resume is not in question, plus his local roots.  If he failed, then it could be said he was the best man out there for the job and they would be right in the perception of the press and fans.  Now, it's back to the belief in someone that is unproven and green.  And if Stefanski fails, it looks really bad again, and this ownership needs a win.  It's a shame he comes into town under less than ceremonious circumstances.

I don't know Kevin Stefanski, and niether do any of the rest of us, and let's wish him the best.  But it does look the same as always, and that's a tough pill for many to swallow.