Blah...Blah...Blog...

Wow! A new blog...

2009-03-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am the WORST blogger EVER! I think it's because
I "get it all out" on the radio show every morning so I really don't feel like
saying any more once I've left the air. Sorry. I'll try a little harder to jot down a few items
more often. Perhaps I should just hire a "ghost blogger" and let them handle it.
It might prove to be more interesting than me blogging about not blogging. Perhaps I'll blog about that...

2009-03-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

To Facebook...or not to Facebook...

2009-02-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

I lost a bet with my cohost and now must start a Facebook Page. I have reservations... I love computers and I think the ability for the internet to make our world smaller through communication is awesome, but I just don't have the time to commit to Facebook friends. I barely have time to occasionally update this blog. I guess your enjoyment of Facebook is what you put into it and no harm will come from any of this. It's just that I strive, by occupation, to not be boring and I'm afraid word will leak out that I have the dullest Facebook page on the planet. Here's hoping my new friends won't care...

Up to date...

2009-02-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

It's 2009 and I just got my first cell phone. People stare in disbelief when I say it, but it's true.
My wife has had one for a decade, but I always balked because I value my free time and cell phones allow people to find you. With all the kids running in so many different directions though, Anne and I decided that we needed more reliable communication then the hit-and-miss style I was employing. So now I have the dreaded cell phone. If you get the voice mail, it's nothing personal. I'm just hiding...

God Bless Us...Everyone.

2008-12-15T08:03:00.002-08:00

I am truly blessed to have a job that I love and an audience that is fun and interesting. Thanks for spending some of your time with us every morning. Seasons' greetings and all the best to you and yours from the Rileys.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Great Job Everyone!!

2008-12-08T08:16:00.001-08:00

Radiothon 2008 is now in the books! Another amazing, humbling three days of brave kids, great doctors and nurses, miracles and generosity. Down economy be damned! We raised $140,117 for the Children's Hospital of Illinois and have now gone over the one-million dollar mark for the event. To all of you who contributed, thanks from one lucky, four healthy kid, happy dad...

It's over...

2008-12-01T07:13:00.000-08:00

It is now the fourth day after Thanksgiving. The feeding frenzy is long over. The leftover selection is as follows: One small zip-lock bag of turkey. One slice of pumkin pie. Today, we finish this thing...

Best Seller...

2008-11-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Today I saw someone selling a Play-Do sculpture of Barack Obama on E-Bay. Not that anyone will buy it, but it does sum up the great lengths people will go to in an effort to cash-in on the popular President-Elect. Everything from stuffed animals like the "ObamaLLAMA" and the "BEARock Obama" to posters, buttons, t-shirts and even thongs bearing Mr. Obama's likeness are being sold globally. This stuff doesn't come cheap, a pair of "Obamajamas" will set you back sixty bucks. The President-Elect should copyright his image and use the proceeds to bring down the debt. I might even spring for the BarROCK BAND video game...

Poll to Poll...

2008-11-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

CNN is reporting today that polling is showing that 5% of voters are still undecided about thier choice for president. Hello... the election is TOMORROW??!! I find it very difficult to believe that so many will head into the voting booth not knowing which button they'll push. Even stranger, in Florida exit polling, 6% of early voters responded "I don't know" when asked who got their vote. What's going on here? I think the explanation is somthing that pollsters are refusing to quantify. I think "undecided" is simply poll code for anyone who responds "Leave me the hell alone, stop calling me during dinner, who I vote for is my business, I could care less about your poll!!" when asked to participate. Wow, I guess that makes me undecided...

Boo!

2008-10-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

So this is funny. My wife and I were awakened at about 3am this morning by what sounded like some one walking around downstairs. We checked the kids. All accounted for. So I cautiously ventured down the stairs to see what all the thumping was about. There were no signs of anything amiss, so I waited in the living room to see if the noise would happen again. Sure enough...an eerie tapping began on the front window. It was definitely not human! I slowly opened the front door to see who was responsible. To my relief it was just a mummy. Yep, our Styrofoam mummy head poking out of the window box was blowing in the wind and banging on the window. Who says Halloween decorations aren't scary...

Borrowing from Peter...

2008-10-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

Americans really don't like pain. For as tough as our reputation is, we kind of wimp out when it comes to dealing with bad news. We prefer euphemisms to harsh reality. We "spin" information... we "re-tool" health care plans... we "misappropriate" funds. A truly tough society would simply say we lie, cheat and steal. You know...get it all out in the open and deal with it. At present we are not being open and up front with our nation's financial crisis. The irony of our dilemma and its supposed solution should not be lost on us. The harsh reality is we borrowed too much money we didn't have. We call the remedy a "bailout" but all we are doing is borrowing more money we don't have. No dog has ever chased its tail with greater vigor. We should finally own up to the fact that we all need to live a little more modestly... and as Americans, that is tough.

Reassurance...

2008-10-07T08:13:00.001-07:00

The financial markets are crashing and people are concerned. Questions and accusations are flying! When will the ship be righted? Will chaos continue? Will things ever be the same again. Let me be a calming voice in the storm of uncertainty. Markets go up and markets go down... banks come and go... greed attacks then subsides, but one thing remains consistent in this topsy-turvy world...the Cubs are out of the post season. This is great news. When the Cubs win the world series, it will be a world we have never seen; night will be day, down will be up, wet will be dry, pigs will fly, hell will freeze over. For this year at least we have been spared all of that. The Cubs choked their way out of the first round so all is as it should be. The crisis will end, the markets will return. What a relief...

Law & Order & Pie & Donuts...

2008-09-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

A new study out of the University of Arizona says that TV shows like CSI or Law & Order that depict death, blood & gore cause us to shop and eat more. Researchers indicate that these shows force us to face our own mortality, and therefore we are more inclined to gorge ourselves and revel in instant gratification. Conversely my theory says "Reality Shows" are more prone to make us face our own mortality by forcing us to consider suicide rather than endure their mind-numbing banality...

Good Girl...

2008-09-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Taylor the dog died this past weekend. Taylor was my first dog. Not the first dog my family had, we had several while I was growing up, but she was my first dog. She found me on a golf course in southern Illinois 13 years ago and has been by my side ever since. Every early, groggy, 4am morning she was up with me, tail wagging, while the rest of the family slept. This week I'm waking up without her company and I really miss her. It's funny how a good dog gets under your skin. I can't bring myself to put away her food and water dish yet. I guess if they remain she's still around somewhat. She had a remarkable life-force and was loyal to the end.
She's earned the right to sleep in....

Wishful thinking...

2008-09-12T09:15:00.001-07:00

I watched with interest the "service to country" forum last night featuring John McCain and Barack Obama. It was held under the white flag of 9/11 so political attacks were set aside for the evening. Funny thing happened. Both men came off as intelligent, firm, caring and responsive. This, without fabricated insults about pigs with lipstick or lack of e-mail savvy. Wouldn't it be great if our national political forum could always be this civil in its discourse? What a great example it would be to the kids who will someday inherit the debate. The most telling part of the evening came after the forum had ended. With the candidates concentrating on issues instead of sarcastically insulting each other, the round-table of talking heads following the program had absolutely nothing to comment on or pontificate over. True political bliss..

Tough Guys...

2008-09-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Following the close of the Republican National Convention I heard a party official comment, "Now the real work begins..." Wow. Literally years of campaigning, criss crossing the country and flying around the world, two lengthy conventions, hundreds of meetings, speeches and handshakes and NOW the real work begins?! It's a schedule and work load that few would ever put up with. Barack Obama and John McCain are troopers indeed. No wonder the pool of true presidential candidates is always so shallow. Most of us still want our weekends off...

If You Build It, Will They Come?

2008-09-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of the new museum and Cat visitors center in downtown Peoria. I love the idea that expansive, new exhibit space would bring in quality Smithsonian caliber displays that would make a trip to St. Louis or Chicago unnecessary. I love the idea of an IMAX theatre showing first run movies that teens would flock to. I love the idea of CAT touting its heavy machinery muscle and impact on the region and the world. I love all these ideas because they are entertaining (as well as educational ) for my family. I DON'T love the way the presentation of the future product (and continued requests for funding) is always handled by men in suits who talk a lot about big money and support but don't inspire the average Peorian to get involved. What I would love to see is a frontman (or woman) who is entertaining, and passionate about what the exhibits would offer for the regions' children and families. We all know it costs a lot of money to put together a project of this magnitude, but people won't spend the dough, In marketing it's all about the show, and so far the show about the "Build The Block" project has been dry, and sorely lacking. I would love to see that change...

Vacation Log...

2008-08-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Back from tent camping with the family on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Hot, sandy, humid, thunderstorms, beach crabs, a freaking black widow!! Too many stories to tell, but I will say the kids enjoyed a great adventure and we all had a blast! I highly recommend getting everyone completely out of their comfort zone every now and then. It's inspiring and refreshing. Having said that, next vacation Anne & I plan on getting firmly back into our climate controlled, room serviced, venomous spider free comfort zone. One only needs so much inspiration...

A Good Sign?

2008-07-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what this means, but I think it's significant. Over the weekend I was playing tennis with my daughter. Playing on the court next to us was a co-worker of mine hand his 7-year old nephew. He told me they had come to play because the boy had been playing tennis on the Wii video game system and wanted to see what real tennis was like. I wonder if this early and constant exposure to the virtual world will make the real world seem more or less interesting to our children? My friend's nephew really seemed to be enjoying his game of tennis. I'll take that as a positive...

Place your bets...

2008-07-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not a gambler. Oh I'll toss five bucks in for a college basketball sheet or bet my brother a dollar that the Bears will win, but I really don't find needlessly parting with money entertaining.
For some though, wagering is a way of life. How about this.... A sports ticket broker is selling the "right" to buy 2008 Cubs World Series tickets for $350. In other words, you're betting on the long suffering Chicago ball club to get to the championship and securing your seat, which you then have to purchase. (On top of the $350) The only safe bet in this whole deal is for the ticket broker who keeps $60 of your money even if the Cubs don't get to the Series. Don't get me wrong, it would be really great if the Cubs could break the hundred year curse this season, but paying sixty dollars for the opportunity to dream seems like too much of a gamble to me...

Ka-Boom!

2008-07-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

Our Red, White and Boom Fireworks party went off without a hitch. Just a little gathering for 200,ooo of our closest friends and a HUGE thirty minute tnt blow-out above the Illinois river. This was my eleventh year as host of the event and I'm telling you, it's always awesome "lighting the fuse" on that many explosives. Apparently all that practice blowing up model cars and GI Joes when I was little paid off...

Freedom...

2008-07-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

The "4th of July holiday" always finds my family extremely busy. This year seems even more taxing than normal. Baseball games to coach and play, birthdays, swimming, a family reunion, doctors appointments, planning vacation trips, hosting relatives, summer parties, a little shin-dig 93.3 The Drive throws on the Peoria Riverfront for a hundred thousand of our closest friends, etc....etc...etc... There's hardly a free moment to catch our breath. No time to complain though, it's the Fourth of July, America's Birthday, and we're lucky to be a part of it. I often tell my children how blessed they are to have been born in the USA. It's important to remember how great it truly is to be this free, to be this busy...

It's all relative...

2008-06-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

We went to a family reunion for my wife's side this past weekend. Lots of good fun, food and rambunctious cousins. It's fun to see the multiple generations all get along. Yesterday on the radio show we spoke with several people who were descended from iconic figures; Buffalo Bill, Robert E. Lee, signers of the Declaration of Independence etc.. My own family history apparently contains poet James Whitcomb Riley and frontier lawman Bat Masterson. I guess , in a way, we are all related to each other a little bit just being human. Nice thought, but I wouldn't want to get stuck with the bill for the potato salad for that reunion...

Mug O' My Heart

2008-06-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

I started Father's Day off this year by drinking coffee on the deck out of my father's old coffee mug. Dad is gone now, but that mug always reminds me of how lucky I am to have had a great father. It's a heavy porcelain mug emblazoned with his Navy flight squadron patch and his name. When I hold it it gives me a lift. If I feel down and tired, it reminds me that my father didn't whine or gripe about little things, he just got stuff done. It also reminds me that he was a great listener and loved all of us. Growing up that mug was present during a lot of discussions, dinners, projects and games. I like to think that it helps me channel Dad's wisdom to my kids. I think he would get a kick out of the fact that his great grandchildren may someday be using the power in that old mug to make their families stronger...

Funny...

2008-06-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

You know you're finally an adult when:
Your salary is less than your tuition used to be. Mac & cheese no longer counts as a well-balanced meal. 8 a.m. is not early. You hear your favorite song on the elevator at work. You start watching the weather channel. Jeans and baseball caps aren't the staples of your wardrobe. Smoking gives you a sinus attack. You go from 130 days of vacation time to seven. You no longer confuse a 401(k) with a 10k run. You go to parties that the police don't raid. People tell jokes about sex in front of you. You can't remember what time Wendy's closes. The cost of your car insurance is down. You are paying your own credit card bill. Your parents start making remarks about grandchildren. Your potted plants stay alive. You carry an umbrella. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of Taco Bell.

Priceless...?

2008-06-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

We are having a garage sale this weekend. My wife is trying to clean out the attic and in the process is having to decide what she will part with. She has a very difficult time getting rid of clothing the children wore when they were little. Normally I'm the opposite, but maybe I'm getting softer. I was pontificating about how it's "just stuff" taking up space we need when my wife pulled out the little outfit that we brought all four of the brood home from the hospital in. I don't think anyone will pay the million dollars I'll ask for that at the garage sale...

Makin' Music...

2008-05-27T09:12:00.002-07:00

I went to a reunion this past weekend. Nothing formal, just some musician friends that I've been privileged to play with off and on for the last twenty-eight years. Good tunes. Great times. When we first got together it was cheap guitars, cheap beer and bongos. This year there were probably fifteen very expensive guitars, plus keyboards, drums and congas on stage. The gear has gotten a lot better, but more importantly, so have the friendships...

Off you go...

2008-05-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Got kid # 3 up on two wheels the other day. One more to go. Jogging alongside kid&bike is a little more taxing than it used to be, but the wide-eyed look of accomplishment when the first time rider "gets it" is still one of the great moments in parenting. Like birds out of a nest. A couple more days and that gape mouthed look turns to determination and then he's on his way. Next...

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is coming up and we were talking on the show this morning about all the great advice Mom used to give us. "Momisms" if you will. My mother's favorite was "Can't never did anything." She would say this to inspire a "sky's the limit" attitude for all of our youthful pursuits. I will say I have always had the feeling that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. My optimistic, can-do attitude, would please Mom very much. I guess about the only thing I can't do is forget her...or the great things she taught me.

Tuning out...

2008-05-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

I am now officially suffering from election fatigue. I don't know about you but all of the non-issue related sniping between our candidates for president is now all sounding so redundant that I could write the soundbites myself. I have read all I need to and have decided who I will vote for. All we are going to hear from now until election day is more character assassination so wake me in November. My "EF" should be cured by then...

Super!

2008-04-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

My wife and I took my older two kids to see Jesus Christ Superstar last night. Ted Neeley, who has been portraying Christ in this show for longer than Jesus was actually on this earth, was amazing. At age 64 he still hits all the notes and brings true passion to the role. What I enjoyed the most , though, was that my computerized, movied, video gamed kids were genuinely moved and thanked me for a great night at the theater. That was truly Divine...

Shake Rattle & Roll...

2008-04-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

Did the recent earthquake wake you up? I was getting ready for work and was oblivious to the whole thing, but my wife woke from a sound sleep and new instantly that it was an earthquake. She even pegged the 5.2 measure on the Ricter scale. (I am now calling her the "human seismograph") Apparently this was a pretty big quake. It was centered seven miles deep and was still felt as far as 350 miles away. A few minutes ago we felt an aftershock in downtown Peoria. Tremors are few and far between and big news here in Central Illinois, but it's all a matter of perspective. I talked to my friend in Southern California about it, he laughed and said he doesn't even wake up for any quake less than a 6...

Too Much Information...

2008-04-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

My parents never owned a book I wasn't allowed to read. Even if some of the material was "over our head" my siblings and I were always encouraged to try and digest it as best we could. My folks thought it developed a thirst for learning. They were right. My children also have a thirst for learning. Unfortunately they want to quench it on the Internet. The web is an amazing learning tool, but quite precarious. Every scrap of the brightest and darkest material available from around the world. My wife and I are presently having to judge and juggle content to satiate four little sponges all at different age levels. Very tough duty. I often wonder how my "read everything you can" parents would have reacted to the Internet. I'm guessing they would have locked the library door...

Here Comes The Sun...

2008-04-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was wonderful. Sunshine and much warmer temps drew EVERYONE outside. We took the kids on a nice bike ride along the riverfront and everyone we passed was smiling and in a great mood. I saw total strangers hugging each other after discussing the weather. Bliss...
It's not just the sun that has this effect. (People get depressed in California and Hawaii) I believe it is the emergence of spring that gives us our lift. That's what I love about the Midwest; without the lows...one cannot possibly appreciate the highs to their fullest. I guess that's why we love to talk about the weather in this neck of the woods. It's intoxicating...

Final Four

2008-03-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

Back from vacation and out of contention in all of my NCAA pool attempts. The monkey picked Texas, my four-year-old liked Michigan State, and I've never been to North Carolina but they're doing just fine thank you very much. My wife now insists that she said she LIKED UCLA's uniforms. So now I'm catching it for not listening to her...again. Next year, I think I'll stop watching sports after the Superbowl...

The Big Dance...

2008-03-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

This year I'm trying four new methods of picking my NCAA Tournament brackets. We'll see which one performs the best...
1. My four year old picks...
2. A chimp that throws darts...
3. My wife decides based on the attractiveness of uniform colors. (UCLA is OUT!)
4. If I've never been to the school's state, they lose...

If I win with one of these strategies I'll let you know. I'll also mercilessly taunt all the guys in
the sports department who are busy crunching stats as we speak.

Good luck to you and Go Monkey!

Time Is On Our Side...

2008-03-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

It takes me quite awhile to re-set all the clocks in my life to "daylight savings time. I think we have five clocks (microwave, coffee maker, etc.) in our kitchen alone! Benjamin Franklin is commonly credited for creating the concept, but people in his day only had to re-set a pocket watch and maybe a clock on the mantle if they were lucky. "Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure", Franklin said. If he knew that everything he would later invent would eventually contain a clock and would have to be re-set twice a year...I think he would have re-thought the entire deal...

One Tough Cookie...

2008-03-05T11:10:00.001-08:00

Today is the birthday of the Oreo cookie. The National Biscuit Company of New York (Nabisco) rolled them out in 1912. If one does the math...apparently 61-billion Oreos have been consumed over the last 96 years. Enough cookies, that if stacked, would reach to the moon and back five times!!! I wonder how many of those I am personally responsible for? I wonder how many gallons of milk that translates into? I wonder how quickly I can get to the store and start stacking moonward...?

Brrrrrrrrrr...

2008-02-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or is this cold spell we're going through getting to everyone? I've never heard so much griping about the weather from otherwise thick-skinned, hearty, wind-blown Midwesterners.(myself ,of course, included ) The change of season is why we love it here so I guess we're forced to embrace it even when it chills us to the bone. I'm hoping this leads to an exceptionally joyful, addictive, soulful lift that only a central Illinois spring can provide. It may be time to declare a mandatory Hawaiian shirt day...

Ready...Aim...

2008-02-19T08:10:00.000-08:00

This week the US Navy plans to shoot down a damaged satellite before it crashes to earth. Can you say Skylab? The Navy maintains that even if they miss with the sub launched missile no harm will be done. I hope their aim is true. If my Direct TV goes out, I'll know who to call...

Don't judge a book, or a song, by its cover...

2008-02-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has stopped using John Mellencamp songs at his rallies. Turns out Senator McCain is courting the conservative vote and Mr. Mellencamp wears his bleeding liberalism on his sleeve. McCain's people say they were just listening to the chorus and not the whole song. It's not the first time a politician has been accused of not listening. Ronald Reagan used Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA at his events in 1984, even though the song is quite obviously sung by a charactor that has been screwed by the conservative government. No one on Reagan's team seemed to get it... they gleefully chanted the refrain along with the faithful. The politicians have gotten one thing right; the right tune can change your mood, your mind and yes, even the country. What they often miss however, is how picking the wrong one shows how out of touch they can be...

Place your bets...

2008-02-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

I like the Superbowl, but Las Vegas loves the Superbowl. You can get odds and bet on literally everything associated with the game. Fantasy picks, the jersey number of the player who scores first, Eli's numbers vs. Peyton's, who will win the coin toss....Everything. The players make millions, a ticket to the game costs thousands and the pre-game show with its' multi-million dollar commercials is now longer than the game itself. Somewhere under that big pile of money there's a football game. I still like the Superbowl, but it's getting harder to see every year...

Go Dolphins!

2008-01-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid I had a Miami Dolphins rain poncho. I lived in Chicago, liked the Bears, but the Dolphins were the only undefeated team EVER!!! Total domination in sports fills up the bandwagon pretty quick. I'm guessing Miami did pretty well in the merchandising department after their run. I wasn't alone. There was a lot of aqua and orange being donned from coast to coast in the early 70's. Who knew that Cattles Bend, South Dakota or Pickett, Indiana were such havens for south Florida football fans?? All of that rampant "Dolphandom" was before satellites, cable, cell phones, and the Internet. Modern merchandisers are licking their chops. If the Patriots win the Superbowl this weekend and complete their perfect season, don't be surprised if your Sherpa guide on Mt. Everest greets you in a Tom Brady Jersey...

Aloha...

2008-01-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

We just returned from our trip with ToGoAway Travel Network to Hawaii. Here's a great piece of advice if you ever visit our Pacific paradise state. No matter what island you're on, rent a car. It's simply the best way to get around. All the major companies rent vehicles on all the islands. It allows you to experience more of the island vibe than an organized tour, and it saves you money too! The most we paid for a rental car was $50 for a day. Just one tour can sometimes cost you twice that. Most of the stuff you want to see, waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes etc. are in state parks and there is no-cost or a nominal fee to get to them. Plus, if it's raining where you are, just drive to the other side of the island and you'll find sunshine. I'm not kidding! If you are a "local info" junkie the tour guides are awesome, but if you prefer to research stuff on your own before you visit, just rent a car and hit the road. You drive on the same side of the road, all the signs are in English, maps are readily available and if you get lost you can just stop at a gas station and ask for directions. Heck it's a lot like being in Peoria except with more palm trees. Water bound activities are a different story. It's best to find a reputable charter for snorkeling, fishing, etc. They'll know the best spots and it will save you a lot of time.
One more note. There are a bunch of public beaches that are tucked in around big resorts. Sometimes they're hard to find, but you are free to use them and having the big hotels nearby is nice for drinks and facilities. Hawaii is chock full of VERY friendly folks who love to tell you stories about the islands and point you in the direction of cool stuff to do. I suppose they're so helpful and happy because they're permanently on vacation...

Notes from Hawaii

2008-01-22T07:12:00.000-08:00

We visited Pearl Harbor on Saturday. Very moving...very humbling. No matter how much you've read about that battle or how many movies you've seen, it still gets under your skin. One interesting story, there is a placard honoring Raymond Emory from Peoria. Ray was below deck aboard the USS Honolulu on the morning of December 7th, 1941. After the attack began, he was one of the first to get behind a 50-calibre machine gun and return fire. Ray stayed in Hawaii and continues to help identify unknown casualties from that awful day. I also learned that surviving crew members from the USS Arizona often choose to be interred in the sunken battleship after they pass. Like Ray, it's been impossible for them to leave their lost comrades behind...

Hulas, luaus and poi oh my...

2008-01-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

My wife and I, along with a salty crew of like-minded listeners, are heading to Hawaii! I'll report back next week. Aloha...

Happy New Year

2008-01-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Remember when you were a kid and read Clark's "2001 A Space Oddessy"? Or maybe you were a fan of the Kubrick movie version. Either way, 2001 was the epitome of the future. Soooooo far away that it semed like all of us would be long gone by the time the calendar rolled into the new millenium. Well, 2008 just arrived. No anti-gravity cars...no evil super computer... I'm just not getting the feeling I live in that "far-off distant future" I read about and yet...here I am. I think my generation has grown to expect the amazing technological advances that so rapidly occur. In Clark's day perhaps, by comparison, they were slower in coming so it played out more as fiction. Today we are so well versed in "science fact" that the fiction now all seems too plausible. Sad for fiction writers, but I like having a handle on most of it. My own evil computer on occasion will not allow me to "open the pod-bay doors" but at least I know how to re-boot...

Cheers...

2007-12-20T07:32:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to say thanks for listening and reading and sharing time with us this year.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Two of a Kind...

2007-12-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

Two significant deaths occurred this past weekend. Singer songwriter and Peorian Dan Fogelberg, and my Pioneer SX-580 receiver. Fogelberg was a favorite of mine. He created the kind of songs that you could digest and make a part of you. The SX-580 was a gift from my parents back in 1980 and was the musical source of power and component organization for lo these many years. It went from sitting on my bedroom floor, to makeshift milk crate shelves in college to my current family room entertainment center and never failed me. What a trooper. I wore out the grooves on Fogelbergs Souvenirs album and every sweet note passed through my trustworthy Pioneer on its way to the speakers. They both finally fell silent on Sunday. I think I'll go buy a CD copy of Souvenirs today, I'm sure it will sound just as fresh as ever. Dan always came through for me. I'll buy a different brand of receiver however, I couldn't stand it if a Pioneer ever let me down...

Never Break The Chain...

2007-12-11T07:43:00.001-08:00

A couple of days ago my six-year old and I made the obligatory paper link chain to count down the days 'til Christmas. You know the drill, cut off a link each day and the chain shortens as the big day approaches. Two observations: 1. The chain is supposed to stop all of the kids from constantly asking "How many days until Christmas?"...it doesn't. and 2. Until it whittles down to two or three links, it's almost a sadistic exercise on how slow time moves when you're anticipating something joyful. Nonetheless I feel I owe it to my parents that the paper chain continue and my son's eagerness for the daily "link cutting ceremony" supplants any doubt of its worth. As each link hits the floor, he's moving closer to Christmas, and also closer to carrying on the tradition...

One Final Jump...

2007-12-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

Evel Knievel died last week. Talk about a cat with nine lives. What guy who grew up in the 70's can't picture that slow motion Ceaser's Palace crash in their head start to finish? Evel leaves an interesting legacy of thousands, if not millions of us, who injured ourselves trying to jump things on our bikes wanting the Evel experience . Why we chose to replicate stunts that more often than not ended up in a tangle of metal and Evel bouncing down the street is beyond me. I do know he saved many lives by releasing the Evel Knievel stunt cycle toy. That way we could vicariously jump and crash Lil' Evel all day with out breaking a clavicle trying to sail over Dad's boat in the driveway. I wonder if Evel appreciated all the stupidly brave boys on bikes that fueled his legend? I know at least he understood why we craved the thrill. After all, he was one of us....

Thanks...

2007-12-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to thank all of you who contributed to our Radiothon For Kids for the Children's Hospital of Illinois this year. We raised over $100,000 and to date have raised over $900,000 in the effort. Lots of dough...but lots of kids get sick every day and need our help.
If you still want to donate, go to the Radiothon link on our website 933thedrive.com.

Giving Thanks...

2007-11-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

I came across this the other day and thought it sums up things pretty well. I thank you for listening and reading and hope you and your friends and family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Father,
Thank You
for providing everything we need.
Thank You for grandparents
who prayed for us before we were born
as we pray for the grandchildren of our grandchildren.
Thank You for teaching us to love
by loving us,
for all the love You give and we share.
Thank You for surrounding us with the miracle of Your creation,
for the heavens
and the sparrows.
Thank You for laughter and friends to laugh with,
for service and others to serve with.
Thank You for
health, sight, hearing,
hands to work
and hands to hold,
holidays and beauty,
books and music,
children,
food,
rest,
homes,
and
memories.
We are so blessed.
Thank you for being here,
watching, caring, and helping.
Amen

Pie In The Sky

2007-11-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year. Leaves changing, crisp bonfire nights, and pumpkin pie. The midwest's change of seasons is one of her strongest suits. I count on the onset of winter and the re-birth of spring to re-charge my batteries. It's as if nature and I are squaring off together against a cold, icy opponent and celebrating when we are victorious. I can't imagine living anywhere without seasonal change. Each has its own special effect on my psyche that I find refreshing. Maybe that's why even though pumpkin pie is readily available all year 'round, I only seek it out around Thanksgiving...

Funeral For A Friend...

2007-11-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

We buried Dave Bryan, my best friend's father, this weekend. He was eighty years old when he passed and lived a great full life. Sad...but also oddly encouraging. I've known Dave for 35 years and have always appreciated the way he lived his life. Dave was the "cool" dad. Playboy swizzle sticks, rat-pack attitude and a 7-foot Marlin stuffed and hanging over his pool table with a Hemmingway-esque photo of the original capture framed alongside. Dave had that kind of charisma that made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. When his son and I were little he was an attentive audience for all of our little shows and schemes and was still interested in what I was up to until the day he died. I remarked at the funeral how contagious his gusto for life was. Many others who shared their thoughts had the same feelings. I found myself hoping that someday I would be remembered so fondly. If I am, part of the reason will be that I knew Dave Bryan...

Time Is On My Side...

2007-11-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

I have too many clocks in my life. When I woke up on Sunday, following the seasonal time change, I took it upon myself to reset all the clocks around the house. First the clock radio, then the DVD player in the bedroom followed by my watch. Next came the shower CD player, clocks in the kids bedrooms and the bookcase clock. Seven clocks and I hadn't even gone downstairs yet. To make a long story short, counting the two vehicles, I reset seventeen clocks that morning!! Apparently we are painfully time-conscious at the Riley home. I'm not sure all those time pieces do us a lot of good. Ironically...with seventeen clocks, plus an extra hour of time on Sunday, we still managed to be late for church...

The 12 Days of Halloween

2007-10-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

What is it about we Americans that we don't understand the concept of "too much of a good thing can be bad"? If something delights us...we can't just enjoy it in moderation, we've got to try to pile it on until every ounce of fun is squeezed out. And so it is with Halloween. Last night we went to our "Trunk of Treat" affair in our church parking lot. Fund raiser...nice time...kids had fun...all true, but it also involved the kids dressing up and getting piles of candy. They will dress up and get candy again at their school class parties and yet again on Halloween night. All of this adds up my kids collecting a cache of sweets that their mother and I can't possibly, in good conscious, let them consume. Now , I'm not a party pooper. I think kids should get to enjoy candy... just not in twenty pound piles! Let's limit the sugar onslaught to October 31st and for the surrounding celebrations, put the focus back on the fun of putting together cool costumes, carving crazy pumpkins or writing scary stories. Creativity, unlike candy, is most effective when not done in moderation...

I Like It Here...

2007-10-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

It must be really great to live in California. Millions have migrated there so there must be something seriously awesome going on to put up with all the earthquakes, mudslides, pollution and wildfires that perennially plague the west coast. One would have to really hate snow to put up with all of that. Don't get me wrong, I do like the occasional coastal vacation. I just like my day to day reality to be a little more secure. I have both friends and relatives in California who always question as to my choice to live in the Midwest. I've called all of them this week to make sure they're OK...

Spoiled Rotten...

2007-10-15T07:53:00.000-07:00

My wife and I are going to Hawaii this year. We will be island hopping from aboard a state-of-the-art cruise ship that by all calculations is about the size of an aircraft carrier. It has restaurants, pools, batting cages, even a spa and health club. I was thinking about this while looking at the Nina (Replica of Christopher Columbus's ship) docked on the Peoria riverfront. The Nina is tiny...about the size of one of the international gourmet restaurants on the ship we'll be sailing on. It's amazing that sailors would be gutsy enough to head out into the unknown across the endless ocean on a vessel that seems so fragile by today's standards. It's hard to believe the new world was ever discovered without access to a spa or at least decent Italian...

'Tis The Season...

2007-10-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

I read today that a radio station in Indianapolis is going to start broadcasting Christmas music from now through the holidays. Wow...three months out...might be a new record. A listener called this morning and told me she saw guys setting up Christmas trees in the Wal-Mart garden center. When my son and I were shopping for Halloween decorations, more than one store we visited also had Christmas fare set up for sale. In the small Michigan town where we vacation in the summer there is a store that sells nothing but Christmas items all the time. Of course the reason for all of this is to try to jump start the Christmas shopping season and eventually boost holiday sales, but it does get rather exhausting by the time the actual celebration arrives. Ironically, keeping the true spirit of Christmas alive all year round is actually the goal we should strive for. I wonder if doing that would be less exhausting in the long run?

In Passing...

2007-10-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year our cat Makanda died. She was 14-years old and had been a part of our family longer than we've had any of our children. It was very sad when she passed. She was a great cat with tons of personality. We loved her, the dog missed her, and the kids got to learn that hard "all things must pass" lesson. Time heals. I only sporadically think of Makanda now. Usually early in the morning as she and the dog used to follow me downstairs every day. The Kal-Kan pet parade I called it. Then yesterday we got a card in the mail from the vet, reminding us that Makanda was due for her shots. At first I thought I should call the office and tell them she was gone, but now I think the annual reminder of her will be a welcome, warm moment...

Go Cubs Go!

2007-10-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

My mom loved the Cubs. Her small B&W kitchen TV and little red am radio seemingly always had a game on. I was thinking of mom the other day when the Cubs clinched the division title. She would love this! Maybe she finally willed the Cubbies to victory from the great beyond! People often like to imagine the dear departed can have an effect on the outcome of sporting events. "Angels in the Outfield" or Walter Payton helping to beat the Packers come to mind. But where are they when the teams are losing season after season? I would like to think that if my mom was able to decide the Cubs' fate, they would win the World Series every year! And that she would give me some kind of sign so I could cover the spread! I really don't believe our loved ones who have passed spend a lot of time watching sports here on earth, but I do believe that with the Cubs in the play-offs my mom is truly in heaven...

takeyourmedicine.com

2007-09-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

As a long-time Chicago Bears fan watching last year's Superbowl run was a blast. I've even backed besieged QB Rex Grossman when all others are calling for his head. After last night's disaster against Dallas though, I think the offense desperately needs a change. I know I'm not alone amongst Bear fans in this regard. Just take a look at the time and effort some are putting into getting rid of Rex on this new website: www.cutgrossman.com
I do feel sorry for Rex. I don't think any of us want to see the www.cutinsertyournamehere.com website go up...

A Big Hit

2007-09-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

Baseball star and Peorian Jim Thome hit his 500th home run last night. He's one of only 23 guys to ever do it. That makes the ball that went into the stands pretty valuable by collector's standards. Thome has made it clear that he would like that ball to go to the Hall of Fame, that
it would have no value sitting in some one's living room. He's right of course. If a collector keeps it. It might as well be a Beanie Baby or a Cabbage Patch Doll. Now what are the odds in 2007 that the person who would randomly come up with the record setting ball would share Jim's sentiments instead of going for the big E-Bay pay day? Well that's just what happened. The gentleman that caught it gave it to Thome and even donated some of the prizes Jim offered to charity. He said he appreciated Jim's integrity and the value that the ball would have in the Hall. The whole exchange was completed without money even being mentioned. A humble, pro athlete that "gets it" and a fan that finds value in that. Rare indeed...

Who's Responsible?

2007-09-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

Music can fuel irresponsibility. The first time man got whipped into a dancing frenzy when someone was banging a rock on a hollow log was most likely the first time he woke up too late for the hunt and the tribe went hungry. My wife and I went to a club the other night at our college Alma mater to catch the reunion of a band that was locally popular when we were in school. We stayed til closing time which was about two am. With four young children we don't do that much anymore, but the music and the college memories had us in such a great mood we hung for the duration. The next day we were both paying for our good time but we agreed that it was well worth it. At least it was nice see so many other slightly graying bobbing heads in the crowd at that show. We knew we wouldn't be the only ones the next morning with ringing ears, pounding heads and satisfied irresponsible smiles...

We Should Be Ashamed of Ourselves...

2007-08-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Word is out today that plans are going forward to publish the OJ Simpson "tell all" book and sell it at major retail outlets. When originally pitched, common sense outrage prevented anyone from committing resources to such a ghoulish project but now it appears there's money to be made so off we go. A judge has granted the proceeds of the sales to the Goldman family but let's not forget that the publisher, sales outlets, co-authors etc all get paid at the end of the day, and OJ gets more pub. Who's going to buy this thing? Probably millions. What will we learn from the book? Nothing. Will the Goldman's payday bring back their son? Nope. What will we learn about the oft-times callous and salacious nature of humans? Everything...

School Days...

2007-08-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

As it turns out, going to school is a lot like mowing the lawn. This week we are sending our fourth child to her first day of school. Excited and rarin' to go, bubbling with anticipation and adorned with crisp school clothes and the obligatory backpack. It is a feeling that soon passes. Her older siblings have long ago lost the "first day of school luster". To them school means a return to the structure that summer allows to ease and it's more like a trip to the dentist than to Disneyland. My oldest boy used to sit and watch me mow the lawn like a sports fan. He begged me for years to allow him to mow, only to have me deny him because he wasn't ready. Now that it's his weekly job his tone has changed and he trudges downheartedly to the garage when it's time to cut the lawn. I guess when it comes to growing up and learning about responsibility school never really lets out...

We Don't Deliver...

2007-08-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

I'm in a pizza depression. Leonardo's Pizza, my favorite source for the tasty thin-crust Za that I crave has closed. It's getting tougher all the time for the local neighborhood pizza restaurant to stay in business. Big national chain franchise pizza is fine, but I've always been a fan of the family owned joints that just always seem to put a little more heart into their places. In high school our local haunt was a small storefront pizza place called "The Little Italian". After ballgames, dances, plays and the like we'd end up there, eating that delicious thin crust pizza and solving the world's problems. Little "I" also went out of business, citing competition from large companies. The big boys may still be delivering pizzas, but as far as delivering memories, I'll always go for the local guys...

Cookin'

2007-08-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

There are many historic disagreements: Albums vs. CD's...Cubs vs. Cardinals...Pepsi vs. Coke...but the greatest division of the summertime months is charcoal vs. propane. Grilling out is mankind's oldest form of culinary leisure. As soon as the first animal fell into the fire we were off and running. Charcoal purists will site prefered flavor as their main argument. My friend Dan also says that one more beer can be finished during the time it takes the coals to heat up and that alone is reason enough to avoid gas. I must admit, I used to be in that camp until my father-in-law bought us a propane grill about twelve years ago. Ease of operation, the ability to grill out all winter and adjustable heat have become essential to my grilling process and I have never looked back. While on vacation recently, the house we rented only had a charcoal grill so I had to go "old school" for a week. I made a conscious effort to determine if the food tasted any better. It didn't. The flavor argument is moot in my mind. I do plan to call Dan, however, and tell him he's right about that beer...

Ahhhh....

2007-07-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

Just back from vacation and feeling pretty refreshed. We opted for the beach this year and it turned out to be a very relaxing time. My wife and I have four kids under the age of 12 so you can imagine vacations can be hectic. Instead of heading into "theme park land" or other such diversions we rented a house on Lake Michigan and just let the gang swim and frolic to their hearts' content. No rushing around, just a walk to the beach each day. Worn out kids, books, board games and family dinners in the evening. It costs Disney (et al )millions upon millions of dollars to design and build attractions to entertain children. Nature still does it better for free...

Field of Dreams

2007-07-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

I was living vicariously through my oldest son the other day. He got the chance to to be the hero in a baseball game and it was fun to watch. It was a real "Field of Dreams" moment: Two out...two on...the bottom of the ninth with his team down by one run...he's at bat with two strikes. Sure, he's under pressure, but think of how the old man felt! I played a lot of baseball in my life, but I was never in one of these "walk off" situations. I could feel my own adrenaline rising as the next pitch came. He hit an opposite field single, scored two runs, and the game was over. The kid came through and another lesson of challenge and victory took care of itself. The rush of joy and pride when your children succeed never gets old. I'm sure it's even better than hitting the game winner...

Boom!

2007-07-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

Well the Big Methodist Red, White & BOOM was a success. I hope everyone was able to see the show, it was pretty huge. I have hosted the fireworks on the Peoria Riverfront for ten years now and this was, shell for shell, the best display yet! It takes a ton of people, on both sides of the river, to make a show that size happen and I thank them all! We also LOVE feedback. What did you like?, or what would you like to see us improve upon? Drop me a line on e-mail (johnriley@933thedrive.com) or simply respond to this blog. Have a great weekend and thanks for listening...

No Respect...

2007-06-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

I think it might be time for Larry King to retire. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney were on his show last night and at one point he called Ringo "George". Wow... I could see making that error with actors...even heads of state, but BEATLES!???! Poor Ringo. He's the Rodney Dangerfield of music. At the end of the day though, he's one of only four people that will ever be Beatles, and Larry is not one of the others... Score: Ringo 1, Larry 0

Hey, Hey...

2007-06-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

My Father's Day weekend Cubs game with my oldest son was a blast. He was as wide eyed and excited as I was at his age. What more could you ask for. It was the kid's first game at Wrigley and he got to see a near no-hitter and a bench clearing brawl. This is the kind of stuff that creates fans for life. Plus, as my brother pointed out, it was a heartbreaking loss after a hard fought game... something all life-long Cub fans have to accept right from the beginning. Go Cubs, and thanks...

Father's Day

2007-06-15T10:17:00.001-07:00

This weekend I'm taking my 11-year old son to his first Cubs game at Wrigley Field. It's exactly the same age I was when we moved to Chicago and I went with my dad to the friendly confines. I vividly remember what a thrill it was to walk out of the concourse and take in all the sights, sounds and smells. Take me out to the Ball Game and chocolate frosty malts...The thought still gives me goosebumps. I guess every big league park has a little magic in it, it just seems like Wrigley has more than her share. The whole "circle of life" thing aside, I know I'm feeling the exact same emotions my father felt when he invited this skinny kid to join him for his inaugural day of Cubs baseball. I only wish my dad was still around so that he could go with us. Short of that, this may be my best Father's Day so far...

Half a Glass...

2007-06-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

Peoria mayor Jim Ardis has been catching some heat for saying the local media paint too grim an image of his city. The mayor says he's a "glass half-full" kind of guy and he wishes the newspaper and others would adopt a similar stance in their reporting. Critics say he's trying to paint an unrealistic picture of Peoria, and reporting the good stuff does not make the bad stuff go away. I say Ardis may have a point here, reporting the bad stuff doesn't necessarily make the bad stuff go away either. Reporters, commentators and columnists have an important job to do helping the city remain vigilant, and the mayor has an important job in promoting Peoria as a good place to live so that the area can attract and hold onto quality residents . The correct position is somewhere in the middle. Try not be too cynical of Ardis' view. Gossip and crime do a great job of selling papers, but a crummy job of selling a city that we all have a stake in improving.

The Long And Short Of It...

2007-06-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

Actor/comedian Kevin Pollak was in the studio this morning. He's doing his stand-up act at a local comedy club and was in to promote it. I always find it interesting to meet celebrities. Not in a "star struck" kind of way, but just to kind of occupy the same space and size them up a bit. Kevin is only about 5' 5'' tall. If you saw him with Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men" though, you'd have sworn he was six-five. Years ago I met my guitar hero Eddie Van Halen and towered over him. In concert, and in all those videos, I was quite certain he was ten feet tall. The truly talented project in a way that often makes them seem larger than life. This concerns me. A lot of people who meet me for the first time say they pictured me shorter...

Weekend Jewel...

2007-05-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

I played guitar with Jules Blattner this weekend. Yeah, I know, I didn't know who he was either. He showed up at a jam session I attended in Chicago with a friend of mine who introduced Jules as a musical legend. Jules played guitar, harmonica, sang a few and generally had a great time. Jules is about seventy years old. As it turns out, he was quite a musical force around St. Louis in the fifties and sixties. Played with the likes of Chuck Berry in the day. What amazed me though was his youthful exhuberance and zest for life. I know guys who are forty that seem older than Jules. It's gotta be the music. I hope it still works for me down the road...maybe I'll call Jules when I turn seventy, he still may want to play.

Am I Buggin' You?

2007-05-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

Here come the cicadas. The 17-year variety. If you're not hip to this recurring infestation, here's how it works: Once every 17 years this species of "locust like" insect awakes, mates and lays eggs which then gestate for 17 years and so on... Unfortunately for us they do it in a loud, smelly, swarmy fashion which can even drown out the roar of leaf blowers. (heretofore indomitable) The whole affair only lasts a couple of weeks, but I can remember little league games being disrupted and vehicles disabled due to the shear volume of cicadas either flying or smashing into radiator intakes. All in all minor annoyances. What concerns me most, though, is that I am moving into my 3rd cicada cycle. Like serving up a slice of giant, swarming, ear-splitting, smelly birthday cake, Mother Nature likes to remind us that these guys will be around a lot longer than we will. Witnessing yet another return then, is cause then for celebration. Does one drink white or red with cicada?

FORE!

2007-05-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Golf courses are beginning to beckon but I still haven't tried to "whack the pill" since breaking a bone in my hand a few months ago. I'm thinking about giving it a go this week. I'll probably go it solo the first time out. Not because I don't expect to play very well, I just fear I may lose my grip on the club and fling it accidentally in a random direction. Time to clean the clubs, polish up the spikes, make sure the liability insurance is paid up and hit the links. Maybe I'l see you out there...

The grass is always greener...

2007-05-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

My annual battle to keep grass growing in my back yard is ON! So far I figure I've got about 90% of the lawn coming up but it's still early. My yard is almost completely covered by the shade of a beautiful HUGE oak tree. That, combined with my four kids and a big dog really discourages any grass to stick around once summer hits. This year I opted for the "Athletic Field" grass seed, but I'm sure the lack of sun will take it's toll and we'll be returning to the dust bowl by the end of July. In the long run I prefer the kids to grass, but I keep trying. No wonder Mike & Carol Brady had astroturf in their back yard...

Momisms

2007-05-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is upon us and it's a great time to reflect on all the wonderful advice that Mom has
dolled out over the years. All those dos and don'ts that she knew would somehow keep us alive as we made our way through the world. How many eyes would have been "put out" or necks broken if Mom wasn't there to intervene. My mother's favorite piece of wisdom was, "Can't never did anything". Mom was an eternal optimist and ANYTHING was possible where her children were concerned. "I can't" simply wasn't a viable excuse for anything. Of all the things she taught us growing up, that one stands out for some reason. I've always taken it to heart. She's no longer living, but I know she would be proud that at least some part of her wisdom stuck with her stubborn son. "Momisms" run in every family, I'm sure her mom said it to her and I in turn have bestowed it on my kids. My hope is they'll pass it on. That would please her very much. You can use it too if you like...Mom was as generous as she was optimistic...

All we are saying...

2007-04-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

The combination of the war in Iraq and the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech has really made for a depressing news cycle lately. If we were to remove ourselves from our daily lives and only adhere to what TV, newspapers and magazines tell us, it would seem that the country and the world are about ready to implode. I have to admit it gets to me. Sometimes I can feel a physical drain from it all. It's all too easy to fall prey to getting caught up in the negative. Here's what helps. I go a whole day without turning on the TV, the radio (my show excepted), or reading a newspaper. I converse with my wife, I play with my kids, I call my siblings and friends,I play my guitar, I read fiction, I listen to an album I haven't heard in years and turn it up a bit too loud, I breath deeply, I watch the sunset for a few minutes longer than usual...basically I try to re-connect with what makes my world worth living in. There will always be evil in the world, but I firmly believe that on any given day...no matter where you live..it is always outweighed by good. Sometimes you just have to be proactive in finding it. Here's hoping you find yours...

By George...

2007-04-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

George Marias has been shining shoes in downtown Peoria for over sixty years. Yesterday, the city named a street after him. Now I'm sure that George gives one heckuva shine, but that's not why the honor came his way. George has his street because of who he is; a hard worker...an honest man...a guy who loves his family and friends and understands the sacrifices it takes to maintain all of the above. Usually cities name streets for those who have achieved fame and fortune through risk and reward. It's refreshing to see proper recognition for a good man who has succeeded by way of integrity and discipline. Something we all can accomplish...

Say What?

2007-04-10T08:02:00.000-07:00

Legendary New York morning radio voice Don Imus is in the hot seat because of racially stereotyping remarks he made in a rant about women's basketball. Imus has been on the air in the largest market in the country for over 35 years. He of all people should know that racially insensitive comments, even made in jest, can be highly inflammatory. He'll have to deal with the heat. I find it interesting, though, that Imus uttered the offensive phrase once, but the rest of the TV, radio and print media that have relayed it countless times since under the heading of "news" remain blameless. Sometimes if we pay less attention to those who will say anything to get it, we're all better off...

All Bets Are Off

2007-03-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well here we go into Final Four weekend and I have no chance to win any pool that I entered. This year I used a complex formula of Vegas odds and mathematical spread study to pick the winning teams. Next year I'm going back to the chimp throwing darts..

Lefty Bighand

2007-03-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

A few observations since breaking my right hand a couple of weeks ago:
American cars are completely set up for right handed people, but I have perfected the cross-over shift.
Button fly jeans, non twist-o-flex watchbands and shoelaces are sadistic...
Everything must be going well for my hand is perpetually in the "thumbs up" position.
Can you tell I typed this left-handed?

Only three more weeks to go...

I Got The Fever!

2007-03-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

Friday March 9th we are hosting a "cabin fever" party in downtown Peoria. The festivities center around a "Jimmy Buffett" flavored band, plenty of margaritas, and are designed to bring a little sunshine into our tintype winter lives. I can say with some authority that actual cabin fever is a drag. The Riley family had, at one time, access to a small remote cabin in Colorado at which we would occasionally vacation. When I say remote, I mean it had an outhouse, the only heat was a wood stove, and the sole source of entertainment was an old church-style pump organ in the living room. During one stay I came down with the flu and ran about a 103-degree fever. I suffered and sweat while my dad drove back down the mountain to get medicine. My sister thought it was hilarious that I actually had cabin fever and tortured me with that gag for a bit too long. At least she didn't play any Buffett on that pump organ...

Cupid...make me some joe.

2007-02-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

Billions are spent each Valentine's Day on sweets, flowers and jewelry. This year I forwent all of the usual trappings and bought my wife a new coffee maker. We Rileys love our bean and the old Mr. Coffee was so dilapidated that it was taking forty minutes to brew six cups. This morning my wife called to tell me how much she was enjoying her fresh, fast cup of coffee as she read the newpaper and prepared herself for the onslaught of the soon to awaken children. She wouldn't have called if I had gotten her flowers...

Bearing It...

2007-02-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

The Bears couldn't quite get to the mountain top, but it was a fun ride. The overall package for the Superbowl this year was pretty good. I thought Billy Joel did a nice, reverent, non-self absorbed version of the National Anthem. (He did point out in a press conference that "America the Beautiful" is a better song) I thought Prince was an interesting choice for the half-time show. He pulled off a first-rate performance in the pouring rain. I'm a little surprised that no one called him on his somewhat suggestive silhouette routine... but I guess Janet Jackson raised (or lowered) that bar a few years ago. On the much awaited commercials...a really a flat year. I think it's notable that one of the best was the "Cheesy" Doritos ad that was produced for $13.00 by an amateur via an internet contest. The production cost to pay-off comparison must be staggering. I'm thinking the big ad agencies will be a bit embarrassed after ending up much like the Bears.

Generations...

2007-01-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

Wow. The Bears back in the Superbowl for the first time since 1985! After the victory over the Saints I showed my kids a video of the original Superbowl Shuffle. My daughter said, "Are THOSE guys the Bears?" My son answered, "Yeah...the OLD TIME Bears." Well, this old timer hopes the current crew has the same result as those shufflin', mullet topped monsters.
GO BEARS!

False Idols...

2007-01-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

I must admit I am one of the many who enjoy the first few episodes of American Idol each season. You know, where the marginally talented who dare to dream are tossed to the lions for our entertainment. I guess we are all performers at heart and often wonder about the validity of our talents. Having been through many auditions in my time I can empathize to a point. Maybe that's the thrill. Watching others endure harsh criticism on such a huge level makes our own critiques pale by comparison... The show becomes less interesting to me as the truly talented are shaken out and then packaged into the cliche box of the pop music industry. I wonder how many of our favorite artists we have grown up with would ever have come through this gauntlet unscathed? Bob Dylan? Rod Stewart? Mick Jagger? Anyone...?

We have some truly exciting concert info coming soon on 93.3 The Drive. I will spill the beans as soon as I can. Speaking of concerts, I learned today that The Steve Miller Band will play at Ravinia in Highland Park (North of Chicago) this summer on July 18th. (ravinia.org for details) It seems to me they don't tour that often.

I must be dreaming...

2007-01-10T08:37:00.001-08:00

I just got out of a company health insurance meeting. In the past, just walking into one of those meetings meant about an 8% increase in premium price. This morning we were informed that our coverage was improving AND our premiums are going to DECREASE! I've pinched myself and asked several others to pinch me and I seem to be fully awake. So, I'm a little richer this morning. Maybe I'll go out for lunch today...