there’s need to fear

Last night, I sat on my couch and watched Brandon in seven levels of hell as the No. 1 Tennessee Titans derailed and let the Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens take away their shot at an AFC championship.

Fortunately, I still have all of my teeth.

But then, Carolina went down like a sack of wet cement. And today? Wow. Sorry ’bout your luck, Giants fans. Geez.

And now, I’m stting here watching Pittsburgh mount a second-quarter comeback after being down 10-7 on San Diego.

It’s like life got inverted and any normal semblance of NFL playoffs went out the window. It’s almost like a real-life, NFL version of “Vote for the Worst.” It’s like we’re trying to get Sanjaya into the Super Bowl in a match for total dominance against Taylor Hicks.

Someone just needs to get me Chris Daughtry. Immediately.

(Note: It’s 14-10 Pittsburgh now. Much to my happiness. Much to Brandon’s dismay.)

So, I hadn’t really forgotten about the blog, but to say that I’ve been busy is a bit of an understatement. I spent the week before Christmas trying to compact about six days worth of work into two to meet the printing schedules of our other papers. I spent a great, great five days at home, and while I didn’t get the chance to see everybody I wanted to see, it was still nice to be in West Virginia and among people that truly make you feel like no matter where you roam, you have an anchor.

Once I got back from the Christmas visit, we jumped into our New Year’s printing schedule, and then before I knew it, it was almost time for the Obamathon. Wall-to-wall from Wednesday through the big day. I got home at 9 p.m. almost every night last week, and that’s after spending all day compiling things, looking for events, etc.

I have a weekly column now which rocks my face off. I’m so happy to have the chance to actually have a space, every week, for me to write. I’m a dork, but I get excited on Thursday mornings when I see people reading it on the train.

But it wasn’t until I got an e-mail from a good friend of mine last week (a good friend in spite of some pretty whacked out turbulence around the edges), asking me if the Girl of Words had run out of words.

I truly haven’t. I just haven’t had the time to actually stop what I was doing at work to spend 15 minutes or so updating. And I post links to Facebook sometimes whichs gets a discussion going, but it doesn’t replace this. It really doesn’t. I never think people care much about what I’m thinking until someone actually stops to ask.

So, there’s not going to be a show tonight. There’s not going to be a show until after the Super Bowl. In addition to being a little bit burned out, I realize that with the season premiere of “24″ tonight and NFL playoffs, I can’t, and don’t really want to, compete. I want to enjoy “24″ and the Super Bowl.

So, I’m thinking we’ll be back Feb. 8, which is three days before I turn 30. Woof. Three days before I turn 30. Man.

And maybe I should, at any rate, make time to blog more because it’s great, cheap therapy. I’ve also seen some things floating around town in the last couple of weeks that truly would have made great entries.

But I hope all of you that are still checking in are doing well … I do read your blogs, I think about you often. You’re alright in my book.

find me a jolly fat man

Happy Hour — The Show That Never Ends is taking tonight off. Even though the Titans won and Jacque’s still got all of her teeth, we’re very busy around the studio getting prepped for the trip to West Virginia.

While we’re gone, you’ll have your chance to catch up. If the family gets to be too much, there will be a very special pre-recorded Happy Hour Christmas bonanza that will play while we’re gone. We’ll be back next Sunday night for our “It’s the End of the Year as We Know It (and B-Dub is probably pissed off)” special.

For those of you traveling, please be careful. We’re really thankful for the audience we’ve built over the last few months in our new setup and I know we’re really excited about what 2009 will bring. This show wouldn’t mean anything to us without you. If we were interested in hearing ourselves talk, we’d just set up a tape recorder at home and play it when we’re bored.

So, to all, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, have a rocking Kwaanza, Eid your heart out and enjoy the solstice. (I think we covered everybody … eeesh.)

up tonight: the rundown

Ah, kids, only 10 days remain until Christmas Eve. Shopping? What shopping? Well, you still have time to order things online, so why not do that AND listen to us at the same time tonight?

In no particular order, here’s what we’ll be tackling tonight’s edition of Happy Hour – The Show That Never Ends on Radio360Talk.com:

* So, we’re sorry your cable box blew up and set your house on fire, but we’re still going to need the $88 for it
* Think you could eat on $1 a day? These people did.
* Hey, let’s go to Google and plan our trip on the D.C. Metro … oh, wait.
* Here’s one black list we all can enjoy — movies that didn’t quite make the cut in 2008. And they say Hollywood has no original ideas!
* Attention Plaxico Burress: “The cat did it” IS a viable excuse
* So the KFC chicken cutlets took a bath in the sink. Wait till you hear what we did during our food service days.
* Stupid criminals, stupid humans, stupid news of the week
* Your calls … anything goes, just dial. It’s 956-790-8255.

We’ll see you at 8 p.m. tonight … we’ll likely have a giveaway or two, so make sure you’re tuned in. Our Big Ass Prize Box is spilling over and we need to make room for new inventory that makes its way here weekly. And, as always, you can hang out with other kids as cool as you in the chat room (click the link on the site. It’s that easy!) or send us a message through the little Chatterbox you see on the page.

Come on. Don’t be the last one that knows what time it is.

up on the show tonight: holi-dazed

Here’s what to expect (well, maybe) for tonight’s show:

* Jacque got her first real tree, but it brings up the debate of real vs. fake. Much like boobs, everybody’s got a position on this one.

* OJ Simpson: It’s disappointing that the search for the real killer’s going to be on hold for about, oh, nine years or so.

* Jacque’s probably going to be out of a job soon … Seems every newspaper in the country is falling apart. Why? Should I kill a local blogger? Should I just start blogging more?

* Gift Giving in a recession, worst holiday gift ideas, gift ideas for men.

* Men are dying out. I can’t say that bothers me.

* As always, the ever popular weekly roundup!

Of course, we’re always ready for your calls. The number to join in is (956) 790-8255 or you can interact with us in the chat room (click!) or the little chatterbox on the page!

It all gets started at 8 p.m., so we hope to see you there.

Oh, and Dallas sucks.

taking the night off

Greetings, kids! We’re taking tonight off so we can fully sleep off this turkey hangover from Thursday. We’ll be back live and in charge next Sunday night, so how’s about you clear your schedule now for three hours of programming? You’ve got us for two hours followed by the Internet’s BEST music show — The Setlist — right after. That’s a good way to spend your Sunday.

Keep it tuned to Radio360Talk.com — and go check out the new programming if you haven’t already!

tonight’s (special) show: the rundown

It’s Ladies Night here at Happy Hour — The Show That Never Ends. Well, for at least part of it, anyway.

Join Jacque and host of the Setlist Paige tonight as B-Dub comes in at the beginning but then slinks away to attend to some “business” and continue to softly mourn the defeat of his football team at the hands of a Wrangler Jeans spokesman.

Here are a few things we’ve got on the plate for tonight, but who knows which way this will end up? We’re definitely taking it light tonight because it’s been a long week, we’re about to hit a holiday and everything goes into insanity overdrive from this point forward (Can you say family visits, pumpkin pie, turkey and grandmas with digestive problems? And that’s just the last time Jacque went home.)

* You think your job is stressful? Get a load of these. (It’s no surprise that coming into the holiday shopping frenzy, we feel for our brothers and sisters in retail).

* Was there REALLY a Captain Morgan? Or Jack Daniels? (If only we could manage the in-studio research)

* Eating that will kill you. No! Just kidding. These myths are dying to be destroyed.

* You ever pass a road sign and think, “Hey! That would be a great band name?” I do. Every day. And after seeing this list, it’s a good idea I’m not involved in picking band names.

* Note to people who take nudie pics with their cell phones: Don’t leave it at McDonald’s.

* The traveling stripper pole. Who says the economy’s in the toilet?

* The Roundup — Your look at the week’s odd stories.

* Your calls! (Hey, liberals! This is a B-Dub free week! It’s your chance!!!)

You can send us a message, also, through the little chatterbox you see on the page. And if you’d like to actually be where the action is, click on the “chat” button and hang out in the room with the rest of us.

We’ll be live at 8 p.m., so we hope you can make it. Yes, we know that ‘24′ comes back tonight, but that’s why TiVo exists. Nobody loves Jack Bauer more than me, and I’m putting him on hold.

the rundown: tonight’s show!

We’re back live this week, and we’ve got a hodge podge of a show put together. (Mostly because almost all of key prep time was done in the midst of the Titans going 10-0, but I digress …)

* Hey, crappy parents … Nebraska’s calling. (Come on … when is it too much? If your kid has a license, a hospital drop-off is NOT OK.)
* The debate over the Pledge of Allegiance is heating up in … Vermont. Which, in this time of the year, is the only thing above freezing up there!
* The unhealthiest city in the world is … Huntington, W.Va. They’d be around to care, but they’re at Stewart’s having chili dogs and root beer.
* Excuse me, President Obama? You’re gonna have to put the BlackBerry away until … 2017.
* Sirius-XM … that’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Raise your hand if you didn’t see that one coming. Anyone? Anyone?
* Girl upset that her pierced-up husband can’t take her to prom. Pierced-up husband.
* In sports, Jacque thinks ending a game in a “tie” is a cop-out and is not surprised that our kids are all turning out to be wussies.
* Much, much more … A news stack about six inches high awaits.
* Of course, your calls … what would it be without one?

The call-in number is (956) 790-8255. You can also reach us through the chat room on our site or by sending a message to us in the little chatterbox you see on the page.

We’re live at 8 p.m. only on Radio 360 Talk.com! Hope to see you there!

heck YEAH!!

Rarely, something happens that just makes my day. Today … something happened that made my WEEK!

Bernie Wagenblast, the traffic reporter on 1010 WINS in New York, started following me on Twitter!

In addition to having the coolest name for a traffic reporter EVER, he’s my favorite traffic reporter. When I tell people I want to be a traffic reporter, it’s because of Bernie Wagenblast.

I’m rather geeked out. Which is better than the nausea from yesterday’s sick day adventures. (Which I won’t disgust you with.)

the rundown: tonight’s show … oof.

No live show. I’m feeling a little like I’ve been run over, so we’re taking the week off.

But, there’s a brand new Setlist (Paige’s show!!) at 10 p.m.!! Make sure to listen in for that!

We’ll be back for next week, keeping it real like we normally do. Do people keep it real anymore? I may be behind the times.

interesting

This may be the most specific search term used to find my blog … ever.

Well, in case you didn’t find what you were looking for, you can download the podcast (as soon as I put it up) RIGHT HERE. Or, if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, just go ahead and visit either our show’s home page or the home page for Radio 360 Talk. What you looked for in Google just gave you a list of categories for my blog (obviously) and one of the press releases announcing that the station carries the Computer Outlook Radio Talk Show.

Or, you could just e-mail me and ask about what you’re looking for. Either way. Your BlackBerry is capable of it.