TOO MUCH OF THE BAD STUFF

I have had tons of inquiries by phone, e-mail, mail, text messages, and folks just asking, about my absence from the radio during the week of April, 21. The guys who filled in, (by the way, thanks guys) were kind of vague as to the reason for my absence and it left a lot of people to wonder. Due to the sheer number of these inquiries I feel that I owe you an explanation, so here goes.



Maybe a little history would be in order next; I started dabbling in radio when I was in high school. From that time until 1973 I dabbled both full and part time, until I heard the siren song of big money in the coal industry and answered it's call. This was just prior the the "Coal Boom" of '74. I worked as a heavy equipment operator, both in mining and construction, until November of 1996. My tenure as an operator was about 2 months short of 23 years. Most of the years I spent out there were before pressurized and filtered air cabs, and in a lot of cases, right out there in the open air to breathe whatever the next breeze blew in your face. I was also a cigarette smoker.

For several years my doctor has monitored a couple of the lymh nodes on my lungs. After a rather severe bout with shortness of breath last August, I had a CT scan and the doctor said we would have to monitor the nodes very carefully. He told me to quit smoking and lose weight and all would probably be well, but I needed to have another CT in December to watch the nodes; I did neither nor did I have the CT. A follow up visit in March brought much wailing and gnashing of teeth, and he ordered me to have the CT at the next available opening in the schedule at the Diagnostic Center; I did this time.

Lo and behold, one of the lymph nodes had grown to the point that he waned me to see Dr. Dennis Havens at Pikeville Medical Center. Dr. Havens is an experienced and knowledgable cardiothoracic surgeon, who is also one helluva nice guy; down to earth and plain. He wanted to biopsy the nodes just to make sure that is was as he suspected, rock dust...BUT (could we have some ominous music here please) there was a spot on my right lung that had not appeared in the CTs last year. He noticed it quite by accident.

Even though an ominous spot on your lung is not a good thing, he explained that when they were found by accident it usually meant they were very small and very new, and that usually meant all would turn out well even if the pathology did not. Still, you never know.

On the morning of April 21, I went in for the surgery. Dr. Havens, with the assistance of his trusty Physicians Assistant, Nicole Burchfield, removed the nodes and the spot. Everything appeared to be negative as far as cancer. I spent the first night in the Intensive Care Unit as a precaution, and then on Tuesday moved to a private room. Let me stop right here to say that Terra Gilbert, the nurse aide in ICU, and Melissa Goodman, the night shift nurse on sixth floor, are angels without wings. They are "angels of mercy". Anyway, I was released from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon and went home to be pampered by my family. My wife, Paulette, also an R.N and angel of mercy, and my sons Corey and Austin babied me to death; I am forever grateful (and somewhat apologetic) for what I subjected them to.

That's pretty much the story as to my absence except to say this; I never realized that so many people cared for me and my well being. I was placed on the prayer list of several area churches, and many of them have said they offered prayers of praise for the good news I received. I stop daily and ask myself, "Can this be?" "Is this all for me?" "This many people care for me?" I'm deeply moved, yet I hear from people daily who offer congratulations and say good things about their feelings for me.

I don't know what to say except, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Stay tuned, I'm a new man.

Randy

CATCHING UP!

Wow! Has it been almost 4 months since I posted an entry on here? That's not good, I'll do better.

I suppose the most interesting things I've done since then is go to Nashville twice. On December 30, Andrew Joyce and I traveled to Music City to broadcast and attend the Music City Bowl. We knew that there would be tons of people in town to go to the game, and we knew that downtown Nashville would be Wildcat blue. Our headquarters was the famous Wildhorse Saloon, and we were right, downtown was Wildcat Heaven. It didn't take long to start bumping into home folk and we enjoyed the experience immensely.

(above) My friend, Rebecca Lynn Howard came by the Wildhorse to say hello.

(above) A couple of Andrew's fans stopped to say hello ( Tennessee Titans cheerleaders). Lord, I hope Becky doesn't read this.

COUNTRY RADIO SEMINAR

The Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is a once a year gathering in Nashville hosted and organized by the Country Radio Broadcasters Association. It gives us the opportunity to attend sessions designed to learn all that is new and updated in the industry and to meet and greet a lot of the established country stars, as well as the newer ones on the horizon. It was in a hallway of the Nashville Convention Center a few years ago at CRS that my buddy, Russ Ocker (KMGO-FM Centerville, Iowa), and I started talking to a kid who was just coming on to the country scene. He was very down to earth and a very nice young man, and when he played the Expo Center a few months ago he remembered the meeting; Dierks Bentley. The record labels all have suites in the Renaissance Hotel where we are invited to various showcases by their artists. A few years ago, while visiting one of these suites and waiting on my friend Rebecca Lynn Howard to arrive, I sat on a couch with a group of people enjoying a ...uh...huh...refreshment. An extremely nice young man came over and sat down and we discussed everything from the weather to music to the radio industry. I remember thinking that as nice as he is, and as young and good looking as he is, he should have a shot at this music deal. It was Billy Currington.

You just never know who you will sit down at a table with or who you'll bump into in a hallway. The entire seminar is all about country radio, so the artists are there en masse to shake hands and say thank you. I was fortunate enough to see a full band performance by Garth Brooks this year. We also saw shows and showcases by James Otto, Lady Antebellum, Emily West (don't worry, if you don't know who she is, you will), Taylor Swift, Keith Anderson, Katie Armiger, The Roys, Rodney Atkins, Ashley Gearing, Montgomery Gentry, Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Jake Owen...well, you get the picture.

One of the most amazing experiences was being invited to an invitation only showcase by James Otto. My long time buddy, Johnny Mitchell, who now works for Warner Brothers Records, managed to get me and my friend, Russ, an invitation to the showcase at a fancy Nashville restaurant, Sambucca's. Not only was the food amazing, the company was as well. John Rich sat across the room and Gator Michael, the main man at Warner Brothers came around and greeted everyone. The performance by James Otto was accompanied by Shannon Lawson (a member of the Musik Mafia and a Kentucky boy), and as James explained it, "his brother-in-law whom he invted to play bass at the last minute", Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts.

(above) me, Jay DeMarcus and Russ Ocker


I suppose what I'll do now is just share a few pictures. I'm like the aggravating neighbor that wants to show you all 10,00 vacation pictures.

(above) Amanda Henkel, Miss Hawaiian Tropic International '04 & '05. She's my good friend, Cody McCarver's girlfriend. I got to spend a lot of time with Cody and Amanda, they are great down-to-earth people.

(above) me and Jewel.

(above) Johnny Mitchell, Warner Brothers Records, me, James Otto, Russ Ocker.

(above) me and Robert Reynolds formerly of the Mavericks (psst, Trisha Yearwood's first husband).

(above) Rebecca Lynn Howard happened to be perfroming at the Grand Ole Opry on the Friday night of CRS and invited me to tag along. Here we are in the dressing room before the show.

That's about it for now. I'll bore you with more after Hillbilly Days.

Stay tuned

Randy

MY TRAIN RIDE

It's been almost a month since I wrote a blog entry, so I thought I might as well catch up today. I've been to some interesting places and seen some amazing sights, not to mention meeting some wonderful people. Let's just use this blog entry to talk about one in particular.



THE SANTA TRAIN
In mid November I was invited to ride on the 65th Annual Santa Train. I suppose most everyone knows of this event, but just in case, The Santa Train is a project of the Kingsport, TN Chamber of Commerce. It leaves the CSX Shelbiana train yard every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and travels to Kingsport. Santa and another celebrity,this year Patty Loveless, ride on the train and throw candy and toys to the crowds that gather at the 14 stops along the way.

THE HISTORIC RAIL CARS
So as not to have someone drive to Kingsport and pick me up at the end of the ride on Saturday, I drove to Kingsport on Friday and rode the train to Shelby. Folks, I had not ridden a train since I was bout 10 years old and I was absolutely fascinated by the ride. All the sights and sounds and tunnels and trestles along the way were amazing. The rail cars, all named for states, are restored passenger cars that once ran the rails all over the country, the earliest ones built in the 1920s and the latest in 1954.

The picture above is one of the cars with some of the Kingsport Chamber members and their guests. It shows just how nice the cars really are. Each car has a CSX employee that takes care of the people on that car. They can answer questions, give directions and they make sure that the snack trays are always full and that there is a plentiful supply coffee and soft drinks. These people were always polite, courteous and very friendly. Good down to earth folk.

THE MEDIA CAR "INDIANA"

The media reps all ride in one car and the picture above is a look inside "Indiana", that was the name of our media car. Note the "beautiful" yellow shirts that we were required to wear if we got off to record, write or film at any of the stops. Everybody growls about the shirts, but notice that they did not hamper the "bull" sessions in the car.

THE FOOD

WOW! The food on this excursion was tremendous to say the least. On Friday during the trip to Shelby we were treated to a boxed lunch consisting of turkey, dressing and the trimmings. When someone said a boxed lunch would be served, I was skeptical; until I started eating. Man, was it good! On Saturday a continental breakfast was offered in the dining car, or buffet car as it were, and then a full buffet spread for lunch. This food can only be described as fabulous. On
Friday afternoon one of the CSX people brought the two chefs to the media car, and it was then that we understood why the food was so good. Chef Janie introduced us to her partner, Chef Bobby. As it turns out, Bobby, an aging Filipino gentleman, had been a chef in both the Carter and Reagan White Houses. As you might imagine, this piqued the interest of us media types and Bobby stayed for an hour answering the 10,000 questions we bombarded him with. He had some stories to tell, believe you me. Here are a couple of pictures of the buffet car.

THE REASON
I don't want to leave you with the impression that this entire event was about me and my choo-choo ride. The Santa Train has attained legendary status, and with good reason. It delivers a lot of goodwill to the people of the mountains from our neighbors down in Tennessee. To see the smiles and the excitement and to get to meet new people is a grand event for me, and it's you, our listeners, that make it all possible. I am forever grateful.

Stay Tuned
Randy

LUCY

I don't suppose it's a secret to anyone that we suffered a great loss here this week. Lucille Smith left us on Tuesday November, 6. This is a great personal loss to me, to lose a friend and work associate of more than 40 years, but it's even a greater loss to her listeners.

Lucy was the epitome of a broadcaster. A professional in every aspect. How? you say. As broadcasters we strive to entertain and inform. She did. Her humor was sometimes corny, but her listeners ate it up, and her information was up to date, useful and intersting to them. She would tell a joke with a bit of a giggle, deliver an obituary with a tear in her voice, wish a happy birthday with a sparkle of celebration, and tell of an anniversary with a voice of love and admiration. She knew who her listeners were, even if she never met them, and she knew what information they were hungry for. She fed it to them with the loving hand of a mother.

I first engineered her show along about 1967. I couldn't have been more intimidated if I had been in the presence of Walter Cronkite. This was Lucy, Lucille Smith, who in just 3 years had risen to a level of prominence in broadcasting unattainable by the average mortal radio announcer. This was "The Personal Touch" and I had to get it right. I didn't a few times and boy could she dress you down. It was sweet, yet to the point, and you knew that you did not hold favor with the Queen. When you did perform above the call in the clutch, the praise was heaped upon you and you knew that all was right with the world.

Lucy's listeners would sometimes call and throw both of us a curve ball. They would call with a special request for a hymn or song for a departed loved one and Lucy couldn't say no; afterall whose show was it anyway, ours or theirs? In those days there were no computer systems with all of the music categorized. There was a huge rack on the wall with maybe 2,000 45 r.p.m. records, and underneath, half that many albums. They were supposed to be alphabetized, but that was a joke. So Lucy would look through the window and say, "Randy will find that song just in a minute". Randy would dive through the air and onto the floor to find just what Lucy had called for. I would find her songs or perish trying. After the show, Lucy would walk in the studio with a kind word and lay down $1.00. Now, for a teenager making $1.18 per hour, that little dough was like striking gold, but I didn't do it for the money. A lot of times I would refuse and she would act as if her feelings were hurt. I did it to please Lucy. She did it to please her precious listeners. I learned where my priorities should be. An invaluable lesson as a broadcaster.

I celebrate Lucy's life and always will. She was sick and lived 90 years. From August 13, 1917 until the morning of November 6, 2007, her life was wrapped around family and friends. Every single person that ever heard one minute of her show was her friend.

I'll never say this in the past tense; "I Love you my Sunshine Girl".

Stay tuned
Randy

MY HEADS 'A REELIN'

I have all kinds of "stuff" on my mind today. The word stuff is my substitute for another "s" word that I can't use here or on the radio.

1. I hope the dirty (#@! that are supplying this poison(drugs) to our people have their bones toasted in the southern most tortured corner of Hell! May they suffer the Biblical plagues as an hors d'oeurve and then get the good stuff.

2. Our courtesy and respect as drivers is becoming more like Lexington and Lousiville everyday. So be it. If we desire that hustle, bustle, never make eye contact lifestyle; let it be. I'm not interested.

3. Motorcycle riders; I'm one of you. I love my bike and the freedom it gives me, but I am quick to realize that some of that freedom is about to be challenged. No, not the the helmet law, the noise law. Y'all with straight pipes, or as we refer to them, drag pipes, you're going to be the ones that cause all of us to have to run stock pipes. No, this is not a "choice" issue like helmets where you can argue your position, this is an issue of a public nuisance. Virginia has already started cracking down, and with good reason the way some of you act, and Kentucky is not far behind. The law is already written in KY, it's just a matter of enforcement. It's coming. NOOO! wait, I'm not holier than thou. I don't run stock pipes...Don't want to. I geet a nice sound with muffled pipes, without anyone riding behind me or standing beside the road having to re-bury their kin folk. Get real! It's not a matter of choice, it's a matter of respect. You're showing your ass. Stop it! Don't make everyone else pay for your lack of judgement.

4. My last random thought for the day...for the rest of my life is this...I WILL NEVER, EVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER, retreat from my position as English being the language of the United States of America. When I see a product marketed with instructions printed in English and French I usually take the position of, "O.K. they market in Canada, also". That's free enterprise and that's fine, but when I am having Spanish shoved down my throat because immigrants (legal or otherwise) want me to accept their language instead of them accepting ours, I could BOIL! Yeah, yeah, I know, the British settlers robbed the Native Americans of the language that was native to the continent, but the Native Americans had hundreds of different dialects and when the language was standardized it became the language of the United States of America hundred of years ago. It is the accepted language of our culture, our society, our people. If they want to come and live in this country (once agian, legal or otherwise) then that is a completely separate argument from what I am proposing here. Learn the language people. Do not expect me to learn yours in order to do business with you, give you a restaurant order, or have you do business with me... WAIT A MINUTE! THAT'S THE ISSUE! Businesses are so intent on growing their business, based upon this growing population, that they are willing to do whatever it takes, even surrender our culture, to the immigrant population. Now I know how the Native Americans felt. Dang, I hate revelations.

Did I say never ever?

Adios
Stay Tuned
Randy

I'M WORRIED!

I'm beginning to worry about us. Who's us? My people, my neighbors, my fellow Pike Countians. I'm starting to wonder if we are losing our respect for others, our Hillbilly Way.
Whether it be driving, eating in a restaurant, standing in line for something or just cruising the aisles of whatever "Mart" it may be, I'm seeing a difference and I do not like it.

Here's what I don't like; the lack of common respect. Giving someone a break in traffic, having 10 items in your grocery buggy and the guy behind you has 2 and you don't say, "hey go ahead and you can get gone", foul language in a public place, giving a minumum wage cashier the benefit of the doubt in a store when they follow policy to protect their job and it inconviences us for 30 seconds. I'm put out.

I love Pikeville and Pike County. I was born here, make my home and living here, and I hope when the time comes to be given back to the earth, it will be on the side of a Pike County hill. I think we are a model for small communities throughout the nation. No, we are not perfect, but we have a lot going for us. I know everyone doesn't have city water, sewer, paved roads and the like, but I honestly believe we are ahead of the game for areas as geographically challenged as we are. What worries me is that I remember when Lexington was a tremendously "southern" city. People would make eye contact and smile, they spoke with an accent that was predominantly southern, they would give you a break in traffic and be courteous in general. Now, Lexington had might as well be any urban area in the country. It has lost its' charm. It's just another city. The more modern we become, the more we are acting like urban dwellers.

I consider myself tuned into these things because of my job. I'm bad to get lost in my thoughts and not speak to people in places where I should, or to wave at them in traffic. I don't do it intentionally, I just get lost in my head. Before I would have anybody think I'm stuck up or arrogant, I would go out onto the side of one of these hills and expedite my return to the earth. I wasn't raised thay way, I don't think that way nor will I conduct myself that way in any lucid moment. However, in trying to correct my own shortcomings I'm noticing that more of us are losing common respect. The more I drive, the more I shop, the more events I attend, the more I notice it. I'm bothered.

Look around. See if you don't agree. I could set here and write about specifics for hours, but it would only illustrate my experiences. How about yours? Are you seeing this? I guess the bottom line is this; clean up your own backyard like I'm trying to do. You'll notice in the beginning of this deal I said "us" not just "you or them". I guess that if I'm lost in my thoughts then I'm concentrating on me. I need to be even more considerate of others. I've often thought myself to be considerate, but the more of the words and thoughts I pour onto this page the more I realize that I am guilty too.

I will do better.

Will you? Please?

Stay tuned
Randy

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE!

Folks tell me that a blogs are supposed to be updated on a regular basis. O.K. agreed, but what do I write? I'm very surprised that management hasn't had anything to say about my tardiness in entering things here. I read other people's blogs on other sites and all I see is either stuff that's readily available on the internet or sophomoric ramblings that appear to be from Seventeen magazine.

I'm an expert rambler, but I always wonder who gives a hang about what I want to ramble about. What the heck; here goes.

Rambling #1. I stopped at a convenience store today. I just wanted a Gatorade, some smokes and a can of lighter fluid. Gatorade, no problem. Smokes, no problem. Lighter fluid...Holy God! Security has been breached! They told me that they didn't carry it anymore. Can you believe it? Just good ol' Zippo or Ronsonol or whatever? Said something about young people sniffing it or something like that. If they did carry it I would have to show I.D and all that crap. For a freakin' can of lighter fluid? I'll bet it's the meth manufacturing crap instead of the young people thing.

Rambling #2. Drugs. I hear it everyday until I get sick of hearing about the drug problem. It doesn't matter where I am or what setting I'm in, people are ranting about the drug problem. I am tempted to ask, yet afraid of coming off like a smart ass; what are you doing about it? I've done that a couple of times and the answer is always the same; nobody'll listen or I don't want to get mixed up in it or I have and they didn't do a doggone thing. Folks, we are becoming more empowered everyday with ways to do something about it. People will listen. If you don't want to get mixed up in it, then talk about the weather. You won't get mixed up in it either, you'll just suffer its consequences and move on, with your trap yapping all the way. UNITE and law enforcement agencies have ways to report drug activity anonymously. If you're afraid of the guy up the holler who is dealing death to the tune of thousands of dollars a day then report him anonymously. It can be done. 1-800-DOUNITE. Free call.

Rambling #3. I'm going to use this rambling to revisit rambling #2. A lot of the time the reason authorities don't do anything about the drug problem is because they are overwhelmed. It is like trying to control the gnat population. You can spray around the picnic table or on the front porch, and do some temporary good. You might get your hotdog eaten, but before long the gnats are back. When it comes time for the watermelon, the gnats are back again. All they do is fly over to the neighbor's picnic and when the smoke clears, they're ready for more action. If you and all the neighbors don't do something, then the problem just keeps buzzing.

Rambling #4. UNITE has a new concept that I find intriguing. Court Watch. It is citizens going to the local courts and observing the proceedings. What good does it do? In my opinion it does a couple of thing. First, it lets local officials know that citizens are watching what's going on. I happen to be acquainted with the four judges in Pike County that conduct matters involving drugs or crimes committed directly involving drug dealing. I respect and trust all four, having known them for many years. I think they are as appalled, if not more so, than most citizens with the state of affairs involving drugs, and they need to know they have support.

Secondly, it's kind of like when someone is in the studio with me, or maybe when someone is watching you do your job. You know your job, you're experienced at your job, you don't much care who watches you, but maybe just maybe, in a moment with an interested party viewing, you might take a little more pains to see that things are done right. I guarantee you that to a man these honorable jurists are doing exactly what they think is right and within the law, but they see hundreds a week, and no doubt, at some point their guard may be dropped, if only for a moment, yet dropped just the same. You may be the one set of eyes in that courtroom that they make contact with, and it may remind them that the citizens care for and appreciate the effort they give and the judgment they render.

If there's a subject, serious or not, that you want me to ramble about just send an e-mail to wdhr@wdhr.com. I'll ramble about it sooner or later.

Stay tuned
Randy