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All posts for the month February, 2014

Radioactive

Posted by Bud Weiser, WTIT on February 23, 2014

Posted in: sunday stealing. 6 Comments

Thank you Allison for hosting Sunday Stealing. to join in click here.

What was your first job like? I was 14. Growing up in Vegas is a youth that gets exposed to quite a bit. I got a phony ID and set up reservations at a brothel. Not that I realized that was what I was doing. I had been told that we were a dating service like Match.com. How they knew about Match.com back then is anybody’s guess.

It’s a typical Sunday, how are you spending it? I’m back here to start the day. At some point I work on setting my week up for my job or just get paperwork in to the manager.

What was the happiest day of your life? This is such a fucking loaded question for a married guy. So I’ll say my wedding day is number one. Seriously, it was a great party. Kathy turned our garage into a fairly accurate look of the nightclub (including a disco ball) that I worked at when we met some 35 years ago. The music was provided by Joe Greico whose band “The Cartells” has been a big deal in New England for years. He also plays piano bars which is where I met him. He has a recording studio in his home and he recorded a CD with my dad. At my wedding my dad promised only to sing two songs. Naturally he kept eyeballing Joe to do more. The guests loved it, so I went with the flow. Fortunately I thought to hook my recording boar to Joe’s system and recorded all the songs my dad did. The important one was “St. James Infirmary Blues”. A hit for Cab Calloway, you might remember Joe Cocker’s cover of it. My dad recorded it with a band in the 40s on a 78 RPM. I played it to death as a kid. But with all the recordings my dad has done (2 CDs worth) he had never done “St. James…” At my wedding he did it, so I finally have a copy of it. He forgot some lyrics, but it didn’t matter. With all that’s going on now with his health I am SO glad I let him sing six songs. Kathy was beautiful and her sister came to the wedding. I had only met her twice and once was at her dad’s funeral. My older granddaughters were the ring bearer and flower girl. My daughter and daughter in law were in the wedding. On my side I had Johnnie Walker as my best man and Rock Rolling participated as well. As far as my friends went, along with Johnnie & Rock, current DJ The Midnight Plowboy who had just returned to WTIT was there along with former DJs Galloping Gary and The Cosmic Commando.

What was the best decision you ever made? Triple tie. Becoming a DJ – Having kids – Marrying Kathy.

Tell your go-to “pretend” game as a child (who was your alter-ego?) Superman. I wanted that X-Ray vision to see girls naked. Why he never did that is beyond belief.

What email service do you use? WTIT.net.

What fandoms would you consider yourself a part of? The Beatles, Star Trek.

Do you use anything on your lips? (eg. Chapstick, gloss, balm, lipstick) Just goat’s milk.

How many devices do you own which can access the internet? At least four.

Last strong smell you can remember smelling? I was in a room where somebody passed a ton of gas. Wonderful!

If you had to move your birthday to another date, which one would you choose and why? March 3rd. The number three comes up a lot in my life. So instead of 11/3 I’d have 3/3.

Inspiration behind your blog title? There once was a Tape Radio Station…

If you could spend a rainy day with anyone in the world, who would you choose and why? Forgetting for the moment my wife and crushes, I’d go with Paul. I’d probably ask him about John, but what a visit that would be!

Is there a foreign culture that you love? You gotta love Russia. While no longer the “Soviet Union” they behave the same way. Shooting dogs before the Olympics? The double toilet? A former KBG murderer heads the government?

Do you have a favorite soft drink? Diet Coke.

That’s it. Tough weekend with my dad. He won’t take his meds so his psychosis keeps worsening. He thinks they want to poison him in the hospital. We may need to get a court order for that. He threw my brother and sister-in-law out after ten minutes. Yesterday I woke him up when I was there. He saw me and hugged me so hard I lost my breath. Within minutes he disowned me. I’m not going for sympathy, but besides my wife, this is the only place that I can vent without family and friends seeing it. I found out today that my brother (who has just seen him for those 10 minutes today & an hour yesterday) is pissed at me for not letting him move in here. He didn’t put him in his car and bring him to his home in Boston. Man. I’ll return to this space with probably depressing updates. Keep your “tape” tuned. Same time. Same blog.

But Nobody Can Tell The difference

Posted by Bud Weiser, WTIT on February 22, 2014

Posted in: Saturday 9. 12 Comments

Thanks to Gal for authoring this meme. Click on the Sat-9 header directly below to play.

Saturday 9: Susan

Unfamiliar with this week’s song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, our hero tells Susan that “no other girl could ever take the place of you.” Crazy Sam feels that no other earmuffs could ever take the place of the ones she left in restaurant coat room last month. Tell us about something you recently broke, lost or misplaced. My mind. If you see it floating in the blogosphere, please return it.

2) When this song was first released back in 1968, the name Susan was very popular. According the Social Security Administration, it was one of the top 10 baby girl names of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Today it’s not even in the top 100. Do you know anyone named Susan (or Suzanne)? I have a Facebook friend named Susan. We went to college together. One of my sister’s best friends is name Suzanne and I’ve known her since my sister was in high school. She has only called me once, when she won an Emmy in the mid-nineties and couldn’t reach my sister. We chatted about the award a rather long time. My wife of the time (who could get jealous over me petting a dog) wasn’t thrilled. However, I’ve never been the type who someone else could “control”.

3) The Buckinghams were Chicago’s attempt to get in on The British Invasion begun by the Beatles. (Hence the silly suits.) But they took their name from Chicago’s famous Buckingham Fountain. If Crazy Sam visited your neighborhood, what local site would you recommend she check out? We border a 275 acre state park that’s fabulous to hike through. Also, there are huge tobacco fields that ironically were used in one of my wife’s favorite films, “Parish” with Troy Donahue & Connie Stevens.

4) Chicago is known for deep dish pizza. Describe your dream pizza. (Calories, carbs and gluten need not be a factor because it’s dream pizza!) First of all, it would never be deep dish because I love thin crust. There are hundreds of combos on a pizza I like. Last night I ordered it with mushrooms and sausage. It was Kathy’s birthday and her choice of activity was watching a Tivo’d “American Idol” and have a pizza from her favorite local place. We also watched her latest video on You Tube which ended with the birds she feeds on our deck.

5) The Buckinghams got their big break by winning a local “battle of the bands.” Do you often go to concerts or bars to listen to live music? Almost never. Johnnie Walker had VIP tickets to Jimmy Buffett that included a carving station and open bar a few years ago. While not exactly a Parrot Head, I enjoy Jimmy a lot. The Buckinghams, buy the way, were produced by James Guercio who love horns in rock music. He went on to produce both Blood Sweat & Tears and Chicago.

6) The best-selling book in 1968 (the year “Susan” was released) was Airport by Arthur Hailey. It was set during a snowstorm at Lincoln International, a fictional airport based on Chicago’s O’Hare. What’s the most recent airport you flew to? Why were you there? I flew to Atlanta to visit Harvey Wallbanger in ’06 or ’07.

7) Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, Sox … Chicago is a big sports town. What’s your favorite pro team? The Yankees. In college basketball I root for UConn and I am a Patriots fan.

8) Thinking of sports, did you watch the Olympics? If yes, which events? Not a second.

9) Do you consider yourself an idealist or a pragmatist? I’m an idealist which is so much more frustrating.

That’s it for this version of The Blog. I’m off to visit my dad. I may be late commenting on your blog. But I will. Yesterday we had a Scotch tasting at 10AM at work. It was various types of Glenmorangie single mat scotch. I think the whole thing with my dad is getting to me. Rather than test, I drank. It was delicious. I was to be a passenger for the two hour drive back and we stopped for lunch. I fell asleep after lunch. I woke up at our exit off the Mass. Pike. This blog will post again. Join us. Same time. Same blog.

Wednesday Morning Not 5 O’Clock

Posted by Bud Weiser, WTIT on February 19, 2014

Posted in: Uncategorized. 2 Comments

We have found a lot of places that will take my dad for $$$$, but since he doesn’t have any, the search goes on. My brother has been supporting him and would spend that amount, but the way they are trying to go he would land in a good facility that Medicare would take care of. Diane was worried how to get him into the hospital without a fuss. My sister-in-law, who has not seen him in this condition, told Diane to tell him that they were taking him to lunch. Diane responded, “My grandmother was so out of it that not only would that have worked, but also my grandmother would offer to treat and pay with matchsticks. My dad is only in stage 1. Half the time he’s himself and half not. The only thing that he knows for sure is that hates hospitals. Diane called it a day from hell.

I feel really badly for my sister Diane. She has already taking my mom in and supported her for years, but also now is dealing with this because my brother who supports my dad lives in Boston. I hope today we here that he’s going to the they have targeted. He’s gonna be unhappy anywhere. He won’t have direct TV and won’t see his beloved Cubs. I think I’ll propose an iPad with the Major League Network. That might just do it. If he has a private TV a slingbox would work as well.

I’m rambling so I’ll close. I hope I have better news tomorrow.

Tuesday Afternoon

Posted by Bud Weiser, WTIT on February 18, 2014

Posted in: Uncategorized. 2 Comments

I stayed over at my dad’s last night. He was led to believe that his illusion of being a billionaire was true. That patient advocate did a number on him. Then we talked sports. It was like it always was. Then he got angry because he couldn’t find something. My sister Amy (28) relieved me at 6:30 so I could go to work. My sister Diane took him to the hospital in hopes of getting him into the facility that she & my brother want. He had to be restrained. My dad isn’t like this…

Monday Monday

Posted by Bud Weiser, WTIT on February 17, 2014

Posted in: Uncategorized. 1 Comment

I just got a call from my sister that my dad is now insisting to go home. I had to call and tell him that I heard from the maintenance man at his apartment and it might be a few days till he can go back. I thought he knew that he had a doctor’s appointment today. We are trying to get him admitted to a facility that works with dementia. I won’t bore you with the details, but he believes if I take him to the car dealership that just sold him a car that he will become a millionaire. I keep telling him that I rescheduled the appointment.

He does not know that I returned the car a threatened a law suit. We took his keys from him but he doesn’t remember it. I don’t know what happens if he is not admitted today. There is not a plan B. Or there is but it sucks. He’d have to go back to the apartment and have two two hour visits from an aid who’d cook for him and give him his meds. He has already been found in the parking lot try to get into cars to find his.

I had dinner with him, my wife, my sister and her wife and my mother and sister from his second marriage. My parents sat at the heads of the table. I don’t remember the last time a saw that. They’ve been divorced over thirty five years. He was as lucid as I’ve seen him, but then he started screaming at my mother and calling her an asshole. The dinner was fabulous. Roast beef, Caesar salad, mashed potatoes and squash.

Returning to this blog helps a lot. I could never share this on Facebook. So thanks for reading. I’ll be back. Same time. Same blog.

The Cat in The Hat Spat at That

Posted by Bud Weiser, WTIT on February 16, 2014

Posted in: sunday stealing. 15 Comments

Thanks to Allison for hosting! Click here to join in!

Book Survey!

1:Favorite children’s book: “How the Grinch Stole Mom’s Money”

2:The last book you’ve read: “Bend Over & I’ll Drive You Home”

3:Books on your “to read” list: “How to Speak Hindi in 24 Fun Filled Hours”

4:Top 5 authors: Chuck Wood; Mike Hunt; Jose Cuervo; Manny Miles

5:Favorite genres: Instructional sex manuals

6:A book that has made you extremely mad: “Debbie Retires in Dallas”

7:A book that you’ve cried over: “War & Peace” (I dropped it on my foot)

8:A book that made you laugh out loud: “WTIT Revealed” 9:Fiction or nonfiction? Friction

10:First book you’ve read by your favorite author: “Mixing Smirnoff & Ice”

11:Best book-to-movie adaption: “Alice in Wonderland”

12:Do you read comics/manga? I’d be lying if I told you I knew what “manga” means.

13:Hardcovers or Paperbacks? Librarians
must love this meme. Where’s Cat.?

14:Do you buy books as soon as they come out or wait a while? I wait a very long time.

15:Do you buy books spontaneously without any prior knowledge of what

happens in it? Tempting, but no.

16:Have you ever bought a book based on the cover alone? Yes. It was “How to Get Her in This Position”

17:Where do you usually buy your books? Frank’s Adult Shoppe.

18:Book that had a strong impact on
you: The dictionary. It has all the other books in it.

19:Historical or science fiction? You tell me.

20:Dystopian or Utopian? I don’t know why I’m here.

21:Worst book-to-move adaption? I’m stopping this now.

22:Book that should have a movie adaption? I’ve run out of wit.

23:The first book you’ve fallen in love with: I bet you stopped reading this already.

24:Humor or angst? So I’m really just amusing myself.

25:How many books do you own? But Allison has done a great job with this site. I still do one thing here every week. I add the thief to the list of “Previous Victims”. Why I do it I don’t really knows. I mean the fucking list is SO long. Do you know that with the next Google friend Stealing will hit 500?

26:Do you go the library? This Stealing site has had nearly 175,000 views.

27:How many books do you read a year? Stealing three posts to go the 300^th.

28:Favorite “required reading” book? So far this weekend Stealing has had 200 views.

29:Favorite quote? Stealing has 2714 comments.

30:A book you absolutely hate: Check this out: Below is where our readers come from. I wonder if Putin has the KBG (or whatever the fuck they are called now) spying on us. There have been 137 page views today. Why the Russians read this is anybody’s guess. My wife no longer writes in her blog. She’s got a TV show on You Tube. She does make up info for women over forty. She’s got over 400 subscribers. She has been sent make to review and this week was offered a sponsorship. Even my Dad loves it.

Russia	344
United States	320
Ukraine	30
Germany	23
Italy	20
Romania	14
Hong Kong	12
Malaysia	12
United Kingdom	11
Austria	10

Before that operation on his heart on December fifth at 88 my dad was as sharp as ever. He was given 6 months to live if he did not do it. Now he gets six years, supposedly. The dementia state he is now left with makes me wish he had six months as himself. I’m positive had he known, he would have agreed. Tonight my sister from his second wife is staying with him. It will give my sister (who has had my 90 year old Irish mom living there for years now) a break. Tomorrow he goes to the Hebrew Home for further tests. They’ve already done a lot of testing which said the dementia is even worse than we knew. If they admit him he can see if they can help him. The end game would be for him to live there. They have a lot of people with piano sing alongs and the like. I thought he would hate it at my sister’s. Wednesday we had to make him leave his apartment to go to Diane’s. He fought long and hard about it. The next day he was yelling to go home. But not anymore. I heard someone ask what he was doing. He responded, “I must be here for a reason.” He must. I hope you don’t mind me venting here. It’s not like I want to explain anything on Facebook. Thom did not ever return, but I did. I know. You’d rather it be Thom. I miss his bus. Until we met again, love somebody. And return here next time. Same time. Same blog.

It Don’t Come Easy

Posted by Bud Weiser, WTIT on February 15, 2014

Posted in: Saturday 9. 12 Comments

Thanks to Gal for authoring this meme. Click on the Sat-9 header directly below to play.

Saturday 9: As Time Goes By

1) This is the theme song of Casablanca, generally acknowledged as one the screen’s great love stories. In honor of Valentine’s Day weekend, what’s your favorite movie romance? My favorite romantic comedy was Notting Hill. But, of course, the plot was rather absurd. So, I’ll go with When Harry Met Sally. The movie had the full range of emotions including a break up and realization that being independent and married are not exclusive goals. In my case, it was an email from a fan of mine when I was “The Hunter” DJing radio and nightclubs. Someone chased me down that I had not seen in 35 years. Now she’s my Valentine, wife and best friend. I mean, you never know what’s next. I didn’t give up my independence but I did change the tone of the WTIT Blog. I think that’s why I put it to rest. But I missed it, and particularly my blog buds. So it is back. I even wrote a post this week that had nothing to do with a meme.

2) Even though he was only 5’8 and had a receding hairline, Humphrey Bogart was a popular leading man. What movie or TV actor or actress makes your heart skip a beat? Jill Hennessy. So things do not change.

3) Sweethearts are those little heart-shaped candies that are printed with messages like, “Be Mine” and “Kiss Me.” Do you like how they taste? No. And they are usually hard as rocks. With an elastic band they do however make great weapons in elementary school.

4) Valentine’s Day is a big day for florists. When is the last time a floral arrangement adorned your table or desk? 2001. The first and only time I received flowers at work. During my clubbing days I went to a bar and ran into a TV producer that once offered me work I was offered lead writer for a TV sketch pilot. But there was only money “after we were bought”. I turned the gig down. But here he was with another guy a woman that looked like a young Marilyn Monroe. They were going to another club. Marilyn told the guys that she’d ride with me to direct me to the club. As we walked to my car I told her I had DJ’d at the club, I could get there. She said, “Since that’s not where we are going so you do need directions.” Now remember this was our first conversation. I asked where we were going. She said, “To my place of course.” The flowers arrived the next day.

5) Do you think an e-card means as much as a conventional card in an envelope? Nope. But it beats nothing.

6) Despite what you see on Valentines, the human heart isn’t bright red. It’s really a brownish shade of red, like a brick. Now it’s your turn. Share some trivia that’s been rattling around in your head. (It does NOT have to be about Valentines or the human heart. It can be any random fact at all.) Tanaka, a Japanese pitcher who went 24-0 in Japan last year signed with my Yankees. The Japanese ball is different. It’s smaller and the stitching is less high.

7) When is the last time you thought your heart would break? Pass on this one. I don’t really know and if I did I wouldn’t care to share. Hey that rhymed.

8) What is the most recent thing to lift your heart?

Dad

Not much. My dad was operated on December 5^th. It was a heart valve at age 88. He recovered but now has dementia. Every day it’s worse. We had to take his car and now he’s at my sisters. But he is WAY too much for her to handle. Yesterday I return the car he purchased on February 3^rd. They weren’t too happy. Today I called his bank. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bring this post to a screeching halt. But it’s something I’m dealing with. I do not know the man who was my best friend.

9) Who is the most “hard hearted” person you know? I’ll go with The Dragon Lady. Not because it’s true, I just like taking shots. I wonder if she has stopped cyber stalking me.

Derek Jeter is retiring. The heads of the USSR is former KBG. They only changed the economy. The double toilet thing was funny, however. Paul McCartney released his Wings Over Boston recording. I worked center stage that day, but I didn’t meet him. I tried to make eye contact with Linda, but she never looked at the audience. I almost met him. Too bad, Gal? Yea. Ringo is in Connecticut soon. A former WTIT DJ, Gypsy Joe, gets free tickets to the venue. I tried but he’s not going. I wouldn’t mind paying, but the good seats are gone and I’m not doing a second mortgage. However if Paul stops by, I’ll do it then. See ya. Same time. Same blog.