Thoughts from the corner office

A Vacation Reality

2008-07-07T06:44:00.002-04:00

Okay, so your planning a family vacation.....and debating as to whether to drive or fly. From personal experience, I can tell you, that driving is the way to go. No delays or cancellations to worry about....no luggage to be lost......you are in charge of the itinerary and YOU can change it anytime you want. BUT, the most important factor, believe it or not, is the price. We took a week-long vacation...driving...staying in hotels for 7 nights.....factored in the high cost of gas.....the cost of meals....the cost of the amusement park where we would take the little one...AND...we rented a car.....and it was HUNDREDS less than a flying and staying in a hotel for 3 nights (the same one at the same price). Just something to consider. Would be interested to know your thoughts?

Definitely More Important Than Fireworks and Cookouts

2008-07-01T16:48:00.002-04:00

I want all of us to remember why we celebrate our nation's independence. Has nothing to do with cookouts and fireworks but everything to do with our freedom to that or any darn thing we want. Remember those who came before us to fight for our right to be and stay independent. They fought for our right to choose the church we would attend...the town/city where we would live and the right to disagree with one another...even Jimmy Ray...:)When you do whatever you plan to do this weekend, give special thanks and be proud that you are an American! Have a happy and safe 4th weekend.

The Busiest Summer In a Long Time

2008-06-19T11:19:00.002-04:00

Okay, so gas prices have gone up...........prices, in general, are up everywhere. With all of that, this HAS to be the busiest concert summer I have ever experienced and I've been doing this a long time. The good news is most of these shows are free or priced fairly reasonably. I will tell you....if you like LIVE country music, you'll be getting it all summer. Look how jam-packed our Miller Lite Concert Calendar is at www.eagle97.com. Let me know what show this summer excites you the most.....and the one you feel is way too overpriced to even consider. I'm just curious. Plus if there is someone you would like to see come through here, let me know. We do have some connections , you know...:) Look forward to hearing from you.

Spring and Summer Sports On TV

2008-06-10T17:08:00.002-04:00

When was the last time you watched a spring or summer sports event on TV with your kids? I'll bet you can count on one hand...maybe one finger. Here we have a classic pro basketball championship matchup, with TONS of history, and the game doesn't start until close to 9pm.....no weekend day games at all....no early starts....the World Series ...same thing...and now the Super Bowl starts at 6pm and doesn't end until close to 10pm.....and we wonder why our kids aren't into baseball or basketball.....thankfully, the NFL still has some day games!!! I'd like, myself, to see this classic Celtics/Lakers' series but I have to work, just like you, and I have to get up early, just like you.....I'm not up for staying up until Midnight to see the game. I'll catch Sportscenter the next morning and that's unfortunate. And the kids? Why should they care when professional sports has no feeling for them?

Let's Remember Them ALL!!

2008-05-23T08:18:00.002-04:00

When we honor our military veterans, we sometimes forget ALL wars and conflicts involving our country. This weekend, while you spend time with your family and/or friends, please remember ALL of those who fought for our freedom from the days of George Washington to what is going on now in the Middle East. Let's put away, for this weekend, how we feel about any war and just honor those who, without argument, gave their lives so we can be free to express our opinions. Make it a REAL Memorial Day Weekend!

Getting The Story Straight

2008-05-14T12:48:00.003-04:00

About a week ago, someone wrote something about The Eagle that wasn't very flattering or complimentary. They did it with only a smattering of the facts and only information that would benefit the theme of the article. Had they used all of the facts given to them, the story would have been....well, a non-story. So - to set the story totally straight, The Eagle is not "wounded". We are alive, kicking and very happy to be of service to you! 97.3 The Eagle is your radio station and always will be, no matter who tries to shoot us down. You can count on us to be there for you no matter what.

A BIg Thanks!

2008-05-05T08:07:00.003-04:00

It is just amazing how everyone in Hampton Roads (and beyond) has gotten together to help the Suffolk and Driver tornado victims. My voice mail was loaded with messages from various organizations either planning events, or actually doing them, to raise money. In additon to that, the radio station was flooded with calls from folks who wanted to volunteer.
You can say what you want about the selfishness in America these days BUT, I will tell you, when the chips are down, we are there for each other. Thank YOU for all that you're doing to help get these folks back to some form of normalcy.

Help Someone In Our Own Backyard

2008-04-29T08:57:00.002-04:00

We've all seen the devastation from the tornadoes in Suffolk, Driver, etc. Now it's time to act. It's time to help. After living in Texas, Alabama, and Georgia for about 20 years of my life, I've seen, first-hand, what a storm like this can do. It leaves you feeling lost and empty. Let's help alleviate that feeling. Do what you can to help. The Suffolk Red Cross Disaster Relief number is 757-539-6645. Volunteer, give....HELP!!!! This is family!!!

Thanks!

What Happened to the News?

2008-04-21T11:42:00.002-04:00

I do realize that we will be voting for the most important office in the land but, is it my imagination, or has it been nothing but campaigns and candidates on the big cable news networks??? Realize that this is only April and the primaries are being treated, on TV, at least, as seperate elections -projected winners and everything. We still have two conventions ahead in August and September! If we were getting information on the candidates, that would be one thing, but all this rhetoric is driving me nuts. I'd rather watch the NBA playoffs even knowing they have almost two months to go. What do you think?

Ever talked to a 9-year old?

2008-04-14T08:46:00.002-04:00

This past weekend, my wife and 9-year old daughter decided to take advantage of the nice weather and go out for lunch. I should have known what was ahead when the little one was doing, what I call, "The World According to Meredith" which, invariably, includes lots of laughing and silliness. So, at lunch, I decide to let the her in on a new, personal thing that Daddy is doing for her that will really affect her future, positively.
What was I thinking???? The conversation with her focused, primarily, not on the benefit of the fact that she would be taken care of in the future, but what would constitute that situation. Her little mind, of course, mentioned broken arms, the flu, a pulled muscle from running.....and, of course, it went downhill from there when I realized that there was no way this would be a serious discussion. So, it ended with either my wife or I having bubble gum stuck in our hair being a criteria for her benefits. Oh, the joy of youth!!!!!....I think I'll wait until she's about 16!!!

Is It Me Or Is Customer Service a Thing of the Past?

2008-04-10T14:09:00.002-04:00

I have had two situations occur over the past two days - one personal and one with business. Both had to do with subscriptions, deliveries, etc. On the business side, our company subscribes to a trade magazine for 4 of our 5 radio stations. This company requires that each of the four subscriptions be separate with each station's name. Well, that's an accident waiting to happen...and it did. That wasn't the issue, though. The issue was how they credited two payments to one station and none to another. From there, it went downhill! Trying to get someone to really take the time to figure out what happened was the biggest issue plus , all along, they made us feel as if we were the culprits, not them. The issue STILL hasn't been resolved and we have had to initiate every contact. You would think this magazine would be concerned about losing a customer!
On the personal side, I get a morning newspaper delivered every day to my home - usually very early......and I'm usually up very early. Well, for two consecutive days this week, we didn't get a paper. I called to register my complaint the first day. You would think that the message would have made it for the second day but, no, it didn't - no paper again! That second day it took me three phone calls to get to these folks, after being disconnected twice. Once I got to a human being, that experience turned sour pretty quick. No apologies for the inconvenience or the mistake. All I did receive was a "I'll get a manager on it and we'll try to get this taken care of for tomorrow" Try?????......amazing! I did get my paper the next day but the process just fried me.

Please , if you are listener, tell me when we neglect our customer service. I need to know. I really believe that every experience with a business should be a good one, no matter what, so , please help make me and the rest of us here better. Last thing I want is for you to feel the way I do right now!

Let me know what you think.

What's Really Important

2008-04-06T09:04:00.003-04:00

Okay, so did I mention I went on a family vacation.......lately???? It's been a week since we returned from the "wiles" of the Northeast but, I will tell you, I feel a bit different than before I left. It was the longest vacation I had taken in about 30 years (a Friday to a following Sunday) and I spent it entirely with family. No concerts......no radio.......no Jimmy Ray......:).......just me, the wife and the little one. We visited my Dad, my grown daughter and her family (see blog of March 29th) and then, New York City. Not once did I worry about my job, the Eagle, the rest of the radio stations.......anything like that! Instead I found myself immersed in family. I got to see two little boys experience the of joy of discovery each new day brings. I got to spend a little time with a man in the twilight of his life who still embraces each day as he did when I was growing up. I saw two people work the hardest they ever have but enjoy every minute of it. Most of all, I got to know, just a little bit more, the two women with whom I live. My wife, who sees the best in everyone and everything...EVERYDAY!!!.....and my little 9-year old daughter, who learned all she could during our latest "adventure". On top of that, after a visit to "Ground Zero", I saw a country embracing the future by learning from the past. So......why do I mention all of this???.....because it has all stuck with me. I see myself looking more for the best in everyone, no matter what they do. I find that little things that used to bother me...suddenly don't. Most of all, I see , now, that the best part of the day is the time spent with those two women with whom I live. It's never too late. Enjoy your friends and family every day. Stay in touch. CARE!!!! Remember - when it's all over, no one judges....and I mean NO ONE.....the time you spent at work.

Got Gas?

2008-04-03T08:15:00.004-04:00

I have to tell you about something from my vacation that hit me after the news I heard yesterday about the amount of money our oil companies , and Iraq, are making. We actually drove up the eastern seaboard hitting Philly, Boston, then back to Northern Jersey and New York. The oddest thing - in case you didn't know - is that it is a New Jersey state law that drivers are not permitted to pump their own gas. So, you've got to figure that the price of gas there would be astronomical. Not so, Exxon breath!!! Gas in New Jersey is, at least, 10 cents a gallon cheaper than most places here and, in some cases, 15 cents cheaper. Once again, getting us closer to proving that this "oil crisis" is nothing but hype. Why, in the shadow of the nation's largest city (with VERY expensive real estate) would gas be the cheapest in the northeast......with attendants pumping the gas to boot???? Go figure!!!!

What do you think?

Music You Should Check Out

2008-04-01T11:21:00.002-04:00

So, today, I have spent some of my time listening to some of the new music that has hit my desk (Okay, it's the part of my job that is really hard to call "work"). Do yourself a favor and check out some of the music of Lady Antebellum - not just their single. Some real good stuff. Now - if you want to head to the other end of the country spectrum, there's Ashton Shepard. Her new full-length CD "Sounds So Good" is very appropriately titled. This lady has it going for her. Check out the title cut, the single "Takin' Off This Pain" and "I Ain't Dead Yet". This girl was, literally, a pea picker in South Alabama a year ago. We got to see her perform (and, hopefully, you did) at Eagle's first Winterblast in January. It was her first full band show. (Ironically, we were also the first radio station she ever visited.) She knows how to entertain, for sure.
A couple of other tunes I heard that may wind up being something: Heidi Neufield (former lead singer for Trick Pony) has a strong love song called "Johnny and June"; Jimmy Wayne is finally back with something pretty good called "Do You Believe Me Now". Finally, another Winterblast performer, Emily West has a good one called "Rocks in Your Shoes". She's another one who puts on a heck of a show.
Each of these folks have MySpace pages to check out their music so I suggest you do that when you have a minute and let me know what you think. If you've heard anything else that you want me (or us) to know about, let me know, too!

Back from Vacation

2008-03-29T09:15:00.002-04:00

Just got back from a week long family vacation to see family and then take the little one to see New York City. That city is fascinating. Just walk the streets of New York for one day and you can realy feel how insignificant you are to everyone else - of course, it also puts things in perspective. You see how many other folks have bigger problems......speaking of which......some of you may know that I have a grown daughter, a terrific son-in-law and three fabulous grandchildren (they just added twin boys - see my MySpace phot section). Although my wife and I helped a bit, those two (my daughter and son-in-law) spend every waking hour, and then some, taking care of those 7-month old boys...plus my son-in-law works all day and my daughter works the Chanel counter at a local Macy's at night. They, hardly, see each other, yet they are always smiling.....they are struggling financially, yet they say they wouldn't trade lives with anyone because of those kids (who are just adorable!!!). They sleep an average of about 2-3 hours per day/night...yet they are alert and awake tackling each day as if it were their last.. After spending three days with them during this vacation, I now have two new heroes at the top of my list - Nick and Chrissy, my son-in-law and daughter. For those of us who complain about the traffic....the weather...or even how often a song plays on the radio......put yourself in these two kids' shoes for one day....you'll never complain again. Believe me, that's how I feel right now and will for quite some time. If I had a million dollars, I would give them the bulk of it. They deserve better than they are getting but to see them you'd think they already have it. Thus - my vacation was one of the most rewarding I've taken in quite some time. Two new heroes of whom I couldn't be prouder.

March Madness Begins!

2008-03-20T08:52:00.002-04:00

Okay, how many NCAA tournament brackets do you have in your possession right now? Are you playing a pool at work? With family? Do you want to know the secret of getting the winners right?.....THERE IS NONE? Heck, my wife is picking according to the team's colors and their region and I'll bet she'll probably do better than me.
What IS neat about this time of year is that a college sport actually transcends generations, genders, music formats, etc. It's one of the most exciting times of the year because EVERYONE just about is interested....for various reasons, of course. (In my wife's case - colors!).

What do you think?

Finally YOU get a say!

2008-03-18T13:57:00.000-04:00

For the first time in its 43-year history, the Academy of Country Music Awards will want to know who YOU think should be the Entertainer of the Year. Do you believe that???? The FIRST time???? It should have been that way all along but it's better late than never. It's about time an awards show of this stature does something like this. Did you snooze through the Oscars as I did? Did the Grammy's bore you? Well, the ratings of these shows are falling and now awards' show producers are realizing how much power you really do have. Details will be coming out in about a week or two as to how you can vote. Believe me, we'll be all over it at the Eagle and we'll let you know the minute we find out. Who would you vote for right now even without any specific choices? Let me know.

We'll talk again, for sure!