Thanks, Casey

I got a few requests to re-post this note from the Star website.

--Brian

This weekend, as we celebrate our country's independence with fireworks and backyard barbecues, Star 102.5 will be airing the final countdown from one of my childhood heroes, Casey Kasem. It airs 39 years almost to the day of his debut of the original American Top 40 on July 4th, 1970. The word from Casey and Premiere Radio Networks is that the decision to discontinue American Top 20 was mutual. Casey is 77, after all.

In a statement he said "This decision will free up time I need to focus on myriad other projects."

I'm saddened by this decision mainly because my radio career actually began by running Casey's American Top 40 countdowns. I have happy memories of every week getting a stack of records that I would have to cue up on the turntables in-studio, and pause between segments to do weather, news, and commercials. Listening to this radio legend "tease" a song coming up was an art form that I poorly imitate every afternoon on Star 102.5.

So although a weekend without Casey won't seem quite right, we don't begrudge him his retirement. All of us at Star 102.5 wish him well. In the meantime, we'll be keeping our feet on the ground, and we'll keep reaching for the stars.

Starry Night 2009

I have been posting pictures and video from Starry Night in the Garden on my station websites for over a week now, but I figured those that don't check mystar1025.com regularly might like to hear how the whole event went.

All I can say is, Holy Smokes, what a GREAT show! It's going to be hard to top next year, that is for sure.

The weather on the 24th was absolutely perfect - not a cloud in the sky. All the artists arrived safely and on time, their hotel rooms were satisfactory, and best of all, the show was a sellout days before.

I love when that happens.

But most of all, the performances were top knotch. I heard every act, from Safetysuit's first notes, to Matt Nathanson's encore of Journey's Don't Stop Believing, and Mat Kearney in-between.

I say this every year, but one of the great things about my job is being exposed to new music, and then putting together fantastic live versions of my iPod playlists for an audience. It's very cool for me to be able to share a vision for a great live show, and have people like it.

If you missed any part of it, there is a great photo recap and video content here:
http://mystar1025.com/Starry-Night-In-The-Garden-2009/4674381

Before and during the show, we managed to talk to all the artists. Safetysuit discussed with me making a hollywood style video, the VH1 Top 20 countdown, and who actually writes their songs.

I also talked with Mat Kearney about how he got his start, the Nashville scene, and breaking and entering to play piano here.

And John Anthony snagged an interview with our headliner, Matt Nathanson, just before he hit the stage.

All in all, it was a great night, and one of the best Starry Nights ever.

The primary reason we do this show every year is to raise awareness and help in the restoration of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, an architectural treasure, and one of only a handful of Victorian tri-dome botanical gardens in the world. If you have never seen the gardens, make a point to visit this Summer. And definitely come to next year's 10th Anniversary Starry Night in the Garden show!

--Brian

Being a Dad

8 years in now, it's difficult to even imagine me not being a father. It's not an easy job, especially as I watch my son and daughter leaving childhood behind far too quickly. To hear Darcy's little girl voice slowly going away is so hard. To watch Connor fielding calls from girls after school amuses me, mostly, but it also speaks loudly and clearly to me they're not going to be little kids much longer.

(Hopefully there won't be boys calling Darcy at home for many many years...)

So I try to savor it, and enjoy these fleeting moments while they're here. Fathers Day morning was one of those moments. The kids woke me up with very sweet cards and projects, like these.

Connor made me a new mousepad (pictured) as well as a book of things he would give me, if he could. (Sample: "If I could give my Dad something, it would be a transporter, so he wouldn't be late.") My boy knows me a little too well.

And Darcy put together a book of "Why My Dad Is Special." On page 3 (pictured), My Dad Cooks With Me. At first I thought she was referring to the excellent grilled cheese sandwiches that I occasionally make on the weekends, but looking at the drawing I realize we are on the back patio, I am at the grill, and Darcy is at the picnic table.

I'm sure every parent has stories and drawings just like these. As much as people watch and talk about shows like Jon & Kate + 8 and all the rest, it's not the excesses that make life wonderful, it's the small moments, like Fathers Day morning, that I know I'll remember forever.

And now, 10 Things Your Father Was Right About.

1) You are the prettiest girl in the world.
2) Sinatra.
3) You should always keep jumper cables in your car... just in case.
4) Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.
5) That guy really wasn't good enough for you.
6) You do not need a pony.
7) The cardinal rule of grilling: Pressing down on the burger will only dry it out.
8) Yes, honey, all your male "friends" do secretly want more.
9) Paying $200 for a haircut is crazy.
10) It's not worth trying to repair the toaster yourself.

See you at Starry Night tonight! Pictures and video to come.

--Brian

Up

We took the kids to see Pixar's latest masterpiece Up on Saturday night, after being thwarted the last two weekends, due to weather and other obligations. Even three weeks into its run, the crowds seeing Up were undiminished at the Transit Drive-In, and for us it was well worth the wait.

My review of this movie is best summarized by what my son Connor said as we were driving home that night: "I was crying a little, because I was sad and happy at the same time."

That juxtaposition of joy and melancholy can be applied to all the great Pixar films, and it illustrates once again that story, not special effects, is what draws people to these movies in the first place, and keeps them watching on DVD long after they've left theaters.

Where Finding Nemo (and, to a lesser extent, The Incredibles), so effectively portrayed the fierce love a parent has for a child, at the heart of Up is the aching sadness and longing that Carl Frederickson feels for his wife Ellie, when she dies too soon.

For those who haven't seen it yet, that sounds like such a downer, doesn't it? But this film is also a rollicking hilarious adventure that will have you, and your children, laughing out loud so often, you won't be sad for long.

The funny: so many dogs, with so many clearly defined personalities, and all of them talk. Not to mention a bizarre undiscovered species of bird that communicates just fine without words.

The adventure: thousands of helium balloons turn a house into an airship, dogs piloting fighter planes, a dirigible, what more could you ask for?

Up is movie to watch, then watch again, and then own. It's better than Wall-E, it's much better than Cars and Ratatouille, it's at least equal to Finding Nemo.

The Demays give it 4 thumbs up.

--Brian

TATS, Yard Sales, Health Tips

One of the great traditions in Buffalo is Thursday at the Square. I love hearing great live music downtown and pigging out on all the food and drink, but what is it about Thursdays and the weather lately? Every week, Wednesdays are great, Fridays are great, Thursday it rains. Once when we were setting up, the wind kicked up off the lake and it took 3 of us hanging on to the tent to keep it from taking flight.

I guess that's another reason why our Starry Night in the Garden show is always on a Wednesday.

I got some requests for this info, so here are some of the things I talked about on the show this week.

Yard Sale Tips - according to YardSaleQueen.com:

• The best time to hold a yard sale is on a weekend. Pick a weekend when a large number of other garage sales are scheduled in your neighborhood. The more traffic in your area, the better.
• Start your sale 30 minutes earlier than the other sales. That way people begin their garage sale day with you, when they have the most money to spend.
• Find store ads offering the same products you’re selling, and attach them to your items so shoppers can see the deals they're getting.
• Don’t forget the batteries. People like to be able to turn something on to make sure it works – just buy cheap generic batteries.
• Place your items on tables, even if this means borrowing folding tables from neighbors. Goods are less appealing when placed on the ground, and a lot of shoppers won’t bend down to pick up the merchandise.
• Don’t bother selling furniture - people want things that’ll easily fit into their car. Sell furniture on Craigslist, as with anything over $20 in value.

Home Remedies That Really Work - here are three with scientifically proven results:

• Dish Detergent prevents poison ivy. If you’re exposed to poison ivy outside, wash as soon as possible with regular dish detergent. A recent study of 350 adults found 50% who did this got no itchiness or rash whatsoever, the rest got greatly reduced poison ivy symptoms.
• Witch Hazel gets rid of cold sores. Several times a day, dip a fresh cotton swap in witch hazel, and dab it on your cold sore, and it will heal faster than if you do nothing.
• Baby Shampoo relieves itchy red eyelids. If allergies are causing your eyelids to get crusty or inflamed, twice a day, rub a few drops of baby shampoo in your wet hands, scrub your closed eyelids, and rinse. It’s safe, tear-free, and will remove pollutants, bacteria, eye makeup, lens solution, and whatever else may be causing your lids to itch.

Tune in weekday afternoons to hear more tips like these on Star 102.5!

--Brian

The Simple Things

Sure, we have a Wii, dozens of computer games, hundreds of books and cable TV channels; but this is what captivated the kids in our neighborhood all week.

A large cardboard box.

Who needs Mario Kart when you have a box?

It's always the simple things.

--Brian

Working with your hands

There are certain movies that seem to get funnier or more meaningful the more times I see them. I liked Office Space the first time I saw it, but I didn't love it. Now it's one of my favorite movies of all time.

It's extremely quotable, ("yeah, I'm going to have to have you come in on Saturday...") funny in a broad sense, but also reflective of how many of us feel each day, working in an artificially-lit environment, doing menial tasks that don't affect the greater good, and wondering why corporate America makes the decisions it does.

One scene in particular sticks with me. Ron Livingston's character, Peter Gibbons, has left Initech to work on a construction crew, which ironically is cleaning up the debris from Initech, recently burned to the ground. Peter says "this isn't so bad, makin' bucks, gettin' exercise, workin' outside."

Amen!

I joke with my wife about someday selling the house and moving to Florida, where I will run a hot dog stand on the beach; no "overhead" except sunshine, everyone would know me, "the hot dog guy," and at the end of the day I pack up my cart and go home. If I don't feel like working that day, I don't. What a great life!

Last week the office building had a barbecue outside. It was a beautiful spring day, and it just so happened I had a band coming through to do a little performance. I asked them if they minded playing outside, where there was a good sized crowd, and they agreed. Check out their performance here.

Something about that day clicked: people mingling outside, having lunch, listening to music. It's what we've done for centuries! As cavemen we sat around a fire, eating together, sharing stories and songs of the hunt. We were meant to be outside, working with our hands, not in a cubicle staring at a computer screen all day, hermetically sealed from Nature.

It's springtime in Western New York. Let's make time to go to the beach, take a hike, work in the yard, and get back to what makes us human.

And no, Lumbergh, I won't be coming in on Saturday.

--Brian

So Glad I'm A Parent

There are times in every Dad's life, when we're picking socks out of the kitty litter, or wiping orange juice off the ceiling, or scraping melted crayon off the inside of a dryer, that we question why we became parents. We say things like "THIS is why we can't have anything NICE!"

And then, there are times when we find notes like this in our briefcase:

My daughter always makes sure to put pigtails on the smiling girls in her pictures. I love you too, Darcy.

--Brian

A Few Theories About The Lost Finale

If you haven't watched the finale, beware; I have put together a bunch of Lost spoilers. After sitting up last night scouring post-finale message boards and fan pages, this is what I think happened:

• The man in black at the beginning of the episode, we'll call him "Esau," is trapped on the island, can’t leave (like Jacob can), but can take the form of people who have died. He is the “smoke monster,” who has also appeared as Jack’s father Christian, Ben’s daughter Alex, and now Locke II.


• Jacob was never in the cabin Ben visited while leading The Others - it was Esau, the mystery smoke monster man.


• Ilana says Frank, the pilot, could be a “candidate” - for what? I think, to replace Jacob, if Jacob did indeed die. Jack could also be a candidate, if he didn’t end up getting nuked. Where Richard now fits into all of this I have no idea.


• I think the bomb pushed the island into more time-shifting. The question is did Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Miles, Hurley, Sayid, et al shift with it before the bomb exploded? (I think they did.) Did Juliet really die? (I think she really did.) And will Sun and Jin be reunited in the present? (I think they will.)


• Interesting note: Ben Linus says “I’m a Pisces,” when he was actually born in December. Does he ever tell the truth?


• Season 1 started with Jack's eye opening, much like it appears in the Final Season Preview (above). I think it's Jack's eye.


• I can’t believe we have to wait until February 2010 to see what happens next!

--Brian

Starry Night 2009

One of the cooler things I get to do each year is put together the lineup for our premier event, Starry Night in the Garden. Mark your calendar for June 24th! Starry Night is Buffalo's #1 outdoor concert and wine event, with gourmet food tasting and great live music. Tickets are on sale now, so don't wait, because we sell out every year. Best of all, proceeds benefit one of Buffalo's architectural treasures, the Buffalo Botanical Gardens.

This year we have 3 awesome acts. Our headliner, Matt Nathanson, has two hits this year alone ("Come On Get Higher" and "Falling Apart"), and his concerts are selling out everywhere. To see Matt's recent in-studio performance in the Star Lounge, click here!

Mat Kearney should be very familiar to Star Listeners. We have been playing his first hit "Nothing Left To Lose" for the last 2 years, and his new single "Closer To Love" is climbing the charts, and now playing on Star 102.5. Hear more of Mat's music here, and be sure to check out a recent live performance here.


Safetysuit has already played Buffalo once, and they've been on the road for the last several years with Hinder, 3 Doors Down, Seether, and Puddle of Mudd, to name a few. Their new single "Stay" is in our Top 20, and they spent some time recently with Rob Lucas in the Star Lounge. Check out that in-studio performance here!

I love Starry Night because it's a beautiful setting, outdoors on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens, and there's a phenomenal array of food and drink. For $40 you get dinner and a surprisingly intimate live music experience.

If you've never gone, make this your year to experience it!

--Brian

Swine Flu Over Troubled Water

It amazes me how quickly we as a society can become unhinged. Take the latest swine flu hysteria. Regular human influenza each year causes nearly 40,000 deaths in the U.S. alone, but we're freaking out late in the flu season about...let's see...zero confirmed deaths in this country?

People (well...stupid people, anyway) are not eating pork, bacon, ham, or ribs for fear of catching it. Despite the fact that you can’t get this or any virus from eating pork, Egypt is destroying its pigs, and several other countries are not importing pigs from the U.S. or Mexico.

Does anyone check their facts anymore? Instead, like lemmings we rush headlong over a cliff together, encouraged by the national media in search of a story.

God help the Mexican travel industry.

I, for one, had ham today, bacon yesterday, and plan on a full plate of pulled pork at One Eyed Jack's tomorrow.

I received a copy of an unusual album recently, Live 1969, by Simon and Garfunkel. I grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel, my parents were fans, and I remember in particular hearing Bridge Over Troubled Water a lot on my Dad's "hi fi." The songs on this CD were recorded live prior to Bridge being released to the public, so it was a curiosity to hear the first reaction to some of the most well-crafted and now well-known songs of the era. In particular, I appreciated the initial hush of the crowd following Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was followed by thunderous applause, as if those hearing it for the first time realized they had witnessed something great, and needed a moment to take it all in. The album swept the 1970 Grammy Awards, and has since been recognized as one of the seminal albums of all time.

Despite S&G playing to huge crowds in 1969, what struck me about this CD was how intimate it all sounded. Many songs were just Paul and Art together with one guitar, and if you didn't hear the thousands of cheering fans after each performance you'd think they were in a small coffee shop somewhere.

Like so many successful music partnerships, Lennon/McCartney, John/Taupin, Hall & Oates, Simon and Garfunkel were never as good solo as they were together. I recommend this CD for the pure poetry of Paul Simon's lyrics, the uniqueness of their vocal harmonies, and the appreciation of hearing two great performers at the top of their game.

Four Stars.

--Brian

Lonely Island

OK, confession time. A long time ago, when I was fooling around in a radio production studio, I recorded a rap song. (Stop laughing at me.)

There was a time, pre-Snoop Dogg, that goofy white guys like me thought we could legitimately do stuff like that. I think I may have even played it for my wife years ago. As I recall, she just looked at me really funny, and implored me to never play it for her again.

The difference between me doing rap and the genius goofy white guys of The Lonely Island Band is vast.

When Incredibad was released back in February, I got an advance copy, and it has been in my car disc player ever since. Anyone familiar with Andy Samberg on SNL has heard a few of these tunes already; "D***k In A Box" and "Lazy Sunday" are two breakthrough videos that have been on YouTube for a couple of years now. What Samberg, and co-writers Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer have done is create an incredibly funny 19 track CD that not only parodies 90s rock, reggae, and hip hop styles, but also serves as an homage to those styles. That's no easy task. These guys understand and appreciate the music they're skewering, and the parody is in the writing, which often takes a few listens to fully appreciate.

Take, for instance Ras Trent. Only Andy Samberg could include a lyric about Selassie, and make it funny, and pertinent, in a song about a white Rastafarian college student; or as Samberg puts it, a "rude boy living in the shanty dorms."

Is every track great? No. Like all great comedy albums, some jokes are funnier than others. But taken as a whole, this is sharp, truly inspired comedy writing, with amazing production values you would not normally expect from a comedy album.

Buy this CD, and I guarantee you'll find something to laugh uproariously about. (Just don't play it for the kids - strictly adult listening.)

--Brian

Happy Easter

It is kind of sad that Easter has become a holiday for candy, but to kids, that’s pretty much what it is. The average American will spend over $100 on Easter food, candy, and toys this year! My wife and I bought stuff to fill the kids' easter baskets over lunch today. Of course, being a parent, it is our prerogative to sample Easter candy every year, and as a public service, here is what you need to know before you grab a handful this Sunday:

• 1 Marshmallow Peep is probably your safest bet – only 28 calories
• 10 small jelly beans = 41 calories
• 1 chocolate covered marshmallow is 42 calories
• 12 Whoppers Mini Robin Eggs will set you back about 95 calories
• 1 Cadbury Creme Egg is 172 calories
• And everyone’s favorite, a 1.5 ounce solid chocolate bunny is 230 calories.

On a related note, how do you know if you need to lose a few pounds? When your 5 year old daughter pokes your stomach, says "Squishy squishy squishy," and starts to laugh.

Darcy, I want you to know, that hurts Daddy's feelings.

Adventureland

For my birthday, Heather took me out to the Golf Dome, dinner at the Melting Pot, and then we hit the movies to see Adventureland. I have to admit, I did not expect the movie to be as good as it was. I figured it would a goofy, forgettable 80s flashback movie, but instead it turned out to be a bittersweet, engrossing story about college age kids figuring out what to do with their lives, in 1987. It reminded me exactly of how I felt after graduation: so many possibilities, so many paths you can go, and nothing quite works out like you think at the time, but it does work out.

If you grew up in the 80s, you’ll like the music, and how everything about 1987 at an amusement park is lovingly recreated. It was funny, don't get me wrong, but far deeper and better written than I expected. I recommend Adventureland, but definitely don’t take the kids.

--Brian

Useless Tidbits

The Paomnnehal Pweor Of The Hmuan Mnid.
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are,the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm.Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Isn't that (above) weird? Weird but true.

Monsters and Aliens
The Demay clan took in our first drive-in movie of the year last weekend, and saw Monsters and Aliens. (You know it's finally Spring when the Transit Drive-In opens again!) It was a fun movie, but the story-telling wasn't in the same class as The Incredibles or Finding Nemo. Still, it was fun to watch with the kids, who really thought the Blob character was funny. I like anything with Reese Witherspoon, so I'm biased.

Side note: if you’re an Office fan, you may be interested to know that the voice of the chief alien Gallaxhar is none other than Dwight Schrute, Rainn Wilson (left).

So, if you're looking for an entertaining movie to take your children to see, 4 thumbs up from the Demays.

Twitter
I'm not sure if I like Twitter yet, but it's early. I just set Star 102.5 up with an account, and it's a little like "OK, now what?" But I think the immediacy of it is a cool thing. Usually you have to have a reason to change something on the station website, for example, but with Twitter, you can just send a "Happy Birthday to Brian" note and it's out there, and that's that. One more social networking tool to keep track of...

--Brian

The Trashman Cometh

When I started in radio many many moons ago, I did a little bit of everything. I was on the air, I wrote and produced commercials, I wrote and delivered the news every hour, and when I was done, I turned off the transmitter, emptied the trash, and went home. 

At the time that seemed like a lot! But back then, all of those duties related to being on the radio...except for the trash thing. 

After our basement flooded last month I went through a lot of old pictures, which triggered a lot of old memories, and it struck me that the bulk of my job these days is completely unrelated to the traditional notion of what radio is. For example: it's after midnight as I write this, and the reason I'm up so late is because I'm working on the station website. From Photoshop to HTML coding to blogging, a big portion of every day is spent making sure the website looks the way it's supposed to look. 

That isn't radio, per se, but it's what radio has become today.   

I used to joke with co-workers that a radio person's uniform was a logoed polo shirt and jeans. We laughed at how stuffy the TV people looked in their suits and ties every day. Today, radio people worry about dressing in appropriate outfits, and lighting the studio effectively, so that a band performance will look sharp for a video, that then has to be produced, edited, and uploaded for "viral distribution." 

20 years ago I would have said, you're crazy - that's not radio! 

Today it is most definitely radio, and I spend a lot of time editing and producing these videos, which compete for your attention online with other videos produced by well-dressed TV folk, and your neighbor (possibly in his underwear) down the street.  

I didn't even mention yet the daily digital audio editing of a special on-air bit, or podcast, that also has to be packaged and uploaded. Yes, Star 102.5 is an on-air radio station, but it's also an online radio station that (believe it or not) is quite different from what you hear on the radio. Did you know that we play completely different commercials online, as well as unique web-only content that radio listeners don't hear? It's like a baby radio station I program for online listeners only. 

"On Demand" has been the buzzword for years. Back in college, there was no such thing. 

I guess the point of all this navel gazing is to look at how fast things are changing. Not that long ago people used to listen to music on AM Radio, music that was performed either live in-studio or via spinning platters of wax. Today, it goes from my ears to yours thanks to an amazingly complex series of digital compression schemes, computer chips, and, if I do my job right, a little magic. 

I guess that part hasn't changed. 

Excuse me now, while I empty the trash. 

--Brian

Blatant Littering

Yesterday I was driving home, and this guy in the truck ahead of me opened the driver side window, and threw a straw onto the road. Then I watched him take the lid off his drink, and throw IT out the window too.

I’m thinking at this point, "Seriously? Are you really doing this?"

Then he tips his cup back, finishes whatever was inside, and tosses his cup out the window next. Without even a second glance.

I was stunned. People obviously throw stuff out the window, you can’t help but see the trash on the road, especially this time of year, after a long, dismal winter, when everything buried is there, on the surface again.

So I know this kind of thing happens, I just never saw anyone do it so blatantly before. This was on Millersport in Amherst, during drive time, with a line of cars going both directions, and police patrolling the highway. This loser just tosses his trash out the window, for someone else to pick up.

He did it within a few feet of a Noco, where he could have easily just pulled over and thrown it away properly. Instead, he drove on by, lah dee dah.

Unbelievable.

Jerks like this are why this poor man can't stop crying.

--Brian

Cheap Fun Wines: Garnacha de Fuego

Here's another from my Cheap Fun Wines series. As I come across good inexpensive wines, I will share them here with you!

For some reason we have tried several different wines with flames on the label lately, and they have all turned out to be delicious. This one in particular was recommended at one of my favorite wine shops, and each bottle we've had since has been just as good as the first.

Garnacha de Fuego is a Spanish wine, which translated, basically means "grape of fire." If you've never tried garnacha before, you should. It's called grenache in the U.S. and France, and it's a grape from Southern Spain that loves hot weather, much like Southern California zinfandel and Australian shiraz.

For around $8 a bottle, you can't beat the flavors represented here: ripe plum, black cherry, with a touch of spice. It's exceptionally smooth, with just enough pepper to keep it interesting. I even taste a little vanilla in this one.

So look for the label with the flame on it, and give Garnacha de Fuego a try.

--Brian

Negative Ions

It's been a few days since we got back from our all too brief Florida vacation. This would have been posted sooner, but it took me this long to get un-buried from all the work that piled up when I was gone!

It wasn't hot during our week by the gulf, but I will take sunny and around 70 in February any day, especially during this especially difficult winter! And not just the weather has been difficult.

In addition to all the depressing news stories of late, I made an unpleasant discovery in our basement right before we left. After an ice cold shower Saturday morning, I went down to check the water heater, and found shin-high ice cold water everywhere. Computers and boxes were floating, furniture was ruined, it was completely unexpected.

I think it was a power surge right before all the snow melted in our yard during an unseasonably warm spell. Our poor sump was overwhelmed. After I unplugged and reset it, it only took a few hours for the water to subside, but the damage was done.

I learned a lot about re-lighting pilot lights that cold, miserable weekend.

Needless to say, it was GREAT to escape to the beach for a while and forget things. Returning to work, even though I was majorly behind, didn't seem quite as overwhelming, thanks to our time by the Gulf. Sunshine and negative ions truly do refresh the soul.

Did you ever wonder why you always feel refreshed after breathing ocean air? Here's why, according to WebMD:

Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments. Think mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy.

There's a reason so many people retire to Florida!

--Brian

Life is Short

By now everyone has heard about the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Clarence, last night. Buffalo is often described as the biggest small town in America, with only 3 degrees of separation between everyone in the community, instead of the usual 6 degrees. While most of us may not know anyone personally on board that flight, we all know at least someone who does, and that makes this day especially hard for all of us, as a community.

Heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of the 50 who died. I can't even imagine what you're going through. You're in our prayers. Click here if you need information from Continental about what you can do.

And complete support and thanks to the emergency crews who worked through the night, battling winter cold and extreme heat. There is no happy ending for these people, in a tragedy such as this.

The WBEN News Team mobilized almost the instant they heard about what happened. The members of our sister station worked without sleep bringing the latest news, and have since set up on location in Clarence to keep us completely informed. I think we take for granted that there is such an incredible resource in our city, always there when needed.

Check out the latest coverage here.

A day like today shows us again how life can change in an instant.

--Brian

Super "Bowl" Weekend

With the Super Bowl and Heather's birthday, we had a lot going on this weekend. Saturday night we had a great meal at our favorite Italian restaurant, Trattorio Aroma, where Heather opened her presents from me, and then we popped into the mall for some kid-free shopping and browsing. It's amazing how different the mall can be when you don't have to keep track of your brood zipping to and fro, knocking things off shelves, and constantly saying "I want this!" As a young couple Heather and I would often hang out at the mall after a date, so Saturday brought back pleasant, long dormant memories of more care-free days.

Sunday we all went bowling for the first time as a family. The kids have been playing it on Wii for a couple of months now and wanted to go, since it was super "bowl" weekend, after all. The downside of Wii bowling? Real-life Connor was very upset that he couldn't bowl as well as Virtual Connor. Despite that, we had a lot of fun, and I actually bowled one of my best games ever: 182. I once broke 200, but that was quite a while ago, so this was a nice surprise.

After picking up some snacks at Wegmans, we finally sat down and watched the game. If you missed the Super Bowl Commercials, you can check them all out here.

My 3 favorites were Bridgestone "Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead," Pepsi Max "I'm Good," and Priceline "Negotiator," with the Asian guy talking like William Shatner. How about you?

As for the game itself, until the 4th Quarter I was pretty bored, but the last 15 minutes were one for the history books. I felt bad for Kurt Warner, who always seems to star in very exciting Super Bowls, but was happy for the Steelers, who were the best team all year. You can't argue with Big Ben's skills, scrambling in the pocket, re-setting plays and finding his receivers when it counted. Warner's red zone interception really was the difference in this game, and marred an otherwise stellar performance. He's a future Hall of Famer, and I hope he comes back for one more season.

And to cap off Heather's birthday weekend, she ended up winning the Super Bowl Squares game here at work, with a nice chunk of change to take home. All in all, quite a weekend! Hope yours was too.

--Brian