Stereotypical Saturday.

I have to start off by saying I never thought this would happen to me. I never considered myself stereotypical. But read on, you might think I am becoming that guy.

This week was a really busy week for me. Monday just was Monday, but the rest of the week had me gone from home a lot. Tuesday I had a board meeting at our Credit Union. So the meeting forced me away from home for couple of hours on Tuesday evening. Wednesday was the going away party for our boss at the radio station. We had the party Wed. evening at the Icehouse. And just a side note, Dave we are going to miss you around the station, but good things can come from change! So I was gone for about 2 and a half hours Wednesday evening as we said farewell to Dave. Thursday I worked over so I could broadcast from a "Fish and Tenderloin Fry." I was not gone all evening, but I was away from the family more than I normally am. And Friday was the mother of all long days. Every Friday in May we have all day broadcasts to help the fundraiser for Cancer Services of Grant County. I will get into that more in a later blog. But, I was at work from 5AM through about 7PM. That makes for a long day. All week all I wanted to do when I got home was eat, play with Eli for a few minutes, and then go to bed.

I know it sounds like I am complaining, but really, I love what I do, and the extra money comes in handy. That was not the stereotypical part of my story. That happened Saturday.

So I get the chance to sleep in a little. I am super excited about that. But Saturdays are my day to get up with Eli, and let Sarah sleep in. I figure it is the least I can do to help her out after she does it all week.

So at around 7am, I hear Eli on the monitor waking up. Before he wakes all the way up, I slip out of bed, so Sarah can keep sleeping. I turn off the monitor and make my way to the living room. After a quick check of Facebook (what can I say, I am addicted to Farkle) I sit down to watch some of my DVR'd episodes of Pawn Stars. Sarah doesn't like this show, so I have to watch it when she is gone or asleep. After about 20 minutes, I hear Eli jabbering, so I go back and get him. We finish Pawn Stars (which is becoming one of my favorite shows), and then we switch it over to Sesame Street. Then onto Handy Manny, and Mickey Mouse Club House. Of course we have breakfast, and then Sarah gets up.

After a relaxing morning, I decide to mow the lawn. So as I mow, Sarah and Eli play on the front porch. After the yard looks good, it's back into the house for a shower so we can get ready for date night.

So I just feel like that is what every stereotypical dad does on Saturday. Morning cartoons, mow the lawn, and take the wife out on a date before you head off to church Sunday morning. So am I turning into a stereotype? If I am, that is okay, because I love my life, In and Out of Headphones!

My New Addiction!

I need to start off by saying in no way is this an advertisement for McDonald's. This is totally personal!

So the other day I was on my way to work. Not a lot open at 4:45 or so. I am driving past the truck stop at I-69 and 18. I needed some caffeine. So I pull into the McDonald's for a Sweet Tea. I mean, for a dollar I can get a BIG OLE SWEET TEA! And it is good. It gets me the caffeine and sugar I need to get my day going.

But then the next day, I am just about to the truck stop, and that thought starts creeping into my head. Mmmmmm, Sweet Tea....Must have it! So needless to say, I stopped again. It happened 4 times that week. Saturday, I was on my way to Muncie for a remote at Petsmart...I just happen to drive by several McDonald's. Yeah, it happened again.



I think they might put some crack in the tea. I mean, it is that addictive. When I see the golden arches I start to shake a little. I mean, do they have Sweet Tea Rehab? Meeting I could go to? "Hello my name is John, and I am a Tea-a-holic."

So this week I am trying to stop the madness. But as of Tuesday morning, I am only 50/50. I am working on the problem. I guess the first step is admitting there is a problem. I am looking forward to the denial stage. Anyway, that is what is happening in my "Life in Headphones".

My Outdoor Adventure in "3-D"

One of my favorite hobbies that I don't get a lot of time for anymore is archery. I have been target shooting my bow for close to 20 years. It all started when I was a kid and my dad started bow hunting. My brother also started hunting. I didn't have the patients to sit in a tree and wait for the deer to come in. So I began just target shooting in the backyard.

Of course when I got my drivers license I was way more interested in chasing women, and cruisin' town. Then college came, and didn't have the time to shoot like I should. But about three or four years ago, I started shooting again.

3-d outdoor shooting is my personal favorite. This is a course set up usually in a wooded area, with targets that look like real animals. It may be deer, bear, turkey, alligators, and I have even shot at dinosaurs. Each target has a scoring ring. 11 or 10X is what most would call a "bulls eye." Inside the bigger ring is a 10. If it is the "vitals" of an animal it 8 points, and just for hitting the target it is 5 points. Courses vary from 20-40 targets. There are stakes in the ground to mark where you shoot from. When we shoot, it is anywhere from 20-40 yards.

About three years ago, I was on a league that shot every week. It lasted about 16 weeks. It was a lot of fun. I placed 14th. Which sounds pretty good until I tell you there were only 16 in the league. But I did beat my dad.

My brother is the shooter of the family. Over the past few years he has really gotten into the tournaments and leagues. During the summer he is usually traveling to shoots with friends. And during the winter he is in an indoor league that just target shoots.

I told him I would love to be able to shoot more, so for my birthday he bought a gift certificate for Adventure Outdoors. He has been trying to get me to shoot there for a few months. Well, last weekend I finally had the time.


We head up to Adventure Outdoors, just outside of Warren. We head in the shop, and pay for our outdoor shoot.

After a few shots on the practice range to see if I still have my form down, we head to the targets. Now, Adventure Outdoors has a 30 target course that leads you through their woods. I would say the total walk is between a mile and a half to 2 miles. It is a beautiful course, up and down hills, along creeks, through the woods, and along the edge of fields.

Plus they set up a mean course. Some the shots make you wonder just how far it is. You even have to take a chance or two. I mean, shooting through the "V" of a tree to get to the target. That was one of my favorite shots. Adventure Outdoors has a beautiful course, and really cool set up. If you are into archery at all, give them a try. They have the outdoor range, the 3-d course and an indoor range. If you are looking to get into it, they have a shop there to get you set up. I guess this time, you learned about my life "out" of headphones!

Time for an Eli Update.

So it seems like forever since I gave you an Eli update. He is now almost 16 months old and turning into quite a ham! He is getting to be so much fun. He has his funny face that he loves to make. As you can see it is pretty funny!


Most recently he has started climbing. And when I mean climbing, I mean, climbing onto anything he can. Our huge ottoman is one of his favorite things to stand on. Any chair, table or person that doesn't move too quick he is going to climb all over it. So instead of writing too much, I thought I would just post a bunch of Eli Cuteness!

Crusin' on a trike / Sittin' in his Elmo Chair

Chillin in the outdoor furniture in Meijer / Showin' his favorite team!

Helpin do dishes!

So as you can see he is getting big and fun.

Time for change in my life

Well, it is with heavy heart that I write this blog.

For the past year, my wife and I have been struggling with a very hard decision. After the birth of our son, we have had a hard time financially with a radio income. That has been a factor in this decision.

For the past ten years I have been in the radio business. It is a career near and dear to my heart. From my first days at the former country station in Wabash were I spent 4 years of my life doing afternoons and then mornings, to the past 6 wonderful years at WCJC playing today's best country, I have to tell you I LOVE what I do. Everyday is exciting and new.

My passion for radio came at a young age, when I use to pretend to be a jock in my bedroom talking into the small built-in mic on my boom box, and mixing tapes of current songs. I was "Jammin' John" on WJON. Then in high school radio class is where I was convinced that this was what I suppose to do.

Now, 10 years later, I have met some of the greatest country acts in the world. Shared the studio with some of the best radio people I will ever meet, and spoken with some of the best listeners in the state. I have to say thanks.

But today is the day I will give my resignation to the boss. It is time for a change. I do not know where my life will lead from radio, but it will always be a special part of my life.

One last thing....











APRIL FOOLS!

Are ya kiddin' me! I would never leave radio! I love it too much...

But I gotcha, didn't I!

A sad day at the Morgan house...

So when we moved into our new house about two years ago, one of the first things we wanted to do was get a dog. Before we had rented, and we were not able to have pets. Sarah and I had both grown up with dogs, so we both wanted one.

We went to the shelter and found a lovable little mutt. We think Alli is a beagle/Jack Russell mix. We got her home, and she quickly became a part of our family. She was a little klingy, but sweet. We were a little worried how she would act around the baby when we brought him home.

So Eli comes, and we bring him home. The dog sniffs him a little and that was that. They got along great! Oh what a relief. Well that all changed as soon as Eli became mobile. He would want to chase the dog. And when he was just crawling, that was okay, because the dog could easily get away from him. But after Eli was able to walk, the dog avoided him most of the time. Now there were times they would play with Eli chasing the dog through the kitchen, into the dining room and then to the living room. Then back to the kitchen. Around and around they would go.

Then a couple of weeks Eli discovered the dogs tail. We tried to keep him from grabbing her tail. But one time he held on a little too long. She turned and nipped at his hand. We punished the dog, and thought maybe Eli had learned his lesson. He DID! He stopped doing that.

Then about a week ago I got a call from Sarah. She said, "The Dog IS GONE!" So of course I said what did she do. Unprovoked she bit Eli while he was just petting him. So we called a rescue near us, and gave up Alli.

We dropped her off. It was very sad. As we walked away we could hear her whining. It was really tough on us both. But when it comes to my child's safety we can replace a dog. And at the rescue they will be able to find her a home where SHE will be happier.

So I thought I would include a little slide show of our little pup we miss...so here's Alli...

My First Winery...

I have to start by saying I have NEVER found a wine I like. And I have tried many. My mother-in-law likes wine. And I would make fun of her over and over again for drinking wine. Call her a wino, ask her if it tastes better out of a brown paper bag. All the wino jokes I could think of. Over the past few months my wife has tried different wines, and found a few she liked. I would try them, and usually either spit them out, or need to rinse down the taste with something better.

This past weekend she asked what we were doing. I told her I had no idea. For the past two weeks she has been looking at the Indiana Winery directory online. So we get up Saturday and drop off Eli off at Mamaw and Papaw's house. And we are off for a date day.

I looked at the directory and tried to decide where to go. I decided to go to Modoc, IN. Modoc is south east of Muncie on Highway 1. Now when I was a kid we went camping in Modoc. They had a nice little camp ground with Chucker Golf. So I look at a map, and come to realize that the winery is just about a mile away from the camp ground.

So we head south on Highway 1. (actually when I say that to my wife, I sing it like the Journey song) and make it to Modoc in about an hour. We follow the directions to the winery, and pull up to this farm house, past the barn to the winery. Wilson Wines!

It was a small building with a stage out front. We go inside and begin talking with one of the wine makers. We tell him we are both new to this wine thing. I tell him I have never found a wine I like. He says that he is on a mission to find a wine I like. I have to tell you I had my doubts!

So he starts pouring samples of some different white wines. Most were awful to me. My wife found a couple that she liked, but I still was sticking to my belief that I hate wine. So John, the wine maker asked what drinks I like. I tell him, like John Wayne, I want Whiskey or Beer. A smile crosses his face..."I know the wine you will like, but we are not going there yet...Let's try a couple more first."

The red wines come out, and I found one that was really good. It was called Richard Red. I say..."You found it!" John responds, that's not the one I was thinking, try this. It was an Elderberry wine. It was fabulous. It was strong, about 19% alcohol, so it had a little of the burn of whiskey, but was sweet with a great aftertaste. So we buy a couple of bottles. The Richard Red and the Elderberry.

One really neat thing that Wilson Wines does is during the summer they have concerts and B.Y.O.M. (Bring your own meat). They have grills to cook on, music, and of course you can buy some wine. Really neat. If you have a day, head to Modoc and check out Wilson Wines! I'm a fan!

Now my wife is ready to head to another winery for our next date day. I am actually excited to go. I hate to say it but, now I like wine.