I love radio! – On my morning drive to Starbucks I play the local oldies station. Two guys banter and play music on the morning show. They are of different generations, and I enjoy the conversation as much as the music. They have a contest where they play part of a song and a listener calls in and sings the next line. It’s always hysterical because the caller sings half the song. When you are belting out one of your favorites, who can stop at one line? Sometimes the guys join in. Almost always I join in! Makes me laugh and it’s a great way to start the day.
Seriously? – On our way to a farm stand we passed a huge billboard-sized sign on a front lawn. It was an obscenity aimed at a politician. Something you wouldn’t want your kids to see yet there it was. My knee jerk reaction was to wonder if it was a violent household as there was a lot of anger and no consideration for other people’s children. There are no elections now, so it was out of place. It was a blight on an otherwise scenic area. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but make it classy and appropriate for the audience. Don’t look like a neanderthal. (Maybe that’s a slight to Neanderthals.)
Summer – We are being blessed with a run of great weather! (Hope I didn’t jinx it.) That has been as rare as hen’s teeth. It’s just wonderful to be alive!
After it’s done – The deck was finished over a week ago yet I’m still setting up, finding stuff that belongs out there and cleaning up. It doesn’t matter if the construction is outside, there is always sawdust invading. It swirls around looking for a way to get inside and make me crazy. Maybe after our run of great weather, we will get a nice shower to settle it all down.
Fireworks – Five years ago our state relaxed its fireworks rules. Really bad move. People were revolting as soon as it was passed. Local authorities started banning them in cities and towns and worked to put restrictions around them. People are nuts. They will set off fireworks near neighbors, wooded areas and kids. There are new regulations (finally) that will restrict them. If you want to see fireworks go to the shows put on by communities. They are professional and you won’t see fingers flying in the air! BTW it’s not only dogs that suffer, but it can trigger people with PTSD or children on the autism spectrum. Of my cats, only Sasha is reactive and only when they are nearby. She has reserved a spot under the bed it they get too loud. Stay safe.
So how was your week?
I forgot to say the show I watched for seven seasons was “Mad Men” which I enjoyed as I worked in the Creative Department of an ad agency right out of college.
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We have a feature on one a radio program I listen to called “next lyric” so it is similar to yours. I love to try and guess too – it is fun. If I listen to music, it is “oldies radio” for sure, as I don’t know any of the newer music or artists (by “newer” I’d say the last 15-20 years). We are also have a good weather run though they predicted two severe weather days that didn’t materialize. Our previous Governor, along with creating the Flint Water Crisis, instituted a “no holds barred” on the size of firecrackers. This was to keep Michigan dollars here in Michigan, instead of having people cross the border to Ohio to buy fireworks, why not sell ’em here? They are now shooting off huge boomers from Memorial Day to Labor Day – it is ridiculous and it’s lasted until the cutoff of 11:45 the day before/of/the day after as to 4th but tonight, two days after they are allowed, they are already starting.
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Radio is underrated like newspapers (the real ones on paper) but it’s a changing world. People are just nuts. Give them something that makes noise and they are all over it.
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Agreed – because I don’t have TV, I get all my news on the internet from news stations or from my AM radio all-news station.
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You don’t have a TV? Not even for movies? Wow!
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My TV is old, from the 90s … actually one upstairs/one downstairs, but the kind with a bulbous back on it and I just kept it there to fill up the space. I have watched TV via Amazon Prime – in fact I really enjoyed the seven seasons of it, but haven’t gotten into any more series or movies. I cancelled cable after my mom died in January 2010.
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I have grown to hate fireworks. It’s mainly because of animals (pets and wildlife) and veterans with PTSD. When we moved here, it was so cool that on the 4th we could see fireworks from 3 directions from our deck! But now that I know how destructive they are to others, I avoid watching. And this weekend, someone let off fireworks in their backyard and burned down a neighbor’s house!
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In the local city a year or so ago, there was an issue with fireworks landing on a roof in center city and causing a small fire. People be dumb!
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So dumb.
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Fireworks are illegal in my state ( Massachusetts), but you would never know it from all the noise. I agree it was wrong of someone to put that in their yard. Happy 4th!!
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Wow! I’d love for them to be illegal here. They were except for small things like sparklers and little ones until a few years back. Somehow the fireworks lobby got in.
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It’s a city by city fireworks ordinance in our part of the state, Kate, so in my city we can’t have fireworks, but in adjacent cities they can. Even the reverberation in the distance really upsets Zena, and even with her anti-anxiety medication it’s traumatizing. I would honestly think for the sake of our veterans in particular, we could limit the “explosions” to at least just the one evening. It becomes a season rather than a holiday.
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Yes. We had some last night, now tonight but I’m sure there will be a few more nights. Poor Zena. I had a friend whose child (at pre-school age) was traumatized by them and there was no reason. Nothing that ever happened. It’s sensory overload for some kids.
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Zena did okay on the 4th. I medicated her and combined with her hearing loss it seemed to be ok. Some of my friends reported sleepless nights with their dogs in their laps!
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Hearing loss with aging has it’s advantages!
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I had one cat that was terrified of fireworks. The others never cared except Sammy who would sit at the window and watch. We lived across from a park and people always let them off on holidays even though it was illegal.
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I don’t think people understand the trauma or maybe they don’t care.
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I agree to leave fireworks to the professionals (and to limit them as well).
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I’d love to see more drone work too!
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I hope people take it easy with the fireworks and poor Sasha doesn’t have to go into hiding! You are right about sawdust – it’s like sand at the beach. It gets in everywhere!
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And it lasts forever!
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Very true!
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While fireworks are banned in the city, pop up tents selling the worst kind of fireworks continue to spring up around various holidays (July 4th being the granddaddy of them all with New Years, graduation and a host of others not far behind). I only wish city officials would shut these offenders down but suspect it’s like playing a losing game of whack-a-mole. You want to have sparklers, be my guest but don’t go setting off professional grade boomers in the alley. That’s not a sign of patriotism; if it were you’d be buying a new mattress or some other sale item. 😬 I loathe July 4th because it too often showcases the worst examples of citizenry without any emphasis on civic responsibility. It seems to be more “get drunk, set off the loudest fireworks you can find and place obnoxious messages in your yard” anymore. So much for “…in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
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Amen! Nothing more to say!
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I drove behind a vehicle yesterday that had a bumper sticker which used the F word as part of a sexual joke. So on two scores it’s offensive and really unnecessary. I feel sorry for parents whose kids will read it aloud and possibly ask questions. – Marty
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I don’t know why people think that’s ok. This sign had the f bomb too. Maybe the parents use it to speak to their children.
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Louis Catorze couldn’t give a hoot about fireworks and has even been known to happily sit and watch!
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What a cat! He’d be a hit in my house! Maybe Gus wouldn’t like the male competition.
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Somehow I don’t think he would be compétition in the way Gus might imagine! He might be more interested in your male family members, if you get my meaning. 🌈
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I was going to add “but he’s gay” but thought that would be tasteless. Maybe he and Sasha would do a round of screaming. She’s a yeller too.
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No, not tasteless at all. My boy is gay and proud! 🌈 Could you cope with two of them yelling?
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Nope. I have a hard time with one. She is forever yelling that I’m not fast enough with the treats and food. So judgmental!
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I’m glad you found some good DJs; I usually get pretty irritated by the banter. I’m glad some of them are good at it; send them our way! We cross our fingers that the numbskulls behind us leave the fireworks alone this year. That would be a first.
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This team of banters is one of the best I’ve heard. One is in his early 60s and the other is 24. Every day there is also a question, issue, dilemma where listeners can call to weigh in. It’s not contrived but sometimes really funny.
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We can see (and hear) fireworks every weekend during the summer from our deck. They don’t bother me but I know others – especially those with dogs – object. To ring in the new Millennium, our city had a big celebration in the park near the zoo where they they shot off “quiet” fireworks because of the animals. Not sure how they worked, but it was great. All the color without the loud bangs. I’ve also seen some great light shows done with drones. There are alternatives.
I agree about those obscene political signs. Very low class.
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I’d love to see the drone fireworks!
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There are two homes that I pass by that post huge wooden political signs on and off depending upon their interests. I know it is their property, but they inflict their not so humble opinion on everyone using the public road by their house. Fireworks start days before and last days after. It gets old. Years ago, we had a wonderful collie mix who was petrified of the noise. Holidays with fireworks were dreaded.
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I can’t imagine what an animal thinks when the noise starts. Apocalypse? End of the world? Nothing good for sure.
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I think public fireworks have been cancelled here but there will be some random here and there I am sure. I like seeing them but understand why folks are against them. Teddy will be under the bed, Jack in his favorite corner. Don’t know about Sophie, this will be her first fireworks event.
The ugly public signs I just don’t get. Fortunately, I rarely see any in my neighborhood.
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Fortunately I don’t see them in my neighborhood either. Couldn’t believe the size and vileness.
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That is the kind of oldies station I love and remember. I listen to SiriusXM and I can pick three stations that do the trick. I have never thought about hunting for an FM station on the radio here! I need to give it a whirl. I love the time spent in my vehicle with the radio turned up! Seriously, can we just do without fireworks forever. I see nothing good in them and my heart breaks for the wildlife, humans, and pets that are negatively affected by them. Have a Happy 4th Kate! I am going to get my excitement from deviled eggs, potato salad, SSNS’s baked beans and burgers on the grill!
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mmmm…deviled eggs! Haven’t had those in ages! Yes on wildlife too. I wonder about the deer. Small critters can hide but it’s hard for large ones.
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I don’t know about deer. Are they used to it, can’t imagine. Do they run until they are exhausted. When I had horses it was a very stressful time trying to decide who needed to stay in their stalls in the barn or some did better out in the field or the turn out pen. We had no barbed wire fencing but terrified horses were capable of crashing through wood fencing. Lots of sad stories with horses, not for us but other people I knew. One of our neighbors left their horses out in the field and they shot fireworks… horses just grazed and twitched their ears.
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I know during hunting season deer run away from the noise. Not sure about fireworks. I had heard mixed stories about horses.
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My animals are generally not super sensitive to fireworks but I loathe them. Loud, annoying, the big shows kill a lot of avian wildlife, and why? For fifteen minutes of bright lights and days of crap air quality? Nowadays, the lighted little drones are more impressive anyway. And you can reuse them.
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I’ve been hearing more about the drones. I don’t think we have them here yet. Is there a fireworks lobby fighting them? Hmmmm….
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That radio show sounds hilarious, and to enjoy it at the Starbucks where you (and others) can join in? Count me in too!
We have those obscene signs and stickers here too, against our prime minister. It really just makes the poster look stupid and classless, if you ask me. At least that’s my knee-jerk reaction as soon as I see one…
I agree with you on the fireworks as well. Go to the community one and forget about the at-home pyrotechnic show…your body parts and neighbours will thank you.
Deb
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The radio show is so much fun and it’s why I don’t do Sirius. This is all local. I don’t know what happened to civility. Went the way of the horse and buggy. If you don’t like the political platform that’s one thing but this is very personal.
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That radio program sounds like a hoot! And I think there should be a moratorium on election stuff until maybe September, but then, no one asked my opinion.
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Election stuff? I’m thinking 2 weeks before.
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I love listening to the radio when I’m driving – AND listening to “my” DVDs….hubby and I have very different musical tastes so my car is my “memory bubble” when I’m driving somewhere. Too bad about the rude sign – Seems lately like one of the things that’s gone out the window is sensitivity to others. Go ahead and FEEL your rude feelings but you don’t have to put them on a sign in your yard for the world to see! Hoping for a quiet 4th but we usually have a noisy one with the help of a few in our community who believe they’re entertaining everyone else along with themselves. have a good and quiet 4th!
Hugs, Pam
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My car radio is always fun. It’s solitary and I can sing as loud as I want.
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I used to listen to a morning show on my drive to work each morning and some mornings it was hard to go inside because I was experiencing so much joy listening to the banter and antics (as well as the music).
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I’ve had those moments of sitting in the car until the conversation/song/contest is done!
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I’d like that Oldies station too . . . not that I’m an “oldie” or anything. 😀
Doesn’t a sign like that violate local ordinances?
Good weather makes me feel good too.
I loved fireworks as a kid. Now, not so much. I feel for the animals that get scared.
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I thought that about the sign too. It’s a rural area but the road is well traveled. It’s in a neighborhood so there are neighbors. If it was my neighborhood I’d make a fuss. I felt like I found one of those backwoods militias coming to take over.
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I am not optimistic about the future of this country.
But I will enjoy what I can where I am . . . for as long as I can.
Happy Fourth!
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Yes and without any obscenities!
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