Jeff’s Dark and Early Blog

As I mentioned earlier this month, I’m working on a foreclosure series that’s due to air beginning on Monday, May the 11th.
I can’t begin to tell you about the process of putting this thing together. I will say, however, that I had the opportunity to talk with a gentleman named ‘Roderick’, who’s in the process of losing his home. Until you sit down in the living room of someone who’s gone through this, there’s no way to truly understand what it is doing to families.
I hope this series sheds some light on what’s going on right under our noses here in the metro.

Today is my second wedding anniversary, so I thought it fitting to pay tribute to what the women (and men) in our radio lives put up with when it comes to our careers.
First, and make no mistake about this one, my wife did not marry me for my flashy salary. I’m in this job because I love it, not because I plan to retire early. I’m lucky enough to work for a company that pays me pretty well for what I do.
But it’s not just that.
I’m up every morning at 3 a.m. I’m out the door by 3:30. This means my wife is on her own when it comes to our seven-month-old son.
I’m home at noon every day, but it also means I’m in bed by seven. That doesn’t exactly leave much of an evening life.
There’s also the unpredictability factor: the breaking news, the severe weather and more. You never know when plans might change.
Bottom line, my wife puts up with a lot to make our marriage work and I want her to know, today more than ever, how much I appreciate her sacrifices. She’s always believed in me, never ceased to back me up and has always loved me for exactly who I am.
What broadcaster, or anyone else for that matter, could ask for more?
Happy Anniversary, babe!

It’s one of those topics of which almost everyone has something to say. Kansas City, Missouri is getting set to add red light cameras to five more intersections, following their initial investment in the technology at 39th and Southwest Trafficway.
Supporters of the cameras will tell you they save money and lives, by giving motorists something extra to think about as they approach a light about to change colors.
But the majority of residents I spoke with this morning took a much different view. They offered Orwellian examples of “Big Brotherhood”, and expressed concern about government misusing its power.
It seems a very similar debate often surrounds our national politics.
Government says it’s trying to take better care of the people. And often the people express skepticism.

I’m currently working on a series on the foreclosure crisis that should air on KMBZ sometime in early May. I thought I understood the ins and outs of this mess pretty well, being a homeowner myself, but let me tell you, this thing is a puzzle with way too many pieces.
I spent two hours or so with local real estate agent Sally Moore and learned more (no pun intended) that I thought I possibly could.
I’ll try to work as much of it as I can into my five-part series. You won’t want to miss it.

Hallmark is one of those places, much like Sprint, where everyone knows someone who works there. My neighbor and friend just four houses down the street has been there for quite some time.
That’s why it’s so disheartening when we learn, as we did today, about the layoffs that are on the way there.
There have certainly been little glimmers of hope that this economy is getting better, but until it does, I fear stories like this one will only continue.
If you know someone (and I know you do) who works over at Hallmark, give them an extra pat on the back when you see them.
Those folks have a rough few months ahead. Our friends need us now more than ever.

My son turns 7 months old on Wednesday.
I’m watching him as I write this. He’s in his little walker, trying to learn the art of one foot in front of the other. It’s amazing how something so simple can mean so much.
I’ve always considered myself one of those lucky people who enjoys going to work each day. I fell in love with radio when I was very young, and that love continues to grow each and every day.
But as much as I love the job, and believe me, few people love their jobs as much as I do, that love has been replaced.
A good day used to depend on my opinion of how I sounded on the air, or how I went about breaking a big story. Those things are still important, but they no longer make or break the day.

When I came home from work today, my little boy saw me and he smiled. He smiled and then flapped his arms in the excited way that he does.
I can have the best or the worst day in the world, and as long as my boy smiles, all is right with the world. I hope every father feels that way about his boy.

In spite of his busy schedule, the Royals’ Toby Cook was nice enough to give me a tour of the newly renovated Kauffman Stadium this morning.  I must admit, it exceeded even my wildest expectations.

As we walked the stadium, from the Rival Sports Bar to the not-quite-finished Hall of Fame, to the place where all of our kids will have the time of their lives, I couldn’t help but envision my son growing up there.

A ballpark that already valued itself on family just got ten times better, and I can only imagine what Opening Day is going to be like.

Hats off to everyone who made this ballpark possible.  It’s a much deserved reward for every die-hard Royals fan in the city.

There are certain things you don’t see every day. Today, I saw three such things.

1) two middle-aged women, parked on a plaza in a toyota corolla, making out in broad daylight.

2) a man walking near city hall wearing a Superman shirt, a Santa Claus hat and army boots.

3) Two dogs having a tug of war with a box of Cheez-Its.

There’s really not much more to say after a day like this.

There’s a new BZ Baby, and this one is covered in fur.

Lisa Carter adopted her brand new Golden Retriever/Sheltie mix from Second Chance Pet Adoption in Merriam.  Lily is one of the cutest, most well-behaved puppies I’ve ever seen.

Of course, I’m comparing her to Cooper.

Cooper is my dog.  Well, first he was my wife’s dog.  He became ours when he was just a few months old.

If you’ve seen Marley and Me, you remember that Marley was the “world’s worst dog”.  Marley never met Cooper.

Of course I love him with all my heart.  And he really is a good dog at heart.  He just has some tendencies that many might call psychotic.

Cooper has one speed….idiotic.

He runs into walls and falls down the stairs.  He flies through the air with the greatest of ease.

When he was a puppy, he tried to eat our apartment and poop it out.  He’d have probably succeeded had we not come home when we did.

Once, he was running so fast that he went flying past our bed and landed in our jacuzi tub in the bathroom.  I was in the shower at the time, and could only watch as he attempted unsuccessfully to get out.

It’s not uncommon to see him lose control of all four legs, and go sliding across our wood floors and into a wall or piece of furniture.  The dog would be diagnosed as clinically insane if a professional got a hold of him.

I wish Lisa luck with her tame puppy.

Ours has been anything but.  However, like Marley, he’s been there through it all.  Dating, marriage, a baby.  He’s the craziest part of our life by far.  And yet his insanity makes every day a little more sane.

That will surely make sense to you dog lovers.