Thoughts on living in "flyover land"

Being that I'm from what many consdier a backwater "red state," I probably have a skewed view on what others consdier normal. But I'm pretty straightforward on this..

I'm getting a little preturbed with the idea that there are all these people that think South Dakotans are nothing but a bunch of illiterate, knuckle-draging, booger-eating morons. Just google "South Dakota," and you find half a dozen sites on the first page completely deriding our state because of certian political decisions. Which will not be discussed here.

Well, to those people who continue to knock my home sweet home... Kiss my 100-percent South Dakotan ASS!!!

Can you even FIND South Dakota on a map? Or are you so concerned about being pissed off about something, that you forgot that little nugget of information. Have you MET a South Dakotan? Granted there aren't that many of us, but you honestly think that you can judge all of us based on one law?

Not very "open-minded,"are you? And besides, one that my sweet-gray haired grandma (rest in peace) taught me is that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. But then, that's common sense, and apparently it's in short supply in some areas of the U.S.

So go ahead and knock us... it's a free country after all. It just makes you look stupid and we get a pretty good laugh at your expense.

Okay... that's my rant for tonight! Good night, kiddies!

Jackrabbits versus Gophers!!!

WOO-HOO!!!

South Dakota State University is going to play the University of Minnesota in football! Granted, it won't be til 2009, but that is FREAKING SWEET!!!!!

November 14, 2009, I'll be in Minneapolis, in my SDSU jacket, face painted yellow-and-blue, half snockered on Grain Belt Premium rooting on my Jackrabbits. Granted, they might get slaughtered, but it's better than playing Augustana!

The only way to make it better is to have the "Pride of the Dakotas" take on the "Pride of Minnesota" in a Battle of the Bands, upper-midwest style!

More stuff...

I haven't been on in a while (probably a week), so I figured I'd better leave you some tid bits as to what I've been up to.

Work has been work... mucho mucho hours. Overall, I think I've put in close to 70 hours this week. But that's okay. One thing... when I worked at Citibank, I couldn't wait to get out of there and I couldn't STAND to work 40 hours a week in that place. Now that I'm back at the radio station, sixty and seventy-hour workweeks aren't all that bad. Even if I AM salaried!

My big project is now working on our AM station, getting that all back in shape. Sadly, the station has been put by the wayside for a long time and it sounds like crap. So I'm updating it with new songs, new rotations, and soon, some new imaging. It's been a challenge, but I know I'm up to it.

Not much to report on the personal life... I think that's why I don't mind working long hours, less opportunity for me to have a personal life!

I got the opportunity to host karaoke this weekend. It's been a while since I've done that, but I had a good time.... and the extra money didn't hurt, either! But one of the most touching things I saw last night was when a soldier recently back from Iraq broke down while singing "American Soldier" Kup and I picked up the song for him and it was incredible! The entire bar started singing, some flashing their lighters and I heard the biggest round of applause I had ever heard in my time hosting karaoke. Not for my singing, mind you, but for this young sargent who had just spent 18-months in a volitile hell-hole. I'll have more on this in my next post.

And on that note, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter. Drive safe, and save me some extra ham!

Music List number 1

So if anyone has ever watched "High Fidelity," one of the running themes in the movie is about lists... lists of bad relationships, but most importantly song lists.

Now I'm not a music expert by any means. I play what I like and like what I play (unless its Carrie Underwood for the 18th frickin time in a row during my shift!!). But music is an important part of my life. It sets the mood, relaxes me, and can get me fired up for another day of waking up at 4:30 in the morning.

But my first list is songs to listen to when you want to relax... my top five....most of it is classical, but that's what gets me to relax.

5) "Blue Spanish Sky"-Chris Issak... beautiful, haunting. His voice was made for an acousitic guitar.
4) Second movement from New World Symphony-Antonin Dvorak... one of my favorite classical pieces... simple, relaxing...
3) "Greensleeves"-Ralph (pronounced "RAFE") Vaughan Williams... and old melody done, very very well. One of the finest of the British composers.
2) "Take Five"-Dave Brubeck... classy! cool! the sax is like floating on a cloud.
1) "Variations on a Theme by Thomas Tallis"-Ralph Vaughan Willams... like drifting away into outer space... or to the musty halls of a 16th-Century cathederal. Totally blew me away the first time I heard it!

So I hear that Backyard Broadcasting is buying out Feller in Sioux Falls.... I wonder if the meat cleaver will hack away a few more radio jobs?

I have a feeling that Backyard will sell out to Clear Channel in 24 months... then look for Lindsey Lohan on the radio 24-7!

I think I'll stick with Three Eagles.

24

Whenever something bad happens to me... I give myself 24 hours to feel bad for myself and wallow in self-pity and doubt.

24 hours is up.

Back to real life.

Now if I need to look for sympaty, I'll just check the dictionary... last time I checked, it was between "Shit" and "Syphillis!"

I needed a refresher course of the "Jackrabit1 Instiute of Who Gives A Fuck!"

Thought of the day....

After the day I had today... I think it would have been easier if I swore off women and became a priest! Hey, I'm Catholic! I've already got an in!

Becoming Apolitical

The other night I was out on a date... things were going swimmingly, and then the "3rd rail" of dating questions came up. And no, it was not about sex... GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER, YOU PERVERT!!!!

"What are your politics?"

You can ask anyone, from Miss Manners to my buddy Adam out in San Francisco, talking politics on a date are simply VERBOTEN. The only execptions is if you met at a "Save Air America" rally or at a Rush Limbaugh "Ditto-head" mixer! Then I suppose it would be okay. But to talk about politics while you're trying to have polite, friendly conversation is simply taboo in my book.

Speaking of politics, I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to no longer care about politics. When I post on message boards, I tend to stay away from anything political, instead posting on sports sites or on something that piques my interst... like the history of indoor plumbing!

I still have my political beliefs and I feel strongly about them. But I'm starting to realize that it's no longer worth the time nor trouble to publicly express them. When I have, one of two things happen: 1) No One Cares 2) I'm ripped a new ay-hole because my ideas don't "mesh" with the other persons.

It's the second reason that I'm starting to shy away from political discussion. I've began to notice that political discussion has quickly regressed into character assassination. While that's bad enough, it's also come to the point that if you don't "toe the line" one way or the other, you're derided as being for the opposite.

For a hypothetical example, let's say you are for education funding, but you're not for a bill that gives schools more money than you want to give. The bill is for 4 billion and you want to support 3 and a half billion. Well, according to the supporters of the bill, you are against kids, against teachers, and against education. Which is completely ridiculous. It's the whole "If you're not with us, you're against us" mentality.

And now you have all these people that say they will only associate with people that only share their politics. I think that is incredibly small-minded thinking on their parts. I have friends on all ends of the political spectrum; from ardent die-hard liberals to staunch conservatives, even anarchists! For me, politics is a non-factor; I hang out and am friends with these people because they are interesting people, who can carry on intellectual and sometimes warped conversations. But most of all, they respect me as a person and while we may not always agree with each others ideas, we respect them.

I guess that's what it all boils down to... respect. And politics today has absolutley zero respect for opposing viewpoints... both in the liberal and conservative ends of the spectrum. So from now on, don't talk politics with me.

I'm apolitical.

Runnin' Ragged

It seems as though this week has been rush, stress, rush, and crash!

Lot's of things going on this week... one of our announcers is leaving so the remainder of our programming staff is going to have to pick up the slack for a while until our new guy shows up. We also had several Vice Presidents from the corporation in Madison on Tuesday. I realize they have business that probably has NOTHING to do with us, but I still can't help but feel like I was put under the microscope.

So needless to say, it's been a bit stressful this first part of the week... it's led to some loss of sleep to be sure. But hey, the weekend's coming up! And not a moment too soon, either.

On the other hand, I seem to be making some friends at DSU... I seem to be getting along well with the baseball and the men's basketball coaches, which is good. The baseball coach even gave me an official DSU hat, which is pretty cool. So now I'm a Trojan fan as well as a Bulldog fan, Quarrier fan, and of course, Jackrabbit fan.

Speaking of the Jacks, they're playing an NAIA school in football next season?!?! Color me kooky, but what the hell? South Dakota State is a Division One School! We should have NO BUSINESS playing such a weak opponent! I realize that this was a last-minute scheduling thing because another team backed out, but come on! There's got to be some better competition out there! This is not helping us in terms of gaining respect as a Division One school. I'd rather much get my ass-kicked by top-quality teams and improve than to win over inferior teams and regress. That's my opinion on the matter; I could be wrong.

Apartment hunting continues in Madison... The one place I thought had promise was a bust! That and the potential landlord failed the litmus test (i.e. Mom). Mom's pretty experienced at getting to the tough questions.... perhaps in another life she was a reporter? I don't know... nothing has really stood out or shown a whole lot of promise... I'd obviously like a newer place to live in that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg, but unfortunately you have to be either a senior citizen or on low-income housing to get those kinds of places. So I'm S.O.L. for now...

Just another day in paradise, folks! Keep on Smilin'!

Finding my focus

And you may ask yourself / Where is that large automobile' /And you may tell yourself / This is not my beautiful house! / And you may tell yourself / This is not my beautiful wife!
--"Once in a lifetime," Talking Heads

When I was going back to school for my teaching certificate, one of my professors told me I should take a year off and go to Egypt. I told him that was a bit of a nutty suggestion. And then he told me something that's stuck in my mind, even six years later...

"Matt, you need to find your focus."

It makes sense, though. Life is like this great big ship, and you have to have a destintion to go to... otherwise, what's the point.

Finding my focus has been a bit of a challenge. I've had to fall on my face a few times, but I'm getting there. I think I finally found the focus in my professional life by coming back to radio.

Now on to the personal life... DAMN THE TORPEDOES, FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!

More stuff...

Well, the search for decent lodging in Madison continues! I saw one apartment that would be just about perfect. Close to the station, nice size, rent is decent... the only problem is the shag carpeting! Yeesh! But I'm going to take a second look tomorrow, perhaps we can work something out on the carpeting.

The Morning show continues... except I called the Catholic school by the wrong name. I'll get a lot of flack for that at Kiwanis! The funny thing is I'm a Catholic, so I'm sure this'll cost me a couple days in Purgatory!

Went to the Madison Fireman's Dance... my first time really hanging out in Madison... and it was a lot of fun! Makes moving to Madison seem not so bad.

The big boss is in town this week... apparently we're going to be doing some serious remodeling at the station... which is about time! If we're going to be professional, we might as well LOOK the part too! I'm excited to see what the results may bring!

I haven't seen too many new movies lately... I'd like to see "Good Night and Good Luck" because I'm a student of history. I'm pretty boring that way! But the thing is, is that as we get older, the more interesting history gets. I don't have cable, but when I do get it, I'm ususally glued to the "History Channel" Great stuff! Especially when they talk about the history of the some of the most mundane things... like indoor plumbing! I don't know... we take it for granted and the network does such a good job of presenting it in such a compelling manner it's hard not to be interested!

Well, that's it for my geeky self now! Enjoy, folks!

I'm Moving On

The Jewish have a unique custom... when they lose a loved one they mourn for thirty days. After the thirty days, they move on with their lives.

Although I haven't lost a loved one recently, I did say goodbye to two very good freinds. My boss, mentor, and friend, Jim, who decided to try his fortunes in Wyoming radio. And Jessica, who was one of the first people to make me giddy, upset, mad, and glad at the same time.

Jim, I know will keep in touch. Especially since I have his e-mail!

Jessica is different... since I talked with her the weekend she left, she has disconnected her phone and shut off her e-mail. It takes me a while to pick up on these things but the message is clear...

It's time to move on.

No bitterness this time, just sadness for losing a friend. But as my new boss Lorin says "Everything is Temporary". Smart man, Lorin... goofy-looking, but smart!

So I move on... new opportunites and new friends await... Life; Damn the Torpedoes, FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!

So there's a lot of talk about this new abortion ban in South Dakota, my home sweet home. It seems that there is a lot of talk on other blogs admonishing us or praising us...

**Before I continue, I must say that my opinions about this particular topic are personal and private. Please don't take this as endorsement of or opposition to any particular stand. If you do, you are a moron, and I will ridicule you mercilessly!**

I am amazed at the response coming in from all around the country and the world about lil' ol us. Now some of the responses are supportive, and some are critical, and some are just plain goofy.

Like right now, there's a few blogs out there calling us a bunch of "mysoginisitc, knuckle-dragging neanderthals." Excuse me, but I haven't dragged my knuckles since I stumbled home from the 1995 St. Paddy's Day party at Lambda Xi Delta in Brookings!

But now there's talk of BOYCOTTS? I'm sorry, but I think there's a point where passion becomes a bit nutty. It's great to believe in something, but when it dominates your every waking moment, then it becomes a hinderance.

Frankly, I'm suprised if some of these folks can even FIND South Dakota on a map!

And for those who are "ashamed" to be South Dakotans? Well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Just because there's a controversial law on the books, it doesn't change the fact that we as South Dakotans are about the nicest, hardest-working, decent folks you'll ever want to associate with. And if you can't look past some law and take some pride in being from where the crime rate is low and the education rate is high, well, I feel sorry for you.

After all, it's just politics! There are more important things to worry about in life! Like... The Vikings! And the Jackrabbits!!!

So the new position is going as well as can be expected... I've had to adjust my sleep schedule somewhat, and I've done some adjustments on my afternoon broadcast, but all-in-all things are going as well as can be expected.

Granted, I was plenty sad to see my boss go, but I'm happy that the president of the company has chosen our sales manager to run the station. He's had experience doing the job, and he's another person I feel totally comfortable talking to.

Asides from that, basketball is FINALLY over! Not to knock it, but i was getting a little burned out on basketball. Now I have a couple months of recovery time before the start of baseball season. Of course, now I have my brackets to keep track of! I think I did pretty well the first two rounds!

My thoughts and prayers going out to Susan, who's got a big decision to make on Tuesday. I'll be thinking of you and praying for you, sweetie!

Also want to welcome new freinds checking out the blog... Adam, Stacy, the afore-mentioned Susan and Lisa. Anyone else I missed... OOPS!

Stay safe and stay warm, my friends!

Things I have learned this week...

1) Change is always inevitable... it's up to us to adapt or be in trouble.
2) Having two friends leave in the span of a week really, really sucks.
3) Kirby Puckett was the greatest Minnesota Twin to ever live and was more of a ballplayer than Barry Bonds will ever be.
4) The Corn Palace is a really cool place for the basketball tournaments... too bad that it can't hold more seats.
5) Taurine is made from bull saliva... bull-spit!
6) Bull-spit tastes a lot like a jello shot, minus the vodka.
7) I'll be the new morning guy on AM 13-90 starting next week... I'm excited, but scared as hell!
8) I can function on 4 hours of sleep, as long as I can keep the hallucinations in check!
9) I REALLY need to move to Madison!
10) I never took much pride of being an alumnus of Dell Rapids High School, but after seeing the girls' basketball team this year, and the class that these young ladies showed during the State Tournament, I'm proud to say...

"It's Great! To Be! A Dell Rapids Quarrier!"

Quarrier Fan Matt, meet Bulldog Fan Matt, Jackrabbit Fan Matt, and Trojan Fan Matt. Hope you all play nice!

A lousy eight days...

Song of the Day: "Tonight, I wanna cry" by Keith Urban




Well, this last week has been complete shit.




Yeah, your mild mannered Sports Director said a bad word... well, this ain't the FCC, and I believe in being straightforward. Therefore, this week has been complete shit.


It was just lousy to start out... the womanthat I'm sweet on is moving to Colorado next week. And I'm afraid that I won't get the chance to tell her how I feel before she leaves. So that's been the downer all week... and then Monday rolls around.


Whoever had the bright idea to invent Mondays ought to be drawn and quartered!


First, my boss, mentor, and friend announces that he's leaving the station to take a new position with a station in Wyoming. Granted, I know that radio is all about change, but it still doesn't mean I have to like it. And the fact it's my second friend that's leaving this month is a real kick in the nuts.


Then last night, my childhood idol passed away. Kirby Puckett. Kirby. "Puck". The man who epitomized all that was good and right about baseball before this crop of chemically-enhanced crybaby underachievers. Dead. At 44. Way too young to go. A man with such joy. Even when the Twins sucked (and they did quite a few times), Puck was always out there, giving his all and playing with the enthusiasm of a child. Now we have these yahoos to look up to... effing brilliant!


It's been a lousy 8 days, that's for sure!

Some changes...

A good friend of mine pointed out that for some reason, only members of blogspot were able to post on my blog... so I did a little rooting around and fixed it. Now anyone can leave a comment! Hey, it's my first blog... go easy on me!


I also added links to very good friends who also have blogs (some on blogspot as well!). If you'd like me to add you, just e-mail me at jackrabit1@gmail.com. My only request is that you add my blog to your links as well.


Other than that, just doing some tweaking on post formats and the like, no big whoop. So feel free to comment away!

Sunday Laundry...

Okay, I did my laundry yesterday, but when you have a good title, USE IT!!


Looks like my schedule is somewhat set for next week... I'll have to sign on Wednesday and possibly Friday, in addition to doing basketball games in Mitchell and Salem. I'm almost done with the sports season, thank GOD!


A girl I really like is leaving... I'm not sure what to think. She says she's coming back, but I fear we'll grow apart. Which sucks, because I'm at the point where I have strong feelings for her. It doesn't seem fair, but she has to do what's right for her. I suppose I should tell her how I feel... Not that it'll make any difference in her decision, but I can at least get it off my chest!


So Madison lost in boys' basketball... it was a great game, but a heartbreaker of an ending. I know Chester will represent the area well and they are a bunch of great boys. But when you follow one team for the bulk of the season, you develop a bit of an attatchment, even becoming a fan... it's not exactly the most "objective", but it happens. I'll never be a "homer", by any stretch of the imagination, but I couldn't help but feel a little let-down that the Dogs didn't make it in. But they are a great bunch of boys and they'll be back next year.


Talked with Dad on Friday. He admitted something to me... he was proud to hear me on the radio! You know, I've had people come up to me and say they enjoy listening to me on the air, but to have family tell you the same thing is really special. I guess my family's pretty much been lassiez-faire about it. I mean Mom listens every once in a while, but that's about it. They're happy that I enjoy my job, but that's about it. I think it's great, in that it keeps me grounded, but the recognition is also nice as well.


I figure by the end of this month, if I keep expenses under control, I'll have enough money saved up to make the move to Madison. All together, I'm guessing it'll be around 700-1000 dollars to make the move... that's deposits, rent, furniture, necessities, etc. Of course, I'm probably OVER estimating, but I like to over-estimate so I don't get TOO surprised!


Now I'm looking at landlords... who is decent, who is crooked, who keeps up their properties and who doesn't. Do I go with a management property or do I go with an individual landlord?


Decisions... decisions... decisions... Stay tuned, folks!

Celebrate the Temporary...

When I was in fifth grade, my art teacher, Mrs. Hinsch, showed us a clay medallion she had made which said "Celebrate the Temporary". Being as I was only 11 and completely ignorant of such heady philosophical psalms, I blew it off as just being "goofy".


But as I grew older, I came to realize just exactly what that means. With the execption of rocks and air, everything is temporary. Especially us. In the terms of the cosmos, our lives barely register as a fraction of a second, if you're to believe Carl Sagan's "Cosmic Calendar."


So our lives are temporary in that they come to an eventual end... which means that everything we experience is temporary. The State Championship we win this year becomes next years 0-18 season. This month's "Employee of the Month" award quickly leads to a pink slip and unemployment the next.


Even relationships are temporary... when they get to "til death do us part" in a wedding, it shows that even marriage is set up to be temporary. Because it ends when we do (ideally). So all this talk about temporary things is pretty depressing, right?


To be blunt... a little.


But the nice thing is that we can celebrate the temporary. Lives, friendships, relationships, that dream season, awards. We can take comfort in them and the feelings we get from them. And when they're gone, there's usually something (or someone) to take its place. When one thing ends, another begins.


So tonight, I raise my glass.... to Celebrate the Temporary!

Nagy's Staying!

Looks like SDSU Men's Basketball Coach Scott Nagy is staying for another season. Good for him. After this season, he needs a fair shake. This has been the season from hell for him and his staff, but I think this adversity will make State and Nagy stronger, if you believe in Nietszche!