Remembering Duffy

Duffy, you embarked on your next great adventure 25 years ago today. Seems like just yesterday. Thank you for teaching me so much about love and showing me how to be so very graceful while facing death. An even bigger thank you for sending three amazing earthly angels to heal my heart and fill my life with joy. My love for them is unmeasurable. I know that would make you happy. You will always be loved and remembered.

Goodbye Old Friend

Farewell Georgia Dome. I will always remember:

--Circling high above you in the Goodyear Blimp when you were just a big hole in the ground.

--The “Good Times and Great Oldies” we shared at the, oh so many, Fox 97 Ultimate Oldies Concerts.

--That special moment at the 1993 concert when your big screen read … “This show is dedicated to the memory of Duffy Janssen.” (My late wife, who had passed away just four months earlier.)

--The incredible experience of the 1996 concert when over 40,000 friends celebrated the happiest day of my life … Janet and my “wedding reception.” (Janet still wishes we had done the dollar dance that evening.)
--Super Bowl XXVIII in January 1994 when a small group of us from Fox 97 were midfield anchoring a giant, inflatable Vince Lombardi Trophy as the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys rushed past us during the opening ceremonies. (Also standing along the sidelines during the first quarter and meeting Joe Namath, Jerry Jones, and OJ Simpson (who may have borrowed my gloves even though they were too small for him.)

--The 1996 Olympics when I took my oldest daughter to watch the gymnastics competition.

Yes, Georgia Dome, as of 7:30 Monday morning you will be gone. But for me … never forgotten.

The Detour

Wednesday, July 1,1970. The day that changed the direction of my life. I had graduated from high school the previous year, I was working my dream job at a radio station in Peru, Illinois (WGSY) and I was feeling pretty darn good about my future. And then … the Vietnam draft lottery happened. I was on the air at the radio station when the lottery numbers were being drawn. Our AP (Associated Press) teletype machine was spitting out the lottery numbers between the “more important” events of the day. (Kids … this is how radio stations received the news back in the day. Sort of like receiving a one-way text, on paper, from a big, old clunky typewriter.) Clank-clank-clank with the teletype. Thump-thump-thump went my heart as I anxiously waited to see what my draft lottery number would be. In the radio studio, I introed a song (CCR – “Fortunate Son”), quickly popped out of the room, rushed down the hall to the teletype and began to scan several yellow pages of the latest news to see if I could find my birthday and the corresponding draft number. As luck would have it, my birthday was being typed as I stood next to the AP machine. April 16 … clank-clank-clank … 3 … clank-clank-clank … 1 … clank-clank-clank-clank-clank … carriage return … April 17 … clank-clank-clank … 2 … clank-clank-clank … 6 … clank-clank-clank … 4 … clank-clank-clank-clank-clank … carriage return. WAIT A MINUTE!!!! Why did my birthday only have TWO numbers! This can’t be right!!! Seriously, 31 is my draft number???? My head was spinning … and “Fortunate Son” was ending. I rushed back to the studio just as CCR was fading to start my next song … Country Joe & the Fish “I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag.” (OK, the part about playing Country Joe is not true. But that’s what I should have played.) The fact is … I can’t remember much of anything that happened that Wednesday after my draft number of 31 appeared on the teletype. However, I do remember the next day. (To be continued …)

Finally, an internet math problem that makes sense ...

NCAA March Sadness

#RickPitino #ncaascandal #NCAABribery #ncaabasketball #adidasscandal #MarchSadness pic.twitter.com/dCP6vPt99K

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2017

Pumpkin Patch Scarecrow

#Retirees often look for a #PartTimeJob to help supplement their #income. May I suggest a seasonal position as a #Pumpkin Patch #scarecrow. pic.twitter.com/Z2nPk7bLhv

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 6, 2017

RIP Jay Thomas

So sad to hear of the passing of Jay Thomas. Jay inducted us (Randy & Spiff) into the Georgia #Radio Hall of Fame in 2011. #RIPJAYTHOMAS pic.twitter.com/OrUqdQos5x

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) August 24, 2017

World Wide Web?

Took this photo today. Reminded me of a quote from a book I read many years ago that sadly rings very true today. #EBWhite #sad #web pic.twitter.com/RNZEjm9oiP

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) August 24, 2017

Eclipse 2017

Is going blind watching the eclipse true? Because I was told I would go blind doing something else and I still have my vision.

Fire and Fury

What if fire hydrants were small robots from an alien planet? What if they have been dormant for years just waiting for the code words "FIRE and FURY" to activate them?

RIP Glenn Campbell

Dunkirk?

I accidentally went to see Dunkin' instead of #Dunkirk. A #documentary about #donuts. Concession stand was amazing! #dunkindonuts

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) July 25, 2017

Russia, Russia, Russia

All I see or hear on the news is "Russia, Russia, Russia." I just wish they would change it up every now and then.

Dunkirk

Just got back from a sneak-peek of “Dunkirk.” Amazing movie. Incredibly well done. Riveting. For those of you who like super hero movies, I suggest you watch “Dunkirk” to see what real super heroes are made of. After all, it’s easy to have courage if you have a super power … but it’s something unbelievably special to see the courage displayed by ordinary men and women in a battle of life and death. If you get a chance, go see “Dunkirk.”

Stand back!

And so ... they finally meet. I just hope it doesn't turn into a pissing match.

Radio Legends

This is my old Ross radio that was my faithful companion while in high school. During the day, I would listen to WLS in Chicago with Larry Lujack (Unlce Lar), Tommy Edwards (Lil’ Snot-nose Tommy), Chuck Buell, Ron Riley and Art Roberts. At night, I would turn the dial to KMOX in St. Louis to listen to Jack Buck and Harry Caray as they so colorfully brought the Cardinals to life for me. These men taught me more about how to have fun and be successful in radio than any course I took or book I studied. Thanks guys!

Forrest ... the Corgi Comic

Memorial Day 2017

I'm just the guy with the girl everybody wants to know

“Being a high school class clown with nerd-like tendencies, it was far beyond my comprehension that I would someday be married to the most beautiful and wonderful woman in the world. But, I get ahead of myself. Back to high school where I was a girl-shy, Clearasil-using, bespectacled young lad who believed that the girls I liked would only be attracted to the team sports heroes and “cool” guys. So, I avoided eye contact with the girls … awkwardly stared at them from a distance … and attempted to make them laugh when I could muster up enough courage to actually open my mouth to utter a few words. Needless to say, I didn’t ask anyone to the prom (in fear of rejection) … and, during the two school dances I did attend, stood motionless against the gym wall along with the other SSFC members. (Scared Silly of Females Club)

Fast forward to May 18, 1996. As I stood at the alter holding hands with Janet while gazing into her sparkling brown eyes, I silently counted my blessings and resisted with all of my willpower the urge to run through the church giving high-fives to all of my friends while shouting “Can you believe that this incredibly beautiful, talented and loving woman is marrying me?!” My mind swirled and the sound of angelic singing brought me back to the alter. It was Janet singing to me and ME only … “Grow Old with Me.”

Here it is 21 years later and I still feel like racing down the street giving out high-fives and telling anyone who will listen … “I am married to the most marvelous, gifted, loving, caring, stunning woman in the world!”

Happy 21st Anniversary Janet! I love you more and more each passing day. 

(TBT photo that Janet gave me the Christmas before we were married. One of my favorites of my most amazing wife.)

Butt Dial

To hold my Butt Dialing to a minimum, I keep my phone in my front pocket. However, when I accidentally dial my wife, she tells me when I get home ... "your little buddy called me today." I think I'll start putting my phone in my back pocket again.