Today is my 19 month anniversary of quitting smoking. I don’t know why I still count months, but I do. I hardly ever think about smoking at all—and I can’t remember when I last felt any desire to light up. I am pretty much at that disgusted place—I think people look trashy smoking, they stink, and they are litterbugs.
Of course I was all those things for many years, but they say ex-smokers are the worst. Besides my health and a noticeable lack of lung capacity, I most regret using the world as my ashtray. When I see people throw their butts on the ground, I just want to scream at them. Most of us would never throw our trash on the ground, but for some reason cigarette butts are alright. They are not. They stay there for a long, long time.
I look at the faces of women I see smoking and unless they are very young, the skin doesn’t look overly healthy. I know I have caused some major skin, lung, and respiratory damage to myself, but I maybe I making up for it a little by no smoking, eating a pretty healthy diet, and getting lots of exercise. Maybe?
You don’t really know how much you need a vacation until you take it. Taking a break from our daily lives is like a nap for the nervous system.
I forget how “plugged in” I tend to be regarding news and pop culture stuff. It’s essential for the show, but for a few days it was sure nice not to be concerned with Mel, Lindsay, or the gang from Jersey Shore.
My brain nap is over, my alarm went off at its usual 3:00 a.m., and I am once again into my routine. Vacations are great, but there really is no place like home!
It’s been head down and focus for the past 10 days as Tim’s been on vacation, leaving me to “do it all!” I could literally feel myself let out a deep breath each morning after the show ended. No missed commercials, no swearing, and very little “dead air”!!!
Normally Tim does everything technical—and I mean everything technical. He has the ability to keep everything on time and running smoothly, but still engage with me or guests. I missed that ability when God was handing it out. I’ve had to really focus on making sure all the important elements were covered, pretty much forsaking most of the engaging part. Although I must say that I have gotten way, way better at taking the reins when I need to. The more I do it, the more comfortable I feel. I don’t think having my own show would be ideal—I need someone to engage with—I can do it, and I am proud that I could overcome my “tech” fear and learn what I needed to.
Tim is back on Monday! I am glad. Back to my side of the room, back to my comfy corner, and to what I do best…make Tim’s life miserable! Just kidding…
I have decided to take a break from my personal Facebook page. My decision to act yesterday was due to an incident, but to be honest, I have grown tired of reading other peoples’ “to do” lists as though I am in any way interested in their errands, sleep patterns, energy levels, need for coffee, lack of coffee, and all the other inane factoids that are now commonplace Facebook Status Updates.
I realize that I am also guilty of these insidious postings. It can become very addictive to share it all! If I am not interested in reading everyone else’s minutiae, certainly most people can’t be interested in reading mine.
Yesterday’s “incident” was my post about my sadness and frustration regarding the Gulf Oil spill, which took a political turn. I understand many people don’t agree with our president’s policies, but hateful comments on my non-political posting, just didn’t sit well with me.
It’s not that I don’t like Facebook, because I do. I enjoy reading a lot of postings, watching funny videos people post, keeping up with friends far away, and the general community feel of Facebook.
I am only planning a short break—I mean, how long can I live without knowing Karen’s dinner plans, Larry’s grocery shopping woes, or Pat’s need for a vacation!
As part of a school project, Falmouth High School Senior Chadwick Prichard job shadowed Tim and me for three straight days, arriving each morning before 5 a.m.! Here’s Chadwick’s thoughts on the experience.
When the Coast Morning Show co-hosts Tim and Eva welcomed me into their studio for a three-day job shadow, I was a little ambivalent: it seemed exciting to get a first-hand look at how the show works from behind the scenes, but it required I get up at 4 a.m. each day for a 5 o’clock start—not such a bad tradeoff, as it turned out.
So what’s so interesting about sitting for hours on-end in a soundproof room with a couple radio personalities? First off, as one of those listeners who tunes in to Coast 93.1 on the way to school each day, it was a privilege to see just where Tim and Eva broadcast their antics over the radio waves to hundreds and thousands of Maine listeners each day. We sat in a single, soundproof booth—one of six or seven stations’ lined up along the interior of the Portland Radio Group building—and from this medium-sized room, equipped with some very professional, and, I should add, impressive radio equipment, I was able to listen to three complete progressions of the show—and even talk on air for a few minutes!
A couple of observations: Tim does all the behind-the-scenes computer work right at his desk. I always assumed there was a third person to screen the phone calls and decide on “today’s best mix,” but it’s a lot less arbitrary: the music is uploaded into the system and plays on a continual stream to maintain consistency. It was also fascinating to listen to the broadcasts from within the studio: without my headphones on, the Daily Dish just sounded like an unusually loud conversation, but with my headphones on—the background music chugging along—the conversation transformed itself into the recognizable Tim and Eva program. During my stay, the fate of a lonely shopping cart abandoned in a lot across the street also became quite the contentious issue, and it would fun to see Tim and Eva deal with a few, shall we say, particularly impassioned callers whose deep concern with the cart was quite noticeable.
The job shadow was a lot of fun and also provided me with some invaluable blogging experience; I was able to update some stories on the Coast 93.1 website and even prepare a few talking points for a live interview with author Lee Child. I would like to thank Tim and Eva for letting me loom in the midst of the Coast studio.
According to Tim, I breached some sort of Facebook etiquette rule last week. Last Friday after the show, I was perusing Facebook and clicked onto Tim’s page. There was a question posted asking how to find a link from one of the audio clips we had played on the show that morning. I didn’t know the gal who posted the question, but thinking I was being helpful. I posted a comment to her question telling her where to find the link.
When Tim saw I had answered the question—that was directed to him—he thought I had overstepped my bounds. His feeling was that his friend (I don’t know her) posted a question to him on his personal Facebook page.
I just don’t see the big deal. It’s a public, social-networking forum, and it connects people to each other. I certainly wouldn’t have taken it upon myself to answer a personal question, but since it was about that morning’s show, why not help out.
We posed the difference of opinion on the air this morning. Surprisingly (not!) most people agreed with me, saying it really is a public forum. When you think about it, it can become a bit tricky—there are no hard and fast rules for this last technology leap.
Hurry, someone write the manual on exact Facebook etiquette.
I am going to be so happy when this season of American Idol ends next week. My heart just hasn’t been into this season of contestants. I do think Crystal is awesome and I love her voice, but I don’t know if I see her having a “Pop” genre Idol career. Lee I can hear on the radio, but watching him hasn’t wowed me. I did like Siobhan for her wild style and amazing vocal talent. The rest…meh! I don’t think I am alone in feeling this way. I look at Simon on TV each week and wondered if he’s crossing off days on his calendar for this season to end. It seems the four judges’ critiques are often longer than the performances. Ellen’s cuteness of comparing food, drink, and animals to the contestants has grown tiresome, Randy’s “dawg” comments are lame, and although Kara has some constructive things to say, she is just plain annoying in her need to be “heard!”
O.K. thanks for letting me vent. I hope Crystal or Lee wins, and I hope I never have to hear from Tim Urban or Aaron Kelly again.
I’ve been a doggie mommy this week! Actually I am dog sitting, but it’s felt a little like being a doggie mommy again. My good friend Emily had to travel to London for work, so I’ve had Miss Shelby as a houseguest. Shelby is about 13 (she and Emma used to have senior outings together). She’s some type of mutt-about the size of Emma. The difference is Shelby is totally trained off leash. She just walks along side of me, never runs off, listens to whatever I say, and only expects to eat dog food. Not to say she isn’t a little scavenger because if I’ve dropped a crumb, she is on it. My floors are clean, clean.
Shelby also differs from Emma that she loves to snuggle and sleep on my bed. I have grown somewhat fond of hearing her light snoring as I fall asleep. Shelby goes home today.
This week with Shelby has helped me to realize two things; I still really miss Emma. I’ve thought about her a lot as I’ve been on a “having a dog” schedule, and at my core, I struggle to think about her without feeling tremendous sadness. I kind of wonder if I will ever feel that something special about any dog again.
The other thing I’ve realized is that I am currently enjoying the freedom of being pet-less offers right now. I can be out for hours and hours and not worry about walking Emma, or leaving her in the car too long. I am not worried about wet footprints or fur on my new shag rug. I haven’t had to spend money on food, grooming or medical costs. It may just be protection of my heart right now, but until I am really ready and feel the desire and need to get a new dog, I am childless. And I am ok with it.
Man this year is already flying by…you know when you make a commitment with the knowledge that you’ve got so much time before you have to honor that commitment? I am doing this year’s Tri For A Cure in August. In February, it seemed so easyto think…”I’ll start training in April.” Now April is in the rear view mirror and I think…”I’ll start training in May.” May starts this weekend!!
I need a plan of action. Here I am, someone who teaches exercise to others, but to motivate myself is nearly impossible. I know all the good reasons for training and doing the Tri, I think I just need to take that first step–like get a bike! Start running the Back Cove, swim in the…..well, I will save any ocean swims for later this summer.
Ok, progress reports to come. If you’re doing the Tri on August 15, email me some support at eva@coast931.com
I spent the better part of Easter weekend in Nashville to support my sister’s baptism/confirmation into the Catholic Church. It’s something she wanted to do, and she’s put in a lot of hard work toward becoming a Catholic. The mass was a solid three-hour affair. Her church is very pretty, and there were parts of the mass that I enjoyed, and although I was honored to see my sister so excited, it felt pretty long.
It’s just honestly not my thing. My idea of organized religion is how I feel while taking Luca’s yoga class at Pure Movement. I feel very close to God during that hour of breathing and opening my body to breath and movement.
I am very proud of Jenny. She wanted this, she dedicated herself to doing all the needed retreats, readings, and learning that is required for the confirmation. I wish her peace and love, and if this is a place where she finds it, I am happy for her.
