Apparently there’s some kind of monster storm bearing down on us. Up to 16 inches of ice and snow. Yikes! The good news? It’s supposed to happen over the weekend when I don’t have to worry about getting to work, or feel guilty about NOT going. So, that part’s good. The bad news? Shoveling all that crap. Man, that goes beyond suck.
But we’ll just make sure we have plenty o’ real food and junk food and beer, and ride it out. What other choices do we have? As long as the electricity doesn’t shit the bed, due to the ice, we’ll be good. Probably.
Yesterday I received a notification on my phone that caused my heart to skip a beat. It was a partial headline that started with ‘Longtime Reds Announcer Marty Brennaman’. Then it cut off. He died?! Marty bought it?? NOOO!!
But, thankfully, he’s still alive. He did, however, announce his plan to retire. The 2019 season will be his last behind the microphone. His 46th year! The man has been the voice of the Reds since I was a little kid. I can’t even remember anyone before him. I know Al Michaels preceded him in Cincinnati, but I was too young to remember any of that.
So, it’ll be weird. He was a huge part of my childhood and beyond. I used to listen to almost every game. I drifted for several years, and am now back to my old habits. And Marty’s still there! It’s fantastic. He sounds exactly the same. It’s a direct thread to simpler times, if you know what I mean. I hate to see him go. But I’m glad he’s not dead. They scared me!
And I need to get into the shower, buy some Chinese food for lunch (I’ve got a very real hankerin’), and head on down the Devil’s Parkway. I told you this one was going to be kinda half-assed. I apologize. I have a new podcast for patrons, though. Check it out here. Man, that new microphone makes a big difference. The performances might not be any better, but the sound is full and rich. So, that’s something, right? Here’s the summary:
In this one I tell you about a ridiculous new project I’ve undertaken: collecting audio files of the person I consider to be the funniest man in the history of the human race. I also discuss my longtime love of radio, and a few other assorted odds, as well as ends. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the support, and thanks for listening.
For a Question I’d like to know what your weekend plans are. You know, while I’m out there shouting profanity with ice crystals forming inside my underwear? Tell us about it, won’t you? Also, what’s the longest amount of time you’ve worked at the same job? Can you approach Marty’s 46 years? I worked for Time-Warner for 17 years, but it was three different jobs in three different cities. So, that doesn’t really count, does it? My longest would be my current job: eleven years. Holy shitballs! That’s amazing. In any case, what do you have on this one?
I’ll see you guys on Monday, unless I’m stricken by the Big One or whatever.
Have a great weekend, boys and girls.
Now playing in the bunker
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For the weekend I’m about to hop on a plane to Miami where I have a beach chair reserved at the Ritz Carlton for tomorrow… then I’m headed to Paris to get some dinner and see something I completely missed last time, Sainte-Chapelle. Then I’m headed to NYC to see The Book of Mormon and flying back home on Monday. I had some upgrades expiring on January 31, so I booked a ridiculous long weekend.
Longest job I’ve had is 11 years, my current job, but that job has been for 4 different companies, some of which we’ve sold/spun-off.
That’s an impressive itinerary – safe travels to you!
Enjoy Paris and Book of Mormon. Honestly for a weekend you can’t really do better.
Sainte-Chapelle is way cool. Don’t neglect the chapel in the basement, which I think is better than the ‘main attraction.’ The ceiling is all fleur-de-lis, blue and gold, etc.
Steve Blass is also retiring.
I’ve been at the same workplace since 1993.
I saw Steve semi-retire as he pitched for the Charleston Charlies after he lost his good stuff and was sent to the minors from Pittsburgh. He started giving up the gopherballs there and soon disappeared. He was very good at first, but it all went South too quickly.
For the weekend, wifey is coming up to OH (two state family) to help me shovel snow. So far, Sunday brunch with friends in Michigan is the only planned activity.
25 years at my previous job. A quarter century…I did have a partial leave of absence in the middle of that where I worked in the federal sector, but technically on the rolls and active one day a week for that 2 year stint.
Shoveling snow if the clima-terrorist are right.
I’ve been here 31 and a half years. The last few have been trying but I need to make it another 8 to get to sixty years old then I hope to find a part time job to make enough money to cover heath care and bourbon expenses.
Long weekend for me, and I’m not sure what I’m doing. I do know I’m not shoveling snow. And I will retire from my current job on March 31, 2020, after 32 years. And still will not ever have had to shovel snow.
Not like you’re counting the days or anything, right? 🙂
Six years at the current gig answering 911, six years working my ass off at a Greenhouse. This job is a lot less sweaty. Weekend plans include literally half of my day at work all weekend and dodging this monster blizzard by being stuck at work.
I was supposed to be driving down to Raleigh this weekend with the wife to meet the new boss Monday after 22 years at my present job (my longest) from which my entire department is being involuntarily separated. Problem is I haven’t been contacted by anyone in over a week about this meeting, travel, or received the written offer I was told I would receive.
Instead, I guess I will be breaking out the snow blower my wife bought me five years ago for the sixth time in those five years.
Completely unrelated, but Jeff thank you so much for introducing me to Phil Hendrie. I found a website that has a lot of his old shows on it, and I listen to them every other week during my 7 hour car drive to exchange my son. Holy cow, he is HILARIOUS. I spend hours driving down the interstate with years in my eyes from laughter.
Ahhh, Ralph Kiner was the sports voice of my youth. I was sad when he retired. Sadder when he passed away. I remember playing “Kiner’s Korner” with my dad. What fond memories. Thanks, Jeff!
I’ll be pretty ticked off that I didn’t go to Rhode Island if this doesn’t turn out to be the storm of the century. Then again, I’ll be pretty ticked off with all the snow if it does dump a lot. In either scenario, a lot of salty language will be used. And a lot of drinking. Somehow, I want to fit in a philly cheesesteak.
Oh – and longest job was the 16 years I spent at Big Blue until they shat me out like yesterday’s salad. I was one of the lucky ones, though. I made it through 4 or 5 rounds of layoffs (it was a yearly thing at the end) but I was one of the last rounds who got 6 months severance pay. Now, I think it’s whittled down to 2 weeks to a month.
Kiner’s Korner! I can still hear the theme music. Starring Ralph Kiner, Bob Murphy and Lindsay Nelson.
Weekend plans – probably spent working. Monstrous project keep getting bigger and it’s due to management next Tuesday. I Hate Days Like This.
I’ll go to church Sunday as my rest period and pray for forgiveness, I imagine. No snow to dodge, so might as well.
Longest job would probably be the one (ish) I’m in now, though that’s just time spent as an employee of the company and not in a specific position. 18 years, with the next longest at about 8 years. Wish I’d stayed and never left, because I’d be eligible for retirement way sooner. Hrmph.
Boy, when Richie Ashburn and later Harry Kalas passed away, they were really sad days. You’re right, baseball just won’t “sound” the same when your childhood announcers are gone.
We live in NC (originally from South Jersey) and the day before Harry died, I was talking with my wife and daughter about getting the MLB Radio broadcast internet package. We were saying things like “It’ll be great to hear him again all the time!” Well, we bought the package and the next day he died at the ball park. In a way, we blame ourselves for his passing! Sad but true.
The longest I’ve been at a job is three years. I start getting twitchy when I see that milestone coming. BUT, I guess I’ve grown up a little over my 56 years and I’ve put in three years at this current job as a contractor and was just recently hired on as a bone fide employee. If I put in five years, I’ll get to keep my insurance when I retire. Four years and 10 months to go. I don’t know if I can make it.
No particular plans, other than the now-standard Sunday brunch with the erstwhile GF, her friend and the friend’s 3-year-old granddaughter. Since I’m about 175 miles south of Scranton, we’re only expecting rain. I’m OK with shoveling the rain.
15 years and four months. One day they kicked me to the curb because there was “no work.” I had an interview the next day, and an offer the day after that. It was about a 13% pay hike.
Not supposed to get nearly as much white stuff in Jersey this weekend, so probably just doing a few chores Saturday then settling in for a feast of football on Sunday. And then maybe skating my way to work on Monday. I have yet to find words to describe how much I hate winter…
Been at my current job for 41+ years!! Not Marty Brennaman territory, but still pretty amazing. Same location too, just a few different job titles over the years. Really had it planned to get out this year, but 1-2 more seems more realistic. Started when I was 18, so I’ve spent my entire adult life going to the same place for work. Crazy.
Provisions tomorrow, then turtling for the weekend. Netflix,
pickin my geetar, and good doobage.
I hit the 8 year mark at jobs then I get squirrely and have to
move on. It’s happened 3 times. I gather no moss.
Jeff, if you got out of college, and had the same job since, it’d be almost 35 years, like me. DFENS.
I’m just trying to go home.
Chill, I understand that you can’t do that. Nor step twice in the same river, nor marry the same woman repeatedly. I think it has something to do with entropy or flooding, or the concept that once is just slightly more than enough. I think Nero Wolfe said that, but I might be a little off. People have told me I am.
love,
John
I’m not sure I’ve ever stepped in any rivers. Oceans, yes. But I imagine the rules are less strict there. I’ve only ever married the same (same as what?) woman once.
It might have been Mr. Wolfe, or possibly Johnny Dollar. Definitely not William Foster.
Upon reading your comment, my brain executed a quick Branch And Link (BAL) to Patti Smith who noted that either you can’t piss in the same river twice or that you always piss in the same river. You don’t have to step into a river to urinate in it, but it does minimize some of the aiming variables.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuVgjvG2hgU
Come on in: the water’s fine.
John
Received my 25th year pin at my going away party. Then moved to where snow is a concept not a reality. Lucked into a position with the same pay at 20% of the stress and aggravation, just running out the clock poolside.
I worked longer in the heavy civil construction industry than any where else, but the nature of construction is that you work yourself out of a job. So it wasn’t always with the same company. The last 16 years of my working career as an electronics technician for the USPS was my longest for any one employer. And I left there in September of last year, same time as Mrs. SVS retired from her nursing job. Between a small retirement from the construction jobs, a small pension from the post office, my other retirement (the one I maxed out on my contributions to every year for the last 10 years or so), my wife’s small hospital pension and our combined social security checks we’re knocking down about a third of what we made working. Which should prove comfortable, since the property in Idaho we just made an offer on will be paid off at the close of escrow in a month or so. The relief we feel at being able to escape the political shithole that California has become and move to a free state is indescribable.
23 years at my current job. Since I am in Cleveland we are supposed to get hit by this monster storm. I’ll stay inside and pay someone to remove the snow.
7 and a half years at my first job, not counting paperboy. I tend to wear out my welcome quickly. Right now 5 and a half as chef at current job. I don’t think I can tolerate two more years.
This weekend, I plan to fornicate with two different women on Saturday night, but not at the same time, and spend a quality evening with my 14 year old daughter on Sunday!
My only phone is an old flip phone. It’s the same model the late Senator John McCain used the last 15 years of his life. I’ve had mine about that long, and I’m keeping it until someone who outguns me takes it away. When anybody gives me shit about my “old” phone, I inform them that it’s a John McCain Memorial model for which I have the same esteem I had for the Senator. However, I’ve noticed that, over time, the phone takes a little longer to charge between uses: a small price to pay for carrying a fine phone in memory of a fine man, but sometimes it tasks me.
I’m just thinking it wouldn’t hurt to keep that in mind. I hope you have a wonderful time with all the women.
John
10 years in private enterprise. God bless America!
Man Jeff I remember when you got your current job! I’ve got a 7 year itch… this is the longest I’ve every worked for the same company… 7 & 1/2 years..