It's Been Awhile...

Okay, it's been TOO LONG since I've posted.  Uh, I've been busy...sure, a likely story.  Who ISN'T busy these days?  Well, I could make excuses for a couple of hours...here's one.  I've spent at least a week strolling through the local grocery store singing cheesey 70s AM radio hits.  I caught myself belting out THIS ONE the other night down the cookies and crackers aisle.  LOL..."cracker aisle."



Here's a link to a cool little ditty I did back in September. The weather dudes predicted a buttload of rain for the day, but nothing had happened yet. It just so happened my buddy Leslie Spears at the OKC Museum of Art posted some cool pics on Facebook of umbrellas at the gift shop there. I figured it was something goofy that I could get done quickly. Little did I realize that it would air in at least two shows. And that people would remember it more than some real GOOD stuff that I've done.



AND THEN THERE WAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON. Good times, man. I could cover that all year long. Here's a little sample of how the season went.



Here's another:  I've spent probably four weeks digging through my collection of Christmas CDs.  In case you didn't know, I'm a Christmas music freak.  I can't get enough of it during the holidays.  And I'm not satisfied with "the usual."  Yeah, Bing Crosby was great, but there's SO MUCH MORE awesome Christmas music out there.  Bryan Adams, Billy Squier, Hall and Oates, Brian Mcknight, Lou Rawls, Tony Bennett, you get my drift.  I've got around 22 CDs or so, but I could always use more.



And here's a cool story about the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe's buffalo herd.



And finally, I've spent the past few days wondering how I turned into my dad.  I was "lecturing" my daughter the other day and I actually said "WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE."  Wow.  How did THAT happen?  It's not all my fault...I mean, she had it comin'.  She wanted to go skating on New Year's Eve.  Not a problem.   Except that she wanted to go to a skating party at the rink from 7 PM until 1 AM!  Yeah, right.  Did I mention she's nine?  "WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, I COULDN'T STAY OUT UNTIL 1 AM!"

 Come to think of it, when I was nine, I couldn't stay out past when the streetlights came on.



Peace,
DB  

It Only Took Me Three Tries...

I told you guys in my last post that I'd won a 1st place Associated Press award (in Oklahoma) for my story on Willie the Singin' Ringer.  This is him on the right, and you can watch the story by clicking HERE.

But to be totally honest, it was the third time I'd worked with Willie.  The first time was way back in '97... I think.  Willie had just started his bell ringing gig and I came across him one night while Christmas shopping.  I thought "This guy is a TV story just waitin' to happen."  I called the Salvation Army, found out where I could find him, and shot a cool little story.  That was back at good ol' FOX25.

A few years later, after a two year stint at KOB in Albuquerque, I ran into him again.  By now I was working at KWTV again, and they hadn't done a story with Willie yet.  Can you believe that?  So of course, I did.  And if I do say so myself, it was much better than the one before.

Then...

A couple years ago, while loading up my photog gear after some stuff at the courthouse, some guy asks me "Hey man, can you spare a couple bucks?"  I turned around to see who was buggin', and it was my old buddy Willie.  Seems he had fallen on hard times, lost his job, and was panhandling daily to keep his hotel room.  I helped him out best as I could, we talked for awhile, and then I asked to do his story AGAIN...but this time, the "real story."  Here was a guy that brought joy to literally thousands of people every Christmas season, but he was basically homeless.  You don't come across a story like that every day.

Willie agreed, and I went back to work to find the previous NEWS9 story I'd done with him, because I couldn't really do it properly without showing Willie doin' his thing.  Here's the kicker...wait for it...  THE STORY NEVER GOT SAVED.  Nice huh?  How could I do this freakin' story without the freakin' video?  I couldn't. 

So GUESS WHAT?

I waited until Thanksgiving rolled around again this past year, and did ANOTHER story with Willie.  This time I did it the way I had always meant to...with Willie in action, and Willie in a well-lit, sit-down interview.  I started on the script, and then realized that the piece needed to be in his words alone, with no reporter track whatsoever.  I think it worked.   Sure, I'm proud of the AP award and all, but I'm most proud of the story itself.  This guy is as real as it gets.  He's extremely humble, and although he's not necessarily proud of the hard times he's had, he's certainly not ashamed of them.

The Rites of Summer...

Who's the dork with the camera? Yeah, not a great look for me, I'll admit...but I was KILLIN' that suit man, trust me. This actually isn't SUMMER, it was a couple days after the Murrah Bombing anniversary this year. Former President Clinton was in town to receive an award for his help in OKC's recovery following April 19,1995. But Clinton, who NEVER sticks to his schedule, wanted to visit the memorial, and I was one of just a handful of media-types who got to follow him around for the 15 minutes or so that he was there. Pretty cool.

But on with the summertime stuff. School's out, and that in itself brings about all kinds of end-of-the-year happenings. "Dad, I need $30 for a yearbook." THIRTY BUCKS? I don't remember paying that much for my elementary yearbook. Come to think of it, in MY DAY, we didn't even HAVE an elementary yearbook. So of course I bought TWO this year. Next year we'll have a JUNIOR HIGH yearbook. It'll probably be about a hundred...

My son, who'll be in junior high this year, got his first taste of mowing the lawn today. I have crooked lines all over my yard to prove it. It's about time, an old guy like me shouldn't have to do things like that.

I've got a great gig at work...I NEVER forget that. I'm fortunate enough to do stories for News9.com, NEWS9, and OKBlitz.com. I never really know which one I'm gonna service from day to day, but that's kinda cool. Keeps me jumpin'. I just found out recently that I won a First Place in Feature Photography from the Associated Press for "Willie the Singin' Ringer." You can watch that story HERE.  I'll give you the back story on Willie and how we met in my next post...which won't be SIX MONTHS FROM NOW!

"Josie's on a vacation far away..." AGAIN

I went through my high school years in the early 80s. So of course I love 80s music. Really. But here's something that really bugs me. There was a LOT of good music made back then. But you would NEVER know that just listening to commercial radio, or by looking at 80s music compilations you might pick up at the music store. By those standards, every great band and artist had ONE big hit that you get to hear over and over...and over...and over...

The Outfield is a prime example. "Your Love" was and still is a great song. But I really got tired of it after the first 2 million times I heard it. And that was just last week. Seriously, when I hear "Josie's on a vacation far away..." I can't change the station fast enough. And I really dig the Outfield--I bought that cassette way back in the day.

But there WERE other great songs on that album/cassette. "Everytime You Cry", "Say It Isn't So", "All The Love", etc.

Sabes que, there are songs that I hated back then, and I hate them now. Why must a brotha be tormented? That's gacho...

But I realize that it's the really big hits that tend to live on--they're the ones that made money, and probably continue to.

And I would guess that, as sick as I am of hearing the same songs over and over... those bands that have to play them night after night are REALLY sick of playing them.

How would you like to make a career out of playing a song that you wrote some 25 years ago?

Depends on how much they're payin'...

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

This has got to be my FAVORITE Christmas movie of all time...or pretty darn close. Sure, there are others that I dig a whole lot, but this one has a special spot. Don't know why exactly, probably because it's so QUOTABLE.

Seriously, how many times have you said to someone "I TRIPLE-DOG-DARE YA..." or "YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT..." Classic...beautiful.

Guys love to quote movies. Forget the fact that we never get them quite right. As long as the general thought is there, we can forgive another dude's memory lapses. I've had 20-minute long conversations with other dudes where all we did was quote movies. "Office Space," "Tombstone,"and " Anchorman" are favorites. Oh, and I can't leave out "Raising Arizona."

But back to "A Christmas Story." How many of you saw the story on CNN the other day where a teacher called 911 because some kid stuck his tongue to the flagpole? I almost fell out of my chair at work when I saw that. Like I said, classic.

And everytime I see a mall Santa, I can't help but think of this. Classic.

Eagles and Ants...

What two artists personify 80s music better than Don Henley and Adam Ant? Not many, really.

And I'm reminded of this every Friday night. Yes, I'm much older, and yes, there's much more music to choose from these days, but still, I just can't seem to shake it.

I used to live for Friday nights when I was in high school. The school week over, the weekend beginning...beautiful.

Friday night football games were a gas--I know I shared this in an earlier post, but, my buddy Duane and I rode to every home football game together my senior year...in MY car. That meant that we listened to MY music. I'll admit it, I was an Adam and the Ants freak. I made him listen to "Stand and Deliver" and "Scorpio" at least a million times. I don't think Duane ever appreciated the Ants quite as much as I did, but he never complained.

But we both agreed on some Don Henley. How could you not dig on "Dirty Laundry?" That song is AWESOME. I liked it even BEFORE I got into TV news. But of course ever since, I make it REQUIRED LISTENING for every intern I happen to work with.

The only reason I bring up my high school music habits are that I still travel to high school football games every Friday. Granted, I mostly fly these days (in SKYNEWS9 HD--how cool is that), but I drove to a couple last week. I found myself turning off the satellite radio and cranking up some old AC/DC. It just seemed to make sense.

Too bad SIRIUS XM doesn't have an Adam and the Ants channel.

May the FORCE Be With You...

Luke Skywalker is 58 years old! Whoa...now I feel REALLY old. Anybody else?

I saw "Star Wars" with my friend Scott at the Northpark Mall Theater in the summer of '77. We sat in the front row, BLOWN AWAY by Industrial Light and Magic's special effects. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Princess Leia wasn't as hot in the original movie as in "Return of the Jedi," but pretty cute nonetheless.

And...

Is it just me, or is there anyone else who sees the Star Wars "prequels" as LAME? I'm a George Lucas fan, but those three new films just leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. CGI is great, don't get me wrong, but the original three had, and still have a certain TEXTURE that's totally missing in the "prequels." And it's that texture that makes them seem somewhat believable. And don't get me started on Jar Jar Binks...

I will admit that seeing Darth Vader come to life is PRETTY COOL though. It brings Vader to a whole new audience.

Wonder how old HE is? Gotta be more than 58.

I'm Proud to be an Okie...

HOW 'BOUT THEM SOONERS? Takin' it to the Golden Hurricane with a mustache-wearin', redshirt-havin', back-up dude that's named after a Dallas Cowboy coaching legend. How's that for variety? And...the guy set a record with 6 count 'em 6 touchdown passes. Un-be-liev-able.

"We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee..."
"We don't take our trips on LSD..."

And in other football news...my MCHS Bombers lost to the Southmoore Sabrecats. Who saw that comin'? Bombers are 1-2 now...ouch.

"We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse..."
"And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all..."

I flew to Weatherford with Mason Dunn and SKYNEWS9 HD this past Friday to watch the Eagles take on the Chickasha Fightin' Chicks...yeah, the Fightin' Chicks...not the greatest mascot. You can watch the FRIDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS WEEK 3 HERE.

"I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee..."
"A place where even squares can have a ball..."

Mason and I were in Weatherford a little early, and went to a place called the Barbque Shed. Good food, and while we were eating, you could vaguely hear Merle Haggard beltin' out "I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee..." over the radio. Man, what more could you ask for, BBQ, high school football, Merle Haggard, and a helicopter ride back home. I must be livin' right.

If you'd like to hear Merle, or God forbid, if you've never heard the song, click HERE.

And belt it out along with him, like the true Okie you are (or secretly wish that you could be).

OK...I'm back. Been gone for way too long. I could make excuses I guess, but who cares. Suffice it to say I had stuff that took priority. But hey, if I've got time to post on Facebook, I've got time for this blog, right?

Stuff over the past month or so:

Vacation with the family. Good time. The kids don't argue near as much as they used to...of course that could change. Visited Fin and Feather Resort near Lake Tenkiller. NOTE TO SELF: Find a way to buy a stinkin' boat! Can't really enjoy Oklahoma in the summertime without one.






I co-hosted the OKC portion of the MDA Telethon. That was a good time as well. Ed Murray couldn't do it this year, so Doug Warner and I helped out. Wow...it took TWO of us to step in his shoes. After doing it, I have a MUCH greater appreciation of the job that Ed has done with it over the years. Donations were down, but not much really. I actually am surprised at how well it went considering the economy and all. I've been around the MDA in Oklahoma and all the wonderful people involved with it for several years, dating back to 1987, my rookie year in television. There are some great pix posted on my FB page and the MDA OKC Facebook page.

Doug Warner has left KWTV for KSLA in Shreveport, LA. Too bad, we had a helluva time during the telethon, and always had good times when we worked together. We share the same affinity for old school rap and funk, believe it or not. Doug's a unique talent, hope the folks down in Shreveport will let him "do his thang."

High school football in Oklahoma is in full swing!!! Awesome. I'm flying with Mason Dunn and SKYNEWS9 HD every Friday this season. Pretty cool, huh? You can catch Friday Night Flights WEEK ONE HERE and WEEK TWO HERE.

And...

Kanye West...the guy's a tool, what more can I say?

Things I Love About Working in TV (VOLUME 1)

Where do I start? Well, the title of this post came to me this afternoon as I was walking from my car to the newsroom. The TV tower here is well over 1500 feet tall, and there's ALL KINDS of cool weather phenomena that happens up there. And of course, what goes up...must come down.

Today there were storms in the area, and I just can't describe how awesome it is to hear the SNAP,CRACKLE, AND POP of static electricity from up above. You hear it and just know that something's coming long before it hits.

It's also an event when ice forms on the tower and on the guy wires. That ice begins to fall as soon as it becomes warmer at that altitude. And it's a show--no kidding. Some of the pieces are 6 feet long...or more, and some of them scream down at incredible speeds. And some of them just float. Luckily, more of them float than scream. I did a fun little story about the ice that you can watch here. I used to work at KOKH here in OKC, and their tower was even closer to the building than ours. I have a reporter friend whose car was totaled by falling ice--you can probably find it on Youtube. That was pretty funny actually. Sad, but funny. She got a brand new car out of it.

And of course, when there's severe weather happening, it's all hands on deck. There's an adrenaline rush that comes over EVERYONE in the place. It's kind of hard to explain--while most folks are taking shelter (and rightly so), we're efforting actual live video of the storm--from the ground, from the air, etc. The mission becomes abundantly clear.

And it's a feeling that doesn't leave just because you're not there. Many times I have been on vacation when a storm has hit, and have felt totally useless. "If I just had my camera..."

I'll probably feel the same way long after I've grown up and gotten a real job.