Happy Thanksgiving!

The first Thanksgiving was a simple affair. I find the simplicity of this holiday as the reason why it is my favorite. You give thanks. You visit some friends or relatives. You get stuffed. Unlike Christmas, there's very little pressure. It's a one day thing before we plunge directly into the fray that is the holiday season. I hope people use the occasion to think about what's really important in these troubled times when it's not about having it all. It's about appreciating what's really important.

National Geography Awareness Week

Last week was National Geography Awareness Week. Maybe you weren't aware of that. Finding out about places on this planet - and the people who live there - has always been a fascination for this self-admitted geo-geek. Some listeners managed to stump me when I issued the geography challenge. That's OK, since some people think I need to get taken down a peg or two when I claim some absolute expertise on the subject. Ever since I got a state capitals game in second grade, big and small geography facts have stuck like glue to me. That never made me the most popular kid in class, or out of it for that matter, but it did give me an appreciation of an often misunderstood subject. Americans are a small minority of the world's population, yet people in most other developed countries have a much greater awareness of us than we have of them. That may explain why so many Americans are at a loss to know, understand or care about the perception the rest of the world has about the U.S.A. Knowing the capital of Michigan (Lansing!) may not be the key to success in your day to day life, but a majority of citizens lacking the most basic information about geography - and social studies in general - can spell a disadvantage as we compete in a world market. On a lighter note, it can be fun. I figure if some people can fill their brains with baseball players' batting averages and the plots of every primetime "reality" TV show, then I can cram a few "where in the world" facts into my head. So I'll take State Capitals for $2000, Alex!

Riding the Ferry

Last weekend I visited a couple of friends in Riverhead, Long Island. I've taken the ferry from New London to Orient Point many times, since it beats the drive via New York City. This past time, the ride home was an unexpected adventure. It was a sunny but very windy Sunday afternoon. The whitecaps in the race between Orient Point and Plum Island were very impressive. Coming back on the New London - one of the smaller car ferries, shown here - made the waves and the resulting bumpy ride even more unsettling. I didn't see anyone get sick, and the chances of being ditched on Gilligan's Island were remote (thanks to the courage of the fearless crew). Even so, every conversation I overheard was about the rocky ride. Thankfully, the rolling waves died down a bit during the second half of the trip. I suppose it still beats the long drive around, the visit was great and any thoughts of a career as a fisherman in the seas off Alaska have been permanently put aside.

Gas War!

Colchester is a great town, but it has seldom been known for low prices. Now my town can boast the lowest gas prices in the state. With the reopening of the Sunoco station on Route 85, the Citgo and Phillips 66 at the same intersection had to meet the new guy's cheaper prices - and they did. I never thought I'd see prices like $1.79 for regular again. I hope these lower prices don't lull us back into our old gas guzzling ways, but any relief for the budget today is very welcome.

Update: Just a couple of days later, the price dropped again to $1.75 per gallon and it was a mob scene.

Veterans Day

John from Montville, a 26-year military veteran, was kind enough to share his thoughts on Veterans Day. He wanted us to remind everyone what Veteran's Day is all about. It has NOTHING to do with furniture or car sales. It has EVERYTHING to do with Honor, Duty, and Courage under fire. It is all about doing what is right because it IS right, not because it is "politically correct" to do so. He also passed along these thoughts from Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC:

The Soldier
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

End of the Line

Even in bad economic times, people still have to eat. That doesn't make a supermarket recession-proof. Montville - already hit by the Rand Whitney judgment and the suspension of the Mohegan Sun expansion - got a rude awakening a week ago with the announcement by Beit Bros. that the family will be closing their supermarket in the Uncasville section of town. This brings an end to a 100 year-old family tradition. The Beit Bros. Dayville store had just closed in July. Sure, there's still Stop & Shop or Shop-Rite a few miles away, but Beit Bros. was a unique landmark that helped define what the town was all about. Its loss will leave a distinct void, but perhaps another independent grocer can try and fill the anchor spot for the Midway Plaza. For now, it'll mean one less discount card on my overloaded keychain and one less place to pick up a decent apple pie.

Do You Believe In Ghosts?

Halloween morning was a perfect time to take the WBMW Wakeup Club on the road to Mystic Seaport. Come to find out, this tourist attraction has a house which is thought to be, well, haunted. The Buckingham House was the place to be in our search for beings beyond this life. My co-host Rebecca, along with a couple of psychics and WBMW middayer Heidi West, were more ready to believe in the presence of the paranormal. I provided more of a skeptical view of the whole thing, and enjoyed my Doubting Thomas role. We were very happy to draw some attention to one of the treasures of Mystic Coast & Country - even under these spooky circumstances.

Home Stretch of Campaign '08

Here's a role I can't say I've ever been in before: debate moderator. This week, the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce presented a breakfast debate between Ned Lamont, the Connecticut co-chairman of the Barack Obama campaign, and Chris Healy, state GOP chairman and head of the state's John McCain campaign. Both made very eloquent arguments for their respective candidates with little need for me to step in. WBMW was a debate sponsor, which explained the presence of this debate neophyte. After the debate, veteran TV political reporter and consultant Duby MacDowell introduced herself and certainly made my day with some kind words. Of course, I wondered why she hadn't been tapped as moderator, but I was very appreciative of the opportunity. Now go vote!

2000 Take Part in Start! Heart Walk

It was a chilly Sunday morning on the beach at Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic, but that didn't deter 2000 people from joining our 2008 Start! Walk for Heart Health. Rebecca and I (the picture of health to the left), along with Tina Detelj from News Channel 8, were emcees to kick off this 5K walk through the park. Subway, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Pfizer, Mohegan Sun and other major corporate sponsors played a big part in making this year an even bigger success. Rebecca brought along baby Liliana, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the outdoor experience. Heart disease touches practically everyone, and a few changes in a daily exercise routine can really make a difference. A walk through a place like Rocky Neck does make it a pleasure - and no, we didn't take the shortcut this time!

Our Miss L Gets Hitched

Is it Mrs. or Ms L now? I think of our little group in the morning as a family, so it was an especially big deal when Lori took the plunge this past weekend in a beautiful ceremony overlooking New London Harbor and Ocean Beach. Miss L is co-host next door of the Jammin' 107-7 Morning Jam with Brian Ram. In addition to frequently putting Brian in his place on that show, Lori also schedules music for Soft Rock 106.5 and makes sure someone is scheduled for both stations' frequent remote broadcasts. She also goes solo after 9am on Jammin' with a feature called "Shake Your Behind at Nine." Take it from me - after seeing Miss L dancing at her wedding, she practices what she preaches! Miss L and I are still not convinced about Brian and rhythm ever being synonymous, but it's not about him this time. It was Lori's night. Congratulations!

Happy Anniversary, Mystic Pizza!

Mystic Pizza - the movie - celebrated its 20th anniversary here in the town that made it possible. Tricia Cunningham, an occasional WBMW morning co-host, and the rest of the folks at the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce put together a birthday celebration this past Friday at the Mystic Hilton. We were there for a live broadcast and, of course, the pizza! Director Donald Petrie and actor William R. Moses (the one being mobbed by the women) were on hand. A special screening of the film was held afterward at the Mystic Village Cinema for this "romantic comedy with the works." This modest $3 million film is best known nationally as the breakthrough for Julia Roberts. A lot of local people have plenty of memories of the making of Mystic Pizza. Our own afternoon driver Jody was a script runner and I hear she has "some stories" about the making of the movie. The movie also was the start of the trend toward more movies being made in Connecticut and helped propel Mystic to the forefront as a tourist destination. It was certainly a birthday well worth observing. Yes, the pizza served was from Mystic Pizza!

If I don't look, will it go away?

This is my favorite time of year, but instead of planning a road trip to see the foliage of New Hampshire's White Mountains I'm watching how much I have to put in my gas tank. There's some good news, as I saw one gas station on Route 85 in Montville lowering its price for regular to $3.13.9 a gallon. Everybody's talking about the economy, and the attention on the energy crunch has been eclipsed by the credit crunch. What do we do? There's plenty of blame to go around: greedy corporations, irresponsible investors, people maxing out their plastic and every politician I can think of from both parties looking the other way. So that's what I'm going to do now. Sure, we'll give the headlines about the economy on the Wakeup Club, but my dwelling on the mess won't do a thing to clean it up. I'm just going to take care of my own loose ends. It's time to get rid of my last debt: car payments. Only after that can the 52" flat screen HD-TV become a reality - but maybe not. I'm not going to pull everything out of the bank and put it under a mattress. I refuse to deny myself a latte at Starbucks if I really want one. I resolve not to consult CNBC for a stock report every hour. No way am I going online to see what that Vanguard Star Fund is doing today. Let the movers and shakers on Wall Street, Capitol Hill, Madison Avenue, Main Street and everywhere else get their act together. Wake me up when it's over - or when it's time to vote.

Season Premiere of Glenn & Rebecca!

Rebecca has certainly resonated with many of our regular listeners who have followed the story of her pregnancy and new arrival. We've kept the Wakeup Club going with Phred filling in and occasional call-ins from Rebecca over the past couple of months, but I'm looking forward to having her back. It's sort of like a summer vacation away from a very strange school, although I'm sure "vacation" may not be the word Rebecca would use to describe her time away. The first day back will probably feel like the first day of a new school year. Getting back into a routine that involves a 3:30 a.m. wakeup call is rough enough without the responsibility of a baby. She and her husband Bryan (pictured) are up to the task. Even so, I'll do my best to make sure we ease into what can best be called a "season premiere" Monday morning on WBMW. That sounds better than the first day of a school year, anyway. There won't be any homework or pop quizzes the first few days if I have anything to say about it!

The Candidates Debate

Did you watch the first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama? I caught every word, and can't say there were any knockout punches or major surprises. Neither one struck me as someone who would be out of place in the White House. One thing that does bother me is when a politician - even one with excellent credibility among veterans - brings up the prospect of American soldiers making sacrifices "in vain" if a mission fails. No soldier's sacrifice should ever be considered in vain. Soldiers bravely try to accomplish a mission delegated to them - a mission often assigned by others far from harm's way.

The Awesome Eighties

The financial chaos of this past week makes a lot of people afraid to look at their 401K and IRA statements. It also may make you yearn for what is often seen as a simpler time: a decade when there was only one stock market crash. Whatever your politics in the era of Reaganomics, the eighties are a nostalgic trip back in time for many of us, and the music was an essential part of it. Soft Rock 106.5 WBMW has featured Awesome 80s Work Escape Weekends for most of this decade. My favorite year from the eighties was 1983. It was a great year for Top 40 radio, the format I was working in at that time. MTV was churning out videos - giving many artists their big break. Many videos were classics, but many more were pretty cheesy. Slick production or not, the music won out, which is why "video didn't kill the radio star." A few songs that are now my iPod musts: Peter Schilling's "Major Tom" and Split Enz with "I Got You." The list of superstars and one-hit wonders goes on. For some more Awesome 80s fun, check out "Like Totally 80s" and listen to the Awesome 80s Work Escape Weekend beginning Friday at 5:00pm with Loverboy's "Workin' for the Weekend" (I caught them at Toad's Place in New Haven way back then). The memories are flooding back!

A Bit Severe

You may have read the story about the employee at Home Depot in Waterford being fired after trying to prevent someone from walking off with a wagon load of chainsaws. It certainly provoked some reaction from our callers on the Wakeup Club. He had helped prevent a shoplifter from getting away with a crime. For his efforts, he was terminated with no warning. Home Depot has a policy of not putting employees in the position of confronting potential shoplifters. The company does not want to be liable for anyone getting hurt. That may be understandable in the lawsuit-driven society we live in these days, but firing some well-meaning employee without so much as a warning strikes me as just a bit extreme. And they wonder why many workers don't feel a commitment to their jobs.

All About Oil

Immediately after Hurricane Ike devastated a chunk of the Gulf Coast, you could count on the issue of oil creeping into the first few sentences of every newscast. How high will the "Ike spike" go? Are we being gouged at the pump? Everyone knows we're more addicted to oil than ever. We've learned nothing from the gas lines of 1974 and 1979. Jimmy Carter was the last President to put forward a real energy plan, and nothing has happened since, no matter what party was in power. Where are the candidates on this issue? Why hasn't the President ever addressed the nation in primetime with some plan of attack? Maybe that's why someone like T. Boone Pickens felt the need to step forward and get the conversation in gear - the way it should have been in since the oil embargo of late 1973. It's called leadership... setting the tone. Oil affects everyone's constituency.

Life is short. Eat dessert first.

Felicia Mahoney is one of the most welcome studio guests we get here on the Wakeup Club. That's because she's been coming in with gourmet coffee and baked goodies for a month of Wednesdays. She owns Felicia's Sweet Face Pastry Shoppe on Route 12 in Gales Ferry. Rebecca and I have known Felicia for some time now. Phred has promised to stop in soon after sampling the muffins, cupcakes, scones, cheesecakes, brownies and... you get the idea. As if these decadent delights weren't enough, Felicia's own bubbly personality (love that laugh) and tasteful attention to detail make her visits something we look forward to. She's got some great lunches, too. So eat, already!

Seven years later...

We all remember where we were on that sunny September morning of 9-11-01. Working the evening shift at a Hartford radio station, I slept right through the live coverage of the attacks themselves. When I finally woke up at 10:15 a.m. and immediately got the news, all I could think of was the magnitude of the tragedy and how this changes everything. I usually follow the news very closely, but I had to get away from it for awhile and try to get on with some normal routine. When I got in my car to go to work at 4:45 that day, I was shocked to hear the station I worked at going back to a music format and away from wall to wall network coverage. I didn't know how I was going to keep it together doing a live music show that night. Somehow I managed, but it got to be too much when I came on after the President's address. That was the only time I've ever cried on the air. The calls from that night were absolutely heart wrenching. The days and nights that followed weren't much easier, but a new normalcy establishes itself. Time heals many things, but we will never forget.

No Rhythm?

Brian Ram has a dirty little secret. He has no rhythm. I've worked next door to Brian and Miss L from the Jammin' 107-7 Morning Jam for several years now. In all that time, I've never seen him so much as "bust a move." I don't know how you can be the morning man and programmer of a rhythmic hit station without "gettin' jiggy with it" once in awhile. This otherwise talented young man is immune to the most infectious hip-hop. I can't see Miss L from where I am, but I'm not so sure she practices what she preaches when she tells us to "shake your behind at nine." Even Grandmaster Glenn has busted a move from time to time with some Soft Rock 106.5 songs we play! Come to think of it, Brian neither sings nor dances, but then again Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest and Brian's idol Bob Barker never did either. Let the truth be told.

Jury Duty, Anyone?

A trial just wrapped up that almost involved me as a juror. I can't talk about the case, but the expected duration of the trial really would have been a hardship with my work situation. They excused me from service. I know there are some people who would say anything to get out of jury duty, but I can only say positive things about my experience. Sitting on a jury back in 1999 provided a solid civics lesson and was even enjoyable. Like voting, it's gratifying to help make a little difference and not worth looking like a major jerk to get out of it.

Rebecca Drops By Our WBMW Studio!

This morning, my co-host Rebecca stopped in during the show and we had a chance to meet her baby Liliana - now five weeks old! I got to hold Liliana and her smile broadened with each goofy noise made by "Uncle Glenn." Rebecca and I talk all the time, but I hadn't seen her since she went on maternity leave. She is certainly a happy mom. There are new pictures online at http://www.wbmw.com/, but I have yet to post the one of me holding the baby. It's definitely not something I do every day!

Fill-in Phred

It's so great to have someone I've known for years filling in on the Soft Rock 106.5 Wakeup Club while Rebecca's on maternity leave. Phred Mileski is not your average radio person. This is her first crack at our medium, but she is a quick study to be sure. Phred is one of the most creative people I've ever met. She sings professionally, plays keyboard, writes, acts and even designed the WBMW logo. Although she has been guest co-host for well over a month, morning listeners are nowhere near discovering the full range of her talents. If you ever met her in person, you'd realize that for yourself. Phred does some amazing imitations and even plays the accordion. Even her unique name lets you know she is truly one of a kind!

Casino of the Wind Opens

I had to see the newest addition to the place I pass by on my commute every day: Mohegan Sun's new Casino of the Wind. The Casino of the Sky, with its shops and restaurants, is a tough act to follow, but this new section has its own look. It didn't strike me as particularly big (as local casinos go), but Jimmy Buffett's new Margaritaville restaurant looks to be very impressive. It's not open yet, but I would definitely check it out when that day comes.

Plenty of Questions in Jewett City Tragedy

We try to keep things light and upbeat on the Wakeup Club, but there are times when being a local station means more than that. The recent accidental shooting of a two-year old in Jewett City is one of those stories that makes everyone shake their heads in disbelief. Three issues spring out of this tragedy. The whole gun control debate comes up again, with little chance for anything getting resolved on a national scale much less a local one. The question of parental responsibility, and how anyone could let this happen without tighter supervision, was also brought up on Friday's show. We were quickly reminded that the family is stricken with grief and posthumously pointing the finger of blame won't bring this toddler back.

The third issue relates to the community as a whole: Jewett City has had a knack for attracting negative press for decades. For a relatively small community, the borough has been in the headlines in more ways than we care to recount here. I know firsthand that there are many borough residents who work hard at making Jewett City/Griswold a better place. Maybe the best intentions could not have prevented this latest tragedy, but is there something more that can be done to improve Jewett City's less than stellar image? If the borough's citizens could respond with a clear voice the way they did on the question of keeping music playing from atop a church, maybe less bad news will follow a Jewett City headline.

Rebecca's New Addition

My co-host Rebecca had her baby. Liliana Mae Whitten was born 7lbs, 12oz. at 9:51 PM on July 30, 2008 - just a day before her dad Bryan's birthday. Her pregnancy has gotten plenty of on-air publicity, so why stop with the birth? We do have pictures online at http://www.wbmw.com/. It's remarkable how many people have asked about how Rebecca and her baby are doing... even more comments than my sumo suit smackdown in June! That's for another blog. Radio can really touch people who may only know us as those voices in the morning. We could talk about the biggest issues in the world, but this little new addition has sparked more comments than anything. Phred (that's how you spell her name), a longtime friend and a very creative person, has joined me for the duration of Rebecca's maternity leave. Rebecca is doing great, as is the rest of the Whitten family. I'm not one to fawn over babies, but hey, you can't help it when you see the pictures. We get updates from Rebecca at least a couple of times a week, but you can contact her yourself at rebecca@wbmw.com.

Two Years Already!

Even though I've been with WBMW in some capacity for five years working with some great people, I am most amazed at the two year milestone just reached on July 26, 2008. It's a small time period in the overall scheme of things - one part of a 34-year career in radio - but I really never intended it to be an ongoing thing. For one thing, I never thought of myself as a morning person. I was quite comfortable getting up when most of the world did - not at 4:00 AM. I was also self-employed working with direct mail advertising. But a funny thing happened after they asked me to cover for awhile - the bosses liked whatever I was doing more than anyone else they talked to or tried out. So, weeks turned into months and I started feeling at home with the many elements of a morning show. In January 2007, Rebecca Morse Whitten joined me as co-host and I said I'd stick around. We clicked on the air from day one, and I can also say we really are friends.

The response to the Wakeup Club has really been gratifying, so we thank you for that and look forward to many more. Special thanks to GM John Fuller and PD Brian Ram for the positive reinforcement! We are also adding some website content about the show and my own ramblings - taking it to the next level and all that. Hey, I've even started this blog! I welcome your comments at glenn@wbmw.com.

Oreo my Dog

Adopted from the CT Humane Society in 2002, I'm not sure how old he was when I got him. He's half Chihuahua and half Cocker Spaniel - we think.

Cookie my Cat

Hey, what's a blog without a pet picture? Cookie was adopted from the CT Humane Society in 1999. She's 10 years old.

O Canada!

Maybe my interest in Canada is due to the fact that most Americans tend to take our neighbor to the north for granted. I finally got a chance to see Ottawa, Canada's capital, including Parliament. It's a great city, about the size of Washington, but not the best bargain these days when I exchanged 100 U.S. dollars for 88 Canadian and gas was close to $6 a gallon ($1.31/liter). At those prices, it's no wonder people were biking to work like nothing I've seen (yet) in the States. We did not see one U.S. license plate. Still, the trip - and the mini-lesson in French - were well worth it.