Something OTHER than a Duck Update!?

First, an apology to the legions of people who wait with bated breath for each new edition of my blog. (Mostly just Kyle Bailey).

I've been busy with games and trips and stuff around the station that makes me feel way busier than I really am. Having the Duck games on my schedule is a really handy alibi and excuse for missing stuff. Its especially effective at the station, but I must admit its losing its power at home.

But I've promised not to dwell in Duck-land on this edition of the blog. Instead, let me proclaim to all (five) of you what it means to have been named the 2009 Jim Gregory Roseburg Booster of the Year.

Greg Marlar presented me with the award at the annual Booster Club Banquet last month (man it has been a long time since my last entry). He talked about what a mooch I was and lamented the fact that I had just stolen his thunder by telling the story about how Coach Horton called me 'whathisname'.

If he said nice things about me, I can't remember what he said. All I could think while Greg read the intro was how so many other people are worthy of this award.

I would like to chop this plaque into tiny pieces and give pieces to the following people:
Irene The Super Fan, who tagged up with Bessie for years of going to just about every sporting event in the county - but only if the Indians weren't playing.
To Tom Rise, whose encouragement to me included the story about he and his wife Rita tuning into Doc's games when she was too sick from chemo to come to Legion Field. He said, 'it beat crying all the time'.
To Coach Troy Thompson, who teases me about never doing regular season Roseburg baseball games and to Coach Lander, who still thinks I could do play-by-play for wrestling. (I know they do it in Prineville, but I don't know a two point take down from a three-piece meal).
To Deb Ramey, who needs to be cloned to get more stuff done.
To Russ Bolin who takes such good care of me.

I would like to thank the guys at Chuck's Texaco for filling up the vehicles with the kind of gas that gets you home every time and for Ken Sherman, Keith Pettengill, Jared Castle, Robert Reppenghagen, Kellen Walker, Jeff Bright, Jaime Yraguen, Steve Coats, Ben Tatone and Steve Salapich for riding with me to games.

Riding with me means 1) watching a man eat and drive with his knees
2) playing a pro bono Dr Phil to dissect the problems (real and imagined) I seem to get into when the vehicle reaches cruising speed.
3) the occasional foul odor that comes with weeks of eating hamburgers and quesadillas at cruising speed
4) late night returns and long rides back from disappointing losses far from home and 5)learning to love listening to Susan Tedeschi at unhealthy volume levels.

I also thank my wife Jannie for taking care of all the details of raising three girls so I can forget everything and go play on the radio. She puts up with me when I'm too high on myself and too hard on myself - which I am always either one or the other.

Honestly, so many people make Roseburg a special place. To get the kind of love I receive in return for doing what I love is truly one of the best things I have ever been a part of.