From 2000 My Paper Welcome To KFOG

Lots of radio stations used to publish a newsletter to publicize what they did. When I started at KFOG in 2000 they did a profile of me in the October Fog Tracks.

Reading this now I am surprised how truthful I was and how they included bands I liked that didn't really fit the KFOG format. Most stations would edit that out or change it. That wasn't the KFOG way. They were really honest with listeners and if you were in to a hobby or activity you could talk about it. There is no mention of the station I was at just before KFOG :)

At KFOG there were some unique personalities and I thought (but was never told) that I would be the "regular guy" that fishes for salmon, and likes the Raiders and 49ers, and all of that stuff. I did and I talked about it.

For the first month or so I was pretty nervous. I had to change from slightly wild Alternative guy to a much more mature adult KFOG guy. I was really comfortable in my previous job but it was like narrowcasting compared to the huge audience of KFOG. I felt like a rookie at Lakers training camp with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Back then the Lakers were good the Warriors were not!

I worked it out and found my groove and loved working there for the next 10 years!

I still like all the bands I mentioned and The Powerpuff Girls but no more powerlifting these days.

Things always change in radio. Like everyone else I got my job because a DJ wasn't there anymore.

In that spirit I have and always will wish the best to every DJ at every station if it is a place I worked at or a competitor. No matter what we get to do a fun job for a little while then somebody else gets to sit in what I call "The Big Chair."

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RAGBRAI I Did It! The Question Is...

RAGBRAI 2017

Would I do it again?

I am working on getting my photos together and writing more about RAGBRAI the Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. There are so many stories to tell and things I was surprised by it will take me a while. It is hard to describe. It is so much more than over 10,000 bicycle riders spending a week on bicycles going across Iowa.

Part of my RAGBRAI experience was doing daily phone reports to our morning show Good Morning Bob on 99.3 The Vine in Napa.

Would I do it again? I want to. This was the 3rd shortest route and 3rd least climbing (no Iowa isn't flat) and every day kicked my butt. The weather wasn't as hot as usual they all said.

I could barely get to camp to have dinner then was so tired I just about collapsed and was asleep by 9 or 10 every night.

I missed all the night time concerts and fun stuff in the overnight towns because I was too tired. By mid week 45 miles in to a 60 mile day I was struggling.

Don't get me wrong it was really fun. The daytime towns we visited were really cool and interesting and super fun!

But I couldn't have done it if it was longer, had more climbs, or hotter.

All my friends that ride would love RAGBRAI and they are all in much better shape to enjoy it all. I highly recommend they do it next year no matter the course route (it changes every year)

So the answer is yes I would do it again, but I have to keep at it to get in better shape. I want to have even more fun and not finish every day so whooped.

It was the toughest thing I have ever done and I am really glad I did it. A benefit many RAGBRAI riders talk about is "the decision to do RAGBRAI changed my eating and exercise choices for the year before the ride."

That's true for me for sure. I'm probably in the best condition I have been in for a long time and I don't think it is that far to go to be able to comfortably do the ride again if I stay at it.

I remember the hand crank lay down paraplegic trike bicycle rider I talked with, the 90 year old RAGBRAI veterans, the big guys and gals that I saw riding, and I will think of them all as I train.

During the week I thought about the 1st time I did a nonstop 5 mile bicycle ride in the Oakland Hills. I was so flippin happy! It was so tough to get that milestone. That wasn't so long ago!

More photos and some incredible video coming soon

99.3 The Vine Napa Vine Time Podcast Billy Bob Thorton Episode

Here it is! I think this is a fun podcast episode.





DJ's from 99.3 The Vine Napa get together on a podcast
Good Morning Bob interviews "Bad Santa" Billy Bob Thorton
Big Rick Stuart has wine reviews and a wine movie tip
Sharpie talks to the owner of the Napa hot spot Napkins
Napa Homegrown music from BottleRock band Secure The Sun

It is all brought to you by our sponsors Hope and Grace Wines in Yountville.

Enjoy!