Keepin' Santa Cruz...Weird?!

A Trip To Santa Cruz


I think the Tourist Bureau needs to update their promos!

And yes...because it is about Santa Cruz, the running time is 4:20...enjoy!


Ralphie

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Where to begin….

I have always been someone who has experienced depression…I also suffer from the “O” in OCD…I am very obsessive, but not very compulsive, and that’s probably because I also have ADHD (that’s Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)…actually, I have HDADD (that’s High Definition Attention Deficit Disorder!!) so at least it’s all very spectacular! And thank you, Steven Wright!

I think all of those things all work together to make me reeeeaaaalllly good at what I do!

But apparently I never had anything more than a mild case of “the blues” …I had never been anything more than just “bummed out” before these last couple years!

I fell into a depression that I could not come out of.

I had never experienced anything like it before. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t concentrate…I was like the dog in that movie “UP” ….”Squirrell!” …it was the weirdest thing. I couldn’t even think about being social or going anywhere, I didn’t want to see anyone…sadness, despair, crying…laughing….laughing and crying at the same time (I like to multi-task!)…it was really all I could do to get up and come to work every day!

And through all of this I knew that I had a good life, that I am blessed with a good wife, and good job, a roof over my head, good family and friends, talent…so how come I feel so crappy?! How dare I be depressed and whine about anything when I have all this going for me?! I felt that I had this wonderful life, but I was not enjoying it...I had lost my joy, and that’s the worst thing ever.

A lot of it (most of it) has to do with the myriad of B.S. happening at work over the last few years…plus, not getting enough sleep, since I have to get up so early it’s often hard to get to sleep early enough to get at least 7 hours. That’s because I’ve always been a night person and having to go to bed early is strange and foreign to me! But then, of course, when you’re depressed, you have trouble sleeping…and when you don’t sleep you get depressed…then psychotic!

So, you take all that and add the stuff from back in paragraph one and, woo boy, you got yourself some genuine, bonafide, severe, debilitating depression!

Finally had to drag myself into the doctor. Like the joke commercials on KPIG “My Doctor Said Medicine”…She said she could give me something to help me sleep that was an anti-depressant; and even though I knew I needed something, I hesitated…anti-depressants…do I really want to go there?! Then I thought about where I had been and I said “Fuck yeah, let’s go….squirrell!”

I started getting better sleep and noticed some improvement in the first month, but not perfect, so she added another anti-depressant to take to work in concert with the first one…and again, I was hesitant …but now, after three months I feel soooo much better. The hyperactive part of my ADHD has actually kicked back in, and it was really unsettling at first…I didn’t know what was happening…then I realized, “this is how I have always been…oh yeah, that’s right, I remember this!”

It had been so long since I felt like myself, I forgot how I was!

I really missed me…and so did my wife!

I want y’all to know that I was only hesitant because I really don’t like to take meds of any kind…I don’t even really like holistic, organic, natural meds…I just don’t like taking anything unless it is ab-so-lutely necessary…and with my last bit of rational thought I knew that I needed this… I mean, it was really an answer to prayer. I was having trouble concentrating even to get through a simple prayer, but “help me Lord” was enough…so, here He was helping me, and I’m going, “um, yeah, not what I was hoping for”

…and then I thought of that joke:

About the man in the hurricane and the water is rising, its up to the porch and a guy in a small boat goes by and offers the man a ride, but the man waves him on, saying, “My Lord will save me!”

Well, the waters keep rising, and they are up to the second story, and another boat comes by and offers him a ride, but he waves them on, saying, “My Lord will save me!”

The waters continue to rise, and he scampers up onto the roof, where a helicopter spots him and drops a ladder, but he waves them on, saying “My Lord will save me!”

The waters continue to rise and the man is swept away, drowns and goes to heaven, where he meets God:

“Lord, why didn’t you save me?!”

And God says: “Hey, I sent you two boats and a helicopter…!”

Maybe not what you want, but what you need, to paraphrase the Rolling Stones and the Bible!

I like the sentiment of the gospel song “Lord don’t move that mountain, help me to climb it”

I’m still working my way back out of this pit…I’d say I’m feeling about 60 percent better…some days better, some days worse.

When I think back to where I was a few months ago, I can’t even believe it. It was a nasty, frightening place…I can’t even describe it and I’m not sure I even understand it…or why I let it go so long…what am I, nuts?

Yes, but in the most wonderful way!

Squirrell!!

Don't Forget To Sing And Dance

Music and Life!

I seem to have lost my yodel...

Fast Forward

Here is an excerpt from my very first posting here

Greetings and Salutations!

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Ralph Anybody, morning DJ at KPIG radio, broadcasting out of Freedom California at 107oink5 FM, and on-line at kpig.com
we also simulcast The Pig in San Luis Obispo, California at 94oink9 FM

Those of you who do know me…I mean really know me, know my real name, and those of you who don’t know me only need to know me as Ralphie…besides, if you know Ralphie, than you know me, and that’s all you need to know, because we are the same person….confusing enough for you?….I’m confused and I wrote it!

You can Google KPIG, or, better yet, it’s founder Laura Ellen Hopper and find out more about the greatest radio station on the face of the earth…sadly, most of the hits for Laura Ellen are from the many obituaries published after her untimely death back in 2007...we miss you Laura. Laura was the Pit Bull that kept our Corporate Masters (Mapleton Communications) from coming in our yard and stomping (crapping) all over our beautiful format!!

They never understood what a gem of a radio station they owned, and instead of polishing this gem and taking good care of it and putting it in a glass case, they shoved it in a drawer with all the other faux gems and fools gold they own, never realizing it’s worth.

Fast forward to

Now...there is a new group running KPIG, trying to clean up Mapleton's mess. These people actually know radio...and even though that's very encouraging, nothing much has really changed...there is still this huge disconnect between management and we the (little) people! And even though they know radio... it seems to me (and others) that they keep missing obvious opportunities.


We'll see...


As always, thank you for your support!

I guess that’s all for now!

Ralphie

Sleepy On Laura

This is nice!

In Memoriam

This is a video from my nephew Steven's band!

Laura Ellen...

...we miss you.

It seems a lot longer than 4 years.

Thank you for your vision, and for including me in it…and thank you for not taking crap from anyone!

If you need to know more about Laura, simply Google Laura Ellen Hopper …especially check out Antsy McClain’s post about Laura, and listen to the podcast of the interview he did with her.

Ralphie

Her first job in radio was at KDNA in St. Louis. That's her lying on the floor. I still think this looks like an album cover from the sixties!

With Joe Ely

I don't see her much, since she started to ride!

This was midnight on KPIG Y2K!

Not Feeling It

For those of you who have been stopping by this site and have not seen anything new posted for a so long, I apologize. I’ve been in a little bit of a funk …I just haven’t been feeling it…not feeling very chatty, or creative, or really anything. Just busy!

There has been so much going on, not just in my own little world, but the world in general…

I mean with earthquakes and tsunamis,

nuclear melt downs,

Tornados,

Floods.

Obama,

Osama,

Yo Mama (yo mama, that would be Donald Trump)

Yet…not really feeling it.

There is some good news on the management of KPIG…the new guys running the radio stations actually seem to know what they are doing! And, they seem to be willing to spend some money to fix and promote the station! What a concept! However they are dragging their heels when it comes to raises! Some people here have not had a raise in 10 years!

Overall, though, things are looking up! Stay tuned and see what happens next!

But of course the biggest news story for today is…Santa Cruz’ own American Idol James Durbin is returning to meet his fans and do a short concert at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk…Yes, it’s “Durbin Day” in Santa Cruz!

Yawn…

Ralphie

Bunches Of Lunches

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/faith/ci_17301248

This Is Wonderful!

http://www.caregiverstress.com/2010/07/a-reminder-that-laughter-is-the-best-medicine/


Ralphie

RIP Jack LaLanne

If you don't know health, then you don't know Jack!

More On Pearlington

So when we were done in Pearlington, the trailer at Captain John's went bye-bye...



and his ramp was finished

Here is Mr. Ben explaining to steven that he's using the ramp incorrectly!!

Here's Sammy and her high-ladder act replacing some of the molding and paint on the front of the house!

And we finished the drywall in the two front rooms at the purdy house


It was getting dark out that last day as we finished the last of the drywall...D.J. hooked up the lights to that room so we could finish...and we did!

Bill putting on the last piece of the puzzle! (under Mr. Ben's watchful eye!)...

Then, all there was left to do was to bid a tearful goodbye to Mr. Ben and D.J (wasn't that a sitcom in the 60's?!)Happy to be done, sad to be leaving. Everyone had sweet and shiny eyes!

I had noticed all week that people drove by the purdy house and when they saw people working they would honk! Imagine what they thought when they drove by and saw the lights on!!

Ralphie

This Just In...

There was an interesting memo in everyone’s box today from Adam Nathanson.

He announced that he is stepping down as the head of Mapleton’s radio empire and will be moving to some other endeavor at Mapleton. (Yes, I’m sure it was all his idea!)


We don’t know who will be replacing Adam…will it be someone with a radio and broadcast background, or simply a money person?!

I’ll keep you posted as best I can! As always, thank you all for your support!

Ralphie

Pearlington, Mississippi 2010

The Players


From California
Front row L to R: Gail, Ralphie, Ellen, Lynn, D.J., Doug, Mary, Debbie, Brittany. Back row L to R: Steven, Jonathan, Sammy, Bill.


And taking the group picture: Mr. Ben. Mr. Ben is our man on the ground in Pearlington. He knows everyone and what jobs need to get done. He cracks the whip pretty good!!

D.J., a volunteer from Virginia; He is an electrician and jack of all trades. He has been doing the wiring at the Purdy house, living in a trailer on the property, since October, and hoped to be done by about this time. He was funny, kind, hardworking...a real joy, and a blessing to everyone on the team! He helped us tear down Captain John's trailer...he said "anything to get out of the attic for a couple days!" I was sure glad he was there helping on that project!



Ellen and Captain John. He used to take people out on tours of the swamp. Big biz down there!
Mr. Ben gives us our orders...although it looks like Brittany is taking his order..."Do you want fries with that?" Pull up to the window!

One team to do the drywall at the Purdy house...one team workin' on the ramp at Capn' Johns, and one team to tear down the old travel trailer behind Capn' John's house.

Our Work

The yellow house, the pretty house, the purdy house...all names we called it...I guess purdy house stuck with me!
That first day the whole group worked here getting it ready for the sheet rock.
D.J., our friend from Virginia!
Lots of wood and other debris...throw it on the burn pile! Ellen became know as Woodchuck in our homage to the Geico commercial....when there was something to throw away I'd yell "Hey Woodchuck!" and she'd yell back "I'm chuckin' that wood!" Just about every yard in town has a burn pile.

Day Two....

One team stayed at the purdy house, and two teams crossed the Pearl river into Louisiana to work at Captain John's house.
Brittany and her team we determined to finish the walkway/ramp they had started back in April, when John and his sons finally moved into the house.
That houseboat in the background was lifted up by the 18 foot wave and carried into town. When the water subsided, it was sitting on a house! Maybe it was trying to mate!?!
Sidewalk ends...


Meanwhile....the other team headed out back....


To meet our foe......