RD THOUGHTS -- JANUARY 15, 2007
THE FIRST "TWENTY YEARS"...OR IS IT THE FIRST FORTY YEARS?
I thought this subject would seem fitting, taking a page from Janet Jackson more or less.
Well, to be honest, I don't know where to begin. In just a couple of days, I will reach a milestone. On January 17, I will turn 40 years old, at 4:22 AM (7:22 AM was the actual time of my birth, but that is Eastern Standard Time, and I was born in Hammonton, New Jersey). Yeah, I’m one of those January babies so good to get the birthday out of the way 17 days into the new year.
Do I begin back in the 1970s, when I do have memories of being small and being a kid in El Paso? Or do I begin in the 1980s when I became very popular in the Las Vegas-based Sunrise Mountain area?
I will say this though: I have come across many faces in my 40 years. Well, other than the nurses, and fellow babies who were around me after I was born. Perhaps in 35 of my 40 years would be more suitable, since I wasn’t really aware of my surroundings until around 1969 if not 1970.
First off, I do want to say, that my mom and dad are still around and they will live to see me reach 40. Both of my parents had their parents alive when they reached 40 (my dad in 1979, and my mom in 1983). All of my grandparents however are no longer with us. I miss all of them, especially Grandmom Carey and Grandpop Donahoo. Every weekend my grandmom would travel by bus from Downtown El Paso to our house in Northeast El Paso, and sometimes vice-versa. Had I stayed in Texas, I think I would’ve visited her almost every weekend.
Well, as I reach 40, I like to take the time to mention several key names that were a major influence over the years...
Beginning in the 1970s with my first grade teacher at Newman School, Mrs. DeMaio, the kindergarten teacher Mrs. Wilkins, Andrea Fellows, Day John Hughes, the Uroz family, the mailman Mr. Tidwell, Sharon Farrow, Seth Gonzales, my dad's close friend George DeClercq, Christina Ibarra, Sheila Lopez, David Castle, Gina Salazar, Tom and Georgia Glover, and many others I can't think of off the top of my head. Living in the 915 was quite cool for a time, but I had to deal with the share of street punks and bullies, whom I will not mention here; and that goes for you morons who were trying to put me out of commission by throwing snowballs back in 1980.
In time, I will dig into my past days in El Paso. Sort of a bummer I didn't know Lydia Cornell when she was growing up there. What a wonderful and thoughtful person, who knows all of the wrongs of this Government and the rights of who will be taking over in 2009. Lydia has certainly paid her dues since making her 1980 debut in the Entertainment world -- on “Too Close for Comfort”. Not to say I preferred Lydia over Deborah Van Valkenbergh. Deb was just as equally important to the success of TCFC as Lydia, Ted Knight, Jim Bullock and everyone else.
Let's not forget my influences, Ted Bender, the late Howell Eurich, Gary Warner, Bill Mitchell, Steve Crosno, and a few others during my days in that West Texas town. Even the goofy public address announcer, Paul Strezlin at Dudley Field (and later Cohen Stadium) should also be mentioned. John Teicher, a UCLA product, indeed is the dean of play-by-play announcers in El Paso; and the first radio voice of the Diablos when they were in the Texas League. He is now the voice of UTEP football and basketball, a job once held many moons ago by Ted Bender.
Can't forget about the people in Germany either. One I still talk to from time to time is Chris Van Dyke, who lives in Colorado. The 4th grade teacher I had, Mrs. Smith; I nicknamed her "Electrohead", because she was very snobbish and extremely rude, who really ruffled my mom's feathers once because she wrote in my report card that "I came to school only to play and not to learn". Really? The last time I checked, you had to both LEARN and to PLAY as well. Sorry, but that class was like being at Harvard. She had the audacity to actually BAN me from going on the school trip to that amusement park in Cologne! Ugh...I was fortunate to get out of there alive!
I went to Cologne the previous year with my 3rd grade classs via rail, which in Germany really was the way to go. Cologne wasn't that far from Bitburg, about 60 miles, or 100 km, north of there -- it was like going from L.A. to Redlands. Did some cool things too during that time; including going on a 10-km walk through the streets of Bitburg to help raise money for a good cause. That was fun!
The 2nd and 3rd grade teachers I had, Mrs. Carlisle and Mrs. Yamada, were very nice and very good teachers.
The 80s in the 702 were better of course. Bart Beck, the Arnold family, Brenda Mills, Andrea and Darryl Goalen, Dan Bennett, the Rock family, Ott Miller, Britta Carlson, Stacy Herro, the Ball sisters, Mark Burdo, Rob Hathcock, Janeen Jewett and of course the one and only Pat Geary. They were the ones that made me who I was during my early days in Vegas, and I thank all of you for being there. Honorable mention of course: the late Richard Paulin, Sherrill Stephens, Mrs. Bright, Coach Fraser, Denny Clarkson, and the legendary coach Jimmy May. Barry Zweig was one of my first bosses after high school. He knew that I had potential, and he took me under his wing for a good three or four years. I learned a lot from him, and I do thank you for "motivating me". He was tough on me, but a the same time he was always fair and approachable. His family are very good people, especially Barry’s late father Arnie.
Let's also not forget the people I knew who unfortunately died way too soon: Mike "Bogie" Boulgardt, Richard "RJ" Johnson, Reuben Mayorga, Brian Jones and Candace Weckhorst. Brian's death really shocked me; we didn't really see eye to eye during our days in school, but later on he became a very good friend who really enjoyed life to the fullest. Candace's death sadly was the result of an assassin’s bullet from a malicious lowlife coward whose life was centered around him and nobody else. I am glad the punk got exactly what he deserved. Candace and I lived not far from each other, and she hung out with Bart, Mark, Ott and a few others. Very sad; to this day I still can't believe what happened to her.
Another one I knew was James Pope. He was with us during our freshmen year at Eldorado, but unfortunately, he became very ill with leukemia and passed away during the summer off-season. I was very good friends with his two sisters.
I have mentioned many of the people I knew during the late-1980s during my time at Budget in an earlier blog, so it is not necessary to mention them again. The 90s brought in good people like Nimrod Ramey, Ted Reisner, Scott Stanfill, Eddie Sanchez, Rick Saida, Greg Clemens, Jennie Penczek, Ronnie Vannucci, Corinna Harney, Wendy Henry (how-do-you-do!), the Hawaiian guy I knew at Tahoe Springs, Amir, Nina, Toto, and of course Angel down in the Sunshine state.
Then came L.A. As many of you know, I was married for a time. I don't have any bad feelings at all from the collapse of my marriage to Erin. It happened a bit too fast; perhaps it should've waited a year or two longer; I don't know. However I do want to thank her and her family for their support, as well as Ruben Carerra, Ed Morgan, Art Ruben, Dave Bassett, Shorty, Umesh Pithia, H.B., Steve Brody, and several others for allowing me the chance to be one of them. Griselda, wherever you are, I haven't forgotten about you either.
Well, those were the people that I've come across and had the great pleasure to knowing through the years. Many of them as I said before were major influences in my life, and vice-versa. Without them, it wouldn't been as fun as it was. One time back in 1985, I hung out with some friends at a house in the foothills of the Sunrise Mountain area; stayed there late, then went into the work with only five or six hours sleep the next day. Go figure that out.
Well, I have to say that I don't feel 40 at all. I don't know about you though...have some gotten depressed about being 40? You sort of wish sometimes that you can stay in your 20s or 30s forever; just keep the clock still. I am certainly not in the best shape of my life, that I will not hide. Let's just say that from here on out I will strive to keep it going another 40 years, if not more. It's time to get back on track and to STAY on that track for good. If it means relocating somewhere else, then so be it.
Maybe another 4-mile walk between here and Downtown L.A. is just what the doctor ordered.
Hey, if Jim Perry (former TV host) can stay in shape and look young at 73, then anybody can do it.
I'll discuss more of this in detail during the next few days.
I thought this subject would seem fitting, taking a page from Janet Jackson more or less.
Well, to be honest, I don't know where to begin. In just a couple of days, I will reach a milestone. On January 17, I will turn 40 years old, at 4:22 AM (7:22 AM was the actual time of my birth, but that is Eastern Standard Time, and I was born in Hammonton, New Jersey). Yeah, I’m one of those January babies so good to get the birthday out of the way 17 days into the new year.
Do I begin back in the 1970s, when I do have memories of being small and being a kid in El Paso? Or do I begin in the 1980s when I became very popular in the Las Vegas-based Sunrise Mountain area?
I will say this though: I have come across many faces in my 40 years. Well, other than the nurses, and fellow babies who were around me after I was born. Perhaps in 35 of my 40 years would be more suitable, since I wasn’t really aware of my surroundings until around 1969 if not 1970.
First off, I do want to say, that my mom and dad are still around and they will live to see me reach 40. Both of my parents had their parents alive when they reached 40 (my dad in 1979, and my mom in 1983). All of my grandparents however are no longer with us. I miss all of them, especially Grandmom Carey and Grandpop Donahoo. Every weekend my grandmom would travel by bus from Downtown El Paso to our house in Northeast El Paso, and sometimes vice-versa. Had I stayed in Texas, I think I would’ve visited her almost every weekend.
Well, as I reach 40, I like to take the time to mention several key names that were a major influence over the years...
Beginning in the 1970s with my first grade teacher at Newman School, Mrs. DeMaio, the kindergarten teacher Mrs. Wilkins, Andrea Fellows, Day John Hughes, the Uroz family, the mailman Mr. Tidwell, Sharon Farrow, Seth Gonzales, my dad's close friend George DeClercq, Christina Ibarra, Sheila Lopez, David Castle, Gina Salazar, Tom and Georgia Glover, and many others I can't think of off the top of my head. Living in the 915 was quite cool for a time, but I had to deal with the share of street punks and bullies, whom I will not mention here; and that goes for you morons who were trying to put me out of commission by throwing snowballs back in 1980.
In time, I will dig into my past days in El Paso. Sort of a bummer I didn't know Lydia Cornell when she was growing up there. What a wonderful and thoughtful person, who knows all of the wrongs of this Government and the rights of who will be taking over in 2009. Lydia has certainly paid her dues since making her 1980 debut in the Entertainment world -- on “Too Close for Comfort”. Not to say I preferred Lydia over Deborah Van Valkenbergh. Deb was just as equally important to the success of TCFC as Lydia, Ted Knight, Jim Bullock and everyone else.
Let's not forget my influences, Ted Bender, the late Howell Eurich, Gary Warner, Bill Mitchell, Steve Crosno, and a few others during my days in that West Texas town. Even the goofy public address announcer, Paul Strezlin at Dudley Field (and later Cohen Stadium) should also be mentioned. John Teicher, a UCLA product, indeed is the dean of play-by-play announcers in El Paso; and the first radio voice of the Diablos when they were in the Texas League. He is now the voice of UTEP football and basketball, a job once held many moons ago by Ted Bender.
Can't forget about the people in Germany either. One I still talk to from time to time is Chris Van Dyke, who lives in Colorado. The 4th grade teacher I had, Mrs. Smith; I nicknamed her "Electrohead", because she was very snobbish and extremely rude, who really ruffled my mom's feathers once because she wrote in my report card that "I came to school only to play and not to learn". Really? The last time I checked, you had to both LEARN and to PLAY as well. Sorry, but that class was like being at Harvard. She had the audacity to actually BAN me from going on the school trip to that amusement park in Cologne! Ugh...I was fortunate to get out of there alive!
I went to Cologne the previous year with my 3rd grade classs via rail, which in Germany really was the way to go. Cologne wasn't that far from Bitburg, about 60 miles, or 100 km, north of there -- it was like going from L.A. to Redlands. Did some cool things too during that time; including going on a 10-km walk through the streets of Bitburg to help raise money for a good cause. That was fun!
The 2nd and 3rd grade teachers I had, Mrs. Carlisle and Mrs. Yamada, were very nice and very good teachers.
The 80s in the 702 were better of course. Bart Beck, the Arnold family, Brenda Mills, Andrea and Darryl Goalen, Dan Bennett, the Rock family, Ott Miller, Britta Carlson, Stacy Herro, the Ball sisters, Mark Burdo, Rob Hathcock, Janeen Jewett and of course the one and only Pat Geary. They were the ones that made me who I was during my early days in Vegas, and I thank all of you for being there. Honorable mention of course: the late Richard Paulin, Sherrill Stephens, Mrs. Bright, Coach Fraser, Denny Clarkson, and the legendary coach Jimmy May. Barry Zweig was one of my first bosses after high school. He knew that I had potential, and he took me under his wing for a good three or four years. I learned a lot from him, and I do thank you for "motivating me". He was tough on me, but a the same time he was always fair and approachable. His family are very good people, especially Barry’s late father Arnie.
Let's also not forget the people I knew who unfortunately died way too soon: Mike "Bogie" Boulgardt, Richard "RJ" Johnson, Reuben Mayorga, Brian Jones and Candace Weckhorst. Brian's death really shocked me; we didn't really see eye to eye during our days in school, but later on he became a very good friend who really enjoyed life to the fullest. Candace's death sadly was the result of an assassin’s bullet from a malicious lowlife coward whose life was centered around him and nobody else. I am glad the punk got exactly what he deserved. Candace and I lived not far from each other, and she hung out with Bart, Mark, Ott and a few others. Very sad; to this day I still can't believe what happened to her.
Another one I knew was James Pope. He was with us during our freshmen year at Eldorado, but unfortunately, he became very ill with leukemia and passed away during the summer off-season. I was very good friends with his two sisters.
I have mentioned many of the people I knew during the late-1980s during my time at Budget in an earlier blog, so it is not necessary to mention them again. The 90s brought in good people like Nimrod Ramey, Ted Reisner, Scott Stanfill, Eddie Sanchez, Rick Saida, Greg Clemens, Jennie Penczek, Ronnie Vannucci, Corinna Harney, Wendy Henry (how-do-you-do!), the Hawaiian guy I knew at Tahoe Springs, Amir, Nina, Toto, and of course Angel down in the Sunshine state.
Then came L.A. As many of you know, I was married for a time. I don't have any bad feelings at all from the collapse of my marriage to Erin. It happened a bit too fast; perhaps it should've waited a year or two longer; I don't know. However I do want to thank her and her family for their support, as well as Ruben Carerra, Ed Morgan, Art Ruben, Dave Bassett, Shorty, Umesh Pithia, H.B., Steve Brody, and several others for allowing me the chance to be one of them. Griselda, wherever you are, I haven't forgotten about you either.
Well, those were the people that I've come across and had the great pleasure to knowing through the years. Many of them as I said before were major influences in my life, and vice-versa. Without them, it wouldn't been as fun as it was. One time back in 1985, I hung out with some friends at a house in the foothills of the Sunrise Mountain area; stayed there late, then went into the work with only five or six hours sleep the next day. Go figure that out.
Well, I have to say that I don't feel 40 at all. I don't know about you though...have some gotten depressed about being 40? You sort of wish sometimes that you can stay in your 20s or 30s forever; just keep the clock still. I am certainly not in the best shape of my life, that I will not hide. Let's just say that from here on out I will strive to keep it going another 40 years, if not more. It's time to get back on track and to STAY on that track for good. If it means relocating somewhere else, then so be it.
Maybe another 4-mile walk between here and Downtown L.A. is just what the doctor ordered.
Hey, if Jim Perry (former TV host) can stay in shape and look young at 73, then anybody can do it.
I'll discuss more of this in detail during the next few days.
posted by Robert @ 9:25 PM
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