DARN, I MAY HAVE TO SELL MY SNOW SHOVEL

Not that I've been keeping up the blog all that much lately, but many of you are asking for updates on my whereabouts and I've been very busy complying with the Iowa Workforce Development requirements. Thank you for your interest. Remind me to tell you the story of how unemployment changes a person. I've been through this twice now, and I think I'm getting good at it. The beard is coming in real good, I haven't had to do a lot of laundry, and the kids are starting to call me "mommy" more often...

Other than that, I'm going to be having a yard sale at some point. You can come by and buy all my stuff that I don't want to move again. You can even make an offer on the yard. And the house that sits on it...

Which by the way...recently won 2-nd place in the Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission 2006 Historic Rehabilitation Award for my neighborhood! (PDF map) Yeah...we're pleased, but we don't get a break on the mortgage. Ha ha ha.

Anyway...I'm flying out of town this week, so this will be another blog post that lasts a while. I'm headed to an interview and meetings with prospective employers over the next couple of days. There's good and bad news for you in that small announcement...

Bad News...none of you will be able to listen to me anymore (could also be good news for some)

Good News...the snow shovels and winter gear will be half price at the yard sale

Thanks, y'all...

THANK YOU ALL

I cannot thank you enough for the encouragement and words of thanks many of you have been kind to send. I am happy to report that I am currently pursuing a couple of leads on my broadcast employment. Sad to report that none are in the Eastern Iowa area.

Many of you have left comments particular to individuals that are still employed at the station. While that is free speech, some of them have been a bit unfair to people I know and respect. Change is often difficult and comes at the surprise of a lot of people. Tom Collins in particular is a fine broadcaster and in the short time I got to know him, seems very capable of earning the trust that many of you made me earn when I took over.

I've learned also that the dust will eventually settle and many will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about. I had hoped to make Iowa my home again, and there may still be the possibility that I will, but I am also looking to make myself more than just a warm body in a studio pushing buttons (figuratively and literally). Over my last 17-some-odd years, I've gained an enormous amount of experience in each move I've made...so I see the next stage as another learning experience.

If one of the possibilities I am working on pans out, I will have made Friday, March 31st my last official host broadcast. In that event, I'm sure I will have much more to say about the experience and it may even inspire a more lengthy tome of my travels in radio. It will also mean the end of this blog as it currently is set up.

I will do my best to keep you informed. I wish all of you well...my time on the air has been directed toward strangers, but always meant in friendship.

greg@gregalan.net