Custodian of the Tiara of Traffic

Custodian of the Tiara of Traffic
Wearing a heavy coat indoors? It's Cleveland, folks. Of course we do!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

How Social are Your Media?

Radio announcers are masters at multi-tasking, but updating social media while on the air means perpetual motion during morning drive from 6 to 10 a.m. I post often to keep you updated on cultural stories that don't make it on the air, oddball stories or videos that will make you laugh, or important stories that I only have time to summarize on the air.

Feel free to send a message or comment on a post. There are two Facebook choices:

www.facebook.com/WCLV's Queen of the Morn

www.facebook.com/Feature WCLV on "Hot in Cleveland" (WCLV has been in Cleveland almost as long as Betty White's character has)

On Twitter: www.twitter.com/queenofthemorn (I post the morning's Movie Quiz prizes prior to 9 am ET, and the answers after 9:25)

Inquiring Minds Want to Know: "Queen of the Morn" came about via our overnight announcer, Rob Grier, he of the basso voice. I call him "The Barry White of the Overnight." He calls me "Queen of the Morning," which was too long a user name for Twitter, so "Morn" it became.

The End of Barrel-ioz




Following up on an earlier post, WCLV's own orange barrel, "Hector Barrel-ioz," has left Renaissance Parkway. The barrels have been replaced by orange cones joined by yellow "Caution" tape, to protect the newly-poured concrete around the storm sewer grate that settled a few months ago.

Since I mention orange barrels frequently on WCLV's traffic reports, it was a point of pride to have our own. My only regret is that they took it away before I could write "Barrel-ioz" on it. But something tells me the road repair guys wouldn't have understood the pun.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Ready for Her Closeup




Among the dogs who benefit from listening to WCLV is Lizzy, owned by Fred, who sent this photo. Fred thinks Lizzy is photogenic enough to be on a dog-food package.

Thanks to all the WCLV Garage Sale shoppers who brought their dogs. One black cock-a-poo made friends easily and was a hit with the crowd. Later, I approached a couple of dogs being walked by a listener who warned me away, saying the dogs weren't very friendly in a group. So much for THAT social outing.

Another listener admitted that there were four dogs in her car. "Four?" I asked, nervous at the idea of dogs in a parked car on a sunny day. She said her daughter was out walking them.

One listener said his dog not only listens to WCLV, but when the dog dislikes what we're playing, it barks at the radio. Well, don't we all?

Monday, October 18, 2010

While You Were Waiting....

Thanks to all who took away bargains at the Great WCLV Garage Sale on Saturday. You were very patient during the waits, which ranged from 1 to 2 hours. CDs, furniture and posters flew out the door. So many of you left owning a little piece of Radio Ranch.

Bill O'Connell, Mark Satola, John Simna, Nancy Sinning and yours truly chatted you up while you were waiting. A number of you brought your dogs.

WCLV listener Roz Roberts answered my on-air "call for bongos." I now am practicing like an authentic beatnik.

One person asked after our former morning host, Albert Petrak, who is still around and kicking.

The same person asked how long WCLV's president, Robert Conrad, had been in that "great control room in the sky." She didn't realize that Robert was standing nearby, looking very healthy.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

What a Crowd, What a Crowd!

I wasn't exactly channeling Rodney Dangerfield this morning, but we have had a fabulous turnout at the Great WCLV Garage Sale. Due to space considerations, we can only admit a few people at a time, which means lots of listeners have been patiently waiting in line for CDs, furniture, posters, and tons of WCLV memorabilia, including costumes left over from our "Blossom Broadway Baby" events. If you need a lobster hat or grass skirt for Halloween, get 'em while they last. The sale continues until 5
today. Mark Satola, our Midday host, and Nancy Sinning, Sunday's host, have arrived and are chatting up the shoppers.

Friday, October 15, 2010

WCLV's Great Garage Sale



Tomorrow, October 16th, from 9:30 to 5, rain or shine, WCLV will sell decades' worth of CDs, station promotional items, posters, furniture and accumulated stuff. This fancy pumpkin is NOT for sale, but 6,000 CDs are at $2 ea. You'll also find LPs. If you've always wanted a WCLV umbrella, or one of our blue-and-white car antenna toppers, you may find them. too. Cash or check only. All items sold "as is." All sales final.

Prepare to take your time and browse. I'll be your "shopping enabler" until about 1 tomorrow. If you start to doubt the wisdom of any purchase, I'll supply any justification you need. I live to serve.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

I Could Watch All Day




The view in the East outside Radio Ranch this morning as storm clouds churned in the West. Cleveland has the most interesting clouds.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Teal Waters

Driving on the shoreway Saturday, Lake Erie seemed to be an unusually dark teal. It contrasted dramatically with all the white sails, the white waves and of course, the white gulls dive-bombing the fish. It was one of those glorious stretches of effortless weather. It does happen in Cleveland. You just have to wait for it.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen


It opens tomorrow at the Kent State Museum. Listen to my two-part interview with the museum's director, Jean Druesedow, on wclv.com. Jean explains how the museum acquired the clothes, including all those pairs of khaki trousers. She also details the clothing in the exhibit, especially that great black velvet dress from "Adam's Rib."

From wclv.com, click on "Arts Resources" and "Interviews." For information, go to www.kent.edu/museum.

Grab the Umbrella...

You'll need it beginning tonight through Sunday. It'll be a wet Browns game vs. the Bengals Sunday afternoon.

Did you hear Larry Keigwin describe "Bolero: Akron" on the "First Program" this morning? His dance company and non-dancing "Akronites" perform to Ravel's music tomorrow night at 8 at E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron. Go to www.dancecleveland.org for ticket information.

Or maybe I'll see you in the audience tomorrow night for the opening of Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband" at Great Lakes Theater Festival. Tickets at www.greatlakestheater.org