Rachel Legan

Rachel Legan's "The Last Word" in today's BakersfieldLife magazine inside today's Bakersfield Californian newspaper..

2010-06-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Full text of the article is written below:

RACHEL LEGAN

Occupation:Morning radio personality AKA Smart alec

Best part of my job: Every part. There is not a day that goes by that I am not eternally grateful to have been on 101.5 KGFM my entire adult life.I realize I am only 21,so that isn’t very long but very exciting! I’m kidding of course.Legal restrictions aside, I can’t think of another job that would allow me as much freedom to just be myself.Having my younger brother Dustin as my co-host is also fun.We can air our arguments on air and let the listener decide who is right (and when I win everyone gets valuable cash and prizes!)

Best piece of advice some has given me: There are two pieces of advice I will never forget. The first one is; “If you don’t know what to do,don’t do anything at all” .The reality is we actually do know what to do most of the time.Instinct should set the stage,just proceed with caution.My all time favorite advice however was given to me via my best gal Oprah,maybe you’ve heard of her? Poet Maya Angelou was on her show one day and said “When someone shows you who they are believe them........ the first time”. That statement has been very useful to me. Even when I ignore it I end up learning from it.

My all-time fav Missed Connection story : There isn’t a story that stands out as much as the descriptions people have for eachother and what they are doing when they failed to catch the attention of a potential future spouse. I have learned that birth control can be described as “baby blockers”. I believe the missed encounter went something like “You was buyin’ sum baby blockers when we caught eyes pumpin’ fuel”. It’s also fun to read them aloud as they are written.One man discussing a local mother’s recent plastic surgery wrote “ Yowza! I knew them kid feeders under your sweeter was knew cuz I seen you before and you is way more smiking hot nowdays”. It hurts just to read that sentence but it is hilarious on the air. Thursdays at 7:50am by the way..

What’s on your iPod (name five songs and why you love them): I actually do not own an ipod.If I did you might be surprised at my taste in music.It is all over the place! Right now I would have my man Dave Matthews singing his songs “Bartender” and “#27” live at Radio City music hall.Love the passion in those songs and the special relationships I have that the lyrics bring out full force.I’m also really loving Eminem’s “Airplanes” and “I’m not afraid”. As odd as it sounds,I relate to alot of Eminem’s lyrics because of similarities in our childhood.Finally I could never go anywhere without Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”. Again,just love the lyrics.

Something very few people know about me: If it’s something embarassing or interesting it goes on the air.Our life experiences make our radio show.So I’m an open book.I will tell you that for someone whose job it is to speak,when the job is done I want nothing more than to be silent.This has made me incredibly quick texter.I will choose texting or emailing over a phone conversation nine out of ten times.

When I want to relax, I layout in the pool of my recently rented home and read.Sometimes I’m reading Facebook messages on my phone,sometimes it’s the Bakersfield Californian and sometimes it’s a book.I always have some sort of reading material within arms length.

Three things that define Bakersfield to you: It is the only place I have ever lived so the first thing is “Home”. Secondly I’d say “Unique”. We really do have a little bit of everything and our residents defend our love for this city anytime someone tries to knock it down.Obviously they aren’t educated enough to know how tough we are.Finally, the thing I have always noticed is our sense of “Community”.Not only do residents here always come to the aid of others in need but we all seem to know eachother.I don’t mean personally but if you’re familiar with the theory of six degrees of separation I think there are only 2 degrees in Bakersfield.

Place you could be found having lunch on the weekend: Here’s that thing no one knows! I cringe when asked to meet for “lunch”. Since I have been up at 2:30am for the last 18 years or so my schedule is not like the 9-5 crowd. My meal clock is different from nearly everyone else.I avoid lunch meetings and gatherings as much as possible and instead opt for an early dinner.Even on weekends when my husband and step daughter are home,they know that it’s the one meal I usually eat at the kitchen counter.Not very glamorous but it works for me!

Sex and the City 2..pics from Bakersfield Premiere Party(more pics can be found at KGFMdotCOM..

2010-06-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

Stilletos Required...but heels accepted (shhh!)

2010-05-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Stilletos required but heels accepted :) Join me as I host the "Get Carried Away" SEX AND THE CITY 2 Premiere. Happening Thursday night. Get your tickets now. This even benefits the Alliance Against Family Violence, a cause near and dear to the hearts of "Rachel and Dustin" in the morning.Had it not been for the Alliance we may not be where we are today.

AMGEN IN BAKERSFIELD....

2010-05-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

I linked Richard Beene's "Bakersfield Observed" blog here: He has better pics than I do and well..I just think everyone should look at his blog everyday anyway!!!

http://www.bakersfieldobserved.com/2010/05/amgen-tour-of-california-stage-5-ends.html

Here are some other random pics... from the event and media trike race...

Herb Benham: It's morning -- not mournin -- for DJs - Bakersfield.com

2010-04-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

Herb Benham: It's morning -- not mournin -- for DJs - Bakersfield.com

Log on to link to read the story on Rachel and Dustin Legan (that's me and my brother..lol)

Scarface for kids...?

2010-04-02T06:51:00.000-07:00

Water.What is it good for? YOU!! Duh~ Get out your pen.Your autograph is needed..

2010-02-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Check it out peeps.Got an email today from my buddy Rob Meszaros over at the Bakersfield Californian and I think it's muy importante'. Now I rarely get involved with anything like this (ie: environmental) but I believe this deserves my attention and yours. Essentially the email says this ;

The Bakersfield Californian is taking an advocacy position on the issue of reclaiming water for the Kern River. We will be officially supporting the city's bid before the State Water Resources Board to claim some of this water.Today we kicked off the campaign with a statement from our publisher, in addition to a petition in the paper and downloadable from Bakersfield.com, so folks can sign and mail to the appropriate parties.Lois Henry will have an in-depth column in tomorrow's paper about this issue, urging the community to act now, as the window is short. We will also be publishing op-ed pieces later this week.We need to get the word out fast to encourage people to act before a deadline passes next week.

(in my true ingenious style I took a picture of the downloadable petition because I'm moving and have packed my scanner)

Happy Birthday Mom..

2010-01-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday mom...52 years new today...Love Rach

Top:my mom,Below: L to R mom and I 1974, mom and I again 1974 and Dustin,mom and I on Decatur street in Oildale 1979 after her first "perm"..

If years were disposable.....

2010-01-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

Under the "LOOKING AHEAD" chapter in the latest Bakersfield Life magazine you'll find my take on the year that has passed as well as other "Bakersfieldians" views on what is behind and ahead of us for "20-10".The magazine came out December 26,2009 in the Bakersfield Californian's Saturday edition.However you can now find and peruse the magazine by logging on to http://www.bakersfieldlife.com/

Thank you to Dana Martin who asked me to be a contributor...

An excellent shot....

2009-12-24T09:36:00.001-08:00

I try very hard to respect my husbands wishes to never put his picture on the Internet.He dislikes social networking sites more than anyone I know and has a serious penchant for privacy.His desire for anonymity has alot to do with the fact that he has worked in law enforcement for most of his life.Although because of my line of work..people know his name.For this reason only he allowed me to post the document you see below.It is quite an achievement to be recognized not only as a "graduate" but a "distinguished graduate" in such an intense 30-hour course.Jake has always been an excellent long-range "shooter"..his friends and fellow "marksmen" will tell you that as well.However,in his first small arms academy it appears his skills remain the same. Basically my husband is an EXCELLENT SHOT. I am very proud of him..
For more information on classes you can check out ..http://www.chucktaylorasaa.com/ and http://www.2ndamendmentsports.com/

The secret to staying together is to stay together. It isn't always easy but it really is that simple..

2009-12-20T11:59:00.000-08:00

This is what love looks like to me...
Happy 40th anniversary today to Bob and Nancy Hogue.They are my husband's parents and they really are awesome people.
I am thankful to be part of their family..

(The Hogues have three children,three "in-law" children (lol) and four grandchildren)

FREE TURKEYS TODAY FROM ONE OF BAKERSFIELD'S FAMOUS SONS..NFL STAR PLAYER JOEY PORTER

2009-11-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

(Joey earlier this year at his annual golf tourney and dinner)

Big thanks to Joey Porter (I have no idea where he gets his energy) for a marathon day yesterday.Miami wins in Carolina,the guy jumps on a plane,flies home to Bako,shows up on the dot for interviews I asked him to do on several of our AGM radio stations and KERO TV23 with no complaints!! So check it out..Today is the JOEY PORTER TURKEY GIVEAWAY from 1-3 at the Jasmine Nyree Center (801 18th St, Bakersfield). 1 Turkey, per Family/household. Need to bring a current utility bill. 1st come, 1st served until they're gone. Hope to see you there.

(Special thanks to Steven Nicklaus KERN1180AM,JReed and Flawless from KISV Hot94.1,Rachel and Dustin in the morning 101.5 KGFM,Todd Karlie KEROTV23 and especially Joey's agent Jeff Sperbeck who tipped me off and helped organize these interviews)

Taste of Home cooking school today...Join us!

2009-11-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

The who you are "before" and the who you are......"after"

2009-11-09T13:29:00.001-08:00

Sometimes there are events in our lives that are so powerful they change who we are forever.Watching pop singer Rhianna talk about her abusive relationship with artist Chris Brown took me back recently to the relationship I had when I was 18.Mine also ended with a horrific crime and my former husband going to prison, 15 years ago today. November. 9 1994 is not an anniversary I celebrate but the events of that day had an enormous impact on the person I am now.I have talked about it publicly on my radio show,to women's groups and at conferences.I realized today however that while it was published a few years ago in the Bakersfield Californian I had never posted it on my blog.......Above is the Bakersfield Californian article on March 26,2006..12 years after it happened..below is the article plus some in its entirety.)

Sixteen years ago this month, I turned 16 years old.

As I have every year since I was 8, I wrote in my diary that week. I hadn’t looked at that particular entry since, but I opened it last week and what I read almost
knocked the air out of me.The excerpt I am sharing with you is significant because the story that will follow is something I have never written about publicly:

FEB 1990

“Dear Me, (I felt I was too old to be writing ‘Dear Diary’), Well, I turn 16 tomorrow, the same age my mother was when I was born. She’s 32 now and my only wish for this birthday is that Scott (my former stepfather)will really leave us alone. I can’t believe he found out where we live again! I am scared because we don’t have a car and my mom rides her bike to work and I just know one of these days Dustin (my brother) and I will get a phone call that Scott has killed her. I swear I will NEVER marry a man who beats me up on a weekly basis. I’m pretty sure I know what to look for in a bad guy by now.”

I didn't know anything.

My first husband is a convicted rapist.

I met Louie the month before I graduated high school. I was working at a kiosk in the middle of the mall. He had walked by a few times and finally ––with his movie star good looks –– he came over to me, introduced himself and proceeded to tell me that I was the girl he was going to marry. Six months later, we were engaged. I was 18, Lou was 21, and he treated me like a queen. Experts later explained that often times people with sociopathic personalities (Louie) tend to idolize and dote upon certain people in their lives, and the object of that affection (me) never sees the “real” person, just the facade.

( Louie & I, Christmas 1992.Wearing sweat shirts that HE "puffy painted" for us.How was I to know a sociopath hid underneath?)

That wasn’t the case with me. I was intuitive, yet extremley insecure.When the Kern County Sheriff’s Department showed up at our apartment at 3 a.m. a month after we got engaged and told Louie they were arresting him for the forcible rape of a woman just hours before I should have run fast and far. Instead, I was paralyzed. What? I knew Louie had been out with a friend, but why would he even be talking to another girl, much less touching her, and –– even more unimaginable –– raping her?
I listened through the kitchen door as he eventually told deputies that he had slept with a woman that night at a motel, but it was consensual and he couldn’t believe she had said he raped her. I threw up. As he was being led out the door in handcuffs, he told me to call his mother. At that point, I couldn’t even remember where the phone was located.
I remember rationalizing that while he may have slept with someone else there was no way my “perfect fiance’” who wrote me poems and picked me flowers once a week and made me feel like I was the only woman in the world every day could rape someone.

Besides (again trying to justify it in my head), the woman who accused him was married, and she and Louie met at a bar, and I convinced myself that they were both drunk and somehow her husband found out so she got scared and said Louie raped her.

Resolving to stay with him and work this “thing” out, I bailed him out of jail. In the process I lost all self-respect and disconnected myself from what I called “the incident.”

Together we told a few friends and family members. An older female relative simply looked at me and said, “Men cheat, Rachel. I’m glad you’re giving him a second chance. He’s so handsome, sweet and charming, after going through this I’m sure he won’t cheat again.” No one could believe that Lou was being charged with such a heinous act.

A jury didn’t believe it, either, and months later, to our relief, Louie was acquitted.

The day of my wedding, Sept. 11, 1993, my Maid of Honor, Jennifer looked at me in the bathroom and said, “You know, it’s not to late for us to make a run for it.”

I was puking in a stall, knowing that even though I loved Louie and he treated me so well, I was making a mistake. Who marries a man who just months before went through a
rape trial? You may be thinking what I’d be thinking if I read this: “What an idiot”!

Truth was, I was an insecure 19-year-old girl who didn’t think a lot of herself, despite what I showed to the outside world. (Me and Louie at our wedding reception..I was only 19 & had to toast with sparkling cider.Just over a year later Louie commited the heinous rape)

To most people I had the world by the tail. I was just starting out at KGFM and was a field reporter and part-time anchor for our sister stations,KERN and KGEO. I was doing television commercials and going to college. Me,Rachel Legan, a girl who grew up in an environment in which statistics show should have led me to poverty or teen pregnancy, drugs and maybe even prison. It appeared I was going to be successful, but deep down inside my biggest fear was that Louie would stop loving me and cheat on me again. That I wasn’t good enough for him, even though HE didn’t make me feel like that. I made myself feel that way.

That part of me disappeared on Election Day 1994. I was doing live radio reports from Republican headquarters when a cameraman friend of mine asked me if Louie drove a green Dodge truck. Yes, I told him, why are you asking? “Well,” he said, “this is going to sound kind of weird, but Carol (the reporter in his truck) and I were listening to the police scanner when Louie’s name came up as the owner of a truck with the license plate the cops had run as a suspect vehicle in a rape and robbery in Campus Park.”

I became sick and dizzy as the camera guy said, “You know, it’s probably just a case of mistaken identity.” Yeah, I agreed, but I knew in my gut as I called Louie and began questioning him.

He lied and said that yeah, he’d been in Campus Park that day looking for new gardening clients, but the suggestion that he was involved in a rape was ludacris.

I immediately called work, said I was sick and drove home. I told Louie I was going to call the police to clear everything up because if they had said his name on a police scanner then something was really wrong. He promised he would call the next day because it was already midnight and he said if the police had his license plate information then they obviously knew where we lived and why didn’t they come question him?

Again I rationalized that while that was true, my gut said differently.Hours later I drove to work after not having slept, trying to figure out what I was going to do.

This couldn’t be happening again, could it? Why was this happening to me? Scanning the paper that morning I saw the story. A real estate agent had been raped.

Oddly enough, that was my news assignment for the day –– get information on the suspect or suspects and do a follow-up story. When I spoke with the Public Information Officer at the Bakersfield Police Department, I told him what had happened the night before; how Louie’s name was on the scanner. The PIO was a friend of mine at the time, and asked me for Louie’s full name and put me on hold.

When he came back to the phone he said, “Sweetie,Louie is not the guy we’re looking for, that’s not the name I have here.”

Relief and embarrassment washed over me as I hung up and headed to Superior Court. I was also working on the Bruce and Jeremy Sons case at the time(Bruce was accused in the murder of CHP officer Richard Maxwell.Jeremy is his son), and Jeremy was in court. I got off work later than usual that night, and when I got home I noticed that Louie, a “neat freak,” had left dishes in the sink and that the back door was open. As I walked outside, two policemen had Louie in handcuffs in our alley.

One of them asked me what I was doing there. How did I get there so quickly?
“I live here, he’s my husband’ I said.

I think he may have thought I was working as a reporter and was there to get the story on the man who raped a Bakersfield real estate agent. I asked them if I could get in the police car with Louie and they said it was alright.
They let me go back in the house and get him a jacket, which they searched before he put it on. I knew right then that life as I knew it was over.
At the station, they handcuffed Louie to a little wall in a little room.I asked to see the PIO , who explained that when he talked to me earlier he was looking at a list of suspects for another crime and he was sorry for the mix-up. I was in shock as officers said it would be alright for me to speak to Louie because he wasn’t admitting anything to them. When they put me in that little room with Louie he told me that he woke up that morning (of the rape) just knowing he was going to do something bad. I asked him if he raped that woman and for all of the details, and he told me, as he kept touching his head and saying, “Something’s wrong with me up here Bubbas(a name we used to call each other)”.

I asked him why over and over again. Wasn’t our life the greatest? Weren’t we the best of friends? Why, God?Why would you do something like this, how could you hurt someone like that?Oh My God, everything is ruined, we are not going to have the babies we talked about or the life we planned. How? Why? Why? I had already been through so much trauma in life and I really believed he and I were this
"new chapter".He had no answer, he just kept touching his head. I asked to be let out of the room, and the officers told me that our conversation had been recorded and they had all they needed. They then asked to look at the rings I was wearing. Louie had stolenher rings, they explained, and they wanted to make sure I didn’t have them on. The only rings I had on were my wedding ring and my one-year anniversary ring. I was 20 years old and I wanted to die.

(Article by Steve Swenson in The Bakersfield Californian Nov,15 1994 at Louie's 1st arraignment.There were 12 stories in the paper between 1994 and 1995 about the case)

On my 21st birthday, Louie was sentenced to 38 years in prison. The judge miscalculated the sentence, and he was brought back to court the next day and
given over 50 years in prison. I divorced him and haven’t spoken to him since. It has been 12 years, and I still can’t really wrap my mind around what happened. I felt that I, too, must have been “headsick” to have loved a person who could hurt another human being like he did. Until recently, I had even forgotten that I liked him. He was never abusive to me, so the hatred I came to feel for him confused me, yet fueled me at times.It was like he died but worse.I felt awful for the woman who accused him of rape before we got married, it is obvious that she was telling the truth. I felt awful for the real estate agent, her family, Louie’s family, me, my family –– it was a situation in which everyone lost.

I feel like I’m publishing my gut but it’s a story I have wanted to tell for a long time. I just didn’t have the strength until now.

The real estate agent, who I have met and talked with, was interviewed in the paper after Louie was sentenced. She is an amazing person, and I have so much respect and admiration for her. Her family and friends pulled her through like mine did. I don’t know if I would have had the strength she showed.

***Rachel Legan has been happily remarried since 2002 and is a stepmother. She continues to be one of the most-recognized and respected media personalities in Kern County!***

Dude...STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK AND THAT GOES FOR YOUR KIDS TOO!

2009-10-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

So far I know 5 people who have the Swine flu. 2 kids (ages 8 and 4) and three adults ages 34,38,35. Just talked to a doc who said that 90% of people who have the flu...have Swine.If your kids are sick KEEP THEM HOME!!! If you are...DON'T GO TO WORK OR THE GYM OR ANYWHERE PEOPLE CONGREGATE..YOU ARE SPREADING IT YOU SELFISH BUTTHEADS! NO ONE THINKS YOU ARE AWESOME FOR GOING TO WORK WHILE YOU ARE SICK..NO ONE!

Smash and Stab and that ol' Ron Saylor magic....

2009-10-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

In studio guest Ron Saylor nearly drove a spike through my hand this morning (just kidding..he's a pro). He showed us a few "magic on the radio" tricks and promoted his upcoming show at the Spotlight Theater on Halloween night. Ron has been a magician and illusionist for decades and is available for booking.http://www.saylormagic.com/

Who makes the best_ in Bako...? The results are in

2009-10-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who joined us at The Prime Cut yesterday for this vital competition..lol.. Above is a picture of some of the judges before the sampling began...Big House band leader and Realtor to the stars Monty Byrom,Kern1180 am talk show host Scott Cox and me:)

The Best Bloody Bakersfield Bartender Battle results are in:

Best Overall:

Vi's coctails
Prime Cut
Silver Fox
Milt's
Syndicate
Belvadere

People's Choice:

Prime Cut
Syndicate
Belvadere
Vi's
Silver Fox
Milt's

In case you missed it....

2009-10-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it here is the audio from today's 101.5 KGFM "Missed Connections" with Rachel and Dustin and their esteemed guest reader and owner..Mr.Rogers Brandon..(totally worth the 10 minutes)

While I knew these were popular a big thank you goes to Rogers Brandon and Richard Beene as well as our fellow "tweeters" "facebook" and "myspacers".Their continued support (and laughter at) of this bit has made it a success and allowed it to spread like wildfire!

Still miss you everyday....

2009-10-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

I used to think I wouldn't be able to make it through one whole day after you died.Whole landscapes of my memory had been erased...It will be 7 years next week.SEVEN YEARS.... Happy Birthday Grandma..God I miss you..

Oct 7,1936--Oct 14,2002

Happy yet haunting at the same time....

2009-10-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

The only video clip of Anne Frank surfaces....

The Anne Frank House museum in Amsterdam has begun airing the only known video of the teenage diarist on a channel dedicated to her on YouTube. The channel also features clips of others, including her late father Otto and Nelson Mandela, talking about Anne. The channel shows footage taken during a neighbor's wedding on July 22, 1941. It briefly shows Anne before she and her family were forced into hiding to avoid the Nazis during their World War II occupation of the Netherlands.

If you had the money and fame that she does..wouldn't you at least try and attempt to get dressed???

2009-10-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

Wearing some sort of Ugg boot hybrid, Daisy Dukes, a Mrs. Roper muumuu crop top and her regulation '70s nana shades, Britney Spears -- and her bodyguards -- on their daily trip to Target....(copied the words and picture straight from TMZ.COM because they put it so brilliantly...)

2009-09-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Another successful Monday night football party at the Marriott! Last night's crowd won everything from tickets to see the Black Crowes to tickets to NFL games.Join us next Monday for the six dollar buffet,incredible drink specials and a chance to just hang out.The best part is that kids are invited!! The Marriott is on Truxtun right next to the Rabobank Convention Center..

MONDAY NIGHTS AT THE MARRIOTT WITH US!!

2009-09-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been by the Marriott downtown (right next to the convention center on Truxtun) you're really missing out. Every Monday KGFM will be broadcasting live from the m.i greatroom for..what else?...Monday Night football.There are some incredible drink specials,a surprisingly hip atmosphere..yes it's been renovated and a delicious $6 buffet! So join me at 5:30 every Monday for prizes,drinks and fun and don't forget to bring your friends because, well,it keeps me employed! LOL

Links:http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bflmc-bakersfield-marriott-at-the-convention-center/

and follow them on twitter:http://twitter.com/Marriott_BFL

$6 halftime BBQ Buffet
$2.50 Domestic Drafts
$1 Touchdown shots
Games on 4 high Def tvs
Weekly Giveaways
Register to win the end of season giveaway – a Weekend in Palm Springs
Happy Hour Mon-Fri
4 to 7pm
$2.50 Drafts
$5 wine and well drinks
Half off appetizers

NEVER FORGET...........

2009-09-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Like most everyone else alive when the attacks on our country began on September 11,2001 I will never forget what I was doing.I was here (KGFM) doing the show with my co-host at the time Doug DeRoo when one of the board operators came around the corner and said a plane had crashed into a building in New York.Eventually we stopped playing music and just let you call in....all day.
The day is truly a blur except I remember crying alot.I also remember driving home and watching the faces of people in the cars next to me.Everything seemed so quiet,I was scared....WE CAN NEVER FORGET!!!!!

Labor(lazy) Day weekend

2009-09-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

Not alot of "labor" going on this weekend.For the first time in a long time I didn't have to work the holiday.With zero dollars to our name we just did the weekend on the "cheap".That means other people fed and gave us free entertainment(Thank you Dr.Vip and Jodi Dev, Jennifer & my soccer girl Ky)...
Being broke bites..I wouldn't recommend it. Thank God for good friends and family(love ya Bob and Nancy).
Here are some pictures...and yes Jake was there but as you know..No pictures of Jake allowed on the internet..lol
From top to bottom (Kyster plays goalie at soccer on Sat. morning,Erin Bradley,Jodi Dev,Me..Jodi Dev,Mark Christian,Vip Dev,Mark,me,Vip and Rebecca Christian)

It only takes 2 seconds for you to be gone forever..

2009-09-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

I've been guilty of texting while driving.I've done it for two reasons. The first being that it is my chosen form of communication with work (which is who I'm always on the phone with) and secondly..I can do it without looking.Neither of those reasons is an excuse and yes,I know it is illegal.I won't be doing it anymore,this PSA will show why..
There is alot of debate going on about whether this is an appropriate video for teenagers to see about the dangers of texting and driving. I say "Hell yes,it's appropriate". Take it from someone who slammed head on into another car on Truxtun extension the first day of my senior year 1992.The reason? I was fast forwarding my Garth Brooks tape and started veering into the lake.I wasn't paying attention..over corrected and slammed into a woman heading in the opposite direction.I injured her and myself.This video reminded me of something I had forgotten.Take your eyes off the road for two seconds and you could be gone forever.

This guy is going around grabbing the breasts of Bakersfield ladies..

2009-09-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

My favorite Postsecret of the day....

2009-08-30T09:17:00.001-07:00

Recent studio visitors

2009-08-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

We welcome visitors of all shapes and sizes to the studio.Amazingly they stay even though Dustin smells.... haha

From top to bottom: Ron Warkentin from the Bagelry checks in to promote his $1 bagel dogs every Tuesday. Bakersfield Californian CEO (& Dustin's dream future father-in-law) Richard Beene stops by to talk about the new "tabloid format" of Bakersfield's favorite paper! Author and buddy Nicky B (Nick Belardes) stops in to talk about his latest book "Random Obsessions" which is available at bookstores everywhere.

Eggs,milk,bread...Oops! Forgot the Ecstasy pills...

2009-08-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

I wonder how the drug dealers who abandoned their Ecstasy filled van explained to their bosses that those 260-thousand pills they were supposed to sell,ended up in the hands of Kern County law enforcement officials.

Dustin and I got an anonymous call this morning that the story being reported by alot of local news sources isn't totally factual.Then again the caller was anonymous.....

Some sources say that there was a van blocking someone's driveway in Lebec so the CHP was called and it was towed.That version of the story goes on to say that authorities then got a tip that the towed van may have a bunch of drugs in it,so officers went to the tow yard and found what amounted to be a record amount of the drug.

What actually happened ,according to our anonymous source was this: The 2003 Dodge Caravan was found abandoned on the freeway with part of it's roof ripped off. Upon closer inspection officers found some duffel bags filled with drugs.After getting the van towed, they went through the whole thing and discovered the huge amount of pills as well as 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine.In total,the drugs were worth about $3 million on the street.

While the people or person who abandoned the van on the freeway would surely get a prison sentence if caught,there is no doubt in my mind that whatever punishment their drug "boss" hands out would make a jail stay seem like ecstasy.

The Kern River...It will eat you..

2009-08-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

(no clue who the people in this picture are.I "borrowed" it from Flickr after typing Killer Kern into google.Hope all of them lived,but you never know!)

When I was a little girl my mom and step-dad used to take Dustin and I out to the Hart Park with their friends while they would "set sail" for a day of "tubing" down the river. At 8 years old I already knew the reputation of the "Killer Kern". As a matter of fact, one of the friends who always stayed on the shore and watched us did so because her own brother had died in that river.Nonetheless it's still a huge attraction for locals and out of towners.However, as much as it's publicized that DYING IS A REAL POSSIBILITY if you get in,people still do..everyday.The river has swallowed four people in the past two weeks and I'm sure there will be more before summer is over.So am I the only person who no longer feels sorry for the people who drown? It's not like they weren't warned.Ugh

"We had him" by Maya Angelou for Michael Jackson..

2009-07-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

Here is the poem Maya Angelou wrote for Michael Jackson and was read by Queen Latifah at MJ's memorial ...

"We Had Him":

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.
In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.
He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.
We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.

The Michael Jackson I loved was the performer who covered my walls from 1983-1985 when I in elementary school.The Victory tour was the first concert I ever saw.I even had a black cabbage patch kid and named him Michael Jackson.Being the troublemaker I was back then and not having control of a chaotic home life,I gathered my friends one afternoon and went off campus for lunch. We were 10 years old and off-campus lunch wasn't legal.The principal found us there and my punishment was to rip down all 147 Michael Jackson posters I had up on my wall.I cried for days...I lost him then and slowly grew out of my elementary school obsession.Nonetheless,I am sad for his life and sad for his death despite what others say.His music was a very happy thing in my room when things around my house were not so happy.

I'm not pointing fingers but.....

2009-07-04T06:49:00.001-07:00

Not sure what you're seeing in this picture?It's what Jake says is a bottle rocket.An ILLEGAL firework.It was left on our doorstep with a little note that said "Light-en up Legan". The BPD officer around the corner has the "evidence" now .I'm not that much of a loon to be mad or start some type of neighborhood war,I actually laughed. However I can't help think about the post below this and wonder. Hmmmm? Who could've heard me on the air or read my blog and left me such a thoughtful gift? Idiot....

Jerks in your neighborhood setting off illegal fireworks? Here is the number to call..

2009-06-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm just getting old or maybe it's that at 35 with a 17 year career waking up at 2am,I'm just getting cranky.Whatever the reason I AM SO TIRED OF THE ASSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD who piccolo pete and bottle rocket their way into,during and out of the 4th of July holiday.I used to enjoy seeing the colorful fires in the sky as much as the next person but I'm good with safe and sane. If you've had it like I have,here is the number to the Fireworks Task Force here in Kern. 868-FIRE(3473) .That number goes into effect Friday July 3rd and is good until Sunday July 5th.Use it.

Just weird.Is there a Celebrity Death Pandemic this week or what?

2009-06-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

It's just weird to lose this many celebrities in one week..R.I.P Ed,Farrah,Michael and Billy.

A Joey Porter weekend

2009-06-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Generosity is the real name of the game when it comes to Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter and his wife Christy.The Bakersfield natives who remain part time residents held their fifth annual Joey Porter golf tournament and Boot Camp this weekend .101.5 KGFM was happy to start the week with Joey calling in from Miami to give the listeners a rundown of the upcoming events as well as some of his "Joey-isms" like how he was "catching some tanning time" before coming home.I was fortunate enough to again emcee the golf tournament dinner and awards show at the Bakersfield Country Club.Joey remained the star of the event with his hidden talent as an Auctioneer.Seriously,it was incredible to watch this man who in my husbands words is a "sack specialist" sack average bids for higher ones. This annual ritual continues to amaze me.Not only do Bakersfield residents (mostly men) donate dollars for a chance to play golf with some incredible football players,but local companies also donate product. Tacky or not my jaw continues to drop when six figure checks are written in the hope that charity survives these budgetary diseased times.Speaking of survival,Joey's Boot Camp doesn't mess around! Joey's agent Jeff Sperbeck put it to me best when he simply said Joey is a natural born leader with a commanding presence. That energy was everywhere Saturday as Dolphin teammates like Jake Long,Ronnie Brown,Nick Fasano,Ricky Williams, and Akin Ayodele ran over 300 Bakersfield kids through some pretty demanding drills.The players did not disappoint and you could tell the kids didn't want to let them down.8 year old Colby Warkentin said "Wow,this really is "Football High school" referring to what some of the kids mistakenly believed was the name of Joey and Christy's Alma matter Foothill High.Whatever the name,it doesn't matter. In the end the Porter's hope is that they can facilitate growth in the philanthropic community through their own leadership.If seeing is believing,then I can speak to the couples commitment.Thank you Joey and Christy!

Special thanks to BARC as well as sponsors :Bakersfield Country Club,RLS Industries,Advanced Fabrication,Tahoe Joes,Famous Daves BBQ,TIC,McKee Electric,Venom,Advance Beverage,Bakersfield Audi,Mercedes Benz ,Delano Farms and all the participants!

Pictures: #1 Joey,Rachel and BARC's Linda Hartman,#2Joey and Rachel,#3 Joey,#4 Joey and BARC's Bob Ruiz,Ruiz's mom#5 Golfers,Clint,Troy Ochoa,Ron,#6 Dolphins at Foothill getting ready to drill,#7Camp,#8 A cute Porter relative,Christy Porter and KERN 1180 AM Huge Dolphins fan Steven Nicklaus,#9 campers doing drills,#10 More campers,#11 Dolphin Ronnie Brown,#12 Dolphin Channing Crowder,#13 Campers#14 Rachel with Dolphin Nick Fasano,#15 Dolphin Anthony Fasano being interviewed by John Franchi KBAK TV 29,#16 Camper Colby Warkentin

The annual Standing Bear Pow Wow..

2009-06-08T12:33:00.001-07:00

The annual Standing Bear Pow Wow was held at Bakersfield College this past weekend.It must have been a success because I couldn't find parking for almost a half an hour! If I had been on my own I would've parked and walked a mile but I had my little step-daughter with me. Sadly my camera battery died before I could get a more diverse group of pictures,but here are the few I did take. (Mostly of my dad)..

Dad and me

Uncle Rick's pad(although he gets mad when I call him Rick,he goes by "Lonewolf")

Dad and Alex

Dad and Rick aka "Whitefeather" and "Lonewolf"

The gym posse,31 emails telling me to update already,and work,work,work!

2009-06-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

For the last 9 years or so I have been working out at the same gym at least 4 days a week.Even though 6 years ago we moved to another side of town,I still drive all the way over to "my" gym to hang out with "my gym posse".There are about 5 of us.Outside of my two best girlfriends,this group of people makes up my social circle.When they start complaining that I haven't updated my blog,I know I need to be put in check! (More about the posse another time).Nonetheless,I am thankful for all your emails asking me "What's up with the blog Legan?". The honest answer is WORK! Seriously,I've been sort of "mini-blogging" through TWITTER as are most of my co-workers.So when I fail to write a full post every few days you can always scroll to the bottom of this blog and see what's been going on through our TWITTER account. When we were first asked/TOLD to TWITTER, I thought ..."Oh,great...another thing to add to the work pile".Now I love it.I do. To check out our TWITTER independently of this blog and also join yourself (it could pay off in a big way...details next week) log on http://twitter.com/rachelanddustin

Other cool things coming up this week on 101.5 KGFM include something new we are doing called "KGFM CARES" .We'll be asking you to let us know if you're having a hard time financially.Just telling your story could help you..and others.We're also going to tell you about the benefits of the KGFM Rewards club at http://kgfm.com/. I would never ask you to join something that I didn't believe was going to pay off for you.I've watched listeners walk away with everything from family vacations to groceries.Our radio station is committed to this community.I'm in my 17th year as an employee and I've never been prouder to work there than I am now. We are more than just music and voices in the air,we really do care.

Iraq is a far cry from Tehachapi,Ca..RIP Jason George

2009-05-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

Jason George at his West Point graduation.Photo is copied from Bakersfield.com.

Link to Herb Benham's in depth story on Jason in The Bakersfield Californain at botttom of this post.

Even when they go to war it always comes as a shock to hear that someone you cared about has died.I saw it with my own eyes today when I told my husband that a friend he'd known his whole life was killed in Baghdad a few days ago.

Maj.Jason George and two other soldiers fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom were on foot patrols in a part of the world most of us will never see.While the investigation into their deaths continues we do know that George (who grew up in Tehachapi) and his fellow soldiers were killed by some sort of improvised explosive device worn by a suicidal murderer(bomber..murderer,what's the difference?).George was an Army Reservist assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Our thoughts are always with the families of those who lose their beloved in this war for peace.While it is obvious by his title that Jason had an incredible military career Jake could only say (while sucking in his breath and holding back emotion) "Really?,Jase?Why did they have him on a foot patrol?He was pretty high up the military command chain.Damn it! He was "our" kicker(Tehachapi Warriors 86-87),he always cheered me on the sideline,he was simple,uncomplicated and had no quarrel with life".."Wow,I loved that guy..that sucks!..He was just this good human being,ya know"?

Yeah,we know.

*Funeral service info copied from Bakersfield.com also in Bakersfield Californian 5/27/09*

**Visitation 4 to 7 p.m. June 1, Wood Family Funeral Service Chapel, Tehachapi; service 10 a.m. June 2, Wood Family Funeral Service Chapel, Tehachapi,Ca 94561; entombment 10 a.m. June 3, Greenlawn Cemetery. Bakersfield,Ca.**

More on Jason's life by clicking this link:

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1393099401/Fallen-son-Former-Tehachapi-man-killed-in-Iraq

I always thought I'd be a mom.....

2009-05-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

There is a song by Gwen Stefani called "Simple kind of Life". The song includes the lyrics "I always thought I'd be a mom,sometimes I'd wish for a mistake".Obviously she wrote the song during a bad break up and didn't realize that she in fact would become a mom with someone else one day.I used to listen to that song and really feel all of the lyrics in it,but I know deep down that for the last 7 years I have been a mom.

Kylee is my chance and my choice.Without going through the whole "Oh,my Gosh,Really"? story of how she became my step-daughter I will tell you this much.Her existence was a surprise to my then-fiance' and me.After an incredibly stressful and wretched legal process it was determined that she was in fact his child.Conceived before we met and not known about until after we were engaged. You can imagine the emotional ups and downs of everyone involved.

When I say she was my "choice" I only mean that Jake was almost more devastated for me (for our relationship) than fearing the prospect of becoming an "insta-dad".He wrote letters to me daily about his love.Despite the depth he did not want to cause me emotional pain.He knew the roller coaster of my past and my rule of "I will NOT date anyone with kids again". I was 26,those were rules I could make then. I'd been down that road and there was NO WAY I was ever going to deal with the mother of the child of any man I dated again.EVER.(note to divorced people: Your ex will be in a relationship with someone else eventually so be an adult and NEVER use your kids as weapons..you're horrible for doing that,horrible.) I knew Jake came into my life for a reason so regardless of the outcome,I was in it for the duration.

We met Kylee shortly after her first birthday and I was immediately in love with her,still am.Thankfully her mom has allowed me to share in every nuance of her life.A freedom I can assure you that most step-mothers do not ever experience.After what amounts to a mountain of false starts/hopes/ I know that I'm probably not ever going to have a child born underneath my heart.Instead fate placed one right smack dab in the middle of it.I love you Kylee,you're the best gift I have ever received.

Pictured: My Mother's Day Card (Kylee's teachers have always let her make 2 !)

Kylee girl & I at Pismo in April (photo by Dustin Legan)
Kylee holding the above card open and a picture she drew for me.

Bakersfield Observed

2009-05-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Click the words "Bakersfield Observed" above.

A story about online love....ahhhhh

Got questions about this "SWINE FLU" thing? Here are some answers

2009-04-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

So you've been hearing alot about the Swine Flu killing people in Mexico and getting people sick here in California (not Bakersfield...yet),Texas,Kansas,New York etc..

In a nutshell the Swine Flu is scaring people because it has the same symptoms as the regular flu,except that because we are human and this flu doesn't originate in humans..we can't fight it off.

Right now there is no known cure and apparently it's crazy because it's killing the least susceptible people....that means humans between the ages of 20 and 40.

Symptoms include everything from fever to diarrhea.Here is a link to the Center for Disease control so you can see exactly what you can do to help yourself and your family if you are worried.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm

More pictures from the Bakersfield Women's business conference

2009-04-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures of the conference.The original post is below this one.

Long day and worth every second!!

2009-04-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

It was an honor to broadcast live from Options Unlimited's 20th anniversary celebration of the Bakersfield Women's business conference today.However,the greater honor came from being able to be a guest speaker.Dustin and I had a great time and are so grateful to learn that any part of our "story" can touch the life of someone else.We love Bakersfield women!!

This is why I DON'T OPEN MY DOOR TO STRANGERS!!!!!

2009-04-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

LADIES,LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL OF US!!

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x443327869/Door-to-door-salesman-sexually-assaults-Rosedale-woman-in-home

Bakersfield Women...

2009-04-21T11:04:00.001-07:00

Options Unlimited 2009 Executive Committee
(taken from optionsulimitedbakersfield.org)

There isn't a better time for this event than right now.Maybe you've been laid off or like me,maybe your husband is unemployed. You have NO idea what you are going to do,but you need SOMETHING or SOMEONE to point you in the right direction.The Bakersfield Women's business conference has been motivating local women for the past 20 years.This coming Thursday the speakers and workshops will do it again.Don't be fooled,this is not some big feminist event where we go to shut out "the men"(as I heard one misinformed radio host say a few years ago..Dummy). It's an event that is as much about empowering yourself as it is to laughing at some of the crazy feelings we have as women.You are never going to know if you don't go.Click or paste the link below to register while there is still time.Tell them Rachel and Dustin at KGFM said that you get a discount on your ticket and you will!
http://www.optionsunlimitedbakersfield.org/

Click here to see what may be happening to food that your order..ick

2009-04-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

For the love of your soles..

2009-04-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

It's That Time of Year (author unknown)

Just a friendly reminder, it's that time of the year again. Please raise your big toes and repeat after me:

As a member of the female population,I pledge to follow "The Rules" when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr.Scholl's if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes look like they've been dragged behind her car on the way to work and no sandal in the world is going to make her feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops, that I will ensure they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

I will promise to go my local beauty school or a bona fide nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.

For all our sakes, please don't keep this to yourself - pass it on.May God Bless your Soles as well as your Soul!

Your child was embarrassed? Well,YOU should have paid their bill! Another local parent mad at a school.Ridiculous.

2009-04-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

Did you make a decision to have a child? Well guess what...you're responsible for making sure that human being gets fed.

KGET Ch.17 got a call from a mom who was apparently irate that her 11-year old was "embarassed" after being sent to the office because SHE and HER HUSBAND were delinquent on their child's lunch account.This mom blames the school.

I just wonder why it doesn't occur to her that SHE AND HER HUSBAND need to pay closer attention to their child's lunch account so he isn't "embarassed" for their mistake?Instead she calls a television station to investigate.I cannot for the life of me figure out how to link this video but all you need to do is copy and paste it to your browser bar ( a browser bar is the thing at the very top that has this blog name in it right now.Don't laugh..not everyone knows what a "browser bar" is..lol)

She obviously isn't destitute as you can see by the iphone and pretty decent SUV among some other apparent attributes....

Copy this:
http://www.kget.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?articleID=35677

Parent to show broke school district that she means business! Whatever..

2009-04-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Got kids? Mad that they're not able to have their 8th grade graduation because the school district is hurting for money right now? This woman thinks it would be a good idea to put the district DEEPER into the hole that they and YOUR kids are already in. Here's an idea:

Be a good parent and you'll get to see them graduate high school,college and BEYOND!

Click below for the story from the Bakersfield Californian..
http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1442644660/Parent-asks-kids-to-skip-school-to-protest-lack-of-graduation-ceremony

Why did these healthy Bakersfield kids go to sleep forever?

2009-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine a pain worse than losing a child.Especially without warning and worse...without answers! Two local families lost their one year old children to something called Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.Now they are trying to bring awareness to this frightening and absolutley unfair tragedy.Check out the event they are holding in a few weeks and explore the lives of these sweet innocent kids who were taken too soon...Click on the link for more information http://www.brandonandkatiesrun.org/

Stop shopping blindly!!

2009-03-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Please take it from a former child who knows what it's like to wake up in a house where you would sometimes have to stir water into powder to make "milk". Save your money and stop shopping blindly!
Who cares that you may keep people in line too long so the cashier can scan your plethora of coupons or that you keep someone waiting while you calculate the "5 for 4" deal over your $2.00 off coupon?
These tactics will save you money! So please,go to the grocery store with a plan.Look at labels,bring your calculator and a list.
More often than not you will end up seeing huge price differences for items that are nearly identical! Case in point:

Pilgrims Pride "fajita breast strips" $5.99.Foster Farms exactly-the-same but-named"chicken breast grilled strips" $8.99!! That's $3.00 towards the kid's college fund.Would you throw $3.00 in the trash?I took one out of each 20oz bag as proof.
(one example of thousands that you can find if you just look! You can do this!)

If you have the time it's even CHEAPER to buy,grill,and then freeze a raw breast.That's how I normally roll :) Until I start having more food prepping hours in my life surviving days,I vow to find the least expensive options in my current bag buying ways...

What? Do I need to retire just to get a break?

2009-03-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

As part of our ongoing effort to stay fed,clothed and sheltered my work load has increased exponentially since the hubster has been laid off.Basically,I work ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE. Among other drawbacks, an 18-hour 6 to 7 day a week schedule can lead to the lack of social activites and blogging.However,thanks to CHP officer Greg Williams retirement party and 20 minutes of down time,I've now done both in one week! So,here's the post and the pics to prove it:)

We will miss you on the air Greg! Congrats on your retirement.A HUGE thank you to everyone at the Buck Owens Production Company for putting on a top notch luncheon and send off.An incredible meal with wonderful people..

(that's Greg in the top photo.He's the first one on the left. )

My auntie Dawn came.That's us..

The new CHP PIO Roberto Rodriguez...

Kern 1180 AM's Misti Reed,RR, and Bakersfield Californian sweetie Steve Swenson(who obviously was about to say something..)

KERO TV 23's Dougiepoo DeRoo,KUZZ DJ do-it-all-and-do-it-well Casey McBride,me,Mr Retirement

Wonder duo Geoff Emrey and Steve Gradowitz from KUZZ (whom without this party may not have happened) me and Dougie (yes,Doug and Rachel..love these guys!)

The men who protect and serve! Even CHP Chief Bob Clements was there(2nd from left) to wish Greg well as was Cpt. Brian Smith(blue tie) and a host of hotties..sorry officers:)

Mark Howell KUZZ news extraordinaire!

Great group of officers.California is lucky to have them as is Bakersfield! Below: You can't leave the Palace without taking a few shots of the inside.It's one of our city's treasures.Look at Bucks Caddy on the wall!

Now I'm really an adult...

2009-02-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

I turned 35 Saturday and it hit me,I was finally an adult. For those of you reading this who have lost your parents (and in my case,my grandparents) you know exactly what I'm talking about.Technically I've been an adult for 17 years but for the first time in my entire life I didn't share my birthday party with my PaPa or my aunt.We are the "February babies" in the family and have always celebrated together,even though it was hard to do after my grandma died in 2002,that woman coined the term "Birthday Party". My PaPa died shortly after our birthday's last year and this year we had a party for my aunt on her own. It was an odd birthday for me because for the first time ever,all of my extended family forgot.Perhaps,that's what happens..you start getting older and people who always remembered your birthday decide that your too old for birthdays? LOL
Lucky for me my hubby, immediate family,in laws and best friends always remember.My dad never forgets to call and my mom always makes an annual birthday visit to the station with balloons,food and gifts.My in laws always call and sing and send me some beautiful flower arrangement.This year they sent an awesome and delicious fruit arrangement.What was really cool though was that my brother made reservations for dinner at a local restaurant and invited our little "family of friends".

Dust,Dr.Vip Dev,me,Jen,Beddy (Aerin)

Me,Lance,Dust,Jen,Kev and Scoot

Me,Scoot and Jen

and gross Jen again below

In keeping with Jake's wishes to never have his pic on the internet I do the best "Microsoft Paint" job I can do. Cute in it's own way (but creepy too:) haha!

A sweet thank you also to The Gradowitz and Jeff at KUZZ & PI officer Greg Williams and Captain Brian Smith at the CHP for calling and singing me the best "Happy Birthday" song ever.

Why are you married to your husband and what does he see in you anyway?

2009-02-21T12:26:00.000-08:00

******(Jake and I on our wedding day in Hawaii 2002)*******

Bet you didn't know that more than anything else it was probably bona fide chemistry that brought you and your spouse together.Really.Maybe you've taken this test before because it's been everywhere...Oprah,20/20,news magazines etc.Nonetheless in the spirit of it being the "month of love" I thought you'd get a kick out of taking it with your spouse and learning a little more about one another and why your relationship is so good..(it is good right? lol) If not,this test may also have some clues as to what could be wrong.Enjoy!

***************************************

Before deciding what your "relationship type" is by reading the synopsis of the four personalities below,take this quiz.You'll want to get a piece of paper handy and write the numbers 1 through 16 (that's what we did anyway)!A doctor named Helen Fisher designed these questions as a way to figure out what your chemical make-up has to do with the partner you choose.You may be surprised by the answers! Take the Quiz (you will neeed a piece of paper to write your answers down on.I shortened them to SD= Strongly Disagree,D= Disagree and so forth)

1.I find unpredictable situations exhilarating. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

2.I do things on the spur of the moment. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

3.I am always coming up with new ideas. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

4.I have a very wide range of interests. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

5.I make plans for things that will happen way down the road. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

6.I place a high degree of importance on how other people view me. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

7.In general, I think it is important to follow the rules. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

8.I tend to be cautious, but not fearful. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

9.I can see many different ways to solve a particular problem. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

10.I am more intuitive than most people. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

11.I change my mind easily. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

12.I get uncomfortable when I see someone standing alone at a party. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

13.I am very focused. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

14.I think it is more important to do a good job than to have people like me. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

15.It takes a lot of evidence to make me change my mind on most issues. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

16.I like to cut through the uncertainties to get to the point. __Strongly Disagree __Disagree __Agree __Strongly Agree

To Score:

Strongly Disagree = 1 (point)

Disagree = 2

Agree = 3

Strongly Agree = 4

Add up the number of points in each of the four sections: 1-4; 5-8; 9-12; 13-16.

Questions 1-4 measure the degree to which you are an EXPLORER.

Questions 5-8 measure the degree to which you are a BUILDER.

Questions 9-12 measure the degree to which you are a NEGOTIATOR.

Questions 13-16 measure the degree to which you are a DIRECTOR.

The two highest numbers are your primary and secondary types. ___________________________________________________________

We're each a mix of all four of Helen Fisher's relationship categories, but we express some traits more regularly than others. For example, you might primarily be an Explorer and secondarily a Negotiator, but then not have much Builder in you. As you read on, you'll probably guess both your primary and secondary types, as well as those of your mate. ___________________________________________________________

The Negotiator:

Negotiators have specific personality traits that have been linked with estrogen. Although estrogen is known as a female sex hormone, men have it, too, and there are plenty of male Negotiators. As the name suggests, this type is superb at handling people. Negotiators instinctively know what others are thinking and feeling. They artfully read facial expressions, postures, gestures, and tone of voice. Their interest in identity extends not only to others but to themselves. So they are introspective and self-analytical-- men and women who take pleasure in journeying into their thoughts and motives. As a result, when they form a partnership, they like to delve deeply into the strengths and weaknesses of the relationship. Not only do Negotiators connect psychologically, they also have the ability to remain mentally flexible. When they make decisions, they weigh many variables and consider various ways to proceed; they see things contextually, rather than linearly -- I call it web thinking. As a result, they tend to be comfortable with ambiguity. Negotiators can be highly intuitive and creative. And they like to theorize. Perhaps their most distinctive characteristic is verbal fluency, the facility for finding the right words rapidly. With this skill -- alongside an agreeable and accommodating nature, compassion, social savvy, and patience -- the Negotiator can be very friendly, diplomatic, and authentic. But as with all qualities, these traits can warp. Negotiators sometimes become such placators they appear wishy-washy to the point of spinelessness. Because they're not willing to confront, they can turn to backstabbing. With their need to examine all the possibilities, they can get bogged down in rumination as opposed to action. And in a relationship, their desire to connect and dissect all the subtle meanings between the two of you can become cloying and invasive. ___________________________________________________________

The Director

Specific activities in the testosterone system are what distinguishes this type. Again, although we think of the hormone as male, it is shared by both sexes, and there are many full-blooded women Directors. Whatever the gender, people of this type are competitive. They strive to be top dog and have many skills to get there. They are pragmatic, tough-minded, and most notably decisive, able to make up their minds rapidly, even when faced with difficult choices. Rational analysis, logical reasoning, and objectivity are their core strengths. They also pay attention to details and can focus their attention to the exclusion of everything around them -- an ability that enables them to weed out extraneous data and progress on a straightforward path toward a specific goal: the solution. Many Directors are also ingenious, theoretical, and bold in their ideas. Moreover, they are willing to take unpopular, even dangerous paths, to get to the truth. So they persist and often win. Directors are particularly skilled at understanding machines and other rule-based systems, from computers and math problems to the details of biology, world finance, or architecture. They excel at sports, and often have an acute ear for all kinds of music. Their interests can be narrow; but they pursue them deeply and thoroughly. And they can captivate those who share their hobbies. Placating leaves the Director cold. He or she often chooses to do a good job rather than please others. In fact, Directors are the least socially skilled of the four types. When preoccupied with work or personal goals, they can appear aloof, distant, even cold, and are generally not interested in making social connections, with the exception of those that are useful or exciting to them. As with the other types, the traits that make Directors so successful may become grating: For example, their confidence can veer into bragging, their exactitude turn uncompromising, and their forthrightness simply seem rude. And because they often see issues in black and white, they miss the nuances of social, business, and personal situations. But thanks to their dedication, loyalty, and interest in sharing ideas, Directors make close friends. And they can be fiercely protective of those they love. ___________________________________________________________

The Builder

Calm, affable, and people oriented, the Builder's personality is influenced by the serotonin system. Social situations are often fun and relaxing for Builders; they like to network. Because duty and loyalty are their strong suits, they often acquire a devoted pack of peers and pals. And they're true guardians when it comes to family and friends. Builders are cautious -- but not fearful. They think concretely. They have a clear memory of yesterday's mistakes, so they prepare. These people are not impulsive with their money, their actions, or their feelings. Security is important to them. Structure and order are, too. Taking particular pride in upholding social norms, many are traditional, and they often have a strong moral streak. Builders don't get bored easily, which enables them to be methodical, hardworking, and dependable. Thanks to all these solid qualities, they tend to be regarded as pillars of the community. But Builders can go overboard. In their quest to do things the "proper way," they can be intolerant of other ways. Indeed, they can be stubborn. And with their need for order, rules, and schedules, they can stifle spontaneity. Their stoicism can turn into pessimism, their conformity into rigidity, and their concrete thinking sometimes makes them too literal. Normally, however, Builders are community minded, industrious, and popular with colleagues and companions. _________________________________________________________

The Explorer

Explorers have a very active dopamine system, a brain chemical associated with the tendency to seek novelty, among other qualities. An Explorer might look up from the newspaper on Sunday and say, "Want to go to Warsaw?" -- and by Wednesday you're in Poland. Champions of "never a dull moment," these adventurers live to discover new people, places, things, or ideas, often on the spur of the moment. Friends, family, and colleagues frequently regard them as highly independent and autonomous. Explorers have more energy than most people; they tend to be restless, sometimes fast-paced. And they are highly curious -- "For always roaming with a hungry heart," as Tennyson put it. Constantly generating new ideas or creative insights, they easily shift their attention from one thing to another. Although the classic Explorer is a race-car driver, South Pole trekker, or bad-boy rocker who lives hard, taking drugs and having risky sex, I know many who exercise their passion for adventure by reading several hours a day; collecting stamps, coins, or antiques; or walking through the byways of a city. People quickly like most Explorers. Generous and sunny, they tend to be playful, sensual, sometimes hedonistic, often unpredictable, and regularly amusing. But they can be difficult to take -- especially in a marriage. They do not tolerate boredom well. So they are generally not interested in routine social or business events. In fact, Explorers try to avoid routine of almost any kind, and can trample on another person's cherished beliefs and habits --not to mention be impatient. ___________________________________________________________

So far over a million people have taken the test and Builders predominate (42 percent of the population). There are far fewer Explorers (8 percent) than any other type—a frequency that correlates with the distribution of a specific genetic variant in the dopamine system associated with novelty seeking and risk taking. Perhaps Builders were essential in ancestral times to stabilize community life, while Explorers were crucial only under changing ecological circumstances.

____Explorer's gravitate to big cities, perhaps drawn to the novelty, energy, excitement, extravagance, and risk. Builders stay home and guard the heartland. First meetings are powerful. They often set the course for the entire relationship.

-----The data so far suggest that just about everybody loves Negotiators; all types (except male Builders) gravitate to these agreeable, imaginative, verbal men and women. More important to my theory, men and women of all broad temperament types (except the Negotiator) express more initial attraction for individuals with different, rather than similar, behavioral and cognitive profiles.

----- Roots and Wings Builders, bathed in serotonin, appear to be particularly attracted to the dopamine-rich Explorers, and vice versa. Perhaps the orderly, rule-following Builder needs the spontaneity and novelty of the Explorer, especially when rearing the young. And perhaps the Explorer gravitates to the Builder because he or she provides roots, rules, and loyalty—the gravitas an Explorer desires to help rear children.

-----Directors favor Negotiators. Perhaps they need the Negotiator's social and verbal skills, broad contextual perspective, flexibility, and nurturing. And although Negotiators are foremost drawn to their own kind, they are also drawn to the Director. Perhaps the direct, competitive, focused, decisive, logical, analytical, and mechanically talented Director balances out their flexible nature, another effective combination for bearing and rearing young. ___________________________________________________________ _____

Just in case you're wondering, I ranked highest in the Builder category with a score of 13 my secondary trait was a tie with Negotiator and Director both coming in at a 12.My hubby is also a Builder.Obviously this means we will live happily ever after:) LOL

Sunday "Supa Bowl Style"

2009-02-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

I've never liked Sundays.To me, the weekend is Friday and Saturday.Probably because I know on Sunday that I have work coming Monday so there's this pall that kinda hangs over that day.Ridiculous to some but true for me. Anyway,yesterday was an exception. We had my brother and Jake's parents over to watch the Superbowl.I rarely put pictures of our weekend activities up because Jake doesn't want pictures of himself or Kylee on the Internet. His career has exposed him to some of society's more "unsavory characters ". Luckily I've been playing around a little with the photo editor programs so I'm able to put some pics up now without compromising his wishes.Anyway,yesterday was fun and I don't think I've ever said that about watching a football game (another thing my football lovin' husband hates to see in print) lol.

BLOGGERS CAN YOU HELP ME?

2009-01-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

(actual picture of the aftermath)

I really need your help.Yesterday after two root canals and a lump drain (you don't want to know) my mouth had been open for nearly four hours.Wide open with one of those bite block thingymaboppers dentists put in (thank you Dr.Tanada-Lee..you're the root canal queen! yes,it's a compliment).

Anyway,I was instructed to take my medication "with food" when I got home.If your mouth has been open for as long as mine you know,chewing is not comfortable. Looking for something soft I came across last nights' cornbread in the fridge.I popped it into the microwave and pushed what I thought was :20 seconds into the timer,then the phone rang. Of course I forgot about the cornbread until I walked into my bedroom closet and heard the smoke alarms! I had actually pushed 2:00 minutes instead of the :20 seconds and who knew?...Cornbread can catch fire in the microwave! It was awful.The last thing anyone needs after two root canals.

Now my house reeks of smoke.I have no idea how to get the stench out of the walls.Do you have any idea? Anyone? My blog is open to everyone so even if you have been leery about commenting on a strangers blog before please don't hesitate. Trust me,I have spent half a day on the blogs of people I don't know laughing and agreeing and thinking Wow,this person is just like me.So even if you're not a cornbread-microwave-failure :) and you have a hint about smoke in walls,please don't be shy! Thanks in advance!! Rach

DON'T WANT THE KIDS RUNNING IN THE HOUSE? SHOW THEM THIS..

2009-01-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

While you can't tell from this picture,here's a little boy who will probably never run in the house again...especially near the dinner table.Scroll down to see what no parent ever wants to experience.Warning...the picture below this one will make you squeamish unless you have a heart of stone and a steel stomach.

I have no idea who this mom and son are but let me just say that this was one of the scariest lessons I bet they have ever learned! Poor baby! I can barely look at this picture without clenching up,I can't imagine how this kid felt much less his mommy!!

I'm too sexy for my inauguration..too sexy for my...

2009-01-21T07:01:00.000-08:00

I'll be the first person to point out that I'm no stranger to heels, short shorts or short skirts.Like our new V.P's wife Jill Biden,I too am a runner but that's where our similarities end.While I thought she looked great on inauguration day,I know I'm not the only person who thought her "outfit" wasn't appropriate for what was arguably one of the biggest events in history.Maybe I'm a little old for my 34 years.?I'm certainly no fashionista but come on,when your husband is about to become the 2nd leader in charge of the free world do you look in your closet and say "Hmm? Joe really embarrassed me on Oprah yesterday by shushing me.Well,I'll show him that this wife will not be shushed! Where are my CFM boots? Where's my "show some leg" Milly dress?Grab my Harper Valley PTA coat and no-one-puts-baby-in-a-corner attitude and get this party started".? Dr.Biden rocks 57 but in my opinion she should have saved the sexy for another event.

"Hey there Good Lookin',...lose your job much"?

2009-01-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

After my co-hosts' job (not my brother) was cut from the company budget this past fall,listeners would come up to me in the craziest places (including a dental chair) asking "What happened" and "Are you next"?I'd answer in the best way possible (mostly referring them to this blog under the post "Heavy").At the end of almost every conversation the person would inevitably say "Well,just be happy that you still have a job"! I was and I am.

What I wasn't saying was that I understood more than they/you realized.You see,my husband was laid off the same week as my co-host.I wanted desperately to talk about it on the air because I knew we weren't the only people this was happening to,but at the time my hubby just wasn't ready to hear how sorry everyone was or that he shouldn't worry everything would be alright.If you're experiencing a lay-off yourself you know how scary it can be.Last I checked the unemployment rate in our county is ten and a half percent and nearly eight and a half-percent for the whole country..ouch!

So again, I got your back,I understand.

However,what I am curious about are those of you who are experiencing people who are on the other side of YOUR unemployment? These are the buttholes I like to call the "justwaits" as in "Just wait till something like this happens to you and I hope it does(kind of)." These people range anywhere from the customer service rep at the credit card company where you are trying to get your interest rate down to the relative you overhear saying at Christmas "Well,guess they(hubby and I) shouldn't have bought that truck in 2003(which we sold in 05') or that expensive treadmill(which I got for free) that she spends so much time on trying to maintain the figure of a 12 year old boy"!Please do not misunderstand me,I hate pity.In fact,I'm one of the people who has always believed that if you're hurting monetarily it's probably your own fault.I've suffered setbacks as much as the next person due to poor judgement but the situation alot of us are in right now is the result of many factors far beyond our control.For this reason I am hoping you have a little emotion inside you known as EMPATHY.

We are among those of you who do everything right.My husband is a by-the-book guy! We saved for months of rainy days like all financial planners advise. However, they don't tell you that the rain could become a full blown hurricane. No one likes bad weather but while it's here for you,me and others I implore you to do one thing. Be kind.Be kind because as humans we are statistically,inherently good.If you choose to be an ass however,be ready because kharmic justice loves a criminal.

I'm laughing at you and because of you,not with you....

2009-01-13T11:40:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows an "explosive" person but not everyone has had to deal with one.If you are among the group who has had this displeasure,I learned a few tips from an acquaintance who after years of having to deal with dysfunctional people of every shape and size has perfected the art of responding.

Do not respond with the same craziness..Respond instead with your normal calm self to defuse people who are behaving in a hostile manner toward you.Stop short of laughing at them.Unless you're on the phone and they can't see you.

Sure,at first take their seeming irrationality seriously and try to validate their feelings,even if you can't stand them or what they are.Listen to what they have to say and hear them out; ignoring them or minimizing their feelings may cause them to lash out at people you love,your belongings and even if you don't care...themselves. (okay,maybe you can let that last one go).

Never argue with someone when they are drugged out or liquored up.This will be particularly tricky for those of you who are only attacked when someone seems to be "under the influence".It's truly a guessing game for some on the receiving end of another's lipstick lunacy.If that's the case,seek out an al-anon meeting.They dont just help with the addict but also their co-dependent family members and friends.However if you work with this person or you have to deal with them consider a lawsuit..yes it takes time and money but you are worth it!

Don’t try to solve an emotional issue with a logical argument.Trying to diffuse a person who is on the "attack' with overwhelming evidence of their obvious errors in thinking,mistakes in logic, or facts to the contrary, or reasons for why they shouldn’t feel the way they do, is like shaving your head to pluck out a gray hair.Basically you know you are sane,and they are not.

Think about terminating the relationship.Truth is, some relationships we get involved in are so "toxic" that it is self-abusive to continue in them. Moldy, toxic houses are fixer-upers,people are not.You can clean out a toxic home whereas a toxic person will try and smother you.Now,if you have to deal with this person try and make sure most of your "dealing" is over the phone.Most of the time they are so inept at human interaction that they will most likely hang-up on you anyway,(Also known as a "loss" of complete control).People who hang up the phone while you're talking with them are below you and very,very childish.If you can get away with it,suggest counseling and have a number ready that they can call and no I don't have an "idiot hotline".

Experience tells me that the answer you get will be completely nuts but try asking them directly why they often appear angry toward you.A straight line is the shortest distance between two points.However,when dealing with the "crazies" you most likely will get generalizations like "Well,just because you are this or that",or a different take on that is "Well, just because you don't do this or that". A good one I heard recently was something to the tune of someone being irrational because in their own words "Well you're just a loser and a piece of _____ and I am better than you". When you hear that from someone,it is then okay to laugh.Laugh loud and hard and right in their ear.They are going to hang up the phone anyway!

Uh? $5 parking at the mall....What's next, a shared breathing air fee?

2008-12-19T14:42:00.000-08:00

I've parked in the same row of spaces at the local mall since I worked there in high school.Way back then (89-92) I worked at what were called "carts" not kiosks. You see,these wagon looking mobile stores could be wheeled from a prime location to a low "foot traffic" spot in just one late rental space payments' time.My cart jobs were near what is now the GAP and back then used to be the Jolly Roger restaurant.
Anyway,I'm getting off track....
I realized last week that I had some soon to be expired mall gift cards I needed to spend before the "credit Grinch" ate the entire amount. Usually I take about 2 to 4 weeks off this time of year to "get through" Christmas.However with the crazy economy I'm one of many employees who are now wearing several different hats. Nobody actually said I could not take my vacation but let's just say that I was encouraged to only take 2 DAYS!!
Being that I want to continue wearing as many hats as I am asked (especially the one that reads "Count your blessings that you have a job when others in your home and life do not"!!) I fake- smiled in agreement and told myself 2 DAYS is the "NEW" 2-4 weeks!
Anyway,back to the parking lot. My first vacation day was yesterday. I got to the mall at 10:30am and proceeded to "my" parking area.Although it was a Thursday the place was already getting packed.Nonetheless,I spotted a vacant space about 8 cars down and snuggled in like a sardine.Everything seemed great. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to get at least a few gifts for Kylee to lose interest in before the week is over.Then,a realization punches me right in the gut.I nearly scream towards the teenagers parked next to me ..."Oh,for the love of Pete!!! I left the certificates in the stack of bills to be mailed by the front door of the house!!
Aghhh!
I don't even attempt to maintain what resembles normal breathing because I am clearly not normal. Nearly hyperventilating and so angry at myself I want to cry,I calmly turn around and walk out of the mall.I ask an employee what time the mall opens the next day and they say 9am. I calmly(kind of) drive home and begin planning for the next day....today.
This time I make sure I have the gift certificates gripped tightly in hand for another gas guzzlin' trip across town. Everything seems to be going great when I round the corner near the GAP to "my" parking spaces.Then I see them.

Ropes and men with faux trooper/cowboy lookin' hats. MY PARKING AREA IS SUDDENLY A MAKE-SHIFT $5 PER CAR VALET PARKING AREA!!
WTH?
I couldn't believe it. It's hard enough finding a parking space during the busiest time of the year but what were they thinking?
Sure the company that owns the mall is having a tough time right now but we all are...and if the shoppers wanted VALET parking we would probably shop out of town.
There were rows and rows of spaces roped off and in true mall fashion,even at that early hour people were "cruising" the lot.
One of the many reasons the mall opens early during the holidays is to alleviate the sheer volume of so many people coming in at one time.Early birds like me plan for a reason,one of which is to get a GOOD PARKING SPOT. Up until today the area I have used for over 15 years was FREE.
$5 is like a brick of gold at my house right now and even if it wasn't I would never pay $5 today for something that was free yesterday.
I wondered how many people would shell out the so-called VALET FIVER after getting caught up in the mall "cruise-a-thon".
After finding a decent spot I finally went in to peruse the stores and forgot about my parking rage. 3 hours later...yes 3 hours...if you have lived here your whole life like I have,you know it is impossible to go to the mall at Christmas time without running into everyone you ever knew and their 17 relatives that must be introduced to you.
So anyway,3 hours later I escape and start the journey to my new parking area.
This is when the anger I had earlier turns into pure hilarity to me as well as a sense of "community".
There were a total of 4 cars in the VALET area. 4!! That's it.
Now I don't know how many cars came and went in the lifetime I was inside but I have hope that most people are like me and just say "No to VALET"!
Maybe by tomorrow the free parking spaces will be open again and the $5 people were encouraged to use on parking could be used towards the present that a gift card would no longer cover!

Losing yourself on websites..

2008-12-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

On many occasions while researching for additional information on news and topics for our morning show I notice that HUGE chunks of time have passed.....Huge.This is especially a problem with a laptop,because I can take it anywhere in the house......yes I even take it in the bathroom....ewww yuck.
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is postsecret. Every Sunday the site is updated with secrets people believe they would never dream of revealing publicly. They do though,albeit anonymously.
Just by virtue of existing the postsecret blog has changed the lives of so many of its readers."Change" being the operative word. Sometimes the reader will see a secret that turns a bad day good,other times a secret will hit a nerve and you're either crying or laughing hysterically. Here are some of my favorites from today....

Are you a mother? I guarantee you can relate to this

2008-12-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

You've been here before right? You're in the store and your kids are acting like you're beating or kidnapping them because they haven't gotten their way.When this happens I'd like to think I did what my sister-in-law Katie did with my nephews just the other day....

Here is the link to her blog:http://bubbatubbs.blogspot.com/2008/12/scream_07.html#links

Kudos to you Katie!

on a side note: I'm a huge believer that kids have enough friends and only two parents (if you're a step-kid it's sometimes 4 as in the case of my step-daughter) so if you think you're being your child's "best friend" you should know they are probably thinking "Who is parenting me"? If they aren't thinking it now,I assure you they will be blaming you in the future.

Shameless.............

2008-12-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

A little bit of shameless self-promotion

(Bakersfield Magazine is sold all over town and by logging on to Bakersfieldmagazine.net. This is part of the 2008 December edition)

Dustin and I are on page 15.Hilarious article and questionnaire

If only I'd known about this when we bought our house!

2008-12-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been let in on an "inside secret"? The type of information you think others must have begged,borrowed or pleaded to get? Maybe you've just written yourself off as "unlucky"? Well, today I was let in on one of those "secrets" that keep some of my more financially savvy friends in the red during these crazy economic times.
I promise this company is NOT paying me to advertise on my BLOG.They actually have no idea I'm even doing this but you know when I get a money-saving tip,I always pass it on to you!
So here's the deal.We have a place called Direct Buy right here in Bakersfield and to save thousands..and I mean thousands on everything from high-end furniture to small things like cookware and even golf clubs you have to check it out.Basically, you can get anything imaginable for wholesale cost.Trust me, you would die if you knew how much your couch really cost and how much more you actually paid for it. That never has to happen again.I know, I've seen it for myself. Again,I'm not trying to sell this to you or getting paid for you to click on their website,I just want you to see what I'm talking about!! Have fun! Here is the site::::

http://www.directbuy-bakersfield.com/

If you want to talk to a live person you can also call them at:

1-800-730-2822!

Your lip balm addiction is real...

2008-12-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

Dustin and I told you about new research this morning showing that your need for constant lip slathering is probably an addiction.That's right,doctors who researched patients' claims that they just HAD to have their Carmex,Chapstick,Burts Bees, (name your poison) on their puckers at all times were probably victims of addiction. To that I say "Whatever".

However,just to prove it researchers say they found many balms contain ingredients which aggravate sensitive lips and even cause peeling, resulting in the use of even more lip balm.They now advise users to stay away from balms containing phenol, lanolin, parabin and anything with a fragrance, or a "botanical" product.

I say use them if you like them,or you can get all paranoid like the guy who started this website....http//www.lipbamanonymous.com. Take a look for the safety of your lips or just so you can laugh your balm right off...

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite bloggers..

2008-12-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE HOGUE...(of BubbaTubbs blog fame)

One of the blogs I check regularly is bubbatubbs.At first I just looked at it to see pictures of my nephews,Katie and Luke (Luke is Jake's brother).Despite the fact that we live less than ten miles away from eachother,we just don't get together enough.That's why I love blogging and more to the point..Katie's blog ,to be fair I enjoy Luke's entries as well.So Happy Birthday Katie!!! Hope it's a good one.(also hope you're not too embarrassed...well,kind of..lol)

IN(n)-LAWS...

2008-11-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

Would I be way off the mark to say that the last place most people consider for a relaxing weekend getaway is their in-laws house?
Probably not.
Then again most people don't have in-law's like mine.
I hit the "in-law jackpot" when I married Jake.No joke.Even before I had met them or been to their home,I would have long phone conversations with Jake's mom Nancy.I felt like I had known her my entire life.Some of my favorite mini-vacations are spent in their Bear Valley Springs "retreat".It doesn't hurt that it only takes forty five minutes to get there from home if I'm driving. When Jake is behind the wheel it takes about an hour and half.The time differences occur because we first have to feed his Starbucks addiction which adds about ten minutes and secondly Jake is always "cucumber calm" and his driving reflects this perennial state of being.Admittedly,he is the safer driver but I draw the line at saying he is a better driver!

Every time we get there,no matter what,they package us inside the homemade blankets and for a while every hurt is healed...every problem resolved....and every hunger fed.Besides being with my late grandparents,the Hogue home is where I feel safest...and you couldn't find a better meal if you tried! Here are some pictures of our most recent stay in mid-November....

PICS (Nancy's aka Elf's gourmet cookin',Nance,Bob,The Hogue's front porch in the early morning..as usual I'm the first one awake! Morning DJ's have a crazy internal clock)

Broke like me? Here are the BLACK FRIDAY DEALS!

2008-11-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

I did your BLACK FRIDAY work for you.Just click on and save.I know we are all broke this year!!

The Official Site for the Hottest Day of the Yearhttp://www.bfads.net/
The Black Fridayhttp://www.theblackfriday.com/
Black Friday 2008http://www.blackfday.com/
Black Friday Ads.comhttp://www.blackfridayads.com/
Black Friday Info http://www.blackfriday.info/
Black Friday Nethttp://www.black-friday.net/
Deal Takerhttp://www.dealtaker.com/blackfriday.html
GottaDeal.comhttp://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/
TGI Black Fridayhttp://tgiblackfriday.com/

What is wrong with you?

2008-11-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

A good mantra for people who go to tanning beds would be "If I have the money to tan,I have the money to hire a baby/dog sitter". Right? Seriously,I had some business in a popular salon here today and for the first time I saw a note taped up telling people that it is not okay to take their children into the tanning room with them,neither is it alright to leave them in the lobby.I have seen this happen on numerous occasions and while it should be left unsaid,I am glad they put up a note! People actually think that it's okay to bring their kids with them when they go to their tanning appointment and have the audacity to think that the it is the salon employees job to watch them! What is wrong with these parents??!! Are you that oblivious?Are you really that selfish? I also can't believe when I see PREGNANT women tan.What are you thinking?
When I asked the manager what had finally prompted the note she had the craziest story I had heard yet.Apparently a woman came in the day before with her small dog and asked if it would be alright to take the dog into the stand-up tanning room with her!!
When she was told "Uh,No" she pleaded a little bit but instead of cancelling her appointment she went out and locked the dog in her car.I'm all for tanning but these crazies must have fried some brain cells.

We dare yours to be worse..

2008-11-19T06:26:00.000-08:00

I highly doubt any of you have a sicker more hazardous looking microwave than the one we have in our breakroom.Email your pics to us at rachel@kgfm.com or dustin@kgfm.com and if yours is more "grody" I will give you my KGFM Rewards points for whatever you want to buy or trade.You can also check out more pics at dustinatkgfm.blogspot.com or by just clicking on his blog.The link is to the right of this post.Happy Hurling!

He is "icheating"on you!!

2008-11-18T20:26:00.000-08:00

Nov 18,2008.........A married New Jersey man has told his wife that a "technical glitch" with his iPhone is to blame for a series of naked photos that have been mysteriously emailed from his gadget. The remarkable story came to light after the wife posted a question on the Apple's support forums asking whether such a technical mishap was possible on the iPhone. "Please help!," she writes. "I took my husband's iPhone and found a raunchy picture of him attached to an email to a woman in his sent email file. When I approached him about this, he admitted that he took the picture, but says that he never sent it to anyone. He claims that he went to ... a local Apple store and they told him it is an iPhone glitch -- that photos sometimes automatically attach themselves to an email address and appear in the sent folder, even though no email was ever sent. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? The future of my marriage depends on this answer!"... Fellow users on the Apple forums were quick to let the woman know that no such glitch had been identified, and that her husband had clearly come up with the first excuse that came to mind to lie his way out of trouble. One responder to her question about the iPhone glitch replied, "I think your marriage has a glitch."

The sick,nasty, gross office fridge!

2008-11-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes at work I have just "had it" when it comes to the disgustingness(not a word) of our office refridgerator.So,on the air this morning I finally outed myself as the one who throws away all the food in the fridge.I had to tell my secret after I threw away a co-workers food and they left a note on the fridge daring the "cleaner" to come forward.I did and he and I are "good". However it got us on the subject and I don't have a problem with what I did.Most of the food and liquid in the fridge has been in there for longer than a week,none of it has a note on it,it's basically alive and if I don't throw it out it's gonna walk out and get us.Basically I am protecting my co-workers.Later today or tomorrow my brother and I will also post pictures of the office microwave which is beyond any written word description.

Looking for a DJ or a Pirate?

2008-11-17T07:58:00.000-08:00

Will pillage for food.That's what a pirate does,right? Just kidding..

Here's a picture of Dustin this weekend at a child's party.On top of doing our morning show my brother has his own mobile disc jockey business.He'll do your party, so just call him. 900-6037

Never heard of these charges before????

2008-11-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

CHARGED WITH DRINKING AND FLOODING??

A woman ended a night out by flooding her prison cell after a long drinking session. Lori Brutsche was arrested for stealing beer from customers at the Mint nightclub in Idaho. During her visit to the venue, she allegedly flashed her body to the band, started fights and refused to leave when asked. Police found Brutsche totally naked and fighting with security guards outside the club. She's accused of kicking a guard in the groin and later biting a police officer. After being taken to jail, she broke the sprinkler system, which caused a small flood.

ADVICE

2008-11-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

Besides running,reading is my second favorite pasttime.I remember reading "Blubber" by Judy Blume in the 2nd grade after a teacher told my mom I could read at a 4th grade level(I felt so smart!).A couple of years after that my mom let me read "Are you there God,it's me Margaret" and then she got a copy of "The Color Purple" the summer before my 6th grade year.I remember thinking how "adult" I felt reading such a mature novel and how lucky I was that my mom let me.I think that has alot to do with why I still enjoy books by people twice my age about subjects I haven't yet experienced but will no doubt relate to one day.About a year ago I picked up a copy of Nora Ephron's "I feel bad about my neck and other thoughts on being a woman".Inside I found the following "nugget"

What I wished I'd known..... by Nora Ephron

People have only one way to be.

Buy, don't rent.

Never marry a man you wouldn't want to be divorced from.

Don't cover a couch with anything that isn't more or less beige.

Don't buy anything that is 100 per cent wool even if it seems to be very soft and not particularly itchy when you try it on in the store.

You can't be friends with people who call after 11 p.m.

Block everyone on your instant mail.

The world's greatest babysitter burns out after two and a half years.

You never know.

The last four years of psychoanalysis are a waste of money.

The plane is not going to crash.

Anything you think is wrong with your body at the age of 35 you will be nostalgic for at the age of 45.

At the age of 55 you will get a saggy roll just above your waist even if you are painfully thin.
This saggy roll just above your waist will be especially visible from the back and will force you to re-evaluate half the clothes in your closet, especially the white shirts.

Write everything down.

Keep a journal.

Take more pictures.

The empty nest is underrated.

You can order more than one dessert.

You can't own too many black turtleneck sweaters.

If the shoe doesn't fit in the shoe store, it's never going to fit.

When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.

Back up your files.

Overinsure everything.
Whenever someone says the words, "Our friendship is more important than this," watch out, because it almost never is.

There's no point in making piecrust from scratch.

The reason you're waking up in the middle of the night is the second glass of wine.

The minute you decide to get divorced, go see a lawyer and file the papers.

Overtip.

Never let them know.

If only one-third of your clothes are mistakes, you're ahead of the game.

If friends ask you to be their child's guardian in case they die in a plane crash, you can say no.

There are no secrets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As long as I'm awake,you'll always be alive..(Merrit Malloy)

2008-11-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Anniversary.Got you on my mind,together again,together forever!

Ralph and Irma Peterson. Married November 10,1956. Irma 1936-2002::Ralph 1935-2008

I love you two! Everything you said...came true.I am the better for it.Thank you for loving me!

Your granddaughter..

KGFM LISTENER VOTER INFORMATION

2008-11-04T05:46:00.000-08:00

Don't know what prop is what? Don't know where your polling place is located? Don't know who you should be voting for? Check this site out for all the info....

http://elections.co.kern.ca.us/Elections/

Hi! We are the Legan duo:0)

2008-10-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

Rachel and Dustin Legan October 2008

(photo by In Focus Photography-see label for details)

I have never seen the resemblance between Dustin and I.However it is true we have the same mom and dad.We each have features from both of them.I looked more like my mom when I was little and Dustin looked more like my dad.Now the opposite is true.We both share the same nose(my mom's) as well as the indentation above our lip but that part is a total(Randy) Legan trait.I can't wait to scan some pictures to show you what we looked like as children.Dustin was a 100 percent BLONDE TOEHEAD!! It's true... Thanks for joining us on this rocky journey toward having our own morning show together.Its been a crazy two months but we appreciate your participation.If you get a chance join the KGFM rewards program and add us as friends.You can win stuff just for listening.KGFM.COM

What your Halloween candy says about you...

2008-10-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

HALLOWEEN CANDY REVEALS PERSONALITY
Did you know that the kind of Halloween candy you give out is a reflection onto yourself. It is true, here is a few of the different personality traits related to your candy.

---Loose Change -- These people tend to be procrastinators. The fact they answer the door instead of pretending not to be there for trick- or-treaters is a sign of there Genuine interest in people and loyalty to friends.
--Candy Corn, Orange Colored Marshmallow, Puff "Peanuts," etc. -- You know how to pinch every last penny out of a dollar. You prefer spending your money on you, not someone you will never see again.
--M&M's/Snickers/Milky Way -- Right off the top, you're cool. Quality over quantity is the name of the game with you. You love a great party, are conscious and considerate of others. Likely to be a natural leader. Positive and upbeat on the outside even if your innards are tied in knots.
--Skittles/Reese's Pieces -- You're up on trends and fashion. You know what's hot and what's not. If older than 35, very likely to have children at home. A little different than the average bear but in a quirkyway. You often feel out of place but you cover it well and no one has ever noticed.
--Other name brand candy -- You like to mix things up a bit. You hate surprises -- but love to surprise others. Most likely, you bought a candy that you happen to enjoy rather than a candy that's popular with kids. This group is the most likely to be overweight.

DIRTY,ROTTEN,NICE,CLEAN OR EVEN NOSY-THIS WEBSITE IS FOR EVERY NEIGHBOR!!

2008-10-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

If you're moving into a new neighborhood,or just want to know about the noisy people who live down the street then ROTTENNEIGHBOR.COM is for you.

Just click on the site,put in your zip code,city name or even your street name and presto! If your neighbors have been written about for a good or bad deed,it is on there.Our listeners have been looking up their own addresses to make sure their house isn't a comment target!

Bananas for pounds

2008-10-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

THE DIET DUSTIN AND I TOLD YOU THAT THE JAPANESE ARE GOING BANANA'S FOR THIS MORNING

We're just waiting for someone to tell us this is a hoax. Apparently the Japanese are going ga-ga over the Morning Banana Diet. They're so crazy for the diet there's a banana shortage in Japan. The Morning Banana Diet regime is simple: A banana (or as many as you want) and room temperature water for breakfast; eat anything you like for lunch and dinner (by 8pm). A three o'clock snack is okay, but no desserts after meals, and you have to go to bed before midnight. A pharmacist in Osaka designed the diet to help increase the metabolism of her husband, who had become overweight. Morning Banana Diet books published since March have sold over 730,000 copies.... It's interesting to note that the diet became huge after an opera singer who weighs more than 200 pounds announced on TV that she'd lost 15 pounds in six weeks. Anyone who watches The Biggest Loser knows if you've got that kind of weight, 15 pounds in six weeks is very doable on any sort of diet. No on in Japan seems to care because Dole has increased its banana imports to Japan by more than 25% -- and there's still a shortage...

(The lin for the actual diet is available by clicking on the title above)

HEARTWALK O8 Pictures

2008-10-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

KGFM joined the American Heart Association on Saturday for the Heartwalk at CSUB.Below are some pictures.Check them out,you may have been shot!

My brother Dust and I at the "start" of the heart-walk

Heartwalkers walking hard!

Redo the Boo

2008-10-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Our house was boo'd (see a couple posts below for definition) a few days after Kylee and I went out "Boo-ing" our neighbors.Jake and I didn't have Kylee that day though so I took the boo package inside and hid it from Jake (he would have eaten everything in it during his night time "sleep eat walks").Anyway,I put it outside for her to find when we got her on Thursday and here is what it looked like.

"(H)Ears to all your hard work"

2008-10-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of Dustin and I in October of last year.The picture was taken at Dustin's annual "Keep it Dirty" party (Dirty was his radio name for the past 9 years).Dustin will soon have pictures up of his ear transformation done by "Genius" Dr.Vip Dev(his website is to the left under the links).Dustin also has a blog which you can log onto at:
http://dustinatkgfm.blogspot.com/

Have you been "Boo'd" yet??

2008-10-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

LET THE NEIGHBORHOOD "BOOING" BEGIN

My step-daughter Kylee and I started our neighborhood's annual "Boo" chain this weekend.We've lived in our neighborhood for five years and traditionally the "booing begins the first week of October.With the economy being in the pits lately and alot people going through hard times,we decided to see how far $10 would stretch at the Dollar Store.Happily,we were able to make two baskets and fill them up with Halloween goodies and decorations for just $9.40! If you have never "Boo'd" before here is how it works:
Make 2 treats and two "BOO" signs (you can make your own or photocopy the one your neighbor has left you) then secretly deliver to 2 neighbors, along with these directions and this poem...

You've been Boo'd!

What to Do:
Enjoy your treat!
Hang your “I’ve Been Booed” sign on your front door where it can be seen!
In the next two days, make two copies of the poem with instructions, two “I’ve Been Booed” signs and assemble two treat bags.
Secretly deliver your treats (to homes without a “boo” sign) and then watch to see how far the “booing” goes in your neighborhood!

The air is cool, it’s time for fall,

Soon Halloween will come to all

Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore,Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do,In fact a spook brought this to you !!!

The treats that came with this short note, Are yours to keep, enjoy them both.

The excitement comes when friends like you, Will copy it & make it two,

We'll all have smiles upon our faces,No one will know who BOOed our places!

Just be sure that you don’t tell,Keep it secret ,hide it well.

Please join the fun, the seasons here.Just spread the "BOOing" Halloween cheer!!

Happy Birthday....Wish you were here

2008-10-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday.Miss you so very much.

Irma Lucille Peterson
1936 - 2002
In loving memory of my grandma Oct. 7, 1936 - Oct. 14, 2002

Hope he doesn't mind that I took them from behind!!

2008-10-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

As you may know,Jake "requests" that I do not put any pictures of him or Kylee on the internet.I respect his wishes so I compromised by taking these pictures from behind,as well as the one right below that hides my girls' face.I just wanted to share what a relaxing time we had at the beach after what has been such a stressful year! We had fun and loved eating at the Cracked Crab.Our FAVORITE Pismo restuarant.The Cracked Crab gets their fish from the guys on the TV show the Deadliest Catch.I couldn't post the pics though because Jake and Ky are smiling in all of them..Kind of an oxymoron huh? Nonetheless,I understand:)

The future "journalist"

RayRay and KyKy
Daddy and Ky headed to the swings

More Daddy!!

The front of some random sandcastle just standing beautifully in the middle of the beach.

The back of the same castle.I think it was built for someones Christmas Card.Look closely and you can see someone wrote "Merry Christmas" on the front with their finger.

PMS? LACK OF ENERGY? ALCOHOLISM?NO PROBLEM..JUST "SOUND" IT OUT

2008-10-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

Dim the lights, put on your headphones, sit back, and relax; we're going on a journey through the bizarre and controversial world of binaural beats. The concept is simple: When playing two slightly different low frequency tones, one to each ear, a pulsating middle tone will be perceived by the brain. This resulting rhythmic beat is thought to be able to alter physical and mental states with out any additional stimuli.
Sound crazy? We thought so too. But guess what?Alot of people say it actually works..You can supposedly fix what ails you by clicking on one of the tone streams below,but first you gotta do these things:

1. Sit or lay down in a comfortable place. 2. Wear your headphones. 3. Choose your desired state from the following list. 4. Close your eyes and enjoy the ride.
(these beats are from i-dose.us)

PMS relief (Stream) Helps ease PMS

Antidepressant (Stream) Helps with treatment for depression

Stop alcohol abuse (Stream) Helps with treatment for alcoholism

Mirage (Stream) Helps with art & creative activities

Super brain (Stream) Helps with problem-solving activities

Relaxation (Stream) Relaxes you at the end of a busy day

Energy drink (Stream) Boosts your energy

Lucid dreams (Stream) Intensifies dreams

Inspiration and Creativity (Stream) Stimulates inspiration and creativity

Coffee break (Stream) Wakes you up and sharpens your alertness

Meditation (Stream) Helps you achieve meditative states

Pain killers (Stream) Helps with general pain

Focus (Stream) Sharpens your mind

Aspirin (Stream) Helps with headaches and general pains

* Please note that these tones and music are not by any means a replacement for medical treatment

A secret told....

2008-09-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the "secrets" on the website Dustin and I talked with you about this morning....(if you can't read the postcards,click on them and they will appear larger in a side screen on your computer).Don't forget to check out the website for yourself at postsecret.com

When you're down..get dirty..

2008-09-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

Does life ever just become too much for you? What do you do when it does? I used to drive over to my grandparents house and my grandma and I would go on these long bike rides and make a little picnic lunch at this little park.These days I normally chill out with my hubby or I do my other favorite thing and spend time with all of my oldest friends or just one of them.I get something different from all of them and today I was lucky enough to see Jennifer.Like my other best friend Aerin,Jen has been my family for a quarter of a century.If we could have done what we are doing in the picture you see above today,we would have....Instead we opted for lunch and a movie.We saw "The Women". It was a big deal to me since I haven't been to the movies since Jake and I went to see "The Departed".I really need to get out more:)

Another Crazy Obit...this is starting to become a fad!

2008-09-22T20:12:00.001-07:00

ANOTHER CRAZY OBITUARY

A month ago we shared with you the wacky obituary written by the family of a woman who, apparently, wasn't very well liked. (See several entries below)Well, we've got another one, from the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming.

James William "Jim" AdamsA celebration of life for James William "Jim" Adams, 53, will be held at a later date. He died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008 at Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas. Jim, who had tired of reading obituaries noting other's courageous battles with this or that disease, wanted it known that he lost his battle. It was primarily as a result of being stubborn and not following doctor's orders or maybe for just living life a little too hard for better than five decades.He was born June 8, 1955 in Garrison, N.D. the son of James William and Ruby Helen (Clark) Adams.He was sadly deprived of his final wish, which was to be run over by a beer truck on the way to the liquor store to buy booze for a date. True to his personal style, he spent his final hours joking with medical personnel, cussing and begging for narcotics and bargaining with God to look over his loving dog, Biscuit, and his family.He would like to thank all "his ladies" for putting up with him the last 30 years.During his life, he excelled at anything he put his mind to. He loved to hear and tell jokes and spin tales of grand adventures he may or may not have had.He is survived by five sons, Jeremiah Adams and his wife, Nicole, Mica Olivas, Wade Olivas, Brice Simpson and Cole Adams; sister, Jerri Giegerich; two ex-wives, Vickie Harrison and Marilyn Williams; four grandchildren; two nieces; and two great-nieces.He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law.In lieu of flowers, he asks that you make a sizeable purchase at your favorite watering hole, get rip roaring drunk and tell the stories he no longer can.

Duster Cruster

2008-09-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

This is my brother Dustin Legan aka Duster Cruster (a name our auntie Lois Paradise gave him when he was a little boy).I will write more about him later but thank you for welcoming him to the KGFM morning show.Dustin recently moved to Huntington Beach but put his dream of living at the entrance to the sea on hold to pursue this crazy career we call radio! I hope you will love him as much as I do..

Heavy

2008-09-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

When I was a senior in high school I remember being in class one day and the teacher asking the football players in the class their 'stats'.My friend Jack Rudnick went first and after hearing his weight (163) I heard nothing else. 163? 163? I weighed 167 at the time and even though I was a bigger girl than most of my friends I had no idea that I weighed more than a football player who easily stood 6inches taller than me.I felt heavy...really heavy.Not just weight wise but heavy with everything going on in my life at the time.My younger brother and I had just moved in with my mom's parents (God,rest their loving souls).My boyfriend at the time (who I amazingly maintain a friendship with today) had just broken up with me because he was afraid of what his wealthy friends would think of him dating a girl who wasn't in his financial class...yes he really said he was embarrassed dating a poor girl LOL!To top it all off,my brother had just entered his teenage years filled with angst and sadness in missing our mom.I also missed her badly but knew that as the oldest I would need to act tough to get through it for everyone.It was indeed a heavy time.

Although I made it my life's mission (or curse depending on perception) to make things 'lighter' for myself when I was old enough to control my own life.I've just recently been made aware again that there are just things I cannot stop from happening.I am right in the middle again of yet another heavy time.

You've heard the saying "Want to make God laugh? Tell him YOUR plans.."

One of the many plans I had mapped out for myself included my morning show partner and dear friend and confidant Dean Novak. After losing my co-host of 9 years Doug DeRoo to some personal issues he had to deal with,I sought Dean out to come have some fun with me on KGFM.It was a long process.Dean had a job at another radio station where he was happy and content.However,being on the air solo is not my strong point and since I knew Dean and liked him, I basically begged him to come over to my company.After months of negotiating with the big bosses,he did.We were happy,things were great (in our eyes) and although Dean had warned me time and time again about the instability of radio I acted like he was nuts because I had known that it took alot to get fired by my management.It just isn't the norm at our stations.Unless you're stealing,being a porno freak on the internet,drinking on the job, going to jail,making more money than you're bringing in, or your station flips formats..you're pretty safe.Dean has always been a little more apprehensive than I am about our profession and when the ratings were low,he would voice his concerns.Again,I would tell him to "stop talking that way you are scaring me, we're fine..we're good employees,it's all good".He would still say "Everyone in radio gets fired at least once Rachel,your employment is just some sort of an anomaly you're really lucky".I'd like to think it's a little more than luck.Maybe some of it has to do with the fact that I have actually grown up at American General Media.I've spent my entire adult life working there.For about 9 years I was on call 24 hours a day as the News Director for each station my company owned.They allowed me to give up that position the year I married Jake and wanted to spend more time with my baby stepdaughter and grandmother who had just been diagnosed with cancer.I will forever be grateful to my bosses for that,as I know other companies who would just say "tough it out".The owner of my company has seen me go through several different traumatic experiences since I have been employed there and each time he always says 'Take as much time as you need".They have been good to me and I think Dean would say that they were good to him as well.To clarify,he would probably actually say they were good to him up until last week.

Neither of us had any idea that Friday would be our last show together.When I left work Friday I said "See ya Monday friend". Then the owner asked me to go to his office where he let me know that Dean was being let go.I was stunned, sad and suddenly very scared.I knew our ratings hadn't been that great lately. I braced myself then asked if I was being let go as well.He told me there were plans being made and that I would be briefed on them the following week.Then I found Dean who was equally as shaken and he and I drove to his house.Dean is very honest,especially with himself and he basically thinks that it all came down to affordability,and the nations economy.In his interview with the Californian last week he admitted as much.Despite wishing he hadn't been fired his only other desire would have been to have had some advance warning.I believe this was why I also was not informed as I am not known around the office for keeping my mouth shut.Had I been told ahead of time,my bosses know me well enough to know that I would have told Dean and that it would have changed the tone of our show.Being a pro,Dean may have been able to carry on as normal but I tend to be a little emotional and frankly I probably would not have held it together.That is why the bosses are the bosses and I am the employee.
Not knowing what the plans for KGFM would be after Dean was fired he simply told me to go home and talk to Jake.Dean and I were both still in shock but his came across to me like an eery calmness.So I did what he said and went home and told Jake the whole story.Jake said "Rachel,AGM has never let you down in the past and whatever happens just know that business is business and this is not personal". I don't have the same mentality as Jake and Dean but I also think that as men,they have to act a little bit stronger than they actually feel sometimes.
When I found out a few days later that the plan KGFM had for the future not only included me but my younger brother as well, I was surprised,relieved, but I also felt guilty.A friend of mine explained to me that as women, we sometimes feel guilty for things that have NOTHING to do with us.Dean has a name for this..it is called the "mother gene". My surprise came from the fact that my brother had just moved to another city.He loves being a DJ so much though that he was driving back to Bakersfield on the weekends to do his normal radio shift on one of our sister stations.Dustin has an incredible personality though and like Dean he just happens to be one of my biggest confidants.Questions were coming out of my mouth at a rapid pace when I was told of the plan and at one point one of my bosses said "Rachel,we're sorry we didn't tell you but this is the way it works". They knew I didn't want to do a solo show and they knew my brother was good.To business people things are black and white.I'm more of what you would call a gray person.
Even though I was asked not to say anything to anyone about the new plan until it was released to the public I called Dean anyway.Surprised as he was he was still supportive and encouraging.Even as I write this though,I know I am writing it so my friend Dean understands how important he is to me.He can be supportive and encouraging and everything else but he's a human being and I don't know if the roles were reversed if I would be as gracious.One of the things I have learned from Dean in the years I have known him is to take a breath and let the dust settle before I react,which is one of the reasons it has taken me over a week to blog again.I just feel bad that all this happened and yet I know it was not in my control.
I'm going to miss seeing Dean every morning and getting among other things, the free therapeutic advice I have received from him over the years.I have also been told that I need to start looking forward to what is next...which is working with my brother.
This new chapter in my and Dustin's life is sure to be an exciting one.While he and I have both been in radio for a long time we have never done a show together.I want to make it clear though that Dustin did not and could not "steal" Dean's job.A newspaper reporter wrote a story about this new development and it was titled "Brotherly Shove".That headline was so upsetting!!Thankfully the story was factual and did not imply impropriety.
Dustin was as surprised as I was when we heard that we were being asked to do the show together.His first thought however was about Dean! Not himself...not me...Dean.
Since saying yes to the job,he hasn't had much time to think about anything else than moving back to Bakersfield.He's still hanging his clothes up as I write,excitedly discussing with an old radio friend about a topic that would be hilarious for us to discuss on air about family quirks.One of ours is that we like eachother...and hope that you like us too!

Take us along tomorrow as usual the microphones will crack at 5am on 101.5.It's the start of a brand new week.Hopefully a less heavy one for me and you....

p.s. If you want to get a hold of Dean you can email him at novakdean@hotmail.com

Treadmill TV.Are you watching these shows?

2008-09-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

It's tough to be a runner in Bakersfield--bad air.So my subconscious need to "run it out" whether the "it" be stress or last night's banana peanut-butter smoothie, finds me spending countless hours on my in house treadmill.I used to just watch rental movies while I fed my hour long addiction, but being a cheap-o ,I considered investing in a TIVO or dvr of some sort.

Those devices rope you to one television, unless you got lotsa moola and you can pay to hook up multiple tv's.I am in radio, I do not have lotsa moola:-)So I began seeking out the least expensive alternatives. A friend lent me the entire first season of FOX's "24" several years ago and I became hooked. I started asking people if they had the "complete" season of anything and then a co-worker turned me on to the "full episode" features on network television websites. I was in heaven!!Since that day I have developed a love for several shows that my morning radio hours would never have allowed me to see.The only show I actually make an exception for is CBS's Cold Case. Due to music licensing laws the powers that be can't re-run the show on the net, so I force my eyes to stay open till 10pm on Sunday night just to see it. Music is a huge part of the show which drew me to it in the first place. I love how each Cold Case episode uses tunes from whatever time period the unresolved case is set in. The first episode I stumbled on trapped me forever with a storyline accompanied by a late 80's early 90's Bruce Springsteen soundtrack. I actually went out and bought a Bruce CD the next day.The only other shows I watch in real time are reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond”. No matter what kind of day I am having, I can relax and laugh my head off at 7pm when TBS runs two back to back episodes. The other two are NBC's "Friday Night Lights" and A&E's "Dog the Bounty Hunter". Those are two shows that Jake and I both love. Jake likes FNL because it reminds him of his days as a football star at Tehachapi High School and I like it for the characters. As for "Dog" Chapman, well we first fell in love with the show because it was set in Hawaii (the only place out of state we have been to several times) and we could say "Hey,we know where that is...etc".Then we just started enjoying the whole Chapman family and their unapologetic "this is who we are,how we dress and what we do" attitude.Now here's a rundown of my favorite "Treadmill TV", with a little synopsis on my favorites!
1.Rescue Me (FX): This show isn't for everyone. You may have heard the quick synopsis that it centers on some New York City firemen who survived 9-11 and how they deal with it.Well, it is that and so much more.Denis Leary plays Tommy Gavin,a fireman/husband/father/brother/son/sometime boyfriend/alcoholic/witty,gritty and oddly attractive character who you just can't help rooting for even when he is being a jerk. Got all that? No topic is off limits. This series has it all from sex to racism to religion to faith and back to sex again. It focuses on the hardcore truths of so many family relationships that I can't help but be drawn to the characters. It’s also filled with quick wit. I appreciate that right when I'm moved to tears over some poignant rescue scene, I start laughing at some awesomely snide but true line delivered with perfect timing. The writing is great and although I seriously doubt that a 34-year old woman is the target audience, the creator hit the bull’s-eye with me. If you do decide to watch this, consider renting or downloading the first few seasons as the back story is essential.

2. Mad Men(AMC)): Loved it from episode one. Hard to believe there was a time when everyone smoked and drank to excess in and out of the office, where sexual harassment was graded not punished and where minorities and women were openly disrespected and children were meant to be seen and not heard. Even harder to believe is that time was less than 50 years ago. I watch Mad Men with a true interest in the story and a better understanding of my grandparent’s generation and how things worked when they were in their 20's and beginning their families. Of course the similarities don't extend to the so called premise of Mad Men which is supposed to be about the cut throat world of advertising and the Madison Avenue execs that made products and services into household names back then. That’s what is so great about the show. To me it doesn't matter if the setting is advertising or farming (which is what my grandparents and their relatives did) the arrogance of the male characters and the freakishly silent frustrations of the female characters give me such an appreciation of how life is today. The only thing I wished they had done differently is not let us see so many internal conflicts in center character "Don Draper" so soon. We learn at the beginning that he has the weakness of being a married womanizer, yet we love him because he is so tortured and strong at the same time. It doesn't hurt either that Jon Hamm who plays Draper and has to be one of the sexiest men on TV today. Season two is well underway on AMC and airs at 10pm on Sundays, too late for me so I download it from iTunes.

3. Law and Order- SVU with Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni is my favorite followed by Criminal Intent featuring Vincent D'Onofrio.I also love the actor Sam Waterston, I don't know why but much in the way I feel about Denis Leary there is just something about Waterston that comes through the screen. These men are years older than me and my husband for that matter but they bring me a little closer to understanding the whole "Demi Moore/Ashton Kutcher" relationship--ya dig? I could watch all the Law and Order episodes all day long and never get sick of them.

4. Swingtown (CBS): Don't believe that this show is just about some oversexed partner trading couples in the 1970's.It's not.Yes,I was surprised that CBS was going to run a show based on what I heard was the popularity of the "open marriage" boom of the 1970's.That's not something I can relate to, plus I was born in 1974 to a couple of crazy high school kids who had a few years yet to graduate much less get married, so in my mind this would have been show based on their parents who I already wrote were more in the "Mad Men" era. There are 6 main characters in Swingtown. Two of the couples have teenage children and the couples who are childless are the so called "swinging catalysts”. Each couple has been married for a decade or more and they all struggle with problems that couples still deal with today. I’m not sure how the viewership is going for this show but I like it alot.Even when they do delve into the whole 'it's okay to cheat" thing they still show all sides of it and all the sides appear to me that it doesn't work, ever.

5. Brothers and Sisters(ABC): Rob Lowe as a Republican, need I say more? LOL Seriously, I like Calista Flockhart,I like Lowe, I like Sally Field, I even like Balthazar Getty(despite his very public affair with the actress S.Miller).There are so many twists and turns, secrets and not-so-secret secrets in this drama that you can't help but be drawn to it. The show is about a big family with big family problems.Gotta love it because no matter what the problem is they all still love each other and in the end that is what really counts.

6.Grey's Anatomy(ABC): So popular that it needs no explanation. I just wish it would hurry up and come back on!

Rounding out this list are my final guilty pleasures...

MTV's"The Hills"

ABC's "Samantha Who"

NBC's "Lipstick Jungle"

What are your favorite shows?Any I haven't posted here and can download for free?Any you think are compelling enough to spend hours on the treadmill..or couch watching:)

Looking forward to writing about the books I read on the stairclimber at the gym.Yes,it's not enough to just excercise anymore.I must feed my muscles and my mind (even if the food ie:tv show,book is mostly dessert:->)

CALM ZOOFARI EVENT A SUCCESS!

2008-08-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

Well the California Living Museum's Ice Cream Zoofari was a success!! As you can see in the pictures here,even Sheriff Youngblood was there.In one of the pictures you can see Dean working to get ice cream out to the masses at "warp speed"! Not only did Dean,my step-daughter Kylee(daddy says no to posting pics of her on the net or you would see her here) and I satisfy the sweet tooth of at least 100 people during our shift but we also got to see alot of animals.I was impressed because I haven't been to CALM since the first week it opened in 1983!!CALM is on Alfred Harell Highway and is a great place to take the entire family even on the days when local media isn't serving ice cream:)

Ludens cherry drops they're not.....

2008-08-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

911 had to be called out to my step-daughters second grade class a few days ago on account of,well...my step-daughter.Kylee and her little friends were playing the old school board game Hi-Ho Cherry-O (see pic to right).The kids thought it would be great fun to throw the plastic cherry game pieces into the air and catch them with their wide-open mouths.Kylee's mouth was so wide open as was her throat that her cherry went in and down..all the way down.

This is why the school called 911.As it turns out the cherry didn't block her air passage so she didn't choke.Unless you count the tears,she tried not to cry upon seeing her mom arrive at the school along with firefighters and paramedics.In the end,her mom took her to urgent care and an x-ray showed that the cherry was in her stomach and would have to come out on it's own.I'm sure it's not necessary to write about it's passage..

"It's always easier to leave,than be left"...Dave Matthews (on the passing of one of the founding members of his band)

2008-08-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

Leroi Moore 1961-2008

If you have listened to the D&R show for any length of time you know that there is no other artist on this earth that I love listening to more than Dave Matthews.Some artists come close,but Dave takes the cake.I simply love him.I fell in love with his music after first hearing it while driving in San Luis Obispo near Cuesta college one evening and Crash came on the radio.The following week I went to lunch with our radio station owner's nephew who was working here at the time.He had a sort of "mix tape" of DMB's songs because Dave had actually played at his college before becoming uber famous.It was that short drive to the Garden Spot that cemented my love for Dave for all eternity!!I was supposed to go to Dave's concert last night in Los Angeles but due to some family issues I had to sell my front section tickets at the last minute.While I am glad to have made the sacrifice,I am sad to write that one of the founding members of the DMB died yesterday just four hours before the show.LeRoi Moore wasn't just a bandmate,he was also one of Dave's best friends. Moore was seriously injured in an ATV accident at the end of June and sadly died yesterday due to complications from that wreck.Moore was only in L.A. to undergo extensive rehabilitation at a medical center that specializes in helping people with injuries like the one's he had sustained.The link below is Dave talking to the crowd at last nights Staple's center concert after the band played the song "Bartender". The DMB remains in Los Angeles and will play another concert tonight.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid285859616/bclid294430730/bctid1743107290

RIP you wretched woman....

2008-08-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

This is a real obituary from a real newspaper on a real person.For REAL...

From the Times Herald newspaper of Vallejo, California:

Dolores Aguilar ... 1929 - Aug. 7, 2008

---Dolores Aguilar, born in 1929 in New Mexico, left us on August 7, 2008. She will be met in the afterlife by her husband, Raymond, her son, Paul Jr., and daughter, Ruby.She is survived by her daughters Marietta, Mitzi, Stella, Beatrice, Virginia and Ramona, and son Billy; grandchildren, Donnelle, Joe, Mitzie, Maria, Mario, Marty, Tynette, Tania, Leta, Alexandria, Tommy, Billy, Mathew, Raymond, Kenny, Javier, Lisa, Ashlie and Michael; great-grandchildren, Brendan, Joseph, Karissa, Jacob, Delaney, Shawn, Cienna, Bailey, Christian, Andre Jr., Andrea, Keith, Saeed, Nujaymah, Salma, Merissa, Emily, Jayci, Isabella, Samantha and Emily. I apologize if I missed anyone.Dolores had no hobbies, made no contribution to society and rarely shared a kind word or deed in her life. I speak for the majority of her family when I say her presence will not be missed by many, very few tears will be shed and there will be no lamenting over her passing.Her family will remember Dolores and amongst ourselves we will remember her in our own way, which were mostly sad and troubling times throughout the years. We may have some fond memories of her and perhaps we will think of those times too. But I truly believe at the end of the day ALL of us will really only miss what we never had, a good and kind mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I hope she is finally at peace with herself. As for the rest of us left behind, I hope this is the beginning of a time of healing and learning to be a family again.There will be no service, no prayers and no closure for the family she spent a lifetime tearing apart. We cannot come together in the end to see to it that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren can say their goodbyes. So I say here for all of us, GOOD BYE, MOM.