Friday, July 13, 2007

Happy Anniversary KFIZ


It’s really hard to appreciate the magnitude of KFIZ’s 85th Anniversary. At least it was for me. It was great to hear from some of those who worked at the station way back when like Joe Gaeser, Max Showalter and a host of others. I’ve met some like John Pappenheim, Rob Cutter and a few more at other functions.

I’ve been at KFIZ for five years now. I was telling Fond du Lac City Councilman Jim Sabel the other night, it’s like spending a few years playing for the Green Bay Packers and trying to appreciate the history and tradition of that storied franchise. I’m happy just to wear the uniform and hope what I do is more Brett Favre or Bart Starr-like than Jerry Tagge or Scott Hunter-like.

Of course thanks to generous business supporters we have some nice prizes to give away, but still aren’t sure about a cake. It’s a question of how to do it, how to serve it, etc. Since it’s a year long celebration the cake could come later.

Eight-five, it’s something to ponder. Commercial AM radio has survived television, FM radio, satellite radio, the computer and the iPhone! Probably missed a few, but when I’m traveling I grow tired of listening to CDs and spend most time listening to what others in my game are up to.

I’ve had a great time this week helping celebrate the anniversary, that is until on my way home Friday afternoon.

Pulling out onto Winnebago Drive I encountered a string of traffic while heading west. Coming up on the corner near Kwik Trip I stopped because a city street sweeper and the traffic in front of it in that lane I wanted to be in was narrowing. The city worker stopped for me and I waived a hand in my rear view mirror to let him know I appreciated it.

I’m guessing now that it was a bad move because the SUV now behind me tailgated all the way up to the lights at Scott and North Main, weaving back and forth so I wouldn’t know if the driver intended to pass me on the right or left in traffic. Problem was the truck in front of me hadn’t picked a lane yet either.

I’m thinking now that when I waived my hand the SUV’s driver thought I was giving a one finger salute. That was not the case. The driver made a sudden stop in the middle lane at the lights, a car-length ahead of me. Not quite figuring out the finger thing yet I wanted to get a look at the moron driving the SUV. That’s when I spotted the blonde-haired blue-eyed heart breaker riding shotgun in the backseat.

I got over my anger, sort of. So there are a couple things I have to say to Mr. or Mrs. dark blue-colored, Dodge Durango, Wisconsin license plate number RZD 981 tailgating me at 2:10 p.m. on Friday, July 13th. First of all the wave wasn’t for you, all the digits were fully extended. Your erratic driving endangered me, the cars in front of me, and the 4, 5, or 6-year old girl who was half hanging out the back passenger side window. The girl is the aforementioned blonde. By the way doesn’t the state have a child safety seat law in place now? Oh yeah, one more thing. I’m a news reporter Mr. or Mrs. SUV.

In any event thanks to all our great listeners for helping us celebrate our 85th Anniversary!

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