Everyone loves a parade!   The Akron St. Patrick's Parade is this Saturday at Noon.

The parade will feature high school and grade school bands, irish dancers, non-profit organizations, businesses, animal groups, floats, and much more.  The Route will be in the Heart of Akron on Main Street between Cedar and Bowery. 

Click Here for more info.

Is it too early??

 

 

 

 

 

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It's now March, and we are closing in on springtime. The changing seasons bring us a variety of fresh, reinvigorating smells. 

That's the inspiration for this week's Top Ten blog; I've been enjoying these temperate days spending my time outdoors. Between the rain showers and warm atmosphere, my senses have been flooded with freshness and life. Soon enough, we'll add budding flowers, BBQ, smoky bonfires, fresh mulch, and mowed grass to the aromas we encounter. Those days can't come soon enough, and there's nothing quite like them. 

We do our best to encapsulate the feelings these natural aromas give us in things like wax candles and incense, and I enjoy burning both. I also enjoy artificial colognes and perfumes, I love hanging air-fresheners, and I don't even mind most of the sprays. In whatever form, heres my Top Ten Scents!

10. Fresh Brewed Coffee

9. Lavender

8. Vanilla

7. Leather

6. Cooked Meat

5. Classic Car Interior 

4. Orange

3. 2-Stroke

2. Lemon

1. Citronella

So, how about you? What's your favorite aroma?

Thanks for giving this a read, and for giving 94.9 WQMX a listen. Now, go stop and smell the roses! 

I came into work late this morning for a meeting. It lasted about an hour and then I got home around 12:30. It was cool, rainy, and just all around yucky! When I got home, I realized I could not stop yawning!

So I decided I had better eat lunch before I fall asleep. I ate, and then sat down on the couch with the TV on and the cat in my lap...and I was OUT!! I fell asleep and man did it feel great! Being under a blanket with it raining on a cool day outside, and just enough noise in the house to not be totally silent. I sincerely recommend to everyone that you try the same sometime. :)

March is Women's History Month.  And all March on Thursdays, in my Memory Lane articles I will showcase and revisit some of our greatest female vocalists. These women are among the biggest stars our format has ever had.

This week let's revisit -

Terri Clark

She's live in concert tonight at Temple Live In Cleveland if you want to go!!

Before the Spring/Summer New Music Dump... These are a few of my favorites right now: (No certain order)

Justin Moore - This Is My Dirt

Zach Top - Sounds Like The Radio

Ashley McBryde - The Devil I Know

Nate Smith - Bulletproof

Ryan Larkins - King Of Country Music

Chris Stapleton - Think I'm In Love With You

Dillon Carmichael - Drinkin' Problems

Dylan Marlowe & Dylan Scott - Boys Back Home

Restless Road - Last Rodeo

Chayce Beckham - 23

Noteables:

Hailey Whitters - I'm In Love

Joe Nichols - Heart Broken

Huntergirl - Ain't About You

I'm getting close to a month without my Blazer, and I sure do miss the old thing. It's been in the shop for a broken clutch pedal, and apparently that's some obscure part specific only to the manual Blazers, of which there were far fewer than the automatics. Initially, they attempted to use the parts off an S-10 truck pedal to make the repair, and that didn't last me even a full day. Thankfully, I managed to float gears back to the place, and it's just been in limbo there since.

First, they told me last Wednesday, then it was Monday, and now it's apparently not going to be ready for pickup until the end of this week at the soonest. Ugh! Allegedly, we're waiting on the proper part to ship in from Ebay. I can understand. 

I'm doing my best to practice patience, but this is testing me. There's nothing I can do, however, aside from hoping. Really, I just hope that they're fair with me on the price. I already paid for the job once and I won't mind covering the cost for the right part, but I don't think I should have to pay labor twice. I don't even think I got ten miles out of it before it failed again.... We'll see how that all shakes out.

I'm so very grateful for my mother and her allowing me to use her Silverado. Without the truck I'd be forced to whip the El Camino around, and my Eleanor is not exactly daily driver material, ideally. I still stand behind my purchase of the Blazer and I genuinely think it's a good vehicle; some things just wear out over time and when they do, I'll fix them. The body and frame are in phenomenal shape, the motor runs good, and it's paid for; so it'll all be alright. I'm just ironing out some wrinkles right now! For what I have into it, I really can't lose.

Between my classic, the motorcycle, my mom's truck, and the fiancée's car; I'll always have alternativesfor transportation. With or without a backup, though, I'd stick with the Blazer. I believe in it, and I have zero intentions or desire to get something else. I just want it back!! 

In hindsight I should have done this yesterday too, but today I did it - broke out the shorts and sandals! I think this is the earliest I have ever done that...at least since college. It was just too nice and warm earlier today before the rain came not to. 

I also opened up the windows at home for a couple hours to get some fresh air in, espcially for Buttercup who doesn't go outside. It felt so nice to have things open and wear warmer-weather clothes for a change rather than be bundled up in a hoodie and under a blanket.

As I write this, the temperature outside is already down from 73 earlier to 63 and will continue to fall. That said, this will be a one-day thing for right now. Thankfully the days of shorts and sandals everyday are not far off in the future!

Country music is story telling and has been for generations.  "Story songs" are a huge part of our story and some of the biggest hits we've ever had.  But ones telling an "actual story" are not as prevalent as they once were.  When the gifted song writer Hardy wrote and recorded this song, he in essence brought back the story song in a contemporary way, and that's what makes this song important.  This is dark and heavy, as that seems to be where we are right now musically.  But this is very powerful, highly emotive and very close the bone for many of those listening as it's sadly very real for some.  This is a long way from The Gambler, as it has more of a The Thunder Rolls  vibe (long version).   This was a gamble in itself to release as was The Thunder Rolls years ago.  This deals with a tough subject and the willingness to do so adds to its importance.  It also was given a boost by two newer artists at the top of our format right now and their popularity brought this to those in and out of country.  This is big, bold, brave and pulls no punches. It also bucks trends being very long at over 4:41, and for some may be a bit overdone, but that shows you how great this song is.  Will this jump start the "story song" longer term?"  It may, time will tell.  But it'll be tough to out do this strong, topical song and it's equally terrific video.  It took us back in time, without sounding so -  while still staying in the now.  Well done.

Last Week #40

We have an air fryer and it get used on a regular basis. I'm not sure it gets used the way it could be, the microwave still reigns supreme around our place.  But after reading this, and after trying a couple, this is a cool way to go!  So, if you're like us and under use your air fryer?  Give This a GO!

Obsessed With Your Air Fryer? Great Recipes

I am excited to be back hosting Habitat for Humanity of Summit County's 8th Annual Build In Style event and I hope that you will join us! This year, it is a networking lunch on Tuesday, March 12th from 11am - 1pm at the Summit County ReStore. Bring your friends, your co-workers, and your business cards, this will be a great opportunity to network with local women. Along with networking and a delicious lunch, you can also shop gently used purses and jewelry, bid on great raffle baskets, and there will be a 50/50 raffle! Come ready to pose because there will also be a fun photo booth and complimentary headshots!

Funds raised from this women's fashion fundraising event will support Habitat for Humanity of Summit County's 2024 Women Build project, a home funded and built by local women for future homeowner Emily and her family. You can meet her while you are there!

Click here to get your tickets and I will see you there!