Turkey Day is just one week away, and I am so ready to smash on some food and to visit with the family. Between my fiancée and I, we typically have no less than two places to be on Thanksgiving, making appearances at as many gatherings as we can. It's cool to see how different cooks take on the challenge of Thanksgiving dinner, and my favorite food absolutely depends on who prepared it. For this blog, we'll talk general, traditional Thanksgiving foods. 

It's time to let that belt buckle out a couple notches and go back for seconds, this is My Top Ten Thanksgiving foods! 

10. Cranberry Sauce

9. Stuffing

8. Sweet Potatoes/Yams

7. Dinner Rolls

6. Green Beans with Bacon

5. Mac and Cheese

4. Apple Pie

3. Mashed Potatoes

2. Turkey

1. Gravy

I'm a dark meat kind of guy when it comes to Turkey. A few pieces of that, some mashed potatoes, a buttery roll, green beans, and a borderline criminally insane amount of gravy is all I want on my plate. Honestly, just give me the boat! Pair that with a Mountain Dew or two for some balance, then top it all off with a warm slice of apple pie and its nap time on the couch for me. 

Here at the station, around this time of the year and always, we are so grateful for our wonderful listeners. You're truly the best. From the WQMX family to yours, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving! 

Bonus: Check this out! →

My fiancée didn't have to go in to work for Tuesday, so we spent the day getting stuff done and running around. It was so nice to wake up to a hot pot of coffee, and it's always great to get to spend time with her regardless of what we're doing. 

Hobby Lobby has some deals on holiday decorations going on right now, so we started by hitting that up. Aside from the huge selection of model car kits, that store isn't really my favorite, but we did scoop up some sick ornaments. Best one: the Kool-Aid man! I also bought a sweet '55 Chevy truck tin sign for my basment. 

After Hobby Lobby, we headed towards the BMV... or what we thought was a BMV. We discovered that there are self-service machines within the Meijer store from which can renew your registration and get a new sticker. That's all Mackenzie needed, so it was super convenient! I'm guessing the state of Ohio has a system that lets them know when a vehicle has passed e-check and is eligible for a renewal, as the little machine requested very little information or documentation. 

Once that was squared away, it was lunch time! We needed to do some grocery shopping at Walmart to round out our errands, so I began driving in that direction and told the fiancée to let me know if she sees something that sounds good to her. After passing a ton of fast-food joints and other restaurants, we pulled into the Walmart plaza. Lo and behold: Applebee's! We were so close to breaking down, throwing our standards aside, and reminding ourselves how bad that chain is. Ha!

Luckily, we realized that in the same plaza there is a location of The Basement restaurant. I love a sports bar setting with some good food, whether its Roosters, Jerzee's, The Basement, or elsewhere! I normally order a meaty pizza, but I was feeling a little adventurous and decided to go with an order of their pulled pork nachos. Mackenzie got a grilled cheese with Tomato soup, and we shared across the table as we do. It all came out great and filled me up more than enough to go grocery shopping without making hunger-buys. You know what I'm talking about!

All in all, I had a nice day spending time with my fiancée and getting stuff done!  

So, there's this thing called the zipper merge that we're apparently supposed to know about despite no information on it provided through driver's education classes. I'd like to chalk it up as some hipster California trend, but before I do, I guess I should explain how it works to give it a fair shake. 

In a zipper merge, imagine two lanes merging into one. Instead of one lane yielding to the other, drivers take turns merging, like the teeth of a zipper coming together. This method allegedly helps maintain a more efficient flow of traffic, reducing congestion and promoting fairness among drivers. 

The zipper merge is designed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. By encouraging drivers to use both lanes until the merge point and then take turns merging, it utilizes the full capacity of the roadway. This method helps prevent one lane from backing up excessively, leading to a smoother and more efficient traffic flow for everyone involved. It also promotes a fair and orderly transition, minimizing frustration among drivers.

Saturday nights are great for getting together with friends and hanging out, but every now and then I appreciate a lack of plans. With my fiancée working at the restaurant, this past one was a great opportunity for me to enjoy some solitude relaxing by a fire. It was an awesome time!

I initially began the inferno in an attempt to finish what I started by burning the remainder of a stump that has been an eyesore in my backyard. With a little gasoline and lots of additional wood, I got it going pretty good and decided to take a few joyride laps on my "mud-mower" before the sun went down. There's some tall grass behind my garage that I've made my mission to knock flat, and the tractors been very helpful in doing so.

Before all of this, during the day Saturday, I worked on sanding-down and painting this big go kart buggy I took on trade. It's super cool but needs quite a bit of work, so it's been an ongoing project without a hard deadline. It's nice to just pop in the garage and do some mindless scraping on the rusty spots; it clears my head. I'm excited to be progressing on it and I'll be sure to post the big reveal once its finished, here in a future blog. 

With the stump ablaze and the mud-mower back to rest, I periodically popped in and out to add some more layers of enamel. I'm doing the frame in white with black accents and a touch of red. I was able to see what I was doing for about an hour past sunset until it became too dark to continue working on the buggy, and at that point it was starting to get brisk. 

After gathering some more wood to feed the flames, I parked myself in a lawn chair and pulled out the old Bluetooth speaker. I had recently heard the new Zach Bryan song "I Remember Everything" play on WQMX, and I have listened to a couple of his other tunes too. I like his sound, so I decided to do a deep dive into his discography including his new album. Big vibes! 

I spent hours out there waiting for my fiancée to get off work and make it home safe, just me and Zach! Actually, I threw some Morgan Wallen in the mix there to keep it light, since a lot of Zach Bryan songs are dark and gloomy. I'm sure I'm a little late to the party stating this, but his music is fantastic, and I'm now locked in as a fan. It just seems authentic, passionate, and elegantly simple. I'm curious to do some more research on his chord progressions and figure out how he carries the same tone through his works. When a song of his comes on, you can immediately tell its Zach Bryan, ya know? 

I suppose this was a long-winded way for me to let you know what the soundtrack to my Saturday night was, and to express my newfound affection towards Zach Bryan. I can't tell you how many artists and songs I love that I've been introduced to through avidly listening to WQMX, and Zach Bryan is another shining example. We play the songs you know and love alongside the best new country music, and I think that's pretty cool! If you're a fan of music discovery like me, be sure to tune in to Eric Matthews weekdays during the 9pm hour for the "New at Nine," when he'll introduce a fresh single and ask for your take on it. Some are hot and some are not, so you can text in to tell us: keep it or kick it! 

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Scrolling through my feed recently, I came across an article that made me feel valid and in company about my feelings. I've long been frustrated with how automakers have approached the U.S. truck market in their offerings. Most things about brand new vehicles I'm not exactly for, like the massive touchscreens replacing physical buttons and knobs, the exterior stylistic choices, and the shift away from sedans into bloated SUVs. 

EVs are neither here nor there for me. I appreciate them as a viable alternative to ICE vehicles in some contexts, but I really hate how the government is trying to mandate automakers convert to this mode solely, within the next decade or so. I've said it before, driving a used car and keeping it on the road is substantially better for the environment than buying a new EV. That's not what I'm here to discuss, however. 

I want to know: what happened to all the extended cab trucks? Perusing the Chevrolet website, for example, there are three options for the front half of a Silverado. You can get a two-door regular cab, a four-door double cab, or a four-door crew cab. Long gone are the days of the three-door access cab like my mom's '99, let alone an American two-door with some space behind the seat like my El Camino. Let's not even mention the absurd cab-to-bed ratios. I recall a time when the Avalanche and H3 were ridiculed for their small beds, and here we are now....

So, what's really my big issue? For me, it's all about style. A car is much more than just a means to get from point A-B for me. I could count on my fingers how many four-door vehicles I would be enthused about driving, and nowhere on that list is a truck. I grew up loving sports cars and muscle cars, and that's probably where this particularity stems from. The four-doors were almost always inferior on any given model, from performance to value. The practical functionality of four doors is undeniable and I certainly won't knock you if that's your ride, but as someone without kids who rarely has backseat passengers, my options are somewhat limited. I recognize that I'm going against the current here, especially as clean examples of early crew cab trucks are surpassing the $100k mark at auctions. They're what's hot, and manufacturers simply respond to the market. It's just not for me! 

What's worse about our current condition is that if you want something smaller than a full-size pickup from the Big Three, you simply cannot get a two-door. The Ranger and the Colorado are sweet trucks, for example, but in my opinion, they could be so much cooler with some different cab options! They are still pretty big in comparison to trucks from years past and would check every one of my boxes if only an extended cab or access cab were offered. I'd even go for a single cab with a bench seat. With that, I'd say It's prime time for Ram to bring back the Dakota in the form of a sporty small truck, with two primary doors and maybe one or two half doors. I'd be all over something like that, personally. I just want a sub-$20k bare bones little truck with 4x4 for the common man. With some luck we can still find decent ones in the used market, but if these trends continue from carmakers, that won't be the case forever. 

Thankfully, I now know I'm not totally alone on this. I guess the algorithm worked out for me on this particular suggested content, as the article spoke to me closely and even garnished a like off me. That's once in a blue moon for me on suggested content, as I reject the notion. Here's that piece which inspired me highlight this hole in the new truck market. One last thing while I'm at it here: instead of painted ones, can we get some more chrome bumpers? 

Thank you for reading this and for listening to Your Country 94.9 WQMX! Have a great weekend now and be sure to catch me on-air weekdays from Midnight-5am. Truck yeah!

Birds are cool! We are fortunate to get to see and hear a wide variety of them here in Northeast Ohio, from the seasonal migrators to our local avians. Aside from geese, there's hardly a bird I dislike, and there's a few I'm particularly fond of that I'm excited to share with you here. I simply love sitting on my back porch by the birdfeeder watching them flutter in and out; it's so peaceful. 

With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, I've now got turkey on the brain, so here's my top ten favorite birds! 

10 Wild Turkey

9 Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

8 Mallard Duck

7 Great Horned Owl

6 Great Blue Herron

5 Downy Woodpecker

4 Peregrine Falcon

3 Northern Cardinal 

2 Raven

1 Bald Eagle

(Honorable mention goes to a Mr. Larry Bird, the biggest bird!) 

You'd think that by now, after several iterations of my top ten list, I'd be prepared for the difficulty involved in picking and ordering just ten items. It's harder than it seems, and no matter how much thought I put into these, I'm never fully satisfied. I can all but guarantee I'll slap my head on my drive home from work thinking about a favorite birdy I neglected to include. 

I'm no serious birdwatcher, but I have a deep appreciation for nature and our local wilderness. Maybe I'll get more into it in 2024 and see how many I can sight through the year; it actually sounds like a lot of fun! I have this awesome old book full of pictures and descriptions to use as a guide, and I'd happily leave my phone at home when pursuing new birds to check off the list. Birds are so easy to overlook with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but when you stop to take a moment to enjoy the little things, it truly is refreshing!

Anyways, what do you think? How does my list of favorite fowl compare to yours? Do you also dislike geese? And what does a fellow need to do to see an owl? As always, thanks for reading! 

I love the PlayStation 2. Even with all the more advanced, "better" consoles that have come out since, there's nothing like my old faithful. Recently, my father discovered some old games from my childhood, and I was so hyped to be reunited with some of my forgotten favorites. There was a Harley Davidson game, a WWE game from like 2007, The Bee Movie game, Lego Star Wars, and best of all; Cars Mater-National Championships. 

If you've ever played an older video game based-on a movie, you would probably expect the Cars game to not be very good, and in some ways that's accurate. It has terrible graphics, the physics are wacky, and the audio is as bad as it gets. The soundtrack is just horrible aside from Rascal Flatts' "Life is a Highway," the most iconic song from the original movie. Every time you turn Lightning McQueen, his tires make a terrible screeching sound. Also, the NPCs in the game say the same couple of phrases over and over again. It's total madness audibly, but otherwise a really fun game!

I spent the day Tuesday running around doing errands, eventually coming home with the desire to do nothing but sit on the couch and boot up the old system. I just made it to the point in the game where I can play as Monster McQueen, a monster truck. It's gnarly! An hour or so with the controller in my hands seemed to take the load off, and it was great to have a fun little outlet to bring some mindless enjoyment to my day. 

For some, it might be impossible to look past the quirks and dated technology in this game, but for me, that's what makes it special. Some old games are straight-up unplayable, but then there's some that you would likely write-off as bad which turn out to be just the opposite. I'm having a fun time with it and that's all that really matters. With that, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you to not judge a book (or a PS2 game) by its cover! LOL 

Today is an important day for our democracy – it's voting day! Your voice matters, so don't forget to go cast your vote and make a difference. Participating in the electoral process is a fundamental way to have your say, and this time around, the ballot in Ohio has some significant issues with widespread impact. Fulfill your civic duty, exercise your right to vote, and be a part of the decision-making process that impacts our society. Each and every vote counts, so head to your polling station and let your voice be heard today! 

Here's a link from the Ohio Secretary of State to help you find your polling location: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/

We had some beautiful weather this past weekend with warm temps and sunshine aplenty on Sunday. I jumped on the opportunity to soak up some vitamin D and exercise by taking a little ride on my bicycle!

I left the house with a questionable amount of pressure in my tires, cutting through some trails behind my garage. After a half mile or so, it became clear that I needed some air.... Once that was squared away, I set out again to ride to Goodyear Heights Metro Park via sidewalks, and it was a bit of a haul to get there. 

I'm not the type of bicyclist who enjoys pushing for miles and miles on a road or the Towpath and I wish I could do cool BMX or mountain biking, but I never really risk it like that. I prefer exploring urban areas, hopping curbs and cutting through lots. Otherwise, my absolute favorite thing to do is to take on gnarly trails similar to those I'd take my four-wheeler upon. From the Portage Lakes State Park to Hampton Hills Metro Park, there's some awesome spots in our area to do so; on Sunday I found yet another at Goodyear Heights.

The thing about this park is that bikes are not common, from what I could tell. Frankly, I don't know for sure if they are even permitted, but I made sure to look around for any signage to indicate one way or another, to no prevail. Given that it's acceptable to be there, you're definitely going to want a mountain bike with some off-road tires and suspension to take on the route that I did. I missed the road to the park entrance that I was planning to go in, so I went from the north of the park back southward. 

It was such a beautiful ride with some moderately challenging parts, and due to my unfamiliarity with the paths as well as wet leaves everywhere, I took it slowly. My bike has a crazy low gear that could climb a wall if I had the traction to do so, but I struggled with putting the power to the ground with my old worn tire and slipped out a couple times. There were gorgeous views 360° and some fun paths and hills. All in all, it was a great time and my favorite way to get some cardio aside from skateboarding. I came home covered in sweat and just collapsed onto the couch feeling accomplished. 

I'm an outdoorsman at heart and I feed off of the sunlight. Cold, grey winter days take their toll on my happiness, and the time change we just went through makes it even worse. It's a struggle, and genuinely my least favorite part about being a Midwesterner. When we do get sunny days in the "ber" months, I hate to see them go to waste. I just can't wait until the next time I get out on my bike! 

As winter approaches, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you to please stay safe out on the roadways while driving. From following posted speed limits to driving sober, it is especially important to be alert and ready behind the wheel with slick roads and snowfall on the way. 

Halloween night into the first of November, we experienced the first snow of the season, and it was treacherous. There were so many accidents on the highways and elsewhere, and I'm sure tow trucks and first responders kept busy through the morning. Anyone who's a lifelong Ohioan as I am would expect nothing less, yet I don't think it has to be that way. Keep yourself from contributing to the crash statistics through responsible decision making and proper preparation! 

Part of the problem in my opinion is the increased automation of motor vehicles and the detachment of drivers from the machines they're maneuvering. Power steering, fuel injection, traction control, ABS, and AWD are all awesome advancements that are undeniably beneficial in getting to where we need to go. However, if you asked the typical driver how to disable their traction control or the location of their handbrake, many would scratch their head. Some may not even know if their car is FWD, AWD, RWD, or 4x4, and the difference between these can drastically affect a vehicle's wintertime capabilities. 

Going off that, it's essential that you maintain your set of wheels and carry the necessary emergency supplies. Here's a fantastic article from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for more information: https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips. 

As a little side note, I urge you to please don't call the cops on kids doing donuts in empty parking lots! You may perceive it as dangerous and at certain times it could be, but as a whole it is a positive for young drivers. I take this stance because I think it helps individuals identify their vehicle's limits to traction and helps them to truly understand how to react to slick conditions. As a law-abiding model-citizen, you didn't hear it from me, but it's also so much fun! If you're sliding, you should know what steps to take to pull you out of it, and I can't think of a better way than practice. 

Ultimately, I must refrain from recommending doing anything illegal or dangerous. Drive at your own risk, and if you're uncomfortable with the weather conditions then avoid it if possible until things clear up. Mitigate risk. As much as I hate what it does to cars, road salt is a charm and sometimes you just need to be patient and wait until the plows come through. Oh, and just slow it down a bit! It's all about making it there safe. There's truly no substitute for a decrease in speed when it comes to winter driving, whether you're in a lifted Jeep or a Camaro. 

Most importantly, don't ever drink and drive. No matter the time of year, time of day, or day of the week; it's never okay. Just don't. Drive sober, stay put, or call for a ride. Thank you!