The Inaugural WQMX Winter Euchre Tournament is just around the corner, and if you're a fan of the classic card game like me, then be sure to get yourself signed up to participate before it's too late!

I was personally reassured that I'm a solid partner with a victorious game just yesterday amongst friends from the station. I play boldly and felt synergy with my partner's style, and of course we sure got some help from decent hands! It was a great game, but I became aware that I do need to work on my shuffling and overall table etiquette. You see, I learned to play Euchre on the internet, so... you know. 

Once more, we'd love to have you come on out to St. George Fellowship Center for our Inaugural Winter Euchre Tournament on the 3rd! It's going to be a great time, and proceeds benefit a great cause: NEOPAT, which supports Military members and their families in Northeast Ohio. Even if you don't have a team to sign up with, no worries! We'll find you one. 

Thanks for reading this and for listening to 94.9 WQMX! 

Riding powersports on the ice is a surreal experience. It's just you, your machine, and a massive slippery flatland from shore to shore. Even when the ice is collectively deemed safe to be on, it truly never is. The conditions are frigid and that's only amplified when you're zipping along going forty plus in the open air. On top of that, there's the risk of collisions and wrecks, such as someone catching a bad angle and rolling their three-wheeler or maybe two side-by-sides smacking into each other. Then, add in the horrifying possibility of breaking through and falling into the water, and the average person would have to wonder why we do it at all. Personally, I just love it.

In regard to the possibility of breaking through the ice, I happen to know too well about that danger. Yes, I fell in. No, it was not this year. 

It was January of 2021, and I was impatient and dumb. My friend and I made the terrible decision to take my go kart on the ice, and that led to us swimming to save our lives. 

I had just been out in a cove prior to this occurrence, and that's where we began. I previously drilled some holes, walked it all out, and had a circumference within which I felt confident. After some solo laps on the Joe Kart, I asked my buddy if he'd like to get behind the wheel and tow me as I rode on a toy snowboard we had. Doing that was an absolute blast for a few minutes... until we ventured out towards the body of the lake and began to hear the cracking!

The sound of that ice breaking is forever burned into my memory. It could tell we were doomed and attempted to signal to the driver that we needed to turn back, but it was too late. As suddenly as it happened, I still felt like I experienced it all in slow motion. As I recall, the Joe Kart broke through ahead of me and I basically slid into the hole. I don't remember exactly how I got out of the water and onto the ice, but my friend and I were lucky enough to be out almost as quickly as we went in. Laying on the ice maybe fifty feet out from shore, I yelled for him to go find us help as I attempted to save my ride. 

With a total disregard for my own safety, I turned back towards the Joe Kart and attempted to lift it up out of the hole. This inevitably led to me going in yet again, and it was at this point when reality sunk in, and I knew I needed to get ashore. Some locals were watching us from their home with the expectation that we might go in and came to the rescue with some ropes. The way they came rushing to aid us was amazing and I will never forget their kindness that day. 

Instead of heavy judgement and a scolding for doing something so stupid, they brought us into their warm home and gave us dry clothes to change into and a mug of hot cocoa each, too. No one had to say it though; I learned just how dumb that was to be out there the hard way. After warming up a little, we were given a ride back to my place where I immediately geared up to go back to the spot and see what the status of my kart was. 

Shockingly, after nearly two hours upside-down underwater, the Joe Kart was still just floating there in the hole. Amazing! Now... how to get it out? 

It was the canoe to the rescue! I walked out there with it between my legs, ready to fall into the boat if the ice shattered below me again. After some ropes were tied around the frame of the Joe Kart, from the shore my helpers and I pulled it right on out. Within twenty-four hours, on the very next day I had it running again and am still rocking the same old Predator 212 engine. 

This experience should probably be classified as traumatic, yet, it did not slow me down even a little bit. I was back riding on the ice the following weekend, and since have an overwhelming desire to do so any time the temps drop below freezing. That's my jam! I love it so much and it is even better now on my quad. It sucks the ice just isn't enough this season, and looking ahead, I don't think it will be. 

So, what did I learn? Welp... I learned that the Joe Kart floats! Seriously though, I was given a lesson on patience. No matter how badly I want something, if it's not ready or meant to happen, doing it anyways can lead to dire consequences. I take ice safety seriously now. I carry ice picks and PFD's and am sure to wear a helmet. I've also learned about the ice riding culture and how the lakes freeze inconsistently. 

If there's just one thing you take away from this, let it be the following: wait until someone heavier is out there! Don't be the test dummy like I was. If there's no one out riding, there's a good reason as to why. I won't even consider taking my four-wheeler out there until I see a UTV sitting stationary. Please be safe and make smart decisions when you're out on the slippery stuff!

After a mild start to the winter, it seems as though we are finally set to get a substantial amount of snow going into the weekend. Some areas are forecasted to get six or more inches of accumulation throughout Friday, and I'm thrilled! I love the snow. I actually adore driving in it and slip sliding around, and sledding is always a blast too. Another thing I do when we get a heavy blanket, is plow driveways with my quad. 

I this year will be my third season clearing driveways with the ATV and it is no walk in the park. It's cold, wet, and exerting work, but I really don't mind. It's not so bad with the proper gear on, and maybe one day I'll fit a plow onto the Blazer. As it stands, I have the opportunity to help people out around the neighborhood while picking up some money on the side. So long as there's snow, I'll be... Joe Plow! 

On a totally different note, if you didn't know it, I am a big fan of Megan Moroney. She just dropped a new single at Midnight and I'm hoping it's a sign of her sophmore album in the works. Lucky is a stellar record and if you like any of the songs off it such as Tenessee Orange or I'm Not Pretty, I bet you'll like this one too! 

For this week's Top Ten list, I'm keeping it simple. I typically gravitate towards ranking different types of food or media for these blogs, but everything and anything is a potential topic, so I'm excited to get into this one about colors! 

Naturally, it often depends on the context when we decide what colors we like best. Maybe you'd want a birthday cake with teal icing but would never paint your bedroom walls in that hue, for example. With that in mind, here's my top ten favorite colors, generally. 

10. Pink

9. Grey

8. Orange

7. Brown

6. Green

5. Blue

4. Black

3. White

2. Yellow

1. Purple

I like a nice dark purple most of the time, but you got to love the Mopar Plum Crazy paint. I also adore my go kart's Candy Grape Krylon spray coat. The kart I had before was an attractive yellow, the buggy I'm spraying now will be white, and my most recent color change was turning the minibike from orange to light blue. I'm indifferent about the El Camino's paint colors but I'm over the moon that my Blazer happens to be white. I would have never owned a bright red Camaro if color were a factor in my car buying, but it's nice that it worked out to be one of my favorites this time for my new ride. Uniquely, my first car was brown! One day, I hope to have a factory yellow car too. 

What about you, though? Does your favorite color change based on the context or are you consistent across the board? And, how has your number one changed through the years? 

Thanks for reading this, and be sure to have a colorful day now! 

For many school children here in Northeast Ohio, Wednesday is a calamity day. It's technically not a snow day since the closures are due to the extreme cold from windchills beyond negative ten degrees in the morning time, but I'll call it one anyways. It's all in the name of safety, as we just cannot have kids freezing solid as they wait for the bus or walk to class. It's a good call, in my opinion, and if you'd like to see a list of closures you can check that out here. 

Going off this, I don't think I'm alone in missing these types of days back as a kid. It was like the greatest thing ever! My brother and I would sleep-in and wouldn't have to wake up before the sunrise like normal. We'd loaf around in pajamas playing video games and watching DVDs. Hours upon hours were spent in our side yard sledding down the hill, hitting homemade jumps and all. Oftentimes we were tasked with shoveling the driveway too, which really meant that I would casually push around a small pile of snow as my older brother broke his back doing the brunt of the work. 

Ah... the good ole' days! 

I savored every free moment of my snow day whenever we were so lucky to have one, and I appreciate that the schools are putting the wellbeing of their students at the forefront for our Wednesday, with these crazy windchill temps. I do see both sides of the decision considering students need to be behind the desks for them to learn, but I don't think a day is going to make or break anybody and it is dangerously cold. 

Stay safe and warm out there, and take whatever positives you can from our January weather. It's not all bad. Maybe you're a snowboarder who's stoked to hit the powder or a fisherman ready to set up an ice shanty. Maybe you make money spreading salt or simply enjoy the beauty of the morning sun glistening off a fresh white blanket. Or... maybe you've got the day off now, as student or faculty- enjoy it!

It is just so cold outside. Despite my constant desire to be out participating in one of the many outdoor activities I enjoy, like riding my four-wheeler or playing disc golf, I've sought refuge from the bitter temperatures and cutting winds inside the house. I was out riding when it was in the 30's and can surely tolerate colder, but this is just a little too extreme for me. Normal winter weather hardly puts a stop to my recreation, but this is the type of week that us Midwesterners pull out the big coat for. 

Since I'm stuck indoors, all I really want to do is cozy up on the couch with some snacks, a blanket, a kitty cat, and a TV show to binge. Luckily, I've got all those things! For munching-on, we've got Pringles, string-cheese, meat sticks, popcorn, donuts, Cheez-It crackers, fruit snacks, snow cones, and more. I'm not picky about my blanket, but the bigger the better. Either Freddy or Fiona works just the same for me when it comes to the cats, too. As for what's on the TV, I've got plenty of options. 

Whether or not we pay for them all, my fiancée and I have access to most of the major streaming services alongside a light collection of physical media. There's always something to watch, it's just a matter of deciding. My favorite app is Hulu, followed by Pluto, then Paramount. I've exhausted my go-to comfort shows enough and have been looking for something new to get into, and lo and behold, an old sit-com I used to keep up with on Fox caught my attention. 

I've yet to make a Top Ten: TV Shows list, but if I did, the show My Name is Earl would absolutely claim a spot. Now I've seen that series time and time again, and sadly, it was suddenly cancelled on a cliffhanger after a few short seasons. The show I've rediscovered was the creator of My Name is Earl, Greg Garcia's, follow-up project called Raising Hope. Just like Earl, it also ran for four seasons with mild success, and the shows share some other similarities between them such as multiple mutual actors. They're both a lot of fun to watch. 

I've binged probably seven or eight episodes in about two days now, and I'm locked in! I fondly remember watching Raising Hope as a youngster when the new episodes were airing from 2010-2014, and it's really bringing me back. I remember the show but not any of the specific episodes, so it's familiar but also new, which is really cool. I'll skip the synopsis here for this blog, but if you're a fan of shows like New Girl, The Middle, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and/or Scrubs; I'd recommend checking it out! 

So, what's been on your television? Are there any new shows you keep up on or are you staying in your comfort zone with the reruns like me? Also, do you and your partner watch the same things, or are there certain shows you only watch by yourself? For example, I can't seem to get Mackenzie to come around on South Park, and she knows I'd rather stare at a blank wall than watch The Kardashians. We do share some common series and ultimately, it is to each their own when it comes to what's on the tube. 

When it comes to what's on the radio, thank you for choosing 94.9 WQMX! 

Cold is an understatement when discussing the temperature outside as I write this. Windchill aside, it is about five degrees out there; the real feel is close to negative five degrees! Frigid is a more appropriate term, and it's the first week of this winter season in which we'll see some steady single-digit temperatures. 

With that, I'm so excited for the possibility of a deep freeze with solid ice on the lakes. Riding the ice on my go kart or four-wheeler is the single best part of winter, in my eyes. I'll certainly have more to say on this activity I favorite with a story about a huge mistake I made to serve as a reminder for you to stay safe and make smart decisions. For now, don't even think about going out on any ice! I'll keep you updated, but just remember: no ice is safe ice. 

Touching back on this extreme cold, I do have a few quick reminders I'd like to pass along your way. First is to be sure that your vehicle is in good shape. You want to check your tires, both tread and pressure. It's so important to test your antifreeze and battery health. Ensure you have a phone charger, blankets, and whatever other emergency items the conditions may call for. Click here for more on this! 

Next, it is crucial that we protect the vulnerable during a chill as such. I'm talking about outdoor pets, children, the elderly, the unhoused, or really just about anybody who's not a polar bear. A simple check-in can make all the difference, whether it's ensuring your kid has a pair of mittens on while they're out sledding or knocking on the door of a neighbor's with concerns that their pup may need to be brought in to warm up. This should go without saying, but some dogs are happy to be out in these Artic conditions, so be sure to know the difference between a Chihuahua and a Husky before you rush to conclusions. 

Another thing to keep in mind is your home overall. If you use space heaters, make sure they are safely placed far from anything flammable and only plugged directly into the wall. Keep your furnace set to a normal level. If there is a fire hydrant in your yard, make sure it is accessible through the snow and do your best to keep the walkway up to your door clear of ice and snow for deliveries and emergencies. You should have already unhooked any exterior hoses and turned off the water to the taps. Don't park on the street if the plow trucks might come. I could go on, but you know the drill! 

Stay safe and warm this week, as this cold is no joke. It wouldn't be so bad if not for the wind, and if you must go out, then cover up! The less skin you show, the better; so don't forget your scarf, hat, and gloves at the house when you set out for the day. It's all about them layers. 

For now, just hang in there.... Spring begins in just 64 days! 

Since buying my Blazer, I've been wanting to change a few things with it aesthetically. One of those things that had long displeased me was the look of the front end. Someone at some point rattle-canned the entire grille flat black. It didn't look terrible, but it just didn't work for me. I was hoping to find a grille from the local scrap yard and would certainly still welcome a pristine one, but none of them were very nice on my last walkthrough. Interestingly enough, after removal and upon inspection, I discovered that my current grille was already a replacement with markings from the same salvage lot. Shopping online for a grille is also an option, but we're ballin' on a budget with this ride for now. I'll save the big money for my El Camino. 

Anyhow, I knew something needed done and made a deal with myself that once my previous car was sold, I could put some funds from that into my new vehicle. From an oil change to some touch up painting, it was time to give the Blazer all sorts of TLC, so I hit up the AutoZone for supplies. I was especially excited to look through the exterior accessories aisle and was perusing the store for inspiration when I came across a product sold as an SUV/truck chrome side-strip, which I guess runs along the bottom of the doors. Regardless of whatever it was meant for, I figured it would be a cheap way for me to do something different with my front emblem, since the original gold bowtie is unfortunately long gone and the alternative chrome spray paint looks gross. 

Well, what do you know? It was actually the perfect size for me to do the entire center band of the grille instead of the emblem itself. It took a lot of patience and I'm no professional, but going down the road I think it looks mint! I also used some of the touch up paint I bought to paint the center of the emblem. With a touch of black left around it to break up the chrome band, I think it all works. For just $6, I'm stoked! 

Up next is the installation of the black and chrome new old stock Blazer mudflaps I was so lucky to find, and then it's on to some wheels and tires that will go with the theme. The subtle little touches will add up to something great eventually. It's all in due time! 

Potatoes are a buried treasure of the food world and the single best thing that grows underground, in my opinion. Not only are they delicious, but they are so versatile. From vodka to hashbrowns, these spuds are a staple of American cuisine, and you'd be hard pressed to find any traditional restaurant without them in some shape or form. There's the petite red and yellow varieties, those robust standard Idaho potatoes, sweet potatoes, and a wide variety of others to savor! Off the top of my head, potato salad is probably the only potato food I dislike. 

So... here's my top ten potato foods! 

10. Potato Bread

9. Cheesy Potatoes

8. Potato Chips

7. Mini Tator Tots

6. Hash Browns

5. Twice-Baked Potato

4. Mashed Potatoes

3. Smiley-Face Potatoes

2. Loaded Potato Soup

1. French Fries

To rank my order of fries real quick, it goes as follows.

8. Steak Fries

7. Curly Fries

6. Crinkle-Cut Fries

5. Normal French Fries

4. Waffle Fries

3. Nacho Fries

2. Fair Fries

1. Shoestring Fries

As always, thank you for reading this and for tuning into 94.9 WQMX! 

I'm not a sports analyst. I couldn't tell you what the odds are on Sunday's games or who all the players are in the Lakers' starting line-up. I know all the rules to our major leagues and thouroughly understand/enjoy the gameplay, but I generally just don't care to keep up with the who's who and what's new with it all. Fantasy leagues and sports betting are certainly both compelling ideas, but as such a casually detatched fan I don't see either going well for me. If I miss the game, it's not a big deal. 

Regardless of my inexpertise on the subject, I thought it might be cool to throw out my playoff predictions bracket for the National Football League. Do not take this seriously, as I am not. Unless of course this is somehow how it goes down. In that case, you saw it here first! Can you guess which team is my favorite? LOL

Image: 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC

If you'd like to create your own bracket, here's the link: Super Bowl Challenge (nfl.com)