As we get older entering different stages of life, things change.  Some are physical, some mental, and some are the things outside of those.  Possessions. Stuff you've had for years and now it's time to let go.  And as silly as this is going to sound, that's where I am with an old couch I have.  I know it's time, and I'm fine with it.

But in fairness, this to me isn't an ordinary couch.  It has a story as I look back on that's pretty cool and that's why it's been with me all these years.  You see in 1983 I was a very young broadcaster who moved to Columbus just starting off on my own and had zero money.  So I built this couch, because I couldn't afford to buy a real one, and it served me well for the next 40 years or so.  As I look at it today, it amazes me that I made it.  I made a matching chest too and that's in Florida at my house there full of pool toys.  But the couch was first.  It's what I could  - sort of afford.

I designed this humble couch as a day bed type of thing, and it was measured to fit the dumpy apartment I was living in.  I drove to my moms farm house in Berea late one Friday night and spent the weekend with her.  I used her -  I think -  70 year old table saw in the scary basement that was my "Grandpa Doc's" for the majority if not the entirety of the 20th century that I'm not sure was at all safe.  I cut all the pieces and there was a ton of them, labeling them with pen.  That took most of the weekend, then I loaded all the pieces up in my Buick Skyhawk and drove back home to my one bedroom apartment in the worst part of town along with some tools. I assembled it in my living room while watching the World Series over the course of a few nights with wood glue and nails.

Every Piece Was Labled

I belt sanded the entire thing, completely trashing my place for a couple of days. After the frame was together I nailed and glued on the platform, only to discover I had nailed in a drop cloth that was an old table cloth to the under frame and it's still there.  I bought an expensive piece ($15) of 4" foam that has lasted wonderfully. (The guy said it would and it did)  After I stained the couch, I covered the foam with a piece of tan herculon I stapled on that's still on there.  That was it.  Whole thing I think cost me $45 to make as that's what I could afford, if I even could then.  Sheesh!

Drop Cloth Nailed And Glued Under By Accident

That couch has been used for all these decades, mostly as a window sill couch after the first few years. My friends kids have slept on it, I have slept on it, company has slept on it, it survived party's, in short it has done its job.  That couch moved with me to Richmond, then to Jefferson City (2 addresses) then to Lakeland (2 addresses) then back here, (3 addresses). A few of the decorative pieces have had to be re-glued back on a few times.  Movers have loaded it on and off trucks and been in storage sheds and now it sits in the basement, warm and dry where it's been for the past 4 years.  The truth is, it just outlived its time. It's still in great shape, and I hate to part with it. But I get it, it's the memory of a different time that's the issue.

Am I proud of it?  I guess, it's not a classic piece of work, but it was my work as a broke 22 year old.  I had zero idea in 1983, I'd be writing about this is 2024, I guess I should be proud it lasted all these years and lived an exciting life - for a couch.

When I think about it, it lived my life too.  - Thanks old couch.  Maybe you'll find a new home.  (BTW it's PERFECT as a window sill couch)

In case you missed any of my articles this week from WQMX.com , here is a recap. Grab a coffee and earbuds anbd let's get you caught up.

BROWNS - People Are Different

Eat Of The Week

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980-Today #40

Forgotten Jukebox - CM-02

CMML - Terri Clark (Revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More

Box Office Results - Kung Fu Panda 4 - (59 Million)

#2 – Dune 2  -  (46 Million)

#3 - Imaginary  -  (10 Million)

New This Week - Arthur The King  / Knox Goes Away / Snack Shack

Oscars - Oppenheimer wins 7

Razzies - Winnie The Pooh Blood And Honey 2 (sweeps)

Neve Campbell – Will be in Scream 7 – got the money worked out she skipped Scream 6

The Batman Part II, - With Robert Pattinson, postponed a year, It will now open on October 2026 instead of October 2025

WOW! - Screenwriter Simon Stephenson accusing the makers of Holdovers of plagiarism. Says he has evidence Holdovers screenplay was "plagiarized line-by-line" from his screenplay for a movie script called Frisco

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today #40 (Link)

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!!

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

Box Office Results - Dune 2 - (82 Million)

#2 – Bob Marley

#3 - Ordinary Angels

New This Week – Kung Fu Panda 4 / Imaginary (Freddies / Megan)

Jamie Foxx - Says he'll tell us soon what his health emergency was

Here We Go - There will be a sequel to Freaky Friday!

Some - Are calling Madame Web the worst modern superhero films ever made. It has a 12% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fox - Has picked up the Baywatch reboot series. Lara Olsen (“Spinning Out”) will serve as showrunner.

Adam Sandler - Was the highest paid actor last year in Hollywood, about 73 million

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today #41 (Link)

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 -

Trisha Yearwood

Almost Home  - Craig Morgan - 2003 - (Album -Love It)

 Some songs become hits because the listeners demand it.  That's the story with this absolute gem from over 20 years ago. Craig Morgan's, Almost Home was a song listeners liked so much, they just had to have it on the radio.  Its a powerful story song where a guy comes across a homeless man at a crossroads moment for the second man.  This is the conversation they have with the second man proclaiming he was disturbed at a moment he was "almost home."   It's never made clear if the man was about to dream deeply or die. But this song is terrific.  It was on the charts, then fell off the charts, then fans demanded it back on and instead of stopping at #33 on the charts it goes to #6.  This was not the typical debut single from an artist from Nashville.  Yes, he released a song before this, but this was his first success.  It's slow tempo, it long (4:35) many times those kind of debut songs flat out will not launch a new star.  But this was very different, honest, topical, and a wake up call for many.  I always contend it's a great song that is the key to getting started.  There has to be something special that separates you from the pack that's already running full speed ahead of you.  This is a GREAT example of that. This touching, highly emotive song hit fans directly in the heart.  It launched Craig Morgans great career and the rest is history. 

Last Weeks Selection

In our world today easy is always best. Take chicken.  Boneless, skinless, cut up chicken is easy to make and kids love the nuggets and fingers too.  But roasting a chicken isn't hard at all, and the taste is incredible.  So as we wrap up winter let's have a few more fun Sundays making comfort food and lets roast one up!

Yes, You Can Roast A Chicken