I have owned my house for 18 years now. It's the longest I have lived at the same address in my life.  This summer I decided that I was going to hire a bit of help to do some big jobs that needed done.  I have been doing these jobs all along, but over time, things catch up to you and it makes it harder to catch up. 

So I learned of a great LOCAL company called First Buckeye Landscapes, and they have been a real find for me.  Amanda and her mom, who own the company, came to my house to give me an estimate on some yard repair work I needed done this spring. They gave me a fair price and a job well done!  I had them back twice since then for a huge bush trimming and edging project, and some general clean up.  Great work! They were referred to me by Bill JR. at the Gridiron Guys who also did some work for me this spring!

I always like supporting the small company.  I think that's kind of who we are as Northeast Ohioans.  We like to see the underdog do well, and I am thrilled Amanda and her crew worked at my house.  They have made me proud. They also did some work at my friend Don's house, my friend Mason's house and Windy's place too.  If you need some work done, these are the kind of people you want at your house -  Good people.

Thank you Amanda and crew!  

In am the voice of Habitat For Humanity of Summit County, and I'm proud of that.  I took my own advice late last week, and contacted Habitat and made a donation that made my life easier and didn't cost me a thing. 

I had some stuff in my basement of the Old House that needed to be gotten rid of.  Nothing wrong with it, it just outlived its usefullness with me.  Some large cabinets and dressers. And they all were donated and taken out of my basement by someone other than me.  Which is a good thing!

All of it will find a home  -  in another home, and Habitat will benefit - big win!  Call them and schedule if you have a similar situation. GREAT people!

Thanks Habitat!  

21 Bridges

This looks great, and the time is right for greatness at the movies. The summer blockbusters are fading, and we have had a few underperformers the past couple weeks too.  Ad Adstra, Rambo both failing to excite viewers. 

This looks great.  A horrible crime of cop killing in Manhattan, and the search for the killers.  They must close all 27 bridges on the island to keep them hemmed in.  This looks great in every regard.  I can't wait to see this!

 Abominable

New this week.

This week we had a fun question on our show, that about 65% of us think that our dogs can smile!

I believe that is true.  If your dog doesn''t have a mouth smile, they certainly get that happy smile face going, especially when the treats are out.  Also, give your dogs a reason to smile and they will!

Juneau in the Cool Myrtle - AND  - Juneau in the Warm Sun -  Both Make Her Happy!

I have to admit, it does make me happy to see Juneau happy!

When I bought The Old House 18 years ago, I bought it from an elderly gentleman, (a veteran) who never lived in the house. His name was Larry, and he used it for an investment property.  But before I bought it, the place was vacant for a couple months while he did some clean up and updates, you know the usual stuff.  When I first saw the house a week after 911, I noticed that he was flying a flag off the porch, and I thought it looked great.  An old house, with a shiney new flag, in a historic district.

When I bought it, I decided I would honor him  - and the house  -  and fly a flag every day I lived there.  And I have.  I even fly an Ohio flag.  I've gone through a ton of them, but it feels like the right thing to do.

It would feel strange to me to not have it out there, it's just part of my landcape.  Neighbors walking by always comment to me how nice they look, and that makes me proud. Even when a tree hit the house, and porch last October, the first thing I did was fish the flags out of the tree rubble and planted them back on the house.  Broken poles and all.  We were not going to be denied.  A veteran walked by that same day, with tears in his eyes and thanked me for putting the tattered flags back up as they were. I knew then, I had been doing right all these years. 

It's not a statement of any kind, it just feels good.  It was there when I bought it, and will be there till my last day in the house whenever that is. And even then, I'll leave one there for the new owners.

Over the weekend, Windy and I went downtown Cleveland to be a part of the huge Sunday that both the Indians and the Browns got National TV games.  Beforehand we stopped at the rooftop outdoor lounge at The Nine for a drink.  What a view, what a fun time.

It's always fun finding new gems that a city has to offer, and take full advantage of. GREAT time!

Check this out sometime. Really a fun thing to do!

Big weekend at the movies expected, and the two major releases could not be more different!

Rambo:Last Blood

Here comes Sly Stallone as Rambo, yet again!  I am certainly not anti-Rambo by any means. But this series has been told over about 4 decades now, and even with this title, how come many, including me, think that Last Blood is anything but - Last.  It's simple, it's all in our hands. If we throw down enough money this weekend, there will be more. If we stay home and this flops, it may be - Last.

This should do well for what it is.

Downton Abbey

From the small screen to the big screen, here it comes.  I can't figure out is this is going to be a big commercial hit, or if this will just be ho-hum financial opening with the exact same people seeing this, who watched it on TV.

Windy and I attended the Taste Of The Hall Of Fame this week with many others from WQMX.  It was for the benefit of the Akron-Canton Foodbank.

The Rail (local business) won the food competition, serving amazing burgers.  4 local locations. And really great people!

And we met the great people from Troutman Vineyard And Winery.  Great people from Wayne County.

We love these kind of local businesses.  Make plans to attend next year at the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. Great event with and for great people!

You know, sometimes you should just post a pic with some of our best listeners!

It's always to great to hang with the great WQMX fans at the big concerts when they are wearing the WQMX Send Me Backstage T-Shirts!

Thanks for listening, thanks coming to the show, and telling everyone you listen to WQMX!!

The Luke Bryan Bunch!

And This Was A Great Moment!  Going To Meet Cole Swindell!!!

I am a Browns fan, and I am a fan of the game, whether it be football, baseball, hockey, whatever.  To me the "game itself" is king, but I do have my absolute favorite teams. And right now, I am hoping for great things for the Browns and Indians.

I don't feel great about the Big Ben news today, him being out for the year, and I am certaiunly not a Steelers fan. I would have far preferred to play them straight up to see if the torch was to be passed. But these things do happen, and after a 45 year amazing run through the NFL, they were due. So Steeler fans find themselves in a new role, of trying to enjoy the ride, and not riding to the Super Bowl. 

And to put this into perspective, what the Patriots have done, and are doing is incredible  -  20 years of huge winning and 6 Superbowls. They are not halfway to the Steelers run, which began in the mid 1970's. That is certainly not a Steelers fan talking - that is simply fact!

I have found, if you are a fan of the game first, then Sundays will always be fun.