I was 19 years old.  It was one of my first nights on the job at a radio station that paid more than $50 a month.  I was the only person in the station.  

Eddie Rabbit’s “I Love a Rainy Night” was just wrapping up on the turntable, when one of the cartridges containing commercials got stuck in the machine.    

In my attempt to fix the tape machine, a.k.a revenue thief at that moment, I began punching buttons in a frenzy.  ”I love a rainy night.  You can see it in my eyes.”  Eddie Rabbit said nothing more.  But I did.  My boss, listening to his latest hire from his home, heard a barrage of rumbling and clanging.  But it wasn’t loud enought to drown out, “Oh S**t!” 

The phone rings.  Me:  “KNOC/KDBH.  This is Sherri.  Can I help you?”  My boss:  “You can help yourself first by reaching over and turning off your mic.  Do you need help up there?”  Me:  “Yes, sir, I do.”  My boss:  “I’m sending Dan up there.”   

I’d heard about “Buffalo Dan” and suddenly realized how he got that nickname.  I’ve never seen so much facial hair in my life, even on the plains in my home state of Oklahoma.  I still remember his voice.  Melodic and sweet for such a big, rough-looking mammal I thought was extinct. 

And thus, because I was not fired and Buffalo Dan did not stomp me to death, began a trusting mentorship into the realm of commercial radio. 

I once used a Little George on Caddo Lake.  Even though it’s true, it just doesn’t sound right. 

It’s amazing how technical and crafty the art of fishing can be!  The types of bait alone caught my attention when I heard the winners of the Bassmaster Classic talking about them.  It’s a school of language all its own!  Just don’t take these terms out of context…some of them can make a Redfish blush.

“I had a 3/8 ounce Redemption Spinnerbait…shad pattern, nickel blade, standard combination.  I was throwing that on a 50-pound spiderwire, Ultra-Cast and I was fishing that up in the padstems.”

“…on a War Eagle Finesse Spinnerbait with a turtleback blade on it.”

“The other bait I caught a lot of fish on was the Berkley Crazy Leg Chigger Craw, black and blue, quarter ounce Texas anchor.”

“All I used was a custom skirt on a jig.”

“We were trailing that with a Zoom Super Chunk Jr.”

“Is this going to be an ice storm or a lice storm?”  –Tim Fletcher 01-27-09

“He aggressively and openly picked his nose.”  –Clay Kirby 01-30-09

“My posture’s bad, so I have to go home.”  –Brian Horshman, aka “Spidermonkey” 02-02-09

“If you give a guy flowers, you’re just asking for him to re-gift them and cheat on you.” –Leslie Spoon 02-12-09

“Sher, just remember you’re riding with me.  If I throw something from the float, it just might be you!”  –Ed Walsh 02-13-09

Recently, a Shreveport resident went before city council to address crime, and in doing so, said something that sometimes triggers a passionate response from people loyal to one side of The Red or the other. 

Jay Murrell said, “People have an option.  It’s called Bossier City.”

Which is better — Shreveport or Bossier City?  Why?

Click here to see the story.

Remember the old sign-off KTBS-TV aired at the end of the day’s programming?  It had scenes like this one over An American Trilogy by Mickey Newbury.  That was back in the day before public hangings ensued for playing songs on TV. 

Recently, there’s been a big demand for the sign-off to be posted.   

Well, we can’t find it!  I have had engineers search the server.  I’ve visited with some at the station who remember driving down the road with the camera out the window, shooting the scenes.  The sign-off was actually created by one of our commenters, rt!  Even he doesn’t have it.  The original album for the music is still in his office.  I just saw it and had a 70s flashback.

While we continue to search, will you ask someone older than you are whether they recorded it on VHS?  I believe we stopped airing it around 1978.  If you can help me find a copy, I’ll get it posted and we can all pretend like we’re kids again, staying up past our bedtime, watching TV until the very last second.    

The 2009 Krispy Kreme Challenge in Raleigh-Durham, NC was sweet.  More than 5,500 people showed up to run two miles, scarf down a dozen glazed doughnuts, then run two more miles.  I think I’m gonna be sick.

A st.com commenter, who happens to be my sister, Suzie Talley, finished 27th among the females.  Sure, Su’s a great athlete, but it was her technique at the turnaround that made the big difference.  As she approached the doughnut table, she grabbed six doughnuts, squished them together, poured water on them and chowed down.  Then, again.  After a day of recovery, Talley said, “It ruined my day as far as how I felt physically, but it was for charity and I had placed a bet with someone and had to win.” 

Talley tells tales of fellow runners not being able to keep their carbs down on the two miles back to the finish line.  Talk about ‘glazed and confused’. 

The event raised more than $35,000 for the North Caroline Children’s Hospital.

Here in Shreveport, we could do a ‘Tazed and Confused’ race here for charity.  Runners could race two miles to the Stray Cat bar in downtown Shreveport, get tazed, then run two more miles to the jail.  It could be sponsored by the movie industry, with proceeds going to a bail fund.

A red tail hawk mistook me for a field mouse.

A bee flew in my helmet when I was cycling.

I tried to round up a stray horse on my bike.

One of the biggest joys of a workout or race is sharing bizzare incidents.  Whether it’s during a 5K, an Ironman or an hour at the gym, something happened to you worth sharing.  I know this.   Bring us your post-run/bike/swim/treadmill stories. 

And yes, that’s a picture of Meteorologist Joe Haynes on a pink little girl’s bike on Clyde Fant Parkway.     

Electronic highway signs are more often becoming targets for hackers.  It started a few days ago with a sign in Austin, Texas warning of zombies ahead.  Then, in Indianapolis, drivers were warned of raptors. 

Now, hackers are messing with electronic road signs in Collinsville, IL.  Morning rush hour commuters Tuesday were met with a big, flashing sign that read, “DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES.” 

There are fines waiting down the road for the hackers if they’re ever caught.  Because money is tight these days, why risk illegally unlocking and re-programming one of these signs.  Make your own.  What would yours say on any given street/highway/road in your area?