Post 1500 - State Of The Blog

Welcome to the 1500th post to Bevboy's Blog, ladies and gentlemen!

I thought I'd take this blog post and discuss some of the milestones I have accomplished with Bevboy's Blog.  I have learned a lot over the last few years.  I would like to discuss some of those things with you now, if you don't mind.

When I began this little journey, just over 3 years ago, I had no idea that this silly little web log would reach such a milestone.  1500 posts.  My frig.  I also had no idea that I would become as well known as I have in the local radio scene.  I blush to admit that last part as I'm told I'm well known, and I take people's word for it.

As I have stated before, the interviews with radio folks began because I have been interested in radio nearly my whole life.  I'd read the occasional interview with a local radio person in the newspaper, but it was very occasional and probably edited to the point where two-thirds of the talk was left on the floor.  I thought, if I wanted to read such interviews, I'd have to conduct them myself.  At the very least, I could offer a much longer form of interview than any newspaper or magazine could.

I had no idea, as big a deal they were to me, they were a big deal to the jocks as well.  For example, Mel Sampson told me she had been looking forward to sitting down with me for quite some time, as I had approached most of the on air staff at K-Rock by the time I got to her.

As a result of the interviews, I have been invited into places the public doesn't usually get to go, and do things that the average Joe doesn't get to do.  I was able to sit in studio with Nicolle Bellefontaine one Sunday morning, interviewing her as she was doing a show.  Tom Bedell offered to invite me to his home until a Wednesday night at Q104 became available.   It's just as well, because a few of the pictures I took that evening will soon end up in a newsletter for the company that provided the audio equipment for Q104 and Kool FM (which will be a further boost to the blog).  The Denyse Sibley interview has been read by hundreds of people.  I hope that the passion in her voice about her decision to leave FX 101.9 and then to return months later, came through in the text.   Ian Robinson, a true friend to this blog, regaled me with tales of the various folks he has met and worked with; you haven't lived until you have heard his Brian Phillips impression.  Chris Mills was the last live voice on AM 920 CJCH.  We had to talk about that.  Pat Connolly and Don Tremaine are two of the few remaining voices of Halifax radio from the 1940's.  It was an honour and a privilege to speak to both of them in '09.  Frank Cameron loves cats more than I do.  I have spoken to J.C. Douglas twice.  A third time might yet happen.  Gary Tredwell taught me to speak as  Greasy Gary; it's on youtube if you want to see it, or you can just read the interview.  Megan Edwards is a born broadcaster, and even more beautiful in person than she is on television and on her Facebook.  I have never met a person who has such a  joy about broadcasting as Mel Sampson; as I mentioned, I always picture her in studio with a big grin on her face.  Mel described Nikki Balch as a ball of fizzy.  I'll second that.  Jeff Cogswell always asked me about my father, and it saddened him to learn of his death; he wrote some nice things about Dad's obituary.

My frig.

There have been so many more interviews that I can't mention them all.

There will be so many more.  Just keep watching this screen.

The next interview is supposed to happen next Thursday morning at 10:30.  I'll take a couple hours off work (and make up the time!!) and conduct this interview at the radio station in question.  Another interview will take place in the next week or 2 as well.   These 2 interviews are with 2 guys at 2 different radio stations who worked together years ago in another city.   Years later, they find themselves in Halifax, working for competing radio stations.  Kinda cool.  You'll find out more about these gentlemen, soon!

Other posts have been about the stupid things that I have done, or the Early Bevboy, or the Things in Halifax that Don't Make Sense.  All three of those series have been on hiatus in recent months.  They will return to this blog in the near future.  I haven't felt much like writing them since my father died, but it's time to get back to those series, as I have lists for each one.  In the meantime, if someone can recommend some good open source OCR software, linux or windows, please let me know.  After all, the next episode of The Early Bevboy will be my high school class prophecy from 1982.  It's scanned in, but I have to grab the text from the jpeg image.  So, OCR software, if you please!

I still enjoy writing about what I did in a given day, and try to do so in a way that is wry or funny or even sad, depending on the topic at hand. Like, I had to write the things about my dad that I wrote last year.  They were words that I had to get out there, into the ether, and I cannot and do not regret writing them.   It was cathartic.  Writing can borrow a surcease of sorrow.  (Thank you, Mr. Poe.)

I guess what I'm trying to say here, is that after 1500 posts, I have learned more about myself, and things like local radio that I would never have had the chance to learn had I not started Bevboy's Blog.   I have learned what makes a good Bevboy's Blog post; I have learned what does not.  There are topics I no longer discuss here because they were not very  interesting to me, and therefore, they would not be very interesting to you.   Read some of the earlier posts and you will know what I mean.  I'll probably write more about Everett True, though.

After 1500 posts, I think I got the kinks worked out

After 1500 posts, I think I know where this blog is going.

After 1500 posts, I think you know what to expect as well.

Wanna come along for the ride?

Bevboy