Trial Balloon: December 25, 2008 Archive

Greetings to all and may Christmas day find you healthy and bring you peace.

Here in the studio it is both busy and not, as the roster of "guests" marches through. Ann Reed, Peter Ostroushko, Krista Detor, Dave Weber and Erik Brandt were all recorded over the past few weeks, so none of them are truly here in person - they are safe and comfortable at home with their families, as I hope you are. Producer Mike Pengra also has today off - a well deserved break after a rather hectic few months.

Behind the scenes at the radio station, a handful of people are here to keep things running. Dave Campbell is operating The Current, and John Zech is in charge of classical music. The multi-talented Toni Randolph is a one-woman news department at the moment, and Lachlan Rorie is the point man for everything involving the many complicated and critical technical systems supporting us.

The company is delightful. Everyone seems happy to be here, and why shouldn't we be? The work is pleasant and there are cookies. We know radio is important to you and it is a privilege to provide it, but there's also comfort in the knowledge that this is not a life-or-death essential, like fire fighting and police protection and heat and light and everything we take for granted.
Somebody at the sewer department has to be on duty today too, just in case.
Think about having THAT sort of Christmas, and be grateful. I am!

Another good reason to be at the radio station today is the very real possibility that people receiving Heartland-capable HD radios and computers and iPhones and iPod Touches will tune in to see if this new service really exists. I'd like those people to find something that sounds alive, at least, if not downright lively. (Sorry, HAL). There will be plenty of time to sit through the endless automated announcements that populate the rest of the day once the wrapping paper has been wadded up and stuffed in the trash. On Christmas morning, the puppy should come out of his box with a little bit of light in his eyes, don't you think?

How is Christmas going for you so far? Any nice surprises?
And if you don't observe the holiday, what are you doing to amuse yourself?