Month: February 2025

One of my favorite TV shows of all time was and remains, “Mad Men.”  So well written, great characters and a totally authentic look and feel of big city advertising in the 1960’s and beyond.  For all his faults, Don Draper was a dynamic and never take your eyes off him character.  The rest of the cast was equally superb.

From time to time, I go on You Tube and click into past scenes from “Mad Men.”  One clip in particular rings so familiar to me that it’s spooky.  It’s this following scene where the ambitious executive Pete Campbell rats out a cold hard truth about Don Draper to their ad company boss Bert Cooper.  After you watch the clip, I’ll share my take and personal reflection of a similar situation.

Many years ago, I was put in a situation similar to what Bert Cooper experienced.  The only difference being the story from years ago was shared by the person who experienced it firsthand. This person who I knew well was forced to share something by a third party.  The choice from this third party was “Tell Mick about your past or I will.”   So, then the secret was told to me.  It wasn’t anything like a bank robbery or an unsolved murder but it was shocking.   It was about a life choice made many years before the current time.  It took me about 10 seconds to react the exact same way Bert Cooper did in the “Mad Men” scene.  “Who cares?” 

I believed every word that was told. For years before, off and on, there had been hints or inferences about this person’s past but I was clueless until the whole story was revealed.  It didn’t matter.  The confessing person was so far removed in time and experience from that dark history that nothing about this situation was valid and hadn’t been for a long, long time. The confessor was grateful for my reaction but I didn’t do it just to make them feel good. My simple reflex truthfully was as it remains today, “Who cares?” 

The individual who forced this story to be revealed had it blow up in their face.  The intention to hurt the confessor was nullified and quickly forgotten. 

I think of my Facebook friend and formerly the best part of the BoDeans, Sammy Llanas.  He wrote and sang the fine song “Naked” with the words, “I’ve been around the block and have done some things that I ain’t so very proud of.”

We all have things from our past that we’re not proud of. A few years ago, I owned up and blogged about mis-treating with cold carelessness a young love who was way into me when I was seventeen.  Despite my honest and heartfelt regret, I sometimes wonder if I’m still paying for that cruelty. 

But that was in the distant past.  And as Bert Cooper said to Pete Campbell, “Who cares?”

NEXT BLOG- ‘Thanks Dad!’

Retired NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning belongs in the NFL Hall of Fame. He didn’t make it in his first year of eligibility which is wrong. The guy was a two- time Super Bowl MVP and well relied upon QB in the NFL for years. I know Eli will eventually be voted in but missing the first time didn’t seem right to me.

Staying in the NFL for a second. I predict that after a few weeks of reflection, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will return for another season. He’ll  probably be more of a role player as opposed to being a main part of the Chiefs’ offense. The team will work on featuring other players to add diversity to their game scoring.

I haven’t watched an NBA game in years.  Nobody plays defense anymore.  Often final scores of games are 132 to 128.  That’s ridiculous.  Today’s players are all offense oriented and everyone is trying to get on Sportscenter with some crazy moves or drive to the hoop.  People forget the Chicago Bulls’ first three NBA titled were predicated on defense. The “Doberman Defense” they called it. 

Side story on the Bulls and Michael Jordan that I love. In 1991 they lost game 1 of the 1991 NBA Finals to the Lakers at the Chicago Stadium 93-91. Jordan missed a late in the game shot that almost went in but rimmed out. After the game, one of the Bulls’ P.R. guys saw Michael walking towards the locker room and commented to MJ how close they were to winning that game. So close! Michael smiled broadly and said, “That’s O.K. I’ve seen enough. We won’t lose to them again!” He then went skipping into the locker room without a care in the world. Number 23 was right. The Bulls went on to sweep the next four games over Magic Johnson and the much lauded Lakers.  How’s that for confidence?

MICHAEL JORDAN DOING HIS BEST TO BEAT THE LAKERS IN GAME 1 OF THE 1991 NBA FINALS.

For the first time ever, Bad Company is up for election into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.  With hits like “Feel Like Making Love”, “Can’t Get Enough”, “Are You Ready for Love”, “Shooting Star”, “Bad Company”, “Silver, Blue & Gold” and “Rock n Roll Fantasy” these guys should’ve been voted in years ago. They’re still a touring force as well.  Lead singer Paul Rodgers should be in for fronting Bad Company, before them he sang lead in “Free” (with the hit “Alright Now”), and in the mid-80’s he fronted The Firm where he paired up with Jimmy Page. Plus, Rodgers also sang lead for Queen on several tours after Freddie Mercury died.

BAD COMPANY BELONGS IN THE ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME.

A good friend of mine recently witnessed seeing an Eagles concert at the Sphere in Las Vegas.  I’m so jealous.  I’ve seen the band live before but the Sphere is a whole different sensory experience.  As Don Henley has told fans in that venue, “We hope you packed your Dramamine.”  I looked up ticket prices for the Eagles and yes, I can afford to see them and could take in a quick flight and hotel stay with little trouble. The question being, when can I be free up from school to get out there and see the band?  Hopefully one day.

THE EAGLES AT THE SPHERE IS SAID TO BE A WILD SENSORY EXPERIENCE.

While she had a big hit last year with “Flowers” and other known songs like “Wrecking Ball” in the past, Miley Cyrus is an amazing cover song artist.  Every cover track I’ve heard her do is so on target and well done.  Miley reminds me of how singers like Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Rivers took others’ tracks and made them their own with fine interpretations.  Don’t believe me? Go on YouTube and check out Ms. Cyrus singing the country classic “Jolene”, Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” & “Comfortably Numb”, Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” the Eagles “Take it to the Limit” and my personal favorite, her doing Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.” For years, I was caught up in and turned off by Miley’s antics like twerking, having her tongue constantly sticking out, partying heavily and getting inked up with unflattering tattoos.  Nowadays I simply appreciate her amazing singing talent.

MILEY CYRUS DOING THIS TOM PETTY SONG THE RIGHT WAY ON HOWARD STERN’S SHOW.

Next Blog: Remembering a long kept secret shared to me.

CAREFUL THERE DUDE, YOUR WOMAN DOESN’T APPRECIATE YOUR WANDERING EYE AND ANY OTHER BODY PART.

Valentine’s Day is this Friday.  Cynics can say it’s a Hallmark holiday designed to sell greeting cards, fancy chocolates and overpriced dinners. But I’m fine with people expressing love for their special ones at any time, including February 14^th.  

For me, I have no Valentine this year but to quote a great Bruce Hornsby song, “I know she’s out there somewhere, on the western skyline.”  I often joke that I’ve had my share of women.  It’s just that my share has been so little. (Rim shot)

Of course, on the other side of sweet love and devotion there is heartbreak and yes, cheating that sometimes happens.  This year, I’m posting a few of my favorite cheating songs.  All but one of these tunes falls in the country music genre because the best cheating songs seem to come out of Nashville.  Also, country songs were the first tunes I heard as a toddler.  My parents were way into Hank Williams Sr. and they passed his works on to me, and for that I am forever grateful.

Pocket Full of Gold- Vince Gill.  Plenty of married guys out there have stashed their wedding rings into their pockets while trying to hook up with someone who wasn’t their wife.  This track is and the video are pure gold, pun intended.

What’ll Keep Me Out of Heaven- Brandy Clark.  From her superb “12 Stories” album, Brandy evokes the mixed feelings of passion and shame a person can have when considering straying from their marriage.  This ambivalence is cleverly expressed by one of Nashville’s best songwriters. Pure genius work!

I Let Her Lie- Daryl Singeltary.  Daryl left this world way too soon but not before singing this tale about a husband who tolerates his wife’s infidelities.  He does so, up to a point.

White Liar- Mirada Lambert.  This track from the Texan spitfire brings us a little ‘tit for tat’ in the way of cheating.  Well done video too.

“Misery”—Written by Sammy Llanas, formerly of the BoDeans, the very best part of that group & a FB friend of mine.   This song is about a guy calling out his woman for her straying ways.

And let’s close out this blog with some positivity from Lone Justice.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

NEXT BLOG: When I know, you’ll know.

At age 64 (and feeling fine, thank-you) I’ve done a few things.  Achieved career goals in radio and education, met some of my heroes, been on TV a few times, flown in helicopters, delivered three eulogies, stood up at some weddings, had a few surgeries, been a jury foreman, prevented someone from dying of alcohol poisoning and other things both big and small.

However, there’s a decent sized list of things I’ve never done.  Here’s just a few of those.

I have never:

Used an ATM.

Defaulted on a loan, paid a bill late or bounced a check.

Gotten a DUI.

Lied under oath. (One time at a deposition I had to tell the truth about someone who had a drinking problem)

Been convicted of a crime. (except a few driving violations, but very few)

Played golf.

Gone skiing.

Gotten a tattoo or a body piercing.

Been in a love triangle. (Though years ago, I was dating 3 different women as I coped with the loss of 2 dear friends.  I juggled this for a couple of months then cooled it off. I am NOT a Warren Beatty or Leonardo  Di Caprio)

Not tipped a parking valet, food server or food delivery person.

USING AN ATM HAS NEVER BEEN ON MY ‘TO DO’ LIST. I JUST NEVER NEEDED TO ACCESS CASH THAT WAY.

I have never:

Looked into anyone’s medicine cabinet at their home.  (How creepy is that?)

Stood in a line waiting to get into a bar or night club.

Punched, slapped or physically harmed a woman.  (Though I have thrown down  on a couple of guys who did that to women)

Caught a foul ball or home run at a baseball game.  (I‘ve come close but not yet)

Had a manicure or pedicure.  (I think you all know the pedicure will NEVER happen with me)

Been to Europe, Canada or Hawaii. (maybe someday)

Run for elected office.  (But I did serve as an election judge which everyone should do once, to appreciate the voting process)

Gone deep sea fishing.

Sky dived.

Had any part of my body waxed.

CHECKING OUT SOMEONE ELSE’S MEDICINE CABINET IS A NO-GO FOR ME. HOW CREEPY IS THAT?

I’m sure there are other things I’ve never done and when I come up with another list, I’ll share it.

Next blog- Some great ‘Cheating’ songs)