I only made it to see if I could.

Because what generally happens is Carissa teaches me something about videos or websites or whatever, and I get it.

Then I don’t use whatever I learned for a few months, and then she gets swamped and I try to help, but I have to ask her 73 questions in the mean time.

I used my camera so the quality isn’t great,  I got in a hurry because my batteries were dying.  It’s silly, self-indulgent and pointless.

Wow, pretty sure the last time I used this many excuses I was holding either a girl or a golf club.

Letterman was pretty out there as the show’s first host in ‘82. (Remember Stupid Pet Tricks, or throwing watermelons off of a building?)  But he was given time to develop the show and his style.

But it’s a different world today, and corporations need return on their investments now.  Whether it’s TV hosts or Country singers, they’ve got to prove themselves sooner rather than later.  Companies don’t have time to wait for them to develop.

And I get that, there’s a lot of money involved.  But I hope Fallon gets some more time.  Because along with the ample comic skills of Brian Williams, I think this is just a block or two south of Genius St.

I’m not sure when the last time my face was completely clean, but I know it’s been at least 10 years.

Although she’s gonna have to get used to it Carissa says she likes it, which is good considering that she has to sit across from me everyday.  And the first guy I ran into in the building this morning said I looked younger.  I tipped him.

Talk of shaving also gave us an excuse to talk about one of my favorite websites.

If you’re bored check out “Men-that-look-like-Kenny-Rogers”.com. Find tips for spotting Kennys, looking like Kenny, check out the “Kenny Of  The Month”, or buy a t-shirt.

Think about it.  You see guys all the time that have that Kenny white hair & beard, at the mall, the ballgame, the grocery store.

So people take pictures of these guys and put them on the website, and give them funny names.

For example…

Love Boat Kenny

Web Cam Kenny

Double Plaid Kenny

Shaving Cream Kenny

This is why Al Gore invented the internet…

That’s the second time she’s one that award (2008 “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) which says something about the songs she’s picking.

Highlights for me…

The House That Built Me – One of the few songs on the album that Miranda didn’t have a hand in writing.  But like a lot of people it spoke to her, and her family very personally.

Only Prettier – This song is a lot like she seems, fun & sassy.  She wrote it and it has a really unique sound.  Apparently she and her friends run into another group of girls, and there may be a rivalry brewing.

So let’s shake hands and reach across those party lines
You’ve got your friends just like I’ve got mine
We might think a little differently
But we got a lot in common you will see
We’re just like you
Only prettier

Dead Flowers – A “this-relationship-is-dying-and-he-doesn’t-realize-it” song.

Me and Your Cigarettes – A “some-relationships-are-addictive-and-not-good-for-you” song, Blake Shelton is a co-writer.

Gives you something you can do with your hands
Makes you look cool and feel like a man
In the morning you’ll probably regret me
Me and your cigarettes

I’ve been a fan since Me And Charlie Talking, but was always afraid that she might get swept away, first in the Carrie Underwood and then the Taylor Swift monsoons.

But she’s been allowed a luxury that most new artists don’t get these days, a slow and steady building of her career.   And I think that’s because people have realized she’s really different, and really good.

Now let’s hope she doesn’t throw it all away by marrying Blake.

KIDDING!  Wouldn’t you love to be at that reception?

Listen to pieces of the album.

It’s been my source of income for almost 25 years.  I often read books, websites and blogs trying to learn more about it.

But I’ve confused myself.

The other night while watching one of the Charles Barkley Taco Bell commercials from the Super Bowl, I was thinking about how much they missed the mark in my opinion.  Sir Charles reading poetry?  Really?

But then as I pulled into the Taco Bell drive-thru the next night, I found myself ordering the very box Barkley was peddling.

As I was digging into the food in front of the tv, an Old Spice Body Wash commercial came on and I almost choked from laughing.  “What a great commercial”, I thought.  I ran to my computer so I could watch it online over and over.

Then it hit me that I have no intention of buying any Old Spice Body Wash.  So which commercial was bad and which one was good?

I don’t know the answer.  But Carissa thought it was funny too so here it is.I’m on a horse.

Mom said it was good, but she’s my Mom and had to say that.  So I brought some to Carissa to try, because she’s a lousy liar.  She “Mmmm!”-ed and asked me for the recipe, so I figured it must be alright.

When I’m on a healthy eating kick I buy the big bags of frozen chicken breasts and tilapia fillets.  They last a really long time because after a couple of days I’m sick of chicken and fish.

I like the really lean ground beef, but it usually costs a little more.  So I’ve been looking for more things with ground turkey and even turkey sausage.   If you’ve got one to share we’d love to see it.

Crock-Pot Ground Turkey Meatloaf
2-20 oz packages of lean ground turkey (I used 16 oz packages)
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 cup egg beaters
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup bbq sauce (I’ll use more ketchup & bbq sauce next time)
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs (gonna try 3/4 cup)
1 tsp dijon mustard (only had regular, just used a couple squirts)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Combine ketchup and bbq sauce.

Spray the bottom of the Crock-Pot with non-stick cooking spray.  In a bowl, combine the turkey, onion, egg beaters, 1/4 cup of ketchup/bbq sauce mixture, bread crumbs, mustard, salt and pepper.  Mix well.

Shape into rectangular loaf and transfer to Crock-Pot.  Cook on low 6-8 hours, or on high for 4 hours. (I did high for 4)

10 servings
(per serving)
Calories: 189
Total Fat: 8.2 grams
Total Carbs: 5.4 grams
Protein: 24 grams

I had seen some interviews with the author, but I finally read it over the holidays.

I had a pretty good seat for the Garth phenomenon because I was just getting into Country radio when he was getting started.  It always intriqued me that he was the biggest thing in music at the time, not to mention our format, but his name was a dirty word in Nashville.

It’s definately a “pro-Garth” book, but it does get into some of the controversies that we used to hear whispers about at conventions and such.  Things like his fights with his record label, his relationship with Trisha Yearwood, the whole “Chris Gaines” fiasco and more.

It also shows how his career impacted the rest of Country music.  When Garth sold a lot of albums, so did everybody else.

If you enjoy “behind-the-scenes” type stuff about Country music, I think you would enjoy the book, Garth fans especially.

The Grand Ole Opry started in 1925, and I guarantee that first night on the radio, there was some dude in overalls smoking a corn cob, sippin’ shine and saying “That ain’t Country!”

In their day, Hall of Famer’s like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Waylon & Alabama were considered “not Country” by many.  Really?

But that’s not what I want to talk about now…

Chet Flippo is a music historian and editor for CMT and CMT.com.  He has much knowledge, and he says the term “Country Music” could disappear.  Not the music, just the term.

Whether or not you agree, it’s interesting to see the history of how Country music and other genres evolved, along with their names.

With subtilty, he also addresses another of my pet peeves.

“The term ‘country & western’ was used in the heyday of the singing cowboys and Western swing and is now only used by people who don’t know any better.”

Anybody got Simon Cowell’s email address?

I thought Jimmy Kimmel’s performance last night was telling. 

Except for Letterman jabbing Leno occasionally through the years, the late night guys have always seemed to get along. 

Even when Letterman got into his troubles a few months ago, except for a few jokes for a couple of nights, the other guys pretty much left him alone.

When it was first announced that Leno was getting cancelled in primetime, jokes from the other guys seemed to be aimed at NBC, but more and more it seems that it’s Leno that’s taking it on the chin. (Too easy, I know.) 

And the more Leno plays the victim in this, the more disingenuous he seems.  It seems to the rest of us like Conan is the one getting screwed.  Even more so after reading Conan’s statement which seems respectful, honest and from the heart. 

I’m pro-Letterman but I’ve never been anti-Leno.  All I’ve ever read or heard about Jay has been very positive, he seems to be one of the real nice guys in show business.  

But even if he gets The Tonight Show back, if it looks like he got it by stepping on Conan, he’ll be starting in a hole.   He dug out of a hole to start beating Letterman once, doing it a second time would be tough.

Just my opinion.

In Carissa’s case, it was my high school senior picture, that somebody posted on my Facebook page this week.  It was alotta hair and alotta pounds ago, and she had no idea it was me.  But few would.

As for Jordan, he’s how the whole “Uncle Scotty” thing got started, so pretty much everything he’s done in the last 22 years has made me realize that time scurries more than it creeps.

And now he’s engaged.  He surprised his Kasey by interrupting a final dress rehearsal of “Bye, Bye Birdie” that she was performing in at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis where they both attend.

It’s very sweet.  You’ll notice he’s quite reserved like his uncle.