Sometimes it's hard to be nice!

I have been doing this a long ass time. Often I run into amazingly helpful Media Relations folks, PR people and Sports Information Directors/staff. But, once in a while, I come into contact with no contact at all. I call, I email, I fax (in the old days) and I send snail mail (in the really old days). Usually, it's an interview request, a meeting idea or hopes for tickets for myself or a listener giveaway. Most of the time I get through to the right person within a day or two. when I was a full time producer in the 90's I got people on the same day, that was awesome. Now, it's a little different, harder to get a live voice, for sure! Then there are the times when I want to pull my hair out or say what I really feel. Two of those instances have come up quite recently. One with an SEC college Sports Information Department and the other with a major player in the communications department of one of the "top four" sports. This second incident also included two professional team media relations departments. I don't like to throw people under the bus or talk crap, but I've come close. If you read my book, you'd see that, because I changed people's names to avoid calling out a few of the jerks in this business. Today, I am frustrated, it took me three weeks to book an interview that happened too late to air on my show. Then it took seven weeks to get a live voice and an answer to a simple question. The answer was 'no.' And now it's too late for me to find other options for my plan. Do I go on my show and rip these people? Do I ignore being ignored and continue to move forward with my career? Do I stop engaging with these teams or businesses and focus on the helpful ones? After writing this and finding it quite cathartic, I will breathe deep and let it go. But, this experience gives me just one more reason to dislike the...

Cheers to 2014!!!

Wow, I'm sure ready for this year! I don't think I know a single person who had a smooth 2013. We've got a fresh start each day, but a fresh year, that's exhilarating! I learned a bunch about myself last year, I grew even more. I went through really, really, sad times and tough moments. My heart hasn't hurt that much in a long time, but I made it through. Thanks to my amazing Central Coast friends; my local family, I can say it was difficult but I NEVER felt alone. I lost love in more ways than I can describe. Yet, I gained a new found love of my true self. Sounds cheesy, yeah maybe. But, I don't care. I am on a new path with a wonderful group of derby sisters, incredible friendships, a thriving new business, a baseball job I absolutely love, the football gig of my dreams, and a new adventure that will take me back into the restaurant business. At Kanpai in Shell Beach, I'll be surrounded by my favorite food, and a family who has welcomed me in, trusting me to help them share their delicious menu with our Central Coast community. So, today I toast the beauty of a fresh start and the love we can all CHOOSE to have in our lives each day. It doesn't always last as long as we'd like, but, you still gotta go for it. Because a strong, deep, but brief love is better than no love at all.