My Summit Highlights of 2009

It's December and I'm looking back at all the great people I've met and have gotten to know since I started volunteering this year at The Summit, like the wonderful staff, on-air personalities and specialty program hosts, members, volunteers, and you never know when The Woovs might show up! Of all the awesome Studio C performances I've experienced this year, I'd say my most memorable and moving was Matisyahu. Coming up in a few days is the 2nd Annual Summit Member Family Event, with ice-skating, food, and music by BE Mann. Can't wait to see you there!

What's So Great About Akron?

I had the honor yesterday to sit in on a meeting of representatives of many of Akron's non-profit agencies. You could feel the mutual love and admiration in the air. All these people who give of themselves and motivate others to do the same, all for the community they love and call home. I was there just as a 91.3 The Summit volunteer. It was truly inspiring! I think of John Mayer's song "Waiting on the World to Change". Instead of complaining, do something. Even a tiny positive step is a step in the right direction. It can snowball, and kindness is contagious. When I think of Akron, I think of warm, caring, involved people not waiting for a change, but striving to make good things happen. So if any of you who live in or around Akron, had to suddenly leave, what would you miss most about Akron?

No Singing Frogs

I have a tiny backyard pond, and usually in the summer the frogs raise a ruckus. Not this summer. Maybe it's been too cool for their liking. Anyone out there have any thoughts?

Now Our Stereo System's Complete

My wonderful husband John has hooked up a Mac Airport Express.  I don't know the technical magic involved but it allows us to listen to 91.3 The Summit's HD channels on the stereo, instead of just online.  There is nothing wrong with listening online, but it's so much better to experience great music through your home stereo system.  We live near enough to Akron to pick up The Summit on the stereo, with John's antenna installation, but I so love the HD2 channel which plays the music from the late 70s through the early 90s.  The music that turned John and I on to WAPS in the first place, all those years ago.  

Now we always have something awesome to listen to, and it's all 91.3 baby! 

Show Your Summit Spirit Wherever You Go

Share your travel tales, or how you enjoy down- time while listening to The Summit, and a photo with the 91.3 logo. My husband and I and our three children have just returned from a memorable trip to Italy. I thought it would be nice to have our picture taken in front of the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa, while holding a Summit logo that I had cut from a bag. Next trip, I'll try to make sure that the logo is more visible. Wouldn't it be cool to see where in the world people are loving The Summit? Maybe even in your own backyard. Send your photo stories to summitblog@gmail.com or to The Summit's Flickr page.

Summer in Akron

I should have been born in Norway or Sweden, cause I love the cool weather today.  It's the last day of June and a high of only 74 F (that's 21 C).

That's all I have on my mind today (:D)  

Love one and other 

Lyric of the Day

"I walk the earth my darling, this is my home. So take my hand, just take my hand and we will walk together." The Voice of the Beehive <3

Lyric of the Day

"There's nothin wrong with Ohio except the snow & the rain, I really like Drew Carey & I'd love to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame." Bowling for Soup "Ohio (Come Back to Texas)" 

Lyric of the Day

"I think life is tough, so my life is tough. She says find a way to develop love, to receive my love, believe you are good enough." James

Lyric of the Day

"Fifteen minutes with you, oh I wouldn't say no. People said that you were easily led, well they were half right." The Smiths "Reel Around the Fountain"

Lyric of the Day

"I have a dream, a song to sing to help me cope with anything.  If you see the wonder of a fairy-tale, you can take the future even if you fail.  I believe in angels, something good in everything I see."  ABBA  

Lyric of the Day

Channeling Morrissey:  "I sense the power in the fingers, within an hour the power could totally destroy me or it could save my life.  Hairdresser on Fire"

Lyric of the Day

"Little girls shouldn't treat little boys they happen to meet like little gods. Do they treat us like goddesses?" Voice of the Beehive

Lyric of the Day

I am addicted to posting my usually daily Tweet on Twitter, which then goes directly to my Facebook wall.  I love being constrained to 140 characters.  I feel a fun challenge to use each and every one of those alloted characters.  

Usually it's not what I am doing that I Tweet, but a favorite song lyric along with the artist's name.  You know my love of music, and my love for 91.3 The Summit.  Most lyrics I quote can be heard on live audio stream of either HD1 or HD2 channels at www.913thesummit.com.  91.3 The Summit is the home of the best commercial-free, multi- genre, multi-era music!  Check it out.

My lyric of the day today is:  "I'm celebrating my love 4 U with a pint of beer & a new tattoo, I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet." The incredible Billy Bragg 

Earth Day

As we approach Earth Day 2009, I try to keep in mind it's not just a day it's an attitude.  I hope that in our lives and homes we can maintain healthy environmental practices 24/7/365, not just 4/22.

Go to 913thesummit.com for ways to enrich your Earth Day and everyday.  Click on the Go Green section for ideas submitted by Summit listeners and Green businesses.  If you are in the Akron area on Earth Day, check out The Summit's event schedule of live broadcasts throughout the day, finishing with a concert by singer/songwriter Zach.

While you're at The Summit website, you can listen to the best commercial-free music online.  You can post a comment or a blog of what you think of The Summit on their community blog.  They're also on Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, & My Space.  Hope to see you there sometime!  

Build a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul

               This is a recycled blog I wrote on my family blog, March 2007.  But it's new to you!  I will try to post the two photos that go with it, at another time.  Finally added my baby robin pix (06-30-09).  They are out of order, but I'm done messing with this entry.    

     I can’t wait until the snow is gone and sound of lawnmowers and the smell of freshly cut grass fills the air.  I still love the snow, but since moving into our new home in the middle of November, we haven’t really gotten to enjoy our new yard except to rake leaves and build snowmen. 

     If you have the good fortune to have a bird pick your home (outside preferably) to start it’s family, you’d be amazed at the beauty and mess involved.  We were very surprised the first year we had a robin’s nest on our front door wreath.  If you can get along for a couple weeks without using your front door, then it’s not a problem.  We let nature take it’s course, and it just so happened that the door’s peep-hole was in just the right spot for the kids to climb up on a chair to see the mother bird, and the father bird take turns building the nest, sitting on the eggs, and feed the babies once they hatched.  The robins didn’t even know we were there. 

     It’s such a quick transformation from tiny, pink, wrinkly creatures to fluffy, feathered, little birds.  The kids got such a kick out of the whole experience, and an appreciation for nature up close.  Once the babies are ready to leave the nest, it’s just a little mess to clean up, but very much worth the trouble.  I highly recommend sharing your outdoor space with a critter or two.

Inspire Your Children to Live Green

       Take your family out to enjoy the green and you all will be inspired to Go Green. Going Green at home starts with educating and involving our children. If we nurture our children's interest in nature, which they are usually already fascinated by all things outdoors, they will be more than willing to do their share of preserving / improving the environment. Children are very enthusiastic, caring, and full of terrific ideas. The whole family enjoys all there is to see in the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm nature center and the hiking trails are just beautiful.

The Three Rs of Living Green

Reduce, reuse, recycle.  Here are two versions of what I did with some glass bottles I had finished the contents of.  I turned them into window vases by hanging them from clear fishing line and suction cup hooks.  On the top one, I have strung some beads I already had, and added some pretty copper wire that I had as well from another project.  The one on the bottom, well I don’t know if you all have accumulated beautiful handmade doilies like we have, but they have been made with love and patience and each one is unique, so why not put them to use?  Get them out from your drawers and show them off.  I have simply gathered a doily around a glass vessel, secured the top with fishing line and hung it from a suction cup hook.  Just fill with water and fresh flowers when you have some or silk flowers, and it looks just lovely hanging in your window.

The Goodyear Air-Dock

    Okay, this is a continuation of the previous blog, from the Akron Air Show.  Ever since I was a little girl, I remember my dad would take us to visit his brother in Akron.  We always would drive past this huge, black, oval dome.  I was fascinated by it and would look forward to seeing it every time.  I still do, it doesn't take much to excite me I guess.  

    This dome, or air-dock, is where the original Goodyear dirigibles were housed.  I've heard that this air-dock blimp hangar is so large that it has its own weather climate inside.  It can have clouds and even rain precipitation.    

Akron Fulton Airport

     This is such a beautiful old air terminal.  I don't know the year it was built, but there is a strong art deco influence.  I haven't been inside for a long time (John and I played pool here once when we were dating).  We were here this past summer for Fathers' Day, for the Wings Over Akron air show.  John and Nick helped work a hotdog stand for the boy scout troop.  The air show was really nice; a lot of WWII planes flew as spectators proudly watched.  The roar of these historic planes' engines is unmistakable.

      The Corsair is definitely a crowd favorite.  Goodyear Tire and Rubber secured a contract to manufacture the first Corsair fighter plane in the early 1940s.  These planes were built at the Goodyear Aerospace factory near the Akron Fulton Airport.  Another reason to visit Akron, Ohio is the annual Soapbox Derby, held every summer right next to this airport. 

When Great Big Sea Rocked Akron

The Newfoundland band, Great Big Sea, made waves in downtown Akron at Lock 3.  It was a beautiful moonlit, August night.  John and I started out like most other people there, relaxing on a blanket stretched out on the grass.  It wasn't long after Great Big Sea played their first energetic song, everyone got on their feet and we danced and smiled throughout the rest of the concert.

I first stumbled upon Great Big Sea in the mid 90s when I heard their upbeat song "Ordinary Day".  They are a Celtic influenced, folk / rock wonder.  What a blast they were at this historic outdoor venue!

Looking Forward to Spring

I know we just celebrated the winter solstice, but I'm ready for spring.  The daylight hours are already increasing a bit more each day.  I can't wait to take a hike through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) in March to observe the great blue heron couples getting their nests ready for their new arrivals.  With a wingspan of almost six feet, you'd be surprised how graceful these birds are.

During peak nest-building days, park guides take groups on small walking tours to the optimum viewing area.  The guides will even set up scopes so that the children can get a good view of the herons too.  It's fun for the whole family, and you don't even notice that you're burning calories.

The CVNP also has a nesting pair of bald eagles.  They are not so easy to spot.  Find park program & bald eagle info at: www.nps.gov/cuva/bald-eagles.htm

Checking Out World Cafe

I don't usually take the time to listen to World Cafe on The Summit, weekdays from 6-8 am, but I did today.  Normally from 6-7 I'm packing lunches and making sure everyone is awake, fed, and ready for school/work.  It's quite chaotic most days.  Then from 7-8 it's a more leisurely watching the news with my youngest son, (when the news is appropriate), and maybe we have some time for VH1 Classic, (again if appropriate for my child).  At 8 we switch on 91.3 The Summit and we have a game of guess which song Mr. Bill Hall will start his day with. 

This morning I had a listen to the last half of World Cafe, and I really enjoyed what I heard.  Especially a Decemberists tune about England, I already knew and liked their song "Valencia".  The next song that really grabbed me, I thought for sure was another cut from the David Burne/Brian Eno album, but I was surprised to find out that it was Akron's own Joseph Arthur.  Just being back in the Akron area for two years, I need to study up on the local artists.

  

Remember 89.1?

My husband John came to this great state of Ohio before me, so I can't take the credit for discovering The Summit or it's predecessor, 89.1 WAPS.  I had never heard anything like this station.  No commercials, not your run of the mill top 40 constantly being rehashed.  This was fresh, unique, as they said themselves "Dare to be Different".  The only downfall back then, very limited hours on the air.  Aside from that, I was hooked. 

 Does anyone remember The Friday Night Block Party on 89.1?  The host would put together blocks of 3 or 4 songs related by artist or subject, often suggested by listeners.  I remember a cool block of James songs that included a couple concert recordings.  It was sweet!  Sometimes you had to wait for the last song of the block to figure out the connection between the songs.  Another block I recall started out with They Might be Giants' "The Guitar", then a rocked out version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (sorry I don't know who did that, maybe Buckwheat Zydeco).  The block was completed by REM's "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight".  Cool stuff there.  Anyone have an 89.1 memory to share?  

Why I Listen to 91.3

10. Commercial free adult-alternative music.

9. Friendly hosts who actually like the music they play, and share their vast musical knowledge.

8. Family friendly.  It's safe for my kids listen to 91.3.  They hear of new artists before most of their friends, and they appreciate the music those new artists grew up with.   

7. Extensive music library that spans 5 decades and multiple genres.  The Local Music Spotlight keeps you in touch with great area artists like Pete Nischt, The Woovs, Joseph Arthur...   Other radio stations don't come close to the fresh new music, or older great music that's played every day on The Summit.

6. Member supported.  Being a member of 91.3 The Summit is like being part of a big family of music lovers with excellent taste.

5. Diverse programming: International Hours on Sunday (Italian Hour 12-1 pm), That Rhythm Those Blues, Reggae Rhythms, DIY Radio, Alternative Archives...

4. Summit member events: concerts, soundcheck parties, fun gatherings.

3. Bill Hall's Buried Treasure Tracks (this guy knows his music!)

2. The Beatle Break with Jim Chenot (this guy knows The Beatles!)

1. 91.3 The Summit reaches out to Akron and it's surrounding communities with dedicated volunteers and staff wherever needed (Habitat for Humanity, Music Alive...)     

I ran out of numbers, but not to be left out is important community info, the concert calendar, Earth & Sky, World Cafe and so much more.