On the Air

Back in July of 1998 Big Lug got reacquainted with an old friend. Robby-Roy was already at that age when you listen to mainly country music and told Hubby he should listen to Country 105’s Odd Squad for the laugh value. Due to Hubby occasionally giving me rides to the train station, I soon found myself listening to the Odd Squad instead of rock.

I started enjoying listening to Doug, Robyn, and Dan. When the office changed the location of the filing room I changed my mind about being too young to listen to country music all day. I needed a radio to break the quietness of the file room. At first I listened to a talk radio station. After an embarrassing minute when a 65 year old male co-worker listened to Dr. Laura talking to a woman whose husband had lost interest in love making, I realized I needed to listen to something else. Country music seemed like a safe choice and since I got lousy AM reception, I started listening to 105. Once Big Lug knew I was listening to Country 105 at work, he started paying attention to which country music acts were coming to Calgary. I knew I had truly become assimilated when I bought a Walkman to ensure I could listen to 105 during the commute to and from work.

When I got a cell phone it became fun to call into the Odd Squad on my way to work in the morning to chat. I started to feel like the radio announcers were my friends. As a way of saying thank you for making my day better or my nights less lonely, I would bring in some baking. The baking days came to an end when we moved to suburbia and started raising a family.

Country 105 became a lifeline to the outside world. There were even a few times when I’d call in to the night time radio announcer to thank him or her for helping make the late night feedings easier. They also helped me gain an insight into the redneck mentality and I helped enlightened them about the technogeek mentality.

Me: What is it about men and playoff beards?
Robyn: Over to you Dan.
Dan: Well this year I think the Flames are doing bad haircuts (laughter from all).
Me: As soon as it announced the Flames were in the playoffs my husband stopped shaving.
Odd Squad: (laughter)
Robyn//Doug/Dan: Oh that's just a superstition thing. Yeah, guys like to do that. I might even try it.
Me: I'm watching my husband scrape the truck window and he looks like a scruffy Nerfherder.
Odd Squad: silence that almost becomes dead air space.
Me: You know, from Star Wars Empire Strikes Back?
Odd Squad: Obviously we don't know Star Wars as well as you do, Gail
Me: Oh. Well having just outed myself as a technogeek, I'm going to gracefully wish you all a good morning and get off the phone.
Odd Squad: Laughter and general "Have a good day" comments.

I get off the phone, I'm blushing and thinking "Please God don't let them play the whole conversation." Next I'm beginning a countdown for the phone to ring after they play the whole conversation. Sure enough, just as I get to 3-2-1 Call Display shows Big Lug’s Cell Phone.

Big Lug: "Scruffy NERFHERDER?" laughter
Me: "Yeah yeah, now I'm hoping no one else we know was listening to Country 105."

Forty five minutes later the phone rings. This time call display shows it’s my husband phoning from work. The receptionist apparently greeted him with “good morning Mr. Nerfherder”.

After that, I stopped worrying about what I said when I phoned in to the Odd Squad, relaxed and let the real me shine. In addition to the Flames, the Odd Squad could also count on me to call in about the Stampeders and even stock car racing. I suspect at times Dan or Doug would try to bait me. I officially arrived the morning after I returned from a trip to Phoenix to watch all three NASCAR races. To my delight, I only had to wait four rings before the phone was picked up. Even more amazing, I heard Dan say “Heyyyyyyy Phoenix! How was your trip?” I could hear Doug talking to someone in the background. They kept me on the phone for almost four minutes. I kept listening to the radio, wondering what their plan was. They introduced the interview as “A Conversation with Crazy NASCAR Lady”. I am redneck enough to take great pride in that nickname.

Here is a recipe for all those who get up early in the morning to make people laugh, save lives, protect, and feed or cleanup for the public.

Breakfast Cookies

2 cups butter, at room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
¼ cup buttermilk
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached flour
4 cups rolled oats (large flake oats)
¼ cup bran
2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp baking powder
¾ cup chocolate chips
¾ cup raisins
½ cup nuts (I use walnuts)

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In a bowl cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time; mix in buttermilk.
3. In a separate bowl, combine whole wheat flour, unbleached flour, oats, bran, baking soda, baking powder, chocolate chips, and nuts until mixed. Stir into creamed mixture until well blended.
4. Scoop about ½ cup dough onto greased baking sheet, flattening into a cookie shape (these cookies don’t spread much). Bake for 15 to 20 minute or until golden brown. I kept these cookies in an airtight container for almost two weeks. At day 12 they still seemed as fresh as day one.

Proverbs 31:15 She rises while it is still night, and provides for her household, and a portion for others.

They rise while it is yet night, and provide for others.

Paraphrased in honour and memory of Corporal Michael Starker, former paramedic and reservist who died Tuesday May 6, 2008 in southern Afghanistan when his patrol came under fire during an ambush.