Pinewood Derby

On Saturday Cub Scout Pack 323 in Hollis, ME held their annual Pinewood Derby. It was a big day for the 22 boys in the Pack...and being perfectly honest, it was a really big day for me. For anyone that doesn't know...I'm the Cub Master for Pack 323.

I know...I know...but as hard as it may be for you to imagine...I put on a Boy Scout Leaders uniform every week and do my best to mold and shape young minds. Wow...that's the first time I've actually said that out loud (yes I really said it out loud as I wrote it...an odd habit)...it is kinda hard to imagine isn't it? Well, maybe not so much if you really know me!

Anyway, I thought it would be nice to dedicate one blog about "my boys." I'm so proud of all of them. They all worked hard, along side their parents, to craft a car out of a 7 inch block of pine.


Some of the cars were amazing...Gunner made an amazing Humvee, Kyle had a great looking police cruiser, and my son Nick had an awesome Space Shuttle. All of the cars were cool in their own way.

However, the coolest part had to be the look on their faces. For all of them but four, this was their very first Pinewood Derby. Of course I greeted them with as much fanfare as possible...regaling them with the history of the Derby and stories of the 43 million Cub Scouts that came before them that participated in this 56 year old tradition.

We had Saco River Public Access TV on hand taping the entire event for broadcast in the next few weeks. Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and neighbors were everywhere.

After two hours, 12 pizza's, countless cupcakes, juice boxes, and bottles of water...we crowned a winner! Wolf Cub Hunter Ward took First Place, Bear Cub Shaine Patterson took Second, and Wolf Cub Brandon Hogan secured Third Place. All three of them will go on to compete in the York District Pinewood Derby on April 11th at Marshwood High School.

So a big Cub Scout salute to all of Pack 323. You guys were great. Thanks to the parents who have been so supportive as we rebuilt the Pack from five boys to over twenty in the past 12 months, and to all of the Den leaders that do such a great job each week.

If you're son, grandson, or for that matter, any boy you know is in 1st through 5th grade and you think they would benefit from Scouting...help get them involved in a local Cub Scout Pack. You can Google "Cub Scout Packs" for your area, and the local Council website should pop up.

If your boy lives in the Hollis area then have them check out Pack 323's website at http://www.pack323.org/ and get in touch with me. You can also e-mail me here.

We have a LOT of stuff planned for the summer...including camping at Camp Hinds in Raymond, a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game, a Sports Day...there's always something going on in Cub Scouting!

The Apprentice

I'll be honest, The Apprentice isn't one of my favorite shows. It's nothing against the show except by Sunday night I just need to chill out from all the drama!

If you have kids then you know what I mean...you're on the run during the week trying to balance work, school , and the kids extra-curriculars. Then the weekend rolls around and it's even crazier because you're trying to catch up on stuff that fell through the cracks on Wednesday, run some errands, and just trying to catch up before the alarm goes off on Monday morning...and I didn't even factor in the kids weekend stuff. So by the time I get to sit down Sunday night, I need DRAMA FREE TV.

But there I am every Sunday night watching The Donald and his band of misfits. It's partly because I need to watch for work...and partly because I'm fascinated by the ego's of these people. This weeks cast-off, Dennis Rodman, is a perfect example.



The Worm was a great basketball player. He was part of an amazing Detroit Pistons team, he was solid for the Spurs and the Bulls...but by the time he made it to Los Angeles things had gone terribly wrong. Maybe it was the booze...or maybe the booze was the after affect of a washed up career...it's kinda hard to tell. Either way it's sad to see what Rodman has had to resort to in recent years.

He most recently was on Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Wrestling...and won the Hulksters version of a Championship Title Belt...and yes I did watch the show! Come on, B and C List celebrities and wrestling? That just screams fun!

More CMT Shows More CMT Videos

There have been rumors that Rodman would be on the new season of Celebrity Rehab...
ironically a show that I'm addicted to. We're still waiting to find out if that will happen, but if his antics on The Apprentice are indicitave of who he really is...and they'll pay him to...then it's probably a pretty sure bet.

Fill 'er up.

I was at the gas station yesterday. Here is how my conversation went.

Heidi: "Fill it please"
Attendant: "Sure thing hon...cash or card?"
Heidi: "Cash"
Attendant: "You got it hon".

OK. Let me stop right here so you can get a visual.

This guy was probably only pushing 45, but it looked like a hard 45 if you know what I mean. He spends a lot of time in the sun and harsh elements ( no doubt a hazard of the job) and his complexion shows it. He has a moustache which is yellowed by nicotine, and he is missing his four front teeth. Not an attractive look. Maybe if you're 7 and you're proud of the loot left for you by the tooth fairy, but TRUST ME - it's been a long time since this guy's seen a dentist, let alone the tooth fairy...

So, as he walks away to fill the tank, I felt a little creeped out that he called me 'hon'. He finished his task and came back to the window to get the money. "That's $29 bucks, hon" (Ewww! He called me 'hon' again!) So, I hand him $40 through the window, and before he fully grasped the twenties he said, "Be right back with your change hon".

HEY GAS DUDE!!! GUESS WHAT?? I'M NOT YOUR HON!

Look, call me hon once? OK. I can take it. Because if I am to be honest, I too sometimes call people 'pet type' names. My word of choice is 'Doll'. "Thanks, doll!" or "You're a doll". But not to everyone and not all the time!

He came back to the car with my change and as he reached toward my outstretched hand, he said "Eleven dollars is your change. Thanks hon. Have a real good day hon. Come back soon hon." Three hons in a row! It was too much for me to take! I couldn't wait to get the heck out of there.

Now, I have to ask. Would I have been so offended at him calling me 'hon' if he looked like George Clooney? Probably not. I might have been inclined to come back for gas in a few hours if that were the case.

I can't be the only one that is offended at this type of stuff. Am I?

Am I that shallow? Somebody, say it ain't so!

Rock on with your bad selves... Hon...

H

American Idol Results

It took me a couple of days to finally get to this, but I had to comment about Thursday nights American Idol results show. Bottom line...America got it right! Michael Sarver is out!

Sure they could have sent Scott home...and not to sound harsh or insensitive...but he's still getting a certain amount of the sympathy vote. His performance wasn't good on Wednesday, and quite honestly, the week before really wasn't anything to brag about. So unless Megan really stinks up the room this coming week...say buh-bye to Scott.

Now before you e-mail and accuse me of saying that just because I think Megan is cute...I ask...what's wrong with that?! Megan IS cute...as a matter of fact she's really hot in an odd quirky, kinda fun way. I just love her entire vibe. She has talent and could have a real career in the vein of Corrine Bailey Rae.




Come on, tell me you don't hear the similarities. As my dawg, Randy Jackson would say, "That girl can blow, yo."

And for all of the Michael Sarver fans...hey your guy made it to the Top 10, and that's not an easy task...plus he gets to go on tour. So when he rolls into Portland...you can plunk down your $50 for a ticket, and watch him sing out the side of his mouth, then look at your friend and say, "I can't believe Simon didn't use the vote to save him." Me...I'll be in the next row over, saying the same thing about Megan!

More American Idol thoughts, opinions, and random comments next week

American Idol

OK some real quick comments and observations about last nights American Idol Motown Night.

First of all...Smokey Robinson is well preserved for a 69 year old man. I'm not sure if he's had work done...I kinda think he has since I remember seeing pictures of him back in the 80's and he actually looks better now!

Next...will someone please teach Kara how to count?


And now the singers...Adam Lambert is the best singer in the competition.



I know he rubs some people the wrong way because he tends to be a little flamboyant...the hair, the make-up, the nail polish...but who cares? This kid can blow dawg...oops, started channeling Randy Jackson there for a minute! Bottom line...he's the guy to beat.

The most underrated singer is Allison Iraheta...or as I like to call her Allison Red-a-heada!


The bottom three: Michael Sarver, Scott MacIntyre, and the too-cute-for-the-room Megan Joy.

If I had to pick the person to exit out of this three...hands down it's Michael. He's been faking his way through it for the past two weeks...go home already.



However, unless a bunch of guys voted, I think Megan will probably be handed her walking papers tonight.



We'll find out tonight at 8 on FOX...and we'll talk about it tomorrow morning on Frank's Place with Bill & Heidi...and of course I'll blog tomorrow with my opinion.

Dancing with the Stars

For the love of God, how bad does Steve Wozniak have to be before America and the judges send him hoofin' back home to his Mac? Wasn't that attempt at the worm enough? Does he have to break out the Running Man or the Lawn Mower for people to get it...this guy CAN NOT DANCE!

Look, I don't have anything personal against the guy...I'm sure he's a very nice man...although his smile reminds me of the Cheshire Cat! I just think he should have gone home last night...this IS a dance contest and shouldn't be based on how cute and lovable someone is.

Was Denise Richards a bad second choice? NO! After watching Denise dance I now understand why Charlie Sheen divorced her...she has no rhythm. Cute? Yes...(although she had waaaay too much makeup on last night) but it was like watching a scarecrow dance!



Eeeek!

Some people think that Holly Madison could have gone home too. You won't get much argument from me there.

As a fan of Girls Next Door, I was stoked when I heard Holly was going to be on DWTS...boy what a BIG disappointment she has been. She seems very nervous and way too self-conscience. For God's sake I can't figure out what the problem is. We've seen her naked in Playboy and watched her share Hugh Hefner with two other women...there isn't much left...so I wish she'd just let out that inner freak and start dancing instead of posing. If not...she'll go home next.

One final thing about last night's show...Hall & Oates ROCKED! Here's their performance in case you missed it or just want to see it again.



Tomorrow, look for my thoughts on tonight's American Idol.

Behind the Music is back on VH-1

I'm estatic this morning because one of my all-time favorite shows is coming back to TV. VH1 is reviving Behind the Music. The series ran for seven years...starting back in 1997.

In focus groups, VH1 found the show was so deeply associated with the channel, some viewers actually thought it was still on the air!

VH1 has ordered up 10 new episodes of Behind the Music. Lil Wayne and Scott Weiland have signed on to participate, and the network is near agreements with several other performers. The shows format will get a bit of a face lift for 2009, but not too much. Jim Forbes is back as the shows narrator, though the new episodes will add more current footage to anchor the story in the present day.

Be careful out there...

I am loving this weather...not sure if it's exactly spring or not...but it beats the snow!

You know that I'm a BIG lover of the social networks; Facebook, Tweeter, Myspace, etc...and from what I can tell, many of you are too. It's a great way to stay in touch with friends across the country, and it's just kinda fun to waste a little time...BUT, be careful what you post.

One lucky job applicant tweeted the following:

‘Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.'

Her tweet caught the attention of a channel partner advocate for Cisco....who then responded:
‘Who is the hiring manager. I'm sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.'

The person who dissed the offer quickly took their Twitter account private. But Twitter search retained the record.

UGH!

Day 3 and recovery

Tried my best to blog yesterday from BBCH for the 3rd and final day of the Radiothon...but just too busy. So many kids and families to meet. It's amazing how quickly we become friends with all of them. They are all so giving and loving.

I have to say on behalf of ALL the kids and staff at BBCH, and from all of us at 107-5 FRANK-FM/Portland & 105-5 FRANK-FM/Rockland...THANK YOU for your donations and your love. We raised $172, 939 this year. WOW! In this economy? This is solid proof of the love and support of Mainers for BBCH and FRANK-FM. Again...our sincerest thanks.

After this post I'm going to spend the entire day with my family. I missed baseball practice yesterday, and a list of other things, while at Radiothon. Thank God my family supports and understands the commitment I have to BBCH.

We'll be back at it tomorrow morning with an all new Frank's Place with Bill & Heidi...see ya then.

Bill

Radiothon: Day 2

Wow! It's already Day 2 of the 4th Annual Frank cares for Kids Radiothon at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital.

I tried to blog yesterday, but every time I sat down to get started...there was another sweet kid to meet, or a parent that wanted to tell us all about their beautiful baby. THAT kinda stuff is hard to tear yourself away from. So...no blog yesterday.

However, today I snuck away for a minute to let you know that things are going well so far. THANK YOU to everyone that has donated so far. If you've been holding off because you're not sure that you can afford $15 a month...I understand. We all do. It's sometimes difficult to know just what to do in uncertain financial times.

The only thing I'll say is...IF you give...you'll NEVER regret it. I don't know about you, but I blow $15 a week on coffee. So even if you gave up one cup a week...then you could afford the $15...it's just a thought.

Maybe a better option is to collect money froma bunch of friends and give one BIG donation. I just think you can't go wrong by donating money to BBCH.

In a time when financial investments appear risky...this is one investment that pays HUGE dividends. You can come here and see where your money is being spent on a daily basis...and I'm fairly certain that you'll be pleased with what you see.

To donate call 1-800-352-6865...if it's busy...CALL BACK!

OK...break time is over...time to go back and hold a baby, or meet a family that has an amazing story to tell.

More...later today...or tomorrow at the latest.

Bill

Here we go again...

It's been a crazy couple of weeks as we all gear up for the 4th Annual Frank Cares for Kids Radiothon at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital.

There is so much behind-the-scenes stuff that goes in to the Radiothon. I'm so thankful that we have an awesome team to get the job done. People always tell me that I make it all sound so easy. That's a huge compliment...but I can't really take credit for much...except flapping my gums!

The Radiothon team starts planning almost immediately after we turn the microphones off on the third day at BBCH. We go back and review what worked...and what didn't. We play back the interviews...listening for those little "nuggets" that we can use in one of the many "Montage" songs that we play to highlight a story or a patient. We conduct more interviews...searching for compelling stories to share with you.

Then as the new year starts we begin to address the technical side of things...making sure that phone lines work, computers are in place, and that we can actually broadcast the event from the atrium of the 6th floor where all of the kids stay while at BBCH.

From our boss, Stan, who oversees the entire production...to Leif who schedules all of the songs and does a LOT of interviews...the engineers that make it all come out of the radio...the folks back at the station that run the controls in the studio...and of course, the amazing staff Children's Miracle Network, and the BBCH...it truly is the definition of "all hands on deck."

As I get ready to call it a night...and snuggle up with my own two kids before bed...I hope that like me, you'll look at your kids and think by the grace of God! I am truly blessed with two healthy boys. Are they perfect? Far from it! Do they drive me crazy? You better believe it. But would I trade places with any other dad in the world? Heck no!

We are SO fortunate to have a place like BBCH in our backyard. Miracles happen there EVERY SINGLE DAY. My hope, on the ever of our 4th Radiothon, is that you can find it in your heart to open up your wallet, or checkbook, or get out the credit card...and make a pledge to be a Frank Miracle Maker. All it takes is $15 a month...less than .50 a day.

I know we're all feeling the pinch of this economy...so if you can't find it in your budget this year...that's OK. But there are still ways to give to BBCH...maybe you can collect money from others. Or...give of your time and your energy, volunteer, read to the kids, etc. Where there's a will there's a way.

I'll be blogging each day during Radiothon from the BBCH atrium. We'll be taking pictures and uploading them to the website...and you can follow me and the entire team on Facebook and Twitter.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Hello...9-1-1?

By now you've probably heard about the lady that called 9-1-1, not once...but THREE times because McDonald's didn't have Chicken McNuggets and she didn't like the attitude of the manager.

At first I thought she must have been drunk and/or high! She wasn't. Evidently she was just hungry and not in the mood for anything else except McNuggets.

Now look...nothing against Mickey D's or chicken nuggets...heck, I like 'em both from time to time...but who likes them enough to call 9-1-1 when McDonald's is out of them? It's just a prime example of arrogance and the selfish "Me First" attitude we all try to warn our kids about.

Hear the 9-1-1 call and get more on what happened here:

U @ 50

This is a video that was submitted by a 20-year-old in a contest titled "U @ 50."

It won 2nd Place. Word is that when they showed it , everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. It's so simple and yet so brilliant. Take a minute and watch it.

Now I remember...

I woke up this morning and my muscles were sore. Kinda weird...I didn't go to the gym yesterday...heck I haven't gone in two weeks (I've been such a lazy slug). But about half an hour ago I figured it out.

My son Nick had baseball practice over the weekend and I helped the coach run a few drills. So I ended up doing push-ups and wind sprints with the kids. Now this morning I'm feeling it in my arms, chest, legs and butt.

All I know is I have to get back to the gym this week...but thanks to the snow it isn't happening today. Oh well...I guess it's home to hit the treadmill.

Drive carefully.

I can't believe this...

I played Nintendo Wii for the first time last night. Yeah I know...I'm a little late to the party...the rest of the world has been playing for a while now, but I just got invited!

I've never been a big gamer...maybe it's because as a kid I never went to the arcade like most kids. I'll guarantee you as a teenager I went to the arcade maybe...maybe...5 times.

I never really played any sort of video games until my parents bought me an Atari one Christmas. Remember Atari...Space Invaders, Pacman, Pong, and all of those other silly little games?

Then in 1998 my wife bought me a Playstation with Madden Football. Between 1980 and 2008...I rarely ever played a video game...and when I did...I SUCKED!

Despite the onslaught by advertisers of the latest greatest gaming systems...X-Box, Game Cube, Playstation 3, etc...my wife and I have held them all at bay and protected our children from the video wars. There are NO gaming systems in our house (except for the Playstation I mentioned earlier...but it sits on the top shelf of the closet in our office...way in the back)...no DS, no Gameboy...nada!

We're proud that our boys love to play outside, use their imaginations, create, color, build, ride bikes...anything productive besides sit in front of the TV. We promote a healthy, active lifestyle by being active and healthy ourselves.

So...imagine the battle that's raging inside of me this morning. Last night, after a great dinner with some good friends...we went back to their house and fired up the Wii. I had heard all about it...read about it...but here it was right in front of me.

Being a bit of a skeptic by nature, I had told myself on the way over that I wouldn't like it. It would just be another boring gaming system that I wouldn't be good at...and would really have no interest in. Man was I wrong!

Now I won't say I was good at the tennis game, or bowling...but IT WAS FUN! My wife loved it...and was actually pretty good. Of course, unlike me, she spent a lot of her parents money inside arcades as a youth!


After tennis and bowling I flew a couple of sorties over a European town trying to blow enemy aircraft out of the sky. I think I shot down two before crashing into a building...TWICE!

Never mind...I had a blast. So this morning, after telling my kids all about our experience, there is new found joy in the house. I've actually opened up to the idea of buying a Wii! I e-mailed a friend and told him the exciting news (well, exciting to me...he just kinda scoffed and welcomed me to the 21st century. Needless to say he spent enough quarters over the years to bail out a failing S&L)...anyway, he told me to buy the MLB Baseball game, and recommended a few others for the kids.

So as I contemplate buying a Wii...if you have suggestions about games you love or hate, or ones to absolutely get...or stay away from...I'd love to hear from you. So leave a comment and let me know what you think.