Jay Kersting's Blog

So, I have officially been in Jefferson City for a month now.  I did make a long weekend up in Kansas City when I first got here and I did make a trip home once as well.  So, I have only ACTUALLY spent one weekend in Jefferson City, and it snowed, so I pretty much stayed here at the office. 

For those who don't know, I live at the office.  Almost literally.  I am actually living in my parent's motor home out in the parking lot.  It is a nice set up.  For one person, I have plenty of room.  Well, except for the shower, but I have learned to shower in two steps.  (I stand outside the shower to wash my hair, then I wash the rest of me in the second step.)  And, for my employer, they always have someone here if things get bad.  With the snow last weekend, about 4 to 5 inches worth, I was able to break-in to the programming and give updates.  It was not that bad, so I did not do much, but I felt like I could help.  And on Sunday, I helped remove the snow from the satellite dish that gives us ABC News and other programming.  So, I sort of earned the "rental" on my parking space.

This weekend, I will be out at the local home show to work on some ideas for when Kathy and hte boys make it here this summer.  I am not planning on us building a house.  BUT, I think Kathy and I want to get a house that is nice enough to live in, in a good neighborhood with good schools, that we can make some improvements to.  So, getting to know some folks in the business will be helpful for those ideas that we probably won't be able to manage ourselves.  PLUS, it is a chance for me to get out and meet some of our listeners and potential listeners.  A good thing for me to do this weekend.

I am still trying to get a handle on this climate.  Is it colder than Knoxville as everyone there warned me?  Nope.  Will it be?  It is supposed to be.  But, I tracked it for a while.  The daytime highs here were greater than there over half of the time.  HOWEVER, when it was warmer in Knoxville, it was usually a lot warmer.  And the overnight lows here are a bit lower.  But right now, as I am writing this, it is 49 degrees in Jefferson City, Missouri, and only 36 degrees in Knoxville.  And yes, we have had snow and ice, that part is true.  So, it is different, but not a whole lot colder.  Which is what I recalled from my previous times living in this part of the country.

As for my job, I absolutely love it.  I have been making some adjustments to the show on a regular basis. Nothing major, just little things here and there that are all within my area of responsibility.  I am lucky to have a program director who is not so hands on that I need to run every little detail by him.  Some folks are not that lucky.  Thankfully, I have always had good PD's since I have been in talk radio.  With other formats, I have heard some stories, not horror stories, but stories where things were so regimented that it killed the fun.  And I have the theory, and I think most people find it to be true, that better radio happens when everyone is having fun.  So, that is what I try to do.  But again, I know that I need to stay within certain parameters.

I cannot speak strongly enough about how great the people I work with are.  WOW!  Everyone has been SOOOOOOO helpful.  In fact, some have been jealous of my living arrangements.  And that is completely the opposite of what I thought I would hear.  But, no, I have not had any huge parties at my place.  I don't see that happening until I actually have a place that I cannot drive away.

I did move last weekend.  About 20 feet.  Gave me less of a slope to sleep on.  And I mounted my DirecTV dish last weekend.  Sadly, I did not have a working access card so they had to send me one.  Kathy got it to me today (she is great and I miss her a lot...no idea how much) so I will be able to watch something besides the four network stations AND the two religious stations that are available off the antenna.  Fox News Channel, ESPN, The History Channel, USA and A&E have all been missed.  I have been going through a little "Law & Order" withdrawal.  I actually watched, and this is EMBARASSING to ADMIT, "American Idol" this week.  NOW, to my defense for watching, you know, crap, it was the auditions.  So, at least it was something I could talk about on the air.  But, now the serious stuff starts on that show, so thankfully I have other options.  I know, some people like the serious competition of that show, I am not one of them.  As I like to say, I do not watch crap.  Though, I might tune in to the "Bad Girls Show" if Kathy or Dan give me an update.  I watched that, and it is crap, at Dan's house, but it was fairly amusing crap.  I guess now I understand why people would stare at car wrecks.

Got questions or comments, please e-mail me at jay@jaykersting.com or post something in the comments section.  I am always wanting to hear from folks.  Living alone, I do get bored.

And...not that he will read this, but Mom might show it to him.  Happy Birthday Dad!!  I miss you as well.  (I do miss Alex and Ben more, but I do miss both you and Mom.)  Oh and Dad, I think this is the time to point out that a Beatles song is appropriate for this birthday.  We still need you, and if you can't, I'm sure Mom will still feed you, now that you are 64!