This blog is a special birthday blog going out a special lady of whom I am proud to call friend and sometimes, Momma. I may make her sigh sometimes with an occasional swear word or questionable post on Facebook but, most of the time, I impress her with how well I slay my outfits. Paula and I go back to 2008, when we met at Greensburg Alliance Church. I always visited on Monday nights, mainly to see her and her daughters. We have gone through long periods of not seeing each other but, our friendship has never suffered. Here are a few things I can speak kindly of when it comes to my friend and adopted Momma, Paula.
I got an invite to her daughter’s wedding in the Spring of 2021. I was one of the first to RSVP. When I told her about the invite she reminded me, “You’re family, of course you’ll be there!” It was one of the greatest events I got to attend and one of the few good takeaways from 2021.
She loves unconditionally which I’m grateful for. I have my own distinct style (I’m non binary) and love designer bags and accessories. When a friend of hers shot me down for how I dressed, she responded back that she loved and supported me and that I matter.
She has a strong faith in Jesus Christ which has gotten her through some tough times. Of course, I’ve also helped her and her daughters through some hard times as well. I am a believer even though my church attendance has been on hiatus since the Fall of 2021.
Her girls are my besties and I am the same to them. I learned the word slay from her fashionable daughter and how to create shitposts (sorry for the language, Momma) from her fabulous daughter.
Recognize something like that? That could save your life in 2020.
This week four years ago began the last normal week we would experience before everything shut down. The COVID 19 outbreak was spreading like wildfire and cases were already being confirmed out west. Precautions were already being taken in big cities like Seattle and San Francisco. There was talk of March Madness being affected as well as the start of the Major League Baseball season.
I started the week as I usually did, beginning another workweek at WIS. I came off the heels of another great Toastmasters area event, the last one before the Division contests would begin. We took precautions and fist bumped rather than do the traditional shaking of hands. After the contest, we met at nearby Oakmont bakery and caught up on life.
Let’s go back a few weeks, though. I mentioned area contests and there were two memorable ones in Cranberry on a Thursday night and Saturday morning in Johnstown. I braved the snow to make my way to both events. My fashion journey was just beginning (before I broke status quo) and I was asked if I had a fashion designer friend. I met up with some of the Elk County Toastmasters after our contest at Applebee’s.
Let’s now go even further, back to 2019. It was an up and down year that started out with me going back to my old job and learning that my grandmother had cancer. Coming back to WIS meant I was able to take off my weekends and enjoy the contests and upcoming District conference. I watched some of my friends in the Cranberry High Noon club celebrate their high achievement by doing a “DTM Huddle”. However, things got worse in the Spring as my Grandma’s health took a turn for the worse and one of my main co-workers quit after a bad night. It was a quiet summer in which I took vacation close to home and went back to my Grandma’s house. I was now living by myself after her passing early in June.
That Fall everyone who quit came back and for once, I enjoyed my job. But that wouldn’t last long. I got my Distinguished Toastmaster award, celebrated with my club during our Open House, and received a proclamation from a representative. Most memorable was our overnight work trip in Ashtabula which started my fashion journey. I ended my longstanding SRU Homecoming tradition and attended my first ever Fall Symposium with District 13 Toastmasters in October.
I started my blog just before Thanksgiving, and posted a lot early on in 2020, which brings us to March.
It’s late in the week, the last normal week of our lives before things changed forever. We’re learning news of the Coronavirus at work and at a conference call as our upcoming Spring Conference may be affected. That Friday I’m at Target in Monaca and I learn that upcoming events have been cancelled. Who knew that it would be the start of two months off of work and conditions coming after we would come back? The Office Max in Greensburg the next day would be the last event we’d have for a quite a while.
Soon after, all upcoming Toastmasters events and other major gatherings would be cancelled. We would soon be introduced to Zoom, which is how we held our meetings and trainings for the next year. The Major League Baseball season was pushed back, and March Madness was cancelled. My fashionable sister and her fiancé were getting married on May 16 but it would have to be a small ceremony. Terms like social distancing, six feet apart, and quarantine became household names. Masks, mandates, and work from home would soon become the norm. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper flew off the shelves.
The country and the world was officially in lockdown.
With warm springlike weather forecast early this week, I took advantage of the downtime I had and spent some time outside. I made it out to Hempfield Park twice this week and took time to get some steps in. The end result is 1.5 miles both yesterday and today. Maybe a little more today but getting outside in the sun does a lot not only for your physical health but your mental health as well. More clouds than sun (however, no rain) the next days but I’ll use my time later this week to work out at Planet Purple.
With me beginning to stick to a regular exercise routine, I’m starting to fulfill the fitness pillar of this blog.
The mild springlike weather of early this week has encouraged me to lose the jacket as I spend time outdoors. On my walks the last two days at Hempfield Park, I’ve been able to walk around the park in a tank top. My gym outfit has gotten the mileage as I run on the treadmill or work on my extremities and more sportswear fashion is coming. This includes some pieces for my summer wardrobe. Where else but Old Navy? It’s a great weekend to spend some of my Super Cash and it expires Sunday.
Thus, I am fulfilling the fashion pillar of this blog.
This month is a big month for fish fries, and even though I’m not planning on going to the fire hall I will go to a few restaurants around the area. I will make it to Eat’n Park at some point this month to try their Whale of a Cod. In the future, I’m hoping to do breakfast at Waffles INCaffeinated (South Side) or Tupelo Honey (Station Square). This may occur after I finish up Spring Conference in May. I just haven’t set in stone anything post-conference yet.
Tonight my pre-Toast meal took me to GetGo for first leg of my Fish Sammie tour. I ordered the Captain fish sandwich with a side of hush puppies. So far so good but I have a few other places to try before I pick the best fish sandwich on this tour. I still have to try the Whale of a Cod from Eat’n Park at some point this month. I’ll announce the best fish sandwich and best coffee at the end of March. My Irish Creme Latte was good Sunday morning. This week, I’ll go for the matcha 🍵.
Eating out and trying new things, and one of these days actually getting to make something that I like. That is the food pillar of this blog that I’m fulfilling.
I might make a Market District run after the conference either in the South Hills or in Robinson. From Washington, it’s easily accessible to get to both. Plus, I can use my team member discount.
Now that the calendar has turned to March and the number of days to Spring keep dropping, here is my recap of February.
It was a better month than expected with content. I originally wanted to post a handful of blogs, but had enough to talk about to make two handfuls. While I’m behind the 8-ball a bit this year compared to last year, I believe I’ll come out ahead of last year and even set a record for blog posts in 2024. I wanted to make up for lack of content in 2022 (mainly due to the lack of technology), hence why I wrote so many blogs early before cooling off in the Spring.
2020 is my record year with 154 but it has to be noted that I posted more early before cooling off in the second half of the year. Also, does that year really count as everything was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic? If anyone’s keeping score, I had 60 blogs posted by the end of February. A few weeks later the world would shut down. I’ll have a blog up next week looking back on quarantine times.
I was able to score a few days off and took advantage of a beautiful Sunday to visit Aunt Sue and Benny. We ate lunch at the Pine Grill restaurant and then I visited for a few hours. We just sat on the sun porch and kept warm by the fireplace. Getting there was the fun on this chilly but dry February day as I drove up PA 31 getting there and down US 30 coming home.
I finally finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and moved on to the next book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I’m also caught up on the movies. I plan to have the first seven books done by the summer. There’s also the newest book (The Cursed Child) and Fantastic Beasts which I’d like to read as well. In addition to Harry Potter, I’m occasionally reading other books as well.
In Toastmasters, we held our area contests in District 13. All contests were held online. I only attended the one in my area and cheered on our competitors. The divisional round begins this week and runs through the rest of the month with contests every Saturday. I also returned to in-person meetings at Laurel Highlands after being online for the last few months. I plan on visiting Johnstown’s club online in April.
I put up a few food reviews as I ate at Chili’s and Don Patron before my meetings on Wednesday night. March will be all about finding the best fish sandwich and deciding what the best St. Patrick’s Day/Easter drink was. I got an Irish Creme coffee this morning at Cutie’s and it reminded me of the cappuccinos I used to order from the Hiram G. Andrews Center in their student-run store. I can’t wait to post what my favorites were and it will be tough. I also ordered some activewear from Old Navy and I have a nice gym outfit now. Don’t know what March holds but I might buy more activewear or even some summer clothes or a mix of everything. Time to use those gift cards from Christmas!
Whatever the week holds, I’m ready to style, profile, and slay!
In the Fall of 2023, I wanted to do a Pumpkin Spice tour at some of the coffee shops in Westmoreland County as well as around Pittsburgh. My choices were not only limited to the iconic drink but other fall themed items. It didn’t quite pan out and I only visited two places. I did get to drink a good bit of pumpkin spice, however, and bought some snacks that had a fall twist to them.
Later on that Fall, in November, I embarked on a mini Thanksgiving sandwich tour, with much more success. I began my tour with the Pilgrim at Getgo, before having dinner at Mad Mex and ordering the popular Gobblerito. I wrapped up my tour just a week before Thanksgiving at Primanti’s and tried their turkey sandwich. Out of all my experiences, the Gobblerito came out most successful. It wasn’t my first experience with it, either. I had one a year prior when I ate lunch out with Aunt Sue and Benny. I had a cranberry margarita this time around to complement my Gobblerito and it was good.
This month, enter the Fish Sammie and Cute Coffee Tour of March ’24!
This isn’t the exact drink pictured above, but one of the Easter specials I want to try is a “Chillin’ with my Peeps” latte from Cutie’s Coffee Company. As the title states, the drink has a marshmallow peep to go with it. I also want try the latte that comes with a Cadbury Creme Egg. I plan on trying two St. Patrick’s Day drinks and two Easter drinks between now and the end of the month. The first picture is something I’m definitely getting when I go out to eat and that is Eat’n Park’s world famous Whale of a Cod fish sandwich. If you’ve watched the latest commercial, you can see that it’s been a popular menu item for years at the restaurant. In addition to Eat’n Park, I will also be going to a few local spots to try their fish sandwiches.
Last week saw our last sunset before 6:00 PM until Daylight Savings time ends on November 3 (eight months from tomorrow). While we have not escaped Old Man Winter’s clutches just yet, we are out of the hard part of Winter. First day of Spring is March 21. Our first after 7:00 PM sunset comes when we Spring ahead next week, and our first 8:00 PM sunset comes in the middle of April. June 20 is our longest day of the year with over 15 hours of daylight. We can talk about Falling back when the time is closer.
It’s now officially March and that means it’s time for March Madness. While this mainly applies to basketball and the NCAA tournament, in District 13 it applies to our International Speech and Humorous Speech contests in the Division. The first round begins next Saturday when Division B has their contest. It will be held at Hope Lutheran Church in Cranberry Township (home of Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters) on Saturday afternoon. It will be a hybrid contest meaning it will be in person and online. Fortunately for me, since I work Friday night, I can attend the contest via Zoom (virtual). Division C’s contest will be held in the morning on March 16 in Blairsville at the First United Methodist Church. I plan to attend that one in person. Divisions D and A will be held the following weeks (March 23 and March 30) but, attendance at the contests for me remains up in the air until I see my upcoming schedule.
If I repeated all or any of the above in a previous blog, I am sorry as I have a habit of doing that. I just wanted to note that our District historian really hit the nail on the head when he called the Division Speech contests March Madness. That’s exactly what I thought too.
Maybe I’ll look at my Fish Sammie and Cute Coffee tour of March ’24 the same way too.
It’s always fun to order something online versus ordering it in the store sometimes. You have your advantages which are easier to find what you want online vs. in store. You also have your disadvantages which include the shipping cost and basically, you get what you pay for. But the same holds true for shopping in-store.
When your package comes to your house, you can do a fun unboxing video showing everyone what you got and if it’s clothes, how you look in them. I get so much joy when I order new clothes from Old Navy or new gadgets from Amazon, JCPenney, or Kohls.
Today’s blog post is all about that. You feverish wait for whatever it is you bought and then that day comes. Soon after it’s time for the great Amazon unboxing experience. Have I enjoyed my latest purchases online? Absolutely. Are they worth the money? Sometimes it’s been up for debate but I’ve been pleased as of late. Here’s a few of the things I’ve purchased in 2024 alone.
Digital frame—My mom inspired me to buy a digital frame after I fell in love with the one she has in the living room at home. I bought mine on Amazon (mine is a little different) but it operates the same. My pics are a little bit different than hers. I have plenty of selfies and Christmas pics on mine. So far it’s been fun to look at and more pictures are coming.
Amazon Laptop bag—I got my laptop last Christmas as a gift from my cousins so I could keep with the blogs. While it occurred to me that I should buy some accessories, I didn’t think about it until recently. Eventually I’m going to want to take my computer on the road and for that I need a bag to keep it in so I don’t drop it. I tried out the Amazon laptop bag and it works perfect.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix—With the exception of book 2, I have ordered every Harry Potter book here on Amazon. I started the series in 2018 and quit just before I started the fourth book in December of that year. I reopened the idea of reading it once again in the summer of 2023 after being inspired by my 11 year old niece as well as a few of my store leaders. Not only have I been reading the books, but also watching the movies.
Book light—As cool as the frame and the laptop bag are, this one has been my favorite buy. I can easily read a chapter of my favorite book in the dark or where lighting is reduced. I’ve wanted one for a while but I never got around to shopping for one. This one changes colors as well.
My online shopping experience began in college when I was introduced to a website called half.com. It was 2003 and I just began my first semester at Slippery Rock University. I was able to get discounts on CDs and DVDs and more importantly, my textbooks for class. I never quite caught on to eBay, and it might have had to do with bidding on products. Eventually eBay swallowed up half.com and I soon made my way off of that platform. Nowadays, I buy things online and I don’t sell as I’m pretty well-off and don’t need money. I’ve sold a few things online back in my day but even as a business major, I didn’t have much business sense.
Nowadays, I have great fashion sense.
As I close off the blog, it’s Leap Day. I will finish the latest season of Season Eight of Queer Eye and be caught up on the series once again. Season Nine will be in Las Vegas but the Fab Five will be minus one of their own as Bobby Berk departs the series. I wish him the best but he will be missed.
March 13 is a historic day here at home and for our nation (as well as our planet). In 1993, it was the East Coast blizzard. In 2020, it was one of the last normal days we’d have before the world went on lockdown due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
That last normal day changed our lives and really put things into perspective. I’ll have a blog post up in March looking back on how my life has changed since the pandemic.
Before I get into this look ahead to the next month, I am pleased to learn that the former Sears will have a new occupant in the future. That should continue to breathe life into a mall that held its own while other malls in the region have struggled.
Dick’s Sporting Goods will be moving into the location that once housed Sears. The old Sears has been vacant since its closure five years ago, with the exception of a small part being used for Spirit Halloween last year. There was much debate over what should go into that location, whether it was Boscov’s, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, or even a hotel for those out of towners visiting the nearby Live! Casino. The Dick’s Sporting Goods will be rebranded into a Dick’s House of Sport.
The House of Sport stores are different than the usual Dick’s Sporting Goods, providing a more interactive experience, with climbing walls, batting cages, and golf simulators. This allows a customer to try the product out while tracking their performance. Another House of Sport plans to open in the Pittsburgh area, in April, at Ross Park Mall. The current Dick’s location behind the mall will become Going, Going, Gone, which is the chain’s outlet store. They have locations in Monroeville and on McKnight Road.
Information has been provided by an admin on the Greengate Mall archive page on Facebook. It’s time now for a look ahead to next month.
The calendar turns ahead to March on Friday and that just means we are drawing closer to the first day of Spring. I’m looking forward to wiping the slate clean and beginning a new Duolingo quest. This month’s quest (Bea’s Jazz Jam) inspired me to rekindle my interest in listening to jazz music. In just a few weeks, I will hit 700 straight days on Duolingo. Here’s what else you can expect next month.
Content is mostly under To Be Determined but I have a few things planned so far. Just like the Thanksgiving food features I came across, I’ll do the same with the fish sandwiches during Lent. Stops along the Fish Sandwich Tour ’24 include GetGo and Eat’n Park (gotta have my Whale of a Cod). Downtown Greensburg stops include Sun Dawg and Badges Bar and Grille. In addition to the fish sandwiches, I’m looking forward to trying the Easter feature lattes that the new coffee shop in town (Cutie’s Coffee) has to offer.
March Madness gets underway this month but you won’t read about the tournament or the games (unless I start a sports blog). The March Madness I’m talking about are the speech contests that are taking place in our District. The Division contests are just as big as divisional round playoff games in the NFL. These will determine who advances to the District finals which will be held during our Spring conference in May. I will be in attendance for Division C’s contest on March 16 in Blairsville, but Divisions A, B, and D are up in the air. If I do, it’s likely they’ll be online.
Two weeks from today we turn the clocks ahead. While it’s still technically winter and anything can happen, it will be nice to play outside until 6 or 7pm while it’s still light. When the sun starts setting at 8pm, then it’ll be really nice. I’ll have to make time for a walk at Twin Lakes or Mammoth park at some point, and even pack a lunch or dinner. One thing I would like to do in 2024 is take a walk at one of the state parks close by. Keystone is one park that comes to mind. Maybe Kooser or Laurel Hill if I’m feeling lucky. There’s also Penn Township and Indian Lake.
As I get ready to close off the blog, I want to give a shoutout to Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters being recognized as Community Champions at an event hosted by the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber. The club started in 2013 and I got to attend their tenth anniversary celebration last summer. Every year they have achieved President’s Distinguished honors and, for a longtime Toastmaster who visits the club twice a year, the club has become like a second home to me.
I’ll always remember the warm welcome that I got at a December 2019 meeting. What a perfect day that was in my book as I was just starting out this blog!
Today’s blog is brought to you by the Word of the Day, or words. They are reinvest and renew. Recently, my new Harry Potter book came in the mail. This is the fifth in the series and like the last one, is just as big. This will take me at least two months to finish (I’m not one to read more than one chapter at a time unless it’s a few short chapters).
Unlike in 2018, I’m determined to get through the series this time. It’s taken me a while as I needed a break, but I’ve reinvested my time in reading and renewed my love for it. In the past, I’ve also been able to read multiple books at one time and I’ve come back to doing that as I read three other books. I’m also reading books by former president Barack Obama and actor John Stamos, as well as the History of Jazz. I was inspired to read that book with February being Black History month.
I also renewed my love of jazz by listening to some of my favorite albums. If you’ve read my most recent blogs, I listed five of my best album purchases.
Earlier this week, I renewed my Toastmasters dues for both of my clubs. I reinvested in my growth as a communicator and leader, even 10+ years later and five years after getting my Distinguished Toastmaster award. What keeps me coming back? I can still learn even if I have met my goals. Meeting new people and helping them get acquainted with the educational program is another reason.
Contest season is underway and very soon the divisional round will begin. Division C‘s contest is March 16 in Blairsville and it looks like it will be a good one with lots of humorous and international contestants from our four areas including: Johnstown, State College, and my home club, Greensburg.
Every day, I renew my foreign language skills and reinvest my time by learning new words on Duolingo. Three minutes a day extends my streak which is now nearing 700. I started out learning Spanish and I have since expanded my horizons by picking up French, German, and Italian. I still can’t speak the language but, it’s fun to try.
I’ll close off the blog with my review from last night’s dinner at Don Patron Mexican Restaurant in Greensburg. I will say I enjoyed it as much as I do Acapulco in Irwin. I had many options to choose from for food and will have to do lunch sometime so I can order one of the lunch specials. I missed out on happy hour, which runs from 4 to 7PM, but I had a meeting to get to afterwards. I ordered the chipotle honey shrimp that came with Mexican rice and refried beans. Food grade: A
The service was excellent. I arrived just as the place was getting busy. It looks like they do good business here. In the future, I’ll have to try Latrobe’s Don Patron to compare the two. The staff was very professional and cared about the customers. Service grade: A
The atmosphere is what you would expect at a nice Mexican restaurant like this. Music is nice, not too loud and just right for your dining experience. I loved seeing the window decorations. The atmosphere and decor made me feel at home. I’ll definitely make a return trip sometime for lunch. Atmosphere: A
Back in December, Mom and I made a special trip up to Somerset to pick up belongings for my Aunt and Benny, who were staying at Children’s Hospital at the time. We thought it was going to be another four month stay like this past Spring. That trip provided inspiration for today’s title, though it was on a much better note this Sunday.
We definitely got our fair share of snow Friday night. Fortunately, as I made my way to Somerset, the sun was out and the snow was gradually starting to melt. However, blowing snow made roads tricky in some places but it was few and far between. The weather will begin to turn mild this week and thus the snow we had will be gone. I got to my destination safely and met my aunt for lunch at the Pine Grill. Here’s my review of today’s dining experience.
We walked in around Noon and were greeted nicely by our host. We were seated as soon as a table was open. Lunch on a Sunday is different than dinner on a Wednesday night. It was busy and, the church crowd was on its way in addition to those coming for lunch. This establishment is only open on Sundays for lunch, the rest of the time it’s only open for dinner (4PM to 9PM). Our server suggested the specials and that shows courtesy and good salesmanship on their part.
I loved the decor. There are still a few Christmas decorations up and that makes winter seem less dreadful. I loved the painting of the classic truck hauling maple syrup. You can also buy syrup at the Pine Grill. This place is the perfect setting for a scene in a Hallmark movie. Grade: A
The menu had a lot of great options, from entrees and starters to beer and wine. There was a plentiful list of sandwiches and burgers for lunch and some delicious appetizers. I ordered a beer but almost got a mimosa. They also have local beers on tap. This place is easily comparable to Jean Bonnet in Bedford and The Casselman Inn in Grantsville, MD. Grade: A-
Our food was OK. I ordered a Corned Beef Reuben and it was good. Fries were extra and I get that (most sandwiches I’ve had elsewhere come with chips). Quiche was average and needed reheated. I tried one of the mussels from my aunt’s shrimp scampi and they were good. Grade: B-
Overall: B.
I enjoyed lunch and fellowship with Aunt Sue and Benny and Janet. We talked about other restaurants we were interested in. After lunch, we parted ways and went back to the house. We made the most of a lazy Sunday afternoon and sat on my aunt’s new sunporch, keeping warm in front of her new fireplace. I felt like I was at Shawnee at that cottage we rented in the past. I went home around 4 and had a nice trip down US 30 passing through Jennerstown, Laughlintown, and Ligonier.
Now onto my journeys. I’m on season eight of Queer Eye, watching one episode a week. I’ll finish it up around March 2 and cry a little bit because it’s Bobby’s last season. The most recent episode I watched really hit me in the feels, and it came just as Karamo and the Fab Five’s recent nominee, sat down and talked. I say this because it hit home for me with my fashion journey as well as my life’s journey. I can be myself around most people. Around my parents, it’s hard and they’re not ones to really enjoy drama or anything different.
I’ve taken steps forward and steps back in my fashion journey. Like Denton, my problem was that I wasn’t able to trust myself and, I also put too much pressure on myself. Having that confidence in myself (helping by giving eye contact) and a clear mind makes it much easier to talk to my family without going into hiding. It also helps when speaking in front of my Toastmasters group or when I’m at work. One of these days, I’ll finally break down and find a therapist to talk to about my problems.
Time to close off the blog by taking a look ahead. Wednesday night is Greensburg Toastmasters and we have a fun night planned. I’ll be eating my pre-Toast meal at Don Patron and you’ll read my review of my meal and recap of the meeting. I’m planning another Old Navy outfit/activewear haul and looking for new bedding to usher in Spring. Next week, I’ll have a preview for March and included will be where you can find the best fish sandwich during Lent.
Come along with me for the ride this week and as we get closer to Spring!
With the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl on Sunday, and with all the headlines centering around Taylor Swift, I felt it was appropriate to play Taylor’s playlist while I was at work. In a way I was emulating my 11 year old niece who herself is a “Swiftie”. She has seen the Eras Tour in theatres and has plenty of Taylor merch at her disposal. While I love a little bit of pop and a little bit of country, my favorite music genre is always going to be jazz.
When my love affair began is debatable. It can be traced back to 2000, during my senior year of high school, when I discovered a publicly-funded station in Pittsburgh that played classic jazz hits as well as some local artists. 90.5 WDUQ was owned by Duquesne University at the time and was also a National Public Radio station as well. They had some shows during the day that were national but at night and during the morning and early afternon, they played jazz. On and off during college, I would listen to 90.5 when I was able to get it or when I was home. The university sold the station in the early 2010s and was rebranded but, you can still listen to jazz on one of their HD channel or on AM 1550 WZUM Braddock.
Perhaps it goes back to 1996, when I discovered a smooth jazz station in Pittsburgh that was short-lived known as 104.7 WJJJ. My mom listened to this station way before my interest in jazz became a thing. The format switched to an oldies format in 1999 and became a conservative talk radio outlet in 2004. But I’ll take smooth jazz over an outspoken talking head anyday.
Or, it goes back to the late 1980s, about the time I discovered the Weather Channel. For a long time, their local forecast music was a genre of music I soon discovered was smooth jazz. It was very catchy and the music would always live rent-free in my head. One of the most common artists whose music played during the local forecasts was the Rippingtons, whose music is still played to this day on jazz stations. I discovered who played these songs years later on a site called twcclassics.com one night after work just after I graduated college.
I’ve bought many jazz CDs over the years and books related to the subject. But before I talk about the music, I have a little story to tell. While I was a student at Slippery Rock University, a course on Jazz was offered in the music building. Listening to music was involved and I wish I would have taken the course while I was there (it would have been worth it). One of the books I owned is The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia. Fun fact: I’ve read three editions of the book including the latest one. I also watched a miniseries on Jazz by Ken Burns back in the early 2000’s and bought a few CDs from that collection.
To close off the blog, here are a few of the jazz albums I’ve owned over the years. I’ve since done away with CDs and stream music exclusively on Amazon.
Pure Jazz (2001)– A wonderful compiliation of the greatest icons of jazz. Nice way to end the CD with Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi) (1965)–One of the greatest Christmas cartoons and Peanuts specials of all time. Great message but also a great soundtrack. Vince Guaraldi did all the music for the Peanuts specials.
We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song (2007)–Ella’s best work released in honor of her 90th birthday. One of my favorite Ella Fitzgerald hits would be Summertime which was performed with Louis Armstrong.
Spellbound (Joe Sample) (1989)–I’m a big fan of jazz fusion and there are some great ones on this album. This artist’s music has been played on the Weather Channel for many years either solo or with the Crusaders.
Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns (2013)–This is a group of smooth jazz musicians collaborating on some old 1970s hits. Overall, this was done very well. A follow up album was released in 2018.
