I am glad to finally have a new President...not only that, but the right one! Does this mean that they actually counted all the votes correctly?...was it such an obvious landslide that not even Karl Rove et al could fake the outcome!? It'll be nice to have a President who can give a speech without stumbling over every other word...or just making words up as he goes...or just making the laws and the rules up as he goes...

As they were showing the footage of people celebrating Obama's win around the world, Jon Stewart of the Daily Show said something so right on... he noted that in all of this footage there were "no burning American flags!"

I believe Obama can lead with strength, honesty, wisdom and compassion, but I hope he has a good pair of hip-boots 'cause he is about to wade into quite a pile of shit that has spewed forth over the last 8 years!

I actually think John McCain would have been a good President...eight years ago when he first ran, I don't think he would have taken us down this really rocky road we've been on for so long. It kind of looks like George W. screwed him out of the Presidency twice...although, with that millstone Sarah Palin hanging around his neck, I think he really screwed himself this time!

Let's hope she and her low rent family (The Wasilla Hillbillies) fade into obscurity in the Alaskian wilderness. Somehow, though, I don't think we've seen the last of her (but the first of her turns my stomach)!

It'll be interesting to see who Obama picks to come with him to the Whitehouse. I am of course talking about the puppy he promised his daughters. It's apparently a hot topic on the news...in fact I heard Sarah Palin quoted as saying "We've got to watch this carefully because Obama has been know to pal around with terriers!"

Congratulations President-Elect Obama...I look forward to moving forward.

Ralphie

The rumors of my termination, death or dismemberment, or anything else you've heared, have been greatly exagerated! Just taking some much needed R&R. I've been getting stuff done, and not doing anything, all at the same time!

I spent some time in Palm Springs for my sister's 60th birthday (just went so I could remind her that I'll always be younger than her...even when I'm 60). I also went and visited some old friends down in Burbank...my hometown (Go Bulldogs!)

I also took a quick trip to Monte Carlo, one of my favorite places on Earth...the sights, the smells...I know you're thinking "Wow, Ralphie's quite the jet-setter"...actually, Monte Carlo is this great Italian Deli in Burbank, I've been going in there with my Dad since I can remember...he'd be speaking Italian with all the guys behind the counter (some of them are still working there!) ording all kinds of wonderful food. My Dad has been gone for a number of years, but he never feels closer than when I walk in that place! If you're ever in Burbank go there, just for the incredible smells! Really, go there, it's on Magnolia Blvd. between Buena Vista and Hollywood Way. Tell 'em Ralphie sent you...which will mean absolutely nothing to them, but it's fun to say!

Oh yeah, I also made my modeling debut at the Healthy Way fashion show. We raised a lot of money for Hospice of Santa Cruz County, and I really worked the room! Thanks to everyone who came to show their support!

I guess that's all my news...just taking some time off...unlike some others at the Pig...I'll be back!

Ralphie

A year ago this evening I leaned in, and, like many other family members and friends all that day long, I said good-bye to Laura Ellen. The very last thing I said to her was "Thank You!"

Dreams are funny...funny ha-ha, and funny peculiar. Some dreams are very telling and obvious, others leave you scratching your head and wondering “what the heck was that all about!” Well, over the last couple weeks I’ve had 4 very vivid, very real dreams with Laura Ellen in them. Why this sudden cluster of dreams? I can’t speak for anyone else, but Laura has been on my mind lately…her birthday is the 29th, and in another month it will be the first anniversary of her passing. It’s hard not to be reminded of Laura every time you walk in the building or when you hear certain songs. But all these dreams I’ve had have taken place in her office…and I’m pretty sure it’s her office that has been the catalyst.

Let me backtrack here…if you listen on the internet, you don’t hear the commercials, but if you listen locally at 107.5 or in San Francisco on the AM dial, then you probably notice that I voice a lot of the local commercial spots. That’s my other job here at the Pig. When I finish my air-shift, I do a few hours of production work. Our production studio has been in need of a makeover for…well…forever! Finally, the remodel began. I was told it would take 2 weeks…that was 3 weeks ago! Don’t misunderstand me, I knew it wouldn’t be done in 2 weeks, and if it had, I probably would have had a stroke! Hey, I’ve been here long enough to know how things (and people) work!

They’ve set up a makeshift production studio in the room behind Laura Ellen’s office. There’s Laura’s office, and then a room in the back where she would program her internet radio station The Cowboy Cultural Society (I believe they are working on getting it back up and streaming soon!). Laura’s office is just as she left it…there are bins of CDs lining a path through the room, photos and memorabilia on the walls...and her desk, piled high with CDs, legal pads and post-its with hand written notes and comments, her rolodex…and just enough empty space to set your lunch. I used to see here there eating and listening to new music on the stereo behind her. Everyone still refers to it as Laura’s office...and no matter what else ends up in that room…it’ll always be Laura’s office. So this is where I’ve been spending my last few weeks…I’m even eating my lunch at her desk, listening to new music. So is it any wonder that Laura Ellen has been making personal appearances in my dreams?!

The dreams aren’t sad…they are actually quite fun. Laura and I in her office editing the f---s and s---s out of some Todd Snider songs, because you know how that boy loves to throw out those four letter words! I found one song that was 6 minutes and he didn’t swear once…”Great!” Laura yelled “We’ll use that one!?|”…then we laughed. Laura sitting at her desk talking to Aileen…I walked in and noticed that her desk was clean….there was nothing on it, not even a phone. “You cleaned you desk” I said. She smiled and nodded “Yeah, I figured it was about time.” I guess the best part is hearing her voice…that wonderfully distinctive Laura Ellen voice…and her laugh.

Nope, the dreams aren’t sad. It’s the waking up that’s sad.

Ralphie

Well, the diet is going well...I've lost 40 pounds now, and a few nights ago I had a moment that I've never experienced before. Being overweight all my life I've put on plenty of pants that I had grown out of and were too tight...but the other night I pulled out a pair of pants that fit me just a month ago and they didn't fit...because they were too big!!

As they fell in a heep around my ankles I just stared into the mirror and thought "that's weird" and it took a moment to dawn on me what just happened...I've never grown out of a pair of pants in that direction!

It was such an amazing moment for me I ran around telling everybody...even complete strangers "Hey my pants don't fit, because they are too big!", which got polite nods and smiles from some, while others pulled their children in off the street and hid behind locked doors wondering "who is that nut...he's yelling about his pants!"..."oh it's that KPIG guy...that explains...some of it"!

And now, here I am sharing with you...thank you for nodding and smiling politely.

Ralphie

Wow...a new website with a place for the DJs to blog. I'm not sure we really have anthing that important or profound to say...I mean, we're all just like you...we work for a living, we have families that bring us great joy and drive us crazy all at the same time!

We all love music...real music...good music...real good music, and that's why we're all here, listening to KPIG! This is like our second family; the people that work here and you the listeners...it's like one big dysfuntional music loving family...and I for one am happy to be here, and I'm glad you're hanging out in the Sty with us!

The only new thing for me that I find myself talking alot about is my diet. I've always been big...huge...okay...fatty fatty bumbalatty. I got up to 325 pounds, which wouldn't have been so bad if I was 6 foot 8...but I'm only 5 foot 8, and that's not a very good look! On January 12th of this year I started a diet with The Healthy Way, a diet and nutrition center in Santa Cruz...you can check them out on-line www.thehealthyway.us

As the name implies, it really is a healthy way to eat and lose weight, and most importantly, keep it off! As of this writing, I've lost 32 pounds! Wow, only a hundred to go...but this is the first diet that I've done that is really working for me, and I feel confident that I will succeed...some day I'll be able to post the before and after pictures here(yikes)!

The only other thing I'll mention for now is about Emma...you longtime listeners have heard Emma The Weiner Dog on the air (or as I like to call her Emmalammadingdong)...she always makes her presence known (she has this uncanny knack for knowing when the microphone is on). Emma is doing very well, but since I started doing the morning-drive shift, she hasn't been coming with me so much...that's because she's less of a morning person than I am! As I'm leaving in the morning it's dark and cold, and she's laying in her bed under 57 blankies with just her face pointing out with a look that says "No, I'm fine, you go on without me". I have to say, most mornings I want to curl up under those blankies with her! As you can see I've posted a photo of Emma here, since she is still a part of the KPIG family. We even leave the radio on at home so she can listen during the day! But, she's not spoiled!

Well, for someone who didn't have anything to say, I sure filled up a lot of space! Here's to filling up more space, both here and on-the-air!

God Bless you all, and thanks for listening!

Ralphie

Moses supposes his toses are roses!

Stand by for more important news!

Ralphie