Needless to say, my dog Scooter doesn’t like being woken up at 5:40 a.m. when I get home form the station. He fells he needs to protect my fiancé’, Leah. Most mornings he barks and cries, and then growls and tries to bite me as I get to my side of my bed. Monday, Leah had to work early and was up when I got home. When they are both up, sometimes I get the usual dog greeting of “glad to see you, pet my belly.” Or it’s “YOU’RE BREAKING INTO MY HOUSE TO STEAL MY MOMMY AND I WILL GROWL AND BE THE MEANEST 15 POUNDS WITH A WAGGY TAIL EVER! That’s what I walked into on Monday. So I sat right next to Leah. Scooter is very mad. I put my leg over hers. Scooter then plots his revenge. He turns around and wipes his butt on my carpet a good foot, picks up one of his chews and gnaws on it satisfied in his dog bed. Scooter 1 me 0.

Lots o’ new tunes for the overnight so stay up and hear…

 Tim McGraw – Let It Go

 Lady Antebellum – Lookin’ For a Good Time

 Zac Brown Band – Chicken Fried

 Lee Ann Womack – Last Call

 Carrie Underwood – Just a Dream

I have still not come down from how exciting CMF was this year. Even after passing out at 8:30 that night! So many stories and where to begin....the beginning.

First, gargantuan thanks to the sponsors Northwest Energy and your Mid-Michigan Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep dealers. To all that helped out, dude that helped us banner the front of the Island! And you guys for being great fans and sticking it out thru the little rain in the morning.

Working the New Faces stage was a treat to say the least. Met up with an old high school buddy Jason McCory, fiddle for Stone Cold, and Mandi Layne.

The Lost Trailers' bus arrived first with Ryder fired up to play at 8:30 am. "I can't believe the number you pull to this" he said. Ryder and Stokes and the rest of the guys we're great to hang out with. Jypsi pulled in with separate cars later.

Fast Forward to the Lost Trailers set. John and I couldn't believe how good these guys where! I saw there set list and saw "Holler Back" was their last tune. We knew it would get the crowd even more excited. John says they have time for one more song. Next we hear Ryder say, "I want to bring up the guys from KCQ to help us out on this one!" NO FREEKING WAY! I've been a fan of the tune since it came out, now we get to sing on it! Normally I'd be like, no that's ok, but the excitement had me run up the steps on stage. The next 3 and a half minutes I'll never forget! How many people get to say they’ve done that, thanks a bunch guys.

Later, I was finishing up pictures and cleaning the stage and see the cars that brought Jypsi are gone. Not 2 minutes later Frankie from Jypsi comes out of the Lost Trailers bus. His sisters left him on the Island! Luckily he had a cell phone to find out where they went. I joked and said they must want you out of the band. He laughed and said I guess so.

So many other memories that this blog isn't big enough to hold. Thanks again to the sponsors and you the fans that make it all worth it.

Add your memories to the comments and we'll see you at the Wam Bam Country Jam on August 12

Saturday was KCQ Super Fan Saturday and what a great event! Got to ride down with an old friend CG, our Promotions Coordinator, and catch up on old times. We had a great location at Cummings Harley-Davidson in Burton. Great shop and folks working there and even better bikes! I'm sold on getting one soon. There was a great turn out and everyone walked away with Preferred Seating. Some even got to play KCQ Deal or Double Deal with me, the not-so-OCD-Howie!  About an hour in, most of the listeners where thru, so Cory decides to sit on one of the Harley's. He starts adjusting the mirror and says the line of the day, "I can get 80 mph on this hog if you still want to go to Aspen." "Cory, just when you couldn't possibility do anything more stupid, you go and do this, and totally redeem yourself!" I replied. Classic. Getting out of Burton wasn't so much fun with I-475 closed but somehow busted out the oars and made it back.

There will be one last chance for you get get your hands on Preferred Seating and even play KCQ Deal or Double Deal for some great prizes...so keep listening.

Here's a small sample of the great new tunes you'll hear overnights...

Luke Bryan - Country Man

Rissi Palmer - No Air

Adam Gregory - Crazy Days

Keith Urban - You Look Good In My Shirt

GOOD MORNING now

Since the weather is getting warmer and I'm moving from renter to home owner outdoor stuff is different. Last week we bought some lawn patch for my front lawn, by far the worst in the 'hood. So, I get the ground worked, put down the stuff, and water. Midst my watering, my phone rings. It was Leah asked if I wanted her to pick me up some food. Of course! Hearing the water she asked if I was getting wet. "Umm, no, the lawn is, why?" "Well it's raining." I look on the road, it's wet. My driveway, also getting rained on. Me, high and dry. My two huge maples shielding me from the rain. Maybe that's why my lawn is sub par.

Being a adult on Friday, I figure time to change the oil in my Cavalier. Note I've never done it to this car and kinda knew it would be not much fun. But what man can't change the oil...in a Cavalier? After draining the oil the search was on for the filter. Set up work lights to assist. No luck. Head inside to google search. (Let me tangent here, If you put a diagram on-line and not put a front, side or back to it, then don't post it!) I find a jpeg and clearly see it's on the engine. Thank you Captain Obvious. More looking with Leah's help. I find it. Underneath the car. Nearly impossible for lanky dude like myself to get to. We take off the tire. Not so much better. Leah puts her smaller hand in to get the filter off. After all my attempts, she gets it. By now I'm mad. WHO DESIGNED THIS! REALLY! WHO PUTS A FILTER, THAT GETS CHANGED EVER 3000 MILES, BETWEEN THE WHEEL WELL AND THE ENGINE!  (GM, no wonder your behind Toyota) Fast forward 12 hours. There's a puddle of oil underneath in the car in the parking lot. GREAT! Put your suggestions and reticule in the comments.

Any-who, here's the fresh tunes you'll hear more of during the overnight, enjoy!

Emily West - Rocks In Your Shoes

Jason Aldean - Relentless

Heidi Newfield - Jonny & June

Jamey Johnson - In Color

Taylor Swift - Should've Said No

Few things are worth getting 4 hours of sleep for, the first day of deer season, tailgating for Football, and seeing a Grammy winning artist perform in person. Seeing Jewel in person was nothing less then awesome here at the station. Small gathering, acoustic set, and great stories. To see a artist in there element is a treat, why it took song long to get here back on radio, and her best format (country) is a travesty. I tried to tell Leah the experience and retell some of the stories Jewel told but I couldn't do them justice.  So check out the pod cast!

This week starts a new way for you to "Double" your winnings on KCQ, keep listening for details. Hint: It'll be the cleanest contest ever.

Here's some of the new tunes you'll hear during the overnight:

Eric Church - His Kind Of Money (My Kind Of Love)

Julianne Hough - That Song In My Head

Gary Allen - Learning How To Bend

Rodney Atkins - Invisibly Shaken

Since it's warming up, get some friends around the bonfire and crank up the KCQ!

What a fantastic weekend! The warmth, the sun! What did I do...slept. Well some. Leah and I got out Sunday to do some much needed yard work. And our dog Scooter was no help. Barked at us because we were working and he wanted to play fetch. Then we'd throw the stick but not bring it back. We continue to work, more barking, this time with digging. The dog loves to dig. He dug at least 4 holes in our yard by the time Leah punished him by putting him inside. I did, though, get to use my cool new toys I got for Christmas. My new leaf blower/vac/mulcher and hedge trimmers. With two big maples in our yard and 2 pick-ups from the leaf truck in the fall, still left lots 'o leaves blown to the back yard. 4 hours and 6 mulched leave bags later, leaves gone and hedges trimmed. Now to reseed the lawn. My work is never done.

Enough yard work, here's just a sample of the new tunes this week during the overnight that you'll hear first! (that I remember)

Crossin Dixon - Guitar Slinger

Jo Dee Messina - I'm Done

Carrie Underwood - Last Name

Gary Allen - Learning How To Bend

Tim McGraw - Kristofferson

Lost Trailers - Holler Back

Stay up late with your (insert favorite energy drink here) and until next time...Good MORNING NOW