Thanks. Now Let's Do It Again.

Today is day 2 of the radiothon. Over $12,ooo raised yesterday. Goal for today: $10--no, wait, $15 grand.

Keep calling. 260-918-2800. I welcome the musical challenge.

And thanks to those that have already.

PS: After meeting a couple of Make-A-Wish families yesterday, I'm even more impressed by the organization and what they do. Very cool.

*****UPDATE*****
10:15pm Friday. Still playing requests. Over $21 thousand dollars raised in the past two days for Make-A-Wish. And still more money coming in. Thanks to everyone that participated for your support.

**UPDATED UPDATE**
WITH YOUR HELP WE RAISED $21,255! (Not bad...considering the original goal was $10,000)

TO OUR LISTENERS, FORT WAYNE & OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING THE 1ST ANNUAL MAKE-A-WISH REQUEST-A-THON A SUCCESS!

You're Caller Nine! (Or, We'll Get That Right On For You. Now Sign The Check.)

What I'll be doing for the next two days. It will be worth it. 10a-7p Eastern. A minimum donation of 20 bucks gets any classic rock song we're legally allowed to play on the air for you. Think pay-for-play...without the attorneys general getting involved. We stream online at www.923thefort.com , for those of you checking in from out of town. It's all about the kids....so be a part of it, if you can afford to.

As Bartles and Jaymes, used to say, "We thank you for your support."

Van Halen; 1977-2006.

Damn.....Who is that? Some homeless bag lady? No....It's Eddie Van Halen at the Elton John Oscar party this past weekend. Are those his dentures in his hand?

Jesus...First the Gary Cherone bullshit, and now this picture....It's obvious what the problem with the band is...Eddie's apparently gone 5150 for real.

When you start donating your instruments to the Hard Rock Cafe, and the singer and bass player start a band called "The Other Half", it's a good sign that the band is over.

RIP Van Halen.

Kirby Puckett, 1960-2006.

KIRBY PUCKETT
MINNESOTA, A.L., 1984-1995
A PROVEN TEAM LEADER WITH AN EVER-PRESENT SMILE AND
INFECTIOUS EXUBERANCE WHO LED THE TWINS TO WORLD SERIES
TITLES IN 1987 AND 1991. OVER 12 SEASONS HIT FOR POWER AND
AVERAGE, BATTING .318 WITH 414 DOUBLES AND 207 HOME RUNS. ALSO
A PROLIFIC RUN PRODUCER, SCORED 1,071 RUNS AND DROVE IN 1,085 IN
1,783 GAMES. A SIX-TIME GOLD GLOVE WINNER WHO PATROLLED
CENTER FIELD WITH ELEGANCE AND STYLE, ROUTINELY SCALING
OUTFIELD WALLS TO TAKE AWAY HOME RUNS. THE 10-TIME
ALL-STAR'S CAREER ENDED ABRUPTLY DUE TO IRREVERSIBLE RETINAL
DAMAGE IN HIS RIGHT EYE.

From The Associated Press.

PHOENIX -- Kirby Puckett, whose bright personality outshined even his Hall of Fame performance, died yesterday in nearby Scottsdale one day after suffering a stroke. The former Minnesota Twins outfielder was 45.An official from St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center announced the news. The stroke occurred Sunday morning at Puckett's Scottsdale home.

Even the online editions of the local papers failed to note that Kirby Puckett was also noted for being the first person to hit a ball out of Memorial Stadium (and onto Coliseum Boulevard) during an 1994 exhibition game with the Fort Wayne Wizards (then a Twins farm team.)

Although he was later found to be as flawed as most mortals, he hit a baseball with a strength and speed seldom matched in the major leagues; and was the second youngest Hall of Famer to die (after Lou Gehrig.) Rest in peace, Kirby. You brightened lots of lives.

Life's A Beach. (Or, Sand Between My Toes.)

Snow and 32 today....rain and 50's by Thursday....65 on Saturday....then back to winter again sometime late next week. The good news? The warmer temps should last through the weekend and into next week this time.

God, I miss the beach.

In an unrelated note, here's your PSA (Public Service Announcement) of the day:

A Thought For The Day.

The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.

--Horace Walpole (1717 - 1797)

Who the hell is Horace Walpole? Dunno. But John Irving quotes him in 'The World According To Garp'....that's good enough for me.