Thank you for listening and reading my blog.  This will be my final blog as I wrap up my on-air career today.  It seems like yesterday, that I was in high school wondering what I would like to do with my life.  I was never good enough to make a living playing sports but I thought sports broadcasting would be the next best thing. 

I enrolled in a broadcasting college where I was introduced to hosting my own show.  I loved it and never thought much about sports broadcasting after that.

I was eighteen years old when I received my first on-air job in Estevan.  I can still remember the minute I turned on the microphone for the first time.  It was January 10th, 1983 at 9:05 p.m.  I read the weather and started a George Strait song.

I feel fortunate to have been able to do something I loved for over twenty-seven years.  It will be with a bit of sadness that I hang up my headphones today.  This is a decision that I took my time in making and I’m happy to be staying with Harvard Broadcasting, my home for over twenty-six years. 

I’ve worked with the best broadcasters in the country and now I’ll get to work with the best sales people in the business.  I’m looking forward to starting my new career on Monday with Les Schuster, Karen Broderick, Bob Paulowicz, Ron Ulmer and their team.

I’d like to thank Willy Cole for hiring me so many years ago and guiding me through my broadcasting career.  Thanks to my current teammates Jamie Lewis, Colin Lovequist and Adam Bouvier.  Thanks to all of the staff past and present for your kindness. 

I have enough wonderful memories for a lifetime.  I’d like to share a few memories with you and thank some people.

Matt Miller, Vern Scansen and Steve Sorensen for sharing a basement suite with me when I had no money.

Rod Kitter for making sure I knew where to go for last call when my shift was over at 1 a.m.

Dave Anthony for being a friend and giving me a place to stay.

Rick Purdy, Steve Durant, James Allyn, Manfred Joehnck, Moon Mullin, Fred Allary, Jim Sullivan, Tom Staseson, Mike Monroe and Darrell Gibson for making me laugh.

Fred and Patty King for a wonderful Christmas dinner when we couldn’t make it home for Christmas.

A teenaged Rod Pedersen from Milestone for requesting George Strait songs.

Garth Stone for being a good friend and the only guy I could beat at the golf course.

Colin Lovequist for having a heart of gold.

Thanks for being a part of my life.  I’ll see you on the street!

It’s been many years since I participated in spring seeding.  I miss it.  I loved the optimism that a new growing season would bring.  Everyone would be ready to go after getting the machines ready.  This year, seeding will be a little late for some farmers.  Even at this time of the year, many people are thinking about frost in the fall so they want to get the crop in as soon as possible. 

It’ll be a busy weekend on the farm.  We have the moisture and now it’s time to get the crop in the ground.  Seeding is 5% complete in Saskatchewan but I expect that number to go up quickly.

I’m sure there will be a few meals in the tractor this weekend.  If you’ll be seeding, don’t get too wrapped up in getting the job done.  Enjoy the experience!

The Regina Red Sox are looking for host families for their American Players.  Billets are needed from May 21st to August 15th and will be paid $300 a month plus free tickets to the games.  For information call Nancy at 545-9973 or go to www.reginaredsox.com

Our neighbours have had members of the Regina Pats stay at their home for several years.  They say it’s been a great experience for everyone in the family.  It’s fun and because they coach and play hockey, the tips they’ve picked up from the players have helped them.  It’s also fun to go to the Brandt Centre and cheer for someone who’ll be eating pizza at your house after the game.

If we had room in our home, we would consider having a baseball or hockey player stay at our home.

The Seniors Education Centre’s 26^th Annual Distinguished Canadian Award Dinner will be held tomorrow at the Delta Hotel.  Former Saskatchewan Roughrider George Reed will be honored for his sports career and outstanding community contributions.  Tickets are $60 each or $450 for a table of 8 and are available at the U-of-R Gallery Building at the corner of College and Cornwall, or call 585-5816.

George Reed was my guest yesterday and talked about what the people of Saskatchewan mean to him.

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More Baby Boomers and their parents are checking out what’s keeping their kids and grandkids glued to the computer.  Stats Canada says Internet use has grown across all age groups from 2007 to 2009.  Those 45 years of age and older made up 60 per cent of all new users during that time frame.  Overall, four in five Canadians surfed the Web for personal use last year.

The computer has been around a long time but I’ve noticed that many people are just discovering the computer.  In recent months, my aunts have been learning how to use their computer and are enjoying the experience.

I’ve often thought about how my mother could have used a computer years ago.  In the 60’s she left her family in Alberta and moved with my father to a farm in Saskatchewan.  She didn’t even have a phone to talk to her family.  Imagine if she would have had a computer to e-mail her family. 

It’s never to late to discover the wonderful things that a computer can bring into a person’s life.  Encourage the people in your family who haven’t discovered the computer to give it a try.

Make room Emma.  Isabella is the new top baby name for girls.  The Social Security Administration says Jacob was the most popular name for boys born in 2009, the 11th straight year at the top.  Emma’s reign was much shorter, lasting just a year.

Our neighbour is expecting a baby and we’ve talked about names.  She has a name picked out, but I told her not to get her heart set on one name.  If you’re planning on naming a child after a relative and your mind is made up, that’s great.  Otherwise, you may change the name of your baby at the last minute.

Our first child was given the name of his grandfather.  The names for the other two children changed as we waiting for their arrival.  We didn’t make our final decision until after they were born.

It’s hard to imagine our children with some of the names we had considered.  I’m glad we didn’t have our mind set on a certain name and I’m happy with our choices.  You only get one chance to name a child so think it through carefully.

Have a nice weekend!

The Brooks and Dunn Last Rodeo Tour will be in Saskatoon tonight at 7:30.  It’s not easy to get in and out of Credit Union Centre so get there early.  Call 1-800-970-7328 if you don’t have tickets yet.

I remember the first time we received information about Brooks and Dunn.  Someone asked if Garth Brooks and Holly Dunn were releasing a duet.  Everyone knows about Brooks and Dunn now!

I’ve seen Brooks and Dunn perform several times and have always enjoyed their concerts.  One of my favourite concerts was in Saskatoon.  I hosted a bus full of fans and everyone was thrilled about the concert.  It was extra special because someone on our bus caught Kix Brooks’ hat that he had thrown into the crowd.

We won’t get a chance to see Brooks and Dunn again is Saskatchewan but we’ll be enjoying their music for a long time.

It’s been a terrible start to the baseball season.  Games have been cancelled and it’s been hard to get the children out to hit a few balls.

While bundled up watching the kids try to play baseball, the parents began talking about the baseball movie “The Bad News Bears.”  Everyone had seen the movie and had a story about a coach that liked to drink too much or a friend that could never catch the ball.  One Dad said he named his son Tanner after the character in the movie!

I decided to rent the movie for our children.  They found it just as funny as I did in the 1970’s.  You may want to rent it to enjoy some old memories.

Our boys have been involved in Regina Minor Football for years.  It’s a great league and extremely well organized.  Regina Minor Football President Kelly Hamilton has been a guest on my program several times.  I love the passion that he brings to RMF!  The leadership of the organization is one of the reasons why the number of children playing football continues to grow.  We’re starting to see other communities joining RMF to get their children in on the fun. 

The best thing about RMF is the cost.  It’s reasonable and RMF provides all the equipment needed for players except for practice jerseys, practice pants and footwear.

Regina Minor Football registration deadline for the 2010 season is May 15th.  You can complete a registration form on-line at www.rmf2000.sk.ca or print off the form and return it to the RMF office by mail or fax.  You can also call 543-6606 for more information.

Training camps for all three divisions – atom, pee wee and bantam – will begin August 3rd with league games kicking off approximately two weeks later.  All Regina games will be played at Leibel and Optimist field, the University of Regina Rams practice field or Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field.  It’s a big thrill for the players when they play on the same field as the Saskatchewan Roughriders!

I hope you’ll consider signing your children up for football.  It’s been at great experience for our family.

Saturday on my way home from work I noticed a dad helping his daughter learn to ride her bike on the tennis court near our home.  The dad gave me a nice wave.  I could tell he was enjoying that special moment when a child learns to ride a bike.

I still remember that feeling of running behind our children as they attempted to ride a bike for the first time.  They were so happy when they could do it by themselves.  Once they’ve learned to ride, you never have to help them again.  It’s a short moment in a lifetime, but a special time when a child learns to ride a bike.

I wish I could experience that feeling again.