Stimmung Stunde
Remember: bright and early tomorrow morning Rebecca Pfeiffer, Miss Racine 2004 will be on the air with us! Be sure to tune in for all the excitement!

Happy Birthday to me!

For those wondering, we really don't have a rain route if today's celebratory parade gets rained out. I think maybe we'll all pile into the State Fair convention center if there is enough room and have a good time.

If it doesn't rain, and this is looking better and better, all 45 units are to meet in the State Fair Park parking lot at about 1:00. Parade begins at 1:30 and goes down Greenfield to 70th, over to National, back to 84th and to the grounds again.

I'm thrilled so many people worked together to put on this Tim Kretschmann celebration parade. A special thanks to parade chair person Sidney Snoggins II.

And now the lineup:

1. Color Guard
2. VFW Post Local 368
3. West Allis Halloween Trick or Treat Brigade
4. Shriners Car Team
5. Honorary Parade Marshall: Siegfried Fischbacker
6. Danube Cultural Society Youth Group
7. Burlington High School Marching Band
8. Rottweiler Dog Training Team
9. Rocking Grannies!
10. Mamba--the rhumba dancing ape
11. West Allis Firefighters
12. Cub Scouts #41
13. WJYI Continental Showcase host, Robert Deglau
14. German Fest
15. Sueann's School of Dance
16. Highlander Bagpipe Band
17. Brothers Family 1923 Model T Touring Car
18. Big Muskego Lake Yacht Club
19. Holz Chevrolet
20. Schwabenhof Plunger Brigade
21. Outagamie County Sheriff Department
22. Bayview American Legion Post #34
23. Milwaukee Kickers
24. Brenda Mitzkamic, Avon Lady
25. Kenosha Pony Riders
26. Croatian Radio Announcers float
27. Spielmannszug Drum & Bugle Corps
28. Karl's Tent Rental
29. Germantown German Shepherds
30. Chicago Aid Society Youth Group
31. West Allis Paramedics
32. Wind Lake Grade 3 Art Class Butterflies
33. Fairy Tale Princess Theater Troupe
34. Former Rock Star, Kim Carnes
35. Pewaukee Sword Fighting troupe
36. Milwaukee Macintosh User's Group
37. Mark's Monkey Training Center
38. Ringling Bros. & Barnum Bailey Circus Wagon
39. Harley Davidson of Greenfield Riders club
40. Solid Gold Dancers
41. Mercedes Benz Car Lovers Auto Club
42. Milwaukee Accordian Club
43. Watertown T-Shirt Collectors Collective
44. Miss Hannigan's Orphanage Marching group
45. West Allis Police

I hate the flu

I don't get sick often. It's great. My years as a substitute teacher put me "in harm's way" so much with kids carrying every bad bug that came along, that I thought my immunties had been built up to levels that only a super virus could take me down.

Well, except this new one.

Yesterday, I caught that flu bug that was going around. Thanks to Dayquil and a few shots of Jaegermeister, I'm up and around again, but it was pretty awful there for a while.

Anyway, being off my feet a few days really drove me nuts. I kept myself away from updating the site and chasing e-mails and just watched DVDs. (DVDs I might add I bought 2-3 months ago and never got to.) It drove me nuts. I live for this stuff. But don't worry. I'm back and I'll be at it again soon. I'll have some new video to edit this week. And then next week. Then in three weeks again.

I did, however, get a chance to listen to a couple of the old shows to get ready for this year's Christmas season. We're going to have some spectacular shows this Christmas season you won't want to miss.

Stimmung Stunde Media Page
I've been quite the busy guy today. Two new videos are uploaded on our media page for your viewing pleasure. Myla DalBesio's appearance on the show and the Danube Cultural Society Kirchweih. Enjoy!

WebCalendar
Who's the wisenheimer that put my birthday in the calendar? Huh? Who? Fess up.

Starting Over

So I'm in the studio today, and I noticed it was all like starting over.

When I first began doing radio, 14 years ago, the WYLO studio was HIT BY LIGHTNING just weeks before so we were broadcasting from a trailer. The trailer rocked with the wind and all we did was prepare for the show all week long. It was exciting, it was new and you never knew what might happen.

Well, we're starting over. It's exciting again to do the show.

During today's show, Milwaukee's Polka Ambassador dropped by the show to watch me put on my show. Dick Blaha dropped by to see me do the show...what a great honor. Then, I get home and the phone has a message from the one and only "Anfonz," Alois Fuchs, wanting more info on the show. As if that wasn't enough, the lovely and talented Rebecca Pfeiffer left a message and now we will be interviewing Miss Racine on October 30th!

It took a while, but I'm excited doing the show again. Hope you are all enjoying listening to it as much as I'm enjoying producing the Stimmung Stunde for you each week.

Nice to be appreciated

It's been a heck of ride lately at the Stimmung Stunde.

Today, I was eating at Burger King in West Allis, when a lady I've never met before came over to thank me for doing the Stimmung Stunde. She said she listens every week and then made her way out of the restaurant.

A couple of things hit me immediately about this. First of all, how come she knows what I look like? I'm on the radio--not TV. I always wonder about that, but that's of little consequence. The thing that hit me hardest is she took the time to come up to a complete stranger (and they don't get stranger than me) to mention how much she appreciates the show. That doesn't always happen.

I'm far more used to being talked about--not spoken to. In the past few weeks, as we successfully transitioned from WEMP to WJYI, I've heard all of the following rumors going around about me:

1. The show was going off the air. -- Well, it almost did. The WEMP studio, I understand, is currently being refurbished for its new life as a sports talk studio. But at NO TIME was our show completely off the air. Such was not true when WZER pulled the plug. For a couple of hours, we didn't know if we would find a new home. That was not the case this time. I suspect I know the source of this particular rumor and he should be ashamed of himself.
2. I have been sick. -- The most extreme version of this one is that I died. Sorry, didn't. Have no clue how that one started.
3. I am engaged to a girl from Minnesota. -- Also, untrue. This one, I believe, was started because a good friend of mine from high school, Tom Weber, had me announce his engagement to a young lady in Minnesota on the show. No one would be happier if I got engaged than my parents, but they are still depressed. Still single. If you want further proof, if I was engaged, do you think my fiancee would allow me to have all these interviews with beautiful women? Cleared that one up.
4. I will be off the air by Christmas. -- Again, this is mostly just people saying things as if they know something. Generally, these types of folks know nothing--and lots of it.

A couple of weeks ago, a guy called my house complaining that I didn't know German and wondering how I got my radio program. Well, it's easy. Just work like a mad dog for the better part of two decades and you, too, might have what it takes, the dedication, to put on a labor of love like this. It's true: my German is that of a young man that learned it in American schools. Get over it. There are only two real German radio shows left on AM in Milwaukee...both are being run by young men that were born in this country. We're working to preserve the future and most of our listeners appreciate the work we're doing.

Remember to take the time to let me if you like what I'm doing on the show. People with complaints are always much bolder...and you want to be sure that your opinions count for something as well.

Miss Teen USA Wisconsin 2004 - Myla DalBesio
Remember tomorrow morning we have our big interview with Miss Teen USA Wisconsin 2004, Myla DalBesio. The show starts at 10 a.m. (sharp!) on WJYI, 1340 am.

What a rush!

I had a spectacular weekend. First, I had the unique opportunity to meet Miss Wisconsin 2004, Molly McGrath. Not only is she absolutely gorgeous and actually made me weak in the knees, but she was a charming and exciting guest to have on the program. When we weren't on the air, Molly was the one asking questions--not me. Generally, guests don't show that type of curiousity, so it was very fun to have the shoe on the other foot for a change. We'd love to have her on the show again.

Then, we got the word that Jenna Schulz, Miss USA Wisconsin 2004, and Myla DelBesio, Miss Teen USA 2004, will be visiting the program on October 9th -- THIS SATURDAY! Some exciting news to be sure!

Jenna is a Marquette student majoring in communications. (Jenna competed in the MISS USA Pageant in Los Angeles earlier this year on NBC). Jenna takes part in a dozen or more charitable organizations.

Myla is a high school student from Racine. (Myla competed at MISS TEEN USA in Palm Springs in August on NBC). Myla has been named a Famous Poet of America and supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can bet I'm going to have to ask which Racine High School she is going to. In my youthful days, I student taught at both Horlick and Case.

So, you would think the weekend was a big success. Afterall, I had successfully uploaded the new clip of the week with Molly, and even put together a great video of her appearance here (which is out on the Media page already--as if you didn't know already). But the weekend wasn't over yet.

I just got off the phone, moments ago, with Nikki Groppi, Miss St. Francis 2004. Nikki is an occupational therapist and her platform is Suicide Awareness & Prevention. Nikki is also the guest we will have on the show November 13th! I'm so excited to have this wonderful young woman on the program. She was very easy to talk to on the telephone, so I'm absolutely certain this is a program you won't want to miss. Not even a second.

By the way, so far no guest of the program has correctly answered my killer question: "Where do you sit on a roller coaster, front or back?" I usually asked this question off air and this time it went on air and I goofed by giving away the correct answer on air. We'll see if we get any true aficionados on the program. Sooner or later, someone will get the question. But who will it be???

JS Online: Stewart's quips the real debate winner
Finally, if you look real close at the bottom of the column, the Continental Showcase correction has been printed.