Out of the Blue. . .

Just when I’ve relaxed and settled into a boring home routine my friends manage to think of new ways to reach out to me and remind me that they’re still thinking of me.  Over the past few months I’ve received anything from cards and letters to a prayer shawl—and believe me, it’s nice to know that I’m on someone’s prayer list.  This week something entirely new arrived—a DVD containing video greetings from friends quite literally spanning the planet (one of my former colleagues at KGUN9 is living overseas now). 

The Truth about TV News Employees

You probably think you know a great deal about TV reporters.  Really, you don’t. 

My statement may seem surprising and my claim hard to swallow given the fascination our society has for TV news people.  They’re the subject of much pop culture fascination.  But I speak as someone who is in a unique position to know what he’s talking about.  I spent my adult life in TV news, and spent half of that as a TV news director—hiring, firing, mentoring, coaching, and on a good day inspiring TV news reporters.  I’ve had a role in launching or boosting countless careers.  I know what I’m talking about when I say that you really don’t know these people.

Part of the problem, of course, is that pop culture views of TV news employees are filtered through the broken and distorted lens of, well, pop culture.  Like all stereotypes, the worst ones directed at TV news types contain more than a dollop of reality for flavor.  Yes, I’ve known a Ron Bergundy type or two in my life before.  Those are rare. 

Our Thirtieth

This public tribute to my bride is part of my 30th wedding anniversary gift to her.

Deborah and Forrest Carr have now been together as man and wife for 30 years.

It boggles the mind to hear the words.  30 years is a long time.  We’re now entering our fourth decade!  Most marriages do not get anywhere near that point.  Ours is strong.

Let’s be honest and admit that our current circumstances are not how either of us wanted to be spending our 30th wedding anniversary.  Both of us had a little bit more adventure in mind.  I had promised her I would take her to London at around this particular period of time.  Alas, my health issues now preclude that.  I have to face the reality that my stamina really doesn’t allow me to be on my feet for more than a few paces, after which my legs start hurting and a pain sets up in my back that can go from bad to intolerable within minutes.  In addition, the simplest tasks—including going up and down stairs—leave me winded like a marathon runner, at which point I have to sit down or run the risk of falling down.  And I have to face the reality that my last two hospitalizations came with no warning, the first of which nearly killed me.  I would hate to run into that kind of medical crisis while far away from home. 

Musical Treasury of Whistling II

Let Hollis Fernbeck and the Whistling Mothers render those old hits for you in their inimitable style.

©2015 by Forrest Carr.  All rights reserved.

Forrest's Folly

Okay, it wasn’t exactly a bucket list item.  But I did something today that I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time.  It all has to do with my nostalgia for the early 60’s, and my love of my music as taught to me by my mother and her mother.

Here’s how it started.  During a rough patch in my mother’s marriage, she took my sister and me to live with her mother in Tupelo.   Grandmother had a console Motorola Stereo Hi-Fi.  This thing was humongous—measuring end to end at least as much your typical wide screen TV today.  The words “Stereophonic High Fidelity” were emblazed across the front.  Inside the dark wood interior lay the mysterious workings which, if arranged just right and operated just so, would allow one to play records.   I fell in love with Marty Robbins’ Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (did I mention I was about four years old?)  You may have heard the signature hit from this album, the smash single El Paso.  The cover featured Marty wearing all black and sporting a pistol against a lurid red background. 

Really Cool Shout-Out & Medical Update

John Schuster, Media Watch columnist for the Tucson Weekly, just gave me a really nice mention in the current edition of the paper.  John focused on the last two rounds of media appearances I’ve made, one on Jim Parisi’s Powertalk 1210 AM radio program and another on Guy Atchley’s popular Periscope account.  Here’s a link to the full article (scroll down to find my segment, which is about midway down). 

John was kind enough to point out that my novel, The Dark, is getting some good feedback and critical reviews, which is what the two media appearances partially focused on.  John also put in a nice plug for my blog, The Bashful Bloviator, writing, “In addition to the three books, available on numerous e-book platforms, Carr's blog is a must read for those who want a frank, pull-no-punches insight into the cancers that have ravaged his body, and how the treatments have, in many ways, been as debilitating as the unforgiving disease.  A lot of Carr's lighthearted radio parodies are available at bashfulbloviator as well. It's also where you can find the audio to his interview with Parisi and, indeed, information on where to find the three books already completed.”

The Musical Treasury of Mouth Trumpet II

More of your favorite tunes, done up in a truly unique style.

©2015 by Forrest Carr.  All rights reserved.

Acme Audible Fertilizer

Harness the power of lying politicians for a cheap and easy way to fertilize your crops.

©2015 by Forrest Carr.  All rights reserved.

The Acme Car Alarm II

Let the power of annoying, lying politicians keep your car safe!

© 2015 by Forrest Carr.  All rights reserved.