The Dean's List

Back in the day (I sound so old), and being the "Jill of all Trades" that I am, I used to cater for WDKX Radio when they brought concerts to town. My daughter had to be around 5 or 6 and the station brought Public Enemy and several other groups to town for a holiday show. I cooked all the food, set up the dining hall as well as all the dressing rooms at the Blue Cross Arena. Everyone had eaten except for Flava Flav (a whole other story) and gone to their dressing rooms. The only person still in the dining area was Chuck D. With just him and me in the room, he struck up a conversation – One that has stuck with me through all these years: Chuck : Is this your full-time job Me : No. I work full time for Xerox and do catering on the side Chuck : Do you have any kids? Me : Yes. I have one daughter Chuck : Does she believe in Santa Claus (it was right before Christmas)? Me : Yes Chuck : Don’t you dare tell her that a fat white man is coming down

A Sunday Testimony Since moving back to Phoenix, I realize this is exactly where I need to be, but the transition hasn't always been easy. One of the hardest things I've had to deal with is the differences in benefits received from two different states.   Benefits in NY were much better than they are in AZ. I'm paying more out of pocket costs, which leaves a lot less money for extras. I have a blog pending about how to prepare for unexpected events in your life...written from personal experiences.  I'm still a long way from being settled in my apartment. One of things I really needed to get was a desk. I was using a TV tray to hold my laptop, not good for my back! I joined several "for sale" groups on Facebook. I found the perfect desk and it also came with two bookcases and matching file cabinet! The seller was asking  $300  for the set. Even though I knew I couldn't afford it, I commented on the post. The seller asked me to make her an offer. I told her

In the first part of my blog, I described how we met and how our friendship blossomed. Well I guess I’m ready to say his name and tell you a few things about him, why he is loved and missed His name is Tony Boler The Personality When Tony began co-hosting Memory Lane on WDKX Radio, his deep and velvety voice captured the hearts of the listeners. When people learned about his knowledge of music (if you needed the name of a song or the artist, all you had to do is hum a few bars or say a few words, Tony could answer your question), they became instant fans. But, when they were able to see into his heart every Saturday morning, listeners fell in love, men and women. He had a way of making everyone feel special. He would have lengthy conversations with people when they would call into the radio show. If out and about, and people heard him speak (they knew who is was by his unique voice), they would always tell him how much they loved him. You would have to prepare to b

I was laying in the bed watching the morning news at my best friends house in Dallas. I had just spent a month in Phoenix visiting my daughter and was going to spend a month with my bff to continue my rehab from major spine surgery. That morning, I received a phone call that would change everything………. It was 1985 and I just started working for Xerox. There was a help line we could call when we had problems with our computers. My system stopped working so I called.  The voice of the man who answered the phone made me forget my computer and any issue I was having!! Once I was able to gain my composure, my first question was an inappropriate one, “Are you married?” His answer, “Happily married!”  My second question and how it ended up has two different stories, depending who you are talking to. This is my version: Me: Have you ever been interested in radio? Him: No, I haven’t Me: With a voice like that, you need to be on the air. Call Andre at WDKX. This is the hotline

My thoughts on how Scandal will end *Jake and Cyrus will be found out and put in the hole at the Pentagon  *Charlie will get out of jail at the Pentagon and he, Quinn and the baby will live happily ever after and continue to run QPA *Abby and David will get married and Abby will become the new Vice President  *Huck will continue to work at QPA, but will retire his tool box. His wife and son show up and say they want to be a family again *Momma and Papa Pope will reunite and will share responsibility in running B613 *Mellie never got cured from the "fever" so Marcus will become the new 1st Gentleman *Olivia and Fitz will move to Vermont and Liv will make jam ****Surprise**** *Harrison will re-emerge after being in witness protection 

The Dean's List - It's Time For Resurrection Originally published on  www.WDKX.com  - April 21, 2011 Resurrection  -  a: the rising of Christ from the dead b: the rising again to life of all the human dead before the final judgment c: the state of one risen from the dead Christians are celebrating the most holy time of the year. Easter marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his Crucifixion (no, it has nothing to do with bunnies, eggs or chocolate). During my morning wake up prayer, I thought about the word, "Resurrection." It is a powerful word and one that I think we all need to stop and think about for a moment. Turn on the news, read a newspaper - From one story to the next, we hear about all of the horrible things going on in our city, country - our world! The death and destruction from the wars, illness, natural disasters, hunger and the recession - all things that are riding on our shoulders or lingering in our minds on a daily ba

Wednesday night brought another big name to Rochester - Brandy!! An album release party was given for Brandy premiering her new project "Human", scheduled to be released on December 9, 2008. Sponsored by WDKX Radio and host, VENU on St. Paul Street, this event rivaled those given in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Guests began  arriving around 6:30 to find Brandy posters and CD's everywhere I set up prior to the doors opening. The DJ played many of Brandy's hits as we waited for her. Around 7:30, the guest of honor arrived. As she walked through the door, people clapped, cheered and one woman almost tackled Brandy when she ran up to her and gave her a big bear hug! Instead of being shocked and scared (as I would be if someone I didn't know jumped out at me), Brandy returned the hug and thanked her for coming. The Dean's List decided to grab her before everyone else got to her and we sat and chatted for a minute. I decided that I wouldn&#

Today: My Father and Grandmother This is the last day of Black History Month and I couldn’t decide who I would feature today.  I thought what a better way to close it out than to salute the two people that were the most important to me (other than my daughter): The one who is responsible for me being here by planting the seed, and the one who is responsible for me being who I am today by teaching and loving me. My father, Selven Dean, Jr. – March 8, 1922 – January 17, 1970 – Born in Winter Park, Florida – Veteran, Chef (first black chef at an upscale restaurant in Rochester – Royal Scot), Restaurant Owner (LB’s on Hudson Avenue) I don’t have many memories of my father since he died when I was 6. I remember him staying up all night roasting a pig in the backyard preparing for an after-party from my dance recital, I remember going to his restaurant he owned on Hudson Avenue and eating clams, I remember him dancing in his boxer shorts in the living room to one of his ma