#kgon

[nocternalrandomness]

A Cessna 172 climbing away from Runway 23 at Groton–New London Airport, CT

[walkingphotos]

Today's Walking Photo: The mighty KGON Tower* looms over my neighborhood against stormy-looking skies. No actual storm has materialized yet, however.

*I’ve been calling it the KGON Tower for years (as it was originally named for the local radio station that was its primary transmitter tenant), and I’ve photographed it here before and called it that, but I’ve just learned that in 1999, long before Pat’s Walking Photos, it was sold and its name was changed to the Stonehenge Tower because of its obvious resemblance to…wait, what? Oh, okay – that’s just the name of the company that acquired it. And check out this tortured competitive wording: it is “the tallest free-standing structure between but not including Seattle and San Francisco.” Ah well, it’s good to know where you stand.

[blindthistle]

I don’t know about you, but I’m here for the beards. ;)  Rocking all of these event posters. Woo. 

[nocternalrandomness]

A Beech 1900D flares before touching down on Runway 5 at Groton-New London Airport.

[frequentlycallednumbers-blo-blog]

Getting Old/Radio/U2

I think I like "Pride in the Name of Love" now? Maybe I am getting old. Used to come on KGON in the ol' minivan and I'd grit my teeth but not change the station because there were no good music stations in PDX.

(Is this still true? Do we still not have a sickass college radio station? For all it's bravado about bein' a cultural capital or whatever, PDX is gettin' it's fuggin ass kicked by CLE/WRUW on the radio front. Just a thought.)

Maybe listenin' to too much "You Talkin U2 To Me?"...

[tomthefanboy]

Car Radio Kismet

Drop my wife off at work and on my way home I start flipping through the radio dial. Only one station playing music, not my favorite but any port in a storm. Next song as I get off the freeway? 

FAITH. George Michael.

I drop the windows and crank it, rocking the intersection as I wait for the light. All the commuters have their windows up but I know some of the local pedestrians can appreciate the tune.

Turn it down just long enough to pick up a breakfast burrito and when I'm back on the road it switches.

NEVER THERE. Cake.

Another song I know the words to, windows stay down, volume is back up.

Up ahead I am starting to pass another motorist with his window down. A dudebro in a pickup truck with no shirt. As I'm starting to pass I slow down a tiny bit to sync with the song lyrics "You tell me that you love me so, you tell me that you care, but when I need you-"

"BABY!" I shout with the song and point at my fellow motorist as our windows line up for half a second.

I continue singing and as he follows and changes lanes for a few blocks I am sure he can hear me singing with the rest of the song. I can't help but wonder though what his initial thought was.

I switch stations as the acoustic version of EVERLONG comes on. Good song but I have one song let before home and I want to keep my energy up. I hit the classic rock button with fingers crossed for luck.

STAYIN ALIVE. The Beegees.

I cruise into my neighborhood thumping the definition of disco as my neighbors lead for work. I send them a proud wave as I approach my driveway, it's a good day to be me.