College Town At Christmas 2022: Staying Positive During Tough Times Like These

 I always end my Dad Rocks Podcast with these words, "Keep Working Hard, Keep Your Chin Up, Stay Positive and Stay Safe." So for this Christmas season living in our beloved college town of Bowling Green, Ky., where we are now a population of about 73,529 citizens (I understand a lot of newcomers are still moving into our area), this is my motto in order to stay positive. With the nation's economy at high inflation levels, high crime rates and tons of traffic issues across the country, keeping a positive attitude is one of the best things that we can do for ourselves especially during times like these.  Be safe out there and focus of what you do have.  Keep working hard, keep a positive attitude and everyone around you will notice it including your employer. It will rub off on them too like a chain reaction. Mainly, enjoy the season by getting into the spirit along with family and friends remembering what Christmas is all about.

    Just like with the Dad Rocks Private Facebook group, we are all about the music and that's what we focus on.  There is no "Fighting, arguing or BS."  Dealing with the internet in a proper way, is the mature, responsible thing to do.  Ignoring the bad stuff or not responding to nasty and negative people on the internet is also the mature and responsible thing to do.  A lot of people are exposed to bad stuff on internet everyday especially young people. They are often the target of child predators pretending to be a teenagers or whatever.  So I strongly advise you to use the internet in a proper way such as for shopping, keeping up with family and friends or conducting a business. I think this is a lesson that we have had all to learn through the years regarding being argumentative or fighting on the internet at one time or another.  Most of us are guilty of being key board warriors.  Like Dr. Phil says, "You wouldn't say something to somebody's face in an elevator that you would say hidden behind a keyboard would you?"  I think he has a very good point here.  So lets remember to be kind and nice to each other during this Christmas season whether face to face or on the internet.

Here's some things you can do to "Stay Positive" during this Christmas season during tough times like these:

Join a positive community or group of people on Facebook who have a common interest such as Dad Rocks where we promote good memories, Classic Rock music, humor and nostalgia. Mainly, you develop new positive friendships on the internet.

Take a stroll in Downtown Bowling Green, Ky., or in your own hometown to see the Christmas lights and eat at your favorite restaurant.

Be nice to your fellow co-workers or Associates by being friendly. Smile and say, "Hello," "Good Morning," "Have a Good Evening," "Have a Good Break" or "Good Lunch." Also, say "Thank you" or "Appreciate it."

Mainly, spend good quality time with your family members and friends by eating a good meal at home and watching Christmas movies together by the fireplace (if you have one).

Make Christmas very special for your pets such as your dog or cat. Buy them presents and share Christmas with them and really talk it up. Be sure to include them in all family activities during this time of the year.  And remember to always to give them upmost care and love that they deserve.  Remember, your best is not good enough when it comes to owning a dog or cat.  Give them your "ultimate" of everything.

Most importantly, be kind to each other with a cheerful and giving heart this Christmas season.  And remember the true reason for the Christmas season. Merry Christmas and Stay Positive!

The Dad Rocks Podcast: Episode 143: Foreigner’s “Head Games" & Lars Ulrich Vs. Napster

         Hello everybody!  I apologize, but it's been a couple of week since I have made a blog entry regarding "The Dad Rocks Podcast."  https://anchor.fm/galen-smith3  I have been busy like always especially at work.  I am trying to wrap a few things up before my upcoming retirement from this one particular career that I have been working in for the last 27 years.  I am getting ready to move into the next phase of my life.  I call it my "working retirement years."  I am moving to a new career which is something totally different compared to what I have been doing these last 27 years of my life.  But anyway, wish me luck!  It won't begin until at the end of October of this year which is next month btw!

         Anyway, on today's podcast I talk about the Bowling Green and Southcentral weather of course, the private Facebook group, "Dad Rocks" where we now have over 2,050 members.  The group just keeps on growing and growing!  We have a great thing going on in the group with lots of positivity! We're a FB group all about the music and no fighting, arguing or bs.  This a FB group where everybody gets along and that's what we like.  Also, I'd like to thank my co-administrator, Britt Moore of North Mississippi.  He is responsible for helping to bring a lot new members from the Mid-South area and we appreciate all his  hard work and efforts! Thanks again, Britt!

        In today's "A Rock Album Inquiry" segment, I talk about Foreigner's "Head Games" album which came out in 1979.  It's a great album and it's on of my favorite all-time favorite Foreigner albums list and I bought a copy of it in 1979 when it first came out when I was seventeen years-old. I played it all the time on my Hi-Fi Pioneer component stereo system in my dad's lake house basement.  And boy, did it sound awesome especially when played loud!  But the good news is, I still have a copy of the album today and of course, you can listen it on Spotify, Apple and all of the other major music apps on your phone or you can probably order it online or find it at your local record store too.

  

      And finally, but not least.  I talk about "This Day In Rock History," when Metallica's Lara Ulrich fights for an untarnished image by granting an interview with Rolling Magazine in 2008 regarding he and his band sued Napster, the music sharing app.  I was never a big Metallica fan but nevertheless, I have always liked their music.  The are big with a big sound, a big stage production and presence with a massive audience.  And everybody in the world of rock&roll knows who is Metallica is.   

Well folks, that's it for this week, we'll see you next week on "The Dad Rocks Podcast."  And thanks for reading this blog and listening to the podcast.  Remember, keep your chin up, keep working hard, stay positive and stay safe out there! Goodbye, Galen

The Dad Rocks Podcast: Episode 140, Intro, A Rock Album Inquiry-Capt. Fantastic And This Day In Rock History- Ozzy Osbourne's Parkinson's Disease

    Happy Sunday everybody! It's been a great week. But I had a busy week at work and I have also delved into the world of TikTok in my spare time by doing some promotional videos for The Dad Rocks Podcast.  It's been a lot of fun doing these videos while learning to navigate my way around the TikTok app.  Thanks to TikTok superstar celebrity, Daniel Lawson of "The Awesome Lawsons" who inspired me to get started on TikTok after I did an interview with him a couple of weeks ago on The Dad Rocks Podcast. I have known Daniel for a while who is also from Bowling Green, Ky., where I live.

     On today's episode, https://anchor.fm/galen-smith3/episodes/140-Intro--A-Rock-Album-Inquiry-Capt--Fantastic-and-This-Day-In-Rock-History-Ozzys-Parkinsons-e16k0ql/a-a6ebl5o  I talk about the Bowling Green and Southcentral weather of course, and the passing of one of our own Facebook Dad Rocks group members, Marla Keithley Rustenhaven, 51, of Hernando, Miss., and we send our thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.  Also, I mentioned about me getting stung by a hornet while trimming some bushes last week in my front yard.  It's no fun folks, let me tell you! It stung me in the left temple and hurt like hell! Also, the swelling lasted for a couple of days and even puffed up the skin under my left eye!  Be careful out there when you are doing yard work for the rest of the summer and especially while trimming your bushes and hedges.  Be on the look out for the bee, wasp and hornet nests that are hidden away inside those bushes and hedges or even small shrubs next to your house. 

   
     Also, on today's A Rock Album Inquiry, I discuss Elton John's 1975 "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" album from Wikipedia as my source as usual.  The info states that this album is a classic and was a mega hit album for EJ among other cool and interesting facts about it.  Needless to say, it lives on forever in the hearts and minds of millions of EJ fans all over the world out there including me

     And finally but not least, in This Day In Rock History, I discuss what Ozzy Osbourne said on this day in 2020 about him having been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, "Ozzy Osbourne: Only Death Will Stop Me From Performing" is the name of the article in which I read from.  Remember, take care, keep working hard, keep your chin up, stay positive and stay safe out there! And have a great day!