This Weekend was certainly Epic, and busy. One of my busiest weekends ever. During this nonstop action packed weekend, I was still able to reflect on how lucky in life I really am.
Today is my 38th Birthday, and also my 6th anniversary of being here in Sussex County, New Jersey as afternoon personality on 102.3 WSUS, and Program Director for WSUS and WHCY Max 106.3. I always call myself a 1 percenter in terms of life because from age 12 on, I always knew exactly what I wanted to do for my career. I heard DJs sound so cool and funny on the radio, it became my dream very quickly. Everything I did since then has been to keep growing and building my radio career. At Bridgewater State University, I started my internship at our student run college radio station 91.5 WBIM on my very first day of school. I couldn't wait to get started and keep learning the magic of radio and the many behind the scene moving parts that come with it. I then was able to graduate and go to Boston's Mix WBMX (now WWBX,) radio station, where I started as an intern, then board operator and street team promotions assistant. I was surrounded by some of the very best in the radio business, and was a sponge working nonstop to always be at my best. At one point I was working 6 days a week, producing a morning show that had me waking up at 2:30am daily, then doing my radio show Saturday overnights, and working part time at Best Buy, all to support my crazy radio career dream. My family and friends have always been so supportive my whole life. I was then able to land the job of Executive Producer / Assistant Program Director at the now defunct WTKK-FM News Talk radio station which was another huge learning experience chapter. While I was able to work my way up to Assistant Program Director in Boston where all my friends and family were, I knew that moving would be required to advance my career and fulfill my lifelong dream of being a Program Director.
Mid November in 2013, I came to Jersey for what would be my final round of interviews. The station put me up for an overnight stay at Minerals Hotel in Vernon. Little did I know this would later become my home. I came to Jersey on a one year contract with iHeart, with a company option for a second year. I figured this Boston boy probably wouldn't make many new friends in Jersey, but that didn't matter to me. I would just work my tail off nonstop, prove myself, then probably get transferred to another radio market in a year or two. At least Jersey is only a four hour drive away from my family I figured. The night before my interview I was having a drink at Kite's in Minerals, when I suddenly made my first new friend, Jasen. We're still best friends to this day, and he was able to join me on our Engagement day. Amazing. It's still humbling to think about how fast these 6 years have really flown by. Just when I thought I couldn't get any luckier with my wonderful family and friends home in Boston who have always supported me, now I have another army of family and friends here in Jersey. I'm an extremely lucky guy. I swear the last 3 months since Awesome Girlfriend Megan and I got engaged we have been congratulated everywhere we have been. Everywhere! I'm so lucky to have my family and friends back in Boston, and my friends here. Thank you so much for listening to me on the radio, liking me on social media, and reading my Epic Weekend In Pictures. We have a ton to cover when it's a Stuff The Bus / Steve Allan birthday weekend!
Thursday night we started our party off with the Vernon Lights Festival. This is another cool perk when you work in radio, getting to see some fun adventures before everyone else. I'm psyched that I could do a Facebook Live tour video so you can see all of those pretty lights. Over 1 million lights. Wow! They're open weekend nights starting Thanksgiving weekend. They were also nice and gave me a few very sweet shout outs during their own press conference. Everyone was psyched to see me, but bummed I didn't bring along any of my Pets Of The Week, lol.
Later Thursday night I was more than ready to have a beer at our Minerals Sports Club Member Mixer Social. It's always great to be back home and running into so many of your wonderful friends.
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Friday day one of Stuff The Bus. We were at First Hope Bank in Newton on 517. I always have so much fun with our First Hope Bank girls. It's another case of home sweet home. I love getting to see some friends who make it a point to donate every single year when I'm there. The black cloud definitely continued to follow me. We always joke about the black cloud always following me. It rained sideways on us at First Hope the whole time I was there. Then at 2pm, the rain stopped and we rejoiced. On a dime, it became insanely windy. So windy, that we got a wind burst that lifted up our heavy radio station tent off the ground. I don't know if I've ever seen a wind gust blow over a radio station heavy tent. That was scary. We took our tent down and kept going with our mission to raise money and food for those in Sussex County who need it.
Friday night, Meg and I took our besty Jasen out for a drink at Crystal Tavern. I had a gift card from my Wicked Awesome Sister, Suzanne. We had a great time.
Friday night, my big Epic surprise fail. After we did our Facebook and Instagram polls where I was trounced and everyone voted against me to make me put up a Christmas Tree, I had a mission. I surprised Meg with a 4 foot prelit Christmas tree that I got from Walmart. I put it on one of my TV trays, it kinda matched rather well. I couldn't wait to see Meg's face. My besty JG gave me the great tip a few weeks ago to get a personalized custom Engagement ornament of us and make that our first ornament. I had the tree lit and the ornament facing out perfectly. When I brought Meg into my place, her jaw dropped. She said "Oh my god you did it you got a tree - - - and you totally ruined my surprise." WHOOPS. Awesome Girlfriend Megan apparently got me a Christmas Tree to surprise me with. We were on the same page again whoops. When we told Steve Andrews that story he cracked up and said that we lovebirds make him sick. Steve Andrews then asked if I heard the story of Magi, which I hadn't. Apparently it was rather similar. A love story where a girl with beautiful hair that she loved, she cut and sold so that she could buy something for her guy, but he sold his precious belt for her to buy her a brush for her hair. One of those nice little love stories that sounds rather sad at times lol.
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Saturday we had a fun day with Stuff The Bus at Shop Rite in Franklin. I swear at Franklin I'm like Norm from the TV show Cheers, everyone knows my name. You run into so many friends nonstop it's a wonderful feeling.
Saturday night Meg and I did a chill sweatpant, wine and pizza night with our besties Jasen, Brendan, Carrie and Spooner. They knew with me working nonstop radiothons all weekend I wouldn't have the energy to go out and about.
Sunday Stuff The Bus fun at Shop Rite Of Sparta, where I met so many new friends. When Stuff The Bus happens, you are afforded the opportunity to meet so many people. I'm proud to say it looks like we're breaking more records with cash and food donations. Over 500 turkeys! WOW. By the way thanks to the Storm Troopers for helping us out too! You can learn more about them at 501stner.com.
Sunday afternoon was tough, my Patriots taking on Meg's Dallas Cowboys. I missed half of the game due to work, but that's okay. As rabid a fan I am, some things are more important than games.
Sunday night our Kite's crew had so much fun. It was great to celebrate a successful weekend with my besties Brad, Steve and JG.
Overall we had a wonderful weekend, and I have had an absolutely amazing 6 years in Jersey already. Getting to meet the love of my life while doing my Pet Of The Week has been pretty Awesome too. Thank you for reading and helping this guy's dreams come true every single day.
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