Events, activities and other hometown items going on in and around Tipp City, Ohio by Greg Enslen

Tipp City Area Community Foundations    

The Distribution Committee of the Tipp Area Community Foundations held their quarterly meeting in December and awarded over $24,000 in grants to six different local and area organizations. Since 1943, the Foundation has been awarding grants to local and area organizations.

Groups that received grants last quarter included:

• the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, in support of their efforts to bring music into Tipp City schools, including classroom lessons and concerts;
• Tipp Monroe Community Services, in support of their Band Instruments Program, which provides instruments for students who  might otherwise not be able to afford to play’;
• Tipp City Area Arts Council, in support of their program to bring more music to the downtown with their Canal Music Festival; and
• We Care Arts, which funds two separate programs for students with disabilities “with the goal of alleviating the isolation and boredom that some of these students feel.”

Other groups that received smaller grants included Bethel Local Schools, the Indian Creek 4-H Club, Miami County Recovery Council, and Tipp City Exempted Village Schools.

Thanks to the foundation, its board members, and its donors for continuing to make such a positive and important contribution to our community.

Tipp City TV

Every wish you could watch TV shows dedicated to Tipp City, or enjoy old episodes of the Get Social Show?  At TippCityTV.com, I’ve created what is essentially a 24-hour TV station dedicated to Tipp City. I uploaded a smattering of Tipp City videos and other segments.  I’ve also included some old movies and TV shows, and added pages for up-to-date news and weather.

Speaking of TV

There is some really good TV coming back in mid-January, including a few shows that I’m very excited about:

• 30 Rock (January 12) – Back for season six, Liz Lemon has a secret.  She’s relaxed and happy, so naturally everyone on the set of the fictional “Girlie Show with Tracy Jordan” is worried about her.  Hey, it’s New York – happy is just unnatural, right? Oh, and Jenna signs up to judge an American-Idol style show.  Sign me up.
• Undercover Boss (January 15) – I love this show, if only to see CEOs of major corporations picking lettuce or trying to learn how to drive forklifts.  A classic fish-out-of-water exercise.
• Justified (January 17) – you do not want to be a criminal around U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.  He thinks he’s a cowboy, but he also thinks he’s personally in charge of making the world a better place, so criminals and deadbeats and anyone he doesn’t like would be best served by moving to another state.  Returning to his home town after serving for years in other parts of the country, Raylan has reconnected with family and friends but found an interesting foil in childhood friend .  And last year’s stunning cliffhanger, with a long moment where Raylan shared a drink with a criminal and we waited to find out which glass had been poisoned, highlighted the amazing writing on this show.  If you like good writing—I’m talking to you, Breaking Bad/Sopranos/Deadwood fans—you will love this show and end up going back and ordering all of the old episodes from NetFlix.
• Royal Pains (January 18) – this show about a concierge doctor and his practice in the sunny Hamptons is the perfect anti-dote for cold weather.  Hank Lawson and his brother Evan run the kind of doctor’s practice that used to be common—he makes housecalls! Of course, his clients can afford it, but Hank still manages to run into some crazy diagnoses.  Check out the show for the gorgeous locations shots and stay for the characters, especially Divia, Hank’s physician assistant.
• American Idol (January 18) – Last year was interesting, with Simon gone and two new faces in Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining Randy Jackson in the “let’s find a star” juggernaut show.  This is the 11^th season, so it will be interesting to see if they can keep the audience that tuned in last year, expecting a train wreck, only to find a panel of judges that jelled surprisingly fast.  Now if they could only find an actual American Idol – it’s been a long time since they found an outstanding singer.  And isn’t that what the show is supposed to be about?
• Smash (February 6) – starring Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston and American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee, this tune-filled drama explores the harried launch of a Broadway show and the players involved, each fighting for a moment in the spotlight.  I don’t usually enjoy musicals but this looks good—I love behind-the-scenes shows.
• The River (February 7) – ABC is taking a crack at the horror/suspense crowd with this thriller about a famous explorer who goes missing in the Amazon.  His wife and son set out with a documentary crew to find the explorer, but everything is not as it seems along the dark river.  It’s supposed to be scary and suspenseful, which I like, as opposed to gory and bloody (I’m talking to you, Walking Dead – come on!), which I do not like.  Check out the trailer on ABC.com and get some sleep now…while you still can.

Ginghamsburg Church Hosts Family Flick

The folks out at Ginghamsburg Church are hosting a Family Flick Night on January 20, when they’ll be presenting the family animated movie “Rio.” Admission is free, but they ask that you help support their New Path Food Pantry by bringing along a canned food item as a donation for each person in your group.

If you have questions, please see the church website at www.ginghamsburg.org or call Kelly Flora at 667-1069, extension 260.

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page. And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in and around Tipp City, Ohio by Greg Enslen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas was great at the Enslens—we had Sam’s aunt and uncle in from New York City and enjoyed several days of decadent meals, gift exchanges, and just hanging out. I was the happy recipient of both a copy of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and a sweet blue lava lamp for my office. Sam got books and one of those make-your-own charm bracelets they carry at Hapinstance. Xander got Hex Bugs, and Anna and Katie got Zoobles, so all was right with the world.

New Year’s was a blast as we partied at my friend Diana’s house to celebrate the New Year. I made chili, which seemed to be a big hit, and we all hung out and played with kids and swapped stories while we waited for the big ball to drop. Thanks to our gracious hosts for having us over—it was a privilege, counting down the New Year with you.

We also made a conscious decision this year to put the Christmas decorations up early and leave them up late, so the tree and all of our Santas and pine trees are still out and about. I’m not in any hurry to pack away all our decorations just yet—it seems that the Christmas season comes and goes so fast already. Why hurry it along?

Sam decided this year that her business, Dragonfly Editorial, would give a donation to a worthwhile charity in lieu of gifts to staff and clients. They donated to Mira’s Movement, a nonprofit that supports families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Two years ago, our good friends Chris and Christine Brouwer lost their four-year-old daughter Mira to pediatric ependymoma, a form of cancer that arises in the central nervous system. They created Mira’s Movement to help other families facing the same crisis. If you’d like to learn more about this organization or make a donation yourself, visit www.mirasmovement.org.

Resolutions

Anyone have any good resolutions so far this year? I know most people are going to go with the standard ones, like “lose some weight” or “promote world peace.” I’m shooting a little lower this year: I want to go for more walks and finish reading all the books on my bedside table. And I’d like to write and publish at least two books.

Display Gardens Filled with Roses?

Last year, Garden’s Alive/Springhill Nurseries bought a California company named Weeks Roses. Weeks is a wholesale grower of roses and has been doing so in their Wasco, California, location since 1938. “In addition to their rose lines, Weeks also offers a premium selection of edible fruit and ornamental trees,” their catalog says.

Why do I mention an acquisition that took place last May? Well, I don’t know if anyone will remember me mentioning last fall that Springhill had removed their massive test gardens that stretched along South Hyatt. I was seriously bummed to see them ripping out all those plants, shrubs, and trees.

Well, I have it on good authority that the space was cleared to make room for a Weeks Roses test garden. That’s right, soon there could be a massive rose garden planted along Hyatt Street featuring tens of thousands of roses. Wow.

Tipp City TV

Every wish you could watch TV shows dedicated to Tipp City, or enjoy old episodes of the Get Social Show, which starred me and my friend and City Councilman Mike McDermott? Well, over the Christmas break, I was trying to figure out how to upload our Get Social videos to the Internet where everyone could enjoy them. Unfortunately, YouTube limits their uploads to 15-minute segments, so I was going to have to chop up all of the shows into smaller pieces, making for a lot more work.

I finally found a solution that lets me upload entire episodes and, even better, puts the shows and other videos in rotation on a website that anyone can access. At TippCityTV.com, I’ve created what is essentially a 24-hour TV station dedicated to Tipp City.

In addition to old Get Social episodes, I also uploaded a smattering of Tipp City videos, including Matt Spangler’s narrated Opera House tour, the Tipp City Resume video created by the city in 2004 to encourage businesses to relocate here, Bucher’s Beat appearances at Winter’s Gatherings past, and a story that Fox 45 ran on the opening of the Big Robot Game Café.

I’m looking for more videos and for suggestion—what would you like to see on the channel? I’m also hoping people will send me videos or upload them and let me know about it.

In addition to the 24-hour channel, all of the clips and shows are available in a Video Library on the same page. If you’re hankering to hear Mike and I talk about the time Touchdown Jesus caught fire and burned down, just go to “Get Social Episodes,” find the right show, and hit “Play.” It will replace the live station with your selection—and go back to the live channel when it’s finished.

Ginghamsburg Church Hosts Family Flick

The folks out at Ginghamsburg Church are hosting a Family Flick Night on January 20, when they’ll be presenting the family animated movie “Rio.” Admission is free, but they ask that you help support their New Path Food Pantry by bringing along a canned food item as a donation for each person in your group.

And they’re inviting everyone to show up in the PJs! “Bring a blanket, pillow and your camera, as this promises to be a night you’ll never forget!” They will also be selling pizza at a nominal cost. If you have questions, please see the church website at www.ginghamsburg.org or call Kelly Flora at 667-1069, extension 260.

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page. And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

From Greg Enslen.com:
A Winter’s Yuletide Gathering in Tipp

This past weekend, shopkeepers and shoppers alike celebrated the Winter’s Yuletide Gathering in downtown Tipp City. Hundreds of shoppers came out to visit the multitude of shops and restaurants offering specials, discounts, and holiday-themed treats and surprises. I have to say, parking around my house was a mess on both Saturday and Sunday, and that’s always a good sign! The weather was great, and it was nice to see the downtown full of shoppers, carolers, and volunteers.

And a tip of the hat to the Downtown Tipp City Partnership for keeping this tradition alive—two years ago, the event was in danger of being canceled, but the DTCP and merchants stepped in with only two weeks’ notice and salvaged the event. I have to say, it’s been a success!

Why are Tipp Stores Closed on Sundays?

Something that drives me crazy about downtown Tipp City is the fact that so few shops are open on Sundays—often, I’ll be walking downtown on Sundays and it looks like a ghost town. I understand that being closed two days a week is a necessity for family-run shops, but I still feel that shopkeepers are missing out on a golden opportunity.

Of course, I have a horrible track record on this topic—I ran the Big Robot Game Café for almost three years, and we were open on Sundays for most of that time, but we were targeting students, so it made sense to be open when school was not in session. That being said, my shop was one of the few open on Sundays, which always confused me. Lots of people are downtown on Sundays to attend one of the three or four downtown churches or to enjoy breakfast at Sam and Ethel’s or a nice lunch at Harrison’s. Doesn’t it make sense that church-goers or diners might be strolling around the downtown and pop into a shop or two while they’re here? Of course, my business failed, so I’m probably not the best source for advice on this topic.

That’s what happened to Sam last week—she was shopping in Urban Ava last Sunday and heard the woman in front of her ask the shop employee “Why aren’t any of the other shops open on Sundays?” The employee replied that “I’m not sure,” to which the shopper answered “I think the Hotel Gallery is the only other place. It’s such a cute town; I don’t know why they don’t take advantage of it.”

There you have it—out of town shoppers wanting to spend money but having only a few shops to visit.

NaNoWriMo Update

Here’s another quick update on my NaNoWriMo writing competition—it’s been a pretty rough week around the Enslen house, but I’ve tried to soldier through and “stay on target,” as Wedge Antilles would say. Its 14 days into the month and my word count is up to 24,465 words, or approximately 1,725 words a day. I’m on page 61. If you check out my website, there’s a cute little picture on the front page that shows my progress—sadly, I have a couple red and orange days where I didn’t manage to write the daily minimum word goal of 1,667 words a day.

I’ve heard from a couple of people about NaNoWriMo, including Jim, a regular reader, who wanted to know if there were any tricks to writing that many words per day. I have three answers for you, Jim:

Ø First, I think that the NaNoWriMo folks specifically set a high daily word count because they are trying to emphasize just getting words down on paper. The only way you can write that many words in one day is to set your “inner critic” aside and just get down a very rough first draft.

Ø Second, I may have a bit of advantage this time around because the book I’m writing is one I’ve been thinking about for a long time—much of the plot has been rattling around inside my brain for a while now.

Ø Third, I do have to say that I don’t think most professional novelists write this many words a day. I think they write a smaller amount, and focus more on getting them “right” the first time.

If you’d like to follow along with my progress (or cajole me on days when I miss my target), check out my website at www.gregenslen.com or catch me on Facebook. And wish me luck!

Early Thanksgiving on the Get Social Show

This week on the Get Social Show, Tipp’s only live TV show, Bill Johnson from Bob Evans showed off their Family Thanksgiving Feast, a massive spread of food available for purchase if you’re just not in the mood to cook a Thanksgiving spread—or if you suddenly find the house full of guests! The Enslen household also took advantage of a donation service whereby you can purchase one of these holiday feasts and donate it to a needy family—and Bob Evans handles everything. You even get your own little gift basket brought to your door as a thank-you!

Recent guests on the show have been Bill Beagle, recently elected State Senator for Ohio’s 5^th district, Mike Woody, folks from the Tipp Arts Council, Doggone Pet Rescue, the Midnight Shadows Paranormal Society, and the Tipp Farmers’ Market.

If you’re interested in watching the show film live, drop by the KIT-TV studio on Thursday night just before 7pm—we’re off the next two weeks but will be back in the studio on December 2. For more information, check out our website at www.getsocialradio.com.

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk”? Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and use the “Contact Me” page to let me know what you’re thinking. And don’t worry – I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Nom...nom...nom!

Election Results

I’m excited to say that my friend Bill Beagle, running against incumbent Fred Strahorn, won in his bid to become the next State Senator from Ohio’s 5th district. It’s neat, thinking about someone from Tipp City sitting up there in Columbus, working on state-wide issues. I was watching the returns and, early on, it didn’t look like it was going well for Bill. On TippNews Daily, Bill said “I knew that the first results were going to not swing our way, but over time we saw some more positive results for the evening. We expected a close race, we knew that we would have to wait until every vote was counted, but we knew that our hard work was going to pay off.”

Very cool. I just hope he has time to get back into my fantasy football league—then I’ll REALLY be rubbing elbows with famous people!

Tippecanoe Christmas in Village

Planning for the Tippecanoe Christmas in the Village team has been in full swing for several months–led by Heather Bailey, the group has volunteered to focus on making the historic tour of homes event another beautiful day in downtown Tipp City. Each person is leading specific details of the event including homeowner relations, tickets, entertainment, and flair. “We are excited to continue preserving this long standing Tipp City tradition,” says Ms. Bailey. “This event is very important to our community.” The 2010 Tippecanoe Christmas in the Village home tour will be on held on Saturday, December 4 from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Those attending will see 10 beautifully decorated homes full of holiday spirit and elegant style.
Tippecanoe Christmas in the Village is presented by the Downtown Tipp City Partnership and Tipp Monroe Community Services. Thank you to Re/Max Professionals and Willowtree Inn for their gracious support. For more information on Tippecanoe Christmas in the Village, please visit www.visittippcity.org/citv or call Tipp Monroe Community Services at 937.667.8631.

Downtown Partnership Seeks Ideas and Input

The Downtown Tipp City Partnership, a group of business owners, government officials, and residents interested in promoting our downtown, will be holding their regular monthly meeting next Tuesday morning, November 16, at 9 am at the Tipp Monroe Community Services building. The DTCP is looking for input and suggestions as they put together a series of events for the winter and spring months in Tipp City. If you have ideas or just want to get involved in a great organization that sponsors programs such as the Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers, Tippecanoe HarvestFest, and the Facade Improvement Program, please drop by. We love guests!

Thanksgiving on the Get Social Show

Next week on the Get Social Show, Tipp’s only live TV show, Bill Johnson from Bob Evans will be showing off their Family Thanksgiving Feast, a massive spread of food available for purchase if you’re just not in the mood to cook a Thanksgiving spread—or if you suddenly find the house full of guests!
This past week, Bill featured the new Bob Evans line of Big Farm Burgers, and there was enough food to feed us AND the studio audience! Recent guests on the show have been Bill Beagle, recently elected State Senator for Ohio’s 5th district, along with Mike Woody and folks from the Tipp Arts Council, Doggone Pet Rescue, the Midnight Shadows Paranormal Society and the Tipp Farmers’ Market.
If you’re interested in watching the show film LIVE, drop by the KIT-TV studio on Thursday night just before 7pm. We broadcast live on KIT-TV, Channel 5 on Time Warner Cable, so tune in and watch! After next week’s LIVE show, we’ll be off for two weeks but KIT-TV will show repeats. For more information on the Get Social! Show, check out our website at www.getsocialradio.com.

NaNoWriMo Update

Last week I wrote about my participation this year in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a writing competition that runs for the month of November each year. The goal is simple – write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. In addition to this column, I’ve written two books (I published one in 2003 and have another one coming out soon) and have several others in various stages of completion, but it’s always difficult to carve time out of a busy day to write. The folks at NaNoWriMo have a saying to get people to write–it’s all about quantity, not quality, during the month of November. Writers are encouraged to write as much as they can, good or bad, and save the editing for another time.
I’m four days in and I’m proud to say that I’ve hit the word goal (approximately 1,667 words a day, or about four pages) every day on work on my third book. If I can stay on target, by the end of November I’ll have something that approximates a VERY rough draft of a 200-page book about a physicist who, if he can complete construction on his machine, may be able to prevent 9-11 from ever happening and, at the same time, save his family.
As for needing the house silent, I’m working on that—having a deadline, and a very public one at that, focuses the mind. If you’d like to follow along with my progress (or cajole me for missing a day or two, which I’m sure will happen eventually), check out my personal website at www.gregenslen.com or catch me on Facebook. And wish me luck!

Tipp’s Bermuda Triangle?

Anyone hear anything about this item yet, which I mentioned a few weeks ago? Things are disappearing in an area of Tipp City and mysterious forces are at work, but so far no airplanes or boats have gone missing – it seems there’s been a rash of car burglaries in Tipp City! During daytime hours, vehicles are being broken into in the area of the Shroeder Temnis Center, the gymnastics facility and Menard’s parking lots. My wife was playing a match last Thursday at 1pm and her opponent’s car was broken into during the game – talk about bad luck!

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk”? Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and use the “Contact Me” page to let me know what you’re thinking. And don’t worry – I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Army Strong on Get Social!

Mike and Greg welcomed United States Army recruiter Sergeant Robert Dodge to the set of the Get Social Show today to chat about Army recruiting and the “other” side of life in Iraq (Sgt. Dodge served two tours of duty in Iraq in forward reconnaissance)

Sgt. Dodge shared that the most memorable part of serving in Iraq was observing the stark difference in the country from when he arrived (early on in the conflict) to when he left. Initially the Iraqi people were afraid that we (the US) were going to change their way of life, stop them from practicing their religion, etc. When they saw that we were just there to keep the peace, repair the damage and restore order they welcomed our participation.

Listen in to the whole show for our 40 minute interview of Sgt. Dodge or catch the replay on KIT-TV Channel 5 Thursday at 9PM, Saturday at Noon or Monday at Noon.

On Sunday August 22nd, Beer Week kicks off in Dayton with the Beer Pride Parade. The festivities begin at 4:30PM behind Thai9 (in the Oregon District) where beer fans can join Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell and Joe Waizmann (founder of AleFest) as they tap the ceremonial keg and then head out on a 4 block stroll through the Oregon Historical District.

During Beer Week, Dayton restaurants and retail establishments offer special deals on meals that are paired with craft beers. Dayton Beer Week also provides craft beer makers the ability to show off their small volume brews to the masses.  The full schedule of restaurants and keg tappings can be found on their website.

Get Social! Beer Tasting

Mike McDermott and Greg Enslen have invited Joe Waizmann, the founder of Dayton AleFest along with Rod Martino and beer aficionado ”Scott” from Miami Valley Wine and Spirits to be on the Get Social TV show this Wednesday at 1PM on KIT-TV Channel 5. Joe and Rod will be showcasing a number of craft beers and chatting about (and tasting) some of the excellent local brews.

Viewers that tune in to the special AleFest Episode of Get Social! have a chance to call in to win two tickets to attend AleFest on Saturday August 28th ($80/value).

by Greg Enslen

Big Robot To Close at End of Summer  - The rumors you’ve heard around town are unfortunately true – I’ll be closing the Big Robot Game Café at the end of the summer.  It’s been a great run and I’ve been happy to provide a place for Tipp City’s youth to video game, play cards and socialize, but sadly my business has just been too slow to stay afloat.  My summer business is great, but the rest of the year has always been a struggle, so I’m making the difficult decision to close the store affective August 31st.

We will be selling off all of our games, computers, video game consoles, furniture, decorations and fixtures over the next two months, but we are still gaming and playing cards and booking parties right and left, so if you want to take the opportunity to have your next party at the coolest place in town, get in here before we close!  Business owners, I have lots of merchandising equipment, candy racks, magazine racks and several other items, including a full-size front counter.  Drop by soon and check them out before it’s all gone!

People who know the situation have asked me if this is a good thing for me or not – personally, I’m happy to not be “donating” 40 hours a week to this enterprise without taking a paycheck.  I do feel very bad for the youth of Tipp City – I consistently get customers as young as 9 or 10 telling me there is nothing to do in Tipp City except for my store.  Sorry, guys – we kept it going for 2 1/2 years, but I guess Tipp just isn’t big enough to support a full-time internet and gaming café.  But we’re not closed yet – get in here and play before all the games and equipment are gone!

Dayton Air Show Coming Soon – The Dayton Air Show  is happening in a couple of weeks, and we’re lucky to be near one of America’s premier air shows. Held every July at the Dayton International Airport, the show features world-class entertainment, and this year it’s the United States Navy Blue. This year’s show will be held on July 17 and 18, 2010 and will feature an amazing lineup of performers and displays. Tickets are on sale now.

Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market  Going Strong – Last week was Week Three for the Market, and it looked like everyone had a great time!  As in years past, the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market will be located on Third Street between Main and Dow Streets, closing down the road and filling it with vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers and other homemade or locally-made products.  The Market takes place each Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 and features ample parking.  For more information, visit the website at tippecanoefarmersmarket.com. See you next week at the Market!

Tidbits:

• The Antiques and Artisans Show was this past weekend and it was crazy!  Hope you got a chance to drop by the jam-packed downtown Historical district to pick up some great deals and shop some of the unique vendors.  I love the A and A Show – thanks to Terri Bessler at Midwest Memories for pulling this off.  And thanks to Ruth Safreed for starting it all!
• In July, the Tipp Historical Society will hold a paranormal presentation for any of those folks who want to learn a little more about some of our Tipp City haunts.
• I heard a rumor that the Town and Country Market building sold!  Actually, I heard that it’s in the negotiation phase, but it would be great to get that space back open again for retail or whatever is going in there.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that it’s a Trader Joes, but that’s just me.  They have great wine!
• My kids are enrolled in the excellent Tipp-Monroe Community Services Summer Camp again this year and they’re loving it.  If you haven’t signed your kids up yet for this great program, which runs from 9am to noon Mondays through Thursdays over the next six weeks, make sure to call 667-8631 and get your kids signed up – summer will be over before you know it!  And also check out their TGIF events, which take place on Fridays .  Both programs are a great way to get your kids out of the house this summer!
• My friend Mike McDermott let me know that the Tippecanoe High School Football Coaches are providing a Football Mini-Camp for potential 7th-8th-9th grade Football Players at the High School practice facility. The camp is July 19-20-21 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost of the camp is $30 and a registration form can be accessed through the Athletic Department websites of the Middle School or the High School.  Thanks, Mike!

Remember, TELL FOLKS you read about it in the Tippecanoe Gazette “Tipp Talk” column – I love getting feedback.  Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk”? Have a Tidbit for printing? Shoot me an email at genslen@yahoo.com.  And don’t worry – I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

The folks over at the Get Social! Show, KIT-TV’s LIVE TV show, are excited because the folks from Midnight Shadows Paranormal Society are headed to the show!  Get Social is a live TV talk show that highlights the activities of local businesses and organizations in Tipp City and the Miami Valley. Hosts Mike McDermott and Greg Enslen explore local entertainment, news, sports, and weather with a range of special guests. The TV show airs LIVE ON WEDNESDAYS at 1pm on KIT-TV Channel 5, with frequent re-airings throughout the week. Tune in!

From the Midnight Paranormal website:
“Through our own personal experiences, fate has entwined us to form MIDNIGHT SHADOWS PARANORMAL SOCIETY. We are; friends, family, and a forum of paranormal investigators. We constantly thrive to achieve the information,and knowledge to help those in need,and our own spiritual advancement. We show the interest in the fields related as; THE PARANORMAL, THE OCCULT, DEMONOLOGY, AND SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT and EXPLORATION. We conduct our investigations in; Businesses, Residential, urban legends, as well known attractions,in a spiritual but scientific manner. If you are in need of some assistance, please feel free to contact us, We will gladly help,or answer any questions as quickly as possible. You can contact us through midnight.paranormal@yahoo.com”

In Episode 40, Mike and Greg plan to review some of the great show moments (Interview with the Boondock Saints, Phone interview with Locavores, Episode Point Five, etc.) as well as those not so great show moments (Horrible production quality, no audio, Greg Falling out of his Chair, etc.) but nothing will beat this week’s special guest. Chris Dakin, owner of Warrior Racing will be our special guest on 3/31/2010.

Wwe have spoken many times about the  “Crazy Professor” mural during show segments and with our guests yet we have never had anyone from Warrior represent. Chris is looking forward to sharing what he does there at Warrior as well as “spill his guts” on the litigation with the City of Tipp City over the now infamous (and unconstitutional) sign code. Watch it LIVE on KIT-TV Channel 5 at 1PM this Wednesday, or listen to our show live on Internet Radio at http://getsocialradio.com

This week I had the distinct privilige of being the featured guest on Get Social Radio to discuss my work as a writer for both print and online news sources. It was a surprise to many, as often getting a full string of words out of me can be harder than pulling teeth, without novacaine. Some people had warned me about the boredom of dead air, certain that it’s what I would create. The expectations were low and I was determined to exceed them.

As the time towards going LIVE on the air neared, my nerves were surprisingly low, which is forunate because when nervous I sometimes get an upset stomach. I tried not to think about the dozens, err I mean hundreds or thousands, that were listening  around Tipp City and the entire world but just focus on those in the studio.  To try and help matters even further I  pictured Joyelle, the news anchor, in her underwear but then with my  jaw dropped I was unable to speak.

The energy in the room drastically rose once we were on the airwaves and I realzed the degree of freedom that exists, which for some reason I had not thought about. A loose outline of the show had been provided which made it appear pretty straight forward, but the real treasures of broadcasting are the little unexpected, impromptu change of directions that conversations take.  For instance, it was nowhere on the notes but the topic of the NBC late-night talk show debacle came up which led to a somewhat spirited exchange and the opportunity to get off a one-liner that I’m proud of…..’Leno’s ratings were so bad he has a long face.’ It was even followed by a sound effect of a horse, a couple minutes later.

I was most excited when a listener sent a question for me, via the Get Social chat, it’s very pleasing to know that 1) somebody was listening, and 2) cared enough to ask something. I’m really not used to people caring what I have to say, perhaps that’s why i’m so drawn to writing because I tend to express myself best through the written word rather than vocally. Which makes the point that I was on a radio talk show even more ironic. But there is nowhere other than Tipp City where I have an audience with enough interest that I would ever be asked to be on the airwaves.

The time really flew by, and I was again sincerely delighted by hearing about a reader of this very site who had expressed their enjoyment of my articles. To that individual, and those of you who feel the same way, I thank you very much and it truly is the reason I do what I do.  People with high paying  jobs often say that it’s not about the money and that they would do it for nothing, well I have done it for nothing but no payment is greater than knowing the readers are pleased. So hearing from satisfied readers fills me with riches.

I may never climb Mt. Everest or acquire the love of a beautiful blonde but I at least achieved appearing on a radio show and will forever be thankful to Get Social for the opportunity. Who know’s I might even do it again sometime.