A Reason To Celebrate

I know I usually don't use this forum to tell you how great I am. OK, maybe I do sometimes, but I need to toot my own horn a little today. Loyal readers know that I have been pursuing a radio job for a while. Last night I got a call and was offered a show on WGN Radio. It's very exciting to be considered good enough to join such a prestigious station. I probably should be dancing in the streets and howling at the moon, but you know me, I'm down playing the whole thing.

"Wife" and my friends think I'm nuts. "Why aren't you more excited?" they ask with obvious concern for my mental health. I've been trying to figure that out myself. There should be great joy in Mudville, cause mighty Casey got the gig. I am happy. I just have a hard time allowing myself any periods of joy. This may be a result of being a comic for so long. I'm in a business where rejection has become so commonplace that it seems normal. I also have some weird, deep seeded, Catholic, mother induced guilt that makes me squelch any good times before I get carried away. This may seem depressing to you, but it's the way my head is wired.

My outward demeanor may also be a defense mechanism. As of this writing, I don't know what the future holds. WGN is getting a new Program Director, and everyone's future, new people's especially, is up in the air. I'm going to treat the show like I have it forever and make every one the best I can. That's the only thing I can control, so it's all I'll worry about.

Sometimes you dream of something, but never expect parts of it to come true. I knew I would get a job in radio somewhere, but WGN seemed like a pipe dream. Now it's a reality. I guess it's just taking a while to sink in. I'm really looking forward to this new phase of my life and can't wait to get started.

So if you're a night owl or an early riser, listen to Laura Hirsch and me on WGN Overnight, Saturday nights/Sunday mornings from 1-5 am CST. You can listen on-line too, at wgnradio.com.

I just read this back, and I must seem like a mental train wreck. I usually say that it's all the crazy bumping around in my head that allows me to do what I do. Tortured artist, yeah, I'll stick with that. It sounds better than certifiable nut job. At least I haven't cut off my ear. I need them both to hold my headphones. Later...Brian