The radio star

Today I got to play on the air with Steve and Rob at KXLE Radio – the best country station in all the land! It was such a blast, but it made me realise just how hard the job of a DJ is.

You see, when I returned to Scotland two years ago, I begged and begged for Steve to set up a live streaming system so that I could enjoy some good ol’ American redneck music from the homeland. And when he finally got it sorted out a few months back, I made it a point to listen in regularly.

And as Steve knew I was listening in, he gave me regular shout-outs (and even occasional weather reports). So when he heard I was coming to town, he invited me to join him and Rob on the air.

And as a woman with an ego the size of mine, I couldn’t refuse!

So I woke up at 4.30, had a cup of coffee, and made the 30-mile drive to Ellensburg to be there for the show’s 6 am start.

It was a great morning that included a couple of wee send-ups about Scotland’s food and other cultural stereotypes, but the best part was the off-air conversations with Steve and Rob. As much as I love, love, love my life in Scotland, chatting with my hometown redneck radio hosts about current events is a great reminder of how much I love, love, love being a redneck American!

But the hard part was trying to think on the spot. I had to make sure I wasn’t being too sarcastic, but I also had to make sure that I was being appropriate for a mixed audience. And it was all live. What a lot of pressure!

Oh! And apparently, several friends and family members from around the globe tuned in to listen and laugh along with us. I hope they weren’t too put off by my making fun of haggis …

There were gift exchanges, too. I brought Steve and Rob a See You Jimmy Hat, a pack of Love Hearts, and a can of haggis. They gave me an American flag bandana, a KXLE t-shirt, tickets to the Rodeo City Rollergirls, and lots of great laughs.

Yes, today I got to be a radio star and it’s left me feeling super happy and super rejuvenated. Yay!

[Photo: Steve Scellick, me, and Rob Lowery at the station]