Don Kowalewski
Writer. Ad Sales and Marketing. Social Media Content Creator. Aeropress Coffee. Makes the best salsa in the world.
The Annual Christmas Card Letter, Part 5
Years ago I read David Sedaris’s Holidays On Ice and it had, what I thought was, the funniest short-story in the form of the most over-the-top (and demented) Christmas Card Letter. I thought to myself that might be fun and funny if I took the traditional family-letter that arrives with about 3 or 4 Christmas cards every year and gave it my own spin. These letters usually talk of promotions at work, accomplishments by the kids, and recaps of the year-that-was (i.e. “So-and-So is recovering nicely after shoulder surgery” or “the entire family enjoyed our trip to Alaska and seeing whales”).
Some are written third person. Some are written by the dog or cat. Some are good. Some are too long. Some too short. Some letters are melancholy or reflective. And of course, some are self-aggrandizing or narcissistic, and no matter the style, length, or detail of the letter, I loved them all. Read More
My Aeropress Recipe and Links to Hundreds of other Aeropress Recipes
I don’t have to tell you that last weekend was the Aeropress World Championship. I couldn’t make it to Australia, this year, but when it comes to the Americas, you can bet your sweet double mocha ass I’ll be there (NOTE: I didn’t go in the U.S. either).
Like most people (yes, “most” meaning the majority of humans on the planet), I love seeing and reading about the winning recipes (or techniques). Though the original recipe, and the whole point of the Aeropress, was a quick technique invented to make a smooth cuppa coffee that spent the least amount of time steeping and avoiding acidity or harshness …well, the Aeropress community was never happy leaving well enough alone. Read More
Turkeys Cannot Fly
If you work in the radio industry and you’re over age 50 (or you’re young and work with people over 50), you probably know about the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. And if you know the show, you probably know about one of their most classic episodes, “Turkeys Away.” In the episode, station manager Arthur Carlson attempts to pull off the greatest Thanksgiving promotion in radio history … dropping live turkeys from a helicopter.
Last week, a station I work for, 106.7 WLLZ here in Detroit, paid homage to this classic show and stunt. We didn’t drop living turkeys. We didn’t drop frozen turkeys. Yet, in the two weeks leading up to our Turkey Drop, the on-air promos didn’t quite get specific on the details. Why ruin fun and mystery with facts? Surely in 2023, nobody really thought WLLZ was going to drop living (or frozen) turkeys from a helicopter. Read More
Gonna Get my Podcast Life In Order
There’s too many Podcasts. I love Podcasts and I want my Podcast library to be like a 1970s “book library” that someone might’ve had in their home. That respectable 70s (or 80s) “book library” would’ve had a full Encyclopedia set, quite a few Stephen King novels, and then novels and nonfiction books that would give a visitor an immediate sense of what said book-collector was into.
Cooking? Parenting? Romance? World War 2 or Vietnam?
And while nobody can or will ever see my Podcast list, I feel the same sense of pride in that my “Library” should be a reflection of …me! Read More
Angry Old Man Discount Tire Edition
I’ll say it here. My 20-year-old daughter is cute, blonde, and tiny. I worry sometimes about how the world will treat her. So far, the world has been pretty good. But not so much yesterday. She lived through the most stereotypical chauvinistic treatment from a sales guy at Discount Tire. It was so nasty, you’d think it was in a movie and if you saw the scene play out you’d say, “oh, that’s a little much …nobody really acts like that.”
Well, they do. I’m proud to say, with a little coaching, she stood her ground, got her tire fixed, and someone else treated her nicely and fairly. The way she was treated, and lied to, by the sales guy, disgusted me. Even on my worst day as a human, I’ve never treated anyone like my daughter was treated. At least not on purpose. And if I ever did, at one point in my life, act like a giant pig …I think I would apologize if it was pointed out. Read More
iHeartRADIO App is the Best Music Streaming App
Yes, I work at iHeartMEDIA but …wait, wait, wait …I promise I’m objective when I say the iHeartRadio App is the best streaming app. I’m comparing it to Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, the Audacy App, SoundCloud, and YouTube Music.
Quickly, I’ll rank them. Then tell you why, for me, they’re ranked this way.
- iHeartRADIO
- YouTube Music
- Spotify
- Audacy
- Pandora
- Soundcloud
Here we go …the “why” behind my list and my reasons. Read More
The OTHER Male Pattern Baldness
If you’re male and you’ve reached the age of 40, half the Emails you get are from Hims or Keeps about thwarting hair loss. Each starts with a survey, asking questions like, “do you want to regrow your hair,” or, “do you want to prevent further hair loss.” Problem is, it’s all about the head.
Are they not aware of an equally troubling male-pattern baldness? It’s the dress-sock ankle-shin hair loss. It’s real. And it’s just as devastating.
As a child, my cousin S.B. and I thought the funniest thing was his dad’s, and all the uncle’s, hairless shins and ankles. Read More
“I Love Don Week” and “Stuff I Want” Update
My oh my, where does the time go!?!?! My birthday was 47 days ago and I haven’t thanked the many contributors and participants, nor have I updated my Stuff I Want Page.
Here’s my Blog entry fixing that.
First, the Stuff I Want Page has been updated. So you don’t have to worry about wondering what I got, what I have, and what I still need.
Second, wow …what a great I Love Don Week it was, and what an amazing 50th birthday, and what amazing friends and family I have. Thank you co-workers for the Mizzen + Main floral summer shirt! Thank you co-workers for the high powered flashlight …truly, it’s freakishly bright. So bright, in fact, it gets hot to the touch. Read More
Weezer at Pine Knob, June 18th, 2023
Three things you’re about to learn. I’m a massive hypocrite. The proper way to record a performance at a concert. And my latest Weezer experience.
My Weezer Back Story
Many reading are probably thinking, “yes, Don, you are a hypocrite and we’ve always known it, but we kinda like you anyway in spite of it.” The latest hypocritical moment is brought to you courtesy of Weezer’s 2023 “Indie Rock Road Trip” tour. Before Sunday, June 18th, I scoffed at people taking long video recordings of performances at concerts. Scoffed? I daresay I mocked. Recently I even openly ridiculed a friend and I said something along the lines of, “who is this video for …get off your phone …and just enjoy the show.” Read More
Ducks and Deer
My sleepy, prototypical, boring suburban backyard is suddenly an animal sanctuary.
Remember the duck? And how I thought it had abandoned it’s nest? The duck came back. So now I know that momma ducks, when they leave their nests for the day, cover their eggs in nest material and hide them from idiot suburban Dads that don’t possess knowledge of nature.
The duck came back. I spooked it. It flew to a far part of the yard and there were the eggs. Read More
Don Kowalewski 