More than a couple folks have asked me, "Terry, when did you decide you wanted to be on the radio?"

I think I was about 6 or 7.

Generally, career decisions shouldn't be made until your age hits double digits

My brother Ed and I each had our own boombox.  I would take a couple of cassettes with my favorite tunes and cue them up the song I wanted in one boom box.  Then, I would insert a blank tape into the other boombox and make a radio show.  I'd introduce the songs, often with some insightful banter like, "I like this song.  It's really good."  (Hey, I was 6 or 7.  Give me a break.)  Alas, those tapes are lost to the sands of time, but the memories of making them are still with me.

For those of you under the age of 30, this is a cassette.

I'd listen back to the tapes afterwards and daydream about being on the radio for reals.  Maybe even doing a show just like my favorite one at the time. 

Back in the day, my brother and I made a certain Top 40 countdown hosted by Casey Kasem a weekly listen every Sunday morning.  We'd keep track of where songs were on the charts, rooting for our favorites and cheering ecstatically when they hit that coveted number one slot.  (Ed was a big Huey Lewis and The News fan and had quite the run when "Sports" came out.  Genesis was pretty kind to me when "Invisible Touch" was their big album.)

My radio career has allowed me to fulfill a lot of dreams and tomorrow adds another checkmark to that list of childhood fantasies.

With Vanessa Ryan being in Nashville this week, I've been tasked with hosting the Country Music Panel Countdown on Saturday morning from 9am to Noon.  Oh...heck...YES!

Mr. Kasem's song rankings were always determined by charts and sales figures and junk like that.  That's all well and good, but I prefer the Country Music Panel's ranking system.  The songs are ranked according to how much YOU like them.  (Pretty innovative, right.)  How do we know you like them?  Easy, you tell how much you like them in the Country Music Panel.  Click here to make your voice heard.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow as we count down the Top 30 songs on WDEZ, play some of the hot new tunes that could be your next favorite, and who knows?  Maybe I'll even sneak in a "Long Distance Dedication".

Here's hoping that you get to live a dream today.

Your TTPK Hint for yesterday is:  "for the hills"

Your Blog Keyword for today is "CMPTop30".  It's good for 250 WDEZ Club Points until 1700 on 2/27/10.

As Mr. Kasem would say, "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"

As I always say...

Be Cool,

TS