Ron & Jen’s Great Escape – March 1, 2023 – Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien

by Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien, contributing writers, commentary

Publisher’s Note: Ron and Jen’s Great Escape The Radio Show has moved to NewsRadio 920 and 104-7 FM. It airs on Saturday mornings at 7am. It’s a look at yesterday, today, and tomorrow in hopes of putting a smile on your face to kick the weekend off right! Remember, a smile can go a long, long way! Tune in and escape with us!

NO SCHOOL FOSTER GLOCESTER

When I was a kid, snow days were such a big deal. When you heard a storm was coming, you’d jump out of bed at 6am to the sound of AM radio, the coffee pot percolating, and the smell of burnt toast wafting through the house (my dad loved burnt toast).

We would wait, and wait, and wait for the announcer to call out our school name. Once they did… the day was OURS!!! We were free from bus stop bullies, math class, language arts class, and the dreaded SRA CARDS (if you know, you know).

The joy of a snow day back then can’t be overstated. The wall phone would start burning red-hot with calls to friends to see if they were free, and what we would do. Would we go ice skating? Head to Lincoln Mall and play games at the “Dream Machine”, and eat “Papa Gino’s” pizza?

Would we go to a friend’s house and play ATARI ALL DAY??? Would we go to Globe Park and go sledding down “Dead Man’s Hill”??? All I know is, there was a simplistic joy to snow days that are now extinct. We used to get hyped up to spend that day with our pals. Now, it seems this generation wants to lay around in bed all day watching reels alone on FB or binge watch a show all day and night, only to get up for a bathroom break and a Hot Pocket. 

I don’t begrudge young people today, it’s a different time, and they are far more sophisticated than we were. All I’m saying is sitting around laughing together while reading the “Far Side” or playing “PONG” all day listening to records was really cool. I wish I could give that simplicity to the young kids today. 

As a 54 year old woman, I still love snow days. My mundane tasks are set aside for the business of dealing with a weather event. I love walking in the snow, watching the dogs play, and making a mid-afternoon cup of hot chocolate. 

I’ll always have a childlike heart. I hope you do, too.

Till next week my friends,

Jen 

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SHAKEN NOT STIRRED

Now James Bond novels are being edited to remove offensive material. New editions of the Bond novels will hit shelves this spring with “racially insensitive language” removed. Author Ian Fleming’s estate with “sensitivity readers” to flag and take out what they see as language reflecting outdated attitudes about race. Besides removing race identification of several characters, some sex scenes will be toned down. So, let’s see if I have this straight, Bond maintains a license to kill, but must do so in a much more woke manner. Ian Fleming is spinning in his grave.

WITH NEW RULES THERE’S CHAOS

MLB new rules to speed up the pace of the games (thank God) are going through growing pains in Spring Training. Let’s hope things are smoothed out before the regular season begins. The very first day of the pre-season action gave us a taste of what’s to come with the new pitch clock and batters’ box rules. With the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 9^th and the bases loaded with two outs, Atlanta Brave Cal Conley took what he thought was ball four on a 3-2 count and a walk off forcing in the winning run, but it wasn’t to be. Conley hadn’t gotten himself set in the batter’s box in the allotted 8 seconds and THAT’S a strike… as in strike three. The game ended in a 6-6 tie which they’ll do sometimes in Grapefruit League play when managers feel they’ve played long enough. Well,  just imagine if THAT was a World Series scenario. It’s good to practice to make it as perfect as it’ll be when the regular season starts.

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Ron St. Pierre is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned over four decades. Ron has programmed, performed on and managed WHJJ, WPRO, WWRX, 790 The Score in Providence, as well as WBZT and WKGR in West Palm Beach and WABC in New York City. Ron also anchored sports on WPRI Ch 12 in Providence. He is a member of both the Rhode Island Radio and Television and the City of Pawtucket Halls of Fame. He was born and raised in Pawtucket.

Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.

Hazel, Ron’s dog, makes regular appearances.

“Ron and Jen’s Great Escape” podcast, a more lighthearted look at the events happening around us, can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes premiering each Wednesday and listen to Ron and Jen’s Great Escape on NewsRadio 920 and 104-7 FM, Saturday morning, 7am!