Dateline 4-16-2017

It's crazy how much this last presidential election really messed me up. Not only did it turn me away from social media, my only means to keep tabs on the outside world, but it also got me to stop listening to my favorite talk show that up until this time last year, I hadn't missed an episode in over 20 years.

I'm not all that bothered by the fact that I no longer spend as much time checking in on Facebook. I've stopped posting as much there a couple years ago when I moved away from Seattle on bad terms. Election or not, I probably would have ended up in the same place as far as social media goes either way.

I was bothered by the fact that I had to stop listening to Howard Stern because I have been there as a fan since the first day that I discovered him back in high school. I used to hate anyone that would say, I used to like Howard but then (fill in the blank.) Most of the blanks were filled by, but then so and so left, or he spent too much time promoting some project.

I always thought these were petty complaints as I always liked when things would change up. After all, I was a die-hard fan, listening to each airing in its entirety and not just tuning in while sitting in traffic. As a matter of fact, I didn't stop listening because I was no longer a fan, I quit listening because I couldn't stand to hear anyone talk about politics.

Lucky for me, I'm such a fan that I have a lifetime subscription to Sirius Satellite and figured out a way to record the episode that I missed, so now I have a year's worth of material to catch up on. 

It's weird, I've listened to three episodes so far and for the most part, at least in these April episodes, Howard tries to get off the topic of politics as fast as he can but as a Bernie supporter I felt like I kept getting hit by a lot of shrapnel during his efforts to bail. I remember getting enraged by even these brief moments at the time.

Now that the election is over and though I'm disappointed with the outcome of the election, I'm way less stressed out over the situation because what's done is done. It's also really nice to have my favorite talk show back in my life again.

That said, it does suck that I'm going to have to relive the build to the election again, but I have to admit, it's way more interesting now that time has passed and I'm able to breathe. Who knows, listening to this coverage with a clear mind may allow me to gain insights that I just would see back in the heat of the moment.

I'll be sure to keep you posted if I do find anything noteworthy. Until then...

Talk to you tomorrow,

The Wicker Breaker