The Great American Icon

“Papa,” he asked John excitedly. “Do you know what our country’s animal is?! It’s the Bald Eagle!!”

That was my fact du jour to John John but not before I asked him if he knew what our national animal was. He was very excited about this concept and came at me rapid fire with his thoughts.

Question: What is our country’s official animal.

John John’s reply: Tiger?! Cheetah?! …Dinosaur?!

Two Things John John

Item One:

John John is a bit of a fraidy cat. Example: He’s been sending his little sister to go turn on lights in dark rooms since she was about 2 1/2. When I say ‘boo,’ his screams echo far longer than Koko’s. There are no two ways about it – brave in that way, he is not.

Recently at dinner, he was recounting some scary experience he had had recently, nay, shared with Koko recently. Maybe it was something on TV that he thought was scary. The actual item is unimportant.

“Koko and I are both scardey-cats, right Papa?” He asks John for confirmation and reassurance.

“Well, yes,” says John, it seems the ever obliging dad. But no.

“Except Koko’s is a function of her age.”

Stated so matter-of-factly that the meaning is totally lost on John John, who just agrees, “yeah.”

Meanwhile, I’m busting a gut over in the corner by myself trying not to draw any attention.

Item Two:

John John has requested some fruit after finishing his meal, and he is allowed. He departs to the kitchen to choose said fruit, and wash and clean it for consumption. This latter period is taking some time.

“Is everything OK back there?” I ask worriedly.

“Yes, and you will all be so amazed at what I am making to share with you,” he lets me know.

The time finally comes, and he bring out a bowl of nectarines and peaches which he has cut up for everyone in our familiy’s consumption. They are, certainly, delicious.

“Aren’t you happy that I’m sharing so well?” he asks me in a weird reverse humble moment. Just as I am busy eye-rolling John across the table, John John pipes in with his other wisdom:

“Peaches are mammals.”

A better parent than I would not have laughed as hard. I did try to keep it in, long enough for him to eek out, “I know, because of their fuzzy hair.”

I either aged 10 years, or got back the same. Not sure which, not sure that it matters.

Ian Brennan recording the voiceless Mayhem special on kfjc

Tanzanian albinism project guitarist
Recording the Voiceless

Month of mayhem special

The month of Mayhem is the time when DJs make special programming. I didn’t know what I would do until just a week ago today I recorded the interviews that will Air on the special. Interviewing is not easy, but I learned some things and I’m sure the audience can do the same. I hope I can edit it into a good interview.

KFJC MAYHEM 24 NOON-2PM
RECORDING THE VOICELESS
PRODUCER IAN BRENNAN
IN CONVERSATION WITH
HEMROID THE LEADER
“WHITE AFRICAN POWER”
“THEY WILL KILL YOU, IF YOU CRY”
“I HAVE NO EVERYTHING HERE”
___

PRODUCER IAN BRENNAN TRAVELS THE GLOBE
RECORDING ALBINOS, PRISONERS, SURVIVORS OF GENOCIDE, POVERTY,
AND WAR
JOIN US AS WE DIVE DEEPER INTO THE BACK CATALOG
THURSDAY MAYHEM 24TH FROM NOON-2PM ON KFJC