So, here I am...made a half-century. It's all downhill from here not that it was spectacular getting to this point.
50.
Hello. Now I'm officially an old cranky bastard. At least that's what the 18-49 demos think of me and others, although I did recently buy a new mattress, (NO, not that one), and consume vast amounts of Peets coffee, so I hope and assume they keep me on their mailing list.
The bottle is gone. Have to. Issues galore, and yes, everything you read about me and the rumors in the tabloids are true. (I will have no further comment.)
I might as well throw out all my greatest lines tonight because beginning tomorrow, I'll feel as if I was that Steve Martin character, (minus the million or two), playing footsie with Claire Danes in "Shop Girl", (a movie that about ten people saw and made roughly a hundred bucks). He was a shade south of 50 and she was about 30. They ended up falling in love, I think, but anyway, that only happens in Hollywood anyway. Suffice to say, it was a charming film--rent it if you didn't see it and you'll know what I mean.
Fifty. Like the BIG, 5-0, just not Hawaii 5-0. Damn, where's Dano when you need him? You know, if there a few more "Dano's" in the world and less Lew Dickeys, we'd all be in a safer place. Just sayin'.
I don't know what the future portends. Scary? Damn right. Paranoid, no, but definitely hypochondriac-central, which now I can use as a sound excuse--shit, I'm frickin' 50! No more trips to Disneyland alone for fear of being probed by the authorities. (Psst, you should never go to amusement parks alone past 35--just a tip).
I'm 50. Which supposedly is the new 40, but I'm not 40 and feel at times I can be 35, yet 55 eternally would be cool. Chris Rock, who shares a birthday with me is 47, but looks about 36. The Kutcher schmuck is 34, but could pass for 25. He slept with Demi Moore so he gets brownie points. Then again, Demi has issues, She's not the hot chick she was in "Ghost", but I've seen worse.
One thing--I'm now a certified, living, middle-aged, 50 year-old heterosexual. I hear they're making a comeback. You don't get a body like mine overnight--it takes years of neglect.
50. Have done it all...cars, ads, radio, TV, BLOGGER, (ouy)--(psst, so this blogger walks into a bar...)
My life is an open book. I'm happy to have made it past this part and can only hope that it gets a little more tranquil down the road. Those of you that despise me, still, yeah, I can't say that I fault you because even I admit I'm a bona-fide pain in the royal ass, which given today's circus, isn't all that bad.
One thing I've learned is that no matter how hard you try, things have a way of evening out. That's EVENing, like you know, karma is a bitch either way--been there done that. Still trying to cheat life and request the Almighty, whoever he/she/it is, that they give me a few more rounds on planet Earth. I'm not picky, God or Goddette.
You know, I never thought I'd be doing this. I can't write worth a shit, but for now, this will have to do. You don't turn 50 and NOT do this. It's mandatory even if you're a medicated recovering alcoholic that's been sober for 22 straight days. (Thank God for AA and a Jewish mother).
A small debt of gratitude to those of you who remain as my aces. My small posse of peeps that have put up with me and guided me through the tough times, past, present and future. Life is a little like that 70's thing, the Rubik's cube. Every conceivable combination? Give me chance to screw it up even if I hit a homer and I'll still screw it up. It's just so, we'll, Richard Lieberman.
50.
Scared? Sure. Anxious? Always. Hurt? Ya think? Confident? Just enough to keep on trudging and try to do this. This, whatever you think of THIS, seems to have found a niche, for better or worse. I keep saying to myself that I wish it were 1980 again and I was at that "Day on the Green" with the Eagles and Chicago, (the REAL Chicago and not the 20 or so impostor bands); anyway, the world seemed a tad more comfortable and less threatening. Shit, I'm starting to recollect. Dammit. Stop, you a-hole, you're damn 50 today and you keep going down that road, you'll soon be yearning for another Barry Manilow concert!
50. Let's groove tonight. (A damn great Earth, Wind, and Fire song that was essential 1980ish)--along with Lipps Inc, Bruce Jenner, Skyline High, The Gong Show, and odd/even gas lines. Go Bears! Go Titans!, (Skyline) and dammit, Lieberman, you're 50.
I mean, seriously now...
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Happy Birthday, and thank you for this blog!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on surviving to 50. I'll be there with you in a couple of months and your post hit way to many points for me as well.
ReplyDeleteWhere is all this weird hair coming from while the rest of it turns white? I had to buy a damn nose trimmer! How humiliating is that! I'm dreading the moment when the damn AARP mailer comes.
Good luck with your dreams which hopefully will include a few less attacks on my poor KGO!
Mel - regarding your last sentence about "dreams." Your "poor KGO" my ass. You're part of what killed it.
DeleteYou suck.
What a vile nasty piece of work you are Mr. Anonymous. If you can hurl a comment like that without signing your name to it; sir, madam or donkey you are a coward! I'll have you know that I worked at KGO on the news side long before the current changes and continue to do the job I did before we changed formats.
DeleteThis is what I hate about the internet. Jerks like yourself who would never have the guts to say something like that to my face in a bar or on a street.
Mel, why don't you start your own blog about the great KGOne instead of hanging out here? You are tiresome. The majority of us hate what Cumulus did and seeing your name here only makes me hate Cumulus that much more. In short, you suck.
DeleteI'll leave whether or not I should post here up to Rich who moderates his comments section. I was taken aback at the vitriol considering that I was in fact commiserating with Rich about turning 50 and the strange things that start happening to our bodies. Again, nobody warns you that hair will start growing in strange places even while it won't grow in others!
DeleteI do actually have plans and have registered the name for a new blog, but it won't be about media criticism. While I'm interested in reading what Rich has to say I have little interest in trying to cover the ins and outs of local media. For my part, I'm more interested in doing the reporting (especially on Science and health stories) than in covering the business. I think that would be true about many people who work full-time in say accounting are unlikely to devote their spare time to report on the changes in their business.
Since Rich is covering one of the stations I work at, I feel it is only fair that I make my views known when he is off base or frankly just totally wrong. When someone says the same about my reporting I think it is only fair to take it on the chin when I'm wrong.
I honestly don't get the rage. Upset yes, dislike of the new format and unhappiness with Cumulus sure thing, but the real vicious hatred and anger in some of the comments. Just seems weird to me and I wonder if the changes at KGO aren't at least in part displaced anger in people's lives about other issues.
But again to Rich. Happy Birthday! In the end we all feel passionately about this industry and while we may disagree let us do so with respect for each other's motivation. Where I have failed to live up to that ideal I apologize and will strive to be more fair in the future.
As someone who's made it past that landmark and survived, I've got to tell you, turn it over and wear it like a badge of courage. You didn't make it this far to fold your tent. If you've taken that extra step and got sober on top of it, then you've chosen hope. Where there's hope there is life and vice versa. Be kinder to yourself. You shall feel better...you'll see. (and listen, it can be fun to remember shit like seeing concerts where bands could really sing and play instruments. I'm HAPPY to be old enough to remember what it once was. Thank God you're not young now. It ain't the greatest of times)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Rich! I turned 50 3 months ago - had a big ol' party weekend in NYC with friends. If the 50's are as good as my 40's were, then it's all uphill. Congratulations on 22 days of sobriety, too!
ReplyDeleteDon't sweat the small stuff. Instead, go to the Gilroy outlets and enjoy the Senior Discounts that you're finally eligible to exploit (Tuesdays only, must be age 50 or older).
ReplyDeleteIt's another five years till you can eat off IHOP's Senior (discounted) Menu. Till then, like me, you'll have to hope they don't card you. :-)
Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThere are many joys ahead, Rich. I am almost 59 and met the love of my life shortly after my 50th birthday.
I hope you have a wonderful celebration, sans booze.
(p.s. once in a while, I like to tell people I am 65! That way they can say, "Wow, you look so YOUNG!")
Aloha Richard,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on passing this amazing milestone. As my darling Mother told me when I turned fifty, "Darling, the best is yet to come!". Since then, I survived a brain tumor, the death of my Mom, sweet mother-in-law, brother, and the birth of two of the sweetest grand babies ever!!! All that, and, I turned sixty! WOW...Mom was right..lthe best is yet to come! And the blessings keep coming... Keep up the great job with your challenges, your blog is great, your insights are honest , and to me, your writing is something I look forward to reading!!!
Mahalo nui loa,
Melissa
I'm still dealing with hitting my 40s five years ago. Damn...
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you as you move through your second half-century! It's very hard to believe we're "middle-aged". Ain't I still a little hellion punk? No? I've been a responsible professional for over 15 years? Jaysuz...
Happy Birthday, Rich. That's a very cool first name, you know... ;-)
old pink, great parenthetical! I hate not being young anymore (see my above post on being in my 40s...), but it would be terrible to be young in this day and age...
ReplyDeleteDitto what OLD PINK had to say. AND, You're right...you can't write worth a shit and judging by it I thought you were in your late 30"s early 40"s trying to appeal to the KNBR crowd of youngsters...but despite your lack of tack, I check in now and then to get the gossip of who got fired and who got hired in our "local" media circus. You do a good job keeping us posted.
ReplyDeleteOnce you sober up you will learn how much you really know and what you are really good at, you'll be really fine with it, and you won't feel a need to prove it to anyone!
Uh, read more closely there. I do believe our Rich is "sobered up" and his writing is better than ever!
DeleteHappy birthday, thanks for the blog...don't agree some times but you make me think. Remember one day at a time...I've been doing it that way for 38 years, best thing I ever did.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Mr. L....and many more
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Son! wait to you get to 65, My Kaiser dropped from $427 a month to $75! I can also get a Senior coffee at the Golden Arches for .47cents. The older I get, the more money I am saving! I look at it this way, Richard, Middle age was 50, so half my life was gone, when I get to 75, only a quarter is left! hey, just for one day, go out and have a belt on me and try to increase your 2% by doubling it!
ReplyDeleteHow did you stay below $500, Mike? I'm so envious! I'm only 51 and Kaiser has me up to $640 a month with no prescription discount. You must have given Kaiser a desirable forecast on occasion! ;)
DeleteAnd seriously Rich, the big 50 isn't really that old. It just looks that way on paper! :)
They left out...How many years left thoughts,how many wasted years,and how many woman lost that you could have kept with one right sentence at the right time.
ReplyDeleteLook at it this way, Rich -- at least you're in the "new" KGOne demo! You've got five years to go, buddy! Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteClint Eastwood is 81 and he looks younger than you! What the hell did you do to yourself? Rich, you know I am messing with you. I read your blog on a daily basis and thoroughly enjoy it. Perhaps it is time to take up Bikram Yoga? Some of the hottest women I have seen in their 40s and 50s do yoga, there's gotta be something to it! Keep up the good work. Here's to a long and healthy life. Lé Chaim bro!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Rich. I'm two years older than you. Had my trouble with the bottle years ago, too. Many editors of my era had the same problem. Life is much better without it. Hope you had a good one.
ReplyDelete50 (and older) is when you suddenly like ABBA when you used to hate them. 50 (and older) is when you see old re-runs of Father Knows Best on KTLA (which I get in the Bay Area) and suddenly realize it actually WAS a good show (better than a lot of what is on now, anyway. I must have been too young to have appreciated it as a kid). 50 (+ a few) is when you see old re-runs of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (another I'm getting lately) and realize just how twisted that guy was, and why our entire baby-boomer generation became so, er, eclectic. (I have 7 years on you so I wax nostalgic for slightly different things). But I think we can all agree that times did seem kinder and gentler then than now.
ReplyDeleteHere's a funny thought I've wanted to share ever since I worked as an Activities Assistant in a retirement community ... You know the stereotype of the "old folks" all sitting in the recreation room with their wheelchairs and their walkers having some lounge singer play piano and serenade them with greatest hits of World War 2 and show tunes ... often a sing-a-long ... I couldn't help but wonder what that sight would look like when it came to be our turn ... what songs would WE be singing in our 80's and 90's? Inagaddadavida? Light My Fire? Stairway to Heaven? Sympathy For The Devil? Strawberry Fields Forever? The thought of it cracked me up. But what's worse, what the heck are the rapper generations going to do? Be rappin' at 86? What music will they look fondly back on and want to be entertained by? Eminem? Weird thought, isn't it ...
50 is cool, Rich; "Nothing to be hung about" ... besides, you look maaahhhvelous!
I passed the same milestone not long ago, and I share your thoughts and ruminations. It ain't so bad...it's nice to have the patina of perspective that can only be acquired with some vintage. I am a newcomer to this blog, but I like it a lot and it is nice to know a little more about the blogger. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. What an honest, refreshing post. Hitting the 50 mark freaks most people out, but really, once you get over the shock and dread, it's not bad at all. You've got lots of life to live especially with being on the road to recovery. You'll see. Hope it's smooth sailing for you, but smooth or not, please keep going in a healthy direction. Life will be good most days. Those big birthdays can be tough. I appreciate the blog especially with the demise of KGO, you have provided a comfortable place for all us lost souls.
ReplyDeleteOh, here's a suggestion that works great for everyone. Every time you think something shitty about yourself, make yourself come up with something positive, or two things. It's easy and you'll feel so much better. The good things are just as true as the bad.
Actually Dr.Dean says that 60 is the New 40 and 70 is the New 50. All of this means that the 50s are the New 30s ... Happy BDay!
ReplyDelete50? What a surprise. You don't look a day over 60... Unless there is truth to the rumor that KGO photo shopped all your internet pics..
ReplyDeleteAh, quitcherbitchen... I'm 61, you young punk. And I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteScott Gilbert from the Radio Mall.
Happy Birthday Rich! BTW was Edith Dick (Not a joke name) still teaching English and Latin when you went to Skyline?
ReplyDeleteA Skyline Alum.
Happy Birthday to a fellow Titan!! Take it one day at a time. I did and haven't had a drink in 35 years. Stay positive and never get too tired or hungry. Keep talking about KGO and maybe they'll start listening to you.
ReplyDeleteHey, Rich, Happy, happy birthday! Congratulations on the sobriety ...sure it will give you more years. Love your blog, check it many times a day. Don't listen to the idiots, there are plenty here that appreciate you and your TALENT! Treasure the good memories...you've probably already learned from the bad memories (just think what a sage you are!) And don't try digging into things you don't remember...if they were good memories, probably weren't that great, and any of the bad ones are probably worse than you thought. I'll be hitting 70 this year and not too sure how I feel about it, but hope to stay on the right side of the grass and enjoy it whatever!
ReplyDeleteI knew you couldn't be all bad--you're an Aquarian! Happy Birthday! OMG, I'm old enough to be your father, I'm turning 73 on Friday. Thank God for wine...
ReplyDeleteA request...can your site be fixed so when we click on responses we are directed to the top of the page? I'm assuming that this has something to do with your site and not my Mac.
All the best to you on your continuing journey. Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm 51 but, inside, I think we all feel like we're 23 years old and that's a good thing. My suggestion!! Don't give in to leg suspenders, overalls, elastic waist pants and/or any other old man accoutrement. Hit the gym and walk/run/lift some of that stress out of your body. Write more too!!! You'll feel better for it, live longer for it and, so true, find yourself much much MUCH MORE SEXY!! :::grins::: Grats on the sobriety!! Hard work, daily struggle but well worth it in the end!!
ReplyDeleteJ in Santa Rosa
50??
ReplyDeleteYou're just a BABY!!
(Wait till you're over 60, when things REALLY begin to fall apart.)
Happy Birthday. The fun really is just beginning!
Thanks for this blog, esp. the KGO elements which help us all continue a sense of community amidst the betrayal.
Congratulations. Never mind about turning 50 - Your life is just beginning - clean & sober. Fasten your seat belt - you are in for an exciting ride.
ReplyDeleteA friend of Bill W.s' for 37 yrs.
congrats on going sober. Many of us have had to face this one down. May God grant you many years of sobriety and a full recovery. Now it's time to start taking care of body mind and soul, else the wheels start falling off after the half century mark.
ReplyDeleteBut how old are you in your head? I've always been about 25 years younger in my head than in real life.
ReplyDeleteYo, Rich. If one closes his eyes and lets things drift a bit, I would swear that you are sounding something like Mark Morford over at the Chronicle. Good or bad -- who knows?? It may be time for the two of you to go out a hoist a few together, eh??
ReplyDeleteCheers
If someone is newly sober, or hell, long time sober....you don't suggest they go "hoist a few". Unclear of the concept? Stay the course Rich.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated birthday, Rich. I'm coming up on my 51st in a couple months and still get a shock when I remember my age--or see a photo. Your blog has grown on me and I appreciate your honesty.
ReplyDeleteAnd happy now 26 days of sobriety.
Good job Rich and Happy Birthday. You always make me laugh. We all have our peaks and valleys.
ReplyDelete-- Your press box partner from the early eighties at Candlestick.