Annika the Celebrity

Today Annika will be going to our favorite radio station for a tour and possibly to appear on air. Normally I don't believe parents should allow their children to be exploited, but Annika has become a minor Rochester celebrity as far as I am concerned.

It all started when Annika realized that Sandy and I were winning contests and talking to the DJ, Tom Garrett. Between the two of us, Sandy and I have won most of the prizes and contests that the station offers:

• Gift certificate for dinner at Red Lobster.
• Gift certificate for dinner at Victorias Italian Restaurant.
• Gift certificate for dinner at JenPache Japanese Steakhouse.
• Movie tickets.
• A 3 foot party sub from Subway.
• $20 in cheese at the Pine Cheese Mart in Pine Island (twice).
• Front row tickets and backstage passes to meet Donny Osmond.
• More Sierra Mist than we wanted.

About a year ago, Annika called the station and sang the Y105 jingle for Tom Garret. He kept the clip and plays it occassionally. Last year, Annika called the station after a contest to say "I didn't win. I haven't won for a long time." They kept that clip too, and play it sometimes during contests.

So it was no surprise to me when Tom Garrett called our house one morning to have a little contest with Annika and allow her to win a prize. Then he invited her down to visit the studio and maybe even get on the air.

So this morning Sandy and Annika will make the trip to the station, pick up Annika's 12 pack of Sierra Mist, and meet the morning crew. She may even be on the radio. I only wish I could listen at work, but maybe I can run out to my car.

. . . .I went out to the car and drove over to Quik Trip to get a cuppucino while I waited. I heard them announce that she was at the station, and I heard her voice announcing the temperature in downtown Rochester. Then I had to get back to work. . . .

Later I found out from Sandy that they were at the station for about an hour, being showed how things work, like where they sit to produce the programs, how they get their music and what technologies are used to play it. They also saw some other Y105 DJs. Annika was allowed to read the weather for Rochester -- "51 degrees" -- and Tom was kind enough to interview her on the air and record the audio clip on a CD for Annika to take home.

Annika at Y105 -- audio clip