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Welcome to the "Bradner.cc "Biography and History" Wepage"!!
(last
updated 03/07/10)
Personality Snapshot:
Current Playlist:
(When I'm not listening to WIOT, WVKS, or WWWM - or other Toledo area
radio stations!! (SPD,CWA,...) LOL!!)
Okay, let's start off with the "obligatory MP3s" I've been posting on my
pages....(*and the winners are:...)
Pussycat Dolls... Taylor Swift.... Miley Cyrus....
OH yeah...and "BILL BRADNER"!!!!
:-D)
WHat??
"Back to CD's"...
(**retro mood note - 9/14/08 - Angel city - Face to face vinyl LP - dug this one out
special for B-days past memories)
Now 32 (Do't ask it's my Daugheter's LOL)
Nickelback - Dark Horse
Kidz Bop Kids
- Kidz Bop 14 (LOL @ PD's song on here :-D)
Some of those "teenie bopper" albums - Hannah Montana, High School musical
I,II, etc.. etc.. :-D)
Kidz Bop Kids - Kidz Bop 13 (back to school - 25/25 spelling by Ky on her first 5th grade quiz!)
Saliva
- Blood... (somethin or other, LOL) - I like that cut "Ladies and Gentlemen"
KID ROCK - "Rock-n-roll JESUS"!! "Amen, "R-n-R
Jesus", and "Blue jeans and a rosary" are my favorites. (I guess there is one, maybe two other tracks that mention GOD or
JESUS...) (Not recommended for ignorant or niave ears please!!;-)
Monster Ballads XMas - (Toledo Blade Chris Borreli gave
this a terrific review (Sun. 12/9/07) - I just LOVE both CHRISTMAS (music especially) and Heavy Metal! "Thank you GOD for
BOTH! LOL!:-)
Twisted Sister - "A twisted Christmas" - "Faithful" ROCKS!!
Disney - Disney Mania 5 - B-day gift to Ky
from Aunt Bonny - good for "to and fro" school transport!:-)
Kidz Bop Kids - Kidz Bop 12 - (A B-Day gift to Ky from me.
I like track one, she "nicknamed" the second track "the WhootHoot song" lol!)
Sports Rock - Sports Rock! (Ya all ready
for this! :-)
Kidz Bop Kids - Kidz Bop 11 (reward to Kylie, for a week of "purple" attitude at school!:-)
High School
Musical - The Soundtrack (reward to my daughter for her receiving 2 consecutive 100%'s on her spelling test! :-)
Rolling
Stones - (1971 - 1993) - would you believe I own over 600 vinyl albums, and of those only 2 are RS LPs!!
Various Artists
- Metal Ballads (*note - back when I used to play in a "cover bands" - we had 18, of the tracks on this CD on our setlists!!
Did we know how to pick'm or what!??!)
Kidz Bop Kids - "Kidz Bop 9" (Kylie knows all the lyrics! LOL!!)
Nickelback -
"All the right reasons" (I love tracks 3,4 and 11 - not necessarily for the lyrics, but THE MUSIC!)
Kidz Bop Kids - "Kidz
Bop 8! (Thanks Kylie! Great taste in music! :-)
Motley Crue - "Red, White and Crue"!
Collective Soul - "Youth" (I
especially like track 8! :-)
Kidz Bop Kids - "Kidz Bop 6" (Great cover of Jet's "Are you gonna be my girl? (1,2,3..LOL!)
:-)
(*note - Lately on my MP3 player, some Christian Contemporary music has been showing up - In particular: Chris Tomlin
- "Indescribable" and "Charlie Hall" - "Micah 6:8" :-)
Releases I would
like to buy:
Metallica
Nickelback
Pussycat Dolls
Theory of a Deadman
...
Latest Movies seen at the cinemas:
"Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince" - Ky and I saw
this at a saturday matinee - "Best HP so far!"
"ICE AGE III in 3D" - Aunt Bonny bought hers, Ky's and my tickets for this
as a JULY 4th treat!
"UP" - Ky and I thought we were buying a ticket to the 3D version, even brought our own glasses.
It wasn't until after the previews, and the movie started that we realized it was the regular version, and took our glasses
off, LOL!
"MONSTERS VS. ALIENS in 3D" - reward to Kylie for good grades.
"BOLT" - with Kylie and her cousin Britney
(Kylie's aunt Angie has an Alaskan Husky - looks like "Bolt"!!
"Kung Fu Panda" - with Kylie..(we later bought the DVD)
"Batman:
Dark Knight" - Buddy Dave & I finally gettin started on the "summer 08 movie fare"..yeah!
"Mad Money" - THE Katie (Holmes)
Cruise (TOLEDO, OH USA native!:-)
"Ratitouille" - Ky, my Sis and I saw it at the matinee, down in Cincinnati (a definite
DVD material - late fall 07)
"Spiderman 3" - checked it out with my buddy Dave - dark spidey!
"Talladega NIghts" - Will
(Well, with a name close to my old "nickname", ya know he's funny!! LOL!!
"Superman Returns" - Loved "The Kid" (Special
thanks to my Ex's father for the "Free Ticket"! Thanks Dad, you Rock! :-)
"Cars" - CARtoons and NASCAR - wotta combination!
(we had to get "psyched up" for upcoming ARCA race that weekend!)
"Over the Hedge" - Bruce and Whoopi voices (Wooohooot!:-)
"Mission
Impossible 3" ("Go Tommy! Go Tommy!":-)
"Inside Man" - Denzel Wahington "Rocks" (LOL - see closing scene:-)
"Thank
you for smoking" - Latest movie with THE "Katie Cruise" in it!! It rocks!!
"16 Blocks" (Great job Bruce, very exciting
- and we loved the great supporting actor!)
"Jarheads" (remember I had 3 relatives that were Marines!)
"War of the Worlds"
- (another "Go Tommy" Please! :-)
"Batman Begins" - Best Batman movie in my opinion (and who potrays that assistant D.A.!?!!
- OMG, is she pretty!! She's a real "knockout!" LOL!)
Movies I want to
go see:
Newest Willis & Gere movies:-)
Latest Reading Material:
Daily
newspaper (Toledo Blade to be more specific:-)
"The Bible" - as part of my Bible Study cirriculum (:-)
(And what ever
else I see at the library, and decide to pickup and start reading.....I'm not much of a "reader"...can ya tell?!? LOL!)
Favorite TV shows:
"Local News"/"National Network News"
"ESPN Sportscenter"
"CNN
mornings"
"Wheel of Fortune"
"Jeapordy"
"E.T." (The "Katie" was picked as 7th most interesting celebrity of 2005!
Woohoo!)
"America's Funniest Home Videos" - I appear in a video on it! (reruns)
Latest
DVD's I've seen:
"The Hangover" - Destined to be a Classic(K! LOL!:-)
"The Happening" - Love Cage movies,
this one had a cool "Genisis 1:1" ending bible analogue.
"Mall Cop" - Ky and I rented this one for a "Movie on the family
room floor" movie. (She was almost asleep before the end)
"Bedtime Stories" (I like the Adam/Kids combination, LOL!)
"The
Day the Earth Stood Still" - (kinda cool effects, Keannu rocks!)
"Godfather II" - picked this one up for 50 cent rental
(because the video game had come out and I rented that too)
"The ROCKER" - Had to laugh at this (At my current rate, I'll
be "Rockin in a ROCKER" before I get to that level!:-)
"Madagascar 2" - Reward to Kylie for her "Harriet Tubman" research
paper completion!
"Swing Vote" (As a parent I VOTE they tone down the cursing:-)
"Max Payne" - Excellent movie (Just
as good as the video game Dave and I used to "whoop on"! *this is an "Add":-)
"Get Smart" - Excellent, reminds me of "LOL"
in front of TV after elementary school!
"Hancock" - Like I sez: "GOTTA see every "Big WILL" movie!
(Our daughter LOVES
this movie! (ever since I played the song "MIAMI" for her...everything's "WILL, WILL, WILL" LOL!! Our favorite line from
this movie is from the mom, after she goes over to Jon's trailer, and then they "have their talk": "no.....I'M STRONGER!"
(**WITH accompanying "pretty smirk and "half-smile"!!":-P)
"Super Troopers" (actually didn't see "entirity" I turned it
off an "dropped-boxed it" when Cruise's character "loses it" (but I liked some of the gags in the early running:-)
"Wanted"
- (Oh man, Mrs. Pitt is gonna be my "leadin lady" for many of "me flicks" If "I" can get it "written in":-)
"Game Plan"
- The ROCK could definetely ANCHOR a good D!
"Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer" - I love comics!
"Juno" - Free
trial Vid from Netflix - well worth time spent
"Casino Royale" - that new guys a pretty good "James"
"Kung Fu Panda"
- reward to Ky, for a 3.5gpa grade card!
"21" - (I couldn't "count" how many things I liked about this movie, LOL!)
"Leatherheads"
- "Clooney is Cooool!"
"Keyboards for Beginners" (They say "Keys" is one of THE best instruments to begin on!:-)
"Guitar
for Beginners" (It helps me "tune my ear too":-)
"What Happens in Vegas" (Okay, at this one I laughed!)
"Miss Conception"
(ahh..free rental, not really my type)
"Rambo" - Better than "Rambo; First Blood". (But Gory!)
"the Bee Movie" - Seinfeld
is good, but I thought the movie was a little "weak":-)
"Semi-Pro" - man, there's about 3 Ferrel movies to see!
"I am
Legend" - I love the Will movies!
"Oceans 13" - Cool "guy" movie...
"Pirates of the Carribean: At world's end" - wow!
"Ratitouille"
- Reward to Ky for spelling & MEAP tests!
"Meet the Robinson's" - reward to Ky for Help around the house (painting, carving
pumpkin, dishes) plus two consecutive 100% spelling tests.
"Surfs Up!" with Kylie (Bday present from me. We laughed, I
"add to your library" kinda disney movie:-)
"The Breakup" (10/07) - (Guys version - OMGosh - Arghhh!:-)
"MI3" - watched
it late nite with my sis Bon, (better in the theater..lol)
(Started "The Queen" with my M & D, Sis, Nephew, & Daughter...but
mom and dad had already seen it at the theater, so we turned it off and played guestures. LOL. Also started "Babel" and "Pursuit
of Happyness" movies (Gotta love Will Smith and kids LOL), but they were on school nites, so I turn em off early.)
"Happy
Feet" (a reward for my daughter for a good grade card!)
"Flushed Away" - They "Squeek" out some good "Bond and Indiana
Jones" jokes in this one! LOL!
"Open Season" - (a reward to my daughter for a "B" on her science test) - Ky and I laughed
at the "Bunnies" :-)
"World Trade Center" (Thank you ALL the Heros!)
"United 93" - we still pray for the victims, families
and friends. "God Bless their Souls"
"Scary Movie 4" - (Okay it was funny, but I still like the first 3 best!)
"We
were soldiers" - (Seems like "Mel" is always in the news, so we dug this one out of the archives again. Reminded me that
I had to register with the selective service then, when the draft was still possible).
"Blue collar comedy returns" - ("Hyuck,
Hyuck" :-)
"Last Holiday" - kinda cute - liked the ending!
"Hoodwinked" - (my daughter and I laughed and laughed at
the "singing goat" scene! LOL!)
"Chronicles of Narnia" (Kylie liked the Lion, I thought the professor was profound)
"Chicken
Little" - (my daughter likes the line: "Son, in about 3 seconds I'm going to scream like a little girl..." LOL!)
"Walk
the Line" - (I liked the "Live" duet scenes! - and honestly, my ex-wife and I, during our marriage actually toured Folsom
Prison once! Cool! :-)
"40 year old virgin" (I laughed at many parts of this - They say that truth is funnier than fiction!
LOL!)
"Wedding Crashers"
"Wallace and Grommit: Attack of the Were-Rabbit"
"American Pie; Band Camp"
"Mr. and
Mrs. Smith"
"Stepford Wives"
"Oceans Twelve" - (George is kewl!)
"Kill Bill 2" (library) (arggghhh - they got me!!
LOL!!)
Pet Peeve:
Illicit Drugs! (It's not the people that
do them so much, but it's just the drugs I HATE!!)
My Ideology on age:
"I
may be 48 years in analogical age, but in my "musical" soul, I'll be an eternal 18!" (I like some good music in every genre!!
:-)
Wish:
An amazing life for all of us (peace on earth, no
disease, suffering, famine, etc...)! Oh, and for myself: "ME" (and maybe my "Kid Kylie" too:-) becoming "Really, Really,
Rich, Famous, and LOVED, baby"!!
My "Bucket List":
(Things to
do before I "kick the bucket"!:-)
1. Meet and talk for 3 hours in private, in the oval office, with a presiding "President
of the United States of America"!!
2. Perform an entire concert on drums, at a "standing room only" rock concert at Madison
Square Gardens!!
3. Lengthy "Cameo appearances" in movies! (preferably starring Katie Holmes and Pamela Anderson!! woohoo!)
4.
Fly in Outer Space!! (Bonus for "walking on the moon"!)
5. Travel to Isreal and walk on the land where Jesus walked, pray
where he prayed, and dip where he was baptized!!
6. Three week vacation to "Espana" (TOLEDO) and Europe (Landmarks in
Europe and England: Rome, vatican city, venice, paris, Buckingham palace, liverpool,...)
7. See and explore Mount Rushmore,
AND the Grand Canyon. (Flown over them, haven't seen them "upclose" yet!:-)
8. Cruise to Mexico! (and a MONTH "get away"
in Hawaii!)
9. Two week Sight Seeing in New York City, NY USA!!
10. Drive a NASCAR race car on a "offical NASCAR
track"
11. Attend and watch a Super Bowl from front row "50 yard line" seats!!
12. Indoor Skydiving!
13. Ride
the "Now Current" Highest and Tallest RollerCoaster in the world with my daughter (FRONT SEAT!:-)
14. Witness our daughter
making enough consecutive foul shots (1/2 time at NBA all-star game) to win $5 million!! (Even if she "just misses" $10 million!!)
15.
Quit Smoking!!
16. Start my own production and publishing company:
"BRADNER LLC" :-)
That's about
all I got for now, if you have a question or comment, email me, I'll try to send you a reply!!
(Remember you can view
some "Faux" (re-retouched) photos by going to "Bill Bradner's Geocities Webpage" (http://www.geocities.com/billbradner"). There you can view faux photos, (fake??!!:-)
of yours truly, with KATIE CRUISE, MEG RYAN, UMA THURMAN and HALLE BERRY!!
(okay don't laugh too hard!! :-)
Now
that ya know that, here's a couple things I got to say for ya:
I will
ALWAYS say "No" to drugs!! (I haven't done drugs since I was about 19 years old, and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER will again!!
I still REGRET ever having done them AT ALL!!!! :-)
I don't drink Alcohol!!
(Haven't even had as much as a drop of beer in more than 4 years! (since about April 1st, 2004) And actually KNOW I NEVER
will again! :-) ESPECIALLY NO drinking and driving! I pray for designated drivers!! :-)
I don't practice promiscuous sex (I have never cheated on any woman I was in a relationship with.
Never did, never will!! AND I only date women that aren't in another relationship!)
I don't abuse pornography! (It just ain't for some! **see explanation of "Promiscious Sex" above**
LOL!)
("Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they shall see the "face of God"!" - Matt, 5:8 KJV)
I don't own a gun! (Never have, and Never will!! Heck, I've never even been in a fistfight!
I just choose not to excersize my 2nd amendment right! Thank you very much! :-)
(*note - if you ask me no "NON-LEO" should
EVER NEED a gun!! LOL!!)
I proudly (and as often as possible) excersize
my "Right to Vote"! (I believe in the power of democracy! It's a Priveledge, that People all over the world wish
theyhad! Just do it! :-)
I don't like predjudices!! (Like the
bible says: we were all created equal!!)
I will always believe in the
righteousness of God!
(And First and Foremost, always try to live my life by the ten commandments!! Dat's da goal!!
ESPECIALLY - "Honor Thy Mother and Father!" (#6 - BUT the FIRST one mentioned in the book of Exodus!! :-)
Oh and yeah,
one final one: (there's lots more (Recycle, Conservatin, ...), but those are the mains: Everyday I pray for "Peace on Earth!"
That sure would Rock!! Ya know I hope that happens! SOON!!" :-)
I believe democracy and freedom will be the only
way of life for all!
I believe "We are all going to "make it", and all get "what we want"!"
I believe We will
end world hunger!
I believe We will stop Global warming!
I believe We will end the violence and hatred!
I
believe We will cure cancer!
I believe We will treat all others with respect and kindness!
I believe Women will
be treated as equals to men!
I believe ALL diseases and sicknesses are cured!
(AND... if you NEVER SMOKED, DON'T EVER, EVER START!! And if you do smoke; "Please try to quit!" Thank
you very much!! :-)
...AND yes, I believe Everyone Loves me too (maybe not QUITE as much as Our Lord, but somewhere
"very near the top"!:-), and we will always get along fine.
Okay, enough with the negatives! (LOL!) May I tell you
some of my "Likes" please? (note: "BONUS points" to those that do these things in a nice way "in front of me or others"!!
woohhooo!:-)
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing."
( - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ~ KJV)
I like those that care for, respect, and
compliment those older, sick, or less fortunate, than themselves.
I like those that "Thank American Veterans" for serving
our country. (Even if that veteran is "younger" in age).
I like those who have "good manners" and are considerate
of others.
I like those that talk positively about and practice religion openly. (To encourage others).
I like
those that follow the Lord's "10 commandments". (I think that one could pretty much "sum it up" right there! :-)
I
like those that "say Hi" (and/or give a friendly wave:-) and are friendly to others. (Even if they don't know them:-)
I
like those that are "positive" and "energetic", and talk about good things.
I like those that are "kind, caring, or
mentoring" to children. (or those less fortunate). (I especially like parents (Especially "groups of parents":-) that spend
time with their children doing positive, "civic minded" group activities.:-)
I like those that reward "positive action"!
I
like those that "bring out the best" in others!
I like those that like to have "good, clean" fun!
(check
back soon.....to be updated more soon! Send me your suggestions please)
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OUR BRADNER FAMILY HISTORY!!
(Circa 1965
- Did "We Just Rock!!" Or what??)
(At least that's the way I am gonna remember it! LOL! :-)
Okay, you asked
for it! Here's a brief synopsis of my background:
Born 9/14/60 in Toledo, OH, the youngest of 4 children. Robert,
our father, (born in VIRGINIA) had served as a pilot in the USAF in WWII (Atlantic Theater, P-51 Mustang, 38 missions, B-52 escort, 11 Engagements), and was a F.B.I. special agent. He retired as Senior Special Agent in charge of the Toledo home office. Past President
of the Lions Club, toledo host chapter, Past President of VGC, and served in many important postions on the
Aldersgate UMC finance and administrative boards as well
as a Trustee. (*5/17/05 note - He played golf in the inter-luncheon league (for rotary clubs) and did quite well. He won
his flight for club championship in the past, and to this day, still plays about 3 times a week. So far he has shot AT or
UNDER his age in golf more than 3 dozen times!! (The first time at age 71, the most recent about a month ago! by 10 strokes!!)
(I've told him I think he ought to try the "Seniors PGA tour!" LOL! :-) He and mom were avid bowlers for years, and enjoyed
bowling in several "Mom and Pop" PBA sanctioned leagues (I don't think he ever bowled a 300 - but I know for a while his average
was around 200! :-). He still is an active member of the society of former special agents of the F.B.I. (God Bless the F.B.I.!!
Thank you very much!! Wait, while I am at it: "God Bless EVERY American law enforcement officer, and respective agency!"
Not only here but worldwide!
(Like the good book says:
Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called the sons of God"! :-)
Wanda, our mother, (born in IOWA)
worked as a RN, a homemaker, retail sales associate, and a church education administrator/historian. (Our mother and father
met on a blind date, after the end of the war, when she was still in nursing school! :-) Mom and Dad still are (and always
will be!) two of our greatest heros! :-) Mom spends time on researching her family tree (flew to England about 12 years ago to trace her geneology and visit her ancestors estate - "The Richmonds"!!
She also has done a little research on my paternal ancestors, and found our Bradner family line goes back to Wicklow County Ireland!! :-), is still active in her High School Graduating Class Reunion (24
in her class!), horticulture, walks on the beach, is quite the seamstress, and organizing family photos (has over 4,000 of
them, all in matching albums, chronological order, names, dates and locations handwritten on each respective photo!:-) After
Mom and Dad's retirement, they traveled some. (Spain, cruises to several
Mexican destinations, Canada,
Hawaii, and several "Automobile touring" trips of the continental United
States (They have visited every state at least once, including Alaska!
:-)
Oh, and she is still the most proficient I know at sending greeting cards (with handwritten notes:-)!! I don't think
she misses ANY family/relative/friends - Birthday/Graduation/Wedding/Baby/Anniversary/Get Well/Sympathy/etc./etc...LOL!!
:-)
(note* - "Happy 59 years of marriage Mom and Dad!" -
- We couldn't have done it without YOU! LOL! :-) Below
is a family picture from their 50th wedding Anniversary! (...And many more!" :-)
(Here's
our latest "group photo" from a "reunion" here in Toledo August 23 - 26th, 2008 (not pictured - my nephew Andy, unable to
get away from work that weekend)
(AND,
F.Y.I. - I think just about EVERY mom is a hero!! Thanks Ladies!! Keep up the good work!! :-)
My 2 older sisters, Beverly
and Bonny, (Barbara, our other sister passed away when I was 14. God Rest her soul.) still keep in constant touch (mostly
via email or phone calls), from their respective homes in Sacramento and Cincinnati (Beverly with her husband Dave of 20+
years, and Bonny with her son Andy (their community's "Athlete of the week" during the summer of 2005! Currently a "Junior
in Business Management at OSU, with a 3.80 g.p.a.!:-)
Beverly attended UT where she majored in Fine Arts. She
has lived in NC (on a USMC base! I got to visit her there and stay on the
base with her! "Semper Fi"!!:-), Hawaii, and several cities in California.
She has owned and operated a horse farm (Arabians! :-), a chain of muffler shops, work as a technician repairing and installing
intricate electronic gauges in Air Force Fighter Jets, and now she and her husband own "Executive Engravers"!!
(A "Specialty Awards" company! (*Bev is a "Step mom" in her new family - And an
instant Grandmother!! (Well, I found out on thanksgiving of '07 (11/22/07) that she is ALREADY a GREAT-GRANDMOTHER!! (Wow,
our own MOM ain't even THAT yet!! ("WOW! When you're good you're good!LOL) Yeah, she has by her "stepson" Barry (tammy) Bestpitch
a "bestpitch" son with a 4year old and a two year old!! Kewl!! (Now she's "Great Grandma-MIMI "BEVERLY"!! Haha what a "ring"
that has to it!:-) Anyways, back to their work..... One of the plaques they have created, was commissioned by a group of
Western U.S. Indian tribes. The Indians presented the plaque to President Clinton. I saw the plaque and the presentation
ceremony on the national news! :-) The have have won numerous regional (and some national) contests for their creative and
innovative designs and techniques!
Bev is also a "Feng Shui" consultant. She has been studying Feng Shui for many years now, and has attained the F.S. level of M4!! (She has
attended seminars in various locations of the US and canada, in addition to overseas! (Indonesia, Europe, etc...)
She has
started her own Feng Shui Consulting Company, it's named "Global
Feng Shui Solutions"!!
Check it out!
May it bring you peace, harmony, and your own space! :-)
(**Bev and Dave also have a "German Shepherd together" - "DUKE"
(FPD - honorary Police Dog:-) - Click here to see "Duke's profile on Dogster.com
 "!!
Bonny, graduated B.G.S.U. one of the top students in her class, and worked
for Owens-Illinois at their worldwide headquarters in downtown Toledo
(as a certified managerial accountant; glass division! She once personally wrote an "O-I" check for $1,000,000.00!! WOW!!
Cool!! :-) Later, she accepted a managerial accounting position with an Automotive parts manufacturer/supplier and moved
to Cincinnati (yes she and Andy are REDS fans). After one last change of employers (to a leader in the Medical Equipment
and Supplies Industry), she is now happy to be the proud mother of an OSU freshmen (3.74 GPA after his first semester! "Go
Bucks"!). Her work has taken her on business trips to London, and
Paris!! (AND travel to - many US states, and caribbean locations! :-)
(Yeah! Now, if I may: Back to Bill! :-)
(Below is a picture of
yours truly, on Christmas Morning, 1973, seated behind my "first drum set"!!)
(Do you like the PJs!! Classy huh! LOL!
:-)
Born "William Bradner", I attended Monac
elementary school (were I had my first taste of the performing arts, in the 4th grade concert band, under band director Dale,
A. Dental.) I attended and graduated Toledo Whitmer High School,
graduating in June of 1978. (I studied Music there and "college prep").
I attended B.G.S.U.
on and off over 12 years, finally earning a B.S.B.A. degree in the spring of 1990. (I still managed to maintain my "alter
ego" drummer lifestyle though, performing with local, original, "Heavy Metal" bands, on the weekends (mostly at partys, nightclubs,
and self-produced concerts or shows! See the picture below, taken during the summer of 1983, at an amatuer "photo op"! Note
some of the downtown Toledo "revitalization" used as a backdrop! :-)
At
B.G.S.U., I majored in marketing, (specialization - advertising/completed
a minor in recording technology) and studied under Doctor John Holmes (sorry Katie fans, no immediate relation!). While attending
B.G.S.U. (Go Falcons! Nothing wrong with the UT Rockets either though, thank you! :-), I studied computer music and video
under Dr. Burton Beerman. I also worked as an assistant instructor in the B.G.S.U. performing arts recording studio.
(Below
is a picture of me with my "Coup de gra" drum kit!! (13 piece double-bass, Aspen white, "Rockstar" TAMA drum kit - 6 Zildjian cymbals!!
"Flippin' Sweet!" My motto at the time was: "Wild Willy" - "I like it Loud, Fast, and Hard!" LOL! Ahhh, the good 'ole
days!! :-)
I have always lived in the Toledo,
OH area. I was happily married to my lovely wife, Krista, for more than 7 and 1/2 years! And MOST importantly, I am the
Proud father of whom I think is "THE" GREATEST daughter in ALL of GOD's whole, wide world! Kylie!! (but, then again, I may
just be a LITTLE biased (LOL! :-), Thank you VERY, VERY, VERY much!! :-)
I am currently working as a housekeeping/maintenance
supervisor for a department store. (cleaning the store during the night). Here in Toledo, I will continue pursuing my hobby
of musician/songwriter! (maybe with a little comedy thrown in there for good measure! LOL! :-)
And besides all that, I
am just very, very, very, very happy to be alive and doing well! ("I'm SO Glad to be here with all of you!" :-)
Okay,
now that you know all that, I got a little room left to tell you about a "Special Event" that I got to participate a during
the summers of 2002!
In August of 2002, I was picked in a contest by one of the local radio stations, 1047 WIOT, to be a guest DJ for an hour, live on the air, on a sunday afternoon from 5:00 - 6:00 pm! (I
even got to pick 12 songs, to use as "my" playlist!) If you click on the text link below, (Yes, I was actually in the WIOT
studios with 104.7 disc jockeys, "The Great J.D." and the "Grizley Brown"!), you can download 2 soundbytes ( 1:08 soundbyte
and a 1:34 soundbyte3 ) of my DJing experience recorded off the radio!
RIGHT
CLICK below, and select "Save As" to download my:
http://www.geocities.com/billbradner/BillWIOTDJsoundbyte1.mp3 soundbyte file!
or RIGHT CLICK
here, and select "Save As" to download my:
http://www.geocities.com/billbradner/billwiotdj3.mp3
soundbyte file!
or: http://us.share.geocities.com/billbradner/billwiotdj3.mp3
The
audio files are in MP3 format (it is 1.04MB).
As the tag line for 1047 WIOT says: "It Just Rocks!!"
Not only did
I get to DJ that summer, but more recently, I also won 2 tickets from WIOT to attend the Sept. 17th, 2004 "Heywood Banks"
show at the Toledo
Connxtion Comedy Club!!
(It was quite a show, AND I have Mr. Banks autograph!! WooHooo!! - special thanks to Sheila
from the comedy connxtion for helping me with that one! :-)
(Hope to see another show there soon!! :-)
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Celebrity Sightings
by Bill!!
The following are accounts of occasions when I have been
fortunate enough to be near, or actually talk to a "Celebrity"!!
President
George W. Bush
I almost was able to relish a "Handshake", with his "Mr. President, Sir; The Commander-in-Chief"!!,
(at a 2000 Toledo campaign stop (Toledo Express Airport - when he was a Governor)
(and I heard him speak at the downtown
Toledo Seagate Centre - Re-Election 2004 campaign (with the First Lady laura**)
(**7/13/07 - prayers for family of "Lady
Bird Johnson" - God Bless your soul, first Lady ma'am)
(**Note from website editor - an accidental deletion of an early
website version of President Bush's 2000 "encounter" occured in 2006 - here is a "from memory only" re-post: )
....
The
following month I typed President Bush a Thank You letter. Included in the body of the letter, a prayer that one (or both)
of his daughters might be president (and, if in due time, his daughters weren't elected, maybe my daughter could be! LOL!
:-)
(Oh yeah, and I included a "faux" (re-touched/digitally altered) photo, of myself in a "pretend cameo appearance" as
a campaign aid, super-imposed in a still from the Katie (Holmes) Cruise movie "First Daughter"! LOL!) (You know, intended
as a kind of "comic relief"!) I think it's good (even for a president! LOL!) to enjoy a good laugh every once in a while!
I read that laughter is one of the best things to promote good health! :-)
(**Not I had also attended (with my fiance
Krista) a "Re-election "Bridge across America" rally for President Clinton, at Promenade Park in Downtown Toledo, in the fall
of 1996! (**Also in 2004, I heard another Democrat, "Senator John Kerry" speak at his FIRST "Main Street America" campaign
tour, in Bowling Green Ohio, during Fall of 2004.:-)
Howie Mandel
I was fortunate to meet and talk in person with HOWIE MANDEL! Really! He's a very funny guy! Warm, personable, and
I got to work with him!! Cool, huh! :-) Here's brief excerpts from that meeting: (*some lines may not be totally accurate.
This is from 15+ years ago remember! :-)
HM: "Hi! I'm Howie Mandel!" (he asked me to shake his road managers hand
instead of his...said it was a "germ thing" :-)
BB: "Hi! I'm Bill Bradner, I'll be your staging and technical coordinator
for this show."
HM: "Staging and Technical coordinator? Wow! That sounds impressive, (smile) what exactly does a "staging
and technical coordinator" do?"
BB: "Well...I'm not really sure to tell you the truth. (laugh) This is my first time
in this position."
HM: "Ahh, that's okay, this is the first I've heard of me having a "staging and technical coordinator"
for the show!" (Both laugh!)
HM: "How did you become my "staging and technical coordinator"? Hey, is there an abbreviation
for that, I mean is seems like such a long title to say! Do I have to call you all that each time I talk to you? (Both laugh).
BB:
"No sir, you don't have to call me by that, you can just say "Hey "You"!" if you want to!" (Howie laughs)
HM: "Ha!
I like that! "Hey You!" So you're saying I could just say "Hey You!", like "Hey You, come here!" "Hey, this is "Hey You!"!
"Hey You!" is my "staging and technical" coordinator", BUT, we just call him "Hey You!" for short!" (Both laugh harder!)
HM:
"Well, "Hey You!", what do you think of my comedy? (Howie smiles)
BB: "I love it!"
HM: "Just what do you LOVE about
it?" (smiles again)
BB: Well I like that it's funny. It's VERY funny, and smart, and it makes ALOT of people laugh!!
HM:
(Let's out a big 'ole belly laugh..) "Well "Hey You!" I like that. I mean, I like that you like it. ANd I'm glad you
think it makes alot of people laugh!
HM and BB: (Laugh out loud!! :-)
etc...
Well, anyways, I got to talk with
him for a couple more minutes after that. He joked, and I would laugh. He's ask questions, I would answer. Then we both
would laugh! It was really very cool! I remember thinking at the time, he makes quite an impression! And so, to make a
long story short, the show was GREAT! Howie's routine had the "standing room only" crowd, (that's 5,000+ people, Thank You
very much! :-), rolling in the aisles with laughter. He even included me in some of his "ad lib" segments! (It was pretty
cool being a center of attention at a huge event like that! (albeit a small center of attention, but even then a little "flustering"
at times! Ha Ha! :-) Other than a malfunctioning spotlight, even my responsibilities went pretty smooth! I wish Mr. Mandel
the very best!! He's a really cool guy, and his show "Deal or No Deal" is doing great! Check out his website at: "www.HowieMandel.com"
and/or "www.myspace.com/howiemandel"!!
(Oh, one more thing, If I'm ever fortunate enough to meet him again, I sure hope
I bring my camera!! I would Love to have a picture of me standing with him! LOL! :-)
More "Star Sightings":
(read: "Celebrity") include:
(*IF I LEFT "YOU" (or a celebrity friend/relative/favorite
- local or otherwise) really, IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL - and it don't "intentionaly EXCLUDE", to mean that "YOU" are anyless my
FAVORITE (I just have "so-so-good" of a memory" and "2 dozen or so webpages to keep up with)....I REALLY APOLOGIZE...(EVERYONE
I've ever met, is my HEROES...really!! I mean that! (If you put up with me for even a "handshake" or a "OMG!!"....lol, you
SHOULD BE LISTED HERE!!! Email me!:-) PLEASE! REMIND ME!?!? :-))
(**I've also included some "celebrity sightings" by relatives
too... (*laugh*):
POLITICAL:
JOSEPH McCAIN (John McCain's brother/NAVY retired)
MRS. BETTY MONTEGOMERY - OHIO STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL
MRS. JoANN DAVIDSON - GOP NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRMAN
The KATIE (HOLMES) CRUISE (3 times
so far)!
TOM CRUISE (*wave)
SURI CRUISE (*wave)
BRUCE WILLIS (via Sis)
JIMMY JACKSON
JOHNNY CASH (1984 - via
Sis)
SHARON STONE
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGER
BARRY LARKIN
GARO YEPREMIAN
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
THE ROCK BAND "FIREHOUSE"
(2 times!)
THE ROCK BAND "HELIX" (roadied for them)
KEITH CARLOCK
OTHERS: DRUMMERS and/or MUSICIANS: (from
Drum Clinics/Concerts and BANDS)
TOLEDO CONCERT BAND DIRECTOR SAMUEL SZOR
ROD MORGENSTEIN
JOHN COUGAR MELLANKAMP
(drummer)
DAVID LEE ROTH (drummer)
TRIUMPH (drummer)
PANTERA (Vox, and drummer)
MOLLY HATCHET (most of the band)
ACE
FREHLEY (*backstage view*)
ALICE COOPER (*backstage view*)
BLACK AND BLUE (full band)
KEEL (full band)
ANGEL CITY
(most of the band)
QUIET RIOT (most of the band)
BROTHER CAINE (most of the band)
TED NUGENT (drummer)
TOLEDO
CONCERT BAND MANAGER KEITH McWATERS
AND Many more!!
(AND NON-CONFIRMED):
PAMELA ANDERSON
JULIA STILES
CHINA
(Wrestler)
TOLEDO AREA:
U.S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE MARCY KAPTUR
U.S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS ASHLEY
U.S.
ATTNY GENERAL SAXBEE (via Father)
MAYOR CARTY FINKBEINER (5x)
TPD CHIEF MICHAEL NAVARRE (Safety Bldg., EHM - Toledo)
TFD
LT. LENNY BAKER
LUCAS CO. SHERIFF JAMES TELB
MAYOR JACK FORD & MRS. FORD
COUNCILMAN McNAMARA
JUDGE CHRISTIANSON
JUDGE
ZMUDA
FORMER MAYOR DONNA OWENS (*Lucas County GOP HQs, Kohl's and others)
FORMER TOLEDO MAYOR HARRY KESSLER
F.B.I.
SAC JONES, SPIELMAN(??)
LUCAS CO. REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN Jon STAINBROOK
MAUMEE WATERSHED DSTR. UMCC PASTOR BILL BALL
FORMER
TPS SUPERINTENDENT SAM BURNETT & MRS. BURNETT
BEDFORD SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT MR. WHITE
MUDHENS GENERAL MGR. JOE NAPOLI
MUDHENS
COACH LARRY PARRISH (2x)
MANY MUDHENS PLAYERS (Rayburn, Neil, Johnson, etc..)
BUSINESS MAN/PHILANTHROPIST ART KOBACKER
(& BROTHER)
TOLEDO NEWS:
DIANE LARSON - 13 (*Kohl's,*JDRF walk (2x) MC)
LEE CONKLIN - 13 (*Kohl's, EHM 911 tribute)
KRISTIN
EMERY - 13 (EHM)
SUSAN ROSS WELLS - 13 (*March of Dimes MC)
STAN STACHEK - 13 (*Kohl's)
ROB POWERS - 13 (*Jamie Farr
OC golf)
JERRY ANDERSON - 11 (*BGSU football)
JEANINE LAUBER - 11 (*speech BGSU)
REBEKAH REINER - 13 (*Bedford football)
JIM
TICHEY - 24 (*Church and Storm games)
REBEKAH FONDESSY - 24 (*Fundraiser)
other staff (13ABC VP MARK STOVER (Interview)),
and
Many retired Newscasters! (Don Saunders, Frank Gilholey, Gordon Ward,...)
TOLEDO RADIO:
DJs from: WIOT(Griz,J.D.),
WVKS, WWWM, WXKR(Andi McKay), WXUT, WBGU(*one was a roomate, lol), etc...
other staff ('IOT-Sid Siddell, Emily...)
Andrew
Z (EHM)
Star 105 guys...
TOLEDO BLADE:
SAM ROE (writer)
LUKE BLACK (photographer)
other writers and staff
BRADNER.CC:
WANDA
BOB
KYLIE
BONNY
BEV
ANDY
DAVE
(oh,
and some guy, said his name was "Bill")
and of course MANY "fans" of the website. (Spec.TY to Floras)
(*again)
(NEW
for 07/14/2007!!!:
Jamie Farr Owens Corning LPGA Golf Classic (I've attended 3 times in the past (AND a US Open, and Seniors
Open all HERE in Toledo! LOL)
JAMIE FARR 2007 "Sightings"
JAMIE FARR (handshake, brief hellos)
PAULA CREAMER ("VERY
pretty "PINK PANTHER"!:-)
MORGAN PRESSEL (!!!Pretty Lady:-)
ALENA SHARP (CLass act! AND Mom and Dad, etc..)
REILLY
RANKIN (2x)
JULIET GRANADA (Autograph - Gracias senorita Juliet:-)
CHUCK EALEY (1974 UT Rocket!! REMEBERED my DAD (FBI!:-))
Many
Sophisticants!! :-)
See ya in 08!
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Myself
with Mr. Joseph McCain (Retired Navy - "Thank you for being a veteran, Sir"), at downtown Toledo, McCain/Palin HQs! (Also
met Mrs.Davidson (Findlay, OH) - the Co-Chairman of GOP National campaign committee, and Mrs. Betty Montgomery - former OH
state attorney general (she played my snare drum, outside as Mr. McCain got back on "Victory tour" bus....I told her I thought
she is a pretty good snare drummer!" :-)
Bill
pictured here with THE Lucas county
REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN, Mr. Jon Stainbrook!! (Great American, Best Republican, and good friend:-)
Bill
pictured here with the then current, (now the Vice President of the Board of Education, for The TOLEDO PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!), Mayor of Toledo, the Honorable Mayor Jack Ford. (The picture was
taken on Feb. 13, 2002, during an Aldersgate United Methodist Men's club breakfast. Photo credit - A. Mack).
On October
17th, I was lucky enough to be paid a campaign visit by then Toledo Mayoral Candidate, and former Toledo Mayor, the Honorable
Carty Finkbeiner. Below is a picture taken during that visit. (I had also talked in person with Mayor Finkbeiner on 2 other
previous occasions, during his first 2 terms as Toledo Mayor.)
Now
in order to combine all three individuals into the same photo, I had to rely on my "Photo Editting Prowessness", to come up
with a "Mayoral "Faux" Endorsement"! Pictured below, is the results of that act! Check it out! That's Toledo "Rock and
Roll Politics" at it's best folks! Enjoy!! :-)
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