Zoel Lopez in the Mornings

Hola! Como esta? Muy bien. Gracias Okay, that's about my extent of speaking Spanish. So let's get that out of the way. I'm assuming because you stopped here you actually want to know more about me, the Zoel-Man.

I grew up as an air force brat, living in Anchorage, AK for 13 years, Great Falls, MT for 3 years, and then finally settling in the four states in 2002. I have two younger brothers, who are taller than me sadly. I graduated from Labette County High School in 2004 (Go Grizzlies!), earned my Assoicate in Arts at Coffeyville Community College (Go Red Ravens!) in 2006, and graduated in May of 2009 with my Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a minor in Marketing from Pittsburg State University (Go Gorillas!).

I like to spend what little time I have away from the radio station watching movies, playing some PS3 (I'm a Madden-holic), hanging out with my friends, snooping around the Internetz, visiting small towns in the area, and catching a Royals or Chiefs game in Kansas City.

I began broadcasting at the young age of 9 for Radio Aahs KYAK 650AM in Anchorage, AK. I contributed "Pet Reports" to the morning show every so often. It was there that I got my first taste of radio and knew what I wanted to be "when I grew up." When I moved to the Four States in 2002, one of the first jobs I took was board op'ing for Kansas City Royals and Chiefs games, as well as high school and college sports for a radio station in Coffeyville, KS. In 2006,

My goal is simple: to entertain you, the listener. With obscure facts, studies, up and coming internet trends, celebrity news, and our own personal brand of humor, we want to help you start your day off on the right foot. I love hearing from you, so don't be shy and drop me an e-mail or call week day mornings between 6 and 10.

Auction Items
Posted by: Zoel
January 23, 2013 - 8:34 PM

Poor Boys Steak House - $20 Gift Certificates

R-C Auto - $50 Gift Certificates

Giovanni's Italian Restaurant - $10 Gift Certificates

Amabassador Steak House - $25 Gift Certificates

Cleaver's Farm and Home - Gas Grill Value $239

Omalley Equipment Johne Deere dealer - Stihl MS 170 chainsaw Value $190

Funky Monkey Bling- $20 Gift Certificates

Life Essentials - $20 Gift Certificates

Leons Designs - Custom marble table Value $700

Peaceable Inn- $135 Gift Certificates

Twin Motors- 4 Wheel Alignment Value $60

Corleone's Italian Restaurant- $10 Gift Certificates

Muse Salon and Day Spa- Gift Certificates

Ag Choice-Moran - Dog Food Value $19-$30                                            

All about you Salon - Gift Certificates

Life Essentials- $20 Gift Certificates

Pioneer Seed- 50lb bags of seed Value $300

Zachs Audio FX- $100 Gift Certificates

Big Ed's - $20 Gift Certificates

SouthTown Quick Lube -Transmission flush and filter  Value $136

KK Electric - 42' Craftmade ceiling fan Value $132

Down Range Sports- 2012 Evo 7 7 in brace height 335 ibo bow Value $850

Miss Emma's Diner- $20 Gift Certificates

Music Shop -$80 Gift Certificates & 20-043 Discone Scanner/Ham Antennas from Music Shop Value $80

Lone Pine Hunting Preserve -10 bird 2 people hunt to be scheduled by March 1st Value $200

Four Season's Floral- $25 Gift Certificates

Service Office Supplies- Lorell Mesh Back Managerial Chair Value $335

Dudley's Done Right BBQ- $10 gift certificates

The Feed Bunk -$10 gift certificates

Down Home Gifts- $10 gift certificates

The Craze - $25 gift certificates

Inertia Health and Fitness - 3 month gym and tan Value $180, 3 month gym membership Value $102 and 3 month tan package Value $180

Plant Station- $10 gift certificates

Casey's General Store - Large single topping pizza's Value $13

Talk of the Town- $35 gift certificates

Shield's Barber Shop- $10 gift certificates for haircuts

Chanute Golf Course- Adult season pass Value $402.50

Chanute Maring Aquatic Center- Childrens season passes Value $44

Feathured Nest- 1 golf print Value $101

Taco Johns  $5 Gift Certificates

B & B Outdoors- DD A CS-310 Chainsaw Value $217.09 and Chain sharpenings Value $32.56

Fred's Treads - 4 Wheel Alignment Value $92

Banned words of 2013
Posted by: Zoel
January 2, 2013 - 2:22 PM

 Fiscal Cliff

As one might expect, this phrase received the most nominations this year as people are just plain sick and tired of hearing about it!

Kick The Can Down The Road
Usually used in politics, this typically means that someone or some group is neglecting its responsibilities. This was seized upon during the current administration and is used as a cliche by all parties...Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, Tories, Whigs, Socialists, Communists, and the Kardashians!

Double Down
This blackjack term is now used as a verb in place of 'repeat' or 'reaffirm' or 'reiterate.' Yet, it adds nothing and is just kind of annoying unless you're actually playing Blackjack!

Job Creators/Creation
It implies supernatural powers -- such as the ability to change the weather or levitate. Most new jobs pay less than the lost jobs to ensure stratospheric CEO compensation and nice returns on investments. Perhaps a more accurate term would be job depleters.

YOLO
In the Twitter and texting universe it stands for "You Only Live Once" and used by wannabe Twitter philosophers who think they've uncovered a deep secret of life. Also used as an excuse to do really stupid things, such as streaking at a baseball game with YOLO printed on one's chest.

Spoiler Alert
What was once a polite warning has turned into a declarative statement: I have just spoiled something for you. When news outlets print articles with headlines such as, 'Huge upset in men's Olympic swimming,' with a diminutive 'spoiler alert' on the link to the rest of the article, I think it's safe to say we've forgotten the meaning of the word 'alert.'"

Love for Lylah
Posted by: Zoel
October 16, 2012 - 4:32 PM

Love for Lylah Benefit Concert and Silent Auction for BJ Harris and Family. Delylah Harris, daughter of BJ and Leslis Harris, was born with a major heart defect that will soon require open heart surgery. Please join in helping this family Saturday, November 3rd at 7pm at the McCarthy's Pub in Girard. Free will cover. Silent Auction. Come rock for the beat of her heart!

13 Pumpkin Carving Tricks
Posted by: Zoel
October 11, 2012 - 5:09 AM

 Tired of carving the same old zipper grin on your pumpkin every Halloween?Buzzfeed.com has a list of “13 Brilliant Pumpkin Carving Hacks” to help you land the most creative jack-o-lantern in the neighborhood:

1. Cut the top and a section in the back in one piece: It makes for easier scraping, and it’s easier to put a candle inside.

2. Use dry erase markers instead of Sharpies: So you can correct mistakes before you carve your design.

3. Use a cookie cutter and a mallet: To hammer out designs in fun cookie cutter shapes.

4. Trace a stencil with a nail or a tack: To help with accuracy in your design.

5. Use glow sticks in place of candles: For multi-colored jack-o-lanterns.

6. Make holes with a power drill: It makes for a cool Lite-Brite effect.

7. Use glow-in-the-dark paint and masking tape: For the those who don’t want to mess with pumpkin guts and knives, use glow-in-the-dark paint and tape to make a one-of-a-kind creation.

8. Try fishnet stockings: Pumpkins look sexy when covered in cool fishnet patterns.

9. Preserve with floor cleaner: To keep the inside of the pumpkin from rotting.

10. Give them teeth: Insert plastic “bubba” teeth for a redneck pumpkin.

11. Use it as a punch bowl: Hollow it out, put a bowl inside, and fill with your beverage of choice.

12. Turn it into a keg: It’s perfect for storing beer at a Halloween party.

13. Skip the pumpkins and go with milk jugs: No carving required! Just fill the milk jug with twinkle lights!

Presidential Debate Drinking Game
Posted by: Zoel
October 3, 2012 - 11:48 AM

Here again is the Presidential Debate Drinking game! (courtesy of debatedrinking.com)

First thing you have to do is pick a candidate. It doesn't have to be the one you plan to vote for. Then, you have to take a drink any time your candidate says one of the following words:

Barack Obama       Mitt Romney

Memories
Posted by: Zoel
September 28, 2012 - 3:29 PM

Earlier this week on the Hot Morning Show, I shared some of the best One Hit Wonders (BTW - if you try to take me on in Song Pop with that category, you will lose). You know what all One Hit Wonders have in common? No, not catch phrases or beats...but they all instantly trigger a memory. For some it's about a lost love, a happy moment in the car with friends, or hearing your parents suddenly bust out lyrics...and you joining. Whatever the case is...One Hit Wonders all have a special place with us because of the memories they unleash.

Any song can have this effect, all pretty much do, but there's that one thing about One Hit Wonders that strikes a nerve deep in us. One that sometimes we can't remember when we're sitting idle, but no matter how busy we are, once that note or lyric hits we're immediately taken back to that moment, like an instant time machine. So...which One Hit Wonder holds a special place with you?

Just a reminder...
Posted by: Zoel
September 26, 2012 - 10:03 AM

I know we're almost half way through the 2012 fall sports season, but it's worth mentions Hot 105 is your home for St. Paul Football all season long. You can listen to the Indians online by clicking the ICC Listen Live link! Also, we are your home for ICC Pirate Football and NCCC Basketball and Baseball!

Also, our sister stations Z95.3 and Thunder Country 97.3FM/1460AM also host high school football games on Friday night. Z95.3FM is your home for the Chanute Blue Comets and K-State Wildcats.

Thunder Country 97.3FM/1460AM is your home for the Neodesha Bluestreaks  and KU Jayhawks. 

Just a reminder. :)

No St. Paul Football
Posted by: Zoel
September 13, 2012 - 2:03 PM

Don't forget, there will be no St. Paul Football this Friday night because of the Bye week. Enjoy more music :) 

How early is too early?
Posted by: Zoel
September 10, 2012 - 10:30 AM

Back to school shopping is now done and over with, Football is in full swing, baseball is winding down, and Christmas decorations are starting to pop up. Wait...what!? That's right. Not even before we've seen our first costume for Halloween, first Turkey in the deep freeze for Thanksgiving, stores are already pulling out the Christmas decorations. How early is too early for this? It's no secret, I am a huge fan of Christmas. But in September!? Come on. As much as I love EVERYTHING about Christmas, this is rediculous. It's STUPID for radio stations to air Christmas music the day after HALLOWEEN, it RIDICULOUS for stores to clear out the back-to-school items for elf decorations. 

Seriously, when I hear about this stuff coming out, I have yet to hear someone exclaim "YES! Just what I needed 3 months away from Christmas...why didn't I think of that!?" Why is it that stores think we're going to buy this stuff 3 months out from when our mind set is actually caring about getting the stuff we need for Christmas.

Next thing we'll have Christmas decorations out just right after we celebrate the 4th of July. 

Are you ready for some football?
Posted by: Zoel
August 27, 2012 - 11:42 AM

We are here at Hot 105! The high school football season kicks off this Friday night. Hot 105 will air every St. Paul Football game home and away. You'll be able to stream the games online as well by clicking on the Listen Live link above. 

Shark Week!
Posted by: Zoel
August 15, 2012 - 10:14 AM

Incase you missed it, here is the Drinking Game to Shark Week this week. (Please drink responsibly, don't drink and dive in to a shark tank).

• Drink every time you hear an Australian, South African, or British accent.
   
• Drink every time you see a diver in a cage.
   
• Drink every time a person mentions chum.
   
• Drink every time the camera shows a surfboard or person underwater in the same frame as a shark. Also drink if they show you a chewed-up surfboard.
   
• Drink every time the show references a new type of shark. If the shark does not attack humans (nurse shark) drink three times.
   
• Drink every time a person is declared a "shark expert."
   
• Drink every time someone mentions punching a shark in the nose or eye to stop an attack.
   
• Drink every time someone mentions Jaws or if the Jaws theme music plays.
   
• When a shark attack victim talks about the attack, drink for one second per five stitches the victim received.

Hotel stays
Posted by: Zoel
August 9, 2012 - 11:12 AM

Being a now traveling parent, it amazes me that we don't keep an actual paper log / check list of items we bring. Especially when it comes to our kids and their belongings. I'm pretty sure I could leave my razor blade or toothbrush or even my favorite movie behind and while I would be upset, it wouldn't necessarily be the end of the world for me. My kids however...well that's a different story. If Bebe Kynz were to leave her blankie behind, or Karley her stuffed animal, I'm pretty sure I would have to call in a federal negotiator because unless they get it back they are not letting up in being upset.

My thought is this...why as parents are we so sure we can remember ALL of the "important" items we bring in to a hotel room..yet we franticly stay up the night before wondering if we packed everything, or "have that feeling" that we forgot something as we pull out of the drive way from the hotel. We make lists for when we go the grocery store, why can't we do the same for when we go on vacation trips.

Afterall, we can barely remember where we kept the remote in our own house, what makes us think we're smart enough to remember every single important item we brought to a hotel stay?

Summer ends...
Posted by: Zoel
August 3, 2012 - 11:13 AM

Ok...so there's some great summer deals going on now to help get our economy going. Nothing frustrates me more as a consumer though than deals that say "Hurry! This deal ends when summer is gone." Now to make my point, for kids summer ends when school begins. For parents / workers, the labor day weekend would be a good indication that it's time to move from fun to holiday shopping. And science has the end of summer as when fall begins, which is September 22nd this year in case you're wondering.

If you're a retailer, can we please just set the date on when your deal ends...instead of saying "when summer's gone, so are the savings"? This is going to lead to one of two things happening 1) Me not shopping with you because I don't feel like the deal is worth waiting for (I'm a procrastinator consumer btw) 2) Me being extremely disappointed with your service because you couldn't tell me when exactly "summer ends" for your deal to expire.

So let's all just agree that summer ends when the leaves turn color. That should clear up any confusion, right? 

Fair or foul
Posted by: Zoel
August 2, 2012 - 11:14 AM

This time of the year always holds a special place in my heart, like Christmas and my birthday do. It's fair time, the temperatures are hot and kids are enjoying the remaining days of their summer. One of the great things about Kansas is the fair season. Even if you didn't grow up on the farm, or plan on showing animals, you most likely have made it to the county fair to take in the rodeo, music festivals, or carnival. that's the great thing about these fairs. It seems to bring everyone, of all ages and backgrounds together. That's why I'm excited to go to the Labette Co. Fair and Inter-State Fair and Rodeo this year. Kyndall is now getting to the age where she can enjoy the same experiences I did growing up. With all of the technology advances since I was a little kid, I'm glad there's still a few things that I did as a kid that I can share with her. Hopefully you'll take time out in the near future, if not this summer, and do the same. 

The Dark Knight Rises...5 point review
Posted by: Zoel
July 27, 2012 - 4:32 PM

You don't have time to read 20 paragraphs about how movies made me laugh, cry, and overall feel like I've wasted a huge chunk of my entertainment budget and I don't have time to write them. So because we're in a go-go type of world, here's my 5 point review of "The Dark Knight Rises":

1. Go in with lowered expectations from "The Dark Knight". Not just like a notch lower, but 5 notches lower.
2. Salina Kyle / Catwoman / Anne Hathaway steals the show. She is by far and away the shining spot of this movie.
3. The main problem I have with this film is that the plot seemed rushed, compared to The Dark Knight where everthing seemed to flow. Again, lowered expectations = better experience
4. The score is spot on in capturing the mood, the emotion of the surroundings. In fact it's probably one of the best musically scored super hero movies ever.
5. The movie overall is great; not epic, but great. It has it's moments, but is clunky near the middle. However, that said overall it's a great conclusion to what is without a doubt the best trilogy of superhero movies ever. It's a must see.

Overall: B