I always look forward to Smiley’s annual Great Pumpkin Drop every Halloween.  In the beginning, I admit that I looked forward to coordinating the execution on the ground from several hundred feet in the air with ATA Execujet Helicopters.  I enjoy it now for the complete mess it creates and the madness of watching hundreds of kids race out to grab the remnants of a giant smashed vegetable. 

This year’s event was twice as fun.  Our first pumpkin weighed in at 550-pounds, while our second pumpkin tipped the scales at 1177-pounds.  We weren’t satisfied with the sheer mass of the cucurbita maximus; no … we had to fill the Deuce with 300-pounds of ketchup for a bigger splat.  Friday morning, 10/30/09, both pumpkins hit the ground from more than 200-feet in the air.  This is their last known video.  And, kudos to the entire Smiley Morning Show and the WZPL Promotions/Engineering departments for the weeks of hard work that preceed these twenty seconds of messy entertainment.

A new trailer for Season 8 of “24″!  It’s the only good thing the month January has going for it.

ANDERSON – 5:30 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31.

AVON – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

BLOOMINGTON – 5:30 to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 31

BROWNSBURG – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

Also in Brownsburg: October 24, 5:00 to 8:00 pm – West District YMCA (party will be held at Williams Park, 940 S. Locust Lane, Brownsburg). Join us at our Halloween Extravaganza Bonfire. This will be a fun family event for all ages. Free and open to the public. For more information call 317-484-9622.

CARMEL – 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

CICERO – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

CRAWFORDSVILLE – 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

DANVILLE – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

DELPHI – 6:00 to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 31

FISHERS – 6:00 to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 31.

Also in Fishers: October 23, 5:00 to 6:00 pm, 6:00 to 7:00 pm and 7:00 to 8:00 pm: Fishers YMCA 9012 E. 126th Street, Fishers – Celebrate Halloween at the best family party in Fishers! Come dressed in your favorite costume and join the fun! Enjoy arts and crafts, snacks, trick-or-treating through Mudsock Woods, fun, song-filled hayride (weather permitting) and a camp fire with marshmallows. Open to the public at $6 per person. Cost is $3 per person for YMCA members. Ages 2 and under free. For more information call 317-595-9622.

FORTVILLE – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

FRANKLIN – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

GREENCASTLE – 5:00 TO 8:00 pm on Saturday October 31

GREENFIELD – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

GREENWOOD – 6:00 to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 31

GENEVA – Limberlost State Historic Site presents: Spooktacular! Oct. 24, 2009; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

No brute beasts or menacing monsters will be present – just creatures that sneak, slink and slither in the night! A few of the animals featured include rats, hissing cockroaches, a Patagonian Cavy and snakes. Dare to embrace these slithery creatures of the night. Discover the behaviors of these wild animals while creating a scary creature of your own. Children can participate in Halloween games and win prizes and candy.

Children in costume will receive goodie bags from the Swamp Monster. Cost is $3. For more information about Limberlost State Historic Site, click here or call the site at 260.368.7428.

INDIANAPOLIS – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31.

Please note the following events for Indianapolis:

Safe Night Halloween: Oct. 31 in the South Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Hours: 5 to 7 p.m. Admission: free; children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Contact: State Fairgrounds Events (317) 927-7524.

October 23, 6:30 to 8:30 pm: Baxter YMCA, 7900 S. Shelby Street, Indianapolis – Parents and children are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and will enjoy games, treats, fun and more! Pictures will be provided by Green Photography. Ages 2 and under free. Ages 3 and up cost $3 per person. Open to the public. Call 317-484-9622 for more information.

October 23, 6:30 to 8:30 pm: Benjamin Harrison YMCA, 5736 Lee Road, Indianapolis – Open to the public and cost $6 per person for anyone over 2 years old. Cost is $15 per family of five for YMCA members. For more information call 317-547-9622.

October 23, 6:30 to 8:30 pm – Jordan YMCA, 8400 Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis. Join us for stories, bonfire with s’mores, hayrides, games, arts and crafts and more! Open to the public at $6 per person. Cost is $3 per person for YMCA members. Ages 2 and under free. For more information call 317-253-3206.

October 23, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, Pike YMCA, 7114 Lakeview Parkway West Drive, Indianapolis – Deck out the trunk of your car with a spooky theme and join us at the Pike YMCA for some trick-or-treating fun! Don’t forget to dress up and bring treats to share. Awards will be given for the best costume and trunk design. This event is free to the community. Registration required by October 22, 2009. Call 317-297-9622.

October 23 – Ransburg YMCA, 501 N. Shortridge Road, Indianapolis – Come to our Halloween Extravaganza. You’ll enjoy fun, games and we’ll even have a costume contest. Open to the public. Cost is $15 for family of five. Ages 10 and up is $5 per person. Ages 3 to 9 are $3 per person. Ages 2 and under are free. For more information call 317-357-8441.

October 31 – Families, kids and special groups are invited to attend the second annual Halloween Bash at Fort Harrison State Park, by Delaware Lake on October 31 from noon to 8 p.m.

This event is open to the public; anyone may attend. Featured events include a scavenger hunt, pumpkin painting, hayrides, a costume contest for kids and dogs, and a bonfire/weenie roast. All participants are encouraged to dress up! A haunted hayride, the Soldier’s Haunt, will conclude the evening. Since seating is limited, the Soldier’s Haunt is on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees should bring blankets and chairs for bonfire seating–provided seating may be limited.

All events are free of charge, although the weekend DNR gate fee of $5/carload for in-state vehicles and $7/carload for out-of-state vehicles applies. More information is available by calling (317) 591-0122, Wednesday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

KOKOMO – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31.

LAPEL – 6:30 to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 31

LAWRENCE – 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

LEBANON – 6:30 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

MCCORDSVILLE – 5:30 to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 31

MOORESVILLE – 6:30 TO 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

MUNCIE – 5:00 to 8:00 pm; Muncie Mall – 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

NEWCASTLE – 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

NEW PALESTINE – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

NEW WHITELAND – 6:00 to 9:00 pm pn Saturday, October 31

NOBLESVILLE – 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

PITTSBORO – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

PLAINFIELD – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

SHELBYVILLE – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

SHERIDAN – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

SPEEDWAY – 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

THORNTOWN – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 31.

WESTFIELD – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

WHITESTOWN – Trunk or treat at Traders Point Christian Church’s parking lot at 6590 S. Indianapolis Road, Saturday, October 31, 5 to 8 p.m. To participate, children must be accompanied by an adult and are encouraged to dress in non-scary costumes.

ZIONSVILLE – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS:

Children Should
• Go only to well-lit houses and never enter the home
• Travel in small groups and be accompanied by an adult
• Have their name, address, and phone number attached to the inside of their costume
• Bring treats home before eating them so parents can inspect them
• Use costume accessories that are flexible, not rigid or sharp

When walking in neighborhoods, they should
• Use flashlights, stay on sidewalks, and avoid crossing yards
• Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks (where they exist), and do not cross between parked cars
• Wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant
• Consider using face paint instead of masks. (Masks can obstruct a child’s vision)
• Avoid wearing hats that will slide over their eyes
• Be reminded to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street

Parents and adults should
• Supervise the outing for children under age 12
• Have children of all ages follow the established curfew
• Prepare homes for trick-or-treaters by clearing porches, lawns, and sidewalks and by placing jack-o-lanterns away from doorways and landings
• Avoid giving choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys as treats to young children
• Inspect all candy for safety before children eat it

Parents and adults should ensure the safety of pedestrian trick-or-treaters
• Drive slowly and be mindful of the increased pedestrian traffic
• Watch for children in the street and on medians
• Exit driveways and alleyways carefully
• Have children get out of cars on the curb side, not on the traffic side

This is my 2nd Jingle Jam — last year’s was awesome with The Plain White Ts headlining but this year — WOW!!!  Seriously, this lineup is STUPID huge.  All American Rejects, Barenaked Ladies, Five For Fighting and another band to be announced.  I remember when I heard the lineup I was saying to myself (because talking out loud would make people think I’m crazy) “this show is gonna be great.”  It will…my promise.

     As we get closer to Halloween, I start thinking about trick-or-treating as a kid. I recall one Halloween when I knocked on the door and said the magic words (Trick or Treat) and some old lady gave me toast. Dry toast. No butter, no jelly, just 2 pieces of luke warm bread that her hands had been all over. Just turn you porch light off if germ-ridden, dry toast is all you have!!  LOL

When Brad Pitt wiped out on his motorcycle on Saturday, of course, someone was there with a video camera.  Check it out here thanks to TMZ!

Like everyone else here at Z99.5, I’m pretty excited about this year’s Jingle Jam line-up.  (Haven’t heard about it yet?  it’s December 9th at the Murat Theatre).  I honestly think it could be one of the best we’ve ever done.  And, trust me…I’ve been here long enough to know! 

We had an amazing show in 2001.  That was Barenaked Ladies’ first appearance at Jingle Jam (although they’d played for us in, like, 1997 at Uncle Sam Jam).  The show as at the Pepsi Colliseum at the State Fairgrounds, and we did the pre-show interviews in the restrooms because there was no green room, per se! 

We had a great concert in 2003, too.  Probably the best thus far, I think.  Howie Day opened, then we had Jason Mraz and Maroon 5.  That was crazy.  We could’ve sold that show out twice over.

Then, of course, there was the Jingle Jam at The Vogue a few years ago with John Mellencamp.  Scalpers were roaming up and down Broad Ripple Avenue with signs that said “I need tickets!”  That show was huge. 

But, this year is gonna be something special.  BNL always does a terrific show.  Ask anybody who’s seen them live before and they’ll tell you how much fun those guys are.  John from Five For Fighting is great.  And, has any band in the country been hotter than All-American Rejects over the last several months?  

Make sure you get your tickets before they sell out.  If you miss this show, you’ll have missed a truly exceptional evening.

So obviously, being a bald man, I don’t need this.  But you should check this out…it’s pretty interesting stuff!

10 Drugstore Shampoos You Shouldn’t Buy (Even if they’re on Sale)

If there’s one hair care secret I’d like everyone to know it’s this: you don’t have to spend a lot of money on shampoo to have healthy hair. True, there are great salon and high-end shampoos out there, like any of these that are more than worth their price. But, for most of us, we can get along just fine using a quality drugstore shampoo.

Please note however that I said a quality drugstore shampoo. Because plenty of them just aren’t good enough for your hair. Take, for example, the shampoos below. TotalBeauty.com readers tried them and found they left their hair dirty, dry or greasy — ugh! Peruse the products below, and toss any coupons you may have for them, they’re totally not worth it.

No. 10: Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smooth Vitality Shampoo, $8.33
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.8 (out of 10)
Why: Most readers weren’t impressed by this. “I don’t think this shampoo and conditioner did anything out of the ordinary for my hair,” one reader says. Another reader says it gave her “the weirdest breakouts on my upper arms.”

No. 9: Suave Professionals Radiant Brunette Shampoo, $3.48
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.8
Why: Most readers did not find that this enhanced their hair color. Instead it “left my hair rather tangled” and one reader says it actually “stripped away the color!” Others complain that this left them with “straw-like [and] dull” hair. One reader says, “I had colored my hair [and] it went a little too dark. I went to a salon … this is what they used to strip my hair of the color. LOL!”

No. 8: Sunsilk Anti-Caida (Anti-Fall) Shampoo, $4.59
 

Breast Cancer Awareness month continues and today, the lovely stylists at West 86th Street are having a Pink Hair Day!  Stop by their salon at 1478 W. 86th Street between 10am and 2pm and donate $25 or more and you’ll get a FREE haircut!

All the money raised will benefit Breast Cancer Research. 

Call them at 317-872-1295 to get more info or make an appointment.