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Pat Walsh
Pat's Peeps Podcast
Ep. 320 Today's Peep Drives Without a License: My DMV Nightmare, Closing "Blood Alley" For Labor Day and Remembering James Dean's Demise on that Dangerous Stretch of Highway, The NFL's Worst Stadium, and a Double Dose of Rare 45's for a Friday
The DMV saga continues, and Pat's patience is wearing thin. After applying for a driver's license renewal back in May, three months have passed with nothing to show but broken promises and bureaucratic excuses. The ironically named "Error Department" seems particularly skilled at making more errors—promising delivery within a week, then ghosting for days before calling back with news of further delays. Meanwhile, if we're late on our registration payments, they're quick to assess penalties and late fees. Where's the accountability?
Blood Alley, California's notorious deadly stretch of highway where James Dean met his tragic end in 1955, will be closing temporarily next week for much-needed safety improvements. The closure, delayed by the Gifford Fire, will affect travelers through Labor Day weekend as Caltrans works to complete the new interchange connecting State Routes 41 and 46. This infamous road has claimed too many lives over the decades, earning its grim nickname through a history of fatal accidents.
In sports news, NFL fans have spoken, and surprisingly, the 49ers' relatively new Levi's Stadium has been named the worst in the league. Despite being built just 11 years ago and set to host this year's Super Bowl, the Santa Clara venue draws criticism for its difficult access, brutal sun exposure, and design that prioritized tech sponsors over fan comfort. It's a stark reminder that newer doesn't always mean better.
Pat also shares exciting personal news—he's taking next week off for a well-deserved vacation! While he hasn't made specific plans yet, he assures listeners that Pat's Peeps podcast episodes will continue daily. His radio show will be in the capable hands of Scott Robinson and Bruce Campbell.
Check out our merchandise at patspeeps.com and support local businesses while getting some cool Pat's Peeps gear. What's your DMV horror story? Have you experienced the dreaded sun at Levi's Stadium? Share your thoughts and join the conversation!
Well, how about that, my friends? It's a Friday. It's a Friday Friday. Yeah, where's my little peep? Here we are. That's Peeps 320. Happy Friday to ya. I'm Pat Walsh. I'm the host of the Pat Walsh Radio Show at KPK Radio in Sacramento. And on this Friday, august 22nd 2025, as I look out my studio window into the beautiful foothills in Northern California gold country, my friends, it's a hot, mother, it's hot. It's a weird day because it's really hot, but then all of a sudden you get a little overcast coming through lastss for a few minutes and then it's gone, and then it's just super hot today. So I don't care, I don't have the air conditioning, I got my little fan on here. I thrive in this kind of stuff. Again, happy Friday.
Speaker 1:Go to patspeepscom where we have the merch store up there, and I'm going to tell you something. We need to work on that. I just told Danny Boyce we need to make that easier. We need to have the merch so you can see it as soon as you go to the page on Pat's Peeps. Right now it's kind of hidden now. It's right in the middle of the page, but you've got to look and go. Where is it now? And then, once you at the bottom and it's a whole thing. But we're going to make it easier. But anyhow, right now, if you want to go check it out, I wouldn't be opposed to that. I would really appreciate that. It's at patspeepscom, where we support local businesses. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1:So on this Friday, you know what? Here's the thing. I'm still. I'm a little peeved about this. I'm a little peeved about this. I'm in a good mood, but you know, I'm still waiting on my driver's license. I have an update on this. Can you believe this? So what are we?
Speaker 1:At the 22nd of August, I went in for my driver's license. Let me, let me look. It was back in May, let me see. I could tell you it was either the. It was either the 20, excuse me. It was either the 20, excuse me. It was either the 10th or the 6th. I can't remember exactly which one. I should have pulled that up. So can the calendar? Let me go back? July, june, oh, back to May. So this would have been on the 6th of May. We're at the 22nd of August.
Speaker 1:Still, no driver's license. Go up to the mailbox, no driver's license. They said, mr Walsh, congratulations, we'll get this thing out. You got a new picture and everything you know. I'm still anticipating to see just how horrible the picture is, because you know the DMV photos. I talked about it before. When I went in to get this three months ago. I talked about this, how bad the DMV photos are always. But so I haven't even seen it yet and I go to the mailbox and other than the junk mail and the usual bills and you you know whatever, there's no driver's license.
Speaker 1:So I call the DMV, so you call the DMV. Have you tried to get through with the DMV? Your call is very important to us. Thank you for the call's not that important to you. If my call was so important to you, you would pick up or you would find a way to actually talk to me, but they don't do that. No, no, you call them up and there's no, it's just yes, thank you. We appreciate you calling today the DMV and we're servicing other people. We want you to know your calls. It'll be monitored by someone. Anyhow, your call could be monitored for customer satisfaction. Thank you for calling to register.
Speaker 1:Push 1 for your registration. For your driver's license or your real ID, please press 2. For English press 3. For Spanish, please press 4. If you're transsexual, please press six. Where is my driver's license? I can't get through. So then they give me a number. So then they go. So then I call the number. So I call the number and they're like yeah, well, here's the deal. We're going to have to turn you over to the error department. I'm going to say what?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, they have the error department, which they should. It's a DMV. They've got the error department. So I call the error department. Thank you for calling the DMV error department. We're sorry if our error cost you any time or any kind of a headache or any kind of inconvenience, you know, just like the fact that we cannot pick up the phone. So thank you for calling the error department. Here at the Department of Motor Vehicles, we're always very glad to serve you. There's a lot of people in front of you, but hey, don't you worry, at some point we'll talk.
Speaker 1:Now, if you don't want to hang on the line, we can always call you back. I'm not making this part up. We can call you back. Would you like to use our automated callback service? If yes, press 1. If yes, press one. If no, press two. What do I press? To say go to hell For Spanish, press four. So then I call the air department. I go hey, yeah, air, yeah, air department. Yeah, how's it going good? How am I speaking with? Uh, this is Pat Walsh. Uh, can I have your driver's license number? Yes, sir, it's bloody. Okay, hold on. Yeah, uh, this is the first time I called them. Well, looky here Now. This is two weeks ago today.
Speaker 3:Well, golly, look at here.
Speaker 1:You know, mr Walsh, it says here you got to take the driving test, but you don't have to take the driving test. Someone, indeed, made an error. We're sorry for your convenience. Yes, I know you guys made an error. We're sorry for your convenience. Yes, I know you guys made an error. Well, listen, we apologize on behalf of the DMV. We're going to get that out to you. Well, you should have that within a week. All right, within a week I should have this. Fantastic, I said. Well, at least you know what. You don't even understand what I was trying to do yesterday. I had to go get my passport, and all this because I didn't have my driver's license. So I'm trying to stay calm, even though I should have had this three months ago. But okay, you'll send it out. It'll be a week. Now that was two weeks ago. I'm not kidding you when I tell you this.
Speaker 1:I go to the mailbox. There's nothing. Back to the mailbox, there's nothing except junk mail and bills letter from the tax guy nothing, yeah, so no DMV, anything except for my upcoming registration, which, by the way, think about that, right, if you have a registration and you're two, one, two, three months late, late, are they going to cut you any slack? Hell no, they're going to cut you any slack hell no, you're going to pay extra. We're going to fine you, we're going to charge you extra because you didn't do it on time. But when they don't do it, they just they and they don't ever they go. Oh, thank you, yeah, but, and I'll tell them that they go. Thank you for your um, I understand your inconvenience. Um, okay, so we're gonna.
Speaker 1:So again, there's no, there's no driver's license. So what happens? I go check the mailbox yesterday nothing. I decide you know, this is ridiculous. I was told I'd have it within the week, so I go back to call them. That was my phone number dialing. Call them again. Hi, we appreciate you calling the DMV error department. Please know your call is very important to us. By the way, while you're waiting, we highly recommend that you listen to Pat's Peeps podcast. Pat's Peeps Podcast now, supporting local businesses in the area. Why would you not use it when you can save money? You can save money, hey, now, and support local businesses.
Speaker 1:This call could be monitored by someone that apparently gives a crap Due to a high call volume. We can always call you back. I kid you not. This is the truth. Most of this is the truth. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent. We'll call you back.
Speaker 1:So this is what's happened twice. Once it was we'll call you back within 15 minutes. Okay, I wait, I wait, I wait. There's no call back. Three days later, I get a call back Three days. Three days Later, I get a call back Three days.
Speaker 1:Then they hung up on me accidentally. I thought I'd blow my stack. The phone rang back. It rings again. I'm like, oh, the phone rang back, it rings again. I'm like, oh, they're calling back. And I picked it up and it says your call, this is your callback. You have zero. This is what it said. You have zero minutes until your callback. Thank you, goodbye, beep. What? What do you mean zero minutes? What do you mean Zero minutes? What does that mean? I have zero minutes until my call back? And then you hung up. Doesn't zero minutes like mean now?
Speaker 1:So I finally get a hold of someone after I called him back, just to fast forward through this story, because I don't want to put you on hold again. I get a hold of him yesterday and they're like yeah, we're sorry about that, mr Walsh. Heck, yeah, hey, listen, bobby will have this thing sent out for you within two weeks. I go within two weeks. I said I was supposed to get this a week ago, but now you're telling me that in two weeks you will send it out. That's right, mr Walsh. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Okay, I'll just drive around with no license, that's no problem. Thank you Anyhow, jeez.
Speaker 1:I'm trying not to be in a bad mood on this Friday.
Speaker 2:I'm still in a really good mood.
Speaker 1:By the way, you know why I'm in such a good mood? Not just because it's Friday, but because next week, pat's peeps, I'm going on vacation. That's right, my friends going on vacation.
Speaker 1:Hey, what happened to my buttons here? Thank you. Going on vacation from work. I'm going to take the week off and I don't really have any plans. I'm just going to kind of relax. Maybe I'll go somewhere, maybe I won't, I don't know. But I have the freedom to going to kind of relax. Maybe I'll go somewhere, maybe I won't, I don't know. But I have the freedom to make that decision. But it'll be a nice break. But let me say this I'm going to do my Pat's Peeps every day. I'm going to do it. I won't be doing my show, but I'll do my podcast next week. So if you're interested next week and hearing the show, it'll be available only through the Pat's Peeps podcast. My show will be hosted by Scott Robinson and Bruce Campbell, bc. Both do a fine job, so I hope that you will give them a listen, so good friends of mine, and they do an outstanding job guest hosting for me. Let's talk a little bit.
Speaker 1:Speaking of vacation, there's a couple of things I wanted to tell you about. Number one Blood Alley will be closed down. I guess it'll be closing not opening, but closing next weekend for Labor Day. The closure, one of the most notorious stretches of California Highway which was delayed earlier this month, that was, the Gifford Fire was going on. They're going to close it temporarily, beginning next, I guess next Tuesday, just prior to Labor Day weekend. I mean, this is a treacherous stretch of highway here in California. It's known as Blood Alley. It's where James Dean passed away, where he died in a car crash. But they're going to temporarily close this this coming Tuesday through Thursday.
Speaker 1:Caltrans trying to get some work done there that was supposed to be done earlier this month. And now officials from Caltrans they say that they're going to finish up the work, the project there, and that they're trying to make this, this state's most historic and deadly interchange, a lot safer. Caltrans says that they're performing road work to complete the full width connection of the new interchange to the existing State Route 41. So the highway work is going to be taking place beginning at the highways 41 and 46 interchange near Shalom and extended about 20 miles east of Reef Station To Reef Station. I should say, and this is by State Route 33, at the junction of State Route 33. They've got some detours and things. If you're a motorist passing through that area that you need to be aware of the road closure. And they're also saying Caltrans estimating the detours and the delays, the road closure. And they're also saying Caltrans estimating the detours and the delays. If you're just kind of passing through, the closure should not last for more than 45 minutes, but still that's 45 minutes. And the closure, the road closure, the work that they're trying to complete this interchange, that's coming a little later than anticipated, they say, because of this Gifford fire. So that's going on Also today.
Speaker 1:I thought this was interesting. You know, football season is just now two weeks away. They're playing the final. I guess this weekend is the final. Is it the third or the final preseason game? Anyhow, I think the NFL begins either next weekend or the weekend after that, maybe next weekend even Wow.
Speaker 1:But when it comes to stadiums, they did a poll of NFL fans. What is the worst stadium in the NFL? Guess what it is. And this is a newer stadium 49ers Levi Stadium named the worst stadium by NFL fans. It's going to host the Super Bowl this year, but fans ranking Levi Stadium, home of the 49ers, as the worst stadium in the NFL. This new fan study conducted by the Spun whatever that is ahead of the season, levi named the worst in the league San Francisco. The 49ers have called this stadium home since the 2014 season, so we're talking just 11 years.
Speaker 1:This was after the demolition, of course, of beloved Candlestick Park. On top of that, the venue is not located in San Francisco. It's in Santa Clara, which the report says is one of the hardest stadiums to reach on game day. And then money. That thing was also driven by money. You get the hardest Silicon Valley right there. The stadium was designed to attract blue chip and big tech sponsors, but Levi's still draws a lot of criticism because of a much bigger issue the sun you get baked, especially if you're on the one side of the stadium. It's tough, and then the 49ers side, I always notice, gets a lot more shade than the opponent's side. I mean, they said this would be revolutionary this stadium when they built it.
Speaker 1:No roof, though, Not like with the Rams, where it's a baking sun, but they have that beautiful, clear roof. It's not necessarily closed off, which I love. I don't like indoor domes, but that is a beautiful stadium at SoFi, but rated the worst in the league. And, by the way, I do believe the Rams are going to be the class of the division. I just think they're a better team right now than anyone else in that division. But again, I am biased, but I do honestly believe that, with McVay and Stafford and this crew, I do. And that defense, please, I could be wrong, it's sports, you know. Defense, please, I could be wrong, sports you know, but it would be of all the years. You know, a couple of years ago the Rams won it at home and so far they were only the second team to ever do that, right after the Buccaneers the year before that in Tampa, and it was sweet.
Speaker 1:But oh my goodness, don't think that I'm not thinking as a Ram fan. You can hate me if you want Niner fans. You know you'd be thinking the same thing if the tables were turned and they were Very close to being turned just a few years ago, 2021. But it didn't work out that way. But imagine, Imagine, as a Rams fan, to win the Super Bowl. I'm just saying hypothetically, I'm not saying it's going to happen, it's just fun for me to daydream about and make Niner fans really mad at me. I love you if you're a Niner fan, I still respect. But to win at Levi's Stadium on the Niners field Anyhow, you never know, let's get to some music, shall we?
Speaker 1:Today I pulled so many great records from my shelf I didn't know which one to go with. I have some really really good ones, but I thought, you know what, let's go with this one, because yesterday would have been his birthday. This guy was so popular, didn't he have his own TV show? I think he had a hit like every 10 minutes. He was on TV every 10 minutes and there was a quote, first edition, of this guy when he was with a band and then went out on his own and, heck, he did his own thing.
Speaker 1:This particular song is written by a guy named Roger Bowling and Billy Ed Wheeler and recorded by this very popular artist. It was released in November of 79 as the second and final single from this artist's multi-platinum album, which I'll tell you the name of. It momentarily became a major crossover hit. Yeah, that's another thing about this artist Topped the Billboard country chart, went to number three on the Hot 100 chart. So you had number three on the Hot 100 and tops on the country. It also topped the Cashbox singles chart. It was a top ten hit in numerous other countries worldwide Number one in Canada, number one in the UK. Number one in Canada, number one in the UK number one.
Speaker 1:In Ireland the song is sung from the point of view of a narrator about his ward and his nephew, tommy Widely. He was considered a coward. You know where I'm going with this, don't you? Tommy's nonviolent attitude? It was influenced by his father, who had died in prison when Tommy was just 10. And during little Tommy's last visit to see his dad sitting alongside his deathbed, his pops pleads with him to avoid the same mistakes that he had made. Tommy and his adult wife gets in a relationship with a lady named Becky, loves everything about him. However, one day he's at work. Tommy's working hard. Here come the Gatlin boys who sexually assault Becky, who Tommy comes home to, finds her crying. What does he do? He's got to defend his wife Becky. But his dad said you know what? You got to walk away. Man Kenny Rogers, coward of the county. You knew I was going to say that Pat's Peeps 320.
Speaker 2:Everyone considered him a coward of the county. He'd never stood one single time To prove the county wrong. His mama named him Tommy. The folks just called him Yellow. Something always told me they were reading tommy wrong. He was only 10 years old when his daddy died in prison. I looked after tommy because he was my brother's son. I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy. Son, my life is over, but yours has just begun. Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done. Walk away from trouble if you can. It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek. I hope you're old enough to understand. Son, you don't have to fight to be a man. There's someone for everyone, and Tommy's love is Becky In her arms. He didn't have to prove he was a man.
Speaker 1:This record is on United Artists. It's a yellow label. I got to interrupt it. I don't want to get in trouble. It's promo, not for sale. Stereo on both sides. There was to interrupt it. I don't want to get in trouble. It's promo, not for sale. Stereo on both sides. There was three of them.
Speaker 2:Promo, not for sale, tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying. The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand. He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture. As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard these words again Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
Speaker 1:Kenny Rogers, 1979. Coward of the county.
Speaker 2:It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek.
Speaker 1:But you know what I thought. Like I said, I pulled a couple of these out today. I also wanted to say another thing about going back to the highway being closed down Blood Alley, you know, blood Alley was the site where James Dean died, as I mentioned. Say another thing about going back to the highway being closed down blood alley, you know, blood alley was the site where james dean died, as I mentioned, in a car wreck. James dean, 24 years old, died september 30th 1955 near shalom, california, had previously competed in several auto racing events and was traveling to a sports car racing competition when he was involved in a car crash at the junction, like I said, us Route 466, which was later State Route 46 and State Route 41. In April of 54, he secures the co-starring role of Cal Trask in East of Eden. He purchases a 1955 Triumph Tiger T110. In March of 55, he trades the MG for a new 1955 Porsche Speedster purchased from Competition Motors in Hollywood, trades the Triumph for a 55 Triumph TR5 trophy. Three days after filming wraps up on East of Eden and then, just before filming begins on Rebel Without a Cause, james Dean competes in the Palm Springs Road Races with a speedster. This is March 26th and 27th Finishes first overall in the novice class on a Saturday, second overall Sunday in the main event. He raced the speedster in Bakersfield in May. He puts down a deposit on a new Lotus Mark IX sports racer with Jay Chamberlain who was a dealer in Burbank.
Speaker 1:On September 30th 1955, about 5.45 pm, two-tone black and white 50 Ford Tudor headed east on US-466, just west of the junction near Shandon. On US-466, just west of the junction near Shandon, the driver, 23-year-old Navy veteran, cal Poly student, donald Turnipseed, turns left onto SR-41, heads north towards Fresno. As his Ford crosses the center line, dean, clearly recognizing the imminent crash, tries to steer the Spider to a sidestepping racing maneuver. But he didn't have enough time, didn't have enough room to do this, enough space. The two cars collide nearly head on. A witness, john Robert White, reported that the spider smashed into the ground two or three times during. Cartwheels landed in a gully beside the shoulder of the road and the impact sent the much heavier Ford broadsiding 39 feet down the road, highway 466, us 466. They were taken to ambulance, both of these gentlemen, 28 miles away, pasa Robles War Memorial Hospital. Dean was pronounced dead on arrival, 6.20 pm. Worthwick survived the impact with a broken jaw and serious hip injury and femur injuries which required immediate surgery. After being interviewed by the CHP, turnipseed hitchhiked in the dark to his home in Tulare. Some sources attest that Dean's last words uttered just before impact, after Woolrick told Dean to decelerate as the Ford Tudor pulled onto their lane. As that guy's got to stop, he'll see us Going to our second record of the day, something much different.
Speaker 1:This song came out in 1971. I remember this being on the radio all the time An Irish singer-songwriter recorded in 71. It became a worldwide hit. It didn't originally appear on his 72 studio album Back to Front, but it's been included in reissues of that, replacing another song that was a hit by this artist. Actually, the single spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one, non-consecutive weeks between late July and early September of 72. And America ranked number two at the year-end chart, sold over two million copies. It was involved in a notable 1991 court case in which it set a precedent for the music industry that unauthorized sampling of music can constitute copyright infringement. It is a sort of a melancholy song, introspective ballad, the singer contemplating suicide after being left at the altar, wondering if there's a God, lamenting the death of his parents. It is a miserable song, but I remember it well. Gilbert O'Sullivan Alone Again. Naturally, that's Peeps 320.
Speaker 3:In a little while from now, if I'm not feeling any less so, I promise myself to treat myself and visit a nearby town and, climbing to the top, will throw myself off In an effort to make clear to Everyone. It's like when you're shattered, left standing in the lurch At a church where people were saying, my God, that's tough. She stood him up. No point in us remaining. We may as well go on as I did, on my own, alone again, naturally, to think that only yesterday I was cheerful, bright and gay.
Speaker 1:I hope you have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend and I appreciate you listening to my podcast. Again, I'll be off next week for my radio show, but I'll be there tonight. Please listen to the Pat Walsh Show. Please check out our merch store at patspeepscom. Guys, we're working so hard to support everyone and do the right thing. We hope you'll be a part of that. Okay, and again, the podcast will go on next week, but for now, see you on the radio.
