Behind

I'm behind on my blogging.
I'm behind on my reading.

I'm behind on exercise, eating right, housework, Bug snuggling, Jack frolicking, Pmo time, yard work, vacation planning, coupon clipping, cooking, baking, crafting, scrapbooking, organizing, home improvement, vitamin taking, flossing...
you name it, I'm not where I want to be with it.

But it's not like I've been doing nothing for the past month.
Christmas sucks the life out of me.
I have a feeling January is going to be pretty boring.

How does one do it all?
How does one do all of this with kids?
How does one do all of this with work, and kids, and in-laws, and cooking, and hosting...

I'm exhausted and I haven't done half of that.

I'm also emotionally exhausted as I'm sure many of us are.
As a member of "the media" (if I hear that one more time...)
I have been inundated with the Connecticut school massacre and access to hundreds of stories that I choose not to drown myself in.
I'm actually pretty numb to shootings, even mass shootings.
But Connecticut was different.
Aurora was different.

There's innocence, and then there's selfishness.
I'm sorry you have mental problems.
I'm sorry you feel like you need to kill yourself in order to solve those problems.
But taking others with you, I just don't understand.

People that have nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with your issues.

Gone.

If I was a parent of one of those children, you couldn't tell me anything to help me understand.
God's plan, he/she's in heaven now, things happen for a reason, free will, evil in this world.

No.
Save it.

But I guess you have to believe in something to get you through it, or else the grief will consume you, the tables turn, and you may feel compelled to do something rash, unimaginable and tragic.

Whatever the answer is, I hope we find it. And those 20 little lives were not lost in vain.

Do something. Please.
We can't fall any further behind.

You Give Love A Bad Name (And I Want To Punch You In The Face)

Disclaimer: I will most likely buy tickets to a Bon Jovi concert for my mom in the near future as a Christmas present (again) so PLEASE do not mention this blog post to her in any fashion. I just couldn't let this go. There is also some profanity. In case you don't like that. Or don't know me. At all.

I was reading comments on the KFC Yum! Center's Facebook page about Bon Jovi coming to Louisville, because I KNEW there would be some crappy a** remark about something or other. And I like to torture myself, apparently. So, of course, I found one.

This guy says, and I quote, "Great, let's just invite springstein too and have all the washed up musicians who got the vote for obama."

First of all, SPRINGSTEEN IS A LEGEND and anything but washed up. I feel extremely fortunate to have seen him in concert, and although I would have preferred some different song choices, he's "the boss". Seriously. Are you kidding me? THE BOSS.

Second, JON BON JOVI IS A GOD. The whole band rocks and is still together after all of these years. That's stamina. That's classic. That's epic. You don't insult that and you certainly don't eff with it. Washed up? Really? So that's why he/they keep making albums and selling out stadiums, huh? A GOD.

And third, OBAMA WON, ROMNEY LOST. Yes, Springsteen stumped for Obama, but I could care less. Bon Jovi may have, too, I don't know. I'm so sick of this crap. Why do these people have to turn everything into an effing political fight? GET THE F*** OVER IT.

I don't pin all of my hopes and dreams on politicians.
So I'm not devastated, bitter or lost without any sense of direction when they lose.
I also don't blame other people or the government for my problems.
I prefer to be a pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps kind of girl.

I believe what I believe.
You believe what you believe.
Agree to disagree.
Whatever.

But when you take something sacred, like a concert, by one of my favorite groups, in the world, of all time, and turn it into some pissing match about liberals vs conservatives, I take serious effing issue.

Most people would say the best thing to do is ignore people like that.
Don't buy into the argument, don't fuel their fire.

But then they get away with it.

And I HATE when people get away with things like that, just because you're supposed to "take the high road" or "be the better person". In the meantime, they get to say whatever the hell they want without repercussions, responsibility or even accountability.

Fine.
I'll ignore it and let it go.
After I post this blog, of course.

But WWBJD?
(What Would Bon Jovi Do?)

Hmmm, I know.

♫ When the world gets in my face, I say, HAVE A NICE DAY! ♫

Ah, all better now.

An Open Letter to Mass Murderers and Perverts

This is not a joke about Hostess. 
I'm not running out and buying up the last supply at Schnucks.
I've had "Cloud Cakes" and knockoff Ding Dongs.
I think we'll all be just fine.

This is not a rant about the election.
Obama won.
Other people you may not have voted for won.
Life goes on.
Get over it.
Focus on the future.
Quit wallowing.
Suck it up.

This is a fedup, can't-stand-it, so-tired-of-this-crap, what-kind-of-a-country-am-I-living-in, realization.

But let me say this first: I read many, many, many, many stories about domestic violence, drug deals gone bad, junkie arrests, etc., where people end up dead or severely altered for the rest of their lives. I'm pretty numb to it all by this point. But at least, in these situations, I get it. There is a relationship involved between a husband and wife, druggies run in the same circles, etc. There's some sort of understanding of what happened and why. Not a justification. But an understanding. And even with the methheads or other drug addicts, in general, they're only hurting themselves, if you don't count what they do to their family and friends psychologically.

What I don't get it is these mass shootings/plans for mass shootings and child molestors/child pornographers/people who possess child pornography. These people are the most sick, twisted, selfish, delusional people in the world. They take innocent, precious lives and either end them or ruin them for eternity.

If you have homicidal thoughts, seek treatment. We have plenty of services out there designed for this kind of thing. All kinds of people with bleeding hearts who want to touch your soul and get down to the bottom of what causes you to think like that. I am not one of those people. But they're out there, trust me.

If you have sexual thoughts about someone who is not a consenting adult, seek treatment and read above. Yes, I know. Most likely, these people were also sexually abused and they don't know any better than to perpetuate the cycle, blah blah blah. But if you realize that, can't you also realize that it is wrong? That it made you feel awful and now you're passing that on that trauma to an INNOCENT HUMAN BEING???

I think these things are more important to address right now than whether a business is required to pay for its female employees' birth control. Or allowing illegal immigrants to live in this country. Or where in the hell Obama was born.

I don't have the answers. Well, I do. But they're not well thought out or even legal. But someone's got to have the solution, right? We have some really smart people in this country. It's America! Can't we come up with something? Are we allowed to screen people for perversion and homicidal tendencies at an early age? Like a standardized test? Something that would show "the warning signs"? Then we could nip it in the bud early. We have all kinds of other requirements/policies/restrictions/laws to be able to live and work in this society. Or, wait, I'm sorry, is that a violation of civil rights?

Because I tell you what: the victims of mass shootings and sexual abuse have rights, too.
Or at least they did before this crap happened to them.

They have a right to go about their business.
They have a right not to be bothered.
They have a right to feel safe.
They have a right to live.

And I have a right to say something about it.

The Desk

I'm writing to you from my new desk at home.

Big deal, right? I sit at a desk at work all day and I never wrote a blog about it. But this is different.

This is like the time I bought my first computer because I wanted to be Carrie Bradshaw. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that before, but bear with me, I have a point. It's like the time I bought my Kindle because I wanted to read more. Both motives worked, by the way. I have a lengthy journal from those first few years of laptop ownership. Most likely because I didn't have the internet and all I could really do was write on the thing. And my Kindle has done wonders for my reading habits. I hate to put the thing down. In fact, I've bought "real" books in the meantime but I always return to the gadget.

This time, I bought a new desk because I want to blog more. My laptop and I are always in the recliner and I really don't write as much because of it. So I tell myself. Sometimes we (the laptop and I) migrate to the couch, but there are little fairies that live between the cushions who induce sleep. That's not good for productivity. The point is, at home I rarely sit at a table or desk while on the computer. I surf the internet in my chair. I pay bills in my chair. I watch funny videos in my chair. Why? It's comfortable and I can watch TV at the same time. And when I say "watch TV" I mean spend at least ten minutes trying to find something decent and virtually ignore it while I'm on the computer.

Let me back up a bit. I was not deskless. When we moved here, Pmo had no desk. So I let him use mine. He seemed to really want one and I just stacked stuff on it anyway. Several months ago, maybe even a year, Pmo decided to bring his desk up from his dad's house. At this point, we had two desks. So I rearranged the dog room/guest room/my room to house my desk again. But I pretty much went back to using it as counter space. You see, my former desk is odd for my needs. It has a built in shelf where you are supposed to sit. I'm guessing for a traditional desktop computer, this would be great. Monitor on top, keyboard below. Other stuff to the side. But you need a flat, open surface for a laptop. And where that flat surface is, there's a drawer and shelf underneath. Therefore, I can't really sit at it and work on the laptop. It's a bit backwards.

When I got it into my head that I "needed" a new desk (and I do that from time to time with certain things) we looked at a few consignment stores, Goodwill, etc., because I was hoping to find some secondhand awesomeness. But that didn't happen. And since I wasn't in any big hurry, I thought maybe we'd happen upon something some day or I would just forget about it. Then I saw a corner desk/small bookcase combo in the Target ad over the weekend and that was it. I was on the hunt again. Except when I got to the store, I decided the desk wasn't big enough even if I put the printer on top of the bookcase. So I came home with a traditional desk with drawers on the side but the entire surface is flat. No shelf. I didn't spend too much on it either, which is a plus. Pmo put it together for me. Now here I am.

Will it motivate me to blog more? Who knows? But I'm doing it now. Did a Y membership turn me into an avid exerciser? No. Does eating right for a day or two transform me into a health nut? Not hardly. All I can do is try. I talk myself into these things and see how far they take me. I'm pretty content with the new desk so far. It's a dark, espresso color so it doesn't match the oak furniture that's in this room, but that's okay. Now I just have to go through all of the papers and files I used to stack on top of the old desk and organize them. That was also part of the motive: to get organized back here. Like I need a reason to do that. I can't function unless my to-do lists have their own to-do lists.  

Summing Up Summer

I have many blog ideas on my to do list. Several, in fact. Although it appears I can't put my money where my mouth is because I haven't blogged in 3 months! But this blog will not focus on any of those ideas. I'll simply catch you up.

I think it's safe to say I've been busy this summer, but I really haven't been *that* tied up that I couldn't have blogged. I think part of the problem is I don't typicaly just sit down and start writing. There's some prep work involved, some time set aside. In the end, I just do something else.

My Kindle is getting a workout though. I've read several books on it, including the entire Fifty Shades of Grey series. I'm currently working on The Hunger Games and my weekly editions of Newsweek and Time. That, in itself, is a major time suck. But I'm glad I'm doing it. I've had such an aversion to reading for so long. The Kindle has really helped me get into it again. I've also been buying books here and there at flea markets and bookstores. However, they're not as convenient as the Kindle and kind of stacking up around here. Unread.

And then there's Bug. He continues to have various ailments that creep up which often stop me in my tracks and require a change in plans. Like a trip to the vet instead of a load of laundry. Nowadays, I stop by there anyway on a biweekly basis to pick up food and/or medication. If you're keeping track of Bug's health, he's 11 years old (12 in February) with arthritis, diabetes, cataracts (he's pretty much blind) and peridontal disease. His latest bout was a bleeding mouth. I'm talking pools of blood appearing in his cage. Doc put him on antibiotics and he's doing much better. Although lately he's been uber hungry. Sigh.

Labor Day weekend is upon us. Pmo and I are heading out for Cincy tomorrow to see KISS and Motley Crue. We're going to make our way back home through southern Indiana the next few days and do some shopping and visit our favorite wineries. There's also more concert excitement ahead in November: Ron White, Bruce Springsteen and Journey/Pat Benetar/Loverboy. Plus we're planning another trip to the Georgia cabin in October as well as some time off for the holidays. The NFL has started back up again and fall is just around the corner. I can't wait.

Work has kept me busy, too. As usual. I've had several meetings and workshops added to the mix lately along with the daily grind of producing the morning newscast. It's safe to say I'm pretty happy to have the next 4 days off.

We've made use of our toys this summer. Not a whole lot because it was painfully hot for such a long time. You'd think during that time I would have had nothing better to do than blog. Anyway, we took the motorcycles for a ride a few weekends ago and explored the greenway on our bicycles another weekend. The one toy we don't seem to use at all is the Wii. And I hate that. We don't have that many games but we have enough to keep us entertained. We just don't use it. But I don't want to get rid of it either. I need to use it. Wii Fit, Just Dance and other games would get me moving. Yet I sit and watch TV.

I also need to take Jack for more walks. I feel sorry for the little guy. He's turning 9 next month and has all the energy of a puppy. And Lord knows I need the exercise, but between working extra hours and trying to get to the Y to use my gym membership and taking care of the house and looking after Bug and trying to spend time with Pmo and finding a moment to read and having to sleep during the day...Jack gets put on the back burner. I don't see how working moms with kids do it.

Okay, that's enough. This is getting too long and I'm starting to ramble. I'll try to write something more thought provoking next time. Like I said, I have ideas. Maybe this will get me back into the swing of things. TTFN.

Breaking Bad

I feel as though I may have named a blog "Breaking Bad" already. If so, my apologies, and we'll call this part 2.

I began somewhat of a healthier routine this week. I pledged to do some kind of exercise every day. Nothing major. I'm not training for a marathon or planning to drop 50 pounds. Just make myself move and try to break a sweat. I also promised to incorporate better foods into my meals and not fall back on junk food all of the time.

I think I did a pretty good job in both areas. Was I perfect? No. I had pizza and fries at least one day. I went out to dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Okay, there may have been some ice cream involved, too. But I also munched on almonds, raisins, bananas, grilled chicken and fish throughout the week.  And I exercised every day. Except Friday. And Saturday. And probably today. It's Sunday. I have to go to bed super early. Back off!

Otherwise, I enjoyed a variety of activities this past week: weights and jogging at the Y, walking Jack around the neighborhood, yoga in the living room and steps on the Wii. I think I also danced to some music in the kitchen Friday morning. It helps having my exercise log to mark things down. It makes me accountable. I'm still holding off on the food diary. Too much work. I have to have time to read my Kindle and do other "me" things.

Speaking of that, I'm starting to realize there really is no greater form of "me time" than eating the right foods and exercising. I usually think of "me time" as eating chocolate, drinking wine, reading magazines, bubble baths, massages, pedicures, shopping, etc. But what could be better for you than treating your body with a little TLC? Not that those other things aren't awesome. I'm totally going to continue to enjoy them, too.

I'm not trying to lose weight. If it happens, great, but then I'll have to get a new wardrobe. The scale puts too much pressure on me. I did have one true success. I didn't have fast food all week. Usually, I stop at McD's or Taco Bell or both by Friday. But that's when I have no time to throw something together in my lunch bag that's easy and manageable. Which is often. I'm chronically late. And I can't exactly have a 3 course meal while typing furiously on the night shift. But time and simplicity are no longer excuses when I have a constant supply of oatmeal and other readily available snacks at my disposal. 

This is not a diet. There is no New Year's resolution. Again, that's too much pressure which leads to failure. I figure I can't quit being lazy and eating badly cold turkey, right? Even smokers get patches and gum. And it's better than doing nothing at all and staying on the clogged cholesterol train.

Doctor's Orders

Last week, I was told by my doctor during my annual checkup that I may be heading (at warp speed, in my opinion) into menopause.

WHAT?

But Mitzi, you say, you're only in your early thirties and you look 25!

Bless your heart.

It's true. My doc thought it was a possibility. The fact that I don't have a monthly visitor bothered her more this year than it did the year before. Because I told her the exact same thing in 2011, and she said it wasn't a big deal. At that time, lab work indicated my thyroid was out of whack. It wasn't serious enough for me to have to take a hormone, but the doc said I may feel better if I did. Since I wasn't feeling horrible, I opted for the vitamin option.

But I digress. Back to the "change of life" conversation. Really? Really! My first thought was WTF? My second thought was, well that will end any lingering questions about having a family. But I didn't break down and cry, yearning for my fertility. I did, however, stop and think about it a little bit. I wasn't too thrilled about the option being totally taken away from me.

Turns out I'm not menopausal. I think I knew that deep down. I had no other symptoms: hot flashes, memory loss, etc. Instead, I have high cholesterol. My orders are to cut down simple carbs, up the fiber intake and get moving. I assign myself different exercise every day on my phone calendar: go to the Y on Monday, do yoga on Tuesday, walk with Jack on Wednesday, etc. But I often end up blowing said exercise off, especially if work runs over or I'm just too tired. This time, I've decided to make a chart (like I did for Bug's meds) so I can give myself a variety of choices daily and check them off as I do them. That way, I can view the week as a whole to see what exactly I'm doing.

The food part is hard. I like to eat. And I like to eat all of the bad things. I thought about keeping a food diary as well, but that's so time consuming. I've been trying to buy healthier food at the grocery store for some time now. I know better. I know Pmo and I aren't getting any younger and if we want to stick around, eating healthier is a big part of that.

It could be worse. I have friends who live with fibromyalgia and diabetes every day. There are women my age fighting breast cancer and other life threatening diseases. There's a whole world of health problems out there I know nothing about. So for now, I know that my biological clock is still intact, it has not stopped, it's still ticking. But I'm sure it's winding down.

Top 10 Moments in Memphis

10. Mom looking in both directions every time went over a bridge to see if she could get a glimpse of whatever river we were crossing.

9. About 60 miles outside of Memphis at an intersection after eating lunch:
Mom (looking north): “I can see Memphis from here…”
Me (pointing south): “I find that hard to believe because it’s this way.”

8. Watching the Peabody ducks that we had talked about and seen a long, long time ago on “Coach” then stealing the drink napkins someone else had used before we left.

7. Ordering drinks before dinner at Pig on Beale:
Mom: “Water.”
Me: “Bud Light.”
Waitress (to me): “Can I see your ID?”
Mom: “You wanna see my ID, too?”
Me: “For water?”

6. Both of us packing a snack bag, including Cheez-its, without the other one knowing.

5. Having 3 TV channels in the motel that continuously played Elvis movies and catching the end of each one.

4. Both of us being ready for bed well before by 9pm.

3. Watching Mom take in Graceland from the ticket stub to the gravesite.

2. Seeing many horse carriage rides with dogs in the front seat, but only one with a pug.

1. The pizza buffet/game place: I don’t even know how to say this and be politically correct so I’ll just explain what happened as best I can. A woman working there (who happened to be outside on a smoke break when I dropped Mom off then parked the car) let us eat for free. Why? We don’t know. But after we got our food and sat down, we realized we were the only white people in the entire place. It reminded me of that Eddie Murphy skit on SNL called “White Like Me”. Watch it, it’s funny.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/10356/saturday-night-live-white-like-me

Country Concerts

I've seen Miranda Lambert twice now. She started this show with a video montage of women in power while Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls)" was playing. So cool.

Canaan Smith opened for Sugarland. He was okay, but his guitar players didn't sound like they were in sync.

Lauren Alaina said she was missing her prom so she asked this guy to dance with her on stage.

I've also seen Sugarland twice now. I was surprised how much fan interaction they had during this show. They pulled two or three little girls on stage with them at different times.

I'm pretty sure this was during "It Happens". Love the crazy look on her face.

They opened the first show I attended with "Love" and it blew me away.

Wild Card

A conversation with one of my co-workers sparked the following blog.

Me: "I'm rooting for Louisville."
She: "WHHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTT???????"

Ok, so it wasn't much of a conservation.
But I can explain.

I don't pledge allegiance to any particular sports team. Professional or college. I root for the region, basically. If IU is playing NC State, I go for the Hoosiers. If UK is up against Kansas, I'll back the Wildcats. If the Colts are taking on the Titans...well, I have a little trouble with this one, because technically Nashville is closer than Indy. It's because I lean toward my dad's logic: you go for the team that's closest to you. Although he's no sports fanatic either.

I'm really not a true fan. I don't commit. It probably seems like that's the easy way out, but look at it this way: at least I don't get my heart broken when the team loses. Or have to make excuses as to why they didn't win. I don't take it personally. I don't get involved in all the trash talk leading up to the game. And I don't have to eat crow afterwards either. Yet I still enjoy the victories. It's good for my sanity.

Yes, my husband hopes UK will go all the way, so Saturday night will be just like the IU game in our home. But rooting against him makes it fun! Now if I took it seriously, that would be a different story. It could get quite ugly. But he knows I don't care that much, and I still get to take part in all the fun, so it's a win-win. To me.

Plus, I like Louisville. The city. Hell, I've been there 3 times already this year. And I'm going back next month. I have friends and relatives there. I hardly know anyone in Lexington. Not to mention, I love an underdog. Seems like everyone I know is for UK. I'm not alway big on doing what everyone else does. And frankly, sometimes people can get too big for their britches. There's confidence and then there's arrogance.

It's not really about statistics, players and records to me. It's like tonight's Mega Millions drawing, which is now up to $640M by the way! There's a chance the little guy will win. There's the possibility the unthinkable will happen. There's an opportunity for a really good story to come out of this. And go down in the history books. Either way, I'll be just fine. Can't speak for Pmo though.

Music To My Ears

For someone who considers herself a pretty big music fan, I really don't seek out new songs very often.
I tend to let them fall in my lap.
Even when artists I love come out with new material, I don't run out and buy their albums or go online and download all of the tunes.
I just wait until I'm forced to hear them, somehow.
So it's no surprise that I've downloaded several songs I discovered through TV, movies and a concert.


Here's what I'm listening to right now:

"Good Morning" by The Kicks
"Colors" by April Smith and the Great Picture Show
"Home" by Girls Love Shoes
"Shine For Me" by Camera Can't Lie
"Don't Stop" by Gin Wigmore

Maybe none of these sound familiar, but I guarantee you've heard all of them.
They're from Lowe's commercials.
My favorite is "Good Morning".
It's the new one where the people float outside from their beds and start gardening.
I'm also really into "Colors".
It's catchy and I think there's a kazoo playing at some point.

"Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees
I loved "Animal" but I never went much further with "Neon Trees".
Until I heard "Everybody Talks" on yet another commercial.
It's fun!

"Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People
I had heard of Foster the People and may have even listened to "Pumped Up Kicks" before, but I didn't pay much attention to it until it was a battle song on "The Voice".
And even though the lyrics are pretty dark, it's very upbeat.
Something about the melody makes me happy.

"Stay With Me" by Faces
This is an old one by Rod Stewart's band.
It's on the end of "Wedding Crashers".
"Stay With Me" is one of those songs I always meant to download but never got around to it.
Guess where I heard it again?
"The Voice"!


"I Believe" by Stevie Wonder
This is also an old song that plays at the end of a movie: "High Fidelity".
I get a little bored with the verses in "I Believe", but I just adore the chorus and could sing it all day.

"Tomorrow" by Chris Young
"What Do You Want" by Jerrod Niemann
"Fine Tune" by Miranda Lambert
I heard all of these songs for the first time last weekend in Louisville at Miranda Lambert's concert. "Tomorrow" and "What Do You Want" are similar in theme.
They're both pretty much about booty calls.
But it's from the guy's point of view, and although he's going through with it, he has regrets, too.
"Fine Tune" is also very sultry.
Miranda sings it through some kind of special microphone that alters her voice, and at the concert, she sang it while stretching out on a red chaise lounge.
Hot stuff.

So if you're in a music rut, check out some of these new/not-so-new releases.
Or if you have some others to share, I'm all ears.

I'd Do Anything For...

I am not one to be scared of storms. I suppose if I had lived through a bad one, I'd feel differently. Sort of like if I was in a terrible car wreck, I'd be afraid to get back on the road. But since I've never done either, they aren't big concerns of mine. Which I find ironic because I'm also not fond of things I can't control.

Friday was different. We had just had a tornado through Newburgh on Wednesday morning. And on this day, the entire tri-state was under a high risk. Not slight, not moderate, HIGH. Absolute certainty that the you-know-what was going to hit the fan.

I got home from work around 10:30am and started to put a plan into action. My first thought was to get the SUV in the garage if I could. Even if we didn't get a tornado, hail could really mess up my semi-new car. So I manipulated the riding lawnmower and two motorcycles in our 1 car garage and managed to get the Forester in there. It was a tight fit for sure, and I was pretty proud of myself. Then I got the mattress off the guest bed and dragged it into the bathroom for emergency cover in the tub. By the time I was done, we were in wall to wall coverage on TV and the dark terror was on its way.

I was in an extreme dilemma at this point because I needed to go to sleep. I'd been up since 10pm the night before. But I couldn't nap because there was severe weather all around me. And to top it all off, Bug was at the vet for all day glucose monitoring. That's what freaked me out the most. Although he would most likely be out of harm's way, the idea that I couldn't protect him if something happened really got to me.

In the end, we lucked out again and didn't even have damage, which I can't believe because we have a lot of trees and almost always have big branches fall. I ended up staying up all day and even went out for dinner and drinks with friends that night. I was awake, barely, for 26 hours straight! It definitely helped me sleep through Friday night though, which I often find difficult.

So many others were less fortunate, and I've been thinking about that all weekend. And as I read stories that keep coming in about survival and loss, I take special interest in those about pets. I read a few where dogs were discovered underneath the debris of flattened homes. I read another where a woman took shelter in her basement while her dogs were in the garage. They all survived.

The way other people handle their pets during disasters confuses me. I don't know their situations but I'm pretty confident that I would put my life on the line for my dogs. I would not leave them behind if our house caught on fire. I think I would run out into traffic to prevent them from getting hit by a car. And I'd have them with me in the bathtub during a tornado. Heck, I've already done that. I think this picture is from our last tornado scare.

I'm sure I would do anything in my power to make sure they were not separated from me because they're helpless. I can't justify letting them get hurt or die because they're "just dogs".

Take Bug for example. He's not just a dog. He's an old man. Not only does he have arthritis and diabetes, but we learned Friday that he has cataracts. So add daily (and lifelong) eye drops to his routine of an arthritis pill and insulin shots. He's high maintenance, that Bugton. But he's doing pretty good. I've had a lot of people ask about him and I appreciate the concern.

Now that the storms have cleared (and there's snow on the way, good grief) we are all ready for some R&R in the mountains. We're cabin bound, going back to north Georgia this week with dogs in tow. This time, we're going to let Bug rest and take Jack on some outdoor adventures. It's less stressful and not as time consuming waiting on Bug to catch up. And not as painful if I don't have to carry him. Ugh.

Throw in some wine, the hot tub, meals off the grill, a roaring fireplace, my Kindle, good music... ahhhhhhh.

Y Not?

I've developed somewhat of a weekend routine. Through the week, I let the mail and newspapers pile up on the kitchen table, then I sort it all out on Saturday morning. I also tend to blog on Saturday morning while everyone is asleep. I'm a little late today, it's almost 11am. On Sunday mornings, I go through the newspaper ads and do my bath towels/dog blankets laundry session. And at least 3 times a week, I'm now going to the Y.

Those who know me post-college may not believe I used to be a student-athlete. There's not much I do now to allude to that fact. But through high school and college, I played all kinds of sports like basketball, softball and track & field. I even dabbled in volleyball and the dance team. Since then, I've attempted several times to incorporate some activity back into my life, but I've never stuck with anything.

At work, we have a deal with the YMCA so employees can get a membership at a special rate. I've thought about it for the past couple of years, but I was afraid I would sign up and then just not go. I know myself pretty well. And the recliner is a hard habit to break once your butt is firmly planted in it. This year, I decided to go for it. I even got a family membership so Perry could walk on the indoor track.

So far, I LOVE working out at the Y and it's brought back so many memories. The weight room reminds me of my college days and lifting with my thrower friends. The basketball gym I recently stumbled upon caused flashbacks of high school, running yo-yos at practice and all of those away game trips where you did your homework on the bus with a flashlight. Plus all those times I shot free throws outside the basement at home. Mom always used to tell me that's how Larry Bird got to be so good.

As I find new things to do at the Y, I realize working out doesn't have to mean you bust your hump the entire time. Sure, that's probably the best way to go about it if you want to burn calories, lose weight and be healthy. But I will end up hating it if I do that, then I won't go. That's why I never had much fun with basketball. I can't stand running. Playing HORSE or just shooting around the key, that's a different story.

I try not to feel guilty because I'm not doing intense cardio or pumping serious iron. Right now, it's enough that I'm doing ANYTHING, so I just do what I like. I use reading my Kindle as bait to get on the treadmill and walk for a half hour. And my iPod helps keep the pace. I think I'll eventually work up to 45 minutes or maybe even an hour, but we'll see. And I always liked lifting weights so I just pick 4 or 5 machines, do 3 sets of 10 and go on about my business.

So that's where I am. Like I said a few weeks ago on Facebook, talk to me in 2 weeks when the newness wears off. But so far, so good. And here's proof of my high school jock status below.

Kindle Under Fire

I'm not one to jump on the trend or tech bandwagon. When something is in style, I start wearing it about a year later. When a new gadget comes out, it takes me awhile to even get the first version. I save money this way, yes. But mainly it's just because I'm not with it. Ask my friends how long it took me to start texting.

I now have a Wii, a Tom Tom, an iPod, an iPhone and a Kindle. The e-reader is my most recent venture. I'm always trying to get myself back into books. I buy ones that interest me, but they often sit on the nightstand or end table for months. And my bookcase is a mess, I desperately need to reorganize it.

So I thought a Kindle or Nook would make me want to read and be ideal for trips, waiting rooms, etc. All those books and magazines in one little device that slips right into my purse. And though I'm not big on games, I enjoy Word Search which I used to work on at my grandma's house. Point is, I believed I could put an e-reader to good use, but I didn't want to break the bank just to feed the urge.

I was kicking around the idea of buying a Kindle instead of a Nook because from what I'd read, Amazon has a larger selection than Barnes and Noble. Then when I saw the basic Kindle was down to $79, it was a no brainer. I didn't have to spend that much (compared to $199 and up) to get a new toy.

But when I made my mind up to buy one, I was presented with too many options. The basic Kindle, the Kindle with the keyboard, the Kindle Touch and the ever popular Kindle Fire. I went to Staples, where I first got confused, then Target. I figured I'd take advantage of my 5% RedCard discount.

The Kindle Fire wasn't on display at either store, but at least at Target I could see the box locked up in the case. Oh, it was pretty. Pretty tempting. Color display, apps, music, videos, movies...oh yeah, and books. I spent a lot of time trying to talk myself into buying it. I came really close to giving in to temptation and forking over the extra dough for all those bells and whistles. Really close. Might as well, right?

But then I reminded myself why I wanted a Kindle in the first place. For reading. Not for apps, music, videos and movies. I have devices for those things. Why did I need another? Plus, I liked the size of the first Kindle. It was small and would tuck away neatly in a bag or pocketbook. I also liked the cover for it. Just a simple black case that folded back when you were reading. The other covers were bulky with snaps or strings to keep them in place.

So I bought the basic Kindle. In the next few days, I regretted my decision. Anyone I talked to about it said, "Oh, did you get the Kindle Fire?" No. Why didn't I? Am I crazy for buying the original version of something that's evolved several times since? But I let the anxiety subside and now I'm thrilled with it. Besides, I don't have to do what everybody else does.

Yes, the touch screen would come in handy since I'm now used to it with the iPhone. Yes, the color display would make me feel like I'm not watching a black and white TV. However, the size, simplicity and affordability is what I was after. And that's what I got.

Of course, I'm not ruling out a Kindle Fire in the future. Although I did try out my co-worker's and it seemed pretty bulky. But I figure if I do take the plunge, I could fill up the basic one with free books and give it to my mom who is an avid reader. I'd have to teach her how to use it though. She's nowhere near jumping on the tech bandwagon. 

 

Dog Days

It began a little more than a week ago. We got home late from our friend's going away party to find some nice, little presents in the hallway. #1 and #2. Naturally, we blamed Jack. Although after giving it some thought the next day, I realized Jack never makes that much of a mess. But I didn't think much more of it.

Until Sunday. We were recovering from our second party of the weekend when Bug got off the couch and crept behind it. All of a sudden, I heard what sounded like trickling water from the faucet. BUG! He was letting it go right there behind the chair. It was then I knew something was seriously wrong. This dog has been potty trained for years and we had taken him outside not too long before.

Off we went to the vet on Monday. The doctor took some blood and said he would call soon with the results. I called back the next morning to check, nothing yet. And not knowing made me think the worst. I just knew Bug's kidneys were failing and I was going to have to put him down. And I couldn't bear the thought. Meanwhile, we were still dealing with his incontinence in the hallway. He was particular fond of that spot he already marked on the carpet.

Wednesday, the doctor had some results. He said Bug's kidneys were okay, but there was a chance of diabetes and a thyroid issue. But, of course, more tests needed to be done. At the time, I was just thankful his kidneys were functioning properly. On Friday, I got the final call that Bug did indeed have diabetes and we need to start insulin shots. His thyroid was okay.

So that's where we are now. Bug's been getting 2 shots a day since Friday. He's also got diabetic food that we're working in with the old food until he gets used to it. Pmo and I were nervous about giving him the shots (and Bug doesn't like it too much either) but it's actually going pretty well. His incontinence is supposed to ease up in a few weeks.

I was able to wake up and take him out in the middle of the night over the weekend. Not sure if I'm easier to wake up than Pmo or if it's because of my normal schedule. But Bug had yet another accident last night while I was at work, so it's obviously still a problem. I lay out potty training pads over towels in that same spot he likes, but he doesn't have very good aim. Or he just doesn't want to go on them. He's stubborn, that Bug.

The Muppets Take Lamasco

I've given my fair share of goodbyes over the years. At the end of high school, I don't think I fully realized I wasn't going to see my friends as much anymore. I mean, most of us had been in the exact same place doing the exact same things for nearly 20 years. It was kind of hard to imagine any other way. And I was more than ready to leave town.

By the time I was bidding farewell in college, I knew exactly what I was in for. No more roommates. No more late night runs to Taco Bell or Walmart. We were all moving on to the next phase of our lives which included careers, marriage and children, and didn't include each other. At least not as much.

This weekend, we said goodbye to two of our good friends who are moving to Cincinnati. She's moving up to a bigger market within the company, and he's looking forward to better job opportunities in his field. In the past five years, we've grown pretty close to this couple and shared some great times together. They have family here, so it's not like we'll never see them again. In fact, we have dinner plans in two weeks. But as she tearfully told me Friday night, it will never be the same.

My friend has given me inspiration to consider a life beyond where I am now. It's not that I'm unhappy. Actually, I'm pretty damn content. Which is the problem, I think. Getting too comfortable means not branching out and trying new things. Even if you fail. And what's the fun in that? How do you know what's out there if you don't look around? I could have a life that's ten times more awesome than it is now. But I'll never know unless I try.

At this point, I feel I need to explain the title of this post: The Muppets Take Lamasco. 
Part one: Lamasco. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it on this blog a time or two, but if you don't know, it's a bar we used to frequent. But since another owner took over (that whole pesky change thing again) it just hasn't been the same. But for the going-away festivities, we decided to try it one more time. And it really did feel like the old days. Everyone had a great time.

Part two: The Muppets. Like any child of the late 70s and early 80s, I grew up watching Kermit, Miss Piggy and the whole gang. In most of their movies, they had to go their separate ways, but they would always come back together for some reason. Like in "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Click on this link and you'll understand. You also might cry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNfHU748SYQ 

Those crazy puppets give me inspiration, too. Sometimes you choose change, and other times change chooses you. But it's good. It's necessary. And there's always that hope that something will bring you together again. Love you guys.

 

Morning Glory

What a difference a year makes.
Tuesday is my 1 year anniversary as executive producer of 14 News Sunrise.

Not only that, but next month marks my 8th year at 14 WFIE.

And this fall, I will have been in the news business for 10 years.

Wow.

It's hard for me to believe that I've done anything for 10 years.
I've had Bug for nearly 11 years and that still blows my mind.

Am I where I thought I would be at 33?

I'm not sure.

I didn't have any idea where I was going to end up.

So how would I know if I'm in the right spot?

Here's what I do know:

The past year has been quite an adventure.

I don't think I realized when I took on this challenge just what it would do to me.

It has made me cry.

It has made me excited.

It has made me think.

It has made me proud.

It has made me ANGRY!

What a shock.

But most of all, it's made me appreciate what I have.
I have a career, not just a job.

I have goals and a focus.

I have money in the bank.

I have a fairly flexible schedule.
And the ability to fall asleep anytime, anywhere, anyhow.