Tales of a Peorian

THE CHARTER SCHOOL INITIATIVE

2009-10-29T14:57:00.002-05:00

Hello readers and particularly anyone interested in Charter Schools!

I'm inviting you to an event next Thursday, November 5th at the Civic Center in Peoria. WRITE THAT DOWN!!! Now, you can already tell this is long, but read the whole thing. I MEAN IT!

Now that it's on your calendar, let me explain what it is. For those of you who don't know, I work at Peoria Housing Authority. I recently took a bus trip with my boss to Chicago to learn more about the Peoria Charter School Initiative. It was a life changing experience, I cried the whole day, and was then asked to join their communication board. I could go on and on about what an eye opening experience it was. The Charter School Initiative is a grassroots effort started by local community members. Some are former principals, business leaders, parents and grandparents. They all have the goal of bringing a charter school to Peoria. Here are a few things you should know:

Charter Schools are public schools, so they are free.
You do not have to be "gifted." It is open to absolutely anyone, just as any other public school.
So what's the difference? Charter Schools offer a different approach to learning. 75% of the teachers are qualified... the rest of the time your students are being taught by experts in their field. For example, maybe a surgeon from a local hospital comes in to teach a class that is medical related. It's very hands-on learning. And school is never over! Parents come later and help students with labs, people hang out in the computer labs and do their homework with each other before going home. It's an entire different environment where they actually want to be at school. That has a lot to do with a big emphasis on culture... which is complicated. But trust me.
Parents are required to participate. Teachers call every parent or visit in person once a month and not just when something bad happens. They point out progress too.
There is a HUGE emphasis on college. College is not optional after charter schools. They start teaching you from 5th grade that you should think about what you want to be and where you want to go to school. In fact, in high school there are entire year-round mandatory classes dedicated to college, how to pick one, how to qualify, ACT prep, and how to apply for financial aid.

I was shocked with the students I met in Chicago. They were mature, well spoken and had such passion about learning and going to college. The schools had 100% graduation rate, 100% college placement! With numbers like that, we can't afford NOT to bring a charter school to Peoria.

Charter schools have a proven track record of success and we are robbing our students if we don't give them the option. District 150 has to approve the charter. The vote is November 23rd.

HERE'S THE BIG NEWS!!!!

Thursday, November 5th at 5:30 PM, 20 students from a charter school just like the one we want in Peoria will be at the civic center so parents, teachers and the community can ask them anything they want to. Don't take my word for it. Go see for yourself and then come let your opinion be heard November 23rd. The students we met were inspiring. They were our tour guides, and mine actually said his old school was a joke. He didn't have to try to pass, he just had to show up. He said his charter school creates a different culture where learning is expected and high expectations are consistent. He wanted to try so he could keep up. He's been accepted to more than a dozen colleges and he admits he may not have even graduated if he had stayed at his old public school. The school walls were lined with "The Wall of Fame".... all the seniors' pictures and underneath... where they are going to college. I could go on and on but this is a novel already.

It doesn't matter if you have children or not, if you have children in District 150 or not, this is a positive change for the future for this entire area because we will be sculpting skilled and educated employees for the future. They will be future business owners and contributors to central Illinois. It is our job to make sure they have opportunities for excellence that they may not be finding in their current school system. I am not suggesting we don't have great schools already in place, but everyone learns differently and this is just an additional option for parents and students who don't feel what they have now is working. Please come hear what this is about. The students will tell the stories so it won't be some boring podium speech. We expect the panel to last about an hour. Then you make up your own mind. If you can come, let me know with a simple rsvp email. We'll try to get a head count. Thanks for reading!!!!

- Meghan

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

2009-08-04T18:23:00.004-05:00

I recently went back home to Peoria for a whole week! That's tough time to get off in the news business.

I can honestly say everything is better in Peoria. It just is. I don't know how to explain it but it's a feeling I don't get anywhere else I have ever lived or visited. Moving to South Carolina was a journey, a giant leap of faith and something my husband and I felt we should do to grow in our careers. I don't regret the decision, but being back in Peoria sure does solidify by decision to return and make it my permanent resting place. The funny thing is... I'm not the only one! I know so many people who left looking for bigger and better things, only to find themselves and realize they wanted to be back in Peoria. It's a city full of history and it has such a promising future. I'm not sure if the people who live there even realize what Peoria meant for the whole country as far as trade and growth and exports. Did you know Chicago was once part of Peoria County?

Peoria has always bucked national trends when it comes to real estate, business development and even popular network television programs. And I think it's great that Peoria sets its own standard for everything. There is no city like it and I hope I can find a career there where I can contribute to the city's growth and prosperity because...

I definitely want to play in Peoria.

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CAN RUIN LIVES

2009-06-09T03:43:00.002-05:00

Don't get me wrong... facebook, myspace, twitter.. they have a purpose and they work for those purposes. But they also give people an outlet to do a few other things that can be hurtful. I know people who use it to make others jealous or spy on an ex. Even if they're not "friends" with you, they can look on your friends pages and still see what's going on in your life. A girlfriend sees a picture a guy was tagged in with some pretty girls and all of a sudden, that's a fight. Maybe it's warranted, maybe it's not. But it has changed things dramatically. Then there are the times there is nothing vicious or mean about something you see... except that someone close to you seems like a different person and they seem to be posting things behind your back. They haven't done anything wrong but somehow it feels like a secret because you learn things about them you didn't know had you not looked at their "page." And what's worse, is they have a whole community involved in that part of their life... all which is foreign to you. It's awkward and uncomfortable and infuriating. I wish people would use these sites for what their meant for... keep in touch with old friends, use it as an outlet to post pictures and tag and all that good stuff. But remember that no communication is better than the one where you sit next to a friend or loved one and talk to them... or pick up a phone and give them the details of your day instead of posting them in tweets. Most importantly, do not allow anyone to feel like they are left out of your life because of what you post on the internet.

BLAGO'S IN THE JUNGLE BABY!

2009-04-15T06:40:00.003-05:00

Just when I thought the ousted Illinois Governor couldn't possibly get any more camera time... NBC wants him for a reality show called "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here!" That's right... impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich wants to sweat it out in the Costa Rican jungle. One problem though.. he is currently not allowed to leave the United States. His defense attorney is asking a judge to lift that rule and allow him to be part of the show. I guess I can't blame Blago for wanting to do the show. His political career isn't looking good... and he does enjoy being in the spotlight. I'm not sure where else he would go from here. NBC says the show dumps 10 celebrities in the jungle to test their skills at adapting to wilderness. Thoughts??

The Issue of "Sexting"

2009-04-13T23:25:00.003-05:00

If you are new to the word "sexting" it is the act of sending explicit texts or pictures through a cell phone. It's very popular among teens and unfortunately even younger minors. As it stands, teens across the country have wound up on sex offender registries because of scenarios like this: 17-year-old dates a 16-year-old... the girl sends her boyfriend an explicit picture of herself. They get in a fight and out of immaturity, he sends it to her entire family. Police get involved... and he is charged with distributing child pornography. He winds up registering as a sex offender and his neighbors get email alerts that they are living next to a child predator. There are a million issues here. First let's start with the end result...
Should a 17-year-old be on a sex offender registry for a picture his girlfriend sent him? Probably not. I remember what it was like to be 16 and I am pretty sure that most girls sending out picture of themselves know exactly what they are doing and like the attention. Is it immature? Absolutely. Should he have sent it on to her family? Absolutely not. But let's take a step back for a minute. There is a bigger issue when minors are sending pornographic pictures and texts to each other. As if there isn't enough pressure on teenagers, girls now have to compete with each other via cell phone??? This is an issue parents need to address and monitor. I know she's not paying her own cell phone bill. That means PARENTS: You have some control. PLEASE USE IT! And please talk to your kids about sexting and the repercussions later in life. Not only could their boyfriend get mad or jealous and send it to anyone in the world... but those pictures could pop up one day when your teen tries to get a job, run for office, or any other time they come across someone in life who wants to humiliate them.
This is a tough issue for me because although I think there should be consequences for forwarding a naked picture of someone... I also don't think boys like the example above should have that shadow cast over them when the girl never should have sent the picture in the first place. There has to be another way.
Lawmakers in Vermont are currently trying to legalize teen "sexting" so that teens in this situation won't have the stigma of being a sex offender. However, when we make it legal... it makes it okay for minors to send either other sexual images. We also can't say that's okay. I don't know what the solution is, but I will say... it starts at home. Parents take heed.
If anyone else has any brilliant suggestions, feel free to post!

SUPER SECRET FAKE COP CARS

2009-04-09T01:14:00.002-05:00

On my way to work almost daily I hit the breaks because I think I see a car that might be an officer. They are often in the corner of a used car lot, or an empty parking lot. However, they are facing the opposite direction, parked in the grass, and do not seem to be a car that is for sale or in the parking lot for any purpose. Upon closer inspection, these cars are definitely deserted and often beat up and might not even run. It makes me seriously wonder if troopers and police scour used car lots or other places of opportunity, notice a car that may look like a cruiser in the dark... and ask them to park it that way so it looks like someone is staked out. I guess if that is the goal, it works... because I slow down every time. But now that I've discovered this, I notice them more and more! Look around on your next drive, tell me if I'm crazy!

Where Are The Jobs?

2009-03-20T06:15:00.002-05:00

Working in news, we obviously report every job fair imaginable right now. So many people are without work, my husband included. So we have these news releases, 1400 jobs... 1500 jobs... 600 jobs, etc. But there are still so many people without work! An HR recruiter actually told a local paper there are businesses here that needs jobs filled that can't do it because there isn't anyone qualified. She claims too many people do not have any computer skills. I'm sure there is some truth to that... and to those people, I say: get the skills! If you don't have a computer, ask a friend or neighbor to show you how to use it. Go to your local library. Having said that, I think her statement is completely untrue. I can name 20 people off the top of my head that are looking for jobs and have superb computer skills. I wonder if some of these companies are posting a lot of jobs for the media attention, and only hiring for a smaller portion. Obviously I can't prove that & of course I could be wrong. However, my husband has more skills than the average applicant and hasn't even had an interview... inside our outside his field. He's been told by several people, "Your resume looks great, but we're actually on a hiring freeze." This is from companies with several jobs posted. They claim they are posting the jobs so that they have some decent resumes, a "short list" if you will... once they can hire. I say, BOO! Don't post jobs if you can't hire for them. My husband's best option right now is a paper route. That's more than fine with him, but he would have taken a paper route a month ago had he known none of these other jobs were actually available. Just venting my frustrations... let me know your thoughts!

SPEEDY CHURCH READERS

2009-03-10T06:38:00.002-05:00

Do you ever go to church or even some other large gathering where everyone recites something at once? What is with the people that insist on going their own speed... which is obviously a very different speed than anyone else? It's very strange. They always happen to be sitting right behind you and they also like to talk louder than everyone else. That way they can try to recruit speed readers to go at their pace and thus create two groups of readers, like a row row row your boat kind of thing. It's kind of funny, also kind of annoying. I find myself watching someone else's mouth up front by the priest so I can try to stay with the group and rebel against the loud and aggressive speedy readers. It's very tough! Then all of a sudden, you're tryig to read, lip-read, and block out the intense sound of the speedies. Lord help us!!!!

WHEN RECESSION HITS HOME

2009-02-09T06:45:00.001-06:00

Layoffs that have been spiraling out of control in recent months have hit home for my husband and I. 11 positions were cut from our news station, and he was one of them. The struggle now is handling wedding bills and home improvement costs (see broken pipe story below) while trying to find a job that remotely comes close to his former pay scale. It's a boat millions of Americans are in right now and our only hope is that this is a blessing in disguise... An opportunity that will allow him to pursue something he can once again be passionate about.
I've had a lot of people say to me, "I'm surprised it's hitting news." But they shouldn't be. Advertising dollars pay for news and when the car dealerships aren't selling cars, they can't afford to advertise, therefore news stations lose money. Everything in our economy is a domino effect... A constant reminder of how much we all rely on each other. When one of us falls, we all fall. I think it's an eye opener for everyone complaining about bailouts. I don't know how I personally feel about bailout money because sure... Banks and auto makers and other large corporations made a lot of mistakes that got themselves in the boat they're in now. However, look at the aftermath. Once again, when one of us falls, we all fall. The fallout of the auto industry and banks that have collapsed is evident across the world. I do not have any answers as to what it will take to fix this, but I don't think it will happen any time soon.

THE WRATH OF FROZEN PIPES

2009-01-28T05:21:00.002-06:00

My husband and I recently returned from an out of town trip where we were gone for six days. We found a note on our door saying "call me asap, i cut your water off." So we called the man... Who told us over the weekend several homes in our neighborhood had pipe problems and when they were at our neighbor's house, they were working on the water flowing out the back of his home, when they heard water at our house. He described it as Niagra Falls coming out of our back siding. We obviously weren't home so he turned our water off in case there was damage on the inside. Well, there was. Our living room ceiling was bowed down with water weight and our brand new carpeting underneath was wet. We thought the problem stopped there, but when the experts came out, they water tested 5 rooms... All were soaked. When they ripped up the floors we saw all the water and it was horrible.

Because it sat for three days, it had time to soak through even the dry floors. So the areas that looked fine to us were full of water underneath. We had dryers and humidifiers set up for days. And now we're preparing ourselves for the rehabilitation. I'm not looking forward to it, but it could have been worse. We made it out without damaged clothes or any significant furniture damage. We mostly just need new ceilings, walls, and floors! Come to find out the builders did not insulate the outside pipes properly and it's the same story for most of the homes in our neighborhood. We took all the right precautions before leaving town, but it didn't matter. I believe a lawsuit is in the works against the builder... Should be interesting!

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE GPS

2009-01-14T08:55:00.001-06:00

I am all about GPS systems. In fact, I recently purchased one. But I fear they are leading drivers into a sense of mindless wandering. I call it obsessive compulsive gps disorder... Or OCGD. You probably know someone with OCGD. Symptoms include pure panic if the GPS is not nearby and fully charged... Setting the GPS when you are three blocks away from your home and know where you're going... And any other obsessive behavior when it comes to the device. Sure, they are helpful when you are traveling, in an unfamiliar area, or even a familiar area, but want to scope out what's near you for food, gas, atm's, etc. But there are people who set it NO MATTER WHAT. They could go to the corner gas station, and they search it in the gps and set it before taking off. It worries me that these people are taking their OCGD to such a level that they will become incapable of driving without it. If the electronic voice you've named Monica, or Janice, or Lucy... Does not tell you to "stay right" or "recalculate" if you've missed a turn... Will you drive indefinitely wondering where you are, where you're going, and what your name is??
Maybe that's a little extreme, but still... Don't be annoying! Do not set your GPS when you don't need it. Maintain your ability to drive.. and make u-turns... And veer left all by yourself! Thank you kindly.

HANNAH'S HOPE

2009-01-09T11:46:00.001-06:00

She found light at the end of the darkest tunnel.
It's a story about a teenager who's level of faith is inspirational. She battled cancer through high school and even in her hardest times... Thanked God for choosing her. She has shown incredible strength, bravery, and hope while facing a death many of us would wallow in. A story as incredible as Hannah's tells itself, but it is equally important for the storyteller to allow her inspiration to shine. This story by News Channel 7's Connie Legrand touched my heart in a big way and I hope it will reach you as well. This story is only three minutes long and will stay with you a million times that.
Just click to catch a glimpse of Hannah's Hope.

EXCELLENT BIRTH CONTROL

2009-01-08T07:54:00.000-06:00

This is from a press release from Christina Elston. She writes the Health-E blog on Parenthood.com. I read this and thought, "whoa"...

Your precious new bundle will cost you a bundle, and bring you both joy…and anxiety! It's estimated the average family will spend more than $10-thousand dollars on child-related expenses this year - much of that on medical and child care!

I do not have children but I would dare to say that is a conservative figure. Add up clothes, food, school activities, birthday parties for classmates, trips to chuck e cheese, the list goes on.... and of course medical costs...
I bet your children take in much more of your salary than that! Anybody feel like guessing how much their child costs them a year?

I WANT MY KIDNEY BACK...

2009-01-08T05:39:00.002-06:00

There's a story out today on CBS News where a man is suing his wife during divorce proceedings... Because he wants his kidney back! He donated a kidney to her several years ago when hers were failing. Then a couple years later she had an affair and filed for divorce. He says he's hurt, angry and humiliated. He at least wants from her whatever the value of his kidney is because it saved her life. I think his lawyer is planning on more than a million dollars. This is the first time I've ever heard of something like this. Obviously, no judge will require her to remove the kidney, but I do wonder if he will be compensated for making such a sacrifice just to be the victim of infidelity. The claim is pretty out there, but wouldn't you feel the same? Wow, so many variables going on here...

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Hear from the broken-hearted "want my kidney back" man here.

GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR

2009-01-06T07:21:00.001-06:00

Let's start by listing a few I know I can keep:
1. Eat more ice cream.
2. Find a church that I like.
3. Be a good wife to my new husband
4. Encourage my love of cooking
Now the tougher ones:
4. Get active in some way.. working out, dancing again, etc.
5. Find a way to be near my family & friends
6. Finish my house!

Old-Fashioned Love

2009-01-04T16:06:00.002-06:00

I watched a piece a few days ago on an 80-something year-old man who says the cure to his wife's Alzheimer's is cuddling. He's an inspirational individual who met his one true love very young and says his advice to other couples is to crawl in bed and cuddle as much as possible. It all sounds heart-warming, but is there any truth to it? Doctors say yes! They say touch can help patients like his wife, and she has certainly shown a dramatic improvement since he began holding her every day.

An article for the Boston Globe states the following:
"Rita's agitated behavior may be improving because Sol's touch is decreasing her levels of cortisol - a stress-related hormone, said Lynn Woods, an assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing."

You can watch his story here:
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/touch-may-counter-alzheimers/1258649488

Stories like his are captivating, not only because it's so wonderful to suggest human touch may actually help her condition, but it's an astonishing love story. It got me thinking about the older couples I know in my life. My parents, for example, starting "going together" in 8th grade! My mother went out with him to make another boy jealous and says "he just kind of grew on her." He walked several miles out of his way to pick her up and walk her to school every day... through snow, sleet, whatever. My older brother first proposed to my sister-in-law the first day of kindergarten! I was talking about this with a fellow producer who said her parents are high school sweethearts and every year return to the place they had their first date in their hometown. I sincerely hope love is still like that now. It seems all the amazing love stories are from times far away from our own. They tell stories of parents, grandparents, maybe aunts and uncles. I wonder if the rules of love are changing...

Perhaps the way the world is today creates a whole new medium for people to meet and fall in love. The internet, of course, plays a huge role. The need to go to college probably makes a difference as well. People were married earlier, started families earlier... all out of high school. Would those same couples have stayed together through the college years? I certainly hope so, but I think our way of life today creates a hard atmosphere for old-fashioned love. I hope everyone can still find it somehow. I know I have : )

RETAIL BREAKDOWN

2008-12-30T13:27:00.001-06:00

It's no surprise the economy is a mess and retail outlets are suffering. I, personally, spent more this holiday season than any other I do believe. I didn't exactly keep track but I spent more on my nieces and nephew this year because they're getting older and the stuff they're into costs more. My husband and I also make more than we did last year at this time, so it seemed to make sense. But the same is not true for most people. I did notice a lot of people walking the mall, but not many people were checking out. Lines were not long, things were not crazy. I have to say Christmas shopping was not stressful and I actually enjoyed it. The future of this country, though, scares me. The fear for most people is the worst part because everyone will pull in the reigns just in case they end up on the chopping block or get laid off. It's the smart thing to do but it won't help the economy any. We've backed ourselves into quite a corner, or "they" have or whomever. Regardless, I have a feeling we are all about to see some things that will make us very uncomfortable. We'll no longer be on top, seem so untouchable, or live beyond our means. A large reality check is in store for us all. Working in news, I obviously have fears of my own. My news company has seen layoffs and there is a sort of cloud looming over us wondering if there will be more and if it will affect the news department. This is a bad time for news right now. Not only are we struggling with the internet, and people changing the way they get news, but newspapers are struggling. Most stations own newspapers, so cuts must be made across the board to make up for those losses. Right now, my husband and I are thankful to have a job, any place, anywhere. Here's to hoping for all of you as well!

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

2008-12-27T21:47:00.000-06:00

I tried to see some holiday lights in South Carolina during our first Christmas away from Illinois. I must say everything you see here is small potatoes compared to the Festival of Lights in East Peoria. You really can't get much better than what they do. The lights we went to see were made to be a pretty big deal, but it was a lot of blow up decorations and I really felt like I was driving through Creve Coeur. Most of the decorations could have come from a local store... And although there were a ton of lights, it was nothing special, a lot of trees lit up, etc. It made me really miss home. Be thankful if you are in the Peoria area this holiday season! Although I can't complain about the 68-degree weather we had Christmas Day : )

HANDICAPPED PARKING

2008-12-19T10:31:00.001-06:00

It's always been a pet peeve of mine when people park in handicapped spots and they're not handicapped. It seems to happen more around the holidays. Parking is a nightmare, so people think they are somehow better than everyone else and deserve to take these spots. Especially when crazy holiday shopping is happening, should these spots stay open for those who really need them. Then there are the people who have the little handicapped tag because they often transport a family member who can't walk far. Those people are not with them, but they use the spot anyway. They bother me too. Don't take advantage of your loved ones' disabilities. Is it so horrible to walk a little? I don't think so. I think I should become one of those citizens who is able to write tickets to people like that. I would go crazy & spend a lot of my time busting these people... LOOK OUT!

ELDERLY ATTACKED

2008-12-12T14:42:00.001-06:00

Today we covered a story about a home invasion where a 19-year-old was accused of breaking into the home of an elderly couple. The 80-year-old man jumped up to defend his wife and was beaten for his wallet. It breaks my heart to see an elderly couple, still best friends of course, be treated this way. It seems more elderly people are being targeted for robberies lately because they are most vulnerable. It's a despicable truth that makes you sick to your stomach. I don't know how anyone, especially the teenagers who are usually doing things like this, can find it in themselves to hurt someone who would never be violent back. They often steal the wallet and then beat them.... When they could steal it and just run away. It's bizarre and sad and I feel like they should maybe be punished more harshly for attacking someone who is unlikely to defend themselves.

JAMAICA MON!

2008-12-11T14:43:00.000-06:00

I just returned from Jamaica with the most wonderful husband on this planet. It was a wild experience on so many levels. First, the excitement of going on a honeymoon... Then the warm beach, the ocean view, the hammocks, and an all-inclusive resort. It was so strange to walk in to nice restaurants, order from a menu, be waited on hand and foot, and then not pay. We all know we really did pay of course because the trip wasn't cheap. But still...
I was a big fan of the big green flag they give you to stick in the sand when you need something. We stayed at Couples Swept Away... A 10-acre property with just about everything you can imagine. We didn't feel the need to take any day trips because everything was right there... Parasailing, snorkeling, a cruise, glass bottom boat tour, sailing, etc. I was perfectly happy laying on a raft in the ocean, although I was a fan of the hobie cats... Little mini sails for two only. They were a little tricky to get the hang of but pretty fun. When we wandered off the property even just a foot, people of course were offering us all sorts of illegal activities. But at least they don't hound you when you say no. They kept telling us they would show us "the real sunshine." Whatever that means... Lol.
Can't wait to go back!

MARRIAGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

2008-11-28T11:46:00.000-06:00

I was recently married and throughout the planning process came across the road blocks, and speed bumps many brides do. The real struggle is whether or not you will turn those bumps into bridezilla moments. Most of them are small, and if you are a sensible bride you recognize them as such and move on. A few of them make you angry and you decide they are important enough to make a fuss about. But throughout the blood, sweat and tears, I was lucky enough to remember how special the day is for my groom and myself. Every second of it is about the bride and groom... So straying from tradition was not so scary for us. First, was the battle with the church. The Vatican is pushing for more strict rules in the Catholic Church and this includes outlawing the unity candle. Every ceremony I've ever been to has one so I didn't see what the fuss was about. We ended up having one, we just had to call it a "remembrance candle."
Then was the issue of taking pictures before the wedding. It was an evening ceremony so daylight pictures after the ceremony were not possible. Should we see each other before the wedding and break tradition? We decided to go for it because we didn't want to feel rushed getting to the reception. To make it special, the groom started off with a blindfold (someone's sock because we forgot the real one) and we took pictures of "the unveiling." We're so glad we did this, and for any brides who battle with the decision, it did not in any way take away from the moment when I walked down the aisle. As my mom told me, it's about the whole scene, the people, the church, the lighting, the music, and everyone standing for the entrance. The whole setting creates the feeling where you know you are about to marry your best friend. Seeing each other for some pictures before that can't touch that feeling with a ten foot pole.
We set the tone for our wedding from the very beginning. Our invitations were a little unique:
__ Will attend with bells on
__ Will attend, free of bells
__ Will attend, undecided on bells
__ Will not attend; have heard there will be people wearing bells
__ Will not attend, regardless of bell controversy
The end result -- our families and friends surprised us with bells they started ringing as my father and I walked down the aisle. What a great way to break the nerves! It seems everyone already knew what kind of event it would be.
The ceremony was incredible. Our priest was fun, sprinkling more water on the best man's face than the rings during the blessing, and pointing out to the congregation that he was thoroughly enjoying it. He ranked our kiss a six and said last week's couple was an 8 and dared us to beat them.... We did! People laughed and cried and the catholic mass really didn't seem as long as it was.
Our reception entrance was different as well. Our wedding party pretended to run slow motion in to chariots of fire... .Then the bass kicked in for the bride and groom, walking in to the hip hop song "swing" by Savage Garden. After our wedding video, which had surprises even for us (we taped some things ahead of time that neither one of us watched), we surprised our guests. After tears throughout from our last video/slideshow song.... My groom stated there was one more thing about me... He shouted baby got back and the music began! That was our first dance. Everything else was pretty traditional, the cake, the father/daughter, mother/son dances, the boquet and garter toss, etc. But what was so important was setting that tone. We had so many people tell us they had more fun at our wedding than any other. And I think it's because we broke the ice right from the beginning. I certainly don't want to take away from the importance of a marriage celebration, but your guests should know they are free to be themselves. I think showing them we were relaxed about the whole day encouraged them to kick back and really enjoy themselves.
My wedding was not like any wedding I have been to either, but I think it's close to where more brides and grooms are headed. We may have some very fun times ahead because marriage in the 21st century is a blast.

WHY?

2008-11-27T14:14:00.002-06:00

Why do stores/manufacturers put sticky labels on the part of a product that will show? Why not put it on plastic wrapping or cardboard packaging or something you remove anyway? Of all the things we have invented in this world, you would think such a simple thing would be doable. I am tired of peeling away at those stickers to get them off my decoration/new plate/picture frame!

Responsible Journalism

2008-07-29T17:49:00.003-05:00

Today, I was forced to run a story I thought had no business being in the newscast... and certainly not off the top of the show as a "news alert." It made me think about responsible journalism. I always tell myself... You do not have permission to waste a viewer's time. Those are words from the very wise Al Tompkins. Al says a million brilliant things a day but this one rings true to me. It's true, we... in media... do not have permission to waste someone's time. They turn on the news expecting to get relevant, important information. But I wonder how often this actually happens. I'm going to do an experiment. I'm going to watch a few news programs and count how many stories I felt were a waste of my time. I encourage you to do the same. If you do, write a post or email me and tell me how many there where and what they were. I'm worried too many people are obsessed with what is "new" even if it's not relevant, close in proximity, or important to any of our viewers. In fact, I don't think anyone would have known where the story was taking place or what it meant, but someone "Just now" said it, so we get to add bells and whistles and call it an alert. Too much show... not enough relevance = waste of time. Call me old school but I think people would rather hear about something that had happened locally that is important to them... even if it a whole hour ago.

Catholics & Their Rules

2008-07-23T05:08:00.003-05:00

I think Catholic churches may have a rule to make it hard for people to get married in them. Marriage is a sacrament, of course, so there is a certain standard of sacred the ceremony itself should be held to. But since when does the Vatican decide you can't have a unity candle... and the soloist must be trained as a cantor by the Catholic Church?? All things I've recently learned in my quest to get married.... seems to me the Vatican should have more important things to worry about than whether or not I'm allowed to have a unity candle at the ceremony. Being the journalist that I am or was (that's really a loaded question)... but anyway.. I started researching the unity candle and just what is the problem with it. Most of what I found assumes people look at candles in church as "pretty lights" that are there for the look of the church... when in fact each candle in church symbolizes Christ. I say to those people, "Thank you for assuming our ignorance." I have never looked at a candle in church as if it were a "pretty light." And I certainly don't think that's what a unity candle is... and just because you blow out a candle, it does not mean you are signifying death. I think this is a perfect example of people reading too far into things and that's something that can drive people away from the church. There are people who have dedicated blogs to this topic... and people's "pretty lights." Below is one I found infuriating. Here is the link , but part of it is pasted below:

"You may see a few more candles about that have not been mentioned in this series. Some are simply not prescribed (but not necessarily banned) by the Church and there may actually be a few more that I have missed. (If you think of any, please let me know save for vigil candles which will round out this series next week.) But you will have marked that in each case they candles represent Christ. That is our symbolic language and unlike some of our symbolic language, these symbols are coded. This is why so many priests frown upon the unity candle. These candles do not represent Christ or His consuming of Himself on our behalf, but pretty lights that represent two people. The snuffing out as part of the ceremony comes terribly close to signifying death or the loss of Christ – or at least the loss of the idea of “a flame divided but undimmed.” It certainly is dimmed. Two people have just been obliterated. Then when the final candle is lit, it too does not represent Christ as does every single other candle in the sanctuary. It represents the new couple but to what end?It is possible to make up all kinds of symbolism for this ceremony and decent symbolism at that, but it will always be in competition with what is happening liturgically. Of course, even after coming to an understanding of all of this there will be people who still want to add this to their wedding though occasionally some will move it to the reception where it is most fitting. In the end the Catholic Church will not be destroyed by the Unity Candle but we should have a very clear understanding of what it is we are doing when we do use it in order to avoid falling into the error that all of the candles used in Church are just pretty lights to do with as we wish."

The Never-Ending Beat

2008-07-04T15:41:00.002-05:00

You know what's annoying... when radio stations take a popular song that's either slow or medium speed, and decide to put the same techno-style beat behind it. They do it to everything these days, and it's kind of a slap in the face to the original version. I get so excited to hear the song coming on, and then i hear it "club-style." Does it work for some songs?... sure. But let's keep it under control. I'm tired of hearing every song there is put to the same exact beat and then played for the 20-in-a-row party theme on friday nights.
I'm just sayin...

A New Career?

2008-05-27T11:51:00.001-05:00

It's been way too long. I'd love to say I moved away, got swept up in all the happiness and excitement of a new life in a new state.. But that's not the case.
Moving is traumatizing if you don't enjoy where you are. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of great things. But what happens when you hit a wall... The inevitable decision wall, where you're not sure if you want to continue down your current career-path, despite all the satisfaction you've gotten from it. If you're still young enough to choose something entirely different without affecting a family and changing all their lives... Do you do it? And how do you find those answers. Just a few things on my mind lately... And now that things have calmed down I hope to return back to my blog on a regular basis.

VERY BRAVE GIRL

2008-03-01T13:50:00.001-06:00

If you have a moment, take a look at a very powerful message written by a young lady who's family was recently in the media. Here's the background: a stepfather was charged with animal cruelty. Police say he came home drunk and mad that his kids didn't take care of the family's pets. That's when police tell the media he came outside and shot the family's dogs in front of his children. Because tv stations and newspapers have websites now where everyone can give their two cents... This young lady saw a glimpse inside the souls of some of her neighbors.
Well, she fired back. And what she had to say made me think about a lot of things. We all have something to say about things like this, but none of us know every detail that surrounds a situation. However, even if we did... It's times like these that today's world of feedback causes a lot of pain for people. And how about the media... Should a story like this even run in the news? I'll keep my opinion to myself but I'd like to hear what others have to say.
What a very courageous girl for defending her father. I think she's mature beyond her years.
Read the article and her response.. here. You'll have to scroll down to the post from "one of them."

THE DISTURBING "CHOKING GAME"

2008-02-29T06:18:00.000-06:00

As if parents didn't have enough to worry about...
Don't let the title fool you... This is no game. It is very serious and it's deadly. Kids around the world are choking themselves or their friends to get a high from passing out. The high actually comes when the blood rushes back to someone's head after they've been choked. Unfortunately, young naïve minds end up dead from this so-called "game."
We just ran a story where a mother found her 13-year-old daughter dead in her closet, and had accidentally hanged herself while trying to get high. Parents are often naïve in these situations as well. Experts tell parents to watch out for the slang terms that can mean their kids plan to do this...
Blackout
Passout
Space Monkey
Flatliner
California High
Airplaining
Tingling
Parents should also look for warning signs their kids are doing this. They include: bloodshot eyes, burn marks around the neck, severe headaches, and bungee cords, ropes or neckties found in odd places.

CHANGES IN THE SOUTH

2008-02-12T07:07:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, I recently moved to South Carolina. Here are a few differences I've noticed since arriving.

-- You have to pay different prices depending on *how* you pay for gasoline. On the signs, they say X price for cash, X for debit, X for credit card. They are passing the fee to run a card on to the customer... Per gallon! However, South Carolina has a much lower gas tax than most states, so even if you pay with your card every time, you're probably still getting cheaper gas.
-- You can't buy beer on Sundays... I expected that in the bible belt.
-- There are no speed limits on the highways... it is a free for all on most interstates and you better fly or you will make people very angry.
-- The state used to have no rules on who could put property where, and there are a lot of newly developed neighborhoods. So you may travel into a neighborhood with a $300,000 home, and a trailer on the next lot... Continuing that way throughout the whole neighborhood. That has made our home search very interesting. They now have a rule in place, however.

2008-02-07T06:37:00.001-06:00

Here is where news is headed... CNN already uses giant touch screens for their newscasts, but this demonstration is incredible to watch. Just imagine the urgency of this program... You have instant access of a view of anywhere! That probably sounds scary to most people, but being in news it excites me. During a natural disaster, your local news could show you exactly what homes were damaged and what ones are safe, where to go for shelter or to look for a loved one...
But let me put myself into the average person's shoes for a moment... What happens when these programs get into the wrong hands? Would it help someone plan an attack? Keep in mind this program is pre-mapped, it's not live picture so you can't spy on anyone's home, but you sure could navigate streets, avoid roadblocks etc if you wanted to plan something serious.... Watch this and let me know what you think. I have a feeling it could be very controversial... Even if news geeks are excited about the resource. Please click on the link above, the video is 3 minutes or so, but you'll get the picture before then. It's worth your time.

Entertainment News

2008-02-04T02:51:00.000-06:00

When is entertainment news? I had a conversation with my fiance the other day (still getting used to that word by the way!)... About all the britney stories we see these days and whether or not we feel weird running britney stories in a newscast. I think it depends... There is certainly a line between news and entertainment and you have to stay on the right side of it. When Anna Nicole died, Heath Ledger was found dead... Definitely news. It's unexpected, people will be talking about it for sure, and if you don't have something, most of your viewers will flip until they find someone who does. Do people go overboard? Yes. I don't think there needs to be a britney update every day in local newscasts, that's what E and the Insider are for. But when something breaks, like having her committed into a facility, sure, I think it warrants a mention. This also brings up an age-old debate for me because there's a thin line between producers and newsrooms choosing what's news, and simply following what ratings and viewers respond to as news. Like it or not, people love some Britney from time to time.

WELCOME TO THE DIRTY SOUTH!

2008-01-29T18:43:00.000-06:00

I apologize it's been so long since I've posted. I promise I am saving up many tales to share, but this move has been long, hard, and hectic! I am now in the great state of South Carolina and have completed my first two days at my new job. News is so interesting in different parts of the country. What is crazy is... the underlying importance is still the same. Your viewers are always hard-working people who want to be heard and feel like someone is on their side. It's incredible the comfort a news organization can give to someone... you really do have the power to change people's lives. It sounds so cliche and over-dramatic, but I swear it's true. I will talk to you all soon! My internet doesn't get hooked up until this Saturday, so things will pick up then!

THE POLAR POP STORY

2008-01-15T13:36:00.000-06:00

Iceman made reference to "the polar pop story" in his comment on the BIG MOVE. It's one of my many tales that happens to be his favorite, so I thought I would share it with all of you. I love me some polar pops.... you know, the big gas station fountain sodas... "stays cooler longer." At work we would often go on polar pop runs to the gas station to buy a round for the newsroom. I was on one of those runs when I had an interesting experience. Those of you who know me well know I do not appreciate rude people, and often have a way of putting them in their place publicly before I leave the scene of the crime. Here's what happened: I pulled into the gas station parking lot and there are more people there than I've ever seen. There's nowhere to park, every pump is full and I'm pulling through the lot and see one spot.... when the guy behind me whips around from the left and takes it! I had to slam on my breaks to avoid hitting him. So I'm cussing him in my car and then I thought oh whatever, I'll wait for a spot, maybe park next door, whatever. When I finally go inside, I recognize the man who cut me off and he is stocking gum and candy at the gas station, so in one way or another, he worked there! Now if he was some everyday Joe in a hurry, having a bad day, I wouldn't have said anything. But he was an employee who cut off a customer and was sitting on a stool eating a beef stick when I walked in. I was furious... so I asked him did you not see my car in front of you or are you just that much of an ***hole? He said excuse me? So I repeated the question... did you not see my car in front of you or are you just that much of an ***hole? He said I don't know how to answer that. (At this point everyone in the gas station had stopped what they were doing and watched us.) I said... let me make it easier for you... did you see my vehicle in front of yours driving into the gas station? He said yes, I said okay then, I guess you're just a huge ***hole. Then I proceeded to the polar pop counter, filled up the 3 beverages I needed, walked up to the counter to pay... then I thought twice, smiled kindly at the clerk and I said these are on him! Have a great weekend : ) I winked at him on the way out.

I also once bought a rose for a McDonald's drive-thru woman who literally threw ketchup packets through the window of my car. One hit me in the face. I promise you I did nothing to provoke it but she had a manager who was screaming at her in the most demeaning way and she was in tears. I think she took some of her frustration out on me. I figured I could scream or get her fired and make her day worse.... or buy her a rose and give it to her in front of her manager saying how hard it must be to work with a jerk like that. She feels better, he feels guilty, and I feel nice that I just made someone's day better. Everyone wins! I strongly suggest the "rose"tactic as well.

THE BIG MOVE

2008-01-11T16:19:00.000-06:00

Well I wrote in my profile I wouldn't be around here forever because of my career. In the news business, if you want to do it long-term, I think it's very important to get experience in a big market, whether you want to stay in a big market or not. Having said that, I am continuing my news producing career in Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina. It's a huge market... Covers 30 counties in both North & South Carolina. It's market 36 (for those of you who don't know about news markets...every city is numbered....New York 1, LA 2, Chicago, 3, etc. Peoria is 117, so this station is a big jump!) My boyfriend, who is also a producer, is making the move as well. We are excited, scared, anxious, nervous... And everything else you can think of. I consider myself very lucky to have started out in Peoria. Not only is this market wonderful to work in, but I work for a station with respectable integrity, morales, and the ability to judge what is newsworthy and what is not... Despite what the other stations do. I couldn't have found a better place to lay a foundation for this business. But now is the time to move, before I have kids and solid attachments here, I need to spread my wings and get that experience and then decide what I want to do with it. Maybe I'll end up back home as a news director someday, who knows? But don't worry, no matter what some people say:

YOU *CAN* HAVE ROOTS AND WINGS.

And Now Is My Time To Fly....!

- Thank you Scott Janz for your post about me leaving HOI. You have been a great friend and business colleague. Scott has helped with a lot of my interactive brainstorming at HOI and I learned a lot from him. Please take some time to read what he wrote on www.scottjanz.com.

- Thanks also to several other local bloggers who were involved with Connected and helped me get a handle on the segment. You guys and gals are all great!

THE DREADED SMOKING BAN

2008-01-04T11:33:00.000-06:00

So... January 1st is here... and the state of Illinois is officially smoke-free in public places. There is so much hype about this. I have never heard so many cranky people screaming in a bar before in my life. And just let me say this...there ARE two sides to the story. Although we all lay on one side...let's open our minds and think about it. Smokers say it's our right to smoke, it goes hand and hand with drinking...we're not forcing other people to smoke, it's our freedom and the state has no right to take that away. Non-smokers say it's our right to breathe clean air in a bar. Sure we choose to be in the bar, but we don't choose to breathe in second-hand smoke, which the surgeon general has declared very hazardous to our health. More people are dying every day of second-hand smoke. Well both sides have a point and they're sticking to it. What makes me mad is this: I am hearing a lot of complaining about the loss of freedom from a smoker's point of view. It may be true, but the argument tends to lead toward a more intense ending to which people proclaim things like: "we may as well live in another country because we have no rights here." "We'd be better off being a member of al qaida, where we actually have a say in what's going on." Yes....I heard that directly from someone's mouth last night, and several mouths in one way or another. Well let me tell you something, you may not be able to smoke while you're wasted in a bar running your mouth, complaining as you put your coat on to go outside and smoke in this God-forsaken controlling country, but:
-- If you were living in China, you wouldn't be complaining about lack of freedom. You wouldn't speak your mind at all, because you could be incarcerated or assassinated.
-- Go ahead, and join Al Qaida if you think you have more freedom, a lack of health care in the countries the group operates in would probably kill you before smoking ever could.
-- If America is so bad, why do people risk their lives to get here?
-- Only in the U.S. can someone burn a flag, and it's considered a right of free speech.
-- And by the way... the other "free" countries also have smoking bans. America is the latest rider on that train.
So bitch on smokers, bitch on...but don't play the freedom card...please.

LITTLE PLANES ARE FUNNY

2007-12-28T19:52:00.000-06:00

I need to talk to you all about little planes. I recently traveled and was on several little planes for all my flights.... ya know the kind that always smell like cigarettes, even though you can't smoke on or near them. The lights are usually flickering, which makes you wonder what would happen if some fuses blew on a plane....and realizing you really don't want to find out. Then they do funny things like page the flight attendant over the intercom...when she's sitting directly behind the captain's door. The captain pages: Betty please call the cabin....and then she opens the door and says what do u guys need? And it happens three or four times...each time is funnier by the way. I was in seat 1A so I got to laugh out loud where they could hear me!

What's great is on a 27-minute flight to Chicago, they will serve you a complimentary soda...
What is the need? The flight attendant has just enough time to hop up once we're in air, scoot down the itty bitty aisle...then she takes your drink before you've sipped it because she has to throw it away so we can land. I find this whole process completely hilarious. Apparently I was the only one because I was cracking up the whole 27 minutes, and everyone was looking at me like....oh man, if anyone plans to bring this plane down it's that woman up there laughing at the voices in her head. Maybe I should have hopped on the intercom to tell the guy next to me I was laughing at the small plane experience.
Sidenote: While flying high in the sky we passed over a neighborhood and the lights were lit up like three huge crosses. This was not on purpose because you could see these were homes, and the homes in the crosses just happened to have their lights on. It was incredible and everyone on the plane was talking about it. Coincidence....maybe, but I was flying 32,000 feet above ground, so I said a quick Hail Mary just in case : )

THERE ARE NO WORDS...

2007-12-26T21:27:00.000-06:00

The advantage to working in news is you know everything that's going on in every state in this country and several countries in the world. The bad thing about working in news is you know everything that's going on in every state in this country and several countries around the world. Some things you read will disgust you, delight you, make you question your faith, make you have faith, and every emotion and thought in-between those things.
There was a story today that I will never forget for the rest of my life. A couple in Colorado had three sons. The first died of sids as an infant. The second was killed at the age of 16 on his way to homecoming. The third son was hit by a truck and killed at the age of seven. First of all, no parent should have to bury a child, let alone all three... it's unfathomable. But don't stop reading. The couple, obviously devastated, felt empty, useless, lost, for years. The only thing they wanted to do in life was be parents. So they decided to try again and this time they used a surrogate. The woman had a complicated pregnancy that had them once again asking, why us? Why all the heartache?? On Christmas Eve, their surrogate gave birth to triplets... two boys and a girl. The three voids the couple had for years were filled. The mother said she knows it was her boys sending them a blessing and she's also positive this is a sign of good luck for once...signifying that the future is full of hope. At this point of the story, I was full of tears and so many other emotions there are no words for.
So many questions were going through my soul throughout the dozens of times I read this. At the beginning I found myself asking how could there be a God when something like this happens? By the end, I found myself asking, how could there not be?? I don't know what the great lesson is here...people always say things like...maybe there's a reason for everything and positive things can happen from tragedy. Maybe the lesson is: when three doors close, three more can open. But what I think it says is this -- there are a lot of things in life we can't understand and for some reason shouldn't. But in the end, if you have faith that things will work out, they can... even when you think it's not possible to go on.
By the way, each of the newborns will forever be connected to the brothers they never got to meet. The three boys' names are the three newborns' middle names.
Watch the story from KMGH here. When I checked this, there was only audio from the parents at the end, but certainly some beautiful video of the babies all throughout.
Thanks for reading.

SIX MONTHS TO LIVE

2007-12-22T23:55:00.000-06:00

Believe it or not, a Montel promo got to me. I was working the overnight shift falling half asleep, I have no idea what the first 27 seconds of the promo was, but I heard the words "what would you do if you had six months to live?" How in the world do you answer that? I need to give this some thought, but off the top of my head...I'd quit my job obviously, and spend as much time as possible with my family and friends. I'd probably pray more than I do. I would still take naps -- which tells me I really do appreciate what good slumber does for your body... and anyone who knows me knows I schedule naps and make them mandatory. What a poweful thought though... imagine if we all had six months to live, we wouldn't be doing half the things we are currently doing. That sure does make you wonder...

INSPIRATIONAL VETERAN...AND SO MUCH MORE

2007-12-17T17:43:00.000-06:00

I was lucky enough to cover another story that changed my outlook on life. It's about a veteran who has had one hell of a life. It's a story you can't possibly do justice to in a 2 minute long piece for the news, but I did my best. He is a musician, and can play pretty much any and every instrument. He's a forester and has his masters from Purdue University. He suffers from a broken life, some misfortunes by choice, and some life handed to him. But what astounds me is he managed through all of that to hang on to some kind of spark that is evident when you meet him. He was homeless for 15 years. He may not say that to you if you ask him because he sometimes chose that life and therefore didn't consider himself homeless, but by most people's definition, that's what he was. He is full of knowledge and wisdom and strength, even though he calls himself a broken man. He's stern, yet fragile. He's extremely humorous, although he sees the seriousness in this nation and its problems. One thing I noticed and didn't write about is during my day with him, he complimented every person we passed. He lives in the Phoenix House in the South Side Office of Concern. It houses 30 men who are in similar situations as he...every person who passed in the hallway he would introduce me to, then compliment and say what a great person they were and why. He played on everyone's strengths... which is something some of us less broken could certainly do more often. Here's a guy with every reason to be bitter toward the world and everyone in it, yet he overcomes his demons to make others feel as though they shine. Truly inspiring.....
His story isn't as emotional in print without his song behind it, but still worth reading... Click here.

HOLIDAY STRESS

2007-12-17T11:59:00.001-06:00

A conversation with my sister got me thinking... The holidays are way too stressful. Too many families worry about picking the get-together day and time and it gets to the point where everyone spends so much time driving around and making it from event to event, you can't even enjoy yourself. I am so lucky because my family is not this way. We have Christmas at Grandma Bertie's at 2 on Christmas day, but my immediate family (parents, brother, sister, nieces, nephews) just meet up whenever it's convenient. It could be the weekend before or after, a weeknight with spaghetti dinner, or July! It doesn't matter to us but relieving that idea of "we need to set a date and time now and stick to it and everybody has to come" is too much! Everyone has their own way of how they want the holidays to go down and deciding who's plan to follow is just horrible...it's supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy each other and take a break from real life to live in a holiday bubble for a week or so. That's impossible to do when you're driving around pleasing everyone else's holiday plans. Here's my advice -- do whatever makes you happy and think as little as possible. Happy Holidays Everybody! And Merry Christmas!

CATHOLIC COMMERCIAL

2007-12-14T08:12:00.000-06:00

A Catholic commercial was launched not too long ago titled -- What have you done for your marriage today? The commercial follows with all these people saying the little things they do to make their spouse's day. One morning I was leaving for work and trying to get my lunch together when my boyfriend came in the kitchen to help. He noticed I grabbed pudding and he looked in the silverware drawer... No spoons. He then told me the dishes in the dishwasher were clean and grabbed me one. It was the littlest thing but number 1, he got up from watching tv to spend some time with me before I left, and 2 had obviously loaded and ran the dishwasher. Plus, he was helping me prepare my lunch. It made my whole day and I went to work with no sleep, but in the best mood for all nine hours...all because of a spoon. I think this commercial is great for several reasons. Can you imagine how much better our lives would be if we asked ourselves that each day...what have you done for your marriage, relationship, yourself...today? You can apply it to any relationship, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, siblings, children....
I will try to do this more. The little things do matter!

LIFE AS A MUTE

2007-12-13T02:15:00.000-06:00

For the last few days, I've been unable to talk. My wisdom teeth removal had some complications and it looks like my face could be numb for a month or so! However, this past miserable week has been an experience for me. It's amazing how different the world seems when you don't talk or don't really want to anyway. You learn to brush off things you would have normally piped up about, only to lead to a conversation that would infuriate you more and probably ruin your day. I swear things seem more simple. I'm certainly not suggesting I wish not to speak anymore, but I do wonder... If we kept quiet half the time we wanted to speak up, would the world be a more peaceful place???

WISDOM HURTS

2007-12-09T12:58:00.000-06:00

I finally got my wisdom teeth pulled... something that should have been done a long time ago. It's not going so well:
Day 1 - not nearly as bad as I thought. I was loopy and nautious, I threw up several times from the anesthesia, but the pain wasn't what I thought it would be.
Day 2 - doing pretty good, actually had energy to get up and move around, decorated for Christmas, watched a movie with friends.
Day 3 - Horrible! I feel worse than day 1 and I'm worried I can't even work tomorrow. Is this suppose to get worse before it gets better?
Sorry to use my blog just to complain, but it's really all I can think about right now.
GRRRRR

PLEASE DON'T BITE!!!????!

2007-12-07T14:08:00.000-06:00

I had a lunch meeting the other day with several people in the community, some law enforcement, some school administrators, etc. As we were leaving we somehow got on the subject of kids in school. I heard some stories that anger me to no end! A school administrator mentioned how a student had recently bit her, and went on to explain how she was trained to get out of a bite. WHAT???!!! It is horrible that it's even necessary to train teachers how to restrain a kid, how to get out of a bite, what to do if they hang on and rip your clothing. Let me clarify these are not troubled kids, and they are not young kids. They are junior high students that are perfectly normal. The officer contributed to this conversation with run-ins he use to have when teaching D.A.R.E. The most alarming part of this conversation is the parents who instantly pull their kids from a teacher's class and create a mess for the school administrators to defend their punk children. Let me say a few things:
I fully understand there are times when a child is treated unfairly and by all means parents, stick up for your kids. HOWEVER, if your child is throwing things at a teacher's head or biting a principal, I would sure hope you would discipline them and EXPECT the school to do the same.
It's so sad how this generation of kids has lost all respect and any fear of their elders, namely... teachers. Teachers have lost all disciplinary control... they can't even blink the wrong way at a child or someone is screaming "unfair!" When I was in grade school, if I even dreamed of that behavior, my teacher would lay me out, and my parents would say great job...she'll get it again at home. My parents weren't mean people or violent to their children by any means, but they knew what discipline was and they taught me to respect people in authority. They would defend me to no end if they were certain I did nothing wrong, but if I was throwing something at my teacher's head, you better bet I would fear their wrath... and that's how it should be. I could go on about this forever, but I'll wait for some comments...

THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN: HAPPY HOLIDAYS VS. MERRY CHRISTMAS

2007-12-05T22:20:00.001-06:00

People are so intense about the words people use to tell someone they hope they enjoy this time of year. My trip to Wal-Mart today was a perfect example... The guy who mixed our paint said "Happy Holidays." When we walked away, my boyfriend said, notice he didn't say Merry Christmas. And that's what is sad.... We do notice when someone *doesn't* say Merry Christmas. Then as we checked out, there were two clerks tag-teaming the aisle we were in. The second one said happy holidays... The first clerk said you're supposed to say Merry Christmas! This is a problem... You are truly damned if you do and damned if you don't. Does it not occur to people that a long time ago, people said either phrase and it was fine. But now if you say happy holidays, you are obviously against saying Merry Christmas (please pick up on that sarcasm)! If you say Merry Christmas, there's someone there to complain that they don't celebrate Christmas. If you say happy holidays, it's because you're against saying Merry Christmas. Here's my solution: stop worrying about it! Say whatever you want that happens to come out of your mouth in order to convey the message that you hope someone enjoys this festive time of year. Don't assume anything... And just let it go. All this turbo politically correct-ness is taking away from the joy of this season. From now on let's say Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, and when we hear them from someone else, try not to note which one the person said and assume something about them because of it.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LISTEN

2007-12-04T18:41:00.000-06:00

Can you imagine how much better this world would be if people would listen to each other? ...I mean really listen with an open mind, open ears, and of course, respectfully. Some people don't realize that the *way* you approach a conversation, debate, or ethical question is everything. You can approach like a crouching tiger or you can approach like a civil human being. The two approaches will have very different outcomes every time! I don't often use the word every, but I think it's true in this case. Ethical questions come up daily in a newsroom, but even in regular life...don't you agree that your approach and ability (or lack there of) to "listen" to the debate plays a huge role in how you are perceived as a person? There's also something to be said for setting an example...I challenge us all to lead by example and start listening... even when all we want to do is tell the other person they don't know what they're talking about. Resist your urge to speak over people, and listen. That's all.... listen.

A NATIONAL PROBLEM

2007-12-03T19:09:00.000-06:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to express an extreme concern I have for this nation. It's a problem I see on a local level right here in Peoria, it's prevalent in surrounding counties, and it proves to be a growing problem across the United States. At issue... is tacky holiday decorations....OMG! It is out of control. I am all for festivity, I say go hog wild on lights and garland and the whole nine yards. But there is a fine line between a festive "all out" attitude and raw tackiness. I realize I'm inventing words to describe this plague, but someone has to get a handle on it. I think I will start taking pictures of the most tacky displays I can find (and some good ones) and share them with you. Please do the same!

FAMOUS LINES

2007-12-03T00:18:00.000-06:00

A co-worker and I were talking about lines from songs that stand out to us for one reason or another. His line was: "What about those shoes you're in today... They'll do no good on the bridges you've burnt along the way." The line I always think of is from John Mayer and it says [she] "poses for pictures that aren't being taken." I love that because it describes so many people that I know, but I could never find the words. It's completely perfect. I asked my boyfriend about a line that stands out to him...it's from a controversial song by Audioslave... "Choose your battles, not your soldiers... you're never sure of their colors." We kind of disagree on whether this song is controversial, but that's not the point of this post. I'll assume I'm right for now since it's my blog.... very powerful words though. Tell me yours!

AFTER A FIRE: AN INSPIRING FAMILY

2007-12-02T18:00:00.000-06:00

Today I met a woman I will consider one of my many heroes. Today I covered a story about a family who literally lost everything. Nine people lived in the home, and not one thing was salvageable. It inspires me to see people so full of faith and who can go on and on about how blessed they are, even at a time like this. When the universe does it's best to keep you down and you still have the courage to find your life a blessing, I think you have accomplished true success. Is there anything better than having hope and faith in yourself and those around you to pull through a horrific tragedy? I certainly don't think so.

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD...

2007-11-30T15:26:00.000-06:00

You are NEVER too old to color...

PEORIA'S ON COCAINE

2007-11-28T20:23:00.000-06:00

I recently covered a story on community organizations that offered free meals to people on Thanksgiving. When arriving at the story, three people I can only assume were homeless sniffed a line of coke right in front of me. They had no concern that the media was watching them and only a few feet away. They entered the establishment for their meal, only to leave halfway through to step outside and do more. They came back in demanding a second meal, and of course, they got it. It was an eye-opening experience... I can't say I was surprised they did cocaine, but more at their blatent care-free attitude of doing it in public. When they walked outside, they stood in front of a clear door and didn't even bother to go around the corner. It's so accepted in that part of town around that kind of crowd, it's the norm for them. God bless the people who pass no judgement and continue to open the door and offer them necessities no matter how ungreatful they are. So this Thanksgiving I gave thanks for having people in this world who serve those that need them most...

ALL WE DO IS WORK

2007-11-28T19:32:00.000-06:00

I've recently had an epiphany about my life, my career, and my long-term goals. While typing news stories yesterday, it occurred to me -- I work 40+ hours a week at my job. By the time I get home, I either have dishes or laundry to do, or I want to hang out with friends... or maybe just catch up on my favorite shows saved on the DVR. Regardless, all I'm doing is working and hanging out. But that's not what I'm all about. I have long term goals, goals I want to accomplish before I'm 30, that are always in the back of my mind. I made a quick list of these things and also forwarded them to my boyfriend. Some surprised him... which made me realize I had never actually said them out loud to a single human being. There's something very wrong with that. I'm a self-motivated person with goals and drive and passion. Yet I don't do a single thing to work toward things I want to accomplish. I'll share a few of my goals with you...own two more properties by age 30, write a book, take singing lessons. But somewhere in the midst of getting up, showering, driving to work, writing news, coming home and whatever miscellaneous time-filler I choose before bed -- these goals are flying past me just like life is. We all spend so much time working at our jobs, time flies by before we can work at all on ourselves. Isn't that everyone's problem??? For me it's these long-term goals I'm hung up on all of a sudden. For someone else it may be depression, weight, self-esteem.... the bottom line is it's time wasted not doing whatever it is you need to do for YOU. This is really bothering me because I also don't want to go to work, come home and work work work on these goals. Then life will fly by and all I've done is work. So how do people accomplish all they want in life? Does anyone ever get to that point?