From "Bah Humbug" to "Best time of the year"

Holy Cow! I've started, deleted and re-started this post several times simply because I'm so shocked at the reponse to my last one. I think I'm finally ready to hit the "publish" button, but not without holding my breath!

Hindsight being 20/20 I realize my previous post may've been a bit harsh. There were a number of contributing factors, none worth mentioning here. So, I'll just tell you about the turnaround.
By Christmas Eve Day, I'd started adjusting my attitude and it's due in part to getting a kick in the pants from the people around me... including family, friends, and all of you! Sometimes you need people to say, "What the heck is your problem?!? Snap out of it! Get a grip!" It also helps to do things you may not feel like doing. I went shopping. All of my fellow procrastinators were really nice and everyone working was really helpful (namely Kip @ Younkers). I found some good gifts and didn't spend a crazy amount of money. When I got home, Michael had holiday tunes playing on the stereo, snacks on the counter and egg nog in the fridge. I was smiling in spite of my Grinchy self. Wrapping presents also helped improve my spirits, especially when our crazy cat started jumping into the middle of piles of paper and chasing bows around the house.

My mom also sent me this list of advice, which cracks me up...
1. Move to Florida (Trade snowstorms for hurricanes, alligators and humidity)

2. Buy a sunlamp, and bake for several hours (Caution: premature aging and burning of skin likely)
3. Go to a spa for a complete day of relaxation (Costly; benefits vanish upon exiting spa)
4. Buy a large bottle of wine, and drink the whole thing, then keep doing that until Christmas is over. (Expect gigantic headaches and even greater depression)
5. Board a plane for Arizona to visit family. (No adverse side effects, however treatment must be repeated every three to four months, or as needed.)

I also discovered that one of the best cures for a bad mood is spending time with little people... my neices and nephews were a riot on Christmas night. I laughed so much my stomach hurt.

Another great mood-booster ... working out. Hard.

Finally, a bit about blogging. I appreciate the frank feedback regarding this blog, what you think it should be about and how I should approach it. One of you wrote something along these lines "... it's your job, do it." You're right. Absolutely right. So even though I rarely make New Year's Resolutions, mine is to blog weekly regardless of what's going on or not going on in my life or the world at large. And I promise, you will never again read about me being crabby!

Happy New Year!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Grinch

I'm not in the mood.
At all.
Things have been hectic for me lately, and not because of the holidays. So I apologize for not blogging, not shopping, not caroling, not celebrating ... not, not, not. I just don't feel like it.
How about you guys?
I usually love Christmastime, but this year I mostly feel tired and crabby. I'm hoping to get out of this funk by the weekend.
There's a lot going on, but I just don't feel much like sharing. Sorry. Again. For the umpteenth time I'll confess to being a terrible blogger.
It's unlikely I'll post again until 2008 ... until then, Bah Humbug!

Happy Thanksgiving and lots of catching up ...

Hello blog readers!

Many of you have been sending me emails lately, gentle reminders that I have not blogged for awhile. You're right, and for that reason there's a lot to catch up on, so let's get started!

First, Happy Thanksgiving! I know some of you have to work, while others will enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Regardless, I hope you have a great day and that even if you're working you can find things in your life for which you are thankful. Even though I'll be working, I'm grateful for a wonderful family, good friends and colleagues I enjoy. I'm also glad Michael and I are not cooking a Thanksgiving meal this year because last year nearly killed us!!! Speaking of which, if you need help stuffing or cooking a turkey don't call the Des Moines Police Department. Here's what Public Information Officer Sgt. Vince Valdez told us earlier this week, "I got a call from someone who wanted information on how to stuff a turkey. I said, well this is the police station. I told him I've had some experience stuffing a turkey and cooking a turkey but I recommend you get a hold of an expert for that!" Apparently, the caller thought the Public Information Office should have information on cooking a bird. It doesn't. If you need help, call your mother or 1-800-butterball. Finally, if you'd like to share your favorite holiday meal items and recipes, I'll start a collection to share with the group. I have a killer mashed potato dish that you might as well just spread on your thighs, but it is soooooooooooooooo yummy!

I know the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year, but I've never been able to get into "Black Friday." I hate fighting crowds and I'm not willing to deal with crazy people who will get into fist fights over the latest video game or stuffed animal. Plus, it would be completely out of character for me to go Christmas shopping this early. I put everything off until the last minute. And, I hate spending money. I like giving gifts and buying myself things, but I don't like spending money. I like saving. When I was a waitress, I would keep my tip money in a huge jar and I loved dumping it out on the floor and counting it. My mom has a picture of me when I was in high school, just back from one of my first shifts at the Chuck Wagon. In it, I'm flopped in my dad's recliner with a big wad of cash in my hands and a big grin on my face. To this day I will spend hours trying to find the best deal on whatever it is I'm shopping for, I'm a sale-rack junkie and a coupon-clipping fiend. It's a sickness! Anway ... as usual, I digress! I'm wondering how all of you deal with finances and what you think about the economy right now. I'm reading two vastly different things from "experts." Some think everything will be fine once the housing market stabilizes while others think we're heading toward (or already in ) a recession. What are your views? Are you feeling the pinch this holiday season or is everything normal at your house? Something I really despise spending money on is home or car repairs. I know it's part of life, but it stinks! A few weeks ago we were "stood up" by the fireplace and chimney company that usually inspects our place (it's a long story about horrible customer service) so I scheduled an inspection with a new guy who came highly recommended. I won't bore you with the details but what he found is bad. It speaks to shoddy, unacceptable service from our old company and requires a very expensive fix. So, it looks like there will be no cuddling up by the fireplace at the Kiernan house this winter, unless we want to risk our house catching on fire!

It's moving up on five o'clock - time to go meet Sonya in the makeup room for our daily pre-show chat.

Drive safely through this first round of winter, and Happy Thanksgiving!

EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

"The China Effect"

Could you do it?
Could you live for one week without buying or using any products made in China?

When I first suggested this story idea, I thought I'd be part of the experiment. Then I started looking around my house. It's pretty disturbing and definitely impossible for me to pull off a "China-free life" without going on a huge shopping trip.
What would you find at your house? Do you think you could ban Chinese products from your life? Do you care where things are made and who makes them, or do you chalk this up to living in a global economy?
Check out "The China Effect" in our video section if you missed the stories at 10.
EEK

Your thoughts

OK everybody, it's time to let loose with your comments about Dan Winter's special report about "Redshirting" your kindergartner.

If you miss the story live during our 10 o'clock newscast Tuesday night, I'm hoping you'll be able to watch it online.

Don't be shy ... the blog is here so you can discuss what you see as the positives or negatives of this trend. Feel free to share your personal experiences as well, and as always we welcome your feedback!

Lots of random stuff

Hi, gang!

My "to do" list seems to constantly be getting longer, instead of shorter. How is this possible? At least blogging is one thing I can now cross of the list. Whew!

I'm always writing about my problem saying "no" so I thought I'd share one example of why it's tough for me.

This is Kasey Conn, a lovely young lady who introduced me as the keynote speaker at the Creston Young Women's conference on Thursday. One of my colleagues asked, "Why in the world are you driving that far to give a speech?" The answer is simple. It's not the speech-giving I enjoy, it's talking with young women who are dealing with all of the great and terrible things that come with being a teenager.

Amber Hull, Jessica Baier and Jessie Peckham are all juniors from Orient. They were part of my small group session right before lunch. We talked about everything under the sun, from boys to careers, and a lot of stuff in between. I always leave these events hoping that some of what I share with the ladies has an positive impact and encourages them to make smart, healthy choices. A lot of times it feels more important to do this kind of stuff, than to read the news.

Along these lines ... months ago, a reader inquired about how to get involved in volunteering. There are lots of different things you can do, but I would start with asking yourself what you care about. Do you love animals? The Animal Rescue League always needs volunteers. If you're passionate about homelessness, local shelters would love to have you serve food or donate supplies. Can you swing a hammer? Habitat for Humanity is constantly building and donating homes. If you like kids and you're good at teaching, local schools usually love having adults tutor students who need extra help in specific subjects. Big Brothers, Big Sisters is another great organization, although it does require a significant time commitment. These are just a few examples of ways to give back, if you'd like more suggestions or specifics - drop me an email.
Moving on . . .

A number of weeks ago, these packages of brownies showed up in our newsroom. I have no idea where they came from, but they're some sort of diet product. I think one brownie is "regular" and the other is "diet." What I know for sure is that no one was brave enough to try either. These sat around untouched for days, which is incredible at this place.

Then one day, I walked by and saw this. "Who finally tried the brownies that came in the mail?" I shouted across the newsroom. Sonya replied, "They're not bad!" I'd just like to point out that she only took one bite of each. Hmmmmmm. Would you eat something that came in the mail from a company you've never heard of? That's Sonya for ya ... fearless.

Speaking of food, what is up with Hardee's making everything on the menu gigantic? Earlier this week we ran a story about the new breakfast burrito. It has nearly 1,000 calories and 60 fat grams! Out of curiosity, I went to this website http://www.calorieking.com/ to check out my favorite fast food item, a Whopper with Cheese. I knew it'd be bad, but this is pretty horrifying. 760 calories, 47 grams of fat. Oye. I'm going to think of that the next time the drive through is calling my name. And on a healthy food note, you've got to buy some Honey Crisp apples.

John Bachman sees me sitting at my desk eating apples nearly everyday, and he recommended these. They are amazing! And, according to Calorie King's website, a large apple has 110 calories, no fat. Eat as many as you want - they're guilt-free!

A final question, is anyone else horrified by seeing models wearing legwarmers in many of the fall clothing ads? I do NOT want to relive 80s fashion. I had legwarmers in third grade, and they looked ridiculous then.

These are not all of the random thoughts rolling around in my brain, but I'm starving. It's time for dinner .... and no, I'm not going to Burger King!

EEK

Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Whew!

It was another crazy weekend for the Kiernans ... how about you guys?
I am constantly feeling as if there just aren't enough hours in the day. I know this is partly a function of my horrible habit of procrastinating, but I think it may also be because everyone is just so busy!
We had a great weekend with all sorts of friends, and I didn't take a single picture of anyone of anything. You'll have to use your imaginations. I know, it hurts.
Saturday evening Dave Price and Emily Givens were married in one of the most beautiful and unique ceremonies I've ever had the pleasure of attending. The reception was equally gorgeous and tons of fun. To an outsider, it probably looked like a very strange mix of people. A lot of us kept joking about reenacting the fight scene from the movie "Anchorman" since there were large groups there from both Channel 13 and Channel 8. In all seriousness, I had a wonderful time catching up with former colleagues who I miss working with on a daily basis and I even got Michael out on the dance floor a few times! Emily was stunning, Dave looked like he was about ready to burst at the seams with joy and now they're enjoying a much deserved break. You'll have to wait to see pictures when Mr. and Mrs. Price return to reality.
Some other random thoughts . . .
I love fall. Finally today it feels like fall. Warm, not hot, a little crisp, sunny, a slight breeze, no humidity. This time of year (with this kind of weather) doesn't last long enough for me.
I need to clean more than once a month. I flew through our house like a woman possessed last weekend, getting things presentable for the big bash. Then, in the middle of the party I looked up at the light fixture hanging above our dining room table and saw a gigantic spider web. Yuck! One of my many resolutions is to spend at least part of the weekend cleaning, whether people are visiting or not.
Most people seem to like to complain. A lot. I think one week I'm going to fill the blog with all of the crabby emails we receive. I think you'd find it entertaining, and sad.
Some people do little things that make your day. Here's an excerpt from a letter I opened last week, "You must show this to Jeriann Ritter. I get up at 5:00 AM to watch the weather, then take a nap. Always watch the 5:00 & 6:00 PM news. Both of you ladies are great. I think you are in our class, not up in cloud nine like some newscasters." This lovely handwritten note comes from Mr. Martin Harris at the Marshalltown Senior Citizens Center. He sent it with a 2008 calendar created by the folks there as a fundraiser. It is priceless. There is no describing the photos and captions for each month, but they had me laughing out loud. If you'd like a calendar, call the center at (641) 754-5744. I think these make great gifts, and I'm going to send mine to my folks. Thanks for making me smile Martin, I hope you don't mind that I'm re-gifting the calendar.
Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

A great party

Hello blog readers!

First, thanks to everyone for sending emails about Helen Thomas and my Huskers. You're right, Helen is amazing and the Nebraska team is making me nervous! My Saturday afternoon was spent screaming at the radio while Iowa State was leading 10-0.

I'm sorry about the delayed posting, I just can't seem to catch up this week.

It could be because of a crazy weekend! My wonderful husband decided a birthday party was in order, and because I've been fielding complaints about my failure to post a lot of pictures - this week your demands are met!

He's great, don't ya think?

He had this cake made.
That's me, in the middle.

Here's another reason to celebrate - Kerry Kavanaugh came to visit!

And so did our former Assistant News Director, Tami Howard.

Everyone nearly had a stroke when Patrick walked in the door.

He NEVER shows up at our parties!

Unlike Jon Cahill, who is the Social Chair of Channel 13.

It was great to see the Greene's, and Burnside always makes things more interesting.

My friends Gwyn and Kim gave me some very creative gifts - too difficult to explain here.

Nick has been to a Kiernan party before, but I think Kevin thinks we're all nuts!

Photojournalist Dave Olson's girlfriend probably agrees.

Leslie knows we're crazy, and doesn't care.

I used to work with both of these guys.

Don't Dan & Clint look cute in their matching orange shirts?

Steph & Dan enjoying a rare moment together away from workOne of my favorite people - Courtney Greene, and one of my favorite gifts - a Huskers mug that lights up when you take a drink. Thank you, Dan Winters!

Michael & Dan being nice to each other.

This is a rare moment since they act like brothers.

The following morning, Michael and I went to brunch with Kavanaugh, Jeriann and Rob. There are no pictures of this outing because none of us had showered. While hanging out at the Waveland eating my eggs I kept thinking, "I'm so lucky." I think most of us have a tendency to complain about life; whether it's about work or relationships or time or money. Sometimes it's good to step back and focus on the wonderful things in our lives ... and oftentimes we realize we have a lot to be thankful for.

I'm out of time, thanks for reading!

EEK

Meeting a legend

Wow.
I am somewhat shell shocked after meeting one of my heroes.
I had the pleasure of meeting Helen Thomas today, and spending part of the afternoon with her during her visit to Des Moines. Ms. Thomas was gracious enough to share her time with Drake students and some area high school students after being the featured speaker at a Chrysalis Foundation Insights luncheon.
Here is Helen with Terry Hernandez, Executive Director of the Chrysalis Foundation.

What a thrill to meet the woman referred to as "The First Lady of the Press!" Helen Thomas stared working for United Press International in 1943, and has covered every President since John F. Kennedy. She was the only woman to travel to China with President Nixon in 1972. You'd think that such a high profile person would give her speech, schmooze with some of the event organizers and leave. Not Helen. Here she is being interviewed by Drake student and former Channel 13 intern, Anamarie Rebori.

And it's not as if Anamarie is the only person who had this opportunity ... this is the line of students and staff waiting to get an autograph, picture or interview. Helen was gracious, humble, smart and entertaining ... not to mention inspiring.

She made this reporter's day!

I could keep writing indefinitely about this day, but I am up against deadline once again.
If you have questions about Helen Thomas and her speech, or the Q & A at Drake please send them my way.

And, if you're interested in helping girls and woman in Iowa, check out www.chrysalisfdn.org to see how you can get involved.

Thanks for stopping by the blog,

EEK

Big Red Fever & Big Red Stress!

Happy Monday everyone!

I am absolutely exhausted, but it's because of a great weekend.

Michael and I went to Nebraska to visit my friend Brenda and her husband, Mark. You've met the Smith family in previous posts. Last year they came to Iowa for the Nebraska vs. Iowa State game (yes, we stood on the hillside the entire time). This year we went west to watch the Huskers take on Ball State ... and we had real seats!

Tailgating ... even though the game started at 11:30

Memorial Stadium pre-game

It's probably tough to read the scoreboard, but for those of you who don't give a hoot about college football, the final score was 41-40. It was a nailbiter of a game and very hard for Husker fans to watch. Our defense was horrific. Michael officially thinks I'm crazy after watching me around like I had ants in my pants the entire game. I wasn't alone. So, I guess all Nebraska fans are crazy? Don't answer that. I know ... we're a little obsessed.

The football game is only part of the reason for my lack of energy today, but right now I don't have time to tell you about the rest of the weekend.

Stay tuned for another update later in the week!

EEK

Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Football, padded shorts & retirement is goooooooooooood!

Hey, everyone!
What a week. We hope you enjoyed the RV TV antics. Chris Hassel said tonight, "I'm exhausted!" No kidding.
I can still hardly believe the Cylcones won "The Big Game." I don't have a dog in this fight, but I always end up pulling for the underdog, which means I usually end up rooting for Iowa State. Like everyone else, I expected Saturday's game to be a blow out. Just goes to show, nothing in life is certain.
A bunch of us spent the early afternoon screaming our heads off while watching the game, and taunting Jon Cahill (a Hawkeye fan). I was feeling Jon's pain that night, watching my Huskers get steamrolled by USC. No matter the outcome, I love football season.

Sunday Michael and I hit the road on our new bikes! Yes, finally! After countless hours of comparing prices, test riding and asking everyones' opinion we finally made a purchase. Of course we couldn't just buy bicycles, that would be far too simple. We also had to invest in helmets, odometers, water bottles and padded shorts. I know those of you who ride all the time think the last thing on that list is no big deal, but I've never been able to get used to these things. I feel like I'm wearing a diaper. I know that my rear probably feels considerably better today than it would've without them, but I still don't like padded shorts.

Finally, check out the Moodys ... lovin' life in Arizona!

Yup, my folks bought a golf cart. When my mom emailed me about this rather large purchase this is how she described it, "I said to your dad, when's the last time we did something this crazy? He replied, probably when we bought a gold Corvette in 1972." My mom tells me they're spending my "inheritance" - I say, "go for it." You only live once, and this is why you work your butt off your entire adult life, right? It's fun to see them having so much fun.

As usual, I'm pushing deadline - gotta run!

EEK

PS . . . I have a favor to ask all of you. For the past several months we've been doing a series called, "On the Homefront." We'd like to keep these stories going, but we need your help to do it. So, if you have a great story about Iowa troops, military families or homecomings please send it our way. Drop us a line at news@whotv.com

Britney, bicycles and the best TV

Happy Monday everyone! All day I've been thinking, "What a great day to stay in bed." Sigh. How 'bout you? Here I am at work, so dreaming about being in my pajamas and not doing my hair or putting on makeup did not become reality. Bummer.
Today sure felt like a Monday. It started with a phone call from our neighbors, telling us that Michael's truck had become the victim of a hit and run. Oh, joy. The vehicle cannot be driven (one of the back tires is completely off the rim and the entire driver's side is crushed) and it's just one more thing to add to the "TO DO" list.
So, onto trivial items that can act as a good distraction . . . how about Britney? Good Lord! I did not watch the MTV Video Music Awards, but I couldn't miss all the headlines about Miss Spears' performance. So of course I had to check it out online. I feel sorry for her. I've never been a Britney fan, but I've always given her credit for milking the market for all it's worth. You go , girl. Watching the video of her most recent live performance I thought, "Oh girl, just take a break and get your life together." However, people writing that Britney looks fat and out of shape are nuts. OK, maybe this is her looking "bad" by crazy Hollywood standards, but for most normal people, it still equates to looking "hot" (as Paris would say). Whatever. Who cares either way? I don't, but it's been nice to think about something other than insurance and finding another set of wheels.
Moving on . . .
Michael and I have been bicycle shopping for several weeks. Neither one of us knew what we were getting in to, and we still haven't made a purchase. Mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, flat bars, curly bars, aluminum frames, carbon frames, shifter location .... oye! My head is about to explode, and that doesn't even factor in the PRICES!!! Yesterday on the phone from Arizona my dad said, "Why don't you just go to Wal-Mart?" This from the man who just bought a brand new golf cart. Pahleeeeeeeeeeeeese. I'll let you know when we finally buy something and what we get, and yes - this is part of the self-improvement plan.
Finally, I LOVE HBO. Can't get enough. I miss shows like "Sex and the City" and "The Sopranos" terribly, but there are always new shows to keep me engaged. Last night a new series called "Tell Me You Love Me" debuted. Powerful stuff, usurped only by James Gandolfini's documentary called "Alive Day Memories." I hate it when people try to tell me all about shows I haven't seen, so I won't do that here. I will just say that from documentaries to original films and great series like "Real Sports", you cannot go wrong with HBO.
Speaking of tv, I need to get ready to be on it . . . thanks for the great responses to our "Move It" challenge, you can vote online very soon!
EEK

Crazy diet & exercise plans

Hi gang!
I apologize for the hiatus from blogging, I just didn't have anything to share.
One of the things on my mind this week is weight loss (I know, I know . . . this isn't the first time).
Sonya and I have been discussing this a lot lately, as she's recruiting people for the "Move It" challenge. If you're interested, drop an email to news@whotv.com or send a letter to WHO-TV. Don't forget to include a photo of yourself, and make sure you tell us why you should be one of the three viewers who are put on a diet and exercise plan. We've received some incredible stories so far (some have nearly moved me to tears) and we can't wait to start the program! Speaking of weight loss challenges, "The Biggest Loser" is starting a new season. I saw just a few of the "veterans" featured on tonight's show, and the changes are incredible. Even more wonderful than the physical changes, are the mental and emotional changes for a lot of these folks ... they are new and improved people, inside and out!
All of this, combined with my efforts to get back to the gym have me thinking a lot about the things most of us will do do shed weight. Remember the stories Andy Fales did last year about the "Body Bugg" program? Meteorologist Justin Sacher is doing that program now. Like me, you're probably thinking, "How could Justin lose any weight?!?" Well - he's actually GAINED weight, but it's all muscle. He's got the six pack he was dreaming of, and will soon be showing it off during his tropical vacation. This program just makes sense. You wear the arm band that tracks the calories you burn, and the accompanying computer program helps you track what you eat. But - it's expensive. I'm not ready to invest that kind of cash, and frankly - I'm not ready to enter a Whopper with cheese into the calories consumed column. The computer would probably explode!
Another weight loss guide I stumbled upon is a book called "Skinny Bitch." I'm not kidding. The book is written by two women who look like models (oh wait .... one IS a former model), and judging by the website, it sounds brutal. I absolutely could not do it. It's a vegan diet. Not vegetarian ... VEGAN. I tried the vegetarian thing for a few years and it wasn't that difficult (it went out the window when I started dating my husband), but I know I could never give up milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc . . . forget it.
These are just a few of the things I've read or heard about that aren't for me, so I'm back to the boring old routine of trying to eat less and exercise more. Crazy, huh?
As usual, I'm out of time so other thoughts and a favor I have to ask all of you will have to wait.
Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Random thoughts

It was really hot at the fair, and I was there during one of the coolest days. What do we expect, right? It's August, it's Iowa and it's the State Fair! Thanks to everyone who stopped by both our photo signing booth, and the "Cast Your Kernal" booth. More than 35,000 of you plunked down a kernal for your favorite presidential candidates!

I'm am back on the workout bandwagon and IT HURTS! It is so unfair that it takes so long to get in shape, and mere days to turn into a slug. I'm forcing myself into types of exercise that I typically don't do, like running and Pilates. Do you guys have favorite workout regimes, or things you do to shake things up? I have to admit that changing the routine is keeping me motivated, I just wish it wasn't so painful!

Sunday night Michael and I were in the backyard grilling when we heard our front doorbell ring. Both of us were instantly annoyed. Sunday is the one day of the week we attempt to reserve for ourselves and I did NOT want to deal with whomever was there. So, I wasn't going to answer the door. But the doorbell rang, again. I answered, and quickly went from annoyed to sympathetic. A high school kid was standing there, looking like he wanted to be anyplace but our porch. His mother was behind him, at the bottom of our front steps. He was selling gift cards, trying to raise money for the Roosevelt band to buy new instruments. He seemed absolutely miserable and I felt so bad for him. I have vivid memories of doing the same sort of door-to-door fundraisers as a kid, for everything from Girl Scouts to swing choir and volleyball and I hated it. So, if a nice young person comes to your door begging for a donation and you think it's legit ... give him or her a few bucks, please.

Finally, I got this email a few weeks ago from Brian Vande Lune:
"Erin, Maybe you've done this, or something like it... but I think it would be interesting to walk through a log of a "day-in-the-life" of a news anchor. I'm sure that many would be interested in things like when do you have to show up for work...what goes on in between 6 and 10...do you write the copy or at least get to pre-read the news copy...do you get to pick what events you want to attend (state fair parade) or are you assigned..............Thanks, Brian"

I wrote a post about this about a year ago, so I won't bore you with the minute-by-minute details of my work day. Instead, I thought I'd just address some of Brian's specific questions that have less to do with schedule and more to do with content. Our night shifts begin at 1:30, and we're usually out of here right after the 10 o'clock show. Of course that can change if there is breaking news, or we stay late or come in early to work on a project. I don't think any of our anchors fall into the "talking head" sterotype. All of us write copy, and re-write copy for every show. Sometimes, there is no script at all. If it's breaking news or a developing story, we have to adlib. When it comes to public appearances and volunteer work, it's pretty much up to us. We are "strongly encouraged" to sign up for things like the fair booth and parade, the Arts Festival and Kids Fest but sometimes people are out of town or just unable to do those things due to their schedules and/or personal lives. Volunteering for other events and organizations is something that most of us do because we want to. I know that I choose to be a part of a lot of those activities because the particular cause is something I care about, or think is important.

Right now, it's time for me to get my rear in gear for the 10pm newscast!

A big move

Hello everyone!
Thanks for the State Fair feedback. It seems as if food ranks #1 with a lot of you, followed closely by animals, reunions and people watching. I'm with you on the food. Yum!
This week's blog topic is a bit belated, because I've been waiting on pictures from my mom. I understand the delay, it's not as if emailing pictures is a priority when you've been in the midst of moving more than 1200 miles from Nebraska to Arizona!

My folks officially hit the road on August 1st. They hadn't planned on leaving Nebraska until October, but their house sold much faster than expected so they got to move during the hottest part of the summer! This is my Uncle Carl, who helped my dad with the truck loading.

The U Haul

My pops in the truck, taking a break.

I should let you know how rare this picture is. My parents helped me move a number of times in between high school and the early part of my career, so I know how they operate in these situations. My dad is a maniac. He will not stop loading or unloading until the entire task is complete. It's crazy. It doesn't matter if it's twenty degrees and everyone is shivering, or ninety degrees and you're sweating to death ... he will NOT STOP! According to my mother, not much has changed so this must be one of very few breaks my dad took during the day.

Mom & Dad arrived in Arizona safe and sound ... here's my mom in their new backyard.

And Dad posing in the new house!

I have such mixed emotions about my folks leaving my home town. On the one hand, I'm so excited for them. They can finally enjoy retirement after years of hard work (although both of them are already talking about part time jobs). On the other hand, I'm feeling so nostalgic and sad about it ... the house my parents built and moved into when I was just one year old is no longer our house. It belongs to someone else now. It's just so strange. I know that probably sounds extraordinarily weird to those of you who moved several times when you were kids, but I've never known any other home. I'm consoling myself with the fact that there is now a nice warm climate to visit when the snow and wind chill descend on Iowa, and I know that my parents' new home will be just that for them . . . HOME.

Our State Fair is a GREAT State Fair!

Hello everyone!
Thanks so much for the recent posts and emails. Some of you have let me know that I've fallen behind (again) after doing so well at posting weekly. I'm sorry! I really had nothing to report, which is kind of nice once in awhile.
But, now we are heading into a great time of year . . . it's fair time!
Some of us took part in the Iowa State Fair Parade Wednesday night, so here are some highlights.

First, some United States Submarine Veterans.

These gentlemen had some great stories to tell while we waited in line for the the parade to start moving gown Grand Avenue. I learned that a submarine is much more spacious than I'd ever imagined, and that the food is much better than on ships or airplanes, but I still don't think I'd fare very well under water for days or weeks on end!

You've probably seen newspaper and television stories about this gang . . . it's the Hot Pink Grannies! They're ladies most of us would NOT want to tangle with on the basketball court, but they're big fun off of it!

What would a parade be without Elvis?!? He is, afterall . . . The King.

Then there are these goofy people. . .

The crowd, in between rain showers

Anchors in the rain

And if you're wondering, we did not get to keep those red umbrellas.

Hopefully you can buy them soon ... we haven't been able to keep up with demand!

The Channel 13 satellite truck

Mark Hoffman, one of our engineers who drives that huge truck

And finally, the soggy parade participants.

If you can't tell from this photo, we had been through some very soggy conditions, but it was great fun! Thanks to everyone who braved the elements to come to the parade. We hope you have a great time at the fair. Please share your favorite fair memories, or things you look forward to every year. From food on a stick and baby animals to fun rides and reunions, we want to hear about it!

Enjoy!

EEK

Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Did these shrink?

Hello everyone!
Can you believe we're heading into August this week? I feel like the summer has flown by, and I don't have much to show for it.
Except a bigger waistline.
At first, I was in denial. "I'm just bloated." "Michael must've put these jeans in the dryer." I think many of you know the drill. Well, it's official. A lot of my pants and skirts are ridiculously tight right now and it doesn't have anything to do with retaining water or my husband doing the laundry!
This situation is frustrating to me on a number of levels. For starters, I'm a certified fitness instructor. I know what to do and how to do it . . . I'm just not. Second, I've never really struggled with my weight. I haven't owned a scale since college. I eat whatever I want whenever I want without giving it a second thought. Finally, I just really don't care that I don't fit into some of my pants right now. Is that terrible? A few weeks ago while sitting on the set I asked my colleagues, "Have you ever started getting fat and just not cared about it?" Bachman looked at me like I was speaking Swahili, Ed was nodding his head and Murph shot back with, "No. But once I started getting fat and just didn't notice!" Classic.
Anyway, I read an interesting article about weight gain among friends. It's pretty interesting. If you feel like checking it out, here's the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19961197/site/newsweek/
Finally some random thoughts . . .
1) You guys are really shy! So many of you drop me emails about the blog, but you never post anything here. Why? Feel free to share your thoughts. And by the way - thanks to Jeremy for the great tip about the barbeque website a few weeks ago!
2) My husband told me once that he'd heard that if you drive through downtown Des Moines at 25 mph you can hit every green light. I tried it. It worked!
3) We ran a story during the five o'clock news about pet owners feeding their cats raw rabbit meat because of all the problems with commercial pet foods. I love my cat, but I'm not going rabbit hunting anytime soon.
4) Do you read the paper? I mean, the physical paper that gets thrown on your doorstep? It's part of my morning ritual but I'm starting to realize that fewer and fewer people do this. When I was kid my dad read every page of the Omaha World Herald, starting with the sports section and I always loved the smell of the paper, the feel of the paper, the "snap" of him turning the pages . . . so maybe it's just a nostalgic thing for me.
Right now I am out of time - thanks for reading, watching and emailing!
EEK

Adventures in babysitting

Weeks ago I told my brother-in-law, Matt and his wife Beth that I would be more than happy to babysit Baby Olivia. I've done my fair share of watching little kids over the years, and Olivia is a good baby, so how hard could it be?
Harder than I anticipated, as it turns out.
Matt and Beth had tickets to the Homeshow Expo in Johnston and decided to use them Saturday afternoon. When I arrived at their house, Olivia was in a post-bottle coma. She woke up before mom and dad left, and was pretty content to just hang out on her jungle-themed blanket with giraffes and palm trees and zebras. That soon changed. At first it wasn't too bad, just a little fussing that stopped as soon as I picked her up and walked around the house. Matt and Beth had told me that Olivia likes to be on the move, from the jungle play blanket, to the bouncy seat, to the baby swing and back again. So, I tried that. No go. She just kept getting progressively ticked off. I knew she hadn't napped very long, so I tried the crib. Oh, boy. I had no idea an infant could be so loud. Did I mention that Michael was with me? When Olivia was really screaming her head off and turning eight shades of red, his eyes got HUGE and he said to me, "Whaddaya think?" This may've been about the time he went outside. Olivia eventually passed out on my shoulder and I was able to put her in her crib. Then I flopped on the couch and watched "The Godfather" and thought "I don't know if this baby thing will ever be for me." But when Olivia woke up and was all sweetness and smiles I thought, "This is wonderful." Matt and Beth brought me a bottle of wine when they came home and gave me the "It's different when it's your own baby" speech. I definitely needed the wine, I'm not sure what I think of the speech.
Speaking of babies, and not having any yet . . . check out this column in Newsweek.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19762056/site/newsweek/
I read it and chuckled, but then quickly stopped laughing as I read the comments online. Take a look and let me know what you think about the hostility expressed between mothers and women who aren't mothers.
There are other things rolling around in my brain that will have to wait for a later post.
Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Happy Birthday dear Jon . . .

. . . Happy Birthday to you!
It's a big deal, turning 30.

That's what Jon Cahill did this weekend and we helped him celebrate!
The gang got together at Valley Junction Wine & Cigar Shoppe. We love this place. It feels like you're hanging out in someone's living room. Plus, Lloyd (the owner) had booked really great live music on Saturday night! If you've never been there, stop by sometime.

Jon & his girlfriend, Erin

Jeriann & her fiance', Rob

Photojournalist Brad Argo and his girlfriend, Rachel The Kiernans

The girls

A quick note about this picture. The itty, bitty blond gal on the end is our friend Elisha. She used to work with us at Channel 13, and now works in Detroit. It was great seeing her, but I am very worried about her safety after hearing some stories about living in "Motor City" . . . we hope Elisha moves back home soon!!!

Typically, Mr. Kiernan and I reserve Sundays as a day that's just the two of us . . . mostly because we don't get much "quality time" together. However, Saturday night Michael decided that he would smoke some ribs and we'd host a birthday dinner for Cahill. Cool! I LOVE ribs!

I nabbed this picture of Mike putting ribs on the smoker. He hates having his picture taken, so this was a Mission Accomplished moment for me. After this, there wasn't much to take pictures of. I mean, you put the meat on the grill, you feed the fire and watch the temperature constantly, and you wait. I could NEVER do this type of cooking. I just don't possess the patience required. You know the phrase, "A watched pot never boils..." That's me. I am a "pot watcher".

The feast . . . get out of the way!

Cahill with Burnside when she stopped over after SoundOFF

Elisha & her boyfriend, Bryce

Our neighbors, Heidi and Phil

Shannon & Dan

(By the way, Shannon makes a fantastic pasta salad!)

I'm out of time, it's nearly 5 o'clock!

Let us know about your memorable birthdays . . . we hope this is one Jon will always remember fondly!

Have a great week,

EEK

Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com