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