Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
I cannot believe it's the last Monday in July. I feel as if summer is slipping away and soon it will be over and I won't have much to show for it. Speaking of which, I've been doing a lot of research about a lot of different travel destinations lately. I would love to slip in an overseas trip but I don't think it's going to happen because of the crazy schedules Michael and I are maintaining. We're kind of kicking ourselves for being so responsible our entire marriage. Instead of taking off on crazy adventures around the globe we've played it safe - working, saving money, paying off debt, buying a new furnace and air conditioning unit, fixing the roof .... you get the idea. So what do you think? Is it better to throw caution to the wind and do all of the things on your proverbial bucket list, or be responsible and realize that some of those things may never happen (or at least not for awhile)? I'm torn.
Part of the reason I'm pondering what we want to do versus what we should do is because I've been thinking again about how quickly time passes. My mom had foot surgery last week and it happened to fall on the same date as my Grandma Susan's death. Even if you're not superstitious that coincidence might creep you out and I think my mom thought seriously about rescheduling. She didn't, and everything went fine. The bigger issue to me is being struck by the fact that my parents are getting older (although in pretty great health) and acknowledging that you just never know how much time you'll have left on this earth. When my grandma died four years ago we were in the midst of planning a huge 90th birthday for her. Don't get me wrong - she lived a full life, but her death was still pretty sudden and it hit me and my mom particularly hard. So maybe I'm leaning toward more of a "Carpe Diem" attitude - we'll see.
I just finished reading a fantastic book. "The Pillars Of The Earth" by Ken Follet is probably one of the longest reads I've tackled in recent years, and one of the best. My mom suggested it during my last Arizona visit so we picked it up in the airport when I was leaving. If you are a book chomp like me and you love engrossing, detailed fiction with deep characters - go get this. Now I'm looking for something new. Any suggestions? Yesterday at Target I bought "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "The Great Gatsby" but neither one is lengthy so I'll need a new title soon.
Thanks for all of the snake comments and emails during the past few weeks. I'm glad to know I am not the only person scared of them (you should talk to Dan Winters!) and also very intrigued by the fact that they are a protected species. When I was a kid I watched my Grandma Susan kill a huge bull snake with a garden tool. Amazing. Good thing nobody ratted her out.
Guess what? My ears are crooked. Seriously. I just noticed this on Friday. Sonya and I were getting ready for the five o'clock show and I kept fiddling with my earrings because the left was obviously hanging lower than the right. I went so far as to take them off and put them on the counter in an effort to figure out what was causing the difference. They are identical in length. So, I started inspecting my ears and sure enough ... my left earlobe hangs lower than my right! My ears are crooked! I can't believe I've never noticed this before. Weird.
That's it for now, my tummy is rumbling.
Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Friday, July 24, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Very Random Thoughts
Hi Gang!
Happy Monday!
I'm waaaaayyyy behind ... so here's a random 9:40pm post:
Snakes vs. Squirrels:
I'd kill one animal with anything handy, nearly crash my car to avoid killing the other.
Parabens:
Lots of emails about this substance since my allergy posts. Who knew?
Golf:
I don't play and normally don't give a hoot, but would've liked it if that Watson guy won.
Cleaning:
Incredibly therapeutic. I feel better, even if I injured myself.
Rejection:
Discovered a bunch of "You have great potential" letters while cleaning last weekend. I can laugh ... now.
Harley:
Our friend just bought one. I'm jealous ... and scared. Love that rumble.
Ahhhhhh:
Nothing better than time with Michael, a massage, wine, cheese, great weather, and the porch.
Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Happy Monday!
I'm waaaaayyyy behind ... so here's a random 9:40pm post:
Snakes vs. Squirrels:
I'd kill one animal with anything handy, nearly crash my car to avoid killing the other.
Parabens:
Lots of emails about this substance since my allergy posts. Who knew?
Golf:
I don't play and normally don't give a hoot, but would've liked it if that Watson guy won.
Cleaning:
Incredibly therapeutic. I feel better, even if I injured myself.
Rejection:
Discovered a bunch of "You have great potential" letters while cleaning last weekend. I can laugh ... now.
Harley:
Our friend just bought one. I'm jealous ... and scared. Love that rumble.
Ahhhhhh:
Nothing better than time with Michael, a massage, wine, cheese, great weather, and the porch.
Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Monday, July 13, 2009
Making A Movie ... Babymania ... What Creeps You Out?
Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
Have you heard? Hollywood has come to Des Moines! "The Experiment" has started shooting and I know a lot of people who are giddy about their Adrien Brody sightings. I had a chance to get a first-hand look (not at Brody, but at how the movie-making business works) last week. I have an itty, bitty, teeny, tiny role. As a news reporter. It was a stretch. The whole experience was really fascinating to me and I'm pretty sure everyone involved thinks I am a geek, and they'd be right. At any rate, it's pretty cool that major motion pictures are being made here in Central Iowa. Parts of Southridge Mall are being transformed for use in "Blackbeard." Wild. If you have a chance to get involved, you should. It's really fun.
The babymania continues here at Channel 13. We held a shower for mom-to-be Lynn Melling on Saturday. It's always fun to see the gifts people give and the motivation for doing so. One of our friends explained prior to her gift being opened, "I had a bunch of buy one, get one free coupons so that's why you're getting all this stuff!" Hey - it was all practical! I've started giving things like magazines, wine and chocolate for baby shower gifts which always makes people laugh, but my feeling is mom should get something, too!
Finally, what creeps you out? Michael is not really "afraid" of anything, but he has problems with needles. We are applying for life and disability insurance and part of the process is having blood drawn. He did pretty well this morning, but I've seen him turn varying degrees of white whenever a needle is brandished. I've been thinking about these visceral reactions to things after a letter I received last week. Here's an excerpt:
Have you heard? Hollywood has come to Des Moines! "The Experiment" has started shooting and I know a lot of people who are giddy about their Adrien Brody sightings. I had a chance to get a first-hand look (not at Brody, but at how the movie-making business works) last week. I have an itty, bitty, teeny, tiny role. As a news reporter. It was a stretch. The whole experience was really fascinating to me and I'm pretty sure everyone involved thinks I am a geek, and they'd be right. At any rate, it's pretty cool that major motion pictures are being made here in Central Iowa. Parts of Southridge Mall are being transformed for use in "Blackbeard." Wild. If you have a chance to get involved, you should. It's really fun.
The babymania continues here at Channel 13. We held a shower for mom-to-be Lynn Melling on Saturday. It's always fun to see the gifts people give and the motivation for doing so. One of our friends explained prior to her gift being opened, "I had a bunch of buy one, get one free coupons so that's why you're getting all this stuff!" Hey - it was all practical! I've started giving things like magazines, wine and chocolate for baby shower gifts which always makes people laugh, but my feeling is mom should get something, too!
Finally, what creeps you out? Michael is not really "afraid" of anything, but he has problems with needles. We are applying for life and disability insurance and part of the process is having blood drawn. He did pretty well this morning, but I've seen him turn varying degrees of white whenever a needle is brandished. I've been thinking about these visceral reactions to things after a letter I received last week. Here's an excerpt:
"I was dismayed by a comment you made on the 5:00 p.m. news on Monday, July 6,
2009. Someone sent in a picture of a snake in his/her lawn, to which
you responded "Ick! I'd take a weedeater to it!" Such a comment
is not appropriate for a newscast, even if it was intended to be
humorous. Children and young people tend to react strongly to such
comments made by celebrities such as yourself. Snakes are already so
seriously maligned in our society that your disparaging remark can only add
to those negative attitudes."
What do you think? Was it wrong of me to say that I would kill a snake in my yard? (For the record, the picture was of an ENORMOUS snake.) And what creeps you out to that extent? Fire away, and as always, thanks for reading!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Random thoughts
Hi gang!
I don't know about you, but I'm having trouble getting back in the groove after the holiday weekend - hence the Tuesday posting. There's been a lot of random stuff rolling around in my head during the past week - here's some of it.
* The rescue on the Des Moines River last week is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The video still gives me goosebumps and my heart aches for the woman who lost her husband.
* Thriller is still one of my favorite albums of all time. I've been listening to it at the gym off and on for the past week and a half and I love almost every song. I still have the record I walked down to Pamida and bought with my allowance money in fourth grade.
* The 80/35 Music Festival was a blast, in spite of the weather. Great music, good crowds, fantastic friends and family. I hope it's back year after year.
* It never ceases to amaze me how nasty and disrespectful people can be.
* Some experiences are so precious there truly aren't words to describe them.
* I've only posted comments on blogs a handful of times in my life and never posted anonymously.
* I love the food at the Iowa State Fair. New this year: Frozen s'mores on a stick, Carmellows (marshmallows on a stick, dipped in chocolate), chocolate-covered peanut butter rounds, chocolate covered key lime rounds, pretzel rods dipped in caramel or chocolate. Those are just some of the sweets, don't get me started on corndog brats and PickleDawgs. I'm going to start fasting now in preparation.
* I had my allergy testing done last week. The results - a chemical with a really long name that I can't spell or pronounce that's found in a lot of beauty products, and to a lesser degree - fragrance and nickel. Weird.
* People comment more on my hair than on anything I say or do on the news. I could be naked and people would send emails about my hair.
* My husband is amazing. His trip to Chicago netted me three pairs of outrageously hot shoes. Too bad you can't see those on the news!
* It's true, if you want something done right (or the way you think is right) you need to do it yourself.
Enjoy the rest of the week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
I don't know about you, but I'm having trouble getting back in the groove after the holiday weekend - hence the Tuesday posting. There's been a lot of random stuff rolling around in my head during the past week - here's some of it.
* The rescue on the Des Moines River last week is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The video still gives me goosebumps and my heart aches for the woman who lost her husband.
* Thriller is still one of my favorite albums of all time. I've been listening to it at the gym off and on for the past week and a half and I love almost every song. I still have the record I walked down to Pamida and bought with my allowance money in fourth grade.
* The 80/35 Music Festival was a blast, in spite of the weather. Great music, good crowds, fantastic friends and family. I hope it's back year after year.
* It never ceases to amaze me how nasty and disrespectful people can be.
* Some experiences are so precious there truly aren't words to describe them.
* I've only posted comments on blogs a handful of times in my life and never posted anonymously.
* I love the food at the Iowa State Fair. New this year: Frozen s'mores on a stick, Carmellows (marshmallows on a stick, dipped in chocolate), chocolate-covered peanut butter rounds, chocolate covered key lime rounds, pretzel rods dipped in caramel or chocolate. Those are just some of the sweets, don't get me started on corndog brats and PickleDawgs. I'm going to start fasting now in preparation.
* I had my allergy testing done last week. The results - a chemical with a really long name that I can't spell or pronounce that's found in a lot of beauty products, and to a lesser degree - fragrance and nickel. Weird.
* People comment more on my hair than on anything I say or do on the news. I could be naked and people would send emails about my hair.
* My husband is amazing. His trip to Chicago netted me three pairs of outrageously hot shoes. Too bad you can't see those on the news!
* It's true, if you want something done right (or the way you think is right) you need to do it yourself.
Enjoy the rest of the week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
