Childhood friends... Feeling frugal... Towering tree

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

I have to admit, it was nice seeing a dusting of snow a few times during the last week. It was just enough to signal winter and the holidays, but not enough to have to shovel or scrape. Perfect!

Childhood friends
I was really glad there was no weather to speak of on Saturday, as I made a little road trip to see two of my best friends. Kim and Brenda and I were practically inseparable during our last few years of high school and we've known each other forever. In fact, Kim and I grew up across the street from each other so we've known each other since we were toddlers. Brenda organized this weekend's get together and we met at her house in Seward, NE. We cooked Chinese, listened to our old play lists, drank wine, reminisced and of course - watched the Nebraska-Oklahoma game. Obviously it did not go our way, but we were so distracted we didn't really care! There is something so wonderful about being around people who love you for who you are and nothing more. The big hair may be gone - but the friendship remains.

Feeling frugal
How are you coming on your Christmas shopping? I haven't purchased a thing. Seventeen days to go until Christmas Eve and we have ZERO gifts under our tree. I love Christmas, but I am really not excited about buying a bunch of junk that doesn't really mean anything to anyone. Michael and I were saying this past week, "Who cares about another sweater or bottle of perfume or television or whatever?!?" It's kind of obscene what this holiday has turned into. There's an interesting article by Stefan Theil in last week's Newsweek that had me thinking a lot about the economy and spending. Here's a short excerpt:

"Even as Americans are still struggling to meet mortgage payments, pay off credit cards, and replenish savings, they’re also starting to spend again—whether they have the money or not. Last week, fresh numbers showed household spending rising for the fifth month in a row and consumer confidence reaching its highest level since June. Per capita retail sales are now back up to where they were in the fall of 2008, just before the collapse of Lehman Bros. tore the bottom out of the economy. If you factor out spending on cars, which is still 18 percent below its 2005 peak, Americans’ total spending on goods and services has now passed pre-crisis highs."

So - how are you feeling about the economy? Has the recession changed the way you shop and spend? Are you by nature either a saver or spender?
Here's the last line from Theil's article:

"Yes, spending is great fun, until the bill arrives. That’s a lesson we’ve learned the hard way. Or maybe we haven’t."

Towering tree

Finally - here is the picture of our enormous tree. The quality of the photo isn't fantastic since I took it with my phone, but at least you can see that the tree touches the ceiling... just like Michael likes it. Perfect!

Thanks for stopping by the blog - have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Big bird...Big butt... Big tree...Big hair

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
Thanks for sharing some of your favorite quotes last week - there were some good ones. The one I found for Thanksgiving was, "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." ~Epictetus


Big birds
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with loved ones. I was working, but still managed to squeeze in two different dinners ... impressive, I know. Michael and I ate at his brother Pete's house before I came to work. The place was packed with family and Pete & Kris put on a great spread. The entertainment was our nephew James. He plays guitar, drums, and violin and sings and he was belting out all sorts of Beatles tunes while playing "Rock Band" on the Xbox. It was a riot. After anchoring the early evening shows, I met Michael at the Lacona's house for dinner. This is where I always get into trouble because all of the food is just so amazing. I mean, I just keep eating and eating and eating. When I got back to work I could hardly breathe and to be honest, I was a little concerned about my ability to get through the ten o'clock show. Thankfully, we had a lot of fun video and sound so I survived. Did you make a pig of yourself on Thanksgiving or did you stay in control? Is there a particular food that you know is terrible, but you just can't pass it up on the holiday?

Big butt
Thanksgiving is just one day. My problem is that I've been eating with that kind of wild abandon A LOT during the past six months or so. It is time for me to get it together or soon I won't have anything to wear. I'm reaching that point where even my "fat pants" are on the snug side. I refuse to buy new clothes - it seems like I'd be rewarding my bad behavior. A few months ago a gal I know from high school posted on her facebook page that she was starting a "fruit and vegetable detox" diet. She explained that for several days she was eating nothing but fruits, vegetables, green tea and water. This sounds like a good idea in theory but I don't know if I'm capable of doing it. I suppose all it takes is planning and a bit of willpower. I'm also looking into the Body Bugg and other similar devices that help track your calories consumed and calories burned. Have any of you tried this approach? I feel like it would really help keep me accountable, and I know the competitor in me would really get into seeing the "calories burned" number go up with different workouts.

Big tree
Our Christmas tree is up... whew! Michael likes having a tree that touches the ceiling and every year it seems like what we end up with is bigger, and bigger and bigger. This is especially an issue when I am not along for the tree picking process. I know it's hard to believe, but I am the voice of reason. Well, Michael bought the tree on Friday when I was at work. Friday night we brought him inside and stood him up and said "Oh, geesh!" He was touching the ceiling (and bending over a bit) before we even put him in the stand. Michael cut off some of the top and after much heaving and pushing and pulling and praying, we managed to get the thing upright, and stabilized. I have to admit, it might be the best tree yet. Pictures next week. Oh - and a question, do you do real or fake?

Big hair
After watching the Iowa game (ugh!) on Saturday we met up with Heather Burnside at 7 Flags Events Center. Why? The band Hairball. We'd never been to one of their shows and Heather insisted we would not be disappointed. She was right. If you loved hair bands back in the day, you'll love this group. Some of the performances are so spot-on, you'd swear you somehow traveled back in time to see Poison, Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses ... you get the idea. It was a blast.

That wraps up the "big" edition of the blog... have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

An old friend... "Don't touch my junk"... Great quotes

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

I had a very boring, but productive weekend. All of the toilets in my house are clean, the laundry is done (and put away!) I removed the layer of dust from most surfaces that have been neglected for far to long ... sigh. I know it's sad, but these things make me feel like my life is in order (or at least more in order).

An old friend
Do you find that time flies by and before you know it it's been weeks, months, maybe years since you've talked to or seen good friends? I have this problem off and on with a number of people in my life. People I love, people I miss, people who've been my friends though some of the most horrible times in my life. It just seems that life gets in the way. The great thing is having friends who understand and who also have busy lives that keep them running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I got to see one of those friends for brunch on Sunday - thanks, Amy - it was fun and we need to do it more often!!!

"Don't touch my junk!"
That's what lots of travelers are saying loud and clear to the TSA these days. What do you think about the new enhanced screening measures? Frankly - I don't give a hoot. If feeling me up (or down or sideways) means that crazy people with bombs don't make it onto my plane - fabulous. I also don't care about the body scanner thingies. I mean really, we all come with basically the same hardware so what's the big deal. What I do have a problem with is overzealous TSA agents who think the uniform affords them license to do whatever they want and ignore information given to them by rational people. Have you heard about the poor guy who ended up covered in his own urine after a pat down? Tom Sawyer is a bladder cancer survivor who now wears a urostomy bag. It collects his urine from an opening in his abdomen. He tried to tell security agents about his condition and the risk of breaking the seal on the bag, but he says they wouldn't listen and treated him rudely. Sawyer says screeners need more training to deal with medical issues and I couldn't agree more - he also told TSA chief John Pistole that when Pistole called to apologize for the incident. What do you think? How do we keep air travel safe but not infringe on privacy?

Great quotes
I am something of a quote junkie. Since high school I've collected ones I like and in college my room was covered with quotes. My desk at work bears several but there is one I see every week at a local elementary school that I think is especially good.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. - Thomas Jefferson

Do you have any favorite quotes? Why do you like them? What message to they convey and how does it affect you?

I'm starving. Sonya and I did a 5am workout and I taught a 9am step class today. I tired and my stomach is growling!!!

Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

A great event...Good food & scary food...On 13

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
I had a great weekend and hope you did, too.

A great event
Saturday I helped with the Immigrant Entrepreneur Summit at Drake University. This is the third year of the event and it's been wonderful to see it grow. I drove in circles for quite a while trying to find a parking spot and feared I would be late for my hosting duties, but it turns out that was a great sign! Organizer Ying Sa tells me there were more than 100 more registrants this year, which means more and more immigrants are opening small businesses in Iowa. We honored a bunch of great people during the awards ceremony - all have wonderful stories to share. Even though this year's event is over, you can still get involved in the organization. Just visit www.iesusa.org.


Good food & scary food
I always like to tell you when Michael and I try new places to eat and have a good experience. A few weeks ago we finally made a visit to Fong's Pizza downtown. Yum! I highly recommend dropping in if you haven't been there before. I especially loved the Crab Rangoon Pizza - although only as an appetizer just because it's so rich. A big plus here (at least for me) are the hours ... open seven days a week with the full menu available until midnight and slices until 2am Sunday-Thursday and 3am Friday and Saturday. Yesterday our friends James Lacona and Nicholle Flood invited us to join them at Smokey D's BBQ on NW 2nd. I wasn't crazy about making the trek that far away from our house, but both James and Nic are great cooks and they said it would be worth our while. It was. In fact, my mouth is watering just thinking about the food. We ordered "The Whole Pit" and shared (there were five of us) and it was perfect. The ribs were wonderful, the brisket just right and the sides like potato casserole and mac & cheese delicious. They also have a Silver Strike machine and when we were there past closing finishing our game - the staff didn't kick us out until we'd bowled our last frame. We'll be back! :)

On the flip side ... something called "mechanically separated chicken".

I recently read about this in Newsweek and couldn't believe it. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat chicken nuggets again. That doesn't bother me that much - I've never been a huge fan. However, I do love hot dogs and this same sort of paste is what they're made of, too. Ick!

On 13
I'll leave you with another programming note about what's airing during our 10 o'clock shows this week. Tonight I hope you'll tune in for "Fitness Frauds" - you'll learn how easy it is for people to get meaningless certifications online and what questions you need to ask when you're hiring a fitness professional. Tuesday night I'll be bringing you a "13 Cares" about an adorable little boy who visits a Marshalltown care facility every week. He's developed a special relationship with residents and the situation is a win-win for everyone. Wednesday and Thursday Sonya Heitshusen brings you here in-depth look at domestic violence. She's spent considerable time with TereseAnn Lynch's family, in addition to law enforcement and the stories she's put together are powerful and informative.

Thanks for stopping by the blog - have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Let the music move you... The end... Pay attention!!!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
Is it weird to anyone else that it's November? Maybe it's this amazing weather we're having, but I just can't quite wrap my head around the fact that Thanksgiving is only two and a half weeks away. I feel like it should be spring, not fall!

Let the music move youThe past few weeks I've been struck by how powerful music is. I know that's not a revelation, but I'd like to know what gets you grooving or singing out loud. A few observations; most people make fun of Vanilla Ice, but anytime "Ice Ice Baby" starts pouring out of a juke box people's rumps start shakin'. I see it when I use a CD in my fitness classes that features the song, during weddings when a DJ plays it, and just last weekend when a guy picked it for singing karaoke. I know it highlights my age, but I sing at the top of my lungs to Journey, REO Speedwagon, Joan Jett, Bon Jovi (insert any 80s group here)... I've also noticed that even people who would never call themselves "fans" of entertainers like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus can't help but sing along and dance when "California Gurls", "Pokerface" or "Party in the USA" are pumping out of a nearby speaker.

The endI did not end up going to the Iowa State - Nebraska game on Saturday. I'm still not sure if I wish I had or if I'm relieved that I didn't, but I was definitely not paying more than 100 bucks for a hillside ticket! The game was great, even though I was sure the Huskers had blown it. I know much has been said about Coach Rhoads' decision to go for two in overtime. I'm not an expert and I have nothing to add to the debate. What I will add is this ... I think the passion he's brought to the ISU football team is fantastic, and I'd write that even if his plan had worked and my team had lost. It's strange to think about never playing the Cyclones again but I'm looking forward to seeing what a Hawkeye-Husker showdown looks like!

Pay attention!!!Sometimes I am so distracted, it's scary. I've written before about needing to write myself reminder notes but lately it's gotten worse. November is a ratings period and I've had multiple stories in various stages for a few weeks now, so there's a lot rattling around in my head. The other day I was really at the end of my rope, trying to juggle a few too many things and thinking about all of the stuff I have to get done and how there aren't enough hours in the day and I blew right through a red light. Luckily there was no traffic, but when it dawned on me what I'd done I was horrified. I wasn't even using my phone or listening to the radio or eating or putting on lipstick ... I was just driving!

If I don't post this silly thing, it is never going to hit cyberspace but I'll leave you with quick programming notes about our ten o'clock shows this week.
Tuesday: I'll bring you a "13 Cares" about a great program for high school girls.
Wednesday: Elizabeth Klinge tells you about a unique class for Iowa inmates
Thursday & Friday: Sonya Heitshusen has an in-depth look at the case of Terese Ann Lynch Moore.

EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Vote...Watch...Eat!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
What a great weekend ... beautiful weather, Nebraska, Iowa State and Iowa all win, good times with friends ... couldn't ask for more.

Vote
You'd have to living under a rock to miss the fact that tomorrow is election day, but here's a reminder anyway... get out and vote! I know everyone is looking forward to all of the negative ads leaving the airwaves - it seems like it's been nastier than ever this year. Do your research, cast your ballot and be part of the process. Then watch Channel 13 for election results!


Watch
Start watching tonight ... Sonya Heitshusen has already produced a number of amazing stories from her time with the Iowa National Guard and at ten she brings us another one. It's a profile of a young mother who is raising her baby girl alone while her husband spends a year in Afghanistan. Don't miss "Iowans at War" Monday at ten.
Tuesday starting at 9pm we bring you live election coverage. We have all of our talented reporters in the field with the candidates, Mike Mahaffey and Jerry Crawford on set with live analysis, and numbers pouring in from precincts all over the state.
Wednesday at ten Jannay Towne brings us the story of "Melissa's Miracle". 14-year-old Melissa Robinson was hit by a speeding car in Union Park last summer. She's been making progress - getting better everyday - and Jannay profiles this young lady's strength and resolve.
Emily Carlson rounds out the week with stories about drunk driving on Thursday and Friday. She's had me read her scripts and I think you'll be surprised by some of the statistics, and angry about the repeat offenders ... hopefully angry enough to act.


Eat
You can eat some amazing food and help an amazing cause this Friday night at the Best Buddies Iowa Chef Challenge. If you don't know about Best Buddies check out www.bestbuddiesiowa.org. This is a new event and it should be a blast...here's the description from the website:

Best Buddies Iowa Chef Challenge
Recipe for Friendship

Friday, November 5th
5:30 pm - Drinks
6:00 pm - Chef Challenge Stations Open
8:30 pm - Program

Zart 1312
1312 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Local restaurants and chefs are working with Buddy Pairs (an individual with intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) and a peer mentor) to create an exciting signature small plate dishes for your sampling. Our winner will be awarded the “Recipe for Friendship” award from Best Buddies Iowa at the end of the evening!

The Best Buddies Chef Challenge is a unique event for the friend of Best Buddies and for the “foodie”! Local restaurants and chefs are working with Buddy Pairs to create an exciting signature small plate dishes for your sampling.

Make sure to try them all and then cast your vote on your favorite of the night! Our winner will be awarded the “Recipe for Friendship” award from Best Buddies Iowa at the end of the evening!

Your ticket purchase includes heavy appetizer – small plate portions from local restaurants, beer, wine and soft drinks and live entertainment. We will also have exciting live/silent auction items, a moving program and opportunity to hear from our honored guest, Katie Meade.

Katie Meade will receive the Spirit of Friendship Award for all her years of service to Best Buddies Iowa

Some highlights of Katie Meade's contributions to Best Buddies:

•Will celebrate eight years as an employee of the Polk County Treasurer’s Office in October.
•Has been involved with Best Buddies for seven years as part of the Drake University Best Buddies Chapter (participated in Grand View chapter for one semester prior to that)
•Global Messenger for Special Olympics for five years and introduced U2 at the Special Olympics World Games.
•Well-known advocate of the disabilities movement around the state of Iowa.
•Has participated in various events for BBI on the national level: Audi Best Buddies Challenges (Hearst Castle and Hyannis Port), Miami Beach Gala, Dallas Gala, Annual Leadership Conference, Best Buddies Ball, speaker at 2006 BBI Staff Leadership Conference in Miami, and countless other events around the country
•Special guest and presenter at the 4th International Shafallah Forum in Doha, Qatar, in April 2009.
Participating Restaurants / Chefs:

Splash Seafood Bar & Grill - splash-seafood.com
Sam and Louie’s – samandlouiesnyp.com
Jethro’s BBQ – jethrosdesmoines.com
Iowa Culinary Institute – dmacc.edu/ici
Great Harvest Bread Co. – greatharvestdesmoines.com
Appetizer Magazine, Senior food editor Carlos Acevedo – meredith.com
Doll Distributing - dolldistributing.com
Mama Lacona’s – mamalacona.com
Samantha Beard, Annie Gunn’s Chesterfield, MO - smokehousemarket.com
Sweet Binney’s – sweetbinneys.com
Chef Terrie Khol, Country Club Market - countryclubmkt.com
Carefree Patisserie - acarefreecupcake.com

My mouth is watering just looking at the list of restaurants participating....yum!

Thanks for stopping by the blog, have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

What a week!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

Let me apologize in advance for the many typos that might appear in this post. My entire body hurts ... even my hands! Sonya and I had a workout shoot yesterday that was unlike anything we've attempted so far. We played hockey. I've never been ice skating so I knew it would be challenging - it was also a blast. Here are a few nuggets of information about the adult novice league from organizer Joe Bafia:

Currently we have approx 24 skaters
9 are women
Ages range from 16-50
Most are skating for the first time as adults.

We skate Sundays at 2:30 PM – 4 PM at Bucs Arena. If you’d like to see it first, feel free to come out and watch a session. Some pick up the skating faster than others, but in the end it is a very beginning group. There is a lot of equipment to put on which allows you to fall with “minimal” pain. I started this program several years ago since there was no way for true beginner adults to start playing this sport and my wife wanted to play. We have had groups as big as 50 people. Some of the players that get more comfortable will move up into a competitive recreational league, but many like the casual play of the novice league and remain there.

We typically do 40 minutes of drills which include skating, passing & shooting. This is strictly to develop skills and not an actual game of hockey. The last 40 minutes is the “controlled” scrimmage. We play an actual game, but may stop the game at anytime to give instruction, pointers, etc. Our league is non-contact (which means you cannot check or hit another player like you see at Bucs games or on NHL games). HOWEVER, with beginners, there are occasions where players cannot stop and they bump into each other…but nothing malicious.

We had a great time with this group and it was a fantastic workout. More details when we air this as our "Workout of the Week." Tune in Tuesdays at five or watch online. Tomorrow's segment is about working out with your dog and it stars Sonya's babies, Remi and Spot! Trainer Angie Gallagher puts us through the paces with a fun routine for you and your four-legged friends. By the way, Angie is starting another 8 week session at Fit 4 Life if you want to work out with her. www.fitnesswithangie.com.

A few more programming notes ... all this week our reporters will be bringing you profiles on the candidates for Governor, the 3rd Congressional District and the US Senate. Thursday at 10 Dan Winters brings us a story on how much money the Department of Defense spends in Iowa, and on what ... you'll find it very interesting.

I'm out of steam and needing to pop some more ibuprofen...
Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Football... Fun... Yeah, right!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

Football
Did you spend all day watching football on Saturday (and maybe Sunday, too...)? I am sad for the Cyclones, happy for the Hawks and just plain baffled by the Huskers. I plan on talking to my folks over my dinner break this evening. My mom left a message Sunday saying, "Well, we didn't think the sun would come up today after that game...but it did!" It reminded me of a conversation I had with my them a few weeks ago. They were telling me about a little watering hole close to their house that is a self-proclaimed "Nebraska Sports Bar." Mom and Dad have loved going there for the camaraderie and have enjoyed meeting new people. In response to me talking about some people who take their sports way to seriously - to the point of letting a bad game ruin their day, my folks said it's just fun to have something to be passionate about.

Fun
There were a lot of passionate people at The Front Row on Saturday. We were there in our cycling gear and I quickly realized that it might be wise to zip up my jacket and cover up the giant red "N" on my shirt. It was a sea of black and gold and everyone was fired up for the game against Michigan. Since we started bike riding, this has become one of our favorite places. Clay - the owner, is a gem. The staff is friendly and fast. The patrons are laid back and fun. Best of all - no one gives a hoot if you are sweaty and disgusting when you stop in for a bicycling break! Be forewarned though, if you stop in on Saturday or Sunday before 1pm you are likely to end up in a food coma. You'll find omelettes, biscuits & gravy, and french toast. We've also heard rave reviews about steak night (on Mondays, I think?) but we've yet to stop in for that. Oh yeah, there's also the Silver Strike bowling game near the front door... love it! It's what kept us there hours longer than planned.


Yeah, right!
While I was working up a sweat playing Silver Strike, several people I know were running their tails off in the Des Moines Marathon. I so admire Sonya, Lynn, and Kelly. Today at work they were all talking about their times, how they felt during the race, etc. Sonya and Lynn did the half marathon, Kelly did the full. "The first six miles are always the worst," Lynn said. "I didn't think I was going to finish - I was dead at mile eleven," Sonya added. "The one part was pretty hilly but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be!" exclaimed perennially perky Kelly. I was sitting at my desk thinking, "I am such a loser." Seriously. I am pretty sure I couldn't even run a 5k. I hate running. About once a month I will pretend that I'm really going to try to become a runner. It only takes about five minutes at Gray's Lake or on the treadmill for that silly notion to pass right out of my brain. I will see people bounding along like gazelles and I feel like a hippo tromp, tromp, tromping along. They make it look effortless while I am wheezing and red-faced and in pain. It is just not my thing. Congrats to everyone who took part in Sunday's race. I think you are amazing!!!

Speaking of wheezing and being red in the face...tune in Tuesday at five for "Workout of the Week." We're featuring a popular program and doing the most difficult session offered.

And maybe this week's "13 Cares" will inspire you to sign up for Race for the Cure ... don't miss "The Girlfriends' Guide to Breast Cancer" Wednesday at six.Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

More of the same...

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

I'm feeling like a broken record - the weather is great, I've been riding my bike, life is good and I don't have much to report. Frankly, I'm thrilled. After the year Michael and I have had, boring is a good thing!

There are a few random thoughts rolling around in my head...

* A few weeks ago my friend Jason Parkin sent me a link to a pastor's blog about yoga. Check it out and let me know what you think.
You can also do some Googling and find a number of interesting articles (and arguments) on this topic.

* I could do yoga and all sorts of workouts all day long and "jeggings" would still probably be a bad idea. Why are we reliving the late 80s and early 90s? I have broken down and purchased one pair of cheapo black leggings and a couple of long sweaters, even though last year I swore I wouldn't. Please slap me if you catch me wearing leg warmers or ratting my hair.

* If you need motivation for working out and/or eating less I am convinced that a trip to a department store dressing room is one of the most effective things out there. Bad lighting + three way mirrors = harsh reality.

* One in three Iowa kids is considered obese. This should terrify people. Let's forget about the vanity of it all. Who cares about fitting into skinny jeans or looking hot in a swim suit. Obesity is a serious health issue - it's linked to everything from heart attacks and cancer, to osteoarthritis and asthma. Emily Carlson did a great story today about a small Iowa school district fighting the problem in the lunchroom. It was so great to see kids eating (and enjoying!) fruit and vegetables instead of chicken nuggets and pizza. It's fine to eat these sorts of foods occassionally, but when it's every day it's a problem. Case in point.. the year my mom did her student teaching I ate hot lunch every day and by the end of the school year I was popping the buttons on all of my clothes. Tune in tomorrow for "Workout of the Week" to see how a local gym is tackling the obesity issue by getting kids active and showing them that exercise can be fun.

Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Free Gifts...News Anchor Barbie...Think Pink

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
I hope you've been out enjoying the gorgeous fall weather ... no rain for nine days and counting!!!


Free Gifts
This is something men just don't get - and with good reason. I've never seen Michael receive a mailing trying to entice him into a store with the promise of a "free gift with purchase" but I get one almost every week. Most are from stores selling makeup, perfume and/or lingerie and they work. Some require us to make a minimum purchase, but many do not. It's probably because most of us go to these stores with the best of intentions. "I'll buy the cheapest thing, get my free gift, and get out," we tell ourselves. Yeah, right! Tons of lotions, potions, lace (and money) later we're walking out of the store. I have a love-hate relationship with the "gift with purchase" ... you?


News Anchor Barbie
This is interesting on a lot of different fronts. When I first heard about Mattel's newest Barbie I rolled my eyes. My gut reaction was something along the lines of, "That's just what we need, a toy making women in television news look like bimbos!" But then I pulled up the Mattel website. Here's how "News Anchor Barbie" is described:

Barbie® I Can Be...™ dolls and accessories empower girls to play out different roles and "try on" fabulous careers, including news anchor, the first Barbie® profession chosen by global vote. Wearing a posh pink suit with black accents and carrying a B News folder, camera and microphone, this savvy journalist reports up-to-the-minute news in signature Barbie® style. The inspiring set also comes with a special code that unlocks career-themed content online, for even more digital play!

I also checked out the other "Barbie I can Be..." dolls; there's a computer engineer, a doctor, a dentist, a rock star and a babysitter. That's pretty cool. When I was little the dolls came in different outfits but I don't recall any of them having "careers." However, while doing an online search I just found a history of Barbie that shows dolls from the 60s dressed as nurses, college graduates, and astronauts so maybe she's more progressive than I realized! I don't feel like playing with Barbies had a negative impact on me as a little girl but as a grown woman I have a beef with the doll's shape. By some researchers' estimates if Barbie was a real woman she'd be more than seven feet tall, weigh about 125 pounds and her measurements would be 32-20-42. By contrast, the average American woman is about 5'4" and weighs more than 140 pounds.
While we're on the topic of the way females are portrayed, I thought this Newsweek article was really interesting. What do you think of the study?
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/22/why-family-films-are-so-sexist.html


Think Pink
It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we're devoting airtime and web space to the cause. Tune in for this week's "Workout of the Week" (Tuesday at 5) to meet my friend Kristin. She teaches a super fun class at the Y and is also a breast cancer survivor who has a pretty cool network of support. We'll tell you about that in a "13 Cares" the week of October 11th. Then the week of the 18th you'll meet two local women who refuse to let breast cancer stop them from living life to its fullest. They also spend time helping other women deal with the diagnosis through various support groups so they're a "13 Cares" as well. We have a special section on the website - you'll find it under the "As Seen On 13" tab.

It's late and I'm brain dead. Thanks for stopping by the blog - I always appreciate your posts and emails!

EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Football...Fall weather food... You are what you wear?

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

Football
The weather was rotten this weekend, which put a cramp in my bike riding but I have to admit it was great to watch football all day Saturday. What wasn't so great was watching both the Cyclones and Hawkeyes lose. Ugh! The highlight of my sports watching was seeing my Huskers dominate the Huskies. Friday I read a blog that predicted Nebraska would lose to Washington so I was a little nervous about what kind of game I would see. I'm a bit embarassed to admit it, but I fell asleep before the fourth quarter started. Oh well - the nap felt great and meant that I was prepared to stay up until 1am watching the Hawkeyes give fans heart failure.


Fall Weather Food
One thing I love about the change of seasons is the change in foods. Some parts of our diets are always the same, but it's fun to switch gears when the weather turns cooler. This weekend Michael and I whipped up a sausage and white bean soup. It was delicious! I don't have the recipe with me here at work but I'll give you the gist of it:

sausage
proscuitto
carrots
celery
onion
garlic
3 cans Great Northern beans
1 quart chicken broth
1 teaspoon thyme

Cook the sausage and set aside. Chop up carrots, celery, onion, garlic and proscuitto - sautee'. Cut up sausage. Mash up one can of beans. Throw everything into a pot with the chicken broth and the thyme. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes. Serve with corn muffins or crusty bread. Yum!

Next up ... tater tot casserole. So bad, but so good. :)

You Are What You Wear
Read this article and let me know what you think:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39232800/ns/business-careers/


Finally, Sonya and I are still cranking out workouts each week. We want to start featuring some on success stories, so if you or someone you know wants to share a personal story about getting fit please drop us a line.

Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

New uses for old things... More padding, please... Step away from the knife

Happy Tuesday blog readers! I really did start this blog yesterday but my ancient computer kept crashing and I got so frustrated I thought I might throw it out in the parking lot. Let's try again...


New uses for old things
One of the (few) advantages to spending lots of time in hospital waiting rooms is reading magazines you would otherwise never see. Last week I read both an Oprah and a Real Simple and both were filled with interesting little nuggest on new uses for old things. Over the weekend I used one of the ideas ... taking old magazines and using them to keep your boots upright and in good shape. Brilliant! Yesterday I did some Googling and found all sorts of other neat ways to repurpose things, save money and cut down on trash. Try typing "new uses for old things" into any search engine and see what you get. If you're a penny pincher and an organzier like me, you will be thrilled. I know, I'm a geek.


More padding, please
I am really loving bike riding, but my butt is KILLING me! Michael even bought me a new pair of super-duper padded shorts - I'm still whining. We rode with Heather Burnside on Sunday and both she and Sonya insist that the more you ride, the more accustomed you get to the feeling (or the tougher your butt gets). I don't know ... a new, cushy seat may be what I request for my birthday!

Step away from the knife
If you read the blog on a somewhat regular basis, you know the Michael is the cook in our house. I'm capable, but he's better at it. Our long running joke is that I'm his sous chef - and that I've been fired and re-hired many times. One of the reasons for the "firings" is that I am dangerous with a knife. I've cut myself more times than I care to count and there's always much wincing and pain dancing involved in these incidents. That's why it's better for me to be a casual observer, and full time wine taster. Proof that even the pros slip up - Michael really got himself good Monday night. He was chopping up lettuce and green onions for a salad and suddenly his thumb was gushing blood. He cut the tip clean off! We determined that it wasn't serious enough to warrant a trip to the ER, but it is a pretty nasty injury. I think I just got promoted - at least temporarily.

Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Babies... Bicycles...Brain dead

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
I can't believe how quickly the weekend flew by... I feel like I need another day devoted to getting ready for the work week!

Babies
Saturday afternoon was spent at Emily Price's baby shower. It was originally set for June, but had to be rescheduled when Emily had to be on bed rest for several weeks. It was a lovely day with a nice mix of women ...


lots of fun presents ...


and a special guest! Mr. Hayden joined the party and was perfectly behaved - in fact, this is pretty much what he did the whole time! This child looks exactly like his dad. Emily said, "It's like I had nothing to do with it!" We all said, "Yeah, except for all the hard work!"

Bicycles
You know those bicycles I told you about last week? They've been getting a workout and it's been so fun! Michael even got them outfitted with lights so we can do night rides without risking our lives. One of our stops was the Pappajohn sculpture park where a nice guy offered to take our picture inside the giant man made of letters (I think the piece is called "Nomade").
If you haven't visited the sculpture park or checked out our amazing trail system, you should do both before winter hits. Don't have a bicycle? No problem. You can rent bikes at Gray's Lake and hop on the trail right there!

Brain dead
That is how I feel today. I'm really struggling to stay awake and I'm afraid I did a terrible job anchoring the five ans six o'clock shows. It's like my brain and my mouth are disconnected. Hopefully the ten will be better. If not - tomorrow's a new day!

Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Glad to be back...Books, Boys & Bicycles...

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

Glad to be back
I've been away from work for two and a half weeks and it is good to be back! A lot of people raise an eyebrow and look at me like I'm crazy when I say that, but it's true. I love my job and although it's nice to have a break, this one wasn't a vacation. For those of you who don't know - my husband had to have surgery to have a tumor removed from his saliva gland. Everything went as well as it possibly could and Michael is now on the road to wellness. Many thanks to those of you who've sent lovely cards and emails our way - your prayers and support mean so much to us. It's been a stressful winter, spring and summer for us and we are looking forward to a drama-free fall!

Books
I've mentioned my love of reading before and the recent down time meant plowing through more books. I've finished "The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo" and "The Girl Who Played With Fire" but I haven't purchased "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest" because I haven't found it in paperback and I don't want to pay for the hard cover (stingy, I know). Right now I'm reading a book my mom recommended, called "The Help." So far it's wonderful and I'm looking forward to seeing how the characters and plot develop. And I must confess, I've also spent considerable time flipping through magazines like "People" and "Us Weekly" ... I can't help it, it's a guilty pleasure.

Boys
I've always known that Michael has some wonderful friends and during the past few weeks (and months) they've really been there for him. James and Jeff and Michael have been friends for years and it's been fun to see them spend some quality time together lately. James is always offering food (his grandpa is Noah Lacona of Noah's Arc - the family can cook!) and in recent days Jeff has provided welcome distraction with video games. Jeff and Michael could spend countless hours playing Madden football, or any shoot 'em up game. Personally, I don't get it - never have. But my attitude toward video games changed dramatically over the weekend with the introduction of Guitar Hero. I think I'm addicted! I am really awful right now, but I think with some practice I could be decent. Ha.

Bicycles
A few years ago we bought really nice bikes. It happened by accident. We started shopping and quickly realized we had NO IDEA how complicated the world of bicycle buying had become. Michael and I fondly remember the days of our folks buying us bikes at Pamida or Coast-to-Coast for fifty bucks. When we started visiting local shops and saw the price tags, we almost hyperventilated! That, combined with all of this new information about frames and tires and gears and accessories had our heads spinning. Needless to say we ended up spending way more than we ever intended but justified it by telling ourselves that this purchase was part of our effort to do something fun and healthy together. That's all well and good except that the bikes haven't seen the light of day for at least a year. The good news is we did drag them out of the basement last week, dust off the cobwebs and inflate the tires. We are looking forward to some great rides this fall - let us know if you have any favorite trails!

I need to wrap this up - I've been working on this silly post off an on for seven hours ... enough already!!!

Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Food ... Drugs ... Bad Bunny!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
It's August. WHAT?!?! How did this happen? The State Fair starts in ten days, kids will soon be going back to school, football season will soon begin ... where did the summer go?

Food
By now most of you know that I love to eat and my husband loves to cook. Much of our summer has been spent outside around the grill and the smoker. Michael had both fired up Saturday night - ribs, chicken, pork shoulder, sweet corn, potato salad, coleslaw ... yum! The only thing that wasn't homemade was our desert. I picked up sugar cookies at The Gateway Market. If you haven't tried these things, you must. They're the big, fat, frosted ones that are usually packaged up, sitting by the check out lanes (of course)! I think they're made by Great Harvest. Sooooooo goooooood.

I've mentioned my obsession with "sell by" and "use by" dates on food before and I recently heard about a website called "Shelf Life Advice." I've just glanced at it but it seems pretty informative. Check it out and let me know what you think. www.shelflifeadvice.com.

Drugs
Remember when I broke out in hives last summer? Since then I've had a couple of outbreaks after using new beauty products and last Friday my face was covered with the tiny red bumps I've come to be terrified of. I was out of the prescription antihistamine from my allergist, so I spent all day popping Benadryl. By the time the ten o'clock news rolled around I felt like I was going to fall off my chair at the anchor desk! Dan Winters was fighting a sinus infection and doped up on Sudafed so we were quite the pair. Hopefully nothing too wacky came out of our mouths during the newscast!

Bad Bunny!
This spring Michael and I went on a mad planting spree and so far I haven't killed anything. Our baby tree seems to be doing well, the flowers in the planters are growing like crazy, the bushes by the side of the house are in good shape, but the lilies out front have never bloomed again after losing their original petals. I was perplexed by this until last week when I saw one of our furry friends eating dinner. Mr. Bunny was feasting on our flowers!!! Worse yet - he didn't even run off when we yelled at him! It took us running down our front steps waving our arms and hollering to get him to take off - he is a brazen little thing. Upon closer examination it is clear as to why our lilies didn't last - they've all been beheaded and stripped of their leaves!!! Do you have any tips for keeping bunnies out of the garden? I don't want to kill them - I just want them to stop eating what we've planted.

Have a great week, and tune in to the five o'clock news on Tuesday for a fantastic "Workout of the Week" - it required us to wear mouthguards.

EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

A Day Late... I'm On Fire ... Free Falling...

Hello and Happy TUESDAY, gang!

A Day Late
My apologies for posting a day late. As those of you who are regular readers know, I typically post this blog on Monday evenings. Last night I had to scoot out of here right after the six o'clock show for a workout shoot, which isn't terribly uncommon. What is uncommon is having the workout put me out of commission and unable to anchor the ten o'clock show! I was a hot, sweater, sore mess after this one. Make sure you tune in to "Workout of the Week" when you see the teases where Sonya and I put in mouthguards (probably next Tuesday). You're gonna love it!

I'm On Fire
And not in a good way. This past weekend I was literally on fire. The lighter on our gas grill is broken so we have to use matches or a fireplace lighter to get it going. Sunday I mistakenly turned ALL of knobs to HIGH before sticking my hand into the grates. Suddenly there was a giant "Whoooosh!" and flames went shooting up my arm! I was wearing a tank top and had my hair back in a ponytail so all the happened was all of the hair on my right arm got singed off, but it scared the snot out of me. All I could think was, "Thank goodness this was not a week night!" With the crazy amount of hairspray I use on nights that I work, I'm pretty sure I'd have a new hair do! Yikes.

Free Falling
Michael and I are thinking about going skydiving. Have you ever done it before? If so, what did you think of it? I've heard some people say it was one of the most exhilerating experinces of their lives and it's one of those "bucket list" things we'd like to try.

Time is getting away from me once again and I still need to write the "Workout of the Week" blog. Thanks for stopping by!

EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Double Standard... Swim Suits... Bug Bites

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
Rain, rain - go away! That's the song we'll be singing all week, as Mr. Ed says the storms will just keep coming. He calls it the "rain train." I call it depressing!

Double Standard
Also depressing - double standards. I can't tell you how many people have commented on my account of finding my first gray hair (and thanks to those of you who posted comments here)! I even received some voicemail messages here at work, one from a woman saying "gray is beautiful!" and another sharing how she's been coloring her hair since she was 20 years old. It's funny that my little story is sparking such a response and what I'm hearing from a lot of people is some version of the phrase, "Women look OLD, men look DISTINGUISHED." Even though many of us want to think that mentality isn't as much a part of our society as it once was, many aspects of our culture show that it is. Think about it - how many women do you see on tv with gray hair? Hardly any. By contrast, there are countless men on the tube who've decided against "Just for Men" and are embracing their gray. You can make the same argument when it comes to wrinkles. Crows feet and laugh lines on women = ugly, on men = character. I mean really, how many Botox or Juvedern ads do you see featuring men? Don't even get me started on liposuction, tummy tucks or boob jobs! The message sent to women everyday in America is that to age is to become somehow less valuable or insignificant and nothing could be further from the truth. I look to my mom and my mother-in-law as examples. Both are smart, successful, independent, funny, beautiful women. Neither one has had a shred of plastic surgery, both have stopped coloring their hair, and I'm pretty sure both would say family, friends, faith and a whole lot of other things are more important than smooth skin and brunette locks.


Swim Suits
All that ranting about physical appearances brings me to a funny story about trying to find a swim suit. I'm not talking about a suit you'd wear on vacation - I'm talking about a suit you'd actually swim in. I needed one for a "Workout of the Week" on Aqua Boot Camp, and I haven't owned one since I was a lifeguard fifteen years ago! I thought this mission would be an easy one. I mean, buying a one piece sports suit is nothing like the torture of trying a gazillion bikinis. For one thing - the suit is meant for being in the water so no one can really see you that well, and let's be honest - they're all pretty much the same. So the night before the shoot at the pool, I spent my dinner hour running around like a crazy lady snatching up suits. I just figured I try them all on in the morning before we had to be on location. Bad idea. I got up late the next day and was frantically pulling on one suit after another, only to discover that every, single, one was too short! Not too small ... too short! So envision this - I am doing that one-legged dressing room hop in and out of these little pieces of spandex and once I get them pulled up and my arms through the straps, I can't even stand up straight! I am panicking. Our shoot is in twenty minutes - there's no time to go shopping now - what can I do?!? I do the only thing left ... I donned the least-skimpy bikini I own and headed out the door. What a nightmare. Note to self - don't try to fool yourself into thinking you can find a swim suit in half and hour the night before you need to be wearing one - whether it's for the beach, or boot camp!

Bug Bites
Is anyone else getting eaten alive? I am covered in bug bites. I'm pretty sure most are mosquitos, but I think some other creatures have gotten at me as well. The worst - on my feet! Do you have any good tips for keeping the bugs off in the first place, or remedies for itchy bites? Please share!

I'm heading out to get some grub ... have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Family time...Gray hair...Laughter is the best medicine

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
Can you believe it's almost the middle of July? The State Fair begins one month from today and I'm already plotting my trip to the Pork Tent!

Family Time
Speaking of the fair grounds - my folks and I were there over the 4th of July weekend to take in the Good Guys car show. Have you ever been? We didn't have much of an itinerary for the four days my parents were in Des Moines and we were kicking ourselves that we put off the car show until Sunday since it was dreary and drizzly that day. We ended up with a pleasant surprise at the gate - free admission! I guess a lot of the participants had taken off that morning because of the weather, so they weren't charging people. The Moodys love a bargain so we were tickled. I had a great time wandering around looking at all the cool old rides, and the neatest part was listening to my mom and dad reminisce about the cars they and their parents had owned over the years. We saw a really nice '57 Chevy and I took a picture of my parents in front of it since that particular vehicle served as the location for my dad's proposal 43 years ago! Boy does he wish he still had that car. We had a fun, low-key weekend together before my parents started making their way west to attend my dad's 50th class reunion. I'm sure the talk about classic cars continued there!

Gray Hair
Last Thursday Sonya and I were in the bathroom getting ready for the five o'clock show when I made a horrifying discovery. A gray hair. I kept straightening my hair but this one strand refused to cooperate. It was all kinky and coarse and I finally just yanked it out of my head. Upon further inspection I realized why it was so weird. Ugh! I'm not sure how I feel about this. Both Sonya and Michael just laughed at me and said something along the lines of "Welcome to the club!" So do you have any gray hair? Do you recall finding the first one? Do you color your hair or just let it do it's thing?

Laughter - The Best Medicine
Cliches may be annoying sometimes, but the reason they're cliches is because they're true. "Laughter is the best medicine" is one that's been popping into my head a lot lately. Sometimes it can be really hard to maintain a sense of humor when it seems like everything around you is falling apart and people around you are jerks - but there really is something therapeutic about a good, long, full body laugh. My husband always manages to make me laugh. I love him for a lot of different reasons, but his sense of humor and ability to send me into hysterical, uncontrolled laughter are toward the top of the list. Within the past few weeks he's told me two stories that had me laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants. I am not exaggerating. When I was little, my cousins used to tickle me until I peed - that's how hard I laugh when I really get going. But - I digress. The point is, laughter really can change your outlook and make you feel better when things are looking bleak. If you can't work up to a genuine laugh, try starting out with a smile or even a little giggle - the other nice thing is that these outward displays are usually contagious!

Have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Wacky weekend...No Gray's Lake...Summer slipping away

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

Wacky weekend
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was a little wacky. It started with miscommunication between Michael and I about my schedule Friday evening. I was working our booth at the Arts Festival, and he thought once I was finished with that I'd be heading home. We talked on the phone as I was walking back to the station. I said, "I am drenched in sweat!" He said, "So what's your plan?" I said, "I don't have one." He said, "OK, I'll just see you at home." That's pretty straightforward, except that I thought Michael knew I had to anchor the ten and he thought I was heading home at that moment. Consequently, he was wondering what the heck happened to me until he turned on Channel 13 and saw me on the anchor desk. Oye! I wish I had planned to skip the ten - I was a hot mess for it! Saturday was fairly laid back, but it was so stinkin' hot and humid that we didn't do much. Overnight we both almost jumped out of our skins during the storm that evidently landed a lighting strike or super strong winds right on the transformer on the power pole in our back alley. Holy cow, was it loud when that thing blew up! We had some other drama after that that's not worth going into, but it all resulted in our night's sleep being interrupted so we ended up staying in bed far longer than we'd planned to on Sunday morning. When we got up we discovered two things. One - the power was still out, and two - we had some water in our basement. Grrrrrrrrr! We were without power for most of the day and then watched the MidAmerican crew replace the destroyed transformer (see the cruddy pic I took with my cell phone through our screen door). It was pretty fascinating, actually. My dad was a lineman for Nebraska Public Power so I grew up with a healthy appreciation of what these guys do when severe weather hits. Thank you for getting us back up and running!



No Gray's Lake
You'd think it would've occurred to me that Gray's Lake would've been closed since we had water in our basement, but I was so excited with how gorgeous the weather was this morning that I headed there anyway! I was so bummed when I saw all of the water and barricades and I nearly decided to just blow off my outdoor workout plans. Instead I did I run/walk through our very hilly neighborhood and I'm so glad I did. There are few things as therapeutic as fresh air, sunshine and a good sweat. Now I'm just hoping the dry weather continues throughout the rest of the week so we don't have a repeat of 2008 on our hands. Right now the experts are telling us there are some similarities, but things aren't shaping up to be as bad as they were then. Keep your fingers crossed!

Summer slipping away
I can hardly believe the 4th of July is this weekend! The past several years I've gotten almost a panicky feeling when we reach this point of the summer. I think about all of the things I want to do but haven't, and how in a few months the leaves will be falling and how shortly after that the snow will be flying! Do you have any big plans for the weekend? My folks are coming for a brief visit before they go to our home town for my dad's 50 year class reunion (weird!) so we will probably hit the Farmers' Market, do some grilling and take in some fireworks.

Right now my stomach is growling so I'm going to head home for dinner.
Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Thanks... Say what?!?... Can't see HD...

Hello and Happy Monday, gang.
What rotten weekend weather! I feel so bad for everyone involved in the Hy-Vee triathlon. I can't imagine the hard work it takes on every one's behalf - from organizers to athletes - and to have the skies open up like they did had to be enormously frustrating. The good news is, Ed says we will dry out for a few days!

Thanks
I can't adequately express how much your blog comments, emails, facebook posts and voicemails mean to me. I am rarely at a loss for words, but in this case I am. The past few months have been strange and scary and somewhat surreal for Michael and me and it's been wonderful to receive such lovely words of support and encouragement.

Say what?!?!
Last Friday Dan Winters and I were cracking up talking about the way some words and sayings in the English language are massacred. For instance, for years I said "For all intensive purposes..." instead of "For all intents and purposes...." Dan knows someone who used to think the saying was "Joe is like a bowl in a china cabinet..." I've heard some people refer to a headstone as a "hedgestone" and when I was little I thought the Lord's Prayer was "Our Father, who art in Heaven... how do you say my name..." Do you have any funny examples to share?

Can't see HD
I have a confession to make. Up until Saturday, we were unable to see the Channel 13 News in high defninition. I couldn't figure it out. I knew we had an HDTV and that we'd done all of the scanning and stuff after the switch to digital but when we turned to channel 813 there was audio, but no picture. I finally decided to ask my colleagues about this and Keith and Ed suggested that we might not have an HD receiver. Guess what? They were right! Saturday morning the Mediacom dude showed up in the pouring rain (poor guy!) and got us all fixed up. HD is cool! I am willing to share this embarrassing story with you just in case you're not getting us in high def and you don't know why. I am the most technically challenged person on the planet so I probably can't answer questions you might have, but I can help point you in the right direction.

Before I sign off ... a reminder that I'm trying to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. So far I'm at a whopping $0. Bummer. If you can spare a couple of bucks you can make a huge difference in the lives of Iowa kids. Check out this site if you want to donate...

https://www.joinmda.org/teludsmia2010/ErinKiernan/

I'm off to get dinner ... have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Exhausted!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

I am absolutely beat. I taught two classes at the Y this morning and then Sonya and I had one of the most brutal "Workout of the Week" shoots EVER. My whole body is shaking. I can hardly type. Geesh!

I hope you've all been enjoying some of the great weather we've been having. Wasn't Memorial Day weekend glorious? Michael and I spend virtually all of it working our way through a long "to do" list around our house. Back desk sanded and stained. Check. Dead roses bushes dug up and replaced with new ones. Check. Hedges trimmed. Check. Planters cleaned out and filled with plants. Check. Vegetable garden planted. Check. Flowers planted around our little shrimpy tree. Check. Weeds dug up and bushes planted along the side of the house. Check. Patio furniture cleaned and put in place. Check. Whew! There's still more to be done, but it feels good (and looks good) to get that much accomplished!

I have big news on my weird back injury but I don't think I can muster up the brain power or typing speed to fill you in right now. I'll either save it for next week or slip it into the "Workout of the Week" blog tomorrow. How's that for a tease?

Finally, I am raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association again this year. If you'd like to help out just visit this link.
https://www.joinmda.org/teludsmia2010/ErinKiernan/
I know times are tight for a lot of us right now, but even a few dollars can make a big difference. Thanks for considering making donation.

Have a fanastic week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Summer... HD ... Rear Ends

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
How about this weather? I love it. You will not hear me complaining about the heat, particularly after the wicked winter we had.

A bunch of us enjoyed the summer-like conditions Saturday afternoon and evening at Sonya's house. It was wondeful mix of ladies and we had a great time. The gathering meant that most of us weren't very productive on Sunday, but sometimes that's ok.

We had all sorts of conversations about all sorts of different things and some hilarious stories were told. Of course we were talking about our transition to high definition tv and all of the stress that preceeded it. It's so vain, but those of us who work in front of the camera were freaking out about what this meant for us. When you read articles describing how crystal clear an HD picture is and how every minute flaw on a person is exposed, it's a little unnerving. I have to admit, I haven't recorded any of our evening newscasts so I really don't know what I look like. I'm of the opinion that ignorance is bliss! I do know that all of our video looks incredible and we hope you're enjoying the change. A lot of people behind the scenes have put in countless hours of hard (and sometimes frustrating) work to make all of it happen.

Along with HD comes new makeup. We put it on with an airbrush. Who knew?!?! Michael says it's just like painting a car. As Mr. Ed likes to say, "Uh-oh ... better get Maaco!"

Women on tv get all sorts of feedback about the way they look. Many times comments and questions concern our hair. I have a confession to make. If I'm having a bad hair day I have been known to grab the scissors myself. In fact, I keep a pair in our makeup room. Last week Sonya said, "Did you get your hair cut?" I said, "Kind of..." When I see my stylist Angie this week she will just laugh at me and say, "I see you've been at it again...."

Andy Fales made a comment to me last month that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. He was asking me about one of our "Workout of the Week" shoots and then he said, "Have you ever wondered what will happen if you get injured?" I was puzzled. Fales explained, "Well you don't really monitor what you eat so if you can't workout you'll probably blow up!" Now, I will be the first to admit that I am not an avid calorie counter. I've never been one to deny myself a cheeseburger or ice cream when I feel like it but now I'm starting to think I need to be better about this. What a drag.

The opposite of this conversation is one I had with a girlfriend a few weeks ago. She commented on the jeans I was wearing and I told her the best thing about them is they were $19.99 at JC Penney (I love a bargain)! She said, "Wow. Well, your butt looks really good in them!" That's a nice thing to hear no matter who's saying it, but for some reason women are always most pleased when another women gives a compliment like this. It's probably because we are well aware of how critical we can be.

Speaking of butts - that's basically where my injury is from our karate workout. Seriously. If you watch the segment you will notice that we did a TON of different situps. I never experienced any pain during the class but the next day my lower back was really hurting. After the work that evening I placed my hand on my lower back and it felt like the lowest part of my backbone was sticking out. Michael took a look and said, "Oh my gosh! What did you do?!?!" It honestly looks like I am growing a tail. It's weird. I go back to the doctor this Friday and I'll be interested to hear what he thinks should happen next.

Right now I am going to head home for dinner. Maybe I'll start that whole food-rationing business tonight. Yeah, right!

Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

PS .... Tune in Wednesday at 6 for a great "13 Cares" follow up report. Sgt. Kyle Dykstra is home on leave from Afghanistan and we're talking to him about his efforts to collect school supplies for kids there.

Ouch!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

I hope your weekend was better than mine. I hurt myself last week and spent large portions of Saturday and Sunday with the heating pad and ibuprofen. I missed my nephew's 10th birthday party and a good friend's graduation celebration and didn't get a speck of yard work done.

I think I may've done this to myself during a "Workout of the Week" shoot. It's a very strange injury - one that finally took me to the doctor on Friday. When he looked at it he said, "Wow. I don't know what that is - never seen anything like it!" I'm supposed to keep popping over the counter pain killers and go back to see him in a few weeks if this isn't better. I did teach two classes at the Y this morning - it was uncomfortable, but not horrific. Someone close to me said, "Maybe you need to realize you are 37 years old and you can't do the things you used to..." to which I snapped, "I'm thirty SIX!" Ugh.

Tune in tomorrow at five to see the workout that I suspect contributed to my injury - and see if you can guess what part of my body hurts.

Thanks for stopping by!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Power of Sound... Pets ... Plants

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
Is this weather the pits or what?!? I could've stayed in bed all day today - how 'bout you?

Power of Sound
Even though I don't like the cool temps, wind and rain ... I think the sound of raindrops is so soothing. Great for napping. The power of sound is pretty amazing. Some people have studied it to the extent that they've developed "Top 10" lists of the most addictive sounds in the world! Take a look at this list and see what you think...

Top 10 Non-branded sounds:
1. Baby giggle
2. Vibrating phone
3. ATM / cash register
4. "Star Spangled Banner"
5. Sizzling steak
6. 'Hail to the Chief'
7. Cigarette light and inhale
8. "Wedding March"
9. "Wish Upon a Star"
10. Late Night with David Letterman Theme


Pets
Look no further than your pets to see the power of sound in action. Michael and I have realized we've created a monster in Marley when it comes to treats. Every time we walk into the kitchen she appears, making a high-pitched whining noise. It used to be that she only did this when we'd grab the treat bag but now it's any time we enter this room in the house. If she hears water running, the back door opening, ice cubes clinking ... it's all acting as an audio cue for her to come running for treats. This is also the case with the can opener, because she thinks it means tuna. Even if we let her smell the soup or coffee or whatever else we're opening, she goes crazy over the sound of the can opener. All of this is also reinforcing the power of visuals, as we've always turned to the squirt bottle as a means of discipline. We're grabbing it more and more often in an effort to quell the whining and Marley takes off running like her tail is on fire when she sees that thing.

Plants
I may spoil my cat rotten, but I've never done very well with plants. There is only one house plant I've managed to keep alive over the years - everything else has kicked the bucket. Things outside are even worse. I've managed to kill just about every green thing I've ever put in the ground. There is one thing I grow really well ... dandelions. I have some going now that could be entered at the Iowa State Fair this summer. They are huge! If those of you who are green thumbs have any tips regarding what to plant that is fairly indestructible, and how to best keep weeds at bay, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Whew!

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
I don't know about you, but I am NOT ready for the start of another week. My weekend flew by and I didn't accomplish nearly what I wanted to. What's new?!?

My Saturday started with a workout date. Sonya and I decided to start doing kettle bell training on a regular basis after our segment with personal trainer Doug VanWyk. We were joined by three other women (including Doug's wife) - all of whom made this look far easier than it is. By the time our hour was up I was dead. I can't get over how hard this stuff is! But I'm really enjoying trying new things and having someone push me to do things I would otherwise never do. If you don't watch "Workout of the Week" and you missed the kettle bell segment - check it out under the "As Seen On 13" tab on our website.

Saturday afternoon Michael and I watched the Kentucky Derby with Sonya and her husband. What a race! It was so fun to have TWO Iowa ties on the track. We were all screaming our heads off as Paddy O'Prado made his move. I know some people were disappointed that he didn't win, but coming in third is still thrilling. The Derby is definitely something we'd like to see in person someday.

Saturday night was the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence fundraiser. I had the pleasure of hosting with Channel 8's Stacey Horst and as always the "It's About Time" gala was a wonderful event. It was also fun because Michael and I were joined by Courtney Greene and her husband, Franklin. That means I was with three people I adore who all make me laugh so hard my stomach hurts the next day. Once the party wrapped up we made our way back to our house to watch the "Mayweather-Mosley" fight. I think it's fair to say we were disappointed. We were expecting a more even matchup and in the second round it looked like it was one but then Mayweather just dominated. Seeing a main event - particularly in Vegas - is also on the bucket list.

Sunday can be summed up this way... cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning. Oh yeah - I also managed to lock myself out of the house. Ugh. So I was stuck outside wearing clothes no one should be seen in, filthy dirty ... and then it started raining. Fabulous. I waited out the storm on our front porch and then walked to pick up a spare key. Needless to say - I was not a happy camper.

Things to watch on Channel 13 this week: Aaron Brilbeck's ride along with Des Moines Police tonight at 10. Workout of the Week (roller derby!) Tuesday at 5. My story on living with cancer Tuesday at 10. A 13 Cares report on the Best Buddies program Wednesday at 6. Sonya's fascinating series on the Fort Madison prison starting Wednesday at 10.

Thanks for stopping by ... have a great week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Birthdays... Bonding ... Big Meals

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
What a whirlwind of a weekend ... I have a ton of interviews to look through and scripts to write so I'll hit the highlights quickly.

Birthdays

Is this the most precious thing you've ever seen, or what? On Saturday we were celebrating our niece Ella's first birthday. It was a hoot. There's nothing like watching little ones tear through wrapping paper and play with new toys.


The day also included celebrating big sister Olivia's birthday ... she's turning three and loves to tell you all about it. You may not be able to tell in this picture, but her t-shirt reads "Angel with an Attitude" which is absolutely perfect. One of Olivia's favorite gifts was a Sesame Street Store that opens and closes and comes with little plastic things like a cash register, a refrigerator, Big Bird, Elmo ... you get the idea. Ella was equally fascinated with this toy and kept crawling over to where Olivia was playing with it. At that point Olivia would start shaking her head back and forth, saying, "No, no, no..." wrapping her arms around the store and picking up the entire setup and moving it elsewhere. This scene played out several times before Olivia decided to set up shop on the couch where Ella couldn't reach her. Priceless.


Ella is very laid back and never really got worked up about anything ... except her cake. Two years ago Olivia was COVERED in cake. I mean COVERED - from head to toe. Ella was not having it, as you can see in this picture of my brother in-law Matt trying to feed her some. It's fun to watch their little personalities evolve.

Bonding
Lynn organized a girls' night Saturday. In the past we've often done dinner and drinks and dancing but this time around we decided to be homebodies. Our group ended up being tiny, but it was a really nice time. One of the highlights was Jenny Murphy stopping by. She's got to be one of the funniest people I know. She had us laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants. Even the text messages she was sending me later in the evening were hilarious. Good company ... good times. The only thing better than seeing the gals was seeing Lynn's little man, Jack. He is getting so big and he is the best baby. When he smiles he has huge dimples and I think he looks exactly like his mama. Sweet boy.

Big Meals
Sunday's dreary, cool weather put the brakes on the plans Michael and I had to tackle more outdoor projects (darn!) so we ended up brunching instead. Our outing took us to Centro where we ate so much I thought I might explode. I ordered the "Crab Cake Benedict" which was as big as my head and Michael got the "Kill Bill Tenderloin" which is described as "The five-pointed palm exploding heart sandwich." This thing was absolutely ginormous and had bacon, ham, pepper jack cheese and a fried egg on top of the tenderloin. Sadly, between the two of us we polished off nearly every last bite. So bad ... but so good! Needless to say, I did not fill out my food diary yesterday!!!

I'm out of time ... thanks for last week's comments. Gymrat - the only reason I survived the cat bath is because she only has her back claws! Munchkin - Marley was ticked off at me for the duration of the weekend and I think I've seen the calendar picture you're talking about. And Jill - I almost always wear a ball cap when I'm working out - I have crazy bedhead and it's the easiest way to cover it up when I hit the gym!

Have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

A little work... A little play ... And more than one way to bathe a cat

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
I hope you all had a chance to get out and enjoy the lovely weather we had over the weekend - wasn't it beautiful?

A little work
Michael and I (mostly Michael) spent the weekend working around the house. I did my customary cleaning of toilets and floors and Michael was tackling some outdoor projects. I guess you could say I was his assistant. Michael is always far more pragmatic than I am regarding how difficult and time consuming these endeavors will be. I always have a list a mile long that I think is reasonable, and he's always saying, "Yeah, right." Unfortunately, he is always right (on this particular matter).

Project number one on Sunday - laying some pavers for our garbage cans and recycle bin. Michael was in the yard all day Saturday running a tiller and raking the soil, trying to even things out before we have some new sod put down. For years it's driven us crazy that our trash bins sit on a big sloping pile of dirt and they're constantly being tipped over. This was our solution.

It turned out great, but I had no idea how labor intensive this would be. I mean seriously - it's a very small space and it's not like it needs to be perfect - it's for trash bins!!! Oh well - at least that's another thing checked off the "to do" list.

Next, we tackled tree planting. We used to have this really cool weeping Mulberry tree in front of our house. Last year we noticed one entire side of it wasn't filling in with foliage. At first we attributed it to the fact that that side of the tree was in the shade all the time. Then I noticed that the trunk wasn't looking so good. I pushed on it and my entire hand went into it ... not good. Our tree was dead. Saturday Michael found a replacement, but he looks so shrimpy!

And again, this took a lot more time and effort than I ever would've guessed. All I have to say is I'm glad I was the assistant. Michael is so sore from digging in the dirt he can hardly move today. All I did was stand around a say, "It's too far to the left!" and "It's leaning toward the house!" I guess I helped fill in the hole, but I didn't really knock myself out.

A little play
My playtime this weekend was getting together with my dear friend Courtney Greene for pedicures. We haven't seen each other for ages and it was wonderful to relax, chat, drink some wine and of course - get our toes done! I highly recommend the Spa at West Glen. Emily and Pam are amazing technicians and every time one of them has given me a pedicure it's lasted forever - far better than the sloppy job I do at home!

More than one way to bathe a cat
Finally, we had some drama with Marley this weekend. This cat is high maintenance as it is, but she pulled an entirely new trick Saturday night. We were watching tv after dinner and wondering where she was, because she always jumps up on the couch for nightly pampering. When she finally showed up, she was wet! At first I thought she'd been in the bathtub drinking out of the faucet but hours later she was still damp. Michael finally said, "Does she stink?" So I smelled her. It was then I realized that she'd somehow gotten into the olive oil mixture we use for dipping bread. So, her our cat is, all greasy and smelling like garlic and basil! Yuck! We decided to leave it alone Saturday night in the hopes that she would clean herself off. She worked at it - but to now avail. Sunday night I realized I was going to have to give Marley a bath... the second of her life. The first was right after I got her when the vet informed me that she had mites. That time my mom and I took her into the shower and it was UGLY. This time I opted for the kitchen sink. You can tell by the look of disgust on her face just how well the bath went over...

... and how she looked kind of like a drowned rat. I'm happy to report that Marley looks much better today, but now she smells like a combination of garlic and dish soap. Oye!


Have a great week, and thanks for reading!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

A great weekend

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
Isn't the weather fantastic?!? It's amazing what warmer temperatures and sunshine can do for your mood.

I really don't have much to report from the weekend. It was filled with low-key time spent with friends. Michael and I were hanging out with Sonya and her husband for a significant part of it - they have a wonderful huge deck and we enjoyed sitting and talking and grilling. We also got acquainted with the newest member of their family. I promised a photo of him a few weeks ago ... meet Spot!



Sunday afternoon I helped host a fun event with Bill Riley, Jr. Pure Fashion is a great organziation for young women and the fashion show is always a blast - particularly if you love clothes the way I do! If you know a young lady who might enjoy the program check out www.purefashion.com.

There are some other events coming up, too. This Friday is Take Back The Night. This year the event is happening at Des Moines University. Doors open at 5:30 and we start the program at 6. New this year in conjunction with National Crime Victims' Awareness Week is the 5k for 5 Charities on Saturday. For more information www.5kfor5charities.com. On May 1st the Iowa Coaltion Against Domestic Violence hosts its annual "It's About Time" gala. www.icadv.org.

That's all for now - have a wonderful week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Going home is weird ... and nauseating

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!
I am happy to be back at work and getting back in the swing of things after a rotten week.

Last Monday I let you know that I was headed back to Nebraska for the funeral of the mother of one of my best friends. I am so glad I was there to spend time with Brenda, her family and other old friends but being back in Chadron was weird. I haven't been there for nearly three years - since my folks retired to Arizona. There just hasn't been a reason to go home. My grandparents are all gone, my parents aren't there, none of my closest friends live there ... you get the idea. I felt so disoriented, and at times - downright uncomfortable. I snagged a flight early Tuesday morning and Brenda picked me up at the airport (yes - there is actually an airport in Chadron). With her daughter Myka in the minivan with us we ran a few errands before going to Brenda's mom's house. We did some work around the yard and ate lunch and then I was falling into a coma thanks to my much earlier than normal wakeup time. Brenda gave me the keys to the minivan and told me to go take a nap and I automatically started driving to my parents' house! I was halfway there before I remembered they don't live there anymore and I needed to be going to the Best Western instead! Strange.

Even more strange was the next day, when my friend Kim and I took a little drive through our old neighborhood. Kimi and I have literally known each other our entire lives. We grew up across the street from each other. We kept remarking how different everything seemed to us. Each of our childhood homes is physically different - mostly because different people live there now. But there are other changes that aren't physical - they're a matter of perspective. Our yards seem small now and we were wondering how we managed to build the sprawling forts we did, or why it seemed to take forever to mow the lawn back then. The circle drive with grass in the center where we played every day as kids that once seemed as big as a football field now looks tiny. The Henkens' family driveway that we would dare each other to ride down on our bikes and wagons because we thought it was the steepest thing ever now seems pretty average. It's amazing what a few years do to your point of view.

You have to admit, there are some things that happen in small towns that outsiders just can't appreciate. I could rattle off a number of examples - but here is the best one from my trip home. Thursday morning a woman from the airline called me to let me know my flight from Chadron to Denver had been cancelled. I told her it was no big deal, that she could just put me on the afternoon flight. "No can do," she said, "It's sold out." Seriously?!? How many people need to go from Chadron to Denver on a Thursday? Anyway, this nice lady Pam proceeded to tell me that if I could get to one of the neighboring towns that the airline services, they had open seats on those flights. "That's wonderful," I told her, "but I don't have a car." It's not as if there are any public transportation options in northwest Nebraska! "Can I call you back?" "Sure," I said. About ten minutes later my phone rang. "Hi Erin, it's Pam. If you can get to the airport in the next twenty minutes we can get you to Alliance so you'll still make it to Denver in time to catch your flight to Des Moines." Fantastic! Here's the kicker. When Brenda's little brother Ben drops me off at the airport we realize Pam is not driving me in an airline vehicle. She is driving me to a town an hour away in HER OWN CAR. Priceless. It was an early and anxiety filled morning, but Pam got me where I needed to be. God bless her.

Finally - going home made me nauseous. Not because of all of these weird feelings, I was having about how things have changed, but because I was really sick. Brenda's daughter Myka had the stomach flu the weekend before I arrived and her big brother Brady got it next. By Wednesday night, Brenda's husband Mark was sick as a dog. Then Thursday morning Brenda called me to say she was sorry, but she couldn't take me to the airport because she was now hugging the toilet! I thought I had escaped unscathed, but Friday morning the bug bit me and it hurt. I haven't been that sick in years, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Thankfully, my husband babied me all day long and into the night - he is a good man. I've also lost five pounds.

That's it for now ... please excuse my misspellings and bad grammar ... I am beat!
Have a great week,
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Surrounded ... Time Warp ... Saying Goodbye

Hello and Happy Monday, gang!

Surrounded
I spent last week surrounded by sick people. Michael was coughing and sneezing and feverish and miserable. Sonya returned from her vacation with a wicked cold. Photojournalist James was fighting the same crud he'd had for more than a week. So I suppose it was inevitable. I am sick. It stinks. I was so proud of myself for avoiding H1N1 and the regular flu, not to mention all the colds that made their way through the newsroom this winter and now I have to be miserable when it's sunny and 70 outside?!?! Not fair.

Time Warp
Last week I read an article in Entertainment Weekly about the movie "Pretty Woman" being released twenty years ago. I thought, "That's impossible!!!" I remember seeing it in theaters with my girlfriends ... all of us swooning over Richard Gere and dying to look like Julia Roberts. We all had huge mall hair with the enormous bangs and we all decided right then and there to start growing them out so as to imitate Julia's long, flowing auburn locks. Here is a picture of Kim, Brenda and me in that general time period. Scary, isn't it? I'm surprised we were able to stand that close to each other without our Aqua Net dos sticking together! Good times, good times.



Saying Goodbye
Kim and Brenda were two of my closest friends growing up in good ol' Chadron, and that's why I'll be gone for a few days this week. Brenda's mom died over the weekend and I'm going home for her funeral. Pat was a great lady. She had a knack for putting people at ease and always opened her home to her kids' friends. Brenda and I got to laughing on the phone last night talking about our cooking adventures. We were always whipping something up and Pat never cared if we took over her kitchen and turned it into a disaster area. I also talked to my own mother last night. She said when she was going through my Grandma Susan's things after she died, she found a hand-written note from Pat. It was for spinach salad. Pat worked in the kitchen at the assisted living home and my grandma kept telling her how much she liked the spinach salad. Writing down that recipe is classic Pat - always thinking of others. This is the second time in the last few months that a childhood friend of mine has lost her mother and it has me rattled. Time marches on ...

Have a wonderful week,
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com