In the Flesh!

Another highlight from the night -- I got to meet one of my co-workers in person, for the first time!  Scott Stiller is always up in Sky 4 in the morning - so I only talk to him on the phone or in the IFB, and until Saturday, had not ever actually MET him.  It was a pleasure. And I'm sure I sounded like SUCH A VIEWER when I said to him "You don't look that TALL on TV!"

Bust a Cap in your...

Saturday night, my co-worker, Melanie, had a little housewarming get-together. We warmed that house up all right! Aaahahaha. Gretchen went as my wingman. We had a blast, which is the thing about when we get together. The blast part is a given.  The girl cracks me up because she immediately sees things like this as an opportunity: So, I am about to throw the cap from my drink in the trash can.  I pull it out of my back pocket, and in that moment, Gretchen and I lock eyes, share a moment in the same time and space and we literally say at the same time "Cap in my A**!".  This was, of course, followed by a couple of digital pictures of my hindside, taken reluctantly, and posted on this blog equally as reluctantly.  You should have seen the other people at the party in the kitchen looking at us like we were crazy!! Ahahahaha... it was classic a classic Gretchen/Dana moment.  Much like "poor man's hummer" and "white trash."  Classic, I tell you.  So, because the joke made my night, you can see a picture of me from behind.  Consider this picture a collector's item, I don't let many cameras get me from behind!  See - I had a cap in my A**!"

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail...

Yes, I am just enough of a loser to take my dog to Petco just to get his picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Before you start going on and on about how scary the bunny is... you should know, that's really John, he was Brokaw's trainer! It was really hard for me to take him seriously when he was giving me dog advice from underneath his wiskers!

But seriously, Easter Bunnies really are kind of scary. They're not up there with clowns, but they are borderline.

It was so nice outside when I walked the dog this morning, I almost did a cartwheel.  This afternoon, when I woke up, the birds were chirping. Oh yeah BABY! Spring got the memo.

Speaking of Brokaw, his fame continues go grow to new levels: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/andrewsblog/index.html

Andrew, my morning anchor, gave Brokaw a shout out on his blog.  Brokaw and the peeps at WTAE are pals.  One of his favorites is my director, Lee, even though she wants to take him for a walk on the Parkway East.

And, this is a reason to add to your list of why you should always have a camera... As I was leaving work this morning, I saw something disturbing.  A pile of torsos. Yeah, that's right, torsos. I guess there was some sort of CPR training today.  Be that as it may, I was a little startled as I made my way through the lobby to my car...

In other news... I am in countdown mode.  You know it's bad when you select a gallon of milk based because it's expiration date is really close to the start of your upcoming vacation.  That's where I'm at people. My milk is good until April 5th, and that's perfect, since I leave April 6th! (the milk will never last that long the way I drink milk, but still... the date means it's not too far away)

Finally, I would not be a good TV News producer if I didn't leave you with a tease... next time... my spiritual enlightenment about myspace.

Quick Update

--Sunday's first service at Northway Oakland was amazing. It was packed. I am excited to see this new community come together.

--Saturday night, as I was meeting my friend Sarah out for St. Patrick's Day, she leans in my ear and whispers, "Just so you know, Mike just proposed." Just like that. Just like it's not a big deal.  Someone, please explain to Sarah that an impending marriage, in and of itself, is a big deal! Congratulations you guys!

--Spring is officially here. 8:07 tonight was the equinox thing. Not sure if I spelled that correctly, whatever. It's here, that's the important thing. I took B-dawg out for a walk on the town to celebrate.  Surely, in an hour, he will be curled up on my clean towel while I take a shower.  I love this guy.

 

Gratitude

Tomorrow, my church is launching a new church plant.  All of the work, the prayers, the vision... we will see what God has been planning, when it opens tomorrow morning.

There is a song that has given me peace over the years, whenever I am starting something new.

It's called "Gratitude" by Nichole Nordeman.  There are a few songs that I never get sick of, this is one of them.  And this is my prayer as we start this new journey called Northway Oakland.

Gratitude

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view
If no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessd beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace ...

But, Jesus, would You please ... 

Shhhh....

I'm blogging at work. Believe it or not, this is my first time. (blushing) Here are my random, tired ramblings...

I spent last week "in the light" working the day shift. It was nice while it lasted and I learned new things at work, which is always a plus, but I am happy to be back to my "new normal."  Sleeping in the dark though, nothing beats it, let me just tell you.

So, check this out, my new addiction, the Today Show now has a blog: http://allday.msnbc.msn.com

It's neat. Lots of behind the scenes/this is how we work stuff.  Some of it makes me jealous (the 23 year olds that work on the Today Show - it's so not fair, will I ever get there?) It seems like a lot of the producers just started there right out of college. Ouch. I can't turn back time, you know?

I can already tell I'm going to get Heather Millsed out.  Just like I got Jennifer Hudsoned out. One thing about Heather though, she was totally wearing my "reading is sexy" t-shirt on GMA today, and that, well, rocks.

Today it's going to be 70. I am so taking little B-man to the dog park when I get up this afternoon. Then, Saturday, it's going to snow.  I think I am going to have to make a road trip, I'm running from the snow.  I switched my closet over to "spring" this weekend. And I'm not wearing socks today. When I switch over to not wearing socks, I don't like to switch back.  Snow and no socks obviously don't mix, so see? I have to hit the road.  I hate socks. Except the super fluffy ones they started making a couple of years ago, I don't mind those, but not socks AND shoes. geez.

Take a LOOK at this!

I am going to go ahead and come clean.  I'm going to put this out there. In "public."  I think Katie Couric made a mistake by going to CBS.  While I admire the attempts to "break new ground" in the evening news race, She and CBS really haven't done it.  I say that realizing that their goal was virtually impossible.  All 3 of the networks' evening newscasts are losing thousands of viewers, every day.  I don't want to bore you with TV News insider talk, but I did see this during my usual Saturday morning sweep of TV News blogs, and I couldn't help myself (see pics below).  I will always love Katie.  Even though she made a mistake.  Even though she's a liberal.  She inspired me when I was a "tween." Ha! And she totally stole my glasses.

My Baby is Growing Up

My baby nephew starts playing baseball today!  I can't believe how fast Brayden is growing up.  It's joyful yet sad at the same time.  I really wish I could be there today to see him in his little uniform. Awww.  Here's a recent picture of my little man: