Every November I tell myself that I’m going to chill out this year.  I’m just going to enjoy Christmas and not worry about cookies, gifts, wrapping, parties..and on and on and on.

Well… it’s December 14th and I’ve already blown that resolution!  I feel so behind.  I know it’ll all get done.. but to use a phrase from my waitresses  days, “I’M IN THE WEEDS”!

On top of all of the shopping, wrapping, baking… ERRR…. Scratch the BAKING STUFF… who are we kidding!?

But I’m in charge of my kindergartener’s Christmas party this Friday and I haven’t even started planning. 

AND… somewhere along the way I decided December would be a great time to re-decorate my bedroom.  No big deal!  A little paint.  A new comforter.  Yeah… well… let’s just say I underestimated this “project”.

I went out-of-town this weekend to see my mom in Tennessee.

Despite spending 8-hours in a car with a 5 and 2-year-old, it was a great time

It was a great time… UNTIL I GOT HOME!

My 10-month old Golden Retriever destroyed my house while I was gone.  I think he was trying to dig an escape route because he dug a hole from my Laundry room  to the garage.  Drywall, insulation.. gone!

Okay.  Fine.  I love this dog.  He’s a great dog.  It stunk.. but it’s nothing that can’t be repaired…

That was my attitude until I went OUTSIDE!

I go to turn on the Christmas lights that Kyle spent all Friday night working on.  Now mind you.. I’ve been nagging him for years to hang exterior lights.  Finally, he takes the time and does it.  We even drove the kids around in the car that night to look at them.  Nothing crazy, just lights on all of the bushes.

WELL…. Apparently Rudy didn’t like them!

He chewed thru almost ALL of them.  When I plugged them in last night, only two trees lit up.  

Now I’m the one saying GRRRRRRRRR!

He’s lucky he’s cute or I might have sent him packing for the holidays.

WOW.  Were people at your work, in your neighborhood or at school talking about Tiger Woods non-stop today?

It’s none of our business and there are far bigger things going on in the world (30-thousand troops being sent in to fight a war we may not win, unemployment, a deficit our grandchildren won’t be able to pay off) and yet THIS is was my newsroom (and shamefully  me and my girlfriends) were buzzing about today.

The thing that struck me most wasn’t the affair.  Let’s face it.. he’s a celebrity who has gorgeous women throwing themselves at him.. and a lot of free time.

But what amazed me…. is the divide in my newsroom and for that matter, in my own home.

The men were defending Tiger, saying “Hey, he’s only human.”

And the women were appalled, questioning every mans faithfulness, including their fathers, brothers and friends and ready to take a golf club to Tiger themselves.

The sad reality is too many of us KNOW someone who’s been through the same thing, men AND WOMEN who’ve strayed and it’s a little sad.  This just so happens to be a sports hero.

OKAY.. Enough of that!

Are any of you a Twightlight fan?  I really didn’t get it last week when people were waiting in line for hours at midnight for the sequel.  But this weekend my husband and I watched it and even though the acting wasn’t great, the cinematography was a bit lame and the writing was average…. I LIKED IT!  I totally get why 15-year old girls are going crazy.  It’s sort of the opposite of the Tiger Woods drama.  This is a guy (ok… a vampire) who adores this girl so much.. he’d kill to protect her. 

I said that to the guys in our newsroom tonight.. and one reporter (who shall remain nameless) says.. man you think “Till Death Do Us Part” is bad.. try staying with someone for ETERNITY! 

And that’s the difference between men and women!    I rest my case.

First… I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

I didn’t have to cook, so I had a great holiday! 

Actually, it was a nice day with my family.  My boys LOVE going out to my dads in Indiana.  What kids wouldn’t?!  Forget turkey and stuffing….All you can eat sugar and junk food courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa P.

Okay.. now on to the talk of my newsroom.  Are you guys buzzing about Tiger Woods?!

AN AFFAIR?  WHAT??  CAN IT BE?

I honestly thought the car wreck looked sketch from the get go.  I figured alcohol was involved BUT AN AFFAIR?

Wow.  I hope not.  I’ve never been a big Tiger fan.  I don’t thinks he’s a gracious loser but either way.. have you seen his wife?!

IF this is true?  What’s wrong with these guys.  First Kobe now this!

WHAT DO YOU THINK??  I’ll be interested to hear if the guys have the same take as the gals.

I’m so looking forward to tomorrow.

1)  Because I’m thankful to get to spend time with my family

2) Because I have the day off of work

3) BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE TO COOK THIS YEAR!

Actually, I think everyone in my family is grateful for that.

For those of you who have followed my blog since last year, you may remember how much I was fretting over cooking my first Turkey, last year.   You would have thought that I was performing brain surgery.  I was so nervous.  It’s hard enough for me to make a spaghetti dinner, let alone a  THANKSGIVING FEAST (sadly, I’m not really exaggerating)!

So, this year, I decided to make it easy on myself (and Kyle and the kids) and just go out to my dads.  My step-mother is a great cook.  She’s one of those cooks I love to hate    She probably doesn’t even need a recipe for the Turkey and all of the fixin’s anymore.  She whips it up.  It’s all done at the same time.. and all the while she’s sitting at the table with us, as if it was catered in.

My contribution is bringing a desert for the kids.  CUPCAKES!  I can do CUPCAKES!  Stick one of those sugary Turkey decorations on the top… THEY’LL LOVE IT!  DONE!

And that’s if I get ambitious.  Heck.. I may be stopping into Kroger on the way home.. and picking something up.  IT’S KIDS.. THEY’LL NEVER KNOW OR CARE! 

Anyway, I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving.   If you’re cooking, good luck.  If you’re hanging out with family, enjoy.  And if you’re going out celebrating, be safe!  Don’t become part of the news

OH!  I’ll be on Fountain Square on Friday night hosting the Tree Lighting.  The fun starts at 6:30.  Come say hello!

Forget Politics and crime!

Tonight… I’m talkin’ fashion.   

What’s with the boot fetish?

Ladies have you noticed?  And guys.. WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

It’s the first week of cool weather and so I pulled out my boots.  I’m telling you.. you’d think I was sportin’ a bathing suit in the newsroom.    Even one of our editors who never says a peep to me, except for maybe HI, was like.. “Nice Boots.”

I had my producer take a picture with his phone.. just to show you what I’m talking about…

SPORTIN' THE BOOTS

See.. they’re nothing exciting… just black boots. 

And I should mention, it’s not like I have long legs.  I never used to wear boots because I thought they made me look short (scratch that.. short-ER)  LOL.

But my fashion tip of the week ladies…  if you have boots, wear them..

if you don’t have them.. ask Santa for a pair.

What do you think guys??  Enlighten me!

I had a great weekend… until about 7pm last night!

WHAT HAPPENED BENGALS?!

Wow!  That was a heart breaker!   Can we beat Cleveland??  Boy I HOPE SO!  Either way, I’ll  be in the stands this Sunday rooting the Bengals on.

Meantime, I’m just thrilled that I’m NOT COOKING for Thanksgiving this year.  I pulled it off last year but that was too much pressure!  Instead I’ll be heading to my dads with my three boys for a stress free meal.

Okay… tomorrow… lets talk boots!  I’ll explain tomorrow.    

I remember the days when I would go out 3, 4, 5 times a week. 

It wasn’t like I didn’t have anything going on.  I had school, work and some times even a second job!  But after work or school, we went out.  A LOT! 

OH TO BE YOUNG AGAIN!

Last night I went out after work.  It was a “school night” but I felt like being a rebel and going out and hanging out with some friends.  

OMG!  I barely made it to the 6pm news let alone the 11pm.  Thank goodness we had a short show tonight (thanks to the extended sports show on Friday nights) and I get to go home and go to bed early. 

GOOD GRIEF!  How pathetic is that.  ONE NIGHT of going out and staying up late.. and on a Friday night I’m racing home to put on my pajamas and crawl (and I do mean crawl) into bed.

Boy how things have changed!

I’ll try to recoup this weekend and see you on Monday. 

WHERE HAS THE WEEK GONE!

I swear.. It was noon today before I realized it was Wednesday.  All morning long I was thinking it was Tuesday.  Thank goodness I figured it out!  I had to host an event tonight.  That would have been really bad.

Maybe it was the fact that after getting less than 5-hours of sleep, my two-year old wakes me up to a complete tantrum.  All I did was go in and get him when he woke up.  But apparently he wanted my husband to get him.. and he was having a full meltdown!  When will this end!?  I’m thinking buddy, it’s 6:45 am.. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THIS BAD?! 

Anyway.. back to tonight’s event.

I was the moderator at the Alumni Lecture Series at NKU.  Governor Mike Huckabee and Congressman Harold Ford Junior were debating.

Here’s the behind the scenes scoop.  I know we see these politicians on TV preaching their views.. and we love or hate them.

But in person.. they’re usually very friendly, smart and personable.  The best part.. yes the debate may get spirited  but it’s a good discussion with valid points.

I’ve hosted this even for the last three years.. last year was Dee Dee Myers and Carl Rove..

The year before that.. Al Franken and Tucker Carlson.  Aside from thinking Tucker needed to lose the tie, they all were typically very funny and candid and I could agree with many viewpoints despite their political side.

So, another great night tonight.. and I’m calling it right now.. both of them will be back in the Presidential race… in the next 10-years.

PS… Both think Sarah Palin still has a very big political future despite stepping down as governor. 

See you at 11

So this morning, I had one of our photographers stop by my house to shoot a promotion for a story we’re doing on Tuesday night.

I you have a child who struggles with their weight… you’ll want to see this story.  There’s a great program at Children’s that’s really making a difference with overweight kids.

Anyway, they needed me to stage something with my boys.

The only problem was, I had about 10-minutes to pull it together.  I just picked Connor up from Kindergarten and had to race home and meet this photographer.

I was fine… but my boys were like, “WHAT’S THIS?!  We want to play!” 

So, I say, “Look.  If you guys are on your best behavior, I’ll take you to the McDonald’s play land.”

WHAT A HYPOCRITE!?  Here I am doing a story on Childhood Obesity.. and I bribe my kids with fattening, greasy food. 

I felt bad for about a second.. but hey… IT WORKED.  Mission accomplished!

Have a great weekend. 

Jack and I are hosting a charity event for the Ronald McDonald House down at the Hyatt on Saturday night.  It should be a lot of fun for a great cause.

See you on Monday!