Happy Sunday

Have you noticed we’ve been doing the news now on Sunday nights?

It’s our new Olympic Schedule.  So that means I’ll be with you every weekend through the Olympics and then for the WEBN fireworks on Labor Day weekend. 

It’s so interesting that when you only have 1 day off a week, you really figure out how to make the most of it.

My hubby and I had such a wonderful low key Saturday which is exactly what I needed.

We started off with a fun little Saturday morning breakfast at home.  Eggs and toast.  Then we hopped in the car and zipped off to the outlets in Jeffersonville.  I picked up a few little gifts there.  I loved just strolling through the shops and browsing.  Ahhh! 

We never get to do that.  Just walk around and relax.  We weren’t on any sort of time schedule so it was a really nice treat. 

Then we drove to Easton in Columbus.  I think I’ve told you how we’ve been furniture shopping for months now?  Well, we spent some time at Easton looking for a little sectional for our little family room and it looks like we finally found one! 

Our family room is so tiny that it’s been a real challenge trying to find anything that would fit in the room and still be comfy!  But we are thrilled we finally found something.  Afterwards, we stopped into the book store there and browsed the magazine section before grabbing a coffee.  Yes, I know I mentioned in my previous post that I am giving up coffee.  But I’ve decided to wait until after the weekend to do that.  Ha!  

In anticipation of giving up caffeine, I decided to drink up as much as possible this weekend.  Probably not a good idea.

So we found a sectional, enjoyed a perfect sunny Saturday and just had a chance to unwind.  It was exactly what I needed.  Hope you did the same.  I’ll see you tonight on the Late Late News.

Sandra   

Caffeine Free

Are you addicted to caffeine?  It’s funny I ask you that as I’m sitting here sipping my non-fat extra hot Starbucks Latte. 

I have been living off caffeinated beverages like crazy this past week since the Olympics began.  Don’t get me wrong, I drank tons of caffeine before too but just not as much.

I think on average I’d have two or three cups of coffee a day.  Now it’s probably more like four or five.  I know it’s not good for me.  So I’ve decided (for the billionth time) that I am going to say adios caffeine!  At least I’m going to give it the good old college try.  I might try as early as this weekend, but definitely by Monday for sure.  I know what you’re thinking…not a good time to give it up, right?  But you know what they say, there’s no better time than the present.  So I’ll try and let you know how it goes.  I know I may have some withdrawal symptoms early on, like headaches etc.  But I guess you just have to suffer through all that initially to reap the benefits.  This should be interesting.

Sandra

Cookie Monster

It’s 12:30 in the morning and I am sitting at my desk glued to this Olympics coverage.  Wow!  Have you been watching as much as we have?

It’s so exciting.  There have been a number of nail biters.  I can’t (like so many of you) get enough of Michael Phelps.  Holy Cow!

I am so psyched to root for Team USA.  The excitement is truly infectious.  But if you’ve been watching us then you know how LATE we’ve been hitting the air.  Last night we did our eleven P.M. news just before two A.M.  You don’t need me to tell you that can make you a little crabby. 

My poor husband.  I feel bad for him this week.  He’s had to endure my not-so-sweet personality.  When I’m tired and grouchy I’m NO FUN!  He said today that until this crazy Olympics work schedule of mine is over he’s just going to adopt the phrase, “Yes Dear” and use that often as he can.  Oh well.

Last night all of us late night staffers in the newsroom came up with an idea to help get us through this stretch of pulling all nighters.  Our assignment editor, Sam, brought in ice cream for everyone last night and it lifted everybody’s spirits!  We all had a bowl of ice cream and next thing you know we weren’t complaining as much about how late we had to work. 

So I quickly drafted an “Olympics Late Night Treat Schedule” and we all picked a different night to bring in treats.

Since no one chose tonight I felt obligated to pick it.  I was very bleary eyed this morning when I whipped up two big batches of Chocolate Chip Cookies.  You should have seen me walking into the newsroom today….It wasn’t pretty!  I was in a sweatshirt, flip flops, sunglasses, no makeup carrying this huge bag full of warm cookies.  I was late getting in because I was waiting for the last batch to come out of the oven.

Since I’ve been so grouchy and tired I stopped at my hubby’s workand dropped off two warm cookies for him.  He loved them and that made me happy. 

Whatever it takes to get through these late nights…tonight it just so happened to be cookies.

See you tomorrow.

Sandra

Sleepless in Cincinnati

Seriously, this isn’t a good time for me to try and give up coffee. 

If you’ve been watching our late news lately you know that we are the “Late, Late Show” these days!

Excuse me, are we on Beijing time?  Almost.  We are on later now because of the Olympics.  Which means we all have to come up with creative ways of …well…staying awake. 

It’s kind of a crazy schedule.  Most of us are working 6 days a week and instead of coming into work at 2:30 and leaving after the 11 o’clock news…now we’re coming in at 2:30 and leaving whenever the news is over.  For example, tonight we are on at 12:30.  That means we’ll probably get off the air sometime after 1 a.m.  The question then is….what time will I actually get to bed and fall asleep?

Who knows?

Today I was so tired I totally missed my workout.  Instead I stayed in bed and pulled the covers over my head.  But thanks to the sun peeking past the blinds, I didn’t stand a chance!  I got out of bed and shared a pot of coffee with my husband. 

But for tomorrow I have a new plan…we’ll have to see if it works.  I am actually going to go to bed tonight WITH my workout clothes on.  Yep!  Of course not my sneakers or anything like that.  But my workout clothes will now be my pajamas.  I’m hoping that forces me out of bed and into the gym. 

I’ll have to let you know how it goes tomorrow.  Wish me luck. 

By the way thank you so much for all of your prayers and kind thoughts about my aunt. 

It’s been so hard but all of your kindness has helped me more than you can imagine. 

Talk to you soon.

Sandra

Coping With Loss

I debated back and forth about whether I should talk about this at all and then decided it could only help.  I don’t know about you but I’m the type of person who’s always had a hard time coping with any sort of loss. 

Isn’t it ironic that the woman who shares news stories with you every night about families dealing with the tragedy of losing a loved one is having a hard time sharing what its like to experience that sort of loss when the story is your own.  

Sadly this time it is. 

I’ve been missing from our newscasts for the last two days because I’ve been dealing with a tragedy of my own.  I rarely find myself at a loss for words but this is hard to talk about.

Two weeks ago my aunt had a massive stroke.  But that’s only a fraction of the story. 

My aunt is more like a mother and losing her is more like losing a parent. 

If you’ve lost one of your parents, or maybe dealt with a sick parent, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.  I lived with my aunt until I was five years old.  She raised me.  She never had any children of her own.  So she considered me to be her daughter.  She is the sweetest, kindest woman you’d ever meet.  Anyone who did always said she was like a saint or an angel.   

A few years later she ended up moving in with us.  So as far back as I can remember she’s always been there.  She was part of our immediate family. 

But unfortunately, she’s suffered so tremendously.  In her early forties she had a massive heart attack that nearly left her paralyzed.  Somehow she bounced back.  Then she battled breast cancer and survived. 

I tried to call her everyday in between newscasts.  I also tried to see her as much as possible no matter where I happened to be working at the time. 

Two weeks ago she wasn’t feeling so well.  I called her moments after she had suffered a massive stroke.  My family rushed her to the hospital.  And that’s where she’s been since.  And unless GOD feels like granting us a miracle, we are now facing the facts that this time, it doesn’t look good. 

A few days after the stroke, she slipped in and out of consciousness until a few days ago when she went into a coma. 

It just makes you realize even more how important it is to cherish those around us and never take them for granted.  I’d give anything to hear her voice again, hold her hand, or talk to her on the phone, but I know I can’t.  Friends keep telling me that life is all about loss, but I’m not good at loss. 

I’ve always watched people coping with losing a loved one and wondered how in the world they could deal with it and still put one foot in front of the other.

Now I find myself in their shoes trying to figure it out. 

Here’s a picture of my aunt and I the way I like to picture her.  I think I’m about three years old here.   

SHIFTING GEARS

I’ve always found that some people are good at making adjustments or going with plan B.  You know, going with the flow.

I think in this business you always have to have a back up plan because things are always changing. 

This week, at our house, we’ve shifted gears into Plan B mode.

You’ve probably heard me mention before a time or two that my hubby and i both work the same shift.  In fact, we often drive into work together.  I love that!  First of all it means I don’t always have to drive and we can also catch up on the day’s events before we even get home.

But this week my hubby is working for the most part a day shift.  He had Monday off.  Tuesday and Wednesday he’s working during the day and then he’s back to working at night this weekend. 

All of this adds up to adjustments.  Instead of driving home together he’s already asleep with our pups when I get home! 

Then today when I woke up, he was already at work!  That means I went to the gym by myself.  Not as much fun!  I also miss talking to him on the way home. Now I just drive home quietly and I don’t even turn the radio on.  I enjoy the quiet time.  

It’s an adjustment, but it’s only for this week.  Thank Goodness!  I’m ready to get back to our routine.  Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

See you soon!

Whirlwind Weekend

Hi Everybody!

How was your weekend? Hope you had a blast!

Isn’t it so much fun when you get an unexpected surprise?

Saturday morning as we were tidying up we got a call from one of my best girlfriends.  Amy and I have been friends since we were 13 years old.  We grew up in the same neighborhood, a block away from each other!

Anyway, last time we saw Amy was at our wedding almost two years ago.  But no matter what we always pick up right where we leave off.  Do you have certain friends like that?  People you are close to but you don’t need to talk to all the time?  Friends that no matter what happens in your lives or where you move or how far apart you live from each other, the relationship never changes.  That’s totally Amy.

So anyway, Saturday morning Amy calls to tell us that she and her husband Warren were dropping off their toddler at her Mom’s house and driving to Columbus spur of the moment to watch a soccer match.  Warren is from the UK and LOVES soccer!

They drove 10 hours all day Saturday from New Jersey.  They got to their hotel at one in the morning.  We hopped in the car Sunday morning and drove to Columbus to spend the day with them.  We had so much fun!  Didn’t do anything special just went to a little lunch place in Columbus and laughed and laughed.  It really made my whole weekend.  What an unexpected surprise!

Then while we were in Columbus we stopped at my brother and sister-in laws house to see our nieces.  They are so much fun, they entertained us the whole time.  They are two and three years old and they just sang, and danced and played.  

We had such a wonderful weekend with friends and family.  I hope you did too.

See you soon!  

TGIF

Did this feel like a long week to you?

I don’t know why but it did for me. 

I think my hubby and I were both battling a bit of a summer time cold at one point this week.  That’s never any fun!

But nontheless it’s almost the weekend!  Thank Goodness!

Do you have big plans?

We don’t and that’s just the way I like it!

Tomorrow we are having some family friends over.  They are coming over in the late afternoon.  I ran around this morning and made sure we had everything ready to go so we can do a little entertaining.  I picked up some desserts, coffee, tea, and lemonade.

I think we’re having about nine people over.  I’m a little worried about where everyone will sit since our sofa still hasn’t arrived…more on that a different day.

Then my hubby and I will hopefully zip over to Preble County to the lake.  My in-laws have the cutest A frame house on a lake there.  It is so quiet and peaceful.  We love spending time with family.  I also love that my cell phone doesn’t work well there.  Heee!  Isn’t it nice to unplug on the weekend like that?  It’s great…we just load up the dogs and head out there.  The dogs love it there!  They get to run around without their leashes and chase birds.  I think they also really love the fresh air.

I used to always schedule way to much to do on the weekend and then by the time Monday would roll around I would come into work and be exhausted!  So I stopped scheduling too much and instead started to block off weekend time as family time only.  It makes a world of difference. 

Have a great weekend and see you Monday…hopefully much more refreshed!

Sandra

 

Happy Fourth!

Hey Everybody!

As I’m sitting here at my desk in the newsroom writing this I can see some fireworks out of my window here at channel 5.  I hope you are having a wonderful start to the holiday weekend with your friends and loved ones.

It’s so funny that at times like these, I really start to feel like a grown up.  I am 32 years old and I’m not secretive about that at all.  I never have been funny when it comes to age, but maybe I will be when I get older. 

It’s so interesting though how certain days make you feel one way or another,  As these fireworks go off and I watch them explode in the sky at my desk I certainly don’t feel like a kid anymore. 

I always tell people that I’ve always felt the same no matter what my age.  For me everything from about 18 years old and on has felt exactly the same.  I’ve always felt just like a big kid, no matter what sort of responsibilities I had at the time.

But tonight just feels different.  I think it could be because I’m here at work while everyone else is out celebrating that makes me a lot less child like and a lot more grown up.  Oh well.  I guess it had to happen sometime. 

I can remember being a kid growing up in Brooklyn playing with sparklers.  I would sit out on my parent’s front stoop of the apartment building we lived in waving and waving those sparklers till the spark went out. 

In a way it feels like it was so long ago and it also feels like it was just yesterday at the same time.  Isn’t it funny how memories can be that way sometimes?

So if you’re out there enjoying your holiday light a sparkler for me, would you?

Have a great weekend!

Sandra

Scheduling Snafoos

I’ve been having more and more of these lately.  Do you ever feel like there’s never enough time to call everybody back on your list?  I mean seriously, this has been the story of my life especially this past year. 

I told you before how my younger brother moved to London at the end of 2006 for a new job.  Try keeping in touch with someone in a different time zone and let me know if you have any luck… because I’m definitely not!

Most of my childhood friends are in NY, the rest are scattered across the country.  And for the most part they work typical jobs with typical schedules, like nine to five.  Either that or they’re stay at home moms.  But anyway what this all boils down to is that they can usually chat on the phone when I can’t. 

I work from about two in the afternoon until midnight.  By the time I get a chance to talk most of my girlfriends at that point are getting ready for bed.  Sometimes driving home from work at midnight I just wish I had friends on the West Coast just so I can call them!  It would be the perfect time to chat.  But of course they are all fast asleep by then. 

Every conversation I have with my brother ends in about 4 minutes and it usually ends with one of us rushing off somewhere…saying “okay…we’ll catch up later.” 

And then of course after another week of phone tag we finally get to chat again for about…oh…a total of four minutes.  When I actually do have time to talk to him I look at the clock and that’s when I realize that in London it’s 2 a.m.  Probably not a good time to call. 

Ugh.

It’s just hard to stay in touch with everybody all the time.  I try to call people back but I’m not always successful. 

One of my girlfriends has a strict 24 hour rule.  She always calls you back within 24 hours no matter what.  Even when she’s travelling on business or away on vacation.  That’s pretty impressive.  I tried adopting her rule once and…yep…you guessed it…it didn’t work. 

I think I might have to come up with my own rule. 

If you have any ideas, I’d love to know?  How do you keep in touch with friends and family who live out of town, or even if they do live in town?

See you on the news.

Sandra