Catching Up

I haven't been in the mood to blog lately, and quite honestly life hasn't been all that exciting. So in short form here are a few things running through my head right now.

I can't wait for BASEBALL!

I can't believe Mizzou is Big 12 Champs... crazy!
I'm excited it's Spring.

I really want to travel. In the past few days all of my regular TV shows have featured the people traveling to these exotic, awesome locations. Right now for me anything outside Missouri will do.

I'm very excited for this week's Office. I'm interested to see what happens with the recent developments.

My cat has been getting into a lot of trouble lately, but he's still cute.

Jumping Bailey

Bailey really impressed me tonight. Not only can he jump really high in the air when I throw his toys, but tonight he caught it mid-air! I know that's pretty normal for dogs... I've never seen cats do it. The video is below.

Inspiration from Jon and Kate

I've been really lazy about blogging lately, but I've just felt unmotivated. Until this afternoon.

I just watched an episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 where they went to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and donated Christmas gifts to sick children there. It was so inspiring. Through work I get to visit St. Jude next month. Of course I've been excited to make the trip to Memphis and intrigued to find out what exactly the hospital is like. After seeing that episode I absolutely cannot wait to go. I have a feeling it will make me really sad, but give me a new outlook on things.

D-Day is Here

The minutes are numbered for KSPR's analog signal.

I'm really glad this day is finally here, but at the same time I dread it. It is UNBELIEVABLE how many people are completely clueless about this whole "transition thing". Answering phone calls in the newsroom has really opened my eyes... especially in the past two weeks. As much as people love their TV they don't seem to pay too much attention to it... and don't know much about DTV (even though the commercials, crawls, stories, etc have been running for years now).

Here's a basic rundown of phone calls we receive:
Some callers know zip, zero, nada. Others think we sell converter boxes or have the coupons. Many didn't know their coupons expired and are now in dire straits. A lot of cable/satellite customers are second guessing themselves. And many are mad we're turning off analog even though the government extended the deadline. My favorite call so far?... a woman said she was "really banking on the June 12 deadline." I received this phone call a whole 4 days after Congress voted to push back the date. Really lady?! You were banking on June... Sometimes you just have to laugh to keep your sanity with all the calls.

What it boils down to is Americans being American. Even if you give people until June, some won't be ready. Give them another 2 years, and they still won't be ready! People are just lazy and despite cursing the government most of the time, want it to do everything for them.

Come tomorrow morning I know the phone calls will still come... but they'll be a little different. They'll be the "what's wrong with my TV" or "why am I not getting you." All I have to say is I have no mercy for these people. Geezo.

Weeks 33-34: February 1-14

For some reason I haven't been taking many pictures lately.

Saturday, February 14, 2009: Made the trip to Alton, IL and ate at Fast Eddie's. I've been wanting to go there for a while now. It was so good!

I also bought an HD TiVo in the past couple weeks... I love it!

Week 32: January 25-31

Alright I actually have an excuse for being late on this one... I was sick and my internet didn't work. Which also explains part of the reason why I don't have much to share.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009: As I blogged about below... I took Bailey out for his first snow.


And since I don't have anything else to share I'm going to post this really cute picture I took of Bailey lounging on the couch.

HD = Happy Dori

Wow can I say how amazed I am with high definition television?! I feel like I'm way behind with this one, but oh well. I've had my new TV for a month or so now, but I didn't have my first taste of HD with it until last night. It's so much better than standard def. I got to watch The Office for the first time in brilliant HD tonight... love it.

My discovery of HD comes at the pitfall of my beloved TiVo. It was on its last legs since Saturday and just wouldn't hold on any longer (you will be missed Letterman Piedmont 2006 Bird Calling champs).

Now the research into an HD TiVo begins...

25 Random Things

Addie tagged me on Facebook with this so here we go. I've read a couple people's "25 Things" so I may steal here or there, but I'll try to not copy too much. :)


RULES: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I skipped 3rd grade reading and math... and then all of 5th grade.
2. I would never get a tattoo, but if I HAD to get one it would be the Birds on the Bat.
3. I've never smoked, but there's been a couple times I've craved it in my dreams.
4. If I wasn't in news I think it would be really fun to be a wedding planner. (Yes, this coming from someone who's never planned her own.)
   
5. However, my dream job is to be a camera operator at Busch Stadium.
6. I absolutely love musicals. Except West Side Story. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Show Boat are definitely two of my favorites.
   
7. My mom raised me on her own and I don't know anything about my dad. I wouldn't have it any other way.
8. Kind of going along with #7 I only know half of my heritage... 1/4 Mexican, 1/4 Lebanese/Syrian.
   
9. I still cry when I think about my cats that have died.
10. I can't swim. I try to avoid large amounts of water whenever possible.
    
11. Strawberry lemonade is one of my absolute favorite things.
12. I've never broken a bone.
13. I have a really bad habit of picking at my lips.
14. I need my TV on to fall asleep. (Maybe a little afraid of the dark.)
15. I'm addicted to my TiVo.
16. I danced for 15 years... and I really miss it. I did a little bit of everything: tap (my fav), jazz, ballet, pointe, modern, poms, and musical theater. I did competitive dancing in almost all of those for about 10 years. I miss being flexible like I used to be.
    
17. Part of my family was connected to an infamous St. Louis mob.
18. I ultimately want to end up back in St. Louis, but I would like to spend a year or two living on a coast, close to a beach.
19. I've worn glasses since I was 6, and I have the terrible pictures to prove it. (but you won't see them!)
    
20. I get homesick a lot.
21. The #1 place I want to visit in my lifetime is Greece. History + beautiful scenery= sounds amazing.
    
22. I knew in 8th grade I wanted to be a TV news producer. I'm really glad I stuck with it!
    
23. My music of choice is definitely classic rock... thanks Mom!
    
24. I'm an only child. It has its advantages and disadvantages. In the end I'm alright with it, but I definitely don't want to have just one kid.
25. If I had to pick one favorite part of my body it would be my eyes. I like my long eyelashes.
    

Bailey's 1st Snow

I was really surprised how bad the streets were on the way to work and back today. I never once drove on a cleared street. Despite that, and the fact my windshield wipers weren't really doing their job, I could only think of one thing the entire 15-20 minutes it took me to get home... I can't wait to get Bailey in the snow!

This is his first snowfall so I was really excited to take him out there and put him in the fluffy stuff. I figured he wouldn't be too thrilled, but I wasn't prepared for how bad he would take it. He wanted nothing to do with the snow. We spent maybe three minutes outside, and the entire time he either stood by the door or ran toward the corner of my patio.

Once we got inside he made a bee-line for the far back corner under my bed. I tried to get him to come out and he wouldn't... food didn't even do the trick. Eventually I dragged him out to apologize, but it's pretty clear he's still mad at me.

I'm pretty sure I've scarred him for life.

I did snap a few pictures while we were out there...

Week 31: January 18-24

Wow, so I just realized I'm way past the half-way point in this little project. Hopefully there are some more excited things that happen in the next couple weeks...

Tuesday, January 20, 2009: Watched Barack Obama become the 44th president of the United States.

Inauguration Eve

I'm not going to lie... I'm pretty excited about tomorrow. Who couldn't be? Whether you voted for Obama or not you have to be excited to witness history and see how far America has come in the past 45 years.

I'm pretty sure this will be the first time I've watched a president take the oath of office. Not sure why I didn't watch in 2005. In 2001, I was actually in Washington, DC, but it wasn't for the Inauguration. I was there for the Pro-Life march, which took place 2 days later. I remember it was a really big deal that Bush was taking office... there were promises that abortion would be banned or something. Obviously, that never happened.

Anyway, come 11:00 tomorrow my eyes will be glued to the TV screen to watch Obama make history.

Week 30: January 11-17

Thursday, January 15, 2009: Watched President Bush give his farewell address.

Calls Welcome

This is hard for me to say, but...

... thank you to all the crazies who call the newsroom. You improve my debate skills every day.

Week 29: January 4-10

I'm late again...

This week was one of the best weeks of the year... why? My birthday was in it! :) Luckily I got to go home and celebrate with all my family and friends.

Saturday, January 10, 2009: Celebrated my 23rd birthday! I got my very first game system... Sega! Sonic is my favorite.

Saturday, January 10, 2009: Went to the new casino downtown, Lumier. I lost a whopping $2.

Weeks 27-28: December 21- January 3

Wow it's been a busy couple weeks. Who would have thought the holidays would be hectic? :) I haven't kept up with my weekly picture post because it's been a crazy two weeks, and with that being said I don't have any pictures to share. The only pics I took are of my cats and Christmas tree. Really the only things I have to share are 1) celebrating the holidays with my family and 2) ringing in the new year with Jason for the 4th time.

It's been a great couple weeks. :)

Week 26: December 14-20

Ok I'm a few days late on this one. The week is going by so fast!

Sunday, December 14, 2008: Went to the company Christmas dinner in the Tower Club. It was my first time up there... what a view!

Thursday, December 18, 2008: Tried fruitcake for the first time! It wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but I can't say I'll be having it again any time soon.

Ridiculous Ratings

So I was looking through some Nielsen ratings stuff tonight and came across the top rated shows every year since the 50's. Classics like I Love Lucy, Dallas, and of course Seinfeld were on the list. However, only two shows since 1951 finished with the highest average Nielsen rating for 5 straight years... All in the Family and The Cosby Show. When I think of these shows I think of groundbreaking great TV much of America enjoyed.

American Idol is on the verge of joining the ranks of those American classics. How sad.

So far it has 4 straight years at the top, and I don't see it sinking any time soon. How did this happen?! Do that many people watch it? Or is it at the top because there are 3 episodes a week? Either way, there is no excuse America. This many people should not still enjoy this show after it's been on for so long.

Forty years from now are people really going to look back and remember Ryan Seacrest and his amazing antics on the show? No. Are people going to remember who won Season 3? No. It's been 20-35 years since All in the Family and The Cosby Show had new episodes, but they still rerun on TV Land and the such. People these days still watch the shows and have a general understand of them and what they meant for American television. They're still quoted and people remember the characters. I just don't see that happening with American Idol.

On a side note, we got some preliminary numbers back today and KSPR improved in every show! :) Yay! Watch out Oprah...

Week 25: December 7-13

Friday, December 12, 2008: Installed my new TV! Now I just need an HD TiVo.

Saturday, December 13, 2008: Rang the Salvation Army bells.

Saturday, December 13, 2008: One of the most important so far... got Jason to like Bailey! Admit it Jason, he's not so bad after all. :)

Week 24: November 30-December 6

Sunday, November 30, 2008: Became the proud owner of my 1st flat-screen TV! However, as you can tell from the picture, I haven't set it up yet...

*I also have an add to last week's... I went to my first ever sex toy party. It was for my best friend from high school's bachelorette party. Of course there are embarrassing pictures, but not on my camera :)

Week 23: November 23-29

Friday, November 28, 2008: Made our annual trip to Kiener Plaza. They had new lights this year!