Monday, December 31, 2007
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
What's your New Year's resolution?
Lose weight, pay off debts, quit smoking, get a new job, find time to travel and enjoy life, volunteer, spend more quality time with loved ones. How often do we set resolutions, only getting as far as to say them aloud, or maybe even write them down, to review your year each December 31st and find, yes, the same resolutions still hanging over your head for the year to come?
Do you even make New Year's resolutions for yourself anymore?
We have an online survey on our homepage kpho.com and as I write this, with 264 people responding; 71% say they've given up, 19% say yes, but they never last and 11% said yes, and I stick to them. Kudos to those making up the 11%. Which has me wondering, what sets us all apart in resolving to do more with our lives in the New Year? Or perhaps, more appropriately, what keeps us from keeping our word to ourselves?
I say, YOU are your biggest obstacle. If will power is empowering yourself to carry out your own goals and wishes, it's understandably just as potent if you get it in your head for some reason your goals are impossible. I guess it's what they call the power of positive thought, with a little faith in yourself. And that's applicable to everything from sweating the small stuff to tackling the tougher vices.
Good luck to you and the loved ones in your life who'll no doubt be better off, with you bettering yourself.
Email me ncrites@kpho.com
Lose weight, pay off debts, quit smoking, get a new job, find time to travel and enjoy life, volunteer, spend more quality time with loved ones. How often do we set resolutions, only getting as far as to say them aloud, or maybe even write them down, to review your year each December 31st and find, yes, the same resolutions still hanging over your head for the year to come?
Do you even make New Year's resolutions for yourself anymore?
We have an online survey on our homepage kpho.com and as I write this, with 264 people responding; 71% say they've given up, 19% say yes, but they never last and 11% said yes, and I stick to them. Kudos to those making up the 11%. Which has me wondering, what sets us all apart in resolving to do more with our lives in the New Year? Or perhaps, more appropriately, what keeps us from keeping our word to ourselves?
I say, YOU are your biggest obstacle. If will power is empowering yourself to carry out your own goals and wishes, it's understandably just as potent if you get it in your head for some reason your goals are impossible. I guess it's what they call the power of positive thought, with a little faith in yourself. And that's applicable to everything from sweating the small stuff to tackling the tougher vices.
Good luck to you and the loved ones in your life who'll no doubt be better off, with you bettering yourself.
Email me ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 6:40 PM by Nicole
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I CAN'T STAND SPAM!
No, not that kind of Spam. (Although I'm not too partial to canned meat).
I'm talking about all those "Try it free," "25% Off," "Special online offer only" kind of SPAM. Unsolicited bulk messages clog my email inbox and really get on my nerves. It seems to have increased tenfold with all the retailers hoping you'll be tempted enough to click and buy for the holiday gift giving season. I must get one of those "you've reached capacity for your inbox" messages every other week! Maybe that means I have to get better at deleting or storing my emails. I just have a hard time with that. Call it the clutterbug gene I inherited from my mom. (She's gonna love me for saying that!)
Technology is wonderful, so I can't bag on it too much. I'm wired to my email and check it several times a day, even from home, which can be a real slippery slope for anyone trying to leave work at the office. What would we do without email? Sure there are the inconveniences of pop-up ads and spam, the occasional scam where someone tries to get you to respond with your checking account information so you can claim a ficticious prize or vacation, but ah, the convenience. Getting a note to someone afterhours you know they'll see first thing in the morning, getting a faster response to that family member or friend you'd take weeks to find a thoughtful card and stamp to send by way of snail mail. The list goes on.
Here's the funny downside:
My mom was just telling me the other day (and she doesn't have email or keep up with daily computer use) how so many people her age are turning to email, and forgetting common courtesies. There are some who only send invitations to events by way of email, others who get perplexed and annoyed that a lunch invitation by email was ignored, not considering it was never received. The list goes on.
I guess the good rule of thumb might be not to assume whoever you're emailing is online as frequently as you. As for that Spam- ugh! I just make it a habit to click "send to junk mail" and hope they'll stop popping up.
Posted at 10:00 AM by Nicole
Friday, December 14, 2007
CHRISTMAS CAROL
I am really looking forward to this Saturday. It's KTAR's 22nd Anniversary production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."I will return in the role I had last year, as Belle (seen above with KPHO Reporter Jason Barry, playing a young Scrooge) in one of the scenes revealed by the ghost of Christmas past. As you can see, we get into character with hats and scarves. Last year, they used dried ice on stage when the ghosts appeared, it really got folks in the audience into the spirit of the season. For the first time, this year's performance will take place at the Celebrity Theatre downtown. Of course, this is broadcast over the radio, on 92.3 KTAR, as we take the stage reading from scripts old radio style, into stand microphones. It is so much fun, to hear and be a part of this telescoped version of this Christmas classic.
There are always some big names that join us, and I'm sure it's fun to see whose voice you might recognize (or can't, as they get into character) if you're listening over the radio. Former CNN Anchor Aaron Brown is narrating this year, Daron Sutton & Tony Clarke from the Diamondbacks, Valley Psychic & author Allison DuBois, and the mayors from Tempe & Phoenix, are among the cast of characters.
We hope you'll join us in person, help fill the Celebrity Theatre this Saturday, it starts at 1pm, so get there early! In the past, we've asked folks to make donations of non- perishable food for admission. This year, it's a toy drive! The Salvation Army could truly use our help too, so show up with a new, unwrapped toy & consider that your ticket to a trip back in time as we take the stage and the radio waves for this timeless Christmas tradition.
If you can't join us in person, tune to News 92.3 KTAR for the live broadcast at 1pm Saturday!
Hope to see you there!
Ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 2:49 AM by Nicole
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
LEAK Is a Four- Letter Word
Raise your hand if our recent weather's brought a little leak back into your life.
Since we live in the desert, it isn't often we get a real soaking that puts our roofs and windows through the ringer. Am I the only one with a chronic leak in the house?
We have had a leak in the garage (thank goodness it's not IN the house) since we moved in. Three roofers later and in the process of getting new windows installed, I am hoping this is the last storm I'll see that dreaded drip. Drip, drip, drip. We ended up cutting a hole in the drywall so it didn't wreck the entire ceiling in the garage, and there it is, still the eyesore, still the drip!
The first roofer patched what he thought was the problem spot. The second roofer patched what he thought was the problem spot. The third times the charm? I thought! He ended up coming out multiple times, thanks to his guarantee, and again, last time the Monsoon storms swept through. After more than an hour of running water tests and yes, more patching, he found a crack at the window seal. So, we're getting new windows.
I can only imagine how busy roofers must be any time we get any little drops outside, because they make for annoying puddles when we have those chronic leaks! Here's to hoping you don't have a bucket collecting mother nature's offerings right now... at least you're not alone.
Email me at Ncrites@kpho.com
Since we live in the desert, it isn't often we get a real soaking that puts our roofs and windows through the ringer. Am I the only one with a chronic leak in the house?
We have had a leak in the garage (thank goodness it's not IN the house) since we moved in. Three roofers later and in the process of getting new windows installed, I am hoping this is the last storm I'll see that dreaded drip. Drip, drip, drip. We ended up cutting a hole in the drywall so it didn't wreck the entire ceiling in the garage, and there it is, still the eyesore, still the drip!
The first roofer patched what he thought was the problem spot. The second roofer patched what he thought was the problem spot. The third times the charm? I thought! He ended up coming out multiple times, thanks to his guarantee, and again, last time the Monsoon storms swept through. After more than an hour of running water tests and yes, more patching, he found a crack at the window seal. So, we're getting new windows.
I can only imagine how busy roofers must be any time we get any little drops outside, because they make for annoying puddles when we have those chronic leaks! Here's to hoping you don't have a bucket collecting mother nature's offerings right now... at least you're not alone.
Email me at Ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 2:47 AM by Nicole
Thursday, December 6, 2007
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Thought I'd share a random act of kindness I witnessed the other day while gassing- up at the Chevron down the street from the station off I-17 & Thomas.
I went in to pay for my gas since my card wouldn't swipe at the pump. On my way into the store, there were a few homeless men loitering around outside, not particularly an unusual sight. While waiting in line, I saw a young man, must have been maybe 18, at the fast food counter, telling an older man, clearly down on his luck, to order whatever he'd like. He paid for the meal and the other man, balancing on one crutch, thanked him and wished him a Merry Christmas. I had to smile. No change in the cup, how about a warm meal?
Before I knew it, the young man was back at the counter, this time letting a second man order what he wanted for lunch, on him. As he put his debit card back into his wallet, stuffing it in his jeans with a wave and a smile, I was really taken aback with his kindness and generosity. Then it hit me how it had been a while since I'd seen a real random act of kindness like this. Sure, there's kindness we all see everyday, but this teen, going out of his way, to show his humanity and kindness to two total strangers who clearly could use the help, inspired me, as I hope it does you.
Email me, Ncrites@kpho.com
I went in to pay for my gas since my card wouldn't swipe at the pump. On my way into the store, there were a few homeless men loitering around outside, not particularly an unusual sight. While waiting in line, I saw a young man, must have been maybe 18, at the fast food counter, telling an older man, clearly down on his luck, to order whatever he'd like. He paid for the meal and the other man, balancing on one crutch, thanked him and wished him a Merry Christmas. I had to smile. No change in the cup, how about a warm meal?
Before I knew it, the young man was back at the counter, this time letting a second man order what he wanted for lunch, on him. As he put his debit card back into his wallet, stuffing it in his jeans with a wave and a smile, I was really taken aback with his kindness and generosity. Then it hit me how it had been a while since I'd seen a real random act of kindness like this. Sure, there's kindness we all see everyday, but this teen, going out of his way, to show his humanity and kindness to two total strangers who clearly could use the help, inspired me, as I hope it does you.
Email me, Ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 8:07 PM by Nicole
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
HUMBLE PIE
Since my last blog was a rally for my U of A Wildcats- I have to at least let you know I'm not a sore loser!
ASU won the Territorial cup, fair and square. And how about that weather this last weekend? It was enough to wash my family's plans to check out the game in person. Seems like everyone's taking their turns getting sick, so we didn't want to chance it out there. Losing your voice cheering for the team is one thing- but I'll never forget my mom always telling me- "Don't go out in the cold without covering your head, or don't come crying to me when you get sick!"
Boy did we ever need that rain though! It was pretty nice to jump into some sweats and lounge around the house with the sounds and smells of the storm just hammering the house outside. Hope you enjoyed it, and if you're like Chris Coraggio & hate the rain, well you can at least be thankful mother nature gave a good dose to those Christmas trees waiting in the lots to make it into your home for the holidays. Wait, if you're like Chris, you already have the artificial tree! Ha! (Check out his blog). Okay, I can't tease too much, I still have to get mine and get the house ready for the holidays. Although I have started crossing things off my gift list, have you?
By the way... 21 shopping days 'till Christmas.
Ncrites@kpho.com
ASU won the Territorial cup, fair and square. And how about that weather this last weekend? It was enough to wash my family's plans to check out the game in person. Seems like everyone's taking their turns getting sick, so we didn't want to chance it out there. Losing your voice cheering for the team is one thing- but I'll never forget my mom always telling me- "Don't go out in the cold without covering your head, or don't come crying to me when you get sick!"
Boy did we ever need that rain though! It was pretty nice to jump into some sweats and lounge around the house with the sounds and smells of the storm just hammering the house outside. Hope you enjoyed it, and if you're like Chris Coraggio & hate the rain, well you can at least be thankful mother nature gave a good dose to those Christmas trees waiting in the lots to make it into your home for the holidays. Wait, if you're like Chris, you already have the artificial tree! Ha! (Check out his blog). Okay, I can't tease too much, I still have to get mine and get the house ready for the holidays. Although I have started crossing things off my gift list, have you?
By the way... 21 shopping days 'till Christmas.
Ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 2:40 AM by Nicole