Well, without getting too political, I’m interested to know how many of you are enjoying Daylight Saving Time.

This past Sunday, I was walking in front of two mothers who were talking about the late sunsets.  One mom was saying how her child doesn’t want to get ready for bed when it is still light outside.  The other mom said she now has to put a sheet over her child’s window to make it dark enough for her child to go to sleep.

Having the bright sunshine at 8 p.m. does present a challenge.  I’ve noticed that the past week or so my kids seem to get their second wind around 7:30.  That makes it a bit difficult when I am just about out of breath.  My sons even said that we can’t go to bed with the sun is still out.  Thankfully, once we tuck them into bed they usually fall asleep pretty easily.  Both of my sons have dark blinds and curtains in their rooms, so even at 8 p.m. it looks like it is dark.  However, I might have to do some work in my daughter’s room.  It is a nice bright yellow and her curtains aren’t very dark.  I might have to do like my fellow church member and add some window treatments… so I can treat myself to an early bedtime.

My Good Morning Indiana co-workers agree that it is hard to go to bed when it looks like it is 3-o-clock in the afternoon.

I grew up with daylight saving time in Texas.  It was great.  My signal that it was time to head home was when the street lights came on.  Even when I got older I enjoyed daylight saving time.  My mom and I would often go to the track and walk after dinner. 

I can definitely see the pros and cons of daylight saving time.  I must admit that some nights I am so tired, you could shine spotlights through my bedroom windows. It would still be lights out for me.

We are celebrating two special birthdays today.  Our terrific traffic guy Tom Davis turns 28 today.  Paul’s better half, Mrs. P is also celebrating a birthday today.

Tom got an early birthday present.  Tom, who is a big race fan, was thrilled when Arie walked into the studio today.  Having the opportunity to meet a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion was a real thrill for Tom.  Tom is also looking forward to participating in the Celebrity Pit Crew Competition during Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Hopefully by this evening, Tom will get a chance to slow down a bit and enjoy a nice birthday dinner with his wife.

With all of the birthday talk on the set, we started talking about zodiac signs.  Turns out, we have two Gemini men on the crew… Tom and Dan.  Dan’s birthday is in June.  Tom says he can’t speak for Dan, but he definitely fits the Gemini mold.  There’s the loud and obnoxious Tom (his words, not mine)… and then there is the quiet-leave-me-alone Tom.

I don’t read my horoscope everyday.  I do, however, think there is something to the whole zodiac thing.  I am a Libra.  I like peace and harmony and I feel a little off if things are off balance.  As a Libra, I also have a difficult time making a decision.  At least, sometimes I do.  Then again, sometimes I don’t.  It just depends.  I really can’t decide…

Paul is a Sagittarius.  I don’t know a lot about the sign, but I do know I’ve always gotten along very well with those under the Sagittarius sign.  My best friend is a Sagittarius and so is my four-year-old son.  Every Sagittarius I know is kind, funny and very smart.

Paul plans to take his wife out to a special dinner tonight to celebrate her big day.  Paul was actually invited to participate in the Celebrity Pit Crew Competition, but he declined so he could spend the day with his wife.  I’m not surprised.  That’s a very Saggitarrius-type thing to do.  Happy Birthday to Mrs. P and Tom!!!! 

Every summer, RTV-6 welcomes a new group of interns.  These bright young men and women observe reporters, anchors and the production crew.  It is always fun to look into their youthful eyes and see their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn about the business.  Every once in awhile, a real star emerges from the group.  We currently have three producers who once served as interns.  Maggie produces our 11 p.m. newscasts and does an excellent job.  I remember when she was an intern and wrote a few stories for the Noon Show.  I knew then that she was going places.  Maggie is a quick-learner, sweet and a creative producer.  Adriane is another former intern who now serves as a producer.  She’s a leader in the newsroom and has done very well for herself.  She’s currently expecting her first child.  I’m so excited for her.  And yet another intern-turned-producer is our 7 p.m. producer, Chris.  Many of you have seen his work on Off the Cuff.  I’ve talked about Chris in past blogs.  He is just the nicest guy you could ever meet.  He’s so polite and efficient.  He has an incredible work ethic and he has my deepest respect.  I’m convinced that one day he’ll be signing my checks.  Yet another reason to be nice to the interns.  You just never know….

Our new morning intern is from Greenwood.  After the show, we asked her what she thought about Good Morning Indiana.  She made the comment that we have so few people in the studio.  She also noted that it must be hard sometimes to keep up our energy level, since there are so few people to feed off of.  She is so right.  The Noon Show is especially tough sometimes.  I’m the solo anchor and sometimes Paul is out on a live shot.  On those days, I’m alone in the studio.  Thankfully, I’m a fairly perky person, so it is usually easy for me to keep up my energy level.

In the days and weeks ahead, those of us at RTV-6 will patiently guide these young people and help them as much as we possibly can.  It’s exciting for us to give back and have an impact on these young lives.  You never know when an intern will eventually be your co-worker.  At the same time, you pray that one of those bright, young journalists won’t one day take your job.

If there were a little-to-no cost medication that would cause weight loss, prevent diseases, boost confidence, and improve all bodily functions … would you take it?

Well this is one prescription that you can ask from your doctor that won’t have you heading straight to the pharmacy. Many people don’t realize that exercise (yes, exercise!) is another form of medicine that does more than just shape your body—it cures and prevents illnesses better than any drug on the market.

So you may be wondering why you haven’t ever been prescribed this miracle drug … and there really isn’t one single answer to that question. But two well-known health organizations know the miraculous effects that regular exercise has on a person’s overall health, and they are urging doctors and patients to make exercise and physical activity discussions a part of a regular check-up.

The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association have teamed up to launch an initiative called Exercise is Medicine™ that brings attention to the fact that exercise is the most powerful, preventative and disease-fighting medicine that can be prescribed. They created this program because there has been an overall lack of this discussion in the past and because they believe people should be educated about the importance of staying physically active. Whether it is because the doctor is too busy or the patient doesn’t know what to ask, they realize this opportunity hasn’t been available to everyone. As a result, the Exercise is Medicine™ program is providing resources that promote and guide this conversation, so everyone can have a chance to discuss this topic with a physician.

Your doctor’s office is one of the safest places to receive advice about how to start and maintain an exercise program, because your primary care physician knows about your health and history. It is also a great place to receive referrals for fitness professionals and trainers and learn about how to keep your body healthy. The next time you visit your doctor, try taking a moment to mention the Exercise is Medicine™ initiative and ask for your personal exercise prescription, so you can start taking the healthiest medicine around.

Exercise is the kind of medicine that works to keep our bodies healthy all the time—and not just when we are sick. But in order for it to work, you will have to stay motivated and keep up with your program. It isn’t like a pharmaceutical medication—you can’t just take it when you feel bad. It is a preventative and curing medicine that requires you to treat yourself to any activity … like a long walk in the evening or an exciting game of tennis with your friends … almost every day. Once you begin to exercise, you will feel the results both physically and mentally—and you won’t have any crazy side effects to worry about!

Find out more about how make physical activity a topic of discussion at your next visit by logging on to www.exerciseismedicine.org.

Other helpful resources:

American College of Sports Medicine www.acsm.org

American Medical Association www.ama-assn.org

May-kit Happen www.may-kithappen.org

Happy Monday!  I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend.

Dan had a great, sports-filled weekend.  Dan saw a couple of major league baseball games, including the Cubs game in Chicago.  While in the Windy City, he asked someone at a sports bar if he could turn the television to the Indianapolis 500 Qualifications.  He says the guy was a bit shocked by the request.  I guess the guy asked…”Are you sure you want to watch that?”  I suppose some people don’t understand the excitement of our big race.  Once you’ve been out to the track, however, it is hard to resist the thrill of watching the talented drivers zip around the famed oval.

My son and his classmates had a successful Mini-500 bike race on Friday.  Those of you who watched around 6:15 got a chance to see some of it.  I’m a little biased, but weren’t they cute?  No one kept up with who made the most laps.  All the kids were winners and they all received a lovely medal after the race.  It’s fun to show my kids and their friends every once in awhile.  I think people enjoy it.  RTV-6 has actually covered the race in the past, so I didn’t feel too bad asking for a camera crew to attend the event.  I just don’t want to get too obnoxious and show footage of my kids when they get their first A… eat their vegetables without complaining… put their dishes away without me having to remind them… you get the idea.  Sometimes less is more when it comes to showing off your kids.

Tom and Paul had a fun weekend.  After spending the night at the Speedway Thursday night, Paul got a little sleep Friday afternoon.  He and Tom then provided the comic relief for a dinner Friday night.  I heard they were a big hit.  I’ve been told our dynamic duo simply delighted the 700-plus crowd.  There is no surprise there.  After all, they entertain and inform thousands everyday on RTV-6 and theindychannel.com.