I hope all of you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

For the first time in awhile, I was off Labor Day.  It was nice to be able to sleep in and enjoy the day with my family.

I did feel bad about leaving poor Chris alone to solo anchor the show on Monday.  Don’t get me wrong.  He’s a pro and fully capable of the challenge.  It’s just a little difficult when you start at a new station.  For example, Chris tells me at his other station, his co-anchor was to his right.  Well, I’m on his left.  In addition, at his other station, he never had to change cameras to talk to a reporter out in the field.  Here at RTV-6, the double box (as we call it in t.v. land) with Julie Pursley is almost always on a different camera.  So, Chris is getting used to doing the head swings from camera to camera.  All in all, I think he’s doing a fine job and is learning his way around the station and around the city quite well.

He’s trying to figure out when he’ll be able to contribute to the blog.  It’s kind of tough.  He’s out in the field reporting  everyday after Good Morning Indiana.  Now that we’ve added a 5:30 p.m. newscast, we need more reporters out in the field to contribute to the show.  It keeps the staff busy, but we believe viewers really want to see local news at that time rather than an entertainment show.

As always, we’re trying to stay tuned to what our viewers want.  Please don’t hesitate to send us an email and let us know what you’d like to see on RTV-6 and at what time.  Time for me to get working on the Noon Show now.  Have a wonderful week!

I hope all of you are enjoying a nice week.

Chris is learning his way around the city and getting settled.  He still doesn’t have an email account set up, so if you’ve tried to email him, hang in there.  He should be able to respond soon.  In addition, he’ll start contributing to the blog next week.

I’ve forgotten how much there is to do when you’re starting at a new station in a new city!  I told him not to worry, though.  I have no problem playing “Julie McCoy Cruise Director.”  I told Chris that one thing he’ll notice right away is how nice people are here.  No matter where you go, people are always willing to help.  That’s just one of the reasons I feel in love with Central Indiana.  When I moved to Indiana, I wasn’t sure how long I would stay.  Well, God clearly had a plan.   My husband and I are now raising our three beautiful children here and can’t imagine ourselves living anywhere else.

Have a wonderful day, friends.  Hope you can join us tomorrow for Good Morning Indiana.

I hope all of you enjoyed a fun and relaxing weekend.

My weekend was interesting, to say the least.

I walked off the set Friday after the Noon Show, anxious to start my weekend.  My supervisor gave me that “how do I soften the blow” look.  He informed me that a reporter called in sick and since I was on call, I’d have to come back in and report that evening.  At that point, I felt sick.  He told me to go home and take a nap and come in later.  I drove home, telling myself the entire time that I am blessed to have a job so I shouldn’t complain.  My dear friend, who also happens to be one of the hardest working journalists in this market, Rafael Sanchez volunteered to work for me!!  How blessed am I?  My family and I enjoyed a nice Friday evening and I was able to go to bed early and get some rest.

On Saturday, a co-worker had a family emergency.  I worked Saturday evening, but the shift wasn’t bad at all.  I covered the first ever football game in the state between two home school teams.  I love football and it was a lovely evening.  I had a good time.

Believe it or not, on Sunday I got a call that I might have to work again.  And once again, Rafael stepped up to the plate and worked for me.  I don’t know what I did to have such a special friend, but I am blessed!  I got him a gift card to Starbucks, but I’m thinking that’s not enough.  I might have to buy dinner for him and his wife at a really nice restaurant.

Speaking of nice, my husband left a dozen pink roses on my desk this morning.  Talk about a great way to start the week!

My hubby wanted to wish me good luck since I started working this morning with Chris Pisano, my new co-anchor.   I think Chris did very well this morning.  As I told my friends on Facebook, I didn’t scare him, so I’m pretty sure he’ll be back tomorrow.

I hope all of you can join us tomorrow.  Have a wonderful week!

I’m sure by now most of you have read Dan’s blog about his departure from Good Morning Indiana.

I’ve made it no secret over the years how much I enjoy working with Dan.  He’s smart, professional, funny and kind.  He’s a real class act.  Just this week I needed a favor and he helped me out with no hesitation.  In addition to being a fine anchor, Dan is an awesome reporter.  He’s going to be a true asset to our 11 p.m. newscast.  Whatever the future holds for Dan, he will do well.

I know there’s been some discussion on various blogs about replacing Dan with a female.  That is not going to happen.  On Monday, I’ll be anchoring with a new guy named Chris Pisano.  Chris comes to us from Kansas City, Missouri.

When I started working at RTV-6, I was incredibly nervous.  I started my career in my hometown market which put me at a great advantage.  I had a built-in audience.  High school classmates, teachers and relatives rarely missed one of my newscasts.  When I got the job in Indianapolis, a co-worker told me to brace myself.  His quote was “Grace, you’re going from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a big sea.  Good luck.”

After all these years,   I’m definitely an older fish who tries to stay afloat without making too many waves.  So many of you have welcomed me into your home morning after morning.  You have been so kind and gracious over the years.  I am forever grateful.

I hope you welcome Chris with that same, warm Hoosier hospitality.  Chris and I have quite a bit in common.  We’re around the same age (at least, I think so) and we’re both parents.  He has four children who are 1, 3, 5 and 7.  (I thought I had my hands full!)  Chris and I also share the same religion.

Like you, I will be getting to know Chris better in the weeks and months ahead.  I know change is hard.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business, however, is that the only thing that is certain is change.

I hope you’ll join me in wishing Dan continued success.  I will miss working with him.  I hope you’ll also join me in welcoming Chris to Indianapolis and the RTV-6 family.  Chris is also a nice, talented guy and is anxious to get to know you and our wonderful community.

Wasn’t it wonderful to see Dan this morning?

He looks so happy, relaxed and quite tan!  I won’t steal Dan’s thunder.   I’ll let him fill everyone in on his honeymoon when he writes his blog.  It was great to see him this morning and it warms my heart to see him so happy.

I think my body would be happy to get a little more sleep.  For some reason, I didn’t get a lot of sleep Monday night and I’m still trying to catch up.  At least, that’s my excuse for my slip-up this morning.  I was having a pretty good show until the very end.  I turned to the camera, smiled and said, “Thanks for making 6 Noise your choice for news.”  Oops!  Well, let’s face it.  For many people the television is on just for background noise, right?  So, what I should have said was, “Thanks for making 6 Noise your choice for background noise.  Have a great day. “  LOL   Have a wonderful day everyone and I hope you watch again tomorrow when we’ll have the latest overnight noise for you.