Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson

Remember that David Bowie song, “Changes?”

It’s appropriate for the news division at ABC this month.

Charles Gibson’s last day as the anchor for ABC’s World News is set for Friday, December 18. Gibson’s last week is rumored to be low key featuring some retrospective’s on his career during World News next week. 

I got to meet Gibson a couple times, once while visiting New York. I had a chance to meet him on the set of Good Morning America (this is when Joan Lunden was his co-anchor.) Then I saw him again just last year when his ABC News bus tour brought the World News anchor to Indianapolis to cover the final days of the presidential election.

Nice guy. The crew around him love working with him. That says alot about someone.

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Speaking of low key changes, Diane Sawyer will assume the anchor desk the following Monday. 

It’s in stark contrast to how Katie Couric was introduced on the CBS Evening News.

I think Sawyer’s going to do a fine job. She’s got loads of journalistic credibility. She deserves the anchor chair.

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More interesting is the future direction of Good Morning America. It’s expected to be announced this week that THIS WEEK anchor George Stephenoupolus will join GMA.

My initial thought is that George might be a little heavy for the morning. But as I think about it, maybe the morning news wars could use a little less fashion and celebrity news and more straight news.

Terry Moran from Nightline may end up taking over the Sunday morning duties.

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Crazy for Monopoly!

My seven year old son loves Monopoly.

Since Thanksgiving, the little guy has been on a tear playing sometimes a couple of games a day. And he’s winning most of them! 

A couple of years ago, we picked up an Indianapolis Colts/Superbowl edition of Monopoly. That’s inspired him to play.

I had forgotten how much fun the ol’ board game was and is.

Bonus benefit: his addition and subtraction skills rock! 

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 I spent the weekend indoors putting up our holiday decorations.

My family has a “real” Christmas tree in our family room.

But my sons and I have a small “guy’s tree” in our basement. That little tree features all the cool ornaments that won’t make the cut on the family Christmas tree. Mainly Star Wars and Star Trek Holiday ornaments from Hallmark.

Setting up the "guy's tree" with Hallmark ornaments!

My wife got me interested in collecting the Hallmark ornaments years ago. Each year Hallmark releases new editions of the ornaments.

I’ve looked on EBay and was stunned to find what people are willing to pay for the past ornaments.

Sweet. But I’d never give them up.

Luke Skywalker and Darth Vadar may not scream “holidays” in most houses, but for my kids and me its the sign that Christmas is right around the corner.  

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Finally, my wife was looking for holiday lights for the tree this weekend and was stunned to find them sold out all over the place. She stopped by Home Depot in Fishers and they were cleaned out too.

Even though they had no lights, the salesman at Home Depot took the time to call around to find lights for my wife. He found some at Walgreen’s.

We thought it pretty impressive customer service on behalf of Home Depot. A holiday shout out to them for the great service!