Hello everyone and thanks for reading!

I thought I’d share a few funny photos from this morning - during my OTHER life before I came into work, stood in the freezing cold for hours in front of a tornado-ravaged apartment complex. Terrible damage - FRIGID weather!

Today my 5-year-old son Calvin was invited to have lunch and playtime at a classmate’s house. I’m positive he doesn’t exactly know what “girlfriend” means, but that’s what he sometimes calls Gianna. I would hate to break that to the little sweetheart who used to hold that title, Lilly!

Gianna has one of those basements kids die for - a swing, a slide, a ball-pit, a trampoline, and air hockey! It’s so awesome to see two kids running off energy in a room where they can quite literally bounce off the walls - and not get in trouble for doing so. I say HAVE AT IT - and sleep well later!

The only problem was getting photos. They moved so fast I kept getting nothing but blurry streaks. Gianna’s mom had a little bit better luck, and a real camera instead of the cell phone I tend to use - so thanks to her for sharing the picture at the top of this blog!

Whew - what a day! Hope you all had a bit more time than I did to put your feet up.

Stay warm-

Trish

I love a challenge because I’m so competitive.  So when my dear co-anchor, Trisha, presented this workout challenge, I couldn’t wait to get started.  Ok.  Ok.  It’s only been a week but we both got in three days of exercise for 20 minutes.  For week two, she has already gotten  two days under her belt.  I, uh, am waiting for my inspiration. (which will come in the form of time - as in running out of it.  If I don’t get started tomorrow I’ll run out of days this week to meet the challenge)

That’s what happened last week.  It’s true, as Trisha mentioned in her blog.  Saturday night at 11pm I was running around the house shouting “Yes!  Yes!” because I got the third workout in before the end of the week.  Hey, what can I say, I hate to lose.

Hello everyone!

It’s been a wild night in our newsroom with this wicked storm system that passed through.  I’d love to hear some of your first-hand accounts of what you saw and heard, and any damage you’ve got.

 Kevin and Crystal did an awesome job staying on top of all the information as the system raced through earlier tonight.  I have to admit it was an eerie feeling sitting in our studio as the wind and hail started to pound our roof, and the tornado sirens sounded.  From uprooted trees, to severely damaged houses, to overturned semi’s, to downed power lines, you’d think we’d had enough. But no - no we’ve got arctic air AND some snow coming later this week.  Gotta love Midwestern winters.

TNT FITNESS CHALLENGE 

Quick fitness challenge update:

So far this week in workout numbers:

Shepherd: 2

Wallace: 0

  It’s my strategy at work.  something unexpected ALWAYS comes up toward the end of a week for me, so instead of taking my chances, I’m fitting in the workouts as early as possible!  that way I won’t have to be like Mr. Wallace, working up a sweat at 11pm on a Saturday night to avoid the humiliation of having to admit I lost a bet to my colleague.

   I can already feel my energy picking up from the fitness routine.  (Just not right at this moment - I have to muster some up quickly somehow for the 11pm news!) 

Don’t be shy about writing in - I’d love to hear from you  - hang in there with this weather and have a great week!

Trish

To be fair, the week isn’t yet over.

I just want to remind my colleague to pick up the pace if he doesn’t want to buy me a cup of coffee.

I have gotten in one workout so far this week (two if I were allowed to count last Saturday!) Todd - none. 

I’d have liked to go today, but I was waiting for a very important call from the vet about one of our two family cats. The call came - and it’s not good news, I’m afraid. 9 lives sometimes aren’t quite enough. More on that in a future blog.

Anyway - Todd and I decided we needed to lay out some ground rules:

–We each promise to fit in at least 3 workouts per week, each at least 20 minutes long.

–1 week is defined as Sunday thru Saturday.

–No cheating! We’re on the honor system - sealed by a pinkie swear.

**Whoever fails to complete their 3 workouts in a week owes the other a cup of NICE coffee of their choice.

Todd says he’s going to rally. Knowing how competetive he is, I have no doubt he’d be on the treadmill at 11:40pm Saturday night to avoid the shame of losing a bet.

I wonder if he knows I’m just as stubborn?

Wish me luck!!

Whew.  I was kind of nervous about Tony Dungy.  I thought that the warm termperatures of Tampa, not to mention the relocation of his family, would be enough to lure him away from the Colts.  However, now that he has decided to stay, it got me thinking about next season.

First, let me admit that I am your typical Monday morning quarterback.  I have all of the answers after the fact.  Second, let me also say that while I watch professional football with passion, I know very little about exotic defenses and creative, every-changing offenses.  But please hear me out because I have some advice that may help the Colts win it all (or at least get to the Big Game) next season.

I believe that, to an extent, the Colts are the victims of their own success.  They clinch so much so fast, year after year, that inevitably they always relax and rest a couple of games at the very end of the season.  Then they try to “recapture the magic” of the regular season and they usually look out of sync, tired, and some have even said “soft.”  They should, I believe, play with the same sort of intensity that brings them so many wins during the regular season.

  Dare I say they should take a look at our nemesis, the Patriots.  This is a team that stays focused ALL the time and never takes its foot off the pedal.  If an opponent is down, I wouldn’t put it past the Patriots to give them a swift kick, just because they can.  It’s kind of mean.  It makes you angry.  And that’s my point.  I think the Colts need a little more edge, swagger, bravado.

Don’t get me wrong, the Colts, in my opinion, are the classiest team in the NFL.  And I’m certainly not advocating they compromise their integrity.  No amount of winning is worth that.  But that doesn’t they can’t play a little more smash-mouth football the ENTIRE season.  

Like I wrote before, I don’t know about all of the intricacies of the game.  And Coach Dungy doesn’t need my advice.  I’m just a Monday morning quarterback who hates to lose.  But that doesn’t mean I’m not on to something.  What do you think?