sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching...

It seems the cold-flu bug is making its way through the ranks. I had some of it over the weekend. I'm feeling better today but decided to stay out of work. I didn't want anyone to catch this junk before Christmas. My poor brother is a different story. He has the stomach virus. I dropped off 3 bottles of Diet 7-UP at his front door, made sure he was ok (through the front glass door) then took off. Nobody wants that mess!!!! Hope you are feeling better soon!

A week from today is Christmas! Can you believe it? Where has this year gone? My family will celebrate the holiday on Sunday, Christmas Eve. It's our year to open gifts one day early. Next year, we will have Christmas on the day it is supposed to fall. It rotates every year with the Gentles and the Bradfords (sister-in-laws fam).

Speaking of in-laws, my sister-in-law, Sarah, had a good turn out for her cookie swap last weekend. This was the 4th annual gala. I have attended each and every one. I must say I think this one had the most people. It was a lot of fun.

I've decided to start posting some recipes on my blog site. I love to try new dishes. Mostly, I'm always looking for delicious sugar-free or low carb menu ideas.
However, for those of you who can eat sweets, I will try to post regular desert recipes as well. This one is loaded with sugars and sweets but I thought anyone looking for an easy and delicious cookie idea might try this one out. I made it for the cookie swap! Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Reese Cup Cookies

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 cup Crisco butter flavor sticks
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chips
1 cup Peanut Butter Chips
2 + cups chopped Reese cups

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in bowl. Beat butter, sugars and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy/ Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. stir in morsels and peanut butter cups. Drop by tablespoon fulls on lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan. Cool.
Makes 4 dozen.

Its all in a days work...

This photo was taken at the WAFF-48 Can-A-Thon food drive last month. I'm doing a live interview with Salvation Army Director David Singletary. His PR guy took the photo. Notice I'm in short sleeves. It was very warm that day! Normally, its freezing cold and rainy.

On a footnote, Morgan County won again this year with a can collection totalling over 100,000.

Finally, some down time after a busy week...

Wow! This has been a long sad week. It all started Saturday night with a telephone call that a friend of mine (see previous post) had died. I was getting ready for the WAFF-48 Christmas Party. Obviously after all that, I didn't go. It took several days for funeral arrangements to be finalized. He was bured Thursday at the city cemetery. I understand the sheriff and chief investigator gave a moving euology. I decided not to go. I would rather remember Justin the way he was. I truly feel sorry for his family and for his best friend David. Be sure to keep them in your prayers.

It sure has been cold! That wind makes my fur blow to the left! (my cats always hated that) I miss the warm weather, long days and green grass.

Mom came up Monday. We had a really good time. We ate breakfast at Cracker Barrell then went shopping. After a long day of spending money, we came back to Decatur and ate supper at Bob Gibson's BBQ. Yum!

Tomorrow, I'm taking Brad, John and Mary Beth to Sci-Quest in Huntsville for the WAFF-48 Kids Christmas Party. I sure hope they have a good time. Santa is supposed to make an appearance. I wonder if I should whisper what I want in this ear. Mom says I have to get that present on my own! hahahahahaha!

I got my cookies baked tonight for my sister-in-laws cookie swap sunday. i made a chocolate chip peanut butter cup cookie. Turned out beautifully.

The only person I have left to buy for on my list this year is my stinkin brother! I say that because his wish list consited of Sharpie markers and sugar free butterscotch. That is not the Chris I'm used to buying for. Don't worry! I think I've come up with a groovy little idea.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Saying goodbye...

Saturday, my friend Justin Camp died in his sleep. His wife came in to wake him up for work and found him dead in the bed. An autopsy shows he had a heart attack. Justin was 29 years old and the father of 2 small boys. He was a deputy with the Limestone County Sheriff's Department.

The end of another week...

Well my friends the weekend is finally here! This time of year though it seems like everyone is busy. Tomorrow night is the WAFF-48 Christmas party, which I plan to attend. Sunday I need to clean house. Monday my mom is coming up and we are going Christmas shopping! I'm excited. Our first stop will be Cracker Barrell. YUM!

Next week promises to be just as busy. Saturday, I'm taking my niece and nephews to the WAFF-48 *Kids* Christmas party. That should be fun! Sunday is my sister-in-law's annual cookie swap. I've got to find a day this week to bake my 60 cookies. Oh yeah, did I mention I will be working too? Busy! Busy! Busy!

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. Mother had a very delicious lunch prepared. We all dove in on one particular dish...grape salad! That suited my taste better than anything. I'm not much for all that heavy food that weighs you down and makes you feel bad all day. Fruit is wonderful and it doesn't leave you feeling sick. My Pickle makes the best grape salad!

My animals are all doing well. Momma Kitty and Gray don't like this change in weather. They like it when its warm...just like there mommy!

Hope all is well! Have a safe weekend everyone!

Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

Happy Turkey Day everyone! Sorry I haven't blogged in several days. It has been so incredibly busy and sad this past week.

Monday, a school bus carrying some 40 Lee High School students went off an interstate overpass in Huntsville, plunging 30-feet to the ground below. Two teenage girls were killed. Two more died later at Huntsville Hospital. The bus driver was found lying on the interstate. He has a broken back and head injuries. An orange Celica may have caused the accident. Some witnesses say the driver got to close to the bus. Right now, investigators aren't saying what connection that car has with this wreck. Its so sad 4 families will be without there children on this Thanksgiving Day.



On a lighter note, I took my first helicopter ride Monday. Our assignment was to get aerial video of that bus crash. I've never flown before! I was determined to put my fear aside. I really enjoyed being in the air although the turbulance made our chopper feel like a basketball bouncing in the sky! You really can't appreciate God's handy work until you see it several thousand feet above.


Thank you Lydia for the delicious turkey day meal! She sent a plate of delicous ham, mashed potatoes, a deviled egg, congealed salad, green bean salad and sweet pototaes. Lydia is a great cook! That ham was so juicy and tender! I'm thankful to have a friend like you!

This Thanksgiving Day, be sure to tell your family you love them! Give them a big hug and kiss ! You never know when it may be your last time to be with them.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Elizabeth

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes...

I don't know about all of you but I'm tired of hearing about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes wedding. Shouldn't they have gotten married *BEFORE* they had a baby? Uh, yeah. They've gone to Italy to tie the knot. Last night on the TV Guide Channel, the correspondants were talking about the couple's pre-nup agreement. Apparently thats what has held up wedding plans. Their attorney's couldn't agree on a fair pre-nup. If they are so in love as Tom excitedly told the world on the Oprah's couch last year, then he should trust that there marriage will last forever. Come on! Let's get real. This is Hollywood! I don't even know why they are bothering to get married. He'll get tired of her and find somebody else. If Katie is smart she'll be a runaway bride!

I've been cleaning house all morning. I thought about going Christmas shopping but then changed my mind. I would rather do that through the week when the crowds are not so intense.

While all of you are stuffing your bellies with mashed potatoes, turkey, and delicious sugar filled deserts with your families, I will be one of few working Thanksgiving. I have worked every turkey day since I got out of college. I don't really mind. I usually eat with the less fortunate. I always meet someone that reminds me of why I should be thankful for what I have. There is no greater lesson on that day of thanks than pulling up a Dixie plate with someone who has nothing. A humbling lesson that I think everyone should experience.

Today is Iron Bowl. I could care less but in the spirit of the game, ROLL TIDE!

I try not to use this blog as my personal issue website. However, I'm in a funk and have been for a long time. I know why but I don't care to go into it. Usually I'm excited about Christmas. This year, I could sleep straight through and never care that I missed it. I'm not putting up a tree as I usually do. I don't plan to listen to Christmas music (though I live Alabama's Christmas in Dixie) and now I suddenly hate holiday shopping. I'll go to my mother's on Christmas Eve and do the whole gift/dinner thing. Maybe by then, The Grinch will have left my system.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Some good news

My dad called a few minutes ago to tell me momma kitty is home!!! she was so scared of those dogs she went off and hid. I'm proud to announce MK will be served her own can of food for supper.

To know me is to love my animals.

Anyone reading this post who has 5% knowledge of who I am, knows how much I love animals, especially cats. This summer mother and I saved a kitty from a drainage ditch, dragged her home, named her momma kitty, plumped her up and got her fixed. Sometime during the night, 3 dogs showed up on there patio. By the time mom and dad realized what was going on, Momma Kitty was gone. My guess is the dogs got her and drug off somewhere. There is no sign of fur or blood but she hasn't shown up since. Dad has walked that property several times and checked all of her usual hiding places. Its like she vanished into thin air. Mom thinks she's hiding because she got scared. She hasn't shown up since Wednesday so my guess is she's dead.

My parents live outside the city limits. That means dad can shoot anything that moves! He's got his shotgun ready in case those dogs come back! People who don't keep there dogs chained up or in a fence should be disposed of properly. Somebody's carelessness cost me (and mom) one of the sweetest kitties since Midnight (my cat growing up).

She had a very loving home for a little while.
I love you momma kitty...

And the award goes to....

Today I recieved a very special award from the Decatur Board of Education. A few months ago I was nominated for the Alabama Education Media Honor Roll by Dr. Ed Nichols, Assistant Superintendent of Education. The award goes to a journalist for outstanding coverage of public education in Alabama.

I am very honored the board thought enough to nominate me. This award means more than an Associated Press or Emmy. I think very highly of these people. I am priviledged and blessed to work with such a special group.

Mystery Trip....part 2

Sorry its taken so long to add part 2 of my trip to Little Rock, Arkansas. Here it is!

The next morning, we got up, showered and ate breakfast at the hotel. I had a toasted bagle with cream cheese and grape jelly, a cup of hot chocolate, and a swig of apple juice. Mother had a homemade waffle with syrup. Here is pic of the view from our hotel room.
After breakfast, we loaded up on the bus for a 2 hour tour. Our guide, Venita, really knew her way around. She shared many interesting facts with us. One stop on our tour included the The Old State House which was once the Capitol building of Arkansas. Another stop on our tour was to Little Rock's Central High School, where Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus joined local whites in resisting integration by dispatching the Arkansas National Guard to block nine black students from entering the school. President Dwight Eisenhower responded by sending federal troops to protect the students. When eight of the nine black students successfully completed the school year, they showed America that black students could and would endure the intense hatred that racist white students could dump on them. This is The Capitol Building. It was built over a century ago as a replica of the White House and has been used in many movies as a stand in.
These are just a few of the sites we saw. Part 3 is next so stay tuned.

A few quick thoughts...

It seems my stories are so spread out, this late in the afternoon I'm struggling to get it all together. Its Friday so I'm hoping the "news gods" will shine down on me!

I haven't posted the second part of my trip yet but that is coming this weekend. I haven't had time to sit down and blog much lately. Thank you Lydia for reminding me that I need to do so (Lydia is a faithful reader of this website and I like to keep my fans happy.)

Lydia's husband, Juergen is my camera man. He celebrated his 40th birthday Thursday. Laura Beth, who works next door at WAAY-31 really went all out to make sure his day was special. I did my part too. I took him to Ruby Tuesday's for a salad, cheese sticks and desert. Happy Birthday!

This weekend is my grandmother's birthday. Tonight, I need to pick her up a little something special. We are taking her out to eat for her big day. If you ask her, she'll tell you she doesn't want anyone making a fuss over her!! I think she really does. hahah!

I'm heading out the door to try and get some of my work finished. Have a good weekend everyone!

Mystery Trip...

Some of you may know this already. I went on a "Mystery Trip" with my mother earlier this week. We had such a good time! Here is a little of what happened.

I drug my weary self up around 4:30 Monday morning. After a shower and bowl of cereal, we loaded our bags in the car and left out for Hamilton. We got on the bus headed to Tupelo, Mississippi to pick up another group. At this point, we still didn't know where we were going.

Our first official stop was at a "Flying J's" truck stop. I had never heard of it but they've got them all over the country. "Flying J's" is an interesting place. You can buy a slice of pizza or a box of Chinese and pick up a pair of pajama pants all at the same store.

After stretching our legs, we loaded back on the bus. Paul, the brains behind our tour, informed us we we're going to Little Rock, Arkansas. I had never been there before so I was looking forward to it. As long as it wasn't Decatur or anywhere in North Alabama I was game. Once we left Memphis, the drive to Little Rock was actually surprising. The land is flat. The leaves on the trees are still very green. After riding through, I wouldn't classify it as "southern."

I learned Arkansas is famous for growing rice and harvesting cranberries. This photo is a rice field just off the main highway. I snapped it out my bus window.


Once we got into Little Rock, we stopped for lunch at the "River Front." I had a hot dog, loaded with ketchup, mustard, relish, kraut and yes, a few onions. Mom had the chili version. After lunch, we got back on the bus. We stopped for a 2 hour tour through the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. I enjoyed the interactive video showing different rooms inside the White House and the meaning behind each piece of furniture. There is a penthouse in the top of the museum. The locals say they know when Clinton is visiting because he keeps the drapes open. :)


It didn't take long to walk through the presidential library. Mom and I went outside and snapped a few photos. This one where I'm standing in front of a rusty ole railroad bridge has some significant meaning. Former President Clinton's motto during his time in office was "building a bridge to the future." In the next few years, this bridge will be turned in to a pedestrian walk with shopping vendors. The water is a fountain out front that has nothing to do with the bridge. I thought it was cool.


We left the presidential library and checked into our hotel. The good part to traveling with Marion Tours is the fact they stay in really nice places. We freshened up a bit and then it was off to the Arkansas River for a dinner/entertainment cruise. I really liked that. We had delicious food. They served the most tender cut of chicken marinated in orange sauce with carrots and peas, spicy green beans, herb roasted potatoes, wild rice, a mouth-watering cesar salad, a homemade roll and for desert, peach cobbler with cream. This is a photo I took across the river from the boat we went on. The Arkansas River is not nearly as pretty as the Mississippi or the Tennessee.

After the cruise, it was back to the hotel. Mom and I watched part of "Walk The Line: The Johnny Cash Story." (one of my favorites). Then it was time to sleep and start it all over again the next morning.

Stay tuned...Part 2 coming soon!

A blast from my past...

Girls, remember the days of vinyl? I spent many many hours with these cheerished albums. I still have these plus a stack of others. I wonder if my Disney memories are worth any cash? There is no way I would ever sale these. Please note some of my favorites...The Fox and The House, Strawberry Shortcake, The Rescuers, and Cinderella. Ahhhh...to be youn again.

On the way back from a crack house...

I was sifting through the pictures on my camera and came across this one of Emily. I took this a few weeks ago when she came and spent the day at work with me. We are on our way back from the edge of nowhere. She's on her telephone chatting and Kevin, who is not in the photo, was on his telephone chatting. 2 separate conversationsn in one vehicle was pretty tricky :)

Hope you had a good week, Em! Glad you are home! Lizzie

Where is it??!!

This is a shot of my desk. I see news scripts, pens, pencils, cellphones, hand sanitizer, cell phones, etc. Everything a girl needs piled under a lot of...stuff. And no, there is no method to my madness.

The view outside my office window...

The top photo made a really cool picture of the sky as the sun is going down. The bottom photo is a shot of the Morgan County Courthouse.

Catching up...

Its been a few days since I've blogged. I'm off today! Its cloudy and rainy looking out so I'll probably stay in and clean house. Really, that's not an option. I'm trying to pack up my summer clothes so I can make room for my fall/winter wardrobe. I hate changing out my closets. I've got laundry piled up and dirty dishes to wash. I need a maid!

Emily is in Andulsia this week training to be a firefighter. Good luck, Em!

I think the FHU Reunion is coming together somewhat. My friend Tracy is coming up that Saturday. Catherine says she is planning to go. Rhea is a maybe and I'm not sure about Kris. I think it will be fun to see everyone after 10 years.

I need to get off my lazy rear and get started.

May the force be with you...

Friday the 13th...

And what a "harrowing" day its been! The bottom of Kevin's Jeep fell out on the way to the county board of education building. We made it to Good Year before it finally quit. The belt and some other gadget broke and fell off. We hitched a ride with a mechanic who talked all the way to the BOE and back. We were just thankful to get a ride to our last minute interview. When we got back to Good Year, more bad news. The belt was to big and the part they needed to safely fix the problem wouldn't be in until Tuesday. So I had to grab a ride with another mechanic. He drove me to the office. Guess what we found laying in the roadway...the parts that fell out from underneath Kevin's Jeep!! They hope to have it fixed by the time we leave tonight. I'm taking Kevin by Good Year after work so he can hopefully pick up his vehicle.

I have to work Saturday night. I'm off Sunday and Monday but I still think it stinks. I've got to cover a memorial service for a pilot that was found dead this week. I'd rather run naked through a briar patch.

Enough about me...hope you all had a great day!

EG

Third times the charm...

This is a picture of my college roommate Carrie Gallagher and her new baby boy, Caleb. In addition to "the boy," they have 2 girls. You can check out more pictures of her sweet family at www.gallaghersonline.com.

Congratulations Carrie!