Christmas in Eugene, 2009

It's Christmas!!!!!



Cannot believe another year has gone by so quickly! This Christmas has been so wonderful. I got amazing presents and had a wonderful time cooking yummy fattening meals and sitting by the tree.

This is the first year I actually got a tree and decorated it. It was so fun sipping on hot chocolate and listening to Holiday music while decorating it. I will be sad when it's time to take it down.



I got more than I ever expected for Christmas. MAC makeup brushes, (I Love MAC), MAC giftset, a DUCKS shirt, socks and a beautiful warm sweater. And even though I am working this Christmas, it's fun to be around my co-workers who are all in the Holiday spirit!



What's even better is that tomorrow I take a flight to Minnesota! I will be there for a week and I am so excited to see my family and friends!

Water Fast Day 3, Maaan my Head HURTS!

Last night was another foodie night. I cannot stop thinking about food. I miss the texture, the taste. I want people to describe food for me. I want to know how it smells, I imagine the softness of bread. I may be going crazy.



In the morning, I felt a huge headache as soon as I woke up. I drank some water and is subsided somewhat but, it was still pretty constant all morning. Here it is now 5:30PM and it's still a dull ache in my head despite drinking two glasses of water and some green tea for energy.

Today was also Cake Day at work and of course of course they had to bring out delicious cheesecake instead of the usual cake we have. Even though I couldn't have some, I did put a slice off to the side for when I can eat again on Friday.

It's amazing how much revolves around food. I learn this more the longer I stay on this fast. Watching TV last night almost every single commercial was about food. Eating is such a big part of our culture, our way of life. It's something you never even think about until you do something like this.

I also promised my 12-year old mentee that I would bring him Subway for lunch today and the smell of the fresh bread almost made me faint from the sheer agony of not being able to have it.

It's the home stretch now. Two more days. And YES I can do this!

Water Fast Day 2! I WANT FOOD!

Last night was hard. Okay very very hard.

I am used to snacking or having at least a glass of wine before going to bed usually and not being able to have anything was a challenge.

The WORST part of it however was when I was actually in bed. I could not sleep at all. I kept thinking about food. It's amazing how much you miss it when you cannot have it. If anything it makes me realize how lucky we are that we have the money and resources to eat whatever we want when we want to. I was having the craziest cravings. I wanted Mac and Cheese BAD. Like cheesy Mac and Cheese topped with Sriracha. Then it morphed to a juicy Cheeseburger with Jalepenos and a side of fries. See here I go again! Food Food Food!
That must be how pregnancy feels. Constant Cravings! My stomach also kept rumbling all night.

When I finally went to sleep it was all about the dreams. I'm pretty sure I dreamed of a mashed potato monster that I ended up eating. :)
Also I could NOT get out of bed this morning. I felt like I had been drugged. My body would not and could not contemplate getting out of bed. I probably could have slept for half the day if I didn't have to come to work.

So here we are at Day 2 and right now things are not bad. Woke up this morning and didn't really crave much of anything. I had a glass of water with Apple Cider Vinegar and then went for coffee (I had green tea) with a friend.

Now we are halfway through the day and I feel okay. A little spacy, YES ..a little light-headed YES but, overall feeling okay.

Amazing how much of our lives revolve around food! My friend wants to take me the The Eugene Country Club for lunch on Thursday. How can I say no to that? I must be strong though....willpower!

I should have expected this!

WARNING...

This water fast will make you very emotional. I just started experiencing that towards the end of the day. Of course it makes sense, no food equals major mood swings but, wow I didn't expect to be so moody. It's similar to that time of the month. Regardless I am going to keep plugging along.

I also for a brief second contemplated eating something when I got home. A little broth wouldn't hurt right? But, then the guilt set in. Lets see how tomorrow goes. I have a feeling it will be a hard day tomorrow.

Water Fast Day 1, Am I Crazy?

Anyone who knows me knows that I get very excited about new things. Whether it be a new product on the market, a new vitamin or health regimen, I can work myself into a frenzy of learning new information about whatever it may be.

Much of last week was spent researching and googling the topic of "Water Fasting". This is not my first time actually doing a water fast. In fact, last year I spent 5 days cleansing my body through the "Master Cleanse" or "Lemonade Diet" as it's sometimes referred to. I found the experience powerful to say the least. Day 1 and 2 were pure misery. Headaches, Nausea, and light headed-ness (never a good thing when a big part of your job requires you to stand and read the news for half an hour a day). Nonetheless, by Day 3, I was amazed at the amount of energy I had and how good I felt.

Think about all the crap we put into our bodies on a single day? From fast food to chemicals, frozen meals full of preservatives, alcohol ...the list goes on and on.
For thousands of years, people have fasted as a way to rid themselves of toxic build-ups and generally cleanse the body.

Have you ever skipped a meal and a headache came on, or you felt irritated, stomach growled, etc? Well, none of these are signs of actual hunger, but rather the first stages of a detoxification phase, known as acidosis. As soon as the body has a chance, i.e. as soon as you haven’t had any food in you for a while, this detox phase will start. During acidosis the body cleanses itself of stored up toxins that are in the body due to poor diet.

And I have to admit, the thought of dropping some weight is also very appealing. You can lose upto 10 pounds in 6 or 7 days while fasting. Of course it's likely to return when you begin eating as most of this is water weight.

So here we are at Day 1. Woke up this morning and wanted a bagel slathered with cream cheese so darn bad! LOL
Had a glass of water instead. The headaches started around noon but, it was nothing I could not handle. I am now sipping on some Green Tea for energy and feeling pretty darn good. Of course it's still early in this whole fast and that could change.

Am taking extra care when getting up from my desk as well. My body is not used to this light-headedness and I want to make sure I don't fall over :)

Overall, at 5:30PM on my first day I am feeling fine with little side effects. Will let you know how the rest of today goes!

Find Yourself and Don't Settle!

Sometimes I wonder who exactly in life you can rely on.

It's easy to fall prey to the wiles of a sweet talking man or woman that may promise you the world, quite quickly however you may start to see the true nature that lurks beneath the surface.

If I apply this to my own life, the people I know I can rely on are my family and myself. I am blessed with some amazing friends that I can rely on as well and for that I am utterly grateful.

As I head into my 30's I am realizing the importance of really finding yourself. I have heard the old adage a million times that one needs to love oneself before loving another but, I don't think it's ever registered until now. What does loving yourself mean? How do you even do that?

I think a big part of it comes from being alone. You can never really know how to love yourself until you have dealt with alone-ness. If you are bouncing from relationship to relationship you are never giving yourself a chance to find out what you really want and need. It's loneliness that is driving you to fill a void that you might be able to fill perfectly on your own.

Once you have established that you can be alone and just fine, you can open your heart to someone who really deserves it and meets your needs. Saying it is easy..doing it is rather hard but, the only way to do it is to dive right in....

You may hit rock bottom but the only place you can go from there..is up.

Holidays in the News Biz

I cannot believe it's Holiday time yet again. It seems like just yesterday or maybe a month ago that we celebrated Christmas 2008 and now here we are again.

The Holidays can be bittersweet when you are in the news business. Everyone seems to be surrounded by family while many of us newsies are alone. I can remember one Christmas working a Reporting shift in the frigid cold of Duluth, Minnesota. It was around 7pm when I returned home to my empty apartment.

I walked in, threw my bag on the counter and instantly started to cry. I could hear the chords of Holiday music coming from my next door neighbors home and everyone seemed to be with people they loved except for me.

As I took another microwave meal out of my freezer, I thought to myself, "why did I decide to do news again?"

But, I was not about to sit at home and ruin this Christmas. I picked up my phone and called the only person I knew in the entire city, one of our photographers Kristin. I knew she would be alone as well.

We met up at a local bar, probably the only place open in the entire city on Christmas. We sat, we drank, we talked, we laughed. I came home around 2AM feeling like I hadn't missed out on a thing.



Friends often become family when you are a transplant as I have found almost everywhere I have moved. People take me in, they feed me, they almost adopt me. Who knew ties that were not familial could be so strong? I am grateful everyday for those who have come to my aid, offered me a warm meal and provided company when I just needed to be around friends.

What will this Holiday Season bring?

Then last Christmas, I decided to do something different. Our station in Anchorage never had news on Christmas so I had the day off...but, what to do?

Turns out that answer came in the form of a chance meeting with the director of the local homeless shelter.

He offered for me to come and help with the annual Christmas dinner. I arrived bright and early on Christmas ready to help, donned an apron and spend the next 4 hours serving up a hot Christmas meal to those who couldn't afford it. Outside the snow was piling up and the line reached all the way around the block. We allowed women and children to come in first and sat them down and served them in their seats like a real restaurant. I cannot tell you how fulfilling it was for me to serve these people who had nothing and nowhere to go during the Holidays.

I may have had no family around and no place to really go but, I felt like I had honestly had the best Christmas of my life.

I'm not sure what this Holiday Season will bring but, I do know that even without family, the Holidays can be bright and merry, all from the kindness of those you may barely know.

Turning 30!

Remember when you were 15 and you thought turning 18 was a really really big deal?

Or when you were 8 and you thought turning 2 digits would be a major milestone in life?

Or when you knew 21 was right around the corner and all you wanted to do was grow up?

If there is one thing I have learned it's just how quickly time passes us by. Now here I am two weeks shy of my 30th birthday and dumb founded as to how this happened?

Of course we all get older and for some turning 30 is just another number. For me however, it's a casual nudging reminder of time slipping between my fingers.

What did I think I would do at 30? Or by 30? Happily, I have accomplished many of the things I wanted to but, I still have so many things yet to pursue.

As for turning 30, it's going to come whether I like it or not, so I better be excited and hopeful for it. If not, an episode of Sex and the City will remind me casually yet, humorously of all I have yet to look forward TO in the future :)

Here's to 30!

YES!

Woke up this morning feeling a powerful sense of "HELL YES"
No real idea why but, I think I am realizing that I don't need to put up with shit from people who really don't matter and also that I am way stronger than I give myself credit for.

It's a good day :)

Monday Blahs!

Something about Mondays! This one is just exhausting! Luckily it's a short week for me! I have Friday off which is good but, today is one of those can't get your head out of the cloud days. Do you ever have those?
Where you just are going through the motions but, can't seem to focus on what you are doing or what is going on?
It must be from the lack of sleep yesterday. For some reason, I was tossing and turning all night. No, nothing on my mind but, sleep just would not come.



The weekend was a blast however. I got to spend it with good friends and I cannot think of anything better than that. Saturday night Trinidad and I went to two cocktail parties! We got all dressed up and had so much fun. First stop was Jennifer Winter's party for Laura and Cameron. Lots of mingling and wine and fun conversation. Second stop of the night was at my friend Karl's new place. That one was a fancy cocktail party where everyone was dressed to the nines. Needless to say it was a fun fun Saturday night.



Sunday was spent at my favorite Nerdy place of all, The Library! I cannot tell you how nice it was to go and browse the books after not going for several weeks. I tell you, I could lose myself in that place for hours. ! Even though some people complain that they would never go to the library and prefer to buy books instead, I prefer to be able to read several books and then return them and start all over again. ! I have a routine even. Get my cup of coffee, head to the DVD's, then the second floor for crime/medical books, then lastly upto the 3rd floor for my favorite, fiction books. Pure BLISS.:)

The rest of Sunday was spent running errands, meeting up with my good bud Lindsay and relaxing! I Love lazy Sundays!!!!

It's Been So Long!

So truly I need a better system in place when it comes to blogging! I cannot believe I have completely stopped. Okay from now on back to blogging like before which means...every single day! I enjoyed doing it before and will continue to do it now. Look for my blog posts coming up!

Eugene Celebration

WHAT FUN!

What a fun fun weekend I had! I went out to the Eugene Celebration to enjoy what some call "Eugene's Biggest Party" This was the first year I decided to venture out and I'm so glad I did. Picture it, hundreds of people, dancing on the streets, amazing smells and tastes from food vendors, 3 huge stages with various music. It was a total blast! So much fun that my friend Lindsay and I went two nights in a row. The second night we rocked it out to this amazing Reggae band followed by "Gift of Gab" performance at the McDonald Theatre. We met up with some friends and had the time of our lives.

Eugene is the only place I have lived where you can do whatever you want and nobody seems to care. I Love the relaxed vibe of this city. Check out some of the costumes people wore to the Celebration! It Certainly was a good time.

Radio Part 2

This was just posted on KKNU's Facebook Page

We're stunned and humbled. We just found out that we have been nominated for a CMA award as morning show of the year! That's just amazing. We're one of five finalists and will find out if we win next month.

How exciting! Tracy is back and I listened to the morning show today. For those who requested it..here is the video of my doing one of my news cut ins. This is the one where I start laughing after Fox decides to bare his entire chest while I am doing the weather. Good times :)

Jingle Butt

Friends. How could we manage without them?

I am blessed in so many ways with friends that touch my soul.

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

Take today for example. When things don't make perfect sense and the world is uncertain, friends come into your life to remind you of what's good. When the mind is frazzled and the edge of reality blurred friends come in and clear the confusion.

I have many friends who do this for me. Friends who will listen to me for hours, let me vent till I'm out of breath, tell me reality even though I don't want to hear it.

One such friend is my friend Kristin. We met at my very first television job in Duluth, Minnesota. I was a struggling reporter who could barely get out a sentence and she was a photographer who always made me laugh. When work got out of hand and too stressful, we headed to the local bars and laughed and joked till nothing at work really seemed to matter much anymore. When I did live shots in the frigid Minnesota temps and my lips turned blue from the cold, I could always look forward to hanging out with her later and forgetting all about the days struggles.

We have kept in touch all these years. Even as I got a job in Anchorage and moved far away we still kept in touch. I was thrilled when I found out she had gotten her dream job as a producer at KARE-11 news. The station she had watched as a child. We always joked about how one day we would work at the same station again. She talking through my IFB as I sat on the Anchor desk. We have our own inside jokes and we always get together for Chicken Tendermelts from Perkins whenever I go home to Minnesota.

This morning as we chatted through facebook we weren't joking around as usual. I hadn't had the best day and she is recovering from the death of one of her closest friends.

As I was confiding in her, her words were just what I needed to hear. Assuring, Positive, and most of all true. The best part is knowing that what she says comes from the heart.

I left the conversation with a smile on my face.

A couple of hours later she sent me a text to make sure I was doing okay, then she followed up with a message on facebook and she keeps keeping tabs to make sure I am surviving.

People pay thousands of dollars a year on therapy when one friend can make your heart smile for free. Thank you Jingle. You are truly the best.

Radio, A Whole New World!

I arrive bleary eyed and barely awake at the KKNU studios this morning with one question on my mind...What on EARTH am I doing up so early. It's 4:30AM and this is normally when I am putting away that good book and nestling into my covers to sleep till 11AM or so. This week I am filling in for Tracy Berry who is on vacation at the local Country Station. My job consists of reading 3-4 news headlines every half an hour and following up with a brief weathercast which I put together using information from weather.gov. Although it's really really early, I must admit this is a fun experience. SO different from TV! It's strange to me to be speaking into a mic that is not attached to my blouse and not having to wear makeup or get dressed up.

My co-anchors are BARETT and FOX, two insanely funny guys who for the most part have not yet, made too much fun of me although they have resorted to calling me NATE on the air and making fun of how short I am in person. LOL.

All in all I am having a lot of fun with this radio thing. This is my last day here and I have a news cut in coming up in one minute...Just got done with it. :) These days my sleep schedule consists of me getting to bed around midnight, up at 4:15AM or so, head to the station and get here around 4:30-5ish. First news cut in is at 5:30AM and then every half an hour. Last cut in is at 8:30AM and then I head home. Fall asleep by 9AM and get up again at 12 noonish or so to get ready for work. Cannot imagine doing this everyday!

One thing I have had to adjust to is listening to all this Country Music...cannot say I am the biggest fan but, I am getting used to it and dare I say this....I may actually be liking a couple of the songs...ahhhh

Why Men Won't Commit

A question that has plagued me forever and contines to plague me...while searching for some answers from women who have wondered the same thing, I came across some interesting observations ...I thought posting them in a blog format seemed fitting.:

What do you do when men won't commit? You can jump ship at the first sign of panic and save yourself the heartache of attachment and endless tears, or you can sit there on the turbulent seas of his indecisiveness hanging on for dear life and praying that you don't get tossed overboard before you find his emotional life preserver... but hey... realistically speaking, why bother?

The second category of men have women lined up to get them to commit. These kinds of men will make these women wait - there's a wait time of approximately 2 billion years.
These women are convinced they are going to be THE chosen one. The one who finally snag him, the one who didn't let him get away so they will put up with bad behavior because after all, that's just the way he is.
This switch in a woman's brain is called her nurturing switch but when turned off, it becomes very deadly.
A woman whose "switch" has gone off will do things like beg, crawl, whine, accommodate, be understanding, remain "friends," feel bad, and plain out lie to herself because she's confusing a "connection" with a real relationship.
It is because she's using a primitive part of her brain that is supposed to help her take care of her offspring - a non-committal man becomes her "baby"
He says he's not ready so she accepts it. He says he wants to live together first, so she agrees. He says it's too expensive to get married and she nods up and down. She just can't find the power to climb up out of the hole of negative emotional conditioning.
So she's ready to give him sex. She's ready to move in together without a ring. She doesn't mind being the waiter girlfriend because her non-committal man would rather put a new flat screen TV on his credit card while thinking "Marriage? Whatever!"

Some women, however, are already past the position of the hypothetical young woman addressed in the first post. They are in a relationship; the man has, to some degree, already made a commitment, but they cannot get him to take the next step (whatever that may be).
My advice for women in this situation is: withdraw. If you are not getting what you want, pull back. Break up with him and tell him why. If you live together, move out. Make it clear that what you want cannot wait any longer. And if he won’t get on board, then set sail without him.
This will do one of two things.
1) He’ll freak out, realize what he’s got, and make the commitment you want.
Or,
2) He’ll let you go.
Number 2 sounds terrible, especially if you are in love with the man, but understand that you cannot have a deeper commitment with someone who doesn’t want to commit to you. If he’s willing to let you go, that means he’s willing to let you go. You should just take the hit – as hard as it may be – because, in the long run, you’ll have the opportunity to meet someone who will commit to you in the way you want.

I think it's all good advice..why be with someone who does want want YOU and Just YOU.

So PROUD!

We have been walking the hill since August 12th! That is a LONG time, especially for someone like me! Anyone who knows me will tell you that I get very excited about something initially for a short period of time and then BAM..will move onto something else. It drives my mom crazy! This is different though. am so proud of us! Today I happened to forget my tennis shoes and workout clothes at home and I made it a point to go back and get them. Me? Workout? It's made so much easier having friends to walk with. The real challenge will come after this week when Denae leaves for vacation. Can I walk the hill for 2 weeks myself? Stay tuned.

Reality

One thing you realize as you get older is that you cannot change anyone. You may try, thinking if you love them more, coddle them more, treat them differently, conversate that somehow you can get someone to budge but, it will never work and it can be very hard to deal with.

People do as they please.

It's like an alcoholic on shows like Intervention. The entire family is urging them to go to treatment but, the alcoholic says no way and so that is how it goes.

I really like the book, "He's just not that into you" for that very fact. It basically states that if a guy is not calling, texting or paying attention to you, well guess what, he is just not that into you" But, is it that simple? Why do we as women always rationalize things. Are we too scared too face the truth?

Do we want so firmly to believe that another explanation must be the case that we end up fooling even ourselves?

Perhaps if we were more realistic we could move quicker from the heartbreak and blows of the end of a relationship.

However, things are so much easier said than done. I have friends who can read empowering female quotes till the cows come home. Hear how worthless he was from dozens of friends but, still go home and deal with it alone and it's back to that haze of reality again.

If only we could be mind readers life would probably be much easier but, until then it's best to trust ur gut. We usually know what is going on but, are afraid to accept it as truth. Accept it. Deal with it and Move on. Reality may bite but, it's called reality for a reason.

Hurray for SHAN!

So I have never been much of a cook! Ok, I take that back..I can usually whip something up but, only if I have time and lately it seems like I have none of it. One thing that helps me out! SHAN MASALA.! Experienced cooks like my mom may scorn it but I add it to everything. You can get different SHAN Masala boxes for different dishes. One flavors chicken, another for biryani, there is even a SHAN Masala if you just want to flavor your eggs ! I add it to Spaghetti Sauce, Ground Beef, Rice, you name it! It has all the spices you need in one convenient box. And there is no chance I would ever run out because everytime my mom comes to visit she loads me up on another 30 boxes! Shan Masala can be found at most Indian stores and you can usually find it on a special sale!

As a matter of fact, I just had leftover Spaghetti Sauce flavored with Shan Masala just now! YUMM

Home...

Few words are sweeter than the word Home. There is something to be said for familiarity. A place where the streets make sense, where you can point and say.."I remember being 10 years old and going there!" and where you never really worry about your car breaking down because you know you can call hundreds of people who will come and help you.

Home.

For me it's Minnesota. It's home. Where I can walk the park across the street and remember nights of sneaking out with my neighbor to take a midnight walk. Where I can drive down Highway 101 and see the familiar Walgreens, the Cub Foods, the US bank...places I went as a child. Familiar faces, Pakistani Aunties who have known me since I was gangly 3rd grader and seen me through my teenage phases.

Then I can drive down to the University of Minnesota campus and remember walking from building to building as a student..shivering in the frigid temps trying to find my car in the Huron Blvd Parking garage.

I could drive to my campus apartment and know that if I had no food, home was just a short drive away. I could knock on the door anytime and have a hot meal waiting, stay the night, laugh, watch movies and have that feeling of security that I was home.

Home. It's been so long since I have been back. Things have changed since. Construction, different stores and many people who have moved away but, some things never change. I can walk through the front door at home..and know that happiness is right there. The most secure wonderfully accepting place.

Home. I cannot wait to see you again.

Kahlil Gibran, The Most Beautiful Voice

How many of you have heard of Kahlil Gibran?

For those who do not know..here is a little background.

Kahlil Gibran was among the most important Arabic language authors of the early twentieth century. He also went on to become a famous author and artist in his adopted country, the U.S., especially by virtue of the phenomenal popularity of his 1923 The Prophet

His book, The Prophet was introduced to me many years ago. Until then I had never even heard of him. Have you heard the quote, "If you love something let it go, if it returns it was meant to be...if not it was never yours to begin with" Guess what? That is Kahlil Gibran.

Here are some of his other famous quotes.

On Marriage:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.But let there be spaces in your togetherness,And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bond of love:Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loafSing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.And stand together yet not too near together:For the pillars of the temple stand apart,And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

ON Love

When love beckons to you, follow him,Though his ways are hard and steep.And when his wings enfold you yield to him,Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.And when he speaks to you believe in him,Though his voice may shatter your dreamsas the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth

His words are powerful. I highly suggest the book, The Prophet.

Medical Mystery!!!!!

So who likes being sick? Certainly not me but, lately that seems to be ALL that is happening. Had another doctor's apt today and everyone from the insurance receptionist lady to the nurse to the Doctor of course, knew who I was from the LAST time (one week ago) that I came in. One thing I have realized lately is how much we take our health for granted. Here I am sick and all I want is to be well. But how often are we well and we don't even think twice about it.? Isn't like so strange that way?

I just hope I get well. I hate being sick all the time. It's not fun at all.

Crossing the Line?

Last night I decided to go out for a bit with some of my friends here in Eugene. We went to the Davis Nightclub, one of the local clubs in town. I always like to talk to people when I am out and I had an interesting conversation with a guy standing outside. He was an avid Fox News @ 10 viewer. He proceeded to tell me how much he enjoyed the show which is always nice to hear. He also told me he watches what I wear everynight..(hmmm a little creepy no?) and then said. "But, sometimes I look at what you are wearing and think.."What was she thinking?" Ahhhh What do you say to something like that? You want to be polite and nice but, come on! I think I responded with something like..."well I always appreciate feedback"...lol....crazy! Thoughts?

Lane County Fair Giveaway!

Well another week means another drawing here at Fox News @ 10. Last night we gave away four sets of tickets to the Lane County Fair!

It's always fun to giveaway the tickets for sure. I had over 100 emails this time and even two handwritten letters from folks wanting tickets. I wish I wasn't so soft-hearted. I always want to give tickets away to everyone! :)

We had a little surprise for our viewers...after Seth picked out four names, we announced that we had two extra sets of tickets to giveaway! Big thanks to our Fox News @ 10 intern Ryan who takes care of all our promotions and even made our FOX BOX, that we use to put all the entries in!

Here are a couple pictures from last night!

Totally Excited about our drawing

The Fox Box

The Hellish Hill!

Well we did it! Another day of walking up and down the treacherous hill. I have found it's so much easier to do when you are chatting away with good friends! We started our trek last week and the first day was KILLER! My legs felt like Jell-O. Now, it's getting easier! The hill is the steepest grade in Lane County! Can you believe that? It's also crazy to DRIVE up it when it's winter and snowy!

Here are a few pics of our adventures!