TOP THINGS OF 2008

I always like to sum up my year in a blog post. Why not? (Here's 2006 and 2007 in a nutshell...)

By far, this has been the best year of my life. And thank God, because the last couple have been pretty crappy. I can't even remember why they were crappy... I mean, I didn't have anything majorly bad happen, but I recall being in, oh, let's say... a 4-year-funk or something.

Anyway, there are given things that go unmentioned on 2008's list, though they're very important (ie: health, family's health, having a job, etc.) Nonetheless, here goes:

10. This was probably one of the most significant things that happened in 2008, but it was also one of the worst. That's why I'm putting it on the bottom: saying goodbye to Jasmine. She was the best girlfriend... and dog. Ask anyone, and they'll say how smart and quirky she was. You could put a treat on her nose, and she would just sit there and shake her butt from excitement until you said, "okay"... then she would throw the food up in the air and catch it. She was a big rottie, but she was also a big baby... and I never met anyone who didn't love her.

9. Discovering Facebook. Sounds kind of lame to have on my list, but I didn't really want a FB page. Now, I'm on it everyday and catching up with old friends. LP was right: FB is not that bad. It's low on the list, but still important.

8. Being recognized locally... and Jim on the Daily Show. Thanks to GO Magazine and Q102 this year... they made me feel so special.
And then, there's Jim was on the freaking Daily Show... he called this work!








7. Getting in shape. I may have griped a lot in my bootcamps, but whatever. I can actually do push-ups, I ran my first 5k this year, and I know I can be more active if I want. Which reminds me...Kate, I miss you!




6. Working at the Park Central Library. I never thought I'd have a second job on top of my full-time job, but you know what? I really enjoy it.

The people in the library district are wonderful, creative, and intelligent. And, it's really given me a new perspective on the community the district serves. I am proud to be involved with it.



5. Working at KSPR. At first, it was a truly difficult adjustment... not because of the job itself, but it was hard to leave something old for something new. And honestly, I was surprised and heartbroken to learn that some people were not very supportive of my decision to be a part of a new opportunity. This year has been much better, and I'm the happiest I've been since moving to the Ozarks in 2003. Plus, have you heard? We were #1 on election night...and our ratings are steadily increasing to help make us the fastest-growing station in the area. Not very many people get the chance to be a part of so much exciting growth.

4. Buying a house. My friend Joanna (who also bought a house in 08) says she gets it, now. She understands why buying a house is so cool, yet frustrating...why you put your heart and soul into it...and now, I get it, too. We love our house, we love our neighborhood, we love our stranger-kitties, and we love being able to walk or ride bikes with ease from our house to downtown Springfield to Tea Bar and Bites and Zen 3. Who wouldn't?

3. Being more in touch with my birth family. I am so relieved, excited, and balanced now that I am in near-everyday contact with my sister Hyun Jeong through Twitter and Blogger. I can't wait for her to marry Glenn (a white guy from the upper Midwest!) That means she helps balance out the Park Family-- two girls married Korean guys... two girls will marry, um, whities. My kids will have something in common with her kids, and our future as a family just became more real. I really like Glenn; he seems creative, smart...and cute! I just know those two will have a lot of great adventures ahead.



2. Going along with #3--my nephew was born this year! Won Hoo (Hae Ssal is his nickname, which means sunbeams.) He is the cutest little baby I've ever seen. Honestly. Let's be real. He's the first grandchild on the Park side. He belongs to my sister Yeoun Jung and her hubby!


1. Getting married. I know everyone says their significant other is the best--but they're lying! I love you, Jim! I am so excited about our future! The wedding was pretty kick-ass, but the marriage is so much better!

New Blog: CHEAP! **UPDATE**

Check out a great new blog by my friend, Marina! It is called CHEAP!

First of all, she is one of the most friendly, pretty, smart, and thrifty people I know. When I say thrifty, I'm not sure I'm using the right word. She doesn't appear to waste a thing--she makes her own cleaning supplies, she recycles practically everything, and she is just very conscious of the materials in front of her.

She's also very awesome at design. I begged her to make my wedding invitations, and if you got one, you know they were cool. Remember the spinny-thing? If I can find it in my moving boxes, I'll post it sometime.

Anyway, the focus of her new blog is how to make the best use out of something...and still look darn good doing it. Trust me, she knows what she's talking about!

Check her out! Click here!

**UPDATE** KSPR's Joanna Small did a story on Marina on New Year's Day! Great for resolutions! http://www.kspr.com/news/local/36987389.html

Stranger-Kitties are Fun Kitties.

We love our new neighborhood, and when we get some time, we'll post some pictures of our new house. We live in the Rountree Neighborhood in Springfield, which is my most favorite neighborhood in the Ozarks.

Why? It's quaint, it's charming, it's old... and it has stranger-kitties who like to be fed.

I guess they're not actually stranger-kitties because we know they belong to our neighbors Ken and Julie... but the entire neighborhood actually helps take care of them. I hope they catch any mice running around our house!

Anyway, we know one is named Charlie (he's the one with the white and gray face.) Another is named Lucky. We forget the rest of their names, so we call one Mama... and then call the others ones "kitty". It seems to work.

And they go nuts over Tuna. I feel like a cat whisperer, but Jim is the one who really loves them the most. He pets them and lets them come in the house... it's weird since he's more of a dog lover!

My Nephew as Pooh Bear! From Korea with Love!

Look at Won Hoo (a.k.a. Mr. Sunbeams or Hae Ssal) as Pooh! My mom sent these to my sister Yeon Jeong for Christmas... and then my other sister Hyun Jeong posted the pics on her blog.

417 Bride: Destination Hawai'i

Check it out! I wrote an article about destination weddings in 417 Bride! Read about my experience and of course, some faux paus!

Melissa Yeager update! She's running away!

Me, Cara Connelly, and Melissa Yeager

My friend (and former KY3 buddy, former WIBW-er, former KUJH-TVer, former KJHKer, and former Jayhawker...) MELISSA YEAGER is training for a half-marathon!

She even started a new blog detailing her experiences--it's definitely worth checking out! http://prettyinpinkrunningshoes.blogspot.com/

If you know Melissa, you know she loves PINK! You must read her story about why this year is the year to run... and what princess she'll be in this special race!

Good luck, Melissa!

Thank you, Leigh and Bryan.

I wanted to take pictures of some of our gifts this year (Jim let me open my present early--it's a new camera!) We want to Thank our peeps!

Jim as the Main Country Elf!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Jim and Michelle as ELFS!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

SHOW ME your MUG on KSPR!

WE are all terrible for getting a kick out of others' mug shots.

But I was watching a story on CNN about bad mugshots (by Jeanne Moos), and it made me laugh. It also reminded me that the Ozarks has its own MUGSHOT GALLERY, courtesy KSPR, click here to get your kicks!

By the way, I have to brag for a second... our sales team told us that *KSPR* is officially the fastest-growing network in the Ozarks. Our shining example is our 4:30 newscast, which grew 800%... that's right, I said 800%!! You can't make this stuff up. I'm thrilled to be a part of this experience--it's so refreshing to be a part of something like this. Thanks to everyone who has shown their support!

Economy Scrooged Me This Holiday.

It's been a while since I let a week go by without a post. I'm tired. Who's with me?

We're not celebrating the holidays with presents this year. Why? Because it's too darn expensive!

I bought Jim something, but I can't tell here, otherwise, he'll read it and find out. However, I did decide to make some "gifts in a jar". I checked out a book at the library, and then I made jars of cookie dough with it. It's a really cute gift, and it was made with a lot of TLC.

My friend and former roommate, Megahn, turned me onto this concept when she sent me a book from this series that had recipes for instant drinks (like hot cocoa, coffee, etc.) It was such a thoughtful gift, and I was so excited because she sent it to me in the mail!

I'm also making a few breads this year, but I really haven't found much time to do that either with the house-buying stuff.

Anyway, Happy Holidays.

I rode my bike to work today

I just moved, so things have been really crazy. It's hard to keep up wih anything! And I have a weird shoulder/neck pain that will not go away, and I think it's a result of stress. Anyone, anyone?

Also, I'm not making time to work out, and I am really kicking myself for that. I need Mark Millsap and Dave Dade. :( It will happen...

In the meantime, I rode my bike to work today. And it was awesome.

I didn't wear a helmet (can't find it)... and I rode on the sidewalks (illegal)... but you know what?! I made it in six minutes!! I live THAT close now.

Oh, and I need someone to back me up on this. I put a kickstand on my fairly expensive TREK bike. The guys at A&B Cycle looked at me like I was crazy when I asked them to do it, however, I think I'm a genius. Everyone wants a kickstand... I just know it.

ABC #1 for November ratings period

ABC wins its fourth November sweeps

Final figures: Averages a 3.2/9 in adults 18-49

By Toni Fitzgerald
Dec 2, 2008
Media Life Magazine

ABC won its fourth consecutive November sweeps period, but this one was a squeaker.

The network, buoyed by the season finale of “Dancing with the Stars” last Tuesday, finished with an average 3.2 adults 18-49 rating and 9 share for the four-week period that ended last Wednesday. CBS finished a close second at 3.1/8, according to Nielsen numbers released yesterday by ABC.

The sweeps month is used by local stations to set rates for advertisers, and ABC had won the last two by wide margins after tying with CBS in 2005.

This year the network rode a big “Stars” finale on the second-to-last night to guarantee victory, despite finishing behind CBS on the final night of sweeps.

NBC placed third at 2.8/8, Fox was fourth at 2.7/7, and the CW was sixth at 0.9/2. The latter will finish behind Univision, but final numbers for the Spanish-language network, which rose year to year among total viewers, weren’t available at press time. MyNetworkTV and Telemundo also saw viewership rise.

It was hardly a cheery month for any of the Big Five broadcasters, though, with all seeing declines compared to the same period last year.

Some of that can be attributed to the presidential election, which disrupted schedules in early November.

But a good portion also reflects the lackluster development for this season, in which CBS’s “The Mentalist” and Fox’s “Fringe” have been the only really hits of note, and the latter’s strength is based mostly on its lead-in, “House.”

ABC saw the biggest declines versus last year among the Big Four, down 14 percent from a 3.7/10. CBS was off 9 percent, from a 3.4/9, and NBC down 13 percent, from a 3.2/9.

Fox fell 13 percent, from a 3.1/8, and the CW dipped 18 percent, though it performed much better when its now-canceled Sunday night schedule is taken out of the equation. Among the network’s target women 18-34 and adults 18-34 on weeknights, the CW rose double-digit percentages.

The declines simply continue a pattern seen on broadcast over the past few years as viewers adopt new patterns of television watching. Part of the erosion can be attributed to the increasing number of digital video recorders, as these numbers reflect only live-plus-same-day viewing.

When seven-day DVR playback is factored in a few weeks from now, the decreases will be much smaller.

Too, viewers are turning to cable and other forms of entertainment, including watching some network shows online. This has also sapped broadcast ratings in recent seasons. Five years ago, NBC won sweeps with a 4.4 rating, 1.2 better than ABC’s winning average this year.

Seasonal Depression: WINTER BLUES

(This was the best pic available from google. How terrible is this?!)

I have the winter blues.

I am so tired.

I feel so heavy.

I need sunlight.

Anyone with me?

Thankfully, my friend Alan suggested I get a coffee over at the Coffee Ethic. It perked me up a bit, but now I'm coming down...