Day 3, Dollywood!

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We weren't sure what to expect for "Opening day" of the Dollywood season. Most kids are out on Spring Break NEXT week.

They continue to surprise me, all the kids meet the "height requirements" and love the roller coasters, and I say... go for it. I'll watch from the ground! We never seem to get here when it's "warm enough" for them to enjoy the water park. One of these days... gonna happen!


In years past, we've stopped at the "Dixie Stampede" which is great, but just not this year, AND, if you go, come hungry. Everyone gets a meal and it is HUGE. I now know why, the local food banks set up out side, waiting for donations. There shouldn't be anyone hungry in that part of town, with that much food going back. Let me make sure I get the title straight, too. It's "Dolly Parton's Dixie Stamped dinner attraction." Remind you a little of our "Memphis in May World Championship Bar-B-Que cooking contest?" lol

at the Tennessee Tornado

at Dollywood

County Fair in Dollywood

got em in flight!

the County Fair

at Dollywood

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County Fair ride

at Dollywood

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Day 2 of the trip

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After a day to rest and re-group, it was off to a water park for the kids, then the main attraction of the day: The Gatlinburg Aquarium. If you've never been, I highly recommend it. They have travelling exhibits, much like what you would see at our "Children's Museum of Memphis."





And, something new for us this trip, "a water park" called "Wild Bear Falls," granted this is going to be more for kids, but has things for adults as well.




There was just enough time in the day to take in "Ober Gatlinburg" and see some bears. It is Spring now, ski season is over, but there are still things for the kids to do. Be careful though, and check out the prices, they have been going up lately, and we had to scale back.

Off to the mountains

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The kids decided they needed a break... and so off to Gatlinburg we go. We love taking in a cabin, and the ride up and over the mountain into Cherokee.

First stop however is right as we get into Pigeon Forge.

The kids LOVE this place, they have one in Orlando too, but this Wonderworks is just as you approach the strip in Pigeon Forge. They are just impatient, that I made them stop for a photo after a 7 hour drive, instead of letting them in to play "right away!"



But it's not just a "one stop" shop here anymore, they have a great "Magic Show" as well as a dinner show. Nick loved the magic, Terry Evanswood has a wonderful "family" show... and the the "Hoot and Holler" was even better than expected, the
main character was so good at working the audience... it was a real treat. His name Danny Devine, but I believe that is a stage name... because I can't find much info on him, on line.


Tomorrow, it's off to the Aquarium and a water park and then Dollywood.

Easter Bunny comes to Lollipops

Savannah and Alyssa

at Lollipops, they hosted a "Bunny Brunch"


From Left to Right:
Savannah, Alyssa, Stevie, Bunny, Friend

Stormy Monday

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Okay... not stormy, but interesting... a cold rain and at times rains/snow mix moving out quickly across the Mid-South... First week of spring... looking a whole lot better.

Learned something new about myself over the weekend. I'm not a hockey fan. I tried, I really tried. I went to our Riverkings over the weekend, and the action on the ice was fun and great... but you know what got the greatest attention from the audience? The fights. See, that's fine for you if you love that kind of thing, but it's blatant, almost "wrestling like" where the refs allow it, and then break it up before it gets out of hand. It's just not for me, and I'm not going to bring my kids back to watch it either. Sorry. I wish them the best of luck, and for hockey fans to continue to support our local team, they're called the "Mississippi Riverkings" and they play at the "Ice Palace" which is at the DeSoto County Civic Center. The hosts of the Riverkings couldn't have been more pleasant and accommodating. They are great.

So, maybe you've learned something new about me. I don't care to watch fights, or violence for that matter.

Here I am on the jumbo tron doing the weather at Riverkings

We just did a story about a nanny roughing up a toddler. The parents were pressing charges. I couldn't watch it. I didn't want to watch it. Oh, and those UFC or what ever cage match fighters where they try to beat the living crap out of each other. Pass. I have to change the channel when their commercials come on. I don't want my kids watching that either.

Looking forward to a couple of days off later this week. Be well.

Sandy, Dana, & Pam. LIFEBLOOD DeSoto branch

at Lifeblood in DeSoto

Thursday

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Off to "Lifeblood" this afternoon, hopefully the "3rd time is the charm." As my attempts Tuesday, (they were booked and I had several kids with me) Wednesday, (I showed up at 4pm just as they were closing) didn't quite work out... Today, should be a smooth, 3 times in 3 months visit to Lifeblood. I have been going every few weeks in attempts to get my "iron" levels down. I should be able to get in and out early at the DeSoto branch, as our Noon show today, is actually at 11am, due to NCAA basketball coverage.

It's spring break for the kids, and today the weather is going to be perfect for them to be "outside," we've been cloudy for several days, now sunshine and 60's. Stormy, windy weekend ahead, it's a "enjoy it while you can" scenario.

Started a new page on Daybreak. I'd been searching for a way to say "hello" to folks that I run into when I'm "not at work." I like to give them a "shout out" but it's tough to remember these names, or take pictures, and upload them, and find a place for them on the show. I think I've figured it out. "See me, Stop me!" was born. (Thanks George Brown for the name suggestion)

Now, anyone from the Daybreak show, can take a picture with a fan/viewer and email it to this site. It posts automatically. Just insert location and name... and done. Then I go on the air and take 10 seconds to say "hello" to people I've met, or Kris, or Markova (or Corie, Candace, Melissa) we are the only ones with the top super secret email address that allows us instant access to the site.

I am still not 100%. I'm wondering if I have allergy trouble, since I really haven't gotten "sick, sick." Like with fever and all the fun things that go along with have the flu. So, Zertec! Sudafed, Benedryl. All my friends as of late. It's a wonder I'm still standing. I am "well enough" however, to give blood. (for that you get to lie down.)

I will get some pictures today, and hopefully they'll post just above this message, if I do it right. And they'll appear in my "See me, Stop me" site as well. One picture, 3 different email addresses, that's working smarter, not harder.

What more can I do?!?

so I am at the

so I am at the DeSoto County Lifeblood, and they are BUSY! Thanks for coming out and 'giving'!

Friday

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It's a Friday, I tell you that as I believe my mood (probably like yours as well) changes as the week progresses. As in, my view, my take on the world and life may be different on a Monday as opposed to a Friday. I'm sure the weather has something to do with it as well. Yesterday could not of been any better. Today, cloudy, cooler, rainy, wet. The weather patterns for the Mid-South are changing. I can feel it, it's 24 years of reporting the weather here.

Was off yesterday, (Thursday) and the weather was spectacular. Joined Jeremy from the station for a presentation of "Teacher of the week" at Whitehaven Elementary. Jeremy is an amazing photographer/editor. He even has his own movie out. It's gone global, it's a horror film, so I'll likely never see it, but I know he does great work and its always a treat to work with him. I was also most impressed with the school and their "check in system" which is now computerized. I'm surprised the kids at my school don't have that.

Tonight my friend Henry (Rothenberg) is supposed to take me to a Grizzlies game, I'm sure I'll share with you my adventure, tomorrow its the "Southern Women's Show" at the agri-center, come by and say hello. Ask to get a picture with me. I have a new website that I'm hoping will catch on:

It's called "See me, Stop me" and it's designed to share with everyone, the folks that "Team Daybreak" run into on a daily basis. So if you encounter me, Kris, Markova, Corie, Candace or Melissa... just say: "Hey! See me, Stop me! lets get a picture." It's an "immediate" photo drop for us, right into the website. Then you can share it with your friends as you so desire.

Guess who's been going to the chiropractor? Okay, that was an easy one. Me. Dr. Don is helping me with my "stiff neck," with adjustments, and exercise and kind words. They are out in the "Cordova/Trinity Commons" area, so it's quite a haul for me, but not that bad when I make the travel for "on my way home" from work. Here's hoping that exercise helps with the depression as well.

Technology continues to amaze me, and I don't even have the iPhone yet. Just the ability to communicate via blogs, facebook, PDA's. Let's see, I have a Twitter account, which doesn't get as much attention as it used to, a Facebook account, which I check daily, THIS blog, the "Seen on Daybreak" blog, and now the "See me, Stop me" blog... the crazy thing? I can update each of these, either together, or individually from my cell phone with a text message or picture message. Talk about rapid communication! Okay, okay, for those of you laughing at me, saying: "I've been doing this for years..." so be it. I'm a bit behind the curve.

I hate to whine. I'm NOT a whiner. I'm not looking for sympathy. I'm a Taurus. By nature, when sick, Taurians go curl up in a ball and hide in a cave until they are better. I'm not sure if it's a cold returning or allergies. My little Stevie, Kris and his kids and now me, we've all be "jumped" by something, that I don't think is allergies. It's just no fun being sick. Especially when it affects my voice. Draining, raspy. Don't like it. Should have called in sick today, but usually I reserve that for "loss of limb" or something akin in seriousness of nature.

Savannah on the High Dive at Tunica Aquatic center

Transition

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Another week has flown by... training on some new equipment this week, getting ready for our switch over to HD very soon. It's a much more complicated process than one could ever imagine!

Not only cameras, lighting, switching equipment, we have a special "Make up" lady coming in to help us get ready for the ultra clarity HD will offer.

Then, it's my understanding that likely, more than half of our viewers, do NOT have HD yet. So you have to be careful with what you produce in HD, that it doesn't look horrendous on non-HD sets.

Our actual weather is about to take great leaps forward. Sunshine, dry, warmer. Opposite of what we've BEEN dealing with. In Memphis, Feb 2010 goes in the record book at number 11 all time coldest. Jackson, TN and JOnesboro made it up to #3 all time coldest Februaries.

No tornados, anywhere, in the month of February. That hasn't happened in more than 60 years. No complaints, just hope Mother Nature isn't "saving up."

Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, you just can't go wrong with KC and the Sunshine band. The music, and the performance. Caught him recently at the casino, and the dude is like 100 years old and is just "owning the stage." Lot of fun that night. My "Pandora" account has just spit out a "double play" of KC. First it was "Get down tonight" and now "Keep it coming love." Songs we sang as kids without inhibition, I'd be scared today if my kids asked me what was going on with these songs. I'll be most amused if Pandora goes for the "hat trick" and drops "that's the way, i like it."

Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey (born January 31, 1951) is from Florida, Miami area. If I remember correctly they were at Disney World for my "Grad Night." Oh, memories.

My mind has been in Florida a lot lately, my daughter Lauren has not been feeling well, and after several doctors visits, the problem may have finally been found. But the answer may be surgery, which is never easy on patient or parents. A quick trip to the sunshine state may be in the future... here's hoping that this is the solution to a long period of pain.