January has just passed us by with only writing two blog entries. We are bad bloggers.
But we have lots to tell you all.
First, for those of you we have neglected to tell: Dave and I are expecting our first child! The baby is due at the end of July.
I have been feeling much better since the start of the new year, and we hope to learn the sex of the baby sometime in March.
I also started teaching my class on online journalism this past week at Southern Connecticut State University. It's going to be a challenge. I have 15 students, who are all juniors and seniors.
I rambled through the first class because of nerves -- only to find that I still had 30 minutes left after reaching the end of all of my material. I improvised and held a discussion about the future of newspapers.
The second class was cancelled due to ice! New Englanders aren't as tough as Midwesterns.
This past weekend, we celebrated my birthday -- the big 30! Nate and Kyle took the train up from Washington, D.C., to be a part of my birthday bash on Saturday night. Dave graciously hosted the party. About 20 friends, family and co-workers helped to usher me into my 30s.
Unfortunately, Dave and I didn't take many photos, but my brother did. Check them out here.
We both are looking forward to spring and to the further growth of my belly. Our little chick is doing well.
We hope all is well with all of you.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Mystery Solved ... Sorta
As you may recall, I puzzled last year over not one, but two mystery magazine subscriptions that no one came forward to claim credit for.
"Outside" started arriving followed shortly thereafter by "Men's Health." Now I'm up to my ears in magazines and asking, "Why me?"
Well, I finally called "Men's Health" this morning to find out. The real culprit: Reserve America.
It seems that when we made our reservations for camping last May at Mount Greylock the folks at Reserve America pegged us for a couple of gift subscriptions — or at least that's what the customer service woman at "Men's Health" suggested.
It still doesn't make a lot of sense. At any rate, I cancelled "Men's Health" but think I'll keep "Outside" until the subscription runs out.
"Outside" started arriving followed shortly thereafter by "Men's Health." Now I'm up to my ears in magazines and asking, "Why me?"
Well, I finally called "Men's Health" this morning to find out. The real culprit: Reserve America.
It seems that when we made our reservations for camping last May at Mount Greylock the folks at Reserve America pegged us for a couple of gift subscriptions — or at least that's what the customer service woman at "Men's Health" suggested.
It still doesn't make a lot of sense. At any rate, I cancelled "Men's Health" but think I'll keep "Outside" until the subscription runs out.
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Year That Was/Is
What a year!
And what an end to that what-a-year!
We snuck away from our "real lives" for a week last month to journey back to the Midwest for some (Liz) family time. A red-eye train ride to Washington, D.C. A two-day drive with Nathan and Kyle to Wisconsin. A day trip to see the Bittner clan in Prairie du Chien. An overnight trip to Oregon, Ill., to spend Christmas with the Putnam clan. And finally a Mexican restaurant outing with the Sarahs and their families.
And don't forget to ask Liz and Nathan about their impromptu performances in the Christmas Eve service's bell choir.
The train ride home, from Chicago to New Haven, made us glad to finally see the apartment again. We're still trying to work off the holiday pounds. Meanwhile, I passed into the new year on a midnight train to New Haven after a New Year's Eve shift at Fox News. Liz worked from home and then fell asleep on the couch.
A barrel of fun we are.
End note: We checked out the new movie "Doubt" yesterday. Absolutely wonderful! Kind of a literary thriller, packed with ambiguity, parallelism, motifs, well-drawn characters and foreboding. The English major in me rejoiced.
And what an end to that what-a-year!
We snuck away from our "real lives" for a week last month to journey back to the Midwest for some (Liz) family time. A red-eye train ride to Washington, D.C. A two-day drive with Nathan and Kyle to Wisconsin. A day trip to see the Bittner clan in Prairie du Chien. An overnight trip to Oregon, Ill., to spend Christmas with the Putnam clan. And finally a Mexican restaurant outing with the Sarahs and their families.
And don't forget to ask Liz and Nathan about their impromptu performances in the Christmas Eve service's bell choir.
The train ride home, from Chicago to New Haven, made us glad to finally see the apartment again. We're still trying to work off the holiday pounds. Meanwhile, I passed into the new year on a midnight train to New Haven after a New Year's Eve shift at Fox News. Liz worked from home and then fell asleep on the couch.
A barrel of fun we are.
End note: We checked out the new movie "Doubt" yesterday. Absolutely wonderful! Kind of a literary thriller, packed with ambiguity, parallelism, motifs, well-drawn characters and foreboding. The English major in me rejoiced.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Pardon Us, We're Outtatowners
I may spend five days a week in Manhattan, but the workaday grind hardly allows much time to get to know the city. And since we live in New Haven, Conn., we figured that qualified us to call ourselves "outtatowners" for a weekend and make a special trip to Manhattan for the holiday festivities.
Hotels are twice as expensive Saturday nights as they are Sunday nights, so booking a room above Times Square on Sunday felt like a bargain. We had drinks with a friend of mine, braved the mob packed into Rockefeller Plaza and then grabbed dinner at an Italian restaurant on "Restaurant Row" in the theater district.
I would have preferred if there were a little bit of snow to enhance the holiday atmosphere, but no matter. We rounded out the trip Monday morning with a visit to the flagship Macy's store (where the Thanksgiving parade ends) and the Top of the Rock, an experience similar to riding to the top of the Empire State Building, except that you can see the Empire State Building from this view.
Hotels are twice as expensive Saturday nights as they are Sunday nights, so booking a room above Times Square on Sunday felt like a bargain. We had drinks with a friend of mine, braved the mob packed into Rockefeller Plaza and then grabbed dinner at an Italian restaurant on "Restaurant Row" in the theater district.
I would have preferred if there were a little bit of snow to enhance the holiday atmosphere, but no matter. We rounded out the trip Monday morning with a visit to the flagship Macy's store (where the Thanksgiving parade ends) and the Top of the Rock, an experience similar to riding to the top of the Empire State Building, except that you can see the Empire State Building from this view.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tribune Co.
The company I work for, Tribune, filed for bankruptcy Monday. Tribune not only owns the Hartford Courant but several other newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and the L.A. Times, and several television stations.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Just some stuff
Sorry for not posting anything in some time. Although it seems time flies in general, it seems to go even faster this time of year.
We traveled up to Corning, N.Y., the weekend before Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday with Dave's mom, sister and niece.
Dave and I spent Thanksgiving Day at home in New Haven. I had to work but was able to do so from home. Dave made me a wonderful turkey dinner with all the traditional trimmings. We still have leftovers....
Our fake tree is up and decorated. And Callie, the cat, has already managed to eat a little of the plastic tree and throw up twice. She loves plastic. She licks the blinds, plastic tubs. We are considering a rehab program.
On the work front --- We are getting by. My wonderful boss, Jeanne, resigned this past week. As online editor at the Hartford Courant, she truly had the toughest job in the newsroom, balancing the demands of an anti-online print newsroom with the ever increasing pressure from corporate in Chicago. Her resignation means a tough and uncertain few months ahead for me and my fellow webbers at the Courant.
Also, rumors of more layoffs continue. The newspaper industry has been declining for years now, but with the recession, it's rapidly getting worse. In fact, the Wausau Daily Herald, where Dave and I once worked, as well as other Gannett newspapers, axed some newsroom positions this week.
But, alas, Christmas is near, and we have much to be thankful for. We are heading to Wisconsin to spend time with my family. We both haven't been back to Wisconsin since our wedding.
TTFN
We traveled up to Corning, N.Y., the weekend before Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday with Dave's mom, sister and niece.
Dave and I spent Thanksgiving Day at home in New Haven. I had to work but was able to do so from home. Dave made me a wonderful turkey dinner with all the traditional trimmings. We still have leftovers....
Our fake tree is up and decorated. And Callie, the cat, has already managed to eat a little of the plastic tree and throw up twice. She loves plastic. She licks the blinds, plastic tubs. We are considering a rehab program.
On the work front --- We are getting by. My wonderful boss, Jeanne, resigned this past week. As online editor at the Hartford Courant, she truly had the toughest job in the newsroom, balancing the demands of an anti-online print newsroom with the ever increasing pressure from corporate in Chicago. Her resignation means a tough and uncertain few months ahead for me and my fellow webbers at the Courant.
Also, rumors of more layoffs continue. The newspaper industry has been declining for years now, but with the recession, it's rapidly getting worse. In fact, the Wausau Daily Herald, where Dave and I once worked, as well as other Gannett newspapers, axed some newsroom positions this week.
But, alas, Christmas is near, and we have much to be thankful for. We are heading to Wisconsin to spend time with my family. We both haven't been back to Wisconsin since our wedding.
TTFN
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