Archive for April 2007

You Think No One’s Looking

Monday, April 23rd, 2007

Another half marathon ahead of me, another lament I haven’t done enough.  So this morning marked the day I was going to consistently be consistent about training as I face race day.  I got up on time for a quick morning run.  Not only was I going to get out there, I was going to hit the pavement strong.

I bumped into someone I knew 30 seconds in, so I ran with her as she finished up.  Thanks to the fact she’s younger and faster than I, I had no choice but to run strong.  She probably doesn’t even realize how she helped me.  I ran about half a mile with her before waving good-bye.  Now I was going to keep this attitude, keep breathing, and just glide into the end of my morning run.

I admit about eight-tenths of a mile from my finish, I started to lose steam.  But I drew on earlier thoughts to regain momentum.  I finished with my best time in awhile for just over three miles.  As I was winding down and easing into a walk, I saw a couple I’d seen near the beginning of my run.  They looked at me and said, “You are lovely to watch run.  Nice pace.”
 
Wow!  I had no idea they even saw me earlier.  Their remarks and the satisfaction of a good run lifted me all day.  I guess it just goes to show, you never know who’s watching.  And just when you think no one’s looking, you might even do something you don’t realize touches someone else.  How nice of them to let me know.  Wish they could know their words will help inspire me on my road to consistency.

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We are ALL Hokies

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

Seems like most of the “big” events on campuses happened in the near and distant past:  Kent State, Minnesota’s Red Lake shootings, even Columbine.  With each one, we never imagined we could see something more gruesome.  But now the country’s faced with the deadliest campus shooting in its history.  So as a former TV news journalist and someone who covered some of those “past” events, I ask:  how do we treat this “biggest” of major events?
 
You probably notice a new headline everyday…or at least a new version of a previous day’s angle.  Inside media news outfits, many reporters get sent out to gather information and break stories daily.  Sometimes the latter is possible.  Sometimes it’s not.  This blogger wonders what came first:  the story or the country’s interest in a new angle.

Please send your thoughts.  I’ll share them.  Out of respect for the victims of Virginia Tech and their families, I must state I’m NOT implying we stop coverage of this event.  But rather because of the respect these victims and their survivors deserve, I ask how much coverage of April 16 th is overkill?  And should we turn our lens to focus on reporting about and analyzing the underlying issues which led to tragedy?

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WILD about my team

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007

Now’s the time to get tough, get strong, get WILD.  If you aren’t a hockey fan, try to become one…at least now through the Stanley Cup.  Minnesota hockey fans know their team faces a tough opponent in Round One of NHL Playoffs:  Anaheim.  This morning’s StarTribune features a tribute to one dynamic duo on the Minnesota Wild:  Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik.  Check it out.  If you don’t know/care about hockey, their story will inspire you.  If you’re a hockey fan, you’ll nod and laugh and wish you played.

Strong themes trumpeted by the sports writer include respect for teammates and passion for one’s livelihood.  You don’t have to lace up skates everyday to let these messages skate into your life.  Demitra and Gaborik seem to know they’re better together than as separate parts.  While these guys are the first to admit it, fans enjoy watching it.

Do we acknowledge and affirm these kinds of relationships with our family, with our partners, with our co-workers?  Let’s honor the most inspirational season in Minnesota hockey in a long while and the duo that keeps scoring.  Check your life for the best teammates and people who make you better.  Then give them some points for being on your team.

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You Wear It Everyday

Thursday, April 5th, 2007

Do you know what a good hair day is?  If you’re like many people, you know when you’re having one but might not know how to describe it.  And somehow it kind of makes everything else better.

To help my journalism students figure out their good hair day definition plus make it more in their control, I called on the experts.  Rocco Salons Technical Director William Anderson and Stylist Brian Dec came to my class at the University of Minnesota to conduct an Image Workshop.

These guys have more than 20 years of experience each in cut or color.  As several students got their mini consults, I witnessed some transformations.  My students probably didn’t even notice on how many levels their enthusiasm shined for this newfound understanding.

The hair pros got my students to internalize how important the right hair is for any kind of person’s overall look.  For these future journalists, equating professional and polished appearance with credibility hit home.  Sure, students got some basic tips such as, “Stop flat ironing,” or, “Perhaps you should pluck those eyebrows.”  But Brian and William showed by example how they change lives daily. What a remarkable reward!

So whether you need to grow it or cut it, color or let your natural hue come back, may you remember something my former anchor, Jeff Passolt, told me when I reported in Minneapolis:  “Your hair is something you wear everyday.”

So why not treat it as well or better than a favorite suit?

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Taxing Fool

Monday, April 2nd, 2007

Many people fear public speaking.  In fact, certain surveys say at least 75% of Americans do.  For some, public speaking is even above death on the scary list.  Well, I don’t fear public speaking.  But I do seem to have a particular aversion to taxes.  The thing in life that’s equally certain as death.  A strange coincidence April Fool’s Day and Tax Day are in the same month.

So how do I face my fear?  With the true tax hater’s method:  procrastination.  Now don’t misunderstand.  I have no big problem paying taxes.  Of course, I am not asking for an audit here.  I just wish I could get more jazzed about getting my paperwork in order for my tax guy.  A very patient man, he even tries to give me methods for making it easier.  For instance, “Stuff all your big receipts in a big yellow envelope.  That way, when tax season comes up, you can find them,” he says.  Believe me, finding is NOT the problem.  It’s the deciphering, sorting, and calculating that tend to ruin my plans.

So here we are a day past April Fool’s, and this tax payer would rather give ten public speaking events than get tax papers in order.  So while I procrastinate, I’ll share tips that have not gone unnoticed during six years with my trusty tax guy from Nashville:
 
1. Get a good tax advisor
2. Ask questions of your tax preparer early
3. Write on receipts as you put them in the big envelope
4. Make sure you read all the fine print, if you decide to do this on your own
5. Be conservative with deductions and itemizations
6. Look into Extension Filing before it becomes a possibility

The only good news this year?  We’ve got until April 17 instead of April 15.  Thanks to the calendar gods for their strategic placement of Sunday!

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