We are Also Family

Here we are...15 (I'm behind the camera again) members of the McKee clan on Christmas Day. This is mom's side of the family, and for the most part, we're all here. My brother, his wife, and their kids were not...but that's an entirely different story. It's a dysfunctional family but we love each other.

Although I was only home for about 30 hours, it was a good trip home. Perhaps it was the perfect amount of time. Enough hours to catch up...but not enough time to get annoyed with everyone. I jest, I jest....sort of.

One highlight of this Christmas: a LONG-overdue present.

Yeah, that's a Teddy Ruxpin. Remember him? I do. I wanted him when I was 5 years old. I really wanted him...a lot. But for some reason, Santa decided I didn't deserve him. I'm not sure why. I got everything else I wanted. What was the big problem with Teddy Ruxpin? Over the next 20 or so years I never let my parents...uh...I mean Santa...forget the fact that I never got a Teddy Ruxpin. Well, at the age of 28, the issue has been rectified. I opened up a Teddy Ruxpin on Christmas morning.

The entire trip would have been great had a storm not blown into Salt Lake the night I was supposed to leave. As soon as I got to the airport, the snow started to fly. The plane that I was supposed to ride on back to Boise wasn't allowed to land in the blizzard and was diverted to, of all places, Boise. I didn't get home until 1 am. But compared to other travel delays across the country this past week, I'm sure I got off easy.

Merry Christmas (by the way...I'm sick of people saying Happy Christmas. When did that get started? It's Merry Christmas people)

Bits & Pieces

I apparently spoke too soon when I wrote this post about Boise not getting much snow in the winter months. While it's true I haven't seen much snow outside my apartment door, other parts of the Treasure Valley have gotten slammed. More snow is on the way too. Besides the freeway and some major main roads, I've been driving on snowpacked roads for the past week or so. All I need to do now is make it up to the slopes.

There are people who call the station and ask to talk to the weather guy. When someone calls, one of two things will happen. They will either criticize you for the inaccurate forecast you gave that day. Or they're calling for a personalized forecast. Believe it or not, it's the latter that I find most annoying. Instead of listening during the news, they want you to tell them personally what the weather is going to do. I'm sorry people. I'm not your personal butler. On top of that, I'm not even a trained meteorologist. I just play one on TV.

When I was in middle school we had the opportunity to fly the friendly skies for free. Our school had a partnership with a now defunct airline in which free tickets were given to hundreds of students a year. The point was to give them the opportunity to ride in an airplane. A few of those flights were all-day trips. I went on one to Seattle. We left early in the morning...toured the city for the day...then flew back that night. But most of the trips were "turnaround flights." We'd fly to the airport...wait a little bit...and then fly back. They were short and pointless...but kind of fun. I only bring this up because I'm about to take a very quick trip back home to SLC. I'm flying out tomorrow and flying back Christmas day. Good story huh?

I was in Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago saw a book display set up titled "World Affairs." EVERY SINGLE book was about Barack Obama. I'm happy he won but there has be more going on in the world than his election.

Merlin has gotten quite big since I got him this fall. He really is a damn cool cat. The best word to describe him: Chill.

Finally, I stumbled upon a Christmas song that is apparently a classic. I heard it on the radio today and thought it might be some sort of a joke. Then I looked online and learned "Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey" has been around for decades. Have a listen...if you haven't heard it already.


Merry Christmas

We are Family

Here we are...31 (I'm taking the picture) members of the Graves clan. Frankly, this was a dismal showing at our annual family Christmas party. There were quite a few who didn't even show up. Some had good reasons for not being there. Others did not. Either way, it was good to see everyone. Still, being with the family reminded me of how much things have changed. My young cousins, the ones I used to chase around the house at family get-togethers, are now in their teens. I was floored when I heard that one of my cousins was "with her boyfriend." Boyfriend? Isn't she too young for that? Actually, no...she's not. I can see their faces changing...as they get get older. They look like adults now. I'm sure people saw those same changes in me as I grew up. It's strange to see them myself. I was also reminded of how this big family has never really been the same since its matriarch died. Grandma Rosie was the glue. She'd be 86 if she were alive today. But it's been 15 years since she's been gone. I was 13 when she died. Her little, non-descript, blue house on Salt Lake City's west side was the epicenter of our family. I have so many memories from that house...not the least of which surround holiday family gatherings. Things have definitely changed since she's been gone. We've all pulled back a little. There's not as much closeness as there once was. It's sad. It's also inevitable in many ways. As a big family grows larger, more and more members move to the periphery. It certainly doesn't help when some people move away (myself obviously included).

But we're all still smiling in the picture above. I think we're all genuinely happy to see each other. It's not like we hate each other (most of the time). Things have just changed a little. That's okay though. We all know we're family and there is genuine warmth in the hugs we give each other.

The moral of the story: savor all your family time. Things will change before you know it.

Goodbye Utah, Adios Montana

I got pulled over this week for not making a complete stop at a red light while exiting the freeway. An ISP trooper just happened to be in the right spot to catch me. It happened on the way to work. I guess a car speeding off the freeway at 3 in the morning arouses suspicion. Whatever.

I wasn't worried about getting a ticket for it. I was worried at what the trooper would say to the facts that I didn't have an Idaho driver's license and my registration was expired. Overall, she was pretty cool. She gave me a ticket for the registration because it was the cheapest. She let the other two things slide...as long as I promised to make a complete stop next time, and get a new license.

That's what I did today. I surrendered my Montana license and my Utah plates are no more. It's kind of sad. I was attached to my Montana license and I liked the simplicity of the Ski Utah plates. Now I have plates that say "Famous Potatoes." Kind of lame. In fact...I found some guy's random blog entry which makes the case for a new Idaho plate.

Incidentally, Idaho makes you take the written driver's exam if you're coming in from out of state. I was a little nervous but I passed. I passed the motorcycle test as well so I could keep my motorcycle endorsement. On top of all that, I still have a CDL. I'm all set if I need to head back to Glacier and drive the Reds.

Substitute

I was all set to sit down and blog about my trip home. I wanted to analyze the strange behavior of the Graves family which I saw at our annual family Christmas party. Alas, I left my camera at work and I feel any recollection would be subpar without a couple photos I took. So I'll leave that post for later.

For now...how about some of my favorite entertainment courtesy of YouTube.

This made me cry...seriously.


I think this is the stupidest, most ridiculous thing anyone could ever buy. And frankly, it creeps me out a little.


This is by far one of the best news bloopers I've ever come across on the internet.


The Soup is an obsession of mine. This is one of the better clips of late.


And finally...this is pure magic. These are the lyrics some English-speaking dude hears when he sees this Indian music video. This crap belongs on MTV.

Snowbound No Longer

Winter 02/03 - Winter Park, Colorado and The Canyons, Park City, Utah
Winter 04/05 - Big Sky, Montana
Winter 05/06 - Bozeman, Montana
Winter 06/07 - Bozeman, Montana
Winter 07/08 - Bozeman, Montana

A winter storm is scheduled to move through my neck of the woods this weekend. In my opinion, it's long overdue. For the past 5 out of 6 winters, I have been blissfully snowbound. (The winter of 03/04 doesn't count because I was in the southern hemisphere. Summer ruled the day). I've been in a place where the snow flies all the time...and it sticks around well into the spring. I've complained about winter several times on this blog. But I truly am a 4 season kind of guy and I need my fill of wintry weather. Boise just doesn't deliver in that regard. It's very much like Salt Lake. Sometimes it snows in the valley. I remember some big snowstorms when I was little. But when it does snow, it doesn't stick around for very long.

Then I left Salt Lake and experienced winter in cooler climates. I got used to it. But now I'm back in a Salt Lake-like climate. The snow sometimes flies in the Treasure Valley. But when it does, it doesn't stick around for long. I so miss Bozeman in that respect. By springtime, the snow is irritating. But in the dead of winter there, you expect the snow. You like the snow. You embrace the snow.

Here I am ready to embrace it again. But I don't think it's coming.

I'm still fortunate. I can head into the mountains for my wintry fix. I guess that's better than nothing.

On a sidenote, check out this beautiful description of winter by Dainon. It strikes a chord.

99

I don't typically participate in these. But this was a good one. I borrowed from Amanda.

The ones I've done are in red.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - only if I count my disasterous A'cappella audition
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Italy
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - does an infield home run count?
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Whoa....How you doin?

So Shania's back. I guess she came back about a month ago at the CMA's but I hadn't heard. All I have to say is....damn, she looks good.

I never really listened to much music growing up. I did, however, go through a country phase in my teenage years that lasted until I was about 21. That is, of course, when Shania Twain burst onto the scene. I immediately became infatuated with her. Ask some of my friends about the Shania Shrine in my high school journalism class. Better yet, ask Kathryn about it. I'm sure she has a story to share.


My Shania obsession has faded quite a bit over time. Still, it's good to see her again. And for those who don't know, here's a little tidbit of information. I sang onstage with her at a concert in Salt Lake.


True story.

Doom & Gloom

It was a bad day at work.

Our general manager made the rounds and informed a handful of people that their jobs were being eliminated.

We've gone through several months of empty positions not being filled but these are the first layoffs. Now everyone is wondering if more are on the way.

It is not a good time to be in the news business.

Although I feel very secure in my position (though I know anything could happen) the trickle down effect is hard. Quality suffers. Morale suffers. We're being asked to do much more with much less. It's difficult to keep your head up.

I know I'm not alone in this. Every other business out there is suffering. But I'm starting to personally feel the effects of this economic meltdown. It's no fun.

Cliche

This is where and when I write about what I'm thankful for...right?

I'm definitely the kind of person to focus on what I don't have rather than what I do have. But there are those times when I realize I'm so much better off than the majority of people in this world. I've got my issues but when it comes down to it, none of them are life-threatening. That's important.

I could mention the myriad of things I'm thankful for. But I won't. I'll name one thing. Something that's especially timely considering the crap this country is knee-deep in right now.

I'm thankful for my job.

This has nothing to do with following my childhood dreams and becoming a news anchor. It simply has to do with getting a decent paycheck. I personally know about a dozen people who are unemployed right now and certainly don't want to be. It's scary and I feel for them. Necessity would force me to adapt but I'm still not sure what I'd do if I were in their shoes right now. I have a good job in very bad times.

I'm very thankful for that.

Bullets in My Bed

It's not the best story I've ever done. It's not very visually compelling. But it is my first, official sweeps story I've put together in Boise.


In other news, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. It doesn't feel like it. Some news buddies and I will be getting together for a gourmet meal at Marie Callender's. Jealous? I thought so.

Random Happenings

I was at dinner last night and witnessed something very telling and eye-opening. I noticed two guys having an apparent conversation. One of them was doing most of the talking. I looked at the one listening and saw the unmistakable look of boredom and disinterest on his face. He wasn't absorbing any of what the other guy was saying. I chuckled a little at how obvious it was. Then I realized how often that bored look spreads across my face. If it's so easy to spot it in him, then I'm not as good at faking interest in boring conversations and stories as I thought.

My co-anchor finally had her baby. I've been filling in on weather for a full week now.

Don't I look meteorological?

I look at this as a learning experience. That's it. I'm not that interested in weather. I certainly didn't realize how much we talk about it on the morning show. Frankly, it bores me. But I'd like to get halfway decent in presenting it. I think it will be good for me in the long run.

A couple days before Halloween, I went into a costume shop to look for some fake blood. This was one of those temporary shops that spring up every October. You know what kind I'm talking about right? They open up in some vacant building and disappear after the holiday. The employees are all temporary. Sometimes, they're not the brightest nor most well-groomed individuals. I went after work. I was wearing a shirt and tie. As I was walking around with a gallon jug of fake blood in my hand (seriously) when some woman came up to me and said, "you work here right?" I said no. She said, "Oh...you look like you work here." Then she walked away. Not 30 minutes later, I was in Walmart, wearing the same clothes, standing behind my shopping cart looking at cheese. A woman came up and said, "do you work here?" I said no. She said, "oh...you look like you work here." Lame.

Has anyone seen the History Channel show called "The States?" I guess it's a mini-series of sorts. There are 10 one hour episodes. There are five state profiles in each episode. It's fascinating....and strangely addictive. The entire series was on today. I almost watched all of it. I thought they did a good job of presenting Utah. The segment on Montana sucked. They didn't capture the spirit of the state at all. I didn't get to see Idaho. I really liked the one on Colorado too.

There are changes coming to work. My boss is leaving for a job in Omaha. I have mixed feelings about this. I won't get into it here. Let's just say there's a lot of uncertainty ahead.

The Utes won yesterday. Woohoo! I sat in a sports bar for 6 hours watching the Boise State game and then the Utah/BYU game. It was strange. Boise State fans were hoping Utah would lose so BSU would have a better chance of making it to a BCS bowl game. Every time Utah would score, me and 4 other people in the entire place were cheering like crazy. The BSU fans wanted to strangle me. But I don't care.

Is it weird that I like fog? I don't like driving in it of course, but in any other circumstance I find it intriguing. I walked home last night from downtown Boise. It's about a 20 minute walk. The fog was thick and heavy. I found it strangely refreshing. There was an eeriness to it but it was a comforting eeriness. Does that make any sense?

I'm a little obsessed with this blog. Its authors, my friends Ron & Jessie, are livin' it up "The Shining" style in Glacier National Park. They're winter caretakers...

....at the 90+ year old Many Glacier Hotel. The winter caretaker job was always a source of curiosity for me and other former Glacier employees. Now, someone I know, is actually doing it...and they're doing a damn fine job of documenting the whole thing too. It's fascinating...to me anyway. You should check it out.

Is it really almost December? Is 2008 only a month away from being over? Where did all the time go? Seriously.

A New Horizon

I added a picture to the banner at the top of this blog. I truly can't explain my deep fondness for this image. It's the background on my MySpace spage. It's my desktop image at work. Now it sits at the top of this blog...I think the most fitting place for it. It speaks to me. I can look at it and see a myriad of different meanings, each one just as profound as the others. What exactly is he doing? The answer depends on my mood. Frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way. How many times can you find a picture, an image, a passage, a quote, a proverb that speaks to you in a different way every time you take it in? I realize we all find meaning in such things. But multiple meanings? I suppose it may happen all the time and I've just been left out of such revelations until now. If that's true...I don't care much. All I care about is that I found this picture. To me, it's the most thought-provoking image I've ever come across.

Inspired

I should have written this yesterday. But I'm only now getting a break from the rigors of the news business around Election Day.

I wrote the previous post before I voted on Tuesday. I meant everything I said. But I feel like my words discredit what I witnessed Tuesday night. I fully expected Barack Obama to win the election. But I was caught off guard by the enormity of the event. When the networks called the race at 9:00, I quickly shuffled between all of them, catching glimpses of how they chose to cover it. Every outlet was focused on Grant Park in Chicago. I settled on CNN and sat there transfixed. The crowd was jubilant. People were crying. I've never seen anything like it. Then they showed what was going on across the world. Celebrations in Kenya, Australia, and parts of Europe. It was incredibly moving. "This is big," I said aloud to myself. "This is an awe-inspiring and defining moment." In an instant, I felt guilty that my initial support for this man was tinged with a hint of apathy. I was witnessing a rare event. Millions, probably billions, of people across the world were having the most meaningful group hug seen in a generation...and I was just barely walking into the party. An hour or so later, Barack Obama walked out on stage. He seemed different. He seemed presidential. I watched his victory speech with a grin across my face. Up until that point, I had never fully comprehended what an Obama victory would mean to this country given its racially charged past. Now, I suddenly understood. But that was only part of my quickly vanishing apathy. What truly blew me away was Barack Obama's ability to unite. Even McCain loyalists couldn't see what was happening and not be moved somewhat. It doesn't matter that millions of people chose not to support Obama this week. What I saw on Tuesday night was a grandiose show of unity. Not just in America...but across the world. It's good to see that again.

For a while I was paddling my own little boat alongside the big ocean liner. Sure, we were going in the same direction, but I kept a distance. That's over now. I've jumped on board. Let's not look back.

Apathy

I'm apathetic about today's election.

I will vote.

But deep down, I'm a little bummed.

You wanna know why?

Because I'd rather be voting the first female president into office.

Sorry Hillary. I really am sorry.

(sigh)

To Mr. McCain: I'm sorry for you too. I think you're a good guy. You probably would have made an okay president. I have my reservations about you but that's beside the point. I know you wanted it so bad you could taste it. Sorry buddy...your time has come and gone.

To Mr. Obama: Okay. You got what you wanted. While I'm cautiously optimistic, I know actions speak louder than words. Please, please don't disappoint us.

To everyone else: Go vote. It's your civic duty.

Halloween '08

So here's the deal. I haven't had an original costume in years. I've either been a Mormon missionary or a bear attack victim. Being a missionary would have been the easiest thing to do this year. But the novelty and humor doesn't have the same effect when you're in a place with a significant Mormon population. There weren't many church members in Montana...where I first donned the costume. There are plenty of Mormons in Idaho. Thus, I decided to go for the bear attack victim. It was my third go-around...and by far the best one. It was a lot bloodier. My back patio is covered in fake blood. It looks like I dismembered someone out there. Hopefully the rain will wash it away soon.

Halloween was fun...if underwhelming. It was cool to go out and see what people come up with in terms of their costumes. But it was still a night out on the town...bar hopping. We all know how much I love that. I went home before everyone else, washed the blood off, and went to bed. I'm lame...I know. But I still had fun.

Cat

I don't get why some people hate cats. I don't get why I always have to defend the fact I like them. I don't get why there's a stigma on single men who live with a cat. You know why I don't get all of that? Because Merlin is f***ing awesome. That's all I'm gonna say.

I'm not going to be one of those people who blab on endlessly about their adorable pet. But I had to post a few more pictures. He's not the perfect pet. But he's pretty damn close. So shut up about my cat. I think he's cool.

"And now...Lincoln Graves...with your Precision Forecast"

In the fall of 2006, my old colleague, Andrew Capasso, did a story on whether people on the street would recognize political candidates. He hit the streets of Bozeman with pictures of celebrities and those running for office to see who would recognize who. Just for fun, he threw a picture of me in the mix. One lady did recognize me. As Andrew laughed in the background, she said, "That's the guy that does the local weather. I forgot his name...but he does the weather."

Andrew, if you're reading this, I'm sure you'll be delighted to know that I'm about to become a weatherman.

I've been learning how to do weather for the past two weeks. My co-anchor, Mellisa, is about ready to pop...meaning she's very pregnant. The woman who was tapped to fill in for Mellisa just got a job in San Francisco. So, starting sometime in November, and going until sometime in January, I'll be delivering the forecast.

I'm okay with it....I guess. I'm not going to be very good in the beginning. The computer system is daunting. Delivering the weather and understanding it are two completely different things. But I'm excited to learn. I think it will be a good skill to have if I stay in this business for a while. I just wish the learning curve phase was already over. I hate looking stupid on-air.

Aged 3 Years

A fine wine gets better with age.

I don't.

Tonight, I was sitting on my couch, computer in my lap, talking to Beth on the phone. My screen saver rotates through all of the photos I have on my laptop. At some point, I stopped paying attention to what Beth was saying and started focusing on the photos. The ones I noticed were about three to four years old. They were eye-opening. For the first time in my life, I noticed a younger version of myself. Looking back at photos of when you're a child doesn't apply in this situation. I'm talking about an adult version of yourself looking at a different adult version. I've aged in the past three years. I really have. I only need look at the photos to realize it.

From this brief moment, I've developed a theory: the key to looking and feeling young is a care-free lifestyle.

My immersion into the news business hasn't been particularly wrenching. I don't feel as though I've struggled. In fact, I look back on where I've been and I smile at the good times I've had. But there has been stress. How could there not be? It's been a whirlwind three years and I feel like I just barely took the time to notice how disheveled that twister has left me. Real life puts you through the wringer....even if the highs outweigh the lows. I'm not writing all this with a wistful tone. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It just...is.

Three years ago I was carrying luggage for a living and hiking all day. Now I'm into my third year of trying to be a responsible adult. It's worn me down a little...and I'm just now noticing. I don't know what this means for the future. I can't go back to the way things were. I don't even want to. But now I see my four years spent as a wanderer weren't just good for my spirit. They were good for my health. I'll have to figure out how get a little closer to that point. For now, I suppose I'll just try to have a little more fun in my life.

Merlin

I don't know how it happened. I wasn't planning on it. If anything, I was thinking about sharing my apartment with a creature of the canine variety. But now I have Merlin. You know what he's saying in the above photo right? "Ha ha! I conned you into adopting me! I own you sucker!" Little bastard. Cute little bastard...but a bastard nonetheless.