Emily Catalano ecatalano@kfyrtv.com

Summer Reading List
8-21-09

Like most people, at the beginning of the year, I made a list of goals for myself. Save money, cut back on my Diet Coke habit, travel more... Eight months later, most of these have gone by the wayside. But there is one goal I have for 2009 that I`m sure I`m going to keep: Read 100 books.

I read a lot. I always have, but I`ve definitely stepped it up this year. Since January, I`ve finished 67, mostly new non-fiction books that have been recommended to me, or that I`ve heard were great from the always reliable NPR Books.
And, most of what I`ve read this year have been pretty good. Here`s just a few of my favorites:

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln`s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities - Amy Stewart
I was a little wary to start this book, because it looked more like a field guide, and not enough like a book I could settle in and enjoy. But the stories and anecdotes that make up Stewart`s guide to poisonous plants kept my interest. Along with drawings and scientific descriptions, her book has made me look at my garden in a new light, and really given me reason to keep my eyes open during my next hike.

The Wild Trees - Richard Preston
I`ve never been to see California`s redwood forests, but after reading this, it`s definitely on my list of places to go. In The Wild Trees, Preston tells the story of a group of tree climbers who scale the redwoods, reaching hundreds of feet in the air. Before reading this, I never knew that it was even possible to climb to those peaks, let alone sleep and eat in them. I`m dreaming of trying it one day myself.

Final Salute - Jim Sheeler
This is a fantastically quick read about a subject that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. Jim Sheeler is a newspaper reporter who began writing an acclaimed series based on his interactions with a casualty notification major in the Army. Sheeler follows a few families who have had to face the reality of losing their loved one to war. I can`t recommend this enough - it really gives you a whole new sense of appreciation for the sacrifices that people make in the name of our country.

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon - David Grann
In 1925, explorer Percy Fawcett went into the Amazon to search for the fantastical Lost City of Z and never returned. Fast forward almost a century, and New Yorker writer David Grann follows his footsteps (and the footsteps of hundreds of others) in his search for the truth about what happened to Fawcett, his crew, and the mysterious city.

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression - Andrew Soloman
If you, or anyone you know, has been affected by depression, you know that it`s a confusing, lonely, and often debilitating disease. This book, by depression sufferer Andrew Soloman, is like the holy grail of understanding what the disease is about, and how to survive it. It`s long, and can be sometimes tedious, but the stories that Soloman and his interview subjects share inspire anyone who`s been touched by this to keep going.

The Geography of Bliss - Eric Weiner
This is easily one of my favorite books of the year. Reporter Eric Weiner spent a year visiting the 10 happiest places on the planet to figure out what makes them so blissful. He travels to Bhutan, the Netherlands, and Thailand, all in search of what gives them an edge when it comes to being satisfied in life. Not a natural optimist, Weiner makes his journey accessible to anyone, even those who are a little grumpier than most.

Crazy Love - Leslie Morgan Steiner
If you think that only a certain type of woman is subject to abuse, Leslie Morgan Steiner is hoping to change your mind. Steiner was a magazine editor (and Harvard grad) when she met and married her first husband. The abuse started shortly before the wedding, and continued throughout the marriage. Years have passed, and Steiner has moved on, but her story reminds us all that you never know what`s happening in someone else`s life.

Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China - Leslie T. Chang
One of my best friends is spending a year teaching English in China, so I`ve been picking up anything that could make me better understand the country. Factory Girls tells the story of the young women of China who leave their rural villages, and families, to work in the factories in major cities. Chang spent three years following her subjects back and forth between their home villages and their new lives. Definitely eye-opening.

The End of Overeating - David A. Kessler
Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler tries to explain why some people are able to walk away from food, and some cave to insatiable cravings. Kessler explains that some of our favorite restaurants are to blame by mixing salt, fat, and sugar with gigantic portions - and offers ways to help walk away from it all. Far from a diet book, The End of Overeating has made me rethink what I order when I`m out.

Born to Run - Christopher McDougall
As someone who hasn`t run a mile in the last five years, I was amazed to learn about ultra-runners, people who run 50 to 100 miles at once. McDougall, a novice runner, traveled to Mexico to learn more about a tribe who can run hundreds of miles with ease. What he learned from them, and from other ultra-marathoners, made him rethink the way he runs and trains, and gives you a reason not to spend extra money on fancy running shoes.

Out of Captivity: Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell, and Tom Howes
I just finished this book yesterday, and I`ve already driven everyone at the station crazy by talking about it non-stop. Out of Captivity tells the story of three American contractors who were kidnapped by a Columbian drug cartel in 2003....and weren`t released until five years later. With help from journals the three of them kept during captivity, their story of survival reminded me that no matter what I`m going through, it`s not. that. bad.

And, finally, if you`re not into non-fiction, my favorite fiction book of the year has been The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson. I stayed up until 4 a.m. one night, just because it was so impossible to put it down. I just picked up the sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and can`t wait to get started.

These are just a few of my favorites - I`m always looking for my next book, so if you have any suggestions, send me a note. Happy Reading!



`V` for Victory Garden... KFYR-Style
5-12-09

In the 1940s, when America was in the midst of World War II, the economy was unstable, and the country needed a morale boost, a government-sponsored campaign began to encourage people to plant their own "Victory Gardens" to reduce the pressure on the food supply brought on by the war effort.

Today, six years into the Iraq War, our nation isn`t as concerned about a food shortage and the war effort rarely comes to the average citizen`s doorstep. But, with a tumbling economy, unemployment at a national high, and a spring of dramatic weather here in North Dakota, who couldn`t use a morale boost right now?

Which brings me back to victory gardens.

When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, my parents always planted a small garden. There wasn`t ever much - just some peppers and tomatoes, lettuce, squash and a few other plants, all that were harvested with varying success. Small as it was, it provided enough to keep our family of five stocked with fresh produce throughout the summer.

The only job I ever really had in the garden was weeding it, and occasionally watering. But that`s all going to change this year. On Sunday, a few of us here at the station - Chuck Koch, Marie Arceo, Anne Kelly, Chris Gallegos, and myself - started to plan our very own victory garden. For only $35, we bought two plots at the Bismarck Community Gardens, and have big plans to fill them with everything from carrots to zucchinis. None of us have that much experience gardening, and we`re all a little worried that our plot will be the sorriest one of the bunch... but, boom or bust, you`ll get to watch us from start to finish online. We`ll keep you updated with videos and blogs about our garden`s progress, and, hopefully, pictures of our bounty.

Planting a victory garden is more about saving a few dollars every week in the produce aisle. When they were first introduced in America, there really was a sense that people needed to find ways to help their communities, and help themselves. And that still rings true today. Growing your own food is one way to feel empowered, when there`s so much about our country right now that`s out of our control.

So even though all of us on Team-KFYR are a little green, we figure that if the White House can do it, we can, too. And if you have the space, plant your own victory garden this spring (or, if you`d like to join us at the Bismarck Community Garden, there`s still spots available.

And, if you haven`t seen it yet, check out Marie Arceo`s story this week on Bismarck Community Gardens.



Sunday Services
1-11-09

When I travel, I try not to spend too much time looking at a guidebook, but I also like to make sure that I see everything I’d like. I had a list of places I wanted to visit today, but it didn’t exactly go the way I’d planned.

The first place I wanted to check out was the Communist Museum. It’s located just outside of Wenceslas Square, where most of the anti-Communist riots were held 20 years ago. Now, my lack of a sense of direction is legendary, and, even with the map, it still took us about an hour to find the museum. Since I’ve been in Prague, Communism has fascinated me, and seeing the history and the artifacts from that era were amazing.

The museum has an interrogation room, an exact replica of a room that was used to interrogate suspected anti-Communists during the years. It’s also home to a tribute to Jan Palach, a 21-year-old Czech student who burned himself to death in 1969 while protesting Communism. The student protests were legendary, and a video made by the museum to show the protests, and the brutal attacks by the police in the late 1980s was jaw-dropping.

A few of my classmates and I spent about an hour wandering through the Communist Museum, and after we finished, set out for lunch. We wanted something quick, so we stopped at a street vendor in Old Town Square for a sausage roll and hot wine. I was on a mission today to have my picture taken in front of the Astronomical Clock with my Terrible Towel – and I have a feeling that will be my favorite souvenir from this trip!

Although it was cold out, we spent the rest of the afternoon touring the streets of the city, in and out of neighborhoods, taking in the sights. I also had my heart set on seeing one of the most holy sites in Prague, the Old Jewish Cemetery.

The Jewish Museum has one of the world’s largest collections of Judaic art, and exhibits of Jewish life in Bohemia and Moravia. It also is home to a synagogue, which has been converted to a memorial for the 80,000 Czech Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. The synagogue is empty, except for the names of the victims, and their birth and death dates, which are written on almost every available space.

The cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of Czech Jews, with the gravestones piling on top of each other. It was late afternoon, and there aren’t very many other tourists around, so I was able to walk through the cemetery on my own. It was epic.

I had split off from the rest of the group by this time, so I found a small bookstore with a café and read for awhile. It was getting dark, and I had dinner plans, so I hopped on the tram and headed back to the hotel. Or, at least, I thought I did. After about 20 stops, I realized that I was in a completely different part of Prague, one that was completely unrecognizable. So, I spent about an hour making my way back to the hotel, and exploring the outskirts of the city at the same time. Getting lost is never fun, but at least I was lost in a beautiful city.



Free Day in the Czech Republic
1-10-09

Although most of our days here in Prague are pretty well organized, we were given the weekends off to go out and about on our own, and enjoy the city and see the sights we most wanted to see. I’ve been excited to see Prague Castle, where the current president of the Czech Republic lives. It’s one of the largest tourist attractions in Prague, and is right across the Charles Bridge, and is part of the gorgeous view of the city.

I was finally given the chance to sleep in for a morning, and used it. After sleeping in, I was really ready for a day of exploring the city. First stop, definitely, was lunch. After riding the tram into the Old Town Square, we stopped at a small restaurant and had a margharita pizza. Pizza, surprisingly, is available everywhere around here. It’s not my favorite thing to eat (especially in a foreign country), but it was a quick lunch.

The castle grounds are very ornate, and, even though it was absolutely freezing outside, the walk was gorgeous. The views from the castle grounds, which are well above the rest of the city, were expansive and beautiful. We spent the next hour walking around the St. Vitus Cathedral, an enormous, beautiful church next to the castle. The cathedral was built by Prince Wenceslas and dedicated it to St. Vitus, a Roman saint. Work on the cathedral lasted, in various stages, for over three centuries. It’s one of the most beautiful, haunting and spiritual sights I’ve ever seen.

Our next stop was Old Town Square, to do some more shopping and sightseeing. The square is across the Charles Bridge from the castle and the cathedral, so we walked across the bridge (which is crowded with tourists during the day. It’s January, one of the slowest tourist months in Prague – I can only imagine what it’s like in the summer time.) The bridge during the day is full of artists and stands. One of the biggest tourist attractions on the bridge is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk. It’s said that if you rub the brass relief of the saint, it will bring you good luck. Hopefully, that means that 2009 will be fantastic for me!

After crossing the bridge into the Old Town Square, we spent some time visiting various stores, picking up souvenirs.

The group I was with made it an early night, then had a quick dinner. When I got back to the hotel, I turned the television for the first time, and found German MTV. Most of the shows aren’t dubbed over, so they’re in English, and what really surprised me was that none of the English swear words were censored. I thought it was kind of great – there’s a lack of censorship here that I really love.

Tomorrow is another free day of exploring.



Multi-Cultural Education
1-9-09

This morning, our group had another session with Aernout van Lynden, who explained to us exactly what the life of a conflict reporter was like. It’s a dangerous and uncomfortable (to say the least) life, but it’s also something that I think is incredibly important. His stories were insane, and had everyone on the edge of their seats.

That session lasted most of the morning, then after a quick lunch, we headed back to class for another session, this time with David Rennie, the Brussels correspondent for the Economist. He’s been a foreign correspondent for quite a few years, and most recently spent four years in Beijing. It was a great talk, because he was very realistic about the business, the types of jobs, and lack of jobs that are available for foreign correspondents. For those of us who’d like to try their hand at international journalism some day, it was somewhat depressing. But, as various forms of media all begin to figure out ways to change in the digital age, hopefully, foreign work will expand as well.

The sessions today were really eye-opening and information – a great day. Then, after we finished up for the day, we had a social hour with the other group of young journalists who are in for the course. My group is part of the international group, and we’re representing about 12 different countries. The other group is made up of about 40 students from Hong Kong. We have different schedules, so mostly we’ve had limited interaction, but were able to talk during over drinks. It was fascinating to speak to them about what it’s like to study as a journalist under Communism. They’re all young, but many of them told stories about being censored by their editors, who, in turn, had been censored by the government. It made me realize just how lucky those of us who work in a free press are.

The students from Honk Kong University invited a few of us to dinner with them, so we ventured into Wenceslas Square for dinner at a Chinese restaurant. I struggled for a bit learning how to use chopsticks (and eating tofu!), but dinner was delicious, and the conversation was fascinating. After a few courses, two of the other students from my course were interested in seeing what Czech nightlife had to offer. I’m not much of a club-goer normally, but I thought it would be fun. There’s a club right on the river, near the Charles Bridge, called Karlovy Láznĕ, which has five levels and different music and atmosphere on each floor.

After a few hours spent dancing, we were more than ready to get to sleep. The tram system is really strong in Prague, and the trams run regularly, pretty well into the night, and safely, at that. It was definitely one of the busier days I had in Prague, but also one of my favorites.



Free Journalism and Lupe Fiasco
1-8-09

Over the course of the last few days, I’ve been able to speak with some really incredible journalists who’ve covered some amazing events. And, studying here in Eastern Europe means that a significant portion of our education focuses on how the Czech journalism society rebuilt itself after the fall of Communism.

Today, our group visited the Lidové Noviny, the second-largest newspaper in Prague. We met with the deputy editor, who explained the history of the paper, and the daily operations. The paper began after Communism fell, and the editor told us that under Communism, journalism was government-ruled. After the fall of Communism, newspapers, television stations and radio stations exploded, employing thousands of young reporters who wanted to create a free press. They’ve been successful, with a handful of daily newspapers in the city, and a large audience.

Lidové Noviny has a relatively young staff, and they were happy to talk to us about the different aspects of reporting in the Czech Republic. The tour itself was fascinating, but what was more interesting to me was how they’ve mastered digital and mobile technology. In the last 20 years, they’ve advanced much more than we have in the United States in that aspect.

After the tour, a few of my classmates and I found a traditional Czech restaurant, called, ironically Lupe Fiasco (though it apparently has no relationship with the rapper) and had a local lunch of rosemary drumsticks, fried potatoes, and a light soup, which consisted of clear broth, carrots, cabbage and croutons.

Our afternoon session was with Aernout van Lynden, a former BBC and SKY News correspondent. It was amazing to hear his stories…he’s been all over the world, and has worked as a conflict reporter for more than 20 years.

The sessions usually end in the late afternoon, and after a quick nap, a few of us headed back out into the historic part of the city, close to the Charles Bridge, for dinner. (How often does it seem like my days are mostly breaks between meals?)

We found a cozy little bistro, and I had a steak stroganov dish, with creamed potatoes. (Everything comes with creamed potatoes, chunks of Russets in a creamy, milky sauce). I love steak, and I love potatoes, so it was delicious. The atmosphere was great, though there’s been one part of Prague that I haven’t really been able to get used to yet – smoking everywhere. Not only do people smoke in restaurants and bars, but smoking is permitted pretty much anywhere else. And everyone smokes. So, after dinner, we sat and enjoyed homemade cheesecake, fried ice cream, crepes, crème brulee, and coffee (and hot chocolate for me, of course), but were quickly chased back to our hotel by the smoke.



Midnight in Old Town
1-7-09

January in Prague is usually cold and snowy, and today wasn’t very different. The journalism program I’m participating in allows for one full day of writing, which has been fabulous.

For most of the day, I prepared my project about atheism in the Czech Republic, then walked across the street from my hotel to grab a quick bite to eat for dinner. The prices here continue to surprise me – in a good way. Food and drinks are ridiculously inexpensive, and the American dollar goes really far here.

After dinner, my classmates and I ventured further into the city and ended up at a jazz club in historic Old Town. The venue was small, very intimate, and the music was good. Of course, the drinks flowed and the tab was relatively small, so it made for a very enjoyable Wednesday evening in Prague. After a few hours at the club, our group split up and went in different directions. My group of friends decided to forego going back to the hotel for some (much-needed) sleep, and went out for some more exploring.

One of the most popular tourist sites in Prague is the Charles Bridge. The bridge, built more than 600 years ago, has a gallery of 30 statues throughout the walk, of saints and other religious figures. In the day, the view of the city and Prague Castle is stunning. But at midnight, a walk across the Charles Bridge is indescribable. Although it was cold, with a bit of snow falling, we stayed on the bridge for quite some time, taking in the sights.

Finally, we found ourselves at another small pub, and spent the rest of the night sharing stories with each other about our experiences in the news business. The funny thing about travelling, either alone, or with people you don’t know well, is that very quickly into the trip, you become quite intimate. The friendships you develop are real, albeit fleeting. And the experiences you share, if you`re open to them, are amazing.



Church on Tuesday
1-6-09

Jet lag is terrible, and I’m terrible at handling it. That means that I wake up in the middle of the night, and take naps whenever I can. But, I’m managing.

Our first session of the day was with a photo journalist based in Sweden, who works around the world. International journalism is fascinating to me, and it was refreshing to meet someone who has such a strong background in it.

The program that I’m participating in is split into two parts. In the morning, we meet with a working journalist for a hands-on learning session, and in the afternoon, we’re sent on assignment to work on our reporting project. We were able to choose our topics, and for my piece, I chose to write about religion in the Czech Republic.

About 48-percent of Prague citizens identify themselves as atheists, something that I found really interesting. The Czech Republic was under Communist rule in the years following World War II until the late 1980s, and religion was suppressed. After the fall of Communism, churches regained their rights, but people were slow to return to religion. I thought it would be interesting to find young people who identify themselves as religious, and talk to them about the struggles they have in a non-religious country.

My reporting partner, Lauren, a university student from Southern Australia, and I visited St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square in the center of the city. The church is beautiful, and has become a tourist attraction. There, we were taken on a tour, and met with some of the regular parishioners. They’re optimistic about the future of religion in Prague, but admit that it’s going to be a slow process to change the Czech Republic’s ranking as the least-religious country in Europe.

After the bulk of our reporting was complete, Lauren and I decided to explore the town square a bit. One of the biggest tourist sites is the astronomical clock in the Old Town Square, which is a huge, ornate contraption that chimes every hour. A crowd always gathers to hear the chimes and see the 15h-century figurines dance around the face, and, of course, we had to watch.

Prague is known for its shopping, so we spent some time wandering around the city, in and out of various stores. Czech crystal is one of the biggest attractions to visitors of Prague, though my favorite stores were the candy shops. After a traditional Prague dinner of buttery, rosemary-seasoned potatoes and hot wine from a street vendor, we made it back to the area where our hotel is. Next to our hotel is a huge shopping complex, about five stories of store after store, with the entire ground level devoted to an enormous grocery store.

I’m a bit of a food freak, so grocery store shopping in a foreign country was the perfect way for me to spend my evening. We found a small café with the absolute best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted (definitely worth a trip back), and the rest of the night was devoted to writing.

I could get used to this.



Jet Lagging in the Czech Republic
1-5-09

After a nine-hour plane ride and a layover in the Netherlands, I finally landed in Prague today. The first thing I noticed as my plane touched down was the amount of snow on the ground. Most people take January vacations to tropical locations, but I decided to spend my week off in a country that has winters that are almost as bad as the ones in North Dakota…well, maybe not quite.

I arrived in Prague around 4:30 p.m., local time. That made it about 9:30 a.m. in my mind, and about 24 hours since I slept. My bag actually landed with me, and in no time I had exchanged my American dollars for Czech koruna. Also, since my phone doesn’t work in Europe, the first thing I did was to buy one that does.

(Okay. I recognize that I’m only going to be out of the country for eight full days. But, to know me is to know that my phone is constantly by my side, night and day. The thought of being that out of touch with everyone I knew was too much.)

For me, the most difficult part of landing in a new country is figuring out currency. I’m terrible with it. So, although the rule of thumb for converting koruna to dollars, at least this week, is that 20 koruna is equal to $1, and involves the most basic math skills, I was still lost.

But, I moved on. I paid (probably) an exorbitant amount for an international phone, found a cab, and was on my way to my hotel. The ride from the Prague Airport to the center of the city was about 30 minutes, and not at all what I was expecting. Prague is a gorgeous city, with cathedrals, castles, and long, winding streets. But, it’s also very Eastern-European in that there’s still a sense of oppression, both on the fringes of the city, and in the heart of the tourist district. For instance, most cities have some degree of vandalism and graffiti, but I was surprised to see how prevalent it is in the Czech Republic. It’s not just on abandoned buildings and warehouses…restaurants, department stores and apartment buildings are all home to tags.

I arrived at my hotel, met some of my classmates, and settled into my room. Although I was pretty desperately in need of sleep, I decided that my first night in Prague needed to be spent exploring. I rounded up a group of nine of my classmates, and we hopped on the tram into the city. We decided to find the first authentically Prague restaurant that we could, and after a few stops, found one of those great neighborhood places that seem to be in every town across the world.

The nine of us represented six different countries – America, Canada, Norway, Australia, Spain and Greece. Despite our different backgrounds, we all speak English, and, thankfully, were handed us menus that we understood.

For my first meal in the Czech Republic, I ordered….Italian. I know, I know…but it was Czech spaghetti carbonare. It was delicious. And cheap. Prague is known as one of the least-expensive cities to visit in Europe, which meant that my entire meal, tip and drink included, cost about $6.

After gorging myself for hours in food and conversation, now I’m going to try to catch up on some much-needed sleep.



The Best Laid Plans
1-4-09

When you’re travelling, you know that things don’t always go as planned. You come to expect the unexpected, and, hopefully, just go with the flow.

I’m on my way to Prague, in the Czech Republic, for a journalism course in conflict and international reporting. It’s a short fellowship, which means that I’m going to spend most of my 10 days there in class, and out in the city reporting on various projects. But, I’ll also have enough time off to do some exploring on my own.

As I write this, I’m sitting in my hotel room at the Holiday Inn Select (and hoping that name dropping gets me a free voucher….just kidding), in Bloomington, Minnesota. Where I’m supposed to be is in the air, on an overnight flight to Amsterdam. Damn, is right.

My trip began promisingly enough, which means that I actually got to airport in plenty of time for my late-afternoon flight. (Thanks for the ride, Chris Gallegos). Now, I’m a good traveler. I’m chill. I’m relaxed. I don’t usually cry at the ticket counter, or curse under my breath at the TSA agents. Not usually, at least.

First, my flight from Bismarck to Minneapolis was delayed because of the weather. That was fine, because I thought I’d given myself more than enough time to make my connection to Europe, even though it seemed that I would be missing my relaxing dinner at the Minneapolis airport. But, the flight kept getting pushed back more and more, until I realized that I would completely miss my connection. Anyway, down at the ticket counter, I was told that the next flight between Minneapolis and Amsterdam was a full 24 hours from the one I was originally supposed to take.

That means that I was left with two options. One, I could go home, get a good night’s sleep, then try to take the same route tomorrow. Or, I could take the flight to Minneapolis, stay the night there, and make the night flight on Sunday to Amsterdam. Either choice meant that I’d miss a complete day in Prague, but…weather’s weather.

So, that’s why I’m at the Holiday Inn, waiting for my next flight. But, of course, it wasn’t all bad.

When you travel alone, you’re forced to move outside of your comfort zone, and actually meet people. (Imagine that.) My seat mate was on his way to the Vikings / Eagles game, and who would’ve guessed that this Philly-educated girl would meet the only Eagles fan in the Upper Midwest? And, I found a travel buddy who lives in Switzerland, and is in, essentially, the same boat (or plane) as I am. She found friends to stay with here in the Twin Cities…I found a king-sized bed and a plasma television in room 1237.

I suppose that even though my trip is shortened a bit, and I’m missing the fabulous welcome dinner put on by my course leaders, it really could be worse. Well, I’m saying that now. We’ll see what happens later tonight.

Until next time…hopefully, in Prague.



As I Lay Dieting
5-21-08

I don`t diet. I know I probably could stand to lose a few pounds, but it`s always seemed like too much work - depriving myself of my favorite foods, just to fit into a smaller jeans size? It`s never really made much sense to me. In fact, as I write this, my dinner of French fries is baking in the oven, and I`m sipping on a Vanilla Coke.

I suppose I owe my love of food to my childhood, because I grew up eating really delicious home-cooked meals. My parents had us eat dinner together every night, and so I relate food with being around family, friends, and good times - three of my favorite things. It`s not that I haven`t tried to diet a few times. I have. But I always take it a little too far, and then burn out really quickly.

Last summer, a friend from school told me about My Pyramid.gov, a government site where you record everything you eat each day. If you follow the food pyramid guidelines, you get little smiley faces to keep you motivated. But say you don`t eat enough grain, or two to three servings of dairy one day, you get a little frowny face. I lived for those smiley faces. Well, for about two weeks. Then, I grew tired of counting out every baby carrot I put in my salad (drizzled with 2 Tbs. of oil and vinegar), and went back to eating double cheeseburgers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And Saturday.

The anchors of Country Morning Today, Alison Adair and Chris Gallegos, have taken on the task of getting fit during a series they`re running called Lose Weight in `08. And, I`m completely in awe of them. They`ve been working out almost daily, counting calories, and skipping dessert. It`s been about three weeks, and they`re really doing great.

At a recent barbeque, Chris and Ali (who are my very good friends, and who I absolutely love, even when they`re chastising me), were shocked by the amount of food I stuffed into my body. Every hot dog, hamburger, and delicious spoonful of mayonnaise-covered macaroni salad I shoveled into my mouth earned me a `Do you know how many calories are in that?` or a `You just ate four servings of Doritos. FOUR servings, Emily. Really.`

Now, I`m the first to admit - I eat like a horse. I love burgers, wings, steak, fries (Ooh, and steak fries), sandwiches, pasta,
burritos, cookies, ice cream…Mmmm. Anything, really. (I even throw in fruit and vegetables every once in a while, too.) And yes, I`ve been known to go back for seconds, and even thirds. But, that`s my choice. Very few things in life make me as happy as sitting down to a delicious Italian dinner. At least, very few things I`d choose to blog about.

I know how lucky I am that I`m at a healthy weight. And, I know that someday I`m probably going to have to stop eating as much as I do. I also might have to start exercising a bit, too. Not just to maintain my weight, but also to maintain my health. But for now, I`m going to take advantage of my good genes and good luck, and order that quesadilla with extra sour cream.

By the way, Chris and Ali aren`t only doing an amazing job keeping up with their diets, they also look great. So who knows…when their challenge is over, they might be just the motivation I need to get myself in a gym.



Happy Mother`s Day
5-9-08

My mother is one of a kind. Actually, I guess I can`t really say that...too many people tell us we`re exactly alike. So to say she`s warm, funny, and genuinely cares about people more than anyone I know is actually kind of a compliment to me (or at least that`s what I`m going to tell myself.)

My parents still live in western Pennsylvania, and being so far away from my mom is hard. There are a lot of things I miss about her, with her cooking at the top of the list. My mom is a social worker, and worked crazy hours while we were growing up. Yet every evening, my mom would still have a home-cooked meal on our table. Sure, we always ate around 9 p.m., but her cooking was worth it. I`m beyond amazed that she could even find the energy to do it. I live on my own, and when I come home from work, I can barely manage to cook a frozen burrito and Cheez-Its.

Growing up, I had a close group of friends, and they always gravitated toward my mom. It took me until I wasn`t living at home anymore to realize why - my mom never tried to be our friend, she never tried to be cool, and she certainly never tried to live through us. She was always a mom first, which was exactly what we needed.

There are certainly things about my mom that drive me crazy (her ability to carry on an entire conversation with a brick wall comes to mind) and we certainly had our fights growing up (spilling sugar on the kitchen floor still paralyzes me with fear, to the point that I`ll get out a mop to make sure every last grain is accounted for), but she was, and is, the best.

I know that someday, years from now, I`m going to have kids, and I`m going to try to be exactly the same mother that mine was. Sure, some things will be different - my mom and I aren`t completely the same, after all - but I just hope that my kids will love and respect me half as much as I do my mom.

So, Mom, thanks for putting up with the craziness. I love you, and Happy Mother`s Day.



A Few of My Favorite Things
2-25-08

February is not my favorite month.

It`s cold, it`s kind of boring, and everyone in the world seems to be in a collective slump. And for the last week, I`ve been in a slump myself, which has less to do with any particular problem or concern, and more to do with general end-of-winter malaise.

Now, don`t get me wrong…I love my life here in North Dakota. I have great friends, I love my work (actually, I can`t even call what I do "work,"… I know people who work, and my fun job is no comparison), and I`m generally a happy and optimistic person. But for some reason, February always gets me.

So to remind myself of some of the great things about life, (and to prove to my bosses that I actually can handle the responsibility of a blog,) I thought I`d write about a few of my favorite things. I`m a western-Pennsylvania girl at heart, and quite a few of them are somewhat regional to "home," so bear with me.

The Top Eleven List

1. The Clarks: Not a well-known band, but I grew up with them, and they have music for any mood I happen to find myself in at any given time. Go online, buy their "Between Now and Then" CD, and become a lifelong fan.

2. Bowling: Bowling and I just met recently, but we`re already best friends. A few weeks ago, I got five strikes in a row, so now I`m thinking about upping my training for an Olympic run.

3. My video iPod: I know, blogging about your sweet iPod is pretty early-2006, but I couldn`t get through the day without mine. It helps me focus when I`m writing at work, and come on…doesn`t everyone need a little music in their lives?

4. Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations: If you`re not familiar with Bourdain, his show on the Travel Channel, or his fabulous, curmudgeonly writing style, you`re missing out. Especially if you`re at all interested in food, travel, and adventure (also known as the three essentials in life.)

5. Hot chocolate, extra milk and whipped cream : I don`t drink coffee, so I`m somewhat of an outcast in the newsroom. But, my daily "hot chocolate run" with a few of my colleagues is one of my favorite parts of the morning.

6. The Steelers: Yes, they should have been much higher on the list. But, it`s off-season right now, and I`m feeling a little alone in the land of Vikings and Packers fans. I can almost feel the glow of spring training, though.

7. Highway 1806: Since I`ve been in ND, I`ve taken quite a few long drives, looking at the sights. And 1806 (North or South, both great) always provides those classic, North Dakota views: open prairies, big skies, and even a random wild animal or two.

8. Skype.com: My baby brother is spending a semester studying in Italy (and probably enjoying the lower drinking age….hmmm, Eric?), and Skype has been amazing. It`s a free service that lets you make international calls online. You download it, hook a microphone up to your computer and it`s just like chatting on the phone, without those nasty bills.

9. Primanti Bros. Sandwiches: Possibly the best sandwich in the world. What makes them so special (and delicious) are the fries and coleslaw, placed directly between the buns. Don`t even think about ordering it on the side, or you`ll be breaking my heart. If you`re ever within, say, 500 miles of Pittsburgh, do yourself a favor and stop by the original Strip District shop. Order a deluxe grilled chicken and cheese, extra slaw. You`ll thank me later. (This also would be a good time to introduce Sarris Chocolates and Capogiro Gelato to everyone, but that deliciousness deserves a blog of its own.)

10. Smoothie Operator: I`m slowly becoming obsessed with the orange-and-strawberry smoothies from this shop on Main Ave. Seriously, pounds and pounds of fruit go into their drinks, and sometimes it`s the only thing I`ll consume all day that hasn`t been deep-fried, covered in Ranch dressing, or bought from a vending machine.

11. The promise of Spring: It`s coming, I know it is. Cliff Naylor and Kevin Lawrence have both personally assured me that the worst winter weather is over, and I`m choosing to take their word for it. Spring is my favorite season (I do love new beginnings, and all), and I can`t wait until we all can take off our heavy coats, start our cars on the first try, and see the sun after 6 p.m.

Ahh… somehow, I`m feeling much better.



Going, Going, Going
2-15-08

Someone once told me that when you find what you`re supposed to be doing in life, you`ll have all the energy and ambition you`ll ever need...and I never thought it was true before, but lately, I`m thinking they`re right.

I`ve been so busy lately, doing stories for both KFYR and as a member of MTV`s Street Team. And it`s been difficult, doing what is essentially two full-time jobs. But, I`ve also had more energy lately than I`ve ever had, and it`s led to some really good stories.

Last week, in order to cover Super Tuesday, MTV sent those of us in the "Tuesday" states these awesome Nokia phones, and instructions to go out during the day, filming anything we wanted to cover our caucuses. The kicker was that anything we filmed would be uploaded directly (and in real time) to the web. Essentially, they were giving us live broadcasting capabilities (which, as both a tech geek and a reporter, was pretty cool).

And trust me, it would have been amazing...there was one problem, though. AT&T was the company providing the service for the phones, and (as I found out that Monday) AT&T doesn`t have service here in North Dakota. So, I wasn`t able to do exactly what I wanted, but I did figure out a way to broadcast through wireless Internet, at least in places that had wireless service.

Even though that made for a pretty stressful day, I had a great time. It was so much fun being able to go around to different places throughout the day (the Republican caucus, the Democratic caucus, University of Mary...there was stuff happening everywhere), and file from the field. It did feel like we were right on the cusp of technology, and in five years, I really think that live shooting is going to be the norm for journalists - and I`m looking forward to being a part of that, as well.

Doing that, and keeping up with my responsibilities at KFYR has been a challenge, but I`ve been lucky that my (fabulous, incredibly intelligent, and endlessly patient) bosses here have been so supportive. I`m really excited about keeping up this double-duty throughout the year, and trying my hand at different forms of reporting and writing. So, even if I don`t sleep for the next nine months, I have a suspicion that when it`s all over, I`m going to look back on this as a great time. And then take a very long nap.



Black Dog
12—20-07

For most of my life, I`ve had a dog. And, for the last twelve years, that dog has been a black miniature cocker spaniel named Lincoln.

I love Lincoln like a brother. And, in my family, that`s what dogs are to us. They eat with us, sleep with us, celebrate with us...and Lincoln`s pretty much been the fourth child in the Catalano family since we first brought him home.

After I moved to North Dakota, my brother Eric went to college in New York, and my sister Angela left home to teach in West Virginia, Lincoln took our place as the kid in the house. He was the one who stayed with my parents after we all went away.

Well, as dogs do, Lincoln got older, slower and more mellow. And then last week, he started to get sick. Our poor little Lincoln passed away a few nights ago, quietly, while being petted by my mother.

When I go home for New Year`s, I know I`m going to be really sad the first time I walk into my parent`s house and he`s not there to greet me. But, like anything upsetting in life, I know that in time, it`ll get easier.

I think every child deserves to have one good dog in their life, and for me, that dog was my Lincoln.



Give A Little Bit
12-11-07

I love the holidays. It`s not my favorite time of year (that would be anytime I can go outside without having to wear six layers), but I do enjoy them when they come around. I love the idea of people getting together, eating good food, laughing, and focusing on what`s important in life.

And, isn`t that the point of the holidays? In the midst of the extended mall hours, and the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and Oprah`s Favorite Things, people have forgotten why we celebrate every year. It`s not about cooking the perfect meal, or buying the coolest present.

I know it means something different to everybody, but to me, the holidays mean that every year, I get to take time to think about what I have to be grateful for in life. And I think the best way to show my gratitude is to give to others. So here`s a list of my favorite charities, the ones that I personally support.

Kiva Kiva is a group that partners small business owners in third-world countries with people who are willing to give them small loans. The best part about it is that you get to pick where your money is going to, and watch then watch the company`s progress.

Do Something and
Volunteer Match Two of the best starting places for people to find ways to volunteer in their area.

Donors Choose One of the coolest donor sites I`ve found, you can pick different educational projects across the country to give to, based on your interests.

Ronald McDonald House As one of the gold-standards for charities, the Ronald McDonald House helps families across the country whose sick children are receiving care in area hospitals.

There are thousands more worthy causes to give to, so if you have any favorites, send them along and I`ll add them to the list, or highlight them in an iNews webcast.

Happy Holidays!



Big Yellow Taxi
11-12-07

Last week, NBC did a network-wide campaign called "Green Week." The campaign was aimed at bringing awareness about the sorry state of our environment, and what can be done to save it. Not only did the entertainment programs feature episodes with "green" storylines, but the news division also featured special environmental reports.

Since I`ve been in Bismarck, I`ve been a lot more conscientious about what my carbon footprint will be. Maybe it`s because I`m surrounded by such beautiful scenery that I appreciate nature more than I ever have. But I think it`s mostly because for the first time in my life, I feel like an actual adult, and I know I have a responsibility to leave things a little better than I found it.

And, I thought I was doing pretty well, too. I recycle everything I can, I support groups that support environmental causes, and I use canvas bags when I go shopping. So, I was feeling pretty good about myself, until I took a look around my apartment. I was typing this blog on a computer that had been left on all day while I was out. Not only was I listening to my iPod, but I was also watching tv on mute. And all four lights in my apartment were turned on.

It gets worse. I had one of my windows open, but I didn`t turn off my heater. And I`d just spent a good part of the day taking a Sunday drive, wasting precious gas, and precious gas money.

I realized that I was wasting so much energy, and so needlessly. And, I think it`s something that we all do. It`s easy not to worry about it, because sometimes it feels like the problem is so big, there`s nothing we can do to change it. But after seeing how much I was wasting, I resolved to change my ways. I`m going to make sure that I`m doing everything I can to make my impact as low as possible.

So if anyone has any suggestions for how I can become more "green" in my own household, I would love to hear them.

And I`m already making progress...I just got up, and turned out all the lights.



The Times, They Are A-Changing
10-24-07

I`ve been in Bismarck for just about two months now; enough time to figure out if I like it here or not. And I`m realizing that I don`t like it. I love it here. And no one is more surprised by that than I am.

I spent the last four years in Philadelphia, learning how to live and make it on my own in the city. Philly was good to me. I loved it there, and I loved my friends, my job, my school, and the life that I made for myself. But I also knew that there was a lot more that I wanted to do, and see, and I decided to move on.

So, I ended up in North Dakota, completely expecting to hate it. And, for about a day, all I did was complain. I complained that people were too friendly, because everyone kept talking to me while I was out shopping. I complained that it was too quiet, then a train would pass by my window, and I would complain that it was too loud. I called my parents and complained about the parking, and the $10 ticket that I had just received.

Needless to say, I was pretty miserable that day. So, I told myself that I had a decision to make. I could continue to find fault in everything, or I could shut up, smile, and try to enjoy my new life. It wasn`t very hard. The first time I took a drive outside of the city, I fell in love with the state. I never thought that it would be so beautiful, or the sky would be so big, or that I would be so comfortable, surrounded by nothing but fields and fields.

I think it definitely helps that I love my new job, and the friends that I`ve made here so far. I`m even getting used to having people talk to me in the grocery store, and I kind of miss it if someone doesn`t strike up a conversation while I`m waiting to be checked out. I also made a very wise investment of a parking pass at a ramp.

A year ago, I never would have thought that I`d be here. But, I think you can`t grow if you don`t change, and this was the biggest change I could make. And I`m so glad I did it.

© 2009 KFYR-TV

Home | News | Weather | Sports | Webcast | Morning News | Programming | Primetime Rewind | Advertising & Sales | About Us
Community Connection | Movies | Contests & Promotions | Search | Links | Contact Us | Follow us on: Facebook and twitter

Sister Stations: KMOT in Minot, KQCD in Dickinson, KUMV in Williston