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Getting reports now of snowfall in Moses Lake, Ritzville, Wenatchee and Colville… it is upon us.

Reporter Annie Bishop is in Sandpoint right now, shooting a story on the opening of Schweitzer Mountain. I just talked to her (at right around noon) - there are flurries in Sandpoint. It’s the first report I’ve heard of snow in our area. Stay tuned for more…

And, so it begins… we just got a press release from Stevens County that warns drivers to stay off the roads between Friday night and Sunday morning! They’re concerned about road crews being able to clear the streets. Here’s the text of their warning (in part):

Stevens County is requesting that the public refrain from all unnecessary or non-emergency travel between Friday night and Sunday morning… Please remain informed about the current and forecast weather conditions before venturing out of doors this weekend.

I’ve spent the last hour or so planning our weather coverage for this weekend’s big storm. Yes, folks, by all accounts and forecasts right now, it’s coming - and, it could be a big one! I can hear it already: the chorus of newspaper columnists and longtime Spokane residents chastising us for “blowing the storm out of proportion.” I’ve resisted the urge to respond - but, it appears my willpower has worn down.

It’s easy to sit back and say TV news people go overboard with weather coverage. A lot of the time, I agree! I like to call it a weather hemorrhage when news stations go totally nutso about weather that doesn’t really matter. But, this storm - if it comes in the way it’s forecast - will be a bear. In fact, the guy at the National Weather Service called it a “bomb” (note: he’s a meteorologist with the weather service, not a TV guy…) We have an absolute responsibility to tell you what’s coming, tell you where the snow has fallen and tell you how it will affect you. Yes, it’s obvious that people should slow down on icy roads. But, every year, we respond to DOZENS of crashes from people driving too fast for conditions. Shouldn’t we gently remind them? Yes, it’s winter and we’re going to have snow and cold temperatures. But, every winter, people are caught off guard with homes that aren’t properly insulated and chimneys that haven’t been cleaned before the first fire of the year.

We will do our best - I promise you - to strike that balance between informing you and not making you feel like a pre-schooler by talking down to you. Will we always strike that balance? No. But, we’ll do our best. And, if you have any suggestions about how to better cover the snow that you know we’re going to cover anyway, I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Enjoy the weather hemorrhage!

As a lifelong Milwaukee Brewers fan, I’m not happy (though not surprised) about CC Sabathia signing with the Yankees. I’m not happy because he’s the reason the Brewers got closer than they have in decades to a World Series. I’m not surprised, because there’s no way the Brewers could afford to pay Sabathia the $161 million the Yankees are going to pay him!

A ridiculous contract like that may have you wondering: how long would I have to work to make that kind of money? Thanks to ESPN, you can figure it out pretty easily - and, see how much effort it will take Sabathia to earn the equivalent of your salary. Follow this link, enter your salary and see for yourself. I won’t reveal how long it would take me to earn that kind of money, but I will share this: what it takes me all year to learn, CC will earn with just .69 strikeouts! Ouch!

I’ve had that quote from Forrest Gump going through my head for the last 28 hours or so. It was then that we heard the Idaho Dept. of Transportation was going to tear down the Groene/McKenzie house at Wolf Lodge this morning. It reminded me of the powerful scene in Forrest Gump when Forrest and Jenny launch rock after rock at her childhood home; a place where she was abused by her father. After Jenny dies, Forrest has the house demolished - the only way to exorcise that demon. That’s what happened to that cinder block home on Frontage Road before dawn this morning.

I know I’m not the only one who has waited for this day. Like you, I couldn’t drive by that house without craning my neck to see what condition it was in, often imagining the horrors that happened there. I thought, too, about how I never noticed that house before the murders in May 2005, even though it sat right on Interstate 90. That house, for me and so many others, was a reminder of the evil people can inflict upon each other. For the families and neighbors of Brenda Groene and Mark McKenzie, it was hard to remember the good times that happened there after the horrific way Brenda and Mark’s lives ended. For the entire community, today’s demolition can serve as a catharsis. No, it does not undo what has been done. But, it’s one less physical reminder of the most horrific crime in Idaho history.

Today, our crews were able to tell the story of the demolition - of the local construction crew that volunteered its services to tear down the house, and the emotional reaction of family and neighbors. But, we were almost unable to bring you this story. The Idaho Department of Transportation only reluctantly told us the house was being torn down today. They said previously they would not tell anyone when the demolition was to take place; that we would just drive by one day and it would be gone. They specifically told us they didn’t want a media spectacle. I wish they would give us some credit. As members of this community, we were just as affected as everyone else in our region when these crimes took place. In fact, we spent many long days and nights just outside that home, praying with the rest of you that Shasta and Dylan would be found… that a killer would be found. We followed every development of the case along with you - always mindful and respectful of the family’s needs and the community’s right to know. Fortunately, IDT told us yesterday this was going to take place - but, that it would take place before the sun came up this morning. Our crew sat - RESPECTFULLY - outside the home so we could tell the story of what this demolition means to the people closest to that home. Still, our reporter who was there told me a Kootenai County Commissioner confronted them this morning, telling them they had no right to be there - that the community just wanted to forget. Again, the media is not immune to the effects of a crime like this - and, we had just as much right to be there for the end of this chapter than anyone else. 

As someone who has invested much of her life in this case, I’m glad the house came down. I’m glad it’s one less place for teenagers to vandalize or to be a stop on a macabre sightseeing tour. But, I know it doesn’t change what’s happened. No amount of heavy equipment or dirt or time will change the outcome of this case. Sometimes, there’s just not enough rocks. 

I was awake around 3:30 this morning (a lovely side effect of the last month of pregnancy!) and saw a fascinating story on CNN. A Colorado company is offering a DNA test that will supposedly tell you if your child is destined for athletic stardom. It costs $149 - and, I’m pretty sure it’s probably worthless.

The test reportedly looks for a specific gene that is associated with speed, ability in power sports and endurance - all qualities of great athletes. The company is testing kids between infancy and eight years old - so, there’s no time like the present for me! I’ll make sure as soon as they check my child for any obvious abnormalities in the delivery room, they get out that cheek swab and go to work!

Honestly, I don’t know what to think about a test like this. It’s not invasive, so it’s not like a child would be scarred for life just by getting it done. I think the biggest trauma to the child would come from the parent who takes it too seriously. If my child tests positive for the specific variant that indicates these athletic skills, am I going to go crazy and send them to sports camps instead of school? Am I going to make him shoot 100 free throws a day? Am I going to enroll him in the Bela Karoli school of gymnastics to make sure he lives up to this athletic ability? No, I’m not. But, some parents probably would take it that far. And, what if your child tests negative? Do you give up, encouraging him instead to learn to paint, draw or play the trumpet? That, to me, is an even bigger risk. You could stifle your child’s desire to be involved in these activities,  just because he won’t grow up to be the next NBA superstar?

If you’re willing to take the risk, here’s the company’s website: http://www.atlasgene.com/. Let me know how it turns out.

I just read an interesting article on cnn.com about a phenomenon I have not heard of: TiVo guilt. It’s apparently the guilt you feel for not watching all the shows you record on your DVR. Strange concept, but worth exploring.

I don’t have a TiVo now; I have a regular DVR from DirectTv. We had a TiVo for awhile and I LOVED it - I loved that happy little TV dancing on my screen. Either way, the concept here is the same. We load up our DVR/TiVo with all the shows we can - then, feel like we have to watch them. I don’t really feel that way, though. When I was home sick a few weeks ago, I went through a bunch of shows I’d recorded over the last year. Once I got past the “America’s Next Top Model” and the “90210″ (both the new version and the old version, recorded from the Soap network in the wee hours of the weekend mornings), I found a couple Woody Allen movies I forgot I recorded. Did I feel like I had to watch them? No. Did I feel any guilt deleting them without watching? Not an ounce. I also deleted about 5 episodes of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” without watching them, as I realized the show was just not for me. I don’t feel bad about that. In fact, if anything, I feel bad that my DVR consistently stays about 85% full. I can do better. I can record more mindless TV.

It is funny, though, to go through your playlist and see all the random things you record. Right now, we have a season’s worth of “Flight of the Concords” and “The Hills”, about 5 episodes of “CBS Sunday Morning” (my favorite), a couple WSU football games (not sure why we’d want to relive those…) and half of an HD Network special on Greece. I guess it shows our tastes and personalities… but, it probably just shows how much time we waste watching TV. If I have any guilt related to my DVR, it’s that: that I watch too much TV - and, eliminating the commercials means I have that much more time to fit in some shows.

It’s such a cliche to write a blog like this, but I don’t care - I’m doing it anyway. I have so much to be thankful for this year. I feel I would be ungrateful not to recognize all the gifts I’ve been given.

1. My “old” family: I have been blessed since birth with an incredible family. From my wonderful mom to my terrific siblings to my incredible grandma (best in the world) and all my cousins, aunts and uncles… We’re a drama-free family (most of the time with absolutely true love for each other. We spent a week together in Red Lodge, Montana last summer and I was reminded again of how lucky I am. Even though I don’t see them very often, I miss them every day and I wish I could be with them today for Thanksgiving.

2. My “new” family: I must have done something great in a former life, because I have been blessed with the world’s most incredible husband. I’ve always known I probably don’t deserve to be married to someone like him, but throughout my pregnancy I’ve realized I didn’t know the half of it. Derek and I met almost 9 years ago, working in our first TV jobs in Tri-Cities. All this time later, he’s still the most loving, caring, patient man I’ve ever met. He has always been incredible - and always makes me want to be a better person. I can’t wait to see what kind of dad he’s going to be. Speaking of which, I am most thankful this year for the newest member of my family, who I haven’t even met. The little boy who will be born in about 5 weeks is already the greatest joy of our lives. It wasn’t easy to get to where we are now, but he is 100% worth the wait. I can’t wait to see what joy he brings to our lives every day - and, what he grows up to be. And, I can’t forget the other two family members that changed my life this year (and, last): our dogs, Chewy and Roxy. Their wagging tales and excitement make it really fun to come home from work every day.

3. My kxly family: Don’t think I’m kissing up, just because kxly is paying me to write this blog This year, given our country’s current economic crisis, I am absolutely thankful to have a job that I love, working with people I truly respect and enjoy. As you know, kxly made some tough choices this year - and, some people who worked with us a month ago don’t work with us anymore. I am happy to have a job at all. I’m even happier to work at a place where I believe in the values we promote. I also work with a lot of incredible people - many of whom I consider great friends. I don’t know where the next year will take any of us, but I’m happy to work with - and, learn from - all of them. I’m also thankful that even though the station has had some tough economic times recently, they still found it important to cater in a full Thanksgiving meal for all of us today. If I can’t be with my old family - or my new family until later tonight - I’m happy to be with my kxly family.

I caught only one skit on Saturday Night Live this weekend - and I’m so glad this was the one. I LOVE Keith Morrison, a Dateline NBC correspondent. He’s done a couple big stories with regional interest, including the report on Fred Russell and the one several years ago on Robert Yates. He’s VERY good - but, has a very… distinctive style. Bill Hader nailed it on SNL. I sent the clip out to our newsroom yesterday and, since then, I’ve probably heard it play more than a dozen times - and, heard it quoted about 100 times. Give yourself two minutes and enjoy!