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Here's wishing you and all your goblins a fabulous Halloween weekend!
And I offer up this quick reminder: Here's a great idea for what you can do with your kids' Halloween candy. Well, at least some of it. Don't forget to snag a share for your own secret stash. :)
Some thoughts traveling through my brain as we move through the middle part of the week. Thoughts that aren't big enough for their own blog post, perhaps interesting only to me, but somehow I feel compelled to share with you.
-I think Ivanka Trump made for a lovely bride Sunday. She married Jared Kushner at an intimate gathering for 500 of their closest friends and family. Her Vera Wang gown was apparently inspired by Grace Kelly. And in fact, it did have a timeless, classy look. You can check it out for yourself. Her dress was classy, sweet, age appropriate. Not gawdy in the least and very different from what you see most brides wearing today. Maybe I'm veering into old fogeyhood, but so much of what I see brides try on on "Say Yes To The Dress!" looks like it came from Frederick's of Hollywood instead of a bridal salon. But Ivanka gets A+.
-Speaking of good grades, you'll want to check out this piece in the New York Times about Myron Rolle. He's the tremendous young man who has put off entering the NFL draft by a year so that he can experience his Rhodes Scholarship. Now that classes are underway at Oxford, the Times gives you a front row seat to his exciting and inspiring year.
-Here's an early heads up to keep an eye out for the best TV holiday special of the year. In December, Macy's will present an animated version of "Yes,Virgina. There Is A Santa Claus." I've been lucky enough to see an advance clip and I promise you the production, voices, animation are all magical. Of course, I might be biased, as the producer is my little sister, Kallan. I'll give you more info as the air date gets closer.
-Friends and family are about to demand a DNA test for this previously self-avowed non-domestic diva. In the last year, I've learned to cook, grow my own vegetables and now about to tackle canning. I'm looking to make some good old fashioned pepper jelly with peppers straight from the garden. The jelly part looks easy enough. The canning? Apparently, there's a whole process thang you need to do so you don't kill friends and family with botulism. Who knew? I'll report back.
Feel free to share any thoughts by following me on Twitter or Facebook.
I have a thing for animals. Anyone who knows me, knows that.
I really have a thing for magnificent animals. I know it when I see it. And I saw it the first moment I saw Baxter the therapy dog.
If you need a good cry or just want to remember what it feels like to have someone special in your life, make sure you watch today's story..
Baxter was a 19-year-old dog who spent his final years and days bringing comfort and love those in their final days at a hospice in San Diego.
This story brings up a lot of feelings for me. As I watched Baxter's video, I couldn't help but think of my own magnificent Tripod, the 3-legged wonder cat who passed away July 31st, also at the age of 19. I think I cried tears for Baxter last night that I wasn't able to cry for Tripod this summer. Grief does that, I find. Pops up in places that it can.
What 'Pod and Baxter both show me is that the end of life isn't something to run away from. It's actually just as magnificent as all the days that come before. In some ways, even more, if you choose to see it that way. Both Baxter and Tripod did and those of us that got to witness their magnificence first hand are all the richer for it.
I received word from Baxter's human, Melissa, that he passed away peacefully last Friday. I send love, hugs, and understanding to her and her husband, Dennis. Chances are they'll be blown away how one creature weighing 38 lbs could take up so much space in their home and hearts. It's not a space that's easily filled. I know that only too well.
I would share with them that I've received my most comfort by the idea that I believe each of us shows up here with a different contract. Tripod and Baxter didn't sign up to be here 70+ years. That was never the plan. When I look at all the good each one of them did in their time here on Earth, I realize they did more than their fair share. And that's how I'm able to let go. Simply out of gratitude for sharing a magnificent life.
Do you need or want to share a story about your magnificent animal? Please do so over in our social online community.
Here's a new twist on a profession that often doesn't get a lot of love: Dentists are becoming heroes!
This has to do with a story that I ran earlier this week, the Halloween Candy Buy Back.
It's a great idea! Bring your kid's extra trick or treat stash to a local participating dentist. They will buy it back for $1 per pound. The dentist then sends the candy to Operation Gratitude who will send it on to US troops serving overseas.
Talk about win-win-win-win.
Your kid's teeth get a break. Your child also gets a little cash where they can go get a treat that won't rot their teeth. The troops get something sweet that shows they are appreciated and they get a tool to help them sweeten relations with when approaching folks in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
And it's all because the dentists are reaching into their own pockets to buy back the candy.
Carolyn Blashek from Operation Gratitude tells me that last year they received 21 TONS of candy from dentists around the country. This year, they're expecting 50 tons!
If you want to see my story about the program, click here.
And if you want to find a local dentist who's participating in your area, click here.
What about you? Do you have any other ideas on how we can add an inspirational twist to Halloween? Please share over in our social online community.
Is it possible to like Captain Chesley Sullenberger even more?
It appears so.
He's the oh-so-brave pilot who calmly took control last January when a flock of birds flew into US Airways Flight 1549.
He's out with his life story as of today. It's called Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters. He shares how his life led up to that fateful moment and the crazy, unexpected life of fame that has now come to him and his family.
Sully and his wife Lorrie have given a very nice interview to USA Today where they talk about the effect this has all had on their family.
It sounds like it's not all been easy, but it also sounds like they get it. They get why people want to look at Capt. Sully and see hope.
"Something about this event was life-affirming, he says. "It reminded people of the potential for good that exists in all of us. That's why I wrote this book. I want people to see I'm just an ordinary guy who, having cultivated certain virtues, was able to perform an extraordinary act. I want people to see that in themselves."
That paragraph kind of took my breath away. One, because he seems to be talking about the kind of people I profile every day here on DarynKagan.com.
But also, because in a moment when he could make it all about him, he wants to, instead, help us all see that we have our own Sully moment inside of us.
Sharing his moment of glory and inspiring that spark of hope that maybe in our darkest moment each one of us could also rise to the occasion.
I guess you don't know until it's your turn. I look at the challenges in my own life and sometimes feel like I've soared right up their with the Sullys of the world, and some where I still wait and pray to get my wings up off the ground.
So, the answer to the question is yes. It is possible to like Sully even more than I thought possible before. Thank you to him for saving all those lives that January day and thank you even more for sparking the many lives of all the people who will read his book.
You can see more of the USA Today interview here.
Who hasn't messed up at work?
We all have. So I know you will relate the horror being felt by one employee of a Bay Area catering firm.
The nice thing is, this time, there's a happy twist of an ending.
I loved reading this story in the San Franciso Chronicle.
The best golfers in the world gathered at Harding Park in San Francisco over the last few days. Yeah, the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. They were there to represent the United States in the Presidents Cup, a competition that pits America's best golfers against an international team.
When golf royalty shows up, of course you would expect the finest accommodations including the best food.
No wonder the catering firm was feeling pretty pleased with itself when delicious smells came wafting tournament tents last Wednesday.
Only, according to the Chronicle, city event coordinator Martha Cohen knew something was wrong.
"What's that?" she asked.
"Lunch," replied the proud caterer.
"Uhhh, the tournament doesn't begin until tomorrow," Cohen said.
Yeah, someone at the caterer got the event date wrong by one day!
Can't you feel your stomach drop?
Speaking of stomachs there was some quick thinking with this goof.
All 700 meals ended up at the St. Anthony soup kitchen!
The offerings that day? Parmesan crusted cod with linguini, chicken tocino with a white wine tomato chive sauce, carved mesquite-smoked beef brisket, parsley buttered potatoes, Caesar salad and shrimp pasta salad.
I love it!
I also love that the Americans rocked. You can read more about the surprise buffet here. And go here to see how great the Americans did.
Win-Win!
Here's a great tip--
How about $50,000 to give to your favorite cause?
That's what they are offering over at the Case Foundation.
They're calling it America's Giving Challenge.
Looks like it is a competition and lesson in social media all rolled into one. You simply go here and register your favorite cause and win cash awards. The money will go to the causes that inspire the most people to donate to their cause, regardless of the dollar amount. They're giving out daily and overall awards. The idea is to encourage people to leverage their personal networks and online social media.
The really cool thing is that the Giving Challenge is not focused on how much money you can raise, but on how successful you are at building collective action and inspiring members to donate to your cause. To succeed, the goal is to get as many unique daily donations as possible (minimum of $10), to your cause each day.
Good luck!
Oh, here's a funny one that happened today!
You know you have too many Facebook friends when you get an email from a Larry King Live guest booker asking you to come on Larry's show tonight to talk about one of your "friends."
True story.
My brush with fame today.
Here's the email:
We wanted to reach out as I saw on Joe Halderman's facebook page that you two are FB friends. Wondering if you know him and if you would be willing to come on Larry King Live tonight to talk about the David Letterman story?
At first I was, "Huh? Joe Halderman? Who's that? The David Letterman story?"
A couple clicks around the internet took me from "Huh?" to "Ohhhhhhh...."
Joe Halderman is the CBS news producer now accused of trying to extort $2 million from Letterman.
Oh, that Joe Halderman.
Next sentence in the conversation in my head, "I'm friends with him?"
Clicked over to my Facebook page, did a search, and what do you know? Turns out I am "friends" with him. Hard to keep up when you have 2,739 friends.
This little episode totally reinforced a feeling I got earlier this week. This Facebook "friend" thing has gotten totally out of hand. It started as a simple marketing tool. I started out confirming just about anyone who asked. The growing list was a marketing tool to spread the word about DarynKagan.com. But lately, it's just been feeling weird. Too much co-mingling between the public and private.
So earlier this week, I started a FAN page. That's going well. That's now where I'm sending all the requests from "friends" I really don't know. I'm going to have many of the same features and updates that are on my personal page, I just feel better about the separation.
Next step will be weeding through my 2,739 "friends" and asking folks I really don't know to mosey on over to the fan page instead. Perhaps, people like Joe Halderman, although he admittedly might be too preoccupied with some legal matters to take the time to make the switch.
So, the other funny thing is that I called that Larry King Live guest booker to share a good laugh.
"You're breaking news," I told her. "I had no idea I was 'friends' with Joe Halderman. He's just one of 2,739 people I confirmed."
She completely understood, yet was still sounded somewhat disappointed. "OK. I was just thinking that, y'know, you're such a positive person, you could come on the show tonight and give a positive perspective on what your friend faces."
"A positive take on allegedly trying to extort millions from one of the most famous men in America? I'm good, but I think that ones a bit out of my reach. Sorry, I can't help you."
So, there you have it. My brush with fame. My almost invite to be on Larry King tonight. And my surefire sign from the Universe, it's time to clean up my Facebook page.
As you read this, you can probably figure out that no, I won't confirm you if you now try to "friend" me on Facebook, but I sure would be delighted if you joined my new Fan page!
Here's no surprise to me.
One very cool, inspiring young woman thinks Bill Hemmer's a hero.
Yeah, that Bill Hemmer. You probably know him as the hunky and oh-so-capable news anchor on Fox News.
Laura Tellado knows him as a hero. Laura is a young woman with spina bifida who is writing a very creative and inspiring blog called Holdin' Out for a Hero. She's chronicling her journey of reaching out to various celebrities. She's not getting a lot of response from many.
Bill has been different.
Laura picked getting to meet Bill as her big wish back when she was 16 years old. Not only did he come through, but also he's stayed in touch with Laura through the years encouraging her and celebrating her accomplishments and victories. You can read a first hand account of Bill's kindness at Laura's blog.
What you read will please you; it might even surprise you that a big time news anchor would take the time to be so kind.
It doesn't surprise me a bit. See, to Laura he's a hero. To the world, he's Bill Hemmer, FOX News. To me, he's just Billy.
Rick Kaplan, who is now Katie Couric's executive producer was running CNN back in 1997 when he paired us up. "I'm putting you with Hemmer," Rick informed me as he plucked me from the sports department and made me CNN's newest news anchor.
Boy, did I ever luck out in that arranged TV marriage! See, it's a dicey thing, those TV anchor match ups. You're usually dealing with huge egos, insecure personalities, and potential back-stabbers. On top of that, just by the very nature of the job you are physically seated next to this person for more hours in the day than one sees a spouse or a child.
This simply wasn't a problem with Bill and me. We had bond, friendship and chemistry.
Here's a good little story. It was early on in our pairing. I was new to the news anchoring thing. Kosovo and the war in the Balkans was big news. It was my turn to read a story and I made a huge pronunciation gaffe.
"Today in Kuh-saah'-vo," I said and went onto finish the story. No sooner were we in a commercial break than did Rick Kaplan, himself, come charging into the studio. All 6'12" of him.
"You totally screwed that up!" he boomed. "It's Koh-soh-voh, not 'Kuh-sah-vo! This is CNN and if you want to be a news anchor here, then you need to know how to pronounce that as well as you can 'Philadelphia'" he roared as he charged out of the studio.
Today, I can laugh at the scene, as Rick is also a friend, and of course, he was absolutely right. But at that moment? I felt about 2" tall.
It was dead quiet in the studio until Billy, turned to me and offered, "Well, look at the bright side."
"The bright side?" I asked unbelieving. "How can there be a bright side? I just made a fool of myself on international television and got chewed out by Kaplan!"
"Well," Billy countered, "Now, you'll never forget how to say Kosovo!"
Boy, was he right about that one. You could wake me out of dead sleep tonight and I would get that one out right!
In the interest of full disclosure, I can tell you that because we spent so much time together, Bily and I could bicker like the best of brothers and sisters. We could get on each other's nerves. But, like the little story I just shared shows, there never ever was a question that we had each other's back. That's insurance you can't put a price tag on.
It also probably led to the chemistry that made people ask, "Are you guys dating?" We would even get inquiries from White House staffers with inquiring minds. Oh, that one still makes us laugh to this day. It really would be like dating your sibling. Not a great idea for romance, but perfect for family. And just like all the Hemmers hailing from Cincinnati, family comes first for Billy. We're bonded for life.
Years pass by. CNN moved Bill up to New York and eventually let him slip away to Fox News. (Talk about steal of the century!)
You know what I'm doing, hanging out here inspiring the world. These days, he drops in on my life. I drop in on his. That means lunch if we're in the same city. Or cheerleading like when he introduced me at one of my book signings earlier this year. I watch any co-anchors he's been with since me with a very protective eye. "She better be good to you, Billy!" I'll warn in an email.
All this to say, I'm not surprised that Billy is someone's hero. I wanted to make sure you heard about it and read Laura's blog.
There are some good guys in the crazy, ambitious, narcissistic world of TV news and you should know that Bill Hemmer is one of them.
Oh, by the way—you can follow him on Twitter here.
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