Merry Christmas!

When my news director told me he was giving me Christmas off, I screamed and then gave him a hug.

Don't get me wrong, I'm SO grateful to have a job in the career I studied, but there's nothing better than spending time with your family on the holidays.

Us news folks know how lonely it can be working on these special days- so when you get them off- you cherish every moment.

My little brother and I 

Christmas 2013

Foodies - bears - doctors

I never understood people who take pictures of their food.

Like dude, just eat your food. No one cares about your lasagna.

However, I HAVE BECOME ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

I find myself posting more and more pictures of my homemade creations.

Take this morning for example.

I started the day off with a bowl of steel cut oatmeal, topped with raisins, walnuts, bananas, cinnamon, and a drizzle of naturally grown honey I got at the monastery.

It felt like a crime not documenting it! 

Now I'm sitting on my couch eating frozen grapes- I didn't take a picture of them because they look like regular grapes, (not foodie-genic).

^that was so corny. 

Today I one-man-banded two stories on the bear that attacked a Longwood woman earlier this month.

FWC identifies bear responsible for attack of Longwood woman

My co-worker, Goose, filmed my "look-lives" which was a HUGE help being that my stories were airing back-to-back at 5 and 6 and I still needed to get interviews with neighbors. 

Yesterday I put together a story about last minute appointments. 

I pitched the story in the morning meeting- telling my coworkers about my adventures getting an eye appointment before the new year, (I needed to use my insurance money on new glasses before I lost it). 

Insurance changes cause backups at Central Florida doctor's offices

Interviewing Doctor Gideon Lewis 12.17.13

12-12-13

So grateful to have made it another year! 

I thought about petting Chad, but realized I would like to see my next birthday. 

Thank you to my family and friends for the beautiful wishes!

Longwood bears taken to new home at sanctuary after escape

Mangia, mangia!

STORY OF THE WEEK (and not because I got to stuff my face with Italian bread).

On Wednesday I drove out to Ocala and one-man-banded a story about an Italian bakery that has bounced back after multiple disasters.

As soon as I walked into Magnolia Bakery, the aroma of fresh bread comforted my soul and I felt like I was at home.

I interviewed owner Linda Castello, (her husband Sal comes in during the middle of the night to bake the bread).

Linda showed me around the bakery and introduced me to her father-in-law, Grandpa Michele (pronounced "Miguel").

He's straight off the boat from Italy.

He kept pinching my cheek and kissing my forehead.

After I told him that I'm half Italian he said, "youa looka Italian!" (That's the only thing I understood).

Ocala bakery thrives after multiple disasters

Grandpa Michele gave me loaves of bread to take home to my mother. 

I smiled and said I'd be coming back so he could teach me how to speak Italian.

Jake Morrison

I was sent to breaking news in Edgewater last night- our assignment editor was listening to scanners when emergency personnel began talking about pulling a 2-year-old out of the Halifax River.

As soon as my photographer and I got on scene, I spoke to the police officer who was parked outside the home.

I could see the grief in his eyes as he told me what happened.

My heart sank as I imagined the toddler's parents at the hospital as doctors told them there was nothing they could do to save him.

I ask that if you read this, please keep Jake Morrison's family in your prayers.

^ Click on the screen shot to see the story ^

Happy Thanksgiving

Overheard in the kitchen: 

Dad: "I've been cleaning since we ate..."
Mom: "Yeah and I cooked for 14 hours."

(Holding water bottle)
Mom: "Is this your water?"

My cousin's baby eating my hair... so cute

Juicing

I saw a picture of someone drinking green juice out of a mason jar and I thought to myself, "that looks healthy, I'll give it a try."

And so we begin Chapter One of my juicing fling. 

Here's how it started: for one week, after long days of news reporting, I would come home and google "juicing."

I read everything - from articles detailing the differences between cold press juicers and centrifugal juicers, to juicing recipes that promise to clear up acne, (I believe it was called "The Acne No More Juice"). 

After jamming my brain with everything "juicing," I started to map out a strategy. 

First, I needed to buy a juicer.

I realized there was no way I could get away with not spending at least 150 bucks. 

I contemplated dipping into my "Greece money jar" but realized I'm never going to see Mykonos this summer with that attitude. 

So I started asking around.

My thought was- I'll borrow a juicer from a friend for a week, see if I like it- and if all goes well,  I'll invest in my own.

My good friend Eirini entrusted me with her parents vintage "Juice Machine."

This brings me to Chapter Two. 

I made my first green juice on Sunday. 

For 30 minutes, I cut up kale, cucumbers, celery, lemon, green apples, and threw it all down the shoot.

It came out pretty good but the process did a number on my kitchen. 

You would have thought I was teaching a toddler how to finger paint with green pulp, using my counter top as a canvas.

I must have cleaned for an hour. 

That's when I realized you cant juice for just one glass. 

For all that time you spend cleaning up, you have to get a couple of drinks out of the deal.

This week I made a few juice cocktails.

They all were drinkable... for the most part.

I decided I'm going to invest in a juicer because I'm afraid I'm one kale leaf away from breaking my friend's juicer...and I guess I feel healthy drinking green stuff out of a mason jar every once in a while.

My "Edit Juice" 

CHICAGO

My friend Eirini and I headed to Greek Town!

St. John Chrysostomos Greek Orthodox Monastery

Pleasant Prairie, WI 

 Mother sues school board over daughter's suicide

Rats and Snakes at Fire Station

Volusia firefighters claim deplorable conditions at station

Interviewing County Spokesperson David Byron about the rodents 

Covered Bridge Collapse

Today I one-man-banded a story about a driver who forgot he was hauling a tall pizza trailer when he tried driving under a low covered bridge.
I don't know if that makes sense.
I'm tired.
The bridge cover collapsed and no one was hurt, thank God.
Here's the story.

Crews cleaning up the bridge cover

Name Day

                                          

Name days are a big deal for most Greeks. 

According to the Orthodox Church, nearly every day of the year is dedicated to the memory of a Christian Saint or martyr. 

When someone is named after one of the saints, that day becomes their "name day" and is celebrated.
I celebrate with Saint Chryse, who is commemorated on October 13.

My friend Stavroula's mom surprised me with a tray of galaktobureko, my FAVORITE Greek desert, which I shared with family and friends after dinner.

My best friend Stavroula and I

Stavroula is one of the strongest people I know.

I met her several years ago through a mutual friend.

Without getting into too much detail, Stavroula is 22 and has had two heart transplants. 

This past summer she was in intensive care because of some complications. 

I went to see her on Memorial Day. 

The nurse caught us Greek dancing, (Stavroula was pulling her IV pole around as we did the Sousta).

What I'll never forget though, is seeing what Stavroula had placed behind her hospital bed.