Father's Day

(ABOVE: My father in Orange, TX from 1980. Dad was my baseball coach. I didn't realize until years later that he didn't know much about baseball. But he guided our team anyway.)

I dreaded Father's Day after my father died. He died of prostate cancer. His outlook was good when we was diagnosed at age 58. The doctors told him that he was at Stage 2 which is 95% survivable.

He had surgeries and various treatments to remove the cancer, and we thought he beat it. But the cancer came back a few years later and quickly took his life. I wasn't expecting his death-- my mother phone called before sunrise on a Sunday morning with the news. If the phone rings before 6am, it's usually not good. Dad was a 5% victim.

Dad was my hero. I wanted to be like my Father. Dad would have been my best man in my wedding. Stupid cancer...

I now use Father's Day to reflect on my wonderful childhood and his leadership. I still shed tears too. In fact just typing this made my eyes water.

Bathing dogs is stupid.

(ABOVE: Tag-Tag dog a few hours after his Daddy gave him a bath.)

After Tag-Tag dug up the backyard, I have him a bath. Here's how responded his first time back outside.

Remembering Chloe Dog

(ABOVE: Chief Meteorologist Dan Threlkeld and me with Michelle Lowry's daughter Chloe.)

KJRH is a dog friendly work place. I don't know what the exact rules are, but I think our bosses sometimes look the other way when folks bring their pets to work. For many of us, our pets are our children.

As you can see, I got kisses from Chloe dog when she visited the TV station last year. Chloe's mother is Michelle Lowry. Chloe died earlier this week after she got out of her yard. She was 17 years old.

Chloe, thank you for the kisses. We love you and miss you.

Channel 2 Softball Team: No one compares...

(ABOVE: Our team plays in a co-ed league on Sunday Nights at All-Star Sports Complex.)

No reason to embarrass anyone here. It's obvious which score belongs to the Channel 2 softball team.

There's no one that plays quite like we do.

Our level of play is unmatched by any other team.

The score says it all.

"Healthy" eating at KJRH?

Remember the good ole days when things like apples, oranges and grapes were considered to be good for you? I was taught that fruit and veggies were healthy foods while chips were not.

Apparently, chips and fruit snacks are now considered nutritious and healthy. Notice the yellow "fit pick" sticker on the vending machine at work. *sigh*

Lonely rainy nights at the TV station

(ABOVE: at 3:04am, this is my view in the dark TV studio. A weatherman, a radar and a camera.)

"Why do you get to work so early?" is common question that Julie Chin and me get from viewers.

I normally get to work near 3:15am on "quiet" mornings. Today I arrived at Channel 2 just before 1:30am as ongoing thunderstorms means longer hours. (It doesn't help when you stay up late the night before playing on the KJRH softball team. I'm working on ZERO hours of sleep!) I relieved Andy Wallace who stayed late after the 10pm news. Anytime there's stormy weather on the radar you'll find at least one meteorologist here.

The weather center is lonely in the middle of the night as most of the news folks don't begin showing up until 4am. But I'm too busy to get lonely!

I first update the forecast on kjrh.com. The process of making a forecast then takes me 45 minutes to an hour depending on the weather pattern. Then we make all of our own graphics for the 2 hour newscast. Everything has to be ready for air by 4:30am when we record a weathercast for "WeatherPlus" on Channel 222. The rest of our weathercasts are all live.

After 1pm when my shift ends I'm gonna go home and sleep all day!

(BELOW: The 49 cent drinks from QT are appreciated to keep a weatherman going. Diet Mountain Dew!)

Bicycle Wedding Cake

(ABOVE: I took this picture today with my cell phone. It's the rare bicycle cake. It tasted better than chain degreaser!)

Today I attended the wedding of Chris Cordt and Jessica Chapman at Boston Avenue First United Methodist Church.

Chris is a long-time friend and employee of KJRH. Last year I cycled with him in the Tulsa Tough and Hotter N Hell in Wichita Falls.

Here's his groom's cake! Congrats Chris and Jess!