My chidren range in age from teenager to young adult.  Next week, I am taking a few days off  to hang out with my preschool nieces.   It will be a week of Sesame Street, Dr. Suess and Candyland.  As much I am looking forward to this I don’t kid myself thinking I would like to start over.  I am filled with great admiration for the Grandparents and other family members who step in when, for whatever reason,  parents aren’t up to the task.  If you know someone in this situation or if you know some stressed young parents offer to hang out with the little ones for awhile while they take a break.  It’s one of those situations where everyone wins, including you!

After 11 years in our old studios, we have moved down to the 2nd floor in the CBS Radio Building (WLTE is owned by CBS) and everything is new and shiny.   And we have a “stand up” board which is nice.  Still, I seldom leave anything behind without feeling just a touch of sadness.   I had to buzz up there today as my computer and phone are still there.  That is officially the strangest place that I have this year!  It won’t be too long before I am no longer working between two spaces.   Hope you’re New Year is off to shiny start was well!

The was much said about the winter storm that ensured beyond doubt a white Christmas.  We spent Christmas Eve with family and had a wonderful time.  Driving Christmas Eve night was dicey and our church services were cancelled.  We found that out by text as we were making merry.  By text.  On Spouses cellphone.   Is there any device that is so handy and so annoying in equal measure? Christmas Day was supposed to be at our home but because of the possibility of bad weather we postponed everything till Sunday.  As it happens, Christmas Day might have worked but I’m OK with how it turned out.  We opened gifts, napped, read new books, napped, watched it snow/rain, napped.  Well, you get the idea :)  I hope you’re having a relaxing Christmas weekend!

As Tiger Woods watches his persona as a squeaky clean family guy unravel,  I wonder.  Was it worth it?  The older I get the more I dislike drama and complications and being a serial cheater,  as Tiger seems to be,  would be the quickest way to insure plenty of both drama and complications.  I feel sorry for his wife and kids.

Delilah was in town recently.  She stopped by the studio before heading out to Rosedale to meet with listeners.  If you’ve never listened to her she is on from 7 to 12 Sunday through Friday.  As Delilah is nationally syndicated, she has a nationwide fanbase.  In fact, the most common question I heard at the fair was asking if Delilah would be there.    She is one of the people who feels like an old friend from the moment you meet her.  Check out the Queen of Sappy Love Songs sometime!  Requests, dedications, splendid life story and a really nice person to boot!

I caught the end of the Country Music Awards last night with my family. Sure, I work at Lite and love it here but they are all hard core country fans. Taylor Swift positively beamed when she recieved the Entertainer of the Year Award, and it was so incredible to see her include her band! The thing is, she’s 19. Now what? If you reach the top of the mountain when you’re barely beyond childhood what do you reach for? I like Taylor Swift, I LOVE her writing style. Monologue from SN Live was one of the funniest things I’ve seen on that show.

This is a purely rhetorical question of course. It was fun to watch her shine!

When you allow yourself to feel love you open yourself up to be hurt. It feels good to love, hurt is the other side of the coin. We all know this, most of us have felt the hurt either by people in our lives or by animals we choose to have in our families.

Last week we had to have our good old dog, Dobby euthanized. He had congestive heart failure, he started to go down hill quickly. My spouse pointed out to me that it was no kindness to allow him to linger as he was. Our remarkable Vets, Dr. Becky and Dr. Heather eased Dobby into the next world where no doubt he was making the aquiantance of Shadow, Skip and the various housecats that have owned us. (You don’t own cats, I’m just sayin’)

The house is so quiet when I come home. That is the new normal and it stings. But allowing pets into your life is worth the cost of the eventual and inevitable goodbye.

This post is going to be a bit whiney, I’m sorry. Here goes…why do we let Thanksgiving get overrun? This uniquely American Holiday seems to get a little less respect every year. This holiday is controversial in some communities and I understand that. But I am grateful to have a day to be with my family and be grateful. You know, a day with no “gimmees” attached.

Fall is my favorite time of year, so I was somewhat dismayed that winter seems to be in such a hurry. Getting our spuds dug up seemed prudent as there was 2-3 inches of snow forecast. Sunday afternoon I spent my time digging, scooping and such but realized that I couldn’t lift the trays when they were full. Fortunately my teenager was nearby and when I asked for help, it was cheerfully given. It’s not a passing of the torch, far from it, but for the first time I realized the day will come. Right now, I hold the torch proudly when I help my disabled Mom. Sandwich Generation? You bet, but I am also so grateful for those who are before me and those who will follow.

Even football players are wearing pink! I will be walking this Saturday as the American Cancer Society invites us all to Make Strides Against Breast Cancer. Learn more at www.cancer.org or shoot me an email at  Beth.kidd at cbsradio.com

See you then!